Episode 101: Interview with Roger Yates about the Vegan Information Project, veganism as holistic social justice, and the importance of grassroots activism

Poster from the Vegan Information Project

This week, I am pleased to present my seventh interview with the vegan sociologist and animal rights advocate Roger Yates, who has been a vegan since 1979.

Roger’s 2005 PhD dissertation focused on the social construction of speciesism. In the 1980's, he was a Press Officer for the Animal Liberation Front, and in 2013 he co-founded the Vegan Information Project (also known as VIP) in Ireland. He has a blog, social media accounts, and a YouTube channel, where he advocates for veganism and animal rights from an abolitionist perspective.

In this interview, Roger outlines the history and philosophy of the Vegan Information Project, and he emphasizes the importance of understanding and challenging cultural speciesism as vegan advocates. He also speaks about the ethical and practical issues surrounding money in the animal advocacy movement, and why vegan advocates are sometimes accused of "forcing" our views on non-vegans. We discuss the importance of viewing veganism as a movement for holistic social justice, and we share our views about some of the things we'd like to see the vegan movement do differently in 2024 and beyond.

You can listen to the episode above or on CKCU 93.1 FM's website. You can also download the MP3 file from Archive.org.

You can find Always for Animal Rights on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Go vegan, stay vegan, and let's remember to advocate for animal rights today and every day. Thanks for listening to the show!

Posters from the Vegan Information Project

Episode 76: Interview with veganic farmer, researcher, and activist Jimmy Videle of La Ferme de l'Aube, Québec

This week, I am very happy to present my interview with the veganic farmer and activist Jimmy Videle. In 2014, Jimmy and his wife, Mélanie Bernier, started a vegan organic market farm, La Ferme de l’Aube, in Boileau, Québec, where they now live with their five rescued cats. In the past, Jimmy worked and consulted on eleven vegan, organic, and permaculture farms in Hawaii, Mexico, Central America, South America and Québec. He is currently a consultant and volunteer with A.U.M. Films & Media (the producers of the documentaries Cowspiracy, What the Health, and others) and the Animal Protection Party of Canada.

In this interview, Jimmy speaks about veganic farming and the practices that he and Mélanie use at La Ferme de l’Aube. He tells his story of becoming vegan, describes the importance of farming veganically, and discusses what needs to be done to help spread veganic farming methods across North America and around the world.

In research that Jimmy conducted for the Humane Party of the United States in 2018, he found that vegan organic farming was 2.2% more productive per acre when compared to growing crops using conventional methods. However, in a study published in 2019, Jimmy wrote that vegan organic agriculture can be 4198% more productive per acre than animal agriculture. This is due to the fact that animal agriculture uses a vast amount of land for grazing and growing feed crops to feed the animals who are exploited and killed by that industry. With a global shift to veganic farming, we could rewild much of the land that is currently used for agriculture.

This was such an inspiring interview. Thanks to Jimmy for being a guest on the show!

How to listen to this episode

There are two ways you can listen to this episode.

1. Listen to the episode on CKCU FM's website at https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/553/55876.html.
   
2. Listen to or download the podcast from Archive.org at https://archive.org/details/afar-april-13-2022.
   

You can also find Always for Animal Rights on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. If you'd like to receive an e-mail every time there is a new post on the AFAR blog, feel free to enter your e-mail address into the appropriate box in the right-hand sidebar of this site.

Go vegan, stay vegan, and let's remember to stand up and speak up for animal rights today and every day. Thanks for listening to the show!

Episode 73: Interview with Bob Linden, host of Go Vegan Radio

This week, I am very happy to present my interview with Bob Linden, the host of Go Vegan Radio. Bob has been a vegan for 38 years. Since he started Go Vegan Radio in 2001, the show has been broadcast on a variety of radio networks and stations in the United States. Bob is also an event organizer who has put together a number of highly successful vegan festivals and summits. He is unequivocal in his advocacy of veganism as a necessary solution to many of the problems afflicting today’s world.

In this interview, Bob tells me about the mission of Go Vegan Radio and shares his story of becoming vegan and starting the show. He speaks about the feedback he has received from listeners, the importance of incorporating vegan advocacy into our everyday lives, and why veganism is essential for the animals, the environment, human health, and world peace. He also explains why non-vegan vegetarianism doesn’t make sense, why he does not support welfarist animal charities, and why KFC’s Beyond Meat so-called “plant-based” chicken nuggets are not vegan.

