tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21885184612705880552024-03-19T03:33:30.128-07:00A Dog's Eye ViewOliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511119218043079981noreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188518461270588055.post-54016974681539530672011-11-26T16:12:00.000-08:002011-11-26T16:12:54.484-08:00Help Ban Horse Carriages in NYC!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHbb3lbUxpH-VL0nKQrSylc5vGIaG4AtcpSBejv26k146jC7fmHw94Hvu5ka1z6j0siUbKaMaqPpb8aXBnElhLRwJSwLihzxO0iJBO-gJALEsfN-etI2FmtqNsV9jNKsDD8fHyDfiFsSPV/s1600/horse1011a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHbb3lbUxpH-VL0nKQrSylc5vGIaG4AtcpSBejv26k146jC7fmHw94Hvu5ka1z6j0siUbKaMaqPpb8aXBnElhLRwJSwLihzxO0iJBO-gJALEsfN-etI2FmtqNsV9jNKsDD8fHyDfiFsSPV/s400/horse1011a.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Photo: Elizabeth Forel/<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1498114550">Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages </a></i><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.banhdc.org/" target="_blank"><br />
</a></div>The <a href="http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/10/25/new-york-city-carriage-horse-dies-in-middle-of-street/" target="_blank">recent death of a carriage horse</a> that collapsed on a New York City street has gotten a big response from animal advocates, which has only gotten bigger since the collapse of two more NYC carriages horses within weeks of the incident. The movement to ban the city's horse carriage industry is growing, and needs your help.<br />
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Carriage horses are forced to pull carriages through dirty, noisy and traffic-filled streets that are frightening and dangerous for them. They are often hungry and dehydrated and work long hours in harsh weather. Many of these horses end up in accidents when cars hit them or the carriages; it's a dangerous situation for horses and humans alike.<br />
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Please help ban horse carriages in NYC so that these horses will no longer be enslaved. New Yorkers for Clean, Livable & Safe Streets (NYClass) is an organization working to end the city's carriage horse industry. Please sign their <a href="http://wfc2.wiredforchange.com/o/8560/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=259" target="_blank">petition</a> calling for a ban and to replace the carriages with eco-friendly vehicles. Over 62,900 people have already spoken up for horses by signing - please help get the petition to the goal of 75,000!Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511119218043079981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188518461270588055.post-6829737260266101572011-10-10T14:59:00.000-07:002011-10-10T14:59:52.956-07:00In Memory of Bumble<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6RK15tGra0K3FqUVC3K5lEr1XWNUsqOgJ7TXsmsKf1NoJydvQw1yoItoeV2LV58J8EF48ZBFqDNEMQp51Oan46Qpj9Zw0sdxrwMe6xeCqDmlpVhSeVCpx9pv7SWUAbtVroBCrURa36DQg/s1600/Baby+Bumble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6RK15tGra0K3FqUVC3K5lEr1XWNUsqOgJ7TXsmsKf1NoJydvQw1yoItoeV2LV58J8EF48ZBFqDNEMQp51Oan46Qpj9Zw0sdxrwMe6xeCqDmlpVhSeVCpx9pv7SWUAbtVroBCrURa36DQg/s320/Baby+Bumble.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This blog is dedicated to one amazing little piglet, who was given a second chance but fell victim to the start he had in life. I tried to write this a couple of months ago after hearing he had died, but I wasn't ready to form the words into something worthy of little Bumble-bee. This probably isn't either, but it will have to do. I'm honored to have known Bumble and to have spent time with him. I'm honored to volunteer at <a href="http://www.cj-acres.org/">CJ Acres Animal Rescue Farm</a> where he was brought to sanctuary and knew peace, safety and love for his remaining time on this earth. And I will continue to speak up for all of the other animals - the ones who don't get a second chance, the ones who are suffering and dying needlessly every day...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Bumble was one of five piglets who ended up at CJ Acres after a very uncertain beginning. They were five of many packed into a truck bound for a slaughterhouse when they fell out onto a busy highway in North Carolina. When nobody came to claim them, the piglets went up for auction in accordance with state law. Many bidders showed up, most wanting to raise and kill the pigs for meat. Luckily, Lee and Jennifer, "Lead Mares" at CJ Acres, won the bid and all five little angels went safely to the rescue farm. You can read the rest of their story here: <a href="http://livvegan.blogspot.com/2011/06/these-five-piglets-went-to-cj-acres-not.html">These Five Piglets Went to CJ Acres, Not the Market</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO81PsfgtHwBCIGEg5VriJd1vnyZTchLEK3HPVSal4ULgppzwT01fGSE6dan7Lsn149HPFUgmSA-IhHhgAjH-b1RNif7l-llFrTutnKVxAwa1QX1g030ZQa2RUVPs_p7GkjoB7NTcSxWos/s1600/250111_10150243869318816_125538028815_6917296_5260244_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO81PsfgtHwBCIGEg5VriJd1vnyZTchLEK3HPVSal4ULgppzwT01fGSE6dan7Lsn149HPFUgmSA-IhHhgAjH-b1RNif7l-llFrTutnKVxAwa1QX1g030ZQa2RUVPs_p7GkjoB7NTcSxWos/s400/250111_10150243869318816_125538028815_6917296_5260244_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Meeting the piglets (named Bumble, JJ, Hillman, Hemingway, and Ayden), it was obvious how loving and forgiving they truly are. They hug, they kiss, they play - you would think humans did not make the beginning of their life miserable! Bumble was the smallest, the "runt," although he didn't seem to know or care. He was the happiest and most playful little pig I've ever seen. He had a leg injury after the fall, but vets later found that he suffered a inoperable brain hematoma as well. CJ Acres did all they could to make him comfortable and he had good days and bad, but when his condition worsened and it was clear that he would only suffer, he was euthanized with his friends (human and nonhuman) by his side. JJ, the piglet chosen to stay with him when he became unable to stay with the rest of the five and who took great care of his friend, was there.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Although Bumble didn't live long, he left a hole in the hearts of those who knew him. I hope that we can learn something from his short time here...Billions of farm animals die every year. They're confined, tortured, denied any chance to live a natural life, and then they're killed. They don't have a name, their faces are hidden from you, and the food that they get turned into is given a new name so you won't think about the living being who died and ended up on your plate. Bumble and his friends beat the odds. These individuals were taken out of hell on earth and brought to a safe haven - they were given names, treated not as a product but as living beings worthy of respect and compassion. They are no different from their fellow pigs and other animals that continue to suffer hidden from the public. Although Bumble is gone, you can honor him. Animals just like him need you to make a choice, and you can make it every single day. Choose kindness over cruelty and peace over violence. </div>Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511119218043079981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188518461270588055.post-67070546896920139282011-09-08T14:43:00.000-07:002011-09-08T14:43:56.323-07:00Vegans Tell Their Stories: Encouragement for Those New to the Vegan JourneyTo me, one of the most fascinating things about veganism is how many ways there are to get there. I hear so many stories from vegans and they are vastly different in their reasons and their starting points. I love that these journeys can be so different and so similar in many ways. <div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxQnfFiz74WvweS8jvBow40IZm36F2Y4PQjamnFcOjtOdMJ3sHbiogalMxToAUMycMHSiPc8Sx0U9A17t3nuTZRy71vllzgkwXnnF-Mt0wpAFY4NLDkcsrTaI39oc2s3kWoucP25kFNTQZ/s1600/lisa_the_vegetarian.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxQnfFiz74WvweS8jvBow40IZm36F2Y4PQjamnFcOjtOdMJ3sHbiogalMxToAUMycMHSiPc8Sx0U9A17t3nuTZRy71vllzgkwXnnF-Mt0wpAFY4NLDkcsrTaI39oc2s3kWoucP25kFNTQZ/s320/lisa_the_vegetarian.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rethinking your food choices?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Photo: Matt Groening/The Simpsons</div><div><br />
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</div><div>I love to hear these stories and to share them. So, I asked a few vegans, as well as people at other points in the journey still, to answer a few questions and tell their story. Today's blog presents their answers for you to read. I hope that this will be encouraging for people just starting out. Remember that people go vegan for different reasons and at different points in their life. If it's difficult at first, look back to these stories and know that others have done the same thing, and always remember your reason for doing this...</div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Why did you switch to a vegan diet? - Did you have one of those "A-ha!" moments (like watching a slaughterhouse video, etc) or was it a gradual realization?</span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Nicole</span>: </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I read skinny bitch. I gained a lot of weight when my husband and myself got stationed in Florida. I tried everything to get off the weight. So I thought why not this, it makes sense.</span></span></div><!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--> <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626; font-size: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626; font-size: 15px;"><!--StartFragment--><span style="color: #353535; font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Theo:</span></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Forks Over Knives. After 2 weeks of Veganism - my compassion for animals really kicked in too. Just made sense. After seeing Earthlings - I have a profound commitment to Veganism. </span></span></span><!--EndFragment--> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626; font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: #353535; font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><!--StartFragment--><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span style="color: #353535;"><!--StartFragment--><span style="color: #353535;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Renee:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span>I guess really for me it started off for health reasons, but I didn’t know at the time where it was going. As my research continued I really began to discover the animal abuse involved in the SAD and now I’m on my way of becoming more involved and active with all aspects of veganism.</span></span><!--EndFragment--> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626; font-size: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Mark:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For me it was a gradual realization over the course of several years. My original intentions were out of beliefs in animal rights. My parents always taught me to be accepting and understanding of all people and to respect their right to live freely. When I was a teenager I started listening to a lot of punk rock and a lot of those artists sang about animal rights which put the idea in my head. The idea of applying that respect to non-humans made sense. This also exposed me to anti-consumerism ideals and self-sustainability. I finally put all that together when listening to Propaghandi and Conflict, that's when I knew I had to change what I was doing not only for the animals but for myself as well.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Danielle:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had been the "friendly vegetarian" So, by that, I mean that I never purchased meat, but if at a friends house for dinner, I would eat what they made, even if it had an animal in it. One day I stumbled on a PETA video, made by Mercy for Animals I believe, and that was it. Then a year later I went to Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, and I will NEVER turn back. I recently was playing a game, the question "Which farm animal would you not want to pet" I said "um, which on do I NOT pet?!" They're all just like my dog to me, and I wouldn't eat him, so I'm not plating them either.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Diana:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My "aha!" moment was when I became vegetarian at age 18. I had always loved animals but never made the connection. While reading a bird-watching magazine, the light bulb finally came on that chickens and turkeys were birds, too, with the same beauty and individuality and fascinating different cultures. In the next year or two, I read Animal Liberation and became a vegan.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Lee:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Realized it would be counterproductive to rescue farmed animals and eat others. That said, it was a gradual (about a year) switch from omnivore to vegetarian and then just a few months to go from vegetarian to vegan.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Did you immediately cut out all animal flesh and by-products? If not, what went first and how hard was the transition for you?</span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nicole:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the most part I quit it all together. But I didn't have a lot of support or information on where to find people to support me. So many times I would fall back into eating cheese and dairy products. It took a little while to stop the cravings.</span></span></div><!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--> <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Theo:</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #353535;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Did you immediately cut out all animal flesh and by-products? Yes. I've been down right Nazi about it. I want my body to as healthy as possible. I'm more committed to the diet that anything else in my life really.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #353535;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #353535;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Renee:</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #353535;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I started by eliminating all fast foods and soft drinks from my diet and incorporating more fruits and vegetables. In May of 2009 I decided to stop smoking and take a break from consuming alcoholic beverages. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was detoxing my body from these things. The same day I stopped I began a daily workout program in order to help with the stress. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #353535;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Than I really started researching vegetarianism on the internet. Still not knowing the differences within vegetarianism itself and that of veganism. I knew of no one who had such a diet and was raised in Iowa on beef, potatoes and corn. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #353535;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In all my research I decided to become a lacto-ovo vegetarian in August of 2009. Although, I consumed very little of eggs and cheese I drank a lot of milk!. That is really what kept me from being vegan for a long time. Still on my journey of self educating I bought Alicia Silverstone’s book Be Kind Diet. It was soon after reading her book that I decided I had to give up dairy and that milk would be the most difficult! I did it in May of 2010. It was tough at first, but I have been vegan ever since(least my diet was vegan). As my research continued I really began to discover the animal abuse involved in the SAD and now I’m on my way of becoming more involved and active with all aspects of veganism.</span></span></div><!--StartFragment--><span style="color: #353535; font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"> </span><div><span style="color: #353535; font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Mark:</span> </span><!--StartFragment--><span style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before going vegan I had done vegan and mostly vegetarian fasts, ranging from a few weeks to a few months. When I decided to go 100% vegan I excluded all animal-based foods immediately. The transition was easy due to the fact that I rarely ate most meat out of health reasons. Cheese was tough at first but dairy-alternative cheese helped me the first few months and now I never use the stuff. Aside from food my transition to animal and cruelty-free products was more gradual. I saw no reason to waste the products I already owned and plus products in this category are a tad more costly. Over time I went to natural soap, natural shampoo/conditioner, natural toothpaste, natural shaving cream, cruelty-free razors and so on.</span></span><!--EndFragment--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span> </span></div><div><span style="color: #353535; font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="color: #353535; font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Danielle:</span> </span><!--StartFragment--><span style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I purged EVERYTHING from my apartment, after the Peta video, ALL products with animal anything got dumped. I was pissed. It was like a bad break up where you want to burn the ex's shit down to the ground. Wool coats, leather shoes, I wanted it all out. I think if you could have seen me, I would have looked like a crazed maniac going through everything throwing things out of the closet. I kept only one thing, One leather shoe that my late Tatum had chewed. I know it sounds silly, but that I could not toss. I wont wear it, but I always want it.</span></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #353535; font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="color: #353535;"><!--EndFragment--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Diana:</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unfortunately, it did not stick for more than a couple of years. Tasty dairy alternatives were still years away, and I just didn't have the discipline. When my wife and I bought our home, we agreed that we'd at least be vegan at home. When a battery-cage video finally pushed her over the line, I came, too, helped by having met several vegans in the area, and by the greater availability of options at the grocery store. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Becoming vegetarian was extremely easy. The vegan transition was harder, mainly because I hate to cook, and options at restaurants are limited, especially when traveling. When I became vegetarian, I did still eat oysters, mussels, scallops, and clams, believing them to be incapable of suffering. I gave them up when I stopped dairy and eggs.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Lee:</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At first, I had a policy that I would not eat what I had rescued so pork, chicken, duck, goat, and turkey were off the table. I didn't have any cows at the time but gave up beef instantly. That still allowed me to eat fish...in fact, the joke was "I sure hope I never need to rescue a salmon". One day, I saw someone order a plate of popcorn shrimp and remember thinking "dang...you just took out thirty lives with one entree". The move from pescatarian to vegetarian happened at that moment. Milk was easy to move off of and eggs were also not a problem but cheese took a couple of months to eliminate.</span></span></div><!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--> <!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--> <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">How hard was it to shop at first? Did you know what to buy? And what are the staples you always buy now?</span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Theo:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #353535;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fortunately for me, I'm in a band with a Vegan already - and his girl friend is Vegan - so they were instrumental in helping me shop. Also have another Vegan friend who took me to Whole Foods to show me the ropes. I've got a good handle on it now.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #353535;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Renee: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #353535;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At first, I bought a lot of the veggie processed foods and really tried to incorporate more fresh veggies and fruit. Now if you looked at my shopping cart you would see that 95% of the items are from the produce section. I still do buy some convenience foods, but not much. For example, vegan burgers, some of the Gardein products, or Daiya cheese etc. I have to have lots and lots of fresh greens (spinach/kale) and fresh fruit!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #353535;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #353535;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Mark:</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Looking back I was a pretty terrible shopper at first; buying useless items, too much or little of things, not planning what to buy, overal just wasting money. I never found it difficult as I relied on suggestions of where to go and what to buy from other people. Now I understand my body more and don't over-eat which helps a lot. I can go to the store and get everything I need for the week and be able to stay healthy and consistent. This smarter shopping and consuming has also allowed me to go almost fully organic.</span></span></div><!--StartFragment--> <span style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pretty much buy a lot of the same products from week-to-week but I would say my "can't live without them" products would include bananas, peanut butter, oats, kale, sunflower seeds, oranges, red bell peppers, any kind of potato, sprouted grain bread and something spicy whether it be a jalapeno, a habanero or some ground red pepper. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Danielle:</span> <!--StartFragment--><span style="color: #262626;">Veggies are my staple now, but I think the only thing that was annoying was reading labels, then getting mad when something had some animal product in it. like "Son of a B! WHY does this need THAT in it?!?!" but I knew why I was doing it, so I didnt mind the extra work.</span><!--EndFragment--> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Diana:</span> <!--StartFragment--><span style="color: #262626;">Shopping was dreadful in the late '80s and early '90s. Nasty, awful-tasting brown soy milk. Tofu ice cream with an aftertaste. No cheese! Now there are great dairy alternatives, but I'm also moving toward more whole foods. Having local restaurants that supply some ready-made vegan options to the local healthfood store really helps, too.</span><!--EndFragment--> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Lee:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><!--StartFragment--><span style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Shopping wasn't that tough though it became more time consuming as I had to read labels closely. Going to restaurants became tougher and was "less fun". In Jacksonville (and especially Clay County) the choices are pretty limited.</span></span><!--EndFragment--> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Have you stuck with vegan since or have you gone back to meat, dairy or eggs, occasionally? (Honestly!)</span></b></span></span> </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Theo:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #353535;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've had 4/5 oz. of fish on rare occasions... Otherwise I'm good. I will NEVER knowingly put my body thru meat and dairy ever again. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #353535;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #353535;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Renee:</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #353535;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have not gone back nor will I ever! That being said I have discovered foods that I ate in the past had an unwanted ingredient in it that I didn’t know about at the time.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #353535;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #353535;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Mark:</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since going vegan I have, to the best of my knowledge, been animal-free. I say that because my first few months I ate of processed foods or foods packed with tons of lenghty-named ingredients. This would have allowed some by-products to sneak in on me, especially since I was still learning about ingredients. Nowadays I keep to a simple diet and with the exception of my rarely used Earth Balance butter, my foods contain less than 5 ingredients; all of which I can pronounce.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Danielle:</span> O</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">h hell no! I haven't looked back since making the choice to go vegan. Even before going to the farm, I just could not imagine what those animals went through, for that first year, I was so angry I refused to falter, then, once I went to the farm, I had over 300 reasons not to ever look back, and then I went to the Hoe Down, and WOW, all the information. I learned about a million more reasons why I would be staying vegan. Veg for Life. That's me. No lie.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Diana:</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I made the decision the second time, I stuck with it. Early on, I accepted a few "errors," like bread at a restaurant that I hadn't requested, or cheese accidentally put on my salad, but I've gotten the hang of preventing or correcting those kinds of situations.</span></span></div><!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--> <!--StartFragment--> <!--EndFragment--> <!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--> <!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--> <!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--> <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Lee:</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have never "gone back" but do say that I am "Vegan with an asterisk" as I do occasionally eat the eggs produced at CJ Acres Animal Rescue Farm as they are cruelty free. One of my friends, Colleen Patrick-Goudreau on her podcast once addressed this and agreed that this situation is the only time she would agree that a vegan could consume eggs. That said, I probably eat one egg a week.</span></span></div><!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--> <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">If someone asked you "why are you vegan?", what would be your answer?</span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Nicole:</span></span> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Initially it was weight loss and health. But now my reasons are endless.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Theo:</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #353535;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jack LaLanne used to say, "</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll give you $1 Million dollars for your right arm.</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">" People said "</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No way!"</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and he'd say, "</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">you just proved to me that your body is your most valuable possession</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">." I am Vegan for me (my health) and because I will not participate in the destruction of beautiful animals.</span></span></div><!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--> <!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--> <div><!--EndFragment--><!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--><!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--><!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--><div><!--EndFragment--><!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--><!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--><!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Renee:</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #353535;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Short and sweet: for the animals, my health, and the environment!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #353535;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #353535;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Mark:</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When people ask me this question my response is typically, "animal rights". Sometimes they want to know more and in that case I tell them a little more of an in depth answer. I tell people I'm not a church and don't intend to bore them with my preaching. For those interested I will talk eternally to, but for others they simply want a quick response. Just like at the grocery store when they ask how you're doing, they don't want to know the whole day's story. Mind you, I'm still very open about my veganism and gladly accept the label, I think it's good to put it in people's face to remind them that we are out there and we are just as normal as them. My reasonings though are just that...my reasonings; let them be informed and establish their own.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Danielle:</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because I love life (mine, theirs, and the earth). I want to be healthy and happy, and yeah, I love animals.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Diana:</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Harm none" is a basic tenet of my faith. I would not want done to me what is done to animals for meat, eggs, and dairy. I know it is cruel and wrong, and not participating in it is how I am able to live with myself and in accordance with my principles.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Lee:</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cliff Notes version...Because I refuse to reward an industry that produces unbelievable amounts of animal suffering and death, while destroying the planet and causing human disease/illness.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">When did you also cut out clothes and other products that include animal by-products or were tested on animals, as well as support for industries that exploit animals. What would you say to someone who's just starting out and feels overwhelmed with having to avoid all of this?</span></b></span></span><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Lucida Grande"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande"; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><!--EndFragment--> </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Lucida Grande"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande"; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Nicole:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I feel once you have all of your information and know how to do it is easy. Stop complicating things that aren't complicated. Its a healthier, more affordable, and compassionate life style. Don't stress out about throwing all of your things away. Replace them with compassionate items as you need them. I still have belts and purses and shoes that are leather or wool. But I haven't bought anymore. Eventually all things need to be replaced.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Theo</span>: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #353535;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just becoming Vegan saves an estimated 40-100 animals a year. Start there. The other stuff will come in time.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #353535;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #353535;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Renee:</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #353535;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would always encourage people to move forward in their journey at a pace that is “doable" for them. Try to provide them with resources, education and as much support as possible on this journey. Everyone is different and everyone approaches things differently. I know that if a person such as my self really wants to change or make a difference no matter their reasons they can. It has to do with being positive, asking for help, seeking out other like minded people educating oneself and so on. I made this transition completely on my own with pure self education. I started off for health reason and that is still a big part of my life, but animal activism has become a larger part of me. So no matter the reason that a person may change from the SAD I will encourage and support them because you just never know where it may lead.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #353535;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #353535;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Mark:</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was a gradual adjustment for me to some degree. My clothes were mostly animal-free as is before I went vegan. I personally never really like leather or suede; that goes beyond animal rights, I simply feel they are uncomfortable, inferior fabrics. Other products I simply bought animal-free when I needed to buy them. I didn't toss out everything and start from scratch as that would have been too costly and a waste of already purchased materials.</span></span></div><!--StartFragment--> <span style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For those new to the lifestyle I offer them a community. Just like anything in life you have to educate yourself and learn in order to understand. At first it is tough to exclude all by-products, especially those random ones that you would never know were from animals. Also you might not understand reasonings behind certain exclusions, such as honey. With help from others and a little D.I.Y. education the task seems effortless and no longer becomes a struggle of avoidance, you just live.</span></span><!--EndFragment--> <!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--> <!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--> <!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--> <!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--> <!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--> <!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--> <!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--> <!--StartFragment--> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #353535; font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><o:p></o:p></span></div><!--EndFragment--> <div><span style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Danielle:</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Start out slow. Take it easy, it's not a race, and you'll be okay. I actually hadn't thought much about clothes until seeing "Blood Sweat and T-Shirts." That show changed my life! I mean, I didn't do wool and all that jazz, but it's not even just animal products that I worry about, it's WHO made my clothes. Were they treated well, paid fairly, kept safe? There is a ton that goes into it, take your time and learn. Don't just jump into it because you've decided to change to a plant based diet. One step at a time. The Ghosts in Our Machine is an excellent project in the works, and it looks at all aspects of animals that we use, those in the shadows that make the machine work. We don't need them though, the machine can work without exploitation, it's just some changes that need to happen, and those changes are not world-ending. Makeup, household products, you can do it all in steps, and in each step you learn more. It's a learning journey, and nobody is perfect, I suppose remember that, first and foremost. NOBODY is perfect.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Diana:</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I cut out animal-tested products, leather, and so on when I became vegan the first time. I never went back. To keep the transition manageable, just take one thing at a time. When you run out of soap/decent work shoes/window cleaner/whatever, replace it with a cruelty-free alternative.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Lee:</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I eliminated clothing and entertainment detrimental to animals at the same time I became vegan. I am a big believer in taking steps toward perfection...even though it may never be achieved. My actions REDUCED animal suffering/slaughter but didn't eliminate it. To new veggies, I would say do as much as you are able to and rejoice in your actions. When you are able to take on more, take another step.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">...I hope this will help those starting out. Don't lose sight of why you chose to start down this path, and remember that you have the power to choose kindness over cruelty. You can help save animals, reduce your "environmental footprint," and improve your health (even if only one of these is your reason for starting the journey). I wish you luck! If you need more information, please check out <a href="http://www.chooseveg.com/">www.chooseveg.com</a>, a great resource from <a href="http://www.mercyforanimals.org/">Mercy For Animals</a>. Thanks for reading these stories, and feel free to comment with your own!</span></span></div><!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--> <!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--> <!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--> </div>Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511119218043079981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188518461270588055.post-83194261817943903512011-08-14T06:14:00.001-07:002012-04-18T07:33:00.596-07:00Being Vegan in an Omnivorous World<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCeZXUB07R7jJkN8dmhg1A5Fl7rOclelvW9FLZaxwA0J2xRma8oXyP-PkYCasRCxg144ski9SBNyABBT4ivFLr1XN1aWeAQbmnp22dF6FpqvoFN2dSwr8VjGtGf8qFXJrlNghqvYsP5_B2/s1600/polyp_cartoon_vegan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCeZXUB07R7jJkN8dmhg1A5Fl7rOclelvW9FLZaxwA0J2xRma8oXyP-PkYCasRCxg144ski9SBNyABBT4ivFLr1XN1aWeAQbmnp22dF6FpqvoFN2dSwr8VjGtGf8qFXJrlNghqvYsP5_B2/s320/polyp_cartoon_vegan.jpg" width="284" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i>Photo: Polyp.org.uk</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Once you enter that world known as veganism, you may find that you're grossly outnumbered. <b>Don't panic!</b> I will preface this post by saying I do NOT believe that being vegan is as difficult as some make it out to be. There is no longer any need to consume the flesh or by-products of animals, and there are so many cruelty-free and healthier food options available. However, some vegans do find themselves wondering how to deal with certain social situations without appearing to be one of those "vegan elitists" that people rant about. Well, I have some suggestions to offer...<br />
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We've all found ourselves at a party or some other social gathering at which someone offered us a meat or dairy-filled food. You may find yourself torn between sticking with your food beliefs (whether you went veg for ethical, religious, health or any other reason) and being polite. But, I don't think you need to worry too much about losing a friend or family member because you turn down their chicken parmesan or chocolate chip cookies. I don't see any difference between doing this and saying no because you have a food allergy. I would suggest politely saying that you are vegetarian or vegan, and explaining why that means you can't accept (there are people who stare blankly when you say vegan, not knowing why that means you can't eat their milk chocolate brownies). Most reasonable people will be tolerant of your beliefs, and will at least be willing to engage in conversation. Use this as an opportunity to talk about the benefits of plant-based diets for your health, for animals and for the planet. And I ALWAYS recommend bringing some homemade (or store-bought if you're kitchen-challenged) vegan goodies with you to show your friends and family that we eat delicious food!<br />
