Date: May 4th 2009

INTERNATIONAL RESPECT FOR CHICKENS DAY

Today, May 4th, is International Respect for Chickens Day! Established in 2005 by United Poultry Concerns, this special day is intended to educate people about how intelligent and affectionate chickens are, as well as how much they suffer in the egg and meat industries. (Yes, even the organic and free range ones: http://liberationbc.org/issues/organic.)

"Over the years, people who once thought they would never care about a chicken have changed their minds after learning about the terrible suffering endured by these birds and after meeting some happy chickens who escaped to live in our sanctuary," says UPC President Karen Davis.

What are you doing to celebrate chickens? Here are a few ideas!

* Still eating chickens or their eggs? Go without for a day, or even better, check out this collection of free veggie starter kits: http://liberationbc.org/resources#veggie
* Check out this free copy of Prisoned Chickens, Poisoned Eggs, by UPC President Karen Davis: http://www.upc-online.org/Prison%20Chickens%20Poisoned%20Eggs.pdf
* Learn about the surprising secrets of chicken intelligence: http://www.chickenindustry.com/cfi/intelligence/
* Send a Chicken Day e-card to a friend who doesn't know about chickens: http://cards.123greetings.com/cgi-bin/newcards/showthumbs.pl?q1=emay_intrespectchickensday&log=%27
* Donate to United Poultry Concerns: http://www.upc-online.org/donate.htm

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REMEMBER MOTHER COWS ON MOTHER'S DAY

Mother's Day comes up on Sunday, May 10th, and while we're honouring our own moms, it's important that we remember that human mothers aren't the only ones who dote on their babies! Mother cows are very devoted to their calves, and often form lifelong relationships with them. Of course, the cows in the dairy industry are usually separated from their babies within hours or days so that humans can drink their milk. They never see them again. (http://liberationbc.org/issues/dairy)

The calves, meanwhile, are either raised for veal or killed outright. If they're female, they may be kept to replace their mothers.

Please check out this fine poster from Peaceful Prairie Sanctuary, and remember that Milk Comes from a Grieving Mother: http://www.animalperson.net/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2008/05/02/dairyad.jpg


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HELP BEARS IN VICTORIA TOMORROW

Do you live in Victoria? The Humane Society International is holding two important events tomorrow to help the bears of the Great Bear Rainforest, who are victims of trophy-hunting: https://community.hsus.org/campaign/canada_bc_bears


Bear Memorial
When: Tuesday, May 5, 2 to 3 p.m.
Where: Outside the Parliament Buildings, Belleville Street, Downtown Victoria, Inner Harbour

Please bring teddy bears, poems about bears, or anything bear-related to build a memorial in support of the bears shot for trophy in the Great Bear Rainforest.


Concert to Save the Bears featuring ART (Art Response Team)
When: Tuesday, May 5, 7:30 to 10 p.m.
Where: Herman