Two weeks ago when we were at the Vegan Earth Day we were just a few booths down from the Earthlings folks. When we were chatting with them not only did we find out that they have a new movie, Unity, coming out in the not distant future (Fall 2009), but they also have a new blog to go along with the forum on their website. You can keep up-to-date on all the news about the new film as well as upcoming Earthlings screenings and more. Did you know that Earthlings is available as an audiobook? I didn’t until I read the blog. Check it out here and make sure to subscribe!

This Saturday night is Vegan Drinks happening at Desert Rose Restaurant in Los Feliz. From 7:00 PM until who knows when, join nearly 100 vegans drinking and enjoying pizza from Cruzer Pizza which is located next door to the restaurant. Desert Rose has also promised to have a few special vegan items on the menu for that evening. Although I’m all about the drinking and less about the eating, I’m sure I’ll be trying a slice or two. I have not been to this bar/restaurant, but apparently they have a large patio outdoors so it will be a perfect evening to enjoy the 80 degree sunny Saturday. See you there?

Location:
Desert Rose Restaurant
1700 Hillhurst Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90027
323.666.1166

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus is now embroiled in accusations that their company has been abusing the elephants in their circus. Surprised? I thought such an act was common place. In fact the idea of a traveling circus still in existence is more surprising to me and others. The company’s list of offenses includes but is not limited to:

• - Repeated strikes against the elephants with a bullhook (such strikes leave scarring and other injuries)
• - Elephants being chained for an extraneous amount of time

Born Free USA, the plaintiff in the suit against Ringling Bros. brought forth the allegations of abuse. Veterinarians from the San Diego Zoo confirmed the group’s suspicions of abuse. When confronted with the evidence, Kenneth Feld, President of Ringling Brothers parent company, stated “all elephant handlers at Ringling strike elephants with bullhooks.”

Born Free USA is a national non-profit animal advocacy organization that attempts to protect wildlife in the U.S. and globally. For further information on the story visit: www.bornfreeusa.org/ringling.

This Sunday at The Echoplex is the 1st Annual Rock n’ Roll n’ Rescue Benefit Concert which will feature and afternoon and evening of music, art and drawings for prizes. For your $20 ticket you get over 15 bands, one beverage of choice, one prize drawing ticket and the opportunity to help out the Sante D’or Animal Rescue. Tickets go up to $25 if you purchase them at the door, so swing by Ticketweb and pick them up in advance. Here are all the details:

WHEN:
Sunday, June 28th, 2009
doors open at 1:00pm
1:30pm-12am

WHERE:
The Echoplex
1154 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
(213) 413-8200

BANDS:
The Polyamorous Affair
Rainbow Arabia
Exitmusic
VOICEsVOICEs/ Bobb Bruno/
Howard Amb/Voice On Tape
Gliss
Army Navy
Death to Anders
Kill Kill Kill
Lemonwilde
Ridel Radio
The Black Apples
Talaparakual
Cabal Bums
Bexley
Mac Dunlop of the Letter Openers
Bradley Riot
Erase and Rewind

WEBSITE
http://www.rocknrollnrescue.com/

We’re happy to announce that we have added belts to The Vegan Collection store! Made out of the same high-quality material as our shoes, these belts are durable, fashionable and aren’t going to crack from long-term use. The belts are available in five sizes in both black and brown colors. You can pick them up for $20 in our shop here.

Although the turnout may not have been what was anticipated, the weather for this year’s Vegan Earth Day Festival was exceptional. Different outlets hypothesized that attendance would exceed that of the recent similar festival, WorldFest, which boasted an attendance in the thousands. Despite the difference in the size of crowd, the location, Pierce College was far superior and inviting. The venue had built in tables, chairs, bathroom facilities (Yay!) and a serene atmosphere despite the odious musical talent. When bumping into friends at the fest they quickly proclaimed that the fest was so under the radar and that they’d only just found out that day.

Regardless of its shortcomings being a vendor at the event was well worth it. Thanks yet again to those who stopped by our booth! The next event we can be spotted at will be the Animal Rights Conference in Los Angeles (Jul 16-20). Hope to see you there!

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It is common knowledge that bees keep us rich in the business of diverse agriculture, but what is not common knowledge is the reason behind their sudden drop off in numbers. Science Daily reports that if a solution is not found, “ 80% of the crops that need pollination to thrive will not make it to the market.”

The site also attempts to probe researchers for an explanation:

“The affliction is known as Colony Collapse Disorder. There is not yet any clear explanation for why the bees are dying in such large numbers. It appears that their immune systems are compromised. This could be due to nutritional problems: as bees migrate from the north to the south during the winter, they feed on nutritionally poor plants and ingest second-rate sugars, such as the leftovers from soda production. Alternatively, there might be a new parasite or virus in the environment that is able to bypass the bees’ immune system. For instance, the varroa mite is a bloodsucking parasite that attacks honeybees, resulting in deformed wings and abdomens. The varroa mite also transmits viruses. The tracheal mite gets inside adult bees and clogs their breathing tubes, suffocating them. The dying of the bees might also be due to chemical pesticides commonly used in the US to treat crops.”

For further info visit: www.sciencedaily.com

So if you’re not all AR conferenced out after the 2009 Animal Rights National Conference in Los Angeles from July 16 – 20, head over to Arlington, VA for the Taking Action for Animals 2009 Conference sponsored by The Humane Society of the United States. The event is happening from July 24th through the 27th and if you register before June 20th you can get an extra $25 off the regular conference rate. Not a bad deal for just being a little prepared. Click here to visit their website and find out more info about the speakers (including Ginnifer Goodwin!) and schedule of events.

This past weekend my boyfriend and I were whisked away to the insipid region of Nevada known as Las Vegas. The decision to go to “Sin City” was not ours of course, but that of our friend’s in celebration of his 30th birthday. For the many who know us (Kevin and myself), it would not shock you to hear that the notion of spending a weekend club-hopping and pool lounging is an open invitation of a bit of vomit in the mouth. Despite the obligation to attend the abhorrent, dimly lit and egregious night clubs we did get a chance to visit other parts of Las Vegas often unseen. One such treasure is the Pinball Hall of Fame with its countless rows of pinball machines dating from the early fifties to present. For just a few dollars one can revisit their clumsy and youthful salad days just a couple miles off the strip. No trip would be complete without a pit stop to Ronald’s Donuts to purchase a pink box full of delectable cruelty free donuts. I’ve heard the store once described as a “hole in the wall,” but upon a complete inspection it bears no extraordinary difference in resemblance than that of any other typical donut shop. Though if you do ever plan a trip out to Vegas and get a hankering for Ronald’s remember to bring cash.

I hope that for those of you planning a trip out to the bright patch of desert known as Las Vegas this information has been helpful.

Not only is this Sunday Fathers’ Day and the summer solstice, but it is also the very first “Vegan Earth Day.” To celebrate, a festival is being held at Los Angeles Pierce College in Woodland Hills. They will be having celebrity speakers, pet adoptions, health experts, music, film screenings, tons of vegan food and of course vendors. We will be there selling our belts and shoes and I’m sure gorging ourselves on the vegan food. Admission is FREE but parking is $10 per car, so make sure to carpool. There’s also a free BBQ for dads, so it’s the perfect place to take your father to celebrate. So if you are there, stop by our table and say “Hi!”

Here’s all the info:

Vegan Earth Day Celebration
Sunday, June 21st 2009
10am to 8pm

LA Pierce College
6201 Winnetka Avenue
Woodland Hills, CA 91371

Check out full the day’s schedule here.