Ethical vegans are no strangers to drawing lines. Some of us will not eat at an establishment that sells meat; others do so with the intent of spending their money on plant-based dishes and letting the owners know that more of those dishes will mean more business for them. Some vegans are fine with sharing a family meal with a turkey on the table. I myself haven’t sat at a Thanksgiving table with a turkey since going vegan in 2009, but I will eat with my non-vegan friends and family if there isn’t a carcass present.

I think about these lines often as I consume media. Last month, I began reading Jesmyn Ward’s novel  Salvage the Bones. I had no idea going into it that the story involved a pit bull and dog fighting. After reading a few chapters, I asked myself if I wanted to continue, knowing that things were going to get violent. I decided to shelf the book. I had a similar change of heart last year, rereading Cujo for the first time in decades. I know that story like the back of my hand, and I just couldn’t bring myself to read it to completion, knowing that Cujo was going to get violent quick. I quickly knew I had no interest in watching The Greatest Showman, a film that appears to glorify PT Barnum, he of circus fame and exploiter of animals both human and non-human.

My own lines don’t always seem straight or consistent. I watch films such as The Hobbit, even after hearing of the animals who died during filming. And it goes beyond animal rights. In the face of horrible allegations in the MeToo movement and abhorrent statements from those whose politics don’t align with mine, I’ve seen creators of works I admire become disappointing (on one end) to despicable (on the other end). I struggle with separating a person from their art, and whether it makes sense not to watch a movie, listen to an album, or tune in for a television series when I disagree with someone so fundamentally.

I don’t have a solid answer. This is a non-vegan world, and so we are vegan as far as is possible and practical. This is also a society of flawed people. If we looked at everyone involved in every movie we loved, every book we read, every song on our playlists, we’d find something we don’t stand behind. Do we throw it all away?

This has weighed heavily on my mind as Roseanne has returned to television to huge ratings. The first run of the show was must-see television for me; the Conners reminded me of my family, the characters hit home. I’m a fan of many of the actors, too. I am not a fan of many of the things Roseanne Barr has said on her social media. It’s unfathomable to me that Barr has gone so far in the opposite direction of what Conner seemed to represent in the nineties.

But I watched the reboot, and I enjoyed the first two episodes. For me, it all felt very familiar. Roseanne’s name is on the show, but she isn’t the only one involved, and it’s not just her voice being given a platform. I’ve decided to keep watching, though I understand why so many have decided not to. (Read Roxane Gay’s New York Times op-ed for a great argument on that.)

We’re lucky to have choices in what we consume and how we live. My choices today aren’t the same as they were when I read Skinny Bitch in the summer of 2008. They continue to change, thank goodness. I hope that we all keep thinking, keep changing, keep choosing. I hope we find ourselves able to have conversations that lead us in the a better direction.

The post Where Do Activists Draw the Line? appeared first on Chic Vegan.

We’ve seen a growing movement over the past few months of those who have been harassed or assaulted. The MeToo movement shows us that there are countless stories of men and women being victimized by those in power. I’ve watched with dismay as each new name comes to the forefront, as each story is told.

I was surprised to see MeToo make its way into animal rights when leaders of well-known organizations were accused of sexual harassment. This is nothing new – Carol J. Adams has been writing about the sexual politics of meant for years (and published a book with the same title), so why would it be surprising? I had perhaps naively expected a movement built on not exploiting others to include people who did not exploit others. Unfortunately, exploitation runs deep within our human nature.

In recent weeks, we’ve all watched in horror as another school shooting took the lives of seventeen students and teachers. The difference this time is the young leaders who watched their friends die. They are standing up. They are speaking out. They are, as one of them said at a CNN town hall last week, speaking up for those with no voice. These are the leaders we need in all of our intersecting movements. And they are already making change, as companies end their business relationships with the NRA and supporters donate to their cause as marches and walkouts are planned. Many of them will be able to vote in the next elections. Voting is power.

I know that it’s controversial to compare animal rights to human issues. Slavery, the Holocaust – they are horrible marks on our history. There is a common thread whether we compare them or not. Exploiting another – human or non-human – is a violent act. Harassment and assault, as experienced by those with a MeToo story, is violence. The gun debate pivots on whether guns are necessary and whether they should be easily accessible to people. Guns are by their very nature violent – they exist to do harm. Hunters use guns with one goal in mind – killing their target.

Of course animal rights doesn’t exist in a bubble. It’s just one piece of a prism of violence that exists because we do. But there’s an awakening happening right now, and if the tide will turn for some pieces, then maybe the others will follow.

Feature Photo: Will Montague

Stop Sign Photo: Mikko Kapenan

The post Animal Rights Doesn’t Exist in a Bubble appeared first on Chic Vegan.

He is Director of Education at Mercy For Animals, a national non-profit animal protection organization, and founder of The Humane League.

I recently had the opportunity to chat with Nick, and we talked about veganism, animal rights, and doing good.

Chic Vegan: What motivated you to become vegan? Was it an overnight switch or more gradual shift?

Nick Cooney: When I was 18 I read the book Animal Liberation by Peter Singer. It was the first time I’d ever seen or heard how farm animals are treated. I immediately went vegetarian, and then went vegan a few months later when I learned more about how egg-laying hens and dairy cows are also abused.

CV: When people learn that you are vegan, what is the #1 question they ask and what is your response?

NC: Hmm, I’m not sure – I feel like the most common response (and I had this just today with an Uber driver) is people saying they do eat meat, but try not to eat too much of it and don’t like how animals are treated. I think we have a public that is growing in sympathy for vegan eating, although we have a lot of work to do to help make vegan eating easier and more appealing.

CV: Tell me a little bit about your new book How to be Great at Doing Good and what inspired you to write it.

NC: How To Be Great At Doing Good is about how to make smarter decisions when donating or volunteering for animal advocacy and vegan advocacy causes, or any other cause. It looks at how our brains try to trip us up and lead us toward bad charity decisions, and it discusses how so much of the advice we are told about how to “do good” is flat out wrong. It’s a book that helps us think more clearly about how to not just do something good, but rather how to do the most good – for example, how to spare the greatest number of animals with the limited amount of time and money that each of us has.

