Although it was Saturday, I pulled into Wits University with a lot more enthusiasm than I usually do. Having never attended a "green" gathering before, I was bubbling with excitement at the prospect of attending One Struggle, a one day event addressing an eclectic range of ethical and environmental issues.

On arrival at the Origins Centre, I was greeted by the sounds of live act UFO, a Green Africa Collective, and tables heavily laden with delicious vegan treats. The corridor leading to the conference venue was flanked by numerous display tables hosted by the Anti-Privatisation Forum, People Opposing Women Abuse, Beauty Without Cruelty, Earthlife Africa, and Food and Trees for Africa, among others.

First on the agenda was the anticipated launch of Animal Rights Africa, an amalgam of the Justice for Animals, Xwe African Wild Life and South Africans for the Abolition of Vivisection organisations. This was immediately followed by an address by Dr Steve Best, an internationally acclaimed philosopher and activist.

Best delivered an inspiring speech on the rights of animals, touching on issues that few people have contemplated before. He argues that a society that allows for the mistreatment and commodification of animals is setting a precedent that allows for brutality among its people too, and that the only way that we can eradicate violence is by having respect for all creatures of the earth.

The panel discussion that followed (composed of representatives from Groundwork, The Lesbian and Gay Equality Project, Zabalaza Anarchist Communist Forum, Earthlife and more) raised some controversial points about the implementation of such an ideal, and audience participation was lively, to say the least.

The rest of the afternoon was spent wandering between talks given by members of Free Me, Ceasefire and Zabalaza, among others, and films such as Earthlings, Behind the Mask and Burma’s Secret War. Most of the footage shown was very upsetting, with images of the unbelievable cruelty and torture that we as human beings are capable of inflicting on animals and our fellow people. The entire event was very much oriented towards a vegan way of life, which could at times be a little daunting. I did, however, leave feeling like my eyes had been forced open; not a comfortable feeling, but a necessary one.