Mark Bittman in NYT: 'No Meat, No Dairy, No Problem'

Bittman, a food and opinion columnist for the New York Times, advocates
eating better by choosing less meat and dairy in 2012.

Link: nytimes.com/2012/01/01/magazine/mark-bittman-going-semi-vegan.html

Pigeons Found to Be Able to Learn Abstract Rules About Numbers

Remarkable new research from New Zealand published in the journal Science shows that pigeons, like primates, are capable of using abstract counting rules.  The study results suggest that either pigeons and primates had a common ancestor dating back 300 million years ago, or that the species developed these skills independently.

Source:  http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/23/science/pigeons-can-learn-higher-math-as-well-as-monkeys-study-suggests.html

Animal Rights Activism ≠ Terrorism

Peaceful animal rights activists are contesting the provisions of the 2006 Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, arguing in court that the law's provisions conflate terrorism and nonviolent animal rights activism.  Several individuals have already been charged under the law, although other types of protesters have received no special targeting.  One prime example are pro-life activists who have been found to be responsible to a number of murders, kidnappings, bombings, assaults, as well as arson.

Source: http://motherjones.com/environment/2011/12/are-animal-rights-activists-terrorists

Indian Universities to Phase Out Dissection

This is great news for frogs, pigs, worms, and many other animals who go under the scalpel in their millions for the sake of knowledge which is already freely available in other forms. The body that administers the budgets for public universities in India has drawn up a phase out to the practice of classroom dissection, and is requiring that they switch to online or plastic models of animals in order to study anatomy.  The new policy will affect about 2.5 million students, and while there is no set deadline for the implementation of the new policy, it is assumed that it will go into effect without being contested by the universities themselves.

Source: http://www.nature.com/news/india-to-cut-out-animal-dissection-1.9680

U.S. Suspends New Research on Chimps, Will Allow Only Necessary Research in Future

The National Institutes of Health has suspended all new funding for research projects involving Chimpanzees pending a thorough vetting of new requirements including that the research be 'necessary' for the protection of human health.  Primate lovers and those involved in animal rights can consider this a huge victory and a big step in the right direction.

Link:  http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/16/science/chimps-in-medical-research.html

Mercy For Animals Named Top Nonprofit for 2011 by VegNews, and Other Successes

From Vegan.com

An inspiring three-minute video covering the group’s top accomplishments in 2011. This is what the work of creating social change looks like. Donate here.

Facts on Veganism and Climate Change

It is difficult for me to understand why more environmentalists don't talk more positively about veganism, especially with regard to climate change.   The facts in support of reducing meat and dairy use are overwhelming.  A UN report from way back in 2006 found that livestock produces 18 percent more greenhouse gas emissions from CO2 than from from transport (source).  A new study from the World Preservation Foundation was recently discussed on the Freakonomics.com website.  Some of the findings from WPF include:

• Eating vegan more beneficial than driving a hybrid. In 2006, a University of Chicago, US, report concluded a person adopting a vegetarian diet for a year would reduce more emissions than someone swapping their regular car for a Toyota Prius. 
• Livestock emissions higher than transport emissions. In 2006, the Livestock group within the UN‟s Food and Agriculture Organization released Livestock’s Long Shadow, estimating livestock to be responsible for 18 percent of global emissions: more than all transportation combined. 
• A vegan diet reduces emissions 7 times more than local eating. In 2008, Carnegie Mellon University compared the emissions from consuming a diet of 100% locally grown food to one of 100% plant-foods, concluding a vegan diet led to a reduction of seven times the emissions of a locally-grown diet because most dietary emissions are in operations, not transportation. 
• An organic vegan diet reduces 94% of dietary emissions vs. 8% for sustainable meat & dairy. In 2008, Germany's Foodwatch Institute estimated shifting from a conventional diet, including meat and dairy, to a conventionally-raised vegan diet would reduce emissions by 87 percent, while shifting to an organic diet including meat and dairy would only reduce emissions by 8 percent. By contrast, a 100% organic vegan diet would reduce emissions by 94 percent. 

Read the entire report here:  http://www.worldpreservationfoundation.org/Downloads/ReducingShorterLivedClimateForcersThroughDietaryChange.pdf

New Research Shows Rats Exhibit Empathy

Although some people still refuse to believe that animals experience empathy (one of the main traits of homo sapiens), researchers at Mason University and the University of Chicago have found evidence that rats will try to rescue other rats even when there is no reward involved.  As a side note, the University of Wisconsin-Madison uses over 40,000 rats per year in research projects.

