New Mexico Vegan Volume 5 Issue 3 May 2019 For Vegans, Vegetarians, and the Veg Curious The Future is Now Humanimal Non-Human Animal Planet
V.I.P. (Vegans in the Park)
August 10, 2019
JCC of Albuquerque
Get your tickets now: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/red-green-vegfest-albuquerque2019-the-future-is-now-tickets-51523289546?aff=ebdssbdestse arch
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Inside Red & Green VegFest Albuquerque, The Future is Now (Advertisement)
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Inside
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Editor’s Note
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Assistant Editor’s Note
Contributor
Page
Ramona Agin
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Daniella Butler-Cardoza
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This is Why We Are Vegan
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Remus Cemea
7 Vegan Mama Tips to Looking Youthful Over 40
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Jacqueline Fonseca
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Evolution (Advertisement)
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New Mexico Facts & Trivia
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Alexander Michael Hakam
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Vegan v. Meat Eaters
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Denise Claudia Hubacher
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Resources
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Uva Mason
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Go Vegan (Advertisement)
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Michelle Wilson
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HeartnSole LLC In The Community
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Just Say It!
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The Coverage Of Protein In The Vegetarian/Vegan Diet
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Photo Collage
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Recipe: Incredible Sicilian Aubergine Stew With Couscous
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How We Succeeded To Stop Using Animals In The Circuses From Romania
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Red & Green VegFest Albuquerque, The Future is Now: Presenter Sneak Preview
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How To Be A Better Advocate
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Vegan Depression Syndrome
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Support Animal Liberation (Advertisement)
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Veganism Is Not A Religion
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Meet Our Extended Family
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Second Chance Animal Rescue New Mexico
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HeartnSole Vegan Support Group
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100 Year Old Vegan Poem
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My Journey To Veganism
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Free The Animals (advertisement
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Advertising with NM Vegan
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Veganism is a Moral Issue
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Cows Don’t Make Milk…(Advertisement)
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New Mexico Vegan VoIume 5 – Issue 3 May 2019 Editor: Nancy Arenas Assistant Editor: Arwen NMV Photographer: N. Arenas
A HeartnSole, LLC publication
The views and opinions, expressed by contributing-authors, in the New Mexico Vegan Magazine; may, or may not, represent the views and opinions, of New Mexico Vegan.
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Editor’s Note Another day, another season, another New Mexico Vegan …time just seems to “fly” by. And so it is, with any activity that feels purposeful… “time flies.” I have to admit, sometimes the equation looks like this: purpose + challenging = frustration. Vegans would prefer to enjoy the vegan lifestyle; but, many of us feel that we must first, create a vegan world, …otherwise, the suffering of animals remains, as a kind of spoiler to the ultimate enjoyment. Some might be tempted to give up the vegan-advocacy-struggle, for any number of reasons. However, when I can transcend “my” frustrations of day to day living, and focus on the day to day misery of “innocent animals,” then, I remember my purpose: without vegans, animals have no representation. Advocacy is needed, daily. Can you feel the momentum? We are gaining ground, toward a long-awaited “Justice for the Voiceless.” I love that vegans support each other, and lift each other up; it makes the world more vegan. Seeds, …we are planting seeds, where ever we go. ‘Veganism’ should yield peace, certainly; …the vegan lifestyle should confer “happy-ness;” for, happiness is its purpose. But, purely vegan = global vegan. For me, here & now, I am focused on veganism as an uncompromisable social movement; and, if I must sacrifice some enjoyment… well, it makes me appreciate you all the more, from the bottom of my heart, for all your vegan-efforts.
Livegan, -- Nancy
ASSISTANT EDITOR’S NOTE This planet belongs to all of us; let’s be vegan, so we can “all get along.” Please love all animals, not just domestic pets. Livegan, -- Arwen
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7 Vegan Mama Tips to Looking Youthful Over 40 Daniella Butler-Cardoza Hi, I want to share with you my 7 vegan mama tips to looking youthful over the age of 40. This is based on my own life experience as a vegan woman over the age of 40 with a youthful appearance. Whether or not you choose to follow my tips is up to you and solely your decision. However, I think you’ll find them worth reading. Who am I? Well, my name is Daniella Butler-Cardoza. I’m the published author of the vegan diet guide book, 24 Hours to Vegan. I’m also the author of other published literary works and a few upcoming books like Her Stolen Tears. I’m the proud mom of two awesome, intelligent, compassionate, vegan teenagers. I’m also an entrepreneur and a US Air Force veteran. If you want to know what vegan meal I’m cooking tonight, just visit me on any of my social media pages @NaturallyDeeOne on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube. Now that you know a little bit about me, let’s get started. Studies have shown that heredity plays at least a 10% role (10% for white Americans and 20% for black Americans) in your youthful appearance. We then add our diet, exercise, and our environment on top of what was given to us by our parents. Our diet and how much water we consume play a huge role in our outer appearance. In addition, our environment and how we care for our skin can either assist or fight against what we put inside our bodies. Exercising or lack of it, whether it be exercise of the mind or body, completes the process of what we see in the mirror. Now, let’s expand on those elements to sculpt a more youthful looking you while being vegan and over 40 years old..
Treat your body like a sacred temple and it will produce optimal health, longevity, youthful appearance, and enlightenment. Treat it like a graveyard and it will produce death and fear in the form of cancer, diabetes, etc. When you eat meat, you consume the fear and anxiety of the animal right before its death. That within itself is cruel, but for your vanity, it doesn’t look good on you. If you want to dig a little bit deeper, look into the science of biofield. Here are my 7 vegan mama tips to looking youthful over the age of 40: 1. Consume a Healthy Vegan Diet • Let food be thy medicine. Nourish your body with fruits, vegetables, seeds, beans, nuts, and sprouts. Yes, there are processed vegan food and vegan junk food. Like all processed foods, vegan processed foods are not good for your body nor do they help with maintaining a youthful appearance. I’m not going to sit here and lie and say I’ve never had some faux vegan meat or store-bought vegan ice cream. I’ve had the fake stuff, but they’re not on my list as stables.
