The 21-year-old has spoken publicly about the importance of animal rights and protecting the environment. At the time of writing, Eilish has 108 million Instagram followers, meaning her advocacy reaches a huge audience. 

The musician regularly posts about veganism, and has also hosted concerts and events to promote the cause. Here’s everything you need to know about Eilish’s advocacy and diet. 

When and why did Billie Eilish go vegan?

Eilish previously stated that she’s been vegan since she was 12, which was nine years ago. 

In 2022, she spoke about her diet in a clip posted to Instagram. The celebrity said: “I was raised vegetarian, and I chose to stop eating all animal products when I was 12. Once I learned about how animals are treated in our industrial food system, I didn’t want any part of it.”

The artist added that she subsequently learnt about the connection between animal agriculture and the climate crisis. 

“Climate change is a huge threat facing all of us,” she said. “But it is especially frightening for young people and for vulnerable communities who are really really going to suffer in our lifetimes.”

Eilish went on to say that shifting one’s diet towards more plant-based foods can have a “major impact” on the environment.

Billie Eilish’s vegan advocacy

As well as speaking publicly about the ethical and environmental costs of animal farming, Eilish has used her concerts to raise awareness of the issues. 

At her Happier Than Ever tour, which took place in early 2022, she encouraged fans to pledge to include more plant-based foods in their diet. 

She included an “Action Village” at every concert location, which hosted a number of environmental organizations. One of these was Support + Feed, which Eilish herself launched with her mother, Maggie Baird.

Support + Feed is an award-winning nonprofit organization focused on “creating an equitable, plant-based food system and combating food insecurity and the climate crisis.”

In June 2022, Eilish and her mother hosted an event called Overheated at the O2 Arena in London. It included several expert speakers on the subject of animal agriculture and the environment, including Plant Based News co-founder Robbie Lockie. 

For the six-day event, the O2 removed all animal products from its menus. Instead of meat, it served plant-based dishes – including meatless sausage and chicken parmigiana – created with Impossible Foods.

Eilish has also launched a vegan Air Force 1 and Air Jordan sneakers in collaboration with Nike. She was nominated for PETA’s “person of the year” in 2021, with president Ingird Newkirk stating that Eilish has seized “every opportunity” to promote vegan food and fashion. 

Animal rights: Eilish calls out Oaks Farm

Back in 2019, Eilish took to Instagram to post about an investigation into Oaks Farm in Indiana that uncovered a number of instances of animal cruelty. 

A video published by Instagram user @carla.sweet.vegan showed workers appearing to kick and push newborn calves onto the floor when they wouldn’t drink from an artificial nipple.

“I keep my mouth shut most of the time about this because I believe everyone should do eat and say whatever they want… and I don’t feel the need to shove what I believe in, in anyone’s face,” Eilish wrote in a repost of the video. 

“If you can watch the videos that I just posted and not give a f*ck that it’s YOU contributing by LITERALLY EATING the creatures that are being fully tortured just for your pleasure. I feel sorry for you.”

After a fan commented saying that one person going vegan wouldn’t change anything, Eilish responded: “That’s ignorant and stupid. If you have half a brain, you should know ‘one person’ adds up. Be smarter.”

The post Is Billie Eilish Vegan? Everything She’s Said About The Movement appeared first on Plant Based News.

The American rock band has pledged to give an unconfirmed percentage of ticket sales from three shows to the nonprofit. The donated proceeds will go towards tackling food insecurity and the climate emergency.

Support + Feed was founded to assist the LA plant-based restaurant sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. Led by singer Billie Eilish’s mom Maggie Baird, the charity asked consumers to order food from local restaurants, which would be donated to those without access to affordable healthy nutrition. As a result, it fed those in need and kept vegan businesses afloat.

The initiative has since evolved to provide nationwide food support to communities in need. This is why Paramore is donating proceeds from its two LA shows and a single New York performance.

Hayley Williams leads by example

This is not the first time Paramore and Support + Feed have linked up. Last year, lead singer Hayley Williams baked vegan chocolate chip cookies to donate to the charity. She kept her then 2.7 million Instagram followers in the loop via her Stories.

Williams has also taken part in an Instagram Live hosted by Baird, to talk about all things plant-based. The conversation included her own vegan and cruelty-free hair and beauty brand Good Dye Young.

