For those reading this, I do not want people to think that I'm going on the deep end with veganism just because my now ex broke up with me a month ago. He was a damned meat-eater anyway and I'll save the whole dating and veganism for another threat (I promise).
I decided to write about the evolutionary history of domesticated animals for two reasons. First, it's to show that chickens, cows, sheeps, pigs and other domesticated animals did not just come to be. They are bred to be what we know them as today. I also want to show that just because an animal is genetically modified for human use that it does not mean that we should treat them like despensible beings bred for exploitation. What makes being human different from any other animal, especially a farm animal is that we have the ability to choose the way we want to adapt to our environment. The religious and those who believe in its concept will call it free will. This idea of choice is especially true for first world countries. I have another blog dedicated to transhumanism and science/science fiction. I am a vegan that advocates for genetic modification of the human gene to make us more adapted to our environment. You never know. Someday humans will be evolved enough not to use animals to make the quality of live better for humans...
The second reason why I'm going to research and write about the evolutionary history of domesticated animals is to show that evolution is the best way to explain why life on this earth and in this galaxy is so diverse. My uncle dated a woman who was (and still is) an animal lover and she believes in the concept of evolution. If she had a degree in animal science, she would have been the best vet I would ever meet.
Initially, what inspired me to write about this in the near future is when my mom asked me about a certain breed of chicken. I looked up chicken and they are descendents of a tropical foul that originated in Sri Lanka. From there, it's been cross bred many times over to what we come to know as the chicken.
That's a preview of what I'll be writing about. I am not getting my degree in biology (Although I should. It won't fit with an art degree). I won't claim to be an expert in animal science, nor do I claim to be an expert in anyother of the sciences. I do plan on having pictures, charts, graphs, citations in this series that I'll be posting once a week.
Because this is a VEGAN blog, I decided to start off with the following animals:
Chicken
Cow
Pig
Sheep
Goat
Duck
Geese
Dog
Cat
Rabbits
I decided to start off with what I think is the worst treated animal in factory farming industry. I think that the chicken is the worst treated animal in the farming industry. Chickens are not only produced for meat and their eggs, but they also suffer the most cruelty when being slaughtered. Cows are also some of the worst treated because of the suffering they go through to obtain milk and the experiences they suffer in slaughter houses. I added goats to the list because in some countries goats are raised for meat and the fact that goats can be found on farms even in this country warrants its place on this list.
Ducks are favored as an animal protein in America during holidays. I remember during my meat eating days when I was a kid my grandmother served duck for thanksgiving. Like chickens, ducks are raised for their eggs and meat. Geese are usually raised in France for their liver. When their liver is fatten, the geese are slaughtered for fatten livers to be served as a delicacy called "fois gras" (french for fat liver) in upperclass restaurants. There is more awareness of the treatment of geese for their livers.I think that researching geese will show how they are domesticated. I added dog and cats for the second reason why I'll be doing this series.
Although there's widespread animal abuse in this country, I do feel like in the US and most places in the world dogs and cats are the "privileged" animals. Most people who happen to be omnivores/carnivores will stop at nothing to tear their teeth into some steak or drumsticks and yet someone from another country choses to do the same to dogs and cats, we are so quick to judge them and their culture. The idea of owning a pet to me is not vegan, because the animal is not truly free and that we are using another living being to compensate for what we as humans do not get from eachother.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Commentary on the Recent News About The Salmonella Outbreak and Other Similar News
This week I had the pleasure of being confirm about why I do not eat any egg products by reading this article . The difference between being a vegetarian and a vegan is that vegans do not eat egg products. Some vegetarians who are ovo-vegetarians or lacto-ovo vegetarians will however, eat egg products. I've been guilty of trying to go back to incorporating eggwhites back into my diet. My stomach cannot take the abuse. So if I need something that eggs have such as B12 and Omega fatty acids, then I'll eat foods with those nutrients such as flaxseed and nutritional yeast.
