News From Around the World

• "On Being More Than an (Animal Rights) Activist" - Change.org, by Stephanie Ernst
• "Farm Sanctuary Launches Groundbreaking Virtual Experience to Educate the Public about Factory Farms" - Farm Sanctuary Press Release
• "CDC Confims Ties to (Swine Flu) Virus First Discovered in U.S. Pig Factories" - HSUS Factory Farming Campaign Press Release, by Michael Greger, M.D.
"No, Eating Animals is Not Natural" - OpposingViews.com, by Gary L. Francione
• "Vegetarian Options Urged for School Lunch" - United Press International
• "Best Sources of Omega-3 Fats Are Vegan" - Examiner.com, by Virginia Messina, MPH, RD
• "Eating for the Earth: Plant-based Diet is Better for your Body and the Environment" - Demodirt.com, by Galia Myron

For additional news headlines throughout the month, join our Society of PEACE Message Board News Forum on Yahoogroups.  Members are invited to post and share news, action alerts & more!

National & International Events

• "WorldFest 2009" - May 16, 2009 (Encino, CA)
• Chicago Green Festival - May 16-17, 2009 (Chicago, IL)
• "Veggie Pride Parade 2009" - May 17, 2009 (New York, NY)
• State Bar of Texas "2009 Animal Law Institute" - May 29, 2009 (Dallas, TX)
• "Raw Spirit" Vegan-Eco-Peace Festival - June 5-7, 2009 (Santa Barbara, CA)
• "Their Lives, Our Voices" 2009 Midwest Animal Advocacy Conference - June 12-14, 2009 (Minneapolis, MN)
• New England Animal Rights Workshop 2009 - June 13, 2009 (Brookfield, MA)
• "Let Live" NW Animal Rights Conference - June 26-28, 2009 (Portland, OR)
• The North American Vegetarian Society "Vegetarian Summerfest 2009" - July 8-12, 2009 (Johnstown, PA)
• The 2009 International "Minding Animals" Academic & Community Conference on Animals & Society - July 13-18, 2009 (Newcastle, Australia)
• Animal Rights 2009 National Conference - July 16-20, 2009 (Los Angeles, CA)
• The Humane Society of the United States "Taking Action for Animals" Conference - July 24-27, 2009 (Arlington, VA)
  

Action Alerts

• Act Now to Protect the Rights of Animal Activists! (From Change.org) The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA) was enacted by Congress with little debate or awareness at the behest of the pharmaceutical and biomedical industries and signed by President Bush in late 2006. Despite its name, the Act is framed so broadly that it classifies almost any form of social activism, including picketing, street theater, and civil disobedience, as a terrorist act. It is very likely in violation of the First Amendment. Sign the Farm Animal Rights Movement's (FARM) petition posted on Change.org to tell the leaders in the Judiciary Committees, charged with protecting our civil liberties and the rule of law, to take the initiative in repealing this disastrous legislation.
• Ask your Congressional Representative and Senators to extend the ban on torture to include Animals used in military trauma-training exercises! (From PETA.com) Thousands of live animals are shot, stabbed, dismembered, burned, and poisoned every year in Department of Defense (DoD) training exercises designed to train medics and infantry in how to treat various human battlefield injuries. Sign PETA's online form asking President Obama to issue an executive order requiring the DoD to replace animals with non-animal methods.

Informative Links & Resources

• Farm Sanctuary
• All Creatures 
• Vegan.com
• Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN) 
• Vegan Dad
• Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale
• VegSource.com 
• Animal Legal Defense Fund's "Animal Bill of Rights"
• Vegetarianism and the Major World Religions
• Nonviolence United's "A Life Connected" (video)

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