tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-733898026085364762024-03-05T04:59:27.136-08:00Plant Peace DailyThoughts about Peace....from the personal to the global.... and Peace that extends beyond just humans to include all beings.plantpeacedailyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927224284759063852noreply@blogger.comBlogger104125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73389802608536476.post-4421887186666649982015-08-28T14:40:00.000-07:002015-08-28T14:40:41.193-07:00Would You Knowingly Cause Fear?<style>
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<br />
<a href="https://youtu.be/ido7N5-hmQw"></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWRHcQK3M4Zq32nWZOe8Oz3UtJ0DIbDMsR4ymuG8Rqe6eDgfwzaCkRCSEoIk53T2dhFfQry8pz4pzae_q3_978lPy2lUjGCHi_GWmnN6HVk6UiqSxBtWZUwyHJrMYVrf1Nrpp_oN05_GTY/s1600/Sweet+Pig+and+boy.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWRHcQK3M4Zq32nWZOe8Oz3UtJ0DIbDMsR4ymuG8Rqe6eDgfwzaCkRCSEoIk53T2dhFfQry8pz4pzae_q3_978lPy2lUjGCHi_GWmnN6HVk6UiqSxBtWZUwyHJrMYVrf1Nrpp_oN05_GTY/s400/Sweet+Pig+and+boy.jpeg" width="400" /></a> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I haven’t been inspired to
write lately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doesn’t really make sense
when writing is one of my joys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, one
of the earth’s tiny creatures inspired me today when I was doing the
dishes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a spider hiding behind
our dish sponge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I picked up the
sponge, he ran under an upside down bowl and hid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was peeking out from under the bowl and I
saw he was too frightened to come out while I was staring at him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I moved back and he came out from under the
bowl looking around to make sure the giant threat (me) wasn’t there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I came back to the sink a little later
thinking he was gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started the
dishes again and he ran out from under the dish drainer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was unmistakable that what he was feeling
was fear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not anthropomorphizing
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When a living being runs away from
a threat, it is a desire to live and a fear of being hurt that motivates
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">During the spider incident, I
felt how strong my desire was to not cause fear in another being.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we are working as a voice for other
living beings we often try to get people to examine the suffering their actions
may be supporting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those wanting to
discount the suffering of other beings often argue that we don’t really know if
these beings are suffering or we are told that they were treated “humanely”
before their “one bad day”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">If I did a random sampling
and asked people, “Would you want to cause fear in someone else?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most reasonable humans would answer
“No”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I asked if they would be
willing to cause fear in someone else if they were different physically or
culturally, again a reasonably kind human would answer “No”.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">But, everyday, otherwise
caring humans around the globe are directly or indirectly causing fear in other
individuals because they are different physically and/or culturally.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">In a recently released film
called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Unity </i>there is footage from
France of two steers (?) in a concrete chute about to be slaughtered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t see the actual slaughter in this
footage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What you see is one of them
being forced to move forward and a sliding metal door separating the one
waiting from the one being killed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
one waiting knows what’s coming and begins panicking and trying to escape. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fear in his actions and his eyes is
unmistakable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He tries to pull his
enormous body over the top of the concrete chute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone I have talked to who saw this film
with all of its graphic and violent footage says that the scene with the
frightened steer is the most difficult and heartbreaking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Could it be because they can feel the fear in that animal and relate to
feeling absolutely terror and helplessness? When I first saw this footage I
felt like I was inside that terrified being and I was sick with fear and
sadness.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Here is a link to the 2 minutes of footage: </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWRHcQK3M4Zq32nWZOe8Oz3UtJ0DIbDMsR4ymuG8Rqe6eDgfwzaCkRCSEoIk53T2dhFfQry8pz4pzae_q3_978lPy2lUjGCHi_GWmnN6HVk6UiqSxBtWZUwyHJrMYVrf1Nrpp_oN05_GTY/s1600/Sweet+Pig+and+boy.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<a href="https://youtu.be/ido7N5-hmQw">https://youtu.be/ido7N5-hmQw</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Last week I visited my old
stomping grounds in Maine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
surprised and saddened to learn that many of the folks who were once ethical vegans
are now eating meat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When asked why they
went back to eating meat and other animal products, their answer is about
wanting to eat locally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know some of
these ex-vegans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are caring people who try to do the right thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few of them have worked in animal rights
and education work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some ran
sanctuaries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Somehow the justification
of “eating locally” has over-ridden their knowledge of the issues and their
compassionate choices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">What I know about these folks
is that if I asked them if they would knowingly cause fear in someone else,
they would say “no”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also know that
they, like many people who use the “eating locally” reasoning, will eat meat
and other animal products that are not actually locally sourced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once they open that door to supporting animal
agriculture, I am guessing that they stop questioning the reality of what they
are doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I can guarantee that each of
these ex-vegans would never do anything to knowingly cause fear in another
human, a dog, a cat, a monkey or any being whom they do not think of as
“food”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they saw a cowering dog being
threatened by a human, they would step in to help that dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the same fear in a being who will be
their meal and they choose not to intervene.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And, in fact, they choose to slaughter that being or pay someone else to
slaughter that being.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">So, how do we re-connect
people with their most compassionate empathetic selves?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are not people who are unaware of the
realities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have turned their backs
on the realities and on the fear and violence they are now supporting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know the answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to be able to sit with them and ask
them if they would knowingly cause fear in someone else’s life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">No matter the size of that
someone…from the smallest insect to the largest mammal….we all want to live and
we all feel fear in the face of a threat. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I know that there is no way
to open up someone else’s heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mostly,
what I want, is to understand what makes someone’s perceptions change to the
point of turning away from a choice that was once at their core. Thinking back
on my visit to Maine last week, I wish I had visited with some of the ex-vegans
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wish I had some slow mindful
time with them to ask questions and to understand more of their process and
path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My next visit, I will do
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the mean time, if you know of
someone who was once practicing ethical veganism and is now eating animal
products, can you inquire for me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can
you send me their response?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please do
this in a non-judgmental way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">For every being, large and
small, I want to thank you for helping me gain some insight into this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And to that kitchen sink spider, thank you
for starting my thought process around fear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
plantpeacedailyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927224284759063852noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73389802608536476.post-89179356357046831362014-06-11T09:17:00.000-07:002014-06-11T09:17:05.282-07:00Love ‘Em and Eat ‘Em..... You Can BBQ The “Sweetest Companion in the Whole World”
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOPv7YY9XzhFPqzqCQHxrS2sC7IqjmmOlEST3l5YJZYGwbCuWP5f2DtYLRe1aZagDMFBYXF9FHhoIvFMN7PH8GRWTB34ShOIcDAV5DN7_nQ0n0ZwDUIub79pgZqXC-P_LVACRlWHHhY1Iv/s1600/pig+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOPv7YY9XzhFPqzqCQHxrS2sC7IqjmmOlEST3l5YJZYGwbCuWP5f2DtYLRe1aZagDMFBYXF9FHhoIvFMN7PH8GRWTB34ShOIcDAV5DN7_nQ0n0ZwDUIub79pgZqXC-P_LVACRlWHHhY1Iv/s1600/pig+cover.jpg" height="400" width="297" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">If you haven’t seen the
magazine: Modern Farmer, you have missed out on seeing bright cheeked
thirty-somethings…who care WHERE their food comes FROM, but, apparently, do not
care about WHO their food IS.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Modern Farmer magazine has
been around about a year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here is how
the editor describes their target audience:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“You are thoughtful and conscientious about <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">what</i> you consume, you are looking for the story behind <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">what </i>you eat and drink, you are willing
to pay more for organic food, humanely raised meat and locally made products.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">(I added the italics for
every <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">what</i> that should have been a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">who</i>.)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">You know this
demographic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They want their locally
brewed beer, locally raised meat, dairy and eggs, and they compost and
garden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have such a large
population of these folks here in Santa Fe, that a new enormous butcher shop
and cafe has popped up next to our food co-op.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDFj19GeET7x843MkszeVw-mmtHNu4qlj36nKnuugbmZqTPhwfMvFzUJ87ZIne4dCpXUruIDFkQNAchTmb8ND79bgQXWLkukwLarxd5JpgJpsfhKqL2wUvMt_tLya8PIS8Iv8YqsVaHDii/s1600/The-Real-Butcher-Shop-photo-Steve-Collins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDFj19GeET7x843MkszeVw-mmtHNu4qlj36nKnuugbmZqTPhwfMvFzUJ87ZIne4dCpXUruIDFkQNAchTmb8ND79bgQXWLkukwLarxd5JpgJpsfhKqL2wUvMt_tLya8PIS8Iv8YqsVaHDii/s1600/The-Real-Butcher-Shop-photo-Steve-Collins.jpg" height="193" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">You can probably find Issue
4/Spring 2014 of Modern Farmer at your local natural foods store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cover stories include: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Is Milk Humane?</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Next Pig Thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>There is a photo of
a pig’s face on the cover. Please don’t buy the magazine.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The article <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Next Pig Thing </i>has 7 beautiful
photos of adorable pigs taken in a studio. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The article is divided into 2 categories, just
like the author’s heart and mind are divided:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>PETS is the first category and FOOD is the second.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here is an excerpt from that article:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“You can feel better about eating bacon from a pig who
had the best possible life and death, and second, lovingly farmed pigs provide
some of the sweetest companionship in the world.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I could not have made this
up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is exactly what is written in
the article.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">One pig farmer was quoted as
saying, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“They can wreck 200 acres
overnight, but they are gregarious, chatty, smart, a joy.”</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">And, the article goes on to
say “Pigs raised for bacon are usually slaughtered at around 6 months old, if
you can bear it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are planning to
raise pigs for bacon, be ready for the messy business of slaughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are wanting to sell your meat, or are
feeling squeamish, find a USDA-certified slaughterhouse near you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The article on the dairy
industry is mostly a promotion of “local, organic, sustainable and artisan
dairy products.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no mention, of course, of the fact
that we do not need to consume milk as adults and we certainly should not be
consuming the milk of another species.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is recognition in the article that no matter how small and
supposedly conscious the dairy farm is,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>it is not economically feasible to meet the psychological needs of the
cows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From the article, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the economic reality is that if a calf was
free to suckle on her mother for a few months, as nature intended, the cow
could well be happier and the calf healthier, but most farmers would lose what
little profit there was from their farms. “</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">One farmer in the article
lets his cows stay with their calves for months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The author of the article doubts that this is
economically sustainable and writes the following: “ <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">In between the extreme of Gibson’s animal-centered dairy and larger
high-volume organics, Ronnybrook is a farm that has found a healthy
compromise.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The owner of Ronnybrook farm
says, “Cows are like dogs, if you are nice to them, they are nice to you.” </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Not once in this 7-page
article does anyone mention the fate of the male calves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By choosing adorable pictures of pigs, cows,
sheep and chickens, this magazine perpetuates the myth of the happy farm
animal. The disconnect is obvious and the happy guilt-free consumers are all
too willing to ignore the truth:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any
animal who is used as a commodity in animal agriculture has their most
important needs ignored if those interfere with profit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">We love to romanticize the relationship between a farmer and "their" animals. We love to think that the meal we just ate supported nothing but blissful times on the farm. The popular book Pigs and Papa is a photo journey into the life of Toshiteru Yamaji and the 1200 pigs he loves. Japanese pig farmer Toshiteru does apparently care deeply about the pigs...but that doesn't stop him from sending them off to slaughter at a young age. I am glad he is not my papa. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggvl8Pxhg4ZGEHjXzXmQIKJhC5JseVrdFbCJHSDhOm_2DhM1dcuTHvY5x67ksJaQ54Clh2EGamRTV7w8Wbc-MDhhRLe6IOq00klSY4JwU2q1R2iPszh97vNYVgmLt94opxl-BNb4EpOtp/s1600/Toshiteru+Yamaji+and+pig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggvl8Pxhg4ZGEHjXzXmQIKJhC5JseVrdFbCJHSDhOm_2DhM1dcuTHvY5x67ksJaQ54Clh2EGamRTV7w8Wbc-MDhhRLe6IOq00klSY4JwU2q1R2iPszh97vNYVgmLt94opxl-BNb4EpOtp/s1600/Toshiteru+Yamaji+and+pig.jpg" height="223" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The photos of animals in
