We all know Australia exports sheep and cattle for slaughter, but did you know we also export goats? :-(
A new Animals Australia investigation has revealed MORE cruelty in the live export industry, this time in Malaysia, and this time to goats! This is the first footage of exported goats ever released and they are literally screaming out for help.
Animals Australia's investigators witnessed goats being roughly handled, shoved into bags and stuffed into the boots of cars. When these unlucky animals arrive at their final destinations, stressed out and frightened, they have their throats cut while fully conscious.
It is absolutely clear that live export rules aren't working. EVERYWHERE we look in this trade, we find cruelty.
What happened to these goats really makes me sick. Worse still, we've also recently uncovered footage of a poor bull, we've named Jacob, who was one of many animals brutally killed in Egypt .
Want to put your foot down against live export cruelty? Then take action today:
If you're 18+, head here to tell your MP to ban live export.
If you're under 18, click here to tell the PM whats what!
It is a little known fact that goats have been known to show unconditional love, just like a dog. So show some love for goats and together we can make a difference for them!
Two things bring us together as Australians – we're all mates and we all love a day off. This Australia Day, YOU can join the campaign to give our animal mates a day off too – a day off the menu! It'd be un-Australian not to...
Shane Warne, the cast of Home and Away, and a Bondi lifeguard. What do they all have in common? They're all Australian and they all love a day off. Every year across this great nation, Australians unite on January 26th to celebrate our shared love of having a day off. (Umm ... that's right, isn't it?) This year you can make a stand for our four legged mates, by keeping them off your plate. On Australia Day ... Everyone Deserves a Day Off.
However you choose to celebrate your day off – fight un-Australianism, and bring a plate of delicious veggie tucker. Going to a barbie? Cook up some true-blue veggie snags. Picnic? What could be more Australian then taking some lamingtons! Beach party? Wrap yourself in an Aussie flag and take some veggie wraps. The options are as wide as this dry, brown land we call home. You could even host a barbie yourself, encouraging friends to bring a cruelty-free plate.
There's heaps of other ways you can get involved but the best way to celebrate all that's good about Australia is to keep meat off the menu.
Being Australian means more than just ending all your words with the letter "O". So this Australia Day, stand up for the underdog (undersheep?), because Everyone Deserves a Day Off!!
If you're over the idea that being Australian means eating animals, then share this campaign far and wide! You know it makes sense. ;)
2012 has been HUGE! Forget Gangnam Style, One Direction and Diablo 3 - this year has been all about animal rights. See what I mean with this inspiring year in review.
Everything in that vid was possible because of your support. So if you shared a campaign on Facebook, went to a rally, wrote an email to a politician, tweeted at a celeb, made a personal pledge against cruelty, or did anything else to support our work - then THANK YOU!!
All we want for Christmas is a world where all animals are free from fear and suffering. It's a good thing our New Year's Resolution is to make that happen! I hope you'll be a part of it in 2013!
I saw two videos to do with sharks yesterday. One of them depressed me immensely, while the other made me laugh...and think. Laughthink - what's the smiley look like for that? Anyway, check out both vids and make your own mind up.
The first one actually made the news. It's from WA and was posted online in the last couple of days. I'm not going to say too much more about it, because I'm trying to cut down on the amount I swear. WARNING: This is NOT a nice video, so be ready to quickly press the stop button.
Awful, hey? If you couldn't watch it, the vid shows a whaler shark hung in the air, still alive, being clubbed on the head with an iron bar. The person who posted it to Facebook also bragged about shooting a tiger shark, adding the comment, "Let the blood run free I say."
Scare-mongering about sharks seems to have reached a new low in WA. The state government there has announced plans to shoot great whites who swim too close to Perth beaches. I'm not saying there's a direct link between the state government's plan and the video that was posted on Facebook. But if you've got our politicians saying it's ok to shoot protected great whites, it sends an awful message that sharks don't deserve compassion.
Which leads on to the second video I was talking about. This was posted yesterday to the forum by Unleashed member JordanBajc. Not only did he post it ... he made it!! Take a look - it's a humorous take on a serious issue.
A recent poll showed that 83% of the state opposed the government's shoot-to-kill plan; even footy star Nic Naitanui spoke out in support of the sharks.
If you think that sharks deserve protection, then take action.Send WA pollies an email urging them to adopt non-lethal alternatives to protect swimmers.
When you're done, tell me what you think of the two vids here. And feel free to throw compliments in about JordanBajc's clip. I think it's really good - how bout you? Post your comments below!
If you haven't seen it already ... this is the video that instantly became one of Google's top news stories yesterday, and is featured on online news websites around the country!
That's the extended web video for Animals Australia's biggest campaign ever - to end factory farming in Australia. The campaign is officially called Make it Possible, and the craziest thing about the attention it got yesterday is this: it doesn't officially launch until TONIGHT!
So, tonight at 7pm, make sure you and your family and friends are near a telly to witness Animals Australia's groundbreaking ad. Judging by the huge response it generated yesterday, these ads are going to cause a massive shift in the way Australians think about animals.
Here's just some of the reactions already seen on Facebook. (Note: names changed to ones I find funny).
You can help animals stuck in factory farms in heaps of ways. But here's just two things you can do right now.
Check in on the blogs again over the next few days and weeks, I'll have heaps more ways for you to get involved. Until then though, get the word out there about Make it Possible, and start thinking for yourself about how you can help make a kinder world possible.
Meet Olivia. Not only is she absolutely adorable in a way that only bunnies can be, she is also extremely lucky. She was recently rescued from a rabbit factory farm with 300 of her friends, who are probably right now having the mother of all parties at Big Ears Sanctuary.
Olivia has taken to exploring the nooks and crannies of the sanctuary.
Tommy has discovered the joys of burrowing and rolling around in dirt.
Goofy, living up to his name, as he plays with a turkey feather.
Roger is a friendly and inquisitive bunny, eager to meet visitors to the sanctuary.
Free at last! Relaxing in the sun and enjoying grass under their feet for the first time.
Sweetie needed to have an abscess removed from her head, but is recovering well.
Apple: Her leg abscess has kept her indoors. But not for long.
Like all rabbits in factory farms, Olivia was not able to enjoy the simple pleasures of rabbit life such as burrowing and was forced to toilet in the same space that she lived.
Respiratory diseases have been reported to kill as many as 30-50% of rabbits in factory farms in Australia.
Olivia and the other rescued rabbits had been confined in tiny wire cages, similar to the ones battery hens are kept in. In these conditions rabbits suffer from all kinds of health problems and injuries. They're eventually then killed and sold as meat. They're not given the space or opportunity to do rabbit-y things like exploring, making friends, digging, eating fresh grass and annoying Elmer Fudd.
When news spread earlier this year that a rabbit farm in Tasmania was for sale, Big Ears Animal Sanctuary, Radical Rabbit and Freedom for Farmed Rabbits hatched a plan to save the rabbits from slaughter or being sold onto another farm. They teamed up to purchase Olivia and her 300 bunny buddies. Then began the huge task of treating the sick and injured and getting them all to their new home at Big Ears Sanctuary.
