NEWS: Animal Rebellion activists have occupied the national headquarters of RSPCA, demanding that the charity join the movement to bring about a plant-based food system for the animals and the environment.

Following the group’s disruption of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June, the announcement of plans to disrupt the UK dairy supply chain in September, and the recent pouring of milk onto the floors of Harrods and other high-end retailers, the group said that today’s action marks a further escalation in its plant-based future campaign.

Among the protestors occupying the RSPCA’s offices today is Jane Tredgett, former vice-chair of the National RSPCA and former board member of RSPCA Assured. Tredgett, who founded the Humane Being group and the Scrap Factory Farming legal action, said that “there are so many reasons for the RSPCA to lead the world in a move to a just plant-based food system.”

“Its founders, 200 years ago, were brave and forward-thinking, standing up against injustice when others would not,” said Tredgett. “It would be a fitting recognition of their legacy if the RSPCA now supported a plant-based future. We know that a plant-based future would prevent the unnecessary suffering of billions of animals whilst freeing up enough land to plant trees and draw-down carbon from the atmosphere.”

A meeting in May between RSPCA senior managers and a delegation from Animal Rebellion prompted the animal protection charity to release a written response. However, Animal Rebellion stated that the letter “lacked any urgency, substance or commitment to change,” triggering today’s occupation.

“Already, millions of people and animals are suffering from the effects of extreme climate change. Last month’s record-breaking heatwave and wildfires in the UK were a stark warning for what is to come if we do not act now” said Martin Whybrow, a former RSPCA branch trustee, who was also among today’s protestors.

“A shift to a plant-based food system would help to enable us to meet the targets needed to limit global warming and ensure a livable future for all. It makes total sense for a charity dedicated to animal welfare to join the dots. For all the good work it does, there is a massive disconnect at present that means animals are suffering on farms and in the wild.”

Animal Rebellion said it was engaging with managers and staff at the RSPCA headquarters, while also using the space to facilitate workshops and training for their supporters while awaiting a response to its demands, including a public statement from the RSPCA supporting the move to a plant-based food system and a just transition for all animal farmers and fishing communities to animal-free food production.

The group is also demanding an end to RSPCA Assured, a welfare certification scheme that has been shown countless times to be ineffective and woefully inadequate in ensuring the wellbeing of farmed animals. Animal Rebellion asked the charity to recognise that such a scheme “will be no longer needed once we have a plant-based food system.”

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Visit Animalrebellion.org to find out how you can get involved in the plant-based future campaign and the upcoming ‘Stop the Supply’ dairy disruption in September.

Andrew Gough is Media and Investigations Manager at Surge Media.

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