12 Ways You Can Help the Animals in 2011

Uncategorized 2 Responses »
Dec 302010

As animal advocacy nonprofits are in the direct business of helping animals, supporting these organizations (financially and/or as a volunteer) is always an effective way of benefiting the animals.  So we’ll start our list with No. 1) Direct Support and go from there with 11 more ideas for how you can make a difference for the animals in 2011.

2 ~ Stay informed. Read the latest, as well as the classic animal rights and vegan health-related books so you can pass along that knowledge to others. Watch videos & films and share them with others. You might even start a book discussion group. See this article about how one Connecticut town is reading Jonathan Safran Foer’s book, Eating Animals (while the selection for younger readers is Our Farm, by the Animals of Farm Sanctuary). Or host a screening of a powerful film such as The Cove or Peaceable Kingdom at your local library or other community building.

3 ~ Spend time WITH the animals & SHARE your experiences with others. Nothing is quite as powerful as your personal story. Visit animal sanctuaries, roll up your sleeves and volunteer, sponsor an animal, and take lots of photos or video to share online.

Liz Longacre of Your Time Travels meets the elephants! Photo by Jaime Careathers

Let other people see these beautiful animals and hear about your experiences with them.

You could even make your next vacation one that involves helping the animals too. (See Your Time Travels for vacations involving volunteer projects benefiting the animals.) Aside from monetary support, animal sanctuaries often have wish lists. See if one near you needs something you can donate.

4 ~ Commit to sharing a minimum number of animal rights/vegan advocacy books/DVDs this year. It’s a great way to spread the message. Instead of loaning out your books ~ buy copies to give away. You can also donate copies of important books to your local library, coffee shop, hospital, or community center. Check with the publisher ~ they may have special bulk offers for people who are purchasing books for donation.

5 ~ Prepare a vegan meal for a community group or business. Take a delicious vegan lunch and educational materials to your hair salon, parent’s group at school, doctor’s office, fire station, etc.

6 ~ Utilize your personal talents & gifts for the animals! Do an inventory of your skills and gifts and see how you can help the animals in a unique and creative way. Are you an artist? Do you make videos or write music? (See Etsy’s Vegan Etsy Team and Etsy For Animals. Or visit sites such as Our Hen House’s ‘Art of the Animal’ section for news about creative endeavors for the animals.) Maybe you are an up and coming vegan chef? Or maybe you enjoy speaking, coaching, or teaching? Dedicate time in 2011 to using your gifts for the animals! They need YOU! Reach out to others who do what you do and create a supportive network.

7 ~ Have a list of ready-to-share vegan resources (vegan cookbook titles, vegan blog sites, product suggestions, etc.). Concrete resources are critical for someone transitioning to a vegetarian or vegan diet. FARM’s Meatout Mondays is an effective resource as it includes recipes with easy-to-find ingredients, as well as product information, health articles, and inspirational stories. Sites like www.LiveVegan.org, www.TryVeg.com, Healthy Happy Life, and This Just In from VegNews are just a few sites loaded with resources. Offer to help a friend by having a vegan cooking get-together and sharing your recipes and tips.

It’s also important to have resources available for your local restaurants, stores, and cafeterias so that when you ask them to serve vegan options, you can provide them with very specific information. Several sites (i.e. Compassion Over Killing, Mercy For Animals, FARM Underground) have guides available online and manufacturers will often send you flyers to give to your local stores.

8 ~ Join the conversation. Get involved with your favorite organizations, vegan businesses, and vegan/animal rights bloggers on Facebook, Twitter, their blogs, and other social networking sites. Share their information with your network. Drive more people to these great organizations, businesses, & bloggers with your comments and postings. See the FARM Links page for a sampling of animal rights and vegan blogs, organizations, businesses, and more. And don’t forget to join FARM on Facebook and Twitter!

9 ~ Add your voice to the pro-animal blog community. Start your own blog and help spread the word about compassion for all beings and the many benefits of living vegan. If you REALLY get into it, you might consider attending the Vida Vegan Conference, the first ever vegan blogger conference, to be held in Portland in August 2011.

10 ~ Raise awareness in your community with a letter. Write letters to the editor of your local paper regarding animal rights issues, health issues related to consuming animal products, and environmental concerns associated with animal agriculture. Many animal rights organizations have letter-writing programs (such as FARM’s Letters Program) that you can be a part of. You can also speak out for the animals by adding comments to relevant online editorials.

11 ~ Think before you speak! Be thoughtful about what you say, write, and do.  As an animal advocate you are part of an important and well-scrutinized cause. Strive for effective advocacy and ask yourself if your words and actions are more likely to help or hurt the animals.

12 ~ Celebrate success! Celebrating is an important part of any effective venture. Take time to celebrate and acknowledge individuals and organizations working hard on behalf of the animals. Highlight what’s working well and we’re sure to see more of it! Let the world see that important changes are happening NOW for the animals. And don’t forget to acknowledge yourself for the energy and passion you put into making life better for the animals.

Sweet Red asks, "How will YOU help the animals in 2011?" ~ Photo by Cindi A. Saadi

2011 offers us a great opportunity to honor and serve the animals with our time, gifts, talents, energy, and love. How will you help to make 2011 a beautiful & victorious year for the animals?

~ Cindi Saadi for the FARM blog

Posted by Cindi at 6:33 pm Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Christmas Day at an Animal Sanctuary

Uncategorized 1 Response »
Dec 232010

Have you ever wondered how the animals at an animal sanctuary spend Christmas Day?

I (Cindi) spoke recently with Terry Cummings, co-founder/director of Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary in Poolesville, Maryland who gave me a glimpse of what Christmas day is like for the animals at the sanctuary.

To sum it up in just two words….. Peaceful & Treats!

In contrast to Poplar Spring’s busy Thanksgiving celebration where hundreds of people come out to enjoy a vegan feast WITH the turkeys and all the other residents of the sanctuary, Terry said the animals generally enjoy a very quiet Christmas day.

Just as many people look forward to digging into their stocking on Christmas morning, the animals also anxiously await special holiday treats! After all the morning chores (i.e. cleaning & feeding) have been done, Terry and her husband, Dave Hoerauf (co-founder/director), gather together with the farm manager and a merry group of volunteers to head out into the cold and deliver treats to all the animals.

Poplar Spring pals, Bobby & Parker, snuggle up for a nap. Bobby is using Parker as a bit of a pillow! Both are content! Photo by Cindi Saadi

According to Terry, the pigs are not big fans of the cold, and so once they have ventured out to eat and do their business, they run back into the barn where they burrow into the hay and snuggle up next to each other for a nap.

Instead of sugar-plums, the pigs are likely dreaming of apples and that’s just what the jolly crew of Santa’s elves will bring them!

The horses and cows are not nearly as phased by the cold. They will venture out of the barn and wait for their favorite treat. No cookies and coconut milk for them, they want carrots! And lots of carrots they shall have!

The goats and the sheep will also be out enjoying the cold weather. And although the goats enjoy a good carrot, Santa knows what they really want…. PoPcoRn !

Introducing the VERY charming, Rocky the goat! Photo at Poplar Spring by Cindi Saadi (Rocky's biggest fan!)

Like little kids with candy, the goats and sheep will excitedly gobble up popcorn and animal crackers, with, of course, a few carrots on the side!

And what about the chickens and turkeys?  You’re  most likely to find them in the warm barn – especially if there is snow on the ground, which Terry said they do not like to put their feet in!

A delicious combination of corn and grapes is what our feathered friends will get from Santa’s bag!

Truth be told, Opal would prefer HUGS to treats! Photo at Poplar Spring by Cindi Saadi

With their treat bags empty, the Christmas delivery crew will return to the main house where they will warm up with treats for the humans…. hot cider and delicious vegan cookies.

Deb Durant volunteers at Poplar Spring and has enjoyed Christmas day with the animals. In her 2008 blog post, she talks about spending a good part of the day with the pigs (extra belly rubs for the holiday!) and notes that their religion appears to be happiness!

Terry and the sanctuary crew are praying for a snow-free holiday! She welcomes anyone who would like to come out and volunteer on Christmas Day. There will be plenty of joy to share with the animals ~ just like every day! If you are interested, please contact Terry by Dec. 24th by e-mail (info@animalsanctuary.org) or phone 301-428-8128.

Who can resist Chelsea? What a sweet face! Photo taken at Poplar Spring by Cindi Saadi

Animal sanctuaries like Poplar Spring need our support each and every day to continue their vital mission and to give more animals the opportunity to experience peaceful lives.  If you live close to a sanctuary, check into the many ways you can help out on site. If you are not fortunate to live near a sanctuary, find out about offering your financial support. You can sponsor an animal with a monthly donation, or donate whenever you can. Go to www.sanctuaries.org for a listing of animal sanctuaries or do a Google search as newer sanctuaries may not have been added to the list.

The sheep at Poplar Spring enjoy hanging out together. Photo by Cindi Saadi

Many sanctuaries also have gift shops with items ranging from sweatshirts to books, and even calendars featuring the sanctuary residents.  The 2011 Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary calendar is available now (see the preview on www.lulu.com) with photos by Deb Durant. Order 1-9 copies by Dec. 26 and get a 25% discount by entering the coupon code, FLURRY. Order 10 or more copies by Dec. 26 and get a 30% discount with the coupon code, BLIZZARD.

For more about farmed animals and farmed animal sanctuaries, see our recent blog post about the book, Ninety-Five, which features several of the amazing residents of Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary.

Here’s to all the sanctuaries and their dedicated staff and volunteers for making life so sweet for these priceless beings.

~ Cindi Saadi for FARM

Posted by Cindi at 4:26 pm Tagged with: , , , , , , ,

Ninety-Five Offers a Rare Journey into the Extraordinary Hearts & Lives of Farmed Animals

Uncategorized 1 Response »
Dec 212010

Ninety-Five: Meeting America’s Farmed Animals in Stories and Photographs
Editors: Marilee Geyer, Diane Leigh, and Windi Wojdak
www.novoiceunheard.org

A Review by Cindi Saadi ~ for the Farm Animal Rights Movement Blog

Meet Justice.   A steer who calms and comforts frightened new residents at the animal sanctuary (Peaceful Prairie in Colorado) where he lives and who has an entourage that oddly enough includes a white swan.

Justice ~ the perfect ambassador for Ninety-Five. Photos of Justice by Windi Wojdak for No Voice Unheard

Justice’s uplifting story is one of courage, healing, and compassion, and is one I will never forget. It is just one of the many moving stories in the book, Ninety-Five: Meeting America’s Farmed Animals in Stories and Photographs, edited and published by the nonprofit organization, No Voice Unheard.

We often hear figures cited such as… 58 billion farmed (land) animals are raised and killed each year for human consumption. But the human mind has trouble grasping numbers like 58 billion. And once we start talking in these types of numbers, the value of the individual can get lost. It becomes harder to relate to the individual chicken or pig or cow or goat who is an unfortunate one of the billions.

Meet Peapod & hear his story. Photo by Davida Gypsy Breier for No Voice Unheard

But what if you got to know one of those pigs or chickens or cows or goats? What if you heard about their love stories and friendships? What if you learned about their bravery, compassion, loyalty, and pure will to live? What if you could experience their personalities? How much could this intimate knowledge of the animals alter your perception of the billions? Would they still be just numbers, or would they be individuals with lives that matter?

