u/happydiplodocus

Today, we’re highlighting the efforts of passionate Jain animal rights activists who are promoting veganism from within their religious community.

And you might be thinking: isn’t Jainism that ancient Indian religion whose core teaching is Ahimsa—the principle of avoiding harm to any living being, including animals, insects, and even microscopic organisms? So how come Jains aren’t already some of the biggest proponents of veganism out there?

That’s one of the questions we’ll explore today, along with others, like: What’s the place of spirituality and religion in the vegan movement? What boundaries should you set as a compassionate person? And what does it feel like when religious authorities within your own community oppose your veganism?

Jenna Riedi is the Communication Director of Faunalytics. Today, she will be presenting Faunalytics latest study : Animal Factory, Factory Farm, Or Something Else? Testing The Language Of Advocacy by Erika Berglund & Carol Hardy (JG Research)

Read the Entire Study here: https://faunalytics.org/animal-factory-factory-farm-or-something-else/

This episode is about vegan representation in movies. Basically, how does Hollywood portray us vegans to an audience of millions? Why do movies so often miss the mark, misunderstanding us or turning us into the butt of the joke? Why do science fiction movies so often imagine the future as vegan? Is Okja a good vegan movie or not? Those are some of the questions we'll be answering today.

What if I told you that cage-free campaigns are not only ineffective at helping hens, but may actually cause more suffering—and even set back the animal rights movement?

That claim might surprise you, or even shock you, considering how many major animal rights organizations have embraced this strategy and how many millions of dollars have been invested in cage-free advocacy over the years.

Yet this has become the view of a growing number of activists, organizations, researchers, and veterinarians who believe it's time to rethink the cage-free approach.

In this episode, we travel to Japan and discover its burgeoning vegan and animal rights activist community. Japan is often considered one of the worst countries in terms of animal protection - compared to the West and to its Asian neighbors. But could that be starting to change?

To discuss this topic, I am joined by Anita Dollar, also known as the Osaka Vegan. Anita is an animal rights activist and creator who is doing the incredible work of promoting veganism in Japan. If you're planning to visit Japan, I absolutely recommend her Vegan in Japan Cheat Sheet: https://linktr.ee/anita.dollar

In our conversation, we discuss the many forms of animal exploitation that exist across Japan, how accessible and rewarding vegan living can be there, why anime culture may not be helping the animal rights movement, and Anita's recent reporting on Buddhist temples that have moved away from their traditionally vegetarian roots. We cover all of that and much more.

"How many vegans are there? And is that number growing? Now, tucked away in this seemingly simple question is a minefield of inconsistent, conflicting, and missing data. And I recently did my best to make sense of it."

Today, we’re talking about the Mecca of animal rights — the event of the year where the most influential pro‑animal organizations, donors, and activists come together to shape the future of our movement. I’m talking, of course, about the Animal and Vegan Advocacy Summit.

In this episode, I’m giving you everything you want to know about the AVA Summit. I’m opening the doors of this usually private event so you can feel as if you were right there with us. And with the next Summit set to be the biggest one ever, right in the heart of Mexico City, this episode might just convince you to start saving for the trip.

Have you ever heard of Palantir? Palantir builds data software that governments and corporations use to organize massive databases and... power mass surveillance. I won't go through every software they created, but you might know a few of them since their products always generate a backlash - like Operation Laser - which is a software that allows you to predict crimes. Yes, exactly like the movie Minority Report. I think it was dismantled after public pressure and lots of lawsuits...

Well, that same company has secured a 300 million dollars contract with the United Stated Department of Agriculture. The goal of that partnership is, and I quote: "empowering USDA with core capabilities that will enable it to secure American farmland, enhance supply chain resilience, and shield agricultural programs from fraud, abuse, and foreign adversary influence."

Now that is a lot of money, and that goal is very vague, and the company does not have the best of reputation. The USDA also does not have the best of reputation, siding again and again with private interests against the welfare of animals. All of that reeks, and it has lead my guest today, Robert Grillo, to raise concerns about the possibility of a mass surveillance operation against the animal rights movement.

Robert Grillo is an activist, author and speaker working to build grassroots momentum and popular support to advance a plant-based food system. He leverages major trigger events like rising food prices, bird flu and the farm bill debate to stage actions that capture the public and media’s attention.