WAV Comment: I (Mark) have not eaten any meat for well over 33 years.  I take a vegan diet for a) I consider plant based to be very healthy; non fattening; and b) primarily because of animal welfare issues.  An animal does not die to put something on my plate.

We all have our opinions, but I rather hate the fact (as below) that veggie or vegan food is often sold as ‘vegan steak’, ’vegan bacon’, ‘fishless fillets’ and ‘vegan sausages’ etc.  As a vegan, I do not want to eat things that are supposed to represent steak, bacon or fish.  Because of my hatred for the way animals are abused to produce the same, I simply want a plant based meal that is just that; a plant based meal without the cruelty.

Having a range of plant based products called plant based steak, sausage and fish fillets is typical marketing; but you almost always find that vegans are vegans because they don’t want to be associated with animal abuse or meat in any way.  So pretending then that plant based products taste like steak; bacon or fish are not really on my wavelength.  The only positive to me is that real steak eaters may try the plant based version and then move over to it; improving their health and doing a great deal for the environment.

But for me; veganism has principles; and they include avoiding animal abuses; the environment and better health.  So lets keep vegan food free from ‘tastes like bacon or steak’ labels; and sell it is simply for what it is – ie cruelty free food.  How about labelling them instead as ‘animal abuse free’, or ‘more environmentally friendly’ products.  This approach may even attract yet more custom; those who want to do the right thing and avoid animal suffering whilst doing better for the mush persecuted environment.

Just my view;

Regards Mark

Value Supermarket Morrisons Launches Vegan Steak And Bacon

The new meat alternatives are part of an extensive range including plant-based burgers, sausages, fishless fillets and more

MARIA CHIORANDO

OCT 6, 2020

https://www.plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/morrisons-launches-vegan-steak-bacon

Morrisons has launched a major new line of vegan meat under its V-Taste branding.

The value supermarket’s new offering includes a range of options including vegan steak (£3) and vegan bacon (£2.50).

Among the other plant-based meat alternatives are fishless fillets (£2), burgers (£2.50), and two styles of sausages – chorizo and Cumberland (£2.50).

Morrisons vegan meat

In a statement sent to Plant Based News, a Morrisons spokesperson described the bacon as ‘thick cut rashers’, which they said are the ‘perfect pairing to a butty on a Sunday’.

The steak, they added, are ‘high in fiber and a source of protein’, and match well with any traditional steak sauces.

The fishless fillets are described as ‘flaky’, and are made from fava beans and rice, coated in a breading.

Morrisons vegan options

Morrisons initially launched its V Taste range towards the end of 2018. It started as a line with around 10 products, including two flavors of vegan cupcakes – red velvet and chocolate – as well as a number of savory dishes like Lentil Hotpot among others.

The line was described as being value for money, with all items priced between £1 and £3.

Since the launch, Morrisons has consistency expanded the range, adding items like pigs in blankets, a foot-long vegan sausage roll, and mozzarella sticks among others.

Filed under: GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional | Leave a comment »

Revealed – rampant deforestation of Amazon driven by global greed for meat

“Because of the high volume of Brazilian beef shipped to China and Hong Kong, these markets are associated with the highest amount of deforestation in total – between 17,400 and 26,400 hectares per year – according to the analysis. The EU also imports more than $600m worth of beef from Brazil each year. And that will increase if the EU and member states approve a new trade deal with Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay to gradually let 99,000 tonnes of low-tariff South American beef into Europe every year”.

Read the full investigation from ‘The Guardian’; London; at:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/02/revealed-amazon-deforestation-driven-global-greed-meat-brazil

Filed under: GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional | Leave a comment »

 

May be of use:

https://api.worldanimalprotection.org/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5N74x-Si7AIVV-3tCh1j2ApQEAAYASAAEgKS1PD_BwE

 

Regards Mark

 

 

Filed under: GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional | Leave a comment »

In Brandenburg, Germany’s heart of the African pig plague, all wild boars are to be killed in the vicinity of the “core zone”, in which the first wild boars infected with African swine fever (ASF) were found.

Brandenburg intends to allow wild boar hunting with the night- sights in the near future. The relevant technology is ready for collection at the authority. But first, the “fence” has to be ready.

The authorities in Brandenburg are currently working intensively on plans to get the core zone free from wild boars. As confirmed by the Ministry of Agriculture in Brandenburg, both night sights and special wild boar traps are used when shooting.
These are currently being transported and set up in the core zone.

The night sights are available from the forest authorities. The ministry emphasizes that hunting activities can only start once the security fence is in place.

A commission of EU Veterinarians has recommended designating a “white zone” within five kilometers of the already existing core zone.
In this “white zone”, which is bordered by solid “wild boar-proof” fences, all wild boars are to be killed.

For more… at https://worldanimalsvoice.com/2020/10/07/germany-mass-murder-on-the-march/

 

And I mean…A stupid minister and his constituents refuse to explain to us how the virus can get into hermetically sealed pigsties.
Certainly not by a herd of wild boars.

Max Planck and Einstein thought hunters were psychopaths.
When I read that the hunters will also shoot youngsters, this opinion is confirmed.
Killing parent animals on which freshlings depend is an act of sadism and has nothing to do with preventive hunting.

In wild boars, for example, only the alpha female (Leitbach) in a herd usually reproduces. This limits the uncontrolled reproduction by several females in the pack and ensures that no more wild boars live in the area than can be feed there.
But for the moment and because of the intensive hunting of the wild boar, young wild boars that were born in spring were pregnant again in autumn!!