With the book, Ninety-Five, editors Marilee Geyer, Diane Leigh, and Windi Wojdak set out to help readers get to know farmed animals, like Justice, on a very intimate level. The desire is for people to see what the animals are really like when permitted to live their lives and just be who they are. In addition to cows, pigs, goats, sheep, chickens, turkeys, rabbits, ducks, geese, and of course, Justice’s pal, the swan, readers also get an introduction to fish and other farmed sea animals. After all, no voice is unheard.

Meet beautiful Olivia! Can you tell she is not camera shy? Photo by Bob Esposito for No Voice Unheard

The editors carry out the mission of Ninety-Five through a compelling collection of inspirational stories and intoxicating photographs contributed by a variety of individuals with a shared commitment to the animals. From the animal-loving editors, to sanctuary owners, staff, and volunteers, to activists and veterinarians, to still more animal-loving photographers and writers, the energy and compassion of many people (and animals, of course) gives the book a vibrant beauty and a cherished quality.

Although traditional books about farmed animals are critical tools for raising awareness and providing needed information, many are difficult to read, with raw descriptions and images of misery and pain. Although each of the animals in Ninety-Five has been rescued and many have physical and emotional scars from their past experiences, the book is instead filled with healing, hope, bravery, compassion, peace, forgiveness, and love. You WANT to turn the page! You can’t wait to drink in the next big-as-life photo of a gorgeous animal, looking you square in the eyes, and then read his or her unique story.

Bumper lives in peace, thanks to the love of a young girl. Photo by Davida Gypsy Breier for No Voice Unheard

Though important facts and figures are shared in the book, the real power of Ninety-Five is the compassionate, beautiful, and stirring way the message is conveyed by the animals themselves and in a way that leaves you wanting more. The message is revealed through photos that allow you to look into the eyes of these brave and loveable animals and see into their souls. And it’s shared through stories that give you a lucky glimpse into their hearts.

One point made clear by the animals themselves is that the belief that sentience is farmed out of these billions of beings is most definitely not true! From heartwarming to heartbreaking to humorous to uplifting, the stories told are journeys that allow you the honor of experiencing the depth of the animals. The animals in the book serve as ambassadors for the billions of animals not fortunate enough to end up in a loving sanctuary. You are left humbled by their purity, loyalty, forgiveness, peacefulness, and compassion, and are inspired by their courage and love.

Rudy looking adorable! Ready to play... Photo by Davida Gypsy Breier for No Voice Unheard

And if there is any question, the book’s underlying message is right up front, in the title. Although some might think it is the number of animals featured in the book, ninety-five is commonly cited as the average number of animals spared in one year by eating a vegan diet.

I have many favorite stories from the book…. Justice’s is one of them. As is the love story of Louie and Libby, a hen and a rooster whose affection for and commitment to one another is deeply moving. And who could forget Gilly, the hen who serves as the inspiration for the book? Or the sweet sheep, Marcie, whose ability to forgive and trust humans again is inspirational. Or the silly antics of the playful goats like, Jeremy and Lenny. The list goes on – they are ALL my favorites!

And just when you think the book is over, it isn’t! There is a colorful cast party at the end of the book that gives readers yet another opportunity to learn more about each animal in the book. No on is left out. Each animal’s story matters.

Meet Brave Francine! Photo by Davida Gypsy Breier for No Voice Unheard

Not everyone is fortunate enough to be able to visit an animal sanctuary, meet the animals in person, and hear their stories from the people who care for them.  Ninety-Five allows more people to experience the animals in a personal, life-affirming way and to see them as sentient souls with lives that matter.

By living a vegan life, we can spare more animals. By supporting sanctuaries we can help them to rescue more animals and to continue to share their stories. By supporting organizations like No Voice Unheard that publish books like Ninety-Five, we can give more people a thought-provoking and compassionate experience of the animals. The book is a beautiful, one-of-a-kind, intimate presentation of farmed animals in all their glory and depth. It’s a long-awaited treasure that should be shared widely and enjoyed often!

Beautiful Bosey the Cow ~ in silhouette....Photo by Derek Goodwin for No Voice Unheard

No Voice Unheard has special pricing offers, including a great package deal for individuals interested in donating copies to libraries, schools, coffee shops, other institutions, and/or policy makers. You may also be interested in their other books, One At A Time: A Week in an American Animal Shelter, by Diane Leigh and Marilee Geyer and Thought to Exist in the Wild: Awakening from the Nightmare of Zoos, by Derrick Jensen, photographs by Karen Tweedy-Holmes. Visit No Voice Unheard online or call them at 831-440-9574. You can also reach them by E-mail at info@novoiceunheard.org.

Posted by Cindi at 7:40 pm Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

One woman's passion for animals becomes a unique travel company

Uncategorized 7 Responses »
Dec 102010

One trip to Thailand, one week of volunteering with rescued elephants, and the life of a corporate attorney was changed forever.

Liz Longacre gets to know a baby elephant in Thailand! Photo by Jaime Careathers

“I realized I wasn’t living the life I should be living and that I wanted to do things that were more in line with this type of experience,” said Liz Longacre of the recently launched Your Time Travels (YTT), a unique travel company she created for everyone who wants to make the world a better place for animals.

Interested in going to Costa Rica, Argentina, St. Martin, or maybe Tanzania? Want to help some sea turtles or an array of other animals while you are there? Or maybe you just want to see the animals in a way that is safe and enjoyable for everyone?  Liz’s company is the one for you! YTT arranges trips consisting of a creative combination of exciting or relaxing vacation activities, meaningful volunteer experiences with animal welfare projects, and responsible ways of enjoying and learning about animals in their natural habitats. You will return refreshed, inspired, and you’ll have plenty of amazing stories to share with others.  YTT also offers vegan/vegetarian vacation planning, travel itineraries focused on US animal sanctuaries, and help with traveling with your own animal companion.

