Harry Potter and the philosophy of nonhuman rights
Harry Potter and animal justice has for a long time been one of those niche but fascinating discussions, with author JK Rowling teasing nonhuman rights issues at various moments throughout the series. From the freeing of Buckbeak to subservient owls, Nina Copleston asks how Potter’s treatment of nonhumans reflects on all of us.
From hatchery to hope: Q&A with Susan Hargreaves, author of the ‘Veganza Animal Heroes’ book series
INTERVIEW: How does someone go from witnessing the horrors of a West Yorkshire hatchery to championing the rights of animals through powerful storytelling? We spoke to author and international campaigner Susan Hargreaves about reaching young minds and her graphic novel launch tour.
Vegan-friendly meat is the best investment for the climate, says leading consulting group
NEWS: Money spent on developing plant-based meat alternatives results in far greater reductions in greenhouse gas emissions than if the same investment was made in any other eco-initiatives, said Boston Consulting Group (BCG).
Why do Disney and Pixar always get animals so wrong?
DEEP DIVE: Two types of characters epitomise Disney like no other: princesses, and animals. But while Disney’s portrayal of female characters has left much to be desired with change only happening relatively recently, the studio giant’s treatment of animals is still sorely lacking, as Nina Copleston so deftly explains.
What should you be eating at every age to stay healthy? [Vegan edition]
HEALTH: The Guardian recently cited nutrition professionals talking about what specific nutrients we should be aiming to consume at each age - but how do their recommendations stack up with the literature around the benefits of plant-based diets?
Royally cruel? As the Queen celebrates her Platinum Jubilee, how has her 70-year reign impacted animals?
OPINION: The monarch is a hugely popular figure, despite her endorsement of controversial activities including horse racing and hunting. As the nation looks over her seven decades on the throne, it's worth examining how her reign has impacted animals.
‘Vegans Unite’: The Vegan Society launches campaign to roll-out vegan options in all schools
VOICES: Imagine a time when all schools and public sector menus included at least one vegan option. In Portugal that’s a reality, so why not the UK? Laura Chepner, chair of The Vegan Society’s Education Network, tells us about their new ‘Vegans Assemble’ campaign.
Which animal advocacy tactics are most effective? A new report investigates
SPECIAL REPORT: Attempts by animal advocates to influence others’ choices on eating meat run the full gamut from sharing graphic videos from farms and slaughterhouses on social media to recommending documentaries to watch to holding demos and protests. But which type of advocacy actually works to change attitudes and behaviour?
'Is the future of sustainable farming animal-free?' - Viva! Farming panel debates veganic alternatives
DEBATE: With Earth Day coming up this week, Claire Hamlett reports on the first panel discussion held by Viva! Farming in which the future of sustainable farming - animal-free or not? - was discussed. Panellists included veganic farmer Iain Tolhurst, animal welfare expert Professor Andrew Knight and ProVeg Vice President Jasmijn de Boo.
We teach children to be speciesist and eat animals, and the evidence is mounting
The evidence that children don’t want to eat animals is mounting. A new study by researchers at the Universities of Exeter and Oxford has found that children make fewer moral distinctions between different species and that speciesism is learned during adolescence.
Failures and false promises: Brexit’s impact on animals, two years on
DEEP DIVE: Britain’s exit from the European Union presented both threats and promises to animal justice in the UK. But since coming into effect in 2020, what - if anything - has actually changed? Devon Docherty writes.
Universities challenged: Animal Rebellion drops banners at three London unis to highlight links to climate crisis
BREAKING NEWS: In a bumper week for Animal Rebellion affiliated actions, student activists this morning dropped banners at three of London’s leading universities to raise awareness of the link between animal agriculture and the climate crisis as part of the Plant-based Universities campaign.