Eating Filth 9 May 2008
I wonder how many people who eat animal-derived products would
continue to do so if they knew what they were really eating.
Heres a little eye-opener:
Up against the powerful meat industry, USDA [United States
Department of Agriculture] inspectors are more and more facing hostile
and even violent environments. A 2000 survey of 6 percent of the meat
inspection force revealed that almost half chose not to report animal
feces, vomit, metal shards, and other contaminants, weekly or monthly. A
Freedom of Information Act finding revealed in 1998 that seven meat
plants were allowed to operate, even after each had received more than a
thousand citations. From 101 Reasons Why Im a Vegetarian by Pamela
Rice
www.VivaVegie.org
With political corruption so rampant, the situation is probably worse
today.
Also visit:
http://www.all-creatures.org/anex/index.html
For great-tasting recipes, photos, and information, visit:
http://www.all-creatures.org/recipes.html
Responsible Policies for Animals, Inc. 8 May 2008
One of my favorite organizations is Responsible Policies for
Animals, Inc. A few years ago when we heard RPAs founder David Cantor
speak, we were impressed by his knowledge, integrity, and thoughtful,
intelligent approach to bringing to nonhuman animals the
species-appropriate legal rights they need.
As I learn more about the predicament of nonhuman animals, the irony
that becomes apparent is that human beings have far more to gain by
granting legal rights to nonhumans than by adhering to the status quo.
Yet, they allow themselves to be influenced by those who really arent
interested in the well-being of humans or nonhumans. We are so inundated
by ads paid for by those who control what the media says. For example,
how long do you think a medical doctor would last on a TV news channel
if he or she told the truth?
Please be sure to visit:
http://www.rpaforall.org/
Youll be glad you did!
Letter to WMHT Public TV 7 May 2008
From: Frank and Mary Hoffman
To: email@wmht.org
Subject: Circus Promotion
Dear Mr. Altman:
Surely you are aware of the intrinsic barbarity involved in nonhuman
animal entertainment as featured in circuses? The extreme suffering
involved in training animals is well documented, and injuries to human
onlookers make the news.
Please stop your promotion of the circus. Such abuse also undermines
your efforts in educating children. Its time to move into the 21st
century and take seriously the moral and ethical responsibility to
sentient beings both human and nonhuman. Surely, as a civilized
society, we must do no less.
Sincerely,
Hoffman Family Foundation
Frank and Mary Hoffman
Perfect Days 6 May 2008
Yesterday was one of those perfect spring days. In the morning I
enjoyed being outdoors doing the yard work weed whacking, pruning
branches, etc. Later my husband and I took a long walk, enjoying the
beauty of the blossoms and that special fresh appearance of the trees
as new leaves emerge.
Every year we look forward to seeing the wildflowers growing along
roadsides and in the woods. For a collection of our photos, visit our
Nature Studies section, which also includes photos we have taken in
Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Block Island, Rhode Island:
http://www.all-creatures.org/pics/nature.html.
This morning we thought wed go over to our favorite farm market and
see if they were open for the year. They were, and they had their first
produce of the season for sale fresh spinach; so we bought lots of it.
To see our Recipes, go to:
www.all-creatures.org/recipes.html
Chicken Recall 5 May 2008
The latest food recall announced in the news yesterday involves
143 tons of fresh and frozen meat and poultry products that might be
contaminated with the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes, which can
potentially cause Listeriosis resulting in high fever, headache,
nausea and, in people with depressed immune systems, even death.
When will people learn that crossing the boundaries of other animals,
by eating them and their secretions, is just plain wrong no matter how
one may try to excuse it? There is nothing good about exploiting
nonhumans for whatever reason: its bad for humans, bad for the
exploited animals, and bad for the environment.
And since I brought up the environment, consider all the contaminated
run-off from factory farms that ends up polluting the water. Then
theres all the land used to grow food for farmed animals when that land
could be used to grow crops for the starving people of the world. I
could go on and on about the harm brought about by animal agriculture.
When will people admit that Gods original plan was the best: to eat a
plant-based diet? In other words, go vegan!
Genesis 1: 29: Then God said, Behold, I have given you every plant
yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree
which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you.
Also visit:
http://www.all-creatures.org/anex/index.html
http://www.all-creatures.org/health.html
For great-tasting recipes, photos, and information, visit:
http://www.all-creatures.org/recipes.html
International Respect for Chickens Day 4 May 2008
Today is International Respect for Chickens Day. As I wrote in my
Blog for the 1st of May, this is International Respect for Chickens
Month. Please visit:
http://www.all-creatures.org/heart/blog-20080501.html
To learn more about what you can do to help raise awareness and bring
about peaceful, positive change for these most maligned animals, please
visit:
www.upc-online.org
Of course, the first and best thing to do is stop eating poultry and
eggs. Better yet, go vegan! We did, over twenty years ago and have been
enormously blessed since making that decision. Being compassionate, and
acting on it, benefits everyone humans and non-humans.
Also visit:
http://www.all-creatures.org/anex/index.html
For great-tasting recipes, photos and information, visit:
http://www.all-creatures.org/recipes.html
VENI CREATOR 3 May 2008
I found this poem by Bliss William Carman in a book of religious
poetry published in 1926. Born 15 April 1861 in Fredericton, New
Brunswick, Carman was descended from American Loyalists, and became
known as the foremost lyric poet of Canada. He attended the University
of New Brunswick, Harvard University, and the University of Edinburgh.
After moving to New York, he was an influential editor and writer of
literary journals. In 1928 he was awarded the Lorne Pierce Gold Medal
by the Royal Society of Canada. He died 8 June 1929.
VENI CREATOR
By Bliss Carman
Canadian poet and author
(15 April 1861- 8 June 1929)
I
Lord of the grass and hill,
Lord of the rain,
White Overlord of will,
Master of pain,
I who am dust and air
Blown through the halls of death,
Like a pale ghost of prayer,
I am thy breath.
Lord of the blade and leaf,
Lord of the bloom,
Sheer Overlord of grief,
Master of doom,
Lonely as wind or snow,
Through the vague world and dim,
Vagrant and glad I go;
I am thy whim.
Lord of the storm and lull,
Lord of the sea,
I am thy broken gull,
Blown far alee.
Lord of the harvest dew,
Lord of the dawn,
Star of the paling blue
Darkling and gone,
Lost on the mountain height
Where the first winds are stirred,
Out of the wells of night
I am thy word.
Lord of the haunted hush,
Where raptures throng,
I am thy hermit thrush,
Ending no song.
Lord of the frost and cold,
Lord of the North,
When the red sun grows old
And day goes forth,
I shall put off this girth,
Go glad and free,
Earth to my mother earth,
Spirit to thee.
II
Lord of my hearts elation,
Spirit of things unseen,
Be thou my aspiration
Consuming and serene!
Bear up, bear out, bear onward
This mortal soul alone,
To selfhood or oblivion,
Incredibly thine own,
As the foamheads are loosened
And blown along the sea,
Or sink and merge forever
In that which bids them be.
For a collection of poems and stories, visit:
http://www.all-creatures.org/poetrydir.html
