Monday, July 21, 2008

Foie Gras an Industry of Shame

California and more than a dozen countries have banned its production. Public figures from the pope to Pat Buchanan have condemned it. Wolfgang Puck has removed it from his menus. And now Minnesota is beginning to discuss the issue, as well.

At first blush, the subject of so much controversy is a mere table treat a heavy cracker spread consumed only by the most elite foodies. It’s called foie gras, French for "fatty liver."
It’s also the deliberately diseased liver of a factory-farmed duck, and Minnesota is home to one of only four producers in the United States.

Minnesota’s foie gras producer may be smaller than its three domestic competitors, but it uses the same method forcing birds to ingest far more than they would normally consume to produce the enlarged livers it markets.

Foie gras has a well-deserved notoriety. It’s one of the most abusive factory farm products, since workers shove tubes down birds’ throats in order to make them consume a grossly large amount of food multiple times each day for the last couple weeks prior to their slaughter. This unnatural process does not mimic anything in nature, and it causes the birds’ livers to become diseased and expand multiple times their normal size.

New York is a larger foie gras producer than Minnesota, with two factory farms in the state that force-feed birds. Even there, experts condemn the practice. Dr. Ward Stone, the state’s wildlife pathologist, opposes foie gras production, stating that it leads to "short tortured lives" for these animals.

The Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare is the European Union’s most authoritative scientific body on farm animal welfare. Not surprisingly, after a thorough investigation, the committee concluded that force-feeding to produce foie gras "is detrimental to the welfare of the birds."

And the prestigious Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production recently recommended that force-feeding birds for foie gras be phased out.

While describing the effects of force-feeding, poultry scientist Dr. Ian Duncan states: "In my view, it is completely unethical to deliberately promote a diseased state in an animal. The birds’ obesity will lead to myriad other problems from skeletal disorders to difficulties in coping with heat stress, and all of which are accompanied by feelings of malaise."

It’s also no surprise that a new study identifies a potential human health risk associated with eating foie gras.

The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that foie gras consumption may trigger the development of a serious disease that can cause a multitude of human health problems, including extensive organ damage, kidney failure and even death.

Of course, most people probably don’t want to eat any part of a diseased animal, yet in the case of foie gras, it’s the diseased organ itself that diners consume.

More people are refusing to swallow foie gras and its inherent cruelty. Nearly 80 percent of Americans believe the practice of force-feeding ducks and geese for foie gras should be banned, according to a Zogby poll. As a result, governments are looking at the issue and scores of restaurants are taking it off the menu.

Forcing animals to endure such extreme cruelty and disease for something as trivial as a high-priced snack is something no civilized society should support. Mere common decency requires us to treat animals mercifully, and little could be less merciful than foie gras production.

We’d all be wise to simply leave this product off our plates.

- Paul Shapiro is the senior director of the Humane Society of the United States’ fac-tory farming campaign.

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Several restaurants here in Sarasota still serve this death delicacy. Ask them to stop!

Albertson's Doesn't Care About Your Health



Ten thirty at night and this hungry vegan wandered into Albertson's to pick up a few things to make a late night dinner. Sensory overload isle after isle of stuff I'd never even want to consider putting in my body. I'd rather stave then eat most anything from this store. A selection of like 4 sad organic vegetables, live lobsters tied up in the tank and not a single "non-dairy" dairy product to be found. The "healthy" foods section is stashed at the end of the baking isle and are all haphazardly thrown together, half of which aren't even slightly "healthy".

Every single product in this store contains meat, dairy, food coloring, pesticides, high-fructose corn syrup, trans fats, managers and employees are all overweight, you know the usual every other grocery store kinda crap but here there is an over abundance of choices of death in a box. Don't worry they can solve your ails with their HUGE pharmacy. Toxic air freshener blasting through the meat section to get rid of the stench of blood baths and a seafood dept that look like red tide just rolled in.

What is wrong with our society? Why are there ten times as many products of just plain toxic crap then there are decent ones? The manufacturers of these products don't care about your health or the planet, nor does Albertson's when they buy this stuff up and fill their shelves. Wake up people and take notice, if you don't care about your own health don't count on corporate agenda to do it for you. Oh yeah I thought I'd pick up some napkins, what could go wrong there but of course they didn't have even one of the 50 selections that had any recycled materials. Figures.

I did end up buying a non organic avocado, a tomato, and some Dr Praegers Veggie Patties for a late night sandwich.



Albertson's I'm scoring you an "F" in corporate responsibility. I'm guessing the employees eat the food here cause they all look like zombies.

Friday, July 18, 2008

How Walkable is Your Neighborhood?



Here's the top 10 most walkable cities in America, surprise surprise Portland makes the list:

San Francisco, CA
New York, NY
Boston, MA
Chicago, IL
Philadelphia, PA
Seattle, WA
Washington D.C.
Long Beach, CA
Los Angeles, CA
Portland, OR

But what makes a neighborhood walkable?

A center: Walkable neighborhoods have a discernable center, whether it's a shopping district, a main street, or a public space.

Density: The neighborhood is compact enough for local businesses to flourish and for public transportation to run frequently.

Mixed income, mixed use: Housing is provided for everyone who works in the neighborhood: young and old, singles and families, rich and poor. Businesses and residences are located near each other.

Parks and public space: There are plenty of public places to gather and play.

Pedestrian-centric design: Buildings are placed close to the street to cater to foot traffic, with parking lots relegated to the back.

Nearby schools and workplaces: Schools and workplaces are close enough that most residents can walk from their homes.

Test your neighborhood here: http://www.walkscore.com/

The 2009 Transportation Bill is a once-in-a-decade opportunity. Walk Score will hand-deliver the list of supporters to Congress on foot, on bike, on bus, and on subway. http://www.walkscore.com/transportation-bill.shtml

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Friday, July 11, 2008

Vegan Donuts Main St Sarasota - Buddha's Belly Donuts





WOW! Yessssss! Ok so this isn't the healthiest vegan thing you can eat but heck I am thankful for that sweet sin delight when the mood strikes. Glazed, Chocolate Glazed, Powered Jelly filled. The point is vegan living is getting more and more convenient.

Buddha Belly Donuts - 1990 Main Street (At the corner of 301 & Main Street) call ahead for large orders 941-952-0700
Hours: Sunday-Wed 7am-3pm
Thurs-Saturday 7am-8pm

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Moby's New video Disco Lies, Illustrates KFC's Lies

Moby's never been one to be afraid of using his popularity to expose truths about animal suffering. Thanks Moby awesome song too!!

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Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Two Entire Bookcases of Veggie Books at Borders



WHOA!! I turned the corner and my heart skipped a beat. Two years ago there were four vegetarian cookbooks and 1 vegan book. Now, over 50 vegetarian title and at least 30 vegan ones. A couple dozen Raw recipe books as well. Good thing I had this 25% off coupon. Good till July 6, 2008.
25% Off Any Regular Price Item

Check it out for yourself! Get a great cookbook, make tasty food, be happy :)

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