NZ Vegan Podcast

Listen HERE In this episode I talk about my first email (cool!) and I talk about activism relating to people who try argue the fact that because we are able to use animals then that therefore justifies using them. I dispute that entirely. Being able to do something is not a moral justification for doing it when there exists a valid alternative (i.e., Veganism). People are able to do all kinds of horrible things, but the fact that they can do them should never be accepted as justification for doing them.  The thing we must emphasize is that we can be vegan, and be healthy and live comfortable lives. That is what is important, so whether meat is healthy or not is irrelevant. What is relevant is that it is healthy to be vegan, so we have an alternative to animal exploitation and are therefore are morally obligated to do that. That is a strong argument in favour of abolition. The fact that slave owners were perfectly capable of having slaves and keeping slaves is not an acceptable justification by any means for the existence of the institution of human slavery. The fact is they didn't need to, so almost everyone recognized the immorality of it. It's simple.  Don't waste your time trying to convince people that we can't eat meat, because that is not true, obviously we can. Spend your time showing them that we can be vegan, which is the ethical alternative: we can have a healthy diet free of animals, we can have clothing free of animal products, make-up free of animal products, cleaning products, medicine etc etc. We can have lives free of animal products, and every single Vegan is living proof of that. That is the moral issue, and that is what we should focus on, especially now in the year 2009. Forget the past! We only have today, so let's use it.

Listen HERE "People say that being a vegan creates a social problem in that others may react negatively. But isn't that the case if you take a principled position on any issue, whether it's racism, sexism, heterosexism, violence as a general matter—or speciesism? The key is to educate others about *why* you take the position." ~ Gary L. Francione Links and articles and other things I talk about: The Vegan Times  (website is http://vegan-times.com/) and also the Vegan Times Facebook page by  Maya Shlayan Vegan Cupcake Cards by Emmy James - PLEASE NOTE: correct link address is: http://emmyjames.com/vegancards.pdf Vegan Information Stall at School by Clare Wu Shame, Shame: Vegan Stereotypes by Mylène Ouellet "Please stop apologising for refusing to participate in violence" ~ Live Vegan "Wherever the truth is injured, defend it" ~ George Bernard Shaw (not Bertrand Russell - my apologies!) Gary Francione's Facebook Page Animals, Property and the Law by Gary Francione - a must read for all animal advocates! Am I Vegan? Clearly defining who is and is NOT vegan by Butterflies Katz "The Challenge of Going Vegan" (As Explained by a Non-Vegan) also by My Face is on Fire

Listen HERE A Revolution of the Heart by Gary Francione Single Issue Campaigns - Pruning Exploitation - by Dan Cudahy and Angel Flinn - the podcast version can be found here at Live Vegan's YouTube page The ever important debate between Erik Marcus and Gary Francione My previous podcast on the "you don't care about the animals who are suffering now" accusation. Our NZ Vegan Facebook Page Our OZVegan & NZVegan Facebook group The No Kill Movement

Listen HERE Here is the quote I was trying to say on the show "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." ~ Margaret Mead This is the Gandhi quote I have on my 'cubicle' wall at work: "Non-violence and truth are inseparable and presuppose one another." ~ Gandhi Here are the posters I have on my cubicle wall at work Here is a link to the interview of Gary Francione by Erik Marcus: MP3 or listen on the Abolitionist Approach Audio page. Please read Gary Francione's books Here is our Facebook Group that I talked about: Oz Vegan & NZ Vegan Here is the link to Emmy James' new podcast that I mentioned: Activism and the Message We Want to Send

Listen HERE This week I am very pleased to welcome fellow abolitionist advocate Jeffrey Coolwater. You can find Jeffrey on twitter as MacVegan Here is the link to the blog article we discussed about Jeffrey's 10 "lost years" as a vegetarian, before he discovered veganism and abolition. Here is a link to the groundbreaking interview that we mention of Professor Gary L. Francioneon Vegan Freak Radio You can find all the audio interviews of Professor Francione on the Audio Page of the Abolitionist Approach website Please read Gary Francione's books! (5 of which are available at the Auckland Library) Here is a link to the book Jeffrey mentioned by Bob and Jenna Torres: Vegan Freak: Being Vegan in a Non-Vegan World (Also available at the Auckland Library) This is the cartoon I talked about in the podcast. (HEE HEE!! I just love it!)~ Credit for this hilarious cartoon goes to Ignatz Ziller. Thanks so much Jeffrey for coming on the show!