I was inspired to write the book based on a mixture of disappointment and optimism. On the one hand, I have for years been disappointed that so much of the money that goes toward helping animals is, you could say, wasted. Not wasted in the sense that it does no good whatsoever. Rather, wasted in the sense that it could help far, far more animals that it does, if the money were put into more carefully-chosen programs and causes. It’s very sad to think about how many hundreds of millions more animals that we in the animal protection movement could be sparing right now, if only we would make more calculated charity choices.

On the other hand, I’m incredibly optimistic when I look at how much good each one of us can do for animals. Each one of us has the ability to help hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of animals over the course of our lifetime, and it doesn’t require a huge bank account or endless hours of spare time. All it involves is making very smart, rigorous decisions about how to use the limited time and money we have in a way that does the most good for animals. I wrote How To Be Great At Doing Good to help animal advocates (as well as those involved with other charitable causes) be able to make those smart decisions.

CV: What are some of the hurdles we face in trying to do good?

NC: Ourselves and our own brains! It’s very obvious that we face a lot of external challenges when trying to change the world for animals. The people we hope to persuade have all sorts of psychological biases and predispositions that make them not want to change, not want to agree with us, etc. We as a movement have only a tiny fraction of the money of the animal agriculture industry. Our political system is set up in such a way that makes legislative change for animals difficult to bring about, even on issues where the majority of people are on our side. All of those hurdles are obvious.

But there are also hurdles within ourselves that we face when trying to do good, and we often don’t realize that they are there. We have all sorts of biases and predispositions that lead us to make poor charity decisions. This includes mental quirks like caring more about the suffering of an individual than we care about the suffering of large groups of individuals. And it also includes the general self-focus that we’re all born with. We often favor small benefits to ourselves (like getting involved in causes we’re passionate about, or enjoy working on, or our friends are working on, etc.) even when foregoing those small benefits to ourselves (by working on the issues and projects that will do the greatest good) would spare countless individuals from misery.

CV: What would you say the goal of charity is?

NC: Both the dictionary definition and the common sense definition of charity are that charity is acts done to relieve the suffering of the needy. I think almost all of us would agree with that general definition. The challenge is generating within ourselves a desire to succeed as much as possible at the goal of charity, as opposed to being content with just doing something, anything, that is charitable. Cultivating that attitude, and making decisions around that attitude, can be more difficult.

CV: What is the number one tip you’d give to someone who is trying to decide what charity to donate to?

NC: Try to make those decisions based an honest answer to the question “What cause/non-profit/program/etc will accomplish the most good for the greatest number of individuals with the money that you have to donate?” For those who donate to animal charities, I’d strongly suggest checking out http://www.AnimalCharityEvaluators.org for insight into the charities most worth donating to.

CV: You’ve been very involved in activism work for animal rights. Do you have any tips for preventing activist burnout?

NC: Most animal activists are initially motivated to get involved with animal rights causes because they have seen the cruelty that animals endure. Seeing and thinking about that suffering drives them into action.

But to prevent burnout, it helps to not remain fixated on that suffering. Instead, focus on what you can accomplish and how you can be smarter and more successful at what you’re doing. View activism like a game or a puzzle that you’re trying to solve as best you can. Pay attention to the successes you have instead of the cruelty that is still going on. Doing this can will help keep you motivated, and will provide the emotional distance from animal cruelty that you need to make smart advocacy decisions and to avoid getting burned out.

CV: Who are your heroes in the animal rights world?

NC: Of course there are a lot of people doing very big things for animals. Some of those who I have a lot of respect for and have learned a lot from include Josh Balk and Paul Shapiro at the Humane Society and Nathan Runkle at Mercy For Animals. There are also many non-activists whose work has changed the world for humge numbers of animals, including businesspeople like John Mackey (founder of Whole Foods) and authors like T Colin Campbell. Longer term, I think that scientists working to create cultured meat and other animal products are going to be the biggest heroes of all for animals.

CV: What advice would you give to someone who wants to go vegan but doesn’t know where to start?

NC: Visit ChooseVeg.com/VSG and order a free Vegetarian Starter Guide from Mercy For Animals – we’ll send you a free magazine-style Guide, and can sign you up for a series of emails that will guide you through the process of moving toward vegan eating. We’ll also give you any personal feedback or support that you need!

CV: Where do you see vegan movement heading? Will we have a vegan-leaning world in 10 years?

NC: I’m sure we won’t have a vegan-leaning world in 10 years but I think that the U.S. at least (and most of Europe) will be more vegan-friendly in 10 years than they are today. I think we’ll continue to see gains in terms of the treatment of farm animals, and I’m hopeful we’ll continue to see a decline in per-capita meat consumption and an increase in rates of vegetarian or vegan eating. I’m optimistic that environmental resource constraints and the advancement of technologies like cultured meat will help significantly decrease meat consumption over the next several decade Of course what’s important is not what we think or believe, but what we do to make the world a better place for animals 10 years from now!

The post Interview Series: Nick Cooney appeared first on Chic Vegan.

There is an undeniable stigma attached to being a vegan and vegetarian in a prolifically omnivorous country such as South Africa, where I’m situated, and arguably across the world (though admittedly there are also prolific exceptions, such as India, of course). In such a context, it is rather a balancing act to be a diplomatic vegan that wishes to carve out a veggie-friendly space in the world but also not be blind to the fact that one is in the stark minority and is often considered physically and mentally malnourished.

To be honest, I’m rather sick of being considered sickly. I often feel that, by trying not to offend others and trying to be a compassionate, humanist vegan, I’m diminishing a part of myself that wishes to advocate more fiercely as an anti-speciesist – again, without alienating or denigrating my own species. I’m always relieved when websites like Vegans Are Cool or articles like Kathy’s Vegans Are Not Annoying pop up on the blogosphere, and that there are vegans who advocate for a positive attitude on all sides, but at the same time I desperately want to send out mass emails to all my family and friends with videos of cows being separated from their babies for their milk, or articles which advocate for actual reform, not just tolerance.

