Luvin Arms Animal Sanctuary spans forty acres of open space in Erie, Colorado, just north of Denver. Established in 2015 by Shaleen and Shilpi Shah, a couple originally from Gujarat, it is the only Jain-founded and operated animal sanctuary in North America. The sanctuary’s “American-ness” extends beyond its location, as it is also reflected in the sanctuary's early strategy of minimizing the founders’ cultural identity to appeal to a broader audience. In this talk, Dickstein explores how Luvin Arms has since embraced and highlighted its Jain roots and values while simultaneously reimagining the traditional Jain panjrapole by incorporating contemporary animal enrichment and visitor education programs.

While the production and popularity of plant-based ("faux") meat that closely resembles animal flesh is promising in terms of reducing support for industrial animal agriculture, some philosophers have argued that it poses another ethical issue by endorsing animals as "edible." In this talk, Tuminello highlights Jain social and philosophical approaches to faux meat and how they speak to current western debates. He examines Jainism's denouncement of violent actions like killing and eating animals, as well as contemporary and historical Jain perspectives taking issue with the symbolic representation of animals in (and as) food. Considering these views together, Jainism provides a foundation for taking faux meat's ethical concerns seriously while also embracing the potential of faux meat to contribute to a reduction in violence.