The day began outside Buckingham Palace, where a large silent procession gathered beneath the palace gates. Participants wore matching black “Our Planet. Theirs Too.” T-shirts, creating a powerful visual statement of unity and shared purpose. The slogan, prominently displayed in bright blue lettering, reflected the central message of the event: that animals are fellow inhabitants of the Earth whose lives and interests deserve recognition and protection.

Activists stood in silence carrying memorial photographs of animals, while others held banners bearing the words “The National Animal Rights Day – London, UK.” NEO 10Y also raised a sign reading CHOOSE LOVE (one of his songs) above the crowd, a message that became emblematic of the tone of the day. The procession was designed as a peaceful act of remembrance for the billions of animals killed annually through farming, experimentation, entertainment and other forms of exploitation. In contrast to the usual noise and movement surrounding Buckingham Palace, the demonstration relied on silence to communicate its message, encouraging reflection among both participants and onlookers.

Despite the peaceful nature of the gathering, the procession was ultimately shut down by police before it could fully proceed as planned. Nevertheless, participants remained calm and respectful, maintaining the dignity and solemnity that had defined the event from the outset.

Following the procession, attendees gathered at St Mark’s Church, Regent’s Park, for the main National Animal Rights Day ceremony, hosted by NEO 10Y. The historic church provided a striking setting for an event that blended remembrance, activism, music and community. Beneath the church’s vaulted stone interior and rose window, activists, performers and guests came together to celebrate progress while acknowledging the work that remains ahead.

Speakers included Wayne Hsiung, Rose Patterson, Zouletta Shares, Matthew Glover and Polly Foreman, each offering perspectives on animal liberation, ethical living, grassroots activism and the growing momentum of the global animal rights movement. Their talks highlighted both the urgency of the issues facing animals and the importance of building compassionate alternatives.

Music formed a central part of the programme, with performances fromPimms Brooke, Akeira Jade, Kiera-Lorelle, Staraskia and Japa Healing – The Priestexes. The artists brought moments of reflection, healing and celebration, adding emotional depth to the day’s proceedings.

The event concluded with a group gathering inside the church, where attendees once again proudly wore their “Our Planet. Theirs Too.” shirts while posing beneath the sanctuary’s stone arches. The atmosphere had shifted from solemn remembrance to hope and collective determination. The final performance of the evening saw NEO 10Y debut his new single, ANTiDoTe, a powerful closing moment that united activists, artists and supporters in a shared vision of a more compassionate future for all beings.

National Animal Rights Day 2026 demonstrated the strength, diversity and creativity of London’s animal rights community. From the silent procession at Buckingham Palace to the music-filled gathering at St Mark’s Church, the day served as both a memorial for animals lost and a call to action for a world in which all life is treated with dignity, respect and compassion.

Photos by @vegan_photographs_

The post In Photos: National Animal Rights Day 2026 in London appeared first on KIMU.

The London event for 2026 is expected to form part of the wider global NARD programme taking place across major cities including Los Angeles, Rome, Amsterdam and Glasgow. Organisers describe the day as a combination of “Memorial Day and Independence Day for animals,” featuring remembrance ceremonies, speeches, live performances and the public signing of the Declaration of Animal Rights.

This year’s London edition of NARD will take place on 6 June due to extenuating circumstances affecting the usual scheduling of the event. The gathering is expected to unite activists, artists, vegan organisations and members of the public for a day centred around remembrance, awareness and collective action for animal liberation.

NEO 10Y previously hosted the London event in 2024, where the artist combined music, activism and spiritual messaging to encourage audiences to rethink humanity’s relationship with animals and the planet. The artist’s appearances at vegan and consciousness-focused events have become increasingly high-profile in recent years, positioning NEO 10Y as one of the UK’s most visible voices connecting creativity, compassion and ethical living.

In 2025, NEO 10Y also served as a global face of NARD. His work frequently explores the idea that compassion toward animals is interconnected with broader struggles for peace, environmental justice and collective wellbeing.

The artist has earned recognition across vegan communities for collaborations with PETA UK and The Vegan Society. In a widely shared essay for PETA, NEO 10Y criticised the leather industry and encouraged consumers to embrace plant-based alternatives and cruelty-free fashion. Their “Manifesting A Vegan Future” campaign further expanded this message, promoting veganism as both a social justice movement and a pathway toward ecological healing and higher consciousness.

Beyond activism, NEO 10Y has appeared on Channel 4’s Higher Ground, participated in campaigns with National Geographic and the BBC, and spoken publicly about how veganism intersects with spirituality, creativity and social transformation in his music (CHOOSE LOVE, Shortcut To World Peace), on Jimmy Carr’s Show, and for The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

For supporters of NARD, the 2026 London gathering is expected to be both a memorial and a celebration – uniting music, activism and collective hope for a more compassionate future.

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Fashion is never neutral. Casting is storytelling, and an all white lineup sends a message about who belongs in the fantasy and who does not. When diversity exists everywhere in global culture, in the streets of Milan itself, its absence on a runway backed by immense power and capital becomes conspicuous. The sameness was not subtle. It was striking, and for many, exhausting.

