The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just moved a step closer to allowing companies to create genetically engineered animals. The FDA is proposing to allow the creation of animals that will be used to produce medicine, organs for transplant, meat or genetically engineered pets; and experiment subjects.

Canadian author Margaret Atwood wrote about many of these same possibilities in her best-selling and starkly apocalyptic book – Oryx and Crake. It seems that in 2003, Atwood’s book made more waves and garnered more headlines than the recent FDA’s public forum requesting input on their proposed Draft Guidance for Industry: Regulation of genetically engineered animals containing heritable rDNA constructs.

Full story: Genetically Modified Animals by Valerie Williams

The LA Zoo recently spammed its member email list and urged everyone to call local government and to take shuttles to city council meetings to voice their support for the Pachyderm Forest elephant exhibit that is currently under construction. The used a very nasty tone in emails sent and referred to the animal rights activists and city council member who are against the exhibit as "a small group of extremists" and continued on to say they were trying "to deny your families and your children the opportunity to see these magnificent creatures in a spacious, nurturing environment at the Zoo." . . . I strongly disagree with the zoo and side with those opposing this exhibit. The zoo should be spending their money and using their extra space to expand and repair the existing animal exhibits to make life a bit better for the creatures already having to live there. . . .

Announcement/essay: LA Zoo Elephant Drama by Kalimac Brandagamba

Between June 2006 and August 2007 tree rats entered my house. My (ultimately successful) quest to achieve peaceful coexistence with them was very much of a learning process. It seems that we have achieved not only peaceful coexistence but also a symbiotic relationship. The following story is based on a journal I kept during this period.

Story and photos: Year of the Rats: How I Achieved Peaceful Coexistence with My Rat Neighbors by LM

The Humane Society of United States’ recent undercover investigation of a southern California slaughterhouse is shocking – with cows unable to move being rammed with the blades of a forklift, jabbed in the eyes, stabbed with electric prods and sprayed in the nose with high-pressure water hoses. Animal experts have called this one of the worst cases of animal abuse they have ever seen. . . . Here Are 5 Things You Can Do to Stop Factory Farming Cruelty...
Article: Shocked by the Undercover Slaughterhouse Video? by Mark Hawthorne

We, the undersigned, members of an international coalition of many NGOs, biologists and activists concerned for the welfare of wild animals, are writing to express our grave concerns on behalf of Venezuelan decision in Margarita Island (Nueva Esparta State) to authorize and support the operation of a zoo and aquarium inside the facilities of the amusement complex made up by the Dolphinarium Waterland Mundo Submarino – Marino and Diverland Park. For the last 15 years, Water Land 's show has generated controversy around the world. In Argentina they took Cheryl (a Russian dolphin) away from Mr. Ric O’Barry, against the decision of a court order that gave him the permit to transport and release that dolphin. The company ran away with Cheryl and then in 1997 the dolphin died because of stress in Margarita Island, inside their facilities.
Full text here: COALITION FOR ANIMAL FREEDOM by angela expósito

This upcoming 10/16/07 will be an International Day of Action against the McDonalds corporation, an entity responsible for factory farming cruelty and pollution, rainforest clearcutting, worker abuse and increasing heart disease by serving cholesterol saturated burgers to the consumers and calling it nutritious food! Show your resistance to this fast food megacorporation at a McDonalds store near you!

Full announcement: 10/16; Global Day of Action Against McDonalds! by !NO MAS Factory Farming Cruelty!

