Paveena is studying for a MA in Business Management (Kingston Uni) and is writing her dissertation on veg attitudes to organic food. You can help her by filling in the online questionnaire. Takes five minutes and is suitable for anyone who has ever bought or thought about buying organic food.

Check out this story on www.surveymonkey.com.

Annual Xmas meal at Circle Cafe in Avebury-date to be announced

The message that a plant based diet is GOOD for us, the animals and the planet is getting out there!

Wiltshire County Council Libraries as part of National Year of Reading want to know about the book/ blog/ text message/ album sleeve/ official document that changed your life. The best excerpts will be posted on their website and will appear in the magazine. Chris Mooore head of reading and learning services at Wiltshire County Council chose The New Why You Don't Need Meat by Peter Cox which persuaded him of the sense of becoming veggie.

Check out this story on www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk.

2 September- just heard that prisoners have been released. Hooray! Not sure re state of play regarding international solidarity day- will post more as I recieve it. Meanwhile do not travel without checking with organisers.

Latest update regarding the prisoners situation (for background see below); 1 prisoner has been temporarily released due to his deteriorating mental state following months of solitary confinement. Please visit www.austriasolidarity.com who are asking each of us to send a letter to Dr Maria Berger Austrian minister of justice (?!). There is a suggested format available on the website. International Solidarity Day is 5 September 2008 see weblink for more details.

Background; On 21 May 2008 24 house and office armed raids in Austria resulted in 10 arrests of peaceful animal rights campaigners. To date none of the arrested people have been charged. Seven have been on hunger strike since their arrest to protest against their treatment and the confiscation of books, computers, mobiles and research. Those arrested include Dr Martin Balluch and Felix, chair of the Austrian Vegan Society who are guilty of raising public awareness of the mistreatment of animals and successfully managing to achieve a ban on battery cages in 2004, use of wild animals in circuses, and fur farms. Check out the Austrian Vegan Soc website for more info and Vegan Society for their press release on the situation. Messages of support to the prisoners gratefully received by vgt.

Check out this story on www.austriasolidarity.com.

International League for Protection of Horses is trying to increase protection for horses transported in horrific conditions for slaughter.

Check out this story on www.ilph.org.

Vegan society booklet to help vegan patients to get vegan food. For more info contact Vegan Society 0121 523 1735 Show email address.

Check out this story on www.vegansociety.com.

Controversy rages about the artist Guillermo Vargas. He appeared to treat a dog very badly indeed as part of an art installation in a gallery in Nicaragua in 2007. The dog was allegedly starved to death. There is a suggestion that he is to be invited to repeat this cruel act at an art gallery in Costa Rica this summer. The petition is to persuade the event organisers not to fund this cruel entertainment.

Check out this story on www.petitiononline.com.

Paula Bonarius is the secretary of the Ark Wildlife Hospital in Milton Keynes (founded 1996). She is asking each of us to sign her e-petition against the culling of grey squirrels in Cumbria and Northumberland. 13000 squirrels have already been killed. Please follow the link and sign up before the deadline on 4 June 2008.

Check out this story on petitions.pm.gov.uk.