Modern Farmer Magazine and in Toshiteru Yamaji's book </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">are some of the most intimate and beautiful I have ever
seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This makes it all the more
disturbing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bottom line is
this:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look in their eyes, love them,
treat them as well as you can without cutting into your profits, and then kill them in
their prime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNqIjydxtLKNOt1_KGe2dk8I5bpyJ6I2uPzNvm9edPdvlC89Jd-hrXQ9HUd-Hc9yVq0Rz1HrkF_gE38QrpEpkR4da2OKP0w2sfKsISPByEfmkHK5rd-T4_vm5jPaEYJiviHu_aaVeOAB6q/s1600/Goat+Modern+Farmer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNqIjydxtLKNOt1_KGe2dk8I5bpyJ6I2uPzNvm9edPdvlC89Jd-hrXQ9HUd-Hc9yVq0Rz1HrkF_gE38QrpEpkR4da2OKP0w2sfKsISPByEfmkHK5rd-T4_vm5jPaEYJiviHu_aaVeOAB6q/s1600/Goat+Modern+Farmer.jpg" height="400" width="295" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Two related articles on my
Happy Cow Blog postings:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.happycow.net/blog/we-send-them-off/"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">http://www.happycow.net/blog/we-send-them-off/</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">http://www.happycow.net/blog/please-kill-me-to-save-my-breed/</span></div>
plantpeacedailyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927224284759063852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73389802608536476.post-15873587907453498242013-04-06T12:46:00.000-07:002013-04-06T12:46:31.521-07:00Answer the Door
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtnWyltN5bFUQlAQFtnugyM44Vmn2kWMHTNM5mhP6At8868rd_Hy9i9jyPTMMW5ohe-BFT121UVdgNzAnY8WPulsDNFzAAdn0OtXgROKiBh76HewEZPvZ_zPlzQdVy2t8QCVS4bgDgJGW/s1600/open+door.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtnWyltN5bFUQlAQFtnugyM44Vmn2kWMHTNM5mhP6At8868rd_Hy9i9jyPTMMW5ohe-BFT121UVdgNzAnY8WPulsDNFzAAdn0OtXgROKiBh76HewEZPvZ_zPlzQdVy2t8QCVS4bgDgJGW/s400/open+door.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Many people who no longer consume dairy products from cows,
still consume dairy from sheep or goat’s milk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Many assume this is a more humane process because they also assume that
it is more small-scale and humane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
picture pastoral scenes of happy sheep grazing on green hills under the
sun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am in the Middle East.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The area where I am staying is famous for it’s sheep’s milk and sheep’s
milk yogurt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was taking a walk today
and saw the same event I see each day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Young boys with sticks guiding the sheep from rocky pasture to rocky
pasture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They whip the sticks at the
sheep to get them to stay together in a flock.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today, I witnessed a mother sheep who had only moments
earlier given birth while they were moving along next to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blood was still coming out of her and her
back legs were soaked with blood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
little boy was ordered to take the little lamb, who could not even stand up
yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He picked up the lamb and started
toward home, dropping the lamb many times along the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While this was going on, the mother was
trying to leave the flock and get to her baby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She cried loudly and the baby cried for her, but the boys whipped her to
keep her from leaving the flock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her
udders were tightly swollen with dripping milk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>While forced to join the flock, she never took her eyes off the lamb,
until the boy and lamb were out of sight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She cried constantly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A man on
the small dirt road translated and told me that the shepherd boys said she
would be with her lamb in an hour when they finished grazing and returned to
the farm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t comforted by
this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted to be relieved, but I
wasn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That hour would be a long hour
for a mother separated from her new born and for this tiny lamb just born,
looking for comfort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Later in the day, I was walking and saw the mother
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was separated from the lamb
by two fenced areas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All night I could
hear the mother crying for the baby and the baby crying for the mother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their voices got weaker and weaker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By 5 am the baby’s voice sounded like a
whisper and the mother’s pain was not only in her voice, but in my heart.</div>
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<br /></div>
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There are times I wonder why I come here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ask myself what the point is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why travel to a place and plant seeds of
compassion in a society that embraces violence as a righteous part of its
heritage?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My answer to myself is that while I am on
earth, I will make every effort to not turn away from an open door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If there is a door, wide open in front of me, inviting me in and beyond
that door is some form of suffering asking to be addresses, why would I not
walk thru that door?</div>
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<br /></div>
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Yesterday, the security cameras on the streets of East
Jerusalem filmed a group of very young boys dragging a medium sized white dog
on a rope and beating the her with sticks as they dragged and kicked her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She tried to hide under a car and they dragged
her out and continued to beat her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An
older boy appeared and grabbed the rope and swung it and the dog was flung over
a concrete wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rest of the saga
for this dog was not caught on camera.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Eyewitnesses reported that the severely wounded dog crawled to a
concrete pipe and hid inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then the
boys stuff material in the end of the pipe and set the pipe on fire to kill the
dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Adults and families walked by and
did nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The door was open and they
chose to look the other way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These doors
open around us all the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What we
witness in our days is presented to us as an opportunity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How we respond is our work while on the
planet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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We are not powerless to make a difference in the world
unless we choose to be powerless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are
all leaders when we choose to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
is no reason to walk by that open door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Turn and face it and walk right in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You have nothing to lose and potentially a full meaningful life to gain.</div>
plantpeacedailyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927224284759063852noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73389802608536476.post-4052051145638346092012-06-07T12:56:00.001-07:002012-06-07T12:56:11.750-07:00The Sun is Cooking Our Meals!I have been "warming up" to our solar cooker. We have had it for years and I just never got friendly with it. Then, this week, with every day in the 90's and 100's, it was time to develop a relationship with that thing. Now I am completely in love! <br />
We have made lentils, brown basmati rice, yukon gold potatoes, sweet potatoes, and more.....today: organic beets that became the food of the gods with very little time in the sun cooker! Why have I waited this long to get the solar cooking bug?<br />
We are moving toward eating more and more raw foods....which were made by the sun in their own way. But, when we get a hankering for something cooked, nothing is better than sun cooking!<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcn_Qh8b8SrXKO4g90YH_0ZmOHny_T6fyfjJoxP3DVqLmWpNlwDfB9HwgkdoSgWsoxkxL0CTik4iOEyvFMWWeEd1_SFTzGCis03dWPQJ9fV1r-qnjsnQfXfbLkJdsB2w7BYfRYsRGODG0/s1600/100_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcn_Qh8b8SrXKO4g90YH_0ZmOHny_T6fyfjJoxP3DVqLmWpNlwDfB9HwgkdoSgWsoxkxL0CTik4iOEyvFMWWeEd1_SFTzGCis03dWPQJ9fV1r-qnjsnQfXfbLkJdsB2w7BYfRYsRGODG0/s320/100_0004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Brown Basmati Cooking in the Sun</div>plantpeacedailyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927224284759063852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73389802608536476.post-86750845531476519262012-06-07T12:42:00.001-07:002012-06-07T12:42:24.463-07:00SOME HOLIDAYS MUST BE 365 DAYS EACH YEAR!<br />
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<div>
<img alt="" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3559" height="400" src="http://www.happycow.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Earth-1024x1024.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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I am not really big on celebrating holidays. The word HOLIDAY comes
from holy day. One of the most sacred holidays for me is Earth Day.
The only change I would make to the date of the celebration is to make
it 365 days of the year. I also love Mother’s Day, but for me it is
also every day of the year and it focuses on non-human and human mothers
who routinely have their young taken away. This callous separation of
close-knit families is always done for greed/profit. Whether it is a
human child sold as a slave to pay a family debt, a calf torn away from
his or her mother so that humans can steal her milk, a young elephant
stolen so he or she can be trained to do unnatural acts for human
entertainment, an adult chimp killed and her baby stolen for invasive
experimentation and a life of imprisonment or a puppy sold by a puppy
mill while still at an age where he should be with his mother….all cause
intense emotional pain for both mother and child.</div>
<div>
.</div>
<div>
Most holidays have completely lost their meaning. Very few people
know that most holidays mean more than an extra day or two off work. We
are trained from early on in our lives that it is OK to have major
inconsistencies in what we say we care about and how we actually choose
to live our lives. When the Be Kind To Animals Week banner is stretched
across the same wall at the school where the hamburgers are listed on
the school lunch menu or we hear “peace on earth” repeatedly for a
holiday that consists of buying a bunch of stuff and eating animals, we
learn that holidays are not about their original intention.</div>
<div>
.</div>
<div>
<img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-3586" height="240" src="http://www.happycow.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/local.jpg" title="local tabling" width="320" /> </div>
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<div>
I
tabled at three large events for Earth Day week. Our table had
outreach material for compassionate environmentally responsible and
healthy food choices. We were the vegan table. Two of the events
included people selling or displaying baby goats, piglets and young
chicks. The food sold at these two events was 95% animal products. The
smell of grilling flesh permeated the air for both full days. One
person came up to our booth and said, “You may have the only booth that
is appropriate for Earthday.” I actually found a few other booths that
sold appropriate items like organic local seedlings and solar cookers
and some trying to preserve wild lands and care for animals. But, for
the most part, the events were just parties and most people attending
were not giving earth-friendly choices much attention.</div>
<div>
My third tabling was at a local college. Most people zoomed by the
table not wanting to know about anything that may change their consumer
habits. One man was wearing a t-shirt that had the word PRIVILEGE with
the red cross-out over it. He was telling his friend that he would
never even consider being vegetarian. I piped in that he may not want
to wear that shirt while saying that. He was very quiet from that point
on.</div>
<div>
.<img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3560" height="360" src="http://www.happycow.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/pig.jpg" width="480" />.</div>
<div>
An older woman came by the table and quietly watched the Farm to
Fridge film I had running continuously throughout the day. This
incredible Mercy for Animals compilation includes a look at the violent
realities of food animal industries. This woman said to me, “We would
never do it this way. This is terrible. We do it the traditional way,
the kind way.” I asked her what the kind way was. “We just shoot them
in the head,” she responded proudly. Then she continued, “They send the
women into the house and then shoot them in the head. It is very
quick.” I asked her, “If it is a kind way, why do they send the women
into the house?” She got a distant look and then just kept repeating,
“This is awful, we do it the kind way….this is awful, we do it the kind
way.” I told her that in my family we decided that the kind way was to
not unnecessarily kill any living being. She grabbed a little literature
and then wandered off, still saying “We do it the kind way, we do it
the kind way.”</div>
<div>
.</div>
<div>
I would love to see Earth Day not only celebrated everyday, but to
see it celebrated with some actual mindfulness about how our personal
choices affect the earth and all her inhabitants. We can all work to
make our local Earth Day celebrations retain some of the integrity they
were meant to have. Go ahead and get your face painted, dance to some
good music, celebrate with friends, and make sure that every booth,
product and message is consistent with caring for the Earth.</div>
<div>
<img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-3561" height="250" src="http://www.happycow.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/face-painting-490x250.jpg" width="490" />.</div>
<div>
.</div>
<div>
Tabling is not my favorite form of outreach, but on my most sacred
of holidays, Earth Day, I am more than willing to give my time and
energy to at least trying to preserve a little bit of the original
intention of the day and be a voice for the voiceless.</div>plantpeacedailyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927224284759063852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73389802608536476.post-3555889450528450732012-05-03T10:32:00.000-07:002012-05-03T10:34:46.306-07:00"We Send Them Off"<div style="color: lime;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ConpwY7vWE7tl1c5mS5hpbDj0wSVoiZfLNZ9DQJZg3GICEBHFngF6C64nAmjHpIGnUdnSaojlFaJVFk5TW7jrD7zVw96gqzpYrtF_7UrQt-4O0UvXaZ4mHFGO-BSInRJa2OUeruwSEwV/s1600/Baby+Goats+at+Sasha.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ConpwY7vWE7tl1c5mS5hpbDj0wSVoiZfLNZ9DQJZg3GICEBHFngF6C64nAmjHpIGnUdnSaojlFaJVFk5TW7jrD7zVw96gqzpYrtF_7UrQt-4O0UvXaZ4mHFGO-BSInRJa2OUeruwSEwV/s320/Baby+Goats+at+Sasha.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rescued goats at Sasha Farm Sanctuary</span></span> </b></div>
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<b>The local food movement folks often think they have a very
different philosophy from the compassionate vegan folks. The reality is that our intentions are
very much the same. We want to do
the right thing.</b></div>
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<b>The problem is that everyone I know who claims to just eat
locally, doesn’t. They often buy
non-local products and eat out at restaurants that use non-local
ingredients. I have also found
that most of the people who are trying so hard to eat locally, haven’t done
their homework about the real affects of their choices. </b></div>
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<b>When judging the carbon footprint of a particular food, it
is important to take into account the water and energy required to produce the
product, not just the transportation of the item. It turns out that transportation is a very small part of the
ecological impact of our food. A
study in the Journal of Environmental Science and Technology found that
switching just two meals a week from meat and dairy products to vegan choices
reduces more greenhouse gasses than buying all local food. </b></div>
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<b>The local food trend is very popular in the USA. As a part of this local food movement,
many people are buying chickens and goats and plopping them in their backyards
to produce their own meat, eggs and dairy. Most of the people doing this do not have a clue how to
really meet all the needs of the animals they are raising. Craigslist here is full of listings
from people who did not know what they were getting into and now have animals
they will give away free to anyone.
