Sometimes I feel that the election campaign is a lot like riding a rollercoaster. (Except that, let’s be honest, rollercoasters are way more fun.) The week before last I was so excited to hear that the Liberal Party had announced plans to provide $5 million to protect dugongs and turtles on the Great Barrier Reef, if elected. Yay! Since these beautiful, gentle animals are considered vulnerable to extinction, they need as much help as they can get.

However, my celebration was short-lived as, this week, Tony Abbott has declared that he will re-open marine protected areas for recreational fishing if he is elected. Ummm ... what? Tony, researchers have predicted that there will be no fish left by 2048 due to overfishing. By that time this election will be a thing of the past, and your friends from the Australian Fishing Trade Show will have long forgotten about your promise, but future generations of Australians will not forgive us for handing them an empty ocean.

Imagine a world without fish? Not only are they vital to the ecosystem, there is a lot more to fish than people realise. Australian crimson spotted rainbowfish are even able to learn to escape from a net, and still remember how to do it 11 months later! So much for fish having short memories. That’s the equivalent to a human remembering something they were taught 40 years ago. (I can’t even remember how to do high school algebra!)

And now Abbott wants to remove some of the very little protection that fish get. You can help fish, and all other animals, by knowing which political parties are promising to put animal welfare on the agenda this election. There’s a really handy guide here. You might like to follow it up with a visit to Dennis the Election Koala to find out exactly how to make your vote count most for animals.

Still got questions? Maybe I can help. Leave a comment below and I’ll do my best :)

Check it out. This is in Texas. And so is this:

I know what you’re thinking ... stock up on the canned beans because the apocalypse is coming. These satellite images look like something out of a sci-fi movie don’t they? If only. In fact, this is what humans are doing to the world.

These pictures show big factory farming operations in the US. The giant pools of multicoloured grossness in the middle -- they’re the waste pits for animal excrement.

Now, I know nobody likes talking about poop but I just want to take a slight tangent and tell you about my day volunteering at Edgar’s Mission farm sanctuary on the weekend. I spent a good couple of hours shovelling the do-do of Hansel and Gretel (pictured right). These two are lucky enough to be able to live out the rest of their lives in the care of people who love them for who they are, not what they can produce.

So what do Hansel and Gretel eat? Grass, hay and, as a special treat Weet Bix. So, their number 2’s are ... just that. It gets used to fertilise the surrounding land, thanks to the volunteers who go home with sore muscles from scooping it up. ;) (But seriously, great day. If you live in Vic and want to be a vollie at Edgar’s click here.)

So, my point is, why on earth does the kaka of factory farmed animals turn into toxic sludge? Well for starters there's the sheer number of animals... Farm animals now produce about 130 times more waste than humans. :/

But the man who discovered these images, Mishka Henner, dug a little deeper. And he learned that these waste pits contained “elevated levels of ammonia, nitrogen and phosphorous, as well as pathogens such as Salmonella, E. coli, Cryptosporidium, and fecal coliform, plus antibiotics expelled in the animals' waste.”

Henner’s satellite photographs serve as a vibrant reminder of not only what factory farming is doing to animals, but to our environment as well. These images are from the US, but millions of animals are in factory farms right here in Australia as well. And this cruel industry is having a devastating global impact.

Thankfully, the solution to this global problem is very simple. And it starts with you. Click here to take the first step to changing the world.

What would Captain Planet do?

What do all the boxes mean? How can I make my vote count most for animals? Why aren't 'hugs' on the election agenda? Everything I know about preferential voting I learnt from Dennis the Election Koala and Ken the Voting Dingo.

(Note: There's a few rude words in this, and a cartoon dingo gets slapped, so if that's not your cup of tea you might want to click here for something lovely instead.)

(Hmm ... 'ban live export' must've slipped off the bottom of the page there. Do you know where your MP stands on important animal welfare policies? Click here to help put animals on the political map by submitting a report for your local member.)

(Source: chickennation.com)

Thanks Dennis! (Want to do your bit for koalas like Dennis? Click here to help stop the tragic suffering of koalas in Vic and SA due to the carelessness of timber companies.)

What other policies do you think Plom should look into?

Dairy is a bit of a hot topic lately. Did you hear that Dave Hughes has taken up a milk free challenge? “Milk is for baby cows,” Hughesy said. (Click here to send him a message of support.)

What's more, just recently health experts declared that there is no nutritional need for humans to drink cow’s milk. Which makes sense since after all, I’m not a calf. Are you?

I’ve known for a long time that I wasn’t a cow but I’m so pleased that doctors are finally figuring it out too. So I’m celebrating in the best way possible -- by eating LOADS of dairy-free chocolate. (Skip to the bottom of this blog to find out how you can get your hands on some too.)

Harvard professor Dr Ludwig has said that you can get more calcium from kale than you can from cow’s milk. That means one bowl of this kale and avo salad and you’ll have calcium coming out your ears! But if you’re like me and the thought of eating kale makes your face do this, --> don’t fret because you can also get calcium from nuts, seeds, beans and green leafy vegetables, including my personal fave:  (Check out what else the experts are saying about dairy by clicking here). (That’s not really me in the picture by the way. Although I did have that fringe in primary school.)

The best part about getting calcium from plant sources is that there are no casualties. A lot of Aussies don’t realise that over 700,000 dairy calves (called bobby calves) are killed as ‘waste’ every year.

Thankfully it’s easy to save the lives of dairy calves. Simply give dairy the flick. There are so many great dairy-free alternatives out there these days! Have you been to the milk aisle in your local supermarket lately? Soy milk, oat milk, rice milk, almond milk ... it’s a dairy-free smorgasbord.

And what’s the most delicious use of cruelty-free milk? Cruelty-free chocolate! So let’s get on with it, shall we?

The prize: I have 5 heavenly dairy-free chocolate packs to give away. I don’t use the word ‘heavenly’ lightly. I promise that after one taste you will want MOOOOOOre. (Classic cow gags. Couldn’t help myself.)

How to win: Easy - click here and take the 3 minute chocolate challenge. (Ends 30 September.) Good luck!

Meet Dave Hugs, aka Hugsy.

He is Dave Hughes’ newest number one fan. Why?

First this: (Heads up: there’s a little bit of language in this clip.)

And now this:

Hughesy is giving up cow’s milk! This morning he said he’d have a go at giving up dairy for the calves, saying “I do believe that milk is for baby cows.” Hugsy did this face:

Why is Hugsy so excited about this news? Well, what happens to calves in the dairy industry is pretty grim. To produce milk, cows need to have a calf. And like most mums, cows form very strong bonds with their babies. Yet, most calves born into the dairy industry are separated from their mums within days of their birth, and what happens to them next is something the dairy industry doesn't want you to know:

The good news is that it is so easy to eat dairy-free these days. And health experts are starting to realise that cow’s milk might not even be all that good for us. If you’ve been thinking about going dairy-free, why not “chuck a Hughesy” and try it out? You might feel better for it and you’ll be saving lives!

The other good news is that Hugsy is on his way to meet his favourite Aussie comedian right now! We’ve sent him over with a bag of delicious dairy-free goodies to NOVA 100 to say a big thanks to Hughesy on behalf of all the ‘baby cows’.

If you’d like to send some love to Hughesy for being such a good bloke, head here for ways to get in touch with him.

P.S. If you want to get your hands on some dairy-free choccies as well, head over to our 3 minute chocolate challenge for a chance to win some for free! 

This put a HUGE smile on my face!

When I was ten years old, I thought that being active meant getting out of bed on athletics carnival day. (Somehow mum always saw straight through my carnival day sickies.)

But Tess and Phoebe from Summer Hill (doesn’t that sound like a magical place?) have a whole different idea about what it means to get active. They have been using their karate craft-making skills and butt-kicking baking abilities to campaign for animals!

