Videos by Bjørn Ralf Kristensen
A discussion of Gary Francione's essay, "Animals—Property or Persons?" (2004) from Animal Rights:... more A discussion of Gary Francione's essay, "Animals—Property or Persons?" (2004) from Animal Rights: Current Debates and New Directions, eds. Sunstein & Nussbaum. I draw distinctions between rights-based/abolitionist and welfare-based approaches toward other animals. From an undergraduate course on Environmental Ethics that I taught in the summer of 2022. 26 views
A discussion of Eva Meijer's case study entitled, "Goose Politics: Resistance, Deliberation, and ... more A discussion of Eva Meijer's case study entitled, "Goose Politics: Resistance, Deliberation, and the Politics of Space" from her book, When Animals Speak: Toward an Interspecies Democracy (2019). I focus on the implications of liminal species, and animal political agency. I also spend some time discussing my paper, "Viennese hamsters and the interspecies politics of urban space" (2021). From an undergraduate course on Environmental Ethics that I taught in the summer of 2022.
My paper is available to download here: https://www.academia.edu/49360480/Viennese_hamsters_and_the_interspecies_politics_of_urban_space 12 views
A brief discussion of the first chapter of Val Plumwood's The Eye of the Crocodile and the ethics... more A brief discussion of the first chapter of Val Plumwood's The Eye of the Crocodile and the ethics of edibility from an undergraduate course I taught on Environmental Ethics in the summer of 2022.
The book is available Open Access here: https://press.anu.edu.au/publications/eye-crocodile 19 views
Book Chapters by Bjørn Ralf Kristensen
More-than-One Health: Humans, Animals, and the Environment Post-COVID, 2022
In this chapter, two examples of anthrodependency in wild animals tied to zoonotic disease are us... more In this chapter, two examples of anthrodependency in wild animals tied to zoonotic disease are used to exemplify cases where conventional, rigid principles in relation to such animals fall short. John Dewey’s approach to moral deliberation is used to bring necessary adaptive flexibility to complex situations such as these, which defy habitual understandings of wild animals. This is an approach grounded in sympathy and reflection that is adaptable to particular situations and their unique complexities. The case studies of anthrodependency discussed here reveal the necessity for a moral position that pushes against a view of the world that is neatly set in place. Furthermore, such cases exemplify the need for rejecting a harsh division between what is perceived as non-moral and moral. If morality is integrally tied to education and learning the meaning of who we are as a self, in relation to others, as Dewey maintains, then such cases also emphasize that part of the project of what Peter Singer refers to as “the expanding circle” is not simply the inclusion of animal others within the moral community, but also the recognition of the multitude of ways in which humans are already implicated in their lives. The discussion begun in this chapter lays the groundwork for a more nuanced reflection on policy with regard to both anthrodependent species and zoonotic disease mitigation.
Installations by Bjørn Ralf Kristensen
Venice Biennale Architettura, 2023
All humans, regardless of age, gender, race, rank, wealth, or power must excrete bodily waste on ... more All humans, regardless of age, gender, race, rank, wealth, or power must excrete bodily waste on a regular basis. Humans and all other species share this intimate reality. A key difference between humans and other living organisms is that we are still attempting to manage our bodily waste as a resource without severely impacting or destroying other species and ourselves.
In this project we bring awareness to the transspecies entanglements within the context of Container Based Sanitation (CBS). We consider the environment and individual species who are implicated in sanitation practices within informal settlements. Attention is drawn to both the broader socio-environmental impacts of sanitation practices, and the individual lives—human and more-than-human—who are integrally tied to, yet often abstracted from, these processes. It is our hope that viewers will leave with a realization of three crucial points: 1) Sanitation processes necessarily involve other species who are often backgrounded—or remain largely unexamined entities—within typical considerations. 2) The benefits of improved sanitation are not confined to humans. A diversity of other species also stand to benefit from inclusive approaches to sanitation. 3) The realization of a wider transspecies community is integral in coming to terms with the global sanitation crisis—a wicked problem calling for considerations beyond a narrow anthropocentric worldview
Papers by Bjørn Ralf Kristensen
Medium, 2022
In this essay, I look to ecofeminist philosopher Val Plumwood’s intentional recognition stance to... more In this essay, I look to ecofeminist philosopher Val Plumwood’s intentional recognition stance to explore intentionality outside of consciously intended acts. I consider how both sentient and non-sentient earth others exhibit intentionality which exceeds or exists outside of conscious choice. Within sentient earth others, intentionality is often interpreted as being dependent on one intending to act in a particular way. As I maintain, such an interpretation can have the effect of undermining agency that manifests in unintended ways. To explore this, I look to Eva Meijer’s work on more-than-human political agency as exhibited by greylag geese living in close proximity to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. She shows us that their agency is exhibited through their embodied presence, and that their inability to access conventional human means of dialogue powerfully represents the unjust power structures they are resisting. I build upon this section in the conclusion to the paper where I consider intentionality exhibited by the sabr, a cactus growing in Israel and Palestine to whom Palestinians have deep relational ties. The persistence of this plant in the face of systems that simultaneously fail to account for both human and more-than-human agency is a powerful case study to explore an intentionality that pushes against both liberal individualism and the conception that agency is dependent on sentience.
Medium, 2022
Within common popular discourse on domesticated animals, domestication is often understood to be ... more Within common popular discourse on domesticated animals, domestication is often understood to be a distinct category from which we can clearly designate that some animals belong and some do not. While there are certainly discussions of liminal species within animal ethics literature, as in those animals existing somewhere on the spectrum between wild and domesticated, there is very little consideration as to how the transition from wild to domesticated may be taking place in contemporary species. And further, both wild and domesticated often persist as rigid black and white categories with domestication being framed as an inherently morally problematic dynamic. In this paper, I seek to complicate the discussion, with particular attention to using past pathways toward domestication as potential models to help us better understand contemporary cases in which animals typically perceived as wild may actually be entangled within a process of domestication. I look to zooarchaeological data on the domestication process of the donkey and the guinea fowl to explore two seemingly distinct pathways to domestication: A directed pathway and a commensal pathway. One key point that I wish to put forward is that many contemporary wild animals living among humans may be said to be proto-domesticates regardless of any intentional project to bring about such an end. I conclude this paper with the claim that we should not be dismissive of this, nor should we see domestication as an inherently problematic or exploitative process. Rather, we can understand it as indicative of dependencies emerging from an ever more anthropogenically modified world that we can strive toward being more cognizant of and intentionally engaged in.
Justice and food security in a changing climate, 2021
I consider the interspecies political implications of Vienna, Austria's urban-dwelling European h... more I consider the interspecies political implications of Vienna, Austria's urban-dwelling European hamsters (Cricetus cricetus). In July 2020, the International Union for Conservation of Nature updated the status of the European hamster on its Red List of Threatened Species to 'critically endangered, ' warning that the species is likely to go extinct in the next 30 years. While anthropogenic factors are largely responsible for the current state of the species, the adaptability of these synanthropic hamsters has also led to a unique trajectory in their hope for survival; they have been successful as a liminal species inhabiting urban environments where they have also received prominent attention and protection. I look to the former disregard for their presence as laying the groundwork for closer contemporary ties between humans and hamsters in the city of Vienna. Through Val Plumwood's intentional recognition stance, I propose that the interactions between humans and hamsters in Vienna exemplify the recognition of hamster agency and their political claim on space. The story of the Viennese hamsters also pushes against conventional narratives that often fail to account for the dependence of liminal animals on humans, and it emphasises a call toward not just protecting the abstract category of species, but also the unique relationships between hamsters, humans, and the urban environment of the city.
Professionals in Food Chains, 2018
In this paper, I respond to a major oversight in contemporary animal ethics discussions: the mora... more In this paper, I respond to a major oversight in contemporary animal ethics discussions: the moral problem of captive predation. While attention has been given to wild animal predation, most notably by Jeff McMahan, the suffering caused in sustaining captive carnivorous animals is absent from the discourse. McMahan argues that humans have an obligation to reduce suffering by aiding prey animals in the wild. I present his arguments in favour of interfering with predation as well as arguments against such obligations. McMahan lays the moral groundwork for a wide range of interference; however, interfering to the extent he suggests is currently infeasible. His arguments become stronger when applied to captive animals. Captive predation presents a situation in which humans have already interfered, and where further interference to alleviate suffering caused in sustaining captive carnivorous animals is practical and morally necessary. The carnivorous animals I consider are those kept as pets, in zoos and aquariums, and in rehabilitation centres. Cultured meat is the ideal candidate to replace the meat being fed to these animals. Current research is predominantly directed toward supplementing meat consumption by humans. I argue that it makes sense to direct research and development of cultured meat toward supplementing the diets of captive carnivorous animals. Feeding these animals cultured meat would result in an immense reduction in suffering and death for animals who would otherwise be killed to sustain them.
Book Reviews by Bjørn Ralf Kristensen
Environmental Ethics, 2021
Environmental Ethics, 2021
Journal of Holy Land and Palestine Studies, 2020
In his field study on the young generation in Jordanian refugee camps, Luigi Achilli, a political... more In his field study on the young generation in Jordanian refugee camps, Luigi Achilli, a political anthropologist, 'was puzzled by what seemed to be an ostensible lack of interest in politics.. . especially among young men' (245) whereas in the past the camps were sites of political activism and nationalism. The author argues that by withdrawing from disappointing politics the young generation hope to control and keep their dual identity as Palestinian-Jordanians. The political strategy of the Western donors and multilateral involvement is Mandy Turner subject. Maintaining the Palestinian Authority remained their only option even when the conditions originated in Oslo were destructive for achieving an independent Palestine. The donors were aware of this but chose to prevent developing any alternative, 'particularly those that are opposed by the US and Israel' (p. 293). In the final chapter Cherine Hussein writes on the single state alternative that is pushed mainly by diaspora activists. This alternative of replacing the two-state solution with equal citizenship in historical Palestine for all inhabitants is intellectual rather than political and correspond with Jewish intellectuals calling for the revival the lost Arab-Jewish identity. The author acknowledges the problems that the one-state advocates face translating the concept into a grassroots popular movement with political leadership capable to unify the fragmented Palestinian society. Those advocates, 'remain unsure as to why they have not been able to galvanize more success as a political force' (p. 325).
Environmental Ethics, 2019
Reading Religion, 2019
Animal Ethics and the Nonconformist Conscience is an illuminating text which examines the histori... more Animal Ethics and the Nonconformist Conscience is an illuminating text which examines the historical roots of the animal advocacy movement in the theology of the nonconformist tradition.
Talks by Bjørn Ralf Kristensen
In this presentation, I put forward an understanding of wastewater and sanitation practices not m... more In this presentation, I put forward an understanding of wastewater and sanitation practices not merely as processes to be understood in a physical framework of human health and environmental contamination. Working through the concept waste waterscapes (Zimmer, 2012) paired with what I refer to as "relational spillovers" (Kristensen, 2022), I emphasize the need to understand sanitation and wastewater as illustrating deep social meanings, definitions, understandings, and power structures. If other species are entangled within both the literal processes, as well as the social, environmental, and political consequences, of sanitation practices then the choices made regarding how human waste is handled, disposed of, and/or treated, are not just decisions involving managing feces and urine, they are also invitations to recognize, accommodate for, and invite various relationships of interconnection and interdependence with a multitude of other species. From the microscopic organisms necessary for sustaining waste treatment centers tied to sewer systems of much of the developed world, to the wild and urban liminal animals impacted through disposal of waste in off-grid settlements, sanitation and wastewater represent what Stacy Alaimo (2010) refers to as transcorporeal practices permeating the porous bodies of humans and other beings; an “intimate shared reality” that connects us all.
I consider philosophical implications tied to multispecies interconnections and interdependencies arising in the context of different sanitation processes. Development discourse in WASH (Water, Sanitation, & Hygiene) sectors tends to be overwhelming anthropocentric, neglecting to recognize such important relationships beyond the human. One example I address is the case of dense informal (off-grid) settlements lacking access to piped water systems. Such conditions entangle humans in relations with other beings. Vibrio cholerae is a common species that intersects with human lives in dense urban environments. Cholera in humans results largely from consuming contaminated drinking water, often also a result of unimproved sanitation. Brown rats (Norway rats) are also a ubiquitous presence in dense urban settlements. Both humans living in such settlements, and the rats themselves, are harmed by the presence of untreated sewage and runoff. Leptospirosis is a deadly bacterial disease that Norway rats are often capable of spreading, and they tend to be blamed and sometimes killed for doing so. It is unlikely that rats will be eradicated, and doing so would also have animal welfare implications. Yet, beyond this it may be distracting from a more important consideration that aligns with working toward solutions to improved sanitation in informal settlements, given that some evidence suggests contaminated water as the primary point of concern in spreading the disease. Piped water/sewer systems are neither feasible nor ideal within most dense urban environments in the Global South. Yet, as I propose, improved affordable and sustainable approaches to sanitation have the potential to improve both human and more-than-human lives.
