Hunting and Hunters

I can't support hunting, but it simply doesn't bother me as much as factory farming.

In 2008, over 9 billion chickens, 116 million pigs, and 35 million cows were killed for food. Most came from factory farms. See the graphic:
http://www.animalvisuals.org/data/sla...

Factory farming investigations:
http://www.mercyforanimals.org/dairy/
http://www.mercyforanimals.org/pigs/
http://www.mercyforanimals.org/ohdairy/
http://www.mercyforanimals.org/hatchery/
http://www.mercyforanimals.org/hor/
http://www.mercyforanimals.org/maine-...

"In the United States, an estimated 95% of egg-laying hens are intensively confined in battery cages."
http://www.animalvisuals.org/empathy/...

Why vegan?
http://veganvideo.org/
http://www.meat.org/
http://www.earthlings.com/earthlings/...

"We shouldn't kid ourselves about the number of ethical eating options available to most of us. There isn't enough nonfactory chicken produced in America to feed the population of Staten Island and not enough nonfactory pork to serve New York City, let alone the country. Ethical meat is a promissory note, not a reality. Any ethical-meat advocate who is serious is going to be eating a lot of vegetarian fare." (Eating Animals, page 256)

If you are SERIOUS about protecting animals, protecting the planet, and protecting public health, eat vegan MORE OFTEN.

It's not ALL or NOTHING

Veganism is the moral baseline. However, there's a lot of gray area in between carnivore and vegan. Every time you make a vegan choice, you're doing a good thing. The more vegan choices, the better.

http://www.pbjcampaign.org/how
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4541605/

Misconceptions About Veganism

This is part 2 of "Vegan Questions" 2010.

Myth: People need to eat meat to get protein.
Fact: People can get protein in a vegan diet.

Learn about protein: http://veganhealth.org/articles/protein/
Learn about Soy: http://veganhealth.org/articles/soy

Myth: It's too expensive to be vegan.
Fact: You can eat a vegan diet on any budget.

Learn how to eat cheaply: http://www.vegansoapbox.com/how-to-ke...

Myth: It's too difficult to be vegan.
Fact: It's easier than you think. Just try!

Get a vegan coach to help you: http://www.kindgreenplanet.org/progra...

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THANK YOU FOR WATCHING!

Vegan Questions: Part 1

What is your favorite vegan recipe/food and why?

Well, I love beans. I grew up on beans and I will always love beans.
Beans, beans, the magical fruit...
In particular, I like black beans and lentils.

You can find vegan recipes at:
http://chooseveg.com
http://tryveg.com
http://goveg.com
http://vegasveg.com

What advice can you give others seeking a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle?

First, educate yourself. Whatever aspect of veganism interests you or
whatever questions you have about the food industry, research it.
Learn as much as you can.

Here are some places to learn more about veganism...
NUTRITION:
http://www.pcrm.org/health/veginfo/vs...
http://veganhealth.org/
http://www.eatright.org/Public/conten...
http://www.tcolincampbell.org/plant-b...
http://www.mypyramid.gov/tips_resourc...

ANIMALS:
http://humanemyth.org/
http://www.veganoutreach.org/whyvegan/
http://www.adaptt.org/veganism.html

Second, choose attainable goals and work towards them. You can change
your life quickly or slowly and become a kinder, healthier person
however you want, just start working on it today!

TAKE THE VEG PLEDGE
http://www.vegpledgenow.com/

More of my videos are here:
http://kangarooelaine.blogspot.com/

More of my writing here:
http://www.vegansoapbox.com/

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING!

PS - Are you vegan? Please make videos!
Make them however you want - low key or confrontational, graphic images or not, high res or low, cooking demos or outdoor protests... whatever, JUST DO IT!

How To Eat With Your Heart

You can find vegan recipes at: * http://chooseveg.com * http://tryveg.com * http://goveg.com

For more information on why to choose veganism, please visit: http://veganvideo.org

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING!

