News
The number of news found: 23.
07/30/2011 RUNAWAY COW TERESA REACHES SAFE MEADOWS
Last May a young cow made headlines because she had escaped from a farm in Messina and gone out to sea, desparately trying to cross the Messina Strait towards the shores of Calabria. When after a few miles the seafaring cow was dragged back on dry land she demonstrated an impressive wrath about the intervention by kicking and showing what stuff her horns are made of. The Italian media took huge interest in the bovine freedom fighter and even the Milan Veggie Pride in June was dedicated to her battle for survival. There was no lack of attempts to save courageous Teresa's life so that now the Happy End is near: She finally gets a new home in a farm in Mili (Messina). Good luck, Teresa! Congratulations!
07/29/2011 JAPAN WEIGHS WHALERS' FUTURE
The Japanese Government is formally weighing up its whaling fleet's Antarctic future - including for the first time an option to not return south. A Fisheries Agency of Japan review committee has taken evidence on all options, with most wanting to continue despite conservationist harassment, the well-informed newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun said. It said a minority opinion of the committee acknowledged that, after 25 years, Japan had failed to gain international support for the research, and proposed that it be scaled down or halted. The review committee was set up in April to take expert opinion on whether Japan should continue whaling in the Antarctic, Yomiuri said. For the first time last season, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's three ships were able to outlast the whalers.
07/29/2011 SARAH SILVERMAN SPEAKS UP FOR RINGLING BROS. ELEPHANTS
Comedian Sarah Silverman is getting serious for elephants. She has teamed up with PETA in an effort to save four elephants at Ringling Bros. circus. Silverman wrote a letter to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) urging them to remove the elephants from the circus. She states that veterinarian reports to the USDA have gone unanswered as the Ringling Bros. continues to force the elephants to travel and perform.
07/28/2011 PETA EXHIBIT TO COMPARE ANIMAL OPPRESSION TO HUMAN SLAVERY
PETA has announced a new exhibit on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. According to NBC, the exhibit will highlight "similarities between historic oppressions of human beings and the current exploitations of animals. The Natural History Museum's depictions of slavery in the South are used as a comparison to animal cruelty and oppression." PETA has named the exhibit "Glass Walls," from a quote by PETA-supporter and vegetarian Paul McCartney: "If slaughterhouses has glass walls, everyone would be vegetarian." It is also the name of a video that McCartney recorded for the animal rights organization depicting graphic slaughterhouse scenes and urging viewers to switch to a vegetarian diet. The video plays at the new exhibit alongside large panels of images of animal and human cruelty.
07/27/2011 NEW VEGAN DOCUMENTARY HELPS THE WORLD GET VEGUCATED
By now, many have learned that switching to a plant-based diet is ideal for the health of our planet, but making that transition from a Standard American Diet isn't always easy. A new feature-length documentary film "Vegucated" digs deeper into that transition and examines the shift that occurs when one fully commits to eating a vegan diet. Part sociological experiment and part adventure comedy, "Vegucated" follows three meat and cheese lovers from different backgrounds who agree to adopt a vegan diet for six weeks. Lured by tales of weight lost and health regained, they begin to uncover the hidden sides of animal agriculture that make them wonder whether solutions offered in films like "Food, Inc." go far enough.
07/27/2011 SPECTATOR GORED TO DEATH IN BULLRING
A bull has gored a 62-year-old man to death in a bullring during a festival in northwestern Spain. The man was behind a wooden protection barrier when the animal was released shortly after midnight into the temporary arena, which had been set up in the town of El Maderal for a bullfight to be held as part of an annual festival. The young bull rammed the barrier, knocking the man over. In August 2010, some 30 people were injured last year when a bull leapt out of the arena at a bullring in the northern town of Tafalla and clambered up the spectator stands. But there is intense debate in Spain over the centuries-old tradition of bullfighting. The northeastern region of Catalonia last year became the first part of mainland Spain to ban bullfighting, which animal activists condemn as a form of torture but others see as part of the country's cultural heritage.
07/26/2011 WHITE HOUSE GARDEN YIELDS A TON OF PRODUCE
Back in 2009, Michelle Obama had a vision to create a garden at the White House. With the help of school children and Sam Kass, assistant White House chef and senior policy adviser for healthy food initiatives, Mrs. Obama's dream became a reality. The start-up cost for the garden that now graces the South Lawn was $200 and it has produced over 2,000 pounds of produce to date in a 1,500 square foot space. The produce created at the White House includes a variety of vegetables (lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, etc.) and an abundance of fresh herbs (cilantro, rosemary, parsley, sage, thyme, etc.). Veggies produced on the South Lawn garden go to more than just the dinner table at the White House. What doesn't get stored, canned, or pickled goes to homeless shelters, the Navy mess that feeds the West Wing staff, and to the kitchen for State Dinners.
