Joy!

So, I am sitting here on my couch, taking a break from writing my thesis and sipping on a cold brew coffee, and I am thinking about all the things in this world that bring me joy.

The recent death of Cecil the Lion, and all of the drama and outrage it has caused in the world has started a stream of arguments the likes of which I have never seen on Facebook. So much hate and anger at the world from vegans  who are pissed (like me) that the rest of the population can't see Cecil in the eyes of the cows they consume on a daily basis, and defensiveness and indignation from non-vegans who feel judged and hated by those who are (like me) pissed that they can't/don't/refuse to see the big picture.

Earlier today I was glancing through one of my friend's Facebook post about Cecil, where she essentially makes the same point as I did  in my blog yesterday. She was immediately bombarded with arguments against her point of  view, and numerous defences for why it is okay to eat animals like pigs and chickens but not to kill lions. This made me so sad and angry... it made me feel a bit helpless ... as though the situation is hopeless.

...but then I began to wonder why this  makes me so sad and angry and why my immediate reaction to things like this is always to look at the dark side instead of the bright.

There is so much in this world that is amazing. First, shouldn't I just be overjoyed that this friend shares my point of view?! How wonderful is it that in a group of people less than 200 there is at least person (though, honestly, many more) that totally and completely gets it? Second, when I posted my own little snippit on Facebook about Cecil, I was met with support from my friends and family. I received numerous messages encouraging me to keep going,  to stay positive, and thanking me for setting a positive example. When I shared my post about switching to a whole foods plant based diet I received a message from a friend to which I had not spoken in years, asking me for advice on cutting animal products out of her diet. In fact, every time I share something on my Facebook about my  lifestyle I am met with support.  Isn't that wonderful!? Isn't it so nice that there are so many people who, even if they do not live the way that I do, support my life  choices, and think that the way I live my life is commendable?  This brings me joy!

Last night VOMD and I went for a walk to get coffee at one of the local shops down town. I was wearing my 'Vegan is Peace' shirt and as soon as I walked in the girl behind the counter began asking me questions about going vegan. She told me that she is scared that it will be difficult, that she is nervous that she will not have the will-power, or the support to go all the way. I gave her my phone number and email address and answered all her  questions as best I could. She told me that she wanted to be vegan from the bottom of her heart, and that seeing me walk in right at the end of her shift was like a sign from the universe. See?! Wonderful things happen all the time! This brings me joy!

And today, when I went to my favourite little coffee spot Cafe Oranje on King St. I had yet another  conversation about how delicious vegan food is while I was buying one of the vegan pies they sell (made at Cake and Loaf, I believe, but correct me if you think I'm wrong) called "The Wellington".  Joy is everywhere! And everywhere people are starting to realize that the way that we live now, taking animals and the planet around us for granted is just not doing it  for us any more.

People are changing. We have this amazing capacity for adaptation that no other creature on earth does, and when I speak to people like the coffee shop girl who is starting to go vegan, or the baker who makes vegan pies, or the curious person on the street who asks me about my 'Vegan is Peace' shirt, or the long lost friend who is trying to eat less animal products, or my older sister who is starting to be more careful about what she puts in her body and now drinks Vega shakes instead of whey, I realize that if I am willing to remain positive, and set an example of joy instead of anger, then the world really can look like a much brighter place.

And if trying to see the bright side ever fails, I can always rely on my animal companions to bring the light back into my life!

Lego and I like to have staring contests.

 Happy Friday!

-J

Cecil the Lion...

Sometimes I just want to go on a punching spree and just lose it on  the world around me. I mean, yes, I always try to refrain from being the psycho vegan  weirdo who hate everyone, but  just now and then (especially when I'm feeling hormonal) something happens in the world that takes the internet by storm and causes me to question whether it is worth it for me to leave  the house any day.

Let me start by saying that I am obviously heartbroken by the death of Cecil the Lion - if you don't know about Cecil the Lion, check out this article or just do a quick Google search. Essentially, an American dentist went over to Africa and paid someone to let him kill a famous protected lion. Horrible, I know. There really is no way to justify this, and I am heartened to see that the majority of the internet is freaking out about it.

