News stories and promo and book launch party videos about the new book by Karen Dawn, "Thanking the Monkey: Rethinking the Way we Treat Animals. The book has beautiful endorsements from folks such as Bill Maher, Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and actor David Duchovny, and from literary luminaries such JM Coetzee and Gloria Steinem. Videos feature animal friendly and green celebrities talking about animal rights. Includes Alicia Silverstone, Daryl Hannah, Heather Mills, Bruce Greenwood from the new Star Trek movie, Daniela Sea from The L Word, Jorja Fox from CSI, Emily Deschanel from Bones, Persia White from Girlfriends, Hal Sparks from Queer as Folk and Talk Soup, John Schneider from the Dukes of Hazzard,, Esai Morales from NYPD Blue, Isabel Lucas from Transformers 2, Alexandra Paul from Baywatch, Deborah Wilson Skelton from Mad TV, Supermodel Rashumba, cartoonist Dan Piraro, and artist Anthony Freda. For more information, visit www.thankingthemonkey.com

Born in the US, Karen Dawn grew up and studied in Australia. She pursued a Science degree colloquially tagged "rats and stats," so she knows firsthand that views and habits can shift. She hopes her furry subjects will shine forgiving blessings upon this book.

She worked as a news researcher and writer for Australia's national nightly news magazine show "The 7:30 Report," on ABC, then moved to New York where she played the downtown music scene -- and made fruit salad at the Saint Francis of Xavier soup kitchen every Sunday. After reading "Animal Liberation" she was moved to devote her efforts to those most abused by society and least able to help themselves -- the animals.

Karen founded the animal advocacy media watch DawnWatch.com. Check it out to see her daily work and published op-eds. As a spokesperson for the animal rights movement she has appeared on MTV and hosted talk shows on major radio stations. Her opinion pieces have been published in leading newspapers including the Los Angeles Times and Washington Post. Thanking the Monkey is her first book.