I recommend that you listen to some of the episodes from Go Vegan Radio's archives after tuning in to this interview!

How to listen to this episode

There are two ways you can listen to this episode.

1. Listen to the episode on CKCU FM's website at https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/553/55035.html.
   
2.  Listen to or download the podcast from Archive.org at https://archive.org/details/afar-january-26-2022.
   

You can also find Always for Animal Rights on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. If you'd like to receive an e-mail every time there is a new post on the AFAR blog, feel free to enter your e-mail address into the appropriate box in the right-hand sidebar of this site.

Go vegan, stay vegan, and let's remember to stand up and speak up for animal rights today and every day. Thanks for listening to the show!

Episode 71: Interview with Marlene Narrow, host of Vegan Nation radio show and podcast

Art by Lynda Bell

This week, I am pleased to present my interview with the vegan radio show host Marlene Narrow. Marlene is the host of Vegan Nation, a vegan music and talk show that has been broadcast weekly at a community radio station in Worcester, Massachusetts, since 2015.

In this interview, Marlene and I share our stories of how we started our vegan radio shows, and Marlene tells me about what led her to become a World Peace Diet Facilitator. We discuss the concepts of deep veganism and the Boomerang Effect; why there is no compassionate way to exploit and kill animals; why it’s important to incorporate vegan advocacy into our everyday lives; how we can find the courage to speak out about important yet controversial topics; and what gives us hope for the future. Marlene also speaks about what she has learned from her experience hosting a vegan radio show. 

It was awesome to have the opportunity to speak with this dedicated, insightful, and courageous vegan activist.

Other things we mentioned during the episode:

"Other Uses" page on Be Fair Be Vegan's website

Tao Te Ching, chapter 67: https://terebess.hu/english/tao/gia.html#Kap67

How to listen to this episode

There are two ways you can listen to this episode.

1. Listen to the episode on CKCU FM's website at https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/553/54804.html.
   
2.  Listen to or download the podcast from Archive.org at https://archive.org/details/afar-january-5-2022.
   

You can also find Always for Animal Rights on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. If you'd like to receive an e-mail every time there is a new post on the AFAR blog, feel free to enter your e-mail address into the appropriate box in the right-hand sidebar of this site.

Go vegan, stay vegan, and let's remember to stand up and speak up for animal rights today and every day. Thanks for listening to the show!

Episode 69: Vegan animal rights music and quotes

Go vegan! Art by the vegan artist, Jo Frederiks.

For this week’s episode, I’ve decided to do something a little different. Instead of an interview, we’ll be listening to a variety of songs about veganism and animal rights. I've also included an assortment of thought-provoking quotes by historical and modern-day animal advocates, including Leo Tolstoy, Donald Watson, Tom Regan, Sandra Higgins, Gary Francione, and Will Tuttle.

The following songs can be heard on this episode:

• "My Innocence Begins Today" by Alex Arndt & the Sonic Universe
• "The Voiceless" by Tonya G.
• "The Man in the ALF Shirt" by Jennifer Faust, the Vegan Songstress
• "Sixth Commandment" by Dr. Aryan Tavakkoli
• "The Call of Justice" by Tribunal Animal
• "Just Like Us" by Vegan Queen V
• "Alive!" by Dr. Will Tuttle

It was a lot of work to put together this episode, but I'm glad that I did. I invite you to share it with anyone who needs a reminder of why they are vegan or anyone who could use some inspiration to become vegan.

Becoming vegan, encouraging others to go vegan, and speaking up for animals' fundamental rights is the only way that we can achieve a world in which we live in peace with our fellow sentient beings, a world in which animal exploitation has been abolished. The choices that we make, as individuals, matter. Never ever doubt your ability to make a difference!

Carolyn, the host of Always for Animal Rights

How to listen to this episode

There are two ways you can listen to this episode.

1. Listen to the episode on CKCU FM's website at https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/553/54490.html.
   
