———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle – info [at] kinshipcircle.org
Date: Jul 6, 2007 5:41 PM
Subject: LETTER/ Horse Carriage Crash Marks Need For Ban

Kinship Circle Primary – PERMISSION TO CROSS-POST AS WRITTEN

Kinship Circle will be OFFLINE from July 13 to July 30, while presenting/exhibiting at AR2007 in Los Angeles. Please hold personal messages during these dates. We apologize in advance for emails that may bounce as our mailbox overloads while away.

7/6/07: Another Horse Carriage Crash Marks Need For Ban
KINSHIP CIRCLE ACTION CAMPAIGN

www.KinshipCircle.org

SOURCE OF INFORMATION:
Elizabeth Forel, coalitionbanhdc [at] gmail.com
Coalition for NYC Animals, Inc. for the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages

www.banhdc.org

*If you have witnessed any accidents or incidents concerning the carriage horses — or — have evidence of an HLE officer not doing his/her job concerning the carriage horses or showing bias to the drivers, please contact: coalitionbanhdc [at] gmail.com

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

SAMPLE LETTER & CONTACT INFO

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Try to change some words, pare down letters, and make them your own.

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(More below the fold…)

Via Defenders of Wildlife:

Protect Cook Inlet Belugas!

After decades of decline, hope is on the horizon for Alaska’s Cook Inlet belugas. Thanks in part to the support of more than 15,000 Defenders activists like you, federal officials plan to list Alaska’s beleaguered beluga as an endangered species. But they need to hear from you to make these vital protections a reality.

Take action now! Tell the National Marine Fisheries Service that you support their plan to protect Cook Inlet belugas as an endangered species!

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts Defenders of Wildlife Cook Inlet whales beluga whales esa endangered species act endangered species wildlife conservation

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: In Defense of Animals – takeaction [at] idausa.org
Date: Jul 6, 2007 1:30 PM
Subject: Writing Alert: Animal rights group asks government to protect pachyderms

The Vallejo Times Herald ran a story about IDA’s complaint to the USDA about Six Flags Discovery Kingdom and our call to send the elephants there to a sanctuary. Please write a letter to the editor of the Times Herald in support of IDA’s call to move the elephants to a sanctuary as well as the suffering these animals endure in captivity. Send letters to the Times Herald at opinion [at] timesheraldonline.com. Please put “Letter to the Editor” in the subject line of e-mails.

Read “Animal rights group asks government to protect pachyderms” online.

Local animal Animal rights group asks government to protect pachyderms

In Defense of Animals claims Vallejo theme park violated Animal Welfare Act

By DAN JUDGE/Times-Herald staff writer
Article Launched: 07/06/2007

An animal rights group is asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture to investigate Six Flags Discovery Kingdom’s allegedly abusive treatment of the Vallejo amusement park’s elephants.

In Defense of Animals has filed a complaint with the USDA charging that Six Flags has violated the federal Animal Welfare Act by failing to provide adequate veterinary care or living conditions for the elephants.

“The conditions at Six Flags are causing these elephants to suffer and some of them to die,” IDA spokeswoman Catherine Doyle said Thursday. “We’re asking them to determine the elephants should be removed from the situation.”

(More below the fold…)

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Farm Sanctuary – info [at] farmsanctuary.org
Date: Jul 6, 2007 1:20 PM
Subject: Register for the New York Country Hoe Down!

Register for the New York Country Hoe Down!

Join us at the…New York Hoe Down, August 4 and 5

Save the date for a special country conference at Farm Sanctuary’s New York Shelter on August 4 and 5. Hear educational presentations, visit the lovable farm animals, enjoy mouth-watering vegan food, and make some new friends during this enjoyable weekend.

Conference Activities
*Presentations by noted animal protection speakers
*Informative session on media outreach
*Networking with fellow animal advocates
*Yoga on the farm
*Shelter tours and hayrides
*Boot-stompin’ barn dance

The conference fee is $75 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. (www.farmsanctuary.org/visit/Newyork_hoedown_accom.htm)

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 27. Space is Limited!

Attention Long Island and New York City residents:
Get on board the Country Hoe Down bus trip!
The Long Island Coalition for Animals will be sponsoring a bus trip to this year’s event. The price is $280 per person (double occupancy) and includes round trip transportation (with pickups and drop offs in Plainview Long Island and New York City), two nights lodging, vegan meals and tickets to the Hoe Down.
This event fills up quickly, so don’t delay in making your reservations. For more information or to reserve your spot, please contact the trip coordinator by July 14: Gayle 516-785-6416 or 516-935-0647 (evenings).

