The Cyberactivist

As I previously mentioned, I will be on the radio tomorrow. I just received the press release in my inbox minutes ago. For those unable to listen to it live, they said that the interview will be archived on the site in about a week or so. When that happens I will update you here with the link to it. Here is their press release:

*** Animal Voices is Toronto's only animal rights and liberation radio program. We air live every Tuesday 11 am-12 pm EDT. Catch us at www.ciut.fm, or in the area at CIUT 89.5 FM. Archived shows and additional info are available at http://www.animalvoices.ca ***

Please join us tomorrow (Feb 15) for a conversation with Virgil Butler, an ex-Tyson slaughterhouse worker from rural Arkansas. We'll learn about his work as a chicken processor and killer, and find out why he eventually quit and became an outspoken animal advocate, founding the group Activists Against Factory Farming (see below). Arguing that worker and animal welfare are closely linked within the slaughterhouse, Virgil will offer his analysis of the current meat industry and share his thoughts on how the situation can beimproved. Specifically, he'll describe the CAK (Controlled Atmosphere Killing) technique that he believes will "reduc[e] the amount of cruelty the chickens have to endure as well as the having potential to help improve working conditions for the workers." Don't miss this opportunity to hear an insider's view of the industry.

For more info about Virgil Butler:

"The Cyberactivist"
http://cyberactivist.blogspot.com/

Founder of Activists Against Factory Farming
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/activistsagainstfactoryfarming/
http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/AgainstFactoryFarming

His bio:

Virgil Butler, currently living in rural Arkansas, grew up in the Ozark mountains in northwest Arkansas on a family farm, raising animals, hunting, and fishing. He first started working in the poultry industry catching chickens as a teenager for Valmac industries. After about 5 years of doing this, he left to join the military. After returning from his service, he began work at Tyson aslaughter plant in Grannis, AR. He worked in debone for about 3 months, evisceration for about 6 months, and spent the rest of his years on back dock, as a live-hanger and killer. He also worked briefly at the Tyson plants in Waldron and Clarksville, AR, as a live-hanger, and had brief stint working for Cargill hanging live turkeys. He most recently worked at the Grannis plant as line lead on back dock, doing live-hang, killing and training new-hires to dothat brutal job. His last night was 11-12-02, and since then he has spoken out about his experiences, describing the way the industry victimizes the animals and the workers. He also started his own website, founded Activists Against Factory Farming groups on Yahoo and Care2, and he now practices a strict vegetarian lifestyle. He is currently writing a book about his experiences, giving talks for various groups, acting as keynote speaker for United PoultryConcerns Forum last year in Norfolk. He will be speaking at AR2005 in Los Angeles in July.

*** Also, check out AV's recently archived show w/ Josh Harper (on anarchism, SHAC, and AR) and CEO John Mackey (on the Whole Foods's new animal welfare initiative), as well as our new forum at http://www.animalvoices.ca/forum ***