A new CNN report is shining more light on the impact our diets have on global warming. Check out the full three-minute report below.
October 2009 Archives
October 29, 2009
You're Invited to MFA's Celebrating Compassion Galas!
Grab your leather-free dancing shoes! You are formally invited to an unforgettable evening honoring community leaders and their vital work to build a kinder world for all creatures at Mercy For Animals' upcoming Celebrating Compassion Galas in Chicago, Columbus, and New York City!The must-attend Galas will feature amazing live music, mouth-watering vegan hors d'oeuvres, a delicious vegan dinner and desserts, wine and spirits, a cruelty-free silent auction, extraordinary entertainment, and an inspiring awards ceremony.
Chicago, Illinois
Columbus, Ohio
Date: Friday, December 4, 2009
Time: 7 p.m. - Midnight
Location: Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St., Chicago, IL
Price: $75. Click here to purchase your tickets.Sneak Peek: Enjoy an exclusive live performance by famed singer Nellie McKay while sipping on eco-friendly cocktails from VeeV, or organic wine from Frey Vineyards. Then enjoy a delicious vegan dinner featuring dishes from some of Chicago's top vegan restaurants.
Click here for all the exciting details for the Chicago event.
New York City
Date: Saturday, December 5, 2009
Time: 7 p.m. - Midnight
Location: Landmark Gateway Theatre, 1550 N. High St., Columbus, OH
Price: $35. Click here to purchase your tickets.
Sneak Peek: Indulge in a delicious vegan dinner from Wellness Forum Foods featuring Match vegan meats. After dinner, enjoy wine and spirits paired with decadent vegan desserts from Pattycake Bakery.
Click here for all the exciting details for the Columbus event.
Date: Saturday, January 23, 2010
Time: 7 p.m. - Midnight
Location: Prince George Ballroom, 15 E. 27th St., New York, NY
Price: $75. Click here to purchase your tickets.Sneak Peek: Mingle with celebrity guests of honor while enjoying organic wine from Frey Vineyards, and vegan hors d'oeuvres from some of New York's top vegan restaurants. Hosted by Queer as Folk's Hal Sparks, the event will feature legendary artist Peter Max, CNN's Jane Velez-Mitchell, HBO film producer Tom Simon, Super Size Me co-star and author Alex Jamieson, famed musician Nellie McKay, bestselling author Victoria Moran, "Discerning Brute" Joshua Katcher, GirlieGirl Army's Chloe Jo Berman, and many others.
Click here for all the exciting details for the New York event.
The formal affairs will raise important funds to support MFA's life-saving work on behalf of animals. Please purchase your tickets today, as quantities are limited and each event is expected to sell out.
Please also consider supporting these momentous events through a special individual or business sponsorship, donating items to the silent auction, or program advertisement. For more information, please contact Alicia Boemi at AliciaB@MercyForAnimals.org or 847.917.3660.
For all the exciting details, please visit www.CelebratingCompassion.com.
October 26, 2009
Calculating the Power of Our Food Choices
A new interactive graph is helping put the power of our food choices into perspective - showing the number of animals killed associated with producing a million calories from eight different foods. The graph presents three tabs associated with the death process: harvest, slaughter, and the total of both. Click here to learn more about this project.
As this groundbreaking illustration reveals, the highest slaughter numbers are for chickens and their by-product, eggs. A plant-based diet is the most effective way to reduce the number of animals killed. For more information on cooking without animal products, click here.
The designer, Mark Middleton of AnimalVisuals.org, also created two other eye-opening animated graphics - one displaying the rate of cow, pig, and chicken slaughter in the United States and the other giving a virtual view through the eyes of a hen crammed inside a battery cage.
As this groundbreaking illustration reveals, the highest slaughter numbers are for chickens and their by-product, eggs. A plant-based diet is the most effective way to reduce the number of animals killed. For more information on cooking without animal products, click here.
The designer, Mark Middleton of AnimalVisuals.org, also created two other eye-opening animated graphics - one displaying the rate of cow, pig, and chicken slaughter in the United States and the other giving a virtual view through the eyes of a hen crammed inside a battery cage.
