Volume 5 Issue 5 September 2019 For Vegans, Vegetarians, and the Veg Curious
The Future is Now Humanimal Non-Human Animal Planet
While I Might Not Be….(Advertisement)
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Inside
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Editor’s Note
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Assistant Editor’s Note
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Please Don’t Hurt Us (Advertisement)
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From Failed Vegetarian to Vegan Entrepreneur: My Journey
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NM Conference on the Link Between Animal Abuse & Human Violence (Advertisement)
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New Mexico Facts & Trivia
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Vegans Will Reshape The World (Advertisement)
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Restructuring Community Life to Maximize the Food Shed
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HeartnSole LLC In The Community
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Living Vegan
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Vegan Happenings
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Advertisements
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Carnivore to Undercover Investigator and Vegan: My Evolution As An Animal Advocate and Show Host
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Photo Collage
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Poem: Change
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HeartnSole Vegan Support Group
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Consideration
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Red & Green VegFest Albuquerque, The Future is Now Wrap UP
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Recipe: Vegan Moussaka
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Promoting Plant-Based Eating for Animal Protection…and a Better World
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Meet Our Extended Family
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The Journey “The Great Betrayal”
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Short Story: Vegan Future
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Advertising with NM Vegan
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Resources
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I Am Not (Advertisement)
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In Memoriam
Back Inside Cover
Contributor
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Melissa Brandenburg
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Anthony Crain
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Julia Doherty
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Erik Hastings
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Callie Millen
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Stephen Penberthy
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Tony Quintana
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New Mexico Vegan Volume 5 – Issue 5 September 2019 Editor: Nancy Arenas Assistant Editor: Arwen NMV Photographer: N. Arenas
A HeartnSole, LLC publication
The views and opinions, expressed by contributingauthors, in the New Mexico Vegan Magazine; may, or may not, represent the views and opinions, of New Mexico Vegan.
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Hello friends …near and far. I must share the wondrous sense of community, I experienced, at our 2019 Red & Green VegFest Albuquerque The Future is Now, which was held on 8/10/19 at the JCC of Albuquerque. The vendors, presenters, volunteers, and attendees, were all mingling with great vibes. There was a constant positive energy that filled the whole space. It was a lovely VegFest. One of my favorite images, is seeing vegans, vegetarians, and the veg-curious share in a festival of compassion, engagement, inspiration and education. My heart was warmed, to connect with friends, familiar and new. I am deeply grateful to all who contributed in making it such an awesome experience for all who attended. Thank you ever so much. I am inspired to continue this work, and I look forward to doing it again in 2020.
Livegan, -- Nancy
ASSISTANT EDITOR’S NOTE Animals want to be loved by humans, and to love humans in return …that is our purpose. We want to be here with you, as equals, without use and abuse. Be Kind, to all kinds. Livegan, -- Arwen
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I am sure you have heard someone say “vegans only eat salad” or as I not so affectionately called it; rabbit food. I used to be one of those people. I thought I didn’t like vegetables so I couldn’t eat salads. I was sure I couldn’t be vegetarian, let alone vegan. However, with a little love, patience, and knowledge I not only went Vegan but am building a business around it! This is my journey. There was a time about 8 years ago that I tried to be vegetarian. My unhealthy diet consisted of cheese and lots of pasta. I, unfortunately, even fell off the vegetarian wagon after about 2 years, thinking it was too expensive as many people tend to do. I hated giving up being vegetarian because I would get sick to my stomach after almost every meal. I would feel sluggish and gross after dinner out. For a long time, I continued to tell myself I, “have to eat meat” and, “what else can I eat?” I felt like I was destined to be part of the cruel slaughter industry forever. Then a friend of mine asked me to watch “ Forks Over Knives .” My husband and I watched it together and couldn’t believe the claims they were making. The healthy changes people were seeing just by cutting out meat and dairy. We wanted to make changes but still didn’t grasp it as a possibility in our lives. Lucky for me this same friend didn’t give up on me! She knew that since I had tried being vegetarian and that I love animals, I was open to change. She started volunteering at a farm animal sanctuary and I started following her adventures on Facebook. I watched as the cows frolicked like puppies and the piglets just wanted to cuddle and have adventures like all creatures. I slowly started making the connection. I still had a fear of not finding enough to eat. I decided to pick out some of my favorite family recipes and try to veganize them. I found vegan mac and cheese. I revamped a sandwich recipe we called Aunt Leny Sandwiches, which were 4 types of lunch meat, 4 kinds of cheese and pizza sauce baked on buns in the oven. I replaced the lunch meat with Tofurky slices and the cheese was Follow Your Heart. While I admit, this was expensive, the outcome was totally worth it! I also started buying Boca burgers and Gardein items to try things out while still eating the Standard American Diet. Once I knew it wouldn’t be hours upon hours of work for each meal and it was more than salads I was ready to take the plunge! In May of 2017, I decided I was going vegan and there would be no turning back. I realized vegans eat more than just salads!!!! I found a plethora of meat and dairy replacements even in the South Eastern US! I have been vegan for the animals now for 2 years and 3 months! I have omnivorous family members and friends telling me I eat better than they do! As I continued to learn about the vegan movement I felt like I was wasting my time. In the corporate job I was working, I was surrounded by meat-eating co-workers unwilling to try to understand my feelings on the issue and realized that wasn’t where I wanted to be. I wanted to devote my time to things I believe in. I took a leap and decided to start working from home as a freelancer. I became a virtual assistant this past April. Becoming a virtual assistant kind of solved one of my problems. I was able to volunteer more with my favorite sanctuary The Pig Preserve. I was able to help my friends when they needed me. I still felt a little like something was missing. The clients I was getting on my freelance site could ask me to do anything. Including things that may not align with my ethics. So I didn’t feel like I was completely working within my passion. I wanted to help make a difference for the animals through helping vegans!
