Good morning, y’all! Long time no see. In the wake of veganmofo, I’ve been so completely and utterly exhausted that the mere though of blogging is enough to send me, diving with no small amount of frenzy, back beneath my unintentionally festive, red-and-white striped bedsheets. (Burnt out, that’s me.) Luckily, I have several guest posts lined up which, along with a few fluffy, holiday-themed pieces, should carry us through the rest of the year! (Emerging from behind the clouds, Mr. Golden Sun shines in approval! Yes, I’m in a weird mood today; a week’s worth of criFSMas chores will do that to a person.) Let’s get to it, shall we?

Zoe Weil is the founder of the Institute for Humane Education (IHE), a group dedicated to training humane educators “big” (read: professional) and “small” (i.e., the rest of us). The IHE offers a number of online courses and in-person workshops to help spread the principles of humane education to teachers and students alike (not that the two groups are mutually exclusive, mind you!), including its Humane Education Certificate Program (HECP) and “MOGO” (most good) workshops.

Coming this January is the 30-day online course A Better World, A Meaningful Life. (In attendance will be Deb, one of my co-bloggers at Animal Rights & AntiOppression; keep an eye out for a possible post or two from her!) Based on Ms. Weil’s most recent book, Most Good, Least Harm: A Simple Principle for a Better World and Meaningful Life, the course explores how we as individuals can align our actions with our values. If you’re like to learn more, keep reading for an excerpt from Most Good, Least Harm, or check out the 8-minute video I’ve embedded above. (You may remember that I also interviewed Zoe for AR&AO back in August.)

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The above video depicts an “oil spill cemetery” erected by Grand Isle, LA resident Patrick Shay in his front yard. The art installation/protest includes dozens of white crosses, each standing waist high and bearing the name of something (or someone) – an animal species, activity, item or foodstuff – that’s been impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil “spill.” The “deceased” include: the beach, sand, a walk on the beach, seagulls, diving, sharks, birdwatching, star gazing, shrimp, shrimp scampi, shrimp omelette, shrimp cocktail, shrimping, oyster boats, oyster Rocherfeller, summer fun, sandcastles, family time, frogs croaking, marsh, brown pelican, sea turtles, dolphins, redfish, crabbing, boiled crabs, stuffed crabs, fish fry, seafood gumbo, and our soul. Shots of individual crosses in the cemetery are interspersed with footage of the local beaches as they look now.

More than any news coverage I’ve witnessed since (the cemetery was erected and reported on in early June), this graveyard embodies the disconnect between humans’ expressed empathy for the nonhuman victims of the oil spill – and our actions toward them, before, during and (no doubt) after the Gulf disaster. For example, the inclusion of “food” animals in the cemetery is rather ironic; had they not perished or become otherwise “polluted” in the oil spill, “crabbers” and “fishermen” would have slaughtered these same shrimps, redfishes and crabs (etc.) by the millions. Absent the oil spill, these animals would have died anyway; Shay’s (et al.’s) tears are not for these animals themselves, but for the many products borne of their exploitation: seafood gumbo, oyster Rocherfeller and stuffed crabs. As someone who considers all animals equally worthy of consideration, I simply cannot join Mr. Shay in mourning a “way of life” that’s predicated upon taking the actual lives of others. Whether stolen by megacorp BP or by working-class fishermen, these mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, daughters and sons will never get their lives back.

Although I continue to follow the Deepwater disaster with a mix of horror, anger and grief, my empathy rests with the disaster’s (and the kyriarchy’s) perpetual victims – in this case, the millions of nonhuman animals to whom the Gulf Coast is home. The rest of us? We’re all complicit in this tragedy – and the billions of smaller, mostly-invisible tragedies that take place every single day – to varying degrees.

While many of vegans no doubt share similar feelings, our perspective is virtually nonexistent in mainstream coverage of the oil spill and its fallout. And so I was terribly excited to see the following call for papers posted on the NILAS mailing list. Crude Behavior: Animal Rights in the Wake of Deepwater Horizon will examine the oil spill, its short- and long-term effects, and public discourse surrounding these from an animal welfare/rights perspective. (I’m inclined to scream “Finally!,” but – doesn’t it seem a bit soon to be dissecting a disaster that’s still ongoing? Wev, I’ll scoop up a copy regardless of when it’s released.) Abstracts are due August 1st.

For more on the Deepwater Horizon disaster, please see BP Oil “Spill”: Animal Rescue, Disaster Relief, Action Alerts & Vegan Views, also at easyvegan.info.

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Update, 5/19/09:

Stephanie (of the Animal Rights blog at Change.org) also wrote about That’s Why We Don’t Eat Animals, and the importance of children’s books in fostering compassion in the next generation. Check it out – as a former nanny, her thoughts on this are quite relevant. (Me, I don’t even have so much as a niece or nephew, and haven’t really been around a young’un for twenty years or so!)

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A few days ago – possibly while browsing Vegan Dad’s archives in search of yummy vegan recipes – I stumbled upon a link to That’s Why We Don’t Eat Animals: A Site About Vegans, Vegetarians, and all Living Things. Populated by whimsical drawings of chickens, pigs, cows, dolphins and bugs, and aimed at the naturally animal-loving training wheels set, TWWDEA, is so ridiculously cute that it kind of makes me want to be a kid again.

Better yet, the website’s actually a supplement to an upcoming children’s book by author/artist/teacher Ruby Roth (who herself is a bundle of vegan cuteness) called That’s Why We Don’t Eat Animals: A Site About Vegans, Vegetarians, and all Living Things.

That’s Why We Don’t Eat Animals takes a candid, compassionate look at the plight of animals on factory farms, using gorgeous artwork and lively text to introduce vegetarianism and veganism to early readers.

An endearing cast of animals is shown both in their natural state—rooting around, bonding, nuzzling, cuddling, grooming one another, and charming each other with their family instincts and rituals—and in the sad conditions of the factory farm. The book also addresses the effect eating animals has on our environment, rainforests, and endangered species. At the end, a section entitled “What Else Can We Do?” suggests ways children can learn more about the vegetarian and vegan lifestyles.

The boldest step yet in children’s literature, this heartfelt, informative book offers a key resource to inspire parents and children to talk about a timely, increasingly important subject.

Ms. Roth explains the genesis and gist of the book in this video, also available on the site:

The book is geared towards kids aged 4 to 10, and has received endorsements from an impressive and lengthy list of advocates and activists, including Jane Goodall (herself quite the children’s writer/educator), Alicia Silverstone, John Robbins, Ed Begley, Jr., Ingrid Newkirk and Rory Freedman.

You can view more of Ms. Roth’s artwork on her Flickr stream, where she shares some super-sweet bumper sticker style drawings. They’re all adorable, but I especially love this one:

Probably due in no small part to my recent thoughts on animal agriculture and its effects on the parent/child bond, which is as strong (if not more so) in many non-human animal species as it is in homo sapiens.

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Photo via Farm Sanctuary & Connie Pugh; Farm Sanctuary supporter Rosebud makes peace with Calvin Pig at the 2008 CA Country Hoe Down.

If you find yourself in or around Orland, California this weekend, consider yourself one lucky activist! Farm Sanctuary is holding its annual Country Hoe Down this Saturday and Sunday. Writers, journalists and bloggers in particular should plan to be there, as there appear to be plenty of opportunities for interviews and networking!

Just be sure to have enough fun for the both of us; the animal advocacy community rarely holds its events in Kansas City, even though the city is technically located smack dab in the middle of the country. Sniff, sniff.

(You can view photos of previous Farm Sanctuary events here, btw.)

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Meredith Turner
Date: Thu, May 14, 2009 at 7:38 PM
Subject: You’re Invited! Farm Sanctuary’s Country Hoe Down THIS WEEKEND!

Have plans for the weekend? Farm Sanctuary, the nation’s leading farm animal protection organization, would like to invite you to attend/cover our annual Country Hoe Down at our Orland, CA Shelter this Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17. If you’ve never visited our farm, this whimsical two-day event is the perfect time to come out, meet the hundreds of rescued animals who call it home and enjoy a rejuvenating taste of the country life!

Please let me know if you would like to join us for a day of hayrides, farm tours, fascinating speaker presentations, delicious food, drinks, live music and an evening barn dance you won’t soon forget! For more information, please see the press release below. Gene Baur, Farm Sanctuary’s president and co-founder, will be available for interviews. We look forward to seeing you there!

All the best,

Meredith

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———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle – KinshipCirclePrimary [at] accessus.net
Date: Mon, Apr 13, 2009 at 9:31 PM
Subject: We Are Their Hope [Friends Of Kinship Circle, 4/13/09]

4/13/09: We Are Their Hope

friendsofkinshipcircle.wordpress.com

* KINSHIP CIRCLE DOES NOT WRITE OR RESEARCH THESE ALERTS.
* QUESTIONS? CONTACT ALERT WRITERS. PLEASE DO NOT HIT REPLY.

IN THIS ALERT:

1. Recent Kinship Circle Alerts Are A Click Away
2. Pound Seizure & Humane Euthanasia
3. Save Stu – Wrongfully Impounded Since 9/15/05
4. New England Animal Rights Workshop 6/13/09
5. Party To End Puppy Mills On 4/19/09
6. Urge Portugal City To Become Anti-Bullfighting
7. We Are Their Hope: World Lab Animal Liberation Week
8. Vegans Take On The “3 Peaks” Challenge

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After much hemming and hawing (blame it on election burnout), I finally filled out my sample ballot this afternoon. You can read up on my picks here; crossposted below is the “Additional Resources” section, which links to 2008 scorecards and endorsements from liberal/progressive organizations, as well as a roster of voter’s rights resources.

Know of a resource I overlooked? Drop it in the comments!

Additional Resources

Scorecards & Endorsements

AFL-CIO – Working Families VOte 2008

www.aflcio.org/issues/politics/

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) – ACLU Congressional Scorecard

action.aclu.org/site/VoteCenter?page=voteList

Darfur Scorecard

www.darfurscores.org/

Environmental Defense Fund – Green Energy Voter Guide, 2008

www.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=28228

Human Rights Campaign (HRC) – Congressional Scorecard

www.hrc.org/11424.htm

Humane Society Legislative Fund (HSLF) – 2008 Humane Scorecard: The 110th Congress in Review

www.fund.org/pdfs/2008_humane_scorecard.pdf

Humane Society Legislative Fund (HSLF) – 2008 Voter Guide

www.fund.org/voter_guide/

League of Conservation Voters (LCV) – 2008 National Environmental Scorecard

www.lcv.org/scorecard/

League of Conservation Voters (LCV) – Candid Answers ’08: Voter Guide for the Environment

lcv.candidanswers.org/

NARAL – Elections 2008 / Pro-Choice Voter Guides

www.prochoiceamerica.org/elections/elections2008/

National Organization of Women – NOW PAC

www.nowpacs.org/

Planned Parenthood Action Center

www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/

RH Reality Check – 2008 Election and Reproductive Health

www.rhrealitycheck.org/election-2008

Secular Coalition for America – U.S. Congressional Scorecards

www.secular.org/scorecard/

The Sierra Club – Election 2008

www.sierraclub.org/politics/

Wikipedia – List of Barack Obama presidential campaign endorsements, 2008

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Barack_Obama_presidential_campaign_endorsements,_2008

Wikipedia – List of John McCain presidential campaign endorsements, 2008

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_John_McCain_presidential_campaign_endorsements,_2008

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———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Nick Jukes
Date: Sat, May 31, 2008 at 9:51 AM
Subject: 2008 Humane Education Award – launch

InterNICHE announces the 2008 Humane Education Award to support ethical and effective life science education and training.

The Award is a grant program to enhance biological science, medical and veterinary medical education and training. Supported by Proefdiervrij, the Award offers 20,000 Euro (US$ 25,000) to be split between successful applicants.

Proposals are invited from all countries for initiatives to replace animal experiments and the dissection of purposely killed animals. Applicants may be teachers, students, campaigners or any other individuals committed to best practice education and training.

Examples of projects that may be funded through the Award include:

* Development of a new freeware CD-ROM, film, model or mannekin to achieve replacement

* Purchase of existing alternative products to achieve replacement

* Establishment of a student-based self-experimentation program to replace animals in physiology practical classes

* Establishment of a body donation program for securing ethically-sourced animal cadavers to replace animals killed for anatomy or surgery training

* Establishment of clinical learning opportunities to replace the use of laboratory animals in clinical skills, surgery or other practical classes

* Establishment of non-invasive field studies to replace the use of laboratory animals in ethology or other practical classes

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———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle – kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net
Date: Sat, May 10, 2008 at 9:21 PM
Subject: [GULF COAST] On The Streets, Since Katrina

KINSHIP CIRCLE ANIMAL DISASTER AID NETWORK
Networking resources for animal disaster victims + companion animal campaigns

www.kinshipcircle.org/disasters

5/10/08: Afraid On The Streets, Since Katrina

IN MAY GULF COAST NEWSLETTER:

1 – Where Are Turtle & Blue, Katrina’s Lost? (But Seen!)
2 – Highlights & Updates
3 – Stranded Cats Of Lakeview Still Need Homes
4 – Donations Aid Anti-Dogfighting Effort In Louisiana
5 – Help Neglected Dogs in Rural Mississippi
6 – Join MuttShack At Disaster Response Summit
7 – NOLA: Katrina Animal Memorial 2008 (Be There!)
8 – $1 Million In Grants For Post-Katrina Animal Care
9 – LA/SPCA Expands Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Services

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———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle – kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net
Date: Fri, May 9, 2008 at 9:58 PM
Subject: Their Lives, Our Voices/ June Conference [KC SUPPORTER ALERT]

KINSHIP CIRCLE PRIMARY – PERMISSION TO CROSS-POST
The following information is brought to you courtesy of Kinship Circle.
Please DO NOT hit reply! Respond directly to: lucrezia2010 [at] yahoo.com or gil [at] exploreveg.org

ALERT FROM KINSHIP CIRCLE SUPPORTER:
5/9/08: Their Lives, Our Voices / June 6-8 Midwest Conference

ALERT FROM / REPLY TO:
Kathryn Quam, lucrezia2010 [at] yahoo.com
Gil Schwartz, gil [at] exploreveg.org

THE MIDWEST’S PREMIERE ANIMAL ADVOCACY CONFERENCE!
Join hundreds of others this summer at the animal advocacy conference, “Their Lives, Our Voices.”
* WHEN: June 6-8, 2008
* HOSTED BY: Compassionate Action for Animals
* WHERE: Minneapolis, Hubert H. Humphrey Conference Center

www.tlov.org/tlov2008/location.html

REGISTER EARLY TO SAVE MONEY!
Special half-price early registration open only until May 16, 2008:
* $50 for the general public
* $20 for students
* This includes four full vegan meals!
* Visit our website now to learn more about the event and register at this special price! www.tlov.org

SPEAKER LINE-UP, SO FAR:
Carol Adams (author); Gene Baur (Farm Sanctuary); Paul Shapiro (Humane Society of the United States); Collen Patrick-Goudreau (Compassionate Cooks); Freeman Wicklund and Nathan Runkle (Mercy for Animals); Erica Meier (Compassion Over Killing); Matt Ball (Vegan Outreach); pattrice jones (author), Hillary Rettig (author), Karen Davis (United Poultry Concerns), Karen Dawn (DawnWatch) and many more!

www.tlov.org/tlov2008/speakers.html

Their Lives, Our Voices’ focus is on farmed animal advocacy efforts and practical ways to help animals in your community. We want to enable as much attendee participation and networking as possible, so we’re hoping you can come and make this a great event.

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———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle – kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net
Date: Fri, Mar 21, 2008 at 12:49 PM
Subject: [GULF COAST] Your Last Hard Day Was Yesterday

KINSHIP CIRCLE ANIMAL DISASTER RELIEF – PERMISSION TO CROSS-POST
Networking resources for animal disaster victims + companion animal campaigns

GULF COAST
3/21/08: Your Last Hard Day Was Yesterday

www.kinshipcircle.org/disasters/

IN MARCH GULF COAST NEWSLETTER:

1. Tour For Life 2008: April 9, At SAF In New Orleans!
2. March 29-30: SpayMart Super Adoptathon In NOLA
3. Feedback: Missouri Floodwaters Rising
4. Highlights & Updates
5. Dear Sabrina, Your Last Hard Day Was Yesterday
6. A Second Chance For St. Bernard Parish Animals
7. A Nursing Mom’s Tragedy & The Power To Act
8. Certification As A First Responder For Animals

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