In several recent undercover investigations, Compassion Over Killing exposed animal abuse in Colorado and Minnesota. In the Colorado case, the investigator has been indicted on charges of witnessing animal abuse.

In 2013, a Compassion Over Killing investigator went undercover at Quanah Cattle Co. in Kersey, CO. This particular company purchases newborn male calves from dairy factories and then confines them before sending them off to be raised for their meat. The undercover investigator uncovered severe animal abuse that included dragging, pulling, kicking, throwing, and flipping the calves out of the trucks that they had been shipped in.

When the investigator turned over their video footage to local authorities, three employees who participated in the violence were brought up on charges of animal abuse. However, the investigator was also brought up on charges of witnessing animal abuse and reporting it. The county's charges show that the ties to agribusiness go much deeper than just the industry itself, and that the problem of animal cruelty is incredibly complex.

In a separate investigation by COK, investigators went undercover at Hargin, Inc, a Minnesota turkey breeding farm. The investigators uncovered incredibly cruel and filthy living conditions, as well as forcible artificial insemination. The video footage shows birds getting caught in the poorly maintained equipment and suffering life-threatening injuries.

While the good news is that turkey production is projected to drop 5% in 2013, it still means that more than 45 million turkeys will be killed for their meat during the holiday season alone. You can help bring an end to animal cruelty such as this by moving towards a plant-based diet.

I’m trying out a new format for this Weekly Update. Let me know what you think!

I hope to see you at our free Holiday Cooking Class this Saturday at 4 pm. It’s a great opportunity to prepare for the holidays by learning recipes you can make for your friends.

Here’s two recent undercover investigations from our friends at Compassion Over Killing. As a result of one of the investigations, they charged farm workers with a crime — and then they charged the investigator as well! The other investigation was right here in Minnesota.

For the animals,

Unny Nambudiripad
Executive Director

Can you make a donation to Compassionate Action to Animals?

As the holidays get closer and we draw our family and friends near we are reminded that most animals are not as fortunate. On today's factory farms animals often spend their lives alone in bare cages after being separated from their families. At Compassionate Action for Animals (CAA) we recognize their hardships and want to help make the world a more compassionate place by encouraging people to embrace their empathy. Could you please help us help animals by donating $10, $25, or $50 today?

We recently hosted our biggest event to date, the 2013 Twin Cities Veg Fest. This free festival showcased nearly 50 exhibitors and food vendors for over 2,000 attendees. Vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores alike were able to indulge in free vegan food samples, enjoy a concert, get body art, and learn about the motivations and virtues of veganism from nationally renowned speakers like Nathan Runkle, founder of Mercy for Animals. Twin Cities Veg Fest also featured local speakers from Minnesota Voters for Animal Protection, Move2Veg Nutrition Counseling, and Compassionate Action for Animals. At CAA's Paid Per View we paid people $1 to watch video footage depicting the suffering that animals endure on the modern farm. We're looking forward to next year already and so are the attendees. Here are a few survey responses:

"We never realized that vegan food could be so delicious."

"Awesome event! Very nice people!"

"I thought that it was SUPER inspiring and exciting to see so many people at a veg event in MN!"

"Being away from the veg-scene while continuing to eat vegetarian, you stop thinking about why you're doing what you're doing as much, so it was re-invigorating being 'in the culture' again. It's motivated me to transition to a vegan diet, too."

Exhibitors have also told us how happy they were with the event. Our exhibitors offered samples of delicacies such as vegan honey, gourmet nut milk cheeses, and marshmallows made without the gelatin. Other exhibitors came to share information about animals, sell products, and show off their arts and crafts.

The food vendors were nearly sold out by the end of the day and after trying some of the dishes it was easy to see why. With more than 20 options, attendees had a lot of choices. Asase Yaa served Tofu Khebab Masala and power smoothies. Seward Cafe offered a wide variety of vegan baked goods. Flamingo Restaurant provided delicious Ethiopian lentil and vegetable dishes in generous portions. For a unique dessert Kitty Corner Caf

A comprehensive review of Terry Hope Romero's latest cookbook, Vegan Eats World, by Michelle Rosier. "Never mistake a rejection of eating animals as a rejection of eating really good-tasting foods. [Vegan Eats World] is about just that, we can have it all." – Terry Hope Romero

Rice develops a golden crust in a cast iron pan next to a fired up griddle laden with sweet soy-marinated slices of homemade chinese five spice seitan. I can't believe I'm making my favorite Korean dish in my own kitchen and vegan. Sitting around the table with friends we devour the sizzling rice piled high with seasoned spinach, sesame bean sprouts, grilled seitan and a Korean chili paste. Between bites, we remark how the restaurant-worthy food entices even the most reluctant omnivore at the table. Best-selling vegan cookbook author Terry Hope Romero didn't lie – we can have it all and Vegan Eats World shows you how.

