———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Katelyn Sabochik, SaveOurEnvironment.org – action [at] saveourenvironment.org
Date: Jun 19, 2006 10:36 AM
Subject: Ask your Senators to secure justice for victims of Exxon Valdez oil spill

Action Alert

You probably know that the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, which dumped 11 million gallons of crude oil into Alaska’s Prince William Sound, was one of the worst environmental tragedies in our nation’s history.

It killed hundreds of thousands of animals and birds, oiled nearly 1,400 miles of beaches in Alaska, and ruined the livelihood of tens of thousands of people. Despite all this, the victims of this spill who actually won their lawsuit against ExxonMobil in 1994 have been waiting twelve years to see their judgment satisfied.

Now, Senators from Alaska and Washington, the two states most affected by the Exxon Valdez oil spill, are taking action to see that justice is finally done. Click here to urge your Senators to join them!

In the twelve years since a federal jury decided that ExxonMobil should have to pay $5 billion in damages to the fishermen and local residents in Alaska that filed suit against them, 10% of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit have died.

ExxonMobil has continued to file appeal after appeal. Furthermore, ExxonMobil has already earned enough through interest by delaying the payment of damages to have offset any financial impact it may eventually face from the verdict. The reason for ExxonMobil’s appeals has always been simply to delay taking responsibility. Enough is enough. It’s high time for ExxonMobil to pay the judgment!

Click here to urge your senators to add their influence to this letter calling on Rex Tillerson and ExxonMobil to pay what they owe to the victims of the Exxon Valdez oil spill.

Once you’ve contacted your Senators, please forward this message to your friends, family members, and co-workers and ask them to join you in contacting Congress today.

Thank you for your tireless support on this issue,

Katelyn Sabochik
Online Campaign Manager
info [at] saveourenvironment.org

Support Our Work – Click here now to make a secure online donation to help support our efforts to protect our clean water, clean air, endangered species and wild places.

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: In Defense of Animals – takeaction [at] idausa.org
Date: Jun 16, 2006 6:19 PM
Subject: Disaster Preparedness Today

Months have passed since Hurricane Katrina shook the Gulf Coast. Along with the rest of the country, we at IDA were shocked and saddened by the tragic loss of lives in the devastation of this storm, which was the largest and most damaging in American history. The thousands who lost family members to the storm, including many beloved companion animals, are still in our thoughts. In the aftermath, countless animals were left homeless, abandoned, and in dire need. Starving and traumatized, suffering from illnesses and injuries, the animals in New Orleans and other storm-hit areas depended on IDA and other caring individuals and organizations for desperately needed help.

Thanks to the generous support of our members, IDA’s Project Hope rescue team was among the first on the ground after the storm hit and among the last to leave after the storm laid waste to the area. Our humane trapping efforts allowed us to rescue hundreds of animals who are now in loving homes, and we saved many more animals from dying of starvation or thirst by maintaining outdoor feeding stations. The hurricane’s devastation shows us how important it is for guardians to plan ahead for the safety of animal companions in case of emergency.

With hurricane season just around the corner, it is important to consider the following: Do you know what you would do if disaster struck? Where would you take your animals? Do you have enough food and water stored away? Who would check on your animals if you were away from home during a disaster?

Your animal friends’ lives could depend on your answers to these questions.

Please take some time to make a disaster plan TODAY. Click here for more information.

(more…)

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Farm Sanctuary – info [at] farmsanctuary.org
Date: Jun 19, 2006 7:49 AM
Subject: Join us at the New York Country Hoe Down!

Our 20th Anniversary celebration really gets in full swing at our annual Country Hoe Down at Farm Sanctuary s New York Shelter on August 5 – 6. Tour the farm, meet the animals, learn about farm animal issues and campaigns, network with like-minded people, enjoy fantastic vegan food and dance the night away during our barn dance.

Conference Activities:
Noted Animal Protection Speakers
Interactive Workshops
Shelter Tours and Hayrides
‘Get Down at the Hoe Down’ Barn Dance

The conference fee is $75.00 per person, which includes Saturday and Sunday lunch, Saturday dinner and Saturday night DJ-hosted barn dance with complimentary party drinks and snacks. Free rustic camping is available at the farm, and hotel accommodations are just a 15-minute drive from the sanctuary.

