———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Animals Australia – enquiries [at] animalsaustralia.org
Date: Apr 30, 2007 1:31 AM
Subject: E-ALERT – Pigs sentenced to another 10 years of cruelty…

Trouble with links or images? View this message online: www.savebabe.com/eupdate/

SENTENCED FOR 10 MORE YEARS

On April 20th, nine Australian politicians charged with the responsibility of reviewing cruel pig industry practices voted to allow the use of inhumane sow stalls to continue unabated for another decade.
These politicians ignored community views, pre-eminent science, international precedents and their ethical responsibilities to provide millions of Australian animals with fair and just governance.

All is not lost. Recently the world’s largest pig producer—US-based Smithfield Foods—announced a voluntary phase out of sow stalls over the next decade. The following week Canada’s largest pig producer followed suit.

These decisions were not forced by governments; they were forced by community concern. In the US Burger King (Hungry Jacks in Australia) and major supermarkets have listened to consumers and have committed to sourcing free-range products—their purchasing power is underpinning the decisions by pig producers to end cruel practices.

Change for Australian pigs will be brought about when these powerful companies are made aware that civilised societies will no longer tolerate industrialised animal cruelty.

It is time to make uncaring politicians irrelevant.

Please take a moment to send this important message. Tell McDonald’s, Hungry Jack’s and Subway that whilst Australian politicians don’t care about animal cruelty—you do.

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UPDATE, 5/8/07:

Just thought I’d share Greenpeace’s reply to my letter re: their stance on “sustainable forest management” in the Congo Rainforest, detailed in the Ecological Internet alert below. If nothing else, it provides further opportunities to take action on this issue.

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Greenpeace – greenpeace [at] activism.greenpeace.org
Date: May 8, 2007 9:37 AM
Subject: Congo Rainforest

Dear Forest Friend,

Thanks for your email about the Congo Rainforest. We agree with you about the need to protect the Congo forests from industrial logging and have been campaigning to make sure it happens as soon as possible.

The threats facing the world’s last ancient forests are huge, so it is important that we all combine our efforts to stop those responsible for forest destruction, the logging companies and the financial organisations that fund them.

Only a few of weeks ago we released a major report called ‘Carving up the Congo’ that showed the complete failure of industrial logging in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in alleviating poverty and the terrible toll this type of logging has had on the regions forests and amazing wildlife.

We are campaigning around the world, including with local NGO’s in the DRC, to ensure alternatives to industrial logging are implemented in the Congo as a way of keeping the forest standing and alleviating poverty. For the past 10 years Greenpeace has also been actively supporting indigenous peoples’ rights and community use ’solutions’ as alternatives to large-scale destructive logging.

Check out the video and photo story from our recent visit to the Congo forests. www.email.greenpeace.org/lhhtwsg_qiopreol.html

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———- Forwarded message ———-
From: DawnWatch – news [at] dawnwatch.com
Date: Apr 29, 2007 3:08 AM
Subject: DawnWatch corrected: Elle writers try veganism, Forbes discusses health risks of meat eating, and Oregon Senate passes sow crate ban — week ending 4/28/07

(A version of this alert sent a few hours ago included a typo, so I send this revised version, which is preferable for those who forward DawnWatch alerts.)

There have been so many breakthroughs of late in the public fight against factory farming, and in the shift of plant-based eating into the mainstream, it is becoming wonderfully hard to keep up!

Recently we saw Gourmet Magazine (not the Vegetarian Times!) discuss the need to cut back on meat consumption. Now we see, in the May edition of Elle Magazine, an article headed, “The Carnivore’s Dilemma” and sub-headed, “It’s tempting to dismiss veganism as just another eating disorder, so Marisa Meltzer and Kara Jesella veg out and find the surprising benefits of eating conscientiously.” (p 234)

The authors write that they love food but had become increasingly concerned about whether the food they had always loved was good for them. They write,

“We’d grown paranoid about allergies, antibiotic-laced milk, and FDA reports on salmonella outbreaks. Not to mention the cruelty of factory farming and the environmental impact of our eating habits. Kara alternated between patting herself on the back for eating more fish — touted by nutritionists for its brain-building omega-3 fats — and worrying about how much methylmercury she was ingesting. Marisa’s fondness for steak frites waned every time she turned on the TV and saw yet another image of cows mooing mournfully in overcrowded feedlots.

“Though we both dismissed veganism as a hippie-dippy, self-righteous lifestyle, a slew of new books made us reconsider. In ‘The Way We Eat: Why Our Food Choices Matter,’ ethicists Peter Singer and Jim Mason say that veganism is the best answer to the ethical quandaries posed by eating animal products.”

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PETA’s weekly eNews (4/28/07) is now online; you can view the entire newsletter here.

Action alerts from this edition include the following:

* Save Kangaroos From Slaughter–Stop SB 880!

* Urgent Update: Horses From Allegedly Neglectful Farm Are Reportedly Still Missing

* Texas Prosecutor Refuses Even to Confirm or Deny Charges for Boy Accused of Fatally Shooting Cat

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare action alerts peta people for the ethical treatment of animals cat feline animal abuse cruelty to animals texas horse neglect kangaroo australia california skins

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: DawnWatch – news [at] dawnwatch.com
Date: Apr 27, 2007 10:16 PM
Subject: DawnWatch — Wall Street Journal asks “How Much Is Your Dog’s Life Worth?” 4/26/07

Yesterday’s Wall Street Journal, Thursday, April 26 Wall, included a lead story (page D1) headed, “How Much Is Your Dog’s Life Worth?; Flurry of Pet-Food Suits Spurs Effort to Boost Legal Value Of Animal Companions.”

The article, by Sara Schaefer, opens:

“Most people consider their pet priceless. But in civil law, at least, pets are usually seen as property — akin to a toaster or TV set — worth only their market value. Now, amid the incidences of tainted pet food tied to animal deaths and the subsequent rash of lawsuits against pet-food makers, there’s a push to put a higher value on a pet’s life.

“Lawyers, animal-rights activists and pet owners are arguing that most state laws dealing with pets are outmoded and fail to consider that pets play the role of companions in today’s society. They say pet owners whose animal is injured or killed should receive compensation not only for vet bills and a replacement animal — but for emotional distress as well. While legal experts say big payouts for emotional damages are unlikely in the pet-food cases, the lawsuits and large number of pets affected could accelerate a growing trend to give pets more recognition under the law.”

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———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle – kinshipcircle [at] brick.net
Date: Apr 27, 2007 6:32 PM
Subject: LETTER/ Target: HLS Customer Landis International

Kinship Circle Primary – PERMISSION TO CROSS-POST AS WRITTEN
(Please do not delete identity/disclaimer information)

4/27/07: Target: HLS Customer Landis International
KINSHIP CIRCLE ACTION CAMPAIGN

www.KinshipCircle.org

SOURCE OF INFORMATION:

CLOSE HLS ACTION ALERT, closehuntingdon [at] hushmail.com
SHAC-UK, info [at] shac.net, www.shac.net

=======================

CONTACT INFO + EMAIL BLOCK

SAMPLE LETTER FOLLOWS

=======================

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———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Farm Sanctuary – info [at] farmsanctuary.org
Date: Apr 27, 2007 3:53 PM
Subject: Farm Sanctuary’s E-News & Action Alert 04/27/07

Register Now for our California Country Hoe Down!

Visit Farm Sanctuary’s Orland, Calif., shelter for our annual Country Hoe Down and learn how you can help our farm animal friends. At this unique activist conference, you’ll attend engaging presentations by some of the nation’s leading animal advocates, delight in a catered vegan dinner and boogie at a good old-fashioned barn dance! The conference fee is $30 per person. To register before the May 5 deadline, please call 607-583-2225 ext. 221 or go online.

Act Now to Ban Horse Slaughter

On April 25, the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee approved the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (S. 311), a federal bill that will prohibit the shipment of American horses over U.S. borders for the purpose of slaughtering them. Now it goes to the floor of the U.S. Senate. Please contact your U.S. Senators and encourage them to vote YES on S. 311. Read more.

Snowy and Shotzie’s Story of Survival Finds a Happy Ending

Snowy is a duck to be reckoned with. Shotzie’s no pushover, either. And if their ability to triumph over painful pasts doesn’t tell you that, their new adoptive parents can. These two New York Shelter ducks have now found a permanent home with two Farm Sanctuary members, living the kind of life denied to them after abandonment and abuse. Read more.

Donate

Honor friends, family and colleagues by making a donation to Farm Sanctuary! Whether it’s a birthday, wedding, graduation, or just because, to someone who loves animals, there is no better gift than one that helps animals. Memorial gifts are also a special way to remember loved ones. Gifts of $20 or more are acknowledged with a letter to the gift giver and a special card to your gift recipient. Click here or contact us at 607-583-2225 ext. 221.

Painting for Paws ~ Art with a Cause

This heartwarming farm scene titled “Hilda’s Friends,” by Karen Derrico, raised $4,000 at our 20th anniversary Gala silent auction! Now you can purchase a limited edition of this beautiful artwork featuring Farm Sanctuary residents, including the beloved Hilda, with 25 percent of proceeds benefiting Farm Sanctuary. Click here to purchase “Hilda’s Friends.”

In the News

Broad Coalition Petitions New Jersey Supreme Court for Appeal in Humane Standards Case

Humane Farm Standards Elude N.J.
Home News Tribune – April 25, 2007

Anti-Foie Gras Film Making the Rounds
New York Business – April 26, 2007

For Chef and Diner, Ethical Choices Crowd the Menu
St. Petersburg Times – April 25, 2007

In the Store

*NEW – Pig in Grass Magnet

About Farm Sanctuary

Photo via texwurld

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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To subscribe: www.farmsanctuary.org/signup.htm

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare action alerts farm sanctuary horses horse slaughter horse meat foie gras geese California Country Hoe Down events the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act meat flickr

Via the American Civil Liberties Union:

The Third Annual Stand Up for Freedom Contest

If you’re between the ages of 17 and 29, we want you to produce a video PSA or a podcast about how the government is abusing its power. Make it funny, slam it, turn it into a documentary–this is your chance to make some noise about the news that bugs you. StandUp. Get creative.

Another great chance to harp on that whole AETA thing. Contest rules and additional details here.

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts ACLU American Civil Liberties Union AETA animal enterprise terrorism act terrorism eco-terrorism animal terrorism war on terra war on terror Constitution first amendment freedom of speech censorship habeas corpus civil liberties free speech protest contest video podcast

Via the World Society for the Protection of Animals:

Tell President Bush to end commercial whaling

Many people believe that the whale has been saved but the sad and shocking truth is that the resumption of commercial whaling is closer to becoming a reality today than at any point over the past two decades.

Whales need protecting now as much as they ever did – perhaps even more so in the light of threats such as climate change – but over the past six years, President Bush’s team has failed to fight hard enough for that much needed protection. The United States ‘ once steadfast aim to protect the world’s whales has been replaced by a catalogue of compromises which, left unchecked, will undoubtedly pave the way for a resumption of commercial whaling.

This May, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) will meet on US soil for the first time in nearly two decades. There couldn’t be a better time for the US Administration to show the world that America does not support the resumption of whaling. It is unsustainable, unnecessary and inherently cruel.

Please write to President Bush and ask him to follow the strong examples of President Reagan, the first President Bush and President Clinton. If President Bush acts now, the damage caused by US neglect on this issue in recent years can be reversed. The United States must resume its role as a leader in the fight against commercial whaling.

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare action alerts WSPA World Society for the Protection of Animals whaling whale meat whales hunting President Bush IWC International Whaling Commission

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle – kinshipcircle [at] brick.net
Date: Apr 25, 2007 9:30 PM
Subject: UPDATES: Pet Food Saga Hall Of Shame

Kinship Circle Animal Disaster Relief
PERMISSION TO CROSS-POST AS WRITTEN

4/25/07: Pet Food Saga Hall Of Shame

www.KinshipCircle.org

Returned cans of pet food fill a shopping cart at Petco in Miami last month. Federal officials are investigating the possibility that the contamination with a plastics chemical was deliberate.
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18210224/

IN THIS ALERT:

1. Latest Death Toll
2. Pet Food Saga Hall Of Shame – Timeline
3. Feeling Powerless? 2 Ways YOU Can Take Action
4. (Duh) Pet Food Recall Expands To Human Foods
5. Recently In The News
6. Product Recall Lists And Info
7. Bookmark Links With Continually Updated Info
8. To Make Reports And Follow Government News
9. Goodbye Precious Babies

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