News

| More

The number of news found: 46.

10/31/2016 ALEC BALDWIN STANDS UP FOR TURKEYS

Alec Baldwin is the new face of animal-rights organization Farm Sanctuary's Adopt a Turkey Project. The campaign—now in its 30th year—is designed to bring awareness to the cruelty turkeys suffer before they become Thanksgiving dinner, and asks for a $30 donation which will sponsor one turkey who will be saved from slaughter and live peacefully at one of Farm Sanctuary's New York or California shelters. "At least 46 million turkeys suffer heartbreaking fear and pain before being killed each and every Thanksgiving," Baldwin told TIME this week. "This year, I'm supporting Farm Sanctuary's Adopt a Turkey Project because turkeys are just as friendly, smart, and full of feeling as my dogs, and they deserve to be treated better."

10/31/2016 WHOLE FOODS PARTNERS WITH VEGAN MEAL DELIVERY SERVICE

Whole Foods Market has partnered with plant-based meal delivery service Purple Carrot to bring vegan meal kits to customers. At the market's flagship Dedham, MA location, three kits are available in the grab-and-go section. Varieties include Mongolian Seitan Stir Fry, Pan Seared Tofu and Black Rice Noodles, and Cashew Korma with Cauliflower Rice. "We are thrilled to team up with Whole Foods Market's North Atlantic region to enrich the grocery shopping experience and make it easier for people to cook delicious plant-based meals at home," Purple Carrot CEO and founder Andy Levitt says. The company was initially founded in 2014 with the help of New York Times columnist Mark Bittman, who has since left the company and secured a $5 million investment in July from Windsail Capital. The kits are available for $19.99.

10/28/2016 VEGAN OLYMPIC MEDALIST TO OPEN MICROSANCTUARY

Vegan Olympic cyclist and former fashion model Dotsie Bausch announced plans to open a "microsanctuary"—a small-scale sanctuary—for farmed animals in her home state of Kentucky by spring 2017. Bausch visited Indraloka Animal Sanctuary in Mehoopany, PA recently and spoke with the local news station about her motivation for opening the sanctuary. Upon learning about the cruelty inherent in factory farming, Bausch said, "For me, becoming a vegetarian was instant. I mean, it was an overnight thing." Bausch has since gone vegan and presented a popular Ted Talk at Chapman University in 2015 entitled "Olympic Level Compassion". At age 39, Bausch became the oldest cyclist to place in the Olympics when she received a silver medal at the 2012 games. Construction on Bausch's sanctuary—where she hopes to welcome animals rescued from local factory farms—begins in November.

10/28/2016 AUSTRALIAN PLANT-BASED MILK MARKET BOOMING

A new report conducted by market research company IBISWorld estimated the value of the plant-based milk market in Australia to be $153 million. "This figure has been growing quite quickly over the past five years as the popularity of alternative milks has grown," analyst Lauren Magner says, "and we have expected [six] percent per annum growth over the past five years." Australia has experienced a boom in new eateries offering vegan alternatives. Melbourne-based Matcha Mylk Bar barista Zoe Davies says, "I think people are more and more leaning towards plant-based milks just because of the ethical and health issues that have been raised recently with the consumption of dairy." Stateside, the value of the dairy-alternatives market—driven by the growing popularity of almond milk—is predicted to reach $35 billion by 2024.

10/28/2016 BROOKLYN BOROUGH PRESIDENT GOES VEGAN

Brooklyn, NY borough president Eric Adams adopted a vegan diet after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Six months ago, Adams learned that he has the disease, and one month later, he decided to eschew animal products completely. Now, Adams reports that he no longer relies on medication. The politician says his doctors did not present a vegan diet as an option for reversing diabetes. "My recovery is an indictment on our healthcare system," Adams says. "The sole goal should have been, 'Eric, we're going to get that reversed,' not, 'Eric, we're going to give you the prescription that you need that you can take the rest of your life.'" Adams is using his recovery as a stepping stone for advocating veganism to others with type 2 diabetes, including his mother. Various studies have proven that a healthy vegan diet can prevent or reverse type 2 diabetes.

10/27/2016 STUDY LINKS PROCESSED MEAT CONSUMPTION AND MIGRAINES

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have discovered a link between eating processed meat—high in nitrates—and getting migraines. Researchers examined 172 oral and 1,996 fecal samples from a group of patients in the American Gut Project database and found that individuals who experienced migraines had a higher concentration of nitrate-blocking bacteria. Researchers pointed out that many of the 38 million sufferers of migraines in the United States have self-reported a connection between the consumption of nitrates and the severity of their headaches. While the research is inconclusive as to whether the presence of nitrate-blocking bacteria is a result of migraines or a protective mechanism against them, researchers plan to further study the connection by analyzing more defined groups. Other recent studies have linked the consumption of processed meat to certain cancers and heart disease.

