News
The number of news found: 33.
09/30/2011 JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE EARNS AWARD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP
On October 15 the singer and actor Justin Timberlake will be awarded by the Environmental Media Association with a "Futures Award." This accolade, which Edward Norton, Rosario Dawson, and Maroon 5 have also received, honors future environmental leaders in entertainment. The EMA pointed out that in addition to J.T.'s eco-friendly golf course in Tennessee he also does what he can to reduce his carbon footprint while on tour. This isn't the first time that Timberlake has been awarded for his good deeds. Back in April at the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards he was presented with the "Big Help Award" for inspiring kids to help others.
09/28/2011 URBAN GARDEN GROWING ORGANIC PRODUCE IN CHICAGO'S O'HARE AIRPORT
If you have to travel in or out of Chicago's busy O'Hare International Airport, take a few minutes to enjoy some fresh organic produce grown right in the airport! According to ABC News, as of Friday, O'Hare is home to the world's first airport aeroponic garden, meaning that a solution of water and minerals is used instead of soil. The seeds start in small containers made out of "a natural volcanic ash material" and are moved into tall towers once they have grown. There are 44 types of organic vegetables and herbs growing in the garden, located in the rotunda building nestled between terminals, including swiss chard, chives and habanero peppers.
09/27/2011 TORONTO BANS PET STORE SALES OF DOGS AND CATS TO FIGHT PUPPY MILLS
The Toronto city council voted on September 21 unanimously to ban the sale of dogs and cats in pet stores. Most of the adorable puppies and kittens you find in stores are from large-scale breeding operations, and these breeders continue to breed more and more animals while shelters and rescue groups continue to be overcrowded with dogs and cats in need of homes. According to CTV News, Councillor Glenn De Baeremaker's proposed ban went before the council in May but it was postponed. He says that the new ban "slams the door closed on people who mass produce animals for profit" and will allow those who adopt animals to know they were "treated humanely and with love."
09/26/2011 BULLFIGHTING IN BARCELONA ENDS WITH CATALONIA BAN
Bullfighting fans in Catalonia have seen the last fights before a ban on the age-old tradition comes into effect in Spain's north-eastern region. About 20,000 spectators filled Barcelona's famous Monumental arena, where top matadors performed. Lawmakers voted for the ban last year - the first in mainland Spain - after 180,000 people signed a petition. They say the bullfighting is barbaric, but opponents say they will challenge the ban in Spain's top court. The ban takes effect on 1 January, but Sunday's fights in Catalonia were the last events of the 2011 season.
09/26/2011 RUBY ROSE BARES ALL FOR PETA AND MAXIM
Ruby Rose would rather go naked than wear fur and she's stripped down for MAXIM Australia. The Aussie model and DJ appears on the cover of October issue of the magazine wearing nothing more than tattoos and a sultry pout. The shoot, which features Rose modeling a variety of wigs and not much else, is a joint venture between MAXIM and PETA, and is supposed to function as an anti-fur campaign. The model has been a PETA supporter for years. Rose is staunchly against the use of fur in fashion, and has openly criticized the Australias Next Top Model for the use of fur on the show.
09/24/2011 MALAYSIA ILL-TREATS ORANGUTANS
An international conservation group has ripped into the Malaysian government for turning a blind eye to the plight of eight abused orangutans. In a press statement, Nature Alert said that it had investigated the disappearance of the eight from the A'Famosa Resort in Malacca after the orangutan show was banned last April. The animals were recently discovered at an undisclosed location hunched inside cages with little hair left, malnourished and suffering from severe depression. Earlier this year Nature Alert had sent Perhilitan photos of the building in which the orangutans were thought to be held and requesting an immediate investigation. However, all those requests were ignored. Over 1,500 people have e-mailed Perhilitan to date expressing their concern for the health of these orangutans.
