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[Politics] Senior UK Politician Credits Vegan Boom As Leading The Charge To Meet Climate Targets

  The comments come ahead of the COP26 conference in the UK later this year.  Credit: Policy Exchange/Wikimedia Commons A senior politician in the UK government proclaimed the ‘societal change’ of more people switching plant-based diets as a leading driver in reaching global climate targets. MP Kwasi Kwarteng said he believes the surge in veganism is helping the country to cut 78 percent of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 2035. The Business Energy & Industrial Strategy Secretary made the comments to the leading news organization, The Times . Moreover, Kwarteng admitted the government should ‘accelerate the change’, and praised the boom in plant-based diets as it’s taking place ‘without government legislation’. Continue...

[Interview] Tribal People Try Vegan Food For The First Time

   This video is made possible with the help of The Chai Spot  https://www.thechaispot.com/

[Activism] Seaspiracy Petition Blocked By Thai Government Agency Due To ‘Illegal Acts’

Since Seaspiracy shone a spotlight on the fishing industry in Thailand, the government blocked a petition created by the film's directors to protect parts of the ocean.   A petition seeking to protect marine life, created by the directors of the hit documentary, Seaspiracy , has been suspended by the Thai government. Supporters are outraged and calls have been made for filmmakers Ali and Lucy Tabrizi to ‘expose them more’. This is after the film delved into issues affecting the ocean, from overfishing to human trafficking in Thai waters and beyond. The Ministry Of Digital Economy and Society blocked the Seaspiracy petition due to ‘illegal acts’. This is in accordance with the Computer-Related Crime Act 2007, the Thai government agency claimed in an online notice. Continue...

[Commentary] The Science of Seaspiracy Debunked

The "Sustainable" fishing industry and various individuals have attacked the Netflix documentary Seaspiracy citing bad science but are their calls to keep eating seafood logically consistent?

[Activism] ‘Gunda’ Film About Pig Sentience Is Moving the World to Tears

  The documentary—directed by Viktor Kossakovsky and executive produced by Joaquin Phoenix—follows the life of a sow, named Gunda, who gives birth to a litter of piglets. Gunda, a new film about pig sentience, is swiftly taking the world by storm. And if the reviews are anything to go by, critics—vegans and non-vegans alike—simply can’t get enough. “This astonishing documentary offers an intimate look at the lives of a sow, her rambunctious piglets, a one-legged chicken and a herd of cows,” writes New York Times film critic, Manohla Dargis. “Time flows slowly in this one-of-a-kind documentary feature,” gushes Joe Morgenstern in the Wall Street Journal. Gunda even made the shortlist for documentary feature for the 93rd Academy Awards. The documentary—directed by award-winning Russian filmmaker Viktor Kossakovsky and executive produced by Joaquin Phoenix —follows the life of a sow, named Gunda, who gives birth to a litter of piglets. The film follows the pigs, who reside on a Norwegian

[Environment] Can Corporate Activism Save the Environment?

  Walker outlines other sustainable initiatives he leads through his corporate activism, such as reducing food waste and overall carbon footprint. He also discusses actionable steps businesses—and individuals—can take to make a difference. Richard Walker—son of Malcolm Walker, the founder and executive chairman of Iceland Foods—was destined to join the family business. After starting out as a shelf-stacker in 2012, he’s now the managing director for the British supermarket chain. Despite his successful senior leadership role, Richard often grappled with the idea that his personal legacy wouldn’t be sufficient. “The root cause of this crisis of confidence was that as ‘Walker Junior’, I had some pretty large shoes to fill,” he says in his new book, The GreenGrocer: One Man’s Manifesto for Corporate Activism, now available for purchase or download. “Trying to emulate my Dad was sure to end in disaster. So how on earth was I going to make my own mark?” But in January 2020, he was able to m

[Opinion] Oceana Says ‘Abstaining From Seafood Is Not A Realistic Choice’- Seaspiracy Directors Respond

We've got to be really careful not to sort of weaponize poor and vulnerable people who are depending on fish, to justify our own eating habits' In light of the Netflix hit Seaspiracy , Oceana has claimed ‘abstaining from seafood is not a realistic choice’. Last month, the ocean conservation organization released an official statement on the film – which is drastically changing people’s perception of the fishing industry. Oceana’s response to Seaspiracy “We believe people have the right to choose what they eat, and we applaud those who make personal choices to improve the health of our planet,” Oceana wrote . “However, choosing to abstain from consuming seafood is not a realistic choice for the hundreds of millions of people around the world who depend on coastal fisheries. Many of whom are also facing poverty, hunger, and malnutrition.” Continue...  

