This Dish Is Veg - Vegan, Animal Rights, Eco-friendly News

Animal exploitation for entertainment: A societal epidemic

2012-02-15T13:43:00.000-05:00

Monkeys, wolves and elephants: these are a mere three animals out of dozens which are subjected to needless exploitation by the human entertainment industry.

The 2012 Superbowl fanfare, hype, and celebrity idolization has already passed, and, as tends to be the case with stories blown out of proportion by mainstream news networks, other happenings at the time were buried with ease and quickly forgotten. One such story involved controversy surrounding a particular commercial by CareerBuilder.com, the largest online employment website in the United States. The advertisements essentially feature a man in various office-related settings filled with disruptive, suit-wearing chimpanzees who do nothing but cause mischief for him as he tries to get his work done (view here).

Advocates of animal welfare concerned about the chimps were met with an official response by CareerBuilder on their website which says that the company "supports the fair and humane treatment of all animals" because it is a "very important" issue. The website goes on to explain that the "strictest guidelines to ensure our chimpanzee stars were treated well and not harmed in any way" were followed, "top trainers" were hired, and the American Humane Association was present during filming.

Though it's definitely a good thing that animal safety was taken into consideration on-set, the issue at hand pertains more to what goes on prior to and after filming. Wayne Pacelle, President of the Humane Society of the United States, explains in greater detail on his blog, illustrating how infant chimpanzees are taken from their "fiercely protective mothers," causing them to suffer long-term psychological damage before they are subjected to "abusive training". Pacelle elaborates further, depicting what tends to happen after the commercials are produced: "It ends with the chimpanzees too large to control, usually before age 7, when they are dumped at roadside zoos, in small backyard cages, or used for breeding the next generation of chimpanzee performers or pets. A lucky few go to sanctuary, where the public supports them for the remaining 40 or so years of their lives at a staggering expense. That’s what happened to the last batch of CareerBuilder chimps."

Much of the scientific community seems to agree with the message of activists like Pacelle. Steve Ross, Ph.D., who works as an assistant director at Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo, said that there is "ample scientific evidence" demonstrating long-term negative impacts on conservation efforts resulting from the use of chimpanzees in commercials. Kevin Bell, President and CEO of the Lincoln Park Zoological Society, also expressed disappointment with CareerBuilder, noting that the process of using chimps is "rife with welfare concerns".

Interestingly, researchers at Duke University tested the argument, showing 165 individuals one of three videos: the first emphasized the need to protect chimps; the second showed standard footage of chimps in the wild; and the third displayed chimps behaving silly and wearing clothes. Afterwards, participants filled out questionnaires to assess their understanding of wild chimps, and were given the opportunity to give a charity donation towards conservation efforts. Not only were those who watched the "silly" video less likely to donate, but "more than 35% of those who watched the humorous ads came away thinking that individuals should have the right to own a chimpanzee as a pet, compared with only 10% of those who watched the two other films," according to Science.

Aside from monkeys, a recent article by Gavin Palone titled, "It’s Been a Shameful Month for Animal Cruelty in Entertainment," reveals how Liam Neeson's 2012 film, The Grey, portrays wild wolves as "vicious man-eaters" as they hunt down and devour a group of stranded oil workers. Such depictions are damaging because they contribute to shaping an unrealistic public perception of wolves as naturally aggressive towards humans without provocation, even though wolf attacks are rare, and when they do happen they tend to be the result of human encroachment on their territory. Bad public perception could mean less empathy when, for example, a ban is lifted on wolf hunting, as was done recently by the Obama administration. The Grey is also disturbing because apparently real wolf corpses were used as props, an act of blatant speciesism (it's very unlikely the film crew would have contemplated using real human corpses as film props).

Elephants abducted in to the entertainment industry have also become a cause of concern for animal welfare advocates. MSPCA-Angell, a private, non-profit organization, launched a campaign in February of this year to lobby and raise awareness about Bill S1706, which would, according to their website, "ban the cruelest instruments used on elephants that perform in circuses". Linda Huebner, Deputy Director of Advocacy for MSPCA-Angell, writes: "The use of bullhooks and restraints is extremely cruel, causing painful injuries and adding to these animals' already intense suffering. Moreover, they do not mitigate the huge threat to public safety inherent to forcing large wild animals to perform unnatural tricks in front of large crowds of people."

Indeed, it was only last November that Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus were charged with a $270,000 civil penalty, the largest ever against an exhibitor under the federal Animal Welfare Act, for mistreating not only elephants, but also zebras and tigers. Such laws, however, may not act as the best deterrent, especially when federal agencies tasked with regulatory duties, such as the USDA (the only government entity with the power to enforce the Animal Welfare Act), are well-known for closing investigations prematurely and overriding its own inspectors' determinations, which has allowed for Ringling Brothers to deny allegations in the past regarding elephant abuse.

These types of occurrences in the entertainment industry are all but uncommon. Aside from monkeys, wolves, and elephants, other instances of non-human exploitation include bullfights, horse races and zoos. Nonetheless, it seems as though this subject will likely be with us so long as audiences continue feeding profit into the machine that drives it. Until we can recognize needless exploitation, condemn it loudly, and refuse to take part in it, the non-human animal entertainment industry will have minimal incentive for ending the cruel subjection of cognizant beings to unnatural conditions for the mere amusement of a superior species.

Jonathan Reynolds
New York Jonathan is a freelance writer and blogger residing in upstate New York.

Photo credit: Screen capture

Yet another reason for ending hog factory farming

2012-02-15T12:54:00.000-05:00

According to The Minnesota Daily, hog farmers across the Midwestern United States are beginning to discover methane-packed foam on manure holding pits which, when exposed to a spark, becomes dangerously explosive.

In September of last year, one such explosion in Iowa took the lives of 1,500 pigs while also injuring one worker. The year prior, a farmer found some of the foam and tried removing it, resulting in a blast that knocked him back roughly 30-40 ft from the site.

A team from the University of Minnesota has been investigating the foam since reports became widespread. They found that the foam - which they believe consists mostly of bacteria - develops in manure pits. Still, while they're not entirely sure how to stop it from spreading, they have noticed a correlation between dried distillers grain (created through ethanol production) insoluble being added to the hogs' diets and the foam.

According to a 2009 article posted on the Iowa State University website titled, "Livestock Producers Facing Explosion Hazards with Manure Pumping", "[liquid] manure in pits undergoes slow decomposition which creates several gases including methane and hydrogen sulfide, both of which are flammable."

If the barbaric, emotionless treatment of sentient animals, gallons of antibiotics utilized in production, environmental impact, or rampant spread of disease have all failed as incentives to avoid industrial pig farming, perhaps exploding fecal foam might do the trick.

Jonathan Reynolds
New York Jonathan is a freelance writer and blogger residing in upstate New York.

Photo credit:cc:flickr.com/photos/jennifrog/90816492 and TDIV

Herbivoree Comic Strip: Mommy?!

