Anarcho-punk and animal rights

    We discussed anarcho-punk and animal rights with our guest Pat, focusing on bands that influenced us and helped shape our political awareness. Pat is a friend to many at  3CR and formerly was a co-host of Roominations and Thursday Breakfast programs.  The punk subculture, particularly the anarcho-punk and straight edge movements, has maintained a strong association with animal rights activism since the 1980s. This link has manifested in punk music lyrics, benefit concerts, direct actions, and broader lifestyle choices such as veganism. Bands like Crass, Conflict, and Flux of Pink Indians (to name just a few influential bands of this period) helped pioneer this focus, using their music and influence to promote anti-speciesism, anti-war, and DIY ethics, especially within politically charged contexts like 1980s Britain.Within anarcho-punk communities, veganism often became the norm, with punks engaging in activism through grassroots organising, zines, and participation in groups like Food Not Bombs and hunt saboteur networks.  Despite not being universally adopted across punk, animal rights have played a foundational role in shaping anarcho-punk identity and continue to influence punk’s ethical and political practices.   Bands and music we spoke about:   Crass https://crass.bandcamp.com/   Conflict https://conflictpunk.bandcamp.com   We discuss the song by Conflict – A Message to Who https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4J0kC9DQ9Q&list=RDu4J0kC9DQ9Q&start_radio=1  Discharge https://dischargeofficialmusic.bandcamp.com/album/war-is-hell  Music we played:  Crass: You’re Already Dead https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-jlqSzU5WY&list=RDx-jlqSzU5WY&start_radio=1 Discharge: War’s No Fairytale https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMCv_ygEnyU&list=RDSMCv_ygEnyU&start_radio=1 Discharge: Religion Instigates https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifDor77X8Cc&list=RDifDor77X8Cc&start_radio=1 Nausea: Clutches https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qouy91rckk4&list=RDQouy91rckk4&start_radio=1     Please note that for copyright reasons we cannot include the songs played on the show in the podcast. Our guests’ songs have been added to the Freedom of Species Spotify playlist where possible here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3TJQujKYjGFoFP6LhBbaTS?si=bfcb55c3f763…(link is external)  Anarchist pamplets and books we mentioned that we love:  Active Distribution UK has been operating since the 1980s as a DIY and voluntary project that distributes a wide range of ‘all things anarchist’ and maintains a DIY and not for profit ethic. Some of their amazing A6 pamphlets that we recommend checking out are: Beasts of Burden:  https://www.activedistributionshop.org/product/beasts-of-burden-a6/  Beasts of Burden was first published in October 1999. The aim of the anonymous pamphlet was to initiate a debate between animal liberationists and revolutionaries – anarchists and communists (the author uses the term ‘communist’ repeatedly and means communism in its original sense: a stateless and classless society where people live together and ‘the free development of each is the condition for the free development of all’. Animal Liberation and Social Revolution by Brian Dominick https://www.activedistributionshop.org/product/animal-liberation-and-social-revolution/  A Vegan Perspective on Anarchism, or an Anarchist Perspective on Veganism Written by Brian Dominick in 1995 – and introducing the term “Veganarchism” – this text sets out to demonstrate that any approach to social change must be comprised of an understanding not only of social relationships, but also of the relationships between humans and non-human animals. However, it also shows that, in turn, animal liberation itself will never be a feasible approach without understanding and participating in the wider social revolutionary endeavour.  From Animals to Anarchism by Kevin Watkinson & Donal O’Driscoll https://www.activedistributionshop.org/product/from-animals-to-anarchism/   From Animals to Anarchism challenges those involved in animal activism to sort their politics out if they truly believe in liberation, but at the same time does not let anarchists off the hook – demanding that they consider more fully the nature of human-animal relations in their politics.  Veganarchism: Against All Oppression, Everywhere, All the Time by Nathan Poirier https://www.activedistributionshop.org/product/from-animals-to-anarchism/ This book’s central thesis is simple: Veganism and anarchism are, and should always be thought of as, the exact same thing. Not just similar, or almost synonyms, or parallet movements.   Check out the incredible range of A6 pamphlets and books from Active Distribution UK here: https://www.activedistributionshop.org/product-category/pamphlets-booklets/     A reminder about 3CR’s Regular Donor Campaign: by becoming a regular donor, your ongoing support ensures that we are able to continue to provide a platform for community issues and airing independent radio without corporate sponsorpship or government funding. 3CR is determined to stay independent and serve our community, and we do rely on community support to keep going. A regular donation helps pay the bills and provide training for the next generation of community broadcasters. If you’d like to become a regular donor, please jump online and go 3cr.org.au or call the station during business hours on phone 03 9419 8377. Show your solidarity and support 3CR.  Please share any feedback on our shows with us via freedomofspecies@gmail.com 

A weekly show hosted by Melbourne-based animal advocates, presenting local and international interviews, presentations, and music from this vibrant social justice movement. The show is broadcast on 3CR Community Radio 855AM

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