http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Union-Square-Shoppers-Hit-With-Protests-134513033.html

By Jason Koestenblatt, LongValley Patch | October 26, 2011
http://longvalley.patch.com/articles/resident-pizzeria-join-to-offer-vegan-option

World Go Vegan Week goes through Oct. 31.

Some say there’s nothing simpler than ordering a pizza.

For one Long Valley resident, that’s how she came to lean on a local eatery to help spread the word about World Go Vegan Week.

Christine Money, a vegan and local volunteer for In Defense of Animals (IDA), thought it would be a great idea to spread awareness of the cause and share her way of life with her neighbors.

“IDA came up with this particular campaign, asking local pizzerias to offer vegan pizza, as it was such a simple way for people to make a vegan choice,” Money said.

Money’s next step was to head over to Bob’s Long Valley Pizza, Deli & Bagel, to see what could be done about it.

“Christine approached me with the idea, and brought over a bag of this stuff called Daiya mozzarella shred,” said Bob Prudente, owner of the pizzeria. “I made a pie with it, and I was shocked. It was surprisingly good.”

The Daiya mozzarella shred is dairy and lactose free, and includes tapioca and arrowroot among its ingredients. Bob’s Pizza offered a gluten-free crust before World Go Vegan Week, which runs through Monday, Oct. 31.

A handful of people have ordered the vegan pizza, Prudente said, with more promising to return before week’s end.

“Some of these people have said they haven’t had pizza in so long because they’re allergic to dairy or have a gluten allergy, and they’re so happy about this option,” Prudente said.

For Money, though, it’s not just about allergies and sensitivities to various foods.

“Some may question why this choice is such an all-round benefit, not just for their own immediate health, but that of global health,” Money said. “It’s about the impact of animal agriculture on environmental degradation, clear-cutting forest, water pollution, production of methane, and the egregious brutality of factory farming, with dairy farming being one of the worst.”

For more information about World Go Vegan Week, visit worldgoveganweek.org.

Click here to visit site and video.

The City Council voted Tuesday to prohibit the sale of live chickens at the Richmond’s Certified Farmer’s Market, igniting an eruption of cheers from animal rights supporters who filled City Hall.

The crowd, which consisted mostly of visitors to Richmond, was there on a larger animal-rights agenda, fueled by a recent victory in banning live chicken sales at the Heart of the City Farmer’s Market in San Francisco. Despite the determination of supporters, the ban will affect only one vendor at Richmond’s Farmer’s Market, and then only for two months.

The ban will take effect October 31, when the Richmond Certified Farmer’s Market contract is due for renewal. The state of California is banning the sale of live animals in parking lots and on sidewalks beginning in 2012. Though there was some confusion over the state’s legislation, Richmond City Attorney Randy Riddle assured the council that the ban will include poultry.

“When we know that in January this will be banned, my position is such that, let us get comfortable with the contract that is inline with what we know will be state law coming up very soon,” Mayor Gayle McLaughlin said.

The live-chicken vendor, Raymond Young, has had repeated public confrontations in San Francisco with two of the groups present Tuesday night: LBGT Compassion Group and In Defense of Animals. In Richmond, the groups said they found the same health code violations and animal cruelty instances that they found at Young’s previous operation in San Francisco.

San Francisco’s ban left Richmond as the sole city in the Bay Area where Young could sell live chickens. He sells about 700 birds a week at the Richmond Certified Farmer’s Market, according to the market’s president, Tom Cloman.

Live animal sales are allowed, but not within 20 feet of produce and eggs, according to the California health code. Violations occur whenever a customer buys a chicken, which Young and his workers put into paper and plastic bags, and the customer then walks around the market shopping for produce.

The health regulation exists to prevent feces, which carries bacterial disease, from spreading through the farmer’s market. The public is directly exposed to feces on the outside of the plastic bags and on the workers, said Andrew Zollman of the LGBT Compassion Group, and the feces is then carried around the market and onto public transit.

