Category Archives: Abolitionist Veganism

“Someone Not Something”: The Titanic Returns to Southampton with the Iceberg in Tow

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In episode 43, I want to share an incident I found quite disturbing a few days ago and expand on it.

A few weeks ago, I did an episode on Gary L. Francione’s attempt to “own” aspects of vegan advocacy. I highlighted his actions in claiming the Be Fair Be Vegan campaign was “ripping him off” and “appropriating” his work. In my podcast episode 41, I pointed out that all the key ideas of veganism existed before Francione, including the term “abolitionist”.  I also noted that when Francione doesn’t find any substantive issues to raise, he will attack any abolitionist vegan as “ripping him off” and being “confused”, unless that person continually not only references Francione’s work, but specifically links to his Facebook page.

This week, an abolitionist advocate who runs the “Queer Vegan” Facebook page and WordPress site, put up a poster showing a non-human animal, with the caption “Someone, Not Something”. (Please note all the unfortunate comments by Francione moderators have been removed possibly by moderators themselves). No apologies or retractions for their false claims have been made. Queer Vegan has been attacked by moderators from Gary Francione’s page, for “failing to attribute it to Gary Francione”.

Here’s a screenshot of their response:

frankie-being-picked-on-by-glf2

With kind permission of Queer Vegan, I speak about this attack and their vulnerability at the time of this attack. And I speak about the historical pattern of Francione’s advocates claiming virtually any commonly used meme, phrase or idea as Francione’s personal property.

I go back to similar attacks on Joan Dunayer who too, was accused of stealing the ideas behind “Someone not something”, despite the fact that Dunayer had written about this and had written this phrase in 1990 in an article and Tom Regan had said this phrase in a famous speech in 1989 in the UK.

Although I address the disgraceful attack against Dunayer who is an academic, and an established animal rights theorist, I also would really like to point out that they kind of attack made against “Queer Vegan” is not even a dispute about theoretic property, it’s an attack on an advocate, simply putting up a poster on Facebook that is a three word phrase that is in common use.

Screen shot of my reference on Grumpy Old Vegans Facebook page

gov-attributionThanks to Dede River for her research on the issue of copyright and Dunayer’s response to Perz.

For background information on this issue:

Jeff Perz’s attack on Dunayer. And note: the Journal of Animal Law included Dunayer’s reply.  pps 49-66

which he reprinted here, without her response. http://www.speciesismreview.info/

Dunayer’s response to Perz

Abolitionist Advocates and Interpersonal Ethics

The Titanic Resurfaces and Collects the Deckchairs (Ep 41 Pt1)

 

An Emotional Response

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The Titanic Resurfaces and Collects the Deckchairs (Ep 41 Pt1)

TitanicPlease note the views expressed in this episode 41, Parts 1 and 2 are entirely my own.

Sept 6, 2016 UPDATE: The archived version of Angel Flinn’s interview is now available here.

I don’t know if you had the opportunity to listen to Bob Linden’s Go Vegan Radio segment live on air on August 21, where he interviews Angel Flinn (media coordinator of the BeFairBeVegan campaign. Angel Flinn by the way also happens to do outreach work for Gentle World. If you didn’t catch the interview live, then you’re in luck because although Bob Linden states on his page that it will be not be available in archive form on his Go Vegan Radio page, we managed to record it as it went to air. My last episode contained excerpts from Angel’s interview and I invite you to listen to it.

In this episode I’m going to share the unfortunate and rather seething attack that occurred live on the same Go Vegan Radio program by the guest appearing after Angel Flinn’s interview – Gary L Francione. We thought it might be informative to share the  rather vicious attack on Angel Flinn made by Professor Gary L. Francione and I clear up some misinformation in his live segment (7 minutes or so). Tune into Part 2  “And Then Sailed On To New York” where I discuss where many of the core ideas of veganism really came from.

 

 

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Abolitionist: What’s in a Word; The Rebranding of TAVS.

TAVS rebranding

I generally try to ignore and avoid faction fighting because it’s energy draining and time consuming and is frequently personality based, but I decided to address some of the issues that have arisen from recent claims by a small few that the abolitionist movement is “rampantly racist”, “sexist” and “hostile to people of colour”. If you are not involved in the abolitionist community you may wish to skip this one.

I discuss the history of the term “abolitionist” and why it is not racist to use it in relation to veganism and why it is not appropriating the term if we look at history. I talk a little about overt and structural racism, credentialism and tokenism.  I ask the question, has the movement become more about the messenger than the message?

Please read my disclaimer about any pages, groups, sites, individuals, opinions, etc mentioned in this podcast episode or any episodes past and future.

Thanks to Vegan Ethos for her contributions relating to the history of abolition in particular.

