AZVegan.com - the free calendar & info source for vegans, vegetarians & animal rights activists in Arizona

Last updated May 13, 2008

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I wondered why somebody didn't do something; then I realized I was somebody.
-- Unknown

Take Action...

	Sick Artist Starves Dog to Death- Please Sign Petition Today In 2007, the 'artist' Guillermo Vargas Habacuc took a dog from the street, he tied him to a rope in an art gallery, starving him to death. For several days, the 'artist' and the visitors of the exhibition have watched emotionless the shameful 'masterpiece' based on the dog's agony, until eventually he died. Please sign the petition today to prevent him from doing this again next year.
	HUGO BOSS to Phase Out Cruel Australian Wool Following discussions with PETA—and thanks in large part to activists like you who have helped raise awareness about the mutilation of lambs by Australian farmers—global retail giant HUGO BOSS has announced that it will phase out wool from lambs who have undergone the mulesing mutilation. The company said, "HUGO BOSS disassociates itself from mulesing because it contravenes our corporate values ...." Please take a few moments to send HUGO BOSS a note of thanks for its willingness to speak up for the millions of sheep who are mutilated each year at the hands of cruel Australian farmers. E-mail HUGO BOSS officials at customerservice@hugoboss.com and let them know that you will be telling your friends and family about the company's compassionate decision.
	'Washington Post' Investigation Reveals Government Testing Sham Animals in the U.S. are being injected with substances like Botox until they become paralyzed and suffocate, even though there are modern, non-animal methods to test the deadly neurotoxin. As a recent Washington Post investigation reveals, the entity put in place by Congress to reduce the use of animals in toxicity testing—the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM)—has failed miserably and has, in fact, become a major obstacle to the incorporation of non-animal test methods. In its 10 years of existence, ICCVAM has only recommended four "alternative" test methods to regulatory agencies. During the same period of time, its European counterpart recommended more than two dozen! Take Action Today!
	Urge Canada's Minister of International Trade to Stop the Seal Hunt Tell Canada's Minister of International Trade, David Emerson, that the seal hunt damages Canada's international reputation, and remind him that it has resulted in ongoing global boycotts of Canadian seafood and tourism. Let him know that more than half a million people, as well as many chefs, restaurants, and grocery chains, have pledged not to buy Canadian seafood products until Canada ends its brutal slaughter of seals. Tell him it’s time to end the commercial seal hunt for good—a hunt opposed by most Canadian citizens shouldn't be allowed to harm Canada's economy. Take action today .
	AZVegan is teaming up with Vegan Outreach On Campus and at Local Concerts! We are looking for anyone looking to get involved and reach out to others! Vegan Outreach is providing the materials and AZVegan is scheduling the events and will get the materials to you! This is a great opportunity to interact with thousands of people and pass out veg friendly literature. Please email AZVegan and start your outreach today! Upcoming Concerts- June 4th-Phoenix The Cure Dodge Theatre June 25th- Phoenix Warped Cricket Wireless Pavilion June 25thPhoenix True Colors Dodge Theatre Campus Schedule- Leaflet at ASU, MCC, SCC, or any of the many college campuses in the valley. We are scheduling regular leafletting events on Thursdays at ASU. It can be during the day, afternoon, or whatever fits into your schedule. We plan to have someone on campus every Thursday. Email AZVegan today to get on the schedule and we'll get you the materials and anything you need to get started.
	Tell Lowe's to Stop Selling Cruelty In response to your calls and e-mails, Lowe's has issued a statement claiming that the company will "only carry the products [glue traps] that contain Eugenol [clove oil], which is an anesthetic." Don't be fooled! Such "modified" glue traps are a shameless attempt to dupe consumers. They are still glue traps that kill animals slowly through starvation and dehydration. These glue traps show absolutely no evidence of reducing animal suffering. In fact, they cause as much suffering as—if not more than—standard traps. *Please continue to push Lowe's to stop carrying all* glue traps.** Please call and fax Lowe's today and tell the company that caring consumers strongly oppose the use of glue traps and will not patronize Lowe's until the company removes all glue traps from its stores and issues a statement vowing never to sell them again. Please send polite comments to: Patti Price, Senior Vice President 704-758-2394 704-757-0593 (fax) Robert A. Niblock, CEO 704-758-2084 704-757-0542 (fax) And please forward this message to others who might be willing to lend their voice to this cause.

Legislative Updates...

