Vegetarian Star » Barack Obama

Barack Obama Prime Minister David Cameron Sausage Photo Op Criticized

Vegetarian Star — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 19:58:43 +0000

President Barack Obama has been chided many times by Vegetarian Star for his numerous public appearances that involved burgers, steak and high-fat dairy products instead of healthier grains, fruits and vegetables.

Now, the President of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, Dr. Neal Barnard, has written a piece for the Huffington Post which criticizes Obama’s recent trip to the UK to visit Prime Minister David Cameron, as the two shared a photo op over sausage.

Dr. Barnard cites the link between meat consumption and cancer, as well as the fact fruits and vegetables have been shown to prevent such diseases.

The World Cancer Research Fund’s new report, the most comprehensive ever conducted on colon cancer, confirmed that both red and processed meats play a significant role in the development of colorectal cancer. The authors found that 45 percent of all colorectal cancer cases could be prevented if we ate less meat and more fruits and vegetables and made other lifestyle changes.

The fact the president and prime minister were serving food to British soldiers doesn’t make the act any more noble. As Dr. Barnard emphasizes, those who serve and protect are sometimes among the unhealthiest.

The fact that the Obama-Cameron photo-op served food to British soldiers doesn’t excuse the unhealthful choices. British Ministry of Defence recently reported that 57 percent of its troops are overweight or obese. Many American soldiers are in the same predicament.

Dr. Barnard adds that this is just one of many poor examples of dining choices the president has set since taking office, which includes visits to Five Guys Burgers and Ray’s Hell Burgers in Virginia.

Obama Makes Great Adoptable Dog Without Birth Papers Says PETA

Vegetarian Star — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 18:05:04 +0000

In what may be the most humorous ad released by the group yet, PETA is capitalizing on the controversy of whether or not Obama was born in the United States.

At Donald Trump‘s request, the President released his birth certificate, showing he was born in Hawaii.

PETA took the opportunity to remind people they don’t need papers to certify any dog’s birth and whether or not it’s a purebred or a mutt.

From the blog:

Obama declared, “We do not have time for this kind of silliness.” Dogs in animal shelters don’t have time for silliness either. Every second that passes—and every purebred dog purchased on a whim from a breeder or a pet store—brings shelter dogs one step closer to dying for lack of a good home.

While people are in heated debate over the origin of a purebred dog, demanding its papers and paying hundreds and even thousands of dollars to a breeder, millions of perfectly good, loyal, well-behaved and intelligent dogs sit in shelters waiting for the death penalty–which is currently legal for dogs in all 50 states.

And if you’re looking for a purebred, the shelter is the best stop of all.

It’s estimated about 25-30% of shelter dogs are purebreds, probably take there when the previous owner realized there’s more to putting the right dog in the big house than verifying its birth certificate.

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White House Easter Egg Roll Is Hen Friendly

Vegetarian Star — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 17:32:53 +0000

The annual White House Easter Egg Roll is taking place on Monday, April 25.

Following in the footsteps of the First Lady’s “Let’s Move!” initiative for better fitness, this year’s roll has a theme of “Get Up and Go!” and will feature live music, cooking demonstrations, sports courts and some pretty cool animal-free eggs.

Children competing in the roll will use environmentally friendly wooden eggs, according to Ecorazzi.

The eggs are made from “FSC-certified hardwood and painted with vegetable-oil based inks and a water-based coating.” The eggs will come in a variety of colors and feature President Obama and Michelle‘s stamped signatures on them.

Promoting physical fitness while having fun with eco-friendly eggs that don’t involve animal cruelty? How can an adult get invited to this hunt?

According to the Humane Society of the United States, the majority of egg-laying hens are confined in battery cages. The space inside the cages gives them less room to move that the area of a single sheet of letter-sized paper, rendering the hens unable to perform natural behaviors like spreading their wings, nesting and perching.

Use fake eggs this year and keep your Easter Egg Hunt or Roll animal-friendly.

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Obama Quits Smoking–Vegans It’s Your Turn

Vegetarian Star — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 22:09:00 +0000

President Obama has been smoke-free for an entire year!

The First Lady made the announcement to reporters during lunch in the Old Family Dining Room at the White House while discussing her Let’s Move! initiative to get America healthier.

Michelle said it was the president’s desire to be able to look his daughters in the eye and say he didn’t smoke that motivated him.

Vegetarians and vegans who still huff and puff have another reason to kick the habit. Some cigarette filters contain pig’s blood and that definitely ain’t veg!

Dutch researchers discovered that pig hemoglobin is often found in the filters, but not listed specifically as an ingredient. Instead, terms such as “processing aids” are used.

Kind of reminds you of how “natural flavors” may make your otherwise veggie noodle soup unnaturally flavored carnivorous unless the product is labelled certified vegan or vegetarian.

Besides aggravating upper respiratory conditions like asthma and containing carcinogens that lead to lung and other cancers, cigarettes pollute the environment.