2012-02-15T11:43:00.000-05:00

Natalie Peragine | Artwork
Canada Natalie is currently going to university for her Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Studies. She is a vegan ecofeminist because she loves all animals equally. Natalie creates vegan comics to encourage knowledge sharing through a DIY art medium, co-created a vegan environmental club at her university, writes a vegan blog, and volunteers for a donkey sanctuary.

No Meat Zone Recipes: Vegan Zucchini Banana Bread Pancakes

2012-02-15T11:06:00.000-05:00

Vegan

Sometimes nothing is better than a nice, warm, gooey slice of banana bread, except when it can be eaten for breakfast. Pretty soon these zucchini banana bread pancakes will have you wanting banana bread for breakfast every day.

The Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup flour
1 cup soy milk, add more as needed
1 1/2 banana, mashed
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup grated zucchini
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tbsp cinnamon

Directions:
In a large bowl, mix together dry ingredients. Add soy milk, zucchini and vanilla. Mash banana with a fork, and add to the mix. Mix well and add more soy milk as needed.

Caron Creighton | @caroncreighton | Blog
Michigan Caron is a student at Michigan State University studying Professional Writing, Journalism and Arabic. She has been vegetarian for three years and frequently posts delicious vegan dessert ideas on her blog, Vegan Monster. She also spends her free time running, writing, and enjoying delicious vegan meals.

Photo credit: Caron

TDIV Q&A: Don't puppies in pet stores need homes too?

2012-02-15T10:39:00.000-05:00

Q: "Why should I not buy animals from a pet store? Don't puppies in pet stores need homes too?"

I remember when I used to go to the mall with my high school friends and would purposely try to avoid walking past the “Today’s Pet” store. It would kill me to glance in the windows and see all the cute, cuddly puppies and kittens jumping up against the glass walls and huddling on top of one another in the corner.

I felt sad because a) the puppies’ confinement in such small spaces and the longing they must feel for their mothers, b) the commercialism of selling animals to impulse buyers, and c) the fact that I wanted them all.

Yes, animals in pet stores do need loving homes. If pet shops were to be outlawed tomorrow and closed down, the pets inside should be adopted just like the millions of animals already at shelters across the nation. But since pet stores are still in the business of selling animals strictly for profit, purchasing a dog or cat from one of these stores only contributes to the production of animals for monetary gain.

The point is, we shouldn’t be treating animals as commodities. According to The Humane Society of the United States, there are 6 to 8 million dogs and cats in shelters each year. We should always choose to adopt an animal from a shelter or rescue organization instead of a pet store, therefore saving it from a life of loneliness, malnourishment and death on the streets.

While pet stores continue to buy their “stock” from puppy mills that breed animals in horrific conditions, countless dogs are being euthanized at pounds. Encouraging the breeding of puppies for profit, as puppy mill operators and pet storeowners do, is simply adding to the already vast number of animals without homes.

Animal welfare groups are working towards ending puppy mills, but it’s a long road ahead. What you can do is help educate the people you know that are interested in bringing a new furry friend into their home.

Tell your friends the consequences of purchasing a puppy from a pet store:

• Supporting the cycle of forced breeding in inhumane conditions.
• Contributing to the number of dogs who end up abandoned by their owners, either on the street or in already overcrowded shelters where they can be euthanized.
• Failing to rescue one of countless dogs and puppies already in need of loving homes.

Walking past the cute, little puppies in that pet shop window is hard. But it’s our fault as humans that they are there in the first place. Be an advocate against the inhumane breeding and selling of puppies by also encouraging the spaying/neutering of pets.

Adopting a puppy, adult dog or other pet should be a serious commitment, not an impulse purchase. And keep in mind that an adult dog can make just as wonderful an addition to your family as a puppy would! So if you are ready to provide the love and care needed to raise a pet, please adopt from your local shelter.

To learn more about HSUS’s Puppy Mill Project:

http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/campaigns/stop_puppy_mills/

Check out The Shelter Pet Project (created by HSUS, Maddie’s Fund, and The Ad Council) to see how you, your family and friends can help the many animals in need of caring homes:

http://theshelterpetproject.org/

“A person is the best thing to happen to a shelter pet.”

The more work we can do to help the animals already in shelters or still on the streets, the more lives we can end up saving. Please spread the word about the benefits of shelter adoption over purchasing animals from pet stores. Puppies certainly are adorable, but the reality of puppy mills and the greed and deception behind most pet shops sure isn't.

Rachel Fryer | Email
Maryland A lifelong vegetarian and animal lover, Rachel Fryer enjoys writing, traveling, eating spicy food, drinking coconut water, reading historical fiction and sweating (she is also a Bikram yoga teacher). Rachel is excited to attend grad school for her Masters in English in Fall 2012 and to adopt a shelter dog in the near future.

Photo credit: cc:flickr.com/photos/opensourceway

Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale set for April

2012-02-14T12:03:00.000-05:00

Whether you are interested in becoming a vegan or have been following a vegan diet your entire life, there is no better way to support the vegan community than with a worldwide vegan bake sale.

Starting April 21, the fourth annual Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale, sponsored by Compassion for Animals (CFA), will open its doors once again to all those interested in participating. Simply visit and fill out the application form or email info@veganbakesale.org.

Make sure to get your baked goods in the oven and on the selling table before the last day, April 29. If you cannot make that deadline but still want to participate, get in contact with the WBK and they will do their best to include you. Also ensure that all treats are dairy and egg-free and that there are no books, brochures or anything contributing to the intentional harming of animals at the bake sale.

While it may seem slightly daunting if you have never tried baking without eggs or dairy ingredients, there are a multitude of recipes available online. For starters, check out the Vegan Bake Sale website. They offer many substitutes for eggs and dairy.

If this is your first time hosting a bake sale, you will need to keep a few things in mind. Secure a venue that is willing to host the bake sale. Some examples are farmers markets, vegan stores, sporting events and strip malls. However, make sure you register in time and acquire all necessary permissions to take over the space for your sale.

Since its beginning, the Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale has raised over $100,000 for various causes and in 2009, was named “Veg Event of the Year” by VegNews Magazine.

People from six different continents participated in the sale in 2010 and 2011, both of which were covered by CNN.

Mouthwatering photos from New York, Nebraska, and Ohio are some of the reasons to get involved. Check them out. The Green Tea Cupcakes from Akron, Ohio and Monkey Muffins from Looe, England caught my eye.

These are just two examples of the inspiring ideas on the highlights section of the Vegan Bake Sale website.

Not only do you have the chance to make something delicious for the good of the vegan community, but you can also design something fashionable. Enter the contest to design the next Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale shirt. Send your design to info@veganbakesale.org by February 19 and within the next week, two winners will be announced.

Members of the CFA and WBBS Board of Directors will be judging the contest.

