Humphrey Bolton / CC by 2.0

I have good news and, well, not-so-good news. The good news is that as a result of a lawsuit filed by environmental groups, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has agreed to pay closer attention to all the factory-farm manure that often spills into our waterways.

The not-so-good news is that the EPA plans to rely on factory farms to provide the data that the agency needs—every five years. The farms will be expected to disclose, among other things, information about their manure-storage facilities and how the "excess manure" is disposed of. In other words, the EPA is letting the fox guard the henhouse.

It's good that the EPA is doing something. But I have more faith in people like Goldman Environmental Prize–winner Lynn Henning, who gathers water samples and uses aerial photography to help hold factory farms accountable for mucking up our rivers and streams. Her efforts can really make a difference—and so can you by reminding people that farms cater to consumers. If there were no demand for flesh, eggs, or milk, then there would be no problem. So here's to a different kind of report: our success in encouraging people to help preserve America's waterways by going vegan.

Try passing out a copy of our vegetarian/vegan starter kit at your nearest stream!

Written by Heather Moore

Kekka / CC by 2.0

Thanks to the efforts of PETA India and Maneka Gandhi—the daughter-in-law of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and a staunch animal rights proponent—India's Central Board of School Education has banned leather shoes from school uniforms.

Leather shoes are seen as a vestige of British colonial rule, under which they were introduced as a requirement for Indian school uniforms. But in addition to the obvious cruelty to cows, leather shoes are unsuited to India's hot, humid climate, and leather manufacturing also takes a tremendous toll on the environment. Leather shoes in school uniforms will be replaced with comfortable, environmentally friendly, and easy-to-clean canvas plimsolls (no, not those Plimsouls).

PETA's campaign against Indian leather started a decade ago when PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk traveled to India to investigate the transport of cows to slaughterhouses. Since then, dozens of international retailers have agreed to stop purchasing Indian leather, costing the industry millions in lost revenue. Find out more about Ingrid's investigation here.

Written by Alisa Mullins

As if she's not busy enough getting ready to release her fifth studio album, We Are Born, Australian songbird and vegetarian Sia Furler (and her adorable puppy, Pantera) still found time to pose in a lively new PETA Australia ad urging people to help end the dog and cat overpopulation crisis by spaying and neutering their animal companions. In the ad, which launched in Australia, Sia is calling on her fans around the world to spread the word about the homeless animal crisis and how simple surgery can help curb the number of animals who must be euthanized each year for lack of good homes.

Sia is smoking hot—she's receiving critical acclaims for her contribution to the writing of Christina Aguilera's new album, Bionic, and her work with U.K. bands Zero 7 and Massive Attack. And she'll be touring with Lilith Fair this summer.

In the last few weeks, a trio of my favorite celebs have spoken up for animals! Sia joins Cloris Leachman and Glee's Jane Lynch in calling for an end to the senseless deaths of so many animals.

Written by Jennifer O'Connor

Knowing that we adore animal-friendly cartoons and that we're often quick to embrace the bizarre, you can be sure that we're dancing in the hallways here at PETA HQ over news that artist Dan Piraro, the compassionate genius behind "Bizarro," won the highly coveted Cartoonist of the Year award at the Reuben Awards this weekend.

Bizarro has taken on a slew of animal rights topics, including cruel cat labs, horse-drawn carriages, the caging of birds,and betrayals of "man's best friend." And imagine how thrilled we were to receive this shout-out!

Seriously, you could spend an afternoon looking and laughing at Dan Piraro's many pro-animal "cartoomentaries" (that's cartoon + commentary = cartoomentaries)—or you could get your daily dose delivered right to your iPhone. I'd say doing both would be time well spent, but before you do either, use the comments section below to tell us which Bizarro cartoon is your all-time fave.

Written by Karin Bennett

When I was a little girl, I dreamed about growing up to be a rock star. Or maybe a veterinarian. Or a roller derby queen.

