A federal program called Wildlife Services, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, just announced it killed 404,538 native animals last year. According to its new report — which probably underestimates the real number — in 2021 the secretive, multimillion-dollar program massacred 324 gray wolves, 64,131 coyotes, 433 black bears, 200 mountain lions, 605 bobcats, 3,014 foxes, 24,687 beavers, and 714 river otters. It also unintentionally killed at least 2,746 animals, from bears to bobcats to songbirds — and even pet dogs.
“Killing carnivores to supposedly benefit the livestock industry just leads to more conflicts and more killing,” said Collette Adkins, director of the Center for Biological Diversity’s Carnivore Conservation program. “This is a stomach-churning, truly vicious cycle, and we’ll continue to demand change from Wildlife Services.”
With litigation and advocacy, the Center has been fighting Wildlife Services’ cruel killing for almost a decade, winning in states like California, Idaho, Minnesota and Washington. Help us win with a donation to our Stop Wildlife Services Fund.
Carbon dioxide emissions increased by almost 5% last year, meaning that the world now has a two-in-three chance of reaching 1.5 degrees Celsius of global warming over pre-industrial levels within the decade, according toa new studypublished in the online journal Nature Reviews Earth & Environment.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, carbon emissions dipped11%in 2020, potentially buying the world time to transition to clean sources of energy. But in 2021, as economic activity rebounded, the emissions that cause climate change increased 4.8% from 2020.
“These 2021 emissions consumed 8.7% of the remaining carbon budget for limiting anthropogenic warming to 1.5 °C, which if current trajectories continue, might be used up in 9.5 years at 67% likelihood,” the report stated.
The Caldor Fire in California, which encompassed more than 170 square miles with only 5%…
Hunting bullets, and by extension guns that use them, have been banned in the Occitanie village of LhermPic:Maksim Safaniuk / ShutterstockByHannah Thompson
A mayor in southern France has banned the use of bullets and therefore guns used for hunting in his commune, in a bid to drastically reduce hunting in the wake of the accidental killing of a 25-year-old woman last weekend.
Frédéric Pasian, mayor of the village of Lherm (Haute-Garonne, Occitanie) took out the decree as a means to strictly regulate hunting.
The ruling is also intended to send a symbolic message after the fatal killing of a young woman by a hunting bullet in Cantal on Saturday, February 19, in a case that has shocked…
For years, researchers have sought to understand why Vikings abandoned one of their settlements in Greenland after centuries of success. While some experts have suggested that dropping temperatures may have been the cause, new research suggests the cold wasn’t a factor.
A study detailing the findings published Wednesday in the journalScience Advances.
The colder temperature hypothesis has persisted for years because of something called the Little Ice Age that occurred between 1300 and 1850, when cooling temperatures persisted in the North Atlantic region.
The Vikings established their settlement, known as the Eastern Settlement, in southern Greenland in 985. They…
“TACS” is the common shorthand for smaller and “smarter” tactical nuclear weapons. Some are even equipped with a “Dial-A-Yield” function, that can regulate the size of the bomb’s destruction. For some military analysts, this makes the unthinkable prospect of nuclear war almost thinkable.
One might surmise from the euphemistic verbiage: “Tactical nukes—that couldn’t be that bad. Maybe it’s just the future of war we’d have to adjust to.” Well, think again.
“They’re more similar than you might expect in terms of their destructiveness,” Pollack told The Daily Beast. “Even this small nuke is extremely destructive depending on where you drop it. It would be a very large explosion that would generate an electro-magnetic pulse, and it would probably start fires.”
Maybe it’s just rhetoric, nuclear blackmail, but if Putin does the unthinkable, asked Pollack, “How do we respond in a way that avoids Armageddon?”
Lawrence Korb, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and former assistant secretary of defense in the Reagan administration, said, “The reason these weapons are called tactical, they’re more likely to be used on the battlefield.”
“The Russians started it,” Korb continued, referring to Russia’s “escalate to de-escalate” doctrine, “and the argument was if we had them, they would counter-balance the Russians.” Nuclear weapons are meant to keep the enemy guessing, said Korb, and “if [Putin] goes nuclear, he doesn’t know how we will respond.” Would Biden—or the world—accept tit for tat nuclear strikes on civilian population centers?