Since I became a vegan a year ago, I have learned some of the ins and outs of vegan baking. It can be a bit tricky at times, but amidst some mistakes along the way, I have discovered some recipes that work. You would never know they weren’t vegan. The vegan cupcakes in Alicia Silverstone’s The Kind Diet are one of my favorite recipes by far. I have also made chocolate chip cookies and pumpkin oatmeal cookies from Post Punk Kitchen blog. I highly recommend checking them out.

Good luck to everyone who plans to enter. It’s a great opportunity to get involved and spread the word to others about the great vegan community. So go ahead, enter the bake sale and show everyone how delicious being vegan can be.

Samantha Wood | @bostonu14 | Blog
Boston, MA Samantha is a journalism student at Boston University who hopes to pursue a career in the health magazine field. She is interested in both nutrition and cooking, especially vegan cooking. She became a vegan while in college and has remained that way ever since. She created a blog to document her efforts and it has become a collection of vegan recipes, restaurants and nutrition information. Samantha hopes to develop her photography skills as well so she can take appetizing photos of all her recipes. She loves chocolate (the vegan kind of course) and dogs, as well as California, where she hopes to live someday.

Photo credit: Nicole

Call your Congressperson and ask them to support the Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act

2012-02-14T11:03:00.000-05:00

Wild animals suffering in circuses need your help—just a quick call to Congress—to ask your Representative to support the Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act (H.R. 3359) a bill that aims to protect elephants, tigers, bears and other wild animals performing in traveling circuses.

As you may know, Animal Defenders International recently launched the Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act, (H.R. 3359), which aims to prohibit wild animals from being forced to perform in traveling circuses in the U.S. The bill, introduced by Congressman Jim Moran (D-VA) now has 17 co-sponsors, bi-partisan support and is gaining momentum! Celebrity protectionists Bob Barker and Jorja Fox were also present on this historic day for animal protection in the United States.

Your Congressperson needs to hear from you right away so they know that there are people in their district who are in support of this bill.

You can find your Member of Congress and their contact details and take action here on our site.

Take action at our Break the Chain grassroots page www.breakthechainus.org where you will find talking points, sample letters and everything you need. You can send an email message to your member of Congress by filling out this simple online form.

Please pick up the phone today and call your Congressperson and let them know you are concerned about the suffering of wild animals in circuses and as a constituent, want them to support, the Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act (H.R. 3359).

Talking points

I am a constituent
I support the Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act (H.R. 3359) which aims to protect wild animals and public safety by prohibiting wild animals from being forced to perform in traveling circuses.
Please co-sponsor this important animal protection and public safety legislation.
Please find more detail, evidence and talking points on the websites listed below.
Traveling circuses cannot meet the complex needs of wild animals. Animals in traveling circuses endure confinement, physical and social deprivation, long, arduous journeys, brutal control methods and physical violence.
Keeping elephants in chains, confining wild animals like lions and tigers in small cages, and forcing them to perform unnatural tricks for the sole purpose of human amusement is increasingly difficult to justify in our advanced society.

After making the call, please follow up with an email message or written letter.

Don’t hesitate to speak from your heart, and put the letter into your own words which will make a stronger appeal. And remember, keep the message short and simple, and only thoughtful, polite messages will have the impact the animals need.

You can send an email message to Congress with our automated Action Alert here on our website:
bit.ly/EmailToCongress

And for more talking points and sample letters check out our Break the Chain grassroots campaign website: www.breakthechainus.org

To read a copy of the bill and find out more about the science and evidence backing this legislation, visit: federalcircusbill.org.

We want to hear from you! Please share your letter with us and let us know when you receive a response from your Congressperson so that we can keep track of your congressperson’s position.

Please send us your address, email, and telephone number so that we can contact you quickly during the campaign to take action in our grassroots Break the Chain effort. We need to be able to mobilize advocates quickly for calls, emails and letters to react to action being taken on Capitol Hill and District Offices. With your support, we can win this!

Become part of the Break the Chain Mobile Instant Response Team and respond immediately from your mobile device to our text action alerts (standard text messaging rates will apply.) To ‘opt in’ to receive our Break the Chain Mobile Alerts via text, simply text the word CHAIN to the number 55678.

Contact ADI for more information on how you can help by emailing: usa@ad-international.org, or to donate. We urgently need funds to continue our grassroots efforts and to keep investigators in the field, documenting the abuse and bringing it to light!

Thank you for your support of the Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act, H.R. 3359. With your help, we will Break the Chain of circus suffering!

Article provided by Matt Rossell, Campaigns Director, Animal Defenders International (ADI)

Photo credit: ADI

11 things you can do to help animals

2012-02-13T13:12:00.000-05:00

1. Educate yourself
Animals are used in 5 ways within our society (food, entertainment, medical, companion, and clothes) and you should aim to educate yourself with the issues surrounding animal rights and/or welfare within these 5 areas.

2. Spread the word
As you continue to educate yourself, you will find out all sorts of interesting and disturbing things in books, videos, studies etc. regarding the use of animals. If you find it interesting, chances are someone else that you know will too.

3. Adopt your next pet
According to the ASPCA website, “approximately 5 million to 7 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year.”

4. Buy Cruelty Free
There are so many wonderful cruelty free products on the market today. I use my YouTube channel to explore vegan beauty products and suggest that you look in your home to see what products that you currently have are cruelty free and ones that you need to update.

5. Boycott—put your money where your morals are.
On the flip side of buying cruelty free, stop supporting companies (if you buy from a company, then you are supporting them) that abuse animals, their workers and the environment. You make a vote every time you lay a dollar (or a credit card) on the counter. Vote to live cruelty free.

6. Choose donations wisely
Just because an organization’s goals sound good, it does not mean that they will be good for animals. Before you send a check, or volunteer your time, learn about the organizations’ policies. How much of your money will actually go to program expenses as opposed to administrative? If it is a company that is working towards a cure, are they doing this work on animals? Visit www.charitynavigator.org “America's leading independent charity evaluator” for more information.

7. Become a role model
Gandhi said “Be the change that you wish to see in the world." Sometimes the most impactful and easiest action that you can take to facilitate change is to be the change. If you live a life of compassion for animals, you never know who you may influence to do the same when they see how easy it is for you.

8. Write your politicians
There are always new laws being written regarding how animals should be treated within all 5 areas listed in #1. Let your politicians know how you feel. Call, write, blog, and tweet your opinions to them. And if they don’t listen, vote for the ones that will in the next election!

9. Report abuse in homes, pet shops, in your neighborhood, school, circuses, etc.
Be the voice for the voiceless. If you see abuse of animals anywhere call your local police or animal care and control.

10. Teach children respect for animals
How children learn to treat animals when they are young is how they will treat animals when they become adults.

11. Become Vegan
You know it would end with this!! The most immediate action that you can take to help animals is to stop eating them. PERIOD!!!!!

