PETA has released horrific new under-cover video evidence, allegedly taken at a Virginia Beach, Virginia Coast Guard Training course, that shows goats being mutilated — while alive. Although the people depicted in the video are blurred and are not wearing uniforms, PETA states that the...
Apr20
Seminary Equality
Seminary Accepts LGBT Students
In a win for the LGBT community, the Schechter Rabbinical Seminary, which is affiliated with the Conservative Jewish seminary in Israel, has said that it will allow gay and lesbian students to study to become rabbis. This decision will bring the seminary up to par with its U.S. branch, which...
Apr18
Kodak Moment
U.S. Troops Pose With Body Parts Of Afghan Suicide Bombers
U.S. soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division had quite the Kodak moment after orders led them to investigate and document the remains of three Afghan suicide bombers. Upon completing their mission, the paratroopers made the prudent decision to pose with body parts (heads, legs etc) and take pictures as if they were at a celebrity meet and greet. The LA Times broke the story earlier today, noting that they’d received the photos from a soldier who wanted to “draw attention to the safety risk of a breakdown in leadership and discipline” [within the U.S. Military]. The U.S. Army launched an immediate, “criminal...
Apr11
Extreme Extradition
Human Rights Court Approves Extradition
The European Court of Human Rights has removed the final significant obstacle to the extradition of five terrorism suspects from the UK to the U.S.. In ruling that extradition would not place the men at risk of human rights violations, the Court has effectively brought this contentious debate to an end. The suspects’ relatives have argued that the men should face trial in the UK, with the sister of one describing the decision to extradite as “a serious abuse of process.” The debate centres on the decision of British authorities to hand evidence over to the U.S., without examining it or deciding whether trial in the UK would...
Apr11
Fighting Injustice
Latinos for Executive ENDA
The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) is the first non-LGBT civil rights group to support an executive order that would bar federal contractors from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. MALDEF made the announcement recently with a letter from its president, Thomas Saenz, calling on President Obama to take administration action on the matter. Saenz points out in his letter that the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) has stalled in Congress for years. “MALDEF believes the time is now right to promote workplace fairness for LGBT individuals by taking strong executive...
Apr03
Dolphin Un-Safe
BP Continues to Harm Marine Life
Environment – New studies into the impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill suggest that the damage done to dolphins and other marine life may be higher than initially predicted. The report, commissioned by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) studied 32 dolphins,...
Apr02
Numbers on the Rise
World Autism Awareness Day
Social Issues – Today is World Autism Awareness Day, and it is not just about being “aware” that autism exists, it’s also about being aware of what has been done, what still needs to be done, and what you can do to help. Autism is a lifelong disability that impacts...
Apr01
Which Came First?
The Fertilized Egg Debate
Social Issues – When it comes to age old question about which came first, the chicken or the egg, the answer is always arguable. According to Personhood USA this question now needs to also be asked amongst humans and fertilized eggs. In Oklahoma, a ballot initiative has been filed with...
Mar29
Speaking Out
Gwen Moore on the VAWA
Human Rights – In a speech to the House of Representatives about the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI) reminded her colleagues that the VAWA is not a partisan issue and, in fact, it is crucial in protecting all women regardless of “color, creed, or sexual...
Mar27
Prevention Harms
Tackling Antibiotic Overuse
Social Issues – The Food and Drug Administration has been ordered by a federal court to “act on scientific knowledge that the overuse of antibiotics in food animals has contributed to the rise of antibiotic resistant infections in humans.” It’s a ruling that could have...
Mar24
Proud-ly Stupid
Arizona Wants You to Watch.
Women’s Issues- Arizona state representative Terri Proud has made something of a name for herself right out of the gate. Unfortunately, that name can’t be said around children or sensitive animals. While replying to a constituent’s emailed opposition to a proposed bill (HR...
Mar23
A Refreshing Nap
Hibernation Helps Bears Heal
Animal Rights – Doctors and zoologists have been researching American Black Bears and they found something interesting. The bears are able to pull off a feat some of the most critically wounded humans wish they could manage — they can heal themselves while they sleep. Researchers...
Mar23
From the Box to the Bin
USPS Seeks Junk Mail Revenue
Social Issues – What is to be done about the malaise that has washed over the Postal Service in the era of instant, electronic communication? The USPS is hoping that its new online tool that encourages small businesses to use/increase direct mailing campaigns (aka junk mail) will help...
Mar22
We See You
Penn. Photo Voter ID Law
Civil Rights – Pennsylvania has approved a bill demanding photo identification to vote. State, federal government, nursing home Ids, or state university IDs are now mandatory for those who wish to vote. It’s a decision that some see as ostracizing those who are simply forgetful but...
Mar18
Peaceful Research?
Iran Not Making Nuclear Weapons?
Social Issues – Iran continues to insist that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only, and after searching for years for evidence showing otherwise, reports are coming in from Mossad, Israel’s Intelligence Service, and a source in U.S. Intelligence, that there is no proof that Tehran is working on a nuclear weapons program. In fact, it is believed that Iran’s program was shut down in 2003. “Mossad does not disagree with the U.S. on the [Iraninan] weapons program,” an unnamed former senior U.S. Intelligence official told the New York Times. “There is not a lot of dispute between the US and...
Mar18
Caribbean Cruelty
Stolen Monkeys
Animal Rights – The Animal Rights Foundation of Florida (ARFF) is calling for the government of the twin-island Caribbean nation of St. Kitts & Nevis to ban the live export of monkeys for research. While the Vervet Monkey is not native to the Caribbean nation, it has thrived there...
