tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96315202024-03-07T03:28:26.382-05:00Jewish Vegetarians of North America NewsletterTo receive by email, write to mail@jewishveg.com.
For info on Jewish vegetarianism visit JewishVeg.com..http://www.blogger.com/profile/17349614588789907464noreply@blogger.comBlogger287125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9631520.post-19771997700117237182012-08-15T18:29:00.000-04:002012-08-15T18:34:21.325-04:008/15/2012 JVNA Online Newsletter<strong data-mce-style="color: #333333;" style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-mce-style="color: #333333; font-size: xx-small;" style="color: #333333; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" data-mce-style="font-weight: normal;" style="font-weight: normal;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000000; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">August 15, 2012</span></span></span></span></strong><br />
<strong data-mce-style="color: #333333;" style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-mce-style="color: #333333; font-size: xx-small;" style="color: #333333; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" data-mce-style="font-weight: normal;" style="font-weight: normal;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #696969; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="color: dimgrey; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a data-mce-href="#one" data-mce-style="color: #444444;" href="http://jewishveg.blogspot.com/2012/08/8152012-jvna-online-newsletter.html#one" style="color: #444444;">1. Jewish New Year for Animals</a><br /><a data-mce-href="#two" data-mce-style="color: #444444;" href="http://jewishveg.blogspot.com/2012/08/8152012-jvna-online-newsletter.html#two" style="color: #444444;"><a name="two"></a>2. Israel bans starving hens, overcrowding</a><br /><a data-mce-href="#three" data-mce-style="color: #444444;" href="http://jewishveg.blogspot.com/2012/08/8152012-jvna-online-newsletter.html#three" style="color: #444444;">3. Israel proposes fur ban</a><br /><a data-mce-href="#four" data-mce-style="color: #444444;" href="http://jewishveg.blogspot.com/2012/08/8152012-jvna-online-newsletter.html#four" style="color: #444444;">4. New videos on Judaism and factory farming</a><br /><a data-mce-href="#five" data-mce-style="color: #444444;" href="http://jewishveg.blogspot.com/2012/08/8152012-jvna-online-newsletter.html#five" style="color: #444444;">5. Eating veg makes you happier</a></span></span></span></span></strong><br />
<strong data-mce-style="color: #333333;" style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-mce-style="color: #333333; font-size: xx-small;" style="color: #333333; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" data-mce-style="font-weight: normal;" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></strong>
<strong data-mce-style="color: #333333;" style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-mce-style="color: #333333; font-size: xx-small;" style="color: #333333; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" data-mce-style="font-weight: normal;" style="font-weight: normal;"><img data-mce-src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" height="20" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" /> </span></span></span></strong><b><span data-mce-style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Courier; color: maroon; background: white; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-bidi-language: HE;" style="background: white; color: maroon; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Courier; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">1. Jewish New Year for Animals!</span></b><br />
<span data-mce-style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: normal;" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><br /></span>
<span data-mce-style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: normal;" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><img data-mce-src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/297886.png" height="499" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/297886.png" width="405" /></span> <span data-mce-style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: normal;" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"></span><br />
<span data-mce-style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;"><br />JVNA
is spearheading a coalition of Jewish groups and rabbis in reviving the
ancient Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah LaBeheimot, and we've been
getting a lot of press about it! Read about it in <a data-mce-href="http://www.jta.org/news/article/2012/08/14/3103901/op-ed-at-the-new-year-lets-give-jewish-animals-a-new-jewish-chance" href="http://www.jta.org/news/article/2012/08/14/3103901/op-ed-at-the-new-year-lets-give-jewish-animals-a-new-jewish-chance" target="_blank">The Jewish Telegraphic Agency</a>, <a data-mce-href="http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/the-jewish-thinker/animal-rights-and-jewish-law-restoring-and-transforming-an-ancient-holiday.premium-1.454962" href="http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/the-jewish-thinker/animal-rights-and-jewish-law-restoring-and-transforming-an-ancient-holiday.premium-1.454962" target="_blank">Haaretz</a>, <a data-mce-href="http://www.tikkun.org/tikkundaily/2012/08/08/an-audacious-initiative-to-restore-the-ancient-new-year-for-animals/" href="http://www.tikkun.org/tikkundaily/2012/08/08/an-audacious-initiative-to-restore-the-ancient-new-year-for-animals/" target="_blank">Tikkun Daily</a>, <a data-mce-href="http://rhr.org.il/eng/index.php/2012/08/the-protest-in-israel-continues-parashat-ree-and-rosh-hodesh-elul/" href="http://rhr.org.il/eng/index.php/2012/08/the-protest-in-israel-continues-parashat-ree-and-rosh-hodesh-elul/" target="_blank">Rabbis for Human Rights</a>, and other newspapers and radio shows.<br /><br /><strong>Be part of history by joining one of our seders</strong> on Sunday, August 19, in New York City, San Francisco, and Jerusalem! Contact us for more info.<br /><br /><strong>Can't make it?</strong>
Hold your own vegetarian seder -- contact us for resources! Tell your
rabbi, and Jewish community about this celebration, and ask them to take
this opportunity to talk about Jewish teachings on concern for animals.</span><br />
<br />
<img data-mce-src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" data-mce-style="vertical-align: bottom;" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" /><strong data-mce-style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong data-mce-style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: small; color: #000000;" style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-mce-style="color: #800000;" style="color: maroon;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;"></span></span></span></strong></strong><br />
<strong><img data-mce-src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" data-mce-style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" height="20" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-color: initial; border-style: initial;" /></strong><strong data-mce-style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong data-mce-style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: small; color: #000000;" style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-mce-style="color: #800000;" style="color: maroon;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;"></span></span></span></strong></strong><strong> </strong><strong data-mce-style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong data-mce-style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: small; color: #000000;" style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-mce-style="color: #800000;" style="color: maroon;">2. <b><span data-mce-style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: maroon; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Israel bans overcrowding hens in cages</span></b><span data-mce-style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;"></span></span></span></strong></strong><strong data-mce-style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong data-mce-style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: small; color: #000000;" style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-mce-style="color: #800000;" style="color: maroon;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;"></span></span></span></strong></strong><br />
<img alt="Israel bans starving hens" data-mce-src="http://www.jpost.com/HttpHandlers/ShowImage.ashx?ID=199748" data-mce-style="float: right;" height="90" src="http://www.jpost.com/HttpHandlers/ShowImage.ashx?ID=199748" style="float: right;" width="150" /><span data-mce-style="font-size: small; color: #000000;" style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-mce-style="color: #800000;" style="color: maroon;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;"><br />Government
decision prohibits starving of hens, increases cage size. Farmers will
no longer be able to starve their hens for prolonged persiods in order
to increase egg output. (These practices remain legal in the US.) <a data-mce-href="http://www.jpost.com/Sci-Tech/Article.aspx?id=279610" href="http://www.jpost.com/Sci-Tech/Article.aspx?id=279610" target="_blank">Read more</a>.</span></span></span><br />
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<span data-mce-style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><img data-mce-src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" data-mce-style="vertical-align: bottom;" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" /></span><br />
<span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: small;" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" data-mce-style="font-size: 11px;" style="font-size: 11px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" data-mce-style="color: #000000; font-size: small;" style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><strong><img data-mce-src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" data-mce-style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" height="20" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-color: initial; border-style: initial;" /> </strong></span><b><span data-mce-style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Courier; color: maroon; background: white; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-bidi-language: HE;" style="background: white; color: maroon; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Courier; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9631520" name="three"></a>3. Israel proposes fur ban</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span><span data-mce-style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;"><img alt="Israel proposes fur ban" data-mce-src="http://uploads.static.vosizneias.com/2012/07/F090715AS02-512x341.jpg" data-mce-style="float: right;" height="100" src="http://uploads.static.vosizneias.com/2012/07/F090715AS02-512x341.jpg" style="float: right;" width="150" /></span><br />
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<span data-mce-style="font-size: small; color: #000000;" style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-mce-style="color: #800000;" style="color: maroon;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;">A Knesset bill introduced would forbid most sales of fur in Israel. Animal rights activists praised the legislation. <a data-mce-href="http://www.vosizneias.com/110843/2012/07/29/israel-new-bill-forbids-fur-sales-except-for-shtreimels" href="http://www.vosizneias.com/110843/2012/07/29/israel-new-bill-forbids-fur-sales-except-for-shtreimels" target="_blank">Read more</a>.</span></span></span><span data-mce-style="font-size: small; color: #000000;" style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-mce-style="color: #800000;" style="color: maroon;"><br /></span></span><span data-mce-style="font-size: small; color: #000000;" style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-mce-style="color: #800000;" style="color: maroon;"><span data-mce-style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></span><strong data-mce-style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong data-mce-style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: small; color: #000000;" style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-mce-style="color: #800000;" style="color: maroon;"><span data-mce-style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></span></strong></strong><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<img data-mce-src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" data-mce-style="vertical-align: bottom;" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" /><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" data-mce-style="color: #000000;"><strong><img data-mce-src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" data-mce-style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" height="20" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-color: initial; border-style: initial;" /></strong></span><strong><span data-mce-style="color: #800000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;" style="color: maroon; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span data-mce-style="line-height: 16px;" style="line-height: 16px;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9631520" name="four"></a> </span></span></strong><b><span data-mce-style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: maroon; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: maroon; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">4. Moving videos on Judaism and factory farms</span></b><span data-mce-style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;"></span><span data-mce-style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;"></span><br />
<span data-mce-style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;"></span><br />
<span data-mce-style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;">C</span><span data-mce-style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.jpost.com/HttpHandlers/ShowImage.ashx?ID=189351" data-mce-style="float: right;" src="http://www.jpost.com/HttpHandlers/ShowImage.ashx?ID=189351" style="float: right;" width="150" /></span><span data-mce-style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;">heck out (and share) these new videos that contrast Jewish teachings with the reality of animal factories:</span><a data-mce-href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX65IbtKfdM" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX65IbtKfdM" target="_blank"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;"></span></a></div>
<ul>
<li><a data-mce-href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX65IbtKfdM" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX65IbtKfdM" target="_blank"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;">Is your meat really kosher?</span></a></li>
<li><a data-mce-href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX65IbtKfdM" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX65IbtKfdM" target="_blank"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;">Ethical kashrut</span></a><a data-mce-href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX65IbtKfdM" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX65IbtKfdM" target="_blank"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;"></span></a></li>
</ul>
<img data-mce-src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" data-mce-style="vertical-align: bottom;" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" /><br />
<img data-mce-src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" data-mce-style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" height="20" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-color: initial; border-style: initial;" /> <span data-mce-style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;"><img alt="Vegetarian makes happy" data-mce-src="http://mindnewframes.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/bluehappy.jpg" data-mce-style="float: right;" height="113" src="http://mindnewframes.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/bluehappy.jpg" style="float: right;" width="150" /></span><b><span data-mce-style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: maroon; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: maroon; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9631520" name="five"></a>5. Eating veg makes you happier</span></b><br />
<span data-mce-style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;"><br /><span data-mce-style="color: #800000;" style="color: maroon;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: #333333; font-size: 8.5pt;">Some
Jews feel obligated to eat meat on yom tov because they believe "there
is no joy without meat." Science shows that just the opposite is true. <a data-mce-href="http://www.timeforwellness.org/blog-view/vegetarian-diet-improves-mood-and-reduces-stress-241" href="http://www.timeforwellness.org/blog-view/vegetarian-diet-improves-mood-and-reduces-stress-241" target="_blank">Read more</a></span></span></span><span data-mce-style="font-size: small; color: #000000;" style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-mce-style="color: #800000;" style="color: maroon;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;">.</span></span></span></span><strong data-mce-style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: small; color: #000000;" style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-mce-style="color: #800000;" style="color: maroon;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8.5pt;"><br /></span></span></span></span></strong>.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17349614588789907464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9631520.post-30901493338540486932012-07-10T00:22:00.001-04:002012-07-10T00:22:44.858-04:007/10/2012 JVNA Online Newsletter<div>
<span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong data-mce-style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-mce-style="color: #333333; font-size: xx-small;" style="color: #333333; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" data-mce-style="font-weight: normal;" style="font-weight: normal;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000000; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="color: black; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">July 10, 2012</span></span></span></span></strong></span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong data-mce-style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-mce-style="color: #333333; font-size: xx-small;" style="color: #333333; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" data-mce-style="font-weight: normal;" style="font-weight: normal;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #696969; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="color: dimgrey; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a data-mce-href="#one" data-mce-style="color: #444444;" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9631520#one" style="color: #444444;" target="_blank">1. Tisha B'Av and Vegetarianism</a><br /><a data-mce-href="#two" data-mce-style="color: #444444;" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9631520#two" style="color: #444444;">2. Is Milk Kosher? Some Rabbis Say No.</a><br /><a data-mce-href="#three" data-mce-style="color: #444444;" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9631520#three" style="color: #444444;">3. New Video: 10 Ways to Create Change</a><br /><a data-mce-href="#four" data-mce-style="color: #444444;" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9631520#four" style="color: #444444;">4. God is Good to All: Compassion in Judaism</a><br /><a data-mce-href="#five" data-mce-style="color: #444444;" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9631520#five" style="color: #444444;">5. California Bans Foie Gras July 1</a><br /><a data-mce-href="#six" data-mce-style="color: #444444;" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9631520#six" style="color: #444444;">6. New Kosher Veg Restaurant Certification</a><br /><a data-mce-href="#seven" data-mce-style="color: #444444;" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9631520#seven" style="color: #444444;">7. Would you wear vegan tefillin?</a></span></span></span></span></strong></span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong data-mce-style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-mce-style="color: #333333; font-size: xx-small;" style="color: #333333; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" data-mce-style="font-weight: normal;" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></strong></span></span></span></span></div>
<img data-mce-src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" height="20" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" /><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b><span data-mce-style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Courier; color: maroon; background: white; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-bidi-language: HE;" style="background-color: white; color: maroon; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"> Keep Up With JVNA</span></b></span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-mce-style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: normal;" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">JVNA has been busy... Our president Richard Schwartz has a <a data-mce-href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=71536" href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=71536" target="_blank">new book</a>, Jeffrey Cohan has a <a data-mce-href="http://thebeeteatingheeb.com/" href="http://thebeeteatingheeb.com/" target="_blank">new blog</a>, we have <a data-mce-href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150973698234931&set=a.10150374769304931.365144.6374404930&type=3&theater" href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150973698234931&set=a.10150374769304931.365144.6374404930&type=3&theater" target="_blank">important organizational changes</a> are underway that will make us more effective, and so much more! Keep up with the active vegetarian Jewish movement on </span><a data-mce-href="http://www.facebook.com/JewishVeg" data-mce-style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: normal;" href="http://www.facebook.com/JewishVeg" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">Facebook</a><span data-mce-style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: normal;" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">, </span><a data-mce-href="twitter.com/jewishveg" href="https://app.getresponse.com/twitter.com/jewishveg" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;" target="_blank"><span data-mce-style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: normal;" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: normal;">Twitter</span></a><span data-mce-style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: normal;" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">, and </span><a data-mce-href="https://plus.google.com/u/2/b/114695899686972112633/" data-mce-style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: normal;" href="https://plus.google.com/u/2/b/114695899686972112633/" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">G+</a><span data-mce-style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: normal;" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">. And don't forget to ask for free DVDs, leaflets, and other materials you can use to spread the word in your community!</span><br />
<span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" data-mce-style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="color: #333333;" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" data-mce-style="font-size: 11px;"><span data-mce-style="color: #333333;" style="color: #333333;"><img data-mce-src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" data-mce-style="vertical-align: bottom;" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" /></span></span></span><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" data-mce-style="color: #000000; font-size: small;" style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><strong></strong></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong data-mce-style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-mce-style="color: #333333; font-size: xx-small;" style="color: #333333; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" data-mce-style="font-weight: normal;" style="font-weight: normal;"><img data-mce-src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" height="20" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" /> </span></span></span></strong><b><span data-mce-style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Courier; color: maroon; background: white; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-bidi-language: HE;" style="background-color: white; color: maroon; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">1. Tisha B'Av and Vegetarianism</span></b></span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-mce-style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.holidays.net/sukkot/images/yahrzeit.jpg" data-mce-style="float: right;" src="http://www.holidays.net/sukkot/images/yahrzeit.jpg" style="float: right;" width="150" />Tisha B'Av commemorates the destruction of the first and second Temples in Jerusalem. Today the entire world is threatened by destruction by a variety of environmental threats, and modern intensive livestock agriculture is a major factor behind most of them.</span><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: normal;" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: normal;"></span><span data-mce-style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: normal;" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: normal;"> <a data-mce-href="http://jewishveg.com/tishabav.html" href="http://jewishveg.com/tishabav.html" target="_blank">Read More</a>.</span><b><span data-mce-style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Courier; color: maroon; background: white; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-bidi-language: HE;" style="background-color: white; color: maroon; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></b></span><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" data-mce-style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="color: #333333;" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" data-mce-style="font-size: 11px;"><span data-mce-style="color: #333333;" style="color: #333333;"><img data-mce-src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" data-mce-style="vertical-align: bottom;" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" /></span></span></span><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" data-mce-style="color: #000000; font-size: small;" style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><strong><br /><img data-mce-src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" data-mce-style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" height="20" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" /> </strong></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><b style="background-color: white;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: maroon; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: maroon; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">2. Is Milk Kosher? Some Rabbis Say No.</span></b><br />
