NewMexicoVegan September/October 2021
For Vegans, Vegetarians, and the Veg Curious
Enjoy your FREE complimentary copy
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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.
Animals Are Not…
IC
Inside
2
Jim “JC” Corcoran
11-12
Editor’s Note
3
Joanne Kong
44-46
As A Vegan…
4
Anesa Kratovac
32-33
HeartnSole Vegan Support Group
5
Tom Linney
Resources
6
5 Facts for Animal Advocates About Product Labels
7-8
Vegan Food
9
Health Benefits of Eating Pumpkin Seeds
10
Food Matters
11-12
New Mexico Facts & Trivia
13
What Do Vegan Eat?
14
Photo Collage
15
Animals Have Hearts That Feel…
16
Virtual Red & Green VegFest Albuquerque, Vegan Living/Living Vegan
17-21
Vegan Pulse (Advertisement)
22
Don’t Eat Life
23
What Would Homo Ahimsa* Do?
24-27
Revisit With Previous New Mexico Vegan Magazine Issues
27
It’s Not Your Fault
28-29
Want To Tell Me Again That Tofu Is Gross?
29
Plant Based Treaty
30
How To Veganize Back to School
31
The 3 Most Common Reasons Vegans Suffer from Health Issues
32-33
Sprouting Compassion
34
This Juice Is Excellent For…
35
Recipe: Tofu Bacon
36
Recipe: Veggie Rolls & Peanut Sauce
37
Becoming Vegan Has Enabled Me To…
38
Meet Our Extended Family
39
Vegan Wines
40
Tammy Fiebelkorn for City Council (Advertisement)
41
Homo Ahimsa’s Nine Steps To Save The World
42-43
Our Vegan Voices Are Changing The World!
44-46
Advertising With NM Vegan
47
HeartnSole & Sprouting Compassion Out & About
48
Contributor
Page
7-8
Judy McCoy Carman
24-27;42-43
Linda Middlesworth
28-29
Tony Quintana
31
Rowan St. Clair
40
New Mexico Vegan Volume 7 – Issue 5 September/October 2021 Editor: Nancy Arenas NMV Photographer: N. Arenas
a HeartnSole, LLC publication
heartnsole3@yahoo.com
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Vegan For Everything
NM Vegan | 02 Empathy Is…
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I am so thrilled, over our sharing of another Red & Green VegFest Albuquerque: Vegan Living-Living Vegan 2021. I loved it all, from the fun-stuff… to the profoundly-inspiring. As you may imagine, it takes great teamwork to coordinate events of this nature. I could not manage it alone. “Thank you,” to all who supported the event. Special thanks to Tammy Fiebelkorn (Positive Links), who provided the logistics for -and orchestrated in real time- the “live broadcast of the virtual meeting” itself. The vegfest dates were August 28 and 29 (2021). On those days I had the pleasure of introducing amazing individuals; then, hearing them speak on various topics of veganism. These people are working, with great dedication, to help us achieve a vegan world. Our presenters were (in alphabetic order): Justin Barker; Max Broad; JC Corcoran; Tammy Fiebelkorn; Victor Flores; Gabriel Gaarden; Tonia L Carrier Hicks; Joanne Kong; Cindy Lou Negron-Matos; Tony Quintana; Paul Roybal; Rae Sikora; Akil Taher; Will Tuttle; and Jane Velez-Mitchell. All these benevolent people, volunteered their time to serve veganism… at the Red & Green VegFest. Again, I am thrilled. As I like to say, “Together we are stronger.” If you are not… yet …joyfully absorbed in vegan advocacy, I challenge you to “do” …something every day… to spread veganism in society. Help your own people, and the animal citizenry of the world, to be …better …happier. It feels so good to have a righteous purpose that is bigger than your own face. There are infinite ways to spread mercy, joy, & wisdom. Do you need suggestions? Here’s one: find a spark of that loving vegan feeling… and fan it into a blazing fire. Are you more analytical…?...in that case, identify someone who is doing good work, and… give them an amazing gift …you. ‘Veganism’ is more than the strong shoulders of one giant institution. Veganism is …all of us …together. I believe Planet Earth wants to use you, for creating a vegan-world. So, it is only a matter of time, until you are commandeered, by the Green Mother herself. I am simply nudging you, “Don’t wait.” Do you need: information; resources; inspiration? Maybe I can help.
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Livegan, Nancy
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Email heartnsole3@yahoo.com or
ABQ Vegan: http://www.meetup.com/ABQVEG/ Albuquerque Vegan and Vegetarian Parents: https://www.facebook.com/groups/323534174705753/ Cooking with Compassion https://www.facebook.com/groups/1702731393294024/ Food Not Bombs ABQ https://www.facebook.com/fnbABQ/ HeartnSole Spiritual Community: https://heartnsolerevna.wordpress.com/ Leaf: Taos Vegan Society: http://www.meetup.com/Taos-Vegan/ New Mexico Vegan: https://newmexicovegan.wordpress.com/ Plant-Based Eating New Mexico: https://www.facebook.com/PBENM/?rc=p Plant Powered Events www.facebook.com/plantpoweredeventsnm Positive Links http://www.thelinknm.com/ Red & Green VegFest Albuquerque: https://redandgreenvegfestabq.wordpress.com/ Santa Fe Vegan: http://www.meetup.com/Santa-Fe-Veg/photos/4704212/445478790/ Santuario de Karuna: https://www.santuariodekaruna.org/
Sprouting Compassion https://www.sproutingcompassion.org/ https://www.facebook.com/sproutingcompassion Vegan Pulse www.sproutingcompassion.org www.facebook.com/veganpulse
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.
