Livin’ Veg

Undercover Footage from Mercy for Animals October 16, 2008

Mercy for Animals, with their impeccable timing, has just released undercover footage exposing cruelty at Norco Ranch in Riverside County, CA. Of course it’s always terrible to see such horrible conditions and acts of cruelty. But this latest proof that factory farming needs to go comes just three weeks before the compassionate citizens in California vote on Prop 2.

The LA Times said:

The footage, the latest by animal rights activists working undercover at factory farms, is intended to boost support for Proposition 2. The November ballot initiative would require that confined cattle, pigs and chickens have enough space to lie down, stand up, turn around freely and extend their limbs. Because there are few veal producers in the state and the largest pork producer here has already said it would eliminate small crates, the initiative would apply to the 19 million laying hens in California.

Now is the time folks, to contact your friends and relatives in California and urge them to vote yes on Prop 2. And thanks to Mercy for Animals for working so hard to protect farm animals.

Calling All Californians August 25, 2008

HSUS is a remarkable animal protection organization. It helps that they are absolutely massive and have a talented devoted group of activists on staff. The factory farming campaign has perhaps gotten the most attention lately. And rightly so. They are helping to change the way the USA looks at industrialized farming and the animals we consume in whole sale numbers.

The most exciting development so far this year has been the ballot initiative Humane California got going to ban the use of gestation crates for sows, veal crates for calves and battery cages for hens. This November everyone in California can vote to give farm animals a better life. Read Wayne Pacelle’s (the CEO of HSUS) blog about it. Humane California was initiated and funded by HSUS and Farm Sanctuary, the two big leaders in farm animal welfare.

If you don’t like watching animal suffering, but want to know more about Prop 2, then click here. If you don’t know much about factory farming or what is going on in California and want to see it, watch the video below. It’s suffering. It’s real. And it happens to 10 billion farm animals per year in the USA alone.

Are you a writer? Help Animals. August 14, 2008

Do you fancy yourself a writer? If so, consider using your fabulous communication skills to help animals. Work that mojo and help educate this wonderful but terribly ignorant country about issues the mainstream media doesn’t feel like talking about. That’s not totally true. Many news articles have talked about factory farming, puppy mills, dog fighting and other horrific issues. But the message still doesn’t seem to have gotten through. Too many people remain in the dark when it comes to animal issues. You can help put a spot light on the many problems animals face by joining a writers group.

Both Compassion Over Killing and Mercy for Animals have fabulous writers groups. They notify you about relevant news articles. You then write to the publication to give the animal rights side. So, if they have an article on how great it is that the circus is coming to town, you can talk about the cruelties involved in using animals in entertainment. Basically it’s the power in numbers that helps get the information published in places as big as the Times and as small as your local paper.

Ask Dunkin Donuts to Offer Soy Milk August 11, 2008

Compassion Over Killing (COK) is having great success getting the mainstream chain Dunkin Donuts to offer Soy Milk at their locations. 11 locations in Maryland are now offering soy milk and 3 in Manhattan. How amazing would it be if every Dunkin Donuts offered soy milk? That way, when you’re driving cross country, need a coffee or tea, you’ll have some place to stop.

Starbucks has it, so why not DD? Absolutely no reason. All they need is to hear from the public (that means you). DD wants your money. Make it clear you’re more likely to give it to them if they offer you cruelty free healthy options.

Click here for COK’s take action and find a number of ways you can contact Dunken Donuts. Oh, and if you get a DD to add soy milk to their menu, tell COK and they will add it to their growing list of locations.