The article by Yahoo discusses the recent recall of 220 million eggs that chickens worked really hard to lay. Those abused chickens went through all that trouble just so food can be wasted, because Americans do not want to change their ways of life which are detrimental to the environment. The salmonella bacteria can be spread to the eggs even before they are developed inside the chicken. The article also states that it does not matter if the eggs are Kosher, free-range or any of the sort, these types of eggs are not protected by salmonella.
First off, even before being vegan, before I gave up meat, I always hated eggs. I hate the smell, the taste, the texture and the sight of cracked eggs. I liked egg-based products such as mayonaisse and cakes and cookies, but now that there are alternatives to eggs and poultry, there is no need to consume them.
Secondly, I think that if the conditions of the chickens were more humane and less like a factory, then these contaminations would not happen in the first place. The same can be said about all the industries that pertain to the use of animals as food. America is a capitalistic society that bases itself on a mostly free economy. If there was a salmonella outbreak, then the most that anyone can really do is file a class action lawsuit against the egg farm.
The article by Yahoo discusses the recent recall of 220 million eggs that chickens worked really hard to lay. Those abused chickens went through all that trouble just so food can be wasted, because Americans do not want to change their ways of life which are detrimental to the environment. The salmonella bacteria can be spread to the eggs even before they are developed inside the chicken. The article also states that it does not matter if the eggs are Kosher, free-range or any of the sort, these types of eggs are not protected by salmonella.
First off, even before being vegan, before I gave up meat, I always hated eggs. I hate the smell, the taste, the texture and the sight of cracked eggs. I liked egg-based products such as mayonaisse and cakes and cookies, but now that there are alternatives to eggs and poultry, there is no need to consume them.
Secondly, I think that if the conditions of the chickens were more humane and less like a factory, then these contaminations would not happen in the first place. The same can be said about all the industries that pertain to the use of animals as food. America is a capitalistic society that bases itself on a mostly free economy. If there was a salmonella outbreak, then the most that anyone can really do is file a class action lawsuit against the egg farm.
When A LifeStyle Becomes a Religion
When you read the title of this post, I'm sure that you know where I'm getting at with this. At the end of spring semester, I met some vegans on campus passing out fliers about veganism. Sounds, pretty dedicated, right? Later on in summer semester when I moved into my apartment, I was awaken from sleep by some Jehovah's Witnesses trying to proselytize to me about their beliefs. The difference between these two situations interms of relating is that I'm a vegan, but I'm also an atheist. I told my boyfriend at the time that it's dedicating of the vegans to stand out in the snow, among the bone chilling ice and pass out fliers about the horrors of the meat industry. I thought at first that I was being a "bad vegan", because at the time, I lived on campus among people who did not share my beliefs and lifestyle. I thought it was very "hick" of them to defend the treatment of animals by the meat industry.
My Initial Thought of The Vegans I Met
I think the vegans on campus I met are very nice. The older man is really nice and continues to reach out to me, even when I don't return emails and phone calls. However, just because I think someone is nice, it does not necessarily mean that I have a positive view of that person. I feel like the tactics that he and other vegans used are similar to Christians who pass out fliers about their beliefs. I do not think that it's effective to show images of animals being mutilated. If anything, for a movie night at the vegan friend's house, he wanted me to choose a movie, which all had to do with animal cruelty. I don't believe that Food Inc is the best movie in the world for a movie night. It would have been a great idea to have a potluck, instead.