For more information or to register by phone, please call 607-583-2225 ext. 221 or register online. secure.vegsource.com/farmsanc/visit/nyhoe_down.htm

Reservation Deadline: July 30
Space is Limited

Farm Sanctuary is the nation’s leading farm animal protection organization. Since incorporating in 1986, we have worked to expose and stop cruel practices of the “food animal” industry through research and investigations, legal and legislative actions, public awareness projects, youth education, and direct rescue and refuge efforts. Our shelters in Watkins Glen, NY and Orland, CA provide lifelong care for hundreds of rescued animals, who have become ambassadors for farm animals everywhere by educating visitors about the realities of factory farming. For more information about Farm Sanctuary or our programs, please visit www.farmsanctuary.org or call 607-583-2225. To become a Farm Sanctuary member or to make a donation today using our secure online form, www.farmsanctuary.org/join/donate2.htm. For updates on previous action alerts, www.farmsanctuary.org/actionalerts/update.htm.

Please forward and distribute widely! Thank you
Farm Sanctuary, P.O. Box 150 Watkins Glen, NY 14891.

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www.farmsanctuary.org/signup.htm

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———- Forwarded message ———-
From: DawnWatch – news [at] dawnwatch.com
Date: Jun 16, 2006 4:34 PM
Subject: DawnWatch: Whole Foods bans sale of live lobsters — AJC article 6/16/06

In an article headed, “Lobster’s Liberation” the Friday, June 16, Atlanta Journal-Constitution (pg 5f) tells us “Whole Foods Market Inc. will stop selling live lobsters, effective today, out of concern for the humane treatment of the animals.”

Margaret Wittenberg, from Whole Foods, is quoted: “At this time, we believe it is too difficult to maintain consistent conditions throughout the entire supply chain to ensure the health and well-being of lobsters outside their natural environment for such a long period of time. Many lobsters are held in storage facilities for several months.”

And we read:

“Animal rights groups endorsed the move, saying live shellfish are routinely starved and kept in cruel conditions in grocery stores.”

An article in Tuesday’s Austin American-Statesman also quoted Whole Foods spokesperson Kate Lowery who said, “It’s ultimately how they’re handled by the consumer after they go home that’s a concern.”

Whereas some places in the world have banned boiling lobsters alive, that is still the most common method of killing them in the USA. Check out www.lobsterlib.com to learn more.

(more…)

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Farm Sanctuary – info [at] farmsanctuary.org
Date: Jun 16, 2006 3:47 PM
Subject: Farm Sanctuary’s E-News & Action Alert 6/16/06

Support Farm Animal Stewardship Purchasing Act (H.R. 5557)

Introduced on June 8, 2006, the federal Farm Animal Stewardship Purchasing Act would require producers who supply meat, dairy and eggs to federal programs to comply with moderate animal welfare standards. The bill would help ameliorate some of the worst suffering endured by animals raised for food in the U.S., and force factory farmers to recognize the suffering of farm animals. Read more and take action.

www.farmsanctuary.org/campaign/fed_stewardship.htm

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Cow Crippled at Birth Finds Peace at Farm Sanctuary

The man who rescued Linda says she’s lucky to be alive -and he’s right. Pulled incorrectly while she was being born, Linda’s pelvis was crushed, causing her permanent mobility problems. The dairy farm where she was born had no use for a crippled cow, and her future looked very bleak indeed. But Linda’s rescuer wanted her to live. Here at our New York Shelter, we’re giving her that chance. Read more.

www.farmsanctuary.org/adopt/rescue_linda.htm

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Sponsor a Veg Info Stand

Help educate people about the benefits of “going veg” by sponsoring a Veg Info Stand! You can sponsor a stand today by 1) placing one in your neighborhood and keeping it stocked with free copies of our 24-page Guide to Veg Living magazine, or 2) contributing $100 to underwrite the cost of one stand that Farm Sanctuary will place. Read more.

www.vegforlife.org/activism_activities.htm#vegstand

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Perfect Organics™. Perfect. Naturally.

Perfect Organics, Inc. is honored and delighted to join Farm Sanctuary’s “Corporate Partners for Compassion” community. As manufacturers of amazingly effective, incredibly luxurious, organic, vegan body care, Perfect Organics’ mission is to promote a healthy, humane and sustainable world -and Farm Sanctuary nobly achieves such objectives. Supporting Farm Sanctuary and its animals, Perfect Organics honors the interdependence that exists between humans, our animal friends and the planet we all call home. At Perfect Organics it’s always beauty…outside the box.

www.perfectorganics.com/

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Additional photos from Farm Sanctuary’s 20th Anniversary Gala are now available!