How does one take a “stand” and actively campaign for veganism as more than just a diet and lifestyle in the broad sense of the word without being perceived as aggressive, fringe or radical? We’ve all seen PETA supporters strip down (it’s pretty much the first thing that pops up if you type in “PETA protest”), or others who have had themselves branded with a cattle iron to get their point across, but is there a space between all so-called extremes where one can exist as a vegan individual without making an argument out of everything and still face yourself in the mirror?

I honestly am amazed and thankful that there are such people out there who make waves and, as Emily points out, whose actions are not as extreme as what we do to animals (you can read her full article on the matter here). I’m in a way relieved when such people make a point of acknowledging that their actions and activism are out of their comfort zone, but that then makes me question my vegan profile even more considering they still manage to be vocal somehow and I just post recipes and get into relationships with omnivores.

As much as it pains me, I often don’t think I’m vegan enough, despite doing my best (in a friendly fashion) to educate and engage with those around me (almost all omnivores in Real Life) on where animal products are hiding, why I gave away my leather wedding shoes (despite being amazingly comfortable), and forgoing all birthday cake that I myself did not make or supervise (no matter how rude it may seem to abstain). I don’t form rallies, don’t troll the internet for anti-vegan sentiments to argue against, nor do I wish to, because it’s not my personality – yet. A few years ago I could barely leave the house because of a gripping fear of people and extreme all-round anxiety, so even blogging or doing my job where I have to sit at a center surrounded by students already pushes my limits. And yet, what is that compared to the cruelty faced by animals – who honestly cares about my fears when other creatures live in fear every day of their lives?

Am I perhaps required by my moral conscience to test myself and put my morality before my human, functional self, and in so doing acknowledge that the two are very different and must function separately in order for me to be outspoken and less tactful as a vegan but still be my diplomatic self in other situations? In that case I have even less reason to rant and “radicalize” myself artificially, because by admitting that it would be outside my comfort zone and outside the realm of possibility without schism would also mean I would have to be tolerant and diplomatic towards non-vegans if I don’t want to make a complete hypocrite of myself.

After all, you do get omnivores and vegetarians that will swear up and down that they love animals, and may even work with animal rescue and the like and still indulge in cheese, meat, or animal products or be party to the process. So, back to square one. Essentially, some vegans, like myself, will have to make peace with the fact that we can’t all be militant or vibrant or out-there activists that challenge people outright, but instead help non-vegans get to grips with the idea and the reasoning through pleasant chit-chat, talking about animal welfare in general, or sharing yum food photos. It doesn’t mean we aren’t any less aware or compassionate towards animals, the environment, or issues of morality and rights.

Being a blogger for two+ years and heavily stalking/admiring vegan and vegetarian bloggers for long before that, however, I must admit that the kind, bubbly, non-“aggressive” vegans are also doing amazing things for bringing veganism as a plight and life purpose to light. I was in no small part convinced that I would survive physically and mentally as a vegan by delicious food recipes and seeing a vibrant, friendly community that made a point of providing easy “how-to” guides for transitioning, or helpful “what the heck is veganism anyway?” pages on their blogs for the randoms who somehow stumbled in their direction. Again, positivity attracts certain people, and the stark reality of what faces animals each and every day speaks to a completely different crowd – they are not mutually exclusive, of course, but in terms of taking action it is difficult to be all things at once.

The UN advocating for veganism for mostly environmental reasons isn’t perfect, in that it doesn’t address animal cruelty as a key reason, but vegans should take what they can get, or is that exactly the point – they shouldn’t, whether as individuals or as a group, and instead fight for more? There is, as is only natural in human society, no conformity, no absolute unity within veganism. For some it’s just code for a health-based lifestyle, for others a trial run, and for others an absolute commitment to eradicating an on-going massacre. In such a set-up then, how can there be set terms and conditions or a consensus on moral duties to which all vegans must subscribe to and advocate? Is it possible to say what is “enough” to be able to truly claim veganism for yourself?

There can surely not be such a thing, but I believe that a positive and supportive attitude makes a big difference, no matter your starting point, in reaching others and addressing issues that spring from veganism, whether it be environmental, ethical or edible. I get mushy when I read that the people who started Veganuary” are described as “working hard” rather than a “dairy-despising” couple who want people to be unhappy (both articles being from the same website, strangely enough), and I want people, vegan or otherwise, to feel good about veganism, even if they don’t actually want to become vegan.

Some might argue I’m letting down the whole of the animal kingdom by saying such a thing, but it doesn’t mean that I don’t watch the gory, heart-wrenching documentaries or read the stats of how many animals are abused, tested on and killed every moment of each day – I just know how to read my audience and when to push boundaries, and when to wait for another day.

I would like to think that if there were a world in which humans were actively being bred, held captive, and eventually slaughtered to be consumed or harvested (a world which in many respects is already real), there would be an outcry of massive proportions, but even now when we have human trafficking, modern day slavery, and even human breast milk for sale, there is still a lack of outrage from every individual or community, so trying to shock people into recognizing that they may have a form of cognitive dissonance when it comes to the experiences of other animals for consumption or exploitation seems rather fruitless then.

After all, people will lovingly feed pond ducks and then eat dead ducks with no qualms. In that sense being a diplomatic, Powerpoint presentation kinda vegan only fulfills a minor function in transforming opinions and society, but so too do the so-called extremists. Nevertheless, it doesn’t mean one has to stop trying.

Clare Mann, in an article entitled How to be an Effective Vegan Advocate, says “Let’s be the best example for veganism – in our health, appearance, compassion, outlook and ability to listen – then people will look to us and say ‘Whoa! How can I have this too?’”. When I read articles like this I feel much better about myself; there’s always room for more advocacy, but I don’t want antagonism. Together with Sara Kidd, Clare runs courses that tackle vegan advocacy through communication skills development, and that drives me absolutely wild with glee because it’s good to know there are always different ways of approaching people with your passion; words, in such cases, need not be barren to creating change.

