My (25th!) Birthday Wish

Hi, all!!  So, I am VERY excited that my birthday is less than a month away.  This year, instead of gifts, I am asking everyone to donate a little to a foundation that I have fallen in love with.  The Gentle Barn rescues animals who have lived lives that we would not wish on our worst enemies.  They are brought the a farm in California where they begin physical, mental, and emotional rehab.  Young children, at-risk teens, and those faced with overcoming physical and mental challenges visit the barn and are shown that showing a little kindness can make all the difference - not just for the animals, but for the humans too.

I ask that everyone take a few minutes to donate a little something to this wonderful group.

Thank you so much!

Backasswards

Some things about people's choices are very clear while others are so ass-backwards that I am scratching my head days or weeks later.  Here is an example:  About a month ago I was at a dog behavior class at the Washington Humane Society.  I was washing my hands after the class and noticed that the soap they had was made by Colgate-Palmolive.  "What's wrong with a Humane Society using Colgate-Palmolive?" you ask?  Well, Colgate-Palmolive voluntarily does animal testing.  Yes, the government does require that certain products be tested on animals, but Colgate-Palmolive goes above and beyond the call of duty.  They test even when they don't have to.  They are not the only ones.  Procter and Gamble does too.

Here is what irritates me about the situation:  I am at a place that advocates animal rights and treating them in an ethical and responsible manor, yet, by purchasing this soap, they have just given a company money to  continue animal testing.  Does that seem ass-backwards to anyone other than me?  C-P states that they make products free of any animal-derived ingredients, and, while that is commendable, was that animal-free product animal-tested?  Again, that's pretty ass-backwards.

In the Humane Society's defense, they may not be aware that they are supporting a company that supports animal testing.

Here is another example:  My favorite day-time TV host and fellow (ethical) vegan is a Cover Girl.  HELLO?!  Cover Girl is a Procter and Gamble brand!!!!  ASS-BACKWARDS!!!

Further reading:
Colgate-Palmolive brands
Colgate-Palmolive vegetarian product list (for Canada - couldn't find a US list)
List of all Procter and Gamble brands
Companies that DO test*
Companies that DO NOT test

Companies that DO NOT test on animals and make 99% to 100% of their products free of animal-derived ingredients:
Seventh Generation
Mrs. Meyers
Tom's of Maine
Kiss My Face

*Please note that of the companies that DO test, some of them do so "only when required by law".  Regardless, living, breathing, feeling beings are being tortured even if it's "only when required by law".  Wait!  That's ass-backwards!  A law that says we are required to torture animals when, let's be honest, it's just not necessary?!

Snap back to reality

So, my apologies, faithful followers, for having not posted anything for quite some time. I was out of town and living in a bubble of PERFECT (Canyon Ranch) for 10 days, so I haven't had much to complain about. However, it is now time to face reality. What follows are my latest life issues.


First - BP.
Has BP said "Yes, we F-ed up. No, we did not have the proper precautions in place to fix a problem as catastrophic as a blown pipe. No, we did not have the precautions in place to prevent damage to lives (human an non), habitat, and culture. No, we did not have a plan for cleaning up the repercussions of a catastrophe such as this? Yes, our negligence killed 11 people in our company. Yes, our negligence has killed natural habitats and wetlands. Yes, our negligence has killed many animals. Yes, our negligence has put thousands out of work indefinitely. Yes, we F-ed up."? I'm pretty sure they haven't. Excuse after excuse after excuse. Man up, BP. YOU SCREWED UP!!! EVERYONE KNOWS IT.


Second - Honey is Vegan?
No, it's not. Honey, is not Vegan. Is it an animal product, animal byproduct, or animal derived? Why, yes it is! If you didn't know that, please stop reading; I have nothing more to say to you. Okay, fine, so there was one blemish in my perfect bubble. Canyon Ranch has the most amazing menu. It's very Vegan friendly. Or so I thought. The Vegan items are marked but not as clearly as I thought. Under "Vegan" on their menu key it says "Vegan=Contains no animal ingredients. (May contain honey)." Uhhhh.... Then it may contain an animal product therefore making it not Vegan. AND, the items with honey were not marked. We talked with the head of food services and he basically said that some people are stricter about being Vegan than others. "Some Vegans eat meat or fish." What planet are you from?! Then they are omnivores or pescetarians!! I mean, if you are going to cater to Vegans and mark menu items as such, then you have to mark them accurately. I keep very strictly Vegan at home, so I was thrilled to go someplace to Vegan-friendly only to find that I was still having to ask about what was in dishes. In addition, the items on the salad bar had NO Vegan symbols. I had no idea which salad dressings were Vegan or which of the pre-made salad bar items were Vegan. I was very skeptical about everything that I ate. I was constantly eating under the assumption that someone "slipped in" something that shouldn't have been there. Tisk tisk. It's either Vegan or it's not.

I've been thinking...