I (Cindi Saadi) recently spoke with Liz to get the real behind-the-scenes scoop about her new adventure. As her clients return, we hope to share some of their experiences here on the FARM blog. (For more about Liz and Your Time Travels, visit www.yourtimetravels.com ~ see additional contact info at end of this article.)

FARM (Cindi): Tell us more about what inspired you to start Your Time Travels.

LIZ: I went to law school without really knowing what I would want to do with my law degree and I ended up going to work for a corporate law firm. I was working 12-14 hour days and was not happy. I knew I wasn’t being true to myself.  In a way, I’m glad I was unfulfilled as it forced me to get to know myself, my passions, and what would really make me happy.

I knew my passion involved animals, but wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with that. I began packing my limited free time with activities like volunteering at an animal shelter, photography classes, and other activities that spoke to me creatively.

Then I planned our honeymoon trip to Thailand. I have a fascination for elephants and wanted to spend time volunteering at an elephant sanctuary that I had researched.  My husband (then fiancé) Jaime, was on board, albeit a little skeptical.

“After that trip I realized…. I love animals, I love volunteering, and I love travel. I asked myself, ‘How can I take those three things and make a life?’”

Elephants at the Elephant Nature Park in Thailand. Photo by Liz Longacre

FARM: What was it like volunteering at the elephant sanctuary in Thailand?

LIZ: The abuse of elephants in Thailand is severe and it’s part of their culture. Young elephants endure a horrible process (the pajaan) of breaking their spirits so they can be working animals. They are tied up for several days, beaten, deprived of food and water, and basically tortured so they will obey their trainer. Sanduen “Lek” Chailert, the extremely brave local woman who started the Elephant Nature Park wanted to make a difference for these incredible animals. We were only there for a short time, but we learned so much about what animals go through in the name of tourism.

The nice thing about volunteering with animals is that it is something you can do easily and for a short time and still be of help to the organization. We mainly did maintenance work, such as cleaning the enclosures, preparing foods, and feeding the elephants and several other types of animals, but just being there was incredible. We also met a lot of amazing people from all over the world who had also come to volunteer.

