Cube of Truth Events in Chiang Mai – Everything You Need to Know
By Guest Contributor, Jason Fonger.
1.) What is The Cube of Truth all about?
The “Cube Of Truth” is a form of vegan street activism. These events are put on by a global organization called Anonymous For The Voiceless which is now operating in about 600 cities spread across 62 countries. At these events, we display footage of various forms of animal exploitation including the meat, dairy, egg, fishing, and fur industries in a public space, ideally with high foot traffic. It is up to the members of the public to decide if they would like to stop and view the footage or not; we don’t force anyone to look at anything. When people do stop to view the footage, we talk with them about animal exploitation and use the Socratic method of asking questions in order to help people see for themselves why veganism is important. We then provide people with resources so that they can educate themselves further and easily transition to a vegan lifestyle if they choose to do so.
2.) When did it start up in Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai was actually one of the first cities in the world to have a Cube Of Truth. The co-founders of Anonymous For The Voiceless, Paul Bashir and Asal Alamdari started the movement in Australia in April of 2016, and after having some success in their home country, they decided to try having a demonstration in Chiang Mai in August of that same year. The demonstration went very well, and there were occasional Cubes every few months until February 2018 when the events became more regular, happening usually twice per month.
3.) When and where in Chiang Mai is it held?
We are currently doing every other Sunday night at Tha Pae Gate. This is a great location because there are a lot of people walking by as they go and come from the Sunday night walking street. Those interested in taking part should join the Facebook group called AV: Chiang Mai, Thailand to get the latest information regarding dates and times. You can also post any questions or concerns you may have in that group before you decide to attend. If you’re going to be in Bangkok, there is a weekly Cube Of Truth there so please join the Facebook group AV: Bangkok, Thailand as well.
4.) What do I need to know/bring before coming?
Once you have joined the Facebook group, you will be able to download our videos and a media player to your laptop or tablet which you should bring if you have one. We ask people to do this in advance to save time during setup. It’s also important to make sure the device that you bring with you is fully charged. We dress in black clothing to maintain a consistent aesthetic, so do your best to wear black or dark colored clothing. There is a briefing at the beginning of each event to explain in detail how everything works, so be on time to ensure you are there for that. Masks, signs and resources to hand out will all be provided at the event. If you don’t have a laptop please join anyway.
5.) What will I be doing during the event?
There are two roles for volunteers. The first role is standing in the cube. When standing in the cube you will be holding either a laptop, tablet, or a sign. You will also be wearing a Guy Fawkes mask which will be provided for you. It is tiring to stand in the cube, so it is suggested that you stand in the cube for about 30 minutes to 1 hour at a time, then take a break. Whenever you would like to come out of the cube, you can simply raise your hand and we will find someone to switch with you. The other role is doing outreach. This involves standing around the cube and watching for people who seem interested in the footage. When you see someone is interested, you can help them understand more about how animals are currently being treated on this planet, and what they can do help stop it. It is not a requirement that volunteers do outreach; if you do not feel comfortable doing it you can simply stand in the cube, taking breaks whenever you need to. If you would like to do outreach but feel that you are not ready for whatever reason, one option is ‘shadowing’ someone who has more experience doing outreach. This involves standing within earshot of their conversations with members of the public so that you can learn from how they approach communicating with people about veganism.
6.) How many people usually attend?
We typically have between 10 and 20 volunteers attending these events in Chiang Mai. Some cities around the world have had well over 100 people!
7.) How many successful conversations do you usually have?
While it is impossible to say for sure how people will act after the conversation and we never know if someone is going to go vegan as a result of the event or not, we do keep track of how many people we speak to who seem to be seriously considering transitioning to a vegan lifestyle. At recent weeks in Chiang Mai, this number has typically been between 30 and 50 people. However, there is also definitely a far greater number of people who are exposed to this footage for the first time, and who have had seeds planted in their minds as a result of these events.
8.) What will I get out of it?
Being vegan in a non-vegan society certainly comes with some challenges. One thing is that it can be difficult to find like-minded people to connect with, and at these Cube Of Truth events you are guaranteed to make some new friends who feel the same way you do about animal exploitation. Lately we have been going to Goodsouls Kitchen after we finish doing the Cubes so that we have a chance to relax, socialize, and enjoy eating with fellow vegans. Another thing is that while being vegan is definitely helping the animals, it is important to make an effort to spread the message and inspire others as well. It’s not always easy to speak up about veganism in our daily lives, and the Cube Of Truth provides an ideal setting to do so in a supportive environment alongside other vegans. Opening someone’s eyes, mind, and heart to the philosophy of veganism is an incredibly rewarding experience in and of itself. The sense of camaraderie at these events is fantastic and those who attend most often walk away feeling a great sense of accomplishment. It’s really impossible to convey how awesome it feels to take part in these powerful events, you have to experience it for yourself! We hope to see all of you awesome vegans out at one soon!
Jason Fonger is a vegan activist, YouTuber, and triathlete. He is from Toronto, Canada and has been based in Thailand for the past 4 years. You can find his videos at www.youtube.com/jasonfonger and also check out his Instagram @jasonfonger.
Photos: Jason Fonger, LJ Esquire, Antonia Becker.
Special thanks to Daniel V Georges and Goodsouls Kitchen for their kind support of these events.