Listen HERE This week I talk about something that was inspired through a conversation from the last street stall we did and also by a lot of things going on lately and in fact by all the things I have learned over the last 4 years since I went vegan. Here is the link to the latest Foxconn ProtestHere is the link to the podcast episode I mentioned from This American LifeHere is the link to the story I talked about from the Horn of Africa (note - ignore the bit about the "cattle" and please investigate the other related stories on there such as This One and This One)Here is a link to a petition against the NZ Food Bill, and here is the link to the Food Bill itself, and THIS is an interesting article that someone kindly sent to me about it. Here is the link to the Vegan Pensieve article I mentioned about eggs - Warning - disturbing photosAnd finally, Please Read Gary Francione's Books. The book I mention in the podcast that I quote from is Animals, Property and the Law.Publish Post Thanks for listening

LISTEN HERE This week I revisit something that is old news but I think still very relevant for the coming year and all years of the vegan movement, which is that we have no excuse for not promoting veganism unequivocally. "All compromise is based on give and take, but there can be no give and take on fundamentals. Any compromise on mere fundamentals is a surrender. For it is all give and no take." ~ Ghandi I mention a discussion where things "clicked" for me and I always recommend to all advocates to listen to this discussion between Gary Francione and Erik Marcus: listen here or access it on the Abolitionist Approach audio page (scroll down to find the interview) I mention this article by Corey Wrenn: Academic Discrimination Against Vegans Here is Randy Sandberg's fantastic Quotes on Slavery website where you can find a lot of history about the history of the Abolitionist Movement against slavery in the human context which can teach us a lot about the movement today to abolish all slavery, human and nonhuman. I mention that Peaceful Prairie Sanctuary residents need hay for the winter, but anyway they always need help and also I have links to some local sanctuaries and other rescue groups in NZ - please if you are going to donate money to anyone please donate directly to helping animals such as sanctuary, adoption and rescue, rather than to welfare campaigns and organisations. Here is a message of nonviolence for 2012 from Trish Roberts of Lobsa and LiveVegan: A Message of Nonviolence for 2012 Here's a great new article just released by Dan Cudahy and Angel Flinn for the New Year: Make the Vegan Resolution Here is a great new article by Vincent Guihan: Vegan Outreach: how not to do it Happy New Year everyone! :)UPDATE: I just want to add that this particular rant of mine was not a commentary on vegans who are unequivocal vegans in their own lives, and live vegan uncompromisingly, yet don't advocate it as such as an extra activity outside of normal life as vegans, because they are just not really interested in actually being an 'activist" as it were or they are advocating other social justice issues that take up all their free time, however they live vegan; it was specifically due to experiences with vegans who are welfare advocates, with whom I was discussing activism, and their preference of promoting welfare reform, their resistance to promoting veganism at all, and their absolute refusal to do it unequivocally. I recognise that these vegans and all vegans are challenging the status quo by being vegan, and are to an extent being advocates with regard to the example they set to those around them. I am glad for all vegans for being vegan. So I want that to be really clear. This is specifically in regard to the above-described position of welfare advocates.