At some point last summer, I began to read Jeffery Moussaieff Masson's The Face On Your Plate: The Truth About Food.  This week, I picked up where I left off.  I am not sure why I began reading it again, but I am glad I did.  May it has to do it something that got me thinking this week:  How different is our treatment of animals than the treatment of the Jews during the Holocaust?  While you may say, "Alie, that's an extreme comparison," I'll respond with, "Is it really?"  Let's take a moment to think about it.  Have you thought about it?  How does your list of comparisons compare to mine:

       Animals                                                         Jews

-Vivisected without the use                            -Vivisected without the use

of anesthesia or pain relief for                         of anesthesia or pain relief for 

"medical" or "scientific" research/                  "medical" or "scientific" research/

curiosity                                                           curiosity

-Thrown into gas chambers as a                    -Thrown into gas chambers as a

means to get rid of them because                    means to get rid of them because

they are "useless" or "taking up space"          they are "useless"or"taking up space"

-Buried alive                                                  -Buried alive

-Poisoned                                                       -Poisoned

-Experimented on without the use                -Experimented on without the use

of anesthesia or pain relief for                         of anesthesia or pain relief for

"medical" or "scientific" research/                  "medical" or "scientific" research/

curiosity                                                           curiosity

-Worked to death                                            -Worked to death in camps

-Housed in the most inhumane                      -Housed in the most inhumane

living conditions                                              living conditions

-Transported to their death in dirty,               -Transported to their death in dirty,
cramped, dark boxes/cages                               cramped, dark boxcars deprived
deprived of food and water.                              of food and water

Is it still an extreme comparison?  Well, in a way, yeah.  The conditions under which these beings live(d) and die(d) is/are extreme.  Oddly enough, after beginning this post, I found an interesting quote in Masson's book: "If David Irving get three years for denying the Holocaust, what do the rest of us deserve, who live in denial of today's atrocities?"  The quote is from a letter written by Dr. Jeph Mathias from Manali, India, that was published in The Guardian Weekly.


Let me pose this question: how can one be opposed to harming one kind of sentient being, but be okay with/ support/ actively participate in the despicable treatment of other sentient beings?  How is it any different than racism, sexism, or any other ism?  It isn't.  It's what we call speciesism.  It wasn't until I Wiki'd "speciesism" that came across this.  The abhorrent treatment of "lesser" beings - humans and non - must stop.  Namaste.

Follow up to "Food in Schools"

Hey all!  I came across this website and Facebook page which advocate for healthier school lunches including meat-less and dairy-free options.  Check them out, sign the petitions, and spread the word.

http://www.healthyschoollunches.org/

http://www.facebook.com/PCRMSchoolLunchRevolution?ref=ts&v=info#!/PCRMSchoolLunchRevolution?ref=ts

I just don't understand

Okay, so like I have said before, I don't wish tell people how they should live their lives and what decisions they should/shouldn't make for what ever the reasons.  For those who have chosen to make animals a part of their diet, I firmly believe that the animals should not live and die inhumanely.  If animals are sedated or made unconscious prior to their killing, then I can accept a person eating animals (I however will remain animal free).  Recently, on one of the fan pages on Facebook, a video was posted of captive bolt gun and pithing cattle as a "humane" way of killing.

     For those of you who do not know what the afore mentioned is, it is horrifying.  Bolt guns are guns that shoot a metal rod through the skull and into the brain of an animal and as a result "clearing" a path.  A pithing rod or needle is then inserted into the whole and through the whole the brainstem is then mangled rendering the animal with no feeling or death.  Please keep in mind that this procedure is done in order to humanely kill the animal and is also done with no sedation or pain management.  Well what the hell is the point if you've already put them through that?!

If you feel that my explanation is unclear or have any doubt that this happens, then please check out the video I mentioned:

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=107093239302627&ref=mf

Here is a diagram (no blood) of what the gun does:

http://www.nrvoutdoors.com/HUMANE%20KILLERS/PITHING.jpg


Wikipedia's definition of captive bolt pistol:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captive_bolt_pistol


Wikipedia's definition of pithing:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pithing


Okay, let's take a vote... Captive bolt gun and pithing.... Humane or not?


In closing, a little (vegan) food for thought:  Is it still humane if you do it to a human?  Not just what I have discussed here, but in general, if we treated humans, the way we treat animals (food, pets, wild animals, etc.), how would we react?

"The question is, 'Can they suffer?' "

"THE QUESTION IS NOT, 'CAN THEY REASON?'  NOR 'CAN THEY TALK?'  BUT 'CAN THEY SUFFER?' "  said Jeremy Bentham in 1789 as part of the first push for legal protection for animals.  This famous quote from his Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation was the foundation in determining whether or not animals were worthy of legal protection.

Yes, I am Vegan.  Yes, many of my reasons for becoming Vegan are surrounding animal welfare.  I am not here to push others to do the same.  All I want is for people to understand the consequences of their actions.  While I choose not to eat anything that walks, flies, or swims, I do not “hate on” people who do, nor do I preach to them to change their carnivorous ways.  However, I do like to pick their brain a little bit. 

