Please come out, it's gonna be a great time. If you want to enter one of the eating contests, email us soon. info@foodfightgrocery.com. Space is very limited, so hurry up.
If in the near future you come in the store and find white chocolate chips and M&M type things, you will owe the nice folks at Cosmo's some thanks. They just sorted out how we can get 'em. So... thanks Leigh and Ken, you rule.
"As we recently reported, Daniel was moved last Friday to his designated facility in Marion, Illinois. He has been placed in the Communications Management Unit and will be serving the rest of his time here. We have not been given any official information on why Daniel has been moved here but we do know that this unit was created to heavily monitor communications of the prisoners it holds. We truly hope that his time passes as quickly as possible here.
If you would like to write some funny, uplifting, silly things to Daniel, please write him at his new address:
DANIEL McGOWAN #63794-053 USP MARION U.S. PENITENTIARY P.O. BOX 1000 MARION, IL 62959
Please be mindful of what you write. All mail is assumed to be read and copied. Do not use any initials or anything that can be construed as code.
Also, if you'd like to send pictures, he is allowed to receive up to 25 photos per envelope - no polaroids.
If you are interested in sending Daniel a book, please contact us and we'll be able to give you a book title from his wish list. He can receive books from publisher and large online stores like Barnes & Noble and Amazon.
As mentioned by a prison official, any materials sent to Daniel, whether books, photos or letters, should not promote violence of any kind in any way.
Thanks so much for your continued support, Family & Friends of Daniel McGowan "
"What they were looking for, Carroll says, was an informant—someone to show up at “vegan potlucks” throughout the Twin Cities and rub shoulders with RNC protestors, schmoozing his way into their inner circles, then reporting back to the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, a partnership between multiple federal agencies and state and local law enforcement. The effort’s primary mission, according to the Minneapolis division’s website, is to “investigate terrorist acts carried out by groups or organizations which fall within the definition of terrorist groups as set forth in the current United States Attorney General Guidelines.”"
""The convergence center is simply a gathering place and is not used for illegal actions -- it is a place for workshops and trainings," a statement from the protest group said. "Tonight, we were watching films and sharing food."
"It has long been apparent that every large, land-based animal on this planet is ultimately fighting a losing battle with humankind. And yet entirely befitting of an animal with such a highly developed sensibility, a deep-rooted sense of family and, yes, such a good long-term memory, the elephant is not going out quietly. It is not leaving without making some kind of statement, one to which scientists from a variety of disciplines, including human psychology, are now beginning to pay close attention."
"I have just been interrogated for 20 hours by police. They have put all their “evidence“ before me to comment on. This is what they claim:
* I encrypt emails * VGT is meeting in private places without public access * VGT is not openly planning actions on the phone * Taken out of context, some 5 emails of those 5000 I wrote in the last 11 (!) years sound radical * I have international contacts * I organise many conferences and meetings for recruiting new activists to the cause * I write books and run radio and TV shows on animal rights, which use occosionally radical brochures and which occosionally mention the ALF"
""I have seen many heartbreaking incidents of cruelty during my ten years of veterinary practice, but few compare to the suffering imposed by Martha Neuringer’s experimentation of these innocent, defenseless babies." --Sherri Speede, DVM"
"Portland folks, come help educate folks about this trial. I'm not a very savvy or confident protester either, but I'll be there. And I made some flyers that state facts about the federal court case Ringling is facing. Most people don't know about the trial and informing folks that the federal government will hear a case against the circus should be pretty effective and easy outreach. We also have a ten foot banner that says "Ringling Is Facing Federal Charges For Abusing Baby Elephants" which is a fact, and also needs some people to help hold. : )"
Take a look at this. Read. Look at the pictures and videos. Think about how fucked up it is that this is going on in our city and start brainstorming about how we can all make a difference. Ok? Really. Just spend some time thinking about it and if you have any bright ideas, let us know.
"What: Foie Gras Demo @ Blue Hour When: Saturday, August 30 6:30 pm Where: @ NW 10th and Davis (by Blossoming Lotus), then to Blue Hour @ NW 13 and Everett at 7PM Why: Ducks and Geese have no voice.."
"Campus Police, guns drawn, raided the Long Haul Infoshop Wednesday morning, seizing 13 computers and other gear, but the reason remains a mystery.