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IN THE NEWS

USDA Refused to Heed Warnings of Atypical Strains of Mad Cow Disease
June 14, 2006

Taxpayers Fight Pataki’s Foie Gras Funding
Ithaca Times
June 14, 2006

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SHOP AT FARM SANCTUARY!

Sheep of Fools
Activist illustrator Sue Coe has produced a striking new work!

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Farm Sanctuary is the nation’s leading farm animal protection organization. Since incorporating in 1986, we have worked to expose and stop cruel practices of the “food animal” industry through research and investigations, legal and legislative actions, public awareness projects, youth education, and direct rescue and refuge efforts. Our shelters in Watkins Glen, NY and Orland, CA provide lifelong care for hundreds of rescued animals, who have become ambassadors for farm animals everywhere by educating visitors about the realities of factory farming. For more information about Farm Sanctuary or our programs, please visit www.farmsanctuary.org or call 607-583-2225. To become a Farm Sanctuary member or to make a donation today using our secure online form, www.farmsanctuary.org/join/donate2.htm. For updates on previous action alerts, www.farmsanctuary.org/actionalerts/update.htm.

–

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www.farmsanctuary.org/signup.htm

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Well, Shane & I are headed out on a three-week vacation, dogs in tow. Posting will be sporadic for the next few weeks, but I’ll be back to stay in mid-July. Until then, be patient – it might take me a little while to approve pending comments and reply to email. And feel free to invite fellow animal rights and/or enviro activists to visit the site. I’ve not yet gotten a heckuvalotta traffic, but considering that I haven’t done anything to promote the site, the hits aren’t that bad!

In the meantime, some vintage Ralphie-on-the-road pics. (Vacation pics forthcoming!)
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 

From the Center for Biological Diversity:

Support for polar bear protections builds in Congress

On June 14, 36 U.S. representatives sent a letter urging the Fish and Wildlife Service to list the polar bear as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. The best available science shows that the polar bear may go extinct in the next century as global warming melts its sea-ice habitat, and listing the bear will provide important protections to ensure this is not its fate.

Please take a moment to call or write a short note thanking Congressman Inslee for his leadership on the congressional letter in support of protecting the polar bear. With so many politicians willing to sell out the environment in favor of the industries that finance them, it is important that we show our appreciation of those representatives who stand up for America’s endangered wildlife and ecosystems. Even a single sentence thanking Congressman Inslee for his efforts for the polar bear would let him know you noticed and appreciate it.

Go show the man some love.

PETA’s weekly eNews (6/16/06) is now online; you can view the entire newsletter here.

Here are two actions you can take:

URGENT: Dogs, Horses, Birds, and Cows Remain on Property of Alleged Abuser; More Than 60 Animals Reportedly Remain Unaccounted For

Help Ensure Passage of the Captive Primate Safety Act

There are also some helpful articles as well as a few veg*n recipes, so be sure to click on over and check out the whole kit-n-caboodle.

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: ASPCA – news-alert [at] aspca.org
Date: Jun 16, 2006 7:00 AM
Subject: Cat Photo Contest/Safe Flea Control for Felines

JUNE 16, 2006

Welcome to our weekly email newsletter, your source for the latest news from our animal welfare community and information on pending humane legislation.

—————-
ASPCA NEWS ALERT
—————-

CALLING ALL SHUTTERBUGS: ENTRIES NEEDED IN ASPCA ADOPT-A-SHELTER-CAT MONTH PHOTO CONTEST!

Is your kitty the cat’s meow? In honor of Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month, we’re putting out a call for the most awesome photos of…who else?…the irresistible, inimitable feline. The deadline for submitting photos is Friday, July 7, so get out your camera and watch your cat doing the things that she does best–sleeping, eating, playing, contemplating or just being cute. Hit us with your best shot!

www.aspca.org/site/R?i=6fTFBrswJmBfE8hOhsAvug..

PET POISON ALERT: DON’T USE SPARKY’S FLEA DROPS ON FLUFFY!

Each year as flea season approaches, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center receives thousands of calls from pet owners who have accidentally misused flea control products on their cats. Our experts explain the safest way to keep your felines flea-free.

www.aspca.org/site/R?i=f7yUpKRb3CepCm60o30Q8w..