2. Listen to or download the podcast from Archive.org at https://archive.org/details/afar-december-8-2021.
   

You can also find Always for Animal Rights on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. If you'd like to receive an e-mail every time there is a new post on the AFAR blog, feel free to enter your e-mail address into the appropriate box in the right-hand sidebar of this site.

Go vegan, stay vegan, and let's remember to stand up and speak up for animal rights today and every day. Thanks for listening to the show!

Episode 68: Singer-songwriter Vegan Queen V speaks about her vegan Christmas music and her upcoming animal rights album

This week, I am pleased to present my second interview with the vegan singer-songwriter Vegan Queen V, also known as Jen Armstrong. The first time I interviewed Queen V was in 2019, for Episode 10 of my show. Queen V, who lives in the UK, creates songs that advocate for veganism and against animal exploitation.

In this interview, Queen V and I discuss her vegan Christmas songs, “Cruel World” and “Have Yourself a Merry Vegan Christmas”, as well as a song about ethics titled “Who Made You God”. Queen V also tells me about her upcoming animal rights music album and how being vegan has changed her life.

We'll hear all of the aforementioned songs on this episode, and we'll close the show with the song "Just Like Us".

It was fantastic to speak with Queen V again on the show!

How to listen to this episode

There are two ways you can listen to this episode.

1. Listen to the episode on CKCU FM's website at https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/553/54399.html.
   
2.  Listen to or download the podcast from Archive.org at https://archive.org/details/afar-december-1-2021.
   

You can also find Always for Animal Rights on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. If you'd like to receive an e-mail every time there is a new post on the AFAR blog, feel free to enter your e-mail address into the appropriate box in the right-hand sidebar of this site.

Go vegan, stay vegan, and let's remember to stand up and speak up for animal rights today and every day. Thanks for listening to the show!

Episode 67: Interview with Michael Prikryl about advocating for veganism through music and conversation

This week, I am very happy to present my interview with the animal rights activist and musician Michael Prikryl, who lives in the Czech Republic. Also known as Pianomike, Michael creates songs that advocate for veganism and animal rights. He is a co-organizer of the Anonymous for the Voiceless chapter in the city of Olomouc in the Czech Republic, a contributor to the Jane Unchained News Network, and a public speaker.

In this interview, Michael tells me about the current state of the vegan movement in the Czech Republic, and we discuss Michael’s vegan music and the Liberation Pledge. Michael also explains how he uses the Socratic method when having conversations about veganism, how the vegan ethic fits into his overall philosophy of life, and how being vegan has changed his life.

At the end of the show, we’ll hear Michael’s abolitionist vegan song, “Animal Liberation”.

This was a great conversation!

How to listen to this episode

There are two ways you can listen to this episode.

1. Listen to the episode on CKCU FM's website at https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/553/54337.html.
   
2.  Listen to or download the podcast from Archive.org at https://archive.org/details/afar-november-24-2021.
   

You can also find Always for Animal Rights on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. If you'd like to receive an e-mail every time there is a new post on the AFAR blog, feel free to enter your e-mail address into the appropriate box in the right-hand sidebar of this site.

Go vegan, stay vegan, and let's remember to stand up and speak up for animal rights today and every day. Thanks for listening to the show!

Episode 66: Interview with Sumaya Braceras about becoming vegan, vegan advocacy in the Canary Islands, and debunking common excuses against veganism

Sumaya doing vegan outreach

This week, I am pleased to present my interview with Sumaya Braceras, a vegan activist who lives in the Canary Islands of Spain. In addition to advocating for veganism online and in her everyday life, Sumaya does street outreach with Anonymous for the Voiceless to educate the public about the importance of going vegan.

In this interview, Sumaya tells her story of what inspired her to become vegan, and she describes the current state of the vegan movement in the Canary Islands. We discuss how we can respond to some of the questions or excuses that we hear when we are having vegan advocacy conversations. Sumaya also tells me about how she advocates for veganism in her everyday interactions and how being vegan has changed her life.

It's a great interview!

How to listen to this episode

There are three ways you can listen to this episode.

1. Listen to the episode on CKCU FM's website at https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/553/54139.html.
2. Listen to or download the podcast from Archive.org at https://archive.org/details/afar-november-10th-2021.
3. Listen to or download the podcast on SoundCloud at https://soundcloud.com/alwaysforanimalrights/interview-with-sumaya-braceras-about-becoming-vegan-and-vegan-advocacy-in-the-canary-islands.
   

