Comments on: How to Build Stronger Communities in Response to Government Repression

By: Will Potter

Will Potter — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 22:50:51 +0000

Thanks Michael! And it always seems to work out that way… I wish I could attend some of these conferences just as a spectator. Looking forward to seeing you!

By: Joe

Joe — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:34:10 +0000

Hi Will, its been awhile. I have been working all over the country and have not been able to check in for some time so I am just now seeing this post about me getting paid to post here. I wish that was true. I post here because I am the only one I have ever seen who post here who actually does something to protect the environment and those here who support terrorism need to realize that it is the people like me who really champion the environment.

By: Will Potter

Will Potter — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 17:13:12 +0000

Great information, thanks Gary!

By: Gary

Gary — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:26:06 +0000

I didn’t know there was going to be vegan ice cream. I would have flown out!

Seriously, good talk.

One way (not original, by any stretch) that our grasroots group (Compassion for Animals) is trying to reach out to a diverse populace is tabling at community events that have a diversity of people, not just in terms of color and ethnicity – though that’s important – but also in terms of political and religious views.

For instance, often cities, towns, or neighborhoods have things like “fall festivals;” those may be opportunities to have a registered table in the festival with animal rights and vegan information and to engage in productive discussions with people who stop by the table. The registration fee for these events is usually not too bad.

You can add interest to the table by offering free food samples (if practical and allowed), raffling off a signed vegan cookbook, having a signup sheet to visit (or volunteer at) a nearby farmed animal sanctuary, and so forth. Of course, have your email list signup sheet and contact info there. Some of the people who visit your table may become inspired to start doing activism.

Hope this helps.

By: Will Potter

Will Potter — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 03:51:41 +0000

Thanks very much for checking in, Lin. Same ole shit. I’m back and will have a post tomorrow, and again on Thursday to ease into things…

By: NomNomNom

NomNomNom — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 13:19:37 +0000

Rare white buffalo in bankrupt rescue agency needs help to avoid being sold to profiteers who will not care about/understand her religious significance
http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/national/53835767.html

By: Lin

Lin — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:14:43 +0000

Hey Will,
It’s been awhile since I’ve seen anything from you on here…so I figured I’d just check to make sure everything’s alright.

By: viv from UK

viv from UK — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 20:15:28 +0000

Hi Lantz
I just wanted to say that in the UK there are many people of colour + many other nationalities involved with AR & environmental issues & all against the horrible prejudices of all sorts so it’s coming.
Keep campaigning – we will, all the best viv

By: sloth

sloth — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 02:39:27 +0000

soulgrind….

great discussion, nice tazmanian devil tattoos and thanks for the white makeup to freshen up my goth look…

oh shit….security culture….

By: kevin

kevin — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 17:11:15 +0000

i agree 100 percent with l(A)ntz. i think addressing our privilege, building coalitions with oppressed people of color, queers, etc is the most important thing activists should be doing. so why are we not? it should be addressed at every conference, meeting, blog, whatever. it needs to be discussed and its extremely troubling to continue to see these issues be ignored or brushed under the table. i just dont see the ar movement making serious progress until activists begin to connect the issues of human and non-human animal oppression. i cant count how many protests ive been to where “human/animal liberation NOW!” was a protest chant but yet the causes of this human and animal oppression thats so inherently connected is NEVER discussed. i dont have the answers on how to go about buildinig these coalitions but i do know that it needs to be done, that there wont be any formula, that each community of activists will have to address the conditions in their town, city, whatever, that it must be done honestly, genuinely, without some hidden agenda of “recruiting” more people of color for protests, or getting more queer folks to go vegan, that we first need to do our homework and really study and analyze the conditions oppressed people are facing in our area. we need to start speaking out and getting serious dialogue started.

theres a really good article that analyzes some of these issues and i urge you all to take a look at it: http://theanarchistlibrary.org/animal-liberation-devastate-liberate-or-devastatingly-liberal