This was my written response to someone who believed specifically that consuming cow’s breast milk is “natural” because it can be found within the faddy “100 mile limit.”  I sought to discredit the idea that it is “natural” or in any sense “local,” or “environmental:”

I am Vegan, which is to say that I do not support the objectification of non human animals to suit my dietary desires, or in fact for any reason what so ever. I won’t walk up to another woman and begin to suckle from her breast, heck, there is no nutritional reason I would even want to! Thus, I offer the same courtesy to my bovine fellow Earthlings.

Dairy production (presuming you do not have a cow in your own back yard, and even if you do it is very un environmental) involves mechanically raping female cows, then taking their newborns from them at birth who will be locked up to become veal. The mothers are fed grains that come from other countries (far outside of the mystical 100 mile diet boundaries) even from other continents (most cattle grain comes from South America or Africa.) Growing this grain takes up vast swaths of land that could be used to grow more nutritionally viable food, which could be fed directly to humans rather than inefficiently cycling it through a cow to consume their milk. A dairy cow will eat “about 100 pounds of feed each day, which is a combination of hay, grain and silage (fermented corn or grass). They drink a lot of water too – up to 50 gallons a day.” (taken from Dairy Farming Today website’s FAQ.) And if we think about the gross fossil fuels burning into our environment to transport all of that grain here (yes, even pretty organic grains) it’s really an environmental disaster!

So what about drinking soy milk, where the beans are grown equally far away, then shipped around the world spewing toxins into the air? How is that better?? Well, it is a minute fraction of the quantities of environmental degradation that dairy produces.  However, for those who are legitimately concerned with the environmental impacts of their food choices, most Vegans (that I know) are happy to use local grown hemp seeds, or Fraser Valley Hazelnuts, and other beautiful proteins to make their own milks (which are absolutely delicious, I should add.)

Their are always ways to be better and better to our Earth, and shutting down all large scale animal housing/killing facilities is the #1 way of doing that.

I’ll leave you with an article from the United Nationes website and bid you Peace:

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?newsID=20772&CR1=warning

Please urge UBC President and Vice-Chancellor Stephen J. Toope to release information about UBC’s research on animals. Please send him a letter urging him to be honest about UBC’s Animal Torture chambers, or see below for sample letters to copy and paste. Be sure to personalize your letter or email. IMPORTANT: Please be polite and professional in your communication with UBC. Send any replies from UBC to stopubcanimalresearch@gmail.com

To contact UBC President and Vice-Chancellor Stephen J. Toope:
Email: presidents.office@ubc.ca
Phone: 604.822.8300
Fax: 604.822.5055

Snail mail:
Office of the President
The University of British Columbia
6328 Memorial Road
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z2 Canada

Dear UBC President and Vice-Chancellor Stephen J. Toope,

I understand UBC conducts extensive research on a variety of animals, including pigs, rats, non-human primates, cats, mice, rabbits, and other animals. Much of that research is funded by the public, through taxpayer dollars, student fees, alumni gifts, and private donations. Yet, few are aware UBC experiments on animals and that some of the procedures used are highly invasive and painful.

UBC – a public institution that promotes critical thinking, debate, transparency, and freedom of speech – has been less than forthcoming about its research on animals. But the public has the right to know about such research. Many, like me, vigorously oppose vivisection because we find it ethically at odds with our values of compassion and of highly questionable scientific merit.

Information about UBC’s animal research and decisions by its Animal Care Committee should be made widely available so that prospective students, current and potential donors, and the public can make informed choices about whether to support UBC. As you may know, the US has a far more transparent system. Information, data, and reports about animal research are posted at website databases through the National Institutes of Health and the US Department of Agriculture. With that in mind, I urge UBC to post the following information online:

*Assessment reports of UBC by the Canadian Council on Animal Care from 2000-2009, including records of non-compliance and violations issued by the CCAC to UBC, as well as UBC’s responses to those assessment reports

*Veterinary care and necropsy reports on animals at UBC for 2000-2009

*Data on the number of animals used annually in research, teaching, and testing at UBC for 2000-2009. Data should include numbers of animals used by species, category of invasiveness, and purpose of use.

*Copies of animal use protocols by UBC animal researchers and instructors for 2000-2009

*Photos, videos, and other recordings of experiments conducted on animals by UBC researchers and instructors for 2000-2009

Finally, I urge UBC to pursue alternatives to research on animals as other universities have done and ultimately end all research on animals. I look forward to your response. Thank you.

Sincerely,
YOUR NAME
YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION

For more information contact Stop UBC Animal Research at stopubcanimalresearch@gmai l.com or call 604.551.3324

It is easy to feel like the enormity of the issues that non-human animals face every day all over the world, and in fact, here in our own city of Vancouver.  For myself that becoming aware of these issues, educating myself, and those around me was a spring board that propelled me toward taking action for the animals.  It was an uphill battle to actually find groups that are working on some of these issues.  There will always be issues that no one is currently working on, and that’s where the Ghandi quote “Be the change you wish to see in the world” comes in.  You are always strong enough, smart enough, capable enough and plenty motivated to start your own campaign against an issue that you are concerned about; indeed that is how all campaigns got started!

For those of us who are looking to lend their time, energy, creativity, or skills to an existing campaign (trust me, there are many!) here are a small number of local groups that are working in a wide variety of ways and on a wide variety of campaigns.  Do a little research, or go to some events, meet some people (they’re all lovely!) and see who you feel a good fit with.

And remember:  There is room for EVERYONE in the Animal Liberation movement!  Your skills, talents and efforts are absolutely valuable and someone in our great Animal Rights community will be happy to put you to work.

