Bob Barker, of The Price is Right fame, will host the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida (ARFF) 20th Anniversary Gala on Saturday, March 14, 2009, at 7 p.m., at the Broward County Convention Center. Pamela Anderson is the guest of honor. The black-tie-optional affair will provide members and supporters the opportunity to meet, mingle and relax while enjoying an exciting, eventful evening. Highlights of the gala will include a gourmet vegan dinner, an open bar, silent and live auctions featuring items from actress Kim Basinger and basketball player Yao Ming, and book signings by PETA’s Ingrid Newkirk and PCRM’s Dr. Neal Barnard. All proceeds from the gala will be used to fund ARFF’s Humane Education program, which has educated thousands of schoolchildren in Florida on veganism, companion animals and wildlife. Tickets for the gala are $250 and can be purchased by calling (954) 727-ARFF or visiting http://www.arff.org <http://www.arff.org>
1. Hipster: The Dead End of Western Civilization
Amazing article from Adbusters on the counter-cultural void that is Hipsterdom.
2. The Vegan Collection Affordable, sweatshop-fee, vegan shoes for men. The Vegan Collection is versatile – dress it up with a suit, or go with a pair of jeans. They’re under $50, and 25% of profit goes to animal advocacy.
3. Hey Alaska, Stop Murdering Wolves!
As many Alaskans already learned via media reports, 14 one-month old wolf pups recently were killed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in a practice known as “denning”. Denning is the practice of killing wolves in or around their den, in this case by shooting them in the head. 14 adults were also killed. Please, as soon as possible, contact Alaska Governor Sarah Palin expressing your objections to this unethical and illegal decimation of Alaska’s wolf population.
4. Green Depot
Perhaps an alternative to Home Depot (formerly known for it’s use of old-growth timber, and now it rampant greenwashing – among other shady practices) can inspire people to consider the enviroment when making home repairs and adjustments. Green Depot promises to be a good steward…that is aside from those “eco-friendly” insect killers and wool rugs. Maybe the best solution is to just not buy anything new at all. Check out Build It Green in New York – an entirely recycled/thrift Depot-style, DIY store.
5. Vegan, Lesbian Hollywood Wedding! Newlyweds and newly-vegans Ellen Degeneres and Portia De Rossi got married and had a totally vegan wedding featuring a vegan red velvet cake by Sweet Lady Jane. How was I not invited?
6. Fur Real?
Gwyneth Paltrow recently turned stomachs when she appeared draped in fur and exotic skins in a campaign for Tod’s. The strangest thing about it is that she surrounds herself with vegan and vegetarian friends and family including her very own vegetarian husband Chris Martin of Coldplay. Friend Stella McCartney is pissed, Moby is pissed, and I am pissed too. Vaginally and anally electrocuting a struggling fox until it is dead is the furthest thing from sexy. Hey Gwyneth, you might want to brutally bludgeon and stomp my dog, then turn him into a giant set of furry ear-plugs to block out all the shit you’re gonna hear for doing this campaign.
7. AuH2O
New York’s East Village is home to the recycled eco-boutique AuH2O. They even do custom alternations on the spot with no charge!
84 E. 7th St.
(b/t 1st and 2nd Ave)
New York, NY 10003
(212) 466-0844
E-mail: kate@auh2odesigns.com
8. Star Wars’ Environmentalist Origin
Derrick Jensen is an amazing, truthful, and brilliant writer. But comedian? Who knew? Derrick files his grievances with the ineffectiveness of “non-violent civil disobedience” and many other the useless hoops activists jump through to change those who are destroying the planet.
9. Need a reason to boycott the Olympics? How about several reasons…?
10. Olympic Judo Medalist is Vegan. NBA star is Vegetarian.
I can’t tell you how many times people insist that it is not possible to be a veg athlete. Who was the first NBA player to win championships with three different teams? If you said John Salley, then bravo. But you know what else John Salley is? A vegetarian. Also, Beijing 2008 Gold Medalist Ronda Rousey, who is the first US woman to win an Olympic medal in Judo, is a vegan. Click here to learn about other veg athletes.
When I attended the NYC launch of Gene Baur’s national book tour, I didn’t expect to be fed amazing food from Candle 79, mingle with Moby and other smart celebs, and have fuel added to the fire of my passion for animal advocacy while listening to Gene read from his book.Farm Sanctuary continues to be this Discerning Brute’s favorite animal advocacy organization (especially since I make routine trips to their sanctuaries to hang with the animals!). I met Gene for the first time last fall in LA at their star-studded Gala.
Gene Baur, Coral Smith (MTV’s Real World), Billy McNamara, Joshua Katcher
Twenty years ago, Gene started Farm Sanctuary with meager resources, and today it is the nation’s leading farm animal protection organization. Farm Sanctuary has worked to expose and stop cruel practices of the “food animal” industry through research and investigations, legal and institutional reforms, public awareness projects, youth education, and direct rescue and refuge efforts. Farm Sanctuary shelters in Watkins Glen, N.Y., and Orland, Calif., provide lifelong care for hundreds of rescued animals, who have become ambassadors for farm animals everywhere by educating visitors about the realities of factory farming. Additional information can be found at www.farmsanctuary.org.
Attend the Book Tour:
Click HERE for a list of cities and dates. Gene Baur’s national book tour is scheduled to visit cities across the country to promote the book and share his experiences from more than 20 years on the front lines of the animal protection movement. He will explore the ethical questions involved in the production of beef, poultry, pork, milk, and eggs and address the systematic mistreatment of 10 billion farm animals who are exploited specifically for food every year in the U.S.
Buy the Book: 100 percent of author proceeds will be donated to Farm Sanctuary. Click .
Wine & Dine in NYC with Gene, Celebs, the Ethically Fabulous, and Yours Truly:
Farm Sanctuary will be hosting its next Gala for Farm Animals on Saturday, May 17, 2008 in New York at Cipriani Wall Street! For more information on this event, please visit the Gala website.
Are you an artist or crafts-person? Want to donate a farm-animal related item to the Auction?
At the past auctions, Fred Willard, Deborah Skelton, Emily Deschanel, Alicia Silverstone, Dennis Kucinich, Paul Reuben, Moby, and hordes of other amazing people bid on artwork from huge atists like Peter Max and Sue Coe, and artists just like you! Farm Sanctuary’s Gala auction raises over $50,000 for farm animals in need. This crucial fundraising effort is only possible thanks to the generosity of artists and other contributors. For information about contributing to the Gala auction click here, or contact Chloe Jo Berman at 212-989-8482 or cberman@farmsanctuary.org.
DB’s Etiquette Recommendation: Book parties are great places to meet people who have similar interests, so show up and look like you mean it! If you come to the NYC gala, and want to hang out with me, drop me a line! Don’t forget to get a nice eco-friendly suit from one of the many designers listed in the right (or just get one from your local thrift store)!
Posted by TheDiscerningBrute 
