Vegans are visionaries. We hold a vision of a nonviolent future where all animals are free from human imposed commodification, suffering, and killing. What if this vision was on the ballot and we could vote on it? That could be happing soon with the Oregon Initiative Petition 28 — officially titled the PEACE Act, People for Elimination of Animal Cruelty Exemptions. This ballot initiative would eliminate the legal exemptions that currently protect hunting, fishing, trapping, and farming from Oregon's animal abuse statutes. David Michelson is the visionary heading up this historic effort and on this episode he shares insights into the campaign including why he decided to start it, why in Oregon, and what its passing would mean for animals. He also clears up some misconceptions about the campaign and talks about our vision as a movement and how we need to hold onto the hope for total animal liberation.  

David Michelson is the lead organizer behind a ballot initiative campaign in Oregon that seeks to ban the killing and breeding of all animals statewide—including those on farms, in research labs, and in the wild. David started this campaign in 2020, and is currently working on qualifying it for the 2026 upcoming election. 

Resources:

Campaign website: YES on IP28

BOOK: Spirit Matters by Michael Lerner

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