In Vegan Eats World, the food philosophy Romero is known for shines: it's the plants not the animals that transport our senses when it comes to food. For her, the true building blocks of cuisines around the planet are the spices, herbs and grains. The recipes open with a section on spice blends, herb and spice-rich proteins and pickles before launching into your standard salads, soups, entrees, and desserts. Chapter 7 on dumplings, breads and pancakes could keep you busy and happy for days with steamed buns, momos and griddle breads.

Vegan Eats World does an admirable job of making new dishes, ingredients and techniques accessible. Romero is informative, but enjoyable to read as she demystifies new ingredients like za'atar and pandan leaves which she organizes in "Kitchen Cartography" by ethnic region. When she inspires you to buy a wok, don't worry she'll walk you through how to season it to last. Diagrams illustrate some of the more complex tips, like how to fold a dumpling. All the recipes come with a key that includes flags for budget, time, soy-free, gluten-free, and good for new cooks. I made crepes for the first time because Romero's recipe was simple and her step-by-step instructions convinced me I could make them on cast iron without a crepe maker.

Romero recognizes the dishes in Vegan Eats World are more an homage than authentic with their roots in her diverse Queens, Brooklyn neighborhood. If there is one thing I would caution, it's that some of the ingredients may be hard to find in less diverse shopping areas (there's always the internet or a road trip!) and some of the dishes can be quite time-consuming (all the more reason to celebrate the finished product with loved ones.)

In all, the recipes in Vegan Eats World inspired me to not only cook, but to have people over and break bread together. It also encouraged me to explore the small ethnic groceries in my neighborhood for hidden treasures like gochuchang (Korean chili paste.) This is a great cookbook for the adventuresome or for the foodie who can't get enough of trying a new cuisine and wants to try to capture some of that magic at home.

For more photos of recipes made from this cookbook, please visit Accidentally Meatless.

Vegan Eats World: 300 International Recipes for Savoring the Planet by Terry Hope Romero

Enjoy Delicious food, free music, powerful speakers and more this weekend at Twin Cities Veg Fest and Their Lives, Our Voices

Come to Twin Cities Veg Fest on Saturday, eat a Vegan Love Waffle, learn about farmed animals, and celebrate compassion with some of our best local musical acts!

Twin Cities Veg Fest is a fun event for people who are interested in reducing animal suffering, thinking about transitioning toward vegetarianism or veganism, or otherwise want to explore the impact of compassionate consumer choice.

Speakers include Mercy for Animals' Executive Director Nathan Runkle, and also Farm Sanctuary's Nick Cooney. New this year, Twin Cities Veg Fest will have live music, featuring local artists Sleepyhead, Alison Scott, Sean Anonymous and In Defence. Attendees will enjoy tons of free vegan food samples as well as delicious vegan cuisine offered by food vendors such as Kitty Corner Cafe (creators of the Vegan Love Waffle), Asase Yaa, Flamingo and Seward Cafe!

Twin Cities Veg Fest is for anyone and everyone – omnivores, vegetarians, and vegans alike! So please invite all your non-veg friends and family! This is a fun, friendly event where they can learn about the animal-friendly community in the Twin Cities. Join our event on Facebook so they see that you're going, and please invite them yourself. For your music-loving friends, we also have a Facebook event for the concert.

The festival will take place from 10am to 4pm at Coffman Memorial Union on the Minneapolis campus of the University of Minnesota. See our location page for more details. The nearest parking is the East River Road Garage behind Coffman Memorial Union.

Get Inspired at Their Lives, Our Voices

After Twin Cities Veg Fest leaves you feeling energized and wanting to do more to help farmed animals, please join us for Their Lives, Our Voices (TLOV) on on Sunday, October 27 from 9:45am to 5:20pm in the Science Teaching & Student Services Building on the University of Minnesota Minneapolis Campus.

