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"Jeg har tatt liv og angrer"

Rune — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:25:13 +0100

Nettverk for dyrs frihet anbefaler et tankevekken innlegg fra lege Lars Thore Fadnes, som nylig ble trykket i Aftenposten. Les utdraget under og resten av innlegget via lenken nederst på siden.

Jeg vil gjerne at du blir med meg på et lite tankeeksperiment. Tenk deg at en folkegruppe som er litt sterkere og har litt bedre redskaper og kommunikasjonsmidler enn oss invaderer landet. Dessverre har de også en lei uvane. De er veldig glad i kjøtt. Menneskekjøtt.

Makabert tenker du kanskje. Tenk deg at folkegruppa raskt får overtaket og ender opp med å sende oss og våre familier inne i bur hvor vi fôres opp fram til livet ender i en konsentrasjonsleir før vi parteres og legges i vakuumpakket plast. Tenk deg at fra inntrengernes synspunkt er meningen med livene vårt kun å stille sulten etter kjøtt.

Litt ubehagelig tanke, er det ikke? Spørsmålet er nå hva du tenker om det moralske i tankeeksperimentet. Synes du det er greit å bli gjort til et stykke mat fordi inntrengerne er hakket sterkere og mektigere, eller kanskje en tanke skarpere? Hvorfor skulle situasjonen være annerledes når det gjelder for eksempel en gris. Hvis ikke skrikene og hylene fra grisen på vei til slakteriet er et tegn på angst og smerte, hvorfor skriker grisen da?

Nettradio for dyrs frihet sending 19 (anarkopunk-spesial)

Fredrik B — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Velkommen til en verden av stensilgrafitti, løpesedler, husokkupasjon, DIY, systemkritikk, autoritetsangst, feminisme, avantgarde-teater, jaktsabotasje og vegetarisk kosthold.

I anarkopunken står så klart friheten sentralt, også for de ikke-menneskelige dyra. Den frie sammenslutningen av Karl Love, Inge Immortal, Freddy Peace, Ola War og Erik Anarchy har etter konsensusprinsippet kommet frem til de beste sangene om nettopp det, av band som Flux of Pink Indians, Chumbawamba, Zounds, Poison Girls og mange flere. Denne revolusjonen kan du definitivt danse til!

PS: Nettradio for dyrs frihet er som høla på golfbanen: Det nittende er det beste.
PPS: Stor Crass-quiz. Vinn Ødeleggers-Råttan!

Intervju med Tubers

torerik — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:18:29 +0100

Why the name Tubers? Why this great interest in rooted vegetables?

All band members have this interest and connection with growing and providing their own food to whatever little degree we can. We liked what the name suggested as far as the root and growing underground not to mention the reference that a tuber gets tubed in a wave or tube floating down a river- two pastimes we all take part in here in Florida.

These Quantum Leaps are Killing Me by Tubers on Grooveshark

You have told me "I often think of our vision of food in general which I feel animal rights is a very important part of". Tell us a little bit about your vision of food and the role animal rights plays in it.

I only speak for myself in the band, but I do not consider anything from an animal as suitable food or sustenance for humans. First and foremost our food should provide nutrition which I believe we can get best from plants. It seems many people eat mostly for pleasure though at the expense of countless animals and barely even pay attention to the act or know what pain, resources, and subsequent health costs are spent for it. I definitely think enjoyment of food is very important too, but not the only focus. Biological and ethical questions need to be addressed also.

16 years of veganism so far. What got you into it?

My friend Becky introduced me to these ideas of animal rights when I was 19 and it immediately made sense. I can't believe I lived that long without discovering these ideas sooner. As I learned more I became passionate about the health and environmental implications as well.

You are a teacher, and have been actively involved in meals for pupils. Please tell us about that. Vegan meals?

Ha, not even close to vegan meals. I teach intellectually disabled students age 7-10 at a public school so they eat either school lunch or parent sent lunch. Whenever I lead a baking activity it is always vegan though and I started an organic garden with my class and all 3rd grade classes last year. It continues this year-we just made vegan salads from the garden last week.

One of you Tubers run a restaurant, tell us about it. Veggie? What do you recommend we order when we get there?

Jeff is co-owner of The Floridian here in St. Augustine which is just over a year old. They focus on local foods buying as much as they can this way from local farmers and serve their take on southern food. It is wonderful. They have many vegan options and most on the menu can be made vegan. My favorite is the sweet potato dumplings with gravy, tofu, and salad.

Please explain the song "We Dine on the Process".

The song is mostly about the idea that we need energy from other places/things to survive but are more concerned with the addiction and recreation of eating, drinking, and consuming in general. It's a song about a lifestyle of diversion.

Dine in on the Process by Tubers on Grooveshark

What's your favorite animal rights related song?

Citizen Fish's "Flesh and Blood". I love that whole "Free Souls. .." album.

