Tell the Minnesota Renaissance Festival that Animal Abuse is not Acceptable
Krissy is one of the elephants forced to walk in circles all day with riders on her back at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. Krissy is 26 years old. She was taken from the wild as a baby and since then has endured brutal beatings and electric shocks, and spent most of her life in a narrow truck or in chains.

This is Mike Swain, son of Bill Swain, the owner of Trunks and Humps, the supplier for the elephant rides at the Renaissance Festival. You can see Mike Swain beating Krissy, dragging her to the ground with a bull hook, and kicking her in the face. This video was taken when Mike Swain and Krissy were with Bailey Bros. Circus. Krissy is now "owned" by Bill Swain and Texas-based Trunks and Humps.

Despite their inherent cruelty and danger, the Renaissance Festival continues to feature exotic animal rides. Call the Ren Fest promoter, Mid-America Festivals, at 952-445-7361 or email them at info@mafestivals.com. Let them know many Ren Fests have dropped these rides and you'd like them to be next.

Thanks to everyone who stood up for elephants at our recent demonstrations at the Renaissance Festival. We passed out lots of fliers, educated attendees about why elephant rides are no fun for the elephants, and got lots of supportive honks from motorists who saw our signs.

Cookin' Up a Storm
Reviewed by Angie Chesney-Mattison
Sea Shepherd is an international non-profit marine wildlife conservation organization whose mission is to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter in the world's oceans in order to conserve and protect ecosystems and species. In Cookin' Up a Storm, Laura Dakin, chief cook on Sea Shepherd's flagship shares not only the crew's favorite vegan recipes, but also her fascinating stories and beautiful images of life in the Antarctic pursuing that important mission.

One of the things I appreciate about this cookbook is that the recipes seemed to find a wonderful balance of healthy, easy, hearty, and family-friendly. All the ingredients are easily identifiable and the dishes will be enjoyed by vegans and omnivores alike. I made the Captain's Habitat Split Pea Soup for dinner and the Big Boat Banana Bread for a cycling trip, and both were quickly devoured by non-veg family and friends.

Although Cookin' Up a Storm is primarily a cookbook, what draws you in most are the stunning photographs of whales, icebergs, and the courageous Sea Shepherd crew members. It's their stories, the tidbits of information included on how a plant-based diet contributes to maintaining the biodiversity in the world's oceans, and the visually stunning photographs that make this cookbook special in a sea of wonderful vegan cookbooks available today.

Help Us Help Animals
If you are a member of ARC, you received a letter asking you to continue to support our programs to help animals. If you haven't yet, please renew your membership by making a donation online today to keep us in action for animals all year round. We're committed, energetic, and enthusiastic, and we'll make every cent of your donation count for animals. Check out our 2014 Annual Report to see what we accomplished last year thanks to you.