[Activism] Pro-Meat, Anti-Vegan Schools Us on Logic

  The prospect of consumable meat produced in a laboratory setting without the need to raise and slaughter animals is both realistic and exciting.  Not only could such in vitro meat become popular due to potential cost savings, but it also avoids many of the ethical and environmental problems with traditional meat productions. However, as with any new technology, in vitro meat is likely to face some detractors.  There are three potential objections: 1) in vitro meat is disrespectful, either to nature or to animals; 2) it will reduce the number of happy animals in the world; and 3) it will open the door to cannibalism.  While each objection has some attraction, we ultimately find that all can be overcome. The upshot is that in vitro meat production is generally permissible and, especially for ethical vegetarians, worth promoting.

[Opinion] ‘Buying back’ the Amazon with meat alternatives

Future Farm’s Pedro Zuim explains why he believes meat alternatives will save the world . There’s a growing appetite of people turning to meat substitutes driven by a multitude of factors, including animal welfare, health and environmental concerns. Right now – more so than ever before – our planet needs us, and for the most part, we can all help. The simplest and most accessible way we can contribute is meatless alternatives. Food is more than just fuel; we eat for comfort, pleasure, nostalgia and variety. We know how our food should look and feel, and all the emotions it can evoke. Meat-free manufacturers have started to recognise this and create a new generation of plant-based ‘meat’ that tap into those senses. These products have all the seeming indulgence of meat but with a much lower environmental impact... Continue...

[Celebrities] Everyone, Even Trisha Paytas, Is Talking (And Thinking) About ‘Seaspiracy’

  LA influencer Trisha Paytas says 'Seaspiracy' got her thinking about how her individual choices impact the oceans. It’s been nearly two weeks since Netflix’s Seaspiracy has come out and discussions about it on my social media feed don’t seem to have slowed down. Former co-workers and long-distance acquaintances who once bristled at my plant-based work lunches are now having in-depth conversations about overfishing, bycatch, and the global industrial fishing industry’s overall impact on the planet. Everyone is in on the conversation, and it feels good to see it. LA-influencer Trisha Paytas is one of the thousands who have watched the somewhat controversial doc. On Easter morning, she posted a vlog recorded poolside at her spacious new five-bedroom, eight-bathroom home in Ventura County. It starts off not so different from her typical check-ins with her 1.44 million subscribers on YouTube; she wishes everyone a happy holiday and she gives a little life update all while her fia

[Activism] Seaspiracy Wants You To Sign Petition To Protect 30% Of The Oceans By 2030

  'We grew up with a romantic view of the ocean. But what we found was utterly devastating' We are Ali and Lucy Tabrizi, the directors of Seaspiracy . It’s the popular Netflix documentary that charts our journey across the world as we uncover the horrors of modern industrial fishing. Now, we’re asking you to sign our petition to protect 30 percent of the oceans by 2030. We’ve both loved the ocean for as long as we can remember. The sea has given us so much happiness and it was our dream to make a documentary about marine life. But once we started filming, we realised the documentary would be different to what we imagined. We grew up with a romantic view of the ocean. But what we found was utterly devastating. We saw horrific killings and corruption. And we revealed a deafening silence over industrial fishing’s role in emptying our seas. We knew we had to expose how the global commercial fishing industries are killing our oceans... Continue...

[Activism] Unnatural Vegan SHOCKS Me and More Vegan Infighting

   Shockingly, Unnatural Vegan uploaded a video, stating that 'Seaspiracy kinda sucks'.  I'm shocked.  Baffled.  Oof, never saw it coming. Amazingly, actually break down her review of Seaspiracy and you find that she believes it sucks fundamentally because it made her feel 'icky'. This is apparently the face of level-headed review.

[Opinion] Seaspiracy Kind of Sucks

    Shocking!

