Question. Wish.

Question: Why is the idea of protein more important to people then animal welfare?
Wish: I wish people would educate themselves on a balanced vegan or vegetarian diet and learn that protein comes from plant sources as well as meat and meat by products. I wish people would extend their compassion.

Plain and simple..

Summer Fresh

Had a lovely day off today. Went to the market to buy some light summer treats and then came home and had a bit of a picnic. Goat cheese Canapees, field greens with my own white garden radish, vine ripened tomato and some nuts. And for dessert some delectable local strawberries. Very tasty and relaxing. Eating it in the grass, listening to Devendra Banhart made me feel connected to my surroundings. Simply lovely.

" We've got no guns no we don't have any weapons
Just our corn and the children"
- 'Cripple Crow'

A Present Day Animal Holocaust

As a vegetarian I have always made a connection between the Holocaust and factory farming because the treatment of the Jewish/gypsies/disabled during World War Two was so brutal. As of yesterday I had never actually taken the time to think about why I felt this way. So I thought step by step thought the process of the Holocaust and related it to Factory Farming and to my amazement every step in the process really fight the treatment of present day animals in modern operations.

#1 Preparation

When the Jewish were taken to concentration and work camps they were prepared by cutting their hair etc.

In factory farms there is also cruel preparation which differs depending on the the live stock.

Ex:
Pigs: Tails cut off
Chickens: Beaks sanded

#2 Transportation

Jews were taken to camps in cars with too little space in humid cruel conditions.
Similarly pigs, cows, chickens are transported in small boxcars in large numbers.



#3 Selection

In Nazi work camps workers were chosen by age, health and work capacity. If they did not meet these standards they were killed.

In the dairy industry and egg poultry industry if the cow/bird is not meeting quota it is slaughtered.

#4 Living Conditions

When relocated Nazi prisoners were often separated from their loved ones and lived in small cramped housing.

Much like this dairy cows and beef cows are separated from their young. Many animals chickens and pigs in particular live in very cramped conditions.

#5 Death

Death for both the Jewish and farm animals of all kinds is uncertain. Their death date could result in an off day. The method of killing for Jews was incineration for animals it is "cooking". Cooking their flesh- again very similar to the method of Nazi prisoners.

I find it odd that the puzzle fits together so perfectly in all steps. Perhaps this was done purposely to "dehumanize" the Jewish prisoners.

No soul deserves this treatment. Animals are not for butchering. Animals have a life to live just like all humans have.

Note:

In no way am I saying that an animals life today is equal to a Jews. I am simply comparing the two cruel happenings and pointing out the value of both a human and animals soul. The Holocaust should never have happened and will hopefully never happen again. It was a terrible thing. So lets end animal slavery as well.

Wierd Fruit!

Today I tried these need exotic fruits for the first time. The first shown here is called a Mangosteen native to the Sunda Islands and the Moluccas. These are hard to explain because they taste like nothing I have ever tasted before.. but they sort of remind me of a cross between a blueberry and a banana. Quite tasty.


Granadilla fruit is very interesting indeed. The Granailla originated in the Andies - between Venuzuilla and Bolivia. The shell is thin and the texture of a plastic, and once cut inside there is a sac of jelly covered seeds protected by what looks like a thin orange skin. I liked the jelly around the seeds but didn't care for the seeds themselves which are edible and crunchy but not hard. Both are very interesting fruits, try them! It's always fun to try new foods. :D

Missed Novelties

I got to have a BLT this month with fake bacon from Yves which was actually good! It was so nice to sink my teeth into something I grew up with without the guilt of eating a piggy and actually have it taste delicious!

Ever wonder what a cow thinks? Wonder no longer.

Defining "vegetarianism".

What is a vegetarian? This is confusing for people because there are so many uninformed sources out there who say we eat read meat, fish, chicken etc but the truth is:

Vegetarians don't eat the flesh of any animals be they mammals, birds or fish.Vegetarians do eat animal by products like honey, eggs and milk.

Now what is a Vegan? Vegans do not eat the flesh of any animals be they mammals, birds or fish OR the animal byproducts (dairy, honey etc).

Another reason the definition of a vegetarian or vegan is so confusing is because some people classify themselves as vegetarians and still eat fish, chicken etc. Whether or not these people are vegetarians is a matter of opinion.. My opinion is that these people are simply people who don't eat certain meats out of preference. They simply want the title of vegetarian without stopping eating their favorite flesh.

So there you go folks I hope that cleared things up. Vegetarians eat everything but flesh, vegans eat everything but animals by products and flesh. Lock that knowledge away and spread the word.

Now enjoy this funny video about the misconceptions about the definition of vegan and the frustrations some of us feel.