March 2011
70 posts
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CEO Kills Elephant, Posts Video Online.
This is becoming one of the most talked about animal stories of 2011.
GoDaddy.com CEO, Bob Parsons, has posted a video on his personal blog that shows him shooting and killing an elephant in Africa. He says in the video “of everything I do, this is the most rewarding.”
The video shows Parsons chatting with the locals before he blasts an elephant to death with a giant gun. The...
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Vegan Diet Reduces BPA Exposure.
A new study from the Breast Cancer Fund and the Silent Spring Institute says people can reduce the level of BPA in their bodies by eating fresh fruits and vegetables. Participants in the study ate a diet of fresh fruits and vegetables for three days and saw a 60% drop in the level of harmful BPA in their system.
BPA exposure has been linked to increased risk of heart disease, cancer,...
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Tilikum To Perform at SeaWorld Again.
Although responsible for the deaths of three people, SeaWorld has announced that they will begin to force killer whale Tilikum to perform once again.
The 6 ton orca is most known for killing his trainer by grabbing her ponytail, pulling her underwater, and dismembering her inside her wetsuit but Tilikum was also linked to the drowning deaths of two others in the late 80’s and early...
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The Informed Vegan vs. Dairy Queen
The Informed Vegan little league team in Kennewick Washington is going head-to-head with Dairy Queen’s team this Wednesday.
You have no idea how much I’m rooting for these kids.
Best of luck to everyone on both teams and if your side loses don’t worry, you’ll get a rematch in May!
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Vegans Have Lower Risk of Cataracts.
A study done at the University of Oxford has determined that people who eat a vegetarian diet reduce their risk of getting cataracts by 40%.
The study was limited to individuals over the age of 40 and looked at the quantity of meat in test subject’s diets. It found that the less meat a person eats, the lower their risk for cataracts. Vegetarians and vegans are the lowest risk group.
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Coming Soon: Plastic Made of Animals.
This one has me scratching my head.
Researchers at Clemson University have developed a new type of partially biodegradable plastic made from a mixture of polythene and the pulverized bones and meat from the factory farm industry.
Although not quite as durable as 100% petroleum based plastics, bone meal plastic would be more environmentally friendly and save room in landfills. The animal...
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Circus Beats Elephant With Pitchfork.
The Bobby Roberts Super Circus has been caught on film beating and kicking a 57-year old Asian elephant while she is chained in her winter quarters.
The video shows Annie the elephant being beaten with a pitchfork and kicked in the face and body while she is shackled with a small chain. Annie spends 9-months of the year on the road and the other three chained in a small basement where she is...
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Live Turtle and Fish Keychains.
On street corners and near subway entrances in China, you can pay a few yuan to pick up a keychain souvenir filled with dyed water and a live animal like a fish or tiny turtle.
Keychains claim to be filled with dyed “nutrient rich” water to help extend the life of the tiny creature inside. The pouch that the animals live in is totally sealed so eventually the animal will die from a...
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Steven Seagal Rides Tank, Busts Cockfighter.
Cockfighter Jesus Llovera was suspected by Arizona police to have weapons on his property so when police decided to raid his home on cockfighting charges, they brought armored vehicles and the most deadly weapon of all…Steven Seagal.
While filming his new reality show “Lawman,” actor turned real-life cop Steven Seagal used a tank and a fleet of armored vehicles to bust...
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Denny's Maple Bacon Sundae...Oh No.
Beyond just trying to make you obese, I think Denny’s is actually trying to kill you. The 24/7 American diner chain has released their Maple Bacon Sundae to go along with their new heart-stopping mozzarella stick grilled cheese sandwich.
The sundae is made by placing a layer of bacon on top of a serving of ice cream, smothering that in maple syrup, adding a second layer of ice cream,...
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UK Mega Dairy Officially Dead.
Nocton Dairies Ltd. has officially withdrawn their application to build a 3,700 cow milking plant and factory farm in the UK.
