Every minute of every day, Mali is confined to her barren, concrete enclosure. She has lived this way for about 35 years. She had been denied the opportunity to engage in activities that elephants need for their physical, mental, and emotional health, such as grazing, plucking fruit and leaves from trees, taking mud baths, and spending hours a day swimming and playing in the water. She hasn’t seen another elephant in nearly 30 years. That’s just sad

But Mali has an opportunity for a second chance at life. A sanctuary would be able to provide Mali with vast spaces to roam, ponds to bathe in, fresh vegetation, foraging opportunities, and the company of many other elephants. All we need is for the government of the Philippines to agree to send her there and give her the retirement she deserves.

Please take a look at the following list of suggestions on how to help Mali and do everything that you can to share Mali’s plight with friends and ensure that Mali gets a second chance at enjoying life:

• Please write to or call the mayor of Manila and urge him to do what’s right for Mali and immediately transfer her to a sanctuary:

Mayor Alfredo Lim
Mayor of Manila
(02) 527-4991
(02) 527-4983 (fax)
fredlim@fredlim.com

• Take a minute of your life to watch a minute of Mali’s. Watch and share PETA Asia’s powerful public service announcement on YouTube and Facebook.
• Check out PETA’s “Free Mali” photo album on our Facebook page. Repost the album to your Facebook page so that your friends and family can see the conditions that Mali endures every single day. If you want to help further, post the photo in this e-mail alert as your profile photo, or create your own photo or video telling your friends why Mali deserves freedom.
• Send a letter to the editor of a local newspaper educating others about Mali’s plight. If published, you could reach thousands of readers. Check out PETA US’ letter-writing guide for tips on how to write an effective letter. Write to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the Philippine Star, or the Manila Standard Today. Don’t forget to include your address and phone number for verification purposes.
• If you’re currently living outside the Philippines, write to the ambassador of the Philippines to your current country and ask that he or she do everything possible to intervene in behalf of Mali. You can find contact details here.
• If you’re a teacher and want to involve your students in this campaign, please e-mail us.

Thank you in advance for taking action for Mali.

Posted by Jason Baker

So here’s a roundup of the vegan burgers available at VeganBurg:

1. Char-Grilled Satay
Treat yourself to an exotic blend of nuts, spices, and herbs. The vegan patty is juicy and flavorful. What gives this burger extra points is the crunchy onion rings and crisp lettuce that somehow manage not to overpower the taste of the patty.

2. Cracked Pepper Mayo
I call this burger “the classic.” It takes me back to my childhood days, when I remember eating burgers that were simple but very memorable. There’s something about its crispy and moist vegan patty that keeps me coming back for more! It’s perfect with the crispy potato-and-spinach pops.

3. Hawaiian Pineapple
The sweet aroma of the pineapple slice mixed with sweet plum sauce on this burger is definitely a winner for me. The soya patty’s texture is chewy and tender—just heavenly!

4. Creamy Pepper Shrooms
This burger is one of the bestsellers! It started out as a limited-edition burger, but because of its popularity, it’s now a staple on the menu.

5. Smoky BBQ
This one is the so-called “meat-eaters favorite.” The patty is made of minced mushrooms, oven-baked, and topped with smoky barbecue sauce, crisp fresh lettuce, and tomatoes.

So there you have it. Singapore’s first vegan fast-food restaurant. Make sure you head on over to VeganBurg. Bon appétit!

VeganBurg ®

Founding Restaurant
44 Jalan Eunos
Singapore 419502

Central Outlets

Golden Shoe
(Located along Market Street,
behind ASC Copy Services)
50 Market Street #01-28D
Golden Shoe Carpark
Singapore 048940

MBFC
Opening in July 2012
8 Marina Boulevard #02-05
Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 3
Singapore 018981

For more info, check out VeganBurg.com.

Burger images © VeganBurg.

Posted by guest blogger and PETA activist Katrina Lugartos

The first step is to find a suitable area to start your garden. Try to choose a spot that will get sunlight all year round, if possible, and don’t plant in areas where roof or road runoff is likely to accumulate (as this water may contain chemical contaminants such as waterproofing chemicals and heavy metals). If you aren’t sure where to begin, check out TheVegetablePatch.com for further guidance in getting started with your vegetable garden.