10/27/2016 VEGAN MARIJUANA FARM TO OPEN IN NEVADA

Next month, nine states—California, Nevada, Arizona, Maine, Massachusetts, North Dakota, Florida, Arkansas, and Montana—will be voting on legalizing marijuana for medical and recreational use. Ahead of the historic vote, Nevada-based Green Leaf Farms updated its shareholders on the progress of its veganic farming operations. CEO Mark Bradley informed shareholders that the $2.5 million that Green Leaf raised in funding would go toward completing construction of its 7,000 square-foot cultivation space, securing major vendors, and hiring a management team—including growers Jae Benjamin and Corey Crosser. Benjamin specializes in GMO-free growing while Crosser is an expert in veganic farming and will be using "several cutting-edge medical strains which are 100% vegan with no pesticides." Operations at Green Leaf Farm is set to commence in November, providing the state’s residents vote to legalize marijuana for recreational use.

10/26/2016 JOHNSON & JOHNSON REMOVES PIGS FROM TRAINING MATERIALS

Multinational pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson has vowed to remove live pigs from videos used for their medical device training. In a letter to PETA, the company wrote that it has discontinued live animal use in sales trainings across its North America region, saying it aims to end the practice globally by the end of the year. PETA successfully campaigned for the company to eliminate this form of animal use for training purposes after several years of protesting. "No salesperson needs to watch a pig bleed out and die to see how a medical device works," says PETA's Senior Vice President of laboratory investigations Kathy Guillermo. Guillermo offers the solution of using human anatomy simulators or videos of human surgery to educate medical sales representatives about the devices they vend. Similarly, in July, vegan medical group Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine successfully lobbied for all medical schools across North America to abandon the requirement of surgical training on live pigs.

10/26/2016 POTATO-BASED VEGAN CHEESE DEVELOPED IN AUSTRALIA

Australian Andrew Dyhin has developed "chato," his version of vegan cheese made from potatoes. Dyhin has been developing the product through his company Potato Magic for 12 years and says it melts, shreds, and tastes similar to dairy-based cheese, and does not contain added coloring as its hue is derived from the potatoes he uses. Potato waste is a problem in Australia and Dyhin hopes to address it by repurposing would-be wasted potatoes into desirable consumer products. The innovator is currently seeking investments and partnerships to make chato available to consumers. As demonstrated by vegan companies and innovators around the world, vegan cheese can be made from coconut, a wide variety of tree nuts, soy, rice, and now potatoes.

10/26/2016 COWSPIRACY RE-PACKAGED AS CLASSROOM TOOL

A new 45-minute "educational edit" of environmental documentary Cowspiracy is now available—removing a scene depicting the slaughter of a duck—making it a useful resource for educators working with students between the ages of 10-25. Teachers can purchase the new version of the film online for $30, which grants them a lifetime license to stream the movie for educational purposes. Cowspiracy follows co-director Kip Anderson on his path to veganism as he discovers the connections between animal agriculture and environmental devastation. Executively produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, Cowspiracy has been credited for influencing many individuals to go vegan. The new cut of the film comes at a time when a growing number of young people—particularly millennials—are becoming increasingly interested in the topics addressed in the documentary.

10/25/2016 SPAIN OVERTURNS BULLFIGHTING BAN

On Wednesday, the Constitutional Court in Spain voted eight to three to reverse a law that banned bullfighting, which had been passed by the Catalonian Parliament in 2010. The court called the ban "unconstitutional" and said their decision was driven by protecting the cultural traditions of bullfighting in the autonomous Catalan state. "The Constitutional Court of Spain has undermined the will of the vast majority of Catalans—who want nothing to do with bloody bullfighting spectacles, in which animals are repeatedly speared and stabbed to death," PETA International Director Mimi Bekhechi said. Spanish residents have expressed opposition to the sport in recent years and attendance at bullfights has fallen drastically. In 2015, the European Parliament voted to halt the $110 million in agricultural subsidies that Spain received annually for raising bulls for bullfighting.

10/25/2016 JURASSIC WORLD SEQUEL WILL BE AN ANIMAL RIGHTS PARABLE

What happens to the dinosaurs in the forthcoming Jurassic World sequel "will be a parable of the treatment animals receive today," according to the film's producer. Speaking at the Sitges film festival in Spain, Colin Trevorrow – who directed the first film and is producing the second – suggested the movie would have a direct relevance to contemporary issues concerning animal rights. He added that specific themes the movie would address include animal abuse, pet ownership, medical experimentation, zoo entertainment and military use. The Jurassic World sequel, due for release in summer 2018, will see The Impossible's JA Bayona take over directing duties, and the return of the first film’s two stars, Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard. (theguardian.com)

10/25/2016 11 CANADIAN DAIRY FARMS FINED FOR ANTIBIOTICS IN MILK

Two weeks ago, 11 dairy farms in British Columbia were charged $65,000 in fines after random testing between the period of August 2015 and July 2016 proved that their dairy products contained antibiotics. According to dairy industry spokesperson Trevor Hargreaves, standard practice in Canada is that animals treated with antibiotics are removed from the production line until their systems are clear of the drugs. During a separate 18-month investigation ending in June 2016—and conducted by the B.C. Milk Marketing Board—27 percent of dairy farms in British Columbia failed to comply with Canadian animal welfare laws. A survey conducted earlier this year revealed that only 29 percent of Canadians believe animal farmers to be good steward of the environment, a notion exacerbated by these problematic findings of antibiotics in milk.

