Livin’ Veg

Say No To Canned Hunts March 12, 2010

I am certainly not a fan of hunting. However, not all kinds of hunting are the same. Internet hunts and canned hunts are in a class all their own.

What do those terms mean?

The practice of killing animals remotely via the Internet and the abhorrent practice of shooting confined, tame, exotic animals in an enclosed space.

Let’s make this a take action Friday. In fact, every Friday from now on, I think I’m going to post a take action. Through the form on HSUS, write to your representative and urge them to support the Sportsmanship in Hunting Act.

Even proud hunters find this practice horrific. They see no sport in hunting an animal by moving a computer mouse, or shooting an animal that’s fenced in. It’s a lazy cruel pastime for lazy cruel people. Let’s make it illegal everywhere.

Zoos: Ethical or not? November 6, 2009

People love to see animals up close. They like them on television, but really, they love even more to be ten feet away and make eye contact with the subject of interest. I don’t think anyone can deny that it’s thrilling to see an animal up close. But does that desire trump the animal’s right to freedom? Or, in the case of some animals that are taken in by zoos because they can’t survive in the wild due to a human who wanted an exotic pet of their very own -  how about a space where they don’t have to be heckled by adults and small children. Most credible sanctuaries aren’t even open to the public. They do that because it’s in the best interest of the animal to have huge amounts of space to move around in, and zoos aren’t conducive to that.

Some arguments I’ve heard people make for zoos:

1. They do a lot of work for conservation. They put money in habitat preservation and help breed endangered species.

2. Many animal lovers and conservationists develop their love of animals through early childhood visits to the zoo.

I personally think zoos are horrible places. During my junior year of college at Sarah Lawrence I took an animal rights elective. We went to the Bronx Zoo to see what we thought. Please note that in terms of zoos, the Bronx Zoo is like the Four Seasons. And even the Four Seasons of zoos made me want to cry. Kids banging on the plastic partition to get a gorilla to look their way. The lion exhibit is TINY and depressing. Yes, they do a lot of good work. Yes, many people develop their love of animals by going to the Bronx Zoo. But at the end of the day, the animals are used as an attraction. People pay to gawk. The animals are not given enough space - how could they get enough room to live in the Bronx, especially when the enclosure has to be small enough that people can see the animal at all times.

I believe that if a child is going to appreciate an animal, they need to see the animal living for herself rather than as an attraction for spectators. People already believe that animals are here for our amusement rather than for their own lives. And zoos perpetuate that belief. It cultivates it from an early age.

Also, please note that most zoos are in no way as good at the Bronx Zoo. That’s the top of the line and still falls short. Many are roadside zoos or small zoos that keep animals in cages rather than in simulated natural environments.

Now, I’ve gone on for a while. My question to you all is how do you feel about zoos? For or against? Do you think it’s a good place to bring children or a sad prison for sad animals? Here is a little bit to think about from HSUS on the topic…

Town In NZ Tosses Dead Bunnies For Fun October 26, 2009

During the annual pig hunt (blech), a rural town in New Zealand has a dead bunny toss for the kids. What’s a dead bunny toss? The kids literally throw dead bunnies as a part of the festivities. Animal welfare groups in NZ have put pressure on the town and they canceled this years bunny toss. But the towns people are upset. They feel like it’s just a bit of wholesome fun and that the animal groups are being too sensitive.

I obviously agree with the AR groups. I think that throwing dead animals promotes a lack of respect for animals. In NZ rabbits are considered pests. Entire companies work on exterminating them. We have “pest” animals in the USA. Every country has them. But before this I’ve never heard of playing games with their corpses.

Watch this video and cringe. The news casters are especially awful.

Community Proposes To Cull Deer Population October 2, 2009

Right now my home town, Hastings on Hudson (in addition to a few other surrounding towns), is considering a deer cull to handle the deer overpopulation issue. I usually don’t write about such local issues. But the Greenburgh Township Deer Committee wrote a 191 page report detailing their thoughts on the issue and why a cull is, in their opinion, necessary.

