• Feb
  • 03

Foodie Fridays: Apricot Oatmeal Bars

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Vegan Apricot Oatmeal Bars

While we all know that there are plenty of tasty vegan snacks out there, it’s hard to tote bruschetta or tofu curry when you’re hiking up a mountain or running along your favorite trail. Take these delicious bars instead. They are both nutritious and portable—which means you’ll always have an energy source close at hand!

Apricot Oatmeal Bars

1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup dairy-free margarine, melted
1 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 cups oats
1 1/2 cup of vegan apricot jam or preserves
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts, optional
3/4 cup dried fruit, optional

  • In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, dairy-free margarine, baking powder, and oats until crumbly.
  • Spread 2/3 of the mixture onto a greased baking sheet and pat down gently.
  • Bake for 12 to 14 minutes at 350ºF.
  • Allow to cool for 5 to 10 minutes before adding the jam and optional nuts and fruit.
  • Top with the remaining oatmeal mixture. Pat down and bake for an additional 35 minutes.
  • Cut into bars. Serve while still warm or store in the refrigerator.

Makes 10 to 12 bars

Posted by Jason Baker

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  • Feb
  • 02

Monkey Mayhem at Monkey Mountain in Thailand

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MonkeysDuring a recent visit to Thailand, I wanted to see some of the country’s beautiful animals but didn’t want to contribute to any animal exploitation (which is rife in Thailand). I didn’t want to see tigers in cages, nor did I want to ride an overworked elephant. I had resigned myself to the possibility that I might not see any exotic wildlife in Thailand—until I visited Hua Hin. There, a local told me about Khao Takiab Mountain, aka “Monkey Mountain,” a popular spot 6 kilometers from the city center.

Monkey Mountain is much loved by the local people—and not just because there’s a very important temple at the top of the mountain that holds what is believed to be a tooth of Buddha. The mountain, which is surrounded by beautiful ocean views, is also home to hundreds of monkeys that roam freely in packs. Seeing the monkeys’ antics up close is an experience like no other. The monkeys are very playful—the youngsters have a grand old time clowning around, exploring, and playing tricks while loving and easygoing older members supervise and appear to break up play fights that go too far. I watched athletic monkeys swing from wires and trees, while the mother monkeys fed their babies nearby.

The Buddhist monks from the Wat Khao Takiab Temple are the monkeys’ caretakers, and the rapport between the two is very visible. To describe feeding time as somewhat of a frenzy is an understatement. The standard meal consists of corn, bananas, and peanuts—and when the bananas come out, the excitement reaches fever pitch!

Tourists are permitted to join in the mealtime experience by helping to feed the monkeys. It is a unique experience that I would highly recommend. For only 50 baht, you can interact with the monkeys—but don’t be alarmed or frightened if a monkey jumps on you and tries to eat out of your bucket of food! Monkeys will jump from rooftops as they take their chances at getting to your food buckets. Anytime I became overwhelmed by the number of monkeys surrounding me, I found it useful to simply empty my bucket and walk away.

My visit to Khao Takiab Mountain was a joyous and unforgettable experience! With beautiful scenery, a historic temple, and of course, a chance at a fascinating encounter with local wildlife, this place has something for everyone!

To help protect wildlife, always boycott zoos!

Posted by Samantha Pulsford

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  • Feb
  • 01

Busted in Buenos Aires—Animal Smuggler Gets Nabbed

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Airplane HangarA Czech man named Karel Abelovsky got busted at a Buenos Aires airport trying to smuggle a whopping 247 animals onto a plane headed for Madrid. As Abelovsky attempted to board his flight, airport security staff and X-ray technicians were startled to find more than 200 reptiles and mollusks stuffed into his suitcase.

Two of the animals who had been crammed into plastic tubes were already dead because of a lack of oxygen, and many more would surely have died if Abelovsky had successfully boarded the long flight. Officials suspect that he is part of an exotic-species smuggling ring. He could face up to 10 years behind bars.

Unfortunately, such attempts at smuggling live animals are not uncommon, and many countries across Asia have lax laws or insufficient resources to uphold current laws regarding these despicable acts. In August 2010, a Thai woman was caught trying to disguise a live tiger cub among plush toys in her suitcase while boarding a plane at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi international airport. Her destination was Iran, as tigers and other wild animals such as bears and monkeys make popular “pets” across the Middle East.