Wauyawega (Wisc.) Man Sentenced for Deer Thrill Kill

Rory Kuenzi sentenced for deer thrill kill:

More information, and a call for action regarding Kuenzi's partners who are awaiting trial here: http://www.allanimals.org/thrillkill.html

Everyone Loves A Carriage Ride

From Vegansaurus:

"Another carriage horse collapsed in New York City. The text that accompanies the youtube vid:

On December 4th 2011 a NYC carriage horse collapsed on 59th Street and Central Park South. The horses had been working very hard today as the drivers were trying to extract as much money from them as possible. This is their busiest season and the care of the horses must take a back seat to profits. We saw horses foaming at the mouth, stumbling horses and finally this poor horse collapsed most likely due to exhaustion. We can only hope he was returned to his stable and will receive a proper veterinary examination. His carriage was 1102."

Please help. This is the fourth incident in the past six weeks since a carriage horse another horse collapsed and died.

'Banned' Thanksgiving Commercial from PETA

Like a lot of what PETA does, this ad gets in your face about eating turkey.  Should it have been banned from NBC though?

Chik-Fil-A Suing 'Eat More Kale' Guy

This is pretty absurd.  The Chik-Fil-A restaurant chain is going after a Vermont-based t-shirt maker for his design which includes the words, "Eat more kale," claiming that it violates their intellectual property - as seen in their ads which state, "Eat mor chikin." [sic]  I don't know what it more stupid, this lawsuit, or that they can have over 1,600 restaurant sites and have revenue of more than $3.5 billion selling such a vile product.  I hope they don't sue me for slander!

Source:  http://finance.yahoo.com/news/vt-artist-ill-fight-chick-141222247.html

PETA's list of Animal Ingredients, and Companies that Do and Do Not Test on Animals

Please take a few minutes to see what kind of animal products are ending up in our food supply:  http://www.peta.org/living/vegetarian-living/animal-ingredient-guide.aspx

Also, here are lists of companies that do, or do not test on animals:
http://www.peta.org/living/beauty-and-personal-care/companies/default.aspx

Finally, as World Go Vegan Week comes to a close, I'd like to plug it one last time here on my blog:  www.worldgoveganweek.org

#Vegan Family on South Park October 26 (www.worldgoveganweek.org)

I can't even believe this.

Broadway Bro Down
Get More: SOUTH
PARKRandy Marsh,Sharon Marsh,more...

Ozzy Osbourne Is Going Vegan

I don't know if this counts as an endorsement of veganism, but at least it is a sign of the times when someone who is largely famous for killing animals on stage has decided to stop eating meat and dairy altogether.  Geezer Butler, also formerly of the rock group Black Sabbath, has also gone vegan.  Here's a list of a whole bunch of famous people who have taken the plunge as well: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_vegans

16 Years as a Vegan...

After getting turned on to vegetarianism in my early teens, I spent my high school and college years waking up to becoming vegan at age 21. Since then, I have never looked back for a second. And that was 16 years ago this fall. I did not really put a whole lot of thought into it at the time, really. Some people decide to join the military. Other people might find a religion. For me, I became vegan. Back in those days, in the mid-1990's, there wasn't a lot of information about veganism, let alone other people who understood or things you could buy that were vegan. What's happened is nothing less than a radical change in our society. I don't have to explain what it means to be vegan anymore - Oprah and Ellen DeGeneres have already done that for me. Even Bill Clinton is vegan. Is veganism winning? Hardly. Among my friends and relatives I find that there are very few who share my views about animals or food. I'm sure that many people I connect with regularly about a variety of other things would prefer to ignore my posts about animals online, let alone understand why I am the way I am. As an activist, I do want to encourage others to become vegan. I don't think I've ever succeeded in doing so - it has occurred to me that perhaps I would be more effective if I posted less about the pain and suffering incurred by animals and more about the positive health and environmental effects that come about through people choosing plant-based diets. I will probably keep posting about both. People change all the time, and you never know what will eventually convince someone to make such an enormous personal sacrifice. For me, it was just seeing a lot of animal carcasses when I lived in China. For you, it might be this blog post.

More info: http://www.veganoutreach.org/whyvegan/ and http://www.worldgoveganweek.org/

Happy World Go Vegan Week Oct. 24-31!!!

There are lots of good reasons to go vegan (health, environmental, ethical, economic, financial, religious).  Integrating a plant-based diet into your life will bring you immediate positive results - whether you eat vegan one-meal-a-week or all-week-long.  Give it a try!  You have nothing to lose! Here's Hannah West with Madison's Alliance for Animals talking about some of the ways to go vegan in Madison this week!


http://www.wkow.com/story/15709590/world-go-vegan-week
http://www.worldgoveganweek.org/

Mike Nichols' Hack Job About Anti-Cheese Billboard Misses the Point

In a wildly accusatory and jumbled column in today's Wisconsin State Journal, Mike Nichols attacks people from the East Coast and Indiana, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, and anyone else who might think that there might be something about cheese that is bad for your health.  He just skips over the link between fat, cholesterol, and sodium and poor health effects - even though this is the point of a billboard that is the focus of his article.  Did he ask a coroner or a physician how many people have died from heart disease, diabetes, or similar obesity-related health problems?  No, his 'experts' were the Executive Director of the National Historic Cheesemaking Center and the Green County Register of Deeds.  I think that Mr. Nichols was actually phoning it in with this week's column.  It's just a nonsensical rant which is a weak attempt at humor.  I don't think people are buying what he's selling - at least not this tripe.

Note:  When Mike Nichols is not writing his weekly op-ed piece at the Wisconsin State Journal, he is a Senior Fellow at the Wisconsin Public Research Institute - a conservative think tank based in Hartland, Wisconsin.  The pro-business WPRI has a record of siding with commerce and industry against the environment and public health interests.

October is a Good Month to Recharge Your Dietary Goals

People who know me know that I would not be a vegetarian if it is was not for my belief that nearly all animals deserve to live and that they need at least a modicum of autonomy.  But it just so happens that vegetarianism is useful to us as well, primarily in terms of health.  And today people are lucky because it is now possible to go vegetarian for just a few meals and they don't need to give up that much in order to fit it in.  There are 'Meatless Monday's' and things like that. Well, October 1st was World Vegetarian Day, and I totally missed it.  Good thing that World Go Vegan Week is coming up from October 24-31, so my slip up is not a total loss.  You really have nothing to lose, so why not give it a try and see if you can live off only fruits, veggies, nuts, and grains for a whole week!   There are some great recipes at my friend Tess Challis' website:  Radiant Health, Inner Wealth.   Oh, and just to lighten the mood, since many people incorrectly believe vegans lack a sense of humor, here's a clip from Scott Pilgrim vs. The World for you to enjoy.

Class Action Lawsuit Alleges Price Fixing by Dairy Industry

The nonprofit group Compassion Over Killing (COK) has alleged that the U.S. dairy industry conspired to kill 500,000 young cows in order to increase the price of milk.  The lawsuit, filed on Monday, Sept. 26, 2001, alleges that the industry reaped over $9.5 billion in illegal profits.

Source: http://www.cok.net/camp/inv/dairy-price-fixing/

Free Speech Defenders Take Note: Your Rights are In Danger

Thanks to a post on Erik Marcus' excellent blog, Vegan.com, it has come to my attention that a federal law exists which if not repealed imperils the legal right of anyone to speak out against animal cruelty, anywhere in the U.S.  The 2006 law is called the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, and it was introduced by our very own Rep. Tom Petri (R-WI).  It effectively criminalizes any type of protest (even a blog posting) which 'intimidates' someone involved involved in an animal enterprise - a researcher, rancher, fur farmer, puppy mill owner, etc.  And it's not the intent of the defendant that will be judged, but rather the effect of the action has had on the alleged victim.

Practically anyone could be subject to a felony conviction simply because someone who works with animals felt threatened, regardless of whether any illegal act had been intended or carried out.

This law casts nothing less that a chilling effect upon the free speech rights of animal rights activists, and thus interfere's with the public's right to know exactly what is going on with animal enterprises.  There are already laws that protect the disparagement of certain industries, but these laws exist mostly on a state by state level (some examples can be found here:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_libel).

Animal rights activists are no more violent or evil than any other group of people - and are probably less so if you base that argument on the great people that I know.

Please consider urging your representatives to repeal the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, or learn more about how activists and environmentalists are being vilified by reading books like Green is the New Red, by Will Potter.

Pro-Vegan Group Takes Aim at Cheese in America's Dairyland

Washington, DC, based Physicians for Responsible Medicine has launched an anti-cheese campaign with a billboard (see photo) near Green Bay, Wisconsin.  Cheese is a contributor to a wide variety of health problems among individuals, not to mention the fact that many people are unaware that when they eat cheese they are also eating the additive 'rennet' which is a by-product of veal production (a $250 million/year money-maker for the dairy industry).

Dairy industry insiders as well as the owners of the patent for the Wisconsin 'Cheesehead' product have taken issue with the billboard and are calling for its removal.

Photo Source: Madison.com - http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/health_med_fit/article_ad85bee4-e88b-11e0-a6cd-001cc4c002e0.html

Update:  PFRM has decided not to use the Cheesehead in their image after all because they want to avoid getting sued by Foamation.  http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/chris_rickert/article_8e0ba0dc-ea1c-11e0-a10f-001cc4c03286.html

Jonathan Safran Foer on Veganism in 10 Years

In this article from the Sydney Morning Herald, the author of Eating Animals, explains why he thinks veganism is a dangerous idea and why carnivorism vs. veganism is a false dichotomy in reality.

Link: http://www.smh.com.au/environment/animals/being-vegetarian-a-dangerous-idea-foer-20110922-1km26.html

Duke Women's Studies Prof Weighs in Against Veganism

If anyone managed to read Kathy Rudy's critique of veganism, here's Erik
Marcus' rebuttal for your reading pleasure:
www.vegan.com/blog/2011/09/15/kathy-rudy-in-translation

Farm Sanctuary's 2011 Walk for Farm Animals

Farm Sanctuary’s Walk for Farm Animals is a series of annual fundraising and outreach events that take place in cities across the United States and Canada. It’s an opportunity for those who want to help farm animals and who are concerned with the cruel and horrific practices of factory farming to take a stand in support of compassion for all! The Walks raise vital funds for Farm Sanctuary’s life-saving work and bring together thousands of people to promote kindness towards animals. They are an important step in our collective effort to stop animal abuse, and your participation is instrumental in preventing animal cruelty now and in the future.

To find out where one of the more than 40 walks are taking place, or to learn more about supporting Farm Sanctuary, visit:  http://events.walkforfarmanimals.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.eventList


Emily Deschanel Leads the 2011 Walk for Farm Animals! from Farm Sanctuary

Psychology Today Article on Lapsed Vegetarians

A recent study cited in Psychology Today suggests that there are more lapsed vegetarians than actual vegetarians and that most get that way because of health reasons, with the 'hassle factor' coming in as the second largest reason.  I think that the sample size of the study is too small actually to make the study conclusive, but it does bring up some good questions.  As a 15-year-long vegan and an additional 10 years' experience as a lacto-ovo vegetarian (I made the switch in 1986 when I was about 12 or 13 years old), I have struggled with finding a good balance of nutrition - at times I have been low in iron from not getting enough B12, and have also been overweight due to eating too many carbs and not enough veggies.  But being anemic or overweight can simply happen due to any diet that isn't carefully balanced, and it has taken me a long time to develop good eating habits and a lifestyle where I both know I'm healthy and feel great too.  For anyone contemplating giving up veganism or vegetarianism for health or hassle reasons, I urge you to visit the website of the American Dietetic Association here: http://www.eatright.org/About/Content.aspx?id=8357  Note that their position is,

"that appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Well-planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence, and for athletes."

I don't know what else I can say about the 'hassle factor' except that it seems like a much bigger hassle to eat food in a way that's inconsistent with your ethical or environmental beliefs.  Society is not going to make it easy, ever, to do something that is new and different.  But that's not a good enough reason in my view not to do it.  Anyone needing help with motivation to return to vegetarianism or to start up, just visit http://www.veganoutreach.org/ and you'll find lots of good resources to get going.

Psychology Today Link: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/animals-and-us/201106/why-do-most-vegetarians-go-back-eating-meat

Madison to Capture and Euthanize 350 Canada Geese

The plan to capture and kill 350 adult and juvenile Canada geese will be done in secret at various parks throughout Madison, Wisconsin, over the next couple of months.  The USDA Wildlife service euthanizes 24,000 geese and goslings annually throughout the U.S. and feeds the birds to the homeless as well as to captive animals at education centers.

Amazingly, this article about the the culling of these geese and goslings mentions that, "the city hasn't aggressively pursued non-lethal means," of controlling the geese population and/or their droppings at city beaches and parks.

A group that provides non-lethal, humane solutions related to animal control is called Geese Peace.

Vegan Fest a 'Hit'

I loved attending the Mad City Vegan Fest today.  It was so cool to be around so many like-minded people who are exploring health, environment, and ethical choices related to diet.  The place was packed, and it was a huge success!  Congrats to everyone involved!

