Author Archives: There's an Elephant in the Room

Veganuary – is it a game changer?

Note: For the purpose of this blog, the term plant-based is used to describe items composed entirely of plants. This is to differentiate from those unscrupulous suppliers that disingenuously use the term to describe products which contain animal derivatives but … Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Human insect use and consumption – a compilation

I was shocked to read recently that around 1 TRILLION (1 trillion = 1,000,000,000,000) individual insects are currently raised for consumption and killed on farms every year. It’s a staggering number, all the more so for the fact that it’s … Continue reading

Posted in insects, Uncategorized, Victims in the shadows | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Thoughts on avoidable harm and being veganish

I can’t count how often I’ve seen declarations from people who claim to be vegan despite indulging in some form of avoidable use of members of other animal species. However before I go any further I must stress the word … Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, Celebrity culture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Professor Tom Regan: A Case for Animal Rights Speech

  Here, with what is still seen as one of the greatest animal rights speeches of all time, is  Professor Tom Regan  (1938 – 2017) who opened the debate “Does the Animal Kingdom Need a Bill of Rights” at the … Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, Transcript | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Let’s talk about mutilation

A recent post on Facebook was illustrated by the image below which is the work of the highly acclaimed animal rights artist and advocate, Jo Frederiks. The text read; ‘The distinctions we make between the species that we love as … Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, Imagery, Mutilation, Nonhuman family members, Terminology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

On ‘personal choice’ and trying to be a ‘popular’ vegan

  I’m sure we’ve all heard – or maybe even used at some time – the tired old assertion about ‘my personal choice’? My first hearing was when it was actually snarled at me through gritted teeth by a former … Continue reading

Posted in Awakening to veganism, consumer demand, Global disasters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Fireworks; harmless fun or wanton destruction?

As someone who used to love the spectacle and the theatre of firework displays, the whizzing, whooping, whistling, screams, pops, and thunderous bangs, the sparkling, light-blazing skies and the gunpowder smoke hanging heavy in the crisp frosty air, the past … Continue reading

Posted in Festivals, Fireworks and 'celebrations' | 3 Comments

Egg use by humans – a look at whether it’s humane.

Today the first post I saw was about hens who had been used for eggs and it tore my heart out. I should have known better and not looked at the comments, but I did and guess what? There they … Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, Chickens and eggs, Exceptions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Crocodile tears – getting under our skin

In the past few days, I’ve seen several excellent posts condemning a well-known designer brand for their use of crocodile skins for leather goods while exposing the conditions in which these innocent creatures are ‘farmed’, with images and descriptions that … Continue reading

Posted in Leather and skin, Victims in the shadows | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Last call for planet Earth

Today I was motivated to write a short blog on passing a roadside advert that has stood for many years, directing shoppers to a butcher in a nearby village. Bragging about ‘100% Scottish beef’ and ‘award winning pies and sausages, … Continue reading

Posted in Addressing resistance to change, Global disasters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments