Quantcast Vegetarian StarAnimal Issues (14)

Former Cattle Rancher Howard Lyman Gives Us Guessing Game

Written by Vegetarian Star on Friday, October 17th, 2008 in Animal Issues, Authors.

So let’s play a little game. How many animals go into a 4 ounce hamburger? Four, eight, 10, 12? Sorry, game over. It’s more like 200-1,000! Yes, we know this makes you want to vomit, but there’s nothing like hearing the truth from someone who’s walked the line.

Howard Lyman is an animal rights advocate who grew up farming, became a factory farmer himself, then did a complete 180 and became vegetarian.  He’s also the author of the book “Mad Cowboy: Plain Truth from the Cattle Rancher Who Won’t Eat Meat.” You may remember his name being dropped in 1996 when he appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show. He and O said some pretty bad stuff about meat. They both were sued by The National Cattleman’s Beef Association and both (obviously) got off the hook.

After finishing college, he turned his small family owned organic farm into a factory one with over 30 employees and 7,000 cattle (which, according to the stats above, all 7,000 of those cows could easily be mixed in with only a measly seven Happy Meals. McYuck!)

It took an illness, paralysis, and lying in a hospital bed for him to fully think about the implications of what he was doing. He thinks the world needs to get more into organic farming, and everyone, regardless of what’s on their plate, must realize the impact of how diet, farming, and the treatment of animals effects the earth.

“We don’t all have to agree on the diet we choose, but we have to agree that this planet is the only one we have. We need to think about where we’re going and we need to do it in this generation.”

via The Orion
Photo: jeckman on Flickr

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Moby, Tobey Maguire Give Props To Prop 2

Written by Vegetarian Star on Wednesday, October 1st, 2008 in Actors, Actresses, Animal Issues, Male Musicians, Male Singers, TV Hosts.

YES! on Prop 2 Campaign to stop Animal Cruelty Event - Beverly Hills, CA

Several celebrities made an appearance at a fundraiser for Prop 2— a California state ballot measure that would outlaw confining crates and cages used in the factory farming of hens, veal calves and pregnant pigs. The measure is sponsored by the Humane Society of the U.S., Farm Sanctuary and other animal welfare groups.

Moby showed up to perform and Tobey Maguire put his two cents in as well.

“To me, it’s a no-brainer,” Maguire said. “I’m a near-vegan. I eat like a vegan.”

Ellen DeGeneres and her new wife Portia de Rossi were supporters as well, Ellen emphasizing that the move isn’t about taking care of animals, “It’s just making things a little better for them.” If you remember, the two of them provided their wedding guest with a completely vegan feast, including vegan red velvet cake.

via La Times Blog

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Pamela Anderson On Sarah Palin: “She Can Suck It.”

Written by Vegetarian Star on Friday, September 12th, 2008 in Actresses, Animal Issues, Politicians.

We bet you 100 bucks we know who Pamela Anderson is voting for this November. Or at least who she’s not voting for.

Anderson was in Toronto speaking out against animal abuse in Hollywood when she was asked what she thought of Republican Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin. The reporter mentioned the Newsweek article which pictured a bear hide in Palin’s home office. Palin has also made it known she is an avid hunter.

“I can’t stand her,” Anderson said. “She can suck it!”

Ah, good old vegetarian Pammy is back again, never failing to tell anyone who disagrees with her beliefs how she really feels. Fellow hollywood star Matt Damon has been a little more polite about it. He just thinks Palin’s absurd.

via Just Jared

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Win Lunch With Alicia Silverstone

Written by Vegetarian Star on Thursday, September 11th, 2008 in Actors, Actresses, Animal Issues, Chefs, TV Hosts.

Premiere Of Dreamworks Pictures'

There’s still time to win all sorts of vegetarian celebrity goodies at the online Farm Animal Sanctuary Charity Buzz. Bidding ends on September 18th, and among the many prizes include lunch with Alicia Silverstone.

You can also try for a movie set visit or lunch with Forest Whitaker, tickets to the Ellen DeGeneres show, and an intensive cooking session with vegetarian celebrity chef Christina Pirello.

If you’re not the social type and don’t want to meet any celebrities, why not put your bid in for a haircut and blowdry by celebrity hairstylist Robert Steinken or a pair of pumps designed by Natalie Portman?

We assure you there’s something for everyone and proceeds help Farm Sanctuary and their causes to protect the lives and well beings of animals.

