Land degradation negatively impacts 40% of the global population. One million of the estimated eight million species of plants and animals on Earth are threatened with extinction and carbon dioxide levels are more than 50% higher than their pre-industrial levels. Though these staggering statistics reflect real-world concerns, they instill only a fraction of the concern they ought to for many.
The rise of environmental and humanitarian crises calls for the need to bring tangible awareness to them more than ever. This is especially the case given that these are intersectional issues, often bringing harm to numerous communities. These polarizing factors such as geographical, species or political differences often cause us to turn a blind eye to those in need.
We must transition from human, animal and environmental exploitation, to inclusive social, economic and legal frameworks that acknowledge these intersectionalities and their adverse effects on everyone.
Dr. Hope Ferdowsian, president of the Phoenix Zones Initiative, shared how their pursuits alleviate threats on the nexus between human, animal and planetary rights, as well as health and well-being.
First, she narrows this broad topic into the number of concrete ways it can manifest itself, such as within the areas of violence and conflict.
“Sometimes violence against animals … can be a red flag for later violence. It can be a red flag for mass violence, [a red flag] for child abuse and intimate partner violence,” Dr. Ferdowsian said to New University. “On a community scale, we know that rates of violence are correlated with whether or not there are animal industries like slaughterhouse locations in different counties … Then in terms of global conflict, what we’ve seen is that historical domestication and captivity of animals has actually become a model for human atrocities, like genocide.”
This analysis of a multi-faceted factor such as violence extends consideration to those beyond ourselves — especially animals and the environment — which is one of the primary steps towards attacking the roots of grander issues. This is crucial if we are to ever gain an understanding of how our actions, which negatively impact others, come right back to us.
For Dr. Ferdowsian, growing up on a small farm in Oklahoma instilled her with this intersectional worldview from the start. With a sheep as her first best friend and parents deeply entrenched in global human rights violations, she learned not to harmfully compartmentalize others — and didn’t let this stop in her childhood.
“We will not achieve the human rights advances that we want to achieve without also achieving the non-human rights advances that we need to,” Dr. Ferdowsian said, “because of how closely our treatment of people is linked to our treatment of [non-humans] when you really dive into the roots of those problems.”
Globally, the U.S. is the largest producer and second-largest exporter of poultry meat, and one of the largest contributors to worldwide egg production. It’s no coincidence that the U.S. is also one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gas emissions, with the animal agricultural industry contributing upwards of 19.6% to this vast amount. These long-term impacts not only threaten the livelihood of the animals affected, but also pose health concerns to humans and the environment through climate change.
Still, the U.S. has no federal laws that regulate animal welfare treatment in captivity. While all 50 states have statutes to protect animals against cruelty, they all notably exclude livestock. Further, three of the seven federal laws protecting animals inconsistently extend to livestock, as they’re often unregulated and unenforced. Improving these legislations would benefit humans more than one would think when considering the interconnectedness between the industry itself and the rising concern of climate change.
However, improvement is a collaborative effort. This is why Phoenix Zones Initiative prioritizes education as a means of working towards spreading awareness of the need for more inclusive frameworks.
“A lot of what we’re proud of has to do with our partnerships,” Dr. Ferdowsian said. “Because that’s where we really found our strengths. And, you know, we realized that one organization can’t do it alone.”
One of these collaborations is with George Washington University Law School’s Animal Legal Education Initiative to enact the National Commission on Research Ethics. Their work transforms medical research to better protect and benefit both people and animals, from an ethical and scientific perspective.
Phoenix Zones Initiative also focuses on human rights through the Institute for Universal Rights, Health and Justice they’re creating. Dr. Ferdowsian shared their hope to equip others with the knowledge necessary to advance rights, health, justice and the connections between these.
“We talk a lot about vicarious trauma, but there’s [also] vicarious resilience,” Dr. Ferdowsian explained. “I think we can absorb some of the resilience that we see in others who go through tremendous adversity and think, okay, if they can do that, then I can certainly do my little bit every day to make life better for those I know and those I don’t know.”
With constant news and social media coverage depicting global misgivings, many feel as though their efforts are futile. However, it’s crucial to remember that small actions can make a big splash.
“It’s all those little decisions that add up,” Dr. Ferdowsian said. “What do I do in my everyday life, my behaviors, but then also how do I work to influence policies and practices that trickle down to shape the world that we live in.”
The path to global justice for animals, humans and the environment is an uphill battle. However, organizations such as Phoenix Zones Initiative make positive efforts more feasible through collaboration and education.
Trista Lara is the 2024-2025 Opinion Editor. She can be reached at tlara@uci.edu or opinion@newuniversity.org.
Edited by Zahira Vasquez and Annabelle Aguirre
