Animal Rights Activists Stage Protest in City Centre

George Square was the home of multiple demonstrations as Extinction Rebellion, Farm Animal Rights Movement and Animal Rebellion took to the streets to protest environmental change.

Farm Animal Rights Movement, the oldest animal rights organisation in America descended to Glasgow to spread awareness about the exploitation of animals and the impact it has on the planet. The group is also passionate about reducing reliance on fossil fuels but stressed that without getting rid of animal agriculture then other climate friendly choices will not be effective.

They argue that the biggest step you can take in fixing climate change is altering your diet. They are supporters of veganism and plant-based eating.

The dangerous methane nitrous oxide gases that are released by animal waste and the digestive tracts of cows are more dangerous to the environment than carbon dioxide according to their information pamphlets.

Their research states that animal waste, pesticides and fertilizers cause more harm than human behaviour.

Animal Rebellion were at George Square to support the ‘Plant Based Treaty.’ The treaty focuses on three main concepts. Relinquish, redirect, and restore.

The first refers to stopping the construction of slaughterhouses, farms, the clearing of forests or other ecosystems for animal grazing, animal rearing or animal farming of any kind and stopping the expansions of different animal farming sites. The second represents the promotion of plant-based diets, spreading information about plant diets and climate change and putting food security at the forefront. The third element stands for restoring ecosystems, enforcing no fishing zones in protected waters, and planting more plants in city areas.

Animal Rebellion describe themselves as “a mass movement that uses nonviolent civil disobedience to bring about a transition to a just and sustainable plant-based food system, to halt mass extinction, alleviate the worst effects of climate breakdown and ensure justice for animals.”

They visited Glasgow to help spread the message of a plant-based diet and how animal agriculture is damaging to both the environment and the animals themselves. Similarly, to Farm Animals Rights Movement, they also believe that animal-based farming is the leading cause of environmental damage and governments are not taking it seriously enough

Sophia from Animal Rebellion said:” Politicians won’t acknowledge that animal agriculture impacts deforestation. We are actively trying to get people to sign the Plant Based Treaty and endorse it online by putting your name alongside it.

“As many will know Greta Thunberg is huge when it comes to activism, but she never mentions that she is vegan and the impacts the meat industry has on climate change and why it’s so important to be vegan. She does amazing work but, in that regard, she must speak up.”

When asked about the giant inflatable cow Sophia said:” We have not named them yet, but we are open for suggestions, the cow is here to help promote the treaty and provide information via the QR code on her stomach and the treaty’s name on her side and bring in as much attention as possible.”

Plant Based Treaty inflatable cow seen in George Square - Credit: Jenna Thomson

Their website says: “This is an emergency. The issues are huge and complex, and the solutions needed are urgent. Political power in the UK is in the hands of a few elected politicians. Over the last 40 years, this system has proved incapable of making the long-term decisions needed to deal with the climate and ecological emergency.

“Politicians simply cannot see past the next election. Politicians are lobbied by huge corporate interests to protect certain industries, such as those of the animal farming and fishing industries. We need ordinary citizens to be presented with the facts of animal agriculture to make informed and unbiased choices, with the power to make legislative change.”