Living Without Meat

Picture this: After an early, hard-working morning, I am sitting poolside after lunch with my laptop computer doing work. The rain and thunderstorms that have been virtually non-stop the last month in Philly have finally taken a break and the sun is out. It’s a gorgeous, relaxing day. Nothing could interrupt, right?

Wrong. I am jolted back to reality when I hear the thud of a flip-flop smacking against the concrete. A little boy is going to town smashing what I can only assume was once a bug. Then I hear his mother, “Did you get it? Good job! You’re so good at that! Is it definitely dead?”

I find that when I am handing out veg pamphlets on the street (a.k.a. leafleting), kids are very receptive when I say, “info on helping animals” while handing their parents a pamphlet. More often than not, regardless of how the adult responds, the child says, “I want to help animals!” Usually it seems that kids have a strong sense of respect for all living things (when do we lose this, by the way?), but that didn’t help me feel any less sad that this mother was clearly raising an apathetic son with little or no respect for life.

In other news … the 18-year-old serial cat killer, Tyler Hayes Weinman, was charged for a string of cat killings and mutilations in the Miami area. Hmm … bet he was a bug squisher as a kid.

Want to parent your kids in a way that helps them understand respect for others? I highly recommend keeping up with Wired for Noise, the blog of Summer, a mother of three or at least read her recent post “Attachment Parenting, Feminism, and Raising Sons”.

Apparently I am a career woman now, or so says the faculty at a local grade school who invited me to speak at career day today. I talked for about 20 minutes about working for animals with my job at the Humane League to four different classes, ranging from 4th grade to 8th grade.

I started talking to each class by telling them what a day looks like for me: Working from home on the computer in the morning, heading out into the city to work on different campaigns in the afternoon, and then working a second job teaching classes at local recreation centers in the evening.

Then I showed pictures. I held up photos of sow and veal crates, battery cages, and more. I told them that this was why I work for an animal advocacy nonprofit. I told them that the hope of changing this was why I am willing to work for pennies. Every child in every class was listening to what I had to say and looking at the pictures that I shared. I also made sure to follow the more graphic photos up with ones of animals that had been saved, while telling the a few stories about animals that were rescued.

Lots of the older kids were very curious as to what, as a vegan, I eat. Most had only heard off vegetarian, if that, and didn’t know what being vegan meant … but after today I am sure that they know now because I was not the only vegan talking to them today! There was a nutritionist and someone from a wellness center who also talked about veganism. And I’m sure that hearing the chef talk about the sea animals screaming when she boiled them alive didn’t hurt either.

This photo shown here is just one off the many reasons that I chose to ditch my gallon-a-week milk drinking habit about four years ago, just months after I first gave up eating meat. The calves in this photo are dead. They are rotting along side of the road and are covered in flies and other insects. These baby cows are not a rare occurrence. This happens daily in the dairy industry.

Calves are an inconvenient necessity in the milk production process, especially males. Any females born on a dairy farm may replace their mother, who is slaughtered when her productivity drops. They may also be shipped off and slaughtered for the rennet in their stomachs, a by-product that is used for cheese. Males have traditionally been shoved into veal crates and slaughtered for meat at a young age. In fact, the veal industry was born out of the dairy industry. But today, it often costs too much for farmers to crate and ship male calves and so alternatives are sought.

Calves are dumped “to avoid rendering costs or hauling them to auction”

But my reasons for switching from cow’s milk to soy don’t stop there. Hearing that cow’s milk contains pus and that it is bad for my health was enough to make sure that I am never tempted to return to my milk chugging days.

According to Milk Sucks, dairy products “contain no fiber or complex carbohydrates and are laden with saturated fat and cholesterol. They are contaminated with cow’s blood and pus and are frequently contaminated with pesticides, hormones, and antibiotics.” They have also been “linked to allergies, constipation, obesity, heart disease, cancer, and other diseases.”

Soy milk doesn’t immediately take the place of cow’s milk on your taste buds, but eventually you will become accustomed to the flavor and will wonder how you ever drank such a think cream that is bad for you, cows, and the environment.

As we were all remembering the men and women who fought and died at war, and those that are still fighting today, this Memorial Day weekend, I hope we all can also take a moment to remember the animals who had no choice in giving their lives in war.

It’s not something that many of us - myself included - think about very often, the fact that there are millions of horses, pigeons, elephants, glow worms, mules, camels, and other beings involved in human wars. Plus all of the pigs, dogs, and other animals that are used for cruel military tests and experiments.