–

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

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare action alerts farm sanctuary events education conferences hoe down New York Country Hoe Down NY new york watkins glen yoga august 4 august 5

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: DawnWatch – news [at] dawnwatch.com
Date: Jul 5, 2007 9:37 PM
Subject: DawnWatch: USA Today and LA Times Patt Morrison on spay-neuter 7/5/07

Today, Thursday July 5, two huge papers include articles on the importance of spay-neuter. USA Today, the most widely circulated paper in the US, has an article on spay-neuter subsidy programs. And the Los Angeles Times has a column by Patt Morrison, in support of California’s Healthy Pets Act, AB 1634.

The USA Today article, by Sharon L. Peters, is headed “The fix is in for pet control; Subsidy programs help nip the problem of unwanted animals.” (Pg 5d)

Peters writes:

“While California is in the spotlight for controversial mandatory-pet-sterilization legislation under discussion there, the rest of the country is hearing an insistent message that, although far short of compulsory sterilization, encourages and facilitates spay/neuters.

She tells us:

“The simple math, experts say, is that far more animals are being born every year than can be placed.

“Despite successful campaigns to persuade prospective owners to adopt shelter pets, about 7 million dogs and cats are euthanized in shelters every year, and there’s no evidence that adoptions will increase enough to close the gap, experts say.”

(More below the fold…)

Via the Natural Resources Defense Council:

Tell Mexico’s President Thank You for Defending Whales

Help us applaud the courage and vision of Mexico’s President Felipe Calderón for designating 109,000 acres of federal land around San Ignacio Lagoon for conservation.

Combined with the 140,000 acres of private and communal lands we’ve already protected, 249,000 acres are now off-limits to industrialization forever. We’re closer than ever to our ultimate goal of protecting one million acres around the world’s last untouched gray whale nursery!

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Tagged: environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts nrdc Natural Resources Defense Council mexico conservation wildlife whales Felipe Calderón San Ignacio Lagoon gray whales gray whale nursery

 
So I’m sitting here, plugging away at my html and junk (my day job), and this song popped up in the music queue. So came my Brilliant Idea of the Week: Friday Veggie Vlogging. Every Friday weekend*, a new veggie-themed music vid. As a bonus, I’ll also take bets on how long this Brilliant Idea will last, and what will bring about its downfall – lack of time on my part, or lack of veggie-themed music vids on You Tube’s end?**

* The more wiggle room I give myself, the better. Remember the Friday Carnival Roundups of days past?

** Consider this a solicitation for suggestions!

(Crossposted from my veg blog. Just because.)

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Tagged: you tube video music video deadeye dick 90s pumpkins pumpkin heads new age girl mary moon vegetarian vlogging video blogging

PETA’s weekly eNews (7/5/07) is now online; you can view the entire newsletter here.

Action alerts from this edition include the following:

* Whistleblower Reports That Speed Racer Chimpanzee Was Severely Beaten

* Alleged Hog Killers Get Slap on Wrist: Urge Judge to Reconsider

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare action alerts peta people for the ethical treatment of animals animal abuse cruelty to animals animal cruelty pigs factory farming ohio Joseph Wiles Judge Stuart K. Miller Andy Wachowski Larry Wachowski Wachowski brothers Speed Racer chimp chimpanzee animal actor primate CGI animatronics

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: DawnWatch – news [at] dawnwatch.com
Date: Jul 4, 2007 10:02 PM
Subject: DawnWatch: Aussie media on downside of meat July 1-3, 2007

As the US chows down on its July 4th BBQs and waits for the impending fireworks and heart-attacks, I send out two terrific meat related pieces from this week’s Australian media. On Sunday night, Landline, Australia’s national rural issues program on ABC, covered the impact of animal rights and welfare on meat industry practices. And on Tuesday July 3, the Sydney Morning Herald looked at the environmental impact of meat-laden diets. The US media has largely shied away from that issue (a line or two in last Sunday’s New York Times being a notable exception) so it us great to see a lengthy article on it in a leading Australian newspaper.

ABC’s Landline headed its story, “Livestock producers face animal welfare challenges.” You can watch the whole piece on line at www.abc.net.au/landline/ and read the transcript at www.abc.net.au/landline/content/2006/s1965877.htm.

It follows the recent visit to Australia by American animal rights lawyer, Steve Wise, sponsored by the Australian group ‘Voiceless.’ (I thank Elizabeth Usher from Voiceless for making sure we knew about the Aussie coverage cited in this alert.)

The piece includes information on abusive modern farming systems, such as the following quote from Steve Wise:

“If you look at a factory farm and imagine it full of dogs or full of cats instead of full of pigs or instead of chickens and you see that they are kept in very small cages or pens, they are oftentimes unable to stand up and turn around. They’re extremely crowded. Chickens might have their beaks taken off which can be a painful thing. Pigs can have their tails docked, their teeth filed. They are not in the sunlight — they have to stay inside, in a completely controlled environment, and that’s until they’re led off to the slaughterhouse. And the horrors of a modern, factory slaughterhouse are just almost unbelievable.”

(More below the fold…)

Here’s the TOC from IDA’s 7-3-07 newsletter.

Click on the links to take action, or read the whole newsletter online.

IDA Action Alerts

IDA Tells Six Flags to Tackle Elephant Problem; New report reveals evidence of illness and abuse at amusement park

Speaking for Animals in Letters to the Editor; Put the power of language to work for IDA’s Guardian Campaign

Oregon Becomes First State to Ban Gestation Crates by Act of Government; Take Action by urging your federal legislators to support related farm animal welfare bill

Campaign News & Updates

IDA’s Guardian of the Month for July – Sheriff Joe Arpaio; “America’s Toughest Sheriff” has a heart for needy animals

Victory! Louisiana Outlaws Cockfighting; Vicious blood sport to be illegal in all 50 states

South Korea Passes New Animal Welfare Law; Dog and cat meat consumption still not expressly prohibited

An archive of past IDA eNews newsletters is available here.

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare action alerts ida in defense of animals elephants zoos six flags amusement park Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Vallejo California letters to the editor oregon gestation crates pigs sows meat pork Farm Animal Stewardship Purchasing Act Sheriff Joe Arpaio Joe Arpaio America’s Toughest Sheriff no-kill shelter mash unit pet companion animal dog canine cat feline animal rescue animal fighting cockfighting, blood sports louisiana south korea dog meat cat meat International Day for Korean Dogs and Cats july 25 events

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle – kinshipcircle [at] brick.net
Date: Jul 4, 2007 2:07 PM
Subject: Floods, Fires & Animals ­ TX, KS, OK, CA

KINSHIP CIRCLE ANIMAL DISASTER RELIEF – PERMISSION TO CROSSPOST

RELIEF GLOBAL
7/4/07: Floods, Fires & Animals – TX, KS, OK, CA
PAST NEWSLETTERS: www.kinshipcircle.org/disasters/default.html

IN THIS ALERT:

1. TEXAS: Raining Cats & Dogs / How To Help
2. TEXAS: Severe Flooding in Northern Texas Affects Pet Owners
3. KANSAS: Kat 5 Rescue Headed To Kansas / How To Help
4. KANSAS: Pet Rescue Launched In Flooded Coffeyville
5. OKLAHOMA: Oklahomans Flee As Oily Flood Closes In
6. CALIFORNIA: Lake Tahoe Pets / How To Help
7. CALIFORNIA: Wildfires – What About Animals? / How To Help

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

(More below the fold…)

 

 
By the by, the NY Times article that caught Stephen’s ire is available for viewing – for free (!) – here.

Videos in this post

The Colbert Report, Monday, June 25, 2007
The Freegans
To prevent these trash-eating hippies from freeloading, Stephen asks us to hoard our garbage. (2:51)

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Tagged: stephen colbert the colbert report video comedy central freegans free vegans dumpster diving consumerism

And to celebrate the occasion, proprietor Furry Girl is offering all easyvegan-ers – that would be all of y’all who read this humble blog – 10% off through August 3rd. Your (coupon) codename: EASYVEGAN.

After the flip, a little more info about the The Sensual Vegan. Because, ya know, it’s “adult” and all. Gawd forbid the kiddies find out about teh s-e-x.

(More below the fold…)

Via The Sierra Club:

Protect Clean Water!

Small streams and wetlands help maintain and protect drinking water supplies, as well as provide critical flood water storage. In addition, they are important for wildlife breeding grounds and habitat. A June 2006 Supreme Court ruling has placed many of these waters in jeopardy of losing Clean Water Act safeguards.

The Environmental Protection Agency and the US Army Corps of Engineers recently issued “guidance” that further muddies the waters and confuses the issue even more as to which waters are covered under the Clean Water Act.

