Knowledge obtains meaning only when combined with action. With science’s recognition that humans and other animals share comparable minds and emotions, we are compelled to translate this knowledge to ethics and everyday living. We call this lived experience trans-species living. Every month we feature an example of people and animals living together that illustrates trans-species living.
The Kerulos Trans-species Living feature explores the unfolding of this exciting new world where animal and human social justice intersect. Through video clips and interviews, we learn about the challenges and choices that individuals face as they craft lives in partnership with animal kin. The journey into this new culture raises many questions, some controversial. Trans-species Living provides space for reflective dialogue to ethically serve animals and humans.
Please contact us if you have a specific question or topic you would like us to feature and explore.
This month’s Trans-species Living feature is devoted to lauren Ornelas. lauren has worked for over two decades on issues of human and animal social justice. Currently, she is director of The Food Empowerment Project. Over the years, she has worked in many roles including as National Coordinator for Defense for Animals and as the head of Viva! USA, a national nonprofit vegan advocacy organization. She has been active in diverse campaigns to raise awareness of animal wellbeing and rights.
The so-called “human-nature” or “human-animal” boundary is sensitive, but even more so when it comes to issues relating to ethnicity, race, and human political inequalities. lauren has boldly identified the intrinsic link between key socio-political issues concerning human food, labor and immigration to the wellbeing and rights of the earth and animals. Here, she shares personal reflections on her experiences on this journey.
An Interview with lauren Ornelas
How do you define "trans-species living"?
When I think of trans-species living I know it is possible but I often ask myself how human animals can truly ever forge a consistent and compassionate relationship with non-humans animals when we have yet to develop one with our own species. (Just for the ease of reading, I will use the terms human to define human animals and animals to definite non-human animals).
I went vegetarian at a young age because I couldn't imagine destroying the families of cows I would see grazing on the hills in Texas. When I was little, my parents got divorced and I was very sensitive to the idea of families breaking apart—whether it be humans, ants or cows. The idea that my choice could take away a life, to me, felt like an incredible responsibility and one that I did not want to be a part of.
And yet, I see now that we, in the United States, have so little respect for families of the human race. We often make it extremely difficult for those in same sex marriages to adopt children—even to marry. We deport undocumented workers (who are often lured to this country by corporations wanting cheap labor) and separate them from their children who are born in the U.S.
I know we have come a long way—but we still have so far to go.
Can you describe how succeeding in your Food Empowerment Project (FEP) and personal mission affects your life? How, for example, it influences your everyday life—what you eat, your social relationships, attitudes, and habits?
Injustice hits me pretty hard—intensely to some degree—so I do my best to avoid contributing to the oppression and exploitation of any living being. I am by no means perfect, but learning more always means more responsibility. And as I have learned more, I have had to adjust many of my eating habits.
I have been vegan for over 22 years and only recently stopped eating chocolate that could possibly be from the Ivory Coast (where slavery in the cocoa industry currently exists). Yet, I know it is still not enough. When buying fruits and vegetables it is not easy to know if they are from farms where the workers were treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.
I have had the benefit of surrounding myself with many people who understand and are willing to learn why I boycott Coke and why I only eat certain chocolates (in addition to being vegan). My friends are less defensive and willing to listen. Now, that doesn't mean that all of them follow my lead on every occasion, but certainly many of them are doing what they can to eat in a more just way. It is a constant learning process for all of us.
Tell us a little about how does animal protection/trans-species living philosophy affects how you perceive yourself and the world?
That is a really deep question. For me, I guess I feel that I am not doing enough. Because there is so much suffering going on in the world, at times I truly feel very helpless to stop much of it. Or at least stop it at a rate that would finally put an end to it. Sometimes I look back on other periods of great struggle in our country—whether it be the times during slavery, the civil rights movement or the Chicano movement—and the injustices of those times were so blatant and so apparent. Whereas much of what is taking place now is a bit more subtle (well, in comparison) and it is therefore perhaps more difficult for others to see—or in the case of animals, it is sanctioned by industries and governments alike.
How do I see myself in the world? Honestly, like I always have —somewhat caught between two different worlds, and I don't seem to completely fit in either one. I am not just an animal rights activist or a human rights activist, and I know that my desire to try to live by my ethics (which aside from veganism, I know I have difficulties with) can at times make it difficult for some to be around.
What are some of the personal challenges you have encountered such as conflicts in relationships and any changes you have made?
I have a full time job outside of the animal movement (F.E.P. is an all volunteer organization), and after having worked in the animal movement for so long, it is often difficult to be around people who consume animals and well, truly do not give much thought to them. Don't get me wrong, the non-profit I work for is wonderful, as are the people, but I think it is always a reminder to me about how far we still have to go in order to reach most people who are truly removed from the issue. And I have a hard time being around animal rights people who act as if animals are the only oppressed beings without a voice— as if there is no need to advocate for humans.
Conflicts in relationships always seem to happen to me when I am experiencing an 'awakening' as I would call it—from either going vegan, to being proud of my heritage, to trying to adjust my eating habits and going beyond being vegan to be more just and ethical, or being more expressive as a person of color and a proud Chicana in a very white dominated animal movement.
I have definitely made changes, but I think that many people would find that hard to see —mostly because just like when you go vegan and people are defensive about their food choices, the same challenges arise while trying to extend the issue of what people choose to eat beyond the animals. In fact, I have found it to be the same with all of my eating habits when discussed.
Is there a difference between having relationships with members of other species and those with humans? Are there some relationships with certain humans that are the same or similar as those with certain animals?
He only wanted to be held when he wanted to, he loved to whine and complain and he was the best at sensing how I was feeling and being there for me. We would argue and still cuddle. I know I speak for others when I say that it's not easy to have such a forgiving and loving relationship with a human.
Do you have contradictions in your life between what you envision and believe and how you actually live? That is, are there constraints you encounter that disallow you to live out all of your beliefs
Yes, I do. Some are my unfortunate decisions and others are due to availability.
I often do not eat a healthy diet like I know I should. All of my choices in terms of eating have been based on ethics, not health, whether it is being a vegan (to reduce animal suffering), to eating organic (for the farm workers).
Eating healthy is just not something that comes easily for me. My main comfort food is French fries. When I was very young, my mother took two jobs and one of them was making fast food. So whenever she came home from work we would get French fries. Same thing when my oldest sister started to work—I think it just symbolized my family coming together again. But in general, for some of us, eating healthy is going to have to be learned.
In terms of constraints, yes. I love fruit but I only buy fruit that is local and organic, which can occasionally lead to problems for me when buying it. Buying products in general is very difficult as so many products are made outside of the U.S. and transparency is often difficult. Doing your best to be an ethical consumer (outside of food) can be truly a challenge.
What is your vision for an ideal “trans-species world”?
My ideal for a just and compassionate trans-species world is one where ALL animals—human and nonhuman—are allowed to live free of oppression and exploitation and are respected and appreciated for their individuality and diversity.Further Reading
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"Science in service to animals"
courtesy of the Food Empowerment Project