But in 2004, the Animals in War Memorial was erected at the edge of Hyde Park in London, England, to commemorate those creatures who fought and died and, as the inscription reads, “had no choice.”

The newly released book, The New Animal Activist’s Handbook by Matt Ball and Bruce Friedrichnow has a Web site! Check out www.AnimalAdvocacyBook.com to see all of the book’s details including reviews, author bios, news, events, and related links.

I spent my entire day today at the American Vegan Society’s Garden Party. There was veg food, live music, new friends - and a few old ones too, speakers, coupons, and the part that took up the most of my time: a book room.

The Vegan Society’s book room is just a rinky dink, narrow building with two rooms lined with tall metal shelves, each filled with vegan health, nutrition, animal rights, poem, and recipe books, and much more too. But it was heaven to me! With a copy of the New York Times’ best-selling book When Elephants Weep by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson already on route to me from Paperback Swap I passed that one by. But I still had another three dozen books that I wanted to buy! Making a decision was hard, but I narrowed it down to three (plus a dozen old Vegetarian Times and Natural Health magazines and a few other free pamphlets):

* Raw Food Made Easy for 1 or 2 People by Jennifer Cornbleet, a beginner raw foods prep book that gives a lot of very basic ideas and concepts as well as some more creative creations using the basics.

* The Tofu Cookbook by Leah Leneman, a collection of over 150 meals, desserts, drinks, and more that you can make using the soy veg staple.

* Quantum Wellness: A Practical and Spiritual Guide to Health and Happiness by Kathy Freston, the highly talked and raved about health guide that was featured on both Oprah Winfrey’s and Ellen DeGeneres’ daytime talk show.

Click on it to see it full size!

Stop what you’re doing! Turn on the TV and be sure not to miss PETA’s Senior Vice President Dan Mathews on the Today Show this morning, Wednesday, May 20, between 7:30 and 8 a.m. Eastern time.

According to PETA, “Dan will be talking about PETA’s position on elephants and Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey Circus, Ringling’s breeding facility (the “Center for Elephant Conservation”), and the current lawsuit against the circus for alleged abuse of its elephants.”

If you miss it, I’m sure that it will be available online later in the day, just as vegan author Kathy Freston’s recent Extra appearance already is: click here to watch it.

On this episode of Extra Freston, author of the Quantum Wellness Cleanse that was featured on Ellen almost exactly one year ago, interviewed Dr. T. Colin Campbell and his son, Thomas M. Campbell, co-authors of The China Study, about the benefits of a plant-based diet and the many myths surrounding meat and dairy.

Thanks for all the vegan coverage, news media!

Lawmakers are really making positive strides lately for animals (usually thanks to an animal rights groups shaking the ground beneath them, but progress is progress).

Hawaii lawmakers are looking to pass two new bills that will clarify current animal cruelty laws. The first will allow protection of pets in restraining orders, particularly in cases of domestic violence. The second will redefine animal hoarders as having 15 or more pets, down from the previous 20. Pinch, choke, or prong collars for tethering will also be banned.

European Parliament endorsed a ban on Canadian seal products. Meanwhile, over in Canada, a major restaurateur removed foie gras from his menus.

Maine became the sixth state to ban gestation crates and veal crates.

Bolivia, a country that has already banned military training exercises that use animal subjects, is now looking to ban circuses.

Last night was the opening night of the Ringling Brothers’ Circus in Philadelphia. It was also my first time attending a protest; usually I stick to spreading the word about being veg. For two hours before the event started, I stood outside of one of the parking lots with three other women, big signs, and fliers to hand out. Around the corner, at the main entrance, about a dozen more activists were doing the same, along with one person dressed up in a giant elephant costume.

Nearby, we could peek behind a somewhat see-through temporary plastic wall and see the elephants waiting, unchained momentarily so the public didn’t see the chains. They had just arrived in Philly, after spending 30 hours on a train from Connecticut. One time I peeked in to watch the circus folk cleaning the elephants with a leaf blower. The men wanted the animals to lay down while getting cleaned, and since one elephant didn’t want to he was “encouraged” to do so with a swift whack from a bullhook.

We had a lot of fun - despite the occasional person shouting accusations at us or giving us the finger. At least one family turned around and decided to find something else to do for the evening instead of go in to the circus.

Confused as the why we would not like the circuses? Please take a moment to check out these explanations:

* PETA’s Circuses Web site

* Wilmer “Fez” Valderrama’s video

* The Humane Society’s circus articles

* Any of the hundreds of videos of abuse caught on tape, available through YouTube

Donkeys do not want to be told what to do nor when to do it. And they certainly do not want to be dragged into a gymnasium, and then ridden, dragged, kicked, whipped, fallen on, and cheered loudly at for a few hours. Donkeys are not willing participants in the idiotic “sport” of donkey basketball.

