Viva!Life Issue 67 | Spring 2018

VL67 p1-19.qxp_VL41 redesign new 13/03/2018 11:59 Page 1

Published by Viva! the vegan campaigning group

life

Ocean vandals The scourge of industrial fishing

Issue 67 Spring 2018

SUPERB PRODUCT S TO LIGHT

UP YOUR LIFESTYLE

Mock the meat

Are meat analogues good for animals?

Phoebe Raye Dancer with the X-Factor

Street active Outreach with pizzazz Look back in wonder What Viva! did in 2017

f o r g c o n m t r f o i k o o C

Delicious everyday recipes

Viva!

Poland Changing a country

VL67 p1-19.qxp_VL41 redesign new 13/03/2018 16:13 Page 2

s1Ê ŴŸĈɫġŸÝƇĈā ¤ĩĈĈžĈ ĭž ōŕƤ ÝƣÝĭńÝùńĈɚɚɚ {ƍŸ

1Ýžƪ ƣĈġÝō ûĩĈĈžĈɗ ĈŸğĈûƇ ğŕŸ ĩŕŋĈ ŋÝāĈ ŴĭƳƳÝɗ

ž žĈĈō ÝƇŕŴɔ

ƍƇĈ UžńÝōā Gŕŕāž iƇāɚ ɫ ­Ĉńɔ ʔɂɂ ɧȾɨ ȿɅȾȾ ɃȾɃɁɃɅ

sŕ ÝŸƇĭƼûĭÝń ûŕńŕƍŸž ŕŸ ŴŸĈžĈŸƣÝƇĭƣĈžɚ i Ý û Ƈ ŕ ž Ĉ ğ Ÿ ĈĈ ɫ ( Ý ĭ Ÿ ƪ ğ Ÿ Ĉ Ĉ ɫ I ń ƍƇ Ĉō ğ Ÿ ĈĈ ɫ " ĩ ŕ ń Ĉž Ƈ ĈŸ ŕ ń ğ Ÿ ĈĈ

VL67 p1-19.qxp_VL41 redesign new 13/03/2018 11:59 Page 3

Who we are

Contents

10

Viva!’s fight is a fight for life – for animals and ourselves. Through effective campaigning, we take the brutal reality of intensive farming to the people who can effect the most change: consumers. Our wide-ranging campaigns promote veganism as the best way to save animals from suffering, protect the environment, improve health and help those in developing countries.

We have cleared most shelves of socalled ‘exotic meats’; our campaign against the factory farming of pigs, turkeys and ducks saw deaths dive; we are closer to a foie-gras free Britain and meat and dairy consumption are down in the UK thanks to Viva! and you.

Viva! is a registered charity (1037486). viva.org.uk

Viva!Health is a section of Viva! that promotes the health benefits of a vegan diet. The diseases that kill many of us prematurely can mostly be prevented by consuming a plant-based diet – Viva!Health explains why. We provide accurate information about healthy eating to the public, health professionals, schools and food manufacturers. We campaign on important issues including the harmful effects of dairy foods, heart health, how to help combat obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis and breast cancer and the dangers of eating dairy, eggs, fish and meat. vivahealth.org.uk

Street Wise

8

Dancer with the X-Factor

22

Look Back in Pride What Viva! did in 2017

5 Lifelines 12 Showing Tonight Our glorious cinema ads

15 Hello – Goodbye Arrivals and departures

16 Viva! Poland A force to be reckoned with

Overfishing – a global crisis

Join Viva! to get your copy of Viva!life magazine three times a year for only £15 (£12 unwaged).

You’ll also receive a supporters’ card – giving you discounts at hundreds of shops and on services and holidays (see myvegantown.org.uk/discounts) – plus a free car sticker. Call 0117 944 1000 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm) or join online at viva.org.uk/join.

Viva!’s outreach

Phoebe Raye

18 End of the Line?

How to get this magazine

life67

30 Lifescience Latest health research

33 Meet the Maker People and their products

38 Lifestyle

27 Cookery Comfort

Grilled, fried, gorgeous

36 Vegan Dilemma

Will you, won’t you? asks Tony Wardle

Goods and goodies

40 Medialife Viva! in the news 27 My Vegan Town 32 Viva! Festivals 45 Thanks/V Biz 47 Viva! Podcast

viva.org.uk 3

VL67 p1-19.qxp_VL41 redesign new 13/03/2018 11:59 Page 4

Welcome

What a year it was – it really was! When I read the review of our campaigning activities over 2017 (page 22) I really can’t help but feel enormously proud.

And so should you as the only funds we get are from our supporters and wellwishers. So, together, let’s take a bow and say ‘We’ve done all we possibly could for the animals with the resources we had’.

It’s a similar story with our outreach (page 10) – going on to the streets with eye-catching events that grab people’s attention, enabling us to talk to them, show them our research and answer their questions. I’ve been campaigning long enough to have noticed a sea change in people’s attitudes – so many of them now welcome us and are genuinely interested to find out more about animals and the vegan lifestyle.

This surge in commitment is being mirrored by the manufacturing and retail industries. One after another they are veganising their products or introducing new vegan ranges – and they’re being successful! What’s more, we are getting ever closer to the mass introduction of new mock meats, some plant based some animal-cell based, which have the potential to transform farming. But it’s not without its controversy, as Tony Wardle explores on page 36.

When I set up Viva! Poland back in 2000 we tackled the live export of horses for meat all the way to Italy by road. We were hugely successful in slashing that trade but I could never have imagined that Viva! Poland would grow to be such a power (page 16) – the pre-eminent animal group in Poland. As well as campaigning, we do, of course, have a 52 acre sanctuary just outside Warsaw which rescues hundreds of dogs each year – as well as farmed animals and horses – and rehomes many of them. I think you would be fascinated to meet some of the beautiful residents at our Korabiewicach Animal Sanctuary in a future edition of Viva!life.

At last, people’s attention is being focused on our oceans and how these vital organs of the planet are being vandalised for food and used as a trash can. We bring home just how devastating is the relentless rape of our seas for food on page 18. In fact, we have carried out a huge amount of research on the global environment which we will be launching in the very near future.

I would really like to draw your attention to page 42 and our plea to consider setting up a small direct debit with us. I know times are hard for many but a few pounds a month adds up for us, gives Viva! some security and allows us to plan ahead so that we can look back on every passing year with pride and congratulate ourselves that we really are winning.

Yours for the animals

Juliet Gellatley Founder & Director Juliet@viva.org.uk facebook.com/juliet.gellatley

viva!life magazine Viva! Founder & International Director Juliet Gellatley Editor Tony Wardle Campaigns Manager Lex Rigby Campaigns & Outreach Claire Palmer, Siobhan Dolan, Sam Ashman, Laura-Lisa Hellwig, Kris Townsend, Liam Nolan Viva!Health Campaigners Veronika Powell, Dr Justine Butler Office Manager & Supporters’ Liaison Laura Turner, Nick Hallows, Beata Rzepecka-Wilk, Shelley Bligh-Wall Merchandise, Business, Festivals & Events Vicky Blyde, Sophie Delarney, Rhiannon Bloomfield, Emilie Lecocq Food & Cookery Maryanne Hall Design The Ethical Graphic Design Company Ltd Web Laura Canfield, Ana Hassel, Johnathan Skinner Database Manager Jeremy Ludlow Editorial enquiries 0117 970 4633 Advertising enquiries 0117 944 1000 Membership enquiries 0117 944 1000 info@viva.org.uk Online viva.org.uk vivahealth.org.uk veganrecipeclub.org.uk vivavegancharity vivacampaigns vivacharity Viva!, 8 York Court, Wilder Street, Bristol BS2 8QH

General enquiries Contact Viva! on 0117 944 1000 (Mon-Fri 9-6).

Email info@viva.org.uk Write to Viva! at: 8 York Court, Wilder Street, Bristol BS2 8QH 4

life

vegan is a staTe of kind Kind to you, animals and the planet

VL67 p1-19.qxp_VL41 redesign new 13/03/2018 11:59 Page 5

lifelines

Bug off

Click on the website of the Dutch company ProtiFarm and you’ll see a rotating counter of how many starving people there are in the world, backed by a whole range of seemingly caring organisations you’ve probably never heard of. It’s the introduction to their range of ‘foods’ derived from insects – including cockroaches (yum, yum). But it’s the alphitobius diaperinus that really excites them – the black buffalo beetle, or rather its larvae. If a handful of maggots doesn’t turn you on then it’s not for you.

There’s a picture of people in whites and masks peering down microscopes as if “If policymakers are to cover the undertaking open true cost of human epidemics like heart surgery. Once obesity, diabetes and cancer, and again, it is the highlivestock epidemics like avian flu, tech West that is while also tackling the twin supposedly coming to challenges of climate change and the rescue (that’s if you antibiotic resistance, then a shift think maggots constitute a rescue) of the world’s from subsidisation to taxation of disadvantaged rather than empowering them to the meat industry looks inevitable,” provide for their own future. says Jeremy Coller, founder of This nonsensical belief that animal protein is Fairr. “Far-sighted investors should vital to saving the world has about as much plan ahead for this day.” credibility as pyramid selling. It’s about Politicians usually claim that meat developing new markets and new profit centres. taxes are politically unacceptable – The answer to feeding the world is staring us in in fact they go in the opposite the face and has been a part of almost every direction and subsidise it. However, culture on the face of the planet for millennia and research by the foreign policy it is pulses – peas, beans and lentils. They advisory body, Chatham contain far more health-giving nutrients Text House, found that this isn’t than any animal food and could feed the VLPR00 £5 necessarily the case. world’s population several times over. to 70070 to

Meat tax – it’s coming (probably) ‘Sin taxes’ on meat to reduce its huge impact on climate change and human health look inevitable, according to analysts for investors managing more than $4 trillion of assets.

The snappily named Farm Animal Investment Risk and Return (Fairr) investment network argues that meat is heading towards the same fate as tobacco, carbon emissions and sugar – punitive taxation. It has already been discussed in the parliaments of Germany, Denmark and Sweden and the Chinese government has recommended a cut in meat consumption of 45 per cent. In Denmark, a tax of $2.70 per kilogram of meat has been suggested but not yet enacted.

donate to help Viva! save animals

Non-meaty millennials Those people who reach adulthood in the early 21st century are referred to as millennials. Now, that word might set your teeth on edge but what doesn’t is the fact that they are the ones who are driving the shift away from meat, according to data and analytics company, GlobalData.

Their figures sound a little optimistic but the trend is clear – 70 per cent of the world population is reportedly either reducing meat consumption or shunning meat

entirely. Fiona Dyer, the company’s consumer analyst, says: “The shift toward plant-based foods is being driven by millennials, who are most likely to consider the food source, animal welfare issues, and environmental impacts when making their purchasing decisions.”

One company that won’t argue is Quorn, who reported a 19 per cent growth in the first half of 2017.

Millennial! Not such a bad word after all.

viva.org.uk 5

VL67 p1-19.qxp_VL41 redesign new 13/03/2018 11:59 Page 6

lifelines ‘Scary Dairy’ is a hate crime A leading dairy farmer has compared our antidairy ads to ‘hate crimes’. Gary Mitchell, VicePresident of the National Farmers’ Union, Scotland, responding to an article in the Herald entitled Whiteout: The death of dairy said that campaigns portraying the industry as cruel are far from the truth. “Advertising accusing farmers of taking calves away from their mothers feels like a hate crime.”

Two things, Mr Mitchell, it is true and it is cruel – extremely cruel. Even the Advertising Standards Authority has ruled that the dairy industry is ‘inhumane’. That’s not enough for Mr Mitchell though: “We’ve been doing this for generations and have some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world!” And little fairies live at the bottom of my garden!

Dairy sales continue to fall Reasons for the dairy industry’s attacks became clear at the recent Semex dairy conference in Glasgow. While Brexit was top of the agenda, delegates were told that there is a cultural shift away from dairy and it is raising new challenges for the agricultural community. The agenda has moved away from their favoured topic, the high calcium content of milk, to questions of sustainability, negative health effects and animal cruelty.

According to government figures, the number of UK dairy cows fell from 2.6m to 1.9m in the 29 years between 1995 and 2015, as an estimated 10 million people abandoned dairy. It accounted for a £240 million drop in sales in just two years – 2014 to 2016. And the decline is continuing. Market researchers Mintel predict a further 11 per cent drop in milk popularity by 2020 while plant milks have increased by 19 per cent in the last year alone.

I somehow don’t think that the additional £500,000 the industry intends to spend on advertising is going to do the job.

Name change for animals The Association of Lawyers for Animal Welfare (ALAW) has changed its name, logo and branding. It is now the UK Centre for Animal Law (A-law).

The charity’s membership consists of lawyers, students, academics, NGOs and members of the general public Commenting on A-law’s rebrand, chairperson and barrister, Paula Sparks, said: “A-law started as a small collective of lawyers, who came together because they wanted to donate their time and skills to help animals. We have evolved since then into an organisation with a membership which includes scientists, lawyers, students and campaigners who are interested in using the law as a valuable tool in the armoury of animal protection.

“We believe that there are many areas

6

life

where animals are inadequately protected by the law, either because of a weak framework or because the law is inadequately enforced or because there is an insufficient deterrent to avoid abuse due to low maximum sentences for cases of deliberate animal cruelty.

“We work with many inspirational lawyers who freely give their time and resources to help solve these problems and support animal protection groups”. alaw.org.uk

Norway to ban fur After brilliant work by the Norwegian group Nettverk for dyrs Frihet, the country has announced that it will ban fur farming in 2024/2025. Yet another country has acknowledged that this obscenity is no longer acceptable. Viva!

Poland is working hard to bring about a similar result in that country (see page 16).

And right on cue – the fashion brands Michael Kors and Jimmie Choo have announced that they will no longer use fur. u This happy fox was rescued from a squalid fur farm by Viva!Poland

VL67 p1-19.qxp_VL41 redesign new 13/03/2018 12:00 Page 7

Urgent: please reply

Super survey We asked you to take part in our mega survey and you did – in your thousands. As you will know, it requested a lot of information but that did not deter many of you. Your responses are really important to us and will help to determine what we do and how we do it in the future. There is so much data to input and analyse that finger tips are getting red hot. We have not completed it yet but in the next issue of Viva!life we will be able to reveal some of the broad trends that motivate you.

within 14 days

appreciateed loyal and much ort animals and is a Dear Viva! Friend We need your suppo cares deeply about out this survey today?

As someone who please will you fill supporter of Viva!, animals’ lives. to help us save more than ever the biggest survey our views mattweerneed to hear from you. This is Viva!, Yo Y t the group at the diet,

The

BIG

‘Attitudes to Veganism’ Ve Survey

on your to veganism and No matter what in the UK on attitudes world. ever undertaken ys ning for a vegan and useful survey forefront of campaig their diet, but detailed understaand why people change g information to help us truly Much is said about gatherin will help us reach i . h between. We are is changing h is d who about your lifestyle l and are few and far ti t people knowing a little ’t motivate d d doesn’t and support Viva! and d h t does what nd why peoplee understa us help also This survey will k/surveey minded people. go to viva.org.uk/ p please many more like online, survey to complete the If you would prefer help. your Many thanks for ion on any d or hold the informat your survey results will will not record words, nfidentially. We ny way. In other treated con to it in an ion given will be o address attached analyseed. your name or Please note all informat or database with contact details when computerised system your name and and separated from be anonymous to: f Touch form In To the enclosed Stay Please return with es to Veg The BIG Viva! ‘AttitudStreet, Bri York Court, Wilder 8 Yo BS2 8QH

our privacy Yo Y

OR complete online ey viva.org.uk/surv

at

don’t ns you can’t, or question y.

