The Informed Vegan

Update Your Feed!

2009-02-26T07:22:00.000-08:00

UPDATE YOUR FEED!!!

Hey, for everyone still receiving this feed, you may be wondering why there haven't been any posts lately. The reason is that The Informed Vegan has moved.

Make sure to update your old feed with our new feed address:

http://feeds2.feedburner.com/the_informed_vegan

Check out the new website at:

http://theinformedvegan.tumblr.com

Thanks for following this blog!

WE MOVED!

2009-02-19T01:00:00.000-08:00

You should be redirected shortly. If you are not redirected or you don't want to wait then click here to go to the NEW Informed Vegan site.

Thanks!

Weekly Vegan Reader.

2009-01-25T05:40:00.000-08:00

Here's what is going on this weekend...

-Say it ain't so: Peanut plot thickens.

-China knows how to handle food contamination, execute responsible parties.

-Turkey stompers still on the clock.

-F*CKED UP TREND WATCH: Dogs cut and dyed to look like pandas.

-Cops bust Nigerian goat for armed robbery.

-Antibiotics from factory farms spilling over into produce.

-ACTION ALERT! End hermit crab cruelty in one minute.

As always, something to keep you smiling:

VEGAN MARSHMALLOWS ARE ON SALE!!!!!

Animal Activist Birthdays!

2009-01-19T04:17:00.000-08:00

Taken from Because We Must.

Jonathan Paul and Josh Harper's birthday is January 31st and Jake Conroy's birthday is February 3rd. Now would be a great time to get out a pen and some paper (or a card) and show your support.

Please remember Jonathan, Josh and Jake and show them you care.

Jonathan Paul
#07167-085
FCI Phoenix
Federal Correctional Institution
37910 N. 45th Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85086

Joshua Harper
#29429-086
FCI Sheridan
Federal Correctional Institution
P.O. Box 5000
Sheridan, OR 97378

JACOB CONROY
#93501-011
FCI TERMINAL ISLAND
FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION
PO BOX 3007
SAN PEDRO, CA 90731

Jacob, Jonathan, and Josh were all imprisoned for suspicion of fighting against animal cruelty. Josh Harper and Jacob Conroy were arrested in connection with the campaign against Huntingdon Life Sciences.

You can read about Josh, Jake, and the rest of the SHAC 7 here.

Friday Vegan Spotlight.

2009-01-16T04:56:00.000-08:00

Fueled by an animal free diet, Dennis Kucinich has taken on every major political figure and every major corporation that threatens our environment and our rights. In 2008, Dennis Kucinich came closer to the U.S. Presidency than any other vegan/animal activist in history. Although he was pressured by his own party to withdrawal his bid for president he was still able to change the tone and the debate in the Democratic party.

His views were seen as extreme until he forced his way into the debates and received more applause than any other candidate. As his popularity grew the Democratic Party and the corporations that fund them such as NBC/General Electric/Lockheed Martin began to exclude him from debates at the 11th hour.

Dennis is vegan hero. He is open about his support for an animal free diet which stems from his concerns about remaining healthy and his dedication to non-violence. Dennis credits veganism with improving his health, and deepening his belief in the sacredness of all species. Dennis is in the Vegan Spotlight this week because he is a voice for the animals in our political system and never backs down from doing what's right.

Litter Bugs Eat at KFC.

2009-01-14T04:25:00.000-08:00

A UK study has found that more litter is produced from customers at KFC, McDonald's, Subway, and UK chain Greggs than any other source. The government, along with environmental advocates, are calling for a more vigilant approach to litter than the companies have taken in the past (i.e. tiny recycle signs on the bottom of products).

I think this gives us a greater look into the mind of a KFC/McDonald's/Subway customer. They eat highly processed foods that are horrible for their bodies and throw the trash on the ground. Basically they have little regard for themselves or others. This has always been my suspicion but now it has been proven.

Here's some ways to keep the world clean and do something good for yourself in the UK and beyond.

Chicago City Health Officer Goes Veg!

2009-01-12T10:20:00.000-08:00

As part of his campaign to encourage people to slim down, lower their blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol, and live longer, Chicago City Health Official Dr. Terry Mason is encouraging everyone to join him in going vegetarian for January.