Intervju med PUNCH

torerik — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 11:52:28 +0100

Fantastisk band. Fine folk. For dyrs frihet.

What made you write the song “Feminists Don't Have a Cow”?

A few years ago I had some interactions with an acquaintance who talked often of feminism and straight edge but was always very opposed to talking about veganism. I thought about how to relate to her about veganism in a way that she would be willing to listen to. I think maybe the song gets attention because of the name, which a band mate gave to the song as a joke, but it just stuck!

How did you get into veganism?

About ten years ago I almost suddenly came to the realization that the food I was eating was made of animals and that wasn’t okay with me and quickly became a vegetarian. About a year later I started reading more about how animals are treated and decided that being vegetarian wasn’t enough, and I made the transition to veganism. I think educating yourself about everything that goes into food production makes becoming/staying vegan very easy.

How is feminism and veganism connected, in your opinion?

I remember when I was reading about veganism the fact that really got to me was a fairly simple realization. It was that cows, just like humans, only produce milk when pregnant. I had never really thought about that fact before and once it was pointed out to me I really thought about the implications of that. As a feminist it is sickening to think of a creature being impregnated so that its offspring and the milk produced for that offspring can be taken from it.

Have you made any other animal rights themed songs, with Punch or with your other bands?

Punch has two other songs about animal rights/veganism. The first song I wrote about veganism, ‘No such thing as a stupid question’ talks about the stupid questions we have all heard so many times from meat eaters about our dietary choices. I chose the name of the song to reflect that while the questions are ignorant, it is partly because the meat and milk industries rely on people staying ignorant. The second song I wrote about veganism is ‘Convenience Store’. It talks about all the terrible things that happen to animals for food production which the average consumer doesn’t have to, and probably doesn’t want to, think about. I think if people had to see what happens or even had to kill animals with their own two hands they would think more about their choices.

What's your favorite animal rights/liberation related song?

‘Cats and Dogs’, Gorilla Biscuits.

Intervju med Torgeir

Fredrik B — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 11:47:53 +0100

Torgeir Nordbø har vært et kjent ansikt i den norske musikk-undergrunnen i mange år nå. Hans smittende entusiasme og lidenskapelige interesse for obskure syvtommere, vintage t-skjorter og dyrs frihet har fulgt han siden starten av tenårene. Vi tok en juleprat med legenden, XXX.

Torgeir fotografert på Blackeyedbean 15.05.05 av Marianne Olsen. Fra: ocstateofmind.blogspot.com

Hvem er Torgeir?

Torgeir er en 21 år gammel mann, for øyeblikket bosatt i Stavanger, men med planer om å vende tilbake til Oslo for å studere. Jeg har vært vegetarianer i syv år, inkludert dette siste året som veganer. Jeg er glad i hardcore, spraymaling og mat. Utskudd i et eller veldig metal Stavanger. Jeg kommer kanskje aldri, selv om jeg prøver, å bli kvitt youth crew-stempelet mitt her i byen. Ikke at det er noe som helst galt med youth crew, sett bort fra en altfor aktiv bruk av skinnsko. Jeg liker god seitan bedre enn god tofu, og tahini bedre enn peanøtt-smør. Er veldig glad i gå tur, selv om jeg kommer meg ut altfor sjelden. Ble ingen sopptur i år heller. Jeg innbiller meg at jeg er flink til å holde meg i form, men det er jeg altså ikke. Har fått løpt fire ganger siden jeg vendte hjem fra USA, i tillegg til at jeg har fått svømt på Gamlingen. Heroes of Might And Magic III er verdens beste dataspill. Clear Head i Praha er kanskje verdens beste vegetarrestaurant. Jawbreaker er nok tidenes beste band.

Hvordan ble du introdusert for vegetarianisme?

Som mange andre i Stavanger, ble jeg introdusert til vegetarianisme/dyrevern gjennom musikk, rettere sagt Purified In Blood. På denne tiden var vegan straight edge-scenen ganske stor, i alle fall størrelsen på selve punk-scenen tatt i betraktning. Første gang jeg så Purified In Blood, forstua jeg også nesen for første gang, under sangen Forfeit, som kort sagt handler om kjøttindustri og de som profitterer på dyrs lidelse. For øvrig den eneste sangen jeg kjente. Bra sang. Ettersom jeg alltid har vært veldig glad i dyr, falt det meg naturlig å velge bort kjøttet, noe jeg gjorde i en kunst- og håndverkstime i 9. eller 10. klasse på ungdomsskolen, etter en klassevenninne utfordret meg ved å si at jeg aldri kom til å gjennomføre det.

Hvordan er klimaet for dyrevern i Stavanger-området nå?