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What to do if you're invited to a wedding or some event at which you know there will mostly (or only) be non-vegetarian/vegan food options. Do you make a special request? YES! I don't think there's any reason to stay home or feel that you're being rude by politely saying or writing on your RSVP that you will need a veg option! Just like someone who is lactose intolerant (by the way, many people are, and humans are the only species that consume milk beyond infancy) or have a peanut allergy, you need to eat something that may not be served to everyone and that's fine! If you're worried that they may not be accomodating, eat some food at home before you go. And once again, I understand that people worry about the reactions of others, but if you need to worry that someone won't talk to you ever again because you asked for a vegan dish in place of meat, you may want to rethink that relationship!<br />
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When these situations come up in the office, it can get trickier. Everyone knows the job situation is not so great right now, and having conversations like this with bosses and co-workers may make you feel a little on edge. Having actually brought up being vegan in a job interview, I may have an answer that you don't feel so comfortable with. You are vegan (or vegetarian), and that doesn't change (I hope) when you leave your house and go to work. If there is an office party or just a co-worker that brought in some food for the office, you shouldn't need to worry you might lose your job for being "that vegan who won't eat the food." Again, politely say that you don't eat that and that you are veg, and if they ask what that means or why you have chosen that...use that opportunity!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7JhsOue4RGLuUB2npMV3WOUiSAIG5QgNiOMaMCYIfBUD2y47jdm7FtVbJBAX6IqtAmtNV3gRU-7AOMpEWMpwDnFAqssPkoKXPOgnnKSJ9PcGna5iKTSMaqAvSh7IQMvhVL2fFnWagRxaZ/s1600/2923406968_77a9fb2fb6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7JhsOue4RGLuUB2npMV3WOUiSAIG5QgNiOMaMCYIfBUD2y47jdm7FtVbJBAX6IqtAmtNV3gRU-7AOMpEWMpwDnFAqssPkoKXPOgnnKSJ9PcGna5iKTSMaqAvSh7IQMvhVL2fFnWagRxaZ/s400/2923406968_77a9fb2fb6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b> Photo: Jo-Anne McArthur/Farm Sanctuary</b></i> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>It's wonderful to be vegan and not contribute to the mass slaughter of animals for unnecessary and unhealthy food, but it's not enough. It's important to continually be having this conversation with others. Use your experience and your knowledge. Encourage others to explore where their food is coming from and give veg options a try! Again, it helps when you bring some delicious vegan food to give them while you say it! Most people are scared of what vegan food will taste like, but when they try it, they love it! I so enjoy seeing the look on the faces of pleasantly surprised omnivores when they try a yummy vegan meal! Remember, those who can't speak need a voice! Speak up!!<br />
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</span>Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511119218043079981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188518461270588055.post-24137882236433196702011-07-26T08:53:00.000-07:002011-07-26T09:06:19.233-07:00"But what's wrong with eating fish?"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://s.ngm.com/2007/04/global-fisheries-crisis/img/shark-net-615.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://s.ngm.com/2007/04/global-fisheries-crisis/img/shark-net-615.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Photo: Brian Skerry/National Geographic </i></div><br />
Fish are often left out when discussing cruelty to animals and certainly animal rights. And I have even heard people who have cut all other animal flesh out of their diet say that they still eat fish. Why are fish so overlooked? It's most likely because they're not as cute, cuddly and furry as other animals, which seems to be reason enough for most to ignore their plight. But, not only do fish suffer long and painful deaths in order to become "seafood," the fishing industry has nearly depleted the oceans and is a threat to other ocean wildlife along with the fish traditionally caught for food.<br />
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Let's start with commercial fishing. Fishing vessels are able to stay out at sea for months, catching massive amounts of fish. <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/sharks/longlining.html">Long-lines</a> are deployed, sometimes over 100 miles long, with baited hooks all along the line. Animals that get hooked often bleed to death or drown in the water before getting pulled onto the ships. The long-lines catch not only the intended animals, but also endangered sea turtles, sharks, albatross and other sea birds. According to <a href="http://www.stopsharkfinning.net/long-lines.htm">Stop Shark Finning</a>, over 25% of long-line catch gets thrown back into the sea, most often dead.<br />
<a href="http://na.oceana.org/en/our-work/promote-responsible-fishing/bottom-trawling/overview">Bottom trawling and dredging</a> involve heavy nets being dragged along the ocean floor to catch fish that live deep in the ocean. This system also threatens many species of ocean wildlife outside of its intended catch (shrimp, cod, clams, scallops, and more). Coral and sponges are often killed by the deep-sea nets.<br />
Scientists are now <a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/11/061102-seafood-threat.html">saying</a> that over-fishing has contributed to depletion of our oceans so severely that a huge extinction is not far off. "The loss of ocean biodiversity is accelerating, and 29 percent of the seafood species humans consume have already crashed. If the long-term trend continues, in 30 years there will be little or no seafood available for sustainable harvest."<br />
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While wild-caught fish is clearly not a good choice if you're concerned with the survival of the oceans and the many threatened species that die as by-catch, fish-farming has its faults too.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEietvTBS96AGV_JmTNJZfrdYHRiYe6fcTtV9k6Zr5tsxZKFNtYWcEWSTDv-ggvYeSB-AbCRo5gl5_Rk2Md1aGzhYJi01If3AQvIdsrTd3d1PNLV3l7EONgZ8MN21vOcNquZymV1UtMWFRio/s1600/3825712505_c13c5e5614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEietvTBS96AGV_JmTNJZfrdYHRiYe6fcTtV9k6Zr5tsxZKFNtYWcEWSTDv-ggvYeSB-AbCRo5gl5_Rk2Md1aGzhYJi01If3AQvIdsrTd3d1PNLV3l7EONgZ8MN21vOcNquZymV1UtMWFRio/s320/3825712505_c13c5e5614.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i> Photo: Flickr</i></div><br />
On these farms, fish are kept in crowded tanks, often leading to spread of disease and injuries from other fish. They are sorted by size in a process in which "they are netted or pumped out of their tanks and dumped onto a series of bars and grates with varying space gaps to divide them by size and redistribute them into different netted cages or tanks; small fish slip through the small grates while larger fish fall through the larger gaps. This practice, called "<a href="http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-food/aquafarming.aspx">grading</a>," is very stressful and results in painful scrapes and a loss of protective scales, leaving the animals vulnerable to disease.<br />
Some of the fish raised on these farms are carnivorous, and therefore are fed fish from the oceans, adding to the depletion of ocean life. The destruction doesn't stop there. Waste and chemicals leak into the ocean water and disease from the farm-raised fish spreads to wild fish.<br />
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Along with the threats to the ocean and wildlife, this industry is not regulated in regards to killing of fish. There are currently no legislation or regulations to enforce that fish are raised and slaughtered humanely. The fish are starved before going to slaughter so there is reduced waste during transportation. Fish are fully conscious when their gills are slashed and they begin to bleed to death. Some fish are hit on the head with or left to suffocate as their water is drained. When packed onto ice still alive, fish die very slowly because they are coldblooded, and can take up to 15 minutes to die. For this and more info on fish farming cruelty, <a href="http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-food/aquafarming.aspx">Aquafarming</a>. The industry is growing, now supplying over <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/01/business/global/01fish.html">40% of the fish eaten each year</a>.<br />
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So, if you find yourself baffled and unsure of whether to buy wild-caught or farm-raised fish, the answer seems clear. Both industries have led to a decline in ocean health, suffering and cruelty, depletion of endangered species and other ocean wildlife. An easy way to stop supporting this assault on our oceans is to stop eating seafood, no matter the source. <b>What else you can do</b>:<br />
- Support organizations working to save our oceans. For example, <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/">Sea Shepherd</a> removes thousands of miles of longlines from the oceans.<br />
- Educate others on the real cost of seafood and the many endangered animals that suffer and die as by-catch of the fishing industries they're supporting monetarily. You can also get leaflets to hand out from organizations like <a href="http://www.animalaid.org.uk/images/pdf/leaflets/fish.pdf">Animal Aid</a>, and <a href="http://www.petacatalog.com/products/Take_a_Closer_Look_at_Fish_Leaflet-415-39.html">PETA</a>. Also, encourage people to sign Mercy for Animals' <a href="http://www.mercyforanimals.org/fish/pledge.aspx">Pledge to Forgo Fish</a>.<br />
- Find out more from <a href="http://endoftheline.com/film">The End of the Line</a>, a documentary about overfishing and its devastating effects on the oceans.<br />
- And, as always, my best recommendation is <a href="http://www.veganoutreach.org/whyvegan/">go vegan</a>!! A vegan diet is the easiest way to stop supporting animal cruelty, environmental destruction caused by farming and fishing industries, and destruction to your health!Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511119218043079981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188518461270588055.post-18016035483131894062011-07-20T11:43:00.000-07:002011-07-20T11:43:57.119-07:00Sea Shepherd Needs Your Help to Get Their Ship Back!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/images/stories/news/2011a/news_110719_1_3_Paul_video_appeal_%28GW0583%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://www.seashepherd.org/images/stories/news/2011a/news_110719_1_3_Paul_video_appeal_%28GW0583%29.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Photo: Deborah Bassett/Sea Shepherd</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/2011/07/19/emergency-sos-from-captain-paul-watson-save-our-ship-1263">asked</a> its supporters to donate as much as they can to help get their ship, the Steve Irwin, back.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The ship has been detained by British courts in the Scottish Shetland Islands because of a civil suit brought against Sea Shepherd by Fish and Fish Limited. The fishing company is claiming damages for bluefin tuna rescued from their nets in 2010; SSCS believes the tuna were caught illegally after the season was over and without proper paperwork or an inspector onboard.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sea Shepherd has legal representation and believe that this case can be won. But until they post bond, the fate of the Steve Irwin, and the ocean wildlife its crew defends, remains in question. Captain Watson has said "<i>Now, unless we post a bond for USD$1,411,692.87, the Steve Irwin will be held indefinitely and possibly sold. This would not only be a financial hardship for Sea Shepherd, but more importantly, it could prevent us from reaching the Faeroe Islands to protect pilot whales and threaten our ability to defend whales in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary from the Japanese whaling fleet this December."</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Brigitte Bardot is currently in the Faroe Islands for <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/2011/07/06/operation-ferocious-isles-defending-the-rights-of-whales-in-the-faeroe-islands-1">Operation Ferocious Isles</a>, but they are waiting for their fellow Sea Shepherds on the Steve Irwin to get there. Please help by <a href="https://my.seashepherd.org/NetCommunity/SSLPage.aspx?pid=398">donating</a> as much as you can! Share this link with others and ask them to help: <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/2011/07/19/emergency-sos-from-captain-paul-watson-save-our-ship-1263">Emergency SOS from Captain Paul Watson: Save Our Ship!</a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/images/stories/who-we-are/fleet-Steve-Irwin-new-colors-01-275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="http://www.seashepherd.org/images/stories/who-we-are/fleet-Steve-Irwin-new-colors-01-275.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Photo: Sea Shepherd</i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511119218043079981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188518461270588055.post-28555152815548889932011-06-27T09:05:00.000-07:002011-06-27T20:37:37.278-07:00The Grind - Pilot Whale Massacre in the Faroe IslandsRecently returned from <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/blue-rage-2011/">Operation Blue Rage II</a> protecting bluefin tuna from illegal fishing operations, the <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/">Sea Shepherd Conservation Societ</a>y is preparing for yet another campaign in defense of marine wildlife. This summer, the captains and crew will return to the Faroe Islands, home of the brutal pilot whale massacre known as "the grind."<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/images/stories/news/2010/news_100720_1_5_Faeroes_Mass_Slaughter_1558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Faeroes Mass Slaughter" border="0" height="270" src="http://www.seashepherd.org/images/stories/news/2010/news_100720_1_5_Faeroes_Mass_Slaughter_1558.JPG" style="margin-top: 6px;" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>A pregnant pilot whale cut open and her baby removed, both left rotting on the ground</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Photo: Peter Hammarstedt/Sea Shepherd</b></div><br />
Despite its horrific cruelty, few people seem to be aware of "the grind," although the Ministry of Fisheries in the Faroes makes no secret of it. Here's what they have to say:<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"The pilot whale hunt in the Faroes is, by its very nature, a dramatic and bloody sight. Entire schools of whales are killed on the shore and in the shallows of bays with knives which are used to sever the major blood supply to the brain. This is the most efficient and humane means of killing these animals under the circumstances, but it naturally results in a lot of blood in the water. It is also understandable that there have been many strong reactions to media reports and pictures of the hunt in other countries, especially in urban communities, where most people have never actually been witness to the slaughtering processes from which their own meat derives" </i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">- Whales and Whaling in the Faroe Islands, <a href="http://www.whaling.fo/Default.aspx?ID=6767">The pilot whale drive</a>.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">Humane? There is nothing humane about the event described here. Entire pods of pilot whales are driven to the shores by hunters in boats, and when they are trapped, they're repeatedly hacked at with knives. Their heads are cut open and their spinal cords severed, a process that the "hunters" claim is quick, rendering the pilot whales unconscious within seconds. Yes, there are understandably strong reactions to images, like the one above, of brutally slaughtered animals, and water turned red with blood. But it's hard to believe this reaction occurs because you may not have witnessed this slaughter in person as the Ministry of Fisheries would have you believe...do you think you'd be more or less opposed to "the grind" if you watched this happen?...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/images/stories/news/2010/news_100720_1_2_Faeroes_Mass_Slaughter_1520_650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" id="jcemediabox-popup-img" src="http://www.seashepherd.org/images/stories/news/2010/news_100720_1_2_Faeroes_Mass_Slaughter_1520_650.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Photo: Peter Hammarstedt/Sea Shepherd</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The images above were taken during Sea Shepherd's undercover operation in the Faroes in July 2010. Peter Hammarstedt's account of the pilot whale slaughter is a little different than the quick and painless version the Ministry of Fisheries is telling...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>One whale had five to six brutal chops to her head...The islanders basically used her as a chopping board. Her death would have been slow and extremely painful. Some whales are hacked repeatedly for up to four minutes before they finally die...</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Babies had been cut out of their mother’s dead bodies and left to rot on the docks...</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Pilot whale groups are strongly matriarchal; I can’t imagine the fear and panic that these mothers must have felt as their families were wiped out in front of them</i>" - <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/news-100720-1.html">Sea Shepherd Undercover Operation Exposes Cetacean Mass Slaughter</a>.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On top of the fear, pain and death inflicted on these defenseless marine mammals, "the grind" has many more harmful effects. There is no regard to the sustainability of the the pilot whale populations and its effect on the ocean ecosystems. The children of the Faroe Islands are brought along and encouraged to be a part of this horrific event, ensuring future generations will participate in this cruelty and destruction. The pilot whale meat consumed by the Faroese is not even safe for consumption and can cause mercury poisoning. What good comes out of this?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's what you can do to help:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- Little has been done to stop this massacre, please support an organization that is doing something. You can help Sea Shepherd on their next <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/grind-stop">campaign</a> in the Faroes by making a <a href="https://my.seashepherd.org/NetCommunity/SSLPage.aspx?pid=320">donation</a>!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- If you can't donate, please spread the word! Share the link with others and encourage them to show their support! Remember, you can always help get the message out by becoming an <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/get-involved/volunteer-onshore.html">Onshore Volunteer</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- Spread the word about "the grind," share the pictures...it isn't pleasant, but ignorance and closed eyes are parts of what allow cruelty like this to continue.</div>- Contact the Ministry of Fisheries and demand an end to the grind - fisk@fisk.fo. Also, contact Prime Minister Johanneson here - Info@tinganes.fo. <br />
- Boycott tourism in the Faroes until this is ended!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“We will have crew on the beaches, on the water, under the water, and in the air...It is time to blow this horror show out of the water once and for all. The killing is a violation of the Berne Convention and Denmark needs to be brought to task. If the Faeroese are going to enjoy the benefits of the European Union, they need to abide by the laws of the European Union.”</i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>- Captain Paul Watson</b>,<i> </i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; line-height: 24px;"><a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/news-101109-1.html"><b>Sea Shepherd to Bring the Whale Wars to the Faeroe Islands</b></a></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span>Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511119218043079981noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188518461270588055.post-18634959365389134042011-06-20T19:07:00.000-07:002011-06-20T19:46:20.535-07:00These Five Piglets Went to CJ Acres, Not the Market<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf0ZTjJ93HHRkUyImL2rSPw9fNh3WXbmr2raXi-tPnrsnO9PrExKOvtDN5K0E8uk9xrOCPDtDlA8kTEQaXDuTmsh-rpO8yFdsKBuPVVFCFMxRNbPr3i5qdRFwS-BNjCZz5Mkg3gBjCHUzU/s1600/260350_198157053563412_100001073554024_510203_707641_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf0ZTjJ93HHRkUyImL2rSPw9fNh3WXbmr2raXi-tPnrsnO9PrExKOvtDN5K0E8uk9xrOCPDtDlA8kTEQaXDuTmsh-rpO8yFdsKBuPVVFCFMxRNbPr3i5qdRFwS-BNjCZz5Mkg3gBjCHUzU/s400/260350_198157053563412_100001073554024_510203_707641_n.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>The piglets, at their new home, greeting visitors </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Photo: Corey Mishler</b> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The billions of animals that perish in the factory farming industry each year most often remain faceless, nameless beings that go from factory to plate. Every now and then, though, shocking stories of meat industry horrors or incredible rescues hit the news and grab the attention of the public. This particular story began in Durham, North Carolina, where a second chance came out of potential tragedy for five little piglets.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> These pigs were five of many in a cramped truck headed to a slaughterhouse. Before they could reach that horrible end, they <a href="http://www2.nbc17.com/news/2011/mar/30/12/runaway-pigs-causing-traffic-delays-i-40-durham-ar-904129/">fell out of the truck onto busy Interstate 40</a> on a weekday morning. Several drivers reportedly made 911 calls reporting the pigs darting in and out of traffic. Durham police and animal control put the pigs into police cars and they were taken to Durham Animal Shelter. Their journey didn't end there. According to state law, the piglets had to be sold at auction when their "owner" did not come to claim them. So, up for auction they went, and as expected there were several bidders looking to turn them into bacon. Luckily for the piglets, and animal lovers everywhere, Lee and Jennifer Sackett of <a href="http://www.cj-acres.org/">CJ Acres Animal Rescue Farm</a> had other plans. The "lead mares," as they call themselves, of CJ Acres (an all-volunteer nonprofit organization in Keystone Heights, FL) were able to win the bid for all five piglets and bring them safely to their new home. </div><br />
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<b>Watch Lee and Jennifer bid to save the piglets (in the pouring rain)</b><br />
<b> Video:</b> <a href="http://www.nbc17.com/">NBC-17</a><br />
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In total, CJ Acres paid $3200, which went to the Durham Animal Shelter to cover their costs. And the pigs? After a very long ride (but much better than how they were <a href="http://www.vegforlife.org/animals_how.htm#transport">transported</a> in the truck bound for the slaughterhouse), they arrived in paradise. CJ Acres is home to many animals, once abused or neglected, or saved from natural disaster or rescued from horrific factory farms. They are given clean water and food, affection and rehabilitation, the ability to socialize together and be out in the grass and sunlight...all things they would have been denied. The piglets are growing every day, and getting ready to join the "big pigs" on the farm. According to Theresa Krupa-Aiken, a dedicated CJ Acres volunteer and one of the "head mares": Maria, once a "<a href="http://www.farmsanctuary.org/issues/factoryfarming/pork/gestationcrates.html">gestation sow</a>" at a factory farm, has already taken the babies in as her own and continues to greet them at the fence separating them until they are ready, and nuzzling her nose against theirs.<br />
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On Saturday, CJ Acres opened its fences to supporters for the Wine With The Swine event. Those lucky enough to be there got a tour of the farm and interacted with the wonderful animal residents, while also drinking animal-themed wines and enjoying delicious food (all vegan of course!). This was also the first chance to meet the five piglets: now named Ayden, Bumble, JJ, Hillman, and Hemmingway. They are no longer "products" or nameless beings suffering behind closed doors. They are beloved members of the CJ Acres family, and this weekend it was clear how loving, gentle, intelligent and forgiving these incredible animals are.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJ8PHMiR7T6AU5uulBTlgSqYAgGBEAUOfytRUFLzsQ1-FJ4TPiCHOYFoas99ZNn8TIu_McGnLb4MyUst925cwGWrlVMHR9Myn9QcHPowFJwOPNKBfOa_4cKTZbIw1UBTOXIQ-CqPdpZAU/s1600/254258_198157123563405_100001073554024_510205_3766728_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJ8PHMiR7T6AU5uulBTlgSqYAgGBEAUOfytRUFLzsQ1-FJ4TPiCHOYFoas99ZNn8TIu_McGnLb4MyUst925cwGWrlVMHR9Myn9QcHPowFJwOPNKBfOa_4cKTZbIw1UBTOXIQ-CqPdpZAU/s400/254258_198157123563405_100001073554024_510205_3766728_n.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Safe and sound</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Photo: Corey Mishler</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>What you can do:<br />
- Support CJ Acres Animal Rescue Farm! Please consider <a href="https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&SESSION=IyuKemKFvJ6fQPZgchrP4xwF2gemr7n_tFqG5p0oXQz7FUyh9ZxUJnASyQS&dispatch=5885d80a13c0db1f8e263663d3faee8d422be6d275c375afb284863ba74d6cdc">donating</a> if you can.<br />
- If you can't donate, you can still build support by sharing the link to the website on Facebook or Twitter! Tell others about this organization and what they do for animals! Also, check out their <a href="http://cj-acres.org/herd-calendar/month.calendar/2011/6/21/-">Herd Calendar</a>, and stop by one of their events if you're close enough to the farm!<br />
- You can help farm animals in a more general way by spreading the word about the horrific cruelty of factory farming and the benefits of a plant-based diet (not only for the animals, but for your health and the environment): <a href="http://www.factoryfarming.com/">Farm Sanctuary: Factory Farming</a>, <a href="http://www.veganoutreach.org/whyvegan/">Vegan Outreach: Why Vegan</a>.<br />
- And of course, you can have a huge impact by going vegan! If you haven't yet begun your journey into a plant-based and cruelty-free diet, here are some links to help you have an easy transition! PCRM: <a href="http://www.21daykickstart.org/">21-Day Vegan Kickstart</a>, <a href="http://www.vegansociety.com/become-a-vegan/">The Vegan Society: Become a Vegan</a>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://cj-acres.org/images/stories/logo_trans_175_copy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cj-acres.org/images/stories/logo_trans_175_copy.png" /></a></div><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">"Every day at CJ Acres Animal Rescue Farm, the caregivers are surrounded by happy animals. At morning feed, the horses prance around the barn knowing that fresh grain and hay will soon arrive in their stalls. The pigs squeal with delight at the prospect of getting fruit, vegetables and juice delivered right to their feed bowls. The ducks jockey for position to secure the best lettuce and get the first drink of fresh water.</span></i> <br />
<div style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Later in the day, the goats happily sun themselves on elevated decks. The barn cats joyfully stretch in-between (what else) catnaps. As dinnertime approaches, the chickens and turkeys merrily peck and scratch at the grain and corn thrown on the ground. The mood is positive, even though their pasts may not have been"</span></i><b><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> - Lee Sackett, CJ Acres Animal Rescue Farm</span></i></b></div>Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511119218043079981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188518461270588055.post-3563241305122567082011-06-13T18:17:00.000-07:002011-06-13T19:55:53.009-07:00The Calgary Stampede<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The Calgary Stampede, billed as "the greatest outdoor show on Earth,"<b> </b>could more accurately be described as "the most barbaric show on Earth." Rodeos are unquestionably cruel; terrified animals are forced in front of screaming crowds, and severely injured or killed. The Calgary Stampede just may be the cruelest of all.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.weanimals.org/pub/portfolio/Rodeos/D%20DSC_0383.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://www.weanimals.org/pub/portfolio/Rodeos/D%20DSC_0383.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Terrified calves are roped around the neck and violently pulled to the ground, where their legs are tied together</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b> Photo: Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.weanimals.org/">www.weanimals.org</a></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It doesn't stop at calf-roping. Bulls and horses are injured, provoked and ridden around the ring. Steers are wrestled. They are not athletes or willing participants. They are victims. For more information, check out this link from the Vancouver Humane Society: <a href="http://www.vancouverhumanesociety.bc.ca/campaigns/the-calgary-stampede/">The Calgary Stampede</a>. You can also learn more from Humane Society International: <a href="http://www.hsi.org/world/canada/news/news/2010/07/calgary_stampede_071810.html">Calgary Stampede Cruelty</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Calgary Stampede is often referred to as some wonderful part of Canadian "culture," as if this event defines the nation. I'm sure there are many compassionate Canadians who want to see an end to cruelty toward defenseless animals, and would question this as a part of their culture. Granted, the stampede has been taking place for many years and rodeo fans continue to attend, but the term "culture" has been used too many times in attempts to justify acts of cruelty and violence. When a long-standing tradition is harmful and unnecessary, it is time to evolve past that tradition. Let's not forget that slavery was justified in the same way. We can choose to make changes and act with compassion.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.weanimals.org/pub/portfolio/Rodeos/G%20DSC_0172cr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="330" src="http://www.weanimals.org/pub/portfolio/Rodeos/G%20DSC_0172cr.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>A bull struggling as the rope around his neck is pulled</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Photo: Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.weanimals.org/">www.weanimals.org</a></b></div><br />
Please join the fight against this horrific and unnecessary cruelty. Here are some quick ways that you can help!<br />
- 'Like' the Calgary Stampede Facebook page to join other animal advocates commenting on why this needs to be stopped! Remember to be firm, but polite! Encourage responses and debate.<br />
- Contact the CEO of Calgary Stampede, Vern Kimball - <a href="mailto:vkimball@calgarystampede.com">vkimball@calgarystampede.com</a>. Or use the <a href="http://corporate.calgarystampede.com/about/contact/commentsinfo.html">comment form</a> on the website.<br />
- Use this <a href="http://www.vancouverhumanesociety.bc.ca/email-bell/">page</a> from Vancouver Humane Society to send a letter to Bell Canada, the main sponsor of the Calgary Stampede. Explain to them why this event is cruel and ask them to no longer provide their support.<br />
- Most importantly, do not attend the Calgary Stampede or other rodeo events! This continues only with money and support from those who attend and sponsor. Please encourage others to stop attending these events! Share these links!<br />
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Thank you to Jo-Anne McArthur and We Animals for the use of their wonderful photographs. You shed light on the suffering of animals and inspire action in their defense! Here is some more info on how you can help fight the stampede from We Animals - <a href="http://www.weanimals.org/blog.php?entry=139">Calgary Stampede: Starting a Dialogue and Taking Action</a>.Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511119218043079981noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188518461270588055.post-44255019181778244112011-06-08T18:11:00.000-07:002011-06-08T18:25:25.361-07:00Sea Shepherd Defends the Tuna: Blue Rage 2011Following their huge success defending whales in Antarctica during <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/no-compromise/">Operation No Compromise</a>, the <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/">Sea Shepherd Conservation Society</a> has begun their latest campaign. Now, <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/blue-rage-2011/">Operation Blue Rage</a> has taken the Steve Irwin and the Brigitte Bardot to the coast of Libya to defend the endangered bluefin tuna.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/images/igallery/resized/101-200/15_JT6444-190-550-310-80.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://www.seashepherd.org/images/igallery/resized/101-200/15_JT6444-190-550-310-80.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Steve Irwin and the Brigitte Bardot ready to stop the illegal tuna poachers</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Photo: Josh Trentner/Sea Shepherd</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You may be asking, "Why risk so much to defend tuna?" Well, here are some facts about the amazing bluefin tuna. Along with being one of the largest fish, bluefins are warm-blooded. They are an important part of the ocean ecosystem as one of the top predators, eating a wide variety of food sources and traveling long distances to feed. Bluefins usually live deep in the ocean, and can live to the age of 30 years old! For these reasons and more on why Sea Shepherd feels these fish need to be protected, check out this page: <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/blue-rage-2011/why-defend-bluefins.html">Why Defend Bluefins</a>. You can also learn about the bluefin from National Geographic here: <a href="http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/bluefin-tuna/">Atlantic Bluefin Tuna</a>.</div><br />
In March 2011, government attending the Convention on Internation Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) decided not to ban trade of bluefins, despite severe threats to their population. On top of that, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has determined that the bluefin does not need protection under the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/27/noaa-excludes-bluefin-tuna-endangered-species_n_868132.html">endangered species</a> list. Despite all of this, the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) continues to allow outrageous catch quotas for the fishing industry. The high market value of bluefins is huge incentive to continue poaching, and continues to increase as their population declines.<br />
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So, once again, Sea Shepherd steps up and does what the governments and regulation organizations <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/news-110512-2.html">will not do</a>. This time, they enter into an area currently in a state of war. Despite the danger involved, the Sea Shepherd captains and crew will be there to stop the poachers and defend the defenseless. Although the ships have already entered in Libyan waters and begun their mission, you can still help protect the bluefins! Here's what you can do:<br />
- <a href="https://my.seashepherd.org/NetCommunity/SSLPage.aspx?pid=385">Donate to the campaign</a>!<br />
- Follow <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/blue-rage-2011/">Operation Blue Rage</a>, and share the updates on your social media pages so that others can find out how to get involved!<br />
- Stop consuming tuna! Encourage others to decrease or eliminate their seafood consumption to help stop depletion of the oceans. Remember that along with the massive amounts of fish that die in these fishing operations, there are countless marine species that die as unwanted "bycatch."<br />
- You can help Sea Shepherd in a more general way by taking action! Apply to become an <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/get-involved/volunteer-onshore.html">Onshore Volunteer</a> or a member of the <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/get-involved/crewing-at-sea.html">crew</a>!<br />
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<i> “Any bluefin tuna seiner or holding cage found in Libyan waters will be intercepted, the nets will be cut open, and the fish will be released. This year it is zero tolerance towards these illegal poaching operations and any fish in any net we encounter in Libyan waters will be freed and released.” </i><b>- Captain Paul Watson</b><i><br />
</i>Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511119218043079981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188518461270588055.post-43658277657513826142011-06-01T17:35:00.000-07:002011-06-01T17:35:52.712-07:00New York Bill Latest to Target Cruelty InvestigationsNew York is the latest in a string of states with proposed legislation targeting undercover investigators on farms. Similar bills have been introduced in Florida, Minnesota, and Iowa, with all but the latter defeated. Concerned individuals and organizations continue to oppose the Iowa bill. For more information, please read my previous blog on this topic: <a href="http://livvegan.blogspot.com/2011/03/documenting-cruelty-to-animalsa-felony.html">Documenting Cruelty to Animals...a Felony?!</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmVaQBJ1fsCr2GlQp2oHo1dotlyCdMU3j675JMX2IMu3Nz6yOHYGLaXBskldMHpPt7rFpnhnckUbdVtPmbzUvcCyQ6Da3y3kbVZF0KZVtdeVcM7eVV7tQXp5MJcMZV0nEz3GA9fRHX95p/s1600/cows+farm+sanctuary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmVaQBJ1fsCr2GlQp2oHo1dotlyCdMU3j675JMX2IMu3Nz6yOHYGLaXBskldMHpPt7rFpnhnckUbdVtPmbzUvcCyQ6Da3y3kbVZF0KZVtdeVcM7eVV7tQXp5MJcMZV0nEz3GA9fRHX95p/s320/cows+farm+sanctuary.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Photo: Farm Sanctuary</div><br />
New York's <a href="http://open.nysenate.gov/legislation/bill/S5172-2011">SB 5172</a>, introduced by state Senator Patty Ritchie (R), would criminalize photographic, video, or audio recordings on farms without prior consent from the owner, like the other bills. However, this one also includes a bogus justification for this cruelty cover-up by citing a need to stop meth users from stealing fertilizer containing ammonia. Despite the reasoning these legislators are trying to sell to you, this bill, like the others, is a clear attempt to silence individuals and organizations exposing the horrific cruelty inflicted on animals on factory farms. Undercover investigations bring to light the atrocities inflicted on these animals and have been one of the only reasons that any legislation protecting farmed animals exists today.<br />
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For example, a recent <a href="http://www.mercyforanimals.org/calves/">investigation</a> conducted by Mercy For Animals at E6 Cattle Co. in Texas documented on video unimaginable cruelty inflicted on calves by employees. These defenseless babies were bludgeoned on the head with hammers, beaten and thrown onto piles of other calves and left to die, left sitting in their own waste in tiny cages, and denied veterinary care despite infected wounds and illnesses. Calves also had their horns removed without any painkillers or anesthesia. Click the link above to learn more about this investigation, and share it with others. MFA's gathered evidence led to felony animal cruelty charges being brought against the owner and several employees of E6 Cattle Co. And even better, many of the calves have been rescued and can finally begin to know peace and safety. Click <a href="http://gentlebarn.org/page.php?id=The%20Calves%20Safe%20at%20The%20Gentle%20Barn">here</a> to see some of the survivors now living at The Gentle Barn.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="http://www.mfablog.org/5659211914_d8aec9e439.jpg" height="301" src="http://www.mfablog.org/5659211914_d8aec9e439.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="400" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A calf's horns are removed without anesthesia</div><div style="text-align: center;">Photo: <a href="http://www.mercyforanimals.org/">Mercy For Animals</a></div><br />
