July, 2019
Marin VEG
This is a few days early, but I wanted to share these items with you
before I leave (again) to visit my mom in Florida. I try to go
often to give my sister, who lives with and cares for her, a break.
Please forgive any inconsistent formatting; my computer decided to
mess with spacing and fonts. Oh well! Enjoy July, especially the
strawberries that seem especially sweet this year. Happy reading!
Bye for now . . .
Saturday, July 6
Noon - 2 PM
Vegan Barbecue and Birthday Bash
Cotati
The Executive Director of Compassionate Living, Hope Bohanec, is
celebrating her 50th birthday with a vegan barbecue in Cotati
Downtown Plaza Park on Saturday, July 6 from 12 noon until 2
PM. Burgers, hotdogs, and all the fixings will be provided. Please
bring a picnic salad to share (greens, potato, fruit, or coleslaw,
for example). Blankets will be available, but bring a folding chair
if you wish. And if you choose to bring a gift for Hope
(totally not necessary), she requests only a houseplant, as she
recently moved and that's the only item in short supply. The
park is at 8167 La Plaza Drive in Cotati. Here is the Facebook page
for the event: https://www.facebook.com/events/348196682496930/
Wednesday, July 10
Last day to bring supplies to Marin Humane
School Supplies for the Children of Farm Workers
The Food Empowerment Project is collecting new back
packs and school supplies for the children of farm workers. This is
not charity, but a way to thank the families that put food on our
tables. See what's needed and learn more at https://foodispower.org/school-supply-drive/
In Marin you can bring the supplies until July 10 to Marin
Humane (171 Bel Marin Keys Blvd., Novato) On Tuesdays,
Thursdays, Fridays Saturdays and Sundays from 2 until 5:30.
Wednesdays from 10 to 6:30 PM. Be sure to mark your
contribution: Attention Cindy Machado. And if you are not
familiar with the Food Empowerment Project, by all means get to
know them! This is an effective not for profit with a focus on
food justice, food access, and issues around the ethics of
eating. FoodIsPower.org
Tuesday,
July 16
Vegan Salad Bar Launches at
St. Vincent dePaul Society
Mayo, Greens Donations Requested (ongoing)
At 10 AM on Tuesday, July 16, the free dining room at the
St. Vincent dePaul Society (920 B Street, San Rafael) is
launching an all vegan salad bar. We are invited to attend and
enjoy the salad bar at this celebration of good food for people
who need assistance with food. The hot food served is mostly not
vegetarian, but the salad bar will be as of July 16 in an effort
to improve the quality and variety of food served. If you can
donate any brand of vegan mayo, kale, spinach or nuts, please
bring them that day or drop them off between 9 AM and 1 PM daily
(yes, even weekends). The free dining room serves 200,000 meals
a year, and for many of the people who eat there, these meals
are the only meals they eat. I have volunteered with SVdP for
more than twenty years, and I see the difference this
organization makes in the lives of women and men in our
community.The dining room is just one of the many services they
provide. Talk to me if you want to learn more about them.
New York Times Opinion Piece "Fake Meat Will Save
Us" This encouraging op ed from the New York
Times on delighted me. Many meat eaters, such as the author of
this piece, are switching to plant based alternatives to help
save the planet. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/21/opinion/fake-meat-climate-change.html
Time Magazine on
Why We Don't Need Animals to Keep Enjoying Meat Thanks
to the wonderful Factory Farming Awareness Coalition
(FFACoalition.org) for sharing this interview with the founder
of Beyond Meat. https://time.com/5601980/beyond-meat-ceo-ethan-brown-interview/?fbclid=IwAR2KzmbVp5lUEyD7NDfgJbDU4Us3W5dEMI35F8Glcnr8RI-oNeOo8GpOVHw
Vegan Brunch In the Bay Area VegNews published this
article listing seven places in the Bay Area to enjoy a vegan
brunch. I would add Sanctuary Bistro in Berkeley, but you will
have to go soon, as the owners are moving to the East coast as
soon as they sell the restaurant.
https://vegnews.com/2019/6/7-best-vegan-brunch-spots-in-the-bay-area
My Letter in Marin IJ The Marin Independent Journal
recently published a front page story about the decline in sales
for dairy farmers in the county. Today they published my letter
in response to that article:
Maybe milk sales are plummeting because many people
find that their digestive problems and skin problems are
dramatically improved when dairy is eliminated from the diet. Or
maybe it’s because dairy-free alternatives are abundant,
delicious and easier on the system. Or perhaps it’s because word
is out that in order to get milk from animals, those animals
must endure pregnancy after pregnancy only to have the newborn
calf taken from the mother soon after birth so humans can take
the mother’s milk.
