News
The number of news found: 21.
10/30/2011 PETA, RIC O'BARRY AND OTHERS SUE SEAWORLD
PETA announced that they are officially taking on SeaWorld. The animals right organization and others have teamed up to sue SeaWorld for violating the constitutional rights of orcas. According to PETA, joining them are marine mammal trainer turned activist Ric O'Barry of The Cove, world-renowned marine biologist Dr. Ingrid Visser, founder of Orca Network Howard Garrett, and two former SeaWorld trainers Samantha Berg and Carol Ray. PETA says that the suit is based on the plain text of the 13th Amendment of the Constitution, "which prohibits the condition of slavery without reference to 'person' or any particular class of victim." This is the first time a lawsuit has sought to apply the amendment to nonhumans, and names five orcas as the plaintiffs. The lawsuit is being filed in San Diego, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.
10/29/2011 MERCY FOR ANIMALS UNVEILS PRO-VEGETARIAN COMMERCIALS TO AIR ON MTV
Mercy for Animals (MFA) recently held an exclusive event in New York City to raise funds for the TV ads. Along with Founder/President Nathan Runkle, John Norris, former MTV News correspondent, was there to premiere the new commercials. The ads will begin airing on MTV in New York and Los Angeles, but the organization is planning for them to air nationally. The ads depict a woman buying meat in a grocery store, another at a drive-thru window, and a student in a school cafeteria – all of whom look down to see blood on their hands. This is followed by video of animals in factory farms, and the message "Help end animal cruelty. Choose vegetarian."
10/28/2011 JUSTIN BIEBER AND SELENA GOMEZ ADOPT!
Justin Bieber and girlfriend Selena Gomez are currently in Bieber's native Canada, where Gomez is on tour. Last Friday, the couple took a break from their music careers and spent afternoon at the D'Arcy's A.R.C. animal shelter visiting some puppies. Gomez, who is already mom to five rescue pups and an outspoken advocate for animal rescue, apparently became so homesick for her dogs that she decided to adopt one of the pups. She settled on a 10-week-old husky mix and named him Baylor. D'Arcy Johnson, the shelter's CEO, said, "I wasn't expecting her to adopt a dog while she was on tour and has a busy schedule. Baylor probably would have had a bad life or a very short life. But he got rescued and brought to our shelter and is now going to live a very good life." Despite the duo's fame, they weren't given special treatment.
10/27/2011 LAST OF RARE RHINOCEROS SPECIES IN VIETNAM KILLED BY POACHERS
The last Javan rhinoceros in Vietnam has reportedly been killed by poachers. The extremely rare species has now been declared extinct in the country, according to CNN. Although conservationists have tried to save the species in the region, the fight has now ended with this rhino that the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) believes was killed by poachers hunting for horns. In parts of Asia, rhinoceros horns are believed to aid in traditional treatment of diseases including cancer and typhoid.
10/26/2011 RUSSELL BRAND HAS GONE VEGAN
Longtime vegetarian Russell Brand has just declared over Twitter that he's now full-on vegan – and it appears the documentary "Forks over Knives" was all the tipping point the comedian needed. "I'm now vegan, goodbye eggs, hello Ellen," the 36-year-old tweeted, sending out a shout-out to vegan Ellen DeGeneres. For those that have yet to see this fantastic doc, the film take a hard look at rejecting animal-based and processed foods as a means to control common diseases and ailments.
10/25/2011 KRISTIN BAUER LAUNCHES PETITION TO PROTECT CHIMPANZEES IN CAPTIVITY
True Blood star and animal advocate Kristin Bauer has launched a new campaign to protect chimpanzees in captivity. According to a press release from Change.org, Bauer created her first petition on the website, asking the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to provide protection to chimpanzees being used in research, entertainment industries, and kept as household pets. "I've always been fascinated by the incredible intelligence and rich, complex social lives of chimpanzees," said Bauer. "It would be shameful to see them go extinct in the wild as we continue to exploit them here in the U.S. in invasive experiments, entertainment and as pets." The actress also tweeted that her inspiration to start the campaign, along with PCRM, was Dr. Jane Goodall, creator of the Jane Goodall Institute and long-time hero for chimpanzees.
10/24/2011 FIFTY ANIMALS ARE DEAD AFTER TRAGEDY IN OHIO
Chaos led to tragedy on Oct 19 after the owner of an animal farm opened up the cages and released exotic creatures like tigers, bears and monkeys into the community. The owner of the farm, Terry Thompson, then committed suicide. Residents were told to stay inside and schools closed for the day while the police searched for the animals. Tragically, 49 animals were shot dead including 18 Bengal tigers and 17 lions while only one grizzly bear, two monkeys and three leopards were captured alive. One monkey was found dead and was assumed to have been eaten. Police defended their decision to kill rather than capture most of the animals because officers are not equipped with tranquilizer guns and nightfall was approaching.