Please SKIP any ntinue the surve r and con want to, answe

Please

complete no matter what your diet

Be my voice

Letter from India

Jane’s swan song Jane Easton, has retired after 10 years with Viva! (see page 15), had one final little victory to her name – she persuaded Maisie’s Bakery in Somerset to ditch animal fats and switch to vegetable oils. It joins the many other victories Jane has had – both big and little. Both she and her replacement, Maryanne Hall, were interviewed on the Lush Podcast, reaching tens of thousands of people.

“I am a vegan based in India and Viva!’s sustained efforts at promoting veganism have had a strong impact on me.

“I had become vegan while living in London until a few years back and it was during that time that I learnt about Viva! and attended talks by Juliet Gellatley and others.

“It now gives me immense pleasure to tell you that I have developed India’s first-ever vegan ice cream, WhiteCub. Presently, it is being sold out of a single store in Delhi NCR with a range of 12 vegan ice cream flavours. To prevent cross contamination, I am not using an existing dairy manufacturer but have established a small, dedicated factory. Please visit whitecub.in. Sonal”.

A brave undertaking, Sonal, in a country where dairy is embedded in the culture. Good luck.

Someone’s listening!

In the last issue of Viva!life I urged livestock farmers to stop whinging and look for new crops to grow, Farmers Weekly has done precisely the same thing. Without accusing them of whinging, it urges its readers to capitalise on the growing market for plantbased protein such as soya after Brexit. Other crops could include lentils, peas, beans and flax seeds, according to the New Economics Foundation, who carried out the study.

Of course, most soya is fed to animals but this and the other plant foods could just as easily be consumed by humans with far better results for everyone.

Like Mother…

Little Lena, daughter of Claire Morley who worked with us for many years, casts a critical eye over Viva!life. I’m told she heartily approved.

viva.org.uk 7

VL67 p1-19.qxp_VL41 redesign new 13/03/2018 12:00 Page 8

Phoebe with the

X-factor A fter watching the show reel of dancer Phoebe Raye I was so exhausted I had to lie down. Just how much energy you can pack into a diminutive 5ft 3in frame I have no idea but this must have been on the max.

Phoebe was just 23 this month (March) and somewhere amongst her Instagram posts is one saying something like – I can still remember when I was dreaming about being what I am now. (She also has one of her carrying a sign saying Vote Labour, which endears her to me – sorry

B y T o n y Wa r d l e

8

life

Tories and Lib Dems). But it wasn’t just dreaming that got her launched onto a career that took off almost from day one, it was eight years of hard graft at dance classes in Preston, where she was brought up.

Phoebe still promotes herself as an actor dancer but it is the dancing that has really taken off, with Street and Jazz being her real specialities, although she has expertise in all genres. But there aren’t many agents or auditions in Preston and so a move was essential.

“I’d wanted to be a dancer ever since I was a kid but I knew the chances of getting work in Preston were remote and so l decided I needed to move to London and start doing what you have to do – promote yourself.

And then it happened, my first job – for which I was scouted. Seems bizarre but it was in Italy working on a Spanish film.” Phoebe giggles and I can still hear the amazement in her voice: “It was so exciting, I never thought it would happen.”

But it did and there’s been a whole string of commissions since then but Phoebe adds a little caution that probably most people wouldn’t think about: “You’re employed from job to job and so never really know when you’ll be working next and that’s on your mind. You can’t really be yourself when you’re working, can’t always say what you think because if you get up someone’s nose it could affect you in the future.”

Avoiding getting up people’s noses is something she’s clearly very good at because the work just hasn’t

VL67 p1-19.qxp_VL41 redesign new 13/03/2018 12:00 Page 9

stopped. Although that was her first job as a full-time professional, there were plenty of small jobs as a very young actor – BBC’s Waterloo Road, Channel 4’s Cucumber and then After Hours before being a featured artiste in CBBC’s Sparticle Mystery. Phoebe also appeared in the TV series Got to Dance and, not surprisingly, did commercials for the world-famous Pineapple Dancewear and Get the Label. She also appeared in a Levi’s video. Then there was a whole string of festivals, including Glastonbury and Parklife.

The experience was clocking up. There was even a spell for the Manchester Giants basketball team as a cheerleader!

On her social media posts, Phoebe proudly presents herself as committed vegan but how did she arrive at that choice, I wondered.

“My mum was a vegetarian and I was brought up that way and was very content in believing I was doing my bit for the animals. I then began to notice information on social media and in Viva!life about the plight of dairy cows and it really shook me how awful the dairy industry is. But I didn’t find the transition to being vegan that easy at first – I kept being tempted by cheese but I got there after a few months. The extraordinary thing is that once I became vegan I had so much more energy.” And in your profession, Phoebe, that has to be a major plus.

Still tempted by cheese?

“Absolutely not – there’s no going back! In fact, I told my mum she should start reading Viva!life and she did.

She’s now vegan, too!”

What was it she liked about the magazine? (Even editors like complements).

“It tackles serious subjects with a light-hearted approach and is very positive. Unlike so much information you get, it doesn’t scream at you – it’s not angry.” You should see me in my private life, Phoebe!

“I began to notice information on social media and in Viva!life about the plight of dairy cows and it really shook me how awful the dairy industry is” Phoebe’s gigs have got pretty big now and last summer she backed the mega-successful will.i.am and his The Black Eyed Peas at the massive UEFA Champions League Final, her routines choreographed by Fatima Robinson, who’d previously worked with Michael Jackson. It was viewed by tens of millions all over the world.

And you may well have seen her amongst the dancers at ITV’s last X-Factor (series 13). She accompanied the Finnish singer Saara Aalto, who was runner up, 5 After Midnight (second runners up) and Matt Terry, the ultimate winner. Choreographer was Brian Friedman.

Phoebe’s non-stage surname is Zajac which gives a bit of a clue as to her background: “My mum is Polish and my dad Dominiquean.” Does she still find time to see her family all the way up in Preston? “Oh yes, I go back to visit my mum and my little brother.” Her ‘little’ brother Icky is 20. “Yeah, but he’ll always be my little brother!”

Those visits might become a little less frequent as Phoebe has just returned from Los Angeles and her enthusiasm for the place oozes out of every pore. She’s decided she wants to return there to work, has found an agent and is currently negotiating the work permit maze.

“It is just so easy to be vegan in LA. The supermarkets have an extraordinary choice of foods – loads of mock meats, tofu products and the frozen vegan cheesecake is something else. Then there’s Wholefoods Markets where it seems that almost every other thing is vegan.”

I proudly tell Phoebe that it was Viva!’s Lauren Ornelas who had dogged the company’s CEO, John Mackey, so persistently that he eventually accepted her arguments and became vegan, completely rewriting the store’s animal welfare codes and increasing its vegan product range. I think she was impressed.

I think there’s little doubt that Phoebe will be off to LA before long but I doubt Preston will be forgotten. I also have no doubt that we will see more of this talented little bundle of vegan energy wherever she’s based – she’s just too talented to be ignored.

viva.org.uk 9

VL67 p1-19.qxp_VL41 redesign new 13/03/2018 12:00 Page 10

…a new era of

Street activism Campaigner Claire Palmer takes a satisfied look at a new Britain

T

here has been a huge surge in Britain’s street activism over the past year or so – Cubes of Truth, Earthlings Experience and Animal Saves. Vegans are becoming ever-more active.

And Viva! has been at the forefront of this street activism, harnessing the energy of new vegans and others keen to get out there and do something for animals. The past 12 months have been filled with exciting, innovative, and popular displays, which is great news for the animals as directly, and through media, we have reached millions with our message of kindness and compassion.

Our street activism for cows has been relentless.

Viva!’s Scary Dairy campaigner, Veronika Powell, has organised event after event to promote a dairy-free lifestyle. And the dairy industry is extremely worried! It started with a Week of Action for the Hardest Working Mothers to organising 250 stunning adverts on bus sides. Like a small army, our volunteers and supporters have distributed tens of thousands of leaflets, organised information stalls in city centres, they have dressed up as cows and encouraged people to ditch dairy.

In a second Week of Action, Viva! raised awareness not only of the cruelty inherent to the dairy industry but also of how easy it is to change your diet to a vegan one.

Local activists organised events during the week and pledged to continue hosting street stalls in the future, distributing our anti-dairy materials. Groups joined in from all over – Croydon, Exeter, Hebden Bridge, Coventry, Belfast – 62 stalls in total who distributed over 75,000 leaflets and 6,000 dairy-free guides.

Free food tastings are a perfect way of reaching out to consumers – and Viva! does precisely that with samples

10

life

of delicious products, helping to promote a compassionate, vegan diet. Last year, we hosted two Scary Dairy food tasting events which offered vegan ice cream to shoppers, as well as our dairy-free mini guides.

We also teamed up with the gorgeous Booja Booja ice cream van – which sells all-vegan, cashew-based ice creams – and offered samples to passers-by. It went down a storm with people queuing to try out this delicious phenomenon!

The 36 million laying hens in Britain are often at the forefront of our minds when planning street activism. At Easter last year, we displayed innovative, six-foot display boards in three major UK cities, including London, urging consumers to pause for a moment and reflect on the lives of those animals responsible for what is commonly viewed as a ‘harmless product’ – eggs.

We gave shoppers the chance to see snippets in virtual reality of our year-long investigation into the egg industry.

The response was outstanding – vegetarians who pledged to go egg-free and meat-eaters who had no idea that hens are still caged in this country – 18 million of them!

There’s little doubt that our Hogwood campaign played an important role in the growth of street activism. Whilst many of those who attended our first vigil outside the farm were experienced activists, the numbers grew and later in the campaign we met many people had never before held a placard or spoken out for animals. Our Day of Action meant that 600 people door dropped leaflets while consumers at a staggering 450 stores were spoken to and handed materials – the response was overwhelmingly supportive and positive.

Just as encouraging, local activists are taking the

Viva! staff and local volunteers in action all over Britain

VL67 p1-19.qxp_VL41 redesign new 13/03/2018 12:09 Page 11

initiative and gaining their own media coverage of events and countless stories were published around the UK on our Day of Action.

Hogwood remains one of our biggest-ever campaigns.

We have distributed over 100,000 Tesco leaflets from Viva!’s office, almost 50,000 people signed our petition and hundreds of people have signed postcards to be sent to the government. This one campaign alone highlights the extraordinary growth of UK animal rights activism.

Make-up and prosthetics are a brilliant way to get people’s attention and at Halloween, we employed a professional make-up artist to create burnt, scarred and wounded pig faces on our founder, Juliet Gellatley and Viva! staff members. Using paints, glue, latex, prosthetic noses and ears, we were transformed into Hogwood pigs. Together we travelled to a large Tesco store near Hogwood in order to send a chillingly loud message to Tesco and its shoppers that the real horror at Halloween is the abuse of animals.

Viva! street action can mean wheels on streets as well as feet! The faces of shoppers watching our video van last year revealed that sometimes, simply watching a bit of footage can change lives. Our film exploring the stark contrast between the lives of pigs on a sanctuary with those in factory farms has made a huge impact on many people.

Increasingly, footage is used in street activism simply

because people respond to it well – sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. We love showing footage to the public because of the response we get and we encourage our activists to do the same. Viva! supporters have shown footage of Hogwood to Tesco store managers and taken turkey footage out onto the streets at Christmas time.

Footage and images are invariably powerful when they are large. At last year’s annual Pig Awards, for the first time, Viva! used a projector to shine the heart-breaking images of British pig factory farms onto the walls of the plush Lancaster Hotel, where the glitzy event was being held. Scenes from our undercover investigations were seen by attendees, passers-by and the press.

As well as projecting images onto the hotel, we took along our own award – to the British pig industry for being the Shame of Britain. Inside the hotel, the usual hand shaking and back slapping by industry giants, celebrating the Best of British, was marred by an uncomfortable truth outside. With the help of renowned actor, Peter Egan, we ensured the sad lives of pigs were not forgotten or ignored by the glamorously dressed attendees from the pig industry.

Join us in this new and exciting era of street activism!

If you want to get involved in Viva!’s events, contact Laura, our Outreach Coordinator, today at lauralisa@viva.org.uk.

viva.org.uk 11

VL67 p1-19.qxp_VL41 redesign new 13/03/2018 12:01 Page 12

Saturday night

at the movies… …and lots of other nights as Viva!’s cinema ad appears across Britain A massive thank you to everyone who supported our campaign to launch the world’s first vegan cinema ad.

YOU made Hope and her piglets FAMOUS. For five weeks over Christmas and New Year, we brought Hope to millions of meat-eating cinemagoers. Viva!’s cinema ad was shown over and over again at more than 1400 different screens across the UK! The response has been overwhelmingly positive and exciting.

One small but important example – I took 12 teenage boys to see Star Wars, Thor and Jumanji (lucky me!), knowing that they’d also see Hope! I was really moved by their responses. My sons, who are blisteringly honest, said it was a brilliant ad that made them glad they never ate animals while their meat-eating mates were bowled over.

They all said it was cool to go vegan and I later found out that one has gone vegan and another was ‘giving it a try cos it’s the best way to clear up (and I quote) the menace and mess of the human race’. And, of course, he’s right, going vegan is the most positive step any of us can take to save animals and our world.

The films shown over the Xmas period appealed to a massive audience of teenagers as well as 20 and 30 somethings. It was so exciting to get messages of support from people across Britain who had never contemplated being vegan before they saw the Hope ad.

The contrast in our footage, of rescued mother pig, Hope, dancing with joy on her release from giving birth in a concrete cell with the desperation of poor little piglets stacked in cages – all Red Tractor and supermarket approved – moved the nation.

The cinema ad also made its own news – including triggering a piece on BBC Online News, being the number two most viewed item of the day on December 22! So again, on behalf of Viva! and Hope and her

12

life

piglets, thank you for making this happen.

Their five weeks of fame has brought a message of empathy for our fellow animals into the national consciousness and we’re so grateful for your support with this ground-breaking campaign.

B y J u l i e t G e l l at l e y t The Hope cinema ad compares the lives of factoryfarmed mothers… …to the idyllic life of rescued pigs (here, Hope’s daughter Lily Bubbles with Juliet) q

VL67 p1-19.qxp_VL41 redesign new 13/03/2018 12:01 Page 13

5

Rediscover salad

1

Substitute meat for meat-free alternatives

There are plenty of options to choose from: swap meaty bangers and burgers for the meat-free versions. Just look in the chilled food and freezer section. Use vegan mince in a shepherd’s pie and chilli, it soaks up the flavour and is healthier than the meat it replaces! Use mushrooms to add texture – they work really well!

