News
The number of news found: 25.
07/31/2012 TOP 10 HISTORIC VEGETARIAN AND VEGAN OLYMPIANS
The diet of athletes is changing. History is showing that those with a competitive spirit are not just meat-eaters but those who are "conscious eaters." The Olympic games have a wide array of a personalities and with those personalities a wide array of eating habits. Many historic Olympians have chosen to keep a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle or they have chosen to change from a diet that included meats for protein into one that was rich in proteins found from vegetarian sources. These are Ecorazzi's top 10 historic vegetarian and vegan Olympians: Charlene Wong, Carl Lewis, Ronda Rousey, Surya Bonaly, Chris Campbell, Hannah Teter, Bode Miller, Edwin Moses, Debbi Lawrence, and Murray Rose.
07/30/2012 BASKETBALL GREAT JOHN SALLEY FEATURED IN NEW VEGAN CAMPAIGN
"Real Vegans," part of a new campaign by VegMichigan, a non-profit organization that promotes plant-based nutrition, features real life, primarily non-celebrity, vegans on billboards in and around Detroit. The goal of the campaign is to give a relatable, everyday face to veganism and show that it is suitable for everyone, not only radical health enthusiasts, hippies, or celebrities. They apparently made an exception to this rule by including retired professional basketball legend John Salley in the campaign. "Veganism used to be considered a fringe movement," says Paul Krause, president of VegMichigan. "But with rising awareness about factory farms, obesity and other health and environmental concerns, more and more people are thinking about the impact of their food choices. Vegans are healthy, vibrant, compassionate... and a growing segment of the population. We're excited to have a star like John Salley to help show that vegans are real people."
07/28/2012 GREENLAND ICE MELT SKYROCKETS TO 97%
Recent satellite images from NASA have shown that the Greenland ice melt has reached unprecedented levels during the summer season, nearly doubling the normal amount. According to a NASA press release, about half of Greenland's surface ice sheet naturally melts during an average summer. But the data from three independent satellites this July, analyzed by NASA and university scientists, showed that in less than a week, the amount of thawed ice sheet surface spiked from 40 percent to 97 percent. The data was further confirmed by three different NASA labs and has increased the already growing attention that this region has been receiving. Just last week Greenland's Peterman Glacier calved an ice island twice the size of Manhattan. Although one large ice melt can be a natural occurrence, there have been reportedly higher temperatures in Greenland than ever before, which has many stating that these events need to be closely watched and taken seriously.
07/27/2012 AUSTIN ARMACOST GETS NAKED FOR PETA AND SLAMS DESIGNER MARC JACOBS
Austin Armacost, ex-boyfriend of fashion designer Marc Jacobs, isn't afraid to show some skin in the name of animal rights. The model got naked for PETA's newest anti-fur campaign and even slammed his ex's use of animal products in his designs. "As a gay model, I have always been dismayed that some otherwise progressive people in the gay fashion pack have such disregard for the animals who are skinned alive for coats, collars, or cuffs [including my ex Marc Jacobs]," Armacost told PETA. Behind-the-scenes photos released by PETA show Armacost carrying a sign that reads "Turn your back on fur," with his bare bum peeking out from behind. Armacost joins celebrities like Khloe Kardashian, Penelope Cruz, Eva Mendes and Christy Turlington who all got naked for the fight against fur.
07/26/2012 NASA PLANNING VEGAN MENU FOR ASTRONAUTS HEADING TO MARS
Last year, PETA made headlines with a request to SpaceX to make their planned colonies on Mars all-vegan. Well, here's a start: NASA is working on a vegan menu for their astronauts' mission to the red planet in 2030. According to the Examiner, a NASA research team is dedicated to planning the plant-based menu for the long trip. Six-eight astronauts will spend six months journeying to Mars, eighteen months on the planet, and six months on their way back to Earth. One hundred recipes for the astronauts have been planned so far. Along with planned meals like vegan pizza and sushi, they are also working on a "Martian greenhouse" which will allow the astronauts to grow plants and cook their meals. According to CP24, the menu will also include food like "tofu and nuts" and "a Thai pizza that has no cheese but is covered with carrots, red peppers, mushrooms, scallions, peanuts and a homemade sauce that has a spicy kick." Vegetables grown in their "greenhouse" will be grown in mineral water to replace soil.
