Tag Archives: animal rights

Big Step for Ecco Bella-Supported Primate Sanctuary

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GFAS seal resized 600Many of you know that I’m on the board of both Friends of Animals and the Primarily Primates sanctuary in Texas. I’m thrilled and honored to tell you that on December 6th, the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) announced that Primarily Primates had achieved GFAS Verification.

“It is an important and large sanctuary, housing many of the most difficult to place animals, such as chimpanzees, many species of monkeys and parrots. No matter what level of detail was requested of the sanctuary, they provided it without complaint. With more than 400 animals it was quite a task for them.” Stated Patty Finch, Executive Director of GFAS.


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Many animals are cast-offs from biomedical research institutions and the pet trade. One reason for this accreditation is the addition of 19 large, outdoor natural enclosures, built since 2007 to house them in proper social groups.

The verified status also provides a trusted means for government agencies and donors worldwide to give to Primarily Primates as an organization worthy of support. Read the complete announcement about the accreditation here, and read more about Primarily Primates in my previous blog posts.

You can see me here at the entrance of the sanctuary during a recent visit.
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Remember sanctuaries are an artificial refuge (no matter how nice) for these intelligent beings. Friends of Animals has a project called GRASP which calls for full legal standing for all primates large and small, that is, allowing them the right to live without harm. I hope that someday aliens don’t decide to imprison and impose upon humans the way we do to animals.

And so Intelligent Beauties, here’s a way you can be part of Primarily Primates success. When you purchase our special Primarily Primates Natural Mascara, in Brown or Black, for just $20, you’ll also receive a one-year membership in both Primarily Primates & their parent charity, Friends of Animals–a value of $69.95. You’ll look beautiful, and help a beautiful cause at the same time. Please join us! Sally Malanga, Founder Ecco Bella
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Natural beauty Brigitte Bardot speaks out for New Jersey’s bears.

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I admit to feeling just awful all week. I experienced both disgust and mourning during the 6 day New Jersey Fish and Game Commission’s sanctioned hunt of New Jersey’s beautiful and peaceful bears. It finally ended Saturday December 10th.

Prior to last year’s hunt, I attended five protests and faxed Governor Christie every single day. He refused to cancel it. Some people say it’s futile to protest, but I disagree.

This year I brought my nephew Anthony, age 13 to the protest. It was his first protest. He has friends who hunt. I am glad he was willing to show up to learn how to express his right to free speech.

As our car approached the town, we saw men in orange vests on the side of the road preparing to enter the forest. Anthony pointed them out and said, ‘You can tell they are hunters because they wear camouflage with orange over it, even a bear would see it.”

We arrived at the protest and we took our places across the street from the bear check-in station, which had at least a dozen men in police uniform standing around. Anthony could see for himself the respectful approach of the protesters as compared to the hunting crowd, who shouted insults at us like “Kill all the bears, kill them all!” as we stood holding our signs. Anthony asked, “Aren’t the police here to protect us, too?” “Yes.” I said ruefully, even though it didn’t seem like it.

At one point a red jeep pulled into the check-in station and then pulled out, I saw a small dead bear lying on the vehicle’s rear platform, with a loose blue tarp over it. I felt a revulsion and sadness. Anthony saw it too. He said nothing.

I began a conversation with others around me, who were holding signs. One woman stated that her cat alerted her to a bear that was on her porch where she hadAnthony Bear Rally

left some unprotected bird seed. She saw it pull the bag of seed out of a milk can. She waved it off. It turned to leave and she noticed it was drooling. She said, “I felt so bad, he was so hungry. But I felt so happy to have him around. No one in our neighborhood wants to harm the bears.” “They are just big vegetarians.” I said. She nodded and smiled.

The whole world cares about the bears, and the hunters in New Jersey embarassed us. Even natural beauty Brigitte Bardot, heard about it in France. She was quoted in the New York Post, “What can we think about the state of New Jersey, where 592 bears are condemned to death?” Bardot wrote personally to our heartless Governor, Chris Christie.

