Live Oil Spill Feed - Get It

Keep track of the Gulf oil spill with this live feed and gallon leakage counter. For more environmental and sustainable living picks, go to slightly north of worth...avenue sustainable living picks.

TreeHugger's Best of Green 2010

Click here to see who the readers picked as TreeHugger's Best of Green 2010. For more environmental information, go to slightly north of worth...avenue sustainable living picks.

Let's Stop Class B Animal Dealers From Selling Animals For Research

From The Animal Rescue Site and the ASPCA:

"Animal Class B dealers collect animals, mistreat them, and sell them to research laboratories. Put an end to this barbaric practice.

Animal dealing is an inherently flawed and inhumane practice—one that far too many dogs and cats find themselves involved in each year. Licensed through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Class B dealers collect animals from various sources, such as pounds, auctions, and even from off the street, and sell them to research institutions. Sometimes, these animals are domesticated—taken despite the fact they have homes and owners. A 1993 study done by the American Physiological Society reported that about 40% of animals sold by Class B dealers previously belonged to legitimate homes.ensure the buying and selling of animals for research by Class B dealers is eradicated completely. Please click here to sign the petition asking the USDA to discontinue the issuing of Class B dealer permits altogether."

For more animal organizations, go to slightly north of worth...avenue critter picks.

"I Put A Spell On You" Shane MacGowan Raw Version

From Balcony TV...being released on 8 March, Shane MacGowan and friend's - Nick Cave, Bobby Gillespie, Chrissie Hunde,
Mick Jones, Cait O’Riordan, Glen Matlock, Paloma Faith, Eliza Doolitle & Johnny Depp - raw version of "I Put A Spell On You" to raise funds for Concern Worldwide's work in Haiti. This Dublin based organization was founded 40 years ago, operates in over 28 of the poorest and most vulnerable countries and 87% of monies raised go for relief efforts. Click here to see how money is spent.

Go to slightly north of worth...avenue critter picks for uber charitable organizations.

Save The Cook Inlet Beluga Whales

From Defenders of Wildlife :
As the population of Alaska's Cook Inlet beluga whales plummeted from over 1,200 in 1979 to only 326 in 2009, these iconic whales were finally listed as endangered in 2008. Now, a new proposal announced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) aims to protect more than 3,000 square miles of their aquatic home -- and would give these struggling marine mammals the protections they need to survive."

Please take action now, by signing the petition, and urge NOAA to adopt this proposal to help save the Cook Inlet beluga whales. The deadline for comments is March 3, 2010.

Sign Peititon To Stop Factory Farm Confinement

From the ASPCA:

"It is estimated that 30-40% of the nation's organic milk supply comes from large factory farms. Many of the largest organic dairies in the country confine their cows to barns and/or dry lots, which are simply dirt and mud pens. These cows never see a blade of grass in their lives.
Urge President Obama to require that organic cows have access to pasture and not be confined to tiny dirt pens and feed lots."

Please sign the petition to create a humane environment. Besides, you shouldn't be ingesting cow's milk...switch to soy products which are healthier.

Cheer On Sea Shepherd

An uber favorite and critter pick, I love the mission statement of Sea Shepherd: "Established in 1977, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) is an international non-profit, marine wildlife conservation organization. Our mission is to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world's oceans in order to conserve and protect ecosystems and species."

I'm happy to see Bob Barker standing behind the organization regarding the latest anti whaling incident with the Japanese. Please read on...
LOS ANGELES (AP) - "Television game show host Bob Barker knew anti-whaling work could be dangerous even before his $5 million donation to a conservation group, but he was shocked to hear about Wednesday's violent crash between a Japanese whaling ship and one of the group's speedboats.
The collision off the coast of Antarctica sheared the bow off the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society speedboat and injured one crew member aboard. A new ship funded by Barker's donation, the 1,200-ton Bob Barker, rescued all six crew members from the speedboat.
"To think I had just become involved in it, then they had the worst accident that they've had," he said. "I thought, 'Barker, what have you brought on to these people?'"
The longtime animal activist said he was aware of Sea Shepherd's tactics before contributing to the organization.
"I knew that they get in there and try to get between the whalers and the whales," Barker said. "They are just doing wonderful things. Sea Shepherd operates under the UN World Charter for Nature to uphold international conservation laws and directly intervene against illegal activities on the high seas."
The conservation group sends boats to Antarctic waters each southern summer to try to stop the Japanese whaling fleet from killing whales under what Japan calls a scientific whaling program. Conservationists and many countries say the program is a front for commercial whaling.
Among Sea Shepherd's tactics: Dangling ropes into the water in an attempt to tangle up whaling boats' propellers and lobbing stink bombs at whalers. The group uses a synthetic form of butyric acid in the bombs that emit a putrid odor and can potentially spoil whale meat, Barker said.
Because the butyric acid is a vegan product, the attacks are "nontoxic, biodegradable, organic chemical warfare," he said.
The 86-year-old said he was grateful the crew injuries weren't worse.
"This will probably get more notice for what they're trying to do out there than anything in a long time, so it has a bright side," Barker said. "I absolutely continue to support them, more so than ever, in good times and bad."Click here to donate to the Sea Shepherd's continuing good works or go to slightly north of worth critter picks.

