The Spies Who Ruined Our Lives

The long running Undercover Policing Inquiry (#Spycops) has restarted with opening statements on Monday 14th October. This ‘tranche’ will cover the animal rights (AR) movement in 1980’s.

Opening statements at https://www.youtube.com/live/7QZ3LXAki5g?feature=shared&t=1524, reveal exposure of outrageous activities by spycops.

Veggies Catering Campaign had a central role in coordinating  300 autonomous local AR groups in the 1980’s & 1990’s. This work supported the Animal Rights Coalition and Coordinating Animal Welfare. Our Animal Contacts Directory networked over 7000 animal rights & welfare, human rights & environmental contacts. Our Animal Rights Calendar also fulfilled a central role in supporting campaigns.

Mclibel screening & campaign reunion

In 1984, Tom and Clare, Veggies founders, presented the manager of a local McDonalds with a huge veggieburger. It represented an ethical alternative to the products of death and destruction sold there. Following active distribution of the leaflet that became the subject of the McLibel Trial, McDonalds threatened legal action against Veggies. (nb ‘1954’ in this document should say ‘1984’) in 1987. Therefore Nottingham McLibel Support Campaign, made up of Veggies volunteers, actively supported the McLibel Campaign from the start of the epic 15-year legal battle by Helen Steel and Dave Morris. The case involved a libel trial, an appeal, a European court ruling and a change in UK law.

A McLibel reunion will be held at 2pm on Saturday 19th October at Nottingham’s Sumac Centre as part of #Veggies40Years Anniversary Celebrations.

We are delighted to welcome co-defendant  Dave Morris to join us to discuss extracts of the the McLibel Documentary, produced by Franny Armstrong of Spanner Films. We are particularly grateful for Dave to find the time to join us as two days later he will be giving evidence to the Spycops inquiry about the infiltration of the London Greenpeace Group and the McLibel Campaign. Follow live coverage of the inquiry by Tom Fowler.

This, and the following film, bookmark Veggies 40 years history as Vegan Campaign Caterers.

Since 1984 dozens of Veggies Volunteers have supported hundreds of campaigns at thousands of events for peace, human rights, animal rights, veganism, environmental and social justice. We now find that many of these groups are amongst the estimated 1000 groups directly spied upon by a state-sponsored secret undercover political policing.

The Spies Who Ruined Our Lives.

This 2024 documentary will see its exclusive Nottingham premier, following the McLibel screening on Saturday 19th October.

The film gives, in their own words, the story of the fightback for justice by those affected by the #Spycops scandal. It is being screened at the Sumac Centre, where much of the story unfolded and where the exposure of embedded spycop Mark Stone/Kennedy lead directly to the wide public condemnation of the role of these secret police, as detailed in the 2024 BBC Podcast ‘Undercover: The Spycops‘.

A Q&A with those involved in the film & the wider issues, will follow the film.

“The Spies Who Ruined Our Lives” is a not-for-profit feature length documentary film, produced, directed and edited by Justyn Jones and Madoc Roberts with Jason Kirkpatrick as associate producer . It has been made to raise awareness and give a comprehensive and historical perspective of the Spycops scandal.

Watch the trailer and join us on Saturday 19th October to view the full documentary, followed by Q&As.

If you are unable to join us for this screening, look our for a possible future screening at Mammoth, Nottingham’s Climate Action Cinema. Contact us for details.