Living Without Meat

World Vegan Day is tomorrow, November 1. The dozens of vegan, vegetarian, raw, green, and what not blogs that I read have all posted about this day. And rather than being excited, I’m disappointed.

You see, Eccentric Vegan posted a snippet about LUSH:

“Though LUSH sells nothing but vegetarian and vegan products, the company estimates about 80 percent of its 824 employees are meat-eaters. Still, the company’s shop assistants, managers, directors and owners have agreed to go meatless for a day, as well as dropping dairy and evading the edible egg.” (source)

I don’t find this encouraging. In fact, I find it just the opposite.

When I choose to give a vegan company my business, I know that my money is going toward humane, animal-free products. Veganism is not just about avoiding animal products; it’s about not allowing my money to support animal cruelty.

I know that in this day it is near impossible to keep your money from ever supporting the meat industry, but I try. And if I shop at a vegan store, then I would hope this is the one time when I can rest assured.

However, when a company that sells vegan goods is run by meat eaters this is not so. I pay for my products, and my money goes directly to the employees, who then go out and by meat. And this bothers me.

I understand that I cannot control everything. But I feel lied to by such a company. If I were buying local or organic produce, I would not expect to receive anything else.

Maybe it’s just be, maybe I’m being ridiculous. Regardless, it bothers me.

Unfortunately, it is not a new trend for scientists to do disgusting, inhumane things to animals “in the name of science.”

A pictorial story has recently surfaced of Russians forcing a pig to get drunk, then launching him (in a capsule) into the air. They pictures are disturbing, as any animal abuse-related ones would be, but are not gory. They are interesting, black-and-white snapshots that tell the process of this weird and cruel experiment, but not the reasoning behind it.

My favorite part is that the men themselves wear protective gear and helmets, yet the piglet gets none.

The men appear to be donning military uniforms, and fire a gun to initiate the launch. Although I would never think that event was anything less than cruel, disgusting torture, I would be interested in the back story. With hope, some Internet sleuth will track down when and why this “experiment” took place.

Click on the picture shown to view the entire photo essay.

Every national animal organization has been talking about the Californian ballot proposition Prop 2 lately. They have all been doing wonderful things to make sure California voters understand the important potential a “yes” vote could have in the lives of millions of farm animals.

But Humane Society President Wayne Pacelle provided a different approach to the subject with a personal testimony - in video format and written out - from a California citizen on why he will be voting “yes” on Prop 2.

Here is an excerpt from Mr. Pacelle’s blog yesterday:

Dave Long knows factory farming just about as well as anyone in California. He lives in Yucaipa in San Bernardino County, and he lives adjacent to one of the largest egg factory farms in the state. This animal factory confines more than 700,000 birds in tiny wire cages where they are basically immobilized for their entire lives.

When the wind blows in the direction of his home, it carries an awful smell and more flies than you can count. I know it because I was there, and experienced it. But I could leave after I was done talking to Dave. He lives there, and he cannot leave, unless he wants to abandon the community he loves and the home he owns.

Wayne Pacelle’s blog, A Humane Nation is a well-written, thought-provoking look at current animal issues in politics, the farming and agricultural world, and life in general.

This excerpt was taken from his October 29 entry titled “Life Beside a Factory Farm,” where you can find the video of Dave Long’s personal testimony.

With less than a week to go until election day, I am still trying to find someone to vote for who supports life regardless of species or age. At this point, I’d even be content with a happy medium. Neither of the two major party candidates - John McCain and Barack Obama - are getting my vote, so I have to find someone else. I looked at four candidates from other parties, but still came up without a solution.

Today’s candidates are not likely to be found on your official ballot; however, as names that were once in the running for an official Republican or Democrat bid, they all have write-in potential. Here are 3 more presidential candidates (one of whom I’ve decided to vote for!) and their standing on the two issues of most concern to me: animals and the environment (1), and abortion (2).

* Mitt Romney (Rep.): (officially he has withdrawn from the race, but I’m sure he wouldn’t say “no thanks” if elected)
1. He wants to toughen emissions standards and tests for big oil companies, and has said that he will always choose public health interests first. He supports opening wildlife refuges for drilling.
2. Was pro-choice until December 2007 when he declared that he was now pro-life.

* Ron Paul:
1. Voted against every positive animal rights bill possible, on issues including slaughter of horses, dog fighting, farm animals, and downers.
2. “Abortion is murder.”

* Hillary Clinton:
1. Humane Society ranked her as 100 percent pro-animal rights, stating that she not only voted in support of animals, but was also a leader who initiated animal support. Likewise, the League of Conservative Voters ranked her as 89 percent pro-environment.
2. “Make abortion rare by supporting adoption and foster care.” Clinton believes that the key to reducing abortion, which is “a sad, tragic choice,” is to educate teens, provide birth control, and make adoption more affordable and easier.