10/24/2016 STELLA MCCARTNEY INSPIRES NEW VEGAN HOME DESIGNS

Brazilian design firm Artefacto hosted its sixth annual design exhibition at its showroom in Coral Gables, Florida two weeks ago. Titled "Design House," the exhibition—which showcased nine individual curated spaces—featured its first ever all-vegan design space by Antrobus + Ramirez. The Florida-based architecture and interior design company's founders, Alison Antrobus and Ruby Ramirez, were inspired by the ethical principles of vegetarian fashion icon Stella McCartney. The eponymous designers used organic and synthetic materials to furnish their space, making sure all materials used were ethically-sourced and cruelty-free.

10/24/2016 IMPOSSIBLE BURGER SELLS OUT IN ONE WEEKEND

Chef and owner of San Francisco fine dining restaurant Jardinerie Traci Des Jardins reports that the Impossible Burger sold out over the Oct 15-16 weekend. Lines began forming at the restaurant at 7 P.M. on Thursday and Des Jardins began issuing tickets to customers planning to purchase a burger in order to efficiently meet demand. The Impossible Burger—which at Jardinerie is served on a vegan bun with caramelized onions, avocado, and special sauce—is now only available in the lounge after 7:30 P.M. Chef Chris Cosentino of San Francisco restaurant Cockscomb experienced a similar surge of interest in the burger, stating that he sold 100 to 125 burgers daily since the Thursday debut. The Bill Gates-backed burger—which "bleeds" due to plant-based heme—was first introduced to the public at New York-based restaurant Momofuku Nishi in July.

10/21/2016 SWISS ARMY DECLARES VEGAN FIT FOR SERVICE

After months of court hearings, the Swiss Army declared vegan Antoni Da Campo "fit" for service. In January, Da Campo was discharged from mandatory service in the Swiss Army—which comes with a hefty fine of relinquishing three percent of one's income to the army until age 30—for refusing to wear leather boots. Da Campo took the army to court and after losing two appeals the judge asked that Da Campo and army representatives settle the matter out of court. The Swiss army conceded on their previous declaration and welcomed Da Campo to serve, allowing him to purchase his own vegan boots. "Vegans should enjoy the same rights and duties as other citizens and not be forced to pay a tax just because they refuse to put [on] boots that involved the killing of animals," Da Campo says. The 20-year-old is part of Swiss animal rights group EcoAnimalista Party (PEA) and says, "I consider it unfair to kill animals for unnecessary practices for humans."

10/21/2016 DAIRY FARMERS PURGE 43 MILLION GALLONS OF MILK

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released data that indicated dairy farmers across the country dumped more than 43 million gallons of excess milk into manure lagoons, fields, and animal feed in the first eight months of 2016. This is the largest overproduction of milk recorded in the last 16 years. Wall Street Journal reports that milk producers are scrambling to find ways to sell the oversupply through dairy checkoff programs such as Dairy Management Inc. which spent $30 million last year to push excess dairy products onto consumers. Strategies include lobbying to get more milk on school lunch menus—despite increasing demands at schools for plant-based alternatives—and partnering with fast food chains to create dairy-laden food items that effectively use up the excess.

10/20/2016 U.S. CITIES WITH MOST VEGAN OPTIONS

Data website Datafiniti compiled a report of vegan restaurants across the U.S. to glean which cities are the most (and least) veg-friendly. The company relied on a database of 18,000 restaurants to determine which offer vegan-friendly menu items and compiled city-specific data to map their findings. When it comes to large metropolitan cities, New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco are the top three cities on the list, followed by Seattle, Houston, and Portland, OR. Austin settles at number 13 right behind Philadelphia at number 12. The bottom three (or least vegan-friendly cities) are Indianapolis, IN, Jacksonville, FL, and Allentown, PA. When population is taken into account, the data skews to reveal that the top three cities are Portland, OR, San Francisco, and Seattle. In this iteration of the data, Boston, Charlotte, NC, and Philadelphia find themselves at the bottom of the list.

