COUNTER FANZINE

“I believe veganism is inherently political, and to attempt to separate it from politics is to reduce it to a diet that stands in the way of animal liberation; at that point, it's no longer veganism. While the health benefits of veganism are nice, at its core, it is about the animals.”

Hi, I’m Counter Fanzine, a vegan straight edge zine based primarily in Ventura County, California! I’ve released two issues with all proceeds being donated to Farm Sanctuary in Acton, CA; as of this interview, Counter has raised $883 with the help of Bound By Modern Age Records! I write editorials about topics I feel need to be shared, but I also have interviewed people and bands like Eva Hall (Gather, Power Alone, Rats in the Wall), Sean Muttaqui (Vegan Reich, Violent Disorder), Day of Suffering, and Moral Law. My mission is to spread veganism and straight edge from a “Total Liberation” perspective. I also like to share my passion for cooking with veganized Filipino recipes I grew up with!

What was the moment or experience that first pushed you toward veganism?
Did your path into veganism come before or after you started making zines?
Was there a specific zine, publication, band, or other media that influenced your decision?
How did your friends, family, or community react when you made that shift?
Was it an immediate commitment, or something you grew into over time?
I think it’s important to mention that I once loved animal products before I went vegan, more than the average person. I would say I loved animals, yet I would eat them all the time. I even considered myself “adventurous” when it came to consuming animals; the thought of this now disgusts me. I think that, even though the slaughter was right in front of me, I ignored the connection. The reason I speak about this is because I had bought into societal conditioning, but I know there is a way to break it. I’ve grown up in the age of the internet, so like many kids, even as a pre-teen, I fell into the “anti-woke” rabbithole. I espoused anti-vegan rhetoric (vegans were annoying, pushy, didn’t do anything, etc) and the things I saw online reinforced my cognitive dissonance. Once I began to pull myself out of that online rabbithole, I began to become interested in radical politics, but it would be another about another year before I made a change. Funnily enough, music that shared these ideas followed, with Rage Against the Machine actually being my first introduction. Somehow, I eventually found anarcho-punk, which is where I was forced to confront my cruelty and put my money where my mouth was. Even though there were tons of bands that talked about animal-rights, Conflict (RIP Colin Jerwood) was the one that truly opened my eyes. The militant rhetoric I once despised vegans for was the very thing that made me go vegetarian. I was vegetarian for exactly a year, but during this time I started listening to hardcore. I knew veganism was the better path, but I kept making excuses, just like when I was a carnist. Earth Crisis and Gather were the two bands that pushed me to go vegan; to make this change I forced myself to watch “Earthlings”. I was so disgusted I couldn’t watch more than 20 minutes at a time; but when I finished it, I went vegan. Now I’ve been vegan for about 4 years, and I truly wish I made that decision sooner. My family wasn’t too pleased and thought I would literally die from malnutrition, but here I am!

For you, how connected are veganism, straight edge, and your zine?
Does your zine reflect your vegan or straight edge values? If so, how?
Do you see publishing as an extension of your ethics, or is it a separate form of expression?
My zine is completely connected to veganism and straight edge, but especially to veganism. Most of what I’ve written about and many of the questions I ask people/bands are related to veganism or straight edge. As mentioned in the bio, my aim is to spread these ideas so Counter is a vegan straight edge zine first and foremost.

What role has zine culture played in shaping your beliefs or identity?
Actually, hardcore zines in specific didn’t have much of a role in shaping my beliefs or identity, it was more of the music that served as a primer. The zines that did impact me tended to expand on these foundations; most of them were more explicitly political zines/DIY editorials. The reason I actually started my zine came from a deep interest in 90s zines like Vanguard, OneXLaw, SEAL, Attack and Answer, Holocaust, etc (just to clarify, I’m not Hardline!). I’ve collected a few of these, but have read most of them through resources online or through compilations by @fvtvrewave.la on Instagram.

How has being part of the DIY publishing community strengthened your commitment to veganism or straight edge?
I think during the process of writing my zine, I’ve become more vegan than ever, especially due to the feedback I’ve gotten from other people because it’s encouraged me to explore and express my passions. The reception of Counter Issue 2 inspired me to dig deeper than I had before and I’m actually in the process of writing pretty lengthy editorials on veganism/conservation while on a strict deadline for Counter 3, haha!

Do you feel zine culture today is more or less aligned with vegan and straight edge values than when you first got involved?
I probably was just not looking for it, but when I first got into hardcore, zine culture, vegan or not, was extremely small. In my local scene there are only two other zines that were established more recently as well: Strike You Down and loosefitgarments. This year, I’ve seen more zines than I have ever seen before during my time in hardcore (could also just because I got more involved!), some of which are explicitly vegan or straight edge. Shoutout The Wind Below Fanzine and New Ethic Fanzine! I still think that we’re definitely lacking the zine culture that the scene once saw, especially in terms of veganism or straight edge.

What messages do you hope your zine conveys about your identity and values?
I don’t necessarily care about expressing my identity per se, but I do care about expressing my values to hopefully inspire someone to break free from societal conditioning, just like I did. To explain, even though straight edge is a HUGE part of my identity, I wrote about how straight edge can be used as a tool for liberation of both oneself and others.

Has anyone ever told you that something you published inspired them to look into veganism or straight edge? If so, how?
A few people have told me that Counter is making them consider going vegan, though I’m not sure if they fully have transitioned or not (I hope they have!). I have, however, directly influenced a few close friends to go vegan, even if it wasn’t due to my zine. I also think that the people who picked up Counter who are already vegan can still be influenced by the words in it; I believe it can strengthen their convictions, which is always a good thing!

