As many Ecorazzi readers know, besides animal production being hell for Planet Earth, it’s also not too grand for the animals. That’s why a slew of well-known stars donated their John Hancock to help reduce the cruelty.

Stars like Kim Basinger, Alicia Silverstone, Bill Maher, Bob Barker, Emily Deschanel, Fred Willard, Ginnifer Goodwin, James Cromwell, Kristen Bell, Mariel Hemingway and Valerie Harper all asked Governor Schwarzenegger to sign a bill that would end the cruel practice of amputating dairy cows’ tails.

The letter was written by our friends at Farm Sanctuary and sent to the Governor just two days ago.

Although both chambers of California legislature passed the bill to end tail docking in the dairy industry, it won’t become a law unless the governor sigs it.

Farm Sanctuary’s president and co-founder Gene Baur said: “With last November’s landslide passage of Prop 2, banning the three cruelest farm animal confinement systems in the state, Californians made it clear they will no longer tolerate cruel and unnecessary practices on factory farms. By putting an end to tail docking, Governor Schwarzenegger has the opportunity to continue this wave of compassion and send a humane message to the rest of the country.”

We agree and hope that the Governator makes the right choice!

In a new interview on TheGreenGirls.com, James says: 

“I made a lifestyle change in 1975 when I became a vegetarian, and in ‘94 when I became a vegan.If everybody would do that, we’d save a lot of water, a lot of land use, a lot wasted energy bringing protein to people through animals, a lot of suffering and a lot of greenhouse gases. If people would just cut out meat for  one meal a week, and then one day a week, and then maybe one week a year, they could make an incredible difference.”

As far as how he did, Cromwell said:

“It was a process of educating myself. You have to make a choice, which is different than making a decision. When you make a decision, you often leaves things out that are important. You have to get a protein source. You have to change the way you eat, the sugars you consume, the carbohydrates you consume. In other words, you become knowledgeable and sophisticated about what your particular body needs.”

Check out the whole interview below!! James, we think you’re rocktastic!!!

According to his publicist, Cromwell is a “serious cyclist” who was training on a Los Angeles area canyon road on Sunday when he fell. While falling off a bike may not sound like a huge deal, Cromwell is said to be suffering from a broken collarbone and a partially deflated lung…OUCH!

Cromwell is loved here at the Razz for being not only a great actor, but a great activist. In the past, he’s worked with PETA, HSUS Farm Sanctuary, and many other organizations that help promote the humane treatment of animals.

On a personal note, I’ve met Cromwell once (he wouldn’t remember) and served he and his wife years ago when I worked at Angelica Kitchen. I can attest to his dedication to the cause and kind manner.

From all of us here at Ecorazzi, we wish you a speedy recovery, Mr. Cromwell!

To continue our Vegetarian Awareness Month celebration, today’s “Green Quote” is comprised of not one thought, but many. Here’s what some of Hollywood’s favorites have to say about being veg. Enjoy!

“I did it for political, moral reasons, thinking that I was making this great sacrifice, but it was absolutely necessary; I was not going to contribute to the violence in the world anymore.
- Alicia Silverstone

“I take vitamins daily, but just the bare essentials not what you’d call supplements. I try to stick to a vegan diet heavy on fruit, vegetables, tofu, and other soy products.”
- Clint Eastwood

“Compassion is the foundation of everything positive, everything good. If you carry the power of compassion to the marketplace and the dinner table, you can make your life really count.”
- Rue McClanahan

“Chickens, cows, and pigs in factory farms spend their whole lives in filthy, cramped conditions—only to die a prolonged and painful death. Their bodies are then turned into food products proven to contribute to heart disease and cancer. To eat that is to eat poison.”
- Casey Affleck

“If any kid ever realized what was involved in factory farming they would never touch meat again.I was so moved by the intelligence,sense of fun and personalities of the animals I worked with on Babe that by the end of the film I was a vegetarian.”
- James Cromwell

To see more famous veggie quotes, visit FamousVeggie.com!