For pretty much all communities that face deer overpopulation, three issues rise to the surface:

1. Lyme Disease
2. Deer/Car Collisions
3. Gardens Getting Eaten (I know, this one is really pathetic)

After doing my own independent research and learning about the issues and alternatives to culls, it seems that the Greenburgh Township Deer Committee is adamant about killing things, even though other better ideas are totally possible.

The best example of an alternative option is immunocontraception. Basically, temporarily sterilizing deer with darts. You know, instead of killing them with bullets. This has worked in other places in the past and HSUS is really close to coming out with PZP for deer (currently being used on wild horses).

As for lyme disease, tic populations can be reduced through a variety of other ways, including Maxforce. The Maxforce lures mice, treats them with tic killer (leaving the mouse unharmed) and sends them on their way. What a great alternative way to lessen the lyme disease problem!

As for people’s gardens, put up fencing around your vegetable patch. Plant alternative flowers, ones that deer don’t like, instead of the ones deer like very much. A little research on the part of the town and a little education could go a long way.

We should be able to live together. We drove off all of the deer’s natural predators. We keep building new houses, roads, shopping malls in their homes. Give the creatures a break, show some compassion and think creatively.

At 8pm on Tuesday night Hastings is having a meeting and will allow public comments on the issue. They will also be giving an update on the deer situation. I know it’s a super local thing. But the idiotic Greenburgh Committee’s deer report recommended a 70% - 80% cull. That is a terrible terrible solution to a wildlife issue.

Also, you can contact Hastings through their website and tell them how you feel about it….

Awesome Big Cat Conservationists In Botswana September 18, 2009

NPR did a great little piece on two conservationists: Dereck and Beverly Joubert. They focus their efforts on big cats, photographing them for magazines like National Geographic as a part of their conservation efforts.

Their biggest project of late was the task of following one leopard for 5 years. From infancy into adulthood. And the trick is to do it while staying out of the way of the animal. How do they do it? This is what they say:

“The non-intervention is purely because we want to be able to understand these animals in a way that [will help] them survive in the future. … What we are out there to do is to hopefully show people how similar we are to animals, and how these wilderness areas are so precious.”

This is the kind of conservation I really love. People studying animals without interfering, without poking them with needles or sticking them in a zoo.  Down and dirty watching from afar for a period of time. And doing it so the creature can be better understood and therefore protected better in the future.

You should read the whole article. It’s short. And at the bottom listen to the couple talk about their work. Truly admirable.

Thanks to my friend Alex for the tip!

Federal Study Says ALL Fish in US Streams Have Mercury August 20, 2009

From 1998 to 2005 while testing over 1,000 fish in nearly 300 streams, a federal study found that ALL fish in US streams are contaminated with mercury. If you eat fish and that doesn’t scare you, I’m not sure anything in the world will.

25% of the fish had levels that were considered unsafe by the EPA.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar had this to say about it: “This science sends a clear message that our country must continue to confront pollution, restore our nation’s waterways, and protect the public from potential health dangers.”

What does mercury do to the body and how did it get into our streams?

Mercury can damage the nervous system and cause learning disabilities in developing fetuses and young children. The main source of mercury to most of the streams tested, according to the researchers, is emissions from coal-fired power plants. The mercury released from smokestacks rains down into waterways, where natural processes convert it into methylmercury — a form that allows the toxin to wind its way up the food chain into fish.

Hopefully this study will wake us up and inspire us to protect our water systems. Humanity rarely fixes anything unless it directly effects them. Well, guess what humanity: It’s time to get off our butts and do something.

Read the full article here…

Fried Green Tomatoes And A Happy Elephant August 19, 2009

I couldn’t decide which to blog about today so my choice was to blog about both. Fried green tomatoes and a feel good elephant story.

Vegan Yum Yum has posted a brand new recipe for fried green tomatoes. I’ve seen the movie. I’ve heard of the dish. I’ve never eaten them. Nor do I know where to even buy green tomatoes but you can bet your aunt betty that I’m going to find out.