Without the brave and compassionate activists and organizations that conduct these investigations, these animals will continue to suffer and die with no one to hear their cries. The investigators are not criminals; they're not terrorists. They cause no pain and death. They simply document the nightmare that factory farm animals are living in, and they show their findings to those who will hopefully step up and do what is right for these sentient beings. Please support their efforts, and help fight this bill. Here's <b>what you can do</b>:<br />
- Contact members of the <a href="http://www.nysenate.gov/committee/agriculture">New York Senate Agriculture Committee</a> and urge them not to support this bill! Feel free to use information given above, and you can even cite findings from previous investigations that revealed cruelty to animals.<br />
- Use this link to find and contact your <a href="http://www.nysenate.gov/senators">New York State Senator</a> if you're a NY resident, and urge him/her not to support this bill!<br />
- Share these links with others and ask them to join in the fight for the animals!<br />
- In a more general way, you can help farmed animals by going vegetarian or vegan, or at least no longer buying meat and other animal products coming from factory farms. This industry can only continue to torture animals if we continue to support it!Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511119218043079981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188518461270588055.post-62594902046543176232011-05-26T20:08:00.000-07:002011-05-27T18:13:06.304-07:00Liz Marshall Talks "The Ghosts In Our Machine"I am honored to say that today's blog features an interview with director <a href="http://www.lizmars.com/">Liz Marshall</a> about her groundbreaking multi-platform documentary: <a href="http://www.theghostsinourmachine.com/">The Ghosts In Our Machine</a>. Liz is an award-winning filmmaker who has brought to light important social justice and environmental issues with her films. Her most recent work, <a href="http://www.wateronthetable.com/">Water on the Table</a> (2010), shines a spotlight on Maude Barlow's cause to make water available to everyone, a human right rather than a privilege or a product. Liz provided some insight into The Ghosts In Our Machine, still in development and growing each day. Here's what Liz had to say:<br />
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<b>About the project of The Ghosts In Our Machine and its comparison to her other works:</b><br />
<i>This is a film and web narrative in development. I have created two trailers as teasers for the film. The developmental stage is so important to a social issue project like this. We are trying to reach a broad audience and bring to light the ghosts in our machine. They are the lowest of the low, the lowest on our radar. That's why I am so attracted to this. I don't think there's a more challenging project to take on. Like the mission says, it 'seeks to uncover the dark recesses of our anthropocentric society to illuminate the lives of individual animals used for human profit and consumption."</i>. <br />
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<i>I've always been drawn to exploring issues of social justice. I want to tackle significant global issues that matter. I am concerned with exploring. It's an excavation, a journey. I don't like to be didactic or newsy. I'm on a journey and I live and breathe the project and become consumed by it. I want to convey that to others and I hope they have a similar experience. </i><br />
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<i>So many people don't want to think about or maybe don't know about the animals used in these industries and I'm convinced there's a real blind spot. There are so many animal lovers out there. They love their pets and they love whales and wolves and they donate to organizations that will protect them. Then they continue to eat meat from factory farms. I think there's a disconnect there.</i><br />
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<i>Prior to Water on the Table, all of my work focused on people and their hardships and social issues. I think all of that matters and I care a great deal, but I also want to show that these creatures matter and deserve to be free of this suffering and exploitation. I have been vegetarian for most of my life and am still on the way to vegan. I am open and transparent about my journey. I don't need to say that my animal footprint is zero. My life partner has been vegan for many years and we have a vegan household. We like to say our house is totally "ghost-free."</i><br />
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<b>On working with Jo-Anne McArthur - photographer, activist and the human subject of The Ghosts In Our Machine:</b><br />
<i>Jo-Anne has been a photographer and animal rights activist for decades. Her amazing project is <a href="http://www.weanimals.org/">We Animals</a>. We have become friends and I have gotten to know her over a few years and have really grown an increasing respect for her commitment. Each one of her compositions is a portal, expressing emotion and posing moral questions in a powerful way.</i><br />
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<i>I first had the idea to work with her on a film about a year and a half ago. My partner, Lorena, and I started talking about a film that would stand apart and really depict the plight of animals. It didn't fully click in my head until October 2010. I wanted to incorporate Jo-Anne's work into a project that wasn't just a film but a cross-platform documentary. The web component isn't just an extension of the film, but its own thing. It mirrors the message in the film. I want this to be a place where people can get educated. Some educational films leave you with a feeling of 'Okay..but what can I do?' The Ghosts In Our Machine will give people a dialogue around the issue. I hope that they can learn and experience the subject matter in an emotional way. Jo-Anne's photographs and her journey are the portal for that. She will be shooting in Europe, the United States and Canada to photograph animals used in industry for food, fashion, entertainment, and biomedical research and consumer product testing. There won't be a focus just on the industries as a whole, but on individual animals. I want to get up close and personal with them, and have them take up a lot of space in the film.</i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEmDHsO8ZTnPfBICU4Yfxlg22gmj17FmXEAcuJYyvMs8GFeWA9ws6Gfn9OcIx9JPGaKfnygTnpakjHns17uPMLvXr4f1r0PaJwJVwRrk4fmQu-ITxw4gD7W8KWVbWndBtseaIoPFEeIQz/s1600/Jo+with+Norman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEmDHsO8ZTnPfBICU4Yfxlg22gmj17FmXEAcuJYyvMs8GFeWA9ws6Gfn9OcIx9JPGaKfnygTnpakjHns17uPMLvXr4f1r0PaJwJVwRrk4fmQu-ITxw4gD7W8KWVbWndBtseaIoPFEeIQz/s320/Jo+with+Norman.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Jo-Anne McArthur plays with Norman</div><i><br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>I'm so excited about the rest of the team that is coming on board. I can't announce all of their names yet because it is still preliminary, but there are people in my industry that I really respect and they're saying that this project has a lot of potential. It makes me hopeful that this will be able to go mainstream, and that is really the goal, to bring this to light. It is a point of view film but at the same time, we want to bear witness to the truth but not frighten people. I want people to feel they want to watch this. I want it to be accessible but not lose the integrity.</i></span></i></span></i><br />
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<b>On what she hopes you will take away from your experience:</b><br />
<i>I really want to inspire people to be conscious consumers. I hope that The Ghosts In Our Machine will first touch their hearts, and then that people will make a decision in their daily lives to change their consumer habits. That can lead to less suffering and hopefully phasing out of these incredibly barbaric industrial practices.</i><br />
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<i>On a spiritual level, the question here is: are animals property or are they sentient beings? And if they are sentient beings, what does that mean? How do you then change your interaction with them and your consumer habits that impact them? I feel it is a paradigm shift that needs to happen. It was important to have a human as the main subject of the film. It will resonate with the audience and give them something to hold on to. Jo-Anne travels and photographs animals all over the world, often on her own. Her journey will help guide the story of these animals and the look into their lives.</i><br />
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<b>On the animal subjects of The Ghosts In Our Machine:</b><br />
<i>One of the animals featured is already on the website, on <a href="http://theghostsinourmachine.com/">our ghosts section</a>. Her name is Maggie and she is the most adorable beagle. She was adopted by Mark and Melanie after being used for biomedical research. Maggie was bred in Texas specifically to be used for research, and then sent to a university where they usually euthanize the dogs after they are finished experimenting on them. </i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3L2DL2z1T5j5YY70ju8HsxCdX34Qzy5sPNz9859xhbtuOO56N9WUO1WequnNCW4kGU3DxydaR8lCMbHkgEIfUUjqjDOy3GBIojua2VosuQKsVhzu1cRWeOylYsT86cRE4C4lQmGSMMDY/s1600/Maggie+the+ghost+by+Jo-Anne+McArthur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3L2DL2z1T5j5YY70ju8HsxCdX34Qzy5sPNz9859xhbtuOO56N9WUO1WequnNCW4kGU3DxydaR8lCMbHkgEIfUUjqjDOy3GBIojua2VosuQKsVhzu1cRWeOylYsT86cRE4C4lQmGSMMDY/s320/Maggie+the+ghost+by+Jo-Anne+McArthur.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Maggie, with the numbers branded on her ear at the research lab still visible on her ear</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Photo: Jo-Anne McArthur</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>In Maggie's section, we also have more information on beagles used in research. I feel it's important that we back up what is said with facts and educate. Mark and Melanie will also be rescuing another beagle. We will be going back to film. Other animals included are a mink on a fur farm in Europe, and a downed animal rescued at <a href="http://www.farmsanctuary.org/">Farm Sanctuary</a> in New York. I hope to go there and spend a few months capturing the healing process, depicting the animal surrounded by these incredible activists in an almost magical place. It is really exciting to be able to film that and capture the sentient nature of the animal and the beauty of the people. There will be a lot of difficult subject matter, so it's important to have that beauty. Gene Baur is one of our Animal Ambassadors, and I am proud to have him involved. I have such tremendous respect for Farm Sanctuary and what they do.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>In regards to animals used in entertainment, I didn't want to just focus on the common, popular issues. I'm glad that issues like dolphins in captivity are coming into the public eye with movies like <a href="http://www.thecovemovie.com/">The Cove</a>. I wanted to uncover the gray zone though. There is a man with a parrot with clipped wings. He has the bird as a pet and he seems to love him. But he has the parrot perform tricks for people all day long. I want the audience to look at that and question.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>On where the project is right now and what you can do to help:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>We hope to start production sometime in the fall ideally. The traditional model is to not go public with a project until production and unveil the final product at the end. I wanted this to be about the process. We are in our infancy, but it is constantly becoming more articulate and clear as we go and I want the audience to be a part of the process. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>People who feel moved by The Ghosts In Our Machine can literally help us realize our next step. You can go to our <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/THE-GHOSTS-IN-OUR-MACHINE">IndieGoGo fundraising campaign</a> and help by donating, we are trying to reach $12,000. You can use your PayPal account or your credit card. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>I hope that people will also watch the new trailer that I just cut featuring Jo-Anne McArthur. Other ways you can get involved include joining our <a href="http://www.facebook.com/TheGhostsInOurMachine">Facebook group</a> and following our <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/GhostsMovie">Twitter feed</a>. Social media sites are really important tools. I hope that people will plug-in to them and we can get connected. I'm on these every day and I really want to foster the relationship with the audience all the way through the project. I am committed to that and I am on this journey too.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br />
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</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">- Thank you, Liz, for your amazing talk and for the work you are doing to uncover the lives of animals used in the cruel industries of our modern world! You are an inspiration. Readers, please spread the word about The Ghosts In Our Machine and donate if you can! Here is the new trailer, please watch & share:</span></div><iframe frameborder="0" height="225" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/24098735?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="400"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/24098735">THE GHOSTS IN OUR MACHINE [trailer 02]</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/theghostsinourmachine">THE GHOSTS IN OUR MACHINE</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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</i>Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511119218043079981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188518461270588055.post-24722185926704522062011-05-15T16:49:00.000-07:002011-05-15T16:49:54.072-07:00Help Free Great Apes from Research LabsA bill is currently in the United States House of Representatives that could potentially end the horrors of experimentation on chimpanzees. The U.S. is the only industrialized nation in the world that continues to conduct experiments on chimpanzees. <a href="http://thomas.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:H.R.1513:">The Great Ape Protection and Cost Savings Act</a> (H.R. 1513), introduced by Representative Roscoe Bartlett, is an attempt to change that shameful fact.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/04/chimps-with-spears/img/3-chimpanzee-sleep-baby-655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/04/chimps-with-spears/img/3-chimpanzee-sleep-baby-655.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Photo: Frans Lanting/National Geographic</div><br />
The bill would prohibit invasive research on any great ape. This includes not only chimpanzees, but also bonobos, gorillas, orangutans, and gibbons. "Invasive research" has been defined as any research that "may cause death, injury, pain, distress, fear or trauma."Along with ending invasive research on these sentient beings, the bill also calls for an end to all federal funding of this research in or outside of the United States, and prohibits the breeding of or transportation of great apes for the purpose of invasive research. One of the best parts of this proposed legislation? All great apes currently owned by or under control of the U.S. government for research would be permanently retired and cared for in sanctuaries. The bill even defines "sanctuary" as a place for retired and abused or neglected animals in which they will not be experimented on, used for entertainment, put in traveling exhibits, allowed to be in physical contact with the public, bred with other animals, or used in commercial activity.<br />
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This act would be revolutionary. It would end years and years of horrible cruelty inflicted on primates of remarkable intelligence, emotional complexity, and strong social ties. Great apes who have spent years in research laboratories could retire to sanctuaries where they would be safe from pain and suffering and the cruelty of vivisection. There are so many new technologies available to the world of science and medicine that can replace the use of animals in research, and there is no excuse for the cruelty inflicted on animals in the name of "learning." We have the power to free these animals from their prisons and here's <b>what you can do</b>:<br />
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Please support this bill! Contact your representatives and senators and ask that they support H.R. 1513! This <a href="http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml">link</a> will help you determine who you should contact. You can also use PETA's pre-written <a href="https://secure.peta.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=3705">letter</a> to elected officials regarding the bill, but it helps if you add some of your own words! Share these links with others and ask them call or email too! Educate others about <a href="http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/finder/greatapes/greatapes.html">great apes</a> and why they suffer at the hands of experimenters and slowly die in research labs. Many of these animals end up in research facilities after their families are killed and they are ripped from their natural environment; make sure people know that and do what they can to end this nightmare! Please also visit the <a href="http://www.janegoodall.org/">Jane Goodall Institute</a> to find out more you can do to help the great apes (as well as humans and the environment around us all!). <a href="http://www.savethechimps.org/">Save the Chimps</a> is another great organization to support.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.releasechimps.org/photos-and-pics/46_jane-and-jou-jou_chimpanzee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://www.releasechimps.org/photos-and-pics/46_jane-and-jou-jou_chimpanzee.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Jane Goodall with Jou Jou</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Photo: Michael Nichols</div><br />
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<i>"And if we dare to look into those eyes, then we shall feel their suffering in our hearts. More and more people have seen that appeal and felt it in their hearts. All around the world there is an awakening of understanding and compassion, and understanding that reaches out to help the suffering animals in their vanishing homelands. That embraces hungry, sick, and desperate human beings, people who are starving while the fortunate among us have so much more than we need. And if, one by one, we help them, the hurting animals, the desperate humans, then together we shall alleviate so much of the hunger, fear, and pain in the world. Together we can bring change to the world, gradually replacing fear and hatred with compassion and love. Love for all living beings." - </i>Dr. Jane GoodallOliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511119218043079981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188518461270588055.post-41128936430964763372011-05-09T16:30:00.000-07:002011-05-09T16:30:27.385-07:00Florida's Cruelty Cover-Up Bill is Dead!With animal cruelty still so rampant, and animal activists and advocates almost constantly hit with bad news for their animal friends, it feels great when news of a victory is announced! Days with a win for animals are days to celebrate. Today is one of those days!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-MsccIP1nsINXBX3oCd5fz0DSLg0KqruXtpHsaHlBvmqOfzPFxGYAB_-BF1SgsX2iJyqRsYRbFOqFit0JNz55teMSljS4uk0lZhLrUtyv8dKF1S3tnvUWGzRhmShlydShN2RsxtWDgNz/s1600/pig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-MsccIP1nsINXBX3oCd5fz0DSLg0KqruXtpHsaHlBvmqOfzPFxGYAB_-BF1SgsX2iJyqRsYRbFOqFit0JNz55teMSljS4uk0lZhLrUtyv8dKF1S3tnvUWGzRhmShlydShN2RsxtWDgNz/s320/pig.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of the living, breathing reasons to celebrate this victory!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Photo: Farm Sanctuary </div><br />