Article:  http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/article_de951586-9af0-11e0-8be1-001cc4c002e0.html

Another hen house up in flames

This one in Calgary, AB.  30,000 birds lost.  At least this article cites animal welfare groups calling for change - when it happens in the U.S. nobody really cares that much.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/life/Chicken+barn+fire+spurs+call+safety+measures/4930598/story.html

Households With Dogs Now Outnumber Households with Children in the U.S.

I found this societal trend to be very interesting: only 38 million U.S. households include children, while 43 million households have at least one dog.  The reasons may include the aging baby-boom population, people having fewer kids per family, people having fewer kids overall, and I would assume also an increase in dog ownership both per person and overall.

I used to have a dog, when I was little and lived in Africa, but have since given up any desire to own one.  They are not allowed in my apartment building except if they are a companion or helping dog, and I don't know what we'd do if we ever moved overseas again.  I think I have always felt like if you adopt a pet that it should be like a family member, and I can't imagine as an adult abandoning an animal.  Meanwhile, I have a lot of respect for my friends who care for pets, especially those who have been rescued, and I am a strong supporter of animal control, especially as practiced by the Humane Society of the United States.

According to statistics from the ASPCA, only 1 out of 5 dogs are adopted from a shelter.  With an annual companion animal population in shelters being between 5-7 million, and with half of them being euthanized, there are obviously a lot of things going on which are contributing to these numbers:  puppy mills, people not spaying or neutering their pets, lack of people willing to adopt (including me), dog racing, dog fighting, dog medical research, dog sled racing, dog crazes and fads...  probably other things I haven't thought of.

Fortunately, Wisconsin has recently passed legislation called Act 90 which requires breeders to gain a license if they have more than 25 puppies born per year.  The law has some other provisions designed to help prevent animal abuse as well. We need to critically examine and improve our animal welfare laws in order to try to get more animals proper care and companionship, and thus reduce the number of animals euthanized or sitting in shelters.

Please consider joining me in 'liking' the Humane Society or send them a donation.  You can also sign up for their action alerts and get involved in helping them spread the good word.

Good News and Bad News for Chickens

For some reason chicken houses keep catching on fire.  The latest one that I've found out about incinerated 83,000 of the animals in Versailles, Ohio.  (Source: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/05/17/ohio-barn-fire-kills-83000-chickens.html?sid=101)

The good news is that in addition to Hellmann's mayo going cage free soon, McDonald's has decided to purchase 1 million cage-free eggs per month.  (Source: http://vegan.com/blog/2011/05/19/mcdonalds-commits-to-one-million-cage-free-eggs-per-month)

According to prominent vegan activist Erik Marcus, "Cage-free isn’t cruelty free, but if you’ve ever seen a battery cage you know this is a huge deal."

E6 Cattle Undercover Investigation Yields Partnership with The Gentle Barn

A new video from Mercy for Animals tells of a collaboration between those involved in the ongoing undercover investigation of E6 Cattle in Texas with The Gentle Barn, an animal sanctuary that works with children who have been the victims of trauma.  What a positive story!

Another Major Fire Claims 11,000 Chickens' Lives

Erik Markus' Vegan.com blog has written about about yet another disaster at a large-scale chicken coop in Arkansas.  This one, a fire, claimed 11,000 lives.  Questions that come to my mind when these disasters happen:  What do they do with the dead birds?  Does insurance cover the losses?  How much carbon is released into the atmosphere when one of these disasters happen?  Does anyone care?

Top Five Food Borne Illnesses Caused by Meat, Poultry and Dairy Products

Food borne diseases take a massive toll on the U.S. public, including 76 million illnesses, 325,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 deaths every year. (Source)  The financial burden of the 10 most expensive pathogens cost the U.S. economy an estimated $8.1 billion.  (Source)  The University of Florida Emerging Pathogens Institute, which came up with this dollar amount, has also found that the top five most expensive and most detrimental in terms of quality of life come from the meat, poultry, and dairy industries. (Source) The findings at the Emerging Pathogens Institute do not recommend abstaining from or limiting eating these foods, nor does the government food safety site, foodsafety.gov.  However, if you consider the fact that most meat, poultry, dairy, and egg production comes from factories that engage in cruel, polluting, energy intensive, wasteful, unsafe, and unsanitary practices, and take into account that eating these foods cause obesity and a host of other diseases - many of which cause death, and realize that eating these foods are in fact *totally* unnecessary, and that a plant-only based diet can be both delicious, nutritious, and ethical.  But no matter what you consider good to eat, you can stay on the safe side of food borne illnesses by following the recommendations for consumers at the U.S. government website mentioned above.  Happy eating!