Olivia and her floppy-eared friends are now experiencing the great freedom of the outdoors. They're also enjoying nestling into the laps of anyone who visits them. Yep, I'm thinking the same thing as you - what's the absolute quickest way to get myself to Big Ears Sanctuary!?
Factory farmed rabbits in Australia suffer much of the same cruel treatment as their carrot-loving cousins in Europe. Compassion in World Farming (a colleague group of Animals Australia) recently completed their investigation into the reality of rabbit farming across Europe. It doesn't make for pleasant viewing.
While you and your mates perhaps can't scrape together enough dosh to buy up old rabbit farms, you can make a difference to rabbits stuck in the same situation as Olivia was. By being kind to bunnies, rejecting factory-farmed, and choosing cruelty-free alternatives you can help ensure rabbits like Olivia live a natural, happy and full life.
If you think Olivia's story is better than Peter Rabbit's and Brer Rabbit's COMBINED, then you'll probably wanna head straight to this website (www.bigearsanimalsanctuary.com/rabbit-rescue.php) where you will spend the next half hour having your heart melted by adorable photos of fuzzy bunnies. Fact.
As Australians, we love the underdog. We cheer on the unlikely hero, hoping they'll overcome all odds, and get the happy ending they deserve. When I heard of the mass cow breakout in Broome earlier this week, there was part of me that couldn't help but cheer the heroes on.
Of course, I realise that when cows are on the loose their own welfare is at risk. But sadly, where they were headed before they escaped was likely to be much worse. And their dash for freedom was a little reminder that if animals had a choice, there would be no live exports and no slaughterhouses.
Broome is an absolutely beautiful place. Unfortunately it's also a loading port for Australian cattle being sent overseas. I'm sure I don’t need to tell you that animals who are exported don't have much to look forward to. The journey is stressful enough, but even that doesn't compare to being slaughtered fully conscious in a country with no animal cruelty laws. (btw, you can help end the trade with just 30 seconds of your time).
Now, cows aren’t dumb, so it's no big surprise that some of them made a daring moo-ve (awful pun, sorry) to escape. In a stirring moment, around 50 of the bovine rebels made a break for it! Some dashed inland, some headed to the coast.
This story of animals making a break for freedom is one that occurs many times throughout the year. Sometimes the lucky escapees even get to live full, contented lives on sanctuaries. This particular incident is tinged with sadness though. Of the cows that escaped, 16 headed out to sea, with only seven able to be rescued. The rest drowned.
On the flip side, around 20 of the "Friesian Fighters" (a nice pun for the cow fanciers out there) are still livin' large, roaming the scrublands around Broome! How long they'll be free for is anyone's guess, but I've got my fingers crossed that they never again see the inside of a truck, ship or slaughterhouse.
Maybe the Broome escapees had found inspiration in this song?
n.b. Of course, I'm not suggesting that cows be armed with rifles. That would be ridiculous -- like suggesting that 12 year olds be allowed to go hunting by themselves (or tbh ... at all!). That'd be nuts! Oh wait ...
If you're anything like me, then there's probably one thing you like more than scoring a bargain on eBay -- and that's scoring a bargain on eBay ... from a world famous guitarist. And if there's one thing even better than THAT -- it's knowing that some of the money you part with will go towards helping animals!Imagine how stoked I was to hear then that Jona Weinhofen (guitarist in I Killed the Prom Queen and Bring Me the Horizon) is having a massive sale on eBay and slinging some of the money raised towards Animals Australia.
Wherever he travels round the globe, Jona is pretty easy to spot. He's the fella with lots of ink in the vegan cafe. Now once again, if you're anything like me, then your own metal band may not actually get the chance to tour the world (I guess we just weren't that good). But don't stress ...because if you hit up Jona's garage sale you'll at least LOOK like you have. Jona's lead got me thinking -- how easy would it be to have your own garage sale to raise funds for animals?? Plus you get to clear your room of all that gear you don't use anymore. Win-win!
Here's some words from the man himself. "As a devoted vegan and animal lover I have been supporting Animals Australia since 2008 when i did my first photoshoot & campaign with them. Ever since, i have closely followed Lyn White and the team's progress with speaking out on behalf of animals. That's why I'm more than happy for part proceeds from this sale to go towards supporting their latest projects."
If you're wondering about the 2008 campaign Jona is referring to, then check out this video I've dusted off. There's a bit more hair and a bit less ink - but that's definitely still Jona speaking up for the animals!
Missy Higgins is the complete package -- a chart-topping musician, a budding actress, and best of all, she practically oozes compassion. As well as releasing her latest (sure-to-be) hit album, Missy has joined forces with Animals Australia to give her beautiful voice to the most abused animals on the planet -- battery hens.
So why is Missy speaking up for hens? Well, in the EU, battery cages have been completely banned. But get this -- in Australia, 12 MILLION hens are still imprisoned in battery cages! Whaaat??
So ... YOU know about the cruelty involved with cage eggs, and MISSY knows about it too. What about your friends though? If you think they should know, then throw the video on your facebook or share it on twitter.
!Easter is just around the corner. If you're as loco for cocoa as me, you're probably already drooling over the idea of a long weekend devouring chocolate. But we couldn't wait that long... We're getting into the spirit of Easter early and are giving away a delicious cruelty-free Easter pack to one Unleashed member now. Read on to find out how this lucky person could be you ;)
While Easter can be a sweet deal for us, it's often a sour deal for animals. But it doesn't have to be. By going dairy-free you can be sure to have an awesome Easter while also being sweet to animals.
Most Aussies don't realise that over 700,000 dairy calves (called 'bobby calves') are killed as 'waste products' in the dairy industry every year. But going dairy-free means chocolate doesn't have to be a death sentence for dairy calves.
You might even be surprised how easy ditching dairy can be. Not only is there a great range of dairy-free chocolates in most supermarkets, we've got the (dairy-free)-cream of the crop in the Unleashed shop, to make it super-easy for you to get the perfect prezzies to put on your own wishlist this Easter!. Check out these goodies:
How amazing are they! And what's even more amazing is you could score one of these for free. Just tell us who you'd most like to share dairy-free chocolate with and why. Leave a comment below, and the best answer will score an 'Easter Chicken Gift Pack', including 2 delicious bonvita rice milk egg packs and an adorable chick adoption.
2nd April 2012 And the winner is ....*em* who plans on using this choccie to start a new dairy-free chocolate addiction in her workplace!
Huge thanks to everyone who entered the comp - what a generous bunch you all are!
Don't be too disappointed if you missed out - remember you can grab dairy-free chocolate in most supermarkets in the health food aisle... See it must be good for us!
So did you see the live export story on ABC last night? If not, let me fill you in...
They aired shocking footage from a new Animals Australia investigation in Indonesia. (btw, you can check out the story here) I don't know how many times pollies need to see animals being packed on ships, sent to countries with no laws to protect them, and brutally killed before they'll get it. It's pretty obvious to the rest of us: live exports = animal cruelty
Last year, the government introduced a new system and promised we wouldn't see these horrible images on TV again. Minister for Agriculture, Joe Ludwig has been saying today that "What this actually demonstrates is that the system does work." But I'd like to get a second opinion: Does this look like a system that's working to you?
P.S. If you want to pester your pollie about banning this bloody business, drop in here.
