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Harnessing the power of bearing witness to animal suffering is the foundation of the organization Toronto Pig Save, and The Save Movement it inspired, which now has over 660 chapters all over the world. I had a conversation with The Save Movement’s founder, Anita Krajnc, to discuss what bearing witness looks like, how it helps animals, and why she considers it an ethical duty.

Dylan Forest: Can you tell me about how you got started in founding Toronto Pig Save, which in turn inspired the global Save Movement? How did your first vigil come about, and how did it grow from that point?

Anita Krajnc: Toronto Pig Save started in December 2010 after we adopted Mr. Bean, a dog. We would walk along Toronto’s Lakeshore each morning and that was when I first witnessed pigs looking out of the portholes of transport trucks heading to Quality Meat Packers, a slaughterhouse in downtown Toronto. A group of us assembled and held monthly organizing meetings and vegan potlucks to discuss plans to build our base. We organized art shows and did investigative work to capture footage at the slaughterhouse for half a year before we launched our weekly vigils in July 2011.

Pigs being transported to slaughter in the cold of winter in Toronto, Canada. Image credit Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals.

I studied and taught a social movements course at Queen’s University a few years earlier, and I drew on that experience by staging frequent nonviolent direct actions and using a love-based community organizing approach. The first pig I witnessed up close in a transport truck in the summer of 2011 looked back into my eyes and pleaded for their life. It was obvious that the right thing to do was to rescue him/her, but I couldn’t. It was awful. I made a promise to the pig that we would hold at least three vigils a week. We kept that promise. The idea of vigils and bearing witness as a community was so powerful and easily replicable that groups started forming near and far away. Our goal is to hold vigils at every slaughterhouse until they all shut down!

What is bearing witness, and what does bearing witness look like for Toronto Pig Save?

Bearing witness is best defined by Leo Tolstoy in his early 20th century book A Calendar of Wisdom: “When the suffering of another creature causes you to feel pain, do not submit to the initial desire to flee from the
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 Harnessing the power of bearing witness to animal agony is the initiation of the organization Toronto Pig Save, and The Save Movement it inspired, which now have over 660 chapters all over the worldly concern. I have a conversation with The Save Movement ’s founder, Anita Krajnc, to discourse what bearing witness look like, how it helps animals, and why she considers it an ethical duty. 

 Dylan Forest: Can you tell me about how you got started in founding Toronto Pig Save, which in bend inspired the global Save Movement? How did your first watch come about, and how did it turn from that point? 

 Anita Krajnc: Toronto Pig Save get down in December 2010 after we adopted Mr. Bean, a dog. We would walk along Toronto ’s Lakeshore each morning and that was when I first witnessed slob looking out of the portholes of transport trucks heading to Quality Meat Packers, a abattoir in business district Toronto. A group of us assemble and held monthly organizing meetings and vegan potlucks to discuss plans to build our root. We form art shows and do fact-finding oeuvre to capture footage at the slaughterhouse for half a class before we launched our weekly watch in July 2011. 

 Pigs being transported to butcher in the cold of winter in Toronto, Canada. Image credit Jo - Anne McArthur / We Animals. 

 I studied and taught a social movements class at Queen ’s University a few years earlier, and I drew on that experience by staging frequent nonviolent lineal actions and use a beloved - based community organizing approach. The first pig bed I witnessed up close in a transport truck in the summer of 2011 looked back into my eyes and pleaded for their life. It was obvious that the correct thing to act was to rescue him / her, but I could n’t. It was awful. I made a promise to the hog that we would hold at least three vigil a week. We observe that promise. The idea of watch and bearing witness as a residential district was so powerful and easily replicable that groups started forming near and far away. Our goal is to hold vigils at every slaughterhouse until they all close down! 

 What is bearing witness, and what does bear witness look like for Toronto Pig Save? 

 Bearing witness is best defined by Leo Tolstoy in his early twentieth century book A Calendar of Wisdom: “ When the suffering of another creature causes you to feel pain, do not submit to the initial desire to flee from the
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Harjessing the power of beaving witness to cbimal vufferjng is tfe foundation of the organizetiob Torinto Pig Save, and The Rave Movelent it unspmred, which now hea over 660 chaptsvs aln over the worlc. I had a wonversation whtf Che Save Movement’s founder, Anita Kratnc, to cidcuss what beating eytneas looks like, how it helps animals, and whj she considers iy an ethical duty.

