There is a light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to that elusive decline in total meat consumption, but only in countries reaching a certain level of economic growth, according to a new study out this week.

BLOG: The news today has been awash with headlines about the 1,000 pet hamsters in Hong Kong due to be culled in a knee-jerk reaction to the discovery that some have been infected with coronavirus. This is tragic enough, but they aren’t the first non-humans to suffer as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. What lessons should we be learning?

Scientists have come up with a bioplastic that uses soy protein to mimic spider silk with all the tensile strength but none of the exploitation associated with other alternatives currently in development. But is it too good to be true?

We know that a plant-based diet is associated with many personal health benefits when it comes to chronic illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, certain forms of cancer and heart disease, but a new study suggests that vegans may also have a defence against Covid-19 when compared to meat-eaters.

We spoke to Carl Valentin, Denmark’s first ever proudly vegan MP, about his political career, championing animal rights and environmentalism in the Danish political landscape, and how to ensure that the ban on mink farming for fur stays beyond Covid-19.

This is NOT a joke. Tyson Foods, giant of animal-based food production and the largest exporter of deceased cows’ flesh out of the US, is apparently letting chickens choose their welfare measures as part of a two-year study out of their so-called Broiler Welfare Research Farm, in collaboration with payrolled researchers at the University of Arkansas.

Be mindful of what you do with your disposable covid PPE - that’s things like masks and gloves - because like a lot of human rubbish they’re finding their way into the lives of animals with catastrophic consequences.

The end of lockdown may be in sight, but for many companion animals brought into homes over the last year seemingly on a whim by people hoping to alleviate their boredom or get free eggs, the picture isn’t so optimistic. From dangerously maladjusted dogs to chickens dumped in fields, remember that companion animals are for life, not just for lockdown.

The UK government has just announced an end of all major lockdown restrictions in time for the summer, yet the news that the first cases of H5N8 in humans - at a bird farm in Russia - only serves to remind us that it is only a matter of time before a worse pandemic strikes.

In our latest Surge video, co-director Ed Winters gives a succinct rundown of the many reasons why veganism is on the rise. Produced for EuroNews, the video goes through everything from preventing the next global pandemic, to tackling environmental destruction.

Remember, mourn, and be angry—but above all prepare. Let’s be ready to put an end to the exploitation of animals, which will be the cause of the next pandemic, writes Dr Alex Lockwood.

In Part 2 of our 2020 round-up, Media and Education Coordinator Andrew Gough looks at the last six months of the year, arguably one of the most eventful for Surge with a distinct change of gears for the team. Don’t forget to read Part 1.