Living Without Meat

I tried to ignore all the talk about the so-called “Montauk Monster” that washed up on a New York shore yesterday, July 29. But it seems that the speculation and possibilities have gotten the better of my curiosity.

Here’s what all the buzz is about:

* On Tuesday, Gawker.com posted that the unknown creature shown in this photo (click picture to see larger) washed ashore in Montauk, NY. With hind quarters similar to a beagle, dinosaur-esque beak and face, bruises over the whole body, and a bracelet-like item on its front limb, it quickly caught the Internet public’s attention.

* It was soon pointed out that the location where this was found, was not far from the USDA’s Plum Island Animal Disease Center which is a level 4 bioresearch facility.

* No specifics are given, other than this photo. Understandably, people are ranting and raving about what they believe the “monster” to be. Theories include: turtle missing it’s shell, USDA experiment gone bad, alien, a photoshopped hoax, viral marketing for an upcoming movie, a mutant animal, …

* Frenzy runs amok online. Check out any of these sources for more stories: BuzzFeed, and Associated Contect.

Regardless of the truth behind this being, it is certainly turning out to get animal testing and experiments into people’s mind. Even if it is a hoax, there are millions of animals still being inhumanely treated and ending up in similar conditions … only all of these aren’t washing up on our shores.

Curious about the truth behind common vegetarian and animal rights misconceptions and full out lies? Wondering how liberated free-range chickens are, and how cheerful happy cows are?

Enter the Humane Myth busters.

Humane Myth is a new animal advocacy group made up of “former farmers, animal rescuers, animal sanctuary founders, educators, and artists working to create a just and nonviolent future.” Their goal is to make sure you know the truth about the highly propagated “humane” meats. They seek to encourage “truth, transparency and integrity in animal advocacy.” They are the animal rights myth busters!

Check out the MythWatch section to see the insides of actual free-range chicken coops. Browse down the left side of the screen to find definitions and common misuses of terms including “humane slaughter” and “sustainable.” Learn about how the meat industry does effect your health, the environment, and wildlife. Watch slide shows, read farmers’ testimonies, and generally become a better informed consumer.

In an effort to spread the compassion, and in light of recent dog fighting events (Michael Vick ring a bell?), the Humane Society of the U.S. has started up a new anti-dog fighting campaign.

The posters, stickers, and such (available free from HSUS by emailing officeservices@humanesociety.org) loudly offer $5,000 rewards for anyone who turns in people involved in the inhumane, animal death matches.

And it’s legit! The details are simple: see or hear about any event related to a fight; contact authorities (see below for specifics), and, so long as your information leads to arrest and conviction, the Humane Society will thank you for standing up for dogs with a reward of up to $5,000.

Here’s how to let someone know about an illegal dog fighting operation (from HSUS.org):

* Call your local police department or animal control agency, giving them as many details as you can. You are not legally required to give your name, however. Tell them about the Humane Society’s campaign.

* If the suspected animal fighter is convicted, ask the law enforcement agency involved in the case to write a letter on your behalf, stating that your tip helped lead to the arrest and prosecution of the convicted animal fighter. Mail or fax the letter to:

Animal Fighting Reward Program
c/o Ann Chynoweth
The Humane Society of the United States
2100 L St. NW
Washington, DC 20037
FAX: 301-721-6414

Still have questions? Click on the flier shown here to visit the rewards program Web page, or call the HSUS for more information about this reward program at 202-452-1100. Also, be sure to check out HSUS President Wayne Pacelle’s blog entry regarding the Society’s long and successful track record against animal fights.

This weekend, I had a friend staying with me. As we were lounging around Sunday, pouting over the thunder storm’s thwarting of our plan to go to the pool, she suggested making a fancy dinner for ourselves. She had a concept, I added a few thoughts, and together we came up with this awesome meal:

Strawberry Spinach Salad

On a bed of fresh, organic spinach, put sliced strawberries, mandarin oranges (check label carefully or no Splenda nor syrup; we went with Sunkist brand), toasted sliced almonds, and optional goat cheese. We found some perfect dressing, too: Strawberry Pomegranate.