09/23/2011 ALTHOUGH NOT BEING VEGAN AFTER ALL, BILL CLINTON SAYS VEGAN LIFESTYLE DOESN'T SUCK
Former president Bill Clinton made headlines last month when he announced that he'd adopted a vegan lifestyle. And although it seemed at the time that he had completely removed animal products from his diet, it turns out that that's not exactly the case. During an interview with talk show host and Food Network star Rachael Ray, Clinton confessed that he's mostly vegan. Although it sounds like he's on the meat-free bandwagon for health reasons as opposed to animal-rights ones, at least he's putting the lifestyle in a positive light.
09/22/2011 KE$HA DESIGNING FAUX FUR CLOTHING LINE
Ke$ha is designing a new clothing line that will showcase her love of unique fashion as well as her love of animals. According to Vegetarian Star, Ke$ha is reportedly creating a collection of faux fur clothes that she says will be "animal friendly." Ke$ha has maintained that any fur she wears is fake and that you won't be spotting her in a fur coat. "I just love animals, and I'm an advocate for animals rights, and my family has rescued dogs from all over the world. I don't believe in animal testing. If you see me in fur, it's always fake." Along with advocating for the use of faux fur, she has also appeared in PETA's ad campaigns against the Canadian seal hunt, in which hundreds of thousands of seals are killed for their fur as well as meat and oil each year.
09/21/2011 VEGETARIAN BUTCHER SHOP CHAIN GROWS IN THE NETHERLANDS AS MEAT DEMAND DROPS
As the citizens of the Netherlands look for meat alternatives, a very different chain of butcher shops is looking to meet that demand. The stores offer a wide selection of "faux meats." The chain now includes 30 stores which offer "chicken, bacon, gyros, sausage" among other vegetarian and vegan products. Founder Niko Koffeman says the company is looking to provide alternatives to meat from animals but also food that is more sustainable. According to Radio Netherlands Worldwide, 75% of people in the Netherlands no longer eat meat daily, which may account for the reason The Vegetarian Butcher has grown so rapidly. The first store opened in October 2010, and less than one year later, 30 stores are in business.
09/21/2011 ROB LOWE HELPS SPECIAL NEEDS DOGS AT CALIFORNIA SHELTER
Rob Lowe, his son Matthew, and his brother and fellow actor Chad Lowe have all been putting in quality pup time at One Dog Rescue in California. The Lowe men have been helping to rganize adoption events, footing the bill for mobile spay/neuter clinics and purchasing toys for the dogs. Matthew Lowe is especially dedicated and visits the dogs at the shelter, as well as checks in on them in their foster homes. Through providing rehabilitation, surgery, fostering and training for these small dogs, they get them ready for their brand new forever homes.
09/20/2011 WOODY HARRELSON AND PETA ASK THE ARMY TO END TESTS POISONING MONKEYS
Long-time vegan and animal advocate Woody Harrelson has joined forces with PETA to ask the Army to stop their cruel testing on monkeys. According to PETA, Harrelson sent a letter this to General Raymond T. Odierno, the new Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, asking him to stop the poisoning of monkeys at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. In his letter, he says "I learned from PETA that the U.S. Army will soon conduct outdated tests in which a nerve agent is injected into monkeys at Aberdeen Proving Ground. The monkeys forced through this procedure will suffer the wretched symptoms of chemical poisoning, including seizures, breathing difficulties, loss of bowel control, and convulsions." PETA also points out that these tests violate military policy "requiring the use of non-animal methods when available and prohibiting harming primates for training exercises."
09/20/2011 KELLY BROOK SLITHERS HER WAY INTO NEW PETA CAMPAIGN
Known as a sultry actress and cover model in England, Kelly Brook is adding to her resume by posing as a snake for a new PETA campaign. She recently stripped down and was painted like a slithering creature in support of animals being killed for the use of their skins. The sexy photo shoot was shot by singer Bryan Adams in his London studio. Brook's new campaign will be seen on billboards and as you can see above the slogan reads, "Whose Skin Are You In? Animals Belong in the Wild, Not In Your Wardrobe." "It makes my skin crawl to think about the violent ways snakes, lizards, alligators and other exotic creatures are raised and killed for boots, bags and belt," Brook said. "Our message is to support the designers who are creative without being destructive, and go for the great fakes that pay tribute to the animals' beauty without killing them."