07/25/2011 PERU HAS BANNED WILD ANIMALS IN CIRCUSES
On July 21, President Alan Garcia signed into law an end to the use of wild animals in circuses, following an investigation of circus animal suffering and a long campaign by Animal Defenders International (ADI) and local animal protection groups in the region. With this ban, Peru is the second country in South America to take national steps to stop the suffering of animals in circuses, following the ban in Bolivia. Other countries considering similar moves are the UK, Brazil, Ecuador and Colombia.
07/23/2011 BANNED IN THE UK: ANMAL TESTING FOR HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS
Animal testing goes on all over the world. It is a sad fact that many are trying to eradicate. In Britian, the use of animal testing for cosmetics has been banned since 2008 and now in 2011 the country is finally taking steps to ban animal testing for household products. According to the Daily Mail, animal testing for household products will be subject to the same rules that the cosmetic industry has to abide by. Lynne Featherstone, Home Office minister, said of the ban, "We believe it is possible to sell household products without inflicting pain and suffering on animals, and it is unacceptable that testing in this area continues."
07/22/2011 AMERICAN AIRLINES STOPS FLYING PRIMATES FOR RESEARCH LABS
American Airlines reports that they will no longer fly primates being sent to research labs! The British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV) has stated that the airline changed its policy as a result of talks with them regarding the flying of primates for research, an issue that is the focus of their Cargo Cruelty campaign. The updated policy on the American Airlines website states that "AA Cargo will not accept primates used for laboratory research, experimentation, and exploitation purposes." The policy also includes the requirement that the primates "are being shipped from or to a zoo sanctuary, preserve or rehabilitation center."
07/21/2011 STEVE-O RECEIVES ANIMAL RIGHTS AWARD
Animal rights activist and Jackass star Stephen "Steve-O" Glover was honored in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Nanci Alexander, founder of the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida, presented him with the Nanci Alexander Award during a reception at her vegan restaurant, Sublime. Steve-O, who became a vegan after battling addiction issues, has been involved with numerous animal rights campaigns in recent years. In addition to appearing in anti-fur and seal-saving ads for PETA, he also led a protest outside the Edmonton zoo, asking zoo owners to allow Lucy, the zoo's ill and depressed elephant, to retire to an elephant sanctuary.
07/20/2011 LAMB IS WORST MEAT FOR ENVIRONMENT
Most of us already know that meat production isn't good for the environment. But the Environmental Working Group's in-depth study on the impact of raising animals for slaughter, especially in factory farming, sheds even more light on the subject. Lamb causes the most CO2 emissions both during and after production, more than even beef. Beef and cheese show up second and third on the list of CO2 offenders (not to mention the dangers of using antibiotics in crowded meat processing plants), followed by pork, farmed salmon, turkey, chicken, canned tuna, etc.
07/19/2011 DRUG FOR LONGER LIFE TO BE TESTED ON DOGS AND CATS
A team of scientists believe they have created a drug that may be the key to a longer life. Until the drug is approved for use in humans, it may be tested on your furry friends. According to the story in the Daily Mail, the drug works by protecting telomeres, or sections of DNA believed to be the key to affecting the aging process, thereby increasing lifespan. However, the drug is still not considered safe for humans, and may be tested by adding it to companion animals foods. How do you feel about the new drug being tested out on your animal buddies?
07/18/2011 AMRITA RAO IS "POWERED BY TOFU"
Since her sensational breakthrough role in Ishq Vishk, Bollywood star Amrita Rao has never looked back. She has received many accolades for her acting in movies such as Main Hoon Na and Vivaah. After her new release, Love You, Mr Kalakaar, Amrita is revealing how she maintains her fitness and stamina - by maintaining a vegetarian diet. In her brand-new ad for PETA India, Amrita tells the world that she is "powered by tofu."
07/15/2011 LAB WORKERS INDICTED ON FELONY CRUELTY CHARGES
In a landmark move, a North Carolina grand jury has returned indictments for 14 counts of felony cruelty-to-animals against four individuals, including a supervisor, who worked at Professional Laboratory Research Services (PLRS), which was investigated by PETA last fall. This marks the first time in U.S. history that laboratory workers have faced felony cruelty charges for their abuse of animals in a laboratory and only the second time that experimenters have faced criminal prosecution for cruelty. Mary Ramsey and Jessica Detty were each indicted on five counts, while Christine Clement and Tracy Small were each indicted on two counts. The accused are among those caught on video kicking, throwing, and dragging dogs; hoisting rabbits by their ears and puppies by their throats; violently slamming cats into cages; and screaming obscenities at terrified animals.
07/14/2011 OBAMA ADMINISTRATION REACHES AGREEMENT WITH WILDLIFE ADVOCATES
On Tuesday, the Obama Administration reached an agreement with wildlife advocates that would require the Interior Department to extend protection to a number of threatened species. If approved, the deal would make 2018 the deadline to set additional protections for 757 plant and animal species, including the Miami Blue butterfly, Pacific walrus and the wolverine.
