where science and ethics intersect with politics
Every January, millions of people worldwide take part in Veganuary, a month-long invitation to explore vegan living. What begins as a simple dietary shift often sparks deeper reflection on animal ethics, environmental responsibility, and the power of collective action to drive lasting change.
As the year draws to a close, The Humane Herald reflects on a year marked by ethical clarity, resistance to euphemism, and the refusal to look away from interconnected crises facing humans, nonhuman animals, and the planet. Standing at the threshold of a new year, this piece calls readers forward—not with false optimism, but with disciplined hope, moral courage, and a commitment to compassion rooted in truth.
Legal scholar and policy strategist James Schultz reflects on veganism, justice, and animal liberation—examining how law, moral consistency, and collective responsibility shape a more just future.
Animal rights activist Zoe Rosenberg has been released early from Sonoma County Jail and will complete the remainder of her sentence under house arrest following her conviction related to a 2023 action at a California poultry facility. The case continues to draw national attention and fuel debate over animal advocacy, civil disobedience, and the legal limits of protest.
Christmas Day is often framed as a season of peace, goodwill, and generosity—but those ideals are not automatic. This reflection explores what it means to practice compassion beyond tradition, and why peace remains a choice we must make, deliberately and daily.
In Federalist No. 6, Alexander Hamilton argues that separate American states would eventually clash out of rivalry, ambition, and economic competition — making the Constitution essential to preserving peace.
As the winter solstice approaches, Yule’s ancient themes of renewal and protection take on renewed relevance in a time of ecological instability. Across cultures, this season has long emphasized safeguarding the vulnerable through the harshest months. Today, that ethos aligns with urgent ethical concerns—from wildlife protections to climate-driven disruptions. This feature explores how Yule’s historical roots in stewardship intersect with modern animal rights, environmental responsibility, and the Humane Party’s commitment to ethical realism.
In the quiet of winter’s longest night, we kindle small flames of mercy and carry them forward for every being still waiting for warmth.
When a New York Assembly seat opened unexpectedly, the outcome was settled long before voters had a say. The loss of the state’s only vegan legislator reveals how special election rules and party-controlled processes can quietly erase ethical representation — even in districts that once elected it.
In Federalist No. 5, John Jay warns that separate American confederacies would drift toward rivalry and conflict — making unity essential for lasting peace.
Record-high detention numbers are reshaping the U.S. immigration landscape in 2025. ICE is now holding more than 65,000 people—most with no criminal convictions—marking the largest detainee population in the agency’s history. A year-to-year comparison shows detention levels nearly doubling since December 2024, raising urgent questions about enforcement priorities, capacity, and the human impact of prolonged civil detention.
When trace metals were detected in tampons, panic wasn’t the real problem — policy failure was. The viral reaction exposed a deeper truth: menstrual products used inside the body for thousands of hours over a lifetime remain under-regulated, under-researched, and insufficiently transparent.
Caramelized sweet potatoes tossed in warm maple syrup and topped with buttery toasted pecans — a simple, cozy winter side dish perfect for Yule gatherings and cold solstice nights.
In Federalist No. 4, John Jay explains that foreign nations are less likely to challenge a strong, unified America — making unity essential to preserving peace.
Mid-December marks the peak of America’s most waste-intensive season — a surge in trash, factory-farming output, and environmental harm often hidden behind holiday cheer. Ethical gifting offers a way to resist the cycle and align the season with compassion, sustainability, and planetary reality.
When a fierce desert storm threatened every creature underground, it was the gentle, misunderstood tarantula who held the earth together with silk and courage.
The Humane Herald 