Paws for thought...

Powerful words can translate into positive actions.

Every now and then I come across a piece of hard-hitting writing that really makes me think. Writers who demonstrate this skill have my respect, because we need them to help us break free of conventional thinking and to challenge what is the cultural (brainwashed) norm' - maybe even to think about an issue, in depth, for the very first time.

So, in 'Paws for thought' posts, I want to share with you those words of others that have inspired me to think differently, and, to act differently.

This week:

Kate Fowler [Head of Campaigns at Animal Aid] looks at the question:

'Should society bear some responsibility when slaughtermen kill people?'

In this powerful piece, I came to have a different view (some sympathy) for slaughterhouse workers - who - if you think about it, are doing a job that few people could. The only way that they can, is by becoming desensitised to what they do. CD-H

Animal Aid  

Animal Aid is the UK's largest animal rights group and one of the longest established in the world, having been founded in 1977.

We campaign peacefully against all forms of animal abuse and promote a cruelty-free lifestyle. We investigate and expose animal cruelty, and our undercover investigations and other evidence are often used by the media, bringing these issues to public attention.

What have you read that's inspired you to think and to live differently?

'Legal' ivory - make your voice heard against the perpetuation of slaughter.

I was incensed today to read about a piano manufacturer BECHSTEIN who has made a piano using NEW ivory.

This issue was brought to my attention through @domdyer70 on Twitter following an article in the Guardian here.

You can't fail to have missed the recent news about poaching and slaughter of elephants and rhinos - to the extent where extinction is a real possibility. NOT a word we want to be hearing, ever.

Yet here is a company using, it would appear, what is called 'legal' ivory (something I had never heard of before) to justify its use of the ivory - in a product that has gone to - you guessed it - China.

Regardless of the 'unique' circumstances - there can never be any need for using ivory ever again. Never.

It's use will simply perpetuate the sad, deluded demand and the vicious slaughter.

I have written to the piano-making company BECHSTEIN to express my disgust. Here is my letter - you are free to copy it for a quick email to them or - it's always more powerful to write your own feelings down.

I intend to write something in more detail to them as time allows - but for now wanted to make you aware of this unacceptable situation.

Please let me know of any response/s you get.

TY

Chantal x

LETTER:

Through their auto contact page here:

I am so disgusted and saddened today to read in The Guardian of your use of new, real ivory for a piano. You say in your statement that it was 'legal' ivory - but this is still helping to perpetuate a desire for a product that is - quite simply - going to cause the extinction of one of our planet's most amazing animals.

How will you feel when you have to tell your children about the great animal that was an elephant - rather than be able to show them one in the wild / a reserve? And to know that your company had a hand in helping it to be poached to death - all because someone was inspired by you to either buy a piano with new ivory or an ivory ‘trinket’ because they thought it was still the fashionable thing to do.

Simply saying you used a 'legal' product does not make it right. You are directly contributing to the death of a species.

You clearly are a leader in the field of piano-making so search your conscience and be leaders in compassion and ethics as well.

Armchair activism... start shouting.

Hello to all of you compassionate people. In a week that has seen (yet again) how corrupt and undemocratic our failing government is, it's more important than ever to make our voices heard.

Petitions may seem pointless - but the more people who think that, the less sign, and the less difference can be made. 

Petitions are a very real and easy way of making your voice heard and many voices can shout a lot louder. 

Sign for yourself and remember to share them with other people - friends, family, followers. We are all connected to 1000's of people these days.

Together we can make a positive difference.

Thank you.

Chantal xx

Stop animal research at Imperial College London (following a shocking undercover investigation by BUAV.)
http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/rt-hon-theresa-may-mp-secretary-of-state-home-office-stop-animal-research-at-imperial-college-london

Hundreds of monkeys killed and piled in bins as not complying to the European lab standards. [warning - upsetting image]
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/884/499/721/hundreds-of-monkeys-killed-and-piled-in-bins-as-not-corresponding-to-the-european-labs-standards/

Air India - stop supporting animal testing.
http://www.change.org/petitions/air-india-stop-supporting-animal-testing?utm_campaign=twitter_link_action_box&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=share_petition

Ask Revlon to stop testing on animals.
http://forcechange.com/52179/ask-revlon-to-stop-testing-on-animals/#.UZ1HfPMfaIM.twitter

Demand an end to trophy hunting in South Africa.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/978/066/819/demand-an-end-to-trophy-hunting-in-south-africa/

Against animal testing of any kind.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/8/against-animal-testing-of-any-kind/

Ban the sale of young puppies and kittens without their mothers being present.
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/49528

Stop Georgia marina from importing wild beluga whales for captivity.
http://www.change.org/petitions/noaa-stop-georgia-aquarium-from-importing-wild-beluga-whales-for-captivity?utm_campaign=twitter_link_action_box&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=share_petition

Say no to the killing of innocent geese.
http://www.change.org/petitions/say-no-to-the-cruel-gassing-of-geese-in-the-town-of-north-hempstead 

Allow the RSPCA into the port of Dover to monitor the transport of live farm animals.
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/42002

National Vegetarian Week 2013 - my photo food diary.

