GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT AUGUST ROUND UP

There’s been some huge wins for the grassroots animal rights space in August.

Right at the start of the month, Southampton Animal Action convinced Brittany Ferries to end the live export of farmed animals from Ireland to France.

They protested and disrupted ports, offices, and shareholders across the South Coast and London for a year. Concerned the protests might escalate to demonstrations at sea, Brittany Ferries’ CEO gave them his personal WhatsApp number, arranged a series of meetings, and agreed to end the vile trade! The win has sent the Irish farming sector into crisis mode, and they are warning that if a replacement isn’t found soon. All eyes are now on Irish Ferries, the only remaining live exporter for the Irish farming industry. This is an incredible opportunity for our grassroots movement to strike a powerful blow against the dairy industry.

More incredible news from Scotland as grassroots activists and national organisation Protect the Wild have just saved 4,000 lives!

Following a sustained campaign against the Guga Hunt, which sees ten men from the Scottish island of Lewis bludgeon baby gannets to death for a local delicacy, the hunt’s licence has been revoked! In support of the Protect the Wild campaign, grassroots activists smashed windows, painted buildings, and occupied rooftops. The licence will not be issued for 2026, and the licensing body, NatureScot, has indicated this will continue through 2027. Gannets are an endangered species, and the licence is allowed only because of a deliberate loophole in the law. Campaigners are now pushing to close this loophole and make the hunt permanently illegal.

MBR Acres, the notorious puppy factory that breeds dogs for research, continues to sink into shit. Quite literally, it turns out, as their waste management company pulled out, leaving them stacking tonnes of dog poo in rubble sacks behind their buildings. The MBR Suppliers campaign (www.mbrsuppliers.is or MBR Suppliers on FB) is impressively deconstructing the company, leaving them with no working toilets (for the last year!), no gardeners (their security have to trim the hedges to allow lorries in), at risk of being delisted from Companies House, and their £250,000 office building remains unfinished because no one wants to build it.

The National Animal Rights March saw thousands of people marching for animal freedom in London. This is the fifth month in a row that activists have taken to the UK streets en masse for the animals! The Animal Freedom Network has announced that 25 local animal rights communities have formed as part of their efforts to help support and grow the grassroots space. An exciting initiative that is already seeing great results! Their national gathering is on September 25-27 – more info at www.animalfreedom.org.uk.

TRAPS SMASHED, TOWERS TOPPLED AND PHEASANT PEN SABOTAGED.

1st September, Bedfordshire UK.

received anonymously via email:

“On 1st September we took a visit to a known shooter’s land and wrecked his very large pheasant enclosure. There were numerous pheasants inside which would have undoubtedly be shot when the inbreds all met up for their blood thirsty session. It will take him time (and money) to build the enclosure again, by which time hopefully many of the pheasants will have left the area. A deer shooting tower was seen nearby and also dealt with.

A week prior to this we were alerted to a fox trap in a field behind another murderers house. When locating this we also came across a second trap in an adjacent field. Both traps were set and one had the carcus of a squirrel inside. Both traps were destroyed and taken away from the area.

We will be back to check on both locations regularly to ensure any further equipment is appropriately dealt with.”

SOUTH WEST ANIMAL DEFENCE SMASHES WINDSCREENS AND SPRAY PAINTS SLAUGHTERHOUSE LORRIES.

August, Portsmouth UK

received anonymously via email:

“Another hit from the newly formed ‘South West Animal Defence’.

This slaughterhouse was targeted for its on going killing of the most defenceless individuals on the planet, mainly sheep and cows.

They also kill unwanted male calfs from the dairy industry here, who are just weeks old. They were also exposed in 2019 shooting horses in the face in front of their friends. Horses who were in a losing streak, or simply unwanted individuals. And if you don’t have a vegan mindset yet then you give these evil scum your money.

Four vehicles were targeted with all windscreens damaged and the truth spray painted on the sides.”

THE FROGS SABOTAGE A BURGER KING TOILET.

26th August, Chicago USA.

received anonymously via email:

“We flushed two large rocks and paper towels down a toilet at a Burger King in Chicago. This will leave the toilet inoperable and force them to hire a plumber. Hide the rocks in your pockets and use the paper towels in the bathroom and flush.

THE FROGS”

SEVEN DUCKS LIBERATED FROM A DECOY HUNTING STATION.

