We often hear phrases like "humane slaughter," as if the violent taking of an animal's life could ever be kind or just. But consider the absurdity: would anyone accept "humane rape," "humane child molestation," or a "humane holocaust"? These ideas are rightly rejected because the harm they describe is fundamentally incompatible with humanity or compassion. So why do we accept the notion of "humane slaughter" for animals?

This is a classic case of cognitive dissonance—our minds trying to hold two opposing beliefs at once. We love animals and want to protect them, yet we support systems that cause unimaginable suffering under the guise of necessity or tradition. We tell ourselves the suffering is minimized, or that it's "natural." But the truth remains: killing animals for food can never be truly humane.

The good news is that we don't need to rely on the suffering of sentient beings for our survival. There is an abundance of plants and crops that provide complete nutrition and sustenance, without the cruelty and violence inherent in animal agriculture.

If we truly stand for justice, peace, and compassion, we must reject the myths that allow harm to continue unnoticed or ignored. Our choices on the plate are powerful acts of kindness or cruelty.

There are no slaughterhouses in the heavens, no slauhterhouses in the new Kingdom. It is is free of pain inflicted on innocent lives- just as the Garden of Eden knew no bloodshed.

Peace doesn't start in politics or protest alone. Peace begins on your plate.

Cultural Lines, Not Moral Lines

One culture eats pigs, another eats dogs — and each looks down on the other for it.
But the difference isn't morality, it's geography.
What we call "food" or "friend" is shaped by tradition, not ethics. Compassion shouldn't stop at culture's borders.

What once began as a calling for veterinarians to safeguard the wellbeing of our pets is increasingly becoming a commercial affair where profit comes first. Across the globe, we see a worrying trend of large commercial chains taking over veterinary practices. This has not only led to sharply rising costs for pet owners but also raised doubts about the quality and integrity of the care our beloved animals receive.

In the Netherlands, for example, Evidensia, a large commercial chain, has become a dominant player in the veterinary sector. Where veterinary practices used to be small-scale and personal, unnecessary treatments are now sometimes prescribed to meet financial targets. Pet owners face exorbitant bills for treatments that often seem unclear and superfluous. Veterinarians themselves report feeling pressured to perform extra X-rays or procedures simply to keep the system running. The result is growing distrust and the feeling that animal love is being increasingly exploited as a cash cow.

This issue is not unique to the Netherlands. Similar developments are seen in countries like the United States and Finland. Large investment firms and commercial corporations dominate the market, firmly controlling fees and treatment practices. Prices are skyrocketing, often without any corresponding improvement in care quality. In the U.S., there have even been reports of vets being pressured to recommend unnecessary procedures, raising ethical concerns about profit being placed above animal welfare.

What can animal lovers do in a commercially dominated veterinary care system? 

• Seek independent veterinarians and small clinics
  Small, independent veterinary practices tend to focus more on your pet's wellbeing than on maximizing profits. They often offer fairer prices and more transparency about treatments.

• Always ask for a second opinion
  If a treatment seems expensive or invasive, don't hesitate to get a second opinion. Sometimes less intensive approaches are possible, or certain procedures may not be immediately necessary.

• Be critical and ask questions
  Don't be pressured into accepting unnecessary treatments. Always ask what the goal is, what the costs are, and what alternatives exist.

• Look for support from animal welfare organizations
  Many non-profit organizations, shelters, and foundations sometimes provide free or reduced-cost medical care for pets of people with financial difficulties.

• Prevention is the best medicine
  Invest in good nutrition, regular vaccinations, and preventive care. This can help avoid costly treatments in the long run.

• Community and barter systems
  In some regions, animal lovers organize local groups to share experiences and tips about affordable veterinary care, or even help each other with costs.

Animals not only sense the world better than we do—they often live more in harmony with it. The Bible calls on us to observe and learn from them, yet we rarely do. We ignore their instincts, their emotions, even their suffering.
If we truly listened to animals—not just their warnings about nature, but their cries in slaughterhouses—we might see the world, and our choices, differently.
What would happen if we extended the respect we have for their wisdom… to their lives? 

Seagulls tend to stop flying and take refuge at the coast if a storm is coming, which helps us to predict when a storm will be coming.

The Chinese earthquake that killed more than 12,000 people was predicted by a mass migration of frogs.  Animals tend to seek safety long before the human knows what's coming. When the humans were still living amidst nature, it was easier for them to recognize natures signs. Nowadays, when most people are forced to live in boxes of concrete, they have lost every contact they use to have with nature, and its animals.

Job 12:7–10 "But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you."

God needs an army, not an audience

From their wonderful website: The Freedom Farm Sanctuary was created out of a vision shared by hundreds of thousands in Israel, who aspire to make a significant change in the attitude of human beings towards other earthly creations, who dream that one day we will be able to view animals as creatures entitled to lives of freedom, with whom we can live side by side harmoniously without hurting, abusing or exploiting them, and without taking their flesh, their liberty, and their soul. Also check out Edgar's mission!

