Livin’ Veg

For Your Skeptical Friends March 31, 2009

Do you have some friends who maintain that being veg is bad for your health no matter what you say? I do. One even suggested I got cancer because I was a veg. Oh boy did I get mad. Anyway, this ignorance about health and diet really irked me. So I went on a search for an unbiased report on the health benefits of being vegetarian or vegan. And basically why it kicks the a$$ of any diet including animals.

A good friend (and nutritionist) told me about a report from the American Dietetic Association. It’s 18 pages of solid information on everything from protein/calcium/B12 to diseases you are less likely to get with a veg diet. Diseases and health problems like cancer, diabetes, hypertension, dementia and osteoporosis. It’s well researched and the American Dietetic Association has a really rigorous approval process for any position paper. So this thing is thorough.

What is the American Dietetic Association?

The American Dietetic Association is the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. ADA is committed to improving the nation’s health and advancing the profession of dietetics through research, education and advocacy.

Click here to view the report. Scroll down to the bottom to open the PDF. You won’t be able to print it out (you have to pay for that service) but you can email it to all your nay saying friends. They won’t even be able to see you thumbing your nose at them.

Thousands of Frogs Killed in Australian “Celebration” March 30, 2009

Yesterday in Sydney Australia thousands of poisonous cane toads were killed with happy hearts and a celebratory mood. The celebration even has a name: Toad Day Out.

Here is the back story: In 1935 the toads were imported from South America to eat the beetles that were giving the Australians trouble. But the toads couldn’t jump high enough to eat the beetles. The toads breed ultra fast and now there are millions. And they are threatening some local species. “They spread diseases, such as salmonella, and produce highly toxic venom from glands in their skin that can kill would-be predators. The toads are also voracious eaters, chomping up insects, frogs, small reptiles and mammals _ even birds.”

In case you’re wondering, the pic is of a girl weighing a frog right before it dies. See her smile… Isn’t that precious. What a fun Sunday event for the whole family (close sarcasm tag).

Here is the perfect example of why bringing in a foreign species is a BAD idea. Eco sysems are delicate. You can’t just say, “Oh, we’ve got a problem with beetles. Let’s fix it by bringing in this toad we know very little about.” And now decades later, kids are killing them for fun in some morbid day fair of slaughter.

What I really hate is that killing is always the method of choice. Not relocation, containment, sterilization, or any wildlife management program that doesn’t involve killing.

Read the whole article to get super grossed out by the festivities…

Elvis Wrote Animal Abuse Poetry… March 27, 2009

I’m usually not one to judge another writer. I write poetry and personally hate it when people assume something about me based on something I wrote. But I can’t really get over this poem that just sold for $20,035.20 at an auction.

The handwritten poem reads as follows:

As I awoke this morning
when all sweet things
are born a robin perched
on my window sill to greet
the coming dawn
He sang his sweet song
so sweetly and paused
for a moments lull
I gently raised the window
and crushed his
F***ing skull

Now, first off, it’s just bad writing. “Sweet song so sweetly.” Really Elvis? That’s the best you’ve got in terms of description? It’s a little rhyming poem. You’ll note born and dawn are half rhymes and lull and skull are full rhymes. So the line breaks, as it’s written, are a little odd.

Anyway, enough talking about the bad writing. It’s a totally violent poem - meant to be funny although I certainly don’t see the humor. Anyone else? Any huge Elvis fans disappointed by his bird crushing poem? I’m not a fan and I think it’s pretty awful.

The Evil Gay Agenda Now The Evil Vegan Agenda? March 26, 2009

Let me first say that Nathan Runkle was awesome on last nights radio show. If you missed it, you can check it out on itunes or the podcast. His playlist included Madonna, Tori Amos, and MIA. Very nice Nathan. (Even if Madonna does wear fur. Boo…)

They talked briefly about this fantastically funny article called “Beware the Vegans; The evil gay agenda is nearly complete. Who poses the next horrible, godless threat?” Can you guess? Yep, vegans. Why vegans you ask?

Vegans. Let’s see: Often self-righteous? Check. Preachy? Check. Like to gather in suspicious little clusters and share weird tips about the best ways to cook kale as they hand out flyers at the New Life Expo and smoke lots of pot and twirl flaming Hula Hoops at Burning Man? Check. Plus, they can be sorta whimpery, frail, taste like kombucha. Could they take over?

Nah. Fearing a vegan revolution is like fearing a takeover by Muppet squirrels. Plus, they actually do have very good intentions and can be wonderfully nice, happy people, despite being no fun at barbeques and always bringing that weird seitan dish to the potluck. Plus, the lack of animal protein in their diets means they have little muscle mass and brittle bones and, if you have to, you can snap them like twigs.

The article doesn’t just make fun of vegans and call them the next threat to morality - they also suggest the rich, smart people, old people, babies and more.

Now, one gripe I have with the author - Vegans do not have brittle bones or little muscle mass! Don’t believe me? Check out this vegan… That’s right. Vegans are down right awesome. Oh, and pot? Really? I don’t know any vegans who smoke pot. Maybe it’s because this guy lives in San Fran…

Read the full article here. TOTALLY worth it. Very funny.

Nathan Runkle On ‘This Show Is So Gay’ Tonight! March 25, 2009

My friend Ken has this fantastic radio show called “This Show Is So Gay.” He and the other host Becca always have awesome guests and play great music. Plus, there is always the fun banter between them.

Tonight, the show is having guest Nathan Runkle, executive director of one of my favorite AR non profits, Mercy for Animals. If you haven’t seen Nathan speak at any of the conferences, or if you aren’t familiar with the work of Mercy for Animals, you’ve been missing out. But have no fear. He will be will be calling in to the show tonight. 9pm EST, 107.7 FM in the Brattleboro, VT area or http://www.wvew.org to listen online. You can also get the download on itunes later, or listen to the podcast if you miss it.

And if you need more info on how awesome Nathan is, he was one of the people who got Boca to stop using eggs by 2010. I know I’ll be listening tonight!

Less Meat = Less Risk Of Disease March 24, 2009

A new study just came out - the biggest of it’s kind - that tells us “that older Americans who eat large amounts of red meat and processed meats face a greater risk of death from heart disease and cancer.”

I know you’re thinking, we know this already!!! And we do know it. Studies like this have been coming out in a steady stream for years. We know that plant based diets lower your risk for many of the major killers - heart disease, strokes, cancer, and diabetes.

Here are some stats from the new study:

Over 10 years, eating the equivalent of a quarter-pound hamburger daily gave men in the study a 22 percent higher risk of dying of cancer and a 27 percent higher risk of dying of heart disease. That’s compared to those who ate the least red meat, just 5 ounces per week.

Women who ate large amounts of red meat had a 20 percent higher risk of dying of cancer and a 50 percent higher risk of dying of heart disease than women who ate less.

The article is full of numbers like these, so check it out and talk about it, blog about it, tell your parents, friends, whatever. Going veg isn’t just about animals (although animals are the reason I did it). It’s also a great idea for our health. Lowering your intake of processed foods, meats and dairy and packing your diet with vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts and other assorted goodness will help your health, animals and the environment. It’s a win win win situation.

Boca Agrees To No More Eggs! March 23, 2009

By the end of this year, the vegetarian company Boca will end it’s use of eggs in products. HFCIT!

A company spokesperson emailed COK yesterday:

…I am pleased to let you know the BOCA brand will be eliminating eggs in all of its products by the end of this year. We anticipate all BOCA products will be egg free in 2010.

I haven’t eaten Boca products in years. I do my best to stay away from the faux meat stuff now. Does anyone know if they use other dairy products? I’m not sure if this makes them vegan friendly, but it certainly makes them more animal friendly. No more hen abuse for Boca. Awesome!

Contact the company by emailing here to say thank you: boca@casupport.com

And a big super thank you to Compassion Over Killing, Mercy For Animals and the Animal Protection & Rescue League for making this happen. The champions of farm animals making a difference every day:)

Recycled Jewelry March 20, 2009

I’ve made jewelry before, back in college, for a woman who sold her designs all over the country. Inspired by designs I saw over on Adorned, I am using recycled watch gears and sterling silver to create these lovely little necklaces.

I’m a big fan of delicate. The gears shine like antique gold, and the sterling silver positively glows. They stand out on the neck while still being subtle.

I’m also a big fan of recylcing and using disgarded objects to create beautiful things. Hopefully you’ll like them too. I know you ladies are all green, even just by being veggie. Well, pretty much everything in our lives can be green. Including our jewelry.

Cow Jones Industrials, Vegan Boutique March 19, 2009

Cow Jones Industrials is a fantastic vegan shop located in Chatham, NY. Don’t live near Chatham? Me neither. Now, you can peruse the goods and shop there without leaving your home. All thanks to the brand new website that allows you to shop online.

Check out some of these vegan brands:

Matt & Nat, English Retreads, Vegetarian Shoes of England, NOVACAS, Adbusters, Helen E Riegle Handbags, [wired] jewelry, Cahoots Handbags, Truth Belts, Cri de Coeur, Olsenhaus, Georgette of Belgium, Bourgeois Boheme, Offhand Designs, Sarah Donegan Handbags, Sparrow, Prairie Underground, Toggery Collection, brook there and others.

Yep. In there I see some of my favorites and some brands I’ve never heard of!  And that says a lot for me. I thought I was up on on the vegan fashion awesomeness.

Anyway, check out the new online store. You’ll drool. And Cow Jones Industrials’ ethics are impeccable. They are vegan in the true sense of the word - no animals, environmentally responsible and cares about human rights. Now those are business practices this world needs to see more of.

Vegan Shoes With A Vintage Edge March 18, 2009

These shoes (Alexander Brown) from Novacas are just what a gal needs to add some flair to that skirt, or some attitude to those skinny jeans. How great would these be with some opaque tights…

Alas. I can’t get them, but that’s part of why I share what I love with you - so maybe you can benefit when I cannot. At $109.95 at Moo Shoes they aren’t totally out of reach like a Stella or a Beyond Skin would be, but they aren’t cheap either - especially in this economic climate (although things do seem to be looking up based on these past few days, don’t they?!)

Enjoy!