“We want to see a world without factory farming because animals deserve so much more than to spend their whole life cooped up in a tiny cage,” say Tess and Phoebe. And they are not alone... More than 150,000 people have made the Make It Possible pledge to help end factory farming:

Thankfully there are activists out there like Tess and Phoebe who are speaking up for animals. Which is why they are Unleashed’s latest Activist Challenge Winners. And if you're feeling inspired by Tess and Phoebe's efforts, you can head here to start raising funds for animals as well.

Have you been getting active for animals? Tell us what you’ve been up to and you could be the next Activist Challenge winner. (Psst psst ... there’s an awesome prize pack in it for you ;) ).

Animals don’t have a voice. Some animals don’t have a home either.

This video shows how two Chilean students helped some invisible dogs be seen:

August 17 is International Homeless Animals Day. In Australia, roughly 23 animals are put down every hour because they do not have a home to go to. You can help solve this problem by pledging to always adopt your companion animals. (Click here to make the pledge now.)

P.S. This video was shared with me by Izzy, an 18 month old kelpie x who was rescued from a pound in Broken Hill, NSW, just minutes before she was due to be put down. Now that she has found her forever home, she has been able to start her career as a comedian. Check out her very funny Facebook page here.

In my mind, this is what Costa Rica looks like:

Why? Well, probably because I have no concept of geography whatsoever. But more importantly, because they’re charging ahead when it comes to animal-friendly reforms.

Costa Rica has just announced that they’re going to close two of their government-owned zoos. Why? Environment Minister Rene Castro says his decision was influenced by his grandmother’s pet parrot.

"One day, we took the parrot out to the patio, and a flock of wild parrots passed, and the parrot went with them," he says. "It made a big impression on me because I thought that we were taking good care of her. We fed her with food and affection ... all these things that we as humans thought she liked. And when she had the chance, she left."

So he’s setting all the animals free! Well, 400 altogether. The two sites will be converted into botanical parks, displaying biodiversity in a natural way. The animals will be relocated to rescue centres or shelters where they will then be rehabilitated to the wild or, if they are unable to return to their natural habitat, taken care of by professionals.

“We don’t want any more captivity, any more caging of animals, unless it’s because they’re being rescued or saved,” says Environment Minister Rene Castro. You go Castro!

This awesome news comes within a year of Costa Rica banning hunting as a sport! At the time, politician Victor Emilio Granadas said “hunting is not a sport but a cruelty!” He said the law “will allow us to live in peace with other living things that share our planet.”

What’s more, circuses with performing animals were banned way back in 2002. So now you know why I think of Costa Rica as a land of rainbows and happiness.

The best thing about all this news is that it reminds me that making the world a better place for animals is very achievable. It’s already happening! You can be a part of the movement for change here in Australia. It’s as easy as becoming part of the Unleashed Action Team. You will be among the first to hear about animal protection campaigns and be part of a dedicated group of individuals making a difference for animals. Click here to join the team.

Last week I went to see the movie Blackfish. It’s a documentary about Tilikum, a whale who has been living in captivity in ‘amusement’ parks since he was 2 years old. If you missed it, here’s the trailer:

Needless to say, I cried and cried and wailed and snorted and hollered “Free Tilly” at the screen.

Orca whales are highly social animals, who swim many many kilometres per day. Yet, poor Tilikum is still living in a tiny tank in SeaWorld, Orlando. And he’s kept in isolation most of the time :(

Thankfully, I am not the only one who has been moved by this incredible documentary and there is hope for whales (and other captive animals) yet!

When the Pixar team saw Blackfish, they realised that captivity is not such a happy ending for animals. They sat down with Blackfish director Gabriela Cowperthwaite and made some drastic edits to the script of Finding Dory (the sequel to Finding Nemo, due to be released in 2015). Although little is known of the story line as yet, Pixar has said that while characters do travel to a marine park, they will have the option to go back to the ocean if they choose.

