❀ The Good News ❀

. . . . . . . . . . 

Stop watching the News on T.V. filled with lies, propaganda, and made to make you feel helpless and afraid.

With all the negative news in the world, it's time to give you hope and inspiration. It's time to the weekly Good News! 

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Care2 Reaches 25 Million!

Care2 and the Petitionsite are such amazing places to be making a difference in the world, and they have reached 25 Million members! That's 25 Million people making a difference in the world! If that isn't good news, I don't know what is!  

Cages, crates, cruelty, BANNED in Australia's New ACT!

The ACT has become the first Australian jurisdiction to prohibit by law some of the worst horrors inflicted on animals in factory farms. A company in the ACT can be fined up to $35,000 for locking a pig in a crate or a hen in a cage.

This landmark legislation is a welcome reminder that with consistent and strategic campaigning we can change laws to improve the lives of animals. 

Success! Canada Bans Gestation Crates For Pigs

Thanks to 37,000 Care2 members taking action, the more than one million pregnant pigs on Canadian farms will not have to spend their lives confined in a space so small they can’t even turn around. A Care2 petition demanded an urgent response to help mother pigs — and Canada’s National Farm Animal Care Council and the Canadian Pork Council have created new regulations that ban the continuous confinement of sows in newly built and rebuilt facilities.

(Read more) 

Two Blind Cows 350 Miles Apart Come Together to Form a Beautiful Friendship

You may have already seen this floating around Facebook, but if you haven't, here's the heartwarming tale (and video) of Two Blind Cows that are brought together at the amazing Farm Sanctuary in New York and form a beautiful friendship.

Read the Story Here.

Watch the video of Sweety and Tricia Below

Victory! Venue Cancels Nosey the Elephant Rides

Thanks to the support of many, a long-suffering elephant named Nosey has been spared a grueling weekend giving rides at the Oak Haven Farms & Winery in Sorrento, Florida. In response to our alert asking supporters to urge the Winery to cancel plans to use Nosey this past weekend, activists flooded the Winery with emails, calls, and posts on Facebook.

Hugo Liebel, Nosey's exhibitor, is currently under investigation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for alleged violations of the Animal Welfare Act following numerous complaints submitted by IDA and others. The USDA fined Liebel in 2013 as a result of earlier charges claiming more than 30 welfare violations, including failure to provide adequate veterinary care and to handle Nosey safely in public.

IDA will continue to push for the end of Nosey’s exploitation at the hands of an exhibitor who flagrantly ignores federal law at the expense of this beleaguered elephant and the public. For more information on how you can help elephants held in captivity, please visit our What You Can Do page. 

WWF gaining momentum for Virunga and its wildlife!‏

The fight to stop oil exploration in and around Virunga National Park—home to more than half of the world's endangered mountain gorillas—is gaining considerable momentum, giving hope that the Africa equivalent of North America's Yellowstone will become protected.

In this month alone:

• WWF surpassed 650,000 signatures on their petition demanding oil giant Soco International's immediate retreat from Virunga. 
• An international agency, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, has accepted WWF's complaint that highlights allegations of lack of transparency and human rights violations related to Soco's operations in Virunga.
• French oil company Total SA, which has an oil concession overlapping Virunga, publicly committed to keeping out of all natural World Heritage Sites.

Help keep the momentum going! 

Share the petition with your friends and family and ask them to join you in taking a stand for Virunga. 

Home Depot is listening - Bee Protection Hopefully Ahead! 

Good news – after receiving hundreds of thousands of emails, printed letters and a whole lot of visits from YOU and other activists across the country urging Home Depot to stop selling bee-killing pesticides, Home Depot listened!

SaveOurEnvironment.org's coalition is now in dialogue with the retail giant and they are working on a policy on neonics. This is a good step in the right direction, making things hopeful that Home Depot will be a leader in bee protection moving forward.

Wildlife Win in Court

Of 345 species at risk in Canada, more than 160 have waited far too long for recovery strategies. Thanks to a recent federal court decision, four luckier ones are finally getting overdue plans detailing steps needed to save and protect them, including identifying habitat they need to survive. But to make it happen, environmental groups including the David Suzuki Foundation, with the help of Ecojustice lawyers, had to take the federal government to court. It wasn't the first time they've gone to court to protect wildlife.

In what the judge called "the tip of the iceberg", the court found an enormous systemic problem in the two ministries responsible for protecting endangered and threatened wildlife. Both the environment and fisheries ministers broke the law for the species in question by allowing multi-year delays in meeting deadlines required under the Species at Risk Act.

This legal win is good news for Pacific humpback whales, marbled murrelets, Nechako white sturgeon and southern mountain caribou. 

(Read More and find out what you can do to help) 

Victory! Cleaner gas & cleaner cars‏

Thanks in part to the hundreds of thousands of comments from Save Our Environment activists and others in their coalition, the EPA has announced new clean gasoline and tailpipe pollution standards.

These new standards will help us all breathe easier, prevent thousands of asthma attacks, cut dangerous pollution, save up to $19 billion in health costs per year, and put the U.S. back on track with global efforts to reduce sulfur in gasoline, cutting the sulfur in our gas by two-thirds!

A Program For Crowdfunding Home Solar Launches in Connecticut

Earlier this month, Mosaic joined together with The Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority (CEFIA), Connecticut’s green bank and Sungage Financial, a platform that enables homeowners to efficiently apply, qualify and contract for solar financing, to offer homeowners crowdsourced loans for solar installations.

Mosaic is a pioneer in the world of solar energy, even though they have nothing to do with developing solar technology. Leaving design up to the scientists and engineers, this California-based B-Corp is instead focused on the financial part of solar: inventing new ways for people to invest in and install solar installations in their own communities.

(Read more)

Hundred of Students Create “Human Oil Spill” at White House to Protest Keystone XL Pipeline

I so love hearing about the creative ways young activists use to spread a message and make a point. Here is another great story of just that! And it is always inspiring to hear people standing up for what they know is right!

Anyone who says that today’s youth are apathetic about politics simply needs to look at the nearly 1000 students who protested in Washington D.C. on Sunday against the continuing plans for building the Keystone XL Pipeline.

According to CNN, nearly 1,000 students marched from Georgetown to Secretary of State John Kerry’s home in D.C., where they then formed a “human oil spill” by placing black tarps on the ground and lying on them outside his house. They then continued to Lafayette Square, and approximately one third of the march proceeded to the White House, where they created another “oil spill,” while part of the group separated from the others and zip-tied their hands to the fence surrounding the White House grounds.

(Read more) 

Newly-Introduced Energy Efficiency Bill Is a Necessary First Step

Last week, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Rob Portman (R-OH) introduced the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act with a bipartisan group of co-sponsors. The bill would spur the use of energy efficiency technologies in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors of the U.S. economy. Among its many provisions, the legislation would strengthen the Department of Energy’s role in fostering technical support and supply-side energy efficiencies in the manufacturing sector.

The Shaheen-Portman efficiency bill is an important step in not only making American businesses more competitive, but also saving consumers money and creating jobs. According to a recent study by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, the bill has the potential to save American consumers $14 billion and to support the creation of 172,000 jobs by 2030.

(Read more) 

Kroger and Safeway Refuse to Sell GMO Salmon, No Matter What FDA Decides

While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is still busy working on approval for genetically modified salmon, another two store chains put their names on the list of places that will refuse to sell it. Kroger and Safeway, the largest retail grocery companies in the United States, have made the commitment to keep GMO salmon off of their shelves, a commitment being made by more than 9,000 stores nationwide.

(Read more) 

Celebrate! Texas Gay Marriage Ban Overturned by Federal Court

A federal judge this week ruled that Texas’ ban on marriage equality violates the United States Constitution. While the decision is stayed, LGBT rights activists are celebrating the ruling as a major victory.

U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia issued an opinion on Wednesday, February 22, that Texas state’s refusal to recognize same-sex marriages and its refusal to recognize same-sex marriages from out-of-state violates the Constitutional rights of same-sex couples.

(Read more) 

7 Women Who Have Inspired Us in Honor of International Women’s Day

March 8 marked the 106th annual International Women’s Day, a wonderful opportunity to applaud some amazing accomplishments, successes and triumphs, all a testament to the incredible progress women are making right now. In honour of this, Care2 applauded seven of the women who have made major strides over the past year and who can inspire all of us.

(Read about these women Here) 

Meet the Tanzanian Woman Who Said No to a Forced Marriage

Here is another beautiful and empowering story from a woman who said no to a forced marriage. These are the sort of stories that pave new futures for generations of women to come. 

Read her story Here.

. . . . . . . . . .

Thanks for reading this week's "Good News!" Join us every week and feel inspired! 

Be sure to sign up for Care2's newsletter for some real news around the globe, to make a change, and to open up your mind to the Real World!

See that your actions count and get out there and do good! Be the Change!  

If you found this article to be helpful, please consider a small donation or visit the shop. Thank you for your love and support.

❀ The Good News ❀

. . . . . . . . . . 

Stop watching the News on T.V. filled with lies, propaganda, and made to make you feel helpless and afraid.

With all the negative news in the world, it's time to give you hope and inspiration. It's time to the weekly Good News! 

. . . . . . . . . .

Big News: U.S. Bans Domestic Trade on Ivory and Rhino Horn

In an effort to crack down on poaching, the White House set a worldwide precedent last week in announcing a ban on the commercial import, export, and domestic sale of ivory. The ban is part of the administration’s newly established first-ever "National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking," which will work to set guiding principles for U.S. efforts to stem illegal trade in wildlife. The plan also includes an ambitious set of actions to stop the multibillion dollar illegal wildlife trade and elevate the seriousness of wildlife crime in US law and foreign policy.  

This is big news. The United States is one of the largest markets for ivory in the world. 

(Read more) 

(Read more)

Wild Orcas Will NOT Go on Display at Sochi Olympics

The Sochi Olympics were planning to display two wild orcas captured by the Russian government. Animal lovers around the world spoke out against the plan, which would cause extreme suffering to the whales. More than 110,000 people signed the petition on Care2, which was delivered to the Russian government -- and, at the last minute, the Olympic Committee confirmed that orcas will no longer be put on display at the Games! 

Read more. 

Success! The City of Sochi Formed a Shelter for Homeless Animals!

Thanks to the voices of many on Care2 Petition site and other venues, our appeal was reviewed by the experts state administration of Veterinary Krasnodar region on behalf of the Presidential Administration of The Russian Federation. The city of Sochi formed a shelter for homeless animals, saving the lives of the cull intent to kill 2000 stray dogs and cats for the Olympic Games (Sochi 2014). 

More information about the details see at: http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1092419

Officials Call Off Two of Three UK Badger Culls

Because both badgers and cows can fall ill to a deadly disease, bovine tuberculosis, UK officials planned two badger cull pilots, in which people would cruelly shoot badgers in Gloucestershire and Somerset. The two pilot programs were called off -- but there's still a third cull planned in Dorset. 

Join Care2 members demanding an end to the Dorset badger cull: Take Action: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/762/366/368/help-prevent-dorset-badger-cull/ 

Buddy the Dog Saved and Reunited With Owner 

Care2 member Jennifer Blachly started a campaign when she found out that Buddy, a golden retriever in San Antonio, Texas, was scheduled to be euthanized. Buddy was accused of attacking a girl in the neighborhood who startled him, and kept confined in a kennel while he awaited execution. After more than 19,000 people signed Jennifer's petition to save Buddy, he was finally reunited with his owner. 

Read more. 

Dogs in Frozen Peril: 4 Amazing River Rescues by Heroes Who Cared

The link below is for the stories of four dogs who ventured onto frozen rivers this winter and found themselves in desperate danger. This is also the story of the selfless people who rescued them, despite crippling cold and perilous conditions. The dogs’ lives were literally on the line until these brave animal lovers took action.

(Read more)

New York’s Largest Cockfighting Ring Busted in ‘Operation Angry Birds’

Authorities and rescuers joined forces to participate in what’s believed to be the largest cockfighting bust in New York state’s history and one of the largest ever in the U.S.

The take down was part of Operation Angry Birds, which was a combined effort by New York’s Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF), the Ulster County Sheriff’s office, the Department of Homeland Security (HSI), the New York State Police and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

Animal advocates hope this provision will help crack down on the people who help fuel these barbaric underground enterprises and perpetuate other illegal activity by holding everyone involved accountable, as opposed to only the people who are running the show.

(Read more) 

Victory! Pharmaceutical Giant Will Stop Experimenting on Chimpanzees

In a victory for animals in labs, pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co. has announced it will join a growing number of companies that have stopped using chimpanzees for biomedical research.

Merck, the world’s third-largest drug maker, cited the availability of alternatives that can replace chimpanzees in research as the reason for its policy change. The move is being applauded by animal advocates and organizations including the National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS) and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

(Read more) 

Success! German Animal Conservationist Who Shot Elephant Has Resigned

“Dwindling.” “Fewer and fewer.” With wearying frequency, these are the terms used to describe the ever-declining number of elephants in the world as poachers slaughter them for their ivory tusks. Amid rising fear that ours could be the last generation to see elephants in the wild, many have been cheered to know of conservationists’ campaigns to put a stop to the illegal ivory trade.

Finding out that a German environment minister, Ude Wedekind, had recently gone hunting in Africa and killed an elephant was shocking, mind-boggling news that led many of us to wonder, how serious are those who say they are championing endangered species and the environment?

Care2 members know what has to be done to save wildlife whose existence is threatened. More than 36,000 of you signed a petition demanding that Wedekind be fired for hunting those he should be protecting. Earlier this month, Wedekind was forced to resign from his position as environment minister in the central German province of Thuringia.

(Read more) 

Victory: Congress Passes Wildlife-friendly Farm Bill!‏

After years of persistent effort by tens of thousands of wildlife advocates, Congress passed a new farm bill that provides huge wins for wildlife!

The 2014 Farm Bill is a strong, conservation-friendly bill that supports healthy soil, clean water, and abundant habitat for wildlife. A huge win is the conservation compliance provision to protect environmentally sensitive land and prevent the destruction of millions of acres of wetlands on which wildlife depend. There's also a substantial increase in funding to help farmers create wildlife habitat on working lands and important improvements for protecting our fragile native grasslands.

This victory for wildlife is evidence of the tremendous impact people can make for wildlife.

Read more. 

Success! Kellogg’s Will Stop Using Palm Oil from Damaged Habitats

Care2 community, pat yourselves on the back. After a prolonged campaign to convince Kellogg’s to stop using palm oil that comes from companies that employ tactics of deforestation, the food giant has pledged to obtain palm oil from only sustainable sources, reports Bloomberg.

In a statement on its website, Kellogg’s says it will soon independently confirm that 100% of its palm oil suppliers meet both local laws and a high standard of environmentalism by 2016. Though this step is not the first the company has taken to mitigate the effects of the palm oil industry, it is the one that demands the most accountability for all involved parties.

(Read more) 

Major victory in conservation battle against oil company

A major corporate social responsibility agency has announced an examination of Soco International PLC for alleged violations of human rights and environmental protections related to the company’s operations in an African World Heritage Site. 

The move was triggered by WWF’s complaint alleging that Soco has breached the most respected global corporate social responsibility standards in its pursuit of oil in Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). WWF’s case has exposed “material and substantiated issues meriting further examination,” a United Kingdom Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) agency said in its initial assessment published February 14th.

(Read more) 

More help is still needed, so Please sign WWF's petition to say NO to Soco threatening the health of the wildlife and ecosystems of the park. 

BREAKING - Victory: Canada agrees to review use of toxic pesticides‏

Last August EcoJustice took the Government of Canada to court over its refusal to take steps to protect Canadians from toxic pesticides already banned for use in other countries. EcoJustice said that litigation was a last resort, but a powerful way to prompt government action. Now, the proof is in this piece of unexpected good news: For the first time in Canadian history, the Minister of Health has agreed to do special reviews of harmful pesticides banned in Europe but still used in Canada.

‘Freedom Now More Perfect’ as Virginia’s Gay Marriage Ban is Overturned

A federal judge ruled on Thursday that Virginia’s gay marriage ban is unconstitutional. Though this decision is stayed pending appeal, it is being treated as a landmark victory.

The lawsuit that led to this decision argued that the Virginia Marriage Amendment, also known as the Marshall-Newman Amendment, unlawfully relegated gay and lesbian couples to second-class status by banning same-sex marriages and any and all unions that, like civil unions, are designed to approximate marriage.

The suit also took aim at the state’s statutory ban on same-sex marriage, saying that all are unconstitutional and unlawfully restrict the freedom of same-sex couples. The lawsuit also argued that the bans inflict harm upon same-sex couples by preventing them from accessing state marriage recognition.

(Read more) 

Tunisia’s New Constitution is a Breakthrough for Women’s Rights

Tunisia’s new Constitution has captured international headlines. It enshrines many rights for women and is a step in the right direction, according to many Tunisians.

Sana Ben Achour, women’s rights activist and law student, stresses that this Constitution is the first in the Arab world to give all Tunisians, women and men, the right to be presidential candidates. Similarly, she says that “Article 46 is proof of an impressive advance. From the outset, it safeguards the rights won by Tunisian women by referring to the Code du Statut Personnel (Personal Status Code) of 1959. Back then, the Code established a rights and freedoms panel unheard of in the Arab world. These included the right to divorce, to marriage by mutual consent and also the banning of polygamy.”

In addition, Ms. Ben Achour said that the State will ensure that there was gender equality in the workplace and it would encourage equality, notably through affirmative action measures.

(Read more) 

Now Same-Sex Marriages Receive Same Privileges and Protections Under Federal Law

In a speech at the Human Rights Watch’s Greater New York Gala, Attorney General Eric Holder made a bold declaration, “In every courthouse, in every proceeding and in every place where a member of the Department of Justice stands on behalf of the United States, they will strive to ensure that same-sex marriages receive the same privileges, protections and rights as opposite-sex marriages under federal law.”

This means that for the first time, married same-sex couples have the same protections as all married couples in legal proceedings.

The Obama administration has taken several steps to ensure equal protection for same-sex couples over the last few years.

(Read more) 

How Beauty Salons Across the Country Are Joining the Fight to End Domestic Violence

Thanks to an innovative training program, thousands of beauty professionals are learning to identify signs of domestic abuse and encourage clientele to find help. Why? Because they’re uniquely positioned to help address the problem.

CUT IT OUT, founded in Birmingham, Ala., seeks to capitalize on the bonds between women and their beauticians, teaching professionals nationwide — including “hairstylists, skin care specialists, makeup artists and other salon professionals” — about indicators of domestic violence. Professionals in the beauty industry have an advantageous platform from which to detect domestic violence because the focal point of their work is clients’ appearance. Moreover, beauticians frequently establish friendly relationships with customers, and are therefore perceived as trustworthy confidants.

(Read more) 

Native American Women Finally Gain More Protection From Rape and Abuse Thanks to VAWA

Thanks to the latest reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), the U.S. government is beginning to take steps to strengthen protections for victims of domestic violence within American Indian tribes. On Thursday, the Justice Department announced that three tribes will participate in a pilot program that will allow them to prosecute non-Native­ men for abuse against Native American women, an initiative that will eventually be expanded to additional tribes.

(Read more) 

Scotland Passes Gay Marriage Bill! 

Hooray! The Scottish Parliament has overwhelmingly voted in favor of a same-sex marriage bill, allowing the first such ceremonies to take place by the end of the year.

Scottish Health Secretary Alex Neil called the bill’s approval “one of the great historic days of the parliament.”

The Scottish government said passing the same-sex marriage bill was an important step for equal rights and paved the way for same-sex wedding ceremonies later this year.

(Read more) 

. . . . . . . . . .

Thanks for reading this week's "Good News!" Join us every week and feel inspired! 

Be sure to sign up for Care2's newsletter for some real news around the globe, to make a change, and to open up your mind to the Real World!

See that your actions count and get out there and do good! Be the Change!  

If you found this article to be helpful, please consider a small donation or visit the shop. Thank you for your love and support.

❀ The Good News ❀

. . . . . . . . . . 

Stop watching the News on T.V. filled with lies, propaganda, and made to make you feel helpless and afraid.

With all the negative news in the world, it's time to give you hope and inspiration. It's time to the weekly Good News! 

. . . . . . . . . .

Victory: India Ends Tests on Animals for Household Products!‏

India has decided to end tests on animals for household products following campaigns by PETA India, PETA and PETA U.K., which included appeals from scientists as well as MP Maneka Gandhi and other members of the Indian Parliament.

This decision comes from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) following efforts by PETA India’s science policy adviser, Dr. Chaitanya Koduri, the only representative from an animal-protection group to sit on the BIS committee on household products.

This decision makes India the second country, following Israel, to end animal tests for household products and comes on the heels of a recently enacted ban on cosmetics testing on animals in India and similar bans in the EU and Israel. 

(Read more) 

Animal Rights Activists Win a Huge Victory in São Paulo

A huge animal rights victory has just been won in São Paulo, Brazil. Governor Geraldo Alckmin recently signed a bill that bans cosmetics testing on animals in the state. The ban covers both finished products and ingredients. Those caught breaking this new law will be subject to a $435,000 fine per animal. The fine will double for repeat offenders and the establishment can be closed temporarily or permanently.

(Read more) 

Lolita the Whale, One Step Closer to Freedom!

The bad news: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) excluded Lolita—a wild-caught orca who has been held in solitary confinement for decades—from the endangered listing of the Southern Resident orcas.

The GREAT news: After hearing from PETA and others, the NMFS has now issued a proposed rule to list Lolita and finally grant her the same protections from harm!

This decision gets Lolita closer to her release from the Miami Seaquarium! Help is still needed to make sure that the agency does the right thing and helps give Lolita the protection that she deserves.

Click here to speak up: http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=NOAA-NMFS-2013-0056-1841

Greyhound Racing Could Be on its Way Out in Iowa

There’s growing support among lawmakers and business leaders in Iowa to shut down the only two greyhound racetracks in the state that are operating in Dubuque and Council Bluffs.

While the push to end racing in Iowa isn’t so much about the welfare of greyhounds as it is about bad business, if it shuts down the tracks it’s still a win for the dogs. Dwindling profits indicate a dying industry that only exists because it’s being propped up by casinos that are subsidizing the tracks to the tune of $14 million a year.

Commercial dog racing is illegal in 38 states, but is still legal in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Iowa and Texas. Hopefully, Iowa will be next on the list to close its tracks.

(Read more) 

Take Action: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/815/528/407/iowa-its-time-to-end-greyhound-racing/

Alberta's solicitor general backs tougher animal cruelty laws 

Alberta's solicitor general is adding his support to the fight for tougher animal cruelty laws. After a spate of animal abuse cases across the province in recent weeks — including one involving an emaciated husky and kitten found with their mouths taped shut — many Albertans are expressing outrage at the possibility those responsible could get off easy and are calling for stronger laws to punish those found responsible. 

(Read more) 

Some Good News For Veal Calves in a New Jersey Slaughterhouse

This week the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) stepped up and suspended operations at a calf slaughterhouse in New Jersey following an undercover investigation conducted by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) that exposed cruelty to veal calves.

It’s probably important to note that while many people won’t touch veal because of the cruelty involved, veal calves are direct byproducts of the dairy industry. While females will likely follow in their mother’s footsteps as dairy cows, the calves who have the misfortune of being born male will be sold for beef or veal. The easiest way for us to stop the cycle of suffering is to pass on both meat and dairy products.

(Read more) 

Finally, The Last State Without a Felony Animal Cruelty Law Proposes One

It’s 2014. Wouldn’t you expect by now that every single state in the U.S. would have a law on the books making the worst types of animal cruelty a felony? After all, some states got on board with this idea literally hundreds of years ago — Massachusetts, for example, which enacted the first such law in 1804.

Beginning in earnest in the 1980s, states began recognizing that certain crimes against animals demanded stronger penalties. One by one, each state added felony provisions to their regulations, until today only a single state is left without one. Which state? South Dakota.

Right now in South Dakota, no matter what horror you perpetrate against an animal, it’s nothing more than a misdemeanor. Fortunately, it looks like that may finally change this year.

After years of resistance, in recognition of the persistent pressure exerted by state animal advocates and national groups like the Humane Society of the United States, the state began work to change its animal cruelty law in 2013.

(Read more) 

Great News: Huge Victory for Idaho Wolves!‏

State-sponsored Wolf Killing Ends in Idaho!

Faced with a looming deadline to defend its actions before a federal appeals court, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) announced this afternoon that it is halting its wolf extermination program in the Middle Fork region of the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness as of today.

(Read more) 

Victory! King Amendment Dropped from Farm Bill!

Thanks to the work of hundreds of organizations and hundreds of thousands of activists, the King Amendment—an attempt by Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) to wipe out hundreds of state laws designed to protect food and agriculture standards—has been dethroned. The amendment did not survive the House version of the Farm Bill, which passed this week.

It’s a huge victory. For animal welfare. For states’ rights. For every group and individual who fought for its defeat.

Read Pingree’s statement: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_29205.cfm

More on the farm bill: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_29204.cfm

Organic Farmer Going to Court Against Monsanto’s GM Crops

You may not have heard of Steve Marsh yet, but this Australian farmer could lose everything to protect your right to eat GM-free food.

Steve is an organic farmer from Kojonup, in Western Australia. In 2010, the Western Australian State Government lifted the moratorium on GM canola/rapeseed, allowing cultivation of this GM crop for the first time. As a result of this change in policy, many farmers, including Steve Marsh’s neighbor, began growing Monsanto’s genetically modified (GM) canola/rapeseed. Subsequently Steve’s organic farm was contaminated. As a result of this contamination Steve lost organic certification on 70% of his farm. Steve has since lost a great deal on his premium income and his once profitable livelihood has been decimated.

As the only avenue available, Steve is taking his neighbor to court for compensation of loss and damages. This is not something that Steve wanted to do, but he had no other option to protect his right — to protect our right — to farm GM free.

Steve’s suit is the world’s first in which an organic farmer is using the courts to recover loss and damages from a GM farmer. His case has been described as a landmark one that will determine who should take responsibility about GM contamination.

(Read more) 

BREAKING NEWS: Shell won't drill in Alaska this summer!‏

Time for some great news! Thanks to so many amazing Activist organizations and over 33,500 other activists who have lent their voices to this important issue, we're celebrating a step forward for protecting the health of Alaska's pristine waters. 