I thought about switching back to eating meat, because veganism started to seem like a religion. Thinking about it now, if veganism was a religion, I'd rather be a part of a religion that cares about what exists than be a part of a selfish, speciest religion that cares more about a "god" in man's image (the most flawed being in existence). Appealing to the atheist in me, I think that veganism does better for the world and the planet than any major religion I can think of. The only religions I think that truly accept veganism and not say things like "God wants you to eat meat" are eastern religions and some pagan religions. Even in the bible it says that people are not supposed to eat meat. What I've noticed about Christianity that I haven't noticed about other religions is that Christians tend to pick and choose what verse is acceptable. Other religions tend to practice all of their beliefs. At least with veganism, I can say that I'm genuinely trying to contribute to the betterment of mankind and animals in this planet. There are some people who will dispute the environmental and health benefits of veganism, but I'll save that for another post.
Our Responsibility To Our Message
It's more effective and less insulting if we vegans show non-vegans that they can enjoy food that is good for the body, the environment and the animals (and the checkbook). We should be educating the people we target for the vegan cause, not proselytizing to them. If vegans do that, it will separate us from the religious.
My Initial Thought of The Vegans I Met
I think the vegans on campus I met are very nice. The older man is really nice and continues to reach out to me, even when I don't return emails and phone calls. However, just because I think someone is nice, it does not necessarily mean that I have a positive view of that person. I feel like the tactics that he and other vegans used are similar to Christians who pass out fliers about their beliefs. I do not think that it's effective to show images of animals being mutilated. If anything, for a movie night at the vegan friend's house, he wanted me to choose a movie, which all had to do with animal cruelty. I don't believe that Food Inc is the best movie in the world for a movie night. It would have been a great idea to have a potluck, instead.
I thought about switching back to eating meat, because veganism started to seem like a religion. Thinking about it now, if veganism was a religion, I'd rather be a part of a religion that cares about what exists than be a part of a selfish, speciest religion that cares more about a "god" in man's image (the most flawed being in existence). Appealing to the atheist in me, I think that veganism does better for the world and the planet than any major religion I can think of. The only religions I think that truly accept veganism and not say things like "God wants you to eat meat" are eastern religions and some pagan religions. Even in the bible it says that people are not supposed to eat meat. What I've noticed about Christianity that I haven't noticed about other religions is that Christians tend to pick and choose what verse is acceptable. Other religions tend to practice all of their beliefs. At least with veganism, I can say that I'm genuinely trying to contribute to the betterment of mankind and animals in this planet. There are some people who will dispute the environmental and health benefits of veganism, but I'll save that for another post.
Our Responsibility To Our Message
It's more effective and less insulting if we vegans show non-vegans that they can enjoy food that is good for the body, the environment and the animals (and the checkbook). We should be educating the people we target for the vegan cause, not proselytizing to them. If vegans do that, it will separate us from the religious.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Vegan Post: Foods I Love/Should Give Up and Mainstream Restaurants vs Vegan Restaurants
I know that there are many vegans out there who practice the vegan lifestyle in different ways. I'll admit that recently, I haven't been as good of a vegan as I'd want to be. I have a friend who is a better vegan than I am. In a way, I am a little jealous of him, because I've been vegan longer and yet he knows to eat healthier foods. It is not too late to be a "better" vegan.
Foods I love to eat:
Hummus Avocado
Vegan Burgers Smoothies
Potatoes Rice (white and brown)
Oatmeal Chinese Broccoli
Nuts Soy/Rice/Almond Milk
Kale Agave Nectar
Beans Tea
Seitan Olive Oil
Tempeh/Tofu Pita Chips
Salads Bagels
Fruit
Italian Food
Indian Food
Southern Food (Made Vegan)
Mideastern Food
Mexican Food
Thai Food
Spinach
Squash
Eggplant
Bread
Junkfood (if Vegan)
Flaxseed
French Fries
Foods I need to give up
Sweet Drinks Processed Foods
Sugar Packaged Drinks
Potato Chips Fried Foods
White Starches Pasta
Chain Restaurants
This brainstorm of what I like and the foods I need to give up will be used to create a meal plan when I go shopping and when I cook. I love the convenience of pasta and the flavor and the creative ways of using pasta. However, there are vegetable substitutes for pasta such as spaghetti squash and zucchini. I also love soy products. There are studies that say that soy can be good and bad. The studies about soy can be confusing, considering that there is a bias in favor of the meat and dairy industries. I will continue to eat soy, because it can't be any worse than eating dairy, meat and poultry products. I think that the standard american diet filled with red meats, simple sugars, bleached starches and sometimes hydrogenated oils is the reason why there is a high obesity rate and other health problems.
