PETA Picture Of The Day

posted by Barna Mink

I can't know what's going through the head of the kid or the ogling guy on the cellphone, but I'm pretty darn sure that neither of them is reflecting on the cruelty inherent in fishing. I think we can say however, that thanks to this campaign San Diego residents now have a heightened awareness for... naked women.

Essays And Thoughts On Proposition 2

posted by Barna Mink

I don't often write about politics or the legal system, because I think that politicians and lawmakers are pretty much a lost cause when it comes to issues surrounding animals. They are the last ones to rely on for help, and they will be the last ones to call for and enact real change.

In this vein, I think that Proposition 2, which Californians will soon vote on, is a lost cause from the outset. It is a textbook example of the brand of confused (and confusing) campaigns animal welfare organizations usually promote, and comes with all associated problems, without a smidgeon of a chance to effect real change.

Recently, Gary Francione and Paul Shapiro of the HSUS both wrote essays on Prop 2. for about.com's animal rights section.

Prof. Francione's essay is opposing the proposition, and sums up my views well. Especially the last paragraph is crucial:

The massive amounts of money that are wasted on campaigns like this should be spent instead on educating the public about veganism and promoting veganism in creative ways. By increasing the number of vegans, we decrease demand for animal products and we help to build a movement that will support the abolition of the property status of animals.

I personally also find the presence of exceptions in Proposition 2 appalling. Among others, it would basically give blanket legal protection to whatever happens at rodeos, and during "agricultural research". Now, which activity on a farm could not be labeled "research"? The penalties would also be ridiculous. Breaking the law would be a misdemeanor, punishable with a fine of up to $1,000. Prop. 2 really is a farce, especially considering how much money and effort goes into promoting it.

The most telling thing about Shapiro's essay in favor of Prop 2., is not what he says, but what he doesn't say. As is the case with every single welfare campaign that has ever been waged, it is not explained how Prop. 2 is a step in the direction of more people rejecting the idea of exploiting animals. Indeed, Prop 2. will only make people feel all cozy about their meat, which now will be "certified more humane". Wait, you mean the calf now could turn around in his cage before he was slaughtered at 4 months of age? That's real progress -- pass the meat plate, please!

Shapiro also goes to lengths to point out how much the animal industry is opposed to the measure, but (conveniently?) remains silent about the tiny detail that the measure is in fact heavily supported by over 80 animal industry groups and corporations. These supporters within the industry would profit from the passing of the measure, because the brand of cruelty they sell (mostly organic or "humane" or small-scale produced animal products) will be more popular once the measure is passed. This is how welfare campaigns actually end up helping the animal exploitation industry, by essentially advising it on how to be more consumer friendly.

And the animal industry is not the only one to profit. HSUS is sure to add a few more millions to its war chest, once this "historical campaign" passes, by the way of donations from their members who feel satisfied that "progress is being made".

The ones to lose, of course, will be the animals who will still be bred and slaughtered by the billions, year by year, because the roots of the injustice done to them go unchallenged.

No Abuse

posted by Barna Mink

More than 1,000 dogs were rescued from a West Virginia kennel over the weekend, prompting a national effort by animal groups to find them new homes.

The Whispering Oaks Kennel in Parkersburg surrendered the dogs, mostly purebred dachshunds, to the Humane Society of the United States after sheriff's deputies searched the facility, the Associated Press reports.

The Humane Society called the rural property a puppy mill where dogs were kept in cages and dilapidated sheds for breeding. The dogs were never let out and rarely handled by humans. Officials said the animals did not appear to have been abused, but noted that it would be impossible for that many animals to be properly cared for.

Ahh.. The animals weren't abused. So then, I guess there will be no charges?

Sharon Roberts, the owner, was not charged with animal neglect but agreed never to operate a dog breeding facility again. She told the Associated Press she was the victim of a "witch hunt'' by animal rights activists.

Thought so. Nice invocation of the "animal rights activist" boogeyman by the operator. Even though the HSUS is about as far away from animal rights as she is herself.

Also:

"These resilient little animals are already beginning to perk up under the care of their temporary guardians at the emergency shelter," Scotlund Haisley, senior director of Emergency Services at the Humane Society, said in a news release. "Thankfully they will soon be taken in by humane organizations around the region, evaluated and put up for adoption."

I actually wouldn't be that optimistic. The HSUS has an infamous stance of supporting euthanasia the killing of animals, so I'm guessing that the "evaluation" Mr. Haisley mentions above will be the end for many of these dogs. "Evaluations" at high-kill shelters as favored by the HSUS ought to be called what they are: selections.