Mar17
A Win For Life
Fitzgerald Appointed as Fed. Judge
Social Issues – After many months of waiting with baited breathe, the U.S. Senate approved California lawyer Michael Fitzgerald’s federal judiciary appointment. Fitzgerald, an openly gay man, was nominated by President Barack Obama last July. With the approval of the Senate,...
Mar17
I Scream, You Scream!
Ben & Jerry's for Gay Marriage!
LGBT Issues – Vermont-based company Ben & Jerry’s has whipped up a new frozen confection with a conscience. Their new limited-edition flavor, “Apple-y Ever After,” shows the American company’s support of same-sex marriage in the U.K. A gay rights...
Mar17
Fighting War Crimes
Clooney For Sudan
Human Rights – The Stone Age is back, and not in a good way. George Clooney posted a video of his trip across the Sudanese border. The graphic online clip details the fear and suffering of inhabitants living in caves on the border area between Sudan and South Sudan to escape aerial...
Mar15
Learning from the Best
Assad's Emails Released
Human Rights – A cache of personal emails received by the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad have been obtained by British newspaper the Guardian and have revealed the central role played by Iran in advising the brutal leader. The emails were handed to the media by opposition activists in...
Mar14
Sickly System
Agribusiness Hurts World Health
Social Issues – Olivier De Schutter, the UN’s reporter on food, has recently stated that the current food conditions are negatively impacting our health and wellbeing worldwide. Most of the problems stem from the agricultural business sector, which holds significant weight over...
Mar13
Legalising Coca
Bolivian Prez Seeks Lift On Ban
Social Issues – Bolivia’s President Evo Morales has called for the UN to revise its position on the chewing of coca leaves. Speaking in Vienna at a UN anti-drugs meeting, Morales asked that the UN lift the ban on coca leaves, put in place by a 1961 Convention. The legal status of...
Mar12
The Killing Continues
More deaths in Syria
Human Rights – The bloody conflict continues in Syria after failed attempts to reach a ceasefire agreement between Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the opposition this weekend. Reports of more killings in Homs are coming in today with at least a dozen people dead, including children. Today’s UN Security Council meeting to review the Arab Spring uprisings, will likely have a large focus on stopping Assad’s brutal crackdown on the opposition. The State Media in Damascus has confirmed the reports of the most recent deaths, however, they are blaming “armed terrorists” for the brutality. There are conflicting...
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Mar11
The Unforgivable [Warning - Graphic]
U.S. Soldier Massacres 16 Afghan Civilians Including Women And Children
Human Rights – The void between the U.S. and Afghanistan has widened this weekend with the murder of 16 Afghan civilians by an American soldier. He opened fire in a village near his base in the south of the country, leaving nine children and three women among his victims. President Hamid Karzai has described the attack as “an assassination, an intentional killing of civilians” which he says “cannot be forgiven.” With tensions between the two countries already heightened following the burning of Qurans by U.S. forces and subsequent violence by protestors, this newest development has created an even more volatile...
Mar09
Fuel Back Up Plan
Cross Country on 10 Gallons?
Environment – Cliff Ricketts, an agricultural education professor at Middle Tennessee State University, has a big trip ahead of him, and he’s only got a little bit of fuel. He plans to drive across the country on 10 gallons of gasoline, from Savannah, Georgia to Long Beach,...
Mar08
One Hand at a Time
Preventing Infectious Diseases
Social Issues – PeopleTowels and Clean the World have joined forces to eliminate…or at least put a major dent in…the prevalence of infectious diseases around the world by encouraging hand washing. The program, Clean Hands, Clean World, pairs recycled soaps provided by Clean...
Mar08
Hazy Sollutions
China's Air Quality Standards
Environmental Issues – The Chinese government announced it will phase in new air quality standards which its cities must adopt by 2016. Currently two-thirds of Chinese cities do not meet the new measures issued on Wednesday. Additional, unmonitored pollutants, such as fine particles 2.5...
Mar08
How to Stop a War
Negotiating With Iran
Human Rights – The international community has been scrambling this week to prevent escalation in the ongoing conflict with Iran. With Israeli rhetoric growing more heated by the hour and many politicians convinced that a military strike on Iranian nuclear facilities is inevitable, the...
Mar08
Field Report: Critical Animal Studies
Mostly Vegan Views on Humans and Animals
Opinion – Animal Issues – I was asked to present a paper on animal studies at Canisius College, and as a semi-native Floridian, I wasn’t sure how to survive a winter weekend in Buffalo – especially since I was told to avoid wearing leather…or any other animal products. Despite my shallow goals of wanting to see the snow, I learned a great deal about scholarship and activism at the 11th Annual International Convention for Critical Animal Studies (ICAS). Attendees from as far away as Korea and the Czech Republic joined U.S. and Canadian scholars and activists in an effort to further understand human and non-human...
Mar08
Iowa Gags Whistle Blowers
Undercover Footage of Animal Abuse Now Illegal In Iowa
Animal Rights – Freedom of speech has been curtailed in Iowa, at least when it comes to undercover footage of cruelty and abuse to animals at meat and animal processing plants, and the massive farms which produce genetically modified crops across the state. The “American Heartland Bill,” or File 589, was recently passed by both the Iowa Senate and House. The bill effectively cuts protections for researchers who visit farms undercover and film abuses or dangerous conditions. It classifies such work as “agricultural production facility fraud.” The “American Heartland Bill” is waiting to be signed in...
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