09/19/2011 IAN SOMERHALDER FIGHTS PIPELINE
Joining celebs like Mark Ruffalo and Daryl Hannah Ian Somerhalder is speaking out against the Keystone XL Pipeline. The The Vampire Diaries star has asked President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to stop the proposed pipeline, which would transport oil from Canada through the United States to refineries in Texas. "The proposed Keystone XL pipeline puts fish and wildlife at risk, threatens the health and livelihood of countless American farmers, and perpetuates the United States' unhealthy dependence on oil. On behalf of myself, the IS Foundation, and the 22,000 people who have already signed our Stop the Tar Sands Oil Keystone XL Pipeline Petition, we strongly urge the Obama Administration to follow through on its promise to end the age of oil in our time," said Somerhalder. His activism goes beyond a simple statement to the White House. He's asked his million-plus Twitter followers to get involved by signing an online petition, and his foundation is also reaching out to kids around the world, asking them to get involved in the fight.
09/17/2011 EU COURT REJECTS INUIT CHALLENGE OF SEAL TRADE BAN
Europe's top court has rejected a bid by Inuit seal hunters and fur traders to strike down an EU ban on products derived from the Arctic animals. The Luxembourg-based European Court of Justice refused to hear the challenge brought by 17 organizations, including Canada's largest Inuit group, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), according to a 12-page decision dated September 6. "Inuit are disappointed that the EU did not see fit to rule on the merits of this case, and have dismissed it, on technical grounds as inadmissible without a hearing," ITK leader Mary Simon said in a statement. The ban, approved bn 2009 under pressure from animal rights groups, includes an exemption for seal products derived from hunts traditionally conducted by Inuit and indigenous communities for subsistence.
09/16/2011 ELISABETTA CANALIS BARES ALL FOR PETA
Back in May, when she was still famously known as "George Clooney's Girlfriend," model Elisabetta Canalis posed for a series of sultry photos as part of PETA's "I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur" campaign. Four months later, the 33-year-old no longer is set to capture the hearts of Americans on her own as a contestant on the new season of "Dancing with the Stars." And there's perhaps no better way to make her an early favorite than with the release of those new PETA ads. "I decided to go nude because I think that nudity always creates a big reaction," she told the animal rights org. "That is what is required to keep people's attention on such a brutal practice... These poor animals are electrocuted, skinned alive, drowned, and bludgeoned just for the sake of fashion."
09/15/2011 FARM SANCTUARY LAUNCHES A CAMPAIGN TO BUILD A SMALL ANIMAL HOSPITAL
Farm Sanctuary has rescued and rehabilitated thousands of abused and neglected farm animals at their two sanctuaries. Now, they have asked supporters to help them build a hospital for small animals. The hospital will allow more rescued animals to have veterinary care without leaving the farm. Farm Sanctuary President and Co-Founder Gene Baur asks that supporters help Farm Sanctuary achieve their goal of $190,000 by making a donation and becoming a member. If you get your membership by the end of this month, your impact will be even greater – in fact, twice as great! "To encourage you to join by September 30, two fellow supporters have generously agreed to match your contribution dollar-for-dollar — up to $100,000."
09/15/2011 LEONA LEWIS LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO SAVE U.K. ANIMAL SANCTUARY
Leona Lewis's latest effort for the animals is a campaign to save a U.K. animal sanctuary in need of donations. The singer recently tweeted to her followers that she needs help to save the Hopefield Animal Sanctuary in Essex. According to contactmusic, she also asked local businesses to help in anyway they can. Hopefield Animal sanctuary is home to hundreds of rescued animals. According to their website "horses, donkeys, goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, geese, ducks, cats and more" call Hopefield home. "Hopefield is unique in its mission to provide a 'home for life' to all of its resident animals. The sanctuary provides a safe haven to animals that need it, offering neglected and unwanted animals the life they deserve; free from fear and harm."
