How To Make Drugs (And Feel Great About Everything) follows the life of documentary filmmaker Journey Zephyr. After learning that many antidepressants are tested with a method called the “forced swim test” (where rats are forced to swim to see if they swim longer after being given the drugs), Zephyr sets out to find out more about how animals are used in drug experiments.

Keegan Kuhn, the co-producer and co-director of films Cowspiracy, What The Health, and The End Of Medicine, worked with Zephyr on the film. Kuhn told Plant Based News (PBN) that they use “hard-hitting facts” alongside “often sarcastic humor,” creating “an entertaining, informative and ultimately uplifting film about the future of medicine.”

How To Make Drugs features interviews with a number of prominent policy experts, physicians, lobbyists, and activists. Their testimonies “unravel a story of unchecked government spending, entrenched culture, and faulty science costing taxpayers billions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of lives each year,” according to the film’s press release.

Animal testing in pharmaceuticals

Over 100 million animals are used in tests in the US each year. The government spends $20 billion on such tests annually, despite the fact that many experts believe them to be largely ineffective.

According to Cruelty Free International, 92 percent of drugs that pass animal tests go on to fail in human trials. Many diseases, including some cancers, heart disease, and Parkinson’s, do not affect animals in the same way as humans, and their physiological response to drugs is often very different from ours.

There are a growing number of more humane alternatives to animal testing available, including computer models, human tissues, and lab grown cells. The How To Make Drugs film description states that use of animals is “wasteful, dangerous, and often absurd,” and Kuhn is calling for the pharmaceutical industry to invest in alternatives for the sake of both humans and animals.

“We need governments to no longer fund ineffective and misguided research that uses animals, in favor of human-relevant and reliable testing methods that provide applicable information for human diseases,” they told PBN. “Close to half of Americans are against animal testing, but we need those people to speak up. We need a groundswell of informed citizens to put pressure on governments, universities and private corporations engaged in animal testing, to bring science and medical research into the 21st century. The aim of the film is to inspire that conversation and movement.”

How to watch How To Make Drugs

The film is set for release in the fall of this year. It will be screened in Washington DC in September or October, and the filmmakers are still finalizing the details of a digital release. They are currently crowdfunding to raise money to release the film. You can support the crowdfunder here.

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South Africa’s commercial captive lion breeding industry has drawn global attention for its practices and impact on wildlife conservation. This industry is marked by several concerns and challenges that need urgent attention.

Despite the government’s announcement to phase out the industry in 2021, World Animal Protection has new evidence of cruel and illegal activity at “secret” lion farms.

Our anonymous sources described how some lions are being deliberately starved during the low-hunting season to save money and how some lions are being released for canned trophy hunting while still sedated.

Uncovering the industry’s disturbing impact on innocent wildlife and society, a new report ‘Putting a stop to cruelty: why South Africa’s commercial captive lion industry should be shut down for good‘ shines a light on the heart-wrenching accounts of cruelty and illicit practices that persist in this grim trade.

Read the full report ( the link is available in the main article that its link is below the news)

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Snakebites already inflict tremendous suffering across South Asia, where lack of awareness and access to treatment leaves thousands dead or disabled each year. Now, climate change threatens to dramatically worsen this humanitarian crisis.

Rising temperatures are altering snake habitats, forcing species into new areas where human encounters are more likely. Floods and extreme weather also compromise shelter, exposing vulnerable groups like children to greater risk.

Research confirms each added degree Celsius significantly heightens bite probabilities. Yet adapting to warming conditions stresses snakes, increasing unpredictable behavior that can endanger nearby communities.

Declining habitats also emerge as snakes lose territory to urban expansion, agricultural changes and infrastructure development. With few natural predators, uncontrolled rodent populations follow – jeopardizing food security and public health.

While antivenoms exist, production and distribution remain inadequate across the region. Improving treatments alone neglects socioeconomic root causes. Addressing poverty, education and gender inequities through integrated strategic planning remains key to empowering at-risk populations.

With climate impacts worsening, decisive cooperation is needed from governments, aid groups and researchers. Prioritizing prevention, early response training and snake-friendly coexistence models can curb rising bites if combined with efforts empowering communities most vulnerable to the evolving threats. As the crisis grows, so too does the call for global solidarity with South Asia’s marginalized.

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As concerns over animal welfare, public health, and environmental impact intensify, the once-thriving fur farming industry in Europe is facing a reckoning. A citizen’s petition demanding an EU-wide ban on fur production has garnered over 1.5 million signatures, far surpassing the required threshold to initiate a potential law change.

Dubbed the “Fur Free Europe European Citizens’ Initiative” (ECI), the petition aims to prohibit the keeping and killing of animals solely for the purpose of fur production across the European Union. Its overwhelming support underscores the shifting attitudes toward an industry that has long been a subject of ethical scrutiny.

Europe, alongside China, has historically been a major fur producer, with Finland and Poland leading the way. However, the industry has experienced a significant decline in recent years, with annual mink production plummeting from 45 million in 2014 to approximately 12 million in 2021, according to animal welfare organizations.

The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated the industry’s woes, as outbreaks on fur farms forced Denmark, once a fur farming powerhouse, to cull its entire mink population in 2020. While the country has announced plans to resume mink farming, other nations like Norway and Hungary have implemented bans or stringent regulations, citing animal welfare and public health concerns.

Across the EU, 14 member states have already outlawed fur farming, with countries like Latvia being the latest to join the list in September 2022. Political discussions on potential bans are also underway in Romania, Lithuania, and Poland, reflecting the growing momentum against the industry.