Leolin López | Blog
Illinois Leolin is a vegan, mother, wife, writer, vloger, and a cupcake connoisseur. Leolin became vegetarian in 2007 after watching MeetyourMeat.com and then vegan in 2009 after spending the summer at the Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, New York, caring for rescued farm animals. Leolin started her blog CrunchyandHappy in January 2011. In her blog she discusses and explores the vegan lifestyle through stories of parenting, beauty, animals, nutrition, and food. She also vlogs on YouTube sharing reviews, hauls, and tutorials of vegan beauty products as well as sharing her experiences as a vegan.

Photo credit: btenow

New documentary 'Heal Your Self' instructs viewers to take control of their health

2012-02-13T12:14:00.001-05:00

Take responsibility for your health. That is what Norm Hacker suggests you do through his new documentary, Heal Your Self. He believes that we need to take back our bodies and health from medications, doctors and major companies. According to the testimonials from health professionals and vegan advocates, our mind is much more powerful than we believe. They say that just by visualizing our immune systems attacking what ails us, we can begin the healing process. Of course, meditation is not the only method we need to use. We need to eat right, exercise, and even take our environment into account.

The film is comprised of interviews from health professionals (such as Dr. Bernie Siegel, who seeks changes in the medical industry that humanize medical practice), authors, spiritual teachers, and those who have used lifestyle-based healing practices to survive cancer, cure Crohn’s disease, lose weight, and much more. Heal Your Self is much like attending a seminar with different speakers giving lectures on their experiences and knowledge. While it may not be as captivating as other films in this genre, its message is still worth considering—especially if you are giving a lot of money to the pharmaceutical industry and you are not seeing any improvements in your health. The lack of recent plant-based super stars, such as Dr. T. Colin Campbell is refreshing.

Heal Your Self is not advertised as a vegan film, and while the message is the same as many of the recent plant-based diet films and contains raw vegan advocates, I would be more likely to label the film as spiritual and lifestyle guidance. The interviews offer suggestions on how you can take back responsibility for your health with a variety of lifestyle changes, but the film does not contain a whole lot of research data regarding the effects of chemicals in our environments, medications and food. Despite the lack of concrete information, the film is useful to view and then do some of your own research afterward. The documentary is less like a mind-blowing information powerhouse and more like a holistic horticulturist planting a seed in your mind.

Look for it on DVD at the Heal Your Self Store.

Kristen McFarland | @KinoFou
Kristen, a vegan from Cincinnati, Ohio, is passionate about animal rights and film. She has a degree in electronic media and spends her time working as a sideshow performer and a photographer. Follow Kristen on Facebook.

Photo credit: Heal Your Self

No Meat Zone Recipes: Vegan Blueberry and Banana Pancakes

2012-02-13T11:39:00.000-05:00

Blueberry and Banana Pancakes

Vegan and free of added sugar

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup soy milk
1 1/2 bananas, mashed
1/2 cup blueberries
1 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
pinch, nutmeg
apple pie spice, to taste
1/2 tsp cinnamon, optional

Directions:
Mix together flour, baking powder, salt and other spices. Add soy milk and vanilla, mix well. Add blueberries. Mash 1 1/2 bananas with a fork and add to the mixture. Mix together until smooth. This recipe makes about four thick, medium/large pancakes. Add more soy milk if thinner batter is desired.

Photo credit: Caron

Can't get enough of us? TDIV joins Pinterest

2012-02-13T11:04:00.000-05:00

If you just can't get enough of TDIV, we have another fun way for you to follow us: Pinterest, the online pinboard. Everything is neatly organized into categories such as recipes, Q&A, reviews, vegan, animal rights and celebrities -- follow all the categories or pick and choose the ones that interest you. Hope to see you there!

Daelyn Fortney | Facebook |@daelyn | email
Greenville, SC Daelyn is the co-founder and managing director of This Dish Is Veg. She handles the daily operations of the site including advertising, story idea generation, and website promotion as well as managing the volunteer contributors. Along with her work at TDIV, Daelyn is an editor for a gift-giving website and mother of three daughters.

Photo credit: TDIV Pinterest

PETA to Michelin: Rate restaurants that serve shark fin soup and foie gras zero stars

2012-02-13T10:48:00.000-05:00

PETA has sent a letter to Michel Rollier, CEO of the Michelin Guide, asking that they rate restaurants serving foie gras and shark fin soup with 0 stars. The Michelin Guide is a series of annual guidebooks published for over a dozen countries. The guidebooks include ratings of travel related services including restaurants and hotels.

Foie gras is a liver dish that entails the force feeding if ducks and geese until their livers are enlarged and diseased. This practice is banned in many countries but still considered a delicacy in many places around the world.

Shark fin soup encourages fisherman to hack off the shark fins while the animal is still alive and then tossing the shark back into the water, where it will suffocate or bleed to death.

You can read the letter sent by PETA here. If the public is educated about the cruel measures used to produce these meals, the demand will diminish.

John Himmelberger | Blog | Facebook| @johnhimm
Maryland John lives in Maryland where he works as a sales manager. John and his wife Eileen’s pursuit to achieve optimum health combined with a desire to send a strong message to factory farming, inspired them to examine what they put into their bodies. Now a vegan, John has great admiration for groups like Farm Sanctuary and hopes to influence others by sharing his positive experiences.

Photo credit: cc: flickr.com/photos/justyn

Vegan Testimonials project aims to inspire new vegans [Interview]

2012-02-09T18:24:00.002-05:00

Going vegan is a big decision for most people. It means re-evaluating everything you thought you knew about food, creating new habits, and learning a new way of living. So how can we inspire people to take the leap? By sharing the stories of those who are succeeding and thriving with a plant-based diet. The Vegan Testimonials project at ReadyforPlanB.com aims to do just that, and the project's creator tells TDIV all about it.

TDIV: We appreciate you taking the time to tell us about the project, Peter!

Peter: Before we get started, I just wanted to say thank you to you, Kasey, and to This Dish is Veg for your enthusiasm and help with our Vegan Testimonials project, I’m looking forward to speaking with you about it and appreciate your help spreading the word!

TDIV: First of all, please tell us how you got the idea for the project.

Peter: Well, right at the top of my list of things that are awesome would be when a friend or family member tells me they’ve decided to go vegan! I love it when that happens. With Twitter and Ready for Plan B my attitude has been the only thing cooler than helping one person go vegan is helping two people go vegan! Right? The more the merrier.

There have never been more people interested and exploring veganism or plant-based diets than there are right now and I want to help them. Knowing there are so many interested in veganism and that my story only resonates with a sliver, I decided to start recruiting my twitter friends to help out by sharing their vegan stories. Now together we’re building a resource to inspire people that are interested. I figured with 100 testimonials, we’d start to reflect our diversity and have enough stories that people could really dig into it. Hopefully our collection connects with a much broader audience. By leveraging cool friends on Twitter, we’re able to reach out and support a lot more people. So forget two new vegans a week, we’re going big!

TDIV: What kind of effect do you think these testimonials will have on readers?

