Although the American government no longer prioritizes the safety, health, and well-being of animals, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) does.

The USDA messed up

Early in the Trump presidency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) deleted all information pertaining to puppy mills, roadside zoos, traveling zoos, and other businesses that exploit animals from its website. This action greatly upset animal activists.

Luckily PETA was paying attention to the governmental organization and responded by releasing every USDA inspection report of captive animals exhibitors in its archives. A PETA press release reveals that the organization’s action includes about 21,000 records that date back to 1984.

Making real change

Releasing the USDA’s records was an admirable step, but PETA and other animal rights groups are taking that activism further. PETA, the Beagle Freedom Project, etc., are filing a lawsuit against the USDA to encourage it to release the records.

According to PETA, the lawsuit maintains the USDA’s document removal was illegal. The Freedom of Information Act requires agencies to post frequently requested records on its websites. The suit also aims to ensure that animal-welfare records go public when created.

Substance over flash

PETA’s latest move was less flashy than many of the other “stunts”—nude celebrities, etc.—it’s known for, and we’re grateful. This low-key approach is commonsense and could appeal to people who brush off the group’s work as trivial or flaky.

“It’s critical for animal advocates, law-enforcement officials, and members of the public to know how animal exhibitors have violated the law and whether dangerous wild animals are located nearby,” Brittany Peet, PETA Foundation Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement, says.

“PETA will use every opportunity to push the USDA to put all these widely used documents back on its website, including all new records as they’re created.”

If you’d like to see the USDA’s records regarding animal welfare, click here to sign PETA’s action.

You also can view the released USDA inspection reports here.

Related on EcoSalon
Farewell, Ringling Brothers: I Was Once a (Very Sad) Circus Animal
Patagonia Drops Incredibly Cruel Wool Supplier (Thanks, PETA!)
Link Love: The PETA Ad You Need to See + Vegan Faces + Kim’s Arse

The post PETA Takes the USDA to Task Over Animal Welfare appeared first on EcoSalon.

Say what you will about PETA’s shock-and-awe tactics – the animal rights organization knows how to get things done. (And by things, we mean achieving justice for poorly treated animals.)

The most recent big name company that PETA called out for its questionable sourcing is the uber-ethical and sustainably committed outdoor gear retailer, Patagonia. According to Ecouterre, one of Patagonia’s suppliers was grossly mistreating lambs and sheep. PETA filmed undercover footage of the Argentinean wool supplier in question. The company was supposedly a supplier of “responsibly sourced wool,” but PETA’s video footage showed a very different story:

“The animal-rights group has posted on its website video that shows livestock workers slitting lambs’ throats, skinning them alive, or otherwise abusing and mutilating the animals. The footage, according to PETA, was obtained from farms that are part of the Ovis 21 (sometimes styled Ovis XXI), a network of some 140 ranches that has been working with the Nature Conservancy to reverse 100 years of overgrazing on 15 million acres of Patagonian grasslands,” reports Ecouterre.

This was a pretty big “to do,” considering Patagonia is known for its environmental and social responsibility efforts.

Since PETA posted the video, there has been a deafening rally cry from companies, people, and organizations calling for Patagonia to dump their terrible supplier. And – thank goodness – Patagonia was smart enough to listen. Rose Marcario, Patagonia’s CEO, was quoted in the SFGate, saying that “ ‘Patagonia’s partnership with Ovis 21 has been a source of pride because of the program’s genuine commitment to regenerating the grassland ecosystem, but this work must come equally with respectful and humane treatment of the animals that contribute to this endeavor.’ ” Until Patagonia finds a new supplier, it will finish using “its existing stock of wool.”

Right about now, you may be thinking, “yeesh. I never, ever want to buy wool again, but I love how it makes me feel – what alternative can I turn to?” Care2 has a few humane, alternative wool suggestions:

1. Bamboo
2. Banana
3. Hemp
4. Flax
5. Organic cotton
6. Tencel
7. Recycled plastic

Related on EcoSalon

Angora Wool is Finally on the Decline: Fashion Brands Ditching Cruelty

11 Sustainable Fall 2015 Fashion Picks

Is The Gap As Fur-Free As It Claims?

Image from Patagonia’s Facebook page

The post Patagonia Drops Incredibly Cruel Wool Supplier (Thanks, PETA!) appeared first on EcoSalon.

We are big fans of cruelty-free fashion. And that’s why we are thrilled that multiple companies are banning the use of angora wool all together.