Fried foods will be a bit difficult to give up. I think that if I don't overcook the food in the pan filled with oil, then it won't be as bad. The hydrogenation process in frying food starts at a certain tempurature. I love to make tempura tofu and I'll be trying tempura tempeh, also. I learned that to properly fry tempura without it being greasy or bad, the tenpura should be slightly lighter than golden brown, almost an ivory, because frying draws out the moisture from food and if it's over done, then it will be considered as burnt.
Sugar will also be another food item that is difficult to give up. I usually use raw sugar, because it's not processed with charbone. The white sugar I do use is usually beet sugar. I read somewhere that processed sugar is one of the causes of colon cancer and that it actually depletes the ability for the body to absorb protein and calcium. For some reason, perhaps it's because I haven't given up all my non-vegan ways yet, but I just love sweets. If it's cakes, cookies, pies, sweet alcoholic/non-alcoholic beverage, or anyother dessert, then I love eating it. Eversince I became vegan six years ago, I started to give up those items, too and I found alternatives to sweets. I have a vegan friend who is a better vegan than I am. He uses agave nectar in place of sugar and honey. He doesn't eat anything with mono or diglycerides. I am a very competitive person and I inspire to be the best at everything, so I am a little embarassed and jealous that he puts me to shame. Because of this, I plan on being a better vegan and incorporating healthy alternatives to my diet. I don't want to be a raw vegan, because of the distance of the grocery stores here.Also, I find that at times, I'm irresponsible when it comes to my eating patterns. I plan on trying a sort of "half raw" and half regular vegan diet, meaning less cooked veggies and more raw ones. Because I eat like once a day, due in part to laziness of not wanting to cook, I plan on making protein mean shakes in different fruit flavors. While I was at home, I made a peach pina colada smoothie with all healthy ingredients. I think I'll replace the honey with agave nectar. I know that most vegans don't eat honey, but some do. I only eat it on a need only basis.
I am also willing to start eating at vegan restaurants exclusively or Asian restaurants that serve vegan food. During my two week stay in my home city, I was able to eat at a vegan restaurant that is a few blocks from my grandmother's house. I also ate at TGI Friday's, Chili's and Sizzlers, which I really do not plan on eating there anymore. The service at Friday's and Sizzlers was abysmal at best. The options at these restaurants for vegans were very narrow and the few meatless meals they offer had cheese or egg in them. Sizzler's, all the franchises are horrible because the endless salad bar takes forever to get plates and the options for vegans are very slim. The food at Friday's and Chili's is cooked in the same oil as the meat products, so I don't think that I'll be eating at a mainstream restaurant anymore. I find it to be somewhat of a pet peeve that the population of people who give up meat is increasing and at American restaurants and the only thing they have that is remotely vegan is a simple side salad with italian or balsamic dressing.
Avoiding restaurants overall will not only save money, but will make you or anyone else love the food that is being created in the kitchen. I don't believe that food should be intricate for it to be good. I do think that food should be healthy and taste good overall. If the American culture started treating food as something that can be good for the body, instead of something that has to taste good and consist of poisons, then we as a nation will have a more trimmed waistline.
