The Institute for Critical Animal Studies is pleased to announce our 2012 Annual North American Conference for Critical Animal Studies Awards of the Year. Awards will be bestowed on March 3, 2012 during the conference at Canisius College in Buffalo, NY (March 2-4). We thank the many nominees for submitting their work. It was an honor to consider the wonderful nominations from around the world! Although the final decisions were difficult, we truly feel that the following award recipients have done superb work to help animals and end oppression. We are proud to recognize their contributions to the field of Critical Animal Studies.

Critical Animal Studies Grassroots Project of the Year
“Food Empowerment Project”: http://www.foodispower.org/

Critical Animal Studies Media of the Year
“Conflict Gypsy”: http://www.conflictgypsy.com/

Critical Animal Studies Faculty Paper/Project of the Year
Dr. Lori Gruen, “The first 100”: http://first100chimps.wesleyan.edu/

Critical Animal Studies Undergraduate Paper/Project/Thesis of the Year
Lara Drew: “Freirean Pedagogy and Activism: Radical Adult Education in the Animal Liberation Movement

Critical Animal Studies Graduate Paper/Project/Dissertation of the Year
James Stanescu: “The Abattoir of Humanity: Philosophy in the Age of the Factory Farm”

Critical Animal Studies Book of the Year
Jason Hribal: Fear of the Animal Planet: The Hidden History of Animal Resistance

Critical Animal Studies Tyke Scholar of the Year
Tereza Vandrovcova

Critical Animal Studies Britches Scholar of the Year
Jessica Groling

Critical Animal Studies Hilda Scholar of the Year
Adam Weitzenfeld

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A new grassroots organization, Evolve For Animals, has formed to implement a comprehensive and creative education-based approach to animal rights advocacy.  While this small group is amidst plans to develop book drives, vegan soup kitchens, plant-a-tree programs, film screenings, leafleting, and speaking engagements, there is a special focus on reaching out to the 18-25 demographic, especially those in US colleges and universities.  To deliver the vegan message to this population, EFA is promoting its informational website via student listservs, providing their literature to on-campus animal rights groups, and recently began working with college administrators and faculty to organize special events for students.

To support this organization’s efforts, learn more about their projects, or if you are an organizer/volunteer of an animal rights group that is interested in distributing EFA’s literature please use the contact information and links below.

Web:

www.evolveforanimals.org

www.facebook.com/evolveforanimals

Email:

act@evolveforanimals.org

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Women, Destruction, and the Avant-Garde: A Paradigm for Animal Liberation
By: Kim Socha
Amsterdam/New York, NY, 2012, XIV, 258 pp.
Pb: 978-90-420-3423-5
€ 54 / US$ 81

____________

ABOUT THE BOOK

This interdisciplinary study fuses analysis of feminist literature and manifestos, radical political theory, critical vanguard studies, women’s performance art, and popular culture to argue for the animal liberation movement as successor to the liberationist visions of the early twentieth-century avant-gardes, most especially the Surrealists. These vanguard groups are judiciously critiqued for their refusal to confront their own misogyny, a quandary that continues to plague animal activists, thereby disallowing for cohesion and full recognition of women’s value within a culturally marginalized cause.

This volume is of interest to anyone who is concerned about the continued—indeed, escalating—violence against nonhumans. More broadly, it will interest those seeking new pathways to challenge the dominant power constructions through which oppression of humans, nonhumans, and the environment thrives. Women, Destruction, and the Avant-Garde ultimately poses the animal liberation movement as having serious political and cultural implications for radical social change, destruction of hierarchy and for a world without shackles and cages, much as the Surrealists envisioned.

______________________________________________

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Foreword – Helena Pedersen and Vasile Stanescu: Series Editor’s Introduction: What is “Critical” about Animal Studies? From the Animal “Question” to the Animal “Condition”

Acknowledgments

Introduction: Rooting for the Avant-Garde

I. Avant-Garde Women Writers and Destruction in the Flesh

II. Staring Back in the Flesh: Avant-Garde Performance as an ALM Paradigm

III. Convulsive Beauty, Infinite Spheres and Irrational Reasons: Reverie on a New Consciousness

Conclusion: Love and Laughter Now: Plucking at Stems or Uprooting Oppression?

