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MISSION STATEMENT

V-EGANISM is independent in thoughts and actions, only choosing what is right and just for animals, humans, and the environment. V-EGANISM however does have a mission statement which is how the founder of veganism, Donald Watson, originally coined the word's definition. It was a perfect definition then and it still is a perfect definition now. So the following paragraph is V-EGANISM's official Mission Statement:


"V-EGANISM educates people and helps people and animals regarding the political and social justice cause, Veganism, which is a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude--as far as is possible and practical--all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing, cosmetics, household products, entertainment, service or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of humans, animals, and the environment."


OPERATION V-EGANISM SHARING LINKS

I share links daily regarding animal rights/veganism on Twitter. https://twitter.com/LorraineVegan.

Healthy Body, Mind & Spirit Maneki Neko Cat

Healthy Body, Mind & Spirit Maneki Neko Cat

Love & Peace Maneki Neko Cat

Love & Peace Maneki Neko Cat

Animals Killed Counter

The Animal Kill Counter: Basic Version << ADAPTT :: Animals Deserve Absolute Protection Today and Tomorrow

Animals Slaughtered:

0 marine animals
0 chickens
0 ducks
0 pigs
0 rabbits
0 turkeys
0 geese
0 sheep
0 goats
0 cows and calves
0 rodents
0 pigeons and other birds
0 buffaloes
0 dogs
0 cats
0 horses
0 donkeys and mules
0 camels and other camelids

These are the numbers of animals killed worldwide by the meat, egg, and dairy industries since you opened this webpage. These numbers do NOT include the many millions of animals killed each year in vivisection laboratories. They do NOT include the millions of dogs and cats killed in animal shelters every year. They do NOT include the animals who died while held captive in the animal-slavery enterprises of circuses, rodeos, zoos, and marine parks. They do NOT include the animals killed while pressed into such blood sports as bullfighting, cockfighting, dogfighting, and bear- baiting, nor do they include horses and grey- hounds who were exterminated after they were no longer deemed suitable for racing. Courtesy of ADAPTT

Veg Movies Website - Largest collection of Animal Activism films!

VegMovies plant-based and animal-friendly movie directory


Truth!

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Religious Animal Liberation Quotes




“The greatest progress of righteousness among men comes from exhortation in favour of non-injury to life and abstention from killing living beings.” 

(Asoka, 3rd century Buddhist emperor, as quoted in Steven Rosen, "Food for the Spirit-Vegetarianism and the World’s Religions" – New York: Bala Books, 1987). P. 80)



“We, the Christian leaders, practice abstinence from the flesh of animals to subdue our bodies......the unnatural eating of flesh-meat is polluting.” 

(St. John Chrysostam, 4thcentury Father of Eastern Church, as quoted in Steven Rosen, "Food for the Spirit-Vegetarianism and the World’s Religions" – New York: Bala Books, 1987). P. 18)



“And remember; when you hunt and kill,
Your punishment will depend
on where [on the scale of evolution]
you have struck your blade-high or low!...
You are not a vulture, to stoop on carcasses,
And do not, like a crow,
Dip your feet in others’ blood.
Even if your hunger has reduced you to a mere skeleton-
Bloodless like a picture image-
You will, at least, be spared the punishments
Of a carcass eater.” 

(Nizaami Ganjavee, 12th century Sufi poet, Original translation by Shiv Singh Dhatt of Nizam Ganjavi, Makhzan-i Azrar (Kanpur, India, Munshi Naval Kishore Press, 1872, p. 123, 185)



“You violently slaughter animals
And claim it to be in keeping
with the cannons of your creed.
But when God places before you
The record of your cruel deeds,
What will your fate be?” 

(Kabir, 15th century Indian mystic)

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Vegan Voodoo

Good Things Come in Pink Boxes


I was at the Portland Saturday Market today (it's open on Sunday's too but they never changed the name to Portland Weekend Market). But before it opened, I went just a couple blocks north to wait in line for 1 1/2 hours (thank you tourists!!) to get my one & only favorite Voodoo Doughnut:

The Vegan Cock-N-Balls

When you bite into it, creamy white filling oozes out! It's sinfully delicious!




