From grassroots activism to policy reform, these remarkable women remain steadfast in creating a kind, compassionate world for all living beings. VEGWORLD is honored to feature the fierce women of the Unbound Project community from across the globe in light of International Women’s Day.
Dr. Charu Chandrasekera– Revolutionary Scientist, Canada
Dr. Chandrasekera is the Executive Director of the Canadian Centre for Alternatives to Animal Methods at the University of Windsor in Ontario, Canada, where she is at the forefront of doing the unthinkable in the scientific community–ending ALL animal experimentation. Coming from a background in research rooted in animal experimentation, Dr. Chandrasekera had firsthand experience of the limitations of using animals to model human disease. Millions of people remain hopeful in a misplaced trust that experimenting on animals will yield life-saving treatments, when in fact, a whopping 95% of drugs that are effective in animal models fail in human trials! Alongside the poor efficacy of animal testing, Dr. Chandrasekera could not ethically justify the treatment of animals in laboratories. Rather than complaining about the status quo, she set out to change the entire research paradigm. Her work champions human-based, animal-free research as the norm, and encourages students and scientists in training to pursue these cutting-edge technologies in biomedical research.
Miyoko Schinner– Vegan Creamery Queen, United States
Gone are the dark ages of unmelting vegan cheese as we embrace a new era of creamy, decadent plant-based cheeses. It’s safe to say that Schinner deserves much credit for satisfying the consumer cravings for tasty cheese without the cruelty to animals. Compassion for animals is central to all that the world’s favorite Vegan Cheese Queen does. She went vegetarian at the tender age of twelve and vegan during the 80s! Her endeavors to create rich vegan cheeses stemmed from her love for artisanal French cheese paired with a delightful glass of wine. Soon after, her humble home kitchen operation evolved into a multi-million dollar company that remains unwavering in its mission to heal the planet for all. In addition to running an award-winning creamery—Miyoko’s Creamery—Schinner also founded the Rancho Compasión sanctuary for abused and neglected animals who have been rescued from different exploitative industries.
Erin Wing– Fearless Undercover Investigator, United States
Imagine spending your youthful 20s undercover, documenting the atrocities of animal agriculture! That’s exactly what Erin Wing set out to do as an activist dedicated to bringing animal protection to the spotlight alongside other social justice issues. While undercover, she worked at chicken, dairy, and salmon farms, documenting routine abuse of defenseless animals and grappling with her own secondary trauma and sense of helplessness. Wing persevered as she believed the work was important to shed light on the personhood of these animals rather than viewing them as mere objects in the supply chain. Despite the horrors she witnessed, Wing remains hopeful that a vegan, compassionate, kind future is on the horizon. Wing now serves as the Deputy Director of Investigations at Animal Outlook and aspires to help farmers transition away from inherently cruel animal agriculture to the planet and animal-friendly plant farming through the Farm Transitions program.
Gwenna Hunter– Dedicated Food and Racial Justice Activist, United States
When Los Angeles-based, former IT professional Gwenna Hunter confronted the reality that the animals we share the Earth with our kith and kin, there was no looking back. For Hunter, empowering those who are marginalized and stripped of their power fuels her fire to create a just, equitable world. She views veganism as part of her ethic and moral compass that guides her work and founded Vegans for Black Lives Matter and Vegans of LA to foster a space for intersectional advocacy. Hunter is a project leader at Vegan Outreach, where she implemented a program that distributes fresh, plant-based meals across greater Los Angeles. Her activism is a testament to the importance of forming alliances with other social justice movements. Through her work with various organizations like Black Lives Matter Los Angeles, Black Women Farmers of LA, Black Women for Wellness, LGBT Center South, and the LA Chapter of The Animal Save Movement—to name a few—Hunter inspires us to recognize that all liberation is connected.
Daniela Romero Waldhorn– Savvy Policy Researcher, Spain
Since her early childhood in Chile, Daniela Romero Waldhorn knew that her life’s purpose was to help animals. She spent her days feeding stray, abandoned animals on the streets of Chile, went vegetarian in college after learning about the atrocities of animal agriculture, and eventually became a formidable vegan animal rights activist.
There was no amount of racism, sexism, homophobia, and other forms of discrimination—both within and outside the animal rights movement—that could keep her from fighting for the animals. Through her experience, she soon realized that the well-being of activists was often overlooked or swept to the sidelines. Romero shows us that a powerful, effective movement warrants ensuring that the activists are supported, uplifted, and feel safe. She is now an esteemed researcher at Rethink Priorities, an organization that works with and advises policymakers and other organizations on how to have the best impact on human and nonhuman lives alike.
Yumin Chen– Passionate advocate, Taiwan
Yumin Chen is a renowned, hard-working activist hailing from Taiwan and carries over 25 years of experience in the animal advocacy and protection space. She serves as the Director of the Environment & Animal Society of Taiwan, wherein she advises on developing animal welfare standards, ensures their proper enforcement, spearheads campaigns against animal cruelty, and urges corporations and governments to implement anti-cruelty practices. Chen credits her goal to end the suffering of all living beings as her key motivation.
Shih Chao-Hwei– Compassionate Buddhist Nun, Taiwan
A true force of kindness and the epitome of empathy, Shih Chao-Hwei believes that in our ability to suffer, humans and nonhumans are more alike than we are led to believe. From a young age, Ven. Chao-Hwei was conscious about extending her circle of compassion to our aquatic friends—who are often neglected in conversations of animal advocacy. She was instrumental in spearheading a fish hook ban in Taiwan—where she was living at the time—and also in legislative victories such as a ban on horse gambling across Taiwan and passage of a local Wildlife Conservation Act and Animal Protection Act. Ven. Chao-Hwei also gained global recognition for presiding over Taiwan’s first same-sex Buddhist wedding! She is the recipient of the distinguished Niwano Peace Prize of ¥20 million (US$188,000) for her advocacy in animal protection and gender equality! Ven. Chao-Hwei treasures critical thinking and discourse as important tools for making our vision for a kind world a reality. Currently, she serves as a professor and dean of the Department of Religion and Culture at Hsuan-Tzang University, where she continues to inspire new generations to speak up against ALL oppression, heal those who are suffering, and protect the vulnerable.
Be sure to follow and celebrate the countless and ever-growing community of Unbound women who are at the frontlines of driving positive change.
Images: Unbound Project