If you're thinking - what do vegetarians / vegans eat? then wonder no more...

I thought the best way to tell you might be to show you - so for this NVW2013 I have documented my breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Giving up meat, fish & their derivatives can seem quite daunting when you've eaten it for years - but let me reassure you that it'll be the most liberating thing you've ever done food-wise!

It makes you think about food differently and actually enables you to be far more creative, because you're breaking a routine of relying upon one main ingredient to be the star of any dish.

There's a cornucopia of grains, vegetables, herbs, spices and fruits out there to experiment with and you'll discover pretty soon that they're actually the stars of the show - because they are where incredible flavour and texture sensations come from.

So I hope that this diary gives you a little food for thought. I love my grub, as you'll see - oh and guess what, I leave out the eggs and dairy products as well ;) #whatveganseat

Chantal xx

MONDAY 20.05.13

The only thing that gets me out of bed on a Monday is the thought of a delicious breakfast - so I always plan something yummy the night before, have it ready to go and it seems to do the trick!

french toast made with sultana & seed granarybread dipped in vanilla almond & banana mix, dusted with cinnamon & served with rhubarb compote, maple syrup & a little soya 'cream' - hello Monday!

homemade asparagus & spinach soup with soya 'cream' and pumpkin seed rye toast & sunflower margarine

 

Tesco's nut cutlet with a mega mixed crunchy salad & rapeseed oil dressing, warm new potato & chive salad with vegan mayo & cooked beetroot

 

TUESDAY 21.05.13

You'll notice rhubarb will be a recurring theme over the next few days - we have tons of it in our garden at the moment and the freezer is already full! Asparagus is also in season so it makes a couple of appearances.

porridge made with almond milk, topped with chopped almonds, homemade roast vanilla rhubarb compote, agave syrup & soya 'cream'

posh beans on toast! Heinz 5 bean baked bean mix with added sauteed onions and BBQ sauce - topped with dry fried mushrooms in black pepper, crispy onion pieces & homemade vegan 'parmesan' (which includes nutritional yeast flakes) - served on pumpkin seed rye bread

homemade pea and asparagus risotto with white wine, wild garlic, fresh herbs (parsley, mint and basil), lemon and black pepper

WEDNESDAY 22.05.13

Marmite is a great source of B vitamins and the evening's warm chickpea salad was a new recipe I tried - it was a revelation - it was delicious!

rye and granary toast with sunflower margarine and marmite, with a homemade smoothie on the side made from mango, kiwi, apple, soya yoghurt, soya milk and a dash of agave syrup

packed lunch - sandwich made on seeded granary bread with sunflower margarine, Suma savoury pate & crunchy mixed salad

warm salad of chickpeas, kale & spring greens (as well as onions, garlic, carrots and celery) with an olive oil, lemon & chilli tahini dressing

THURSDAY 23.05.13

For some reason I went all mediterranean today! Greek for lunch and Italian for dinner. 

a bowl of mixed Nature's Path cereal with chocolate milk - its quite addictive - and quick!

 

homemade tomato keftides & tzatziki (made using soya yoghurt), new potatoes in vegan mayo with paprika & a crunchy mixed salad on the side

putanesca-style pasta (mix of wholemeal + gluten-free fusilli) with sauteed mediteranean-style vegetables (onions, garlic, courgette, peppers, artichokes & olives) in a tomato & basil sauce with a hint of chilli for some heat

FRIDAY 24.05.13

The weekend is here and a busy day in the garden demands a warm breakfast! Tofu & veggie minceare great meat alternatives, they absorb other flavours well, are low calorie, high in protein and keep you feeling full!

'bravas'-style scrambled tofu (with onions, peppers and paprika) served with mini potato rostis & baked mushrooms (and some sneaky tomato ketchup in the middle...)

some homemade chilli non carne with a raw slaw, vegan sour 'cream' & some home-fried nachos

chilli salt crispy tofu with vegetable & rice noodle chop suey & sesame griddled pack choi on the side

SATURDAY 25.05.13

A luscious breakfast is a must on a Saturday morning and something as simple as a dip & some fresh veggies makes a great refreshing lunch - at home or on the go. Oh and Saturday night has to got to be a curry night...

toasted crumpets topped with soya yoghurt & mixed berries (first strawberries of the year, blueberries & cranberries) lightly warmed with some mixed spice & agave syrup

traditional hummus with lucky dip mixed fresh veg bowl & toasted pitta bread slices

Thai coconut vegetable curry with pomegranate fragrant sticky rice & thai spiced crackers on the side

