S5E6: Animal Farm Activism with Camille Labchuk

Claudia talks to Camille Labchuk about the two recent legal cases at Smithfield and Excelsior which involved animal activism on pig farms in North America. They discuss how biosecurity is used as a means of creating ag-gag laws, the relative absence of biosecurity considerations in the cases, and the legal exceptionalism animal farms enjoy in Canada.  Date Recorded: 27 October 2022 Camille Labchuk is an animal rights lawyer and executive director of Animal Justice—Canada’s only animal law advocacy organization. Under her leadership, Animal Justice fights legal cases in courtrooms across the country, works to pass ground-breaking new laws, and ensures industries are held accountable for illegal animal cruelty. Camille has litigated to advance animals’ legal interests at all levels of court, including before the Supreme Court of Canada. She regularly testifies before legislative committees, and was instrumental in passing Canada’s precedent-setting national ban on whale and dolphin captivity. She has brought constitutional cases seeking to protect the interests of animals and animal advocates; filed false advertising complaints against companies making misleading humane claims; documented Canada’s commercial seal slaughter; and exposed hidden suffering behind the closed doors of farms and zoos through undercover exposés. Camille was previously a founding board member of Mercy For Animals Canada, press secretary to the leader of a federal Canadian political party, and is a former two-time candidate for Parliament. Camille is a frequent lecturer on animal law, co-host of the Paw & Order podcast, and a regular contributor to national publications like the Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star. She is a Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics. Connect with Camille on Twitter (@CamilleLabchuk) Featured:  Animal Advocacy or Animal Agriculture? Send us a messageThe Animal turn is a nominee in the 2024 Women in Podcasting Awards. Vote for The Animal Turn in the Society and Culture Podcasts Category. You can vote between 1 August - 1 October 2024. Vote here: https://womeninpodcasting.net/the-animal-turn/ Women in Podcasting AwardsThe Women in Podcasting Awards is a people's choice awards. Wild Times: Wildlife EducationWildlife mysteries, crazy news, and daring animal stories—listen now!Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifyA.P.P.L.EAnimals in Politics, Law, and Ethics researches how we live in interspecies societies and polities.Biosecurities Research CollectiveThe Biosecurities and Urban Governance Research brings together scholars interested in biosecurity.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showThe Animal Turn is hosted and produced by Claudia Hirtenfelder and is part of iROAR Network. Find out more on our website.