ARAN (John Camody)

What is the organization you started and how large is it?
I formed the Animal Rights Action Network (ARAN) roughly sixteen years ago when I was a young, teenager oblivious to the world let alone animals - but of course all that changed when I started seeing horrific images of Canada's seal slaughter on the front page of a national newspaper we now work with. The images changed my life along with an information pack that I received shortly after requesting it from PETA. ARAN would be without doubt Ireland's most prominent national animal rights group today with just over 4,000 members and supporters, but we're still very much a grassroots group even though it feels more than that at times!

What specific areas of animal exploitation and abuse do you handle?
We work and support almost every issue you can think of. But with regards to our active campaigns, we work on blood sports, animal-act circuses, animals in laboratories, greyhound racing, fur farm campaigns and one of our priority campaigns is also Canada's seal hunt, you'll be glad to know. We concentrate heavily on those particular campaigns and touch lightly on others issues, but we always try to remain focussed and strategic so that we'll give the campaigns our best shot.

What motivated you into starting up your organization?
I suppose I could just imagine me being the baby seal like I explained on the first question, but then again I was always an activist in some shape or form. I know that prior to starting ARAN I was a serious GREENPEACE supporter and was always against rainforest destruction, river pollution, whaling etc.

What did you do to get things going?
I used to work by myself, write letters and then I got involved with PETA in Ireland and later became their Irish organiser and media contact for quite a while before forming ARAN and me working specifically then on our campaigns.

How did you attract supporters to the cause?
Good question! I started taking part in other animal rights campaigns in my early days and from there on it just started growing and growing - today we get supporters and members signing up weekly and often daily, yes that's right, daily which is great - but of course its still a drop in the ocean.

How did you get these supporters to keep participating?
Strangely enough we've managed to hold almost 99% of our activist base, but of course I could explain this particular question for the night but in short I like to give a personal touch to all my communications with our supporters and activists and whilst it can be hard going at times in terms of energy etc I know it's worth it. But it's important to remember too that everyone who comes to an ARAN event always feels welcome and appreciated, I remember in my early days going to demos and being left aside when I knew no one and most attending would very rarely go out of their way to even say hi, but I was young back then and promised ARAN would always be welcoming. We also keep a professional, non-aggressive and non "hardcore" approach.

Were there any specific internal problems (ideology, politics etc) that had to be dealt over the years?
Hmm good question! Within ARAN we honestly have no problems with our activists and coordinators, mainly because we all work from various locations and only ever get to meet at certain events and demonstrations so we don't have those types of problems.

I could speak for hours about this particular question,but let's just say I choose very carefully who we'll work with here in Ireland and have various reasons for doing so.

It's like when you were a child, mam and dad would always say, "Don't be friendly with that person, because such and such". Today I keep the same thoughts because even though it makes sense that we all work together, being realistic that's impossible considering people have different personalities, ideology's and more.

Although when I was younger I did get involved with other groups but quickly learned from those experiences and to be honest it's shaped what ARAN is today in many respects.

Can you give some examples of how you counter oppostion from animal abusers?
It would depend on the campaign, the issue, the problem ect. But I think the golden rule in our efforts to expose cruelty to animals is to be polite, professional in our approach, understanding, but firm.

The list is endless really but those would be a big help - we must NEVER think we're more morally superior than anyone else, because it will kill far more animals in the end.

What the future goals do you foresee your organization developing?
My list is endless, I think my goal is to take my last breath fighting animal abuse and I hope that by then we'll have shut down irish fur farms, animal-act circuses, the greyhound industry, the fur trade, banned blood sports, put dog breeders and pounds out of business and made our beautiful green Island of Ireland a more kinder place to live.

Already because of ARAN's work we're seeing such amazing change for such an agricultural based country.

Do you have any advice for others who plan to join or even start an animal rights organization?
Yes, for sure! For starting an animal rights group I could again give such valuable advice that would take hours but I suppose the most important thing to do is like I have said before to keep the organization peaceful, non-violent, non-intimidating, professional, understanding, mainstream and positive.

It will reap rewards because this hardcore attitude gets us no where in the end and I have multiple examples as to why it doesn't, what it does do alright is make our ego better but that doesn't help the poor animals.

I can understand the frustration alright, but its certainly not the way to go.