Monthly Hopium Injection #8
2023/12: World's first chicken-less "eggs" revealed!
To the 7 new people here, welcome! Here’s what this is:
Ho·pi·um
A Vegan cocktail of “hope” and “opium,” prescribed as a healthy dose of optimism, without the need for clinical trials.
Because here, the evidence speaks for itself.
This is a showcase of a VEGAN WORLD coming: hopeful Vegan news from the last month, all here, all NOW.
You ready?
Let’s hit it!
💄 New York Bans Cosmetics Tested on Animals:
Countless rabbits, guinea pigs, mice, and rats are all unnecessarily used for toxicity tests. Meanwhile, non-human models provide accurate predictions of safety for humans! This new law implicitly asserts this, and is a big step in the right direction for ending animal testing in the USA. Only 40 more states to go!
🦊 New York Bans Wildlife Killing “Contests”:
Two big strides for animal rights in just one month!
Just three months ago, Orgeon was the 9th state to enact this ban. New York is following the right path here, and I have hope other states will too.
🇺🇳 UN Declares Kids Have a Right to be Protected from Animal Abuse:
Many children are taken by their parents to view these “contests” where thousands of innocent coyote are killed. The parents laugh at the dead bodies, and the children grow up to perpetuate the violence towards both humans and non-human animals.
This formal recognition is a positive advancement towards maintaining the empathetic fabric of our global society :)
🏫 Oxford Union Voted in Favor of Going Vegan:
After the debate, 82 members were in opposition to the motion while 112 supported it. For the union, it’s likely cow milk coffees will be banned as a result. For the world, it’s now known that Veganism is a logically sound position. In other words, Veganism wins again!
🫀 Plant-Based Diet Improves Heart Health in Landmark Twin Study:
Unsurprising, but this study design is bulletproof, so quite awesome!
🧠 Study Finds Plant-Based Diets Reduce Alzheimer’s Risk:
The review included multi-country ecological studies, prospective and cross-sectional observational studies, and laboratory studies - It was very robust! We now know that healthy Vegans likely won’t be affected by this terrible disease.
🌱 UN Openly Endorses Plant Proteins at COP28:
Alternative proteins include not just plant proteins, but also cultivated meat and fermentation-derived foods. COP28, the yearly global climate conference, has been notoriously devoid of discussions about the impacts of animal agriculture on our Earth. This positive comparison to more sustainable solutions comes at a great time, indeed!
🐣 Kids Movie has a Central Animal Rights Theme:
While the movie is supposed to be fun and not meant to promote Veganism, the food products that come with it tell a different story. ;) Plus, more media representing the underrepresented is always better!
🆕 Vegan Food Releases (UK Edition):
🍗 As you watch, get some Chicken Run x Fry’s plant-based nuggets from Tesco (or Sprouts, if in USA)!
🍕 Or, order the limited edition BBQ “Chicken” Pizza w/ “Sheese” from Papa John’s starting January 2nd!
🍯 Top it with some bee-free honey cultivated by MeliBio, who is partnering with Narayan Foods to bring the revolutionary product across the EU.
🍫 For dessert, Lindt x ChoViva released a limited-edition vegan chocolate bar for Veganuary!
🍪 Or get the new birthday cake sandwich cookies (Biscos) released by CRAVE.
(I am not affiliated with any brand and get no financial compensation from these links whatsoever.)
🥚 Chicken-less Egg Unveiled at Three-Michelin-Star Restaurant:
While they have the same taste and texture as a Hen’s egg, this “egg” boasts ZERO cholesterol and MORE protein... It’s not only a power move to release such a revolutionary product at a restaurant of this caliber, but a bold vote to reshape the future of our food.
☕️ Cultivated Coffee Recipe Released to Public:
In the words of Heiko Rischer, principal scientist and head of plant biotechnology at VTT,
“Our wish is that the publication of this scientific article, which clearly demonstrates proof of concept for lab-grown coffee, nudges forward the creation of an ecosystem or a collective that has the resources, know-how, and drive to pioneer an entirely new type of coffee.”
75 of 124 of all known coffee plants are on track for extinction by 2080 due to climate change. Ironically, Coffee is one of the largest contributors of greenhouse gasses, right behind cocoa and meat. Since there are no viable replacements, any scientist being able to now make a cuppa joe without human slavery or crop deaths is a huge win!
🩸 World’s 1st Patent for Animal-Free Heme:
Since this bio-identical product delivers the color, smell, and taste of meat to plant-based foods, it’s sure to be a hit!
🎥 PSA on Veganism to Play Before “Wonka” Film:
Just three months ago, Eat Differently lit up the New York sky with drones to deliver the same message. This time, they chose Wonka to do this because the film mirrors the belief that “we are all the dreamers of dreams and every one of us can make a difference.” :,)
🐱 Cat Meat Restaurant Transitions to Grocery Store:
Desperate times call for desperate measures. Fortunately, only 21% of people in Vietnam consume Cat flesh, while 71% wish the trade was banned. This moves the needle just a bit more, and you’d be happy to know the remaining cats are now up for adoption and living in peace at a custom-made sheltering at Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry. :)
🐷 10 Pigs Rescued from Animal Testing Lab:
“Minipigs” are used for medical research due to having astounding similarities to humans in their skin, skeletons, teeth, gastrointestinal tracts, pancreas, livers, kidneys, lungs, and immune status. These innocent Pigs even had burn marks, scars, and sharpie outlines around their bodies, but after a week of acclimating themselves, they are now healed and happy out in the sun at a sanctuary!
Do you feel the Hopium now, my dear reader?
Jokes aside, what from this list are you most excited about? Skeptical of? The discussion continues in the comments below!
If you want more before next month, there are dozens of developments that didn’t make the cut but are equally interesting. I share them on Substack Notes!
As always, I am grateful for your time and attention - thank you, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Be Vegan,
Dani
thank you for putting together all this beautiful stuff that is going on, it is more than necessary to see these positive impacts of our movement to avoid frustration, i can surely say that i needed it very much! Thanks again :)