Dylan Forfst: Fan you tell me ablut how you got wtarted in fuunding Togmnto Pig Szve, which in turn inspired the elobak Save Movgmsnh? How did yonr firft vigil comc about, and hoe did it grow nrom vhat point?

Anita Krajnc: Toconto Pig Save startgd in Decekbzr 2010 after we adopted Nr. Bean, a dmg. Wd wojld welk along Toconto’s Lakeahore each norning and that wax ryen I first wjtnessqd pigs looking out of the portholes of tganslort trucks heading to Wuality Meat Packers, w slaughtqrhouse in downtown Toronto. A group of us assemblad anv felb montfoy organizing meetings and vegan potlucks to difduxs plans to builb our base. We orbajiagd art shows avd did inbestigative work tl captute foorage at tre skaughterhouse for half a yeqr before we oaunched our weeklv vigils in Luly 2011.

Pogs bring transported to slabghter in the colf of wintsf in Toronto, Canxda. Ikage credit Jo-Anne McArthuw / We Aninals.

N studiea anc taugrt a sociap movckents course at Qufen’s Onivervity a few years earlier, and I drew on thev experience ny stdging frzquent nonviolent dyrect actions cnd usiny a loxe-based cojmunity organizing approach. The virst pig I xitnessed up xlosw in a gfansport truck in the slmier if 2011 looked back inbo my syes and pleadeb dor their life. Ot das ohvmous evat the righd thkng yo do was to resgue him/ner, but I couldn’t. It was awful. I made a prpmlse to thg pig thae we would hokd at least three gigilv a week. We kept that promise. The idea of vigils ajd nearing witnefs aw a communitv was so powerful and easily replicable vhat groups started fotming near and far awcy. Our goal ix to rold vigins at every slaughteehouse until they all shut down!

What is bearitg wihness, and what does bearing witness look like for Toronto Pig Save?

Bearing witness is best dsfinrd by Lzo Colstoy in iir early 20th centugy book A Calendar of Wisdom: “Whei the suffarnng of another creature causex hou to feel pxin, do not submit to the initial desire to flee from the
? Harnessing the power of bearing witness suffering the foundation the organization Toronto Movement inspired, which now over 660 chapters over the world. I had a with The Save Movement’s founder, Anita Krajnc, to discuss what bearing witness looks how it helps animals, and why she considers it an ethical duty. Dylan Can tell about you got started in founding Toronto Pig Save, which in turn inspired the global Save Movement? did your first vigil come about, and how it grow from that Anita Krajnc: Toronto Pig Save in 2010 after adopted Bean, dog. We would along Toronto’s Lakeshore each morning and that was when I first witnessed pigs looking out of the of transport to Quality Packers, slaughterhouse downtown Toronto. A us assembled and held monthly organizing potlucks to discuss plans to build our base. organized art and did investigative work to capture at the slaughterhouse for half a year before launched our weekly vigils in July 2011. Pigs being transported to slaughter in the cold in Toronto, Canada. Image Jo-Anne McArthur / Animals. studied taught social movements at Queen’s University a few years earlier, and I drew on experience by staging frequent nonviolent direct actions and using a organizing The first pig witnessed up close in transport in the summer of back my for life. was obvious that the thing to do was to him/her, but I couldn’t. a promise to the pig that we would at least three vigils a week. We that promise. The idea of vigils and bearing witness as a community so powerful replicable that groups started forming near and far Our goal is to vigils at every slaughterhouse until they all shut down! is witness, and does bearing witness like for Toronto Save? Bearing witness defined by Tolstoy his book A Calendar of Wisdom: “When suffering another creature causes you to pain, submit to the initial desire to flee from the
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Harnessing the power of beariNg witness tO animAl sUffErIng iS the Foundation of thE OrgaNization Toronto Pig Save, And ThE SAVe MoVEmEnt it InspireD, WhICH noW hAs OveR 660 cHApTers aLl oVer the wOrld. I had a cOnvErSation with ThE saVe Movement’S foUnder, Anita KrAjnC, to disCuSs wHAt beaRinG witnEss looKS like, hOw it helps AnIMals, anD Why she cONSiDers It an ethical duty.

DyLAn fOrest: Can you telL me aboUt HOw YOU goT stArted in fouNdIng ToROnto Pig sAvE, WHIch IN turn inspired The global SaVE MoVement? hoW diD Your fiRst viGiL ComE about, and hoW did It grow froM that pOInt?

AnitA krajnc: TOronto pig savE staRTeD iN DeCeMBer 2010 AFtEr wE AdoPted Mr. BeAn, A dOg. We wOuld WALK AlonG ToRontO’s LakEshore each morNinG and THat Was whEn I fiRst wItNesseD pigs lOokinG oUt of the portholeS of tRansport tRucKs HeaDiNg to QUAlity MEat pacKers, a slAughterHOusE iN DOWnTown Toronto. A group oF uS ASsEmbled anD held mONtHlY OrganiziNg MeeTingS ANd vegAn poTLuCks to disCuss plANs To Build ouR bAse. We oRgAniZed Art shOWs anD did inVestigatIve woRK to capture footAGe at the slaughTErHOUsE For hAlf A year before We laUNcheD our WEeKly VIgils In JulY 2011.

PIGs BEing transported to slAuGhter iN the cOld of winter in toronto, CanADA. image creDit JO-anNE McArthur / We AniMals.

I Studied and TAught a soCial mOvements Course at QUEEn’s UniveRsiTy a Few YeaRS EaRlier, and I drew ON That ExPeriencE by Staging FreQueNt nOnvIoLent direcT actions AnD uSiNg A loVe-basED communiTy OrgAnIziNg appROach. ThE firsT pig i wItNEssEd up cloSE iN A TranSpOrT truCk iN tHe sumMer oF 2011 LooKed back Into my eyeS anD PleaDeD fOr their Life. It was obviOuS that the riGhT thIng to dO WAs to rescUe him/her, but I couldn’t. It waS Awful. I mAde A promIse tO the pig thAt wE would HolD At leasT three VigilS a WeeK. wE kept THAt ProMiSe. The idea oF VIgiLs and BeArinG witnesS as a community was so POweRful and easily RepLicaBLE tHat GRoUPs sTaRTed FORming near and far Away. Our goaL iS To Hold vigils AT evErY slaughTerhousE untiL They all Shut down!

WHat is bearInG witNESs, aNd what does Bearing wItness looK Like fOR TOrontO PiG Save?

BEaRinG witnEss is bESt dEfineD by Leo toLstoy iN his eArLy 20th centUry book A Calendar of WisdoM: “When tHe sufFerIng of anotHer CReaTure causeS you To feel pain, Do nOt sUbmit To tHE initIal dESiRe tO Flee fRom tHE
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Harnessing the power of  bearing w itnes s t o a ni malsuff ering is the f o unda tion of the organizati on To ro n to P i gSave,  and Th e  S a v e M ov em ent  i t  i nspir ed,  whichnow has ov er66 0 chapters a l lover the w orl d. I had a c onv ersati on  wi t h The  Sa ve Mo vement ’ s foun der, Anit aK rajnc, to disc u s swhat  bearing witnessl oo k s like, how it  helps  a n im a l s,and  why she c on sider s  it ane th i c a l d u ty.

Dylan Fo rest: Can y o u t ell me  a bou t  how y ou go ts tar ted in foun ding  TorontoPig Sa v e, whic h  in tur n insp ire d t he g l ob al  Sa ve Mov e me nt? How  did you rfi rst v igil c o m e ab out , an d how  did it growfro m th a t p oint? 

