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Wishing everyone a happy, healthy, and especially compassionate, holiday season.
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In this edition...
Featured Video |
 Dramatic baby elephant rescue and reunion |
Health |
| Why do vegetarians live longer? |
| Just one fatty meal can damage arteries, studies say |
| Beans could help control blood pressure, reduce heart risks for diabetes patients |
| Factory farms are the new sweatshops |
| Russians to impose fat tax on meat, dairy, and fast food |
Environment and World Hunger |
| Climate action the only way to end poverty, says World Bank report |
| Report: Growing greenhouse gas emissions due to meat production |
| Sea Shepherd aims to send whalers home empty handed this year |
| Food and climate: Are fundamental changes to agriculture needed? |
Lifestyles and Trends |
| Dalai Lama promotes vegetarianism on first ever World Compassion Day |
| Now it's Bill Thinton: Former U.S. President shows off trim look after switching to vegan diet two years ago |
| Veg experiences: Vegan confessions from a retired soldier, prison guard and macho guy |
| Making vegan a new normal |
| Israel goes vegan |
| Aussies asked to skip meat with three veg every Monday |
Animal Issues and Advocacy |
| They're all Bill and Lou |
| Lack of protection for food animals is appalling |
| Animal sentience: Australian wrens teach their offspring a 'password' before they are hatched |
| Farm animals have become grotesque parodies of their natural selves |
| Australian supermarket move frees 34,000 mother pigs, 350,000 hens in factory farming phase out |
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(Excerpts are included from current news stories. Click on the "Full story" link to read the full article.)
Featured Video 
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Dramatic baby elephant rescue and reunion
Video source: YouTube
A joyful reunion that illustrates the love of all mothers for their young - IFAW affiliate Amboseli Trust for Elephants made the reunion possible.
Watch video... |
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| Health
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Why do vegetarians live longer?
Full story: New York Times
Nearly a decade of extra life - that's what you get when you move away from eating animal foods and toward a plant-based diet. This is really exciting science for anyone seeking healthy longevity (and who isn't?)! According to a recent report on the largest study of vegetarians and vegans to date, those eating plant-based diets appear to have a significantly longer life expectancy. Vegetarians live on average almost eight years longer than the general population, which is similar to the gap between smokers and nonsmokers. This is not surprising, given the reasons most of us are dying. In an online video Uprooting the Leading Causes of Death, Michael Greger, M.D. explores the role a healthy diet can play in preventing, treating, and even reversing the top 15 killers in the United States. Let's take a closer look at what the good doctor has pulled together...
Read more... |
New York Times - October 26
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Just one fatty meal can damage arteries, studies say
Full story: CTV, Canada
 Perhaps there are no exceptions when it comes to indulging in "just one" fatty meal. A single junk food meal is all it takes to damage your arteries, according to two Canadian studies, one by researchers at the Montreal Heart Institute's EPIC Center and another by researchers at the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta. "The message is that completely normal individuals with no risk factors, these things can cause problems in the short term," [a study author said]. "And we should think more about what we put into our bodies."
Read more/Watch video... |
Beans could help control blood pressure, reduce heart risks for diabetes patients
Full story: Huffington Post
Beans really may be a magical fruit -- a new study in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine shows that for Type 2 diabetes patients, the more legumes you eat, the better your glycemic control and the lower your risk of coronary heart disease. "We know from our previous research that foods low on the glycemic index scale are helpful in lowering blood glucose levels," study researcher Dr. David Jenkins, director of the St. Michael's Hospital's Risk Factor Modification Centre, said in a statement. "But this is the first study of its kind to specially look at legumes' effect on cardiovascular risk factors and find they also have a blood pressure lowering effect in diabetic patients." [Study was funded by the industry.]
Read more... |
Huffington Post - October 23
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Factory farms are the new sweatshops
Full story: New Internationalist
If you're interested in global justice, you may be aware that there are strong arguments to adopt a vegetarian or vegan diet - the prime reasons being the environmental impact of eating meat, and world food prices. Another reason, which often gets overlooked, is the appalling treatment of workers by the international meat industry and the effect of this on communities.
Read more... |
New Internationalist - November 20
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Russians to impose fat tax on meat, dairy, and fast food
Full story: Global Meat News
Russian authorities are to consider imposing an additional tax on "unhealthy" meat producers. The tax forms part of a proposal by the National Union of Consumers' Rights Protection to Russia's Ministry of Finance and is aimed at tackling high-fat products, as well as the use of antibiotics in meat production.
Read more... |
Global Meat News - November 21
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| Environment and World Hunger
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Climate action the only way to end poverty, says World Bank report
Full story: Care2
"We will never end poverty if we don't tackle climate change. It is one of the single biggest challenges to social justice today." Those words weren't uttered by a radical environmentalist or crusading climate scientists. Instead, they were spoken by new World Bank President Jim Yong Kim about his agency's latest report Turn Down the Heat. The report highlights the devastating impact of a 7.2 degree global temperature increase, which if current energy and pollution policies persist, is likely by the end of the century.