Works Cited

Index

_____________________________________________
Kim Socha is an animal activist and sits on the board of the Animal Rights Coalition in Minneapolis, MN. Holding a Ph.D. in English Literature and Criticism, she works as a composition and literature instructor with publications in the areas of surrealism, Latino literature and pedagogy.

______________________________________________

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On September 9th 2011, Canisius College’s Institute for the Study of Human-Animal Relations (ISHAR) hosted “The Use of Primates in Biomedical Research: A Personal Perspective” at the Montante Cultural Center featuring guest speaker Dr. James Ha, head of the primate breeding program at the Washington National Primate Research Center (WNPRC) in the University of Washington (UW). It was here and then, where animal rights activist and student, Morgan Jamie Dunbar, was combatively arrested and detained after raising questions during the evening’s Q&A segment about the USDA-documented mistreatment of primates at UW during his tenure at that institution.

Interestingly, this speaking engagement, which was organized at the behest of Dr. Michael Noonan, Director of Canisius’ Animal Behavior, Ecology and Conservation (ABEC) Bachelors program and the event’s moderator, was billed to the student body as a “symposium.” However, with a presentation of only one viewpoint from one speaker, this speciously lopsided affair not only misrepresented itself by solely presenting Dr. James Ha’s position in favor of animal experimentation but also proceeded to suppress and censor opposing view points, as Dr. Ha repeatedly and recklessly referred to animal advocates as “domestic terrorists”, “crazy”, “wild”, and “violent.”

In a written exchange one month prior, Dunbar was promised by Noonan that the evening would present a balanced conversation that would encourage questions of the speaker, stating “My hope is that you will be part of the conversation that we have at the symposium. It is open to the public and we will welcome all points of view.”

With this in mind, Dunbar waited her turn to the microphone before raising questions regarding the fatal starvation of a stump-tailed macaque, 40 illegal primate surgeries, and the subsequent litany of USDA violations that ensued. However, before Dr. Ha could complete his response to the aforementioned points of interest, Noonan directly interrupted and intervened, Dunbar’s microphone was silenced, and she was quickly removed from the auditorium and slammed against a wall in an adjoining room, handcuffed, and told she was being arrested for “criminal trespassing in the 3^rd degree.”

Witnesses report that Dunbar’s questions were relevant and her conduct was in accordance with the symposium’s format.  Attendees watched on appalled and outraged.

In an official statement, Dunbar said “The conditions that allow for social injustice have always emerged as a result of society’s failure to recognize the rights of individuals or groups. When denial of such rights is tolerated or indeed encouraged, it is bound to fortify the bases for further repression and injustice. That is why we, as a community, must speak out in solidarity against the repression and severe violation of First Amendment Rights that occurred on September 9th.”

To voice your concerns on this matter, the following information has been provided below:

Dr. Terri Mangione- Dean of Students
(716) 888-2130
mangiont@canisius.edu

John J. Hurley- President
(716) 888-2100
hurleyj@canisius.edu

Erica Sammarco- Assistant to the President
(716) 888-8203
sammarce@canisius.edu

Dr. Michael Noonan- ABEC Director/ISHAR Director
(716) 888-2772
noonan@canisius.edu
Further Reading & Information:

The Griffin:
http://www.thegriffincanisius.com/news/student-activist-removed-forcefully-from-ishar-lecture-1.2594887?pagereq=1

Artvoice Weekly:
http://artvoice.com/issues/v10n37/week_in_review/monkey_business

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While some student-governed animal rights groups are relegated to a second-class status amongst collegiate clubs and organizations, Paths to Animal Liberation (PAL) worked to defy this norm by fulfilling their school’s requirements, policies, and guidelines to be officially recognized.  On the campus of Hunter College, the largest college in the City University of New York (CUNY) system, PAL was successfully deemed a 1st Year Charter Club by their administration, and therefore receives funds of $1,000 annually for their activities.  With official elections and an executive board, PAL not only maintains a validated and legitimized presence on their campus, but they do so with a hard-line vegan message.