Before planting can begin, the soil will need to be enriched. Spread compost over the garden area and use a shovel or a pick to mix it with the first couple of inches of soil. (This process is known as “tilling the soil.”) Once you are done, the garden is ready to be planted.

When choosing which foods to plant in your garden, there are a number of things to consider, including the cost of each item at your grocery store (you may be better off planting more expensive items than ones that are very cheap to buy), how much you are likely to be able to eat of each plant, how long it will last (some perishable foods, such as berries, can be dried, canned, or frozen and stored while others, such as like leafy greens, need to be consumed much more quickly), and whether the plant is perennial (plant it once and it will grow forever) or annual (it will need to be replanted).

For tending your veggies, it is a great idea to start a compost heap and regularly apply small amounts around the garden. To start a compost heap, combine organic waste with some soil and leaves, keep the pile moist, and turn it occasionally. Aim to keep the soil in your garden slightly moist to the touch but don’t let it become dried out or soggy. You can find lots more tips for tending your garden at Grow-Your-Own-Vegetable-Garden.com.

Different plants are suited to different climates, so find out what will grow well in your area and what times of the year are best for planting and harvesting. Your garden could be supplying the ingredients for delicious vegan recipes before you know it. With a small commitment, even the least green-fingered among us can pledge to help the environment, animals, and our bank balance all at the same time by going vegan!

Posted by Claire Fryer

A museum worker appeared from around a corner balancing a piece of cardboard on his left palm like how one would balance a platter of decadent food in a fancy restaurant, except on this “platter” was a young Mr. Rat—stuck on a makeshift glue trap with pieces of fish carcasses that were obviously used as bait. We were absolutely horrified at the sight, and what’s worse is that the very much alive and distressed Mr. Rat (who was still stuck on the glue trap) was immediately dumped into a garbage bin.

With some work, we were able to convince the workers of the museum to give us the rat. To their credit, they cooperated, fishing Mr. Rat out of the deep bin and handing him over to us. Sadly, because of the damage to his skin and internal organs, Mr. Rat had to be taken to a veterinarian and euthanized.

Using glue traps, either makeshift or store-bought, is a very cruel and inhumane method of rodent control. Not only do glue traps subject their victims to a slow, torturous death, the animal also potentially faces days of suffering before he or she suffocates, starves, dehydrates, or goes into shock and then usually dies. Some animals may even chew off their own limbs in an attempt to escape from the glue, especially mothers trying frantically to get back to their babies. Glue traps are completely indiscriminate and can trap any nontarget small animals, such as birds and kittens who are unfortunate enough to wonder upon them.

There are many humane methods of rodent control, and the best one is prevention. Keep the area clean and don’t leave bits of food lying around (which would obviously serve as a major rodent attraction), making the place less inviting to them. Seal any cracks that would otherwise be an entry point. Peppermint oil– or ammonia-soaked rags or cotton balls can be used to repel any rodents. If a rodent is present, use a “catch and release” trap so that you can release the animal outside without harming him or her. But be sure to check this trap every few hours to prevent the animal from dying of starvation or dehydration in the trap.

PETA has since written to Casa Manila urging it to stop using glue traps and start using humane methods of rodent control. We hope that with this incident, Casa Manila will start to realize that this form of rodent control is not acceptable and is extremely cruel—and, most importantly, that it’s time to progress to less primitive and more humane methods that will not harm animals. To do your part to help rats and mice, please never use glue traps in your home, and if you see these cruel devices in your local hardware store, speak to the manager.

Posted by Intern Fern Tan

Made with fresh ingredients, these tacos are perfect for a quick and easy taco night!

Tacos
Fresh tomatoes, diced
Soy crumbles, seasoned with taco seasoning (homemade or store-bought)
Refried beans (homemade or canned)
Lettuce, shredded
Fresh or pickled jalapeños, chopped
Soy cheese, grated
Avocado, sliced
Portobello mushrooms, sautéed lightly in oil and seasoned with salt and pepper
Onions, chopped
Salsa
½ cup Tofutti sour cream mixed with 2 tsp. taco seasoning
Warm hard taco shells, soft tortillas, or wraps

Posted by Jason Baker

Many vegans would like their animal companions to lead a healthy vegan life, and these days, there are a variety of vegan pet-food brands available at specialty pet stores and online. These foods should contain everything your cat or dog needs to be vegan.