VIP (Vegans in the Park): https://www.facebook.com/events/363650444507091/ 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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5 Facts for Animal Advocates About Product Labels Tom Linney, Animal Legal Defense Fund Pro Bono Program Director The animal agriculture industry goes to great lengths to convince consumers that its products are humane. In reality, animals are exploited by the billions in the factory farming industry, often facing cruel conditions such as intensive confinement in crates or cages so small they can’t even turn around or flap their wings. One major source of consumer confusion is the labels on animal products, which commonly feature terms that suggest higher standards for animal treatment. All too often, these terms are essentially meaningless. Meanwhile, the factory farming industry and its enablers seek to prevent truthful labeling of plant-based products. Here are 5 facts to know and share. 1) “Antibiotic Free” and “Hormone Free” promises about eggs? They don’t mean much. Consumers can easily be misled into believing that eggs labeled this way are produced in less cruel conditions — but in truth, these terms say next to nothing about how chickens are treated. Most eggs in the U.S. are already antibiotic free, since antibiotics decrease egg production — and all are hormone free since it’s illegal to give hormones to chickens.
2) Terms like “Farm Fresh,” “Happy Hens,” “Naturally Raised,” or “Animal Friendly” on egg cartons? Don’t take them to the bank. There’s no official federal regulatory or policy guidance on phrases like these — so they can mean whatever the producer wants them to mean. 3) Some state legislatures are siding with industrial animal agriculture over consumers. Prodded by industry interests, state lawmakers may try to prevent plant-based producers from using truthful terms in their product labeling and marketing. Unconstitutional state laws have been enacted that seek to penalize the use of terms such as “plant-based sausage” or “veggie bacon.” The Animal Legal Defense Fund and others have stepped up to defend plant-based producers’ First Amendment rights, winning groundbreaking lawsuits in multiple states.
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5 Facts for Animal Advocates About Product Labels - Cont’d Tom Linney, Animal Legal Defense Fund Pro Bono Program Director 4) Some members of Congress want to stop dairy-free products from using terms like “milk,” “yogurt,” and “cheese.” These lawmakers have introduced legislation to try to stop the use of terms like “almond milk” or “soy yogurt.” Supporters of plant-based labeling censorship often claim that consumers are confused by terms like “soy milk” and “veggie burger.” But in reality, “[o]mitting words that are traditionally associated with animal products from the names of plant-based products actually causes consumers to be significantly more confused about the taste and uses of these products,” according to research from Cornell University. 5) The Animal Legal Defense Fund is working to protect animals and consumers. As the nation’s preeminent legal advocacy organization for animals, we fight to ensure that consumers have access to the truth about the food they eat. In a milestone win this summer, plant-based producer Miyoko’s Kitchen, represented by the Animal Legal Defense Fund, was victorious in its lawsuit against the California Department of Food and Agriculture. The agency had sought to stop Miyoko’s from using terms like “butter” and “dairy” on its products — even with qualifiers like “vegan” and “made with plants” — among other attempts at censorship. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California found that the agency’s instructions violated Miyoko’s First Amendment right to free speech. Learn more at aldf.org.
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Food Matters Jim Corcoran The United Nations has recently taken the unprecedented action of issuing a “code red for humanity.” Our planet is heating up much faster than scientists were expecting. It is now predicted to reach an additional 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit by 2040, if we don't make some drastic changes and fast. One of the reasons my wife (Rae) and I moved to northern New Mexico, more than a decade ago, was because there are so many progressive activists here. Progressives are responsible for leading in most of the social justice movements of the past (from child labor laws to women's suffrage to civil rights to gay rights). If not for progressives, none of these and many other important initiatives, would ever have been enacted. Environmental stewardship is one of the causes championed by most progressives. Of all the many serious environmental issues facing us, climate change stands front and center. It is now too obviously real and threatens our very future. The legendary Northwest Passage is now a reality, island nations are disappearing and the warmest year on record is broken nearly every ensuing year. Climate change is THE social justice issue of our time and progressives must be the catalyst for change once again. Of course, we all should switch to LED bulbs, drive less, take public transportation, use clean energy, conserve water and do all the other well-known things to protect the environment. However, many progressives seem oblivious to THE largest contributor to climate change, water depletion, water pollution and species extinction, and that is, without ambiguity, animal agriculture. Reducing and eliminating animal foods from our diet should be the first step in any environmentalist's “To Do” list. A growing list of organizations are calling for a reduction in all animal product consumption; The National Academy of Sciences, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Center for Biological Diversity, Center for Science in the Public Interest, Alliance of World Scientists, Climate Reality Project, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Global Environmental Change, United Nations Environment Programme, Clean Energy, Ecology Center, Worldwatch Institute, Greenpeace USA, Natural Resources Defense Council, Organic Consumers Association, Rainforest Action Network, Sierra Club, Union of Concerned Scientists, Environmental Defense Fund, Center for Climate Change and Health, Center for Science in the Public Interest, Conservation International, World Resources Institute, Earth Day Network, Environmental Working Group, Food and Water Watch, Small Planet Institute, Friends of the Earth U.S., Green America, League of Conservation Voters, Science and Environmental Health Network and the World Wildlife Fund, to name a few.
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Food Matters – Cont’d Jim Corcoran
Our planet is afire, and it is time for progressives to walk their talk and commit to reducing or eliminating their consumption of animal products while urging others to follow suit. If we are to have any hope of managing this looming crises of climate change, we must act now. There is nothing more powerful or meaningful that we can do for the planet than going vegan. As Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore's Dilemma, is quoted in the award-winning documentary Cowspiracy, “A plant-based diet is the most sustainable.”