07/25/2012 SOUTH KOREA WILL NOT ALLOW RESEARCH WHALING
Despite earlier claims to the contrary, South Korea will not hunt whales for scientific research. Although the announcement has not yet been made formally, an unidentified official from the presidential Blue House said the president and prime minister made the determination at a meeting last Tuesday. The prime minister's office acknowledged that they were aware and mindful of the rampant criticism that resulted from their announcement earlier this month that South Korea would allow research whaling. Environmentalists and non-whaling nations protested the announcement, and critics suspected the plan was a cover for commercial whaling. Before the international moratorium against commercial whaling was introduced in 1986, South Korea had a long history of whaling. Whaling for the purposes of scientific research is the ban's sole exception.
07/24/2012 RUSSELL SIMMONS BANS FUR FROM GLOBALGRIND
Russell Simmons is a mega mogul but also a vegan and animal rights activist. Named PETA's "Person of the Year" for 2011, he's sure to earn some more points with them after his recent announcement that all fur will be banned from his site, GlobalGrind. The website reports, "GlobalGrind is a proud vegan website. Although we have reported on celebrities wearing clothes made out of fur or leather in the past, we are officially taking a different turn." Simmons has promised that no fur will appear in any fashion editorial pictures on the site, and is "proud to join the growing number of compassionate people who are saying no to fur." The site also announced that they "stand in solidarity with PETA and other animal advocacy groups" in calling for a worldwide ban of fur.
07/23/2012 "SWAMP PEOPLE" DISGUSTS DOMINIC MONAGHAN
Actor Dominic Monaghan is not one to hold back opinions. His most recent criticisms came to light through Twitter when he lashed out at the History Channel's reality series "Swamp People." He tweeted his disgust and hatred for the show. He wrote, "If my hero #steveirwin was around those shows about killing alligators wouldn't be on tv. I'm gonna stop them. Watch this space. [sic]" Monaghan continued, "If alligator populations need to be controlled I understand but the act should not be glorified on tv.disgusting. These are living creatures. [sic]" "Swamp People" is about a group of "swampers" who hunt alligators during the 30-day hunting season in the Atchafalaya Swamp in Louisiana. The actor has so much love for animals he is starring in a reality show about wildlife. "Wild Things with Dominic Monaghan" is hosted by the 35-year-old who travels the world looking for unusual insects. It will air in the United Kingdom sometime later this year.
07/21/2012 WALMART, CHRISTENSEN FARMS' ABUSE OF PIGS CAUGHT ON UNDERCOVER VIDEO
A horrific video, taken by an investigator hired by Los Angeles-based Mercy for Animals, puts Walmart in the hot seat with claims that the company buys pork from alleged animal abusers. The video depicts the ripping off of piglets' testicles and tails allegedly without painkillers, and the repeated slamming of sick piglets against the ground until they are near death; then they are tossed aside. Piglets are also shown suffering from unattended, open bleeding wounds, and a mother is depicted inflamed and bleeding from constant birthing. The nonprofit's goal is to urge Walmart to ask its pork suppliers to phase out small pens for pregnant sows, known as gestation crates. The nonprofit's campaign website, walmartcruelty.com, also states that workers force-fed sows diarrhea and dead piglets. The video, narrated by animal rights activist and former "Price Is Right" host Bob Barker, was filmed from December to March at Minnesota-based Christensen Family Farms, which describes itself as the country's third-largest pork producer.
07/20/2012 QUEEN GUITARIST BRIAN MAY TURNS ESTATE INTO WILDLIFE REFUGE
Brian May announced that his estate is now a refuge for several animals. May's English property was purchased by the musician more than 30 years ago and now the land is intended to act as a sanctuary for injured wildlife. As of right now, it houses 36 hedgehogs, seven badger cubs and two tawny owls. May has always been an animal lover and takes pride in his refuge. This isn't the first time May has taken a stand for animals. In January 2012, he joined forces with the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection's fight against a proposed farm that would breed beagles for lab testing. The rocker even started his own organization, called SAVE ME, to protect and save animals. In addition, for his animal-friendly work May received the International Fund for Animal Welfare award.
