TOP NEWS THIS WEEK
Paris Olympics Embraces Plant-Based Cuisine: You’ll find the world’s largest salad bar in Paris this summer. The 2024 Paris Olympics is set to make history by offering more vegetarian cuisine than any previous Games. With one-third of the 500 recipes in the athletes’ village being vegetarian and 60% of meals sold to fans in Paris venues being meat-free, the Olympics is rebranding French gastronomy as a showcase for delicious plant-based food. Read more in The Guardian.
Florida Bill Banning Cultivated Meat Advances: In a misguided move, the Florida House has given final approval to a bill that would ban the sale and manufacture of cultivated meat in the U.S. state. Cultivated meat is grown in a lab from animal cells without slaughter. By opposing this innovation, Florida is siding with the animal agriculture industry over the interests of animals. “We’re fighting back against an ideology that ultimately wants to eliminate meat production in the US and around the globe,” said Governor DeSantis. For more details, see NBC Miami.
Whales Deafened by Human Noise Pollution: New research reveals that the waters off Los Angeles are now 30 times louder than in the early 1900s due to shipping traffic, with devastating impacts on whales and other marine animals. Noise pollution interferes with whales’ ability to communicate and navigate. It’s a stark reminder that human activity threatens animals in ways beyond direct killing. As we work to end industries like whaling and commercial fishing, we must also confront the more subtle harm we inflict through our other activities. Slower ship speeds and altered shipping lanes are a start, but we need a fundamental shift in how we view and treat the other sentient beings with whom we share this planet. The Los Angeles Times has the full story.
SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT
Texans Encouraged to Dim Lights for Migrating Birds
As nearly two billion birds migrate over Texas this spring, residents are being asked to turn off outdoor lights at night to help prevent fatal bird-building collisions. Light pollution disorients birds, luring them off course and often to their deaths. This issue highlights how even our most mundane choices, like what lights we leave on, can mean life or death for animals. It’s heartening to see people willing to alter their habits to help wild animals. But it also underscores the need for systemic changes in urban design and energy use to make our built environments safer for other animals. Learn more from The Dallas Morning News.
QUICK BITES
Lemongrass Tofu: Infuse your tofu with the citrusy aroma of lemongrass in this Vietnamese-inspired dish. Perfect over rice or in a banh mi sandwich. Find the recipe at Lazy Cat Kitchen.
Date Syrup: Discover how easy it is to make your own natural sweetener at home with just dates and water. A delicious alternative to refined sugar. Jessica in the Kitchen shows you how.
DID YOU KNOW?
A 2021 poll by Rethink Priorities found that a majority of people in the United States believe insects like honeybees, ants, and termites can feel pain, with 52-65% supporting this view. However, the survey also revealed significant uncertainty about insect farming, with 24-45% unsure about their attitudes toward the practice. Interestingly, more respondents (49%) opposed a hypothetical ballot measure to ban using insect-based feed for farmed animals than supported it (29%). These findings suggest that public opinion on insects’ capacity for suffering is strong, but views on the ethics of insect farming are still largely undecided, highlighting the urgent need for greater awareness and education on this emerging animal rights issue. Read the summary and the full study.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
The effort to protect migrating birds reminds us that animals’ wellbeing depends not just on our individual choices but on our collective actions as a society. What other systemic changes do you think are needed to create a world that is truly hospitable and just for all sentient beings? How can we redesign our cities, economies, and cultures to prioritize the flourishing of all life? Share your ideas in the comments.
Stay informed and keep advocating for a more vegan world. See you next week with more updates!
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