Category: Environmental

Environmental, Farm Animals, Fur and Fur Farming, General News

UK: Designers Including Stella McCartney And Vivienne Westwood Urge UK Prime Minister To Ban Fur Sales.

Designers Including Stella McCartney And Vivienne Westwood Urge UK Prime Minister To Ban Fur Sales

‘It’s time for our government to consign the fur trade to the history books where it belongs and ban the sale of fur’

Stella McCartney And Vivienne Westwood Urge UK Government To Ban Fur Sales | Plant Based News

Eight iconic fashion brands including Stella McCartney and Vivienne Westwood are urging UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to ban fur sales.

Fur farming was banned in Britain in 2003. But, since then, Britain has imported more than £800 million worth of fur from countries such as Finland, China, and Poland.

Stella McCartney and Vivienne Westwood

Designers Stella McCartney, Vivienne Westwood, Katharine Hamnett, ERDEM, Shrimps, Christopher Raeburn, and Helen Moore are backing Humane Society International’s #FurFreeBritain campaign.

The brands have signed a letter addressing Johnson. It states banning fur sales would ‘enhance the UK’s growing reputation as a global hub for innovation in ethical fashion’. 

Moreover, it reads: “Our fur-free policies are informed by the beliefs and expectations of the majority of UK consumers, who reject animal fur on ethical grounds.

“We’re proud to support the growing fur-free movement… We know that the majority of British consumers want fashion items without fur.”

‘British consumers reject fur’

Claire Bass is the executive director of Humane Society International/UK. In a statement sent to PBN, she said: “By proudly flying the flag for fur-free fashion… These iconic British fashion designers have their fingers on the pulse. 

“They refuse to put cruelty on the catwalk. Because, they know there is nothing glamorous about mentally deprived foxes, anally electrocuted raccoon dogs, COVID-19 infected mink and wild trapped coyotes shot in the head. 

Bass then added: “The vast majority of British consumers reject fur. And, as the revolting cruelty of fur is exposed, a global decline in demand for fur fashion has sent this industry into a downward spiral. 

“Killing animals for fashion does not reflect brand Britain. Even her Majesty the Queen has stopped buying new fur. It’s time for our government to consign the fur trade to the history books where it belongs and ban the sale of fur.”

‘Long-standing no fur policy’

Luxury department store Selfridges has also backed the initiative and signed the letter to Johnson.

Moreover, Daniella Vega is the director of sustainability at Selfridge. She added: “We’re proud of our long-standing no fur policy which has been in place for more than fifteen years. 

“Our customers care about animal welfare and we are committed to providing ethical and sustainable products. 

Vega then concluded: “There are many alternative materials for brands and designers to use. The future is fur-free and we support a ban on the sale of fur in the UK.”

You can read the full letter here

Regards Mark

Environmental, Farm Animals, General News, Live Transport

Togo: The ‘Elbeik’ Livestock Carrying Vessel Is STILL At Sea; 3 Months On. Now We Need International Political Action To Permanently Ban All Live Animal Maritime Transport.

📸 1967-built livestock carrier ELBEIK... - Shipspotting Istanbul Strait | Facebook

WAV Comment – 14/3/21 – There is something grossly wrong with some people on this planet.  Unfortunately, I have to report to you that the ‘Elbeik’ livestock carrying vessel; loaded with 1,776 young bulls; is still in the Mediterranean sea after 3 months.

As we reported in other posts, the ‘Karim Allah’ which carried 895 young bulls, finally returned to Spain (Cartagena) recently and all the animals carried were slaughtered.  This time it is the 1,776 young bulls that are allegedly infected with bluetongue disease. This has not been confirmed, as no medical examination has been made possible to date. While it can be assumed that the authorities have failed, the health of the animals is believed to be very poor due to the extreme exposure.

With what has / is going on with these 2 vessels; there is an urgent need for international political action.  The two ships alone are representative of a sick system that must change; without even taking into account all the other animal carrying, sea going vessels that are crossing the globe at this present time.

The only way to prevent such catastrophes in the future is a clear ban on the transport of ALL live animals by ship; and we mean all; everywhere, period; not for a few months, but a permanent ban.

