Animal Voices

From Minneapolis to Toronto, urban dwellers are on the hunt for local, sustainable food. While backyard and community gardens offer real opportunity, some take it a step further and attempt to keep a flock of laying hens. But is urban chicken keeping truly sustainable? And, more importantly, sustainable for who? This is the question that … Continue reading →

Many of us are aware that research on non-consenting animals takes place behind the closed doors of universities all over the world. Animals are subject to captivity, restraint, and invasive procedures in the name of science, but the explicit details of these experiments are often well-hidden, both physically out of the public’s eye, but also … Continue reading →

Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson joins Animal Voices to discuss his new book “Beasts”, exploring the origins of morality and what animals can teach us about the nature of good and evil. The disparity between the apex predator of the sea, orcas, and the apex predator on land, humans, in relation to violence is staggering. Humans are … Continue reading →

Despite the close relation between domesticated dogs and coyotes, there is a stark difference in the way that humans treat individuals of each species. While the former are beloved members of many human families, the latter are much maligned and vilified. Lesley Sampson of Coyote Watch Canada hopes that we can rethink the way we … Continue reading →

In this interview we are diving into cyborg politics with Dr. Sherryl Vint, whose work called Animal Alterity inspired us to pursue this subject further. We explore the realm of science fiction which brings up wide ranging questions of what it means to be animal and how to reconfigure the historically constructed human and animal … Continue reading →

We discuss how the University of Washington’s research lab currently operates and why the campaign is pressuring the private construction firm, SKANSKA. “If they decide that they’re going to ignore public pressure and concern over animals, and start building the lab, we’re going to be there every step of the way, to try to make … Continue reading →

If you’ve envisioned a world where animals are no longer raised to be killed and eaten as food, you may have also wondered about finding alternative means of producing real food to feed the world. Nicole Vosper brings her experience with liberation permaculture and agroecology as a potential solution. These practices incorporate an ethic of … Continue reading →

Many of us have heard of the term “trickle-down economics”, but Hana Low wants to introduce us to “trickle-up social justice”. Coined by Dean Spade, this term is the jumping off point of a talk Hana gives about the connections between fighting oppression for LGBTQ communities and non-human animals. Hana alludes to a few common … Continue reading →

  Veganism is often marketed by proponents of the mainstream animal activism movement, as a sure-fire way to shed some pounds. This approach has led to a lot of fatphobic campaigns that have been created by animal rights groups, which have led to the shaming of fat-identified folx and in particular fat identified vegans. In … Continue reading →

The wolves of Alberta and British Columbia are in dire need. With numbers already being reduced by environmental factors such as habitat loss and pollution, this keystone species now faces threats from hunting. Caribou in the region are dying from oil, mineral, timber, and other resource extraction, but governments and industries have taken to scapegoating … Continue reading →

What do atheism and veganism have in common? More than you might think, according to Kim Socha, author of the new book “Animal Liberation and Atheism: Dismantling the Procrustean Bed”. Often reviled for their political beliefs, Kim has noted that there is a trend for many animal advocates to subscribe to a secular ethic. She … Continue reading →

  On November 6, 2014, activists held a peaceful vigil and sit-in with the purpose of disrupting “business-as-usual” at St. Helen’s Meat Packers. Activists, many of whom were inspired by bearing witness with the Toronto Cow Save and other Animal Saves, attempted to block an incoming transport truck from reaching the plant. As the truck … Continue reading →

Adrian Nelson, with the Fur-Bearer Defenders in Canada, joins Animal Voices to speak about campaigning against fur, specifically about #MakeFurHistory The Fur-Bearer Defenders have worked with LUSH Cosmetics and the Montreal SPCA to unveil shocking footage obtained in 2014. We discuss the landscape of fur farms and how they continue to operate in our backyards … Continue reading →

Although many vegans skillfully avoid consuming meat, dairy, and eggs in defiance of the industries that raise and kill non-human animals for food, Joan Reddy explains that genetically modified foods, even some vegan ones, can be extremely harmful to non-human and human animals, as well as the environment. Advocates for organic food often cite that … Continue reading →

We, Animal Voices, are happy to present our interview with We Animals author and photojournalist, Jo-Anne McArthur. Her book is a powerful collection of photographs that illuminate the horrendous conditions of animals around the world who live as captives in zoos, farms, rodeos, and circuses. It also features the joyous faces of animals who were … Continue reading →