“There’s a lot of education that I’ve been able to acquire and learn about how it affects our economy alone and how sustainable it is to eat without eating meat. [But] I’m still learning about it,” she said at the time.

Billie Eilish also spreads the word

In April this year, it was revealed that Eilish concert-goers would see pre-performance messages from Baird, asking them to eat more plant-based meals. 

The messages formed part of a wider collaboration between Support + Feed and the Happier Than Ever tour, which was also supported by environmental nonprofit REVERB. 

To showcase the importance of climate action, including eating a plant-based diet, every one of Eilish’s tour dates included an Eco-Village that offered information about the climate crisis and custom reusable water bottles.

The post Paramore To Donate Profits From Tour To Vegan Charity, Support + Feed appeared first on Plant Based News.

For Eilish’s tour dates, the O2 has pledged to remove animal products from the arena.

A statement on its website reads: “Within The O2 arena, together with our catering partner, Levy’s, we have committed to go 100 percent vegan on food throughout the arena for the Billie Eilish residency. This includes a range of vegan food offerings on concessions and the removal of certain items.”

It adds that most drinks will be vegan, and it will replace all dairy milk with plant-based options.

The venue also confirmed that starting this month, its wristbands will consist of PET fabric instead of plastic.

Supporting climate action

On the days of Eilish’s residency, the O2 is also hosting a climate awareness event in its corporate event space Indigo, called Overheated Live.

Eilish and her brother Finneas will introduce the event, which is set to feature talks from prominent activists, including climate activist Vanessa Nakate and sustainable fashion advocate Samata Pattinson.

Plant Based News co-founder Robbie Lockie will host a panel on the day alongside Baird on the negative environmental impact of animal products. They will speak in-depth about the urgent need to move towards a more plant-based food system.

Eilish’s first O2 performance takes place this Friday, and you can find out more about how to buy tickets here. 

The post The London O2 Arena Is Going Vegan For Billie Eilish appeared first on Plant Based News.

Ryder, who once owned a vegan juice bar in Coggeshall, has TikTok to thank for his rise to fame. Ryder began posting musical covers on the social media platform in March 2020, during the UK’s first COVID-19 lockdown.

His covers won the approval of a string of high-profile names including Elton John and Alicia Keys. And by the end of 2020, he was the most-followed UK artist on TikTok. (At the time of writing, Ryder has near to 13 million followers.)

During the pandemic is also when he penned his hit song Space Man, which he performed at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 – the 66th edition of the competition, which took place on May 14.

There, Ryder topped the jury vote, reeling in 283 points, and secured another 183 points from the public.

‘Unity, peace, love’

The 32-year-old musician named the experience an “incredible, incredible, rewarding journey.”

Speaking to presenters Scott Mills and Rylan Clark after the scores were released, Ryder said: “We signed up to come and sing. We enjoy music, and I know that every single artist involved this year absolutely smashed it.

“Everyone was a credit to themselves and a credit to what Eurovision is all about: unity, peace, love, togetherness, inclusivity and expression. Thank you for having us.”

The post Vegan Singer Snags 2nd Place At Eurovision, Earning Best UK Result In 24 Years appeared first on Plant Based News.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by OVERHEATED (@overheated)

Billie Eilish pushes for climate action

Eilish, a vegan, is passionate about climate awareness. Her current Happier Than Ever tour has its own Eco-Village, where fans can learn more about climate action. It also features a pre-performance message from Baird. She urges viewers to take Support + Feed’s plant-based pledge and ditch meat for 30 days.

Diet change is a key way to fight the climate crisis. The meat industry is a leading cause of deforestation, water pollution, and contributes 14.5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

In the recorded message, Baird says: “I know that you know that Billie and her whole family are very concerned about climate change and I know you are too. By taking a pledge to eat at least one plant-based meal a day for 30 days you will help save the planet.”

Eilish is also backing a new collaboration in the music industry called Music Declares Emergency U.S. Other artists in support of the group—which is the new US chapter of an existing European initiative and pushes for more governmental action—include Arcade Fire, Annie Lennox, Tom Odell, and Bon Iver.

A joint statement from the group reads: “The climate crisis is the greatest challenge of our time, and the power of music should take its place at the forefront of this important movement to create a safer, fairer, more sustainable world. The climate crisis is about science, not politics.”