Foods I love to eat:
Hummus Avocado
Vegan Burgers Smoothies
Potatoes Rice (white and brown)
Oatmeal Chinese Broccoli
Nuts Soy/Rice/Almond Milk
Kale Agave Nectar
Beans Tea
Seitan Olive Oil
Tempeh/Tofu Pita Chips
Salads Bagels
Fruit
Italian Food
Indian Food
Southern Food (Made Vegan)
Mideastern Food
Mexican Food
Thai Food
Spinach
Squash
Eggplant
Bread
Junkfood (if Vegan)
Flaxseed
French Fries
Foods I need to give up
Sweet Drinks Processed Foods
Sugar Packaged Drinks
Potato Chips Fried Foods
White Starches Pasta
Chain Restaurants
This brainstorm of what I like and the foods I need to give up will be used to create a meal plan when I go shopping and when I cook. I love the convenience of pasta and the flavor and the creative ways of using pasta. However, there are vegetable substitutes for pasta such as spaghetti squash and zucchini. I also love soy products. There are studies that say that soy can be good and bad. The studies about soy can be confusing, considering that there is a bias in favor of the meat and dairy industries. I will continue to eat soy, because it can't be any worse than eating dairy, meat and poultry products. I think that the standard american diet filled with red meats, simple sugars, bleached starches and sometimes hydrogenated oils is the reason why there is a high obesity rate and other health problems.
Fried foods will be a bit difficult to give up. I think that if I don't overcook the food in the pan filled with oil, then it won't be as bad. The hydrogenation process in frying food starts at a certain tempurature. I love to make tempura tofu and I'll be trying tempura tempeh, also. I learned that to properly fry tempura without it being greasy or bad, the tenpura should be slightly lighter than golden brown, almost an ivory, because frying draws out the moisture from food and if it's over done, then it will be considered as burnt.
Sugar will also be another food item that is difficult to give up. I usually use raw sugar, because it's not processed with charbone. The white sugar I do use is usually beet sugar. I read somewhere that processed sugar is one of the causes of colon cancer and that it actually depletes the ability for the body to absorb protein and calcium. For some reason, perhaps it's because I haven't given up all my non-vegan ways yet, but I just love sweets. If it's cakes, cookies, pies, sweet alcoholic/non-alcoholic beverage, or anyother dessert, then I love eating it. Eversince I became vegan six years ago, I started to give up those items, too and I found alternatives to sweets. I have a vegan friend who is a better vegan than I am. He uses agave nectar in place of sugar and honey. He doesn't eat anything with mono or diglycerides. I am a very competitive person and I inspire to be the best at everything, so I am a little embarassed and jealous that he puts me to shame. Because of this, I plan on being a better vegan and incorporating healthy alternatives to my diet. I don't want to be a raw vegan, because of the distance of the grocery stores here.Also, I find that at times, I'm irresponsible when it comes to my eating patterns. I plan on trying a sort of "half raw" and half regular vegan diet, meaning less cooked veggies and more raw ones. Because I eat like once a day, due in part to laziness of not wanting to cook, I plan on making protein mean shakes in different fruit flavors. While I was at home, I made a peach pina colada smoothie with all healthy ingredients. I think I'll replace the honey with agave nectar. I know that most vegans don't eat honey, but some do. I only eat it on a need only basis.
I am also willing to start eating at vegan restaurants exclusively or Asian restaurants that serve vegan food. During my two week stay in my home city, I was able to eat at a vegan restaurant that is a few blocks from my grandmother's house. I also ate at TGI Friday's, Chili's and Sizzlers, which I really do not plan on eating there anymore. The service at Friday's and Sizzlers was abysmal at best. The options at these restaurants for vegans were very narrow and the few meatless meals they offer had cheese or egg in them. Sizzler's, all the franchises are horrible because the endless salad bar takes forever to get plates and the options for vegans are very slim. The food at Friday's and Chili's is cooked in the same oil as the meat products, so I don't think that I'll be eating at a mainstream restaurant anymore. I find it to be somewhat of a pet peeve that the population of people who give up meat is increasing and at American restaurants and the only thing they have that is remotely vegan is a simple side salad with italian or balsamic dressing.