09/14/2011 GRAFFITI ARTIST'S SURPRISE ARTWORK IN SANTA MONICA TO BENEFIT SEA SHEPHERD
A massive piece of artwork that had been covered by tarps for months, was unveiled in Santa Monica, California. Graffiti artist Risk (Kelly Graval) and his fellow creators of the piece say that they hope it will "remind viewers of the pollution fouling the world's oceans." The exhibition will travel to other locations while raising money for Sea Shepherd Conservation Society as well as Heal The Bay, a environmental group local to Santa Monica. Adam Corlin, a developer who asked the artists Risk and Retna to create the piece, explained the aspects of the painting: "the colors were meant to signify the sun (yellows), layers of pollution (purples) and the Earth (blues and greens)." Risk also chimed in on his work, "If you read the typical negative press, people consider [graffiti to be] taking from society," the bearded artist said. "This is giving back. (...) The main thing about this mural is to bring people awareness of the whole issue."
09/13/2011 RYAN GOSLING'S ACTIVISIM IS FOR THE BIRDS
Canadian actor Ryan Gosling is fighting cruel slaughterhouse practices by writing a letter on behalf of PETA pleading for more humane treatment of birds. Many slaughterhouses euthanize sick chickens and turkeys by slowly suffocating them with foam. According to PETA, this method can take up to 15 minutes and induce panic in the dying birds. In a letter he wrote to the USDA last week, Gosling asks that the government put a stop to the inhumane practice. Gosling suggests that the government switch to a veterinary approved method of euthanasia that utilizes carbon dioxide to render the birds unconscious. This is not the first time that Gosling has partnered with PETA to help his feathered friends. Last year, the actor wrote a letter to the president of KFC, asking him to treat the company's chickens more humanely.
09/13/2011 PETA AUSTRALIA PROTEST GETS FASHION WEEK SHOWS TO DITCH FUR
It's Spring Fashion Week in Melbourne, and PETA had something to say about fur being worn on models instead of its original owners. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, protesters climbed up onto the runway alongside the fashion models and chanting and holding up signs that read "Fur is Dead." Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Robert Doyle, who worked with the Fashion Week organizers said, "It was managed very well at the time... Five minutes or so and a brief pause [in the show], and they had made their point. But we had to think very hard about this because, although these young designers have put in an awful lot of work, we couldn't risk something happening." So, fur was pulled from all shows remaining in the week's schedule.
09/12/2011 KE$HA NAMED HSI'S FIRST GLOBAL AMBASSADOR FOR ANIMALS
Ke$ha is a vegetarian and animal advocate, and has given her support to animal organizations in the past. We told you about her teaming up with PETA to speak out against the Canadian seal hunt. Now, the singer has been named Humane Society International’s (HSI) first Global Ambassador for Animals. HSI Vice President Kitty Block says, "We believe empathy for animals is a basic human condition that needs to be encouraged and celebrated. Ke$ha, with her interest in our cause and international recognition, is in a unique position to help us promote a global culture of compassion for animals."
09/12/2011 SEA SHEPHERD MARKS THEIR "LITTLE GREEN HOLM" ISLAND AS A SEAL SANCTUARY
After their summer campaign in the Faroe Islands to stop the slaughter of pilot whales, the Sea Shepherds made a stop to visit the seals that call their Little Holm Island home. According to commentary by Steve Irwin ship manager James Brook, Sea Shepherd purchased the island in 1985 when the seals were in danger of being hunted and clubbed by sealers. Captain Paul Watson was able to raise 5000 pounds and bought the island to protect the seals.
09/10/2011 CALIFORNIA SENATE PASSES CONSERVATION BILL BANNING SHARK FINS
The AB376, the California bill banning shark fins, was passed by the California Senate on September 6! According to a press release from WildAid, the bill was passed by a vote of 25 to 9, and will now move on to Governor Jerry Brown's desk. Most are expecting that he will sign the bill into law within a week. The legislation will prohibit any "sale, trade, and possession of shark fins within the state." Shark finning is strongly opposed by both environmental and animal organizations as it claims a massive amount of sharks thereby harming the ocean ecosystems while also killing the sharks painfully and slowly by hauling them onto ships, cutting off their fins and throwing them back into the water alive.
09/08/2011 MERCY FOR ANIMALS UNVEILS HUNDREDS OF PRO-VEGETARIAN TRANSIT ADS IN CHICAGO
Mercy For Animals (MFA) is known for their tireless outreach work educating the public about the suffering of farmed animals and the positive impact of a diet without meat and animal products, as well as for their cruelty investigations and the resulting video footage from factory farms. Now, they have unveiled a massive ad campaign promoting vegetarianism in the busy Chicago transit system. MFA has placed hundreds of billboards and ads throughout the Windy City. Some are on train station platforms, on buses, or inside buses and trains. The ads ask the commuters to "choose vegetarian" and provide the resource Chooseveg.com, an MFA site with information on why "choosing veg" will help animals, the earth and your health, as well as tips on making the transition, tons of recipes and more.
09/08/2011 SCHNITZEL IS BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
If you want to protect the environment, you should first of all think about eating less meat. A study done at the Vienna University of Technology (TU Vienna) unveils the remarkable ecological advantages of a well-balanced diet. Together with an interdisciplinary team of scientists, Professor Matthias Zessner from the TU Vienna has tried to find out, what it would mean for the environment, if people switched to a healthier diet. The result: it would help to save resources and cultivable land. Eating organic food has less far-reaching consequences. If you want to benefit yourself and the environment, eating fruit and vegetables turns out to be much more important than going organic.
09/07/2011 EATING MEAT BRINGS OUT THE WORST IN PEOPLE
People who eat meat are more selfish, less social and more distant. At least that's what three professors from Tilburg and Nijmegen report after having conducted several studies about the psychological impact of of meat and meat eating. According to the findings carnivores feel superior to others whilst vegetarians and flexitarians are happier and less lonely. The studies were done by psychologist Marcel Zeelenberg, consumer scientist Diederik Stapel (Tilburg University) and psychologist Roos Vonk (Radboud University). Experiments showed that insecure people preferred beef to eggs and fish. Furthermore groups having seen a picture of a cow and steak demonstrated a more selfish attitude in multiple choice tests, compared to those having seen a tree. "Carnivores think more in terms of dominance and being the boss. Eating meat is a way to rise up above others," says Vonk.
09/06/2011 ECUADOR YASUNI RAINFOREST UNDER THREAT FROM OIL BELOW
Ecuador's Yasuni rainforest is home to more species of animals, plants, and insects than anywhere else in the world. It also happens to be home to 846 million barrels of oil worth a whopping $7.2 billion in revenue. The oil is buried beneath the Yasuni rainforest and the Ecuador government wants to keep it that way. Instead of digging up the oil and creating a revenue for the country, Ecuador has asked the developed world to pay to keep the oil where it is. The Yasuni national park sits near the equator between the Andes Mountains and the Amazon Rainforest.
09/05/2011 THE GERMAN "RUNAWAY COW" FINDS HOME AT ANIMAL SANCTUARY
Yvonne has been in the news since escaping from a Bavarian farm in May. Now, she finally has a home, and it won't be the farm she managed to escape. Yvonne was spotted by a farmer on Friday when she jumped a fence to join fellow cows on the farm. It's the end of months of hiding in the forests and being chased, once almost colliding with a police car. The tag on her ear confirmed that she was in fact the famous "runaway cow" and the farmer called her new home, Gut Aiderbichl animal sanctuary. The sanctuary purchased Yvonne from her previous owners to ensure that when she was found, she would be brought to safety. She is being kept with calves on the farm until the Gut Aiderbichl sanctuary arrives to bring her home. The farm reported that she was grazing along with the calves, and "healthy and calm."