Since its inception a mere nine months ago, and with a core membership of only 15 individuals, PAL exemplifies ardent activism as they have organized numerous film screenings, hosted guest speakers, distributed free vegan food samples to students and faculty, conducted public vegan cooking demonstrations, setup outreach tables on an average of twice per month, and cultivated a mailing list of over 200 people.  Most notably, PAL was also able to make incremental changes toward veganizing their campus cafeteria by inclusively educating the appropriate staff members of their needs, delivering a petition of over 300 signatures, persistently initiating all lines of communication, and inevitably succeeding in bringing specifically-labeled vegan meals to the cafeteria three days a week.

In the months to come, PAL seeks to improve the efficacy of their outreach, fully veganize their cafeteria, and increase their presence on campus.  Recently, the group has constructed a facebook page to better disseminate information and is now developing plans to design their own website.  In addition to college funds, PAL also seeks assistance and resources to expand its reach from external sources such as Farm Underground, Mercy For Animals, Win Animal Rights, and the Tri-State Area’s most active animal rights group Friends of Animals United NJ (FAUN) in organizing events, strategizing effective means of animal advocacy, and acquiring relevant outreach media/literature.

To learn more about this group, discover ways you can implement similar strategies, or to simply share ideas and resources, please feel free to contact PAL with the information below.

Contact:           Danielle Amodeo (Founder/President)
Email:               pal.hunter@yahoo.com
Facebook:       http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=158063214208388

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Andy Stepanian, cofounder of the Sparrow Media Project and defendant in the landmark SHAC7 case, will be coming to New York University’s Kimmel Center on Tuesday, April 26th to speak on matters pertaining to contemporary activist endeavors.  Specifically, he will reflect on his experiences and observations as to which tactics and strategies are effective, when to employ them, and how the inclusion of varied approaches when advocating for an issue can often yield the most positive outcomes.  Given his extensive background with non-violent direct action movements, his role in the campaign to close down Huntingdon Life Sciences, and his current work with the Sparrow Media Project, the evening is sure to be an engaging one for all who attend.  Open to the public.

Date:  Tuesday, April 26^th, 2011

Time:  6:00pm to 7:30pm

Location:  NYU’s Kimmel Center, Room 803

Relevant Links:

www.sparrowmedia.net

www.shac7.com

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Gene Baur
Author and Co-Founder of Farm Sanctuary

Book Signing and Talk

April 13, 2011

7 to 8pm

Moffett Hall 2125

SUNY Cortland, New York

Gene Baur is co‑founder and president of Farm Sanctuary, America’s leading farm animal protection organization. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from California State University, Northridge and a master’s degree in agricultural economics from Cornell University. He has conducted hundreds of visits to farms, stockyards, and slaughterhouses to document conditions. His pictures and videotape, exposing factory farming cru…elty, have been aired nationally and internationally, educating millions. Gene has testified in court and before local, state and federal legislative bodies, and has initiated groundbreaking legal enforcement and legislative action to prevent farm animal abuse. He played an important role in passing the first U.S. laws to prohibit cruel farming methods – including the Florida ban on gestation crates, the Arizona ban on veal and gestation crates, the California ban on veal and gestation crates and battery cages, and the California ban on foie gras. His efforts have been covered by leading news organizations, including the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, National Public Radio, ABC, NBC, CBS, and CNN. His book, entitled Farm Sanctuary: Changing Hearts and Minds About Animals and Food, was published by Touchstone in March, 2008 and has appeared on the Los Angeles Times and Boston Globe best seller lists.

More about Gene at: http://www.genebaur.org/

Sponsored by:
Anthony Nocella’s Deviant Behavior Course and Cortland Animal Allies

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Please sign your organization onto this letter urging UBC to spare its endangered sea turtles. These turtles, obtained from the Cayman Islands, have been experimented on at UBC for ten years. A whistleblower recently revealed that the turtles will killed at the end of UBC’s study this spring. See the message below for how  your organization can take action to help the turtles live out the rest of their lives in peace.