Det virker som om dyrevernsmiljøet i Stavanger har gått inn i en renessanse de siste årene, i alle fall har antallet veganere og vegetarianere steget betraktelig de siste årene, noe jeg synes er veldig fint. Selv har jeg ikke noe særlig med folk å gjøre generelt sett, så jeg merker ikke så mye til dette samholdet, noe som for så vidt er helt greit for meg, for folk er jo folk, veganere eller ikke.

Restaurantkafeen Resept ligger også i Stavanger, og har visstnok blitt kåret til å være Stavangers beste restaurant, og byr på sinnsykt god mat. Jeg bruker enhver anledning jeg får til å anbefale Resept, for det er på alle måter verdt det.

Torgeir ved Sognsvann. Foto: Vegan Runners Norge

Fortell litt om overgangen fra vegetarianisme til veganisme!

Selv om jeg alltid har vært glad i meieriprodukter, var ikke overgangen fra å være vegetarianer til å bli veganer særlig vanskelig. Det er noe jeg lenge tenkte på, så det var jo bare å gjennomføre, som igjen er noe jeg synes jeg har ventet for lenge med. Men bedre sent enn aldri. Jeg begynte seriøst å tenke på å bli veganer sist sommer, og tror jeg sluttet helt å spise animalske produkter 1. november i fjor, altså 2010, etter jeg hadde kommet hjem fra min første USA-tur. Det er forresten sinnsykt digg å være veganer i USA.

Jeg har også blitt en mye bedre kokk etter jeg gikk fra å være vegetarianer til å bli veganer. En blir liksom tvunget til det, og det er jo bra.

Du har nylig vært 3 mnd. i USA. Hva synes du er den største forskjellen mellom USA og Norge når det kommer til vegetarianisme?

I USA er det rundt tre millioner veganere og enda flere vegetarianere. Det er nok den største forskjellen. Det er generelt sett mer tilgjengelig, og det virker som om det er mer akseptert å være vegetarianer i USA, selv om det vinner mer og mer aksept i Norge også. Nå er jo ikke aksept et mål i seg selv, men det er jo veldig bra for saken, og det er jo det det handler om. I USA finner man også veganske plasser en med første øyekast ikke engang hadde trodd ville servere vegetarisk mat, og det synes jeg er kult.

Har du noen tips til kule steder å spise for nordmenn som skal feriere i USA?

Jeg føler nordmenn som drar til statene, først og fremst drar til New York, så jeg kan begynne der. Første gang jeg tok Chinatown-bussen, eller Fung Wah-ekspressen, ned fra Boston, ble jeg tatt med til den mexicanske restauranten Papacitos. Jeg bestilte en seitan-burrito, og den anbefales på det varmeste. Seitanen den inneholdt er den beste jeg noensinne har smakt. Ligger i Brooklyn. En annen favoritt, også hyppigere besøkt, er Foodswings. Foodswings kan bli litt mye, spesielt første gang. Vegansk amerikansk junkfood, som til tider virker litt for ekte. Jeg pleier å bestille chicken fingers i buffalo-saus. De har også de beste veganske milkshakene noensinne. Absolutt verdt flere besøk. Vis-a-vis Foodswings ligger en fin asiatisk restaurant jeg ikke husker navnet på, men den bør også sjekkes ut. Ligger plassert sentralt i Williamsburg, ikke langt fra Bedford Avnue. Vinnie’s Pizza ligger sentralt plassert i Williamsburg, Brooklyn, og serverer digg vegansk pizza. Ikke så mye mer å si om den saken. Bedford Avenue, første stopp på Brooklynsiden av Williamsburg Bridge. Den veganske frokostkafeen Champs var den siste plassen jeg besøkte før jeg dro Chicago, og var fylt opp av unge hipstere og punkere fra Williamsburg. Sinnsykt god tofu scramble og cup cakes. Alt egentlig. God stemning. Må besøkes. Vegetarian Paradise er det også verdt å sjekke ut.

Chicago har for tiden en relativt bra vegan straight edge-scene, og jeg ble som gjest tatt godt vare på. Når jeg ankom byen, hadde jeg ikke spist ordentlig mat på over et døgn. Jeg ble tatt med til Handlebar, hvor jeg spiste en sinnsykt god vegansk barbecue seitan-sandwich. Det eneste jeg ikke likte, var den sure agurken jeg fikk med burgeren, men det må man regne med å få servert til alt man bestiller over der. Et klart minus. The Chicago Diner serverer også tradisjonell amerikansk, men vegetarisk, mat. Burgerne bør absolutt prøves, så vel som de forskjellige milkshakene. Man får også med en valgfri starter med hver rett, noe som er ganske normalt andre plasser også. Jeg spiste mye mac’n’cheese i september og oktober. Et lite stykke fra hvor jeg bodde var det en nyåpnet vegansk taqueria jeg i farten ikke husker navnet, men om noen skal til Chicago, skal jeg alltid klare å finne det ut for dem. Må absolutt besøkes.