If only it were as easy as laying down the bare facts to fight our case, as Aristotle would say (whatever “our case” may be, when again there are so many types of vegans). Not everyone responds well to being cornered, or are quick to feel that way regardless of your approach, but again, this is where those how-to guides or courses geared for communicating your beliefs and worldview are invaluable tools for some to laying the foundation for future advocacy and change; a starting point or comfort zone, it shouldn’t really matter or be any less important than other less circumspect methods.

Just as you get lazy vegans, obese vegans, snarky and smoothie vegans, I’m trying to get to a space where being a diplomatic vegan is legit and no less than being in-your-face. It makes me a bit despondent that my personality holds me back and forces me to micromanage how I portray veganism, such as very occasionally posting videos of abused or exploited animals to my Marfigs Facebook feed and not to my Margaux Facebook friends page, but I’m still satisfied that people who know me by my actual name aren’t in any doubt about who I am and what I believe in.

I guess my point is that there are so many forms of veganism, and within that so many forms of being visible or actively vegan, that, much like anything else in one’s life, it’s up to each individual to carve out their own way of handling things and to be able to justify their action (or lack thereof) to themselves. I can’t end this article with helpful hints or common pitfalls, because there are too many variables. There’s a lot of shaming going on in the vegan community of people who have “jumped ship” or do things in their own way,  but in a world of misinformation, prejudice and plain old idiocy, I don’t want to be a dead-end for curious omnivores or vegans with different objectives and opinions; I want to be an open door.

For the moment, I hope being a diplomatic vegan is enough, though I will continue to challenge myself as best I can, and can only hope others do the same.

The post Being a diplomatic vegan appeared first on Chic Vegan.

Left in the pouring rain at a livestock auction, Errol was crammed into an overcrowded cage to await a brutal death at just six weeks old.

Continually impregnated and then robbed of her young, Ellen was considered too emaciated and sick to be slaughtered. So they decided to just shoot her in the head instead.

Amazingly, each of these horror stories had a miracle ending, better than anything Hollywood could devise. The hero of the story? A small group of people with a big vision and unlimited love.

Off Highway 80, between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe, California, hidden in the beautiful, rolling hills at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, these and hundreds of seemingly hopeless stories of despair are transformed into stories of love and redemption. It’s a 600 acre wonder. It’s called Animal Place.

Like its clear, simple, and unassuming name, Animal Place is unpretentious, pure and vibrant in its mission and message: Compassion for all life. Animal Place not only rescues abused, sick, injured and neglected farm animals of all types. It also promotes veganism, employs smart and targeted advocacy, and lobbies for legislative change to improve the lives of the animals it can’t save. Through its second location, the 60 acre Rescue Ranch in Vacaville, CA, it has also rescued, rehabilitated and adopted out over 15,000 animals since its inception in 2010.

But, perhaps most important of all, Animal Place educates.

I thought I knew a lot about the plight of farm animals. I’ve been vegan for almost three and a half years, and I have researched, studied and listened to more information that I can recount. I’ve braved the videos and photos on the Internet. I’ve seen Earthlings. I thought I knew.

Then I decided to take a tour of the Animal Place sanctuary in Grass Valley. I was excited. I had wanted to visit the sanctuary for ages, and I finally got my opportunity. My sister, mother and I drove up from Sacramento one morning, and were greeted by one of Animal Place’s Advocacy Interns, Rocky Schwartz.

Rocky is a sweet young woman with a gentle, winning personality. But don’t for one minute think there is anything timid or delicate about this powerhouse for the animals. When passion and compassion meet knowledge and determination, you get Rocky Schwartz.

Rocky took us on a two-hour walk through the vast sanctuary, one of the oldest and largest in the United States. We met cows, pigs, turkeys, chickens, goats, sheep and a burro. We petted a young calf and a very friendly sheep, and learned by doing that turkeys love to be scratched under their wings.

We also saw a veal crate, a gestation crate for breeding sows, and the injuries and illnesses borne by these animals because they are unlucky enough to be born into the farming industry.

Chickens whose tender beaks have been severed without painkillers. Turkeys who have been bred to be so large-breasted that their swollen, painful feet can’t carry their full weight. But then, they were never meant to grow up, were they? They were meant to be killed while they were still babies, and who cares if they suffer with every step they take in their short lives, as long as everyone applauds our delicious Thanksgiving dinner, right? The people at Animal Place care. And they are educating others to care, too.

What I learned on my tour with Rocky is the power of one individual’s story to move the heart.

Sometimes, the problems of the world are so vast that we can’t wrap our brains and hearts around them. Syria, Israel-Palestine, Iraq… They are devastating. But they are so big, they almost make me numb. The Jewish Holocaust is overwhelming to consider. Millions of people, stripped of their dignity and their lives… My brain can hardly grasp it. But one 15 year old girl, her potential, her creativity, her laughter, her life, lost to a callous evil in the world – that, I can grasp, and it goes straight to the heart. That’s why we all remember Anne Frank. Because she put an individual face on a shattering wrong.

The suffering of animals is like that for me. It’s too big. I can’t hold it all, and sometimes it makes me feel helpless. But show me one turkey with swollen feet who can barely walk, one little pig romping and squealing with delight because he can play with the visitors, one sweet calf who just wants to be loved, and I’m galvanized. This is why education is so important to Animal Place. This is why taking a tour there is both a wonderful and an eye opening experience.

Animal Place offers both guided and self-guided tours. They only cost $5. And you get a cookie afterward! A delicious, vegan cookie. You can sign up for their Sanctuary Sweets mailings, which include yummy, cruelty-free dessert recipes, so you can make those delicious vegan cookies yourself. And if you want to be more deeply involved, you can volunteer, attend special events at the sanctuary and become a donor.

I was deeply impressed by the balance that Animal Place has achieved with its tours. The tour itself is a great time. Meeting the animals, learning their stories, and getting to interact with them is pure delight. But Rocky never let us forget the realities that most farm animals face. The physical and emotional scars are evident on some of the residents, and the presence of that gestation crate and veal crate remind visitors of the cruelties of the industry that produced these animals.

