Left to die: on buffaloes, disinformation and structural speciesim

Abstract

In this article, we analyze the case that became known as “Buffaloes of Brotas”to introduce the discussion on the concept of structural speciesism, placing speciesism as one of the components of the system of oppressions. We approach the informational aspect that involves the case through the narratives identified in the media coverage. We extended the debate to the informational bias, highlighting the need to insert political elements. We contextualize structural speciesism as a strategy for raising agribusiness which relies on other institutions of power as auxiliaries in biasing public opinion, favoring the maintenance of the interests of this sector and its continuous expansion, to the detriment of the quality of life of non-human animals and humans. As a methodology, we adopted a bibliographic review, correlating the theoretical framework of the knowledge of Information Science, Critical Animalist Studies, Ecofeminisms and analysis of the mentioned paradigmatic case through the reports disseminated by the media, to determine the complex plot that we call the "paradox of oppression”, involving the activism movement in defense of the animal cause, the media and agribusiness. Our final considerations direct us to the understanding of structural speciesism as an informational problem, as it is the product of disinformation strategies and plays the role of providing common sense, producing ignorance, and maintaining power structures that ensure its own existence as a mode of oppression that impacts non-human animals and humans