10/20/2016 MILLENNIALS SHUN BIG MACS

A recent memo amongst McDonald's executives stated that only one in five millennials has ever tried their signature Big Mac burger. According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), burger sales at the chain have been stagnant for several years, forcing McDonald's to implement programs such as all-day breakfast to bring back their customer base. McDonald's is struggling to find relevance amongst customers who want the fast-food giant to offer better quality food but at a similar cost, and without increasing wait time at the drive-thru window. Competitor chain Wendy's—which developed a black bean-based veggie burger to answer consumer demands for a meatless option—is faring much better than McDonald's, according to WSJ. While millennials are abstaining from Big Macs at McDonalds, the vegan Big MacInnes sold out at Canada's largest barbeque festival earlier this year.

10/20/2016 MARKETING "PROTECTS" MEAT-EATERS FROM EMPATHY

A series of five studies conducted in Norway and the United States by researchers at the University of Oslo explored the psychological dissociation people experience between meat as food products and the animals they come from. Postdoctoral fellow Jonas R. Kunst and colleague Sigrid M. Hohle measured the levels of empathy more than 1,000 participants felt for animals depending on the states in which those animals were presented. The first three studies focused on visual dissociation. Participants in all three studies showed more empathy toward the whole animal, even asking for a vegetarian option when presented with the head-on pig.  The fourth and fifth studies focused on words. Participants felt more empathy toward words such as "pig" and "cow" when they replaced "pork" and "beef" on a menu. This research is the first time scientists have empirically proven the long-standing "dissociation hypothesis" argued by animal-rights activists that claims meat eaters must possess a certain level of psychological detachment from an animal in order to consume it.

10/19/2016 $7 BILLION GOVERNMENT BAILOUT ISSUED TO HELP ANIMAL FEED INDUSTRY

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has paid $7 billion in subsidies under what the government agency calls "Agriculture Risk Coverage" and "Price Loss Coverage," according to Colin Lokey of finance website Zero Hedge. Lokey points out that this bailout, derived from taxpayer funds, will mostly be allocated to Midwest corn farmers. In addition to its role as feed in animal agriculture, corn is among the seven most federally subsidized foods in the country (including soybeans, wheat, rice, sorghum, meat, and milk) which account for the majority of calories consumed by Americans. Despite research indicating that consumption of the top seven subsidized foods makes Americans 37 percent more likely to become obese, this year's crop subsidy is 35 percent higher than the $5.2 billion bailout that the USDA issued in 2015.

10/19/2016 MIAMI TO GET FIRST ALL-VEGAN DELICATESSEN

Atlas Meat-Free Delicatessen is slated to open in Miami, FL in early 2017. The deli is a brick-and-mortar extension of the eponymous faux-meat and cheese company founded by chef Ryan Bauhaus and his wife four years ago. While the menu at the deli is still in development, Bauhaus ensures that it will consist of "plant-based food cleverly disguised as meat-centric comfort food" and feature the brand's take on faux meat and cheese—made with vegetables and grains and without preservatives. The chef envisions drawing a mixed crowd of people with his plant-based creations. In addition to opening the deli, Bauhaus will make history on February 24 as the only vegan contestant vying for the Schweid & Sons Very Best Burger Award at the South Beach Food & Wine Festival's Burger Bash, hosted by Rachael Ray.

10/19/2016 BADGER CULL FUELED BY DAIRY INDUSTRY

Officials recently expanded the cull of badgers to new areas in London citing the animals pose a threat to the dairy industry because they carry tuberculosis. "Reports have showed that of the small percentage of badgers that have TB," writer Elena Orde of local news outlet The London Economic says, "a smaller percentage still are able to transmit it to cattle." Orde explains that despite scientific facts that deem the cull unnecessary, the slaughter of badgers is "driven by pressure on government by dairy producers based on consumer demand for their products." Badgers are killed by free-shooting which often leaves them to die a painful, drawn-out death. "The only logical response is to stop supporting the dairy industry, which profits from animal suffering and is devastating our wildlife," Orde concludes. The culling of wildlife to protect the interests of the meat and dairy industry is routine worldwide. Both Norway and Washington State recently authorized the cull of wolves to protect the sheep and cows kept by farmers from predation.

10/18/2016 VEGAN NAMED TOP PROFESSIONAL BY LINKEDIN

Professional resource website LinkedIn named Impossible Foods' Chief Strategy Officer Nick Halla as one of 120 Next Wave Professionals 35 & Under—one of only ten professionals named in the food category. LinkedIn compiles this list based on data it collects from the activity of more than 450 million individual profiles and determines which professionals have the highest engagement rates, the most media appearances, and the strongest social media presence. Halla was chosen for his work with Bill Gates-backed Impossible Foods to create their "bleeding" burger—which relies on plant-based heme. Silicon Valley-based Impossible Foods recently debuted its burger at select restaurants including New York-based Momofuku Nishi owned by famed chef David Chang, who—upon sampling the burger in July—exclaimed, "I tasted the future, and it was vegan."