Emma the Hero Mom Who Carried Her Children Through Fire 

A mother from Sweden jumped into a living hell of flames to save her six children—and survived with 93% of her body burned.Emma Schols, 31, woke up in the middle of the night to the smell of smoke in her home in Edsbyn, Sweden. Without waiting for help, she ran barefoot through fire up the stairs, entered every room, and carried her children out one by one—even jumping from a second-story window with her youngest.When the stairs collapsed, she went back into the flames four more times, facing fire and toxic smoke. All of her children made it out unharmed.Emma fell into a coma for over two months and underwent more than 20 surgeries. Yet, when she woke up, her first question was:"Are my children okay?"Her bravery earned her the title of Heroine of the Year in Sweden in 2020. But for many, it stands for something even deeper: the unbreakable strength of a mother's love—willing to face death itself to protect what she loves most.

Scarlett the Cat Who Walked Through Fire for Her Kittens 

Scarlett (June or July 1995 – October 11, 2008) was a former stray cat from Brooklyn, New York, whose efforts to save her kittens from a fire attracted worldwide media attention, and has been described in several non-fiction books. If the kittens were her first litter, Scarlett was probably about nine months old.

On March 30, 1996, Scarlett and her five kittens were in an abandoned garage allegedly used as a crack house in Brooklyn when a fire started from undetermined causes. The New York City Fire Department responded to a call about the fire and quickly extinguished it. When the fire was under control, one of the firefighters on the scene, David Giannelli, noticed Scarlett carrying her kittens away from the garage one by one. Scarlett herself had been severely burned in the process of pulling her kittens from the fire. 

Her eyes were blistered shut, her ears and paws burned, and her coat highly singed. The majority of her facial hair had been burnt away. After saving the kittens she was seen to touch each of her kittens with her nose to ensure they were all there, as the blisters on her eyes kept her from being able to see them, and then she collapsed unconscious. Gianelli took the intact family to a veterinary clinic at the North Shore Animal League in Port Washington, New York where Scarlett and her kittens were treated. The weakest of the kittens, a white-coated, died of a virus a month after the fire. However, after three months of treatment and recovery, Scarlett and her surviving kittens were well enough to be adopted.

In many countries, bullfighting is still defended as cultural heritage: with its colorful costumes, the tension of the arena, the marching bands. But behind this romantic image lies violence, suffering, and the death of animals that stand no chance. Public opinion is shifting. Activists like Peter Janssen, longtime leader of the Vegan Strike Group, play a significant role in this change. 

Since 2013, Janssen claims to have protested more than 80 times in bullfighting arenas across Spain, France, and Portugal. His protests are striking, deliberately provocative, and almost always aimed at revealing the truth: what happens in the arena is not art, but abuse. During a protest in Lisbon, he was severely assaulted by bystanders and staff. The footage went viral, along with the message: animals do not belong in an arena.

Public opinion is slowly but surely changing. According to a survey by Fundación BBVA in Spain, 77 percent of the population now disapproves of bullfighting. Only a small minority actively attends the events. Over the past ten years, the number of bulls killed in Spanish arenas has dropped from around 16,000 to 7,000. The number of official fights has also significantly decreased. What was once a national pride is increasingly seen as a relic of a violent past.

Yet it is not only public opinion that is changing. Progress is also being made legally and politically.

In Mexico City, a decision was made in 2025 to ban traditional, bloody bullfights. Instead, only "bloodless" versions are now permitted, with protected horns and no lethal outcome. Steps have also been taken in Portugal: in cities like Póvoa de Varzim, the local arena was closed and converted into a different public space. In France, animal rights organizations succeeded in taking legal action against recognizing bullfighting as cultural heritage, leading to bans in some places due to a lack of "local tradition."

Activism plays a crucial role in this progress. Groups such as AnimaNaturalis, CAS International, and PETA have campaigned for years through demonstrations, legal pressure, and media actions. In Madrid, for example, activists covered themselves in fake blood on the steps of the famous Las Ventas arena. The image went viral worldwide, along with the message: this is not culture, this is torture.

It is striking how often the argument of "tradition" is used to defend animal cruelty, as if something done for a long time is automatically justified. But slavery, women's oppression, and child labor were once also traditions. Today, we look back on them with horror. It is only a matter of time before the same happens with the public killing of animals for entertainment.

The dedication of activists like Peter Janssen and his team is not without risk. But it pays off. Thanks to their persistence—on the streets, in arenas, and in court—the end of bullfighting is drawing ever closer. They show that change begins with people who refuse to look away.

Every year on the Faroe Islands, hundreds of dolphins and whales are killed during the traditional grindadráp. This centuries-old practice causes widespread animal suffering but is defended by the local population as cultural heritage.

In Spain, the annual El Carpio de Tajo festival takes place, where live geese are hung and decapitated by horse riders to honor the patron saint Santiago. Although animal activists have succeeded in ensuring the animals are now killed beforehand, it remains a violent tradition that upholds the killing of animals as a festive act. This kind of cruelty is often presented as part of Christianity, but it has nothing to do with true Christian values, 

the values of compassion and respect; these are old cultural practices that find no justification in faith. These traditions illustrate how some communities place tradition and cultural customs above animal welfare and compassion. 

God notices how people treat the animals in their care, and he wants them to choose kindness, according to a story from Numbers 22 in which a donkey spoke audibly to her master after he mistreated her. A sorcerer named Balaam and his donkey encountered the Angel of the Lord while traveling, and what happened showed the importance of treating God's creatures well.

