photo: Visit Farm Aid's Facebook page for a collection of images you can share.
Food Day is a nationwide celebration and movement for healthy, affordable, and sustainable food. It began in 2011.
The Humane Society of the United States released this short animated film, A Pig's Tail today, in celebration of Food Day.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest recently released this short animated film, accompanied by a song by Jason Mraz, called The Real Bears.
Election Day is almost here. Yes, fill our your ballot. But remember that you vote with your dollars every single day. My favorite vegetarian/vegan food blog is 101 Cookbooks. I'm also a big fan of the vegetarian/vegan dessert blog Chocolate Covered Katie.
Grabbed this brand new, fantastic news segment about the Humane Society of the United States' End Dogfighting Campaign from HSUS CEO Wayne Pacelle's blog, today:
Yup. Shopping just gets harder and harder the more you know. Check this one out.
Consumers need to be cautious when they see the label "not tested on animals." Some companies might say that their products are cruelty-free, but it can mean that while the final product was not tested on animals, the ingredients were. It can also mean that the company itself did not test the product on animals, but contracted another firm to do their dirty work. The best way to be sure that a company is truly cruelty-free is to see if it's listed with The Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC). If so, it means they've met the rigorous standards designed by CCIC to ensure that no animal testing is used in any phase of product development by the company, its laboratories or suppliers.
The CCIC's mark is the leaping blue bunny. Look for it on your products next time you're shopping for household and personal care products like soaps, lotions and makeup.
Also check out the product directories here - get your iPhone app, print a pocket directory, or request to have one sent to you in the mail.
Fay had been seriously injured and required extensive medical treatment. We are saddened to learn that she passed away yesterday after her surgery, which The Humane Society of the United States had funded.
Fay began her life in a cycle of pain and cruelty. She spent her last few months in comfort and surrounded by love under the care of her foster mother Gale Frey and the people of the rescue group Mutts-n-Stuff in Missouri. Gale made Fay’s first real Christmas a celebration of her survival, showering her with gifts and affection.
Fay was highlighted in our recent "Animal Survivors" campaign, along with other animals who survived cruelties in 2009. Although she has passed away, her life will continue to inspire us in our campaigns to end dog fighting and fight other large-scale abuses inflicted on animals.
We express our deepest condolences to Gale Frey and to everyone who worked so hard to save Fay, and we redouble our efforts to save animals like Fay in 2010 from anyone who would do them harm.
My dog Sabrina came from the Oakland, California-based Home At Last Animal Rescue. Sabrina was found running around in a parking lot in Richmond, California and a police officer took her to a "kill shelter" - the Pinole Animal Shelter. On her last day - the day she was scheduled to be euthanized because no one had come to claim or adopt her - a volunteer from Home At Last saw her at the shelter and decided to take her home and give her another chance.
Sabrina was fostered at the volunteer's home for several months before I found Sabrina on the website Petfinder.com, where she had been listed for adoption.
Here's Sabrina, 5+ years later! Ready for Santa Claus!
photo: Linda Mar beach in Pacifica, CA - December 2009
According to this Humane Society of the US website, The HSUS' "All Creatures" nationwide music tour featuring The Myriad kicked off on Sept. 29 in Washington, D.C. The tour is making 35+ stops at clubs and Christian universities around the US.
The Myriad was MTV’s 2008 Breakout Artist of the Year. Their 2008 release, "With Arrows, With Poise" debuted at #13 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart, and was a top 40 album on iTunes. The band has toured with bands such as Eisley, Switchfoot, Athelete, Lovedrug, mewithoutYou, Mutemath, and As Tall As Lions.
With faith elements woven throughout The Myriad’s lyrics, the band resonates with Christian audiences across the country. The HSUS and The Myriad chose to do this tour now, at a time when younger evangelicals are renewing their interest in social issues like poverty and the environment.
The shows will feature video produced by The HSUS and the musicians will encourage audience members to consider their responsibilities towards animals.
At the Gordon College show in Wenham, MA, the campus radio station interviewed the band for a podcast. Asked about the music industry’s growing involvement in social causes and their commitment to The HSUS, the band’s guitarist, Steven Tracy, said it is the responsibility of anyone with a platform to promote what is right, and that factory farming and other forms of animal abuse is an important issue for this generation.
Christine Gutleben, director of The HSUS faith outreach program, is accompaning the tour and speaking to audiences about the work of The HSUS.
“Traveling with these artists is an opportunity to inspire people across the country to join with The Humane Society of the United States in protecting animals from needless cruelty, suffering and abuse,” said Gutleben, “Music moves people, and combined with a cause, it has the power to transform hearts and minds and to spread the message of compassion and mercy for God’s creatures.”
TOUR DATES:
9/30 Washington DC (Vienna, VA) - with Tyrone Wells @ Jammin Java 10/1 Philadelphia, PA @ World Café Main Room 10/2 Boston, MA (2 shows) @ Café 939 10/3 Wenham, MA @ Gordon College 10/4 Fairfield, CT @ Fairfield Theatre - StageOne 10/6 Burlington, VT @ Club Metronome 10/7 NYC, NY @ Highline Ballroom 10/8 Rochester, NY @ Water Street Music Hall 10/9 Pittsburgh, PA @ Hard Rock Café 10/10 Chicago, IL @ Lakeshore Theater 10/11 Grand Rapids, MI @ The Intersection 10/12 Ann Arbor, MI @ The Blind Pig 10/15 Indianapolis, IN @ Birdy's 10/16 Nashville, TN @ 3rd & Lindsley 10/17 Atlanta, GA @ Vinyl 10/18 Orlando, FL @ The Social 10/20 Houston, TX @ House of Blues 10/21 Austin, TX @ La Zona Rosa 10/23 Dallas, TX @ Prophet Bar 10/25 Phoenix, AZ @ Martini Ranch 10/26 San Diego, CA @ Point Loma Nazarene University
Street dogfighting is rampant in our cities, perpetuating animal cruelty, violence and crime. It causes horrible animal suffering and desensitizes young people to cruelty.
In 2006, The HSUS launched its city-wide pilot program to stop street dogfighting, End Dogfighting in Chicago. The program uses the innovative and proven community outreach methods to change attitudes and actions.
Because of its success, End Dogfighting expanded to Atlanta, and should start classes in Los Angeles soon.
Details about the Program:
* Anti-Dogfighting Advocates.The HSUS hires young men with roots in the community to combat dogfighting on a grassroots level. In neighborhoods most impacted by this crime, they mediate with men and boys at risk of getting involved in dogfighting, and intervene in dogfights. Because they are respected community members, they can reach people others cannot.
* Pit Bull Training Team. The HSUS holds free and accessible weekly pit bull training classes, which provide inspiring alternatives to dogfighting that showcase pit bulls as friends, not fighters.
* Community Outreach. The HSUS holds events in the community to promote its anti-dogfighting message and develop trust in the community. Examples include vaccination clinics, dog house giveaways, rallies and religious leader outreach.
* Law Enforcement Partnership. To fully eradicate street dogfighting, cops need to know what to look for. The HSUS partners with law enforcement, offering them training on catching dogfighting and providing a reward of up to $5,000 for tips leading to convictions.
* Humane Education. The HSUS developed a special eight-week curriculum for middle school children. This curriculum tackles the topic of dogfighting through games and hands-on activities.
For more information on getting involved with an End Dogfighting program in Chicago or Atlanta, contact Laurie Maxwell at the HSUS.