I love happy endings! Don't you? I can't think of a better way to finish the year than with a happy ending.
We've shared a few rescued animal videos with you recently. First there were apes, then turkeys (those videos are a must watch btw) and now ... check out the amazing first moments of freedom for 9 beagles who were rescued from an animal lab in the USA earlier this year:
Quite the tear-jerker, isn't it!
2011 has been a pretty amazing year all round. If you don't know what I'm talking about then check out our year in review video and you'll soon get the picture: animal rights has never been such a hot topic in Australia as it is right now. What a way to start the new year!
Here's to making an even bigger impact for animals in 2012, and giving even more animals a happy ending, like these beagles! (Needing a few ideas for new year's resolutions to help animals: click here.)
I always love hearing about how people got into animal rights. For me, it was discovering how animals are raised for food. Lots of people just always loved animals. But how can someone go from being scared of animals to rescuing them and campaigning for them?
That's exactly what happened to New York activist, Eddie Lama. To find out how someone can make such an incredible transformation, check out this great doco (called "The Witness") about his inspiring story.
(Btw, you can watch the full doco online here. So once you've checked out the trailer below, grab some popcorn and a friend to watch the full film! And just be warned that while most of the doco is inspiring and positive, there are a few graphic scenes.)
Do you want to know what the first moments of freedom look like? Check out this amazing video of 8 lucky turkeys, who were rescued from a factory farm, seeing their new home at Edgar's Mission Farm Sanctuary for the first time.
Isn't that just gorgeous! And to think these birds started their lives in factory farms. I hate to say it, but these sorts of happy endings don't happen for most birds. Just check out how most turkeys in Australia have to live.. (these photos from Animal Liberation ACT were from a recent investigation at a turkey factory farm):
Like chickens, turkeys in factory farms are crammed into sheds by the thousands and have to live in their own waste for all of their short and miserable lives. Can you believe that the birds served up on Christmas tables across the country this weekend were likely to be less than 17 weeks old when they were killed?! (to put that in perspective, turkeys would naturally live for about 10 years)
I read this amazing story a little while ago about, Lydia, a turkey at Farm Sanctuary in the US, who was nicknamed the 'hugging turkey'. If she saw you sit down, she'd race over and before your bum had even hit the ground she'd be in your lap with her neck stretched over your shoulder for a cuddle.
Surely there's something a little wrong about eating someone who just wants a hug?!
Gosh, what a year it's been! Animal rights hit the mainstream in a big way in 2011. Check out this inspiring vid by Unleashed's big sister, Animals Australia for some of the highlights:
We just want to say a big 'thank you' to you for everything you've done to support our campaigns this year. If you attended a rally, wrote emails or letters, took action on our website, or did anythign else to support our work, then thank you for helping us have such a big impact for animals in 2011.
Paul McCartney said "If slaughterhouses had glass walls everyone would be a vegetarian." Check out this recent footage from a Victorian slaugtherhouse and let me know if you agree:
I cringed every time one of those pigs was stabbed in the eye with the stunner... and when that desperate pig was beaten to death with a sledgehammer -- shocking! So shocking in fact that when Animals Australia gave this footage to the authorities, the slaughterhouse was shut down within 24hrs.
But what really haunted me was seeing the fear in the pigs' eyes, huddled together in the corner of their pen; and seeing them squeal in terror as their companions were killed in front of them. Because while that stabbing with the stunner may be illegal (and was part of the reason the slaugtherhouse was shut down), there are no laws that can protect animals from the fear those pigs suffered in their final moments.
The investigator who took this footage, 'Kate', also described something she couldn't capture on video: another pig who escaped and ran into the scalding tank (a pit of boiling hot water, used to remove hair from the dead pigs). What a terrible way to go :(
This is just one slaughterhouse -- one that also killed free-range animals and was regularly inspected by authorities. It certainly makes you wonder what might be going on behind closed doors in other slaughterhouses!
So what do you think? Is Paul McCartney right when he says "If slaugtherhouses had glass walls everyone would be vegetarian"?
Who said cows don’t have an ear for fine music?! An American jazz group put this theory to the test when they recently performed in front of a crowd of captivated, music-loving French cows. Check out the video below, very cute!
I especially like how all the cows stand to attention side-by-side, their ears honed in on the music, seemingly twitching in curiosity and pleasure! Adorable! Just a sunny afternoon of grass munching and jazz –what better way to pass the time?
If only dairy cows, who sing their own songs of sorrow, when their new born calves are taken from them only hours after birth and are trucked off to be killed as 'waste products' of the dairy industry; and steers, castrated, de-horned and branded without pain relief in the beef industry could all experience a little less human cruelty and a little more human kindness and creativity.
Cows are intelligent and inquisitive creatures that form strong social bonds with their bovine buddies, and according to scientists, even enjoy solving mental puzzles! This video just goes to show these amazing animals are every bit as intriguiing and deserving of our respect as dogs, cats or any other animal...
Have you got any cute or funny cow stories/videos to share?
It’s all happening next week! Not only is it World Veg Week, but the wonderful people from Edgar's Mission animal sanctuary have launched Be Kind To Animals Week -- a week for everyone to take simple steps to improve the lives of our furry (finned, feathered and scaley) friends!
There are plenty of great things you can do to get involved:
You can act at home, by taking your best friend for a stroll (more than once I hope!); or putting a nesting box for birds in a tree in your backyard.
You could act local, by volunteering at an animal shelter; picking up rubbish on the beach; or writing a letter to the editor of your local paper about an animal issue you are passionate about (live export maybe? Or jumps racing? Puppy farms?).
Or you can make a change in your own life (to have a big impact!), such as taking the Veg Week Challenge and saving two animals' lives by taking animals off your plate for the week (or longer!); or committing to buy products that aren't tested on animals.
Remember, even if you're already rockin the cruelty-free lifestyle, you can extend the Veg Challenge (or any other Be Kind to Animals Week initiatives) to your friends and family, neighbours, workmates, teachers, etc. The more the merrier (and the better off animals will be for it)!
To get you in the mood for Be Kind to Animals Week, here's a gorgeous video of two amazing inhabitants from Edgar's Mission:
Leave a comment below – What will you be doing to be kind to animals next week?
A couple of weeks ago, I was chuffed to see the panel on The Gruen Transfer discussing Animals Australia and RSPCA Australia's very own Ban Live Export television ad!
Not only that but they discussed quite a few ads from different groups on really important topics like fur, battery hens, going veg and an ultra clever ad on the destruction caused by unsustainable palm oil. Check out the discussion – it gets pretty heavy!
I'd love to hear your thoughts on all the ads. Which was your fave? What tactics do you think work better than others and why? Do you have any great ideas for tv commercials that raise awareness for animals?
Oh, and check out Animals Australia and RSPCA Australia's latest joint ad to ban live export here!
Imagine going decades without seeing the outside world -- spending many of those years confined in a laboratory, bright lights and metal bars a staple of your daily environment. Then finally being able to experience the sunlight on your skin and the simple joys of walking freely and interacting with your friends...
This is the sad but uplifting story of ten chimpanzees, held in captivity for 30 years in Austria. Yes, you heard correctly, 30 years... And for more than half of those years, these unfortunate animals were confined in a medical testing laboratory. Check out this amazing video as the chimps step into the sunshine for the first time:
Isn't that moment when the two chimps turn and hug each other in joy so touching to see!
What do you think -- should pharmaceutical companies find better, safer ways to test drugs, that don't involve animals? I mean, when you see the joy of these chimps at finally being safe and free, it makes you wonder how we can justify locking them away and testing on them for decades, doesn't it?
As Prof. Charles Magel put it: "Ask the experimenters why they experiment on animals and the answer is: 'Because animals are like us.' Ask the experimenters why it is morally okay to experiment on animals, and the answer is: 'Because the animals are not like us.' Animal experimentation rests on a logical contradiction."
This footage not only brings home the sad reality of animals being used in pharmaceutical testing, but the chimps' reactions to being set free shows just how similar they are to us. Share this video on facebook (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDgo6ee6uas) and show others just how touching a moment it can be to give animals the safety and freedom they all deserve.
Every year in a sleepy little Japanese village called Taiji, a horrific event takes place. And it took one small group of activists with undercover cameras to expose this bloody secret to the world…
This Sunday at 8.30pm on ABC1, you can see the Academy Award-winning film for yourself. The Cove threw the international spotlight onto Taiji and is so explosive that officials in Japan tried to stop it from ever being shown there.
Well now it has been, and as more people become aware and speak out for these dolphins, the harder it becomes for the brutal killing to continue. So make sure you tune in and tell all your friends to watch too!
Head here for more info on the film and ways that you can help save dolphins in Taiji.
Have you already seen the film? What did you think?
Were you one of the thousands who came out to voice their opposition to live exports at the Ban Live Export National Rally on Sunday? What an amazing turn out and what an amazing atmosphere!
Thank you to everyone who helped send a strong message to politicians that Australians want this cruel trade stopped. If you made it along to the rally, leave a comment below. We'd love to hear about your experience of the day!
I don't know about you guys, but I lurrrrve my Rock and Roll! It's no secret that I'm pretty fond of animals too so when I heard that The Black Spurs had written a song about banning live export, I was interested.
Nothing prepared me for how awesome the song is though! Check it out!
The footage that Animals Australia filmed in Indonesia of the cruel live animal export trade was enough to outrage guitarist GG Twang to pen the powerful lyrics. But then, he went one better, and donated the song to the Ban live Export campaign!
Yep, all the proceeds from this little pearler go to Animals Australia and for $1.69 on iTunes it's cheaper than a soy latte!
Herd them into ships, to sail the open seas
The lucky don't survive, the stress and disease
To feeding lots far and wide, on foreign sovereign ground
To take their final rest before the butcher's killing ground
Live ban, live ban, live ban, live, animal rights Live ban, live ban, live ban, live, it ain’t right!
Slaughter box is open, leg ropes tied and bound
A mighty slap as the Brahman’s back, hits the concrete ground
One by one they follow, trembling in their stride
To face the blade of the butcher’s trade, conscious and alive
Live ban, live ban, live ban, live, animal rights Live ban, live ban, live ban, live, it ain’t right!
The politicians argue, the experts disagree
Live export is no answer, let’s end the suffering
Let’s start to think it over, find a better way
Cause right is right and wrong is wrong stand up and voice a change
Live ban, live ban, live ban, live, animal rights Live ban, live ban, live ban, live, it ain’t right!
I can’t say for you, but it's plain to me
It ain't right to mistreat life cause pain and misery
We need to feed the world, every family
But not forget to show respect for all that lives and breathes
Live ban, live ban, live ban, live, animal rights Live ban, live ban, live ban, live, it ain’t right! Live ban, live ban, live ban, live, animal rights Live ban, live ban, live ban, live, it ain’t right!
Every now and then you see a clip that really makes you stop and think. This is undoubtedly one of them …
It's not every day that you'd get such a short vid that manages to get in so many shocking elements in such an effective way.
From the bacon slices to the roast chicken, the eggs, the milk and even the mayonnaise, this talented film maker has provided a voice for pigs, broiler chickens, laying hens and dairy cows in just 30 seconds. All the while flickering this important line "You may be blind to this but you're the only voice they've got".
And the final sound of an innocent sheep crying really brings home the point that we must use our voices to help end the suffering of these exploited animals.
Thanks so much to Brett Ludeman from Storybottle for creating such a haunting vid for Unleashed, and for showing others the reality of their dinner or their cup of milky coffee.
What do you think of this ultra short film? Do you know anyone who would be blind to this? You could share the video and help them open up their eyes and their ears and use their voice to help animals.
On the weekend, thousands of people attended rallies in cities nationwide with one very clear message for Prime Minister Julia Gillard -- Ban Live Export!
If you missed the rally (or even if you did make it!), the animals still need you to make voice heard: Take part in the Virtual Protest to ban live export. Check it out!
Tonight the campaign train visits the Australian Parliament with Independents Andrew Wilkie and Nick Xenophon and Greens' Adam Bandt introducing bills that, if passed, would finally see an end to live export.
We'll keep you posted on that news. In the meantime – Lights. Camera. Action to ban live export! We can't wait to see your video :)
Did you catch 6.30 with George Negus last night? He aired a shocking story about Australia's new breed of factory farming – battery sheep. If you missed it, don't despair – here's the video …
Unbelievable, huh? And to think this is all for a fashion trend – ultra-fine wool. Well done to George and the team for running the story!
If you wanna do something to help these poor sheep, join the Unleashed campaign to end the factory farming of sheep! Click here to ask the Victorian Government to ban these cruel single pens.
Then check out this moving video and share it with all your Facebook friends and Twitter followers. Help us get the word out there!
Sheep have been suffering in silence inside these sheds for way too long!
Even Olivia knows the world needs to pull its socks up when it comes to protecting animals! If a 7 year old knows it, surely adults can get it too right?
Sadly, Australasia isn't going so well in the biodiversity department. I mean, we have loads of amazing species of flaura and fauna, the trouble is that according to conservation experts, our native plants and animals are disappearing faster than anywhere else on the planet.
So while we scramble to save the pandas of China, the Orangutans of Borneo and the Bengal tigers of India, it's also good to know what we can do in our own backyard to save the bilbies, potoroos, frogs, orange-bellied parrots, spiny skinks, sheathtail bats, sharks, burrowing crayfish, even native snails and bees that make Australia amazing but are critically endangered. (I've only skimmed the surface here – check out this list!)
Rainforests, scrub and woodlands generally have a rich variety of animals and plants, but that quickly disappears when you cut down the trees! And according to the UN, livestock production is one of the key contributors to deforestation, species extinction - not to mention land, water and air pollution.
So it would seem that going veg can save more lives than just the one on the plate! Sounds like a win-win to me! More animals safe from extinction and more yummy food in our bellies :)
Einstein said "Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet." But it doesn't take a genius to see we need to do more to protect biodiversity. And what better place to start than with what we eat? Aren't you hungry for change?
An ex battery hen has won a Braveheart Award from a veterinary clinic in the UK! Angel was struggling to lay an extra large egg when her human companion (and rescuer) Lorraine Fox noticed she had a prolapsed vent.
I hear you asking "What's a prolapsed vent?" Lightning fast biology lesson: Sometimes called "uterine prolapse". If a chicken is attempting to lay an egg that is larger than normal, part of her oviduct (the equivalent of a human female's uterus) can be pushed out as well. As you can imagine, having raw inflamed tissue that should be inside the body exposed outside of the body is extremely painful. (Sorry, if you're a tad squeamish!)
Fortunately, the crook chook was rushed off to the vet straight away. After some very tricky and complicated surgery (called a cloacapexy – there's your new word for the day!), Angel recovered amazingly well and was back to her old self within a day :)
Unfortunately prolapses are actually a fairly common occurrence among laying hens, both in cages and free range. The difference between hens on factory farms in battery cages and Angel, is that Angel now has a loving attentive human companion who noticed that she was sick straight away and raced her to the vet to save her.
Battery hens are almost never this lucky. Stacked in cages up to 4 levels high with up to 5 hens to a cage, it's easy for workers to not notice sick birds. Many birds with prolapsed vents die in agony from infection in their cage and are not discovered for days. If they are discovered, they are likely killed, or worse, simply thrown out live and left for dead. This may have even been Angel's fate had she not already been rescued by Lorraine.
If only every hen was lucky enough to a loving, caring home and friends to look out for them!
Do you know of an animal who deserves a bravery award?
The wonderful people at Hopscotch Films have given Unleashed a stack of double passes to see advance screenings of the latest Disney blockbuster, Oceans.
Doesn't it look amazing? What a great way to give people a glimpse into the lives of sea animals!
The oceans have been plundered by outdated and cruel fishing methods driving many species to the brink of extinction. This movie shows that a lot of these animals aren't all that different to us - they form amazing bonds and play and protect each other… We should be doing all we can to protect them!
Tell us below what you're going to do to protect our oceans and you could win a double pass to see this spectacular movie before anyone else!
Hurry, comp closes noon Monday May 16th so don't plod along like a walrus!
PS The tickets are only valid for Friday 20th, Saturday 21st, Sunday 22nd May (not valid after 5pm on Saturday) at the following cinemas :
Sydney – Palace Verona & Palace Norton Street Cinemas
Melbourne – Palace Como Cinemas
Brisbane – Palace Barracks Cinemas
Adelaide – Palace Eastend Cinemas
Perth – Cinema Paradiso Cinemas
Canberra – Greater Union Manuka Cinemas So please only enter if you can make it to a screening! ;)
Ok, so I knew jumps racing was dangerous and often deadly for the horses, but I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw this footage from yesterday's 'Grand Annual Steeple' (more like Grand Disaster!) at Warrnambool Racing Carnival:
Seven people (including a toddler, an 80yr old woman and a 12yr old girl) were injured when Banna Strand jumped that 2m fence and plunged into the crowd.
With five horses already killed after falling during races across VIC and SA this year [Update 20/05/11: Another 2 horses have since died, bringing the total deaths to seven horses in seven weeks.], and now seven people injured, it's high time this recklessly dangerous and cruel sport was put down for good. Please take a moment today to click here and send a letter to the ministers of SA and VIC (the only 2 states foolish enough to allow this cruelty) calling for a ban on jumps racing (and yes, you can still send another letter, even if you have sent one before - maybe just change the letter content a little).
Please also take a moment to vote for a ban to jumps racing in these opinion polls:
This year's jumps racing season has barely started and five horses are already dead They're heading into week 6 now and the odds are stacked against the horses. Those racing in jumps races are at up to 20 time great risk of injury or death than horses in flat races.
The Warrnambool Racing Carnival started today. This 'spectacle' features a steeplechase that covers 5500 metres and includes 33 jumps. Can you imagine running that far with a person on your back and having to clear jumps at the same time? It's a tough ask, and tired, exhausted horses often fall suffering terrible injuries. No wonder there's already been one death today. Sadly, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the 'green screen' come out again in the next few days.
You can help stop this carnage! Here's a few simple ways how:
Click here to share this video on Facebook so the industry can't hide the body count.
Tell the Victorian and South Australian governments to catch up with the rest of Australia and ban this so-called 'sport'.
Have you ever stopped to think how amazing sea creatures can be? And I'm not talking about the beauty of a whale's song or the playfulness of jumping dolphins. I'm not even talking about the fact that some sea turtles can swim the ocean for 150 years… Although all those things are pretty awesome!
I'm talking about the creatures who live far beneath the waves in the deepest darkest waters of the ocean. The creatures who, if it weren't for videos like this one – we may never have the chance to see…
Aren't those pictures some of the most amazing things you've ever seen? It's called bioluminescence. Forget fireworks - nature's lightshows are SO much more awe-inspiring. Check out this picture of millions of dinoflagellates lighting up a whole wave!
It just goes to show, the ocean's full of creatures who are so much more incredible (and clever!) than we often give them credit for (and that includes fish who sadly end up on dinner plates!). I just had to share this cool video with you guys!
During World Week for Animals in Laboratories, there are loads of things you can do to help end cruel animal testing for products like cosmetics and skincare. And wouldn't it be great to put an end to burning and poisoning animals just for the sake of a new deoderant or toilet cleaner?
But sadly, cruelty to animals in labs doesn't stop there. Did you know that millions of cats, dogs, mice, rats and monkeys suffer and die for the sake of medical research too? Check this out:
Like the video says – using animals in medical research is unpredictable, unreliable and unnecessary. And this quote really resonates with me - "Atrocities are not less atrocities when they occur in laboratories and are called medical research" – George Bernard Shaw
I love organisations like Humane Research Australia and Dr Hadwen Trust in the UK, who work tirelessly to raise awareness and show that this cruelty is unnecessary. They promote and develop alternatives and show huge achievements in medical science in the name of humane research (that is, research that doesn't involve animals at all!)
Will you join me this week in honouring all animals confined in cruel labs and raise as much awareness for them as we can? Share this vid on Facebook to let people know about humane research.
After all, we have a voice. Animals suffering in labs don't.
I always get a kick out of discovering new songs about animal rights and so just wanted to share a beautiful song I discovered today with you: "Human Eyeballs on Toast", by Peter Broderick. I thought the lyrics were very thoughtful:
American singer/songwriter/composer, Peter Broderick says he has been "back and forth vegetarian" his whole life, and picked up Eating Animals by Jonathon Safran Foer to try and work out once and for all where he stood. He says the book gave him "some really clear answers" and inspired/outraged by what he'd read he wrote this song from the point of view of animals in factory farms.
This is from Broderick: "I find the animal agriculture industry (especially in the USA) to be deeply, deeply disturbing and incredibly sad, and this song is a product of that sadness."
If you want to know more about how animals in Australian factory farms are treated, you could start by clicking here.
So I thought I'd share a little something with you:
Funny, right?! And it's enough to make someone want to Pledge to be Veg, isn't it! Which would be a great way to help yourself this World Health Day -- not to mention improving the health of animals and the planet we live on!
Whip out the candles and get ready to turn out the lights, 'cause this Saturday is Earth Hour. At 8:30pm, people across Australia (and around the world) will flick off their switches to shed light on climate change.
There's really no denying our planet is sick: climate change, species extinction, water shortages, pollution... the list just goes on and on
The theme for this year's Earth Hour is 'Beyond the Hour'. So, 'beyond the hour' what can you do to help heal our planet? Well personally, I'd prescribe that people take action for the planet 3 times a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner! I'll let New York Times food writer Mark Bittman explain:
"We have to take matters into our own hands. Not only by advocating for a better diet for everyone… but by improving our own. And that happens to be quite easy: less meat, less junk, more plants. It's a simple formula."
Einstein also put it well: "Nothing will benefit human health and increase the chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet." Which also reminds me of this video...
So this Saturday, I'll be having a delicious candle-lit vegan dinner to celebrate Earth Hour.
What about you? What will you be doing for Earth Hour?
Have you ever wondered what your dog or your cat would say if they could talk back to you? I'm certain my dog, Kia would tell me she doesn't care if she has her own chair, she'd rather sit in mine! I also have no doubt that as I type this, she is trying to say "Hurry up, let's go outside for a tug of war!"
And what would animals say to each other? I really hope this video is close to the truth ;)
A biologist from the Bahamas might be on her way to discovering what animals really have to say. Denise Herzing has been working with dolphins for years and has devised an amazing way for humans and dolphins to communicate. Using symbols, and a keyboard synthesizer that creates sounds similar to those naturally produced by dolphins, they can actually ask each other for particular objects, like a ball or a scarf. How incredible! And she thinks it's only a matter of time before more complex interactions get started.
Have you heard? They're predicting that the current generation of Aussie teenagers will be the first to have a shorter life expectancy. Isn't that disturbing!
The recent study by the Cancer Council and Heart Foundation estimates that 1 in 4 highschool students are overweight or obese - putting them at greater risk of heart disease, cancer and other chronic illnesses. (btw, this cartoon does a great job of illustrating the problem)
I don't get it! We know the facts and people still eat junk! I mean, we know that unhealthy meat-centric diets have been linked to heart disease, strokes, diabetes, cancer - our country's top killers. We know that on average vegetarians and vegans are less likely to be overweight or obese, and have a longer life expectancy than meat eaters. We know that most fast food is junk, and is bad for us and the environment. Yet Australia is one of the largest countries in the world (and I'm not talking about the size of our land mass) and it seems we may only be getting larger
Speaking of fast food and junk, this recent ad takes an interesting approach to trying to combat the problem of childhood obesity:
What do you think of the ad? How do you feel about the prediction that the next gen might be the first to live a shorter life? Is this the scariest news you've heard all day? Leave a comment below!
Ahem... Sorry. I got a bit caught up in the moment...
Rather than give you tips on the best chocolates to win your sweetheart over today, I thought I'd share a sweet story of love that I read a few years ago. I'll only ruin it if I try to put it in my own words, so here's the story, as told by Gary Kowalski in his book "The Souls of Animals":
Geese are famous for their fidelity to their partners. Once the initially shy female has warmed up to the romantic posturing of the gander and joined him in the "triumph-call," the two are wed for life.
One morning many years ago, a farmer living near Buenos Aires witnessed the heart-rending tenacity of this love when he went riding on horseback and noticed on the plain ahead of him two geese, a white male and a brown female, walking in the distance. Drawing closer, he observed that the female was plodding steadily southward. The male, greatly agitated, walked about forty or fifty yards ahead of her, periodically rising into the air with forlorn cries. After flying a short way the gander turned back to rejoin his mate in her weary march. This pattern was repeated again and again. The female had broken her wing and, unable to fly, had set forth afoot on her fall migration to the Magellanic Islands. Driven by his deepest instincts to fly south, the male nevertheless refused to abandon his partner, but remained loyal in her hour of need, plaintively begging her to spread her wings and join him in the long flight home. The pair was truly faithful "until death do us part."
And this is hardly the only remarkable story of Cupid working his magic amongst other animals...
Shakespeare wondered whether music is "the food of love". For gibbons it certainly is! Young male gibbons usually sing a solo early each morning. Young female gibbons don't sing at all, but instead are attracted by good singers. But it's once a pair of gibbons gets together that the real music begins. Once a female has picked a male, she will begin to sing with him. They will practice singing together every day, until they have created their own elaborate and unique duet. Their whole song can last up to a quarter of an hour, building towards a peak with the two of them whooping and calling as they swing through the branches, high up in one of their favourite trees.
Or what about cranes, who seem to dance not just to romance a mate, but for the sheer fun of it. And speaking of dancing, you've got to give these guys points for trying, even if they don't get the girl:
Happy Valentines Day! I hope you can share a little of the devotion of geese, the creativity of gibbons and the free-spirited joy of cranes with your loved one today ;)
Are you doing anything special this Valentine's Day?
In so many ways, the animals have it worked out. Whilst we humans appear to have mastered technology, no matter how hard we try, we'll simply never be able to run faster, travel further, or hide better than nature's own team of superpowered critters. But all's not lost. I like to think there are some things that we can still learn from our furry friends.
It's silly hat season again, with the Melbourne Cup set to take place tomorrow. I still find it hard to believe that the whole nation stops to watch horses being whipped so that they'll run as fast as they can in circles!
If people really want to lose their money and wake up with a hangover the least they could do is leave the horses out of it! I could rant all day about how cruel (and dull) horse racing is, but the satirical news site The Onion has already done a hilarious job of highlighting one of the many problems with the industry:
While I'm on the topic of funny videos and problems with horse racing, I've got one more thing to say. The sooner the horse racing industry gets rid of jumps racing and replaces it with this the better!
Right, you've heard what I think of Melbourne Cup. Now, what about you? Leave a comment.
Not long ago I took some friends to a favourite diving place of mine in Melbourne called Cottage by the Sea. This particular place has deep overhangs and crevices that provide shelter and feeding ground for lots of ocean life. It's home to one of the most inquisitive and cute ‘fish’ (actually an invertebrate, like an octopus) in the world - the Cuttlefish.
Imagine a creature that can change colour and texture on demand, can hover, shoot forward or backwards and has eyes that can look into your soul. A cuttlefish is SO much more than a piece of calcium washed up on the beach. This vid will give you a better picture:
One of my favourite things to do when diving is poke my head into the caves in the reef and see how fish are spending their day. I was doing exactly this when all of a sudden a large cuttlefish shot out and grabbed one of our air gauges with his tentacles! (Cuttlefish use their tentacles to explore things, just like we might pick something up with our hands.) The gauge was bright yellow and he was flashing different colours trying to match it. He seemed highly fascinated with the colour and shape of the gauge. Then he suddenly let go and hovered right near my friend's mask, having a good long look at her. Cuttlefish can actually make eye contact!
Our playful cuttle then moved on to another diver in our group who was quite nervous about the strange creature in front of him. I think the cuttle sensed this and actually toyed with him. The cuttlefish would dart forward; the diver would back up and the cuttle would raise four of his tentacles above his head and lower the other ones in a really funny gesture.
Then the cuttle moved towards me. He gently touched my raised hand with his tentacles before hovering up to my mask to look me in the eye!
We watched for a long while as the cuttle moved away from us. But when we decided to move on, I turned back a few times to see him slowly following us, watching us the whole time.
