Will Potter's Blog, page 36
May 2, 2011
Breaking: Austrian Animal Rights Activists Acquitted of all Charges
Good news just received from friends overseas! All 13 Austrian animal rights activists who were charged with being part of a "criminal conspiracy" were just acquitted on their final day of trial.
The announcement is a major victory in a case that has drawn international attention from civil liberties and human rights groups. The activists, from diverse animal protection groups, had spent more than three months in jail. During the year-long trial, it was exposed that Austrian police had been briefed by American and British counter-terrorism officials (more on EUROPOL's terrorism policies against animal activists here) and police had infiltrated activist groups to spy on lawful activity.
In brief, the government argued that both mainstream and "militant" groups were part of a criminal conspiracy–not because of their actions, but because of their beliefs in support of animal rights– and that they should therefore be held responsible for a wide range of crimes committed in the name of animal rights, and profits lost by corporations.
[This photo is of 13 hens saved by Australian activists, in solidarity with the Austrian defendants.]
When I was overseas last year I had the opportunity to speak to many activists closely tied to the case, and the similarities between these "conspiracy" charges and the conspiracy charges in the U.S. case of the SHAC 7 are startling.
The court case cost millions of Euros. In a secret interview with an Austrian daily, "Österreich", a police officer from the Austrian federal criminal agency said: "When we do investigations against drug dealers, child pornography traders, or Russian mafia, exceeding a budget is always a problem. But in this case, money was never an issue."
The media coverage in Austria has overwhelmingly been in favor of the activists, and the exposure of police abuses in the name of fighting "terrorism" have led to outrage beyond the animal rights movement.
It's unclear how prosecutors will proceed at this point, but if they choose to re-indict they will certainly have an international public relations nightmare on their hands.
Here's a video of human rights activists in Israel interrupting the Israel-Austria Davis Cup play-off game to protest against the ongoing persecution of 13 political activists in Austria.
April 30, 2011
Reading at City Lights Books!
City Lights Books has been dubbed the world's greatest bookstore, and City Lights Publishing has a list of authors that has included Allen Ginsberg, Howard Zinn and Noam Chomsky. So I'm honored, and a bit nervous, to say I'll be reading there in just a few weeks!
Soon after I'll also be reading at the AK Press Warehouse in Oakland. If you know folks in the bay area, please invite them. Hope to see you there!
City Lights Books
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
7pm
And then:
AK Press Warehouse
Friday, May 13, 20111
April 27, 2011
Philadelphia: Book Reading and Discussion at Grindcore House
I've been fortunate to have the opportunity to speak at such a wide range of venues over the years– bar associations, universities, churches, conferences, book stores, people's homes, non-profits, shows. But I have to say, I have never had a speaking event at an all-vegan-punk-rock-coffee-house… and I am STOKED. The kind folks at Grindcore House are hosting my Philadelphia book reading. Here's all the info:
Grindcore House
June 4, 2011
6pm
1515 S. 4th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19147
Please invite your friends through the Facebook event page
NYC: "Green Is the New Red" Event at Bluestockings Books
Hey, New Yorkers! The wonderful folks at Bluestockings are hosting my NYC book reading. Here's all the info. See you there!
Sunday, May 29th, 2011
7pm
172 Allen Street, New York City
Will Potter will discuss his new book, "Green Is the New Red: An Insider's Account of a Social Movement Under Siege"
Please share the Facebook event page with your friends!
April 25, 2011
Earth Day: "Eco-Terrorists" Crackdown (Video)
I was on The Alyona Show on Earth Day talking about my new book, and the corporate-led campaigns to target environmentalists as terrorists. We talked a bit about how Earth Day has been co-opted (a good example of this is the 10+ emails I received from PR agencies pitching new "green" products that weren't green at all).
We also talked a bit about how these campaigns against animal rights and environmental activist are about more than money. They are about a war of values, and the ideological threat that posed by these growing movements.
Check it out here, and let me know what you think!
April 22, 2011
Huffington Post: "What is Big Ag Trying to Hide?"
The Huffington Post just published my op-ed on new bills being considered to criminalize undercover investigators, and punish anyone who exposes what goes on at factory farms.
Here's an excerpt:
Undercover investigations by the Humane Society, Mercy for Animals and other groups have exposed systemic animal cruelty at factory farms. The video footage has led to criminal convictions in Iowa, voter referendums in Florida, and consumer outrage at the most egregious animal welfare abuses.
Rather than put an end to these practices, though, corporations and agriculture industry groups have hit back with another plan: criminalize anyone who exposes their wrongdoing.