Veggie Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms

Saute some vegan sausage with a little oil; we used Gimme Lean brand. Combine the cooked sausage with breadcrumbs (prepared ones may not be vegan, check the label), fresh chives, and local goat cheese or a vegan substitute. Wash baby portabello mushroom caps, and remove stems. Spray, brush, drizzle … somehow coat the caps in oil. Place them in a dish, fill each cap with some of the stuffing, and give the top a second coat of oil. Cook at 350-400 degrees for 20 minutes. If you have extra stuffing, you can form patties and fry them in a saute pan and a little oil to make your own burgers.

It was a great meal, especially since a meat-eating friend was so excited to create a vegetarian meal with me. And now the leftovers are calling my name!

Try making your own stuffed mushrooms by following these basic steps, but mixing whatever you love into the stuffing: bell peppers, onions, garlic, more mushrooms, rice, Old Bay seasoning, …

The hot topic of the moment in the realm of veganism is athletics. Every vegan bodybuilder, boxer, runner, and more is coming out to speak about they keep fit on a healthy, animal-free diet and lifestyle. The news coverage on these sporty men and women has been phenomenal! Here are some good ones to peruse for inspiration:

* On July 22, ESPN’s Page 2 featured Milwaukee Brewers’ Prince Fielder, Hall of Fame footballer Tony Gonzalez, fighter Mac Danzig, Minnesota Twins’ Pat Neshek, and marathon runner Scott Jurek in “Who says you have to eat meat to be a successful athlete?”

* We Like It Raw (as in a raw vegan diet) talked about Tim “the raw runner” VanOrden and his upcoming speaking events.

* The Vegan Soapbox had two good articles recently: One about being a vegan athlete in general titled “We Are All Guillermo Vargas.” The other highlighting Carl Lewis.

* In the June 12 issue of Aggressive Strength Magazine, article number six (you have to scroll down to it) was “UFC Fighter Mac Danzig’s Vegan Diet.”

* Not in the news, and not online, but in real life, I have been running into Jackie Amarosa, a vegan Philadelphia woman who runs marathons, races cars, and raises money for animals while doing so! Check out her First Giving fund-raiser page.

* For even more, check out Buzz Feed’s feature on vegan bodybuilding that includes links to six of the best articles and sites on the topic.

Now, aren’t you inspired to eat a fantastic vegan diet and exercise to your max potential?

This awesome animaly-friendly poem comes from Poems of Experience, by Ella Wheeler Wilcox (shown here), written in 1917. It’s a long one; to read past the first stanza, click the “read the rest” link at the end.

The Voice of the Voiceless

I am the voice of the voiceless;
Through me the dumb shall speak;
Till the deaf world’s ear be made to hear
The cry of the wordless weak.
From street, from cage, and from kennel,
From jungle and stall, the wail
Of my tortured kin proclaims the sin
Of the mighty against the frail.

(more…)

It has long been established that animal rights organizations - PETA in particular - hate Kentucky Fried Chicken more than any other restaurant out there. The prominent fast food joint has a history of being the so-called cruelest of the cruel when it comes to animals being used for human food.

Recent events began to show, however, that perhaps the Kentucky Fried Cruelty campaign is getting to the Colonel Sanders, or at least to his Canadian counterpart.

In May of this year, actor Ryan Gosling spoke up for his fellow fowls by writing a letter to the KFC Canada (his home country) headquarters, urging them to reconsider their ways. At the beginning of June, after seven months in discussion with PETA, KFC Canada announced that they would be introducing many new animal-friendly practices including a vegan, faux-chicken menu option.

With barely enough time to celebrate the small victory, Canadian vegetarians and vegans have already been let down: the vegan chicken isn’t vegan nor vegetarian.

Perhaps the fake meat is vegan before KFC workers get their grubby hands on it (unlikely, however, as most contain eggs), but once the veggie chicks are de-thawed, they are fried in the same lard as the real chicken. Then, they are slathered in mayo which has an egg base.

So if you are the kind of lax vegetarian who eats eggs and doesn’t mind your food mingling with meat, in a meat-based fat, then head on up to a Canadian KFC and get your vegan-ish faux meat.

The floods in the Midwest had many victims, but the ones that caught the world by surprise were the pigs of Iowa. Photos quickly spread of pigs swimming for their lives, only a hint of snout above water, amongst contaminated waters and fellow pigs that had not been so lucky.

