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Clmag1web.Pdf - FREE - Go ahead, take it. Living Compassionate Compassionate CTHE MAG OF MFA. SPRING/SUMMERL 2007 ISSUE 1 ANIMALS AND THE LAW The Shocking Truth CHEW ON THIS Exclusive Interview MercyForAnimals.org | newswatch dearfriends Living | Go — Bye-Bye — Fish The oppression animals face by the Compassionate 2006 Election Victories for Animals Omnivores and pescavegetarians wanting meat, dairy, and egg industries cannot be to satisfy their craving for the “catch of the voters overwhelmingly passed a historic overstated. Arizona day” may not be able to fi nd any seafood initiative to improve the lives of farm animals CContributors L anymore, especially if it’s in the year 2048. — the Humane Treatment of Farm Animals Act. Every minute in America, over 16,000 Derek Coons That’s what researchers predict if current farmed animals take their last breath Proposition 204 passed with 62 percent of Arizonans’ trends in habitat destruction and commercial Maureen Jacob votes making Arizona the fi rst U.S. state to ban veal while suspended upside-down on a over-fi shing continue. After analyzing data crates, and the second state to ban gestation crates for slaughterhouse line. Each year, the Amy MacKenzie and historical records from over a thousand pigs — Florida was the fi rst to do so in Fall 2002. meat industry subjects billions of cows, Rhiannon Mehring years, researchers found that marine pigs, chickens, and turkeys to abuse so Lizz Petroff biodiversity — ocean fi sh, shellfi sh, birds, Sixty-nine percent of Michigan voters said “NO!” plants, micro-organisms, ocean mammals extreme that it could warrant felony level Nathan Runkle to opening the fi rst target-shooting season on the including seals, killer whales, and dolphins cruelty-to-animal charges if committed Priya Shanker state’s offi cial bird of peace — the mourning dove. — has declined dramatically, with 29 percent against a dog or cat. These acts of abuse Well-funded hunting groups wanting to overturn a Anya Todd R.D. of species already in collapse. Why does this occur out of sight, and largely out of 100-year-long Michigan tradition of protecting doves matter in the big picture? Because the loss mind, from a country of complacent initiated the proposal. The crushing win at the polls of of biodiversity makes ocean ecosystems less consumers. “NO” votes exceeded the “yes” votes by more than 1.3 resilient in recovering from the effects of million, all thanks to a two-year grassroots campaign by global climate changes, such as aggressive “Nothing in all the world is more The Committee to Keep Doves Protected. The Humane natural disasters like tsunamis, hurricanes, Society of the United States. dangerous than sincere ignorance and fl oods, typhoons, etc. The solution? Experts conscientious stupidity,” declared Dr. say that to protect the existing marine Martin Luther King, Jr. in From Strength ecosystems, and inevitably human life, stricter controls on commercial fi shing need to Love. It is this attitude of apathy, the Mainstream Vegan Money mentality Dr. King warned against, that to be enforced. Consumers also have the Welcome to the premier issue Mercy For Animals (MFA) is Machine power to make a difference by eliminating has led many consumers to choose palate a 501(c)(3) non-profi t animal of Compassionate Living – Mercy For fi sh from their diets. Reuters. advocacy organization that Animals’ newly expanded and improved preference over principle. Adopting No longer considered a “hippie fad,” the a vegetarian diet is perhaps the single believes non-human animals are vegan lifestyle is translating into a growing magazine. We have chosen to retire our irreplaceable individuals who have most important act each of us can take $50 billion annual natural-products publication’s original title, Outrage, in morally signifi cant interests and industry. There are more than 1.7 million exchange for one we feel more accurately to end animal cruelty. As conscientious hence rights, including the right to Want to keep up-to-date on vegans in the United States, according to refl ects MFA’s mission – creating a and compassionate citizens, we must do live free of unnecessary suffering. all the important animal rights more than merely dream of a day when MFA is dedicated to establishing a 2000 poll conducted by the Vegetarian tip society where all animals are treated with Resource Group, based in Baltimore, and vegetarian headlines? We animals receive their due consideration and defending the rights of all the respect and compassion they deserve. animals. MD. Choices for vegan consumers are have you covered. Sign up today for – we must embody such change. We growing along with demand, as more niche MFA’s free monthly enewsletter, The Voice, at Each issue of CL will be packed with must fi rst look at our beliefs, our choices, Given that over 97% of animal businesses cater to vegans, and mainstream www.MercyForAnimals.org. exclusive