</b></div>
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<b>I recently led a compassionate living program at a week-long
camp for teens. I arrived at the
camp just as the program before mine was in full swing. A local woman who has goats in her yard
was letting the campers milk her four goats. I sat in on the session. Many of
the campers would not taste the milk because they saw the source and it grossed
them out. I asked them if they
would drink it if it was in the store in a plastic jug. They all said they probably would. The goat woman was talking about
her spiritual connection with the goats. I asked her if she keeps the goats
pregnant so they will keep producing milk. I wanted the campers to have the
full story of the reality of dairy.
When she shared that she does keep them pregnant, I asked her what
happens if a male kid is born? She
said, “We send them off. We cannot keep them around because they have a strong
smell and it affects the milk.”
When I asked her where she sends them off to, she slid away from the
question. The director of the camp
was also in the session. He said,
“Well, it is all part of the cycle of life, isn’t it? They are learning about the cycle of life..” “Yes,” I replied, “they are learning
about the cycle of life and the cycle of unnecessary premature death.”</b></div>
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<b>Possibly the best part of the local food movement is that
people have a bit more of a connection to where their food comes from. The worst part is that, when animals
are involved, the glossy wholesome image that goes along with it covers up what
it really means for the individual animals and the environment. Mothers and babies torn apart so we can
steal their milk, males sent to slaughter and mothers who are no longer
producing large quantities of milk also sent to slaughter, buying baby chicks
shipped from hatcheries who kill off the males in often barbaric ways, chickens
kept in small boxes in backyards (common in our community), non-local feed
often fed to the animals on farms marketing products as “local”, trucking and
non-local slaughter of many of the animals whose flesh is sold as “local”, and
the use of large quantities of water for each animal (in many areas, water is a
very scarce commodity). </b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4S0Poa76U_dnZwg0y9H3vGFIN1-OstMcKvqMHRkLL4o3ZTD0Bh0nfafY291RhM6BhX-td-9EsnZYNngvLYmRv9KH21aMxlOKqRT_ZVyUbTPYjJf3odA4P7hWlqk8j2Aaua2D5ojneK6J/s1600/dying-male-chicks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4S0Poa76U_dnZwg0y9H3vGFIN1-OstMcKvqMHRkLL4o3ZTD0Bh0nfafY291RhM6BhX-td-9EsnZYNngvLYmRv9KH21aMxlOKqRT_ZVyUbTPYjJf3odA4P7hWlqk8j2Aaua2D5ojneK6J/s320/dying-male-chicks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b> <span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The cost of buying chicks at a hatchery or feed store that gets them from a hatchery-dead and dying male chicks in dumpster behind hatchery.</span></span></b></div>
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<b>I know that death is part of life. I also know that we can make choices that support our own
health, the environment and all beings and thrive on compassionate vegan
choices. We cannot live a life
that does no harm, but we can make choices that cause the least harm. </b></div>
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<b>I am all for eating locally and growing our own food
whenever possible. Imagine the
double positive of choosing local and plant-based foods! So, when you are looking at what to do
with that backyard of yours, plant fruits and veggies. Health, compassion and
environmental responsibility can all be part of your local food plan!</b></div>
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<br /></div>plantpeacedailyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927224284759063852noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73389802608536476.post-10454879713077351112012-01-12T17:15:00.000-08:002012-01-12T17:15:21.945-08:00Blogs Everywhere!<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">I just found out that I can continue to post the blogs I write for Happy Cow here .....after they have been on Happy Cow for a bit. So they will start popping up here again. Coming Next: The Sacred Heart of T. Colin Campbell or Campbell Saves....Repent. Stay tuned for that one.....</span>plantpeacedailyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927224284759063852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73389802608536476.post-26434267155940646472012-01-12T17:12:00.000-08:002012-01-12T17:12:38.552-08:00Bending Toward Justice<h1 class="entry-title" style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</h1><div class="entry-info" style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="entry-cat"></span></span></div><div class="entry-content clearfix" style="color: #38761d;"> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2806" height="475" src="http://www.happycow.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/MLK.jpg" width="600" />(Photo: Public Domain-National Archives)</span></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><em>“The Arc of the Moral Universe Is Long, but It Bends Toward Justice”<br />
</em>― <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/23924.Martin_Luther_King_Jr_" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">Martin Luther King Jr.</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The education process is never ending. We are continuously taking in new information that can change our view of the world. Everything we say, wear and do is letting those around us know what we believe in…and may challenge what they see as the “norm”.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">My friend Carrie is exceptional when it comes to living her values. She is a perfect example of walking your talk. Her carbon footprint is a tiptoe compared to most humans. Her compassion for all beings has no boundaries. Some years ago, Carrie rescued a blind hen. She named her 2Blindy, 2B for short, because this bird is the second blind bird she has shared her life with.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A few weeks ago, it seemed that 2B was on deaths doorstep and Carrie’s world turned upside down. She took time off work and drove 2B around on her lap in a blanket for hours trying to find a veterinarian who could help her.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The love between Carrie and 2B is obvious to anyone who has visited their home. 2B has run of the house, comes when called, eats organic food and most of the time only wants to be held, pet and loved. She is a needy kid and Carrie doesn’t mind meeting her needs. Carrie even fashioned a sling so she could keep 2B close and still get some work done.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2808" height="480" src="http://www.happycow.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Blindy-and-Carrie_2.jpg" width="632" /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">I had the pleasure of chicken sitting for 2B for a few days and was woken up each day at about 6 am by a very demanding bird. There was no discussion. I had no choice. If I were to translate Hen-speak to English, it would have gone like this, “Good morning Rae, please get up and hold me….UM, RAE, CAN YOU HEAR ME? I NEED YOU TO WAKE UP….PLEASE GET UP AND HOLD ME!….GET UP AND HOLD ME RIGHT NOW!” as her escalating demands forced me out of bed. I picked her up and the shouts turned into contented purrs. Sweetness, total sweetness.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">With 2B’s illness, they experienced many veterinary waiting rooms. Now, the loving bond between them, usually only witnessed by those who visit their home, was seen by the staff and everyone at each vet’s offices.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It can take time for people to realize that the living beings whom they think are food, actually have desires, personalities and are deserving of our care and love. Most people do not realize we can have a deep relationship with a chicken. In fact, many people would laugh at the idea. We are used to seeing people caring for a dog, cat, rabbit or ferret in the vet’s office, but Carrie and 2B were living ambassadors for chickens and the love that can exist between a person and their bird companion.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">As Carrie sat crying and holding 2B in one office, a man in the waiting room boomed, “I’m hungry!”. He grabbed one of the bags of dog food on the shelf and then looked right at Carrie and said, “Hmmm, first ingredient, CHICKEN!” Carrie ignored him and continued to focus on 2B. When she came out of the examination room, this man had obviously changed his tune. He held the door for Carrie and 2B and helped them get arranged in the car. These are the little seeds that get planted and change the world.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Human culture has a long way to go in its evolution toward understanding each other and all species. One would hope that a veterinarian would be further along on the spectrum of understanding. But, one vet that Carrie saw said to her, “We could give her antibiotics, but are you going to eat her?” For those of us who have loved and cared for many species, and choose not to eat animals, this comment is the same as saying this to someone who is holding their dog or their human child. It sounds so absurd to be asked if we would eat our closest companion.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We are slowly evolving as we live somewhere on that arc of the moral universe. There will be a day when we will be shocked that we, as humans, could not look in the eyes of a chicken, sheep, cow or pig and see an individual deserving of a life of freedom and choice.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><em>“200 years ago, Americans would have thought you were absurd if you advocated for the end of slavery. 150 years ago, they would have laughed at you for suggesting that women should have the right to vote. 75 years ago, they would have loudly objected to the idea of African Americans receiving equal rights under the law. They laugh at us now for suggesting that animal slavery be ended. Someday they won’t be laughing.” <strong>- <a href="http://thethinkingvegan.com/who-is-the-thinking-vegan/" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">Gary Smith</a></strong></em></span><br />
</div>plantpeacedailyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927224284759063852noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73389802608536476.post-54474686146879111832012-01-12T11:38:00.000-08:002012-01-12T11:38:10.510-08:00To “V” or Not to “V”<h1 class="entry-title" style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.happycow.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/v1-198x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-2733" height="400" src="http://www.happycow.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/v1-198x300.jpg" title="Vegan" width="264" /></a></h1><div class="entry-info" style="color: blue;"><span class="entry-cat"><br />
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</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">There has been a lot of discussion, buzz, arguing about whether or not we should use the word “vegan” or the word “vegetarian” in our outreach and discussions. Some folks say that using the “V” word (vegan) turns people off and we should just say “vegetarian” because it is seen as less “extreme”. While cooking at the meditation center I go to, I was told I could not label things vegan, even if they were vegan, because that word is too “political”.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Last night we had two “couch surfers” stay at our house. Neither one was vegan or vegetarian, but they shared their perspectives. One of our guests said that the only vegans she ever met, before us, ate junk all the time and were very unhealthy. I told her that they certainly did not represent all vegans and in fact were the worst “poster children” for veganism. It only reinforced for me how important it is to be a healthy representative of our community. While I was having the discussion with her, our other guest said she thought it was better to say “plant-based” than vegan. The problem with saying plant-based is that this term only addresses what we eat. Choosing to practice veganism is about so much more than what we eat. As a vegan we use our compassionate yard stick to decide which clothing, cosmetics, household products, entertainment and food we will support as consumers. It goes so far beyond our food choices.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">The discussions around using the V word or not, reminded me of a childhood experience. I grew up in a Jewish family in a very non-Jewish community. In our little community, our family was the poster family for Jews everywhere. The preconceived ideas about Jews that existed in the community before we even arrived there made this a very tough job. Without even meeting us, there were homes, yards and some business who banned us from stepping on their property. I spent many years trying to hide the fact that my family was Jewish. I wanted to enjoy the ease of just being places without the judgments. When people did know that I was from a Jewish family, I felt it was my job to personally dispel all the myths about Jews. This is a big job for a kid. At some point, I decided that my unwillingness to readily admit that I came from a Jewish family only reflected that I had the same judgments as those around me. I was giving in to the myths and prejudices. Everyone wants to be seen as an individual and not be judged based on prejudices and cultural stories. I do not want people to assume they know all about me because I am a woman, over 50, Caucasian, etc. If it is true that most myths are based on the truth of a particular group, then surely there are exceptions to these myths. There are individuals who blow these stereotypes out of the water. Every group is made up of unique individuals.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">If we feel good about our compassionate vegan path, then it is very important to be honest with people about who we are. We vegans come in all shapes, ages, colors, and education and economic levels. Some of us are very healthy and some of us are not. Some of us exercise and eat pure foods and some of us sit on our butts and eat junk. None of that changes the fact that we are all choosing a practice that is alleviating some suffering in the world. Honestly, there are times when I have met people who are vegan, but are, in my opinion, not the best representatives of our community. They might be physically unhealthy or mean-spirited or self-righteous. Because we are such a small percentage of the population, you may be the first vegan or the only vegan that someone meets personally.