Historic Seal Victory In EU

Victory! On 5 May, the European Parliament made history when it voted overwhelmingly to ban trade in seal products. This vote means that all three European Union (EU) institutions -- the Commission, the Council, and the Parliament -- are now in agreement, and seal products will no longer be placed on the market within the EU.

People can't let their guard as there is every chance the sealing industry will develop new markets. That is why the Humane Society International will continue maintaining economic pressure on Canada's fishing industry through a boycott of Canadian seafood products and you can do the same. They will continue pressing for a strong law in Canada to stop commercial sealing will continue to lobby other nations to ban seal products.

Way to go!

You Can Help Polar Bears

Here's a critter pick...From ER to making this public service announcement for the World Wildlife Fund, Noah Wyle, makes a profound case for the plight of the polar bear. With the thinning and melting arctic ice, polar bears are at risk for extinction by the end of this century. That's some scary stuff. Contact WWF and help them in their quest with the urgent issues of climate change and habitat preservation for the polar bear and many other animals.

For more information WWF and other wonderful and reputable charitable organizations, go to slightlynorthofworth...avenue critter picks.

Remember Animal Friends

Mr. snow and I have accumulated our critter family through different means, some a little out of the ordinary...literally finding them in the woods, adopting from animal shelters or taking the unwanted and abused directly from the abusers. With current economic woes, many forget the ongoing plight of innocent animals for, they too, suffer and are affected by these trying times. The following article just broke my heart because I know it happens all too often. Please do what you can...they can't speak for themselves.
"Hi, My name is Jolby. I was found on the streets of New York City where I was left abandoned and ill. I have been through a lot as I have wandered the streets all alone without anyone to care for me. I was starting to give up hope completely as I suffered from hunger, thirst and the freezing cold. I was so malnourished that I became anemic and had no energy to go on living. When I did find a scrap to eat, I couldn't hold it down, my hair was falling out and when things couldn't possibly get worse, I caught a nasty cold and an infection in my nose and throat. I could barely lift my head and was wondering how I was going to survive this. Then a compassionate person picked me up and rescued me! I ended up at the Bideawee shelter where the people started to care for me in a way I can't even remember. One of them started to give me fluids so I wasn't so dehydrated. Another gave me some medicine to cure my respiratory infection. They also gave me a warm bath, a manicure and my hair is growing back. I actually cleaned up nicely and I am really a handsome cat if I do say so myself. Cats like me like to clean ourselves - it's a matter of pride. I haven't been able to do this for myself because I have been so sick. I now feel a little better so I can groom myself. The animal doctors here have also done some tests to try to find out why I might be anemic and lost my hair. I am sure it is nothing serious. I really feel like I am on the road to wellness with their kind help. Each day they care for me, I have more hope that I will make it. I decided I really love people. I let the staff carry me around all day long and I am becoming quite the talker. I have a good story to tell and thankfully it has a happy ending. I heard some of the animal doctors at Bideawee talking about the costs of my medical care and of all the animals that live with me. Boy, it's a lot!! Do you think you have it in your heart to help them out so they can care for me and all my new friends here? Your financial assistance will make it possible for more down on their luck animals, like me, to have a second chance. I have survived thanks to Bideawee. I know I will fully recover with their help and your support. As soon as I am healthy, they have told me they will even find me a home! Can you imagine? I will have my own people who I can call a family and who will love me. The family that takes me has no idea how much love I am going to give back to them. I know times are hard, but I hope you can remember us animals that have been abandoned, neglected or abused. Please send your support today so that they can continue to rescue animals like me that would not make it out on the streets. I thank you from the bottom of my heart."
Mr. snow and I thank you, too.
P.S. On a happier note, during recent travels, a young, beautiful white kitty adopted the backyard of the house where we were staying. We already had a full animal entourage to schlep around so, just by chance and through a friend of a friend, we found her a home with a wonderful family who was looking for a cat just like her. The family was so thrilled they couldn't stop thanking us. Here's the kicker...the family, and the beautiful house they restored and live in, was the feature of a "much to do" magazine spread. Before leaving, we visited several times and she had become quite the spoiled princess in her designer showcase home. You really can go from rags to riches!
Until next time...