<span data-mce-style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.jewishjournal.com/images/bloggers_auto/cow_picture_article.jpg" data-mce-style="float: right;" src="http://www.jewishjournal.com/images/bloggers_auto/cow_picture_article.jpg" style="float: right;" width="150" />On our wedding day last year, my wife and I decided that, due to our Jewish convictions, we would no longer drink milk or consume any dairy products. Then we found out that one of the greatest Jewish legal authorities in America, Rabbi Herschel Schachter, has made public that he had stopped consuming dairy products due to kashrut concerns</span><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 12px;">.</span><span data-mce-style="background-color: white; font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"> </span><a data-mce-href="http://www.jewishjournal.com/socialjusticerav/item/rabbi_herschel_schachters_chumra_on_milk_abuse_in_the_dairy_industry_201206/" href="http://www.jewishjournal.com/socialjusticerav/item/rabbi_herschel_schachters_chumra_on_milk_abuse_in_the_dairy_industry_201206/" target="_blank"><span data-mce-style="background-color: white; font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">Read more</span></a><span data-mce-style="background-color: white; font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">. </span><b data-mce-style="font-size: 11px;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Courier; color: maroon; background: white; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-bidi-language: HE;" style="background-color: white; color: maroon; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span><span data-mce-style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img data-mce-src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" data-mce-style="vertical-align: bottom;" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" /></span><br /><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: small;" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" data-mce-style="font-size: 11px;" style="font-size: 11px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" data-mce-style="color: #000000; font-size: small;" style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><strong><img data-mce-src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" data-mce-style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" height="20" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" /> </strong></span><b><span data-mce-style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Courier; color: maroon; background: white; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-bidi-language: HE;" style="background-color: white; color: maroon; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px;">3. Ten Ways to Create Change</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span data-mce-style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 12px;"><img data-mce-src="http://external.ak.fbcdn.net/safe_image.php?d=AQCJ3xkJX8nmOEcp&w=155&h=114&url=http%3A%2F%2Fi1.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FPGiwup2mgAc%2Fmqdefault.jpg" data-mce-style="float: right;" src="http://external.ak.fbcdn.net/safe_image.php?d=AQCJ3xkJX8nmOEcp&w=155&h=114&url=http%3A%2F%2Fi1.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FPGiwup2mgAc%2Fmqdefault.jpg" style="float: right;" width="150" /><br />Inspiring ways for Jewish vegetarians to create change: <a data-mce-href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGiwup2mgAc&feature=youtu.be" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGiwup2mgAc&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">Watch the video</a></span><span data-mce-style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 12px;">.</span><br />
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<img data-mce-src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" data-mce-style="vertical-align: bottom;" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" /><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" data-mce-style="color: #000000;"><strong><img data-mce-src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" data-mce-style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" height="20" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" /></strong></span><strong><span data-mce-style="color: #800000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;" style="color: maroon; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span data-mce-style="line-height: 16px;" style="line-height: 16px;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9631520" name="four"></a> </span></span></strong><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></span><b><span data-mce-style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: maroon; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: maroon; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">4. "God is Good to All": Compassion in Judaism</span></b><strong><span data-mce-style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></strong><span data-mce-style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.jpost.com/HttpHandlers/ShowImage.ashx?ID=189351" data-mce-style="float: right;" src="http://www.jpost.com/HttpHandlers/ShowImage.ashx?ID=189351" style="float: right;" width="150" />Rabbi Dovid Sears write that the Torah espouses compassion for all creatures and affirms the sacredness of life. These values are reflected by the laws prohibiting cruelty to animals and obligations for humans to treat animals with care. <a data-mce-href="http://www.jpost.com/Sci-Tech/Article.aspx?id=262454&R=R103" href="http://www.jpost.com/Sci-Tech/Article.aspx?id=262454&R=R103" target="_blank">Read More</a>.</span><br />
<span data-mce-style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong data-mce-style="line-height: 16px; font-weight: normal; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" data-mce-style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><img data-mce-src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" data-mce-style="vertical-align: bottom;" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" /></span></strong></span></span></span></span></span></span><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: small; color: #000000;" style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><strong data-mce-style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" data-mce-style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" data-mce-style="color: #000000; font-size: small;" style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><strong><br /><img data-mce-src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" data-mce-style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" height="20" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" /> </strong></span><span data-mce-style="color: #800000;" style="color: maroon;"><strong><span data-mce-style="font-size: small;" style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9631520" name="five"></a>5. California Bans Foie Gras July 1</span></strong></span></span></strong></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b data-mce-style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></b></span></span><span data-mce-style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.2points4honesty.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/mallard-duckling-close.jpg" data-mce-style="float: right;" src="http://www.2points4honesty.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/mallard-duckling-close.jpg" style="float: right;" width="150" />Israel has banned foie gras. Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, the great 20th-century Orthodox halachic authority, prohibited milk-fed veal on the grounds of this needless suffering. Rabbi Seth Mandel, who oversees kosher meat production for the Orthodox Union in North and South America, told me that veal or foie gras violates other Jewish values.<span class="apple-style-span"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"> <a data-mce-href="http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/65690/foie-gras-goodbye-and-good-riddance-to-a-french-delight/" href="http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/65690/foie-gras-goodbye-and-good-riddance-to-a-french-delight/" target="_blank">Read More</a>.</span></span><br />
<span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: small; color: #000000;" style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" data-mce-style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></strong></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: small; color: #000000;" style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><strong data-mce-style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" data-mce-style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" data-mce-style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><img data-mce-src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" data-mce-style="vertical-align: bottom;" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" /></span></span></strong></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: small; color: #000000;" style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><strong data-mce-style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="line-height: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" data-mce-style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;"><br /><img data-mce-src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" data-mce-style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" height="20" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" /></span> </span></strong><b style="background-color: white;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: maroon; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: maroon; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">6. New Veg Kosher Restaurant Certification</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span data-mce-style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.shamayimvaretz.org/images/shamayim_varetz_carrot_seal_medium.jpg" data-mce-style="float: right;" src="http://www.shamayimvaretz.org/images/shamayim_varetz_carrot_seal_medium.jpg" style="float: right;" width="150" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;">There are 7.3 million Americans who are vegetarians, 1 million vegans, and 22.8 million people who keep a vegetarian inclined diet. The Shamayim V'Aretz Institute believes that it is time to create a paradigm shift in the way we eat whether it is in your kitchen or at your local restaurant. </span></span><a data-mce-href="http://www.shamayimvaretz.org/kosher_veganism_restaurant_certificate.html" href="http://www.shamayimvaretz.org/kosher_veganism_restaurant_certificate.html" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;" target="_blank">Read More</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;">.</span></span></span><br />
<img data-mce-src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" data-mce-style="vertical-align: bottom;" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" /><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: small; color: #000000;" style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" data-mce-style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;"><br /><img data-mce-src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" data-mce-style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" height="20" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" /></span> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9631520" name="seven"></a></span></strong><b style="background-color: white;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: maroon; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: maroon; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">7. Would You Wear Vegan Tefillin?</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;">Could we create vegan tefillin? By vegan tefillin, I do not, of course, mean tefillin made from corn. That would not fulfill the holy mitzvah</span></span><span data-mce-style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">.</span><span data-mce-style="background-color: white; font-size: 8.5pt; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"> <a data-mce-href="http://www.jewishjournal.com/socialjusticerav/item/praying_with_compassion_time_for_vegan_tefillin_20120624/" href="http://www.jewishjournal.com/socialjusticerav/item/praying_with_compassion_time_for_vegan_tefillin_20120624/" target="_blank">Read More</a>.</span></div>.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17349614588789907464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9631520.post-18942968093366035512011-12-22T14:32:00.005-05:002011-12-22T14:43:58.470-05:0012/22/2011 JVNA Online Newsletter - Chanukah<span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:14px;color:#000000;" >Chanukah 2011<br /><br /></span><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#696969;" ><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="#one" style="color: #444444;">1. Another Miracle of Chanukah</a><br /><a style="color: #444444;" href="#two">2. Maccabeats to Matisyahu Chanukah Song</a><br /><a style="color: #444444;" href="#three">3. Chanukah Recipes Galore!</a><br /><a style="color: #444444;" href="#four">4. Cute Chanukah Animals</a><br /><a style="color: #444444;" href="#five">5. Veg Chanukah Ideas from GirlieGirl Army</a><br /><a style="color: #444444;" href="#six">6. Green Your Chanukah</a></span></span><br /><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><span style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:11px;"><span style="color:#333333;"><br /><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" /></span><br /></span></span><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;color:#000000;" ><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" height="20" /></strong></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><strong style="color:#333333;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=" ;font-size:78%;color:#333333;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><strong><span style=" ;font-size:small;color:#000000;" ><span style="color:#800000;"><a name="one"></a>1. Another Miracle of Chanukah</span></span></strong></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast- mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language: AR-SAfont-family:Helvetica;font-size:8.5pt;color:#333333;" >Jewish survival is a miracle of hope. Increasing light at the darkest time of the year to celebrate Chanukah and Jewish survival is also a miracle. This year, we work and hope for another miracle. We certainly don't need more "things" in our homes; instead, we need more meaning, purpose, and spirit in our lives. One significant way is by moving towards vegetarianism. <a target="_blank" href="http://jewishveg.com/chanukahmiracle.html">Read More</a>.</span></span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; background:white;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:HEfont-family:";font-size:8.5pt;color:#333333;" ></span><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><span style=""><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><br /></span><span style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:11px;"><span style="color:#333333;"><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" /></span><br /></span></span><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;color:#000000;" ><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" height="20" /> </strong></span><strong style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style=" ;font-size:small;color:#000000;" ><span style="color:#800000;"><a name="two"></a>2. </span></span></strong><strong style=" line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#333333;"><span style=" ;font-size:small;color:#000000;" ><span style="color:#800000;">Maccabeats do Matisyahu Chanukah Song</span></span></strong><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;" ><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast- mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language: AR-SAfont-family:Helvetica;font-size:8.5pt;color:#333333;" ><a target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHwyTxxQHmQ"><img style="float: right;" alt="Maccabeats" src="http://archive.popurls.com/101208/8630816_rndfa4c2ad5_19.jpg" height="68" width="120" /></a>Famous singers don’t make many Chanukah songs – Adam Sandler’s “Chanukah Song” and Barenaked Ladies' “Hanukkah Blessings” are perhaps two of only three exceptions – but the third is "Miracle", by vegan Jew Matisyahu. The adorable Maccabeats have done a cover of this song, which cameos another vegan Jew, TV star Mayim Bialik. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHwyTxxQHmQ">Have a look</a>, I dare you not to enjoy!</span></span><span style="font-size:16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; background:white;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language: HEfont-family:";font-size:8.5pt;color:#333333;" ><br /></span><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span><span style=" line-height: 16px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" /></span><br /><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><span style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:11px;"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;color:#000000;" ><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" height="20" /> </strong></span><strong style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style=" ;font-size:small;color:#000000;" ><span style="color:#800000;"><a name="three"></a>3. Chanukah Recipes Galore!</span></span></strong><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style=" background-;font-size:8.5pt;color:white;" ></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:8.5pt;color:#333333;" >Looking for <a href="http://jewishveg.com/recipes.html#Chanukah">Chanukah recipes</a>? Check out <a target="_blank" href="http://jewishveg.com/recipes.html#Chanukah">JVNA’s updated recipe section</a>. We’ve lot loads of plant-based latke recipes of every type, from <a target="_blank" href="http://www.vegnews.com/articles/page.do?pageId=1337&catId=10">traditional</a> to very <a target="_blank" href="http://theveganhomechef.blogspot.com/2010/12/latkefest-2010-vegan-latkes-three-ways.html">creative</a>, and even some <a target="_blank" href="http://thesweetestvegan.com/vegan-potato-latkes-recipe/">videos</a>.<br /><br /><a target="_blank" href="http://www.thekindlife.com/"><img style="float: right;" alt="Alicia Silverstone's Vegan Challah" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7008/6540482891_9b114d4906.jpg" height="80" width="120" /></a>What’s more, actor, author, and Jewish vegan Alicia Silverstone is posting a new vegetarian Jewish recipe every day during Chanukah. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.thekindlife.com/">Check it out</a>.<br /><br />And the Jewish vegan singer Matisyahu has his own <a target="_blank" href="http://newyork.grubstreet.com/2011/12/make_matisyahus_latkes_and_veg.html">latke and jelly doughnut recipes</a> in New York Magazine. When asked why he went veg, Matisyahu gave a very Hanukkah answer: "If a person has clean oil, then their candle will burn bright.</span></span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; background:white;mso-bidi-language:HEfont-family:";font-size:8.5pt;color:#333333;" ></span></p> <span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><span style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:11px;"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><span style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium;color:#000000;" ><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" /><br /></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" height="20" /> </strong></span><strong style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="color:#800000;"><a name="four"></a>4. Cute Chanukah Animals</span></span></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;" ></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast- mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language: AR-SAfont-family:Helvetica;font-size:8.5pt;color:#333333;" ><img style="float: right;" alt="Dog with Kippah" src="http://www.jewishbazaar.com/images_templ/DogKipah.jpg" height="85" width="120" />Cute animals celebrating Chanukah! For a compassionate Jewish vegetarian, what’s not to like?</span></span><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;" ></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;" ><br /><br />Just choose <a target="_blank" href="http://media.fukung.net/images/3602/Jewish%20Puppies.jpg">dogs</a> or <a target="_blank" href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/catsparella/cats-celebrating-hanukkah-1ruv">cats</a>! (Or, if you prefer, <a target="_blank" href="http://api.ning.com/files/epUuGIldnLZZxr2D4YrcgEjcikHTszQvXh8eH4AABSNVyjJes5W-uBOmcQeakIujwN5ZYxFxJeLVN-*QWOt1uvaqR7HdsOXd/zebramenorah.jpg">zebras</a>.)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span><strong style="line-height: 16px; font-weight: normal; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium;color:#000000;" ><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" /></span><br /></strong><span style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:small;" ><strong style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal;font-size:11px;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;color:#000000;" ><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" height="20" /> </strong></span><span style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0);"><strong><span style="font-size:small;"><a name="five"></a>5. Veg Chanukah Ideas from GirlieGirl Army</span></strong></span></span></strong></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;" ></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a target="_blank" href="http://girliegirlarmy.com/nosh/20111220/chanukah-101-from-jelly-donut-twinkies-to-maitake-mushroom-latkes/"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><span style=" ;font-size:small;color:#000000;" ><strong style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><img style="float: right;" alt="GirlieGirl Army Chanukah" src="http://girliegirlarmy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/tumblr_kuf1e4n7wp1qzt5lc.jpg" height="98" width="120" /></span></strong></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=" Arial","sans-serif"; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:";font-size:8.5pt;" >Chanukah 101: From Jelly Donut Twinkies to Maitake Mushroom Latkes! Ch</span></span><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><span style=" ;font-size:small;color:#000000;" ><strong style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ></span></strong></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast- mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language: AR-SAfont-family:Helvetica;font-size:8.5pt;color:#333333;" >anukah is all about miracles, and we could all use a miracle.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>If you aren’t into the religious aspect of Chanukah, use the 8 days as a time to make wishes, give kisses, and pray for peace. </span></span><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style=" Arial","sans-serif"; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:";font-size:8.5pt;" ></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><span style=" ;font-size:small;color:#000000;" ><strong style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><span style="color:#800000;"><strong><span style="font-size:small;"></span></strong></span><a target="_parent" href="http://girliegirlarmy.com/nosh/20111220/chanukah-101-from-jelly-donut-twinkies-to-maitake-mushroom-latkes/">Read more</a>.<br /></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ></span></strong></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><span style=" ;font-size:small;color:#000000;" ><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></strong><strong style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal;font-size:11px;color:#333333;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium;color:#000000;" ><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" /></span><br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-style: initial; border-color:initial;" ><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" height="20" /></span> </span></strong><span style="color:#800000;"><strong><a name="six"></a>6. Green Your Chanukah</strong></span></span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast- mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language: AR-SAfont-family:Helvetica;font-size:8.5pt;color:#333333;" >Find out how you can light your Hanukkah celebration with eco-friendly festivities like green decorations, organic chocolate gelt, and vegan latkes. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.greenyour.com/lifestyle/events/hanukkah">Read more</a>.</span></span>.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17349614588789907464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9631520.post-15071677973085766332011-12-05T16:00:00.005-05:002011-12-05T16:11:22.936-05:0012/5/11 JVNA Online Newsletter<span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:14px;color:#000000;" >December 5, 2011<br /><br /></span><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#696969;" ><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="#one" style="color: #444444;">1. Kosher Slaughter Bans</a><br /><a href="#two" style="color: #444444;">2. Horse Slaughter Legalized in the US</a><br /><a href="#three" style="color: #444444;">3. Free Jewish Vegan Cookbook</a><br /><a href="#four" style="color: #444444;">4. World Meat Production Grows</a><br /><a href="#five" style="color: #444444;">5. Israel Bans Cat Declawing</a><br /><a href="#six" style="color: #444444;">6. UN Climate Conference Urged to Address Animal Agriculture</a><br /><a href="#seven" style="color: #444444;">7. Vegetarian Shabbat at London Chabad</a><br /><a href="#eight" style="color: #444444;">8. Free leaflets from JVNA</a></span></span><br /><br /><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-decoration: none; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; "><strong style="color: #333333;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span size="2"><span color="#333333" size="1" style="color: #333333; font-size: xx-small;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: xx-small; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;" style="font-weight: normal; "><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; " height="20" /> </span></span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><strong><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;" style="font-size: small; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span style="color: #800000;" style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); "><a name="one"></a>1. Kosher Slaughter Bans</span></span></strong></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" style="line-height: 16px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;" style="line-height: normal; ">Dutch efforts to ban the slaughter of unstunned animals -- effectively banning kosher and halal slaughter -- have raised concerns in the Jewish community, but also provide opportunities for us to discuss vegetarianism as applying Jewish values.<br /><br />Rabbi Schachar Orenstein intrigued audiences when discussing the issue at a forum in Quebec, because he is an Orthodox Jew and a vegetarian, a choice he made for “ethical, health and environmental reasons” years ago. He says, “Judaism does care about animal cruelty, and measures are ongoing to reduce any suffering in slaughter… But I attempted to broaden the discussion, to the treatment of animals, how they are raised and transported.” [<a href="http://www.cjnews.com/news/canada/veterinarians-hear-about-kosher-slaughter" href="http://www.cjnews.com/news/canada/veterinarians-hear-about-kosher-slaughter" target="_blank">Canadian Jewish News</a>]<br /><br />Uca Octay of Rotterdam’s Islamic University said: “We will have to import halal meat... Becoming vegetarian could be an option as well.” Dutch Chief Rabbi Binyomin Jacobs said: “I would not have bad feelings if... Every home would be vegetarian and then it would be equal.”<br /><br />(JVNA opposes singling out kosher slaughter. Both kosher and non-kosher slaughter can be done in a cruel manner or more humane manner, and the animals all come from the same abusive factory farms.)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" style="line-height: 16px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><br /></span><span color="#333333" style="color: #333333;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;" style="font-size: 11px; "><span color="#333333" style="color: #333333;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: bottom; " /></span><br /></span></span><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-size: small;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: small; "><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; " height="20" /> </strong></span><strong style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;" style="font-size: small; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span style="color: #800000;" style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); "><a name="two"></a>2. </span></span></strong><strong style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; "><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;" style="font-size: small; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span style="color: #800000;" style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); ">Horse Slaughter Legalized in the US</span></span></strong><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Last week Congress passed into law a bill that ended the federal ban on horse slaughter. (See<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://yourlife.usatoday.com/fitness-food/story/2011-11-30/Horses-could-soon-be-slaughtered-for-meat-in-US/51495306/1" href="http://yourlife.usatoday.com/fitness-food/story/2011-11-30/Horses-could-soon-be-slaughtered-for-meat-in-US/51495306/1" target="_blank">article</a>.) Please take a minute of your time today<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>to<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://secure.humanesociety.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=5095&s_src=waynesblog" href="https://secure.humanesociety.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=5095&s_src=waynesblog" target="_blank">support the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act</a>. And spread the word to as many people as you can. Every voice makes a difference!<br /><br />In you live in Canada,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.defendhorsescanada.org/do-it-now.html" href="http://www.defendhorsescanada.org/do-it-now.html" target="_blank">please act to support the Canadian version of this law</a>.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span color="#333333" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; "> </span></span><br /><br /></span></span></span></span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: bottom; " /></span><br /><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="font-size: small;" style="font-size: small; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;" style="font-size: 11px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-size: small;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: small; "><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; " height="20" /> </strong></span><strong style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><span style="color: #000000; font-size: small;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: small; "><span style="color: #800000;" style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); "><a name="three"></a>3. Free Jewish Vegan Cookbook</span></span></strong><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; "><br /><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><em><a href="http://punktorah.org/wp-content/uploads/ebooks/NewKosherEBook.pdf" href="http://punktorah.org/wp-content/uploads/ebooks/NewKosherEBook.pdf" target="_blank">The NewKosher Cookbook: Your Favorite Jewish Vegan Recipes</a></em><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>is now available free online at PunkTorah.org, with everything from kreplach to sufganiyot, including some articles by JVNA President Richard Schwartz.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; "><a href="http://urj.org/learning/meetings/webinars/?syspage=article&item_id=69820" href="http://urj.org/learning/meetings/webinars/?syspage=article&item_id=69820"><br /><br /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;" style="font-size: 11px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="font-size: small;" style="font-size: small; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium; "><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: bottom; " /><br /></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; " height="20" /> </strong></span><strong style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><span style="color: #000000;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span style="color: #800000;" style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); "><a name="four"></a>4. World Meat Production Grows</span></span></strong></span><br /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; "><br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal;" style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal; ">According to WorldWatch Institute, global meat production increased by 2.6 percent in 2010 to 290.6 million tons, an increase from the 0.8 percent growth rate of 2009. </span><a href="http://boulderjewishnews.org/2011/turkey-talk/" target="_blank" href="http://boulderjewishnews.org/2011/turkey-talk/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; ">Read More</a><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">.<br /><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal;" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal; ">The good news is that, in the US, meat consumption has been declining. Let's continue to be leaders in improving the world. </span><br /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;" style="line-height: 16px; "><b><br /></b></span></span></span><strong style="line-height: 16px; font-weight: normal; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="line-height: 16px; font-weight: normal; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium; "><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: bottom; " /></span><br /></strong><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;" style="font-size: small; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><strong style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-size: small;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: small; "><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; " height="20" /> </strong></span><span style="color: #800000;" style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); "><strong><span style="font-size: small;" style="font-size: small; "><a name="five"></a>5. Israel Bans Cat Declawing</span></strong></span><br /></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; "></span></strong></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; display: inline !important;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: medium; display: inline !important; "><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #333333; background: white; mso-bidi-language: HE;" style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #000000;" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; ">Good news: Israel has banned the declawing of cats. Judaism forbids mutilating pets without a genuine need.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.thecatsite.com/a/good-news-for-cats-in-israel" href="http://www.thecatsite.com/a/good-news-for-cats-in-israel" target="_blank">Read More</a>. Unfortunately, on factory farms, surgical mutilations without painkillers -- like debeaking, dehorning, castrating, and tail docking -- remain standard practice.<br /><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">Israel has already passed bans on foie gras production, cosmetics testing, public school dissections, and wildlife in circuses, all of which remain legal in the US and Canada. Jews should be a light unto the nations when it comes to vegetarianism as well.</span> </span><br /></span></p><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; "><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><br /></span></span></strong><strong style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium; "><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: bottom; " /></span><br /></span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; "><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; " height="20" /></span> </span></strong><span style="color: #800000;" style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); "><strong><a name="six"></a>6. UN Climate Change Conference COP-17 Urged to Address Animal Agriculture</strong></span></span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><span color="#333333" style="color: #333333;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">Durban in South Africa is the stage where the United Nations' climate change conference, also known as COP17, is taking place. Parallel to the negotiations, representatives from NGOs try to make their voices heard amid the cacophony of COP17 talks. One of them is the Humane Society International, which is urging delegates to bring animal agriculture into the forum. </span><span color="#333333" style="color: #333333;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><a href="http://www.justmeans.com/COP17-Sustainability-Meeting-Must-Address-Animal-Agriculture-Says-Humane-Society/50878.html" target="_blank" href="http://www.justmeans.com/COP17-Sustainability-Meeting-Must-Address-Animal-Agriculture-Says-Humane-Society/50878.html" style="line-height: 12px;" style="line-height: 12px; ">Read More</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 12px; ">.</span></span></span></p><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-decoration: none; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium; "><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: bottom; " /><br /></span></span></span><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-size: small;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: small; "><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; " height="20" /> </strong></span><span style="color: #800000;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(128, 0, 0); "><strong><span style="font-size: small;" style="font-size: small; "><a name="seven"></a>7. Vegetarian Shabbat at London Chabad</span></strong></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 12px;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 12px; "><br />You too can organize an eco-friendly, vegan Shabbat dinner at your synagogue, chabad, or university, like these Jews did in London. Then tell us about it! <a href="http://www.chabad.org/blogs/blog_cdo/aid/1686769/jewish/London-Students-Celebrate-Green-Sabbath.htm" target="_blank" href="http://www.chabad.org/blogs/blog_cdo/aid/1686769/jewish/London-Students-Celebrate-Green-Sabbath.htm">Read More</a>.</span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium; "><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: bottom; " /></span><br /><span style="color: #000000; font-size: small;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: small; "><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; " height="20" /> </strong><strong><span style="color: #800000;" style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); "><a name="eight"></a>8. </span></strong><strong style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); ">Free Leaflets from JVNA</strong><strong><span style="color: #800000;" style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); "><br /></span></strong></span><br /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #333333; background: white; mso-bidi-language: HE;" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: normal; ">Please get active in spreading the word by leafleting at a local Jewish event and/or organizing a talk or cooking demonstration at a local synagogue, Jewish school, or Jewish Center. </span><a href="https://app.getresponse.com/JewishVeg.com/feedback.html" href="JewishVeg.com/feedback.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: normal; ">Contact us for free leaflets</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: normal; ">. We can also send you some DVDs of our acclaimed documentary </span><a href="https://app.getresponse.com/aSacredDuty,com" href="aSacredDuty,com" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: normal; ">"A Sacred Duty: Applying Jewish Values to Help Heal the World."</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: normal; "> Please consider arranging a showing</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17349614588789907464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9631520.post-16912314029406877352011-11-23T11:35:00.006-05:002011-11-23T11:41:39.279-05:0011/23/2011 JVNA Online Newsletter<span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000000; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; ">November 23, 2011<br /><br /></span><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #696969; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(105, 105, 105); font-size: 11px; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="#one" href="#one" style="color: #444444;" style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); ">1. JVNA has its own Google+ page</a><a href="#one"><br /></a><a href="#two" href="#two" style="color: #444444;" style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); ">2. Chanukah and Vegetarianism</a><a href="#two"><br /></a><a href="#three" href="#three" style="color: #444444;" style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); ">3. A Jew Confronts Her First Veg Thanksgiving</a><a href="#three"><br /></a><a href="#four" href="#four" style="color: #444444;" style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); ">4. Rabbi Applies Jewish Values to Thanksgiving Turkey</a><a href="#four"><br /></a><a href="#five" href="#five" style="color: #444444;" style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); ">5. Printed JVNA Newsletters from the 1990s Available</a><a href="#five"><br /></a><a href="#six" href="#six" style="color: #444444;" style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); ">6. New Book: Jews Can Save the Planet</a><a href="#six"><br /></a><a href="#seven" href="#seven" style="color: #444444;" style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); ">7. Paul McCartney Converts</a><a href="#seven"><br /></a><a href="#eight" href="#eight" style="color: #444444;" style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); ">8. Fur Free Friday and Judaism</a><a href="#eight"><br /></a><a href="#nine" href="#nine" style="color: #444444;" style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); ">9. Noted Climate Skeptic: "Global Warming is Real"</a><a href="#nine"><br /></a><a href="#ten" href="#ten" style="color: #444444;" style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); ">10. Congratulations to Ricki Lake</a><a href="#ten"><br /> </a><br /></span></span><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><strong style="color: #333333;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span size="2"><span color="#333333" size="1" style="color: #333333; font-size: xx-small;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: xx-small; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;" style="font-weight: normal; "><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; " height="20" /> </span></span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><strong><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;" style="font-size: small; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span style="color: #800000;" style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); "><a name="one"></a>1. JVNA has its own Google+ page</span></span></strong></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;" style="line-height: normal; ">Google+ now allows organizations to have their own pages. You can add<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://plus.google.com/114695899686972112633" target="_blank" href="https://plus.google.com/114695899686972112633">JVNA's Google+ page</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>to your circles. (We're still on<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://facebook.com/JewishVeg" target="_blank" href="http://facebook.com/JewishVeg">Facebook</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://twitter.com/JewishVeg" target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/JewishVeg">Twitter</a>; please share our posts with your friends to help spread the word.)</span><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;" style="line-height: normal; "></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><br /></span><span color="#333333" style="color: #333333;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;" style="font-size: 11px; "><span color="#333333" style="color: #333333;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: bottom; " /></span><br /></span></span><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-size: small;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: small; "><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; " height="20" /> </strong></span><strong style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;" style="font-size: small; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span style="color: #800000;" style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); "><a name="two"></a>2. </span></span></strong><strong><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;" style="font-size: small; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span style="color: #800000;" style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); ">Chanukah and Vegetarianism</span></span></strong><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal;" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;" style="line-height: normal; "><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">The 8-day holiday of lights begins December 20. Please see <a href="http://jewishveg.com/chanukah.html" target="_blank" href="http://jewishveg.com/chanukah.html">“Chanukah and Vegetarianism”</a> and use the material to help spread the Jewish Vegetarian message through articles, letters to editors, personal conversations and other ways.<br /><br /></span></span></span></span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: bottom; " /></span><br /><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="font-size: small;" style="font-size: small; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;" style="font-size: 11px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-size: small;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: small; "><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; " height="20" /> </strong></span><strong style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><span style="color: #000000; font-size: small;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: small; "><span style="color: #800000;" style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); "><a name="three"></a>3. A Jew Confronts Her First Veg Thanksgiving</span></span></strong><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; "><br />"As Jews, meat is not just dinner; it’s our culture. We eat chicken every Shabbat, brisket and turkey on Rosh Hashanah, meat borscht on Passover and my mother’s sweet and sour meatballs appear throughout the year. By abstaining from eating meat, I’m not just passing on a serving of brisket. It’s as if I’m severing a cultural tie." <a href="http://www.newvoices.org/opinion?id=0141" target="_blank" href="http://www.newvoices.org/opinion?id=0141">Read More</a>.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; "><a href="http://urj.org/learning/meetings/webinars/?syspage=article&item_id=69820" href="http://urj.org/learning/meetings/webinars/?syspage=article&item_id=69820"><br /><br /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;" style="font-size: 11px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="font-size: small;" style="font-size: small; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium; "><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: bottom; " /><br /></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; " height="20" /> </strong></span><strong style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><span style="color: #000000;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span style="color: #800000;" style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); "><a name="four"></a>4. Rabbi Applies Jewish Values to Thanksgiving Turkey</span></span></strong></span><br /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; "><br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal;" style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal; ">"On Yom Kippur, I gave a sermon on the holiness of eating that focused on the horrors of factory farmed meat production. For years, I believed that occasional forays into the flesh of chicken or turkey was relatively harmless and certainly nothing like on the same scale as getting bloated on beef." </span><a href="http://boulderjewishnews.org/2011/turkey-talk/" target="_blank" href="http://boulderjewishnews.org/2011/turkey-talk/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; ">Read More</a><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;" style="line-height: 16px; ">.