My Animal Advocacy

Please also watch:
http://veganvideo.org/
http://www.earthlings.com/e...

Vegan Soapbox: http://www.vegansoapbox.com/
This is my vegan website.

Vegas Veg*: http://www.vegasveg.com/
This is my local grassroots organization.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING

Are you vegan? Please make your own videos expressing your voice.

"Eat Bacon & Enjoy Life"

A commenter wrote:
"Hey factory farming is bad yes, and eventually people are going to wake up and demand that we produce food some other way. Untill then, Im going to eat my bacon (covered in chocolate and the blood of kittens) and enjoy my life. I guess Im just not the activist type."

My response:
1. Factory farming is terrible, we agree. The way to change it is to stop consuming products from factory farms. That means eat less meat, dairy and eggs or go vegan.
2. Life without bacon can be enjoyable. I promise!!! You can find other pleasures to replace the lost bacon. Life is full of fun things to do and eat, just please don't destroy animals or the environment with your diet.
3. Activism: I'm not "the activist type" either. I just speak honestly about my values. I advocate for animals, but only when it's convenient and only when I want to. It's not hard but it makes a big difference in the world.

Videos you should watch:
http://veganvideo.org/
http://www.earthlings.com/earthlings/...

Info about factory farming:
http://farmsanctuary.org/issues/facto...
http://www.idausa.org/facts/factoryfa...
http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/food...

Meat alternatives (eat vegan bacon):
http://meatalternatives.org/

Vegan info:
http://www.chooseveg.com/
http://veganhealth.org/

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING!

Sushi is VEGAN!

Please read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sushi
and
http://www.snopes.com/food/ingredient...

Sushi = vinegared rice
Sushi is NOT dead fish.

How to order vegan sushi:
Step 1: go to a sushi place
Step 2: ask if they have a vegan menu or vegan items
Step 3: if yes, order the vegan items
if no, ask the sushi chef to make you something special with just vegetables or fruit
Step 4: enjoy your vegan sushi, perhaps with a beer ;)

Whenever something goes in or out of your mouth, try to make sure your ideas about it correspond with reality.

Sorry I'm being a smart-a$$ but come on now, let's get real.

Here is a dose of reality...
Watch:
http://www.mercyforanimals.org/dairy/
http://www.mercyforanimals.org/pigs/
http://www.mercyforanimals.org/maine-...
- Food Inc
- Death on a Factory Farm
- Meet Your Meat
- Earthlings

Read:
- Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer
- Slaughterhouse: The Shocking Story of Greed, Neglect, and Inhumane Treatment Inside the U.S. Meat Industry by Gail A. Eisnitz
- Diet For A New America - How Your Food Choices Affect Your Health, Happiness, and the Future of Life on Earth by John Robbins

websites:
http://www.vegansoapbox.com/
http://chooseveg.com/
http://www.compassionatecooks.com/
http://theppk.com/

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING!

Vegan Fortified Foods

J asks:

“I heard that a good way to make sure you get all your vitamins is to eat fortified foods, but I also heard that a lot of fortified foods are fortified with animal products! I was wondering if there were any tips on how to eat vegan-friendly fortified foods.”

Yes, as a vegan it can be a good idea to eat fortified foods, though it’s not always necessary. Many vegans do not supplement their diets other than with vitamin B12, and that’s because B12 can be difficult to obtain in a purely plant-based diet.

However, picky eaters, children, pregnant or nursing women, athletes, and new vegans might be well served by including some fortified foods in their diets.

Before you begin to worry about the naturalness of a diet that requires fortification, remember that many nonvegan foods are fortified also. For example, cow’s milk is often fortified with vitamin D. So don’t assume that a nonvegan diet is more “natural” than a vegan diet.