07/19/2012 VEGAN DIET HELPS REDUCE WEIGHT AND MENOPAUSAL SYMPTOMS
Research continues to tip the scales in favor of plant-based diets. A new study published by the journal Menopause found that a low-fat diet consisting primarily of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains helped postmenopausal women both lose weight and manage night sweats and hot flashes. Researchers studied more than 17,000 postmenopausal women from the Women's Health Initiative Dietary Modification trial, placing them in either a group supported to make specific dietary changes or a control group who received no support and minimal nutritional information. Women whose diets were low-fat and heavy in whole grains and plants were three times as likely to lose weight as compared to the control group, which were twice as likely to gain weight. Women who lost weight also experienced a significant reduction in night sweats and hot flashes.
07/18/2012 TEN MILLION KILOS OF SHARK FIN IMPORTED INTO HONG KONG IN ONE YEAR
Today, shark populations are in trouble globally. Life history characteristics, such as slow growth, late maturation, and slow production of few offspring, make sharks vulnerable to overfishing and slow to recover from decline. More than 50% of sharks studied are threatened or worse. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species has assessed the extinction risk of 480 species of sharks from around the world. Forty-three percent (209 species) are data deficient. More than half of those with enough information to determine their conservation status (150 species) are threatened or near threatened with extinction. The loss of sharks could cause irreversible damage to the ocean, as sharks play an important role in maintaining balance in the marine environment. 83 countries or territories supplied more than 10.3 million kilograms of shark fin products to Hong Kong in 2011. Spain is revealed as a major exporter of shark fins.
07/17/2012 LEMURS DECLARED MOST ENDANGERED VERTEBRATES ON EARTH
Lemurs are the most endangered vertebrates on Earth, conservationists have concluded, CNN reported. Scientists attending a workshop of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission in Antanarivo, Madagascar, this week classified 23 lemur species as "critically endangered," 52 as "endangered," and 19 as "vulnerable" on the IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species, LiveScience reported. This means lemurs are more endangered than all other mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds and bony fish, LiveScience reported. The northern sportive lemur, one of 103 lemur species, is down to only 18 known animals, the group said, according to CNN. The group's previous lemur assessment, published in 2008, placed 8 lemur species in the "critically endangered" category, 18 in the "endangered" class and 14 in the "vulnerable" category, BBC News reported.
07/16/2012 JESSE EISENBERG HIGLIHTS PLIGHT OF EXOTIC BIRDS
Jesse Eisenberg, the voice of Blue, a blue macaw in the film "Rio," has joined forces with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to speak out against the inhumane treatment of exotic birds. Eisenberg talks about his role as Blue in the Humane Society's newest PSA to raise awareness of the growing problem of unwanted captive birds in the country. He says, "Although Blue is a much loved pet, he has no idea what its like to be a bird. He doesn't even know how to fly. It's only when he gets a taste of the wild that he discovers his true self and how he ended up in a cage." He goes on to explain that millions of exotic birds are victims of the lucrative exotic bird trade and that he hopes the film "Rio" has given audiences a better understanding of exotic bird trafficking and the decimation of wild populations.
07/14/2012 THE BLACK FISH FREE HUNDREDS OF ENDANGERED BLUEFIN TUNA IN THE ADRIATIC SEA!
On last Sunday a diving team of The Black Fish successfully released hundreds of bluefin tuna back into the Adriatic Sea from cages at a fish farm near the island of Ugljan, Croatia. The action is marking the start of a new campaign to highlight the lucrative trade in the endangered bluefin tuna, a fish species heavily impacted by illegal overfishing in the Mediterranean Sea. The Black Fish have been working on the ground in Croatia for several weeks investigating the country's controversial tuna industry. It was three days ago when our crew members witnessed the slaughter of several tuna fish and decided to intervene. Members of The Black Fish diving team were able to pass by security and entered the water late at night to free the fish. Bluefin tuna are one of the world's largest and fastest fish as well as the most endangered of all tuna species. In recent years the bluefin tuna has been heavily overfished in the Mediterranean Sea to meet the demand for prized sushi, mostly destined for the Asian market.