JC Corcoran is founder and co-organizer of Santa Fe Vegan, he also co-founded VegMichigan and the international outreach organization VegFund. Plant Peace Daily VegMichigan VegFund Santa Fe Vegan Everyone has the power to choose compassion! Please visit these websites to align your core values with life affirming choices: http://veganvideo.org & http://tryveg.com
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1. In New Mexico, there are only about 12 people per square mile. There are many more sheep and cattle in the state than people. 2. New Mexico has one of the greatest temperature ranges in the United States. 3. More chili peppers are born in New Mexico than all other states combined. 4. Albuquerque has more than 300 local hot air balloons, making it the hot air balloon capital of America with more than any other city. 5. The first town in New Mexico was Elizabethtown, which has since become a ghost town in Colfax County. 6. While attempting the world’s longest skydive over New Mexican airspace, Felix Baumgartner became the first human to break the sound barrier without engine powered assistance. 7. Claims have been made that the pillow of goodness, the Sopapilla was first devoured in the Albuquerque area 200 years ago. 8. According to New Mexican law, “idiots” are not allowed to vote. They don’t really give a clear definition of who gets included in that definition. 9. Though the total area of the state is relatively large at 121,665 square miles, it only has 250 square miles of surface water. 10. Around 1,000 official reports of UFOs are made each year in New Mexico.
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Cindy Lou Negron-Matos Jane Velez-Mitchell Tonia L Carrier Hicks Dr. Akil Taher Dr. Will Tuttle Gabriel Gaarden Paul Roybal JC Corcoran Max Broad Tammy Fiebelkorn Rae Sikora Tony Quintana Victor Flores Justin Barker Joanne Kong
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Thank You to All Presenters
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Vegan Pulse
Like us on FB www.facebook.com/veganpulse Subscribe to our YouTube Channel NM Vegan | 22
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Michael was mowing on a hillside in a forest one day. At the bottom of the hill among the trees was a rocky creek. Thinking he could ride the mower successfully down to the level area above the creek, he began descending the hill. But the path was muddy, the large mower lost traction, and Michael suddenly found himself pinned upon the jagged rocks next to the creek with a five-hundred-pound machine on top of him. For a couple of hours, barely able to breathe and sensing that one leg was badly injured, he wondered if he was going to die. When he was finally found, the first thing he wanted was to be touched by another human being. “Please, just hold my hand,” he said. It was that touch that sent physical waves of hope and healing through his body. As men gathered to lift the machine and pull him to safety, he knew he would survive, and his gratitude for their compassion and kindness was overwhelming. Such is humanity at its finest—reaching out, helping, touching, rescuing, bringing hope for an end to extreme suffering and fear of death. At the other end of the human behavior spectrum, we find humanity at its worst in the form of animal agriculture and the extreme abuse of animals in many industries. Instead of rescuing these innocent and defenseless cousins of ours who have never harmed us, instead of touching them with love and respecting their rights to live and be free, they are brutally killed by the billions at the hands of human beings. Those hands that could bring comfort and compassion, as they did for Michael, instead bring terror, torture, suffering and death without mercy. What is going on here? How can the same species, indeed some of the same individuals, behave in such opposite ways? Clearly, there is a desire in most human beings to be kind and loving. This yearning is, perhaps, best expressed in the Golden Rule--“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” It is a nearly universally accepted moral value by almost all religions and ethical traditions. Although many of these traditions stop short and apply it only to certain (but not all) human beings, there is no logical, scientific or spiritual justification for limiting it so arbitrarily. But doing so has, for centuries, allowed animal agriculture, slavery, wars, genocide, religious persecution, etc. to proliferate and benefit those in power. Nevertheless, the Golden Rule still shines like a star, beckoning us toward an ideal to which most, if not all of us, aspire. Certainly, we could not have this as an ideal if we did not believe we could achieve it. Somewhere, deep in our hearts, we long for a chance to express our true and ideal nature all the time toward all sacred life. I believe that time is here now if we will grab the opportunity. *Homo Ahimsa first appeared in the book Peace to All Beings, and is the subject of a new book, Homo Ahimsa: Who We Really Are and How We’re Going to Save the World. See a detailed description of our transformation from the predator species, Homo Sapiens into the caretaker species, Homo Ahimsa at Sailesh Rao’s climatehealers.org.
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Deep in our souls, we know who we really are and that we are not here on this earth to cause despair, destruction, desecration and death to nature, people and to billions of our fellow earthlings. Animal agriculture, and all that it destroys, shows how far we have fallen from our ideal. Our golden moral compass points us toward a higher consciousness that understands the sacredness and interconnectedness of all life, and we can see, now better than ever before, that, by the law of cause and effect, we ourselves are reaping the same death and suffering that we have sown for others for these many thousands of years. Animal agriculture is a recent invention of human beings—approximately 10,000 years old. Prior to that, there is anthropological evidence that many human beings lived in small egalitarian, mostly nomadic, bands that did not wage war and did not have weapons of war. Although there were respected elders among the groups, they did not have the authority to force their friends and families into armed conflict. We could say that animal agriculture and war are twins, born together out of the dark shadows of the human psyche. Ten thousand years later, we live in a world filled with billions of Homo Sapiens, all fully capable of love and compassion. Yet, in spite of our potential for kindness, the world that we have created is one that grows more violent, oppressive, sick and polluted with each passing day. Only Homo Sapiens, and no other living being on earth, is responsible for the devastation caused to our beautiful Earth home and to all living beings who are trying to share this home with us. Our time is up. We cannot live as Homo Sapiens any longer. That species cannot solve the problems it has created. It is a creature too willing to leave morals and ethics behind, too eager for self-gratification to unfurl its full capacity for love, and too frightened and confused to heal the damage it has done. We have to evolve now. All because of the actions of Homo Sapiens and only Homo Sapiens, the sixth extinction of animal and plant species accelerates, deserts keep forming where once there were life-giving forests, waters continue to fill with lethal trash and poisons, pandemics proliferate, polluted air toxifies the bodies of all who live here, millions of children and families starve due to animal agriculture and millions of innocent farmed and aquatic animals suffer and die every single day from human violence. We have finally run out of time. This is a spiritual, moral, ethical, and life or death crisis for us and all species. Governments and giant corporations have no interest in repairing the damage that has brought them so much power, control and wealth. It is absolutely up to us to literally elevate our consciousness and realize who we really are--Homo Ahimsa. Only with the ethics of nonviolence and unconditional love for all beings can we rise up and heal the wounds we have caused to ourselves, the Earth and all our fellow earthlings. It is time for all people to take off the masks that we have worn to show our conformity and our willingness to go along with the status quo, for fear of rejection and not fitting in. It is time to get rid of our masks and see how radiantly beautiful we really are. With our masks off, we take a deep breath, and we stare this anthropocentric patriarchy in the face and see, really see, this is not what we want. This does not reflect our true nature, and it is killing us and everyone else. What a liberation it is to know that we do not need to live this way. In fact, we ourselves can bring in an entirely new way of living and create peace and freedom for all earthlings. Our hearts and our spirits already know the way. This is something remarkable to celebrate!
