Writings
Most of my writing and music on the wide and wonderful world of plant-based multiculturalism is shared with close colleagues, friends and family, who are linked by a yearning for peace and kindness on this Earth. If you are interested in joining this community, please contact me and introduce yourself :). In the meantime, here are some details about the connections between my work in general and the vegan movement:
As a scholar, nonfiction writer and lyricist, I seek to elucidate the myriad historical and cultural processes which have shaped our contemporary, globalized society; and imagine beautiful alternatives to these dynamics rooted in gentleness and kindness. At its heart, all of my work is dedicated to uprooting the values of violence and aggression which all too often permeate our politics and our lifestyles. Through scholarship, I seek to provide a depth of analysis of systems of injustice which busy activists often do not have the time to investigate. In my music, meanwhile, I envision horizons of love, kindness, and gentleness, bringing these qualities to life in deep and vibrant ways. This music seeks to give peace, calm and hope to all those who are dedicated to the crucial work of ending cruelty and abuse around the world.
Essays I have written on veganism include:
Over the years, I have also written numerous scholarly and popular pieces on coexistence in its myriad forms; among these is a book titled The Politics of Coexistence in the Atlantic World. I have completed two more manuscripts of relevance to this movement, titled To Dream Again: Island Environmentalism through Music, and The Paradise Industry: The Making of Waikīkī Beach, 1890-1930. This work in environmental history and cultural studies offers insights into the structures and ideologies which undergird the exploitation of the more-than-human world on tropical islands. Equally, they explore the role of cultural diversity in negotiating and/or responding to such dynamics.
My original music draws upon diverse histories and philosophies of peace and nonviolence across the globe, to envision a kinder and more loving world. Many of these songs celebrate the connections between veganism and other important social and environmental movements, particularly in the Global South.