Coming Soon To A Browser Near You

posted by Barna Mink

My vegan pizza is famous, and people who taste it often tell me that it's the best vegan pizza they ever had. I agree with them -- it's the best vegan pizza I ever had, too ;). Despite the hopes of some, I'm quite content with my current career and don't plan on opening a vegan pizza place anytime soon. But I've been thinking and talking about making a how-to video about the pizza making process for quite some time now.

Well, finally Kathleen and I got around to actually shoot the footage for it. The video currently is in post-production, ie. I need to work on cutting it and adding text and music, smoothen any rough edges out, and to write everything up for the accompanying post. I think it will be one or two weeks before everything is done and we can release it. But here's a little teaser which I threw together, both to show off and to test the publishing process.

So.... stay tuned!!!

And depending on the success of this project, we might make how-to videos a regular feature here on SFVegan.

What's A "Vegetarian Idea"?

posted by Barna Mink

Here at Ecorazzi we know how much Ellen loves animals, and even though she isn’t a vegetarian quite yet, she certainly supports vegetarian ideas and we think that’s just great.

That's only fair... Coz, you know, I don't actually vote for gay marriage, but I do support gay marriage ideas[*].

I seriously wonder what keeps Ellen from becoming a vegan, like, this nanosecond. They have their own frickin' personal chef, for crying out loud. She's probably one of those people who "love animals and would love to be a vegan, but just love the taste of an all-beef burger and a milkshake". (Never mind that the best burgers and milkshakes in the Universe are vegan.) I guess I'm just being "too extreme". I should let Ellen "go at her own pace". Well, the extremist in me was just wondering...




[*] Just kidding. I cant vote anyway, at least not anywhere outside the EU.

A Solid Understanding Of Animal Rights

posted by Barna Mink

Learning respect for nature early in life
makes for a well-adjusted adulthood.

[link]

The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance is a national association of sportsmen and sportsmen's organizations protecting the rights of hunters, anglers and trappers in the courts, legislatures, at the ballot, in Congress, and through public education programs.

"Most people simply don't know the HSUS is actually an animal rights organization opposed to any use of animals for the benefit of humans," said USSA president and CEO Bud Pidgeon. "The public deserves to know the hidden agenda behind this is to deceive them."

The Washington DC-based HSUS, raised $100 million dollars according to its 2006 IRS filing. Despite a name tailor-made to animal shelters, HSUS is in fact an animal rights organization. Its main function is to change laws permitting Americans to gain any benefit from animals.

It advocates for restrictions on livestock farmers, bans life-saving medical research performed on animals and opposes zoos, circuses and rodeos. Of course HSUS also opposes hunting.

"Taking advantage of the American people's love for their pets, HSUS is able to deceive donors and the public into believing the organization is in the mainstream of American values," said Pidgeon. "It is this mainstream image that allows HSUS to raise its 100 million dollar budget to take our hunting and fishing rights away."

Wow... listening to him almost makes me like the HSUS!! Too bad he has no clue about either the HSUS or animal rights.

Also:

"Some animal rights groups masquerade as pet shelters, so donating to a local organization gives the contributor the opportunity to determine how their funds will actually be spent," said Pidgeon.

This is certainly true for SFVegan. You may think we're an animal rights / vegan website. But in truth at daytime we masquerade as a shelter for rescued cats. (Only, we don't take donations!)

SFVegan Grades, Aug 19. 2008

posted by Barna Mink

[link]

What can I say? I'm the luckiest girl in the world," DeGeneres says. "She's officially off the market. No one else gets her. And now she'll cook and clean for me."

Both wore Zac Posen -- a backless white and pale pink gown for de Rossi; white pants, a vest and diaphanous shirt for DeGeneres. Self-help guru Wayne Dyer officiated at the ceremony, and the couple celebrated with an all-vegan menu ... well, as much as you can celebrate without the aid of dairy, which, in our opinion, is not much.

Unimaginative.

Grade: C-

RSPCA: "Want To Help Animals? Then Eat Your Veal."

posted by Barna Mink

From where Winston stood it was just possible to read, picked out on its white face in elegant lettering, the three slogans of the Party:

WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

A friend of mine writes in with an article detailing how British animal welfare groups RSPCA and Compassion In World Farming take the obscenity of "animal welfare" to a new level: actively campaigning to get British consumers to eat more veal.