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7 Vegan Mama Tips to Looking Youthful Over 40
– Cont’d
Daniella Butler-Cardoza • I would say, try to eat more clean and raw vegan foods as much as possible. I know some raw vegans may disagree with me, but some foods are more digestible or more nutrition dense when cooked—cook your potatoes and beans. Eat your bean sprouts, but don’t eat the beans raw. If you notice you’re having issues with bloating and you found the culprit, try cooking it somewhat before eating it or just don’t eat it. Initially, at least, track your meals to make sure that you’re eating enough and getting what you need from your diet. The benefits of eating a more, raw vegan diet include: More energy Clearer skin Lose weight Control blood pressure Lowers your chances of stroke, heart failure, osteoporosis, stomach cancer, and kidney disease Manage/reverse type 2 diabetes Improved digestion • Let’s talk about sugar. Sugar is not your friend. In fact, sugar ages you. It literally ages you and not only that, it’s addicting. That is why a lot of companies add sugar to products that normally don’t need sugar—it’s addicting and they want you to come back for more. Then there’s the fact that sugar may or may not be vegan—if it’s organic, it’s vegan, but if it’s not organic, that means it was processed with bone char. Try natural sweeteners like fruits, agave (don’t attack me), maple, stevia, monk fruit, etc. If you like stevia, you can buy the plant and make your own stevia sugar.
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Water Is Life
• If you’re not already doing so, drink more water. You need water to survive, not only that, water hydrates the inside of your body, your skin (youthful appearance), and your hair to promote a healthy hair growth. • Drink at least the minimum amount of water for your weight. You calculate your minimum by using your current weight. For example, if you weight 130 lbs., divide that weight by 2 and that’s how much ounces of water you should be drinking per day, at minimum. Take that number and divide it by 8 and that’s how much cups of water you should be drinking per day, at minimum. So, if you weight 130 lbs., you should be drinking a minimum of 65 ounces of water or 8.125 cups of water, each day. • To take it a step further, I also drink alkaline water. If you want a list of actual research and studies of the benefits of drinking alkaline water, visit https://blog.risewithdee.com/2018/09/vacations-are-good-for-your-health.html
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Intermittent Fasting
• I highly suggest you incorporate intermittent fasting into your world. Intermittent fasting is basically, you eating within a specific timeframe and fasting for the rest of the day. During your fasting timeframe, you can consume water or anything that’s low calorie, like 5 calories. The common and the biggest window to start eating in order to break your fast (breakfast) is between 12 pm to 8 pm. No matter what time block you choose, don’t eat after 8 pm at night. The benefits of intermittent fasting include: Improved mental clarity and concentration Weight and body fat loss Lowered blood insulin and sugar levels Reversal of type 2 diabetes Increased energy Improved fat burning Increased growth hormone Lowered blood cholesterol Prevention of Alzheimer’s disease (potentially) Longer life (potentially) Activation of cellular cleansing (potentially) by stimulating autophagy Reduction of inflammation
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7 Vegan Mama Tips to Looking Youthful Over 40
– Cont’d
Daniella Butler-Cardoza
4.
Plant Based Vitamins and Minerals Are Your Friends
• Please keep in mind that, in attempt to make things “healthier” in today’s world, most of our natural resources, like our water and soil, are stripped of its natural vitamins and minerals. Things like B12 are stripped from our soil—animals are given B12 shots and then humans that eat animals, eat them thinking that is the only way to get B12. Natural minerals that our body needs to be healthy and youthful are filtered out of our water and soil, which forces us to supplement, use facial creams, or undergo plastic surgery to attempt to look how we should look naturally. • If you notice you’re having premature wrinkles, graying, sagging (face or boobs), etc., chances are you have a copper deficiency in your diet. For me, as you can see in my picture, it was my gray hair, which I am working on reversing—it’s working. Okay, so this may offend some people who don’t believe in supplementing, but if you’re deficient, it’s time to add a few supplements to your diet. Why would you want to be deficient? There are plenty of vegan vitamins and minerals. A lot of people remember the vitamins but neglect to include the minerals.
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Exercise, Exercise, Exercise
• I know I said it three times, but no, this is not a military drill. This is to tell you, you need to move your body. If you’re starting out, take walks as much as possible; you can even park far from the entrance of a store and get your extra steps in. If you have an injured back, like me, from a car accident, then incorporate yoga into your exercise routine. No, yoga is not the devil. •If you’re having difficulties with this section, try goal setting. For instance, join challenges online, a running group that works towards specific events, or get in shape for an event or an upcoming vacation.
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Protect Your Skin
• Protect your skin with sunblock or sunscreen. As a woman with added melanin, I do have a little protection, but it’s not foolproof and over exposure to the sun is not pretty in the long run on any skin tone. In addition to sun protectors, wear sunglasses to protect your eyes and forehead from the sun; squinting and wrinkling up your forehead causes extra lines and wrinkles around your eyes and forehead. • If you must wear makeup, wear brands that are cruelty-free, organic, and vegan. The animals will be grateful and so will your face. You can wear foundations with sunblock or sunscreen in it in the place of a sun protectant. Do not sleep with your makeup on. Make sure your face is free of all makeup before going to bed—you don’t want your makeup to stain and clog your pores. Allow your skin to breathe by going makeup free. • Keep a good skin regimen that is free organic and free of chemicals and/or animals. Keep your face moisturized or hydrated. So, yes, get a plant-based skincare system. Drinking lots of water will help moisturize your face, but the circle is not complete without also moisturizing your face. • When you go to bed, make sure you sleep on your back, not your face and not the sides of your face. Sleeping on your back does correlate with having less wrinkles.
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7 Vegan Mama Tips to Looking Youthful Over 40
– Cont’d
Daniella Butler-Cardoza
7. Relax Your Mind and Body • Stress is a killer of having a youthful appearance. I know it’s easier said than done, but you need to learn how to relax—don’t stress the little things. Concentrate and focus on the positives in your life. You’re only one person and there’s only so much you can do. One of the things that helps me is taking a relaxing, soothing bath with certain essential oils. Meditation is a must for me and I enjoy creating subliminal positive affirmations to listen to. Exercise is also another way of relieving stress. I’m going to also tell you to remove negative people from your life. Oh, and don’t forget to take at least one vacation per year—studies show that is actually good for your health. As vegans, we don’t have the added stress of anxiety and fear from the last moments of a dying animal, so we do have a head start with combating stress. However, that doesn’t mean we don’t get anxiety or fear. Find what helps you stay balanced, refocused, and calm. • Sleep is essential for a healthy body and mind. If it’s not due to a deficiency in your diet or if it’s not genetic, the darkness or puffiness under your eyes can be erased with consistently getting adequate sleep at nights. If you’re having difficulties relaxing your mind so you can sleep, try meditating or visit my YouTube channel. You can also try listening to soothing music or incorporating essential oils like lavender. Bonus: Don’t smoke. Not only is smoking not good for your health, but studies have shown that it also ages you. Visit http://www.nbcnews.com/id/33385839/ns/health-skin_and_beauty/t/twin-study-reveals-secrets-looking-younger for a twin study on smoking. That’s all I have for you today. Thank you for allowing me to share my old lady experience with you. Please let me know if you found my tips beneficial. Have a great day!
Daniella Butler–Cardoza is an advocate for #naturalhair, #veganfood, and #womenempowerment. I enjoy helping people rise to their potential while building wealth from the bottom up. I am a wife to a devoted husband, a mother of two awesome kids, a proud US veteran, an author of multiple books, and a business woman. "Rise with me!"
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New Mexico Facts & Trivia 1. Taos Pueblo has been inhabited for over a thousand years. 2. You can see five different states from the top of Capulin Volcano. 3. The Wilderness Act was born here. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Wilderness Act into law in September, 1964. The landmark conservation legislation originated in New Mexico. 4. New Mexico has 16.68 million acres of forestland. 5. Santa Fe is at an elevation of over 7000 feet. Residents literally look down on Denver, which is 5280 feet above sea level. 6. New Mexico is sparsely populated, we have only 17 people per square mile. 7.
Las Vegas (the one in New Mexico) has more than 900 buildings listed on both the State and National Register of Historic Places.
8. There are more UNESCO World Heritage Sites in New Mexico than in any other state in the nation. 9. Speaking of records, the Sandia Peak Tramway is the longest working aerial tramway in North America. It is 2.7 miles long. 10. Much of New Mexico’s landscape has been shaped by volcanic activity. Our state experienced over 700 eruptions during the last 5 million years.
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Resources ABQ Vegan: http://www.meetup.com/ABQVEG/ Albuquerque Vegan and Vegetarian Parents: https://www.facebook.com/groups/323534174705753/ Otero Veg: http://cloudcroftvegans.com/index.html HeartnSole Spiritual Community: https://heartnsolerevna.wordpress.com/ Leaf: Taos Vegan Society: http://www.meetup.com/Taos-Vegan/ Plant-Based Eating New Mexico: https://www.facebook.com/PBENM/?rc=p Santa Fe Vegan: http://www.meetup.com/Santa-Fe-Veg/photos/4704212/445478790/ Silver City NM Vegan Support Group: https://www.facebook.com/vegansupportgroup/ www.dancingwiththebars.wordpress.com
www.redandgreenvegan.wordpress.com
If you are vegan and offer cruelty-free services and products please let us know for possible inclusion in upcoming NM Vegan Magazines, please email us at welcome22day@gmail.com, on the subject line please write NMV Vegan Products & Services.
If you have an article that deals with veganism and would like to submit it for possible inclusion in an upcoming NM Vegan Magazine, please email us at welcome22day@gmail.com, on the subject line please write NMV Article.
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NM Vegan HeartnSole LLC in the Community
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Just Say It! Michelle Wilson The V word. Why does it elicit such volatile emotions in people? Is it perceived as a form of rejection in this age of inclusivity? Are we seen as the black-listing intolerant extremists of animal products? I say nay, there are many other items that have been excommunicated from the table. For example corn, gluten, sugar, and let’s be honest, there are no tears shed when bread is unexpectedly abandoned by its bestie. In fact, you will most likely be showered with praise for kicking those carbs to the curb. Poor carbs. Is it “foodism", thank you suburban dictionary, when you are judged based on food choices of morality versus health? Is there a fundamental reason that in today’s “you do you” society you must “do you” with a meat sandwich in hand? The sad truth is that once the V word has left your lips, the gasps heard around the world begin. The utter confusion of those around you starts a caravan of questions most often involving cheese. How can you possibly survive without cheese?! You would think we were giving up water or oxygen. The heartbreak that meat eaters feel for us and our self- deprivation of nutrients is compounded by the irrational choice to live a life without bacon. Inconceivable! Sometimes, I think that nonvegans are more emotional about vegans being vegan than vegans. Say that three times!
The reality is that Vegan was ahead of its time, a forward thinker from back in the day. Who knew that the kid from the garden would one day be a life changing trend setter! However, this journey was not without its pitfalls. Vegan suffered the usual disappointments along the path to self-discovery. It started in second grade with the cool kids mocking vegan’s lunches. Like a mini wall street, as the lunch bell rang, the frenzy of lunch box trading began. Items were pulled out by the kids and exchanged one by one, as they artfully avoided all eye contact with hummus. Vegan was quickly gaining a reputation as the outcast. Selfesteem issues intensified as the rejection continued. The segregation became more prevalent during parties and school events. There was nothing to offer this generation of milk guzzling tuna casserole eating gluttons. The loneliness peaked in the high school years when there were so few places to take a significant other or celebrate with friends. Vegan had surrendered to a life of opposition and shame. This shame spiral affected even the most loyal of followers to the degree that all attempts at using the V word were avoided. Rather than divulging membership to an ostracized group of radicals, a simple request of no dairy would suffice. Perhaps they will think you are lactose intolerant. However, this mindset would prove counter to the bigger picture and indelible dream for the vegans against animal cruelty. We were not here to blend in or minimize the decision to continue hurting animals. This epiphany was the turning point when the fear of judgment was conquered by the mission of sharing an undeniable truth. Little did Vegan know that this Phoenix was getting ready to rise from the ashes! The time for change had come!
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Just Say It! -
Cont’d
Michelle Wilson Welcome to a time of enlightenment, where the general public actually researches their information. This allows for the emergence of endorsements once believed to be unorthodox or weird to now be viewed as thought provoking or even life changing. We have conclusively made the connection between what goes into our bodies and how that plays a critical role in our health and well-being. Vegan is now given a diverse forum through social media and a generation of open hearts to influence. Dare I say Vegan is ready for a comeback, despite relentless attempts by a certain “plant-based” to steal its identity. No more stigma for the V word. Embrace the origins of truth and say the name! Vegan has been working tirelessly with marketing teams across the globe to show off its many new faces. You will frequently see Vegan sporting the peace sign, also a V by the way. Ve-genius! There are rabbit ears, green Vs, and numerous logos indicating membership! Oh, and make no mistake that Vegan still has its loyal “Sprouts” (You know like Gaga’s monsters) that are unashamed to say the name! Alright, I made that up, but it could take off. Like a Sprout! Okay I’ll stop. This is an exciting time for vegans, not only for the long overdue awareness of animal atrocities, but the delicious options that have developed over the years. The decision to go vegan can often come with overwhelming expectations that we are not doing enough. There are some important facts to consider when dealing with these expectations. First, some people will never develop or even understand the kind of passion we carry for animals. It really has to involve a heart change not just an exchange of information. Second, we are all created with a specific set of gifts and talents to share with the world. Much like the human body where an eye is no less important than an arm, each serving a unique purpose, you have a purpose. For some it will be radical protests, and for others it may be sharing recipes. Embrace your function no matter how big or small, but most importantly… say the V word. I’m vegan!
Michelle Wilson is an active vegan with a passion for animals and community. Her dream is to one day open a shelter while using her gifts and talents to educate the general public about serving and veganism. She currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona and can be reached via michellewilson@vegvoices.com
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The Coverage Of Protein In The Vegetarian/Vegan Diet Denise Claudia Hubacher The coverage of the protein requirement is not only an issue in the vegetarian diet. In general, people are worried that they are not getting enough protein. This is especially true for men and especially the group of those who do sports to build muscle. It is also known that women are more likely to eat vegetarian food and most women want to be as slim as possible. Therefore, they pay more attention to a reduced supply of proteins, as they are also considered to be fattening. The German doctor, Max Otto Bruker, cites that many patients believe that eating animal foods is necessary to meet their protein needs. Many even admit that they do not like meat and sausage, but for fear of damage to health, they force themselves to do so, because a diet without animal protein is dangerous. The fear of a protein under balance is also a problem for many vegetarians. However, this is not a question of the urgency of the human being, which is innate to him, but of artificially generated fear through systematic and incessantly repeated misinformation. This fear is expressed by the vegetarian in the often high consumption of milk protein, quark(traditional, creamy, vegetarian, unripen cheese) and cheese. For omnivores, the problem is that they are convinced of the correctness of the common notion that meat is an invigorating food and in a diet devoid of meat, health and full physical and mental capacity is unattainable. In a particularly dangerous way, the effect of this protein-worship on the sick is shown. Every day Dr. Max Otto Bruker’s patients who respond to the onset of their disease with increased consumption of animal protein in form of the protein rich quark which and this often in diseases where a drastic reduction of (animal) protein would be necessary. Unfortunately, this tendency is supported by the doctors, who are still taught at the university today, that giving up meat is a dangerous and unacceptable venture. It is understandable that the doctor who has been trained according to the old dietetics, with every vegetarian or vegan who visits him, is of serious concern. What follows is an attempt to persuade the vegetarian or vegan to eat meat. Usually, he does not succeed in doing so with a confident vegetarian or vegan who has more in-depth knowledge of the food field than the doctor himself. Next, the doctor tells the patient that his illness is because he does not eat meat. If that fails, he asks him to at least eat a lot of quark to prevent the worst. For the doctor imprisoned in the dogma of the irreplaceability of animal protein seriously sees his patient threatened if he does not eat meat. Undoubtedly, this behavior contributes to strengthening the people's belief in the paramount importance of animal protein. In addition, it was previously assumed that only the animal proteins contained all the essential amino acids. However, it has been known for a long time that vegetable proteins contain all the essential amino acids as well as the individual animal amino acids in different amounts. The protein problem is not just an amino acid problem is shown by a whole range of other aspects. The herbivorous animals cover their protein needs by eating plants. No one expresses fear and concerns that an animal would be damaged by too little protein. However, mentioning this in a discussion promptly raises the objection that observations on animals can not be transferred to humans. The dogma that man can not live without flesh leaves only those facts that support it. Facts that refute it, the probative value is denied. Two levels of "science".
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The Coverage Of Protein In The Vegetarian/Vegan Diet Denise Claudia Hubacher
– Cont’d
In allergic diseases, diseases of the musculoskeletal system such as arthritis and osteoarthritis and also in the susceptibility of common cold of infants of children, it is very important to omit animal protein. The human race belongs to the mammals and free-living mammals feed their young with milk of their kind in infancy, the deer with deer milk, the tiger with tiger milk etc. This however, only in the baby-time, the young animals after that eat the same as the adult animals. The custom that after breastfeeding the milk of the species is replaced by the milk of another species, has only naturalized in humans. Some mothers are convinced that a child does not thrive on cow's milk. Now there is a large number of children who react badly to the dissimilar protein of cow's milk. They get rashes, enlarged lymph nodes and tonsils and tend to get catarrh of the respiratory tract. After stopping cow's milk, the symptoms disappear. When it comes to the question of protein, it must also be taken into account that it is not just the quantity that counts, but also the quality. According to Doctor Werner Kollath's research, a distinction has to be made between native and denatured protein. Native protein is still natural, alive, while denatured protein has lost its liveliness through heating. With animal feeds, it can be demonstrated that the welfare of the animals depends crucially on whether the protein is natural (native) or heated. The outdoor animals do not eat cooked food. If you forcibly feed animals with heated food, they will suffer similar diseases as civilized humans and soon perish. It used to be thought that this was due to vitamin deficiency. Doctor Kollath's research has shown that protein denaturation is the cause. Human breast milk can provide a simple measure of how much protein has been thought by nature to be optimal for humans. The infant, who only lives on the same type of breast milk, doubles his weight in the first year and this with a protein content of 2 - 2.5%. For comparison, cow's milk is a bit more protein-rich, 3 - 3.5%. The fear of insufficient coverage of protein needs is unjustified - if enough healthy vegetable diet in the form of cereals, leaf, and root vegetables, nuts, seeds and fruits arre enjoyed in a varied way - should now have been sufficiently described. For the outstanding healing effect of pure fresh food, the native protein plays an essential role and explains why relatively little protein is needed in this diet without protein deficiency damage.
Denise C. Hubacher, Certified health coach GGB, raw whole food vegan, singing bowl practitioner In 2012, Denise read two books of the German health icon and activist Dr. Max Otto Bruker: “our nutrition our fate” and “ sugar sugar”. It was there when she switched her on-off vegetarian diet to a raw whole food diet by Dr. Bruker and a bit later to a raw whole food vegan diet. That’s where a new road started for her. After a longer successful career in the commercial field, Denise wanted to direct her energy into something that made sense to her at that point. She did some traveling in Northern Europe and in Brazil and then decided to become self-employed. Denise got some side jobs, got herself new educational training and engaged deeply in activistic vegan and social projects. Since 2015, Denise is a passionate activist, since 2017, a certified singing bowl practitioner and since 2019, a certified health coach GGB.
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Photo Collage
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Incredible Sicilian Aubergine Stew With Couscous “This is a fantastic dish from southern Italy that the Sicilians are super proud of – and so they should be – it’s a complete joy to eat. Serving 2 – 30 minutes Ingredients •1 large aubergine •olive oil •½ teaspoon dried oregano •1 small red onion •1 clove garlic •½ bunch flat-leaf parsley •2 large tomatoes , ripe •1 tablespoon baby capers •8 green olives , stone in •1 tablespoon red wine vinegar •150g wholewheat couscous •1 tablespoon flaked almonds •extra virgin olive oil Directions 1. Trim and cut the aubergine into large chunks. Heat a couple of lugs of olive oil in a large pan over a medium heat, add the aubergine, oregano and a little sea salt, then toss to coat. 2. Turn the heat up to high and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, giving the pan a shake every now and then. 3. While that’s ticking away, peel and finely chop the onion and garlic. Pick and chop the parsley leaves and finely chop the stalks, then roughly chop the tomatoes. 4. When the aubergine is golden all over, add the onion, garlic and parsley stalks, then cook for a further 2 minutes – if the aubergine gets too dry, add a little more oil to the pan. 5. Drain and add the capers, destone and add the olives, then drizzle over the vinegar. 6. When all the vinegar has evaporated, add the tomatoes and simmer for around 15 minutes, or until the aubergine is tender. 7. Put the couscous into a bowl, add a pinch of salt and just cover with boiling water, then pop a plate on top and leave to fluff up. 8. Lightly toast the almonds in a dry pan over a medium heat for 1 to 2 minutes, or until golden, keeping them moving. 9. Use a fork to fluff up the couscous and stir through half the chopped parsley. 10. Season the stew to taste, then drizzle with extra virgin olive oil. 11. Serve the stew with the couscous and sprinkle with the almonds and remaining parsley.
More recipes at: https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/category/special-diets/vegan/
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How We Succeeded To Stop Using Animals In The Circuses From Romania Remus Cemea In 2014 while I was a Member of the parliament, I proposed a draft law to stop using the animals in circuses. It took three years of efforts done together with animal rights activists and NGOs such as WWF Romania and Four Paws (Vier Pfoten) Romania and having complicated political discussions in order to succeed to pass this law. The initial approach of the MPs was hostile to the project. Many of them were proud hunters and owners of businesses in meat/dairy industry so they were not enthusiastic at all to support such an idea. The Senate rejected the proposal on March 4th, 2015. The Commission for Environment also voted against with only one abstain (on March 18th, 2015) and the result at the Judicial Commission was quite the same. The Government of Romania sent to the parliament its point of view, which was also, against on April 14th, 2015! The new Government that formed at the end of 2015, sent also a negative point of view on February 29th, 2016. But in this difficult environment we finally succeeded to switch the approach of the parliament and to freed the animals from the cruelty of circuses in the summer of 2017. Some of the MPs thought that if this draft law would be voted, then the next target for us will be to close the zoos (which was not far from reality to be honest, but there are two different issues). One key member of the Commission for Agriculture even said that there is no cruelty in using animals for circuses and that 'the training is based on the friendship between animals and humans'!!! This Commission was very important because it had to write a Report for the plenary in favor or against the proposal. And the initial vote was eleven against and only one vote in favor! During the debates at the Commission for Agriculture at the end of April 2015, I replied to all those who spoke against that you cannot use the 'friendship' between animals and humans in order to convince a tiger to jump through fire or an elephant to stay in its front legs or to do other 'tricks' for the amusement of the audience. But you can convince an animal to do all these using electroshock, starvation, beating, chains, and, other kinds of torture. And keeping the animals in small cages is in itself a torture for the animals which need vast territories to live in the wild. I added that it would be an important ethical step forward for our country to ban the use of animals in circuses. At the moment of those debates there was a lot of media present and I tried to explain to my colleagues that all of the journalists are there hoping that they would get historical news regarding an issue with many ethical implication for the evolution of a society. Unfortunately, they were not open to think about the reasons of the proposal and voted against it or even became a little bit furious with me. So, almost everybody was against the draft law during 2014-2016 debates in parliament. The final step, in order to reject it, was almost done at the end of 2016, just a few weeks before the ending of my mandate as a MP, on November 1st. On that day, I convinced the leader of the main opposition party to ask for a vote to resend the draft law to the Commissions in order to be discussed again by the next parliament, which was elected December 2016, and to give this a new chance for this law to be better understood and even voted.
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How We Succeeded To Stop Using Animals In The Circuses From Romania
Cont’d
Remus Cemea
And yes, the 'miracle' had happened! Long story short, the new parliament had a different approach, the Judicial Commission and the Commission for Agriculture had new majorities and this time they were in favor of the proposal and the final Report which was sent to the plenary proposed the approval of it. Yet some voices said to reject the draft law only because it was proposed by me because somehow as an independent voice I succeeded to bother many of my ex-colleagues. They wanted to write a similar draft law but with different initiators than me. If this way was followed, it would take much longer and it would be more risky than simply adopting the initial text. And, it would raise some ethical issues. But the NGOs were very against such a proposal saying that if it would be accepted anybody who fights for an idea would be discouraged to do so in the future seeing how his or her proposal would just be replaced by a plagiarism of others who just want to get all the credit by removing the initiator and putting themselves on his/her place. I didn't attend these discussions, but I was told that this was an attempt to change the things. Fortunately, the goal of voting this draft law by the plenary of the Deputies Chamber was accomplished on June 13th, 2017 with 201 votes in favor, 7 against, 58 abstentions, and one MP didn't vote. The President of the Republic promulgated it on July 14 th, 2017. At this moment, the law prohibits the use of animals in circuses in Romania thanks to all those involved in this long and complicated fight.
Remus Cernea The first ever Vegan MP in Romania (2012-2016) More resources: http://wwf.panda.org/?302690%2FWild-animals-banned-from-Romanian-circuses https://phys.org/news/2017-06-romania-wild-animals-circuses.html?fbclid=IwAR3qu63jS1RGZfw_tK fMTNtWyPMNQpEOHnd3gqKbWqq4DCRam6fr1RAmNew https://www.romania-insider.com/romania-become-25th-country-europe-bans-use-wild-animals-circuses
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Red & Green VegFest Albuquerque – Presenter Sneak Preview
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How To Be A Better Advocate Jacqueline Fonseca – The Compassionate Vegan Recently at a ‘Vegan Drinks’ event, I had an interesting conversation with an advocate. While he is passionate about using his voice, he hasn’t always channeled his passion in a positive way. In fact, using vulgarities or holding a campaign with a vague slogan may shift the attention to the humans causing the suffering and away from the animals who are the true victims. It can also cause confusion as to the reason for the demonstration. Here are some helpful guidelines to remember when planning your next event. As a longtime activist who has been involved in a fair number of boycotts and demonstrations, clarity is a must. It’s important to research well to know what our stance is. I’ve gone to circuses to film the abuse of animals behind the scenes. I’ve gone to the city aquarium to see how filthy the fish tanks are and the horrible conditions reptiles are kept in. The more we research, the clearer we can communicate about the issues and shine the light on animal victimization. A friend recently put together a protest at the San Antonio Zoo. This zoo is antiquated and is ranked one of the ten worst zoos in the US. During the protest, I asked him “what the goal of the demonstration was?”. As he was not able to answer, I became confused especially because I had been part of a successful 7 yearlong campaign to help ‘Lucky, the elephant’ at the San Antonio Zoo. Our focus was to get her friends to socialize with so she would no longer be alone. We worked with the community through education, were engaged in a publicized lawsuit and conducted peaceful demonstrations. As a result, ‘Lucky’ who was poached (when poaching was legal), was bullied by other elephants, was called “odd” by zoo keepers and was left to die in solitude, is no longer alone. She has two new elephant friends, ‘Karen’ and ‘Nicole’ that were retired from the Ringling Brothers circus. All three are clearly happy and have their needs met. Also, the lawsuit created guidelines for helping other animals suffering in captivity. This same friend recently organized a horse carriage protest. I learned that he had screamed obscenities at some of the tourists enjoying their carriage ride. As a result, the police threatened to escort him back to his car if he didn’t stop protesting. The outcome was, that tourists rather than horses were victimized. Distributing brochures, holding banners and chanting are all great to have in a demonstration. But the best way to educate society including the ‘oppressors’ is by being informed and politely engaging with others. By throwing red paint on someone wearing fur, that person becomes the victim, and the conversation shifts away from the atrocities of the fur industry. Calmly talking and showing footage are much more effective than calling people names. It is a much better way to use our voice to help the voiceless. I always leave a demonstration feeling like I contributed something to the cause of animals. When kids read the signs, I believe that many of them will think about the slogans. With some exposure and education, I expect that the children will ask their parents about the things they saw and heard, about the ‘Black Fish’ movie or about the signs held up by the zoo or the circus. Unfortunately, because of the type of disruptions we are seeing, it may feel like the more positive demonstrations are forgotten. But don’t be discouraged as many great things are happening already. For instance, let’s celebrate that there are more restaurants offering vegan options and let’s continue to ask for more. Let’s not focus on the small number of vegan eateries. Instead, let us bring our meetings to restaurants that do offer vegan food. We can even consider talking to restaurant owners about holding a demo outside while highlighting the fact that their establishment offers cruelty free meals. My first protest was organized by a friend and it took place outside of KFC (I just dated myself). Even though we were only two people, we wanted to have an impact for animals, however small it may have been. On the day of the protest, we ended being joined by six other people (more people than at our monthly Sea World demonstrations). Do not get discouraged about not gathering a large crowd to your events. The right people will join you, at the right time. So, stay organized, positive, and be clear about your goals. Between Sea World, the zoo, the travelling circuses, the aquarium, and horse carriage rides, there are many campaigns to choose from in San Antonio, TX. What are the opportunities to advocate for animals in your city?
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Vegan Depression Syndrome Uva Mason You won’t find “Vegan Depression Syndrome” (VDS) in any Psychology books or even on Google, but I’m sure every vegan knows what I’m referring to. There is some stuff on “vegan sadness,” but what a silly name for something that feels so much more intense than just being “sad.” There are also a bunch of sites that suspect and accuse vegans of getting inadequate vitamins and minerals in their diet. No doubt, if you don’t know how to properly eat a nutrient dense balanced diet (vegan or not) there can be some concern and effect on neurological status, and overall feelings of well-being. It just amazes me that so few people address the fact that vegans see the world in a completely different light. A light that is drenched in the blood and suffering of innocent creatures we care so much about. A light that closes in on us and isolates us from friends, family, and 90% of society. I know most of us, as vegans, understand and deal with this frustration, isolation, and anger daily, and I just want to point out how completely normal this is. How could anyone understand something of this magnitude and NOT feel frustrated and depressed at times?! I know these thoughts and emotions aren’t easy to share with others, even other vegans. When you’re in the company of other vegans, it’s our time to feel understood and accepted. The thing is, unless we acknowledge and address the problem, we can’t find or share solutions. I suffered from depression long before I became vegan, and having my eyes opened to this knowledge and understanding about animals both saved and destroyed my life. How do you try to accept or tolerate everyday acts of violence that seem so clearly unacceptable and intolerable to you? How do you try to connect with and accept people that literally consume and shit out beings you so deeply care about? There are times when you just can’t. I know there are some chats and groups to communicate on, and if you’re lucky, you may have some vegan friends you have that kind of sharing relationship and can openly communicate with. That’s definitely a valuable resource. I have a harder time relating and expressing myself to people in that way, so I prefer practices I can utilize on my own, whenever I need them. I am certainly no mental health professional, but it would be great to have more awareness around VDS and some resources to utilize in times of difficulty. I’ve come across some things that make my day to day life a bit more tolerable. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s to have a well-equipped toolbox. The more resources you have to choose from, the better equipped you are to handle various struggles, depending on what you’re faced with and how you’re feeling. Have a notebook or journal to write down a list of all the things that can distract and make you happy. When you’re having a difficult time, not only do you have a place to jot down your feelings and vent, but handy options to look through and see what will make you feel better in that moment. These things can range from doing something creative, making a special meal, movies, or anything that can put a smile on your face and give your brain a rest from the daily heartbreak we see as vegans.
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Vegan Depression Syndrome
– Cont’d
Uva Mason
A few of my top tools I use in my VDS toolbox are: -EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique); this is a fantastic tool to use when processing feelings. You don’t need special equipment and can easily use it on yourself to help process any issue you’re dealing with. There are several resources to learn this technique online. The Tapping Solution has a nice simple way of explaining it: https://www.thetappingsolution.com/what-is-eft-tapping/ -Gratitude; being thankful and appreciating all you have and are has been incredibly valuable for me help keep things in perspective. There are some apps, books and practices to help put your mind in a place of gratitude. I like a lot of the exercises in the book The Magic by Rhonda Byrne, but there are plenty of ideas to get in a grateful space, including meditation. When your mind is in a place of gratitude, it’s really difficult to be in a negative place at the same time. The Source also offers weekly meetings for both EFT and Gratitude. http://thesourceabq.com/events/ -CoDA (Codependence Anonymous); I’d be the first to be skeptical about a 12 step program, especially since I don’t follow any mainstream religion, but this group has proven to be a resource that has helped me not have my happiness depend on anyone else. I think they’ve also become more inclusive for their members, and often address it as “God as you see God,” and your “Higher Power.” The desire for healthy relationships is something we’re all looking for, and this can be particularly difficult as vegans. It’s a great start to begin looking at and loving yourself, setting boundaries, and being aware of the difficulties of judging and expecting people to change. Check out http://locator.coda.org/. -Exercise has long been used as a well-known natural anti-depressant. It’s a particularly good one for vegans because it goes hand in hand with eating healthier, appreciating nature, and building the self-esteem and confidence much needed for being representative of a group that is pictured to be weak and malnourished. So, hike, run, punch, cycle, lift and move all that anger and frustration out of your mind and body!
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Veganism Is Not A Religion Alexander Michael Hakam Veganism is not a religion. Veganism is the doctrine that a higher and virtuous human embraces in order to spare all sentient beings. The dogma is rooted in the belief that one does not have to kill in order to live. The reality that we all know from scientific facts is that all animals are sentient beings and that they have respiratory systems and digestive systems just like ours or very similar to ours. Animals have nervous systems and, therefore, experience pain and suffering just like humans. Further, animals feel stress and react to it in manners very similar to those of humans. In my eyes, there is no difference between humans and animals. I am an avid animal lover and advocate and, as such, have experienced the hatred in carnivorous people's hearts and behavior. I choose my battles, as I deem it a waste of time and energy to engage in a futile argument with obstinate and unenlightened people who refuse to open up their minds and to listen to ideas that are different from theirs. I would rather, and do, spend the time and energy on our precious animals in order to improve their sad and atrocious lives. As an avid animal lover and advocate, I have coined a few statements or expressions over the last few years. I would like to share them with you, the reader and animal lovers, so that you can use them in your fight for poor and innocent animals. Here are some of my own quotes: "We will always be the voice of the voiceless! We will always help the helpless! We will always defend the defenseless!" "Don't have animals' blood on your hands and their death on your conscience!" "Leave all animals alone and leave hunting behind in the stone age where it belongs, and move forward! Become a real human being!" "Hunting is for cowards hiding behind their guns! Period!" Veganism has, and always will, have a positive impact on all animals, our ecosystems, our environment, and of course on our forests. In the next issues, the impact of the meat industry, the milk/dairy industry, and the egg industry will be discussed. As we all know, the status quo is unsustainable.
Alexander Michael Hakam " Dr. Hakam is an Avid Animal Lover and Advocate, and a Philanthropist. He is Vegan for the love of Animals and feels a lot of compassion and empathy for them. Dr. Hakam’s dogma is “Animals are our Equals, not our Subordinates!� He is very involved in Animal Advocacy and Activism. His Animal Advocacy can be found mostly on LinkedIn. Dr. Hakam holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from UCLA, University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Hakam was the Lead Structural Engineer on the Motor City Casino Hotel and Convention Center. "
Veganism is not a religion. We do not have any dogma, we do not worship any deities, and we do not have any place of worship. Nor is it a diet. Veganism is a philosophical choice of nonviolence, and compassion to sentient animals. NM Vegan | 28
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Meet Our Extended Family Animals can feel empathy just like humans do. Empathy for each other, for us, and even for other species.
Goats 1. Goats are very social creatures and live in groups called herds. Siblings know each other. 2. The vocal sound a goat makes is called a bleat. Mother and kid goats recognize each other’s calls. 3. A goat's tail usually points up, unless it is frightened or sick. 4. Goats are independent and naturally curious. 5. Like human kids, goat kids like to snuggle.
Turkeys 1.
The color of a turkey’s head and throat will change depending on his mood.
2.
Turkeys form strong social bonds with their family and flock mates.
3.
Turkeys have great hearing, but no external ears.
4.
Turkeys are intelligent and sensitive animals that are highly social.
5.
They create lasting social bonds with each other and are very affectionate; rather similar to dogs.
“The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.” Charles Darwin
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Second Chance Animal Rescue New Mexico Ramona Agin Not your Average Rescue. Founded in 2005. This is a place of fairy tales and dreams come true for dogs. Second Chance is a very special rescue. You see unlike most rescues, when they pull dogs from shelters they don’t go in looking for the happiest, most adoptable dogs. They look for the needy cases, the scared ones, the shy ones, the sick ones. The ones that hang back and don’t approach potential adopters. These are the ones most at risk for being euthanized. Through the Second Chance network of foster homes they place the dogs in foster homes where they can receive the TLC and love they need to heal until they can find a furever home. Second Chance also takes in street dogs and strays. Most recently a Corgi mix they named Sierra who was found with her puppies in the East Mountains. She was being shot at by Ranchers because her puppies were attacking live stock. Sierra was finally captured and put into a foster home where it took her two months to trust her humans enough to come in the dog door. Once she did, it was soon after she met her soon to be new Mom and it was love at first site! A tribute to Second Chance and to the amazingly resilient souls Dogs have and their capacity to love and forgive. Thanks to Second Chance this beautiful little Corgi mix has an exciting new life ahead of her filled with love. Not shot dead by a Rancher without the compassion to understand she had been dumped there to forage for herself and needed help. Second Chance is made up of a virtual network of Foster homes so if you think you might be interested in volunteering and making a difference in a dogs life or if you would just like to make a donation, please visit them at http://secondchancenm.org or email them at secondchance@yahoo.com I do hope you will visit them and read about their latest rescue efforts. You might even find a new pal! Today’s Activism I have to tell you that being a writer and Animal Rights Activist this article really gave me a lot of time to think about how far things have come In both Rescue and Activism since I was a child. I’ve been an activist since I was eleven. Back then we gathered signatures to save the whales with paper and pen. Back then we also only had Dog Pounds. No shelters, rescues or adoption fairs. All unclaimed animals were euthanized. In the past twenty years things have and are evolving in rescue work and activism. So many rescues that are similar to Second Chance are out there now using foster volunteer networks. They are working with Animal Shelters to help animals get placed in homes before their time is up. Most kill shelters only hold animals for three days. We now use Twitter, LinkedIn, Face-book, Snapchat and so many other ways of communicating with each other to rescue animals today, pulling them before their time is up and other issues are easier to communicate than ever. It allows us to quickly circulate and communicate about animals needing rescue. It also allows us to help Shelters in Foreign Countries raise funds for their shelters. I don’t want to date myself but I’ve been an activist for more than 40 years. I have to say that the last fifteen or twenty years have never been a better time for getting the word out. Social media if used correctly sends your message around the entire World. I have never been more excited! We are pushing messages, fundraisers, adoptions, and petitions exposing cruelty World Wide and starting a Vegan Revolution. Cruelty free, vegetable based diets are becoming more and more popular as we enter an era of more conscious awareness and compassion for all living beings. In another five years I believe at least 15% of the US population will be Vegan. Just look how fast people are making the change! Although just between you and me, I’m hoping for a much higher number than that! I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this article as much as I have enjoyed writing it. If you have any questions I can be reached by email ramonaagin@gmail.com or you can find me on Twitter at ramonaa1@yahoo.com . Wishing you peace and joy. NM Vegan | 30
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This support group, is a safe place for vegans, to share: their hearts-happy; and, their heart-aches. Everyone desires “utopia” (a good place); yet, vegans know that many animals are, systematically, put in “dystopia” (a bad place). The meaning of the word “bad,” is relative to perception; and, as used here, is “putting it mildly.” I see the intense horror, that animals and vegans endure …so I created this fee-free, non-clinical, monthly meeting, for sharing: encouragement, comfort, and information; where, all are invited to speak, as well as hear. My attitude of seriousness, dictates, neither: a burdensome atmosphere, saturated with despair; nor, venting on the community, with violent outrage. The HeartnSole Vegan Support Group (true to its name) is a lighthearted space for some heavy-hearted aspects (vystopia), of a like-minded social network, for positive-change. [Participation does not require any commitment to membership]. {At present, this group is not formally involved, in public advocacy}. Anyone, is welcomed, to attend. RSVP is appreciated, at: (Email; phone; …see below).
Some human-symptoms, of suffering from a vystopian culture, are:
Vystopia:
• • •
[vis-toh-pee-uh]
• • •
noun 1. Existential crisis, experienced by vegans, arising out of an awareness, of the trance-like collusion, with a “dystopian” world. 2. Awareness of: greed; ubiquitous animal exploitation; and speciesism …in a modern “dystopia.”
We meet once, monthly. Go to our FB Page or webpage, for more information. Phone: 505-332-0446. Email: heartnsole3@yahoo.com
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•
Anger Intense grief, at the enormity of abuse, on animals & humans Frustration, at being unable, to wake people up, from the trance, of ignorant-violence Feeling alienated (as a minority), from the non-vegan world (the majority) Loneliness, within groups; where you, previously, felt a friendly & welcomed belonging Despair and hopelessness, that “good” will never come, on a grand scale Powerlessness, to effect change, on a personal-local-global level.
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My Journey To Veganism Nancy Arenas
How many of you, as a child, ate the flesh of an animal …that wanted to live? If, you grew up eating animal flesh; then, did the animal commit suicide, for you & your family? Did ‘the animal’ …?… bravely …go to the butcher and say, “Okay, take my life.” Like many of you… here is my story. I grew up …Brooklyn New York… participating in the global… flesh-eating-cult. I was thinking back, & remembering an incident, that happened to me when I was about 7 years old. At that time, my mom had moved us to Puerto Rico, and we were living with my abuelo (grandfather). We lived in a house on a hill. The house stood on stilts. My abuelo had chickens, so that we would have eggs… to eat (I still hate saying it). In the mornings, I remember, having the chore of, …going underneath the house, & walking among the stilts, to fetch the eggs, for breakfast. One day, though, my abuelo, asked me to …go to some place… and pick up a chicken. I went, and looked… for the cutest-chicken I could find… and brought it right back, to my abuelo. SHOCK!… it was horrifying, to see!!! Immediately, he took “my cutest one” from me, grabbed it by the neck, and “wound it up” …then, slid it across the balcony. I was terrified… and in shock. I remember the chicken’s head: bent; broken; and, dangling; …yet, the animal was still running. Such calamity?! I was horrified. I would never have imagined, that my grandfather was going to do this. Naturally, I refused to eat chicken, after that. Nevertheless, childhood conditionings, require ‘their own time,’ for …reversal. So, …time passed, …and, eventually, I ate, the animal-flesh, served to me. I think about it today, and… well, perhaps you are able to see some “bitter roots” of my vegan-advocacy. Moving forward… I attended Brooklyn College. While there, a good friend…Mike… who, at the time, was vegan (I was not vegan, yet), would say, “Let’s meet up for lunch; and, I will bring the food.” I would agree to meet; but, I was not interested in his ‘rabbit food.’ After all, I had canine-teeth; and, I knew how to use them. Years passed. We got to visit, again; and, by this time, I had become vegetarian. With eagerness, I announced, to Mike, the good news, “I’m Vegetarian.” I expected his response to match “my” perception of enthusiastic-approval, …I looked for: celebration; a congratulatory …something. Well, he unapologetically replied, “That’s …better.” I was confused & disappointed. I posed this question to him, “What’s the difference between vegetarianism and veganism?” This was my turning point. For, he helped me see, finally. I understand, now: animal-use is animal-abuse. I became vegan, right then and there. I became vegan, not for me, …but, for the animals, for something that is ‘best;’ something ‘complete for all.’ My experience of eating a carnivorous diet, was plagued with migraines, bursitis, swelling of the joints, feet pains, fibromyalgia, and more. As I entered my 2 nd month of veganism, something incredible happened. All those ailments, disappeared. After only one month of demonstrating (on my plate) compassion for the animals; veganism demonstrated compassion to me (to my body). Veganism is good for everyone. Veganism is not, merely, a new set of meal-recipes. Veganism is the key to creating a more harmonious life. It is the key to a wise & peaceful future, for our children, and their children. NM Vegan | 33
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My Journey To Veganism – Cont’d Nancy Arenas Learning about animal agriculture was difficult, for me. I paid an emotionally painful price, for learning the gory truth. My heart breaks, every day, for animals. Animals are being slaughtered, right now, … somewhere. So, I began spreading the word about veganism (all aspects) to anyone and everyone who might listen. I decided that some-way, some-how, I had to be involved. You’ve heard that saying, “Don’t wait for someone to make a difference, be the difference yourself,” …I decided to do that. I allowed all my inner vegan-feelings, to flow outward. This flood of vegan-energy became: The Annual Red & Green VegFest Albuquerque {a whole day of vegan: speakers; cooking demonstrations; vendors; food; and so on}; children’s books; an archive of magazines; a vegan support group; public speaking engagements; outreach tabling; and, new ideas are coming to fruition, every year. I was given an opportunity to do an experimental vegan cooking class (at Natural Grocers NE), now several years later, the attendance is still growing. These monthly live-sessions of Cooking With Compassion include: Veganizing (techniques that are especially beneficial for vegan-cooking); Introduction to products, that are available, in commercial-markets; Tastings; New foods & recipes; Q & A opportunities; and, Everyday easy peasy, 30-minute meals. [Admission is free]. I do not wish to live with an attitude of war; I simply believe that the world is worth fighting for; and, since I am able, …I do. I became vegan “to free animals, from human abusers;” and, I truly believe veganism is the key for a world, that is more: healthy, compassionate, peaceful, respectful, & non-violent. Like Martin Luther King: I have a dream. Like John Lennon: I imagine all the people, living life in peace. Like Mahatma Ghandi, I say: First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.’
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Advertising with New Mexico Vegan
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