A rescue mission was quickly put into place.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare, American Humane Association, Farm Sanctuary, and Animal Rescue League of Boston quickly went to work, assessing the situation and pulling the pigs to safety.

A team of about 25 people tirelessly worked long days (16 to 18 hours per day) to save the 69 pigs that had swam to a nearby levee and survived. They were dehydrated, hungry, exhausted, and sunburned to the point that their skin was charred black. Some had pneumonia and injuries.

Some of the unlucky ones, that swam and fought for their lives, were shot by local law enforcement because they were seen as a threat to the levee. Their bodies were left, the situation regarded as “fixed.”

Two (of the rescued 69) were in such poor health that they needed to be put down. Three were in need of such extensive care that they were sent to Cornell University Hospital for Animals. The rest have found refuge at Farm Sanctuary, and are working toward a full recovery.

The needs do not end here, however. Several of the sows are pregnant. In fact, one gave birth while fighting for her own life and was able to keep her newborn piglets safe. The veterinarian bills are piling up. And, unfortunately, the number of pigs will prove to be too much for Farm Sanctuary to handle.

Here are the ways that you can help the Midwest flood pig rescue mission:

* All four above mentioned organizations have set up a “pig rescue” fund and are in need of donations to help absorb the cost of the mission and the aftercare. Every dollar will help; consider showing your support by giving to one of these great organizations.

* If you are a vegan home, that has the means and space to care for a rescued animal, consider adopting a pig or two by signing up for Farm Sanctuary’s Farm Animal Adoption Network by contacting: shelter@farmsanctuary.org, or 607-583-2225 ext. 223.

* Show support, keep informed, and learn more by visiting the 2008 Midwest Flood Pig Rescue blog. You have to visit this site to see the photos!

The first photo shown was taken by Molly of Best Friends, an organization that went to Iowa to work on rescuing the stranded pets. The second is an AP photo.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary has added over 100 new words to their newly published edition. Two of the words that have been very popular (that is, mentioned in every press release and article about the new words), are vegetarian-related!

edamame: immature green soybeans

pescatarian: a vegetarian whose diet includes fish

phytonutrient: bioactive, plant-derived compound (as resveratrol) associated with positive health effects.

Plus, it’s not just the fact that the dictionary people are acknowledging these words, but rather that they are doing so because they believe the words reflect “current societal trends.”

Other words or phrases added include air quotes, mental health day, subprime, and Texas Hold ‘em.

This weekend I met up with my mother and sister, with her two tots, to have a picnic in a park before a Johnny Cash tribute concert.

As we sat down at the picnic table, and began setting out the food that we had each brought, my contemplative 3-year-old nephew speaks up:

Nephew: Aunt Sally? Mommy says that you don’t eat anything from an animal.

Me: That’s true, I don’t.

Nephew: Well, then, you can eat … this, and some of this, and …

Apparently he reminds my sister every time she is cooking and I am coming over of my diet. I also noticed that it is apparently an instinctual response to tell a veg*n what food they can eat. It was super cute!

We had a delicious spread that was “accidentally” vegetarian (and completely homemade). With one veg head and four meat eaters, our dinner included:

* vegan version of tomato, basil, mozzarella salad
* hummus with whole wheat pita and carrots
* gazpacho
* eggplant parmesan
* water

No soda. No packaged, processed foods with unpronounceable ingredients. And no meat. I was in heaven … and continue to be, as mom gave me the leftover hummus and gazpacho!

Lunch yesterday was hummus, carrots, and whole wheat pita. Today I’m having a baked potato with gazpacho. And that potato? It comes from my dad - he’s working a delivery route for a local farmer and sent me a box full of fresh-picked, local, organic vegetables!

My family sure knows how to spoil a vegan!

****
For more great vegan picnic ideas, check out the recent post over on the Urban Vegan titled “101 Fast Recipes for Inspired Vegan Picnics.”

It feels so good to be back!

No, I didn’t go anywhere - no fun vacations for this starving writer. But Living Without Meat took a little break. 451 Press, the great masters that own and support me and LWM, has been having some technical difficulties, but with all new servers and other techy junk that I don’t really get … I’m back, baby … and just in time for you to make the deadline (Wednesday, July 16) to nominate me for the Sexiest Vegetarian Blogger on Peta’s blog.

