Victory for PETA against Lipton tea #animalrights #hooray #geekgirl

More than 40,000 people worldwide took action against the makers of Lipton tea and after representatives from PETA and affiliates in India and Europe flew to London to meet with Unilever–the world’s largest tea maker including the Lipton and PG tips brands–the company has agreed to end all non-required animal testing for their teas and tea-based beverages worldwide.

http://www2.peta.org/site/R?i=vUebjww9v4d26IN3Ad5O2A..

With this victory, the suffering of animals for Lipton and PG tips teas ends. The company behind Lipton tea cut holes into rats’ intestines and fed them tea ingredients through a tube in their throats; infected piglets with E. coli toxin and cut their intestines apart while they were still alive; killed mice by suffocating them and breaking their necks; cut off rabbits’ heads; and conducted other cruel tests that involved tormenting and killing animals simply to study the health effects of its tea products and ingredients. Not one of the experiments that the company conducted was legally required for beverage makers, and regulators have stated that animal tests are not required to prove a health claim about a food or beverage product.

Thanks to all who called, e-mailed, and boycotted Lipton tea products!

Please take a moment to thank Lipton for its prompt and compassionate decision by e-mailing the company using its contact form.

http://www2.peta.org/site/R?i=0Q8eZ7FIqvXTmlZ0Y3zJBw..

Oceanic Protection Society busts LA restaurant serving endangered #whale meat

Oscar winning The Cove Movie team undertake covert mission to expose “The Hump”.

The target: Los Angeles sushi restaurant “The Hump”, suspected of serving meat from the endangered Sei Whale. The act is a rare occurrence in the US, but underscores the illegitimacy of Japan’s scientific whaling program.

Armed with hidden cameras and microphones, the OPS team worked with federal agents to uncover the illegal activity.

Louie Psihoyos, director of the Cove broke the story to The New York Times just hours after accepting the Academy Award® for The Cove. Read more [http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/09/us/09sushi.html] about how the sting operation was carried out.

Blog: throw another tofu-burger on the barbie will ya mate. #Geekgirl on behalf of #tcktcktck

Tcktcktck invited me to write a blog on climate change. I knew immediately what I wanted to pen about – animals!

Have you ever tried to get your head around what it actually takes to feed the planet!? It’s something I find difficult to come to terms with.

Even my little shopping village of Northcote, Melbourne, Australia opened a new butcher the other day. Another one! You’d think 4 existing butchers plus all the restaurants in the area would provide enough meat.

I’ve become more educated lately on the nature of food production, and films like Food Inc are a good start to understand the process from pasture to plate.  Although, I still don’t quite understand who is feeding, farming & processing the 60 billion animals we kill each year.

It’s horrific that most of this is inhumane and, to be quite frank, not producing animals that even taste good. I’m not a vegetarian (yet) but I have massively reduced my consumption of meat and although I try and stick to the MOOS principle (Meat Only on Sunday). I have a lot of reverence for what I eat, and I am conscious of what it takes to get my food on the table.

I know most people eat meat for the flavour and texture. And my smart vegie friends know a lot of tricks developed by Asian food producers who provide some meat-tasting alternatives. Unfortunately, most of this is soaked or prepared in soy sauce and as a Coeliac I can’t go there. But, there must be a huge potential in coming up with an alternative to meat, which tastes like meat, but ain’t. As much as the electric or hybrid cars are being driven (excuse the pun) by an industry that has to, perhaps rather than wants to. There’s a huge market in developing electric sheep, too.

As Copenhagen (COP15) rapidly approaches I would think that food production especially animal production would have to be high on the agenda. But, if ordinary folks like me can’t persuade the masses to re-think what they eat, what about politician turned good guy Al Gore, musician Moby or even PETA pet Pamela Anderson?

Australia needs to take part on a moral and uber-logistical stand on this issue. We can no longer farm or export meat in an inhumane fashion. Even if we do get our farming processes to the point it is compassionate, we need to become sustainable: that means all of us need to reduce our consumption of animals! “Throw another tofu burger on the barbie will ya mate”, might have to become our new national saying!

So, consume less & be informed more!

My personal top ten
1) stop live animal exports (join the Humane Chain)
2) make choices that respect animals; don’t eat them – or at least buy free-range, organic etc
3) moderate your meat consumption
4) support organisations that are compassionate re: ‘farming’  like Campaign for a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare (UDAW)
5) support organisations that also protect our marine life like Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd
6) keep having a go at growing your own food and find out what and when to plant
7) read labels when buying food and insist that labels reflect ingredients like palm oil
(de-forestation is destroying the natural habitats of Orangutans)
8)become a volunteer join local organisations that protect animals and wildlife (Wildlife Victoria)
9) keep informed of campaigns and if need be, write or tweet our Australian politicians

10) On Dec 12, 2009 join the world for a global day of Action

With much love & respect, RosieX

Good, Clean & Fair an afternoon with Carlo Petrini founder of Slow Food

Carlo Petrini, founder of the Slow Food movement, shares his revolutionary ideas about food with Sydney International Food Festival director Joanna Savill, followed by a short question and answer session.

