May 2020
Marin VEG
I hope everyone is well. I know three people who lost a parent
to Covid-19 and have one friend in New York in rehab recovering from
it. This is a challenging time for people all over the world, yet
the majority of readers of this newsletter are fortunate in ways
that many cannot imagine. For the most part, we are not at risk for
eviction or starvation. We have shelter and enough space to
physically distance from neighbors. We have access to clean water
and soap. We have technology to keep us connected with friends and
loved ones. We have knowledge about and access to healthy food,
health professionals, medicine and news about the world and the
pandemic. The list goes on and on. I find that focusing on
gratitude and recognizing that I have what I need keeps my mind calm
and my heart open. Gratitude is a helpful habit all the time, but
now it seems more powerful than ever.
Today and Throughout May
Mindful Eating and Film Festival Now On Line and Free
For the next 8 weeks, you can take part in the Mindful Eating
and Film Festival sponsored by Rancho Compasion. Wonderful speakers
and films are on offer and more will be added throughout May.
Registration is required, and donations are most welcome. Learn more
and register at: https://www.ranchocompasion.org/mindful-eating-film-and-food-festival
Sunday, May 17
Noon
Free Virtual Discussion and Q&A on Food and Mood
How are you feeling emotionally? What have you been eating? The
Factory Farming Awareness Coalition is offering a free webinar about
how food affects our moods with two doctors from their board of
directors. To register and learn more visit https://www.ffacoalition.org/events/food-and-mood
Dr. Neal Barnard Clinic Offers Telemedicine Appointments
Over the years, many vegans have been looking for medical
professionals who understand plant based nutrition. Now we have a
clinic staffed with all such staff. California is one of five
states, along with Washington, D.C., where telephone appointments
with medical doctors from Barnard Medical Center are now available.
From their website: Like other primary care clinics, we can
discuss your medical condition, order blood tests and x-rays,
prescribe medications, and authorize refills. However, our special
focus is using lifestyle medicine, especially good nutrition, to
help prevent, treat, and sometimes reverse certain chronic health
problems. These include type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood
pressure, high cholesterol, and weight problems, among others.
The founder of Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine,
Dr. Neal Barnard, is a pioneer in plant based lifestyle medicine.
The clinic he started last year offers state of the art information
and medical care directly to patients. Learn more and see how to
get an appointment here. https://www.pcrm.org/barnard-medical-center/telemedicine?emci=0c49b632-0b6e-ea11-a94c-00155d03b1e8&emdi=4585ee79-7f73-ea11-a94c-00155d03b1e8&ceid=2618830
Meat Packing Plants Deemed Essential
Despite widespread infection and deaths among workers, and
despite (nothing new here) animal flesh being completely unnecessary
for healthy eating, meat packing plants have been deemed essential
businesses. Every time I hear "food supply" in reference to animal
flesh, I cringe and internally replace the phrase with "cruel and
disease promoting industry." Here's one story that reports on this
misguided designation. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/04/28/trump-meat-plants-dpa/
Slaughterhouse Inspector Speaks Out
The animal rights group Compassion Over Killing is now called
Animal Outlook. They are suing the USDA to stop unsafe, higher
speed procedures at pig slaughterhouses. One inspector spoke out in
support of the plaintiff's position. https://animaloutlook.org/usda-inspector-describes-filth-and-mistreatment-of-model-high-speed-slaughterhouse/
Bill Maher on Animal Cruelty and Health Consequences
I hesitated to include this here because Bill Maher is
both partisan and foul mouthed. I wish he'd have made the same
point without the political snipes and X-rated language. Yet,
because he is so right about how we treat animals, I am sharing his
four minute rant about factory farming, wet markets, animals in
entertainment, and the risk to humans when we abuse animals. Skip
this if his politics or potty mouth might offend you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OoT2OZWCOI
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