Just a reminder about Mia MacDonald coming to discuss the environment and our diets! Please be there to learn about the effects of the animal production industry on the global level Come no matter what you eat!

Which is more destructive to the environment—what you eat or what you drive? The answer may surprise you. International public policy expert Mia MacDonald, executive director of New York-based “action tank” Brighter Green, provides fascinating and compelling evidence on how animal agriculture is at the root of a host of environmental problems, including deforestation in the Amazon, desertification, and climate change. At the same time, meat consumption is soaring as McDonald’s, KFC, and Burger King and huge “protein producers” like Tyson and Cargill expand into markets in Asia and Latin America. It’s not all doom and gloom, however. Just as we can develop alternatives to fossil fuels, we can also change our agricultural practices and eating habits. It all comes down to recognizing the true costs of our lifestyles and adjusting policies and practices accordingly.

When: Friday, May 9, 2008
Time: 1:30PM to 2:45PM
Where: SMSU 229

We've added a new banner to our Media section to support the Let Live conference. Please help us spread the word on this upcoming event!

Come watch "Behind The Mask" from Uncaged Films... a documentary on the ALF. Donate some cash for SHAC 7 and even register for the "Let Live" NW Animal Rights Convention. Bring your own snacks, although there may be some provided!

When: Friday, April 25, 2008
Time: 7:00PM
Where: 5th Avenue Cinema (510 SW Hall St.)
Donation: Suggested Donation of $3-5 (Come on you know you want to donate!)

Vegans For Animal Advocacy has been working with Portland Animal Defense League (PDX ADL) on several campaigns; one of these is eliminating the sale of Foie Gras in Portland. After sending several emails, letters and phone calls to the owners of 10-01 and Nutshell (a vegan restaurant) we decided we couldn’t wait any longer. This past Friday we pulled our resources and showed up downtown to express our dissent in person. Gathering across the street from 10-01, the owner of the restaurants approached us, he showed us a new revised menu with Foie Gras absent. Although hesitating to sign a pledge he did agree to say on camera that he will not serve Foie Gras anymore.

Obviously excited we decided that with one victory under our belts we had to make visits to the two other restaurants nearby serving Foie Gras. Blue Moon was next, congregating outside we passed out leaflets to those walking by and received a very positive response from drivers and pedestrians. As we chanted “We will be back” we walked on to Fenouil. The response was not as pleasant, undeterred we chanted “That’s not dinner, that’s fatty liver!” among other things which evoked a very angry response from one restaurant patron. As the sun started to set we called it a night and headed over to Blossoming Lotus for a victory party.

An update for this would be the recent email ADL received from Fenouil, they have decided to remove Foie Gras from their menu! Both victories are momentous and both PDX ADL and Vegans For Animal Advocacy thank, applaud and commend both 10-01 and Fenouil for choosing to remove this unethical “delicacy” from its menu. We are aiming for similar results in the restaurants left on our list and one-day hope for a Foie Gras free city!

Animals belong to themselves, not to us. They should not suffer in our systems of food, science, entertainment and fashion. Instead, they should live free of the tyranny we put upon them. But they cannot claim this freedom alone. "Let Live" is a grassroots forum for people who want to help. Through an open, respectful, and friendly environment this conference will provide an opportunity for attendees to learn skills and strategies to become better advocates for the animals, no matter ones experience level in activism. 

This conference is for first-timers, experienced activists, and anybody in between who hopes to make a real difference for animals and build a stronger, more effective community and animal liberation movement. This conference is for anybody who wants to live and let live. 

"Let Live" is taking place in Portland, Oregon, June 27th-29th, 2008. It will be held this year on the campus of Portland State University. Much more info to come soon, please check the conference website (www.letliveconference.org) often and subscribe to the blog to stay up to date. Any questions, don't hesitate to get in touch. See you in June. 

Thanks.
The "Let Live" Crew