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">You can think of this as a two-step process. First, think of yourself as the poster child for veganism. If not for yourself, than for the animals who will be saved when people meet you and say “Whatever you are doing, I want to do it!” They meet an energetic, healthy, loving person and want to be part of their community. You can be that invitation. Do all that you can to care for yourself physically, emotionally and spiritually and you will be like a flower to the bees.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2734" height="332" src="http://www.happycow.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/bee.jpg" title="bee" width="500" /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: <a href="http://www.bigstockphoto.com/image-1462796/stock-photo-the-bee-in-flower" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">Zoltán Futó</a> via BigStock</span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Second, be willing to use the “V” word when you feel like you are a positive representative of the community. It may be you who dispels the myths that this person is carrying around. It may be you who opens them up to the possibility that someone practicing veganism can be healthy and loving. Your choice to walk the vegan path is about compassion for all beings, including yourself and all those you connect with in life. Take this job seriously. It is an honor to be chosen for this role. You are the ambassador who is speaking up for all life. So, care for yourself and go out into the world unapologetically, letting your vegan light shine. The animals and the earth and all people will be better off for your efforts and honesty.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2735" height="266" src="http://www.happycow.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/yoga.jpg" title="yoga" width="400" /><strong> </strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><strong>Photo credit: <a href="http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=2719" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">meepoohfoto</a></strong>‘s</span></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Need some encouragement in your practice? Watch these short, inspiring films:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKr4HZ7ukSE </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span> <span style="font-size: large;">AND:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.nonviolenceunited.org/veganvideo.html" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank"><em>http://www.nonviolenceunited.org/veganvideo.html</em></a></span><br />
</div>plantpeacedailyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927224284759063852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73389802608536476.post-16993439552966671852011-12-24T15:47:00.000-08:002011-12-24T15:47:38.237-08:00The Good in Us AllThere are times when my judgments of humans and of the destruction we have caused on the planet are all I can see of our crazy species. When we moved here we heard horror stories about some of the neighbors. Those telling me the horror stories were people who do not speak Spanish have not been able to have a conversation with our many Hispanic neighbors. I took their descriptions to heart and made assumptions about many of our neighbors who have recently moved here from Mexico. <br />
One neighbor has many animals....from goats to dogs to chickens. <br />
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<img alt="http://russ-stickacres.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/dsc_0006-small.jpg" height="214" src="http://russ-stickacres.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/dsc_0006-small.jpg" width="320" /><br />
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One of their dogs adopted us as soon as we got here and hasn't left. Another one of their dogs is a huge white Malamute who has been tied for a few years on a short chain with no shelter and often no water. I called animal control recently and they came out to check on the dog. They gave the family two days to provide water, a longer chain and a shelter. A pitiful A frame made of old plywood appeared in the hole the dog has worn out with his chain over the many days of pacing. Then as I went out skiing yesterday, I noticed that even that pitiful shelter was gone. I was prepared to contact animal control again as I was skiing back toward home. But, what I saw surprised me. They had replaced the A frame shelter with a large strong dog house that is up off the wet ground. I saw a man near the dog house and we talked a bit about skiing and about the dog house. This is not an evil man who keeps goats in a pen and a dog on a chain. This is a really nice guy who is doing what he knows. He had never thought about the dog having needs. Today there is also a big blanket out there for the dog. It was such a good lesson for me in not judging. It is quick and easy to judge someone who does not care for the animals in their care like I would like them to. It is easy to assume that the rumors spoken by other neighbors are true. It takes longer to get to know this person and slowly plant seeds about another way to view and care for all living beings. It takes longer to be friends with him and his family first and then share our ideas. <br />
<br />
When we moved here there were more stories about another neighbor up the hill from us. People who have lived here for years have not ever had a conversation with him because he and his family speak Spanish. I went and talked to this neighbor about crossing his land to get to the public land. He was kind and easy to talk with and gladly gave us permission to cross his land. Now I am looking out my office window at his grandchildren sledding down their steep driveway with their three dogs chasing the sled and climbing back up with the kids. This scene is a far cry from how these neighbors were represented by others when we moved here. OK, these are the same neighbors who throw their trash out the window as they drive along. And, yes, many of our other neighbors do the same. But, culturally this is not taboo for them. These are people who get up in the morning and do their best with what they know. Just like me. Just like you. They have blind spots when it comes to mindful living and so do you and so do I.<br />
<img alt="http://media.nowpublic.net/images//b0/8/b085886e9cbbd309872e0bf2013349e6.jpg" height="239" src="http://media.nowpublic.net/images//b0/8/b085886e9cbbd309872e0bf2013349e6.jpg" width="320" /><br />
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I am reminded of how impossible it is to really know another person or another species if we don't share their language and culture. Somehow, I can easily assume the best about other species. I don't have big judgments about them. I am living here for a reason. I am living surrounded by people who's culture is, in many ways, very different from mine. I want to find that same caring and openness that I have for other species, for these neighbors. Once again surrounded by my teachers.<br />
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<img alt="http://bettinahansen.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/rockyhillsnow05.jpg" height="212" src="http://bettinahansen.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/rockyhillsnow05.jpg" width="320" />plantpeacedailyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927224284759063852noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73389802608536476.post-7529270257225451532011-12-22T20:27:00.000-08:002011-12-22T20:27:44.974-08:00To V or Not to VIt is on the happy cow website.....<br />
I will write some blogs just for this space....but right now my latest two are on Happy Cow.<br />
<a href="http://www.happycow.net/blog/?p=2731">http://www.happycow.net/blog/?p=2731</a><br />
<br />
and a new one is coming as soon as they post it...it is called Bending Toward Justice. <br />
<br />
Happy Solstice and I will see you back here after the new year.....plantpeacedailyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927224284759063852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73389802608536476.post-72656356319982905172011-12-14T11:55:00.000-08:002011-12-14T11:55:13.237-08:00To V or Not to VYou can find this blog on my new posting spot:<br />
http://www.happycow.net/blog/?p=2731<br />
<br />
I will still be posting here, too ....when there is a blog that does not seem perfect for the Happy Cow site.<br />
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Thanks for jumping over to Happy Cow to read the blogs!plantpeacedailyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927224284759063852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73389802608536476.post-40819640904113524672011-11-22T19:17:00.001-08:002011-11-22T19:17:42.569-08:00My Blogs now on Happy CowFor my most recent blog posting go to:<br />
http://www.happycow.net/blog/?p=2671<br />
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Thanks to all my loyal readers....hope you won't mind hopping over to Happy Cow occasionally for viewing. plantpeacedailyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927224284759063852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73389802608536476.post-91084364319173627182011-10-26T11:12:00.000-07:002011-10-26T11:12:02.304-07:00The HUMANS are out there! Stay home for your own safety!<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">Now that we are not on the road, it is easier to look back and appreciate it.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">When you are out there, you get to see all sorts of educational things....I call it "visiting America"....</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;">Billboards like the one for:</span></span></span><br />
<div style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-size: large;">Angry Bull Steakhouse</span></span></div><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;">right next to a hospital billboard:</span></span></span><br />
<div style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-size: large;">We Treat <strike>Men</strike> <b><u>Friend</u></b>s With Prostate Cancer</span></span></div><div style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">(Is it just me, or do you think they work as a team?)</span> </span></span></div><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or.......how about this one... </span></span></span><br />
<div style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus Christ is Lord Travel Center 5 Miles Ahead!</span></span></div><div style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-size: large;">Featuring the Heavenly Hamburger!</span></span></div><div style="color: red;"><br />
</div><div style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><img alt="http://travelswithace.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/roadhometx-006.jpg" src="http://travelswithace.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/roadhometx-006.jpg" /></div><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then a bit further down the road, another billboard:</span></span></span><br />
<div style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-size: large;">Top of Texas, Catholic Superstore!</span></span></div><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;">And somehow we resisted stopping at: </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;">Jesus Christ is Lord, Not a Swearword Travel Center</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"> </span> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"> OK, I can't just pick on Texas....</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;">A sign we saw in Maine</span></span></span><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;">:</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: red;">Benefit BBQ for Cancer! Pork! Hamburgers! Hot Dogs!</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: blue;">("Yes", I thought, "this event <u>will</u> benefit CANCER...but not the cure or prevention!")</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: blue;">You might think this crazy little oxymoron is unusual, but you can find a pig roast for cancer in almost every state!</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<img class="cboxPhoto" height="304" src="http://locallygrownnorthfield.org/wp-content/uploads/wlw/Czechprintmakingexhibitopenswithapigroas_5E4F/IMG_2940.jpg" style="float: none;" width="320" /><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><img alt="http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/276871_130658160315380_277793010_n.jpg" height="152" src="http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/276871_130658160315380_277793010_n.jpg" width="200" /><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: red;"> </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-size: large;">And just in case you didn't know that the cancer fundraisers around the world can be just as insane as in the USA, here is one in Ireland:</span></span></div><div style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"></span><img alt="http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/276817_267871769906050_807461_n.jpg" src="http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/276817_267871769906050_807461_n.jpg" /></div><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"> There are things you only get to experience when you are on the road.....do you really want to miss one of the greatest southern wonders? Jesus appearing in the kudzu? For a small fee, you don't have to miss out.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><img alt="http://travelswithace.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/kudzujesus.jpg" src="http://travelswithace.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/kudzujesus.jpg" /><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span>plantpeacedailyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927224284759063852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73389802608536476.post-13964246291237145192011-10-26T10:15:00.000-07:002011-10-26T10:16:04.747-07:00The Unimaginable<style>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: blue;">If you are someone who is willing to witness all the pain and beauty in the world on a regular basis, you have probably known despair.