Live animal transport of cattle

Picture courtesy of Four Paws International

Three months have passed, during which the 1,776 young bulls on board the ‘Elbeik’ suffered not only from a shortage of water and food, but also from poor ventilation below deck. The vessel, which sails under the Togolese flag, disembarked in the Catalan city of Tarragona in mid-December last year (2020) and was on its way to Libya.

Upon arrival at the port of destination, the local authorities refused to unload the live cargo. The local authorities feared that animals infected with bluetongue were on board, as they came from a region in Spain where there had allegedly been an outbreak of this notifiable disease, Bluetongue, which is spread via insect bites, but is not transmissible to humans.

EU law states that live animals that have already been exported may no longer be re-imported into the EU. However, the fact that the animals have never set a hoof on soil in a third country is disregarded.

As we have always stated on this site, we have no time for the officials at the EU; in our opinion, they are useless at best.  We now put our voice behind the massive international welfare group call for a complete and utter ban on the transport of animals by sea; and a ban on all long distance international transport for animals that are currently transported by road.

We will try to post further updates on this tragic situation when we have more;

Regards Mark.

Environmental

Nigeria: David against Goliath-David winns!

The splendid victory of David against Goliath! Farmer’s triumph over a multinational oil company.

Thirteen years ago, three African farmers decide to sue Shell Nigeria for poisoning their fish farms in the Niger River Delta and making their land barren.

They turn to Dutch justice, where Shell is based, but initially nothing to do.
They reply that they cannot claim damages from the parent company for the behavior of the multinational subsidiary Shell Nigeria.

Farmers are not giving up and in 2021, the Hague appeals court overturned the sentence: Shell will have to pay damages to the three Nigerian farmers. The amount of the compensation will be established in May.

Meanwhile, the sentence is historic.

Thus, the Court of Appeal in The Hague, in the Netherlands, has found the oil giant Shell responsible for the oil pollution in the Niger River Delta, caused by the subsidiary Shell Nigeria.

And it finally does justice to the three farmers; not only that, it affirms the principle of responsibility even in places in the world where multinationals adopt uncontrolled systems.
Not only. It is justice for the Earth: Enough with the poisoning.

It is justice for human rights: enough that the poor around the world are starving to death because powerful ones are draining their resources.

Stop creating poverty to get richer.

In recent years, various journalistic sources have denounced the colossal disasters that other multinational oil companies also create in the Niger River Delta: a real environmental massacre, operated by several hands, where previously there was paradise (e.g. International Report of 2015 ).

Leaking oil pipelines, for example, cause fires and devastate the land. There is something to worry about.

Villains that devastate, starve, kill, with the indifference and tolerance of the institutions. But no: justice can exist.

Fingers crossed. We hope that the compensation is very very high.

https://www.positizie.it/2021/03/12/tre-agricoltori-africani-trionfano-su-una-multinazionale-del-petrolio/

And I mean...Who would have thought … Although it took the judiciary thirteen years to reach a verdict, it is a battle won.
We are happy and congratulate the three “Davids”!

Even if the penalty is not high, it is a precedent case and will therefore motivate others to take action against the multinational criminals.

My best regards to all, venus

Environmental, Farm Animals, General News

WHO and UN leaders condemned by animal welfare charity for ignoring root cause of Covid pandemic a year on.

 

WHO and UN leaders condemned by animal welfare charity for ignoring root cause of Covid pandemic a year on

 

The letter says high-risk practices, such as the commercial wildlife trade, the dog and cat meat trade, and fur, must be phased out if we are to prevent another crippling global pandemic

Upon the first anniversary of the World Health Organisation declaring Covid-19 a pandemic, a leading animal-welfare organisation has accused governments of “not addressing the actual issues around animal abuse” which lead to zoonotic pandemics.

In an open letter, addressed to the WHO, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), animal charity Four Paws demanded that risky practices be “urgently phased out”, with a ban on fur farms, live animal markets, and the dog, cat meat, and wildlife trade.

It also urged that there is greater acknowledgement of the need to eat less meat – a key driver of the climate crisis and habitat loss – and a crackdown on risks created by factory farming.

The letter said that “pharmaceutical responses are not the sole and long-term solution”, and said it was “deeply concerning” that despite WHO director-general, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaking a year ago on infection-prevention, the way humans treat animals has not been factored into the pandemic response alongside the development of vaccinations.