Well, that settles it for me. I am now a Hillary Clinton supporter even if I am perhaps a little late to the game. Don’t forget: on November 4 you have more than two choices!

I’m not one to ever knock someone’s art. It’s a piece of them, an expression of their feelings and beliefs. So to each of these artists and their current galleries and exhibits I simply say: to each his own.

* Currently showing at New York City’s Daneyal Mahmood Gallery is the exhibit “Meat After Meat Joy” where 17 artists have fashioned pieces out of meat. The artwork ranges from carefully sculpted animal flesh to an entire set of male parts hanging on a hook. This comes a follow up to Carolee Schneemann’s 1964 feminist “Meat Joy.”

Participating artist Adam Brandejs said that, “if the flesh disturbs you, then the reality behind the issue would disturb you far more if we opened our eyes long enough to see it.”

“This is not a show about meat as spectacle but about meat as signification,” reads the online description of the show, “precisely because meat does not signify a body but its very annihilation.”

There are definite undertones of animal rights, but the fact is that dozens of animals died for this show.

* The Village Petstore and Charcoal Grill is also on display in New York City and also uses meat. This show, however, specifically sets out to comment on the way we as a society exploit animals. Banksy, the artist behind the Petstore, turned chicken nuggets into baby chicks, an old fur coat into a leopard, and fishsticks into swimming fish in a bowl.

* And the winner for weirdest meat art … the Russians. Six artists got together to celebrate the centenary of a meat-processing factory in southern Russia by recreating historic, well-known paintings (such as the Mona Lisa, which was painted by Da Vinci, who was a vegetarian!) out of edible sausage. Guests of the show were invited to take a bite. Gross. I wish someone were able to sue on behalf of Leonardo.

Read more at Russian Today and see more pictures at English Russia.

Popular social networking site Twitter is potential breeding grounds for terrorist in the Army’s mind, according to a FOX News’ recent report.

Need proof? Just look at who uses the Web site now: people who “support extremist ideologies and perspectives,” which includes vegetarians. The article also sites Twitter users such as human rights groups, communists, anarchists, religious communities, atheists, and political enthusiasts, all of which were named by the U.S. Army as extremists that currently use Twitter as an operational tool. And the last thing this country needs is an opportunity for passionate people to share their thoughts and concerns about religion, human rights, or democracy with like-minded folk worldwide.

In other FOX News reports a giant spider was caught on film eating a bird in an Australian backyard, experts declare that zombie cell phone attacks may be next, and a buried Antarctic mountain range shouldn’t exist at all!

Yea. So I’ll take this stereotypical attempt at an insult with a grain of “it’s only FOX (and statements from one narrow-minded representative of the U.S. Army) - what do they know?” salt. I, for one, am proud to be lumped together with other such thinkers (minus the terrorists, of course).

Check out the full article - U.S. Army Says Blogging Site ‘Twitter’ Could Become Terrorist Tool - on FOXNews.com.

If you aren’t familiar with the social networking tool Twitter, check out what the buzz is all about. It’s an online place for you to keep in touch with friends and family by constantly posting your answer to one simple question: “what are you doing?”

Hi. My name is Sally and I’m a smoothie addict.

I’m not sure when it started, but lately it has spiraled out of control. I can create a smoothie with such a powerful punch that it makes a filling, healthy dinner. I wake up five minutes earlier so that I can make myself one. I contemplate buying a second blender to keep at the office so I can make one for lunch. I am addicted to my smoothies.

Okay, so addictions aren’t really funny. But as some one who was a heavy drinker for almost eight years, and now hasn’t been drunk in over two years, I revel in the fact that a smoothie is what gets me high.

Tonight, I got uber creative with my dinnertime smoothie and it was awesome!

Into the blender went:

* soy milk
* frozen banana
* assorted berries
* cashews
* spinach
* ground flaxseed
* cinnamon flavored ginkgo biloba
* vanilla flavored green tea extract

… and then it went into my belly. Quickly.

Gathering knowledge about vegetarianism and all things related is good, but sometimes you need a little inspiration in the form of testimony to get or stay motivated. I’m proud to share with you just that.

Living Without Meat reader Ginger e-mailed me this week to share some exciting news: after 25 years as a pescetarian, she’s gone veg!

Not only has Ginger given her diet a makeover, but she’s had a lot of exciting changes in her lifestyle recently. Her newly vegetarian habits are joined by her quitting smoking and attempting be more eco-friendly.

Read more about Ginger’s changing ways over at her new blog - Ginger Snaps - where she plans on talking about “changes [she's] making and what [she's] learning along the way.”

Congratulations, Ginger!

Anyone else have a testimony, story, blog, or anything motivational and inspirational to share?

