It is required by law for humans to wear seatbelts in cars for our own safety…but what about our furry loved ones? Are they safe? Gitta Vaughn will tell you how to ensure your dog’s safety (as well as yours and others on the road) when traveling!

This month we welcome summer! With this change of season, we bring you podcasts with author Nancy Mehagian and Annamaria Hemingway, as well as articles on Ronald Hern, environmental awareness, an article about the abuse of circus elephants, book reviews, the latest from Gene Krackehl and last but certainly not least, Merlian News’ website of the month! Please be sure to check out the June 2008 issue of the Merlian Newsletter!

She is open to including any religious, spiritual, cultural or family tradition, as well as creating an imaginative, romantic, non-religious ceremony. Because of her flexibility, couples that seek a highly creative and spiritual ceremony call upon her as well. She continues to write on soul mates, relationship enhancement and weddings. She’s a graduate of the New Seminary and is a member of the Association of Interfaith Ministers. Her wedding ministry is based in New York.

NOËLLE Spa is located in Stamford, CT. It offers a myriad of modalities, including Reiki Healing Sessions, Reflexology Therapy, Kundalini Yoga, Multidimensional Therpy, Shamanic Healing, Atma Oil Chakra Therapy, Tarot Readings and more. NOËLLE is a member of Intercoiffure America/Canada, the industry’s most prestigious organization. NOËLLE prides itself on its internal training programs, certification procedures, and support of outside education for its staff, and holds nature in the highest regard. They use green materials whenever possible and deal with companies that do the same. They recycle and reclaim as the opportunity arises. Their products are never tested on animals.

Elephants, whether privately owned or owned by a circus, are often trained with bullhooks. Bullhooks, pictured to the right, are sticks with what is essentially, a meat hook at the end. This hook is sunk into the elephants’ skin during training over and over again, causing them great amounts of pain and suffering. “Sink that hook into ‘em…when you hear that screaming, then you know you got their attention!”- Tim Frisco (Ringling Bro.’s Trainer) We applaud trapeze artists, jugglers, clowns, tightrope walkers, and acrobats, but let’s leave animals in peace. Sweden, Austria, Costa Rica, India, Finland, and Singapore have all banned or restricted the use of animals in entertainment– it’s time for the U.S. to do the same.

Celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse is coming to Planet Green for a new original series entitled Emeril Green, which will be shot on location at Whole Foods Market. Planet Green, Discovery Communications’ new 24/7 eco-lifestyle television network, is set to launch in June 2008 with a full slate of original series and specials premiering throughout the summer. “I try a little harder every day to think greener and be respectful of our environment and our resources. On Emeril Green we’ll unearth how easy and fun it is to cook with what’s fresh, tasty and in-season and find smart ways to make each day a little greener for you and your family.” – Emeril

In this podcast, Nancy Mehagian talks with Merryn Jose about being raised in an Armenian family and how it influenced her life and cooking. Her spiritual quest through the ’60’s & early ’70’s led her to travel the world. On the island of Ibiza in Spain, she openedthe first vegetarian health food restaurant. Through a series of later mishaps she was incarcerated in a London prison, along with her newborn baby. Coming full circle Nancy eventually returned home where she discovered her life’s work as a Jin Shin Jyutsu practitioner, under the master Mary Burmeister. Nancy Mehagian is the author of Siren’s Feast — An Edible Odyssey , a culinary memoir. She has been involved with food and healing since 1969, when she opened the first vegetarian restaurant on the Mediterranean island of Ibiza. A native of Phoenix, Arizona, she attended USC and graduated with a degree in English Literature from Arizona State University.

Meet Molly. She’s a gray speckled pony who was abandoned by her owners when Katrina hit southern Louisiana. She spent weeks on her own before finally being rescued and taken to a farm where abandoned animals were stockpiled. While there, she was attacked by a pit bull terrier, and almost died. Her gnawed right front leg became infected and her vet went to LSU for help. But LSU was overwhelmed, and this pony was a welfare case. You know how that goes.