Josef Pfabigan, President of Four Paws wrote: “The settings in which a huge proportion of animals globally are raised, traded, transported and slaughtered – cramped and overcrowded environments, poor hygiene, myriad origins, and conditions suppressing immune systems and encouraging pathogen excretion and uptake – create an ideal situation for the exchange, genetic modification and emergence of new pathogens.”

In 2007-2011, the three global organisations, the WHO, FAO and OIE, set up a plan called One Health, which was an attempt to reduce health risks, including animal-human interactions.

Four Paws wants them to add a “One Welfare” plan, stressing links between animal welfare and people’s wellbeing.

Mr Pfabigan said: “The underlying problem is the dysfunctional relationship between us, humans, with animals and nature.

“Only when concrete measures ending animal suffering are introduced worldwide can future zoonotic pandemics be stopped.

“We demand a holistic approach from those responsible, because animal welfare equals environmental health equals human wellbeing.”

In response to the letter, the non-profit organisation People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) raised similar concerns.

Speaking to i, PETA’s Director Elisa Allen said: “PETA wrote to the WHO last year to emphasise that treating animals with disrespect and regarding them as ours for the taking will come back to bite us again, just as it has with the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Animal markets and factory farms – including those that cage animals for their feathers and fur – are breeding grounds for diseases that mutate and spread to the human population. And if we continue to pillage the natural world and kill the other animals in it, we also exacerbate the climate crisis.”

Previously, scientists have said zoonotic diseases – viruses that jump from animals to humans – have become four times more frequent in the past 50 years, with zoonoses causing a billion cases of illness in people and millions of deaths every year.

According to both the WHO and a UN environment report last year, 75 per cent of all emerging infectious diseases originate in animals, and Four Paws is warning of “ticking time bombs all over the world” from practices where pathogens may emerge and spread.

Continue reading on page 2

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Environmental, Farm Animals, General News, Uncategorized

Vietnam: Urgent Rescue – Kept in a basement: Free Xuan and Mo from a life in darkness – Please Give Right Now !

http://view.e.four-paws.org/?qs=3fb049710088fa2e8ee4f42a981a0ac610aa5b138814ba6390aad972fd57f2d9f59a90c7e569e3894ddda44ca8b68062b6ae07ac95eca0de383ba6058299af8f451c4b73403b36683e6cbfaf68446301a880e1e983c9f6a0

WAV Comment : We need to help Four Paws get these bears out of their hell hole asap.

Click on the links to see the very disturbing images.

Your donation will help activate this quicker – please give; Thanks.

Support the rescue – Rescue bile bears Xuan and Mo (four-paws.org)

Free Xuan and Mo from a life in darkness Dear Mark, We are still in shock. Never have we seen more cruel bear keeping conditions. 

Since they were cubs, Xuan and Mo have been kept in a windowless basement of a shop. No light, no fresh air, nothing but the rusty bars of their tiny barren cages. They are so desperate to get out.  


A life in darkness 

Some days ago, we visited the bears to talk to the owner and see if there is any possibility of us rescuing them. To take pictures, the room had to be illuminated with flashlights to see the cages and the animals at all. It was hard to breathe because the air reeked of faeces.  

The only time Xuan and Mo get to see light is when their owner comes to feed them or worse: puncture their gallbladder with a needle, a painful procedure to extract their bile. This bile was then used for medicinal purposes by the family of the owner.  

Kept in a basement: Free Xuan and Mo from a life in darkness

A life in darkness

No light, no ventilation or fresh air, nothing but the rusty bars of tiny barren cages. Kept in a windowless and wet basement since they were cubs, bears Xuan and Mo have suffered unimaginably.

The only time they get to see light is when their owner comes to feed them or worse: puncture their gallbladder with a needle, a painful procedure to extract their bile. This bile was used for medicinal purposes by the family of the owner. For years these bears have known nothing but pain and abuse. Without our help, Xuan and Mo will go through this cruelness until the end of their life.

Our team is still shocked by what they discovered in Son La Province, Vietnam. These keeping conditions are one of the worst we’ve ever seen. We have to get them out as soon as possible. Will you join this mission and support their rescue?