09/03/2011 KELLY SLATER USES TWITTER TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR DOLPHINS AND FUKUSHIMA RELIEF
Professional surfer Kelly Slater took to his Twitter account to promote awareness for dolphins and Fukushima relief. Slater first tweeted, "How 'bout this, Japan? Dont kill any dolphins this year & I'll donate $100K to Fukushima relief and raise more." Later on, Slater quickly tweeted to clear up any confusion his fans and followers may have encountered with his previous Tweet. "Dolphins and Fukushima aren't actually connected in any way so I apologize if offended. (...)" Slater continued his mission of support for both causes and said, "Today begins dolphin killings. If we can raise awareness of Fukushima Radiation problem/solutions (not just funds) and leverage against slaughter, many people win and work together. Social media is amazing like that."
09/03/2011 HONEY LABRONX STARTS "VEGAN DRAG QUEEN" COOKING SHOW
Honey LaBronx, also known as the Vegan Drag Queen, has added a cooking show to her website, she told us via Twitter. On the blog Honey's Kitchen, Honey says the site is for both vegans and non-vegans. The new cooking show will put that into how-to videos for making different vegan dishes. The first episode of The Vegan Drag Queen Cooking Show is up and Honey shows viewers how to make basic seitan.
09/02/2011 SAVE JAPAN DOLPHINS DAY KICKED OFF IN TAIJI
Yesterday started the infamous dolphin slaughter season in Japan. Around the world, activists gathered in their own ways to mark the day with protests, prayers, and initiatives aimed at spreading awareness on the issue. Ric O'Barry, one the world's leading dolphin activists, ventured to Taiji, Japan to view the killing cove and lead a prayer group in marking the occasion. Despite the regional police conducting drills earlier this summer in an effort to control "foreigners" protesting the hunt, O'Barry said they were nothing but respectful towards the group. Earlier this week, Sea Shepherd announced "Operation Infinite Patience: Return of the Cove Guardians", saying that they once again intend to have a second-wave of volunteers come to Taiji over the next six months to non-violently "intimidate, intervene, harass, and considerably slow down the dolphin killing."
09/01/2011 TRIPOLI ZOO ANIMALS SUFFER
CNN Senior International Correspondent Nic Robertson discovered a dire situation Tuesday at the Tripoli Zoo, struggling to function as a nationwide conflict rages around it. Robertson found the gates locked and was told the zoo was under renovation - that there were no animals there. But a big cat's roar told a different story, and Robertson followed the sound - underscored by the echo of gunfire in the distance - to find enclosures holding a tiger, lions, giant tortoises, hippos, hyenas, bears, monkeys, deer, emus and more. All the animals appeared undernourished and struggling as they waited for food and for water where there was little or none to be found. During the CNN visit, the zookeeper arrived and explained that for seven days amid the turmoil of conflict in Tripoli, the animals got nothing. Now 10 of the 200-person staff have returned and are trying to feed all the animals.
09/01/2011 BARBARIC CHINESE CAT MARKET CLOSED
The barbaric cat market exposed by The Mail on Sunday has been shut down by police in China after pressure from thousands of horrified readers. The report - followed up by newspapers and magazines throughout the world - detailed the appalling conditions the animals are forced to endure before being killed and eaten in restaurants. Animal welfare organizations said the closure of the Xin Yuan market in the city of Guangzhou, capital of the southern province of Guangdong, represented a "significant victory" for The Mail on Sunday and its readers because it is not illegal to sell cats for food in China. The country's embassy in London was flooded with calls and letters - many of them from Chinese people living in Britain - who were shocked by the sickening trade.
The number of news found: 33.