Balaam set off on a journey to do some sorcery work for Balak, the king of ancient Moab, in exchange for a large sum of money. Even though God had sent a message in a dream not to do the work - which involved spiritually cursing the Israelite people whom God had blessed - Baalam let greed take over in his soul and chose to take on the Moabite assignment despite God's warning. God was angry that Baalam was motivated by greed rather than faithfulness.

As Balaam was riding on his donkey on the way to do the work, God himself showed up in angelic form as the Angel of the Lord. Numbers 22:23 describes what happened next: "When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, it turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it to get it back on the road."

Balaam went on to beat his donkey twice more as the donkey moved out of Angel of Lord's way. Each time the donkey moved abruptly, Balaam got upset by the sudden movement and decided to punish his animal. The donkey could see the Angel of the Lord, but Balaam couldn't. Ironically, even though Balaam was a famous sorcerer who was known for his clairvoyant abilities, he couldn't see God appearing as an angel - but one of God's creatures could. The donkey's soul was in a more pure state than Balaam's soul was.

Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Purity makes it easier to perceive angels because it opens up spiritual perception in the presence of holiness. Then, miraculously, God made it possible for the donkey to speak to Balaam in an audible voice to get his attention. "Then the LORD opened the donkey's mouth, and it said to Balaam, 'What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?'" verse 28 says.

Party for the Animals – A Pioneer in the Fight Against Animal Suffering

In a world where economic growth often outweighs compassion, there is one political party that gives a voice to the voiceless: the Party for the Animals (PvdD) from the Netherlands. Founded in 2002, it was the first political party in the world to focus explicitly on animal rights, the environment, and sustainability — making history in the process.

The PvdD was co-founded by Marianne Thieme, who served as the party's figurehead for many years. From her Christian-inspired worldview, Thieme emphasized in numerous interviews the moral responsibility of humans to care for creation - including the animals. She viewed the exploitation of animals not just as an ecological issue, but as a deeply moral one.

"Compassion is not a luxury, but a necessity in politics."
- Marianne Thieme

"I see animals as fellow creatures. As a Christian, I believe we do not own the Earth, but have received it in stewardship — to take good care of it." - Marianne Thieme

The Party for the Animals started out small, but grew into a meaningful political force — both nationally and internationally. 

Some major milestones include:

• 2006: The PvdD wins two seats in the Dutch House of Representatives — a historic first for an animal rights party.

• International inspiration: The PvdD has inspired similar parties across the globe, with sister parties now active in countries such as Germany, Portugal, and the UK.

• Animal welfare on the political agenda: The party has consistently pushed animal welfare into mainstream politics. Issues such as the ban on wild animals in circuses, tackling factory farming, and promoting plant-based food have all been discussed — and influenced — thanks in part to the PvdD.

• Climate and environment: Beyond animal rights, the party also addresses broader themes like climate change, biodiversity, and the transition to a sustainable economy.

The Party for the Animals is not a traditional interest group, but an ethical movement advocating for a fundamental shift in how we relate to animals, nature, and one another. It represents not only the interests of humans, but also those of animals, future generations, and the planet as a whole.

Note: After Thieme's departure, the party started engaging with human issues instead of focusing solely on animal rights, which caused people around me to leave the party. Nobody wants yet another liberal party; they want a party that is dedicated to animals. Not to people who eat animals.

What does it say about a holy place, if it cannot recognize the sacred in the most desperate of creatures?

The Absence of Mercy Is the Presence of Evil

In Veracruz, Mexico, a cow escaped on her way to the slaughterhouse. Driven by sheer instinct and a will to live, she ran through the streets until she reached a church - fittingly named Our Lady of Mercy.

But mercy was nowhere to be found.

She wasn't granted sanctuary. She wasn't seen as a soul seeking refuge — only as property that had strayed.
Despite her desperate plea for life, no one stepped in.
She was taken away. And now, she's gone.

She entered a place built on compassion, and still, no one could see her as worthy of it. 

A truck carrying cows to slaughter rolled over. Two animals escaped from the overturned vehicle and made a run for it. One ran for the open doors of a supermarket and was shot dead - allegedly in the meat aisle.

If you were a true carnivore and think it's "natural" to eat animals, then this photo should make you hungry.

Mother Cow With Child Ran For Freedom, Shot Down With 70 Bullets

France, a couple years ago...and instead of being rescued to live in a sanctuary, she was gunned down, with her baby....

70 bullets were shot at her, without mercy..

Who Is Calf 269 and What Is 269 Life?

Calf 269 was a young bull, born on a dairy farm near Tel Aviv, Israel, and marked with the number 269. In June 2013, just before he was scheduled to be slaughtered, he was rescued by anonymous activists. His rescue sparked the creation of the activist movement 269 Life.

On October 2nd, 2012 - World Farm Animals Day - activists in Tel Aviv burned the number 269 into their skin in Rabin Square. This act symbolized their message: no animal should die in anonymity. Every sentient being deserves to be recognized as an individual. The powerful images went viral, and soon, people around the world began tattooing or branding the number '269' on their own bodies in solidarity with animals in the farming industry.

What began with the rescue of a single calf has since grown into a global movement opposing animal exploitation in all its forms. Members of the movement use "269" as a visual symbol of awareness—often inked or burned into their skin—to confront the mass suffering and erasure of identity experienced by billions of farmed animals (abc.net.au).

The stories of 269 and his companions, like Luna and Diana-rescued cows now living in safety and health-remind us that every animal is someone, not something. Through their survival, we are forced to confront a deeper ethical question: how long can we remain silent while billions live and die nameless in the shadows of industry?
Cow 269 passed away in 2025, listen to Gary Yourofsky here

You don't need meat to build muscle, run faster, or lift heavier. More and more elite athletes - from runners and cyclists to bodybuilders and Olympians - are proving that a plant-based diet can fuel peak performance.

💪 Iron? It's found in abundance in plant foods like lentils, tofu, spinach, beans, pumpkin seeds, and quinoa. Your body can absorb it just fine - especially when combined with vitamin C (like citrus or bell peppers).

🥬 Protein? Every plant contains protein. Athletes thrive on beans, lentils, nuts, whole grains, and soy — without the cholesterol or inflammation that often comes with animal products.

💊 B12? Yes, vegans supplement it — not because plants lack it, but because modern hygiene removes soil bacteria where B12 naturally comes from. Animals get it from supplements too, or from eating unwashed soil — vegans just skip the middleman.

👉 You don't need to eat an animal who ate plants — just go straight to the source.

For decades, researchers and wildlife guides have observed one of the most powerful signs of animal grief among African and Asian elephants. When an elephant dies, others in the herd often stop, gather, and gently touch the body or bones with their trunks. Sometimes they stand in silence for hours. What is even more remarkable is that years later, elephants have been documented changing their migration routes to revisit the exact site where a family member died.This behavior has been witnessed in Kenya's Amboseli National Park, Botswana's Chobe National Park, and across reserves in India. Scientists have described elephants approaching the skeletal remains of relatives, lifting bones, and stroking tusks, as though recognizing the individual who once lived. Unlike other animals, their mourning rituals extend beyond the immediate death, they continue to honor the memory long after.What does it mean? To many, it suggests that elephants carry with them a sense of memory, grief, and family ties that rival our own. They do not just forget and move on, they remember, they revisit, they mourn. 

Parents love taking their children to petting zoos - especially around Easter, to see the newborn lambs. They smile, take photos, stroke the soft wool… But they don't tell their children the truth: that many of these lambs will soon be slaughtered. Why not take them to the slaughterhouse too? Why only show them the beginning of a life they won't let live?

This is not teaching love for animals — this is teaching selective affection wrapped in denial.
We hide the violence because we know, deep down, children would be horrified. And maybe that tells us everything we need to know.

It's 2025. We know more than ever about animal welfare, intelligence, and emotions. And yet we continue to lock wild animals in cages and concrete enclosures – for our entertainment. The price they pay is painfully clear in recent news stories.

In Leipzig, three newborn Amur tiger cubs were euthanised. Their mother, tigress Juschka, turned away from her first litter just hours after birth. The zoo decided to put them down "to prevent suffering" – hand-rearing such animals is considered undesirable. For the management, perhaps routine; for the public, shocking.

And Leipzig is not alone. In July, Nuremberg Zoo killed twelve healthy baboons due to lack of space. Their bodies were fed to predators, as if they were surplus stock in a pantry. In Denmark, Aalborg Zoo asked the public to donate unwanted pets – rabbits, guinea pigs – as feed. Healthy animals, sacrificed to keep the system running.

These are not isolated incidents. They are symptoms of an industry that sustains itself through breeding, culling, and killing, all under the facade of education and conservation. But let's be honest: when animal lives end up in a feed bucket or a freezer, there is nothing educational or protective about it.

Alternatives do exist. Sanctuaries and rescue centres offer a safe, permanent home to animals that cannot return to the wild. No shows. No breeding programmes. No slaughter "to keep the population healthy." Only protection, peace, and respect. 

The question is not whether zoos should change. The question is why we accept them at all. Every year, healthy animals die behind closed gates – because there's no space, because their genes don't "fit," because the public is tired of them.

Animals deserve better. Not tomorrow. Not in some distant future. Now. It's time to close zoos and invest our resources in genuine rescue and protection.

Lamb isn't just a word for meat — it means baby sheep. Most lambs are slaughtered between 6 and 8 weeks old, long before they've had a chance to grow, play, or bond with their mothers.

The same goes for veal — the flesh of baby calves, often taken from their mothers within days of birth. Their meat is pale and tender because they are still infants.

These animals are not "products" — they are newborns, full of life and trust. Think about what that really means the next time you see "lamb chops" or "veal cutlet" on a menu. Behind the words is a life that barely began.

Stop Animal Testing - Buy Vegan Only!

Those who pay, hold the power. 
Every time we buy animal products or items tested on animals, we fund and authorize that suffering.
Our money is a vote - and animals pay the price. 