70% of Iowans Oppose Restrictions on Photography at Farms

Fortunately, Iowans have much more sense than the politicians who have introduced state-level legislation making it a felony to expose living conditions for animals at farms by use of photography.

Source:  http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2011/03/22/survey-finds-iowa-voters-oppose-prohibiting-secret-animal-abuse-videos/

Vegan Myths Debunked

Love this video debunking myths about veganism through song!

Lierre Keith, author of The Vegetarian Myth, has her Nutrition Facts Checked

While Lierre Keith may have some good points about monoculture in terms of plants raised for human consumption, her points on human nutrition are baseless.  Here's a good rebuttal of those points.  The second part of the video contains some images that may be disturbing to some people (dead animals, basically).



Here's an unrelated YouTube recording of Lierre Keith attacking vegans as being basically angry and emotionally depraved in response to being attacked with a cayenne pepper pie (which is a horrible thing to do to someone). Ms. Keith has some extreme ideas about nutrition and health, but arguing that vegans are more likely to be violent or angry is completely wrong. She was just assaulted by some people who went too far, and this has nothing to do with anyone being vegan.

Vegans and Omnivore Alliance Against Animal Factories

It's a long, complicated name for an idea that makes a lot of sense since 99% of all meat produced in America is produced in animal factories and if there's one thing that locovores like Michael Pollan and vegans like me agree on is that factory farming of animals is 100% bad.  From health and nutrition, to the environment, to worker safety and rights, to ethical treatment of animals, factories produce the lowest standards in every respect and must be opposed.  I hope that this new alliance between locovorism and veganism puts divisions and acrimony aside as we advocate against animal factories in a united front.

Source:  http://www.grist.org/article/2011-03-23-introducing-the-vegan-omnivore-alliance-against-animal-factories

Update:  Here's Erik Marcus' reply to this idea -- http://vegan.com/blog/2011/03/24/a-veganomnivore-alliance-it-already-exists/

Amercian Humanist Association Board Member Jason Torpy on Veganism

Jason Torpy's editorial on the AHA homepage will sound a bit strong for people who consider themselves both omnivores and humanists, but he reasonably makes the argument that people should be the, 'best humans that we can be,'  and even if going vegan is not possible, that humanist should be, 'aspiring vegans.'  Is he being judgmental?  Yes.  Is he right? Possibly.  But no matter whether you agree with him or not, consider checking out his article for yourself here:  http://www.americanhumanist.org/HNN/details/2011-03-why-vegan-priorities-are-humanist-priorities  To read Lindsay Beyerstein's critique running under the headline, "Humanist Vegan Screed is Tripe," you can read it here: http://bigthink.com/ideas/31666 

Florida and Iowa Move to Criminalize Photography at Farms

Photography, including stills and video, of farms without the owner's permission would be a felony punishable by up to thirty years in prison under laws being proposed in Iowa and Florida.  Obviously, this is meant to defend the unsafe, cruel, and environmentally hazardous conditions at many of these states' factory farms.  Indeed, the law in Florida was drafted at the request of one of their state's largest egg producers. If you live in Iowa or Florida, please contact your department of agriculture or consumer protection and tell them you oppose this bill, as well as your legislators.  If you don't, you'll be letting big business take away important whistleblower protections in your state.

Invertebrates and Sentience

I have never thought that most invertebrates possessed sentience, at least not in the sense that they could feel pain or experience pleasure, but this essay by Rick Bogle suggests that there is a lot that I don't know and perhaps will never know about animals and their ability to be self-aware.  Regardless of whether I can prove that an insect or oyster is capable of being in pain, or experiencing fear, they do seem to be capable of higher order sentience and deserve the benefit of the doubt when it comes to how we as humans treat them.  Beware of anyone who suggests taking the sentience argument and applying it to plants, as sentience requires the ability to feel or perceive with a mind, nervous system, etc.  I love plants, but they don't have minds and as far as anyone knows, they cannot experience pain or pleasure.

Donate and Pass On

#vegan #vegetarian Wisconsin needs your help feeding 250,000 protesters vegan meals Saturday! www.veganprotestfuel.com

First Public Forum Held on Animal Welfare at UW-Madison

Here's a recent presentation by Dr. Lawrence Hansen, MD, about the ethics and efficacy of animal experimentation at the first of several forums on animal welfare at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  It's interesting to note that according to Rick Bogle on his blog, that no UW-Madison vivisectors or policy makers were in the audience.  Hopefully at least some people (including you!) will check out the video:

Future forums will be held on March 15th and April 4th - locations and more information can be found here:  http://www.news.wisc.edu/18946

Daily Show FAIL

The Daily Show has shown poor regard for bringing a camel to Madison's Capitol square yesterday to film a segment for broadcast.  In the video below you can see that the camel's leg was nearly broken during a fall.

