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The UK government is working on a 25-year plan for British food and farming. Its focus is on increasing exports, weakening regulations and intensifying farming. It fails to mention what’s really important: giving animals a life worth living, protecting the planet, and producing good, healthy food. If the government’s 25-year plan goes ahead unchallenged, today’s children will inherit a food system where billions of animals suffer behind closed doors. Where wildlife are driven from shrinking, toxic habitats. Where more people die prematurely because of unhealthy diets and where the overuse of antibiotics threatens us all. Our children deserve a kinder, fairer, more ethical world – and British citizens must persuade the government to deliver it. On Monday 14 December, Compassion arranged a heartfelt and moving performance outside the offices of Britain’s farming ministers. A choir of children sang a powerful adaptation of the well-loved Christmas carol, Away in a Manger (click the link or hit the YouTube subtitles button to read the lyrics). In addition, Father Ted and Eastenders actor Pauline McLynn gave a unique, farm animal-focused reading of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. Each child also handed in their Christmas wish for farm animals to the government. They spoke out for a better world, without intensive animal farming. If you live in the UK, please add your voice now – for the sake of farm animals, the planet and our children’s future. Tell the UK government that its 25-year plan for farming must focus on improving animal welfare and human health, halting environmental pollution and destruction, and ending the overuse of antibiotics. It’s not too late to stop factory farming in its tracks. Send your Christmas wish to Elizabeth Truss, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and George Eustice, Minister for Farming, Food and Marine Environment. Away in a manger, just slats for a bed, A litter of piglets are cramped in a shed. The stars in the bright sky look down where hens lay In bare little cages, no fresh air or hay. The cattle are lowing, Their poor hooves all ache No freedom for grazing No pasture they take So that’s why we sing here, and that’s why we plead. We love these poor creatures, and want them all freed. Have mercy, dear Defra, we beg you to say You’ll end all their suffering when your Plan is made. For ending their torment helps them, you, and me. So, unlock their cages and let them range free. ‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the farm Not a creature was stirring, but all was not calm. The piglets were sick, they just lay on the floor. No comfort was given, not even any straw. Their mother, she loved them and was desperate to care. But she was locked in a crate and watched in despair. In time they would grow and be taken away. But she’d stay in that shed ‘til the end of her days. Next door, lived the hens who laid eggs for our tea. They’re caged all their lives, but they long to be free. They’re frail and they’re tired; they look miserable there. They need space to roam and a breath of fresh air. The chicks in the next shed, we must understand, Are drugged up and crammed in, and too weak to stand. Their lives are so short; they never have fun. They won’t scratch in a yard; nor see the sun. Outside, all was icy but the farmhouse was warm. The family was safe from the wind and the storm. When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. There was Compassion, and its friends of all ages Fighting to free animals from those nasty cages. And so, my dear children, this you should hear: Changes will come but we must persevere! Our Christmas Wishes all ask the same thing: Let pigs roam the fields, and chicks spread their wings. End factory farming, and extend that good cheer. To the animals: ‘Happy Christmas, and wonderful New Year!’ The UK government is working on a 25-year plan for British food and farming. Its focus is on increasing exports, weakening regulations and intensifying farming. It fails to mention what’s really important: giving animals a life worth living, protecting the planet, and producing good, healthy food. If you live in the UK, please complete the form below to send your Christmas wish to the government. If you live outside the UK please contact us to make sure we send campaigns relevant to your location in the future. If the government’s 25-year plan goes ahead unchallenged, today’s children will inherit a food system where billions of animals suffer behind closed doors; where wildlife are driven from shrinking, toxic habitats; where more people die prematurely because of unhealthy diets; and where the overuse of antibiotics threatens us all. Our children deserve a kinder, fairer, more ethical world – and British citizens must persuade the government to deliver it. On Monday 14 December, Compassion arranged a heartfelt and moving performance outside the offices of British Farming Ministers. A choir of children sang a powerful adaptation of the well-loved Christmas carol, Away in a Manger. Plus, Father Ted and Eastenders actor Pauline McLynn gave a unique, farm animal-focused reading of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. Each child also handed in their Christmas wish for farm animals to the government. They spoke out for a better world, without intensive animal farming. If you live in the UK, please add your voice now – for the sake of farm animals, the planet and our children’s future. Tell the UK government that its 25-year plan for farming must focus on improving animal welfare and human health, halting environmental pollution and destruction, and ending the overuse of antibiotics. It’s not too late to stop factory farming in its tracks. Send your Christmas wish to Elizabeth Truss, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and George Eustice, Minister for Farming, Food and Marine Environment.
