member secretary of the Central Zoo Authority of India, acknowledges that cetaceans in general do not survive well in captivity, saying, “Confinement in captivity can seriously compromise the welfare and survival of all types of cetaceans by altering their behaviour and causing extreme distress." Noting that India’s national aquatic animal, the Ganges River dolphin, as well as the snubfin dolphin are listed in Schedule-I and all cetacean species are listed in Schedule II part I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1 972, the ministry said it is important to protect these endangered species from captivity and exploitation. Source
New York creates an animal abuser registry
June 201 3: the New York Senate has passed a bill that would require that convicted animal abusers register as such with the division of criminal justice services. Even more, those who have been convicted of abusing and torturing animals would also have to undergo a required psychiatric evaluation and would be banned from ever owning pets again. Under the bill, the names and addresses of convicted animal abuses in New York would be made readily accessible to the public. Those involved in the sale and adoption of animals would be able to check the registry before allowing someone to own an animal. Animal cruelty has been a felony in New York since 1 999 when Buster’s Law was passed. Buster was a cat in Schenectady in upstate New York who was doused with kerosene and set on fire in 1 997. The law bearing his name was created to ensure that those who commit such crimes are convicted. The new law (S2305A-201 3) takes things a step further by creating the registry. Alice Calabrese, the CEO of Lollypop Farm and the Humane Society of Greater Rochester, says that there is a “high recidivism rate” among those who abuse animals, and that the registry is more than needed. Her organization receives about 1 ,200 calls about animal cruelty every year. Michigan is also considering creating a registry of animal abusers, as have other states (including California). However, a bill to create such a registry in Maryland last year failed. Source
Veganism officially considered as a healthy diet by the australian government
July 1 2th, The NH&MRC (National Health and Medical Research Council) has recognised that a vegan diet is a viable option for all australians. In the newly-released Australian Dietary Guidelines, plant-derived foods are given as alternatives to animal-derived foods. In fact, the Guidelines state that alternatives to animal foods (such as nuts, seeds, legumes, beans and tofu) can, for all australians "increase dietary variety and can provide a valuable, affordable source of protein and other ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Q???????? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????9?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Q??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????5???????)?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Q???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????M????(??()??????????????????????)9????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????5??????9??e????A???((0