Living Without Meat

After watching a little boy pulverize a bug earlier this week, at the encouragement of his mother, I have been thinking more and more about raising children that are vegan, animal lovers, respectful of life, and generally good additions to the human race. I’m not a mother myself, but I certainly have lots of kids in my life: I babysit regularly for three siblings, and have a niece, a nephew, and one on the way any minute now. But while I am close to an expert on caring for kids, I am not an authority on raising vegan ones. For that, you’ll have to turn to other resources such as …

* The Girlie Girl Army put together a thorough collection of resources for “How to Raise Socially Responsible Rugrats” that spans the realms of respect for animals and the environment, and includes games, toys, foods, activities, and more.

* VegFamily Magazine takes you from pregnancy to teenager with everything you need to know about having veg children through articles, recipes, tips from dieticians, a message board, and videos.

* Family Education has a great article, “Raising ‘Green’ Kids,” with educational and fun activities and suggestions for helping kids understand and appreciate the Earth.

* The Vegetarian Resource Group (VRG) has a section all about “Raising a Vegetarian Family”that includes links to several articles from Vegetarian Journal.

* Sending your kids to the right sites helps. Check out the kids clubs for animal-loving organizations such as Farm Sanctuary and PETA.

* If you want to go offline in your learning, check out what Amazon.com has to offer.

Not everyone is crazy/dedicated/brave enough to work full time for the cause. Most people can’t live on the below minimum wage pay - and that’s okay, because monetary and occasional volunteer support is needed just as much.

Those of us working for pennies for the animals certainly don’t expect or want any personal help; however, sometimes we cannot deny needing to ask for it. Now is one of those times when someone who spends day after day turning your donations into action needs personal, financial help.

Chuck Pappas, Farm Sanctuary’s Watkins Glen, NY, fulfillment coordinator since 2005, was diagnosed with brain cancer one month ago. In the few weeks since his diagnosis, he has already spent more than two weeks in the hospital; had over a dozen MRIs and two surgeries; been put on six prescriptions, and is now scheduled to have permanent titanium plates implanted into his skull.

He is out of work indefinitely, and his health insurance is not covering everything, starting with a $10,000 emergency flight from Ithaca to Rochester. To top it all off, Chuck and his wife Jen, who also works at the Farm, have had to give up most of their numerous rescued pets because of the cost of caring for them.

Chuck is doing better, but paying the bills is going to be a long, hard struggle for the Pappas. This July a number of his friends and family members will be walking or biking from the Taking Action For Animals Conference in DC to the Farm Sanctuary Hoe Down in Watkins Glen to raise money to help them out.

If you are able, and want to support someone who truly dedicated himself to helping animals, donate to 300 Miles for Chuck.

I am assuming that by now you have heard more about the swine flu outbreak than you ever wanted to. Every news station is reporting on it. Every newspaper is stretching it out into multiple stories each day. And every blogger - especially the veg ones - is blogging their opinions about it (sometimes eloquently, other times just ranting and raving).

I, however, don’t have much to say because I haven’t taken the time to read up much about it. So rather than waxing philosophical on a topic that is foreign to me, I would like to share with you the opinion of the animal advocacy group that I agree with most often (though not always): Farm Sanctuary.

This morning, Tuesday, April 28, Farm Sanctuary released this public statement from president and co-founder Gene Baur about the outbreak of swine flu and its connections to factory farming:

For more than 23 years, Farm Sanctuary has warned that cramming thousands of animals into factory farms is not only bad for the animals. These stressful, filthy, disease-ridden confines are also bad for humans. Animals packed by the thousands in unnatural conditions suffer immensely and these unhealthy, overcrowded operations are a breeding ground for disease. For too long, agribusiness and the USDA have failed to adequately address animal and human health risks - swine flu, avian flu, MRSA, e-coli, salmonella, mad cow disease - the list goes on. Factory farms are nothing less than a prescription for disaster.

Virtual experiences are the new black in the world of animal rights. Two leaders in the virtual animal world are Animal Visuals, a site that has made two videos so far and promises more to come, and Farm Sanctuary, which has just released a brand new virtual tour of the Farm as well as inside factory farms.

Animal Visuals’ first tour takes you inside a battery cage. You see through the eyes of a hen and can look around - but not move or flap your wings, as would be the case for these hens in real life. You can see a dead bird beneath your feet, injured ones next to you, and other instances of cruelty. Their newest experience gives you a real-time look at the rate of slaughter.

Experience the virtual farm world, and investigate inside factory farms for all animal species and explore the refuge these animals find at Farm Sanctuary.