If you are like me, and are not wanting to vote for either Obama or McCain, then don’t forget that you have other options. I know it’s a long shot that an alternative party’s candidate will win, but it will never happen unless people start to realize that we have more choices. And in a monumental election with results likely leading to either our first black president or first woman vice, why not stir things up a little more?

There are at least 14 parties that have elected a candidate to represent them (an additional 25 are recognized in only one state), including Democrats and Republicans. However, only six, including Obama and McCain, will be on enough state ballots to win a majority in the U.S. Electoral College.

Here are four third-party candidates with potential to win, and their standing on the two issues of most concern to me: animals and the environment (1), and abortion (2).

* Ralph Nader and V.P. running mate Matt Gonzalez, nominated by several independent parties including Peace and Freedom:

1. Extreme advocate for the environment, especially National Parks.
2. In support of a woman’s right to choose; does not believe it is the government’s place to dictate anything regarding abortion.

* Cynthia McKinney and V.P. running mate Rosa Clemente, backed by the Green Party:

1. Sounds like the planet’s BFF: stresses our need for realistic, environmentally friendly policy. She promises to push for more sustainable resources and organic farming.
2. Wow. If ever there was a time to call some pro-abortion (as oppose to just for a woman’s right to choose) … she supports it all, even partial-birth abortions and abortions for minors.

* Bob Barr and V.P. running mate Wayne Allyn Root, supported by the Libertarian party:

1. Supports drilling in protected land. Said that “human beings are more important than mussels … human survival trumps shellfish reproduction ….”
2. More pro-life than Bush; has voted for every ban possible, and even to reverse Bush’s policy allowing funding for “family planning.”

* Chuck Baldwin and V.P. running mate Darrell Castle, supported by independent and the Constitution parties.

1. Speaks up primarily about Eminent Domain (he thinks it’s crap) and oil. To break America’s dependency on OPEC, we need “more drilling; more refineries; more nuclear power plants.”
2. “Abortion is America’s national holocaust.”

Each candidates name is linked to their official campaign Web site. For non-bias information on these and other issues and candidates, check out OntheIssues.org.

Next up: candidates with write-in potential a.k.a. the names you’ll recognize as former contenders for the Republican or Democratic nomination.

I went to a chiropractor today in hopes of alleviating some back and neck and hip and … ok, some pain. And for the first time ever a doctor congratulated me on my healty choice to become vegan! He also lent me a raw food book as, although I will probably never eat 100 percent raw, I love learning about nutrition. I’ve only read the first few pages so far, but already I’m learning so much!

Aside from the fascinating enzyme talk (I swear, no sarcasm. Raw foodies’ enzymes theories are truly interesting), I found a good comeback for when non-vegetarians try to argue that eating plants is murder too, because, you know, the plant dies.

By eating plants, you are continuing their life, creating a circle. Most edible plants wilt and fade rather quickly. When you eat them, your body absorbs their enzymes, processes and uses them to aid in digestion. The plants then pass through your body and return to the earth.

Yes, one could argue that eating animals also creates a circle of life. Fruits and vegetables, however, have a significantly different life expectancy, etc. than animals.

More to come!

To get in the Halloween spirit, my roommate and I watched Shaun of the Dead, a 2004 British spoof of the zombie horror film Dawn of the Dead. (Don’t be fooled by the word “spoof”: Shaun is still gory and rated R.)

Near the beginning of the movie, Shaun is talking to his mom on the phone (or listening to a message from her, I don’t remember).

“Hello Pickle! It’s me, mum. Dad said he saw you in town today and mentioned that you might be visiting tomorrow, which would be lovely. Will you be bringing Elizabeth with you this time? Only we can’t wait to meet her finally and also um … I was wondering if she wanted anything special for lunch. Cause these days a lot of people don’t eat meat.”

If my future mother-in-law isn’t veg*n herself, then I at least hope that she as similar mentality.

Also, last night’s episode of How I Met Your Mother was replete with talk of veganism, albeit poking fun at the stereotypes. I’ll recap it more once the transcript is available online.

I opened three cans of beans at once last week when I made a slow cooker soup, one of which was jumbo sized. I’ve been finding creative ways to use beans this week, since I now have a seemingly endless amount of beans leftover. I mixed some with pasta and vegetables for the most filling vegan meal ever. I blended some with oil and garlic to make hummus-style bean dip. And I discovered my new favorite, quick and easy, healthy snack.

Bean Toast

1. Pop a slice of bread into the toaster or toaster oven. Any bread will do, but the heartier the better: I used homemade, whole wheat, zucchini sandwich bread.

2. In a small dish, put a handful of a variety of beans. Using what I had opened already, I mixed kidney beans, chickpeas, and cannelini beans. Add small but equal amounts of oil and water, and microwave for about 10 seconds. Mash with a fork to a consistency that appeases you, adding sea salt and garlic, if desired.

