Still, Animal Info is an example of committed (but imperfect) activists organizing on a grassroots level and agitating against speciesism. Its international news coverage was impressive given the limited number of pages, and nicely bridges the U.S. coverage lapse between the time Open the Cages stopped publication and No Compromise began.
McLibel Case
The Complete S.A.R.P. Newsletters
Support Animal Rights Prisoners newsletter #1-5 (1991 – Northampton, England)
Barry was one of the most dedicated activists our struggle has ever known, but it would be a disservice to him to strip him of his humanity by pretending that he was without error. There are some poorly examined ideas in the pages of SARP that deserve measured critique, but for every weakness there are also beautiful moments that give voice to our imprisoned comrades, remember our dead, and call for nothing less than a revolution to liberate non-humans. Barry wrote with an intensity and single minded dedication that reminds us of just how precious each second spent fighting is, and how we must stop wasting those ticks of the clock. To Barry, life, and even death, should be utilized battling the scourge of speciesism. These newsletters are Barry’s voice ringing out from decades past, telling us to ACT NOW in solidarity with the animal nations.
The Complete Liberate!
Liberate! 1-7 (1996-1997. Birkenhead, New Zealand)
Liberate! was written by a small group of dedicated activists. The content may have been produced by amateurs but there are some stand out articles about the burgeoning pro-direct action grassroots, conflicts between environmentalists and animal liberationists, and some entertaining imagery as well.
Arkangel
Arkangel 1-5, 7-11 (1989-1994. London, England)
Vivien Smith, whom I had previously worked with in publishing the ALF Supporters Group newsletter, had recently been released from prison and we teamed up again to produce the first issue of Arkangel, with me doing most of the writing and Viv typing it out and putting it together with artwork to create the magazine.
The second issue was produced in a similar fashion but, after that, everything had to change, as the prison stopped me from sending out articles, following complaints from the vivisection industry, and Viv was put in prison again for ALF actions.
The omission of issue #6 is not an error- it was never printed. Arkangel’s offices were raided just before publication of the issue. We are still seeking additional issues of Arkangel. If you have them- or other publications of note- please contact us!
Bite Back (U.K.) #1&2
Bite Back – Issues 1-2 (1999, Bristol, England)
One of at least four publications to share the same moniker, this version of Bite Back came into being at the turn of the century. Glossy, full magazine sized, and free, Bite Back was a wonderful tool for reporting on the exciting campaigns of its era. Anyone interested in pressure campaigning will enjoy the brief articles, updates, and images from Hillgrove, Shamrock, Regal Rabbits, and Huntingdon Death Sciences.
We have very little information about this publication and do not know if there were subsequent issues. If you have more information please contact us HERE.
Action for Animals #1
Action For Animals # 1 – (1989, Essex, England)
While there isn’t much stand-alone importance to this particular publication, the critical role played by grassroots newsletters in the 1980s in undeniable. Prior to the popular use of the internet local groups were run by a small core of organizers who communicated with their own membership and the broader public using these cheaply produced zines. Ideology, protest dates, campaign information, news from other organizations, fundraising efforts, and prisoner support were all shared, and with results that often dwarf what we see from Facebook based organizing.
Action for Animals produced a newsletter very typical of its era and geography. Those of you who take the time to look closer at this publication will notice excerpts from the London Greenpeace leaflet (co-written, as it turns out, by an undercover cop) that lead to the McLibel case. Also of note are AFA’s anti-capitalism sentiment, and the diversity of actions embraced by their group- from Christmas carolling to support for underground direct action.