You can also find Always for Animal Rights on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. If you'd like to receive an e-mail every time there is a new post on the AFAR blog, feel free to enter your e-mail address into the appropriate box in the right-hand sidebar of this site.

Go vegan, stay vegan, and let's remember to stand up and speak up for animal rights today and every day. Thanks for listening to the show!

Episode 65: Interview with Clif Grant about veganism, vegan advocacy conversations, and why zoos are unethical

This week, I am excited to share my interview with Clif Grant, a vegan animal rights activist from the North of Ireland. Clif has been a vegan for about a decade and has been involved in various forms of vegan advocacy. He currently gives speeches about veganism, has a vegan advocacy YouTube channel, and does street outreach in Belfast, Ireland, to educate and inspire the public to become vegan.

In this interview, Clif tells me about what led him to adopt a vegan way of life, and he describes how he engages people in conversations about veganism when he’s doing street outreach. We discuss why there’s no such thing as “humane” animal exploitation, why veganism can be seen as being in alignment with Christian ethics, and what’s wrong with patronizing zoos. Clif also speaks about how being vegan has changed his life.

I really enjoyed this conversation!

How to listen to this episode

There are two ways you can listen to this episode.

1. Listen to the episode on CKCU FM's website at https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/553/54065.html.
2.  Listen to or download the podcast from Archive.org at https://archive.org/details/afar-november-3-2021.
   

You can also find Always for Animal Rights on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. If you'd like to receive an e-mail every time there is a new post on the AFAR blog, feel free to enter your e-mail address into the appropriate box in the right-hand sidebar of this site.

Go vegan, stay vegan, and let's remember to stand up and speak up for animal rights today and every day. Thanks for listening to the show!

Episode 64: Interview with Dr. Carlo Alvaro about raw veganism and raising children as ethical vegans

This week, I am pleased to present my second interview with the vegan philosopher and virtue ethicist, Dr. Carlo Alvaro. Carlo is an Associate Professor of philosophy at CUNY New York City College of Technology. He is the author of Ethical Veganism, Virtue Ethics, and the Great Soul, published in 2019, as well as Raw Veganism: The Philosophy of The Human Diet, which was published in 2020. His new book about raw veganism, The Book of Raw, will be published by Lantern Publishing & Media next year. He has also written a book titled, Deism: A Rational Journey from Disbelief to the Existence of God, which will be available in March 2022.

In this interview, Carlo tells me about the philosophy and science behind raw veganism, and he responds to the cliché that it’s okay to eat “everything in moderation”. We also discuss where raw vegans get calcium, why eating animal products constitutes a form of self-deception, and what we can expect to find in his upcoming book. Then Carlo speaks about why parents should raise their children as ethical vegans without compromising on this issue.

Some of Dr. Alvaro's academic work can be found online. I recommend that you check it out!

How to listen to this episode

There are two ways you can listen to this episode.

1. Listen to the episode on CKCU FM's website at https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/553/53895.html.
   
2. Listen to or download the podcast from Archive.org at https://archive.org/details/afar-october-21-2021.
   

You can also find Always for Animal Rights on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. If you'd like to receive an e-mail every time there is a new post on the AFAR blog, feel free to enter your e-mail address into the appropriate box in the right-hand sidebar of this site.

Go vegan, stay vegan, and let's remember to stand up and speak up for animal rights today and every day. Thanks for listening to the show!

Episode 63: Interview with Dr. Benjamin Benulis about healing from chronic illness on a whole foods plant-based diet

This week, I am delighted to present my recent interview with Dr. Benjamin Benulis, a vegan and plant-based doctor of chiropractic based in Arizona. Having healed himself from chronic illness on a whole-foods plant-based diet over a decade ago, Dr. Ben now works to help others achieve optimal health by eliminating the root causes of disease.

In this interview, Dr. Ben tells me his story of how adopting a whole foods plant-based diet allowed him to heal from autoimmune disease, and he describes what his daily diet looks like now. We discuss some commonly asked questions about protein and sugar, what’s wrong with the way that mainstream medicine currently addresses chronic health issues, how a whole foods plant-based diet helps to reverse chronic disease, whether the natural health products industry is helpful or harmful, and whether eating a fruit-based vegan diet can prevent junk food cravings. Then Dr. Ben speaks about some of the connections between animal agriculture, the pharmaceutical industry, and vivisection, and we discuss the upcoming Worldwide Vegan Summit for Truth and Freedom.

At the end of the show, we'll be listening to the song "Just Like Us" by the vegan singer-songwriter Jen Armstrong (the wonderful Vegan Queen V!).

How to listen to this episode

There are two ways you can listen to this episode.

1. Listen to the episode on CKCU FM's website at https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/553/53820.html.
   
2. Listen to or download the podcast from Archive.org at https://archive.org/details/afar-october-13-2021.
   

You can also find Always for Animal Rights on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. If you'd like to receive an e-mail every time there is a new post on the AFAR blog, feel free to enter your e-mail address into the appropriate box in the right-hand sidebar of this site.

Go vegan, stay vegan, and let's remember to stand up and speak up for animal rights today and every day. Thanks for listening to the show!

Episode 62: Interview with Jeremy Hess about animal rights, the importance of sanctuaries, and unlearning speciesist language

Jeremy and Mr. T at
FRIEND Farm Animal Sanctuary

This week, I am very happy to present my recent interview with the animal rights advocate Jeremy Hess. Jeremy has been a vegan for more than 7 years and has been involved in various forms of animal rights advocacy, including volunteering at sanctuaries, giving speeches about veganism and animal rights, creating YouTube videos, doing street outreach, and more. On his website, VeganInteractions.com, and his YouTube Channel, Jeremy the Ape, he provides resources to help advocates use accurate and non-speciesist language and learn about animal rights theory. He is currently working to create a vegan microsanctuary to provide a home for rescued animals in the United States.

In this interview, Jeremy tells his story of becoming vegan and embracing a rights-based approach to animal advocacy. We also discuss how we can avoid using speciesist language in our advocacy and our everyday lives, and whether there is a difference between the words “exploitation” and “use”. Jeremy describes the importance of sanctuaries in the animal rights movement, how veganism is connected to animal rights, how we can respond to the “plants” objection to veganism, and what is the best thing about being vegan in his experience.

During the interview, I also mentioned an essay, "The Case for Animal Rights" by Tom Regan, which summarizes the key concepts in Regan's book of the same name. Although I haven't read any of Regan's books, I have read a number of Gary Francione's books, which have helped me to learn about animal rights theory.

This was a very thought-provoking discussion, and I hope you'll tune in!

How to listen to this episode

There are two ways you can listen to this episode.

1. Listen to the episode on CKCU FM's website at https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/553/53658.html.
   
2. Listen to or download the podcast from Archive.org at https://archive.org/details/afar-september-29-2021.
   

You can also find Always for Animal Rights on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. If you'd like to receive an e-mail every time there is a new post on the AFAR blog, feel free to enter your e-mail address into the appropriate box in the right-hand sidebar of this site.

Go vegan, stay vegan, and let's remember to stand up and speak up for animal rights today and every day. Thanks for listening to the show!

Episode 61: Interview with Sarina Farb about growing up vegan, industry influence over scientific research, and why vegans should not promote lab-grown "meat"

This week, I am pleased to present my interview with the vegan advocate Sarina Farb. Sarina lives in the Midwestern United States and has been a vegan for her entire life. She is the host of the YouTube channel Born Vegan and the host of the Science is Gray podcast. She previously served as the international liaison for the film-making organization Tribe of Heart, and she was a co-founder and co-host of the 2020 Climate Diet Summit. Sarina holds degrees in biochemistry and policy studies and formerly was a high school science teacher.

In this interview, Sarina speaks about her experiences growing up in a vegan family. She explains how these experiences have influenced the way she views the world, why she never wanted to stop being vegan, and why it isn’t fair to accuse vegan parents of "forcing" their children to be vegan. We also discuss why Sarina started her science podcast, how corporations influence scientific research, and why lab-grown meat is not the solution to the problem of animal exploitation.

It was a very interesting discussion. I hope you'll tune in!

How to listen to this episode

There are two ways you can listen to this episode.

1. Listen to the episode on CKCU FM's website at https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/553/53491.html.
   