But if you remember my previous post about the giraffe killer who joyfully posed with her victim, outraging strangers across the globe, you will recall that to me, and many people like me, it makes absolutely no damn sense that we would be so disgusted with the murder of a lion, or an elephant, or a giraffe, and yet happily scarf down a double bacon cheeseburger on our lunch break, with a half litre carton of chocolate milk!There is so much research that tries to explain why we love  some animals and kill others... but none of it really gets to the heart of the issue for me...that it...our hearts. None of it really explains it for me. It all just seems like rationalization.

Why is it so difficult for us to see  the similarities between the destructiveness and cruelty in ourselves yet so  easy to see these very same traits in others?

I'm feeling very emotional today so I really have nothing else to say except to urge you to start thinking a bit more about the way that you treat the animals in your lives - and those that come across your plates - every time  you start to get a little rattled by some jerky hunter who travels to another continent to kill so-called "majestic", or "exotic" creatures.

-J

Why I'm switching to a whole foods plant-based diet

So, as you obviously are aware, I am pretty damn vegan. I don't eat any  animal products; I don't wear animal fur or  skin, and I do not use any product that contains animal bits or excretions; I don't even use  products that are tested on animals (except for, sadly, Midol...because nothing else dulls the horrible aching, can't-do-anything-all-day-except-cry-and-puke pain I get with my monthlies...if you have any suggestions for an ethical alternative please let me know!)

There are two reasons why I am vegan: for the animals, and for the planet! Recently I was reading a post on One Green Planet that mentioned eating vegan junk food still lends itself to a pretty hefty footprint, so I started thinking seriously about why I  am vegan. Every day animals are found with plastic lodged in their stomachs from consuming what they thought to be food in the ocean, but turned out to be trash. Consuming oil in the quantities that VOMD and I do also has a pretty negative impact on animals and the planet. Olive oil production creates waste biproducts that are not biodegradable and can seriously harm the planet  if not treated properly. Producers in less wealthy countries like Morocco (where lots of our olive oil comes from) can't afford the pricey treatment necessary to protect the environment.  And then there is the production and packaging of all the other crap we eat - from Daiya cheese to Yves veggie meats, to vegan Becel. While we recycle  almost everything around here (we produce maybe 1/2 a grocery bag of real trash per week) even recycling has a huge impact on  greenhouse gas and makes our carbon footprint unacceptable by environmentalist standards.

Switching to a whole foods diet would mean eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, and less processed packaged foods, which would together have a fairly huge impact on the planet.


But aside from the whole good for animals, good for the planet angle... I am also starting to think about my own health. Here's a little TMI: after three years of having perfectly healthy menstrual cycles, I have started  getting really messed up timing-wise. Where I used  to have a steady 29 day cycle, now it ranges from 26 to 45 days. I have to think that this has something to do with my lifestyle. Since starting my relationship with VOMD I have eaten more processed foods  than I ever had before  - things  like  Daiya and olive oil and veggie burgers. I also have more acne than ever before. Since the age of 20 I have has mild acne issues - flare ups  at certain times of my cycle and in times of stress and so forth, but never so bad as it has been for the last year. I also have to assume that has to do with changes in my  diet.

I don't  like being the type of person who hates the way they look, but we live  in a culture of  makeup and photoshop, so having bad skin is unacceptible. Even with the whole #nomakeup trend, it is pretty uncommon for a woman to post a picture of her acne covered bare face for all to see.

This is me (right) in 2010, on a mostly plant-based, whole foods diet without any concealer or powder on my face. Look at that glow! (also...my crazy beautiful sister!)

This is me a couple weeks ago on a  100% vegan, but not whole foods diet sans make-up of any kind. Takeaway: being vegan doesn't magically cure all of your ailments...the internet lied to  me!

I am ready to start choosing healthy,  unprocessed foods instead of what has now become the norm in my household - i.e. VEGENAISE. Being vegan is about protecting the animals...so why do I treat myself so shittily? Aren't I an animal?

I would love any advice on go whole from anyone willing to offer it,  and I will be sure to update you on  my whole  foods journey!

Happy Wednesday!

-J

Having your period should be free

Warning everyone, this wacky feminist is about to talk about...menses!

So, I don't know if you're aware of this but every single month, the average woman has this thing that happens to her body without her having any right to choose how, when or for how long it happens. It's the menstrual period and every year women spends between $4 and $15 (before tax)  a month on menstrual products like tampons, and pads to wick away this problem.  That's somewhere between $48 and  $180 dollars a year. Now, figuring that the average woman starts menstruating around 12 years old, and continues to have their period until they are  at least 45-55 (and more than 60 for some!),  that can be as much as $8640 per lifetime on feminine hygiene.