Overheated is at the O2 Arena in London on June 10-12, 16, 25, and 26. Tickets are on sale now.

The post Billie Eilish To Host A 6-Day Climate Crisis Event In London This Summer appeared first on Plant Based News.

Festival-goers will not be required to provide evidence of a negative Covid test, show proof of vaccination status, or worry about contact tracing before or after the event.

The festival team welcomed the news that restrictions in England officially ended yesterday, and they expect a return to near-normal for the event this summer.

Vegan Camp Out will run from Friday, July 15 to Monday, July 18 at its new venue, Stanford Hall in Leicestershire.

Covid restrictions ending

The government announced an end to all legal Covid restrictions in England from February 24, nearly two years after the first rules were introduced in March 2020. 

According to the government’s Living with Covid plan, people no longer have to self-isolate if they test positive for Covid, although they’re still advised to do so. 

Routine contact tracing will also end and close contacts will no longer need to self-isolate or take daily tests. Covid passports won’t be recommended except for international travel. 

Face masks will no longer be legally required although ministers still suggest they be worn in crowded and enclosed public places. 

2022 agenda released 

Vegan Camp Out’s lineup this year is jam-packed, and includes vegan educator, public speaker, and content creator Earthing Ed. Actor, writer, and podcaster Evanna Lynch, best known for her role in the Harry Potter series, will also be in attendance.

Other famous faces include Lucy Watson, a British reality tv star, model, and entrepreneur who appeared in the award-winning television series Made in Chelsea. Gaz Oakley, aka Avant-Garde Vegan, a cookbook author who collaborated with Wagamama to craft its iconic plant-based egg, will also take to the stage.

Matt Pritchard, Heather Mills, Preacher Lawson, and Happy Pear will be sharing their vegan experiences at the celebrated event too.

The much-anticipated food area will include 45 exciting vendors offering vegan kebabs, pizzas, smoothies, curries, ice cream, cakes, and burgers, to name a few.

The festival team is keeping the final food list a secret until the event kicks off.

Previous years 

This year marks the sixth Vegan Camp Out. The festival came from humble beginnings, when in 2016, 400 people turned up from all over the country. 

The first event had no talks or stalls, just 400 people gathered together in a field in Derby with one food vendor. The gathering allowed people who’d only ever met online to meet in person for the first time.

In 2019, numbers increased to 7,500 attendees and this year that figure is expected to be double that.

Adult tickets cost £70 for the whole weekend and that includes a camping pass. And tickets for children will cost £35 for the weekend. 

Get your tickets from VeganCampOut.co.uk.

The post Vegan Camp Out 2022 Going Ahead As Covid Restrictions End appeared first on Plant Based News.

Abel has been vegan for four years since making the switch for ethical reasons. A Londoner of Moroccan-English descent, Abel has worked with some of the biggest names in the dance music industry such as Wookie, Gorgon City, Kaytranada, Don Diablo, and Kygo. 

He has become well known for his style which infuses soul, funk, and pop influences. But Abel is perhaps better known in the vegan community for his song Vegan, which imagines a romantic scenario with a comedic twist. 

Why Zak Abel went vegan

“She said she was vegan, vegan, vegan, just to get with me”

Abel has made it publicly known that becoming vegan was one of the best decisions he has ever made. 

What began as an intellectual debate between friends ultimately changed his life. He explains that once confronted with the ethical arguments against meat and dairy consumption, he no longer saw the logic in continuing to eat animal products. 

His sense of integrity and remaining true to his beliefs is ultimately what pushed him to follow through with the decision to go vegan.

It’s turning to veganism that has allowed him to live his most authentic life. And that’s because he knows he isn’t harming any animals in the process, he says.

Toxic masculinity in veganism

However, he explains, there is still a lot of stigma surrounding that choice.

“Trying to figure out my place in the world and my place as a man in the world really got me thinking. Over the past few years there’s been a lot of discussion on gender especially online and it’s made me think. 

“It’s been really amazing to have a different perspective challenging the world’s perspective and the way society has existed for so long.”

In his latest single Less of a Man, Abel tackles the topic of toxic masculinity head on. 

As outlined on this episode of The PBN Podcast, Abel discusses how being raised by a single mother has instilled empathy in him. Further, it’s influenced his views on masculinity. 

Despite what society conditions us to think about gender and masculinity, Abel hopes to drive positive change by speaking up about empathy, emotions, and mental health through his music.

The post Zak Abel: Why Being Vegan Doesn’t Make You Less Of A Man appeared first on Plant Based News.

Irish musician Padraig O’Dubhlaoidh is behind the creation, which took years of research to complete. The violin maker’s instruments have been played at high-profile venues, including Buckingham Palace, the White House, Carnegie Hall, and the Royal Albert Hall.

Violin makers have historically used non-vegan materials in their designs, such as animal hide glue, derived from the skin, bones, and tendons of animals. It is typically sourced from horses but rabbits, fish, and other species can be used too.

Further, violin strings and bows can contain ivory, horse tail hair, and animal intestines, among other animal-derived products. 

But O’Dubhlaoidh is insistent that animal body parts are not needed to create the instrument. The musician stayed true to the traditional tools and methods used in violin production, but with some modern twists of his own.

For instance, to develop the purfling decoration that wraps around the instrument’s edges, he used wild berries and spring water sourced from beneath the granite of the Malvern Hills in the UK, where O’Dubhlaoidh lives.

Although animal-free strings and bows do exist, they are not currently registered with the Vegan Trademark.

For ‘ethical musicians’

O’Dubhlaoidh explained the process in a statement sent to PBN.

“I learned a lot about my craft during years of research and ultimately, it was the science of conservation that brought about a series of breakthroughs leading to success. During my experiments, I also discovered that there are unforeseen advantages to a vegan violin.

“Apart from the benefit to animals, society, and our environment, it has become very clear that animal-based glues have harmful effects on violins, inducing powerful tensions on wooden components. The adhesive used in my vegan violins however, has no such effect. Irrespective of ethics, this is an acoustic improvement.

“With our planet facing crises on almost every front, the collective voice of people wanting a fairer future grows stronger every day. Ethical musicians are part of this movement and have long wished for a violin that is fully vegan yet retains all the qualities of the classic instrument.”

The Vegan Society’s marketing manager, Ericka Durgahee, applauded the launch.

“It’s incredibly exciting to have the world’s first vegan violin registered with the Vegan Trademark. This will be music to the ears of so many violinists who have longed for a high-quality instrument that is free from animal products,” they said in a statement.

“Every violin is also completely bespoke with the sound and feel tailored to the player’s individual style and preference. Padraig has done a fantastic job and we’re extremely proud of what he has produced.”

To learn more about the vegan violin, see O’Dubhlaoidh’s website. 

The post ‘World’s First’ Vegan Violin Crafted By Musician Using Wild Berries And Spring Water appeared first on Plant Based News.

Farm animal sanctuary Pigs in the Woods teamed up with vegan cider brand Orchard Pig to bring the concept to life.

The event will take place at the 10-acre sanctuary, located in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. Around 20 pigs live on the property, and they will be free to roam the festival grounds and interact with attendees.

Many of the animals were saved from slaughter. For instance, Angel the pig, mother of two pigs who are also at the sanctuary, was rescued from a petting farm. Since the pig family were no longer being used, they were due to be killed.

Another resident, Harry the pig, has been saved from slaughter twice within his first three months of life. Since he was the runt of the litter, he was due to be discarded as waste. And Florence was set to be euthanized by a city farm before she found a home at the sanctuary.

Related articles…

‘Pigs deserve a home’

Orchard Pig Gig will feature local plant-based food, as well as jazz, rap, and classical music performances.

“Our pigs are one of a kind and love to socialize and dance to music,” said Russell Haggata, Operations Director and Chairman at Pigs in The Wood.

“They can’t wait for this year’s Orchard Pig Gig. Our sanctuary wouldn’t exist without the generosity of donations, and we’re aiming to raise over £50,000 to improve the facilities for our pigs so that everyone can experience the joy these animals can bring,” he continued.

Emily Gray, Brand Manager at Orchard Pig, added: “Just like people, pigs deserve a home, and we believe they also deserve to party.”

The post World’s First ‘Festival For Pigs’ Arrives In UK, And It’s Vegan appeared first on Plant Based News.