PLEASE SIGN YOUR ORGANIZATION ONTO LETTER TO UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA URGING THE UNIVERSITY TO SPARE ITS ENDANGERED GREEN SEA TURTLES

UBC set to kill seven imperiled turtles by this spring

Over the weekend, a University of British Columbia (UBC) insider tipped off Stop UBC Animal Research <http://stopubcanimalresearch.org/> about the university’s plans to kill seven endangered green sea turtles currently housed at UBC. The whistleblower claimed UBC was killing the turtles because the university was closing some animal research facilities on UBC’s south campus and had no place to move the animals. UBC obtained the turtles ten years ago from a turtle farm in the Cayman Islands. Since then, the turtles have been experimented on and will be killed at the end of UBC’s study this spring.

The story was picked up by the Vancouver Sun, which ran a front-page feature on UBC’s plans to kill the turtles. See: http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/kill+endangered+turtles+spring/4368965/story.html.

Other media ran stories including:

Front page of the Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/05/endangered-sea-turtles-killed-ubc_n_831325.html

Global TV http://bit.ly/f48wg3

Cayman Compass http://www.compasscayman.com/caycompass/2011/03/04/Cayman-turtles-face-Canadian-death/

As it Happens http://www.cbc.ca/asithappens/episode/2011/03/02/wednesday-march-2-2011/ (CBC. Click Part one. The story begins about 18 minutes into podcast)

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

*Sign your ORGANIZATION onto the letter to UBC below. To add your organization to the letter please fill out the information below and email it to Brian Vincent at stopubcanimalresearch@gmail.com. DEADLINE TO SIGN ON: Monday, March 14. We will send the final letter to media. Should you have any questions please contact Brian at 604-551-3324.

YOUR NAME:________________

TITLE:_______________________

ORGANIZATION:________________________________________

CITY/STATE (OR PROVINCE):_____________________________

COUNTRY:___________________

EMAIL:_______________________

PHONE:______________________

ORGANIZATION SIGN ON LETTER THAT WILL BE SENT TO UBC: 

UBC President and Vice-Chancellor Stephen J. Toope
Office of the President
The University of British Columbia
6328 Memorial Road
Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z2

Sent via certified mail; email: presidents.office@ubc.ca; fax: 604/822-5055

Dear UBC President and Vice-Chancellor Toope: 

We the undersigned conservation, animal advocacy, and public interest organizations urge you to immediately cease invasive experimentation on the seven remaining endangered green sea turtles housed at the University of British Columbia and to allow for a team of independent veterinarians to assess the health of the turtles to determine if the animals can be placed in a sanctuary or other protective facility. If an assessment shows the animals can be moved to such a facility where they can live out their remaining days, we request UBC move forward with the rehousing of the turtles as quickly as possible.

As you may be aware, all seven species of sea turtles are at high risk of extinction. Listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, sea turtles face a host of threats. Those threats include: pollution, especially from oil spills, beach front development, ingestion of marine debris, such as plastic bags, the illegal turtle shell trade, incidental capture in fishing nets, and turtle egg and meat consumption. In addition, artificial lighting along beaches often discourages female turtles from nesting and disorients hatchlings who may mistakenly wander inland, exposing them to predation.

At a time when the international community is undertaking efforts to protect and restore sea turtle populations, it makes little sense for an educational institution of UBC’s esteem to kill members of an imperiled species. By permitting a team of independent veterinarians to evaluate the condition of the seven turtles and, if appropriate, placing the animals in a sanctuary, UBC would be showing the world it is committed to conserving one of the planet’s most vulnerable species.

Thank you. Should you have any questions please contact Brian Vincent at Stop UBC Animal Research at 604-551-3324 or at stopubcanimalresearch@gmail.com 

Sincerely,

–

Stop UBC Animal Research is a community grassroots campaign that employs peaceful, legal, and compassionate approaches to educate the public about the grim realities of research on animals at the University of British Columbia and to ultimately bring about an end to research on animals at UBC. Please visit our website at: http://ståopubcanimalresearch.org/

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Love and Liberation: An Animal Liberation Front Story
Sarat Colling and Anthony J. Nocella II
Lara Drew Illustrations
Published by Arissa Media Group (coming soon)
www.arissa.org

