How to be a successful animal advocate

I just watched this debate between renowned animal rights advocate and author of Thanking the Monkey Karen Dawn and a gentleman who appears dead-set on re-introducing captive dolphins into what is apparently (and thankfully) an over-the-hill marine park in Australia.

Dawn comes off so poised, so knowledgeable, so respectful and--most important--totally credible and persuasive. I don't understand how anyone watching the debate could lean toward accepting the keeping of these magnificent creatures in captivity. She also smartly gives a shout out to The Cove. I agree with her that many people who haven't seen the movie may be avoiding it because, frankly, they're frightened. I know I was. But the film is a critical advocacy tool and it was very smart of her to introduce that into the debate to consolidate her position.

Here's a video of Dawn speaking at the 2009 Animal Rights Conference in Los Angeles. She is damn good. And she inspires me to be a more involved advocate. Go Karen!

The MOST inspiring vegan video

I just stumbled upon this video and unfortunately am unable to embed it. It's beautifully done and lays out the environmental, ethical and human health benefits of veganism in a very moving and non-preachy way.

I'd encourage everyone to watch it; particularly my friends (like Ron!) who are transitioning to vegetarianism out of concern for animals, the natural world and themselves! Link.

Philosophy of vegan values: the practice of non-violence

Thought this was an incredibly moving video, produced by LOBSA (Liberation of Brother and Sister Animals):

Regulate CAFOs, says Paula Crossfield for The Huffington Post

Great editorial in The Huffington Post on how growing awareness of the health, environmental and animal welfare abuses perpetrated by confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) is translating into a call for increased regulation.

Paula Crossfield, managing editor of Civileats.com, maintains that government subsidies of grain - used to feed and fatten livestock - allow CAFOs to continue their monstrous assault on the environment, workers and animals.  

Crossfield argues that grain subsidies should end -- and vegetable subsidies should begin.  This would gradually draw down the amount of meat consumed and increase the amount of veggies we eat.  This simple step would improve the environment, bolster human health (and reduce our nation's spiraling healthcare costs) and reduce worker and animal abuses.  She cites other CAFO-based problems, as well, such as the crazy overuse of antibiotics that jeapordizes the effectiveness of the very drugs humans rely on to fight infections.

If only stricter regulations were easier to come by.  Big Ag funnels just a small percentage of its massive profits into lobbying efforts in a fight to block change.  

Fortunately, we the people are getting smart to the many woes of CAFOs.  European group Avazz.org presented a petition demanding the UN World Health Organization in Geneva to investigate and regulate CAFOs.  The petition secured 200,000 signatures in 6 days.  People are increasingly concerned about the total amount of meat consumed in the first world, and the drastic effects of such wanton consumption.  And the recent swine flu outbreak only advances that awareness and concern.

Reductions of grain subsidies and stricter regulations for CAFOs was a clear Obama campaign promise.  We need to hold him to those promises!

Coming soon to a theater near you: Food Inc.

Most people don't know just how centralized our food system has become. The manufacturing of food is controlled by just a handful of large "agribusiness" giants, with the full blessing and an easy regulatory environment courtesy of our own FDA and USDA.

Food Inc. promises to lift the veil on the unimaginable environmental, human and animal welfare abuses perpetrated by agribusiness. I'm so glad these bastards will be exposed.

Click here to find out where the movie is playing near you.

June is "Adopt a Shelter Cat" month!

Okay, if you've been thinking about adding a feline companion to your family, now is the time to do it!  It's official: June is "Adopt a Shelter Cat Month."  

There are tons of reasons why shelter cats RULE.  Here are just a few good ones:

• Shelter cats almost always come spayed or neutered, with a full medical check-up and vaccines administered by the shelter
• Adult shelter cats - who are always in need of forever homes - have unique personalities that are already developed, which isn't so with kittens
• Shelter cats are housebroken!
• You'll be saving a cat's life - and that's the most important reason of all

My two cats, Cal and Scout, are rescues from a shelter in Brooklyn and every day they make me laugh; and they inspire me to advocate on behalf of all animals.  Go to your local shelter and pick up a cat today!  Click here to find a listing of shelters in your area.

Ban on downer cows

I'm thrilled to see the department of agriculture just banned downer cows from entering the food supply. Downer cows are those so weakened by the torturous conditions under which they're raised that they're unable to move or stand once driven to slaughter. Downer cows are at higher risk for mad cow disease, e. coli and several other nasty bugs.

In overviewing the ban in his weekly radio address President Obama called the current US food inspection system "a hazard to public health." I hope this strong statement means that more desperately needed reforms are in the works, from extending the downer ban to chickens, turkeys and hogs, to a greater Federal emphasis on food animal welfare that Californians, for example, demanded with the passing of Prop 2.

I'm also hopeful that the small but respectful news cycle sparked by the downer cow ban will lead more people to question why they'd ever eat meat at all. Let's hope!

A wonderful assessment of vegan character

From the December 2008 McDougall Newsletter post, "The Fat Vegan":

Vegans Are Ripe For Change

Being vegan says to me this is a person with outstanding character. Vegans are self-sacrificing and committed to making a difference. When everyone else is certain that it is our God-given right to mistreat and kill cows, pigs, chickens, and fishes in order to be properly nourished; a vegan would rather risk protein and calcium deficiency than to harm these beautiful creatures. Of course, this deep sacrifice ends with the discovery that plants provide all needed proteins, amino acids, essential fats, vitamins, and minerals (including calcium) without the inherent risks of flesh and dairy. Vegans are self-confident. They remain steadfast even when mom, dad, dietitian, and doctor are visibly angered by their religion of “veganism.” Vegans are industrious. To avoid eating animals in a world where beef, chicken, and cheese are mixed in with everything in the market and on the menu is a daily struggle. Reading labels, turning down invitations to dinner, and occasionally, going hungry, require more effort than the average person is willing to muster.

Obviously vegans are exceptional people. With this one simple shift to a starch-based diet the word “vegan” will become synonymous with terms like healthy, trim, active, young, strong, and energetic, and finally the most important adjective, earth-changing.

Elephants die earlier in zoos - DUH...

This is a sad story if ever I've read one.  A study published in the journal Science found that elephants in zoos - who often live in cramped, sterile and non-stimulating environments - live half as long as their "working" cohorts.

The average African elephant in captivity lives only 19 years, compared with an average of 56 years for elephants in the wild, according to the study.

Working elephants include elephants in Burma and other countries that are put to work by villagers (usually hauling logs out of the forest).  While I'm no fan of forcing elephants to work, at least they get to be with their own kind when they're not working, and retain some semblance of wildness.  

They live in the forest and stay closer to their family groups.  Perhaps most importantly they get plenty of exercise which keeps them fit, strong and healthy.

Zoos are awful and unfortunately the lonely life of a display animal is especially traumatic.  And deadly.

Tragic.

I'm glad to see the BBC picked up the story and hopefully mainstream domestic media will get hold of it soon.  People who visit zoos need to know about this.

Thanking turkeys this Thanksgiving

I've just shored up Thanksgiving plans and this year (like last) I've opted not to travel down to Georgia to spend the Holiday with the family.  Yes, yes, I love them and all but I just don't feel like dealing with the travel and all the questions about why I'm not eager to tear into the dead carcass that will once again be the centerpiece for the annual big dinner.

Instead I'm having dinner with good friends Jer and Pete at their house here in Boston.  Some others will join, too.  None are vegan or vegetarian (in fact most, like my family, can't conceive of a meal that doesn't include meat).  But all are totally respectful of my choices and that's enough for me to feel thankful for eating with them.  Plus they're just great fun.

As we all prepare to give thanks for the amazing things in our lives: our health, our family and our friends, the animals that share our homes, etc., let's also give a special thanks to the turkeys who, this Thanksgiving, will have a much rougher go of it as they ultimately end up on the dinner table.

And I'm sharing a page from PETA to reinforce why it's a good thing to leave turkeys off of our forks this Holiday season.  Happy Thanksgiving!