Angora wool comes from the incredibly cute and fluffy angora rabbit. Angora hair is soft and downy, which makes it highly valued. Angora is typically used to make sweaters, scarves, and gloves. Sadly, angora hair is typically harvested in cruel ways that greatly harm rabbits.

People and clothing companies alike are starting to talk more about angora wool farming because of PETA’s recent expose on angora rabbit farms. The animal rights organization’s footage is incredibly hard to watch, but the film needed to be made. So many people just view rabbits as emotionless animals, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Rabbits have feelings and just like any other animal that’s farmed in a factory-like setting, it suffers severely when it’s confined in a small cage.

“In its exposé of a PETA Asia investigation, some rabbits used for angora scream in pain as their fur is ripped out, while others are cut or sheared and invariably wounded by the sharp tools as they struggle desperately to escape. In addition, the angora-farming industry condemns these intelligent, social animals to years of isolation in small, filthy wire cages,” reports PETA.

One of the more recent clothing companies that dropped angora wool from its clothing line because of PETA’s reporting is bebe, a popular, fashion-forward clothing company. Other mainstream companies (such as H&M, Forever 21, and Target) that no longer sell angora products are listed here. PETA most recently updated its “angora-free” company list on June 16, 2015.

We are thrilled many mainstream companies are dropping angora wool, but also want to mention that there are businesses dedicated to being cruelty-free. To discover brands that are totally vegan, or sell vegan products, check out Farm Sanctuary ‘s extensive list.

What are your favorite cruelty-free clothing brands? If you have any, share in the comments.

Related in EcoSalon

4 Fair Trade Clothing Brands We Love for Spring

Eva Mendes Goes Cruelty Free With New Makeup Line, CIRCA

Sole Food: Fair Trade Espadrilles by Alice & Whittles Support Sustainability

Angora rabbit image from Shutterstock

The post Angora Wool is Finally on the Decline: Fashion Brands Ditching Cruelty appeared first on EcoSalon.

Eva Mendes is not only beautiful but, it seems, has a soft spot for animals. Proof? Her new PETA-approved cruelty-free makeup line.

Eva Mendes has followed in the footsteps of other animal friendly celebs and come out with a new cruelty-free cosmetics line called CIRCA. Drew Barrymore and Honest Company founder, Jessica Alba, have gone the cruelty-free route too with cosmetics and personal care products that have not undergone animal testing. CIRCA is available at Walgreen’s and Drugstore.com, and included in PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies guide, a searchable database for brands that do not test on animals.

The PETA guide is one of the most reliable ways to search cruelty-free products. To make PETA’s list products must be free from animal testing, and this includes ingredients, suppliers, and formulations. Not just the finished product. Because there are no set laws in the U.S. on cruelty-free labeling it can be difficult to know if a product went through animal testing at any point in the manufacturing process.

Animal testing is big business. More than 100 million animals suffer and die due to animal testing each year. Some of the tests are in the name of medicine and food. But many are for cosmetics and cosmetic ingredients. Poisoning, blinding, burning, toxic inhalation all for a new lipstick or perfume? Horrible and completely unnecessary.

Most cosmetic brands committed to toxin-free ingredients also go cruelty-free. Look for the Leaping Bunny logo or read the brand commitment page to see if they use animal testing or source ingredients that have been used in animal testing.

Keep in mind, cruelty free does not equal nontoxic. CIRCA contains several ingredients that should be avoided if you are looking to stay toxin-free. The best way to ensure the products you buy are safe is to read the labels.

Related on EcoSalon

6 Hottest Online Natural Beauty Shops

Find Animal-Friendly Makeup with the Cruelty-Free iPhone App

Stop Animal Testing With This Smartphone App

Image of Eva Mendes via Shutterstock

The post Eva Mendes Goes Cruelty Free With New Makeup Line, CIRCA appeared first on EcoSalon.

In this edition of Link Love, we’ve got a look at the PETA ad too intense for Times Square, health challenges to take you to the next level, the humanity of Kim Kardashian’s rear, our own vegan face and the benefits of kindness.

The PETA ad you need to see. [via Ecouterre]

Are you ready to take your health to the next level? These challenges can help. [via Naturally Savvy]

Here’s everything you need to know about Kim Kardashian’s ass, courtesy of Mr. Brand. [via The Trews]

EcoSalon’s Senior Editor Jill Ettinger appears in Driftwood Magazine’s “Vegan Faces” profile. [via Driftwood Magazine]

It’s World Kindness Week. Can you be kinder? [via EatSleepBe]

Related on EcoSalon

Link Love: Pharrell in Pink + Free College in Germany + Millennials Have Clothes Issues

Link Love: Gorgeous Paris Fashion Week + Vegan Cheese Shop + DIY Skincare Recipes

Link Love: Millennial Women + France’s Vegan Chef + Captive Dolphins

The post Link Love: The PETA Ad You Need to See + Vegan Faces + Kim’s Arse appeared first on EcoSalon.