In what is sure to be one of the highlights of this year’s festival, Petrini will deliver a manifesto for change based on the simple principles of good, clean and fair, which he explains as follows:

“Slow Food is good, clean and fair food. We believe that the food we eat should taste good; that it should be produced in a clean way that does not harm the environment, animal welfare or our health; and that food producers should receive fair compensation for their work.”

From humble beginnings as a protest against the opening of a McDonalds near the Spanish Steps in Rome, the Slow Food movement has blossomed internationally to include over 100,000 members – including an Australian branch.

Passionate, thought-provoking and challenging, prepare to rethink the politics of your refrigerator; after spending an afternoon with Carlo Petrini, you’ll soon find yourself saving the planet – one meal at a time.

Sunday October 18 @ 2pm

BOOK on (02) 9250 7777 or online at
http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/whatson/carlopetrini.aspx

Adult: $39
*Concession: $29
Children U16: $18
*Concession available to Australian pensioners and students

Sydney Opera House
Bennelong Point, Australia

Who wants to be murdered for Halloween?

Opening appropriately on Halloween Vincent Lyce’s Final Curtain is a macabre mix of comedy, murder and mystery served with a delicious dinner. Ex wives, illegitimate sons and fans alike will gather to celebrate the illustrious career of Vincent Lyce. Forty years as the star of horror movies as forgettable as “Dump of Death” and “When Death Knocks Don’t Answer”.

For the night you will be allocated a small character to play as much or as little as you choose. You might be a former co-star, a member of the press or maybe a movie star’s agent or a fan. You’ll be united in your admiration for the great star’s life work and dress as your favourite Vincent Lyce movie character – werewolves, vampires and mummies will rule the night. Click to view Vincent Lyce’s Filmography

But will all be as it seems? Could there be skullduggery afoot and a mystery to solve? Who can tell where Vincent Lyce, ‘the man behind the mask‘ is concerned?

Another unique evening of interactive comedy, murder and mystery from the producers of A Dinner to Die For.

Book to celebrate Halloween on Saturday 31st October
Venue: Queens Loft,133, Queensbridge Street, Southbank, Melbourne, Australia
Bookings: (03) 9698 8011

More info at http://vincentlyce.com/

Hitler Finds Out About iSnack 2.0

Hitler is unimpressed with the name Kraft have chosen for their new Vegemite-based spread.

YouTube

Gluten Free Food Show, Melb 3rd and 4th of Oct

Sample hundreds of tasty new products, pick up healthy eating ideas and be inspired with recipes from celebrity chefs. You’ll also enjoy exclusive offers available only at The Irresistible Gluten Free Show.

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, 3rd – 4th October, 2009.

Website www.glutenfreefoodshow.com.au

Topic for Blog Action Day 2009 is…Climate Change.

BAD press release…

We’re thrilled to announce that after receiving more than 10,000 votes from past Blog Action Day participants, the issue overwhelmingly voted as the topic for Blog Action Day 2009 is…Climate Change!

You can now register for Blog Action Day 09 by going to: www.blogactionday.org

To be a part of this year’s event, all we ask is that you commit to writing one  post, in your own voice, on October 15, on the topic of climate change.

You can learn more about the issue of climate change and see sample topics you might write about — like the connections between climate and clean energy, food choices, green products, health, transportation, and the broader economy.

NOWHERELAND. The Paris Human Flesh Incident. A cross-media installation.

NOWHERELAND, is a cross-media installation combining video, installation, plastic food and surveillance technology.

24 September – 10 October
Blindside ARI
Level 7, Room 14, 37 Swanston St, Nicholas Building MELBOURNE

Find out more at http://www.blindside.org.au/2009/nowhereland.shtml

Blindside provides an environment for experimentation and encourages the creation and presentation of art works that are challenging and innovative. The program fosters exchanges between local and interstate artists.

ART FOR FOOD. Mad About Art in conjunction with VicRelief Foodbank

30 Melbourne Artists have formed teams to participate in a fast paced 60-minute game that finishes with an applause type volume vote.
The teams compete to create a large body in 3 parts on canvases.

Popular Princes Hill Secondary College year 10 band, The Cactus Channel are playing, performers are roaming and live video of the artists at work relay onto the big screen.

Come along, join in, pick up a pencil, support a good cause, vote for your favourite work, bring a can of food or some gold coins.
Have fun with the family and win a prize or two.

Mad About Art & VicRelief Foodbank Fundraiser
Price:  A can of food or gold coin donation
Date:  Saturday, September 19, 2009
Time: 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Location: Federation Square
Street:  Corner Swanston Street & Flinders Street
City/Town:  Melbourne, Australia

Email: moira.corby@bigpond.com