Animal rights activists have been spotted clambering up the side of a government building this morning as part of a climate protest ahead of COP26.
Protesters from Animal Rebellion mounted the Westminster building for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), also shared by the Home Office, in the early hours calling for the country to adopt a plant-based lifestyle.
After scaling the building at around 6 am, the group then dropped a banner down from the roof that reads: “COP26: Invest in a plant-based future”.
The group intends to stay up there on the roof all day, suspended in hammocks until the Prime Minister agrees to cut taxpayer funding for animal agriculture, reports The Metro.
BREAKING: Animal Rebellion protestors have scaled DEFRA, demanding government support for a plant-based food system at COP26. The protestors have said that they will take action until the government defunds meat and subsidises a plant-based transition. pic.twitter.com/ycmDSLt12U
The protesters are calling on ministers to support a plant-based food system at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, claiming that “our food system is destroying our planet.”
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Connected to Extinction Rebellion, Animal Rebellion (AR) describes itself as “a mass volunteer movement using nonviolent civil disobedience to help the transition to a plant-based food system.”
The group says the government currently spends around £1.5billion per year subsidising livestock farming – ten times the country’s budget for planting trees and around half of the UK’s overall agricultural subsidies.
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This morning AR has tweeted that it will “take action until the government defunds meat and subsidises a plant-based transition”.
It added: “Meat and Dairy is one of the leading producers of greenhouse gases and causes 90% of Amazon deforestation.
Meat and Dairy is one of the leading producers of greenhouse gases and causes 90% of Amazon deforestation. World leaders at cannot talk about meeting the Paris Climate targets and securing global net zero without addressing that our food system is destroying our planet.
“World leaders at [COP26] cannot talk about meeting the Paris Climate targets and securing global net zero without addressing that our food system is destroying our planet.”
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The activist group also posted that it will continue to post updates throughout the day as its take-over of the building unfolds.
Animal Rebellion spokesman Nathan McGovern told The Metro: ‘Our protesters climbed the building in the early hours of this morning to send a clear message that we want an end to support for animal agriculture which is killing our planet.
‘The four, who are around 10 to 20 metres high, have unveiled a banner saying “Cop26: Invest in a plant-based future”.
‘We will see what the situation with the police is, but the plan is to stay in place indefinitely and this will remain a peaceful protest.’
Feature image – Animal Rebellion via Twitter
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NHS says it’s battling with ‘worst case scenario’ as flu cases surge nationwide
Emily Sergeant
Flu hospitalisations have surged by more than half in just one week, plunging the NHS into the ‘worst case scenario’.
Shocking new figures have revealed that an nn average of 2,660 patients per day were in a hospital bed with flu last week, which is the highest-ever for this time of year and up 55% up on last week – which, when put into perspective, means there are enough flu patients each day to fill more than three whole hospital trusts.
NHS bosses have warned that the total has already increased sharply since the week covered by the data, and at this time, there is thought to be no ‘peak’ in sight.
These new figures come as demand for A&Es and ambulance services are already soaring.
The number of patients in hospital with flu has risen by over 50% in the last week, reaching a record number for this time of year – and numbers continue to grow.
New monthly figures showed that A&E attendances were a record for November at 2.35 million and more than 30,000 higher than November 2024, while there were 48,814 more ambulance incidents compared to last year.
The record-breaking demand also comes just ahead of thousands of resident doctors going on strike this week from 17-22 December – with ‘major disruption’ expected for patients ahead of Christmas.
The public are advised to attend any planned appointments scheduled during the strikes, unless they have been contacted to reschedule.
Primary and urgent and emergency care services will continue to be available for those who need them, during the industrial action.
NHS says it’s battling with the ‘worst case scenario’ as flu cases surge nationwide / Credit: Pxhere
The public should use 111 online as their first port of call for urgent but not life-threatening issues so that they can be directed to the best place for their needs, while patients who need emergency medical care should continue to use 999 or come forward to A&E as normal.
“With record demand for A&E and ambulances and an impending resident doctors strike, this unprecedented wave of super flu is leaving the NHS facing a worst-case scenario for this time of year – with staff being pushed to the limit to keep providing the best possible care for patients,” commented Professor Meghana Pandit, who is the NHS National Medical Director.
“Even worse, it continues to rise and the peak is not in sight yet, so the NHS faces an extremely challenging few weeks ahead.
“We have prepared earlier for winter than ever before, and stress-tested services to ensure people have a range of ways to get the help they need and avoid needing to go to A&E.”
Health Secretary Wes Streeting described the flu surge as a ‘tidal wave’.
“We are working with the NHS to make sure it is able to cope with this as best as possible,” he concluded.
Featured Image – Stephen Andrews (via Unsplash)
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Erling Haaland dresses up as Santa and hands out Christmas presents in Greater Manchester
Danny Jones
Manchester City star Erling Haaland has doubled as Father Christmas in his latest YouTube stunt, dressing up as Santa and handing out presents to local kids in the new episode.
We’re starting to think he might be one of the most likeable footballers on the planet right now.
The Norwegian footballer recently surpassed Alan Shearer’s ‘fastest to 100 goals record’ in the Premier League and has been well and truly back to his best as Man City continue to rediscover their form, but the big blonde number nine has been delighting both on and off the pitch of late.
For starters, even before any of the season’s givings began, we got the giggle just from our first glimpse of the thumbnail.
Yes, Haaland definitely has a habit of leaning into the humorous side of his celebrity status, having already dressed up as the Joker for Halloween in one of the first episodes published on his still relatively new YouTube channel.
However, the 25-year-old got up to some more heartwarming activities this time around, swapping the face paint, green wig and stripey suit for a red coat, hat, some little glasses and a big white beard.
With the video itself showing him getting into character and loading his car with a sack full of presents, he then goes on to visit multiple houses to dish out the surprise gifts.
While the title and description state that he drove around the streets of 0161, it’s hard to tell where exactly he went, but we’d guess it was more around Alderley Edge and/or the Cheshire side of the Greater Manchester borders.
One particular interaction between the disguised Blue and a young Red certainly produced a harmless little bit of comedy…
Either way, on the whole, this particular instalment was more wholesome than it was funny, and it’s always nice to see sports personalities and famous people spreading kindness.
Obviously, not everyone can afford to be as generous as a Premier League and world-famous international athlete, but it’s nevertheless a nice touch.
Georgina Pellant -
26th October 2021 