Animals should not be exploited for our entertainment in this way! Please let the Daily Show know how you feel by writing them through the following link: http://www.comedycentral.com/help/questionsCC.jhtml

Minnesota Woman Tries to Mail Puppy to Georgia

http://vegan.com/blog/2011/02/10/woman-caught-mailing-puppy/

The Real Vegan Challenge [Video]

A 12-minute video called Farm to Fridge was released by the Chicago-based group Mercy for Animals this week to challenge people who heard best-selling author Michael Pollan tell millions of viewers on the show Oprah that if they could not watch where there food came from they probably should not be eating it.

I got about 3 seconds into it before I had to stop.  You can read about the video and watch the video at the Huffington Post.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ari-solomon/the-real-vegan-challenge-_b_820528.html

Good News for Sick Veal Calves

The US Department of Agriculture has responded to a Human Society petition calling on a tightening of rules regarding downer calves -- those who are too sick to stand on their own -- by tentatively agreeing on prohibiting the slaughter of the calves or introducing them into the food chain.  Instead, downer calves must be treated humanely (i.e. euthanized), as adult cattle and cows are currently required to be treated.  The public is invited to provide their comment by April 8, 2011, after which the new rules will go into effect permanently.

Source: http://www.humanesociety.org/news/press_releases/2011/02/usda_downed_calves_020711.html

Yet Another Factory Farm Disaster

This time 85,000 egg-laying hens were crushed to death when a coop in Connecticut collapsed under snow during the blizzard this week that affected much of the country.

Link: http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=12837162

Oprah's Show on Veganism [YouTube]

Here's part one of the Oprah's episode on veganism from yesterday.  I haven't seen it all myself, but the one-hour show featured a visit to a slaughterhouse and interviews with Michael Pollan (author of The Omnivore's Dilemma) and Kelly Freston (Freston's book, Veganist: Lose Weight, Get Healthy, and Change the World, is the top selling book on Amazon.com).

Check it out, see what you think, and if you are still curious about veganism for health, environmental, social, or ethical reasons, visit www.vegan.com or http://www.vegan.org/about_veganism/index.html.

Oprah and 378 Staffers Go Vegan: The One-Week Challenge - Oprah.com

Oprah and 378 Staffers Go Vegan: The One-Week Challenge - Oprah.com

12,000 Chicks Perish in Georgia (U.S.) Agricultural Industry Disaster

A farm run by International Poultry Breeders had 12,000 chicks die in a fire caused by malfunctioning heaters in a single chicken house earlier this month.

Five years ago, on the same day, 20,000 chickens died at the farm during a tornado that destroyed two chicken houses.

The 12,000 chick deaths represent only 0.000024% of the 50 billion chickens that are being raised for meat and eggs worldwide.

Source:  http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/01/12000-baby-chicks-die-factory-farm-fire.php?campaign=th_rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+treehuggersite+(Treehugger)

Portage County 'Movable Property' Die-off

200 cattle died recently from pneumonia on a Portage County ranch, in the town of Stockton.  The official from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture claimed the cause was related to a "production problem," but did not elaborate, and determined that there was no evidence of abuse or neglect.  Still, that's a lot of large animals who just up and died.

By the way, in case you ever wondered where the word 'cattle' comes from, it is from the Old French word for 'movable property' (as opposed to real estate).  It is similar to the word, chattel.  You may have heard this word used to describe the most extreme form of slavery (chattel slavery).

To find out how much 200 dead cattle are worth, you can find out here:  http://www.stevenspointjournal.com/article/20110122/SPJ0101/101220578/Official-Cattle-died-of-pneumonia

Pennsylvania Hog Farmer Fined $2,500 for 10 Counts of Animal Cruelty

832 pigs died by drowning in their own manure in Fulton County, Pennsylvania, last fall. The farmer fought the charges against him, claiming that it was an accident. The result is that 822 counts of animal cruelty against him were dropped in a plea agreement, leaving him to agree to accept 10 counts and pay a $2,500 fine. That amounts to a $3.00 fine per dead pig.