“It was more living than I had done in a long time!”
~~~~~~~

FARM: Why is this type of service/company so important to you?

LIZ: I love animals and always have. People, myself included, love to be around animals, which is why they are such a large part of tourism. But they are abused and exploited in so many ways. The tourism industry often does not have the animals’ best interests at heart, it’s all about profit. I wanted people to be more aware of how animals are treated in tourism (not to mention the trauma they experience when being captured from the wild). There are better ways to interact with and enjoy the animals, such as through volunteer work. It’s also far more educational to view animals, i.e. dolphins, whales, or safari animals, in their own natural environments versus in captivity.

You can learn so much after just a few days of volunteering and then share that knowledge with others. You may not be saving the world, but it has a great give it forward effect.

Liz & the raccoons in Costa Rica. Photo by volunteers.

FARM: What goes into setting up these various trips?

LIZ: I do a LOT of research to make sure the organizations people will volunteer with are legitimate. I personally volunteered with each organization I launched with. I also researched all of the sight-seeing and vacation attractions for each trip.

FARM: Tell us more about the types of trips you are offering now.

LIZ: Currently we offer trips in Costa Rica, Argentina, and St. Martin. We also offer Safari trips in Tanzania and I am promoting certain cruises, including a yearly vegan cruise.  A Thailand trip will be available soon, as well as resource itinerary guides for visiting U.S. animal sanctuaries. We also arrange hotel stays for people who want to travel with their own pets within the United States. I hope to eventually offer a volunteer trip in India and continually grow from there.

FARM: What are some examples of places where people will volunteer?

LIZ: Currently our volunteer trips include volunteering at wildlife rescue centers, volunteering to protect endangered sea turtles, volunteering at a center that breeds endangered Macaws, and volunteering to help street dogs and cats.  I really want to grow our opportunities for helping street dogs and cats as that is a serious problem in many countries. And of course eventually there will be opportunities at elephant sanctuaries!

FARM: What are other examples of ways people can responsibly enjoy the animals?

LIZ: People can see animals in their natural environments through safari trips. We currently offer safari trips in Tanzania, dolphin and whale watching trips in Costa Rica, and also penguin observation in Argentina.

Liz gets to know Benjamin the kinkajoo

FARM: Does your company also arrange for the “vacation” portion of the trip?

LIZ: Yes, my company offers a WHOLE service with structured trips. You are picked up from the airport and transported to the various locations. You are always with a local guide and using local guides also keeps money in the local communities. They can also take you off the beaten path and offer you opportunities to experience local culture.  And don’t forget, these are VACATIONS too! Part of our service is to arrange for your entire trip, not just the volunteer time. For example, St. Martin is a beautiful island. There are so many things to do and see. You can have a FUN vacation and still help the animals.

FARM: Where do people stay while volunteering?

LIZ: It depends upon each situation. In remote locations, volunteers will stay on site and pay a modest sum for their lodging.  Other places have home-stay arrangements with local residents, adding even more to your entire experience.  In other cases, staying at a hotel is the best option.

Feeding the babies! Photo by Liz Longacre

FARM: What other resources does your company offer?

LIZ: We will be providing itinerary guides for people interested in creating a trip that includes spending time at a US animal sanctuary.  We will also offer resources for people who want to travel with their own animals, as well as guides for vegans & vegetarians in terms of restaurants, bed and breakfast options, etc.

FARM: Who are your trips best suited for?

LIZ: They are for anyone who is interested in helping the animals or enjoying and learning about them in responsible ways. I believe it is important to educate everyone about the animals.

FARM: What part of your work do you enjoy the most?

LIZ: I love that I get to spread a message that is so important to me. I also really enjoyed scouting out these initial volunteer sites. Traveling alone was very empowering. I felt very brave going to remote locations and felt like I was taking control of my life in ways I never had before.

Getting feedback from people who have made changes as a result of things they have learned from my experiences is also amazing. My first client will return soon and I am anxious to hear about her experiences.  The Web site and blog have also been very enjoyable. I love writing and connecting with people.

FARM: What was your path like to becoming a vegan?

LIZ: I have been a vegan for about 10 months and was vegetarian for about 12 years before that. While working at the law firm, I was sort of in a bubble, not exposed to as much information as I should have been. So I did not know a lot about factory farming and didn’t understand why consuming dairy was just as bad as eating meat….until I saw an undercover video and saw the abusive practices that dairy supports. Once I saw one video, I started looking for more. I love animals and wanted to be sure I was not doing anything to cause an animal harm. Once I saw the videos, it was a no-brainer and I became a vegan.

Liz makes yet another adorable friend!

FARM: How does your husband, Jaime, feel about your new business venture?

LIZ: He also has a very strong entrepreneurial spirit and has been extremely supportive. I am very blessed, I could not have done a year of research without his support. I value his advice and consider him to be my “co-counsel” on just about everything. Although he was initially a little skeptical about our Thailand trip, it ended up being one of the best experiences of his life as well, and so he definitely sees the value in this work.

FARM: What’s on tap next for Your Time Travels?

LIZ: My creative juices are really flowing lately and I have lots of ideas for new trips, plus creative projects, such as my own line of vegan travel products.

Come see Benjamin in Costa Rica soon! Photo by Liz Longacre

For more information about Liz and Your Time Travels, visit www.yourtimetravels.com. You can also connect with Liz on her blog, www.yourtimetravels.com/blog.  And you can reach her by e-mail at liz@yourtimetravels.com. You can also find YTT on Facebook.


Posted by Cindi at 8:23 pm Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Soothe Your Vegan Soul

Uncategorized 6 Responses »
Dec 012010

From commercials with Paula Deen licking her fingers after eating a piece of cooked pig flesh to loud billboards advertising a double-thick, extra-big, something or another 99 cent sandwich that used to be a sweet, innocent animal, the offensive images are endless and very disturbing for a person who is living a vegan life and is aware of the horrible realities for the animals.

Living a vegan life is incredibly satisfying on many levels. You feel at peace as you eat, drink, clean your house, get dressed, etc. You enjoy the health benefits and can celebrate sparing animals and protecting the planet.

But it’s nearly impossible to drive down the road, turn on the TV, attend a party, or go to a restaurant or grocery store without seeing and/or smelling something that, for you, evokes terrible images of animals needlessly suffering and dying. You might feel angry, sickened, sad, or a confusing combination of these. You might have a great sense of despair or feel intense rage.