[Activism] Gemma Collins Joins Campaign To Ban Sale Of Fur, Receives Backlash

Collins told her 2.1 million Instagram followers: 'There is no excuse for killing foxes, coyotes, rabbits, or any other animal for a fur coat or a pom pom. Let’s end the fur trade.' Television personality Gemma Collins has joined calls against the sale of fur in the UK, alongside a slew of other celebrities. But, the announcement was met with criticism online. Collins joins the #FurFreeBritain campaign with the US branch of People For The Ethical Treatment Of Animals (PETA), she told her 2.1 million Instagram followers – but some called it ‘disingenuous’. Posting on her Instagram , The Only Way Is Essex star called on UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to ‘make Britain fur free’ – in celebration of her 40th birthday. The call is in partnership with PETA US, as the animal rights charity is also celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Continue...  

[Activism] 10 Amazing Animals You Need To Meet: Their Rescue Stories Told In Photos

  Each animal was rescued and rehomed after facing suffering at the hands of humans (Credit: Britt Bosse) The stories of ten amazing animals are told through the lens of photographer Britt Bosse, thanks to the work of several animal sanctuaries across the US. Photographer Britt Bosse compiled the lives of ten amazing animals who have been rescued by a host of animal sanctuaries across the US. They include JP Farm Animal Sanctuary, The Riley Farm Rescue, Ellie Mae Farm Sanctuary, A Place Called Hope, and Road To Rescue Animal Sanctuary. Continue...

[Activism] Seaspiracy - An Animal Rights Activist’s Perspective

 Have you heard about this documentary Seaspiracy?  Of course you have.  While it may be a great resource to educate the public, what if the documentary, and the others in the series, were actually doing more harm than good for animal rights activists and our movement?  What if they were keeping us back from doing the crucial work to grow our movement and achieve the tangible goals the movie lays out for us? I have feelings. Obviously.

[Activism] The Difference Between Plant-Based and Vegan

   Vegan diets eliminate all animal products, while plant-based diets do not necessarily eliminate animal products, but focus on eating mostly plants, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, etc.

[Activism] Veganuary 2021 a Smashing Success!

  Annual campaign Veganuary amassed 582,000 participants in 2021 and the majority of them plan to drastically reduce their consumption of animal products moving forward. A majority (85 percent) of this year’s Veganuary participants plan to make permanent diet changes moving forward, according to an official survey conducted by the organization.  Founded in the United Kingdom in 2014, Veganuary challenges participants to go vegan throughout the month of January and beyond. In 2021, Veganuary counted 582,00 participants and surveyed a portion of them to ascertain their experiences with the campaign.  Nearly three-quarters (74 percent) of participants were eating meat prior to taking the pledge and nearly two-thirds (61 percent) maintained a fully plant-based diet throughout January.  A majority of participants were women (85 percent) and between the ages of 25 and 54 (65 percent),  while 30 percent of participants indicated they planned to stay vegan after completing Veganuary, the new

[Activism] Joaquin Phoenix and Billie Eilish Help Bring Plant-Based Meals To LGBTQ+ Youth Organization

  Eilish and her family were joined with star couple Rooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix. Billie Eilish and Joaquin Phoenix are helping bring plant-based meals to an LGBTQ+ youth organization. In celebration of its first anniversary, Support + Feed has partnered with Monty’s Good Burger. The initiative was spearheaded by Eilish’s mom Maggie Baird last year to help those ‘greatly impacted’ by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to support vegan restaurants in the Los Angeles area. The charity has since expanded its US presence – with volunteers now working in New York, Washington D.C, and Philadelphia. It has also widened its mission to help people experiencing food insecurity, particularly in BIPOC and other communities. Continue...

[Activism] From Mud to Hugs: See This ‘Backyard Dog’ Now!

 This video celebrates the rescue of a gentle dog who spent years chained up outside in a muddy backyard. The only affection she received came from PETA’s fieldworkers, who visited her as much as they could, giving her water, food, and companionship—but some days, she was so timid and depressed that she didn’t even come out of her doghouse.  All that changed when her owner finally agreed to let PETA find her a new home. Now, she has a fancy new name (Wolfie von Fluffer Bottom, or Wolfie for short) and lives indoors with a family who loves her—and a warm home, cuddles on the couch, and playtime with her new dog brother was all she needed to bring her out of her shell.  PETA's mission statement is that animals are not ours to experiment on, eat, wear, use for entertainment, or abuse in any other way: https://www.peta.org/about-peta/​  The website the meat industry doesn't want you to see: https://www.meat.org/ ​  How to go vegan: https://how-to-go-vegan.peta.org/ ​  PETA Saves: h