This is great news, considering that Chicago is epicenter of the slaughter industry. Dr. Mason is coming under massive fire for his decision but he is on the side of logic, reason, and taste. A vegetarian/vegan diet is better for your health, the environment, and tastes so much better than anything else. Mason has a wonderful quote:

"You put the good fuel in your car and put the bad fuel in your bodies, what sense does that make?"

Thanks Dr. Mason for speaking the truth in the face of so many who refuse to hear it.
Join Dr. Mason and take the pledge to go veg.

Mo' Money Less Problems.

2009-01-12T04:58:00.000-08:00

Agweb.com reports that donations made toward animal rights groups are on the rise as animal abusing factory farmers quake in their boots. It seems that charitable donations to animal rights groups rose 11% in 2007 with part of the increased going toward what they called "extremist groups like PETA." If PETA is considered an extremist group I would love to hear what they think of the ALF.

This is great news for the movement and really bad news for its opponents. What I found really interesting was that the HUSA raised $130 million in 2007! I didn't realize they raised that much money, way to go!

Check out the article for the latest dollar figures from some of your favorite animal rights groups, I think you may find that it makes you happy.

Weekly Vegan Reader.

2009-01-11T04:55:00.000-08:00

The latest and the greatest, here's this week's round-up.

- Animal testing does not work.

- Don't swat! Mosquitoes sing love songs.

- Veganism and the end of global warming.

- Tyson CEO steps down due in part to poor sales.

- Pressure builds to end Japan's whaling.

- PETA seeks Top Chef to make "faux gras."

- The term "owner" replaced with the term "guardian" in animal related ordinances.

- ACTION ALERT! Fort Dix burns, stabs, shoots, and breaks the limbs of live pigs and goats.

As always, something to keep you smiling...real live dragons!

Have a great week!

140 year-old lobster saved!

2009-01-09T22:04:00.000-08:00

A 140 year-old lobster was set to be served for dinner at New York restaurant but fortunately animal activists were able to dissuade the restaurant from cooking the lobster instead returning him to sea.

This lobster has outlived every human on earth! It would have been tragic for any human to eat him just to fulfill some sick ego.

Way to go everyone for pitching in and speaking up to help save this little guy from a horrific death that sadly many experience every day.

Friday Vegan Spotlight.

2009-01-09T04:08:00.000-08:00

Joan Jett is a tough vegan badass rocker icon that defies all stereotypes. She burst onto the music scene and proved that women could write, produce, and perform rock music better than most men. She is an advocate for a vegan diet which keeps her strong, healthy, and looking like she hasn't aged a single day since 1980.

In a wonderful interview she gave recently she was asked about people who say that vegans/vegetarians are weak and her response was perfect:

"People who say things like that are the weak ones for eating animals when it is completely unnecessary to do so in order to sustain life. To give [in to] the urge to eat flesh just because you can—now that’s weak! It’s like eating your dog or cat. It may take something like bird flu or mad cow disease to convince people to stop killing animals for food."

Joan is a staunch advocate for animals and is a huge supporter of Farm Sanctuary. She has four little stray cats that she rescued. Her cats are sweet but she does has to rescue moths from their paws sometimes. Way to go Joan!

Joan is in the spotlight because she uses her fame and talents to promote the rights of animals to have full happy and healthy lives. Thanks Joan for all that you do.

Seal Steals Fish.

2009-01-08T04:23:00.000-08:00

A daring young harbor seal waddled over two-miles of dry land to break into a fish hatchery and gorge herself on fish all night. It is believed that the seal had to cross a highway and a mini-golf course to reach the hatchery. She was later netted and taken back to the sea unharmed. Hatchery workers said:

"It's a good sign that she was healthy, a lot of the seals we see are on the beach are not in such good shape.''

This seal and last week's klepto dog are two of my new heroes.

Bush Helps Save Oceans.

2009-01-07T04:25:00.000-08:00

In a surprising move two weeks before he leaves office, President Bush orders the protection of 195,280 square miles ocean. The protection order will help save vital ecosystems in the Pacific from overfishing, including areas home to keystone species like sharks.

