Animal Voices - Direct action

Rescate Abierto: Open Rescues and Inspiration with Igualdad Animal’s Sharon Núñez

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:00:00 -0500

In the (Western) world of image streams and media saturation, Igualdad Animal (Animal Equality) knows how to play the game, and be effective. Having built a strong network of supporters and activists across Spain (and now expanding to the UK, Colombia and Venezuela), the group holds close to a dozen actions per week, sometimes more, garnering public attention, generating discussion, and keeping the idea of abolishing animal exploitation circulating in the Spanish public consciousness. In all they do, whether it is rescates abiertos (open rescues) or town square demonstrations advocating veganism, Igualdad Animal does their work in a way that is ethically sound, attention grabbing, and serious. You won’t see any women in lettuce bikinis here.

In this, our third conversation with Igualdad Animal founder and director Sharon Núñez, we discuss the philosophy behind IA, the importance of open rescues, and the way that image obsessed Western culture can still be touched by a serious dedication to the truth. An inspiration for abolitionist activists everwhere, Sharon and IA prove that you don’t need to resort to childish antics to garner media attention, and that demanding abolition of animal slavery can be a goal that is reached for with more than just carefully worded pamphlets.

To donate via Paypal to help IA continue their open rescues, send funds to: info@igualdadanimal.org

News links:

Voice of the Voiceless: Online and Offline Activism With Peter Young

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:00:00 -0500

Through avenues such as facebook, blogging and twitter, the internet has arguably become a powerful avenue for activists to share information, debate topics, and organize themselves. Though many (including Peter Young) would question the value and worth of online activism, it is for many veterans in the animal advocacy movements a new and necessary tool for getting the word out about emerging issues and getting people fired up. On this week’s program we get an update on his Voice of the Voiceless website, a tool which he hopes will provide “actionable” information for activists who wish to get off the internet and hit the streets. We also discuss the Morgan, Utah, a small town that holds 13 fur farms in its tiny territory and which will be the site of the upcoming Fur Free Utah convergence.

Peter Young is a veteran animal liberation activist and former political prisoner convicted for his role in liberating thousands of animals from fur farms across the country. Emerging from a grand jury indictment, 7 years of being wanted by the FBI, a federal prison sentence, and nearly 15 years in the animal liberation movement; today Peter is a frequent lecturer at universities and events, writer on liberation movements, and unapologetic supporter of those who work outside the law to achieve human, earth, and animal liberation.

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Local Actions and Legal Precedents: Interviews with Elizabeth Schoales and Will Potter

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:00:00 -0400

On this installment of Animal Voices we speak directly to an activist trying to effect important change on a local level in Canada, and to a journalist bringing attention to how a new legal precedent will affect activists all over the US.

Photo © Bill Swindaman

First, we speak with Elizabeth Schoales, an activist based in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. In addition to work with the Cat Action Team (the only Trap, Neuter, Return program in PEI), Schoales has been busy trying to get the Charlottetown municipal government to rethink their wildlife removal program, which results in hundreds of skunks (and other animals) being trapped and shot every year within the city limits. We also discuss the recent bust of PuppiesAcrossCanada.com, a website operating as a front for a puppy mill in PEI. [To contact Schoales about helping her with her work, please contact: animalvoices AT gmail DOT com]

Next, we catch up once again with journalist and blogger Will Potter to discuss the recent upholding of convictions against the SHAC 7 by a US appellate court. Though the ruling has passed quietly and virtually unnoticed in the mainstream press, Potter gives us a grim analysis of its possible implications for what is and is not protected speech in the US. A must listen for any activists who encourage or endorse direct action as a tactic of animal liberation.

Pushing the Envelope: Animal Rights in Spain

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 11:00:00 -0500

Spain has quickly become a hotbed of animal rights activism, and Igualdad Animal / Animal Equality continues to be at the helm of its most radical, creative, and effective actions. This highly organized anti-speciesist and abolitionist group holds numerous actions each week to raise awareness about slaughterhouses, fur farming, bull fighting, and a host of other contentious animal practices. In this conversation, Sharon Núñez reflects on the growth of the provocative group, its often unconventional tactics (such as open rescues), the impact of knowing liberated animals, and more.

