Revolutionary Animal Advocacy Forum #3

Marloes Boere develops training programs for politicians on ethics, environmental education, and debating skills. She studied Future Planet Studies and Philosophy in Amsterdam, and co-authored an ethics textbook for high school philosophy students. Before that, she grew up in the small village of Hekendorp, always curious about how people justify their choices and how we might do better together.

Arjan Smits coordinates projects and fundraising for Plenty Food Nederland, supporting plant-based food aid around the world. He studied tropical forestry at Wageningen University, spending time in Cameroon to research how rainforests respond to human disturbance. For over a decade he has also been active with the Partij voor de Dieren, organizing campaigns and protests against animal testing, industrial farming, and ecological destruction.

Johan Boonstra (born 1982) is the spokesperson for the undercover investigation group Ongehoord. He studied philosophy at Utrecht University and decided to become a carpenter. Since 2011, he has been researching the workings and practices of Dutch livestock farming with undercover filming in stables and slaughterhouses as well as literature studies. Ongehoord has brought to light numerous cases of extreme animal abuse in Dutch and Belgium media.

Gabriela (she/her) is the owner of Inclusive Bites, a vegan and gluten-free bakery making delicious treats for everyone. A food engineer and passionate vegan since 2011, she combines her expertise with her love for animals to create inclusive, plant-based recipes and inspire others to see food as a powerful form of advocacy.

Did you know you have the power to help pigeons right in your own neighborhood? Niki Wagner from SOS Duif shares her personal experience on how each of us can step up to care for the homeless and wild birds living alongside us in the city. From recognizing signs of illness to safely freeing pigeons trapped by strings or debris, there are simple, legal actions you can take that align with animal protection laws. These winged city dwellers often go unnoticed, but they depend on our kindness and awareness. By understanding how to identify their needs and knowing your legal obligations, you can directly improve their wellbeing — and make our urban environment a kinder place for all creatures. Ready to learn how to make a difference? Let’s take action, one pigeon at a time.

Chip is one of the Netherlands’ most prolific YouTubers on the topic of veganism. Several times a week, he can be found on the streets of Amsterdam engaging people in thoughtful conversations about their values. His livestreams attract extremely large audiences. Beyond his online activism, Chip is also a weightlifter, certified nutritionist, and critical thinker. He brings a skeptical and analytical mindset to everything he does. In addition to his personal work, Chip is an organizer for WeTheFree Amsterdam and serves as the lead frontend developer at WeTheFree.