Love was definitely in the air last Sunday night as Hollywood’s finest came out in support of VOTE YES ON PROP 2 at the “Making History Under the Stars” gala hosted by lovebirds, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi. Prop 2 is the Californian Prevention of Farm Cruelty Act which aims to help stop animal cruelty, improve our health and safety, support family farmers, and protect our air and water.

The star-studded fete, held in Bel Air, brought out passionate and vocal supporters of the Proposition, including Heather Graham, James Cromwell, Amy Smart, Jared Leto and a bevy of others all with the same call of concern for a better quality of life for farm animals who spend all their lives incarcerated in crates, where they do not have enough room to turn around, lie down, or even stretch their legs.

James Cromwell, who is one of the animal kingdom’s staunchest supporters, literally brought us to tears when discussing the reality of farm animals’ lives and suffering. “It’s like being in a concentration camp. I’ve worked with animals and they’re extraordinary creatures.”

One of my personal faves of the green carpet brigade, Constance Marie, who was very pregnant and glowing, told us “It is such a wonderful step in raising our animals humanely, raising them in a more healthy way which in turn will be healthier for us.” Jennifer Coolidge and Meredith Eaton both concurred, whilst Emily Deschanel said, “It’s a no-brainer for people’s health, for the environment and for the humane treatment of these animals.”

Corey Feldman and Esai Morales were having far too much fun on the green carpet but were all business when it came to Prop 2. As Esai said, “If you’re going to eat animals, at least let them live a life.” Corey, a vegetarian for 25 years agreed, “You have to be healthier about it; organic, cage-free, there are so many ways to go. People need to be more collectively conscious of everything that’s going on.” Wendie Malick joined the party and told us that “At the very least when an animal gives up its life for you to be on your table, you don’t want to feel like you’re eating fear and suffering. It’s not a good thing to do.” And Olivia Wilde, who is credited for bringing recycling bins onto the set of House, chimed in that we need to stop industrialized farming in the US. “It’s really scary the road we’re going down, and it’s time to get back to small organic farms.”

The incredible Arianna Huffington could not believe there would even be opposition to the Act and told us that voting no doesn’t make any sense, whilst Wayne Pacelle, President of the Humane Society of the United States, was thrilled that so many wonderful people had come out in support. “Prop 2 is a measure to promote kindness to all farm animals. All animals deserve humane treatment including those raised for food. There’s just no good reason not to vote yes on Prop 2.”

So there you have it! The overwhelming consensus of the evening was that voting yes on Prop 2 is the obvious choice. For the goodness of animals, for the health of the planet, and for the health of each and every one of us. So come on all you Cali Razzis! This November, just say YES!!!

Today is September 29th…know what that means? That means we’re only 2 days away from World Vegetarian Day!!!

In case you haven’t heard, World Vegetarian Day is celebrated on October 1st and is without a doubt one of my all-time favorite holidays. Created by the North American Vegetarian Society in 1977 to “promote the joy, compassion and life-enhancing possibilities of vegetarianism”, World Vegetarian Day kicks off Vegetarian Awareness Month which runs through October and ends on World Vegan Day on November 1st.

Each year on World Vegetarian Day I ask friends, family and pretty much anyone else who might listen, to support the vegetarian in their life and go meat-free for 24 hours. Last year I managed to get 75 people to join me on my quest and this year (thanks to the invent of Facebook) I’ve already received support from a whopping 215 people!!

Here at Ecorazzi we know that stars like Pamela Anderson, Tobey Maguire, Pink, James Cromwell and many others will be rocking the tofu on the first, but how are YOU going to celebrate? Chime in and tell us how you’ll celebrate World Vegetarian Day. Oh, and don’t forget to check back on October 1st for a special holiday editorial. Happy vegging!!

Animal Acres is one of the leading farm sanctuaries in the country and will host a gala this Saturday on their sprawling property just 40 minutes from Hollywood. The event boasts delicious vegan food, great speakers, an award ceremony and of course plenty of famous faces.  In fact, Animal Acres has a slew of celebrity supporters, including such well known names as Daryl Hannah, Casey Affleck, Thora Birch, Ellen DeGeneres, James Cromwell, Bill Maher and Alicia Silverstone.