Ask your Representative help clarify its intent and live up to its responsibility to ensure that all communities have safe and healthy waters by passing The Clean Water Restoration Act!

By the by, you can read this week’s edition of Club Currents here.

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Tagged: environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts sierra club water pollution clean water epa Environmental Protection Agency US Army Corps of Engineers clean water act

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Farm Sanctuary – info [at] farmsanctuary.org
Date: Jul 3, 2007 10:24 AM
Subject: Behind the Mustache: Farm Sanctuary Investigates the Dairy Industry

Farm Sanctuary Investigation Shows Sad Truth About California’s Happy Cows

A Farm Sanctuary investigation has unearthed the reality of life on California’s industrialized dairy farms. Far from experiencing the happy existence marketers of California’s dairy products would like the public to believe, dairy cows live in filth on industrialized farms, where their basic needs are routinely ignored and their bodies are exploited for profit.

Farm Sanctuary has produced a video culled from footage taken during the investigation. Behind the Mustache: Farm Sanctuary Investigates the Dairy Industry provides documentation of the treatment of both milk-producing cows and their offspring, many of whom are hauled off to slaughter shortly after being born. The heartbreaking separation of one mother from her baby is shown in detail, as she chases the dairy farm worker who grabs her newborn, still wet from birth, by the back legs and drags him through the manure-caked pen.

More than 21 percent of the nation’s dairy supply comes from California, and, according to the the state’s Department of Food and Agriculture 2005 statistics, California is home to nearly 1.8 million milk-producing cows. The vast majority of these animals reside on intensive dairy farms, where, as our investigation shows, living conditions are abysmal.

Please take the time to view this video [1] and send along to your friends, family and colleagues. If you haven’t already, please consider dairy alternatives. After all, a compassionate world begins with you!

(More below the fold…)

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: DawnWatch – news [at] dawnwatch.com
Date: Jul 2, 2007 8:55 PM
Subject: Dawnwatch: Los Angeles Times and Orlando Sentinel on welfare standards 7/2/07

Today’s previous alert, looking at articles from Sunday July 1, pointed to a growing acceptance of vegetarianism in mainstream US society. Other media points to a growing awareness and lack of acceptance of, the horrors of factory farming. The Monday, July 2, Los Angeles Times and Orlando Sentinel have lead articles on the issue. And we have just had groundbreaking news from Oregon: For the first time ever a state legislature has banned sow gestation crates. (Bans in other states have resulted from citizen ballot initiatives generally after legislative efforts have faltered.)

The Los Angeles Times article, by Jerry Hirsch, on the cover of the business section (pg C1) is headed, “Animal welfare issue boiling” and subheaded, “Many firms in the industry have moved to undertake a number of changes in response to customer concerns.”

It tells us:

“Americans are increasingly picky about what they eat — especially when it comes to the ways that farm animals are killed, processed, sold and served as food. And U.S. businesses are catching on.

(More below the fold…)

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: DawnWatch – news [at] dawnwatch.com
Date: Jul 2, 2007 8:33 PM
Subject: DawnWatch: NY Times and Chicago Tribune recommend veggie diets for planet and health — 7/1/07

Two huge papers — the New York Times and Chicago Tribune — gave veggie diets ringing endorsements on Sunday, July 1. Other, Monday July 2 papers have calls for animal welfare standards, which I will look at in a separate alert.

The Sunday, July 1 New York Times carried an article, by Alex Williams, on the cover of the Sunday Styles Section (section 9) headed “Buying Into the Green Movement.” The point of the article is to “question the notion that we can avert global warming by buying so-called earth-friendly products, from clothing and cars to homes and vacations, when the cumulative effect of our consumption remains enormous and hazardous.” It quotes an author who says that “Green consumerism is an oxymoronic phrase” and discusses how the news media have been responsible for “turning environmentalism into fashion and distracting from serious issues.” That article is on line at www.nytimes.com/2007/07/01/fashion/01green.html.

Of most interest to those of us particularly concerned with animal issues, is a small related section, on page 9, headed, “Tread Lightly, Fly Directly.” It recommends ways to reduce your carbon footprint, taking “a few suggestions from among 77 offered by ‘The Live Earth Global Warming Survival Handbook’ by David de Rothschild, the official companion book to the Live Earth concerts.”

