A new pro-vegan documentary produced by Joaquin Phoenix investigates how the US government deals with animal rights activists.
The vegan actor is the executive producer of The Animal People, which premiered at Austin Film Festival.
It looks at claims that anti-terror laws have been used by the US government to prevent animal rights activism, and is directed by Denis Henry Hennelly and Casey Suchan.
Phoenix said at the launch that the film is about ‘fundamental questions concerning free speech, social change, and corporate power that have never been more urgently relevant in our world’.
Investigation
The Animal People looks into the Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty group – members of which have been under investigation by police.
The documentary ‘follows the journey of six young Americans who find themselves targeted as terrorists by the US government for their involvement in a controversial protest campaign’, the filmmakers explained.
“Seeing the future of social movement organizing, the activists used the then fledgling internet to dramatically magnify their impact as they systematically knocked out the pillars of financial support that kept the company in business,” the synopsis adds.
“But when letter writing and protests began to mushroom into dead-of-night vandalism and worse by unknown activists, this corporation and the government formed an alliance to destroy the group. The FBI began an unprecedented campaign of surveillance in preparation for prosecution.”
The Animal People producers haven’t given us an exact date yet, but have said it’ll be screening in December. Follow their Facebook page for updates!
Activist
Joaquin Phoenix is an outspoken animal rights activist. He’s regularly seen at protests and animal events, and has been filmed giving pigs water and comforting them in their final moments before slaughter.
The Joker actor has been vegan since he was a young child, and in a recent interview in the buildup to the release of Joker, he condemned meat eating, describing farming practices as ‘absurd’ and ‘barbaric’.
“Me and my siblings witnessed fish being killed in a really violent and aggressive way,” he said.
“It was just absolutely obvious that it was something that we didn’t want to participate in and we didn’t want to support. To me, it just seems obvious. I don’t want to cause pain to another living empathetic creature.”
How influential can Joaquin Phoenix be for animal rights? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
Lifestyle
Vegan culture, food, beauty & more
81% of military personnel want plant-based meals, new survey reveals
- Mohsina Dodhiya
- 27th June 2022
“As the US military continues to seek ways to best support the overall health and diverse needs of its loyal service members, we’re calling on lawmakers to require all branches of the military to provide plant-based MRE options.” The majority of US military members want vegan Meals, Ready to Eat (MRE), according to a new …
Continue reading “81% of military personnel want plant-based meals, new survey reveals”
One more vegan ad banned this week – this time for showing animals in distress
- Mohsina Dodhiya
- 9th June 2022
The watchdog banned ads by Vegan Friendly UK and Tesco amid claims of gratuitous violence and misleading information. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned one more vegan TV ad this week over claims that it shows “graphic imagery and gratuitous violence” towards animals. This censure comes on the heels of the UK watchdog banning …
Continue reading “One more vegan ad banned this week – this time for showing animals in distress”
VEGAN MEMES
NEED A LAUGH?
QUIZZES
All the quizzes you love to binge!
QUIZ: If you score 11/12 on this quiz, you’re a verified vegan food expert
- Marlon Farrugia
- 10th January 2020
How much vegan knowledge do you have stored away? Do you have to Google your way through a shopping trip, or do you have all the bad E-numbers memorised? Find out now with this quiz. Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a dedicated vegan for many years, and …
Continue reading “QUIZ: If you score 11/12 on this quiz, you’re a verified vegan food expert”
QUIZ: What is your perfect Vegan Halloween Costume?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 13th October 2019
Spook Season approaches. There will be ghosts, goblins, ghouls, and glucose. You need a costume, and you want to it to show off your personality, which means VEGAN. But what to choose? Take our quiz to find out your perfect outfit. Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a …
Continue reading “QUIZ: What is your perfect Vegan Halloween Costume?”
QUIZ: What kind of vegetable are you?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 26th September 2019
“If you were a vegetable, what kind would you be?” A question that has tormented humanity throughout the ages – until now. Read: QUIZ: If you score 19/20 on THIS quiz, you’re a Vegan God Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a dedicated vegan for many years, and …