Livin’ Veg

The Perfect Pre Thanksgiving News Story November 19, 2008

The New York Times has an article about PETA and the torment turkeys endure at factory farms. The article states that animal rights groups exposing cruelty with under cover footage has become a yearly event. As it should be. And this year is no different. PETA has released a new video showing horrific abuse.

Personally I like Farm Sanctuary and Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary’s take. They have a vegan celebration amongst the farm animals.

Take a look at the article in the Times. It’s not easy to read. In fact the details made me feel physically ill. And I didn’t even watch the video. The best part of the article - it’s in the dining section.

Obama Talks About The Ag Industry November 18, 2008

Well, he doesn’t specifically mention animals, but he does say some stuff that I totally agree with.

President Elect Obama said:

I was just reading an article in the New York Times by Michael Pollen about food and the fact that our entire agricultural system is built on cheap oil. As a consequence, our agriculture sector actually is contributing more greenhouse gases than our transportation sector. And in the mean time, it’s creating monocultures that are vulnerable to national security threats, are now vulnerable to sky-high food prices or crashes in food prices, huge swings in commodity prices, and are partly responsible for the explosion in our healthcare costs because they’re contributing to type 2 diabetes, stroke and heart disease, obesity, all the things that are driving our huge explosion in healthcare costs.

We have a leader who recognizes our food system contributes more to global warming than transportation. We have a leader who reads Michael Pollen (which I think is fantastic even though he isn’t veg) And we have a leader talking about the obesity epidemic. Check Check Check. I can feel a new wind a comin.

Click here to read the full interview.

Vegan Holiday Gifts #1 November 17, 2008

Until the holidays are over, I’m reserving Mondays as a vegan gift idea day. Two will be shown - one will be pricey and the other will be very affordable. Here are the first two ideas.

A beautiful Jute purse - $111
Hand dyed with 100% vegetable dyes. Perfect for day or evening activities, and a fantastic gift for any vegan or non vegan lady in your life. You certainly don’t have to just give vegan gifts to vegans. Spread the compassionate love.

Chocolate Bath Truffles - $15
The second is from a fabulous vegan company called Gourmet Body Treats. Now, anything from their site would be a perfect gift, but I’ve chosen their Chocolate Bath Truffles. “This fizzing bath bomb releases healing cocoa butter into the bath and is made with rich pure finely ground fair trade organic cocoa powder.”

Two great gifts that can start you on your way to getting that holiday shopping done.

Endangered Feces November 14, 2008

You need one every year. A gag gift. Maybe for that grab bag you do at work, or the secret santa you do with friends. And you look for something funny. Well, how about something funny, educational and animal friendly. How about an Endangered Feces t-shirt?

Here is the list of species feces you’ll get: Grizzly Bear, Point Arena Mountain Beaver, Woodland Caribou, Key Deer, Black-footed Ferret, San Joaquin Kit Fox, California Red-legged Frog, Mona Ground Iguana, Island Night Lizard, Florida Panther, Utah Prairie Dog, Sonoran Pronghorn, New Mexican Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake, Shenandoah Salamander, Bighorn Sheep, Dismal Swamp Southeastern Shrew, Virginia Northern Flying Squirrel, Wyoming Toad, Amargosa Vole and Gray Wolf

Spread awareness and humor at the same time. Check it out here…

Olsen Haus Vegan Shoes November 13, 2008

Olsen Haus Vegan shoes are absolutely dazzling. And for those watching their budgets, they are more affordable than Stella and on par with Georgette and Charmone. The pair pictured will set you back about $170. So, what kind of ethics does the Olsen Haus company follow? Check it out:

We are committed to being 100% cruelty- free, producing functional goods, with a high standard of ethical social responsibility in animal and human rights.

Products are made of non-animal materials, in sample rooms & factories that are personally checked for ethical practices & environment.

And if that combined with the sexy styles don’t make you want to check them out, I’m not sure what will.