Vegans and vegetarians are constantly being asked, “Why?  How?” and my favorite, “Well, what do you eat?”  The answers vary from person to person.  For me, the answers are simple.  Why?  Because I do not condone the maltreatment and exploitation of living beings.  How?  Easily!  At this point, I know way too much for my own good.  I have seen how the animals live, how they are treated, and how they are killed. 

One person I know once said to me, “I don’t care how my food gets onto my plate.”  I responded with, “If you knew how the animals live and die, I bet you would change your mind.”  His answer shocked me: “I know how they do it.  They beat ‘em over the head.”  For once in my life I was speechless.  Now, this is a person who adopts pets from shelters.  This is a person who very much loves his pets.  Once I found my words, I asked, “Would you treat your dog this way?”  To my horror, he replied, “No, it’s my dog. Cows are raised to be eaten.  That’s they’re job.  I don’t care how it gets to me.”  This takes me back to my original question: do they suffer?

The question of suffering goes beyond “food animals.”  There are animals skinned alive for their fur and left to die with no sedation or pain management.  There are animal shelters that literally throw “unwanted” animals into gas chambers causing them to gasp for air for 20 minutes until they die.  What about the shelter animals that are adopted to labs because they are considered useless?  Again, do they suffer?

I would like to reinforce that I am in no way trying to talk people into removing animals from their diet.  I would like to talk people into reconsidering how they get their animal products.

So now, for everyone who believes that people are Vegans and vegetarians for whatever the stereoypes say, this is why many of us are Veg, and this is for you:

PLEASE NOTE: The following is not my writing. The words are copied from a YouTube video, to which there is a link at the bottom. The video also led me to the source of these words, a website, which, too, will be posted at the bottom.

The term “Vegan” is often used to mean a set of basic values and attitudes towards life, nature and society. Veganism is a “Philosophy of Life” guided by an essential core of values and principles: Vegans see life as a phenomenon to be treasured, revered, and respected. We do not see animals as either “the enemy” to be subdued, or the materials for food, fabric, or fun who were put on Earth for human use. Vegans see themselves as a part of the natural world rather than its owners or masters. Veganism recognizes no expendable or superfluous species that humans are free to hurt or destroy species of life forms, need not justify their existence, nor plead for protection form extinction on the grounds of their potential usefulness as food or medicine for humans. We continue to be burdened and misguided by adages such as “A weed is a plant we have not yet found a use for.” Veganism acknowledges the intrinsic legitimacy of all life. It rejects any hierarchy of acceptable suffering among sentient beings. It is no more acceptable to torment or kill beings with “primitive nervous systems” than those with “highly developed nervous systems.” The value of life to its possessor is the same, whether it be the life of a clam, a crayfish, a carp, a cow, a chicken, or a child. Veganism understands that gentleness cannot be a product of violence, and peace cannot be a product of contention and conflict. Vegan ideals encompass much more than advocacy of a diet free of animal products, or a fervent defense of animal rights. Veganism excludes no sentient being – human or non-human – from its commitment to compassionate, gentle benevolence. To show tender regard for the suffering of non-humans, yet treat humans with callous contempt, is a disheartening contradiction of Vegan principles. Every time we bend down to pick something up, it is connected to something else. There is an equivalent “ecology” to our behavior. Everything we do connects to something else; every action touches on the world around us, either close at hand and noticeable, or far away and unperceived, immediate in its effect or distant in time. If Veganism has a prime value, it is simply that life-respecting compassion overrides individual issues of custom, convenience, comfort, or cuisine. The commitment to Vegan values will bring us closer to a world in which the fate and fortune of a planet and all its life forms do not hang on the judgment or the generosity of one species. If there is on single concept that both generates and sustains the meaning and the power of the Vegan world-view, it is found in the word mindfulness. As Vegans, we strive to be thoughtful, aware, and concerned about the impact of our choices, our actions and our decisions. The fruit of this awareness is inner peace, the quiet strength of ethical confidence, and an uplifting sense of fulfillment. Veganism, the practice of non-violence.

“The Four Immeasurables”
May all sentient beings have happiness and its causes.
May all sentient beings be free of suffering and its causes.
May all sentient beings never be separated from bliss that is without suffering.
May all sentient beings live in equanimity, free of bias, attachment, and anger. 
VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/user/LiveVegan#p/u/84/EC9OgM5N3uA
WEBSITE: http://veganvalues.org/

Food in schools

If you appreciate Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, then you will really like this read. Many of you are parents and/or work in the school systems. Would you be able to eat the cafeteria food your child(ren)/students are eating for an entire school year? It deeply saddens me that the only "real meal" many of the students (can financially) receive is from their school cafeteria, and THIS crap is what we are feeding them? No wonder our children will die before us. As a school, it is your job to educate. Part of that education is teaching children the difference between making "good" and "bad" choices, including food choices. Plus, the food that kids are being served, is only going to make them tired, sluggish, and it certainly isn't going to help their brains. Changing a child's diet can be the cure to the inattentiveness, uncontrollable behavior, sleepless nights, and suspected ADD/ADHD. Let's get it together people. We must have a voice for our children.

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/food-health/mrs-q-of-fed-up-with-lunch-the-school-lunch-project.html