Unfortunately, it seems as if there will not be a Farm Sanctuary Gala this year. There is one in the works for 2010, potentially in Los Angeles, California, but for 2009 we will just have to find another way to get our Farm fix. Living less than a day’s drive from the Watkins Glen, New York shelter, I am contemplating a northward vegan road trip with friends. Those Farm fans that are not able to work in a tour-season trip (and those that can, too) can and should check out the goods up for auction at Charity Buzz to benefit Farm Sanctuary, open now through April 1.

As always, there are a lot of top-name vegan celebrities and brands offering autographs, meet-and-greets, fashions, and more. The most popular lots right now include exclusive meet ups with Kelly Clarkson, Ali McGraw, Joan Jett, Gene Baur, Kevin Nealon, and Amy Smart. There are also yoga classes, raw and vegan nutritional counseling, an audition with an agent, tickets, salon and spa treatments, and so much more.

A lot of big names have been popping up with new veg blogs lately. Here are some to check out:

Farm Sanctuary now has multiple blogs and bloggers to follow. Gene Baur’s Bloggings features just that - the words, wisdom, and thoughts of Gene Baur, the Farm’s co-founder and president. Making Hay is all about speaking up, advocating, and generally stirring up the dirt for the benefit of animals. It is co-written by Danielle Bays, advocacy and outreach manager, and New York City-based Jasmin Singer, national advocacy organizer. Sanctuary Tails provides “news from behind the barn doors” from the fingers of Susie Coston, national shelter director, and Leanne Cronquist, the California shelter director.

And, the newbie veg blog that I am proudest to announce … top-rated green gossip blog Ecorazzi recently gave birth to two new special topic blogs. The first, Ecorattle, provides readers will all things green for the babies in the family. Then there’s VEGdaily for all things veg. Both sites are written by a team of writers, as Ecorazzi is, and the VEGdaily team will feature your truly!

Have you noticed any other new veg-related blogs popping up? Share them with us!

Last night I attended the first (and hopefully now monthly) Vegan Drinks Philly. About 70 vegans, vegetarians, and veg-inclined people packed into the small bar room at the local vegan go-to restaurant Horizons. It was a fun, social, easy going, friendly atmosphere. And the most popular question of the evening was how did I get a job in the animal rights field. So in case anyone else is interested, here’s the path that I followed …

Almost two years ago I started writing for this site. I would say that having this on my resume, and being something that potential employers could easily review, was a major benefit. I was particularly complimented on interviews over the professional nature of my writing.

So that’s my first suggestion: take up a hobby that relates to animals or veganism and then present yourself in a professional manner while doing so. Volunteer with local shelters or rescues and always show up when you say that you will. Start a blog, but keep it more informative than personal, more article like than diary. And in everything that you do watch your language. Consider everyone that you interact with a potential employer and therefore offer them respect.

Once I decided that I was ready to move on to a full-time job benefiting animals, I began looking around online. There are some animal-based job searches, such as the Humane Society’s Humane Career Toolbox, but I found the most fruitful search to be going directly to the source. If you are willing to move, head to the Web sites of Farm Sanctuary, PETA, and HSUS. Check out what job openings they have. But don’t be discouraged if you don’t get a response. HSUS didn’t respond to me at all. PETA considered me, but said “no thanks.” Farm Sanctuary interviewed me in person, but went with someone that had more experience.

So my second big tip is to look for smaller, growing organizations, and be ready to work for pennies! Growing companies will not be able to pay as much but will also be willing to let you learn on the job - as long as you have the passion, professionalism, and at least some skills.

And finally, as with any job search, keep at it. It never hurts to send your resume, even you think you are not quite qualified.

Since the four new Go Max Go Foods vegan candy bars won’t be on sale until after Valentine’s Day, sweet-craving vegans will have to look elsewhere for the upcoming hearts-, love-, and chocolate-filled holiday.

Lots of candy brands are vegan, but finding a box of chocolates that’s all vegan is a harder feat. PETA has put together a mix, weighing over one pound, of dark and rice Belgian chocolates with all the standard nuts, fruits, and fillings, but minus all of the animal products.

There are also plenty of other ways to say “I love you” without giving your sweetheart (or yourself) a cavity. Farm Sanctuary suggests adopting a farm animal in your loved one’s name. Click on the banner below to check out more info about sponsoring a goat, chicken, duck, or cow.

Don’t miss Gene Baur, president and founder of Farm Sanctuary and author of Farm Sanctuary: Changing Hearts and Minds About Animals and Food, and Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the U.S., on CNN’s Headline News show Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell tomorrow evening.