And as a side note, most meat is produced by feeding animals fortified foods. Think about it: animals in factory farms who don’t have access to sunlight need to obtain vitamin D somehow. For more on that topic, please read A Brief History of Factory Farming and Factory Farming Facts. The latter source states:

The Evolution of Factory Farms
Factory farming began in the 1920s soon after the discovery of vitamins A and D; when these vitamins are added to feed, animals no longer require exercise and sunlight for growth. This allowed large numbers of animals to be raised indoors year-round. The greatest problem that was faced in raising these animals indoors was the spread of disease, which was combated in the 1940s with the development of antibiotics. Farmers found they could increase productivity and reduce the operating costs by using mechanization and assembly-line techniques.

But back to J’s question. J is right that “a lot of fortified foods are fortified with animal products.” For example vitamin D can be obtained through exposure to the sun, use of a sun light, from a vitamin pill, or in a fortified food. But in fortified foods you may want to look carefully: vitamin D3 is not vegan, vitamin D2 is vegan.

Here are some tips for meeting your nutritional needs through 100% vegan foods:

• Only buy fortified foods that bear the “vegan” label
• Use Animal Ingredients A to Z
• Shop online at vegan like Vegan Essentials, Food Fight, and Cosmo’s Vegan Shoppe (or if the cost of shipping will undo you, look for those same items elsewhere)
• Learn which brand names are always vegan and stick to those brands, or
• Eat only unprocessed foods (shop mostly in the produce section) and fortify your diet with some vegan supplements

Here are some tips for meeting your nutritional needs if you are OK with being an imperfect vegan:

• Use the “essentially vegan” rule wherein you assume something that appears to be vegan is vegan unless or until you’re informed otherwise
• Watch other vegans and do what they do
• Don’t worry about trace ingredients at all and don’t care if the label says D3 or D2

It’s up to you if you want to be 99% vegan or 100% vegan.
Either way, you’ll be doing something terrific for animals, the planet, and your health!

For more information about vegan health, I recommend reading and bookmarking:

• Vegan Health, the website
• Vegan Food Pyramid
• The American Dietetic Association on Vegetarian/ Vegan Diets
• USDA guidelines for vegetarians and USDA Tips for Vegetarians
• Plant Based Nutrition

Go Vegan... But Don't Stop There!

Not vegan? Watch these videos instead:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33luqy...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iACDNN...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIjanh...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC9OgM...

Vegan?
OK, so you're vegan. You're doing something amazing for animals, the planet, and your health. And that's great!

But why keep it to yourself? Why not make a difference instead of just being different?

Get active for animals!
Follow your heart, your passion, your interests.
Use your skills, your creativity, your education.
Choose activism that's sustainable and won't burn you out.

Set yourself up for success by choosing a form of activism that fits your personality, skills, and lifestyle.

Here are some resources:
http://www.veganoutreach.org/
http://www.mercyforanimals.org/action...
http://www.peta.org/actioncenter/act.asp
http://www.vegansoapbox.com/sections/...

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING!

PS - one kind of activism is to make vegan videos! If you're vegan (or vegetarian) PLEASE make videos and help other people go veg!

Here is the video that inspired me:

Margin of Certainty: from Veganism to Activism from Let Live Foundation on Vimeo.

there are only two ways to go vegan

there are only two ways to go vegan:
slowly or quickly

Here is help:
http://www.vegansoapbox.com/sections/vegan-resources/

New Years Resolution: Go Vegan!

Resources to help you achieve your goals...

Veg Kit: http://www.vegkit.org/
Health and nutrition info: http://www.veganhealth.org/
Find vegan food at restaurants: http://www.happycow.net/ and http://www.vegguide.org/

More resources:
Get email tips: http://www.kindgreenplanet.org/progra...
Recipes and forums: http://www.postpunkkitchen.com/
Inspirational video: http://www.veganvideo.org/
Vegan recipe search: http://www.vegansoapbox.com/recipes/

THANKS FOR WATCHING!

Where is the line drawn?

I am as vegan as I am currently capable of being.

We all draw our lines somewhere. I draw my line as a practical matter. My line is currently at easily avoidable animal product uses like food, clothing, cosmetics. When my society or health place a tremendous burden on animal product avoidance, I become an imperfect vegan.

