TOP NEWS THIS WEEK
Animal activist Wayne Hsiung was imprisoned for rescuing sick chickens: Wayne was among a group of activists who rescued sick chickens and ducks from a farm in California. The charges were focused on trespassing, not on the theft of chickens, who were considered the property of the farmer. Focusing on trespassing shifts the legal discourse away from the health and welfare of the chickens, which might have been more central had theft been included in the charges. Wayne, a lawyer, advocates for the “necessity defense,” which justifies actions taken in emergency situations to prevent harm, such as rescuing dogs in hot cars. Wayne has faced multiple legal actions related to his work to help suffering animals, and faces more in the future. He sees this as an opportunity to promote discussion in society about the legality of farmed animal exploitation and the need for rights for animals. Learn more in the Reuters article about Wayne’s attempts to break new legal ground for animals. See Sentient Media for details about similar cases.
WHO President Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Advocates for Plant-Based Diets: The World Health Organization’s president highlighted the significance of plant-based diets in tackling global health and climate challenges, suggesting that adopting such diets could save millions of lives each year. He emphasized the WHO’s dedication to improving health through reducing disease and malnutrition. Nobody is taking the meat lobby’s push for “positive livestock content” seriously. Read more in Vegconomist and The Guardian.
VegNews compiled a list of 17 vegan documentaries: Discover the impact of veganism from ethical, human health, and climate change perspectives. Titles include “The Smell of Money,” revealing the effects of factory farms, and “The Game Changers,” challenging myths about meat and athletic performance. “The End of Meat” shows what a post-meat world could look like. The list also features “73 Cows,” which follows the personal story of a rancher who became a vegan farmer. These documentaries, available on streaming platforms, offer insights into the vegan lifestyle and its global implications. See the VegNews article for more about the 17 documentaries.
SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT
Does Insect Farming Show Moral Progress?
Since 2003, the Food and Agriculture Association of the United Nations (FAO) has been pushing an insect farming agenda. There is now an “Edible Insects Day” on international calendars. Human health, the environment, sustainability, cost… these are the discussion points when it comes to insect farming. But this leaves out the most important stakeholders: the insects themselves. Insects, despite their small size and different physiology, experience their own form of sentience. They can feel. They can suffer. Switching to using insects for food perpetuates the same cycle of exploitation and commodification we see in larger animals. Insect farming is touted as having a smaller footprint, but if we consider the number of sentient beings involved, the scale is staggeringly larger than existing animal exploitation. How many insects will wind up on plates to replace the flesh of a single cow? The path forward isn’t finding new beings to exploit, but rethinking our approach to animal consumption itself. We should focus on plant-based or synthetic alternatives that don’t involve any form of exploitation. Read the FAO’s appalling agenda.
QUICK BITES
Smoky Black Bean Soup
A smoky black bean soup brings together the hearty texture of black beans with chunky tomatoes and a subtle smokiness. Loaded with vegetables, it’s a reminder of how a few quality ingredients, when combined thoughtfully, can produce a dish that’s deeply satisfying. Add some sliced avocado to balance out its kick. Find the recipe on This Savory Vegan.
Vegan Pear Cake
This tender vegan pear cake is a perfect cool weather treat. It combines the flavors of ripe pears, apples, cinnamon and nutmeg in a quick and easy recipe. For extra decadence, add some nuts or chocolate chips. For more details, visit the Plant-Based on a Budget website.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
The debate about insect farming highlights the tension between the wellbeing of animals and environmentalist goals. Do you think this is acceptable? Let us know 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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