2. Listen to or download the podcast from Archive.org at https://archive.org/details/afar-september-15-2021.
   

You can also find Always for Animal Rights on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. If you'd like to receive an e-mail every time there is a new post on the AFAR blog, feel free to enter your e-mail address into the appropriate box in the right-hand sidebar of this site.

Go vegan, stay vegan, and let's remember to stand up and speak up for animal rights today and every day. Thanks for listening to the show!

Episode 59: Interview with Inge and Thomas, abolitionist vegan advocates in the Netherlands

This week, I am delighted to share my interview with the abolitionist vegan advocates Inge and Thomas, who do street outreach to educate the public about veganism in the Netherlands. Thomas is also the author of a website about veganism and animal rights in the Dutch language, called WaaromVeganisme.nl.

In this interview, Thomas and Inge tell me about what led them to become vegans and start doing abolitionist vegan advocacy. They also speak about their approach to vegan education, the current state of veganism and vegan advocacy in the Netherlands, and how nonhuman animal issues are portrayed in the Dutch mainstream media. Then they share their advice for vegans who would like to get involved in animal rights advocacy, and they tell me how being vegan has changed their lives and what their plans are for the future.

It was really inspiring to speak with Inge and Thomas and learn about the work they are doing to spread the abolitionist vegan message.

How to listen to this episode

There are two ways you can listen to this episode.

1. Listen to the episode on CKCU FM's website at https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/553/53171.html.
   
2. Listen to or download the podcast from Archive.org at https://archive.org/details/afar-august-18-2021.
   

You can also find Always for Animal Rights on Facebook and Instagram. If you'd like to receive an e-mail every time there is a new post on the AFAR blog, feel free to enter your e-mail address into the appropriate box in the right-hand sidebar of this site.

Go vegan, stay vegan, and let's remember to stand up and speak up for animal rights today and every day. Thanks for listening to the show!

Episode 57: Interview with Marieke Griffioen about abolitionist veganism in the Netherlands

This week, I am pleased to present my interview with the abolitionist vegan advocate Marieke Griffioen. Marieke is the founder of VEGNL, a vegan education group based in the Netherlands.

In this interview, Marieke tells me about what led her to become vegan and learn about the Abolitionist Approach to Animal Rights. She describes the current state of veganism and animal advocacy in the Netherlands, and she tells me about her abolitionist vegan advocacy, how we can educate others about veganism in a nonviolent way, and what would happen if all vegans abandoned single-issue campaigning and welfare reforms and instead started promoting an unequivocal vegan message. We also discuss what Marieke found when she came across a dairy farm while on a walk.

At the end of the show we'll hear the song "How Do I Go Vegan" by the abolitionist vegan singer-songwriter Gülce Özen Gürkan.

It's always inspiring to have discussions with grassroots abolitionist educators from around the world, and this interview was no exception. Thanks to Marieke for being a guest on the show!

How to listen to this episode

There are two ways you can listen to this episode.

1. Listen to the episode on CKCU FM's website at https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/553/52830.html.
   
2. Listen to or download the podcast from Archive.org at https://archive.org/details/afar-july-21-2021.
   

You can also find Always for Animal Rights on Facebook and Instagram. If you'd like to receive an e-mail every time there is a new post on the AFAR blog, feel free to enter your e-mail address into the appropriate box in the right-hand sidebar of this site.

Go vegan, stay vegan, and let's remember to stand up and speak up for animal rights today and every day. Thanks for listening to the show!

Episode 54: Interview with vegan rights advocate Dr. Jeanette Rowley

This week, I am very happy to present my second interview with Dr. Jeanette Rowley, a leading expert in the field of vegan rights law. Jeanette is the author of a book titled, “Towards a Vegan Jurisprudence: The Need for a Reorientation of Human Rights”, which shares its title with her PhD on the same topic. In 2012, she founded the International Vegan Rights Alliance, which has since become the International Rights Network of the Vegan Society.

In this interview, Jeanette speaks about the importance of advocating for vegan rights, and she outlines some instances in which vegans have needed to advocate for our rights. She also tells me about the significance of veganism being deemed a protected belief under the UK Equality Act, whether veganism could be considered a “creed” under Ontario human rights law, and how the philosophy of Emmanuel Levinas can inform our approach to vegan rights. Finally, we discuss whether vegans may be exempt from mandatory vaccines, the marginalization of vegans in society, and vegan rights within the education system. 