Jeg fløy fra Chicago til San Francisco, og ble møtt ved 16th Street (Jawbreaker!!) for så å bli tatt med til en taqueria like ved jeg ikke husker navnet på. Jeg husker ikke navnet på noen taqueriaer, dessverre. De er overalt og har som oftest bra mat å tilby. Alltid noe for en sulten veganer. I San Francisco var det en del plasser jeg gikk glipp av, grunnet dårlig råd, men også at jeg ikke kjente byen så godt. Ike’s Place har bra sandwicher, og om man går fra Mission Street opp 18th Street, vil man, rett før Mission Dolores Park, på høyre side gå forbi en iskremkafé hvor en også får kjøpt en veldig god vegansk kokos- og sjokoladeiskrem. Jeg tror jeg gikk der tre kvelder på rad.
Når jeg var på vestkysten, bodde jeg i Oakland, rett over bukta fra San Francisco. Fem minutter i hver retning var det store økobutikker, Trader Joe’s og Wholefoods, som selvfølgelig også hadde rikelig med vegetar- og veganprodukter. Restaurantene jeg besøkte i Oakland husker jeg ikke navnene på, men jeg ble invitert med på en tapasbar, noe som var en ny og veldig positiv opplevelse for meg. Helt sinnsykt bra. Jeg kan finne ut hva den heter, om noen bryr seg. Samme med soulfood-restauranten jeg besøkte. De har forresten et vegansk kjøttmarked i Oakland, men det ble det ikke til at jeg fikk sjekket ut.

For min del ble det Berkeley som vant matkonkurransen i California. Saturn hadde ekstremt gode burgere og milkshaker, men det som toppa hele min kulinariske reise i Amerika, var en liten hytte ved siden av veien litt nedfor sentrum i Berkeley. Flaco’s ser egentlig ikke ut som noe som helst ved første øyekast, og enda mindre som en vegansk taqueria med den beste mexicanske maten jeg noensinne har smakt. Jeg tenker på Flaco’s hver gang jeg generelt tenker på eller snakker om USA. Jeg hadde gått der hver dag i hele mitt liv om jeg kunne. Min nye favorittrett er taquitos.

Tilbake i Boston, hvor jeg begynte USA-turneen min, er det også noen bra restauranter verdt å besøke. Clover, hvor jeg gikk nesten hver dag, ligger i Harvard Square, og serverer økologisk og relativt sunn vegetarhurtigmat. Før du har vært på Clover, har du aldri spist verdens beste franske poteter. Min personlige favoritt er barbecue seitan-sandwichen md pommes frittes ved siden av. Sikker vinner. Piece O’Pie serverer Bostons beste veganske pizza. Drevet av punks og bør besøkes. Azama serverer ekstremt god falafel. Grasshopper er den asiatiske naborestauranten til Piece O’Pie og No Name, frityrstekt seitan i søtsur saus, er obligatorisk.

Ekstra: Nice Slice burde besøkes om en befinner seg i Providence. Jeg var også innom DC, men der fikk jeg ikke spist så mye fancy mat.

"Still screaming. Screaming for change!"

Har du noen favoritt dyrevernlåter?

Ja.

Chokehold: Burning Bridges

Insted: Feel Their Pain

ManLiftingBanner: Consume And Kill

The First Step: The Higher Taste

7 Generations: Other Way

Youth Of Today: No More

The Smiths: Meat Is Murder

Youth Of Today - «No More» eller Cro-Mags - «Death Camps»?

Jeg har ærlig talt ikke hørt noe særlig på Best Wishes, men husker at Death Camps er en jævlig bra sang. Nå måtte jeg sette den på. Jævlig bra. Hardt. Jeg vil nok si at teksten til Death Camps er bedre, mer relevant og er spot on. Begge tekstene er jo veldig relevante, men Best Wishes vinner akkurat der. Dessuten liker jeg holocaust-referanser jævlig godt. Musikalsk sett liker jeg nok bedre Youth Of Today enn Cro-Mags’ Best Wishes. No More er lett den sangen på We’re Not In This Alone, og i tillegg covret vi den med mitt første band, Time To Try. Hehe.

Hører du på Nettradio for dyrs frihet?

Ja, Nettradio for dyrs frihet er jævlig bra.

Hva er ditt favoritt anarcho-punkband?

Anti Cimex? Discharge? Er Kafka Prosess et anarcho-punkband? Følger anarcho-punk et spesielt lydbilde? Jeg har ikke peiling på hva som definerer anarcho-punk, så det er et litt vanskelig spørsmål å svare på. Jeg hører jo på flere band hvor anarkisme står sentralt i tekstene, men jeg går ut ifra at ikke Trial, for eksempel, blir stempla som anarcho-punk. Jeg sjekka ut Zounds her om dagen, og det var jo kult. Nei, jeg vet egentlig ikke hva jeg skal svare her.