Actress, committed animal advocate, and joyful vegan, Alicia Silverstone has just released her new book, The Kind Diet. In her popular guide, Alicia promotes a diet without meat, dairy, and eggs and provides many delicious recipes. Alicia addresses nutritional needs and explains how to cover all dietary requirements for a plant-based diet.Understanding that transitioning dietary habits occurs at a different pace for different people, The Kind Diet is separated into three categories: Flirting, Vegan, and Superhero. Flirting deals with those new to veganism and how to reduce one's meat consumption, replacing animal products with vegetables instead. The Vegan section explains how to substitute meat replacements such as tofu or seitan and cooking with grains, fruits, and vegetables. Lastly, the Superhero category provides information on the principles of macrobiotics.
Empowering and packed with irresistible recipes, The Kind Diet is a great book for those just transitioning to a plant-base diet or for veteran vegans.
October 26, 2009
USDA Cooks Up Helpful Tips on Going Vegan
The USDA recently released a new tip sheet for a vegetarian diet. The guide focuses exclusively on plant-based foods, including in the calcium sources section, where the USDA suggests using leafy greens, soy products and fortified breakfast cereals. Other important nutrients focused on are protein and vitamin E. For protein, the guide suggests beans, nuts, peas and soy products. Vitamin E requirements can be met with nuts and seeds, such as hazelnuts and sunflower seeds.While there is a strong focus on how important it is to include all of the necessary nutritional requirements for a vegetarian and vegan diet, the tip sheet also suggests some friendly ideas for eating out, having a cook-out and preparing snack foods.
As this helpful tip sheet illustrates, one can easily meet all of the necessary dietary requirements on a vegan diet - improving one's own health while preventing animal cruelty.
October 25, 2009
Livestock's Even Longer Shadow: Meat Production's Massive Contribution to Global Warming
What if the key actors in climate change are cows, pigs, and chickens? A new study, published in World Watch Magazine, reveals that the production of meat, dairy, and eggs could be an even larger contributor to global warming than previously believed.
A widely cited 2006 report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, Livestock's Long Shadow, estimates that 18 percent of annual worldwide GHG emissions are attributable to cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, camels, pigs, and poultry. But recent analysis by Goodland and Anhang finds that livestock and their byproducts actually account for at least 32.6 billion tons of carbon dioxide per year, or 51 percent of annual worldwide GHG emissions.
October 22, 2009
Award-Winning Documentary Fowl Play Now Available on DVD!
Introducing Fowl Play - Mercy For Animals' award-winning documentary revealing the dark side of America's egg industry.This groundbreaking film, which has earned rave reviews and top honors at over a dozen film festivals nationwide, takes viewers on an unforgettable journey behind the closed doors of some of the country's largest egg production facilities - illustrating the heartbreaking plight of laying hens.
Propelled by touching interviews with animal rescuers, undercover investigators, veterinarians and animal behaviorists, Fowl Play brings us the inspiring stories of the kind and courageous people fighting to save the modern day hen - perhaps the most abused and exploited animal on earth.
Connecting the dots between consumer demand for meat, dairy and eggs and the perpetuation of animal abuse, Fowl Play leaves viewers with a groundbreaking message of personal responsibility and the potential each of us holds to change the world - one meal at a time.
October 13, 2009
Sowing the Seeds of Veganism: MFA Activists Hit Fall Festivals
Set amongst the orange and yellow leaves of the fall season, MFA advocates in Ohio, New York, North Carolina and Illinois hit the streets for an action-packed weekend advocating on behalf of farmed animals.
Dedicated advocates with the Asheville, North Carolina chapter of MFA erected an educational exhibit this past Saturday at the Blue Ridge Pride Festival. Droves of attendees stopped by the enticing booth to sample complimentary vegan fare - highlighting the many delicious, healthy and cruelty-free alternatives to meat, dairy and egg products widely available in supermarkets nationwide.
Over seven hundred miles away, MFA members in Chicago participated in the highly successful, first-ever Chicago VeganMania celebration. Thousands of attendees enjoyed mouth-watering meatless treats, browsed arts and cruelty-free goods from local vegan merchants, and heard informative and empowering lectures by nationally renowned speakers on vegan health, animal protection, spirituality, and more.
Simultaneously, members of the MFA team in Ohio took part in the annual Yellow Springs Street Fair. With over 200 booths, dozens of local shops, restaurants, street performers and musicians, MFA volunteers reached out to hundreds of Ohioans in beautiful Yellow Springs to share information on how to transition to a plant-based diet. Vegetarian Starter Kits moved fast, as many people were eagerly looking for delicious vegan recipes for the upcoming holidays.