According to the code, signs must be posted instructing customers in three languages – English, Spanish, and Chinese – not to walk around the market after they have purchased the chickens.

But it’s a difficult rule to enforce and requires extra resources from city.

“We can’t fix the this problem, it’s impossible,” said Denise Bolbol in the public comment session. “I watched multiple security guards unable to keep these people 20 feet from other vendors with chickens in their bags.”

Though the chicken-vendor Young has received several environmental health code violations at Richmond, he has corrected his violations prior to the next inspection every time, said LaShonda Wilson, the assistant city manager. Cloman, the market manager, confirmed this in his brief objection to the prohibition.

Pathogens and disease were also a common theme in the argument against selling live chickens. A statewide surveillance program that conducts health inspections on chickens “that are spotty” only checks for Avian influenza and Newcastle virus, and does not check for bacterial infections, Wilson said.

Due to lack of resources, the state has given Young kits to test the chickens himself and then requires him to submit the results to the state. Animal rights supporters said they didn’t trust his reporting.

The LGBT Compassion group has questioned Young’s credibility before, arguing that he is not actually involved in raising the chickens, but instead buys them from large producers such as Gemperle Farms. Since these farms are fully automated, Zollman said, Young couldn’t possibly be doing any of his own farming.

One concern, said Councilmember Jeff Ritterman, is that selling factory-farmed chickens at a farmer’s market misleads the consumer into thinking the chicken is organic.

Though he agreed that factory farming was disturbing, Councilmember Tom Butt said that it is important for children to see where their food comes from, which was the primary reason that he didn’t vote to support the ban.

“Most people don’t know where food comes from,” Butt said. “They think it comes from the grocery store. I think it does people good to see where food comes from, to realize that that chicken breast comes from an animal with feathers on it and it doesn’t come from a package.”

The ban is an act of discrimination, Cloman said, which is the same argument brought against the animal rights groups in San Francisco by Young.

“These groups have literally pounded this Asian farmer to run him out of business,” Cloman said.

Cloman barely got through his argument when his public comment time ran out and the crowd loudly interrupted and hurried him off the podium.

Over the yells of the crowd, Cloman turned to the council. “Don’t let this group bully you,” he said, his voice barely audible.

Cloman found his only other support from a dissenter in the crowd who labeled the issue one of meat-eaters versus vegetarians.

The dozens who had come out to speak against Young had already been protesting Richmond’s Certified Farmer’s Market, and had bombarded Mayor McLaughlin with 1,015 emails.

The City Council’s ban will only be effective for two months – starting October 31, when the contract is redrawn, and ending in 2012, when the state laws override the council. McLaughlin said she didn’t want the city to spend valuable resources on this issue, even for two months.

“I certainly believe that our staff will have to continue to monitor this and I do not think this is good use of our staff’s time over the next two months,” McLaughin said.

“I am torn,” Councilmember Jovanka Beckles said. While she said she didn’t necessarily agree with the animal rights’ groups, she agreed that the city needs to allocate its valuable resources to other issues.

The final vote was 4-2. It was hard to hear the announcement of the votes over the roar of excitement from the ban’s supporters, but with Councilmember Nat Bates absent, Butt and Councilmember Corky Booze were the only voters against the prohibition.

PARMA, Ohio – Parma becomes the first in the state to recognize pets as part of the family and change a term on all animal-related ordinances.

City Council members approved changing the phrase pet “owner” to pet “guardian” on all animal-related ordinances.

Holy Name High School student Brandon Yanak pushed for the change. “As more people begin to think and act as ‘guardians’ of their animal companions, I expect to see higher levels of animal care and appreciation, thus helping to end many animal-related problems such as people breeding animals and keeping too many in inadequate conditions on their property in Parma,” he said in a news release.

Parma joins 17 other cities in officially recognizing the value of the term “animal guardian” in reference to cherished animal companions.

The Guardian Campaign was created in 1999 by In Defense of Animals (IDA) to reflect and nurture the growing sentiment that “owner” does not reflect the bond that develops between people and animals. IDA believes “guardian” denotes a higher level of responsibility, caring and respect toward the animals with whom families share their lives. They feel as more people use the term “animal guardian” more animals will be adopted instead of purchased, and fewer dogs and cats will be killed in shelters.

For more information about the Guardian Campaign, visit www.guardiancampaign.org.

In ancient China, eating dog meat was considered medical, now it’s proving to be simply ancient. With China’s growing affluent class, who are increasingly falling in love with in-door pets, eating cats and dogs is clashing with these old beliefs. That’s why Chinese legal experts have proposed to place a ban on eating dogs and cats.

The Guardian reports that drafters at The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences have been consulting on the matter with Britain’s Royal society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the US-based International Fund for Animal Welfare.

Across China there are dog and cat farms, where the animals are slaughtered and sold, and for some it begs the question ‘what makes cats and dogs any different than other animals we eat?’

The Guardian quoted an internet poster on the Xhinua news agency website, who states: “This is absurd. Why only dogs and cats? How about pigs, cows and sheep.”

But, the voice of the protester is on the rise. The proposal reflects the growing belief that cats and dogs should be treated like pets, not food, but contrasts with firm defenders of China’s traditional and medicinal practices.

“I support this proposal. Whether you judge this as a question of food security or emotions, there is absolutely no necessity in China for people to eat dogs and cats,” said Zeng Li, the founder of the Lucky Cats shelter in Beijing.

“We need something more than moral pressure. Beijing’s dog restaurants get their meat mainly from vagrant and stolen dogs. In the suburbs, dogs are hung and slaughtered in front of buyers.”

But China isn’t alone in its fight against the slaughter of dogs for human consumption. In South Korea’s more rural towns, the practice is still largely in effect.  However, although the practice is more common in rural areas of South Korea, it is still a practiced in Seoul, the country’s capital and most affluent and multi-cultural city.

In 2010, images of a reportedly Chinese woman were heavily circulated over the internet. In the pictures she is killing a dog by stepping on it with her high-heeled shoes. Many Korean and Chinese citizens were outraged by the photo, spawning letters to be written against the killing of dogs and cats.

The Korean Animal Rights Advocates (KARA) posted a story with images on their website via a student at Yongin Foreign Language High School. The student told KARA that he could see the dog farm from the high school playground. Not only could he see the dogs, the sound of the shackled dogs’ barks and “yelps of fear” would carry through to the high school. The student also claimed that there was a powerful and “disgusting smell” that wafted towards the playground, including the smell of “burned hair” caused by “blowtorching removal of dog hair.”

According to In Defense of Animals (IDA), despite it being technically illegal, two million South Korean dogs are electrocuted, strangled, or bludgeoned to death each year. But steady strides are being made in South Korea against the practice of dog farming.

The Korea Dog Farmers’ Association was to have an open-air market in the city of Seongnam (South of Seoul), but after numerous protesters spoke out against such practices, the market was canceled.

“This is making our country an international laughing stock, and making the whole world mistakenly believe that all South Koreans eat dogs,” said Park So-Youn, head of Coexistence of Animal Rights on Earth.

“Canines are the animals emotionally closest to humans. You can’t just publicly celebrate killing and eating them,” Park said.

Ann, a professor of nutrition at Chung Cheong University, told AFP, ”We couldn’t possibly go on with the plan due to endless phone calls of complaint… now there are few willing to rent us a place for the event.”

The practice of eating meat in South Korea has been tied to making one more sexually active, though some Koreas disagree with this reason. The practice has also been, like China, traced to health related reasons.

A temporary emergency shelter for animals displaced by the ongoing floods has been set up at 2838 Sunset Drive, one mile west of Interstate 55.