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Not Asking for Permission: Former ALF Activist Peter Young

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 11:00:00 -0500

Peter Young in 2005

Photo from ALF website

Join us for a conversation with former Animal Liberation Front (ALF) activist, Peter Young. Now famous for a series of raids on mink farms across the U.S. Midwest during 1997, and the liberation of thousands of animals, Young was indicted by a federal grand jury in 1998, on "Extortion by Interfering with Interstate Commerce", and two charges of "Animal Enterprise Terrorism". In 2005, he was arrested and convicted (though the extortion charge was dropped), serving two years and hours of community service.

In this interview, Young talks about a range of issues, from his activist roots to conquering a fear of prison. We also hear his statement to the court on his day of sentencing, his reflections on that unplanned and powerful piece of prose, and a few responses to his critics. Uncompromising and unapologetic, Young takes us back to those nights—ones that he has called the most rewarding of his life—including his interactions with the mink and what it felt like seeing them taste freedom for the first time.

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From Dusk ’Til Dawn: An Interview With Keith Mann

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 12:00:00 -0400

Whether leaf-letting on London streets or breaking into a vivisection lab under the cloak of night, Keith Mann has thrived throughout his 20-plus year career as an animal activist. As an underground Animal Liberation Front (ALF) operative, active from the early '90s, he's sabotaged fox hunts, liberated nearly 700 mice from an animal testing lab, and served serious time. As an aboveground activist, Mann advocates on mainstream media such as the BBC, appears in films such as Behind The Mask, and shares his message through a variety of other media, including in his new book, From Dusk 'Til Dawn: An Insider's View of the Growth of the Animal Liberation Movement. This Tuesday, tune in to hear Mann's perspectives on activism, incarceration, and how he's stayed afloat despite society's undertow.

"Prison is nothing to fear. If we fear the consequences of our actions then we do a disservice to the animals. Like with most things in life the fear is worse than the reality and if we were all able to overcome that fear of prison, of sacrificing our liberty for the greater cause they would be unable to stop us achieving animal liberation. Sadly we have to put ourselves through some discomfort in order to make a difference."
— Keith Mann in Abolitionist Online

Balaclavas and Beagles: Behind the Mask with Shannon Keith (Part II)

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 12:00:00 -0400

Outside of perhaps snowmobiling or winter camping, balaclavas generally don't spur feelings of goodwill or safety. But for those who support the Animal Liberation Front (ALF), images of masked activists holding rescued animals serve as powerful emblems of freedom.

Denounced as extremists and terrorists by some, and celebrated as heroes and freedom fighters by others, ALF activists remain highly controversial players within today's animal movements. Underground by nature, their personal stories often remain untold, or mediated by others. Yet, the documentary Behind the Mask attempts to change that, and thus challenge the negative perceptions surrounding these people and their actions.

In this interview with attorney and first-time director Shannon Keith, we explore her award-winning film that details the perspectives of ALF activists and others who engage in direct action for animals. As a follow-up conversation to our (pre-film release) 2005 interview, Keith describes responses to the film, the editorial process, and her experiences meeting convicted ALF activists. Further, as a legal defender of activists and a prosecutor of animal cruelty cases, she not only takes us behind the scenes of the documentary, but also behind her own FBI file and the industries that profit from animal abuse.

News links:

Igualdad Animal / Animal Equality

Tue, 31 Oct 2006 11:00:00 -0500

Source: elmundo.es

Join us for a conversation with Sharon Núñez from Igualdad Animal / Animal Equality, a Spanish and Latin American animal rights organization. Learn how activists in Spain are raising awareness about animal treatment, and how, through a series of creative campaigns, the anti-speciesist movement is growing. From the “meat tray” actions, to chaining themselves to slaughterhouses, Igualdad Animal is dedicated to an abolitionist agenda. Outside of the North American context, Spanish activists face less legal and governmental restrictions regarding their activism.