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In buddhist terms, we identify this act of voracious desire by hunters, a desire so strong that it causes them to kill the very object they crave, as living in the world of hunger. It is an exhausting way to live. I am confident that some day people will become enlightened and stop behaving this way. I will do what I can by being as aware of my own hunger as much as possible. Take care.

 

 

 

 

 

Ecco Bella On The Air

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It’s always gratifying to see the ways in which Ecco Bella’s message radiates to like-minded communities–namely, those who also focus on organic ingredients, a gluten-free diet, the environment, and veganism. We continue to expand not only because of the reputation of our products but because of partnerships with our wider allies.

Recently I was asked to be interviewed on the Women’s Business Talk Radio Network of blogtalkradio, and I was delighted at this opportunity to deliver our mission directly.

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It was a pleasure to spend time with the wonderful radio hosts (and health-concious vegans) Ginger Burr and Marion Davis, and I want to share the results with you.

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You can access the interview here, and learn more about the reasons for Ecco Bella’s founding and where we’re going. Enjoy it!

Meet Oliver–He’s a Natural Beauty! Help him get a nicer house!

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He was the darling of the age back in the ’70′s, thought to be “The Missing Link.”  Purportedly part-human and part-chimpanzee, Oliver could walk upright, and reportedly watched television with his owner–while smoking cigars!

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Unfortunately for Oliver, his seemingly human abilities drew the attention of scientists, who subjected him to years of testing.  Left blind and arthritic, Oliver was eventually released to an animal sanctuary supported by Friends of Animals.

Project Oliver is an online photo series about Oliver’s life, and the efforts by the Primarily Primates sanctuary to build a new home for him.  Oliver’s new habitat (See illustration below) will have a grass area beneath various climbing structures and other elements suitable for a chimpanzee.  Tunnels from other habitats would enable different groups of chimpanzees to take turns enjoying this new environment.  For many of them, including Oliver, this will be the first time in years that they have been able to walk on grass.

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Project Oliver was also created to raise awareness and compassion towards animals who are cast-offs from the biomedical, entertainment and  pet industries.  At Primarily Primates, they have found a loving and caring home.

Check out this heartwarming and captivating film by Andy Cockrum.  It documents how Joshua, an amazing Eagle Scout, designed and built new enrichment features for Oliver’s home at Primarily Primates.

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I know how deeply you care about the planet.  As a board member of Friends of Animals and Primarily Primates, I have arranged for you to become a friend of Oliver and the Sanctuary.  When you order this $20 Ecco Bella Mascara, in brown or black, you will receive a one-year membership in both Primarily Primates and Friends of Animals  (A total value of $65.95.)  You’ll love it!

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Can a Veggie Burger Change the World?

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Here at Ecco Bella, we believe health and beauty go hand in hand. That goes for the health not only of people, but of the planet–and our fellow animals.
That sentiment is shared by the wonderful people at Peace Advocacy Network, who are working to expose and stop cruelty to animals.  They’ve spread this message through partnerships with compassionate companies such as Ecco Bella.  Now they’re launching a revolutionary direct action.
In cities across America, Peace Advocacy is enrolling 30 people to pledge to go vegan for 30 days.  That means no meat, no dairy, no animal products of any kind, giving a break to billions of animals and greatly reducing the vast resources (such as water and oil) required to support factory farms.
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The “Vegan Pledge” program guides people every step of the way, with a personal mentor, care package, and weekly meetings with speakers.  They’ve already enrolled people in Philadelphia and Phoenixville, PA, and are planning Pledges in Baltimore, MD, Bend, OR and Salt Lake City, UT. But you can click here to take the Vegan Pledge–anyplace, anytime–and learn more details of the program. Here’s a picture of some of the Pledge participants in Phoenixville enjoying a veggie lunch:
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Ecco Bella is giving all 90 people taking part in Peace Action Network’s program a complimentary 8 oz. bottle of our luxurious  Vanilla water-free Herbal Body Lotion.  It’s 100% free of preservatives, water and gluten–and it’s vegan!
Here are more views of those who signed up with Peace Advocacy Network’s program to change their lives.