Wild boars are very useful for the forest, they dig up the ground and bury acorns, beechnuts, and other seeds that are used for natural regeneration.
Wild boars are gardeners of the forest.

The whole action is terrorist Zooicide.

Or to put it another way: if the ministry names such a planned massacre as swine fever management – then genocide is also humanitarian aid!

My best  regards to all, Venus

 

Filed under: GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional | Leave a comment »

The Helsinki Police Department has been accused of breaching human rights after footage was shared widely online showing officers pepper-spraying sitting Extinction Rebellion (XR) protesters.

A sit-in protest was organized by Elokapina (Extinction Rebellion Finland) on the busy Kaisaniemenkatu road in Helsinki, where numerous road traffic and tram line routes converge, on Saturday.

The climate protesters were ordered to disperse, having blocked the busy road with their sit-down demonstration all afternoon before police finally, and seemingly without provocation, unloaded with pepper spray canisters, hitting the seated protesters directly in the face as photos and videos from the scene purport to show.

“Within 10 minutes of the protest spreading out, police resorted to pepper spray and sprayed protesters several times, causing severe reactions in roughly a dozen people. Police also prevented some of the sprayed people from rinsing their face with water,” reads a press release from Elokapina.

Activists took to Twitter to share what they experienced at the hands of the police and to express their outrage at what unfolded. Many blasted the actions of the officers and called for them to face disciplinary action.

“Shame on you Finland! How dare you!” one irate commenter wrote.
At least 51 protesters, some of whom had locked themselves to a boat, were detained by police according to an Extinction Rebellion press release.

In a statement, the Helsinki police department argued that given the extent of the traffic disruption and length for which the protest had been allowed to continue – roughly five hours – officers used the “most lenient forcible measure at [their disposal].”

Kimmo Nuotio, a professor of criminal law at the University of Helsinki said the situation “doesn’t look good,” from a legal perspective, adding that “use of force must be based on careful discretion and situational consideration.”

In the meantime, another street blockade is planned for Wednesday, October 7 as part of the group’s Autumn Rebellion (Syyskapina).

“Similar civil disobedience will be seen in at least 15 different countries throughout Autumn,” the group wrote on its website.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1312402574507728896

 

“I’m frankly annoyed that things didn’t go well in this particular case,” Sanna Heikinheimo, a deputy national police commissioner at the National Police Board said, claiming that 99 percent of demonstrations held in Helsinki pass without incident.

A report has already been submitted to the Ministry of the Interior and an investigation into the police use of force is underway.

Legal experts across Finland have expressed their concern at the use of perceived excessive force in the incident. Miikka Vuorela, a doctoral student of criminology at the University of Helsinki, claimed the officers’ actions “constituted a human rights violation.”

 

https://www.rt.com/news/502552-extinction-rebellion-helsinki-pepper-spray/

And I mean...it is criminal for the law enforcement police to spray a chemical on the face of some peacefully seated protesters.
Attacking women sitting on the ground with a weapon meant to be used for protection is cowardly.
There are other means of removing them if they disturb the traffic.

We declare solidarity with the activists.
Our protests, our fight against the destruction of the planet, and the exploitation of animals continue.
Governments are afraid of this and want to prevent it by any means.
But we will not be intimidated, nor will we stop and we just have to stay united!

My best regards to all, Venus

Filed under: GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional | Leave a comment »

 

It doesn’t matter what you do as an artist.
It is important that you have convinced someone to shoot a video with you

Have a good night, Venus

 

Filed under: GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional | Leave a comment »

An initiative calls for basic rights for primates other than humans. The population in the canton of Basel-Stadt will soon be able to vote on it.

In the Swiss canton of Basel-Stadt, the population will soon be able to decide whether other primates should have basic rights in addition to humans.

Specifically, it is about a “right of non-human primates to life and to physical and mental integrity”. Monkeys in particular are meant.

These are “highly intelligent”, it is said to justify the initiative, they “can communicate with people in sign language, are capable of suffering, feel empathy for others and can both remember past events and look into the future”.

All 300 species of primate have a large brain, complex social structures, and a high physical and psychological ability to suffer – which unfortunately also makes them particularly interesting for animal experiments.

The originator of the initiative is the Sentience association. It should be possible to keep monkeys in the zoo, as well as to use them for research purposes. However, the primates should then not have to suffer and otherwise experience “no stress”.

The Basel Parliament, the Grand Council, initially rejected the initiative as inadmissible in 2018. With the argument: such a constitutional amendment at the cantonal level violates Swiss federal law.
The Swiss Federal Supreme Court saw it differently.

Cantons are likely to go beyond the protection guaranteed in the federal constitution. The initiative can therefore be put to a vote.

 

For more…at https://worldanimalsvoice.com/2020/10/06/basic-rights-for-great-apes/

 

And I mean…It should be viewed as a criminal injustice to use great apes in medical experiments, to keep them in captivity, to execute them to death, or to destroy their habitat.

The natural home of these animals must be just as worthy of protection as the home of an indigenous people.

Great apes should no longer be property but should be given personal status. As with “underage” such as young children or coma patients who cannot speak for themselves, the legal claims of great apes would have to be represented by trustees.
That is quite feasible.

I think that the historical moment has come to overcome the barrier of “speciesism” after nationalism, racism, and sexism.

Denying animal rights just because “others” do not belong to our species is an expression of speciesism and structurally synonymous with racism or sexism.

It is an ethically illegitimate way of thinking and acting.

My best regards to all, Venus

 

Filed under: GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional | Leave a comment »