Friday, February 23, 2018

#NeverAgain

I want to post the briefest response to the many tragedies resulting from gun violence in our society:

In part, the problem is that our fear and greed allows us also to do that kind of heinous act to millions of animals and other beings every day. Until we stop that, we are unlikely to address the rest. What we need is a thorough examination of our hearts to learn what we really need and what we really don’t need. Then, with the courage of love, we can let go of what we don’t need.

May all beings be happy.

Addendum/update, March 26, 2018:

“Until we extend our circle of compassion to all living things, humanity will not find peace.” –Albert Schweitzer

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Hurray for Switzerland!

Read about Switzerland being the first to make illegal the boiling of live lobsters and other strong protections for animals and pets:


Animal rights activists applaud the new lobster law and call for more action.

“While this may end one of the cruelest methods of killing these fascinating beings in Switzerland, there are no laws protecting them from being boiled alive in other countries — including the U.S.,” People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said on its website.

Thank you, Switzerland!

Now, let's keep moving forward toward the goal that ALL beings may be happy and well cared for.

Monday, February 19, 2018

How We Talk About Food

The way we refer to food and to what we eat can add confusion and perpetuate unconscious denial of the suffering our choices can create.

I want to begin the practice - because it will take time to overcome long-enculturated habits - of referring to "meat" items by the names of the animals, rather than the odd euphemisms we have become accustomed to.

"Steak" is a cow. "Bacon" is a pig. "Veal," a young lamb.* Though I understand the references and etymologies here, chickens don't have "fingers" and buffalos don't have wings. "Hamburgers" are cows and do not (at least, most hope!) contain any pigs (aka "ham").

For some reason, most feel ok calling a meal of fish "fish," and commonly "chicken" and "turkey" is how we refer to those birds, though my sense is that more people would feel a need to reckon with their food choices if they used the proper animal names of the mammals cows, pigs, and sheep.

We don't like eating horses, and maybe we would be less inclined to eat cows and pigs if we called them by name.

Similarly, I feel increasingly concerned about the terms "Vegan" and "plant-based." I want to begin to more accurately describe my ethics-based choice of foods as "Non Animal."

Perhaps if we begin calling things what they are, we will bring more light to the shadowy areas of our mostly unconscious and vastly unethical relationships with our sister and brother animals.

May all beings be happy and well.

___

* Thank you, Lisa, for your correction in the comments section that "veal" refers to cows.

Saturday, February 17, 2018

Vegan Publishers

A great resource for readers and writers! https://veganpublishers.com/

Thanks, Vegan Publishers!

May all beings be happy and well.