North Italy, August.

received anonymously via email:

ENGLISH (translation):

“In Italy, the Senate has recently approved the reform of Law 157/1992.

Bill 1552 is now under discussion in the Chamber of Deputies. The hunting reform radically alters the historic Law 157/1992. The measure introduces the concept of ‘bioregulation’, redefining hunters as guardians of the environment and expanding the powers of the regions in wildlife management. The first dangerous change is, in fact, the alteration of the law’s title itself with the introduction of the notion of ‘management’ of wildlife, which aims to increase hunters’ involvement in local management bodies and recognises hunting as an ‘expression of a national tradition’ but also as a ‘sporting and physical activity’ and as a means of controlling invasive species. The overwhelming majority of Italians are opposed to this bloody and predatory activity, yet the Italian government has nevertheless decided to favour that 1 per cent of the population who take pleasure in abusing and plundering the woods for their own sadistic amusement: the hunters.Our response will always be one of animal liberation, because killing, abusing or keeping captive living beings who, like us, have a right to life is, in our view, unjust: we have therefore decided to go to one of the many fixed hunting posts used by hunters to free seven ducks who were shamefully kept in cages, awaiting use as live decoys – that is, as bait for other ducks that would then be killed by the cowardly hunter.

Instead of moving towards the abolition of hunting, Italy has chosen to increase the killing of animals, to expand the list of huntable species (including, if necessary for population control, even the wolf) and to allow hunters to manage all this, turning our lands into battlefields where the most dangerous predator always wins: the human being.

We say, and will always say, NO to the killing of any animal. Lex injusta non est lex.

THE A.L.F. IS WATCHING AND THERE IS NO PLACE TO HIDE.

A.L.F”

ITALIAN (original):

“In Italia in questi giorni e’ stata approvata dal Senato la riforma della Legge 157/1992.

Il DDL 1552 è ora in discussione alla Camera dei Deputati. La riforma della caccia modifica radicalmente la storica Legge 157/1992. Il provvedimento introduce il concetto di “bioregolazione”, ridefinendo i cacciatori come tutori dell’ambiente e ampliando le competenze delle Regioni nella gestione faunistica. La prima pericolosa novità infatti è il cambiamento del titolo della legge stessa con l’introduzione della nozione di «gestione» della fauna, che punta ad un maggiore coinvolgimento dei cacciatori negli organi territoriali di gestione e che riconosce la caccia come «espressione di una tradizione nazionale» ma anche come «attività sportiva e motoria» e come azione per il contenimento delle specie invasive. La stragrande maggioranza degli italiani è contro questa attività sanguinaria e predatoria, ma il governo italiano ha deciso ugualmente di favorire quell’ 1% di popolazione che si diverte ad abusare e saccheggiare i boschi per il proprio sadico divertimento: i cacciatori. La nostra risposta sarà sempre quella della liberazione animale perché uccidere, abusare, detenere essere viventi che hanno diritto come noi a vivere è per noi ingiusto: abbiamo deciso quindi di andare presso uno dei tanti appostamenti fissi utilizzati dai cacciatori per liberare n° 7 anatre vergognosamente detenute in gabbia in attesa di essere utilizzate come richiami vivi cioè come esche per altre anatre che sarebbero poi state uccise dal vigliacco cacciatore.

Invece di andare verso l’abolizione della caccia, l’Italia ha scelto di incrementare le uccisioni di animali, di aumentare le specie cacciabili (tra cui,se necessario per il contenimento, anche il lupo) e di permettere ai cacciatori di gestire tutto questo trasformando in campi di battaglia i nostri territori dove vince sempre il predatore più pericoloso: l’essere umano.

Noi diciamo e diremo sempre NO all’ uccisione di ogni animale. Lex injusta non est lex.

THE A.L.F. IS WATCHING AND THERE IS NOT PLACE TO HIDE.

A.L.F”

COW ABUSE PARTY POSTERS VANDALISED.

18th August, France.

received anonymously via email:

“COWS ARE NOT TOYS!

Every summer in the south of France, some shitty humans organize the so called games “Top à la vachette” where cows are being abused and mocked in an arena full of tourists.

The cities where it happens are spoiled with advertising banners like the one in the picture.

Tonight, multiple “Top à la vachette” ad banners have been vandalized.”