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We hope you, too, will take the Vegan Pledge, even if you just do so on your own.

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Beauty and the Beast. A Rescue Story.

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Macaque monkeys resized 600Meet Spike and Busby. Just a couple of happy-go-lucky Macaques, who loved sitting up in trees, munching on fruit and nuts, until a selfish research lab got hold of them. But in this case justice was served. The lab went bust and these guys and 23 of their fellow rescues went straight to a good home at Primarily Primates, the Friends of Animals sanctuary outside of San Antonio, Texas.
As a board member of Friends of Animals, I sweat their financials and exalt in their successes. Several years ago, as Primarily Primates was struggling to stay afloat, FoA offered to share resources with them, effectively rescuing the sanctuary.
Check out this heartwarming Macaques rescue video. And don’t miss the last few minutes. It’s a moving testament to the fantastic work the Primarily Primates staff is doing.
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Thank you for inspiring us to continue as an innovator in natural beauty for you, while looking out for animals and the planet.

From one Intelligent Beauty to another,

Sally Malanga
Founder, Ecco Bella

Grinch New Jersey Governor Christie ruins Christmas with bear hunt.

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Here is the Grinch who’s stealing our holiday season, Governor Chris Christie.

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The Grinch of New Jersey- Governor Chris Christie

Once upon a time, the hills of northern New Jersey were alive with over 3,400 bears. Living quietly in their dens, taking strolls in the countryside with their families, they kept to themselves, eating a vegetarian diet.

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Then a mean-spirited man and a group of like-minded people armed with 30 caliber weapons sought to change all that by conducting a trophy hunt of these defenseless animals.

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Ecco Bella supports Friends of Animals and the rights of our four-legged friends. But leave it to New Jersey Governor Christie to ruin Christmas for thousands of animal lovers. As photos of dead bears flood New Jersey newspapers, thousands of people have had their holiday spirit taken from them. “I cannot see voters re-electing Governor Christie. He may have curried favor with conservatives by giving trophy-hunters access to New Jersey’s bears, but the majority of state residents say they disagree with this hunt, and side with the bears,” said Ecco Bella founder Sally Malanga, a board member of Friends of Animals and a resident of north Jersey. “Christmas is a holiday of peace, yet Governor Christie has made people all over the state feel angry.”

No laughing matter
Angie Metler from the Animal Protection League of New Jersey  is just as vocal. “Since the Governor has made it very clear he finds humane and enlightened black bear policy ‘laughable,’ we must bring our outrage elsewhere. In addition to calling the Governor, please call NJ state legislators today and every day. You can locate their numbers at http://www.njleg.state.nj.us. Tell them to push for permanent protection of bears. This hunt is a disgrace to our state and represents sham science. Hunters are flying in from Alaska and elsewhere to kill our bears.”

Garbage, not guns  is how to manage our bears
According to the group Save NJ Bears the only proven way to manage black bears is by proper garbage storage. In New Jersey, that’s already the law–but the New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife refuses to enforce it. Instead of ticketing negligent property owners, they allow bears to be lured into human environments by the smell of garbage, and then use these incidents to justify bear hunting. Why? Because the Division profits from selling hunting licenses and they exist solely to manage sport hunting. They have no plan to help bears and humans co-exist.

Over 70% of NJ residents oppose the trophy hunt!
On Saturday, Dec 11, protest the hunt. Go to Save NJ Bears for times and ways to voice your concern. Please get out in public and let Governor Christie know that bears deserve to live in peace. Governor Christie: tel # 609-292-6000   fax # 609-292-3454

Ecco Bella, my natural beauty company, propounds a deep connection to nature, and advocates for the peaceful co-existence of all living beings. I am sure you do too.