Lauren over at Yum Yum describes the tastes as follows: They are sweet and tangy, still firm, and juicy–almost citrusy.

Click over here to read the full recipe. Me wants now.

And in other news, an elephant in Thailand who lost her leg in a landmine explosion (while working at a logging camp - boo hiss) was just fitted with a prosthetic and is walking on four legs for the first time in ten years. I know nothing about the organization they mention: Friends of Elephants in Thailand but kudos to them for fixing up this big gal with a leg.  Watch her story in the video below.

Hunting Accessories Have Sick Sense of Humor August 12, 2009

On the airplane to Bermuda I  flipped through Sky Magazine on Delta. I was bored and didn’t feel like reading my book. As I’m nearing the end and perusing the useless object section I come across “Hitch Critters.” As you can see from the picture, it’s a little toy of a deer that goes on the back of your trailer. It shows a deer with a bullseye who’s terrified of being shot. It’s making fun of the real life or death pain an animal feels. So much for hunters “respecting” their prey.

Just like I don’t believe that these duck hunters are really “sorry” for what they did. In short, they shot at baby ducks from their truck, left them there without even eating them, taped it, put it on youtube, got caught and are now “sorry.” Yeah.  For the record, even other hunters thought their actions were unethical.

Now, back to the “hitch critter.” This is what one of the sites trying to sell them says,

Here’s a great gift that provides safety for your truck or SUV but does NOT protect you from gut-wrenching fits of laughter. “Don’t Shoot Deer” ball hitch cover raises arms and target lights up when you hit the brakes. Great gift! Fits 2″ ball. Warning-Do not drive through woods in November…he’s small but still a 12 pointer.

Laughing at dead or dying animals sure is a classy thing to do. And displaying their fear on your truck. Well, I’d sure like to marry a man like that.

Feel Good Wayne Pacelle Story July 30, 2009

I like reading Wayne Pacelle’s (CEO of HSUS) blog. He talks about current animal events, is always even keeled and very sweet. His blog yesterday was the epitomy of the sweet part.

A mother pidgeon decided to lay her eggs on the deck of his D.C. apartment. Right in a poorly tended potted plant. Now, if there are pidgeons on your deck, you can’t exactly go outside, so Wayne did the following:

I decided I’d just do all my work inside for some weeks, and cede the deck to her and not disturb her. Rock doves nest on cliffs, and well, if she thought this was a cliff, who was I to tell her differently.

On facebook, Wayne has asked his many many many friends to donate to the cause of puppy mills instead of wishing him happy birthday on his wall. So, if you’d like to donate before his bday on August 4th, ask him to be your friend and then check out his birthday wish. He’s been such an amazing voice and leader for HSUS. He’s reshaped it and made it a machine for animal protection. And who doesn’t adore a guy who lets baby pidgeons spend their adolecents on his deck.

Whale Strandings Might Be Caused By Sonar July 16, 2009

According to a great article in the NYT, there is now new evidence that whale strandings  can be linked to the “seismic tests or the use of new high-tech sonar tracking devices in military-training exercises.” If you remember, activists a while back tried to get the former Pres Bush to limit those tests, but he said no. So did the Supreme Court.

What’s this new evidence? According to the times, the whales might have something known as the bends. That’s when a deep sea diver comes up to the surface too fast.

The article says:

Necropsies performed on a number of the whales revealed lesions about their brains and ears. The results of the examinations performed on the Canary Islands whales, however, added a whole other, darker dimension to the whale-stranding mystery. In addition to bleeding around the whales’ brains and ears, scientists found lesions in their livers, lungs and kidneys, as well as nitrogen bubbles in their organs and tissue, all classic symptoms of a sickness that scientists had naturally assumed whales would be immune to: the bends.

The whole article is worth reading. But what it really means now is that I think it’s time to ask President Obama to do what Bush would not - Tell the Navy not to use the high powered sonar in specific areas. That’s what I’m going to do. Click here to also contact the White House.