The United States finds itself with war-level debt in peacetime, a generational burden no child asked for, and a currency system that rewards the rich and punishes the rest. If we do not restore fiscal ethics, the vulnerable will be the first to be sacrificed—human, non-human and environmental alike. The time for leadership is now.
Author: Brandy W. Walt-Rose
Peace, Safety, and the Strength of a Unified Nation
John Jay argues that a strong national government is essential for preventing conflict and protecting America’s peace — a truth that remains relevant in an interconnected world.
Yule Morning Vegan Cinnamon Rolls
Soft, sweet, and warmly spiced, these vegan cinnamon rolls are the perfect Yule morning ritual—golden spirals of cinnamon sugar topped with a melting vanilla glaze to welcome the return of the light.
Unity as the Safeguard of Liberty
John Jay argues that America’s survival depends on national unity — a truth that remains as essential in the 21st century as it was in the founding era.
Rethinking Pearl Harbor Through a Humane Lens
On December 7, America remembers Pearl Harbor—but remembrance means more than ritual. The Humane Herald examines the war’s true cost: human suffering, environmental devastation, emergency powers, and the birth of a militarized state. To honor history, we must confront the systems that make war inevitable—and choose a humane alternative.
Abolition Day
Abolition Day marks the ratification of the 13th Amendment—an end to legal slavery, but not an end to the forces that shaped it. For the Humane Party, this day is both remembrance and responsibility, a reminder that abolition was a beginning and that the deeper work of justice remains unfinished.
the ones who were never meant to rise
A rising voice speaks from the margins, where humans and animals share the same bruised earth and the same hunger for freedom. This poem follows the underdogs—the silenced, the overlooked—as they discover the rebellious power of standing up together.
Lancaster Farm Sanctuary
Lancaster Farm Sanctuary is reshaping what sanctuary work means inside one of Pennsylvania’s most agriculturally entrenched counties. In this in-depth conversation, the LFS team reflects on their origins, the daily rituals that center animal agency, the emotional weight of rescue work, and the communities that make their mission possible. From piglets teaching elders how to play to ponies who insist on freedom during their evening return, every story underscores the same truth: when animals are given safety, autonomy, and respect, they reveal who they have always been. This interview offers a rare, honest look at the joys and struggles of sanctuary life—and what compassion can build when a community chooses to care.
Why Rainforest Survival Is a Human and Animal Rights Emergency
On December 5, The Humane Herald examines the accelerating destruction of the world’s rainforests—and the political and economic systems driving it. From Indigenous displacement to mass extinction, rainforest collapse is not a natural disaster but a policy choice. A humane future demands abolition of the industries fueling this crisis.
When Compassion Is Criminalized
Animal rescuer Zoe Rosenberg faces a 90-day jail sentence — and potentially life-threatening medical neglect — for saving four suffering chickens from a Perdue slaughterhouse. Her case exposes a deeper crisis in California: the criminalization of compassion and the protection of corporate cruelty at any cost.
Cheetahs, Conservation, and the Politics of “Charismatic” Wildlife
On World Wildlife Conservation Day and International Cheetah Day, The Humane Herald examines the crisis facing cheetahs and the global systems driving wildlife decline. Beyond charismatic species, true conservation demands dismantling the industries and worldviews that treat animals as resources rather than beings with rights.
When Cruelty Becomes a Credential: What the Kristi Noem Puppy Story Reveals About American Political Culture
A leader who kills a puppy and then proudly markets the story is not an anomaly — she is a symptom of a political culture that confuses cruelty with strength. The Kristi Noem scandal is not about a single dog; it is a mirror held up to America’s comfort with harm, hierarchy, and disposability.
Choosing a Nation by Reason or by Force
Hamilton warns that the nation must choose whether it will be shaped by reasoned choice or by accident and force — a question that continues to define American democracy.
The Rules of War: What They Are, Why They Exist, and Why They Are Crumbling
In the wake of escalating global conflicts, the rules of war remain clear — yet increasingly ignored. This article examines what international humanitarian law actually requires, why war crimes are legally defined and not subjective, and how powerful nations have begun eroding the very principles designed to protect civilians. As civilian casualties rise and accountability fades, the world is left with an unsettling question: if these are the rules of war, who is still following them?
Vegan Hot Cocoa with Spiced Whipped Cream
A rich and velvety vegan hot cocoa infused with warm winter spices and topped with cinnamon-kissed whipped cream — a cozy Yule treat made for the longest nights of the year.
This Month in Compassion: December 2025
December opens with World AIDS Day — a global moment of remembrance and resolve — but it also reveals a deeper reality unfolding across the United States: a federal government growing increasingly silent in the face of suffering. From HIV prevention and civil rights protections to hunger, housing, and public health, compassion is receding from national leadership at a time when communities need it most. This month’s This Month in Compassion examines where empathy is thriving at the grassroots level, where it is disappearing at the federal level, and why ethical governance demands that compassion remain at the heart of every policy decision.
