The New York Times

November 18, 2008

Excerpt:

In what is becoming an annual Thanksgiving rite, an animal rights group on Tuesday released undercover videotapes taken at the nation's premier poultry-breeding operation, showing turkeys being stomped to death and punched by workers.

The scenes show stomach-turning brutality. Workers are seen smashing birds into loading cages like basketballs, stomping heads and breaking necks, apparently for fun, even pretending to rape one.

On the tape, one worker describes losing his temper at a tom who pecked him, marking its head with a pen so he could find it again, fetching a broomstick, ramming it down the bird's gullet and holding it up in the air while shouting "Let this be a lesson to y'all" at the rest of the flock.

Click here to read the entire article.

Click here to watch the undercover video from this People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals investigation.

You're Invited to MFA's Celebrating Compassion Galas

Treat yourself to an unforgettable evening with Mercy For Animals at our upcoming Celebrating Compassion Galas. The inspiring events will raise funds to support MFA’s crucial work and honor community advocates who have made an outstanding contribution to the protection of animals.

The cruelty-free Galas will feature mouth-watering vegan hors d'oeuvres and desserts, cruelty-free silent auction items, live entertainment and music, an awards ceremony, wine and spirits, animal-friendly goodie bags, and much more.

Chicago, IL Gala Details

Date: Friday, December 5, 2008
Time: 8 p.m. - midnight
Location: Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St., Chicago, IL
Price: $50 in advance and $75 at the door

Columbus, OH Gala Details

Date: Saturday, December 6, 2008
Time: 8 p.m. - midnight
Location: Landmark Gateway Theatre, 1550 N. High St., Columbus, OH
Price: $30 in advance ($20 student/senior/low-income) and $40 at the door

Visit CelebratingCompassion.com for all the exciting details, and to order your tickets.

If you are interested in donating items to the silent auction, please contact Alicia Boemi at AliciaB@MercyForAnimals.org.

MFA's "How Much Cruelty Can You Swallow?" Ad Campaign Hits Boston

Millions of bus riders in Boston are getting a new outlook on dinner, thanks to the launch of over 600 pro-vegetarian MFA ads.

The campaign, which features images of cows, pigs, and chickens crammed in tiny cages on factory farms, asks Bostonians, "How Much Cruelty Can You Swallow?"

The powerful ads will be viewed over 20 million times in the next month.

This summer MFA unveiled the same campaign on Chicago bus and rail transit lines.

Click here to watch a video review of the ad campaign's launch event in Chicago.

Double MFA's Undercover Investigation Power – Matching Donation Drive Ends December 10th

A kindhearted MFA supporter has pledged to match - dollar for dollar - all donations made in support of MFA's undercover investigations before December 10th - up to $50,000 total!

This holiday season, give abused and exploited animals the gift of hope with a tax-deductible contribution in support of our groundbreaking undercover investigations department.

Please take full advantage of this special opportunity - and help us reach the $50,000 goal - by making a contribution before this important offer ends.

Your contributions will help MFA continue to pull back the curtains on factory farm and slaughterhouse cruelty, hold animal abusers accountable, promote cruelty-free food choices, and work to prevent needless animal suffering.

Click here to make your donation.

Please mark "matching donation" in the comments field.

Click here for information on MFA's most recent undercover investigation.

Now Available Online: Compassionate Living Magazine Issue No. 3

The new Summer/Fall 08 issue of MFA's Compassionate Living magazine is now available online.

This issue is packed full of inspiring information and resources - tasty vegan recipes, a motivational interview with Striking at the Roots author Mark Hawthorn, a spotlight on Chicago animal advocate Heather Patrick, health tips from vegan dietitian Anya Todd, an eye-opening egg industry exposé, important action alerts, and much more.

Click here to read the magazine.

In the Vegan Kitchen: A Cruelty-Free Thanksgiving Feast

Give everyone - including animals - something to be thankful for this Thanksgiving by serving delicious vegan fare that will satisfy every appetite.

Fabulous faux-turkey dishes like Tofurky, as well as meatless gravy and stuffing, are easy to find in supermarkets and health food stores.

Feel like cooking up something fresh for the holiday get-together? Try this mouth-watering turkey-free roast:

Cashew Nut Roast with Herb Stuffing

For the Roast:

• 1 cup margarine
• 2 large onions, finely chopped
• 3 cups unroasted cashews
• 1 1/2 cups white bread, crusts removed
• 3 large cloves of garlic
• 1 cup water or vegetable stock
• salt, pepper, and nutmeg
• 2 Tbsp. lemon juice

For the Stuffing:

• 3 cups bread crumbs
• 1 cup margarine
• 2 small onions, grated
• 1/2 Tsp. each thyme and marjoram
• 3 Tbsp. parsley, chopped

Preheat oven to 400°F and line a greased 1-lb. loaf pan with a long strip of greased nonstick paper.

Melt margarine in a medium-sized saucepan, add the onion and sauté until tender. Remove from heat.

Grind the cashews in a food processor with the bread and garlic and add to the onion, together with the water or stock, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and lemon juice, to taste. Mix all stuffing ingredients together.

Put half the cashew mixture into the prepared pan, top with the stuffing, then spoon the rest of the nut mixture on top. Dot with margarine.

Place the pan in another pan to catch drippings and bake for about 30 minutes or until firm and lightly browned (cover the roast with foil if it gets too brown before then).

Cool for a minute or two, then slip a knife around the sides, turn roast out, and strip off the paper.

Click here for a complete animal-free, crowd-pleasing Thanksgiving recipe meal plan.

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