07/13/2012 URBAN DECAY CHOOSES NOT TO SELL IN CHINA WITH ANIMAL TESTING
Urban Decay cosmetics announced recently that they would be selling their products in China, and the news sparked outrage amongst animal advocates and organizations because the company would be required to test their products on animals in order to sell there. Urban Decay has claimed to be a cruelty-free company firmly opposed to animal testing, so the news was a shock to many. Several petitions were launched asking the company to back out of selling in China, and PETA warned that Urban Decay had been removed from their cruelty-free list after they "let down caring consumers everywhere." Now, the cosmetics company has made another announcement: they will not be selling their products in China.
07/12/2012 NFL PLAYER ARIAN FOSTER'S NEW VEGAN DIET CAUSES CONTROVERSY
Arian Foster is known for battling it out on the football field as a running back for the Houston Texans, but he is now causing quite a stir with his new vegan diet. Last week, Foster announced via Twitter his switch to veganism. Even though he feels great, others aren't impressed and are questioning whether he can play a tough game without meat in his system. Some of Foster's Twitter followers gave him a hard time for his announcement. This is quite an interesting argument. Many athletes live and play with a veg diet and it doesn't seem to slow them down. Who would have thought that someone cutting meat out of their daily eating regimen would cause such hullabaloo. As Foster says, "People feel so strong about meat and milk. I wish they felt this strong about peace."
07/11/2012 MOB CUTS POWER TO FARM AND 700,000 BIRDS DIE
A sit-in protesting the emissions from a poultry facility in India took a turn for the worse when the protest turned into a mob. Forcing their way in, the mob cut off the farm's power supply causing 700,000 chickens to die from asphyxiation. A mob barged in to the Radha Sakku Agrio Bio Pharma and switched off the power supply. The long drawn protest by the local people against the pollution and the stink emitting from the poultry farm in Karlam village took an ugly turn when hundreds of people from surrounding villages staged a sit-in protest in Karlam demanding the closure of the unit. The poultry farm belongs to the Radha Sakku Agro Bio Pharma company which also runs the other units of its business from the same premises. Alleging that that the stink and the pollution was adversely affecting their health, the people from Karlam, Alajangi and Metpally villages sat down on the road...
07/10/2012 NAVY TO DEAFEN 15,900 WHALES AND DOLPHINS AND KILL 1,800 MORE
The Navy is required to include comments on their Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) re: the use of high frequency underwater sound for testing in Hawaii, the California and Atlantic Coasts, and the Gulf of Mexico. According to their estimates it will deafen more than 15,900 whales and dolphins and kill 1,800 more over the next 5 years. Whales and dolphins depend on sound to navigate and live. Your signature and comment will have to be included in the EIS and could stop this Naval program, potentially saving the lives of these ocean creatures. The comments must be in by July 10, 2012.
07/09/2012 THE NETHERLANDS TO BAN THE BREEDING OF MINK FUR
Big news in the Netherlands: on July 5 the House of Representatives adopted the law for a ban on the breeding of mink fur in the Netherlands. A majority of the political parties SP, PvdA, D66 and GroenLinks, PvdD, the PVV voted in favour of the law. ChristenUnie, SGP, CDA, VVD and PVV-dissidents Hernandez and Kortenoeven voted against. The vote followed after the debate on additional measures for the law that took place on July 2 in the House of Representatives. The motion that was submitted by CDA Member of Parliament Koopmans to first propose the ban in Europe, was rejected. This means that if the Senate also agrees on the ban later this summer, the Dutch mink breeders have to close doors in 2024. It is almost certain the Senate now will vote for the ban. This ban meets the wishes of the Senate. A ban on the breeding of minks would mean the end to the killing of animals for their fur in the Netherlands.