These feelings are normal, but their regularity emphasizes the need for practicing compassion for yourself, just as you would do for the animals. Studies show that self-compassion helps to buffer us against negative events. And from a strong base of self-compassion, a person can then cultivate, enhance, and extend it to include and embrace others. Self-compassion will help you to continue forward on your journey …. healthier, stronger, and happier. And we need all the good energy out there that we can get.

Taking Care of Yourself IS Vital.


Below are some suggestions for practicing self-compassion & countering all those negative images. The suggestions are simple & not unfamiliar, but the trick is to REALLY DO SOMETHING – REGULARLY that helps you to REFUEL & that SOOTHES YOUR SOUL.

  • Spend time enjoying positive, upbeat animal-related videos, films, music, etc. Have you seen the Why Must We Eat The Animals? music video or just listened to the song? Maybe there is another song or video clip that lifts your spirit and gives you hope? Download it, play it frequently.
  • Visit an animal sanctuary and spend quality time with the animals, or if you can’t visit in person, check out the MANY online videos & photos of well-loved sanctuary animals. In Ciddy Fonteboa’s recent video from Thanksgiving, you can almost hear Lily the turkey purring! Another option is to read stories about the sanctuary animals, such as in the beautiful book, Ninety-Five: Meeting America’s Farmed Animals In Stories and Photographs. (Published by No Voice Unheard) Or check out an animal sanctuary’s blog, such as Peaceful Prairie’s blog that always has touching new stories & photos of the animals.
  • Create a supportive group of like-minded friends with whom you can openly share your feelings and concerns.
  • Expand your reading & movie selections to include inspirational stories, magazines, books, films, etc., animal-related or not. Another book with several inspirational stories: The Missing Peace: The Hidden Power of Our Kinship with Animals (Authors, Tina Volpe & Judy Carman, plus stories submitted by many other names you will recognize!)
  • Do a Google search about art for animals & explore all the beautiful art being created to raise awareness & help animals. One great example is Neil Young’s animal-focused photography. Our Hen House also has a great Art of the Animal page with all the latest buzz.
  • Golf anyone? Spend time engaged in other activities that give you joy and help you to disconnect, i.e. get that guitar out, do some painting or craft work, play some golf, dance, meditate, cook, go surfing, read something for fun, watch a comedy, LAUGH, or visit a special place that lifts your spirit.

Take the time to practice self-compassion so that you are
better able to extend your compassion to others.

****PLEASE share any helpful ideas or experience you
have that may help others.******

Posted by Cindi at 7:53 pm Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

A Special Toast To Our Friends ~ The Turkeys

Uncategorized 3 Responses »
Nov 252010

“One turkey became my personal protector when I was trying to clean a barn and was continually accosted by a particularly rude and aggressive bird. Each time the aggressor would begin to close in on me, my hero would waddle over and get between me and his barn-mate. It was remarkable, and it happened over and over (turkeys are very persistent). What made this scene even more touching was the fact that these toms suffered from bumble foot, abscesses on the footpads that resemble corns, a common occurrence in domesticated turkeys. Between their grotesquely large breasts and inflamed feet, turkeys walk very awkwardly and with a lot of effort. I was very touched that such an effort was made on my behalf.“

This is an excerpt from an Alternet.org article, Turkeys Are Our Friends, written by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau (founder of Compassionate Cooks).

In the article, she also recalls a particular turkey who enjoyed “hugging” her.

“…a particularly friendly turkey became known for her propensity to hug. As soon as you crouched down, she would run over to you, press her body against yours, and crane her head over your shoulders, clucking all the while. It’s amazing how so generous a hug can be given by something with no arms.”

Opal is a perfect example of a turkey who loves to be loved. Opal narrowly escaped slaughter and is living the peaceful life at Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary in Poolesville, MD.  She very much enjoys being petted. In fact, I (Cindi) watched as she chose to be petted by adoring children and adults instead of eating the special Thanksgiving meal provided for her and the other birds at the sanctuary.

I read an online comment recently where the writer said that although wild turkeys can be clever, domesticated farmed turkeys are stupid.  There definitely are differences between wild and farmed turkeys. Wild turkeys can fly and run fast. Turkeys like Opal can barely walk, in fact many can’t. Wild turkeys are generally brownish, gray, or iridescent green, red, and bronze in color. Domestic turkeys are usually white.

But stupid? The first story above seems to negate that statement. These are birds who can reason and remember. They are even willing to risk their own safety to help another. They are also very affectionate. A turkey may not look, sound, or feel like your family dog or cat, but he or she is just as loving. They will sit comfortably in your lap and even purr when content. People who have adopted turkeys describe scenarios where their turkey sits on the couch with them to watch television. Perhaps the turkeys’ greatest downfalls are also some of their most charming attributes in that they are curious and trusting.

But my favorite adjective used to describe these sentient birds is BRAVE. They endure hideous conditions that would drive most anyone mad, and yet when they have the good fortune to be rescued, they are brave enough to trust again.

So today, on a day when the turkey is traditionally “celebrated” in a cruel fashion, I raise my glass of vegan wine to these brave birds and look forward to a Thanksgiving day where ALL turkeys are respected, honored, fed as dinner GUESTS, and of course, hugged.  Cheers to ALL the animals! ~ Cindi with FARM

Posted by Cindi at 6:00 pm Tagged with: , , , , ,

Feed More People at Thanksgiving & All Year Round

Uncategorized 1 Response »
Nov 242010

If you have ever been to a shelter or other type of Thanksgiving feed-in, you know there are a lot of hungry people in America.  In fact, more than 37 million low-income people face hunger in the U.S. and one out of every eight children under the age of 12 will go to bed hungry.

Yet, a simple solution to hunger continues to be overlooked…….

How many more people could we fit around the proverbial table
(U.S. & globally) if we consumed a vegan diet?

Cow, pigs, chickens, and other farmed animals consume more than 70% of the corn, wheat, oats, and other grains grown in the U.S.  In addition to these grains, 90-95% of soybeans grown in the U.S. are used to feed livestock.  In regard to corn, 99% of corn grown in the U.S. is field corn (not sweet corn that people eat), the majority of which is used for feeding livestock. Instead of feeding people directly, we funnel massive amounts of resources (land, water, fossil fuels, plant products, and fish) into raising animals for food for far fewer people (and often not those who are the hungriest.)

An Acre of Leafy Vegetables produces 15 TIMES MORE PROTEIN Than An Acre Devoted to Meat Production.

Yes, according to an article in Synthesis/Regeneration, 1999, an acre of cereal is estimated to produce 5 times more protein than an acre devoted to meat production; an acre of legumes (such as beans, peas, lentils) 10 times more; and of leafy vegetables, 15 times more.

The land required to produce 1/4 pound of hamburger can