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Animal agriculture, hierarchical domination and war grew up together and fed upon each other. Because all of these dark forces are completely out of alignment with our true nature of lovingkindness and ahimsa, the suffering has been beyond measure. All the domination of women, animals, nature and people considered “other,” has brought us now to the edge of a cliff, but we still have time to choose. We can give up in the face of what seem to be overwhelming odds. Or we can wait for Big Ag, Big Pharma and the military industrial complex to fix it. Or we can seize this amazing opportunity, this big push, this calling to our souls from all the innocent lives hanging in the balance—and reveal ourselves as the radiant, loving beings we truly are. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin said, “The present chaos is not the end of the world, but the labor pains of a new earth and a new humanity coming into form.” Our new form is Homo Ahimsa—the one who, not only knows the Golden Rule, but lives by it every day. Deep within, we are not killers. We do not salivate at the sight of a cow or a chicken. In quiet moments, with our minds still and calm, we can feel our sweet connection to the dog at our side and the birds singing in the trees. Just as Michael needed his hand held so desperately; in their suffering, the animals who are being tortured and killed by people, long for a simple touch, a touch of hope and healing, a touch that says, you are safe now. We are here, not to harm you, but to free you.
When we think about it, eating plant-based food and living by vegan values is the Golden Rule in action. What would Homo Ahimsa do? At the top of the list would be to live vegan since that is in perfect alignment with ahimsa nonviolence and the Golden Rule. Veganism can be defined as a way of life that excludes using, confining or killing animals for any purpose. It is an ethical principle that leads to living nonviolently and with compassion toward all people, animals, nature and the Earth. It is a commitment to touch gently, rescue, liberate, love and cherish all sacred life. Ahimsa literally means non-harm and is a commitment to nonviolence, truth, lovingkindness, and justice. The shining beacon of the Golden Rule that has been part of cultures for these many centuries finds its pure and whole expression with the arising of vegan Homo Ahimsa consciousness in us all. Isaac Bashevis Singer famously said, “As long as people will shed the blood of innocent creatures, there can be no peace, no liberty, no harmony between people. Slaughter and justice cannot dwell together.” That profound statement carries within it a major key to our rising consciousness and the world of peace we want to create. By simply ending the shedding of “blood of innocent creatures,” we have a chance to create a world of peace, liberty and harmony. And what is really exciting about this is that we don’t have to wait for Big Ag to decide to be nice. We have the power in our own gentle hands. We simply stop buying their products, and their doors will have to close, bringing to a final end the hells on earth that caused so much pain and misery. Imagine that! Let us rejoice that we do indeed have that power.
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Gandhi once prayed, while witnessing the sacrificial slaughter of thousands of lambs at the Temple of Kali, “for some great spirit, man or woman, fired with divine pity, who will deliver us from this heinous sin, save the lives of the innocent creatures, and purify the temple.” Let us all be an answer to Gandhi’s prayer. Let us purify the temple of Mother Earth. Let us hold the hands and paws and hooves and fins of those who need to know that we have finally awakened to who we really are. Now we understand that we have the power to stop their suffering and eliminate this vile, diabolical, immoral industry. Let us join together, hand in hand, around the world and rise up to our higher consciousness of lovingkindness, ask forgiveness, and get busy healing the damage Homo Sapiens has done.
Judy McCoy Carman, MA, is the author of Peace to All Beings: Veggie Soup for the Chicken’s Soul and Homo Ahimsa: Who We Really Are and How We’re Going to Save the World; recipient of the 2014 Henry Spira Grassroots Animal Activist Award and founder of the Animal Peace Prayer Flag Project. She is co-founder of Animal Outreach of Kansas, Worldwide Prayer Circle for Animals, Interfaith Vegan Coalition and assists with Vegan Spirituality events. Her website is peacetoallbeings.com.
You can view previous issues here: https://issuu.com/arenasnancy
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Many people need help with their food choices to help them heal or lose weight. Many give up before even trying. For those who have not studied nutrition academically or are not aware of which foods heal us and which harm us, it is easy to become dismayed and give up. It’s not your fault. Thirty-three years ago, I thought I knew how to care for myself. I was an aerobic instructor, a personal trainer and a graphic designer. I thought I was eating a healthy diet with lots of fruits and veggies, chicken, fish, cheese, ice cream, popcorn and a little wine. At age 44 I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, obesity, pre-diabetes, and heart disease. I was 50 pounds overweight. I was angry with myself that I became a fat lady! My doctor had ordered me to have a series of radiation treatments or have thyroidectomy. I had one radiation treatment killing part of my thyroid. Then I heard about Dr. John McDougall. I knew now exactly what I must do to heal. Had I met Dr. McDougall one week earlier, I would still have a completely functioning thyroid. I refused any more radiation or a thyroidectomy. I followed Dr. John McDougall’s whole plant food, starch based, oil free diet and I am cancer free for 33 years, no longer obese, or have heart disease. I knew now it was not my fault. I’m 77 and teach aerobics and personal train. I decided to pass my new knowledge forward to others and became Certified from Dr. Neal Barnard’s Food for Life Nutrition and Cooking Program. I give classes in Cancer, Diabetes, and Kickstart to state organizations, colleges and businesses. I’m certified in Dr. John McDougall’s Starch Solution and Dr. T. Colin Campbell’s Plant Nutrition, Cornell University. To help people individually, I started my VeganMentor health coaching business in 2012. www.veganmentor.com. My message to you is that, if you are stuck with an overweight body and or have a chronic disease, it is simply not your fault. Most chronic diseases are reversible by your food choices and your doctor was probably not trained in American College of Lifestyle Medicine! Your doc usually knows what pills to prescribe and which surgeries to perform. These treat the symptoms, but not the cause. If you leave the faucet running, of course the water will overflow even if you mop as fast as you can. We need to turn off the faucet to stop the problem. Even if you have a genetic condition, you can help reverse many diseases by turning off your genes with your food choices. Read: “Turn off Your Fat Genes”, Dr. Neal Barnard. People think that, because their mom or dad had diabetes, obesity or a heart issue, that they will too. We now know that it is the same harmful recipes that are passed down through the generations that cause many chronic diseases. Your mom and dad did not do this on purpose. They just did not know. It took one week for me to go from plant based to being a vegan animal rights activist. I found out how dairy cows had their babies stolen at birth, were raped, and then hooked up to painful robotic milking machine everyday. When they were low producers, they were strung up by their leg, had their throats slit and ended up in the grocery store as hamburger. If you were not aware of this horror, it’s not your fault. When people tell me that they are on a vegan diet, I dispel that idea. Vegan is not a diet. It is a philosophy and a way of living that seeks to exclude, as far as possible, all forms of exploitations of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose. Maya Angelou said, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better!” Human food is plant food of fruits, vegetables, beans and grains, nuts and seeds. Now you know, you can jump in.
