TOP NEWS THIS WEEK
Can We Rescue 60,000 Tortured Dogs? Animal rights activist Wayne Hsiung is leading a legal effort to rescue thousands of dogs from Ridglan Farms, a beagle breeding facility in Wisconsin. The case aims to use a special prosecutor mechanism to bypass conflicts of interest that often prevent animal cruelty laws from being enforced against large companies.
Evidence collected shows horrific conditions at Ridglan, including dogs living their entire lives in small wire cages, developing foot injuries and psychotic behaviors. There are also reports of amateur surgical procedures performed without anesthesia or proper veterinary care.
This case could set a crucial precedent for enforcing animal protection laws against industrial animal abusers across the country. It highlights how current systems fail to protect even dogs –– animals that most Americans claim to love –– from extreme suffering. If successful, it could open new avenues for challenging animal exploitation industries through the legal system, paving the way for bans on animal experimentation.
European Agriculture Shifts Focus to Plant Proteins: A new document from the EU Council calls for “enhanced attention to the availability and diversification of plant protein sources in the Union.” This change is not for the sake of the animals involved, but rather because of plant-based agriculture’s importance in addressing climate and sustainability challenges. Still, the move toward plant-based agriculture represents a positive step for animals, despite its motivations.
This shift aligns with changing consumer preferences, as most Europeans are actively reducing meat consumption.
While the document doesn’t set specific targets or timelines, it emphasizes the need for adequate funding through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to meet its objectives. It also calls for strengthening farmers’ positions and ensuring fair remuneration. Read more on Vegconomist.
Plant-Based Meats Wrongly Implicated in Ultra-Processed Food Study: Recent alarming headlines about the health impacts of plant-based meats stem from a flawed study that barely examined these products at all. The study, published in The Lancet, looked at ultra-processed foods (UPFs) broadly, with plant-based meats making up just 0.2% of foods consumed by participants.
Many foods categorized as “plant-sourced” in the study actually contained animal products. The largest categories were bread, pastries, cakes, and biscuits –– hardly representative of plant-based meats designed to replace animal products.
In contrast, randomized controlled trials specifically examining plant-based meats have found potential health benefits when substituted for conventional meat (see the article for sources). This incident highlights the need for accurate, evidence-based reporting on nutrition science to help people make informed food choices that can benefit both human and animal wellbeing. The full story is on the Good Food Institute Substack.
SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT
King Charles Ends Royal Patronage of Pigeon Racing
UK’s King Charles has declined to continue royal patronage of pigeon racing organizations, a move applauded by animal rights activists in the UK. This decision marks a significant shift from previous monarchs who actively participated in and supported the sport.
While some in the pigeon racing community express disappointment, this change reflects growing awareness of animal welfare concerns. Pigeon racing often results in thousands of birds dying from exhaustion or disorientation during races, especially when flying across the English Channel.
The king’s decision aligns with other choices like banning foie gras from royal events. It sets an important precedent that long-standing traditions should be reevaluated when they cause animal suffering. This move could influence public perception and potentially lead to broader questioning of using animals for entertainment. The Guardian has the story.
QUICK BITES
Glass Noodle Recipe: This glass noodle dish combines translucent sweet potato noodles with colorful vegetables and a simple three-ingredient sauce. The recipe uses tofu for protein and works just as well with tempeh or chickpeas. Get the recipe on World of Vegan.
Atlantic Beach Pie: This vegan version of Atlantic Beach Pie offers a delightful blend of sweet, tart, and salty flavors. It features a saltine cracker crust filled with a creamy lemon-lime mixture made with plant-based condensed milk. Visit The Yummy Vegan for the recipe.
DID YOU KNOW?
The first laboratory-grown meat for public consumption was unveiled in 2013 by a team of Dutch scientists led by Professor Mark Post at Maastricht University. This involved creating a burger patty from cow stem cells, cultivated in a lab over several weeks. The project cost around $325,000 and was funded by Google co-founder Sergey Brin.
This cultured meat burger, cooked and tasted at a press conference in London, demonstrated the possibility of producing meat without killing animals.
While this initial prototype was expensive and not yet ready for mass production, it paved the way for further research and development in the field of cellular agriculture. Since then, numerous companies have entered the cultivated meat space, working to refine the technology, reduce costs, and bring these products to market.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
King Charles’ decision to end royal patronage of pigeon racing is a positive step toward prioritizing animal welfare over traditions. This move raises important questions about how society should address long-standing practices that exploit animals. How can we encourage more institutions and individuals to follow this example and challenge harmful traditions? What other animal-exploiting practices do you think should be next to go? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Stay informed and keep advocating for a more vegan world. See you next week with more updates!
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