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Part of my new venture had me learning all about being a virtual assistant and niching down my services. While thinking of niching down I had my epiphany! I realized I should put my executive assistant skills to use for the vegan movement! I decided I wanted to help vegan entrepreneurs and non-profits by taking over some of their admin work so they can concentrate on profitable tasks. It took me no time at all to decide to become The Veggie VA! I get to do what I love while also helping a movement I have become so passionate about! It is a win-win! I hope I inspired you on your journey. I understand vegan entrepreneurship may not be part of your dreams. You may be happy in corporate America spreading the vegan message or using your free time to volunteer with vegan organizations. However, If someone like me who believed vegans only ate rabbit food, was a failed vegetarian can become a vegan entrepreneur there is no reason why your skills can’t be put to use to help the vegan movement.
Callie Milen has been vegan for 2.3 years. She lives in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains with her husband and their menagerie of pets. She does admin work from her couch! In her free time, she enjoys volunteering at the Pig Preserve, spending time with family and friends and reading. You can contact her at theveggieva@gmail.com or via her website www.theveggieva.com
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1. The province that was once Spanish New Mexico included all of present day New Mexico, most of Colorado and Arizona, and slices of Utah, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Wyoming. 2. The boundaries of present day New Mexico were drawn by congress in 1863 but New Mexico didn't become a state until 1912. 3. Lakes and Rivers make up only .002% of the state's total surface area. The lowest waterto-land ratio of all 50 states. 4. The Rio Grande is New Mexico's longest river and runs the entire length of New Mexico. 5. White Sands National Monument is a desert, not of sand, but of gleaming white gypsum crystals. 6. The state of New Mexico shares an international border with the country of Mexico. 7. The word "Pueblo" is used to describe a group of people, a town, or an architectural style. There are 19 Pueblo groups that speak 4 distinct languages. The Pueblo people of the southwest have lived in the same location longer than any other culture in the Nation. 8. The Navajo, the Nation's largest Native American Group, have a reservation that covers 14 million Acres. 9. Moon Rocks can be found at the International Space hall of fame that is located in Alamogordo. .
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10. Tens of thousands of bats live in the Carlsbad Caverns. The largest chamber of Carlsbad Caverns is more than 10 football fields long and about 22 stories high.
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With global population expected to reach or exceed nine billion by 2050, current food needs are being met with unsustainable agricultural practices and global farming will fail to meet demands for food in the long term. Students, teachers, businesses, environmentalists, activists, and community organizers alike are working to find practical solutions to the dilemma of modern livingwhich functions as a means of all consumption and nearly zero production. Individual cities are exercising old techniques as well as new innovations to localize resources and strengthen the Food Shed concept. When the industrial food system falls short, localized (plant-based) agriculture empowers communities and their ability to focus on the triple bottom line, where sustainable efforts will inevitably impact health and wellness, environmental stability, and local economy. The principles and practices of localized Food Shed initiatives have the potential to align perfectly with veganism- if efforts are solely based on plant food regenerative agricultural values. The Food Shed metaphor is intended as a guiding mechanism with which to provoke objective evaluation of regional production potential as well as motivate localized communities to take initiative in strengthening projected supply. Food Shed philosophy assists community members in recognizing individual roles and their responsibility to the local land in which they reside. Regional analysis is an important means to qualify maximum potential for self-reliance and independence from the global farming system. Of course, there are many factors that impact food security that are not limited to agriculture. By localizing and properly managing resources within regional guidelines, there can be some food security accomplished through food shed principles when reaching the highest yield potential for land productivity in small-scale farming initiatives. As a result, fortifying food sheds will also have a positive effect on other environmental concerns including but not limited to energy, transport, pollution control and climate. Food justice is additionally considered when empowering disadvantaged areas, particularly low income, with the capacity to grow their own fresh produce through community established farm projects. Food justice is a value that naturally fits within the same framework as a moral economy. Meeting the needs of the people with a sense of obligation to the planet as a whole entity is a new level of conscious aspiration not yet fully realized. Food Shed ethics provide an opportunity to revive a sense of stewardship and moral obligation to the collective good – for the Earth, for humans, and for all other life. Factors of ethical production, processing, distribution, consumption and waste disposal must be addressed. Management of these aspects includes utilizing renewable energy sources, organic and regenerative practices, repurposing and recycling to the greatest degree available within a given system. The inherent values of a working food shed defy the profit-seeking ambitions of global farming – which is inefficient, promotes and normalizes animal exploitation, is dependent on fossil fuels, pollutes the environment and depletes the land of its nutrients. Organic food is generally more expensive for the consumer, however externalized costs of industrial agriculture should not be overlooked. Producing cheap sustenance is backed by government subsidies that strengthen production of cash crops like grains and do not equally support fruits and vegetables, or organic crops. By compromising healthier produce to supply food that is cheap and filling, the global food system is at large responsible for ecological damage, severe (and preventable) health issues like obesity and cancer in America. Localizing organic production lends itself as a valuable tool for replacing the dominant industrial machine. With timely demands for food justice and security, many activists reference the need to revitalize cultural sentiments towards community-based gardens and farms, such as with the victory gardens grown during WWI and WWII. Michelle Obama also advocated for community gardening during her husband's presidency. Direct access to fresh, local food reduces climate effects by lowering transport needs and enables people to make healthier choices within their own local culture. If a diet that is primarily plant-based becomes more attainable (and adopted) on a large scale, the result will likely create substantial improvements in the average U.S. household's climate footprint. Currently, 83% of emissions associated with food happens during the production phase, red meat and dairy being the most intensive. Supplementing one day a week's consumption of red meat and dairy products for alternative proteins and/or plants would collectively have the same carbon footprint reduction impact as consuming 100% local food everyday.
