Animal Rights Festival "Voices for Animals" passed in Zhukovsky, Moscow, St.-Petersburg and Petrozavodsk from 31st May to 15th June 2008. It consisted of set of workshops, lections, discussions, film screenings, exhibitions and protest actions. Animal activists from different cities came to the festival in took part in actions. The special guest of our festival was Dr. Steven Best. He arrived from USA and supported the initiative of Alliance for Animal Rights. He led lections about animal rights in Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov and in St.-Petersburg State University. For the first time ever in Russia in broad daylight the film with Russian subtitles "Earthlings" was screened and "Behind the Mask" was again exposed for public with following report about development of the movement and its importance in Russia.

Zhukovsky (Moscow region)
The festival was opened in located near Moscow city Zhukovsky on 31st of May. The first day began from the series of workshops where the motives of taking part in movement were discussed. An invited vet answered the questions about first-aid dressing for animals. There was a distro with animal rights stuff. "Food not Bombs" activists feeded everyone with tasty vegan food. Hardcore open air took place in the evening and passed till deep night. Many participants found the meeting very helpful as we managed to make acquaintance personally and make the implications that will help in development of our future activity.

Moscow
In many different parts of Moscow activists installed street stalls with materials telling about the situation of animals in exploitation industries on the 1st of June. Strangers passing the stalls took the materials, often exposing approbation for animal activists. Activists took the decision to make such stalls regularly.

On the 2nd of June activists held the exhibition "Holocaust on Your Plate" in Jerry Rubin club. The exhibition consisted of photos of Holocaust and present-day fabrics of meat-industry. It makes possible to understand that every day people do with animals the same what fascists did with Jewish in concentrative camps. After the exhibition has been opened the screening of "Earthlings" began. Many visitors confessed that the film opened their eyes on many horrors and now they will try to change the situation.

The Dr. Steve Best's lection "Rights and moral status of animals" took place in Moscow State University on the 3rd of June. It was his first appearance in Russia and he visited our country the first time. Steve told about the rise of animal rights movement and its different directions. He made a notice that supporting only legal activity in animal rights movement is a dogma, as all liberation movements had radical fractions. "When the law is not right, it is right to break it" - said Steve. (download this lection from http://fmgu.ru/?cat=123 )

On the 4th of June Steven Best, Iliya Bluvshtein and other animal rights activists answered the questions of media-journalists in Independent press-center. Dr. Best told about the revolutionary importance of Russian movement, but before the member of "Fauna" Iliya Bluvshtein told about the problems of defending animals in Russia, and also exposed his support to people who save animal's lives risking own lives. In the evening in club of Russian Institute the film "Behind the Mask" was screened again. The hall was overcrowded and many visitors watched the film in some uncomfortable way. The film finished with gale of ovations, apparently, many visitors were in solidarity with people who risk everything to save animal's lives. After the film there was a appearance with story why animal liberation activists are not terrorists but freedom fighters, the story of Russian movement and free discussion.

On the 5th of June activists shacked out the posters and banners in Novopushkinsky square in center of Moscow. The leaflets were prepared and the megaphone was turned on. At 2 pm through the flow noise of cars on Tverskaya street brusted the slogans against animal cruelty and appealing for animal's liberation. The rally began from the story of one of the activists about the damage that we afflict to nature by industries that exploit animals. The speeches, spreading the leaflets and the whole rally took about 2 hours. In the evening the Moscow program of festival finished in club named after Jerry Rubin with a movie "Where does the TV watch?"

St.-Petersburg
On the 6th of June the program began in St. Petersburg State University with Steven Best's lection. In difference with themes discussed with Moscow audience this time the main questions were from people who are not acquainted with the movement yet.

On the 7th of June in St.-Petersburg State University after the movie "Earthlings" Steven Best told about the history of abolitionism: liberation movements of black people and women, about different parts of animal liberation movement and how they coordinate with each other.

On the 8th of June the authorities of St.-Petersburg banned the rally and the activists decided to lead the vegan picnic. Someone brought delicious vegan cheers, someone came to taste it. There were lots of games and communication.

The broadcast with Steven on local station "VOT" took place on the 9th of June. After that in conference hall took place screening of "Behind the Mask" and discussion about animal rights. Steve also gave an interview to St. Petersburg Indymedia which you also can listen from the link: http://narod.ru/disk/864450000/interview%20(1).rar.html

The next day, 10th of June, an exhibition "About Friends and Rights" opened in coffee-club "Stirka". DJ Shrpv played the music, on the walls there were pictures, photos and collages for animal rights.

During the festival in St. Petersburg on the streets activists had stalls with free vegan tasties.

Petrozavodsk
On 14th and 15th of June in Petrozavodsk activists showed movies "Earthlings" and "Behind the Mask". During the projection activists led stalls with the materials about animal rights and the walls of the club were decorated with banners from rallies.

Original this story in Russian languages and photos see here: http://animalrights.ru/node/177

Video’s from AR fest:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wMcSRHKQM8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Mp_bLUmffQ
http://www.russia.ru/?424

AR festival page in english: http://animalrights.ru/fest-en

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/alliancear