Animal Equality updates & vacancies - October 2024

By Animal Equality @ 2024-10-31T09:35 (+2)

Hello! Here you can find the October updates from Animal Equality in all the countries in which we operate. We hope that you find it helpful and inspiring. We will also include our current job openings, knowing that we can count on your support to share them with the people you think might be a perfect fit for the role!

 

Below you will find October updates: 


Animal Equality - UK

Animal law violations going unprosecuted, sparking fresh calls for increased law enforcement

A report commissioned by Animal Equality UK - authored by the Social Market Foundation - outlined the urgent need for the UK Government to address the Enforcement Problem, whereby laws exist on paper and not in practice. In the UK, for example, around 30% of cows are lame and 72% of piglets have their tails cut off, yet both of these issues are illegal when occurring routinely. The SMF urged the Government to increase surveillance, scrutiny, and transparency of and within the animal agriculture industries. Specific recommendations include a legal licensing scheme (whereby farms would be subject to increased unannounced inspections), mandatory CCTV, and a Health and Welfare Commissioner. The report was covered in the Financial Times, Grocer Gazette, and the Grocer, and can be found here.

Animal Equality supports as panelist at Food for Profit film screening in London

Animal Equality’s Executive Director in the UK was invited to speak as a panelist at the UK premiere of award-winning documentary, Food for Profit, which uncovers aggressive lobbying tactics employed by animal agriculture industries across Europe. We discussed the power of undercover investigations, concerns around the worsening effects of climate change for farmed animals, the challenges posed by precision breeding technologies, and the importance of transitioning to a plant-based diet. See more on the film here.

Hirings:

 

Igualdad Animal - Mexico

Mexican President supports constitutional reform against animal abuse

In her first address as President, Claudia Sheinbaum announced her support for the constitutional reform against animal abuse, which is currently under discussion in Congress. Animal Equality has been advocating for this reform through its "Animals to the Constitution" campaign. This is the first time a Mexican president has prioritized animal protection in their government commitments.

The vote on the constitutional reforms to include animals in Mexico’s Constitution is approaching. Dulce Ramírez has engaged in continuous lobbying and dialogue with the president of the Political Coordination Board, Deputy Ricardo Monreal, as well as with coordinators from all parties, to secure the necessary consensus in the full assembly.

As part of the “Animals in the Constitution” campaign, we have delivered 140,000 signatures of support, and we also invited HSI Mexico, who contributed an additional 22,000 signatures. This collective effort has generated significant national and international coverage in media outlets such as Forbes México, Carmen Aristegui Noticias, La Jornada, Infobae, Meganoticias, and López Dóriga, among others.

Reducing animal products in Mexican universities' dining services 

Through a partnership with Love Veg and Alianza Alimentaria, the UAM Cuajimalpa University in Mexico City committed to reducing animal-based foods by 30% in three years. As part of the implementation plan, we hosted a talk with 500 new students in October to invite them to join this plant-based change. We also held a plant-based cooking workshop for cafeteria chefs, teaching them to recreate student favorites with plant-based ingredients.

Animal Equality in Mexico was part of Jalisco State’s first Animal Welfare Council

This council was active from 2022 to October 2024. Over two years, we monitored compliance with farmed animal protection laws in slaughterhouses, facilitated public communication on reporting animal abuse, and promoted animal protection education in schools, reaching 1.6 million students and 76,000 teachers.

Animal Equality at Encuentro por los Animales and Vegan Business Summit in Mexico

Animal Equality attended the first Encuentro por los Animales (Meeting for Animals) in Mexico City, sharing ourtheir work on legislative changes for farmed animals. Later, wethey joined the Vegan Business Summit 2024, Latin America's top plant-based industry event, to inspire change by inviting people to subscribe to Love Veg, Animal Equality’sits plant-based program. 
 

Igualdad Animal - Spain

Photography by Aitor Garmendia and Animal Equality recognized at Siena Awards 2024

At the prestigious Siena Awards 2024, photojournalist Aitor Garmendia’s image from an Animal Equality investigation in Spanish slaughterhouses received a mention in the "Documentary & Photojournalism" category. The photo, taken in November 2023, captures a pig in a stunning box and is part of a more extensive investigation on Spanish slaughterhouses.

Europastry commits to ending use of cages

After three years of advocacy by Animal Equality in Spain, Europastry, a leader in frozen bakery dough, has announced its global cage-free commitment with a 2030 deadline. Serving over 80 countries with products like bread, pastries, and pizzas, this pledge will impact over 1.8 million hens worldwide every year.

We delivered 100,000 signatures to the Spanish Congress for the end of force-feeding

Animal Equality delivered 100,000 signatures to the Spanish Congress as part of its campaign to urge an end to force-feeding ducks and geese for foie gras production. Spain is one of five European countries still allowing this cruelty, affecting over a million birds annually. The Sumar parliamentary group supported the petition, asking the government about its intentions to implement legislative reforms to prohibit it and to exclude foie gras from official banquets.

Animal Equality publishes its Transition of Companies to Cage-free Systems Report

Animal Equality in Spain has released its 2024 Transition of Companies to Cage-Free Systems Report. Of the 158 companies committed to cage-free, 73% reported progress this year, with 27% fulfilling their commitments before the 2025 deadline. The percentage of caged hens in Spain has decreased from 93% in 2016 to 67% today.

