The Benefits of Avoiding Consumption of Cows and Pigs
August 7, 2012 by The Dove · Leave a Comment
Raw? Vegan? Vegetarian? Lacto-Ovo? Pescatarian? Mediterranean? There have been so many diets promoted in natural health circles in America over the last decades. It seems they all have various benefits. And the one thing most have in common is the avoidance of consuming of cows and pigs.
Red meat and pork have no known health benefits. The animals are treated brutally and killed in a gruesome bloodbath that is easy to ignore because so few have witnessed our fellow mammals’ slaughter. Those who are employed to do the dirty work get very low wages and often incur injuries because of the size and weight of the animals and the speed of the work. It is very difficult to watch. Even when Cargill, one of the largest meat processing companies in the nation, allowed Oprah Winfrey into a couple of sanitized areas of a processing plant, they did not allow her cameras to film a cow being killed. Out of sight means out of mind.
We are very fortunate that there are so many other things to eat! This meat can feel energizing because of all the adrenaline in the animal when it is killed, and there is iron in blood and flesh, but there is also iron in spinach, dried fruit, and lentils. There is a tradition of the hunt and the roast, and this holds a special allure and place in our hearts. However, when you realize that is far from how the animals get to our plates nowadays, the romanticized vision vanishes.
One hamburger can contain up to 100 different cows. The US kills 35 million cows a year, and 13,200 pigs an hour. That is a lot of bloodshed, death, and killing. What would our country be like if that stopped? Our cardiovascular health would improve, as would our regularity. Less suffering for the animals coincides with less suffering for humanity.
If you would like to see what really goes on behind the closed doors of the slaughterhouse, it is a great motivator for change, although very sad to watch:
These videos have a louder volume, so you may wish to mute (this also makes them more bearable to watch):
This was filmed at Agriprocessors which was the largest (Glatt) Kosher meat producer in the United States, and the only one authorized by Israel’s Orthodox Rabbinate to export beef to Israel, before it was shut down in 2008 by inspectors (best to mute):
Thank you for being willing to read this, and watching some of the videos. I know it is very difficult to consider this topic because for so long we have been removed from the reality of it and since we were children we were taught to eat a certain way. Make sure to be gentle with yourself and go slowly when making changes in eating habits. Perhaps begin with a “meatless Monday.”
This film describes the positive environmental impacts that forgoing meat just one day a week can make:
http://www.unleashed.org.au/features/meat-the-truth/
For a well done documentary about one man’s journey with this issue, watch this clip:
www.tribeofheart.org/sr/sr_witscreeningroom_english.htm
Another inspiring story with regards to getting back to a plant-based diet is that of Dave the trucker. He was dying when he decided he had to tackle this problem head on:
Even the Mayo Clinic recommends “meatless meals”:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/meatless-meals/my00752
Recent articles in the LA Times and the Huffington Post lend weight to this conclusion:
articles.latimes.com/2012/mar/13/health/la-he-red-meat-20120313
www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/21/humane-society-wyoming-premium_n_1528541.html#s=more227520
Because of all the droughts we have been having in the US, the cattle are starving, and the herds are shrinking:
http://www.takepart.com/article/2012/07/16/wheres-beef?cmpid=tp-ptnr-hufpo
Cows are very gentle creatures. There is no skill or chase in hunting them. They are docile pacifists who give their milk and eat grass. They hurt no one, and do not deserve this torture. Pigs frolic and forage, are as sociable and intelligent as dogs, and genetically are surprisingly similar to humans (more so than any other domesticated animal):
http://nationalhogfarmer.com/news/human-to-pig
The slaughter house is like hell on earth. It is time for the madness to end. It does not have to be this way. Humans have freedom of choice, and when we know better, we do better. And when we learn, we care.
These items can function in place of meats in traditional American recipes when needed, they’re pretty tasty, and the most popular ones are available at supermarkets:
http://www.tryveg.com/cfi/toc/?v=07groceries#5
I had a great experience when I asked my supermarket to carry a natural product they did not already have, and they now stock it in the store – thank you Vons!
If you are taking medications or have had surgery, please consult your doctor before making any changes in your diet and only undertake such changes under her/his supervision and monitoring. This is because dietary changes can lessen the need for certain medications. Also, listen to your body – if you need red meat, eat it. If you can avoid it when possible, and still feel good, please do. This article is for informational purposes only, and is not to be construed as medical advice.
By Teal
All Creatures, Great and Small
July 3, 2010 by The Dove · Leave a Comment
Canon recently announced the finalists in its Keepers Competition. We love Little Puppy, Big Kiss in the Once in a Lifetime category. Visit this link and register to vote! By voting and answering one simple question you go into the draw to win a PowerShot SX210 IS, so you can capture Keepers of your own.
Widening the Circle
February 8, 2010 by The Dove · Leave a Comment
A girlfriend of mine pleasantly surprised me with an unexpected visit last week. She was on her way to Mexico for a conference and during a layover found out it had been cancelled due to swine flu. She rerouted her trip to the next warmest place, LA.
Rising Waters & Wildlife Safety
January 10, 2010 by The Dove · Leave a Comment
Are there any conservation efforts focused on animal species endemic to islands likely to be submerged by rising sea levels? — H. Wyeth, Anahola, HI
Islands are indeed likely to be the areas hardest hit by our warming climate. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a group of leading climate scientists from around the world convened by the United Nations to assess the ongoing risk of global warming, predicts a global average sea level rise of between 3.5 and 34.6 inches over the next century. And the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), a coalition of 42 small island and low-lying coastal countries that have banded together to lobby United Nations policymakers, reports that warming-induced sea level rises could threaten the very existence of some island nations including the Maldives, Kiribati and parts of the Bahamas.
