Circle of Compassion

Vegan drinks!

The Animal Rights Coalition (ARC) and Fast & Furless Vegan Boutique will host "Vegan Drinks" on Saturday, March 7, 2009, from 7-9 pm, at 2615 E. Franklin Ave., Minneapolis. Vegan Drinks is a monthly social networking event for people interested in veganism and animal rights. Tip back a cosmopolitan, munch on some grubbin' vegan snacks, and meet other like-minded people. This event is free and open to ages 21 and up.

Vegan Drinks groups have started up all around the world. With its beginnings in New York City, Vegan Drinks' mission is to bring together a diverse group of people—from cupcake aficionados, to animal lawyers, to vegans of all stripes in between—to build new coalitions and promote the sharing of resources. The premiere Vegan Drinks event in Minneapolis on March 7, 2009, will be catered by Rhymes with Vegan creator and host, Meagan Holtgrewe. (www.rhymeswithvegan.com)

If you have a vegan-friendly business, this is a great opportunity to talk it up. Share your interests, your favorite restaurant, your dream job helping animals, your blog, or whatever unique ideas you can bring to the table. All that is expected is an interest in animal rights, veganism, and the pursuit of a little fun on a Saturday night. Remember, bring business cards to share, a bit of tip money for the bartender, and your "A" game. ARC and Fast & Furless hope to have a new event each month.

Great article!!!

Alternet has this great article out right now about the hypocrisy surrounding the "happy meat" movement. CLICK HERE to read in full. Like the author says... "it's still dead flesh!"

Will Potter coming to speak!

 

The Animal Rights Coalition is hosting a lecture by award-winning, independent journalist, Will Potter, titled: " The Green Scare: Using Terrorism Laws to Silence Political Activists." The lecture will be held on Thursday, February 12, 2009, at 7 p.m. at Cowles Auditorium, Humphrey Institute, 301 19th Avenue South, on the West Bank of the University of Minnesota Campus. This event is free to the public. (for directions, CLICK HERE).

Potter, based in Washington, D.C., is a leading authority on the erosion of civil liberties, post 9/11, and how terrorism laws are being exploited to push a political and corporate agenda. Specifically, Potter focuses on how animal and environmental advocates are being branded "eco-terrorists," in what many are calling "The Green Scare." Think red-baiting, with a green twist.

"The entire animal rights and environmental movements, perhaps more than any other social movements, directly threaten corporate profits," Potter states on the website he created, GreenIsTheNewRed.com, where he blogs about the Green Scare and history repeating itself. "They do it every day. Every time activists encourage people to go vegan, every time they encourage people to stop driving, every time they encourage people to consume fewer resources and live simply. Those boycotts are permanent, and these industries know it. In many ways, the Green Scare, like the Red Scare, can be seen as a culture war, a war of values."

Potter has written for publications including: The Chicago Tribune, The Dallas Morning News, Legal Affairs, The Chronicle of Higher Education, In These Times, The Texas Observer, The Washington City Paper, Z and Counterpunch. His work has been circulated widely on political websites, and has appeared in Opposing Viewpoints (Greenhaven Press, 2006), Punishing Protest (National Lawyer’s Guild, 2007), Censored ’08 (Seven Stories Press, 2007), and course materials for universities.

His reporting on the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act has been recognized by Project Censored for outstanding investigative journalism,” as one of the top 25 “stories that didn’t make the news” in 2007. He has also received the Mark of Excellence award for feature writing, presented by the Society of Professional Journalists, in addition to recognition from Scripps Howard, Lantern Books, and the Press Club of Dallas.

I rescued a human today

Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew
I had to help her. I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn't be afraid.

As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn't want her to know that I hadn't been walked today. Sometimes the shelter keepers get too busy and I didn't want her to think poorly of them.

As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn't feel sad about my past. I only have the future to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone's life.

She got down on her knees and made little kissy sounds at me. I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her. Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship.

A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well. Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms. I would promise to keep her safe. I would promise to always be by her side. I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes. I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor. So many more are out there who haven't walked the corridors. So many more to be saved. At least I could save one.

I rescued a human today.

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