Thailand is a hub for animal smugglers because many endangered and rare species can be purchased in alleyways and behind closed doors at Bangkok’s Chatuchak Market. Thailand is being increasingly monitored from abroad, but many Thai people, including police officers and officials, are unaware of animal smuggling. After drug trafficking, the illicit trade in wildlife is Thailand’s second most lucrative illegal industry.

When people succumb to the temptation to purchase wild animals, such as hedgehogs, macaws, lizards, and monkeys—and even tigers and bears—from stores, auctions, or the Internet in order to keep them as pets, it often leads to pain and death for these animals. Wild animals can easily suffer from malnutrition, loneliness, and the overwhelming stress of being confined to an unnatural and uncomfortable environment. They are also notoriously unpredictable and dangerous, as they haven’t been domesticated for thousands of years like cats and dogs have. The wild-animal trade is also deadly for animals we don’t see: For every animal who makes it to the store or the auction, countless others die along the way.

If you’d like an animal companion, visit your local animal shelter rather than supporting the illegal and barbaric smuggling of wildlife. Rescue a cat or pamper a pooch today!

Posted by Robert Fry

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  • Jan
  • 31

Amazing Animal Moms

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Monkey MotherThere are many wonderful displays of devotion in the animal world. But surely one of the most compelling is the love and devotion many animals show their young.

When it comes to self-sacrifice, the mother harp seal deserves some recognition for her hard work. She feeds her newborn pup for 12 days continuously without eating. The pup will gain an average of 2.3 kilograms per day from the nutritious milk she gives, but mom herself will lose more than 3 kilograms each day during this time.

If you’re looking for an outstanding mom, one of the most notable has to be the sea horse—because the sea horse mom is actually a dad! The eggs grow in dad’s pouch, and during his “pregnancy,” he provides them with everything they need to develop.

The longest pregnancy award goes to the African elephant, who endures a remarkable 22 months before giving birth to her calf. African elephants also care for their young for a long time, with a calf feeding from his or her mother for up to six years!

The female giant Pacific octopus is a very protective mother, laying up to 200,000 eggs in a lair and defending them passionately. She cares for them for one month, refusing to leave them even to eat, and will sometimes even ingest one of her own arms to prevent death from starvation! Once the eggs hatch, she ventures out to try and find food but is often so weak and frail that she falls victim to predators.

One of the more famous examples of devotion in the animal kingdom is the bond between Emperor penguin parents. This pair is monogamous, and mom and dad take turns with parenting duties—while one cares for their eggs and offspring, the other journeys almost 120 kilometers across the ice to reach the sea and find food. Their bond is so strong that they can locate their partner and offspring among crowds of other penguins.

The bond between parents and offspring is one of the many examples of the similarities between human and nonhuman animals. We should take the time to consider the effect that our lifestyles have on these sensitive animals and try to make more compassionate choices every day.

So before you have a glass of cow’s milk or eat a baby octopus, think about the mother cow who bonds with her calf within hours, only to have him or her torn away after a day to be used for milk or slaughtered for veal, and the octopus mom who has literally given her own arm to try and secure a safe start for her baby. And use that as your inspiration to take the pledge to go vegetarian.

Posted by Claire Fryer

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  • Jan
  • 30

Protest Roundup: Manila Goes Bananas, Bangkok Goes Green, and Activists Get Cagey in Hong Kong

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Manila PETA protest

Staunch PETA supporter Nadia Chalabi donated her vacation time to help lead a series of captivating protests in Southeast Asia. First, PETA’s vegetarian appeel on the Manila Bay boardwalk spread the message that besides causing animal suffering on a massive scale, the consumption of meat and other animal products is linked to heart attacks, cancer, obesity, and diabetes.

Veg Lettuce

Fortunately, going green doesn’t really require donning an outfit made only of lettuce in Bangkok! Being green is as easy as choosing a healthy, humane, and environmentally friendly plant-based diet. After all, raising animals for food is one of the top contributors to climate change and adds to a wealth of other environmental problems, including pollution, deforestation, and resource depletion.

Hong Kong Fur

And PETA held this eye-catching protest outside Hong Kong’s Sheung Wan Market in response to the reopening of the live-poultry market. Avian flu is directly linked to raising chickens and other birds for their eggs and flesh. The action comes after a man in Shenzhen died from the disease and after the recent culling of 17,000 chickens at a wholesale poultry market in Hong Kong, where a dead chicken tested positive for the H5N1 avian influenza virus.

