Your Daily Vegan

Have you noticed how many -tarian’s there are these days?  Lacto-ovo vegetarian, Lacto vegetarian, Ovo vegetarian, Su Vegetarian, Flexitarian, Pescetarian, Pollotarianism, or my favorite- the Semi-Vegetarian.  And there’s more, so many more that I didn’t even list.

I, myself, am a truth-etarian.  I believe in speaking about animals in a respectful, unapologetic manner that sheds light (aka, the truth) on consuming animal products.

Truth: If you consume animals in any way, you are an omnivore.  Period.  I know it pisses people off to hear that, I know.  But whether you are consuming a hamburger from a fast food joint, or cheese from the gourmet health food stores, you are still consuming animals.  Similarly, exclaiming that you don’t eat food with faces while wearing your leather boots and carrying your leather purse, still means that you are consuming animals.

If you think that you’re helping the animals out because your a something-tarian, you’re not.  One doesn’t necessarily have to eat the animal to support the industry that raises, slaughters, and profits from its death.

Listen, before you get all worked up, I acknowledge that there is some good that comes from being one of those -tarian’s.  Anytime you can promote the reduction of consuming animals (and animal by-products) is good, right?  Only insofar as that one individual act helps, but advocating for the reduction of killing is not what I’m about.  I believe that if you consume animals, in any way, you are an omnivore- choosing which animals to kill for what reasons- plain and simple.

Maybe labels don’t matter this much.  But it gets under my skin when people put animals into moral categories for deciding their fate of life or death.

It’s Ok to eat fish, they can’t feel, can they?

My Easter eggs were from free-range chickens, the carton said so.

I only eat organic cheese from happy cows.

My leather jacket is cool, and besides, the cow was already dead.

Under.  My.  Skin.

Downtown Valencia, March 14.

Citizens of Valencia, Spain protest the traditional “art form” of bullfighting, by spelling out, “S.O.S.” with their nude bodies covered in fake blood.

A banner at the protest read, “Rights for all animals. Abolition of bullfighting.”

That’s what I like to hear, “rights for ALL animals.”

via calgaryherald.com

PETA is opening a new command center in the city of Los Angeles, and Bob Barker is paying for it.

The building will house PETA’s media, marketing, youth outreach and campaign departments.

In other news, Bobbarker.com, sells “detention supplies.”  The Inmate Canvas Deck Shoes are madly cool and appear to be vegan.

via msnbc.msn.com

This is just one of the messages appearing on The Center for Biological Diversity’s free condoms. According to the Center, human overpopulation is the driving force behind the mass-extinction of other animals.

To help people understand the impact of overpopulation on other species, and to give them a chance to take action in their own life, the Center is distributing free packets of Endangered Species Condoms depicting six separate species: the polar bear, snail darter, spotted owl, American burying beetle, jaguar, and coquí guajón rock frog.

A little freaky and kinky, but definitely clever.

Oh, alright.  We won’t name it Your Daily Vegan Idiotic Idiot, but we totally should.  Listen, I try very hard to be respectful towards the human animals that I share the planet with.  I may not agree with them, their ideals, their lifestyles, or their morals.  But I don’t have to.  I do, however, have to offer my respect if I expect to have others offer their respect to me.

I afford the same respect that I have for human animals, to the non-human animals.  It is my belief that we must abolish non-human animal exploitation, in every single form, and honor their right to life.  I also believe that this activism must be non-violent, educational and respectful.  But this is not to be confused with not speaking your mind.  It is exceedingly important to speak your mind on the abuse of non-human animals, for they are unable to speak to human animals themselves.

All of that said, I read a large amount of pure hatred out there towards animal rights activists- in particular, vegans.  I understand that veganism may be a new concept for people.  That, as with most things outside the societal norm, it is seen as an alternative lifestyle.  I can understand how uneducated that most people are about veganism, or animal activism in general.  After all, non-human animal consumption is as old as fire itself.  Given that there are suitable non-animal replacements for animal products easily available, it’s hardly a wonder that people feel uncomfortable when you question their continued use of non-humans.  Which is why education is so vital.  And which is why some animal rights groups (stand up PETA, we’re talking about you again) are doing more harm for the cause than good.