Noe mer på hjertet?

Big ups til Stavanger og Oslo HC. Og Nettverket, selvfølgelig. Jeg liker ikke råkostveganisme. Snart jul. Nå skal jeg ned i sentrum og danse.

Ny undersøkelse av kaninfarming

Rune — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 20:13:22 +0100

Aldri før har nederlandsk kaninfarming blitt filmet uanmeldt - før nå. Den nederlandske organisasjonen 'Ongehoord' har i dag publisert sjokkerende bilder som ble filmet i hemmelighet av en granskingsgruppe. Dokumentasjonen stammer fra gruppens inspeksjoner ved 10% av nederland sine kaninfarmer.

Denne ferske undersøkelsen viser virkeligheten for kaniner som ofte omtales som 'kjøttkaniner', og situasjonen er i følge den nederlandske dyrevernorganisasjonen verre enn de hadde forventet.

Et innblikk i dagens dyreutnytting
Ongehoord (nederlandsk for "uhørt") som står bak undersøkelsen er en ny organisasjon som jobber for en respektfull og likeverdig behandling av dyr. Akkurat som mennesker, er også andre dyr individer med egne følelser, behov og interesser.

Ongehoord sier om seg selv at de 'publiserer undersøkelser om dyreproduksjonsindustrien og andre næringer hvor dyr utnyttes.'

- Ved å gjøre slikt arbeid, avslører vi den virkeligheten dyrene lever under og gir et ærlig innblikk i dyreutnyttingen som foregår i vårt samfunn, sier organisasjonen på sin nettside.

Mer om undersøkelsen (Ongehoord)
Om Nettverkets undersøkelser

Nettradio for dyrs frihet sending 18 (a/k/a Umeå Special!)

Fredrik B — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 22:24:09 +0100

For lenge siden, i en galakse langt, langt borte... Nettradio for dyrs frihet tar deg med på en musikalsk reise til en liten by langt oppe i Nord-Sverige, der straight edge, veganisme, overdimensjonerte hettegensere og radikal politikk ble allemannseie på 90-tallet.

Vår (internasjonale) jury har kåret Umeås 10 aller beste låter for dyrs frihet. Med oss til å presentere dem - i kramgodt 10 i skuddet-stil, har vi en av Nord-Sveriges største kulturpersonligheter: Inge Immortal.

Gled deg til inspirerende anekdoter om kjærlighetssorg, knuste ruter, druknede forsterkere og softisspising i fylla. Og en jävvla masse god musik, som snuten inte kan höra. Hurra!

PS: Nettradio for dyrs frihet er som adressene i Ulica Mila i Warszawa: nr 18 er best!

Norske anti-pelsfilmer 1977-2010

Rune — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 19:50:21 +0100

"Den fine pelskåpa di" er en kortfilm som ble laget av Bredo Greve og fotograf Svein Krøvel allerede i 1977. Dette er den første norske anti-pelsfilmen laget i Norge, som nå er tilgjengeliggjort slik at flere kan se den.

Tross gode mottakelser da filmen ble lansert på 1970-tallet har filmen blitt lite vist, mye på grunn av dens sterke innhold sies det. Men, bildene vi har fått se fra norske pelsfarmer har på mange måter blitt værre med årene.

Filmen ble laget på oppdrag fra "European Comittee for the Protection of Seals and other fur Animals", og ble filmet på Dal forsøksgård på Heggedal i Akershus. Denne farmen ble heldigvis nedlagt for noen få siden, men mye av virksomheten ble flyttet til pelsfarmen på Universitetet for miljø- og biovitenskap (UMB) på Ås i Akershus, som fortsatt eksisterer.

Over tredve års kamp for pelsdyrene
Det er sørgelig at kampen for å avvikle pelsdyroppdrett fortsatt er like aktuell idag, over tredve år seinere. Det positive er imidlertid at motstanden mot pelsdyrnæringa har vokst seg veldig mye sterkere, og at en avvikling av pelsfarmene er nærmere enn noensinne.

Andre norske filmer og dokumentarer om pelsdyroppdrett:

TV2s Rikets tilstand: Pelsdyroppdrett i fokus (2000)
Mark Rissi: Fate of furbearing animals on norwegian fur farms (2003)
Nettverk for dyrs frihet: Pelsbransjens løgner (2008)
TV2: Et skinn av velferd (2008)
Nettverk for dyrs frihet: Kniven på strupen (2010)

Intervju med Bullshit Tradition

torerik — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 21:24:10 +0100

<a href="http://bullshittradition.bandcamp.com/track/animals">Animals by Bullshit Tradition</a>

ANIMALS. I can’t forget their cries of misery. I wont forgive atrocities. When I look into their eyes all I feel is rage for the animals. Humanity should be ashamed for allowing this slavery continued unchallenged for so many years. No act of forgiveness can ever right this wrong. Agony felt for so fucking long. The animals are not our slaves.

