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 Want to spend this Valentine's Day savoring the flavor of local vegetarian culture while also making a difference for animals? Chicagoland is teeming with anticipation for Mercy For Animals' 5th annual Vegetarian Valentine's Party, which takes place this Saturday, February 13. Make this holiday about more than cheesy cards and instead celebrate your love for all creatures and a more compassionate world! Enjoy the company of like-minded compassionate people--this event will be the perfect place to meet new people, mingle with old friends, or bring your special someone for a romantic night out. Experience the sumptuous variety of the best vegetarian fare Chicago (and the country) has to offer. The event's all-vegan spread includes appetizers from Veggie Bite, Dharma Garden Thai Cuisine, Upton's Naturals, Ste Martaen cheese and premium vegan Match Meats; pizzas featuring the new delicious Daiya vegan cheese; desserts from The Chicago Diner, Farmacy Foods, NibMor Chocolates and Raw Creations. Date: Saturday, February 13, 2010
Time: 8 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Place: Black Walnut Gallery, 220 North Aberdeen Street, Chicago, IL
Tickets: $35 in advance ($40 at the door)
And breaking news: Enjoy an exclusive performance by none other than Lord of the Yum-Yum! Hilarity is sure to ensue when this unique performer helps us relive our feelings of yesteryear, our innocence, and childhood memories through song and dance. Lord of the Yum-Yum sings ridiculous grind/scat vocal versions of familiar classical pieces, remixes them up with beat-boxing and live electronic loop techniques, all while wearing his signature old-school ruffle tuxedos. Don't miss this unforgettably entertaining performance! Guest can also treat themselves to our open bar, featuring vegan and organic wine, as well as non-alcoholic drinks and tea from Chicago's own Argo Tea. And if that weren't enough, guests will enjoy a fabulous silent auction that includes spa and relaxation packages, museum passes, gifts for your favorite companion animals, and gifts for your special sweetheart. In addition, our raffle will feature a weekend getaway to Wisconsin, wine-tastings, and local handmade jewelry. Get your tickets now before they all sell out! Go to VegValentinesParty.com for more details.
Posted By Nathan Runkle
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 From now until the end of February compassionate consumers have a new way to help animals - shopping for great cruelty-free and vegan goodies. That's right! For a limited time, 10% of the proceeds from every purchase made through TheVegetarianSite.com will go to support MFA's life-saving work on behalf of farmed animals. All products are 100% vegan and sourced from socially responsible brands. The Vegetarian Site has everything from books, videos and dvds to vegan clothing, footwear, personal care products and groceries. This month, there is even a special Valentine's Day gift basket filled with both cookies and chocolate truffles! What are you waiting for? Get shopping!
Posted By Nathan Runkle
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According to data released by the US Food and Drug Administration (USDA), the total number of animals killed for food in the U.S. (not including sea life) has been steadily decreasing since 2008. The USDA projects that such deaths decreased by six percent in 2009 (from 10.3 billion in 2008 to 9.6 billion in 2009), despite the fact that the U.S. population increased by one percent in both years.  Six percent fewer deaths translate into millions of animals' lives spared. While there is still vast work ahead of us to be done, we should take heart that the collective efforts of animal advocates, heath experts and environmentalists to fight factory farming seem to be significantly impacting the lives of farmed animals. Click here for details of the USDA report.
Posted By Nathan Runkle
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Ohioans for Humane Farms has petitioned Ohio's Attorney General to include a farmed animal protection measure on the statewide November ballot. The proposed measure would allow voters to require the newly enacted Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board to prohibit the following common meat, egg and dairy industry practices:
• Intensive confinement of animals in crates and cages so small that they are unable to fully extend their limbs and wings, or engage in other basic natural behaviors for nearly their entire lives
• Allowing "downer" cows - those too sick or injured to stand or walk on their own to enter the human food supply by dragging, pushing, shocking and beating them onto the kill floor
• Inhumane methods of killing sick and injured animals, such as execution-style hanging of pigs, as one Ohio farmer was captured perpetrating on film
These modest restrictions will prevent the cruelest practices affecting farmed animals, promote food safety, benefit Ohio family farmers and safeguard the environment. The petition includes signatures from Ohio voters in 48 counties, and is backed by Mercy For Animals, The Humane Society of the United States, Farm Sanctuary, Ohio SPCA, Toledo Area Humane Society, Geauga Humane Society, Ohio League of Humane Voters, Center for Food Safety, United Farm Workers, Consumer Federation of America, Center for Science in the Public Interest, and many others. Mobilizing a large volunteer base, Ohioans for Humane Farms will endeavor to gather 600,000 additional signatures from Ohio voters.
>Measures banning cruel confinement systems, similar to the Ohio proposal, have been highly successful in other U.S. states, including Michigan, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Maine and Oregon. The Ohio proposal, however, is the most comprehensive farmed animal protection measure yet, as it not only aims to ban cruel confinement, but abuse of sick and injured animals.
Click here to get involved with this important campaign.
Posted By Nathan Runkle
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There is major fall-out from MFA's New York dairy farm investigations that could change state law and prevent cruelty to thousands of animals!
After reviewing MFA's video of animal cruelty at Willet Dairy, Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal proposed a ban on tail docking - A.09732 - similar to the one enacted in California last year. Painfully cutting off the tails of horses has been illegal in New York State for decades and it's high time that we extend this same modest protection to cattle. New York residents should contact their Assemblymembers and encourage them to support this measure, as well as spread the word about the proposed ban to other New York residents.
