PACIFIST BUT NOT PASSIVE:
Veganism as direct action
Recently, Steven Best and Jason Miller wrote a blog piece ridiculing myself, my book Capers in the Churchyard, and the group with which I work, Friends of Animals. Its title is “Pacifism or Animals: Which Do You Love More?” for those who want to look it up. This Nastygram from Steve and Jason (hereinafter “NSJ”) begins by invoking a person it apparently sees as popular enough to marginalize my view. “Driven by his profound love of animals, Paul Watson is perhaps the ultimate animal defender…..” [read more]

RESPONSE TO MARTIN BALLUCH:
More industry reform... or the vegan paradigm?
Lee Hall responds to Martin Balluch. Earlier this year, Austrian activist Martin Balluch posted “Abolitionism vs. Reformism” on the website of VGT ; its argument, in a nutshell, is this. Animal-welfare advocacy and the theory of animal rights differ fundamentally: Balluch sees animal welfare as driven by human compassion and empathy, and aiming to reduce the suffering of animals to a “necessary” minimum as they are being used. The concept of animal rights, in contrast, categorically opposes the use of animals, and Balluch holds that up as the ideal. Yet Balluch insists that the precepts of the ideal shouldn’t guide actual activism. Not even for activists who seek abolition of animal use. [read more]

ANIMALS AS PETS Part One | Part Two
TRANSCRIPT FROM A TALK AT THE LONDON VEGAN FESTIVAL 2008

The question here is: Must animal advocates choose between being rescuers and working for animal rights? Why would there be a distinction between working to rescue animals and working for animal rights? [read more]

PODCAST: Veganism: It's Good For The Earth But is it a Realistic Goal?
Lee Hall, legal director for Friends of Animals, an animal-rights organization founded in 1957, gives a succinct and inspiring overview of the importance of vegan living -- for our health and that of the planet -- and then explains why "animal rights will have unprecedented power to confront the environmental crises of our time." Hall is one of the creators of VeganMeans.com, and author of the forthcoming book On Their Own Terms: Bringing Animal Rights Philosophy Down to Earth. [listen to podcast]

NEW BOOK: Lee's forthcoming book is titled On Their Own Terms: Bringing Animal Rights Philosophy Down to Earth.