07/13/2011 SEA SHEPHERD SPEAKS OUT AT INTERNATIONAL WHALING COMMISSION
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has been officially banned from attending the International Whaling Commission (IWC) since 1987, but that has not stopped them from showing up to defend whales. Captain Paul Watson, crew members, and a crowd of supporters may not be allowed to attend the meeting, but they're making sure they're heard at the IWC. Sea Shepherd's last anti-whaling campaign, Operation No Compromise, ended Japan's whale hunting season one month early, leaving the fleet hundreds of whales short of their quota. Inside the IWC meetings, Japan continues to criticize the actions of the conservation organization. Meanwhile, Watson is promising that if Japan returns to Antarctica, so will he and his crew. The captain has already announced that the potential 2011-2012 campaign would be called Operation Divine Wind, and says "Sea Shepherd will never retreat or surrender in the face of threats and opposition from the Japanese whalers and the Japanese government. The conservation society is committed to ending illegal whaling activities in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary and will utilize every, and all aggressive non-violent strategies and tactics to achieve that objective."
07/11/2011 PORTIA DE ROSSI SAYS "IT'S MORE DIFFICULT TO BE VEGAN THAN GAY"
Portia de Rossi is gracing the cover of July/Aug issue of VegNews magazine with a big smile and a healthy glow. Inside the mag, Portia dishes on cooking for her wife (Ellen DeGeneres), her passion for animals and what restaurants to go to for the best veg food. She also opened up about how much tougher it is to be vegan than it is to be gay. "Listen, I think it's more difficult to be vegan than gay," Portia says in the interview. "I think people have a harder time accepting it; people feel more uncomfortable with a vegan at their dinner table than they do a lesbian. It's confronting. It's kind of suggesting that what someone else is doing is bad or wrong, and it hits them on a more personal level."
07/08/2011 BROADWAY BARKS TO BENEFIT DOGS AND CATS IN NYC SHELTERS
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDs is bringing you a very entertaining way to help shelter animals!The 13th annual Broadway Barks, this Saturday, July 9 at Shubert Alley, will shine the spotlight on dogs and cats in desperate need of good homes. This event, founded and hosted by Mary Tyler Moore and Bernadette Peters, will include actors Annabella Sciorra, Bebe Neuwirth, and many more! Along with the stars of the stage, adoptable animals will be there from various organizations including Humane Society of New York, ASPCA, and North Shore Animal League America. The potential pets will be presented by attending celebrities. Last year, over 200 animals found loving homes at Broadway Barks!
07/07/2011 SMUGGLED INDIAN SPECIES FLOOD BANGKOK MARKET
Live Endangered Indian species are being trafficked to the infamous Chatuchak market in Bangkok, with Suvarnabhumi airport acting as the convenient transit point. Nearly 400 live turtles, ghariyals, star tortoises besides leopard and bear cubs were recently seized at the Swarnabhumi International airport in Bangkok. According to Traffic India, Bangladesh is fast emerging as a hub for illegal wildlife trade.
07/06/2011 MCCARTNEY SHOT DOWN WEIRD AL YANKOVIC OVER CHICKEN PARODY SONG
Weird Al Yankovic is out and about promoting his new album "Apocalypse" and dropping some amusing tales – like the time Paul McCartney stopped him from parodying his "Live and Let Die" hit. Yankovic had originally wanted to change the title to "Chicken Pot Pie" but McCartney insisted he find a different subject. "He didn't want a song used in any context that would be supposedly promoting the consumption of animal flesh," the comedian recently recalled on the The B.S. Report podcast. "It's a valid reason and I get it," continued Yankovic, himself a vegetarian. "And I hate it when people put him on the list of humorless guys, because that wasn't the case at all." In fact, he said, "Think of any other subject and I’m happy to OK it."
07/05/2011 BIRDS ARE FIRST NON-HUMAN ANIMALS TO USE GRAMMAR
When it comes to syntax, Bengal Finches know where it's at. This particular species of bird is rather sensitive to unfamiliar bird calls - for instance, if they hear a sound they don't recognize, they'll reply with a burst of their own loud "chattering." Kentaro Abe, a researcher at Kyoto University, began a study where he played these recordings to the finches. Eventually, the birds became so familiar with the sounds, they no longer reacted aggressively when played. After the other songs became like second nature to them, he took the recordings and jumbled them four different ways. The finches only reacted to one pattern of calls!
07/01/2011 DUTCH PARLIAMENT OUTLAWS THE SLAUGHTER OF ANMALS WITHOUT STUNNING
Eurogroup for Animals welcomes the vote by the Dutch Parliament which makes stunning prior to slaughter, including for religious slaughter obligatory in the Netherlands. This is a step forward for animal welfare as it ends the exemption for religious slaughter where animals are killed fully conscious without stunning on religious grounds and this will alleviate the suffering of up to one million animals in The Netherlands. The Bill, which received overwhelming support in the Parliament (116 out of 150 votes), is based on the strong scientific consensus that animals rendered unconscious prior to slaughter suffer less than animals bled while fully conscious. The ban is not directed against religious slaughter as such, it only states that religion is not a sufficient reason to let animals suffer unnecessarily.
The number of news found: 23.