All proceeds from the Gala will benefit the Animal Acres Emergency Rescue Fund to raise funding to build a 14-stall Rescue Center barn to significantly increase the sanctuary’s rescue and rehabilitation efforts for suffering farmed animals.

While the Gala appears sold-out, there are plenty of other exciting farm events that happen all year round! For more information on why I have a sanctuary crush on Animal Acres, visit animalacres.org!

Ricky Gervais

Earlier this year Ecorazzi reported that the Queen Of England still supports using real bear skin in the Royal Guards’ caps and refuses to switch to a more humane alternative. To bring attention to the issue, celebrities like Sir Roger Moore, Twiggy and Hayley Mills have all lent their name to help fight for change. James Cromwell even wrote a personal letter to the Queen requesting reform.

Now Gervais, who you probably know from the original version of The Office, has written a letter to U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown asking him to replace the bear fur on the Queen’s Guards’ caps with a cruelty-free material. Gervais said, “I was shocked to learn that it takes an entire hide of one bear to make a single headpiece. Many of these highly intelligent animals are shot several times before they die. Those who aren’t killed outright often slowly bleed to death. Bear cubs are also often orphaned when their mothers are killed. Scared and vulnerable, many cubs are unable to survive on their own, and they starve to death.”

To learn more about this very important issue, visit unbearablecruelty.com. 

In the past Ecorazzi told you that British celebs like Sir Roger Moore, Twiggy, and Hayley Mills were all fighting for fur reform and that James Cromwell had even written a personal letter to the Queen reminding her that “it takes the entire skin of one Canadian black bear to make just one guard’s headpiece.”  

Now British comedian Julian Clary is doing his part by showing his parts – well with the help of a strategically placed teddy bear — in a new ad for PETA.  Clary’s message is simple, he wants to know “how she justifies killing beautiful bears for ceremonial hats when there is an indistinguishable alternative”. Clary said, “There is no earthly reason to keep killing bears. Tradition is all very well, but not when it is needless and cruel. Even the royals can evolve, surely?” 

Clary isn’t new to the animal-rights game, and like Cromwell he also wrote a letter to the Queen some years ago on this very issues, but received no response.  And so you might say Queen Elizabeth left him no choice but to do as so many others have done before and get nakey for the sakey of fakey! Good work Julian!

What’s more fun than spending a fancy schmancy evening in downtown New York City eating classy vegan fare with some of today’s hottest celebrities? Um, nothing! 

On May 17th from 6pm-midnight Farm Sanctuary will hold it’s annual gala at Cipriani Wall Street in NYC — and trust me, you don’t want to miss it! Farm Sanctuary was founded in 1986 and aims to expose and stop cruel practices that take place in the “food animal” industry. They now have two shelters — one in Watkins Glen, N.Y., and the other in Orland, Calif. — where they provide lifelong care for hundreds of rescued animals. 

This year the Farm Sanctuary Gala will be hosted by Heather Mills, emceed by Melissa Rivers and will feature a delicious three course vegan dinner, an awards ceremony, a silent auction and a musical performance by Shawn Colvin. And the guest list is just as exclusive with celebrities like Kristen Bell, Rachel Leigh Cook, Jennifer Coolidge, Emily Deschanel, Christine Ebersole, Swoosie Kurtz, Kevin Nealon, Loretta Swit, Persia White and Debra Wilson Skelton scheduled to attend, as well as many others.  

Tickets may sound a bit pricey at 400 dollars a pop, but save those pennies because this evening is totally worth it. Last time I went I heard an incredible speech by Loretta Swit, said hello to James Cromwell and pointed Alicia Silverstone to the restroom. 

To find out more visit FarmSanctuary.org and get those tickets before they run out! I’ll be covering the event this year so make sure you find me and say hello!