10/18/2016 TYSON INVESTS IN VEGAN COMPANY

The world's largest meat producer, Tyson Foods, paid an undisclosed sum to vegan company Beyond Meat for five percent of its company. Tyson senior vice president in charge of strategy Monica McGurk marveled at the quality of the Beyond Burger. "We think it's a game-changing product that gives us exposure to this fast-growing part of the food business," McGurk said. Beyond Meat CEO Ethan Brown explains the investment will be a jumpstart to move vegan protein from "the penalty box" of meat alternatives into "the mainstream." Under the Farm Animal Investment Risk & Return Initiative, a group of investors—with holdings worth more than $1 trillion—recently pressured meat companies (including Tyson) to reduce their meat output in an effort to address the effect of animal agriculture on the environment. This historic move marks the first time a meat company invested in a vegan competitor.

10/17/2016 NEW YORK TIMES EXPLORES TRANSPARENCY IN MEAT INDUSTRY

An in-depth feature entitled "Close to the Bone" was published in The New York Times Magazine as part of its current "Food Issue." Tasked with unveiling issues surrounding transparency in the meat industry, writer Ted Genoways discusses the efforts of uncovering cruelty at Hormel Foods Corporation, arguing that animal-rights advocates are crucial to the public understanding of the circumstances surrounding meat. Genoways contends that the government's lack of enforcement when it comes to animal welfare standards in meat production creates a need for independent, undercover investigations. The article argues that the lack of transparency goes unchecked by the United States Department of Agriculture due to its partnership with large meat companies in mutually beneficial checkoff programs. Such windows are increasingly being targeted, however, as Genoways points to the passing of "ag gag" laws that prohibit undercover investigators from exposing cruelty found in farms.

10/17/2016 VEGETARIAN EATERY TO OPEN IN SEATTLE AIRPORT

Seattle vegetarian mainstay Café Flora will open its outpost Floret at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Floret will be located between terminals A and B in an 1,800 square foot space adorned by windows that look out onto the runway. The 60-seater restaurant's menu will feature dishes from the 25-year-old Café Flora menu, as well as more travel-friendly to-go options, vegan-friendly desserts, and breakfast baked goods such as cinnamon rolls. Construction of Floret will begin in March, 2017 and opening day is scheduled sometime before mid-September. Once open, Floret will be the first vegetarian restaurant at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, and one of only a handful of vegetarian (and vegan-friendly) sit-down airport eateries nationwide. For those traveling through Los Angeles International Airport, there is an all-vegan eatery Real Food Daily located at Terminal 4.

10/17/2016 NEW VEGAN FROZEN YOGURT DRONE DELIVERY SERVICE LAUNCHED

National self-serve chain Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt successfully completed its pilot fro-yo drone delivery program at Hope College in Holland, Michigan. Students at the college can now make an appointment to have a Pop-Up Party Box with innovative cold packing materials and Orange Leaf's frozen yogurt—which includes five vegan flavors—delivered via drone and manned by a human pilot. "Millennials are an important target audience for Orange Leaf," the chain's President Geoff Goodman says, "and because we know they are interested in emerging technologies that also offer convenience, we selected a college campus for our first-ever drone delivery test." Coincidentally, millennials are the driving force behind the booming dairy-alternative industry, predicted to reach $35 billion by 2024.

10/14/2016 FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN VEGAN STARTER GUIDE LAUNCHES

Author and animal-rights activist Tracye McQuirter has partnered with animal rescue organization Farm Sanctuary to create the first African American Vegan Starter Guide. The free, 40-page guide is billed as the first of its kind to target the Black community. It offers a host of resources—such as recipes, answers to common questions, and advice about dining out—and highlights prominent vegans such as Russell Simmons, Cicely Tyson, Stevie Wonder, Erykah Badu, Kimberly Elise, Forest Whitaker, John Salley, Angela Davis, and U.S. Senator Cory Booker. "An estimated 1.4 million African Americans (3%) are vegans and vegetarians, and nearly 15 million African Americans (32%) always or sometimes eat meatless meals when eating out," McQuirter says. Black vegans are have been making headlines in 2016, from the launching of Black Vegans Rock, to the presidential nomination of vegan duo Clifton Roberts and Dr. A. Breeze Harper, to the NFL's prasie of player David Carter and his vegan advocacy.

10/14/2016 VEGAN OPTIONS MORE THAN DOUBLE AT US COLLEGES

According to a new survey, vegan options across college and university dining halls nationwide have more than doubled within the last two years. The youth division of PETA assessed 1,500 higher education institutions and found that the number of schools with at least one vegan option on their dining hall menu increased by more than twofold to 62 percent—compared to 45 percent in 2015 and 28 percent in 2014. Furthermore, the survey found that nine percent of schools currently have an all-vegan dining station including American University in Washington DC, University of California in San Diego, University of North Texas, and Warren Wilson College in Asheville, NC. Research shows millennials are increasingly aware and concerned about the exploitation of animals, particularly in institutions of higher learning.

