September 2019 (Really mid August)
Marin VEG
There will always be something to complain about (heat waves,
traffic, rude people). Yet there are opportunities everywhere to
show kindness to ourselves and others. Let's get creative and look
for ways to transform frustration into small acts of generosity and
compassion.
Please read the piece below about Point Reyes and the National Park
Service plan to kill elk and extend ranching leases for decades.
This is a rare and important opportunity for us to speak up on
behalf of animals, in person and/or by filling out an online form.
And if you want to feel better about the progress of veganism,
listen to Sarina Farb's talk about the history of social justice.
That will take 17 minutes, but I suspect you will find it worth
it. Additionally, a new Veg festival in San Francisco looks like
it will be terrific. All this and more is here. Enjoy!
Sunday, September 1
Benefit Fundraiser Hoedown at Rancho Compasion
12:30 - 6:00
Come meet the rescued animals who call Rancho
Compasion home, and support the sanctuary at the Second Annual
Benefit Fundraiser Hoedown on Sunday, September 1 in Nicasio.
Drinks, appetizers and a delicious, catered vegan meal, silent
and live auctions, live music, and square dancing are all
included. Tickets are $125 for adults and $75 for those under 13
(must be accompanied by an adult). See the schedule to know
when to arrive, learn more, and buy tickets at https://www.ranchocompasion.org/hoedown-2019
Tuesday, September 10
Ethical Stock Fund to Launch on NY Stock Exchange
US Vegan Climate Exchange EFT (exchange traded fund) will launch
on the NYSE on Tuesday, September 10. For ethical investors, this
publicly traded fund (VEGAN ETF) excludes stocks that are not vegan
friendly or climate conscious. I see this as a new opportunity to
invest with a clean conscience and as further evidence that there
are a growing number of people who care about living their values.
Learn more at https://tinyurl.com/y3cgtbb7
Saturday, September 21
California Food Festival and Symposium
11:00 - 6:00 at the Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco
40% off admission with MARINVEG code
Calling itself a showcase of veg innovation, after three years
in Hollywood The California Veg Food Fest and Symposium is coming to
San Francisco for the first time. This event features a kids' area,
presenter stages, live music and fitness classes. Keynote speakers
include Dr. Michael Greger, author of How Not to Die and How Not to
Diet, and the force behind NutritionFacts.org. Also speaking will
be Dr. Will Tuttle, author of The World Peace Diet, chef Tirzah
Love, private chef for the Sacramento Kings, plus many other experts
in veg living. General admission is $20 in advance, $30 at the
door. Enter the code MARINVEG at checkout for 40% off. (No
discount at the door, only for advance purchase.) The Palace of
Fine Arts is just over the Golden Gate Bridge at 3601 Lyon Street.
Reading the bios of the speakers impressed me. Seeing the
exhibitor list made me hungry. See all that and the schedule, and
buy tickets at https://www.cavegfoodfest.com/
Point Reyes to Extend Ranching for 20 Years, Kill Tule Elk
Written Comments Needed Before September 23
Public Meetings on August 27 (Point Reyes) and August 28
(Sausalito)
The National Park Service is looking for public comments
on their plan to allow dairy and beef ranchers a twenty year lease
extension for their ranching, along with killing tule elk that the
ranchers see as a threat. This could not be a more disastrous
choice, especially in light of the recent IPCC report on climate
change (see next item, below). Use your voice to say no to this
misguided, cruel and harmful plan. Write to GMP Amendment, c/o
Superintendent, Point Reyes National Seashore, 1 Bear Valley Road,
Point Reyes Station, CA 94956. Or fill out the form at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/document.cfm?documentID=97154
Even if you write, you can also come to a public meeting to
speak your mind. One is at the Bay Model Visitor Center (2100
Bridgeway, Sausalito) from 5PM to 7 on Wednesday, August 28.
Another is a day earlier at the West Marin School in Point Reyes
Station (11550 Shoreline Hwy) from 5PM to 7 on Tuesday, August 27.