Read the whole thing on Huffington Post, and please share it and leave a comment! This is my first time writing for Huffington Post, and it would be great to show that people care deeply about these issues.
Flashpoints Radio Interview on Earth Day and Corporations Labeling Activists "Eco-terrorists"
I was on Pacifica radio's Flashpoints last night talking about Earth Day, my new book, and corporate campaigns to silence dissent by labeling activists as "eco-terrorists." I think it was a great discussion, and an introduction to how, as everyone is "going green," the environmental movement is increasingly under attack. Listen below (my section starts at 42:50).
Flashpoints Radio Interview on Earth Day and Corporations Labelings Activists "Eco-terrorists"
I was on Pacifica radio's Flashpoints last night talking about Earth Day, my new book, and corporate campaigns to silence dissent by labeling activists as "eco-terrorists." I think it was a great discussion, and an introduction to how, as everyone is "going green," the environmental movement is increasingly under attack. Listen below (my section starts at 42:50).
April 21, 2011
EU Terrorism Report Warns of Animal Rights Activists Who Create Undercover Videos
The latest report on international terrorism by EUROPOL describes animal right activists and environmentalists as "terrorists," and warns that their tactics include undercover investigations and "images of sick and abused animals."
The EU Terrorism Situation and Trend Report began in the wake of September 11th, and gathers terrorism intelligence from all European Union member states and INTERPOL. It is provided to law enforcement internationally as both an overview of past terrorism attacks, and guidance for preventing future violence.
Much of the 2011 report is what one would expect. For example, the plot of four men in Düsseldorf, Germany, to carry out an attack more destructive than the 2005 bombing of the London subway and the 2004 bombing of the Madrid train system. Or the seven individuals in Spain who were responsible for a bombing that killed two people and seriously injured four others. And of course, the report includes a section on Al Qaeda.
Buried in the report, though, the EUROPOL also warns international police about environmentalists and animal rights activists.
"Environmental extremism is on the rise," the report says, claiming that there have been a "number of incidents related to the oil industry, accused of polluting the environment" and that "activists oppose the construction of new nuclear power stations and attempt to prevent the transportation of nuclear waste for reprocessing."
And animal rights activists, EUROPOL says, use "authorised protests, as well as illegal methods" such as releasing animals from fur farms.
None of this rises to what most reasonable people would consider terrorism. But EUROPOL goes even further, warning:
"In addition to such attacks, ARE [animal rights extremists] activists also use disinformation methods in order to discredit their targets and weaken their public acceptance. Images of sick and abused animals are embedded in video footage and made public."
Undercover investigations have been a national topic in the United States recently, as Iowa, Florida and Minnesota are all considering legislation to target anyone who exposes what happens in factory farms, animal experimentation labs, or other facilities. The Minnesota bill goes so far as to prohibit the mere possession of an "image or a sound" from these places. In Florida, a state lawmaker has called undercover investigations by groups like the Humane Society and Mercy for Animals "terrorism."
This EUROPOL report makes clear that these misplaced priorities are not confined to a few states, or to a few politicians who have been heavily influenced by their corporate supporters. The corporate-led campaigns to demonize animal rights and environmental activists as "eco-terrorists" have indeed become international in scope. This "Green Scare" has worked its way into the top levels of government, not just in the United States but around the world.
Meanwhile, the U.S. group Mercy for Animals just released another investigation that showed calves being bludgeoned with pickaxes on a Texas farm, and local police are investigating.
It's clear that American activists have not been deterred, and their European counterparts will likely not be, either. If there is one take away message from this report, it is that the most dangerous weapon these movements possess is not a gun, anthrax, or a bomb. It's information.
April 19, 2011
VegNews Article on the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, "The Price of Free Speech"
The new issue of VegNews has an article I wrote about the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, and the AETA4, called "The Price of Free Speech." I hope you'll take a look and let me know what you think! VegNews is widely available at bookstores and places like Whole Foods, and I think it's wonderful that the editors are sharing an important political issue like this with VegNews readers.
However, as I'm sure you've heard, there's a bit of a scandal about VegNews printing photoshopped, stock photos of non-vegan food. But "VegNews Gate" doesn't stop there. Instead of using a photo of me with the article, they used this stock photograph instead. Shockingly, this has gone on for months and nobody noticed.
PS: Every issue, VegNews asks its contributing authors a question. This time it was, "What is your ideal honeymoon vacation?" Amidst all the very serious and romantic replies, on p17, is my equally heartfelt answer: "Austin, Texas: True romance is taco carts and tequila."
