Earlier this month I spoke with filmmaker Kip Anderson who, along with Keegan Kuhn, has made a very important feature-length documentary, Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret.
In Issue 2 of our publication, faCE (farm animal Compassionate Engagement), we selected Kip and Keegan as our Recommended Person.
At this point, this documentary is only just beginning.
As we noted in our review in Issue 1 of author Jonathan Safran Foer and his book, Eating Animals, sometimes being part of the solution is being able to frame and ask the right questions. Kip takes his realization and directs it back at the spokespersons and leaders of the Sierra Club and other preeminent environmental organizations -- the ones that are supposed to be the watchdogs for the environmental movement.
Their reluctance to acknowledge, and when confronted with the facts, their failure to admit to, let alone address animal agriculture, THE paramount cause of environmental and species degradation worldwide, leaves us as well as Kip dumbfounded. Cowspiracy is a jaw-dropping revelation in this regard.
Since environmental 'leaders' have no solutions to the problem they seem unwilling or unable to address, Kip and Keegan take that upon themselves, suggesting a new path to global sustainability.
When I spoke with Kip, I was most interested in his perspective now, months after completing this film:
SE: The solution you arrive at in Cowspiracy is that humankind needs to sharply reduce animal agriculture, and as quickly as possible. Since you've released the documentary, what do you now see as the most important paths toward that solution?
KA: As an individual, it's transforming within yourself, living on a plant-based diet. It's also important to share this information with everyone. Tag the information you come across out there with the truth about what's going on.
As a movement, there are several new groups which will soon be arriving on the scene. If existing environmental groups can't get behind this position, they will be shifted aside by those who do.
I'm very optimistic. A shift is happening really fast. There will be a major shift in public consciousness on this issue over the next couple of years.
SE: Has there been any soul-searching on the part of the environmental groups you interviewed? Have they adopted any new positions or initiatives in this regard?
KA: Recently the Sierra Club polled their members regarding which directions to go. The Rainforest Alliance did a social-media campaign regarding the impact of animal agriculture on the environment -- but it wasn't a priority -- it wasn't even on their website. Amazon Watch suggested some vegan lunches and dinners. I'm more disappointed by these groups now than when we made the film.
SE: Why the reluctance on their part? On your site the suggestion is made that they may be 'afraid.' Why?
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