Hiring:


Animal Equality - Germany

Revision of animal protection act: Encouraging the German Parliament 

Animal Equality reached out to all members of the German Parliament in preparation for the final phase of the planned revision of the German animal protection law to emphasize the importance of improving the current legislation draft. Additionally we focussed on a ban of long-distance transports – both on national and EU level. We also addressed the federal agriculture minister personally regarding our demand on animal transports and linked it to an animal transport dispatched in Germany that was recently stranded at the Bulgarian-Turkish border for several weeks because of administrative reasons. This resulted in the death of all 69 cows. We also asked our volunteer network to write to their responsible member of the Parliament to call for a better animal protection act.

Hirings:


Animal Equality - Italy

Presented a new groundbreaking investigation inside a pig slaughterhouse and two protest done already!

Our exposé inside a pig slaughterhouse revealed horrific animal cruelty and sparked a movement. Here some key findings:

  1. Conscious pigs, struggling to stand after electrical stunning and throat slitting, were filmed breathing, blinking and screaming in pain as they moved along the slaughterhouse conveyor belt;
  2. After being stunned and having its throat slit, a piglet got up and started walking as blood gushed from its neck. In another case, a worker held down a screaming pig struggling to stand after its throat had been slit twice.
  3. Several pigs were forced together into the stunning cage, a cage designed for only one animal. The operators hit the pigs who had not entered fast enough by slamming them against the cage's metal door.

Thanks to our launch with TGR Lombardia - one of the key sources for regional news - hundreds of thousands witnessed the truth. A regional deputy has now joined our cause, demanding answers locally, while another deputy will take the issue to the national stage. 

Less than 24 hours after the release we protested outside the local ATS, the authority responsible for animal welfare, calling for justice, transparency, and real oversight. Thousands of supporters also pressured ATS with targeted emails, amplifying the demand for answers. The demonstration showed our community's strength and determination. On Tuesday 29th, with our activists we carried out another protest, this time outside the city hall where the slaughterhouse is located while our digital activists sent thousands of emails to the We are currently planning a third protest outside the regional government headquarters which will take place on November 15th and for this occasion journalists, politicians and VIPs will be present.

An Italian VIP in a farm: reveals the reality of chicken farms to thousands of people

We accompanied Luis Sal, a famous content creator in Italy (over 2 millions followers on Instagram and 1.87 millions followers on YouTube), to a chicken farm. With an exclusive live broadcast on Animal Equality's YouTube channel, we launched the project together with Luis, bringing the truth behind chicken meat to thousands of new online users and urging them to make more compassionate food choices. 
 

iH Hotels published its cage-free commitment

After almost a year of consistent effort by Animal Equality in Italy, IH Hotels has officially published its cage-free commitment. The hotel company declared that the eggs and egg products they used are already from cage-free hens, also adding that they’ve also excluded combi systems. 

Successful tactics: 

With these tactics, we managed to accelerate the policy publication, which required quick and precise work in order to make sure it was a complete cage-free commitment, including combi systems.

A new series of actions to save male chicks in Italy

A law was passed in Italy in 2022 to end the killing of male chicks in the egg industry. But two years later the government has still not enacted all the necessary measures. In a new series of actions, Animal Equality is urging government politicians to do their part for the chicks, and now the Italian parliament is also speaking out. Some politicians, meanwhile, have submitted a question to the government asking for clarity on when and how this law will be implemented.

 

Animal Equality- India

Love Veg India

As a part of our Love Veg campaign, we proudly presented to 300 students in Pune on why and how to enjoy more plant-based food. 

Cage-free eggs transition

Animal Equality has been working with food companies to transition to cage-free eggs. Following is the transition rate of some companies as of October 2024.

Animal Equality - US
Hirings

Undercover Investigator (full-time, remote, exempt)

Operations Manager (full-time; remote, but Greater Los Angeles, CA; exempt)

 

Animal Equality - Brazil

Bill to ban male chick culling approved by the Brazilian Committee of Environment & Sustainable Development.

Bill 783/2024, filed by the Federal Deputy Luciene Cavalcante at request of Animal Equality Brasil, was approved at the Committee of Environment & Sustainable Development, of the Deputy's Chamber in the National Congress. The approval is a positive step towards the definitive ban of male chick culling in the Brazilian egg industry. The bill has to be passed by other 3 committees in the Deputy's Chamber and if approved follows to the Senate where it probably will be voted on by other 3 committees.This legislative approach is part of Animal Equality strategy to introduce in ovo sexing technologies in Brazil.

AB Mauri committees to ban male chick culling in its supply chain.

After months of negotiation with Animal Equality in Brazil, one of the largest egg processors in Brazil AB Mauri released a policy to ban male chick culling in their supply chain. AB Mauri is a Brazilian subsidiary of the international group Associated British Foods and owner of the Fleischmann, Fleischmann Gran Finale, Mauri, Aromaferm, FluiDS, Sohovos brands and its policy  will impact 1,060.000 animals enhancing our efforts to ban male chick culling in Brazil. 

Nissin Foods publicly announced the fulfillment of their cage-free commitment in Brazil

After years of negotiations with Animal Equality, Mercy For Animals, and Fórum Animal, Nissin Foods do Brasil publicly announced the fulfillment of their cage-free commitment in the country. Nissin is one of the world leaders in the production of instant foods and is renowned for its noodle portfolio in Brazil. The company has operations in various countries, with subsidiaries in regions such as Latin America, Asia, and the United States. You can see the reporting on this page, under "Ações Socioambientais":  https://www.nissin.com.br/o-que-praticamos/. 

 

For all the vacancies listed above: you can find more information inside each link, please share them if you know someone who would be perfect for the role! 

 

Animal Equality is an international organization working with society, governments, and companies to end cruelty to farmed animals. Learn more about our work: https://animalequality.org/ 

Thank you for all the important work that you’re carrying out for animals.