Action Alerts

Alaska Wilderness League: Time for change. Act now!
Our shared lands in Alaska are priceless American treasures infinitely more valuable than their potential for industrial exploitation. We all have a duty as stewards of our shared lands to protect the Alaskan wilderness. Many in Washington think this basic tenet of American civic life, so obvious to us, has been eliminated if it ever existed at all. We will prove them wrong.

Animal Person: A Message from Dennis Kucinich
Kucinich Asks LA City Council to Close Pachyderm Enclosure; If you think this was a good move, contact Congressman Kucinich and thank him!

In Defense of Animals (IDA): Six-Month Old Puppy Killed By Assistant Fire Chief In Riverside, California
Los Angeles Assistant Fire Chief Glynn Johnson has been placed on administrative leave following his fatal beating of a neighbor’s 6-month old dog. Listed below are the addresses and telephone numbers of the Los Angeles County Fire Department Headquarters, Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, and Riverside County Sheriff’s Office. Please call or write to these officials to demand accountability and justice for this felony to the fullest extent allowed by law.

National Horse Protection Action Fund: Tell the American Quarter Horse Association to oppose horse slaughter!
This week in Oklahoma City, the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) wraps up its three-week World Show. The National Horse Protection League (NHPL), which is dedicated to eliminating horse slaughter, is using this occasion to highlight an unseemly side of AQHA. For too long, AQHA has encouraged the over-breeding of horses, which has, in turn, contributed to the market for horse slaughter. Worse, they have lobbied against legislation that would ban slaughter and the export of horses for eventual human consumption. AQHA leadership needs to search its soul to determine whether it sees horses as noble living creatures deserving of love and respect or simply as profit generators that can be sold for human consumption once they serve no profitable purpose.

Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): Help keep toxic air pollution out of northwest Colorado
The Bush administration wants to sacrifice more than one million acres in northwest Colorado to destructive oil and gas drilling and off-road vehicle use, but the proposal does not adequately address local air pollution concerns. Comments are due November 24th, so send yours today.

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Action Alerts

Consumer Watchdog: Stop Google From Reading Your Email (And Congress’s Too!)
Use the form below to ask Google’s board of directors to add important security measures to GMail and agree to basic privacy rights for all Web users. Read our recent letter to Google’s founders, and an earlier letter to the Justice Department.

DawnWatch: NY Times, LA Times and others speak up for whales against sonar 11/15/08
In October I shared news from the New York Times, in which we learned that the Supreme Court had “indicated an inclination to overturn a decision from the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, in San Francisco, imposing limits on the exercises, saying either that national security concerns trumped environmental ones or that judges are not competent to weigh the competing interests.” The New York Times followed the news with an editorial that argued strongly for the whales who are killed by the sonar.

Ecological Internet / Forests.org: Stop Bush’s Midnight Raid Upon Oregon’s Wild Forests and Rivers
Like his Presidency, it is time for President Bush’s looting, plundering, and pillaging of America’s natural beauty, ecological treasures and vital ecosystems to end.

Greenpeace: Join us in Poland!
In just a few weeks, leaders from all over the world will be gathering in Poznań, Poland to determine the next steps to address global warming. It’s time for the U.S. to show the rest of the world that we’re back on track and serious about tackling the most urgent environmental crisis of our time – and YOU can help! We’ve already asked President-elect Obama to go to Poland himself, and while it appears that he won’t be able to attend, it doesn’t mean you have to stay home, too. No, I’m not actually asking you to go to Poland, but if you send us your picture, we’ll take it to Poznań with us.

Human Rights First: We CAN win back the world’s trust and admiration.
Help us prove it by signing our open letter to the world. Right now, the world is watching to see whether the U.S. will make good on the promise of President-Elect Obama’s words… and I am hoping you’ll join me in sending them our answer. Make sure the world knows that Americans are serious about repairing our record on human rights and restoring our global leadership.

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Action Alerts

Best Friends Animal Society: Locked Out – Help stop Los Angeles County officials from eliminating long-term managed feral colonies
After eleven years of helping the cats of Rancho Los Amigos in Downey, California, feral caretakers have been locked out and instructed to stop feeding their colonies. To further complicate matters, animal control has begun trapping the cats, which are then brought to the shelter. Not surprisingly, the devoted caregivers are distraught and desperately searching for solutions to save the cats.

