What's wrong with single issue campaigns?

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LV TAS • Posts: 30

1 17 Dec 2009

Something to consider:

What's wrong with single issue campaigns?

"Single-issue campaigns give public the impression that some forms of exploitation are worse than others."

"Single issue campaigns can never work as long as animal exploitation is the unquestioned default position."

"The primary value of single-issue campaigns is to act as fundraising "vehicles".

A quote from Gary L Francione:

"I think they can be very dangerous. Because, in a society where animal exploitation is the default position and is considered normal, focusing on one thing suggests that � for example, when you focus on meat. In a society in which meat, dairy and eggs are all considered normal ... Read Morethings to do and that�s all part of the default position, you focus on flesh, you�re basically saying there�s a morally relevant difference between flesh on one hand and eggs, dairy on the other. When you talk about fur � I mean I�ve always had problems with fur campaigns, because I�ve thought it�s sexist. I thought it was yet another opportunity to go up to women on the street who are wearing things. For some reason, it�s not all right to campaign and go up and give people are hard time who are wearing leather jackets, because people didn�t want to lose their teeth [laughter]. But it�s all right to go up to women who are wearing fur coats, I�ve always had a problem with that.

So my deal is when I have to speak at these anti-fur things, to the extent that I do it, when I did used to do it, I always said as long as I can call it an anti-clothing event � because as far as I�m concerned, there�s no difference between fur and leather and wool. I mean wool is absolutely horrible. The way wool is produced is absolutely horrible. And so I think these single issue campaigns are really problematic, because they suggest there�s a morally... in the fur case, it suggests that there�s a morally relevant difference between fur on the one hand, and leather and wool on the other hand � but there isn�t."

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Picking the Low-Hanging Fruit: What Is Wrong with Single Issue Campaigns?
http://unpopularveganessays.blogspot.com/search/label/single-issue%20campaigns

The Great �Victory� of New Welfarism
http://www.abolitionistapproach.com/the-great-victory-of-new-welfarism/

Adam United States • Posts: 5

2 17 Dec 2009

Thanks for raising awareness about this!

Aimee VIC • Posts: 957

3 17 Dec 2009

This would fit rather well in the abolitionist thread.

jack VIC • Posts: 1463

4 17 Dec 2009

i am partly aboliionist lol not really
but i disagree
heaps of single issue campaigns are great

advoc8 SA • Posts: 179

5 17 Dec 2009

Heaps of single issue campaigns are a waste of time. Been there, done that. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing happens.

TOO MANY ISSUES.
Or is there?
No. There is just one ...
Animal exploitation.

Q How do you stop it?
A Promote veganism.

One issue. One message. Too easy.

Nathan VIC • Posts: 148

6 18 Dec 2009

I think single issue campaigns can be effective. Everyones not going to become vegan, so if you can aleast get people to stop wearing fur, eating meat, not going to circuses, stop hunting then that's still a big thing.

_Matt VIC • Posts: 1567

7 18 Dec 2009

I suppose it depends if your agenda is abolitionist or incrementalist or something completely different.

I think its probably fair to say you can exert more pressure on industry with single issue campaigns. Of course though, industry reform is something abolitionists reject.

So I wouldn't say there is something wrong with it, I would say there is something wrong with it if you're an abolitionist.

advoc8 said:

Heaps of single issue campaigns are a waste of time. Been there, done that. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing happens.

I'm not so sure.

I doubt the pigs, cow calves and battery hens in California (and at least 7 other US states from memory) that are no longer confined to factory/intensive farms think single issue campaigns are a waste of time.

I doubt the bulls in California who are no longer subject to facial branding think single issue campaigns are a waste of time.

I doubt the countless foxes, cats, dogs, rabbits and mink sparred from fur farms due to various designers dropping the disgusting material think single issue campaigns are a waste of time.

I could go on and on and on and on of what industry welfare reform has brought to the animals currently imprisoned by agribusiness primarily from single issue campaigning - so you can�t say nothing�s happened!

Sure, vegan outreach is a fantastic tool and tactic to help animals. But it�s not going to put as much pressure on industry (who have the levers at their disposal to end all suffering) as single issue campaigns. The current plight of animals is far too complicated to be as black and white as you suggest (i.e. abolitionism + vegan outreach will bring about a non-human�s utopia). I think to do what�s best for animals, we should look to and encourage every tactic which has the possibility of even to little extent limiting the suffering animals are currently subjected to, because **** knows they need all the help they can get.

Aimee VIC • Posts: 957

8 18 Dec 2009

Well said Matt! I agree completely. We need to help the animals suffering RIGHT NOW aswell as prevent animals suffering in the future- I can't say one is more important than another. They all matter to me.