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Vegetarian Matthew Scully Writes Hunter Sarah Palin’s Speeches

Written by Vegetarian Star on Friday, September 5th, 2008 in Animal Issues, Politicians.

McCain Holds Campaign Rally In Washington, Pennsylvania

In some ways you could call Matthew Scully a well-rounded man. He is a vegetarian, who has published several books advocating animal rights, including Dominion: The Power of Man, The Suffering of Animals, and The Call to Mercy. He’s also a political writer and has made George W. Bush a very articulate sounding man by serving as special assistant and senior speechwriter for the president from 2001-2004.

So what makes him so well-rounded? He is writing speeches for Sarah Palin these days. In case you didn’t know, Palin has proclaimed herself an avid hunter. And although the two are as opposite as Paris Hilton and the Pope, the partnership seems to be working-for now.

Time Magazine made some speculations as to how long this relationship can last:

“The Palin-Scully pairing is anything but a guaranteed fit, though. Palin is known as an avid hunter; Scully is best known for his vigorous defense of animal rights. A vegetarian who is regularly critical of the NRA and much of the hunting community, he is a passionate advocate for doing away with the more brutal versions of blood-sport, including aerial hunting, which Palin supports.”

via Time.com

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Propagandhi Describes Factory Farm Visit Nightmare

Written by Vegetarian Star on Thursday, August 21st, 2008 in Animal Issues, Bands, Male Musicians, Male Singers.

Propagandhi is a Canadian punk band known for taking stances in a lot of activism issues, including human and animal rights. We’ve only sampled a little of their music, so we’re not sure if we’re going ot put this in our staff CD collection or not. However, with demos with names like, “We Don’t Get Paid, We Don’t Get Laid, and Boy Are We Lazy,” it might be entertaining to look into.

Here’s a video with 2 of the band’s members discussing their reasons for going veg, including a chicken factory farm nightmare visit. They also see vegan as the natural next step after becoming a vegetarian.

via Vegan Life

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Bridgitte Bardot Travels to Romania to Save Street Dogs

Brigitte Bardot has held a long career as an actress and former fashion model in addition to being a champion of animal rights.

She recently wrote a letter to Mr. Hubert Heiss, Ambassador of Austria in France, in response to the imprisonment of Austrian animal rights activist. Here are a few excerpts:

“You are aware of the great emotion, even indignation, of European citizens after the arbitrary arrest on May 21, when 10 Austrian animal advocates were imprisoned in an opacity worthy of a totalitarian regime.”

“Austrian organizations were scandalized by the violence of the police intervention and the seizure, in private apartments and offices, of many work files and computers.”

“These methods, unworthy of a democratic country, made Amnesty International react, and today I make a point of adding my voice to the many protests.”

“It is true that for a few months already animals advocates have been presented like dangerous terrorists, even criminals. This manipulation of public opinion is shocking, outrageous and more than misplaced.”

“Yes, our actions do disturb some economic interests, but is that a reason to soil and muzzle those who are committed to help beings without defense?”

“Violence is not our reality, on the contrary, we fight it with determination. Violence is in the blind, cruel and daily exploitation of millions of animals degraded to consumer goods, to research tools, and being denied their sensitive nature.”

Read the rest of Bardot’s letter here.

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Mac Danzig: PETA, Is Like, Sooo Junior High

Written by Vegetarian Star on Monday, August 11th, 2008 in Athletes-Games-Sports.

Two months ago, Mac Danzig sat down with XtremeCoutre to chit chat.

He’s proof that vegan men aren’t wimpy, and tough athletes can show their artistic side as he got into photography at the age of 16. The Ultimate Fighter champion has been a strict vegan for about 4 years.

He agreed to do an ad for PETA, although he doesn’t agree completely with how the group goes about promoting vegetarianism.

“A lot of people get mad at Peta. I don’t blame them. I agree with their mission. I believe in animal rights. I think it is a great cause. But I think the way they go about their business is very junior high most time.”

“They toilet paper people’s houses and do these ridiculous protests and it makes people say, “these animal rights guys are nuts”. That ruins it for the whole movement. But there are some really cool people that work for Peta that I met. The problem is Peta has a bad rep and now my name is synonymous with them.”

Looks like he may have angered some of those “animal rights guys are nuts” people already.

“You know how much sh*t people talk on the Internet because there’s anonymity. They get offended as if I’m telling them not to eat meat. I couldn’t care less if they eat meat or not.”

Read more about Mac, including his use of Vega supplements and love for rice and hemp.

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