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Social justice (for all animals), health and quality of life, crop diversity, economic stability, and environmental stewardship are reinforced by localizing food production and move society towards true sustainability. Though farming as a livelihood, and perhaps a lifestyle, has been considerably marginalized by mainstream American culture, the pressure to shift and establish self-reliance has numerous benefits, including and extending beyond: reducing food costs, conserving resources, utilizing renewables at maximum potential, reducing crime, re-purposing and preserving “green space”, naturally beautifying neighborhoods, promoting nutritional value, providing opportunity to cultivate inter-generational and cross-cultural connections, as well as cultivating a compassionate lifestyle that excludes animal products in the human diet. Community and school gardens are excellent examples of micro-scale movements that encourage people to start growing. Learning how to cooperate in a mutually beneficial medium can spark a change in cultural values towards environmentally friendly self-reliance and regional identity. Sharing space generates trust within groups of people and empowers each individual to contribute. Gardening with an educational platform builds skills in utilizing small areas while exercising simple and affordable procedure without sacrificing quality. Vacant and public land can transition to functional assets, as well as partner with complimentary organizations. By taking an active role in the life process of one's own food, there is more likelihood to consume consciously. As the local growing movement progresses, application becomes more versatile. NPR news reported in their piece, “Why Micro-Gardening Could Go Big”, that community growing initiative is a point of focus for the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. Do-It-Yourself home projects are becoming popularized and urban spaces like balconies, small yards, patios and rooftops are being transformed. Wooden boxes, trash cans and other materials can be used to contain the gardens; it is also a way of protecting growth from contaminated local soil. Las Cruces locals are nurturing urban farms with traditional techniques for gardening in the desert. The Ashiwi method of soil preparation is implemented by forming wells called “waffles” that retain water in a basin and prevent waste. Tomatoes, peppers, squashes, sunflowers, beets, carrots, potatoes, chard and white corn are harvested seasonally. Community garden projects are expanding by partnering with local schools, offering workshops and building a large scale compost pile. One of the organizers, Martha Egnal believes that gardening “teaches patience, focus, and responsibility”. There are numerous Albuquerque grower's markets throughout the city, (and the entire state) where local and regional growing initiatives can be supported by consumer responsibility – many of which apply regenerative practices, closed-loop systems, and solar energy. La Montanita Co-Op is one of very few food cooperatives in the U.S. that owns its own full-service distribution center, and diversifies its resources to the community in numerous ways, for the sake of both the producer and the consumer. The Co-op works to build the local economy by educating on the benefits of buying local, providing sufficient assistance to growers to keep them in business, and also plays a role in influencing policy that supports local agriculture. Internal and external branding for locally sourced products have been paired with thorough store signage and educational brochures to adequately promote foodshed items to customers.
"“Becoming vegan is the most important and direct change we can immediately make to save the planet and its species.” ― Chris Hedges NM Vegan | 11
Many organizations are partnering with the Co-op Trade Initiative to strengthen sustainability through the regional food-shed. The New Mexico Agricultural Task Force of the Rio Grande Council of Governments strategizes with the intention of protecting land and water rights. The New Mexico Food Shed Alliance was co-founded by La Montanita and focuses their mission on making the food-shed viable, diversified and carbon neutral. The UNM Biology and Sustainability Studies Departments, New Mexico Agriculture Policy Council, and Sandia National Labs are other powerful allies in the foodshed movement. Strength in numbers can truly be reached through connections formed with business, education, policy reform, and community participation. Significant global efforts are being made on local levels to fortify the regional food shed lifestyle. It has become evident to advocates for food justice and security that the current failing system fortunately has an expiration date. The benefits of localized agriculture measures beyond the supply of food, and extends into community re-development and the human growth of conscious living. The only solution to the current dismal circumstance of global farming is to relentlessly educate the public on the best alternatives available. Being an active participant in this age of people is both nerve-wracking and exciting. With the assistance of traditional practices and new innovative green technology and design, the Food Shed has the potential to redefine society as a whole.