Recipes for Thanksgiving November 12, 2008

Yes, as I’m sure you’re all aware, Thanksgiving is coming. For most that means the sacrifice of a turkey, a nap and a football game. Well, how about instead a plate of food that wasn’t killed (well, I guess plants are killed, but you know what I mean), tastes great, and doesn’t leave you exhausted. So maybe you can go out and play football instead of watching it.

Vegan Fusion World Cuisine has listed some fantastic looking recipes here.

Here are the holiday dishes you will find:

Holiday Menu
Spinach Stuffed Mushrooms
Organic Mixed Green Salad with Toasted Pecan Vinaigrette
Blue Corn Crusted Tempeh with Shiitake Mushroom Gravy
Acorn Squash with Wild Rice Pilaf
Cranberry Sauce
Pumpkin Pie with Dairy-free Maple Whip

Count me in! I want the Blue Corn Crusted Tempeh! And I think I’m going to have it. I’m sure more posts will come up about Thanksgiving. The holidays are rough for all of us who are veg. Unless you’re whole family is veg. Then, well, I’m jealous.

See Madonna or k.d. lang! November 11, 2008

What does this have to do with animals? Well, the money spent goes towards HEART, Humane Education Advocates Reaching Teachers. They are a fabulous organization that teaches kids about issues affecting people, animals and the environment.They focus on teaching kids compassion, responsibility and how they can make the world a better place.

Click here to bid on two lots:

1. See Madonna in Miami in her last tour stop in the USA. Row 14. Section A4. November 26 at Dolphin Stadium.

2. Meet k.d. lang on November 22nd in Long Beach, CA. k.d. is a long time animal advocate and of course, amazing musician. (Bidding Ends Tomorrow!)

Kate Winslet Tricked Into Wearing Fur November 10, 2008

Kate Winslet always seemed like one of those actresses with scruples. One you could count on to make the ethical decision. When I saw her picture in Vanity Fair I was really disappointed. But then, good news came out. She thought the fur was fake. They misled her and they admit it.

The article said:

While they were setting up the photoshoot in Los Angeles, Miss Winslet was told the fur was fake. But, in fact, she was posing on an £11,500 silver fox fur throw, flown 2,500 miles from the Boston store of Italian luxury bedlinen firm Frette.

Asked if Miss Winslet had been misled, her spokeswoman said: ‘That’s correct. She thought it was false. There was apparently false fur there and real fur there, and she definitely understood it was false.

‘Kate never wears fur. She’s very, very firm on that.’

Shame on Vanity Fair for having a fake on set and choosing to use the real (and of course for misleading Ms. Winslet about it). And kudos to Ms. Winslet for her anti fur feelings and actions. She’s a great actress and role model. Hm.

President Elect Obama Will Adopt a Puppy November 7, 2008

Michelle Obama has announced on Entertainment Tonight that they will indeed adopt a puppy. What a fantastic example they are setting already by giving a home to the homeless.

Between 6 and 8 million dogs and cats a year are put into shelters. Only half of that number gets adopted. I think you can guess what happens to the other half. Euthanasia.

If you or anyone you know is thinking about inviting a dog or cat into their home, talk to them about adoption. And then about the importance of spay/neuter.

The pup in the picture actually needs a home. If you’re in the NYC area and can give a forever home to a 9 week old Beagle/Hound mix, click on this link or the pic. This little girl also has two siblings that need a home.

Environmental Sabotage Is Pres. Bush’s Last Act November 6, 2008

What do I mean by that headline? Exactly what it says. In the next two months President Bush is looking to unravel what little environmental protection we have. What specifically am I referring to you ask?

Here is the laundry list according to this article:

Whether it’s getting wolves off the Endangered Species List, allowing power plants to operate near national parks, loosening regulations for factory farm waste or making it easier for mountaintop coal-mining operations, these proposed changes have found little favor with environmental groups.

Although here is a small silver lining:

The one change most environmentalists want, a mandatory program to cut climate-warming greenhouse gas emissions, is not among these so-called “midnight regulations.”

I really recommend taking a look at the full article. It’s scary. But the scary stuff is the important stuff to know about.