Read more... |
Report: Growing greenhouse gas emissions due to meat production
Full story: United Nations Environmental Program
Both intensive (industrial) and non-intensive (traditional) forms of meat production result in the release of greenhouse gases (GHGs). As meat supply and consumption increase around the world, more sustainable food systems must be encouraged. The increasing efficiency of industrial agriculture has turned a food that was an occasional meal - meat - into an affordable, every-day product for many. However, the true costs of industrial agriculture, and specifically "cheap meat", have become more and more evident... As changing the eating habits of the world's population will be difficult and slow to achieve, a long campaign must be envisioned, along with incentives to meat producers and consumers to change their production and dietary patterns. "Healthy" eating is not just important for the individual but for the planet as a whole.
Read more... |
United Nations Environmental Program - October
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Sea Shepherd aims to send whalers home empty handed this year
Full story: Care2
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's flagship Steve Irwin sailed out of Williamstown, Australia [November 5] to kick off Operation Zero Tolerance, its ninth campaign to defend whales in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. "This is our strongest fleet to date, with four ships and more than 100 international crew representing 23 nations to defend the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary... we have no tolerance for whale poachers. We are going to try and intercept them as quickly as possible, and try to make this the first year they get zero kills," said Jeff Hansen, Sea Shepherd's Australian Director.
Read more... |
Food and climate: Are fundamental changes to agriculture needed?
Full story: Global Meat News
New analysis from the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) programme has warned that emissions from agriculture are higher than first thought. CCAFS has been examining the role between food production and agriculture, and found that feeding the world produces up to 17,000 megatonnes (mt) of CO2 each year. It says there needs to be some fundamental changes in the way that crops are grown and livestock is produced if the world is to avoid climate disaster. [Interesting source of the this article.]
Read more... |
Global Meat News - November 7
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| Lifestyles and Trends
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Dalai Lama promotes vegetarianism on first ever World Compassion Day
Full story: Hindustan Times
Animal welfare was the topic of discussion and the XIV Dalai Lama propounded the ideals of ahimsa and vegetarianism at the first-ever World Compassion Day. "I was not vegetarian till about five decades ago, but when I saw hens being
abused on an animal farm, I decided to become vegetarian," said the Dalai Lama, at the event organised by Pritish Nandy Communications (PNC), an entertainment company, and the Humane Society International (HSI). [Ecorazzi take.]
Read more... |
Hindustan Times - November 29
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Now it's Bill Thinton: Former U.S. President shows off trim look after switching to vegan diet two years ago
Full story: Daily Mail, UK
He was once known for his love of junk food. But Bill Clinton's efforts to slim down have clearly paid off. The former U.S. President, 66, looked remarkably trim as he left a plush London restaurant on Thursday night. Mr Clinton had been enjoying a dinner with actor Kevin Spacey at the upmarket Scott's seafood restaurant in Mayfair, after giving a speech in the capital. The former president, formerly known for his love of burgers, barbecue and junk food, changed to a strict vegan diet in 2010 after fears over his health.
Read more... |
Daily Mail, UK - November 17
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Veg experiences: Vegan confessions from a retired soldier, prison guard and macho guy
Full story: VegSource
I had been working out and eating well for decades - or so I thought. 6 years ago, at age 60, I got cancer. Well how the heck did I make it to age 66? My wife is a kick butt and take charge woman. She started doing research on diet, cancer, heart attacks and such and of course the China Study showed up. And so did Forks over Knives. Not too longer after, I watch films on animal cruelty that would make you cry. So, we have been vegans for a year. I don't believe diet is the entire story for either heart disease or cancer, but I am 100% sure today that when I was a personal trainer and I was telling others to eat more protein, especially meat, eggs and dairy - I was 100% wrong.
Read more... |
Making vegan a new normal
Full story: New York Times
From power tables in Beverly Hills to pubs in the San Fernando Valley, the surging popularity of plant-based diets is drastically changing the dining landscape. That shift is under way in various cities around the world, but it's happening in an explosive way in and around Los Angeles: at the elite gastronome magnets, at casual gathering spots and everywhere in between. [A fun article.]
Read more... |
New York Times - September 24
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Israel goes vegan
Full story: Tablet Magazine
The latest culinary trend to sweep the land of milk and honey is total abstinence from both. Veganism-refraining from all meat and animal products, including dairy, eggs, and even honey-is taking off in Israel, where few people had even heard of the term a few years ago. As animal-free eating catches on, restaurants, websites, and cooking classes reflect the latest food trend.