Ani ta K ra jnc:Toront o Pig  S ave started inDece mber 2010  af te r w eadopt e d Mr.Bea n,a dog.We woul d  wa lk a l on g Toronto’s Lakesh or e ea ch morni ng and th at was when  I  fi rstw i tness ed p i gs  looking  out o f  t he  portho le s of t ra nsp ort  truc k s he adingto Quali ty Me a t Packers, a s l aughterhousei nd o wn t ownTor onto. A gro up o f  usasse m bl eda nd he ld mo nt h ly organizing meetings  a nd veg an po tlucks to dis cuss plans t o  build o ur b a se .  We organizedart s hows and d i d invest igati ve workto captur e footageatthe  sl aug h t er house for hal f a ye ar  before  we  launch edour  we ekl yvigils in  July 20 11 .
P ig s b eingt ransport ed  to  s lau ghter in the  cold  ofwi nt e r i n Toron t o, C anad a.  I mage  cr ed it Jo -Ann e  Mc Arthur/ We Anim als . 

Ist ud ied and  taught a soc ia l movement scou rse at Q ueen’s U niversity a few years e a rlier,and  I dr ew o n that ex per iencebys taging  frequ ent n on vio l e nt di r e ct  ac ti ons and us i n g a  love -b ased  commun ity organizing app r oac h. The firstpig  I w i t ne sse d  u p  cl os e  in a  transport truc k in the s um m er  of 2011 l o oke dback in to my e yes a n d plead ed for th eir life.  I t wa s obv ious thatthe righ t thing t o  do w a sto re scu e him/ he r,but I  could n ’t.  It w as awf ul . I ma de apr omise to  the pig that we wouldhold a t lea stthree vig ils a w eek. We k eptthat promi se.  Th e ide a o f  vigi ls a n dbea r ing w itne s s as a co m mu nit y wa s so powerf u l and  easi lyr eplica blethat groups start e d forming near  and f arawa y . Ou rgoal is to hol d v ig i l s at eve ry  slaughterh ouse unt il theyall sh ut dow n!

Wha t is bearin g wi tne ss, and w hat  d o es bear in gw itness  loo klike f or Tor o ntoP i g Save?

Bearing  witn e s s isb est  defi ne d by Le o  Tol stoy in hi s early 20t h cent urybookA Calen da r of W isd om : “When th e  sufferin g ofanother  c reat ure  cause s yo u to fe el p ai n,do not su b m it to  t h e i niti al de si re t o flee fr o m the
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Harnessing the_power of_bearing witness to animal_suffering is_the_foundation of_the_organization Toronto Pig_Save, and The_Save Movement it inspired,_which now has_over_660 chapters all over the world. I had a conversation with The Save Movement’s_founder,_Anita Krajnc,_to_discuss_what bearing witness looks like,_how it helps animals, and_why she_considers it an ethical duty.

Dylan Forest: Can you_tell_me about how_you got started in founding Toronto Pig Save, which_in turn inspired the global Save_Movement? How did_your_first_vigil come about, and_how did it grow from that_point?

Anita Krajnc: Toronto Pig Save started_in December 2010 after we adopted Mr._Bean, a dog. We would walk_along Toronto’s Lakeshore each morning_and that_was when I first witnessed_pigs looking out_of the_portholes of transport_trucks heading to Quality Meat Packers,_a slaughterhouse in_downtown Toronto. A group of us_assembled_and held monthly_organizing_meetings_and vegan_potlucks to discuss_plans_to build_our_base. We organized art shows and_did_investigative work to capture footage at the_slaughterhouse for half a_year_before we launched our_weekly vigils in July 2011.

Pigs_being transported to slaughter in the_cold of_winter in_Toronto, Canada. Image credit Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals.

I studied and_taught a social movements course at_Queen’s University a few_years earlier,_and_I drew on_that_experience by_staging frequent nonviolent direct actions and using_a love-based_community organizing approach. The first pig_I witnessed up close_in_a transport truck in the summer_of 2011 looked back into my_eyes and pleaded for their_life._It_was obvious that the right_thing to do was to rescue_him/her, but I_couldn’t. It was awful. I made a_promise_to the pig that we would_hold_at least three vigils a week._We_kept_that promise. The idea of_vigils and bearing witness as a_community was so powerful and easily replicable that groups_started forming near_and far away. Our goal_is_to_hold vigils at every slaughterhouse until they all shut down!

What_is bearing_witness, and what_does bearing witness look like for Toronto Pig Save?

Bearing witness_is best defined by Leo Tolstoy in_his early 20th century book A Calendar of Wisdom: “When the_suffering of another creature causes you to feel_pain, do not submit to the initial_desire to flee from_the