Radicals and Revolutionaries: An Interview with Maxwell Schnurer

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 12:00:00 -0400

Why do some people become radical activists? Could poking around in their brains elicit any clues? Dr. Maxwell Schnurer, author of "They Took Ulrike Meinhof's Brain: A Comparative Study of the Causes of and Justifications for Militant Direct Action", argues against biological explanations for radical and revolutionary behaviour. Instead, Schnurer examines what activists say about their involvement in militant actions. Comparing the left-wing radicalism of the 1960s and 70s to current groups such as the ELF (Earth Liberation Front), he offers crucial insight into why people engage in extralegal activities.

Schnurer, a long time animal activist, is a contributing author to the new anthology Igniting a Revolution: Voices in Defense of the Earth (AK Press, 2006). He is currently an Assistant Professor of Communication at Humboldt State University in Arcata, California.

Igniting a Debate: Environmentalism, Religion, and a Call to Action

Tue, 26 Sep 2006 12:00:00 -0400

On this week's show we connect with Steve Best, who co-edited the provocative anthology Igniting a Revolution: Voices in Defense of the Earth, and Lisa Kemmerer who contributed a chapter entitled, "In the Beginning: God Created the Earth and 'Ecoterrorism'".

First, Best introduces Igniting a Revolution and discusses "revolutionary environmentalism", a central theme of the book. He then responds to critiques against militant activism, and concludes by reflecting on privilege and importance of multi-dimensional politics.

Second, Kemmerer offers an overview of "In the Beginning" and suggests an alternative reading of Genesis, and other scripture, to support her claim that Christianity offers a moral imperative to act on behalf of animals and the earth. We also discuss her new book In Search of Consistency: Ethics and Animals, which mingles philosophy and religion.

Vivisection in Brazil & Militancy in the Animal Movements

Tue, 15 Aug 2006 12:00:00 -0400

Source: Instituto Nina Rosa

Source: Friends of Animals

First, director Denise Gonçalves will talk about the new film Não Matarás, which addresses animal experimentation in Brazil (includes subtitles in English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese). The film, created by the Instituto Nina Rosa, offers an important snapshot of animal activism in Brazil, and a devastating picture of animal cruelty within research labs and universities. Gonçalves will share her thoughts on making the film, current Brazilian animal protection legislation, and how activists have mobilized to create positive changes, which are so urgently needed.

Then, we connect with Lee Hall, legal director for Friends of Animals and author of the recently-published Capers in the Churchyard: Animal Rights Advocacy in the Age of Terror. In this controversial book, Hall centrally tackles the question of violence in the animal movements. Tune in to learn what inspired this book, and why the author is adamant that the movement must reflect more deeply on its militant rhetoric and strategies, which Hall argues are doing more harm than good, ultimately undermining the achievement of animal rights.

Food Not Bombs Interview

Tue, 24 Jan 2006 11:00:00 -0500

Tune in this Tuesday to learn about one of the most radical and down-to-earth movements on the planet: Food Not Bombs. From the FNB website, "There are hundreds of autonomous chapters sharing free vegetarian food with hungry people and protesting war and poverty. This energetic grassroots movement is active throughout the Americas, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. Food Not Bombs is organizing for peace and an end to the occupations of Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine. For over 25 years the movement has worked to end hunger and has supported actions to stop the globalization of the economy, restrictions to the movements of people, end exploitation and the destruction of the earth."

We are honoured to be joined live by Keith McHenry, one of the original co-founders of Food Not Bombs. Hear how McHenry has fed people, protested against state repression and environmental devastation, faced police brutality, served time, and managed to keep going after decades of unrelenting activism.

Inspired by books like Diet for a Small Planet, vegetarianism has always been integral to the revolutionary vision of Food Not Bombs. On this week's program, get a primer on the history of the non-violent movement and find out how you can be involved. Peek into the personal life of an activist whose battle scars and laugh lines chart a fascinating journey through a landscape of social and political change.

Pull up a seat, loosen your tie or take off your balaclava, and settle in for a conversation with "the gentle anarchist."