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: blue;">A few months ago we stopped living full-time on the road in our solar camper and we started working on a house we bought near Santa Fe, New Mexico. Working non-stop on the house has been a labor of LOVE. And we have been physically and emotionally exhausted from the process. Writing has not been an option for me. I was too tired to be inspired. </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: blue;"> </span></b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="color: #ff6600;"> </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="color: #ff6600;"> HOME</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-dqo90r_JptS6tX5DF1wY8Y_rOrCmNWS_NNGI2jbkpD9uQ16te2llF3poVaHD0MIxkJMwocccvrj1Q9wATqmjqarHZ03MnO75D-iiSDZliPQht5bnW5FIGmNbokFF4NNmbl6ZRwty9lH/s1600/100_2443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-dqo90r_JptS6tX5DF1wY8Y_rOrCmNWS_NNGI2jbkpD9uQ16te2llF3poVaHD0MIxkJMwocccvrj1Q9wATqmjqarHZ03MnO75D-iiSDZliPQht5bnW5FIGmNbokFF4NNmbl6ZRwty9lH/s320/100_2443.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: blue;"> </span></b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="color: #ff6600;"> </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: blue;">But now, we are in our home and loving it. It is quiet, solid, peaceful and warm and we are surrounded by incredible day and night skies, a kirgillion birds and snoring neighborhood dogs (all spread out on rugs and furniture around the house). All of the unloved critters in the area found us within a day of us being here. I cleaned and dressed their physical wounds and JC and I continue to put healing love balm on their emotional wounds daily. </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="color: #ff6600;">One of the neighborhood, previously unloved dogs, resting on the sofa.</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWicXIW6UB6lK0x7HQW5JkUGT16uvZYDGtwgBA9kE9AEbk1A79RK1lI7Fg4H4qW9krMZF1AXSlo2LUh_287t15ySy1PDIywfipSt10uMws5xJAshYieE4iAWkrQZiQv6QZDd25zXQtUeP7/s1600/100_2493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWicXIW6UB6lK0x7HQW5JkUGT16uvZYDGtwgBA9kE9AEbk1A79RK1lI7Fg4H4qW9krMZF1AXSlo2LUh_287t15ySy1PDIywfipSt10uMws5xJAshYieE4iAWkrQZiQv6QZDd25zXQtUeP7/s400/100_2493.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: blue;"> </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Seeing the deplorable condition of the dogs and other animals in the area along with doing my usual research for my work.... and, on top of that being exhausted and breathing lots of toxic stuff while working on the house, was making me sink deep into despair.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: blue;">And then, just as unannounced as the despair came, it is gone. Intention is so powerful. I decided yesterday that I would read a few Mary Oliver poems each morning and write down a favorite line. Every time I read her poetry, there is some line that grabs me and gives me exactly what I need. </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Today’s line was perfect: </span><span style="color: #32cc28;"><i>“Keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable”</i></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: blue;">I think much of our despair comes from not being able to imagine a bright outcome when we see the suffering humans are causing in the world. So, for now, I am going to leave some room in my heart for the unimaginable….A world free of needless suffering...a world where the humans care about life on earth and act on that caring. </span></b></span></div>plantpeacedailyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927224284759063852noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73389802608536476.post-429970620219472552011-08-06T12:50:00.000-07:002011-08-06T12:50:40.282-07:00With Liberty and Justic for ALL<img alt="http://images.sodahead.com/polls/000467887/polls_pledge_of_allegiance_in_school_0815_205193_poll_xlarge.jpeg" height="259" src="http://images.sodahead.com/polls/000467887/polls_pledge_of_allegiance_in_school_0815_205193_poll_xlarge.jpeg" width="400" /><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Unless you were a feisty kid who was committed to only doing what you believed in or understood thoroughly, you probably grew up saying the Pledge of Allegiance. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Not many people know that the Pledge of Allegiance has gone through some major changes since it was first written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy (a socialist).</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times;">The first version (1892) read:</span></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times;">“I pledge allegiance to my flag and the republic for which it stands: one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all.”</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times;">The second version read:</span></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times;">"I pledge allegiance to my flag and <b>to</b></span><span style="font-family: Times;"> the republic for which it stands: one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all."</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times;">The third version (1923) read:</span></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times;">"I pledge allegiance to <b>the</b></span><span style="font-family: Times;"> flag <b>of the United States</b></span><span style="font-family: Times;"> and to the republic for which it stands: one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all."</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times;">The fourth version (1924) read:</span></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times;">"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States <b>of America,</b></span><span style="font-family: Times;"> and to the republic for which it stands; one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all."</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times;"><u>The fifth version (1954) read:</u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: Times;"><u>"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation <b>under God,</b></u></span></i><span style="font-family: Times;"><u> indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."</u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times;"><u>Under god wasn’t added until 1954.</u> In a country that claims to separate church and state, this addition does not make sense. But it also doesn't make sense to close all government offices for Christian holidays but not close them for Muslim, Buddhist, Jewish, Hindu or Jain holidays. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times;">The pledge was supposed to be quick and to the point. Bellamy designed it to be recited in 15 seconds. In his initial version he considered using the words equality and fraternity but decided not to because he knew it would not be approved by the state superintendents of education on the committee. <u>They were against equality for women and African Americans.</u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times;"><u> </u></span></span><img alt="http://www.missouri-slave-data.org/GirlsBuncetonBBall.jpg" height="315" src="http://www.missouri-slave-data.org/GirlsBuncetonBBall.jpg" width="400" /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Through all these changes, I can’t help but notice that one part was not messed with: “….with liberty and justice for all.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I am surprised that no one thought to eventually change it to “With liberty and justice for all humans.” ….just to reflect the reality of our laws and social structure. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><img alt="http://www.modernhippiemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/EarthTalkAntibioticResistance-300x186.jpg" height="248" src="http://www.modernhippiemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/EarthTalkAntibioticResistance-300x186.jpg" width="400" /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Just like the golden rule, we somehow conveniently forget to actually pay attention to the literal meaning. In the golden rule, Others means <u>Others</u>…all others. In the Pledge of Allegiance, All means <u>All</u>. The most accurate way to define all is probably <span style="color: purple;">“anyone who would benefit from liberty and justice”. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Let your imagination run with that. Who would benefit from liberty and justice? <span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: purple;">All humans, all species, all life and the earth itself. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: purple;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: purple;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: black;">It is much easier for me to imagine pledging allegiance to the earth and all life than to a piece of fabric with a design on it. So, </span>here is my suggestion for revision number 6 of the Pledge:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times;">“I pledge allegiance to my earth home and all life which it supports. We are but one world, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times;">And just for fun, watch this little you tube ….</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times;"><a href="http://youtu.be/Q2BfqDUPL1I">http://youtube/Q2BfqDUPL1I</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times;"> </span></span><img alt="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfx58aTGDByANNL_UmkvXUElKEjiCTrbBHcJdYlRyDZc7WXkI2RJofwxSeuJrpKeuKzSNDHmF0XhyphenhyphenjSYxYw15U6mYRgibFrDwS12iRE50P3Fvr2LnlO9dKtJQ2vifU7ZbzcVfRIXges0/s1600/earth-day.jpeg" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfx58aTGDByANNL_UmkvXUElKEjiCTrbBHcJdYlRyDZc7WXkI2RJofwxSeuJrpKeuKzSNDHmF0XhyphenhyphenjSYxYw15U6mYRgibFrDwS12iRE50P3Fvr2LnlO9dKtJQ2vifU7ZbzcVfRIXges0/s400/earth-day.jpeg" width="400" /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>plantpeacedailyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927224284759063852noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73389802608536476.post-2148908229422793502011-07-24T08:21:00.000-07:002011-07-24T08:21:52.670-07:00Balance, It’s All About Balance<div class="MsoNormal" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS Bold"; font-size: 16pt;"> </span><img alt="http://yardener.com/yardener_files/image/kale-dwarf-green-curled.jpg" height="400" src="http://yardener.com/yardener_files/image/kale-dwarf-green-curled.jpg" width="400" /></div><style>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS Bold"; font-size: 16pt;">I know how busy everyone is, so let me make this as brief as possible. If you were at our green smoothie demo at Summerfest or you just love throwing a lot of kale in your smoothie, you will want to read this.<span> </span>If you are a woman approaching menopause, going thru menopause or are post menopausal, you will want to read this.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS Bold"; font-size: 16pt;">The following all relate to each other:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS Bold"; font-size: 16pt;">1-The smoothies I make typically contain the equivalent of one full bunch of raw kale.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS Bold"; font-size: 16pt;">2-This year I discovered a creamy delightful unsweetened yogurt made by Whole Soy and was eating it by the case.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS Bold"; font-size: 16pt;">3-This year I discovered the joy of making “massaged” raw kale salads and have been eating a lot of them.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS Bold"; font-size: 16pt;">4-A few months ago I went from my usual complaint “I have way too much energy” to feeling like doing anything was too much effort.<span> </span>My first full blown exhaustion.<span> </span>In addition, my throat felt tight and I sounded like a cigarette smoker.<span> </span>The exhaustion was accompanied by brain fog….forgetting even simple words.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS Bold"; font-size: 16pt;">After lots of research into possible causes, I decided that the symptoms could be thyroid related. 70% of menopausal and post-menopausal women have thyroid issues. My research into hypo-thyroid consistently came up with the same results:<span> </span>Eating way too many raw cruciferous (cabbage family) vegetables (also known as brassica veggies) can be harmful to thyroid function.<span> </span>Eating way too much processed soy can be the same.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS Bold"; font-size: 16pt;">6 days ago I stopped eating processed soy and cut out all the raw cruciferous veggies to see if I felt any different.<span> </span>I continued to make green smoothies but used wild greens, lettuces, parsley, and other raw non brassica greens.<span> </span>Within two days I could feel my energy coming back.<span> </span>By day 5, I was back to my familiar “too much energy” and I no longer sound like a cigarette smoker.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS Bold"; font-size: 16pt;"> </span><img alt="http://www.thyroiddiseasetreatment.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/1311085102-45.jpg" src="http://www.thyroiddiseasetreatment.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/1311085102-45.jpg" /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS Bold"; font-size: 16pt;">I will start including raw kale and some soy back into my diet, but in balanced proportions. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS Bold"; font-size: 16pt;">Let me just be clear.<span> </span>I am not a doctor or registered dietician. And, this is NOT AN ANTI-SOY OR ANTI-RAW GREENS STATEMENT! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS Bold"; font-size: 16pt;">While I am in touch with how my own body is feeling, I do not know a lot about the physiology of a human body.<span> </span>Before this experience, I did not even know exactly what the thyroid did or that it is shaped like a butterfly.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS Bold"; font-size: 16pt;">My conclusion after all my research and my own experience is that soy and raw greens are both healthy foods.<span> </span>Soy is one of the best foods for hormonal balance in menopausal women.<span> </span>Raw and cooked greens are great for healthy nutrients and minerals.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS Bold"; font-size: 16pt;">And, too much of a good thing is….well….too much.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS Bold"; font-size: 16pt;">While nutrition is not my expertise or even my number one passion, I love the idea of healthy energetic vegans going out into the world and making it a more compassionate place for all species.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS Bold"; font-size: 16pt;"> </span><img alt="http://us.cdn2.123rf.com/168nwm/mandygodbehear/mandygodbehear0803/mandygodbehear080300048/2634668-happy-fit-healthy-woman-jumping.jpg" height="302" src="http://us.cdn2.123rf.com/168nwm/mandygodbehear/mandygodbehear0803/mandygodbehear080300048/2634668-happy-fit-healthy-woman-jumping.jpg" width="400" />Here is how I want you to feel....</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS Bold"; font-size: 16pt;">So, eat your raw greens and eat your soy and don’t overdo it!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS Bold"; font-size: 16pt;">Balance, Balance, Balance….It’s all about balance.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS Bold"; font-size: 16pt;">Here is a link to one of the many articles I found about this issue:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS Bold"; font-size: 16pt;"><a href="http://www.advance-health.com/HypoThyroid.html">http://www.advance-health.com/HypoThyroid.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>plantpeacedailyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927224284759063852noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73389802608536476.post-81407791690065499852011-07-16T03:32:00.000-07:002011-07-16T03:32:59.216-07:00Cow Love <img alt="http://www.animalinterrupted.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/dairy-cow.jpg" height="400" src="http://www.animalinterrupted.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/dairy-cow.jpg" width="400" /><br />
