EVEN Interview with Marc Bekoff
An Animal Rights Article from All-Creatures.org

FROM

Eugene Veg Education Network (EVEN)
July 2018

Marc Bekoff is Professor Emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a Former Guggenheim Fellow. In 2000, he was awarded the Exemplar Award from the Animal Behavior Society for major long-term contributions to the field of animal behavior.

Marc has published more than 1,000 scientific and popular essays, three encyclopedias, and 30 books including The Ten Trusts (With
Jane Goodall), The Emotional Lives of Animals, Wild Justice: The Moral Lives of Animals, and Ignoring Nature No More: The Case for Compassionate Conservation. His latest books are The Animals' Agenda: Freedom, Compassion, And Coexistence In The Human Age and Canine Confidential: Why Dogs Do What They Do. He writes regularly for Psychology Today/Animal Emotions.

Photo courtesy of Tom Gordon

EVEN: How did veganism become part of your life?

Marc: As I studied and learned more and more about the emotional lives of nonhuman animals (animals), it became very clear that I simply could no longer justify eating other animals. It was an ethical choice and an easy decision and easy transition, because I really didn't eat a lot of animals or
animal products.

I have seen a difference with some of my friends who cycle and race seriously, and with a number of my teammates, who are very bright people and open to talking about vegetarianism and veganism. They won't be coerced, but some have gotten 'more veggie' and when we eat after rides they eat veggie or vegan meals. They're very thoughtful.
I get lots of emails from students who have read Animals Matter and I was thrilled to see how many of them were 10-14 year old kids in elementary and middle schools who were considering changing their meal plans to exclude animals and animal products.

“Science and the ethical treatment of animals aren't incompatible. We can do solid science with an open mind and a big heart.”

EVEN: So, you believe things are changing?

Marc: YES! Not fast enough but moving along in the right direction via incremental changes. A lot of people do it that way. The bottom line is that
some people do change permanently, but it can take some time. Some people backslide, but I’m not disappointed. It’s best to not be in their face about it.

Please read the entire interview HERE (PDF).

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