ARCO's Abolitionists - A Vegan Forum

What does it say about Martin Balluch's arguments that he is now in jail, along with several other animal activists? Wasn't Austria supposed to be a more AR-friendly place, because of the political maneuvering of its activists? I fear things have not worked out as well as he had thought. I hope he and his compatriots are released soon, and I'd be interested to see what effect this has on his theories.

panthera wrote:What does it say about Martin Balluch's arguments that he is now in jail, along with several other animal activists? Wasn't Austria supposed to be a more AR-friendly place, because of the political maneuvering of its activists? I fear things have not worked out as well as he had thought. I hope he and his compatriots are released soon, and I'd be interested to see what effect this has on his theories.

Yes, I wonder about the point you make in your last sentence. It certainly seems to say something about power relations and political/judicial influence.

Gary Francione has recently commented on Austia: http://www.abolitionistapproach.com/?p=148

rags.

Balluch displaying the general poverty of ambition of new welfarism assuming, like Marcus, that some will be totally deaf to appeals for change while many may be persuaded to move in baby steps. Effectively, Ballach takes that old 'realist' line about asking for all or nothing and getting nothing.

New welfarists' lack of commitment to animal rights is shown by the fact that they offer not resistance and awakening but appeasement: from Balluch's claim that it's too hard to be a strict vegan, to Marcus' pre-emptive defeatism, to Friedrich's defense of CAK.