No less than 87.5% of biomedical research is inefficient and wasteful, says Professor Michael Bracken. Dr. Frances Cheng (source) More than 95 percent of drugs tested successfully on animals end up failing in humans. I dissected and experimented on animals and advocated for their use for more than a decade before I learned, through my own doctoral research, that animal "models" do not reflect human physiology. Critics of animal use are painted as unscientific, as extreme, or as bullies for objecting to even the most abhorrent of experiments. But experimenters' most despicable act is to pretend to be victims when their work is criticized. See full interview at: lockwoodfilm.com/test-subjects

In this beagle farm, about 2000 #beagles are produced every single year

The Story of Britches

Britches, a baby macaque born in 1985 at the University of California, Riverside, was torn from his mother at birth. His eyelids were sewn shut, and a sonar device was strapped to his head as part of a cruel sensory-deprivation experiment meant to last three years.

At just 5 weeks old, Britches was rescued by the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) during a raid that freed over 460 animals, including cats, rabbits, rats, and pigeons. The heartbreaking footage of Britches, crying and alone, was shared with PETA, who released it to the public — sparking global outrage.

The public pressure worked: the university permanently ended the eye-sewing experiments, and 8 of the 17 studies disrupted by the raid were never resumed.

While the NIH claimed the lab met "appropriate" standards, the world saw the truth: no experiment justifies that kind of suffering. Britches' story is a powerful reminder: science must never come at the cost of compassion.

"Ask the experimenters why they experiment on animals, and the answer is, 'Because the animals are like us.' Ask the experimenters why it is morally okay to experiment on animals, and the answer is, 'Because the animals are not like us.'"- Charles Magel

Male chicks dropped alive in blenders or thrown away as garbage

In our system a chicken has more space in the oven than it every enjoyed when alive.

Matt 23:37 — "How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing."

This tender image of a mother hen gathering her chicks beautifully illustrates care and protection—so much so that Jesus Himself used it to describe His love for people.
It is one of the rare moments where He compares Himself to an animal, highlighting the deep compassion and gentleness embodied by the hen.
And yet, look how we treat these creatures today. Those who pay, hold the power. Our money is a vote - and animals pay the price.

Every day, hundreds of thousands of eggs are 'laid' here—without a single chicken involved 

DINTELOORD – When you think of chickens and eggs, Barneveld probably comes to mind. But the country's chicken capital has a formidable competitor: in Dinteloord, Brabant, hundreds of thousands of eggs are 'laid' every day—without a single chicken being involved.

Dénis van Vliet, 22-08-25, source

You won't find an egg vending machine on the grounds of Revyve. Yet the young company produces thousands of kilos of protein daily for snacks, cookies, and sauces. Not from real eggs, but from brewer's yeast—a byproduct of brewing normally used as animal feed.

"We're essentially delivering eggs that don't look like eggs," says CEO Cedric Verstraeten. "For the end user, they can be used almost exactly like regular eggs, with minimal adjustments in the production process."

Revyve was founded at Wageningen University & Research (formerly the Agricultural University), where two biotechnologists discovered that yeast is a surprisingly good alternative to chicken egg protein. In 2019, they launched the company with a mission to produce sustainable food ingredients from natural microorganisms. What began as a laboratory experiment quickly grew into a demonstration factory in Dinteloord, thanks to collaboration with a major brewery and investments from, among others, Cosun (formerly Suikerunie). The factory has been operational since 2024.

But wait a minute. Isn't Cosun undermining its own market? The company is also working on protein alternatives from beans and sugar beets. Verstraeten explains:
"No, not at all—we actually complement each other. Simply put: they provide the 'yolk'—good for binding and creaminess. We provide the 'white,' essential for foam, lightness, and structure."

Anyone entering the factory hall immediately notices the pleasant smell of brewer's yeast. It arrives as a thick, porridge-like mixture. "Essentially, this is where our eggs come from," says Verstraeten, pointing to two enormous tanks.

Inside a cylindrical machine filled with tiny spheres—similar to ball bearings—the egg is effectively 'broken.' The process then separates the 'yolk' from the 'white,' which is subsequently dried. At the end of the production line, a white powder rolls off the belt, closely resembling the protein powder used by athletes.

Although the company has only been running for a year, Revyve already supplies major producers of snacks and sauces. Verstraeten would like to reveal their clients, but cannot. "The buyers don't want to give their competitors an advantage, and I understand that. Egg prices are currently very high due to several factors, including the Russian war against 'egg-country' Ukraine. This is a good and cheaper alternative."

To prove that 'Revyve egg' is on par with regular egg, he lets his guests—a reporter and a photographer—taste a muffin. Normally, twelve muffins would require one to two eggs. The verdict: the treat matches the traditional version in taste and appearance. The muffins are airy, moist, and rich in flavor, without a single drop of animal egg.

Revyve has big plans for the future: the company is considering a larger production facility. "Maybe over there," says Verstraeten, pointing to a patch of grass outside.

Pigs are highly intelligent animals - even smarter than dogs, according to multiple studies.
They can learn their names, solve puzzles, and show emotional complexity. Naturally, pigs are clean, social, and curious beings. But in the meat industry, they are denied every expression of who they are. 