Do you think zines can genuinely influence people's way of thinking, or do they mainly express beliefs that already exist?
I think zines, like music, can genuinely influence how someone thinks. Politically oriented zines have impacted the way I think about things and have helped my beliefs evolve. Additionally, I know that media (zines or music) can make someone have a complete 180 in their thinking; I know this from experience, as previously stated.

Do you consider veganism inherently political? Why?
I believe veganism is inherently political, and to attempt to separate it from politics is to reduce it to a diet that stands in the way of animal liberation; at that point, it's no longer veganism. While the health benefits of veganism are nice, at its core, it is about the animals. We’ve seen the consequences of this reduction as “veganism” has fallen very far from the popularity it had a couple years ago. The problem is, these people were just plant-based, not vegan. This decline, however, gives us a chance to reinforce that veganism is political, and in fact, that it should be applied to a framework of “Total Liberation”. All struggles are interconnected, and veganism can serve as the first step toward ending these struggles; therefore it must remain inherently political. Veganism is the bare minimum in our struggle for animal liberation, but at the same time it can minimize environmental devastation, increase food security, and combat imperialist practices.

How have your ethics influenced the publications, writers, or creators you choose to support, or the way you approach making zines?
My ethics decide everything I do regarding my zine. For one, I only interview vegans. I know this seems exclusionary, but my mission is to share veganism while documenting vegan people and bands from the past and present. Counter is ultimately about spreading the message of Total Liberation so it only makes sense that the people I interview, or the distributors I partner with (BBMA), should share this goal.

What issues within zine culture do you think aren't being talked about enough, especially regarding veganism, straight edge, or ethics?
Why do you think zines remain an important medium in the digital age?
What can a printed zine accomplish that social media never will?
I think that zines, like hardcore in general, are lacking something meaningful to say. I think that zines are dope to have around regardless, and I’m not saying they should only be political. It’s awesome to share personal interests or document your scene in one way or another, and all of that helps keep hardcore and zine culture alive, but at the same time I believe it is so important to inspire change in an age where people are attempting to reduce hardcore into a trend or a popularity contest. All I got to say is that, if there’s no zines in your scene, start one and say something to inspire someone else, and if the zines in your scene don’t say anything, say it for them! Again, having zines of both kinds is important! This is because social media can never bring people together around a table or help you have a face-to-face conversation with someone who was impacted by your work. Physical media will always be the best vehicle to deliver information to the people who truly care or those who have an open mind. In the same way watching a video can never replicate going to a show, social media can never replicate holding something in your hand and truly taking the words in.

Looking back, would you approach your writing or the way you express your beliefs through your zine differently?
I don’t think I would approach things any differently at its core; my message will always be about Total Liberation. The only thing I would do differently is go more in depth on topics; issue 3 will contain 2-3 long essays rather than 4-5 short editorials. I have a lot I want to say and I believe it's important to lay out basics rather than crude concepts. My militant and in-your-face messaging is something I feel is effective; even if not everyone can get behind it, I know there are people who respond well to it (just like I did 4 years ago).

What keeps you committed to veganism and straight edge when it becomes difficult or isolating?
Being vegan or straight edge can be very isolating at times, and I’m sure now that I’m heading to college it’ll be even harder. Despite this, my conviction of veganism burns through hard times because I cannot turn my back on the countless individuals we murder and exploit; I’ve seen what happens to them and I refuse to contribute to it. I struggle more with isolation and helplessness (feeling like I’m not making an impact), rather than temptations to eat animal products, but when things get rough, I think of the Earth Crisis lyrics, “Don’t let your outrage for injustice end where your selfishness begins”. My mentality is that of fighting regardless of whether you’re making an impact or not. Straight edge on the other hand is something that comes very easily to me because I have personally experienced addiction, and I never want to feel that way again. I also remind myself that I can act freely for change with a clear head.

Where do you see the vegan straight edge movement within zine culture going over the next decade?
I’m not sure where XVX in zine culture is going, even though I’ve thought about it a lot. I feel like there will always be kids like me who want to keep that flame burning or those who want to push for change, but I’m not sure if the number of them will increase. Hardcore and zines feel like they’re in a great, but also bad place at the same time; it’s hard to describe. There are moments and people that feel so real and genuine, like we can make a change, but when I zoom out, sometimes I feel that XVX and zine culture is being forgotten while hardcore is being invaded by apathetic trend hoppers. In the face of hopelessness, we should try even harder. In the 90s, XVX kids felt like they were going to change the world, but they didn’t. This led to people dropping out; maybe the ones who will change the world will be the generation who keeps fighting even when they don’t see change.

What advice would you give to someone who's considering veganism or straight edge but is still undecided?
My advice to someone who is considering veganism or straight edge: just do it. It sounds easier said than done, but it really isn’t. I urge you not to live with the regret of exploitation or addiction, and most of all I urge you to think about the downtrodden. Think about the animals who suffer at the hands of humankind, the Earth that is being killed, and those who are exploited by pharmaceutical companies or druglords.

Final Thoughts:

First zine or publication that made you think differently:
“Blessed is the Flame” by Serafinski

An article, essay, or quote that has stayed with you:
“Don’t let your outrage for injustice end where your selfishness begins”.
- Earth Crisis

One misconception about veganism / straight edge:
It’s a colonial practice/it’s expensive.

What value will you never compromise, regardless of trends or outside pressure?
The belief that our freedom should be absolute until it impedes on another’s.
What do you hope your work leaves behind?
A spark for people who are willing to fight.