Archive for September, 2010
What’s your mindset?
They deserve better.
Have you ever wondered why a vegan will become so passionate when discussing what the word vegan means? All of us here at YDV are extremely passionate, or unapologetic, for our veganism- and fiercely proud of it. We take a consistent stand against the use of animals- which, some will attest to, is not always popular amongst the “mainstream” loving folks. And, before I go any further, I just have to say that I don’t care about that one bit. While I believe in respectful discussions on veganism, I do not worry if I am going to “fit in.”
I am passionate and consistent and I have to be. I am working to break stereotypes, myths, and….whatever this is classified as:
“Animal rights” is a phrase that has been stolen by extremists who view farmers and ranchers as terrorists and who advocate for the complete abolition of meat, dairy and egg products in the American diet, as well as the end to livestock production.
That quote is from Animal Rights: What’s Your Definition? published on the popular website, beefmagazine.com. More interestingly, this comment:
I don’t believe animals have the same rights as people, and I also believe that people forget animals are personal property, not people.
So the next time you wonder why vegans are so passionate (or mistakenly thought of as angry), think back to that statement above. It tells volumes about the mindset of humans.
It also tells volumes about what vegans are up against.
Slappin’ the faces of those that eat you
Earth Balance is the most popular choice among vegans for an alternative to butter. And today, Earth Balance showed us vegans a little bit about the culture of the company by sending out the above tweet.
And that tweet brought forth much fury in the vegan community. Folks are pissed that a vegan product is promoting someone who profits off of the lives of animals. However, Earth Balance has no obligation to promote a vegan lifestyle with it’s products- but, it certainly takes advantage of the vegan niche, don’t they? All of the product descriptions on their website boasts that the products are vegan. In fact, vegan is prominently displayed in the right hand corner of each product.
I’m willing to bet that the majority of Earth Balance’s customers are vegan or vegetarian. I mean, it’s us vegans that made Earth Balance the Number 1 most recommended alternative to butter among us vegans- not folks who eat dairy butter. So it’s extra baffling that Earth Balance would slap at the faces whom eat their products.
But that isn’t even the real question. The real question is, how many vegans are going to continue to support a company that promotes the very thing that they advocate against? People will often overlook the power of one, themselves. Every decision you make affects change, it’s simply what change are you going to affect?
I advocate for animals, and that means that I’m going to use my voting power (money) to support companies that support my values. There are, gasp, other vegan buttery spreads and you can always make your own. I don’t want to provide Earth Balance any additional profits (over what I’ve already given them) to advertise for folks who make their profit from the lives of others (IE: Joel Salatin who “can’t live without pigaerator pork sausage”). And, as much as I may have loved them before, that means that I won’t be buying Earth Balance any longer.
What will you do?
Conserving tradition, not life
The Cuyahoga Valley National Park’s Countryside Conservancy has leased land to an individual who will raise animals for slaughter on the property. Laura DeYoung will practice ”sustainable farming and environmental stewardship,” as she raises “free-range” chickens and sheep for wool and meat. Darwin Kelsey, the conservancy’s executive director, said, “raising gourmet lamb was appropriate for that site.”
Perfectly good tax-payer park land being used to promote outdated, harmful, selfish, and destructive practices. I get their game- “preserving historic farms.” But, at what expense? How about the lives of animals? Clean water? I understand this is no CAFO DeYoung is running here, but does it make it any less horrible? Just because my neighbor isn’t Monsanto, he’s still poisoning the Earth when he sprays his sidewalk with his one bottle of Roundup.
DeYoung has a doctorate in environmental planning and claims to have “fallen in love” with sheep during time spent in England. What’s she got against American sheep? Where’s the love gone? And why are universities teaching that proper environmental planning can include little bits of destruction here and there?
What’s worse, is that she hopes to pass on this inadequate education to the youth,
DeYoung hopes to sneak in a little education about ‘sustainable farming and environmental stewardship,’ ‘If I get people out here to see the cute little lambs or the border collies, then maybe we can get them to listen to some issues.’
Yes, if people will come see the cute little lambs (“gourmet meat”) she intends to slaughter, she will tell them how it is all good for the environment and stuff.
To add insult to injury, her fundraising efforts include her “lease-a-sheep program-” for $250, one can sponsor a ewe, which allows visitations to see her shorn, and also includes a blanket made out of her wool. What a great way to teach our children the value of life- pay money to see an imprisoned, frightened animal restrained and shaven.
Sheep are animals, like we are- not commercial items.