07/06/2012 SAVE THE ARCTIC WITH GREENPEACE, JUDE LAW AND RADIOHEAD
Watching a stranded animal scrounge and starve is enough to pull at anyone's heart strings. That is the imagery behind a powerful new Greenpeace video staring a homeless polar bear wondering the streets of London. The clip, featuring music from Radiohead and a voiceover by actor Jude Law, encourages individuals to join Greenpeace's campaign to "Save the Arctic" and help polar bears before they become homeless. The need to protect the natural resources in the Arctic region has come under close watch in recent months as many major oil companies have continued to show an interest in exploring their options. With already record low levels of sea ice occurring, this could mean an even faster depletion of the polar bear's habitat, leading to an increase in cannibalism within the species and threatening their existence.
07/05/2012 SNEAKER GIANT PUMA ANTICIPATES AN END TO THEIR USE OF LEATHER
International sporting goods manufacturer Puma has announced that it will one day stop using leather for its athletic shoes and soccer boots because of its disastrous environmental impact. In an interview with Financial Times, the company's supervisory board chairman Jochen Zeitz said "I think eventually we'll have to look at alternative materials, there's no question about it." Mr. Zeitz is widely regarded as a trailblazer in the business world due to his concern for the environment. He has not only drastically reduced his own personal meat consumption, he has introduced Meatfree Mondays into Puma's offices. Following an "environmental profit and loss account" assessment of Puma last year, Zeitz determined that leather was "the biggest impact driver" contributing to Puma's carbon footprint. The seemingly oxymoronic environmental businessman says this necessitates a need for high-quality, economic leather substitutes.
07/04/2012 ROB THOMAS GIVES $350K TO SAVE HOMELESS ANIMALS IN PUERTO RICO
Matchbox 20 frontman Rob Thomas and his wife Marisol just shelled out big bucks to help save homeless pets in Puerto Rico. The Thomases were asking for donations to help animal rescue organization Pets Alive, a group they have long supported. At the time, the couple was attempting to garner funds for the Puerto Rico branch of the New York-based rescue, which works to save numerous animals from a tragic fate at "Dead Dog Beach." Now, thanks to the Thomas' generous donation of $350,000, the dream is becoming a reality. Teddy Hilton reports that the Puerto Rican branch of Pets Alive utilized the funds to build a sanctuary in Utuado, PR. Now that it's fully up and running, animals rescued in Puerto Rico can be cared for immediately, instead of being transported to the New York facilities. This not only speeds up the rescue process, but also allows the organization to save more animals overall.
07/03/2012 PEOPLE SEE ANIMAL TESTING AS "MORALY WRONG"
Since 2001, there has been a significant increase in those living in the United States who find animal testing "morally wrong." The study can be found in the 2012 issue of Context, a research magazine of the American Sociological Association. The research team included PETA, the University of Alabama-Birmingham and Manhattanville College, where they examined data collected in independent surveys by the Gallup organization from 2001 to 2011, in which approximately 1,000 American adults each year were asked whether they found "medical testing on animals" to be "morally acceptable" or "morally wrong." The results showed, in 2011, that 43 percent of adults found medical testing on animals "morally wrong." This is a 10 percent increase, since 2001. The study also determined an increase in opposition by 25 percent – to a majority of 59 percent – to medical testing between 2001 and 2011 for those aged 18 to 29.
07/02/2012 CHINA TO APPROVE NON-ANIMAL COSMETICS TEST
Thanks to guidance from PETA-funded scientists, Chinese officials are now in the final stages of approving the country's first non-animal testing method for cosmetics ingredients. The 3T3 Neutral Red Uptake Phototoxicity Assay, which tests chemicals for their potential toxicity when they come into contact with sunlight - and which is already in widespread use in the U.S. and the E.U. - is expected to be accepted in China by late summer. Last summer, when PETA discovered that China was requiring animal tests for cosmetics to be funded by cosmetics companies, PETA awarded a grant to scientists at the Institute for In Vitro Sciences. These scientists traveled to China several times to offer their expertise and guidance in replacing animal-based tests with non-animal alternatives.
The number of news found: 25.