Some scientists believe cigarette butts should be disposed of like used batteries and old appliances as they contain waste that is more toxic than cyanide gas. Italian cities have erected special bins for butts, keeping them separate from regular trash and imposing heavy fines on those who litter.

You can’t be an environmentalist and eat burgers every day. And you can’t be an eco-veg and light up. Learn how you can quit today!

Photo: PR Photos

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Obama Signs Truth In Fur Labeling Act

Vegetarian Star — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 18:46:40 +0000

December is proving to be nothing but “lame” on Capitol Hill, especially when it comes to animal welfare laws.

Just days after banning crush videos, President Obama has signed the Truth in Fur Labeling Act (H.R. 2480), which made its final route through Congress in the Senate earlier this month.

The new law closes the loophole in an already existing law that allows real fur to go unlabelled as such if the garment is worth $150 or less.

With H.R. 2480, consumers will no longer have to guess if the coat with fur trim they bought is real or fake.

Major retailers like Gucci Group, Burberry, Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, Buffalo Exchange, Overstock.com, Ed Hardy, Victoria Bartlett, Charlotte Ronson and Andrew Marc have all endorsed this bill.

Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, made a statement on the organization’s site.

“By signing this legislation, President Obama has given consumers who choose to avoid real animal fur for moral reasons a valuable tool. The Truth in Fur Labeling Act will protect shoppers by requiring all garments containing animal fur to be accurately labeled.”

Fur labeling has now caught up with the labeling of another animal product, wool, which has been required by law to be disclosed, regardless of the amount.

Photo: PR Photos

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Obama Signs Law Banning Crush Videos Showing Animal Killings

Vegetarian Star — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 17:03:10 +0000

President Obama has signed the anti-Crush video law this week, H.R. 5566.

Crush videos, often associated with a type of fetish, usually depict attractive women killing animals by crushing them with spiked heels or some other manner combining sexual displays of women torturing and/or killing animals. The new law makes it illegal to create, sale or market these videos, carrying a penalty of up to seven years in prison.

An attempt to maintain a law like this was struck down in 1999 by a Supreme Court ruling in the case of a man who was marketing and selling dog fighting videos, saying it was a violation of free speech.

In a vote of 8-1, the only lone dissenter, Justice Samuel Alito warned of how crush videos would soon rise in popularity if no action was taken.

“The animals used in crush videos are living creatures that experience excruciating pain. Our society has long banned such cruelty,” he said, adding that the courts “erred in second-guessing the legislative judgment about the importance of preventing cruelty to animals.”

Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society issued a statement on the HSUS website.

“The Humane Society of the United States commends President Obama for signing this bill into law and bringing an end to some of the most gruesome cruelty any of us have ever witnessed. When federal courts struck down the 1999 animal cruelty depictions law, we saw a resurgence of animal crush videos. Congress swiftly passed more narrowly-tailored legislation to crack down on this horrific trade while addressing the courts’ concerns. We are thankful that countless animals will now be spared from intentional torture for sick entertainment and profit.”

Photo: PR Photos

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PETA Cabbage Gals Give Veggie Sausages At Lady Gaga Wax Unveiling

Vegetarian Star — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 23:04:32 +0000

PETA ladies dressed in greens were on hand at the unveiling of Lady Gaga‘s wax figure at the Madame Tussauds Museum in London to hand out free veggie sausages. Gaga’s wax image joins the collection of several famous people including David Beckham, Britney Spears, Prince Charles and Barack Obama. A sharp contrast from Gaga’s meat dress that got media attention months ago, the women in cabbage outfits were probably a little chilly, since most people don’t wear hats, scarves and mittens with bikini tops. Ah, the dedication!

More pics from Gaga’s wax figure at Madame Tussauds in New York below.

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Bill Maher Asks Obama To Send Pardoned Turkeys To Sanctuary

Vegetarian Star — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 21:42:09 +0000

Farm Sanctuary has already extended an offer to President Obama to send this year’s pardoned turkey to its grounds instead of the usual destination for the birds, a Disney theme park.

Now, Bill Maher has written a letter on behalf of PETA, asking the president to consider the birds who, in Maher’s words, have a retirement “as empty as Cher‘s “Farewell” tour” if not sent to a place where trained individuals can properly care for the already neglected animals.

“In recent years, turkeys have simply been shuffled from the pardoning ceremony to displays at pseudo-sanctuaries or theme parks, and many have died less than a year later, before the following year’s turkeys have even made it to the Rose Garden. McDonald’s so-called “Happy Meals” have a longer shelf life.”

“I propose a New Rule: From now on, let’s bring credibility to the ceremony and genuine compassion to “pardoned” turkeys by sending them to a real sanctuary.”

“After all, turkeys have it hard enough. The overwhelming majority of them are bred and drugged to grow faster than the income gap. They suffer broken legs, heart attacks, and other health problems that can multiply as they exceed the short life spans that the breeders intend. PETA has already lined up a reputable sanctuary that can offer this year’s pardoned turkeys a clean and comfortable retirement that includes veterinary care and socialization.”

Bill’s entire letter can be read at peta.org.

Photo: PR Photos

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