produce 36 pounds of potatoes.

For every acre of land used to grow food for people, there are 14 acres used to grow food for livestock feed. It takes 2,500 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of meat and only 25 gallons to produce 1 pound of wheat. It takes 3 1/4 acres of land to produce food for a meat-eater and 1/6 of an acre to produce food for a vegan. (2006 United Stations Report: Livestock’s Long Shadow)

Around the world, 925 million people are hungry and more than 16,000 children die every day from hunger-related causes. Meanwhile, approximately 2/3 of U.S. grain exports are for feeding livestock, not people. While it would take just 40 million tons of food to remedy extreme cases of world hunger, the farmed animals in Western countries consume more than 540 million tons of food.  Approximately 1.4 billion people around the world could be fed with the grain and soybeans fed to cattle in the U.S. alone.

Beyond feeding more people, eating a plant-based diet will improve health and reduce skyrocketing health care costs.  Studies show that eliminating animal products from the diet helps people to avoid and even reverse chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and cancer.  Animal-based products are laden with saturated fats and cholesterol, not to mention containing residual drugs and deadly pathogens. Plant sources of protein are higher in fiber and a wide variety of other nutrients, as well as lower in fat and calories, and less costly too! The protein in dark green vegetables is also easier for the body to absorb and utilize than is animal-derived protein. More info about plant-based protein from PCRM.

The equation is very simple. Less animal-based foods = fewer hungry people. Help more people go to bed healthy and nourished. Live Vegan.

For lots of resources on how and why to live vegan, visit www.livevegan.org.

Posted by Cindi at 9:56 pm Tagged with: , , , , , , ,

The Meatout Mondays Difference & A Contest

Uncategorized 2 Responses »
Nov 152010

Heard about our Gentle Thanksgiving ~ Meatout Mondays contest?

The Challenge: Register your Gentle Thanksgiving event & see if you can sign up the most people to receive FARM’s Meatout Mondays E-letter.
The Prize: Choose either a discounted registration for the Animal Rights 2011 National Conference OR something from the FARM online store.

What Makes Meatout Mondays Stand Out: With enticing recipes, featured products, health news, and inspirational stories, Meatout Mondays offers its subscribers vital support. The results are reduced consumption of animal-based foods and hopefully eventual transition to a daily, all-vegan lifestyle. FARM’s Meatout Mondays campaign is not alone when it comes to “meat-free day” programs.  However, there are several features that make Meatout Mondays stand out and many great reasons for your Gentle Thanksgiving guests to subscribe.

A Very Important Difference: One thing Meatout Mondays does differently from many other programs is that it promotes 100% all-vegan recipes ALL the time. A common criticism of programs that use the word meat in their title (i.e. meat-free or meatless) is the suggestion that dairy and eggs are not as important to eliminate, and in many cases they still include dairy and eggs in their recipes.

In addition to the numerous health concerns related to dairy and eggs, consuming these products contributes to the lifelong abuse and eventual slaughter of dairy cows and laying chickens, supports the veal industry, and also the deaths of millions of baby male chicks. Meatout Mondays may use the word meat, but the program helps people eliminate ALL animal products from their meals.  No dairy or eggs are ever included.

The Gradual Approach ~ An Ongoing Debate: Another common criticism of meat reduction programs comes from those preferring a 100% “go vegan” NOW approach.  Critics believe that people who don’t eat meat for one day may eat more meat during the rest of the week or that cutting back will only increase their desire for meat.  Some also believe that a gradual reduction program makes people feel “okay” or legitimized in their decision to keep some animal products in their diet. Although this may be true in certain cases, for many people, going vegan all at once is overwhelming, intimidating, and simply not realistic. Changing habits and preferences can take more time for some than for others. The bottom line is to continue saving and sparing more and more animals and FARM never hides its overall mission of promoting a vegan lifestyle and ending the use of animals for food.

Subscriber Feedback: The gradual approach is apparently effective for many people and feedback from Meatout Mondays subscribers continues to be positive. In a recent survey conducted by FARM, respondents were asked to rate how much of a role Meatout Mondays played in their decision to go vegan. On a scale of 1 (least) to 5 (most), 60.4% rated the impact at 3 or above. Since receiving Meatout Mondays, only 2% of survey respondents reported still eating meat everyday, compared with nearly 19% who ate meat daily prior to receiving the E-letter.  Of the respondents, the percentage who switched to a vegan diet since receiving Meatout Mondays (some for less than 6 months) went up 11%.

The recipes and information in Meatout Mondays appeal to everyone ~ wherever they may be on their personal path to eating a healthier and more compassionate diet. Below you’ll find more great reasons to subscribe to Meatout Mondays.

  • The FOOD! ~ Incredible vegan recipes with easy-to-find ingredients. A variety of hearty main dishes, fresh salads, and sinfully delicious desserts. Lots of staff-tested selections!
  • Great Recipe Resources ~ The featured recipe often comes from a vegan blogger, restaurant chef, or other great vegan resource site. The recipe’s creator is credited and you can add them to your vegan resources.
  • Product Info ~ Looking for the right meat substitute or even an animal-friendly skin care product? Check this area for great vegan products ~ new ones and tried & true favorites too.
  • Coupons ~ Vegan businesses want you to try their products and often give us coupons to share.
  • WHY? ~ Our health articles provide you with the latest information about the many benefits to living vegan, plus links to valuable resources.
  • Good Vibes! ~ A big dose of hope, inspiration, and encouragement comes with our weekly section featuring a person, organization, or business and their vegan story.
  • Reader Input ~ we welcome your comments, suggestions, and recipes! Be the next featured vegan food guru!  There are also occasional contests with prizes to win.
  • Just enough ~ lots of newsletters are a bit TOO newsy. You put it aside to read “when you have time.” Meatout Mondays has just enough info, plus colorful photos to get your taste-buds watering! You won’t want to wait until later!

Learn more about the Gentle Thanksgiving contest! Good luck and we look forward to having more people join the Meatout Mondays (and hopefully Every Day) community! Want to see back issues of Meatout Mondays? Visit the archives. For more help transitioning to a vegan lifestyle, visit FARM’s new Web site, www.livevegan.org.

Posted by Cindi at 6:33 pm Tagged with: , , , , ,

More bad eggs, same offenders, where's the justice? ....

Uncategorized 2 Responses »
Nov 092010

Another egg recall…..

Surprising? Not really. The company’s name might be different this time, but the players are the same.

It’s a tangled web that all boils down to repeat violators continuing to operate in “business as usual” mode, continuing to house more chickens and sell more eggs than the mind can imagine, continuing to make lots of money while paying occasional fines like they were for overdue library books, and continuing to endanger the health of millions of people, plus subject millions of sentient beings to miserable and cruel conditions.