Peter: I hope the testimonials encourage people to go vegan! These stories should inspire new and potential vegans and show that going vegan is absolutely worth doing. Go vegan for animals, for the environment and for your own health. I also hope they are educational so that people see real vegan stories, rather than stereotypes or perceptions. The reality is the vegan community is incredibly diverse and inclusive and I’m proud of that and want to reflect it. We’re not all... fill-in-the-blank with a stereotype... and it’s important people understand that. There is plenty of room on this bus and we want you to feel like you can be part of it.

The real silver lining to the testimonials is the network of incredible vegans that it provides. A new vegan can not only find a story they can relate to, but also connect with that person [with the contact information provided] and have real support from the community going forward. Every testimonial mentions their Twitter account or blog, and all of them are up for helping out and answering questions.

TDIV: What has been the response to the project so far, and to the testimonials you've already posted?

Peter: So far the feedback has been incredible! I’ve been underway for about ten days and so far I’ve posted the first ten, I have another five ready to go, and there are more than fifty underway. From the data on web traffic, the average visit to the site is about ten minutes. People are reading them. We have a lot of cool people working on their story and we’ve had some great conversations with new vegans.

TDIV: In your discussions on Twitter, you've seemed really moved by the testimonials you're receiving. How is collecting and reading these testimonials affecting you personally?

Peter: Oh my gosh, these stories are amazing! I admire the hell out of my friends that have written them. I am so grateful to be able to share their experiences. They’re so cool to lend a hand and their honesty is a testament to how important veganism is to them. I can relate to so many parts of their stories, too. The internal conflict and the stress that results from eating meat when you care about animals, for example, is something that several talk about and it just takes me back to those moments that I had. Times when I knew I had to change but was still part of it all. In my mind’s eye I can still see the piece of pork on my plate… yuck.

Another theme that just blew me away was how going vegan dramatically improved their health. Whether they started out in good shape and running marathons or they were facing multiple chronic health issues, everybody was way better off after they went vegan.

TDIV: I'm sure that our readers are going to want to get involved. How should people contact you if they want to participate?

Peter: I am definitely looking for more people to participate and some help! If anyone would like to participate and submit their own vegan testimonial, they can email it to me at plantbasedcyclist@gmail.com. Please include a photo to personalize it a little more. Please reach out to me on Twitter as well @readyforplanb. We’re going to be friends, so come and say hello!

I am also talking with a few people about helping out with the blog and this project. I know that if I had somebody wonderful to bounce ideas off of and share the work load with, we could get a lot more done! If you have great ideas and good editing skills I’d love to hear from you!

View the Vegan Testimonials at http://www.readyforplanb.com.

Kasey Minnis | Facebook | @veggiemightee | Blog
Fort Lauderdale, FL That rare and elusive species known as the native Floridian, Kasey is passionate about protecting other endangered creatures. She lives by the principle “compassion and crochet for all,” and enjoys teaching others – including her husband of 20 years and two beautiful children – the benefits of cruelty-free eating by feeding them tasty vegan treats from her kitchen. Contact Kasey at kasey@thisdishisveg.com.

Photo credit:Peter/ReadyforPlayB.com

Take the cruelty out of the party: Vegan Tofu Po Boy for Mardi Gras

2012-02-09T13:51:00.002-05:00

Being a born and bred New Orleanian, I always start getting kind of excited around this time of year. Mardi Gras is a few short weeks away and my kitchen starts to smell like dishes from my childhood. Po boys have always been at the top of my list! I grew up eating these. Only back then they were filled with fried shrimp, catfish or oysters. These delicious sandwiches are a staple in most New Orleans restaurants. They are basically like a submarine sandwich usually filled with meat or fried seafood. What differentiates them is the bread. Po boys are served on warm French bread and it’s crucial to get really good French bread! You will also usually be asked if you want your po boy “dressed” …that means mayo, tomato and lettuce.

Many years ago, when I first went vegetarian (and before I was a vegan) I would allow myself one shrimp or oyster po-boy a year when I was visiting home. Then one day my then fiance (now husband) asked an already guilty feeling me, if I considered myself a pescetarian because I allowed myself this indulgence. I didn’t, so that ended that. But I’ve never stopped missing them.

It’s not only about how good they taste, it’s also about the memories associated with eating one. When I was younger, my family and I would go to the lakefront on Saturday nights where all of the great seafood restaurants were and I’d order a shrimp or oyster po-boy every time. I have fond recollections of sitting in these big, not always so nicely decorated restaurants and looking out onto the water. But you don’t really need fancy decor when the food is great and the view is beautiful!

Unfortunately I rarely get to Mardi Gras anymore since I live in Boston now, but we always celebrate by cooking up some good New Orleans food! This is a new recipe for a vegan po boy using cornmeal crusted tofu. It reminds me of an oyster po boy...delicious. Click here for the recipe. Or, if you are feeling really lazy, try using Sophie's Kitchen fried shrimp. You can find them at most Whole Foods stores and they are a nice substitute.

Julie Kelly | Facebook | @Mighty_Vegan | Blog
Boston, MA Julie loves finding new ways to make super healthy meals that are both easy and delicious. She has no special training as a chef just hours of playing in her own kitchen to feed her family. Julie believes you are what you eat, so she tries to keep it healthy with occasionally indulgences. Moving your body is a big party of being healthy and she tries to do that at least 6 times a week. When Julie’s not experimenting in the kitchen or spending time with her husband and 4 year old daughter, she is a partner at Three Bean Press, a custom self-publishing company. She is also a graphic designer and illustrator who has published three children's books: The Yellowest Yellow Lab, Lily and the Imaginary Zoo, and Frankie Goes to Fenway.

Photo credit: Julie

Unique, compassionate Valentine's Day ideas

2012-02-09T13:27:00.000-05:00

Valentine’s Day is a celebration of love, and who better than the vegan community to represent love?! But if you’re looking to celebrate V-Day with more than just a box of chocolates, consider these unique, cruelty-free ideas for all the special people in your life.

Sponsor an animal through an animal rescue group. Check out Farm Sanctuary, Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary, Ironwood Pig Sanctuary, and The Gentle Barn, to name a few. Do a Google search on sanctuaries and rescues in your area. Petfinder.com can give you some ideas.

Spend some time at your local animal shelter, playing with the cats or walking the dogs or cleaning kennels and litter boxes. Animal shelters always need help, and the animals there always need love.

Spread the love through food! Prepare a special meal for the special someone(s) in your life, host a vegan potluck, or bring in special vegan treats to share with your co-workers or classmates. Check out vegweb.com and The Post-Punk Kitchen for ideas.

Make and drop some seed bombs! This is a fun activity to do with friends. Practice your stealth as you drop bombs of beauty in some drab parts of town.

Spread some love Operation Beautiful-style by leaving “You Are Beautiful” notes in random, unexpected places. Check out the site for some inspiration.

