Fortnum & Mason And Selfridges Disrupted: Supporters Of Animal Rebellion Pour Out Milk In High-End Department Stores
At approximately 11:35, 2 supporters of Animal Rebellion entered Fortnum & Mason at Piccadilly, took milk from the shelves, and emptied it over the floor of the shop. They then went to Selfridges on Oxford street at around 12:30, and did the same. In Selfridges one of the individuals was assaulted by a member of the public.
This mirrors actions supporters of the group took in Harrods in July, and comes after the supply of milk to shops in London was disrupted in September [1]
The action takes place ahead of Animal Rebellion’s plans to bring “playful disruption” to Westminster on 8/10/22 as part of its “Vegan Occupation,” the group are urging anyone who can join them at 11:00 tomorrow in Green Park.
(Supporters Of Animal Rebellion Pour Out Milk In Fortnum & Mason)
2 individuals have disrupted business at Fortnum & Mason And Selfridges’s West London department stores today in calls for a plant-based future. They emptied bottles of milk across the floor of the food hall to highlight the need to transition to a plant-based food system and a sustainable way of feeding the planet, without exploitation of animals.
Sofia Fernandes Pontes, a student from Madeira, and one of those pouring the milk has said:
“I don’t want to see children grow up in a world surrounded by drought, destruction of nature, and food shortages. I want them to see a world full of wildlife and beauty. Transitioning to a plant-based future is simply essential if we want to see a better world for everyone, supporting farmers to move into profitable and sustainable plant-based production is a no-brainer for Liz Truss and Ranil Jayawardena”
In 2018, comprehensive research from the University of Oxford showed that 76% of the land currently used for food production would be freed-up by a global transition to plant-based production [2]. This land could be rewilded and begin carbon drawdown, mitigating the worst impacts of climate breakdown. A 2019 Harvard University report on UK farmland and food production from Helen Harwatt and Matthew N. Hayek also concluded that the UK would be carbon-negative if it completely transitioned to a plant-based food system [3].
Animal Rebellion took action in September to disrupt the dairy industry and put pressure on Prime Minister Liz Truss and Secretary for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs Ranil Jayawardena to make progress towards their demands. The group has stated its commitment to continuous civil resistance until this happens. They are demanding:
1. Government supports farmers and fishing communities to move away from animal farming and fishing as part of an urgent and immediate transition to a plant-based food system.
2. Government commits to rewild the freed-up land and ocean as part of a broader programme of wildlife restoration and carbon drawdown.
(Milk being poured in Selfridges, before a member of the public assaults one of those involved)
Steve Bone, A father and photographer from Thorpe-Le-Soken, who was one of those taking action said:
“I took action throughout September to push for a plant-based future, and I am taking action again today because Liz Truss and Ranil Jayawardena are still refusing to listen. My little girl’s future is on the line and the Government’s response is to ignore advice from Oxford and Harvard and, instead, opt to drive us all further into the climate, ecological, and cost-of-living crises”
The action today comes as part of Animal Rebellion’s demands for a plant-based future, which were announced on 23/05/22 [4]. The animal and climate group is calling for wholesale governmental support for farmers and fishing communities to transition to a plant-based food system and programme of rewilding that will secure a future for generations to come.
Animal Rebellion is a mass movement using nonviolent civil disobedience to call for a just, sustainable plant-based food system.
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High-quality pictures and videos: https://show.pics.io/plant-based-future
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Nathan (Press Back Office): 07466114387
pressoffice@animalrebellion.org
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