Animal Liberation - History In the Making

DVD REVIEW AND ACTIVIST PROFILE Animal Liberation: History In the Making Presented by Compassion Media To order your copy check out: www.rootsofcompassion.org Reviewed by Chris Lego

The English Direct Action scene often feels leagues ahead of life in the Antipodes. This can be seen in the relentless SHAC campaigns, the number of animal rescues from farms and labs plus the number of sacrifices that the English animal liberation movement is prepared to make so to usher in a new era of total liberation for nonhuman animals.  This DVD was $18.00 and the only qualm I have about it was that the sound levels vary throughout the 12 different stories on it. Much of the footage is old/classic, showing hunt sabbing at its height and the Sea Shepherd on the high seas using stink bombs and ramming techniques to fuck up the long drift net trawlers that kill everything marine in its way.

There is inspiring footage of activists disrupting large animal abuse complexes as well as footage of the Animal Liberation Front's more covert missions and rescues.

This DVD is an inspiring watch that drew my housemates into it. It contains lots of extra features and visuals that make you realise that all you need to make change is the desire and a few people.

To order your copy check out: www.rootsofcompassion.org

Or email Sarah (based in Brisbane) at:  sarah@rootsofcompassion.org
Cost: only $15.00 from her.

Activist Profile

Chris Lego is an artist and animal rights/ anti-corporate activist. He lives in alternative, wonderful Newtown and is the caretaker of the famous ‘Wheelie Bin' Sound System. He enjoys cooking pies, making noise and gatecrashing events of the rich and infamous.

He has been involved with the DIY markets for 2 years and has a soft spot for media activism.

The Quick ‘Wheelie Bin' Interview with Chris Lego

Abolitionist: How did the ‘Wheelie Bin' mobile sound system come into being Chris?

Chris: A friend of mine who's been making mobile sound systems and playing in music collectives e.g., Organicy and Non Bosse Posse made it a few years ago and basically he really knows what he is doing. He took that around to different protests, street parties community gatherings etc. After the ‘Reclaim The Streets' demo on May Day, 2003 that turned into abit of a shit-fight with the police the Wheelie Bin ended up at my house.

He nominated me as the caretaker of it because I love music and I'm often seen out at many of these protests and events.

Abolitionist: The Wheelie Bin is a great mobile and visual form of activism. What kind of reaction have you had from others about it?

Chris: Really positive responses.  People come up and want to know how to make it. The Wheelie Bin has its own website.

Check out:  www.wheelie.cat.org.au 

This website will show you how to make your own ‘Wheelie Bin' sound system for your own demos. It discusses design issues that arose in the making of the finalised version. We've gone through several names for it but at the moment it's called ‘The Wheelie Good Sound System'.

We took it to the anti-war demo last weekend and played Aussie political hip-hop and it's just amazing how music can lift up the tone of an event.  Also I've been involved in the DYI markets in Newtown which is basically self-organised/run markets in Newtown Square once-a-month. The Wheelie Bin music really changes the tone of any gathering. Ofcourse the musics gotta be beautifully, stupidly loud as well.

Abolitionist: Mate, what's your favourite all-time vegan recipe.

Chris: It's called ‘Pirate Salsa Pie'. Here's how to make it.

Get yourself: 1 pkt vegan puff pastry, 1 large onion, 130g hard tofu, 1 red capsicum, 200g mushrooms, 1 large tin kidney beans, 1 jar pasta sauce or 1kg tomatoes, sweet or hot chilli, green beans, fresh herbs (basil and oregano), garlic, Nuttelex (vegan marg), bunch of spinach. [Optional: soy sausage, advocado, and fresh coriander]

1. Unpack the puff pastry and let it start to defrost. Sauté the tofu with garlic til browned. Put aside. Dice the onion and mushrooms. Cook well. Add more garlic if you like. Add beans and squash them up in the pan. When mushy add the tomato base. If using tomatoes, then dice well. Add the spinach, beans and capsicum. Stir well and simmer until most of the liquid is cooked out and there's minimal drippage. Consistency is the key word here. Hopefully you have diced the spinach well and the beans are cooked through. You may want to use 2 tins of beans if you are cooking for a crowd or if you want a thicker mix. Next, let it cool alittle and thicken. Too much liquid will disintegrate the pastry. Add the chilli flavour and herbs. Fresh is best but whatever…

2. Grease a few pie trays/baking dishes. Lay the pastry gently into the trays. Squish the edges together if you are using a huge baking tray. Scoop an even layer of mix into the tray/dish. Pat it down abit. Maybe add some avocado or fresh corn to the top of it. Yeah, do that. Put the pastry on top. You can spell out words or pictures with the strips of pastry – e.g., names, flowers, anarchy sign, skulls or signs etc. This gives your pie more personal personality. Sweet chilli on top bakes into a sweet chilli glaze. Prick a few holes in the pastry.

3. By now you have pre-heated your oven to 200C. It's best to cook all your pies at once. It's easy to get distracted. About 20 minutes will do it or until the pastry is nicely browned. Let it cool for a sec. The pastry will harden slightly, making it easier to serve. You will need a spatula or 2 to chop and serve it. This pie goes well with cold ales, corn chips, a Greek salad with tofu puffs instead of cheese.

4. Recommended soundtrack while cooking: The Waifs double live CD, Dead Kennedy's ‘Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables' LP, the Velvet Underground or some cute neighbour telling tales of industrial sabotage, warehouse doofs and critical mass adventures.  Enjoy!