Forget the iceberg lettuce! There’s nothing like a colourful salad bursting with flavour to make you feel good, inside and out! Mix quinoa with thin carrot slices, orange segments, pomegranate seeds and chopped pistachios. Pearled spelt can be cooked the same way then combined with thinly sliced red onion, cherry tomatoes, radishes, avocados and dill for a beautiful summer salad that is surprisingly filling.

And don’t forget a tasty dressing or dip to bring out the flavours. Eat the rainbow!

Indian, Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Malaysian and Mexican food rely much less on meat than traditional British cooking. A curry can be made with baby aubergines and mock duck pancakes are delicious! Pad Thai noodles, Spanish paella, Italian risotto, spaghetti Bolognaise and Mexican chilli – be adventurous!

Experiment with peas, beans and lentils to make falafel, chick pea curry or lasagne. Pulses are a great source of protein, fibre and complex carbohydrates and are naturally low in fat. They can help you lose and maintain a healthy weight and lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Buy them dried in packets or tinned, they are cheaper than meat and can be stored in your kitchen cupboard.

If you’re short of time, pre-cooked wholegrains are available in pouches.

Don’t hide the fact that there’s no meat on the table! Celebrate a healthy way of eating with a meat-free centrepiece. Try a cashew nut wellington, Moroccan vegetable tagine or a chestnut and mushroom casserole.

Make your own or buy ready-made versions and dress them up with seasonal vegetables.

4

The wonders of grains

Tofu is a versatile meat-replacer and can be used in a Thai Green Curry, Risotto, Paella or on skewers on the BBQ. Marinate a tofu ‘steak’ in garlic, herbs and spices then bake it in the oven for 30 minutes or coat tofu strips in cornflour, fry then toss in BBQ sauce for sticky tofu ribs!

Cook your way around the world

2

Make vegetables the main event

Get vegucated with tofu... the possibilities are endless

8

Get your finger on the pulse

3

7

ways to cut out meat

6

Use interesting flavours

Food can be salty, sweet, sour or bitter but did you know there’s a fifth flavour called ‘umami’?

Described as a moreish ‘yummy’ savoury taste, it may be why Marmite is our mate!

You can add umami with soya sauce, miso, chipotle sauce, liquid smoke and toasted sesame oil. Try something new!

Wholegrains are a great source of protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals. Replacing one daily serving of red meat with a serving of wholegrains may reduce the risk of early death by 14 per cent. One serving can be a slice of wholemeal bread, half a cup of cooked brown rice, half a pitta bread, half a cup of wholemeal pasta or a small bowl of cereal. Experiment with bulgur – a chewy, hearty and versatile grain used in tasty Tabbouleh or quinoa (pronounced ‘keen-wah’) a wholegrain high in protein and iron.

9

Cook for friends

Show your friends and family that vegan food can be tasty and versatile.

It’s not as hard as you think! Viva!’s Vegan Recipe Club has hundreds of tried and tested recipes waiting to tempt you, go to: veganrecipeclub.org.uk

10

Cook green for the planet

Livestock farming produces more climate changing gases than the entire world’s transport put together. And it uses loads of precious fresh water. If you cut out meat you could save tonnes of CO2… what are you waiting for?

viva.org.uk 13

VL67 p1-19.qxp_VL41 redesign new 13/03/2018 12:03 Page 14

OFFER FOR VIVA! MEMBERS

Save 50% when you subscribe to Vegan Food & Living magazine Vegan Food & Living is the best-selling, award-winning UK magazine celebrating the delicious approach to ethical eating. Every issue features at least 75 delicious recipes, plus ingredient focuses, expert guides to nutrition, important ethical issues, the latest news and exclusive competitions, plus how to take your culinary skills to the next level.

YOUR SUBSCRIPTION OFFER Save 50% on the shop price*

SAVE

Pay just £14.97 6 monthly Direct Debit*

50%

Never miss an issue (12 per year) FREE UK delivery direct to your door

2 easy ways to subscribe anthem-publishing.com/vegan ENTERING CODE VIVAP0218

01371 853 609

QUOTING CODE VIVAP0218

*The 50% saving is only available on UK Direct Debit orders.

Your subscription will start with the next available issue.

14

life

VL67 p1-19.qxp_VL41 redesign new 13/03/2018 12:15 Page 15

e y b d o o G Hello The senior staff positions in Viva! have been amazingly stable for years – a team of both colleagues and friends working together for animals.

Of course, nothing lasts forever and sadly there have been some major changes in the last couple of months.

Goodbye…

Justin Kerswell, campaigns manager and deputy director, is the kind of person that every organisation needs – a rock, a champion and with a determination that invariably gets things done. Utterly reliable, calm, unfazeable, he not only worked tirelessly with his team for animals on campaign after campaign, and was an intrepid investigator, but was also willing to oversee important but boring stuff such as health and safety. He was also a brilliant friend but after 14 years with Viva! he has retired, with his partner Stuart, to the sunshine of Lanzarote where they are going to rebuild a ruined house and get involved with a local sanctuary. Justin intends to pursue his neglected talents of writing and painting and, we hope, sampling some of the superb Lanzarote white wines. We’ll miss you lots, Justin.

Katrina Gazley has for 10 years been the inspiration behind our merchandise design, sourcing and marketing as merchandise, festivals and events manager. She has done it all with extraordinary good humour, willingness and, like the whole Viva! team, prepared to work her socks off over and above the call of duty. Another friend who will be sorely missed. After all those years of often tortuous commuting from the far-side of Bath, she is now going to allow a little more time for herself by working in Bath itself. If in future you buy any merchandise from the city’s tourist attractions such as the Roman baths or the pump room, it will be thanks to our Katrina.

Hello…

Maryanne Hall

has been working alongside Jane for the past 18 months and will now take sole responsibility for all things food and cooking – and she’s well equipped to do so. Maryanne is an experienced vegan chef, having worked with Demuths Vegetarian Cookery School and Green Rocket in Bath and is also an excellent vegan food photographer.

Lex Rigby

is filling the very big shoes of Justin and is our new campaigns manager.

Lex worked for over a decade with Sea Shepherd in many roles including ship manager, media coordinator and navigation officer. We’re excited to have her on board!

Jane Easton has been a seemingly ever-present part of Viva! for a decade. As food and cookery manager she has got the popular Vegan Recipe Club and 30 Day Vegan up and running and has given cookery demos almost anywhere there’s a cooker to hand – and sometimes when there isn’t. Her climax was perhaps, the best selling Viva! Cookbook – inspiring new and old vegans alike across the land. A lovely, kind person to whom animals are everything, will occasionally produce a choice expletive which is four times as effective because of its rarity. Her partner, Mary, retired as a GP a few years ago and the two of them can now do all those things we promise we will do – but don’t. Enjoy your retirement, Jane (but I somehow suspect we’ll still see you from time to time).

Vicky Blyde

is our new retail & business manager, replacing Katrina and has over eight years experience with a national retail company in retail management, print and e commerce and, of course, is an ardent vegan.

viva.org.uk 15

VL67 p1-19.qxp_VL41 redesign new 13/03/2018 12:04 Page 16

Huge anti-fur coup for Viva! Poland

E

arly 2017 saw the launch of Viva! Poland’s anti-fur campaign, We will have Fur Tomorrow (Jutro b dzie futro), with a detailed report on the fur industry in that country. Experts and celebrities attended as special guests. (The title is from a Polish saying and means that tomorrow will be too late – there will be only fur and no animals).

The report was the first of its kind and its detail was staggering. It included an analysis of official veterinary inspections, how farms are split up to fool the inspectors and fur breeders’ ties with politicians. Copies were sent to all Members of the Polish Parliament and to the Poviat Veterinary Inspectorates.

It caused panic in the fur industry, which responded by launching a vitriolic defence of fur farming aimed at politicians and media and attempting to discredit the report. Viva!’s answer was to launch an interactive map of Polish fur farms. With a combination of Google Maps, Google Earth and a special tool on the Viva! Poland website, supporters were able to zoom in on the farms nearest to them and take video footage and still pictures of conditions. This evidence was forwarded to us and strengthened our claims A second plank in the campaign was to recruit villagers who live near to farms. These places often result in a fall in property prices, deter tourism, pollute ground water and produce flies and odour. With new applications, a typical ruse is to claim on the planning application that it is a rabbit farm and not the reality – a mink or fox farm.

We joined with local protesters against a new farm in

Lubosin. When we discovered it was being built by the son of a Polish MP against the will of the local community, all hell broke out. We took local protesters to the Polish Parliament to meet MPs but were also met by a large group of fur industry representatives. It was very heated but MPs were left in no doubt – people do not want to live near fur farms!

A team of three put questions to probably the most powerful man in Poland

16

life

Viva! kept the pressure on by recruiting celebrities, whose reactions to shocking fur farm footage was filmed and posted on social media.

Each of the celebs then posted their contribution to their own followers and eventually millions of people were reached. Each was encouraged to send Facebook messages to MPs urging a ban on fur farming. Many responded by supporting a ban.

Well-known Polish actor, Agnieszka Holland chose Viva! as patrons of her new film Spoor (originally a Berlin Film Festival winner, under the title Pokot). At the pre-premiere screening in Warsaw,

q Top: Jaroslaw Kaczymski, Poland's most powerful man (probably) comes out against fur in a unique Viva! interview.

Bottom: One of Poland's leading actresses joins Viva!s battle against fur.

VL67 p1-19.qxp_VL41 redesign new 13/03/2018 12:04 Page 17

the trailer of our documentary, Jutro b dzie futro, was shown followed by an interview with Agnieszka Holland

by Viva! and the star spoke out powerfully against fur.

At the beginning of November, 2017, the longawaited draft amendment to the Animal Protection Act was presented in Parliament by a member of the ruling party. It included many revolutionary proposals on animal welfare, including banning circus animals, chaining up dogs and fur. It caused uproar as MPs’ opinions polarised around fur. Opposition parties tabled anti-fur motions and the fur industry went into overdrive.

And then came the show-stopper! President of the (ruling) Law and Justice Party, Jarosław Kaczynski, who famously never gives interviews, was persuaded by Viva! to speak to us on camera. A team of three – Martyna Kozłowska, Mikołaj Jastrzebski and Viva! manager, Cezary Wyszynski – put questions to probably the most powerful man in Poland in what was an extraordinary coup.

In the blink of an eye, his words shot around Poland, carried by almost every TV, radio and press outlet.

Almost immediately, other MPs quickly began to speak louder in favour of the amendment and against fur farming.

And still we kept the pressure up with a No Fur Day on November 25, street activism, Help showings of our documentary, including a Viva! Make large LCD screen in the centre of Warsaw, the world a kinder while in Poznan and Szczecin it appeared place. Text VLPR00 in video ads on public transport. The £5 to 70070 to amendment is still in parliament and by the donate time you read this, MPs will have started to debate it.

q Part of our street activism

Wild Animals Seized from Illegal Breeding Farm Prosecutions by Viva! are now underway for cruelty. You may remember reading in a previous Viva!life, our rescue of Baloo the circus bear. This beautiful, four-year-old brown bear had no claws nor upper canines, many teeth were decayed to such a degree that it was life threatening. He had muscular atrophy and was exhibiting strong stereotypic behaviour from his constant imprisonment in a trailer.

There was also a Nile crocodile who had been kept in a container so small he could not even straighten up. There was acute suffering of two lizard turtles, a desert tortoise had rickets, vitamin deficiencies and was in a too-small a container.

All the animals are now safe in the Pozna Zoological Garden (no ordinary zoo but a sanctuary).

In June 2017, Viva! raided an animal breeding farm near Poznan, together with police, customs and court officials. What we discovered was deeply distressing. There were some 300 animals of more than 80 species and all were kept in appalling conditions, often tiny cages.

Animals included tigers and leopards, macaques, oryxes and many others. The owners have been charged with illegal breeding, ill treatment of animals and the illegal possession of protected animals.

We managed to find kind homes across Europe for all the animals within a few days, with the exception of three tigers and a leopard. We are still looking as the conditions in which they are living are unacceptable.

The Viva! Poland Team

viva.org.uk 17

VL67 p1-19.qxp_VL41 redesign new 13/03/2018 12:05 Page 18

Horrors of the Not giant squid or gargantuan sea serpents but stupid human beings who seem determined to destroy our vital oceans D r J u s t i n e B u t l e r , S e n i o r R e s e a r c h e r , V i va !

18

life

limits and marine reserves has done little to remedy the problem.

In international waters, beyond the 200 mile exclusion zones of coastal countries, many fisheries are unregulated and fishing fleets plunder the depths with state-of-the-art technology. In a few hours, massive nets dragged along by deep-water bottom trawlers can destroy deep-sea corals and sponge beds that have taken centuries or even millennia to grow. Some corals resemble trees, growing up For tasty fish-free to 10 metres (33 feet) in height and have been recipes buy our discovered as deep as 3.5 kilometres (2.2 fantastic guide, Fishmiles). They are often referred to as the free for Life at rainforests of the sea. vivashop.org.uk Murray Roberts of the Scottish Association for Marine Science says: “In some places, skippers replace their nets with chains to take out the corals so they don’t tear the nets. Then they go back and scoop up the fish”.

The great majority of marine animals live in, on, or immediately above the seafloor and bottom trawling A bottom trawler causes profound damage to seafloor ecosystems, which in dumps ancient the deeper oceans are fragile and slow growing. The UN deep sea coral Environment Programme’s report Cold-Water, Coral overboard q

Photo©Greenpeace-Malcolm Pullman-Marine Photobank

espite all our fish and chip shops, fish is not a popular food in the UK. On the global stage, however, it is one of the most traded foods there is. Over the last 50 years, demand has increased, technology to catch ever-more fish has developed apace and with an increasing impact from climate change, fish stocks are being pushed to the point of collapse.

Overfishing is when more fish are caught than can be replaced by natural reproduction. It is obviously unsustainable and can have serious consequences for the balance of life in our oceans.

The two types of commercial fish production are capture fishing (catching fish from seas, rivers and lakes) and aquaculture, fish farming in salt or fresh water.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) says that in 2014, 93.4 million tonnes of fish were caught through capture fishing and 73.8 million tonnes came from aquaculture – 167.2 million tonnes in total. It amounted to about 20kg per person but around 21 million tonnes was used to produce fishmeal, fish oil and for feeding caged fish.

In one of humankind’s more insane activities, wild fish are being pulled out of the sea to feed livestock and farmed fish! Fish farming is often touted as the answer to overfishing and yet every pound of farmed salmon, for example, consumes three pounds of wild-caught fish.

It is part of the problem, not the cure!

And yet global aquaculture continues to grow. Not only are fish farms unsustainable, they transmit disease and foul coastal waters with a long list of organic and chemical contaminants, including faeces that choke marine life, surplus additive-laden feed, antibiotics, pesticides, toxic antifouling paints and disinfectants. Its impact on the environment is profound.

Out in the oceans, it was estimated in 2012 that 78 per cent of the global fish catch failed to meet sustainable targets – ships were catching more than the oceans could sustain. But that was just the ‘reported’ fish catch and the FAO reckons that illicit fishing may account for up to 26 million tonnes of fish a year.