Read more about this proposed plan and how
environmentalists are reacting to it at https://www.sfchronicle.com/environment/article/New-Point-Reyes-management-plan-riles-up-14291769.php
U.N. Study Calls for Shift Towards Vegan Diets
The Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change, a group of 107
experts from 52 countries convened by the United Nations, released a
report in August that warns about world wide soil loss, food
shortages, and other cataclysmic outcomes if multiple changes are
not made soon. Among its recommendations are a dramatic reduction
in the consumption of animal protein and a move toward vegetarian
and vegan diets. Robert Grillo of Free From Harm wrote a good
synopsis here: https://freefromharm.org/agriculture-environment/climate-crisis/
The New York Times published a more in depth piece which
includes a link to the report itself at https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/08/climate/climate-change-food-supply.html?auth=login-email&login=email&smid=nytcore-ios-share
If you want to read only the report you can find it at https://www.ipcc.ch/report/srccl/
All Burger Kings in U.S. Now Offer Impossible Whopper
During a 49ers game on the Football Channel, Burger King
recently advertised that the Impossible Whopper was now available at
every one of its U.S. locations. While many vegans may never set
foot in a Burger King restaurant, the Impossible Whopper will allow
millions of meat eaters to make a better choice when they do. An
insightful piece about this new menu item at BK and how it is judged
by vegans was written by Liam Gilliver for Plant Based News: https://tinyurl.com/y3gxwqft
What I learned here, among other things, is that in some
countries a food may not be called vegan if it is cooked on the same
surface as non-vegan foods. The conclusion that Gilliver comes to
from this issue surprised me, but makes good sense.
Social Justice and Veganism
17 Minutes by Sarina Farb
In only 17 minutes Sarina Farb explains beautifully how the
vegan movement is on track to become accepted by the mainstream in
less time than we imagine. We are almost there. Sarina is a friend
from Summerfest where she gave this uplifting talk in July. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofujoByYq-Y&feature=youtu.be
New Book from Colleen Patrick Goudreau
The Joyful Vegan
Any new book from Colleen Patrick Goudreau is reason to
celebrate, and this one is just the right book at just the right
time. The Joyful Vegan: How to Stay Vegan in a World that Wants
You to Eat Meat, Dairy and Eggs helps us navigate the
social, cultural, and emotional challenges of making choices that
confound others. With stellar endorsements from Dr. Greger, Dr.
Melanie Joy, Gene Baur, Miyoko Schinner, and Senator Cory Booker,
The Joyful Vegan is written to help people go vegan and stay vegan.
Learn more and pre-order your copy at https://www.joyfulvegan.com/
If you want to visit Colleen's web site - as I do often for its
inspiring and intelligent messages - its new address is ColleenPatrickGoudreau.com
Changes at Muir's Tea Room
Starting in September, my favorite Sebastopol restaurant, Muir's
Tea Room, will no longer offer a full menu, but will present themed
Tea Service menus that will change monthly. Expect the same
delicious, vegan excellence, but with a focused Tea Service unique
to each theme. Also, they are expanding their wholesale
operations, and Muir products will soon be available in many retail
outlets. To see the upcoming themes and dates, including Downton
Abbey Tea Parties for five days in September, and to make
reservations, visit MuirsTeaRoom.com/events.html
Oxymoron Award
They call themselves ethical butchers, and if ever there was an
oxymoron waiting for a prize, this is it. According to the New York
Times, many former vegans have turned to butchering animals. In
their view, it is somehow more ethical to butcher an animal than to
not eat it. Scratch your head as you read about this at https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/06/dining/butchers-meat-vegetarian-vegan.html
Baskin-Robbins Introduces Vegan Ice Cream
For the first time, Baaskin-Robbins is selling vegan ice
cream. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Chocolate Extreme are the
two new Baskin-Robbins vegan ice cream varieties offered by the
chain, and they are free from
preservatives, artificial flavors, and high fructose corn syrup.
Learn more at https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation/baskin-robbins-non-dairy-ice-cream-vegan-flavors
If you are not familiar with John Robbins or Ocean Robbins, son
and grandson respectively of the co-founder of Baskin-Robbins, you
might find this interview from VegNews interesting. I did. https://vegnews.com/2019/8/the-untold-vegan-story-of-baskin-robbins
Letters to the Editors
Whenever I find myself shouting at the newspaper, I know it's time
to write a letter to the editor. I'm thrilled to share these three
published letters I wrote recently in response to articles that had
me screaming.
https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/letterstoeditor/article/Letters-to-the-Editor-Switch-to-plant-based-foods-14308521.php?psid=h2xzv
https://www.marinij.com/2019/08/10/marin-ij-readers-forum-for-aug-11-2019/
(scroll down)
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/15/opinion/letters/conservatives-trump-guns-tuberculosis-food-labels-sleep-habits.html
(scroll down)
More in September
As always, be sure to go to 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.
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