The building, which houses a collection of individual organizations ranging from the Needle Exchange to the East Bay Prisoner Support, was targeted by a team of at least seven officers."
"It has been reported that an animal testing laboratory in Stockholm was stormed on monday morning. During an early morning demonstration, around 60 activists alledgedly rocked the gates and forced them open. Activists apparently flooded inside the compound with banners and megaphones. Monkeys could be seen in their cages waiting to die, with workers in Biohazard suits spraying down some empty cages. No damage was done and the police allowed everyone to leave, but later Swedish police trapped activists in a subway, forcing all trains to bypass the station and not let anyone on or off. Activists were searched, photographed and had details taken.
The Swedish media picked up the story immediately, headlining newspapers and local news channels. No arrests were made but there are various claims that the police are now investigating criminal damage and tresspass offences."
"On Saturday Aug 23, activists entered a mink farm in Aldergrove BC CANADA and released approx 4000 mink. The farm is next to Aldergrove Lake Park which provides over 200 acres of water habitat for them to survive."
"For the past three years this film has been both a blessing and a curse. The idea of a "Free Speech" film was of course exciting, not to mention a hot-button topic. But as I became more immersed in the lives of this small group of activists and the people that oppose them, I found myself deeply entrenched in a struggle that has been going on in one form or another for centuries. I got to see activism, governmental politics and the judicial system from a different angle and learned that this struggle is as much about passion, as it is about right and wrong."
"New Orleans Rising: Commemorating Hurricane Katrina & Celebrating New Orleans"
Thursday, August 28th @ The Mission Theater, 1624 N.W. Glisan, Portland OR. Doors at 8:00, Films begin at 8:30. $10 suggested donation, 21+.
Featuring: "Finding Common Ground In New Orleans"--a short documentary by PDX filmmaker Walidah Imarisha + several short films by New Orleans women directors
A panel discussion moderating by S. Renee Mitchell with: Walidah Imarisha, Shane Endicott (ReBuilding Center), Connie Durkee (In Defense of Animals), Nicole Taylor, and Stephanie Shrum. Panelists will discuss their varied experiences both living and doing relief work in New Orleans post-Hurricane Katrina.
Live Music by Oz Street Fossils
Proceeds for the night will benefit Common Grounds Relief and The New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund.
Common Ground's mission is to provide short term relief for victims of hurricane disasters in the gulf coast region, and long term support in rebuilding the communities affected in the New Orleans area.
The New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund, a grass roots 501c(3), was founded after Katrina by and for displaced musicians, and has provided housing, transportation, instruments and grants."
"Will you go to lunch? Go to lunch. WILL you GO to LUNCH?"
Next movie night, September 14th. The Artistery, 4315 SE Division. 8pm. $3.
Crazy good movie. More profanity than you can shake a stick at. KIds might not be a good idea at this movie, or anybody easily offended. But trust us, this movie rules.
"Zoo staff quickly cut the live video feed, fearing the worst, while veterinarians worked to assess the health of the fragile baby. They believe Rose-Tu was confused and alarmed because she had never witnessed a birth before."
"The world's largest pork processor and hog producer reported a net loss of $12.6 million, or 9 cents a share, compared with year-earlier net income of $54.6 million, or 41 cents a share.
Animal-feed costs have soared as ethanol production has reduced the availability of corn. Smithfield has raised prices but still couldn't make up for the increasing costs."
"At stake is the future of performing animals in circuses, particularly this 138-year-old global institution. Circus officials say that if the court prohibits the use of tools like leg chains and the ankus (an elephant training tool that activists call a bull hook and handlers call a guide), they'll stop touring with elephants — a feature that they admit is their biggest draw."
Please go out to Red and Black Tuesday night at 8pm for prisoner support letter writing night. NOBODY came last month and... that sucks balls. Go there and grab a bite or drink too. R&B just went all vegan, no more milk for coffee, so good for them, and everybody else.
"Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus Protests - Help Expose the Cruelty under the big-top
Where: Rose Garden Arena, One Center Court, Portland, (meet on the South end of the arena, nearest the MAX stop) When: Thursday, August 28th - 6:30 pm Friday, August 29th - 6:30 pm Saturday, August 30th - 2:30 pm & 6:30 pm Sunday, August 31st - noon Call 503-249-9996 for more information. "
"If you are searching for signs that today's high food prices won't last, the latest report on the meat industry isn't promising. In May, a distinguished panel of scientists and meat industry officials concluded that the current "factory farm" method for mass-producing meat poses so many threats to public health -- from contaminated water supplies to deadly epidemics of E. coli E. coli -- that the whole system needs to go. The good news: Even meat companies agree that change is unavoidable. The bad news: Replacing factory farms with something "sustainable" likely means an end to 50 years of falling meat prices. "
"“I’m a vegetarian,” said Mike Tattoo (real name Mike Ostrosky), a former bodybuilding champion with a shaved head, great arms covered in art and a probing clarity in his blue eyes. “And Big Ant has in his backyard three guinea pigs, a couple of rabbits, birds, cats — and fish everywhere. But just because a person has tattoos, they wouldn’t come running with us.”"
"Media has reported that early in the morning of August 19, more than 600 mink were released from their cages at the McMullin & Sons Fur Farm (10495 S 1540 W) in South Jordan, Utah."
Funny how fur farms are always on such busy roads and the "farmers" are so concerned about them once they are liberated. If only these AR terrorists would realize the safest place for these mink is in their cages.
"Federal officials have agreed to wait at least a month before spending any of the money they collect from egg producers on advertising against a California ballot measure that would ban the cramped caging of hens and other farm animals."
"Pie Footwear is a shoe store with a conscience. We offer environmentally conscious and socially responsible footwear and accessories for both women and men. We are vegan friendly and carry a wide range of footwear from everyday casual to evening wear and professional styles. We provide in-store year around footwear recycling through partnerships with Soles4Souls and Nike’s Reuse-A-shoe program."
"Our demos at Blue Hour are getting more effective, we have a large LCD TV playing videos, information chalked on the sidewalk, people doing outreach,and people chanting and making noise.
The only thing missing is YOU!!! We need people to come out to this. So if you have been to demos in the past and meant to come back, please do, we can really use you! If you have never been to a demo, it's a great weekend to start!
Friday Aug 22 - 7-9PM - NW 13 & Everett : Flyering and outreach at Blue Hour. Kind of a lower-key demo with a few folks doing outreach...
*** Saturday Aug 23 6:30PM - BLUE HOUR DEMO - Meet at 10th & Davis (bike rack next to Blossoming Lotus) for solidarity, then @ 7PM - move to Blue Hour for a full demo.
Saturday Aug 23 10:00PM - ADL gathering at Bye & Bye Vegan bar NE 10th & Alberta. Hang out for drinks and food and let's PLAN SOME FUN ADL EVENTS to raise awareness of our campaigns, and also to introduce new people to the group so that they will feel comfortable coming to our events!
Monday Aug 25 3-5PM - Ungar Outreach - Educate the public and the proprietors of Ungar on the cruelty of fur.
Thursday Aug 28th 5PM-9PM - Last Thursday-Alberta Street-15th/30th-Tabling - Fun tabling and fund raising event. Hang out by the ADL table and talk to peeps about helping animals!"
"In a further sign of Japan's hardline stance against anti-whaling activists, police will place the men, a Briton named by sources as Daniel Bebawi, 28, from Nottingham, and two Americans on an international wanted list as soon as arrest warrants are issued."
Check it. Get involved. Get those typing fingers nimble... You don't even have to put on pants or leave your home to do some good.
"DawnWatch will generally alert you to front page stories in major papers, or national animal media stories. But the point of DawnWatch is to encourage activists to stay in friendly contact with the media. That includes, particularly, your local media, which DawnWatch may not cover. So please don't rely exclusively on DawnWatch alerts. Your local station wants to know what you think of its programming. And some local papers, which are widely read, print close to 100% of letters they receive. DawnWatch is pleased to help you find the correct address for feedback to your local media, or to help edit your letters. "
Just got back from the national AR conference in DC. Feeling super inspired and a bit smarter... maybe, we'll see.
May we suggest you read over these PDFs posted on Pattrice Jone's blog. They're handouts from some talks she did. And she makes some really good points. Some read and share with friends.
So... it's that time of year again. Time for our 5th anniversary party. And Scapegoat's 3rd. Sunday, September 7th. Starting around 1pm or so, going til dark-ish. Fun stuff will be happening. Save the date. Details to come.
ps. Rumor has it, there will be the unveiling of the Los Gorditos #2 (all vegan) truck. And bungee tug of war. And a velcro wall to jump against. But those are just rumors.
Announcing our next benefit movie night. The Goonies. August 10th at The Artistery (4315 SE Division). 8pm. $3 goes to help out with some expenses for our pal Josh Harper of the SHAC7.
That time of year again! Our 5th birthday is coming up and Scapegoat's 3rd! Save the date (9/7) and come hang out all afternoon (1pm til dark-ish). Tons of fun to be had. Working out the details, but it'll be good. Rumor has it that there may be the unveiling of Los Gorditos #2 (all vegan) taco truck. But that may just be a rumor.
"At OHSU, Elliot Spindel conducts experiments on female monkeys who are impregnated and subjected to multiple surgeries to implant nicotine pumps in their backs. Steady doses of nicotine are delivered to the pregnant monkeys, and their babies are cut out of their womb at various stages of development in order to dissect their lungs. Spindel began his nicotine research in 1992. .
When: Wednesday, August 13th Where: Corner of SE Division and SE 39th Time: 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
At a time when many scientists are moving away from animal experiments and embracing revolutionary developments in biotechnology, shockingly cruel, outdated and nonsensical animal experiments continue at OHSU.
Help us educate passers by about the cruelties and uselessness of OHSU's nicotine studies. Signs will be provided."
"It was a loud, lively, educational protest. Protesters chanted ("That's not dinner, that's diseased liver," "Force fed, 'til they're dead"), accompanied by fun party horns. Passersby stopped to watch a large screen television showing the horror that geese and ducks go through in the making of foie gras. People stopped for literature, wondering what the protest was all about. Many vowed to never eat foie gras. A couple visiting from France were thrilled to see the protest against foie gras, which they recognized as cruel - in fact, they were thrilled to see a protest of any kind happening in the states, wondering why US citizens don't exercise their right to speech more often. "
""Participants who ate the vegetarian alternative did not rate the taste and aroma less favorably than those who ate the beef product," the researchers report in August issue of the Journal of Consumer Research. "Instead, what influenced taste evaluation was what they thought they had eaten and whether that food symbolized values that they personally supported.""
Come stock up on produce today, really, we ordered WAY too much. But we forgot to get brocolli or 'nanners, so don't get those. May we suggest some celery or some lettuce? Oh what lovely cucumbers we have...
After a bit of an absence, we should be getting more Cheezly back tomorrow (Wednesday) featuring... (wait for it)... mother-f'in BACON CHEDDAR! Come and get it tomorrow afternoon. Some other new flavors too, but you know you really want that bacon. Super good. See ya.
ps. Buy produce too please. pps. Bring some packing peanuts if you have any lying around.
"Tell us your personal story about an animal who acted heroically and you can appear in this documentary about animals!
Each year, humans give each other awards for outstanding work on behalf of non-human animals, and they are well-deserved. We know that humans have given their lives and are incarcerated for such efforts. Now, we want to honor non-human animals who continue to save our lives and each others' as well. (You can see millions of these stories on the web, but we want your local first-hand experience); we'll interview you and you will appear in this full-length documentary called "The War On Animals". Please respond to http://www.beyond-productions.com or at: courtney@scottwork.com.
Does anyone know how we can reach the people whose story appeared in the news 2 Februarys ago, about a family who were stuck on Mt.Hood, and a female dog rescued them? The other local story which is documented in a book "Brave Norman" by Andrew Clements, goes as follows: "Annette adopte d a blind yellow lab from the pound named Norman. The beach is the only place Norman could run free because he is blind. One day, as Annette and Norman were walking along the beach, Norman cocked his ears and started running. He heard something no one else could hear -- the cries of someone in danger. Lisa, 15, had been swimming with her brother and got caught in the strong current. Norman swam toward her cries, and with Annette's voice guiding him, pulled Lisa back to shore. Lisa considers ... Norman to be her guardian angel." Thanks!"
We have been asked by Farm Sanctuary to help with the rescue of 10 young pigs from the Iowa floods. The pigs will arrive as soon as we can get a special barn built to give them a safe and secure home. We need extra help this Saturday to clear the site, so installation of the new barn can begin ASAP. If you can car pool, drive yourself and bring extra helping hands, your help would be greatly appreciated. We should have everything you need, but you might want to bring gloves and heavy duty shoes. We hope we see you this Saturday!"
