Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

World Vegan Day 2014: 'Naked' Peta protesters lie covered in 'blood' at Trafalgar Square

Protesters held signs reading: 'choose life - choose vegan'

Heather Saul
Saturday 01 November 2014 12:21 EDT
Comments
Supporters of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) gather to lie in a heap in Trafalgar Square to raise awareness on World Vegan Day
Supporters of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) gather to lie in a heap in Trafalgar Square to raise awareness on World Vegan Day (PA)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Dozens of partially nude Peta protesters lay covered in fake blood at London’s Trafalgar Square on Saturday to mark World Vegan Day 2014.

About 100 supporters lay in heaps holding signs that read “choose life: choose vegan” and “one billion animals killed for flesh each year”.

The animal rights group were also handing out vegan starter kits to passerbys.

Peta Director Mimi Bekhechi said the organisation is challenging others to take-up a vegan diet. “Animals feel pain, fear, love and joy, just as humans do, yet billions of them are killed every year for products that are poisoning the environment and contributing to the UK's obesity epidemic," she said.

“PETA is challenging people to think about the massive toll that the meat industry takes on animals, the Earth and human health – and to go vegan.”

World Vegan day was established by Louise Wallis, the former chair of The Vegan Society UK, in 1994 and is celebrated across the world.

It commemorates the start of World Vegan Month and the coining of the term 'vegan'.

Vegans and vegetarians now make up 12 per cent of the UK population, and that number is said to rise to 20 per cent for 18- to 24-year-olds.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in