Thank you thank you thank you to everyone who wrote to the local newspaper about our campaign – it really paid off!!!

Whilst we've seen nothing on the letters page of The Sussex Express, the story got national coverage when it was picked up by the Daily Mail on the 2nd of May. Their typically dramatic headline got people's attention and the story then got international coverage when it was picked up by Plant Based News, a global, multi-platform and award winning news, media and entertainment company.

Both articles quote an excerpt from a letter I wrote to the Sussex Express:

"The meat-eating trustees at Raystede, for their own convenience, have chosen to categorise the slaughter of farmed animals as necessary suffering - despite the fact that animal products are now known to be not only unnecessary but detrimental to human health.

"Certainly no one could call bacon and beef burgers healthy food. So how can those in charge at Raystede justify ordering the deaths of the cows and pigs out of whom they were made?"

And of course both articles include responses from Raystede:

"We are aware of a small but ongoing campaign directed at our staff and trustees by instigators who – despite never having had the privilege of meeting our founder – take the position that she was an active vegan.

"Our President, who knew Ms. Raymonde-Hawkins for more than 20 years, fondly remembers meals out with her, where she would regularly eat trout, salmon and a range of dairy-based meals whilst she secured funding and legacies from a wide range of supporters. We are proud to continue Ms. Raymonde-Hawkins' pioneering work today."

So there you have it. When pushed for a response they blame their founder rather than admit to any wrong-doing, painting her as a hypocrite to excuse their own hypocrisy.

So she was flawed. We're all flawed. Most of us were meat-eaters before becoming vegetarian. I was a long time vegetarian before going vegan. That's because I didn't know. When I learned the truth – when my eyes were opened to the suffering inherent in the egg and dairy industries – I became vegan. That's what you do when you care.

We have told you Raystede. We have shown you proof.  Millions of vegans worldwide have demonstrated that truth so, in the words of William Wilberforce, “you may look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know.”

The following is a comment on the article at Plant Based News:
“What a shame that people visiting an animal sanctuary cannot on that occasion do without eating the body parts of what were sentient beings. What a shame that those running the sanctuary are speciesist, and only care about the small fluffy animals in their care and not the farmed animals that will have suffered terribly for some selfish human's dietary preferences. If you could live your life without harming others, why wouldn't you?”
Denise Friend, 5 May 2019

Keep writing! We're getting there!