But in some regions, finding affordable vegan food for dogs and cats is impossible—or prohibitively expensive. If this is the case for you, you don’t have to abandon the idea: There are other options!

A home-cooked vegan diet can meet all the nutritional needs of your companion animal, and it also eliminates exposure to commercial pet foods, which often contain too many chemical additives. Dogs and cats do not necessarily need meat to be healthy, but as with any diet, you must ensure that you are meeting all their nutritional requirements.

Don’t try to make the change to a plant-based diet all in one go. Your feline and canine friends may need time to adjust to this new diet, so it is best to add in an increasing amount of vegan food to their diet a little at a time. This way, they will have time for both their bodies and their minds to adapt to the new food.

For recipe ideas and tips on nutritional requirements, check out Vegetarian Cats and Dogs by James Peden. This book provides you with recipes and with valuable information on which supplements might help your newly vegan kitty or dog stay healthy. Follow the recipes carefully to ensure that you don’t miss ingredients that are essential to your animals’ well-being.

You will also need to be aware of foods that can be dangerous to your animal companions. Among other things, onions, macadamia nuts, chocolate, raisins, and grapes are all bad for dogs, and to the list for cats, we can add cow’s milk. Yes, that’s right—cats are not designed to drink cow’s milk, and they’re often lactose intolerant! This isn’t a full list, so please do your research before giving your friend a new snack, as you could do them more harm than good.

Treats that are good, healthy options for your newly vegan animal include apples, bananas, and watermelon for dogs (remove all seeds and pips first) and melon and cooked peas for cats. Make sure you keep a close eye on your animals’ health during this diet change because, while most animals will adjust well to a plant-based diet, some may not.

There’s no reason why your animal companion can’t live long, satisfying lives on a plant-based diet. One vegan dog, Bramble, a border collie, lived a record-breaking 27 years. So give your cats and dogs a chance at a healthy, meat-free life, and you may be pleasantly surprised by the results!

Posted by Claire Fryer

In Eating Animals, which was published in 2009, but still remains a favorite of many people today, Foer is inspired to explore the production of meat out of a sense of responsibility to his newborn son. He is determined to make an informed decision about the diet that he chooses to feed him by gathering firsthand information on the health, environmental, and humane consequences of his decision.

He sets out on his investigative journey visiting factory farms and conducting interviews with the various people involved in the meat industry. The appalling discoveries that he begins to make inspire him to explore the more complex questions of humanity and what causes or allows us to ignore the horrifying truths that we’re so frequently challenged with.

Foer does a good job of leading readers on an intellectual exploration by artfully blending the philosophical with the factual. With the absence of an ideological stance and by presenting an honest admission of his own doubts and skepticism, he appeals to readers who would naturally be inclined to put up defenses.

Foer leaves us with the feeling that we should become more involved in our choice to consume meat, and for many people doing so might mean learning about the horrors of factory farming and slaughter.

Posted by Jason Baker

Image © Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

Canadian Senator Mac Harb has introduced a historic bill to end Canada’s annual commercial slaughter of baby seals. This piece of legislation acknowledges that there are no markets for seal pelts now that Russia—which had been importing 95 percent of Canadian seal fur—has joined the U.S., the European Union, Mexico, and others in banning seal fur imports. Despite a lack of markets, the Canadian government continues to support the slaughter because both liberals and conservatives want to control the swing seats in the region where the slaughter takes place. Senator Harb’s bill calls for the government to end the slaughter and transition Canadians in sealing regions into sustainable economic programs.

We’re nearing the end of the seal slaughter, but we need your voice now to reach a tipping point. Please write a polite letter to the Canadian senators below and ask them to support Senator Harb’s bill, which, if passed, would put an end to the massacre once and for all.

Please also write to your nearest Canadian embassy or consulate. A list of embassies and consulates can be found here.

