How wonderful it is that nobody need to wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. - Anne Frank

Credit: Sara Bunney

Be sure that change is happening

We have barely stepped into 2020 and already news of a transition to a sustainable plant-based food system is coming in rapidly...

Countless supermarkets are bringing out their own plant-based food ranges, including Co-op, M&S and Aldi, to name a few. Asda recently announced they are closing their fish and meat counters throughout their stores and Tesco had already started a similar process in 2019.

Schools are introducing plant-based only menus, with 180 schools in Leeds alone going plant-based twice a week. Leeds City Council said they are aiming to halve their carbon footprint by 2025.

The first plant-based advert aired on TV this month and even ITV have dedicated an hour of prime TV on Sunday mornings to a new plant-based cookery show.

This is the start of system change. But, Animal Rebellion is calling on the Government, who is currently falling behind in the race for change, to lead the transition to a plant-based food system. Scientific evidence shows this is the single most effective way to tackle the climate crisis, more so than driving electric cars or reducing air travel. We could massively reduce our national carbon footprint if institutions like schools and the NHS stop serving meat and dairy and stop supporting animal agriculture. The UK Government has the means to redirect millions of pounds in animal agriculture subsidies towards plant-based industries and lead us into a more sustainable future.

Join Animal Rebellion to help make more change happen - it isn’t easy, but it is possible. Change needs to be dramatic and it needs to be now if we are to reach our goal of net zero carbon by 2025.

Credit: Aiden @ Activism Photography

Agriculture Bill

As the UK prepares to leave the European Union, the new Agriculture Bill was introduced to Parliament on 16th January. The bill, which replaces the Common Agricultural Policy that the UK has been part of since 1973, sets out plans for farming in the UK.

It has been described as the ‘biggest shake-up to farming in 40 years’. Changes include a move from paying farmers based on the amount of land they farm, to rewarding them for producing ‘public goods’, such as clean air, clean water and habitats for wildlife. There is also a stronger emphasis on soil protection, currently at risk of overuse and nutrient loss; farmers are going to receive help maintaining healthy soils. Parliament will also be assessing the UK’s food security, while new trade deals are sought during Brexit.

Although there are positive changes for the environment (if implemented) in the proposed legislation, the Government is still not going far enough in moving to a sustainable food system. While the Agriculture Bill is being considered by MPs (date of the second reading in Parliament to be decided), now is the time to put pressure on those in power to move to a plant-based food system. Now is the time to rebel!

Let us know what your local Animal Rebellion group has been up to via: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

Credit: Sammi Drew

Ex-chief scientific advisor at Defra implores farmers to turn farmland into carbon-catching woodlands

Prof. Sir Ian Boyd stepped down as chief scientific advisor at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in August 2019, shortly before our very own rebels locked themselves to the doors of their London headquarters during the October Rebellion. Animal Rebellion were (and still are) campaigning against the reality that animal agriculture, the leading cause of climate change, in the UK receives £70 million in subsidies each year. ‘Boyd said, '...the public are subsidising the livestock industry to produce huge environmental damage.' These subsidies would be better spent supporting plant-based agriculture. Boyd argues farmers should be paid to capture carbon and grow trees, which would involve a 90% decrease in cows and sheep. Boyd says, '... half of farmland, mostly uplands and pasture, produces just 20% of the UK’s food and would be better used for other public goods.' It is well known that the animal industry is detrimental to our planet and Boyd's proposal aims to support farmers, helping them adapt to a new positive future that would reduce our carbon footprint.

Credit: Pierre Gleizes

Join the action against Supertrawlers

Animal Rebellion joined Sea Life Extinction Rebellion in December to protest against Supertrawlers depleting our marine life. These giant vessels are polluting our oceans with old fishing nets and fishing tackle and are causing ocean dead zones. We have plans to come together again, this time in larger numbers, chanting even louder, making our voices heard, and letting the Government know we are not going away. 

Join us to proudly fight against fishing industries and sea life extinction on 24th January in Brighton, Bristol, Hull, or London.

Read more on this - Supertrawlers: the boats you didn't know are ruining our seas

Book and film recommendations

One of the best ways to learn new things is to share information based on recommendations from friends. For the last couple of months we have recommended books, films, documentaries and articles to our readers. If you have read, or seen, anything lately that would interest Animal Rebellion members, please email us [([email protected])](mailto:([email protected])) with a short description and a link. The Animal Rebellion Newsletter Team will publish the best suggestions in upcoming newsletters.

In the meantime, here's another book suggestion from us - 'The Uninhabitable Earth', David Wallace-Wells.

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OUR LATEST ARTICLES

Animal Rebellion Medium ChannelAs forests burn, our voices must be twice as loud

The Rebellion has brought the climate crisis to the fore

Stepping out of Comfort Zones and into a Rebellion: on Establishing Personal Connections and Being Arrested

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CAN YOU HELP THE REBELLION?

Animal Rebellion is run by a team of volunteers and we need your help. We're looking for rebels who can give their time and energy towards helping us achieve our goals. Please complete this form to sign up. If you don't have spare time right now and would like to support our Arrestees Crowdfunder, please donate here.

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Animal Rebellion

Planet Earth, For the Animals
United Kingdom