Last year, Enfield Council became the first local authority in the UK to pledge to serve only vegan and vegetarian foods at council events in a bid to address the climate emergency. Inspired and motivated by the September 2020 rebellion, Animal Rebellion asked itself a question: what if the success of Enfield could be replicated elsewhere? And so the seeds of the plant-based schools campaign were sown.

Blue Peter has managed to enrage farmers by suggesting that kids can be ‘climate heroes’ by giving up meat for two weeks. Children could earn a green badge by taking a two-week pledge to become climate heroes by doing things like switching off appliances to save power, avoiding disposable plastics, planting pollinator-friendly plants and, heaven forbid, not eating meat.

Back in 2011, businessman Phil Kerry wanted to open six rabbit farms across England. Thousands of rabbits would have led miserable lives in battery cages before being killed for their flesh and fur. But the public would not stand for it and Kerry ended up revising his plans and has since established several ‘free-range’ farms instead.

Last week, news emerged of a pig who after escaping during the journey to the slaughterhouse is now to be allowed to live out his natural life with his original ‘owners’. We take a look at the story in more depth and what it reveals about our conflicting attitudes towards non-humans.

Several industry reports released in the last fortnight, concerning the onward march of the plant-based food sector, have generated some truly attention-grabbing headlines. There is no denying that the increase in products is great news for consumers who choose not to eat animal products some of the time, but as ethical vegans, are we celebrating a little too much?

Bastion of highstreet horror Canada Goose is planning to open a new flagship store in the Scottish capital, drawing fresh condemnation from animal rights groups for their abhorrent use of coyote fur and goose down in their trendy parka jackets. We take a fresh look at everything wrong about Canada Goose, including their pledge to use ‘reclaimed’ fur from next year.

A study by researchers from New York University and Yale University has found that we have little to no understanding whatsoever of the welfare needs of most species of farmed fish. While the way we treat animals in any kind of farm is redundant when they should not be there in the first place, this news perfectly demonstrates our disconnect with sentient beings who feel pain and have a capacity to experience suffering.

Ted Nugent went on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast in 2018 and claimed that those who follow a vegan lifestyle are responsible for more animal deaths through the harvesting of crops and use of fertilisers and pesticides than people who choose to consume animals directly. Is there any substance to this oft-used argument against veganism?

Progreso en Verde, a political party that champions the rights of animals in the Balearics, has called on EU institutions to end the exploitation of horses. In drawing attention to the ‘horse buggies’ that ferry tourists around Mallorca, we are reminded that this is not an isolated issue - horses the world over are being forced to endure terrible hardships.

This is NOT a joke. Tyson Foods, giant of animal-based food production and the largest exporter of deceased cows’ flesh out of the US, is apparently letting chickens choose their welfare measures as part of a two-year study out of their so-called Broiler Welfare Research Farm, in collaboration with payrolled researchers at the University of Arkansas.

Be mindful of what you do with your disposable covid PPE - that’s things like masks and gloves - because like a lot of human rubbish they’re finding their way into the lives of animals with catastrophic consequences.

The end of lockdown may be in sight, but for many companion animals brought into homes over the last year seemingly on a whim by people hoping to alleviate their boredom or get free eggs, the picture isn’t so optimistic. From dangerously maladjusted dogs to chickens dumped in fields, remember that companion animals are for life, not just for lockdown.