Avoiding restaurants overall will not only save money, but will make you or anyone else love the food that is being created in the kitchen. I don't believe that food should be intricate for it to be good. I do think that food should be healthy and taste good overall. If the American culture started treating food as something that can be good for the body, instead of something that has to taste good and consist of poisons, then we as a nation will have a more trimmed waistline.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Hair Day: New Hair Products
Eversince I've cut my hair from being damaged by a chemical relaxer and neglect, I've been wearing my hair natural and without a perm for almost a month. So far, I really love how soft, curly and healthy my hair is, and I hope to embark on a journey that makes my hair even longer.
Finding new products for my new hair type has been challenging, as most products cater to finer, straighter hair or chemically relaxed hair. Online on previous post, I did give a link for natural products. So far, I've tried an ALL VEGAN brand of shampoo, conditioner and hair creme and so far it has made my hair soft after washing and styling. before I used the all natural product, I used the Head and Shoulders Two in One Shampoo/Conditioner, then the vegan products by SheaMoisture. They do have a line for those who have eczema or flaky scalp.
So far, my hair turned out to be nice and soft. I mistakenly used a bit too much product thinking that it would not be enough to cover my locks. The price is a bit much, almost $10 for conditioner, shampoo and hair creme each. I think the price is not bad considering that I've seen products that sold for $30 for an 8 ounce bottle of shampoo. I think if I had more money and made it as an artist, I would be able to pay that much for shampoo. I think it's best if I spend my money on art supplies, not hair products. Shea Moisture is not expensive considering that it's VEGAN and all NATRUAL. I plan on trying other products from this line in the future. I forgot to also mention that if you want, you can order the products from the company's website or Target's Website, or you can go directly to Target and purchase it in person.
Other tips for Natural Hair:
If you do not like to wash your hair often, like I used to hate wash days, then washing your hair with shampoo and conditioner twice a week will be good enough. If you still use the chemical laced hair serums as a glosser on your hair and like to wash the hair at least three times a week, then it's best to stick to a cheap hair conditioner and co-wash (condition wash/Washing with Conditioner) on the weekdays and have a shampoo day on the weekends and keep moisture in the hair with oils. Hopefully, I can find a cheaper cowashing conditioner that is still all natural. My worst nightmare is becoming a product junkie.
Finding new products for my new hair type has been challenging, as most products cater to finer, straighter hair or chemically relaxed hair. Online on previous post, I did give a link for natural products. So far, I've tried an ALL VEGAN brand of shampoo, conditioner and hair creme and so far it has made my hair soft after washing and styling. before I used the all natural product, I used the Head and Shoulders Two in One Shampoo/Conditioner, then the vegan products by SheaMoisture. They do have a line for those who have eczema or flaky scalp.
So far, my hair turned out to be nice and soft. I mistakenly used a bit too much product thinking that it would not be enough to cover my locks. The price is a bit much, almost $10 for conditioner, shampoo and hair creme each. I think the price is not bad considering that I've seen products that sold for $30 for an 8 ounce bottle of shampoo. I think if I had more money and made it as an artist, I would be able to pay that much for shampoo. I think it's best if I spend my money on art supplies, not hair products. Shea Moisture is not expensive considering that it's VEGAN and all NATRUAL. I plan on trying other products from this line in the future. I forgot to also mention that if you want, you can order the products from the company's website or Target's Website, or you can go directly to Target and purchase it in person.
Other tips for Natural Hair:
If you do not like to wash your hair often, like I used to hate wash days, then washing your hair with shampoo and conditioner twice a week will be good enough. If you still use the chemical laced hair serums as a glosser on your hair and like to wash the hair at least three times a week, then it's best to stick to a cheap hair conditioner and co-wash (condition wash/Washing with Conditioner) on the weekdays and have a shampoo day on the weekends and keep moisture in the hair with oils. Hopefully, I can find a cheaper cowashing conditioner that is still all natural. My worst nightmare is becoming a product junkie.
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