Bush also ordered the restriction of oil and gas exploration near numerous remote islands in the central and western Pacific that have long been considered U.S. possessions. Bush has been weak on global warming so perhaps this is his way of throwing environmentalists a bone.
Perhaps he's trying to salvage some of his horrible legacy.

I believe in being brutally honest and critical of our leaders. I also believe in giving credit where credit is due, and it seems that Bush really deserves some thanks for this his one moment of clarity.

KFC Serves Garbage...Literally.

2009-01-06T13:05:00.000-08:00

KFC employees have been caught on camera pulling chicken out of the garbage and putting it on a tray to serve to customers. The footage was taken by an employee that claims that this is a common practice at KFC. Apparently, employees stop cooking and throw everything away before the restaurant closes so if anyone orders before the doors close they just reach in the garbage and get it back out.

Here's the infamous video.

Rod Coronado Released!

2009-01-06T09:50:00.000-08:00

Imprisoned activist Rod Coronado has been released from prison to a half-way house. You might know Rod as the spokesperson for the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) during Operation Bite Back, a series of fur farm raids in 1991-1992, which caused more than one million dollars in property damage.

Thank you Rod for everything you've done for the animals, you are a true hero.

eBay Bans Ivory!

2009-01-06T04:46:00.000-08:00

I know this is probably old news for all you Internet news buffs out there but starting January 1, 2009 eBay has banned the sale of ivory!

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) recently discovered that two-thirds of the online trade of the protected wildlife takes place of eBay and poachers take the lives of over 20,000 elephants a year to meet the world's demands. They launched a huge campaign against eBay which culminated in the unprecedented victory against the trade.

The ivory trade is horrific so it is wonderful to hear that eBay will no longer aid this cruel and deadly practice thank to the hard work of animal rights activists.

No Longer Survival of the Fittest.

2009-01-05T09:16:00.001-08:00

This Newsweek article talks about how hunters screw up natural selection by killing the biggest and most attractive members of a species. This allows the weakest animals to continue propagating, effectively creating a weak species.

Scientists like Charles Darwin suggested that the fittest of a species survive to reproduce and pass along their traits to succeeding generations, while the traits of the unfit gradually disappear. New evidence shows that hunters screw up the entire process. Hunters kill individuals with the best horns or antlers or the largest piece of hide rather than the one that is deformed or diseased. Studies are showing that species such as the bighorn sheep, red kangaroo, and even salmon are growing smaller because hunters are killing so many of the larger animals.

The authors give some great evidence as to why this type of 'unnatural selection' is so dangerous:

"Tusks used to make elephants fitter, as a weapon or a tool in foraging—until ivory became a precious commodity and having tusks got you killed. Then tuskless elephants, products of a genetic fluke, became the more consistent breeders and grew from around 2 percent among African elephants to more than 38 percent in one Zambian population, and 98 percent in a South African one." Tusked elephants, like the old dominant males on Ram Mountain, were "genetically 'better' individuals," says Festa-Bianchet. 'When you take them systematically out of the population for several years, you end up leaving essentially a bunch of losers doing the breeding.'"

When all the 'losers' are left in a species, the species becomes less viable and the survivors are left with a narrower gene pool.

Hunters often claim that the 'sport' is a natural act where they can get back to nature and celebrate tradition. The truth is, modern weaponry and the whole idea of hunting as a sport where competitors vie for the biggest trophy will imperil many of our most vital species including humans. Hunting is cruel, inhumane, unnatural and will be one the the factors in the destruction of the planet if it is not stopped.

Weekly Vegan Reader.

2009-01-04T21:27:00.000-08:00

The first weekend round-up of 2009:

- Alanis Morrissette goes vegan!

- Rachel Ray wants you to poison your dog.

- Milk industry needs a bailout to continue selling pus laden staple.

- Coral growth slows to frightening levels.

- ACTION ALERT! Help free pigs from gestation crates and chains.

And something to keep you smiling...

Have a good week.

ACTION ALERT! End the Use of Bullhooks at the Oregon Zoo.