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We stopped on a road in New Hampshire and JC napped while Bean and I walked a dirt road. We passed a gate with a large cow pasture. Bean and I stood by the fence and I said quietly to the cows across the pasture, "We are working on it. You won't be milk machines for long if we can help it." And I just stood there feeling a lot of love for these long lashed big eyed beings. They were all looking at us and when I spoke out loud, the leader of the herd came over to see what was up. She sniffed Bean through the fence and then brought her sweet face up to me and licked me. It was what you would expect of a dog. Then the rest of the herd saw that there was something nice going on and hurried over to join us. I had my arms out rubbing their heads and necks and eventually I had a dozen tongues licking my bare arms. Exactly like a pack of affectionate puppies. We love the little cute animals and disregard the older ones who we may not see the beauty in. These cows loved the affection....couldn't get enough of it. Of course. They feel everything that the dog living under your roof feels. Given the opportunity they love affection, play, relating to their favorite friends, feeling comfortable.....Given the opportunity they avoid pain and suffering....like all of us. <br />
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I recently read a story about a cow who gave birth to a stillborn calf. She was weak and in pain after the ordeal. And still, she managed to get up and walk a long distance across miles of fields to find her own mother for comfort. She was found in the distant field with her mother wrapped around her nuzzling her. Their two large bodies like one.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDgyBHJS5CNm07t3sf1ouE4N-txqQUkyC1VadiS9GDXLv_Eq_lBpXyXJLptI4cQoR9gTrtiEFqk04RarDOQh55elm0jE8EdtJDgcsH1qxj9qMyWBwNGfvMTQQI4HV3xyNYJaRA12Ik5HG/s1600/cows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDgyBHJS5CNm07t3sf1ouE4N-txqQUkyC1VadiS9GDXLv_Eq_lBpXyXJLptI4cQoR9gTrtiEFqk04RarDOQh55elm0jE8EdtJDgcsH1qxj9qMyWBwNGfvMTQQI4HV3xyNYJaRA12Ik5HG/s400/cows.jpg" width="397" /></a></div><br />
I have lots of friends and family who still eat dairy. What most of them do not know (or do not want to know) is that dairy involves more prolonged suffering than the meat industry and that in fact dairy cows do end up slaughtered for beef. So they just go through a longer captivity/slave period before being slaughtered. Their babies are stolen from them so that humans can drink the milk. This is just a small part of the suffering these gentle beings go through before being slaughtered. I know that many people do not want to read about or watch the reality of the horrors we inflict on other species. Not wanting to witness the violence is fine....IF you are not contributing to it in your daily choices. For those who have already chosen a path that does not support this kind of cruelty, there is no need to witness the violence. For those who still choose to support animal agriculture, at a minimum, please be willing to witness what you choose to support. If it is too difficult to witness, you may want to consider not supporting it in any way. Next opportunity, stand face to face with a cow. Look her in the eyes. Connect with her. Then do all you can to ensure that her well-being is all you are willing to support.<br />
<img alt="http://www.farmland-thegame.eu/images/animals/Dairy-cows-pict-1.jpg" height="301" src="http://www.farmland-thegame.eu/images/animals/Dairy-cows-pict-1.jpg" width="400" />plantpeacedailyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927224284759063852noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73389802608536476.post-49259830967804451642011-06-24T08:54:00.000-07:002011-06-24T08:54:05.628-07:00Do You Feel Like Giving Up?<style>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span><img alt="http://www.victorpest.com/resource/images/victorpest/Rodent_Library/deer_mouse_babies2.jpg" height="295" src="http://www.victorpest.com/resource/images/victorpest/Rodent_Library/deer_mouse_babies2.jpg" width="400" /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">There are times when even the most caring educator or activist wants to throw in the towel and give up their outreach work.<span> </span>If you want to stay motivated to be a voice for the voiceless in society, just keep your eyes open to what is going on around you.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Trust me: Your despair or hopelessness at seeing/knowing what goes on in the world behind closed doors and gates is nothing compared with the amount of suffering that these beings are experiencing….</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">I wouldn’t say my eyes are really wide open this week, but even so, I have watched bulls being sold at a roadside who were crammed together in a panic as they were being loaded into trailers from three different ranches.<span> </span>I was out running and stopped to witness what was happening.<span> </span>They all turned and looked at me.<span> </span>I felt helpless.<span> </span>What was being done to them was legal and I couldn’t stop it at that moment.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Today I spoke with relatives who found a dead mother mouse in their garage.<span> </span>Soon after, they found the babies who were so tiny they were crawling on the concrete floor to try to get to the mother.<span> </span>These were nursing babies.<span> </span>They put the babies on a shovel and put them in the woods.<span> </span>When I said that these were babies, this relative reminded me that they are mice and not cute like chipmunks and squirrels. I then reminded this relative that even the not-cute babies suffer and need care.</span><img alt="http://www.abc.net.au/creaturefeatures/img/facts/mice_baby.jpg" height="297" src="http://www.abc.net.au/creaturefeatures/img/facts/mice_baby.jpg" width="400" /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">This evening I went past a newspaper on the table and saw the story of the Minnesota Zoo killing a wolf who escaped his enclosure.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span><img alt="http://www.wolfquest.org/images/wolf_raja.jpg" height="400" src="http://www.wolfquest.org/images/wolf_raja.jpg" width="265" /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">There are plenty of incentives and reminders to keep speaking up for all species. Keep your eyes open.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">We have been waging a war on domestic and wild non-humans for most of history.<span> </span>We do not have to.<span> </span>It is not necessary for our survival to keep animals in enclosures, kill them for food, experiment on them, breed them or use them for entertainment.<span> </span>We can choose a whole new path.<span> </span>We can choose a path of caring and compassion for all beings.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">So, when you have those moments where you think your voice doesn’t matter or you are just feeling too sad or hopeless to continue doing outreach, remember who is counting on you.<span> </span>Imagine yourself in their position.<span> </span>You would never want those speaking out for you to give up because the work was too difficult or because they felt too sad thinking about you. <span> </span>Do whatever it takes to keep yourself feeling healthy and strong mentally and physically. Then, take that strength out into the world and plant every seed of compassion you can.<span> </span><span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><img alt="http://strikingattheroots.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/nikkibenoit.jpg" height="396" src="http://strikingattheroots.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/nikkibenoit.jpg" width="400" /></div>plantpeacedailyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927224284759063852noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73389802608536476.post-18610122326297754832011-06-21T14:11:00.000-07:002011-06-21T14:11:01.041-07:00Three Lucky Dogs<div class="MsoNormal" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span><img alt="http://creaturetalk.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/pig-in-livestock-truck.jpg?w=150" height="264" src="http://creaturetalk.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/pig-in-livestock-truck.jpg?w=150" width="400" /> <img alt="http://www.veganoutreach.org/whyvegan/images/PigsinTruckTrailer-1.jpg" height="311" src="http://www.veganoutreach.org/whyvegan/images/PigsinTruckTrailer-1.jpg" width="400" /><img alt="http://creaturetalk.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/pigs-crammed-together.jpg?w=150&h=112" height="298" src="http://creaturetalk.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/pigs-crammed-together.jpg?w=150&h=112" width="400" /></div><style>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">One of the hardest parts of being on the road is seeing the trucks filled with imprisoned animals being transported to slaughter or feedlots.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">We are driving through Michigan right now and it is 95 degrees and humid.<span> </span>I want to complain about the nasty heat and my sticky skin as we travel 4 hours today.<span> </span>I just got a nice cool dunk in Lake Michigan and had a beautiful fresh fruit breakfast.<span> </span>I know exactly how long our trip is and that it ends at a lake where all three of us can swim.<span> </span>I am drinking water the whole way.<span> </span>I have endless choices for making this ride more comfortable.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">A truck packed solidly with pigs passed us.<span> </span>I could see their noses sticking through any hole in the transportation trailer.<span> </span>I watched them panting heavily.<span> </span>I can only imagine the temperature in there with bodies so crowded there is no room for them to move and no air circulation around their skin.<span> </span>The stench must be intense for them.<span> </span>From the location printed on the truck, it looks like they have about 15 hours to go.<span> </span>They don’t know that.<span> </span>They don’t get the bathroom breaks, water breaks, snacks and walks that we get when we travel even just two hours.<span> </span>Their urine and feces covers the floor of the truck and must be hell for their olfactory senses that are many times more sensitive than a dog’s.<span> </span>Given proper space, they will never pee or poo anywhere near where they rest or eat.<span> </span>They are also as smart and sensitive as dogs and have relationships with each other and other species.<span> </span>Anyone who has visited one of the sanctuaries that rescue farmed animals knows that pigs love affection, freedom to roam, a good swim on a hot day and a great meal.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Now I want you to imagine you are a prisoner (as these pigs are) who has committed no crime (as these pigs have not commited any crime).<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">One day, without any notice you are loaded with all the other prisoners into a semi trailer (or slave ship or train car).<span> </span>No one tells you why you are being loaded on the truck or where you are going or how long it will take. You are crammed in so tightly that you can barely move. There are holes on the side of the truck, but you are not near any and you are having a hard time getting any fresh air.<span> </span>You do not know why you are being transported and you do not know when you will arrive at the destination.<span> </span>You hope you will get food and water, but you have no way of knowing that.<span> </span>It is in the 90’s and humid. <span> </span>3 hours into the trip you are feeling tired of standing, but you don’t want to sit down on the floor covered in urine and shit.<span> </span>The heat and the smell make you feel sick.<span> </span>The truck has stopped twice, and the driver has been eating, drinking and using the bathroom, but never even checks in on you and the other prisoners.<span> </span>At 5 hours into the trip you are so exhausted you find that you have slid down to the floor and are covered in urine and shit, both your own and your fellow prisoners.<span> </span>When the driver stops, he parks in the sun and the hot foul odors attracts flies.<span> </span>You are all covered in flies, many of them biting.<span> </span>Everytime the truck stops you pray the doors will open and you will get some air and maybe water and food.<span> </span>But it does not happen until many stops and 15 hours later, when the doors finally open.<span> </span>Many prisoners are too sick or lame to walk out of the trailer, but you and the others are forced down a ramp with electric prods.<span> </span>Some are crawling and dragging their legs to try to escape the pain of the prods. You notice that a few of the prisoners have collapsed and died during the trip.