Back in February, following public outcry, the mega milker put their plans to build UK’s largest dairy operation on hold citing, “[the public’s] concern with animal agriculture in general and the modern dairy farm in particular.” Activists feared...
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Concentration Camp For Animals.
The Kiev Zoo is under fire and they don’t seem to mind. Since new management took over in October of 2010, nearly half the animals (over 250 to be exact) have died or mysteriously disappeared. Local Kiev animal rights activists say, “it’s no longer a zoo, it’s a concentration camp for animals.”
The bodies are piling up and the management seems to not care too much....
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Iowans Oppose Anti-Filming Law.
A new survey released today shows that the vast majority of people in Iowa disagree with a proposed law to criminalize undercover photography of factory farms and animal industries.
The survey found that: 65% of voters oppose the bill, 21% support it, and 14% are undecided.
Thank god.
Even though the bill has moved out of the House and is now being considered by the Senate, the people of Iowa...
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Calculate The Hidden Water You Use.
National Geographic Online has an amazing new water calculator on their website to help educate on how much fresh and irrigated water it takes to make a meal.
The calculator looks at all sorts of products you wouldn’t normally think of as water hogs. It reveals some of the not-so-surprising facts, like:
- 1 pound of beef requires 1,799 gallons of water.
- 1 pound of soy requires 216...
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Is There Glue In Your Meat?
There is a chance that your single piece of meat is actually thousands of meat bits glued together with what is crudely referred to as “meat glue.”
Sometimes made from the clotting agents in cow and pig blood plasma. Meat glue is used by meat producers and chefs to hold together bits of meat to sell as a single, and more expensive, product. Meat glue may be disgusting but it has not...
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Brutal Halal Meat Sold in Secret.
Many meat eating Danish don’t know that the majority of the slaughter performed in their country is done in accordance with the Islamic traditions of Halal, which is seen as more agonizing and horrific than traditional Western slaughter. The Copenhagen Post revealed today that 99% of all chicken in Denmark is slaughtered Halal and only 33% of people even know it.
Halal slaughter requires...
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Win New Daiya Pepperjack!
As many readers probably already know, Daiya Cheese has released their new Pepperjack style shreds to mass fanfare. The vegan cheese world has officially been turned on its head.
I figure that The Informed Vegan readers need to be some of the first people to get their hands on the melty-spicy-good-stuff. That’s why we are giving away free Daiya to 5 lucky readers.
Here’s...
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China Arrests 22 Pig Dopers.
China has detained 22 people, some of them pig farmers, in connection with the recent distribution of dangerous drugged meat.
The 22 allegedly gave the drug clenbuterol to pigs in order to produce leaner meat. The drug is banned from use all over the world because of its toxicity to humans. In addition to the latest arrests, China has been able to recall 70 tons of the contaminated meat but the...
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Radiation May Contaminate US Milk.
Story Updated For Improved Accuracy.
As radiation from the failing Japanese nuclear reactors makes its way across the ocean and onto America’s west coast, health agencies fear that dangerous levels could appear in milk. After nuclear plant malfunctions like the one in Japan, milk supplies are closely watched for radiation exposure.
California, the world’s largest milk producing...
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DJ I-DEE Creates New Genres.
By the time he was 19, DJ I-DEE won the DMC USA Supremacy Championships, Scribble Jam, and Gong World Supremacy. After cementing his reputation as one of the greatest DJs in the world, he released his debut album at 21. At age 24, he’s released his second album and tours the world as one the most unique voices in music. He’s sincere, focused, open-minded, and dedicated to a...
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Knut Dead at Age 4.
Held in captivity his whole life, Berlin’s beloved polar bear Knut has died at age 4 of an apparent heart attack.
After getting into a small pool, Knut convulsed and died in front of over 600 visitors. Ten minutes later the park was sealed and visitors were sent away.
Polar bears in captivity tend to live 10 to 15 years so Knut’s death comes as a major shock. The zoo has...
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Obama Demands Vegan Meals in Brazil.
It’s been reported in the Brazilian press that President Obama has asked that he and his delegation be served a 100% vegan menu while he travels through Brazil this week.
Reportedly, Obama will bring his 200-person entourage of journalists, politicians, business people, and security staff to Brazil on a goodwill tour and all 200+ will be eating delicious catered vegan food.
Vegan food...
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Bizarre SeaWorld Orca Masturbation.
In 2010, rock star Tommy Lee helped expose the “sick and twisted” way male orcas are made to submit to bizarre and revolting masturbation for sperm collection.
For the sperm collection procedure, the whale is trained to lie on his back while trainers expose his genitals. Once exposed, the trainer reportedly uses a cow vagina filled with warm water to induce ejaculation. SeaWolrd...
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Meat and Dairy Can Weaken Bones.
A professor from the University of North Carolina has reviewed over 1,200 of the most recent studies on bone health and confirmed what some have said for years, dairy and meat are actually bad for your bones.
It’s been determined that people with diets high in protein and amino acids from meat and dairy showed high levels of calcium in their urine, calcium that had been leached from their...
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We Sponsored a Little League Team!
I’m happy to announce that The Informed Vegan blog is a proud sponsor of a Kennewick National baseball team which bears our site’s name.
The Informed Vegan little league team is about to kick off their season with the possibility of going head to head with teams like Dairy Queen and Tyson Fresh Meats.
I grew up playing little league in Kennewick, Washington, so it feels great to...
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Dairy Violations Can Be Kept Secret.
In yet another case of governments blocking citizen rights in order to protect agribusiness, an Idaho House Committee has passed a measure to allow dairies to keep waste management records secret.
The Idaho Dairymen’s Association has been complaining that environmental groups are “harassing” them after details about dangerous waste discharges at local dairies became public....
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Film a Farm, Get 30 Years in Prison.
Inspired by Iowa no doubt, the Florida legislature is introducing a bill to make photographing or videotaping a farm without written consent a felony.
Under the proposed law, a person caught taking simple photographs or video recordings of the conditions on factory farms would be committing a felony act. Violators could face a $10,000 fine and serve as much as 30 years in prison.
Imagine...
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Utah Feral Killing Bill Shot Down.
The Utah bill allowing residents to kill feral animals at their own discretion has officially been blocked.
I mentioned the bill a few months back and saw a huge response from outraged readers. The bill was brought forward by law makers in Utah who were concerned about feral animals being a nuisance. If approved, the bill would have allowed individuals the right to kill animals...
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Cows Shot Dead After Stockyard Escape.
A stockyard owner could face criminal prosecution after shooting 30 cows dead in front of a group of children.
The 30 cows escaped a stockyard and wandered around the neighborhood eating gardens to before the disturbed owner tracked them down. Believing that the cows were a public danger, the owner shot the cows dead in full view of the public.
Officials claim that the area had been cleared...
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Beauty Pageant with Snake Skinning.
Every March, in Sweetwater Texas, girls compete for the Rattlesnake Round-up tiara and the title of Miss Snake Charmer. Contestants are rated on grace, beauty, poise, and their ability to chop up, dismember, and skin a live rattlesnake in front of cheering fans.
Snakes are hunted in the wild and brought to the town Colosseum. Here they are placed in a pit where contestants proceed to chop the...
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British Highly Confused About Meat.
A new study, released just in time for National Butchers Week in the UK, found a disturbingly large portion of Britons are very confused about meat.
Here’s a sample of the findings:
20% of people think that tofu is a cut of meat.
17% of people surveyed say that pork wings came from the wings of a pig.
One-in-20 respondents think haggis, game pie, and oxtail are vegetarian.
I’d...
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Gulf Seafood Still Dangerous.