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Everyone would be eating plants if they observed the killing machine. If I could take a mother and her 3-year-old to a slaughterhouse and have them pick out which part of the cow or chicken they wanted for dinner; I can guarantee you that both would be plant based and or vegan after seeing the atrocities. It’s not your fault if you don’t realize that 87% of our climate change and greenhouse gases are due to animal agriculture. Al Gore, Bill Gates, and Paul Hawken conveniently do not talk about this! We are removing land to grow and kill animals and killing all the marine life from our oceans. Our planet can not survive if we continue to eat animals. Read this first truthful book: “ Food is Climate” by Glen Merzer. It’s not your fault if you did not know. I had to be 44 before I found out! If you need help transitioning to a whole food plant diet and or becoming vegan, please contact me at veganmentor@gmail.com or text me at 916-798-5516. For our cruelty free, healthy dog food, go to v-dog.com.
Linda Middlesworth, 916-798-5516 - Cancer Project, Food for Life Instructor - Certified Personal- Trainer/Aerobic Instructor Certified Plant Nutrition, Cornell University
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It’s back to school time and that means parents, teachers, coaches, and so many other adults are scrambling to get all the needed supplies together and watching as their calendars fill-up with activities and errands. Since many school cafeterias don’t offer adequate vegan options for students, this also means vegan caretakers will need to do lots of meal-planning and backpack packing. Chances are you find it difficult to stay creative and keep variety when packing kid’s vegan lunches. As a parent, I tend to fall back on PB&J and Tofurky Deli Slices more often than I care to admit. Below are three fun ideas you can add to your repertoire right now. These ideas are simple (who has time to make cute little star shaped sandwiches or veggie creations that look like animals?) and use common pantry ingredients (the last thing I want to do right now is research ingredients I’ve never heard of before).
DIY Lunchables Lunchables have been a favorite among kids and parents alike for decades. They’re effortless, yummy, and it is surprisingly easy to make vegan versions at home. Since most crackers are vegan, all you need to do is find a vegan deli “meat” that your kids like, add sliced vegan cheese (optional), throw in fresh fruit and/or veggies, maybe a dip like hummus or vegan ranch, and you’re good to go! Delicious vegan meats that I recommend trying in your Lunchables include Tofurky Deli Slices, Yves Veggie Pepperoni, and Field Roast Deli Slices. You can also try tofu or tempeh—some stores sell tofu that’s already baked and flavored. When looking for ideas and inspiration for your homemade Lunchables don’t feel like you must look at only vegan lists and recipes— look at any lists and recipes and then make unfussy vegan subs and swaps to create your own vegan version. Mini Bagels I can put virtually anything on a mini bagel and my kids just love it. Who am I kidding? I love mini bagels too! One fun idea is mini pizzas that your kids assemble themselves (sort of like the pizza Lunchables): add marinara sauce to the mini bagel and top it with vegan cheese (such as Go Veggie Shreds). You can also make mini sandwiches with hummus and cucumber (our kids love these). It’s easy to be creative with what kind of mini sandwiches or fun things you can do with mini bagels. For the most part, any bagels you find in the store will be vegan by default (just do a quick check of the ingredients to be sure). Homemade “Hot Pockets” When I was a kid, I loved taking Hot Pockets for lunch. There are a few plant-based products available that are similar to Hot Pockets, but you can very easily make your own at home and make any flavor combination your heart desires. You’re probably thinking it can’t be that easy but let me assure you—it really can! You can make a quick and easy dough from scratch that only takes 10 minutes, then make the dough into squares, add the filling in the middle, fold the dough over and pinch the sides closed, bake, and you’re done! To make it even more quick and easy, you can skip making the dough and use crescent sheets or crescent rolls—they’re accidentally vegan. More Resources Hopefully this list gets your creative juices going so you can come up with new ideas. For even more ideas, recipes, and inspiration check out our Back-to-School episode of our Teach Me How To Vegan podcast where we share dozens of ideas for lunches and snacks. For even more recipe ideas check out our recipes page on our website.