Support the rescue – Rescue bile bears Xuan and Mo (four-paws.org)

They deserve so much more in life

At our BEAR SANCTUARY Ninh Binh, they could get all the care and time they need to recover from the horrors they have endured. There, they could discover for the first time what a species-appropriate life for bears can look like. But we can’t rescue them without you.

The fate of Xuan and Mo depends on your donation. Will you help us to rescue them?

Images © Hoang Le | FOUR PAWS

From wherever you are reading this, you can join their rescue mission now. With your support, we will bring them to our BEAR SANCTUARY Ninh Binh and give them the life they deserve.  

Helping them will only take 3 minutes – can they count on you? 

Kind regards,

The FOUR PAWS team


PS: For years these bears have known nothing but pain and abuse. Without our help, Xuan and Mo will go through this cruelness until the end of their life. Please join this mission and help us to get them out of this dark basement!  

Support the rescue – click here: Rescue bile bears Xuan and Mo (four-paws.org)

Please donate now for this critical rescue;

Thanks

Mark

Environmental, General News

China: Scientists Confirm Wuhan Wet Market Is ‘Most Likely Origin’ Of COVID-19.

Scientists Confirm Wuhan Wet Market Is ‘Most Likely Origin’ Of COVID-19

Scientists Confirm Wuhan Wet Market Is ‘Most Likely Origin’ Of COVID-19

‘These viruses could convincingly spillover from wildlife into either people or animals farmed in the region’

The most likely origin of the COVID-19 pandemic is still the Wuhan wet market, scientists confirm.

Members of a World Health Organization (WHO) delegation to China recently made the claim in a recent Chatham House briefing.

They also found zero evidence to support theories the disease was deliberately made in a lab. Or, that it was caused by an ‘accidental lab leak’. 

‘Most likely’ origin of COVID-19

Dr. Peter Daszak is a zoologist and President of NGO EcoHealth Alliance. 

The company says it found ‘a viable conduit’ between the Wuhan wet market and where the ‘closest relatives of COVID-19 are found in bats’.

Dr. Dasszak told the Evening Standard: “It provides a link and a pathway by which these viruses could convincingly spillover from wildlife into either people or animals farmed in the region. And ,then [be] shipped into the market by some means.”

He then suggested the disease came from domesticated or farmed animals which then got into the wet market.

Wuhan wet market

It has been long speculated that the COVID-19 outbreak came from a wet market in Wuhan – where live animals are sold and slaughtered alongside dead ones.

As a result, the United Nations is being urged to ban wet markets around the world. 

According to Animal Equality: “Wet markets get their name in part from the blood, guts, scales, and water that soak the stalls’ floors, remnants of animals brutally killed so customers can eat freshly killed meat…

“These markets are also a threat to public health,” the charity added. “[They] have been the source of documented disease outbreaks in the past, including SARS… 

“It’s because of the public health crises wet markets cause, as well as the intense suffering inflicted on farmed animals, that Animal Equality is urging the United Nations to demand a ban on all wet markets. Not only do these markets pose an immediate danger to humans, they are also intensely cruel to animals.”

Regards Mark

Environmental, Farm Animals, General News, Vegan Recipes

USA: MINNEAPOLIS TO GET ITS FIRST VEGAN BURGER CHAIN.
Minneapolis to Get Its First Vegan Burger Chain

WAV Comment – Looks Really Cool !! – Things are really starting to move plant based now. That’s the Future.

MINNEAPOLIS TO GET ITS FIRST VEGAN BURGER CHAIN

New vegan burger chain Stalk & Spade—the first of its kind to open in Minneapolis—will expand nationally through franchising starting this spring. 

Next month, vegan fast-casual burger shop Stalk & Spade will open in Wayzata, MN, a suburb of Minneapolis. Created by restaurateur Steele Smiley, Stalk & Spade will feature vegan versions of traditional fast food, such as burgers, cheeseburgers, chicken sandwiches, French fries, chicken nuggets, and shakes. All recipes were developed by the team after months of testing. 