10/20/2011 ELLEN AND FARM SANCTUARY ARE ASKING YOU TO ADOPT A TURKEY THIS THANKSGIVING
Farm Sanctuary has just announced that Ellen DeGeneres will once again lead their Adopt-A-Turkey Project this year. They want you to save a turkey, not eat one, this Thanksgiving. DeGeneres, who is returning as spokesperson for the project for the second time, says "Did you know that every year between 250 and 300 million turkeys are bred for slaughter in the United States? More than 46 million for Thanksgiving alone. So, this Thanksgiving instead of eating a turkey, please join me in adopting one from Farm Sanctuary's Adopt-A-Turkey Project and you can give a turkey something to be thankful for."
10/20/2011 LAURA VANDERVOORT UNVEILS NAKED PETA AD AT TORONTO FASHION WEEK
Laura Vandervoort, star of Smallville and V is the latest celeb to bare all for PETA's ads against the use of animal skins and furs in fashion. According to PETA, the actress unveiled her "Whose Skin Are You In?" ad at Toronto Fashion Week. Vandervoort, whose body was painted to look like reptile skin in the photo, said, "Three or four alligators have to die for one purse... They nail the snake's head to a tree while it is still alive and peel its skin off. Because they are cold-blooded creatures, they take that much longer to die, so they suffer that much longer." Maybe her role as a reptile on V has inspired her to speak up for her reptilian friends. Vandervoort also said, "[Y]ou wouldn't skin your dog to wear to an event, to go out on a date, just for a status symbol. So please, have some compassion for animals."
10/19/2011 CHINESE ACTIVISTS SAVE 1000 DOGS FROM CHOP
Animal rights activists brought together through an online campaign have rescued nearly 1000 dogs on their way to slaughterhouses in southwest China, state media and campaigners say. Around 200 activists stopped three trucks crammed with the dogs on Saturday after a web user calling himself "Mosquito" called for the rescue on a social media site, the official Xinhua news agency said. The dogs were being taken to be slaughtered for meat, but were freed after two local animal protection groups bought the animals for $12,200, the report said. Animals Asia, a Hong Kong-based welfare organization that cooperated with the two Chinese groups, said some of the dogs had died in the truck while others were sick or injured. The consumption of dog and cat meat remains widespread in China despite a surge in the animals' popularity as companion animals.
10/18/2011 JEAN-CLAUDE VAN DAMME SPEAKS OUT AGAINST FUR WITH MASSIVE BILLBOARD
Jean-Claude Van Damme teamed up with the Belgian animal protection organization GAIA to speak out against fur. In the parking lot of Kinepolis Brussels you can see Van Damme on a billboard that could be for one of his films. The muscle clad actor isn't holding a weapon though. He's holding a skinned mink. The tagline says, "Coming this winter to all fur stores." This is Van Damme's first anti-fur campaign. He is now the anti-fur ambassador for the organization. He said about the fur trade, "I fail to see what is attractive about walking around in an animal skin, I suspect the animals would agree with me." GAIA is hoping this campaign will get people to write to members of Parliament to ask them to have Belgium ban the practice of breeding animals for fur.
10/17/2011 SEVENTY MALLS ACROSS US TO BAN PET SALES
Shopping center developer Macerich is banning sales of live animals in more than 70 malls across the US. This new humane policy designed to break the puppy mill business chain is taking effect nationwide within 30 days. Macerich confirmed that they will not renew the leases of existing pet stores that sell animals and in their place, are opening humane stores offering adoptions of rescued pets. Some of the high profile shopping malls include Los Angeles' Westside Pavilion, which is opening a rescue store this month in association with the nonprofit Friends of LA Shelters, Scottsdale's Fashion Square, Chesterfield Towne Center in Richmond, Virginia, and Santa Monica Place.
10/13/2011 TOBEY MAGUIRE SENDS BACK MERCEDES BECAUSE OF LEATHER SEATS
According to The Daily Telegraph, the actor Tobey Maguire is currently staying in Australia with his family while filming The Great Gatsby. Maguire was given a free Mercedes to drive around while on location, but sent it back for a replacement when he saw the car's leather seats. Maguire was vegetarian for fourteen years before going vegan in 2009, or almost vegan? The former-Spidey said, "I don't eat eggs, or nearly any dairy – no cheese or milk. I do eat honey and a piece of milk chocolate here and there. It's never really been that hard for me... I've never had any desire to eat meat. In fact, when I was a kid I would have a really difficult time eating meat at all. It had to be the perfect bite, with no fat or gristle or bone or anything like that. I don't judge people who eat meat – that’s not for me to say – but the whole thing just sort of bums me out."
10/12/2011 JOEY LAWRANCE ADOPTS DOG WHILE FILMING IN AUSTRALIA
"Melissa and Joey" star Joey Lawrence adopted a dog from a local shelter while filming in Australia. The actor and "Dancing with the Stars" alum fell in love with the black Labrador-Australian heeler mix, and despite the difficulties and price tag of bringing her back into the states, brought her home to join his family. Lawrence told People, "She was just the most amazing little thing ever. We had to bring her home. It cost me, like, $1,000 to get her into the country, but it was worth it. She's just an amazing animal." The Australian pup, now named Tiffany, will join the current lady of the house, a golden retriever named Dakota, as a part of Lawrence's family.