THE LAST REMAINING MINK FARM IN ICELAND IS RAIDED OVERNIGHT.



30th July, Iceland.

At this stage, we have not received any anonymous communiques about the action.

According to local press, Dalsbú mink farm in Mosfellsdalur, Iceland, was raided overnight releasing all mink. Dalsbú was the last remaining operative mink farm in the country.

The owner of the farm explained that it would’ve taken about two hours to release the mink (8,000 of the 12,000 in the farm) and that due to loss of breeding records, the raid has had a devastating impact.

He also called the activists ‘terrorists’, especially ‘terrorists for the animals’ as ‘they have caused enormous suffering to the mink’.

May the mink (and the raider!) run fast and free!

ANIMAL LIBERATION STREAM AT THE EARTH FIRST! UK SUMMER GATHERING – EVENTS

The folks at Radical Animal Lib have sent us their event to promote. They organise an animal liberation corner at the Earth Frist UK Gathering, essentially marrying the eco anarchist and the animal liberationist into a force for change (and trouble).

They’re asking for more workshops, so if you have things to say, maybe hit them up over instagram (@radicalaniallib) or over email.

Last year we got hold of a banging little zine they had printed called ‘The Whole Point is Fighting’ and were told it was just exclusive to the event, who knows, maybe they do another one this year!

Read their words below, and go meet people and organise cool shit in the streets (or in the fields!) with them!:

“HERE WE GO AGAIN!!!

Earth First! UK summer gathering is coming, and with it, the Animal Liberation stream.

Come join us, mingle, meet new friends, learn new stuff and be inspired to keep pushing campaigns until all are free!

12th – 17th August.

Location undisclosed, Peak District, nearest train station is Sheffield. Exact location will be announced closer to the date.

Bring comfy clothes, a tent and sleeping bag.

Vegan food provided.

Entry cost is sliding scale at the gates, nobody will be turned back for lack of funds.

Let us know if you would like to give a workshop!

Contact us: [email protected]

More info: www.earthfirst.uk

EARTH FIRST UK! SUMMER GATHERING LOCATION INFO

The folks at Earth First! have made public some more information about the location of the gathering this year. Of course, the exact location won’t be announced until the 12th as the site is squatted, but at least it will help folks prep their travel arrangements. Read below for more info!

Site location

This year, EF! will be squatting a site in the Peak District. As it will be non-permissive, the exact location can’t be shared ahead of time. It will be shared on this website on the morning of Wednesday 12th August.

However, the rough location can still be shared, as it’s often important to make bookings in advance.

Traveling from the East (Sheffield)

It’s recommended that people coming from the East side of the country make their way to Sheffield. The site location is accessible by a direct bus ride from the city centre, lasting no more than 45 minutes and costing £3. The bus runs from the morning until the early evening — any gaps in the service should be filled by a shuttle.

It will then be a 5 minute walk on slightly bumpy, narrow, and then steep terrain. (We appreciate this sounds concerning to people with mobility needs — please email us [email protected] if you’d like to talk about options)

Sheffield is accessible by train and coach from virtually all major cities.

Traveling from the West (Manchester then Bamford)

If you are traveling from the West of the country, you are still welcome to make your way to Sheffield, however you may also find it easier to go to Manchester and then take the Hope Valley line to Bamford, from which the site will be a half-hour direct bus ride, costing £3.

Manchester is accessible by train and coach from virtually all major cities. The train to Bamford normally runs hourly from about 6am to 10pm and lasts about an hour.

The anytime fare is £15.10 (£10.05 with a railcard) for a single, or £19.60 (£13.05 with a railcard) for a return. Often cheaper advance tickets are available.

When to arrive and leave

Site setup will start from the early morning on Wednesday 12th August, however it may take a few hours to secure it enough to be able to publicly announce it. It should be announced by 10am, from which point everyone is welcome and encouraged to come help set up the site! If you’re planning on arriving early, bring some water and a packed lunch, as the first scheduled meal won’t be until the evening.

The gathering will last until Monday 17th, which is the pack down day. There will be breakfast, but no lunch and dinner. Everyone should expect to leave by mid afternoon — please stay and help us to pack down if you can, but as it’s a squat you may not want to linger too long after most others have left. There will be plenty of other pretty places nearby if you wanted to stay in the Peaks!