Vegan News 5.21.13

Croatians (and Americans) Training Honeybees to Sniff Out Landmines. “Bees are basically the most important insect ever. Honeybees make possible roughly a third of everything we eat, and the bugs pollinate about $14 billion worth of crops and seeds in the United States each year. Here’s yet another reason for mankind to feel forever indebted to the bees: They may one day be instrumental in detecting unexploded landmines. And Croatians are leading the charge in this field of research.”

Vaccine for Schmallenberg virus ‘available this summer.‘ “A vaccine to protect sheep and cattle from a virus spread by midges has been approved by government vets. The virus, which emerged in the Netherlands and Germany in 2011, can lead to sheep and cattle having stillborn or deformed offspring. The disease has spread to every county in England and Wales, and was recently reported in Scotland. Schmallenberg virus (SBV) causes fever, diarrhoea and loss of milk production in adult cattle. The first SBV vaccine, developed by the animal health company Merck MSD, is expected to be available to UK farmers in the summer.”

Animal-rights worker from Wash. state arrested for taping rodeo. “An animal-rights activist from Washington state has been arrested after refusing to quit videotaping at an Eastern Oregon rodeo with an event where contestants rope horses by the legs.”

Animal cruelty bill to be signed into law. “Monday was a great day for the animals of Alabama. In the final day of the Alabama Legislative Session HB 27 passed and is now headed to Governor Robert Bentley’s desk. The bill passed with only one senator voting against it. The bill strengthens penalties for animal cruelty; not just for dogs and cats, but all animals.”

Photo credit: ben v via Flickr