Orange County, CA: In an anonymous communique received by the North American Animal Liberation Press Office, the Animal Liberation Front claims to have ruined the paint jobs on an executive's luxury automobile and home in retaliation for his company's role in supporting animal testing. Paul Moravek, of Fullerton, is owner of Moravek Biochemicals, a known supplier of notorious contract animal testing company Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS), Europe's largest such company. Full announcement: Animal Liberation Front Strikes the OC by North American Animal Liberation Press Office

August 21, 2007 Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced on the steps of City Hall that Los Angeles Animal Services was the number one and largest pet adoption agency in the nation. That's wonderful news except for the fact that it's completely untrue. LA Animal Services isn't even the largest or best in the immediate area. Full story: Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa fails Los Angeles' animals, then lies about it by Ann Angeleno

". . . My first experience with him was on paper. In 1985, I read his book, In Defense of Animals, in which he talks about “speciesism,” a prejudice similar to racism and sexism in which humans believe they are superior to other species. Singer argues that nonhumans are of equal value to humans and worthy of equal consideration and that an animal’s ability to feel pain should give him protection under the moral umbrella that humans typically reserve for themselves.

". . . When I heard that the normally reclusive Singer—who lives in Australia and New Jersey and who is called the Father of the Animal Rights movement-- would be speaking at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles about animals and art, I figured why not take him out for a bite? . . . " Full story: Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? The Controversial Peter Singer by Charlotte Laws

In astounding news earlier this week the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services announced that they are basically closing the shelter doors to owner relinquished animals. Their rationale behind this move as per Ed Boks the General Manager is to "fine tune" "the population during the annual spring/summer crush of neonatal turn-ins." Read that, "we have no more room because we've been warehousing animals all year to keep our euthanasia rate artificially low to try to make me look good. Full story: Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa closes City animal shelters by Ann Angeleno

Save Our Dogs is a grassroots effort to save working dogs from AB 1634, the mandatory spay/neuter bill. We strongly support their efforts and their goal and hope you will join with us to prevent this bill from passing.

The real problem in California animal shelters is not too many puppies. It is too many adult dogs who are abandoned. Mandatory spay/neuter won't make owners take responsibility for their dogs, so where is the benefit? Full story: Peta working to outlaw pets! by Karen

Planning a vacation to the American West this summer? How about boycotting the State of Montana in protest of their intended slaughter of 300 wild bison, including many small nursing calves, in the next few days.

The Montana Department of Livestock (DOL) has set up a bison trap near the West Yellowstone airport, on state land and they intend to begin capturing approximately 300 wild buffalo, including tiny newborns and their whole families, beginning Thursday, May 31. Call to Action: Boycott State of Montana this summer... by D. Grant Haynes

World Week for Animals in Laboratories ( WWAIL ) is an annual event designed to expose the plight of animals used for testing and research. WWAIL seeks to arouse concern for animals in laboratories as well as educate the public about the scientific, moral, and economic objections to animal experimentation, also known as vivisection. WWAIL 2007 will be observed during the week of April 22-28. Full Announcement: UCLA vivisection protest by Jan

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa promised to make LA a NoKill City. He hired Ed Boks as the new General Manager. In his first year Boks has failed to reduce the euthanasia rate. Fewer animals made it out alive, fewer were adopted. What went wrong? And what is the Mayor going to do about it? Full story: Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa doesn't Keep Campaign Promise to Animals by Ann Angeleno

Grassroots activists have won yet again, as the POM juice company issued a public statement yesterday that they would never test on animals again. This is very significant since POM has spent millions of dollars on animal experiments in the past 10 years, including inducing erectile disfunction and depriving oxygen to animals' brains. Hats are off to L.A. area activists for their successful campaign against POM!).Full story: VICTORY! Pom to stop animal testsAnonymous

In December 2006 & January 2007, the Japanese whaling fleet will begin to illegally kill 1,000 whales in the Antarctic Whale Sanctuary. Fifty of these whales will be endangered humpbacks and another fifty will be endangered fin whales. Although the Japanese claim research as their motivation, the only research they are undertaking is product development and marketing of whale meat – to turn their illicit whale flesh into dog food, cosmetics, and sushi dishes they make huge profits. Full story:Act NowtoEndWhaleSlaughterOceans Forever
ALSO: $25,000 Reward for Japanese Whalers’ CoordinatesSea Shepherd

[ Older Stories ]

la-imc (top)