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal;" style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal; "> </span><br /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;" style="line-height: 16px; "><b><br /></b></span></span></span><strong style="line-height: 16px; font-weight: normal; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="line-height: 16px; font-weight: normal; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium; "><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: bottom; " /></span><br /></strong><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;" style="font-size: small; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><strong style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-size: small;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: small; "><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; " height="20" /> </strong></span><span style="color: #800000;" style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); "><strong><span style="font-size: small;" style="font-size: small; "><a name="five"></a>5. Printed JVNA Newsletters from the 1990s Available</span></strong></span><br /></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; "></span></strong></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; display: inline !important;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: medium; display: inline !important; "><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #333333; background: white; mso-bidi-language: HE;" style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #000000;" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Israel Mossman, former secretary and treasurer of JVNA and co-editor, along with his wife Eva, of the JVNA newsletter, has several hundred newsletters, 16 pages, all from the 1990s. He is offering 15 newsletters, of mixed dates, for $4.95 -- his first class postage cost. Lots of interesting material in these newsletters. If you are interested in receiving them, please contact Israel at imossman@bluecrab.org. </span><br /></span></p> <span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;" style="font-size: small; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; "><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><br /></span></span></strong><strong style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium; "><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: bottom; " /></span><br /></span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; "><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; " height="20" /></span> </span></strong><span style="color: #800000;" style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); "><strong><a name="six"></a>6. New Book: Jews Can Save the Planet</strong></span></span><br /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; ">What is the responsibility of Jews to save our planet? JVNA President Richard Schwartz’s<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://jewishveg.com/schwartz/whyimveg.html" target="_blank" href="http://jewishveg.com/schwartz/whyimveg.html">article on why he became a vegetarian</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>appears in<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Simple Actions for Jews to Help Green the Planet</i>, a new book by Rabbi Dov Peretz Elkins, co-author of Chicken Soup for the Jewish Soul, that draws upon the wisdom of biblical, Talmudic, midrashic and other texts, as well as modern, reliable, scientific research.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://boulderjewishnews.org/2011/simple-actions-to-help-green-the-planet/" target="_blank" href="http://boulderjewishnews.org/2011/simple-actions-to-help-green-the-planet/">Read More</a>.</span></p> <span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium; "><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: bottom; " /><br /></span></span></span><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-size: small;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: small; "><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; " height="20" /> </strong></span><span style="color: #800000;" style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); "><strong><span style="font-size: small;" style="font-size: small; "><a name="seven"></a>7. Paul McCartney Converts</span></strong></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 12px;" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 12px; "><br />Paul McCartney, perhaps the world's most famous vegan, is resportedly studying Judaism and has promised to convert.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.nationalenquirer.com/mike-walker/mccartney-converting-new-wife" target="_blank" href="http://www.nationalenquirer.com/mike-walker/mccartney-converting-new-wife">Read More</a>.</span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium; "><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: bottom; " /></span><br /><span style="color: #000000; font-size: small;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: small; "><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; " height="20" /> </strong><strong><span style="color: #800000;" style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); "><a name="eight"></a>8. Fur Free Friday and Judaism</span></strong></span><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; "><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #333333; background: white; mso-bidi-language: HE;" style="font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 12px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">In 1992, the Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv issued a p'sak (rabbinic ruling) against wearing fur. With Fur Free Friday coming up, what does Judaism have to say about fur?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://jewishveg.com/schwartz/furjew.html" target="_blank" href="http://jewishveg.com/schwartz/furjew.html">Read More</a>.<br /><br />If you own a business, the IAFC offers anti-fur stickers to post.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://es-es.facebook.com/msfgphotography/posts/212408245493918" target="_blank" href="http://es-es.facebook.com/msfgphotography/posts/212408245493918">Read More</a>.<br /></span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium; "><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: bottom; " /></span><br /><span style="color: #000000; font-size: small;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: small; "><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; " height="20" /> </strong><strong><span style="color: #800000;" style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); "><a name="nine"></a>9. Noted Climate Skeptic: "Global Warming is Real"<br /><br /></span></strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 12px;" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 12px; ">With animal agriculture among the main drivers of global warming emissions, this news may spread awareness of the importance of taking action, including through vegetarian diets:<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #333333; background: white; mso-bidi-language: HE;" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 12px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" style="font-size: 8.5pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; ">A prominent physicist and skeptic of global warming spent two years trying to find out if mainstream climate scientists were wrong. In the end, he determined they were right: Temperatures really are rising rapidly.</span> <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/skeptic-finds-now-agrees-global-warming-real-142616605.html" target="_blank" href="http://news.yahoo.com/skeptic-finds-now-agrees-global-warming-real-142616605.html">Read More</a>.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; "><br /><br /></span><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium; "><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: bottom; " /></span><br /><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;" style="font-size: small; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; " height="20" /> </strong><span style="color: #800000;" style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); "><strong><a name="ten"></a>10. Congratulations to Ricki Lake</strong></span></span><br /><br /><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: PMingLiU; color: #333333; background: white; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;" style="font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 12px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #333333; background: white; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-bidi-language: HE;" style="font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 12px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Congratulations to Jewish vegetarian Ricki Lake who made it to the finals of Dacing with the Stars. Though she didn't win, we wish her luck on her new talk show, and hope that her success will help her compassionate Jewish values to spread.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17349614588789907464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9631520.post-15553268921936727062011-10-05T08:01:00.003-04:002011-10-05T08:12:38.816-04:0010/05/2011 JVNA Online Newsletter<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: medium; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000000; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;">October 5, 2011<br /><br /></span><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #696969; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><a href="#10052011one">1. A Meaningful, Transformative Yom Kippur and a Joyous Sukkot</a><br /><a href="#10052011two">2. Follow Us Now on Google+<br /></a><a href="#10052011three">3. Sign Up for our Free Webinar</a><br /><a href="#10052011four">4. Orthodox Jews against Chickens as Kapparot</a><br /><a href="#10052011five">5. For Vegan Jews, the High Holidays Pose Some Problems</a><br /><a href="#10052011six">6. Rosh Hashana and Vegetarian Month Help the Planet</a><br /><a href="#10052011seven">7. Are Humans Herbivores?</a><br /><a href="#10052011eight">8. With Jewish Help, West Hollywood Bans Fur</a><br /><a href="#10052011nine">9. Some Say Cows are Killing the Earth. Do We Need a Meat Ban?</a><br /><a href="#10052011ten">10. Dr. Klaper Video: Healing Ourselves and our Planet</a><br /><a href="#10052011eleven">11. Actor James Cromwell Talks Vegetarianism</a><br /><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><strong style="color: #333333;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11px; "><strong style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;"><span style="color: #800000;">I Ask Your Forgiveness Before Yom Kippur</span></span></strong></span></span></strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: medium; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><strong style="color: #333333;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><br />Judaism teaches that acts of repentance, prayer, and charity can result in God’s forgiveness for sins between human beings and God, but that one must ask people you offended for forgiveness for acts against them. So, I ask your forgiveness for anything that I may have written or done in the past year that may have offended you. It was certainly not intentional.</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><br /><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #333333; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">I forgive anyone who may have unintentionally offended me during the past year.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">In the words of an anonymous source:<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">“I hereby forgive whoever has hurt me,<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">Whoever has done ma any wrong,<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">Whether deliberately or on purpose,<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">Whether by word or by deed.<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">May no one be punished on my account.<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">AS I forgive and pardon fully<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">Those who have done me wrong,<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">May those whom I have harmed<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">Forgive and pardon me<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">Whether I acted deliberately or by accident,<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">Whether by word or by deed.<br />With God’s help, may I not willingly<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Repeat the wrongs that I have committed.”<br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;"><br /><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" /></span><br /></strong></span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" height="20" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; " /> </span></span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><strong><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;"><span style="color: #800000;"><a name="10052011one"></a>1. A Meaningful, Transformative Yom Kippur and a Joyous Sukkot</span></span></strong></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">Yom Kippur begins at sundown on Friday evening. May all who will be fasting have an easy, meaningful fast and may the holiday be the start of a very positive period for everyone.<br /><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Since Sukkot starts just a few days after Yom Kippur, I wish you also a joyous Sukkot.<br /><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">Please see articles on “<a href="http://jewishveg.com/yomkippur.html">Vegetarianism and Yom Kippur</a>” and </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">“<a href="http://jewishveg.com/sukkot.html">Sukkot and Vegetarianism</a>”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 12px;">Please feel free to share these and my other articles as widely as you wish, and to use them as the basis of letters to editors, calls to talk programs, and talking points in personal conversations.<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><br /><span style="color: #333333;"><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" /></span><br /></span></span><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-size: small;"><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" height="20" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" /> </strong></span><strong style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;"><span style="color: #800000;"><a name="10052011two"></a>2. Follow Us Now on Google+</span></span></strong><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><br /><a href="https://plus.google.com/105014456655016773466/posts">Follow us now on Google+</a> under JVNA's President Richard Schwartz. Add him to your circles! Of course, we're still on <a href="http://facebook.com/JewishVeg">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/JewishVeg">Twitter</a>. Be sure to post about us and tell your friends/circles/followers to follow us too.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" /></span><br /><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-size: small;"><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" height="20" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" /> </strong></span><strong style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #000000; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #800000;"><a name="10052011three"></a>3. Sign Up for Our Free Webinar</span></span></strong><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;"><br />Join JVNA President Richard Schwartz for a special free Webinar, hosted on Food Day by the Union for Reform Judaism!<br /><br /></span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;"> Jewish Perspectives on Food Justice<br /></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;"> October 24, 2011, 3:00pm ET<br /><a href="http://urj.org/learning/meetings/webinars/?syspage=article&item_id=69820">More Info and Sign Up<br /><br /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;"><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" /><br /></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000;"><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" height="20" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" /> </strong></span><strong style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="color: #800000;"><a name="10052011four"></a>4. Orthodox Jews Against Chickens as Kapparot</span></span></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span><strong style="line-height: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Yeshiva World News:</strong> <span style="font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #333333; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white;">With Yom Kippur approaching, the annual debate for and against the minhag of kaporos is underway. This year a newcomer opposing the minhag has appeared on the scene, a chareidi organization</span><span style="line-height: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. </span><a href="http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/US+News/104767/Israel:-Chareidim-Join-Opposition-To-Kaporos.html" style="line-height: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Read More</a><span style="line-height: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.<br /><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #333333; background: white; mso-bidi-language: HE;"><strong>The Jewish Week:</strong> Some Jews have a medieval custom to sacrifice a chicken before Yom Kippur, “kaporos.” One grabs the chicken’s legs while pinning its wings back and swings it around one’s head. These chickens are packed into crates before this procedure and then usually sent to be slaughtered after. Others are often just left in crates to die. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><a href="http://www.thejewishweek.com/features/street_torah/yom_kippur_mercy_or_cruelty">Read More</a>.<br /><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><strong>The Gothamist:</strong> Three demonstrations against protest are planned in New York City. <a href="http://gothamist.com/2011/09/29/annual_protests_of_annual_jewish_ch.php">Read More.</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></span><a href="http://gothamist.com/2011/09/29/annual_protests_of_annual_jewish_ch.php" style="line-height: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></a></span><strong style="line-height: 16px; font-weight: normal; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;"><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" /></span><br /></strong><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;"><strong style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-size: small;"><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" height="20" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" /> </strong></span><span style="color: #800000;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;"><a name="10052011five"></a>5. For Vegan Jews the High Holidays Pose Some Problems</span></strong></span><br /></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;"></span></strong></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; display: inline !important;"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #333333; background: white; mso-bidi-language: HE;"><br />Being a vegan Jew most of the year doesn’t pose to many problems. However, this all changes for the high holidays. <a href="http://www.frumsatire.net/2011/10/01/for-vegans-the-high-holidays-pose-some-problems/">Read More</a>.<br /></span></p><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;"></span></strong></span><strong style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></strong><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;"><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" /></span><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;"><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" height="20" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" /></span> </span></strong><span style="color: #800000;"><strong><a name="10052011six"></a>6. Rosh Hashana and Vegetarian Month Help the Planet</strong></span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 12px;"><strong>The Miami Herald:</strong> Celebrate! You’ve got not one but two opportunities to make everything new and wonderful. Today is Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year, and Saturday is World Vegetarian Day, the start of Vegetarian Month</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">. </span></span><a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/09/29/2429293/going-meatless-a-rewarding-proposition.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Read More</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">.</span></span><br /></span><br /></span></span><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;"><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" /><br /></span></span></span><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-size: small;"><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" height="20" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" /> </strong></span><span style="color: #800000;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;"><a name="10052011seven"></a>7. Are Humans Herbivores?</span></strong></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 12px;"><br />Comparing herbivores and carnivores: <a href="http://allinharmony.org/home">The Herbivore Awareness Project<br /><br /></a></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 12px;">Thanks to author, educator, and JVNA advisor Dan Brook for sending us this information</span></span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;"><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" /></span><br /><span style="color: #000000; font-size: small;"><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" height="20" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" /> </strong><strong><span style="color: #800000;"><a name="10052011eight"></a>8. With Jewish Help, West Hollywood Bans Fur</span></strong></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #333333; background: white; mso-bidi-language: HE;">West Hollywood is now the first place to ban fur! Jews helped make it happen. </span></span><a href="http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/columns/belinda-white/TMG8779616/West-Hollywood-bans-the-sale-of-fur.html" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Read more</a><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.<br /><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #333333; background: white; mso-bidi-language: HE;"><a href="http://ravklein.blogspot.com/2011/09/what-i-said-to-weho-city-council-to.html">A rabbi testified in favor of the ban</a>. In 1992, the Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv issued a psak against fur. For more on Jewish views on fur, <a href="http://jewishveg.com/schwartz/furjew.html">see our FAQ</a></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #333333; background: white; mso-bidi-language: HE;"><br /></span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;"><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" /></span><br /><span style="color: #000000; font-size: small;"><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" height="20" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" /> </strong><strong><span style="color: #800000;"><a name="10052011nine"></a>9. Some say Cows are Killing the Earth. Do We Need a Meat Ban?<br /><br /></span></strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 12px;">Forwarded by Paul Mahoney:<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #333333; background: white; mso-bidi-language: HE;">THE QUESTION: When are we going to hear more about the great elephant in the room - animal agriculture? The CSIRO and the University of Sydney have jointly reported that it is responsible for more that 30 per cent of Australia's greenhouse gas emissions. Meaningful action in [reducing emissions] cannot be achieved without a general move towards a plant-based diet. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 12px;"><a href="http://www.theage.com.au/environment/climate-change/some-say-cows-are-killing-the-earth-so-do-we-need-to-ban-beef-20110924-1kr2a.html">Read more</a></span>.<br /><br /></span><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;"><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" /></span><br /><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;"><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" height="20" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" /> </strong><span style="color: #800000;"><strong><a name="10052011ten"></a>10. Dr. Klaper Video: Healing Ourselves and our Planet</strong></span></span><br /><br /><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: PMingLiU; color: #333333; background: white; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #333333; background: white; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-bidi-language: HE;">One of the outstanding vegan doctors passionately discusses the health and environmental benefits of vegetarianism.</span> <a href="http://www.vegsource.com/news/2011/09/dr-klaper----plant-only-medicine-man-video.html">Watch video</a>.<br /></span></span><br /><strong style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;"><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" /></span><br /></strong><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000;"><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" height="20" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" /> </strong></span><strong><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="color: #800000;"><a name="10052011eleven"></a>11. Actor James Cromwell Talks Vegetarianism</span></span></strong></span><br /><br /></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></strong></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="display: inline !important;"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #333333; background: white; mso-bidi-language: HE;">Excellent talk by this famous actor, who starred in the movie Babe, on why he became a vegetarian and why it is urgent that others switch to plant-based diets. <a href="http://www.thegreengirls.com/blog/post/2009/02/Video-An-Interview-with-James-Cromwell.aspx">Watch video</a>.<br /><br /></span></p><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">Thanks to JVNA advisor Ron Landskroner for this link.