I don't eat or wear animals.
But when it comes to medicines, I generally go along with the rest of society. I do that for a number of reasons, not all of which I can explain easily here.

That said, I am frustrated by Americans' current medical choices. I want more alternatives and I want more knowledgeable doctors who reach for the prescription pad less often.

We all draw lines. For most meat-eaters, their line is between pets and farm animals (horses vs cows; dogs vs. pigs). Or, their line is between human animals and all other animals. Or their line is between "intelligent" animals and "stupid" animals.

Here come the links...
Why vegan? Go here: http://www.veganoutreach.org/whyvegan/

Vegan recipes: http://www.vegansoapbox.com/recipes/

"Where do you draw the line?" article at Vegan Soapbox: http://www.vegansoapbox.com/where-do-...

Why honey is not vegan:
http://www.vegetus.org/honey/honey.htm

An article about vaccines and veganism:
http://www.vegfamily.com/vaccines/are...

Vaccine Nation documentary: http://www.sprword.com/videos/vaccine...
Another vaccination documentary: http://www.sprword.com/videos/vaccina...

Even though I am not anti-vaccine, I support the effort to remove heavy metals from vaccines. More info about that at Green Our Vaccines: http://www.generationrescue.org/green...

Thanksgiving Thoughts

I spent Thanksgiving 2009 at a vegan potluck. It was great!

Mentioned in the video:
Tofurkey - http://www.tofurky.com/
Celebration Roast (by Field Roast) - http://www.fieldroast.com/
Seitan - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seitan

Find a vegan potluck near you:
http://vegan.meetup.com/

Turkey info: http://eatinganimals.com/site/turkey/

Want vegan holiday recipes? Here are some links:
http://www.vegansoapbox.com/thanksgiv...
http://www.vegansoapbox.com/four-veg-...

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING!

PS - Are you vegan or vegetarian? Please make videos. Talk about what you like to eat, where you go out to eat, why you don't eat animals, how to cook, etc.

Health Benefits of Veganism

the best part is at the end

Here come the links...
ADA statement about veganism: http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/...
Vegan Food Pyramid: http://www.veganfoodpyramid.com/
Plant Based Nutrition: http://www.plantbasednutrition.org/pl...
Vegan Health: http://www.veganhealth.org/

How Vegan?
http://www.tryveg.com/ guide and recipes
http://www.vegkit.org/ how-to guide
http://www.goveg.com/ veg starter kit and more
http://www.chooseveg.com/ recipes and information

THANKS FOR WATCHING!

Taste Preferences - why bacon tastes "good"

If you think bacon tastes good, that probably says more about you than about the taste of dead pigs.

Biases in taste (orange juice and sausages): http://www.livescience.com/health/080...

Pork production: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDiSR0...

Boar taint: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boar_taint
Animal agriculture research on "boar taint": http://aasp.org/shap/issues/v5n4/v5n4...

Slaves to the taste of bacon (would we tolerate cruelty for any other kind of preference? why do we tolerate it in the name of taste?):
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/ma...
http://www.vegansoapbox.com/larry-kin...

Oppression (sexism & speciesism): http://www.vegansoapbox.com/if-it-loo...

Ready to go vegan? Get recipes here:
http://www.vegansoapbox.com/recipes/

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING!

Eating Animals

Vegan Soapbox: http://vegansoapbox.com/

Eating Animals: http://eatinganimals.com/ and http://www.youtube.com/user/eatingani...

The demand for "humane meat" already exceeds the supply.

Thus, even from an animal welfarist's perspective or environmentalist's perspective, there is no need for a larger demand for so-called "humane" products. Right now, what we can all agree on is that there is a need for less demand for ALL animal products. That is the ONLY way we'll get close to preventing climate change, reducing human health threats, and improving animal welfare.

STOP EATING ANIMALS!