The declining fur trade is not limited to production alone. The value of fur imports in the EU has dropped by more than 60% over the past decade, according to animal welfare organization Four Paws. This trend is mirrored in the UK, where public support for a complete ban on fur sales and imports remains strong, with over 1.1 million signatures collected in favor of such a move.

As consumers become increasingly conscious of ethical and environmental issues, the demand for fur products is waning, prompting retailers and fashion brands to embrace fur-free policies. Animal rights groups have long advocated for a blanket ban on fur farming and sales, citing not only animal cruelty concerns but also the industry’s contributions to environmental degradation and potential public health risks.

With the Fur Free Europe ECI now submitted to the European Commission for consideration, the stage is set for a potential landmark decision that could reshape the future of fur farming in the region. As the ethical and practical arguments against the industry gain traction, Europe may be inching closer to a fur-free future.

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The National Assembly passed the anti-dog meat bill in a rare bipartisan unity, with the law scheduled to take effect in 2027.

However, owners of dog meat restaurants that operated for years, as well as proprietors of dog farms, were not happy with what they viewed as “unilaterally pushed” legislation.

“I’ve made a living from this restaurant for over 40 years, and now I have only three years before I must shut it down. I have no idea what to do next,” the owner of a dog meat restaurant in Seoul said on condition of anonymity, while busily preparing dog soup in the kitchen.

At his restaurant that stands in a small alley a few blocks away from Gwangjang Market, a few customers were eating “bosintang,” a hot stew containing boiled dog meat, at noon on Wednesday. The area was once home to many dog meat restaurants, which have now turned into chicken soup and grilled fish eateries.

Although he admits that respect for his trade has waned over the years, he and his family have worked diligently to carry on the business for generations, serving the once-popular delicacy.

“We took out loans during the COVID-19 pandemic and did everything it took to maintain our business. But the anti-dog meat bill was passed by the National Assembly yesterday, and we feel like we’re at a dead end,” he said. His restaurant’s signboard, faded and worn out, read “taste of 100 years.”

The anti-dog meat bill prohibits the raising, butchering, retailing and selling dog for human consumption and stipulates those who violate the law are subject to a maximum three-year prison term or a fine of up to 30 million won ($22,768).

Amid waning demand, several restaurant owners in the area said they still see regulars looking for the dish they deem as nutritious and tasty.

“Hang in there,” said a man in his 60s to the restaurant owner after having a bowl of dog stew. “I will eat this for as long as I can.”

Another restaurant owner, who also ran the family business for over 30 years in the area, said she is pessimistic about transitioning to another job after spending her entire life cooking and serving dog meat.

“I doubt I can start a new business from scratch, especially in this economic recession. I just hope the government support money is somehow enough,” she said.

Under the bill, the industry stakeholders are mandated to register their businesses and submit plans to downsize and ultimately close down their establishments. The registered business owners will be subject to government support money to shut down their establishments and low-interest loans, which should help them transition to another profession.

However, industry representatives believe the plan lacks proper guidelines and argue the bill “infringes on people’s basic rights to a profession, property and survival.”

“Article 23 of the Constitution states that all citizens’ rights to property should be guaranteed and any use or restriction of private property due to public necessity should be fairly compensated,” Ju Yeong-bong, secretary-general of the Korean Association of Edible Dog, told The Korea Times, Wednesday.

The bill initially mentioned “fair compensation” for dog meat sellers in the draft that was passed by the Assembly’s Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee. However, after financial authorities asked for details on compensation, the lawmakers removed the term from the bill, which passed the plenary session, according to Ju.

The three-year grace period stated in the bill for the crackdown on the dog meat trade is also “too short,” he said, or at least shorter than the seven-year term previously agreed between animal rights groups and his association last year.

“Most dog meat sellers are senior citizens who invested their entire fortune to run the businesses. It’s highly unlikely that they can successfully transition to another job at this point,” he said.

Ju believes dog meat farmers are entitled to receive support money of 2 million won per canine and additional expenses they received from local governments for handling food waste, which was served as feed for dogs in the farms.

“Also, restaurant owners should be given at least five years’ worth of compensation based on any income tax they paid,” he added.

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In a briefing on 17 November, the government said it plans to enact a special law within the year banning the breeding, slaughter, distribution and sale of dogs for food.

As part of this, dogs will be excluded from the country’s Livestock Act, thereby recognizing their status as companion animals.

How common is dog meat in South Korea?

In 2022, South Korea’s national broadcaster KBS reported that more than half a million dogs were being raised for food across the country and 1,600 restaurants were selling dog meat.

As of February last year, there were 1,156 farms breeding dogs for meat and 34 slaughterhouses, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

A grace period of three years will be given to allow the industry to transition and close down, with crackdowns starting in 2027. Government support will also be provided to help with the transition.

Is South Korea’s dog meat ban likely to pass?

South Korea’s ruling conservative People Power Party is behind the latest calls for a ban on eating dog meat. Their biggest rival, the Democratic Party, has also said it supports a ban.

With an election looming in April 2024, the outcome is therefore unlikely to derail the decision.

A 2023 survey by animal rights group Korea Humane Society International (Korea HSI) and research agency NielsenIQ showed public support too, with 57 percent of the 1,500 respondents in favor.

More than 86 percent of the adults surveyed said they have no intention of eating dogs in the future, regardless of whether they had in the past.

It also found an increased negative perception of dog meat among those in their 40s and 50s, and increased consensus on the need to protect the welfare of the animals.

There has been some vocal opposition to the proposed ban, with an industry group rallying in front of the National Assembly building in Seoul following the announcement.

They said the law would “rob people of their basic right to eat” and “fail to protect farmers”, South Korean daily newspaper The Hankyoreh reports.

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