Here is what is going on in the plant-based world this week:

• 56-year-old Rip Esselstyn, founder of both the Engine 2 diet and Plant-Strong podcast, has smashed the world record for Men’s 55-59 group 200-meter backstroke. He credits a “whole food, plant-based diet” for his success.

• Medical experts from around the world have penned an open letter to Professor Georges Casimir in response to his participation in a May 2019 report by The Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium, which claimed that veganism is unsuitable for children, teenagers and pregnant women. In the report, Casimir argued that vegan parenting should now qualify as “non-assistance to a person in danger,” a criminal offence in Belgium that carries a prison of up to two years. From the open letter: “The position of the most important dietetic associations is that a well-planned vegan diet is perfectly adequate for individuals of all ages, including infants, children and adolescents and during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and may provide health benefits for the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases.”

• Advice from James Hoot, filmmaker behind Planet Vegan, a five-part series documenting the rise of the global vegan movement. The series is set to be released later in 2019.

• Lady Gaga announced the launch of completely vegan makeup brand Haus Laboratories. Gaga stated the line will be sold through Amazon at affordable prices in an effort to make the vegan line as accessible to as many people as possible. 

• Did you know that most tennis balls contain wool? 26-year vegan and avid tennis player Danny Rosenthal has launched Sheeps, the world’s first cruelty-free tennis supply company. Offerings include wool-free tennis balls, leather-free tennis shoes, and animal-free racket strings. Game on!