The answer is almost certainly: No. Whatever it’s called in the moment, history will remember it as “World War III.”
Related video: Former CIA director explains the missteps of Russia’s ‘underwhelming performance’ (FOX News)
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“The TACs are new, they weren’t there during the Cold War,” Korb added. “We just had the big ones. In theory, the U.S. would not respond with a big one, but you don’t know that. If Putin launches one with a smaller yield, he doesn’t know if we will respond using a strategic weapon. That’s deterrence. He doesn’t know that, and we want to keep him not knowing that.”
Lawrence Wilkerson, a retired U.S. Army colonel and chief of staff to the late Colin Powell, said the U.S. military—prodded by a lucrative niche nuclear industry—“almost simultaneously” moved toward modernizing TACs just as the Russians did.
“Each side blamed the other,” he said. The Russians in 2013-2014 conducted military exercises to practice using small yield nukes to blunt an attack from NATO, escalating the likelihood that these weapons would eventually be used.
Wilkerson ridiculed the notion that there’s any real difference with a smaller yield TAC. “You see the plume, you don’t know whether it’s tactical or strategic,” he said, and a commander is going to hit back hard rather than wait for an after-attack assessment.
“We’re back in a time I thought we’d left behind, that we’d learned our lessons,” Wilkerson continued. “I’ve watched [Putin] for a long time. He’s a pragmatic, practical man. I don’t care what kind of a beast you think he is…he hasn’t gone from master chess player to being mad, which is what you’d have to be to do this [use nuclear weapons]. But I can’t rule it out, especially as a false flag. It shouldn’t come to this.”
Wilkerson maintains that nuclear war must be avoided at all costs, crediting President Biden with resisting the political pressure to impose a no-fly-zone over the skies of Ukraine. “If 45 million Ukrainians have to be sacrificed on the altar of no nuclear war, I’m for it. It’s not worth saving any state if it means blowing up 7 billion people” he said.
Joseph Mazur, professor emeritus at Marlboro College, wonders how much the average American knows about the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. For a piece on “The Madness of Nuclear Threats,” published in Psychology Today’s online blog, Mazur conducted an informal (but telling) survey.
Mazur questioned 12 adults and four teenagers, none of them experts, on what happened to Hiroshima after the U.S. dropped “the bomb.” They knew what happened in broad terms, but had little inkling of the extent of human suffering and destruction. The adults guessed that the “Little Boy” bomb dropped over Hiroshima killed between 1,000 and 25,000 people. The teens guessed 5,000. In reality, the atom bomb destroyed five square miles of the city and killed between 130,000 and 225,000 people.
“Today, the tiniest tactical nuclear weapon is capable of destruction far worse than what happened in Hiroshima,” Mazur wrote. “Even if just one ‘small’ nuclear weapon were to be launched in the current conflict, there would not be enough therapists in the world to deal with the mental health trauma that would come from watching the aftermath in real-time.”
Putin announced last month he was putting Russian nuclear forces into “special combat readiness,” which set off an understandable frenzy about what Putin might do next to save himself from humiliating military losses. “As far as we can tell, they haven’t moved any systems,” said Pollack. “There are more people on duty, but more people in command centers shouldn’t be that alarming.”
Pressed on Putin’s intentions, Pollack answered, “I don’t think he’s inclined to [use TACs] while he’s busy mauling Ukraine’s cities with heavy weapons. Proponents of TACS say we have to be prepared in order to deter nuclear war, and I would say, what do we do if deterrence fails?”
“The Trump administration in 2018 wanted an extra option if the Russians used a small one against us and we would not respond because we only have the big one. I don’t buy this,” added Pollack. “Nobody will care about actual kilotons but everyone in the world would know if a nuclear weapon was used.”
Biden, as a presidential candidate in 2019, was asked about new low-yield warheads. He responded, “Bad idea,” adding that having these would make presidents “more inclined to use them.” That was the right answer for these times.
There is still hope to preserve an uneasy deterrence, and to keep Putin wondering about Biden—at least as much as Biden wonders about him.
A Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agent cited three men for alleged hunting violations on March 13 in Concordia Parish.