The number one suggestion offered in the New York Times summary is:

“Whenever possible, replace meat with soy or other vegetable protein in your diet. It takes eight times as much energy to produce a pound of meat as it does a pound of tofu.”

(Let’s hope Al Gore read the New York Times this Sunday.)

(More below the fold…)

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Humane Society of the United States – humanesociety [at] hsus.org
Date: Jul 2, 2007 5:03 PM
Subject: Big victories mark the year’s halfway point

********************************
The Humane Society of the United States
BIG VICTORIES MARK THE YEAR’S HALFWAY POINT

community.hsus.org/campaign/2007_downed_animals4/

July 2, 2007
********************************

The fourth of July is an American holiday grounded on the principle that an independent and democratic nation is an ideal worth fighting for. At The HSUS, the ideal we fight for is that animals matter and that human beings have solemn responsibilities toward other creatures. We ask you to support us and to take action when we issue the call. And we want to show you that our collective action results in outcomes you can be proud of. At this mid-point in the year, I want to update you on some stunning accomplishments — and believe me, with your support, we intend to see many more in the months and years ahead.

PROTECTING PETS

The HSUS is always looking out for dogs, cats, and horses. In state legislatures and in the courts, we shuttered the last remaining horse slaughter plants in the country (two plants in Texas and one in Illinois), and we are pressing Congress to stop the export of horses to Canada and Mexico. The HSUS unveiled our undercover investigation of dog auctions, places where puppy mill owners buy and sell dogs like used cars. We followed this action with our first-ever filing of a class-action lawsuit against a dog dealer called Wizard of Claws for selling puppy mill puppies with genetic defects, serious illnesses and contagious parasites, and we are pressing ahead with a larger campaign against puppy mills. We worked closely with legislative leaders and friends in Hawaii to ensure the Aloha state would become the 43rd state to adopt a felony-level penalty for animal cruelty. Also, several states have passed measures to include pets in protective orders in domestic violence cases.

(More below the fold…)

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: DawnWatch – news [at] dawnwatch.com
Date: Jul 1, 2007 7:38 PM
Subject: DawnWatch: NY Times and LA Times on pet overpopulation 6/30 – 7/1/07

This weekend, the New York Times and Los Angeles Times have had complimentary articles on pet overpopulation. A Saturday, June 30, New York Times piece looks at the burden on families, with big hearts and small bank accounts, who take in strays but don’t have money for vet bills. A Sunday, July 1, Los Angeles Times piece examines the Los Angeles efforts to move towards no-kill. At the forefront of the Los Angeles effort is the California Healthy Pets Act, AB 1634, which mandates the spay-neuter of dogs and cats over four months. The bill allows anybody to get an exemption by purchasing an intact permit if they wish to breed a registered purebred, or if their veterinarian requests an exemption for medical reasons, and there are many other exemptions. So the bill would not ban breeding so much as put in some desperately needed speed bumps. It would allow responsible, licensed breeding and disallow irresponsible breeding. Please visit www.cahealthypets.com/home.htm to learn more about it and find out what you can do to help.

The New York Times article, by Eric Eckhold, is headed “For Poor Families, an Added Burden of Too Many Pets.” (June 30, p A10.)

It tells us:

“Midnight dumping of unwanted dogs is common here on the southern tail of the Appalachian Mountains, where large numbers of poor people are attached to multiple pets but cannot afford to sterilize or vaccinate them, and where impoverished county governments do not maintain animal shelters, require licensing or enforce requirements for rabies shots.

“The combination of pets and poverty, veterinary experts say, brings similar results to many rural areas: unhealthy conditions for oversized animal populations, desperate efforts by often-overwhelmed individuals to help and a lurking threat to human health.”

(More below the fold…)

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle – kinshipcircle [at] brick.net
Date: Jul 1, 2007 6:04 PM
Subject: LETTER/ Boys Set Gasoline-Soaked Dog On Fire

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

7/1/07: Boys Set Gasoline-Soaked Dog On Fire
KINSHIP CIRCLE ACTION CAMPAIGN

www.KinshipCircle.org

SOURCE OF INFORMATION:

Five Boys Accused Of Setting Dog On Fire

NASHVILLE — Five boys face charges of animal cruelty after being accused of setting a dog on fire, authorities said…

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

SAMPLE LETTER & CONTACT INFO

Sample letters are prepared to give you ample background on an issue.

Try to change some words, pare down letters, and make them your own.

**DELETE ALL REFERENCES TO KINSHIP CIRCLE BEFORE SENDING**

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

(More below the fold…)