After Voodoo, I went strolling through the huge Portland Saurday Market. I was looking for (as I always do) something for my animal kiddies. But I have been also looking for a cruelty-free, plush fabric, soccer-like ball to play indoors with to add variety to my excercise program. 

Lo and behold! I found it! Actually, it's a dog toy ball to play with very large dogs, but this is a full soccer-size ball--the only one they had left--as if it was waiting for me! I had picked one out online at Amazon to get soon, but Amazon would have cost a few dollars more.

It was a great day to get out indeed!

Friday, July 19, 2013

Veganism and Spirituality




Here is an interesting blog post on:

Vegans who identify themselves as religious and/or spiritual. Do they believe that their veganism is the result of their faith or vice-versa? Do they see veganism and spirituality as being completely separate? How do they inform each other?


*I don't agree with everything said by the ones being interviewed, but still interesting to read other's opinions.

The Thinking Vegan

Monday, July 15, 2013

Unitarian Universalist's Animal Ministries

Unitarian Universalists have two animal rights ministries! Not all of the UU churches worldwide have these animal ministries but many do. It is a part of their huge social justice activism which includes human rights as well.

The two animal rights ministries are:

Unitarian Universalist Animal Ministry
www.uuam.org




From their website:

"UUAM is a group of concerned Unitarian Universalists and UU friends who desire to grow and express their faith as compassion towards all beings. We do this not just for nonhumans, but for ourselves and all of life. For as we live a life of awareness based on our interdependence (UU 7th Principle) and the inherent worth and dignity of all beings (UU 1st Principle) we live fully, deeply, and authentically. As we come to love our neighbors as ourselves, we liberate not just others, but ourselves as well.


We serve as a central source of nonhuman animal awareness and education for UUs by relating the religious and spiritual aspects of our tradition to justice and ethical issues.

We provide a community to support one another. Whether we are undertaking personal changes in our everyday choices, or engaging in advocacy for nonhuman animals, we cannot do this work alone. We need one another.
We promote and support justice making efforts for nonhuman animals within congregations and within UU Association as a whole.


The seventh principle of Unitarian Univeraslism calls us to respect the interdependent web of existence of which we are a part. We of UUAM understand that human beings are only a strand in the intricate web of life.

While our Unitarian Universalist principles affirm the "inherent worth and dignity of every person and call us to seek justice and compassion in human relations, we extend these principles to include other species who also possess an intrinsic value.

Recognizing the beauty and interconnectedness of all species that call us to wholeness and toward justice for all beings, we dedicate ourselves to:

Growing our Unitarian Universalist faith in the interdependence of all life that reveals itself in the inherent worth and dignity of all beings.

Informing ourselves about nonhuman suffering

Seeking and promoting ecological justice

Inspiring respect and reverence for the earth all its creatures

Living in harmony with the natural world, which includes a deep respect and commitment to human as well as nonhuman animals"




Ethical Eating
www.uua.org/environment/eating




From their website:

"Ethical eating recognizes the moral dimensions of our food choices. The ways our societies raise, buy, and consume our food has direct effects on the earth, plants and animals, and humans who work to make our food available.

Delegates at the General Assembly in Charlotte, NC, approved Ethical Eating: Food and Environmental Justice as a 2011 Statement of Conscience.

You can download the UUA Ethical Eating Study Guide and Ethical Eating Worship Resource Supplement (PDF, 33 pages)."


Some of the material mention minimalist activism...but the fact that the UU church is doing this as a religious organization for the animals and obviously is aware of the synergistic link in religion and animal rights is wonderful! But I would highly recommend you do further research into animal rights to go beyond the minimal knowledge of animal activism to help animals even more.

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Charles Fillmore: 19th Century Strict Vegetarian



Charles Sherlock Fillmore (August 22, 1854 – July 5, 1948) founded Unity, a church within the New Thought movement, with his wife, Myrtle Page Fillmore, in 1889. He became known as an American mystic for his contributions to spiritualist interpretations of Biblical scripture.

