Ben Newman, co-director of Animal Rising and seasoned animal welfare activist, shares insights from his disruptive protest experiences. He discusses the controversial campaign against the RSPCA, arguing its welfare labeling may mislead the public about animal farming practices. Newman also highlights the challenges of mass arrests in activism, advocating for targeted strategies that foster effective public engagement. The conversation touches on legal risks of direct action rescues and the need for unified advocacy in the face of evolving animal rights complexities.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Beagle Rescue
Ben Newman recalls rescuing beagles from MBR Acres, a puppy breeding facility.
This was the first such action since the 90s and a significant moment for the UK animal movement.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Grand National Disruption
During a protest at the Grand National, Ben Newman flipped over a fence and ran down the track, followed by security.
This daring act was captured by a police helicopter.
insights INSIGHT
Mass Arrests as a Tactic
Mass arrests are a tactic, not a sustainable long-term strategy.
Sustained activism requires evolving strategies and public support.
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In this book, Naomi Klein argues that neoliberal economic policies, promoted by Milton Friedman and the Chicago School of Economics, have risen to global prominence through a strategy she calls 'disaster capitalism.' This involves exploiting moments of shock and extreme violence to implement radical privatization and deregulation policies. Klein traces the origins of these tactics back to the University of Chicago and CIA-funded experiments, and documents their application in various parts of the world, including Latin America, Eastern Europe, South Africa, Russia, and Iraq. The book exposes how these policies have been used to advance corporate interests at the expense of public welfare, often resulting in significant social and economic disparities.
Good Strategy/Bad Strategy
The Difference and Why It Matters
Richard Rumelt
In *Good Strategy/Bad Strategy*, Richard Rumelt clarifies the distinction between effective and ineffective strategies. He argues that a good strategy is a specific and coherent response to overcoming obstacles, harnessing power where it will have the greatest effect. Rumelt debunks elements of 'bad strategy' such as equating goals, motivational slogans, and financial targets with actual strategy. He introduces the 'kernel' of strategy, which includes a diagnosis of the challenge, a guiding policy, and coherent action. The book uses diverse examples from business, nonprofit, and military contexts to illustrate these concepts and emphasizes the importance of analytical rigor and focused effort in strategy development.
Ben Newman has had a colourful past few years, being one of Animal Rising’s co-directors and being arrested multiple times for various bits of direct action and disruptive protest.
Now, Animal Rising has turned its attention to campaign against the RSPCA, the world’s largest animal charity, for running the RSPCA Assured scheme. This has been quite a divisive campaign within the animal advocacy movement, with some, including both co-hosts, having fairly big questions about the effectiveness of this campaign.
00:00:00:00 | Intro 00:04:55:02 | Direct Action Rescues 00:10:01:20 | Mass Arrests Strategy 00:13:40:07 | RSPCA Assured 00:19:19:10 | End of Animal Farming? 00:28:24:12 | RSPCA Scheme Shutdown 00:35:19:01 | Public Opinion on RSPCA 00:45:41:18 | Slaughterhouse Investigations 00:50:24:08 | Social Media Controversy 00:55:36:06 | Animal Rising in 2025 01:02:29:10 | Closing Questions
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How I Learned to Love Shrimp 