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Toastmasters July 22, 2019
Plant Powered Pop Up Market: Plant Powered Things July 21, 2019
Positive Links Do Your Holiday Shopping Early! July 27, 2019
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Six years ago, I made one of the best decisions of my life. I decided to “live vegan.” My motive: compassion for animals. Somehow, somewhere, the animal’s right “to live freely and happily,” had been robbed and erased, for my very own food plate. Food-conditionings on children are, obviously, powerful. I must, simply, remain properly-detached from their painful memories. Looking forward, now, there is no possibility of returning to my old food-habits. I will never eat animals, again. From the moment I was weaned off mother’s milk, I was offered animal flesh; and, without considering the animal’s life, I ate. In my heart, I know that I loved animals. My love for animal’s was, however, disconnected from the horror of the butcher’s blade. That blade was always, “behind closed doors.” Everyone ate. No one questioned. Eating animals, would have been repulsive, were they not “sumptuously dressed” (trimmed; reshaped to a ball, patty, loaf or wiener; decorated with crust; and given spice, to make them taste nice). A grape on the vine, beans on the stalk, an apple on the tree; …plants are, certainly, prepared by Mother Earth, to be naturally alluring, …obviously “pointed to,” as proper food. It is shocking, that such a disgusting drama, as animal-farming, is played out, on the global stage, and on a majority scale. How could humanity have acted so, for millennia, without making the connection? I cannot judge others, for it happened to me. But, thankfully, judgement is useless, anyway …for creating a more-enlightened world. I believe that most people in the world today, have a heart-love for animals, on some level; but many are, still, disconnected from the harsh realities involved with “eating” them. Regarding human attitudes toward animals: the world is, in a sense, “brain-washed.” Once the spark of deep-compassion, was ignited in my own being, there was an illumination, that still grows daily, within me, as the ideal of, ahimsa (do no harm). Initially, I chose veganism for the animals. Then I researched and educated myself on foods I could and should eat. Eventually, I realized that veganism is far more than a diet. Veganism is, truly, a social justice movement. It deals with saving the planet, from humanity itself …rescuing biology …preventing the destruction of plants, animals, & humans …preserving a home, for our children’s children. Veganism is a way of living, that seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practical, all forms of cruelty to animals. Animaluse is animal- abuse. Animal welfare, environmental issues, world hunger, sustainability, health, worker’s rights, sexism, specieism, are among the facets of veganism. As I began to “connect the dots,” a surprising mental image appeared: society itself, is self-destructive. The government, big pharma, the meat and dairy industries, all feed us lies. These institutions will continue to do so, unless we speak up and demand the change that is needed. In the film The Matrix, Morpheus “unplugs” Neo from the trance of an imposed illusory society, that perpetuates itself, only if it can delude and control a quota of “human puppets.” I want to help free others, as Neo was freed …to “unplug” them from the big lies, the world is telling. Not everyone, who becomes vegan, will choose to be a “warrior” for the cause, and that is okay. However, to those that do want to join the foot-soldiers for veganism, I say, “We need you, want you, welcome you and commend you.” Every day, in all my actions and relationships, I bring veganism to “the table.” Wherever I am; and, whomever I am with …I am a vegan-advocate. Advocacy can be done in so many forms. I seek every opportunity, to further the discussion of veganism; and, the tone must remain friendly …optimistic and inspiring. Sometimes, people respond with resistance and even hostility, but I keep my cool and keep it peaceful. After all, veganism is a message of compassion, peace and love. Keeping calm and cool makes a difference. As Gandhi put it, “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, …then you win!” Whoever you are, wherever you are, thanks for being vegan. We are fighting for animal rights, and human rights. May everyone be happy.