When we surfaced we couldn’t stop talking about our cuttle encounter. We felt he was communicating with us and that we were lucky to be in the presence of such an intelligent creature.
I have no doubt that most sea creatures feel pain, and since this experience with the cuttle (who are directly related to squids) my friends haven't eaten any calamari. It's often the case that people won’t knowingly contribute to the killing of an animal they feel empathy for. So why should our marine creatures be any different?
I love retelling this story because I know people who hear it will never look at cuttle bones on the beach the same way again. Would this kind of experience stop you eating squid or cuttlefish? Or have you given up seafood altogether?
When you think of animals in circuses, what comes to mind? ... Elephants, lions, monkeys, goldfish ... hold up! ... goldfish?
Yes, you read right - goldfish. The Moscow circus was this week banned from performing an act in which a woman swallowed 3 live goldfish and then regurgitated them, after Animals Australia reported the act to the NSW Govt.
It's bad enough that elephants and other exotic animals suffer miserable cramped and inadequate lives in circuses, but how could anyone imagine that swallowing a live animal would make for wholesome family entertainment? Mind you, if you ask me, swallowing dead animals at the dinner table hardly makes for a wholesome family activity either.
Anyway, if you're thinking "But they're just goldfish, don't they have a 3 second memory?", then to dispell this myth I'll refer you to that amazing fountain of knowledge that is Japanese Novelty TV:
I bet you didn't expect to see synchronised swimming goldfish when you woke up this morning ;)
Lady Gaga has taken the cake for revolting this week by appearing on the cover of Men's Vogue in Japan wearing nothing but a bikini made of raw meat. *gag*
Ok, I know Gaga has built her fame on her outrageous fashion, but draping yourself in the flesh of butchered animals is just tasteless attention seeking. In fact, Miss Gore-gore looks about as ugly here as is the reality of how that meat-kini came to be dead. But pictures speak louder than words, so I'll let you decide which is uglier.
What do you think? Which is uglier Lady Gore-gore, or the reality of what happened to the cows she's wearing?
Have you ever broken a bone? I have, I was 5 and I broke my collar bone at school …YEEEOUCH!! Lucky I'm not a horse, that's all I can say! Because if I was, I wouldn't be here to tell the tale...
We've all seen it far too often. Horse after horse breaking bones from falls in jumps races. These poor guys don't have the luxury of a loving family who'll nurse them back to health. But then, a loving family wouldn't force you to perform a death defying spectacle for their entertainment, now would they?
I wonder what was going through the mind of poor Sirrocean Storm (RIP), when he broke his hind leg in a jumps race at Warnambool, a few weeks ago. I wonder if he dreamt of doing something like this:
This week the 7:30 Reportran a story on the dangers of milk. According to the program, regular milk may be linked to a long list of diseases including: heart disease, diabetes, autism and even schizophrenia!
Should we really be surprised that a drink intended for baby calves isn't ideal for adult humans? As Dr. Michael Klapper said: "The human body has no more need for cows' milk than it does for dogs' milk, horses' milk or giraffes' milk."
So milk might make you sick. But what the report didn't mention is that it's also making the environment sick. It takes about 200 litres of water to produce just one glass of milk. That's almost as much water as many people use for all their household activities in a day!
But perhaps the darkest side of the dairy industry is what happens to the animals. Cows do not automatically produce milk – just like humans, first they need to have a baby. So what happens to the calf? Every year in Australia, 1 million baby calves are slaughtered as 'waste-products' of the dairy industry. Their flesh may be sold as pink veal, their bones may be crushed-up and made into designer dog biscuits, and the lining of their stomachs may be used in the process of making cheese.
Now that's enough to make anybody sick!
Fortunately, enjoying milk without such sickening side effects is a breeze! Next time you're at the shops, why not try one of these fantastic cruelty free milks?
Soy milk – My personal favourite. It's high in protein and fibre. My recommendation? Try out Sanitarium's So Good Lite if you like that milky taste. But then if you asked Karen, she'd tell you that Vitasoy's Soy Milky Lite is the way to go.
Rice milk – A favourite for some in cooking. If you've got a sweet tooth, this may be the option for you as it's known for its sweeter taste compared to other milks. Vic Unleashed Street Team Co-ordinator Rochelle's recommendation: go get yourself a carton of Vitasoy.
Almond milk, Oat milk, and the list goes on... If you're feeling really adventurous you can even make your own, for example this recipe for cashew milk.
The neat thing with all of these is that not all soy/rice/almond/oat milks taste alike. So there's one to suit everyone's taste. On the flip side, it might take you a little exploring to find the one that suits you. So if at first you don't succed, try another brand ;)
And don't forget to comment below and share which one's your fave?
I’m seriously happy about the new Earth Choice ad that’s currently airing on prime time telly. It seems to be the first ad that brings to light the plight of our marine animals. It scares me that the world has largely forgotten them.
I wanted to cry when the stingray was being used as a cleaning rag and the octopus as a mop. I’m a diver and I’ve had interactions underwater with octopuses that lasted for minutes. These highly intelligent creatures can communicate by changing their colours, the tentacles can express emotions such as anger and affection. They express curiosity through touch and they will look you in the eye to check you out. I’ve even seen them open jars to get something inside.
And it's not just our ocean life that gets poisoned by many of our household products. Supermarket shelves are lined with products from companies like Procter & Gamble, Colgate/Pamolive, Johnson & Johnson, and Glade who still test on animals! As if it weren't bad enough that we're flushing chemical cocktails into the oceans, first they're dripping them into the eyes of rabbits, feeding them to mice and giving dogs chemical burns just to find out how toxic they really are!
Fortunately, Earth Choice is just one of many great brands that are looking out for animals. There are plenty of others that you can find in pretty much any supermarket, for example: Blast, Planet Ark, and Seventh Generation.
Every time we go to the supermarket we can make a powerful choice not to support animal cruelty. And let's face it, the animals need us (octopuses and bunnies alike). There's just no need for us to torture animals in labs or destroy our oceans just to wash the dishes! So take the pledge to say 'No!' to animal tests and make sure to support brands that look out for our oceans.
Did you catch Animals Australia's piggery investigation on 60 Minutes on Sunday? If not don't worry, you can still see the segment on the 60 Minutes website.
I'm so thrilled! Just think, more than 1 million Aussies saw the truth about Australia's pig industry. Many will have never thought about where pork, bacon and ham come from before. And now they know that animal cruelty laws fail to protect animals raised for food, and that these profit driven animal industries aren't looking out for the wellbeing of their animals – they're looking out for their wallets.
After the show, our office was flooded with phone calls and emails from shocked viewers who had no idea of the routine cruelty of the pork industry. Many of these callers have sworn never to eat pigs again after seeing behind the closed doors of factory farms!
And now's your chance to see the behind the scenes footage of Animals Australia's investigators inside the piggery:
How many times have you wished that the cruelty of factory farming would be exposed on national TV. I know I have ... often. And this week I'm super excited because this wish has just come true!
We have just launched our first ever TV ad campaign and our sights are set squarely on exposing the cruelty of the pig industry. So check it out:
Please help us make the most of this amazing opportunity. Speak up for pigs by sharing the video with all your friends. And make sure to post it to your Facebook.
