Reflections

Perspective

More Chickens Finding Backyard Homes During Pandemic

Since the pandemic began, sales of chickens to homeowners have been dramatically increasing. But is raising backyard chickens really any more ethical than supporting factory farming?

Policy•7 min read

Reported

Vigils and Rescues Ramp Up in the Wake of Activist’s Death

Celebrities are joining thousands of others to commemorate the life of animal rights activist Regan Russell, who was fatally struck by a transport truck at a slaughterhouse vigil in Canada…

Policy•4 min read

Perspective

Self-Discovery and the Pursuit of Racial Equity in Animal Advocacy: Introducing “The Encompass Essays”

The forthcoming collection of narratives examine how a cohort of advocates in the farmed animal movement intend to prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Encompass•17 min read

Perspective

The Power of the Pitch: Top Journalists and Editors Discuss How to Craft the Perfect Pitch

Watch the first installment of our new speaker series, Sentient Sessions, for tips and tricks on rising to the top of your editor's inbox.

Policy•7 min read

Reported

At Black Lives Matter Protests, Police Horses Become Another Troubling Symbol of Oppression

Interactions between Black people and mounted police at recent protests are a stark reminder of the country's racist past.

Policy•4 min read

Perspective

Encompass Essays: Pursuing Racial Equity in Animal Advocacy

A collection of essays written by farmed animal protection advocates who are committed to creating a more just animal protection movement.

Encompass•3 min read

Reported

Sentient Sessions: New Speaker Series

Monthly speaker series bringing together journalists, investigators, and experts to explore how to report on the issues that matter to all of us: the treatment of all sentient beings and…

Policy•15 min read

Explainer

Black Food Justice Reading List: 25 Articles, Books, and People to Follow

Centering the conversation around the activists, artists, and plant-based pioneers fighting for equality in the food system—and in their everyday lives—is the first step toward justice.

Policy•9 min read

Perspective

Advocating for Food Justice During a Pandemic: Lauren Ornelas Speaks Out

Lauren Ornelas is the founder of the Food Empowerment Project, a vegan food justice organization that shows people how various issues of oppression are connected to the food system.

Policy•5 min read

Perspective

The New York Times Swapped an Image of Animal Carcasses for an Abstract Illustration. But Why?

Mainstream media refuses to document the food system truthfully and accurately. It’s our responsibility to hold them accountable.

Policy•8 min read

Perspective

What Do Humans Owe to Wildlife in Urban Spaces?

Animals in urban areas are surprising us by venturing onto empty city streets. These animals, while largely invisible to human eyes, need our protection.

Policy•6 min read

Perspective

Animal Protection During COVID-19 and Beyond: Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way

In a new op-ed from Animal Equality UK, Michelle Baxter Wickham calls for more individual and corporate accountability to ensure farmed animals are better protected when we return to "normal."

Policy•5 min read

Perspective

Pandemics, Liberation, and Animal Ag: An Interview With Peter Singer

Philosopher Peter Singer has been highly influential in shaping the ethical foundation for animal protection, in addition to his long career in ethics, especially utilitarianism.

Policy•18 min read

Perspective

Explaining Pandemics and Animal Exploitation to My 3-Year-Old Son

The COVID-19 pandemic raises a lot of questions, especially by children whose worlds were turned upside-down. How should parents address those difficult questions?

Policy•6 min read

Perspective

Cook Vegan at Home to Protest What Got Us Here

Cooking vegan during the coronavirus pandemic is a way to protest the profit- and animal exploitation-driven systems that got us here.

Policy•7 min read

Perspective

The Psychology of Blaming Others During the Time of COVID-19

Humans are emotionally invested in ensuring that, whatever happens, the spotlight of blame never shines directly on us. So we blame wet markets in Asia for the spread of COVID-19…

Health•5 min read

Perspective

Vegan Dystopia—“Vystopia”—on the Rise with Spread of COVID-19

Even during these challenging times, animal advocates must channel their energies in as many ways as possible to create positive change for animals.

