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Meat's Place On The Campaign Menu: How U.S. Environmental Discourse Negotiates Vegetarianism, Carrie Packwood Freeman Jan 2010

Meat's Place On The Campaign Menu: How U.S. Environmental Discourse Negotiates Vegetarianism, Carrie Packwood Freeman

Communication Faculty Publications

Given the impact of America’s food choices, particularly animal-based foods, on life-sustaining systems, to what extent is the environmental movement making meat-based diets an issue? This research analyzes websites of 15 U.S. environmental advocacy organizations (EOs) to examine how they negotiate the question of animal versus plant-based diets and propose solutions for food producers and consumers. EOs proposed that industrial agriculture and commercial fishing/aquaculture severely limit destructive practices to more sustainably meet consumer demand for animal products. EOs offered consumers choices, including: 1) replacement of much industrial food with local, organic, and/or sustainable animal or plant foods, 2) reduction of …


Framing Animal Rights In The "Go Veg" Campaigns Of U.S. Animal Rights Organizations, Carrie Packwood Freeman Jan 2010

Framing Animal Rights In The "Go Veg" Campaigns Of U.S. Animal Rights Organizations, Carrie Packwood Freeman

Communication Faculty Publications

How much do animal rights activists talk about animal rights when they attempt to persuade America's meat-lovers to stop eating nonhuman-animals? This study serves as the basis for a unique evaluation and categorization of problems and solutions as framed by five major U.S. animal rights organizations in their vegan/food campaigns. Findings reveal organizations framed problems as: cruelty and suffering; commodification; harm to humans and the environment; and needless killing. To solve problems, largely blamed on factory farming, activists asked consumers to become "vegetarian" (meaning vegan) or reduce animal product consumption, some requesting "humane"reforms. While certain messages supported animal rights, promoting …