“PEACE BY VEGAN” FOR PRESIDENT, “EARTHLING ED” FOR PARLIAMENT / {Social Action}
A collective interest group would fund and support two of the world’s most articulate vegan activists to run for U.S. president and UK parliament. Whether Ed Winters (aka “Earthling Ed”) ever gets to 10 Downing St or Ryuji Chua (“Peace by Vegan”) emerges as the 47th American president is beside the point. It’s about putting these smarties on mass-market platforms and giving a broader public the priceless opportunity to truly consider the vital importance and global impact of equal rights for all species. Funding their campaigns in order to illuminate their peace-prioritized platforms would be the goal. Their serious bids would force mainstream news to cover their positions, and this alone would go a long way toward normalizing awareness of carnism, wielding the power of transparency and opening healthy discussion.
So just who are these people? Ed Winters is one of the most thoughtful, peaceful and articulate speakers the world of animal welfare has ever known. Among a seemingly endless list of accomplishments in his young life, Ed is tirelessly active, giving speeches and talks worldwide, debating animal rights on college campuses, maintaining a robust social media presence (watch his breakthrough Ted talk from 2019) and authoring a seminal book called This is Vegan Propaganda. Backing him for a serious parliament bid would not be folly. Nor would his platform be one-sided or blind to general politics and social policy. Ed Winters is an intellectual of the highest order. With the right support, Ed could handle the duties with no problem. Like Ed, Ryuji Chua is an incredibly gifted speaker and filmmaker with an awe-inspiring ability to remain calm during debate and hold positions without getting personal. Along with Ed, Ryuji is part of an animal-welfare production company called Surge Media, and his involvement throughout social media goes far beyond his own channels. Check his site and social channels and you’ll see the cases he makes for sanity, including an appearance with Trevor Noah.
Simply put, this idea would leverage political election systems on both sides of the pond to bring the spotlight on unconventional platforms that may seem to be focused on non-humans, but in truth are absolutely geared toward the greatest good for the people. Their legitimate campaigns for high-profile public office could inspire two of the world’s leading countries to think deeper about what is really going on for (literally) trillions of sentient beings each year, and inspire the rest of the world to do so in turn. Just imagine the power in shifting the majority of worldwide public perception toward the truth of what the animal-industry actually is. Imagine actual legislation enacted for plant-based normalcy and non-violence for all. See it. Become it.