Agents cited Elliott A. Ater, 32, of Ferriday, Dustin P. Martin, 38, of Epps, and Ryan A. Mcintosh, 26, of Waterproof, for hunting without a basic license and violating outlaw quadruped night hunting regulations. Mcintosh was also cited for hunting deer without a basic license, hunting deer without a big game license, failing to comply with deer tagging regulations, hunting deer during illegal hours, hunting deer using illegal methods, and hunting deer with an electronic sight.
Martin was also arrested for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm while in possession of a controlled dangerous substance.
Agents received a call regarding several subjects illegally hunting in Concordia Parish. After further investigation, agents determined…
Black bears get a spring reprieve in some states March 23, 2022Not only do spring hunts make it far too easy for trophy hunters to kill vulnerable and malnourished bears, but they often leave newborn and yearling cubs orphaned—many of whom die from starvation, predation or exposure to weather. Sarkophoto/iStock.comSpring is a crucial time for black bears:After emerging from their dens following months in winter hibernation, many spend the first few weeks building up strength by eating mainly grasses and other plants. Mother bears are especially weak, having spent the last few months nursing cubs hungry for their fat-rich milk.That’s why we were so heartened when the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission voted last weekend against reinstating a spring black bear hunt. Spring hunts are a nasty form of cruelty, and Washington was one of just eight states to allow them. Not only do spring hunts make it far too easy for trophy hunters to kill vulnerable and malnourished bears, but they often leave newborn and yearling cubs orphaned—many of whom die from starvation, predation or exposure to weather. And all for nothing:As we’ve long known, trophy hunting is not an effective means of preventing conflicts with humans, partly because trophy hunters generally kill bears far from human habitation.The victory in Washington came about largely because that state’s residents, along with the HSUS and a robust coalition of wildlife and animal welfare organizations, raised their voices and submitted thousands of comments in opposition to reinstating the spring bear hunt. (The commission had voted to stop the hunt last November after the HSUS, our coalition partners, and Washington residents spoke out against it, but trophy hunting proponents brought forward a proposal to reinstate it.)Time and again, when members of the public are given the chance to weigh in, they say in no uncertain terms that events like the spring bear hunt are cruel and unsporting. Even a report conducted by the National Shooting Sports Foundation and Responsive Management confirmed this sentiment:Their 2019 survey of American attitudes toward hunting revealed that a majority of Westerners oppose spring bear hunts.And Washington isn’t the only state making progress on behalf of bears. Last month, the California Fish and Game Commission advanced an HSUS petition that could make the state a much more hospitable one for black bears. The petition—which is now with the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife for their recommendation—asks California to stop the hunting season on bears until the state does three things:Carries out a population study using empirical evidence, not a population model based on bears killed by trophy huntersStudies the effects of climate change on bears, because we know that increased drought and wildfires are making their lives even more challenging (last year, more than three million acres of wildland ecosystems burned in California)Updates its outdated bear management plan based on the best available scienceCalifornia’s current bear management plan, drafted in 1998, is woefully out of date. We’re asking the state to revisit its plan based on the climate crisis—and to update it with the new science, rather than relying on knowledge from a quarter-century ago. I hope to report back with good news after the Fish and Game Commission considers our petition at their meeting next month.I also hope to share news from Arizona soon, too:On April 1st, that state’s Fish and Game Commission is scheduled to vote on updated hunting guidelines. While the proposed guidelines still allow heavy levels of trophy hunting on bears, mountain lions and bobcats, there are some positive changes. The wildlife agency is proposing a significantly shortened spring bear hunting season and prohibiting the hunting of cubs and mother bears with cubs. Arizonans can call on the commission to end spring bear hunting altogether by submitting comments online right now.We’ve also seen signs of progress across the country, on the East Coast:In Maryland, the Department of Natural Resources solicited public comments on a proposal to expand the annual bear hunting season from five days to more than two weeks—essentially doubling the season’s length. After we asked not to expand the hunt at all, the Maryland Wildlife and Heritage Service proposed—and the Wildlife Advisory Commission approved—a one-day expansion of the hunt. This modest victory came after the HSUS and state residents raised concerns about Maryland’s bear population, citing uncertainty about their numbers and food sources. We will continue to push for a more accurate population count, based on gold-standard methods rather than using the numbers of dead bears to estimate what the living population might look like.Backed by an army of animal advocates and armed with the best possible science, we’ll continue fighting in Maryland—and across the United States—to protect black bears and give them the best chance at survival we can.The post Black bears get a spring reprieve in some states appeared first on A Humane World.Related StoriesWith respect to potential bear conflicts, the responsibility is oursWith respect to potential bear conflicts, the responsibility is ours – EnclosureWhen it comes to fur and foie gras, cruelty should not be a choice
Originally created by Veda Stram in 1992, this revised and expanded 2022 version is the result of a wonderfully fruitful collaboration with David Hoey/80spopanimals.com.
