Meaty Move. How would children feel if Fido and Fluffy were stuffed and roasted for Thanksgiving? That's what PETA is asking this holiday season with a new billboard that shows an animal that is a cross between a dog and a turkey. The billboard reads, "Kids: If You Wouldn't Eat Your Dog, Why Eat a Turkey?" The group plans to run the billboard near Tulsa public schools in the hope that it will spark a dialogue between kids and their parents.
More than 250 million turkeys are killed in the U.S. every year -- more than 40 million for Thanksgiving dinners alone. In nature, turkeys are protective and loving parents as well as spirited explorers who can climb trees and run as fast as 25 miles per hour. But most turkeys slated to be killed for food are crammed into filthy warehouses, where disease, smothering, and heart attacks are common. Turkeys are drugged and bred to grow such unnaturally large upper bodies that their legs often become crippled under the weight.
To reach kids across the nation, PETA also plans to erect its billboard in Salem, Ore., and Jacksonville, Fla. For more information, visit peta.org.
Artful Application. Tulsa International Mayfest is currently accepting applications from visual artists for the 2012 festival to be held May 17-20, 2012.
Mayfest features approximately 100 fine visual artists and 20 craftspeople during this four-day Tulsa tradition. Entries are professionally judged according to strict guidelines through a blind jury process. Many artists who have participated over the last several years have seen record sales and because of that, the competition for booth space at Tulsa International Mayfest is increasing as well.
Visit tulsamayfest.org to apply by Jan. 31, 2012. The application fee is $35. For questions or additional information, email the Visual Artist Chair at vachair@tulsamayfest.org.
Fueling Around. Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin announced a new initiative launched jointly with Governor John Hickenlooper of Colorado designed to increase the use of natural gas vehicles (NGVs) in state automobile fleets. Other states, including Wyoming and Pennsylvania have also signed onto the agreement. Additional states have also been invited to join.
Each participating governor signed onto a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) circulated by Fallin and Hickenlooper stating a desire to purchase functional and affordable NGVs for use in state fleets.
The MOU lays the groundwork for the formation of a Multi-State Request for Proposal, where the states would prepare a formal request to automobile manufacturers to design an NGV and sell it in bulk to participating states. The goal of participating states is to target 5,000 fleet NGV purchases per year, thus establishing the demand and incentive for a car manufacturer in the U.S. to design and sell a suitable natural gas sedan that will also meet public demand.
Fallin said the announcement gives participating states a lead role in shaping energy policy. The MOU is one of the first steps in a comprehensive statewide energy plan released jointly by Fallin and Oklahoma Secretary of Energy Michael Ming.
Also at the Governor's Energy Conference, Fallin presented the "Oklahoma First" Energy Plan, a comprehensive blue print for the state's energy future.
The plan focuses on enhancing the production of traditional fossil fuels like oil and natural gas while complementing their use with renewable sources of energy like wind power.
Go to governor.ok.gov to download the complete plan.
  Osage Nation. |
Education Donation. Osage Nation and its economic enterprise contributed $10,000 to Hawthorne Elementary School to purchase books, school and classroom supplies and a new copy machine for the 2011-12 school year.
Osage Casino Director of Marketing Jennifer Bighorse said she's happy that the donation was approved and the casino is proud to be a major supporter of Hawthorne School.
Hawthorne School is a pre-K through sixth grade school with 563 students and 35 teachers which focuses on student achievement. Hawthorne is blessed to have dedicated Partners in Education that provide the school with mentors, volunteers, donations, and monetary support.