10/14/2016 PATAGONIA RELEASES "WORLD SAVING" VEGAN BEER

Patagonia Provisions—a food and drink extension of outdoor apparel company Patagonia– debuted Long Root Ale brewed by Portland's Hopworks Urban Brewery, a vegan craft beer maker. In addition to two-row barley, yeast, Chinook, Mosaic and Crystal hops, the brand's organic beer is made with a newly developed wheat variety called kernza—a perennial grain which Patagonia Provisions Senior Director Brigit Cameron says "acts like a sponge for carbon," due to its deep roots that send nutrients into soil. "All Hopworks beer is proudly vegan," Patagonia's brewing partner told vegan website Barnivore.com. Patagonia developed this beer as an effort to fight climate change—much of which is caused by greenhouse gas emissions from animal agriculture. Patagonia's Long Root Ale is currently on sale at 101 Whole Foods Market locations in California, Oregon, and Washington.

10/13/2016 BEES ADDED TO ENDANGERED SPECIES LIST FOR THE FIRST TIME

Seven yellow-faced bee species were placed under the protections of the Endangered Species Act by the US Fish and Wildlife Service the week before last week. The bee species are native to Hawaii and their numbers have been dwindling due to environmental factors such as habitat loss and coastal development. Bees are essential in maintaining biodiversity and healthy ecosystems as they function as pollinators of a wide range of plant species. The new protections will allow authorities to implement recovery programs, access funding and limit their harm from outside sources. Awareness about the importance of bees—including an art exhibit called the Grand Beedapest Hotel in England—is on the uptick due to growing concern over the collapse of bee colonies around the world.

10/13/2016 CANADA'S TOP NEWSPAPER SAYS THE END OF MEAT IS NEAR

A recent analysis published on the front page of Canadian-based news outlet National Post examined the imminent downfall of animal agriculture. Writer Claire Brownell centers the discussion around companies that are creating viable alternatives to animal farming including Bill Gates-backed Impossible Foods, Memphis Meats, Mosa Meat, SuperMeat, and Perfect Day. "Demographic forces are putting the livestock industry and those who depend on it in a precarious position," Brownell says. "Raising a cow is a very inefficient way to make food." Brownell presents a host of factors—including steadily decreasing per capita meat consumption, innovations in cultured meat technology, and awareness of the environmental destruction caused by the animal agriculture industry—that indicate that the climate for the replacement of animal meat with animal-free alternatives is ripe. While Brownwell believes that meat will still be on the menu in coming years, she concludes the analysis with the statement, "Now that an animal-free burger that actually tastes good is no longer impossible, it's easier to imagine a world without meat."

10/13/2016 EARTH REACHES CARBON LEVEL TIPPING POINT

The world's atmospheric carbon concentration has reached an irreversible, critical tipping point of 400 parts per million (ppm). "It already seems safe to conclude that we won't be seeing a monthly value below 400 ppm this year—or ever again for the indefinite future," principal investigator for the Atmospheric Oxygen Research Group at Scripps Institution of Oceanography Ralph Keeling said. Scientists have long warned about the dangers of reaching this critical concentration which include cataclysmic events such as rapidly rising sea levels, food chain disruption, ocean acidification, and extinction. Keeling is currently measuring CO2 levels—which should be at their lowest point in the cycle of atmospheric carbon concentration in September—from the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii, which has maintained a record of CO2 levels in the area since 1958. The scientist recorded CO2 levels to be at 401 ppm and warned that future levels below the "tipping point" are nearly impossible.

10/12/2016 IRELAND'S FORMER PRESIDENT URGES YOUNG LEADERS TO GO VEGAN

Former president of Ireland Mary Robinson spoke at the One Young World Summit in Ottawa, Canada where she urged attendees to change their eating habits in an effort to achieve "climate justice." Robinson stood in front of approximately 1,300 attendees—comprised of young leaders from 196 nations—and asked them to consider their environmental impact. "We need each of us to think about our carbon footprint," Robinson said. "Eat less meat, or no meat at all. Become vegetarian or vegan." The impetus behind the former Irish president's speech was the Paris Agreement on climate change signed in April asking nations around the world to reduce their carbon footprint. The former president currently serves as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and her moving speech comes just after the 71st General Assembly of the United Nations, where the global organization failed to discuss the impact of animal agriculture on climate change.

