Feature Archives

In the early morning hours of January 18, members of the Animal Liberation Front liberated the entire imprisoned deer population of GNK Deer Farm in Monterey County, California. These deer were doomed to certain death at the early age of 18 months at the hand of owner Gerd Konieczny, a former butcher and LA cop who raises the deer for profit and fun, by his own admission. GNK is one of the 3 largest deer farms in California and hosts an on-site slaughterhouse. Read More

ALF Press Office | www.animalliberationfront.com

Quantum Analytics — based in the Bay Area — has been leasing analytical instrumentation that Huntingdon Life Sciences (a vivisection firm that kills over 500 animals a day, testing chemicals, medical drugs like Viagra, and household products) needs to perform basic lab services. Leaked documents show not only what has been rented by HLS, but the increasingly tumultuous relationship between HLS and Quantum as the lab cannot pay its bills. Emails shooting back and forth between the US and the UK document the tardiness by HLS and the frustration of Quantum. On several occasions Quantum has threatened to pull the plug on their agreement, and now Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC) activists are seeking to convince Quantum to follow through on the threats and sever their relationship with HLS. Read More

While mainstream medical and health professionals have acknowledged for decades the benefits of increasing vegetable intake and decreasing consumption of meat products, they generally refuse to endorse vegetarianism and as such there are still strong cultural taboos in America associated with a vegetarian or vegan diet and misconceptions continue to run deep about the need for meat or dairy for good health. Recent headlines, such as "McDonald's Ex-CEO Dies From Colorectal Cancer At Age 44" and others, atest that their mixed message is not getting through to prevent poor health. Going against this grain in American dietary culture, a growing number of vegan and vegetarian doctors are speaking out clearly about the benefits of entirely plant-based diets, attempting to educate the public about general nutrition and the healthful effects of a well-balanced vegetarian diet. Others are involved in long-term studies exploring the often ignored benefits, and potential risks, of animal-free nutrition, to better serve those who have chosen to forgo animal-based foods for various reasons.

Doctors and Nutrionists Speaking Out: John McDougall, MD in Marin Jan 20 | Dr. T Colin Campbell of "The China Study" in Palo Alto Feb 14 | Michael Greger of VeganMD.org Talks On-line | Jack Norris, RD Writes for VeganHealth.org

Recent Studies Related to Meat and/or Vegetarianism: Red Meat and Cancers of the Colon and Rectum | Antibiotic Overuse in Food Animals | Vegetarians, Meat Eaters and High Blood Pressure | Ongoing Long-term Vegan Health Study

Over 750,000,000 chickens raised for KFC every year endure egregious and unnecessary abuses. Undercover investigators and former employees have documented numerous such abuses in KFC supplier slaughterhouses and other facilities. KFC has so far refused to implement comprehensive guidelines developed by its own animal welfare panelists to prevent these and other abuses. In response, organizations such as Bay Area Vegetarians and others throughout the United States and abroad are supporting People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' campaign against KFC's inhumane practices and calling for welfare reforms. Locally, regular monthly demonstrations have occurred in front of KFCs in San Francisco, San Jose, Pacifica, and Santa Cruz, with plans to expand the actions to Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Cupertino and more. Reports and Photos: San Jose | Santa Cruz

Food for Life is currently serving more than twenty thousand freshly cooked vegetarian meals per day and is the only aid organization independently providing freshly cooked meals, consisting of rice, dhal and vegetables, directly to the victims in Sri Lanka and India. Often the dry rations that are being distributed from other sources are relatively useless because of a lack of facilities with which to cook. Most of the refugees are women and orphan babies and children and they have taken shelter in hospitals, schools and temples that were not washed out by the waves. Food for Life plans to increase the number of meals they serve as they get more resources and travel to different affected areas. They also supply medical items, sleeping mats, bed sheets, etc, as needed. There are numerous worthy NGOs offering aid to the victims of the recent tsunami that deserve support. For additional information on this particular effort and on how you can assist it, Read More

Also, Animal Heroes: 1 | 2 | 3 · Animal Relief: 1 | 2 | 3

There was nothing soft or cuddly about the fight over furs in Guerneville that started this holiday season, as animal rights activists targeted the newly opened Kings & Queens Vintage Clothing store, which in turn refused to heed activists' calls to stop selling fur. The dispute escalated when about 10 members of Sonoma People for Animal Rights, waving posters and pictures of wild animals suffering in traps, were met by about 20 counter-protesters shouting and carrying signs such as "I like fur" and "I eat meat." After over three weeks of turmoil which has spread to other local businesses, the potentially polarizing effect of the long-term protests have become a concern for many, including the Russian River Chamber of Commerce and other groups. Reports: 1 | 2 | 3

Under the radar — as demos, rallies and dramatic animal rescues take the few headlines vegetarians and animal rights activists ever get — there are robust communities of vegans and vegetarians in the San Francisco Bay Area that do not exist in much of the rest of the country. Vegetarians generally go about their lives as everyone else does — going to school, working, raising families, hopefully volunteering for social justice organizations. But there are several organized vegetarian groups that stay in touch and share information through active email lists, meet to share meals at the many vegetarian restaurants in the Bay Area or at various potlucks, and simply enjoy camaraderie at other cruelty-free activities. Read more