Charles and Myrtle both had health problems and turned to some new ideas which they believed helped to improve these health issues. Their beliefs are centered around two basic propositions: (1) God is good. (2) God is available; in fact, God is in you. About a year after the Fillmores started the magazine Modern Thought, they had the inspiration that if God is what they thought--the principle of love and intelligence, the source of all good--God is wherever needed. 

Both Charles and Myrtle became strict vegetarians in the 1890s, long before the practice caught on in the West. The Fillmores' nutritional convictions were based on their spiritual beliefs. Charles Fillmore was an ethical vegetarian who did not eat animal flesh. He also refused to wear leather and fur.

For over forty years, from the late nineteenth century into the 1930's, Charles Fillmore wrote passionately about the physical, mental, social, and spiritual harmfulness of eating animal foods, and the necessity of a plant-based diet for anyone serious about developing spiritual maturity and contributing to world peace. He and Myrtle were conscientious vegetarians and encouraged their students to be so. 

There was once a village called Unity Village, where it would be a recreational place for Unity workers and in the future, it would develop into a spot where unity people from all parts of the world may come and commune with nature and study Unity principles.

A Unity Inn lunch menu from 1916 included:

vegetable broth
nut loaf
cucumber 
salad
rice peach pudding
rhubarb sauce
fruits

A dinner menu included:

soup
fried eggplant
browned potatoes
cabbage
stewed tomatoes
salads
desserts

In his later years, Fillmore felt so young that he thought that he might be physically immortal, as well as believing that he might be the reincarnation of Paul of Tarsus. 

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Vegan Ramadan

 
 

Ramadan (in Arabic: رمضان, Ramadān) is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. During the whole month, faithful observers of Islam fast from sunrise (Sahour) to sunset (Iftar). During the fast, no food or drink is consumed, and thoughts must be kept pure. Followers of Islam believe that fasting helps the Muslim learn patience, modesty, and spirituality. Meals are served before sunrise and after sunset, and eaten with family or with the local community.
 
Ramadan in 2013 will start on Tuesday, the 9th of July and will continue for 30 days until Wednesday, the 7th of August. Based on sightability in North America, in 2013 Ramadan will start in North America a day later - on Wednesday, the 10th of July. Note that in the Muslim calander, a holiday begins on the sunset of the previous day, so observing Muslims will celebrate Ramadan on the sunset of Monday, the 8th of July.

Although Ramadan is always on the same day of the Islamic calendar, the date on the Gregorian calendar varies from year to year, since the Gregorian calendar is a solar calendar and the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar. This difference means Ramadan moves in the Gregorian calendar approximately 11 days every year. The date of Ramadan may also vary from country to country depending on whether the moon has been sighted or not.


During Ramadan, two main meals are served; the suhoor, which is served before dawn, and the iftar, which is served after sunset. Since the suhoor is intended to last one throughout the day, it tends to be a heavy and hearty meal. Suhoor ends when the sun rises and the fajr, or morning prayer, begins. At the end of the day, when the sun sets, the maghrib prayer starts, and the day's fast is broken with the iftar meal. Many Muslims break their fast by eating dates before beginning the iftar meal. Muslims can continue eating and drinking throughout the night until the next day's suhoor. At the end of the Ramadan month, Muslims celebrate the Festival of the Breaking of the Fast, called Eid al-Fitr.

Both of the suhoor and iftar meals can be vegan, by having fresh fruit, vegetables, vegan breads, non-dairy cheeses and sweets.


Some foods that may be served at a Ramadan suhoor or iftar:

Dates, pistachios, other nuts, and dried fruits
Fresh seasonal fruits
Fresh seasonal vegetables

Sherbet - made from fruit juices, extracts of flowers, or herbs, and combined with water and sugar
Lavash - a soft, thin crackerbread.
Fattoush - a salad made of vegetables and pita bread.
Tabbouleh - a salad made with fresh tomatoes, parsley, garlic, and bulgur wheat.

Mujadarra - a dish made with rice and lentils 
Kolak - a fruit dessert made with palm sugar, coconut milk, and pandanus leaf. Fruits such as jackfruit or banana are added, or mung beans


Recipes

Cous Cous and Roqaq Vegan 

This fulfilling and nutritional summer salad can act as a main dish on its own. A traditional Moroccan styled dish that just livens up the summer months with its neat texture.