The number of fish stocks facing depletion is accelerating, with a third of all fished species having collapsed in 2003. If trends continue, 88 per cent of all stocks will be overfished by 2050. The introduction of fishing quotas, bag limits, licensing, closed seasons, size

Modern fishing methods are so thorough that there’s no escape for fish u

Reefs, states that: “Undoubtedly, the greatest and most irreversible damage is due to the increasing intensity of deep-water trawling that relies on the deployment of heavy gear which ‘steamrollers’ over the sea floor”.

Some living corals may date back 1800 years and reefs could be older than the Egyptian pyramids.

Scientists are concerned that we are losing the climate records of past centuries contained in corals. Roberts says: “If we lose them, we are erasing invaluable historical records but we are not only losing our past – on one coral mound off Ireland we found eight species new to science in just a few samples. These are real biodiversity hotspots”.

There is even a risk to human health as deep ocean sediments are the sink for many persistent organic pollutants (POPs). They are stirred up by bottom trawling and may then enter the food chain. Some countries regulate bottom trawling within their jurisdictions but elsewhere it continues unabated and unregulated.

In 2004, the Marine Conservation Institute organised a statement of concern, gathering signatures from over 1,000 scientists from 69 countries. It called for an immediate worldwide moratorium – time-out – on deepsea bottom trawling. The knowledge is there but what’s lacking is political will.

In longline fishing, hundreds or even thousands of hooks can hang from a single line and are commonly targeted at swordfish, tuna, halibut, sablefish and many others. Scientists from the Future of Marine Animal Populations program say that up to 90 per cent of all large predatory fish such as cod, shark, halibut, grouper, tuna, swordfish and marlin have now been depleted. Dr Ransom Myers, American marine biologist and conservationist, said: “Since 1950, with the onset of industrialised fisheries, we have rapidly reduced the resource base to less than 10 per cent for entire communities of these large fish species, from the tropics to the poles” (stocks have diminished to 10 per cent of their former levels).

Catch of some species often go unrecorded and are dismissed as ‘bycatch’, of which sharks are one. And yet

Photo©Naomi Blinick-Marine Photobank

Photo©Damian Bird

VL67 p1-19.qxp_VL41 redesign new 13/03/2018 12:05 Page 19

there is a huge trade in sharks, mostly for their fins and for which 73 million are thought to be killed annually.

The true figure is considerably higher and shark numbers may already be below sustainable levels.

Fish discards are a huge problem and the FAO estimates that about eight per cent of all fish caught are thrown back – dead or dying – the equivalent of about three billion Atlantic salmon!

This utter disruption of the oceanic balance affects every kind of sea creature, the plants they depend upon and live in and how they interact with each other. This disruption to animal life is unprecedented and may disrupt ecosystems for millions of years.

Records over the last 1,000 years show a rapid loss of biodiversity in coastal ecosystems. In 2015, the UN’s Climate Change Conference stressed the urgent need to restore aquatic ecosystems. If we want to stop hammerhead sharks and blue fin tuna going the way of the dinosaurs, we must act now. The message is simple – leave fish alone and help our oceans to become healthy again.

A shrimp trawler shovels unwanted ‘bycatch’ back into the sea p

viva.org.uk 19

VL67 p20-31.qxp_VL41 redesign new 13/03/2018 11:47 Page 20

So it’s January

… the time of renewal and regret. The first month of the year after the endless sludge of xmas when the rich world stuffs its face and complains about it, gorging on Turkey and then moaning about how little it likes eating the poor, terrified bird.

It’s a bit like the food equivalent of the Queen’s speech – one of those things that people think they have to do because it’s tradition, in that weird, rag-bag of non-traditions that make up xmas.

The only plus side is the feeling of remorse in this, the dark and endless month, where clocks tick tock like tombstones and the weather hangs in the air like a toxic black cloak of misery. And that remorse perhaps turns more doubters onto the sprightly and healthy world of veganism as they grapple with the concept of Veganuary.

January is a time of fasting and remorse and Veganuary, capturing this cleaning month vibe with a non-animal diet theme in the hope that people will wake up and decide that it’s not just what’s good for them but good for the animal as well – in effect what’s good for the goose is also good for the gander!

The vegan gander 2017 saw a massive rise in the number of vegans. Far from being a fringe diet, that you had to endlessly explain to baffled onlookers in a crowded room before being told that you were ‘going on about it’, it has become more than fashion.

The under 25’s – the most switched on generation for decades – is in the middle of a quiet revolution and are changing the world one bite at a time.

Driven by social media, and especially Instagram, where photos of vegan food are the new currency, an endless parade of youth-cool is leading the way (and wondering just what is this ‘stereotyped vegan’ image that the old Daily Mail types still chunder on about).

More and more youth are taking the ‘meat is murder’ food plunge in a fast forward to the future. They are changing the world with positive thinking that’s moving them further and further away from their elders in post Brexit UK. Before xmas I made a radio show called Vegan Noise Terror, interviewing musicians young and old about these new ‘extreme’ lifestyles of high-decibel music and non-meat diets.

People from Napalm Death and Johnny Marr came in and talked about being older but still switched on. Marr was, of course, brilliant, talking about the ‘old rock n roll’ of drugs and mumbling and that the new 21st-century musician is now fully switched on to the here and now. He saw veganism and running marathons at the heart of this.

Driven by the new city centres of Bristol, Manchester and parts of London as well as Glasgow, which has more vegan cafes than any other city I’ve seen, from the brilliant Stereo to one place that even lets your dog come in and have a snack as long as it’s vegan. This thinking outside the box is the new norm.

Decades of tired old, stale, meat-thinking have been brushed aside by a new vegan broom opposing a world of jowelly, Trump-thinking mindsets.

Photo © Melanie Smith

Media man, punk-bred John Robb

VL67 p20-31.qxp_VL41 redesign new 13/03/2018 11:48 Page 21

S Close QUALID Hogwood Farm!

Viva!’s 50,000 signature petition On Wednesday January 24, Viva!’s Campaigns team handed in a petition of almost 50,000 signatures to the Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA) in Worcestershire. It represented the views of a diversity of people – vegans and meat-eaters alike – who had been horrified by seeing our exposé of Hogwood Farm in national media last June. They were all in no doubt – the government should close down this cruel farm.

Our footage of Hogwood, which houses 15,000 pigs, displays sickeningly squalid conditions and has sparked public outrage. Images of cannibalism, sick and dying pigs and wheelbarrows full of dead, rotting animals have been etched on the hearts and minds of many. It led to Viva!’s biggest-ever Day of Action. People were even more shocked when we exposed the fact that the farm is Red Tractor ‘approved’ and supplies pig meat to supermarket giant, Tesco.

Despite the disturbing nature of our findings, it is obvious that everything we showed is considered legal as the farm was defended by the government, Tesco and the Red Tractor ‘assurance’ scheme. Farming, it seems, has degenerated to such a degree that the abhorrent treatment of animals has become the norm. In 2016, there were only 31 farmed animal welfare convictions in Britain and these were mainly for ‘visible animals’ – sheep and cattle housed outside. Clearly, what happens behind closed doors stays behind closed doors.

This disturbing lack of prosecutions points to a failure of our government to treat the welfare of animals on

factory farms with any seriousness. Defending the perpetrators is seemingly more important than defending the animals. But then, of course, animals don’t vote.

Viva! Campaigns submitted fully authenticated and dated images of our discoveries at Hogwood to the government’s APHA shortly after our visit. Despite indisputable evidence of animal welfare issues, APHA have failed to respond to Viva!’s report. In the past, Viva! Campaigns have submitted countless reports of unnecessary suffering and cruelty to APHA on a range of British farms and rarely receive a response. At best, APHA acknowledge receipt of the information but nothing more than that. They usually claim they cannot comment on ongoing prosecutions (even when there aren’t any) or because of commercial sensitivity.

We urge APHA to now listen to the voices of 50,000 people and close this hell hole down.

p Viva! campaigner, Claire Palmer, and Lex Rigby, campaigns manager, outside APHA’s Worcestershire offices with nearly 50,000 signatures asking for Hogwood Farm to be closed down

Text VLPR00 £5 to 70070 to donate to help Viva! save animals

viva.org.uk 21

VL67 p20-31.qxp_VL41 redesign new 13/03/2018 11:48 Page 22

r a i t e y w a s a … t a h w h O it really was

2017

A review of

by Juliet Gellatley, Viva!’s founder and director

It’s the start of another year, but before we get going with all the amazing plans we have for 2018, let’s look at some – just some – of what we achieved together for animals in 2017!

A new Hope I had long wanted to rescue pigs after witnessing their suffering on Britain’s factory farms (most recently as part of Viva!’s Face Off campaign) – and to provide an emotional juxtaposition of the life of rescued farmed animals with those on factory farms. The aim was to promote going vegan as the way to stop animal cruelty.

On a Tuesday in February, we decided to rescue a mother sow and her six piglets, who were just three and a half weeks old. By the following Sunday we were at a farm that was closing down its pig operation and where the mum was about to be sent to slaughter and her babies sold on to be ‘grown for meat’. Dean Farm Sanctuary offered space for the sow and her

family – where they are now happily settled and safe for life.

Viva! supporters named Mum Hope Apple Blossom and her piglets Mia Snuffles, Lily Bubbles, Poppy Pig, Tom Rocket, Jack Wigglinson and Lucas Scamp. Later in the year we again joined forces with Dean Farm to rescue a pregnant sow named Dotty. She had five piglets: Patch, Stanley, Humphrey, Prudence and Clover.

Hope’s dance of joy reaches millions!

The first time she went outside, Hope’s dance was captured as she twirled and skipped on the grass, whilst being chased by her piglets! The 30 second clip became our most watched and shared video ever – shared and watched by millions on our own sites plus by The Dodo, Best Video You Will Ever See, BBC News Online, The Independent, Daily Mail and many other animal groups.

Hope’s advert became one of the most read and watched stories of the day Hope makes the big time!

Bring Hope to Millions hits Britain’s cinemas!

Hope’s dance was featured in a 40 second advert specially commissioned by Viva! and was played ahead of major films at UK cinemas throughout December. To an audience of millions, it showed the stark difference between Hope’s life on the sanctuary and that of sows on British factory farms.

22

life

Funds were raised from crowdfunding and a matching pledge by a high donor as part of ‘Bring Hope to Millions’. It is the first ever advert advocating veganism at UK cinemas. Hope’s advert made headlines and became one the most read and watched stories of the day on the main BBC news website.

VL67 p20-31.qxp_VL41 redesign new 13/03/2018 11:48 Page 23

Another undercover investigation made the headlines after the Daily Mail published Viva! Campaigns’ investigation into a pig farm linked to supplying so-called green energy. It was also featured on the BBC news.

Tour of Hope Viva!’s Face Off campaign hits the road ...

Our groundbreaking virtual reality film taken inside Hogwood Horror Farm (first ever 3D footage of its kind!), combined with footage of Hope and family at the sanctuary, toured the high streets and festivals across the UK. Our video van tour showing our comparison footage visited seven big cities, Bristol, Bath, London, Birmingham, Brighton, Oxford and Coventry.

Hogwood Horror Farm After a tip-off, colleagues and I visited a giant pig farm in Warwickshire, the same county from where Hope and her piglets were rescued. It quickly gained the name, ‘Hogwood Horror Farm’ as it was one of the worst places I have ever seen. Heart-breaking footage revealed a catalogue of pain and suffering that could not be ignored – extreme overcrowding inside vast, barren sheds housing thousands of pigs, routine tail mutilations, cruel farrowing crates, filthy and waterlogged floors, sick and dying pigs left in a gangway, no meaningful environmental stimulation and piles of decaying and maggot-infested piglets left to rot in a wheelbarrow. We reported our findings to the authorities.

The Sunday Mirror published two double page spreads detailing our shocking findings plus there was a local media blitz, too. We held a peaceful vigil at Hogwood Farm and were joined by Warwick Animal Save and around 50 local activists.

After the vigil, we made a gruesome discovery of pig remains in woods nearby after a local tip-off – again featured in The Sunday Mirror.

Warwick Animal Save continue to hold vigils outside the farm and were joined by fundraisers Walk for Hope. We also joined with Animal Save nationwide, with a special joint leaflet to highlight the suffering of Britain’s factory farmed pigs. day of action Viva! hosted our largest EVER Day of Action against Tesco, urging them to drop Hogwood Farm as a supplier but, more importantly, talking to customers across the UK about dropping meat and going vegan, with an almost entirely positive response.

Around 450 stores were included in the Day of Action in August.

Hundreds more protesters took part in a follow-up Day of Action around Halloween. We dressed up as skeletons and took prop coffins to attract press outside both Tesco stores and Hogwood Farm.

viva.org.uk 23

VL67 p20-31.qxp_VL41 redesign new 13/03/2018 11:48 Page 24

Pig sick of awards Colleagues and I were joined outside the Lancaster Hotel in central London by actor Peter Egan to protest the National Pig Awards. Our hard-hitting investigation images were shone onto the venue, along with the words ‘Shame of Britain’. Peter and I gave a speech outside whilst holding a prop ‘1st Prize, Shame of Britain’ trophy – much to the embarrassment of the pig industry!

We held another large protest in London earlier in the year after a road crash where many pigs were injured and Waitrose ignored calls to allow them to go to a local sanctuary. Together with Surge and Animal Save UK, Viva! organised a demo outside John Lewis HQ (Waitrose’s parent company) and a London Waitrose store. We held a peaceful demo inside both premises, which around 70 people attended.

MEAT THETRUTH

How and why meat consumption is a major public health concern A review of the evidence

Viva! is a reg charity 1037486

By Dr Justine Butler, Senior Health Researcher, Viva!Health

Meat the Truth report released Meat the Truth, by Dr Justine Butler, was published by Viva!Health. It reveals ground-breaking scientific evidence that red meat, white meat and processed meat offer no health benefits and are linked to heart disease, diabetes, cancer and many other diseases. Going vegan is the answer!

Mirroring the life of a hen

Ahead of Christmas, we projected more scenes to shoppers showing shocking Viva! Campaigns’ undercover footage taken on British intensive turkey farms. Our dedicated door-dropper army distributed over 100,000 of our new leaflets, urging people to choose kind for the festive season. f ge or d T t e ur fe del tail n o st ici s o ve iv o f r e us w re m h ci e er pe a e s! t-f re e

from our 12-month investigation into the egg industry. Read it and find out what the industry would prefer you didn’t know! Our findings were featured in the Guardian and the investigations featured in several newspapers.

We also launched Eggs and Your Health, a mini-campaign on Viva!Health’s website – with our new Cracked guide and egg fact sheet that covered welfare issues. These completed our range of resources on all the major foods – meat, dairy, eggs, fish and vegan foods.

to

For Easter, we took our new six foot, mirrored display boards that effectively put shoppers inside socalled ‘enriched’ cages that house around half of all egg laying hens in Britain. The display toured several British cities and Viva! supporters distributed free materials exposing the truth about egg farming and encouraging consumers to try vegan instead.

This followed the release of our major new report, Laying Hens: The Inside Story, an in-depth, illustrated report featuring findings

Talking turkey on the streets

ce to ALL Pea trry

VVeg egan

this christm t as

Scary Dairy Viva!Health launched 250 anti-dairy bus adverts in London (200) and Bristol (50). They were placed inside the buses as headliner panels.