These are fascinating and important topics, so I hope you'll tune in!

How to listen to this episode

There are two ways you can listen to this episode.

1. Listen to the episode on CKCU FM's website at https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/553/52108.html.
   
2. Listen to or download the podcast from Archive.org at https://archive.org/details/afar-may-26-2021.
   

You can also find Always for Animal Rights on Facebook and Instagram. If you'd like to receive an e-mail every time there is a new post on the AFAR blog, feel free to enter your e-mail address into the appropriate box in the right-hand sidebar of this site.

Go vegan, stay vegan, and let's remember to stand up and speak up for animal rights today and every day. Thanks for listening to the show!

Episode 49: Interview with Mariana Landeros Corona, abolitionist vegan educator

Welcome to Episode 49 of Always for Animal Rights!

This week, I am pleased to present my interview with Mariana Landeros Corona, who is an abolitionist vegan educator living in California. Prior to the lockdown, Mariana was involved in vegan educational tabling outside of public libraries, and she hopes to get back to this advocacy once it is possible to do so again. She currently manages the Abolitionist Veganism Shared Information Facebook Page and other social media pages that promote veganism and the Abolitionist Approach to Animal Rights.

In this interview, Mariana tells me about what led her to go vegan and become involved in Abolitionist vegan advocacy. She also explains how she talks to non-vegans about veganism, what abolitionist vegan advocacy initiatives are currently taking place around the world, and how we can still be involved in advocacy even during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Mariana's responses to my questions are bilingual (in Spanish and English) so that this episode can reach people who speak Spanish as well as those who speak English.

At the end of the show, we'll listen to the song "How Do I Go Vegan" by Gülce Özen Gürkan.

How to listen to this episode

There are two ways you can listen to this episode.

1. Listen to the episode on CKCU FM's website at https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/553/50819.html.
   
2. Listen to or download the podcast from Archive.org at https://archive.org/details/afar-february-10-2021.

You can also find Always for Animal Rights on Facebook and Instagram. If you'd like to receive an e-mail every time there is a new post on the AFAR blog, feel free to enter your e-mail address into the appropriate box in the right-hand sidebar of this site.

Go vegan, stay vegan, and let's remember to stand up and speak up for animal rights today and every day. Thanks for listening to the show!

Episode 48: Interview with Gary Francione about veganism as a moral baseline, the importance of nonviolence, and what's wrong with keeping "pets"

This week, I am very happy to present my second interview with the animal rights scholar Gary L. Francione, Board of Governors Distinguished Professor of Law and Nicholas deB. Katzenbach Scholar of Law and Philosophy at Rutgers University School of Law in New Jersey. He is also Visting Professor of Philosophy at the University of Lincoln (UK). Professor Francione has been a vegan since 1982 and is well-known for having developed the Abolitionist Approach to Animal Rights. He is the author of many excellent books about animal rights theory, advocacy, and veganism.

In this interview, Professor Francione tells me about what happened in the 1980’s and 1990’s that led him to develop the Abolitionist Approach, and he speaks about how modern-day animal advocacy that does not hold veganism as a moral baseline perpetuates animal exploitation. Then we discuss why nonviolence is an important part of the Abolitionist Approach, why we shouldn’t bring nonhuman animals into existence to be our “pets”, and more. At the end of the interview, Professor Francione offers his advice for those who wish to work to bring about a vegan world.

After the interview, we'll hear the song "How Do I Go Vegan" by Gülce Özen Gürkan.

The essay that Professor Francione mentioned during the interview, "Reflections on Tom Regan and the Animal Rights Movement That Once Was", was published in Between the Species in 2018.

Gary Francione's websites can be found at AbolitionistApproach.com and HowDoIGoVegan.com.

You can find my previous interview with Professor Francione on Episode 32.

How to listen to this episode

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1. Listen to the episode on CKCU FM's website at https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/553/50656.html.
   
2. Listen to or download the podcast from Archive.org at https://archive.org/details/afar-january-27-2021.
   

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Go vegan, stay vegan, and let's remember to stand up and speak up for animal rights today and every day. Thanks for listening to the show!