ANIMOSITY
Claudette Vaughan talks to Jon Hallett.

Jonathan Hallett has been involved with the animal rights movement since 1998 when he joined Animal Rights Advocates in Perth, WA – a newly formed group campaigning against animal farming. He also works in a community-based health promotion organisation dealing with marginalised groups. He is passionate about creating an ethic of compassion and uniting movements that oppose exploitation and oppression of all animals, human and non-human alike.

Animal Rights Advocates (ARA) is currently heavily involved in the national campaign against sow stalls and works to promote veganism and a cruelty-free lifestyle. ARA recently received a donation from Voiceless towards the production of their excellent free animal rights street magazine called “Animosity”. Jon tells us that it was great to get Voiceless’s wonderful support as it is an expensive process to be involved in – but has been very worthwhile and effective in introducing the public to animal rights issues. Here’s our interview with him.

Abolitionist: ANIMOSITY'S straight down the line no compromise commitment to animal rights education is very brave considering that it must be difficult to get funding for these important issues. Tell us why you went that route?

Jon: We felt that many publications that already existed either specifically targeted those involved with the animal rights movement or else went too close to a welfarist viewpoint in targeting the general public. Whilst I wouldn't want to say that these views don't have their place, for personally I think they do, we felt that a free street-based paper focused specifically on animal rights issues would fill the existing void that had the potential to reach youth and counter-culture activists. We had the vision of an animal rights paper that would stir discussion and controversy within the community and thus raise people's awareness of the issues.

And you're right when you say that funding is difficult, though we had the amazing opportunity provided for us by the US-based doctor Richard McLellan who approached us at the start, offering to fund a few issues. This was great and has meant that we have been able to produce Animosity without having to water-down the issues in order to satisfy potential sponsors.

The next issue however will be produced solely by donations, so we welcome any support that fellow animal activists can give us. We are loathe to start using advertising space to provide us with the funds as we feel that it will jeopardise the independence of the magazine and the message we are trying to get out.

Abolitionist: How long has ANIMOSITY been in operation now?

Jon: Animosity has been around since early 2001, when Richard first came to us. In just the few issues since then it has become well known throughout the Perth activist community and is now seeping through to the general public.

Abolitionist: Tell us in your own words Jon. Why won't welfarism liberate so-called “food” animals? Is it not the case that welfare not only does not reduce suffering but further entrenches it?

Jon: Welfarism reinforces the property status of animals. That is the crux of the problem. By virtue of being property animals can be treated however their ‘owner’ deems appropriate. Whilst some improvement of conditions may occur through welfare measures, it simply reinforces that human use of animals is acceptable and makes it harder to argue for abolition to the general public.

Abolitionist: Are we really working toward abolition if we are seen making exploitation appear superficially more "humane"?

Jon: Not at all, as is so often said, welfarism may reduce the suffering of animals raised for food, but it doesn’t take away the fact that they are going to be killed and there is no humane way to take a life.

Abolitionist: Where is your perfect vegan space Jon?

Jon: My perfect space would definitely be calming, not shut off from nature, and allows me to be myself. Preferably near the ocean. It’s a space where people respect each other and the rest of the Earth and aim to minimise their impact. And there definitely needs to be lots of vegan chocolate and fresh fruit juice available.

Abolitionist: What commonalties bolster vegan commitment for you?

Jon: I think exposure plays a big part, whether it is seeing footage or actually being inside a factory farm, you can’t get away from the suffering these animals go through and want to do something about it. But this needs to be tied in to an ethic of respect and to see life as something more than a utility to be used for ones own selfish gain.

Abolitionist: Tell us about yourself Jonathan. How did you get involved in AR issues and how did Animal Rights Advocates begin?

Jon: I became vegetarian eight years ago at the age of 14 after coming across some books on animal rights in my school library and went vegan two years later when I realised the extent of institutionalised animal exploitation. A couple years later a good friend introduced me to the Perth-based group Animal Rights Advocates (ARA) and my involvement grew from there until today where I get to pursue it in my current role as ARA coordinator.

ARA began in 1998 with a focus on intensive farming, the issue seen as the largest instigator of suffering to non-human animals. Whilst still maintaining this focus, we have also branched out into humane education (an issue close to my heart due to being a conscientious objector at Murdoch University). This has included school talks on various animal rights issues as well as anti-dissection campaigns at universities, and the occasional foray into vivisection and circus campaigns.

As a small group we try to limit the number of areas we work on in order not to spread ourselves too thinly thereby not achieving any improvements for animals.

Abolitionist: What campaigns are you working on in Perth?

Jon: Currently ARA is involved with the nation wide campaign to ban the use of the cruel sow stall, and we’re working on Animosity. We have a strong commitment to education as being the most important step towards a more compassionate world. So at the moment we are working on getting Animosity online to reach a wider audience, and the preparation of a professional public speaking program, which will incorporate our school talks as well as presentations to other organisations.

Abolitionist: Your prowess in the vegan kitchen is legendary Jon. Tell us about that dude.

(laughter)

Jon: Well, I don't know about that! Though anyone who knows me knows that I do like to eat! In a similar vein to many, I grew up in a meat-eating household which meant I had to learn to cook for myself pretty quickly or else I'd end up with the 'meat and three veg' minus the meat. Whilst I do have an extensive collection of vegan cookbooks they're all pretty dust covered. I generally just grab whatever's available and throw it all in together.

Abolitionist: ARA wrote an article on why eggs suck? Tell us why.

Jon: Where do I start? Hens are treated as a commodity to provide a food that we don’t need, and I doubt is particularly good for us, especially considering all the crap that is fed to the hens. Whether the hens are battery-caged, barn-laid, or free-range, to utilise another living being as a means to produce an end for ourselves and in the process to ignore their most basic needs and pleasures is selfish to say the least. Besides, they smell funny.

Abolitionist: What’s the feedback from student like about Animosity?

Jon: The feedback we’ve gotten back so far has been great, and the papers just keep disappearing which is a good sign. Whilst I’m sure there are some negative reactions to some of the more confronting issues, by far comments have been very positive.

Abolitionist: Have any told you they are inspired to say No to dissection in the classroom?

Jon: Not as of yet, but the current issue which covers this topic is only just being distributed so I’ll get back to you on that one!

Abolitionist: We look forward to that.

http://www.ara.org.au