Policy•7 min read

Perspective

Book Review: Voices For Animal Liberation by Brittany Michelson

Voices For Animal Liberation explores how personal trauma, depression, dysfunction, and addiction foster insight into the trauma of animals trapped in human systems of abuse.

Policy•9 min read

Perspective

Daughter of Cambodian Genocide Survivor Reflects on Animal Rights

A second-generation Cambodian genocide survivor draws parallels between her mother’s experiences under the Khmer Rouge regime and the modern-day treatment of farmed animals.

Policy•6 min read

Reported

Rabbit Advocates Celebrate “Easter Bunnies” Year ‘Round

Most families abandon their “Easter rabbits” in less than a year, overburdening shelters with new arrivals following the holiday season. Animal advocates recommend Easter celebrations that are cruelty-free.

Policy•3 min read

Perspective

A Feminist Perspective on a Livestock Auction

Livestock auctions reflect the gendered oppression that both humans and nonhumans face. Female bodies are put on display, meant for the objectification and viewing pleasure of men.

Policy•6 min read

Perspective

Should Homeless Shelters Serve Only Vegan Food?

Evidence is growing for the many health benefits of plant-based diets, and organizations like schools and hospitals are already making the switch. Should homeless shelters be next?

Policy•6 min read

Perspective

Beyond #MooToo: Limitations Within Feminist Vegan Slogans

Is popular vegan messaging missing the mark? Carol J. Adams, author of The Sexual Politics of Meat, explains how the new #MooToo slogan does more to hurt feminist vegan theory…

Policy•5 min read

Perspective

In Response to Harriet Hall: The White Savior Is You, Not Joaquin Phoenix

After his rousing Oscar acceptance speech on Monday, Phoenix received sharp criticism from Harriet Hall for his expansive view of justice for all animals—revealing her own narrow lens.

Policy•6 min read

Perspective

One Woman’s Inspiring Post on Judging Less and Supporting More

It's very easy to judge others. This is especially true when we lack context and information. But does being judgmental help the animals?

Policy•7 min read

Reported

Compassion in World Farming USA: On a Mission to Reform Our Current Food System

Sentient Media spoke with Rachel Dreskin, Compassion in World Farming USA’s Executive Director, about CIWF’s commitment to ending factory farming and improving animal welfare both nationally and globally.

Policy•12 min read

Perspective

The Narrative That Animal Rights Activism Is Extremism Must Stop

The animal rights activist community has had a difficult past with the authorities, but this recent document sends a very damaging message.

Policy•7 min read

Analysis

2019 Year in Review: Informing, Inspiring, and Empowering the Farmed Animal Movement

As we say goodbye to 2019, we’d like to share our successes and thank you for your continued support on our mission to increase the public awareness around farmed animal…

Policy•4 min read

Perspective

“The Best Way to Change the World Is to Understand It”: Faunalytics Is Using Research to Drive Change for Animals

Sentient Media spoke with Faunalytics’ Research Director Jo Anderson and Content Director Karol Orzechowski about how the organization is encouraging societal change through research and education.

Policy•8 min read

Perspective

Encompass: Building a More Inclusive Animal Rights Movement

Encompass works with farmed animal protection organizations and individual advocates to create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive movement.

Policy•9 min read

Perspective

The Humane League: Interview with President David Coman-Hidy

The Humane League has been fighting #ForTheAnimals for over a decade, and they won’t stop until every cage is empty and every food corporation adopts meaningful animal welfare standards.

Policy•9 min read

Perspective

Mercy For Animals: Interview with President Leah Garcés

With two decades of experience in reducing animal suffering, Mercy For Animals continues to work for a more compassionate world.

Policy•5 min read

Perspective

Wild Animal Welfare Movement Takes Shape Worldwide

The animal protection movement has traditionally focused on reducing suffering on factory farms and in laboratories. Now, advocates are entering the wild to fight animal suffering in creatures' natural habitats.