Center for Biological Diversity: Keep Refuge Safe for Condors, not Cattle
The Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge, located on 14,097 acres in southwestern Kern County, California, is a crucial wildlife linkage in the southern San Joaquin Valley. While cattle have had unrestricted grazing on the refuge in the past, the Fish and Wildlife Service has recognized that an alteration in the grazing regime would benefit the 9,400 acres of grassland habitat and provide healthier habitat for the recovering condor population. The agency recently proposed a restoration program to enhance the ecological values of the site and includes a modified grazing schedule based on ecological principles to limit grazing during critical times for native plant establishment, especially native grasses. This important step forward in refuge management is key to maintaining ecologically diverse and functioning habitats for condors. But the current grazing lessee opposes the change in grazing management, and significant efforts have been made to oppose these changes by cattle operators and local elected officials. Your help is needed. Please send a letter of support for the grassland restoration project and limiting grazing. The Bitter Creek Wildlife Refuge was expressly created for condors, not for cows.

DawnWatch: Dog news on Obama and on dog fighting. Week ending 11/15/08
There have been two big dog stories in the news over the past week. The first, we have all heard about: the Obama family’s search for a dog. The second story, brought to us from Brad Woodard at KHOU, is about the bust of one of the biggest dog fighting rings in America.

Oceana: Tell supermarkets to post FDA info on mercury in fish, not fishing industry talking points
We need your help again to get more grocery stores to post signs with the government advice on mercury in fish at their seafood counters. The Food Marketing Institute has released a new flyer on seafood that only includes parts of the Food and Drug Administration mercury advice and could easily mislead consumers into thinking that it’s all there.

Pacific Environment: Take action to finalize a victory for Lake Baikal
The Russian environmental movement has achieved a momentous victory with an announcement by Continental Management that it is closing the Baikalsk Pulp and Paper Mill. The mill had been dumping over 100,000 cubic meters of polluted wastewater into Lake Baikal each day. The closure is only temporary and we need send a letter to Prime Minister Putin today to protect this victory!

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In Maine they tell of an old man walking along the beach with his grandson, who picked up each starfish they passed and threw it back into the sea. “If I left them up here,” the boy said, “they would dry up and die. I’m saving their lives.”

“But,” protested the old man, “the beach goes on for miles, and there are millions of starfish. What you are doing won’t make a difference.”

The boy looked at the starfish in his hand, gently threw it into the ocean, and answered: “It makes a difference to this one.”

The quote is from Second Chance Wildlife Sanctuary’s website. SCWS was profiled in Rochester’s Democrat & Chronicle some time last year. I learned of the group when my mom, having read the article, asked me to make a donation to the sanctuary in her name as a Christmas (?) gift. I distinctly remember being moved by SCWS’s founder, Joyce Smith, who was 77 at the time the article ran in the D&C; she had been rescuing and rehabilitating injured and orphaned wildlife from her home for a quarter century.

I just happened to click over to the website today while doing some early holiday shopping. Maybe I’m feeling sentimental, but the story of the starfish had the same impact as when I first read it last year.

I was saddened, too, to see that Ms. Smith passed away on August 22, 2008.

Blub.

——————

Tagged: quotes quotables second chance wildlife sanctuary joyce smith activism starfish flickr photos

Holy Rover. I glanced at the calendar this morning and realized that Save-a-Turkey Day is less than two weeks away…and I’ve yet to settle upon a Tofurky recipe!

I usually stick with the classic soy sauce and OJ baste recipe, but last year I got all adventurous and tried out the Caramelized Onion and Cherry Relish roast, which was super yummy. Coming off of VeganMoFo, I think I might feel like a bit of a cheat if I don’t try something different. But what? Did I mention that I’m a super-annoying-fussy eater?

The good peoples at Turtle Island Foods have really “beefed” up the selection of Tofurky recipes available on their website. In addition to the old standbys, there are recipes for a Maple-Pecan Tofurky Roast, South of the Border Tofurky Bake, Yam Good Cranberry Tofurky, Tofurky Wellington, Ginger-Garlic Tofurky, Deep Fried Tofurky, Pomegranate/Cranberry Tofurky, Crock Pot Tofurky with Cranberry Onion sauce, and Tofurky a la King, as well as recipes for chili, stew, gumbo, pizza and gravy (!). If you try searching the Google for additional recipes, you’ll find that many of Turtle Island Foods’ concoctions are echoed elsewhere. The Vegetarian Resource Group does have a few original ideas, though, including a Korean Barbecued Tofurky, Glazed Tofurky, Tofurky Stew and Tofurky Aztec.

Turtle Island’s recipe for a Maple-Pecan Tofurky Roast sounds intriguing, but I’m a wee bit worried about the chili paste – too spicy for my overly sensitive taste buds? Maybe I’ll be a goober and stick with Matt Lush’s simple Tofurky baste suggestion: 3 tablespoons olive oil (or other vegetable oil) + 1 tablespoon soy sauce + 1/2 teaspoon ground sage. Or dare I try his third option, with apricot jam?