Source: http://www.examiner.com/animal-rights-in-national/man-responsible-for-nearly-1000-pig-deaths-sentenced-his-fine-laughable

China Violates Human Rights by Protecting Animals

Don't people have the right to view animals engage in dangerous and humiliating circus acts? Of course they do. Which is why China has banned all animals engaging in circuses, and is clamping down on animal abuse in zoos too. China once again proves it cares nothing about human happiness.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/8266563/China-bans-animal-circuses.html

Cockfighting Rooster Kills Owner

Lesson to kids: cockfighting is not as safe as everyone says it is.

Source: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3360068/Fowl-play-as-fight-cock-kills-owner.html

Mass Bird Die-Off in South Dakota Caused by USDA

300 starlings were recently poisoned by the USDA because they were eating cattle feed and pooping on farm equipment. So when they started falling out of the sky recently onto streets and in parks in Yankton, South Dakota, it was completely understandable.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41178569/ns/us_news-environment/

2010 ties 2005 as warmest year on record, according to meteorologist

Global climate change (including temperature extremes) is a fact, as evidenced by measurements that 2010 and 2005 are the warmest overall years on record.  Conservatives (political and religious) don't believe in climate change because they do not accept the premise that warming or cooling is human caused, are concerned that laws to combat climate change will result in limitations of business practices or personal freedoms (driving, energy use, etc.), or that nature is controlled by a higher being and that whatever is going to happen is going to happen anyway.

But what conservatives and environmentalists can agree on, perhaps, is that something is going on.  And not doing anything is going to have continued repercussions for the environment (see this article on extinction of species that can't adapt to intense temperature change from the New York Times:  http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/22/science/earth/22kenya.html?_r=1&ref=global-home)

I believe that climate change doubters have effectively won the argument for now by blocking most major steps towards mitigation of climate change (Kyoto Protocol, etc.).  It is really up to those of us who do believe that climate change is real to do something about it.  And guess what I think are the two main things we can do?  Cut down on driving and eating meat. The United Nations and others seem to agree with me (sources:  http://wwwp.dailyclimate.org/tdc-newsroom/2011/01/eating-meat and http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jun/02/un-report-meat-free-diet).  Do you?

Is there any way not to read bad news related to animal welfare?

I seriously would like to know if anyone has a way to help me ignore bad things that happen to animals.  Like 17,000 chickens dying in a single blaze at a poultry  'house' in Virginia this past Wednesday?  (Link: Nytimes)

It's bumming me out to read stuff like this, and I'm tired of linking to it on my blog.  I would stop linking to these stories, but I feel it would be wrong not to post them.

Seriously!

South Korea Buries Alive 1.4 Million Pigs

This is one of the most disturbing things I've read since that story I blogged about where 400,000 baby chicks in Russia were drowned or left to die in the cold because the business that owned them went into bankrupcy.

1.4 million pigs are being apparently buried alive in South Korea's attempt to combat a foot and mouth disease outbreak among swine there. Here's the link to the story on the Huffington Post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/12/south-korea-buries-pigs-alive_n_808119.html).

My grandfather told me once when he was boy growing up that he always felt guilty butchering pigs (or as he said, being the one to lead them to their slaughter). I wonder how or what people think when they're dumping screaming, relatively intelligent animals out of a dump truck and then burying them.

And for the record, foot and mouth disease is not a public health concern for humans like swine flu. It is usually nonfatal to animals too. The main reason for the culling of so many animals is to protect economic interests, just as killing them in such an inhumane way is probably cheaper than euthanizing them.

Just1.4 million reasons not to eat industrially produced animals or animal products.

(photo © 경인일보 kyeongin.com)

Photo source: http://www.vegan.com/blog/2011/01/12/millions-of-animals-buried-alive-in-south-korea

Veganism Becoming More Mainstream

Living here in the city of the world's largest bratfest and the so-called 'Dairy State' you would not think this is the case, but according to the Washington Post, it's a new trend that's taking over the country by storm: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/05/AR2011010503153.html

Major Recall of Organic Beef in Wisconsin and other States

According to the Cap Times and Associated Press, "Federal food safety officials have recalled more than 34,000 pounds of organic ground beef that may be contaminated with E. coli and were shipped to states across the country, including Wisconsin." (Source: http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/health_med_fit/article_e2e57b1e-b075-5e1e-980c-04aba853098e.html)

Food borne illness is a major problem in the United States, and animal agriculture is the main culprit.  The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that, "foodborne diseases cause approximately 76 million illnesses, 325,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 deaths in the United States each year." Check out Jonathan Safran Foer's book Eating Animals or watch the video below for more information about this important issue.