An introductory course about the oppression of animals.
After six years of being vegan, I have never seen an organised learning space dedicated to understanding (anti-)speciesism through an intersectional and holistic lens.
This course is for those interested in discovering more about veganism, animal rights, (anti-)speciesism, and related topics. The oppression of animals is a long-ignored and dismissed experience. Abolitionism, de-colonialism, anarchism, and any “leftist” perspective is incomplete without a thorough understanding and inclusion of animal oppression. Many people on “the left” critique the politics of veganism: but few take the time to truly investigate what they really are. This course offers you an opportunity to do so.
This course is for those who are looking for a thorough 101 introduction to politicised veganism and will be beneficial to those who:
- are completely new to veganism/anti-speciesism
- have some understanding and want to take their learning further
- have been exposed to “white veganism” or the mainstream movement but would like to radicalise themselves
The Course
This course will run over five weeks on Sundays at 6pm BST / 10am PDT / 1pm EDT. Each session is 1.5 – 2hrs long, held on Zoom, and will have automated captions available.
- 20th August – Part One: What the F*ck is Speciesism? An introduction to speciesism and the animal exploitation industrial complex.
- 27th August – Part Two: What the F*ck is Humanity? Exploring the connections between speciesism and other social oppressions.
- 3rd September – Part Three: What the F*ck is Animality? Building relationships to human animality and the animality of other species.
- 10th September – Part Four: What the F*ck is Anti-Speciesism? An overview of the direct action roots of the animal rights movement and what it means to be an animal ally.
- 17th September – Part Five: What the F*ck is Next? A group discussion where we cover what other topics haven’t been addressed and look towards the future.
In addition the five sessions, participants will be able to access an ongoing group chat for evolving anti-speciesists to continue their learning.
Investment
This course is a reciprocal investment of energy, time, and funds. I appreciate anyone and everyone who chooses to invest in anti-speciesism. For accessibility and in-alignment with my anti-capitalist values, I have provided a sliding scale.
If you are a young person (under 18) needing a full scholarship, someone who would like to organise a payment plan, or an adult requesting a subsidised place, please contact me.
| Tier One Free scholarship for young people — under 18s only! | £0 |
| Tier Two For adults who have the ability to invest at the true cost. | £250 |
| Tier Three For adults who have the ability to invest at a higher tier which helps balance the scales for other participants. | £500 |
What can I do if the course is outside of my budget?
I have provided a sliding-scale for accessibility, in alignment with my anti-capitalist values.
I am happy to organise payment plans, where you can split the cost in two payments. Please contact me if interested.
I can offer lower cost spaces dependent on those who enrol at Tier Three. Please contact me with your subsidised investment amount to be added to the subsidised enrolment waiting list.
Additionally, I am willing to engage in value-exchanges: if you have an offering you believe might be useful and equals the course cost, you may also get in touch.
Who is this course for? Are there pre-requisites to joining?
Anybody, of any age, can join this course, as long as you have an open-mind and interest. It will be helpful to have some understanding of terms like ‘patriarchy’ or ‘white supremacy’, however I have curated the course so that it will be both accessible to beginners and enlightening to those who already have a solid understanding.
Due to the legitimisation of misinformation, the de-politicisation of veganism, and it’s general misrepresentation many of us (including those who have practiced veganism for years) are not particularly aware of it’s true meaning. Furthermore, among the ‘left’, the oppression of animals is a long-ignored and dismissed experience. This course will be valuable to so many people with varying levels of experience and knowledge.
Isn’t all this information available somewhere else?
Definitely! Practices of veganism have existed for thousands of years and anti-speciesism is a politic people have lived, died, and been imprisoned for. There are books, videos, pamphlets, zines, podcasts, and much more on the subject. However, my offering is unique: not only is speciesism a highly under-discussed system of oppression, but my perspective as a Black “British” vegan enables me to better critique this movement as well as notice how intertwined speciesism is with other forms of violence. After six years of being vegan, I have never seen an organised learning space dedicated to understanding (anti-)speciesism through an intersectional and holistic lens. I am a strong believer in “create the things you wish to see in the world” which is the driving force behind all my many projects, hence why I created this course and wrote my first book Radical Companionship.
How long will I have access to the course?
You will have access for twelve (12) months! Please get in contact if you need to extend your access.
Can I book for my community group, organisation, or family?
If you are looking to book for multiple people (e.g., as a family or organisation) please contact me before the registration deadline.
Alternatively, if you would like this course – or parts of this course – to be personalised for your company, organisation, or community group please get in touch.
Feedback from Course Alumni
“Aiyana is wonderful about saying things directly as they are without apology, while also holding compassionate space for our unlearning and growth. The presentations were great. Appreciation for engaging us with questions to share our reflections and for the resources provided for our further learning.”
“The course was amazing; very informative, had important reflection questions, and many resources to engage with. Aiyana was a fantastic facilitator; friendly and understanding while also pushing people to do better. I appreciated that people could either talk, or write in the chat, making sure that people feel comfortable sharing.’
“For a course with a focus on teaching people about (anti)-speciesism who may or may not have had any prior knowledge, I think it fulfilled exactly what it set out to do. Concepts were explained in a passionate, comprehensive way, the encouragement to engage with resources and reflect with one another was motivating, and I was able to come away from it with multiple radically different outlooks. I was initially going to rate the course as a nine because I feel like there’s usually always room to improve, but when I actually tried to think of things I would change, I honestly couldn’t think of anything, which I think in itself says a lot. All in all, I think the course was executed incredibly well.”
“This the most impactful and well done trainings I have ever been to. You are amazingly brilliant and committed and you impact people who share space with you through your authenticity!”
“The facilitator was highly knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful. The way the workshop is set up is rather brilliant. Each week we build upon our understanding and intersections we learn about. Everything is very clear and concise. As a person who is hearing impaired I found it to be very accessable.“