‘Animal Rising’: Animal Rebellion moves away from Extinction Rebellion, group plans to disrupt UK’s premier horse race event
Over the past four years Animal Rebellion has raised the issue of animal farming and fishing into the public consciousness. However, Animal Rising will see a shift in actions and message in order to spotlight animals more than ever. Last year, Animal Rebellion rescued 18 beagles puppies from an animal testing breeding facility. This is the sort of action Animal Rising will prioritize in the coming months.
POLLY FOREMAN: Animal Rebellion has officially relaunched with a new name in a “firm” step away from the Extinction Rebellion umbrella. The group is now known as Animal Rising. It has described its rebrand as a “new era of action for animals,” and comes just days before their planned disruption of the Grand National horse race in Aintree, Liverpool, on Saturday, April 15. While Animal Rebellion traditionally focused more on the environmental impact of animal farming, Animal Rising will put animal rights front and center…
“Over the past four years Animal Rebellion has made untold difference to the environmental movement and raised the issue of animal farming and fishing into the public consciousness,” Animal Rising spokesperson Nathan McGovern told Plant Based News. “However 2023 will see a shift in our actions and message in order to spotlight animals more than ever.”
Last year, Animal Rebellion made headlines after rescuing 18 beagles puppies from an animal testing breeding facility in Cambridgeshire in the UK. This, the group says, is the sort of action Animal Rising will prioritize in the coming months… The group will lead what it says will be “the biggest campaign of animal-focussed actions the UK has seen in decades” this summer. This will be made up, organizers say, of open rescues and high-profile public-facing actions. SOURCE…
BEN CHURCH: It’s watched by more than 500 million people from 140 different countries, but the Grand National remains one of the most controversial horse races in the world. Since it was first run in 1839, the spectacle has become a national institution in the United Kingdom which has transformed into the greatest steeplechase – a race run over fences with a variety of obstacles, including “plain fences, water jumps or open ditches” – on Earth.
However, animal rights groups claim the race represents the “broken relationship” between humans and nature due to the potential dangers the horses face… The demanding course has resulted in multiple fatalities over the years – two horses died during the 2022 edition – with many others injured and some put down as a result. “Most people would say they love animals, so why are we OK with this?” Animal Rising, previously called Animal Rebellion, said in a statement sent to CNN Sport. “Whether it is for food or for sport, our relationship with animals is beyond broken.”
The animal rights group is launching its biggest ever campaign to protect animals this month and has suggested it plans to disrupt this year’s Grand National, which will take place at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, UK, on April 15. The showpiece event is part of a three-day festival which begins on Thursday. “This April we are launching the biggest campaign to protect animals and the climate this country has ever seen,” Animal Rising added. “Already over 500 people are signed up for training to take peaceful action this summer”…
Last month, a reporter from the UK newspaper The Mail on Sunday went undercover to reveal the plans the group had regarding disrupting the race. The story detailed how the organization was planning to help multiple people break onto the track with the hope of preventing the race from starting. Animal Rising says the report won’t stop them from finishing their mission of raising awareness of what they claim are unethical practices. “One undercover Mail on Sunday reporter is not going to stop teachers, nurses, and more from acting for all life and really beginning the crucial conversation about our broken relationship with other animals,” the statement added. SOURCE…
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