2009-01-03T04:09:00.000-08:00

Trainers at the Oregon Zoo currently use violent and painful bullhooks on elephants. A bullhook is a long, heavy rod with a steel point and a hook at one end. Keepers jab bullhooks into the most sensitive parts of an elephant's body, such as behind the ears, inside the ear or mouth, in and around the anus, and in tender spots under the chin and around the feet.

Tell the Oregon Zoo to stop using bullhooks to hurt the elephants.

This video shows the use of a bullhook by a another violent organization, Ringling Brothers Circus.

Friday Vegan Spotlight.

2009-01-02T04:32:00.000-08:00

Woody Harrelson is one of the top character actors of our time, he is also a raw food vegan. Harrelson has stared in award winning films like No Country for Old Men, Natural Born Killers, Wag the Dog, and most recently as a vegan telemarketer for a mail order meat company in Seven Pounds.

Harrelson has been active in the animal rights movement and has worked on various campaigns against the use of animal testing for cosmetics. His choice to go vegan was no doubt because of his love for the environment. As part of the group Earth First! he once scaled the Golden Gate Bride and held up a banner with a message to save the redwoods.

Woody Harrelson is one of the many celebrities that helps bring attention to animal rights and veganism and is in this week's Vegan Spotlight, so go watch one of Woody's movies!

Happy Vegan New Year!

2009-01-01T04:42:00.000-08:00

In 2009 I urge everyone to do something for animals on top of what you already do. I know you all are very creative but here are a couple things I think be a good place to start.

-If you're a vegetarian, GO VEGAN.

-If you eat any meat, STOP.

- Go to a cool animal rights conference such as the Portland's Let Live conference in June.

- Donate time or money to a committed organization that
protects animals.

- Cook a vegan meal for friends or family.

- Adopt a shelter animal.

These are just some of the things you can do in 2009 to help animals (and yourself) live a happier and healthier life. Thanks for reading The Informed Vegan blog this year, I'm committed to making this site even better in 2009.

How are you going to help animals in 2009?

What Is a Vegan?

2008-12-31T04:06:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I wonder how effective we are as activists when we urge people to go vegan. Perhaps the idea of going vegan overnight is scary or confusing to people or as this video demonstrates, maybe the people we are reaching out to don't even know what a vegan is.

Vegan Body Builder

2008-12-30T04:56:00.000-08:00

Most non-vegans are inundated with myths about how vegans lack protein and are weak and unhealthy. Vegan Bodybuilder Kenneth G. Williams dismantles those myths just by being himself. Check out this great video where he describes his philosophy. More info at www.veganmusclepower.com

Tell Obama to Rescind the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act.

2008-12-29T04:59:00.000-08:00

The website Change.org allows the Obama administration a window into public opinion that will help them shape their priorities for change over the next four years. Activists have submitted the idea to rescind the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA) and we can help make this happen. Animal rights activists have posted the following idea on Change.org that is waiting for your vote:

"The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA) was enacted in November of 2006 at the behest of the pharmaceutical and biomedical industries. AETA restricts the freedom of speech and assembly of animal and other social justice activists. It unfairly brands as terrorism any activities that cross a state line and interfere with the operation of an animal enterprise or of any entity that deals with one. Such activities may include website posts, peaceful vigils, nonviolent civil disobedience, undercover investigations, and whistle-blowing."

Please take a few moments to vote for this issue and help bring national attention to this profound violation of our constitutional rights. You can even add a widget to your blog that allows others to vote on this important issue.

Vote now to end the AETA!

Weekly Vegan Reader.

2008-12-28T04:14:00.000-08:00

Hope you've all had a good holiday. Here are some stories for you to check out this lazy Sunday.

- Man tries to lose weight on an all-jerky diet.

- ALF and SHAC 7 get international (negative) attention.

- New bill could reduce animal cruelty.

- Student poses as bidder and disrupts corrupt auction.

- Germany open soup kitchen to help hungry pets.

- Asia devours endangered U.S. animals.

- Aussies dump glue traps.

- Threatened species returns to England.

- ACTION ALERT: Pledge to go Veg in 2009!

As always, something to keep you smiling.

Have a good week.