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17349614588789907464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9631520.post-84315029960767368602011-09-21T20:51:00.003-04:002011-09-21T22:29:49.044-04:0009/21/2011 JVNA Online Newsletter<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: medium; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000000; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; ">September 21, 2011<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #696969; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(105, 105, 105); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;" style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); "><a href="http://www.getresponse.com/create_message.html?action=edit&msg_type=broadcast&id=6816178&status=drafts&content_type=html#one" href="#one">1. Rosh Hashanah Recipes</a><br /><a href="http://www.getresponse.com/create_message.html?action=edit&msg_type=broadcast&id=6816178&status=drafts&content_type=html#two" href="#two">2. Relating the High Holy Day and Sukkot to Vegetarianism</a><br /><a href="http://www.getresponse.com/create_message.html?action=edit&msg_type=broadcast&id=6816178&status=drafts&content_type=html#three" href="#three">3. List of Famous Jewish Vegetarians</a><br /><a href="http://www.getresponse.com/create_message.html?action=edit&msg_type=broadcast&id=6816178&status=drafts&content_type=html#four" href="#four">4. International Vegetarian Society Appoints First Director</a><br /><a href="http://www.getresponse.com/create_message.html?action=edit&msg_type=broadcast&id=6816178&status=drafts&content_type=html#five" href="#five">5. NYC Demos Scheduled Against Chickens for Kaporos, and Benefit Dinner</a><br /><a href="http://www.getresponse.com/create_message.html?action=edit&msg_type=broadcast&id=6816178&status=drafts&content_type=html#six" href="#six">6. Excellent "Why I am Vegan" Video</a><br /><a href="http://www.getresponse.com/create_message.html?action=edit&msg_type=broadcast&id=6816178&status=drafts&content_type=html#seven" href="#seven">7. Farmed Animal Prescriptions Urged to Cut Drug Resistance</a><br /><a href="http://www.getresponse.com/create_message.html?action=edit&msg_type=broadcast&id=6816178&status=drafts&content_type=html#eight" href="#eight">8. Schnitzel is Bad for the Environment</a><br /><a href="http://www.getresponse.com/create_message.html?action=edit&msg_type=broadcast&id=6816178&status=drafts&content_type=html#nine" href="#nine">9. Islam and Animal Rights</a><br /><a href="http://www.getresponse.com/create_message.html?action=edit&msg_type=broadcast&id=6816178&status=drafts&content_type=html#ten" href="#ten">10. Article on Vegetarianism in the United Arab Emirates</a><br /><a href="http://www.getresponse.com/create_message.html?action=edit&msg_type=broadcast&id=6816178&status=drafts&content_type=html#eleven" href="#eleven">11. Food Day Oct. 24</a><br /><a href="http://www.getresponse.com/create_message.html?action=edit&msg_type=broadcast&id=6816178&status=drafts&content_type=html#twelve" href="#twelve">12. EVANA Newsletter</a><br /><a href="http://www.getresponse.com/create_message.html?action=edit&msg_type=broadcast&id=6816178&status=drafts&content_type=html#thirteen" href="#thirteen">13. Update on the World Week for the Abolition of Meat</a><br /><a href="http://www.getresponse.com/create_message.html?action=edit&msg_type=broadcast&id=6816178&status=drafts&content_type=html#forteen" href="#forteen">14. Culinary Tour of Israel</a></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: medium; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><strong style="color: #333333;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span style="font-size: x-small;" style="font-size: x-small; font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;" style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><strong><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;" style="font-size: small; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span style="color: #800000;" style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); "><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span>Shana Tova – Happy New Year</span></span></strong></span><br /><br /><span color="#333333" style="color: #333333;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;" style="font-size: 11px; ">On behalf of all the Officers of JVNA, on the occasion of the Jewish New Year Rosh Hashana We wish all of you and your loved ones:<br /><br />A year of success in all of your endeavors<br /><br />A year of good health<br /><br />A year of prosperity<br /><br />A year of happiness<br /><br />A year of fulfilling your dreams<br /><br />A year of optimism and hope<br /><br />A year when our leaders will lead us to peace<br /><br />A year of much nachas from your family<br /><br />A year of environmental sustainability<br /><br />Shanah Tovah U'metukah, (A good and sweet year)<br /></span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;" style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium; "><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: bottom; " /></span><br /></strong></span><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; " height="20" /> </span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><strong><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;" style="font-size: small; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span style="color: #800000;" style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); "><a name="one"></a>1. Rosh Hashanah Recipes</span></span></strong></span><br /><br /><span color="#333333" style="color: #333333;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;" style="font-size: 11px; "><a href="http://www.vegkitchen.com/tips/vegan-jewish-new-year-recipes-and-menus/" href="http://www.vegkitchen.com/tips/vegan-jewish-new-year-recipes-and-menus/">VegKitchen</a> provides a lot of great-looking vegetarian recipes for Rosh Hashanah, to start a sweet new year for you and for all creation.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br /><br />Don't forget that our own website lists lots of Jewish recipes at<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.getresponse.com/JewishVeg.com/recipes" href="JewishVeg.com/recipes">JewishVeg.com/recipes</a>.<br /><br /><span color="#333333" style="color: #333333;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;" style="font-size: 11px; "><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: bottom; " /></span></span><br /></span></span><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-size: small;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: small; "><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; " height="20" /> </strong></span><strong><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;" style="font-size: small; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span style="color: #800000;" style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); "><a name="two"></a>2. Relating the High Holy Days and Sukkot to Vegetarianism</span></span></strong><br /><br />The<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Jewish Tribune</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>published JVNA President Richard Schwartz's article<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.jewishtribune.ca/TribuneV2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4811&Itemid=53" href="http://www.jewishtribune.ca/TribuneV2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4811&Itemid=53" style="">"Rosh Hashana and Vegetarianism"</a>. Please share this and his articles on Yom Kippur and Sukkot, which can be found in the "Jewish Festivals" section at<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://jewishveg.com/schwartz" href="http://JewishVeg.com/schwartz">JewishVeg.com/schwartz</a>, with others, including editors of your local Jewish weekly, and feel free to use these articles as a basis of your own articles, letters to editors, calls to talk shows, and talking points with family and friends.<br /><br /></span></span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: bottom; " /></span><br /><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="font-size: small;" style="font-size: small; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;" style="font-size: 11px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-size: small;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: small; "><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; " height="20" /> </strong></span><strong><span style="color: #000000; font-size: small;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: small; "><span style="color: #800000;" style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); "><a name="three"></a>3. JVNA's List of Famous Jewish Vegetarians</span></span></strong><br /><br />From Natalie Portman to Albert Einstein to Spock, we've compiled a list of dozens of famous Jewish vegetarians:<br /><br /> <a href="http://jewishveg.wikispaces.com/Famous+Jewish+Vegetarians" href="http://jewishveg.wikispaces.com/Famous+Jewish+Vegetarians">JewishVeg.wikispaces.com/Famous+Jewish+Vegetarians</a><br /><br />Also available<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://jewishveg.wikispaces.com/%D7%99%D7%94%D7%95%D7%93%D7%99%D7%9D+%D7%A6%D7%9E%D7%97%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%9D+%D7%9E%D7%A4%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%A1%D7%9E%D7%99%D7%9D" href="http://jewishveg.wikispaces.com/%D7%99%D7%94%D7%95%D7%93%D7%99%D7%9D+%D7%A6%D7%9E%D7%97%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%9D+%D7%9E%D7%A4%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%A1%D7%9E%D7%99%D7%9D">in Hebrew</a>! Think of any we missed? Let us know!<br /><br />Thanks to JVNA Vice President Noam Mohr for creating the list.<br /><br /></span></span><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="font-size: small;" style="font-size: small; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium; "><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: bottom; " /><br /></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; " height="20" /> </strong></span><strong><span style="color: #000000;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span style="color: #800000;" style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); "><a name="four"></a>4. International Vegetarian Society Appoints First Director</span></span></strong></span><br /><br /><b>Jewish Vegetarian Society Appoints Its First Director</b><br /><b>The Society Plans to Increase Membership and Help Make it Easier for People to Become Vegetarian</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br /><br />London – The Jewish Vegetarian Society has appointed a director for the first time in its 47-year history, in order to further promote the benefits of a vegetarian diet. This is a huge step forward for the Society, which now aims to increase its outreach and encourage more people to consider turning away from eating animals.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br /><br />The Society was founded in the 1960s as a result of a letter from Vivien Pick to the Jewish Chronicle asking if there were other like-minded vegetarians who wanted to meet. Vivien’s father Philip, who became the President of the Society, aimed to spread the word of a kinder society, free of pain and cruelty to other sentient creatures. This fits in well with the tenets of the Torah where we are told “the herbs of the field” have been given to us as food.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br /><br />Today many animals spend their whole lives in small enclosures never seeing grass or trees and being denied everything that is natural to them, never even being able to nourish their young. The world also faces a fresh crisis of climate change and many leading environmental organisations report that raising animals for food damages the environment more than anything else we do.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br /><br />New director, Suzanne Barnard, turned vegetarian at the age of eight. With a passion for vegetarian cooking – from latkas to lasagna and bhajis to borekas - Suzanne has been pro animal causes for many years. She comes to the society fresh from working at the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Foundation.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br /><br />"More and more people are choosing a vegetarian diet", says Suzanne, "In addition to being kinder to animals and better for the environment, plant-based food has a positive effect on our health and vegetarians are less likely to develop heart disease or diabetes and are less likely to be obese.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br /><br />To join the Jewish Vegetarian Society, and through this help world ecology, or for recipes, information and tips for going veggie, please call 020 8455 0692.<br /><br /><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium; "><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: bottom; " /></span><br /></strong><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;" style="font-size: small; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-size: small;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: small; "><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; " height="20" /> </strong></span><span style="color: #800000;" style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); "><strong><span style="font-size: small;" style="font-size: small; "><a name="five"></a>5. NYC Demos Scheduled Against Chickens for Kaporos, and Benefit Dinner</span></strong></span><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">For details on demos Oct. 4-6 click </span><a href="http://www.endchickensaskaporos.com/110908join_us3demos.html" href="http://www.endchickensaskaporos.com/110908join_us3demos.html" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">here<br /></a><br />For info on the benefit dinner Oct. 3, click <a href="http://www.endchickensaskaporos.com./blossom/" href="http://www.endchickensaskaporos.com./blossom/">here</a>.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium; "><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: bottom; " /></span><br /></span><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; " height="20" /> </strong><span style="color: #800000;" style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); "><strong><a name="six"></a>6. Excellent "Why I am Vegan" Video</strong></span></span><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">This is really worth watching. Please spread the link to others. Thanks. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GrbYVsK7vs&feature=share" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GrbYVsK7vs&feature=share">Watch the video</a>.<br /></span><br /></span></span><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium; "><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: bottom; " /><br /></span></span></span><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-size: small;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: small; "><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; " height="20" /> </strong></span><span style="color: #800000;" style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); "><strong><span style="font-size: small;" style="font-size: small; "><a name="seven"></a>7. Farmed Animal Prescriptions Urged to Cut Drug Resistance</span></strong></span><br /><br />Did you know 70% of antibiotics in the US are fed to farmed animals? American farmers would be forced to get prescriptions for livestock antibiotics, under a plan developed in Denmark and promoted by infectious disease doctors as a way to stem a rising tide of drug-resistant infections.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-09-19/farm-animal-prescriptions-urged-to-cut-drug-resistance.html" href="http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-09-19/farm-animal-prescriptions-urged-to-cut-drug-resistance.html" style="">Read article<br /><br /></a>For more info on Jewish views on preserving health, visit<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://jewishveg.com/schwartz/health.html" href="http://jewishveg.com/schwartz/health.html" style="">here</a>.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium; "><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: bottom; " /></span><br /><span style="color: #000000; font-size: small;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: small; "><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; " height="20" /> </strong><strong><span style="color: #800000;" style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); "><a name="eight"></a>8. Schnitzel is bad for the Environment</span></strong></span><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">If you want to protect the environment, you should first of all think about eating less meat. A study done at the Vienna University of Technology (TU Vienna) unveils the remarkable ecological advantages of a well-balanced diet. Switching to organic food is less effective than eating more veg.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=67175" href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=67175" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">Read more</a><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium; "><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: bottom; " /></span><br /><span style="color: #000000; font-size: small;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: small; "><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; " height="20" /> </strong><strong><span style="color: #800000;" style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); "><a name="nine"></a>9. Islam and Animal Rights</span></strong></span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.newageislam.com/NewAgeIslamIslamAndSpiritualism_1.aspx?ArticleID=5408" href="http://www.newageislam.com/NewAgeIslamIslamAndSpiritualism_1.aspx?ArticleID=5408" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">Islam and Animal Rights</a><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">, by Maneka Gandhi.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: white;" style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Thanks to Rabbi David Rosen, International Director of Interreligious Affairs, American Jewish Committee, former Chief Rabbi of Ireland, and JVNA advisor for sending us this link.<br /> </span></span></p><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium; "><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: bottom; " /></span><br /><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;" style="font-size: small; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; " height="20" /> </strong><span style="color: #800000;" style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); "><strong><a name="ten"></a>10. Article on Vegetarians in the United Arab Emirates</strong></span></span><br /><br /><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: PMingLiU; color: #333333; background: white; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;" style="font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 12px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Nice coverage in the national newspaper of the UAE:<br /><br />The Middle East continues to overindulge in a predominantly carnivorous diet - but the UAE is pointing its residents to a new veggie direction.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/veggies-promote-leaf-over-beef" href="http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/veggies-promote-leaf-over-beef">Read more</a>.<br /></span></span><br /><strong style="font-weight: normal;" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium; "><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: bottom; " /></span><br /></strong><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;" style="font-size: small; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-size: small;" style="font-size: small; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; " height="20" /> </strong></span><strong><span style="color: #000000;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span style="color: #800000;" style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); "><a name="eleven"></a>11. Food Day Scheduled for October 24th</span></span></strong></span><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">Forwarded message from Food day leaders:</span><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">Get ready for </span><a href="http://foodday.org/" href="http://foodday.org/" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">Food Day</a><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">! On October 24th — and on the days and weeks before and after — thousands of Americans will gather at schools, college campuses, farmers markets, City Halls, and state capitals to talk about what's right and wrong with our diets and whole food system and how to fix them.</span><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">Food Day is sponsored by the </span><a href="http://www.cspinet.org/" href="http://www.cspinet.org/" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">Center for Science in the Public Interest</a><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">, the nonprofit watchdog group that has led successful fights for food labeling, better nutrition, and safer food since 1971.</span><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">How can you participate? Spread the word about a healthy, compassionate vegan diet in honor of Food Day! </span><a href="http://www.farmusa.org/litRequest.php" href="http://www.farmusa.org/litRequest.php" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">Request our postcard-sized handouts</a><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "> offering Meatout Mondays and distribute them to friends, family, or at an </span><a href="http://foodday.org/participate/events/" href="http://foodday.org/participate/events/" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">event taking place in your area</a><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">.</span><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">Request Meatout Mondays handouts for distribution on Food Day </span><a href="http://www.farmusa.org/litRequest.php" href="http://www.farmusa.org/litRequest.php" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">here</a><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">. </span><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">Thanks to JVNA advisor Ron Landskroner for forwarding this information to us. </span><br /><br /><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="font-size: small;" style="font-size: small; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium; "><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: bottom; " /><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; " height="20" /> </strong></span><strong><span style="color: #000000;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span style="color: #800000;" style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); "><a name="twelve"></a>12. European Vegetarian and Animal News Alliance (EVANA) Newsletter/August 2011</span></span></strong></span><br /><br />Forwarded message from EVANA:<br /><br />In this edition you can read about<br />1. Vegetarianism - the compassionate step into a better future<br />2. It's time to slaughter slaughter!<br />3. News from Euroland<br />4. Spot on Animals<br />5. Public Consultations – Contests<br />6. Books, Videos, Films<br />7. EVANA August Hits<br />---------------------------------------------<br /><br />1.Vegetarianism - the compassionate step into a better future -- An August platter of the latest veg* news:<br /><a href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=67137" href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=67137">http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=67137</a><br /><br />2. It's time to slaughter slaughter!<br /><a href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=67135" href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=67135">http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=67135</a><br /><br />3. News from Euroland<br /><a href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=67130" href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=67130">http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=67130</a><br /><br />4. Spot on Animals - Here are some of the latest news about animals<br /><a href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=67134" href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=67134">http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=67134</a><br /><br />5. Public Consultations - Contests<br /><br />-Consultation UK: Transposition of European directive 2010/63/EU - protection of animals used for scientific purposes -- Deadline 5 September 2011.