The educational component at Animal Place is everywhere you look. Plus, they are expanding the educational offerings at the sanctuary, including the creation of an on-site museum that will be free and open to the public. The Museum of Animal Farming will provide the public “the opportunity to see firsthand the terrifying tools and equipment that are used on farm animals”.

Executive Director Kim Sturla says she wants visitors to enjoy themselves and the animals. However, she also cautions, “We don’t want people to leave Animal Place only thinking about the few happy animals they meet here, and believing everything is fine. We also want them to learn the realities of animal farming.”

Like those veal crates. Long before I became vegan, I stopped eating veal, because I heard about those crates, and about the abuses of the veal industry. But for years I still ate cheese and butter, and still used milk in my coffee. Then I learned that the veal industry wouldn’t exist without the dairy industry. What else are they going to do with all of the unwanted calves produced every year to keep milk, cheese and butter in America’s refrigerators? Why do we assume that cows are the only mammals on the planet who just lactate all the time, even if they don’t have a baby? Newsflash: they don’t. They have to be kept constantly pregnant, which breaks down their bones, joints and muscles, and they have to be constantly robbed of their babies, which breaks down their hearts. After all, if the baby gets the milk, there’s none for us. So the baby is killed at birth, or dragged off to market to be killed, or sold for veal. Oh, and the dairy cow is also slaughtered when her milk production starts to taper off, at age four or five – less than a quarter of her natural life.

These kinds of hidden abuses in the industry are unknown to much of the public. Rocky explained them in a firm but gentle way, balancing the need to educate with the desire to make the tour a pleasant experience.

Sturla explained to me that the Intern Residential Program at Animal place, where Rocky worked, is one of her favorite accomplishments. Approximately four to seven interns at a time live on the sanctuary grounds for two to three months. “The talented young folks that come through continually amaze me,” says Sturla with obvious pride and gratitude. “They work four days per week at the sanctuary, and one day per week they have an enrichment day, where they go offsite to the Capitol for advocacy, or to a stockyard for education, or various other activities. And it’s an international program, with participants from Israel, Poland, Canada, and other countries, as well as the US.”

Rocky has done three internships at Animal Place. I’m not surprised. She is a dynamo.

Every animal you meet at Animal Place has a story, and your tour guide will share many of their stories with you. You’ll discover these animals as individuals with not only different stories, but unique and specific personalities, likes and dislikes, best friends, favorite toys and favorite treats (bring seedless grapes for the chickens, but cut them in half to avoid choking hazards).

And what about those three lucky souls I mentioned at the beginning of this article?

Panda Bob, the young calf whose mum was too sick to nurse him, has a new best friend, Mortimer. Panda Bob’s mother was too sick – too neglected – to survive. Luckily for Panda Bob, he and his mother had been brought to Animal Place’s veterinarian, who eased his mother’s suffering and took good care of her young calf. Now, Panda Bob lives with Mortimer at the sanctuary and beguiles visitors with his sweet disposition and adorable panda face. The drought has made feeding all the grazing animals a real challenge this year. In lieu of their usual grassy fields, the bovines are going through $50 per day in hay, so all donations are greatly appreciated.

Errol is the type of chicken who is typically killed at just six weeks for his or her flesh. He and his friends were crammed into a small cage and left in the pouring rain at a livestock auction to wait for someone to buy them and kill them. But, luckily for them, the worst was over when no one bought them that day, and instead, they got to come to Animal Place. Now, they take dust baths, frolic in the sun, and hang around with their turkey buddies.

Ellen the dairy goat’s story is perhaps the saddest of the three. Though Rocky’s heart is so huge that there is room in it for every animal at the sanctuary, it was clear that there is a special, private place in that big, compassionate heart that is reserved for Ellen. Because Ellen was so special to her, I’d like you to hear her story in Rocky’s words:

“We believe Ellen began her life on a dairy farm. There, she was repeatedly impregnated and endured the anguish of having her newborns taken away from her, all so that humans could sell and consume her milk.

When she became emaciated, the farm brought her to a “livestock” auction. She was sold to a slaughterhouse where people come to pick out the live animals they want slaughtered onsite. Yet, she was too thin for slaughter and so sick she couldn’t even walk, so the slaughterhouse decided to shoot her in the head instead.

Officer Todd Stosuy of Santa Cruz County Animal Services stepped in just in the nick of time and brought Ellen to sanctuary at Animal Place. It was soon discovered that despite being incredibly thin, Ellen was pregnant with twins! She gave birth in November of 2012 and it was the first time her newborns were not taken away from her.

Ellen got to experience motherhood for the first time and was very protective of her sons. Yet, Ellen was still sick and ultimately had to be euthanized about a year after her rescue. Her story reminds me both that the unnecessary suffering humans inflict on the animals we exploit for food is not just physical, but emotional as well, and also that it happens regardless of the size of the farm.”

It was wonderful to meet all of the residents of Animal Place, including Panda Bob, Errol, and Ellen’s babies. It was great to play with the baby pigs and feed grapes to the chickens, and look into the eyes of a gentle cow. It was downright blissful to feel a sheep lean into my leg and close its eyes as I gave it a nice back scratch. But I couldn’t help but remember, they are the lucky ones. Meanwhile, 140 billion others aren’t so lucky. 140 billion others suffer and die each year throughout the world.

140 billion.

It’s too big, isn’t it? So remember Panda Bob. Remember Errol. Remember Ellen.

All photos are courtesy of Animal Place

The post Animal Place: Where Every Individual Matters appeared first on Chic Vegan.

