Dr. Anita Krajnc (vegan) and the Animal Save Movement, Part 2 of 3

"When you use a love-based, non-judgemental approach, I think it’s easier to persuade the public to join us and to transform the industry from one that is producing animal products to one that is fully plant-based and vegan and ethical as well. I was charged for giving water to thirsty pigs in 2015, and I was acquitted for that. The judge agreed that compassion is not a crime. The Pig Trial was really important for the development of our movement. I had two vegan lawyers that were representing me, Gary Grill and James Silver. What they did with this case was they turned it around and put animal agriculture on trial. What we were fighting for was not only that compassion is not a crime and that it is a duty to give water to thirsty animals, we were also fighting for the principle that pigs are not property. They’re persons. We failed on that second goal. The judge did not recognize that, so that fight continues because it’s absolutely fundamental to recognize animals as persons. The Pig Trial brought a lot of attention to the Animal Save Movement, so it inspired more groups to form. I think artists are very important in social change. In our struggle, we have to use both reason and feelings and it’s art that really helps us with the latter. Joaquin Phoenix is someone who’s been to dozens of vigils in LA. Joaquin's speech at the Oscars was like a speech written from God, I thought. He was like the voice of God or angels." "I think we’ve become very disconnected from the natural world. And many of us, what we’re guilty of is an egocentric worldview, the belief that we’re the center of the universe. We go into the natural world and we plunder it for its resources. We feel entitled to artificially inseminate a cow and when she gives birth, we steal her baby, even though her cries of anguish are unmistakable. And then we take her milk that’s intended for her calf and we put it in our coffee and our cereal. When he was 17, my brother wrote this lyric, he said, 'Run to the rescue with love and peace will follow.' Thank you."