See how much of a smiley goon I am? That’s what makes me sexy: a super sillyness and goofy grin backed with a contagious confidence.

Sitting at my desk, I can glance up and see out a window overlooking an open field. I often enjoy watching groundhogs and birds romping around.

But not this Wednesday.

As the afternoon slump began to set in, I stretched and looked around. Two men (maybe 40-50 years old) were riding a golf cart through the field, which is not an unusual sight. Then they stopped, cart butted up against the fence, just behind the dumpster.

I was bored; I was intrigued. What were they doing?

It only took me a moment to realize what was going on: they had a groundhog pinned while one threw rocks and the other smacked at it with a stick.

“They’re beating a groundhog!” I shouted, catching the attention of my three neighboring coworkers. “I wonder how fast I can get out there.”

I leaped to my feet, ran down the hallway, out the door, down the steps, out the next door, and continued toward the fence.

“Excuse me!” I shouted, getting no response.

I clapped my hands, as you might have to get the attention of a stray animal. I finally got a look. They began to meander on their way, but I was not finished.

My heart was pounding.

“What is your problem? Do you honestly have nothing better to do that pick on something barely 1/100 of your size?”

Silence. One man shrugged. One gave me the creepiest smile that I have ever seen in person.

They finally began driving away, but were moving at a speed that told me they were interested in coming back. I stood statuesque, hand on hips, and stared. They stopped and turned around to see if I was still there. And finally, the *!@#$!s drove off.

I walked over to where the groundhog hand last been. He was cowering on the edge of the parking lot, a small thing scared and confused. I waited and watched as he was finally able to run off into the field safely.

I was agitated, shaky, and generally disgusted for the rest of the day. What is wrong with people?

I was sitting around my complex’s pool eating dinner the other night. It was steak night which is surprisingly the themed food night where I have the most options (sauteed mushrooms, corn, asparagus, salad greens, potatoes …).

Sitting at the table next to me was a woman with five girls, all about age 10. The girls were all settled with their meals when - horror! - it was noticed that one girl had not gotten a steak!

Observant Girl: You don’t have a steak on your plate.

Steak-free Girl: Um … I don’t really eat meat.

Mob Mentality Girl: But why don’t you have a steak?

Steak-free Girl: I just don’t eat meat.

Finally, they were all okay with this girl’s decision not to eat a steak. The poor girl was shy, and noticeably upset at having her food choices questioned.

I was noticeably excited to watch a budding vegetarian, though I was sorry that she is already meeting opposition.

Stay strong, Steak-free Girl! Make your healthy, cruelty-free diet choices!

As my juice fast was coming to an on Sunday, my teeth were restless. All I wanted to do was chew something!

My morning started out with a breakfast juice of an orange and a couple of carrots. For my first snack, I made a digestive aid using 4 large carrots, some jicama, and half of a pear.

After these two juices, I was so ready to never see a carrot again, but equally enticed by the recipe that I had picked out for a cold carrot soup for lunch. I juiced a few carrots, then blended it with an avocado and some cumin. It was so creamy and satisfying, but I really wanted a cracker or piece of bread to go along with it. I stayed strong though.

The mocktail for happy hour was fantastic! With the juice of one tomato, half a cucumber, some fresh cilantro, and a chunk of lime, it created a fun version of a Bloody Mary.

Then it was time to drink dinner: a juice blend of apples, spinach, parsley, and lemon that is meant to target the colon’s cleaning needs. I am surprised to say that this was my favorite drink of the day. It was light and refreshing. However, for the first time during the day I felt hungry and headachy. It was the least fulfilling … I may have had a little homemade hummus with carrots and celery at this point.

Drinking so much juice, I wasn’t really thirsty and only finished about one tall glass of water. I did, however, brew a pot of detox tea and sipped it throughout the day.

To round the whole day out, I treated myself to a tropical taste of pineapple, kiwi, strawberries, and ginger juice, blended with a touch of soy milk and some ice cubes.

In the end, it wasn’t a whole day of nothing but juice, but there is no denying that I had a very healthy day, offering my body a replenishment of nutrients.