This weird activity began during the Depression as a form of cheap entertainment in rural areas of the U.S., and for some odd reason has gained popularity as a school fundraiser.

Thank goodness some lawmakers are finally starting to realize that this is a form of physical and emotional abuse! Several states, including New Jersey, Ohio, Indiana, Oregon, and Pennsylvania, have had school districts elect to ban donkey basketball.

Read more about these events and see more pictures at the UK’s Daily Mail online.

Compassion Over Killing (COK) is calling on the public to pledge to avoid eating eggs for the month of May, the month that the egg industry has dubbed as National Egg Month in efforts to keep sales up after the busy Easter season. Take the COK egg-free pledge today - regardless of how many other animal products you do or don’t eat - to show your support for the hardworking, mistreated hens (and the baby boy chicks that are chopped up alive or smothered in the trash).

When you take the pledge, COK will be sure to provide you with everything that you need to continue cooking, baking, and eating without eggs. You’re “Cracking the Habit” package will come in the mail just a few days after you sign up, and will include coupons for great vegan condiments, a vegetarian how-to guide, stickers, and if you are one of the first 200 to sign up, a copy of VegNews magazine.

Two outstanding men in the animal activist world - Matt Ball, co-founder and director of Vegan Outreach and Bruce Friedrich, a vice president of PETA - have poured all of their tips, suggestions, and knowledge into one easy-to-understand new book: The Animal Activist’s Handbook: Maximizing Our Positive Impact in Today’s World.

This guide goes beyond the basic “how-tos” for animal activism and delves into all aspects of speaking out for your cause. From picking a worthy and meaningful topic and action to effectively playing out all the steps, this book has it all. There are also lots of extras to be found within the pages, including a foreword by PETA President Ingrid Newkirk, an index of recommended resources, a look at the controversial concept of “humane” meat, and theoretical discussions on ethics and animal liberation.

The Handbook was released in the beginning of April by Lantern Books, a publishing company worth checking out if you like books about animals, veganism, health, spirituality, and other socially conscious topics.

Anyone watch The View this morning, May 7? Lois, a member of the Humane League, emailed us this note today about today’s episode:

“Barbara Walters held up a copy of the newspaper, the New York Daily News. On the front cover is a photo of a baby cow that escaped a slaughterhouse. She announced that she is upset by the photo and is on her way to being a vegetarian.

“Any way that light can be shed on the plight of farm animals is much needed. I thought Ms. Walters was phenomenal at bringing attention to this. She spoke briefly, but added she is bringing a veggie burger to her Washington, D.C. trip this weekend. Kudos to Barbara!”

Thanks for letting us all know, Lois - and thanks for the veg promotion, Barbara!

The picture shown here, where a young calf is being treated like an escaped criminal, is the one that Barbara shared with View watchers this morning; read the accompanying article, “No bull, cow escapes slaughterhouse and hoofs it through Queens.”

It seems that the 22-year-old PETA employee FishingHurts, formerly known as Rachel Feather, has some company. Ms. FishingHurts, of Arizona, legally changed her name last year in February 2008 to show support for animals’ rights by creating a personal conversation starter.

Later in the year, in October, a teenager followed suit and legally changed her name as well. The 19-year-old PETA intern from North Carolina, formerly known as Jennifer Thornburg, now goes by CutoutDissection.com.

“I normally do have to repeat my name several times when I am introducing myself to someone new,” Cutout told The Asheville Citizen-Times. “Once they find out what my name is, they want to know more about what the Web site is about.”

Cutout’s family, however, understandably still calls her Jennifer. “It will take me a while,” said her dad, Duane Thornburg. “She’s still Jennifer to me. I understand why she’s done it. Believe it or not, I totally respect it.”

FishingHurts and CutoutDissection.com were not the first and surely won’t be the last animal activists - all of whom so far seem to be PETA employees and interns - to legally change their name for the cause. In 2003, the then 23-year-old Karin Robertson, of Indiana, also a PETA employee, changed her name to GoVeg.com. In 2005, PETA worker Christopher Garnett, whose driver’s license is shown here, changed his name to KentuckyFriedCruelty.com. He changed it back to Chris a year later.

I’m sure that there are more name changes that I am missing. So if you have dreams of one day working for PETA, particularly as an intern or youth outreach coordinator, be prepared to change your name! I think I will wait to become Ms. LivingWithoutMeat until I own the domain name.