Action for Animals Austin

Wow, the vegan movement is everywhere this year. Check out this great story in the New York Times. http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/06/tasty-vegan-food-cupcakes-show-it-can-be-done/  

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I just need to let everyone know that this message is appearing on the new AFAA site, which should look the same to everyone as the old site. It may be that very few of you actually even noticed that the website changed servers, but it has in fact moved. But we kept the same domain name, ActionForAnimalsAustin.org, so you don't have to change your bookmarks or links. Please keep in mind that we're still...

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MSNBC reports that a 24-year-old man in Columbus, Ohio, was mauled after he let out a bear for feeding at an exotic animal collector's home. So many things went wrong here. OHIO allows people to "collect" wild and dangerous animals like bears. OHIO allows contact between wild animals at exhibits and humans. Indeed, the collector of this bear allowed people to wrestle his bears until animal rights groups complained and had his exhibitors license revoked....

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We have a blog that people read for recipes, feeding kids and what not.  I posted about our protest of the circus yesterday and I recieved so many kind words and emails regarding our battle to help the circus animals. Today, I recived our first negative comment from a guy who supposedly works with elephants.  He left his email address so I looked the guy up on Facebook.  He does work with elephants but it...

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UPDATE: Unfortunately we've had to postpone the first stop on the Tour of Vegan Trailers. The new date of September 3rd is tentative (frankly, I just did it to put in a future date so I could keep the event on Facebook), but we'll let everyone know what the real date is soon. When we have that date, we invite everyone to come to the Vegan Yacht to celebrate all the hard work at the Ringling Circus....

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As part of our current campaign against Ringling Bros Circus, we are asking you to call Austin's mayor and city council members today to ask them to help stop animal abuse in circuses. This important step will only take 30-60 seconds to complete. Below is a sample dialogue you can use when making your calls followed by each city council member's name, phone number and email address. Emails are acceptable. You will be speaking to a council aide...

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Since Chelsea Clinton, daughter of former U.S. President Bill Clinton and U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton, announced that she is getting married, the media has been in a frenzy to report every last detail of the event. I've barely noticed the details until this story on TODAYshow.com popped up. Chelsea has been a vegan since she was a teen so, this story reports, her wedding will be mostly vegan. All the media attention on such a high profile wedding...

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WOW!!!!!  No more "bull"shit in Catalonia!!!! http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/29/world/europe/29spain.html?_r=1

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Last Fall I took a social documentary class at UT for my Radio-TV-Film major. For the class I made a film about Austin's animal shelter, Town Lake Animal Center, and Austin Pets Alive!, an animal rescue group working toward making Austin a no-kill city.  My film has been selected as one of 33 films and PSAs out of 234 submissions worldwide to screen at the Lights. Camera. Help. Nonprofit Film Festival here in Austin. The...

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Action for Animals Austin and Counter Culture to host local premier screening of "Stop Circus Suffering"Action for Animals Austin will be hosting a free screening of Animal Defenders International's documentary Stop Circus Suffering on Tuesday, August 3rd at Counter Culture. The timing of this event is particularly relevant as it happens just weeks before the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus makes its annual visit to Austin.What: Free screening of Animal Defenders International's Film...

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It is one thing to think advocacy.  It is another to show up and do advocacy.  I am still beyond touched by our visit yesterday to Sunny Day Farms outside San Antonio.  What a beautiful, well run facility!  Every hands on experience energizes me and makes me want to do more for the animals.  Seeing these majestic creatures living the peaceful life they were meant to live at Sunny Day Farms is beyond words. I...

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Ringling Bros Circus is coming to Austin from August 18-22nd. Action for Animals will be organizing a number of events to raise awareness about cruelty to animals in circuses. You can help by attending these events, participating in making calls and writing letters, and by helping us reach as many folks about this campaign as possible. If you haven't already seen the photos taken by a former Ringling Bros' employee inside Ringling's breeding and training facility, then please see them now....

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In tonight's Animal Advisory Commission meeting, members of the city council-appointed group voted to recommend to the mayor and city council that they pass an ordinance to ban the sale of companion animals in the city limits. This would at least apply to kittens, cats, puppies and dogs. This news comes after yesterday's announcement that Petland would close its store in South Austin. The Austin city council must now craft language for an ordinance for this...

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There are preliminary reports that Petland may be closing. Apparently there have been unusual discounts on all inventory and puppies have been moved out of cages. A salesperson said they would be closing on Sunday. Of course, it could be a ploy. At least some version of the proposed retail ban on puppies and kittens should be going forward regardless! If this IS true, this is great news, and a testament to what so many...

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Printed in The Dallas Morning News.  It was a good one, emotionally on target. Read and post comments at: http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2010/07/lions-and-tiger.html

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A U.S. district court judge today dismissed federal charges against the AETA 4, four activists charges with acts of terrorism under the Animal Enterprise Terrorist Act. In his ruling the judge stated that federal prosecutors did not show how any of the supposed activities these activists were engaged in amounted to crimes. In fact, he said their activities were protected free speech. In my opinion, federal prosecutors were trying to disrupted legal activities and reached for...

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  I'm glad to report that there's another Animal Advisory Commission meeting this week and the topic of banning the retail sale of pets is on the agenda. I hope that some of us will be able to make it out to the meeting to show support for the ban!  Here's info from the forwarded email I got: The proposed ordinance prohibiting pet stores in Austin from selling puppies and kittens from commercial breeders (puppy/kitten...

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Join Brooke Chavez and the rest of the SDF crew on Saturday, July 17th (10:00 AM-6:00 PM) for another volunteer day! Sunny Day Farms is always in need of help and support to keep the farm going. Be sure to bring close toe shoes and work clothes.We will also be filming a promotional video, which will be submitted to potential donors to increase support for Sunny Day Farms. So if you want to be in the...

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The Humane Society of the United States just celebrated the signing of this important bill. It states that California will become a cage-free state by 2015. So, chickens raised for egg production must have more space to live. However, I see no mention of chickens raised for food. Also, there is no mention of how chickens will be killed. Though these chickens will be "humanely raised" it is unlikely that they will be "humanely killed."...

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This just in from Suepurrr by way of our forums: Hello! Thanks to everyone for your support over the past year. Counter Culture~ turns 1 on July 17th.Celebrate with Veggie Corndogs and Vegan Ice Cream Sundaes along with the Regular Menu.Performing: 4pm DJ John Moon (psychedelic)5-8pm - Live Bands: The Saucerians (60's Spy/Surf/Jazz Instrumental), Danny B. Harvey (country/twang), Combo Mahalo (Austin's Audio Ambassadors of Aloha) and The Ripe (70's sounding rock/power pop).4 to 8pm Saturday...

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