It’s not quite that simple in real life unfortunately BUT it is possible. Remember Free Willy? Willy was played by Keiko, and the movie had such an impact on the public that campaigning led to Keiko being moved to a sea-pen in Iceland waters where he eventually migrated to Norway. Although he was still cared for by professionals, he lived out the remainder of his life with a great deal of freedom.

Animal welfare groups in the U.S. are campaigning to get Tilikum released to a sea-pen and rehabilitated, just like Keiko. (You can add your name to the petition here).

But the best way that you can make a difference is by simply never visiting a marine park that makes animals perform. Just like rodeos and circuses that have animals, using animals for entertainment is unnecessary, and rarely provides animals with an environment that allows them to express their natural behaviours.

Despite the tears, it makes me so happy to see movies like Blackfish being made, exposing the significant problems with keeping wild animals in captivity. Have you seen any good animal documentaries lately? I’d love to hear about them.

Late last year, 58 year old Sam Simon, co-creator of ‘The Simpsons’, was diagnosed with terminal cancer. This man, along with making me laugh night after night with everyone’s favourite cartoon family, has been doing amazing things for animals all his life.

He became a vegetarian at the age of 19 and vegan in 2005. In 2002 he founded “the grandest dog shelter in the country” complete with waterfalls and manicured lawns. Simon invests millions of dollars in this rescue centre and says that it is money “well spent just for the pleasure it gives me.”

It is so sad to hear that this beautiful man is terminally ill. But his legacy will live forever. He has decided to kick his charity work into high gear and give his millions away to those in need.

When he learned of his diagnosis, Simon says he had a “fun idea.” He bought up a bunch of zoos and circuses just so that he could free the animals within them. He says he just wanted to “see animals walk in grass for the first time.” How amazing is that?

Simon has big plans for where he wants to see the rest of his money go, including a number of animal charities. (There’s a rough breakdown here.)

On behalf of the animals, thank you Sam for helping to make the world a kinder place.

What would you do for animals if you were a millionaire?

Happy World Cat Day! We owe a lot to cats. Did you know that if it weren't for cats, the internet would be filled with nothing but library catalogues and ads for suspicious medications?

To celebrate cats, (and the divine internet), I've collected my favourite cat gifs OF ALL TIME (i.e. that I've seen so far). And they just so happen to show all the reasons I respect and admire cats:

Cats always get what they want:

They secretly love dogs:

They can twerk:

Cats aren't afraid of anything:

(except bananas):

(and balloons):

(ok, they're afraid of EVERYTHING):

They are amazing gymnasts:

They think with their heads:

They know how to chill:

And lastly, because LOOK AT THAT FACE:

Want to do your bit for cats this World Cat Day? The best thing you can do for cats is promise to always adopt rather than buying from a pet store or breeder. Why? Because despite how clearly smart and ridiculously adorable they are, thousands of cats are surrendered to shelters every year, and many of them will end up being put down. In fact, 23 cats and dogs are killed every hour. You can help prevent this by clicking here and making the pledge to always adopt.

The chickens in Chicken Run ain’t got nothing on the turkeys in Alex’s imagination. Best blueprint for an escape plan I have ever seen:

(Image: pleated-jeans.com)

Unfortunately, most turkeys will never get the chance to run free. Turkeys born into factory farms are often crammed into sheds by the thousands, and are forced to live in their own waste. They will be slaughtered at around 10-12 weeks old. A turkey’s natural life span is around 10 years.

(Image: bigbirdsbigcruelty.org)

Thankfully, every now and then, a turkey gets a happy ending. Here’s the story of 8 very lucky ones:

These birds were born into horrible conditions in factory farms but they will live out the rest of their lives happily at Edgar’s Mission Farm Sanctuary. There is a way that you can prevent more turkeys from living out their lives in cramped and miserable conditions, and save the lives of up to 100 other animals as well. Be a lifesaver and pledge to be veg.

P.S. Did you notice the turkey’s names? Who would you like to name a turkey after?

