BEST INNOVATIVE SCHOLARSHIP OF THE YEAR
Animals without Borders: Farmed Animal Resistance in New York
M.A. thesis by Sarat Colling
Colling examines animals resisting slaughter and the role that their stories play in disrupting the ways humans are distanced from the violence of animal enterprises. CAS grounded scholarship at its best!
BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR
(i) Top monograph:
Animal Oppression and Human Violence: Domesecration, Capitalism, and Global Conflict
by David A. Nibert
Nibert turns popular wisdom on its head by arguing that domestication (which he renames “domesecration”) of other animals for food, labor, and tools of war has not advanced the development of human society. Must read revisioning of animal history, human and non-human!
Click here to purchase this book.
(ii) Top anthology:
Confronting Animal Exploitation: Grassroots Essays on Liberation and Veganism
edited by Kim Socha & Sarahjane Blum
A collection of essays by in-the-trenches activists that addresses myriad aspects of the movement from a firmly liberatory perspective. This book provides a platform for everyday activists to share their stories and strategies.
Click here to purchase this book.
BEST ACTIVIST PROJECT OF THE YEAR
Brazilian Research Lab Occupation
On October 18, animal rights activists occupied Instituto Royal in São Roque and liberated 178 beagles and several rabbits. The action ignited a national debate on animal testing in which, as one activist put it, “society no longer tolerates animal testing and the excuses given by scientists who say there are no alternatives.” Direct action works!
Read about the occupation here: http://www.occupy.com/article/brazilians-occupying-research-lab-ignite-national-debate-animal-testing.
BEST ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR
Idle No More
This ongoing worldwide protest movement originated among the Aboriginal peoples in Canada in response to abuses of indigenous treaty rights by the Stephen Harper Conservative federal government. At its core is resistance to resource exploitation such as the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline. ICAS recognizes Idle No More for taking a heroic stand on behalf of the Earth and its inhabitants.
BEST DOCUMENTARY OF THE YEAR
Blackfish
Director/producer Gabriela Cowperthwaite’s captivating story of Tilikum, a “performing” killer whale, became an indictment of sea parks and animal enslavement in general. The film’s October 24 airing on CNN signaled the mainstreaming of the anti-captivity movement.
Read the article that inspired Cowperthwaite here: http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/nature/The-Killer-in-the-Pool.html?page=all
BEST FORUM OF THE YEAR
ICAS Africa Conference
A two-day convergence of CAS scholars and activists in Cape Town that tackled the question: how do we reach other interested people in Africa and what actions should follow our conference? This groundbreaking event was the first ICAS Conference in Africa as well as the third conference of all time on animal rights on that continent.
Follow ICAS Africa on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Institute-for-Critical-Animal-Studies-Africa/197667980334903