Tail docking cattle is among the most disturbing practices MFA's undercover investigator captured on film. A worker uses a bladed clamp to slice off the ends of calves' tails, severing nerves, skin and vertebrae - all without the use of anesthesia. The calves' legs buckle from the pain, as they stagger and stumble to the ground. The worker then applies a smoking cautery device to the amputations.
While dairy officials claim that tail docking is necessary to prevent cows from slinging manure, many veterinarians and animal scientists, including the conservative American Veterinary Medical Association, condemn tail docking as an acutely painful procedure that lacks scientific support.
 Assemblywoman Rosenthal's proposed ban on tail docking and the ban enacted in California last year are major steps in the right direction; clearly, the movement to end the suffering of cows at the hands of the dairy industry is mounting. While such measures fail to address other torturous mutilations performed without anesthesia, such as castration and dehorning (burning into the skulls of calves to remove their budding horns), as opposition to farmed animal cruelty gains momentum, we are optimistic that we will see proposed bans on these practices in the future. Posted By Nathan Runkle
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This weekend a group of dedicated MFA volunteers braved sub-zero temperatures to feed the stomachs and warm the hearts of people attending the Inaugural Chicago Snow Days, an outdoor winter themed festival. During the two-day event, droves of veg-curious attendees sampled everything from savory mini-sandwiches with Tofutti cream cheese and Tofurky deli slices to vegan cookies, marshmallows and ice cream sandwiches.  After having a taste of a delicious vegan tidbit, most people eagerly took Compassionate Choices booklets and other helpful MFA brochures detailing the heath, ethical, and environmental benefits of a plant-based diet.  Vegan feed-ins are positive and fun outreach events that highlight the many delicious, healthy and cruelty-free alternatives to meat, dairy and egg products widely available in supermarkets nationwide. Show your community that compassionate eating is simple, healthy and delicious. Click here for tips on coordinating a successful feed-in event in your area. Posted By Nathan Runkle
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If you're like me, you've always enjoyed Starbucks for its vegan-friendly soy lattes, granola, nut bars and fruit snacks, but often wished they'd offer something sweet for dunking! Alas, crave no more, as Starbucks now offers Lucy's Cookies - vegan, gluten-free, allergy-free and delicious!
 Click here to read more about Lucy's Cookies.
Posted By Nathan Runkle
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 In response to MFA's release of cruelty footage at Willet Dairy on Tuesday, Leprino Foods, a Denver-based cheese producer, has dropped Willet as a milk supplier. Leprino distributes cheese to the three largest pizza companies in the U.S. - Pizza Hut, Dominos and Papa John's. Until Wednesday, milk from Willet had been sent to Leprino's Waverly, N.Y. plant. Mike Reidy, a senior vice president of Leprino, stated on Thursday, "We are no longer served by that dairy."
The footage obtained by an MFA undercover investigator revealed the following abuses perpetrated on a routine basis at Willet:
• Workers burning out the horns and slicing off the tails of calves without anesthesia
• Cows confined indoors in herds so densely packed or stalls so small that they could not move freely
• "Downed" cows - those too sick or injured to stand - left to suffer for weeks before they died or were killed
• Workers kicking, punching and electrically shocking cows and calves
• Cows with debilitating leg injuries, abscesses, open wounds and prolapsed uteruses, many caked with feces and left to fester without veterinary care
• Workers injecting cows with a controversial bovine growth hormone used to increase milk production
"We take these issues, very, very seriously and we will respond," Reidy said. "We continue to view animal health and welfare as a matter of critical importance." He added that Leprino had not yet decided on what further actions to take.
While MFA is pleased that Leprino has dropped Willet as a supplier, and it is an important step in the right direction, Leprino and other producers must adopt a proactive, rather than reactive, approach to animal health and welfare.
Compassionate consumers can take immediate action to help end this abuse simply by ditching dairy and going vegan.
Click here to read more on this important fall-out of MFA's investigation.
Posted By Nathan Runkle
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"Issue with Jane Velez-Mitchell" aired a powerful segment last night, spotlighting the findings of MFA's newly released dairy industry investigation. Posted By Nathan Runkle
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 The new Fall/Winter '10 issue of MFA's Compassionate Living magazine is chock-full of inspiring information and resources - delicious vegan recipes, a touching interview with the author of The Inner World of Farm Animals, tips on nutrition from Anya "The Vegan Dietitian" Todd, provocative pork industry and hatchery exposés, a guide for bringing MFA's award-winning documentary, Fowl Play, to a screen near you, and much more.
Click here to become an official member of MFA and receive future issues of the magazine by mail.
Posted By Nathan Runkle
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| 3712 N. BROADWAY, SUITE 560 | CHICAGO, IL 60613 | 1-866-352-6446 | MERCYFORANIMALS.ORG |
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Want to spend this Valentine's Day savoring the flavor of local vegetarian culture while also making a difference for animals? Chicagoland is teeming with anticipation for Mercy For Animals' 5th annual Vegetarian Valentine's Party, which takes place this Saturday, February 13. Make this holiday about more than cheesy cards and instead celebrate your love for all creatures and a more compassionate world!
