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to a post on Erik Marcus' excellent blog, Vegan.com, it has come to my attention that a federal law exists which if not repealed imperils the legal right of anyone to speak out against animal cruelty, anywhere in the U.S.  The 2006 law is called the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, and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