Print and distribute this sweet little tear-off poster from Kind Over Matter (and check out her other printables, too).

Host a “wine tasting” and have each guest bring a bottle of wine to share. Let Barnivore be your guide to finding vegan wines.

Kick it old school and create a mix tape or mix CD. Or, even better, create a youtube video or slideshow set to music. Then you can REALLY shout your love from the rooftops (of the Internet)!

Save a tree and send an e-card (or no card) instead. Or, get really creative and make a card out of recycled materials. (Here are some ideas.)

Buy local and organic when possible. Support artists and crafters (check out Vegan Etsy). And of course, remember to share love and show compassion every day, not just on February 14.

Amanda Just | Blog | Facebook
Tampa Bay, FL Amanda stopped eating meat in 1995, the moment she learned what meat was: dead animals. She was 11 years old. Her passion for vegetarianism and animals grew as she did and she eventually went vegan in 2004. Amanda blogs at Hungry Vegan Traveler, posting about vegan eats she encounters everywhere she goes, near and far. Amanda currently resides in the Tampa Bay, Florida area. She works full-time with at-risk youth and is also an active volunteer for animal and human causes.

Photo credit:cc:flickr.com/photos/butterflysha

Give your four-legged friend some love this Valentine's Day

2012-02-09T12:58:00.000-05:00

No matter what your relationship status, there's probably a real cool cat that has your heart this Valentine's Day. Why not return the love with these homemade catnip treats (or "Cat Nipchers" as they're coyly named!)

Made from "all good things: flour, dry milk, catnip, milk, raw honey and an egg," these little feline favors are "then shaped into a ball and rolled out thin and cut" into a heart

When not showering your whiskered wuv-muffin, store these charming little guys in the fridge, or dole out with abandon to all your friends and their furry friends.

Best part? For $6 you get two baker's dozen homemade "Cat Nipchers" in a sweet gift bag. Deal-icious!

(Homemade 'Cat Nipchers, $6 for 26 at Nanny Goat Crafts, http://www.etsy.com/listing/92476917/cat-nipchers)

And if you've got a real dog in your life, don't worry, you can throw him a bone!

(Homemade bone shaped peanut butter and oatmeal treats, $9 for 26 at Nanny Goat Crafts, http://www.etsy.com/listing/87243082/dog-treats)

Mac Smith | Twitter | Facebook | Blog
New York City, NY Mac is a fashion writer and stylist (clients over the last 6 years include InStyle, Marie Claire, UK Cosmopolitan, Real Simple, L'Oreal, Macy's and many others) who started "It Can't All Be Dior" in 2010 to document life in New York and his love of coats, cats and cake.

Photo credit: Mac

ABC's 'What Would You Do?' to feature segment on vegan bashing

2012-02-09T10:30:00.000-05:00

The ABC series What Would You Do? uses hidden cameras to capture bystanders’ reactions to staged awkward, sometimes illegal, and always controversial situations, usually involving social prejudices. Psychologists and other experts weigh in, discussing the results with host John Quiñones.

In an upcoming What Would You Do? episode, which takes place at the Mason Jar Grill in New Jersey, a couple pressures the young daughter of a vegan mother to eat meat (they are all actors, including the waitress). After overhearing the girl’s mother explain to the waitress that she and her daughter are vegan, the intervening couple scolds the mother, saying, “She gets no protein,” and “It’s really a form of child abuse.”

Non-actor diners at nearby tables whisper among each other and stare as the couple goes so far as to order a hotdog for the little girl while her mother is in the bathroom. When the show airs, viewers will see whether the bystanders “step in, step up, or step away,” but ABC has already posted polls on its website.

The overwhelming majority of respondents responded to the poll question, “Would you try to convince a vegan family to feed their child meat?” with the answer, “No, I think vegan food is a healthy option for children.” But it’s definitely a controversial issue.

Less controversial is whether the hotdog the intervening couple orders for the little girl is actually “good for you,” as they say. Hotdogs aren’t “good” for anyone, vegan or not.

But is it child abuse, as the intervening man suggests?

In my (humble, vegan) opinion, that’s a ludicrous suggestion. It’s impossible to bring up child abuse with regard to diet without acknowledging the childhood obesity epidemic in the United States, a growing problem that is certainly not the result of veganism.

Childhood obesity is one of the most complex health and social issues in this country, and I’m not suggesting that parents who raise their children on a diet that contributes to obesity should be accused of abuse (though some have). But let’s keep some perspective, here.

Just like any parents, parents who choose to raise their children on a vegan diet ought to take care that they are getting all the B-12, calcium, iron, Vitamin D, and protein they need. The website EatRight.org offers some guidelines for raising kids on a vegetarian or vegan diet.

Watch What Would You Do? On Friday night at 9 p.m. if you’re interested in seeing how the bystanders at the Mason Jar Grill react. My guess: the vegans win.

Share your thoughts on our Facebook page.

Meghan Joyce | Facebook | @MeghanTheVeghan | Blog
Santa Barbara, CA Meghan has been a vegan for almost a year and blogs about it at meghantheveghan.blogspot.com. She's a PhD student in musicology, an opera singer, and a yoga enthusiast who loves eating and loves the world. Follow her eating adventures on Twitter and Facebook.

Photo credit: ABC

Don't miss the second annual NYC Vegetarian Food Festival

2012-02-09T10:16:00.000-05:00

Anyone in the New York City area who is interested in learning more about a healthy and compassionate lifestyle should check out the second annual NYC Vegetarian Food Festival, held on Saturday and Sunday, March 3 and 4, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.

This very important event will feature Dr. Michael Greger, director of Public Health and Animal Agriculture at The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), as one of the top speakers.

In addition to guest speakers, cooking demos, and book-signings, the event will surely be life changing for all who attend. Over 75 vendors will visit this year’s festival, which means you can totally transform your lifestyle just by attending. Vendors will include Mama Micki’s All Natural Bakery, Bagel Spice, Lumen Soy Foods, Fruit Bliss, Rescue Chocolate and Vegan Sailing Vacations.

Vegan clothing will also be sold, so you will be given the opportunity to see how stylish it is to be animal-friendly. Plus, PETA and The Humane League will also have an exhibit, so be sure to stop by.

Since last year’s event was such a success, the size of the venue was doubled for this year’s festival. VIP admission packages -- which guarantee VIP entry -- are available online at https://nycvegetarianfoodfestival.chirrpy.com or for only $5 you can purchase a general admission ticket at the door, but arrive early since they’ll be sure to go fast.

This event is NOT just for vegetarians! Gather up all your family and friends and take them along. Let them see for themselves how easy and how delicious it is to be friendly to animals and the environment. Let them learn about the awesome perks of being a herbivore.

Don’t miss the second annual NYC Vegetarian Food Festival, located in Manhattan at The Metropolitan Pavilion (125 West 18th Street). For more information on the event, please visit www.NYCVegFoodFest.com.

