I remember being particularly hit by a part of the wondrous film 'Baraka', where they took the viewer from some inspiring mountain scenery into the cold chrome of a factory farm. It was a hard shock, and made me never again want to eat a supermarket chicken.

From December 6th - 11th, not a battery egg, a penned in pig or the produce from a drugged and cramped dairy cow will pass my lips. Infact, nothing will, except water. I won't eat a thing for five days, no matter how much my tastebuds test me. (and don't worry, it won't be bad for my health. I've done the research - humans can survive for 40 days without food, and five days is, if nothing else, a good refresher for the digestive system)

I will be raising funds for Compassion in World Farming. They are a UK charity, set up by a farmer in the 1960's who was disgusted by the industrial developments in livestock. Among other acheivements, they have got veal crates banned in the UK, got farm animals to have more rights (through acknowledgment of sentience and pain and suffering) in EU legislation, and have got barren battery cages in the process of being banned (legislation will come in by 2012). At the moment they are fighting the possibility of a new US style 'mega-dairy', which would be the first of its kind in the UK and a massive step back for animal welfare.

By sponsoring, I hope you also take a personal pledge to eat less meat and dairy products, and when you do eat it, make sure it is free range or organic.