STOP UBC ANIMAL RESEACH is a campaign to abolish the use of animals for research inside the University of British Columbia.  Contact them at:  stopubcanimalresearch@gmail.com

The VANCOUVER ANIMAL DEFENSE LEAGUE is a grassroots group that organizes a variety of campaigns against local fur stores, restaurants that serve shark fin soup or foie gas, and many other issues.  Contact them at: vancouveranimaldefenseleague@live.ca

LIBERATION BC is a local group that focuses on education, outreach and advocacy.  Contact them at: www.Liberationbc.org

CATCA (Campaigns Against The Cruelty to Animals) is an invaluable group run by a long time, dedicated activist, that works diligently on a variety of issues especially marine animal issues.  Contact them at www.catcahelpanimals.org

AND, you can always direct any questions or requests for info to me in the comment section below, or to me personally at luciedamazon@gmail.com

Today’s Vegan treat worth sharing is a very simple smoothie.  I took two over-ripened peaches (organic) and a hand full of organic strawberries and froze them last night.  Today I took, them out, popped them into the VitaMix (no home should be without one!,)  added about a cup of chocolate soy milk, a banana and a scoop of the chocolate flavoured Vega protein powder.  I blended it up, and voilà, a beautiful sweet treat to celebrate a great day!  You can also try a less sweet version and use plain almond milk for your liquid and either the berry Vega protein powder, or no protein powder at all.

A raw version that I am excited to try is simple:  Frozen peaches, frozen strawberries, 2 bananas, raw frozen coconut milk,  1 tbsp of hemp hearts.  Mmm, my mouth is watering just thinking about it!

Bon Appétit!

Ingredients:

2.5 cups of dried lentils ( I prefer the small red)
1 Onion, finely chopped
1 Carrot, finely chopped
1 Stalk of Celery, finely chopped
2 Cloves of Garlic, minced
1 Tblsp of ginger root, minced
2 Tblsps of Olive Oil
1/2 Tblsp of Curry Powder
1 Tsp of Ground Cumin
1/2 Tsp of Turmeric
1/2 Dried Chili Pepper, minced
1 Bay Leaf
9 Cups of Vegetable Broth
6 Cups Fresh Spinach, coarsely chopped
Salt to taste
Fresh Ground Pepper to taste

Method:

It is not necessary to soak the lentils in advance. Rinse & drain the lentils, set aside. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions, carrots, celery & garlic. Saute for 8-10 minutes until they are golden, stirring occasionally. Stir in the curry powder, chili pepper, ginger, turmeric, cumin & bay leaf. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Pour in the vegetable broth & lentils. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to med-low and simmer UNCOVERED until lentils are tender, about 30 minutes. Add the spinach to the soup and simmer until it is wilted, about 5 mins. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove the bay leaf.

A trip to your local Veterinary Emergency Room is never farther than one curious nibble away.  If you are a cat parent like I am you are probably very well aware that they are known for their insatiable curiosity.  My girl, Douce, is a big fan of eating plants, she will eat then right down to the root if you don’t catch her in time!  Lucky for us, we only have “cat friendly” plants in our home.  Firstly, despite their beauty and heavenly smell, Lillies are EXTREMELY poisonous to cats, and should never be anywhere in your home!  Here is a list of common plants to remove from your home immediately to prevent your little ones from taking a fatal nibble (Please be aware this is NOT a complete list, please do some research before bringing a new plant into your home.):

Almond (Pits of)
Aloe Vera
Amaryllis
Apple (seeds)
Apple Leaf Croton
Apricot (Pits of)
Asparagus Fern
Autumn Crocus
Avacado (fuit and pit)
Azalea

Baby’s Breath
Beech
Belladonna
Bird of Paradise
Black-eyed Susan
Black Locust
Bleeding Heart
Bloodroot
Bluebonnet
Branching Ivy
Buttercup

Cactus, Candelabra
Calla Lily
Carnations
Charming Dieffenbachia
Cherry (pits, seeds & wilting leaves)
Cherry, most wild varieties
Chinaberry
Christmas Rose
Chrysanthemum
Clematis
Cordatum
Corn Plant
Cornstalk Plant
Crocus, Autumn
Crown of Thorns
Cuban Laurel
Cutleaf Philodendron
Cyclamen

Daffodil
Daphne
Datura
Deadly Nightshade
Death Camas
Devil’s Ivy
Delphinium
Dracaena Palm

Easter Lily *
Eggplant
Elaine Elderberry
English Ivy
Eucalyptus
Euonymus
Evergreen

Ferns
Flax
Four O’Clock
Foxglove
Fruit Salad Plant

Geranium Gold Dieffenbachi
Heartland Philodendron

Hemlock, Poison
Holly
Honeysuckle
Horse Chestnuts
Hyacinth Hydrangea

Iris

Janet Craig Dracaena
Jerusalem Cherry
Jimson Weed
Jonquil

Larkspur
Laurel
Lily
Lily of the Valley

Marigold
Marijuana
Miniature Croton
Mistletoe
Monkshood
Morning Glory
Mother-in Law’s Tongue
Morning Glory
Mushrooms

Narcissus
Nightshade

Oleander
Onion

Peach (pits and wilting leaves)
Pencil Cactus
Peony
Periwinkle
Philodendron
Pimpernel
Poinsettia
Poison Hemlock
Poison Ivy
Poison Oak
Poppy
Potatos
Primrose
Privet, Common

Rhododendron
Rhubarb

Saddle Leaf Philodendron
Skunk Cabbage
Snowdrops
Star of Bethlehem
Striped Dracaena
Sweetpea

Tansy Mustard
Taro Vine
Tobacco
Tomato Plant (green fruit, stem and leaves)
Tulip

Virginia Creeper

Water Hemlock
Wisteria

Yews –
e.g. Japanese Yew
English Yew
Western Yew
American Yew