Adam og resten av Bullshit Tradition er ikke så optimistiske på menneskehetens vegne - men finner inspirasjon i en ensom sel, en katt ved navn Luna og Earth Crisis-låter.

In your animal rights rager "Animals" you sing: "I can’t forget their cries of misery". Tell us more, is this based on a personal experience, how did you hear these cries?
That particular lyric isn't necessarily about one given experience I've had, it's more of an expression of grief about the horrors we put animals through to satisfy our selfish desires. When I was 18, my eyes opened to the hell animals raised for food and other products go through, and how wrong it is. After witnessing what goes into meat production and animal testing, I knew there was no going back to an omnivorous diet, and I suppose in that way, I 'can't forget their cries'.

You are from Burlington. If we go there to eat vegan food some day, where should we go?
One thing that Burlington, as a town that prides itself as being a very green and progressive city, is lacking is a good all vegan restaurant. A couple have existed, but they closed almost as quickly as they opened. However, there are quite a few places here that offer vegan options on their menu, and the places we go to a lot include Stone Soup on College St, and City Market, our local co-op, both of which offer a lot as far as options.

Are you involved in any animal rights activities?
I used to be heavily into animal rights demonstrations and outreach, but living in such a small town can easily frustrate a young budding activist, especially in a state so committed to archaic ideals about animals. I'd like to say I've never been disillusioned or jaded by activism, but unfortunately such is the case. I try to write letters and send money to political prisoners who have been jailed for direct action, because supporting them means directly supporting the animals and directly opposing the industries that mean to keep our current system in place. Most of what I do now is try to educate people through my music, and teaching by example. I have friends who are raising their children to be vegan and instilling in them the fact that animals have rights and lives of their own, and I think that will have a bigger impact on the world than by setting up a table with some informational pamphlets.

Have you ever had any pets? What do you think about the pet industry?
I currently am the guardian of an awesome lovable cat named Luna, and my family has kept pets throughout my entire life. While I don't agree with the industry of pets, that is, breeding and selling animals for profit, I will support rescues and shelters for trying to house and give love to abandoned and abused animals that are directly a result of the industry.

Tell us your best story involving you and a personal encounter with a non-human animal.
The first thing that springs to mind is this time a couple of friends and I were walking along the beach in eastern Massachusetts and we came upon a seal that was sunning itself, by itself, on the beach. Until that point I had never seen a seal in real life, only on television, and magazines. A couple people from the area were watching it with us and told us that this seal probably traveled hundreds of miles to be here. I didn't have a deep personal connection with the animal or anything like that, but it was still one of the most awe inspiring moments ever, to see this guy resting and sleeping after completing a several hundred mile journey, probably lost and lonely and missing his family, and comparing him to myself, thinking I would never be able to match up this seal's bravery or strength. A real eye opening, kick in the teeth, and beautiful moment thanks to this lone seal on a beach in Massachusetts. I'll always remember that, for sure.

You sing: "The animals are not our slaves". Have you read Marjorie Spiegel's "The Dreaded Comparison"? Do you see a link between slavery and animal oppression?
I have not read that particular book (although I am going to seek it out now), but I think anyone that researches the subject even just a little bit can agree that the modern day treatment of animals almost everywhere can be regarded as slavery, from the factory farm to the laboratories to the circuses and zoos. And it is the easiest slavery to get people to agree to, because the slaves are not only non-human, but they can't voice their dissent in a language we can understand, and the public is shielded from the screams and brainwashed from birth to accept it.

What's your favorite animal rights/liberation related song?
The first song I heard that really got amped on being vegan was "Deliverance" by Earth Crisis, I think because it spoke to the part of me that had just been made aware of the animal industry and wanted blood. I was angry that this was allowed to go on, and so those lyrics really spoke to me at that time. I still love that song, but I think the Earth Crisis song "Eden's Demise" or "New Ethic" are more eloquent choices, haha. I personally think the two bands who have the best animal rights lyrics are Earth Crisis and Propagandhi. Propagandhi's lyrics to "Nailing Descartes to the Wall" and just about every song they do are just phenomenal and I hope to be as good at expressing myself as they are someday.

Black Kites-intervju

torerik — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 20:54:54 +0200

Black Kites spiller hard og smart musikk, og styrer unna klisjeer og dyreprodukter. Nettzine for dyrs frihet tok en prat med Jay, Tom og Jeff om veganisme, kjæledyr, kannibalisme og Propagandhi.