interviews, helpful advice, our actions, and our inactions. cruelty occurs in the production of grocery stores carry more products, said meat, dairy, and eggs, MFA’s main John Cunningham, consumer research thought-provoking exposés, essential function is promoting a vegetarian By leading lives that refl ect the change we manager for the vegetarian group. The news updates, opportunities to meet diet. MFA works to be a voice for key activists behind MFA’s work, action wish to see in the world, we are changing animals through public education market for foods replacing meat and other alerts, tasty and satisfying vegan recipes, more than ourselves – we are changing and advertisement campaigns, animal products is estimated at $2.8 billion, according to Mintel International Group and much more. I hope you fi nd its the future. With all our collective acts research and investigations, working with news media, and Ltd., a research consumer company. Arizona content informative, entertaining and of compassionate living, we can create a grassroots activism. Daily Star. inspiring. world where animals receive the respect Gazoontite! they so rightly deserve. MFA relies on the generous support Mahatma Gandhi once proclaimed, of compassionate individuals to carry If you’re a fanatical germaphobe, then you might build “We must be the change we wish to see on our lifesaving work. To become a member, simply send a contribution Don’t Bring Home the Bacon yourself a self-containing bubble and never come out in the world.” These wise words have of $15 to: after reading Bird Flu: A Virus of Our Own Hatching, by long been echoed by many of history’s According to researchers, daily consumption of more Michael Greger, MD. Greger traces the human role in the most progressive thinkers and outspoken Mercy For Animals than an ounce of smoked and processed foods such evolution of the virus, whose humble beginnings belie its Nathan Runkle social justice leaders. Gandhi’s motto P.O. Box 363 as bacon, sausage, or corned beef, increases the risk transformation into a killer mutant strain with the potential Executive Director of personal responsibility certainly still Columbus, OH 43216 of developing stomach cancer from 15 percent to 38 to become as ferocious as Ebola and as contagious as the 1-866-632-6446 percent. The culprits in such meats are likely the high common cold. In the face of the coming pandemic, Greger rings loud and clear today when we are [email protected] confronted with the harsh reality of salt content, which irritates the lining of the stomach, reveals what we can do to protect our families and what animal suffering at the hands of humans. Thank you for your commitment to or the carcinogenic nitrate and nitrate additives. More human society to can do to reduce the likelihood of such making the world a kinder and more reason to just skip the bacon. Time Magazine. catastrophes in the future. The entire book is available compassionate place for all beings. online for free at BirdFluBook.com. 2 | COMPASSIONATE LIVING | www.MercyForAnimals.org Spring/Summer 07 meetmfa | actionreport | Activist Spotlight: Joe Espinosa VegNews Names MFA 2006 “Non-Profi t of the Year” Vegetarian since: November 1992 VegNews, America’s premier vegetarian lifestyle magazine, recently released its highly Vegan since: December 1994 anticipated 2006 Veggie Awards issue – and Mercy For Animals is honored to have been MFA Activist since: Spring 2006 Non-Profi t of the Year! No Featured Activism: Leafl eting selected as the Resides in: Steger, Illinois (about 35 miles South of Chicago) From the November/December holiday 06 issue of VegNews magazine: Favorite Food of the Moment: Boca Spicy JoeJoe “When Nathan Runkle was 11 years old, he was exposed to the mistreatment of animals, Chik’n Patties turned veg overnight and began a career as a professional animal advocate. Now, at the ripe age of 22, Runkle has seen the organization he conceived and leads, Mercy For Animals, Schmoe( become an effective force for change. Founded in 1999, MFA grew from a Dayton, Ohio- based grassroots effort to a powerful statewide organization after conducting ‘open rescues’ at the two largest egg farms in Ohio in late 2001. MFA has since merged with Chicago’s alking into the student union of the University Q. Where do you seem to get the best responses? Protecting Animals USA to form a 10,000-member organization that uses cutting edge, of Illinois Champaign-Urbana to cash a check, A. I have really enjoyed leafl eting colleges in Indiana. The stu- modern design and pro-veg MTV commercials to reach a young audience.” WJoe Espinosa never imagined that his exposure dents are remarkably polite and receptive. There will always be to a short video on animals in modern day factory people who want to argue with you, but it’s best to just be polite, Two New MFA Pro-Veg Commercials Hit the Airwaves farms would forever change his life.
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