Anarchism and animal rights 1

Anarchism and animal rights

Veganarchy symbol; popularised by Brian A.Dominick's Animal Liberation and Social Revolutionpamphlet in 1995. The front cover combined the 'V'

from vegan with the anarchist 'A' symbol.[1]

The initials of the Animal Liberation Front withan anarchist circle-A incorporated into the design

The anarchist philosophical and political movement has someconnections to elements of the animal liberation movement. Manyanarchists are vegetarian or vegan (or veganarchists) and haveplayed a role in combating perceived injustices against animals.They usually describe the struggle for the liberation of non-humananimals as a natural outgrowth of the struggle for humanfreedom.[2]

Origins

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

Veganarchism

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

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

Direct action

Direct action, an important philosophical component of anarchism, is also common within the animal rightsmovement. 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. Industriestargeted include; meat, dairy, animal testing, fur, other animal based industries, private citizens and governmentinstitutions.

Anarchism and animal rights 2

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 theAnimal Liberation Front could be seen as an example of anarchistic organizing, acting in autonomous, covert cells.

ConvictionsRod Coronado is an eco-anarchist and is an unofficial spokesperson for the Animal Liberation Front and EarthLiberation Front. On February 28, 1992, Coronado carried out an arson attack on research facilities at MichiganState 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 weretried 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 RossIsland Sand and Gravel in Portland, torching three trucks amounting of $200,000 in damage. Another arson occurreda month later at Ray Schoppert Logging Company in Estacada, Oregon, on June 1, 2001 against logging trucks and afront loader, resulting in $50,000 damage.[8] Arrow was indicted by a federal grand jury in Oregon and charged withfour felonies for this crime on October 18, 2002.[9] On March 13, 2004, after fleeing to British Columbia, he wasarrested in Victoria for stealing bolt cutters and was also charged with being in Canada illegally.[10] He was thensentenced on August 12, 2008 to 78 months in federal prison for his part in the arson and conspiracy ELF attacks in2001.[11][12]

In January 2006, Eric McDavid, a green anarchist,[13][14][15][16] was convicted of conspiring to use fire or explosivesto damage corporate and government property.[17] On March 8, he formally declared a hunger strike due to the jailrefusing to provide him with vegan food. He has been given vegan food off and on since.[18] In September 2007, hewas convicted on all counts after the two activists he conspired with pled guilty testified against him.[17][19][20] AnFBI confidential source named "Anna" was revealed as a fourth participant, in what McDavid's defense argued wasan act 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 anarchistJoshua Harper,[24][25][26] for "terrorism and Internet stalking," according to the New York Times, finding them guiltyof using their website to "incite attacks" on those who did business with Huntingdon Life Sciences HLS.[27] InSeptember 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 campaignersfrom SHAC UK who were sentenced to between 4 and 11 years. They were charged with waging a campaign ofblackmail and intimidation against HLS, attempting to close down the animal testing laboratory by targeting thecompanies 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 Section145.[32][33][34]

• Nicole Vosper; green anarchist who pleaded guilty to charges against HLS and has begun serving prisontime.[35][36]

Anarchism and animal rights 3

References[1] Dominick, Brian. Animal Liberation and Social Revolution: A vegan perspective on anarchism or an anarchist perspective on veganism,

Critical Mess Media, 1995.[2] "Anarchism – MSN Encarta" (http:/ / www. webcitation. org/ 5kwKIPxjP). Archived from the original (http:/ / uk. encarta. msn. com/

encyclopedia_761568770_3/ Anarchism. html) on 2009-10-31. .[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] 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 (http:/ / www. portlandtribune. com/ news/ story. php?story_id=120433967802261500),

Portland Tribune, May 4, 2008.[8] Tre Arrow sentenced to 6½ years in prison (http:/ / www. oregonlive. com/ news/ index. ssf/ 2008/ 08/ tre_arrow_to_be_sentenced_toda.

html), Oregon Live, August 12, 2008.[9] "EPA Misled Public on Quality of U.S. Drinking Water" (http:/ / www. ens-newswire. com/ ens/ mar2004/ 2004-03-16-09. asp). Environment

News Service. March 16, 2004. . Retrieved 2007-06-17.[10] Hunting America's Most Wanted Eco-Terrorist : Rolling Stone (http:/ / www. rollingstone. com/ politics/ story/ 11034035/

hunting_americas_most_wanted_ecoterrorist)[11] Eco-arsonist Sentenced to 78 Months Prison (http:/ / www. mostwantedhoes. com/ news/ ecoarsonist. php), Most Wanted Hoes, August 13,

2008.[12] Denson, Bryan (March 1, 2008). "Fugitive Tre Arrow back in Portland". The Oregonian.[13] About Eric McDavid's Sentencing (http:/ / www. animalliberationfront. com/ ALFront/ Activist Tips/ EricMcDavid08. htm), Animal

Liberation Front Website, May 11, 2008.[14] Update (http:/ / www. supporteric. org/ updates. htm), Support Eric, February 16, 2006.[15] Lyonnais, Sheena. Tom Gabel: Heart Burns (http:/ / www. exclaim. ca/ musicreviews/ latestsub. aspx?csid1=115& csid2=870&

fid1=37451), Exclaim.ca, March 31, 2009.[16] Solidarity with Eric McDavid, Eco-Anarchist prisoner (http:/ / www. 325collective. com/ eco-struggle_eric-mcdavid. html), 325 Collective.[17] Eco-Terror Suspect Guilty in Bomb Plot (http:/ / www. news10. net/ display_story. aspx?storyid=33243), News 10, September 27, 2007.[18] Updates (http:/ / www. supporteric. org/ updates. htm), Support Eric.[19] Walsh, Denny (2007-09-26). "Leader or led by the FBI?" (http:/ / www. sacbee. com/ 101/ story/ 399555. html). The Sacramento Bee (The

