Animals and the Environment

In a world with so many desperate problems facing nonhuman animals and the environment, and also because systems of oppression link animal exploitation and environmental degradation, it is ineffective to ask, “Who is right?” and “Where can we draw lines?” We would be much more successful if we would ask, “How can we work together?

Introduction, Animals and Environment

The first book on the subject, Animals and the Environment offers more than two dozen essays exposing a wide swath of fertile ground between animal activists and environmentalists. Essays focus on habitat destruction, animal agriculture, and politics, exploring overlapping interests through contemporary examples such as the various ways of valuing grizzly bears in British Columbia, the mathematics of diet with regard to environmental footprints, threats stemming from palm oil plantations in Southeast Asia, and the struggle for land between elephants and villagers in rural India. Narratives in Animals and the Environment demonstrate the common sense, viability—and urgent importance—of establishing a united front on behalf of the environment and animals against the powers of big government and big industry.

Earth and animal activists have much to gain by cooperating, and much to learn from one another. Moreover, fragmentation and division between social justice activists only serves to help mutual adversaries—there are enemies in this battle (such as unscrupulous large corporations), but earth and animal activists are not enemies. because they share core common concerns and very fundamental goals.

Introduction, Animals and Environment

This is a very important book that talks about the conflict between animal rights and environmentalism and suggests ways to heal the disagreements.. . . I truly enjoyed this insightful book and all of the authors.

Cathy A Greer

For more about Animals and the Environment see:

— Contributing Authors: Animals and the Environment

— Synopsis: Animals and the Environment

— Introduction: Animals and the Environment  

Animals and the Environment

Introduction by Lisa Kemmerer

Long after my last grade school dot-to-dot puzzle, in a class “ah-hah!” moment, I connected those very visual little black dots on paper with the idea of “connecting the dots.” Much later, I pondered how hard it would be, were I no bigger than a gnat, to connect those many little black dots–especially if they were on a multi-dimensional plane. What if a gnat-sized human were trying to connect figurative dots, and those dots were partially, or wholly obscured (by social conventions)? This seems to be our predicament, and our task is to connect the otherwise seemingly disparate aspects (dots) that form our lives. If we are able to do so, we gain a richer and fuller understanding of our existence–of life and our place in the universe. This is exactly what ecofeminists have set out to do.

Read more

Animal agriculture causes more environmental damage than any other industry—it makes absolutely no sense for environmentalists to hate bovines with hamburger in hand.

Animals and Environment