easyVegan Link Sanctuary, 2009-02-26
February 26th, 2009 5:34 pm by Kelly GarbatoAction Alerts
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): Ask President Obama to let human rights groups independently examine conditions at Guantánamo Bay.
“In a report issued this week, the Pentagon concluded that the conditions at the prison camp at Guantánamo Bay meet the humanitarian standards of the Geneva Conventions. After all the years of torture, indefinite detention and lawlessness, the Pentagon’s conclusions, based on its own say-so, are hard to believe. An independent review of the conditions at Guantánamo is essential as we work to restore our reputation in the world. Ask President Obama to allow the ACLU and other human rights groups to independently review conditions at Guantánamo Bay.”
Consumer’s Union: The Banks are at it Again!
“Several major banks just hiked interest rates and fees on our credit cards, turning a blind eye to the millions of Americans struggling with the collapsing economy and higher unemployment. The Federal Reserve Board passed a new rule to prevent these sudden rate hikes, but it won’t go into effect until the middle of 2010. How many times before then will we get slugged with higher rates and fees just so the banks who got billions in taxpayer bailouts can increase their profits? The chairman of the Senate Banking Committee just reintroduced his bill to put an end to these abuses, saying, “Mark my words: in the coming months, they will end.” Other bills also have been introduced to crack down on these abuses. Let’s help make it happen now. Tell Congress we can’t afford to wait until mid-2010 for credit card reform!”
Deep Roots: HB1468 passes, needs your help in senate
“House Bill 1468, known as the Puppy Mill Bill, passed the Indiana House last week in a landslide vote of 81 to 14! Thank you to everyone that contacted their representative. This vote would not have been nearly as successful without you. The bill has now entered the Senate Committee on Corrections, Criminal and Civil Matters. Because of the great success of the bill in the House, the pro-breeding lobby (including Indiana Farm Bureau, Pet Breeders Association and the Amish puppy millers) has begun to meet in great numbers to try to kill this bill in the committee. It is vital that animal lovers contact the members of this committee to let them know that you support HB 1468 and to encourage them to do the same.”
Defenders of Wildlife: Speak Out for Polar Bears and Other Imperiled Wildlife
“Before leaving office, the Bush/Cheney Administration rammed through a regulatory change to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) that threatens efforts to save polar bears, wolves, manatees and nearly 1,400 other species from extinction. The House of Representatives has passed an omnibus spending bill with provisions that would enable the Obama Administration to overturn this 11th-hour assault on vital protections for imperiled wildlife. Unfortunately, Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski — backed by her Governor, Sarah Palin — and others in the Senate are now working furiously to strip these provisions from the Senate’s version of the omnibus bill.”
Free Press: Open Up the Radio Dial Now
“Congress must pass the Local Community Radio Act. This important Act will open our airwaves to more low power FM radio stations across the country, and bring diversity of news, views and music to your radio dial. Sign the petition below. Your elected officials need to know that the public supports LPFM!”
International Fund for Horses: FIGHTING HORSE SLAUGHTER BY STATE; In Support of H.R. 503
“State legislators have been introducing pro horse slaughter resolutions on behalf of foreign investors anxious to defeat H.R. 503. These resolutions and bills are a not-so-subtle ploy by the foreign investors that own horse slaughter houses to defeat H.R. 503 which would ban the sale, transport, and possession of horses in interstate and foreign commerce for slaughter for human consumption. Even without H.R. 503, horse slaughter cannot occur legally in the U.S. There is no point in states appropriating tax dollars for studies when currently horse slaughter for human consumption is not allowed in the U.S. These resolutions will simply insure horse slaughterers can continue to take American horses to Mexico or Canada for slaughter.”
League of Conservation Voters (LCV): Obama Issues Historic Call to Action
“Last night, President Obama made history. His speech marked the first time a President has called on a joint session of Congress to cap global warming pollution. He’s not alone. Last week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he hopes to bring a global warming bill to the Senate before the end of this summer. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has also said she plans to bring a bill to the House floor this year. We need a new energy future to fix what ails our national security, our economy and our planet.”
Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): Send a letter of thanks to Interior Secretary Salazar for canceling oil and gas leases in Utah’s Redrock wilderness.
“In a stunning victory for our western wildlands, President Obama’s Interior Department has announced that it will cancel 77 oil and gas leases in Utah’s Redrock Wilderness. These leases were issued by the Bush administration during its final days in office. NRDC and our environmental partners challenged the giveaway in December, and succeeded in winning a temporary restraining order blocking the sale. The Interior Department’s announcement means that more than 100,000 acres of Utah wilderness will be protected from oil and gas drilling, including lands next to Arches and Canyonlands national parks, Dinosaur National Monument, and Nine Mile Canyon — areas rich in ancient rock art and other cultural artifacts. The decision also signals that the Obama administration will likely be more willing to work with NRDC in protecting our last remaining wildlands.”
Contests
The PETA Files: Win It Wednesday: PETA Lip Balms
“Post a comment with your idea for a new PETA lip balm flavor—and don’t forget to give it a fun animal rights-themed name. The three most creative suggestions will take home the prize. The contest ends on March 11, 2009, and we’ll choose the three best comments as the winners on March 12, 2009.”
PETA2: “Battlestar Galactica’s” Jamie Bamber…Naked!
“Now tell us what you think of fur by commenting below by March 16, 2009 and one lucky person will win a season of Battlestar Galactica on DVD. If you’re the winner we’ll notify you by March 23, 2009.”
