February, 2017
Marin Vegetarian Education Group
Even when headlines make me cry with despair, there is good
news, too, if I look for it. This doesn't deny there is much to
protest and much work to do, but it's healthy to find cause to
celebrate even when our hearts hurt. For starters, the reservoirs
are full. All those months of wishing for rain, and now we crave
sunshine again. The milkmaids and fetid adders' tongue are in
bloom, well worth a muddy hike to enjoy them. And how about
Ringling Brothers circus shutting down? Did you think that would
happen this year? I was giddy with delight when I learned about
that. As February begins, let's keep our radar alert to any cause
for joy.
Sunday, February 12
Goatlandia Volunteer Day
From 10:30 until 1:00 on Sunday, February 12 you can clean the
animal homes, wash the animal dishes, shovel hay and wood chips and
give lots of hugs at a volunteer day at Goatlandia. Enjoy a
delicious plant based lunch following the work. RSVP is mandatory,
and the work party is limited to only 15 people. This happens at
Goatlandia Animal Sancturay, 2336 Olivet Lane in Santa Rosa. To
RSVP write to info@goatlandia.org
Monday, February 13
Slaughterhouse Issue: Planning Commission Meeting
A meeting to vote on whether to recommend a change in the zoning
in Marin to allow slaughterhouses will probably be held on Monday,
February 13. When I confirm the meeting and the time, I will send
another email. This vote is on what the planning commission will
recommend to the Board of Supervisors. The BOS will make the
official decision in a few weeks/months.
Hold the Date: March 11; Register Now
Conscious Eating Conference in Berkeley
A terrific line up of speakers is coming to Berkeley's Conscious
Eating Conference on Saturday, March 11. The morning has three
wonderful presenters, and the afternoon will focus on "Does Religion
Help or Hinder Animal Liberation." Speakers include Will Tuttle,
Carol J. Adams, Cogen Bohanec, Kim Socha, and Jonathan Klein.
Registration is now open: $15 in advance; $25 at the door, and
admission includes lunch. If anyone wants to volunteer at my booth
for Dharma Voices for Animals, you will not have to pay admission.
Please let me know asap if you can help. Learn more and register
to attend at http://www.upc-online.org/forums/2017/
Ringling Brothers Circus to Close
How exciting to learn that Ringling Brothers Circus will be
closing in May! In every story about the closing, animal rights
activists were named as one of the primary reasons for the end of
this 146 year institution. I offer abundant gratitude to every
volunteer who protested at the circus, educating families about the
cruelty involved in capturing and training animals to perform. One
of many reports on the closing can be found here: http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/14/entertainment/ringling-circus-closing/
Birkenstock Introduces Vegan Line
It's hard to believe that it's taken this long, but the German shoe
company famous for comfortable "hippie" shoes has introduced a line
of vegan shoes in the United States. See the shoes and learn about
this response to demand at https://www.yahoo.com/style/birkenstock-introduces-all-vegan-line-to-u-s-market-130000716.html
As a bonus, below the article about Birkenstock, there is an 8
minute television interview with Caron J. Adams, author of The
Sexual Politics of Meat and co-author of my books Never Too Late to
Go Vegan and How to Eat Like a Vegetarian Even if You Never Want to
Be One.
Bob Linden Speaks Out Against Many Vegan Organizations
The founder and host of GoVegan Radio, Bob Linden, speaks his
mind about the compromises being made by some vegan organizations
and the erosion of vegan advocacy among animal activists. I found
this 19 minute video fascinating because this is a subject that gets
very little press. Maybe that's because it divides the movement
between abolitionists and those who promote a more gradual approach.
I do miss the days when going vegan was the only alternative to
harming animals, before so called "humane farming" introduced the
myths and language of happy animals being raised to be killed.
https://www.plantbasednews.org/post/vegan-media-veteran-unleashes-on-animal-rights-groups
Bad News About Cashews
Yes, cashews are good for you. And they are versatile and
popular in vegan diets. But a report from the U.K. from 2015 is
making the rounds again, and in it we learn the dark side of the
cashew industry. The women who work in India to extract cashews
from their hard shells endure damage to their hands and earn very
low pay for their efforts. In Vietnam, the work is done in forced
labor camps where workers are beaten or shocked. Time magazine
called the industry "blood cashews." Does it help the workers if we
stop buying cashews? Does it keep women employed if we don't? As
always, it's a tough call. In any event, this article is worth
reading. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinknews/11577928/Blood-cashews-the-toxic-truth-about-your-favourite-nut.html
Animals as Gifts
Around the holiday season, a few companies promote giving an
animal to an impoverished family overseas to help that family make a
better living. Free From Harm published a very good article about
the many reasons that this is a terrible idea. I wanted to save this
for next December, but my organizing system is not reliable enough
for that, so I'm sharing it now. Thanks to Judith G. for bringing
this piece to my attention.
http://freefromharm.org/agriculture-environment/10-reasons-to-say-no-to-animal-gifting-hunger-orgs/
As always, be sure to look at www.bayareaveg.org/events.htm and www.meetup.com/marin-vegan/ to find out what's happening in February. Also, check out Compassionate Living in Sonoma County. Their web site is www.socoveg.org/. And The San Francisco Veg Society at www. SFVS.org also has events you may enjoy.
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