On Sunday, advocates with MFA's New York City chapter attended the first-ever NYC VegFest in Tompkins Square Park in Manhattan. Alongside animal-friendly businesses, MFA volunteers were on hand to distribute information about the ethical, environmental and health benefits of a cruelty-free diet. While enjoying the fall weather, hundreds of New Yorkers took informational literature and learned about our ongoing work to be a voice for the animals.
Dedicated advocates with the Asheville, North Carolina chapter of MFA erected an educational exhibit this past Saturday at the Blue Ridge Pride Festival. Droves of attendees stopped by the enticing booth to sample complimentary vegan fare - highlighting the many delicious, healthy and cruelty-free alternatives to meat, dairy and egg products widely available in supermarkets nationwide.Attendees sampled everything from savory sautéed soy faux "chikn" nuggets to eggless salad on crackers to decadent double chocolate chip cookies. Exhibit visitors also received free literature promoting the compassionate vegan lifestyle and viewed powerful scenes from MFA's recent award-winning documentary, Fowl Play.
Over seven hundred miles away, MFA members in Chicago participated in the highly successful, first-ever Chicago VeganMania celebration. Thousands of attendees enjoyed mouth-watering meatless treats, browsed arts and cruelty-free goods from local vegan merchants, and heard informative and empowering lectures by nationally renowned speakers on vegan health, animal protection, spirituality, and more.MFA's executive director, Nathan Runkle, delivered an eye-opening lecture, titled "Veganism: Putting Our Ethics on the Table," while local advocates staffed MFA's educational exhibit.
Simultaneously, members of the MFA team in Ohio took part in the annual Yellow Springs Street Fair. With over 200 booths, dozens of local shops, restaurants, street performers and musicians, MFA volunteers reached out to hundreds of Ohioans in beautiful Yellow Springs to share information on how to transition to a plant-based diet. Vegetarian Starter Kits moved fast, as many people were eagerly looking for delicious vegan recipes for the upcoming holidays.Nine-year-old Danielle and her mother Susan Dunne enthusiastically shared important information with the crowd about Ohio's impending Issue 2 on the ballet in November. The mother daughter duo made sure everyone heard the message to "Vote NO on Issue 2."
On Sunday, advocates with MFA's New York City chapter attended the first-ever NYC VegFest in Tompkins Square Park in Manhattan. Alongside animal-friendly businesses, MFA volunteers were on hand to distribute information about the ethical, environmental and health benefits of a cruelty-free diet. While enjoying the fall weather, hundreds of New Yorkers took informational literature and learned about our ongoing work to be a voice for the animals.October 13, 2009
Big News! Michigan Bans Veal Crates, Gestation Crates and Battery Cages; California Outlaws Tail Docking
It was a historic day for farmed animals from coast-to-coast, with two major pieces of pro-animal legislation being signed into law.Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm signed a landmark bill that will extend modest, yet meaningful, protections to farmed animals in the state. A result of extensive negotiations between humane and agricultural groups, the law requires that certain farmed animals have enough room to stand up, lie down, turn around and extend their limbs, rather than being confined in tiny cages.
The new law phases out veal crates for calves within three years, and battery cages for laying hens and gestation crates for breeding sows within ten years.
Michigan becomes the seventh state to ban gestation crates, the fifth to ban veal crates, and the second to ban battery cages. Arizona, California and Florida have passed similar measures through ballot initiatives, and Maine, Colorado and Oregon have passed related laws in their state legislatures.
In California, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed landmark legislation prohibiting tail docking, a common and cruel mutilation of dairy cows--in the nation's top dairy state.
The new law takes effect on January 1, 2010.
Introduced in February by California Senate Majority Leader, Dean Florez, Senate Bill 135 outlaws the painful and unnecessary tail docking of dairy cows.
October 13, 2009
Larry King Asks: "Should We Eat Meat?"
On the heels of a shocking cover story in The New York Times, illustrating the risks and effects of E. coli in America's ground beef supply, Larry King devoted an entire show to the issue of meat safety.
Watch the full episode of Larry King Live, which dares to ask "Should We Eat Meat?"
Last year, California banned several of the most horrific factory farming confinement systems, including veal crates, gestation crates and battery cages.Now, agribusiness lobbyists hope to prevent such reforms in the state of Ohio.
With the help of pro-factory farm legislators, they succeeded in putting their own initiative, Issue 2, on the this November's ballot.
