As a vegan living in the modern world, it is near impossible to not contribute in some way to the exploitation of animals. We can lessen our contribution by supporting ethical companies, especially those with a clear statement on animal welfare.
Meet The Co-operative Bank.
The bank just released its updated Ethical Policy and I am thrilled to see animal welfare receive a mention.
One of Co-operative‘s seven goals at the heart of its Ethical Policy is:
– Protecting animal welfare
We will not provide banking services to organisations which are involved in animal testing of cosmetics or household products or whose activities significantly degrade endangered animals’ habitats.
I don’t know about you, but I find this to be incredibly heartening reading in a bank document.
You can read the rest of the Ethical Policy by clicking here.
Who do you bank with? Does veganism inform your banking choices?
OK. This is my favourite post in the history of my blog and I’ve only just started writing the thing.
A few days ago I was contacted by someone asking if I would help promote their vegan cookbook. Nothing strange or special about that as I can receive dozens of similar requests during any given week.
The request I got this week was unique and I had no choice but to write about the book.
One of my favourite cities on the planet (and number 2 on my top ten list of global vegan cities) is the incomparable New York City.
NYC is like no place else.
I am gearing up for a brief return next month and I need your help. Please hit the comments section to let me know your top tips for being a happy vegan in New York.
I will of course be dining out at my favourites Red Bambooand Cinnamon Snail, but I need some new experiences of the plant-based variety during my Big Apple stay.
In the aftermath of the horrendous murders at the Charlie Hebdo offices in Paris, the UK arm of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) published a statement that in part said:
Violence is a social issue, and violence to animals and human beings are interlinked. Yesterday’s losses are being felt by all compassionate people, including those who stand for animal rights. We at PETA stand with Charlie Hebdo in rejecting oppression and violence in all its forms.
I applaud PETA for making this statement but also challenge them to stand by these words in relation to their own campaigns. Reject oppression and violence in all its forms.
PETA, do you understand how your representations of unrealistic body shapes can contribute to unhappiness, depression and feelings of alienation for individuals and whole sections of society?
The projection of a slim body type as the ideal is insulting, unrealistic, hurtful and alienating for tens of millions of vegan activists who do not look like this.
Your campaign images designed to ridicule and shame millions of humans are a form of oppression and violence.
Proposed bus advert from PETA UKDesign used for PETA billboard
PETA, do you see a correlation between hyper sexualisation of women in your campaigns and wider media and the normalisation of the commodification of women in the real world, as well as the staggering amount of physical and sexual violence perpetuated against women?
Your campaigns utilising images of women in sexually compromising situations are perpetuating oppression and violence.
Recent PETA billboard in UK
PETA, are you aware that countless vegan activists want you to stop using sexist, exploitative, body shaming and divisive tactics in your campaigns?
Here are some words from just two of those activists:
“Overall I agree with PETA’s mission wholeheartedly, but I think their often sexist and fat-shaming campaigns cross the line of decency and detract from the AR message that they’re trying to promote.” – Quarrygirl.com
“PETA’s sexist, racist, and body-shaming campaigns do the opposite of spread compassion. Knock it off, nerds.” – Laura Beck, Vegansaurus.com
PETA, did you know that potentially millions of people want to join you in your fight for animals but not at the expense of other social justice issues?
Here are some thoughts on our fight for social justice.
Yes, we know you are desperately racing to stop cruelty to non-human animals.
We are too.
But we are also in a desperate race to stop violence against women. We are in a desperate race to stop debilitating and crippling self-esteem issues. We are in a desperate race to stop body shaming. We are in a desperate race to stop the normalisation of alienating humans based on their appearance. We are millions of people strong and we want to stand beside PETA but are currently unable. We want to stop all kinds of violence, subjugation and perpetuation of negativity.
We know there are individuals within PETA that agree with this sentiment. Please stand shoulder to shoulder with us in our request. You are not losing anything by rejecting outdated campaigns that perpetuate harm to people. You will be gaining millions of supporters who are more than willing to fight alongside you in your quest to end animal exploitation and suffering.
We are committed to improving outcomes for animals and humans alike.
Veganism is an extension of the fight for social justice, not a reason to suspend it.
To repeat the quote from the PETA statement: reject oppression and violence in all its forms.
If you are reading this and would like to see PETA put a stop to sexist and body-shaming campaigns, please voice your feelings in the comments below and share this story with PETA USA and PETA UK via Twitter.
Extra note: this is not an attack to diminish the crucial work PETA has carried out for decades in the name of compassion. You can support the important work they do without supporting some of their tactics. In fact, it is the voices of PETA supporters and campaigners that are most needed when it comes to this issue.
Growing up in Australia, I never was faced with the opportunity to eat a Yorkshire pudding. I only heard about Yorkshire puddings when I first came to the UK in 1998. I was so confused. They are called puddings but you smother them with gravy?
Since transitioning to vegan-only eating in 1999, Yorkshire puddings haven’t even been an option for me as all the brands I see in supermarkets contain animal products. A few days ago, I asked Josh if he knew how to make a vegan version. He said no but he was willing to give it an attempt.
Below is the photographic proof of Josh’s attempt, plus the recipe he made up on the spot in case you want to try and recreate in your own kitchen. Warning: this recipe has only been used once so it could deliver different results depending on your equipment.
TeenVGN not only beat me to the best blog award at the VegfestUK awards this year, they are also hosting an incredible summer camp and you can register your interest here.
I do not make a habit of reading (meaning I never read) mainstream newspapers, but I was very excited to get this photo via email this morning.
The Daily Mirror featured a double-page spread exposing the horrific torture of ducks on a foie gras ‘farm’ that was supplying the restaurant of a celebrity chef.
I am thankful to the hardworking people responsible for the undercover work leading to exposés such as this one. Animals all over the world are being routinely degraded, force fed, tortured, abused and killed for ridiculous food products. Stories such as this in the mainstream press are crucial in changing public opinion on animal welfare.
Thank you to the individuals and organisation behind this story. Here is the online version if you feel compelled to share.
Please support activist and education groups working to improve outcomes for non-human animals.
A fun night out in a Parisian gay bar yesterday turned into an important and stark reminder about what goes on behind the doors of laboratories all over the world.
Sounds like a bit of a bizarre link, right?
Warning: this blog post does not contain graphic images but the content may still upset some people.