Listen HERE This week I talk about lots of things, including the wonderful cupcakes offered by the Vegan Education Cupcake Stall from The Alice Springs Vegan Society and their inspiration for offering free cupcakes to people, and I mention the Six Principles of the Abolitionist Approach to Animal Rights among other things. I also talk about focusing on IDEAS not PEOPLE. "Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people"~ Anonymous or Eleanor Roosevelt. Podcast by Angel Flinn "The Vegan Evolution" - great vegan speech! -listen or you can read it here: VEGANISM: A TRUTH WHOSE TIME HAS COME: Best vegan speech Thanks for listening :) NOTE: I wasn't going to do this because I really didn't want to spend the time, but someone left a really long comment and I am not going to publish it, and I know they would have spent time writing it, so out of an attempt to be fair I am offering this heads up in order to prevent anyone else wasting their time on a comment that I won't publish, and I hope this can be seen as an action I am taking out of respect for other people's time: Anyone who wishes to make guesses about any individuals I may refer to in any podcast episode whom I choose not to name (for reasons I think I have done my best to make very clear), well if that how you want to spend your time then that is your prerogative; but please do not attempt to do so here. I am really not interested in talking about people per se, except to talk about actions and ideas, and how they relate to the issue of exploitation, and I do my best, as a human being can, to stick to that. I don't claim to be 100% successful and but I try. When I am speaking positively, I feel comfortable naming individuals, also of course I want to promote work and ideas that support nonviolence, and the abolition of exploitation. When I am speaking critically or negatively, I prefer not to name individuals because I loathe drama, but even if I didn't it inevitably takes the focus off the real issue which should always remain the victims of exploitation, and I refuse to allow that to happen. And as this is my blog I thankfully have that ability. I also thankfully have the ability to refuse to join in on any drama to do with egos and personality clashes that are going on anywhere else. Thank goodness. :) As hard as it is to believe, I really do just want to focus on the issues of exploitation and violence and animal use, and stand up unequivocally against them in everything I say and do, and I refuse to promote or support anything that I believe is in opposition to that. Or to waste time on anything that detracts from that. In fact, that was the whole point of this podcast episode. Thanks for your understanding

LISTEN HERE This week I have a very special guest over for dinner and cupcake making and podcasting - Emmy James from Peaceful Abolitionist and the Vegan For Life podcast Emmy is the very talented designer of our NZ Vegan logo and check out these wonderful designs she hand painted onto shirts and sweatshirts also. See also the photo of Clare who we mention who has helped us at the stall and is so much fun! Thanks for listening!

Listen HERE This week I talk about the new website nzvegan.com and aava.org.nz and the literature I have been wanting to make for ages. I also mention the interviews that Corey Wrenn the Roanoke Vegan Examiner has recently allowed me to be part of. Finally I say a special thanks to Gary L. Francione. Congratulations Gary, you did it :)

Listen HERE Part two of the interview with special guest Gary L. Francione Here is a link to the website page I am working on about Adoption/Fostering and Sanctuaries. You can find links to some of the sanctuaries and rescue organisations we mentioned in there:http://nzvegan.wordpress.com/sanctuary-and-adoptionfostering/ Here is a link to the podcast Episode with Diane Ellis about Vegecat Vegan Cat Food: NZ Vegan Podcast Episode 60 - Special Guest Diane Ellis, spokesperson for Vegecat vegan cat foodThanks for listening and thank you Gary Francione for coming on the show.

Listen HERE Part one of the interview with special guest Gary L. Francione Here is a link to the website page I am working on about Adoption/Fostering and Sanctuaries. You can find links to some of the sanctuaries and rescue organisations we mentioned in there:http://nzvegan.wordpress.com/sanctuary-and-adoptionfostering/ Thanks for listeningPart two is next

LISTEN HERE "People say that being a vegan creates a social problem in that others may react negatively. But isn't that the case if you take a principled position on any issue, whether it's racism, sexism, heterosexism, violence as a general matter—or speciesism? The key is to educate others about *why* you take the position." ~ Gary L. Francione Here is a link to the fantastic Nutritional Pamphlets from the Boston Vegan Association or you can contact them for some copies here Also don't forget their wonderful Vegan Pamphlet Here is another must have for any street stall: Becoming Vegan Pamphlet

Listen HERE What an idiotic absurdity it is to say that earnest, persistent, uncompromising moral opposition to a system of boundless immorality is the way to strengthen it; and that the way to abolish such a system is to say nothing about it! ~ William L. Garrison (April 23, 1858) From http://quotesonslavery.org/what-an-idiotic-absurdity-it-is/

Listen HERE