For further info:

Prison State America: Inmates becoming corporate slaves in for-profit facilities

Intersectionality and Abolitionist Veganism: Part 1 | Vegan Ethos

Intersectionality and Abolitionist Veganism Part 2.

For a comprehensive look at the many issues I mention in this podcast episode, view the many excellent 30 minute programs by The Empire Files.

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Abolitionist Advocates and Interpersonal Ethics

oh no she didnt!!

This episode 24 is for a specific audience, so if you have not been involved in the abolitionist vegan movement, you might want to skip this one.  Here it part episode 25 : Abolitionist Advocates, Cyberbullying and The Abolitionist Vegan Movement.

Disclaimer:  Please note, that this episode is not an invitation to  vilify anyone (privately or publicly), or to engage in ad hominem attacks on anyone. Nor is it an invitation to get into any arguments. If this takes place as a result of this episode being shared anywhere, I completely reject that behaviour and I ask people to please not engage in it. Thanks for your consideration.

 

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VegFest UK London 2015: Some Thoughts On The Debate About Single-Issue Campaigns

VegfestUKLondon2015I share some thoughts about one debate presentation at VegFest UK London 2015 by Tony Wardle, VIVA! UK about single issue campaigns.

Here’s the full debate on Youtube from London Veg Fest 2015 about single-issue campaigns and whether they take the animal rights movement forwards or backwards. There’s a very strong abolitionist vegan presentation.

Here’s the other debate from London Veg Fest 2015 on whether Ricky Gervais and Beyonce (and other celebrities) are confusing the “Animal Rights” movement.

Here is a link to numerous abolitionist books.

Please read my disclaimer.

If you’re not vegan, please start here

Thanks for listening. Please subscribe to my podcast. I look forward to your company next time 🙂

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Abolitionist Vegan Round-up #1

AVRoundupPlease read my disclaimer about external sites, individuals, organisations, social media sites etc.

The first of many abolitionist vegan round-ups: various quotes and thoughts by various abolitionists on social media.

Here are a few of the resources mentioned:

My Face is on Fire 

How To Go Vegan Podcast

There’s an Elephant in the Room

International Vegan Association

Go Vegan Radio

My own pages – Abolitionist Vegan Resources
and Vegan Trove

 

Thanks for listening. Please subscribe to this podcast and join my page on Facebook. I look forward to your company again. Till next time, bye for now.

 

 

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Is Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) Anti-Vegan?

Is Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) anti-vegan?
(Please excuse some repetition on my part about a third of the way into the episode. Persist through this part as I get back on track after a few minutes 😉 )

This episode discusses this question. My apologies for the length of this episode (1 hr 23 mins). I have shared some audio excerpts and have commented on them. You can find the excerpts at 19.15,  22.58,  23.50, 56.58, 101.05, 105.50,  107.30, 108.40,  111.25, 113.25, 116.20, 117.40, and 119.20.

DxE Wayne Hsiung Fails again

The following quotes are from Wayne Hsiung’s (Direct Action Everywhere) 2009 essay titled “Boycott Veganism”:

“To sum up, veganism, far from helping animals, is a huge problem for the animal rights movement. If we want to stand up for animals, then we should stop calling ourselves vegan; stop asking others to go vegan; and even stop using the word vegan. When asked, we should state that our fight is for equality, justice, and freedom — not for a plant-based diet.”

“In fact, the concept of veganism is harmful to the animal rights movement. And if you are serious about working for animal liberation, the first thing you should boycott is neither meat nor dairy nor eggs. The first thing you should boycott… is veganism.”

Read Wayne Hsiung’s “Boycott Veganism” essay.
DxE Wayne Hsiung Failed

 

 

 

 

Here’s the Go Vegan Radio Episode referenced in this podcast.

Here’s an essay “Direct Action Everywhere (DxE): Vegan Advocacy is “Harmful to the Animal Rights Movement””

To find out more about Francione’s theory please check out this list of books and please check out this vegan resource.

Thanks for listening. Please tune in again next time and I invite you to subscribe to my podcast. 🙂

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An Abolitionist Vegan Resource

Update June 6 2016: Please note I do not endorse this site “How Do I Go Vegan” or the page associated with this resource.  My reasons are explained in Vegan Trove Episode 24 and Episode 25.  I now have my own vegan resource How To Go Vegan Podcast

In Vegan Trove podcast episode 18, I briefly explore a newly created abolitionist vegan resource : How Do I Go Vegan

Please subscribe to future podcasts here.
You can also join my Facebook page here.

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Taking The Interests Of Animals Seriously

AAPA reading of an excerpt of “Animals As Persons : Essays on the Abolition of Animal Exploitation

Disclaimer: Please note I do not endorse opinions, links, ads or individuals.

Thanks for listening.  Look forward to your company next time.

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