News
The number of news found: 31.
11/30/2011 GERMAN BUNDESRAT BACKED BAN ON WILD CIRCUS ANIMALS
On November 25, the German Second Chamber has finally adopted a bill which will ban the use of wild animals in circuses. The bill which mentions that monkeys, elephants, big bears, giraffes, rhinos and hippos must be banned in circuses allows to extend the ban to other animals such as big cats and all wild animals in general. By adopting this motion, the Bundesrat sends a clear signal to the German Federal Government to take action and implement the ban as soon as possible. It is very unlikely that the latter would reject this decision, unless it has a strong reasons, in which case it will have to articulate such arguments.
11/29/2011 PETA DESIGNS POSTAGE STAMPS WITH FAMOUS VEGETARIANS TO LICK ANIMAL ABUSE
Once again PETA is crafting a new way to prevent animal abuse and this time it's through the mail. Just in time for the holiday season, they will be showcasing the top 20 vegetarians of all-time by putting their faces on postage stamps. Some of the veggie-lovers include Oscar winner Natalie Portman, former Beatle Paul McCartney and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres. Morrissey, Russell Simmons, Woody Harrelson, Chrissie Hynde, Joan Jett, Leona Lewis and Bryan Adams will also be honored in the commemorative edition. Even historic figures will be featured on the stamps like Gandhi, Leonardo da Vinci, Johnny Appleseed and César Chávez. The unique collection will be launched at a Hollywood event today with help from Pamela Anderson, Bob Barker and Steve-O, all who are also featured on the stamps. In addition to these animal activists' faces, statements explaining why they're vegetarian are included.
11/29/2011 GISELE BÜNDCHEN WINS BEST GREEN INTERNATIONAL CELEBRITY AWARD
With all the green celebrities in the world working hard to save the planet, it's an honor to be named the best. Gisele Bündchen beat out Paul McCartney, former flame Leonardo DiCaprio, Don Cheadle, Cameran Diaz and more for the title of Best Green International Celebrity at the 6th annual International Green Awards. Gisele has always been generous with her time and works for a variety of causes. She serves as the Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Environment Programme, and has supported environmental initiatives like the Yikatu Xingu Project, the Agua Limpia Project and the "I Manage the World in a Sustainable Way" project. The International Green Awards took place at the Natural History Museum in London on November 24, 2011.
11/28/2011 MATT DAMON CALLS PETA BOUT ATTENDING BULLFIGHT, WANTS THE FIGHTS BANNED
The recent news and photos of Matt Damon attending a bullfight in Mexico were bound to get a response from PETA and animal advocates. Animal lovers and Matt Damon fans, rejoice – it turns out the actor didn't like what he saw at the event and is voicing his support of a bullfighting ban. When PETA contacted Damon, the actor called the organization back himself to explain. According to the Daily Mail, Damon said he attended the bullfight with friends and his belief that the events should be banned has only gotten stronger.
11/26/2011 JANUARY JONES WANTS YOU TO BE SCARED FOR SHARKS INSTEAD OF SCARED OF SHARKS
Continuing her advocacy on behalf of sharks, January Jones spoke up again for some of the biggest fishes in the sea. In 2009 she started her work with the conservation organization Oceana, even going so far as to meet with members of Congress to try to pass legislation to protect them. Earlier this year she swam with whale sharks and asked the world to stop being afraid of sharks, and instead, start worrying about what we're doing to the ever diminishing population of the ocean's perfect predator. Jones says in her PSA, "You should be scared for whale sharks. Tens of millions of sharks are caught for their fins every year. Most, like whale sharks, are completely uninterested in us. So its silly to be scared of them. We should be scared for them." With states like California and Hawaii outlawing the sale of shark fins, we're well on our way to finally acting responsibly towards these creatures, but there is a lot of work still to be done.