10/12/2016 NUMBER OF DOCTORS INTERESTED IN VEGAN NUTRITION QUADRUPLES

Over 1,000 medical professionals attended the International Plant-Based Nutrition Healthcare Conference in Anaheim, CA last month—four times as many as were in attendance at the inaugural conference in 2012. The purpose of the conference is to educate healthcare professionals about whole food, plant-based treatments (and cures) of preventable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. While many healthcare professionals want to implement dietary-focused treatments, they often lack the tools to do so. One such existing tool is vegan startup Lighter—a digital platform developed for healthcare professionals and their patients—which aims to bridge the gap between the interest in plant-based nutrition and implementation of vegan meal plans as prescriptions for treating patients with food as opposed to pharmaceuticals. Evidencing the trend toward plants, vegan doctor Ethan Ciment told VegNews that a record 750 medical professionals attended this year's Nutrition in Medicine Conference in Washington D.C., hosted by vegan organization, Physician Committee for Responsible Medicine.

10/11/2016 VEGETARIAN BUTCHER NAMED 2016 EMERGING ENTREPRENEUR

Jaap Korteweg (known as "The Vegetarian Butcher") has won the Ernst & Young Emerging Entrepreneur Award in the Netherlands. Korteweg was selected as the winner among seven finalists in the category—which included founders of a cheese company, a fashion brand, and an Apple electronics refurbishing company. The 21st annual award competition took place in sixty countries worldwide and selected winners were chosen based on the vision, passion, inspiration, and leadership they demonstrated in their field. Korteweg and co-founder Niko Koffeman opened The Vegetarian Butcher—or De Vegetarische Slager—as the world's first meat-free butcher shop in 2011 in the Netherlands. The Vegetarian Butcher's meat-free products are primarily made with lupin—a fava bean-like legume native to the Mediterranean region and a protein-rich alternative to soy. The company has since expanded its distribution of products such as Vegan Chicken Chunks, Vegan Chicken Skewers, and Vegan Beef Strips to retailers in 15 countries including Spain, Germany, Finland, Switzerland, and The Republic of Korea.

10/11/2016 MAINE LOBSTERS TO GO EXTINCT BY 2100

A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Maine published in this month's issue of ICES Journal of Marine Science found that Maine lobsters will be extinct by 2100 due to warming waters caused by climate change. The United Nations predicted that waters in the Gulf of Maine—where most of America's remaining lobster fisheries are located—will warm by five degrees in the next 84 years, an environment in which lobster larvae cannot survive. Previous studies have predicted that all saltwater fish could be extinct by 2048 due to warming water temperatures, ocean acidification, and human consumption. In a 2014 study, ecologist Boris Worm of Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia reported that 30 percent of the "edible" fish population had already declined by 90 percent, nullifying the notion that some fish species can be consumed "sustainably." To remedy the pressing issue, companies such as New Wave Foods have developed animal-free versions of sealife, and the results are so impressive that chefs at Google's headquarters in Silicon Valley will be implementing their vegan shrimp across the company's menus.

10/10/2016 HISTORIC PRISON SENTENCE FOR ANIMAL ABUSERS

Three farm workers employed by El Escobar Farm in Murcia, Spain were sentenced to one year in prison for animal cruelty and banned from working with animals for three years. Video footage of the indicted workers, recorded in 2012 by a fellow employee, revealed the routine practice of stabbing pregnant sows in the heart with iron swords and letting them bleed out—a process that takes 2-3 minutes, according to one worker captured in the video, who reported this fact as he continued to beat the downed sow while mocking her suffering, finally cutting out live piglets from the conscious sow's body. Animal-rights organization Animal Equality partnered with the whistleblower to release the video footage to local authorities, who detained the three workers in question within 48 hours. "This is the highest penalty for abuse to farm animals in the history of Spain and we are glad that the animal abusers were found guilty," International Director of Animal Equality Javier Moreno said.

10/10/2016 USA TODAY NOMINATES VEGAN BUTCHERS FOR FOOD AWARD

Minneapolis-based vegan deli The Herbivorous Butcher has been nominated for USA Today's 2016 Best Food & Drink Makers Award. The shop is up against 19 other competitors including San Francisco-based Four Barrel Coffee, Portland-based DIY cheesemaking kit company Urban Cheesecraft, and Brooklyn-based bakers Whimsy & Spice. The Herbivorous Butcher opened its doors in 2015 as the first vegan butcher shop in the United States. Since opening, the shop has received widespread news coverage, appeared on an episode of Food Network's popular show Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, made meals for a simulated Mars excursion, and received rave reviews for their innovative offerings—such as Huli Huli ribs, porterhouse steak, and dill havarti cheese—from fans, including funnyman Jon Stewart. The vegan butchershop is currently at the top of the leader board and voting ends on October 24. Winners will be announced on October 28 on 10Best.com.

10/07/2016 MOBY TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM THAT SPEAKS UP FOR ANIMALS

The newest album from acclaimed vegan musician Moby, "These Systems are Failing," is set to be released October 14—and will use electropop and evocative lyrics as a vehicle to create awareness about the plight of animals. Marking his debut with Moby & The Void Pacific Choir, the album will consist of nine tracks, including "Don't Leave Me"—which Moby released in August along with a video featuring snippets from undercover investigations conducted by animal-rights organization Mercy For Animals (MFA). In the promotional video for the album, Moby drags a microphone across city concrete into a forest and states, "These systems are failing," then displays images of deforestation, over-consumption, political issues, and factory farming—all set to the lyrics "We don’t trust you anymore" looped over powerful electronic beats. The celebrated activist announced his only live musical performance this year will be at the Circle V festival on October 23 in Los Angeles, an event he is organizing to promote veganism through music.

