Soymilk vs. cow’s milk

Dec 102008
 
Full story: E/The Environmental Magazine (scroll down)

Famed pediatrician Dr. Benjamin Spock, in the last edition of his best selling Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care, argued that cow’s milk was for baby cows not human children, suggesting that it may be a factor in childhood onset diabetes and in kids’ respiratory and ear problems. He encouraged mothers to give infants only human breast milk and to consider soy and rice milk products for older kids. Chief among available alternatives to cow’s milk is soymilk, which has about the same amount of protein but much more fiber than cow’s milk. In striking contrast with cow’s milk, soymilk actually reduces the body’s cholesterol levels. It also contains isoflavones, natural plant hormones that act as antioxidants and have been linked to many human health benefits including t he easing of menopause symptoms, protection against prostate problems, better bone health and even a reduction in heart disease and cancer risks.
E/The Environmental Magazine  – September 21

Vegan wines

Dec 102008
 
Full story: Times, UK

Once cranky, now mainstream, vegan and vegetarian-approved wines are increasingly being sought by drinkers. Part of the problem is that vegan and vegetarian wines often don’t include this information on the label. Equally, very few outlets take the trouble to flag up the wines on their lists that do pass muster. Even specialist wine merchants appear hazy about what constitutes a vegetarian or vegan wine, and do not press their wine producers for complete clarification. Vegetarian wine rules allow casein, the main protein in milk, to be used to fine and clarify wine, along with albumin, or egg white, routinely used to filter fine red wines such as claret and rioja. Vegan-approved wines ban casein and albumin, plus other animal products including old-fashioned fin ing agents such as dried blood powder and isinglass (derived from sturgeon and other fish). Gelatine, a very effective fining agent, is banned by both vegetarian and vegan wine producers, who prefer to use bentonite, a special clay, to fine their wines. Merchants always point out that once wines have been fully fermented and bottled, only minuscule trace elements of these agents are left, but to many vegans and vegetarians this is not a comfort. The good news is that labels are increasingly becoming more detailed and specific about the fining and filtering agents used.

Times, UK – August 30

Moving beyond the rhetoric of apology in animal rights

Dec 102008
 
Full story: Poultry Press

The apologetic mode of discourse in animal rights is epitomized by the “I know I sound crazy, but . . .” approach to the public. If we find ourselves “apologizing” for other animals and our advocacy on their behalf, we need to ask ourselves why. Is it an expression of self-doubt? A deliberate strategy? Either way, I think the rhetoric of apology harms our movement tremendously. Following are some examples of what I mean. [The article goes on to list many eye-opening examples.] . . . If we feel that we must apologize, let us apologize to the animals, not for them.
Poultry Press – Summer 2008

Plant-Based Diet Helps Reduce Premature Aging and Disease Risk

Dec 102008
 


In a study released today by The Lancet Oncology, Dean Ornish, M.D., and colleagues found that comprehensive lifestyle changes, including a low-fat vegan diet, increase the body’s ability to fight premature aging, cancer, heart disease, and other chronic diseases. Twenty-four men participating in a prostate cancer study switched to a plant-based diet and added daily exercise and relaxation techniques. Among other beneficial effects that were previously reported, the intervention led to increased levels of telomerase, an enzyme that protects and repairs DNA. Blood levels of telomerase increased by an average of 29 percent during the study.

Ornish D, Lin J, Daubenmier J, et al. Increased telomerase activity and comprehensive lifestyle changes: a pilot study. Lancet Oncol [advance online publication]. September 16, 2008; DOI 10.1016/S1470-2045(08)70234-1.

PCRM Action Alert

Dec 102008
 

Your Action is Needed!

More than 7,000 Monkeys, Pigs, and
Goats in Distress

Dear PCRM supporter,

As you read this, animals are being shot, burned, exposed to toxic chemicals, or are having their limbs amputated in an attempt to train soldiers to treat injuries resulting from trauma and chemical exposure. PCRM recently discovered that the Department of Defense (DoD) is training military medical personnel with monkeys, pigs, and goats. The animals are subjected to unnecessary pain and fear, even though better methods are available.

Please pledge your support to PCRM—stand with us as we challenge the DoD to provide the best medical training on behalf of our soldiers and take a stand against cruelty to animals.

The problems with current practices are many:

  • This training causes pain and suffering to animals.
  • Animals’ skin and internal organs are different from humans’ in many ways. Injured animals do not accurately mimic a human’s wounds or reactions.
  • The DoD’s continued use of animals in these programs constitutes a violation of its own animal welfare regulation.

As a PCRM supporter, I hope you will stand with us in this fight for animals. Sign the pledge of support today.

The use of human simulators, civilian trauma centers, and other methods all do a much better job at training medical personnel. What you’ll be astounded by is that other parts of the military are already using nonanimal trauma training effectively.

Read more about this issue by clicking here. But be forewarned. Some of what you’ll read is graphic. If you get upset easily when you hear about the harm inflicted on these poor animals, then take our word that this is something we must work hard to change.

You’ll hear more from PCRM in the coming weeks about our campaign to work with the DoD to use better methods to treat soldiers’ casualties without harming a single animal. We will meet in person with the DoD representatives this January, so sign the pledge of support so PCRM can show how many people stand by us!

Thank you for taking action for animals and ensuring that our soldiers receive the best training possible.

Sincerely,
Neal Barnard, M.D.
Neal Barnard, M.D.
President

P.S. When you pledge your support, you’ll become part of our First Responders Team. You’ll be the first to hear about breaking news and actions to take to make a real difference.