Okay, so that doesn't really seem like that much money in the long run, especially spread out throughout 40 to  50 years, but it does represent a very problematic inequality that of late people are starting to take note of.

Tampons and pads in Canada are now GST free (as of July 1st). In some ways  this is a huge victory!In others, it makes absolutely no effing sense. Fist, just throwing it out there people: I love taxes and firmly believe that if we  want to live in a better country that gives a shit about its people we have to stops thinking of "taxes" as a dirty word. We should tax everything, including groceries. This would increase government revenue and with the right leadership, lead to better public services! Second, taking away the GST on tampons is one of those things that the government can do relatively easily without risking too much moo-la. The largest portion of the population are the baby boomers, and guess what,  they aren't menstruating any more! The proportion of the population that are menstruating adult women is the smallest its been in...well, I don't know how long. But it's been a while. This is still a minor moral victory, but its not the huge victory  that we need.

But this victory did not win us the war... Yes, this saves the average woman a little bit of money, and begins to address the problem, but when it  comes down to it its a bit absurd that women have to pay for tampons at all. Canada has free healthcare for everyone, and any necessary medicine, product or procedure that cannot be done without should be funded by the government. In the same way that I can just decide  tomorrow to get an ultrasound f my hip, I should also be able to walk into any publicly funded wash-room and grab some free feminine products when I'm in need. (And for you conservative budget-minded naysayers, here's a little tip, if we stopped seeing taxes as burdens then the government could afford this no problem!)

The big problem is that we think of this as dirty talk. We're  not supposed to talk about things that come out of our vaginas, unless we're talking about a cute baby. We  are supposed to go about our days pretending that we're  not in horrible pain  from menstrual cramps, and we're supposed to pretend that we don't have to wear a diaper sized maxi pad on heavy days to avoid any accidental leakage. We're supposed to ignore the obvious discomfort it causes to get infections and allergic reactions to certain low quality feminine products that are the only ones we can afford while we're in university or taking care of our families, or working a dead end job to try to make a better life for ourselves.

Don't talk about your period. It's gross. Oh, I'm sorry, is this natural thing  that happens to me and is beyond my control offensive to you? Suck a lemon.

But we should talk about it more. We should scream it from the rooftops - if you'll excuse the cliché - and we should demand that the government fund high quality, preferably organic and chemical free, feminine hygiene products to menstruating women.

It just makes sense.

Happy Tuesday!

Dear Ex-Vegans: Stop acting like your're smarter than the rest of us

If you’ve been vegan for any amount of time you’ve probably met a few ex-vegans, and you’ve heard all their explanations for going back to their previous lifestyles. Bloggers a plenty  have talked about become ex-vegans. They all sound frustratingly intelligent and  thoughtful. They say "I used to be like you" or... "you remind me of me when I was younger",  implying that your ethical lifestyle is a result of youthful idealism and will pass once you grow up and grow out of it. 

They tell you things like “if you do the research, it is abundantly clear that it is NOT POSSIBLE for most humans to get the nutrition they need on a strict vegan diet” (See article here) and talk about how they didn't like the person they became when they went vegan, saying stuff like: “I became aware of how enraged and difficult I was. Over the past few years, I didn't have much compassion toward fellow humans, and I blamed them for factory farming and their lack of consciousness. I demanded that my friends and family go to vegan restaurants and questioned them for their eating habits constantly” (article here). I respect these people because they made a choice to alter they way they lived their lives, however briefly, and in the long run, they still had a very positive impact on the world. But at the same time, I get so sad because  they do not present you with  facts, but their anecdotal experiences, based on unhealthy choices, and Google searches. I have to say that I am a bit tired of hearing ex-vegans talk like they are so much smarter than us vegans because they've been through vegan healthy hell and came out the other side happily munching on meat and feeling morally validated. 

My responses to these two writers (from the above cited articles) are as follows:

First, my own anecdotal evidence. I have been vegetarian for 9 years now and vegan for three. I feel healthy, strong and happy. I struggle with mild skin problems, but aside from this I am happy with my body and my appearance. I have excellent blood pressure, healthy digestion, and excellent levels of iron. My DHA and EPA levels are perfect, but if I ever see a dip I can take a supplement made from laboratory produced microalgae. I do not take B12 but have in the past and I do not see this as a particularly vegan problem. My eldest non-vegan sister is in her thirties and has dismally low B12 stores so she has to take a B12 supplement every day. The fact that I am energetic and healthy without one,  but take one now and then when I get spooked searching the internet is a good sign, I think.