Ever heard of someone being paralyzed by their food? I hadn't. Ok, I could imagine it happening if someone slipped on a banana peel ;) But seriously, I wouldn't have thought it possible.
But then I read about Stephanie Smith – a 22 year old dance instructor who suffered such severe seizures from eating a hamburger that doctors had to put her in a coma for 9 weeks. And when she woke up, she was paralyzed!
What could Stephanie have possibly eaten to cause that? An 'Angus Beef Patty' contaminated with E. coli – a bacteria found in faecal matter (or should I say poo particles). And how would faecal matter end up in food? Take your pick: rubbed onto the meat from dirty skin, from unclean tools, or from an intestine being knicked whilst carving up the corpse.
Granted, not all E. coli is harmful to humans, and Stephanie's reaction was severe, but all the same … EEK! And while E. coli contamination may be a gamble, one thing that is a sure bet is increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer and strokes. Hmm .. no thanks!
So anyway, if you've got some time to spare, the NY Times article about Stephanie and food safety is very interesting. As is this one by Jonathon Safran Foer (author of Everything is Illuminated) about his experience of becoming vegetarian. They're both long, but they're worth the read.
And if you've still got some time to burn after that, then you probably need to find yourself some friends (yes I know that includes me!). But also, you might like to check out the Larry King Live debate on the safety of eating meat in response to these articles.
Now that oughta keep you out of trouble for a while ;)
'Warren' is the star of a brand new 3D animated clip made by those awesome guys at Choose Cruelty Free to raise awareness about the hidden horrors of animal testing! This amazing little film has already made its online debut on YouTube and hopefully will make it to TV later in the year.
CCF should be commended for this powerful animation that will hopefully challenge average Australians to buy household and cosmetic items that don't contain the added cruelty.
Every year millions of animals are poisoned, burnt and killed in the name of 'science'… a poor science that is unreliable, inaccurate and as dangerous for us as it is for the animals!
If this gets you as fired up as it does me, then let's take some action! Firstly, make sure you make the "Say no animal testing" pledge and then start spreading the word about this video! Stick it on your MySpace and Facebook and help give Warren a voice!
Want to do and learn even more? Grab your student info kit from CCF today.
If you're thinking of catching a flick this week, you might like to check out the new Aussie doco "The Burning Season" (starting 9th July). Narrated by Hugh Jackman, this film follows the young Aussie entrepreneur, Dorjee Sun, in his efforts to save the Indonesian rainforest and the orangutans who live.
The trailer looks fantastic. Who doesn't like an inspiring story of someone changing the world!
While you're waiting for the film's release, you might also want to check out the accompanying website. The site offers ten practical ways that anyone can help the planet. It's good to see reducing meat consumption makes a mention.
If you catch the film, I'd love to hear what you think.
Kudos to Gold Coast Mayor, Ron Clarke, for speaking out against the cruelty of rodoes. In an interview last week, Mayor Clarke, expressed his disgust at the 'sport': "They (rodeos) are definitely human entertainment at the animals' expense." For his outspoken act of compassion Animals Australia has awarded Ron Clarke the inaugural Compassionate Citizen Award.
As an Aussie sports legend, Ron Clarke knows what being a true sportsman is all about. Ron can boast a running career including an Olympic medal and the breaking of 17 world records. So after seeing a rodeo first hand, it's no wonder he's appalled by the brutality of the 'sport'.
To make horses and bulls buck, a tight strap (called a 'bucking strap' or 'flank strap') is used to squish their senesitive hind area, causing pain and discomfort. To make things worse the animals are physically taunted, and may even be zapped by electric prods (despite this being illegal in most Aussie states). Check out this footage, taken at the 2003 National Rodeo Finals at Tamworth, to see for yourself:
While the riders may volunteer to participate (beats me why!), the animals are helpless victims. Earlier this year at an SA rodeo, Animals Australia's investigator, Wendy Parsons, witnessed first hand as a bull broke his leg and was shot, and a steer limped off on 3 legs. And at another rodeo this year, on the Gold Coast, a horse died after crashing into a fence.
It's great to see Mayor Clarke speaking out for these animals. If you have a moment, you may even like to write to congratulate him.
Today the Onion brings us the touching story of Shawn, a champion gymnast who tragically fell while practicing on the uneven bars and had to be euthanised after breaking her knee.
Fortunately, in reality we don't actually shoot gymnasts in the back of the head if they happen to take a wrong step (you can imagine how many budding athletes would volunteer for the sport if we did..?). But not all professional athletes are so lucky.
Today at Moonee Valley, Whatsourgo became the sixth horse to be killed in jumps racing in Victoria this year after he fell and broke his leg on the last hurdle. Now, the jumps racing industry would like us to believe that 'owners love their horses' *cough* *bull$#!t* *cough*. Whether or not you believe them I think we need to hold them to their word and demand that they to do the only humane thing possible: put an end to jumps racing. Stat.
Here's something different for a bit of fun. This is a good laugh…
So this video got me thinking. I wonder what other animals might show me up … for example, did you know that pigeons are better at visuo-spacial problems than humans (you know, like those problems where you have to rotate a 3D object in your mind)?
Or what about the fact that gorillas can lead their families over hundreds of kilometers back to the best feeding spots at just the right time of year for the food to be there. I know people who get lost on the way to the local shops!
And did you know that pigs perform better on memory games than many primates. I don't know how many times I've forgotten the pin for my bank card, and it's only 4 digits. Actually the studies that proved this were pretty cool. They used joystick controlled computer games to conduct the research. Apparently the pigs really dug playing computer games… who knows pigs might not just have a better memory than me, they might beat me at guitar hero … everyone else can!
Leave me a comment let me know what other animals you think are better than me … but be nice, I'm a gentle soul :-)
This is the coolest thing I've seen all week! If you're like me and think it's pretty cool to have a planet to live on (and want to keep it), and you dig animation, then check out Animal Planet's new tips to protect animals (and the planet)...
And while you're at it, send them a thank you email to let them know how fantastic they are for encouraging people to eat less meat. There's no better way to save the planet, so kudos to them for speaking up!
p.s. If anyone out there has animation skills to offer up, drop me a line. We can always put you to work to kick ass for animals.
Here’s a bit of a laugh. Many of you will remember Sam Neil making a brain-dead buffoon of himself when he starred (or rather dimmed) in Meat and Livestock Australia’s ads where he suggested humans needed meat to be smart. Perhaps Sam didn’t check out our list of brainiac vegetarians before he signed up to make a fool of himself. If he had, we would have realised that Einstein, Pythagoras, Da Vinci, Plato, Socrates, Newton (and the list goes on) were all vegetarians.
Anyway, this video posted on YouTube by VeggieVidz and starring a younger, and perhaps wiser Sam Neil, who sets the record straight.
Disclaimer:
We’re supposed to let you know that the ideas expressed here are the views of the individual authors, and may not necessarily reflect the views of Animals Australia or Animals Australia Unleashed. So now you know.
They're heading into week 6 now and the odds are stacked against the horses. Those racing in jumps races are at up to 20 time great risk of injury or death than horses in flat races.
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