SUNDAY 26.05.13

I realise that food follows a bit of a traditional theme in my house - I love Sunday brunch and love a Sunday roast (yes vegans love a roast too - we just don't use an animal as the centre piece!)

a very tasty vegan Lincolnshire 'sausage' patty in a toasted granary bun topped with fried mushrooms & wilted spinach

homemade puff pastry pie filled with savoury vegan mince & mushrooms served with classic roasties, crispy roast roots (carrots & parsnips) & steamed greens - tenderstem brocolli, asparagus & sugarsnap peas - all smothered in veggie gravy after this photo was taken!

and for pud...

homemade rhubarb crumble of course! (NB I didn't eat all of this portion!) made from rhubarb pulled that day & a vegan crumble topping, served with lashings of soya vanilla custard

And there you have it - a week in the food life of a vegan! If you looked at this without knowing - would it even cross your mind that it included no meat, fish, eggs or dairy products?

And as you can see I don't exactly scrimp on portions either! AND I havent added in any of the snacks that I ate inbetween meals (although they do just tend to be fruit and nuts - I also like the odd biscuit and bag of crisps!). The amazing fact is, that, if you love your food (and let's face it - who doesn't?) you can eat more if you opt for vegan choices - because a large proportion of unecessary, unhealthy calories come from the fats in animal products.

In just the first two months of being vegan eating meals in portion sizes like this - I lost 6kgs. This has to be the greatest diet in the world and for me, now, it's by far the most natural, compassionate - and delicious!

If you've been inspired by anything that you've seen or read here and would like some more information, help and support then please feel free to contact me at any time.

Here's to NVW2013 being NVY(year)2014.

Chantal xx

@vegsoup4thesoul wow you eat really healthily, your menu looks delicious! Thanks for RT too :)
— North Devon Vegans (@NorthDevonVegan) August 13, 2013

@vegsoup4thesoul Your Vegan dishes look healthy and delicious.
— Sonia Sullivan (@BottleBlondellg) August 13, 2013

The Badger cull... write to YOUR MP NOW

For months now the badger cull has been in the news and certainly hitting twitter pretty much every day.

It will be no surprise for you to hear that I am 100% against it.

I have badgers in my garden and in the forest where I live and they are a total joy to behold.

My research showed that all of the science indicates that a cull of badgers will make no meaningful difference to bovine TB (the disease it is aiming to reduce).

Luckily, the estate where I live is managed by the National Trust who have taken the advice of the scientific research and are going to implement a programme of vaccination for their badgers.

Without getting into the full info here (I will add links later), I'm posting my latest letter to my local MP, as the issue is due to be debated again this Wednesday in parliament - thanks to the Labour shadow MP for the environment Mary Creagh.

I urge you to write to your MP too and encourage them to vote against the continuation of the cull (appealing to them not only because of humane issue and farming practice issues you will see raised in my letter, but because today it has also been reported (by the UK's top badger expert Rosie Woodroffe) that to vaccinate would in fact be a cheaper option than culling.) If conscience doesn't get them then maybe money will - what am I talking about - they're politicians - its all about the bottom line isn't it?

Thank you.

Chantal xx



Toady's article about the cost of vaccination now being cheaper than culling:

 http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/jun/03/badger-vaccination-cheaper-than-cull



 Write to your MP here:

 http://www.writetothem.com/



My letter to my MP (which you are free to copy / adapt and send to yours):


Dear Hugo Swire,

I'm writing to urge you to vote against the continuation of the badger cull which I believe will be debated again on Wednesday.

None of the science indicates that it will make a meaningful difference to bovine TB levels. AND the cull has angered the public to the extent that this issue has resulted in the largest ever signing of an online petition against the cull (nearly a quarter of a million people).

Can't we learn from Ireland's experiences? Whilst they do some (limited) culling of badgers, more importantly, the animal husbandry and biosecurity on their farms is considerably better than here in England.

Farmers in Ireland test their cattle every year for TB (we only test once every 4 years) and you cannot even set foot on the land of a farm without undertaking strict hygiene measures.

It is these good farming practices which are sadly lacking in England.

I live amongst a farming community - and whilst a few farmers still take pride and care in what they do, the state of some of the farms is without doubt, disgusting. They neither care for their animals or the surrounding countryside.

Here on the Killerton estate near to where I live, I am pleased to say that the National Trust has chosen to heed the science and vaccinate its badger population. Not only is this more humane than free shooting and wounding (without killing) thousands of bagders - but it will be more effective long term and enable this wonderful animal to remain a part of our countryside. It will also ensure cattle aren't slaughtered needlessly due to TB.

I'm hoping that common sense will prevail on this basis - but if not, then please also consider the latest report (based on your own government's statistics) that has found that to cull badgers would now actually be more expensive than to vaccinate them. Your party is all about saving the country money isn't it?

Please do the right thing for animals and our country and vote against the cull on Wednesday.



Yours sincerely,


Chantal DH