In a major victory for Alaska's wildlife and people, Royal Dutch Shell announced it will cease plans to drill in the Alaskan Arctic this summer.

Shell's decision comes on the heels of a court ruling that the Department of the Interior had failed to consider all environmental impacts of the exploration in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas when it gave Shell permission to drill. Your messgae telling the US government they should not expose Arctic communities and wildlife to the risk of oil spills like the Deepwater Horizon disaster was heard and it's making a real difference in our continued fight to protect the environment. 

(Read more) 

Protections for Pregnant Workers in New York City Are Now in Effect

Pregnant women and teens in New York City have a reason to celebrate. As of January 30, being pregnant or recovering from a recent childbirth will no longer put your job at risk.

Women in the workforce have had to deal with various types of discrimination based solely on their gender — from lower wages for similar work as their male counterparts to their employment being jeopardized due to needing time away from jobs to care for family members — by virtue of more female workers also being the caregivers at home as well.

Now, gender equity in the workplace is one step closer in New York City, as a law has gone into effect that prevents companies from refusing to make accommodations for pregnant workers or workers who have recently given birth.

(Read more) 

How One State Plans to Wipe Out Sexism at Work in a Single Bill

On Thursday, Minnesota state lawmakers unveiled the “Women’s Economic Security Act of 2014,” a legislative package “designed to break down barriers to economic progress facing women – and all Minnesotans,” according to the release. Among the pieces of the package are paid sick leave, a raise in the minimum wage to $9.50, and expanded access to high-quality, affordable childcare.

(Read more) 

. . . . . . . . . .

Thanks for reading this week's "Good News!" Join us every week and feel inspired! 

Be sure to sign up for Care2's newsletter for some real news around the globe, to make a change, and to open up your mind to the Real World!

See that your actions count and get out there and do good! Be the Change!  

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☆ "The Declaration for Change" ☆

Democracy and people's way of life is being challenged all over the globe. Economies are crashing into a debt system that simply doesn't work--and technically isn't even Real! Convenience is getting higher but people are having to work harder and longer hours than ever before. The environment is going to hell while oil companies are still receiving subsidies and taps on the wrist for massive oil spills that will leave the waters and land in ruins for generations. Debt of all sorts is increasing, the education system is lacking, and so many other important parts of our lives are being neglected and slashed. 

Here in Canada, true Democracy is being challenged more than ever with Harper's increasingly shameful government. Especially with the new Bill C-38, it's an even bigger reason for Canadians to start taking action and demanding a true democracy that actually appreciates our values, wants, and needs for a better future and quality of life. 

There are so many ways to get involved, to use our voices and to start caring about what goes on in our government. We Can change the world! 

One non-profit organization I'd like to take some words from is Leadnow.ca, that is trying to change our government for the better and I encourage you to sign their "Declaration for Change:" 

We, the undersigned, call for political cooperation to build a stronger democracy 

that protects our environment, creates economic opportunity while increasing equality, 

and guarantees that everyone receives the care they need.

I also encourage you check out their website and to participate in any way that you can and donate to the cause if you'd like, as they have some good projects and goals they are trying to reach. 

My point is that there are lots of organizations looking to do good in the world that are great for being people-powered and listening and having our voices heard--which, to me, is an important aspect to any organization looking for change. 

While this next bit is also taken from Leadnow's campaign, I think regardless of where you are, these priorites are sound and I think truly reflect what is most important to the people of the world and what needs the biggest changes. So, from Leadnow.ca…

Across geographies and generations, in local communities and online, thousands of Canadians are coming together to create a new kind of politics. This is our agenda for the new Parliament.

We call for political cooperation to build a stronger democracy that protects our environment, creates economic opportunity while increasing equality, and guarantees that everyone receives the care they need.

We commit to support action on the following key priorities and vote for the politicians who will best:

Democracy

• Create an open government plan to increase transparency and accountability
• Initiate a citizen-led process for a referendum on electoral reform
• Make it easier for people to participate directly in government decision-making

Economic Opportunity and Equality

• Establish a plan with clear targets to reduce poverty and provide affordable housing
• Improve access to high quality post-secondary education and reduce student debt
• Ensure access to affordable quality child care and early childhood education

Environment

• Establish climate legislation to meet international and science-based targets
• Invest in renewable energy, energy efficiency and home retrofits
• End subsidies to fossil fuel companies

Health

• Ensure universal access to high quality and publicly administered health care
• Invest in programs that prevent illness and promote wellness
• Create a national strategy to increase mental health support

Where there is overlap with provincial jurisdiction, we call for action to be defined in collaboration with the provinces and implemented according to jurisdiction.

These are changes I think that every government should be run by. And listening to the People's voices instead of ignoring clear shouts and signs from us all. 

So, I can't say enough; Get Involved! Support organizations doing good--like Leadnow, and the David Suzuki Foundation, WWF, and so many more! And go way beyond that! Get involved in your democracies, whether you are in Canada or on the other side of the world. Get involved in any and all ways available to you. Now is the time to "wake up" instead of the continuation of brainwashing.  Read up on the truth, stay "in the loop," and try to follow matters going on in your country. Sign petitions, share information through the internet and through word of mouth. Watch documentaries, follow conspiracies (because there is often a lot of truth to them), learn, explore, and care about the place you live.

We live here, so let's make it great for everyone--not just the 1%. ;)

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☆ Bill C-38 ☆

The Conservative government has passed Bill C-38, proving, once again, that Adolf Harper is ignoring the tens of thousands of Canadians who spoke up against it and that our government does not give a damn about the supposed "Democracy" of our country. The truth is, our voices are not being listened to, even though they are being shouted loud and clear, and the Conservative Government continues to do what they please without Canadian citizen's consent. 

Okay, so what is Bill C-38? 

Bill C-38 is the Budget implementation bill in response to Harper's 2012 Economic Action Plan. This implementation bill is numbered C-38 and is wrongly titled by the government "The Jobs, Growth and Long-Term Prosperity Act." What a joke! The opposition put forward hundreds of practical amendments to stand up for the things we care about most, but all of it was ignored. 

This budget is a whopping 452 pages! If the Conservatives truly believed their changes were good for Canada, then why did they hide them in a 425-page budget bill?

And they are hoping Canadians wouldn't notice. 

Hiding in this bill are:

Changes to the Old Age Security Act by raising the retirement age to 67, making it harder for seniors to retire in dignity and security.

Employment Insurance made more difficult for hard-working Canadians to access when they need it most.

A $31 billion cut in health transfers, chipping away at the health care system. They have also weakened food and drug regulations, risking everyones safety and health. 

Nearly 300, 000 immigration applications are being dumped, so that the government can start off with a "clean slate," robbing those 300, 000 people of all the hope and time they've put into trying to get into Canada. 

Canada’s environmental protections have been gutted! The bill cuts back the environmental assessment of development projects, easing the way for industrial developments (such as pipelines) that could put the future of our land, water and climate at risk. 

There have also been 776 job cuts to Environment Canada. 

Attempts to silence voices of dissent against such developments by making it more difficult for environmental charities and agencies to participate in the public policy process. 

The budget will shut down agencies such as: National Council of Welfare, the Public Appointments Commission, Rights and Democracy, the National Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy, the Canadian Artists and Producers Professional Relations Tribunal and Assisted Human Reproduction Canada.

It also changes the rules about acceptable donations to charities, by reducing the amount of money people can donate to charities that are considered too politically active and allowing the minister to withhold tax receipts from a charity if he or she feels the money is being used for political campaigns.

Meanwhile, while our environment is being slashed, the bill gave oil and gas insiders more authority to go ahead with big pipeline projects. 

(As you read this, a major cleanup operation is underway near Red Deer Alberta. More than 3000 barrels of oil leaked into the river, one of 600 leaks in the last year.)

Stand Up!

Aside from this bill being horrendous and a sneaky 452 pages long, the other problem is that, as well as the opposition, Canadians DID speak out against this bill in numerous ways. The massive "Black Out Speak Out" campaign formed the largest coalition of organizations ever assembled to demonstrate clearly Canadians do NOT support Bill C-38 and that Canadians do Not want it. There were also several petitions and demonstrations with thousands of voices. Parliament heard and they ignored those tens of thousands of voices. 

Canadians are not happy, and if you're not mad about these changes to our beautiful green country yet then you should be. Because this bill affects you and it will affect your children. That is unless something is done about it. Just because this bill has passed does not mean it's over. On the contrary, this is the time to speak out and get involved like never before. Environment charities and organizations are certainly not staying silent and they will be speaking out as well, so let's stand beside them and let the Harper government hear our voices roar!  

Let's help Canada get back on track! Open your eyes, speak up and speak out! Spread the word! Spread the message! Get involved in anyway that you can.  

"They want us to fail. We will not."

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