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Photo by Ella Olsson from Pexels
Are you vegan but still experience gut problems, aches and pains, weight gain, lethargy and mood fluctuations? You’re definitely not alone! Science research points to the amazing health benefits of the vegan diet; however, there is a disconnect between the findings and mainstream reality, which seems to fuel a lot of the anti-vegan sentiment. I truly believe that vegan health issues are ubiquitous because vegans that start out on their plant-based journey simply substitute animal-based products with processed plant-based alternatives and do not completely change their relationship with food and nutrition. And even if you are a vegan that eats a clean diet made up of mainly fruits and vegetables, perhaps you still don't feel as healthy as you'd like. So, what gives? Having helped vegans with their health issues over the years, I’ve seen that lowering inflammation and supplementing with hydration heals all types of health issues. In that respect, here are some of the 3 most important factors that most vegans overlook that impact their overall health. Eating Foods that Cause Inflammation Body inflammation has been linked to a number of serious health conditions and diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, kidney damage, chronic skin issues, arthritis, and the list goes on. Since the onslaught of many new “alternative” products on the market to satisfy the vegan palate, the availability of all types of plant-derived foods has been embraced as “healthy”, yet most are highly processed or are by nature inflammatory. For example, gluten is just one of the many lectins found in foods, but gluten substitutes such as corn, lentils, and chickpeas also contain unique lectins of their own that are as harmful to our digestive systems (this is why sprouting is so important, as it removes many of the gut- aggravating proteins). By learning which foods impacts one’s body adversely the most. we can be empowered to dig beyond all the marketing and understand food and its impact from a chemical perspective. Not Eating Enough Raw Foods Studies show that raw foods contain twice the amount of antioxidants as cooked foods. By eating foods raw, you will hydrate your body and give it more nutrients and energy to self-heal. Unfortunately, many vegans tend to consume a high quantity of cooked foods and complex meals that are hard to digest. In fact, did you know that it takes the body 70% of its energetic resources to conduct the 4-part digestive process? The rest of the energy is dedicated to brain function and metabolic processes, which then leads to very little energy left for self-healing and repair. The body then stores and protects itself from inflammation and toxins as much as possible with the least energetic input until it has the energetic resources to heal. This is exactly why small, simple meals are ideal for the body and ensure that more energy can be utilized where it’s needed. Remember, it is not only what we eat, but how much and in what manner!
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Photo by SHVETS Production from Pexels
In addition, many of our meals are prepared through high temperature cooking, which denatures enzymes and chemistry that are essential for cellular function and health. Eating organic, raw foods is to enjoy the highest degree of chemistry and energy that the food has to offer. Ideally, you want more energy to enter your body than is lost through the digestive process, whereas the standard global diet is predicated on just the opposite. By consuming in your diet at least 50% raw and eating fewer simple meals during the day, you will not only lower chronic inflammation, but you will experience an increase in energy and vitality. And don’t worry - you don’t have to be perfect with these suggestions! Simply adjusting to a few of these changes will make a tremendous difference. Not Getting Enough Sunlight or Exercise It is common knowledge that adequate sunlight exposure is vital for our health and emotional well-being. Vegans should spend 20-30 minutes in the sun daily without sunblock, ideally while taking walks, exercising or gardening. The sun's UVB rays convert cholesterol into vitamin D, which plays a vital role in regulating the endocrine system, hormone production and immunity. Additionally, gentle daily exercise helps move the body's lymphatic system - its sewage system - and removes toxins from the body quickly before they cause cellular or tissue damage. The circulation also helps blood oxygenate and move its nutrients to all the cells and tissues. Sweating and deep breathing likewise assist the body to detoxify unwanted chemistry quickly. Conclusion Many diseases develop as a result of chronic inflammation, and even minor health issues are simply your body’s signal that it needs a bit of help. Since inflammation is hot and acidic, consuming hydrating chemistry is the true antidote for reclaiming your health and healing the body from the inside out. Eliminating inflammatory foods (and chemical products), eating at least 50% raw, buying local and organic produce, getting sunshine, and moving the body daily is what every true healer since antiquity prescribed to promote the return to balance and homeostasis of the body in accordance with natural law.
Anesa Kratovac is the founder of Red Grape Wisdom Detox Programs, a natural health business that uses its own Ancient Wisdom Bioenergetics diagnostic & healing method to help individuals reclaim their health through detoxification courses, customized health reports, and personal coaching. After years of suffering from chronic eczema and acute health issues, she became her own healer and treated her conditions successfully! She believes that educating individuals about the forgotten truths of the cosmic laws that govern our reality - including the workings of the divine vessel housing their spirit (the body) - will be the catalyst for global transformation of collective consciousness.
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Introducing Sprouting Compassion, a 501C3 Non-Profit organization, dedicated to raising awareness about the connection of veganism and its link to social justice issues. Sprouting Compassion offers the following programs: cooking demos (Eat Without Violence); vegan mentorship; school humane education for kids (EducateDuCare); Vegan Swap Meet; Red and Green VegFest Albuquerque; weekly mini podcast, Vegan Pulse. Of course, we also do live and virtual presentations, tabling, and so forth. Please visit our website to find out more or to schedule an event, www.sproutingcompassion.org. TOGETHER LET’S MAKE A BRIGHTER FUTURE.
Sprouting Compassion is very appreciative of one of our own board members, Tammy Fiebelkorn, for her fundraising campaign, Sweets for your Sweet! Which was a wonderful success. We are so happy to have her in this organization. We also want to thank the community which made this campaign, Sold Out! This was our initial fundraiser for Sprouting Compassion, which funds the Red & Green VegFest Albuquerque and other programs to help with our goal to greatly expand education on veganism as a social justice movement. Thank You Tammy for all the work you do for the animals and your wonderful support! NM Vegan | 34
More Recipes here: www.plantyou.com
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More recipes at www.plantyou
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Animals can feel empathy just like humans do. Empathy for each other, for us, and even for other species.
