nypost / CC

"MCA, where have you been?"

It turns out that the (not so shocking) answer is a Tibetan community.

In July, Beastie Boys bass guitarist Adam Yauch—aka MCA—was diagnosed with cancer. After quickly having a tumor removed from his salivary gland, Yauch headed to a Tibetan community in Dharamsala to continue the healing process.

Now back in the states, Yauch is speaking about the treatment that's helping him "sabotage" the disease. He told fans, "I'm taking Tibetan medicine and at the recommendation of the Tibetan doctors I've been eating a vegan/organic diet."

Those Tibetan docs are right—going vegan is by far the single best thing anyone can do for his or her body. Our support goes out to Yauch, and we're hopeful that he'll be back on the road rocking out with the Beastie Boys in no time.

Written by Liz Graffeo

I know we've got Project Runway fans out there, especially after the show's guru of good taste, Tim Gunn, appeared in PETA's anti-fur video.

If, like me, you watch the show obsessively caught last night's episode, you probably did cartwheels in the living room when one "Divorcee Dress Challenge" client, Stephanie, insisted that Nicolas use no wool, silk, leather, or fur in his transformation of her old wedding dress into an outfit she could enjoy as a single woman. I believe her exact words were that she wanted him to be certain "no animals have to suffer."

Now if only Stephanie's snarky designer had spent less time rolling his eyes and more time fashioning a knock-out design instead of ho hum separates, he might have won the challenge. Either way, Stephanie gets top marks for speaking up for animals.

Written by Karin Bennett

What's more important to the racing industry: horses or money?

If you thought horses, we've found two recent news stories that will change your mind.

Consider this: Thanks to a lawsuit involving the co-owners of former Kentucky Derby favorite I Want Revenge, it's become even clearer how often horses used in the racing industry are dangerously overmedicated. Horses are given anti-inflammatory steroids and painkillers to keep them running even after they've been injured—and of 20 trainers interviewed by The New York Times, only three were willing to turn over their veterinary records.

The New York Times also reports, "[T]here is a consensus among equine researchers and surgeons that legal medications and cortisone shots, over time, leave a horse vulnerable to a catastrophic breakdown."

In other words, even the legal drugs that the racing industry pumps into horses make horrific incidents like the one at last year's Kentucky Derby more likely. This is what PETA has been saying since Eight Belles crashed to the track with two broken ankles in the 2008 Kentucky Derby.

delmarscene / CC

Meanwhile, ESPN reports that the owners of Lava Man—a famous horse forced to "retire" early because of injuries—are trying to squeeze a few more bucks out of the old fella by bringing him back onto the track. According to ESPN, because of his previous injuries, Lava Man is at great risk of suffering a catastrophic breakdown on the track and says that while "[n]ot a single national media outlet will cover Lava Man's comeback race," "every single one would cover a disastrous outcome. … Pick your letters: ESPN, NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, or, worse yet, PETA."

Darn skippy.

Time after time, the racing industry risks animals' lives for an extra dollar. Forget the finish line—it's all about the bottom line.

Written by Amanda Schinke

I confess: The only thing that keeps me sticking to a healthy diet all summer long is my annual countdown to October 31—a night centered around ghosts, goblins, and, most importantly, candy. October 31 marks the start of a full-on avalanche of holiday food that doesn't end until January 2.

Well, this year's season of overindulgence started 30 days early: October has been declared Vegan Month of Food, so food season is officially on!

To help you get started, I'd like to present you with my own favorite fall recipe, which comes straight from our Veg Cooking Blog (where it's Vegan Month of Food every month):

Hearty Vegan Chili

2 Tbsp. oil
6 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup chopped white onion
1 lb. defrosted veggie burger crumbles (optional)
Red pepper flakes, to taste
1 Tbsp. chili powder
2 1/2 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. oregano
1 bay leaf
28-oz. can diced Mexican-style tomatoes
1 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 1/2 cups vegetable stock
6 oz. tomato paste
1 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
16-oz. can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
28-oz. can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
Vegan cheese (optional)

• Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat.
• Add the garlic and onion and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes.
• Add the veggie burger crumbles (if using them), red pepper flakes, chili powder, and cumin and cook for an additional 2 minutes, or until fragrant.
• Add the oregano, bay leaf, tomatoes, soy sauce, stock, tomato paste, and vinegar, then bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add the beans and simmer 15 minutes longer to heat through and blend flavors.
• Add more water, if necessary, or cook longer to reach desired consistency.
• Top with shredded soy cheese, if desired, and serve.

Written by Liz Graffeo

P.S.: If you're not already vegan, this is the perfect time to take our 30-Day Pledge to be Veg. And if you are vegan, please share your favorite fall recipes below.