Senator Jim Norman (R) of Florida introduced <a href="http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2011/1246">SB 1246</a> in February 2011 and the bill, if passed, would have prohibited any individual from entering a farm and taking video or photographs without prior written consent from the owner of the farm. The bill was instantly declared unconstitutional by animal law groups as well as other organizations. After revisions to the proposed legislation, it passed the state Senate but has now officially died in the state House of Representatives. <br />
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Defenders of farm animals everywhere are celebrating this victory over a clear attempt to silence those who seek to uncover animal cruelty committed on farms. <br />
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My sincere thank you's and congratulations to everyone who helped fight this bill. For your calls, emails, letters, protests, and your dedication, thank you! <br />
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A big thank you to the organizations that helped to lead the fight against this bill targeting animal activists and hiding cruelty from the public eye: <a href="http://www.farmsanctuary.org/">Farm Sanctuary</a>, <a href="http://www.hsus.org/">Humane Society of the United States</a>, <a href="http://www.mercyforanimals.org/">Mercy for Animals</a>, <a href="http://www.peta.org/">People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals</a>, <a href="http://www.cj-acres.org/">CJ Acres Animal Rescue Farm</a>, and more!<br />
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For the animals. <br />
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What you can do: This battle has been won, but there are similar bills in <a href="http://www.mercyforanimals.org/iowa_documenting_cruelty_is_not_a_crime.aspx">Iowa</a> and <a href="https://secure.humanesociety.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=5017">Minnesota</a>. Click on these links from Mercy for Animals and the Humane Society of the United States to find out what you can do to help defeat these bills as well!Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511119218043079981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188518461270588055.post-46281426431987179852011-05-07T16:23:00.000-07:002011-05-07T16:23:23.717-07:00The Cruelty of Horse RacingToday seems like the perfect day to talk about horse racing. You may be watching the 137th Kentucky Derby today, and if you are, take a few minutes to learn the truth behind the horse racing industry.<br />
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Horse "trainers" and fans of horse racing will tell you that these animals are "athletes" who love the "sport" of racing. Unlike humans, horses don't choose to take part in racing and they certainly don't choose the life that they get along with it. Racing horses are trained from an early age and injected with steroids to increase their strength and speed. Their weight can become massive and difficult for their thin legs to support. They often suffer injuries from being pushed to keep training and racing past the point of pain and exhaustion. Medications are given to mask the pain so that these "athletes" can continue to race. And if they just can't anymore? Well, then they're considered useless and are either euthanized or sold at auction. Most are not lucky enough to go to a loving home with caring humans; most are bought to be slaughtered for meat. Their meat is used in dog food or is eaten as a delicacy in some countries. Read more about this cruel industry here from the Humane Society of the United States: <a href="http://www.humanesociety.org/news/news/2008/05/horse_deaths_reform_050908.html">Horse Deaths Signal Need for Reform</a> and from PETA: <a href="http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-in-entertainment/horse-racing.aspx">Horse Racing</a>.<br />
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A particularly heartbreaking example of the horrors of horse racing: <a href="http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/24486416/">Eight Belles</a>, a 3-year-old female who suffered fractures to both front ankles during the 2008 Kentucky Derby and was euthanized right on the track. Anyone who was watching or has seen the footage knows Eight Belles was in extreme pain and terrified. She was running at full speed, being whipped by her jockey as all of the horses experience, when her front legs bent and she collapsed onto the track.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOWPE1SeQYUlJKEfVi3Ffz1NOfOhB62352-sW2p_UEdx-qmDYCCOPT2Hw4Gk1Ja6rjWrSp_-oMM7WWnIHIW9bb2jpIL94oFFcW60yAWwcaxdjBcPLhAZ1yx1ndNHIxRLAwVxNgPj8w542S/s1600/eightbelles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOWPE1SeQYUlJKEfVi3Ffz1NOfOhB62352-sW2p_UEdx-qmDYCCOPT2Hw4Gk1Ja6rjWrSp_-oMM7WWnIHIW9bb2jpIL94oFFcW60yAWwcaxdjBcPLhAZ1yx1ndNHIxRLAwVxNgPj8w542S/s320/eightbelles.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Eight Belles lies injured on the race track, about to be euthanized</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Photo: Brian Bohannon/AP</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Only two years earlier, <a href="http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/16846723/">Barbaro</a>, a Kentucky Derby winner, broke one of his rear legs in the Preakness Stakes. He underwent surgery but later died of complications resulting from his injury. Four-year-old Barbaro went through months of pain and suffering.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Please consider what these horses endure before you continue to support this industry. These are sentient beings capable of pain and emotion and they are forced to perform through pain and injury, until they are of no use to humans and can be sold or killed. There is no excuse for cruelty, and it should never be considered entertainment.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What you can do: Boycott horse racing, and racing of any other animals. Encourage others to do the same. Share information about the cruelty involved; here is a link that you can share: <a href="http://www.peta.org/issues/Animals-in-Entertainment/the-horseracing-industry-drugs-deception-and-death.aspx">The Horseracing Industry: Drugs, Deception and Death</a>. Protest races happening near you and invite others to join you! Lobby against tracks that are to be built and lobby for regulations protecting animals used for racing or seeking to end animal racing!</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The tragic loss of Eight Belles, one of many victims of the horse racing industry</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511119218043079981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188518461270588055.post-80545521633763526582011-05-02T16:37:00.000-07:002011-05-02T16:37:59.846-07:00Update on "Dogs Wars" App - It's Back.Amidst outrage from organizations like <a href="http://www.peta.org/">People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals</a>,<a href="http://www.hsus.org/"> Humane Society of the United States</a>, and <a href="http://www.aspca.org/">American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals</a> as well as many concerned individuals, Google removed the disgusting dog-fighting app "Dog Wars" from the Android Market. However...the victory for dogs was short-lived...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpa-XdqO3lQGwDX2LofQRYLXsu7BbyFhwHbGdp9XYXR3qzoCqDH9lz9ETJRSelFm0-sZIJUbkzrsdgmM8yEzX7rOp6Rke4vylOYdAJ5TmPkEp57u3U9-Dw5bM5ZC_fjF7XuXBXIcChTi1R/s1600/ss-1-320-480-160-0-4488d0a62883f6cbeb258b1a9f1eb74894dda4d8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpa-XdqO3lQGwDX2LofQRYLXsu7BbyFhwHbGdp9XYXR3qzoCqDH9lz9ETJRSelFm0-sZIJUbkzrsdgmM8yEzX7rOp6Rke4vylOYdAJ5TmPkEp57u3U9-Dw5bM5ZC_fjF7XuXBXIcChTi1R/s400/ss-1-320-480-160-0-4488d0a62883f6cbeb258b1a9f1eb74894dda4d8.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The picture featured on the Android Market site for the newly named KG Dogfighting</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Photo: Kage Games</div><br />
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The game has been put back up by <a href="http://www.kagegames.com/">Kage Games</a> under the new name "<a href="https://market.android.com/details?id=kagegames.apps.KG_AppD1">KG Dogfighting</a>". Read more about the game here from the <a href="http://www.latimes.com/">Los Angeles Times</a>: <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/05/dog-war-android-app-still-sick-disgusting-even-under-new-name-lapd-union-boss-says.html">'Dog Wars' Android app still 'sick, disgusting,' even under new name , LAPD union boss says</a>. <br />
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What you can do: Continue to boycott the app! The name may have changed but it's still the same horrible game promoting cruelty and violence. Encourage others to boycott the game as well as other Android apps until Google has removed the game from its site. Contact Google and ask that the game be removed immediately! Explain the dangers of promoting dog-fighting and what becomes of the victims of this horrible cruelty.<br />
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<i><strong style="font-weight: normal;">“Android should drop ‘Dog Wars’ from its online market and join the national movement to save dogs from this violent practice. Because “Dog Wars” actually instructs players on how to condition a dog using methods that are standard in organized dogfighting, this game may be a virtual training ground for would-be dogfighters. Its timing and message are all wrong.” - </strong></i><strong style="font-weight: normal;">Wayne Pacelle, President and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States</strong>Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511119218043079981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188518461270588055.post-75348518241590226332011-05-01T10:15:00.000-07:002011-05-02T16:47:37.757-07:00SeaWorld's Conservation: 24 Orcas dead in 25 years<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" at="" class="aligncenter" debut="" height="300" ocean"="" orlando"="" seaworld="" src="http://www.insidethemagic.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/5643801338_2294173e92.jpg" width="400" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Orcas "perform" in SeaWorld's new show "One Ocean"</div><div style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Katherine McElroy</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">SeaWorld's newest orca show, "One Ocean" has opened at the Orlando location, and Earth Day was selected as its start date. Why? SeaWorld is promoting this new show as a way to teach the public about the importance of the ocean, and that humans and animals are all connected by one ocean and one Earth. The need for humans to share the ocean with its inhabitants is emphasized. Read more about "One Ocean" here: <a href="http://www.cfnews13.com/article/entertainment/2011/april/236193/New-SeaWorld-show-One-Ocean-debuted-Friday">New SeaWorld show 'One Ocean' debuted Friday</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">That message is pretty ironic when you consider SeaWorld's record. Tilikum, an orca still being used in SeaWorld's shows, has repeatedly responded to the stress of captivity with aggression toward trainers, the most well-known being <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2010/02/seaworld-faces-public-relations-challenge-in-wake-of-trainers-killing-by-captive-orca.html">Dawn Brancheau</a> who was killed in February of 2010 when Tilikum pulled her under the water. Clearly, this whale, along with any other, does not belong in captivity interacting with humans. It is unfortunate that SeaWorld has cost someone her life as well as imprisoned and enslaved highly intelligent and complex animals. Along with Brancheau's death, several orcas in SeaWorld's "care" <a href="http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2010-10-06/business/os-seaworld-killer-whale-dies-20101005_1_dawn-brancheau-seaworld-orlando-killer-whale-seaworld-marine">died in 2010</a>. Three died in the span of only four months, and there have been 24 orcas lost in the past 25 years at SeaWorld. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">These tragedies must cause people to question SeaWorld, and any other facility that holds marine mammals in captivity. These are animals of extremely high intelligence and complex social lives. They swim for thousands of miles in the ocean. They hear through vibrations, which in captivity bounce off tank walls causing pain and disorientation. Many refuse to eat, or become aggressive or begin to self-injure. Is all of this cruelty and suffering worth an hour of entertainment for humans? Why would you find it entertaining to watch an enslaved animal perform "tricks" for you? I ask you to think about how these animals got from the ocean to their new captive environment, about what you're teaching your family when you bring them to a place like SeaWorld. A better way to teach them the importance of the ocean and its wildlife, as SeaWorld claims to be emphasizing, is to teach them about where whales and dolphins truly belong and what captivity is like for them. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">What else you can do: Boycott SeaWorld! Don't go to aquariums or "swim with the dolphins" programs or anywhere or shows where captive animals perform. Taking away the money that keeps them in business is the only thing that has the power to stop them! Spread the message to others.; share this link from the <a href="http://www.hsus.org/">Humane Society of the United States</a>: <a href="http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/captive_marine/facts/marine_captivity.html">Marine Mammals in Captivity</a>. Instead of seeing these beautiful animals in tanks, go on a whale-watching tour and see them as they are meant to be: freely swimming in the ocean! Support groups like the <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/">Sea Shepherd Conservation Society</a> or <a href="http://www.theblackfish.org/">The Black Fish</a> who work to save whales and other marine wildlife and conserve our oceans. Captivity is NOT conservation, despite what SeaWorld would have you believe.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="whales_intelligent_1" height="197" src="http://www.seashepherd.org/images/stories/whales/whales_intelligent_1.jpg" style="margin-bottom: 4px; margin-top: 4px;" width="282" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">An orca swims free</div><div style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Bob Talbot</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"We owe it to our children to be better stewards of the environment. The alternative? - A world without whales. It's too terrible to imagine"</i> - Pierce Brosnan.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511119218043079981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188518461270588055.post-52798678392264662892011-04-25T17:55:00.000-07:002011-04-25T17:55:32.930-07:00"Dog Wars": Dogfighting is NOT a Game!<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Android Market, Google's store of apps, now includes "<a href="https://market.android.com/details?id=kagegames.apps.DWBeta&feature=search_result">Dog Wars</a>." With this disgusting app, from <a href="http://kagegames.com/">Kage</a> <a href="http://kagegames.com/">Games</a>, you can "f<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">eed, water, train and FIGHT your virtual dog against other player's." Read the game description here on the Android Market site: <a href="https://market.android.com/details?id=kagegames.apps.DWBeta&feature=search_result">Dog Wars - Beta</a>. Players earn "cash" and "street cred" or "police heat" as their dogs fight. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The game is drawing outrage from animal rights organizations and concerned individuals who feel this will glamorize dogfighting and encourage users to subject dogs to this horrible cruelty. Many people have already voiced their demand to have the game removed. </span></span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><img class="doc-screenshot-img lightbox" height="192" src="https://ssl.gstatic.com/android/market/kagegames.apps.DWBeta/ss-1-320-480-160-1-aa4f802648df764cf47817366ecdea612870c00c" title="Dog Wars - Beta" width="320" /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Kage Games, LLC.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Pitbulls have gotten a reputation as vicious fighters because of heartless humans who subject them to violence and harsh "training" to make them more aggressive and willing to fight other dogs on command. The loyalty that these dogs will show to their humans is exploited and used for profit and "entertainment" as the dogs fight to the death. Dogs who refuse to fight or lose fights are often brutally beaten, killed, left to die, or used as bait for other dogs. Here is some more information on dogfighting from the <a href="http://www.aspca.org/">American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals</a>: <a href="http://www.aspca.org/fight-animal-cruelty/dog-fighting/dog-fighting-faq.aspx">Dog Fighting FAQ</a>. NFL player Michael Vick is likely the most infamous example, but dogfighting is an all-too-common event. And, by the way, even Vick has joined in the campaign against Dog Wars: <a href="http://digitallife.today.com/_news/2011/04/25/6525818-even-michael-vick-wants-google-to-dump-dog-fighting-app-">Even Michael Vick wants Google to dump dog-fighting app</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>What you can do</b>:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First and most important, don't buy or use this app! Any support that the game gets will only add to its time on the Android Market. Encourage others to boycott Kage Games as well! <a href="http://www.google.com/support/androidmarket/bin/request.py?contact_type=takedown">Report Dog Wars</a> to the Android Market and ask that it be removed. Explain firmly but politely why this game is harmful. Share the link with others and ask that they report the app too! You can also use <a href="http://www.peta.org/">PETA</a>'s letter form to <a href="https://secure.peta.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=3689">contact Google</a> about the app. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In a more general way, you can help pitbulls (and other breeds used for this horrible cruelty) by talking to others about dogfighting and the reality of the breed. When any dog is raised knowing only abuse and violence, they can become aggressive and dogs obey the commands of the humans that they love and trust (or fear). Show this link from <a href="http://www.bestfriends.org/">Best Friends Animal Society</a> to others: <a href="http://www.bestfriends.org/vickdogs/">The Vicktory Dogs</a>. Even the pitbulls rescued from the hell that was Michael Vick's dogfighting ring turned back into gentle and trusting dogs when given kindness and care. It's beautiful to read their story of horror, pain, rescue, and rehabilitation. You can find more information on pitbulls here from <a href="http://thepositivepitbull.org/?page_id=77">The Positive Pitbull</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-4159 " height="300" src="http://www.ourhenhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/lucas2939-200x300.jpg" title="lucas2939" width="200" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lucas, one of the Vicktory Dogs, sporting both his scars and a happy face now</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.bestfriends.org/">Best Friends</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Remember, you can always find a pitbull in need of a loving home on <a href="http://Petfinder.com/">Petfinder.com</a>! There are too many in shelters right now and they are often the first to be euthanized. Please consider opening your home (and your heart) to one of these incredible dogs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511119218043079981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188518461270588055.post-32858757275031528302011-04-24T06:48:00.000-07:002011-04-24T06:48:28.025-07:00Bunnies are Not Easter Toys!<div style="text-align: center;"><img height="400" src="http://www.orlandorabbit.org/ReindeerRabbit_lg.png" style="-webkit-user-select: none;" width="308" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.orlandorabbit.org/">Orlando Rabbit Care and Adoptions, Inc.</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Every year after Easter Sunday, animal shelters take in thousands of unwanted and neglected rabbits (and sometimes chicks and ducks) that were given as presents and then quickly forgotten. Rabbits are adorable and many people rush out to get one, completely ignorant regarding the care that they need.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Rabbits are too often thought of as a "simple pet" that does not need the amount of veterinary care, food, and attention that dogs and cats require. However, if you have ever had a rabbit, you know that's not true! Rabbits need grooming (especially with longer fur), a constant supply of hay along with feedings of vegetables, veterinary care, shelter from heat or cold as they are very sensitive to changes and extremes in temperature, and lots of attention! They can live up to ten years so be prepared for a long commitment! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Rabbits also can be easily frightened and need gentle handling for their delicate bodies. They are not recommended for young children who don't always know to be extra careful with rabbits. Loud noises and sudden movements can be terrifying; imagine having the size and vulnerability of a bunny, you'd be scared too!<br />