3. Spread the mashed beans on the toast and enjoy!

With newspapers and other print media dying off due to people’s desire and ability to get information paperless, it’s hard to believe that now would be the time for a new publication. But that’s exactly what COCO Eco Magazine is.

Feel Good Style and Organic Beauty View blogger Emma Pezzack, who is also President & CEO of green makeup company Futurenatural, made a recent announcement about the magazine’s upcoming arrival. She did so proudly, as she has been named beauty editor of COCO Eco.

Ecorazzi also proudly announced the publication’s October 18 release, including the naming of Anna Griffin, who has done correspondence for the environmentally friendly blog, as editor-in-chief.

Additionally, the magazine’s staff line up features carbon footprint-reducing experts, savvy fashionistas, artistic photographers, experienced writers, and many stylish, green thinkers.

The magazine officially launches the evening of Saturday October 18 with an L.A. launch party held in conjunction with D&A’s (Designers & Artists) new Green Market event showcasing sustainable fashion .

The Metro, a free daily newspaper published in several major cities, recently asked readers to submit 400 words telling how either candidate could win your vote. I wrote a good piece, but haven’t heard back. Two people’s have been published so far - a single mother with a disabled son and a gay priest whose husband would be deported after retiring under current laws. Clearly, I don’t stand a chance as just your average working class girl with a big heart. Not wanting my thoughts to go unread, I am sharing them with you:

The 2008 presidential election is, for me, a matter of life. With the parties split on whether another being’s life is worth political support, I, too, am split on my decision. I believe that a life is a life, be it an unborn child, a chicken on a factory farm, a homeless man, or a polar bear in the Arctic. Why neither party can grasp the correlation between a human’s life and an animal’s will always be beyond my comprehension.

With Republicans, led fiercely by Sarah Palin, interested in opening national wildlife refuges and supporting aerial hunting, I cannot currently vote for John McCain and his party. Despite the fact that they are the party that agrees with Dr. Seuss’s Horton (the elephant that declared, “a person’s a person no matter how small.”), they are also the party that boasts about shooting an innocent caribou. Furthermore, the Republican party supports a person’s right to life, but not the quality of it after birth. How can you say that a child must be born, but then not support the governmental programs and funding that they may need to get by? Palin and other Republicans call themselves pro-life, but fail to mention that there are stipulations – that life has to be an unborn human.

Democrats, on the other hand, “speak for the trees,” as Seuss’s Lorax put it. They understand the need to preserve our land, resources, and species for future generations. However, with an estimated 1.2 million babies aborted each year (that’s more than 3,000 each day), they don’t seem to care for the people that will make up these future generations. True, they are willing to financially help those that need it, but for how much does that count if they are working to keep the number of those in need low? For these reasons, I cannot whole-heartedly cast my vote for Barack Obama and the Democratic party either.

If one party were to step forward and declare that life matters, regardless of how old it is or what species it is, then I could happily and easily cast my vote in their direction. If one candidate said that I, my future children, and my pets all had their political support, my decision would be easy. If one presidential hopeful supported everything that Dr. Seuss’s characters did, they would win my vote. Until that idealistic day, I remain indecisive.

Humane Society President Wayne Pacelle will be a guest today, October 14, on the Oprah Winfrey Show. He will talk more about California’s Proposition 2, and will appear alongside front men from the agribusiness industry. Wayne will be going head-to-head with his fellow guests, arguing the issues surrounding the statue.

The reach of the Humane Society’s Proposition 2 campaign is continually impressing me, as is talk show hosts’ increasing support for animal causes. Wayne Pacelle had a monumental appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show three weeks ago, which was followed by an appearance by the Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) president, and then an announcement that Ellen is now leading a vegan life.

The “Yes! on Prop 2″ campaign has set out to educate people, especially California voters, about a landmark animal-rights proposition that will be on the California state ballot this November. By voting in support of Proposition 2, voters will be supporting the creation of stricter regulations for factory farms. If passed, the proposition, which is also called Standards for Confining Farm Animals, would add a chapter to California’s Health and Safety Code to “prohibit the confinement of certain farm animals in a manner that does not allow them to tum around freely, lie down, stand up, and fully extend their limbs.” In essence: no more battery cages for chickens, veal crates for newborn calves, or gestation crates for pregnant pigs.

In addition the the HSUS, many other organizations, veterinarians, and media have added their support to Prop 2. These include, but are in no way limited to: the New York Times; Farm Sanctuary; Sierra Club; Consumer Federation of America; California Democratic Party; California Council of Churches; Center for Food Safety; Union of Concerned Scientists; and over 700 vets, 150 vet students, 140 animal-based organizations, 100 farmers, and 90 clinics and hospitals in California. To see the full list, including celebrities, religious groups, politicians, nonprofits, and newspapers, click here.