11/26/2011 JANUARY JONES WANTS YOU TO BE SCARED FOR SHARKS INSTEAD OF SCARED OF SHARKS
Continuing her advocacy on behalf of sharks, January Jones spoke up again for some of the biggest fishes in the sea. In 2009 she started her work with the conservation organization Oceana, even going so far as to meet with members of Congress to try to pass legislation to protect them. Earlier this year she swam with whale sharks and asked the world to stop being afraid of sharks, and instead, start worrying about what we're doing to the ever diminishing population of the ocean's perfect predator. Jones says in her PSA, "You should be scared for whale sharks. Tens of millions of sharks are caught for their fins every year. Most, like whale sharks, are completely uninterested in us. So its silly to be scared of them. We should be scared for them." With states like California and Hawaii outlawing the sale of shark fins, we're well on our way to finally acting responsibly towards these creatures, but there is a lot of work still to be done.
11/25/2011 TIPPI HEDREN CALLS FOR FEDERAL LAW BANNING EXOTIC CAT BREED
Actress and animal activist Tippi Hedren is calling for a federal law that would ban the breeding of exotic cats as pets or for personal ownership. One month ago, the release of almost 60 exotic animals from a private zoo in Zanesville, Ohio owned by Terry Thompson, who then committed suicide, led to the killing of 48 of those animals. The survivors were taken to a zoo. The tragedy sparked outrage from many, including Hedren who is now citing the incident as a reminder that legislation is needed. According to the Lancaster Eagle Gazette, Hedren said, "I was so angry when I first heard what happened at the Thompson farm. There is not one good thing about having a wild animal in captivity. They should be born free and should be able to live free." She also specified that breeders licensed or certified by the USDA should not be exempt from a new law, saying "This is a huge business where people are making millions and millions of dollars."
11/24/2011 THE "NEW YORK TIMES" GOES VEG FOR THANKSGIVING!
Sweet Potato Salad, Coconut Butternut Squash Soup and Creamy Onion Tart are all part of the New York Times' collection of vegetarian and vegan Thanksgiving recipes. Each November, the Times' Well blog goes veg, collecting a host of Thanksgiving recipes - from soup to salad and entree to dessert - sure to please any palate. In addition to serving up some non-traditional choices, this year's collection features a bounty of pumpkin and sweet potato themed dishes. In honor of their Third Annual Vegetarian Thanksgiving, Well teamed up with vegan chef and author Nava Atlas, who provided some of this year's recipes. Atlas is a great choice, since she just released a new cookbook entitled, Vegan Holiday Kitchen: More than 200 Delicious, Festive Recipes for Special Occasions. The blog is also highlighting recipes from John Schlimm's The Tipsy Vegan: 75 Boozy Recipes to Turn Every Bite Into Happy Hour. With recipes like these, saving a turkey has never been easier.
11/24/2011 WILLIE NELSON SPEAKING OUT AGAINST OHIO LAW TARGETING PIT BULLS
Willie Nelson has joined the Best Friends Animal Society (BFAS) in opposing an Ohio law labeling all pit bulls in the state as "vicious dogs." According to the Toledo Blade, the singer and ambassador for BFAS, calls the law "archaic," and wrote an email to a committee of the Ohio Senate asking the Senators to support a new bill that would change the current law. It has already been passed in the House as House Bill 14 with a vote of 69-29.
11/23/2011 PETA IS "DIVORCING" KIM KARDASHIAN FROM FUR
Kim Kardashian's furry wardrobe has been on PETA's radar and they've contacted her several times to ask her to quit this bad habit. The animal activist website has taken another tactic to get her attention. A billboard will be placed on Beverly Boulevard in West Hollywood with Kardashian, wearing fur nonetheless, strategically placed next to baby foxes. It reads, "Kim: These babies miss their mother. IS SHE ON YOUR BACK?" The sign will go up in early December and encourages, not just the Kardashian family, but everyone to go fur-free this holiday season and year-round. "Kim knows that animals on fur farms are beaten, electrocuted, and often skinned alive. We've explained it to her, and she's watched a video exposé that was filmed inside fur farms," PETA Senior Vice President Lisa Lange said to US Weekly.