The company in the spotlight this time ~ Ohio Fresh Eggs ~ Ohio’s largest egg producer with 12 production facilities in Ohio ~ producing over 5 million eggs PER DAY.  One location alone houses 3 million laying chickens.

288,000 eggs (24,000 dozen) from Ohio Fresh Eggs have been recalled by Cal-Maine Foods who purchased the eggs in October and had them repackaged and distributed to various wholesalers and retailers. Cal-Maine issued the voluntary recall after being notified by the FDA that a routine test done at Ohio Fresh Eggs revealed salmonella.

And yes, it is another company tied to Austin “Jack” DeCoster (of Wright County Egg named in this year’s massive egg recall), his right-hand man John Glessner, and Orland Bethel, the owner of Hillandale Farms (also named in this year’s previous massive recall) and who took the 5th during the recent egg recall congressional hearing.

One might suggest Ohio Fresh Eggs did not have a particularly auspicious start as it took over the previous mega-farm, Buckeye Farms, owned by Anton Pohlmann, also known as “The Chicken Hitler.” Pohlmann’s mega-farm racked up so many violations (including contempt of court for failing to obey terms of lawsuits) over the 20 years he was in business that the state had to create a department to deal with him. But yes, you read that right. He stayed in business for more than 20 years.  Finally, Buckeye Farms was taken over by the state and Pohlmann went home to Germany where he had been banned from ever owning animals due to violations there as well.

Jack DeCoster is the largest investor in Ohio Fresh Eggs. He footed the bill for Orland Bethel and Don Hershey to purchase the farm, allegedly to avoid paying capital gains after selling his Iowa hog farms.  Bethel and Hershey, named as owners, contributed $10,000 each, compared to DeCoster’s $126 million.  Hershey was being repaid for money he put into repairing and rebuilding the facilities and Bethel’s Hillandale Farms would receive shipments of eggs from Ohio Fresh Eggs.

John Glessner, DeCoster’s longtime associate whose own company had multiple violations over several years and who was sentenced to jail time (yet never had to serve any of it) for his part in supplying DeCoster with illegal immigrants, serves as Ohio Fresh Eggs’ director of operations.  In a 2008 Columbus Dispatch article, Hershey notes that Glessner runs the show and that Glessner and DeCoster have all the money in it.

Although Buckeye Farms’ record of violations was horrific, Ohio Fresh Eggs has had their share of problems as well. The state tried to shut them down when learning that DeCoster (named a habitual violator in Iowa) was the primary investor and had conveniently not been named as an owner on any of the permits and filing documents. DeCoster appealed and won.

Since receiving it’s operating permit in 2003, the company has received 57 “warnings” and “notices of deficiency from the state,” some as recent as April 2010, plus numerous complaints from area residents about fly and rodent infestations. In 2004, Mercy for Animals released shocking investigative video and photographs of cruel conditions in their facilities.  Yet, a representative of the Ohio Department of Agriculture said the company is watched closely and problems are quickly brought to their attention. In 2006, 4 million eggs from Ohio Fresh Eggs were barred from sale as they had been stored in a barn at room temperature for a lengthy amount of time. A spokesman for the company said the eggs were not intended for retail sale, but were being considered for sale as animal feed.

Warnings? Notices of deficiency?  What is really done about these problems?  Apparently only one violation required legal action and that involved egg wash water from their facility housing approximately 3 million chickens ending up in a creek. In 2009, for that violation, Ohio Fresh Eggs received 3 years of probation, a $150,000 fine, and was ordered to donate another $150,000 to environmental groups. Probably not that big of a bill to a company making millions annually.

So when will these repeat violators be penalized to the point where it actually makes a difference? What will it take for them to either operate safely or shut down? How many chances do they get and why? Why doesn’t it matter when the health of millions of people, not to mention the lives of millions of sentient chickens are on the line? Why would anyone continue to support these cruel, corruption-plagued, violation-laden animal agribusiness industries?

Stay tuned. With 3 million chickens living on one farm (up to 100,000 in a building) and similar mega-factories for pigs (10,000+ in one building), turkeys (25,000 in one building), and cows (as many as 8,000 dairy cows), the next recall is likely just around the corner.

Posted by Cindi at 2:50 pm Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Forks Over Knives Dishes Out a Powerful Message

Uncategorized 2 Responses »
Nov 072010

A simple solution, yet consistently ignored.

Reverse disease? Cut health care costs by 70-80%?
Could there really be an easy way to do these things?

A compelling new film, Forks Over Knives, has taken on the bold mission of shining a big bright light on the simple truth that eating a plant-based diet and rejecting animal-based and processed foods can forever change our experience of disease. Armed with two world-renowned men of science, Dr. T. Colin Campbell (The China Study) and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, as the film’s primary messengers, the facts are very difficult to ignore.

In addition to following the paths of these two pioneering scientists, the film’s real life case studies are equally powerful and persuasive.  One man, Joey Aucoin, comes to the study with high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. At risk for heart attack and stroke, he was taking nine pills and two injections every day.  Aucoin switched to a plant-based diet and by the end of the study, had reduced his cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar, lost weight, and was able to stop using all nine medications! Even the film’s writer & director, Lee Fulkerson, became one of the case studies and experienced first-hand the power of eating a plant-based diet.  In fact, the film crew’s entire core team, including the music composer, Ramon Balcazar (& his entire family!) were so affected by the film’s information that they switched to a plant-based diet.

“One quarter of what you eat keeps you alive. The other three-quarters keeps your doctor alive.” ~ Forks Over Knives

Nutritional scientist T. Colin Campbell and the Cleveland Clinic’s Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn both grew up on dairy farms with nature’s “perfect food” (for calves, they say).  In their studies and travels, both discovered a relationship between chronic disease and the amount of animal-based protein consumed. The findings of Dr. Campbell’s famous China Study revealed that people who consumed the most animal protein also got the most chronic diseases and those who consumed a plant-based diet were the healthiest and tended to avoid chronic disease. Independently these men began their research paths and together now, they seek to get the truth out to everyone.

Reviews from people who have attended the advanced screenings have been extremely positive, noting that instead of being a science lesson or a dry docu-drama, it is a well-done film with very interesting and easy-to-relate-to life stories.

So what will you choose? To change what’s on the end of your fork or to potentially be on the other end of the knife?

The movie is due to be released in theaters in March 2011. Until then you can watch for an advanced screening in your area and follow Forks Over Knives on Facebook and Twitter. You can also sign up for updates on the film’s Web site.

Posted by Cindi at 11:00 pm Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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