With the news that more than 540,000 people – more than 1 per cent of the population – now follow a vegan diet, 2016 has become the Year of the Vegan. But if you’re yet to be convinced, here are five compelling reasons to ditch animal products for good.
You don’t want the world to end
There’s nothing like beginning an article with a little light-hearted doom-mongering, but animal agriculture is wreaking havoc on our planet. It is a leading cause of climate change, habitat destruction and species extinction. A recent State of Nature report found that intensive farming has an "overwhelmingly negative" impact on nature, threatening more than half of UK species.
As if this wasn’t enough, we could soon be contending with widespread antibiotic resistance due to the use of the strongest antibiotics rising to record levels on European farms. Animal agriculture is leading us to the brink of a superbug epidemic which, according to the UK chief medical officer, poses a "bigger threat than terrorism" to human life.
Last week the UN General Assembly's Disarmament and Security Committee voted for negotiations to begin next year on a new international treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons, writes Rebecca Johnson, bypassing the stalled Non Proliferation Treaty. One immediate consequence is to make the UK's plans to replace its Trident nuclear missile system 'completely untenable'.
The latest Evolution Cabaret Club extravaganza from Earth Circus Productions Featuring our favourite frontline band Seize the Day, https://www.facebook.com/SEIZE-THE-DAY-97619367824/?fref=ts DJ Pony - Small World, Dj George Solarquest - Entropica Chill out Floor 2 DJ Firebird The Rub, www.rub.fm Pok Star,https://www.facebook.com/simonjohnpok.miller?fref=ts Fluffy -Compere Jugglers and Dancers and many more TBC Evolutionary talk by James Hamilton Co Founder Megatripolis and Warp family of London Psychedelic clubs Veggy/Vegan cafe food and amazing cakes. Market Stalls Eco Info Healing area Fancy Dress theme Time Travel Also featuring on floor 2 The Resistance Exhibition 2 (Multi media exhibition of 25 years of Social and protest movements) https://www.facebook.com/events/365657687102201/