	Colorado Bill Awaits Governors Signature The Colorado bill to ban crates for pregnant pigs and for calves used for veal awaits the governor’s signature, having been passed by the state House of Representatives (see: http://tinyurl.com/5pk7hm ). The bill was drafted by the state Department of Agriculture as part of an agreement with the Humane Society of the U.S. to avert a ballot campaign. Agricultural groups, including the Colorado Pork Producers Council, have agreed to support the bill. In December, it was announced that pig farmers in the state would voluntarily change to larger pens. There are an estimated 155,000 female pigs used for breeding purposes in Colorado and some 750 pig farmers. (Reportedly no calves are being raised for veal in the state.) If the governor signs the bill, as he is expected to do, Colorado will join Arizona, Florida and Oregon in banning gestation crates for pigs. Arizona has also banned veal crates for calves.
	Evaluating the Elephants The 2008 Republican candidates and their positions on animal issues and their humane scorecards. Discussing the Donkeys The 2008 Democratic candidates. Key information about their humane scorecard ratings and positions on animal issues.
	Anti-Cruelty Measure certified for the November Ballot California Secretary of State Debra Bowen today certified an anti-cruelty ballot initiative for the statewide general election on November 4, 2008. Californians for Humane Farms, sponsored by The Humane Society of the United States, Farm Sanctuary and other animal protection groups, family farmers, veterinarians and public health professionals, said the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act will provide the most basic protection to nearly 20 million animals confined in industrial factory farms in California: that they merely be able to turn around and extend their limbs. When approved in November, the Act will prevent California factory farms from confining animals in the most restrictive crates or cages—specifically, veal crates for calves, battery cages for egg-laying hens, and gestation crates for breeding pigs. The new law would take effect in 2015, allowing producers ample time to transition to more humane and environmentally sustainable systems.

Check out the latest additions..

	First Lab-Grown Meat Conference Held in Norway The first in-vitro meat symposium was held earlier this month in Norway. It may sound pretty gross, but it's actually no more disgusting (and infinitely more humane) than many factory farming practices. Cultured meat is meat produced in vitro, in a cell culture, rather than from an animal. The production of cultured meat begins by taking a number of cells from a farm animal and proliferating them in a nutrient-rich medium. Cells are capable of multiplying so many times in culture that, in theory, a single cell could be used to produce enough meat to feed the global population for a year.
	Industry Calls For Ban of Non-Ambulatory Cattle “[F]or the life of me, I cannot understand why the industry won't support a no-downer policy,” wrote Wayne Pacelle, head of the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS), in a commentary in the April issue of Meatingplace, a meat trade magazine. He continued: “If USDA vets approve a few thousand downers for slaughter under this current system - bringing a pittance in profits - is that really worth the risks? With the economic impact of the Hallmark investigation moving toward $1 billion, we have another example of penny-wise, pound-foolish behavior.” On April 22nd, the American Meat Institute (AMI), the National Meat Association (NMA) and the National Milk Producers Federation announced their petition to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) calling for a ban on non-ambulatory cattle in the meat supply (petition at PDF: http://tinyurl.com/62e59c ). Previously, both industry and the USDA had opposed changing the current limited ban. In February, HSUS filed suit against the USDA for having enacted the limitation last year (see: http://tinyurl.com/6486l3 ). Some legislators are also pressuring the Department for a total ban. AMI and NMA are urging companies to voluntarily withhold non-ambulatory cattle until the USDA changes the rule. Some critics say industry only called for the ban due to demands by foreign trading partners (see item #2). AMI has also announced the launch of the Meat News Network, a channel on the You Tube website “where accurate videos –including some that represent typical conditions in meat plants—will be posted”: http://www.YouTube.com/meatnewsnetwork
	Save the date for Taking Action for Animals The largest national conference for the animal protection movement. The event is designed to motivate, inspire, and teach practical skills to seasoned advocates and newcomers to animal protection from around the globe. The fourth annual Taking Action for Animals conference will be held July 19-21, 2008 in Arlington, Virginia. Registration will include: * Keynote sessions * Training workshops * A Lobby Day on Capitol Hill * More than 50 exhibitors * A banquet dinner hosted by comedian Carol Leifer, writer for "Seinfeld," "The Larry Sanders Show," and "Saturday Night Live" * Two lunches * Social events * Invaluable opportunities for networking with colleagues, mentors, and fellow advocates Almost 1,000 people attended the 2007 conference. Don't miss this chance to get more involved -- join us in July! Visit www.takingactionforanimals.org often for program updates and registration information.
	Raw Spirit Festival- 2008 Mark your calendars today for the 2008 Raw Spirit Festival held in Sedona September 12th-14th. Click here for more details.

Don't Miss This...

Questions about veganism? Vegans and non-vegans alike should read the incredible essay from Vegan Outreach, On Being Vegan	Activism is a tough business - don't get burned out! Preventing Animal Rights Burn-Out
A "must read" for any activist: Compassion Over Killing's excellent Tips For Successful Vegan Leafleting.	Is your best friend a pig? See some of my farm animal friends at the New York Farm Sanctuary.

Free Stuff!

AZVegan.com bumper stickers!
New 8.5" by 2.5" vinyl stickers. Click here for a preview. If you would like one, just send an email to azvegan@gmail.com letting us know you want a bumper sticker and we'll send you a new one for free. Spread the word...expand the network...widen the circle!
"Chew on This" - an amazing video from PETA.
Every year, more than 27 billion animals (including fish) are killed for food in the United States alone. PETA’s video Chew on This sheds light on animal suffering and highlights many of the other reasons to choose a compassionate, plant-based diet. Watch the video, order a free copy of the DVD, and pass it on! (just three and a half minutes long)

AZVegan.com - the free calendar & information source for vegans, vegetarians & animal rights activists in Arizona.
Questions, comments, suggestions: website@azvegan.com