<span> </span>You step over them.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">OK, I will stop there.<span> </span>I won’t take you through the next horrific steps in the death process for animals we call food.<span> </span></span><img alt="http://www.penmarks.com/Images/holocaust2.jpg" height="254" src="http://www.penmarks.com/Images/holocaust2.jpg" width="400" />Human prisoners in trains.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">I would love a video monitor to be installed at every meat and dairy counter in every grocery store.<span> </span>These would show the background reality for the animals who were raised, trucked and slaughtered for these “foods”.<span> </span>(Yes, even dairy cows are slaughtered for meat at a young age.<span> </span>And yes, their young are torn away from them so that humans can have the milk meant for their young.<span> </span>And yes, the male calves are slaughtered immediately or are raised for veal…so don’t give me the “I am a vegetarian and that is enough rap)</span><img alt="http://www.freewebs.com/chickensneedlovetoo/down34.jpg" src="http://www.freewebs.com/chickensneedlovetoo/down34.jpg" /> </div><div class="MsoNormal">Downed veal calf unable to walk at slaughterhouse.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">So, do you think knowing the reality would change people’s choices in the grocery?<span> </span>I know that many people, including me, can view the horrors and then go into denial even a day later.<span> </span>But what if it was right there in front of them as they pick up that package of bacon or chunk of cheese?<span> </span>Are we capable of acting on what we know?<span> </span>Some humans are capable of this, but even some of the best in terms of their values being consistent with their choices are not always consistent and responsible with their spending power.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">We are still cruising down the road.<span> </span>The windows are open.<span> </span>Bean, our dog, has the whole back seat and a dish of tofurky slices cut into little pieces and ice water to go with it.<span> </span>We get out of the truck every hour and run around and find water for her to jump into.<span> </span>There is no foul odor in the truck from her not being able to get out when she needs to pee or poo…..and although she doesn’t know how long we will be driving today, she knows there will be pleasure at the end of it.<span> </span>In one hour we will arrive at the place we will park for the next week or so.<span> </span>When we arrive, we will step out of the truck and race to the clear cool lake only a minute from our parking place.<span> </span>We are so grateful.<span> </span>We are three lucky dogs.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div>plantpeacedailyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927224284759063852noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73389802608536476.post-25482282548217348172011-05-20T11:17:00.000-07:002011-05-20T11:17:46.018-07:00Vegan Tzatziki Heaven<div style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">I have had too many balls in the air to blog lately. But I am never too busy to prepare food and eat !</span></b></div><div style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">This is for all you Tzatziki fans who have had to live without it since you chose the vegan path....Your ship has come in! This is as good as you remember the old dairy version!</span></b></div><div style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">(Tzatziki is traditionally a Greek yogurt and cucumber sauce...this vegan version creates a whole new tradition...compassionate Tzatziki</span>)</b></div><div style="color: blue;"><b></b></div><div style="color: blue;"><b></b></div><div style="color: blue;"><b></b></div><div style="color: blue;"><br />
<b> </b><img alt="http://sweetandsaucy.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/cucumber_salad_w_sour_cream_and_dill_dressing.jpg" src="http://sweetandsaucy.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/cucumber_salad_w_sour_cream_and_dill_dressing.jpg" /></div><div style="color: lime; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Makes about 3 1/2 cups. </b></div><div style="color: lime; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b> Ingredients:</b></div><div style="color: lime; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><br />
-3 cups WHOLE SOY UNSWEETENED Yogurt (DO NOT try to substitute other non-dairy yogurts or any sweetened plain non-dairy yogurt. Only Whole Soy is smooth enough and tasty enough and only unsweetened will work)<br />
-Juice of one lemon (about 3 T)<br />
-1 or 2garlic cloves, minced fine</b></div><div style="color: lime; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>-2 medium cucumbers, seeded and diced (I do not seed or peel mine)<br />
-About 1 T salt for salting cucumbers if you choose to do that step<br />
-2 T finely chopped fresh dill (can substitute mint leaves for a slightly different version)<br />
-Salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste<br />
</b></div><div style="color: lime; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>I am including the traditional Greek steps here and then letting you know when I do it differently. </b></div><div style="color: lime; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: lime; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>You can peel the cucumbers (I don't), then cut in half lengthwise and take a small spoon and scrape out seeds (I use the seeds). Discard seeds. (If you use the small seedless or European cucumbers with few seeds or you like seeds like I do, you can skip that step.) Slice cucumbers, then put in a colander, sprinkle on 1 T salt, and let stand for 30 minutes to draw out water (I don't do this step either :). Drain well and wipe dry with paper towel. <br />
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Greek style: In food processor with steel blade, add cucumbers, garlic, lemon juice, dill, and black pepper. Process until well blended, then stir this mixture into the yogurt. Taste before adding any extra salt, then salt if needed. Place in refrigerator for at least two hours before serving so flavors can blend. (This resting time is very important.)</b> </div><div style="color: lime; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>My version: Just slice or cube the cukes and put all the ingredients together. </b></div><div style="color: lime; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: lime; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Chill.</b></div><b><br style="color: lime; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><br style="color: lime; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><span style="color: lime; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> This will keep for a few days or more in the refrigerator, but you will need to drain off any water and stir each time you use it.</span></b> <b><br />
</b>plantpeacedailyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927224284759063852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73389802608536476.post-90354638634090490962011-04-17T10:07:00.000-07:002011-04-17T13:47:37.476-07:00Dove Inspiration<style>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-zGR3zmBh-3IeXOwOCwTwCRsfeAk41BzHw5GxeW6tWHBuxwLy9D_IpGr6Tv8v2-5gtBxKiALKU9pGYmISnwJBKGnOtOkSw_ggUmY0gz5cdu8D1qXDZH2Hzy_t4zBi5vUMA7I-kSK4UPm/s1600/monkey_dove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-zGR3zmBh-3IeXOwOCwTwCRsfeAk41BzHw5GxeW6tWHBuxwLy9D_IpGr6Tv8v2-5gtBxKiALKU9pGYmISnwJBKGnOtOkSw_ggUmY0gz5cdu8D1qXDZH2Hzy_t4zBi5vUMA7I-kSK4UPm/s320/monkey_dove.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">It all started this morning after my silent meditation. I could hear the doves in the tree above me. I remember bird’s songs by putting English words to what their songs sound like. These doves were saying “I don’t know why”. The doves in Arizona sang “My brother says…” This morning I could also hear the difference in the individual birds. Not every “I don’t know why” was the same. It is so hard to think of another species as individuals. Like any group that we are not familiar with…..another race, another religion, etc. If we group them all together, it is easy to disregard them as a group and needlessly cause them suffering or kill them. It has happened throughout history and continues today. If Jews were seen as individuals rather than a group, the holocaust would not have happened. If Africans had been seen as individuals rather than a group, they would not have been captured and sold into slavery. If cows were seen as individuals, rather than a species that we are allowed to own, they would most likely not become property that we abuse and slaughter for food. </div><div class="MsoNormal">For most people, not all, dogs and cats are our familiars. We see them as distinct individuals and because of this, most people in this country would not eat them.</div><div class="MsoNormal">You can, more often than not, find people who are Dog Lovers and Cow Eaters, Horse Lovers and Pig Eaters, etc. The animal lovers who actually just love the ones whom they have known as individuals or can see as individuals. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9sAFswoKz8bRwzQv7z9D201eVB6Pugt8Hi-xlXk7HCAaFXm1bEkDsNSYPab5T9jaWRoZc0Rn85qDMI7aBU-CRN94hV8ckHtBFvpQ-5QThz1nvB248VCO_FR4ru1_1GwOuLznPCKjGp_1f/s1600/monkey_dog_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9sAFswoKz8bRwzQv7z9D201eVB6Pugt8Hi-xlXk7HCAaFXm1bEkDsNSYPab5T9jaWRoZc0Rn85qDMI7aBU-CRN94hV8ckHtBFvpQ-5QThz1nvB248VCO_FR4ru1_1GwOuLznPCKjGp_1f/s320/monkey_dog_2.jpg" width="224" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We can easily disregard the lives of an entire species because we do not have experience or connection with an individual in that group. And the opposite is also true: If someone has a connected experience with an individual in a group they once disregarded, they can be changed forever. </div><div class="MsoNormal">Think about a group of humans or non-humans that you have strong judgments about….maybe you even hate them. Most likely you do not have a connection with an individual in that group. </div><div class="MsoNormal">What I find surprising is that individual humans from groups that are typically oppressed as a group (because of race, sexual orientation, religion, etc) are often not open to learning about (and acting on) how their daily actions oppress others (especially other species). Many people in typically oppressed groups do not want to hear anything about the well-being of other species we use for food, testing, entertainment, etc. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpp12rF-HOksqok87HlIg0sKsRW2CNQ7vpIx9MjnqtdoUpABUxdLl95GnG1CrbYj_xwGKXt9jEd61j_LslC_f8lAFGohCXntIQDFElUPQ5nNaogjNukKMjFwWuvwG95nWyyACWmlqWKwsi/s1600/girl-feeding-cow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpp12rF-HOksqok87HlIg0sKsRW2CNQ7vpIx9MjnqtdoUpABUxdLl95GnG1CrbYj_xwGKXt9jEd61j_LslC_f8lAFGohCXntIQDFElUPQ5nNaogjNukKMjFwWuvwG95nWyyACWmlqWKwsi/s320/girl-feeding-cow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">I want to be seen as an individual. We all do. I do not want to be grouped together with all women, all humans, all Caucasians, all vegans, all animal rights activists, all environmentalists, all yoga practitioners, all people over 50, all RVers, all Jews, etc. I want to be seen and heard as the unique individual that I am. All beings want this. No one, not one being, wants to be disregarded, violently beaten or killed for no good reason.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Even the tiniest among us fights for his life. Try to swat a fly to demonstrate this for yourself. He will try to escape.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We all seek LIFE. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">How would our lives be different if we looked at a group of birds or cows or sheep or pigs and saw individuals rather than a species? How would our lives be different if we looked at any group of people and saw individuals, rather than the group?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDPK2-4uCS5WdH9pfTbn7JLh_40G3LX4kaCF-gocSASqfXtTFqTpskKjh5NVVM221c1AkzHfQZd31n7ohVrOlZMrxKDnWBAWFpGCR7JMOXQuanHSDQ1wElYJEdbX5z5-wWDmszNJ-2Qsd/s1600/black-and-white-baby-together1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDPK2-4uCS5WdH9pfTbn7JLh_40G3LX4kaCF-gocSASqfXtTFqTpskKjh5NVVM221c1AkzHfQZd31n7ohVrOlZMrxKDnWBAWFpGCR7JMOXQuanHSDQ1wElYJEdbX5z5-wWDmszNJ-2Qsd/s320/black-and-white-baby-together1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>plantpeacedailyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927224284759063852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73389802608536476.post-24640849332996545422011-04-14T10:00:00.000-07:002011-04-14T10:00:30.083-07:00Old Primate Super Healing!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8I-hhJMGPeF-gf5Vbng8pJXNKIBDI7Ccl5fpFQ8mSGIOGWQCdD7z30w0k_8WmmQT8PVENEHpSWyA4_v1WFpiG4D_ITEHrfW5hB50doijYOD7AMtN9tJ6gEWaGYPmPfiJFD_mOJ4ybCWVV/s1600/chimp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8I-hhJMGPeF-gf5Vbng8pJXNKIBDI7Ccl5fpFQ8mSGIOGWQCdD7z30w0k_8WmmQT8PVENEHpSWyA4_v1WFpiG4D_ITEHrfW5hB50doijYOD7AMtN9tJ6gEWaGYPmPfiJFD_mOJ4ybCWVV/s1600/chimp.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
We are Northeast of Payson AZ in the Tonto National Forest. Parked here in a spot for the night that only has the sound of the wind in the trees. We get to an area and clean up any trash left by other folks camping there. Most of what we find is shotgun shells, fast food containers, cigarette packs and beer cans and broken beer bottles. I think humans should have to carry waste bags for each other like we have to do for our dog companions in lots of places. <br />
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Yesterday we hiked into a huge gorge in the Superstitions. It was a no trail bushwacking hike where we mostly followed a creekbed down and had to do some bouldering along the way. The hike was fantastic. Blooming cactus and birds that were mostly unknown to me (both the sounds and the appearance). The familiar little hummingbirds were tooling around and one was especially interested in buzzing us while we were sitting up on a ridge half way down to the base of the gorge. I watched her buzz around us and then go land in a cactus. Finally she landed in the big cholla cactus and stayed there. It was then I noticed that she was sitting on one of those magical little hummingbird nests..... about the size of a golf ball.<br />