Smiley believes the plant protein concept can be a market leader and plans to build on the Wayzata location by expanding nationally through franchising, starting this spring. “I’m utterly convinced we’ve cracked the code on plant-based burgers. You won’t know the difference,” Smiley told media outlet Twin Cities Business. “I knew the only way people would come is if the food tastes like classic favorites.”

Plant-based eating is the future

A long time vegan, Smiley says his 11-year-old son inspired him to create the plant-based burger concept when, one night, he asked for a burger while eating at Smiley’s salad chain Crisp & Green. “We’re going to look like a national brand from day one: dine in, order ahead, car-side pickup,” Smiley said. “I believe all-plant eating is our future. It’s exciting to be first.”

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More …

SIMPLE VEGAN ALMOND CHILI CHEESE (OIL-FREE)

Simple Vegan Almond Chili Cheese (oil-free) | Sarahs Vegan Guide

New Free Vegan Magazines Launch

New Free Vegan Magazines Launch – a Food and Drink crowdfunding project in Bristol by VegfestUK (crowdfunder.co.uk)

These 3 Chefs Are Pioneering Vegan-Friendly Cuisine in Siem Reap

These 3 Chefs Are Pioneering Vegan-Friendly Cuisine in Siem Reap (greenqueen.com.hk)

Regards Mark

Environmental, Farm Animals, General News, Vegan Recipes

USA: Minneapolis’ Vegan Butchers Are Opening a Fried Chicken Shop.

Aubry and Kale hold a white with black print banner, “Herbie’s Fried Chicken,” in front of the new storefront, decorated with aqua green paper sporting cartoon versions of the Walch siblings
Aubry and Kale Walch announce their second venture
 Photo courtesy of Herbie’s Fried Chicken

Minneapolis’ Vegan Butchers Are Opening a Fried Chicken Shop

Herbie’s Fried Chicken will open later this spring

Herbie’s Vegan Fried Chicken Restaurant from the Herbivorous Butcher Duo Opening in Minneapolis – Eater Twin Cities

Our local favourite brother-sister vegan butcher duo will open their second brick-and-mortar later this year. Herbie Butcher’s Fried Chicken is set to open late spring from Aubry and Kale Walch, the pioneering siblings behind The Herbivorous Butcher. The new location on 48th and Chicago in South Minneapolis (735 East 48th Street) will provide comforting and homestyle classics including vegan fried chicken biscuit sandwiches, mac and cheese, seasonal sides, milkshakes, malts, and a fried chicken bucket.

Co-founder Kale Walch said, “Our mission has always been to try to save the world by bridging the gap for omnivores that haven’t quite made the full jump to veganism yet. By making vegan meats and cheeses that are even better than what they were used to, we start to accomplish just that. Herbie Butcher’s Fried Chicken continues our brand’s mission by making a fried chicken that won’t leave anyone questioning if a plant-based lifestyle is possible without sacrificing the foods we love.”

This is second major win for Kale and Aubry Walch who recently stood up to big-time conglomerate Nestlé. Nestlé aimed to trademark “The Original Vegan Butcher,” “The Vegan Butchers,” and “Vegan Butcher,” but met opposition from the siblings and eventually backed down, giving up all claims. Twin Cities residents know that the Herbivorous Butcher’s homemade meat-free meats and dairy-free cheeses are deserving of the term “vegan butcher,” one they have proudly embodied since opening in 2016. Now that Nestlé will not own these titles, it benefits and allows small businesses everywhere to use them.

Announcing a vegan fried chicken concept and trademark victory in less than the span of a month this early in the year is the bit of good news we’ve all been waiting for.

Environmental, Farm Animals, General News, Vegan Recipes

Cultivated Meat Can Slash Global Warming Impacts By 92%, Says New Study.

Cultivated Meat Can Slash Global Warming Impacts By 92%, Says New Study
Cultured meat from Eat Just – which debuted in Singapore last year Credit: Eat Just

‘Cultivated meat presents as an achievable low-carbon, cost-competitive agricultural technology that can play role in achieving a carbon-neutral food system’

Cultivated meat, compared with conventional beef, can slash global warming impacts by up to 92 percent, states a new study.

Researchers from CE Delft also found cell-based meat could cause 93 percent less air pollution and use up to 95 percent less land and 78 percent less water. 