<br /><a href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=67039" href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=67039">http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=67039</a><br /><br />-EFSA launches public consultation on draft guidance for the risk assessment of food and feed derived from GM animals and related animal health and welfare aspects -- All stakeholders and interested parties are invited to provide their comments through an online public consultation that runs until 30 September…<br /><a href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=66797" href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=66797">http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=66797</a><br /><br />-EFSA Public consultation on the draft guidance on the environmental risk assessment of plant pests -- Deadline: 9 October 2011<br /><a href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=67132" href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=67132">http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=67132</a><br /><br />-FAO: New online consultation on food security and nutrition launched. – Deadline 15 October 2011<br /><a href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=66416" href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=66416">http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=66416</a><br /><br />-International Vegetarian Week contest: another opportunity to have a say – and win prizes… Deadline 10 September 2011<br /><a href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=66818" href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=66818">http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=66818 </a><br /><br />6. Books, Films<br /><br />BOOKS<br />-Ruby Roth: That's Why We Don't Eat Animals <a href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=66882" href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=66882">http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=66882</a><br />-Jennifer Holland: 'Unlikely Friendships' <a href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=67052" href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=67052">http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=67052</a><br />-Nicklin/Kostyal: "Among Giants: A Life with Whales" <a href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=66996" href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=66996">http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=66996</a><br />-Lisa Kemmerer: In Search of Consistency: Ethics And Animals <a href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=66768" href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=66768">http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=66768</a><br />-Will Potter: Green is the New Red: An Insider's Account of a Social Movement Under Siege<br />- <a href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=66569" href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=66569">http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=66569</a><br /><br />FILMS<br />-Rise of the Planet of the Apes<br /><a href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=66655" href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=66655">http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=66655</a><br />-India/Documentary: 'The Truth about Tigers' <a href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=66772" href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=66772">http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=66772</a><br /><br />7. EVANA August Hits<br />-Most popular article: Results of a new study in The Netherlands: 'Meat-eaters are selfish ' - 'Eating meat brings out the worst in people'/Study NL <a href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=66967" href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=66967">http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=66967</a><br /><br />-Favoured August Recipe: French Onion Soup <a href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=67047" href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=67047">http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=67047</a><br /><br />And finally: There is now a “Via dei Vegetariani” in Gorizia/Italy. What a lovely example to follow… <a href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=67126" href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=67126">http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=67126</a><br />Please let us know if there is also a ‘Vegetarian Street’ in your area.<br /><br />Best wishes<br />Your International EVANA Team<br />www.evana.org<br />Also on Facebook<br /><br /></span></span></span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: bottom; " /></span><br /></span><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; " height="20" /> </strong><span style="color: #800000;" style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); "><a name="thirteen"></a><strong>13. Update on the World Week for the Abolition of Meat</strong></span></span><br /><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: white;" style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><br />As you know, the past<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.meat-abolition.org/en/wwam" href="http://www.meat-abolition.org/en/wwam">World Weeks for the Abolition of Meat</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>were<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.meat-abolition.org/en/actu/closing-communiqu%E9-may-2011-wwam" href="http://www.meat-abolition.org/en/actu/closing-communiqu%E9-may-2011-wwam">very successful</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>throughout the world.</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'MS Gothic'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'MS Gothic'; color: #333333; background: white;" style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'MS Gothic'; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">
</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: white;" style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">The<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.meat-abolition.org/en/call" href="http://www.meat-abolition.org/en/call">next WWAM</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>will take place between 23 September and 30 September 2011.<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; "><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: white;" style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">The aim is to promote again and again<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.meat-abolition.org/en/presentation" href="http://www.meat-abolition.org/en/presentation">the idea that the production and consumption of animal flesh must be abolished</a>.</span></span><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'MS Gothic'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'MS Gothic'; color: #333333; background: white;" style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'MS Gothic'; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">
<br /><br /></span></span></span><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; "><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: white;" style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">We will take action as long as the demand remains necessary.</span></span><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'MS Gothic'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'MS Gothic'; color: #333333; background: white;" style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'MS Gothic'; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">
</span></span><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: white;" style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Our societies have to pronounce on the unjustifiable character of meat consumption from an ethical viewpoint: it involves sacrificing the basic interests of innumerable sentient beings whereas eating meat is unnecessary.<br /><br /></span></span></span><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; "><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: white;" style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">The refusal to eat meat can be seen as a political boycott and as the expression of one’s support for the demand for abolition similar to the campaign for the abolition of slavery in Britain at the end the 18th century where 300,000 people boycotted the sugar produced from slave plantations.</span></span><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'MS Gothic'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'MS Gothic'; color: #333333; background: white;" style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'MS Gothic'; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">
</span></span><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: white;" style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">The movement for the abolition of meat is a political act: its aim is to get the public to adhere to the idea that meat should be banned. Its objective is that human societies, one after another, decide to ban the production, sale, and consumption of meat. The idea is to claim loud and clear that it is not only the duty of each individual to stop supporting the murderous exploitation required by the consumption of animal flesh and "by-products", but that it is also, therefore, the duty of societies as a whole to declare themselves </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">for the banning of farming, fishing and hunting.<br /><br /></span></span><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; "><a href="http://www.meat-abolition.org/en/node/add/announcement" href="http://www.meat-abolition.org/en/node/add/announcement">This form</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>is at your disposal: please publish announcements as soon as possible (even if dates and events are still tentative).<br /><br /></span><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; ">You can find material<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.meat-abolition.org/en/resources" href="http://www.meat-abolition.org/en/resources">here</a>.<br /><br /></span><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; ">For widespread visibility, it is also up to us to:<br /></span><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; "><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: white;" style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">- post this call, circulate it widely and publish it on the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.indymedia.org/en/index.shtml" href="http://www.indymedia.org/en/index.shtml">indymedia<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></a>(please let us know about your publications at contact (at)meat-abolition.org);</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'MS Gothic'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'MS Gothic'; color: #333333; background: white;" style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'MS Gothic'; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">
</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: white;" style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">- contact the media about the demand for the abolition of meat and about the events that will be organized around it;</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'MS Gothic'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'MS Gothic'; color: #333333; background: white;" style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'MS Gothic'; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">
</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: white;" style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">- print and distribute leaflets, brochures and/or posters that are available on the "<a href="http://www.meat-abolition.org/en/resources" href="http://www.meat-abolition.org/en/resources">resources</a>" page;</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'MS Gothic'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'MS Gothic'; color: #333333; background: white;" style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'MS Gothic'; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">
</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: white;" style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">If it is not yet published, please send in your logo (maximum 150 pixels for length and width) so that it can be posted on the "<a href="http://www.meat-abolition.org/en/content/partakers" href="http://www.meat-abolition.org/en/content/partakers">groups</a>" page.;</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'MS Gothic'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'MS Gothic'; color: #333333; background: white;" style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'MS Gothic'; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">
</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #333333; background: white;" style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>All the best with your events!<br /><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; ">Contact: contact(at)meat-abolition.org<br /></span><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; ">WWAM organization:<span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://meat-abolition.org/" href="http://meat-abolition.org">http://meat-abolition.org </a></span><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><strong style="font-weight: normal;" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium; "><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: bottom; " /></span></strong></span></p><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;" style="font-size: small; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><strong><a name="forteen"></a><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; " height="20" /> </strong><span style="color: #800000;" style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); "><strong>14. Culinary Tour of Israel</strong></span></span><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">Forwarded by Tova Saul:<br /><br /><a href="http://blogs.forward.com/the-jew-and-the-carrot/142445/" href="http://blogs.forward.com/the-jew-and-the-carrot/142445/">Taste the Sustainable Flavors of Israel</a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17349614588789907464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9631520.post-41777333447547023922011-09-08T14:04:00.015-04:002011-09-08T19:30:08.291-04:0009/08/2011 JVNA Online Newsletter<table style="border-collapse: separate; width: 400px;" align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; text-align: left; margin: 0px;" width="400"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px; ">September 8, 2011<br /></span><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span><strong style="font-size: 11px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><strong><br />The JVNA Newsletter is experimenting with a new look. Your feedback is welcome!<br /></strong></span><br /></span></strong></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; "><b><a href="http://jewishveg.blogspot.com/2011/09/09082011-jvna-online-newsletter.html#one">1. JVNA Now on Twitter and Facebook</a><br /><br /><a href="http://jewishveg.blogspot.com/2011/09/09082011-jvna-online-newsletter.html#two">2. Relating Vegetarianism to the High Holy Days</a><br /><br /><a href="http://jewishveg.blogspot.com/2011/09/09082011-jvna-online-newsletter.html#a3">3. JVNA's Geographical List of Veg Rabbis</a><br /><br /><a href="http://jewishveg.blogspot.com/2011/09/09082011-jvna-online-newsletter.html#a4">4. Seeking a Volunteer to Create a Trailer for “A Sacred Duty: Applying Jewish Values to Help Heal the World”</a><br /><br /><a href="http://jewishveg.blogspot.com/2011/09/09082011-jvna-online-newsletter.html#a5">5. Petition (and Ads) to use Money, not Chickens, for Kaporos</a><br /><br /><a href="http://jewishveg.blogspot.com/2011/09/09082011-jvna-online-newsletter.html#a6">6. Orthodox Environmental Group “Canfei Nesharim” Seeking Support</a><br /><br /><a href="http://jewishveg.blogspot.com/2011/09/09082011-jvna-online-newsletter.html#seven">7. CNN Broadcasts Special Program on Making Yourself Heart Attack Proof</a><br /><br /><a href="http://jewishveg.blogspot.com/2011/09/09082011-jvna-online-newsletter.html#a8">8. Al Gore: Eat Less Meat to Fight Warming</a><br /><br /><a href="http://jewishveg.blogspot.com/2011/09/09082011-jvna-online-newsletter.html#a9">9. How Many Animals Per Year Does Bill Clinton Save by Becoming a Vegan?</a><br /><br /><a href="http://jewishveg.blogspot.com/2011/09/09082011-jvna-online-newsletter.html#ten">10. World Vegetarian Week Plans Going Forward</a><br /><br /><a href="http://jewishveg.blogspot.com/2011/09/09082011-jvna-online-newsletter.html#eleven">11. “Republicans for Environmental Protection” Director Interviewed/Criticizes Politicians Who are in Denial re Climate Change</a><br /><br /><a href="http://jewishveg.blogspot.com/2011/09/09082011-jvna-online-newsletter.html#twelve">12. Processed Meats Declared Too Dangerous for Human Consumption</a><br /><br /><a href="http://jewishveg.blogspot.com/2011/09/09082011-jvna-online-newsletter.html#thirteen">13. Facts About Vitamin B12 and Vegetarians From Dr. Michael Klaper</a><br /><br /><a href="http://jewishveg.blogspot.com/2011/09/09082011-jvna-online-newsletter.html#forteen">14. My Letter on “Judaism and Vegetarianism” in the August 24 Jewish Press</a></b></span><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></strong><strong style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; "><span style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; "><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-small; "><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" height="20" /> </span></strong></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; "><strong><span style="font-size: small; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); ">1. JVNA Now on Twitter and Facebook</span></span></strong></span><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span><strong style="font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-size: x-small; "><br /></span></strong></span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"> We have just launched JVNA's presence on Twitter and Facebook. Click "Follow" at </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/twitter.com/JewishVeg" style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; ">twitter.com/JewishVeg</a><span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"> or click "Like" at </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/facebook.com/JewishVeg" target="_blank" style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 11px; ">facebook.com/JewishVeg</a><span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;">.</span></span><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; "><a href="http://facebook.com/JewishVeg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-F9o01k665GysZd3GibpePOTiuMWgKuO0gmm4w1RnsZsrdNMUQyZHnWBb1mvPd95Eh9i7brZK7ETAmhmA_8NjTwjLSgP_ekyeXKeWKKrGL1EE9rNefRbsinYSuH3dJTTeLk3XiQ/s200/fb.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650125683095841458" style="cursor: pointer; width: 64px; height: 64px; " /></a> <a href="http://twitter.com/JewishVeg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJQeJvI42FeKcySTtSmfk7wgjkLB0P_LD1A6fORE1tgERfdSYlRhMHuXtnTTveAylmImSRvyJjdZJxqUPTOl_LaASAvQXc52DA7XYY_hqle3cmYNeoj6uiWfNbxR_1l69XSmn9g/s200/twitter.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650125968481778978" style="cursor: pointer; width: 64px; height: 64px; " /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; "><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: separate; width: 400px; "><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></span><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"> And please encourage others to also "like" us! Thanks for your help!</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"> Special thanks to JVNA Vice President Noam Mohr for getting JVNA onto Twitter and Facebook. Using Noam's expertise, we are starting to use the newest technologies to more effectively spread basic Jewish vegetarian messages. Many thanks.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" /></span></span><br /></span></span><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-size: small;"><strong><a name="two"></a><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" height="20" /> </strong></span><strong><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;"><a name="a2"></a><span style="color: #800000;">2. Relating Vegetarianism to the High Holy Days</span></span></strong><br /><br />With Rosh Hashanah and the other fall holidays approaching, I am planning to send my articles relating Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot to vegetarianism. Please take a look at these articles in the holiday’s section at <a href="http://jewishveg.com/holidays.html">JewishVeg.com/holidays.html</a>, and please let me know if you have suggestions for improvements. Also, please consider using these articles to compose your own articles, letters to editors, and talking points.<br /><br /></span></span><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" /><br /><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000;"><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" height="20" /> </strong></span><strong><span style="color: #000000;"><a name="a3"></a><span style="color: #800000;">3. JVNA's Geographical List of Veg Rabbis</span></span></strong></span><br /><br />JVNA's VP Noam Mohr has added a geographical map to our <a href="http://jewishveg.wikispaces.com/Vegetarian+Rabbis">list of veg (and veg-friendly) rabbis</a>. If you know any other rabbis who would be ok with being listed, please add them to the list or send information about the rabbi to us at mail@JewishVeg.com.<br /><br /></span></span><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;"><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" /><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-size: small;"><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" height="20" /> </strong></span><strong><span style="color: #000000; font-size: small;"><a name="a4"></a><span style="color: #800000;">4. Seeking a Volunteer to Create a Trailer for “A Sacred Duty: Applying Jewish Values to Help Heal the World”</span></span></strong><br /><br />Such a trailer would be very helpful in getting more people to see our acclaimed documentary. VegTV has indicated that they would show such a trailer.<br /><br />If you have the skills and willingness to do this, please let me now.<br /><br />The producer, Lionel Friedberg, is busy, but he and I would help anyone who volunteers to do this.<br /><br /></span></span><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;"><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" /><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000;"><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" height="20" /> </strong></span><strong><span style="color: #000000;"><a name="a5"></a><span style="color: #800000;">5. Petition (and Ads) to Use Money, not Chickens, for Kaporos</span></span></strong></span><br /><br />Sign the petition Alliance to End Chickens as Kaporos </span></span><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;">at <a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/urge-kaporos-practitioners-to-use-money-instead-of-chickens">http://www.change.org/petitions/urge-kaporos-practitioners-to-use-money-instead-of-chickens</a><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none;">You can let others know with these online ads:<br /></span><a href="http://endchickensaskaporos.com/ecak_animated.gif">http://endchickensaskaporos.com/ecak_animated.gif</a><br /><a href="http://endchickensaskaporos.com/ecak_animated_728X90.gif">http://endchickensaskaporos.com/ecak_animated_728X90.gif</a></span><br /><br /></span><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;"><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" /><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000;"><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" height="20" /> </strong></span><strong><span style="color: #000000;"><a name="a6"></a><span style="color: #800000;">6. Orthodox Environmental Group “Canfei Nesharim” Seeking Support</span></span></strong></span><br /><br />Forwarded message from Canfei Nesharim Director Evonne Marzouk:<br /><br />Dear friends,<br />Today is Rosh Chodesh Elul, the beginning of our time of repentance and return in anticipation of Rosh Hashanah. (Rosh Hashanah begins the evening of September 28.)<br /><br />In the last months, many of us have experienced financial and environmental turbulence on a larger scale than we've ever seen in our lifetimes. Relatively speaking, we got off easy. We may be tempted to go back to our routines without reflecting on what we've just experienced.<br /><br />Yet war, destruction and starvation - in many cases related directly to environmental crises - are intensifying worldwide. Scientists warn us that more intense and frequent storms, along with civil unrest related to scarce resources, are likely if we continue down our current path. Our society is living unsustainably. We must change our actions, and also - perhaps more importantly - our way of looking at the world.<br /><br />I first learned about Rosh Hashanah as a young child in Hebrew School. I remember being so inspired by the opportunity for personal growth presented by the holiday. What lessons from the past year will we take with us into the coming year? What patterns will we end? What sins will we commit to never repeat?<br /><br />We also can apply this principle of learning from our mistakes and trying to do better to how we interact with the world around us. In this moment of environmental and societal turbulence, what lessons will we learn? What will we do differently?<br /><br />Many environmental organizations focus on addressing specific environmental issues, but Canfei Nesharim looks deeper. We recognize that environmental change must be cultural and values-based. Our Jewish tradition offers ancient wisdom to help us think differently about the challenges we are facing.<br /><br />With leadership trainings, social media tools, and Jewish wisdom, Canfei Nesharim is empowering Jewish leaders for long-term, community-based environmental change. We are currently working with more than 300 change agents in ten countries who have used our materials to educate their Jewish communities to protect the environment. This year, we will expand our internet-based tools, leadership trainings, and Torah teachings to reach an even broader audience of leaders.