Seeing life through the eyes of a chicken. PETA has always been known for its graphic messaging strategy. The group hopes that by seeing what’s actually happening at the factory farm, you’ll be less likely to purchase the victims.

I’ll admit that even as someone who hasn’t eaten chicken in six years, seeing the truth is still too much for me to stomach (pun intended). This PETA virtual reality game puts us in a chicken’s place to give us an idea of what these little guys go through. The animal rights organization will be demonstrating the game at the University of California-Berkeley and Pasadena City College.

In I, Chicken, participants are asked to flap their wings and walk around from the poultry’s perspective in order to get a feel for what it’s like to be a farm animal. In the demo I viewed, the player was asked to hang out and interact with other chickens in an open field, presumably to show that chickens are, in fact, social animals.

Obviously, things take a turn for the worst, when a farmer grabs the participant and shoves him or her into a cage with a bunch of other shaking chickens, and you eventually go to the slaughterhouse.

I forced myself to sit through the demonstration video (I know I’m a wimp.) and honestly, knowing the animals were virtual not real made it less difficult to watch than a video of live animals being mistreated and put to death. That said, I still cringe a bit at how us humans could possibly treat another species with such disdain and insensitivity--an issue that’s very evident in the video game. Would you try PETA’s new virtual reality video game?

Related on EcoSalon

7 Otterly Outrageous PETA Stunts

Animal Rescues Get Celebrity Love: 7 Musicians Who Really Love Animals

99 Sources of Vegan Protein

Image: Gina Fuller

The post PETA Virtual Reality Game Makes You See Life Through the Eyes of a Chicken appeared first on EcoSalon.

After immense pressure from animal rights groups, Southwest Airlines has agreed to break ties with its long-standing corporate partner, SeaWorld.

For the last 25 years, Southwest Airlines has been in a partnership with SeaWorld, the controversial marine animal theme park criticized for keeping captive orcas. Southwest planes have been painted to look like SeaWorld’s orcas, which is kind of endearing if you’re a 7-year-old on your first flight. But not so pleasant if you happen to have seen the film “Blackfish” and know that those intelligent animals kept by SeaWorld live in pools so small it’s equal to humans spending their entire lives in bathtubs.

According to Mashable, “Officials at both companies said Thursday that the partnership wouldn’t be renewed at the end of the year when the current contract expires.”

But the airline was under pressure after “Blackfish” caused a swell of support for Tilikum, the male orca featured in the film. Animal rights groups held rallies at Southwest’s headquarters and provided a petition urging the airline to trade its SeaWorld partnership for something less cruel.

SeaWorld is suggesting that the decision wasn’t one-sided and that the park wanted to end the relationship as well. And according to Southwest, the company is refocusing its efforts on “international service.”

But there’s no question that Southwest was feeling the pressure to end its relationship with the theme park. Even if it’s not going to credit animal cruelty for its decision, it’s a victory for animal lovers and another blow to SeaWorld, which has been hit by petitions, protests and decreased sales as a result of “Blackfish.” The first quarter of 2014 hit SeaWorld with a revenue loss of 11 percent.

“Champagne corks were popping at PETA today when we heard that Southwest will no longer support SeaWorld and will repaint its planes,” Ingrid Newkirk, President of PETA said in a statement. “The second I heard the good news, I knew that I’d be booking my next trip on Southwest.”

Find Jill on Twitter @jillettinger

Related on EcoSalon

California Assemblyman Moves to Ban SeaWorld’s Captive Orcas

WTF, SeaWorld? Orcas Given Valium to Forget They’re in Water Prisons?

SeaWorld Walks the Plank: Documentary ‘Blackfish’ Leaves Theme Park Drowning in Shame

Image: zagraves

The post Southwest Airlines Finally Dumps SeaWorld appeared first on EcoSalon.

This week’s Link Love, we catch up with supermodel street style, PETA’s generous offer to Detroit and Southwest’s big announcement to SeaWorld.

