SeaWorld Stops Dolphin Feeding

Now, as many of us know, SeaWorld has a pretty dark reputation when it comes to how they treat their sea creatures. Recently, the SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida, has ended it's guest dolphin feeding program. The consistent offerings of food were causing obese, lethargic, aggressive, and underweight dolphins. With such a constant stream of food being offered, the dolphins grew more competitive, resulting in the weaker/lesser dolphins receiving very little food as they were constantly being bullied away by the larger, stronger dolphins. In light of the trainer deaths at SeaWorld (I recommend watching Blackfish to learn more) the dolphin feeding program had been facing a lot of criticism. When it became apparent the program was negatively affecting the dolphins in the exhibit, the program was cut.

SeaWorld has been disintegrating slowly for a long time now, and this degenerating has been seen as beneficial to the animal rights movement. The conditions the SeaWorld animals live in are in no way conducive to the well being of the animals themselves or the environment. Sea parks use up millions of gallons of water daily and in no way benefit the creatures housed in them. In a time where both life and water are so precious, the personal economy of tourist industries seems rather small doesn't it?

Photo from South Villa Orlando

To read the full Guardian article, click here.

Beyond Carnism

Oops another video :)
Melaine Joy presents a very logical argument and a very fascinating speech. It is a Ted Talk so it's under 20 minutes for those of you who have tight schedules. Enjoy and spread around!

Beyond Carnism- an idea worth spreading. Let's get that global paradigm a-shifting!

Saintfield Cruelty

Two farmers from Northern Ireland were jailed recently for incredible animal abuse on their farm. The vet that visited had to put down 75 of the animals which inhabited the farm, mostly cows and pigs. The BBC reported that "an inspection of the farm found animals not being properly fed and watered, and not given dry areas on which to lie," and also found the "carcasses of dead animals" on the farm. The judge overseeing the trial at the Downpatrick Magistrate Court called the scenario "one of the worst cases of cruelty in Northern Ireland or anywhere in these islands."
The animals were held in an extreme state of neglect, to the point where the dead bodies of others were not even noticed or removed from the holdings. This is a despicable act that was committed and I am proud of the government for interfering on behalf of the farm animals. 59 of the inhabitants managed to be saved, but that is still 16 less than the ones that had to be euthanized by a veterinarian because of the conditions they had been kept in. It's heartbreaking that there are still people who are identified as farmers who still treat their animals this way. These beings did nothing to deserve the treatment they received, and it is because of stories like this that I am so proud to be a member of this community. This community truly cares about the planet and helps to spread the word that once we are good to others, we are good to ourselves and societies will benefit.

Photo from BBC News

To read the whole BBC article click here

A Dark Side of Greyhound Racing

I have never been a fan of dog/horse races and derbies. The latest discovery made by the ABC television network has only enforced my resolve. The ABC program "Four Corners" did an episode on greyhound racing in South Wales and revealed that trainers were tying live rabbits, piglets, and possums to mechanical lures to get their dogs to run faster. Not only is this practice abominable, it is also illegal in the industry (and in general).
The board of Greyhound Racing NSW has officially disbanded/stepped down for their inability or unwillingness to prevent this behavior. Deputy Premier Troy Grant claimed “The government is committed to ensuring anyone caught blooding their dogs will be kicked out of the sport for life and we will restore the integrity of the industry" when addressed with the problem.

Though I personally do not believe the industry to have had much integrity to begin with, it is good that it has ethics that it is willing to uphold.

Photo by oocities.org

To read the full article click here.

101 Reasons to Go Vegan- the Presentation

It's another long video but it's another important one for those of you who have the time. (Sorry for lack of posts life has been happening, will be back on the wagon now.)

Chai and Bamboo: The Woodland Park Zoo Elephants

Though some zoos are very helpful when it comes to preserving and aiding endangered species, a lot of the time the animals on display suffer from psychological damage and are extremely unhappy. Such is the case with Chai and Bamboo, two elephants living in the Woodland Park Zoo. An animal rights group, The Elephant Justice Project, is ready to sue the zoo over the emotional conditions of their elephants.

Chai and Bamboo are to be moved, but it is up to the zoo whether they will be placed in an elephant sanctuary, or sent to another zoo. The activists are claiming the elephant's captivity is a violation of the Endangered Species Act.

To read more, click here

Beyoncé's Vegan Delivery Service

Photo from eonline.com

One of the biggest singers around, Beyoncé Knowles, has just announced she has partnered with her trainer to launch a vegan food delivery service. Not only is it great that HUGE celebrities like Beyoncé are acknowledging and advocating the power of plant-based diets, but this service will allow people to try out veganism with little to no effort on their part. It provides an easy way for people to experience the power of clean, sustainable eating. Beyoncé was inspired after she and Jay-Z did a 22-day vegan challenge, which both enjoyed greatly.
I can't even begin to describe how excited I am by this. Beyoncé has a lot of influence over many people globally, especially in the young and upcoming generations. By setting a vegan example and encouraging vegan programs, she's paving the way for those younger generations to change their lifestyles to one of better nutrition and ecologically sound. I'm hoping this program will have a similar effect to her "I am a feminist" announcement, because when she stood up and supported her belief, many of her fans followed. People who stand together become a movement, and a movement changes the world. Of course there will be those who are against her cause, but I believe a woman like Beyoncé can really REALLY make a difference when she puts her mind to it.

So for this new development I am very thankful to the Queen.

 

 

 

To read about it click here or here

Photo from PSMag.com

"The Best Speech You will Ever Hear"

Gary brings a lot of things to light in this speech. His passion is empowering and his words and images enlightening. I watch this whenever I feel like I need to be reminded of why I need to work my hardest and continue trying my best to open people's eyes to the violent industry around them. He uses both humor and brutal honesty to get his point across. The speech has been translated into several different languages so it is available to a lot of people. Please take the time to watch it. It is an hour long so maybe if you don't have the morning watch this on the weekend or instead of your nightly TV episodes, but do watch it- for everything.

Obama Pushes to Preserve Alaska

President Barack Obama is pushing to reserve more of the Alaskan coastal plains as wilderness refuge instead of potential oil sources. This is an incredible step for the States considering the environment has been sidelined in politics for a while now. However, Big Business America is angry at the president for trying to make this change because it cuts off their access to POTENTIAL oil sources. The Alaskan coastline is believed to have rich oil deposits, but in that location, no one knows for sure.
If the extra 12.3 million acres Obama is trying to save to indeed stay untouched, it would be a huge accomplishment for the United States and a great benefit to the environment. Species living in the ever-deteriorating way north would be able to remain in their habitats safely. I urge you all to voice your support for Obama's cause, for the polar bears, for the planet.

Photo from BBCnews.com

To read the BBC Article and more click here