Some not so anecdotal evidence: Vegetarians have lower levels of many cancers ranging from pancreatic, to bowel, to multiple myeloma (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24898235). Vegans, if eating a well-balanced diet and visiting the doctor regularly for blood tests and physicals, see an increase in energy and maintain healthy body weights easier than non-vegans. So many amazing sources on the internet exist to show you how to deal with basic problems some people face when transitioning away from eating animal products. Many of  the problems people face come from not  eating a balanced diet full of good, unprocessed sugars, healthy fats and high protein foods like whole grains, nuts,  leafy greens, and beans. Here’s a great  one: http://www.vegkitchen.com/nutrition/vegan-athlete/

Second,  I am not a dick. If you become a dick when you go vegan, its  probably just that you were already a dick, and being calorie deficient due to poor food choices, and therefore pissy made your dickiness shine through. If you don't eat enough, you're bound to get a bit hangry. 

Despite stereotypes to the contrary, some of the most fun, whacky, loving, peaceful and all around wonderful people I have ever met are vegans; I and most other vegans do not hate humanity; I and most other vegans do not try to change my/their family and friends – except when I know it will make them feel better to eat a damn carrot once in a while – and in general  I would say that I am a god-damn delight to be around. I am not preachy. I would say I have two non-vegan best friends and neither of them hate being around me nor do they feel pressured by my lifestyle. In fact, they have done their own research and know that the way I am living my life is a healthy, happy one that is good for the planet. They don’t need me to tell them that! Even my grandmother, who has eaten meat her whole life came to a vegan restaurant with VOMD and I and told me afterward that she really liked it and is glad that I am living healthily. VOMD’s grandma and his great aunt,  both over 60,  have admitted that they have often thought of being vegetarian because they don’t really like meat anyway, and when they eat meat they face problems like colitis and body aches.

Admittedly, there are some of us that don’t go vegan the healthy way. We eat chips and Oreos and any vegan junk food we can get our hands on. But there are plenty of non-vegans who eat just as shitty as   bad-health vegans; the difference is, the vegans are trying to save the world, not just themselves.

There are also some vegans who are dicks. But the ratio to vegan buttfaces to non-vegan buttfaces is probably about equal. You don't become nice just because you stop eating animals - though the choice to not eat animals is sure a nice one!

Most of us go vegan because we love animals. Like a mother that risks her life for her child, many vegans happily submit to poor health so long as they are not hurting animals.  If tomorrow I was faced with the choice between eating a steak and dying of some kind of crazy vegan-only disease… I have to admit that I would gladly take death. But given that I am not in that position… I guess we’ll never really know if I’m all talk, or if I actually am that much of a raging vegan.

I love the planet. I love animals. I love my fellow human beings. And I am happy to say that being vegan has made all of those loves stronger.  

Happy Monday everyone!

-J

Being Vegan in Hamilton: Part 2

So, Hamilton has been pretty good to us. I know I complain a lot about people not understanding what vegan means, and why it is so important that my latte is made with soy instead of dairy. But honestly, Hamilton is actually full of places that are accommodating - and don't even make you define  what vegan means!

VOMD and  I don't have a ton of money, but we try to go to at least one veg friendly place in Hamilton a week, just for fun! It's nice not to have to cook every day of the week.  I posted a Being Vegan in Hamilton Part 1, so be sure to check that out as well. Here are a few more places that we have come to love!

1. Gourmet Veggie Foods/Hamilton Farmer’s Market: On the suggestion of  one of my readers I went and checked out the farmer’s market for vegan treats. Usually I stick in the little vegetable section – Dilly’s Farmacy always has cucumbers on at $2 for 5! -  but I decided to give some of the other  little places a shot. One place stood out the most – Gourmet Veggie Foods! It’s run by a guy named David So who is just fantastic! They have veggie jerky and other snack type foods, but the cream of the crop there is a vegan shrimp alternative. At $10 a bag, it better be  damn good…  and it definitely lives up to expectations. I was never a huge fish, sea food or crustacean fan when I was an animal product eater, but VOMD was, and for a treat now and then it is totally worth it to spend $10 on faux shrimp.