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On our hike back up the gorge, we were pawing our way up a huge boulder when JC offered his hand at the end of my climb to pull me up the last bit. I was doing this whole thing in my wet Chaco sandals and one of them slipped on the rock and sent me flying into the boulder with JC still holding my arm. So, with my bloody foot and what I could tell was a torn muscle inside my upper thigh, I hobbled my way back to our camper. I could not lift my leg up enough to walk up the small stairs to the camper or take off my shorts without extreme pain. I said to JC, "This is going to heal really fast because I eat healthy plant-based foods." And lately I have been eating VERY healthy foods. It is all I have been attracted to eating. Mostly organic greens and other veggies and organic fruits and nuts. So yesterday was the big body slam that made me wonder if I would have to cancel my upcoming backpacking trip and day of rock climbing with my New Mexico buddies. When I got back to the camper yesterday, I rubbed arnica into my entire leg and took arnica tablets and Bach Rescue Remedy.<br />
This morning I woke up feeling like someone had slammed me with a baseball bat. But by mid-morning today I was able to lift my leg about 6 inches higher than the day before and went on a hike. And by this evening I was able to do the camper stairs! I can feel this thing healing like time lapse photography! Even the bloody gash across my toe is almost totally healed.<br />
So I wonder.....is it the healthy food? meditating twice a day? Yoga every other day? Or is it my attitude that assumed I was going to heal really fast? All I know is this: I am incredibly grateful to be 55 years old (old for a primate), slamming into a boulder with all my weight and to be hiking the next day.</span>plantpeacedailyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927224284759063852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73389802608536476.post-80408692100547543952011-04-12T18:13:00.000-07:002011-04-12T18:13:54.798-07:00RVegans Stole My Blog Time!OK, it isn't just the RVegans Facebook page that is taking my time....But, who can blame me for wanting to hike and meditate and do yoga in the mountains rather than look at a computer screen? <br />
You can see some beautiful photos of where we are (a blooming desert next to the mountains) if you go to: <br />
http://www.facebook.com/reqs.php#!/pages/RVegans/196082600431252<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizZNWORtv7YJUA4CqOB6LsULvWA5qZYY8eQU2Xh-jcUrLeeAZ9JUJRMRilvu-PV4bFYXCT7aSd_gFKRVHlCsPM5NS5zN5EQ2ZEqrcqkeqi7KEm-nwKhUOwXW9bQS7VAU2vD42wX9_2WGnk/s1600/needleview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizZNWORtv7YJUA4CqOB6LsULvWA5qZYY8eQU2Xh-jcUrLeeAZ9JUJRMRilvu-PV4bFYXCT7aSd_gFKRVHlCsPM5NS5zN5EQ2ZEqrcqkeqi7KEm-nwKhUOwXW9bQS7VAU2vD42wX9_2WGnk/s400/needleview.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>plantpeacedailyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927224284759063852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73389802608536476.post-81282732858396841262011-04-04T17:17:00.000-07:002011-04-04T17:17:28.514-07:00This Flag is My Flag, This Flag is Your Flag<div style="color: #674ea7;"><style>
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</style> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsju6czcGEgHAQDswpwFWQ-AlEMr3Rv_0kJTNAoAfU2uHoyIBPTe79rd570_8MBq2GLJYOx7KqQ4TmLvpmEW7dEk07-LFlWtm7KO2SWXgbqIadLLozQWsTdLM31mkWXPeLB4FOg3Rf99cg/s1600/100_1972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsju6czcGEgHAQDswpwFWQ-AlEMr3Rv_0kJTNAoAfU2uHoyIBPTe79rd570_8MBq2GLJYOx7KqQ4TmLvpmEW7dEk07-LFlWtm7KO2SWXgbqIadLLozQWsTdLM31mkWXPeLB4FOg3Rf99cg/s320/100_1972.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">I figure it this way:<span> </span>All suffering comes from stories.<span> </span>There is not one stressful or painful incident that does not have at least one believed story behind it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">I learned much of this theory from Byron Katie (<a href="http://www.thework.com/index.php">http://www.thework.com/index.php</a>) years ago and the tools she taught me continue to help me let go of fear and stress.<span> </span>They also help me in being more honest with myself and others.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">We are still in our solar rv spot in Arizona.<span> </span>As I have said before, this place is a very diverse mix of lifestyles.<span> </span>Luckily it is mostly a live and let live place.<span> </span>And, luckily, we are not parked right next to each other…..we have lots of elbow room and thousands of acres of mountain/desert.<span> </span>People fly American flags or Canadian flags at their camper.<span> </span>We fly an Earth flag.<span> </span>I never thought of a flag as being offensive.<span> </span>Certainly not one that represents our HOME (Earth).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Last week one of the folks here was telling me about a couple who were here a few years ago who had a Peace flag flying at their place.<span> </span>Some people complained about the Peace flag and wanted them to take it down.<span> </span>It didn’t happen.<span> </span>I never thought of a Peace sign or Peace flag as being offensive. The Peace flag couple had drumming circles every evening and most of the people here loved those circles and would happily attend them.<span> </span>(Must have been the people who weren’t offended by the Peace flag.)<span> </span>I could not imagine any of the people I know here (or anywhere) complaining about a Peace flag.<span> </span> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsf_MDnZGZUV2X7Mezw3ByS26gtOlD5VNMAhokhIlPekKnsWSqSITBDrJcAn44OWZRX8wmWLwoqnxVicybverQoTi_aa3CFu7r0e99cjvgp3uOTeKH69OD4xEqgmJujfsOjkJBfbHbbU-4/s1600/peace_sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsf_MDnZGZUV2X7Mezw3ByS26gtOlD5VNMAhokhIlPekKnsWSqSITBDrJcAn44OWZRX8wmWLwoqnxVicybverQoTi_aa3CFu7r0e99cjvgp3uOTeKH69OD4xEqgmJujfsOjkJBfbHbbU-4/s1600/peace_sign.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">When I told one woman here that I used to be quite a little hippie, she told me to never say that.<span> </span>I asked her why.<span> </span>She said, “A hippie is a very bad thing, Rae.<span> </span>A very bad thing.<span> </span>Just say you are an earthy person.”<span> </span>I never did quite get the reasoning behind it all.<span> </span>I do know that people are afraid of certain labels.<span> </span>I was doing a program at a church and I was carrying my stainless steel water bottle.<span> </span>A man started going off at me…accusing me of being an “environmentalist”.<span> </span>I said, “Aren’t you an environmentalist?”<span> </span>“No!” he shouted.<span> </span>I then asked him if he cared about living in a clean environment.<span> </span>He answered “yes”.<span> </span>“Well”, I said calmly, “in my definition, that would make you an environmentalist, too.”<span> </span>He walked out of the program.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">A few days after I heard about the Peace flag incident here, I asked some folks I was hanging out with if it was true.<span> </span>Turns out it is not only true, but some people don’t even think that the Canadians here should be flying their flags.<span> </span>Then everyone started talking about all these flag rules that I had never heard of:<span> </span>“Never fly any flag higher than the American flag.<span> </span>That is disrespectful.”<span> </span>“If you fly a state flag you never fly it higher than the American flag.”<span> </span>“When you are in the USA, you should never fly a flag from another country.”<span> </span>Everyone had rules they knew about the American flag.<span> </span>I asked the most vocal person what that meant to him when he said it was disrespectful.<span> </span>“Rae, you have obviously never been in the military”, was his reply.<span> </span>It is true, I have never been in the military.<span> </span>That is no accident.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi15iyIwppjXxFvZvv-LGHXfL2qram54mvnXPmMnLu5neyw75SZEEZf_AKyLMFV3jZMsqd_pk6kSPQqqFPlWQDZP4zPqdJyz8YeZxZn8GUP_c4ixonC77QrfSWXCjzsZLDiBQ6EtCnyiO2I/s1600/US_Canada_Flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi15iyIwppjXxFvZvv-LGHXfL2qram54mvnXPmMnLu5neyw75SZEEZf_AKyLMFV3jZMsqd_pk6kSPQqqFPlWQDZP4zPqdJyz8YeZxZn8GUP_c4ixonC77QrfSWXCjzsZLDiBQ6EtCnyiO2I/s320/US_Canada_Flag.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">What I found interesting is that the same person who was the most adamant about respecting the flag eats living beings everyday.<span> </span>Reminds me of Gary Yourofsky’s (<a href="http://www.adaptt.org/bio.html">http://www.adaptt.org/bio.html</a>) talk where he says that if he burned a flag or a bible people would want to have him arrested…but if he burns up a pig or a goat, people will go get some beer and be ready to party.<span> </span>Cloth and paper and ink compared to a living being.<span> </span>Stories.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5DCLf6f-t7KQTBOOah7lYnkst-MJP4O93szc4UUP4PYkWtZm3y2sRmlP7wzBntW4TUl2DyEFy25K5BeZaxkKGsK6ST-AfkZLoSniVKyKhZjyTEJ0w7bu4VuNZYuvyFAHfB6nYIDrDLdNM/s1600/Cute+Piglet_jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5DCLf6f-t7KQTBOOah7lYnkst-MJP4O93szc4UUP4PYkWtZm3y2sRmlP7wzBntW4TUl2DyEFy25K5BeZaxkKGsK6ST-AfkZLoSniVKyKhZjyTEJ0w7bu4VuNZYuvyFAHfB6nYIDrDLdNM/s320/Cute+Piglet_jpg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yIGFxvk5-psdR-GqexJ3bKT9bsHYXHuLiIgaLIRLWlIWFF3z42_bNeao5_-TLWsAFQOzJOWWszw8npLl-TZRbxTcWrlYQqGnsQMsFjq_XK9Qs6k-e_W2AcVgIbpRe4OpTQZRzOhmDv6-/s1600/open-bible-on-american-flag-thumb5059247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yIGFxvk5-psdR-GqexJ3bKT9bsHYXHuLiIgaLIRLWlIWFF3z42_bNeao5_-TLWsAFQOzJOWWszw8npLl-TZRbxTcWrlYQqGnsQMsFjq_XK9Qs6k-e_W2AcVgIbpRe4OpTQZRzOhmDv6-/s1600/open-bible-on-american-flag-thumb5059247.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">We all have so many stories about how things should be or shouldn’t be.<span> </span>My story that people should not abuse or needlessly kill living beings can often cause me incredible suffering and stress because I think the world should be kinder than it is..not everyone believes my kindness story.<span> </span>The story that flags should be respected seems to cause people suffering because not everyone shares their story.<span> </span>The story that living beings are food causes suffering to the living beings who are raised/trucked/killed and the earth and the people who consume these products that cause disease.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some of the stories do not cause much suffering. My story that eating lots of organic fruits and veggies is the best path for me, does not cause me any suffering.<span> </span>I feel great physically and emotionally.<span> </span>But even this seemingly harmless story could cause suffering.<span> </span>In fact, in the past, it caused great stress to my family members and friends who wished I would just “eat normal”.<span> </span>Combine my vegan story with their story that eating “normal” meant eating the products from captive or dead living beings and there was a whole lot of suffering going on.<span> </span>Or, just my story alone could cause suffering or stress.<span> </span>What if I think that I must eat organic vegan food and I am in a place where none is available and I am hungry?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOv4it2Bf7Ng_aBnktcObsSuhpZSEVd8Z0hbRXH1TzFfLTVmcyYi8p9fc8I00PeYwfNOOwr0kI2aQw2RdeN00NkMtVDM9boDXrNuIlO9FWx6TeS6PhJ2d2oE7tv3nhSH_IeW6qKE60ojBz/s1600/basket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOv4it2Bf7Ng_aBnktcObsSuhpZSEVd8Z0hbRXH1TzFfLTVmcyYi8p9fc8I00PeYwfNOOwr0kI2aQw2RdeN00NkMtVDM9boDXrNuIlO9FWx6TeS6PhJ2d2oE7tv3nhSH_IeW6qKE60ojBz/s400/basket.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>My "wierd" food...why can't I just eat normal?</i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">I knew a woman in the Midwest who insisted that her children never consume ANYTHING but organic food.<span> </span>She was stressed every time her kids went somewhere without her.<span> </span>She could not control what other people fed her children.<span> </span>She stormed into my house one time and screamed at me for quite a while….accusing me of feeding her children non-organic wholewheat pasta.<span> </span>She was in the midst of shouting that she could not trust me anymore when I silently went to the kitchen, took the package out of the trash and showed her it was indeed organic pasta.<span> </span>About 4 years after that incident, this woman died of cancer.<span> </span>I cannot prove my theory on this, but I would say that stress was part of her health issues.<span> </span>She left behind three great kids and a sweet husband.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">If I observe my mind through the course of a day, I can identify story after story.<span> </span>Some of the stories are pretty harmless.<span> </span>Some of them are strong judgments about me or others.<span> </span>When I let go of these stories I can feel myself breath deeper.<span> </span>I can feel the absolute freedom of not being in what can often feel like a prison of stories.<span> </span>If you let go of your stories, not everyone around you will be happy with you.<span> </span>That is their stories to deal with.<span> </span>It is none of your business.<span> </span>You are being true to yourself.<span> </span>They are being true to their stories.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Can you go through this blog and pick out all the stories that cause suffering or stress?<span> </span>There are so many.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">I even get to let go of the story that people should not have stories!<span> </span>Because the reality is, we all do.<span> </span>Examining the stories is a lifelong process.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Byron Katie often asks, “Who would you be without your story?”<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Who would you be?<span> </span>Who would I be?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2vkWQlC8SgCWr0G_6PAF_kzIjlCyrzGJEmcnr0SzlFbaYvCOAY92kxSI59mgWpBnhNBl6ghxlOJ-b9V_sFcAAesaEOE6kJtdr1dNWRcO-yQSUXU8V_QT55Q6cGVSxW4SGzJ-ntjtr1JM/s1600/cow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2vkWQlC8SgCWr0G_6PAF_kzIjlCyrzGJEmcnr0SzlFbaYvCOAY92kxSI59mgWpBnhNBl6ghxlOJ-b9V_sFcAAesaEOE6kJtdr1dNWRcO-yQSUXU8V_QT55Q6cGVSxW4SGzJ-ntjtr1JM/s320/cow.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"> <i><span style="font-size: small;">"What is your story about me?"</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><br />
</div>plantpeacedailyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07927224284759063852noreply@blogger.com2