During the first half of the show, Velez-Mitchell discusses shelter-specific issues such as puppy mills, overcrowding, and adoption with Pacelle; Carole Davis, actress, animal advocate, and author of The Diary of Jinky: Dog of a Hollywood Wife; and Bill Smith, founder of Main Line Animal Rescue. The second half features Baur on the lives of animals raised for food.

The episode, titled Special Investigation: Animal Issues, originally aired on Christmas Day, but will air again tomorrow, New Year’s Day, at 7 p.m. EST in the U.S. Check your local listings ahead of time to ensure that you don’t miss it. A rough transcript of the show is available now on CNN.com.

Dear Santa,

I have been very good this year and would like to send you a few ideas for what an animal-loving vegan like myself might enjoy for Christmas:

* Stockpiles of vegan staples. Perhaps yummy meal bar brands like Go Raw; raw, unsalted nuts and unsweetened dried fruit; and especially hard to find such as quinoa.

* A dehydrator for making more raw snacks.

* Loose leaf tea and related accessories.

* Thanking the Monkey: Rethinking the Way We Treat Animals by Karen Dawn.

* Anything to help me spoil my kitties - toys, treats, catnip.

* An all-expense paid trip to Corning, New York, visit to Farm Sanctuary included.

* Cruelty-free beauty products.

* Anything labeled fair trade, organic, cruelty-free, natural, herbal, botanical, not tested on animals, or handmade. The more of these on the label, the better.

* A purse by vegan designers Matt & Nat.

* Subscription to a veg-related magazine. Vegetarian Times and Veg News are equally enjoyable.

* A job in a health/animal rights/vegan friendly career and company. Can you do that at all, Santa? Do you have connections? I’ll send you my resume.

* Some Dr. Cow Tree Nut cheese. Emily Deschanel told me it was delicious, but she forgot to mention the price tag - it’s a splurge!

* For you to eat vegan for a whole week. Santa, I would be so proud and consider it a great gift to me and animals if you refrained from eating animal products for a week or more.

Thanks for listening, Santa.

Love, Sally

Check out Cute Overload, a site that posts pictures of cute animals. Today, they featured Farm Sanctuary’s Adopt a Turkey program!

Well, it seems today is just a Gene Baur/Farm Sanctuary kind of day here on Living Without Meat. First with an empowering quote from him, and now a freebie!

In celebration of the passing of California’s groundbreaking Proposition 2, and the paperback release of his book - Farm Sanctuary: Changing Hearts and Minds About Animals and Food, Gene Baur is offering a one day only special: you can download his book for free!

Today, Friday November 7 only, you can download the Farm Sanctuary eBook for free at Sony’s eBookstore. You can read the book without a Sony Reader by downloading the reader software to your computer.

Gene Baur concluded the e-mail about this free eBook offer with a bit of gratitude: “Thank you for all you do for the animals and please join me as we keep this momentum going and educate millions more about the plight of farm animals!”

It’s such a simple statement, but this sentence from Farm Sanctuary President Gene Baur’s letter in the beginning of the recent issue of his organization’s quarterly magazine carries so much truth and power:

“Factory farmers depend on citizens to buy their products, but most people oppose the cruelty associated with mass-producing meat, milk and eggs when they learn of it, so animal agriculture obscures its abuses.”

How simple of a concept is that? You have the power to effect factory farmers. You, as a consumer, have the constant choice to either support factory farms or to hinder their continuance.

Do you hear me? You have the power. You can make a difference.

Remove your blindfold and open yourself up to learning and accepting the truth. Know where your food and products come from; know who and what is profiting from the purchases you make. Be an educated consumer and refuse to support cruelty.

Be vegan and make a difference.

And that, my friends, is your daily dose of empowerment. Pass it on; empower the people around you with this knowledge.

After the conclusion of America’s election season, congratulations are in order … to Californian farm animals!

Although still destined to be mass bred, raised, and slaughtered in a factory-style setting, Cali chickens, pigs, and baby cows can thank the voters of their state for starting to make changes.

California ballot proposal, Proposition 2, passed last night with an early lead showing at least 60 percent of voters supporting the measure. From here, the process begins for removal of all battery cages (for chickens), veal crates (for baby cows), and gestation crates (for pregnant pigs).

The passing of Prop 2 means a ban on these three forms of cruel confinement in the state of California. It is a phasing out process: 2015 is the deadline for 100 percent cage- and crate- free farms.

Read more about what this means for the future of California farm animals by clicking on either of the victory pictures shown here. The red banner is Farm Sanctuary’s and will redirect you to their Prop 2 page; the “We did it!” chickens are from the Humane Society and will take you to President Wayne Pacelle’s blog.

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.