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Register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/thegame-changers-pre-party-eventtickets-67165165819
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I’m Erik Hastings. I’m a vegan and animal advocate. And here’s my story. I was raised in an all-American family in the Pacific Northwest. I grew up as a meat eater. Along with my family and friends I hunted and fished. It was just what we all did. It’s one of the ways we bonded. As a young adult I pursued a career in law enforcement. It gave me a chance to enforce my strong sense of what is right. My sense of justice. It was generally a rewarding job. And then, somewhere along the way, something changed. The love and respect for nature that I developed as an “outdoorsman” began to extend to all living things. Even the animals that continued to appear on my table. And I had an epiphany. I could no longer consider myself as “doing the right thing” and continue to eat animals. And I became a vegan. That vegan “epiphany” led me to my career as an undercover investigator for Mercy For Animals, a non-profit whose mission is to end the exploitation of animals for food. It was a big decision to take that job. It required all the strength I could muster to complete my investigations. But being able to take action that resulted in the improvement in the lives of farm animals was much better than sitting on the sidelines and wishing something would happen. I was determined it wouldn’t break me but make me stronger and more determined. And when one of my investigations resulted in reforms or criminal convictions, it gave me even more motivation to go on. I was an investigator for 3 years and continue to work with Mercy For Animals as an Investigation Specialist. Last year I was approached by the production team at “Cook Vegan For Me” and asked if I would consider signing on as host of their new vegan lifestyle series. And although I never thought of being in front of the camera, it seemed like a wonderful opportunity for me to extend my impact and to evolve as a global vegan advocate. In the show I will take audiences around the world and, in each episode, I’ll ask a ask nonvegan chef to cook a vegan meal. And then I’ll have the chance to sit down with a group of local non-vegans and share the chef’s creations. We aim to open an honest and nonconfrontational dialogue about veganism. I love this idea because at the end of the day vegan food is just normal food we eat all the time. Really good food. And vegans are just people. Regular people who make a choice every day to eat amazing food that does not require cruelty or exploitation in its creation. We’re also planning to engage in some vegan-friendly adventures wherever we visit and to highlight animal welfare issues and advocates in each location. I’m excited to share this series with the world. And I’m confident that slowly but surely, we WILL open hearts and minds about what it’s like to be a vegan. It works for me. I’m happy. I’m thriving. And it’s never a sacrifice. You can check out our series teaser at https://youtu.be/DjhQTqngbAY And the pilot episode sneak peek at https://youtu.be/HYvt0vel6kc Please watch for the full pilot episode launching September 16 on YouTube and Vimeo. And follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @CookVeganForMe. We appreciate your support!
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I bend and plant I stretch and pick My hands are made to create I have no paws or no jaws to indicate I should take
Take the life of a life that did no wrong to me let another do the deed and there’s no need to see There is no way to take a life that does not want to go It lives and breathes, has a brain a heart and blood that flows I bend and plant, I stretch and pick My hands are made to create
I now survive and I thrive With no death upon my plate Cheers Julia
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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.
Consideration Julia Doherty I love vegans, I love people who are willing to change everything, so we can, change everything. There are now millions of people worldwide choosing plant-based living, so could it be time to ask ourselves why such a high rate of people, who know what meat tastes like, why would they stop eating something that they liked. Well if you are willing to consider or even research the many reasons why we are changing, it may leave a bad taste in your mouth and you may not like what you find. That is what happened to me at 43. I had never considered, and considered, being the notable word here. I just simply had never considered my purchases. How my items were made, where they were made and what they were made of, and I certainly had not considered how conditioned I was. Take dairy for example, all mammals wean , all , so it is literally indisputable that we are never required or intended to consume dairy beyond infancy, that is conditioning, This fact does not even require an education, it is basic biology, no degree is needed to understand this . Do doctors, nutritionists and mothers not know this? Humans are also the only species consuming flesh that cannot absorb the cholesterol in animal body parts and why we suffer from atherosclerosis. Before I changed my eating habits, I researched the required nutrients to “survive” as I feared I could become sick or worse die! Yes, that is the how much crap these industries have fed us. Now six years later, either I have superpowers, or I am living proof with millions of others that it is false that we are required consume animals. I changed my meals over a four-month period, eliminating each food group each month one at time, allowing me to re-adjust to removing an ingredient and replacing it with another. WOW there is so much food grown in the ground and they all hold a multitude of our requirements. It did mean I would need to try new ingredients and prepare new meals which is now second nature to me. The variety of food is the most exquisite discovery and yet for some strange reason is denied and hidden within our current system. The light bulb moment was the day I saw footage of Live Export, the horrendous cramped conditions, as they stand, fall and suffocate in each other’s excrement’s for weeks on end. Where they will endure and suffer in all-weather sea conditions, where they will be tossed and swayed, until they arrive in countries that will sledgehammer theses sentient beings, hammer them until they do not get back up anymore, and it takes more than a few swings. In other countries they will have their tendons slashed so they cannot get away as they stab their eyes out and continue to jab and stab them until they slowly die bleeding out. No, it wasn’t until I took the time to watch what I advocated for with every purchase that my eyes were opened to what I had turned a blind eye to. If I was to eat meat then Live Export is ok. That was a problem, that was not ok with me, and the first time I released and considered that animals were not packet food. It was also the last day I financially supported these businesses. The fear in their eyes may as well have been human, as their bodies and lives are forcefully taken away from them and a savage haunting image of humankind scarred in my mind. At this point I was in shock at what it takes to make steak and that is when I began to consider every purchase I made.
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Consideration - Cont’d Julia Doherty Vegan is not a diet, it is our diet, it is the change our planet needs. Consumerism is consuming us, and nothing is more important than fresh air and water, but that is what is at stake, not steak. Fresh air and water. We will die of thirst before starving. It is not just negligence but criminal that there are people dying of starvation daily while we eat ourselves silly and throw away food like we do animals. No regard just discard. Have you never wondered why the adverts you saw as a child of starving children in Africa are still a problem, because we are the problem. Unless we change, they will continue to starve. Making decisions with our tongue is outdated and a threat to our planet and life on it. I want to be vegan because I understand the importance of fresh air and water, I want world hunger to end, I want an inclusive kinder world for all , I want to be one of the people who was willing to change to make that happen.
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Thank You Vendors
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Thank You Presenters
Discover the benefits of plant-based living at Red & Green VegFest Christopher Nunley KRQE Morning Show, Nancy Arenas, and Tammy Fiebelkorn, Positive Links.
Shawn Weed, The Acre Restaurant, Nancy Arenas, and Chad Brummett – New Mexico Living Local
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Ingredients: 2 larges eggplants, sliced lengthwise 2 mediums zucchini 1 cup TVP 1 tablespoon vegetable stock 1 cup Olive oil (or less, but it won’t taste the same), plus extra for 3 tablespoons Vegan cheese 3 tablespoons Pine nuts 3 mediums Potatoes, sliced 3 cups White sauce (vegan non-hydrogenated margarine/soy milk/white flour) 1 can Tomatoes 1 large Onion 3 Cloves garlic
Instructions: 1. Salt and let stand the eggplant for 2 hours. Rinse well and fry in some olive oil. Boil the potatoes for a couple of minutes and then fry in olive oil until tender. 2. Fry onions in the olive oil and add the garlic and zucchini. Add the TVP, which should have previously been rehydrated with some olive oil and some vegetable stock. Add the tomatoes, and finally add the pine kernels and the cheese. You may like to add some herbs here, though this wasn’t done traditionally. 3. In a glass baking dish, make layers of aubergines, tomato/mince sauce and the potatoes mixed with the white sauce. Make sure the top layer is a potato/white sauce mix. 4. Bake in the oven for about 25 minutes at about 300 degrees F.
More recipes at: https://eatwithureyes.com/vegan-moussaka/
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Each day it seems there is a higher sense of urgency for individuals to choose more plant-based foods. The current fires in the Amazon which were started to clear land for beef production are one example of an event that is inspiring folks to take action by changing their diet. While more and more people are interested in adopting a plant-based diet, two common barriers are lack of access to plant-based foods and lack of education on how to shop for—and prepare—plant-based foods. Since its launch in October of 2018, Animal Protection of New Mexico’s (APNM) Promoting Plant-Based Eating program has been working to decrease these barriers and make plant-based eating more accessible for New Mexicans. To help increase access to plant-based foods, APNM’s Plant-Based Eating volunteers have been reaching out to local dining establishments and offering assistance in adding plant-based options to their menus. We have seen success in Albuquerque including Dia de Los Takos adding vegan tacos to their menu and Toltec Brewing Company veganizing their monthly Craft Course meal. Several other restaurants are currently working on adding plant-based options in the near future. As we work to expand access, we have reached out to two larger local companies that have many locations throughout the state: Dion’s and Blake’s. We currently have open petitions to each company, one asking Dion’s to add vegan cheese to their menu and the other asking Blake’s to add a vegan burger. Dion’s Petition – www.apnm.salsalabs.org/dionsvegancheese Blake’s Petition – www.apnm.salsalabs.org/veganlotaburger In our efforts to increase education about plant-based cooking and nutrition, we have been partnering with local experts and organizations to offer classes at various locations in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Class locations include New Heart Center for Wellness, Fitness, & Cardiac Rehabilitation, Roadrunner Foodbank’s Healthy Foods Center, and our APNM office in Santa Fe. In October, our “Benefits of Plant-Based Eating” class will include a grocery store tour in collaboration with Albuquerque Oasis. The classes held at our Santa Fe office are recorded and posted on our YouTube channel for easy access anytime, anywhere. To receive notifications about upcoming classes, you can subscribe to our email list on our website at www.apnm.org/plantbased or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pbenm. If you have additional locations or cities where you would like to request a class to be held, please contact us. For people who are not feeling motivated to eat more plant-based foods, our team has been working to increase awareness about all the various reasons one might choose to adopt a plant-based diet, including: animal protection, personal health, environmental concerns, and social justice. We have provided education for organizations and groups whose work aligns with any of these themes, encouraging them to adopt a vegan workplace policy and illustrating how a vegan policy would support their mission. We have also created a guide to adopting a vegan policy which includes information about what the policy might entail, examples of current vegan policies from other organizations, and resources for acquiring funding for vegan events. Whether an organization focuses on animal protection, environmental preservation, health and wellness, or human rights, adopting a vegan policy will directly support the mission and can broaden the organization’s reach while attracting new supporters. Our Plant-Based Eating team can offer additional support for any organization interested in learning more about adopting a vegan policy or just interested in serving vegan food at an event. We have served vegan meals at events for NM Solar Energy Association, Save the Kids, Amity Foundation, and Millions for Prisoners. If your organization would like to learn more about adopting a vegan policy or serving vegan food at your next event, please contact us. Our program is also working on reaching a wide variety of communities to spread awareness of the countless benefits of plant-based eating. In addition to reaching out to organizations like those mentioned above, we are also hosting a screening of the film A Prayer For Compassion and inviting religious/spiritual organizations to have a conversation about how plantbased eating aligns with spiritual philosophies. Information about the event can be found at www.aprayerforcompassionabq.eventbrite.com. Also in the works is an educational workshop for fitness professionals to teach about the specific athletic training benefits of plant-based eating, plus custom projects to reach schools and hospitals. We will also be supporting the local climate strike week of action in September by co-hosting a vegan picnic.
"Let your food be your medicine, and your medicine be your food." Hippocrates NM Vegan | 27
Of course, all of this work would not be possible without our amazing team of volunteer ambassadors and the support we receive from the community. We would like to thank everyone on our team who has been making all of this work possible, and everyone in the community who has supported us. If you would like to get involved, please contact us. We will continue working to make plantbased eating more accessible and attainable for New Mexicans and beyond, because we truly believe a better world begins on your plate.
Tony Quintana is the Plant-Based Eating Program Manager for Animal Protection of New Mexico. He has worked in Health Promotion/Disease Prevention for over eight years and has conducted health education programs on a wide variety of topics including nutrition, fitness, diabetes, and HIV. Tony (known by his stage name I.Q. the Professor) is also very active in the local hip-hop scene in New Mexico where he cofounded the Conscious Eating & Hip-Hop event series, and helps coordinate community events around hiphop activism. Tony has been vegetarian since 2007, and vegan since 2016. He lives in Albuquerque with his wife, two children, and dog (all of whom are also vegan).
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Animals can feel empathy just like humans do. Empathy for each other, for us, and even for other species.
1.
Coyote, also called prairie wolf or brush wolf, is a member of the canine (dog) family.
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Coyotes are excellent runners. They can run up to 40 miles an hour and can jump a distance of over 13 feet.
3.
The coyote is a very vocal animal with a varied repertoire of calls. It uses a long howl to report its location, short barks to warn of danger, yips when reuniting with pack members, growls when establishing dominance, whines and whimpers when bonding, and high-pitched barks to summon pups.
4.
Coyotes are generally monogamous and maintain pair bonds.
5.
Both parents care for their young, frequently with the help of older offspring.
6.
Coyotes sometimes walk on their toes to make as little noise as possible.
7.
The coyote is one of the most adaptable animals in the world. They can change breeding habits, diets, and social dynamics to survive in a wide variety of habitats.
8.
Coyotes are great swimmers
“There is no fundamental difference between man and animals in their ability to feel pleasure and pain, happiness, and misery.� -Charles Darwin NM Vegan |30
Following my retirement as Head of Public Affairs, for the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Queensland – Australia, around a decade ago, I happened upon an article titled ‘Canned Lion Hunting’ and as I had never heard the term before, I read the article and couldn’t believe what I was reading. Was this the Greatest Betrayal of the Kingdom of Animals, by humans in our time. The answer to this question is yes and nothing has changed over the past ten years; allow me to digress. The term canned lion hunting basically means: Lion cubs are taken away from their parents and brought up as pets, usually in Game Ranches/farms and facilities attracting unsuspecting tourists. Unsuspecting volunteers are also sought to walk with the young lions and pet them. In other words the lions become so familiar with humans; just like domestic cats and dogs. When the lions reach maturity they are sold off to Trophy Hunt organizations in the final link in the betrayal chain. Trophy hunters come from around the world for their trophy and can pay up to and over $50,000 to shoot a lion in a confined space. Remember, the lions come to the cowardly hunter as they have no fear of humans. My curiosity into animal welfare as a whole was sparked by Canned Lion Hunting and so the journey began. Not an easy walk in the park, up to ten hours a day on the computer reading about and viewing footage of thousands of heinous acts of animal cruelty. Initially, I had to harden myself emotionally in order to move forward with an army of animal advocates to create a global awareness of the massive plague of animal cruelty corrupting and destroying our world. From the elephant ivory, rhino horn, and exotic animal trade, to atrocious farming practices and disgraceful slaughter houses to barbarous ancient cultural and merciless archaic traditions are but some of the inhumane activities performed by the human animal. Before moving on I would like to share with you a quote I penned some years back:
“There are insufficient words in the ‘world of language’ to describe the ignorance, greed and heinous cruelty perpetrated by humans on the ‘Voiceless Kingdom of Animals” ~Stephen Penberthy There is however, a solution and a means to turn this mindset of human denial and behavior around and that is education and awareness. Imagine, if all kindergartens, schools, colleges, and educational facilities around the world included within their respective curriculum - Animal Welfare/Rights, along with the values of Empathy, Compassion, Care, Kindness and Integrity. We would surely have a new kinder world for all living beings. After all, it’s the children of today who will be our leaders of tomorrow.
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This in the grand scheme of things is not rocket science it’s common sense but unfortunately common sense is not that common. The world desperately needs to change. Greed, ignorance, hypocrisy and denial should be buried and reality faced.