I didn't dream about anally electrocuting animals on fur farms, but apparently Brooke Shields did. The aging actor recently paid a visit (or should that be "was paid for a visit"?) to Kopenhagen Fur's workshop to create her very own mink coat, and she said it was "a little girl's dream."

We understand that when some actors' careers begin to fade, they'll do just about anything to stay in the limelight, including appearing in eyelash-growth commercials and starring in short-lived TV shows. But Brooke, did you really want the world to remember you as a "fur pimp" who stares agog at rows of animal skins?

Brooke says that she will wear her fur coat "when I follow my children to school, when I drink coffee, and when I sleep." Hmm, I think if you need fur to keep you warm at night, you've got problems.

What do you think?

Written by Paula Moore

It's been a whirlwind week for PETA's seal. To keep pressure on Canada to stop letting people shoot baby seals and bash their heads in, PETA's sombrero-sporting seal followed Mexican President Felipe Calderón around to all his stops during his visit to Canada on Thursday.

President Calderón's visit received tons of media attention, and PETA's seal even got a shout-out from Canwest News Service. The seal almost got to shake hands—er, flippers—with President Calderón, but I'm sure that the seal would have preferred to give him a hug, considering that Mexico banned seal imports years ago.

On Monday, PETA's seal was back in action—this time wearing a yarmulke—while tailing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to Canada.

What hat will PETA's seal wear next? Stay tuned for updates. And in the meantime, why not let Canadian officials know that the cruel seal slaughter makes you want to blow your top.

Written by Lindsay Pollard-Post

Spitzgogo_CHEN / CC by 2.0

Minor-league stadiums may not have Big Papi's bat, Adam Jones' glove, or Joel Zumaya's arm, but many of them have great-tasting vegetarian fare. Check out PETA's list of the top 10 vegetarian-friendly minor-league ballparks of 2010 to see the lineup of vegetarian options at your favorite stadium:

1. Municipal Stadium (Hagerstown Suns)
   Veggie dogs, veggie burgers with vegan cheese, pepper and onion Phillies with vegan mozzarella, vegetarian General dogs (with vegan cheese, peppers, onions, and vegetarian chili), veggie subs, fruit salad, veggie chorizo (available on the picnic patio), and more
2. PGE Park (Portland Beavers)
   Faux beef Philly sandwiches made with Gardenburger crumbles (available without cheese), veggie dogs, Gardenburgers, vegan roasted-red-pepper and tomato soup, vegetarian sub with marinated mushrooms (available without cheese), baked beans, salads, fruit (available in the skyboxes)
3. Frontier Field (Rochester Red Wings)
   Veggie burgers, pasta with marinara sauce, veggie burritos, veggie taco salads, baked potatoes, Caesar salad wraps (available without cheese and anchovy-based dressing), fresh fruit, grilled vegetables, field green salads, baked beans (available in catering)
4. Durham Bulls Athletic Park (Durham Bulls)
   Black-bean veggie burgers, veggie dogs, bean burritos, Carolina veggie burritos (with sweet potatoes and black beans), fruit cups, hummus with pita triangles, salads
5. ONEOK Field (Tulsa Drillers)
   Veggie burgers, veggie dogs, taco salads, dairy-free soft-serve ice cream, veggie trays, fruit trays, pita chips and hummus (available in the suites)
6. Victory Field (Indianapolis Indians)
   Veggie burgers, black-bean burritos, corn on the cob, tossed salads, vegetarian wraps, grilled portobello mushroom sandwiches (available without cheese), sautéed fresh summer vegetables and penne pasta (available without cheese), spicy black-bean dip, vegetable crudités, sliced fresh fruit (available in the suites)
7. Cheney Stadium (Tacoma Rainiers)
   Veggie burgers, veggie dogs, vegetarian burritos, corn on the cob, baked potatoes
8. Isotopes Park (Albuquerque Isotopes)
   Veggie dogs, veggie burgers, bean burritos, veggie trays, fresh fruit trays, fresh salads
9. Regions Park (Birmingham Barons)
   Veggie burgers, veggie dogs, vegetarian taco salads and burritos, fruit cups, fruit trays, veggie trays, garden salads
10. MerchantsAuto.com Stadium (New Hampshire Fisher Cats)
    Veggie burgers, garden salads, veggie wraps, portobello mushroom cap salads, grilled veggie sandwiches, baked beans (available in the picnic area), portobello sandwiches (available on request)