Those low-lying nations that do manage to hang onto some land will contend with not only continuously rising seas and stronger more frequent storms, but also declines in the productivity of their agriculture and fisheries. Salt water intrusion will limit the amount of freshwater available for crops and in some cases undermine the integrity of the soil itself. And as coral reefs die off, the abundant marine life that once congregated around them will disappear.
As for wildlife, its unclear just how much certain endemic species will be affected by rising sea levels and other environmental hazards exacerbated by global warming. Clearly the biggest threat is habitat loss: Land forms that once sustained certain animals may no longer be above water or otherwise suitable for some species. Those fortunate enough to be on big continents may be able to move away from shore to neighboring areas that can provide the resources needed for survival. But animals on islands may be hard pressed to find places better to go to where they can keep on keeping on.
The IPCC lists a few examples among thousands of endemic island dwellers facing likely extinction unless we can get a handle on greenhouse gas emissions in short order: the Tuamotu sandpiper of Tuamotu Island, the Bristle-thighed Curlew of French Polynesia, the Manus fantail of Papua New Guinea, the lorikeet and rail of New Caledonia, the moorhen and Savaii of Samoa, the Santo Mountain starling on Espiritu Santo, penguins in the Galapagos, petrels in Bermuda and seabird colonies from the Kerguelen, Crozet and outer Hawaiian islands, among others. The IPCC adds that endemic flora may fare even worse, which will in turn drive more animal extinctions.
What can be done to stem this rising tide of endemic species loss? According to the IPCC, the establishment of terrestrial, marine or coastal reserves has been found to be a “useful management option.” Results from existing model reserves on islands across the Caribbean (including Dominica, Bonaire, the Grenadines and St. Lucia) have shown promise. Groups including Conservation International, the Wildlife Conservation Society, the Nature Conservancy and others, are working to create more such reserves in other biodiversity hotspots, including many non-threatened islands around the globe.
CONTACTS: IPCC, www.ipcc.ch; AOSIS, www.sidsnet.org/aosis; Conservation International, www.conservation.org; Wildlife Conservation Society, www.wcs.org; Nature Conservancy, www.nature.org.
SEND YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTIONS TO: EarthTalk, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; earthtalk@emagazine.com.
Putting Compassion in Fashion
January 1, 2010 by The Dove · Leave a Comment
It’s time to start wading through that wardrobe, gathering up your once-loved fashion items, donating them to an organization who gives to those who need it. 2010 is the year of compassionate fashion.
Great Reads for the New Year
November 24, 2009 by The Dove · Leave a Comment
I recently heard that for the first time three vegan books are in the top 100 books on Amazon. It made me want to share some of my favorite books with you.
7 WAYS … TO HEAL THE EARTH
July 5, 2009 by The Dove · Leave a Comment
1.
Celebrating Vegan Earth Day
June 21, 2009 by The Dove · Leave a Comment
From celebrity speakers and must-see movies to live music and gourmet food, Vegan Earth Day was celebrated in grand style on longest day of the year today-summer solstice.
The solar-powered event, held in Los Angeles, attracted vegans, as well as those curious about the lifestyle. Veganism omits meat and dairy from the diet (as well as leather products from the wardrobe) and is generally adopted because of its outstanding health benefits, its respect for animals and the positive impact it has on the planet.
Guest speakers included Earthlings’ Shaun Monson, “Peace Mom” Cindy Sheehan, heart specialist Dr Caldwell Esselstyn, professional triathlete Rip Esselstyn, award-winning actor Marianna Tosca, actor Chris DeRose and others.
The Green Dove ventured out for some sunny vitamin D, delicious vegan fare and tons of education.
Sunshine, nature, good food and great entertainment. Who could ask for more?
Loads of educational films and speakers to see.
Fueling up with vege power.
The plates say it all.
Who could resist?
Gourmet vegan food served up from the Bodhi Tree, Huntington Beach.
Who said vegan food is boring?
Keeping up with the latest in animal news.
Dogs and cats up for adoption.
The Earthlings booth.
Earthlings' Shaun Monson speaks to the crowd about the Joaquin Phoenix-narrated film.
A radio station for all things vegan: goveganradio.com
Animal rescue.
Recycling close at hand.
Shoes don't have to be made from leather: The Vegan Collection.
A rescued rabbit.
Food Industry Putting Profits Before Health
June 18, 2009 by The Dove · Leave a Comment
How much do we know about the food we buy at our local supermarkets and serve to our families? Though our food appears the same-a tomato still looks like a tomato-it has been radically transformed.
Compassion & Music Merge
May 29, 2009 by The Dove · Leave a Comment
With the success of the recent WorldFest-a healthy living, vegan, music festival held annually in Los Angeles-The Green Dove spoke with Media and Marketing Director Bettina Rosmarino to get a recap on the festivities.
THE GREEN DOVE: How did WorldFest begin?
BETTINA ROSMARINO: In 2001, members of the current production team were involved in the first WorldFest. It started out of a desire to bring compassionate living to people in the form of a fun and relaxed music environment.
