Changing Your Diet Can Help Save the Planet

Last year I researched and created a flyer called "Changing your diet can help save the planet." I was asked to do this by an environmental community group for a table at an event we were sponsoring. The reason they asked me to do it was because I brought it up as an issue during the large group meeting. The information being sought was ideas about what could be communicated to the public about the environment. I knew that even environmental activists were probably not comfortable with the food production issues. Because of this, I struggled with even bringing it up. But I felt strongly about it and decided to risk it. Many of them were concerned that people don't like to be told what to eat (including them). Somehow it seemed easier to tell people what to drive, how much energy to use etc. But, I spoke to the chairperson and she really did want me to pursue this and I told her I would try to be as factual and informational as possible without being strident. She liked it and we used it. 

Here is the result:

Cowspiracy and Compassionfest 2016 Hamden, CT

Summer is in full swing and I have been enjoying my veggie burgers, veg dogs and skewers of delicious onions, peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, broccoli and pineapple all cooked on the grill. It so reminds me how little it seems I have to give up to stop eating meat, dairy and eggs.
I have also been experimenting with curries, buddha bowls, all kinds of fresh salads, lentils and a new recipe to marinate and bake tofu. This last one for tofu needs to be reviewed further. This one is called T's Tofu and is by Theresa Bizzell. It has a delicious marinade with so many wonderful ingredients, especially the sesame oil, and bakes for 45 minutes. Since I made a whole block, I had some left over and stored it in the refrigerator. After a day or so I used it in a salad and have to say it almost had the taste and texture of cold chicken. I do not miss eating chicken at all, but it was quite an amazing flavor that this recipe added to the tofu.

********* Best of all is that I get to eat delicious nutritious food that did not harm animals or the  
                                                                               environment and makes me healthy ************

COMPASSIONFEST 

 On July 23, 2016 I attended this wonderful event in Hamden, CT called Compassionfest. This was the 2nd year that it was held. As the banner says it is about community, equality, kindness and compassion. There is no doubt that this wonderful festival successfully delivered on all of these ideas. There were wonderful speakers  - my favorites being Jasmin Singer and the poetry readings - a standout being Sky Raven. Music, delicious vegan food, craft, product and causes booths, workshops and demos - something for everyone. The organizers and supporters did such a wonderful job to reach out to all people and their attendance reflected that. 
The weather was beautifully sunny and it was impossible to be there and not realize how good it feels to be in an environment that can spread compassion to every area of our lives - how we treat each other as human beings and how we treat the other living beings that share the earth with us. 
I can't wait until next year. Hope you can attend!

The other monumental happening was when I finally watched the documentary film "Cowspiracy". 
This film is now available on Netflix and I would say that it is "an inconvenient truth" Part 2. (the following comes from IMDB) The film explores the impact of animal agriculture on the environment, and investigates the policies of environmental organizations on this issue. Environmental organizations investigated in the film include Greenpeace, Sierra Club, Surfrider Foundation, Rainforest Action Network, and many more.^[1][2][3][4]
The film was crowdfunded on IndieGoGo, with 1,449 contributors giving $117,092. This funding was 217% of their goal, and it allowed them to dub the film into Spanish and German and subtitle it into more than 10 other languages, including Chinese and Russian.^[5][6] Screenings are licensed through the distributor as well as on Tugg.^[7]
A new cut of the documentary, executive-produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, premiered globally on Netflix on September 15, 2015.^{[8]
The film was very well done and quite entertaining. I was riveted to the screen from beginning to end - no bathroom breaks!!! I knew some things about the environmental impact of animal agriculture and the ways that this industry tries to hide the truth of the consequences of their methods. I was not actually that surprised that the major environmental organizations did not push back since it seems to be clear that animal agriculture is the main cause of climate change and that cutting down on meat consumption would show benefits to the environment right away. Even China is asking their citizens to eat 50% less meat.
It is clear we are on a very destructive path and action needs to be taken to help sustain our beautiful planet. My takeaway was that I was so glad that I am already a vegan especially since this film educated me in so many ways regarding the environmental impacts of the current food system. It has inspired me to send letters to my congressional representatives about this issue and encourage everyone I know to watch it. Please check it out and spread the word. 
*************Compassion-Love-Tolerance for humans and non-human animals*************}   
 

Fast Food Nation

It's been so long since I have posted - since I work on a computer all day at work, lately I have been consciously NOT getting on the computer. Instead, I have been reading a couple of interesting books, planting and watering my garden, organizing my recipes etc. This morning I have the day off from work and have

decided to post. A few years ago my son became a vegetarian and gave me "Fast Food Nation" to read. I must say I was as ignorant and many people are about how the food I was eating got to the grocery store in those neat little packages. When I read "Fast Food Nation", I was shocked and dismayed that the facts as stated in the book were things that have been happening and I had not heard anything about them previous to this. Why was there no outrage? From the day I finished that book, the images of the slaughterhouses portrayed and the plight of the slaughterhouse workers and the incredible stranglehold that McDonald's had/has on the meat processing industry just affected me so much. From that day forward, I vowed never to eat at McDonalds again and never to eat red meat again (I included beef and pork in this). I have kept that vow and actually have not even been tempted. Last week I watched the movie "Fast Food Nation" and it only strengthened and confirmed my original thoughts and feelings about what I wanted to eat. I have ordered 3 copies to keep and I intend to lend them out to anyone who wants to see it and become educated. I know that there are people that could walk through a slaugherhouse and eat a hamburger at the same time and seeing this movie probably won't make a dent. Denial is a strong human emotion. However, if even one person cuts down on their meat eating or sees their food supply in a new way, that will be the outcome I hope for. Even though I stopped eating red meat, I continued to eat chicken, turkey, fish, eggs and dairy so I wasn't really even a vegetarian. Sometimes I am amazed that I didn't take the next step right there. It took my daughter becoming a vegan and educating me about the whole animal rights, human rights, health and environmental issues surrounding the supply of all these products. Seeing Fast Food Nation - the movie made me proud to say that I am a vegan and have taken a stand in my own life against the practices and health risks as portrayed in that movie. I don't feel like I have had to sacrifice to do so. I must admit it makes finding acceptable things to eat difficult when I am away from home, but that is changing. Every day that I know that I don't contribute to the cruel animal and human practices and that I am protecting my health and the planet's environment makes me feel happy and confident. Thanks to all who work tirelessly on educating people about these issues.