UPDATE: Should we all be vegans-PART II?

The interviews, with Paul Shapiro of The Humane Society and Lauren Ornelas of the Food Empowerment Project, conducted in July, 2008 have been updated and the program rebroadcast on December 16 on WPKN and are available as a podcast.

Lauren reports:
This year we began our first effort to work on the importance of access to healthy foods in low-income communities. Using over a dozen volunteers in Santa Clara County, CA we surveyed over 120 grocery stores, liquor stores and convenience stores regarding access to fresh, frozen and canned fruits and vegetables, as well as vegan options.

FEP have also completed the first three issues of the newsletter Food Chain—linking the issues to "help you go and stay Veg."

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Through Erin Williams of HSUS, Paul reports some of this year's major accomplishments from The Humane Society:

We have a major corporate campaign asking IHOP to start moving away from eggs from caged hens. It’s a big organizational priority now. Some other updates:
· October 2009—Michigan legislature approves bill to ban battery cages, gestation crates, and veal crates (with a phase-out).
· May 2009—Maine legislature approves bill to ban gestation crates and veal crates (with a phase-out).
· May 2009—In response to an HSUS-led campaign, Wendy’s starts using some cage-free eggs.
· November 2008—Nearly two-thirds of California voters pass the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act (Prop 2), which bans battery cages, gestation crates, and veal crates throughout the state (with a phase-out).

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Link to VegGuide.Org to find a vegan or vegetarian restaurant or grocer near you.

Please stop and think before you buy bottled water!

See the facts!

UPDATE: Should we all be vegans-PART I?

The interviews, with Nathan Runkle and Nora Kramer, conducted in July, 2008 have been updated and were rebroadcast on December 9 on WPKN and are available as a podcast.

Nathan Runkle and Mercy for Animals
Overview in this end of year video report

Since we spoke last year, Nathan has much much more to be proud of: Through undercover investigations with hidden cameras, Mercy for Animals has released three new reports. The first about what is described as "shocking abuse" at New England's largest egg factory farm, Quality Egg of New England in Turner, Maine. The second tells of the "cruel and industrialized reality of modern hatcheries at the world's largest egg-laying breed hatchery", Hy-Line International in Spencer, Iowa. The third documents vicious cruelty at Fann Country View Family Farms, a pig factory farm in Fannettsburg, Pennsylvania.

MFA have also launched a new documentary called Fowl Play about egg factory farms which has been an official selection at more than a dozen film festivals and is available at fowlplaymovie.com I bought a copy and donated it to our local library.

MFA have also revamped their website, launched a new blog, launched ad campaigns in Denver, Toronto and New York and opened an office in New York City.

Nora Kramer and Youth Empowered Action

SInce we spoke with Nora, she has started Youth Empowered Action, vegan summer camps for kids in Northern California and Portland, OR, to support emerging young leaders who want to make a difference in the world. Their website is.www.yeacamp.org

Link to VegGuide.Org to find a vegan or vegetarian restaurant or grocer near you.