10/07/2016 INVESTORS DEMAND FOOD GIANTS ADDRESS FACTORY FARMING

The week before, the Farm Animal Investment Risk & Return Initiative (FAIRR) sent a demand letter to 16 major food companies—including Walmart, Unilever, Kraft, Heinz, Nestle, Costco, and Whole Foods Market—to inquire about their plans to address the growing crisis of the material impact of factory farming. In the letter, investor coalition FAIRR pointed out the risks of industrial animal production based on their findings from a recent Oxford University study revealing that a global reduction in meat consumption would result in $1.5 trillion in healthcare related savings by 2050. FAIRR Founder Jeremy Coller calls upon corporations to provide a strategy to combat the effects of factory farming because he says the planet "simply can’t cope with the projected increase in global protein demand."

10/06/2016 NEW ZEALAND'S FIRST VEGAN GOVERNOR GENERAL SWORN IN

Last week, Dame Patsy Reddy became New Zealand's Governor General. The first vegan–and third female—to ever hold that office celebrated with a plant-based banquet featuring menu items such as shiitake mushroom consomme, steamed buns with miso roasted eggplant and pickled cucumber, crispy fried tofu with lemongrass, chilli and black vinegar, and, for dessert, citrus syrup cake with date and cacao filo. The four chefs at the Government House where Reddy will reside revealed they will continue to create plant-based menus for the new Governor General, her visitors, and future events. In addition to playing the role of the Queen's representative, the Governor General will serve as the Commander-in-Chief of the military group Royal Guard of Honour. Top government officials are increasingly choosing to eschew animal products and rallying for others to do the same—as evidenced in a recent lecture in Ottowa, Canada wherein the former president of Ireland Mary Robinson urged young leaders to go vegan.

10/06/2016 SECOND ANNUAL VEGAN FEST KICKS OFF IN BALI

The second annual Bali Vegan Festival will kick off on October 7. The three-day festival will take place across two venues and feature a wide array of activities and events including raw food and macrobiotic cooking classes, Jamu workshops, black light (glow) yoga, meditation, documentary screenings, a fashion show, and nightly musical performances by local DJs. The event will also host a number of engaging lectures by activists such as Chair of the International Vegetarian Union and Head of Indonesia Vegetarian Society Dr. Susianto Tseng, Hungarian Ambassador to Indonesia Judit Németh-Pach, Sea Shepherd Asia Director and environmentalist Gary Stokes, and James Aspey—an Australian activist who undertook a 356-day vow of silence to raise awareness of animal suffering. Macrobiotic expert Liat Solomon founded the event. This year, vegan festivals around the world welcomed a record number of attendees including those held in Los Angeles, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

10/04/2016 SACRAMENTO GOES MEATLESS FOR PAUL MCCARTNEY

Thanks to the arrival of Sir Paul McCartney, California state capital Sacramento is making strides toward veganism. On last Tuesday, the city officially passed a resolution declaring that in honor of McCartney, they would support the Meatless Monday campaign by encouraging residents to opt for meat-free meals. The impetus for these efforts is a McCartney concert being held for two nights last weekend at venue Golden 1 Center, enticing the mayor's office to concoct a way to honor the legendary musician and longstanding animal advocate. In addition to meatless options being offered by the Golden 1 Center during McCartney's concerts, throughout the month of October, 22 local restaurants will create meatless dishes in tribute to the musician. Sacramento will also celebrate its sixth annual Vegan Chef Challenge starting October 1, with 23 restaurants already on board to offer specialty vegan appetizers, entrees, and desserts all month long.

10/03/2016 UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA HALTS LIVE PIG TRAINING

The University of South Carolina (USC) has announced that it will end the use of live pigs as part of its emergency physician training. "We are not planning to seek renewal of the live animal training program at this time," an official statement reads. Instead, USC will rely on technological simulations which do not require the use of animals, a procedure the university confirms is a viable alternative. "In doing so, we affirm our belief that preparing health care providers for the preservation of human life is our greatest responsibility, and we are confident that this change will not adversely affect the quality of our training program," the university statement reads. USC’s decision was prompted by a lawsuit filed by vegan association Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) on August 25 which alleged that the university violated the Animal Welfare Act.

The number of news found: 46.

<< Previuos monthNext month >>

Info

List news

<< 2016 >>
01 02 03 04
05 06 07 08
09 10 11 12

Facebook preporuke

We recommend AVALON web hosting