2. Good To Go: We also went by Good to Go on Dundurn. It is this tiny little shop with barely enough room to turn around it, but they have lots of tasty looking treats at prices that are comparable to any other veggie place around.

3. Cake and Loaf: As for places that aren’t vegan, but cater to us, Cake and Loaf is by far one of the best bakeries in town. They have vegan pot pies, cakes, loafs (as their name suggests) and chocolate bars. They have these vegan coconut dark chocolate bars that taste just like I remember Bounty bars tasting – which were my favourite chocolate bar by far! (Although to be fair…it’s been years since I ate one of those).

4. Rebel’s Rock: This place is VOMD and I’s favourite pub in Hamilton. They have a decent number of vegan beers on tap, and they can make you awesome Irish chips with curry gravy on top! Make sure you tell them you need it vegan, because they otherwise put dairy in. You can also get your chips with spices and rubs on them. So good. The atmosphere is amazing and they often have music.

5. Homegrown: This place is hipster heaven. I first went to Homegrown during SuperCrawl last year. They often have live music and there is some pretty rad art on the walls. It’s this stranger little place that is decorated like a bad nineties bar but serves amazing food. They usually have vegan chilli and a couple sandwiches you can choose from. They also make excellent coffee.

6. Ben Thanh: VOMD and I were craving Thai and weren't wanting to throw out a bunch of cash for an all you can eat Sushi/Thai place, so we tried Ben Thanh. They have a really good selection of vegan/vegetarian dishes. Make sure you tell them no egg, because some stuff has egg – like the fried rice. So freaking good. We took VOMD’s grandma there, and she loved it, even though she has never had a vegan meal before. Their servings are also sizeable, so when we go we order a couple of appetizers and meals, and then have a bunch of leftovers for midnight snacks and lunch the next day.

Oh, also, look how freaking cute Tobi was when she was itty bitty! I found a bunch of old photos and it kind of made me cry a little. I'm so lucky to have this little rambunctious ball of furry joy in my life. When I first got her she was very sick with the Snuffles and the vet told me she would probably live a year. She's now three and healthy as can be! I took her off medication after consulting a couple vets and other rabbit caregivers two years ago because it kept having a negative impact on her digestive health. I'm pretty sure the keys to her longevity have been: clean air, clean room, clean litter, healthy fresh organic veggies, plenty of organic hay, and a giant frozen bottle of water as a mini air conditioner on hot days!

Now freak out at the cuteness!

That's it for now.

Happy Thursday!

-J

Dietary Veganism?

I need to just rant a little bit right now, and I know that it is going to annoy some people. I am a member of a page/group on Facebook dedicated to connecting vegans in Hamilton and I have thus far loved reading  about peoples' experiences of being vegan in Hamilton and found it overall very helpful in finding community events, food, and so forth in the city. However, recently there have been some arguments about the definition of veganism and it has caused quite a ruckus, leading the admins to state that they  would like such talk to cease.  Some members have been  rightly irritated by the Hamilton Halton Animal Liberation Front (HALT)'s support of native hunting rights, and have started exploring why and how supporting such an organization is against vegan values. Others disagree vehemently. Some names have been thrown around back and forth.

I wouldn't dare put my voice in there, because I honestly don't like to be that person who argues with others on the internet. Sometimes, though, I wish I were less shy because while I was reading all the arguments on the above-mentioned page I wanted to type, in big, obnoxious capital letters "THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A DIETARY VEGAN!"

Recently there is a trend of people deciding to eat vegan. I totally respect their dietary choices, and at the core, I am pleased that they are saving animals, even if that  is not their reason for going "vegan". But, there is just one thing that I feel vehemently about: if you eat animal products, if you wear leather or fur, if you think there is nothing problematic about silk or wool, then you are not a vegan. Period. Veganism is first and  foremost a philosophy of  compassion. We avoid to the greatest extent that we can the exploitation of any animal. We do it not because we want to lose weight; we do it not because we think it makes our skin look  great; we do it not because we have a  partner who is vegan, so we want to make them happy. We do it because we love every single creature on the planet.

THIS is why I'm vegan. Tobi is one of my best friends. My cats are also my best friends. I love my animal companions, and I see no difference ethically between them and farmed animals, or the wild animals that people hunt. They deserve a life of dignity and joy, just as do humans.

That's just my two cents.

Happy Tuesday


-J