Marin VEG
February 2025

This shortest month's newsletter has the biggest news:  The elk will reclaim Pt. Reyes National Seashore! And Marin now has a vegan restaurant in San Rafael!  More below.    I have a heartfelt question for every reader: You are already in my heart, so will you be my Valentine?


Saturday, February 8
Ahimsa Living Circle
If you are looking for community and support for vegan living, the Ahimsa Living Circle meets the second Saturday of each month from 10 AM to 11:30 on Zoom and welcomes you.  Learn about Ahimsa - non-harming - and join with others walking the path of non-violence at these monthly on-line gatherings.  The hosts are Hope Bohanec of Compassionate Living, Cogen Bohanec, PhD,  and the Arihanta Institute.  Learn more about them and this ongoing event at https://www.arihantainstitute.org/all-events/98-ahimsa-living-circle


The Elk Win, Cows to Leave Pt. Reyes
Thanks to the relentless work and patient advocacy of many organizations and individuals, the vast majority of dairy and cattle ranches will be leaving the Point Reyes National Seashore over the next 15 months.  When the cows are gone, the water and land will be cleaner, the fence that confined the Tule elk will stay down, and the elk will be free to roam and have access to water throughout the park. Here are three articles  on this breakthrough settlement: the story from the Pacific Sun (For balance, be sure to read the comments after the article.); the press release from the Center for Biological Diversity;  and my favorite, an excellent Marin Voice piece from the January 30 edition of the IJ.

https://pacificsun.com/given-then-taken-point-reyes-plan-ends-most-ranching-at-national-seashore/

https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/historic-agreement-on-cattle-ranching-wildlife-management-at-point-reyes-national-seashore-ends-decades-of-conflict-2025-01-08/

https://www.marinij.com/2025/01/29/marin-voice-it-is-time-to-let-point-reyes-be-wild-again/

New California Law Protects Octopus
Starting this year, California has a law in effect that bans farming octopus. The New York Times reported "Although currently there are no large-scale octopus farming operations in the state, the legislation aims to prevent them from opening in the future."  If, like me, you watched the phenomenal film My Octopus Teacher, you will celebrate this law and bow your head in sorrow at the fact that many people want to eat octopus.

Malibu's Burgers Now Open in San Rafael
Miyoko and volunteers from Rancho Compasion visited Marin's only vegan eating establishment, Malibu's Burgers in San Rafael. The owner told Miyoko that he avoids using the word "vegan" anywhere, so half his customers come for a burger and never realize it didn't come from an animal. Malibu's is at 819 Fourth Street, near Lincoln.  Let's support the county's only vegan restaurant!

Respect for Plant-based Alternatives
I have been guilty of this.  Many vegans tell their non-vegan friends that certain vegan foods are too processed and too unhealthy to replace traditional meat based foods.  But as a transition food or as an occasional treat, these options can make the difference between keeping someone on the path to veganism and making them feel justified to continue eating animals.  Registered dietitian Ginny Messina makes a strong argument here and points out that even some vegan food companies disparage other vegan food companies. And animals suffer for it.   I recommend reading this piece from her blog.    https://www.theveganrd.com/2025/01/we-need-more-respect-for-plant-based-alternatives/


Institue for Humane Education
A wonderful not for profit has been promoting a vegan ethic among educators and influencers of all kinds for years.  And we are all influencers.  Using what they call "evidence based optimism," they confront cynicism and hopelessness in order to build a just, healthy and humane future.  A new book by its president Zoe Weil is called The Solutionary Way.  Like the IHE itself, the book shows readers how to look beyond symptoms of problems for their roots so they can be addressed and remedied.  I hope you will get to know and support this brilliant organization.     https://humaneeducation.org/


Chocolate Reminder
If you are planning to buy chocolate for Valentines Day - or any day - be sure to consult the Food Empowerment Project's chocolate list first.  They approve only vegan chocolate that uses cocoa from countries that do not use slave labor. https://foodispower.org/chocolate-list/




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