07.09.2013 = election day. Which means for the next month, there is going to be one question on everyone’s mind: which of Australia’s Next Top Prime Ministers has the X Factor to win Project Election Runway? To help us get through a month of non-stop ads with politicians holding smiling babies and super-fast-authorisation-messages at the end, I’ve come up with four 2013 election games to make this season of federal campaigning the funnest yet!

This Is The Voice Chart:

Let’s face it, when all the pollies wear the same shade of blue, it can be tough to figure out the difference between the lot of them. ABC’s Vote Compass gives you a chance to turn away from the faces on the screen and really figure out which one has the ‘it factor’ for you. Hit your buzzer on the issues that matter to you and the Vote Compass will clearly map out which of the three major political parties is the best match for what you care about. Click here to find out who is your perfect (political) match.

My favourite part of The Chart is this question: ‘Live animal exports should be banned.’ Live export has officially made it through the battle rounds and in to the top 30 issues on the political agenda. Why? Thanks to you! Which brings me to my next favourite 2013 election campaign game ...

The Amazing BLE Race:

Last month we reached one million actions taken against live export! That’s one million times that people have spoken up for the victims of this cruel trade, such as Jacob, Dudley, Tommy, Brian, Bill and Arthur.

But the race is not over! (And the action counter has certainly not slowed down.) You can join the amazing race to ban live export by heading here to complete challenges and track your progress. (Don’t forget to get your best race buddy in on it too!)

Minute To Get In It:

Normally in Minute To Win It the challenges are a lot harder than they seem. Well, Minute To Get In It is actually as simple as it sounds! ‘Get in what?’ I hear you asking. Get in the greatest game of all time – the game of Australian politics. Ok, that might be slightly OTT but if you haven’t done so already, click here to register to vote. Voting is the easiest way to have your say about the things that are important to you. You need to enrol before Monday 12 August in order to win. What’s the prize? The opportunity to be heard at tribal council in Australian politics! Yay!

And last but not least,

Who wore it better?

NOTE: Animals Australia now has a neat political map to help you find out how animal-friendly your electorate is. Click here to write a ‘report card’ for your MP and put animals on the political map.

I have some good news and some bad news to share with you. Let's start with the good news...

Your voice is having an impact! The Labor Party clearly feel they need to respond to community concern about animal welfare.

If you've contacted the Labor Party about animal welfare, then you probably received the same email I did overnight. (If not you can read a copy of it here.) They are claiming a 'win' for animals. When we first got wind of this announcement we were excited too. And at first glance it looked good.

But as they say, the devil is in the detail.

The Minister of Agriculture has announced a new position: 'Inspector-General of Animal Welfare and Live Animal Exports'. It sure sounds impressive, but here's where I need to share the bad news with you. Despite the name, it turns out that this role is primarily about supporting live export :(

The new position's primary role will be reviewing what we already know is an inherently flawed live export system, but they will have no actual powers to change anything. They will report to the Agriculture Minister, whose primary interest is the profitability of the agriculture industry. Therefore the conflict of interest still exists and the voices of animals will continue to be overshadowed.

That's why an office for animal welfare -- independent of agriculture -- is so desperately needed.

And while the position itself is not the win for animals we were hoping for, there is still one very big positive. This announcement is a clear sign that our pollies are listening to us and they understand that animal welfare is a serious issue that they cannot ignore.

The other good news is that there is still a policy on the table that would address this properly -- an Independent Office of Animal Welfare. An IOAW is not only Labor policy but it is supported by most of the party.

Thanks to your tireless efforts, clearly Labor now know they need to take action on animal welfare. Now help us encourage them to take real action for animals.

TAKE ACTION by emailing Labor HQ: [email protected]. Thank them for representing your concerns but make sure they know that this is a position that primarily supports live export, that you oppose live export and that only an Independent Office of Animal Welfare will give you any confidence that the interests of animals are really being looked after.

Then head here for more ways to remind Kevin Rudd that animals need truly independent representation.