Is Veganism Reaching a Critical Mass?

I'm loving that veganism is getting so much attention, but is it a passing fad or a trend that is reaching a critical mass?  Honestly, I'm not sure.  I don't know many people who have made the switch to a vegan diet outside of people in the vegetarian Meetup group that I occasionally go to.  But if the number of articles about veganism are any indicator of the increasing number of vegans, I think there's a lot of promise that we may be reaching the point where veganism truly is a mainstream, and not a fad, dietary and lifestyle choice.  Here's a link to a recent blog post from the New York Times on the ethics of veganism.

Link: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/16/the-challenge-of-going-vegan/

Public Hearings on Wisconsin Proposal to Hunt Sandhill Cranes

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources hearings will be held tomorrow, April 9th, around the state to take public comments on legislation that permits hunting of Sandhill Cranes.  If you live in Wisconsin, please attend these hearings and let the DNR know how you feel.  Here are the locations: http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/host.madison.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/d/7e/d7ed5280-80e5-11e1-aef3-0019bb2963f4/4f80922083c21.pdf.pdf

Link:  http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/environment/public-gets-chance-to-sound-off-on-crane-hunt-at/article_7b0b16fc-80c6-11e1-90ac-0019bb2963f4.html

Poultry Routinely Fed Arsenic, Tylenol, and Banned Antibiotics

This shouldn't come as a surprise, but researchers at Johns Hopkins University have been 'floored' by two studies showing widespread use of banned substances in poultry production.

Link:  http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/05/opinion/kristof-arsenic-in-our-chicken.html?hp

USDA to Stop Inspections of Chickens

The US Department of Agriculture is going to allow chicken processing plants to regulate themselves and increase production rates.  Many say this will increase safety and ethical issues.

Link:  http://gawker.com/5899455/its-official-thats-poop-in-your-tasty-chicken-dinner

Chronic Wasting Disease Found in Northwest Wisconsin

In what will be a devastating finding for the 'sport' of hunting in Wisconsin, Chronic Wasting Disease has been found in deer outside the area that officials had thought it had been contained to for the first time.  CWD, as it is also known, is similar to Mad Cow Disease, and is a threat to human health, causing death or neurological problems.

http://centralwisconsinhub.wausaudailyherald.com/article/20120403/WDH0101/204030561/Chronic-wasting-disease-found-in-northwest-Wis-deer?odyssey=tab%7Cmostpopular%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE

More Primate Abuse

Several new cases of animal abuse brought at a federally funded research facility for primates.

Link:  http://www.bastropenterprise.com/newsnow/x1184537285/Primate-deaths-the-focus-of-animal-rights-group