This guide is for you if…
You are an animal lover and therefore want to eat in a way that respects ALL ANIMALS
You want to eat delicious, nurturing, inexpensive, healthy meals that are easy to prepare
You’ve always wondered, “What do vegans eat?”
You are vegetarian or already cutting back on eating animal products, and you want to go vegan but you don’t know how
You think that you’ll have to give up cheese, ice cream, and burgers if you go vegan (You will be amazed at all of the scrumptious vegan versions of everything!)
You want to improve your health and well-being, as well as the health and well-being of your friends, your family, other humans, and all animals
You want to do your part to end our climate catastrophe
You are already vegan and always overjoyed to find more vegan goodies
You want to make a consequential difference for our world with every bite
To be clear, a vegan is someone who chooses not to participate in any form of animal abuse, exploitation, or slaughter, which includes abstaining from using, wearing, and consuming all animal products, such as dairy, eggs, honey, gelatin, wool, leather, silk, feathers, skin, and fur. Vegans avoid all forms of animal exploitation. Simply stated, veganism is not just about food: It is an ethical stance for total liberation of ALL CREATURES.
What you’ll find here…
In this guide you will find lots of ideas, menus, product suggestions, and advice about what to eat when you don’t eat animals! This resource is designed to get you thinking about what’s abundantly available for you to eat that doesn’t come from unimaginable suffering and utter devastation. You might be amazed at how many fruits and vegetables you will learn to prepare in a myriad of new ways. Find links to thousands of vegan cookbooks and literally millions of vegan recipes online! That is, if you love to cook, which I DON’T.
This guide is about easy, delicious, satisfying vegan meals, and includes lots of menus, so that you can see how varied, satisfying, and “easy breezy” it is to be vegan. Also included are product brand names, which are in bold and linked to websites, so that you can order them online, find them at locations near you, and request that your local stores and restaurants carry them.To the best of our knowledge, all products in this guide are vegan. We have included companies and brands that provide only vegan products, but, unfortunately, some of them are owned by corporations that sell animal products and/or test on animals; you will have to decide for yourself which brands you purchase.
In this guide you will also find irrefutable, horrifying, and powerful facts about the consequences of our food choices on…oh, just the entire world!
Thank you for making a difference with every bite!
Police say they are hunting two suspects after gunfire broke out March 19 at a car show in Dumas, Arkansas, killing one person and injuring at least 28, including several children. (Amberly R. Taylor/TMX)
PUBLISHED:March 22, 2022 at 9:21 a.m.| UPDATED:March 22, 2022 at 9:22 a.m.
By Emma Tucker and Dakin Andone | CNN
The largest-scale US mass shooting in more than two years unfolded over the weekend, one of at least nine mass shootings that left eight people dead and more than 60 others hurt as the nation grapples witha rise in gun violenceand crime.
At a car show in Dumas, Arkansas, one person was killed and at least 27 injured — the most people wounded in a mass shooting event in the US sincea shooter in 2019 targeted shopping centersin Odessa and Midland, Texas, just weeksafter a massacre…
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)
John Casellas Connors, Texas A&M University and Christopher Rea, The Ohio State University
(THE CONVERSATION) Gun and ammunition sales in the U.S. have skyrocketed in recent years. And although it may come as a surprise, this trend has supported conservation activities.
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That’s because every firearm and bullet produced or imported into the U.S. is subject to an excise tax dedicated to wildlife conservation and restoration. In 1998, these taxes generated about US$247 million in inflation-adjusted apportionments to state fish and wildlife agencies from the federal U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, which collects and manages these funds. By 2018, these revenues had more than tripled to $829 million.