It’s important to take stock of the big picture before making decisions about our own priorities. In finding my own way, I have categorized animal issues six ways:

1. Companion Animals: homeless pets, cruelty and neglect issues, dog fighting, over population, puppy mills, etc.
2. Farm Animals: to tackle this one, first decide whether you believe that animals should be used for food at all. Most of us on Chic Vegan are, well, vegan, so this is a no-brainer. But others don’t object to the idea of animal agriculture, just the means by which we accomplish it.  If you think it’s acceptable to use animals, but you want them to have better protections, there are ways to influence conditions. If you believe it is NOT alright to use them at all, you are looking at a different path.
3. Performing and Exotic Animals: this includes circuses, SeaWorld and similar parks, zoos, private exotic pet trade, carriage horses, animals in film, television, theater, etc.
4. Animal Experimentation: animals are used for medical research, and for medical and veterinary training, but also in military exercises, cosmetics and household products testing and a variety of other areas.
5. Wildlife Conservation: endangered species, loss of habitat, climate change issues, poaching, and hunting regulation.
6. Fur, Skin & Feather Trades: obviously fur, but also leather, snake skin, ostrich skin, down and for many of us, wool and silk.

Ponder each area, above. Which ones pull on your heart and mind? What ignites your passion? In listening to your passion, you can best decide where you want to participate.

Consider your resources. If you over-commit or try to do everything you will likely burn yourself right out, get discouraged, and give up. Your resources include:

• Money: are you interested in making charitable contributions part of your animal advocacy work? If so, how much money will you be comfortable giving? Tithing is a powerful tool for the giver as well as the receiver, but that may feel overwhelming to you. Think about your financial resources and decide what you have to give.
• Time: Do you work full or part time or are you retired? Do you have three small children at home or are you live alone? Do you enjoy volunteer work? If so, how much time do you want to spend volunteering for the animals?
• Skills & Knowledge: You may be surprised at how many useful skills you have. Are you social media savvy? An Excel guru? A great organizer? A creative writer? A photographer? Do you bake? Cook? Are you a runner? Are you great at time management? Do you have a spare room? A big and/or reliable car? A good video camera and editing experience? Are you great with numbers? You’ll be surprised how useful you can be.
• Connections: sometimes we know someone who might have resources we don’t have and we can recruit others to help as well.

Finally, consider your temperament. Read each of the following suggestions, imagine yourself doing that task, and observe how you feel:

• “Get naked for the animals” in a PETA booth at a public event.
• Stand on college campuses, hand out brochures, and talk to non-vegans about veganism through Vegan Outreach.
• Take a shelter dog for a run/walk.
• Work on computer based tasks at home, such as social media, accounting, payroll, marketing content or fund raising correspondence.
• Organize a fund raiser for your favorite organization.
• Serve on a Board of Directors for a nonprofit.
• Muck out stalls or barns at a nearby farm or exotic animal sanctuary, or cages at your local shelter.
• Become a docent for an animal sanctuary, leading visitors on tours.
• Bake goodies to be sold at a bake sale.
• Create a social media campaign for a struggling non-profit.
• Throw a sensational party fund raiser in your home.
• Lobby your legislators, create and sign petitions.
• Attend or help organize rallies, charity runs, and protests.
• Become an undercover investigator for Compassion Over Killing or Mercy for Animals.

If you are like me, some of the above ideas will appeal to you and some will make you want to flee in terror. (My “get naked in public” days are long gone.) Your personality will tell you how you want to contribute.

Find the brand of activism that suits you. Not every action is for everyone, and not every organization is for everyone. Do you want to work locally, nationally, internationally, or a mix? Do you prefer a larger organization with a bigger reach, or a smaller organization targeted to one specific goal?

Do your own research until you find your advocacy soul mates. I’ve offered some suggestions below to get you started. Please share your own advocacy ideas in the comments section.

