The missing oppression

"Taking as axiomatic the eradication of all forms of repression, our aims include the eradication of oppression on the basis of gender, ethnicity, sexual preference, etc. Oppression can be found at the politico-economic level as well as the cultural. And obviously they cannot be decreed out of existence, any more than the entire apparatus of domination can, but must be abolished through a thoroughgoing process of destruction and construction of other modes of organization and new values.

As we see it, the social revolution only comes about when the people hold central stage" [my bolding]

Translated by Paul Sharkey From the Gaucho Anarchist Federation's "Statement of Principles" link

"Anarchist-Communists are not only opposed to capitalism and the state, but all forms of oppression such as racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia etc"

from Tommy Lawson's article "Foundational Concepts of the Specific Anarchist Organisation" link

"As a needless and unnecessary form of hierarchy, anarchists should reject the consumption, enslavement, and subjugation of animals for human ends, and identify it as yet another oppressive aspect of the relations of capital and a needless form of domination."
...
"In short, when I thought long and hard about it, and decided to be honest with myself, I found that my own politics and ethics could not justify domination based merely on the category "species", just as I could not justify domination based merely on gender, or race, or nationality."

Snippets excerpted from Bob Torres' book "Making A Killing: The Political Economy of Animal Rights" (AK Press,2007)

As commonly defined, Anarchism holds as one of its key principles the opposition to hierarchy and all forms of oppression, as is well stated in the first quote shown above. Unfortunately this principle collapses in the next paragraph which begins with their statement that:

"As we see it, the social revolution only comes about when the people hold central stage".

Another word for this is "Anthroparchy", coined by Erika Cudworth in in her 2005 book "Developing Ecofeminist Theory: The Complexity of Difference"

"Anthroparchy literally means human domination, and I see anthroparchy as a social system, a complex and relatively stable set of relationships in which the "environment" is dominated through formations of social organization which privilege the human."

from the article "Most farmers prefer Blondes’: The Dynamics of Anthroparchy in Animals’ Becoming Meat" by Erika Cudworth.

No social revolution worthy of the name will be truly revolutionary if humans continue to "hold central stage" while dominating and oppressing the other animals with which we share this planet.

The Society for Ecological Veganarchism is a new international project to connect and empower activists who share the politics and principles of veganarchism and the related concept of intersectional veganism.

We aim to connect anti-oppression and anti-hierarchical struggles into a more holistic concept that expands the historical anarchist circle of concern to the oppression of other animals and conversely to shift the lifestyle politics of the mainstream and welfarist vegan movement towards a more radical, politically engaged, anarchist practice.

Over time we hope to develop many useful resources for activists that align with our politics, so if you'd like to become part of this movement and help build towards a better world for the people, planet and other animals, please subscribe and we'll get in touch with you by e-mail.