Telling "We Animals" Stories: Interview with Jo-Anne McArthur (vegan), Part 1 of 4

Jo-Anne McArthur, a Shining World Compassion Award Recipient, is a Canadian award-winning photojournalist, humane educator, animal rights activist, and author. “My name is Jo-Anne McArthur and I’m a photojournalist. I’m also the founder of the We Animals project, and that started over 15 years ago. It was me with a camera, going around the world, documenting our relationship with animals. But now, what it is, is We Animals Media. We are a small group of filmmakers, photographers, journalists telling the stories of animals worldwide.” “I thought it would be a really big deal to give up meat-eating. I thought it would be a big sacrifice, but what I learned is that it’s the opposite – it’s very freeing to live in line with my ideology, which is to not cause harm to anyone. And so eventually, when I became vegan, I felt quite freed. I think being vegan is a liberating way to live.” “What I find exciting about the camera is that it’s a tool for change. It shines light on all of these industries that are functioning behind walls, windowless walls. These are places that, for the most part around the world, we’re not allowed to see. Because if we were to see, people would not support that kind of cruelty.”