Behind the Mask with Shannon Keith

Tue, 15 Nov 2005 11:00:00 -0500

Shannon Keith

Tune in for an interview with Shannon Keith, director of "Behind the Mask." This controversial film-in-progress traces the history of the Animal Liberation Front and provides an insider view of the people and the motivations behind underground animal actions. Sympathetic to those who risk their personal freedom to help animals, "Behind the Mask" seeks to challenge the public perception about these so-called "terrorists" and "extremists."

Info about the film, dubbed "the true story of the ALF": http://www.uncagedfilms.com/BTM.html, http://www.arme.tv/btm.htm

Shannon Keith's Bio: Shannon Keith grew up in Los Angeles, California with a house full of animals. Ever since she was a small child, Shannon rescued injured and homeless animals and nursed them back to health or placed them in loving homes. So, it wasn't a suprise when Shannon decided to become an animal rights lawyer. Animals are considered property, and Shannon has been striving to change that fact while defending animal rights activists in the courtroom, saving dogs condemned to death in Los Angeles, as well as prosecuting those who abuse animals. (In 2000, Shannon obtained the largest settlement against the City of Los Angeles for the beating death of a dog by a city employee.) Three years ago, Shannon began to challenge the media with her strong message in support of animal liberation actions and activists.

In 2004, Shannon started a non-profit, tax-exempt group called ARME (Animal Rescue, Media & Education). ARME rescues homeless animals and focuses on stopping the problem at its roots through educational initiatives, including making documentaries about animals and animal activists.

Invasion of the Vegan Snatchers!

Tue, 17 May 2005 12:00:00 -0400

No, we're not revamping the "Body Snatchers" classic wherein we'd wake up the zombies from their dietary habits but, with tongue-firmly-in-cheek, that's the allusion we're going for. This week, we're going back to activism basics by learning the best way to dialogue with the people in your life about veganism without turning them off. Hear from a wide range of guests who have decades of experience between them on this basic but powerful form of activism. Add to the snowball effect and get tips on just what to say, when not to say it, and how best to encourage and spread the idea that you don't need to kill animals or the planet to lead a healthy, long, tasty, and fulfilling life.

The cast includes:

Gary Francione, author, rabble-rouser, and Professor of Law at Rutgers University School of Law.
Jo Stepaniak, author, educator, counselor, mediator, columnist, vegan inspiration.
Bruce Friedrich, PETA's Director of Vegan Outreach, prone to streaking in front of Buckingham Palace, placed fifth on Details magazine's October 2003 list of "The 50 Most Influential People Under 38".
Lee Hall, legal director for Friends of Animals and a member of the Adjunct Faculty of Law at Rutgers University. Read Lee's insightful article on pet ownership called Fit to be Tamed.
Mary Brady, author, activist, created "Vegan Buddies", organizing the Heart of England Vegan Festival, found veganism through the power of motherhood. (Click here to read more.)
Séamus, 9-year old son of Mary, vegan, writer, activist, karate kid, "cat whisperer". Download the Realfood magazine here (2.38 MB) devoted to vegan kids in which Séamus' review of the book, Minny's Dream by Clare Druce.

John Mackey (on Whole Foods Market) & Josh Harper (on Anarchism and AR)

Tue, 25 Jan 2005 11:00:00 -0500

At the beginning of the show, Josh Harper, who was recently arrested under the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, will share his views on the relevance of anarchism to animal liberation. We'll learn about the foundations of anarchism and his perspective on what many have called the "extremist" and "terrorist" aspects of the current animal movements. Are direct action and radical politics necessary to open people's minds or does such agitating close down the conversation?

Then we'll hear from John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market. On January 25th, the organic foods giant allocated 5% of all sales ($550,000 US) toward establishing the Animal Compassion Foundation. According to the press release, "the Foundation will provide education and research services to assist and inspire ranchers and meat producers around the world to achieve a higher standard of animal welfare excellence while still maintaining economic viability." Mackey will discuss his company's unprecedented initiative to better the lives of farm animals. While some activists charge that Mackey's welfarist proposal to reform animal agriculture will simply lead to "guiltless consumerism" that will ultimately defeat abolitionist goals, others believe that such a gesture is an excellent and essential step for creating a more humane world.