Red Tractor’s latest friendly face of YouTube, the ultra-relatable “busy mum” ‘Emma’, is on a mission to discover all the wonders of UK farming. it is excellent marketing, but yet another attempt to improve the rapidly sinking public image of animal farming.

As absurd as that headline sounds, it could very soon be a reality. Amendment 171, currently being considered for approval by the European Commission, could soon make it illegal for producers of plant-based dairy alternatives to use not just terms like “creamy” and “buttery”, but even hint at an association. We take a look at this lobby-led censorship, other bans like it and what it means not just for vegans but Europe as a whole.

Can oat milk production really disrupt dairy and provide a viable alternative to animal farming? Jenny Di Leo and Tati von Rheinbaben from Refarm’d talk us through the latest news from Jay and Katja Wilde of Bradley Nook Farm.

We curate a small collection of iconic photographs of animals, each one with an important lesson for all of us. From the first dog in orbit to the monkey who with a little help from PETA sued a human photographer and won.

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.

An analysis of new data from the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) has revealed the EU to be the biggest exporter of live animals. But what is larger - our sense of surprise or the scale of the EU’s hypocrisy regarding animal welfare?

As someone who milked cows for 18 years, I can vouch that dairy farmers can and do have a real fondness for their cows. Like Nate Chittenden in Andrew Jacob's recent article. 'Is Dairy Farming Cruel to Cows?', a lot of the cows I milked had names, I could pet them and I never wanted to see them suffer. What I didn't realise at the time was that every single day I was CAUSING suffering to those animals I loved. How? Where to start.

Yet another high-profile institution has come out to say that we have to transition away from animal agriculture to lessen our impact on the planet, improve public health and avoid future pandemics. We look at the three recommendations from leading think tank Chatham House, with the backing of the UN, that point the finger firmly at the way we currently produce food.

A ban on baby male chicks being macerated or gassed soon after birth that could spread from Germany to other European countries - that sounds excellent, right? Sadly, it is not nearly far enough and could even be a distraction from the real issues.

Enthusiasts of coagulated bovine breast milk and questionable ethics came out fighting yesterday with a new challenge to mark the start of so-called ‘Februdairy’. We take a look at #CheeseADayChallenge, where it came from and our thoughts on how we as vegans and animal rights campaigners can get involved.

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.