Living Without Meat

Wow. I am stunned.

I was the target of a hunter on his hunting Web site back in December. This writer - who belongs to the same blogging network as I - wrote a post called Misinformed People that highlighted Living Without Meat as an example of someone with “a site dedicated to their lifestyle … to force that choice on everyone else.”

Now I know that this was not a personal attack, because it is clear from this man’s statements that he has never read LWM. He clearly did not take time to note that I am for health and personal education; I am against the confinement, abuse, and mistreatment of animals. I am for nutrition without meat (which is 100 percent healthy, and does not need to include meat substitutes); I am against causing suffering.

I write for people who are interested in animal rights, vegetarianism, and health. I do not write with the mindset that I am pushing my beliefs and agenda. If someone is inspired by me to try a vegetarian diet, I would be thrilled, but if a meat eater wants to borrow some of my recipes - that’s great, too. I have never sought out to taunt, name call, deceive, argue with, or harass anyone with opposing views.

I have never offered my readers a direct link to a site with views against mine where they could leave a comment.

Amongst the five-person editorial team at work, three of us our vegetarians. Our potluck luncheons are a dream come true. The workplace is also filled with animal lovers, thus e-mails are often forwarded with stories of cute four-legged creatures.

Today, it was decided that stories about mixed-species adoptions of at-risk babies were some of our favorites. In fact, we need more of these to get through the work day.

So here are some recent occurrences of one animal taking on the needs of a lost little one from another species. (To read the story that accompanies each photograph, and to see more pictures, click on the photo.)

Billy the bulldog and Lilly the runty goat”

A dachshund mommy incorporates a baby piglet into her brood:

Check out nine older interspecies stories - including this one about Finnegan the baby squirrel and his puppy siblings - at Dig Your Own Grave.

The City Rag put together a collection of inspirational photography honoring the bond between animal friends, including this photo of a monkey seemingly hugging a dove.

Awhile ago, BuzzFeed compiled their top 15 favorites stories and links such as this real life Bambi and Thumper.

Fashion designer Jeremy Scott just turned out a fun runway show for Paris Fashion Week Fall 2008. When so many designers continue to insist on using real fur, he portrayed the ultimate in faux furs.

I LOVED IT!

Three vegan cheers for Mr. Jeremy Scott!

Click here to check out more of his show from Monday night, and find out what crazy theme led to a fox fur-print dress.

At the beginning of this month I included a photograph of a girl and a cow at a county fair. I found this picture in someone’s personal, online photography collection where I also left a comment. Many other onlookers left comments questioning those of us that saw it as an inspiring moment, as the cow would still be used for milk or meat. One user left her personal feelings, and I was awed by her wording.

Flickr user jeff_godofbiscuits commented:

This is a beautiful, moving photo. To me, it’s a vivid example of humane animal care. I am guessing that because this is at an agricultural fair, that girl probably knows that the cow is less a pet and more a source for milk or meat or whatever her family has chosen to keep cows for. However, that doesn’t mean work animals can’t be loved and cared for. This cow probably eats real cow food (as opposed to corn and all of the gross stuff that commercial livestock eats), gets to go outside, and has plenty of shelter and excellent veterinary care. She’ll have a long, probably very happy life. This is how ALL of the animals we eat or get food from should live. I choose to be vegan because of the horrible system in place now, but I thank you so much for this picture that is an example of how it should be.

I love Patrick McDonnell’s comic strip Mutts. I have a sleep shirt featuring the lovable cat and dog that says “Go organic!” My mom mails me the best ones cut out from the newspaper. I even have two of the cartoons hanging above my desk at work.

So it is with a great big smile on my face that I present to you yesterday’s and today’s Mutts comic strips:

What the heck is Spay Day, you say? It’s a collaboration between the Humane Society and the Doris Day Animal League to promote getting your pets spayed and neuter, and to prevent the need for euthanasia in shelters across America.

It’s not just a day long celebration - check out how you can participate in Spay Day and all of the activities, events, and educational outreach options to promote pet spaying and neutering in your community.

Can you think of the most extreme way to step out on behalf of animals, forcing people to think about animal rights everytime they think of you?

If you said legally change your name to reflect your beliefs, then you must be just as odd-ball gung-ho as Rachel (nee Feather) FishingHurts.

Let that sink in for just a moment.

Rachel Feather, 21, Flagstaff, Arizona, is now legally Ms. FishingHurts. The unique activist has been a vegetarian since age 13 and wanted to find a way to bring light to the “forgotten animal.” Her new surname was inspired by PETA and their Web site of the same name - FishingHurts.com.

All fins in the air for Ms. Rachel FishingHurts, but I think that I will stick to less life-changing activism.

UPDATE AND CORRECTION: Check out the comments - Ms. FishingHurts left a brief note letting us know that she dropped Rachel, too. It’s legally just FishingHurts. I wonder if she has any good nicknames yet … Fish, FH, FishyFish, It Hurts! …

I made something this week for the arts and crafts class that I lead at my local community center that I think you will love!

I call it “Miss Green Clean,” but you are welcome to just refer to it as an all-natural spray cleanser.

My inspiration came from Craftbits’ Antibacterial Yoga Mat Spray; although, I, of course, did not really follow the recipe.

Whip yourself up a batch and spray down doorknobs, light switches, and toddler toys to ward off germs. Then make a few extra to give as gifts: to the hostess, along with a “get well soon” card, or for a housewarming.

MISS GREEN CLEAN

You will need:

* Rubbing alcohol
* Clear vinegar
* Water
* Tea tree oil (a natural antiseptic)
* Essential oil (take allergies into consideration!)

* Spray bottle
* Sharpie permanent markers

1. Decorate and label the spray bottle. Be sure to list the ingredients on it if you are going to give it away. Consider making fill lines so that the recipient can make more when they use it up (i.e. draw a line 1 inch from bottom and label it vinegar; 1 cm above that, label a line alcohol; etc.).

2. Funnel in about: 1/4 cup vinegar, 3 Tbs. alcohol, 1 tsp. or 12 drops of tea tree oil, and 1 tsp. or 12 drops of a scented oil (I found a tea tree-lavender blend at GNC).

3. Fill the bottle almost to the top with water. Tightly screw the top on, give a little shake, and go spray crazy!

My legitimacy as both a fashionista and a vegan has been brought into question more than once now, but always in reference to the same issue: Natalie Portman’s line of vegan shoes and my lack to write about them whatsoever.

So, here goes:

1. They cost in the $300 range, and are not even that cute.

2. The shoes sold out during pre-sale and were only offered in limited edition. So, there aren’t any more to buy anyway.

3. The BKE red shoes shown here - which are way cuter than any of the ones Natalie is promoting - cost me only $18.37 from The Buckle … and they are vegan!

4. Most of all, Natalie worked with té casan for this vegan collection; every other shoe available through their Web site or in their store contains animal products. There are not only leather sandals, but you can find suede pumps and even python-skin boots.

5. Virtually every shoe at Payless is all man-made.

It was a valiant effort, and shined a light on an issue many people probably never thought twice about, but these are the reasons why I did not feel moved to announce Natalie’s line of vegan shoes.

Come on, shoes are the one place where vegans spend less than others; let us have this one!

In October, consumers were shocked by the 21.7 million-pound meat recall that forced one hamburger company to close their doors forever.

Compared to this burger ban four months ago, yesterday’s announcement by the USDA to recall 143 million pounds really stands out as the largest beef recall in the U.S.

The meat in question came from the now-famous California downers - sick or injured cows that were mistreated, abused, and tortured while down. About a month ago, the Humane Society revealed that they had been performing undercover investigations, and released a highly graphic video exposing that horrible things that were going on.

Word spread quickly, and soon TV stations nationwide were showing clips from the HSUS video. As a result, the USDA has deemed the meat from the Chino-based slaughterhouse unsuitable for human consumption.

“Because the cattle did not receive complete and proper inspection, Food Safety and Inspection Service has determined them to be unfit for human food and the company is conducting a recall,” Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer said in a statement.

Additionally, two (ex-)employees lost their jobs and have been charged with multiple counts of felony and misdemeanor animal abuse and neglect charges. These workers - including a manager - were seen in the video kicking, punching, electrically shocking, and forcing water down the throats of cows unable to move.

Thanks to reader Irene for sending this news alert in so quickly! Check out Irene’s Web site for information on March of Dimes, and to support her in her efforts to raise money and awareness in memory of her infant son Samuel.

