In recent years undercover recordings of horrific abuses against animals have proven instrumental in prosecuting farms that, often systematically, mistreat their animals. But several states—ten in 2013 alone—have introduced anti-whistleblower bills that seek to make it a crime to document abuses of livestock, and aim to criminalize anyone who applies for a job in agriculture without stating ties they have to animal rights organizations.

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Post tags: ag gag bills, animal abuse, animal cruelty, animal rights, chicken farming, factory farming, humane society, livestock, mercy for animals, Pig Farming, undercover investigations, vegan, vegetarian, whistleblower

NYC-based Dash company recently debuted a prototype of a Greek Yogurt Maker that makes delicious, creamy yogurt free from fake sugars and preservatives. Not only does this product have style, but it saves on packaging from purchasing yogurt in plastic containers. Best of all, it can even whip up vegan yogurt goodness from non-dairy milks like coconut, soy, or almond!

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Post tags: cooking, dash, DIY, diy yogurt, greek yogurt maker, green kitchen, homemade, storebound, vegan, yogurt recipes

If you are anything like us, you are sick of buying boring old Easter egg-dyeing kits from the store that are full of artificial colors. If so, don’t fret because there are many ways to decorate an egg. From rubber bands and book and leaf printing techniques, we have compiled a list of seven new and eco-friendly ways to design this year’s Easter eggs. We even have ideas for our vegan readers.

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Post tags: Design, DIY, Easter, eco easter, eco-paint for Easter eggs, eggs, green design, green easter, green holidays, Inhabitots, painting, sustainable holidays, vegan

Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart’s all-vegan fashion line Vaute made its first debut at New York Fashion Week with a host of new designs that sizzled on the runaway. A clothing line that animal rights activists can love too, Vaute now features ready-to-wear tops, satin dresses, shirts and sweaters made with über earth and animal-friendly materials. And she caters to both men and women. Ecouterre was present for this historic moment and snapped up a slew of fabulous photographs for you. Check them out after the jump.

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Post tags: all-vegan fashion, eco design, ecouterre, green design, Leanne Mai-Ly Hilgart, New York Fashion, new york fashion week, photographs, sustainable clothing, sustainable design, Sustainable Fashion, Vaute, vegan, Vegan design, vegan fashion

If you thought fruit was safe for vegans, think again. Non-vegan bananas could be making an appearance at your grocery store. During the 244th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society, scientists discussed a new spray that could prevent bananas from becoming over-ripe. However, this spray is made from “hydrogel”, which contains chitosan, a substance derived from shrimp and crab shells.

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Post tags: animal derived pesticides, animal-derived sprays, Bananas, chitosan, crab shells, fruit, seafood, shrimp shells, vegan, vegan fruit

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Post tags: 2012, Charity, earth day, eco design, energy audit, Gardening, green design, Nature, rooftop garden, sustainable design, vegan, volunteer

It’s hardly news that eating meat is a bad idea: it’s long been recognized that the dietary choice is not only damaging to your health, but also a significant driving factor in global warming. However, a new study has detailed another worrying element in meat production – the greenhouse gas emissions from fertilizers used to grow animal feed. The study from the Woods Hole Research Center in Massachusetts, published in Environmental Research Letters, calls for a 50 percent reduction in meat consumption and changes in agricultural practices so as to stem rising emissions of nitrous oxide, reported to be the most potent of all greenhouse gases.

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Post tags: agriculture environment, eric davidson, fertilizers pollution, global warming, greenhouse gas emissions, meat environment, meat production, nitrous oxide, vegan, vegan diet, vegetarian, vegetarian diet, woods hole research center

Livestock production is one of the leading contributors to climate change — some studies have shown that it produces more greenhouse gases than driving cars — but have you considered the affect that red meat is having on your body? It has long been known that a diet too rich in red meat can lead to health problems, but now a new study from the Harvard School of Public Health reveals that eating any amount of red meat can increase the chance of premature death. Sounds like it might be time to extend Meatless Mondays to the other six days of the week.

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Post tags: beef, cancer, diabetes, diet, food, Havard, Health, heart disease, livestock, meatless mondays, pork, Red meat, vegan, vegetarianism

Climate talks have stalled, and many countries view geoengineering — like cloud whitening or constructing a space-based sun shade — to be too risky. Could the genetic engineering of the human body to make people smaller and more energy-efficient, for example, be a last-ditch effort to combat climate change? That’s just one of the controversial ideas floated by authors S. Matthew Liao, Anders Sandberg, and Rebecca Roache in a new paper that’s set to be published in the journal Ethics, Policy and the Environment.

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Post tags: bioengineering, carbon footprint, Climate Change, CO2, DNA, genetic engineering, geoengineering, global warming, kyoto protocol, livestock, Meat, Newborn Baby, S. Matthew Liao, science, Technology, vegan, vegetarian, vegetarianism

Read the rest of How To Get Healthy and Lose Weight by Going Green!

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Post tags: body, diet, earth friendly diets, eating right, Eco, exercise, fitness, going vegan, green, green ways to improve your health, green ways to lose weight, health weight loss, healthy, how to lose weight, how-to, local, lose weight by going vegan, Sustainable, vegan, weight and health, weight lose

Love kitchy log cabin decor but can’t stand the thought of cute animals suffering to feed your materialistic desires? Well check out Lise Lefebvre‘s awesome faux bear skin carpets that satisfy your floor covering fix without any of the guilt. The deceiving rugs are also made of old wool blankets, meaning they’re green to boot!

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Post tags: animal cruelty, animal free, bearskin rug, eco design, faux bearskin rug, green design, green home decor, green products, lise lefebvre, Recycled Materials, sustainable design, upcycled design, upcycled materials, vegan

This holiday, it’s easier than ever to give green gifts that your family and friends will love without weighing down your conscience! From smart faux leather bags to recycled silver animal-themed pendants to boldly printed wallets, no animals were harmed in the making of any of the snazzy suggestions in our Vegan Gift Guide so check it out now!

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Post tags: eco-fashion, ecouterre, green gift guide, Sustainable Fashion, vegan, vegan fashion, vegan gift guide