We discuss language and animals and how by design, language acts as a weapon against animals perpetuating speciesism through demeaning terms like ‘you cow’ or by laundering terms that hide cruelty, for example, a 'processing plant' instead of a slaughterhouse. We also have categories of language to label species as belonging or not belonging - for example, native, pest or feral - and a species can switch catgegory depending on our human agenda for the landscape.  Speciesism means the assumption of human superiority leading to the exploitation of animals. Addressing this language can be a powerful form of activism. Our guests are Alex Vince from Animal Liberation NSW and Alana Bacon, Melbourne-based animal activist & Animal Justice Party member.

For more work on language and animals by Alex Vince from Animal Liberation NSW, see his talks below: (& stay tuned for his most recent at the 2018 Animal Activist Forum!)

The Pest Epiphet: https://archive.org/details/AlexVince

Animal Activicts Forum (scroll to bottom:) http://www.activistsforum.com/resources/

Joan Dunayer links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFiRc2Jixtc

https://www.amazon.com/Animal-Equality-Liberation-Joan-Dunayer/dp/097064...