Anarchism and animal rights

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Veganarchy symbol; popularised by Brian A. Dominick's Animal Liberation and Social Revolution pamphlet in 1995. The front cover combined the 'V' from vegan with the anarchist 'A' symbol.[1]

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The initials of the Animal Liberation Front with an anarchist circle-A incorporated into the design.

The anarchist philosophical and political movement has some connections to elements of the animal liberation movement. Many anarchists are vegetarian or vegan (or veganarchists) and have played a role in combating perceived injustices against animals. They usually describe the struggle for the liberation of non-human animals as a natural outgrowth of the struggle for human freedom.[2]

Origins

Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910) was a vegetarian, pacifist and Christian anarchist. In On Civil Disobedience he wrote: "A man can live and be healthy without killing animals for food; therefore, if he eats meat, he participates in taking animal life merely for the sake of his appetite. And to act so is immoral."

Veganarchism

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Main articles: Veganarchism and Green anarchism

Veganarchism is the political philosophy of veganism (more specifically animal liberation) and anarchism, creating a combined praxis as a means for social revolution.[3][4] This encompasses viewing the state as unnecessary and harmful to animals, both human and non-human, whilst practising a vegan lifestyle. Veganarchists either see the ideology as a combined theory, or perceive both philosophies to be essentially the same.[5] It is further described as an anti-speciesist perspective on green anarchism, or an anarchist perspective on animal liberation.[4]

The term was popularised in 1995 with Brian A. Dominick's pamphlet Animal Liberation and Social Revolution, described as "a vegan perspective on anarchism or an anarchist perspective on veganism".[1] The 18-page pamphlet explains how many young anarchists in the 1990s had been adopting deep ecological (animal-inclusive and anti-speciesist) mindsets as part of an overall green anarchist political philosophy. Similarly animal liberationists were becoming increasingly influenced by anarchist thought and traditions, thus becoming veganarchists and adopting an overall praxis.[4]

Direct action

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Main articles: Animal liberation movement, Leaderless resistance, and Timeline of ALF actions

Direct action, an important philosophical component of anarchism, is also common within the animal rights movement. Activists using names such as Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC) and Animal Liberation Front (ALF) use direct action techniques, including animal liberation, violence and property destruction. Industries targeted include; meat, dairy, animal testing, fur, other animal based industries, private citizens and government institutions.

Frequently, in the case of Animal Rights Militia (ARM), Animal Liberation Brigade (ALB) and Justice Department (JD) have carried out political violence against people. The allegedly decentralized and leaderless structure of the Animal Liberation Front could be seen as an example of anarchistic organizing, acting in autonomous, covert cells.

Convictions

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Main articles: GANDALF trial, SHAC 7, and Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty § Operation Achilles

Rod Coronado is an eco-anarchist and is an unofficial spokesperson for the Animal Liberation Front and Earth Liberation Front. On February 28, 1992, Coronado carried out an arson attack on research facilities at Michigan State University (MSU), and released mink from a nearby research farm on campus, an action claimed by the ALF, and for which Coronado was subsequently convicted.

In 1997, the editors of Green Anarchist magazine and two British supporters of the Animal Liberation Front were tried in connection with conspiracy to incite violence, in what came to be known as the GANDALF trial.

Green anarchist Tre Arrow[6][7] was sought by the FBI in connection with an ELF arson on April 15, 2001 at Ross Island Sand and Gravel in Portland, torching three trucks amounting of $200,000 in damage. Another arson occurred a month later at Ray Schoppert Logging Company in Estacada, Oregon, on June 1, 2001 against logging trucks and a front loader, resulting in $50,000 damage.[8] Arrow was indicted by a federal grand jury in Oregon and charged with four felonies for this crime on October 18, 2002.[9] On March 13, 2004, after fleeing to British Columbia, he was arrested in Victoria for stealing bolt cutters and was also charged with being in Canada illegally.[10] He was then sentenced on August 12, 2008 to 78 months in federal prison for his part in the arson and conspiracy ELF attacks in 2001.[11][12]

In January 2006, Eric McDavid, a green anarchist,[13][14][15][16] was convicted of conspiring to use fire or explosives to damage corporate and government property.[17] On March 8, he formally declared a hunger strike due to the jail refusing to provide him with vegan food. He has been given vegan food off and on since.[18] In September 2007, he was convicted on all counts after the two activists he conspired with pled guilty testified against him.[17][19][20] An FBI confidential source named "Anna" was revealed as a fourth participant, in what McDavid's defense argued was an act of entrapment.[21] In May 2008, he was sentenced to nearly 20 years in prison.[22][23]

On March 3, 2006, a federal jury in Trenton, New Jersey convicted six members of SHAC, including green anarchist Joshua Harper,[24][25][26] for "terrorism and Internet stalking," according to the New York Times, finding them guilty of using their website to "incite attacks" on those who did business with Huntingdon Life Sciences HLS.[27] In September 2006, the SHAC 7 received jail sentences of 3 to 6 years.

