Episode 15 Violence
Hello and welcome to episode 15 of Coexisting With Nonhuman Animals, Violence.
Before I start, I'd love to mention one of my new friends who listens to my podcast,
Sasha James, Thank you for emailing me Sasha. She mentions:
"Recently at World Animal Day in Melbourne I was talking to some reps
from Sea Shepherd and spoke to them about their activisim, and how it could be
less confrontational...and whether confrontation that puts peoples
lives in danger is the best method..."
I love hearing from listeners, so please think about emailing me, with
positive or negative feedback, at jaywontdart@gmail.com"
I was lucky enough to have been on episode 49 of NZ Vegan Podcast, the second time Elizabeth had let me appear on her show. I think you should check out all episodes of NZ Vegan, EXCEPT 11 and 49, where I appear! I never listen to my own voice, so they are the only two episodes I havnt heard, normally I listen to every episode of NZ Vegan a few times.
For this episode, I've been allowed permission to use part of an Abolitionist Approach Commentary episode, Professor Gary Francione speaking about nonviolence. I've never met Professor Francione, we have never spoken except when he replied to a Tweet of mine, which was pretty cool, I took a screenshot of his reply. Professor Francione in no way lends support to my podcast, whatever I say on here is my own little opinion, and any clips of him I use are left in context, Im making it clear that what he says is not directed at anything I've asked him. I'm linking to the full Abolitionist Approach Commentary episode, and I urge you to listen to the full article.
I've linked to the full episode in my shownotes that you can find on my blog or in the lyrics section of this podcast episode.
I doubt that using physical violence against corporations, property, or individuals will help veganism become respected in society. I doubt it helps animals, I'd argue that with even a small number of violent extremists, Animal Rights gets slandered in the media, as if we are all this way. I've read stories from overseas, where a mother fed her children on weeds and water, and when the children were found by authorities and taken away, it was blamed on " a vegan diet ". There are so few vegans, at least where I live, that the actions of those covered in the mainstream media can be taken as the positions of the majority of vegans.
I'd like to mention that I know people who kill animals. Some of my friends like to hunt, these large young men enjoy driving a big vehicle around remote areas at night, stunning rabbits with a spotlight, and shooting them. These friends, who I've grown up with, will laugh as they talk to each other about blowing the animals heads off, that they apparently saw one rabbit hop away frightened with its brain showing. I have another friend who told me about catching fish, and that one of the animals they caught wouldnt die. It was flopping around on the pavement, until they cut it with a knife. I saw the photos, of this fish being cut to finally kill it, it was awful, my friends holding a knife, the fish bleeding.
Every day, I walk past a butcher, I hold my breath as I walk past, and only breath in next to a rubbish bin. This butcher, on the same block as I live, often has whats termed "home kill" happening, a small truck drives out to a farm, kills an animal, and brings it back to be processed at the butcher shop. I'll be walking past, and I'll be able to hear the circular saws, or even see the carcass hanging outside as they carve it up, next to the many rubbish bins. Blood flows across the pavement, and drains into the gutter. Theres a lot of mould on the path, sprouting from where the blood usually flows down onto the road.
I also walk past a da...