“Man is an almost hopelessly conceited animal. He thinks that not only the earth with all that it contains was created for his essential benefit, but also the sky, the sun, and indeed, the whole universe, as far as he has any knowledge of it, were designed for his purposes and welfare. The sun shines to warm him; the earth brings forth fruits to feed him; the mountains contain…
A bit of a ramble today! It may appeal to folk who are fond of a bit of animal related history! Henry S. Salt, standing up for cats – The Mieaou Club being reformed – Edith Carrington remembering Harrison Weir. Henry S. Salt & Edith Carrington were pioneers of vegetarianism (actually of veganism long before the word was invented) & of animal rights. Harrison Weir taught our great-grandparents to love…
Unripe Cocoa Pods Growing in Madagascar In this blog post we reflect on: – how cocoa has helped the animal rights movement historically. cocoa’s role in today’s 2016 vegan businesses. the merits and shortfalls of Fair Trade certification, & of the other certification options available to cocoa growers & cocoa processors. alternatives to the current certification options. …… Red Lights Certified ‘Vegan’ chocolate products may contain dairy and egg – especially if they were made on…
This blog post remembers the work of two of our favorite animal rights activists. Almost 90 years ago, they were structuring a ‘special society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Cats’, ……and the work continues today – http://www.cats.org.uk/ ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… The Cats’ Protection League – a group of likeminded people led by Jessey Wade who were devoted to promoting the interests of domestic cats. Jessey Wade – the first Chairman Ernest Bell –…
An article by Ernest Bell, writing in Sept. 1914. First some notes – In this article, Ernest Bell is reflecting on his 40 years of being a vegetarian. He started to be an animal rights activist in ~ 1873. He had stopped eating meat in about 1874. He ‘veganized’ books which he published. His consumption of animal products such as milk seems to have been ‘O’. ~ …a little over twenty-five years… ~ – Ernest…
Ernest Bell – from an editorial in the Animals’ Friend Annual Volume for 1907 “With regard to the Humane Diet there is also a great change of opinion and feeling going on. The “vegetarian” used, out of deference to public opinion, to have to speak a little humbly about his special “fad,” but now we find it is the carnivorous man who adopts the apologetic tone. If he poses at all as…
Pure Henry Brown Amos & Ernest Bell – a very rare survivor – the only example we have seen in the past 40+ years of collecting these old AR related items. Ernest Bell Library item – League for the Prohibition of Cruel Sports Badge – circa 1924 Brass & Blue Vitreous Enamel 25 mm wide by 20.5 mm high The 4 animals are – a Stag – a Hare –…
A wonderfully designed postcard from the National Canine Defence League (NCDL) – circa 1930. A much loved item in the Ernest Bell Library. So Shines A Good Dog In A Naughty World ……quoting Shakespeare – ……’maybe’ quoting the Bible. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… William Shakespeare – The Merchant of Venice, Act 5, Scene I – circa 1598 Portia: That light we see is burning in my hall. How far that little candle throws…
For the benefit of 2016 vegans – here – are HappyCow’s Maine listings In our Ernest Bell Library, we have an original handwritten letter from 1834, identifying one early ‘close to vegan’ Portland resident – Reverend Henry Aiken Worcester, a Swedenborgian minister – and one ‘vegan’ visitor – Dr. Sylvester Graham. The letter tells us that Portland was quite a ‘vegan paradise’ in the 1830s. I use ‘vegan’ with inverted…
Time travel – back 68 years to Vegetarian Central London 1947. These 5 restaurant businesses had all survived WW2. Kudos to all of the owners & their teams! Sharing a few items from our Ernest Bell Library archives. The ‘London Vegetarian Society’ in 1947 – minus most of its archives as its previous home had been destroyed in the ‘Blitz’ 6 years earlier in 1941. 5 places to eat –…
Today: – ……we would like to jump back to 1914, to one of the first successful animal cruelty prosecutions. The court case was brought by the Performing and Captive Animals Defence League (PADL). We are happy to discover that undercover activism for the benefit of animals goes back more than 100 years! ‘Andrew’, a dealer friend in the UK, recently discovered this original postcard of ‘Choclat’ and sold it to us.…
SeaWorld 2014 / 5. The Hippodrome, London 1921. We are continuing the fight against humans forcing animals to perform for their profit. Important notes are in – brown. The postcard & other items referenced in this blog post are being cared for by the Ernest Bell Library. Our articles are always ‘heavy’ with embedded links & notes. Our goals are to help researchers & to inspire fellow animal rights activists.…
HappyCow Directory UK – 1881 In 1881 the entire UK had just 20 lacto-ovo vegetarian eating places & 22 food stores. The first title is ‘tongue in cheek’, HappyCow started in 1999, this ‘Directory’ is 118 years older, it is from the December 1881 issue of The Dietetic Reformer & Vegetarian Messenger – more discussion below. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .…