The Lush Scoop 02 - 'woman'

THE

A N E X P LO R AT I O N O F C R U E LT Y– F R E E C U LT U R E

ISSUE: 02 ISSN: 2203-9260

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ISSUE TWO: WOMAN Design Amy Sinclair amyelsinc.com

Illustrators Elin Matilda elinmatilda.com Lucy Yu lucyyu.net Madelyne Templeton madelynejoantempleton@gmail.com Evie Cahir eviecahir.com

Photographers Sarah-Kate McAleer sarahkatemcaleer.com Tilly Clifford till yclifford.com Erika Raxworthy blog.erikarax.com Claire Summers summersclairee@gmail.com Carine Thevenau carinethevenau.com

Writers Caterina Leone caterinaleone.com Naomi Beveridge naomibeveridge@gmail.com Jessica Hall jessrhall1994@gmail.com

Stylists Ella Bendrups ellabendrups.com

Proofreader Lydia Karageorgos l ydia.karageorgos@gmail.com

Cover Design: Amy Sinclair Photography: Till y Clifford 100% Carbon Neutral publication Printed at EnviroprintAustralia on 100% recycled stock.

© 2015 The Lush Scoop All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the editor, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. Opinions documented are not necessaril y those of the editor. For permission requests, write to the editor.

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EDITOR’S LETTER – THE POWER OF WOMAN –

Feminism. What is it to you? Feminism – for me – is about fairness and the equality of opportunity for all people. Much like feminism, veganism is about equality and freedom for all beings; and the movement of veganism is essential in our society. I recently discovered a beautiful TEDx talk by Martha Moss titled ‘The slut, the spinster & the perfect woman’. Martha states, that “once you have recognized gender inequality, and the need for feminism, you can’t unsee it”. The truth in that statement is so pungent, it literally gave me goosebumps. Veganism is much the same; once that moment of realisation hits you, everything changes. It can be difficult to maintain a positive attitude when you are attuned to the horrific happenings for both women, and animals, on our planet; but we must keep striving for the future that welcomes equality, because it only takes one person to start a movement.

Sometimes the universe works in mysterious ways. During my planning of this issue I was continuously stumbling upon inspirational vegan women. Some of them I am lucky enough to communicate with on a daily basis, and some I admire from afar. Discovering like-minded human beings is such a satisfying experience; but to discover other women, who are passionate vegans, loving mothers and driven business owners, is phenomenally empowering. Their stories and achievements are so encouraging that I decided to release a whole issue dedicated to women everywhere.

So here it is! The ‘woman’ issue, celebrating many vegan feminists from around the globe. Caterina Leone writes about the underlying connection between feminism and veganism, and Naomi Beveridge discusses what feminism is in the context of our world these days. An array of beautiful women talk to us about their experience with raising children as vegans; and seven extraordinary business-minded women discuss what drives them, who inspires them, and the divine strength that we – women – have.

I hope that this issue helps women everywhere to see that veganism is one step closer to feminism – and feminism one step closer to veganism. I also hope that the passion captured throughout this issue enables women to understand the infinite connection that we share. Respect your fellow sisters! It’s time to create a community of love, support, and understanding; if we expect all genders – or all beings – to be considered equal, we must begin with ourselves.

Love,

Amy Sinclair Founder/Creative Director

ILLUSTRATION BY ELIN MATILDA

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CONTENTS 4. TLS LOVES 9. REAL LIFE: MINDFUL MOTHERS 28. PROFILE: KATE BRADLEY 30. AWARENESS: BE FEMINIST, GO VEGAN 32. ILLUSTRATION: SO LONG, SUMMER 34. DIY: BATH SALTS 35. ENKINDLE: WOMANISM 50. WELLBEING: THE SACRED CYCLE 52. INSPIRATION: ONE MILLION WOMEN 53. RECIPES: FEAST 76. FICTION: THE INVISIBLE CLOAK 79. AWARENESS: WHAT IS FEMINISM?

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

AMY SINCLAIR EDITOR/CREATIVE DIRECTOR

SARAH-KATE MCALEER PHOTOGRAPHER

TILLY CLIFFORD PHOTOGRAPHER

I’m a: visual artist and a Health Science student. I love: plants, avocados, coffee and the sea.

I couldn’t live without: being surrounded by Mother Nature.

I’m a: vegan, a photographer, a wife and a mumma. I love: travelling and exploring new places. I couldn’t live without: my family.

I’m a: visual storyteller. I love: travelling, shooting, adventuring and eating delicious food.

I couldn’t live without: coffee and my camera.

NAOMI BEVERIDGE CONTRIBUTOR

KIRSTY PEARSON ASSISTANT EDITOR

CLAIRE SUMMERS CONTRIBUTOR

I’m a: hopeless romantic.

I love: living on this beautiful earth. I couldn’t live without: a connection to humans and animals.

I’m an: Ecology student, illustrator & occasional editor. I love: food!, plants, the ocean, exploring new places. I couldn’t live without: coffee, it’s my life blood.

I’m a: photographer. I love: smart & sustainable innovations in food, fashion and design.

I couldn’t live without: lazy Sunday mornings and avocados.

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WE LOVE:

LUCY YU: ARTIST Describe your workspace: “Lightbeams, lush greenery, soft colours and usually scented with a hint of refreshing citrus or warming chai spice in winter. My work table faces a wall of postcards and framed prints from my travels, and of places, people and artworks that keep me encouraged and inspired. Next to this is a floor to ceiling window looking out onto grass and trees; it makes me very thankful to have such a sunlight-filled space to make art in. I try to keep my creative space as welcoming as possible for mindfulness and new ideas!” To read the full interview visit: thelushscoop.com

PRESSED JUICES Cold press juicing is all the rage at the moment, and we understand why. Cold pressing extracts 3 to 5 times the enzymes and nutrients than traditional methods. The lack of oxygen and heat also helps the juice to last longer. Located in Sydney, the people at Pressed Juices have mastered the cold pressed juice and are saving you a whopping amount of time and effort. They feature 3 styles of juice cleanses on their website, and have a beautiful variety of flavours to choose from.

We are hooked!! To find out more, head to their website. pressedjuices.com.au

THE VEGAN BEAUTY BOX Ever wanted to find some wonderful, cruelty-free, vegan beauty products but didn’t know where to look? The Vegan Beauty Box is the absolute perfect place to start. This box of goodies is a cheap and easy way to test out a range of products whilst being kind to your wallet. It is released every second month, the contents are always 100% palm oil free, and only includes natural/non-toxic skincare and beauty lines. Every beauty box contains over $60 worth of goodies as a rule (though most of the time it’s over $70), and it will only set you back $49.95! To order one for yourself or a deserving woman in your life (Mothers Day is coming up!), head to their website. theveganbox.com

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* LOVES * KESTER BLACK Kester Black developed as a brand due to the lack of stylish, ethical and environmentally friendly cosmetics on the market. An Australian made and owned company created by one driven young woman, Anna Ross. Kester Black is committed to supporting local businesses, using sustainable production methods including recyclable materials and small batch manufacturing to minimise waste.

Using the highest quality of ingredients, certified cruelty free and free from chemical nasties. The Kester Black range is chip-resistant and their unique colour options are absolutely stunning. Jump on their website for more information. kesterblack.com We’re giving away a 3 pack of polish valued at $54! Simply email: comp@thelushscoop.com with ‘Kester Black’ in the title along with your details to enter.

CONTRIBUTE! Are you a writer, photographer, recipe creator, DIY-er, arist, vegan store owner or something else incredible? We are always taking submissions for our isues in print and features on the blog, so if you would like to be involved, jump online and send us your work! thelushscoop.com/submit

RAWSOME BAOBAB

OH DEER SUGAR

SACRED SELF

Pronounced ‘BEY-oh-bab’ this African superfood has been consumed for its flavour & health benefits for centuries.

Brimming with readily available nutrients including double the calcium content of milk, double the antioxidants of acai and six times vitamin C content of oranges.

It is great for your digestion, immune support, hydration, skin health & boosts your energy. We have been adding it to our smoothies, oats, cereals & raw desserts! To read more, visit the website. baobabsmile.com

This colourful range of bath and body products is handmade and crueltyfree. With a dynamic range of products including face masks, bath bombs and body cream. ODS is created by two women who strive to eliminate animalderived products, and the demand is growing rapidly! To get your hands on these sweet items, visit their website. ohdeersugar.com

Sacred self has recently released an organic roll-on perfume collection with a powerful purpose – to remind you to love yourself. The I Love My Life collection reminds you to love your mind, body & spirit. Our absolute favorite is I Love My Spirit. It is quite possibly the purest, most delicate perfume on the market.

Oh, and if you look closely you will see quartz crystals catching the sunlight and twinkling! sacredself.com.au

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LYLOH SARONGS

THE VEGAN TEAHOUSE

SOUL SHINE

Gone are the days of old bath towels at the beach. Let us introduce you to the Lyloh sarong! Lyloh’s have quickly become a travelling essential for us, both the original circular yin yang and the long sarong are impeccable and we cannot get enough of them. With a tighter weave of fabric than a regular sarong, Lyloh’s are made to last. The long sarong is such a unique creation it can be worn as a maxi-dress, a jumpsuit, a skirt, or simply used to lay on the beach and prevent your face from touching the sand. So don’t just sit there, go and grab one before they all sell out – or send your details to comp@thelushscoop.com to win yourself a stunning yin/yang sarong. lyloh.com.au

Let us introduce you to the mother of Australian hand-crafted teas and treats, The Vegan Teahouse. Labelling each item with a girls name – because it is important to have a relationship with the food we eat – and well, let’s face it – ‘cos girls rule! With a mission to reduce the incidence of animal cruelty by providing local, delightful products that are sure to impress all the ladies of the land. Available at café’s and health food stores around the country; saving the world one brownie at a time! To locate some TVT products, jump on their website. theveganteahouse.com

We have been wearing these messages with pride lately, and thought it was about time we introduced them to our fellow compassionate folk – you!

Soulshine is a clothing label with a mission, creating an inspirational range with positive messages to help spread the good vibes. A donation is made to Animals Australia for each item sold.

Perfect for yogis, beach lovers, or those who would put comfort in your clothing preference list. Get excited, because we are giving some away!!

Email: comp@thelushscoop.com for your chance to win a beautiful shirt. inthesoulshine.com/shop/

RAW CHOCOLATE Lets face it, everybody loves chocolate, but nobody likes the sugar come-down from a block of the processed/ supermarket kind.

What if we were to tell you that there is an alternative? RAW chocolate!

Hand crafted in small batches by Casey Pringle, this dairy free, refined sugar free, vegan, organic and fair-trade chocolate is packaged in recycled materials by Ms Pringle herself. Enhanced with wild orange essential oil and dried dates, RAW chocolate is incredibly-good-for-you and tastes absolutely divine.

To read more or find out where to purchase some of this deliciousness, visit: rawchocolate.net.au 6

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LUNA LIGHT

MADELYNE TEMPLETON: ARTIST Describe your workspace: “My work space is really small and it is located in my bedroom. I love working in small places. My thoughts stay contained and do not wander. In this space, I have two easels and some wall space to hang wood panels or canvases to paint on. I have a craftsmans tool chest to store all of my paints, bushes, paper, pencils and sketchbooks. It’s very organized and yet condensed. I’m always comforted by my two lovely work buddies, my cats. I call them my ‘little monsters’”.

To read the full interview visit the blog: thelushscoop.com

It’s often difficult finding jewellery to symbolise veganism that doesn’t look tacky. That is until you stumble across the spectacular work by Luna Light – created by Charlotte, a passionate vegan and lover of the natural world. Luna Light began through the idea for the ‘vegan’ ring (above), and blossomed into a one of a kind, hand-crafted jewellery store featuring stunning crystal rings and pendants. Charlotte donates a few dollars from every purchase to Farm Animal Rescue. These pieces are a constant reminder to appreciate the beauty around you. For more information or to purchase something from this glorious store, head to the website. lunalight.bigcartel.com

SPROUT & KERNEL If it’s cheese that is preventing you from making the leap to veganism, then this is our message to you – you don’t have to miss out! Vegan cheese is TO-DIE-FOR delicious, and Sprout & Kernal have mastered the art..

To find out where this stuff is stocked, visit:. sproutandkernel.com

FIRST PRESS COFFEE WIN ISSUE: 03!

For your chance to win a copy of the next issue, post a photo on instagram featuring the cover and tag: @thelushscoopmag & #thelushscoopmag. Congrats to our lucky winner of issue 02: @crazyforcacao!!

The creators of First Press would give anything for a damn fine coffee, so when they discovered the cold drip method they knew they had struck gold. With the help of gravity, cold water and an elaborate system, First Press was born. This cold brew has reduced acidity, a subtle sweetness and there are a dynamic range of flavors to choose from – this is coffee in its purest form.

To find out where you can score yourself some of this holy liquid, visit the website. firstpresscoffee.com

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mindful mothers Photography by Sarah-Kate McAleer & Tilly Clifford.

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Ash, Akiva & Goldie

Length of veganism so far:

looks. I haven’t actually had any bad experiences.

About 8 years, a bit of break at one point, so 5 solid years.

Was raising your kids vegan something you were always planning?

Yeah my partner has been vegan for 14 years now, so it was a definite for us.

Any challenges so far?

Not really, I’ve always had good Iron and B12 levels, so there’s never really been any reason for them to say that it is causing any harm to me. There’s never been any basis for criticism I guess, which has helped.

Plans for schooling years?

Breastfeeding?

Both girls are fully breastfed, with Akiva feeding through my pregnancy and Goldie only weaning a couple of months ago.

Tandem breastfeeding was tiring and hard but I’m glad I did it as it comforted me knowing she was still getting lots of nutrients from it. I plan to feed Goldie for at least 2 years.

Pregnancy experience: Really good, no real issues. Very easy, generally speaking.

Birthing story: Akiva’s birth was a bit disappointing actually, because the midwife I had deliver her was very cold and unsupportive. It was in the birthing centre at RPA. Obviously being my first time I just wasn’t confident, or prepared and she was unsupportive from the get–go she which made me feel even less confident.

I guess I just wasn’t expecting to feel so vulnerable. It was a short labour though, only 7 hours start to finish. The birth centre is awesome, it’s set up to be a very home-like environment and there is no medical staff. All of the midwives I had met during my pregnancy were great and then when I got there for Akiva’s birth, it was this woman I had never met and she was just really horrible. She told me I was being ‘silly’ and wouldn’t believe me that I was telling her that it was almost time — she just kept saying that I didn’t know what I was talking about and that I was going to be there for a long time. She talked me into having pethidine because she was convinced that I was going to be there for at least another 12 hours, and then Akiva was born about an hour later and she was really drowsy from the pethidine. I couldn’t breastfeed for the first 12 hours, so she was really upset. Goldie’s birth was absolutely amazing, I had a really supportive midwife who completely just left me to it, and I barely even saw her (in the best way) because she just left me to it, which was great. Goldie’s birth was only 3 hours start to finish, so it was really easy and I got to have her in the water which was lovely, we went home the same day. Same place, different midwife, which made such a difference.

What kind of food does Akiva eat?

We eat a lot of curries; Akiva eats whatever we eat really and has done from the start. She’s a really easy eater, she loves beans, broccoli, lentils and LOVES tofu. She loves smoothies, so we have them most days and pack loads of good stuff into them, which is reassuring.

How did people react to your decision of raising the girls vegan?

That makes me really nervous (laughs). Really, really nervous – for many reasons, but the vegan thing especially. I guess our stance is always going to be that we are vegan, and our home is vegan but at the same time we want them to be able to make their own choices. We will always have a vegan home but if she’s at school or a party and wants to try something, I do feel torn about saying ‘you aren’t allowed to eat that’.

I want them to understand and know why they are vegan, but also to have their own mind and make their own choices, and feel confident in that they aren’t letting us down if they choose not to continue our lifestyle.

What about influences, friends, other parents, teachers etc?

It is worrying letting other people be influences towards them – I am very concerned about that. My best ‘mum’ friend and her kids live on our street and funnily enough they are vegan too, which is really lucky, but I think its also sort of made us think ‘no problems’ — I mean, they have play dates and I don’t have to worry about what they’re eating there. When they get older and start spreading their wings it is going to be a bit harder.

Any vegan mothers or resources that helped you through your journey?

Yeah, definitely Sharon that I mentioned earlier, and another friend who I have known for years who now has a little girl as well. They’re both vegan, and the girls are all around the same age, which is great. It definitely helps having other mums going through the same thing. I have read a couple of books that I can’t for the life of me remember the name of, a lot of time online, chatting to people. I guess we’re just lucky she eats the way we do. I have thought about seeing a nutritionist, because you do get a lot of criticism that constantly weighs you down and it does occasionally make me doubt myself. I think people are very much more willing to criticise when you’re feeding someone else.

Any advice for other women raising vegan children?

Having other vegan parents on board definitely makes such a difference. When I have those moments of thinking ‘oh god’, I can talk to my friends and they’re like ‘relax, we’re all good, look how chubby they are’.

Links between veganism & motherhood: I guess so, I mean I think they both come down to caring.

Viewing all living things as important and equal.

Mixed. Our families are really supportive, we’re lucky we have no issues there. Other people, not so much. People seem to think that it’s not our choice to make them vegan, which I don’t really understand because I don’t see the difference between choosing your child to be a meat eater and choosing for your child to be a vegan. There are so many different lifestyle choices that are imparted on peoples children. Obviously there is just a stigma around being vegan and the assumption that they are going to have malnutrition but it’s just a lack of education, I think.

Experiences with Doctors, Practitioners etc: So far I haven’t had any issues, I mean there is a lot of concern about taking vitamins etc., but no real criticism – just funny 10

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SARAH-KATE MCALEER

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WHO: ASH, AKIVA & GOLDIE HOME: SYDNEY’S INNER WEST VEGAN FOR: 8 YRS

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Sarah-Kate & Aubrey

Was raising Aubrey vegan something you had always planned?

I planned to breastfeed and that wasn’t possible which was disappointing; we tried for quite a while, and I tried everything I could, but it just wasn’t happening for us. So I started looking into soy formula, and found Karicare to be the best fit . . . and I mean look at her — she is thriving, she has been ever since she started formula.

formula or tell me that she needs cows yoghurt and milk, meat etc. but they’ve all been so supportive! It’s a good indicator that veganism is becoming more widely accepted I guess. Especially during my pregnancy, I went in and told them I was vegan, asked them to give me the vegan version of any supplements I might need to take and my Doctor was fine with it. All of my results were totally fine, I was super healthy but he recommended that I take extra Vitamin D & Iron just as protocol, and he sought out the vegan brands for me. Even now when I go in, they ask me what she eats and they are all really happy with what she’s eating. My midwife actually gave me a vegan version of the ‘guideline’ for babies which was really cool.

Pregnancy experience:

Any challenges so far?

It was always a given, obviously I researched it a fair bit just to make sure everything was going to be healthy for her, given her age.

Breastfeeding?

I think I had a better pregnancy experience than anyone I know.

I was super healthy through it all, as was Aubrey. I just tried to eat as healthy as I could, grazed all day eating normal plant based whole foods and everything was great.

Aubreys birthing story: I wanted to do it as natural as I could just because I wanted to be able to feel it I guess, and I wanted to be in control of everything — because I know that when you have an epidural they have to tell you when to push when you’re having a contraction; so as much as I knew that it was going to kill, I wanted to do it. I went a bit overdue with her, about 3 days overdue – I was huge. That wasn’t a fun time but they were going to induce me, and then the morning that I was meant to be induced I went into labour – so that was sweet. It was a super quick labour — 6 hrs and she was born at about midday (1:30) and it was all really quick, so I didn’t even get a chance to get any gas or drugs or anything; it hurt like hell. I had a water birth in hospital, I had an awesome midwife, she came out easily, everything went as perfect as I could have hoped; she was healthy, came out screaming, and everything was great.

Morning/evening routine: My husband is also stay-at-home at the moment, which is awesome. She wakes up whenever the sun comes out, John & I both have smoothies and Aubrey will have some of both of our smoothies in her little cup. We just chill on the balcony in the morning, go for a walk to the mailbox. Aubrey just eats whatever we eat now. When she couldn’t chew whole-foods I would puree her fruit and veg, but now she literally eats whatever we eat. If we’re having curry — she will eat it; she loves spicy foods. I cant handle spicy food, but John eats it a lot so he will give her some of his and she loves it. She can handle a lot of spice! She also loves olives, whatever we give her really – stir fry, sushi, anything.

How did people react to your decision of raising Aubrey vegan?

There are so many people that get worried and they try to look for issues more than they would have if she wasn’t vegan. At the very start, when I was giving her formula she was still small because of her issues breastfeeding, so in the beginning of the formula period everyone was ‘oh, she’s still not gaining weight, you need to give her the full milk formula’. She was guzzling the formula; I knew she was going to gain weight, she just needed to catch up, and she did – within a couple of weeks. I guess people just want the best for your child, and they aren’t educated so I never really got angry or upset about it. Now is such a good example because she is in the top end of everything for her age group (weight, height, health) and she is so happy. She never gets sick other than a runny nose so she is the example and no one really questions it now, when I tell people she’s vegan they say “oh, wow, she’s so healthy”.

Experiences with Doctors, Practitioners etc: They’ve actually been really good! I was expecting the worst, I was expecting them to say that I shouldn’t give her soy

Not at all, really, everything has been fine! I guess the only thing would be family, because they aren’t really used to it. My mum is really good, she always has soy milk etc. in the cupboard, but if I was to go to my dads house, I will need to pack her food. Some people just don’t know what to feed her, if their diet consists of mainly meat and dairy etc. As long as you take things with you, people are generally fine. If we get invited to a picnic or something, I will always take a dish, but people are so supportive they will generally have a vegan option for us.

Plans for schooling years?

School is the big one because you don’t have as much control, they are in someone else’s care – which could be someone that might not care. Kids don’t know, you know. We will try to educate Aubrey as much as we can, but it is hard for me to think if I make cupcakes, they are going to look exactly the same as the cupcakes that the other kids have at school, so how is she going to know that they are different. So we will try as much as we can to explain it all to her, but you know if she makes mistakes and eats a cupcake – whatever, she’s a kid. It’s just about trying your hardest to live this lifestyle and not to contribute to the crap that it’s causing.

What about other influences, friends, other parents, teachers etc?

If she has a sleepover with her friends, I mean it’s just again about taking food and being prepared. I’m sure she will make mistakes and she will eat dairy along the way, probably not meat because that’s an obvious one but I’m sure she will slip up.

It is what it is, I’m not going to be mad.

Any vegan mothers or resources that helped you through your journey?

Honestly, I don’t know any other vegan mums. I guess there are a few out there, but I haven’t met any other mums that are vegan. I’ve read a lot of blogs and books, found things on Pinterest and a lot of different websites etc. It’s mainly been common sense I guess and doing things the way we want to do them. Everyone’s parenting style is different anyway, really.

Any advice for other women raising vegan children?

Just that it’s totally doable! I think kids are automatically so drawn to fruit, veggies and good whole food. I mean they aren’t going to want junk food unless you give them junk food. Veganism is just the healthy option. You have to take responsibility and look after your child’s health and the best way to do that is with food that looks real. Instead of giving them processed junk — just give them real food. It’s what we’re meant to eat, and it’s not hard. Veganism is so much more widely accepted now, people aren’t so daunted by it. Watch documentaries like Forks Over Knives, Fed Up, Cowspiracy, etc.

There are so many cool documentaries to watch and to give to your family if they doubt it; be educated about it and be committed before you go and tell everybody about it. People will be against you — but know that it is definitely the best thing for your children.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TILLY CLIFFORD

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WHO: SARAH-KATE & AUBREY HOME: HAWKESBURY RIVER VEGAN FOR: 7 YRS

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY TILLY CLIFFORD

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Emma & Atlas

How was your pregnancy experience?

It was the most grounding and beautiful phase of my life so far.

I didn’t have any of the usual ailments that people complain of during pregnancy. I was super fit, really healthy, totally addicted to mangoes and coconuts – like beyond! I spent much of my time bushwalking and exploring nature right up until the day before he was born. I felt incredibly strong and calm, I was climbing cliffs, finding waterfalls and hugging giant blue gums almost every other day. I took no vitamins only pro-biotics and felt no need to visit a doctor. I was ready and prepared for motherhood.

Atlas’s birthing story: Atlas was born at 11:59pm on the 26th of March after almost 24 hours of labor. I had an incredibly empowering and spiritual water birth at home in the lounge room with my partner, Mother and 2 midwives there for support. I have tried many times to write about it so I could share the experience with others but I can hardly find the words to describe such an epic experience.

It was everything I could have dreamed of, it was intense but liberating and has forever changed me in the best kind of way.

How has Atlas gone with breastfeeding?

He latched only moments after entering the world; the journey has been very easy for us.

Was raising Atlas vegan something you were always planning?

Yes. I was vegan for 4 years before conception and have no plans of ever changing that, my partner is also vegan. The hardest part was realizing that we had unconsciously been eating and using animals our whole lives. Veganism is simply the base of our ethics now.

What are his favorite foods?

He eats anything and everything we have! His favourite being mangoes which is not surprising as I ate so many of them in pregnancy, but he also loves green smoothies, rice, salad leaves, vegetables, tempeh, coconut yogurt, berries, all fruits and a new favourite is baked cauliflower with turmeric!

How did people react to your decision of raising Atlas vegan?

I do not put weight on others opinions, they are ignorant to the truth, the health impacts, the spiritual impacts and how abundant our diet actually is. I know with every fibre of my being that our path is right and that Atlas is so blessed to be starting a life without causing harm. I think that shines so brightly from my spirit that others rarely react to our story.

People with negative opinions are coming from a place of ignorance; they may never have met a vegan child, and are simply speaking from what they know. It is very obvious to most that Atlas is thriving as a vegan.

Your experiences with Doctors, Practitioners etc: Luckily I have haven’t had any contact with them! My midwives were wonderful and supportive, they knew just by looking at me each month of my pregnancy that I was doing exactly what was needed to nourish myself.

Any challenges so far?

Absolutely none. He has reached every milestone before he was supposed to, I had a perfect birth because of him and his health is perfect. I wanted to be a mother, we created a soul and he has fitted into our lives perfectly.

Plans for schooling years?

Our dream is to home-school and teach our children to prepare food from seed to plate. Educating them about life and

nurturing their interests instead of forcing them into a mould.

We just plan to make Atlas empowered with knowledge so that he doesn’t want to try those things. My partner has a son who has been a vegetarian his whole life, and ever since he has been able to talk he’s always asked where things come from before he chooses to eat it. No child wants to be involved in animal cruelty.

What about other influences, friends, other parents, teachers?

Instagram has been such a wonderful place to be influenced by like-minded mothers, watching their journeys and learning from their experiences. It’s such an incredible platform to connect with others on similar journeys. Along with friends in the physical world who have been a great help.

Health benefits of veganism?

There are so many! Physically we are so much stronger, healthier, we don’t need to visit Doctors anymore. Spiritually, we are so much more relaxed and chilled out. I have dropped every ounce of my anxiety since becoming vegan, and I know that it’s because of what I was eating. It has even made us live simpler. We are so much more conscious about what we buy now you know, I mean I don’t buy makeup and all of those things because I know where they come from now.

Do you connect veganism & motherhood in any way?

Yes 100%! If you are a woman – a mother – how can you look at dairy and not make the connection? It’s so horrible to take a child from their mother. Showing women the dairy industry would be so empowering for change, especially a breastfeeding mother. I feel empathy is one of the most valuable traits a child can learn. I think now when people understand the concept of living a plant based diet, families are becoming so much healthier! Becoming a vegan completely revolutionised my life, my diet, my outlook on things – I was always an ‘animal-lover’ but I just had no concept of what was happening. I could never imagine having my child taken from me, so another could have a taste satisfied. If I can’t fathom that reality for myself I cannot make that a reality for someone else.

Are there any vegan mothers or resources that helped you through your journey?

Mother Fungus (Instagram) is one of my best friends. We were pregnant at the same time, we gave birth a week apart, and we spent our whole pregnancy discussing different types of foods and how they were feeling for us. Vegan Wolf (Instagram) is a wonderful home birthing vegan mother who has raised 2 children, completely vegan from conception to their early adulthood and is a wonderful spirit to connect with. We have known each other many years but connected more recently when I made the transition into veganism and conceived Atlas.

Her wealth of knowledge is impressive and it’s wonderful to see that raising vegan children is not only completely possible, but it’s the best way. Don Tolman is another wisdom seeker who I suggest anyone considering or living a whole foods plant lifestyle to connect with, download his podcasts, even try to see him live when he visits the country. The man knows so much and reaffirms everything my intuition tells me.

Any advice for other women raising vegan children?

To be strong in your decision. Trust that you are doing the best thing you can by raising your children with compassionate ethics and a healthy base. Research everything instead of relying on others to have the knowledge, and simply trust that your intuition will guide you. Don’t be discouraged by other people’s comments. Know that there are so many other people out there raising perfectly healthy vegan children. Above all, a mother’s intuition knows best.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TILLY CLIFFORD

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* REAL L IFE *

WHO: EMMA & ATLAS HOME: THE BLUE MOUNTAINS VEGAN FOR: 5 YRS

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY TILLY CLIFFORD

* REAL L IFE *

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* REAL L IFE *

Jess & Daisy

Was raising Daisy vegan something you were always planning?

Any challenges so far?

When I made the switch to veganism, my ethical choices immediately impacted my parenting life.

None that I can think of, it’s really easy to adapt a vegan lifestyle to suit a child’s. It is certainly easier with a really good eater; I’ve never had any issues getting her to eat meals etc.

Pregnancy experience: My pregnancy was pretty grueling. My first trimester was during what seemed like the hottest summer I had ever experienced, which wasn’t too fun with all day morning sickness. I also ended up developing a condition called “Puppp” (Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy) which is an all over body rash and meant a lot of sleepless nights as a result. As I think back on the whole experience now, it seems like a complete breeze. Any amount of pain/discomfort is worth the incredible experience of carrying a tiny life around inside of you.

Birthing story: My birth experience was a long one. I had uncomfortable contractions for 2 days until they got painful enough for me to go to the hospital. Once at the hospital, there was a lot of waiting around and routine check ups with no significant progress. I was in pain but determined to have a natural birth, I pushed through hours of pain by taking baths, listening to music and trying my best to rest up. After many, many hours of active labour, I was checked again and told that I had made no progress and had to have my waters broken. It was extremely emotional and disappointing, because I felt like my body was failing me, but I got through it with words of encouragement from my family and the constant reminder that the intense pain I was in, would end in a wonderful way. The next day, Saturday the 9th of July, after almost 24 hours of active labour, I finally met my beautiful daughter and all of the pain that I thought would be never ending, completely disappeared. There are honestly no words to describe the magical feeling of love that completely engulfs you when you finally get to see and hold the tiny human that you have been waiting to meet for so long.

How did you go with breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding was another tough one for me. I did try for a while but it yielded no results as Daisy had problems latching so we had to make the switch to formula feeding.

How did people react to your decision of raising Daisy vegan?

Most people don’t understand, I’ve had a lot of people say things like “Children need red meat” and “You need a glass of cows milk a day to get calcium” etc. I feel like people are generally uneducated as that kind of mentality is one that has been pushed on so many generations. So some people have a hard time believing that it is actually possible to live a perfectly healthy, nutritious, cruelty free lifestyle.

Morning/evening routine?

In the morning we wake up at around 6:30 and start the day with a big meal, which is usually Daisy’s favourite – avocado on toast with beans and rocket. We bathe, get ready for the day and take our little dog, Luna, for a walk before the weather heats up. Our days are generally filled with lots of reading, drawing/painting and visits to the park. In the evening, we prepare dinner together before winding down for bed at 7:00pm with a story.

Daisy’s favourite meals: Daisy loves food and will eat anything I give her! Her absolute favourite foods are avocado, peas and blueberries – so any meal featuring those foods is a winner.

Plans for schooling years?

It isn’t something I have thought about extensively, but I am sure it will be no problem. I have found most people (especially the younger generation) to be very understanding.

What about influences, friends, other parents, teachers etc?

There is a plethora of supportive and inspiring people I have interacted with via social media, etc. Technology has been amazing for connecting with other mothers and vegans who have certainly impacted my lifestyle/given me inspiration for meal ideas and ethical/eco friendly alternatives.

Were there any vegan mothers or resources that helped you through your journey?

I have connected with plenty of vegan mothers through instagram/blogging etc. who have certainly helped me. I also watched a bunch of documentaries and read a lot about the farming industry and veganism. The Best Speech You Will Ever Hear (YouTube) of animal rights activist Gary Yourofsky seriously changed my life. I would recommend it to anybody interested in going vegan or simply learning more about the brutality and mistreatment of animals in the farming industry as well as the general misconceptions regarding the vegan diet.

For me, especially as a mother, it was very important to learn as much as I could about the dairy industry. I find it is something that is often overlooked in every day lives but it is such a massive reason as to why the vegan diet is so important. The dairy industry tears mothers from their children every single day. I remember watching a video after I had just gone vegan, of a dairy cow going through the painful motions of birth, only to have her baby immediately torn away from her. The bellow that the mother cow let out as a result of being separated from her baby completely broke my heart and made the emotional pain of other animals very evident.

Do you have any advice for other women raising vegan children?

I have found it to be extremely easy to adjust my lifestyle choices to suit my child’s life. It is so easy to draw the nutrients we all need from plant-based foods, I also found that after switching to a vegan diet, my energy levels increased immensely and I was no longer feeling sluggish and tired which is especially great when you have a wild toddler to chase around. There is honestly a vegan alternative for everything, so nobody misses out on anything.

Links between veganism & motherhood: Being a mother is something completely natural and selfless, as is a vegan lifestyle. When you become a mother, you render yourself to your child and they become your entire world – you put your child before yourself. You enforce the same practices with a vegan diet, by putting the lives of animals before yourself. On the other hand, humans are naturally herbivores and eating the meat of other beings and consuming the milk of other animals that was not ever intended for our consumption is actually doing our bodies more harm than good. I definitely think that adapting the natural vegan lifestyle and choosing to nourish our bodies and our childrens bodies is the best choice any mother (or anybody in general) could make.

Experiences with Doctors, Practitioners etc: I honestly haven’t had any bad experiences thus far.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TILLY CLIFFORD

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* REAL L IFE *

WHO: JESS & DAISY HOME: SYDNEY’S INNER WEST VEGAN FOR: 1.5 YRS

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TILLY CLIFFORD

* REAL L IFE *

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* REAL L IFE *

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* REAL L IFE *

Jessica & Erika

Length of veganism so far: Almost 2 years, but over 20 years vegetarian prior to that.

Was raising Erika vegan something you had always planned?

At first I thought – well, if my mum was vegan and she raised me vegetarian, I would have been really upset by that. It was an ethical decision to go vegan, so I did a lot of research and ended up finding out that it was also a lot better for Erika’s health raising her vegan. Of course everyone wants to do the best for their child (well, you would hope), and I found out that dairy really isn’t good for us, so it was an ethical decision, but it was beneficial for her health which is truly why we made the decision for her. Even for me, I had horrible eczema, which went away after I cut out the dairy.

Breastfeeding?

Switching to a vegan diet when Erika was a few weeks old made absolutely no difference to the quality of milk or milk supply. Erika was exclusively breastfed until she was 7 months and she was always a very healthy weight! She continued to breastfeed until she weaned herself off at 18 months.

Pregnancy experience: The pregnancy was really good but I was actually vegetarian when I was pregnant and I went vegan after she was born, but I still had a really good pregnancy. I had nausea, but other than that it was good.

Birthing story: It was a long one, but it was beautiful. I did a calm birth course before the birth with my husband, and we really worked well as a team. I learned how to work with the contractions. It was long birth because she was posterior, but natural. It was very painful but if I didn’t do the calm birth course I don’t think I would have managed. The knowledge I gained during the calm birth course and the breathing and visualisation techniques I learned really helped me to stay in control. It also helped having my husband, aunty and mum there; I think it’s really important to have people around you that you can draw strength from!

Erika’s favorite meals: For breakfast Erika loves avocado on wholemeal toast with chia seeds; she also likes muesli with almond milk. For dinner her favourite is lentil and endive soup — I make it with kale too, but I have to blend the kale to disguise it. I mostly cook vegan Italian food for dinner. I like to include fresh, organic, local produce in my cooking to be sure we’re getting the most out of the fruit and veg we eat. I also include plenty of nuts, seeds and legumes. She also loves my home-made burgers which I try to pack with as many super-foods as possible! Erika is also a huge fan of cashew cheese.

started giving her avocado, and other healthy fatty foods and her weight went up quite a bit.

Any challenges so far?

I can’t say that so far we have had any challenges.

Plans for schooling years?

It’s going to be all packed lunches (laughs). I have thought about what areas would be more supportive of the lifestyle choice because it will make it easier sending her to an accepting school.

What about influences, friends, other parents, teachers etc?

I think by the time she starts going to school she will be so well informed about our lifestyle that if anything, she would be able to teach those people a thing or two. Whenever I get into a discussion about being vegan, I just can’t believe how easy it is for me and they always seem so shocked at the things that I tell them, and they are just unaware. There really isn’t a counter-argument for veganism.

Any vegan mothers or resources that helped you through your journey?

I don’t personally know any vegan mums apart from my own who went vegan at the same time as me. It was really helpful being a part of vegan groups on Facebook, and on Instagram seeing so many other vegan mums and also people who were in their 20’s that had been raised vegan from birth. It was great to see those families on Instagram and get inspired by that.

I also read lots of books.

Any advice for other women raising vegan children?

Feel confident about your decision — I can definitely see the benefits for Erika. Humans are designed like herbivores and being on a vegan diet really is the best thing — and I strongly believe that. I feel strongly about the decision we have made and it was just the best timing discovering the reality of the dairy and egg industry which I didn’t know about. I have seen the benefits of raising Erika vegan first hand. I would recommend including nutritional yeast fortified with B12 and other B12 fortified foods in your child’s diet. I just felt like the timing was perfect in the sense that now I can raise Erika vegan.

How did people react to your decision of raising Erika vegan?

Fortunately, my mum went vegan at the same time that I did and we have been really fortunate because we have such an open-minded, supportive group of friends, so they’ve all been asking me ideas for recipes and things because they want to feed their children more fresh fruit, veggies, legumes, and all of that as opposed to dairy etc.

Experiences with Doctors, Practitioners etc: It’s tricky because my naturopath isn’t even vegetarian (well the one that I had before Erika) so when I told her I was deciding to raise Erika vegan she seemed a little bit freaked out by it.

Erika was in the top 90% of her age group for weight until she cut back on the breast milk and my GP told me to start feeding her lots of fatty foods to catch up. She told me to “just grate cheese on everything” — which I thought was so wrong, so I just PHOTOGRAPHY BY SARAH-KATE MCALEER

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* REAL L IFE *

WHO: JESSICA & ERIKA HOME: SYDNEY’S INNER WEST VEGAN FOR: 2 YRS

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY SARAH-KATE MCALEER

* REAL L IFE *

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PROFILE

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* PROFIL E *

KATE BRADLEY AN INSIGHT INTO THE SOUL BEHIND KENKO KITCHEN.

Kate has her first ever cookbook – Kenko Kitchen – being released early this year.

Luckily for us she has taken time out of her busy schedule to share a snippet of her passion for nourishing food. Kate’s love for food has undoubtedly been with her for years; at a mere 24 years old she has already been featured as a guest chef on The Design Files Daily along with Frankie, Yen & Inside Out Magazine.

It is clear to anyone that knows you that your commitment to creating unique and remarkable food and nutritious recipes occupies your every thought. What is it that ignites you to be always creating?

People always have their different outlets, whether you’ve found it or not – it’s always there. There are so many creative outlets that we can have and for me it’s cooking. I used to love art and drama and the kitchen is where I can have both. I love the challenge and drama of creating new and exciting recipes whilst trying to ensure they are nutritious and I cannot ever get away from creating something that looks beautiful. Since I first stepped into the kitchen I haven’t known any other way. My mind is on food and nutrition 90% of every day if not more!

What was it that originally made you closely consider the food you ate? With food being such a significant part of your life from a young age, was there a profound shift that changed the way you viewed your relationship with food?

My mother got sick when I was in high school and this was the first trigger for the importance of my family and friend’s health. I didn’t want anything to happen to those around me, and whilst my mothers sickness wasn’t diet related I knew I just wanted to do everything I could to ensure that those around me were healthy and happy. This newfound interest in health tied into a body image issue I have been combatting since a very early age and it was then that I realised how important it was to form a healthy relationship with food. I had to stop seeing food and ‘diets’ as a punishment and remove that guilt associated with food, but instead see it as this medicine we have to make our bodies heal and love itself. Food is so magical we should never see it in a bad light or punish ourselves with hideous crash diets!

When you begin to formulate a recipe, where do you begin and what elements do you place the most importance on?

If I am completely honest it nearly always begins with what is available in my fridge or what I have on hand growing in my garden and trying to match it with a certain cuisine I am feeling like at that time. I like the challenge of seeing how I can mould an ingredient into something new and how I can use various things together without wastage. I always try and use every part of what I have and try not to throw anything out so this is where my creativity blossoms. If I can make the scrappy looking cauliflower in my fridge into something totally delicious and new to share on my website this is where I start!

“Living a vegan lifestyle is important to me on many levels.”

What, in your own opinion, makes a vegan lifestyle so worth living? What benefits does it offer that you haven’t found elsewhere?

Living a vegan lifestyle is important to me on many levels. You feel this whole new relationship with animals once you let that element of meat eating go. I haven’t eaten meat since I was 12 years old, it’s just second nature for me now. I have this appreciation for animals and this love and respect I couldn’t fathom having if I knew I was still eating their family and friends.

It also adds to this challenge of creating amazing dishes with limited options. If you can make something special and delicious with simply nutritious plants it’s pretty amazing!

Throughout your travels, which country’s relationship with food surprised or inspired you most?

partner’s family, I learnt how important food was to bring a family together and how important fresh ingredients are, using what is in season. In Japan I learnt how important it is to balance a meal and choose ingredients which have that yin/yang to make the most nutritious meal possible. In South America it’s ALL about the food and the sitting down to enjoy it with family and friends. It’s such a different experience. In other European countries it’s all been about the love and appreciation of the food. It seems to only be Western culture that doesn’t have that same relationship. We just seem to pop whatever in our mouth without caring where it’s from, how it’s been processed and what it will do to our bodies. This is all we know and we don’t seem to care and I think this is what surprises and scares me the most!

If you had to choose five food items of any variety and three kitchens appliances or utensils that you couldn’t fathom cooking without, what would they be?

Food items: avocado, cacao, almonds, sweet potato and all things coconut.

Kitchen appliances: My Vitamix, Kuvings Cold Press Juicer and my La Creuset stovetop cookware.

What is one of the most significant things you hope to achieve or communicate with your work? What is the most important thing you would hope someone might take from the story you are telling through food?

For me what I do is much more than just creating health food for a particular diet. It’s about teaching people to have a whole new relationship with food and see food in a new light. It’s not even about a “lifestyle” it’s just about ensuring you find peace and happiness within food.

In the future I hope to do a lot of work combating body image issues in youths and young adults and this is where a lot of our food issues are formed. I just want people to be happy, healthy and to see how beautiful they really are.

Each place I’ve visited has inspired me in a new way. Being in Turkey with my INTERVIEW & PHOTOGRAPHY: CLAIRE SUMMERS

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* AWARENESS *

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ILLUSTRATION BY MADELYNE TEMPLETON

* AWARENESS *

BE FEMINIST, GO VEGAN.

BY CATERINA LEONE

Morpheus: This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill – the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill – you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes.

Becoming a feminist is rather like taking the red pill. You suddenly become aware of all the ways that society discriminates against women. Your eyes are opened to male privilege and the hierarchy that disempowers women, people of colour, homosexuals and people who are transgender, transsexual or disabled. Feminism, especially in its current expression, is about giving a voice to all people who experience oppression.

So what about animals? Speciesism is, as feminism once was, so far down the rabbit-hole that many feminists don’t seem to consider it. Yet not doing so is to oppose feminism’s aims. Why not see just how deep the rabbit-hole goes?

The oppression of nonhuman animals is directly linked to, and actually reinforces, the oppression of women. In her influential book ‘The Sexual Politics of Meat’, Carol J. Adams explores how meat is a cultural symbol of masculinity, and how vegetarianism is equated with the feminine and thus with weakness. She also detects links between the slaughter of animals and violence directed against women. Sound farfetched? Perhaps not: recent research has discovered a 166% increase in arrests for rape in communities where a beef slaughterhouse is present.

That seems like a feminist issue to me.

The unethical treatment of animals and the oppression of women are both linked to the desire of males. The consumption of meat relies on a person separating their ‘meat’ from the fact that she or he was once a living animal, by keeping something from being seen as someone. This sounds startlingly like what all feminists would be aware of: the objectification of women by the media, the majority of which is owned by males. Women’s bodies are used by the media in ways that transform them from someone into something. But there’s another link: the many ways that misogynist images hinge on actually describing women as meat. From The Sexual Politics of Meat: A steakhouse in New Jersey was called ‘Adams Rib’. Who do they think they were eating? The Hustler, prior to its incarnation as a pornographic magazine, was a Cleveland restaurant whose menu presented a woman’s buttocks on the cover and proclaimed, “We serve the best meat in town!”

to withdraw an ad campaign from social media and outdoor advertising as a result of complaints received. The ad campaign proclaimed “We’ve got the best racks” and pictured two women wearing low cut dresses sitting beside a fully dressed man.

The man presents a slab of meat on a wooden cutting board.

Hashtagged #bestrack, the ad appeared on Facebook late last year and announced that for every rack sold $1 (amounting to only 2.7% of each meal) would be donated to a breast cancer charity known as ‘The Treasure Chest’. Apart from the obvious sexual objectification of women, and the comparison of women to a piece of meat, Collective Shout spokesperson Melinda Liszewski asked: “How are women who are undergoing treatment for breast cancer – which may include the removal of one or both breasts to save their lives – supposed to feel about your invitation to sexualise and judge women’s breasts?”

Twenty-four years later and at least we’re beginning to have these sorts of ads removed. If we unite veganism and feminism, we might even be able to stop them being marketed in the first place.

When sexism and speciesism collide, the result is worse for the animals. The reproductive organs of cows, hens, sows and ewes have become nothing more than machines, providing products for human consumption. Dairy cows live their short lives restrained, artificially inseminated without their consent, forced to endure pregnancy after forced pregnancy, with their children taken away from them to suffer the same life, or to be killed in infancy for veal. The cows are eventually killed as their productivity wanes. The natural lifespan of a cow is up to 20 years, yet few commercial dairy cows live beyond the age of 7. If this was happening to a woman it would be classed as torture, rape and murder, and we would be utterly horrified by it. So simply ask yourself this: Why is it different for any other species?

It’s much easier to recognise our own oppression. Nonhuman animals can’t speak our language so we have to be their voice.

To stand up for only women’s or animal’s or worker’s liberation is a mistake. All forms of oppression are interrelated and of equal value. It would be much easier to end oppression for all if the separate aims united. Yes, it is better to be a feminist who isn’t vegan, than to be neither, and vice versa, but I believe that one without the other is rather like swallowing half a red pill.

Why stop halfway down the rabbit-hole? Go all the way. Be a feminist, go vegan. Be a vegan, go feminist.

You might expect things to have improved since the book’s publication in the early 90’s. But just recently, a restaurant had 31

so long, summer Illustrations by Evie Cahir

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* DO IT YOURSEL F *

DIY HEALING BATH SALTS SWEET ORANGE & HEALING CALENDULA BY SELF ORGANICS

Self-Organics believe in the philosophy of indulging the self and nurturing the soul with organic ingredients both inside and out. They create a range of vegan friendly cold pressed soaps, body butters, balms, bath salts & scrubs, along with a well being range of loose leaf teas and woodwick natural soy wax candles. Lucky for us, they have been kind enough to share one of their recipes for a healing bath soak.

Epsom salts are high in magnesium which is a natural muscle relaxant, so this sweet, citrus concoction can relax sore and aching muscles after a long day at work and it’s a fabulous soak for women during their ‘Sacred Cycle’ too.

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Makes: 300ml Prep time: 10 mins INGREDIENTS

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200gm Rock Salt 200gm Epsom Salt 3g Calendula Petals 50 drops Sweet Orange Essential Oil

TO MAKE 1. Weigh out the dry ingredients separately 2. Combine the salts & add the petals 3. Stir the dry ingredients until well combined 4. Add the drops of essential oil 5. Stir once again to combine all the ingredients

EQUIPMENT

6. Scoop and distribute the salts evenly into 3 jars.

* * *

7. To enjoy your creation, add a handful of salts to warm bath water, then relax in bath and soak up the goodness. Perfect after a long week at work!

Spoon Digital Scales 3 x 100ml Jars (with lid)

WWW.SELFORGANICS.COM

* ENKINDL E *

WOMAN I S M SEVEN BRILLIANTLY DEDICATED WOMEN TALK ABOUT WHAT DRIVES THEM, WHO INSPIRES THEM, AND THE DIVINE STRENGTH THAT WOMEN SHARE. INTERVIEWS BY AMY SINCLAIR | ILLUSTRATIONS BY LUCY YU

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KARO TAK

35. Spiritual Activist, Vegan Chef, Yogi.

* ENKINDL E * What led you to veganism?

I was vegetarian when I was about 5 years old or something; I rescued my first animal-being when I was 8 years old. I was always so driven towards animal beings but it was really this one guy from England – his name is Liam Walsh. I have an acting and sort of performance background and we were on this show together (his performance) and he was vegan. I remember I was always cooking for everyone; I had been doing it my whole life. The whole crew would be together and I would cook for everyone but I would always cook something different for Liam. I bought my first vegan cookbook because I wanted to serve him as well. He was so gentle about it and so sweet, very loving and not pushing it on to me. He made me really think and I just went vegan overnight really. I’m really glad I met him, because I feel that because of him, that’s where the journey really started, and then I joined Sea Shepherd and I learnt so much about vegan cooking because I became the chef on–board and that really got me. I felt now truly vegan, because I also knew how to use it and then I wrote my own cookbook. Now I’m a big vegan activist, I’m just really happy that I am where I am. I’m really grateful for just meeting this one guy and now I hope that I am that person to a lot of people and I think that’s what vegans do, ‘spread the virus together’.

What motivates you to move forward?

Well life, and definitely my veganism, totally. Like all day everyday, and I say this all the time, that every breath I take is for the animals. Everything I do, even when I’m really tired, I’m just like ‘I’m so wrecked, but I’ve got to keep going’. So I really thrive on it too, and the drive for life – just being really passionate about everything that I do and just feeling really blessed enables me to do that. My yoga teachers who are very important to me, Sharon Gannon and David Life. Sharon says that “you are the instrument; it’s not about you. It’s about what it is you’re doing and what it is you’re bringing to people and you have to serve at all times”. If I come home and I’m really tired it’s not like ‘oh, poor me’, it’s about the fact that I have to look after myself and I have to use this body and use this ‘container’, as they call it, to keep going and get other people involved as well.

What would Jim Morrison say? – “I’m the lizard king, I can do anything”.

Do you consider yourself a feminist/ activist?

Yes, 100%, 200%! Sharon also explains this in her book, Yoga and Vegetarianism “if you are a feminist, you should be vegan” and I strongly believe in it. You cannot call yourself a feminist and still eat dairy, you know. I’ve done a lot of hands–on animal rights activism, so I’ve been in there, in factory farms, and seen these cows being raped, and it’s just so full on. I think that a lot of my activism, especially my vegan activism comes from my feminist activism as well. A lot of women tell me – a lot of my female friends – are like “wow, I’ve never met a

feminist who is 100% straight”. I really stand for the fact that I’m a woman, I think that feminism works in such positive ways lots of the time – you use your charm here and there and people respond to it. You can use your feminine power, absolutely, 100%. Even in my yoga teaching, or anything that I’m bringing to the people, it comes from feminism.

Can one person make a difference?

200%! I do a lot of talks, they’re called Spiritual Activism talks and I focus on the power of the individual. It comes from anthropologist Margaret Mead – I use her quotes a lot in my talks. She says “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has”. Never big institutions, definitely never governments! I’d rather be in the minority of it, I’d rather be in the small groups, I’d rather be radical, not us AGAINST them, but us FOR something, and therefore strong. I think all veganism is based on the power of the individual; there was one person that had enough and it started spreading.

What mistakes have you learnt from?

I never really see mistakes as mistakes. I always see them as learning, and I think that you never should regret anything.

I always say you only fail if you stop trying, and is a mistake really a mistake?

Sometimes it’s good to look at a situation as your own solemn witness. In yoga we call that Sakshi, where you’re actually looking at yourself or your situation but with distance and without judgement. I think we have this tendency to go ‘oh my god, that was such a mistake!’ or ‘that guy was such a liar’. My last boyfriend actually was a horrible liar, and I guess I could have seen it as a mistake, but I’m really happy because he was one of the best teachers of my life. I mean, he broke my heart in like 500 different places, and it completely ruined me but my heart is open again and if it wasn’t for that situation I couldn’t be where I am now.

What is the most difficult barrier or obstacle for female empowerment?

There’s only one: Men. Men who don’t understand that we are who we are, it’s so offensive. I think a lot of men who come from a lot of different cultures and different generations, do not understand empowerment of females, and we are who we are. I think what I also find very inspiring in Sydney and I guess all over the world, is people just not wanting to be seen as a certain gender. I don’t have that at all, because I’m so proud of being a woman and I would never want anyone to see me as anything else, but I totally understand it. There’s a really cool clip actually with Joseph Gordon Levitt, he talks about being a feminist, men being feminists and I actually know a lot of feminists who are men that just get it. I think that’s a good thing, but we’re showing them how it’s done.

Ella in the ’30’s was singing some stuff that was really intense, and it was like ‘woah, she dares to sing about this stuff!’ so they really inspire me, and lots of female activists. I’m really crazy about artists as well; it’s funny, most of the art that I like is also usually female driven.

Sharon Gannon – my teacher, my guru.

If I meditate or when I’m in my spiritual place I always think of Shakti and all of the different goddesses. Women who use their feminine power a lot. Isa Chandra Moskowitz – she’s incredible.

Veganomicon – her book, really is my bible and Post Punk Kitchen – her blog.

I think there are a lot of really strong females in the vegan community. I always think of that Beyonce song, “Who run the world? Girls!” – it’s just the way it is you know, we really do.

What do you do when it all starts to feel like too much?

I always think, “thank God I have my yoga practice”. It’s funny, I’ve only really had the practice for 2 years now and before that I was boxing. I’ve always had some kind of outlet but I’ve been thinking lately, “what did I do before I had that freakin’ mat?” and I was really unhappy; I was shitty with myself. I wasn’t in my body; I was in my head all the time.

I have to practice daily or at least 4 or 5 times a week or I go insane. I find it very important to nurture myself. I believe in not drinking and not exposing myself in that sense, and I believe in always being aware and focused and when I’ve had a long day I just want to go home, have a cup of tea and hug my dog. I guess I’m 35, I’ve come to an age where being the activist is really more important than anything else. I find it very important to look after myself in a sense that when I’m really tired, I’ve just got to sleep, and when I’m eating I’m really mindful.

Young women striving for a goal… any advice?

I don’t think they need a lot because they are already so there, but I will say that they need to believe in themselves.

They need to know that they’re going to change the world – they are already doing it.

What women inspire you?

So freakin’ many! I’m really obsessed with music – the old days, like Ella Fitzgerald, and Aretha Franklin, and these women.

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MAZ VALCORZA 28, Director: Sadhana Kitchen

* ENKINDL E * What led you to veganism?

the way it is.

It was actually yoga! In 2010/11 (thereabouts) I did my first proper yoga class — just because it was a way to keep fit, and I liked the way that yogi’s looked. My first teacher was very quickly like ‘Oh you should totally become a yoga teacher’, and I followed her advice.

For yoga teacher training I didn’t want to be the only non-vegetarian there, because I was obviously completely outside of that world I had no idea what people were like and I just assumed all yogis were vegetarian. So I just did it for really stupid superficial reasons in the beginning. Then I got to training and 2 people out of about 45 were vegetarian or vegan, but by then it was too late; I had already made my choice and it started to resonate with me.

What were your intentions when you originally opened Sadhana?

Sadhana for me was just a creative outlet. I was in pharmaceutical sales and marketing, I have a nursing background and I kind of really liked raw recipes — they were very simple, easy, they were tasty and I couldn’t believe that they were good for you. Sadhana was just about being able to bring those recipes to as many people as I could and hopefully they’d take something positive out of it.

Do you work collaborating?

better

alone

or

I was actually in a partnership when I first opened Sadhana Kitchen with my boyfriend at the time — his name was Sam… I would say I work better alone.

We actually broke up because of the stresses that came with the business. I think that what it comes down to is: if you have a strong vision, there is a very big difference with sharing that vision with a collaborative partner and having a really good team. I find that with my personality and the clarity of my vision, I really am more suited to be a leader.

I obviously need to be collaborative enough and open enough to listen to my team who are completely talented, but at the end of the day I’m the one that’s making the decisions and steering it.

I realise now that you do need to step back and pick and choose what your greatest strengths are and divert all of your attention there.

What motivates you to keep moving forward with everything?

It would be seeing all of the customers that come in here. Even today, there is one customer sitting there right now and he came in with a bunch of some meatbloggers, and it was really interesting to see their feedback because they would post photos of food and be like “I don’t actually like vegetables, not really my thing, but look how pretty it is”.

Things like that really push me to keep going because they wouldn’t have had anywhere else to go, otherwise — they wouldn’t have anything to base their experience on. That’s why Sadhana looks the way it does and is positioned

Do you consider yourself an activist?

I would say so. I think there’s definitely more that I could do. I come from an activist kind of view in the fact that I chose to give up a certain type of life that I had to have this life, and it’s a life that’s dedicated to a cause that I really believe in. Sadhana Kitchen is never going to compromise on the fact that a) it’s organic, and b) that it’s vegan. All of this stems from the fact that we need to be compassionate to ourselves, to the climate, and obviously to all the animals and all the other beings that inhabit this planet as well.

A feminist?

Yep, I’m quite passionate about feminism.

I think that inequality when it comes to women versus men, for example, is one of the things that you have to address. It’s still happening today – even the interviews that I do for certain magazines, and when people are asking me about Sadhana Kitchen, it’s almost like there is an element of, like, “oh, good on you for being a woman and doing this on your own” I can get that because most of the time men are in positions of power, but the fact that that thought process still exists shows that there is still a lot of inequality.

So do you think we, as humans will ever achieve this ‘shift of consciousness’ that we hope for?

Yep, I really do — I already think that we are on the cusp. I think there are enough people in the world that are loud and are active enough to keep up that momentum, because at the end of the day shifting of consciousness is about energy, and you don’t actually need 51% of the world’s population to tip over that edge. You just need these individuals to be heard and it will happen.

Do you think one person can make a difference?

Yeah, for sure. There’s that saying by the front man of Incubus — Brandon Boyd: ‘one person working diligently alone can achieve wonders, but a few people working together for the same cause can achieve worlds’. So, obviously, as an individual you can make such a huge difference, but it’s about that movement that you create and the people that support you.

What mistakes have you learnt from?

Ok, if you want to start a business, know what financial implications that has, and don’t do it with a partner that you’re also living with, if you both rely on it for financial stability. I would also say: get paper work right. I hate bureaucracy.

I hate red tape. I hate the fact that I actually have to exist in this capitalist business model system society to do what I’m doing, but I’ve always believed that it’s better to be an agent of change in the system than to sit outside of it and talk about how crap it is.

What is the most difficult barrier for female empowerment?

I think from my perspective, it’s that we still don’t have the ‘buy-in’ of men; that it’s even an issue in the first place. I come from a society where, in the west, I actually have rights to education, I could attend the same kind of things, I was afforded the same kind of positions that the male counterparts had and I knew I was getting paid the same. I basically had it better than 90% of the female population in the world and I think with exceptions like this, people generally don’t accept that there is still inequality.

What women inspire you?

It’s a cheesy answer, but my mum is a very strong woman. She’s always been incredibly independent and intelligent and believing in following your dreams and she came from basically nothing — so did my dad. They both migrated here to give us a better life. So that’s always been one of my greatest inspirations.

The women that appeal to me the most are the women who are strong, but not in a way that all they exhibit are masculine traits. I think that because of gender inequality and what we’re taught success looks like, often these women in power have to trade in a lot of softness or feminism purely because that trait seen in men is deemed to be weakness — but it’s not; it’s one of the most powerful things we can offer.

There’s also Kimberly Schneider — she’s a nutritionist and a yoga teacher. She’s actually vegan herself and plant based, but she provides something that is non judgemental and everybody can make that transition into whatever lifestyle that is comfortable for them at that time in their journey. So she’s probably my biggest inspiration in the line of work that I do.

What do you do when it all starts to feel like too much work?

The only thing that I can do is take a breath and go back to my yoga and focus on things one thing at a time. When you view things as a mountain it’s going to be this insurmountable mountain, but if you just see one step in front of you and focus on that, you don’t even see that mountain and, eventually, you’ll get to the top.

Advice for young women also striving for a goal?

Plan! Plan while being open to the fact that you can never control anything, you can only make yourself as prepared as possible for the opportunities that come your way. The idea is: “luck, is when preparation meets opportunity”.

So in that equation the only thing that we can do is make ourselves the most prepared as possible, but for good and bad, for things to go your way, to come into fruition and to fail.

39

NICOLA MARIE 27, Director: Delicious Skin

* WOMANISM * What led you to veganism?

I lived in Canada at the time, and there were a bunch of vegan documentaries on Netflix which were super awesome.

One night my partner Levi put Vegucated on and I pretty much decided that I had to be vegan after watching it. So I threw everything from the fridge in the bin, went and bought a bunch of vegan food, and it all happened over night. That was about a year and a half ago now.

Do you work better alone or do you like to collaborate?

So far it’s just been me, with each product I’ve developed it has kind of just ‘come to me’ and I’ve had to work out the logistics of it. At first that was ok, but now Levi suggests things that work and helps with that side of things while I work out the recipes.

What motivates you to keep moving forward?

I started the Delicious Skin range purely for myself and I noticed immediate results.

I gave it to my friends and they all said the same thing and I was encouraged to make it into a business. Some people email me and say ‘My daughter has really bad eczema and we’ve tried everything, she can’t even shower because it stings so much’ and then they start using my serum on her and she’s been in tears of relief everynight because its helping her so well. So part of moving forward for me is hearing that it works for people. Also that if people use my products they are preventing supporting an industry that exploits animals.

Do you consider yourself an activist?

In small ways, I’m not super vocal about it, I think I could do more in some respects.

Though I live with 4 people who aren’t vegan or veg and almost every night of the week we cook vegan because I’m vegan. All of my friends and family have made small changes in their lives even if it’s simply replacing dairy for soy milk. If you can bring people to events and cook them good food, they will see that it’s not hard. Veganism should be about kindness and compassion, if you can show people that they can make small changes in their lives and that it’s not hard, I think that’s the best way to be active.

What about feminist?

Yes, I totally consider myself a feminist, and I think everyone should. There are still things happening in the world that are not okay. Women working the same jobs as men and getting underpaid, or getting higher grades than men but not being accepted for the same positions.

Being a business owner, and a woman I think there is nothing that we can’t do.

We definitely need more respect for that and I think there is a huge problem with some women who don’t identify as feminists – it’s like ‘what part isn’t for you?’

I think that in the past there was such a stereotype for feminism as ‘you have to hate all men, burn your bra’ etc but that’s not how it is at all. I think that feminism is

the right to do what you want, make your own choices and be respected for them.

So do you think we, as humans will ever achieve this ‘shift of consciousness’ that we hope for?

Yeah, it just has to happen. For me, I think ‘do I ever want to have children?’ because I’m not sure if this is a world that I want to leave for them. The rate that we are destroying rainforests, creating ocean dead zones, polluting the world and murdering animals is such an extreme level that we just have to change it – or there will be no earth for the next generation.

Can one person make a difference?

Absolutely. I have a reusable straw, menstruation cup, reusable bags, coffee cup and water bottle. I think of how many bags I don’t put into the bin everyday because of that, it’s pretty huge. That’s just in terms of recycling, if you don’t eat meat you save a ridiculous amount of water a year, hundreds of animal lives, and you contribute less to global warming. Veganism creates a kinder world, and I think one person has to make a difference otherwise nothing will change.

What’s the most difficult barrier for female empowerment?

I think a lot of it has to do with people taking you seriously, and you taking yourself seriously. When you start in a role – for me in my business – you realise that it doesn’t just happen, you have to work hard to make it happen and that works if it’s something you’re passionate about and you believe in. I really had to decide that I’m not a ‘girl’ I’m a ‘Woman’ this is something that I have built and created and If I can take myself seriously, direct people and delegate tasks then I am someone who deserves to be taken seriously. Society doesn’t teach us that we can be business owners, presidents or whatever we want to be. You can see what your mother or family members have done and you think that is the role you need to take, but you don’t have to.

You can do whatever you want and that is a huge empowerment.

sleep for an hour and then get on with it. I think the whole business thing has been such a learning curve for me that I’m only just starting to figure it out now.

In terms of finding balance, at the start I wasn’t eating very healthy, a lot of vegan convenience foods or not eating at all and then having a big dinner because I ‘ran out of time’. I’ve begun to make more of an effort to nourish my body and give myself the things I need to be a productive person. Like waking up early, exercising when its still cool and not too sunny – then I find I’m way more energized for the whole day, and I’m much happier. I always keep frozen berries so I can make a smoothie whenever I need to, I’ll usually make a litre of that and drink it for a few hours. I always have protein balls on hand, eat tonnes of bananas. I guess you just have to find what works for you – I have a day off in the week to recharge and go to the beach, spend some time outside.

Advice for women striving for a goal?

Positive affirmations, having morning ‘me-time’ rituals. If you focus on what it is that you want from the start of the day, hold on to these things, it will happen. If you think about it enough and work at it enough, you can do anything. If you are passionate about something – keep at it, even if it’s overwhelming, even if you’re tired.

Best decision you’ve ever made?

That would be selling everything I owned, three years ago, buying an open ended ticket to Canada for the snow season.

I had an amazing 2 ½ years, learnt so much and made a whole new family over there. I saw so much of the world and of course I met Levi within a month of being there. My whole life changed and a lot of it is thanks to him, he is super supportive and super amazing and now we’ve moved to Sydney together and this business has started. It’s been a rollercoaster and I think my life would be completely different if I hadn’t done that – I’m really grateful that I did.

What women inspire you?

I was definitely inspired by Maz from Sadhana Kitchen, I met her early in my business career. She’s a young female business owner as well but she is so fearless and strong, she is also such a great boss. I’ve learnt a lot from her and I don’t think that my business would be what it is without her. I definitely love Caitlin Moran and her outspokenness, I love people like Alicia Silverstone who are in the mainstream media and work so hard to spread the word about veganism.

What do you do when it all starts to feel like too much?

That’s a tough one, it happens a lot. I get very easily overwhelmed and some days I look at my list of things to do and I just want to sleep. Some days I go back to 41

NAOMI BEVERIDGE 24, Founder: Sydney Grrrls Club

* ENKINDL E * What led you to veganism?

I was living with my best friend in Wollongong at the time and she was vegan. In the kitchen one day I asked her what was so wrong with milk. Not wanting to be callous she gave me a little run down and I continued my own research on the internet. I realised that I definitely did not want to take part in consumption of animals as I had been. I guess I never really made the connection as they say, and suddenly I realised that I love animals and therefore it would be hypocritical of me to take part in their destruction.

Sydney Grrrls Club: how did it begin?

Sydney Grrrls Club began as a sort of whim, after spending time with a few friends who mentioned that they didn’t really know anyone or didn’t have many close friends and, therefore, were asking me to hang out with them quite a lot. As someone who previously experienced a lot of social anxiety, I didn’t used to like to spend too much time with anyone unless I was very, very comfortable, and I wished these people would instead hang out with each other so I could continue to hide (laughs). So I sort of just made a Facebook group, gave it a fairly lazy name and added my friends in and told them to introduce themselves!

What motivates you to keep moving forward ?

There truly is a reason for hardship in life, it grows us into more compassionate, strong people and we become more attuned to the life around us, and therefore we are able to help. For me, that has been very fruitful; every single day I see more and more direct action in my social circles, and every little victory restores my hope for a future enfolded in equity and love.

Would you consider yourself an activist?

Most definitely! Martin Luther King Jr said: “History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamour of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.” If I want change, I know I have a responsibility to at least try to bring it about myself.

Feminism & veganism?

The main priorities of my activism! As much as my feminism will always be intersectional. I for example, have not lived the experience of a ‘Woman of Colour’ — and thus can’t speak for them — so I am just an ally, but as far as being a woman and a passionate believer in animal rights, I have that first hand experience and so this is where I concentrate most of my energies. I think we’re quickly approaching some sort of apex in our consciousness as a society.

Our evolution is of a telescopic nature, with every stage becoming shorter and shorter until we see huge changes manifesting themselves in very, very short periods. I think that with the earth in a state of peril — from everything to environmental issues to international debts, imbalances in wealth and waning ability to keep it all under control — we

will reach a sort of crunch point, on a large scale, where we must adapt and evolve, or become extinct.

What’s the most diffucult barrier for female empowerment?

I think that regardless of the field or context that women might be trying to find empowerment in, the most difficult barrier is probably just that it is very daunting to try to make a space for yourself in a world where space isn’t given to you, and then once you get there, you’ve got to try to get people to take you seriously. So it’s not really just one specific barrier, but rather that you’re going to have to fight the whole way, in ways that a man in the same field could never imagine. The good thing is though that once you have made it up there and hold a place of power, you are able to give a hand up to other women, which is what feminism is about.

What mistakes have you learned from?

I guess one of the first big inspirations I had for a feminist movement was the ‘riot grrl’ movement of the 90’s. Whilst I think the message of the movement is still very powerful, the movement itself was flawed as far as being intersectional.

It ignored the struggles of ‘Women of Colour’ and ‘Transgender’ women, even suggesting they were not women at all. I was very naïve and I had no idea about this, and I didn’t think to look into the weaknesses of the movement. Thankfully some very passionate Women of Colour brought this to my attention and pointed out that I was focusing on ‘white girl feminism’ too much and that if feminism wasn’t intersectional it was pretty pointless. Whilst it was embarrassing to realise how narrow-minded I had been, being called out is great because it helps you to identify where you need to improve yourself and expand upon your education – ever since, I have been pretty pedantic to assess all the information that comes my way and make sure everyone has the voice they deserve.

Can one person make a difference?

I would say yes, but I think you need at least two people. But of course, the first can inspire the second. We are often described as sheep – we like to follow.

And there is nothing wrong with that – as long as the leader is taking us in the right direction. There is a short but sweet TED Talk by Derek Sivers called “How to start a movement” that I would highly recommend watching. He describes that whilst the leader is important because they have to be brave and be the first person to step up, the crucial role for the success of the movement lies in the role of the first follower. Sivers says; “…you find that new followers emulate the followers, not the leader. If you really care about starting a movement, have the courage to follow and show others how to follow.”

So do you think we, as humans will ever achieve this ‘shift of consciousness’ that we hope for?

I’d honestly really like to think so. I feel we are reaching some sort of apex, a tipping point, where we will have

only two choices; descend into ruin or take responsibility and rise above our destructive past. Most people realise the way we live isn’t sustainable in the least, but it’s because of big corporations and the odd importance that we place on money. I know it’s something we’ve really put in the centre of everything but I am constantly baffled by the fact that the monetary system is something we invented and doesn’t really exist in the natural world.

What women inspire you?

I have my idols like many; bell hooks, Aung San Suu Kyi, Gloria Steinem, Maya Angelou, Anna Grodzka, Laura Jane Grace, and so many more – but I am no more inspired by these people as I am by those around me. Those who strive every day for intersectional equality in all aspects of their lives, those who are so often hushed by a patriarchal society and continue to speak regardless.

In what ways do you hope to inspire people?

Well I suppose as someone who still holds a lot of privilege in this world, all I can do is try to use that to point people in the right direction and try to open up as many platforms and avenues for those lesser-heard voices to find their way to the public. I hope to live by example and always live the life I ask others to live too. I’m nothing special but I’ve learnt that you don’t need to be special to help someone, to inspire a group, to lead a movement. You just have to be honest and good at heart and keep your eyes open.

What do you do when it all starts to feel like too much?

I am a huge advocate for mindfulness!

Learning to slow your thoughts down, to separate the emotion and the logic and to take things one-step-at-a-time is the absolute key to your success in life. And if that doesn’t work, a holiday! A social media holiday, a weekend away, a little bit of travel – anything that will allow you to refresh and reset your thinking so that you can return to your objectives with passion and hope again.

Advice for women striving for a goal?

You have so much more power, strength and potential than you give yourself credit for. Any perceived lack of these attributes is only what the big guys want you to believe, because if you knew your true power they would have reason to fear you. Be fearsome.

Best decision you’ve ever made?

I don’t think I can put it down to just one!

Deciding to attempt to recover from my mental illness (it worked!), going vegan – I’m so healthy now and it introduced me to an amazing world of friends and food and activism, starting SydGC – I have met the best people and learnt so much straight from the experiences of so many generous stories, moving to Melbourne, because it’s the only place I’ve ever felt at home. At this blissful rate I can’t wait for what the future holds.

43

KATE JONES 36, Director:The Vegan Teahouse

* ENKINDL E * What led you to veganism?

What about feminist?

I read some things that I couldn’t un-read.

I was in Melbourne with my previous partner; he was trying to be vegan and was failing, and he asked if I would go vegan with him and I said yes. He showed me some things and I did some research … all of that cruelty, I just found that I don’t need it; I don’t need that stuff in my body in order to live a healthy, happy, fulfilled, nourished life.

Yes! Total man hating angry feminist (laughs) no, not really! I think I’m one of those feminists that memes are made about on the Internet, you know ‘feminazis’ all that sort of shit, but feminists are allowed to be angry.

Women, in general, are allowed to be angry — we have a long way to go; I mean it’s just ingrained in society that “women are weak and men are strong”.

Even just our language — “you’re such a pussy”, and “grow some balls”, that’s all gender related. That whole argument of “but not all men” – don’t even get me started. I know that, we aren’t talking about all men, we’re talking about the douchebags that think it’s okay to own womens’ bodies, and that don’t understand that consent is sexy. I think as a vegan, feminism and veganism are so interconnected. I don’t want to make differences between female humans, and female animals.

What were your intentions with starting The Vegan Teahouse?

Essentially, I wanted to be able to produce things that I wanted for myself, but couldn’t find in the market. I was at Addison Road markets, I had recently become vegan and I wanted to be able to find a sweet treat but there wasn’t anything and I was so mad! A girl’s gotta have a brownie! So I decided that I was just going to make my own. Again in that journey it’s just been about accessibility, identifying that there is a gap, wanting to fill that whilst maintaining affordability.

Good for bodies, good for the earth, good for wallets, good for everything!

Do you work better alone or do you like to collaborate?

Can I just pick both? (laughs). I really value my alone time; I feel like I love to give, and as a mum, a partner, animal co-inhabitor, a lot of my energy is taken freely (I give it), so in order to fill my cup back up I really value alone time. Often, being in the kitchen and working by myself is just so beautiful, but then working with other people and collaborating on things and even just talking about my business and hearing about others can be so inspiring and helps me to realise that I’m not a little snowflake that’s going through things that no one else has been through.

What motivates you to keep moving forward?

A desire to prove that I can do this — to myself, to my kids, to my family, to Morgs — I didn’t think that 5 years ago when I was battling with lots of ‘demons’, I suppose, that I would really ever amount to much other than being a mum. So it feels really good to be the master of my own universe, and just proving that I can do this, and really proving that women can run businesses successfully. This sounds really cliché but ‘against all odds’ in this patriarchal world that we live in, that women can do it, and do it well.

So do you think we, as humans will ever achieve this ‘shift of consciousness’ that we hope for?

I think that if there’s enough of us being part of this silent revolution then yes, although I fear that it will take something really big to change the collective mind on the way that we exist in the world — particularly around what we eat and the way that animals are treated.

Can one person make a difference?

Yes for sure. In my experience I feel like I, as one person, have made a difference.

It’s that whole thing about what I do — allowing people to have that option that doesn’t include cruelty. I think that if me, as an individual, works with you, as an individual, that makes an ‘us’. If there are enough ‘one’ people making a difference, then that’s a whole heap of people.

What mistakes have you learned from?

So many! I’ve learned that I can say no and that my world will continue to move.

Other people’s worlds will also continue to turn if I say no. I’ve learned that I definitely can’t do this by myself, and that I don’t want to. I’ve learned that if I push myself too hard, cracks appear and it affects my mental health and my family.

I’ve learned about food — this beautiful journey of food and how it brings people together. I’ve also learned to be open, and go slow.

Do you consider yourself an activist?

What’s the most difficult barrier for female empowerment?

Yes, definitely. This is my level of activism — or the way that I am an activist is that I am vegan. Also, that I offer a food option for people to choose — whether they are a vegan or not — just something that they can reach for that isn’t based around cruelty. I talk, but my message is always one of love. I don’t think that being an angry vegan works and, in fact, I think it’s counter-intuitive to what we do. Veganism, for me, is about a crueltyfree life, and if I’m an angry vegan, that’s not cruelty-free — that’s being a total jerk and I don’t want to do that. It needs to be with compassion and love and leading by example.

I think maybe internalised sexism and misogyny. The way we’re conditioned and the way we’re brought up to think that there will be ‘the one’ who will come and rescue us and fulfill our dreams, provide for us, and all of that stuff. I think that that’s a barrier because it’s what we’re raised to believe, and again on that society level that ‘women are weak, men are strong, women can’t do anything’.

Even Tony Abbott, you know he said, “what the housewives of Australia need to understand as they do the ironing” — I thought we were more progressive than this guy. I think one of the greatest tools in patriarchy is setting women against

women, and creating a competition.

When we’re busy fighting we aren’t looking at the world around us, and seeing how shit it is, so if we can band together as sisters and support each other then that barrier would be gone.

What women inspire you?

Morgan, my kids, Karo – she inspires me because she just keeps doin’ it! Becc from Sprout & Kernel. Maya Angelou was very inspiring to me, she had like all of the struggles and totally made it, or rather, I believe she made it – she had amazing things to say. Clementine Ford, I love the way that she writes — she is such a great feminist. Oh, Beyoncé!

I don’t know if this sounds tacky … but every woman; women who are battling and still going. As a middle class white woman, I don’t even know what sort of oppression my sisters experience in other places in the world. I get scared when I’m walking along the street going to my car — nothing has ever happened to me but that doesn’t even compare to the atrocities that women experience all over the world, and this is why we need feminism.

In what ways do you hope to inspire people?

I guess through leading by example, being a compassionate vegan, feeding people, showing women that it can be done. It’s hard but it’s so worth it.

What do you do when it all starts to feel like too much?

I cry (laughs). I go to the ocean, I take my dog for a walk, put my hands in the dirt.

Advice for women striving for a goal?

Don’t listen to your head when it tells you that you can’t do it, because you can. Reach out, ask people. Be open to negative or constructive feedback because it makes you grow. If someone tells me something hasn’t turned out right, that’s a good thing because then I can work towards changing it. Just keep going! And drink lots of water, eat, and sleep properly.

Best decision you’ve ever made?

The first one that pops into my head is deciding to have my daughter at 17. It definitely hasn’t been easy, but I don’t know if many things that are totally worthwhile are easy. She inspires me everyday, so that was a good decision. In terms of business — not giving up when I really, really wanted to. Just not giving up!

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BECC ROACH 39, Founder: Sprout & Kernel

* ENKINDL E * Intentions with starting Sprout & Kernel?

You know it’s a bit of a funny story. I’d met Karo through Alfalfa House — I did a food workshop with her there and we had a conversation about vegan cheese.

I mentioned that I made vegan cheese at home out of nuts and she said ‘Oh, we should do a cheese making workshop together’; so we did, at Alfalfa House, where I met Kate. It was actually those two that really promoted me to start selling the cheese! I went off to Newtown markets and it was popular immediately, I had the power of those two girls behind me – they were really pimping me before I even started. I did a couple of markets and it just kind of exploded from there.

What motivates you to keep moving forward?

The people — the support that I get from people who try, eat and buy the cheese has just been phenomenal. I feel like I say this over & over again, but I don’t drive this business, the business drives itself.

The people who are supporting it — drive it. All I do is make cheese, and everything else is the people.

Do you consider yourself an activist?

I think so. I used to be a really loud, in your face, placard-wielding activist.

There’s definitely a good place for those kinds of activists, but I don’t do much of that anymore. I think I’m more of an activist via love and feeding people now; you feed people and their reaction is ‘wow, this is delicious’, and then they ask questions, they get curious, start enquiring about things and that’s how they learn things. I think that vegans are more knowledgeable about food than any other people that I know, so it’s always good to have conversations with non-vegans because they will learn something new.

Do you consider yourself a feminist?

Yeah, of course! Always have been; I think I was just born that way. It’s not something that I would consider myself as having learned along the way. My friends are all feminists — my mum’s a feminist.

So do you think we, as humans will ever achieve this ‘shift of consciousness’ that we hope for?

I hope so. I think that if we were all ‘one’ people then there would be no diversity.

As long as there is a critical mass of people that are conscious — enough people to influence other people – then that’s a great thing. In life I find myself saying ‘but nobody I know feels that way’, about certain subjects — like I don’t know anyone who is thoroughly racist, because I wouldn’t be friends with those people. But obviously there are people who are saying, and doing, and voting for things that you will never agree with.

And that’s currently the critical mass — that’s the majority and I would love to see in my lifetime that the majority shifts to be more conscious, aware, and caring. I think it’s really important in today’s society to have famous people as role models; people who are in that limelight are being more conscious and

vocal about being conscious because if, say, Ellen DeGeneres & Pamela Anderson weren’t vegan — then would as many other people be vegan? It definitely is changing and I think that the more that people see other people around them being conscious and having that level of awareness, the more they are likely to be more open minded to those kinds of things.

Can one person make a difference?

Yeah, of course, absolutely! We are all one person. When I was a teenager (placard-wielding) and I had all of these friends that weren’t into the same kind of level of petitioning that I was, they would say ‘what kind of difference can you make as a single person?’ and I would get all deflated and think ‘well, what can I do?’ but you go to any rally of any kind, or think of any movement that’s ever happened, and that’s just a whole bunch of individuals that get together. So, of course! We all make an impact.

What mistakes have you learned from?

Oh god. Well, I learned pretty early on that being an angry activist is not a useful way of acting. It doesn’t help. There is a place for them, but it’s not my place.

You can’t take everything too personally — the world will move on, right? You can only do what you can do and you still have to be happy, so you can’t wear the weight of the problems of the world; even though you care, and even though it’s painful to watch, you can’t carry it.

What is the most difficult barrier for female empowerment?

That’s a tough one. It’s interesting to think of all of the influences around women. I don’t think it’s any specific thing blocking women in particular, I just think it’s us as a community – how we promote women and how we influence them, and allow them to believe that they can do it or not. I think it’s really important that we change that. All people are capable of great things — but its whether they believe that they can do those great things, and whether they’re given the opportunity to do them — or whether they’re discouraged from doing them by the people who are important to them.

What women inspire you?

I’m most inspired by the people around me – the women that I work with, my friends, my family. I’m inspired by courageous women — like Kate and Karo — who really just take on what they love and take it on with their whole being and all of their energy. The women who are brave enough to step out in front and make decisions and become leaders, who put themselves in a position where people can cut them down — that’s a really tough place to be as women. It’s really tough to be a female politician.

People who put themselves in those positions know that they’re going to get attacked simply for being a woman, and doing it anyway — that’s inspirational.

People who aren’t held back by those prejudices, and I think everyday you see that. Women who are holding up a family and a job, it’s so hard – people who are

doing that blow my mind! My mum raised 3 kids on her own and that’s inspirational in itself: working, raising 3 kids … and we’re all great kids.

In what way do you hope to inspire people?

I think that people just need to do what’s right for them; if you aren’t doing what’s right for you, then you need to come to terms with that and then take that really scary leap that helps you to do something that makes you happy. Just because you’re in a position where you’re comfortable, doesn’t mean you’re in a position where you’re happy. It takes a lot of courage to accept the fact that you aren’t happy in what you’re doing and to change that … so maybe I can inspire people to do that.

What do you do when it all starts to feel like too much?

Hug trees. I’m pretty good under pressure, but if I really need to escape my way of bringing myself back to earth and calming down is, generally, to go out into the bush. I’ll grab my girlfriend, go camping in the bush, swim in the ocean, re-connect, and come back to the ground. It’s incredible because as soon as you arrive, it’s an immediate release.

Advice for young women striving for a goal?

Just be brave. People will help you. I’ve always found that it’s really hard to ask for help — particularly when you’re young, there’s a lot of pride. People want to help you succeed — people around you in particular — only ever want to see you succeed; no one ever wants to see you fail, and if they do then you don’t ever want to have anything to do with them. Reach out, find a community, people are there to help you. The universe will help you to drive it along; it’s a very supportive place.

The best decision you’ve ever made?

One of the best decisions I’ve ever made was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Leaving everyone I know and my family behind with 500 pounds in my pocket and moving overseas. I was gone for nearly 4 years and it changed my life; I made some of the best friends in the world, it really just helped me to become myself. I was a very uncomfortable teen, so I learned a lot about myself. Being away from all of the people and things that you know, learning about new people and places really helps you to gain some perspective. Sometimes you’ve just got to go away to find yourself.

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HANNAH JONES 32, Director:The Vegan Box

* ENKINDL E * What led you to veganism?

In 2012, a friend of mine mentioned that she was going to do the Vegan Easy ’30 Day Challenge’. I was vegetarian at the time, and thought that I could join her just to see what it was like. The 30 days came and went so quickly – and I had learnt so much about the dairy and egg industry (which in the back of my head I knew about when I was vegetarian, but tried hard to not think about), plus I started to really enjoy cooking and experimenting with new foods that I hadn’t tried before.

I knew I was hooked on this lifestyle, and I’ve never looked back! I was surprised that I went vegan overnight, but it was so much easier than I had ever imagined.

Also, growing up in Tasmania in a rural community I’ve always had a really strong connection with animals. We had quite a lot of land with a menagerie of animals that were just there to live out their lives happily – we used to take in injured wildlife, lambs whose mothers had died in labour, and horses who had been left on their own while their ‘humans’ went on long overseas holidays. My parents are some of the kindest, most compassionate people I’ve ever known, and they taught me from a very young age that all animals deserve equal amounts of respect and love.

Do you consider yourself an activist?

Yes, but there is always more that I could be doing. My husband and I attend rallies and protests (humanitarian/environmental/animal) most weekends, we would both really love to become more active within the community – this is a work in progress! As a kid I always thought I’d join Greenpeace or Sea Shepherd, it’s still something I’d like to pursue – one day.

Is your husband also vegan?

He is vegetarian, but he’s still learning.

At home we only buy/consume/live vegan, and he has always been 100% supportive of me. When we first met he was a meat eater, and he has come a really long way. I’ve never pushed him; he instigated his own change after watching documentaries with me, and doing his own research.

Do you work better alone or are you more of a collaborator?

I have a really busy brain – and I often don’t realise that I’ve not spoken a word about a new idea to anyone even though it might be something I’ve been working on for 6 months. I love the company of friends and family, and meeting new people through my business, but I definitely work better on my own. Being a Libra, I’m terribly indecisive and I tend to drive people a bit bonkers – so it’s best for their sanity, too.

What were your intentions with starting The Vegan Box? I wanted to help by taking some of that ‘hard work’ out of veganism, by finding ethical, sustainable and organic products to inspire people, and at the same time support the small businesses making these products. Since I discovered how easy it is to go vegan, I’ve had this

drive to want to help and encourage others to make more informed, and compassionate choices. The Vegan Box allows me to do that in a really fun way.

What motivates you to keep moving forward?

Every time I get an email from a customer who has decided to go vegan, or who’s been able to gift The Vegan Box to a friend or family member that’s starting to think about it – that would be my biggest motivator. If I can encourage just one or two people to make the connection, that is enough to keep me going for a very long time! I also think, as vegans, we expose ourselves to a lot of graphic material of animal abuse, and the knowledge of what is happening to animals, the environment etc. If The Vegan Box can bring some joy and excitement, it’s a nice distraction from feeling the weight of the situations that we are fighting to stop.

Do you consider yourself a feminist?

What is the most difficult barrier for female empowerment?

I guess our depth of emotion could be seen as both a barrier as well as our strength. I feel like the emotions I have are what motivate and guide me to keep going, but they are also the reason that I can’t move on from a situation, or cut someone/something off. As females, we have a strong desire to protect and nurture, and this is also what drives us into the ground a lot of the time! Add our star sign into the equation – you’ve then got a real situation on your hands (laughs).

What women inspire you?

My mother (Amma), Jane Goodall, there are so many! It’s cliché, but Mother Teresa would have to join the team too!

I have the quote “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love”, in my wallet as a daily reminder that we can shake the world in our own little way.

Yes, I do. I believe that veganism and feminism go hand in hand. Although animals of both sexes suffer exploitation, the females often experience more prolonged abuse — especially within the dairy industry. I read a leaflet a couple of years ago called ‘Milk Comes from a Grieving Mother’ that really opened my eyes to this. What I stand for is freedom, respect, and equality.

In what way do you hope to inspire people?

Do you think we, as humans, will ever achieve this ‘shift of consciousness’ that we hope for?

What do you do when it all starts to feel like too much work?

I really hope so. Maybe not in our life time, but hopefully the shift will continue with its current momentum and create global change at some stage. It will take generations, but I believe that it is possible.

I wish it was tomorrow, or next week, next year, ten years.. but there will be a tipping point environmentally/climatically where we, the human race, will need to make that change Do you think one person can make a difference?

Yes. One person can make a HUGE change! So many of my friends and family are now vegan, who would have never even given it a second thought.

Just sharing a delicious vegan meal, and opening up the conversation is the best way to get the ball rolling!

I’d love to inspire people to think outside what they’ve been told through advertising. Just because ‘everyone else’ seems to be living a certain way, doesn’t mean that’s the right way, or only way. I would love to inspire people to think for themselves, and live a life that does as little harm as possible to others.

I have a really (epically) long bath, turn off my phone, log out of Facebook for a few days, and spend a lot of time cuddling my cat. I also find that camping out in the bush, away from all technology, helps to ground me and to make me realise that the world is still a beautiful place. I’m slowly starting to find my balance again, it takes ages so don’t be too hard on yourself!

Advice for young women also striving for a goal?

Don’t settle for less than what you know you deserve, or want — even though it might be a lot of hard work, endless study, and tiring hours... you’ll look back on it proudly and with a happy heart!

Just keep going, you’ll get there.

What mistakes have you learned from?

Oh mistakes – uh even though the chocolate is vegan, doesn’t mean you can eat a whole block everyday! Same goes for burgers, donuts, chips, etc. (laughs). I have also learnt to be patient: to answer questions, and to help guide, but never to push. I have also learnt that veganism is surprisingly affordable, and exciting when it comes to food. My pre-vegan days I thought it would all be about ice berg lettuce and tofu, but I have become approximately 1000x better in the kitchen than I was before.

It opens up a whole new world of food!

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* WEL L BEING *

THE SACRED CYCLE

EASING THE AGONY OF OUR HYPERSENTITIVE TIMES

As females, we deal with things that our male counterparts simply cannot understand. One of the many occurrences that our bodies enforce upon us is our monthly cycle – a time in which we can often turn into a freakishly fiery version of ourselves.

Society has created a stigma around menstruation, making many people feel uncomfortable talking about it; perhaps that stigma was drawn from men, our bodies too complex for them to understand. Personally, I think it’s about time that women were empowered; we should be embracing our femininity and all that comes with it. So I have put together some tips for easing the agony of our hypersensitive times, and perhaps renaming this natural bodily experience as something positive is the perfect place to start. Lets call it the ‘Sacred Cycle’, as we are shedding the fluid from which life blossoms.

My first suggestion would be to scrap the cheap tampons and pads. Why? Because they are terrible for the environment, toxic to your body and take a huge chunk out of your pocket each year. Did you know that the average woman menstruates approximately 3,500 days in her lifetime? The amount of waste accumulated in that time is at least 10,000 tampons – imagine all of that contributing to landfill & waterways, blergh!

Let me explain to you the ‘Menstrual Cup’. Imagine a small rubber cup made from medical grade silicone, perfectly designed for our anatomy. The ‘cup’ is worn similarly to a tampon — collecting the fluid rather than absorbing it – preventing that horrible dryness and discomfort experienced each month. It can be worn for up to 12 hours, much longer than your average tampon, and it lasts several years or more if cared for correctly.

Oh! And many have said that the cramping experienced each month diminishes dramatically after using the ‘cup’ due to lack of stress on the body. Whether it’s to bed at night, on your daily jog, swimming, camping, traveling, or rock climbing – you can wear the cup anywhere, no more worrying about finding a bin in the next bathroom that you come across!

their fibres into our internal lining (ew!). The average tampon can include rayon, bleach, dioxins, furans, pesticide residue & fragrances – these are not things that we want floating around our bloodstream! So, if you decide that the cup is not for you (seriously though, you should consider it) – then PLEASE be kind enough to your body to use organic tampons. There are a few brands on the market these days, and at only a couple more dollars it’s most definitely worth it — for your health and wellbeing.

As for eating habits, it is essential that you are feeding your body what it needs for strength and regeneration at this time of the month. Some people call it the ‘crimson wave’ due to the large amount of blood that we lose, so boosting your iron levels is hugely important. I recommend munching down on dark leafy greens leading up to (and during) your cycle, along with incorporating lots of legumes into your meals. You can also snack on seeds, nuts & nut butters to stabilise your blood sugars (almond butter with dates and apple slices… mmm!).

For a boost of potassium and the anti-cramping nutrient Vitamin B6 – eat lots of bananas; to help with Estrogen levels, include lots of organic berries (smoothies are a brilliant idea).

My favourite indulgence food helps with menstrual cramps AND increases iron levels – CHOCOLATE! I’m talking raw vegan chocolate made with cacao powder. Magnesium is extremely helpful for menstrual cramps as it is a muscle relaxant, and raw cacao powder (not to be confused with cocoa) is said to be the best magnesium rich food source available.

So if you decide to start looking after your body by switching to the ‘cup’, choosing nutrient dense foods and of course getting enough sleep each night, you can embrace your monthly cycle with fearless acceptance! It’s time to put our health and wellbeing first and look at our sacred cycle with new eyes. Oh, and don’t forget to drink plenty of water!

Our lady bits are one of the most absorbent and sensitive parts of our anatomy and tampons actually deposit many of 50

WORDS BY AMY SINCLAIR | ILLUSTRATION BY MADELYNE TEMPLETON

Be Delicious! www.deliciousskin.com.au

* INS PIRATION *

ONE MILLION WOMEN INTERVIEW WITH NATALIE ISAACS, FOUNDER OF 1MW

What does climate change mean to you? For many of us, climate change is merely a term that we don’t pay much attention to, yet it is such a huge problem that seriously needs to be confronted.

Natalie Isaacs has grasped this problem with her bare hands and is spreading the word about climate change in ways unimaginable. A mother of four with a deep concern about the world her children are inheriting, Nat has made it her mission to inspire the uninspirable to make positive changes in their lives and the lives of others.

Tell us about the dawn of 1MW, how did it all begin?

Less than a decade ago I had an epiphany and everything changed. I finally internalised climate change, I realised it wasn’t someone else’s issue, that it was actually all about me, about my family, about my friends and our futures. The first thing I did was get my household’s electricity bill down by about 20% and reduce our food waste by nearly 50%, and the moment I saw some results from my actions I took ownership of the problem. I knew there had to be other women out there who were like I had been, who would want to act if they connected with climate change. After a couple of years of pulling a new movement together from scratch, I launched 1MW. What is the philosophy behind 1MW? We are a non-government, non-profit organisation that exists to engage women to take practical action on climate change through the way we live, our every day 52

purchasing choices, and where we invest our money. We ask every woman who joins 1MW to take the Carbon Challenge and cut as much pollution from their life as possible. The underlying issue is that we can’t simply sign a petition or send a letter to a politician and think we are environmentalists. We need to all take responsibility; we must live it as well as fight for it.

Why are women the target of the initiative?

As women we make on average up to 85% of the household purchasing decisions that affect environmental impact. If a million women all make one better choice, however small, it leads to real change. We are a movement of women and girls taking practical action to fight dangerous climate change. A million women will tell a million more and will lead a million communities into action.

Who inspires you?

All of the women who are making a positive difference, everyday, often in the most simple and unpretentious ways and without any public recognition. We all know that it’s an incredibly powerful thing when women join forces to fight for good causes in society, local or global.

We are powerful networkers, and we are economically powerful, individually and collectively.

Do you think one person can make a difference?

Through 1MW, the one thing I have come to understand above all else is the absolutely incredible power of people.

People as individuals and as a collective WWW.1MILLIONWOMEN.COM.AU

have incredible power to make change. It is all about the power of the people. That is how change is really going to happen.

What would you recommend in terms of minimising our impact?

Every action counts, however small. We focus on the key areas of our daily life, how through the way that we live we can reduce waste and pollution and actually save money at the same time. We tackle over-consumption – there is this belief that the more stuff we have, the happier we will be, yet many of us find out that this simply is not the case. We focus on the power of our money, and that every time we spend our money we are voting for the kind of world that we want to live in.

Would lowering our meat & dairy consumption be a good place to start?

Absolutely! The average cow produces about 5 tonnes of CO2 equivalent over its life, mainly in methane burps (it’s true), which is more than running a mediumsized car for a year. Methane is a very potent greenhouse gas pollutant, with about 21 times the impact of CO2 on the problem of global warming leading to climate change.

How can our readers get involved?

Everybody needs to take responsibility and ownership of this critical issue. We all have to do what we can. It has to be this holistic approach; it has to be from governments and big corporations down and also from the grassroots up. Sign up for our Carbon Challenge and we will support you every step of the way. For more info, visit the website.

FEATURING RECIPES BY:

Emily von Euw, Tales Of A Kitchen, Amy Sinclair, La Gallette & Claire Summers.

PHOTO BY ERIKA RAXWORTHY

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* RECIPES *

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RECIPE & PHOTOGRAPHY BY EMILY VON EUW

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RECIPES

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APPLE, KALE, BANANA GREEN SMOOTHIE Did you know that digestion takes the most energy out of any other biological function? Let’s use that energy for other things! We are able to assimilate those vital nutrients almost immediately. Now, we ALL know we should eat our greens (or drink them, in this case!) but most of us don’t. Why is that? Well, because they don’t taste that great to the majority of people. I personally find them delicious, but that’s just me. Green smoothies are one of the best things you can put in your body, they also taste FABULOUS and the possibilities are endless! My smoothies usually have the same basics, but they taste different everyday because of what I choose as ingredients. In any case, the taste of your greens in smoothies is simply not an issue. You will learn to crave them, as I do.

Serves: 1 Prep time: 10 mins DF / SF / V INGREDIENTS

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4 apples

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1 Tablespoon ginger root

4 cups kale leaves (or other dark leafy greens) 3 frozen bananas

METHOD 1. Juice the apples, ginger & greens.

2. Pour that juice into a blender with the bananas.

3. Blend everything until smooth, green, thick and frothy.

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* RECIPES *

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RECIPE & PHOTOGRAPHY BY CLAIRE SUMMERS | STYLING BY ELLA BENDRUPS

* RECIPES *

SPICED RHUBARB SODA This recipe was inspired by a beverage served at a Christmas lunch a couple of years ago where a friend brought out a most refreshing drink that she had created by reducing rhubarb she had grown in her own garden into a sweet syrup and married it with the zing of orange, along with a couple of additional flavours that I cannot recall. The syrup then combined with soda was delightfully light and reminded me of a fresher, fruitier version of a winter favourite, mulled wine. This recipe has been adapted from that experience and seeks to bring the strong and warm spices that make a mulled wine to meet the light sweetness of rhubarb syrup. This syrup is light and refreshing when added to sparkling mineral water and, perhaps for festive occasions, combined with a dash of Pimm’s liqueur.

Serves: 6 Prep time: 10 mins Cook time: 30 mins DF / V / GF INGREDIENTS

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1kg of fresh rhubarb, roughly 2 bunches

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4 cups of cold water

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2 cinnamon sticks

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Grated rind of one large orange

1 cup maple syrup (if you would prefer the syrup sweeter, just add a 1/4 cup more) 10 cloves 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, powdered or freshly grated 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla powder

METHOD

2. Bring to a boil and then add cinnamon sticks, cloves, nutmeg, vanilla powder and orange rind and immediately reduce to a simmer for roughly 20 minutes.

3. After this time, all colour should have been sapped from the rhubarb, leaving you with bright pink water.

4. Strain contents through a fine sieve into a clean pot and return to the heat.

5. Add maple; stir constantly whilst bringing to a boil. The texture becomes thicker, forming a syrup.

6. Remove syrup from heat and transfer to a clean vessel and let cool before serving with sparkling water and some finely sliced fruit.

Store for 3 – 4 days in the fridge in an airtight container.

1. Remove leaves and chop rhubarb into 1 cm thick pieces and place in a pot with the water over high heat.

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RECIPE BY AMY SINCLAIR | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIKA RAXWORTHY

* RECIPES *

RAINBOW KALE–SLAW ‘Eat the rainbow’ is a phrase that I love to live by! Eating a ‘rainbow’ of fruits and vegetables generally ensures that you are receiving all of the micronutrients available within Mother Nature (I recommend organic where possible). This salad is the perfect combination of colours, and therefore nutrients – it’s literally jam-packed with flavour too. I love the texture of this salad, each vegetable sliced super fine. It’s prepared like coleslaw, which is why I call is kale-slaw. I’ve found that coleslaw is usually really bland and dull in colour, so I created a new, amped up version. I use a variety of produce that’s in season, and top it off with a delicious fruity creamy dressing. The dressing is a vibrant pink thanks to the lush raspberries, which compliment the creamy tahini so perfectly. Be sure to dress the salad as you serve it, if you don’t separate the salad and dressing in the fridge, it will become limp rather quickly. It’s an amazing salad to consume in a big bowl as a meal, and I keep a container of it in the fridge so I can dish it up whenever I feel the need.

Serves: 4 Prep time: 30 mins DF / V / GF

fennel along with the beets, carrots, capsicum and cabbage and add to the salad. Toss to combine.

SLAW: INGREDIENTS

DRESSING: INGREDIENTS

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1 bunch curly kale, leaves only 1 Tablespoon olive oil ½ lemon, juiced Pinch of salt 1 medium fennel 4 golden beets (wash & peel) 4 purple beets (wash & peel)

1 cup raspberries 2 limes juiced 2 Tablespoon tahini 1 Tablespoon rice malt syrup 2 Tablespoon olive oil 1 sprig basil, leaves only

2 carrots (wash & peel)

METHOD

1 red capsicum

1.. Add all ingredients to a highspeed blender and blend until combined. If the mixture is too thick, add extra olive oil/water.

¼ red cabbage

METHOD 1. Wash and dry the kale leaves, then tear into small pieces and add to a large bowl with olive oil, lemon and salt. With clean hands, crush the kale between your hands to ‘massage’ the oils into the leaves – this will take a few minutes. You know it’s ready when the amount of kale is reduced by half. The final product should look dark, glossy and fresh.

Chop the kale into slivers and add to a salad bowl. Chop the fennel in half and remove the core along with the tops, then julienne the

2. Plate up the salad and top with dressing. The salad can be stored in the fridge for a few days, best to keep the dressing in a separate container and dress the salad as you eat it.

NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS: This salad is basically a big delicious bowl of nutrients! Each of these raw ingredients has its very own nutritional importance for our diets, and ‘eating the rainbow’ is always the best way to ensure that you’re getting as many raw micronutrients as possible.

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* RECIPES *

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RECIPE & PHOTOGRAPHY BY TALES OF A KITCHEN

* RECIPES *

THAI PESTO ROLLS I find rice-paper rolls the perfect snack, the perfect to-go lunch or even the perfect light dinner. There are so many combinations, colors, textures and flavors to experiment with – they can literally be made with anything you have in the fridge/pantry. And they’re so easy to make! This time I went for a Thai flavored pesto and carrot combination, since I had just harvested my gorgeous Thai basil plant. Mmmm how good do fresh basil leaves smell?!

Serves: 6 Prep time: 8 mins Cook time: 10 mins DF / V / GF PESTO: INGREDIENTS

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2 handfuls fresh Thai basil 1/3 cup slightly toasted peanuts

ROLLS: INGREDIENTS

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7 rice paper sheets

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1/2 big purple carrot, cut into fine matchsticks

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1 green onion, green part only, cut into fine matchsticks

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6-7 teaspoons sesame seeds

1/2 Tablespoon sesame oil 1 Tablespoon light soy sauce Juice of 1 lime 1 medium garlic clove, grated 1 teaspoon rice malt syrup Chili flakes, to taste

METHOD 1. Toast the peanuts & let them cool.

2. Add the first set of ingredients to a food processor & pulse for few seconds until everything is combined.

Congrats! You’ve just made the most amazingly tasting pesto.

100 grams rice vermicelli, cooked (package instructions)

METHOD 1.. Cook your rice vermicelli as per package instructions. I had to soak mine in hot water for 1-2 minutes.

2. Wash and cut your carrots and green onions.

3. Begin making your rolls adding few rice vermicelli, 1 full TBSP Thai pesto, few carrot matchsticks, few strips of green onion and sesame seeds to each roll.

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RECIPE & PHOTOGRAPHY BY TALES OF A KITCHEN

* RECIPES *

RAW NOODLES WITH MAPLE ORANGE TEMPEH What makes this so special then? First it’s the combination of textures and flavors of the noodles. There’s crunchy and earthy beetroot and carrot noodles and then there’s chewy and curly kelp noodles. Together they work beautifully. But proof is in the dressing! Oh, the creamy, garlicky dressing that brings the best out of those noodles! So good, half of it might have ended up straight in my belly. So good I might have dipped carrot sticks and eaten the first batch straight up, just like that. Who knew tahini and miso are a perfect match? I recently discovered it, and I am in awe, or in love, or both! Two of my always favorite ingredients bring the best out of each other. Fancy my luck.

Serves: 2 Prep time: 20 mins DF / V / GF TEMPEH: INGREDIENTS

* * * * * *

250g tempeh, cubed Juice of 1 orange 2 Tablespoon tamari 1 Tablespoon maple syrup 1 Tablespoon hot sauce 1 Tablespoon sesame oil

METHOD 1. Mix the marinade ingredients for the tempeh in a pot over medium low heat and add the cubed tempeh. Toss to coat.

2. Bring to a boil, cover & simmer until the tempeh absorbs all the liquid.

Toss every 2-3 minutes to coat all the tiny precious tempeh cubes.

DRESSING: INGREDIENTS

*

1 Tablespoon regular (hulled) tahini

*

1 teaspoon unhulled tahini (or more hulled)

* * * *

3 Tablespoon lemon juice

*

black pepper, to taste

2 Tablespoon olive oil 1 small garlic clove, grated 1 teaspoon white miso (shiro miso)

METHOD 1.. While the tempeh is cooking, add all the ingredients for the dressing in a small bowl and mix until they blend together into a nice, creamy, rich sauce. Set aside. Don’t forget to toss the tempeh!

NOODLES: INGREDIENTS

*

1 medium beetroot, peeled, spiralised

* *

1 big carrot, peeled, spiralised

* *

1 green onion, finely sliced

*

2 Tablespoon sesame seeds and 2 raw nori sheets, crumbled

2 handfuls kelp noodles, washed a couple of handfuls dulse flakes

METHOD 1. Prepare the noodles. Wash, spiralise, slice and dice. Add everything to a bowl.

2. When the tempeh is cooked, add the dressing to the noodles and toss to coat them well. Using your hands works best.

3. Sprinkle sesame seeds and crumbled nori over the noodles and serve with hot tempeh.

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RECIPE BY AMY SINCLAIR | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIKA RAXWORTHY

* RECIPES *

QUINOA RISOTTO Risotto is a meal that I always loved as a teenager, though as I grew healthier and learned that white grains aren’t beneficial nutritionally – It slowly vanished from my diet. After spending years in the kitchen I discovered that there are endless ways I could recreate risotto, with healthy alternatives.

This was incredibly reassuring, as nothing compares to the comfort of a warm bowl of creamy mushroom risotto! This risotto is made using quinoa, the super-food grain that everybody goes crazy for at the moment. It’s an amazing staple for vegans & vegetarians alike as it’s considered a complete protein, with all of the essential amino acids. It’s also gluten free, so you will be sure to impress many health conscious guests if you make this dish for a dinner party. Although it is best suited for curling up on the couch with on a winter’s night.

Serves: 4 Prep time: 40 mins DF / V

QUINOA: INGREDIENTS

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

2 Tbs olive oil 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 1 red onion, finely sliced 1 cup chopped mushrooms Salt & pepper, to taste 1 cup quinoa 1.5 cups vegetable stock 1 cup coconut mylk 1 cup mixed tomatoes, halved

METHOD 1. Heat a saucepan on medium heat, add olive oil, cook the onions for a few minutes until golden. Add the mushrooms and garlic and stir for a few minutes – add a dash of salt and pepper. Rinse and drain the quinoa and add to the saucepan, along with the vegetable broth and a handful of thyme leaves. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally until quinoa is close to cooked. Add the coconut mylk and simmer on medium/low until absorbed. Turn off the heat and let it sit with the lid on for a few minutes. Gently stir through the spinach and tomatoes, and serve.

½ cup basil leaves, to garnish

Dish up the risotto and top with lemon zest, basil leaves and pine nuts. This will keep in the fridge for about 5 days, and can be frozen for up to a month.

1 lemon, zested

NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS:

1 cup baby spinach ½ cup pine nuts, toasted 1 bunch of thyme, leaves picked

Along with being gluten free, quinoa is considered a source of complete protein, which makes it an amazing staple for vegans, vegetarians & coeliacs.

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RECIPE & PHOTOGRAPHY BY EMILY VON EUW

* RECIPES *

RAW VEGAN HOT CROSS BUNS Serves: 8 Prep time: 35 mins DF / SF / V BUNS: INGREDIENTS

* * * * * * * *

1 cup almonds 1 cup oats 1 cup dates 1 cup raisins 1 teaspoon vanilla powder 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder 1/2 teaspoon ginger powder Water, as needed

METHOD 1. Put the almonds and oats in a food processor and process until they become a rough flour.

2. Add the rest of the ingredients – except the raisins – and add water as needed until it all begins to stick together. Taste and adjust accordingly.

4. Roll into balls and place on a baking sheet or dehydrator tray, then press them down slightly. Cut a cross on the top of each one.

5. Put in the dehydrator (or your oven at its lowest temperature) for about 2 hours or until they hold together. Alternately, just leave them as-is!

DRIZZLE: INGREDIENTS

* * * * *

1/2 cup cashews 2 tablespoons coconut oil Juice from 1 lemon 1/2 teaspoon vanilla powder Water, as needed

METHOD 1. blend all the ingredients until smooth, adding water as needed to get the desired consistency.

2. Drizzle on crosses on the buns and enjoy! I sprinkled mine with more cinnamon.

3. Add the raisins in by hand and mix well.

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RECIPE & PHOTOGRAPHY BY CLAIRE SUMMERS | STYLING BY ELLA BENDRUPS

* RECIPES *

CHAI SPICED TRUFFLES Pairing the universal crowd pleaser of chocolate with the delicate spices that form a chai blend, these truffles are an exceptionally luxurious treat that are sure to be well received by all that you bless them with. One of the important things to understand about foods like this is that whilst they taste incredibly rich and ‘bad for you’, they are actually working to benefit you as, (in the case of these truffles), they contain anti-oxidants from the cacao, rich essential fatty-acids that cannot be produced by the body from the walnuts and almonds, the anti-inflammatory benefits of cinnamon as well as medjool dates that are loaded with fibre. Whilst you wouldn’t eat them three meals a day, you can take pleasure in indulging in them freely without feeling like you have done yourself or your body a disservice.

Serves: 6 Prep time: 20-30 mins DF / V / GF TRUFFLES: INGREDIENTS

* * * * * * * *

1/4 cup of almonds 1/4 cup walnuts

rolling. Take 1 tablespoons worth of your truffle mixture and roll it between clean hands to form a ball and then roll it through the powdered coating you have prepared until its got a light coating.

Repeat for the entire mixture.

DRESSING: INGREDIENTS

15 large medjool dates, pitted 1/3 cup coconut milk 1 tbs high quality loose-leaf chai 3 tbs cacao 1 tbs chia seeds 1 tsp freshly ground cinnamon

* * *

1 tbs ground cinnamon

*

5 tbs almond milk

3 tbs cacao powder 100g vegan dark chocolate, (preferably organic)

METHOD

METHOD

1. Pulse almonds and walnuts in a food processor for 30 seconds or until finely chopped.

1.. In a heatproof bowl over a pot with hot water, melt your chocolate and slowly stir in the almond milk.

Once combined and chocolate has a silk like texture, remove the bowl from the heat placing it on a heatproof surface..

2. Over low heat, combine the loose leaf chai tea with the coconut milk for 2–4 minutes. Flavour from the chai will be absorbed by the milk, leaving the milk slightly browned.

Strain the tea from the milk adding it into the food processor and add the pitted dates and quickly pulse with the already blended nuts.

3. Add the cacao, cinnamon and chia seeds and blend the whole mixture together.

2. Gently dip half of your dustcovered truffles in the chocolate so that half of the sphere is coated.

Repeat for all balls and set on a dish with baking paper to be placed in the fridge for at least 10 minutes before enjoying.

4. Once mixture has come together, cease pulsing & prepare the cinnamon and cacao powder for

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RECIPE BY AMY SINCLAIR | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIKA RAXWORTHY

* RECIPES *

LIME + KIWI CUPCAKES This is one of my favourite desserts to make and it seems to leave everybody wanting more. I love creating meals that taste amazing whilst also feeding my body essential nutrients at the same time. It’s really simple to make, and it’s got lots of health benefits too, so you don’t have to feel guilty whilst consuming it! The avocado and cashews give these cakes a rich and creamy texture, while the combination of tangy lime with chocolate sauce creates a to-die-for bittersweet bite. The nutritional benefits are awesome, filled with vitamin C from all of those kiwis, along with antioxidants, natural mood enhancers, and omega 3’s essential for brain function.

Serves: 6 Prep time: 20-30 mins DF / V / GF BASE: INGREDIENTS

* * * *

2 cups walnuts 4 medjool dates 1 Tbs coconut oil 1 Tbs cacao powder

METHOD 1. Process all ingredients in a high-speed food processor with the S blade until a crumbly, sticky mixture is formed. Check to see if it’s ready by pressing some of the mixture between your fingers – it should stick together easily.

Press 1Tbs of the mixture into the base of the mini muffin tin until all are filled. Chill in the fridge or freezer until filling is ready.

FILLING: INGREDIENTS

*

1 cup cashews (soaked overnight*)

* * * * * *

½ cup coconut cream 2 kiwi fruit, flesh scooped 2 whole limes juiced 1 medium avocado 2 Tbs maple syrup 1 vanilla bean, insides scraped

METHOD 1.. Process all ingredients in a high-speed blender until creamy and smooth. You may need to keep pausing to scrape the sides of blender. If your blender isn’t

high-speed, pause at intervals to give the motor a bit of a rest – patience is key as the smoother the mixture, the better they taste.

When the mixture is smooth and creamy, add 2-3 tablespoons of mixture to the bases that you prepared earlier and chill in the freezer for 20-30 minutes. *Soak the cashews in warm water with 1 tsp of pink Himalayan salt overnight or for at least 6-8 hours before hand. This process helps to increase enzyme activity, which basically means your body will absorb the nutrients and digest the cashews much easier. Not to mention, soaking the cashews is one of the reasons that the filling becomes so creamy and dairy-like.

SAUCE: INGREDIENTS

* *

1 Tbs cacao powder 2 Tbs maple syrup

METHOD 1.. Add ingredients to a high-speed blender and process for a few minutes. Alternately you can whisk all ingredients in a bowl for a few minutes until well combined.

2. Remove the cupcakes from the freezer and serve drizzled with some chocolate syrup and topped with extra kiwis or shredded coconut (optional).

NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS: With the combination of kiwi fruit, lime, cacao powder, is a nutritional powerhouse. Booming with vitamin C along with antioxidants, natural mood enhancers, magnesium, and omega 3’s for excellent brain function.

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RECIPE & PHOTOGRAPHY BY LA GALLETTE

* RECIPES *

PEACH & MAPLE PECAN RIPPLE ICE-CREAM Serves: 12 Prep time: 1 hour Prep time: 35 mins DF / SF / V MAPLE PECANS: INGREDIENTS

* * *

1 cup pecans 2 tbsp maple syrup tsp cinnamon

METHOD 1. Preheat the oven to 180C. 2. Combine all ingredients into a bowl and toss to coat.

3. Spread the pecans on a lined baking tray and bake for 25 minutes, stirring about every 10 minutes or so until the maple syrup has caramelized.

4. Cool completely in the tray before coarsely chopping. Set aside until needed.

ICE-CREAM: INGREDIENTS

* * * * *

650ml full-fat coconut milk cup maple syrup 3 tbsp corn starch 3 tbsp water 2 tsp vanilla extract

METHOD 1. Place the coconut milk and maple syrup in a large saucepan over medium heat.

2. Combine the corn-starch and water in a small bowl until the cornstarch has completely dissolved.

3. Add the corn-starch mixture to the coconut milk and cook, stirring constantly until the coconut milk has thickened enough to coat the back of the spoon (7 minutes).

4. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.

PEACH RIPPLE: INGREDIENTS

5. Pour the ice cream base into a shallow container and refrigerate to cool completely (about 4-5 hours).

*

3 peaches, stoned, peeled and sliced

*

1 tsp vanilla extract

6. One the ice cream base has chilled, churn in an ice cream machine according to manufacturer’s instructions.

METHOD 1. Place the peaches and vanilla extract in a food processor and process until smooth. Set aside.

7. Stir 1 cup of the ice cream into the peach puree.

8. Transfer the remaining vanilla ice cream into a large container and ripple through the peach ice cream and the maple pecans. Freeze for at least 5 hours before serving.

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RECIPE & PHOTOGRAPHY BY LA GALLETTE

* RECIPES *

BLUEBERRY & COCONUT SHORTCAKE STACK Serves: 8-10 Prep time: 2 hr & 45 mins Prep time: 25 mins DF / SF / V CREAM FILLING: INGREDIENTS

* * *

2 cans full-fat coconut milk 2 tbsp maple syrup 1 tsp vanilla extract

METHOD

seconds until a dough forms. Knead the dough until it comes together, being careful not to over knead.

4. Roll the dough on a lightly floured surface to a thickness of 5mm. Cut out 20cm diameter rounds and place on the prepared tray.

5. Bake for 20-25 min or until lightly golden. Cool completely before assembling.

BLUEBERRY SAUCE: INGREDIENTS

1. Refrigerate the coconut milk cans overnight.

*

2 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen

2. Scoop the hardened coconut cream into a chilled bowl, discarding the coconut liquid which has separated from the coconut fat.

* * * *

1 tbsp water

3. Using a mixer, whip the cream until light and fluffy. Whisk in the vanilla and maple syrup and refrigerate until needed.

SHORTCAKE: INGREDIENTS

* * * *

3 cups self-raising flour 6 tbsp (120g) coconut oil, chilled 1 cup (250ml) coconut milk 4 tbsp maple syrup

METHOD 1. Preheat the oven to 200ยบC. Line 4 trays with greaseproof paper.

2. Place the self-raising flour and chilled coconut oil in a large food processor and blitz until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.

3. Pour in the coconut milk and maple syrup, blitzing for a few

1/2 tbsp rosewater 2 tbsp maple syrup Fresh blueberries, to decorate

METHOD 1. Place the blueberries, water, rosewater and maple syrup in a small saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes or until the sauce has slightly thickened.

2. Set aside to cool completely.

TO ASSEMBLE: 1. Place one layer of the shortcake on a plate or stand.

2. Spread cup of coconut whipped cream on the shortcake and drizzle cup of blueberry sauce.

3. Repeat the layering process and top the stack with fresh blueberries and mint.

4. Refrigerate for 1hr before serving.

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* FICTION *

THE INVISIBLE CLOAK

BY JESSICA HALL

“I write this as a woman, towards women. When I say ‘woman’, I’m speaking of woman in her inevitable struggle against conventional man; and of a universal woman subject who must bring women to their senses and to their meaning of history.”

The Laugh of the Medusa – Helene Cixous p. 875 Penalty. Lulu Chan was shamefully delivered in the Beijing Maternity Hospital on the 15th of February 1997. It was a quiet birth. Bao-Yu Chan refused to give in to the rupturing contractions that knifed at her belly. She gripped the bed sheets so tight that her knuckles turned a translucent white.

The pain was overwhelming, so she focused on the flickering fluorescent light overhead and let the midwives work silently around her. Jinhai Chan, wearing floor-length green scrubs and

“Now the only hope that remained was that the child would be born a boy.” a matching disposable facemask, stood as far as possible from his wife’s bed. His arms were firmly crossed and beneath the mask his mouth was pressed into a thin line. He prayed that the pain of labour was unbearable and that Bao-Yu was suffering in paralysing agony. It was her penance. Similarly, his penance was to stand and watch his beloved wife endure the agony and admit to the mistake of having conceived a second child. Now the only hope that remained was that the child would be born a boy. A single grunt escaped Bao-Yu’s lips as the final contraction subsided. A midwife deftly wrapped the new warm bundle in a clean pink blanket and placed it gently in its mother’s arms.

“Girl,” she said.

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Absence. Lulu manoeuvred through the crammed Beijing streets with her cloak of invisibility draped protectively over her body. Passers–by stared immediately through her, sidestepping around her in a skilful manner that suggested her presence wasn’t registered in the slightest. She took a sharp right into a mouldy alley scattered with overflowing bins and flattened cardboard boxes. Several backdoors were dotted along the opposing brick walls and Lulu made her way to the fourth on the right. She pulled it open and entered the deserted shop. It was a dingy little store made up of shelves piled with general household supplies. She searched for rice, milk and washing detergent and headed towards the counter to pay. A skinny man with the evidence of severe acne scars sat at the register, fiddling with the antenna on a tiny box of a television. Lulu had never seen anyone else working in the shop and the man always processed her groceries with the same disinterested attention. He didn’t bother to look at her face and simply held out his palm for the money required. Lulu had been making these weekly purchases for several months now and was accustomed to being ignored. In fact, it was safer this way.

Lulu Chan’s invisibility cloak had been growing in strength for many years. Its formation was first triggered by the disregard that her parents paid her as a child. Lulu wasn’t hugged or touched or shown any signs of parental affection. She was banned from playing with the toys that her older brother Nico used. Besides the certificate that states her date and place of birth, there is no record of her existence at all. No household registration, no school enrolment, not even a library card. Her negligible education consisted of the basic math and literacy skills that her parents grudgingly taught her; Lulu wasn’t sent to school as Nico was. She’d never seen a doctor or visited the dentist. She’d barely held a conversation with a stranger and was forbidden to make friends. The rule was that she exist on the sidelines – to be an observer, not a participator. Naturally, it had become clear to Lulu that as long as she believed she was invisible, so too would everyone else.

Choices. For Bao-Yu Chan there were only ever two options, and both were clouded with a sick sense of doubt. She was

* FICTION *

trapped by the cutting reality that either decision held no positive outcome for Lulu at all. But that couldn’t be helped.

Bao-Yu was drawn to the idea of leaving her daughter at one of the orphanages downtown. She and Jinhai could wrap Lulu up in a blanket and leave her on the cold front steps of the Children’s Welfare Institute, walking away before the newborn’s loud cries attracted attention. The two-week-old baby would be fed, cleaned and put to bed each night in a row of cots that slept fifty other orphaned infants. Lulu would be safe in numbers.

However, what troubled Bao-Yu most was the possibility that in ten years time she might pass her daughter playing at a park with a group of other young children. Would she know that it was Lulu? Or would the power of abandonment sever the bond between mother and daughter eternally? Bao-Yu couldn’t dismiss the nauseating shame of deserting her child with little more than a name. It was a cowardly move. Or they could raise Lulu themselves – she and Jinhai could hide her identity within the confines of their home. No one need know that she was the illegal second child of the Chan family; to all intents and purposes, the outside world would never discover that she even existed. By keeping Lulu it confirmed to Bao-Yu that she and her husband weren’t weak. No, Bao-Yu would not be compared to all the other feeble mothers who simply abandoned their daughters as an exit strategy. Lulu was just another young girl swallowed by the vast gender gap in the Chinese population.

The social preference for male babies that would grow to be able-working-men lessened the need for females. It diminished the necessity for Lulu’s existence.

Consequences. Lulu turned out of the alleyway and rejoined the growing traffic on the busy inner-city street. She carried the grocery bag close to her chest and kept her head bent low, avoiding all eye contact with the shuffling train of walkers on the footpath. Overhead the Beijing skyline was turning a hazy pink, signalling that the sun was beginning to fade. She quickened her pace. Jinhai and Bao-Yu both arrived home from work at fivethirty, and Nico was usually home from school by then too. They would expect Lulu to have their nightly meal prepared. Never before had Lulu experienced the sense of quiet that envelops

a person right before an intense moment of impact. Peripheral vision becomes blurry. Focus zooms in on the danger. Heart rate quickens. Mouth is dry. Can smell acidic terror. The bicycle slammed into her body, hard. She’d stepped out onto the road crossing and belatedly glanced to her right to see the cyclist flying toward her. He was young, possibly Lulu’s age, and his face was plastered with shock. Their eyes locked and Lulu was consumed by a sense of peace. Her invisibility cloak had failed her. The handlebars struck into her stomach and sent her flat on her back, her head colliding on the concrete with a sickening crack. The bag of rice she was carrying burst open and tiny white grains rained down across the pavement.

The boy was leaning over Lulu, frantically nudging her shoulder in an attempt to get her to open her eyes. He probably thought that he’d killed her. “What’s your name?”

She tried to tell him that she didn’t have a name, but the pain was too great and she swallowed back the bitter blood that was filling her mouth. A crowd of people had gathered around her.

Some of the bystanders were already calling for an ambulance, others were pointing and murmuring to one another. They had deliberating looks on their faces, stuck between the decision to rush forward and help, or to watch. A middle-aged man pushed through the swarm and knelt beside the boy, and Lulu heard him say something about a doctor. She was on the brink of consciousness, but she willed herself to stay awake. As the mass of people grew larger, so too did Lulu’s earnest delight.

The pain from the crack in her skull was sending stabbing pulses down her spine, but never had she felt so visible. With every worried onlooker a shred of her invisibility was torn away, revealing beneath the broken and battered girl who had been ignored for fifteen years.

“Please, can you hear me? What’s your name?” the boy begged again.

Lulu wasn’t afraid to answer this time. “Chan. My name is Lulu Chan,” she gasped through the anguish.

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* HEADE R *

78

* AWARENESS *

EQUITY

BY NAOMI HALL

What is feminism in the context of our world these days? Is it the uprising of women against men for the ultimate goal of a matriarchy? This seems to be the favoured definition from those who wish to wipe out the feminist movement (also known as those who think they don’t benefit from feminism), but I can assure you feminists only say such things in jest, and that the true intention of the feminist movement is equity in all facets, for all living beings.

A lot of people who aren’t comfortable with the use of the word feminism go for the word ‘equalist’ instead. Whilst I can see the good intention in such a label, the truth of the matter is that equality is not necessarily the answer to the imbalance of power we witness in society. I’m a big fan of the word ‘equity’: “the quality of being fair and impartial”.

So many of the things we take for granted are gifts from the strong willed feminists of our past. From rights to education, careers, sexual and body autonomy – especially reproductive and abortion rights, equal pay and equal recognition for equal work – women once had none of this. Each ‘wave’ of feminism has fought for and claimed rights and opportunities for nonmale genders that only cisgender men had had access to for much of recorded history. We are still attempting to attain these rights in many places in the world. And there are still a lot of non-binary genders that aren’t even recognised by the greater public, let alone awarded rights and equity.

One of the most important things about feminism is to always keep in mind that you quite likely bear some level of privilege over others in our very unfairly ranked societal structure. This privilege gives you power in many cases, and allows you to pass through life with greater ease than others. Unfortunately much of modern feminism focuses on white, able–bodied, cisgender (a term for when an individual’s experiences of their own gender match the sex they were assigned at birth) women, whilst the people who are often pushing the hardest for change are members of the queer community, ‘Women of Colour’ and disabled women. Therefore it is the responsibility of those who identify as feminists and intersectional allies to always be mindful of the fact that our privilege awards us a lot of opportunities not accessible to many groups. That’s

where equity comes in. Everyone cannot be simply offered equal compensation at this point, because we’ve pushed some people, eg. ‘Transgender Women of Colour’, so far down the ladder that they can’t be made to feel ‘equal’ with the same amount of consideration as someone who, for example, only needs to fight for their binary female gender to be recognised as equal to men.

It’s not your fault if you are in a position of privilege, but it is your responsibility as an earthling who believes in equity to recognise how that privilege benefits your life and to use it only to open up a platform, so that those without a voice can speak and be heard. Never let ego trick you into participating in systemic discrimination that encourages straight, white, capitalist etc. power to actively invalidate the lives of so many.

Go out of your way to reach out and educate yourself on past and present issues of women’s rights, LGBTQIA+, racism (these are just a few examples), and learn and spread your knowledge with the goal of preventing future issues. Make a conscious effort to never speak over those whose oppression is greater than your own on issues that concern them. Direct attention to them, clear a path if you can, but know that you can only be an ally to their cause. A good ally understands that they cannot necessarily empathise but will always offer validation to the feelings and experiences of the oppressed party. This is why it is often said that cisgender men cannot be feminists but rather feminist allies, as they do not have the firsthand experience to speak on these issues, but their support as more privileged members of society is still beneficial to the cause – especially as they will generally have the respect of their fellow man and can use this to encourage those around them to open their eyes to greater societal justice.

In the face of so much opposition, now is the most important time for us to stand together in solidarity against oppression.

To embrace the intersectional feminist movement, knowing it’s true intentions, and to encourage others to align to it also.

Always keep an open mind, listen to the experiences of others and use these to constantly evolve your views and extend your compassion to all human life, such as you already do for our animal friends.

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ILLUSTRATION BY ELIN MATILDA

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