What made you go veg(etari)an?
JAY: I think I first became aware of vegetarianism when around the age of 14 or so. Motivated primarily by Propagandhi songs, I think, a number of my friends went vegetarian together, my younger brother included. I didn't "get it" at first; I didn't see any reason to stop consuming animals, and their arguments and complaints didn't resonate with me, for whatever reason. At the same time, a seed had been planted in my mind; I stopped eating at fast food restaurants altogether and my meat consumption slowly declined. I had started to date a girl who was vegetarian and this had a big impact on my diet. When I was 16 I read Eric Schlosser's book Fast Food Nation primarily because I wanted to vindicate some of the feelings I already had about the evils of fast food. However, what ended up impacting me most in the book were the descriptions of where it is, exactly, that meat comes from. Reading about slaughter-house towns out in the midwest freaked me out so much that I gave up eating meat right then and there. I did it out of concern for how the animal's are treated, of course, but I was also motivated by my own anti-capitalist sentiments. I had never previously realized that the meat industry was just that; an industry. And it was an industry that profited directly from killing and death. It also exploited its workers to a degree that seems like something out of the 19th century. Anyway, I was vegetarian for almost six years before I went vegan. In 2009, while on tour with my band Zhenia Golov, our van got stuck behind a semi-truck carrying pigs in traffic. The smell was horrible and you could see the open wounds on some of the pigs' skin through the air-holes in the side of the trailer. I decided then that I could no longer justify consuming any animal products and stopped eating eggs and dairy.

TOM: When I was 14 I got a job working in a kitchen of a local Italian restaruant. At the time I ate meat, but never took part in the preparation or understood the origins of my food. Like many people I followed the accepted conventions of eating meat/dairy/eggs without much reservation. After working at the restaruant for a year I found myself becoming increasingly disgusted with the smell, look and taste of meat. It was on one morning at work when I was taught to prepare tripe (the inner linning of a cow's stomach) that I finally connected the dots and decided to make a consious effort to stop consuming meat. At the time vegetarianism was not nearly as popular as it is now in the United States. I had some friends who were vegetarian and their diets mainly consisted of lots of dairy and egg products. This time of my life also coincided with my introduction the hardcore scene. This was around 1995 and the hardcore scene in the United States was still pretty politically potent. There was always literature about veganism and animal rights at shows. As novel as it may sound, this provided a very helpful and educational basis to begin changing my diet. By the time I was 16 I had gone vegan. I'm 33 now and have no reservations about my decision whatsoever.

JEFF: Propagandhi. I was 15 years old and love that band. And with the fresh new invention of the internet and looking up websites for
everything I ended up on their site where they had a section devoted
to different issues that they were so well known for. I started
reading all about vegetarian/veganism and it made a lot of sense so I
went vegetarian. Seven years later I finally decided to give up pizza
and have been vegan for slightly over two years now. Also, I just
checked, Propagandhi.com still has that section up, "resources."

What made you write "Sick Tradition"?
JAY: I don't personally write any of the lyrics or the songs, but I think we all thought it was important that Black Kites had a song that directly addressed issues of animal exploitation. I'll also say that the song is very simple; it's essentially two parts, both of which are uncomplicated. New Jersey loves to mosh, and that song is popular with a lot of crowds because it's easy to mosh to. Whether intentional or not, I think it's important that one of our popular, accessible songs is about animal rights. Jeff or I often introduced that song by saying something like, "please consider not eating animals." or, "this song is about animal rights." Just to remind all these people that are there just to mosh around or whatever that the song they like is about animal suffering and that they could, if they wanted to, choose to no longer be complicit in it.

TOM: Jeff wrote the lyrics to Sick Tradition relatively early in the band's existence. When we started we didn't set out to be a vegan straight edge band persay, but by coincidence we found ourselves all subscribing to that lifestyle (almost,..at the beginning of the band Jay was still vegetarian). Perhaps we all gravitated toward one another because of our shared beliefs. Once people found out what the song was about word sort of spread. I remember a local music blog reviewing us and refering to us as a vegan straight edge band. It's been quite a while since then. Our band has written about various topics, but people seem to focus in on our dietary choices more than any other subject. I find this interesting because while veganism/animal rights is important part of our personal beliefs our band also speaks to issues of homophobia, sexism, drug addiction, consumerism and so much more. Do people view veganism as a more radical ideal than the others? Regardless, having some representation of veganism in a scene like this is nice. If anything it gets people asking questions (as Jay later mentions) and can encourage some self reflection, regardless if that carries all the way through in every person or not.

JEFF: When we started the band we were all vegetarian or vegan (all vegan now) and straight edge but never decided to make that a clear issue in our music. Granted, I knew I'd end up writing at least one or two songs about either of those issues, it was never a set goal. But when Tom came to practice with the music to "Sick Tradition" and him and Jay finalized it I knew I had to make it about animal rights. The music was so hard and, as some would say, ignorant. I figured why not take the song that may appeal to the "tough guy" crowd and make it be about something a (I'm guessing) majority of them don't take into consideration?