Canfei Nesharim operates on a budget that is less than a tenth of some Jewish environmental organizations. We get our work done through the dedication of our staff and volunteers, and the generous donations of our supporters. This Rosh Hashanah, we need your help to keep the work going. Can you help with an Elul donation of $100?<br /><br />As you prepare for Rosh Hashanah, you may be interested in the following resources on Canfei Nesharim's website:<br />Rosh Hashana, Personal Change, and the Future of the Planet by Rabbi Yonatan Neril<br />Our Gift for Earth's Birthday by Rachel Teitz<br />Optimism in a Time of Teshuva by Candace Nachman<br />Wishing you a happy, healthy, sustainable and sweet new year.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br /><br />Evonne Marzouk<br />Executive Director<br /><br /><i>Connecting traditional Torah texts with contemporary scientific findings, Canfei Nesharim educates and empowers Jewish individuals, organizations and communities to take an active role in protecting the environment, in order to build a more sustainable world.</i><br /><br /><i> Note: All materials published herein are Copyright 2011 by their authors. Reproduction of this material is encouraged so long as the footer and header information remains intact.</i><br /><br /></span></span></span><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" /><br /><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-size: small;"><strong><a name="seven"></a><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" height="20" /> </strong></span><span style="color: #800000;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">7. CNN Broadcasts Special Program on Making Yourself heart Attack Proof</span></strong></span><br /><br />Forwarded message from VegSource:<br /><br />Dear VegSource readers,<br /><br />If you haven't yet watched the Sanjay Gupta CNN Special entitled "The Last Heart Attack," you owe it to yourself to watch.<br />And to share it with everyone you know.<br />Why?<br />Because it's so good and so subtle and effective, it's almost subversive.<br />The show essentially follows two people, both of whom discover they have serious heart disease. The first one, a 53-year-old man, takes the standard route, bypass surgery and drugs. The second one, a 64-year-old woman, refuses all that, and decides to "gamble with her life" by trying Dr. Esselstyn's heart disease-reversing diet instead.<br /><br />One year later, the man who had bypass surgery is still suffering, feels terrible, can't exercise much, and has to go back for more drugs and medical procedures. On camera he wonders if he'll ever get some semblance of his life back.<br /><br />The woman who skipped the medical interventions, on the other hand, and decided to go vegan instead: one year later she has lost a couple dozen pounds, feels great, and is out in her backyard jumping rope like Mike Tyson in training (also a vegan), living life with a new zest and energy she had long forgotten.<br />Gupta asks her: "Do you think this diet will make you live longer then?" She responds, "I hope so, but even if it doesn't, it is allowing me to live a much higher quality of life."<br />Gupta gives time for the meat, dairy and egg marketers to weigh in on the healthfulness of their products. Epic fail. They look defensive and foolish.<br /><br />The stars of the show are Bill Clinton and Dr. Esselstyn.<br />Asked by Gupta whether he now considers himself vegan, Clinton responds, "Well I guess I am because I don't eat any animal products." The man does not shy away from the label. He just broke the vegan sound barrier.<br />Watch the Special online right now, and send it to your friends and enemies alike!<br /><a href="http://bit.ly/qmYxMQ"> http://bit.ly/qmYxMQ</a><br /><br />Do you follow VegSource on Facebook?<br />We put up many new items just about every day on the VegSource Facebook page. If you're a Facebooker, consider "Liking" our page -- we will keep you posted daily on things you'll want to know!<br /><br />Go to:<br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/vegsource"> http://www.facebook.com/vegsource</a><br />and hit LIKE!<br />Peas & Love,
<br />Jeff & Sabrina<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;"><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" /></span><br /><span style="color: #000000; font-size: small;"><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" height="20" /> </strong><strong><a name="a8"></a><a name="a8"></a><span style="color: #800000;">8. Al Gore: Eat Less Meat to Fight Warming</span></strong></span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/62160.html" style="font-weight: normal;"> http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/62160.html</a><br /><br />Thanks to author, educator, and JVNA advisor Dan Book<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;"><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" /></span><br /><span style="color: #000000; font-size: small;"><strong><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" height="20" /> </strong><strong><a name="a9"></a><span style="color: #800000;">9. How Many Animals Per Year Does Bill Clinton Save by Becoming a Vegan?</span></strong></span><br /><br />Politifact fact-checks the calculation done by JVNA's Vice President Noam Mohr and used by PETA, and says about 200 animals is accurate, provided sea animals are included.<br /><a href="http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2011/aug/31/Clinton-vegan-200-animals/" style="font-weight: normal;"> http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2011/aug/31/Clinton-vegan-200-animals/<br /><br /></a>For the breakdown of animals, see <a href="http://www.blogger.com/AnimalDeathCount.blogspot.com">AnimalDeathCount.blogspot.com</a>.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;"><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-size: small;"><strong><a name="a10"></a><a name="ten"></a><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" height="20" /> </strong></span><span style="color: #800000;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">10. World Vegetarian Week Plans</span></strong></span><br /><br />Forward message:<br /><br />Dear Veg activist,<br /><br />There are still a few days left to submit contributions for the World Vegetarian week contest.<br /><br />Submit your works (essays, slogans, videos, whatever) before 10 September and win prizes, while contributing for the Vegetarian Week. See the details and submit in the Vegetarian Week website:<br /><a href="http://www.vegetarianweek.org/"> http://www.vegetarianweek.org</a><br /><br />There are 4 weeks left for the Vegetarian Week. What are you planning for the event? See what others are doing and inform us of your plans. A non-comprehensive list of known activities is being maintained here:<br /><a href="http://www.vegetarianweek.org/Article-39-Activities%2B2011.html"> http://www.vegetarianweek.org/Article-39-Activities%2B2011.html</a><br /><br />A new leaflet is now available, and you can freely translate and adapt it to your needs. This leaflet focuses primarily the environmental reasons to shift to a plant-based diet. It is available in the Vegetarian Week Resources:<br /><a href="http://www.vegetarianweek.org/Article-37-Posters%2Band%2Bflyers.html"> http://www.vegetarianweek.org/Article-37-Posters%2Band%2Bflyers.html</a><br /><br /><br />Meanwhile, Animal Friends Croatia and Happy Cow have joined the ever-growing list of organizations actively promoting the Vegetarian Week worldwide.<br />See the complete list of organizations here:<br /><a href="http://www.vegetarianweek.org/Page-56-Who.html"> http://www.vegetarianweek.org/Page-56-Who.html</a><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;"><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" /></span><br /><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;"><strong><a name="a11"></a><a name="eleven"></a><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" height="20" /> </strong><span style="color: #800000;"><strong>11. “Republicans for Environmental Protection” Director Interviewed/Criticizes Politicians Who are in Denial re Climate Change</strong></span></span><br /><br />Here is the link to the Stony Brook radio interview:<br /><a href="http://ia600705.us.archive.org/12/items/RobSisson/RobSisson.mp3"> http://ia600705.us.archive.org/12/items/RobSisson/RobSisson.mp3</a><br /><br />Here is a link to a story containing Jon Huntsman's "tweet heard round the world" re climate change.<br /><a href="http://www.christianpost.com/news/huntsman-crazy-for-pro-evolution-global-warming-tweet-54201/"> http://www.christianpost.com/news/huntsman-crazy-for-pro-evolution-global-warming-tweet-54201/</a><br /><br />REP is endorsing Huntsman because he is the only Republican candidate who is taking climate change seriously.<br /><br /><strong style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;"><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" /></span><br /></strong><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;"><strong><a name="a12"></a><a name="twelve"></a><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" height="20" /> </strong><span style="color: #800000;"><strong>12. Processed Meats Declared Too Dangerous for Human Consumption</strong></span></span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.totalhealthbreakthroughs.com/2007/12/processed-meats-declared-too-dangerous-for-human-consumption/"> http://www.totalhealthbreakthroughs.com/2007/12/processed-meats-declared-too-dangerous-for-human-consumption/</a><br /><br />Thanks to author and JVNA advisor Arthur Poletti for sending the link t this article to us.<br /><br /><strong style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;"><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" /></span><br /></strong><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;"><strong><a name="a13"></a><a name="thirteen"></a><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" height="20" /> </strong><span style="color: #800000;"><strong>13. Facts About Vitamin B12 and Vegetarians From Dr. Michael Klaper</strong></span></span><br /><br />For vegans challenged by the B-12 issue:<br /><br />B-12 is essential for health of the blood and nervous system.<br /><br />Although it is classically found in animal products, animals DO NOT MAKE B-12! It is made ONLY by microorganisms in the soil and water.<br />Cows and other organisms have B-12 in their muscles and flesh because they are eating grass all day with B-12 -producing organisms in the soil particles clinging to the plant roots. The MICROBIAL-PRODUCED B-12 is absorbed and deposited in the cows' muscles - but the cow did not make it. It is BACTERIAL B-12 in the cow's flesh.<br /><br />When humans, vegan or not, were living Earth-connected lives, up until the beginning of the 20th century, there was B-12 flowing through our system from NON-ANIMAL sources:<br /><br />When we were thirsty, we would lie down next to a stream and drink our fill of water - consuming B-12-producing organisms in the stream water as we drank.<br />Later, when town wells were dug, there was B-12 in every bucket of well water.<br />When we pulled a carrot from the ground and ate it without washing it in our present-day, chlorinated drinking water, we would get B-12 off the surface of the root vegetables.<br /><br />With the above sources, even a vegan would likely meet all their B-12 needs without consuming flesh or milk. Thus, animal flesh was not - and is not - necessary to provide B-12 for human nutritional needs...and it ALL, ultimately, comes from microbes, not animal flesh.<br /><br />Alas, the traditional sources of vegan B-12 have been obliterated by our modern, sanitized lifestyles:<br /><br />We no longer drink water from streams or wells - all our water is chlorinated, which kills the B-12 producing organisms. (I am NOT against chlorination of the public water supply. I do not want to treat cases of cholera or typhoid fever, but chlorination has eliminated our traditional water-borne sources of B-12)<br /><br />Root vegetables are now scrubbed and washed with chlorinated water.<br /><br />So, the traditional vegan B-12 sources have been eliminated, leaving the modern-day vegan to rely upon microbe-produced B-12 supplements to meet their needs - but it is an artifact of modern sanitation, not proof that humans need to eat animal flesh (which is NOT a true source of B-12, anyway, as stated above.)<br /><br />I hope this clarifies the issue.<br /><br />Please write if further clarification is necessary.<br /><br />All the best,<br />Michael Klaper, M.D.<br /><br /><strong style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;"><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72370.gif" style="vertical-align: bottom;" /></span><br /></strong><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;"><strong><a name="a14"></a><a name="forteen"></a><a name="forteen"></a><img src="http://multimedia.getresponse.com/235/171235/photos/72368.gif" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" height="20" /> </strong><span style="color: #800000;"><strong>14. My Letter on “Judaism and Vegetarianism” in the August 24 Jewish Press</strong></span></span><br /><br /><strong>Torah And Vegetarianism</strong><br />As president of Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA) and author of the book Judaism and Vegetarianism, I read Raphael Grunfeld's two-part article "What the Shochet Must Know" (August 5 and 12) with interest. While JVNA opposes all slaughter of animals for food, we defend shechita when it is singled out for criticism. But while shechita [ideally, I should have written] minimizes pain for animals at the slaughterhouse, can we ignore the very cruel treatment of animals at factory farms, and the other negative effects of animal-based diets?<br /><br />Here is the basic case for Jews to be vegetarians:<br /><br />While Judaism mandates that people should be very careful about preserving their health and their lives, numerous scientific studies have linked animal-based diets directly to heart disease, stroke, many forms of cancer, and other chronic degenerative diseases.<br /><br />While Judaism forbids tsa'ar ba'alei chaim, inflicting unnecessary pain on animals, most animals meant for consumption are raised on "factory farms" where they live in cramped, confined spaces and are often drugged, mutilated, and denied fresh air, sunlight, exercise, and any enjoyment of life before they are slaughtered and eaten.<br /><br />While Judaism teaches that "the earth is the Lord's" (Psalm 24:1) and that we are to be God's partners and co-workers in preserving the world, modern intensive livestock agriculture contributes substantially to soil erosion and depletion, air and water pollution, overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, the destruction of tropical rain forests and other habitats, global warming, and other environmental damage.<br /><br />While Judaism mandates that we are not to waste or unnecessarily destroy anything of value, and that we are not to use more than is needed to accomplish a purpose, animal agriculture requires the wasteful use of grain, land, water, energy, and other resources.<br /><br />While Judaism stresses that we are to assist the poor and share our bread with hungry people, over 70 percent of the grain grown in the United States is fed to animals destined for slaughter, while an estimated 20 million people worldwide die because of hunger and its effects each year.<br /><br />While Judaism stresses that we must seek and pursue peace and that violence results from unjust conditions, animal-centered diets, by wasting valuable resources, help to perpetuate the widespread hunger and poverty that eventually lead to instability and war.<br /><br />In view of these important Jewish mandates to preserve human health, attend to the welfare of animals, protect the environment, conserve resources, help feed hungry people, and pursue peace - and since animal-centered diets violate and contradict each of these responsibilities - committed Jews (and others) should sharply reduce or eliminate their consumption of animal products.<br /><br />Richard H. Schwartz, Ph.D.<br />Staten Island, NY</span></span></td><td style="margin: 0; padding-bottom: 0; padding-top: 0; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 20px;" valign="top" width="230"><span style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000000; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px;"><br /><br /></span><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><table style="width: 230px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0; padding: 0; line-height: 20px;" height="20" align="right" width="230"><img style="display: block;" src="http://www.getresponse.com/images/common/templates/other/111/1/img/blank.gif" alt="" border="0" /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17349614588789907464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9631520.post-46699666551468336372011-08-30T00:11:00.080-04:002011-09-22T00:38:32.493-04:0008/15/2011 JVNA Online NewsletterShalom everyone,<br /><br /><a name="a081511a0"></a>This update/<strong><a href="http://jewishveg.com/">Jewish Vegetarians of North America</a></strong> (JVNA) Online Newsletter has the following items:<br /><br /><strong>1. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=9631520&postID=4669966655146833637#a081511a1">Time to Renew “Major Campaign to Change Jews Diets?”</a><br /><br />2. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=9631520&postID=4669966655146833637#a081511a2">Holy Land Declaration on Climate Change Endorsed by Multi-Religious Group</a><br /><br />3. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=9631520&postID=4669966655146833637#a081511a3">Article Relates Religious Values to Climate Change</a><br /><br />4. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=9631520&postID=4669966655146833637#a081511a4">Ten Basic Teachings on Judaism and the Environment</a><br /><br />5. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=9631520&postID=4669966655146833637#a081511a5">Conditions for Kosher Chickens at Empire/JTA Article/Two Responses</a><br /><br />6. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=9631520&postID=4669966655146833637#a081511a6">Many Climate Change-Related Events Scheduled for September 24, 2011</a><br /><br />7. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=9631520&postID=4669966655146833637#a081511a7">JVNA Advisor Aaron Gross Featured in Article About His Vegetarian Activism/My Letter in Response</a><br /><br />8. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=9631520&postID=4669966655146833637#a081511a8">Many Articles and Discussions re Vegetarianism and Related issues from Chabad (Lubavitch Hasidic Jews</a><br /><br />9. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=9631520&postID=4669966655146833637#a081511a9">Analysis of Recent Extreme Weather and Projections</a><br /><br />10. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=9631520&postID=4669966655146833637#a081511a10">World Farm Day Scheduled for October 2, 2011/Pay<br />Per View Program Announced</a><br /><br />11. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=9631520&postID=4669966655146833637#a081511a11">“Talk to Your Doctor About Eating Meat"/Parody of a Pharmaceutical Ad</a><br /><br />12. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=9631520&postID=4669966655146833637#a081511a12">MIT Study Projects Heavier Rain Due To Warmer World</a><br /><br />13. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=9631520&postID=4669966655146833637#a081511a13">Update From “Responsible Policies for Animals” (RPA)</a><br /><br />14. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=9631520&postID=4669966655146833637#a081511a14">Doctors take Aim at Antibiotic Resistance From Its Use on Factory Farms</a></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Some material has been deferred to a later update/newsletter to keep this one from being even longer.<br /><br />[Materials in brackets like this [ ] within an article or forwarded message are my editorial notes/comments.]<br /><br />As always, your comments and suggestions are very welcome.<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Richard</span><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a081511a1"></a><strong>1. Time to Renew “Major Campaign to Change Jews Diets?”</strong><br /><br /><strong>Suggestions for renewing the campaign described below are very welcome. Thanks.</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://jewishveg.com/schwartz/campaign-change.html">http://jewishveg.com/schwartz/campaign-change.html</a><br /><br /><strong>MAJOR CAMPAIGN TO CHANGE JEWS' DIETS </strong><br /><br />In 1998, the Jewish Vegetarians of North America launched a major campaign involving sending a special issue of their [printed] newsletter to 3,650 North American Congregational rabbis.<br /><br />Below is (1) an introduction to the special issue, (2) a press release about the campaign, followed by (3) the letter and its many signers.<br /><br />We received some good media coverage, but very few responses from rabbis. Hence, the need to seek better approaches.<br /><br />Comments and suggestions re the material below would be most welcome.<br /><br />-----------------------------------<br /><br /><strong>RABBIS' SPECIAL EDITION (INTRODUCTION)</strong><br />Welcome to this special edition of the Jewish Vegetarian Newsletter, which is being sent to 3,500 rabbis throughout the United States! It contains a letter to the rabbis; an article that discusses "What Diet Does God Prefer for Humans?"; and 5 fact sheets that suggest contradictions between basic Jewish values and the realities of the production and consumption of meat in the areas of: health, treatment of animals, ecology, use of resources, and hunger.<br /><br />Why this special issue at this time? It has been said that nothing is as irresistible as an idea whose time has come.<br /><br />We believe that the time has come to consider the many moral issues related to our diets. Can we continue to ignore the epidemic of degenerative diseases directly connected to animal-based diets that is afflicting the Jewish community and others? Can we continue to ignore the incredibly cruel ways in which animals are raised on factory farms today? In the face of increasing evidence of environmental threats such as global warming and the destruction of tropical rain forests and other habitats, dangers to resources such as water, air, energy, and soil, and massive global hunger, can we ignore the major impacts that modern intensive livestock agriculture has in each of these areas? Can we turn away from the millions of people who are starving at the same time that increased meat production wastes land and other resources that could be used to feed the hungry?<br /><br />We know and appreciate how dedicated the rabbis receiving this newsletter are to helping Jews practice our religion. We believe that it has now become an imperative for Jews to be aware of the facts provided in this newsletter, and to use this information in considering the possibility of reducing or eliminating their consumption of meat and other animal products.<br /><br />To members of the Jewish Vegetarians of North America and others receiving this newsletter, we urge you to help us by contacting your local rabbis and other influential Jewish leaders and urging them to help start a respectful dialog on the connections between Jewish teachings and dietary realities, and by informing your local media contacts about our campaign to put these issues on the Jewish agenda.<br /><br />Comments and suggestions on material in this newsletter are very welcome. Thank you and a happy and blessed new year to everyone.<br /><br />The Jewish Vegetarians of North America<br /><br />- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -<br /><br />NEWS RELEASE<br /><br />CONTACT: Professor Richard Schwartz<br /><br />------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br /><strong>BROAD JEWISH COALITION LAUNCHES MAJOR CAMPAIGN TO CHANGE JEWS' DIETS </strong><br />New York City, September 2 - A wide-ranging coalition of Jewish medical, spiritual, and activist leaders - including rabbis from all branches of Judaism - is urging all congregational rabbis in the United States and Canada to share with their congregants the ways in which the medical, environmental, and moral realities of high meat diets are incompatible with at least five basic Jewish mandates.<br /><br />The coalition, under the leadership of the Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA; 6938 Reliance Road, Federalsburg, MD 21632), is sending a special issue of the Jewish Vegetarian Newsletter to 3,650 North American rabbis in early September. The Newsletter, which contains a letter to the rabbis seeking their support and involvement, inaugurates a major campaign to put issues related to diet on the Jewish agenda. Among the next steps are: radio and television appearances; articles and letters in Jewish publications; an Internet course on "Judaism and Vegetarianism"; booths at community events and fairs; an annual "Vegetarian Shabbat", scheduled for Parshat B'ha'alot'cha (when the Torah tells of the deaths of many Israelites after consuming quail flesh); and mailings sent to rabbis throughout the year connecting vegetarianism to the Jewish holidays.<br /><br />SNIP [For the rest of the press release, the letter sent to the rabbis and the complete list of signers, please visit <a href="http://jewishveg.com/schwartz/campaign-change.html">http://jewishveg.com/schwartz/campaign-change.html</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=9631520&postID=4669966655146833637#a081511a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a081511a2"></a><strong>2. Holy Land Declaration on Climate Change Endorsed by Multi-Religious Group</strong><br /><br />July 5, 2011<br /><br />Council of Religious Institutions of the Holy Land (CRIHL) endorses Holy Land Declaration on Climate Change<br /><br />Press Release<br /><br />JERUSALEM – The Council of Religious Institutions of the Holy Land is pleased to announce its endorsement of the Holy Land Declaration on Climate Change, which was submitted to the CRIHL by the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development.<br /><br />To read the Holy Land Declaration on Climate Change, visit:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.crihl.org/content/5-jul-2011-crihl-endorses-holy-land-declaration-climate-change">http://www.crihl.org/content/5-jul-2011-crihl-endorses-holy-land-declaration-climate-change</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=9631520&postID=4669966655146833637#a081511a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a081511a3"></a><strong>3. Article Relates Religious Values to Climate Change<br /><br />July 13, 2011<br /><br />Ethical Responsibility And Climate Change: We're All In The Same Boat</strong><br /><br />By Rabbi Lawrence Troster<br /><br />Huffington Post<br /><br />For more than 20 years I've been an educator and an activist in the religious environment movement -- both Jewish and interfaith. In a typical Q&A after a presentation, I'm often asked why I am motivated as a rabbi to speak out on the environment. I've reflected on this question for many years and have been able to trace my path to religious environmentalism to my earliest spiritual encounters in the natural world and through my theological and intellectual development that began while I was in rabbinical school.