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What you can do:<br />
There are many rabbits in need of a loving home. If you do decide to bring one of them into your family, please do some reading about the care that they need and talk to anyone else who will be responsible for their care. This is a good source of information from the Humane Society of the United States for anyone soon to have a new rabbit friend: <a href="http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/rabbits/tips/rabbit_tips.html">Rabbit Care and Behavior Tips</a>. Once that's done, remember that it's always better to adopt than to buy! Check out <a href="http://Petfinder.com/">Petfinder.com</a> to find a rabbit that needs someone like you!<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">There are other Easter presents to give to your loved ones! Check out this delicious <a href="http://www.petacatalog.com/products/Easter_Vegan_Chocolate_Basket-594-63.html">vegan Easter basket</a> from PETA! Also, spread the message to others about the dangers of giving rabbits or other live animals as Easter gifts! People you know may simply be unaware of the care that these animals require and may be acting with ignorance but good intentions. Rabbits are silent so be their voice!!<br />
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Also, share this video with others who are considering a rabbit for their newest family member:<br />
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Video: Rabbit Care, <a href="http://www.hsus.org/">Humane Society of the United States</a><br />
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<div id="flashcontent"></div>Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511119218043079981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188518461270588055.post-30457590085739292322011-04-19T17:39:00.000-07:002011-04-19T17:39:56.500-07:00A Sea Shepherd Benefit Dinner!Readers! If you happen to be close enough to St. Augustine, FL (or can get there) on Sunday, May 22nd, this is a great event to attend while showing your support for Sea Shepherd! Enjoy amazing vegan food courtesy by the Present Moment Cafe and talk with Onshore Volunteers about how you can get more involved and support Sea Shepherd's direct action conservation efforts for the oceans!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi926PVoP4Gh_0tjPnHUcdxEP5-f7jVI0KrNHfk_umyqG_JkYUT7j5X_Ocap3a1zzfDeM6oZrF6EAjq_QuiZBqLF1DVwjANnHY0phBafRtqNKJQkk4D_T9iShVMb0TTEoiRmyuvPXUkEfBU/s1600/SeaShepherdDinnerFlyer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi926PVoP4Gh_0tjPnHUcdxEP5-f7jVI0KrNHfk_umyqG_JkYUT7j5X_Ocap3a1zzfDeM6oZrF6EAjq_QuiZBqLF1DVwjANnHY0phBafRtqNKJQkk4D_T9iShVMb0TTEoiRmyuvPXUkEfBU/s640/SeaShepherdDinnerFlyer.jpg" width="494" /></b></a><b> </b></div>Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511119218043079981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188518461270588055.post-82444639195313747512011-04-17T06:10:00.000-07:002011-04-17T06:14:01.987-07:00Sea Shepherd Sails OnAfter a very successful 2010-2011 campaign in Antarctica, bringing an early ending to Japan's whaling season in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary and saving over 800 lives, Sea Shepherd has been preparing for their next efforts to save our oceans! <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/news-110414-1.html">Sea Shepherd Fleet Sets Sail for Upcoming Campaigns</a>.<br />
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The Steve Irwin is headed to the Mediterranean Sea to defend endangered bluefin tuna and oppose illegal fishing operations. Read more about <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/blue-rage/">Operation Blue Rage</a> and why it's important to defend the threatened bluefin.<br />
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The Bob Barker is preparing for its campaign in Palau defending the world's very first shark sanctuary. Sea Shepherd has <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/news-110331-1.html">partnered</a> with the Republic of Palau's Division of Marine Law Enforcement in their efforts to protect sharks from illegal fishing. Learn more about the millions of sharks killed each year and the importance of defending the one of the top predators of the sea: <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/sharks/">Defending Sharks</a>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/images/stories/news/2011a/news_110330_1_1_Sea_Shepherd_partners_with_Palau_govt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Front row L to R: President Toribiong, Captain Watson, Roest, back row (center) Keane. Photo: Steve Roest" border="0" height="190" src="http://www.seashepherd.org/images/stories/news/2011a/news_110330_1_1_Sea_Shepherd_partners_with_Palau_govt.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Captain Paul Watson and Sea Shepherd CEO Steve Roest sign a partnership agreement with Palau's President Johnson Toribiong and the Council of Chiefs</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Photo Credit: Sea Shepherd/Steve Roest</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last but not least, the Gojira, after making a visit to Sea Shepherd Galapagos, is on its way through the Panama Canal and on to the Mediterranean Sea to join the Steve Irwin for Operation Blue Rage. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="Gojira entering Puerto Ayora in the Galapagos. Photo: Simon Ager" height="240" src="http://www.seashepherd.org/images/stories/news/2011a/news_110414_1_5_Summer_Campaigns.jpg" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>The Gojira enters Puerto Ayora in the beautiful Galapagos Islands</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Photo Credit: Sea Shepherd/Simon Ager</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What you can do: You can support Sea Shepherd's conservation efforts by donating! You can specify a campaign you'd like your donation to benefit, or simply that it should go to the area of greatest need. Visit the <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/support-us/">Support Us</a> page to find out all the ways you can donate. One of the best ways to show your support is to become a member of the <a href="https://my.seashepherd.org/NetCommunity/SSLPage.aspx?pid=247">Direct Action Crew</a>, the automatic monthly donation program (you'll get a free t-shirt too!). You can also support Sea Shepherd by visiting the <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/shop/">online store</a> and getting some merchandise! An important way to help is to donate items listed on the <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/support-us/wishlist-in-kind.html">Wishlist and In-Kind Items</a> page. These are supplies needed for campaigns and at headquarters in Friday Harbor, WA.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another way to get involved is to become an <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/get-involved/volunteer-onshore.html">Onshore Volunteer</a>. If you can't go to sea, you can still help Sea Shepherd by participating in outreach and encouraging others to support the cause! Fill out an <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/images/stories/get-involved/volunteer/SSCS-Onshore-Volunteer-Application-complete-2011-01-28.pdf">onshore volunteer application</a> today! If you are able to go to sea (and are feeling very brave), why not join the crew?! Those interested in <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/get-involved/crewing-at-sea.html">crewing at sea</a> must submit a <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/documents/get-involved/crew_application_01.pdf">crew application</a>, fee, and waiver forms. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Check the <a href="http://my.seashepherd.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=203">event calenda</a>r at www.seashepherd.org to keep up to date with events that may be happening near you so you can go and show your support!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511119218043079981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188518461270588055.post-21634490924069120642011-04-05T18:30:00.000-07:002011-04-06T08:15:16.197-07:00Interview with Gary Loewenthal, Founder of Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale<div style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;">Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale has quickly become a great way organizations and individuals can use vegan treats to make a difference around the world! A Dog's Eye View got the chance to ask WVBS founder Gary Loewenthal a few questions about this incredible annual event, named "Veg Event of the Year" in 2009 by <a href="http://www.vegnews.com/">VegNews Magazine</a> and <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/04/30/vegan.bake.sale/">featured on CNN.com</a> in 2010. Read on to see what Gary has to say and learn how you can get involved! </span></div><div style="color: blue;"><br />
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" width="500" /></div><div style="color: blue; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.veganbakesale.org/">http://www.veganbakesale.org/</a></span><br />
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</div><div style="color: blue;"></div><div style="color: blue;"><b>1. WW Vegan Bake Sale started in 2009 and has already grown to be a huge annual event in the vegan world! How did this all start?</b></div><br />
When our <a href="http://www.compassion4animals.org/">Compassion for Animals</a> group started in late 2008, our original plan was just to do some leafleting and tabling, maybe occasional protests. During our first meeting, while kicking around ideas, someone suggested that we have a bake sale. I loved the idea, because it combines a well-known tradition, delicious food, and positive vegan outreach.<br />
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I had no experience organizing a bake sale, so I surfed the web for articles. I saw that there were some national networks of bake sales for specific causes, and a thought popped into my head about organizing a national vegan bake sale. I liked how that sounded but it seemed like quite an overreach for our brand new, tiny group. So, in my head, I simplified it (from an administrative standpoint) by deciding that each participating group could choose its own charity; I figured that would make it more attractive to potential participants as well. Also in my head I changed it to a North American vegan bake sale, to include Canada and Mexico.<br />
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I discussed the concept with my colleagues, we expanded it to the Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale (WVBS), picked some dates, and just started doing it, with high hopes but low expectations, and not really sure what would happen.<br />
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</div><div style="color: blue;"><b>2. This year's events are sure to be bigger than ever! How many groups are hosting bake sales and in </b><b>how many cities around the world?</b></div><br />
Last year at this time we had about 85 groups signed up and that’s exactly where we are this year. However we got a surge in the last three weeks last year, and ended up with 140 bake sales, including some that occurred later than the official week-plus date range (about which we’re not strict )… so we’ll see what happens this year.<br />
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The WVBS has grown in other ways this year. For the first time, we have some companion animal organizations holding participating. One bake sale is part of a neighborhood, kid-run lemonade stand. The all-vegan <a href="http://www.rewild.it/">REWILD</a> cruelty-free club in Rome is having a nine-day vegan bake sale. And we just associated with a great <a href="http://www.veganbakesale.org/veganbakesale/vbs-where.html#online">online bake sale</a>. Like last year, there are participating groups on six continents.<br />
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<div style="color: blue;"><b>3. One of the great things about Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale is that many groups are donating their proceeds to charity, like aid for the victims of the recent disaster in Japan. What are some of the charities that will be receiving proceeds this year?</b></div><br />
Vegan bake sales have proven to be powerful fundraisers in response to natural disasters. I haven’t tallied all the numbers but the vegan bake sales just from this last weekend probably raised ten thousand dollars for Japan. But bake sales associated with the WVBS raise money for a wide variety of causes. Animal sanctuaries use the bake sales to raise funds for the care of their animals and outreach activities. During the past three years, a number of bake sales have donated their proceeds to human health charities. Humane societies and companion animal rescue groups are popular causes for participating bake sales. Some bake sale proceeds this year and in past years have gone to local environmental efforts. This year, as last year, some participants are donating proceeds to special needs child development centers and various humanitarian programs.<br />
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Note that participants in the WVBS are not required to reveal how their proceeds will be used or how much money they raised.<br />
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<div style="color: blue;"><b>4. Can those interested in hosting a bake sale still get involved for 2011? How do you go about hosting an event?</b></div><br />
Yes! Please do! Even if you can’t make it in time for the “official” dates of April 23 through May 1, we would be happy and honored to have you spread the love after that. The signup form is at <a href="http://www.veganbakesale.org/veganbakesale/vbs-signup.html">http://www.veganbakesale.org/veganbakesale/vbs-signup.html</a>. We have an ever-growing list of bake sale tips at <a href="http://www.veganbakesale.org/veganbakesale/vbs-links-bake-sale-tips.html">http://www.veganbakesale.org/veganbakesale/vbs-links-bake-sale-tips.html</a>.<br />
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Securing a location is generally job number one. In addition to classic locations such as in front of grocery stores, consider non-traditional places such as the lobby of your office building, an art gallery, or a block party. If you’re a student, you can have your bake sale at school; if you’re a regular member of a congregation, you can hold your bake sale at your house of worship. The bake sale tip page has lots more suggestions. This is a bit of an oversimplification, but once you’ve got your location, you’ve practically got your bake sale.<br />
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<div style="color: blue;"><b>5. How do you suggest that participants promote their bake sale and get people or organizations involved?</b></div><br />
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The aforementioned tips page has all kinds of suggestions for promotion and finding volunteers. Use a combination of social and local media. Contact vegan and vegetarian groups in the area. Quite a few vegan bake sales have resulted from collaborations in<a href="http://www.theppk.com/"> The Post Punk Kitchen</a> forum. Ask non-vegan friends and co-workers who bake if they’d like to donate baked goods – that can be a great opportunity for “cookbook outreach” (and keep in mind that we have links to over <a href="http://www.veganbakesale.org/veganbakesale/vbs-links-recipes.html">1000 vegan baking recipes here</a>). Do the same with local bakeries, even if they’re not vegan – another outreach opportunity. You can use our <a href="http://www.facebook.com/veganbakesale">Facebook</a> wall to put out a call for bakers even before you’ve signed up to participate. This is just the tip of the iceberg; many more hints are on our vegan bake sale tips page.<br />
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<div style="color: blue;"><b>6. Since this is the Worldwide VEGAN Bake Sale, what are things that cannot be included in the baked goods sold (for people who aren't totally sure of what is and isn't vegan)?</b></div><br />
The main products to leave out are eggs and dairy. We also ask bakers not to use honey. There are a few other non-vegan ingredients that are less common in baked goods to avoid, such as gelatin in some candies. Our <a href="http://www.veganbakesale.org/veganbakesale/vbs-vegan-baking-tips.html#gotchas">“gotchas” page</a> lists a number of products that a non-vegan or new vegan might assume are vegan but are not.<br />
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Fortunately, there’s no shortage of vegan recipes for just anything you can imagine selling at a bake sale. Or you can veganize recipes. Generally, any nondairy milk works great as a substitute for cow’s milk. It’s easy to make vegan buttermilk with nondairy milk and lemon juice or vinegar. <a href="http://www.veganbakesale.org/veganbakesale/vbs-vegan-baking-tips.html">Here</a> is a handy guide to using vegan binders such as applesauce or ground flax seeds mixed with water instead of eggs.<br />
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<div style="color: blue;"><b>7. What do you suggest to people who would like to be involved but aren't so skilled at baking? :)</b></div><br />
Ask friends, family members, and colleagues who bake; work out deals with bakeries; create baked goods from mixes—judiciously, as results may vary. Know that many bake sale favorites, such as chocolate chip or peanut butter cookies, are fairly easy to make. We even have a section on the web site called <a href="http://www.veganbakesale.org/veganbakesale/vbs-links-bake-sale-tips.html#non-bakers">Bake Sales for Non-Bakers</a>.<br />
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Keep in mind that bake sales don’t have to be huge. Every vegan bake sale, of any size, can be a fun and rewarding combination of community, creativity, outreach, and fundraising. A few friends, a location, a table, some miscellaneous supplies, and you’re in business.<br />