Any suggestions from the veg*n gallery? What are y’all doing for the holiday? Are you even celebrating the holiday?

Whether you are or you aren’t, PETA2 is giving away a few free Tofurkys. Just blog about “why you won’t be eating turkeys this Thanksgiving (for all of your friends to see!), then leave a link to your blog as a comment below” – by November 19 – and drop a link to your entry in the comments.

Why won’t I be eating a dead bird on 11-27, you ask?

Because there’s someone behind – inside, actually – that meal. A previously living, breathing, loving, thinking, sentient being, with rights and interests far more important than my wish for a meaty meal.

Turkeys are always welcome at my place, of course, just not in the oven.

So, why won’t you be eating a turkey – and what will you be eating instead?

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare contest peta peta2 thanksgiving save-a-turkey day tofurky turtle island foods recipes dinner holidays observances turkeys wild turkeys flickr photos vegan veganism vegetarian vegetarianism

Action Alerts

Audubon: Sign the Petition to Help Protect America’s Wetlands!
Our nation’s wetlands, streams and other waters have a tremendous impact on everyone’s lives. But development and draining of these areas result in the loss of an average of 80,000 acres of wetlands each year. Wetlands provide all these things and more. Tell the new President we need to protect these areas for our future. Sign the petition today!

Center for Biological Diversity: Save the Wolves of the Rockies From Slaughter
After losing twice in court, the lame-duck Bush administration is taking a last shot at endangered wolves — moving, in the waning hours of its power, to strip them of protection all across Wyoming, Idaho, Montana and parts of Oregon, Washington, and Utah. If finalized, the removal of endangered species protection could result in the killing of 1,000 wolves in 2009 alone.

DawnWatch: Wall Street Journal and Fox TV on fake turkeys and vegan diets 11/13/08
How wonderful to open up today’s Wall Street Journal, one of the world’s biggest papers, and to see an article on turkey substitutes for Thanksgiving. (Thanks to Sean McVity for pointing us to it.) It came out the same morning that an extraordinary piece about diet aired on Houston’s Fox TV. I will start with the Fox piece, just in case anybody thinks they like turkey meat more than turkeys, and is wondering why they would look at the Wall Street Journal piece about fake Thanksgiving birds.

Farm Sanctuary: Ask McDonald’s to take a Stand Against Cloning Cruelty
Two out of three Americans are uncomfortable with the concept of cloned animals, and major stores such as Kroger, Safeway and Whole Foods have already come out against it, stating that they will not sell cloned animal products in their stores. And while fast food giant McDonald’s has reported that it wants to take the lead in advancing animal welfare practices—they have not yet taken a stand against cloning. This is the very least this company can do. Please encourage them to take a strong stand against the cruelty of cloning and to reject any type of cloned animal products.

Farm Sanctuary: Speak out Against the Genetic Engineering of Farm Animals
Please submit comments to the FDA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which is also soliciting public input on GE animals, before November 18, 2008. Ask them to takes steps to keep GE animals out of the food supply, and tell them that there should be a public discussion on animal welfare and the ethics of genetic engineering. You can submit the same comments to both agencies.

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Update, 12/03/08: Kinship Circle: Demo For Karley 12/03 + Comments Still Needed

Update, 11/20/08: See also: Six-Month Old Puppy Killed By Assistant Fire Chief In Riverside, California, an action alert from In Defense of Animals (IDA).

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle – kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net
Date: Sat, Nov 15, 2008 at 9:56 AM
Subject: Demo for Karley 11/15 – Puppy Fatally Beaten By L.A. Firefighter

Kinship Circle is forwarding the announcement below about a demo TODAY for Karley, the brutally killed puppy we issued an alert about on 11/14/08.

If you live in this California area, or know others who do, please cross-post the message below (quickly).

DO NOT RESPOND TO KINSHIP CIRCLE.
Contact: Lindy Greene
lindygreene [at] roadrunner.com
818-445-6711

—— Forwarded Message
From: Lindy Greene – lindygreene [at] roadrunner.com
Date: Sat, 15 Nov 2008 07:33:20 -0800
Subject: RE: Demonstration for Karley

Los Angeles Assistant Fire Chief Glynn Johnson sits comfortably in his Riverside County home on paid administrative leave while the brutal beating of his neighbor’s 6-month-old puppy, Karley – which resulted in a crushed skull, dislocated eye, broken jaw, and broken nose – is being investigated.

The puppy had to be put down because of the degree of her suffering and the fact that she sustained permanent brain damage. The perp is claiming “self-defense” for his actions.

We are meeting at 2:00 P.M. on the corner of Washington St. and Van Buren Blvd. in Riverside County, CA 92504 on Saturday, November 15, 2008.

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———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle – kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net
Date: Wed, Nov 12, 2008 at 4:07 PM
Subject: ACT NOW/ Bulls-On-Fire, Fiesta In Spain

KINSHIP CIRCLE PRIMARY / PERMISSION TO CROSS-POST

KINSHIP CIRCLE NEEDS FUNDING TO CONTINUE:

www.kinshipcircle.org/donation/

We are extremely grateful for any tax-deductible donations.

11/12/08: Stop Bulls-On-Fire Fiesta In Spain
FOR A FORMATTED LETTER (WORD DOC), EMAIL: kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net
Easily modify letter. Copy/paste it into an email or print letter to fax or mail.

11/15/08 weekend: A sadistic festival, Toro Jubilo, occurs in Soria, Spain.
Send letters now AND after Nov. 15, since this blood fiesta occurs annually.

LT IMAGE: getactive.peta.org/campaign/toro_de_fuego?rk=W7_l-X5qACggW
RT IMAGE: www.banbloodsports.com/ln-0611a.htm

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———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle – kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net
Date: Wed, Nov 12, 2008 at 10:41 AM
Subject: ACT/ End Albany’s Old-Fashioned Live Pig Labs

KINSHIP CIRCLE NEEDS FUNDING TO CONTINUE:

www.kinshipcircle.org/donation/

We are extremely grateful for any tax-deductible donations.

11/12/08: End Albany’s Old-Fashioned Live Pig Labs
FOR A FORMATTED LETTER (WORD DOC), EMAIL: kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net
Easily modify letter. Copy/paste it into an email or print letter to fax or mail.

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

FULL CONTACT INFORMATION. Sample Letter Follows

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

James J. Barba, President and CEO
Albany Medical Center
43 New Scholar Ave., Mail Code 114
Albany, NY 12208
ph: 518-262-3125 (Ask to be connected to the president’s office)
email: barbaj [at] mail.amc.edu

***Kinship Circle cannot guarantee validity of email addresses. During campaigns, recipients may change or disable their email addresses. Emails from government, corporate, or institute websites may be incorrect.

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Action Alerts

Defenders of Wildlife: The Missing Link for Lynx
What’s the missing link for lynx? The habitat they need to survive in the wild. Designating “critical habitat” for lynx is the best tool we have to identify and preserve the areas that these vanishing cats need to survive — and to restore them to places where they naturally belong. Unfortunately, while the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s revised critical habitat plan for lynx is a step in the right direction, it still falls short of offering the level of protections these rare forest cats need to survive. Now they need to hear from wildlife supporters who care about ensuring real lynx recovery.

Earthjustice: Protect the Wolves in the Northern Rockies
Just when you thought gray wolves were safely back on the endangered species list, the Bush administration has launched another 11th hour attack to strip them of federal protections. Following its recent failed attempt to remove the wolves from the endangered species list, the administration’s Fish and Wildlife Service has issued a proposal allowing Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana to kill nearly 1,000 wolves — at a time when the wolf population is already declining. Please tell the Fish and Wildlife Service to keep the northern Rockies gray wolves on the endangered species list.

Environmental Defense Fund: Act Now: Urge the EPA to Limit Global Warming Pollution
One of the first, defining decisions facing President-elect Obama’s Environmental Protection Agency is whether to heed the Supreme Court and regulate global warming pollution under the Clean Air Act. We have an opportunity right now to shape that decision. Send an email to the EPA today supporting strong action under existing law to protect human health by reducing global warming pollution.

Greenpeace: Sign our petition encouraging President-elect Obama to go to the climate talks in Poland
Now is the time for America to show the rest of the world that we are back on track and that we’re serious about tackling global warming. America should be a leader in implementing solutions like strict efficiency standards, aggressive investment in renewable energy, and a cap on global warming pollution. The climate talks in Poznań are the perfect opportunity for us to rejoin the rest of the world in addressing the most urgent environmental crisis of our time. The path to a clean, sustainable future starts in Poznań – let’s make sure President-elect Obama is there to lead the way.

Invisible Voices: asking for changes
Change.org is doing this thing where they’re collecting ideas and having their members vote on them, and they’ll present the top 10 as their suggestions. There are a few animal rights related ideas, but there are few votes. If you’re of a mind to suggest an idea or vote on one, go check it out.

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