How You Can Help

1. Companion animals: Adopt, don’t shop. Don’t buy pet supplies in stores that sell animals. Tell them why you aren’t buying there. Sign petitions, write your legislators, and call them when cruelty issues come up. Let them know what you think about puppy mills, breed-specific legislation, animal fights, etc. Volunteer for a local shelter. Foster a mama cat and her kittens. Take a shelter dog for a run or walk. If you are really brave, you can join one of the underground kinds of groups that rescue bait dogs from dog fighting rings (do not try this on your own!). Volunteer with a rescue group to be a foster, a transport driver, or to post updates on social media. Socialize scared animals at the shelter to help make them more adoptable. Contact your local shelter or, if you prefer, major groups like the ASPCA, various Humane Societies in different locales or rescue groups. If you love German Shepherds, for instance, Coastal German Shepherd Rescue does great work in Southern California. There are many breed-specific rescues. Find your favorite breed and help them out. One of my personal favorite organizations is Leave No Paws Behind, which concentrates on the old, special needs, sick and neglected animals who are least likely to get out of the shelter alive. Some groups specialize in transport, like Underground Railroad Rescued Kitty Network, which is always seeking donations and conductors for their transports.  I dare you to watch one of Hope for Paws rescue videos without getting misty. Many organizations have Wish Lists on Amazon, where you can buy something they need and it will be shipped directly to them. Be creative! Photographer Mary Shannon Johnstone’s Landfill Dogs project seeks to highlight individual dogs at immediate risk for euthanasia. Ms. Johnstone has helped secure eleventh hour rescues for many pups.
2. Farm Animals: Most Chic Vegan readers have already crossed the first hurdle, but for the veg curious, you must first decide where you stand on the use of animals. If you don’t believe in using them, the answer is to go vegan. If you don’t want to go vegan, contact organizations like Humane Farm Animal Care or Farm Forward to learn what protections you can seek when trying to minimize cruelty. Both of these organizations have knowledgeable people who are willing to talk you through the issues. Before becoming vegan, I was looking for eggs from “humanely raised” hens. I discovered the Certified Humane label standard, which addresses some cruelty issues. But even if you get Certified Humane eggs, there are some industry practices that are systemic and cannot be avoided. For example, it is considered acceptable to debeak baby chicks with a hot iron and no anesthesia. It is done quickly and roughly and often makes it hard for the chicken to eat. Debeaking is under review with Humane Farm Animal Care, but still being practiced. Male baby chicks are considered by-product of the egg industry, just like male calves are by-product of the dairy industry. Male baby chicks are thrown live into a macerator to be shredded like your junk mail, or gassed to death, or sometimes just thrown into a plastic bag and tossed in the trash to suffocate and be crushed under the weight of hundreds of others. Male calves are sent to the veal farm or to meat market, or just left to die. And dairy cows and laying hens all end up in slaughter. Read the Certified Humane Standards to learn what is and isn’t required to be labeled Certified Humane. As you can see, if you aren’t prepared to go vegan, seeking “humane” suppliers is a complicated issue. If you want to be a conscious consumer, you need to think about what you can support and what you can’t. That answer varies for each of us. Note that even eating vegan doesn’t guarantee you won’t be caught in the web. Palm oil is often sourced by poachers in a way that is destroying habitats and killing off the orangutans. So you have to be ever watchful in your consumption. You can also donate to and volunteer for organizations like Farm Sanctuary – a great organization run by a great man, Gene Baur, who is doing wonderful work in the areas of rescue, education, legislative lobbying and sanctuary. There are other organizations all over the world doing similar work: The Gentle Barn, Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary, Edgar’s Mission, and Animal Place, to name a few. There are also important efforts to stop the horrific practice of live export. Education efforts are key to changing the future. Consider becoming a Main Street Vegan Lifestyle Coach. Many sanctuaries need volunteers for events and regular animal feeding, barn cleaning, etc. Find what sings to you, whether it be mucking out stalls or writing the biggest check you can manage.
3. Performing & Exotic Animals: there is a great organization here in California called Performing Animal Welfare Society – PAWS. It does everything for exotics and performing animals that Farm Sanctuary does for the farm animals. PAWS has two large sanctuaries. It is an international leader in captive elephant advocacy and care, as well as providing rescue, sanctuary, and advocacy for all performing and exotic animals. You can also NOT visit SeaWorld, circuses that use animals, zoos, camel and elephant rides at fairs, carriage rides, etc. And tell the owners WHY they aren’t getting your money. Write to them. Write to their sponsors and ask them to stop supporting the venue. Check out Kickstarter and Indiegogo campaigns for those raising funds to make great documentaries like Blackfish. Subscribe to advocacy newsletters and lobby legislators on major issues in your area.
4. Animal Experimentation: Physicians’ Committee for Responsible Medicine, or PCRM, is my go-to organization for laboratory animal issues. (They also do great work on veganism.) The President is Neal Barnard, MD. Visit their website and read about their various issues and campaigns. It might spark something, teach you something, or help you make some decisions about how you want to contribute. Animal experimentation is antiquated, unreliable and viciously cruel. But ignorance and fear of change stands in the way of progress.
5. Wildlife: I stay in touch with Natural Resources Defense Council, World Wildlife Fund and The Nature Conservancy on these issues. Also the Monterey Bay Aquarium on sea animals. Note that I typically do not support organizations with captive wildlife, but Monterey is an exception. The Aquarium’s research and advocacy for the oceans and sea life is impressive, and they have a great rescue operation. On wildlife issues, legislation is really key. Let your legislators know where you stand on habitat destruction, hunting regulation and other issues that affect wildlife. Voice your support for the importance of the Endangered Species Act, and learn more about it and other wildlife issues at the National Wildlife Federation website. Issues of wildlife, hunting, fishing, habitat destruction, etc., are complicated. We have already interfered so much that we can’t really just step out now. But how we interact with Nature will dictate whether we have Nature in coming years.
6. Fur, Skin & Feathers: When I attended the Main Street Vegan Academy, I was fortunate to hear Joshua Katcher speak. His website is called The Discerning Brute. He is the most knowledgeable person I’ve ever met about animals and fashion. Check out his sites. Don’t buy any products made from fur, skins (leather of all kinds), feathers (down), silk, wool, or any other animal parts. Tell the stores why you aren’t buying. Tell other stores why you are buying from them. Legislation and public pressure are key. Social media can make a difference. Look for campaigns and petitions that put pressure on the industry. Write to designers and fashion companies and ask them to stop using these products. Support vegan companies like Jill Milan, Mooshoes, Vaute Couture and others.

Ready to scream in despair and dive under the (vegan) covers? A word of caution: don’t let yourself get overwhelmed. Every step matters. Mother Teresa said, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” She also said, “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” So do whatever little things make sense to you and seem manageable. Stretching yourself a bit is good. Making yourself miserable is not. Try not to obsess about what you can’t do. Do your best. Stay aware. Help make others aware.

Don’t be a know-it-all. There are complicated issues in a lot of these areas. Sometimes the answers are obvious, sometimes less so. Educate yourself, both so that you can speak intelligently about the plight of animals, and also so that you can advocate responsibly. Check out websites like Our Hen House for informative blogs and posts about animal issues. Many well-meaning efforts go awry for lack of knowledge, forethought and insight. Such debacles do nothing for the cause of the animals, and make animal advocates look ignorant. Be open to learning, to hearing what “the opposition” is saying and consider whether the argument has merit.

The important thing is to listen to your heart, find what feels right to you, and dive in. I’ll leave you with another Mother Teresa favorite: “I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together, we can do great things.”

If you have other giving, volunteer or advocacy strategies, or would like to share an organization that you love and support, please do so in the comments section. Let’s try to make end of year giving great for the animals, and 2014 a banner year for volunteerism and advocacy.

Wishing everyone a joyful and compassionate New Year.

The post Compassionate Giving: Finding Your Advocacy Voice appeared first on Chic Vegan.

One year ago today I became vegan, so I am calling this my “Vegan Birthday,” as it is soooo much more than an anniversary. When I became 100% vegan, a whole new “me” was born. I felt an almost immediate sense of peace and connection with my deep inner self and with Mother Earth, even stronger and more meaningful that I had felt before. So today I celebrate this birthday by telling you my story and sharing the recipe for a lovely vegan lasagna I have planned for my family.

But first, let me share a little more with you about my vegan journey. Prior to taking the plunge to complete veganism, I was a vegetarian for over 20 years and truthfully, even before that had never eaten meat. Well, I had tried some kinds of meat out of sheer parental and peer pressure, but I never liked it. Even as a very young child, I thought it unnatural and cruel to eat an animal. I remember vividly many Thanksgiving dinners as a child where I just looked at the turkey on the table and thought everyone was insane for eating it. I mean, how could they eat it? It was an animal with thoughts and feelings and, in my opinion, RIGHTS! So I lived my life mostly vegetarian and then at age 19, I became a vegetarian for good. I remember my family and college friends thinking I was going through a “phase” or a “crisis,” thinking I would soon snap out of it and rejoin the carnivores. I am happy to say that never happened!

So, why did I wait so long to become vegan? I don’t really have a good answer for that except to say that in my early 20’s my life changed in some pretty unexpected ways. I suffered from a lot of depression and really was just “muddling” through for many years. I always remained vegetarian, but for some reason I didn’t explore or learn more about being vegan. However, in the last 5 years, through soul-searching, yoga and meditation, I began to find the “real” me. I learned that the peaceful, passionate person I am inside is just who I am at the core and that embracing it would be the most beautiful thing I could do. Part of that journey led me to a college friend, Meredith, who had been vegan for about 5 or 6 years. Meredith really helped me understand the connection between the commercial meat industry and the environmental devastation in the world and it all started coming into focus for me. So, last year on August 1st, I woke up, declared I was vegan and began this adventure that has brought me more peace and joy than I could ever imagine.

My husband and my daughter (who just turned 18) are not vegan or vegetarian, but they do try to go meat-free at least one day per week. They also have tried many of my vegan meals and are slowly starting to find that vegan food is yummy! On that note, I am going to make an awesome vegan lasagna for my family for dinner tonight. See recipe below. What do you do to celebrate YOUR vegan life?

Vegan Spinach Lasagna

• 1/2 lb. vegan lasagna noodles
• 2 10-oz. packages frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
•  1 lb. soft tofu
• 1 lb. firm tofu
• 1 Tbsp. organic raw or maple sugar (optional, or to taste)
• 1/4 cup almond milk
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• 2 Tbsp. organic lemon juice
• 3 tsp. minced fresh basil
• 2 tsp. organic sea salt
• 4 cups organic tomato sauce
• Shredded Daiya mozzarella cheese (optional)

Directions

• Cook the lasagna noodles according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 350F degrees.
• Squeeze the spinach as dry as possible and set aside.
• Place the tofu, sugar (to taste or optional), almond milk, garlic powder, lemon juice, basil, and salt in the food processor or blender and blend until smooth. Pour in a separate mixing bowl. Stir in the drained spinach.
• Cover the bottom of a 9″ x 13″ baking dish with a thin layer of tomato sauce, then a layer of noodles (use about one-third of the noodles). Follow with half of the tofu filling. Continue in the same order, using half of the remaining tomato sauce and noodles and all of the remaining tofu filling. End with the remaining noodles, covered by the remaining tomato sauce. Top with some vegan cheese (Daiya is good!) if you like, but it is just as good without it.
• Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
• Makes 6 to 8 servings.

The post Celebrating My Life As a Vegan (And a Recipe!) appeared first on Chic Vegan.

Now come, lets sit by the fire and talk about what is wrong with this picture by covering some questions that are now running through the minds of many.

Why does this happen?

This issue of abuse is not just an animal rights issue.. it is a human rights issue. Dairy and factory farms typically employ those who are willing to do hard, dirty labor for extremely cheap. There is no background check necessary.  The type of people that apply for these positions are typically ones with sordid pasts and/or psychological problems. They are treated poorly and are expected work in inhumane conditions themselves.  This industry is completely self-regulated, so this leaves these frustrated, troubled employees left to do as they please – as long as they are producing.

Are all dairy farms operated like this?

In all fairness – no. There are a handful of companies that pride themselves in treating their animals, employees and consumers with much respect. These are typically small family-owned farms that hold the credo of providing an organic and sustainable product. But again, this industry is completely self regulated. Do not trust labels like “free range” or “cage free” – they mean virtually nothing. Unless you can go visit these farms yourself – do not believe what the label says.

Are there any other issues with dairy?

So many! Dairy essentially makes no sense for humans to consume. We have been duped by the dairy industry into believing that we NEED their products in order to live a healthy life, and this is not the truth at all.

Fact #1 We are the only species that drinks another mammals milk and continues to drink it past the early stages of childhood. Mammals are meant to drink their mother’s milk until they are fit to be weaned. For humans this is 6-12 months.

Fact #2 Most dairy contains steroids, growth hormones and antibiotics. All of these things are given to cows to help them grow bigger, faster and to not spread disease. You know what else is commonly found in milk? Pus and mucus. Fun!

Fact #3 We are led to believe that dairy is our only source of calcium and vitamin D. Let me start by saying that the vitamin D in milk is fortified! That means it is added after the fact – the same as taking a supplement. The same amount of vitamin D can be found in fortified soy and rice milks or in the sun! Calcium can be found in all leafy greens (kale, spinach, collards), molasses, tofu, tempeh, beans, tahini, broccoli and almonds – just to name a few!

Fact #4 Dairy consumption is linked to allergies, cancer, acne, obesity, diabetes and even osteoporosis!

Fact #5 What happens to the male calves that will not become a mating bull? Why, they become veal of course. And we all know about veal.

Fact #6 Dairy farms contribute to the same environmental degradation that factory farms do. This includes toxic runoff, wasted corn and soy supplies, and tremendous use of fossil fuels.

What can we do to help?

Go vegan! (duh!) Boycotting the whole industry is the  best way to prove a point. Money speaks louder than anything else!

Spread the knowledge. In this day and age, knowledge spreads quicker and more effectively than ever before. Share this article and the Conklin video with everyone you know and love.

Support organizations that dare to bring the truth to the masses.  Farm Sanctuary, Compassion Over Killing and Mercy For Animals are good places to start.

Be a leader. Start your own campaign. Be creative and fight for a noble cause.

Photo Source.

The post The Delusion of Dairy appeared first on Chic Vegan.