According to Hope Animal Sanctuary Director Doll Stanley, the In Defense of Animals (IDA) Disaster Response Team began accepting animals yesterday at the warehouse located between the U.S. Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks office and C and R Transmissions.

“The IDA shelter can accommodate approximately 60 to 100 animals,” she said. “We intend to operate this emergency shelter for one month.”

IDA organized the effort after learning there were only three emergency shelters for animals in Mississippi in response of the disaster, said Stanley.

“We will have agreements with guardians entrusting their animals to us to either reunite them within the month, or to place them for adoption,” she said.

If the IDA shelter fills to capacity, the nearest alternate shelter is located at 404 Third Street in Cleveland, according to Stanley.

“The Animal Medical Clinic is opening its kennel area for this purpose, and the Bolivar County Humane Society will provide care for the animals,” she said. “IDA is encouraging interested volunteers to contact Hope Animal Sanctuary to learn how to join the state-sponsored Mississippi Animal Response Team for the training required to participate in disaster response.”

Supplies are also needed for cleaning, medicating and feeding, as well as fuel for transport and to operate a generator at the site, Stanley said.

For more information or to help, contact Stanley at 809-4483, or e-mail doll@idausa.org.

To make a monetary donation, send a check or money order to Hope Animal Sanctuary/In Defense of Animals, 52 County Road 341, Grenada, Miss. 38901

To read the original online publication, please click here to visit the Grenada Star

Now an anonymous donor from Ridgeland, Mississippi has added $500 to the reward fund established by IDA, bringing the total to $1,000. Anyone with information on this or any other criminal act against animals should contact IDA’s Hope Animal Sanctuary at (662) 809-4483.

A neighbor told Mr. Pickens he’d heard shots the night of December 8. Miss Kitty, Mr. Pickens’ 10-year-old grey Quarter Horse, sustained five bullet wounds: two to her chest, one behind her right front leg, and another two to her right side. It appeared that Miss Kitty ran about 100 yards before succumbing to the wounds.

Mr. Pickens’ other horse, a 3-year-old Quarter Horse named Lil’ Bit, sustained a bullet wound to each front leg; one to her right front knee may have crippled her.

Doll Stanley, Director of IDA’s Hope Animal Sanctuary, said: “Mr. Pickens visited us right after confirming his horses had been shot. He said the Grenada County Sheriff’s Department responded to his report of the shootings. We were greatly disturbed by the report that the horses had been senselessly shot in what appears to have been a random act of violence.”

Ms. Stanley added that “acts of violence towards animals, especially defenseless and vulnerable animals, are perpetrated by anti-social people who often also inflict suffering upon human beings.” In Defense of Animals hopes the offer of a reward will interest someone with knowledge of the crime to come forward.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Doll Stanley, (662) 809-4483, doll@idausa.org; Lee Pickens, (662) 226-0884

In Defense of Animals has called the footage of Palin clubbing a halibut to death a “snuff film.” Alaska fisherman groups beg to differ, saying it’s actually a humane technique to put down the large fish, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

The former vice presidential nominee took to the seas with her daughter Bristol (off from a night of dancing, I presume), where she tells the camera, “stunning the halibut may seem a bit harsh to some, but it’s the safest and most humane way to harvest these massive fish.”

Read the entire article, view the video and vote at the Washington Post Blog.

Deschanel has been an outspoken vegan for many years and regularly discusses the health, environmental and animal welfare issues behind a plant-based diet.

“The 5th annual World Go Vegan Week is taking place this year from October 24th through 31st,” said Deschanel. “This week is a celebration of compassion and a time to take action for animals, the environment and everyone’s well-being. A plant-based diet not only improves your health, it significantly reduces your carbon footprint and preserves resources for future generations. So please join me in creating a healthy future and go vegan for World Go Vegan Week.”

Are you planning to celebrate World Go Vegan Week? Chime in and share some of your favorite activist activities! Not sure how you can get involved? Stop by IDAUSA.org and get some inspiration!

Read the entire article here.