Newsletters
Center for Biological Diversity: Endangered Earth Online, No. 449, February 26, 2009
“Endangered Earth: Better Times for Lynx, Polar Bear, ESA”
Petitions
‘Round the Interwebz
Animal Rights @ Change .org: Researchers: Even “Organically Raised” Cows Are a “Climate Bomb”
Vegan Soapbox: Milk Machines: A Photo Essay
Upcoming Events
Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF): National Justice for Animals Week, February 22 – 28, 2009
“Animal victims of abuse cannot speak for themselves—so concerned citizens and our legal system must speak up for them. That’s why the Animal Legal Defense Fund has created National Justice for Animals Week—an annual event that will be dedicated to raising public awareness nationwide about how to report animal abuse—and how to work within your community to create stronger laws and assure tough enforcement. February 22 – 28 marks ALDF’s first-ever National Justice for Animals Week.”
Animal Aid: End Primate Experiments – Day of Action, Saturday, February 28, 2009
“After 20 years, the EU law that governs animal testing across Europe and the UK is being revised. European Directive 86/609 EEC, which applies to animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes, is the legal template on which all EU member states base their national laws. In the UK, the relevant law is the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.Sadly, this Directive does not include an independent enquiry into the scientific reliability of animal experiments, nor does it offer a total ban – something to which Animal Aid is committed unequivocally.”
Capitol Climate Action: March 2, 2009 in Washington, D.C.
“On March 2, join thousands of people in a multi-generational act of civil disobedience at the Capitol Power Plant — a plant that powers Congress with dirty energy and symbolizes a past that cannot be our future. Let’s use this as a rallying cry for a clean energy economy that will protect the health of our families, our climate, and our future.”
The Great American Meatout – March 20, 2009
“On (or around) March 20 — the first day of spring — thousands of caring people in all 50 U.S. states and two dozen other countries get active to host educational Meatout events. Activities include colorful festivals, lectures, public dinners, feed-ins, cooking demos, food samplings, leafleting, information tables and more.”
Earth Hour 2009 – March 28, 2009
“Mark your calendar and plan to join millions of people around the world in turning off the lights at 8:30 p.m., March 28, 2009, for one hour—Earth Hour—to raise awareness and take action to fight climate change. U.S. activists: Turn your action into something even bigger! Push your federal and state elected officials to shut off their lights and to take strong action to fight climate change.”
American Humane Association (AHA): Every Day Is Tag Day – April 4, 2009
“The American Humane Association celebrates every day as Tag Day to encourage all pet owners to tag or microchip their companion animals. Pet care is more than providing food, water and shelter. Pet care also includes tagging your pet. According to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy, about 1 million dogs and half a million cats are taken into U.S. animal shelters as strays each year. Sadly, only 15 percent of those dogs and 2 percent of those cats are reunited with their owners.”
Veggie Pride Parade – New York City, May 17, 2009!
“Please join UPC President Karen Davis, Parade creator Pamela Rice, and other animal rights activists for the Second Annual Veggie Pride Parade in New York City. Last year’s Parade was a huge success. The 2008 Parade was covered by The New York Times and many other media outlets in NYC and around the country. This year’s Parade will be even Bigger and Better! Procession starts at Noon – lineup 11 a.m. – in the Old Meat District in Greenwich Village where Little West 12th St., Gansevoort St., Greenwich St. & 9th Ave. converge. Endpoint for the Parade this year is Union Square Park (north end).”
National Pigeon Day – Saturday, June 13, 2009
“The New York Bird Club cordially invites you to participate in the Second Annual National Pigeon Day Celebration on Saturday, June 13th from Noon to 4 p.m. on Pilgrim Hill in Central Park in New York City. This event is a celebration of pigeons and a time to give thanks to pigeons for the joy they bring us each day of the year – their sweet faces, cooing voices and majestic waddle lift our spirits amid the bustle of city life.”
Taking Action for Animals – July 24-27, 2009
“The fifth annual Taking Action for Animals conference will be held July 24-27, 2009, in Arlington, Virginia. Learn how to plan effective campaigns, walk the halls of Congress to lobby your federal legislators on animal protection issues, and hear from speakers such as HSUS president and CEO Wayne Pacelle, comedian and author Carol Leifer, and Colorado State University professor and bioethicist Dr. Bernard Rollin.”
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About
The easyVegan Link Sanctuary is a near-daily roundup of animal and environmental advocacy action alerts, campaign updates, carnivals, contests, newsletters, petitions, upcoming events and miscellaneous resources.
While my primary focus is non-human animals and the environment in which they live, I will cover human rights issues as well, especially as they relate to animal and environmental welfare. (For example, while reproductive rights is typically seen as a feminist or women’s issue, the growing global human population does have environmental consequences. In this vein, access to family planning resources has a tangible impact on the environment – an environment we share with non-human animals.)
This link roundup is meant as a jumping-off point for you, the reader, to take further action and learn more about the issues presented here. I link, you decide!
If you have a link you’d like included, please drop me a line at easyvegan [at] gmail.com – or leave it in the comments! Feedback is also appreciated, particularly as it relates to the links included above. I’ve tried my best to identify and name any speciesism, sexism, racism, classism, homophobia, sizeism, etc. which may appear in the resources above; if, however, I’ve overlooked something, please leave a note in the comments. It’s not my desire to fight one form of oppression by engaging in another.
If you’d like to get on the above organizations’ e-mail lists, I’ve compiled a full list of all my resources on the Get Active! page.
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