Fight Speciesism! #5 - Out Now
antispe britain | 24.09.2008 16:25 | Stop Sequani Animal Testing | Animal Liberation | Other Press | Social Struggles | World
October issue of the latest anti-speciesist, anti-capitalist, abolitionist direct action news is out now.
PRINT / SHARE / DISTRIBUTE
Articles:
- Solidarity for Sean Kirtley
- Solidarity for Dan Amos
- Operation Smash Barclays
- Thousands of Partridges Liberated
- Hunt Sabbing in Yorkshire
- Global ALF Roundup
- Mink Freed Across the Globe
- A Critical Look at Hierarchy
- Earth News: Berlin & Australia
- No Borders Resistance in Bristol
==============
WHO ARE WE?
==============
Antispeciesist Action is a collective of militant antispeciesists and animal rights activists committed to confronting animal abuse, suffering and exploitation of non-human beings through the use of direct action.
We believe in the 'No Compromise' philosophy, veganism and actively support the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) and animal rights prisoners.
We are opposed to capitalism and the state, understanding that without both entities, the universal exploitation of animals would not be possible.
Until Every Cage Is Empty!
==================
FIGHT SPECIESISM!
==================
FS! #4
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/08/406969.html - September
FS! #3 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/07/403623.html - August
FS! #2 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/06/401410.html - July
FS! #1 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/06/400058.html - June
===============
ANTISPE NEWS
===============
Antispe http://google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=%22antispe%22+site:indymedia.org.uk&start=0&sa=N
Antispeciesist Action http://google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=%22antispeciesist+action%22+site%3Aindymedia.org.uk&meta=
Antispeciesist http://google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=%22antispeciesist%22+site%3Aindymedia.org.uk&meta=
==================
SUPPORT ANTISPE!
==================
http://rootsofcompassion.org/shop/product_info.php?products_id=606 - Flag
http://indymedia.org.uk/images/2008/04/397924.gif - Flash Banner
http://indymedia.org.uk/images/2008/04/397559.jpg - Header
http://www.veganelinke.antispe.org/viewforum.php?f=40 - Forum
===================
PRISONER SUPPORT
===================
http://vpsg.org - Vegan Prisoners Support Network (VPSG)
http://alfsg.org - Animal Liberation Front Supporters Group (ALFSG)
http://spiritoffreedom.org.uk - Earth Liberation Prisoners (ELPSN)
http://anarchistblackcross.org - Anarchist Black Cross (ABC)
==============
HOW TO BLOC
==============
1. Find others who look like they are there for the autonomous bloc, for example people with green&black flags and/or wearing bandanas/balaclavas.
2. Join with them. 3. Move as a group joining with others until all groups are as one.
================
ANTISPECIESISM
================
The best detailed description of animal rights and anti-speciesist action can be summed up in the Abolitionist Manifesto parts 1-3:
I. Animal liberation begins in our heads. Animals will never be free unless or until we cease viewing them in instrumental terms. This means that animal liberation hasn’t even begun in the heads of the new welfarists, who endorse measures (e.g. welfare reform and “humane” animal products) that reflect an instrumental view of nonhumans and as such show that they do not — at bottom — reject the property paradigm. An indispensably necessary precondition of animal liberation is thus that we view animals in noninstrumental terms — as inherently valuable bearers of moral rights — and treat them — without exception (including in campaigns) — pursuant to that view. As Gandhi said, we must be the change we wish to see.
II. Animal liberation will not merely be enhanced or safeguarded by certain moral relations between humans and nonhuman animals. Rather it will be constituted by certain moral relations — specifically, a concern for animals’ welfare informed (or rather transformed) by respect for their inherent value. Since new welfarists’ compassion and urge to alleviate animal suffering conflicts with respect for animals as rightholders, something which shows itself in their endorsement of supposedly “humane” animal use which is a rights violation, it follows that not only is there no common ground between welfarists and abolitionists, but that new welfarism — necessarily — has nothing to do with animal liberation, since the latter is inherently impracticable without respect for animals’ inherent value which is theoretically informed by the concept of animal rights, i.e. the basic right not to be treated as property, solely as a means to humans’ ends.
III. Abolitionism is principled antispeciesism, which in turn is a moral imperative. Maintaining a moral imperative is not about being fundamentalist, fanatical, purist, absolutist, elitist, extremist. It is about being radically opposed to the corrupt instrumentalization of reason which pervades the new welfarist movement and which manifests itself in the way the latter has no moral baselines — no principles — and rules nothing out in advance. For the new welfarists, even incremental measures that radically negate animal rights (such as the promotion of “humane” animal use, working with institutional animal enslavers, and supporting speciesist welfare groups) have legitimate instrumental value. But an “animal rights” movement that doesn’t rule out — a priori — those things that conflict with principled antispeciesism and the status of animals as rightholders is not only a pseudo-animal rights movement: it is an expression of counterfeit moral responsiveness to animals.