주전자 / CC by 2.0

Animal-friendly baseball fans don't have to settle for popcorn, peanuts, and cracker jacks anymore. They can score veggie dogs, faux steak sandwiches, and vegan versions of other stadium favorites at many big-league ballparks. Check out PETA's list of the top 10 vegetarian-friendly major-league ballparks of 2010 to see where your team ranks in the standings:

1. Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia Phillies)
   It's hard to say whether the Phils' biggest off-season acquisition was ace Roy Halladay or the new faux chicken sandwich and vegan rice crispie treats offered at concession stands. Added to other meat-free fare, including veggie burgers, Southwestern black-bean burgers, veggie dogs, faux steak sandwiches, veggie chicken steaks, mock crab cakes, hummus and pita chips, and fresh fruit, Citizens Bank Park is the first undisputed dynasty in the history of PETA's prestigious rankings.
2. AT&T Park (San Francisco Giants)
   Vegetarian meals are flying off AT&T Park's concessions stands faster than a Tim Lincecum fastball. Meat-free Giants fans can power up with a protein-packed veggie dog or Gardenburger along with a brand-new mixed vegetable sandwich, a portobello mushroom sandwich, a California roll, a vegetable roll, vegetable burritos and tamales, a broccoli tofu platter, vegetable chow fun, and more.
3. Minute Maid Park (Houston Astros)
   Carlos Lee might be coming up empty at the plate, but fans are loading their plates with veggie burritos, quinoa tabbouleh, and sun-dried tomato rigatoni, all new for the 2010 season. Minute Maid Park also serves up hearty veggie dogs, Thai noodle salad, hummus and vegetable wraps, vegetarian sushi, fruit smoothies, rice and beans, and organic baby-vegetable ratatouille.
4. Comerica Park (Detroit Tigers)
   Jeremy Bonderman is healthy once again, and Tigers fans can be, too, by putting down the fatty hot dogs and choosing one of Comerica Park's delicious, nutritious vegetarian options, including black-bean burgers, vegetable fried rice, and a hummus plate as well as veteran favorites such as veggie burgers, veggie dogs, and vegetarian taco salads, stir-fries, and sushi.
5. Coors Field (Colorado Rockies)
   It used to be that finding satisfying vegetarian food at ballparks was harder than spelling "Tulowitzki," but nowadays smart folks—like the concessions staff at Coors Field—are responding in a big way to the booming demand for humane, healthy meat-free ballpark fare. Rockies fans can chow down on veggie burgers, dogs, wraps, burritos, kabobs, and paninis as well as fresh salads and fruit, roasted portobello sandwiches, and made-to-order potato skins.
6. Turner Field (Atlanta Braves)
   With the arrival of Jason Heyward, the Braves' future is looking bright, and fans can make sure that they're around to enjoy it by going vegetarian and slashing their risk of heart attack, cancer, and diabetes. Turner Field now has everything from veggie dogs and meatless tacos and burritos to baked beans, Asian noodles, and organic zucchini dip.
7. PETCO Park (San Diego Padres)
   PETA is not a fan of PETCO—the massive corporate giant that buys animals from abusive factory farms that PETA has exposed over and over again—but we're cheering for all the animal-free options at the Padres' stadium. With veggie burgers and veggie dogs, vegetarian sushi rolls, roasted corn, vegetarian burritos, and hummus and vegetables, there's plenty of good eats for animal-friendly fans to enjoy.
8. Angel Stadium (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim)
   No matter what the team is called, fans can agree that Angel Stadium is heavenly for vegetarians. The stadium has an all-star lineup of vegetarian options, including veggie Chicago dogs, edamame, Gardenburgers, California cucumber rolls, veggie paninis, bean burritos, roasted vegetable sandwiches, and more.
9. Miller Park (Milwaukee Brewers)
   Vegetarian slugger and reigning Home Run Derby champ Prince Fielder is proof that players don't need to eat meat to go yard, and fans of the Brew Crew don't need to go far to find great-tasting meatless meals. The stadium sells veggie dogs, veggie wraps, baked potatoes, made-to-order pasta, build-your-own burritos, portobello mushroom focaccia sandwiches, and other vegetarian foods.
10. (tie) Target Field (Minnesota Twins)
    With vegan pitcher Pat Neshek back soon, Kirby the Kestrel on the foul pole, and veggie dogs, veggie burgers, veggie burritos and tacos, fruit kabobs, and other vegetarian items in the concession stands, the new Target Field is a pretty animal-friendly place.
11. (tie) Progressive Field (Cleveland Indians)
    The Indians haven't gained much ground this season, but Progressive Field has shown that it's pretty, well … progressive. The stadium has expanded its roster to include veggie dogs, veggie subs, wild grain and tofu curry, and veggie pasta in addition to veggie wraps, fruit cups, and roasted vegetables.