Since it was a tad mean to show you a cute shirt that was sold out the other day, here is one from dELiA*s clearance section that promotes adopting strays, and the Humane Society of the U.S. Originally, the punk rocker kitty cat was $24.50, but now you can snag the tee (XS only) for $5.99.

The “Adopt Me” shirt doesn’t mention a donation to the HSUS, and is only left in the smallest of smalls, so here is even another one!

This pinky-red WWF panda logo shirt is also available through dELiA*s, but is still around in every size from XS to XL. Each $26.50 purchase (buy any 2 or more tees and save $10) results in a $1.50 donation to the World Wildlife Foundation. Be different and check out the plaid version of this WWF tee, or the leopard cub photo one.

If you are interested in saving by buying multiple shirts, consider reducing waste with a recycling heart logo one or one that says “Don’t be trashy, recycle.” There are other ones begging people to “Think green,” or featuring Oscar the Grouch asking you not to trash his planet.

Check out the “Fur is for petting” statement shirt to make the ultimate fashion statement.

Then, of course, if you want to spread you vegetarian love, the “Everybody was tofu fighting” tee might be for you.

My inner-fashionista was just browsing Mod Cloth for fun fashions that I can’t afford (Love! the Heatherette coat that they have on sale right now!). Then, I saw this tee shirt. It is certainly not my type; I prefer to spread love to the humans, too. But, it’s sold out, and is the only women’s top that it is not in stock. To me, this says that there are plenty of pro-active veggie lovers out there, spending a dime or two to promote vegetarianism through their wardrobe. Wahoo!

Do you? Send me a photo of you in an animal rights or vegetarian shirt!

Animal Planet is not always my taste in television programming. I have a hard time watching the predators take down the prey, even though I know that it is a natural process in life. Tonight, however, I watched Awesome Pawsome, and loved it.

Animal Planet describes the show from 2000 that tells a tale of four tiger cubs born on Australia’s Tiger Island:

Follow the first year in the lives of four Bengal tiger cubs as they explore a surprising environment. These cubs are bottle-fed, take baths, meet children and play with the family dog–so interacting with adult tigers may not be such a walk in the park.

Yahoo! sums it up a little better:

Documentary special that chronicles the first year of four Bengal tiger cubs — Sita (shown, second photo), Rama, Taj and Sultan (shown, first photo). Born at Tiger Island at Dreamworld, on Australia’s Gold Coast and raised in captivity to help preserve the species, the program captures the unpredictable moments of their infancy, from birth to feeding, living with their handlers, getting their first bath and even meeting dogs, children and learning to be adult tigers.

The best summary, however, is to say that it is a must-see for all animal lovers!

PETA might hate it for the simple fact that the tigers are living in captivity, but one trainer eases these concerns quite well near the end of the program. He says: of course their ideal home is the wild, and he hopes all those out there survive. But with the species headed downward this scenario needs to happen to save them. Just before a wonderful play scene, he concludes that all he can do is make their life the best that it can be.

After attending a Hugs for Puppies No Foie Gras event in Philadelphia in December, Farm Sanctuary President Gene Baur wrote a guest post for Living Without Meat that spoke on the subject matter.

If you haven’t read what he wrote, I recommend that you check it out. He is a very passionate, knowledgeable man, and it was very generous of him to take the time to write it. Plus, you may remember - or now see - that at the end of his letter to LWM, I mentioned that he had an upcoming book release. Well, the time is here for his book to debut!

Farm Sanctuary: Changing Hearts and Minds About Animals and Food by Gene Baur can be found in stores next month, March 2008!
Amazon.com has the book available for pre-order already.

Additionally, he will be going on tour to promote the release of the book, and is scheduled to visit several cities, starting with the city closest to Farm Sanctuary - New York, NY.

Twice now I’e found out after the fact that PETA’s Lettuce Ladies were in my home city. First, they showed up to Benjamin Franklin’s birtday celebration on January 18 (he wanted the Turkey to be the national bird) and offered Mr. Frank some faux turkey meat. Now I find out that they were out about again today handing out free vegan sandwiches in support of the several 7-Eleven stores that have added them to their offerings.

The Lettuce Ladies - vegetarian women who use their sex appeal to woo the public during protests - also have their own Web site now, complete with directions for making your own lettuce bikini!

Take a few minutes to check out some of their past work: