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Notice: Function _load_textdomain_just_in_time was called incorrectly. Translation loading for the redux-framework domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home/robbiestells/thecommentist.com/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6121 Paul – The Commentist
We seem to spend so much time talking about the things we don’t like, and the things we don’t want to see in our idealized world, that we thought it was high time we devote a discussion to exploring some of the things we actually DO want to see in that future, and more importantly, actions we can take to start honoring that future right this very second. Plus, a big announcement!
We’ve got a jam packed episode today. First we talk to Jamila Alfred of the Afro Vegan Society to learn all about the upcoming National Afro-Vegan Conference Virtual Summit.
Then we are joined, once again, by lauren Ornelas, founder of the Food Empowerment Project to ask if non-profit chapters are a form of colonization. This is a topic she spoke about at the 2019 Animal Rights Conference and we were curious to pick her brain a bit more about why she came to this conclusion the implications it creates for activists. We discus why FEP decided to disband their Washington chapter as well as prohibit the formation of any new chapters. And ultimately we talk about strategies for moving forward.
About a year and a half ago, the pandemic was just getting into full swing in the United States and we were just starting to see the seeds of COVID conspiracy being sewn within vegans and plant based dieters. We did an episode speculating on whether or not vegans are more susceptible to falling for these conspiracies than the general population. Of course, the episode was filled with wild, barely-substantiated speculation (as we’ve been known to do). Flash forward to today and we have a year and a half worth of anecdotal evidence to base a follow up episode on. The big question lingers; have things gotten worse?
Instead of merely speculating, this time we turn to the inimitable Christopher Sebastian, whose job working in media studies involves monitoring and documenting trends in social media engagement. We’ll talk about how social media is being utilized by pseudoscientific grifters and far right ideologues to radicalize vegans into conspiracy theorists, anti-vaxxers, and worse. Is this a problem of our own making? And most importantly, is there anything we can do to reverse course?
This week we continue our discussion about legislative tactics that might help animals. Starting with a brief look at the Plant Based Treaty and then moving on to welfare measures such as Prop 2 and Prop 12. With Prop 12, which requires specific square footage for animals exploited for food, about to take effect in CA many farmers are feeling the ripple effects of the measure. As they tell it, this new move could cost the industry millions and destroy their ability to profit off the death of animals. Could that possibly be the case? We’ll conclude by looking at a few bold initiatives that have the potential to go far beyond the mild welfare measures currently in place.
A transcript will be available here on October 6th.
This week we are taking a look at a recent run of various globe-spanning legislative developments relating to legally establishing animal sentience. What do these moves actually mean for animals? It’s time to speculate wildly!
What’s up, beardos?! This week we bring back a classic interview that is quite possibly our most referenced. Of course, nothing can truly “cancel out” one’s personal vegan practice, but a lot of the potential practical good being done by a vegan population is consistently undermined by our taxes dollars. You know how every year we hear about less and less people drinking cow’s milk, and yet every year we also hear about massive dairy bailouts? We talk to Laura Reese and Connie Spence of Agriculture Fairness Alliance and Liberation 360 about the subsidies and bailouts that keep animal agriculture afloat. Most importantly, we talk about the creative strategies they are implementing to do something about it.
This week we’ve got a surprise film review of Eating Our Way To Extinction, which releases on Sept 16th. Andy backed this film on Indiegogo back in 2017 and since then it has grown and gathered a number of celebrity endorsements and participants. Now narrated by Kate Winslet and featuring appearances from Tony Robbins and Richard Branson, among many others. We’ll see if this celeb narrated, environmentally focused documentary can stand out in a now very crowded field.
This week we continue our “Is It Time To Retire ______” series by looking at three slogans/phrases that are often used within the animal rights movement and ask if they have outlived their accuracy or usefulness. Up first we assess “if slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be vegetarian”, move on to “we are all animals” and then ultimately dive into “vegan for the animals” a phrase beloved by many that may have taken a more nefarious turn in recent years.
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
This week we are taking a look at wild animal suffering. It’s a complex topic that brings up a lot of questions and mixed feelings. Is it an issue? If so, is it something that humans should attempt to intervene in? Do initiatives that end up helping predator animals (such as building bird boxes) actually create more harm than good? Are there ways we could help wild animals that wouldn’t drastically affect the ecosystem? Is maintaining an ecosystem a good justification for allowing animals to be harmed?
We’ll discuss some of the ways that humans are already intervening in wild animal suffering and some of the groups that are pushing for the rest of us to take it seriously. Ultimately we take a look at an argument making the rounds in the world of vegan youtube: in order to stay ethically consistent we must kill carnivores. It’s about to get messy!
A transcript of this episode will be available here on August 25th.