This proposal would amend the Ohio Constitution to create a so-called "animal care" council that would be dominated by factory farming interests - essentially allowing factory farmers to write their own rules on animal welfare, protecting their "right" to be cruel for decades to come
The editorial boards of Ohio's major newspapers--including the Columbus Dispatch, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Akron Beacon Journal, and Dayton Daily News--all oppose this effort to enshrine the agribusiness lobby's favored oversight system in the state's constitution.
While designed to give the appearance of helping farm animals, Issue 2 is little more than a power grab by big agribusiness.
If you live in Ohio, please vote NO on Issue 2.
October 12, 2009
Dishing the Dirt on Dairy
In honor of World Farm Animals Day, volunteers with the Cleveland, Ohio Mercy For Animals chapter hosted a free vegan dinner and "The Dirt on Dairy" lecture with George Eisman, RD at the Cleveland Heights Library. Eisman is Nutrition Director for The Coalition for Cancer Prevention and a professor of nutrition since 1980. He delivered a powerful presentation detailing the ever-growing body of research which shows that milk and dairy products are not only unnecessary for good health but contribute to numerous severe health problems.
This empowering event attracted record attendance, bringing in over 160 people - many of whom were previously unaware of any negative health effects from dairy consumption. A team of volunteers in Cleveland put together a delicious vegan meal for all attendees, introducing many for the first time to dairy-free versions of macaroni & cheese, pizza, casseroles, quiche, chocolate pudding, ice-cream, cookies, fudge, etc.
Hungry yet? Click here to search hundreds of amazing dairy-free recipes.
This empowering event attracted record attendance, bringing in over 160 people - many of whom were previously unaware of any negative health effects from dairy consumption. A team of volunteers in Cleveland put together a delicious vegan meal for all attendees, introducing many for the first time to dairy-free versions of macaroni & cheese, pizza, casseroles, quiche, chocolate pudding, ice-cream, cookies, fudge, etc.Hungry yet? Click here to search hundreds of amazing dairy-free recipes.
October 6, 2009
Promoting Green Food Choices at the NYC Ecofest
Although more and more people drive hybrid cars, install environmentally-friendly light bulbs, and adopt other practices to reduce global warming, many are still unaware of the huge impact of a meat-based diet on the greenhouse effect.
So, this past weekend Mercy For Animals was proud to be a part of New York City's 21st annual Ecofest, a popular event where people can access information and resources to move towards a "greener earth"; MFA volunteers reached out to thousands of New Yorkers in beautiful Central Park with the message that a plant-based diet reduces greenhouse gases as well as air and water pollution.
So, this past weekend Mercy For Animals was proud to be a part of New York City's 21st annual Ecofest, a popular event where people can access information and resources to move towards a "greener earth"; MFA volunteers reached out to thousands of New Yorkers in beautiful Central Park with the message that a plant-based diet reduces greenhouse gases as well as air and water pollution.
Vegan food lovers, environmentalists, animal advocates and local green merchants will unite this weekend at Chicago VeganMania - an all-inclusive celebration of the diverse and positive vegan lifestyle. This daylong festival will showcase unique vegan commerce, culture, community - and, of course, food! The event is open to all (regardless of age, income or diet) and will feature a large vending area with live entertainment, games, contests and an art show, a kids area and much more.Date: Saturday, October 10, 2009Delicious samples will be available from vendors such as The Chicago Diner, Delicious Cafe, Great Taste Cafe (formerly The Balanced Kitchen) and Chicago SoyDairy.
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: Pulaski Park Fieldhouse, 1419 W. Blackhawk, Chicago, IL
The festival will also include many interesting and educational speaking events, including presentations by Nathan Runkle, Executive Director of Mercy For Animals, Dr. Michael Greger of The Humane Society of the United States and Caryn Hartglass, Executive Director of EarthSave International. There will also be a workshop on vegan food conducted by Rae Sikora and JC Corcoran of Plant Peace Daily.
Chicago VeganMania will showcase a variety of bands from different genres of music, including contemporary acoustic folk by Bryan Harrell, energetic funk rock by Darmata, electronica by Dreamlogicc, and teenage riot-girl rock by Circular Convention. SPUNN will perform spinning poi and dance, and Deserae will delight the audience with belly dancing.
There will be plenty of other vendors, including Ethical Planet, A Fresh Squeeze, Ethically Engineered, Windy City Rescue and, of course, Mercy For Animals!
Be sure not to miss this exciting first annual celebration of the vegan lifestyle!
October 1, 2009
Baba's Village: Chicago's New Vegan Dining Destination
Baba's Village is a fabulous Asian restaurant in downtown Chicago with some exciting new vegan dishes on its menu.
