SPECIAL REPORT: Attempts by animal advocates to influence others’ choices on eating meat run the full gamut from sharing graphic videos from farms and slaughterhouses on social media to recommending documentaries to watch to holding demos and protests. But which type of advocacy actually works to change attitudes and behaviour?

We talk to animal studies PhD student Simon Kleinert about his tattoos and how they reflect on veganism and the fight for animal liberation.

The bodies of 55,000 pigs including breeding sows and piglets are still being recovered three weeks after the fire at the Alt Tellin farm and biogas facility in northeastern Germany, with ensuing protests against plans to rebuild. But even before the tragedy of March 30, the site had long been the subject of legal controversies and demonstrations from both local interest groups and animal protection activists.

Animal protection law firm Advocates for Advocates is leading the way once again in the fight against the UK government’s controversial anti-protest bill, gathering together more than 30 animal justice groups including Surge in signing an open letter voicing our collective opposition. Here’s everything you need to know.

For our latest grassroots focus, we take a closer look at the compelling DONTWATCH.ORG campaign launched earlier this year. Based on a short seven-minute video, the campaign uses reverse psychology and a strong guerilla activism element to compel people to engage with the shocking truth of how we exploit animals.

Who remembers when we could hit the streets at a moment’s notice to hand out vegan flyers and talk to people about the rights of animals? Or rustle up some signs and hold a demonstration without fear of getting too close to anyone. One year after the first recorded case of Covid-19 in the UK, we discuss the state of grassroots activism today, how things have changed for us here at Surge, and a message of hope for the future.