Episode 95: “You have to wake the people up first, then you’ll get action.”

Welcome to the 95^th episode of Our Hen House, featuring Will Potter from Green is the New Red. 

In today’s episode, we will tell you all about our trips to New Orleans and Boston – both of which took place this past week. In New Orleans, Mariann talked animal law, and in Boston, both of us talked veganism! We’ll give you the skinny on our experiences at the biggest VegFest in the country. We’ll also tell you about the workshop we attended back here in New York where New York Times columnist Mark Bittman was the super special guest, and we’ll ruminate about a whole lot more. Our big birthday bash fundraiser was this past week, too, so we’ll tell you all about that deliciousness.

Joining us today is Will Potter – mastermind behind the book and website Green is the New Red. Will, an award-winning independent journalist, will talk to us about how animal rights and environmental activists are being labeled as “eco-terrorists,” and what that means for our safety and freedom. Don’t miss this fascinating, horrifying, and ultimately hopeful discussion.

For our review, we’ll give you our take on Nathalie Van Balen’s new project for kids of all ages, a zine entitled “Happy Thanksliving!” This zine is an accessible and affordable tool that gently challenges some of the ridiculous and antiquated traditions of Thanksgiving, while also celebrating compassion, deliciousness, open-mindedness, and new traditions.

All that, vegan banter, and of course, current events from the world of animal rights.

This week’s news items include:

• “Ellen DeGeneres, Portia de Rossi to Open a Vegan Restaurant” from Us
• “Council bans sale, consumption of shark fin” from The [Toronto] Star
• “ASPCA: Central Park Carriage Horse Was Unhealthy Before It Died” from CBS New York
• “Animal rights group’s suit to allege Sea World is keeping orcas in slavery” from from the Los Angeles Times
• “A Vegetarian Feast, No Turkeys Allowed” from the New York Times

“The greatest mistake of the movement has been trying to organize a sleeping people around specific goals. You have to wake the people up first, then you’ll get action.” -Malcolm X

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