All posts by stephanieb.ca

Chains of Silence – Unplugged

During the pandemic and lock-down it has been time for self reflection. Sometimes that reflection requires re-creation. Because #Bill156 is now in effect in Ontario, I feel this has not been stressed enough, so it’s time to reinvent the message. Chains of Silence is originally a heavy rock song with a powerful message about our daily choices. During an interview, my team and I came up with this powerful and impassioned acoustic version of Chains of Silence.

Last year Bill 156 was introduced in Ontario. Its purpose is to conceal horrific conditions at farms, workplaces and agri-businesses, and to safeguard financial interests. It is designed to protect profits, while stifling dissent over animal animal exploitation and appalling agriculture practices and operations.

Please check out the video and song, available on all digital music retailers.

Ag Gag Laws in Canada

A new threat to animals is spreading across Canada. Since 2019, Ontario and Alberta have passed Ag-Gag laws and the meat industry is lobbying for them in Manitoba, Quebec and British Columbia. These laws make it illegal to expose animal cruelty in farms, slaughterhouses, transport and the fur industry, and also cover up abuse at puppy mills and labs. Gag laws institute censorship, restricting freedom of the press and free speech.

Animal Justice believes the laws are unconstitutional and will fight them in court. Starting today, join them in raising funds to help stop their spread. On November 14, take a 24-hour vow of silence; go voiceless for the animals who are silenced.

You can also show your support by making a tax deductible gift. The first $10, 000 raised will be doubled. Check out Voiceless4AnimalJustice.com for more info!

Activist Regan Russell

Just devastating. The Canadian animal activist community is reeling from the death of Regan Russell, a kindhearted and courageous animal advocate who was run over by a truck outside a pig slaughterhouse in Burlington Ontario.

This comes mere days after Ontario passed Bill-156; legislation designed to crack down on protests outside slaughterhouses, emboldening the meat industry to declare open season on animal advocates.

“Regan was a kind, elegant, strong and courageous person” said Anita Krajnc, founder of the Animal Save Movement. “She was a mentor to others, and she always did activism with kindness in her heart”.

Regan had been an animal advocate since 1979, attended vigils weekly for years, and cared deeply about justice for animals, racial injustice, and protecting the vulnerable. Thank you for your dedication and compassion, Regan.

If anyone has information about the incident that took place, please contact lawyer Anandi Naipaul of Ross and McBride who is representing the family or lawyer Shane Martínez who is representing Toronto Pig Save. You can also reach the Halton police chief at 905-825-4747 ext. 4700 | chiefofpolice@haltonpolice.ca.

Ontario Bill 156

BREAKING: Ontario made it ILLEGAL to expose animal suffering on farms, in slaughterhouses, and on transport trucks.

For those saying “Well people shouldn’t trespass on private property!”… There are ALREADY trespass laws in Ontario! Activists can already be prosecuted for breaking trespass laws. These ag gag laws are specifically designed to keep animal abuse hidden. And of course, this would only be an offence on farms where there are animals, NOT farms where there are crops.

Bill 156 was introduced by provincial Agriculture Minister Ernie Hardeman, and what it entails is beyond horrific.

Under the new “ag gag” legislation, advocates who go onto farms uninvited to expose the conditions of the animals could face hefty fines of up to $15,000 for a first offence, and up to $25,000 for subsequent offences.

This disturbing legislation also targets advocates who hold vigils and bear witness to animals in transport, and give water to these animals so this directly impacts anyone involved with The Save Movement. It would also make it illegal to obtain permission by “false pretences” to be on farm property—essentially criminalizing much-needed undercover exposés.

“There are no welfare standards, no public inspections, and there is no meaningful oversight for the tens of millions of animals confined in appalling conditions on farms. Undercover exposés of Ontario farms and slaughterhouses regularly lead to animal cruelty prosecutions and convictions. Greater transparency is good for animals, food safety, and public confidence. Instead of addressing the animal cruelty crisis on farms, the government is misusing the justice system to conceal animal abuse in a way that may well violate the Charter,” said Animal Justice’s executive director @camillelabchuk in our press release.

Alberta recently introduced appalling “ag gag” legislation too, and passed it last week—just 10 days after it was introduced. What’s happening in Alberta and Ontario is disgraceful.

Check in with Animal Justice for updates. Animal Justice consists of lawyers that work to pass strong new animal protection legislation, push for the prosecution of animal abusers, and fight for animals in court.

Find more about the Bill 156 action at Animal Alliance of Canada. Animal Alliance works with legislators to pass sound animal and environmental protection laws.

And for whistleblowers, continue to expose the truth while protecting your sources.

Eating Animals Causes Pandemics

WetmarketCars lined up at the main entrance to the Baishazhou wetmarket, one of the biggest in Wuhan which is buzzing again. The Chinese city where the Coronavirus first emerged has stirred back to “life” following a lockdown lasting for months. Even though China had announced that they banned the trade and consumption of wild animals, these wetmarkets are still full of them.

History has proven that pandemics start from eating animals.

Beijing failed to go public with the true scale of the pandemic and punished their whistleblowers, hampering other nation’s ability to respond on time. The Chinese government’s ego is bigger than the health of its citizens and the lives of the rest of the world.

What can you take away from this? Buy products made locally, avoid supporting this cruel regime and go VEGAN!

No one is talking about the true cause of the pandemic. Take Canada. While the virus has infected over 90K of it’s citizens, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau funded a $62.5 million aid for the fish and seafood sector and $252 million into the agriculture space, the very industries that cause epidemics in the first place. While everyone is distracted with the outbreak, discussion is quietly happening in Ontario to try and pass Bill 156, a bill to “protect farmers, and others, from risks”. Those “risks” target whistleblowers and journalists by making it illegal to expose horrible conditions on farms and food-processing facilities, the very kind of conditions that cause epidemics. The very kind of conditions that already caused three major outbreaks at food plants in Ontario.

While Ontario doesn’t have strong laws when it comes the conditions of animals right now, there’s still a few things you can do:

new law promotes sustainability and climate change

Italy is to become the first country in the world in which the study of climate change will be made compulsory in schools! Under a new law, all state schools will dedicate around an hour a week to sustainability and climate change issues from the beginning of the next academic year, said Lorenzo Fioramonti, Italy’s education minister. That would amount to around 33 hours a year.
Continue reading new law promotes sustainability and climate change →

Canadians are ditching meat and dairy

The dairy industry is not happy with Canada’s new food guide, but Canadians are the winners now.

A Dairy industry representative said: “…any drastic change to the food rules would harm a sector still reeling from concessions granted in recent trade agreements.”

But was it ever fair for a guide meant to promote healthy eating to instead protect the profits of a business sector? Thankfully, our Minister of Health allowed Health Canada to work free from industry influence this time.
Continue reading Canadians are ditching meat and dairy →

How to have a happy humane holiday

Christmas celebrations are the cause of considerable cruelty. Slaughtered and eaten, and given away as presents like disposable toys– these are just a few of the ways in which animals suffer for our seasonal pleasure.

So as the countdown to the festivities begins, we should all take a moment to think about the millions of animals who will suffer and die for our celebrations and how each of us can make simple changes to ensure a Christmas with compassion. IF YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET, this can be accomplished easily! Continue reading How to have a happy humane holiday →