In March we held a Week of Action for Britain’s Hardest Working Mother – the dairy cow! In August, we held another national Week of Action to persuade consumers to dump dairy for good – including giving away free vegan ice cream! Hundreds took part and we distributed over 75,000 leaflets and 6,000 dairy-free guides. We also worked with other national groups to promote the first World Plant Milk Day.

24

life

0117 944 1000 viva.org.uk/christmas

VL67 p20-31.qxp_VL41 redesign new 13/03/2018 16:06 Page 25

Kangaroo off the menu in Sainsbury’s Britain’s second largest supermarket put kangaroo meat back on the shelves 18 years after we first persuaded them to drop it. They should have known what our reaction would be.

Thousands of Viva! supporters complained and the national press covered our campaign, including the Telegraph, Sun and Daily Mail. Sainsbury’s bowed to pressure and removed kangaroo meat once again. Job done!

30-Day Vegan relaunched Our ever-popular, hand-holding introduction to going vegan got a makeover in 2017 – and is now bigger and better than ever! The new website offers 30 days’ worth of meal plans, delicious recipes, inspiration and tips for trying vegan. We also launched a new and popular section – Can’t Cook, Won’t Cook!

Viva!’s amazing food and cookery whizzes whizzed up even more delicious recipes and treats throughout the year and took their kind kitchen

on the road to events across the country. They also published our wonderful new Here Comes Summer recipe guides. Grab your copies and Winter Wonderland at vivashop.org.uk.

Deliciously light vegan recipes

Deliciously warming vegan recipes

ere c es

h Su er Summer Recipe Guide 1

Winter wо d derlan

Winter Recipe Guide

The show keeps rolling!

Vegan events are becoming ever more popular – and Viva! continues to be at the forefront of the vegan revolution! In 2017, we attended about 60 Festivals and partnered with existing events, such as The Northern Vegan Festival, Manchester, and Winterfest, Leeds, as well as running our own successful events in Brighton, Birmingham, Cardiff, London, Coventry, Nottingham, Liverpool and Bristol and I spoke to an audience of some 600 at the

phenomenally successful Vegan Camp Out, sponsored by Viva!.

Testament to how popular these events have become, attendance is often triple what it was just a few years ago! The likelihood is that we will be coming to a town/city near you in 2018. We could not have attended so many events without the help of our wonderful volunteers. See how you can join in. Contact rhiannonbloomfield@viva.org.uk or call her on 0117 944 1000.

On the radio – and dealing with fake news!

Viva!’s media presence got ever bigger in 2017! I debated veganism with the National Farmers Union, did back-to-back radio interviews to educate and publicise our anti-dairy campaign, broadcast on about 50 stations, as well as 17 radio interviews publicising Hope’s big screen advert.

Sadly, in 2017, ‘fake news’ became a buzzword for lazy journalism and untruths – especially when it came to health-related stories.

Thankfully, the Viva! Health team were on hand to debunk and set the record straight. Veganism is the future!

Team Viva!

Podkind

More of our amazing supporters got active this year than ever before and raised money for our lifesaving campaigns. Among them, Avocado Man ran 10k, Diana Yeoman shaved her head on her 70th birthday, Guy Harper went silent for a month and the fantastic Roger Roberts cycled the whole length of Britain – a whopping 969 miles. You are heroes one and all!

Viva! Podcast is our monthly podcast that takes you into the very heart of Viva! – interviews with staff and celebrities as well as the latest vegan news, reviews and more. It is coordinated and presented by Kris Townsend and continues to attract more listeners with every episode.

Writing is on the wall – for meat and dairy industries!

Viva! and Viva!Health have also become fixtures in many leading magazines, such as Vegan Food & Living and Plant Based, providing articles on health, animals and more.

Viva! is reliant on all our fantastic supporters for our work and we thank you all so much for everything you do to help us and our campaigns.

Juliet Gellatley Viva! founder & director viva.org.uk 25

VL67 p20-31.qxp_VL41 redesign new 13/03/2018 11:48 Page 26

l Explore My Vegan Town and discover your new favourite places to eat, stay and shop! l PLUS search for vegan-friendly services, local groups and fun days out!

In collaboration with Viva! members, business friends and our expert team of eaters, shoppers and day-trippers, My Vegan Town is an amazing, free, vegan directory that brings the cruelty-free community together. Whether you’re looking for a vegan baker to whip up your wedding cake or you fancy going to a free-from foodie festival, our directory has it all.

Get Your Search On! Brand new website and features + 1000’s of listings!

be a cruelty-free champion Share your experiences and encourage others to live kind by reviewing the vegan-friendly things you love. It’s supereasy to do and it’s free!

vegan-friendly business?

Manage your own listing and offer customers exclusive discounts on My Vegan Town.

Create a free account today!

Head on Down to myvegantown.org.uk 26

life

VL67 p20-31.qxp_VL41 redesign new 13/03/2018 11:48 Page 27

Snap crackle and Some people reckon the devil has all the best tunes – and others reckon he has the best grub, as well! We certainly can’t agree with that but we do acknowledge that some of the stuff we were brought up on was plain and comforting and satisfied something within us with its crisp coatings and griddle-browned markings.

Well, move over Satan as we have some crispy, crunchy, straightoff-the griddle mouth waterers for you in this issue of Viva!life – plus something a little more holy; a super, duper simnel cake.

W o r d s a n d p i c t u r e s by V i va ! ’ s M a rya n n e H a l l

pop!

Seitan Popcorn ‘Chicken’ Seitan – or gluten – is the original meat alternative. This tasty dish originated in China aeons ago as a food for vegetarian Buddhist monks. It has subsequently percolated around the world. High in protein, low in fat and dense in texture, it lends itself to all sorts of dishes – stir fries, ‘steaks’, deli slices, meat balls/chunks and the rest. Being pure gluten, it’s probably best not eaten more than once a week.

Ready-prepared gluten flour (vital wheat gluten flour) is available from some health food shops or online from stores such as BuyWholefoodsOnline; Veggie Stuff and Realfoods. Engevita nutritional yeast flakes are also available from these sites or from Holland & Barrett, health food shops, Amazon and Ocado.

Seitan l 225g/8oz vital wheat gluten l 120g/4oz nutritional yeast flakes l 2 tbsp plain or tapioca flour l 120ml/4fl oz soya sauce l 1 tbsp tomato puree l 1 tbsp oil, olive or plain vegetable l 2 large cloves garlic, crushed OR 1 heaped tsp garlic powder/granules l 1 tsp lemon zest l 225-50ml/8-9floz water or vegan stock, cold

Optional: dried or fresh herbs, eg ½ tsp allspice; 1 tsp paprika; ½ tsp chilli; 1 tsp mixed herbs – experiment Extra stock for poaching l 3L/5pints COLD strong vegan stock l 1 tbsp soya sauce Coating l 5 tbsp plain flour mixed with 5 tbsp water l 230g dried breadcrumbs l 1L/1¾ pints vegetable oil for deep frying

Seitan 1 Combine the first three ingredients in a large bowl; in a small bowl, mix puree, oil, soya sauce and garlic. Add to dry ingredients then gradually mix in the stock. Ensure all dry bits are incorporated, using your hands if necessary.

Continue adding liquid until a thick dough has formed.

2 Knead dough until elastic (3-5 minutes) and form it into 6 large chunks.

3 Pour extra stock and soya sauce into a large, lidded saucepan, add seitan pieces carefully. Bring to boil then reduce to simmer for 30 minutes. Turn pieces repeatedly for further 20 minutes. Ensure seitan is covered with liquid at all times. Adjust strength of stock if necessary.

4 Remove seitan from heat and allow to cool in the stock.

5 When cool, divide it into bite-sized chunks and set aside.

Coating 1 Heat a medium saucepan half full of vegetable oil on medhigh or use a deep fat fryer.

2 Dip seitan pieces in water and then breadcrumbs.

3 Coarser breadcrumbs may not stick so dip in water/flour mix and then breadcrumbs.

4 Cook coated pieces together in hot oil until golden and crispy.

viva.org.uk 27

VL67 p20-31.qxp_VL41 redesign new 13/03/2018 11:48 Page 28

Tofu Satay Skewers Serves 4 | 30 minutes (but marinade overnight) A great way to serve tofu and excellent on a BBQ or griddle!

Sauce l 125ml/½ cup smooth peanut (or other nut/seed butter) l ½ tbsp root ginger, grated – or 1 tsp ginger paste l ½ tbsp garlic, crushed or 1 tsp garlic paste l 2 tsp date syrup or a little brown sugar l 2 tsp tomato purée l 180ml/6fl oz hot water l 1-2 tbsp cider vinegar – adding to taste l 1 tbsp soya sauce l Pinch chilli powder/flakes if desired

l Two good squeezes of lime juice before serving Tofu l 1 large pack firm or extrafirm tofu – about 400500g/14oz-1lb2oz l 2 tbsp toasted sesame oil l 2 tbsp soya sauce l 1 small red chilli, finely chopped or pinch chilli powder l ½ stalk chopped lemon grass OR 1 tbsp from jar l 1 batch of Thai Peanut Sauce – see Method below. Or use ready-made sauce – Thai Taste or Yeo’s

Aubergine Miso Steaks 1 aubergine serves 2 – depending on accompaniments. 30-60 minutes salting time + 20-30 minutes to cook Steaks l 1 aubergine (½ aubergine per person) l Salt Glaze for one aubergine l 1 tsp medium or sweet miso

l 1 tsp agave syrup (or sugar) l 2 tsp mirin (rice wine) l 1 tsp soya sauce l 2 tsp toasted sesame oil Optional: chilli flakes and chopped parsley

1 Slice each aubergine into circular ‘steaks’, about 2cm/1 inch thick. Or slice them lengthways.

2 Sprinkle with salt on both sides and put on a plate for an hour to tenderise.

3 Mix glaze and set aside. Prepare any serving dishes now.

4 Wash salt thoroughly from slices, pat dry and cut criss-cross patterns on each side.

5 Brush glaze generously on both sides, retaining a little for serving.

6 Place on a red-hot BBQ or well-oiled griddle for a few minutes each side. Aim to caramelise the steak without burning it – should be soft but not mushy.

7 Once cooked, brush with remaining glaze. Add chilli flakes and/or parsley if desired and serve with sweet potato wedges, tofu skewers, rice or other grains or green salad.

28

life

1 Measure everything into a saucepan or bowl, whisk well and heat gently for 2-3 minutes until warm.

2 Don’t allow to boil or it will thicken.

3 To microwave, heat on medium-low for 1-2 minutes, checking regularly. Set aside.

4 Leftovers can be frozen for a month or more.

Tofu 1 Chop tofu into medium large cubes. Mix remaining ingredients together, toss tofu in it and allow to marinate overnight or for at least two hours.

2 Thread tofu pieces onto skewers. Place on BBQ or preheated griddle and cook for a few minutes, turning once or twice.

3 Warm satay sauce without boiling.

4 Serve tofu skewers with the sauce.

VL67 p20-31.qxp_VL41 redesign new 13/03/2018 11:48 Page 29

Easter Simnel Cake Traditionally associated with Easter, this cake was originally a Roman custom. Girls in service were allowed to go home at this time of year, with a cake baked especially for their mothers.

Awww! The cake is a mixture between a teabread and a cake, with the rich almond paste giving it a bit of oomph.

Icing and filling mixture (or use ready roll icing for the top) l 7 dried apricots, chopped l 250ml/9fl oz soya or other plant milk l 200g/7oz ground almonds l 1 tbsp agave or maple syrup Cake Dry ingredients l 80g/scant 3oz candied orange and lemon peel, finely chopped + 150g/generous 5oz sultanas and/or raisins l 500g/1lb 2oz plain white flour, plus extra for dusting l 2 tsp baking powder l 225g/8oz light brown sugar l ¼ tsp each of ground nutmeg and ground cloves

Wet ingredients l 420ml/15fl oz soya or other plant milk. l 50ml/scant 2 tbsp plain vegetable oil l Make a flax ‘egg’ by mixing 1 tbsp flax meal (finely ground linseeds), with 2 tbsp warm water. Set aside l 2 tbsp aquafaba (aquafaba is the bean water taken from a chickpeas/cannellini/ butterbean can. One tin provides between 8-12 tablespoons. You can freeze any leftover aquafaba for other recipes), whipped up until white and frothy – use a glass or ceramic bowl/jug, not plastic. Use a balloon whisk or a stick blender

1 Prepare two round non-stick 18/20cm (7/8in) cake tins. Oil sides then base with baking paper (or use cake liners).

2 Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF/Gas Mark 4.

3 Place candied peel and sultanas/raisins in a bowl, sprinkle with 2 tbsp flour and mix to coat. Set aside.

4 Sieve 500g of flour into a large bowl. Add baking powder, spices and sugar and mix well. Whip aquafaba in a small bowl until white and frothy. Set aside.

5 To the flour mix add soya milk/oil mix gradually into the cake mixture, stirring with wooden spoon until smooth. Add dried fruit mixture and flax egg and mix well.

6 Fold in aquafaba mixture quickly.

7 Divide equally between the cake tins.

8 Bake on the same shelf for 20-25 minutes. Test after 20, pressing down gently. It should spring back and be firm and golden. Prod cake with a tooth pick – it should come out clean.

9 To make the almond filling, place chopped apricots and 250ml/9floz soya milk in a small saucepan and simmer for 20 mins. Add ground almonds and syrup and blend to a smooth paste. Chill in a covered container until needed.

10 Remove cakes from oven, cool slightly and place upside down on a wire rack. Remove tins and when cool, the paper.

11 Make icing and spread half in the middle of the two cakes.

Spread remainder on top of the cake OR make shapes with it by rolling into balls or using cookie cutters. Decorate with Easter trimmings!

viva.org.uk 29

VL67 p20-31.qxp_VL41 redesign new 13/03/2018 11:48 Page 30

lifeSCIENCE

Toxic bacon A new study reveals that even small amounts of processed meat increase the risk of breast cancer

Viva!Health unravels scientific research and makes it easy to understand.

Here we update you on the latest findings…

By V e r o n i k a P o w e l l M S c , V i va ! H e a lt h C a m pa i g n e r

Chocolate Chia Breakfast Pudding from Viva!’s Here Comes Summer recipe guide. Available at vivashop.org.uk for just £3!

Deliciously light vegan recipes

Healthy fats – healthy hearts

ere c es

h Su er Summer Recipe Guide 1

American Heart Association publishes an advisory on fats and heart disease – gives a clear warning against saturated fats The claims just keep coming – that saturated fat isn’t bad for you. The American Heart Association strongly disagrees. It reviewed scientific studies, data and other evidence on fat intake and the result was a clear warning – saturated fat is bad news and the less we eat, the better.

They recommended replacing saturated fat with unsaturated – in other words, replace unhealthy animal fat, coconut and palm oil with good plant fats from nuts and seeds, avocados, soya and unrefined vegetable oils. The advisory also emphasised the importance of a diet rich in wholesome plant foods and warned against refined carbohydrates (sugar, white flour products and processed snacks).

The official position on saturated fat from meat and milk is that it raises cholesterol and should be avoided. Butter is definitely not back!

30

life

The large, UK-based study, that analysed dietary and health data from over 260,000 women, found that post-menopausal women who eat just nine grams of processed meat a week (bacon, sausages, burgers, meat pies, sausage rolls) have a 20 per cent higher risk of developing breast cancer than women who don’t eat any processed meat at all. It means that even infrequent consumption of processed meat each week can considerably increase your risk. A little over two teaspoons of sugar weighs about nine grams!

Professor Naveed Sattar, the study co-author from the University of Glasgow, told The Times: “In addition to the previously known effects of processed meat on other kinds of cancer, this adds further evidence that it may have a deleterious effect on breast cancer, particularly in post-menopausal women.”

Coconut and palm oil are the two plant fat exceptions as they are both very high in saturated fat and therefore cannot be recommended. Other vegetable oils are considered healthy, as long as they are not hydrogenated (a practice which most manufacturers are now dropping – but do check the ingredients).

Take home message is – snack on small amounts of nuts and seeds, sprinkle ground flaxseed on your cereal and use rapeseed oil for cooking (both great for omega-3 fats), use virgin olive oil for dressings and bread dipping, enjoy avocados and chia seed pudding and don’t forget about the good fats in soya and hemp milks!

Sacks FM et al., 2017. Dietary Fats and Cardiovascular Disease: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 136(3):e1-e23.

Anderson JJ et al., 2017. Red and processed meat consumption and breast cancer: UK Biobank cohort study and meta-analysis. European Journal of Cancer. 90: 73–82.

VL67 p20-31.qxp_VL41 redesign new 13/03/2018 11:48 Page 31

Meat linked to diabetes A comprehensive study links meat consumption to type 2 diabetes The findings of the Singapore Chinese Health Study, which includes over 63,000 people aged 45-74 years and follows their health for an average of 11 years, reinforced previous warnings about meat and type 2 diabetes.

The study found that both red and white meat (poultry) consumption was associated with an increased risk of the disease.

The more meat people ate, the bigger the risk.

The study also investigated whether there’s a link between haem iron – the type of iron found only in meat – and type 2 diabetes and found that the more haem iron people consume, the more likely they are to develop type 2 diabetes. The authors speculated that this may be due to iron being a strong pro-oxidant that enables the production of molecules that may damage body tissues, particularly insulin-producing pancreatic cells. Haem iron has been associated with type 2 diabetes before so this study supports the link between meat and diabetes. On the other hand, plant iron (non-haem) has no such effect.

To see how to eat to prevent diabetes, go to vivahealth.org.uk/diabetes – it’s easier than you might think!

Talaei M et al., 2017. Meat, Dietary Heme Iron, and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: The Singapore Chinese Health Study.

American Journal of Epidemiology. 186(7):824-833.

Check out our easy-to-read guide: The Big-D: Defeating Diabetes with the D-Diet at vivashop.org.uk for just £2.90.

For even more info, there’s our fully-referenced report too.

The Big-D: Defeating Diabetes through Diet

A scientific report

by Veronika Powell MSc, Viva!Health Health Campaigner

D

The Big-D: the defeatingbig diabetes with the D-Diet

Viva!Health, 8 York Court, Wilder Street, Bristol BS2 8QH Tel: 0117 944 1000 W: vivahealth.org.uk

Eat to beat the disease – a guide providing you with know-how together with show-how

By Veronika Powell MSc and Jane Easton, Viva!Health

£2.90

A pioneering study shows that leafy greens can slow down cognitive decline in aging

Jolly fruit and veg A study showed that the more fruit and vegetables we eat, the less likely we are to be depressed There are many different factors related to depression and diet can be one of them. A Peruvian study aimed at investigating whether fruit and vegetable consumption can affect our mental wellbeing and if there’s a relationship between how much we eat and how likely we are to have depressive symptoms.

The results from over 25,000 people across the country

Green leafy goodness

showed that people consuming the most fruits and/or vegetables had significantly less depressive symptoms than those who ate the least. When analysed separately, the association was stronger with fruits than with vegetables but both had a strong positive effect on mental health. People eating the least were more than 80 per cent more likely to experience depressive symptoms.

Wolniczak I et al., 2017. Fruits and vegetables consumption and depressive symptoms: A population-based study in Peru.

PLoS One. 12(10):e0186379.

Green leafy vegetables contain many nutrients and natural compounds that are thought to be healthbeneficial and have the potential to protect our tissues from damage. As a part of the Memory and Aging Project, the scientific team studied 960 participants, their food intake and cognitive abilities over several years. They used the following quantities as examples of one serving of green leafy vegetables: half a cup cooked spinach, half a cup of cooked kale/collards/ greens or one cup of raw lettuce/salad leaves.

The results showed that consumption of green leafy vegetables was significantly associated with slower cognitive decline. People consuming just over one serving a day had remarkably better cognitive skills – so much so that the researchers quantified this as being 11 years younger in age!

Further investigation of the nutrients found in green leafy vegetables indicated that higher food intakes of folate, phylloquinone and lutein were each associated with slower cognitive decline and appeared to account for the protective effect of these vegetables.

Morris MC et al., 2017. Nutrients and bioactives in green leafy vegetables and cognitive decline: Prospective study.

Neurology. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1212/ WNL.0000000000004815 [Epub ahead of print].

viva.org.uk 31

VL67 p32-41.qxp_VL41 redesign new 13/03/2018 11:49 Page 32

If you haven’t yet been to a Viva! Vegan Festival, you really don’t know what you’re missing! We conduct a survey at each one and the feedback is almost universally positive – more than that, it’s glowing!

Our 2018 line-up of festivals is guaranteed to have something for everyone and we want you, your friends and family to come to one - be they herbivore or omnivore. All are welcome!

This is our 15th year of running roadshows across the UK so we know a thing or two about putting on funfilled, info-packed and utterly delicious days out.

Come spend a day or a weekend with Viva! and experience first-hand the amazing benefits a vegan lifestyle can offer… l l l l l l

Smoking hot food stalls Homemade healthy bites and sweet snacks (including doughnuts!)

Expert nutritional advice and takeaway factsheets Fascinating talks and cookery demos Tons of ethical products - fair-trade, fashions, cruelty-free cosmetics All your favourite Viva! merchandise and materials!

Please think about volunteering at one of our festivals and helping us to sell merch and give out literature. They are busy, busy, busy but huge fun. We’d really love to hear from you! Get in touch with rhiannonbloomfield@viva.org.uk or call her on 0117 944 1000.

The 2018 Tour Saturday, May 12 Nottingham Viva! Vegan Festival – 10.30-17.00 Saturday, June 30 Stockport Viva! Vegan Festival – 10.30-17.00 Saturday, July 14 BRAND NEW Viva!City Outdoor Ethical Festival – (Time TBC) saturday, August 4 Coventry Viva! Vegan Festival – 10.30-17.00

For everyone – meat-eaters, vegans, those aspiring to be vegan and those who just need a helping hand. for more information, go to viva.org.uk/festivals

August 17-19 Nottingham Vegan Campout Saturday, September 8 Birmingham Viva! Vegan Festival 10.30-17.00 October 29-30 Brighton Viva! Vegan Festival – 11.00-17.00 Saturday, dec 8 Bristol Xmas Vegan Festival – 10.30-17.00

32

life

VL67 p32-41.qxp_VL41 redesign new 13/03/2018 11:49 Page 33

Return of the Rabbit Moo Free’s Original Chocolate Egg, made with their famous rice-milk chocolate, has undergone a tasty upgrade and now comes with a bonus bag of cute choccy drops for maximum egg-eating pleasure. The Original with buttons is 125g while flavoured eggs, BunnyComb and Cheeky Orange, are 110g. All retail for £4.25 Bestseller!

Rosie the Rabbit Chocolate Bar Another addition to Moo Free’s seasonal sell outs—she’s sweet, made from ‘milky’ chocolate and the perfect treasure for your little one’s egg hunt. 32g. 99p

Easter eats from the Viva! Shop

Hippity hop to the shop for all your seasonal sweet gifts

The Creamy Dream Team Cashew Cream Egg A rich, raw and surprisingly realistic alternative to its not-so-vegan confectionery namesake. KamAlive’s healthy and organic offering has a honeycombpatterned dark cacao (80 per cent) shell while the inside is filled with a dense blend of creamy cashew nut butter, date nectar, coconut oil and Lucuma powder— with just a touch of turmeric to mimic the yolky centre.

Gluten-free and refined sugar-free, too! 40g. £3.99 Cream Centre Bars Not bound to bunny season, this creamy treat can be enjoyed all year round. KamAlive have reworked their raw cashew cream egg recipe and created a fresh, blissful chocolate bar. The crisp, dark, cacao shell covers a dreamy, dome-shaped cream centre, bursting with flavour – every bite a balance of natural sweetness and nutty goodness. There are four fab flavours: Chocolate Cream, Passionfruit, Pure Mint and Wild Orange. 40g. £3.80 each

Shop Kind with the Viva! Shop! Find amazing vegan chocolates, confectionery, clothing, cookbooks and cool ethical gifts at vivashop.org.uk or call 0117 944 1000 (Mon-Fri, 9-5) viva.org.uk 33

VL67 p32-41.qxp_VL41 redesign new 13/03/2018 11:49 Page 34

Praise the Praline Bonieri’s Fabergé-inspired Imperial Easter Egg is nothing short of vegan chocolate royalty.

Each decorative egg tin contains 90g of award-winning gianduja pralines; crafted using the original 1860’s family recipe from Turin.

Traditionally dairy-free, each meltin-your-mouth morsel contains a secret blend of finely-milled Piedmont hazelnuts, sugar and cocoa. The Imperial Eggs are available in two flavours: traditional Gianduiotti or Cremini—a triple layered praline comprised of two layers of gianduja cream and a middle layer of pure hazelnut.

90g. £11.95

Eggceptionally Eco Created with a grown-up palate in mind, the Dark Chocolate Button Eco Egg by Sussex chocolatier Montezuma, is deliciously dark and positively plastic-free—ideal for guilt-free gobbling.

This healthier, ecofriendly alternative contains a whopping 74 per cent cocoa solids, flecks of crunchy cacao nibs and comes gift-wrapped in a biodegradable paper shell. 150g. £8.99

Viva!’s #compassionatees clothing collection is ethicallysourced and printed. All our fashion is fairtrade and mostly organic. For full sizing information, visit vivashop.org.uk or call us for advice on 0117 944 1000 (Mon-Fri, 9-5) Our motto for 2018 and we’ve got the t-shirt to prove it. Our new Be Kind design started life as Viva!’s official festival outfit and, proving popular with festival goers, we created a shiny new clothing collection just for them – and you, our kindred-spirited supporters!

Pullover Unisex Hoody Luxuriously, organic brushed cotton hoody, printed with classic Viva! colours. Featuring contrasting drawstrings, fleece-lined front pocket and ribbed hems. This hoody has stood up to spending quality time in muddy fields, playing with our rescued piggy Hope at Dean Farm Sanctuary! Black. Available in sizes: XS, S, M, L. £29.99

all fairtrade & organic

Women’s Vest White and gold foil print on a bleached-effect vest top.

Featuring a deep scooped neckline, curved hem and sporty racer back. This vest is destined to be your new festival favourite with its relaxed style and vintage look.

Acid Black. Available in sizes: S, M, L. £16.99 Women’s Tunic Tee (for a photo go to vivashop.org.uk) Black and red foil print on a tunic-style tee. Featuring a gentle scooped neckline and cute capped sleeves. This longer length tee has a slightly stretchy fabric so looks just as amazing layered over your trusty leggings as it does with jeans. White. Available in sizes: S, M, L. £16.99 Unisex Tee White and blue foil print on a soft dyed-effect tee. The weathered grey fabric forces the electric blue-foiled Viva! logo to really pop! And you’ll love the way this tee fits – roomy with a flattering drape. Light Grey. Available in sizes: S, M, L. £16.99

34

life

VL67 p32-41.qxp_VL41 redesign new 13/03/2018 16:10 Page 35

Partnered with the Farm Animal Sanctuary in Evesham and Viva! Poland Animal Sanctuary, our scheme is the perfect way to help animals who have been abused for the food, fur and entertainment industries. Your donation is crucial to their survival – helping to feed and look after these animals, who have often suffered terribly before being rescued.

PERFECT GIFT FOR ANIMAL LOVERS

Toto

Angus Georgina Each adoption pack includes: l 6x4” colour photograph of your chosen animal supplied in a cool magnetic photo frame l Personalised A5 certificate l One update a year including a new photograph

ALL THIS FOR ONLY £25 p&p) (inclusive of

ADOPT A FARM A N I M A L WITH

P O L A N D

This is to certify that has adopted Signed Juliet Gellatley – Founder & Director of Viva!

Date

Janet Taylor – Founder & Manager of Farm Animal Sanctuary

Cezary Wyszy ski – Viva! Poland Manager

Adopt a Farm Animal, 8 York Court, Wilder Street, Bristol BS2 8QH T: 0117 944 1000 E: info@adoptafarm animal.org.uk W: www.adoptafarmanimal.org.uk

Order your adoption online from adoptafarmanimal.org.uk or call 0117 944 1000 (Mon-Fri, 9-5)

viva.org.uk 35

VL67 p32-41.qxp_VL41 redesign new 13/03/2018 11:49 Page 36

On the horns of a dilemma

Tony Wardle asks some challenging questions about being vegan – but doesn’t have all the answers

Y

ou get used to daft questions when you’re vegan, or aspiring to be so. Most of them are based on ignorance and are easily answered.

But as our movement to save animals gathers extraordinary momentum and big companies see us as a profit centre, so the questions become much harder to answer.

One that crops up regularly concerns Tesco’s (and other big stores) launch of vegan products. “Why would you support them – they’re cashing in on our compassion!”

Well, yes, I guess they are but this goes to the heart of why you’re vegan and what you want to achieve.

I can only speak for Viva!’s approach so let’s be clear, we are not a cult, nor a religion, nor a club that you have to meet certain criteria to join. We are a bunch of dedicated and professional individuals who, with the backing of our supporters, use our working lives to fight for animals. We want people to stop eating them!

However, if someone decides to give up eating meat on Mondays, we don’t call them hypocrites because they still eat it on the other six days. We congratulate them on starting the process of change, of understanding, and encourage them to go further. If someone goes vegetarian, which is how most vegans start out, we don’t dismiss them – we cheer them from the rafters, tell them they’re saving thousands of animals (which they

36

life

are) and then help them to go a step or two further.

A few people attack us for this, saying that veganism is a moral imperative and any transition period is a betrayal – it’s carnivore to vegan overnight or nothing. Veganism might be a moral imperative for them but it isn’t yet for millions in Britain who, at the moment, don’t give a toss about veganism. The big question is, how do you get them to give a toss? Certainly not by screaming ‘animal abuser’ at them.

It’s through campaigns and education that you effect change – and that’s why we pump out information all over Britain, have organised over 50 Festivals, give talks to thousands of people each year, make great use of the media and shatter the myth of ‘the best animal welfare in the world’ by going inside despicable places and revealing the truth. From the thousands of emails and letters we’ve received from people who have changed their diet because of us, we know it works.

