When you read my Substack articles, you’re getting a window into my evolving thoughts—some freshly formed, others rooted in years of experience. I don’t claim to have all the answers (even if it seems that way at times), and I invite you to engage with my ideas as just that: thoughts worth considering.
I gave a presentation titled “The #1 Threat to Vegan Unity at the International Animal Rights Conference in Luxembourg earlier this year. It received overwhelmingly positive feedback from many, but some found to be controversial. Here’s the full script of my talk, followed by some extra behind-the-scenes thoughts and reflections, and some of the criticism I received after my presentation (only available to paid subscribers). If you would prefer to watch the video of my presentation, you can find it on the IARC YouTube channel.
If you’ve already seen my presentation and want to skip to my reflections and the “behind-the-scenes” parts, click here.
My story
I'm going to be straight with you—I'm not a scholar or an academic. I don’t come from money. I was raised by a single mother on a council estate (that’s what we call government welfare for those outside of the UK).
I am fortunate though, my mum raised me and my brothers as vegetarians, even despite my youngest brother needing special care. Even with his issues, he’s now a passionate vegan and animal advocate too, which I think is amazing.
But what I am, is a regular person from a working-class background who decided to speak up for animals. And I started documenting it on social media.Today, I’m still that same regular person, albeit with a medium sized social media following, hoping you'll listen to what I have to say.
The title of my article is "The #1 Threat to Vegan Unity." It sounds dramatic, I know. But it isn’t just for drama; we face real challenges as a movement, and by addressing them head-on, I hope we can unlock the key to greater unity and effectiveness.
This article could just as easily be titled "The 5 Solutions to Vegan Unity."
To get into this, let me take you back to 2017 when I first got into activism. When I started activism, I quickly made friends and felt a real sense of belonging and community. I was learning, having fun, and finally able to spend time with likeminded people, without constantly arguing with meat eaters or answering questions about where I got my protein. I loved it.
But, things soon took a bad turn.
I decided to found the first Direct Action Everywhere group in Barcelona, as I was excited to start organising actions and mobilising for animals. But I was told that some people in the vegan community there weren’t happy about this, and wouldn’t be attending. Not because of some issue with DxE, or some disagreements on strategy or anything like that, but because the group was being led by a straight white male.
Despite this, a group of passionate activists did join me, and we carried out some powerful actions. I’m forever grateful to those who showed unity for the animals.
But within a year, discussions against straight white men started gaining more traction in the movement. After just a short time as an activist, bear in mind it was about 4/5 months at this point, I felt very unwelcome in this movement. It seemed many people didn’t want me or people who looked like me to speak up for animals.
This kind of division wasn’t just a one-off; it continued.
In 2018, during a large activism event, the issue of “too many men on social media” came up. I suggested that more women could step into the online activism space by producing high-quality, consistent content.
To my knowledge, at that moment there really weren’t many women committed to online activism. Actually, Earthling Ed and Joey Carbstrong appeared to be two of the only activists who were completely dedicated to the online space.
Unfortunately my message was misunderstood, and a campaign was started against me by two individuals who began publicly labelling me as a sexist. Instead of seeking clarification, they spread misinformation, and were even messaging people who followed me advising them not to support me which was just a horrible situation to be in.
I’m pleased to say despite this incident, I’ve continued trying to inspire activists to start and improve their social media activism, and I now run the Vegan Social Media Community WhatsApp group where we help new and experienced activists get better at making vegan content.
We have around 60 members, and advice that has helped vegan messages reach millions of people - email or DM me on Instagram if you’d like to learn more about that.
After this large animal rights event and that drama, later that year, I travelled to India with my partner Anni. We were working for an animal rights organisation that wanted to help new groups start up, and make videos documenting the farms and slaughterhouses there.
While looking through old photos from India I found some truly harrowing photos and videos and I don’t think we want to see that, so instead here’s a clip of the moment I learned to speak cow Hindi. This was a rescue cow at a sanctuary by the way.
Another of the more fun things we did there was participating in a kids' street play with a vegan message. We each had about 5 seconds of dialogue saying things like “we should love animals” and “we shouldn’t kill them”. I couldn’t find a video of this, but it’s about as clunky as you’re imagining.
Unfortunately, a video of our silly little parts in this street play sparked accusations and a campaign from activists back, who were now accusing us of colonisation. They went as far as criticising us for even going to India, which was disheartening considering our intentions and the intensely demanding, heartbreaking work we were doing over there for animals.
A year or so later in 2020, the terrible situation with George Floyd was another source of division. Vegans who didn’t post a black square or comment on the situation were branded as racists, and not even vegan. I made a YouTube video urging people to focus on their activism without guilt-tripping others into speaking on issues they weren’t comfortable with. Of course, with the caveat that they weren’t contributing to said issue.
The backlash was swift, and the organisation I worked with terminated our working relationship, citing this video as a key reason.
And of course we’ve had Covid, vaccines, internal fights like intersectional vegans vs non intersectional vegans, abolitionism vs welfarism, and global issues like Ukraine/Russia, Palestine/Israel all dividing our movement with everyone attacking each other and claiming the other side isn’t really vegan.
Pro Palestine vegans are accusing those who don’t speak up of enabling genocide, questioning the veganism of vegans and accusing them of hypocrisy.
Pro Israel vegans have accused vegans who oppose Israeli aggression of antisemitism and inciting hatred for Jews.
In Melbourne earlier this year, there were some pro-Palestine vegans who chose to protest against the National Animal Rights Day event. They did so because they believed the organisation's founder, as well as some activists at the Tel Aviv event, were supportive of Israel. To clarify, the event in Melbourne had nothing to do with Tel Aviv or Israel, but they protested it anyway.
Now these are just some of the conflicts I’ve seen or witnessed over the last 6 or 7 years, if I went through all of them we’d be here for at least another hour at least. Maybe one day I will do an exhaustive list in the hopes we can learn from the past, but for now we’ll move on .
My question is this:
How can any activist experience all of this, and keep going?
The impact on our movement
Think about the things your average activist faces on a daily basis, it’s hard enough as it is. But with all this on top, it’s just unthinkable.
What are these divisions costing us?
The animal rights organisation We The Free actually did some research to find out, their research found that:
89% of activists have witnessed infighting
83% reported that infighting negatively affected their mental health or contributed to burnout
64% know someone who left the movement because of it
We’re a tiny minority fighting for animals, and this behaviour is tearing us apart.
Now I want to clarify that the aim of my article isn’t to undermine people’s genuine concerns, or the issues they care about. My intention is to address how we communicate with each other, and to encourage unity.
I will hold my hands up and admit that I myself have not been very good at de-escalating these situations. In previous years I’ve been quite reactive, hitting back as hard as I was getting hit. But I realised this was only causing more division, and more issues. I realised that myself, our movement and society in general has a huge issue, I think we’re all addicted to outrage.
How to fix this?
Let's talk about the ways in which we can fix these problems. Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, called it the "Narcissism of Small Differences," where communities with a lot in common often have conflict over their differences. Freud believed the reason for this is our need for a distinct identity, a need to stand out and be different from those we are most similar to.
In our movement, it often turns into a competition—who’s the most vegan or the most ethical. This need to feel superior is driving us apart.
The first step to fixing this is awareness. We need to recognise this flaw in ourselves and focus on our fundamental agreements. Disagreements are inevitable, but they shouldn’t and don’t need to lead to division.
So that’s the first 2 steps in unifying our movement
Focus on the fundamental important things we agree on
Be tolerant of disagreements
Next, I think we would benefit from adopting what’s known as a growth mindset, as described by Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck. Instead of seeing challenges or differing opinions as threats, we should view them as opportunities to learn and grow. This shift in mindset can help us unify rather than divide.
So that could be our 3rd step to unifying our movement
See disagreement as a chance to learn and grow
We have to give each other more of a chance.
Let me give you a kind of embarrassing personal example of this.
About 4 years ago, I heard about an activist called Tobias Leenaert. Tobias is the co-founder of pro veg, and author of the book how to create a vegan world. And he’d gained quite a bad reputation with the people I was around, they told me he was bad for the movement. An apologist, not even vegan, just a terrible guy. I believed it without question.
