Activists promote animal equality with virtual reality

Animal Equality came to USC to share a virtual reality film pertaining to modern animal agriculture with students and faculty on Monday and Tuesday. Located on Trousdale Parkway, the animal activists attracted large crowds with their Virtual Reality goggles and two enticing signs, reading “Do you dare try virtual reality … And discover what the meat industry hides from you?” The film, “comprised of footage from multiple facilities across the world” with a focus on how pigs, in particular, are raised and “processed for human consumption,” according to the Facebook event, surely made an impact on the viewers.

Animal Equality, an international farmed animal advocacy organization, dedicates itself to defending animals through education, campaigns and investigations. Their mission is to attain a more compassionate and just world for animals. Aside from the United States, Animal Equality is active in the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Venezuela and India.

iAnimal, Animal Equality’s current project, aids their goal to achieve long-term social change, as the technology serves as an avid and extremely effective form of activism. The five-minute film, shot by an undercover investigator in multiple countries in Europe, follows the lives of pigs raised for food. The film shows the cruelty of the meat industry, which many people aren’t aware of.

Pigs are given a voice in this film — literally and figuratively, as the voices of the pigs are heard from the headset and the viewer is given the unique opportunity to see from the perspective of a pig. The interactive 360 degrees makes the virtual experience seem real, and scarily so.

Regardless of the activists’ warning of the slightly graphic material, many were eager to experience iAnimal. The six goggles were in constant use, perhaps due to interest in virtual reality. For whatever reason people chose to watch, the film had an equally strong impact. After finishing the film, an activist would debrief the viewer about what he or she saw. This period usually resulted in lengthy philosophical discussions regarding the industrialization of the slaughter and consumption of animals for human pleasure. After the debriefing, the activist handed the viewer a booklet containing information on how to make the transition to a plant-based lifestyle, and then invited the viewer to sign a pledge to cut meat out of their diet.

After watching the film, Carissa Chang, a freshman studying business administration, shared her thoughts on this healthy lifestyle.

“It definitely made me think about eating a more plant-based diet. I’ve seen documentaries before about animal cruelty, especially in the industry,” Chang said. “You have to be more aware about what you’re eating and where it’s coming from. I think it’s really important … and you can always eat plants!”

Though the scene of six motionless bodies facing the same direction with chunky goggles on is disturbing and looks a bit like a scene out of George Orwell’s iconic novel 1984, Chang’s statement proves how educational virtual reality can be. By opening college students’ eyes to the horrors of animal agriculture,

Animal Equality offers some food for thought — and what better way to celebrate the end of the semester than to spare a life, help a good cause, while experiencing innovative technology in a new and exciting way?

For those who missed this virtual reality experience, the film can be viewed online at ianimal360.com.