The studies model a future large-scale cultivated meat production facility. It shows that by 2030, the cost of cell-based meat, when manufactured at scale, could drop to $5.66 per kg.

Cultivated meat

The life cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic assessment (TEA) conducted by CE Delft, with support from The Good Food Institute and GAIA, are the first to utilize data from companies active in the cultivated meat supply chain.

The LCA analyzes various scenarios. This includes the adoption of renewable energy by both the conventional and cultivated meat industry ‘should they go all-in on their climate mitigation efforts’. 

In the most optimistic scenario, which factors in ambitious projections of conventional animal agriculture’s achievements in environmental impact improvements, cultivated meat outperforms all forms of conventional meat.

The LCA shows that cultivated meat, when produced using renewable energy, reduces the cumulative environmental impacts of conventional beef by approximately 93 percent, pork by 53 percent, and chicken by 29 percent.

In these scenarios, the conventional products are also produced using renewable energy.

Moreover, CE Delft says this production cost will enable cultivated meat to ‘compete with multiple forms of conventional meat’. As well as ‘serve as a high-quality ingredient in plant-based meat products’.

‘A carbon-neutral food system’

Ingrid Odegard is CE Delft’s Senior Researcher. In a statement sent to PBN, she said: “We show that cultivated meat presents as an achievable low-carbon, cost-competitive agricultural technology that can play a major role in achieving a carbon-neutral food system. 

“This research provides a solid base on which companies can build, improve, and advance in their goal of producing cultivated meat sustainably at scale and at a competitive price point.”

‘Massive reductions in emissions’

Elliot Swartz is a Senior Scientist at The Good Food Institute (GFI). He added: “As soon as 2030, we expect to see real progress on costs for cultivated meat. And, massive reductions in emissions and land use brought about by the transition to this method of meat production. 

“This research signals a vote of confidence. It serves as a practical roadmap for the industry to address technical and economic bottlenecks, which will further reduce climate impacts and costs. 

“Government investment in R&D and infrastructure will be critical to accelerating the development of cultivated meat. And, help us achieve global climate goals. 

Swartz then concluded: “Favorable policies and carbon markets can incentivize the restoration of agricultural land for its carbon sequestration and ecosystem services potential. This maximizes the climate benefits of cultivated meat.” 

Alternative proteins

GFI Executive Director Bruce Friedrich also said the world will not achieve net-zero emissions ‘without addressing food and land’. Moreover, he states that alternative proteins are a ‘key aspect of how we do that’. 

“Decarbonizing the global economy is impossible with the diffuse production process and range of gases involved in conventional animal agriculture,” Friedrich explained. 

“As these new models illustrate… If we can concentrate the environmental impact of meat production in a single, manageable space — and if we power that space with electricity generated from clean energy sources — that’s how the world gets to net-zero emissions.”

Cultivated Meat Can Slash Global Warming Impacts By 92%, Says Study | Plant Based News

Regards Mark

Environmental

Spider monkey-the trapeze artist of the jungle!

The spider monkeys are a genus of primates from the family of the spider-tailed monkey.
The genus is divided into two types, the northern arachnid, and the southern arachnid.
They live in the forests of southeast Brazil.

In the past, its range stretched from the state of Bahia in the north to the state of Paraná in the south, but today its range is greatly reduced and fragmented.

The habitat of these animals is the coastal rainforests, where they occur up to 1600 meters above sea level.
Spider monkeys are the largest New World monkeys.

They reach a head-body length of 45 to 78 centimeters, plus a 65 to 80-centimeter long tail.
Males are 12 to 15 kilograms heavier than females, which reach 9.5 to 11 kilograms.

Their whole body is adapted to the tree-dwelling way of life, arms and legs are noticeably long and slender.
The thumb is small in the northern species, but it is present, in the southern species it is completely absent.
The tail, which is as long or longer than the body, is used as a prehensile tail.

As with the other spider-tailed monkeys, it is hairless on the underside of the tip, which allows for a better grip.
Spider monkeys are diurnal tree dwellers and prefer to stay in the upper crown area.
They are skilled climbers who often move suspensively – swinging by their arms or hanging by their tails – or on all fours.
If necessary, they come to the ground as well.

Continue reading “Spider monkey-the trapeze artist of the jungle!” →