This Indian-Pakistani restaurant has just greatly expanded its vegan selection to include a separate all-vegan menu. The restaurant is working in conjunction with MFA's Veg Illinois Campaign to help expand and promote vegan options across the state. This new, unique, and extraordinarily satisfying menu includes Vegan Ginger "Chicken", Baba's Special (vegan "chicken" and "beef" cooked with veggies), and dairy-free milkshakes!
In the heart of the Loop, Baba's Village is a great destination for lunch or dinner, and is the only restaurant in the city serving mock meat Indian food.
Baba's Village is located at 310 South Canal Street in Chicago, just one block west of Sears (Willis) Tower.
Make sure to come try the new dishes, and support this restaurant for the wonderful commitment it is making to the vegan community.
Check out VegIllinois.com for more information on this restaurant and also hundreds of other veg-friendly restaurants across the state.
This Indian-Pakistani restaurant has just greatly expanded its vegan selection to include a separate all-vegan menu. The restaurant is working in conjunction with MFA's Veg Illinois Campaign to help expand and promote vegan options across the state. This new, unique, and extraordinarily satisfying menu includes Vegan Ginger "Chicken", Baba's Special (vegan "chicken" and "beef" cooked with veggies), and dairy-free milkshakes!
In the heart of the Loop, Baba's Village is a great destination for lunch or dinner, and is the only restaurant in the city serving mock meat Indian food.Baba's Village is located at 310 South Canal Street in Chicago, just one block west of Sears (Willis) Tower.
Make sure to come try the new dishes, and support this restaurant for the wonderful commitment it is making to the vegan community.
Check out VegIllinois.com for more information on this restaurant and also hundreds of other veg-friendly restaurants across the state.
October 1, 2009
MFA Activists Dish Up Food for Thought in Chicago
The Windy City saw a flurry of activism this past weekend when MFA advocates hit the streets to speak up on behalf of farmed animals - holding a silent protest again KFC's abuse of birds and a vegan feed-in at a local humane society charity walk.
On Saturday, volunteers converged in front of one of Chicago's busiest KFCs to educate consumers about the extreme animal abuse perpetrated by the fast food giant. The event drew attention to the harsh reality that numerous investigations inside KFC slaughterhouses have revealed - workers tearing the heads off live birds, slamming them against walls, and slitting their throats while fully conscious.
The demonstration, which included graphic images of blood-covered chickens, turned the heads, and stomachs, of countless passersby. Demonstrators were praised with cheers, honks, and thumb-ups, with many well-wishers leaving with literature on adopting a humane, vegan diet.
The next day, MFA volunteers passed out hundreds of mini vegan breakfast sandwiches at the "Run For Their Lives 8k Run/4k Walk," hosted by PAWS Chicago - the city's largest no-kill humane animal organization.
Recipients of the feed-in samples saw that a breakfast without meat, eggs, or dairy is satisfying, nutritious, and gives you the energy needed to get through the day (and finish line). Along with the breakfast sandwiches, MFA volunteers gave away hundreds of vegan cookies. Nearly 1,300 runners walked away from the event with a Compassionate Choices leaflet - explaining how they can take a bite out of animal cruelty at each meal by going vegetarian.
On Saturday, volunteers converged in front of one of Chicago's busiest KFCs to educate consumers about the extreme animal abuse perpetrated by the fast food giant. The event drew attention to the harsh reality that numerous investigations inside KFC slaughterhouses have revealed - workers tearing the heads off live birds, slamming them against walls, and slitting their throats while fully conscious.
The demonstration, which included graphic images of blood-covered chickens, turned the heads, and stomachs, of countless passersby. Demonstrators were praised with cheers, honks, and thumb-ups, with many well-wishers leaving with literature on adopting a humane, vegan diet.The next day, MFA volunteers passed out hundreds of mini vegan breakfast sandwiches at the "Run For Their Lives 8k Run/4k Walk," hosted by PAWS Chicago - the city's largest no-kill humane animal organization.
Recipients of the feed-in samples saw that a breakfast without meat, eggs, or dairy is satisfying, nutritious, and gives you the energy needed to get through the day (and finish line). Along with the breakfast sandwiches, MFA volunteers gave away hundreds of vegan cookies. Nearly 1,300 runners walked away from the event with a Compassionate Choices leaflet - explaining how they can take a bite out of animal cruelty at each meal by going vegetarian. 