McClatchy Company). . Retrieved 2008-03-13.[20] [ "ECO-TERRORIST CONVICTED: Sacramento federal jury convicts Eric McDavid with conspiracy to commit domestic terrorism" (http:/

/ sacramento. fbi. gov/ dojpressrel/ pressrel07/ sc092707. htm). Federal Bureau of Investigation. 2007-09-27. . Retrieved 2008-03-12.[21] Weigel, Rafal (2007-09-27). "Convicted Of Plotting To Blow Up Nimbus Dam" (http:/ / cbs13. com/ local/ eco. terrorist. Eric. 2. 483155.

html). CW31. . Retrieved 2008-04-27.[22] McDavid Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison as a “Terrorist” (http:/ / www. greenisthenewred. com/ blog/ mcdavid-sentenced/ 434/ ), 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 (http:/ / www.

turkishpress. com/ news. asp?id=230117& s=& i=& t='Eco-terrorist'_gets_20_years_for_plotting_bombing_campaign), Turkish Press, May 9,2008.

[24] Statement from Joshua Harper – SHAC 7 (http:/ / news. infoshop. org/ article. php?story=2008071700042588), Infoshop, July 17, 2008.[25] Eco-Terrorism: Extremism in the Animal Rights and Environmental Movements (http:/ / www. adl. org/ learn/ ext_us/ Ecoterrorism.

asp?LEARN_Cat=Extremism& LEARN_SubCat=Extremism_in_America& xpicked=4& item=eco), Anti-Defamation League, 2005.[26] Conflict Industry (http:/ / www. furcommission. com/ news/ newsF03i. htm), Fur Commission USA, August 12, 2001.[27] Six Animal Rights Advocates Are Convicted Of Terrorism (http:/ / www. nytimes. com/ 2006/ 03/ 03/ nyregion/ 03animals. html), New

York Times, March 3, 2006[28] Support Dan Wadham (http:/ / www. myspace. com/ supportdanwadham).[29] Letter from SHAC 7 Veganarchist Prisoner Dan Wadham (http:/ / news. infoshop. org/ article. php?story=20090327154231181), Infoshop,

March 2009.[30] Yeoman, Fran. Jail for animal rights extremists who waged six-year blackmail campaign (http:/ / www. timesonline. co. uk/ tol/ news/ uk/

crime/ article5558700. ece), The Times, January 21, 2009.[31] Newsletter 150 (http:/ / nuclearresister. org/ nr150. pdf), The Nuclear Resister.[32] Prisoner Addresses (http:/ / www. spiritoffreedom. org. uk/ addresses. html), Earth Liberation Prisoner Support Network.[33] Homepage (http:/ / www. spiritoffreedom. org. uk/ index. html), Earth Liberation Prisoner Support Network.[34] Support Dean and Luke! (http:/ / www. myspace. com/ supportthehighgatefour), MySpace.[35] Support Nicole (http:/ / www. myspace. com/ vegannicole)

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[36] Support Nicole Vosper – Green Anarchist / SHAC Prisoner (http:/ / www. indymedia. org. uk/ en/ 2009/ 03/ 424438. html), Indymedia UK,March 19, 2009.

External links• Animal Liberation and Anarchism (http:/ / web. archive. org/ web/ 20041129141352/ http:/ / www. geocities.

com/ onetwitch/ animalliberation. html)• Anarchist Ethics: A Utilitarian Approach (http:/ / www. infoshop. org/ inews/ article.

php?story=20061217153117411) An anarchist perspective on the ethics of animal liberation• The Domestication of Animals…and of Man (http:/ / www. crimethinc. com/ library/ english/ domestication.

html) (an essay by CrimethInc.)• Veganism (http:/ / www. crimethinc. com/ library/ english/ veganism. html) (another essay by CrimethInc.)• Animal Liberation Through Trade Unions? (http:/ / www. nocompromise. org/ issues/ 15/ 15anmllib_tunions.

html), a Wobbly perspective• Infoshop Review: Making a Killing: The Political Economy of Animal Rights (http:/ / www. infoshop. org/

inews/ article. php?story=20080112082839335)• Ambiguities of Animal Rights (http:/ / www. social-ecology. org/ 2005/ 01/ ambiguities-of-animal-rights/ ) a

criticism of animal rights from a social ecology perspective

Article Sources and Contributors 5

Article Sources and ContributorsAnarchism and animal rights  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=503063535  Contributors: Akhran, Art LaPella, Betacommand, Canaen, Chowbok, Fang 23, FriendFriendly,Froztbyte, Gobonobo, Johnhamfull, Jrtayloriv, Marcus Qwertyus, Materialscientist, Maziotis, N-k, Otolemur crassicaudatus, Owen, Prezbo, Rich Farmbrough, Sardanaphalus, Skomorokh,SlimVirgin, Srich32977, The Ungovernable Force, ThompsonFest, TomLovesCake, Tony1, Trios2007, Welsh, Wikignome0530, Woohookitty, 25 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and ContributorsFile:Veganarchism.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Veganarchism.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Vectorized by FroztbyteImage:ALF logo.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:ALF_logo.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Auntof6, Bryan, MithrandirMage, Wyksztalcioch

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