So what are you waiting for? Take PETA’s Pledge to Be Veg for 30 Days today!

Posted by Ashley Fruno

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  • Jan
  • 27

Foodie Fridays: Minestrone Soup

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minestrone

This home-style soup is the perfect comfort food for a chilly night. It keeps well in the fridge for a few days, so you can make a big pot in the beginning of the week and stretch it out for a few meals.

3/4 cup chopped onions
1/4 cup chopped celery
1/3 cup chopped carrots
1/4 cup vegan margarine or olive oil
1 20-oz. can white cannellini beans
1/3 cup sliced zucchini
1/2 cup shredded cabbage
1/2 cup canned Italian tomatoes
1 Tbsp. tomato paste
1 1/2 cups cubed baking potatoes
4 cups strong vegetable stock
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tsp. chopped parsley
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. dried basil
1/4 tsp. cracked black pepper
1/3 cup elbow macaroni
Extra chopped parsley, for garnish

  • In a large pot, sauté the onions, celery, and carrots in margarine or oil for 2 to 3 minutes.
  • Add the remaining ingredients except for the macaroni and extra parsley.
  • Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and cover. Simmer for 30 minutes. Add the macaroni and cook until tender. Taste and correct the seasoning if desired.
  • Garnish with extra chopped parsley.

Posted by Jason Baker

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  • Jan
  • 26

Love Me, Love My Veganism

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holding hands beachFor many people, the decision to go vegan is a life-changing one in many ways, and it becomes a part of who we are as well as how we live. Worldwide, more and more people are deciding to take the pledge to go vegan.

When it comes to relationships, some people choose to date only other vegans, as they feel it is important for their partner to share their moral beliefs. Veganism for many is not just a diet but also a commitment, and having a partner with the same commitment can make the journey much easier!

Some vegans are open to the idea of dating people who eat animal products, and with a bit of luck, you may find that your new significant other simply was not aware of the cruelty involved in using animals for food.  With just a little education, you will have not only created another vegan but also found yourself a compassionate new partner!

And even if your partner does not want to go vegan, you can always suggest that, on your dates, you go to vegetarian restaurants or cook vegan meals at home. If your date is unwilling to do this, then perhaps he or she is not respectful enough of your choices to be a good match for you. But if he or she is willing, then every meatless meal that you share will be doing something good for animals, the environment, and even your date’s own health!

Finding love is often complicated—but perhaps being vegan can actually help simplify the process by quickly identifying those with respect, compassion, and shared beliefs. We cannot be responsible for the choices of others, but we can, of course, try our best to give those we love more information about the issues that matter to us.

Most of us were not born vegan but instead made a conscious decision to live by the principle that animals are not ours to eat. So whether you have been with your partner for 10 years or 10 minutes, you can still help him or her make an informed choice about going vegan, which, in reality, is one of the greatest gifts that you could ever give.

Posted by Claire Fryer

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  • Jan
  • 25

Everyone Can Make a Difference!

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KFC DemoWhen I first became aware of the shocking, and often legal, abuse that animals suffer at the hands of humans, I was horrified. I didn’t just want to—but knew I needed to—help make a difference. However, the problems seemed too big for me to tackle. Like many people who first become aware of the atrocities committed against animals, I didn’t know where to begin. When I started telling others about what I had learned, I was shocked and disappointed to be told repeatedly that the problem was too big and that there was nothing I could do about it.

Determined to help no matter what, I contacted animal rights organizations that had offices nearby and became involved in demonstrations and events. In addition to helping out animals in need, it was wonderful to meet like-minded people.

Activism comes in many forms. People can help animals by leafleting, tabling, protesting, or writing letters to local politicians. There is something to suit everyone’s tastes and talents! Writing letters to the editors of your local or national newspapers is an effective way to educate the public about issues affecting animals while helping to bring about social change. Remember that you will be educating readers from all different walks of life.

And we often forget that simply by living a vegan lifestyle, we inspire those around us to start asking questions. This will give you the opportunity to tell people why you are vegan and teach them about factory farming and other forms of animal abuse and how they can avoid supporting cruelty to animals.

Like me, you’ll probably find it empowering to be a proactive force for animals and to speak out against injustice where you find it.

