Episode 198: “The truth of animal rights requires empty cages, not larger cages.”

Welcome to the 198^th episode of Our Hen House, featuring Mark Hawthorne  [transcript].
In today’s episode, we will tell you about the most visually stunning weekend trip we have ever taken, and the film shoot that was the impetus for our adventure. We’ll chat about Farm Sanctuary, a couple of special calves who got a second chance, how many keystrokes we have left before we die (and why that matters), and how to be more efficient with time. We’ll also talk about the dopamine released when we choose things we are predisposed to, and how that pertains to animal advocacy. Oh, and today’s “Rising Anxieties” segment will make you crave an orange – not just orange fibers.
Joining us today is longtime animal activist and writer, Mark Hawthorne, whose new book, Bleating Hearts: The Hidden World of Animal Suffering, will blow your mind – and then fire you up to change the world for animals (not that you weren’t there already). Mark – whose new book examines the world’s vast exploitation of animals, from the food, fashion, and research industries to the use of other species for sport, war, entertainment, religion, labor and pleasure – will enlighten us to some of these issues, and theorize on the dissonance between what most people say about animals – that they care about them and are against cruelty – and what goes on in the real world.
For our review, we will talk about the 1970s film, Killer of Sheep, which focuses on a slaughterhouse worker who tries his best to find moments of beauty and solace in the world.
All that, vegan banter, and of course, current events from the world of animal rights.
For a list of the news items we discuss in today’s episode, and then some, take a look at the breaking news ticker at the top of the page, and also check out our list of archived news items.
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“The truth of animal rights requires empty cages, not larger cages.” -Tom Regan