I saw a picture of you with a dog on blowthescene.com, tell us about it. How do you feel about pets - man's best friend (love between species) or domesticated and exploited ("modern court jesters or courtesans in the Western household", as a Crimethinc special report claims)?

JAY: This is a complex issue and I'm glad that you asked the question.I guess I'll start off by saying that I, personally, am often amazed at the seeming disconnect a lot of vegans I know have regarding issues of domestication. People who are so outspoken about veganism and then totally fail in their obligations as pet owners. People who go the other way and dress their animals up in stupid costumes or make them perform stunts for a laughing audience. It's absurd. I guess, in a way, I don't think that Crimethinc. statement is too far off; we no longer co-habitate with animals for the practical reasons that lead our species and theirs into a symbiotic relationship of sorts; ie: the use of dogs as hunting companions and guards, the use of cats as killers of rodents, etc... Now we often purchase animals because we find them attractive and we value their company. Now, whether or not this is "bad" I can't and won't say. At this point, dogs and cats are not the wild versions of themselves. Their respective species have developed (and have been developed intentionally by humans in most cases) to work well as parts of the human household. I don't believe that this is a story of animal subjugation necessarily; living things evolve in ways that are efficacious; dogs have obviously done well as a species because of their domestication just as corn has done well as a species because of domestication. I'm getting away from any point here and will say, finally, that any discomfort that I have with pet ownership comes from peoples' inability to recognize that an animal is an animal. That goes two ways; on the one hand, that an animal is an animal and requires attention and care. On the other, that an animal is an animal and is not a human child or a toy.

TOM: The term "pets" has never really set quite right with me. I've adopted a dog in the past and had her live with me for 7 years (until she passed away). She was part of my family. I considered her as such in that we helped each other out emotionally and physically through so many hard times. I live with two cats now and I find our relationship to be equally rewarding. Of course, I can't speak for them or say with any definitive confidence that they feel the exact same way as me. I rely on their body language and behavioral indicators. I'm a human and could possibly be totally misinterpreting them for all i know. As you indicated, I'm saying all this as a person who exists in a society post-domestication. I suppose I am repeating some of what Jay has stated, but I believe that my gripe is not necessarily the irreversible concept of domestication that has occurred over hundreds or thousands of years, as much as it is my disgust with people who take advantage of the human-canine or human-feline relationship in ways that disregard an animals well being and dignity. As a side note, the dog in the picture is a wonderful female named Diamond. She's vegan and is extremely friendly. My friend's Chris and Monica rescued her many years ago and she (along with another dog and two cats) has been a vital part of their family.

With your other band Zhenia Golov you wrote a song about how it is more humane to eat human flesh than the flesh of a non-human animal. Tell us about it!
JAY: I was the only member of Black Kites that played in Zhenia Golov, and it's incredible to me that you would have ever been aware of that band! I'll say that I don't even remember what the lyrics to that particular song were, but that I think hyperbole and "tongue-in-cheek" humor are effective ways to draw attention to issues you find important. When we would play that song live, Rob (the lead singer) would often introduce the song by saying, "this song is about how you should stop eating animals and starting eating humans." Of course, such radical statements get a person's attention, which was probably the point. Because the first thing you're going to think is, "that's crazy, why would anyone believe that?" Whether or not someone experiencing the song ever takes the time or initiative to look further into the issue is out of our control, but at least they considered it for that second or minute or whatever. For the record, we had a really, really bad song in our early days about how zoos were animal prisons that existed for the sole purpose of entertaining laughing human oppressors. We existed as a band primarily in New Brunswick, New Jersey where issues of animal rights are, for the most part, unimportant to the punk scene. I think that, ultimately, we were just trying to shake people up and encourage some self-reflection. Whether we succeeded or not, I have no idea.

TOM: I found myself for many years on the outskirts of the New Brunswick punk scene because I really didn't identify with many of the people and bands that it consisted of. Around 2006 I saw Zhenia Golov for the first time and thought to myself that this was a band who was invested in many of the same things I cared about. It was important to me, even if (as Jay said) much of it was tongue-in-cheek or over the top in terms of shock value.

What's your favorite animal rights/liberation related song?
JAY : The best songs about animal suffering and liberation have been written by the truly incredible Canadian punk band, Propagandhi. I'd say that many punks from my generation were introduced to the idea of veganism by listening to the song "Nailing Descartes to the Wall/(Liquid) Meat is still Murder". "Apparently I'm a PC Fascist", "Purina Hall of Fame", "Human(e) Meat" are also all incredible songs.

JEFF: Off the top of my head...since I've already mention them, I'll go with "Human(e) Meat" by Propagandhi. Or "Girls Lie, Cops Lie, Dogs Love" by Wisdom in Chains

blackkites.bandcamp.com