Okay, having helped someone to go vegan, what next?

We try to make it easy for them to stay vegan with things like our brilliant Vegan Recipe Club – and it’s also where Tesco comes in. Veganism can never become commonplace until vegan products are widely available in the places where people do the bulk of their shopping. As author and environmentalist Sailesh Rao said in the last Viva!life, it is inevitable that commercial

VL67 p32-41.qxp_VL41 redesign new 13/03/2018 11:49 Page 37

organisations follow the trail we have blazed and become an essential part of the change that’s happening.

From here on, the moral dilemmas get more acute but they’re not all entirely new. Twenty or so years ago, one of the very few, dedicated vegan food manufacturers discovered they had a problem – mice in their only factory. Health inspectors dismissed the owner’s intention to use live capture traps as being too ineffective and insisted on professional pest control – or he would issue a closure notice. It was highly likely that any closure would become permanent. Passions were so high that it led to fisticuffs at the Vegan Society’s AGM because the factory owners complied with the inspector’s demands. What do you think they should have done?

More widespread dilemmas are developing with the huge growth of vegan meat analogues – mock meats. There are some who say we shouldn’t be eating food that mimics meat at all but this isn’t a moral

issue merely individual choice and big investors – very big investors – are pouring their money into developing new analogues. They see this as the future.

Let’s get your moral juices flowing with the next two.

Burgers from a company called Moving Mountains have just been launched in the UK. They are entirely plant based but made to look red like real meat, which goes brown as it cooks – it’s been termed the ‘bleeding’ burger.

Not so much an ethical issue, I think, as one of aesthetics.

Just days ago, I listened to a cynical and dubious Radio 4 reporter subjecting another new bleeding burger to the taste test – this one from US company, Impossible Foods. “Good lord, it tastes just like meat,” he said in amazement. The reason was because the company had gone to great lengths to discover what gave meats their particular taste and discovered it was haem – the red, iron-containing pigment in haemoglobin.

Their new burger had to be vegan and so they developed an entirely new source of haem using genetically modified yeast. It was in every sense identical to animal haem but was considered by the US Food &

Drug Administration (FDA) as a ‘novel’ food product and as such had to be tested on rats.

Pat Brown, Impossible Foods’ CEO and long-term vegan, was mortified as the core of his company’s mission was to eliminate the exploitation of animals and reduce the environmental impact of animal agriculture.

His reason for developing a ‘haem burger’ was to appeal to millions of meat-eating people across the world and make it easy for them to change their diet, thus saving countless farmed animals and the environment. He said: “In my three-decade career in biomedical research, I always avoided using animals in experiments but without the rat testing our mission, and the future of billions of animals whose future depends on its success, was thwarted”. He complied with the FDA’s demand.

So, what would you have done?

All over the world, huge companies, including Tyson Foods and Cargill, the largest distributors of meat in the US, are investing vast sums in developing a different kind of product – ‘bio meat’. In truth, it isn’t a meat alternative but… well, meat! It’s obtained by taking stem cells from any living animal, including fish, and growing them in bio-reactors to form muscle meat. In theory, it could end animal slaughter and environmental degradation from animal farming almost entirely. Not sure what it will do for human health but if the China study is correct and animal protein is every bit as damaging as saturated animal fat, the answer is probably ‘not a lot’.

Now, one big problem is that in some of the experimental productions, the growth medium is foetal calf serum obtained, as the name suggests, from calf foetuses in what we believe to be a very painful process for the cow. Some are also using gelatine, obtained from boiled down animal bones and ligaments. Vegan alternatives are available and we understand that some of the big companies are claiming that they will only use these non-animal mediums.

Of course, it isn’t vegans who are their target audience but meat reducers, who may not be quite so fussy as to what’s been involved in making their lab meat.

So where do you stand? Would you eat it? Do you reject it for yourself but encourage it for others for the reasons above? Or do you damn it with faint praise? I would like to hear your views by email tony@viva.org.uk or by letter to Tony Wardle, Viva!, 8 York Court, Wilder Street, Bristol BS2 8QH but please, no phone calls.

To read Viva!’s definitive statement, see page 44.

Help Viva! Make the world a kinder place. Text VLPR00 £5 to 70070 to donate

The Impossible Burger, made entirely from plants q

viva.org.uk 37

VL67 p32-41.qxp_VL41 redesign new 13/03/2018 11:50 Page 38

Viva! la crafter! lifestyle

Across the globe, a more conscious approach to commerce is leading the way and amazing, vegan-friendly, independents, crafters and artisans alike are coming out of the woodwork and offering one-of-akind products made with heart and soul.

We share our favourite finds for handmade + vegan inspiration.

Kind Kitsch

Fun, fly, feminist and your lapel’s new best friend—meet crafter Jessica Jumper’s brand of vegan kitsch. From immortalizing the ‘accidentally vegan’ Oreo cookie into wearable art, to the adorable alliterative, ‘Sisters Not Sausages’ merch, we’re loving her light-hearted approach to activism. This Manchester-based illustrator creates a range of cute jewellery and clothing with an empowering message for future generations. Handmade accessories start at £1.25 to £18.99 for a t-shirt. etsy.com/uk/shop/JessicaJumpers. Visit vivashop.org.uk to buy Jessica’s bespoke Viva! enamelled brooches.

Pencil to Paper For free-from foodies everywhere—Paper Craze’s tropically-hued vegan stationery set, featuring fruit and veggies, is cheerfullypresented and delicious to behold. This hand-printed set includes: three each of A6 recycled kraft notebooks and greeting cards, six hashtag printed pencils and an acrylic heart cake pick for the inspiring cookery writer. Time to put down the phone, channel your inner old school and put pencil to paper! £13 notonthehighstreet.com/partners/papercraze

38

life

Conscious Traveller Verry Kerry’s eclectic range of ethical accessories blend traditional tribal-inspired fabrics with a modern style sensibility. Handmade by fairtrade and NGOapproved artisans in Delhi, each product is a limited edition piece; made using durable rexine (artificial leather), strong thick, woven cotton, sturdy zips and impeccable stitching. Full of boho charm, passionate designer Kerry’s stand-out accessories are vibrant, vegan and a vital addition to your weekender lifestyle!

Wash/cosmetic bags are £35 (34 x 17 x 15cm), tablet/laptop sleeves are £40 (49 x 29cm) and weekend travel bags start at £89 (24 x 28 x 50cm). verrykerry.com

VL67 p32-41.qxp_VL41 redesign new 13/03/2018 11:50 Page 39

Flower Powerful

Long-time Viva! Footwear faves, Freerangers, have built-up a dedicated fan base thanks to their skilled craft of making each animal-free shoe by hand in their Newcastle upon Tyne factory — and like the old time cobblers, will repair your pair of Freerangers too. Their latest Lorica ‘leather’ offering, designed to put a smile on your face and spring in your step, is the Flower Ankle Boot – featuring an intricate dot art pattern by Leah Yellowbird (a Native American artist) on the front, side and back of the heel. Choose from a range of five colours, including Purple Passion (pictured). Available in sizes: 2½ – 8. £260. freerangers.co.uk freerangers coin purse giveaway Win a cute coin purse handmade by Freerangers, worth £32! Giveaway closes: midnight, April 30th 2018. Enter online here: viva.org.uk/competitions

Vegan Pin-Ups Taking inspiration from her globe-trotting travels, Leeds-based city-explorer, Estelle, began her career in illustration by visually documenting her experiences, thus The Creative Toucan was born. Among her many striking, typographic designs lies a cool collection of hand-crafted, pro-vegan posters like ‘Be a Ledge, Eat Veg’ and ‘Keep Calm, Become Vegan’. We say it’s time to awaken your walls with art for animals — start with the poignant and oh-so-pretty print ‘Animals are My Friends and I Don’t Eat My Friends’. Digital downloads are £4.79 and physical prints are supplied on 150gsm recycled paper for £11. etsy.com/uk/shop/TheCreativeToucan

tip We sourced a lot of our vegan crafters and artisans by trawling indie online marketplaces like Etsy and Not On The High Street.

Don’t forget your local markets and vegan festivals can be a treasure trove of cruelty-free merchants too!

viva.org.uk 39

VL67 p32-41.qxp_VL41 redesign new 13/03/2018 11:50 Page 40

life

Viva!’s media blitz for the animals B y T o n y Wa r d l e , E d i t o r

The backlash begins So many food companies and chain restaurants are now latching on to veganism and are introducing new vegan ranges and menus – far too many for us to keep track of. And after a flood of positive newspaper articles the silly season is now with us and the illresearched warnings have begun – anything to rock the boat.

Vegan men may become impotent was one claim, ignoring the fact the vascular restriction is a huge cause of impotence amongst meat eaters and there is no science pointing the finger at vegan men. Vegans may also become more stupid by giving up milk and the iodine it contains, claimed another tabloid. Yes, stupid enough to make a choice that is kinder, likely to make them healthier, extend their lives and help save a planet in deep trouble. Yeah, that’s really stupid. They ignored the fact that the iodine content of both milk and plants depends entirely upon the soil from which they come.

And a blast from the past is a claim that veganism may lead to anorexia. Twenty-four years ago, ITV’s The Big Story spent nearly an hour of prime time trying to accuse Viva! of just that. The science shows that anorexics claim to be veggie or vegan simply to reduce their food choices and are referred to as ‘pseudo veggies’. The percentage who are vegan or veggie prior to the onset of the condition is tiny. I think we could legitimately ask the question – ‘Does meateating make tabloid journalists utterly, breathtakingly stupid’?

40

life

Juliet’s radio waves Our Bring Hope to Millions message rippled out all over Britain as director Juliet Gellatley urged people to try vegan and save animals, highlighting the story of our rescued pig Hope and her family.

She again did a mammoth broadcasting schedule by fielding 17 interviews back-to-back, from as far North as Peterhead to as far South as Southampton and numerous stations in between – including London, Northern Ireland and Wales.

The radio monitoring opinion was fulsome: “Juliet was a great spokesperson and worked well with presenters to create stimulating conversation and answer interview questions.

Regardless of the questions, she was fantastic at veering the discussion into the desired direction, always highlighting the key messages”.

Of course, while this largescale promotion of veganism was going on, our

heart-rending cinema ads, again featuring our rescued pig mum Hope, were playing to packed yuletide audiences. The feedback we have had from this campaign – the largest we have ever mounted – has been little short of awesome.

Being an old school journalist, I still think of communication in terms of newspapers, TV and radio but the world has changed around me and blogging, vlogging and social media are probably even more important – and our message filled those cyber waves, too.

Juliet on BBC Online

A turkey is for life … not just Christmas! That was our message in Bristol’s main shopping centre just before Christmas and it was splashed all over the Bristol Evening Post. ‘Shoppers urged to ditch meat this Christmas’, they said, as we showed footage from our undercover investigations

on a giant screen. The reaction of ordinary people is extraordinary when they see the reality of dead and dying birds in filthy and cramped sheds. It’s quite obvious that if campaigners didn’t carry out this distressing work the public would remain permanently in ignorance.

VL67 p32-41.qxp_VL41 redesign new 13/03/2018 11:50 Page 41

Viva!’s writers Veronika Powell and Justine Butler (and occasionally both me and Juliet) continue to supply the leading vegan consumer magazines with feature articles at the rate of four or five a month. These regular contributions to Plant Based News and Vegan Food & Living never fail to promote Viva! and provide a valuable extension to our important outreach.

‘Attack’ says NFU

Photo © James Duncan Davidson

We can’t keep track There has been so much coverage of vegan issues over the past few months that it’s slightly overwhelming.

The Guardian finally seems to have seen the light and has published some powerful articles, including a whole vegan Christmas meal planner and an exposé of the shocking animal welfare conditions and environmental damage inherent in livestock farming. And George Monbiot continues with his verbal assault on animal agriculture’s impact on our planet. Who knows, they might one day publish one of our exposés.

Even the Sun weighed in with a vegan Christmas meal special, together with a huge list of vegan products available from supermarkets and health shops.

The farm owners’ body, the National Farmers Union, recently held elections for a new president and candidates got stuck into vegans as though they were a variant of swine flu. Veganuary (which Viva! originally helped to launch) got them spitting tacks.

‘The public will listen to persuasive arguments,’ said one candidate. Yes, true, and it’s why they’re turning vegan. ‘It’s no good taking them on one-to-one,’ said

another. What, in armed combat?

‘Failure to win the argument would risk losing a whole generation,’ said a Somerset farmer. By jove he’s got it – I think he’s got it! ‘When something is demonstrably, absolutely categorically wrong, then we do need to challenge that,’ said a Mr Small. If the examples of us getting it wrong are the same as published by Farmers Weekly and reported in the last Viva!life, I’m not sure that will work either.

Talking of Veganuary…

Pobol y Vegan

Wide-ranging coverage of this year’s event included an excellent spot on Radio One’s Steve Wright in the Afternoon. Radio Four’s The Food Programme surprised everyone when the whole programme by Grace Dent was devoted to exploring why so many young people are turning vegan and why so many vegan restaurants are opening. The Food Programme has been pretty good at covering veganism in the past but this time it was glowingly positive from start to finish.

One of our supporters informs us that there is a vegan storyline running in the Welsh language soap opera Pobol y Cwm on S4C TV. The whole Bryntirion clan has decided to go vegan but to find out how they get on you’ll have to learn Welsh.

viva.org.uk 41

VL67 p42-52.qxp_Layout 1 13/03/2018 11:50 Page 42

r w e h e T aRe e g O t

hUge…

In 2017, Viva! supporters brought Hope to massive audiences nationwide and brought vegan kindness into the mainstream.

Giving a monthly gift offers us security and helps us to plan ahead for our vital campaigns – and makes even more of a difference to animals’ lives.

Please consider giving a monthly sum to support the UK’s most active farmed animal campaigning charity.

We’re in this together. Help us make the world a kinder place for ALL animals.

Viva! is at the forefront of farmed animal campaigning: investigating, reporting and publicising cruelty in farming

Dotty and her piglets, who were rescued by Viva! and now live happily at Dean Farm Animal Sanctuary

We do it so piglets like these can live free and happily

Donate monthly online at viva.org.uk/donate or call 0117 944 1000 42

life

VL67 p42-52.qxp_Layout 1 13/03/2018 11:50 Page 43

'T OK! W N E CA CO

N DAY

N'TP NOW O 30 K W GN U O SI O C

KA?F MH LG +( <9QK OGJL@ G> >J== N=?9F E=9D HD 9FK 9F< J=;AH=K OAL@ NAN9 EVERYTHING YOU NEEED TO START YOUR VEGGAN JOURNEY INCLUDINNG:

FREE DAILY EMAIL E S DELICIOUS VEGAN RECIP HEAALTH TIPS

SUPPORT

VEG GAN NUTRITTIO

VEGAN MEA AL PL ANS

#30DAYVEGAN

INSPIRATIO N

VL67 p42-52.qxp_Layout 1 13/03/2018 11:51 Page 44

Viva!’s statement on lab/bio meats “If lab, or bio, meat does become popular, we would continue to encourage food manufacturers to develop delicious plant alternatives to re-educate people’s palates and thus enable a complete step away from the reliance on products stemming from animal cells and towards a healthier, 100 per cent cruelty-free vegan diet, with zero reliance on animals. And although lab meat is potentially lifesaving for innumerable animals, it still replicates meat and fosters a perception that we ‘need’ meat when the opposite is true.

