Environmental Studies: Ethics, Ideas and Nature: Humans & Nonhumans

From a collection of journals about feminist philosophy titled Hypatia, this reading covered the different perspectives of humans versus animals. I chose to summarize a section called “Speaking of Animal Bodies” as it pertains the most to my topic.
As the feminist movement grew to challenge different social hierarchies so did the spread of their beliefs of equal justice for every living thing. During the 19th century, feminists advocated against vivisection, plumage, furs, and meat-eating, becoming an example of modernized 20th-century vegan principles to end animal use in every application of their lives. This is believed by vegan feminists and ecofeminists alike who translate their oppression from society to that of all animal species to be fixed simultaneously. By attributing seemingly anthropocentric views to animals, feminists related recognizable farming issues regarding livestock reproduction, freedom, and consumption to problems women deal with worldwide. These concerns can be resolved through a plant-based diet. Practicing veganism would greatly benefit animals and the environment around livestock farming with easy and ethical lifestyle choices. Making these beneficial connections helps educate the public on their role in the colonization of these ideas as well as how they can help make a change that improves everything's quality of life.
After reading this article I found some similarities between its ideas and those of Berry’s in “The Agrarian Standard”. With the growth of society, farming companies rose in power due to the use of technology and carelessness towards the land. As countries grew and beliefs changed, many stopped caring about their impact on the environment and animals' health after big businesses' takeover. Movements such as veganism and agrarianism focus on redistributing reciprocal ideas to society in an attempt to end the oppression of resources for profit. This reinforces the idea of working together with the needs of humans and the environment as the most valuable resource a community can have to live ethically. - Annotation by Anonymous, Spring 2023

McNulty details the oppressive history of Indigenous agricultural and ranching practices and how they are rebounding in a climate changing world. She cites The Dawes Act of 1857 that sold 90 million acres of native land to non-natives and displaced Native Americans to 160 acres of land per family. 20 million bison were slaughter at the order of the US government in hopes of starving out natives. This robbery of land and demolition of food has led to a modern-day indigenous diet that consists of nutrient deficient commodity food handed out by the federal government. Native agricultural practices allow for food security to be put back in the hands of those who shaped the landscape of America. There has been a surge in these practices in the midst of the climate crisis, but these practices are not new and have a deep spiritual history within the indigenous communities.
This source describes and reinforces the historical racism Native Americans have, and currently face through displacement, inaccessible food, and environmental injustice. The deep-rooted connection with the earth that is intertwined with native cultural is not new but suppressed by Euro-American colonizers. A widespread acknowledgement and return to these practices will provide benefits planet, humanity, and mental health. I highly recommend this article as it details the modern disconnect between Americans and their food as well as present historical oppression of native culture that aligns with reciprocity. - Annotation by Sean Perkins, Spring 2023

This article focuses on Native American religions, and how they create an ethical framework for the treatment of animals. Native Americans believe that all life is connected. This view heavily influences how they interact with nonhumans. Their religion demands respect for all life. However, overhunting has clearly been an issue in the past. This is shown by the need to have a code of ethics when interacting with nature. Establishing that all life should be treated with respect would lead to the kinder treatment of animals. I would recommend this source because it offers a different view of nature than the one that is most commonly expressed. It made me consider whether humans are separate from nature, or a part of it. It is also interesting to hear that even cultures that are typically thought of as being respectful towards nature, have had past problems with abusing it. I think that the reason that we feel the need to have a discussion about environmental ethics, is because we have not treated the environment ethically. I find this idea of ethics addressing a need interesting. This article is similar to “Skywoman Falling” in that it talks about how indigenous religion leads to a kinder treatment of nature. - Annotation by Alex Mustard, Spring 2023

This episode of Going Wild, Dr. Wynn-Grant talks to special guest Christopher Schell who, just like Dr. Wynn-Grant, is a wildlife ecologist that specializes in carnivores. In this episode Schell discusses his journey to becoming a wildlife ecologist that works with coyotes and how he has overcome boundaries as a black scientist. The anecdote that led to the title of the episode is the story of how a fully wild coyote found its way into a sandwich shop for a quick meal and how Schell had to come and collect him. Both scientists are leaders in the field of wildlife ecology and their focus on carnivores have led them to also be leaders on human and non-human interaction and cohabitation. Just like the coyote finding its way into Quiznos, bigger, more dangerous animals are finding themselves encroaching on human territory. Or rather, humans are encroaching on wildlife territory.
This podcast as a whole, but specifically this episode, are about informing the audience that black ecologists exist, are working and thriving, and their contributions to not just the science world, but the whole world, are being felt. Their work to protect non-humans and humans alike is similar to the work we’ve read in-class because one important idea that they all share is that we must protect animals but when it comes down to it, humans come first. I highly recommend this source for any scholarly uses but also just for personal enjoyment as it is very educational and well produced. - Annotation by Kathryn Sauder, Spring 2023

In this interview, Dr. Margaret Robinson explores what it means to be an indigenous vegan. She suggests that the reason white animal rights activists might perceive indigenous cultures to be opposed to their movement is due to a misinterpretation of indigenous values. Traditionally, indigenous peoples hunted animals to live, but never glorified their death. For many people today, animals are not a necessary element of their diet, so she encourages people to consider veganism. She also highlights how a disproportionate amount of blame is put on indigenous people who hunt, rather than colonizers who operate large scale meat farms. Hunting rights were one of few ways that indigenous peoples could maintain their treaty rights, so supporting indigenous people and their treaties would result in reduced animal deaths.
This source reinforces many ideas presented in class and adds a unique perspective from an indigenous person who is themselves vegan. This source reflects the themes in Robin Kimmerer’s Skywoman Falling, about indigenous respect for the world and animals. I recommend this source because it gives a new perspective on why hunting rights are so important to indigenous peoples and suggests how animal rights activists can work alongside indigenous activists to secure their treaty rights, and to protest largescale agriculture.
- Annotation by Anonymous, Spring 2023

My personal favorite source, since I love podcasts, is this one. So far, they have only produced about eight episodes, each being about an hour long. There are three gay men as hosts, each being an avid nature lover and outdoorsman. Their goal with the podcast, in line with the goal of their larger organization, is to create a community of LGBT outdoors lovers, where most outdoor spaces are associated with older, white men; think hunters and fishermen, and you probably think of an older white guy. In the episode I’ve cited, they interview a wildlife researcher that works for Yellowstone National Park. - Annotation by Anonymous, Spring 2023