By contrast, abolitionism is a rights-inspired movement, which means it rules out — in advance — those things that conflict with antispeciesist, animal rights maxims because the latter are taken to be wrong in principle, in particular the promotion of meat and other animal products that were supposedly produced more “humanely” than others.
Co-authored by James Crump and Karin Hilpisch
http://westernanimalrights.wordpress.com/animal-rights
Articles:
- Solidarity for Sean Kirtley
- Solidarity for Dan Amos
- Operation Smash Barclays
- Thousands of Partridges Liberated
- Hunt Sabbing in Yorkshire
- Global ALF Roundup
- Mink Freed Across the Globe
- A Critical Look at Hierarchy
- Earth News: Berlin & Australia
- No Borders Resistance in Bristol
==============
WHO ARE WE?
==============
Antispeciesist Action is a collective of militant antispeciesists and animal rights activists committed to confronting animal abuse, suffering and exploitation of non-human beings through the use of direct action.
We believe in the 'No Compromise' philosophy, veganism and actively support the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) and animal rights prisoners.
We are opposed to capitalism and the state, understanding that without both entities, the universal exploitation of animals would not be possible.
Until Every Cage Is Empty!
==================
FIGHT SPECIESISM!
==================
FS! #4
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/08/406969.html - September FS! #3
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/07/403623.html - August FS! #2
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/06/401410.html - July FS! #1
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/06/400058.html - June ===============
ANTISPE NEWS
===============
Antispe
http://google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=%22antispe%22+site:indymedia.org.uk&start=0&sa=N Antispeciesist Action
http://google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=%22antispeciesist+action%22+site%3Aindymedia.org.uk&meta= Antispeciesist
http://google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=%22antispeciesist%22+site%3Aindymedia.org.uk&meta= ==================
SUPPORT ANTISPE!
==================
http://rootsofcompassion.org/shop/product_info.php?products_id=606 - Flag http://indymedia.org.uk/images/2008/04/397924.gif - Flash Banner 
http://indymedia.org.uk/images/2008/04/397559.jpg - Header 
http://www.veganelinke.antispe.org/viewforum.php?f=40 - Forum ===================
PRISONER SUPPORT
===================
http://vpsg.org - Vegan Prisoners Support Network (VPSG) http://alfsg.org - Animal Liberation Front Supporters Group (ALFSG) http://spiritoffreedom.org.uk - Earth Liberation Prisoners (ELPSN) http://anarchistblackcross.org - Anarchist Black Cross (ABC) ==============
HOW TO BLOC
==============
1. Find others who look like they are there for the autonomous bloc, for example people with green&black flags and/or wearing bandanas/balaclavas.
2. Join with them. 3. Move as a group joining with others until all groups are as one.
================
ANTISPECIESISM
================
The best detailed description of animal rights and anti-speciesist action can be summed up in the Abolitionist Manifesto parts 1-3:
I. Animal liberation begins in our heads. Animals will never be free unless or until we cease viewing them in instrumental terms. This means that animal liberation hasn’t even begun in the heads of the new welfarists, who endorse measures (e.g. welfare reform and “humane” animal products) that reflect an instrumental view of nonhumans and as such show that they do not — at bottom — reject the property paradigm. An indispensably necessary precondition of animal liberation is thus that we view animals in noninstrumental terms — as inherently valuable bearers of moral rights — and treat them — without exception (including in campaigns) — pursuant to that view. As Gandhi said, we must be the change we wish to see.
II. Animal liberation will not merely be enhanced or safeguarded by certain moral relations between humans and nonhuman animals. Rather it will be constituted by certain moral relations — specifically, a concern for animals’ welfare informed (or rather transformed) by respect for their inherent value. Since new welfarists’ compassion and urge to alleviate animal suffering conflicts with respect for animals as rightholders, something which shows itself in their endorsement of supposedly “humane” animal use which is a rights violation, it follows that not only is there no common ground between welfarists and abolitionists, but that new welfarism — necessarily — has nothing to do with animal liberation, since the latter is inherently impracticable without respect for animals’ inherent value which is theoretically informed by the concept of animal rights, i.e. the basic right not to be treated as property, solely as a means to humans’ ends.
III. Abolitionism is principled antispeciesism, which in turn is a moral imperative. Maintaining a moral imperative is not about being fundamentalist, fanatical, purist, absolutist, elitist, extremist. It is about being radically opposed to the corrupt instrumentalization of reason which pervades the new welfarist movement and which manifests itself in the way the latter has no moral baselines — no principles — and rules nothing out in advance. For the new welfarists, even incremental measures that radically negate animal rights (such as the promotion of “humane” animal use, working with institutional animal enslavers, and supporting speciesist welfare groups) have legitimate instrumental value. But an “animal rights” movement that doesn’t rule out — a priori — those things that conflict with principled antispeciesism and the status of animals as rightholders is not only a pseudo-animal rights movement: it is an expression of counterfeit moral responsiveness to animals.
By contrast, abolitionism is a rights-inspired movement, which means it rules out — in advance — those things that conflict with antispeciesist, animal rights maxims because the latter are taken to be wrong in principle, in particular the promotion of meat and other animal products that were supposedly produced more “humanely” than others.