Animal-rights groups have been campaigning to get it off the menu for decades, but now, in an abrupt U-turn, they are clamouring for veal to come back to British dining tables.

The RSPCA and Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) are trying to redeem the meat in the eyes of UK consumers – most of whom now view veal as the ultimate ethical no-no.

"Veal shouldn't be a dirty word," said Rowen West-Henzell, food business manager for CIWF. "There is a process of re-education that needs to occur. British rose veal is something we are happy to endorse." [...]

"Over the next year we will be promoting the consumption of rose veal as a way of dealing with the problem of wasted bull calves," said Ms West- Henzell.

Right! It's simple. Clearly, the only way to deal with the problem of British veal calves is to get the British people to eat them. We can't let those calves go to waste. They will be shot on birth, or even worse, the French will have them. Or even worse, the Germans will. As long as you sissies refuse to eat the calves because of this (like, totally) silly "ethics" thing, the poor babies will be transported to other countries. They will end up on the plate of some foreigner, who will, rest assured, have no qualms whatsoever about eating them. Can you look in the eyes of a newborn calf and honestly say that this is what you want for him? Then please do the right thing: eat him!

Boggles the mind, doesn't it? Yet things like these are perfectly logical conclusions in the world of animal welfare. The RSPCA previously stooped to new lows with their "Freedom Food" campaign, which sounds like something the Ministry of Truth would come up with.

But what if, say, you happen to have a 600 gram slice of a Freedom Cow in your tiny Euro fridge and you don't know what to do with it? Worry no more, my "concerned about animals" friend! The RSPCA is your friendly one stop shop. Not only is it an organization working "for a world in which all humans respect and live in harmony with all other members of the animal kingdom", but it also serves as your source for some of the most delicious beef recipes around. And now, they will do even more for you. Now they will also ensure that your local supermarkets carry all the animal products you might ever need:

Marks & Spencer has this month launched a range of rose-veal steaks, ribs and burgers, with meat provided by bull calves from its existing dairy herd. CIWF and the RSPCA are trying to encourage retailers that don't stock veal – such as Asda, Morrisons and the Co-op – and restaurateurs to follow suit.

"At the moment the UK has a small market for veal, but the more restaurants use it, the more people will eat it, and then farmers will rear the cattle," said Calie Woozley, a spokeswoman for the RSPCA.

"All those terrible pictures of calves being transported in veal crates are firmly etched on people's minds – it is hard to change that. Veal gets lumped in with foie gras as something untouchable, and we need to educate people that this isn't the case – British veal is OK," she added.

And, as American welfare groups like to point to the EU to show how far "advanced" animal welfare is in that part of the world, I think it is only a matter of time until the American groups follow suit and American veal becomes "OK", as well.

PETA's Distorted Prism

posted by Barna Mink

In the mind of the public, PETA is the spokesperson for animal rights. I imagine that for all most people know or care, PETA invented the term "animal rights". This is obviously messed up in more ways than I can count.

So it was refreshing to hear that someone tries to fight back against the image PETA paints of animal advocacy:

A New York author of an influential book on animal rights is suing the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, saying the group has brought disrepute upon her book.

The suit claims that the controversy PETA stirred up will have an ill effect on the reputation of a 1988 book written by the animal rights activist, Marjorie Spiegel, whose work is titled "The Dreaded Comparison: Human and Animal Slavery."

First-time readers of the book will now "be forced to view it through the distorted prism that PETA has created, rather than on its own merits," the civil complaint, which is filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, says.

In an unusual claim, the suit asserts that one effect of PETA's exhibit has been to "degrade and impair public discourse."

"The distorted prism that PETA has created"... I love it.

Rhetoric Of Apology Alive And Well

posted by Barna Mink

In a NY Magazine article Peter Rojas, who is a "vegan web-entrepreneur millionaire" (Gizmodo, Engadget), is being profiled. We learn about him:

Rojas, a former Teany regular who has lived on the Lower East Side for seven years, considers his own veganism a "very personal thing." He tells us, "There’s no way to talk about it without sounding militant," but that doesn’t mean he can’t tell us what he ate this week.

Oh, there's nothing like vegans trashing veganism! Seriously, how can we expect people to not think that veganism is crazy, when even many vegans marginalize their own views? If someone would say to you, "I believe in women's rights, but I won't discuss it, because I don't want to sound militant", would that not make you wonder what this person's point is?

Veganism is not a militant philosophy. It is the application of the principles of nonviolence to an often overlooked area of our lives -- our use of animals. Why is it so hard to come up with a sentence or two to put this into words?