I know this is probably old news for all you Internet news buffs out there but starting January 1, 2009 eBay has banned the sale of ivory!

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) recently discovered that two-thirds of the online trade of the protected wildlife takes place of eBay and poachers take the lives of over 20,000 elephants a year to meet the world's demands. They launched a huge campaign against eBay which culminated in the unprecedented victory against the trade.

The ivory trade is horrific so it is wonderful to hear that eBay will no longer aid this cruel and deadly practice thank to the hard work of animal rights activists.

Trainers at the Oregon Zoo currently use violent and painful bullhooks on elephants. A bullhook is a long, heavy rod with a steel point and a hook at one end. Keepers jab bullhooks into the most sensitive parts of an elephant's body, such as behind the ears, inside the ear or mouth, in and around the anus, and in tender spots under the chin and around the feet.

Tell the Oregon Zoo to stop using bullhooks to hurt the elephants.

This video shows the use of a bullhook by a another violent organization, Ringling Brothers Circus.

Here's this week's batch of interesting stories from around the internets [sic].

- Nearly 11 million animals are deemed unfit for consumption upon arrival at slaughterhouse.

-One-fifth of the world's coral reefs are dead.

- NEW US LAW: Biologists no longer get to weigh in on environmentally damaging projects.

- No more recess, kids grow their own lunch.

- OBVIOUS NEWS OF THE WEEK: Elephants don't live as long in zoos.

- Pork recalled all across the US.

- Biden ignores America's overpopulation crisis and buys dog from breeder.

- ACTION ALERT: Help Obama pick a pro-animal rights Secretary of the Interior.

As promised, something to keep you smiling.


Have a good week everyone!