Élise Desaulniers is an author, writer, journalist,
vegan
Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal product—particularly in diet—and an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals. An individual who follows the diet or philosophy is known as a vegan. Di ...
and an advocate for
animal welfare
Animal welfare is the well-being of non-human animals. Formal standards of animal welfare vary between contexts, but are debated mostly by animal welfare groups, legislators, and academics. Animal welfare science uses measures such as longevity ...
and
animal rights
Animal rights is the philosophy according to which many or all sentient animals have moral worth that is independent of their utility for humans, and that their most basic interests—such as avoiding suffering—should be afforded the sa ...
. Her writings have aroused considerable controversy in
Quebec
Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirtee ...
, with its large
dairy industry.
In 2022, she donated a kidney to an anonymous recipient for
altruistic reasons, declaring that childbirth is a greater physical hardship than donating a kidney. During her recovery, she published an article explaining the thought-process leading to her decision, her experience with organ donation and an overview of the practices surrounding organ donation in Canada and elsewhere.
In 2022, she left her role as head of the Montreal SPCA.
Honours
She won the ''Grand Prix du journalisme indépendant - opinion ou analyse'' from the Association des journalistes indépendants du Québec in 2015 for her article ''Les vrais mâles préfèrent la viande – Convergences du féminisme et de l’antispécisme''.
In 2020, her book ''Tables Véganes'', co-written with Patricia Martin, won the Gold award from Taste Canada Awards.
Publications
* ''Je mange avec ma tête: Les conséquences de nos choix alimentaires'' ("''I Eat With My Head: The Consequences of Our Dietary Choices''"), Stanké, 2011; ''Comer con cabeza'', Errata Naturae 2016.
* ''Vache à Lait: Dix mythes de l'industrie laitière'', Stanké 2013, La Plage 2017; ''Cash Cow'': ''Ten Myths about the Dairy Industry'', Lantern 2015;
''Il Libro Nero del Latte'', Sonda 2016.
* ''Le défi végane 21 jours'' ''("The 21 Day Vegan Challenge")'', Trécarré 2016, La Plage 2017.
See also
*
Effective altruism
Effective altruism is a philosophical and social movement that advocates "using evidence and reason to figure out how to benefit others as much as possible, and taking action on that basis". People who pursue the goals of effective altruism, c ...
*
Organ gifting
References
Canadian animal rights activists
Canadian veganism activists
Canadian writers in French
French Quebecers
Living people
People from Joliette
Writers from Quebec
Year of birth missing (living people)
{{animal-rights-stub