Co-authored by James Crump and Karin Hilpisch
http://westernanimalrights.wordpress.com/animal-rights
antispe britain
Homepage:
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/topics/animalliberation
Comments
Hide the following 5 comments
Question?
25.09.2008 15:54
Does this mean that people didn't eat animals or put them to work before the emergence of States or the later capitalism system?
RA
Depends which way you look at it
25.09.2008 22:23
Given that the ALF and grassroots activists have been working hard since 1976 to eliminate animal abuse, the collective are questioning whether the universal exploitation would still be present today given that state and its capitalist forces didn't repress the succeeding movement and continue to do so.
It's a good question, one that deserves thought and debate. Through this we can realise how much the government and its departments are working to slow down the movement. In this day and age with a lively antispeciesist resistance, I think the answer is an obvious truth.
an antispeciesist
Steggles Chicken Murderers on run in Victoria
26.09.2008 06:36
The only way that chiken-meat sellers can sell such a revolting taste product is to cover it with spices and artificial flavours. Chicken meat is the most repulsive tasting smelling meat product of all. Vendors of this product should be shown no mercy as they inflict death on creatures that are beneficial to the environment in so many ways.
It is difficult not to vomit when seeing adults and children tearing greasy, bloody, chicken meat to pieces and stuffing it into their gloating gobs. The sooner chicken eaters meet the same fate as their victims the better.
Zagovor
.
26.09.2008 09:54
Which collective?
So the state didn't repress the animal rights movement?
What?
Eh?
In English please.
miserablist
What Is New Welfarism and What does it really mean?
01.10.2008 04:53
Abolitionism versus Reformism (Martin Balluch)
A “Very New Approach” or Just More New Welfarism? (Gary Francione)
Comment: Abolitionism versus Reformism (Martin Balluch)
The "collective" appears to ascribe to a very "Francione" view point regarding "New Welfarism" by "adhering" to Abolitionist Manifesto parts 1-3....However such "New Welfarism" is never clearly identified as "this is 'New Welfarism', this is 'Abolition'"
Balluch makes a good case that humans are social creatures who defy rationale, and therefore more psychological methods are needed to be employed in order to achieve social change leading to Abolition....Yet these methods are often scorned as "New Welfarism" because, as Balluch points out in his Comment to Francione's response, Francione seems to be completely blinkered in his view of the strategies required to achieve abolition as a progressive movement.
Martin Balluch shows these examples of what his group has achieved in 10 years of campaigning using the strategies he proposes....And whilst we cannot still be entirely sure that Balluch and the other imprisonned Austrians are not guilty of certain crimes, (which justified their imprisonment), it certainly appears to be widely accepted that they were imprisonned due to a combination of political corruption and the affect they had on the animal exploitation industries in Austria.
Whether his claims that it "sets a new standard worldwide" are justified or not, clearly many movements in many countries would benefit from also achieving similar advances in a similar time-frame....Or, as Francione claims, Balluch's campaigning is actually simply a damaging form of "New Welfare".
I want to avoid this turning into a thread about the merits of direct action, instead I really feel this issue needs to be addressed......Is the term "New Welfare(ism)" too widely used? What does it really mean?
Is targeting one species, for purely strategic reasons, "New Welfarism"? Or is it an effective form of, no compromise, "Abolition" through creating progressive change?
Is targeting a department store that sells fur, but which also sells meat, leather and all manner of other items produced from the exploitation of animals, "New Welfarist"?
When anyone is pressed for a description of a "New Welfarist" campaign they provide examples such as "Happy Meat" and "'Humane' Slaughter", (such as Compassion in World Farming's "On the hook, not on the hoof" campaign against live exports......but these are simply "old" forms of welfarism, are they not?
For me, these words are used all too often without any serious clarification....and whilst "Abolition" is easy enough to comprehend, nearly every activist I talk to has a different idea of what "New Welfarism" is! The reason I raise this is, by dennouncing a relatively undefined form of action we can easily create inactivity as people stop supporting effective campaigns because THEY consider it to be "New Welfarist".
The final thing that I would like to add to the debate is that Balluch suggests:
"Social entities like compassion, empathy and suffering are very important factors to motivate humans to change their behaviour. In contrast, abstract-rational entities, like personhood or rights, do not."
The goal when promoting activism is to motivate people, as it is when we are trying to change someone's social behaviour.....and I would therefore suggest that the same psychological points are applied, and that impying another, (essentially undefined), form of welfarism should be avoided (despite the fact that it is poorly defined), is demotivating to activists in the same way that mentioning "personhood" would be to an inquisitive member of the public!
Welfarism is Welfarism, so what exactly is the difference between "Old Welfarism" and "New Welfarism"?
As Balluch says:
"Francione argues purely theoretically. He does not provide any data to support his suggestions, and his definition of abolitionism seems to be deontological and not consequentialist, although it is hard to see how a theory on how to act politically should not be solely concerned about whether the action actually does promote the political aim in its consequences or not. "
Thoughts...........