Crowded house for chickens: Greens Press Release

Dec 102008
 

Posted by nzvs 11-08-2008

Chickens worldwide must be in a terrible condition, if New Zealand chickens have the best animal welfare standards in the world, Green MP Sue Kedgley says.

A NAWAC report released 27 May 2008 says the welfare of broiler chickens in New Zealand is on a par with best practice around the world.

While this is good public relations spin from the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee, it is absurd to suggest that animal welfare is in no way compromised by high stocking densities as the report claims, Ms Kedgley says.

” NAWAC are trying to convince us that jamming up to 20,000 chickens into a windowless shed, where chickens have very little room to move and do nothing all day, and where every aspect of its environment is controlled to make it grow as fast as possible, does not interfere with the welfare of the birds. This is absurd. ”

NAWAC claims that a maximum density of 38kg liveweight per square metre is  not associated with compromised welfare.

“A key factor in animal welfare is the ability of animals to express normal patterns of behaviour. Obviously chickens jammed into a shed where  they can barely move around or forage for food will not allow them to express their normal patterns of behaviour, ” Ms Kedgley says.

” It is not surprising that the National Animal Welfare Advisory  Committee should reach this conclusion, because it is not a genuinely  independent animal welfare body, and has sometimes operated as if it is a public relations arm of the industry. It is appointed by the Minister, and contains representatives of industry. ”

Sue Kedgley
MP Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

Room 8.06 Bowen House
Parliament Buildings, Wellington
Ph: 04-817-6717
Fax: 04-472-6003
Email: sue.kedgley@parliament.govt.nz

‘Let Food Be Thy Medicine and Medicine Be Thy Food’
Hippocrates 400 BC

It’s The Meat, Stupid

Dec 102008
 


Posted by nzvs 11-08-2008

Salmonella Outbreak in America Blamed on Vegetables:

During the current salmonella outbreak, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration, an agency within HHS, have focused Americans’ attention first on tomatoes and now on jalapeño peppers as a likely source of the infectious bacteria. However, contaminated produce is only the last link in a chain that begins with the meat industry. It is essential for consumers to know that burgeoning meat consumption has caused a massive overproduction of chickens, cows, pigs, and other animals, leading to unprecedented production of feces that end up in rivers, streams, and irrigation water, and contaminate otherwise healthful produce.

Salmonella are intestinal organisms. Needless to say, tomatoes and peppers do not have an intestinal tract. When feces end up in irrigation water, salmonella can contaminate the surfaces of plants and can apparently pass into their rootlets, ending up inside produce. Infectious bacteria from animal feces also contaminate agricultural fields, workers’ hands, retail shelves, and kitchen surfaces.

Join PCRM in calling for the Department of Health and Human Services to investigate the source of the contamination—the root of the problem lies in the meat industry! We need your help today. Click here to sign our petition and add your name to our list of outraged citizens. Help us provide a wake up call to HHS and demand it starts protecting our food supply.

Rabbi finds vegetarianism to be a religious ideal

Dec 102008
 


Full story: Missourian, MI, U.S.

Rabbi Yossi Feintuch says vegetarianism is a religious ideal. “When you read about the abuse of animals in our own industrial meat production, then you cannot say that God’s idea about compassion for animals is achieved,” he says. Feintuch blames the nature of modern-day factory farming… National organizations share Feintuch’s belief in religion-based vegetarianism. In an e-mail to religious leaders, Richard Schwartz, president of the Jewish Vegetarians of North America, writes: “This dietary change would be consistent with important Jewish mandates to preserve our health; treat animals with compassion; protect the environment; conserve natural resources; help hungry people; and pursue a more peaceful, less violent world.” His Web site, along with that of the Society for Ethical and Religious Vegetarians, offers statistics and text to support a commitment to spiritual vegetarianism.
Related:
“All Creatures Great and Small” campaign
HSUS and JVNA
The only diet for a peacemaker is a vegetarian diet
National Catholic Reporter (July 8, 2008)
“A Religious Proclamation for Animal Compassion” signup
Best Friends Animals Society
The Schwartz collection on Judaism, vegetarianism, and animal rights
Film: “A SACRED DUTY: Applying Jewish Values To Help Heal The World”
JVNA

Missourian, MI, U.S. – July 13, 2008

German study: Vegetarians live longer

Dec 102008
 


Posted by nzvs 11-08-2008

Full story: Huffington Post

The battle has long been waged, and will certainly continue in spite of this study. Are humans designed/evolved to eat everything and at risk of malnutrition as vegetarians? Or is vegetarianism the healthy and ethical choice? The most impressive data arises from a study of 1904 vegetarians over 21 years by the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsche Krebsforschungszentrum). The study’s shocking results: vegetarian men reduced their risk of early death by 50 per cent! Women vegetarians benefit from a 30 per cent reduction in mortality.

Huffington Post – July 13

Personal values deceive taste buds

Dec 102008
 


Posted by nzvs 11-08-2008

Full story: Science Daily

Many heavy meat eaters believe they eat a lot of meat because of the taste. But according to groundbreaking new research the reason that a beef burger tastes better than a veggie burger to some people has more to do with values than actual taste. Authors Michael W. Allen (University of Sydney), Richa Gupta (University of Nashville), and Arnaud Monnier (National Engineer School for Food Industries and Management, France) conducted a series of studies that examined the symbolic meaning of foods and beverages. They found that when it came to tasting meat or soft drinks, what influenced participants was what they thought they had eaten rather than what they actually ate. The authors note that meat has an association with social power, and people who scored high in the authors’ Social Power Value Endorsement measure believed that a meat-containing item tasted better than a vegetarian alternative, even when both products were actually identical [both veggie!].

Science Daily – July 18, 2008

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