Please note several things: • The easiest way to find your presentation is by using the find func... more Please note several things: • The easiest way to find your presentation is by using the find function (press <CTRL> <F> on your keyboard, and then enter your name or your presentation title) • AESS sessions and events will be added soon • We have a draft of sessions in Pheedloop at the (under construction) conference website as well: https://site.pheedloop.com/event/asleaess23/schedule#list • The final program will be in Pheedloop, and also include panelist affiliations • The final program will include room assignments at the Oregon Convention Center
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Videos by Bjørn Ralf Kristensen
My paper is available to download here: https://www.academia.edu/49360480/Viennese_hamsters_and_the_interspecies_politics_of_urban_space
The book is available Open Access here: https://press.anu.edu.au/publications/eye-crocodile
Book Chapters by Bjørn Ralf Kristensen
Installations by Bjørn Ralf Kristensen
In this project we bring awareness to the transspecies entanglements within the context of Container Based Sanitation (CBS). We consider the environment and individual species who are implicated in sanitation practices within informal settlements. Attention is drawn to both the broader socio-environmental impacts of sanitation practices, and the individual lives—human and more-than-human—who are integrally tied to, yet often abstracted from, these processes. It is our hope that viewers will leave with a realization of three crucial points: 1) Sanitation processes necessarily involve other species who are often backgrounded—or remain largely unexamined entities—within typical considerations. 2) The benefits of improved sanitation are not confined to humans. A diversity of other species also stand to benefit from inclusive approaches to sanitation. 3) The realization of a wider transspecies community is integral in coming to terms with the global sanitation crisis—a wicked problem calling for considerations beyond a narrow anthropocentric worldview
Papers by Bjørn Ralf Kristensen
Book Reviews by Bjørn Ralf Kristensen
Talks by Bjørn Ralf Kristensen
I consider philosophical implications tied to multispecies interconnections and interdependencies arising in the context of different sanitation processes. Development discourse in WASH (Water, Sanitation, & Hygiene) sectors tends to be overwhelming anthropocentric, neglecting to recognize such important relationships beyond the human. One example I address is the case of dense informal (off-grid) settlements lacking access to piped water systems. Such conditions entangle humans in relations with other beings. Vibrio cholerae is a common species that intersects with human lives in dense urban environments. Cholera in humans results largely from consuming contaminated drinking water, often also a result of unimproved sanitation. Brown rats (Norway rats) are also a ubiquitous presence in dense urban settlements. Both humans living in such settlements, and the rats themselves, are harmed by the presence of untreated sewage and runoff. Leptospirosis is a deadly bacterial disease that Norway rats are often capable of spreading, and they tend to be blamed and sometimes killed for doing so. It is unlikely that rats will be eradicated, and doing so would also have animal welfare implications. Yet, beyond this it may be distracting from a more important consideration that aligns with working toward solutions to improved sanitation in informal settlements, given that some evidence suggests contaminated water as the primary point of concern in spreading the disease. Piped water/sewer systems are neither feasible nor ideal within most dense urban environments in the Global South. Yet, as I propose, improved affordable and sustainable approaches to sanitation have the potential to improve both human and more-than-human lives.
My paper is available to download here: https://www.academia.edu/49360480/Viennese_hamsters_and_the_interspecies_politics_of_urban_space
The book is available Open Access here: https://press.anu.edu.au/publications/eye-crocodile
In this project we bring awareness to the transspecies entanglements within the context of Container Based Sanitation (CBS). We consider the environment and individual species who are implicated in sanitation practices within informal settlements. Attention is drawn to both the broader socio-environmental impacts of sanitation practices, and the individual lives—human and more-than-human—who are integrally tied to, yet often abstracted from, these processes. It is our hope that viewers will leave with a realization of three crucial points: 1) Sanitation processes necessarily involve other species who are often backgrounded—or remain largely unexamined entities—within typical considerations. 2) The benefits of improved sanitation are not confined to humans. A diversity of other species also stand to benefit from inclusive approaches to sanitation. 3) The realization of a wider transspecies community is integral in coming to terms with the global sanitation crisis—a wicked problem calling for considerations beyond a narrow anthropocentric worldview
I consider philosophical implications tied to multispecies interconnections and interdependencies arising in the context of different sanitation processes. Development discourse in WASH (Water, Sanitation, & Hygiene) sectors tends to be overwhelming anthropocentric, neglecting to recognize such important relationships beyond the human. One example I address is the case of dense informal (off-grid) settlements lacking access to piped water systems. Such conditions entangle humans in relations with other beings. Vibrio cholerae is a common species that intersects with human lives in dense urban environments. Cholera in humans results largely from consuming contaminated drinking water, often also a result of unimproved sanitation. Brown rats (Norway rats) are also a ubiquitous presence in dense urban settlements. Both humans living in such settlements, and the rats themselves, are harmed by the presence of untreated sewage and runoff. Leptospirosis is a deadly bacterial disease that Norway rats are often capable of spreading, and they tend to be blamed and sometimes killed for doing so. It is unlikely that rats will be eradicated, and doing so would also have animal welfare implications. Yet, beyond this it may be distracting from a more important consideration that aligns with working toward solutions to improved sanitation in informal settlements, given that some evidence suggests contaminated water as the primary point of concern in spreading the disease. Piped water/sewer systems are neither feasible nor ideal within most dense urban environments in the Global South. Yet, as I propose, improved affordable and sustainable approaches to sanitation have the potential to improve both human and more-than-human lives.