Orangutans 1. Orangutans are large, but in general they are quite gentle. 2. They are uniquely arboreal – living their lives quietly up in the trees away from predators… and only descending to the forest floor when they must. 3. Orangutans and chimpanzees consistently outperformed monkeys and lemurs on a variety of intelligence tests, conclusively proving that apes are more intelligent than monkeys and prosimians. 4. Orangutans have an arm span of over 7 feet from fingertip to fingertip. 5. Orangutans are incredibly dexterous and use both hands and feet while gathering food and travelling through the trees. 6. Young orangutans stay with their mother until they reach around 7 years old. They spend this time learning everything from her – including what’s good to eat. 7. Some adult male orangutans develop flaps of fatty tissue on both sides of their face - known as flanges which develop when they're fully mature, at around 35 years old. 8. Orangutans like to be comfortable. They make a sleeping platform, or nest, every night. 9. An orangutan makes its nest in around 10 minutes, by pulling several large branches together, using smaller branches for a mattress and binding the structure together by weaving in more supple branches. In wet weather, they sometimes add a roof. 10. Some Sumatran orangutans use tools - like sticks to get termites, ants or bees out of tree holes. 11. Orangutans are clever creatures that have been observed making a 'glove' out of leaves when handling prickly fruits or thorny branches. 12. Fruit makes up around 60% of an orangutan's diet, but when it’s scarcer they also eat some weird sounding things, like soil and tree bark. 13. Orangutans are under grave threat. It's estimated that over 100,000 Bornean orangutans were lost between 1999 and 2015. The main threat is the loss or fragmentation of their forest habitat, caused by logging for timber materials, forest fires and making way for oil palm plantations. 14. The orangutan is one of humankind’s closest relatives – in fact, we share nearly 97% of the same DNA! 15. Orangutans are noisy creatures when they want to be, making loud howls and bellows that can be heard for miles around! It’s usually the males that make these calls so that they can stay out of each other’s territory.
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Some winemakers and farmers around the world use animal products throughout their processes. Adding animal additives to the soil, clarification process, and packaging materials in efforts to produce quicker, cheaper, and more commercially attractive bottles of wine. In these cases, antibiotics and chemicals leach their way from the soil into the grapes and eventually the wine. This adds the risk of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms making an appearance in your wine. World health leaders have described these antibiotic-resistant microorganisms as "nightmare bacteria" that "pose a catastrophic threat" to people in every country in the world.
Our winemaking partners, registered with our trademark are absolutely not following these standard practices. Vegan Wines trademarks seek and find grape-growers who practice veganic farming, and refrain from the above-mentioned practices. Our Vegan Wines team of experts have developed a system for investigating wineries practices from the soil to the glass, looking for animal products, by-products and involvement in any and all aspects of the production. In today's world, protecting our environment, health, and supporting independent small business winemakers is key. When you are shopping for wine, you can be assured of the quality and taste of your Vegan Wine when you spot our trademark on the back of the bottle. Our wine club has exclusive partnerships with wines from all over the world and we bring them right to your door. Each season our sommeliers craft assortments of delicious vegan-friendly wines, ensuring high-quality wines made with conscientious winemaking processes. We source from lesser-known producers - many of these bottles you can't purchase in stores! Even better, we pair each of the wines in your delivery with a unique plant-based recipe, including sommelier tasting notes and information from the winery you are supporting. Vegan Wines is excited to announce that we are now certifying other vegan wines on the market with our trademark. Our TradeMark is a vital tool for wine lovers who want to be sure of what they are drinking. And if you are a wine-maker, and are curious about how to access our trademark for your bottles you can begin the application process at our website: veganwinestrademark.com
You can contact me: Rowan St. Clair Vegan Wine Expert Created A Wine Club For Like Minded Drinkers P (939) 545 0407 - E rowan@veganwines.com https://veganwines.com/ https://www.instagram.com/ myveganwines/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ veganwines/ Our wholesale wine portfolio
“Being vegan is not a trend. It’s an awakening.” NM Vegan | 40
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www.tammyforalbuquerque.com 505-410-3884 | tammyforabq@gmail.com
Homo Ahimsa? What kind of animal is that? If we look in the mirror, we will see. It is our true nature. It has whispered to us for centuries, but today it is singing out loud. Ahimsa is the Sanskrit word for non-harm, universal love and compassion for all life. Ahimsa is the golden rule in action. Veganism is ahimsa in action. It is not just about eating plant-based food. It is doing the least harm and the most good in our actions, thoughts, and words. I believe many of us are feeling some kind of awakening—an almost undefinable transformation happening within us. Bears and alligators did not devastate the earth. It was Homo Sapiens alone that caused this chaos. But the old paradigm of domination is dying, and we are here at this revolutionary moment to create a world of kindness, compassion and love. Human beings have dreamed of such a world for centuries. But many people have not understood that as long as we wage endless war against trillions of animals, we ourselves cannot have peace. Will Tuttle, in his World Peace Diet explains how we have brought upon ourselves diseases, loss of freedom, wars, and toxins, because we have inflicted all these things on other species. We are at a crossroads like no other in our history. If we do not act now to leave behind the violent ways of Homo Sapiens, more animals will perish, more forests will burn, more oceans will succumb to our toxic waste, and we ourselves will have great difficulty surviving in such a world. How do we do this sacred work?
Here are nine steps for this miraculous journey ahead:
1.
Eat only plant-based food. Animal agriculture is one of the leading causes of nearly every environmental crisis, most human diseases, the sixth extinction, and the poisoning of our spiritual energy field which is now filled with the torture and death of trillions of animals.
2.
Eat organically grown plants to eliminate the market for GMO’s, pesticides and herbicides. Look for fair-trade food that has not involved slave labor by monkeys or people.
3.
Enjoy entertainment that is ethical, loving, respectful and lifts us up spiritually. Zoos, aquariums, circuses, rodeos, races and others are rooted in terrible suffering and domination.
4.
Buy cruelty-free products that do no harm--no leather, silk, wool, animal parts or feathers. Buy fairtrade items to make sure we are not supporting human slavery.
5.
Connect with people who care about the environment, world peace, poverty, homelessness, racism, domestic violence, human trafficking, etc. and help them see how releasing their own inner Homo (vegan) Ahimsa will immediately assist them in their noble quests.
6.