A quote from Bruce Friedrich's essay as it appears in the book, Eating Animals, on page 214:

The decision to eat any meat at all (even if the meat is from producers that are less abusive) will cause others you know to eat factory-farmed meat where they might otherwise not have. What does it say that the leaders of the ethical meat charge, like my friends Eric Schlosser and Michael Pollan and even the Niman Ranch farmers, regularly pull money out of their pockets and send it off to the factory farms? To me, it say s that the ethical carnivore is a failed idea; even the most prominent advocates don't do it full-time. I have met countless people who were moved by Eric's and Michael's arguments, but none of them now eat exclusively Niman-type meat. They are either vegetarians or they continue to eat at least some factory-farmed animals.

Jonathan Safran Foer's own words on page 256-257:

We shouldn't kid ourselves about the number of ethical eating options available to most of us. There isn't enough nonfactory chicken produced in America to feed the population of Staten Island and not enough nonfactory pork to serve New York City, let alone the country. Ethical meat is a promissory note, not a reality. Any ethical-meat advocate who is serious is going to be eating a lot of vegetarian fare.
A good number of people seem to be tempted to continue supporting factory farms while also buying meat outside that system when it is available. That's nice. But if it is as far as our moral imaginations can stretch, then its hard to be optimistic about the future. Any plan that involves funneling money to the factory farm wont end factory farming.

My words: Regardless of where you stand on animal rights or animal welfare, the reality of the current systems of animal agriculture DEMAND veganism. Do it for the animals, do it for the planet, do it for human health, or do it for any reason whatsoever just go vegan!

More inspiration:
http://veganvideo.org/
http://meat.org/

Thank you for watching.

Beef. Dairy. Veal.

Beef. Dairy. Veal.
A recipe for cruelty.

Go vegan: http://veganvideo.org/

Inspired by Bea's blog post:
http://beaelliott.blogspot.com/2009/1...

Resources for info about beef, dairy, and veal production:
http://farmsanctuary.org/issues/facto...
http://www.idausa.org/facts/factoryfa...
http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/c...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Factory_...

Resources for health information:
http://www.saveantibiotics.org/
http://www.veganhealth.org/
http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/

Books I recommend:
Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer
Diet for a New America by John Robbins
The China Study by Campbell T. Colin

My vlog website:
http://kangarooelaine.blogspot.com/

My other vegan website:
http://www.vegansoapbox.com/

Are you vegan? Please make videos. Make any kind of video that represents your idea of veganism. Speak up and make a difference!

THANKS FOR WATCHING!!!

First, do no harm.

Primum non nocere...
First, do no harm.

The ethical argument against animal testing:
a) it's wrong to be unnecessarily cruel, animal testing is unnecessarily cruel
b) animals have rights, animal testing violates those rights

The scientific argument against animal experimentation:
a) animals and humans are different,
b) animal experimentation artificially sickens or injures healthy animals, which can influence the experiment,
c) better alternatives exist, such as tests on human cells,
d) science and medicine must first do no harm.

Resources:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/aug/07/animal-testing-medical-research
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_Pn0l6ddMw
http://www.vegansoapbox.com/topics/vivisection/
http://www.vivisectioninfo.org/
http://www.navs.org/
http://www.aavs.org/
http://www.neavs.org/
http://www.all-creatures.org/saen/res-fr.html
http://www.nocompromise.org/issues/15viv_suppliers_guide.html
http://www.primatelabs.com/labs.php
http://www.stopanimalpatents.org/
http://www.ohsukillsprimates.com/CAATHOME.htm

THANKS FOR WATCHING!

How I Went Vegan - first draft

http://www.worldveganday.info/

This is my first draft of my vegan story video. I will post another one on Nov. 1st, 2009.

Basically, my story timeline is this:
age 6: went vegetarian/ pescetarian
age 8: went vegetarian for real
age 13: went vegan
age 14: went back to lacto-ovo vegetarian
age 30/31: went vegan
age 33 (now): went vlogging!

THANKS FOR WATCHING