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There’s always so much you come across every day worth postin’ about.  Today, I will single out a radio program that I just can’t seem to get outta my head.  The BBC has a program, you may have heard of it, known as World Have Your Say. The basic format is call-in show with special guests, but with a global audience.  Today’s topic was “Is the human species suicidal?”  This question being in regards to our knowing of climate change and it’s hazards, and choosing to do little or nothing about it.  Now, I will admit that I did not hear the entire program, but I heard a good deal and can tell you that not a mention of our agricultural practices, i.e.- factory farming, occurred.  I did hear the ever-so-common, “I use energy efficient light bulbs, I recycle, I turn off my computer when I’m not using it, blah, blah, blah…”

I am SO, if I may “get ‘BBC’ on ya’ll,” bloody sick of hearing these tired, poor excuses for not doing something real and positive to save this planet.  You know, the one we depend on for life.  It is a documented, scientific fact, and has actually been reported in the media (but, of course, not mainstream media because it would offend the majority) that livestock production for human consumption produces more greenhouse gases that burning fossil fuels for transportation.  This fact is invariably ignored in every climate change discussion I come across.

So, if I may ask all my vegan buds out there, when you find this topic on the web, on the radio, at the market, at a Cinco de Mayo party- speak up and enlighten those less fortunate in their knowledge of science.  Yes, they will likely begin a debate because it will be unfathomable to them to change their eating habits- they would rather buy a Prius and call it done on their part.  But at least you would have said it, and they would have heard it.  Sometimes, it’s all you can do- to just not be silent.

Charleen Angle writes for Your Daily Vegan as the Resident Vegan Contributor. An unapologetic vegan, her writing reflects her strong and passionate voice for the billions of animals that die needlessly each year.

Love. Vegan. Reggae.

Wanna know more? Charleen’s bio. Want to email her? Charleen’s email. Want to tweet her? Charleen’s twitter.

Today I witnessed quite possibly my most favorite moment at at restaurant ever. I was lunching today at our local vegan joint when a group of ladies came in.  I’m no Sherlock Holmes, but the helium balloons and brightly wrapped packages told me that they were probably there to celebrate a birthday.  (On a side note..why do people buy helium balloons? I think they are such a waste of money)  Anyway in walks an older lady carrying a huge bakery box.  My lovely server stopped her and said “Excuse me but is that vegan?”.  The woman said “Well it’s a cake so it doesn’t have any meat in it!”

Our server politely said “No ‘mam, is it vegan? Does it contain any animal products?”  The woman obviously baffled said “No, just eggs and butter”…..

Is veganism really that obscure?  It certainly isn’t the first time I’ve heard someone question a vegan with “So, you don’t eat meat huh?  A vegan? So, like what you only eat fish and eggs?”.  It’s happened to me by my own family.  True story.  One time I went to visit a family member out of state.  After driving 12 hours we arrived tired, dirty and hungry.  I was greeted with “So glad you could come! I went out and got fresh catfish bites (ewww!) since you don’t eat meat and we’re going fry them up!”

So my server today explained that because they were a vegan restaurant the cake would not be permitted to stay and would need to be removed from the restaurant.  No cross contamination at this place!!  I loved it!  Finally someone making sure the vegans don’t accidentally get animal by products.   My experience has been that non-vegan restaurants will “veganize” something at my request and I still end up getting pieces of meat in my food.  I don’t understand how people can not understand.  It baffles me.

Why is it that people still do the “Oh for the love of…just remove the piece of meat (from my requested vegan meal) and then you’ll be fine!”  But would you do that to someone who has an intolerance for certain foods?  “Oh, don’t worry, pick the peanuts off then it will be peanut free!”  I just don’t get it.

Maybe it has to do with education.  Vegans are seen as militants.  Crazy animal activists who care more for animals than humans.  We’re called all kinds of derogatory names and no one thinks the wiser.  I believe part of the problem is that some animal rights groups (yeah, PETA, I’m talking to you this time) go out of their way to be radical.  They dream up crazy schemes to get the message out in the public.  It appears that PETA will do anything for press because they believe that if you get the media involved and change one persons mind then it’s worth it.  But is it?

How many minds do you poison for that one “convert”?  I think we’d be better served to be role models for the veganism by displaying a peaceful and healthy lifestyle. Not radicals with something to prove.  Don’t get me wrong PETA, I still love you…I just think your going in the wrong direction.  One mind isn’t worth the stereotyping that happens as a result of your campaigns.  I’m not a crazy radical.  I don’t think Ben and Jerry’s should use breast milk, and, for fucks sake I don’t want George Clooney tofu!  I am a thoughtful, intelligent human that has evolved enough to know that the animals deserve whatever lives they were intended.  That’s the message I want to say about being vegan.

Oh, the lady and the cake? Yeah, she didn’t get it.  But you know what?  Her and the whole group just learned something about what it means to be a vegan.  I doubt she’ll ever forget it.  And, she was told in a respectful, polite way.  I’m sure the restaurant gave them a glorious vegan cake (for they are a sweet bunch well known for their kindness) and I’ll bet it was so good they never missed the old one.  Now that is what I call activism!