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<div style="color: blue;"><b>8. Is there anything else you would like readers to know about Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale?</b></div><br />
The power and excitement of the WVBS is dependent on the number of bake sales more than anything else. If you were toying with the idea of holding a bake sale as part of the WVBS this year, I hope this interview has persuaded you to go for it.<br />
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Consistently, participants in the WVBS report that they had a great time raising money for a good cause and introducing people to the deliciousness and diversity of vegan baked goods. The community aspect of vegan bake sales – meeting neighbors, swapping recipes, working on a successful joint project – cannot be overstated. Vegan bake sales are low-stress yet effective forms of vegan outreach, and the effect is magnified when your bake sale is linked to all the other vegan bake sales taking place around the world.<br />
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Feel free to contact me at <a href="mailto:gary@veganbakesale.org">gary@veganbakesale.org</a> if you have any questions about the WVBS, or if there’s anything my colleagues and I can do to help you bring your vegan bake sale to fruition, or to help promote it so it can achieve awesome success.<br />
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There are two more very important ways you can help the WVBS:<br />
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1 – Peruse the schedule and see if there are any bake sales near you. Bake sale teams can almost always use more bakers and other volunteers.<br />
2 – Visit the nearest vegan bake sale, buy some scrumptious baked goods, and support your local, talented, hard-working, cruelty-free bakers!Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511119218043079981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188518461270588055.post-3688081045786123612011-04-04T09:39:00.000-07:002011-04-04T09:39:05.501-07:00A Ban on Wild Animals in Circuses in the UK!There seems to be a lot of bad news for animals lately. Live turtles and fish sold in keychains, GoDaddy's CEO killing an elephant and bragging to the world about it, and the start to yet another season of seal hunting in Canada with an increased kill quota (despite a huge drop in demand for seal products). But, today, some great news!<br />
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Within a few weeks, an announcement will be made about a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses in the United Kingdom! This is wonderful news for animals forced to travel in extreme weather and cramped conditions to hundreds of performances where they entertain humans with "tricks" that are so unnatural to them. Elephants, tigers, lions, monkeys and more are taken from their natural environments and their families to be kept in captivity, endure day after day of "training" in which they are scared and beaten so that they will perform for their cruel "trainers." Learn more <a href="http://www.ad-international.org/animals_in_entertainment/go.php?id=2075&ssi=10">here</a> about the cruelty of circuses and watch the revealing video from <a href="http://ad-international.org/">Animal Defenders International</a> (ADI) that exposed violence and horrific conditions at the Bobby Roberts Super Circus in the UK.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ad-international.org/admin/media/uploads/normal_pages/03_elegrab_10_200x150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="1" border="0" class="imgLeft" height="240" src="http://www.ad-international.org/admin/media/uploads/normal_pages/03_elegrab_10_200x150.jpg" style="text-align: right;" title="Shocking new ADI cruelty exposé shames UK circus industry" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>A still photo from ADI's video footage of a circus employee viciously kicking an elephant</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Photo Credit: Animal Defenders International</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A similar <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/20/china-bans-animal-circuses_n_811664.html">ban</a> in China was announced in January, along with stricter regulations on animal treatment in China's zoos. Now, let's hope that here in the United States and in other countries, circuses featuring animal performances are banned as well! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What you can do: There has been well-documented evidence of cruelty at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus among other circuses. Learn more and see videos of undercover investigation at Ringling at <a href="http://www.ringlingbeatsanimals.com/">www.ringlingbeatsanimals.com</a> and make sure you share the site with others! You can also use this <a href="https://secure.peta.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=2359">page</a> to contact the USDA and ask that they seize Ringling's abused elephants and send them to a sanctuary. Ask your friends and family to do the same! Tell others about the cruelty of life in the circus for animals and ask them to no longer support circuses that feature animals! Remember, there are circuses that use only human participants, like Cirque du Soleil! If a circus is coming to a town near you, organize or participate in a protest! Contact venues scheduled to host the circus and inform them of the cruelty (show them some of the video investigations if possible) and ask that they cancel circus appearances.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of the most important ways you can help these animals is to no longer go to the circuses abusing them! Animals suffer and often die in captivity so find cruelty-free entertainment instead of going to circuses, zoos and aquariums!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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390igRIVNzlIKiUqCRxo2v3SDbWxapiQokJRmKCcwfMA5oNKwOYAiS2d85CU1YA5n0d7M3OMJPduurLKTGYxZ9kNiBWI7yaglCE50ON0qSpLGh0FWIYvyjR4fF5u+mAkmodia3pUuXPtCH/AE7w+WXOnFyVKCA/BIzG/NQ9If2jOLEozIJNSMtmqGremmkdGOPErC5yWxUDETlK3qH96WPQB/lDu2JhOEWA5JyghIdw4Kiw6Q5/hiUly5PNh8Gj2eQlNz60HNoeHp2d6XqepMu0I7C7Nolyh3ozrXvEF2S48IY+p49I6Jf/ACqUjdmZgRRwAQfQ0MdHPbjvlrrP7vj+KXMnrUte+S+8tRJZy2ug48Ib7tPcFBRKzBNFBgos19SYtZOwJCcypqTlSlSjvEWHHT+Yq8LMkLUQMNMDVdyQ2hUQQADTW+sa9O45d6qpKt1NA6WFuDVPEwaXOAqrvCf2lCR8CfeL04eSlIDI4uCfa7iAYhEvd7uUCSWVVQLasCSPQRN0clVMuYkKCgmZQvVlW4uaw5jceZiUjKE5S9EBL+nSNBgeziJtEFyKkWIHRTRZI7FLFqeYHrWFq3nQ5jOp24opUCkAEVORAvw4ExUqxRVlSjiEpr6ezxY9odnGXOGGSN8lI/3Ls56Ee8WGL7PysME5TnXqp69a0S/KHJIfNLywEjKlm9zzMeqMBM3nA1T4YHKoCub6QIzoCqbDIyJjx6pMKy1w5hZCpi0ykB1LOUcv4Ar5QG0/YrABlYlbAJcIJoHA3j8vWKLauP8AxGIXO0JZP+kWPnfzi47XYwSMOjCSwkBQYlxmypbMaWzH5xlkUGkSo5LWpPhPlf2g6cWD4hk5iqfS4hVK4IFB66V+/vSDR7MKSWehSG3gXFPcecQTccq+tIWCmLglJqokFi2ggmGnnM8ypUQXcJCdKgBiNT1hcwcU8gl26e0CxUpgWNvqB83g5xCDNUiWWNcocEKYElteJD9ICtbhQ/b8wDBjdizSUlISOcKYtYVvJNRpr16QzKmApBN4Unyt/N5Hz1iiBViC0F2TtRUpYILA0P3yMBml+DaEawupwW0hk0eI7RzQEyUAAKBSlQDKDJelSHIevGC7F2utUtYVVAIAJu5DkfPzjOzZoSqUrRK0kt1aLfa61Slflp3AScopUlyprVr6cInPHqnDT0c5jlysJExAzUllSjdV2AsA0d+IKXSkoUFgu+WlP0hr8xWM5L2pmcqp00HzjUyJf5DlAIY7zqCr1DW5cYnWpo7lvK1quz+Pl/hJYBlJVvKUhKkjKSSzgl3YCCgZiKXI+MZfD4dKZalIlrTnAO8oKDB2aji+vKKeZPPeJyqyKzBlBwU1u4rSK+v0+3Sp/j9U6tvpuKEUG2pvdoUpLlTUew+sU83b89BKTOE1jdSEl/NgYFJ2pOxGZPdJUxD5cwoXd3U3D1i762N48o+jljrK9lRPxgUo8qO4ALcHNY6PMfLOdm8IAoGqBWgoKmPI5+iNr61WmE28JpyFS6qKWCaFgTxpQVeC/jpHdmdmmqyq7tsv6mFgDUVAjPYHHiVg1TB4lKUnmS1a8Aw9YdxAy4BOX+tJSWuSlJfnUx1OG0edtiV3YnS0SyHL/lh0kFq0oag3sRCKu3DWRXjlQ3oRBNh7NCMP3lwtya3DlNuQ9XPKFzsuT3qUKdKMuZRJfOoqIASf0gAselXpBb5E32W2z+1E2bLXMS4yMAN2pIJAoBwMBl9tMR3mRbytCV5t3qAH84awuEkIlrRKUC4csX8BFerKOusVuK2xJWFSiVhSCQN1JDpD0INAemsK5cbOY8kJeKXOx5mKU6xmUC9ylOUNyhvbeIzKPM25aDyhHYeF8WKUWAUw5tdvMt5QLG4rMokaxNVAJi4GZn3WIGZUwNcyEBSuI54XVM4R4Jv28MjcuNp2YwIkSlYtYJOXdNglDVUSbFXLRv6oy2wMEJs5INEDemE2YadVFgBz6xadr9ud4RJTm3WKipgzDdSEigFXIPAQr8Kk8qrG4zvpqppSE5rB/CBQCseD7pAUrgoP20Mkytj9/KO7yj6D3gROlYiDXkIAbz0rR6noLDzMGQONzf78/eEJCypTn+zWiylKp84DhjBSQJyFAB82np8IWTNy3UcrEB660AudLQ7ggMxVogFV9QR738+MVsmYVJOYeJz61iJ3Vez1M2hPEvEu9gGJdCSpLEN4TW3A39XtAsJjkTKVB4H5cYtIk+ZT74QKZNcU4x04VPUfAQvMneX3SAUzhjvOtOdLh01Ypfwxf7bxyXIlozSyzKJYkNRwxtbyjP4Rep/mHZUxwxtwhXfhWPT/ALAy0BkqQEpdN2dQUFHMHPCmmsazsfMV3cxOYeMEPxIL+rCM6ZgLJSK/pAFzwA5j4CNvsnAKw+HSkpClkkqY6qbyLAAQjR2isJlq8PAkBqtrFBsY5p4UbJdXoGHxEXO2UvKANCTXytSFezmHSAtZc1y82uedzw0jC85uqe30iG154EyZV6iw4pENbOwH5XA5i9WL0cCulB5GO2phwJilJAejPVi1zxa7cYnsScrumYnePux4XrBj/Mepv6c/onhps1al5JgSAbev0jov0yUCqkhzwb3Opjo1uU33Yz0stdny84ZQzTUKTQkqQrwuqjjQGprSsWuA24hWFRh1HLNlzDuq/pozHVmIa9IpZO0Min1Bt96RZTDLnySnInvCsrBoKqCQQlX9NHZXFo1wy+XP6mM74ntk4+WEJSpzkSVKGgymgNKuSkNzg+Em50AzEZiHoQzg8H+MZ5UzES5fdqSFIcUbfZNklrpqaVvFvhdoqUEzGkZTQ5XCwNQxqOkERtb7LwBSQSk7wUMwBAZST6aRT7XxfeFOGlhIUS61fM9Piwj3HdolD8qSUqVoQKpP9WbpHiMJ+HSQpitdSohjThqAQQG5mDXGlb3Xm1J4QlMlHgQkDz1J6/OKdUyOxM4lRPGFjNhEKV9YEpcDMz7+7x48MJkwPNWPVGLTszswTZrr/wAtFT+5X6U83OnAQdh3aTZkv8FhFTJiWUplGrEOAEIHFTOS1sxjHIUSSokuokmuprFr2n2sZ81nUyCQSblTsSwLAaADhFbLETPldvgQKMS777f+I8SIkUwwmlerivnHKOgiGTWOAariAOVOyimusW0s0pSKVTcXi6kh0g8RCpwypeWRMVUFTIHQ/wA/DWsLpSzCOnuoBL7qTmal4CuaSWB6t90hSHaMtCXZfhpmANWereUPJ/6Zk70nEoWlnBKa8qpUx8vSE0jLYB/YczD+ytsqkEOSZalORZQfUcOLQy4JYjsPikhyELHELr5gh4osRhVoWUrDaHWPsmzdpoWkZQ4uK+t3MYjaOyFrxmTKQFTGJIoATUnSg+ETbYvHGVHZHYgTsNLmpnKQpT5gUBSaKIDFwQaNreK7aWwpkhZQVpWQBVIUL1sbR9Ow2FRLSEy0BKBYJBDa31vGY7V4dpuYWUkHzBY/KFnbJwr08ZldVXdjcEFLm5g6sjJLVSVFnD2La8o2XeZwCXexD6jxOOotFH2Nw7ImLLDMoJDt+kPx4q9o0EyXmq+oJ4EixoXBpodKvBjuzYz1LqM72jXVIFH0+kObJwKkyACGzKJ+XRw1zQc4923s6cplS0ZjYEAUPIk06w9Lly5SUockhIGVJJNBwB1LxEx91taZZeySKbEYUrWtKWSBRybC1WqTEpC0yJeRJzKcklqkqagF2oKRHHbSyLypQp1E0DO71cm9HMRwWz1rmpzS2Bc1YG2rGjcKu8Rq74b3LGYzaBw86ZV0SxoFmp8g7R0Oz5Uok5llAfd3HBoKj4V4R0X0T4/LL6mV8/hjtrrl5+5KpefOGCiweoDqFEmouYhN2Unuw+RMwqJOWY+6wbVnd71pGe2pgiFqpRy2oNYtdmTApCQCxADkkD+/D0je5b5cOvBgySBlmNOQDYmo/wBJ+hhvAbPwmQPKM2YX3lEhRckh2NCxAejtC+MWARmBUkVIcAHzYtppCcza6Fbv+U5fOgOOFUXYBqgvQO7kwt3wfHlcYbAS0AqkrKS9ELDpcCrkhzWxrFFjZ7FXeTM6ya5S4DWDm8Po7T928tbKSbKT4SNCU3HqYOjYmGxNZaygtZDrS/8Avqno8HV8nr4ZSZNf7+UCKovcd2TmIfKUzB+1wr0OvIExQzAQSCCCLg09oqWIssex6F8IHmhnB7OmL8KCRxIIHr9ICRkSyogM5JsNekaeasYbDiUgvMUSXQCS5AzEkBgEgMGqYhsXYpQoqWFKYaC54Bw7HiGjT7PVOSAzS0moTTzBq7xFu2uM0+fIbm/QwYzEcRH01GLfQU1JqPvrBJhrTu25j6w+odL5Z3ieI9REROHEesfU04dKhUJPPdrE5WDS7uOFP7wtn0vl6JC1lkJUr/Skn5RaYbsXiZlSgSxxmKA9g59o+hyyAf0AaO5PoA3vHonkHUiw8KR6VMGx0sQj/p1MN50rySst8I8xmyThsqCQoEEggEC9RXUHg942qMWyijdQbs4sSa/GkVXaCXLmIp43cKFn18iNYNnpkVE2/v5R6lIHTj9YHNXlJBFrjhC6sS3T7v8AWGlYBVK9TziAX8W+/WFU4rTrHgmfflAFjhMYuVWWQNQ4BaugNIPL29PnT0JVNEsLWAVBIDZiz3f0IirRNOtv5iS5ClqQZYdWYUtr8oKcr6knBpLOHIFVNVxQ1Fn1hLbEvChIE5YlF2T4qjXQgVhbHbUMtRX3cwh2zZXBOtgcqfMOwrpFD2i2kozELVKQpQScuY5gnnk8LknV/KJulzbSYTDy0ScqJgyFyFECoNXDhq/SIYdYTmUSZmo3QhIH7iS6uJIHCFMFjJQlIXMKe8pvLLAKbey5qJAtbhWK3tDtzOnLJWFlw+QTPiKcIJjsXLQ0/tQozUISkd2FWBYlzl8QZql/jFnOx3dSlKNCL2OZjRzdVdaxhpOzsQpSVFCyx4XaoqW4XIiwxysQ2VUscXBzEPoMtovp5R1L2T2lGKUSqWmWU2t4WAZyK10pQjhB1qTMQUqWWJFqAhJBamhID+kY3BYacokZVJDGuQE8f1263hmbs5IDmZNLDwkn/wBWYfSC83uU3rs069tYUBpyVFbkk5XFWsyk8NRrHR8/nS0pLZX6uY6Dc+Pwrd+fyUXiDnUCyg5+PvEtnzgheY5qvYt1iU6eSS93LPQX5wjiEl3qeB0atAwrwgYiYnaJJIHhfW56mBYZOY1sKn6QuUl7ffDrDSTlQxv84ZIz5pUXiMqapJzJJSeILGIFTx4YYWmH7RTE0Ucz6/q+hi0k4RE85pqSAkBgxCi9d5X9PLnGbw6wFJKrX+kWv+LLIyywAOpKvMO8RZrsuXfdpsLJSgMhKZfQJ/5XI6w6FmwV9YyKdpzAKAhmplHnf5cIal7ZWS/dseJUlvW8SuVqjLUGJUeNTE0TOYPV4yv+MKCwTrep1N/sQ1K26oVKXrqr48DCPbUBYFSwHK56CIqxSTRk1rUxm07TXNcnKB0J9AL01g2HxSx4QlQLAbiSX6tw40gPbRoxiQLJHVY9oNJxFHZJJvlLv5mKeXPWQ4yDmEoB+EPYeaSgVUeJcUc2ZNPeAHyLE7o1Lt9+sDxmMQEALqFMN5/l0iCZI4VJ/vfQ/OBTsMHCigZia60tYcoAo9p7TWhZShCstK5rMOBDecVszbCj4UgHmSfo0aVOzTndO6DxJOjWMIY3ZQ3iAkgmpAS9NafKAM+JveH8xIU+oJSedrwWTslCywExI6hXyBiwkbJQ/hNOCj84ssHs+7AZdSauX6+UGxpSDs2nK4mKcUZgfhq0LI2TNIJljOE8L+nHk8aHaez1qQe7UUkWHHgHhLYO3F4ablnHOlYoRvB+II1dwQWPs7lFhPA7DxEzwyln/awHqw940Gyewc/MlcxaZQBdhvKp/wCI9T0MX0vtfIDjvJYIDsSQbjiBxgGL7dSEv+aknggFfuKae8Xwjk9tyWqWlUwT1IlpRVHdoVWtSo3dwGaPmy1kNmBJP9KSSeRArxiy232zM4FISoJLVUa3/pTQDTWKuXiVHwE8y7Got0ELLL4OT5W2y9nuHWlKa3YOepW5HtFyUkJDFgdMxDdBbn6RSYXOls7ZSKB6l+VzeLdc4d0CRQVsKPan3ziN7XJoSWjds73qauLMzc4VxG6rKlk61a3AM93POseJxgDFKknTiGP3zaGTOSoMpIJBqMwAvflxhBTrCQrMQSToHYDqxgOOxjpASVCwAAcebe5i6KpaHZgXpXjZq1iM7ZyV1SgE/uABPpf1hzcKsYvZ6l1Jy+TP6GOjXI2WlmNG0Ido9it1Onz2fiS5LPwLPf4dHjxc7MhyW6kj0AsPpAEKLkcSW6/zb0g+H2oUJISEgv4mD+sVGQEpkjMC50qOdYCZ7x06apSsxO8fWDCUSmtzyr6w+ye4OaPH6xEoMeZooCKSX+n8QbDJL1HH7/mFEqaLvD4bIzne/VSg8zrEVUiaJXP5ekMplvQAg6Nf78oWXPfppZ/pCyQf6nHOIWsBhy7gFuKiK83eDJkPZWZqhq29nfU2iEielsjA5Q53nar2VcvpFiiWopBIZxq4Af3AeEqC4TASwN8KJ4E0Yny84ssgFE0HAcOAqzmKkYCcQ4qC3Lq4dx7w1KzD9BHlb11hKiwlKLN8hw5vDmGnXcl72DMOUVyUkAbijo5B84ZSkHw/OsBrNGIAD+vlHKxaTWx6+8V+HRcqLOejtcuekMhAIcFgdTq9YALPmhTEHMx106RJdiaCmjetfOnMwtLllNi/3rEziBYs/AA/Rng2NA4hANWST5Vf7aAJCjRi3Cw8m84cWAp6EsLW9GgMoJUBkKjxBp6lnhGH3ZpmduXPSCfhUEWALaAA+ZvaCCSeA6E/T18o5DAsGfyFeQsehgNU4rDNulKFi4dvnfhAk7FBHgTXgo29BFtNwzpy3re+nHQwSUC1G++sGy0pZOxZT76DegckeehA4RYSZG6yWSKvugeg4c4JiVrAs49vP7MQw08lQa5pX3pqIANLwSUuTU0cm7/IcojMwaWJIPMufenlD0vCC6qft0trA5MpQVVTg2D0bo1oegSKAkUD8MzH2I5QH8SxqkA+QJ6EacjFuvDpegvZtPeFsRs/NoGvq/WHotkUrSl3JfmCH1d7NEBjA5ufOjeTe0WUjDkMAA3WIzdnINW6+XSFoFP8Ql6uP9yvaOhmVhUgUp5/2joZPk60OT1+cGk4IkPQc6l34ekOIl7xLEsfFYX0/iDDM5CQ7fqqz8AI0259FJEjK7yyrmC8FXMYFkkc7fKOVLmCrqgasYoX01t86wlIS5JVxJMeYjZ7XH31h3DOtWVBajk3AZtfvWHJiVCjgJsSaknU0cNSwhbPSgw+E306h69BF05Wl3ID0ADOxUKC5482iaMOQCQAHFC2h/jWJlwRobhqmhsKdK6tCt2cmihkEFylXLgOp+bQfC4UzNEhr1dXUUbh9IsAiYSnxMKPlSXPU/xaHMIhdXyjiKg/35QtnpHC4RKBTLT1JPM1MNBIJAVbn91iaUWcA3vb1uTc6Xg8nAFdikJ5u54tXWBQW8kkoIazEGvpXjB5CxWhBargD2FAOtYgtXdlmHVqD+TE5hKhpd/a14RvVsRQ5S9ep45fuscgud0ZdHb+bRy1sSKltGGnH1dzZg7x4JrMTrw9+XpwhGs5KQzGsLzJmXwtegNuYg0qdoQ3mPlEs6TYOeFK/wAc4YDSgqLOGNxr5dY9KEg5S78HvzA1ju/SkHIHUakg1tziP4cqIJCgRzL9KlvlCDwBILnMnl99feJhiaEHzERm4koUASC5/qZuFDpf7MMLdna3S51gGwjJ3X+FoihAJJWBplN+PCv35wZeIADlWrO1Hdr8X+EQVhHDFxdnJJMA2WMs+J+oVRujUcx2HdWYlQvpw05HWD4jDMGYNx4fdPeOSrKQ/qas2nCCDaAIJYOG6D14dIiJIPEsWu3pB5YFHFdOFf7R73ehAfh50+xD0NpJmuW4U8QfSDmWdTX1gKx0aljW9rRFaCC49K16fQiKJPLVgo+3GJKmcxCak5C7EXLV11EQkzpaqZh5GAhc4CWKbfP4QNMwkkKBAbSgPC8DnpaoIPNrc21j2dVqM1yPmIYcZ7UOUci0dHhRxJfoT8AY6AMHLwxWs2Ifnx0ixlSWDJat6OTzjlZxR0gB7Cn1b0gMtZ1IVxZxrRhAyeT8OX824udbQCZsbOfG3E5fhasWS8SXY5k0qWDsephTeWvdCsoA8RLAaUADvCMxs/ZISCkGhZ6V8z8mg52Ygfqd7O5PN2hqQggBhzfj5G3WPFyiS+pu4BtYcIFQr+HSKl2fzPmeUeHEJHgBUSQ3PqYKZRUxKwkaVdR9Wa0WXdBQICb0Jp904wjKyDmSQoua1ADA6gc+t45EiYogJQOqiaPYV40tDskJAKUjL0I9+sMywO7JJAP9SbhhYEjSDRk5cmYN05XcZkgksOGZgIuZJLBg3M08g8UKMOEqUVLUE0ND8dTFxgshYpzK9fnDBfaCkOL5m8X3aB4SjAmgBY/30h/GZFFsrqDGgt8vKBJmgkhIO6zkhgOkIJiUnRmJqSaeQNvKCzZFAwD10FR1gclGcvlPDQW1rD+azNy1g0Nkzh8tCQHsK1drk6/WFZ0nQ1L1aluBGo0FIslKAuQTU/2HpEUS0kfp8L9ONKtwhWHtU7MVTMoAEm9OP7a8IfE9QLFraU9i7U06x5KmAbqcqXpYO5qai5FXia8GDmculjc38xV4ASxm0ADQA6HkQzAfWHMHiM6WDA8q8X1++ELTpSAzKsOIFAbv1+Ig2Gx6CaO9X6dbNzhTuDi8NZwHehJLUA0PSDLwji9RAErSogK1sOB1Y+1OMNFY5U+7RREsHhVCigzc/idTEZ62JA48/flBZkxk0LpbW48tYVnYlQqRmB4NXgQ8Ix0YkZapJA1u3Rr0icxJDNUHp/d/5hX/ABBNk7tWoKUrXR34GFUkGYCTmJtVr6M7g/SDYWCVZgXBrcUrpSF1Twg5VJLNRgojzZ2bnxghxSFeFyrkVaaGkVpxS3ADTEq4jyY8Tf0h7C0l44KDdPMaOIRn7MzL7xC1g2ajMKaisRw6kANlyg03qHTjcc4spYSwZ/X1rDCnZSUl1H/UAApPUWIg0jE7oBIUeIF/L5Q5Nwxd3FeDfbwNWDueNCRf4wclwUxcouCCUv8Atf14R0EVhM367cgPWkdBukxE0la2ehBuLfXzggDEAE8dNY6OhsjcvCpT4nUYZVMAqBX4fGOjoQSTiMoCiHNfOusCn7XtlSBVifoI6OhLLYafmUo1J5nX705Re7PKigqJAAGmvUfKPY6A3spRKwpR3BZI6uHMNJxQIYB/9R+QDCOjod7B7h5Cg1hU2J0vQvwgy5QWgh1WO9+rhQ2HpHR0Co7CEiV4lHLSuvo3GCTECzC9aXIqNaR0dAQhnsBQVU33yjzHTQEEs6Um3nS3AkekdHQjUm3JyCQhSHJDu59qhrRPCyVICUBVVWpQAc7mOjogY87WMiTwrVuHAaA0g07FCWm1FU01pyj2Oh7V5DTLlrIU1W3aClOb6QA4ZIJSHBI0AapfWpjo6CnrSKFISyClRU7A5zeteXSsCwm0iF90kOWuVfMB/OOjoXka4WWGQHYpDnWvLj1hjGIyJdywocv2zVtHR0V4qITxKagEBQKjWoqC1tPWKvGYoSiwGZXFRJYcBrHR0FODYLaQKgrK5VUF29eN4c2hOyS1LanK9njo6DEVRykqXUKckAqzagnhxHzi32dISAxD0q50PDhrHsdAd7GVzBV3ufbozwMYp/C4OpZNbfWOjoraXHCBV6t11jo6Oh6J/9k=" style="height: 182px; width: 277px;" width="400" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>A baby elephant undergoing "training" at Ringling Bros. by being prodded with metal hooks and pulled on ropes tied around his legs and waist</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Photo Credit: PETA</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Bears, elephants, tigers, and other animals do not voluntarily ride bicycles, stand on their heads, balance on balls, or jump through rings of fire. They don't perform these and other difficult tricks because they want to; they perform them because they're afraid of what will happen if they don't. </i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>For animals in circuses, there is no such thing as "positive reinforcement"—only varying degrees of punishment and deprivation. To force them to perform these meaningless and physically uncomfortable tricks, trainers use whips, tight collars, muzzles, electric prods, bullhooks, and other painful tools of the trade." </i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, <a href="http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-in-entertainment/circuses.aspx">Circuses</a></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;"><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div></span>Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511119218043079981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188518461270588055.post-32837715389448564792011-04-02T12:17:00.000-07:002011-04-02T12:24:10.061-07:00A Dog's Eye View is Now on Twitter!Are you following A Dog's Eye View on Twitter yet? Follow all the blog updates and other news!<br />
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Please share these pages with your friends! Social networking is a great way to spread the message of compassion for your fellow earthlings! Thank you!</div>Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511119218043079981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188518461270588055.post-78342141800366389892011-04-02T08:51:00.000-07:002011-04-02T08:53:31.855-07:00Live Turtles and Fish Sold as Keychains<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="live animal keyrings photo" class="mt-image-none" height="208" src="http://www.treehugger.com/galleries/images/live-animal-keyrings.jpg" width="320" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>A Brazil turtle sealed in a plastic pouch on a keyring to be sold</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Photo Credit: Li Bo</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">There sometimes seems to be no limit to the cruelty and suffering that humankind can (and will) inflict on animals. This week, news of live animals being sold as keychains in China has outraged anyone with a sense of compassion for other sentient beings.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Brazil turtles and kingfish are sealed in plastic pouches filled with dyed water (sellers claim that this water is colored due to nutrients that have been placed in the water) and placed on a keyring. These animals die of starvation, suffocation or trauma from being swung around or hit into other objects. Apparently though these "keychains" are becoming popular and are widely sold in markets in China. Read the full story here: <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/03/live-animals-being-sold-as-keyrings-in-china.php">Live Animals Being Sold as Keyrings in China</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Unfortunately, there are daily examples of animal abuse and of the ability of humankind to completely destroy other life. Sometimes, though, examples like this make you wonder how low humans can sink. What can be said for the relationship with our fellow earthlings when they're being sold as products in the streets, left to die in plastic pouches like they're nothing more than a keychain to be carried around? </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I ask that you please think of the animals and ecosystems around you as other life, not products to be used for your every whim. These turtles and fish have the capacity to suffer and the will to live just like you, and just like every other animal. Encourage others around you to make more compassionate decisions, and start with yourself. You don't have to make an immediate jump to veganism to be more compassionate to animals and the earth shared with them; start with every day choices that will make a difference. If you see cruelty, speak up, do what you can. We can be a voice for those who cannot speak and we can defend the defenseless. </div>Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511119218043079981noreply@blogger.com5