In relation to eating animals the children and youth, having been educated will in fact reverse roles with their parents, who have traditionally followed their parents and so on by consuming meat and dairy. It’s a process that would work ….. children encouraging their parents to think before they eat, and to seek a cruelty free and much healthier plant based dietary option. On the other side of the coin, we have conservation and sustainability issues of the food chain to consider. Current meat consumption will lead to massive forest destruction over the next thirty or so years, in order to provide sufficient meat/food for an increasing global population to around 10 billion people; currently the figure stands at approximately 7.7 billion. You don’t need to be an Einstein, to figure out that at this rate of growth it is totally unsustainable. For a concise understanding of conservation and sustainability, I commend this video to you: Animal Agriculture and the Resultant Climate Change: https://youtu.be/S7854HbH9Ro, herein lies the problem; what’s the solution; it’s obvious! Become a Vegan, follow a Plant Based diet and embrace the lifestyle. Your commitment will have an immediate effect on our environment.
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‘The world and its wellbeing and our very survival is in our hands’
It is the year 2100 and Earth has begun evolutionary advancement on an epic scale. Intergalactic federations had begun to take notice of the changes occurring on Earth. Earth with its inhabitants had realized the means to save their planet was dietary. Earth's citizens had coincidentally began their major dietary overhaul around 2020. The evidence that a vegan diet would save the world and promote the greatest health and longevity of it's populace was irrefutable and the years between 2020 and 2100 saw the world become lush. Animals, people, and flora had begun to develop highly mutualistic relationships that had benefited all positively. Life spans increased dramatically. The mythological garden of Eden had began to be restored. Technology had become more akin to biotech where living flora had begun to effectively serve as housing, nourishment, medicine, and entertainment. Longevity had increased and people were healthier mentally and physically due to ecosystem created chemicals that flora produce called phytoncides that reduce inflammation in the human body and revive and refresh. Evidence for this had reached a critical mass by 2020 and due to the crime preventing ability of phytoncide treatment and health promotion of vegan diets gardens, fruit forests, other edible ecosystems and phytoncide forests were created nation and worldwide. All streets were lined with trees with community gardens in every neighborhood initially. As vegan diets became more widespread the advancement of floratech became more and more pronounced the very streets themselves became flora based. Then the buildings themselves. Arborsmithing, which was initially more of a novelty, had become a highly scientific advanced biotech. Through advancements that were initiated by the FabTreeHab or fabricated tree habitat housing began to become more biotically responsive to people's needs where one need only think their wishes and the god like living flora buildings would offer. As more time and effort was focused on the positive attributes of flora new adaptations and flora attributes began to materialize. Living leaf bio glue was created that could allow leaf tents to offer temporary shelter. As adoption of plant based diets became pronounced so to did an Eden like environment as all research and development was focused on the mutualistic evolution of flora and fauna. A miracle would also take place that occurred at greater and greater frequencies. What first started as a pitcher plant showing up for nourishment for a brief second began to be more encompassing. Entire vast living flora structures were seen to miraculously show up and previously built environment buildings transformed into living flora buildings for however brief a time. Pitcher plants also stayed for longer durations and with more frequency. And higher vibration entities would visit earthlings, commune, and share drinks. As intergalactic societies began to feel more comfortable with humanity's compassionate choices they began to offer their floratech as well to help create an environment that they too could explore. The seas were Earth's greatest untapped resource and with the rise of veganism algae, seagrass, and kelp were being grown on massive scales. Every beach had mangroves restored and seagrass beds grown with giant kelp forests to explore. Sapient sea life began to create cognizant kelp island floating structures that could shelter from sun and storm while also providing drink or sea fruit. Some of these complexes were highly advanced spanning hundreds of miles composed of 351 mile in diameter giant Lilly pads with living flora structures above and below. Bioluminescent like algae began to colonize even the deep. Life was returning to Earth and earthlings were more and more frequently allowed off world to explore vast orwood complexes, lush planets, Dyson trees, and travel in small moon sized tree ships. Life was found to be abundant on the universe, but it had been hiding because of our past behaviour. As humanity began to realize it's true potential evolutionary abilities that had apparently laid dormant began to resurface. The young that hadn't eaten fish were able to develop gills at will to swim. Young that hadn't eaten birds could develop wings at will to fly. As our collective societies began to respect every type of mind honoring neurodiversity our very planet began to be come more intelligent and the entire planet itself was allowed to visit new places in the galaxy. NM Vegan | 33
Vegan Future - Cont’d Short Story by Anthony Crain It seems the golden rule of having others do unto you as you would have them do unto you held true to unimaginable degrees. The earth began to worship chlorophyll with related structures as a kind of creator as it was shown to sustain all life with our greatest potential for immortality. Galactic empires began to look at earthlings as less of a threat and vast societies began to introduce themselves and share some of their access to the larger floraverse and fungiverse. The future held boundless potential. Even the other planets of our solar system began to respond to Earth's people's actions. They began to become lush by some miraculous transformation. People began to develop or redevelop the means to move about at the speed of thought. As Earth began to recover, the solar system began to teem with life. Our simple dietary choice of plant based created our means of accessing a living biotic flora universe.
“When people ask me why I don’t eat meat or any other animal products, I say, ‘Because they are unhealthy and they are the product of a violent and inhumane industry.'”-Cassey Afleck NM Vegan | 34
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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
VIP (Vegans in the Park): https://www.facebook.com/events/363650444507091/
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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