In January 2009, veganarchist Daniel Wadham was sentenced to 5 years,[28][29] along with others six campaigners from SHAC UK who were sentenced to between 4 and 11 years. They were charged with waging a campaign of blackmail and intimidation against HLS, attempting to close down the animal testing laboratory by targeting the companies associates.[30]

Other prisoners
  • Daniele Casalini; Italian green anarchist accused of arson against electricity pylon, in protest of nuclear energy.[31][32]
  • Dean Cain; veganarchist alleged to have trespassed at a rabbit farm and charged under SOCPA Section 145.[32][33][34]
  • Nicole Vosper; green anarchist who pleaded guilty to charges against HLS and has begun serving prison time.[35][36]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Dominick, Brian. Animal Liberation and Social Revolution: A vegan perspective on anarchism or an anarchist perspective on veganism, Critical Mess Media, 1995.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Dominick, Brian. Animal Liberation and Social Revolution: A vegan perspective on anarchism or an anarchist perspective on veganism, third edition, Firestarter Press, 1997, page 6.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Dominick, Brian. Animal Liberation and Social Revolution: A vegan perspective on anarchism or an anarchist perspective on veganism, third edition, Firestarter Press, 1997, page 5.
  5. ↑ Dominick, Brian. Animal Liberation and Social Revolution: A vegan perspective on anarchism or an anarchist perspective on veganism, third edition, Firestarter Press, 1997, page 1.
  6. ↑ Anarchist Eco-Terrorist Tre Arrow To Be Deported, Toronoto Sun, May 6, 2006.
  7. ↑ Tre Arrow says he’s not guilty of burning trucks, Portland Tribune, May 4, 2008.
  8. ↑ Tre Arrow sentenced to 6½ years in prison, Oregon Live, August 12, 2008.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Hunting America's Most Wanted Eco-Terrorist : Rolling Stone
  11. ↑ Eco-arsonist Sentenced to 78 Months Prison, Most Wanted Hoes, August 13, 2008.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ About Eric McDavid's Sentencing, Animal Liberation Front Website, May 11, 2008.
  14. ↑ Update, Support Eric, February 16, 2006.
  15. ↑ Lyonnais, Sheena. Tom Gabel: Heart Burns, Exclaim.ca, March 31, 2009.
  16. ↑ Solidarity with Eric McDavid, Eco-Anarchist prisoner, 325 Collective.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Eco-Terror Suspect Guilty in Bomb Plot, News 10, September 27, 2007.
  18. ↑ Updates, Support Eric.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
  20. ↑ [Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ McDavid Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison as a “Terrorist”, Green Is The New Red, May 9, 2008.
  23. ↑ 'Eco-terrorist' gets 20 years for plotting bombing campaign 'Eco-terrorist' gets 20 years for plotting bombing campaign, Turkish Press, May 9, 2008.
  24. ↑ Statement from Joshua Harper – SHAC 7, Infoshop, July 17, 2008.
  25. ↑ Eco-Terrorism: Extremism in the Animal Rights and Environmental Movements, Anti-Defamation League, 2005.
  26. ↑ Conflict Industry, Fur Commission USA, August 12, 2001.
  27. ↑ Six Animal Rights Advocates Are Convicted Of Terrorism, New York Times, March 3, 2006
  28. ↑ Support Dan Wadham.
  29. ↑ Letter from SHAC 7 Veganarchist Prisoner Dan Wadham, Infoshop, March 2009.
  30. ↑ Yeoman, Fran. Jail for animal rights extremists who waged six-year blackmail campaign, The Times, January 21, 2009.
  31. ↑ Newsletter 150, The Nuclear Resister.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 Prisoner Addresses, Earth Liberation Prisoner Support Network.
  33. ↑ Homepage, Earth Liberation Prisoner Support Network.
  34. ↑ Support Dean and Luke!, MySpace.
  35. ↑ Support Nicole
  36. ↑ Support Nicole Vosper – Green Anarchist / SHAC Prisoner, Indymedia UK, March 19, 2009.

External links

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