Alexandra Beane | Facebook | Twitter
Minnesota Alexandra is a lover of all animals, but has a soft spot for especially dogs and rabbits. She believes that life is not complete without an animal to love. Alexandra is highly passionate about animals and animal rights, and wants to raise awareness of the cruelty that many animals suffer in the best way she knows how, and this is by written word. Alexandra is a recent graduate of Metropolitan State University in Minnesota, with a degree in Professional Writing and a minor in Creative Writing. She absolutely loves to write news and creative nonfiction, and obsesses over spelling and grammar.

Photo credit: Screen capture

Herbivoree Comic Strip: The power of language...

2012-02-08T13:46:00.000-05:00

TDIV Q&A: How can I bring up that I am vegan to people I meet?

2012-02-08T13:29:00.000-05:00

Do you have any suggestions as to how I can bring up the fact that I'm vegan to new people I meet?

Let me answer your question with a question, why do you want them to know you’re a vegan? Depending on your answer, there are then many suggestions I could make. If it’s because you are going to attend a potluck or other food-centered party and are afraid that you won’t be able to really connect with anyone since you won’t be tasting any of their dishes (to avoid consuming dairy or meat), then bring a dish of your own that’s always a crowd-pleaser--like brownies!--and that will be a natural conversation starter.

If it’s because you don’t want them to think you’re “weird” then don’t tell them until after they get to know you for other reasons. If they think you’re weird without knowing about this lifestyle/dietary choice then that’s not really the problem, is it? If it’s because you’re really proud of this choice and want to share it with everyone you meet, then I’d suggest reeling back a bit. No one likes to be preached to.

Unfortunately, being vegan tends to have the stigma of being self-righteous and in most cases I find that rather than being intrigued and wanting to know about the plethora of food that we DO eat, omnivores are happy to hear their own justifications about why we “need” meat, why they “couldn’t ever live without meat/dairy," why “vegetarianism never stuck” when they tried it... In most cases, it’s like talking to a brick wall and I don’t even bother.

I have a vegan tattoo blazed on my arm for all to see, I find that says it all: Yes, I’m a vegan, I’m proud, I want you to know and go ahead, ask me, you know I’ll talk about it. The funny thing is, when in conversation with new people, I see them notice the tattoo and they don’t ask further questions. Maybe it’s that stigma. So, my bottom line suggestion to you: wear a vegan T-shirt and let them come to you with questions. But be prepared for the questions about where you get your protein and calcium!

Kristin Bass-Petersen | Facebook | LinkedIn | Blog
North Florida Kristin is a media junkie, be it when she is creating or consuming it. Her background is in film, media studies, communication and currently internet marketing. She maintains a vegan cooking blog where she uploads recipes fairly frequently. There's a vague promise to post at least twice a week, and that seems to be rigid enough--most weeks it's more! She lives in North Florida with her husband and incredibly vocal feline companion. Kristin speaks fluent Spanish, loves to travel and be outside. When not giddy over a hot stove, Kristin can usually be found either out in the woods with a camera or in front of a computer editing.

Photo credit:cc:flickr.com/photos/kareneliot

There is no better time than right now: Vegan and vegetarian starter kits

2012-02-08T12:48:00.000-05:00

One of the hardest parts about venturing down the vegetarian or vegan path, is knowing where to start. Luckily there are many great people out there who have put together some really helpful "how to guides."

VegNews
Gives a short but sweet starter guide complete with nutritional information, environmental and animal rights facts, and some amazing recipes. Try the Neapolitan Bars, they're amazing! Plus, several of the staff members share their reasons for going veg. Giving this kit a great personal touch.

PETA
Has both an online version as well as a print version available. The online version has a quiz, videos, weight loss and diet change information, great recipes for making the transition, as well as testimonials from celebrity members. They also include a link to HappyCow to aid new vegetarians and vegans in finding restaurants.

HSUS
The Humane Society provides a comprehensive guide on going vegetarian. They go into a fair amount of detail about factory farm conditions. The guide also includes excellent nutritional and environmental impact information. Though their shopping guide is mostly aimed at those looking for animal product replacements, they do include a glossary of foods such as seitan and tempeh that non-vegetarians might not already eat.

Vegan Outreach
Vegan Outreach's guide is available both online and in print. They even give you the option of ordering several copies to spread the vegan love. They offer a vegan foods glossary, substitution tips, recipes and a great FAQ. Their guide also offers a great list of organizations, and discussion groups, to make finding other vegans easier.

PCRM
The Vegetarian Starter Kit from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is the most comprehensive guide I've seen. They offer information for being vegetarian during pregnancy, how to raise children vegetarian, debunking myths, how to achieve and maintain a healthy weight, and give a three step plan for how to get started. You also have the option to print handouts as well as have them send a print copy of the guide to your home.

Mercy for Animals
Mercy for Animals offers both a print copy you can send away for as well as a pdf version. The pdf starts off with a letter from their Executive Director, Nathan Runkle, explaining how he became vegetarian. They offer plenty of detailed information on factory farming practices as well as the agricultural impact it creates. They have a copy of the vegetarian food pyramid in the nutritional section. The kit also provides meal ideas for those just making the switch as well as several recipes. Try the Pumpkin Patch Cheesecake, its a personal favorite!

The Humane League
The Humane League offers informative links that will help you easily eat on the road. Many of their links are to other groups on this list, which makes this a nice catch all for the best info. They also link to the video, Farm to Fridge, which gives a good look into the brutal world of animal agriculture. There is also a magazine style kit that you can register to have sent to your home.

Of course don't forget to check out TDIV's Guide to Going Vegan: The Realistic Method.

Ashley Kiefer | Facebook | Blog
Rapid City, SD Ashley is is an artist and avid vegan cook. She grew up playing in her grandmother's kitchen, and has fond memories of the fresh, rich and often decadent treats she made there. For Ashley, going vegan was a long transition prompted by health concerns. She's spent the last six years experimenting with ways to "veganize" the food delights of her childhood. She teaches private cooking classes and runs Season of The Vegan.

Photo credit:cc:flickr.com/photos/jakeandlindsay

Horse diving returning to Steel Pier in Atlantic City

2012-02-08T10:47:00.001-05:00

You read that correctly, dive. The owners of the Steel Pier in Atlantic City say they are bringing back this attraction that was once stopped due to the concerns for the animals. The new horse dive will consist of a rider jumping the horse off a 30 to 40 foot platform into a 12 foot pool. Anthony Catanoso, the Steel Pier president, sees no risk of harm to the animals and feels it's a historic and popular attraction.

Horse diving was an attraction here from the 1920s to the 1970s when it was stopped. Now the plan is to build an amphitheater and charge $10 a person to see a horse and rider dive. But many local residents are not happy with the return of the dive. The Atlantic City SPCA President, Nancy Beall, has said the idea is disgusting and it's cruel to put the animals though this event. Hopefully through efforts of the SPCA, word of this will spread and Mr. Catanoso will reconsider this cruel tradition.

