For several years Toronto has been playing host to an event that has been deemed cringe-worthy in the eyes of vegetarians. Aptly named Ribfest, this annual event is held in a frequented public park and, just as the name suggests, is dedicated to the consumption of meat products. The thought of drones of people milling about in a park eating as many ribs as they can is an uninspiring image in a vegetarian’s mind.
This year, two local activists decided to speak out against Ribfest. Jessica Dennis and Constantine Laroche took a grassroots approach and spray painted vegetarian slogans across Ribfest adverstisements. “Graffiti is an inexpensive, anonymous way to express one’s opinions,” explains Laroche as she details their choice of medium.
The two developed an interest in adopting a meat-free lifestyle while they were in high school. Dennis has since chosen to become vegan. “I don’t think there’s a need to use any animal products in my life,” she admits. “I live just fine without them, and there is no justification for it. I think the way humans treat animals is despicable – they’re not some resource or commodity that should be used at our will. They’re living creatures that deserve our respect. If we could live our lives in a way that we don’t have to be cruel towards animals, then we should all adopt that lifestyle.”
Ribfest advertisements targeted were found along the city’s main roads. This ensured the graffiti would be viewed by the most people possible. The slogans included blurbs such as “Soy to the World,” “Be Cruelty Free – Go Veg,” and “Who Would You Eat and Who Would You Pet,” which was accompanied by a picture of a dog and a pig. “By writing positive messages I hope we were able to make the community aware that the meat industry is a horrifying, harmful thing to the animals as well as our own bodies. By using drawings the message might be better conveyed, especially to younger people. We didn’t use profanity because we don’t want to associate vegetarianism with ‘bad people.’ We didn’t expect Ribfest to be a complete failure, nor that people [would] turn vegetarian overnight, but perhaps they will be more intrigued as to how to have a healthier diet for themselves and their families while keeping the well-being of animals in mind,” states Laroche.
Despite the good intentions behind this protest, these efforts were not well received by some. A local newspaper expressed the outrage the community felt in regards to the graffiti, which was interpreted as an act of vandalism. Dennis and Laroche were deemed cowards, and the publication even went as far as to say that people who are as intolerant as these activists should not be allowed in the country. The community’s reaction to this politically motivated act was appalling. The realization that people were more upset about the defacing of disposable signs than they were about the fact that thousands of animals are killed each year for consumption was disgusting and disappointing.
The two have mixed feelings in regards to this backlash. “It means that the message didn’t get across whatsoever. We were trying to reveal the hypocrisy of a society that cares so much about their pets, but they slaughter tons of animals for food and they don’t see that there should be no difference – an animal is an animal,” expresses Dennis. Laroche, however, has drawn a positive from this experience. “Whether we changed people’s plans about going to the event or not, the community, organizers, and corporate sponsors are now aware that there is opposition to the event.”
Although Dennis and Laroche differ in opinion regarding these results, they still feel confident in their beliefs. “Activism is about getting out, getting your message across, and making people aware of your viewpoint. It is awareness that leads to change. Making people more aware of vegetarianism and veganism may lead to helping people change,” assures Dennis.
Constantine has some advice for those looking to get involved in vegetarian activism. “Use your imagination, be careful, and don’t hurt anybody. Boycotting is a very effective non-violent form of protest. Support your local vegetarian shops and restaurants, co-operate with a local vegetarian association and have talks at libraries, public schools (with proper consent), hold community vegetarian pot lucks, and grow co-op gardens. I think positive education is vital. It won’t do any good to wrinkle your nose at a meat eater and call them barbaric.”
--Liz is a journalism student in Toronto. She has been vegetarian for over nine years. The activists mentioned in this story are also 21.