PETA offers waterless Detroit a solution: Eat a vegan diet and they’ll turn on the water [via Eat Drink Better]

How to juice at home (no more excuses!) [via Organic Authority]

The Best Supermodel Street Style: Four Decades of Iconic Fashion Inspiration [via Vogue]

Awesome abandoned places around the world occupied by animals [via One Green Planet]

Southwest says sayonara to SeaWorld [via UT San Diego]

Related on EcoSalon

Link Love: Is Almond Milk Wrong? + Eco Designers on E! + Why Men Suck at Oral Sex

Link Love: ‘Game of Thrones’ Wine + Fatima Olive Beauty + Apple and Female Anatomy

Link Love: The Many Ways of Beauty + How to Wear Black in Summer + Eco Bedrooms

Image via Vogue

The post Link Love: The Best Supermodel Street Style + Juicing at Home + PETA and Detroit appeared first on EcoSalon.

They don’t call Dame Vivienne Westwood the ‘grandmother of punk fashion’ for nothing.

The 72-year-old fashion icon is raising a lot of eyebrows lately. Westwood has always been risqué, and if you thought age would have settled her down a bit, think again.

Westwood shaved her head recently to draw attention to climate change and the impact it’s having on the planet. “We face mass extinction,” she said. “It’s being hidden from us because our rulers still pursue their own vested interest, they’ve been trained to think that the people do not understand what’s good for them.”

Like her new hairdo, she’s downsizing her massive clothing empire. “I’ve got too much product,” she says. “I’m trying to completely reduce the scale of operation. I’m concentrating on quality, not quantity.”

And without all that hair it was easy to fashion on a shower cap for her latest appearance in a PETA video about the depletion of fresh water due to the meat industry.

“I am an eco-warrior, but I take long showers with a clean conscience because I’m vegetarian,” she says in the video. “By avoiding meat, you do more for the environment than recycling or driving a hybrid car, combined” she explains from underneath a shower head.

The video is being released in advance of the United Nation’s World Water Day on March 22^nd. According to PETA, rivers are being diverted for the livestock industry—both to hydrate the animals and grow grains that make up their feed.

The New York Times recently reported that 4 million gallons of fresh water are needed to produce just one ton of beef. In comparison, a ton of vegetables requires only 85,000 gallons of water.

“I don’t hate the older people now — I’m one of them,” says Westwood. “But I’ve been trying to do something to change things all my life.”

Find Jill on Twitter @jillettinger

Related on EcoSalon

Vivienne Westwood Says Don’t Buy Clothes

Vivienne Westwood Designs T-Shirt to Stop Deforestation

Sustainable Skies: Vivienne Westwood Designs for Virgin Atlantic

Image:

The post Punk’s Not Dead: Vivienne Westwood Shaves Her Head and Gets Naked on Camera appeared first on EcoSalon.

The 2014 Oscars were woefully lean on sustainable, eco-friendly and vintage couture. And while we were hoping for more, we’ll have to take quality over quantity for now.

Bond girl and “Oblivion” star Olga Kurylenko turned heads last night in a stunner of a gown by French-Lebanese fashion student Alice Elia. With 2014 Oscar red carpet trends running toward nudes, metallics and dark neutrals, this pop of rosy red was utterly refreshing and Kurylenko practically glowed in it. The gown was fashioned from 100 percent GOTS certified organic silk hand-dyed with sappanwood and madder root. With its classic old Hollywood styling, this sustainable frock looked right at home next to Gucci gowns.

The winning tuxedo design was created by 23-year old Jomnarn Dul from H Brothers, one of New Zealand’s most successful menswear brands. Dul was also a key player in the H Brothers collaboration with EKOCYCLETM, a partnership between will.i.am and The Coca-Cola Company.

Director James Cameron wore an EKOCYCLETM tux to the Oscar Fame & Philanthropy party at The Vineyards in Beverly Hills. This Oscar-night viewing party and fundraiser ended with Cameron making the keynote speech, illustrating his philosophy of activism for worthy causes. He gives a little red carpet shout out to his recycled Coke bottle ensemble here.

Though she seems to be headlining every Worst-Dressed list this morning, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention Liza Minnelli wearing a vintage Halston pantsuit. It was rather disappointing to not see any vintage couture of note on the red carpet this year. Julia Roberts is still making Oscar Best-Dressed lists for her 2001 appearance in a stunning vintage Valentino, proving that recycling never goes out of style.

Photo/video credits: Kellan Lutz, zimbio.com, Beyond Skin, The Gloss, Just Jared

Related on EcoSalon

That Happened: Mean Boys: What Happened at the Oscars

Rocking the Red Carpet: 3 Celebrity Eco-Fashion Trends

Global Green Parties for Oscar

The post The 2014 Oscars: Green Couture on the Red Carpet appeared first on EcoSalon.