Humane Issues in the News...

Each week we post links to news about humane education & humane living, and items connected to humane issues, from human rights to environmental preservation, to animal protection, to media, consumerism and culture.


Is sustainable, organic food ready for mainstream? – New York Times (3/22/09)
”At the heart of the sustainable-food movement is a belief that America has become efficient at producing cheap, abundant food that profits corporations and agribusiness, but is unhealthy and bad for the environment.”

“The ethics of cutting household help” - Los Angeles Times (3/21/09)
”We have built an economy that allows us to lie to ourselves about how much we exploit human beings who don't show up on the radar screen. This situation forces that front and center, and that's why we feel ethically confused.”
Thanks, Ethics Newsline, for the heads up.

The battle for the hearts of children: marketers vs. parents - Financial Post (3/20/09)
”The notion that marketers are starting to target children even before they are born terrifies Mr. Lasn, who insists it is up to parents to change the way their offspring think about consumerism.”

“Is access to clean water a basic human right?” – Christian Science Monitor (3/19/09)
”Experts in water issues say that providing citizens of a country with a legal right to what is deemed to be a minimally adequate amount of safe water would be an important way of mitigating the effect of any looming water crises. ‘This is not a semantic issue. If we can determine that water is a right, it gives citizens a tool they can use against their governments,’ says Maude Barlow, a senior adviser on water issues to the president of the UN General Assembly.”

White House to have vegetable garden - New York Times (3/19/09)
”While the organic garden will provide food for the first family’s meals and formal dinners, its most important role, Mrs. Obama said, will be to educate children about healthful, locally grown fruit and vegetables at a time when obesity and diabetes have become a national concern.”

Alaska to kill more than 75% of wolf population – PlanetSave blog (3/18/09)
"Alaska abruptly resumed shooting wolves from helicopters this weekend in hopes that shooting the wolves will increase the population of caribou for hunters to kill. The state plans to kill up to 328 wolves, sparing under 100 in the Yukon area."

Russia bans killing of harp seals under a year old – MSNBC (3/18/09)
"’The bloody seal slaughter, the killing of the defenseless animals, which can't be even called a 'hunt,' is now prohibited in Russia as it is in most developed countries. It is a serious step towards the conservation of biodiversity in Russia,’ stated Minister Trutnev.”

Why people are helping the toad cross the road – LDNews (3/17/09)
"’Everything is connected,’ Burton said. ‘Take out part, including any of the critters, and you're going to have a change.’ Levinson got permission from the city's Streets Department to temporarily detour traffic during the toads' trek. She said volunteers will man barricades, count migrating toads and hand out informational brochures to passers-by. There will be detour signs posted, along with posters made by children at the local elementary school urging drivers to be kind to the toads, Levinson said.”