Connexion: A Note on Praxis for Animal Advocates

Effective animal advocacy requires human-animal connexion. I apply a relational approach to unfold this insight into a praxis for animal advocates. Connexion grounds the affective relationships that so often motivate animal advocates. More importantly, it enables animal agency, the ability of animals to act and communicate in ways humans can experience and respond to. With connexion in mind, some weaknesses of previous reform efforts become apparent. I join these in the slogan abolitionismas disconnexion. In so far as abolitionism draws humans and animals apart, it undermines the movement\u27s social basis, limits its imaginative resources, and deprives animals of a deeper freedom. I evaluate political theories of animals and find that only some can frame a picture of humans and animals living together in connexion. I close by noting the limitations of the connexion lens-we cannot simply create connexions without also evaluating whether they are oppressive-and some practical policy measures that can be taken today to further the goods of connexio

Can Animals Contract?

Animals are, or are like persons, and so should not be treated as mere property. But persons are not just non-property; they are contractors. They interact with property and with other persons. This article analyses the possibilities for a range of animals to fit within market liberal society as contractors from a legal disciplinary perspective. Some animals are capable of contract-like relationships of reciprocal exchange, and can consent, in a certain sense, to parts of such relationships. However, the dangers of the contractual frame, which is used to legitimate exploitation, may exceed the benefits. Some scholars have begun to explore these issues through the lens of animal labour, animals as workers deserving protections and benefits for their efforts. I analyse the application of contract to a variety of non-human animals and consider the discursive implications of this application, then draw out lessons for the ongoing use of animal labour framing. If we are to think through animals as workers, we should be careful to oppose the contractualization of that work – just as human worker advocates do

Effect of popping water content and amylose/amylopectin ratio on the physical properties of expanded starch products with different shear histories

Aerated starch products are a staple of the food industry, with particular relevance in the snack market. Water plays a crucial role in the formation of such products due to its utility both as a blowing agent and as a starch plasticiser. Amylose/amylopectin ratio and shear are traditionally also important factors in starch expansion. In this study, waxy, normal and high amylose maize starch variants were expanded using a rice-cake style popping head at water contents between 0% and 24%. This range of water contents was achieved by drying the material at 105 °C and then rehydrating by suspension over water at 50 °C until the desired water content was reached prior to popping. Sample types were further subdivided into low shear (native) and high shear (extruded) processing prior to popping. Processing history, amylose content and water content all influenced the water interaction properties of the popped products. However, density was largely governed by water content with little apparent influence of other factors. An optimum water content range to produce low-density (and therefore high desirability in industry) products was identified in the region of ~15–21% water. Samples popped below this range exhibited suboptimal expansion whilst those popped at higher water contents experienced violent blowout