11/23/2011 EU COMMISSION PROPOSES FULL BAN ON SHARK FINNING AT SEA
The European Commission proposed on Monday to forbid, with no exemptions, the practice of "shark finning" aboard fishing vessels. Shark finning is the practice of cutting off the fins of sharks - often while they are still alive - and then throwing back into the sea the shark without its fins. The Commission proposes that from now on, all vessels fishing in EU waters and all EU vessels fishing anywhere in the world will have to land sharks with the fins still attached. To facilitate storage and handling onboard vessels, fishermen will be permitted to slice partly through each fin and fold it against the carcass of the shark. The aim of the new rules is to better protect vulnerable shark populations across the world's oceans.
11/22/2011 MEXICO TO CULL 50,000 WILD BOARS FROM US INVASION
Mexican officials have unveiled plans to slaughter some 50,000 wild boars that have crossed the border from the United States and now threaten agriculture in Mexico. The Ministry of Environment in Chihauha state said some 1,500 hectares (3,700 acres) of farmland in the border town of Ojinaga have been affected by the large number of feral pigs that have come from Presidio County, Texas. The boars of European origin, which were imported to Texas as pets and then replicated in the wild, have caused serious damage to the flora and fauna of the area, officials said. The authorities intend to use cages with food inside to trap the animals.
11/22/2011 UKRAINE CALLS FOR DOG KILLING BAN
Ukraine has called for an end to the killing of stray dogs ahead of the Euro 2012 football championships next summer, bending to pressure from Western critics. The Environment Ministry has urged all the country's mayors to stop putting down dogs ahead of the June event and build animal shelters instead.
11/21/2011 "TWILIGHT" STAR AND HIS RESCUE DOG IN NEW PETA CAMPAIGN
BooBoo Stewart took some time from the wolfpack in Twilight to ask that you always adopt members of your own pack. Stewart and his rescued dog Pookie posed for PETA in an ad for their "Adopt, Don't Buy" campaign. In his video, while sporting PETA's "Cut Class Not Frogs" t-shirt, he says "If you guys are interested in getting any kind of animal, definitely go and adopt... A lot of people don't even think about it, you just walk by a store and you see all these cute little puppies... not thinking about all the animals that are in tiny little cages by themselves or shoved in with a whole bunch of dogs in one cage." Stewart also mentioned that he recently watched a PETA video on the Canadian seal hunt with Twilight co-star Kellan Lutz. He said, "I don't understand how people can just be so careless and kill another life. They have feelings - my dog loves me, I know that." Lutz has posed for PETA's "Adopt, Don't Buy" campaign as well, along with his dog Kola.
11/19/2011 BRADLEY COOPER IN LOVE WITH RESCUE DOG CHARLOTTE
On Nov 16 People magazine crowned Bradley Cooper as its 2011 Sexiest Man Alive. In 2009, Cooper discussed his love for his dogs Samson and Charlotte, saying, "I have two beautiful dogs... I cherish. Samson is a 14-year-old German short hair pointer and Charlotte is a 6 or 7 year-old Chow Retriever mix. They are both rescue dogs and they are the best... I'm sort of a hybrid of both my dogs. Samson is stoic and makes me earn it and Charlotte loves me undyingly. They're my kids." Although Samson is sadly no longer with us, Charlotte is still Cooper's best buddy. He told People that he "fell in love with her immediately," and happily brings her on set with him. "I'm not supposed to, but [she] hang[s] out in my trailer." So, just what does would a woman need to do to land this self-described, "single, 36-year-old-male"? "She has to like my dog. My dogs and I come in a package," he says.
11/18/2011 JUSTIN BUA EXPLORES LINK BETWEEN HIP-HOP AND VEGANISM
"I think being vegan is the ultimate expression of hip-hop." So says musician and artist Justin Bua, who, having recently created a coffee table book called Legends of Hip-Hop, a series of portraits of artists whom he considers historically relevant, is incredibly knowledgeable about the hip-hop world. Citing vegans Russell Simmons, KRS-One, Dead Prez and DJ Qbert as examples, Bua thinks that the connection between hip-hop and compassionate eating has been on the rise for years. Bua is all about changing the world, and thinks that the hip-hop audience has the power to do it by embracing veganism and rejecting factory-farming. "The ultimate form of respect is to not eat each other," he says. To that end, he's considering creating an eco-festival aimed at the genre's fans.
11/18/2011 PETA'S NEW THANKSGIVING AD AIMED AT KIDS
Animal-rights group PETA is known for making thought-provoking, sometimes shocking ads that garner attention. And this year's Thanksgiving ad is no exception. The ad, which will appear on billboards near schools in multiple states, is aimed at kids and compares eating a turkey to eating a dog. Featuring an image of a hybrid animal that's half-pooch, half-bird, the billboard reads, "Kids: If You Wouldn't Eat Your Dog, Why Eat a Turkey?" Although parents (at least those in non-veg households) are sure to be inflamed that PETA is now aiming its message at children, a spokesperson for the organization defended the billboards. According to Tracy Reiman, PETA's Executive Vice President, "Kids love animals and if they thought about how turkeys feel pain and fear just as dogs and cats do, they'd trade in their drumsticks for Tofurky in a heartbeat. This Thanksgiving, families can give all animals something to be thankful for by sticking to humane, delicious vegan meals."
11/17/2011 KEVIN BACON CALLS FOR ACTION TO SAVE LAST REMAINING SPIRIT BEARS
Kevin Bacon has joined forces with the Natural Resources Defense Council to protect some of the world's last Spirit Bears and their rainforest home. In the video below, Bacon narrates how Spirit Bear’s could be no more thanks to a tar sands pipeline proposed by Enbridge. As a member of the NRDC, the "Crazy, Stupid, Love." actor brings to light how the looming threat by the energy giant could transport some of the world’s dirtiest oil from the Alberta tar sands to British Columbia's Spirit Bear Coast.
11/16/2011 BIZ STONE ON HIS LOVE FOR TURKEYS AND FARM SANCTUARY
Biz Stone is a vegan, an animal-lover, and Twitter co-founder. He appeared on Martha Stewart's vegan episode and cooked up a veg recipe, and attended Farm Sanctuary's "California Country Hoe Down" last year. Now, Stone has recorded a video about his love for turkeys and plans to attend another Farm Sanctuary event. In his video, Stone says, "Turkeys are intelligent, social, curious, and sometimes even funny. I wish people were more like turkeys sometimes." And what does he plan to do to celebrate Thanksgiving vegan-style? "I'm going to celebrate turkeys with one of the classiest organizations my wife and I have been supporting for more than ten years, Farm Sanctuary." The organization holds two "Celebration FOR the Turkeys" events each year, one at each of their sanctuaries.
11/15/2011 RIC O'BARRY TO BE HONORED WITH BAMBI AWARD IN GERMANY
Ric O'Barry, dolphin trainer turned dolphin activist, is known throughout the world for the award-winning documentary "The Cove" and his continuing presence for the dolphins in Taiji, Japan. Now, he will be honored for his work with the prestigious Bambi Award in Germany. According to Save Japan Dolphins, the ceremony will be broadcast live to 5 million viewers as O'Barry is honored with the award, given to "people who have had an enduring effect on audiences and the public and have made the world a better place." The activist will be honored for his work with Save Japan Dolphins and Earth Island Institute as well as The Cove, which won the 2010 Oscar for Best Documentary and has won more film festival awards than any other documentary. Previous Bambi Award winners include Bill Clinton, Queen Rania of Jordan, Kate Winslet, Meg Ryan, Tom Cruise, Jennifer Lopez, Keanu Reeves, Britney Spears, Orlando Bloom, and Sarah Jessica Parker.
11/14/2011 AFRICA'S WESTERN BLACK RHINO NOW DECLARED EXTINCT
Less than a month after Vietnam's Javan rhinoceroses were declared extinct, another rhino species has perished. Africa's Western Black Rhinoceros has officially been declared extinct. According to One Green Planet, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has shared the tragic news along with the warning that two other subspecies are nearing extinction. Simon Stuart, head of IUCN's Species Survival Commission said, "Human beings are stewards of the earth and we are responsible for protecting the species that share our environment... In the case of both the western black and the northern white rhinos the situation could have had very different results if suggested conservation measures had been implemented."
11/12/2011 ALICIA SILVERSTONE WANTS YOU TO BE A PART OF FARM SANCTUARY'S ADOPT-A-TURKEY PROJECT
Alicia Silverstone, a vegan and long-time supporter of Farm Sanctuary, is asking you to adopt a turkey instead of eating one this Thanksgiving! Silverstone wrote on her site The Kind Life, "As you know, millions of turkeys suffer terribly at this time of year. Happily, Farm Sanctuary's Adopt-a-Turkey Project provides several ways you can celebrate turkeys and combat the cruelty. This year, Ellen DeGeneres is returning as spokesperson for Adopt-a-Turkey, encouraging Americans to save, not eat a turkey this year." As always, the vegan star also encourages you to have a vegan meal, and impress some friends with your compassionate Thanksgiving feast.
11/11/2011 AN ELEPHANT MOURN THE LOSS OF HER DOG BEST FRIEND
While people often extol the virtues of "man's best friend," such devoted friendship and love is not singular to our species. One example would be the former loving friendship between Tarra the elephant and Bella, a stray mutt that wandered onto her animal sanctuary ten years ago. The pair were profiled a few years ago by CBS News, an unlikely bond that further exposed the amazing emotional ties between animals. Tragically, Bella was recently killed (with coyotes being the suspects) – and amazingly, Tarra may have carried her body home (nearly a mile away). It's incredibly sad – but yet another reminder of just how little credit we give to animals when it comes to love, and how much we have to learn when it comes to respecting them.
11/10/2011 CSI STAR JORJA FOX WANTS YOU TO INVESTIGATE VEGETARIANISM
Jorja Fox spends her days investigating crimes on the TV show "CSI." Now, she's asking the public to do some investigating of their own. Not hair remnants or clothing fibers, but the way 10 billion farm animals are raised for food annually in the USA. She wants you to explore vegetarianism. The actress debuted her new PETA ad at the vegan restaurant Sublime, and even helped with the cooking. They prepared spicy Singapore street noodles, "chicken" picatta, and gourmet pizzas. Fox went vegetarian years ago right in the middle of eating a meat sandwich. She said, "I was having a meatball sub one day in Brooklyn, and it just clicked. I was in the middle of that sandwich, and I put it down, and I never had meat again."
11/09/2011 KRISTEN STEWART WILL NEVER WEAR FUR
Kristen Stewart went on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno on Thursday night and chatted about her stance on fur. The host pulled out a photo of the actress from W Magazine. In it, she looks like she's wearing a black fur garment so Leno said to her, "You took a lot of heat for this picture." Addressing the controversy, the actress said, "That’s not fur. I would never wear fur, ever." That simple declaration prompted quite a response from the live audience. Folks clapped and cheered for the ethical actress. Stewart said, "I'm not making any grand statements."
11/07/2011 NEW MOBILE APP LETS YOU SCAN FOOD PRODUCTS FOR ANIMAL INGREDIENTS
A new mobile app, Inrfood, will scan barcodes and tell you if there are any animal ingredients in the product! According to VegNews, the app that will launch at the end of this month will also identify foods with allergens, foods not safe for pregnant women, and individuals with heart conditions or diabetes using a color code – green means safe to eat, yellow means better in moderation, and red indicates food to be avoided. VegNews reports that Inrfood will use a database of over 200,000 products and 40,000 ingredients, and information from experts including researchers, dietitians and nutritionists. And if you’re not at the store? You'll be able to use the app to check products on the web.
11/05/2011 REESE WITHERSPOON GETS RID OF THE PYTHON PURSE AFTER HEARING FROM PETA
Reese Witherspoon can be counted among the celebrities who love animals. She even has her own barn with donkeys, goats and pigs. So, when PETA wrote to her about the cruelty behind the python purse she was carrying in a recent photo, of course the actress responded by ditching the purse. PETA sent Withersoon a video narrated by her former costar in "Walk the Line," Joaquin Phoenix, about how snakes suffer a cruel death for the sake of fashion. The animal rights organization said about Reese's decision to abandon the purse, "We've long known Reese to be a kind person, so we're pleased - and not surprised - that she is hanging up her python bag for good. We hope Reese's honest mistake will serve as a reminder for all of us to be extra-certain that what we’re buying is mock crock or fake snake."
11/04/2011 LEA MICHELE PENS LETTER TO MAYOR BLOOMBERG
When the news hit that a New York City carriage horse collapsed and died in the street while heading to Central Park, Lea Michele and PETA responded. Now, the Glee star, the vegan singer/actress and PETA's spokesperson for their horse-drawn carriage campaign, is asking Mayor Bloomberg to take action and to support the city council bill that would end the use of horse carriages and replace them with eco-friendly cars. "I urge you to support Intro. 86A, which would replace horse-drawn carriages with safe, vintage-replica electric cars. The eco-friendly 'horseless carriages' would attract tourists with old New York glamour, protect carriage drivers' jobs by offering them first rights to the car medallions, and allow for the approximately 220 horses currently working in the carriage industry to be retired to sanctuaries. Please join other city council members in supporting Intro. 86A."
11/03/2011 LEONA LEWIS IS LOOKING FOR THE NEXT BIG CRUELTY FREE DESIGNER
Leona Lewis is looking for an ethical designer to rival Stella McCartney. Lewis put out the call to artists asking them to submit wardrobe ideas they think she should wear on stage. In addition to a cash prize, the winner will get to work with the singer and her team to finalize the winning outfit. Lewis said about the competition, "I love fashion, creativity and designing my own outfits. I can't wait to see what people come up with. I think it's really important to support creative individuals and the future names of tomorrow. I'm passionate about animal welfare and everything I wear always holds true to this – we want to find the next Stella McCartney out there!"
11/02/2011 100,000 SACRIFIED IN RITUAL SLAUGHTER TO CELEBRATE HINDU FESTIVAL
A Hindu festival that celebrates light has been shrouded in darkness following the sacrificial slaughter of up to 100,000 turtles. Critically endangered species including the northern river terrapin and the black soft-shell turtle are sacrificed in the name of religion. The ancient ritual takes place during the celebration of Kali Puja, which started in Bengal. Held once a year, and corresponding with the festival Diwali, sacrifices are made to Kali, the Hindu goddess of power. During Kali Puja, market streets are teeming with devotees who purchase and consume thousands of turtles.
11/01/2011 ELLEN DEGENERES AND PORTIA DE ROSSI TO OPEN LA VEGAN RESTAURANT
Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi are reportedly planning to open a new vegan restaurant in Los Angeles. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the couple is investing in a new restaurant along with Chrissie Hynde, whose vegan restaurant VegiTerranean recently closed, and producer Steve Bing. The eatery will be located in the San Fernando Valley, on Ventura Boulevard. Renowned vegan chef Tal Ronnen will be cooking up the cruelty-free menu, while Waldo Fernandez will be the interior designer.
The number of news found: 31.