1 cup Couscous,
1 cup Kalamata olives, halved
1/2 cup Parsley finely chopped,
1 1/2 cups vegetable stock (available at supermarkets)
2 tomatoes without skin (soak in hot water for 5 minutes and then remove skin)
2 cups (steamed or lightly boiled) Broccoli
1 Tbs Cumin
1 Tbs cinnamon
Vegan Chili to your liking
Start by adding the spices to the Couscous and cover; set to side and leave for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, chop the tomatoes, mix it with the parsley. Add the mixture to the Couscous. Next, add in the olives and top with the broccoli and sprinkle some olive oil on top. Serve cold.


Main dish – Egyptian Roqaq with Vegetables

Note: Roqaq is thin-layered wheat strips. You buy them hard and soften via water and they are used similarly to lasagna.

This traditional Egyptian lasagna-style dish is commonplace in restaurants, cafes and in the home. Usually served with ground beef and loads of cheese, you can make this dish animal cruelty-free.

5 layers of Roqaq pastry
1 1/2 cup Vegetable stock 
Filling:
2 cups olives, finely chopped
1 large onion or two medium ones, sliced
2 garlic gloves, minced
3 cups bell peppers, diced 
2 Tbs olive oil

(You can add vegan Parmesan)

Begin by preparing the filling. Fry the onion lightly until it becomes transparent; add the garlic and stir. Next, add the peppers until they become soft. Remove from skillet, add the olives and set to the side.

Tip the Roqaq layers one by one quickly in the room temperature vegetable stock until they become semi-soft. Do not prolong this process or they can get mushy. Add some olive oil to the round and semi-deep tray. Add the first two layers then add in the filing, then add the remaining layers of the roqaq.

Bake in the oven over medium heat for approximately 25 minutes.


Take out and serve with leafy green vegetables.
 


 

Walnut Stuffed Dates

2 cups large pitted dates (10 ounces)

1/2 cup shelled walnuts, coarsely chopped

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted

Slit one side of each date to open then fill with chopped walnuts and enclose. Roll filled dates in powdered sugar in a bowl, then transfer to another bowl.

Dates keep in an airtight container 1 week.

 
Citrus Turkish Delight


4 cups sugar
3 3/4 cups water, divided
1 lemon, zested and juiced
1 orange, zested and juiced
3/4 cups cornstarch
2 drops each (or 1 drop each) yellow and red food coloring (optional)
1/2 cup shelled green pistachios, coarsely chopped
1 tablespoon orange flower water (optional)
1 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted 
            
Equipment: a deep-fat thermometer 


Put sugar, 3 cups water, and zest and juice of lemon and orange in a 4- to 5-qt. heavy pot and bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Boil until thermometer reaches about 230 F, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove and discard zests.
 
Stir together cornstarch and remaining 3/4 cup water and stir into syrup. Continue to boil over medium high heat, stirring frequently, until thermometer reaches 240 F (soft ball stage), about 25 minutes. (Mixture will be very thick and take a while to return to 230 F and reach 240 F.) Stir in pistachios and orange flower water, if using, and remove from heat.
 
Have ready a lightly oiled 9 x 9 inch square baking pan lined with plastic wrap and lightly oil plastic wrap. Pour mixture into pan and let stand overnight at room temperature to firm.
Turn Turkish delight out onto a cutting board and remove plastic. Cut into roughly 1-inch squares, then toss squares in confectioners' sugar.

Keeps in an airtight container about 1 week.


Other Recipes

Vegan Ramadan
 
The Raw Ramadan
 
Vegan Ramadan Recipes

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Bold Native (full feature film)

As Americans and Canadians (and others who are free) celebrate Independence this week, everyone please remember those who are not free (animals and humans) and do what you can to save them.

This film, Bold Native can now always be seen on the right side of my blog. I will also now have a warning page shown before coming to my blog as Bold Native is rated R for nudity and scenes of animal abuse. Unlike most animal rights films being documentaries, this is a dramatic feature movie film about animal liberation and the best animal film ever to date.

I hope Bold Native inspires you to be bold in whatever positive activism you do.

For the animals....Here is BOLD NATIVE
 


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