News coverage video clip.

Sign the petition to stop the reopening here.

Photo credit: Steel City Facebook

Indulgence without cruelty: Sweet vegan treats for Valentine's Day

2012-02-07T14:54:00.000-05:00

Valentine's Day is supposed to be a celebration of love, but let’s get real -- it’s about chocolate. Many people think that vegan chocolate doesn’t exist, and that couldn’t be further from the truth! (Chocolate does come from a plant, after all.)There are plenty of sweet vegan treats on the market today, so let your sweet tooth (or teeth) rejoice this Valentine’s Day (or any other day).

Got Money?
Even though many candies on the market are not vegan, don't think for a second that vegans can't have a sweet Valentine's Day. If you want to get real decadent, check out the vegan chocolate assortments available to purchase through Vegan Essentials and Pangea.

Sjaak’s Organic Chocolates has a line of vegan chocolates in a variety of forms: heart-shaped boxes, truffles, chocolate-covered cherries and nuts, bars, and even almond butter-filled chocolate bunnies. (But it’s too soon for that… or is it?) Check out their selection HERE.

Allison’s Gourmet has a beautiful selection of decadent truffles, caramels and barks in interesting flavors. You’ll be drooling over her cookies and brownies, too.

If you want to make your sweet treats even sweeter, check out Rescue Chocolate’s line of vegan chocolates for a cause. As stated on their website, 100% of their net profits go to animal rescue charities around the country. They offer many delicious flavor combinations: peanut butter + chocolate, bon bons, spicy dark chocolate, chocolate + mint, fakin’ bacon… Yep, you can get a vegan bacon-chocolate bar! They also offer gift sets.

Got Time?
Of course, making your own vegan candy is another fun way to spread the sweet vegan love.
VegWeb.com has an entire candy recipe category. Try out user-tested recipes for peanut butter cups, truffles, caramels, vegan versions of popular candy bars, and more.

Lickin' the Beaters 2: Vegan Chocolate and Candy by Suie Moffat sounds promising.
Hannah Kaminsky has oodles of sweetness in her books and on her blog, My Sweet Vegan.
Chocolate-Covered Katie has nothing BUT sweetness on her blog.

And you can always count on any of Isa Moskowitz's recipes to yield fabulous results. Check out her sweet recipes in Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World, Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar, and Vegan Pie in the Sky.

Got No Money and No Time?
There are plenty of vegan chocolates and candies available at your local health food stores, and even some mainstream sweets you can find most anywhere happen to be vegan, such as:
Ghiradelli dark chocolates (but only some – check the labels)
Newman’s Own Sweet Dark Espresso and Sweet Dark Orange bars
Green & Black’s Organic Dark Chocolate (check labels on other flavors)
Ritter Sport Marzipan (red wrapper)
Some varieties of Endangered Species chocolate bars (check labels)
Dagoba chocolates (check labels)

And don’t forget Oreos and Newman-O’s, vegan ice creams (Purely Decadent’s coconut milk-based line is creamy and delicious), Tofutti ice cream sandwiches, and Larabars for other easy-to-find sweet treats.

There are plenty of sweet options out there to make your vegan Valentine’s Day extra sweet!

Photo credit:cc:flickr.com/photos/danmoyle

Abuse documented at Oklahoma pig farm that supplies Walmart

2012-02-07T10:16:00.000-05:00

The Humane Society of the United States released undercover video shot in 2011 of abuse that took place at two Oklahoma pig breeding facilities. The videos were shot at Seaboard Foods and Prestage Farms, both located in Goodwell, Okla. Seaboard Foods is the third largest U.S. pork supplier and a supplier of Walmart. Prestage Farms is the fifth largest U.S. pork supplier.

The video documents animals suffering from cramped gestation crates and some at the hands of the abusive workers. The video also shows lame pigs, pigs with ears and noses torn, pigs with abscesses and ripped genitals, and some sickened by "greasy pig disease" not given veterinarian treatment. The video also documents the abuse that urine and feces filled gestation crates cause, confinement so cramped the female pig is not able to even turn around her entire life. Footage shows workers cutting off genitals and tails without the use of pain killers and injured legs duct taped to the pigs bodies.

HSUS has filed legal complaints against both Seaboard Foods and Prestage Farms, claiming they use false and misleading statements about their animal care. Complaints were filed with the FTC urging Seaboard Foods to stop misleading shareholders.

You can take action here. Tell Seaboard Foods and Prestage Farms to end the use of cruel gestation crates now.

Photo credit: Screen capture

Animal welfare activists facing international state persecution

2012-02-06T10:51:00.000-05:00

Florida's Legislature has decided to drop a provision which would have made it a crime to photograph or videotape agricultural facilities without the owner's consent.

The decision to kill the "ag gag" proposal represents a small victory for animal welfare activists, who are battling not only legislation of a similar nature in other states such as Iowa, Minnesota, and New York, but also increased pressure from the federal government. Documents issued by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force in 2003 and obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request by activist Ryan Shapiro show the FBI advising that activists who video tape at farms and/or rescue animals are in violation of terrorism statutes via the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act.

"Some of these investigations don't even break state laws," says Rachel Meerpol, an attorney with the Center for Constitutional Rights. "It's possible to gain undercover footage lawfully. The way the FBI is interpreting this law would allow for prosecution of completely lawful, valuable advocacy efforts as an act of terrorism. It's an issue of public safety as well as animal cruelty. It's such a waste of time and resources for the FBI to be spending money investigating folks involved in this work."

Internationally, legislative action against animal welfare activists has also become more widespread. In 2011, Justice for Animals made public the results of a two-year undercover investigation of 30 different farms in Finland. Though their footage revealed horrifying images and video footage of pigs with open sores crammed into confined dirty spaces, no action was taken against the farmers; instead, the investigators were charged with ten cases of disturbing the peace, and 12 cases of aggravated defamation (the charges were eventually dropped). During the same year, the European Union's criminal intelligence agency, EUROPOL, released their annual "2011 EU Terrorism and Situation Trend Report" (PDF). In it, the authors express concern that "some members of animal rights, anarchist and environmental extremist groups are moving towards a shared ideology." The report accuses animal welfare activists of "using disinformation methods to discredit their targets and weaken their public acceptance" through "images of sick and abused animals" which are "embedded in video footage and made public."

Undercover footage has been utilized dozens of times in the past to raise public awareness about ongoing animal abuse or unsanitary conditions (sometimes both), making it a vital tool for those seeking changes in the meat industry, and conversely, a prime target for destruction by those valuing the status quo. If legislators are able to label those who expose institutionalized animal cruelty as "terrorists," which social movements might be targeted next? Such a dangerous precedent must be stopped before it is allowed to potentially spiral out of control.

Jonathan Reynolds
New York Jonathan is a freelance writer and blogger residing in upstate New York.

Photo credit: foxumon