Bella Hadid articulated that frustration plainly in her public comment, writing that it was “embarrassing” that people still support the company, calling out not only the brand but the entire ecosystem that enables it, models, stylists, casting directors, editors, and magazines alike. Her words cut because they widened the lens. This is not just about one show. It is about complicity. About how an industry continues to reward brands that refuse to evolve, while expecting audiences to separate aesthetics from ethics.

Dolce and Gabbana’s defenders often argue that the brand is simply being “true to itself.” That defense collapses under scrutiny, because what the brand has been true to, repeatedly, is a worldview rooted in exclusion.

Their record is extensive. In 2018, the brand faced global backlash after releasing an ad campaign in China that featured a Chinese woman struggling to eat Italian food with chopsticks, framed through a patronizing and racist lens. The fallout intensified when alleged private messages from Stefano Gabbana surfaced, dismissing China and doubling down with offensive language. The response was not accountability but defensiveness.

Their history of homophobia is equally entrenched. Despite both founders being openly gay, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana have repeatedly voiced regressive views, most infamously criticizing same sex parenting and IVF, referring to children born through these means as “synthetic.” These remarks prompted widespread condemnation and boycotts, including from celebrities who had previously supported the brand.

Rather than learning, the brand has often positioned itself as a victim of “cancel culture,” framing critique as persecution instead of consequence. That posture matters. It reveals a refusal to engage meaningfully with the harm caused, and it helps explain why moments like an all white menswear casting continue to happen without apology or reflection.

The latest show does not exist in isolation. It sits neatly within this legacy. The hyper controlled image of masculinity presented, pale, narrow, uniform, reinforces an outdated hierarchy of desirability that fashion claims to be dismantling. It erases the realities of contemporary men, and it sidelines entire communities whose cultural influence the industry regularly profits from elsewhere.

What makes this moment particularly stark is how unnecessary it is. Dolce and Gabbana have the resources, the platform, and the global reach to do better without sacrificing creativity. Other heritage houses have managed to expand their visual language without losing identity. The refusal here feels ideological, not artistic.

Bella Hadid’s comment resonated because it named what many are thinking but are often pressured to overlook. Supporting a brand is not just about buying clothes. It is about endorsing values, or at least tolerating them. Silence, especially from industry gatekeepers, becomes a form of approval.

The real question is no longer why Dolce and Gabbana continue to present work like this. The question is why the fashion system continues to reward them for it. Until that changes, all white runways will keep appearing, not as mistakes, but as statements.

And people will keep asking, rightly, how anyone can still align with them.

The post Dolce and Gabbana’s All White Menswear Casting Is Not an Accident, It Is a Pattern appeared first on KIMU.

A Nation Under Snow and Ice Warnings

The Met Office has issued multiple warnings as snow showers and plunging temperatures spread across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Some regions are expected to see significant snowfall, with icy roads and pavements creating hazardous conditions.

Overnight temperatures have dropped well below freezing, marking the coldest nights of the winter so far. Transport networks have been affected, with delays and cancellations across rail, road and air travel, while emergency services have urged people to avoid unnecessary journeys and take extra care.

Disruption Is Already Being Felt

Schools have closed in several areas due to unsafe conditions, and breakdown services have reported a surge in call-outs linked to frozen engines and icy roads. Forecasters warn the cold spell could persist, with the potential for further snowfall if milder air collides with the Arctic conditions in the coming days.

It’s a sharp reminder that winter, when it truly arrives, still has the power to disrupt modern life.

Finding the Upside in the Deep Freeze

Despite the obvious challenges, periods of intense cold can bring unexpected benefits.

Community and connection
Severe weather often slows life down. Neighbours check in on one another, people stay closer to home, and communities pull together to cope with the cold. In a culture that rarely pauses, winter can quietly encourage reconnection.

A natural reset
Cold weather helps control plant diseases, supporting healthier ecosystems in the long run. Snow acts as insulation for soil and roots, protecting plant life from repeated freeze–thaw cycles that can cause lasting damage.

A boost for local life
Cosy cafés, pubs and small businesses often benefit as people seek warmth and comfort. Winter weather shifts habits inward, favouring local spaces and slower, more mindful consumption.

Embracing the Cold: Lessons from Wim Hof

Beyond practical benefits, there’s also a growing movement that sees cold not as something to fear, but something to work with. Wim Hof – often known as “The Iceman” – has popularised cold exposure as a tool for resilience, mental clarity and spiritual grounding.

Hof’s philosophy is rooted in the idea that controlled exposure to cold, combined with conscious breathing, can strengthen the nervous system, sharpen focus and deepen mind–body awareness. Rather than resisting discomfort, the practice encourages calm acceptance – meeting the cold with presence instead of panic.

While jumping into icy water isn’t for everyone, even small acts – like mindful breathing in cold air or brief cold showers – can help people reframe their relationship with discomfort. In this sense, the Arctic blast becomes more than a weather event; it’s an invitation to slow down, breathe deeply and reconnect with the body’s natural resilience.

Making the Most of Winter’s Grip

The key to getting through this cold snap is preparation and mindset. Dress warmly, allow extra time for travel, and prioritise safety. But where possible, there’s value in embracing what winter offers – crisp air, stark beauty, quieter days and moments of reflection.

This Arctic blast may test infrastructure and patience, but it also reminds us that winter still has meaning. Not just as something to endure, but as a season that can reset rhythms, strengthen communities and invite a deeper awareness of ourselves in the world.

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