ASPCA SUCCESS STORY OF THE WEEK: THE OLD SOFT SHOE

Meet Bart, a curious kitty with a penchant for his mom’s footwear.

www.aspca.org/site/R?i=cpQH1q7P8z45lnSb4rGSAg..

SAN FRANCISCO HOSTS NATIONAL FERAL CAT SUMMIT

Working to help feral cats in your community–or want to learn how? Then we’d better see you in September!

www.aspca.org/site/R?i=OkOaADcaBsY269cs58rpfA..

PERFECT GIFTS FOR DADS & GRADS!

When you shop using our special links to Amazon.com and 1800flowers.com, not only will you find a super selection of gifts–but a percentage of your purchase will go toward ASPCA programs.

www.aspca.org/site/R?i=qMF0DAikXmQB0wa4IcP0Wg..

HELP NEEDED AT SPAY/NEUTER CLINICS IN GALAPAGOS

Animal Balance, a community-based project that aims to control the dog and cat populations of the Galapagos Islands, is looking for volunteers for week-long sterilization clinics.

www.aspca.org/site/R?i=0pm5hwP9KPoBNR49RgmvFg..

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ASPCA ADVOCACY DIGEST
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LET’S END HORSE SLAUGHTER ONCE AND FOR ALL!

Please urge your representative to support this important legislation today.

www.aspca.org/site/R?i=jcZOWXDWQdLulhjJ1j_vng..

MORE ALERTS FOR YOUR AREA…

www.aspca.org/site/R?i=Rm2Mmkxo2KxzXIR-YR__Lg..

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Tell a Friend: www.aspca.org/site/R?i=6_etMs5Wbt6YCLUHCPMq3Q..

Become a Member: www.aspca.org/site/R?i=BMfj0HHhCAyIbnauLGGWFQ..

ASPCA Store: www.aspca.org/site/R?i=aKLjifOCanA_S8yRxQk7XQ..

ASPCA Credit Card: www.aspca.org/site/R?i=Kw18zxPekUZ4wFgrcgV7MA..

© 2006 The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®
424 E. 92nd St
New York, NY 10128
Visit us online at www.aspca.org

In case you haven’t yet heard:

Bush Plans Vast Protected Sea Area in Hawaii

President Bush will create the world’s largest protected marine area today, designating as a national monument a 1,200-mile-long chain of small Hawaiian islands and surrounding waters and reefs that are home to a spectacular array of sea life, senior administration officials said last night.

In his second use of the 100-year old National Antiquities Act, which empowers the president to protect important cultural or geological resources instantly, Mr. Bush will enact a suite of strict rules for the area, including a five-year phasing out of commercial and sport fishing, officials said.

The chain of largely uninhabited atolls, seamounts, reefs and shoals, which sweeps northwest from the big islands of Hawaii, is called the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and is home to some 7,000 species of marine life, including endangered green sea turtles and Hawaiian monk seals and millions of breeding seabirds.

Before you vow to vote Republican in ’08, it’s worth noting that this doesn’t necessarily indicate a turning for Bush and his disastrous enviro policies:

Some environmentalists noted yesterday that the extra protection was an easy call for the administration, in part because there was little significant opposition in Hawaii or Washington. The move could also help the re-election prospects of Linda Lingle, Hawaii’s Republican governor, who last fall banned commercial activities in state waters in the area and endorsed the federal sanctuary plan.

They noted that there were only eight commercial fishing boats licensed to fish in the remote islands, and that rising fuel costs had made such trips less and less profitable.

Even so, it’s something to celebrate.

Go read the whole article via The New York Times.

UPDATE: MoJo blogger Bradford Plumer has a spot-on take of this story:

Gotcha. Fishermen don’t really care about this sanctuary, not much harm was being done to the reefs anyway, so Bush may as well go ahead and protect the damn thing, especially since he can now claim that he has “accomplished the single largest act of environmental conservation in history.” Our hero. Well, it’s good news regardless, although there are countless other reefs and coastal regions that still need actual protection. What are the odds of Bush acting on those? No, let’s not answer that.

While I’m certainly not falling for Bush’s green posturing, it’s still good (i.e., in a lukewarm kinda way) news nonetheless – at least one marine area is receiving federal protection, even if it isn’t currently in need of it. Could it be better? Sure. But with Bush at the helm, it could most definitely be worse.