Renowned environmental toxicologists have discovered dangerous crude oil toxins in oysters, shrimp, crabs, and fish caught off the Gulf Coast far from the Deep Water Horizon oil spill.
Scientists and fishmen are expressing concern about the tainted sea life because the toxins can’t be detected through smell, taste, or touch. Toxicologists are alarmed because BP is claiming areas that...
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Obese Lab Monkeys Model Americans.
To develop better diet pills and obesity related drugs, scientists in Oregon are creating obese lab monkeys for testing. The obese monkeys are meant to give researchers an “accurate model” of the American “couch potato.”
Since the western world is getting fatter everyday, the demand for diet pills and drugs related to obesity has skyrocketed. Researchers at...
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Is Whole Foods 'Whole Paycheck?'
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Whole Foods CEO and strict vegan John MacKey said that he believed an American could eat better and spend only $200 a month on food even if they shopped at Whole Foods.
He rejects the media’s attempt the label Whole Foods with the nickname “Whole Paycheck” noting that his store is really not more expensive and could actually be...
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Cole Brothers Circus Fined $160,000.
After four years of investigations and formal complaints by In Defense of Animals, Cole Brothers Circus has been ordered to cough up $160,000 for a major violation of the Endangered Species Act.
Cole Brothers Circus, and owner John Pugh, were caught selling endangered Asian elephants to trainer Will Davenport. Without the necessary permit to do so, the sale was a direct violation of the...
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Man Drinks Only Beer For Lent.
A home brewer in Iowa has given up everything except beer and water for lent.
This may not turn out well but as long as he stays away from brews that contain animal products like Guinness and Budweiser Clamato, he’ll be totally vegan.
He might want to check out this sweet beer guide from Barnivore to find out which suds are vegan and which ones are not. You’d be surprised how many...
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Schools May Ban Leather Shoes.
After being approached by PETA India, the Indian government is considering a proposal to ban leather shoes from schools as a form of protest against the environmental destruction the leather industry has caused in the country.
The Marharashta Pollution Control Board has addressed the issue saying “the leather industries in India produce over 80,000 cubic meters of wastewater...
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Smithfield Reveals Mystery of Pork.
Pork mega producer, Smithfield Foods, has responded to years of damaging investigatory footage taken at their facilities by posting seven new videos on their fancy YouTube account. Smithfield hopes the videos will “take the mystery of of pork production.” So gather the kids around the ol’ internets, maybe we’ll finally learn what’s in a hot dog!
The YouTube...
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7 Tons of E. Coli Beef Recalled.
Seven tons of beef supplied by Creekstone Farms has been recalled for e. coli contamination. The recall comes days after the USDA admits their e. coli testing is severely flawed.
In this case, the USDA was actually who caught the contamination which means the e. coli must have been rampant seeing as the USDA only tests 60 samples in every 2,000 pounds of beef.
At the time of publishing,...
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Support of Veal Crates Violates Ohio Compromise.
In Ohio last June, a compromise was reached between animal welfare groups, the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, and big agribusiness interests in which a ballot initiative was withheld in exchange for minor improvements to animal welfare. Animal welfare groups are claiming that a recent vote to support veal crates has violated the terms of the compromise and they are preparing to do battle.
Last...
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Is Soy Suitable For Men?
The question “is soy suitable for men?” was posed recently to the resident health expert at Canada’s Globe and Mail newspaper. Seems like a dumb question yet one that is asked more often than you would think.
The expert explained to the confused questioner that:
“a study conducted in more than 12,000 Californian men found that those who drank a soy beverage daily,...
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Westboro Baptists and Animal Rights Terrorism.
In a historic 8-to-1 decision, the United States Supreme Court ruled that protests at soldier’s funerals by the Westboro Baptist Church were within the legal rights of free speech.
This decision is even more distressing when you think that activists supporting the Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC) campaign were placed in federal prison in 2006 because the same court ruled that...