10/11/2011 MATADOR CHEATS DEATH
A Spanish matador has been blinded in his left eye and paralysed down that side of his face after he was horrifically gored during a bullfight. The bull's horn pierced Juan Jose Padilla's jaw and emerged through his left eye socket during the grizzly incident at the northeastern city of Zaragoza's Fiestas Del Pilar event. With blood gushing from his head, he was helped out of the ring screaming "I can't see, I can't see." He then underwent a life-saving five-hour operation to repair severe damage to his eye, bone, muscle and skin, said Spain's taurine press. The bull, called Marques and from the Ana Romero ranch, quickly took its revenge after Padilla slipped and fell in the sand after the placing of the banderillas. Doctors had initially thought the goring would be fatal. But the bullring's doctor Antonio Val-Carreres later told El Pais newspaper that Padilla was in serious condition and was staying at Zaragoza's Miguel Servet hospital.
10/08/2011 LEONARDO DICAPRIO TO LEAD IFAW'S ELEPHANT CONSERVATION CAMPAIGN
Leonardo DiCaprio has long since become one of Hollywood's most committed activists for environmental and animal conservation movements. He recently gave his support to the bill banning the shark fin trade in California, and was added to the jury for the Zayed Future Energy Prize because of his environmental work. Now, the actor/activist will be leading a campaign by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) raising awareness of endangered elephants. IFAW's Animal Action Education program features a campaign each year during Animal Action Week. This year, October 3-9 will be all about elephants and how you can help protect them ivory poaching, a serious and continuing threat to elephant populations.
10/07/2011 IAN SOMERHALDER TO RECEIVE "WORLD OF GOOD" AWARD
Ian Somerhalder, the actor and activist, will be the first recipient of the "World of Good" award at the Carmel Art and Film Festival on October 15. The award, created by jewelry company Tiffany, is set to become an annual prize honoring "an influential actor, filmmaker or artist who is using their notoriety to 'do good work.'" Somerhalder was chosen as the first recipient because of his commitment to the environment and his work to get youth involved in saving the planet. A vocal activist for all things green, Somerhalder has his own organization dedicated to environmental projects, and the Ian Somerhalder Foundation is particularly adept at reaching younger generations, by utilizing social media and hosting contests and events specifically geared toward kids age 13 and under.
10/06/2011 MELISSA ETHERIDGE BLAMES DIET OF MEAT AND PROCESSED FOODS FOR HER CANCER
Melissa Etheridge is speaking out about what she thinks caused her cancer, and what changes have helped her get healthy. Etheridge believes that a diet high in meats and processed foods led to cancer. The singer was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004. According to One Green Planet, she blames western society's diet and lifestyle for her illness. She says "Our own western lifestyle is one of the reasons that half of us have cancer – because our western lifestyle is so acidic; the food we eat causes acid... the meats, the processed foods... and it's really taxing us, and that's why we're seeing this epidemic." In her interview with Access Hollywood Live, Etheridge said that stress is also to blame for the massive number of cancer diagnoses, and that meditation has helped her spiritually and improved her health.
10/04/2011 LEONA LEWIS AND THE WSPA PROMOTE LIFE SAVING PROGRAM
Leona Lewis is helping to spread the word about the World Society for the Protection of Animals's program "Collars Not Cruelty." Around the world 20 million dogs are rounded up and killed each year because of the fear of rabies. The danger is real. 55,000 people die annually after contracting this horrible and painful disease. But both human and animal deaths can be solved with a simple program. Lewis and the WSPA are asking countries around the world to organize mass vaccinations instead of culling large numbers of dogs. After all, if you can round them up to slaughter them, surely you could just give them an injection instead. They would then put a red collar on the dog and know that that pooch doesn't pose a threat. Simple, effective and humane.
10/03/2011 STRAY DOGS AND CATS BEING BURNED ALIVE IN UKRAINE
Ukraine and Poland won the bid to host the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship. Government officials knew that major preparations needed to be arranged in the Ukraine in order to accomodate the thousands of people that attend the tournanment every year, but citizens were not aware that part of the preparation would include slaughtering stray animals. Stray dogs and cats were previously killed using an illegal poison called ditiline. According to authorities, they are now using a "more modern, environmentally safe" way of taking care of this problem. After the strays are captured, they are taken to a mobile crematorium. Essentially, the animals are thrown into a 900 degree oven and burned alive. Ukranian animal rights activists have been protesting this practice for more than a year, and operations director of the UEFA, Martin Kallen, has publicly said that he does not approve of any methods of animal control that constitute animaly cruelty.
10/01/2011 JAPAN TO RESUME WHALING
With their people and economy still reeling from this year's tragic and horrific earthquake and tsunami, the Japanese government is reportedly proceeding with plans to resume whaling in the Southern Ocean. Even more mind-numbing is news that an additional $25M US will be added to the estimated $40M cost of the program to beef up security for the whaling fleet. "The Japanese do not want to give in to Sea Shepherd, they don't want to bow to the threats and the obstruction they've seen on the high seas, they’re going to keep face and they're going to ensure that whaling will survive," reported Mark Willacy of ABC.net.au. In response, the Sea Shepherd wasted absolutely no time issuing a press release slamming Japan for its decision.
The number of news found: 21.