Send polite comments to:

The Honorable Fabian Manning
Canadian Senator
mannif@sen.parl.gc.ca

The Honorable Michael L. MacDonald
Canadian Senator
macdoml@sen.parl.gc.ca

The Honorable Rose-May Poirier
Canadian Senator
poirir@sen.parl.gc.ca

The Honorable Céline Hervieux-Payette
Canadian Senator
hervic@sen.parl.gc.ca

The Honorable Donald H. Oliver
Canadian Senator
olived@sen.parl.gc.ca

The Honorable Vivienne Poy
Canadian Senator
poyv@sen.parl.gc.ca

The Honorable Ethel M. Cochrane
Canadian Senator
cochre@sen.parl.gc.ca

The Honorable Sandra M. Lovelace Nicholas
Canadian Senator
smithc@sen.parl.gc.ca

The Honorable Elizabeth Hubley
Canadian Senator
hublee@sen.parl.gc.ca

The Honorable Dennis Glen Patterson
Canadian Senator
patted@sen.parl.gc.ca

The Honorable Nancy Greene Raine
Canadian Senator
rainen@sen.parl.gc.ca

The Honorable Marjory LeBreton
Canadian Senator
lebrem@sen.parl.gc.ca

The Honorable James S. Cowan
Canadian Senator
cowanj@sen.parl.gc.ca

Posted by Jason Baker

On this visit to the Klang Valley, I noticed several new food finds that had popped up since my last visit, the best being that the city now boasts several Boost Juice outlets. In addition to the healthy fruit-based options that Boost offers, it also serves up luscious, “creamy,” and dairy-free cookies-and-”cream” (made with everyone’s favorite accidentally vegan cookie, Oreos!) and strawberries-and-”cream” shakes. Just ask the server to make your drink dairy-free, and you’re in for a real treat!

Boost Juice in Pavilion mall

Cookies-and-"cream" and strawberries-and-"cream" shakes

It was rumored that there was a row of vegetarian hawker stalls behind our Bukit Bintang hotel, but sadly, we never got to try them because when we attempted to find the stalls, we ran into an injured pigeon who had to be rushed to the veterinarian. We did, however, make it to the vegetarian food stall in the basement of the posh mall Pavilion, which offered scrumptious mock-meat dishes and beautifully prepared vegetables for cheaper than you’d pay for a coffee at some places.

My favorite vegetarian restaurant in KL has always been Woods Macrobiotics, which is home to everything from veggie burgers and donuts (all with a healthy spin, of course!) to energizing juices and salads. Here’s my lunch of udon noodle soup and the Five Energy Salad:

Even dining at the airport is easy, now that the low-cost carrier terminal of Kuala Lumpur International Airport boasts a pure vegetarian Indian restaurant.

So if Malaysia is next on your vacation list, there’s no need to worry about not being able to find delicious vegetarian food. For a complete list of restaurants in the bustling city, check out HappyCow.net.

Posted by Ashley Fruno

When South African mixed martial arts fighter Garreth “Soldier Boy” McLellan isn’t ground ‘n’ pounding his latest opponent in the cage, he’s keen to speak out against dogfighting. His new “Knock Out Cruelty” ad for PETA keeps it simple: “Dogfighting is for cowards. Don’t do it.” And who in their right mind would want to argue with the Soldier Boy on that?!

Unlike Garreth, dogs used for fighting are not choosing to step up to their opponent. They are trained to fight through fear and punishment. Dogs after they have been forced to fight are left ripped apart, bloody, soaked in urine, unable to walk, and covered with cuts, bruises, and scars. The “losers” of these fights are often killed by their handlers.

Dogs used in dogfighting are deprived of a normal life from birth. When not being forced to constantly train or fight, these dogs spend their days in chains or caged in filthy conditions. Their ears are often cut off in order to prevent other dogs from latching onto them. In order to make the dogs more aggressive, handlers chain or cage the animals just out of each other’s reach. In order to increase their upper-body strength, dogs are sometimes forced to run on treadmills, and weights are added to their chains. To create a “killer pit bull,” irresponsible handlers typically provoke, physically abuse, and otherwise torment dogs until the animals become aggressive.

If you suspect that dogfighting is happening in your neighborhood, contact local law-enforcement authorities. Animals our not ours to exploit, so please speak up for them whenever you can.

Posted by Claire Fryer