Their Lives, Our Voices is a one day animal advocacy conference featuring empowering talks on animal advocacy strategy, skills, and philosophy. The event features Nathan Runkle of Mercy for Animals as our keynote speaker. We have a great set of speakers lined up for the rest of the day too. They will provide a full day of presentations and workshops that will help you become a better advocate for animals. A vegan lunch is provided.

Registration is $20, with a $10 registration level available for students and low income individuals. You can RSVP to the Facebook event, but note online registration is required.

TLOV is hosted by Compassionate Action for Animals.

Delicious food, great speakers, and fantastic music! What more could you want?

Twin Cities Veg Fest is for anyone and everyone – from omnivores to vegetarians and vegans! If you've ever thought about becoming vegetarian or are interested in reducing animal suffering, you'll love Twin Cities Veg Fest. Here are the details:

Date: Saturday, October 26, 2013
Time: 10 am to 4 pm
Location: Coffman Memorial Union, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, 300 Washington Ave Southeast, Minneapolis, MN 55455
Cost: Free!

Learn where your food comes from, how to be a healthy vegetarian or vegan, and why being compassionate benefits everyone. Plus you'll enjoy tons of free vegan food samples and delicious vegan cuisine. We also have a great lineup of speakers, and this year we've added a concert! Everyone who came to our 2012 festival had a great time, and this year will be even better.

If you're already vegetarian or vegan, please invite your non-veg friends and family. This is a fun, friendly event where they can learn about the animal-friendly community in the Twin Cities. Join our event on Facebook so they see that you're going, and please invite them yourself. For your music-loving friends, we also have a Facebook event for the concert.

The 2013 Their Lives, Our Voices animal advocacy conference features a great collection of speakers. Find out what they’re talking about here!

Their Lives, Our Voices is back! The renowned animal advocacy conference is being rebooted for 2013. This year’s event will feature presentations from 11 leading animal advocates covering a broad range of topics. The day begins with a keynote from Nathan Runkle of Mercy for Animals, “Building a Kind Future: How You Can Make a World of Difference for Animals”. Thanks to Nathan’s leadership and the groundbreaking undercover work done by Mercy for Animals, millions of consumers have seen firsthand the plight of animals in factory farms. Following Nathan’s keynote, speakers will be divided into two tracks.

At 11:00, Minnesota Voters for Animal Protection founder and president Christine Coughlin will share her expertise in leading effective political and lobbying campaigns. Jessica Tritsch of the Sierra Club will discuss developing effective volunteer leadership teams, including recruiting volunteers, establishing roles and goals, and maintaining ongoing engagement.

At 1:00, University of Wisconsin-River Falls professor Greta Gaard will present on the intersection of animal welfare, feminism, and human rights. Nick Cooney, founder of The Human League and Compassionate Communities Manager for Farm Sanctuary and author of the excellent Change of Heart, will review the latest research in psychology and communication studies to help identify the most effective ways to inspire behavioral change.

At 2:00, CAA co-founder and Executive Director Unny Nambudiripad will provide a how-to on planning engaging and effective events. Suzy Sorensen, owner of Move2Veg Nutrition Counseling, will highlight up-to-date, science-based nutritional information that every activist needs to know to speak convincingly on plant-based and vegan diets.

At 3:00, Michelle Rosier of the Sierra Club will provide insight on leading effective grassroots campaigns, including setting goals, determining targets, identifying key stakeholders, and assessing results. CAA co-founder and Board Member Dave Rolsky will discuss CAA’s strategy and vision in the pursuit of animal liberation.

The final speakers of the day will be Bridges of Respect Program Coordinator Shannon Kimball and St. Catherine University professor Jeff Johnson. Shannon will highlight the effectiveness of humane education and outreach to schools. Jeff will examine alternative messaging strategies used when discussing animal welfare.

Whether you’re a seasoned vet or just finding your footing as an animal advocate, you can be sure there’s plenty to learn at this year’s TLOV. Why wait? Register today! Be sure to check us out on Facebook and invite your friends! And all volunteers get free admission to the conference. Take a look at the website to see if any available positions work for you.