Dutch raise animal rights to new level
By Alix Kroeger BBC News

It has been a busy few weeks for Marianne Thieme. Ten days ago, she made history as one of two animal-rights candidates to win election to the Dutch parliament.

They are the first animal-rights MPs anywhere in the world.

On Thursday 30 November, she and her fellow MP, Esther Ouwehand, were sworn in as MPs. Now their real work begins: to persuade the next government (which has yet to be formed) to adopt animal-friendly policies.

"I miss compassion in our society," Ms Thieme says. the rest