But last year, I attended the International Animal Rights Conference (IARC) in Luxembourg for the first time. And after hearing Tobias speak, I realised how wrong I was. I learned that Tobias is a passionate advocate who’s been working to make the world a better place for animals for over 20 years. And I realised he’d probably spent more time coming up with strategies over his breakfast that day than I’d spent during my entire 7 years as an activist.
What I’m trying to say is, I realised Tobias is absolutely worth listening to, and I felt very silly for believing rumours instead of actually looking into his work. I’ve since read his book, How To Create A Vegan World, and it has greatly influenced my perspective on activism.
This experience taught me something incredibly valuable, it taught me the value of contact—spending time with those we disagree with, or who we think we disagree with, can really open our eyes.
A very extreme example of this, that to clarify has nothing to do with my last example about Tobias Leenaert, is the example of Daryl Davis. Daryl Davis is a black man who convinced members of the KKK to leave the group, simply by sitting with them, listening, and exchanging ideas without judgement. If he can do that with people who hate him, surely we can do the same with people we disagree with in our movement.
So the 4th step to vegan unity could be:
Make contact without judgement
What if I think someone is “dangerous”?
If you think someone is being offensive or inappropriate, have a calm, reasonable dialogue. We give non-vegans endless chances to change—why not extend the same courtesy to those within our movement? Outreach isn’t just for non-vegans; it’s for us too.
First Principles
I would recommend to use something called first principles thinking when going into a situation like this, which is very similar to outreach but a little different.
First principles thinking is when you take an issue and strip it back to its core, then build from there, here’s a 5 step first principle approach to addressing someone you believe is an issue:
1. Identify the Core Issue
Ask yourself what specific behaviours, words, or actions have led you or others to the conclusion that this person has dangerous beliefs. Separate the assumptions from the facts.
Ask "Why?" repeatedly to get to the bottom of the issue. Why do their words or actions make you think they hold dangerous beliefs? Why do these beliefs make you or others feel unsafe or conflicted? This helps to find the exact nature of the problem.
2. Understand Motivations and Context
Are they coming from a place of ignorance, misunderstanding, fear, or something else?
Are there external factors influencing their actions? Maybe a past experience or something stressing them currently is affecting their behaviour. Try to find the root of the problem.
3. Challenge the Beliefs (Yours and Theirs)
If you think the person holds dangerous views, ask what evidence supports this and whether it could be interpreted differently. Question whether your own beliefs are based on solid reasoning or just assumptions.
Speak with the person and try to understand their perspective. Ask open-ended questions that encourage them to explain their views without feeling attacked. This can help reveal whether their behaviour stems from malice, ignorance, or something else.
4. Develop Solutions Based on Core Principles
Even if someone holds different beliefs, you can still find common ground in shared values like respect or a desire for fairness that can serve as a foundation for a resolution.
Approach the conversation with a focus on problem-solving rather than confrontation. Help them understand how their actions affect people and suggest ways to move forward that align with your shared values for a long-term resolution.
5. Reflect and Adjust
After the conversation, reflect on what worked and what didn’t. Did you reach a better understanding? Did the other person show signs of reconsidering their beliefs or behaviour?
If the conflict wasn’t fully resolved, consider any adjustments that could be made to your approach. Also, accept that sometimes addressing deeply held beliefs requires ongoing effort, just like we accept that in our animal rights activism.
You’ll soon see that it’s rarely the case the person you have an issue with is evil, it’s usually that they agree with you on the outcomes they’d like to see, but disagree on how to get there. Which again brings us back to what we said earlier, focus on the fundamentals.
There’s no denying we are emotional people, but sometimes that can be our downfall. I think trying to apply more reason to our emotional points could help us a lot with coming together and unifying. Let’s use one of my experiences as an example.
Remember earlier I told you about the campaigns against white male activists?I understand that there are concerns about the representation of white men within our movement, and I want to acknowledge that I believe most of these concerns come from a place of wanting to ensure fairness and equity.