Read more... |
Tablet Magazine - November 28
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Aussies asked to skip meat with three veg every Monday
Full story: Northern Star, Australia
On November 26 Australians the length and breadth of the country were urged to hang up the BBQ tongs, put down their steaks and have a Meat Free Monday. That's the aim of the new Australian Meat Free Mondays campaign being fronted by nutritionist Dr Rosemary Stanton, TV chef Janella Purcell and environmentalist Jon Dee. People who have already taken the Meat Free Mondays Australia pledge include Sir Richard Branson, Maggie Beer, sports legend Pat Cash and top TV chef Simon Bryant. The campaign has been launched by the Do Something! charity and the Fry's Family Foundation to educate Australians about the health and environmental benefits of eating less meat.
Read more... |
Northern Star, Australia - November 26
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| Animal Issues and Advocacy
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They're all Bill and Lou
Full story: Care2
The New York Times ran a story about an environmental school, where public emotion has exploded over the fate of two oxen, Bill and Lou, who were previously put to work in the fields as part of the farm's 'sustainability model.' Bill and Lou are now too old to continue pulling the yoke [and] were scheduled to be slaughtered and brought back home as food for the campus. Bill and Lou have won friends around the world [pleading for them to be spared]. It seems that the subject has struck a nerve. But why? Aren't people being a tad hypocritical? It happens every second of every day. Millions of Bills and millions of Lous are sacrificed on the altar of human pleasure. Each one of these animals is just as capable of touching our hearts and capturing our imaginations, and yet each one is needlessly sent to slaughter to fill the demand we generate for their body parts.
Read more... |
Lack of protection for food animals is appalling
Full story: OpEd News
Regrettably, animals that are raised for food have very few laws protecting them from abuse, overcrowding, filth, and neglect, not to mention the complete lack of exercise, access to practice their natural instincts, and void of sunshine, dirt and fresh air. The absence of legal rights for farm animals - as opposed to domestic animals is appalling. The reason for eating animals or their products is becoming less and less of a reasonable argument, especially with the knowledge that there are not any legitimate laws to protect these innocent beings who feel pain both physically and emotionally - from worker abuse, feed abuse, improper caging or neglect.
Read more... |
Animal sentience: Australian wrens teach their offspring a 'password' before they are hatched
Full story: Nature
Mothers usually set about teaching their offspring the moment they're born. But the females of one Australian bird can't wait that long. Superb fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus) mothers sing to their unhatched eggs to teach the embryo inside a 'password' - a single unique note - which the nestlings must later incorporate into their begging calls if they want to get fed.
Read more... |
Farm animals have become grotesque parodies of their natural selves
Full story: Huffington Post
Factory farming is all about maximising profit to produce cheap food - hence the breeding of animals that have become grotesque parodies of their natural selves: malformed mutants, pushed to the limits. This is farming on a vastly cruel scale, the profit motive overwhelming any meaningful consideration of animal welfare.
Read more... |
Huffington Post - November 15
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Australian supermarket move frees 34,000 mother pigs, 350,000 hens in factory farming phase out
Full story: The Age, Australia
Australian supermarket giant Coles announced on October 23 that it is phasing out its factory farming practices a year ahead of its promise. Keeping the pledge means Coles will free 34,000 mother pigs from cramped stalls and 350,000 hens from cages. The announcement is in support of Animals Australia's biggest campaign to end factory farming of pigs and chicken. The group blamed the practice for being the main cause of cruelty to animals. The group's TV ad, which features flying piglets [see last issue of Veggie News], attempts to give animals a say on factory farming and animal cruelty. The group is also campaigning for Australian consumers to stop buying hams and turkeys for the yearend holiday and other processed fresh meat, dairy and poultry products including milk and eggs from farms that confine the animals to small pens and cages most of their lives. Coles' main competitor, Woolworths, said it has gone ahead of the factory farming phase out, and 98 per cent of its fresh pork comes from farmers who operate stall-free farms.
Editor's note: Ocean Robbins in a recent Huffington Post blog calls this one of history's most stunning victories for humane farming, noting that Coles and Woolworths together account for a dominant 80 per cent of all supermarket sales in Australia. He says that in North America too, change is coming; unfortunately it is moving more slowly.
Read more... |
The Age, Australia - October 23
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Blogs/Newsletters/Websites of interest:
Veganism: A Truth Whose Time Has Come - features beautiful, inspiring, thought provoking essays and more from the vegan poet M. "Butterflies" Katz.
Farm Sanctuary Adopt A Turkey Project - for a more compassionate holiday celebration.
Dharma Voices for Animals - bringing awareness to the suffering of animals. DVA wants to be the voice of the animals who cannot speak our language and are unable to ask, “Why are you paying people to do this to me?” or “Why are you supporting my suffering?” The website's founders are a group of very special animal advocates.
NutritionFacts.org - Dr. Greger's fabulous site with hundreds of informative videos on a range of topics has been revamped - check it out.
Cooking With The Vegan Zombie - fun episodes from Chris and Jon who combine their love for the horror film genre, their passion for food, and their dedication to helping animals.
Plus....
VegE-News recipes and tips
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