ABOUT LOVE AND LIBERATION

Gabriella and Andre are an everyday couple working up the corporate ladder in Houston, Texas. With a brand new condo, plans for marriage and successful careers, their lives are set – or so they think. One night while taking out the trash, Gabriella inadvertently gets a glimpse into the underground world of animal liberationists. Unsure what to make of it, she begins an investigation which leads to some shocking realizations. Soon the couple is delving deeper into a covert movement of radical animal liberationists labeled by the FBI as a top domestic threat. Armed with nonviolent tactics and love in their heart, the couple educates and trains to free those who are caged. With captivating black and white illustrations, this is an action-packed, fun and informative read.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

You can see how it happens: the oblivious couple has their comfortable lives interrupted by a revelation that slowly makes it impossible for them to carry on as before. What seems a quick, easy read turns out to also be a true story of evolution that leaves the reader asking, “How shall I change my life?”

- Ingrid Newkirk, founder PETA, and author of “Free the Animals: The Untold Story of the Animal Liberation Front in America”

You could spend days researching animal rights, or you could read Colling and Nocella’s Love and Liberation and get an entertaining crash course that deftly illustrates the basic ideology of animal liberation and drops tantalizing breadcrumbs for the reader to follow into deeper study.

- Denis Henry Hennelly, Director, Writer, and Editor of “Bold Native”

“Love and Liberation” confronts us with a question many ask ourselves: ask nicely for exploiters to deliver animals’ freedom, or start taking it? Attend another protest, or start breaking down doors? This book explores one couple’s answer to these questions. With knowledge comes responsibility. And here two people learn that the knowledge of billions of animals imprisoned brings the responsibility to do whatever it takes to free them.

- Peter Young, former Animal Liberation Front political prisoner

What I like about Love and Liberation is its sensitivity to an intersectional vision. It must be the best AR fiction read since Rage and Reason

- Dr. Richard Twine, author of “Animals as Biotechnology: Ethics, Sustainability and Critical Animal Studies”

Intriguing. Exciting. Heart-wrenching and exposing, Love and Liberation takes you on a wondrous journey of self discovery, forcing you to delve into your own conscious behavior begging answers to questions you might have never even contemplated. This is a must read!

- Shannon Keith, Director of “Behind the Mask: The Story Of The People Who Risk Everything To Save Animals”

“Love and Liberation” is a gripping tale of courage and compassion; it at once entertains and educates, inspires and informs. This short story manages to address a multitude of issues, all within a powerfully written narrative.

- Melanie Joy, Ph.D., author of “Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows”

In crafting the beautiful Love and Liberation: An Animal Liberation Front Story authors Sarat Colling and Anthony Nocella have provided a transformative understanding of our relationship with other animal species. The careful planning of the characters match the careful craft of the authors; each bringing to light the spirit of the movement and illustrating the drive and conviction of those who liberate and in turn liberate themselves.

- Dylan Powell, Vegan Police Radio

A touching and thought-provoking story that puts a new spin on the question of what love is and what role it should play in our life. We all know that love for one another brings two people together, but what about compassion for animals and a desire for justice? Crime, passion, sorrow, pleasure, pain and love blend together in unforeseen ways as two intelligent and sensitive individuals try to navigate a world that is not nearly as simple as it seems.

- Nick Cooney, author of “Change of Heart: What Psychology Can Teach Us About Spreading Social Change”

Captivatingly written, Love and Liberation is a true to life and heartfelt story about people deciding to fight for something meaningful in this cruel and oppressive world… something bigger than themselves in a society that rewards self-interest and hypocritically represses freedom struggle. Outlining some intelligent guerrilla strategies, this could be the story of any potential animal liberationist, any budding Earth liberationist, anyone looking to take the struggle for freedom underground.

- Leslie James Pickering, author of “Mad Bomber Melville” and was a founder and spokesperson for the North American Earth Liberation Front Press Office

In this engaging story, love and compassion abound as the heroes are emancipated from the consumeristic prison of cheeseburgers and leather shoes while they work enthusiastically to free nonhuman animals. I will never tire of reading about nonhuman animals being liberated from the grips of torture. These narratives inspire action, and there are countless cages yet full of nonhuman animals longing to be rescued.

