Animal Rebellion covers Big Ben in fake milk and announces more plans to disrupt the dairy industry

Animal Rebellion yesterday covered Parliament Square Junction and Big Ben with fake milk as part of its major protest again the ‘cruel and destructive’ dairy industry.

The organisation uses non-violent civil disobedience to call attention to its goals of achieving a ‘just, sustainable plant-based food system’ and rewilding land used for animal pasture.

Earlier this month it announced it will be disrupting the dairy industry, engaging in a number of actions including blockading milk aisles in supermarkets in a bid to upset the milk supply.

So far, Animal Rebellion has carried out actions in numerous supermarkets in cities across the UK, with activists sitting in front of dairy fridges to stop consumers from buying milk.

Animal Rebellion v Liz Truss

Its action yesterday was designed to call on new prime minister Liz Truss to address the environmental and moral issues posed by both dairy and the wider factory farming industry.

According to campaigner Andrew Howard, 63, a retired firefighter from Sheffield: “[This] action is a direct challenge to Prime Minister Liz Truss.

“We are calling on her to make the drastic changes that we know need to happen in order to combat the cost-of-living, climate, and ecological crises we are facing.”

He added: “Supporting farmers into a plant-based future, whilst rewilding the land this would free up, is a total no-brainer.

“A plant-based future means cheaper food, more nature, and massive amounts of carbon drawn down from the atmosphere. It’s a win for everyone.”

Anti dairy campaign

Announcing its plans to disrupt dairy supplies earlier this month, the organisation released a statement saying: “We have spent months trying all the proper channels to engage with the government on the scientific consensus to transition to a plant-based future, but they have chosen to ignore us.

“We have been left with no choice but to step into civil resistance to pressure government action to preserve our futures.

“We are announcing our intentions in advance so the British public [can] prepare for a disruption to the milk supply this September.

“We apologise for any stress this may cause during a cost of living crisis, but the government are sleepwalking every single one of us into poverty, misery, and climate and ecological collapse. We cannot sit by and let this happen.”

There’s never been a better time to switch out the dairy and opt for plant-based alternatives instead. Get all the inspiration you need with our guide to 20 of the best plant-based milk recipes, from homemade milks to using it in curries.