Our Hen House: Vegan & Animal Rights Movement | Stories from the Frontlines of Animal Liberation Animal Rights and Human Rights in Uganda with Dash Meizler
The inimitable Dash Meizler joins the podcast this week from Kampala, Uganda, for a truly inspiring conversation about leveraging our activism to better advocate for animal rights and marginalized communities. Founder of the Podrska Foundation, Dash outlines how the organization is fighting for farmed animals while empowering women, providing schools with vegan meals, fighting poverty through home-based vegetable gardens, and more. The Ugandan activist also tells us about his upbringing on a poultry farm and shares the moment his life trajectory changed forever, ultimately leading him down the path of animal activism, veganism, and humanitarianism.
*We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read Mariann’s interview with Dash Meizler.*
Fahd Kharim Ssevume, commonly known as Dash Meizler, is an accomplished humanitarian and founder of the Podrska Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to creating a world of equity, compassion, and justice by supporting vulnerable people and improving their day-to-day lives. Dash’s projects address immediate needs and have the long-term goal of enabling participants to become economically and educationally independent enough to live in harmony with others – not only with other human beings but also with non-human animals. Dash has a longstanding vision of multispecies justice, which is informed by his deep commitment to human and animal rights. In addition to his humanitarianism, Dash is also known for his effective and efficient animal activism throughout Uganda. His love for non-human animals inspired him to incorporate friendly, inspiring methodologies to spread veganism all over his country. He’s currently using his untiring commitment, drive, and leadership skills to bring more dignity and autonomy to both human and non-human beings in Africa — and looks forward to bringing these same values to regions all over the world.
“Let’s lift people out of poverty, let’s uplift animal lives, let’s uplift education for kids, and let’s uplift animal rights at the same time.” – Dash Meizler
Highlights for Episode 645:
- The Podrska Foundation’s food distribution programs, including the Vegan School Campaign and the Vegan Food Program
- How the Lady Program empowers women in precarious financial situations to make and sell cruelty-free products
- Why Dash believes that helping people can also help animals
- How the Vegan School Campaign works to care for children in poverty and educate schools about plant-based eating
- How the foundation promotes a vegan diet by appealing to people’s interest in staying healthy
- Why providing hot meals to those in need helps instill a sense of care for themselves and for others, including animals
- The importance of providing traditional, culturally relevant vegan meals
- Objections Dash has faced to his vegan initiatives
- Project Grow and why teaching people how to grow food at home helps adjust their mindset about the makings of a nutritious meal
- How the Podrska Foundation raises money to support their campaigns
- Why Dash believes that Africa has the potential to lead society in a new direction in regards to climate change
Resources:
- Slutty Vegan Founder Pinky Cole Raises $25 Million In Series A Funding Round With New Voices Fund And Enlightened Hospitality Investments As Lead Investors
- Latvia Eurovision lyrics explained: Why the words to ‘Eat Your Salad’ by Citi Zeni are being censored
- Abbot’s Butcher plant-based proteins
Connect with Dash Meizler:
Connect with Our Hen House:
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Don’t forget to check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series.
The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.
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This episode is brought to you in part by Abbot’s Butcher. Abbot’s Butcher is leading the next generation of plant-based meat. The products are crafted in the kitchen—not a lab—and provide bold flavors and a hearty bite by using real food ingredients. Free of soy, gluten, preservatives, and natural/artificial flavors, Abbot’s Butcher’s plant-based proteins are the cleanest (and most delicious) meat alternatives you can buy. Find Abbot’s Butcher “Chorizo,” Ground “Beef,” or Chopped Chick’n at Target or your nearest retailer.
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This episode is brought to you in part through the generosity of A Well-Fed World. A Well-Fed World provides the means for change by empowering individuals, social justice organizations, and political decision makers to embrace the benefits of plant-based foods and farming. Learn more at awfw.org.