- Dara Lovitz, author, “Muzzling A Movement: The Effects of Anti-Terrorism Law, Money, and Politics on Animal Activism”

“Love and Liberation” is a story of dedication and struggle born from political transformation: Do we allow the everyday cruelty of the world to continue right before our eyes, or do we intervene and reroute the world toward a new ethic of inter-species respect and appreciation? Speaking to issues of justice, humanity, environmentalism, capitalism, greed, corruption, love, and adventure, this provocative read is a must for all ages and political persuasions!

- Jason Del Gandio, author “Rhetoric for Radicals: A
Handbook for 21st Century Activists.”

This is an excellent, and thought-provoking story that – as all beautiful people now – reaffirms how the true revolutionary is guided by love.

- Dr. Richard White, Editor of Journal for Critical Animal Studies

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The importance of starting a student group at your college cannot be emphasized enough.

Starting a student group is more than a symbolic gesture, it is a real step towards building an animal rights community and accomplishing goals on campus.

How to Start a Group:

The first thing you should do if there is not a registered animal rights student group on your campus is so start one yourself. Even if you don’t think yourself the “leader” type, that’s OK. The purpose of registering the group is draw others to you so that you can build a community. You need not lead the community, you are merely stating that you would like to be part of one, and making a starting point.

Requirements:

Registering student groups is typically organized through a department of student services, which should be accessible from your school’s homepage. Registration requirements vary from school to school, but in most cases you will only need to fill out a few forms. In some cases you’ll need to submit a constitution stating your group’s mission statement (“Animals are not ours to eat, wear, etc.”). For help writing a constitution, or any other college activism concerns, feel free to email me at JTsmiley14@gmail.com.

By registering an animal rights group on campus, anyone looking for other vegetarians and activists will naturally look up the list of student organizations. Even if you have a robust group of animal activists at your college, many potential new members will not know about it unless the group is listed in the school directory.

Other ways to grow the AR community

In addition to becoming a registered student organization (RSO) you will want to use all other means available to advertise the existence of your group to attract the most members. There are many ways to do this, but my two favorite activities are flyering and letters to the school newspaper.

Creating a flyer is a relatively straightforward process. Print out as many flyers as you can; you may be able to get a discount on printing costs through your school library. Post them on campus message boards, or in local businesses that want to promote community events, such as coffee shops.

If you want to reach the widest possible audience at no cost and for just a half an hour’s work, write a letter to your school newspaper stating the new group on campus and calling on students of conscience to help out. Be sure to visit the newspaper’s website to find their preferred length and style requirements, and include contact information so that readers can find you and get involved.

Another great way to attract new people is simply by being an activist yourself. Activism means touching people in order to change them. This means that by being an activist you are interacting with hundreds of potential activists every day, whether they are already sympathetic and simply don’t know anyone else, or they are simply horrified when they find out the truth and want to help. Either way, you’re well on your way to building solidarity and establishing powerful campaigns to make lasting changes at your college!

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The Institute for Critical Animal Studies (ICAS) is the only animal advocacy organization in the world dedicated to higher education and is also fully-volunteer. There are more than two hundred ICAS volunteers who are around the world from professors to undergraduate students. After anyone realizes we are fully-volunteer and on a zero dollar budget people are speechless. Please watch this video of ICAS Top Ten Achievements of 2010 and donate and volunteer to ICAS, as we wish 2011 to be a huge year for ICAS and for the field of critical animal studies. Please if you cannot donate to or volunteer with ICAS, please put on a critical animal studies event at your community center, college, or university.

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At SUNY Cortland, in the middle of New York, there is a new and very exciting student animal rights group emerging! Cortland Students for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is having their first meeting October  18th at Corey Union, Room 204-206. If you are a national or international organization, this group is needing flyers, posters, videos, and speakers! So please contact them. The main organizer of the group is Ashley Mosgrove a student at SUNY Cortland. On a historical note, SUNY Cortland was the site of last year’s 9th Annual North American Conference for Critical Animal Studies, that had over 300 people attend from six different countries. Click here to visit Cortland Students for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Facebook group.

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