This week, PETA released never-before-seen footage from our three-month investigation of Sun Pet Ltd.—an Atlanta-based supplier of small mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, and other animals to stores nationwide, including PETCO and PetSmart. In the shocking video, a Sun Pet worker is seen slamming hamsters against a table in an attempt to kill them—evidently because they were deemed unsalable. At least one of the hamsters was still alive for several minutes afterward, panting in the sealed plastic bag.

Not surprisingly, Sun Pet has released a video of its own, showing conditions for the animals at its Atlanta small-animal breeding farm. It doesn't look all that great to us.

Thank you, Sun Pet, for helping PETA show the world the sort of hellish warehouses that PETCO and PetSmart's animals come from! We are not quite sure which part is supposed to serve as a response to PETA's allegations. Is it the footage of the animals who were crammed into pitch-black, tomb-like bins and wire cages; the footage of the animals who were being packed up for shipping as if they were inanimate objects; the footage of the chinchilla cages that the Georgia Department of Agriculture last month found to be in violation of the law; the footage of the fecal matter that was all over the small animals' bedding; or the footage of the rabbits who were being kept in tiny, barren wire cages with no bedding to protect their tender feet?

In its written response to PETA's video, Sun Pet says that it has dismissed the employee in the video. That's a start—but it's not enough. The manager who approved of the hamster-bashing is apparently still punching the clock down at Sun Pet. That's the same manager who said that one could throw mice against a wall and suggested that PETA's investigator expose small animals' testicles by poking and prodding away at their abdomens as if they were PlayStation controllers.

Every employee who abused animals at Sun Pet should be fired and prosecuted—something that Sun Pet vice president and general manager Barry Wisebram said in an interview that he would "make sure" happened. PETA sent a letter to Wisebram yesterday asking him to stick to his word. (He's apparently been too busy taking reporters on tours around his spruced-up warehouses, crafting misleading media statements, and making cameos in the video to do what's right for the hundreds of thousands of animals in his care—or even to get back to us.)

Oh, and one more thing: In Sun Pet's written response, the company asks for "suggestions or information that would help us."

We think that's a great idea. Please take a few minutes to contact Wisebram and politely suggest that it's time for the company to get out of the animal business altogether:

Barry Wisebram
Sun Pet Ltd.
3765 Zip Industrial Blvd.
Atlanta, GA 30354

Written by Paula Moore

Many people just don't realize how horrible glue traps are for mice, rats, and unintended victims such as birds and kittens—or that Lowe's refuses to stop selling these cruel devices. Well, PETA's "mouse" enlightened shoppers outside a Lowe's in Charlotte, North Carolina, yesterday—just in time for the company's annual meeting, which takes place today.

I bet the gal with phone in the photo above is tapping out an e-mail to Lowe's bigwigs. Or she could be reminding her Facebook friends to be nice to mice. Please cover all the bases by doing both. Small, sensitive animals thank you in advance.

Written by Karin Bennett