It is vital, of course, that the cells are grown in a vegan medium and do not replace one form of animal cruelty with another. We are also very concerned for the animals used for the biopsies until self-renewing cells are developed.

We do, however, hold the pragmatic view that lab meat could, potentially, save billions of animals from factory farming and slaughter each year and reduce greenhouse gas emissions dramatically – potentially by about 90 per cent compared to meat production.

Although lab meat is not vegan it could be an incredibly positive step for animals – farmed and wild.

The habitat of wild animals is destroyed by livestock farming – both grazing and feed production – and it is at the heart of most environmental catastrophes.

Lab meat could also potentially reduce the severe risk of antibiotic resistance which is fast developing in the overcrowded and dirty conditions of factory farms.

As the vast majority of the world’s people still consume animals, lab meat could change the landscape very quickly and very dramatically”.

Juliet Gellatley, founder & director, Viva!

44

life

y

Made in England & Europe Quality ‘breathable’ non-leather n materials

Est. 1990

A treat for your feet if i you don t eat meat!

VL67 p42-52.qxp_Layout 1 13/03/2018 11:51 Page 45

V-biz

Viva! is proud to work with a lot of like-minded individuals and businesses to help promote a cruelty-free lifestyle for all and to bring you (our members!) amazing discounts and the latest goss on vegan products and services that we know you’ll love!

Thank yoxu!

The following businesses have recently joined our Supporter’s Discount Club or now carry the Viva! Vegan Symbol – please support them! (join Viva! to get discounts at viva.org.uk/join)

A massive thank you to the incredibly enthusiastic and hard-working Viva! stall volunteers who have helped represent Viva! at events throughout the winter season and raise funds for our campaigns. We § you!

Gló Foods Exciting online vegan food shop that sells and delivers 100 per cent plant-based groceries and meal packages. l 10 per cent discount on online orders for Viva! supporters. Email to activate the discount. w: glofoods.co.uk | e: glofoodsuk@gmail.com

If you’re a vegan or veg-friendly business, join our Supporter’s Discount Club (it’s FREE!) or use the Viva! Symbol on your products. Sign-up online viva.org.uk/resources/ businesses or contact vicky@viva.org.uk

Rowen Stillwater Sells zero waste products, including vegan wax wraps. Viva! Vegan Symbol approved! l 10 per cent discount on online orders for Viva! supporters. Email to activate the discount. w: rowenstillwater.com | e:rowen@rowenstillwater.com

Taylormay Botanicals Small batch, organic skincare made in the Peak District. Viva!

Vegan Symbol approved! w: tmbotanicals.co.uk Follow them on Facebook @taylormaybotanicals and in mid April they will randomly pick a winner who will receive three free products: Rose & Apricot Clay Face Mask, Hibiscus Cleansing Grains and Rosehip Cleansing Oil. Also, Viva!life readers get free shipping with code Vivafreep&p during March and April 2018.

l Patricia and Susan – Animal Charities Bazaar – £75 l Greta and Frances - Animal Aid’s Christmas Fayre – £700 l Nigel, Sue, Rebecca & Jen – Southend Christmas Vegan Fair £350 To see our volunteers in action and get a taste of what it’s like to run a stall for Viva!, flick through our brand new online photo gallery viva.org.uk/viva-stall-volunteergallery Save the Date Don’t miss out on fabulous vegan events ever again! Get on down to myvegantown.org.uk, where you’ll find our handy online events calendar. While you’re there – browse and review 1000’s of veganfriendly places and things to see and do – all at your fingertips.

viva.org.uk 45

VL67 p42-52.qxp_Layout 1 13/03/2018 11:51 Page 46

‘I’m goiNg To JOin viVa!’s UNdeRcoVer TEam!’ Cynthia’s a realist and knows her time is now limited. She has always supported Viva!’s campaigns against animal cruelty but with few resources. When she finally goes, Cynthia knows she’ll leave some decent money and wants to use some of it to save animals from suffering. That’s why she intends to support Viva!’s exposés of factory farming. Viva! is changing the face of Britain and Cynthia still wants to be a part of it – wherever she is.

Please remember Viva! in your will so we can go on saving animals For information on leaving a Will, see viva.org.uk/legacies or ring 0117 944 1000 Check out our campaigns on viva.org.uk/campaigns

The woman pictured is a model but we want to thank Cynthia Harper for her extraordinary generosity.

VL67 p42-52.qxp_Layout 1 13/03/2018 11:51 Page 47

Viva!’s popular pulsating podcast Presented by the pukka professional, Kristian Townsend, the latest Viva!

Podcast will have you rivetted

p We told you he was good!

Earlier this year, our Podcast person, Kristian Townsend was flown to the US to do two massive DJ-ing sets in Salt Lake City, Utah. Of course he went down like a storm

We talk to Viva!’s Scary Dairy campaigner, Veronika Powell, who outlines the upcoming, action-packed Day of Action for Britain’s hardest working mother – the dairy cow.

We have an exclusive with Joey Carbstrong on his tactics to promote veganism.

We’re encouraging people to take action and go dairy-free in order to end support for this cruel exploitation.

We give you the lowdown on our Cardiff Viva! Festival and tell you about our upcoming Shoreditch Festival.

We talk to Viva campaigner Laura Lisa about our LOVEGAN Street Action campaign, where she and others spent active days in Bristol, London and Leicester talking to locals. Bold face-paint, biodegradable glitter, our 3D virtual reality headsets and our brand new LOVEGAN leaflets are all part of the outreach!

We take a look at Februdairy, the farmers’ answer to Veganuary, and ask – did it work or did it back fire spectacularly.

And lastly, we talk to Elspeth's Kitchen on an exciting new development with supermarkets.

g Britain’s hardest workin

e months a year.

She’s pregnant for nin olumes of milk at Producing unnatural v the same time. y taken from her Has her new-born bab ar afftter year. e y s n e p p a h … and it

ted, hungry, No wonder she’s exhaus . d emaciated and depresse

Subscribe on all major platforms!

viva.org.uk/vivapodcast viva.org.uk 47

VL67 p42-52.qxp_Layout 1 13/03/2018 11:51 Page 48

• BO

• B OK C O

L U B

O K CLUB •

B

B

vegan U OO L C K

The Vegan 100 Insta-addicts worth their salt will already be well acquainted with Gaz Oakley’s (aka @avantgardevegan) uncanny ability to make you instantly crave whatever recipe he’s just posted. This bearded, Welsh wonder is on a mission to prove plantbased is the best food on the planet, once and for all! Expect stunning, eat-off-thepage photography with recipes referencing much-loved, homestyle classics (‘Fish’ and Chips, Lemon Meringue Pie), given the five star, vegan treatment.

The Year of the Vegan Cookbook In our many years of flicking cookery writers; meat-free through, raving about and munching has gone mainstream salivating over every new vegan and ditching dairy is most definitely cookbook to hit the shelves, never on the menu. Without further ado, have we been so spoiled for choice here’s our shortlist of hot-off-theor drooled this much. The press, not-to-be-missed titles, (dining) tables have finally available now from the Viva! Shop. turned for vegan For detailed reviews and recommends, visit 15 Minute Vegan Comfort Food Viva!’s 200-strong, Back for a second helping of quick and easy vegan online vegan book club meals, York-based blogger and fully-fledged cookery vivashop.org.uk writer Katy (littlemissmeatfree.com) adopts a more mindful approach to the process of cooking and consuming food in her latest cookbook. With 100 comforting recipes for solo or social eating, that are designed to nourish the soul using easy-to-source supermarket ingredients, this book is an appetising antidote to the hectic pace of modern life.

Recipe Raves: The Persian Sharer menu: Aubergine, Olive and Butter Bean Cassoulet, Apricot Pistachio and Mint Pilaf, Grilled Courgettes with Dill Yoghurt, Artichoke and Pine Nut Orzo and Pan-Fried Crispy Chickpeas.

Katy Beskow, Hardback, 160pp. £15

Recipe Raves: Chorizo-Style Chilli Dogs, Potato and Leek Croquettes with Relish and Welsh Cakes with Whipped ‘Cream’ & Strawberries

Gaz Oakley, Hardback, 324pp. £25

BOSH! Bish, bash, bosh – the social media stars from the muchfollowed Facebook vegan cookery channel BOSH! (over 1.5 million followers if we’re counting) are set to conquer the printed word too by converting their clever, quick and delish video-recipes into book form.

While the appeal of watching the BOSH! boys whip a Giant Burrito Crunch Cake right before your eyes, all from the comfort of your phone is, we’ll admit, high, you’ll be happy to know their 140 recipe cookbook carries across the same easypeasy tone, supported by mouth-watering imagery—with the added bonus of a pause-free, cleanscreen cooking experience.

The How Not to Die Cookbook The highly anticipated food companion to vegan physician Dr Michael Greger’s charttopping, plantbased prescription for modern life, How Not to Die, is finally here. Through his How Not to Die cookbook, Dr Greger puts his fact-based, food-as-medicine advice and top tips into practice—in over 100 nutritionallybalanced recipes with accompanying colour photos.

The hearty, wholefood recipes will appeal to the healthconscious and those getting to grips with a plantbased lifestyle.

Recipe Raves: Big Bhaji Burger, Cauliflower Buffalo Wings and Spanish Beach Churros.

Recipe Raves: Spaghetti Squash Arrabiata, Braised Tempeh and Bok Choy with Spicy Ginger Sauce and Berry Chocolate Chia Puddings.

Henry Firth and Ian Theasby, Hardback, 288pp. £20 Available from mid-April

Dr Michael Greger, Gene Stone and Robin Robertson.

Hardback, 272pp. £16.99

All Viva! Vegan Book Club recommends are available to buy from vivashop.org.uk/books 48

life

VL67 p42-52.qxp_Layout 1 13/03/2018 11:51 Page 49

Classifieds holidays | england East sussex

holidays | france

La Maison du Vert vegetarian & vegan hotel & restaurant

eat

Our hotel & restaurant is set in a stunning Normandy valley within 3 acres of beautiful gardens. ŵ (IPM GMSYW ZIKIXEVMER ERH ZIKER KSYVQIX QIRYW ŵ 2EXYVEPP] KVS[R TVSHYGI SVKERMG [MRIW GMHIVW ERH FIIVW ŵ :MWMX 'EQIQFIVX 1SRIXŭW KEVHIR 1SRX 7X 1MGLIP ,SRƥIYVV ( (E] PERHMRK FIEGLIW &E]IY\ ŵ ;EPO G]GPI VIPE\ *VII ;-*-

rest

Debbie & Daniel Armitage 61120 Ticheville, Normandy, France 00 33 2 33 36 95 84 mail@maisonduvert.com

www.maisonduvert.com

see

lake district

LES AIGLES VEGETARIAN & VEGAN SELF CATERING HOLIDAY APARTMENT

Mirabel-aux-Baronnies, 26110, France +33 (0)4 75 26 47 18 +33 (0)6 77 75 97 14 bookings@lesaigles-veggies.com www.lesaigles-veggies.com holidays | ireland

West Cork – Vegetarian self-catering apartments. Peaceful, wooded surroundings. Organic vegetables and wholefoods available. Green Lodge, Ballylickey, Bantry, Co Cork.

Tel: 0035 3 2766146 Email: greenlodge@gmail.com Web: http://homepage.eircom.net/~greenlodge

Personal

Looking for friendship, love or even a new business partner? Well, Viva!life Personal is the place to come! It’s simple and effective, and good value for money with prices starting from £8 for a 20-word lineage advert.

Gentle, kind, compassionate, vegan male, seeks female of a similar nature for love, friendship and sharing life together.

My interests: protecting animals, nature, the environment, hiking, cycling, wild camping, books, living foods, holistic health. My aspirations: country-living, growing food, fatherhood and joint parenting. Age and location immaterial. Please reply to: Box 67/6, Viva! Classifieds, 8 York Court, Wilder Street, Bristol BS2 8QH

products & services

www.taxreturnonlineservices.co.uk Financial Accounts Preparation • Self Assessment Tax Returns Rental Accounts • Business Tax Advice 5% donation to VIVA!

Tel: 01485 601499

For Viva! news, info, merchandise and much more visit us online at viva.org.uk viva.org.uk 49

VL67 p42-52.qxp_Layout 1 13/03/2018 11:51 Page 50

Read the latest novel from awardwinning journalist and TV producer Tony Wardle

GET YOUR COPY OF POD FOR ONLY ÂŁ8.99 FROM VIVASHOP.ORG.UK

Yogi gi Before fore Raiin

Yog gi After ter Rain

250,000 pets come into UK rescue centres each year,* but not always for reasons r you might expect.

Some come from homes where w they have been much loved but their hum man companion has passed away, or from fam milies who face eviction have to give up those tha at are dearest, fearing they face no other option. a dedicated to helping Here at Rain Rescue, we are rescue, rehabilitate and re e-home dogs and cats from these crisis situation ns as well as saving those abandoned on the streetss, rescuing 500 in the last 12 months. With your help p, we could save more *ADCH Website

50

life

Tia ia Before fore Raiin

Tiia After r Rain

rainresc cue.co.uk

VL67 p42-52.qxp_Layout 1 13/03/2018 11:51 Page 51

Veggie pen- and phone-pals scheme At V for Life, many vegans and vegetarians have told us they would like to be in touch with more like-minded people â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but that they would prefer to use traditional methods of communication.

So in response to these requests we launched a pen and phone pals scheme, especially for older vegans and vegetarians.

Registered charity number 1120687

For further details and an application form, please call V for Life on 0161 257 0887 or email info@vegetarianforlife.org.uk

0161 257 0887 | www.vegetarianforlife.org.uk

VL67 p42-52.qxp_Layout 1 13/03/2018 11:51 Page 52

Ma ake a differe ence with your y energy y bills Herre’s four BIG reasons to join j us... us Brita ain’s greenest en nergy comp pany >L Z\W WWS` NYLLU LSLJ[[YPJP[` HUK MYHJR MYYLL NYLLU NHZ

The best customer service s No automated phone lines – just friendly people who pick up the phon ne and treat you like a real person.

Everybody pays the e same We have just one tariffff for ele ectricity and VUL MVY NHZ ¶ ZV HSS V\Y J\Z[V VTLYZ HYL VU our latest best price.

We believe a vegan n diet is better for everyone We even helped our local foo otball team, Forest Green Rovers, becom me the world’s ÄYZ[ HUK VUS` ]LNHU MVV[IH HSS JS\I

Up to £60 don nation to Viva! * when h you join j in Ecotricity E t i it -VY M\SS [LYTZ HUK JVUKP[PVUZ WSLHZL NV [V LJV[YPJP[` JV \R ]]P]H

Call us free on 0808 8 123 0123 or visit ecotricity.c co.uk/viva (quote e VIV VA when you switch)