Liz Truss Pressured: Supporters of Animal Rebellion Shut Down 2 Dairy Distribution Centres And Drill Tyres As Campaign Enters 5th Day
At 08:00 7/9/22 a group of 30 people entered the Müller facility in Droitwich, with one group being assaulted by security whilst others succeded in glueing onto the entry gates and blocking the entrance to the site. The site is estimated to process 800 million litres of fresh milk yearly, making it the largest site of its kind in the Midlands.
Then, at 10:00, a group of 20 individuals entered Arla Hatfield, breaking a high court injunction. They drilled into, and cut pressure valves off, the tyres of milk trucks to immobilise them, before climbing onto trucks and loading bays to occupy the facility.
This comes the day after Animal Rebellion supporters sprayed the base of Big Ben with fake milk, in a bid to force Liz Truss and Ranil Jayawardena to progress towards their demands [1].
In their 5th successive day of nonviolent civil resistance, supporters of Animal Rebellion have trespassed into Müller’s Droitwich and Arla’s Hatfield facilities. The action comes after further silence from Prime Minister Liz Truss and DEFRA Secretary Ranil Jayawardena on the group’s calls for negotiation over their demands to support farmers in transition to a plant-based food system to combat the climate and ecological crises.
Steve Bone, a father and photographer from Thorpe-le-Soken, taking action at Arla Hatfield, has said
“Liz Truss and Ranil Jayawardena have a legal and moral duty to every single person in this country to lead us out of the cost-of-living, climate, and ecological crises. Immediately committing to no-nonsense policies that support farmers to transition into a plant-based future would give instant progress toward food security and self-sufficiency, whilst also restoring beautiful British nature and drawing down greenhouse gasses from our overloaded atmosphere- all in one act!”
“I have so much love and compassion for all life on Earth, which has led to me taking these actions. I have a little girl at home; I don’t want her to have to go to a zoo to see an otter or an aquarium to see fish. All around us the natural world is collapsing and the least responsible are paying the highest price. Transitioning into a plant-based future is the key solution to our climate and ecological crisis. We need Government action now.”
Animal Rebellion has claimed that its supporters will continue to take peaceful direct action until progress toward their demands is met by the Government [2]. Animal Rebellion has disrupted the dairy industry and Westminister since 4/9/22, with MPs including Siobhan Baillie, Ian Liddell-Grainger, and Carla Lockhart all making comments on the recent actions [3].
Today’s action comes as Liz Truss plans to announce a lift on the fracking moratorium, further casting doubt on the Government’s commitment to net-zero policies [4]. The appointment of Ranil Jayawardena as DEFRA Secretary is also a direct challenge to the government’s commitment to mitigate the worst effects of the climate crisis, Animal Rebellion claims. Jayawardena has ‘consistently’ voted against measures to tackle the climate and ecological crises [5].
Beau King Houston, a performer from Glasgow, taking action at Hatfield has said:
“I am heartbroken to see the blatant disregard for our planet being directly sanctioned by Liz Truss and Ranil Jayawardena. Instead of taking urgent and immediate action to support farmers in a transition to a plant-based food system, which we know is a key solution to the climate and ecological emergencies, they are ramping up fossil fuel production, neglecting farmers, and pushing for utterly destructive policies”
“Actions taken throughout this week, confronting the British Government, are directly proportionate to the cost-of-living, climate, and ecological crises. Supporting farmers to transition to a plant-based food system, which would free up over 50% of farmland whilst producing more food and rewilding the freed-up land, would make food affordable and abundant, whilst making the UK carbon-negative in emissions!” [6]
The action today comes as part of Animal Rebellion’s demands for a plant-based future, which were announced on Monday 23rd of May [7]. 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.
ENDS
Word Count: 738
High-quality pictures and videos: https://show.pics.io/plant-based-future
For interviews or further comment please contact:
Nathan (Press Back Office): 07466114387
Jax (Press Back Office): 07424947798
pressoffice@animalrebellion.org
Notes To Editors:
[2] Animal Rebellion is demanding that 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.
[3] https://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/news/20908005.siobhan-baillie-animal-rebellion-protesters-muller/, https://www.bridgwatermercury.co.uk/news/20976906.mp-ian-liddell-grainger-condemns-protests-muller-bridgwater/, https://twitter.com/RyanRea92196800/status/1567552120596865024?s=20&t=v3z6WaUWeM5ry9s3o12qzA.
[4] https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/liz-truss-fracking-ban-energy-bills-b2162399.html