We all need to do our inner spiritual work in whatever way works best. We have all been programmed with false ideas--that we are the dominator species, have the right to violate others, are innately violent and warlike predators, and that those above us have the right to dominate us. It takes loving patience with ourselves and spiritual discovery to shed these old ideas and discover our radiant, eternal selves. NM Vegan | 42
7. Our prayers, intentions, visualizations and faith have immeasurable power to literally and finally shift entire energy field of earth toward peace and nonviolence for all.
the
8. Listen to the animals and nature in whatever way draws us and makes our hearts sing.
9. Live in gratitude, awe and amazement, and feel the joy of knowing that we are--right now--creating a world of love, peace and freedom for all beings.
© Judy McCoy Carman, M.A., 2020 Author of Homo Ahimsa: Who we Really are and how we’re going to save the world
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Announcement of a New Book, VEGAN VOICES: Essays By Inspiring Changemakers
In reflecting upon the past couple years, certainly we think of the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and how it turned our lives upside down. In moving beyond this crisis, we need to see the virus as an inflection point of enormous consequence, a direct sign that humans must move away from the exploitation of animals. Many of the ways in which we produce food have simply become unsustainable, and a growing threat to global health. In light of the increasing damage of animal agriculture to our health, the planet and our identities as innately compassionate beings, we need to embrace a new future of food, driven by our sense of innovation and purpose. And for that new world to be possible, the most powerful choice we can make is to GO VEGAN! Indeed, every individual’s choices, actions and feelings do make a difference. Our food choices are not simply about diet. It goes beyond health. It’s about recognizing the thread of life energy that connects us to all other living beings and the natural world that is our home. It’s about creating the possibilities for a world that is kinder and that doesn’t exploit our kindred animals or our precious resources.
In reflecting upon how veganism touches upon so many diverse, critical aspects of our lives, I embarked on a book project to show that veganism is a philosophy, a way of life, and a journey that is unique to every individual. Three of the writers in the book are from Southwest USA: Nancy Arenas, Rae Sikora and Dr. Sailesh Rao. They each offer unique perspectives and ways of advocating for a vegan world. Nancy Arenas, whom many of you know as the publisher of New Mexico Vegan, promotes veganism in other ways as well—she is the organizer of Red & Green VegFest Albuquerque, directs the podcast Vegan Pulse, and formed the non-profit organization Sprouting Compassion. Her essay in Vegan Voices is titled, “A Journey to an Awakening of the Body, Mind, and Soul,” where she writes eloquently about what true activism is. Nancy’s journey shows how each of us can embark on a lifelong journey to learn all we can about creating a more compassionate lifestyle, learning and sharing our discoveries with each other. “Let us resolve, to exert ourselves, heartily, at proposing the vegan ideal to all. As we awaken to veganism, our compassionate outreach expands.”
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Rae Sikora, from Glorieta, New Mexico, has been an advocate for other species and the environment for over 40 years. Recognized internationally as a speaker and educator, Rae is the co-founder of The Institute for Humane Education, VegFund, and Plant Peace Daily. Her Vegan Voices essay, “There Is No Other,” is about how a more inclusive and compassionate world can come about when we look beyond our differences and embrace the commonalities we share. She writes, “Much of our work on earth is to find compassion for those who are different from us. . . . By letting go of fear and taking the time to connect to other living beings, even those that are the most unfamiliar, we will never see their group in the same way again.” Dr. Sailesh Rao, from Phoenix, Arizona, is the Executive Director of Climate Healers. In 2016, he promised his granddaughter Kimaya that a vegan world would come about by the time she turns 16 in 2026. Dr. Rao advocates for a transformation of our society to a nonviolent world, where all beings are afforded equal respect and our ecological impacts stay within planetary boundaries. He writes that “as the vegan movement gains momentum, it will inevitably snowball into the necessary systemic transformation. Such a system transformation requires a sea change in the stories we tell and the games we play, for that’s how we humans coordinate our actions among millions and billions of us to form a civilization.” I know that those of you who read Vegan Voices will be inspired, whether you are veg-curious, or a longtime vegan! The book is available through Lantern Publishing & Media, https://lanternpm.org/books/vegan-voices/
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Plan to attend one of the two exciting VEGAN VOICES Book Launch Parties!! 1) VEGAN VOICES VIRTUAL BOOK LAUNCH PARTY SUNDAY OCTOBER 10th, 1:00 - 2:30 PM EDT Register through Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vegan-voices-virtual-book-launch-party-tickets166711104401?fbclid=IwAR0eNZWBuMZIuRP5FzzaWzVWovO39sjSoDi7LMzM_1nzKqJLRtfc63WxTf0 Speakers and Interviews, Videos, Readings, Music, Cooking Demo by Nancy Arenas, Panel Discussion, Prize Giveaways and more! Zoom Webinar will allow up to 500. 2) VEGAN VOICES BOOK LAUNCH PARTY at Plant City, Providence, Rhode Island SUNDAY OCTOBER 10th, 1:00 - 3:00 PM EDT Register through Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vegan-voices-book-launch-party-tickets166710157569?fbclid=IwAR0BdZNJE1uc5c6NvVhpJSY8-yNhp91XfnSv-5O2AZ08gOzQmqvoo7SdF0M Food, drinks, music, book sales and signing, raffle for prize giveaways! This in-person event will be limited to 50.
Dr. Joanne Kong has been praised as one of the most compelling advocates for plant-sourced nutrition today. Her highly-praised TEDx talk, The Power of Plant-Based Eating, is placed on numerous websites internationally. A frequent public speaker at universities, festivals and conferences, her vegan advocacy has been recognized around the world, with international talks in Italy, Spain, Germany, Norway, Canada, and a three-week, ten-city tour of India. Dr. Kong is the Editor of Vegan Voices: Essays By Inspiring Changemakers, is profiled in the book Legends of Change about vegan women who are changing the world, and appears in the new major documentary, Eating Our Way to Extinction. Website: https://www.vegansmakeadifference.com/
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heartnsole3@yahoo.com
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