But when we look closely at the leadership and foundational roles within key organisations in our movement, a different picture emerges:
The founder and director of the Animal Save Movement is a woman - Anita Kranjc
PETA, one of the most well-known animal rights organisations, was founded and is directed by a woman - Ingrid Newkirk
Viva is another organisation led by a woman - Juliette Gellatley
Direct Action Everywhere was founded by a person of colour - Wayne Hsiung
Animal Rebellion was co-founded by a woman, and is co-directed by Rose Patterson
The Animal Justice Project was founded and is directed by a woman - Claire Palmer
ProVeg was co-founded by Melanie Joy
This is not meant as a “gotchya”, but more as an alternative perspective to the idea that men dominate our movement.
And while it’s true that the most prominent online vegan activists, such as Earthling Ed and Joey Carbstrong, are white men, it’s important to also recognise the significant contributions from women and people of colour in other areas.
For example, many of the most successful plant based recipe, food and lifestyle channels, which play a crucial role in making veganism accessible and appealing, are led by women and people of colour. To be clear, many of these channels led by women and people of colour consistently outperform Earthling Ed and Joey Carbstrong combined.
Additionally, it’s also worth noting that in Europe and other Western countries, the demographic makeup includes a majority of white people, with a near-equal gender balance. This naturally influences the representation we see within the movement.
With this broader perspective, I hope we can recognise the diverse contributions from all members of our community and focus on unifying our efforts, rather than allowing misconceptions to create divisions. Our movement is strengthened by its diversity, and every voice, regardless of race or gender, is vital to our shared mission.
Dealing with backlash and threats
Navigating a space where some voices are incredibly loud and seemingly driven by outrage can be challenging—I'm not going to sugarcoat it.It’s a dangerous game to be standing up and saying the things I’m saying in this article. But we need to focus on the fundamentals—our shared goal of fighting for animals. We can’t let outrage addicts control the narrative.
It is important to acknowledge any genuine concerns people have, but we should also have the courage and perspective to realise when they’re misplaced or being blown out of proportion.
Fear of cancellation or losing support shouldn’t dictate our actions when handling conflicts, and we can’t let the animal rights movement be held hostage to out of control outrage. We can’t have the lives of animals held in the hands of those who would hold them hostage in order to gain favour for their personal grievances.
And again, we should encourage a focus on our common goals, and not on our differences.
This brings us to our 5th and final step to unifying the movement:
Make decisions based on unifying solutions, not based on fear of cancellation, attacks, or threats of people removing their support
Some animal rights organisations have already taken steps to make these changes with their teams, and it has come with friction, but most of the feedback has been positive. For myself, I have committed to keeping my bad reactions to a minimum (no one is perfect, but I’m getting there), and I’ve been looking to build bridges and find unity. Not only within our movement, but also with the public.
I have actually removed over 40 videos from my channel that I no longer align with. This lost me hundreds of thousands of views and probably negatively impacted my channel, but I believe it was the right thing to do.
We need to lead by example, and make it clear that we are here to fight for the most vulnerable beings on this planet, facing horrors that belong in the most sadistic horror movie, but are very, very real. We are not here to fight over someone liking a certain Tweet, following a “problematic” celebrity or having an unpopular opinion on a current topic.
As we move forward, can we commit to unity, support, and a shared focus on our ultimate goal? Can we commit to making the world a better place for animals? I believe we have the power to make this vision a reality, but only if we come together and unite.
Reflecting on my presentation, the reaction, and the aftermath
I have to admit, I was nervous about giving this presentation.
After all, this was seven years in the making. Seven years of conflict after conflict, including a lot of overwhelming emotions and borderline mental breakdowns from the stress and anxiety of it all. I had a lot of apprehension, second guessing, and fear when stepping up to that stage to deliver this presentation.
But I still did it. Not because it made me feel good, because it didn’t. Not because I wanted to prove to the world that I’m right, because I don’t (and I’m not always right). I did it because I feel this conversation needs to happen if we have any chance of succeeding as a movement, if we have any chance of actually changing the world for animals.
The reaction
While I was up there on the stage, I felt some tepid agreement. I didn’t get the impression people were eager to overwhelmingly agree with me, which is understandable considering the consequences of publicly showing agreement with some of the points I was making (consequences such as cancellation or shaming). But the energy was nowhere near as harsh or negative as I expected it could be in the nightmares I was having leading up to giving the presentation. However, there was hostility on the horizon…