Policy•6 min read

Perspective

British Animal Charities Are Missing in Action This General Election

Animal welfare matters to the U.K. public. But for the first time in more than 40 years, animal advocate and researcher Kim Stallwood says Britain’s top charities are letting the…

Policy•4 min read

Perspective

We Are All Animal Lovers

Philip McKibbin and Kim Stallwood challenge animal lovers and animal advocates to think differently about their relationship with animals from the perspective of the Politics of Love.

Policy•11 min read

Reported

Do Calls For Animal Rights Interfere With Religious Freedoms?

Animals play a role in religious ceremonies, meals, and sacrifices. Activists pursuing change to these roles face challenges regarding religious freedoms.

Policy•5 min read

Perspective

The Animal Rights Revolution: Coming to a Grocery Near You

Most people are opposed to animal suffering, and yet they condone the suffering of trillions by choosing to eat animal products. That's why activists are taking the fight for animal…

Policy•4 min read

Perspective

Don’t Bully My Breed

Pit bulls are misunderstood by humans as too aggressive, too big, or even too muscular. Should superficial assumptions lead to these dogs being passed over in shelters and disliked by…

Policy•6 min read

Perspective

Animal Rights Isn’t Getting More Extreme. It’s Getting More Personal.

Why do activists risk so much for the animals they love? Sentient Media's Matthew Zampa visited a microsanctuary in the Berkeley Hills to find out.

Policy•11 min read

Perspective

Our Companions: Princess Pixel the Pit Bull

In the series Our Companions, Sentient Media’s Ana Bradley shares how Princess Pixel leapt into her family in an unexpected and playful manner.

Policy•5 min read

Perspective

Our Companions: Mimi The Cat

In the series Our Companions, Sentient Media's Mikko Jarvenpaa reflects on living with Mimi, a black rescue cat with a special personality.

Policy•4 min read

Perspective

Our Companions: Lance and Lilly, Two Little Dogs Brought Together by Fate

A rescued Italian Greyhound mix and a scruffy neighborhood chihuahua have taught Sentient Media’s Social Media Coordinator, Taylor Meek, just how funny fate can be.

Policy•9 min read

Perspective

Our Companions: Snow the Bunny, Queen of the Yard

Every night, Sentient Media’s Managing Editor Allie Grace Garnett chases her lop-eared rabbit, Snow, around her yard. But Snow is fast – and far more clever than you’d expect.

Policy•4 min read

Perspective

Book Review: Our Symphony with Animals by Aysha Akhtar

The first book by a physician to show how deeply the well-beings of humans and animals are intertwined, Our Symphony with Animals is a must read.

Policy•5 min read

Perspective

Our Companions: Molly and Sadie, the Cur Sisters

Two black-mouth cur puppies who were rescued from a life in the shelter now bring joy to the family of Sentient Media writer and social media coordinator Krista Kihlander.

Policy•4 min read

Perspective

To Love and Mourn an Animal

Companion animals affect us in unique ways. They don’t judge us. They don’t compete with us like other humans. They provide us with emotional support, and in return, we love…

Policy•5 min read

Reported

VeganEvan Becomes Youngest Certified Vegan Lifestyle Coach And Educator in the World

9-year-old VeganEvan just graduated from the Main Street Vegan Academy in New York, and is now the youngest person to ever become a vegan lifestyle coach.

Policy•4 min read

Perspective

From Human Rights to Sentient Rights: The Next Generation of Rights Thinking

If we grant rights in order to reduce suffering, should we grant rights to everything that can suffer? Jamie Woodhouse unpacks animal sentience and the benefits of broadening our moral…

Policy•7 min read

Perspective

Jonathan Safran Foer on Our Moral Obligation to Eat Better

The writer’s second book on animal agriculture, We Are The Weather, asks readers to take a hard look at their own role in the climate crisis.

Policy•8 min read

Reported

Going Cage-Free: How Corporations Influence Public Opinion of Animal Advocacy

Corporate lobbying efforts at Subway, Dunkin’, and McDonald’s are playing an increasingly effective role in animal advocacy. 

Policy•1 min read