Posted by Samantha Pulsford

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  • Jan
  • 24

Top 10 Tuesday: Silliest Stunts That I’ve Done for Animals

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We’re not exactly working with a million-dollar advertising budget here at PETA Asia-Pacific, so when it comes to spreading the word about animal abuse, we have to rely on getting free “advertising” through media coverage. Sometimes, that requires “out there” tactics that grab people’s attention and initiate action. Here are just a few things that I’ve done to get the word out during protests for PETA Asia-Pacific (and, in a previous life, for PETA US):

1. Diaper Boy

After I wore a diaper outside the Kimberly-Clark Corporation to protest its testing Huggies on mice, the CEO reportedly said, “I don’t care what it takes, but I want us to stop testing on animals. I don’t want protesting babies outside a shareholder meeting ever again.”Diaper Protest

2. Chilly Cupid

I donned a diaper again when I dressed as Cupid to ask Gillette to “have a heart for animals” by stopping animal tests. It was so cold outside that I had to duck into a corner every few minutes just to keep from crying.Gillette cupid

3. ‘Chicken’ Incites Riot

My protest as a wounded “chicken” outside an Egyptian KFC came to a sudden halt when I was attacked by a mob of angry employees and dragged away by information bureau officials.

4. Visualize Whirled Peas

As an ear of corn named Colonel (get it?) holding a “Give Peas a Chance” sign, I encouraged people in Haifa, Tel Aviv, and Old Jerusalem to adopt a nonviolent vegan diet. Did I mention that this was during the Second Intifada?

Israel Protest

5. The Real Inconvenient Truth

In my bunny costume, with a “Stop the Gorey Tests!” sign, I followed Al Gore for six months along the 2000 U.S. presidential campaign trail. It was worth it: A chemical-testing program supported by Gore soon agreed to spare 800,000 animals from painful tests.

Gore Protest

6. Giant Condom in Amish Country

I dressed as a giant prophylactic to promote cruelty-free condoms (yes, they used to test condoms on animals!). The location? A village called Intercourse—in an Amish neighborhood.

Amish protest

7. Driving the NASCAR Circuit

Procter & Gamble conducts animal tests—so for several months, I traveled to more than 120 NASCAR races across North America in a car that read, “Died,” a spoof of P&G’s Tide logo.

8. A Steaming Pile of …

Manure. I blocked a poultry convention’s entrance with a truckload of manure right in the middle of the road, topped with a “Meat Stinks” sign.

Manure protest

9. Hauled Away by the Secret Service

When then-U.S. President Bill Clinton undermined the European Union ban on steel-jaw traps, I set up a “bloody” trap in front of the White House—but when I rubbed “blood” on the front gate, the Secret Service escorted me off the premises.

10. Getting Arrested With Ricki Lake

Together, celebrity talk-show host Ricki Lake and I occupied Karl Lagerfeld’s office to protest his use of real animal fur—and then, together, we were arrested.

Want to get involved in wacky (or not-so-wacky) ways to help animals? You can join PETA’s Activist Network—we’ll make sure that you get plenty of interesting opportunities to voice your support for animals!

Posted by Jason Baker

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  • Jan
  • 23

Book Review: ‘Hellsucks’ by Noel Sweeney

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Courtroom Hellsucks is a moving story about a young female lawyer named Zowie “Zogger” Darrow and her determination to bring to justice three men who set fire to and murder a defenseless pony.

Zogger, a lawyer in her mid-20s, is already disillusioned by her profession. She finds the cases that she’s being asked to take either trivial or insignificant, until she is assigned the case of Molly, a tortured pony. On the outside, Zogger is a tough, young lawyer—she is as smart as a whip and possesses a sharp tongue. When she is asked to represent Molly against the pony’s cold-hearted killers (already known to the law), she relates the pony’s story to her own story of being physically and sexually assaulted by a stranger in a park when she was a young girl.

Once Zogger becomes emotionally involved in the case, she makes it her mission to see to it that the defendants pay for their vulgar crime. She is determined to win this case more than any other case she has ever been involved in, putting all her rage and emotion into preparing the case, while making a silent commitment to Molly that her abusers will rot in jail for their barbaric and despicable act.

With the courtroom as a backdrop, Zogger must fight through indifference and injustice as corruption rears its ugly head. Because of its serious and confrontational nature, Hellsucks is a painful story at times. The book makes a convincing case as to what drives Zogger to become a heroic vigilante in the face of an unsympathetic legal system.

Noel Sweeney is a criminal lawyer who specializes in animal rights, and this gripping novel will have readers rooting for Zogger in her unbending quest to seek justice for all beings.

Posted by Samantha Pulsford

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