Whatever the reason, the dairy industry’s moment has
come and gone while plant-based cheeses, almond and soy milks
(along with dairy-free frozen desserts) are all thriving. I do
not miss dairy, and I wish the dairy farmers well in their next
careers.
—
Patti Breitman, Fairfax
Miyoko's
Butter Under Attack Speaking of non-dairy
options, Miyoko's butter was the subject of a story in Fortune
about the dairy industry's efforts to keep the word "butter" off
non-dairy products. There are places where it is illegal to sell
her butter in stores in Wisconsin. I find it heartening that
the dairy industry considers these superior plant based products
as such a threat. It means that the nondairy revolution is
succeeding. I am indebted to Miyoko for leading our way into
the future, even if she needs to fight the status quo in court.
http://fortune.com/2019/06/17/wisconsin-dairy-vegan-butter-labels-daily-alternatives-vegan-cheese/
More Vegan
Options for California Students The
California Assembly voted 46 to 11 to pass a bill that would offer
incentives to serve more plant based school meals and beverages. Now
the bill goes to the Senate. Learn more at https://myveganjournal.com/vegan-school-food-bill-passes-california-assembly-on-to-the-senate-by-jackie-day/
Direct
Action Everywhere, AKA DxE People ask me if I support DxE, a
headline grabbing animal rights organization based in the East
Bay. I've always had a funny feeling about this group, perhaps
from their in-your-face activism that to me borders on violent.
While I share their desire to end animal exploitation, it wasn't
until I read this article from Carol Adams, my beloved and
brilliant co-author, that I understood I'm not alone in
questioning their methods. I hope you will read this disturbing
and eye-opening essay. Thanks to Judith G. for sending it to
me. https://caroljadams.com/carol-adams-blog/why-i-am-boycotting-events-if-dxe-is-also-an-invited-speaker
It's
Not Just in the U.S. - Veganism is Growing World Wide
Here is an uplifting photo essay showing animal rights
activism and vegan success all over the world.
http://thevegantruth.blogspot.com/2019/05/75-photos-rise-of-veganism.html?m=1
For
the Birds Karen Davis, founder and director of
United Poultry Concerns, has a new book out called For the
Birds. Marc Bekoff, an author, professor, and expert in animal
emotions, interviewed Karen for Psychology Today. I
found both Karen's passion and the strength of her argument to be
persuasive. Read it here: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/animal-emotions/201906/the-birds-exploitation-liberation
A message from Karen Davis In
her own words: Please post a note on the Facebook page of Mother Earth News
objecting to their use of the term “processing” to describe
killing chickens and other animals by DIY (Do It Yourself)
slaughterers. You are also encouraged to send your message to
Mother Earth News in an email to:
info@eml.motherearthnews.com. UPC posted
today: Those who profess an allegiance to authenticity and
honest speech should stop calling animal slaughter "processing."
Not only does this term intentionally disguise the fact of
killing, but it shows how disrespectful of the victims the
slaughterers truly are behind the euphemisms. If you cut a
fellow creature's throat with a knife or put a knife through the
roof of their mouth to paralyze them by "scrambling" their
brains, you are abusing and killing your victims, not
"processing" them. — Karen Davis, PhD, President,
United Poultry Concerns
What Else to Do in July
As always, be sure to look at http://www.bayareaveg.org/events.htm and http://www.meetup.com/marin-vegan/ to find out what's happening in the coming weeks. And check out Compassionate Living in Sonoma County. Their web site is www.socoveg.org/ and The San Francisco Veg Society at www. SFVS.org.
*********************************************************************************
This e-newsletter from The Marin Vegetarian
Education Group is free. Please share it freely.
Back issues of this newsletter are available at MarinVEG.org
To subscribe, send an email to
eatplants@earthlink.net
with the word Newsletter in the subject line.
To unsubscribe, send an email to
eatplants@earthlink.net
with the word Unsubscribe in the subject line.