They live in barren cells, without stimulation, sunlight, or even something as simple as a toy.
What we see in these photos is not the nature of pigs - it's the result of a system that reduces sentient beings to products. God literally denied taking a wicked city down because of it's animals, and this is how YOU treat His children? 
God speaks in Jonah 4:11 And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left - AND ALSO MANY ANIMALS?" Those who pay, hold the power. Our money is a vote - and animals pay the price.

Thousands of people who say they 'love' animals sit down once or twice a day to enjoy the flesh of creatures who have been utterly deprived of everything that could make their lives worth living and who endured the awful suffering and the terror of the abattoirs ~ Jane Goodall

In May 2019, 126 animal activists from both the Netherlands and abroad entered a pig barn in Boxtel to expose the appalling conditions inside. At the same time, around 125 others protested outside the barn. Due to rising tensions, partly because of farmers' supporters arriving, the police closed the barn doors—not out of fear that animals would be released, but to prevent a confrontation. Skirmishes occurred, with activists' vehicles being pushed into ditches. After about ten hours, the occupation ended.

Initially, a magistrate imposed fines of 300 euros and a two-week suspended prison sentence on the activists. However, in 2024, the court of appeal in Den Bosch acquitted sixty of the activists. The ruling stated that the barn doors were not forced open, the action was peaceful, and it could be necessary for activists to witness the situation firsthand to expose abuses.

From Action to Organization
The confrontation in Boxtel marked the start of the formation of the group Farmer Defence Force (FDF). Originally an informal WhatsApp and Facebook group, FDF grew into a prominent activist group opposing barn occupations, nitrogen policies, and animal rights activism. FDF booths appeared at national protests, sometimes accompanied by harsh language and intimidation of activists. After the acquittal was announced, leader Mark van den Oever stated that members were armed to prevent future barn occupations. He even distributed signs to place on barns reading: "Under FDF protection — run away if you see this."

The NCTV (Dutch National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security) mentioned FDF in its reports due to their increasingly intense rhetoric and actions, which were seen as polarizing. This included intimidation, blockades, the use of fireworks against police, and threats directed at politicians and activists.

In July 2020, a Dutch politician filed a complaint against members of Farmers Defence Force for death threats. Additionally, the organization was reprimanded by the Advertising Code Committee for misleading advertising about farm life. Animal protection group Ongehoord accused FDF chairman Mark van den Oever of animal abuse in his pig barns. Furthermore, in 2020, a 17-year-old boy was arrested for attempted manslaughter following a tractor incident during farmers' protests. There have also been reports of intimidation by FDF members towards citizens and farmers.

Why were the activists protesting?
The Boxtel occupation aimed to reveal the hidden reality inside the barn and to experience the abuses firsthand. For activists, it was crucial to see with their own eyes why the barns were in such poor condition. The acquittal legally sets a precedent for this type of direct protest.

This photo shows pigs (at the VION slaughterhouse in Boxtel) with a visible tumor. Animals with serious health problems are often sent to the slaughterhouse without adequate inspection. Tumors are not always removed, allowing cancer cells to remain in the meat. This raises serious concerns about animal welfare and food safety. 

"I was born on farmland. And now vegan until I die. Fuck animal suffering." — Sebastiaan Sandor 

Cow out and soy in for the Twente dairy farmers Bart and Tom Grobben. (source)

Raised on steak and charcuterie, but ex-butcher now starts 'vegan' catering: "My father first looked at me very strangely": Pieter Vanderper from Lichtervelde. (source)

There were many angry farmers and politicians last Friday after the presentation of the new nitrogen plans. But there are also farmers who chose a transition earlier and view the current crisis differently. Like the 26-year-old farmer Mark Venner from Baexem, who is converting the dairy farm, owned by his family for two centuries, into, among other things, a food forest. (source)

Dairy farmer becomes arable farmer
He and his wife sold their dairy cattle and phosphate rights because they were located in the built-up area of Oud Zevenaar and their land was in a Natura 2000 area. In Loil, between Didam and Arnhem, Theo Nieuwenhuis has been farming as an arable farmer for three years now. He is a pioneer. (source)

"Are his vegetables and fruits animal-free? Not entirely, says arable farmer Joost van Strien. Animal manure is often used to grow the crops.

That's why he switched to mowing fertilizers made from flowers and plants and became the first Dutch farmer to receive the international Biocyclic Vegan certification." (source)

Toonders owns 27 hectares of pasture and corn land, on which he kept eighty dairy cows until three years ago. He also had 750 meat pigs. That is too small, and besides, I had no successor. 

But the idea of cultivating giant grass appeals to my children. It is bred from elephant grass, which grows three and a half meters tall, and now grows up to six meters high. The harvest is intended to be used as raw material for building materials, plastics, and energy. … Market opportunities include high-quality applications such as bioplastics, biochar, and biofuels. (source)

Animals burn alive, year after year. And nobody really intervenes.
Thousands of animals are burned alive every year in Dutch barns. The numbers are known. The causes too. And yet almost nothing changes.

In 2023 alone, there were 43 barn fires in the Netherlands. More than 37,000 animals died in these incidents. In 2022, the number of dead animals even exceeded 130,000—mainly due to a few large fires in intensive livestock farming. These are figures that would cause a national trauma if they involved human lives. But here they remain under the radar.

Barn fires occur every year. And nearly every year the same excuses are heard: it was the electricity, it was a device, it was spontaneous combustion, or "it can no longer be traced." Meanwhile, in many cases, no fire alarms are installed, let alone sprinklers or emergency plans. As if these animal lives hold no value at all.

No chance of escape
The animals locked up inside barns have no chance. They are kept by the hundreds, often thousands, in a closed space. No escape routes. No emergency exits. No supervision. Once a fire breaks out, it is already too late. Many die immediately from suffocation or heat, others are left with horrific injuries.

Animal Rights recently received footage from a barn fire in Belgium. Cows that survived were heavily burned and lying in the blazing sun. Their skin was loose, wounds open, lips burned away. No veterinary care, no shade, no shelter. As if their suffering didn't matter. (Photos and information from AR)

Still no obligation for fire alarms
What many people don't know: in the Netherlands, it is not mandatory to have a fire alarm in a barn. Yes, you read that right. In buildings housing thousands of living beings, there is no legal requirement for a warning system.

There are action plans, reports, evaluations—but concrete regulations? Those are lacking. Only new barns (built from 2014 onwards) must meet extra safety requirements. But what about the old barns? Often, nothing happens. No inspections, no controls, no protection.

Strange stories, silence, and shifting blame
Sometimes you read bizarre explanations: a wood stove was supposedly lit in the middle of summer in an old barn. Or a generator "spontaneously" caught fire. Machines are used during heat waves without supervision. As an animal lover, you wonder: who would do this to them?

But the media rarely focuses on the animals. Headlines always read: "Farmer loses everything in fire." Not: "Thousands of animals burned alive." As if their deaths are an afterthought. And what you sometimes hear on the street—that fires sometimes financially benefit farmers, or that insurers question the circumstances—this is never addressed.

So the system keeps running. Without responsibility. Without protection. Without empathy.

Let the numbers speak for themselves
In 2023: 43 barn fires, over 37,000 animals dead
In 2022: over 130,000 animals died in barn fires

In most cases: no fire alarms, no sprinklers, no escape possibilities. Common causes: electrical installations, work activities, unknown. 

Regulations missing: no mandatory inspections, no fire safety standards for existing barns. 

Animals deserve safety, just like every other living being. As long as the government doesn't enforce it and the industry stays silent, animal activists must keep speaking out. For those thousands of animals who had nowhere to go. If you want to stop this, you don't have to wait for rules or politicians—you can choose today: stop eating animals.

The Hidden Suffering of Farmed Rabbits

Rabbits are the third most farmed animals for meat globally, yet they receive almost no legal protection in many countries. In industrial rabbit farming, these sensitive animals are typically kept in tiny wire cages with less than one A4 sheet of space per rabbit — barely enough to turn around or stand upright.

According to reports by Compassion in World Farming and Eurogroup for Animals, over 330 million rabbits are farmed each year in the EU alone — most in battery-style cages with no enrichment, solid flooring, or outdoor access.

They cannot hop, dig, or display natural behaviors. Many suffer from painful injuries, extreme stress, and are slaughtered at just 8–12 weeks old.

👉 Rabbits are social, intelligent beings who feel fear and pain. Don't support industries that treat them like disposable objects.

Do not buy fur or 'fake fur'

Many items labeled as "faux fur" are in fact made from real animal fur - often from rabbits, raccoon dogs, or cats - especially in fast fashion. Mislabeling is shockingly common, and real fur is sometimes cheaper to produce than quality synthetic alternatives. Investigations in the UK, EU, and U.S. (e.g. Humane Society International) have repeatedly found real fur falsely labeled as "faux." Brands know consumers want cruelty-free fashion - but that doesn't mean they're honest. They profit from confusion.

👉 If you don't want to support the fur industry, avoid all fur - even so-called "fake" fur.

Don't risk it. Don't wear animal cruelty.

The Reality of Foie Gras 

Foie gras - meaning "fatty liver" in French - is produced by force-feeding ducks or geese several times a day through a metal tube shoved down their throats. This cruel process, called gavage, causes their livers to swell up to 10 times their normal size, leading to pain, organ failure, and a slow, agonizing death.

Numerous undercover investigations have revealed birds panting in distress, too sick to stand, some bleeding from the beak or covered in vomit. Many die before slaughter from ruptured organs. Foie gras has been condemned by veterinarians and banned in multiple countries, yet the industry continues where profit outweighs compassion.

In an episode of JachtTV on youtube you can see a hunter of scared animals named named Björn van de Veen uit Friesland shows how you dig out a defenseless and fearful fox, let it escape and shoot at close range. And that with four people. ..

Hunters in the Netherlands are also known to kill cats, and dumping them without looking if they have an owner.

In 2007, Four Paws International rescued the former dancing bear from the zoo of Shumen in Bulgaria. Since then Lady M has been living at the Dancing Bears Park Belitsa, which they run together with Fondation Brigitte Bardot. Here she is in 2020 amidst the Valentine's Day suprise from the Four paws team.  het Four Paws-team.

Man saved Fox seriously injured and found his new best friend. On the side of a highway, a red fox named Cropper was discovered and saved at Turnbridge Wells in England by The Fox Project. The rescue couldn't let him return to the wild but then a retired engineer, Mike Trowler, appeared.

See also:
Deer Hunter turned animal rights activist
https://www.instagram.com/emptycages.vegan

For over six decades, the horrifying treatment of animals on live export ships has been kept in the shadows. Every year, millions of animals — mostly sheep and cattle — are crammed onto ships and sent across oceans, often for weeks at a time, facing unimaginable suffering.

In the sweltering heat, many animals collapse from dehydration and exhaustion. Some are literally cooked alive, dying slowly in temperatures exceeding 40–50°C (104–122°F) in their own waste. 

They go without food or clean water, with some too sick or injured to stand, trampled to death by others. Illness, untreated wounds, and panic are common — and when they arrive at their destination, brutal slaughter often awaits, without any of the protections they'd receive in their home country.

Investigations (such as by Animals Australia and independent whistleblowers) have exposed this suffering again and again — yet the trade continues under a veil of secrecy and profit.

There is no "humane" export. Only silence, suffering, and the sea.

The video here showing animals being cruelly transported and exploited is hidden from view, yet the leather shoes made from their suffering are proudly displayed and sold. 

Fish are not vegetables. They are animals - with brains, nervous systems, and the capacity to feel pain. Neuroscientific research confirms that fish experience not just pain, but also fear, stress, and even have memories.

When pulled from water, fish suffocate slowly, often enduring up to 20 minutes of agony before dying. Their gills collapse, and their organs fail as they struggle for oxygen — a terrifying and painful death.

Some argue that "plants feel pain," but this is false. Plants have no brain, no central nervous system, and no consciousness — they cannot suffer.

Fish Feel Pain — And Fish Are not Vegetables

Sexual Abuse of Animals: From Ancient Rituals to Modern Industry

Sexual violence against animals is not an isolated issue caused by a few disturbed individuals. It has roots in antiquity, still occurs in ritualistic and religious contexts, and takes place daily within the so-called "normal" livestock industry.

Pagan Rituals and Mythology

In ancient cultures and religions, sex with animals regularly appears in symbolism, mythology, and sometimes in ritual practices.

The Greek god Pan is often depicted as a man-goat hybrid, associated with sexuality, fertility, and nature. In some classical sculptures, Pan is even shown engaged in a sexual act with a goat.

The myth of Leda and the Swan, in which Zeus rapes a woman in the form of a swan, is a well-known example of sexual fusion between gods (in animal form) and humans.

In Norse mythology, Loki transforms into a mare and mates with a stallion.

Prehistoric rock art in places like Sagaholm (Sweden) and Kanozero (Russia) also includes depictions of men appearing to engage sexually with animals such as horses or reindeer. Some researchers interpret these scenes as ritualistic or sexual symbolism.

Religious Statements

The Islamic scholar Zakir Naik has cited a Sahih Hadith stating that a man is allowed to have sex with a sheep or goat to control his sexual urges, on the condition that the animal is then killed and not eaten by his community.

Notably, in March 2015, Zakir Naik was awarded the prestigious King Faisal International Prize (Service to Islam) — one of the highest recognitions in the Islamic world. The award acknowledged his "exceptional service to Islam," particularly as a globally recognized preacher (via Peace TV) and an authority on comparative religion.

The Livestock Industry: Institutionalized Abuse

What many people don't know is that sexual acts with animals also routinely occur in industrial animal farming — under the guise of "production."

Female cows, pigs, and sheep are artificially inseminated, a process that involves inserting a human arm into the animal's rectum to position the cervix, while a tube delivers semen into the vagina.

This semen is collected from male animals who are masturbated using artificial means — often involving phantom mounts or electroejaculation.

Within the industry itself, the term "rape rack" is actually used to describe the steel restraint in which the female is held during insemination.

Although legally permitted, there is morally little distinction between these practices and sexual exploitation. The animal has no choice, no voice, and is treated purely as a commodity or object.

📚 Sources (simplified and summarized):

• Engendering North European Rock Art – Lahelma & Goldhahn (via ResearchGate)

• Zakir Naik quote – reported via Kreately.in

• Depiction of Pan and goat – discussed on Reddit: AskHistorians

• Insemination practices – documented by PETA, Animal Equality, and The Guardian

Hayek Hospital in Beirut, Lebanon, opened in March 2021 as the very first hospital in the world to serve exclusively plant-based, vegan meals to its patients. This unique choice is based on scientific evidence showing that plant-based nutrition can contribute to better health and support recovery. At the same time, the consumption of red and processed meat has been linked to an increased risk of various chronic diseases.

Hayek Hospital's focus is on supporting healing through nutrition, a vision that traces back to Hippocrates, the founder of modern medicine. Hippocrates, who lived in ancient Greece, is often quoted saying:

"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food."

Hippocrates himself did not eat meat and emphasized the importance of nutrition as an essential part of health and recovery.

To this day, doctors worldwide take the Hippocratic Oath, committing themselves to ethical care and the well-being of their patients — a tradition that acknowledges the role of nutrition and prevention in medicine. Hayek Hospital embodies this ancient wisdom in a modern context by placing healthy, plant-based nutrition at the center of medical care.