<br /><br />For full story, visit:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-lawrence-troster/climate-change-ethical-responsibility_b_893394.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-lawrence-troster/climate-change-ethical-responsibility_b_893394.html</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=9631520&postID=4669966655146833637#a081511a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a081511a4"></a><strong>4. Ten Basic Teachings on Judaism and the Environment<br /><br />10 Teachings on Judaism and the Environment</strong><br /><br />By Rabbi Lawrence Troster<br /><br />Huffington Post<br /><br />1. God created the universe.<br /><br />2. God's Creation is good.<br /><br />3. Human beings are created in the image of God.<br /><br />4. Humanity should view their place in Creation with love and awe.<br /><br />5. The Sabbath and prayer help us to achieve this state of mind.<br /><br />6. The Torah prohibits the wasteful consumption of anything.<br /><br />7. The Torah gives an obligation to save human life.<br /><br />8. The Torah prohibits the extinction of species and causing undo pain to non-human creatures.<br /><br />9. Environmental Justice is a Jewish value.<br /><br />10. Tikkun Olam: The perfection/fixing of the world is in our hands.<br /><br />For full story, visit:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-lawrence-troster/10-teachings-on-judaism-a_b_844973.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-lawrence-troster/10-teachings-on-judaism-a_b_844973.html</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=9631520&postID=4669966655146833637#a081511a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a081511a5"></a><strong>5. Conditions for Kosher Chickens at Empire/JTA Article/Two Responses</strong><br /><br />Here is the JTA (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.jta.org/news/article/2011/08/04/3088849/inside-empires-slaughterhouse-the-life-of-a-kosher-chicken">http://www.jta.org/news/article/2011/08/04/3088849/inside-empires-slaughterhouse-the-life-of-a-kosher-chicken</a><br /><br /><strong>Inside Empire’s slaughterhouse: The life of a kosher chicken<br /><br />----------------------<br /><br />Response from Lionel Friedberg, producer of “<a href="http://www.asacredduty.com/">A Sacred Duty</a>”: </strong><br /><br />When we first screened 'A Sacred Duty' to a test audience in Staten Island, several of the people who watched the movie branded it as "Propaganda." Propaganda? Yes, propaganda. Richard and I were accused of making a propaganda film for the vegetarian movement. We were accused of showing<br /><br />"horrors that are impossible to watch." Is that propaganda? I couldn't help thinking about that incident as I read this piece about the Empire kosher plant, and I certainly thought of it as I watched the video that accompanies the article. The mere fact that the friendly narrator tells us that after the chickens are sent to the kosher plant something happens that could not be shown in the video. No, of course not. Prior to that and after that we're treated to scenes of happy chickens and clean slices of meat. But to show the actual killing was not appropriate. I wonder why.<br /><br />An article like this that depicts the production of kosher meat as a happy, healthy and totally acceptable affair hides the real truth -- the truth of the brutal process by which the birds are converted from living, feeling, sentient beings into plastic-wrapped slices of dead flesh for human consumption.<br /><br />To celebrate Judaism by depicting the assembly-line process by which animals are miraculously and happily turned into food for the Shabbat table without depicting the brutal cruelty and suffering that goes along with that process makes a mockery of the real meaning of our faith.<br /><br />I am appalled, for this is propaganda of the worst and most twisted kind.<br /><br />-----------------<br /><br /><strong>Letter sent to JTA from Karen Davis, director of <a href="http://www.upc-online.org/">United Poultry Concerns</a>:</strong><br /><br />August 12, 2011<br /><br />Letters Editor<br /><br />JTA<br /><br />Re: “Inside Empire’s slaughterhouse: The life of a kosher chicken” by Uriel Heilman, Aug. 4, 2011<br /><br />Dear Editor:<br /><br />This article omits crucial information about the chickens at Empire Kosher Poultry. Cutting the throat of a chicken, however deftly, does not lead to instant “lifelessness” as implied. I’ve watched chickens being slaughtered by kosher butchers and backyard farmers. The pain is evident and the death isn't "swift." The birds thrash violently and they cry out. Stuffing birds into killing cones (“funnels”) immobilizes them cruelly and disguises their suffering.<br /><br />No one ever asks to be “euthanized” by having his or her throat cut for good reason. The entire neck area, including the skin and trachea, is filled with sensitive pain receptors, in birds as well as in mammals including humans. We may lull ourselves with rhetorical transformations of animal suffering into talk about how it’s all “just reflex,” but the facts are otherwise, and ancient ritual doesn’t change these facts.<br /><br />This article does not provide insight into the life and death of chickens and turkeys at Empire Kosher Poultry. Comparing chickens sliding to their death on steel conveyers with children riding joyfully down sliding-boards captures the desensitized spirit of this slaughterhouse.<br /><br />Thank you for your attention.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br /><br />Karen Davis, PhD, President<br /><br />United Poultry Concerns<br /><br />12325 Seaside Road, PO Box 150<br /><br />Machipongo, VA 23405<br /><br />United Poultry Concerns is a nonprofit organization that promotes the compassionate and respectful treatment of domestic fowl. www.upc-online.org.<br /><br />Poultry Slaughter: <a href="http://www.upc-online.org/slaughter/">www.upc-online.org/slaughter/</a>.<br /><br />Alliance to End Chickens as Kaporos: <a href="http://www.endchickensaskaporos.com/">www.EndChickensAsKaporos.com</a>.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=9631520&postID=4669966655146833637#a081511a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a081511a6"></a><strong>6. Many Climate Change-Related Events Scheduled for September 24, 2011</strong><br /><br />This is a Shabbat, so perhaps many synagogues will schedule talks, discussions, debates, nature walks, and other events consistent with Shabbat.<br /><br /><a href="http://act.350.org/signup/moving_planet/?akid=1188.126734.INqjz4&rd=1&t=2">http://act.350.org/signup/moving_planet/?akid=1188.126734.INqjz4&rd=1&t=2</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=9631520&postID=4669966655146833637#a081511a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a081511a7"></a><strong>7. JVNA Advisor Aaron Gross Featured in Article About His Vegetarian Activism/My Letter in Response</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/62569/hazon-speaker-trying-to-push-kosher-to-the-next-level/">http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/62569/hazon-speaker-trying-to-push-kosher-to-the-next-level/</a><br /><br />Please post a comment<br /><br />After I posted a comment, the publication asked me to edit it into a 200-word letter. Here is what I submitted:<br /><br />As president of Jewish Vegetarians of North America and author of the book “Judaism and Vegetarianism,” I was very pleased to see your article, “Hazon speaker trying to push ‘kosher’ to the next level,” which discussed Aaron Gross’s efforts to promote plant-centered diets.<br /><br />I wish him much success in spreading his important message because (1) the production and consumption of meat and other animal products contradict basic Jewish mandates to preserve human health, treat animals with compassion, protect the environment, conserve natural resources and help hungry people, and (2) animal -based diets and agriculture are causing an epidemic of diseases in the Jewish and other communities and contributing significantly to climate change, deforestation, desertification, soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, water shortages, and other environmental problems that threaten all of humanity.<br /><br />I believe it is essential that the Jewish community address these issues to show the relevance of eternal Jewish teachings to current issues and to help shift our imperiled planet to a sustainable path.<br /><br />More information about Jewish teachings related to vegetarianism can be found at JewishVeg.com/Schwartz and in our acclaimed documentary “A Sacred Duty: Applying Jewish Values to Help Heal the World,” which can be seen at <a href="http://www.asacredduty.com/">aSacredDuty.com</a>.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=9631520&postID=4669966655146833637#a081511a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a081511a8"></a><strong>8. Many Articles and Discussions re Vegetarianism and Related issues from Chabad (Lubavitch Hasidic Jews</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.chabad.org/k1656">http://www.chabad.org/k1656</a><br /><br />Please review some of these articles and post responses after them. Thanks.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=9631520&postID=4669966655146833637#a081511a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a081511a9"></a><strong>9. Analysis of Recent Extreme Weather and Projections<br /><br />The Progress Report<br /><br />Our Climate Of Extremes</strong><br /><br />Aug 12, 2011 By < <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/author/brad/">>Brad Johnson</a><br /><br />In a speech this month at the Aspen Institute, Vice President Al Gore passionately excoriated the anti-science propaganda of the climate pollution industry. He denounced the decades-long effort by top carbon dioxide polluters to pollute the public’s knowledge of the growing threat of climate change. “There’s <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/green/2011/08/08/290822/pissed-off-al-gore-calls-bullshit-on-crap-peddled-by-climate-denial-machine/">no longer a shared reality</a> on an issue like climate even though the very existence of our civilization is threatened,” Gore concluded, after rejecting the denier memes as “the same crap over and over and over again.” As the planet’s climate grows increasingly disastrous, the world’s polluters are digging in. Top <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/green/2011/08/08/289553/companies-sponsor-alec-climate-denial/">multi-national corporations</a>, from Johnson & Johnson to Walmart, fund the American Legislative Exchange Council, a lobbying front group that touts the “<a href="http://thinkprogress.org/green/2011/08/04/288498/at-kochs-alec-conference-the-many-benefits-of-atmospheric-co2-enrichment/">benefits of carbon dioxide</a>.” The Republican candidates for president are either long-time deniers of climate science — like Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) and former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) — or have cast aside their previous support for carbon cap-and-trade systems, like former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA), former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R), former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman (R), and <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/green/2011/08/04/288207/pawlenty-most-climate-change-or-maybe-all-of-it-is-because-of-natural-causes/">Tim Pawlenty</a>.<br /><br /><strong>EXTREME CLIMATE DISASTERS</strong>: With fossil pollution superheating the world’s atmosphere, it has been one of the <a href="http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/extremes/cei/graph/cei/ytd">most extreme years to date</a> for climate in the United States in recorded history, and it was previewed by the extreme <a href="http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2011/04/extreme_weather.html">weather in 2010</a> that had the most FEMA disaster declarations ever . After the winter’s blizzards and the spring’s floods, it was the <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/green/2011/08/01/284945/hottest-july-ever-in-oklahoma-center-of-climate-change-denial/">hottest July</a> on record in Oklahoma and in communities throughout the United States. July was so hot “that just by plotting the location of <a href="http://www.nnvl.noaa.gov/MediaDetail.php?MediaID=795&MediaTypeID=1">each daily heat record</a> that was broken, a nearly complete image of the contiguous United States is visible,” reports NOAA. “Almost 9,000 daily records were broken or tied last month.” And the National Resources Defense Council reported more than 2,000 “<a href="http://www.nrdc.org/media/2011/110811.asp">code orange</a>” air quality alerts, or times when it is dangerous for children, older adults, or people with breathing problems to be outside, in the first seven months of the year. In fact, <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/green/2011/07/25/277576/all-states-high-temperatures-july/">every state</a> in the union saw record high temperatures in July. Texas is now in its <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/green/2011/08/04/288720/texas-in-worst-ever-drought-hottest-ever-heat-wave/">worst-ever one-year drought</a>. “Corn, soybean and spring-wheat harvests in the U.S., the world’s largest exporter, will be smaller than the government forecast last month after a damaging heat wave.” “Arctic sea ice is thinning, on average, <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2011/08/11/294403/arctic-ice-thinning-4-times-faster-than-predicted-by-models-semi-stunning-m-i-t-study-finds/">four times faster</a> than the models say, and it’s drifting twice as quickly.” The global <a href="http://www.skepticalscience.com/Ocean-Cooling-Corrected-Again.html">oceans</a> continue to store ever more heat. “The Arctic is all but certain to be <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2011/08/09/291788/arctic-death-spiral-sea-ice-tipping-point/">virtually ice free</a> within two decades,” Center for American Progress senior fellow Joe Romm writes.<br /><br /><strong>EXTREME CLIMATE DENIERS</strong>: How did the right wing respond to the record-shattering climate disasters? “Record-breaking Heat Wave Was a <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/green/2011/07/28/281732/now-theyre-even-denying-the-weather/">Myth</a>,” blared FoxNews.com. “Global Warming Theory Faces <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/green/2011/08/03/286363/responding-to-record-heat-murdoch-machine-ratchets-up-warming-denial/">Sudden Collapse</a>.” Fox News also attacked <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/media/2011/08/04/287593/fox-and-friends-spongebob-squarepants-is-pushing-a-global-warming-agenda/">SpongeBob SquarePants</a> for “pushing a global warming agenda,” and hosted denier <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/green/2011/08/09/290045/fox-news-responds-to-record-heat-waves-by-predicting-global-cooling/">law of thermodynamics</a>” and “La Chatelier’s principle” to argue that the greenhouse effect isn’t physically <a href="http://mediamatters.org/blog/201108090029">possible</a>. Texas and Oklahoma are the states hit hardest by climate disasters this year. The oil-rich states are also dominated by politicians who deny the existence of global warming, and who rail against science-based policy to deal with our extreme climate. Governors <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/04/21/160422/rick-perry-pray-for-rain/">Rick Perry</a> (R-TX) and <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/green/2011/07/18/271658/climate-denying-oklahoma-governor-tells-residents-to-pray-for-rain/">Mary Fallin</a> (R-OK) have both issued calls for prayer as the official policy response to their historic heat wave and drought. But still the drought got <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2011/08/04/288379/oklahoma-drought-gov-mary-falin-pray-for-rain/">worse</a>. In a USA Today op-ed this week, Rep. <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2011-08-10-drought-cap-and-trade-texas_n.htm">Mac Thornberry</a> (R-TX) reflected upon the “devastating” and “historic” Texas drought. He said that policy makers should ignore “flawed” climate science, then joined Perry and Fallin: “A <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/green/2011/08/12/294285/thornberry-prayer-rain-flawed-climate-science/">prayer for rain</a>, however, would be appreciated.”<br /><br /><strong>EXTREME CLIMATE FUTURE</strong>: “If no mitigating actions are taken, <a href="http://www.aps.org/policy/statements/07_1.cfm">significant disruptions</a> in the Earth’s physical and ecological systems, social systems, security and human health are likely to occur,” the American Physical Society concluded in 2007. “We must reduce emissions of greenhouse gases beginning now.” Fortunately, some leaders are trying to prepare humanity to survive our increasingly catastrophic future. “The <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/green/2011/08/08/290354/lloyds-plans-for-disastrous-climate-future/">drinking water, wastewater and storm water infrastructure</a> is coming under increasing levels of stress,” Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA) announced, with the introduction of legislation to “help drinking water, wastewater and storm water utilities prepare for the <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/green/2011/08/04/287489/climate-hawk-lois-capps-pushes-climate-resilience-for-water-systems/">impacts of climate-related risks</a>.” “The <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/green/2011/08/01/284879/as-obama-lifts-meaningless-cloud-of-uncertainty-durbin-fights-the-storms-of-climate-change/">weather is getting worse</a> and more violent,” Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) recognized at a recent hearing. “The federal government needs to do more to be ready to protect federal assets and provide disaster assistance on an increasing frequency.” Citizens are also <a href="http://www.peacefuluprising.org/">rising up</a> with greater urgency, <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/green/2011/07/20/274377/activists-halt-mountaintop-removal-at-coal-river-mountain/">blocking mountaintop removal</a>, <a href="http://www.tarsandsaction.org/">protesting at the White House</a>, and organizing <a href="http://climaterealityproject.org/">global events</a> in September to get the <a href="http://www.moving-planet.org/">planet moving</a> toward a sustainable future.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=9631520&postID=4669966655146833637#a081511a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a081511a10"></a><strong>10. World Farm Day Scheduled for October 2, 2011/Pay Per View Program Announced<br /><br />Forwarded message from Farm Animal Rights Movement (FARM)</strong><br /><br />Join WFAD 2011 (WFAD = World Farm Animals Day each year - October 2) <br /><br />FARM needs your help in showing the public how 65 billion animals annually are commodified, brutalized, and slaughtered to become dinner. Join FARM for World Farm Animals Day (<a href="http://www.wfad.org">www.wfad.org</a>), on (or around) October 2nd, where compassionate people across the world will expose, mourn, and memorialize these feeling, sentient beings. <br /><br />You can join us by bringing the Pay Per View program to your college campus. This highly effective program has brought people to tears and is reducing animal consumption with every event. <a href="http://www.farmusa.org/PPV.html">www.farmusa.org/PPV.html</a> <br /><br />How does it work? FARM will cover the costs of paying passerby one dollar each for watching 4 minutes of Mercy for Animals’ Farm to Fridge video. We will also send you signs, privacy enclosures, and more to make your event a success. <br /><br />In addition to showing graphic video footage, activists will be leafleting, coordinating information tables, and staging dramatic protests, die-ins, and vigils to draw attention to the atrocities of raising animals for food. Here’s how to get started: <br /><br />-Visit our Action Center for ideas and guidance: <a href="http://www.wfad.org/actioncenter">www.wfad.org/actioncenter</a> <br /><br />-Request an Event Pack with posters, handouts, and stickers (DVDs are also available): <a href="http://www.wfad.org/actioncenter/register.php">www.wfad.org/actioncenter/register.php</a> <br /><br />-Let us promote your event when you register your plans with us. <br /><br />Don't miss this opportunity to join people around the globe in speaking out on behalf of animals... their lives depend on it. <br /><br />World Farm Animals Day is a campaign of Farm Animal Rights Movement (<a href="http://www.farmusa.org">www.farmusa.org</a>), a nonprofit organization working to end the use of animals<br /><br />for food through public education and grassroots activism.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=9631520&postID=4669966655146833637#a081511a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a081511a11"></a><strong>11. “Talk to Your Doctor About Eating Meat"/Parody of a Pharmaceutical Ad<br /><br /><a href="http://vegan.com/blog/2011/02/26/youtube-ask-your-doctor-about-meat/">http://vegan.com/blog/2011/02/26/youtube-ask-your-doctor-about-meat/</a></strong><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=9631520&postID=4669966655146833637#a081511a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a081511a12"></a><strong>12. MIT Study Projects Heavier Rain Due To Warmer World<br /><br />Study: Climate Change Means More Heavy Rain</strong><br /><br />Climate change will lead to an increase in heavy rainfall events across most of the world, according to a study published this week in the peer-reviewed journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Caltech. <br /><br />The computer models used in the study predict that areas such as North America can expect a significant increase in heavy rain. <br /><br />How much rain? The study suggests that precipitation in extreme events will increase by about 6% for every 1.8 degree rise in global temperature. A global temperature increase of anywhere from 2 to 11 degrees is expected by 2100, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. <br /><br />SNIP <br /><br />The primary reason for the precipitation increase is that warmer air can retain more water vapor than cooler air. So as the climate heats up, "there will be more vapor in the atmosphere, which will lead to an increase in precipitation extremes," says study co-author Paul O'Gorman of MIT. <br /><br />SNIP <br /><br /><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/weather/climate/2009-08-21-climate-change-rain_N.htm">http://www.usatoday.com/weather/climate/2009-08-21-climate-change-rain_N.htm</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=9631520&postID=4669966655146833637#a081511a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a081511a13"></a><strong>13. Update From “Responsible Policies for Animals” (RPA)</strong><br /><br />Forwarded message from JVNA advisor and REP director David Cantor: <br /><br /><strong>Responsible Policies for Animals Members and Friends! </strong><br /><br />Many thanks to all who have become RPA members or have donated to RPA since last communications! <br /><br />I hope you are having a good summer personally despite our massive political problems: impacts of the climate’s heating up, ongoing calamities throughout the human and natural worlds, everything worsening for nonhuman animals. <br /><br />It’s been a long time since the last RPA Update and the last issue of <em>Thin Ice</em>, so there’s a lot to tell. A newsletter will come out soon, so I’ll be very brief here and send another Update soon. <br /><br />Below are details of a talk I’ll give in the Philadelphia area on two consecutive evenings this September. <strong>Paste into an email to all in a reasonable distance.</strong> Urge people coming by car to minimize impact per person and maximize benefits of the event by bringing friends. These events will also be posted at <a href="http://www.RPAforAll.org">www.RPAforAll.org</a>. <br /><br /><em>Speaking of calamities</em>, people everywhere are shaken – many paralyzed. You are not alone if you see the institutions and advocacy we’ve counted on failing or in disarray. And we won’t find the root cause in the news – our species’ holocaust against nonhuman animals and the natural world, and denial of it. <br /><br /><strong>That is why Responsible Policies for Animals events as described below are crucial. </strong> They will make sense of what is going on and point the way to the needed change. Not in a consumerist way – “buy” the talk and “get” easy things to do in spare moments. That approach is one reason for the current predicament, everything steadily worsening for humans and other animals. <br /><br />Rather, we’ll grasp what we must promote as citizens to change our species’ tragic and destructive trajectory, creating peace for humans and others. <br /><br />Do not lose hope! Rededicate yourself. Think whether strategically sound animal-rights activities with minimal ecological impacts might replace popular, non-strategic activities using automobiles, one of the fiercest assaults on nonhuman animals. <strong>We needn’t travel to expose the holocaust and move toward unalienable equal autonomy, ecology, and dignity rights of all animals – animal rights.</strong> And we must go far beyond merely fighting cruelty and eating plants-only. <br /><br />Much great new material is at <a href=http://www.RPAforAll.org">www.RPAforAll.org</a>. Let me know of any questions anytime. Discuss with me how to promote animal rights anytime – I’ll send you factsheets just on that. The question is not whether establishing rights of other animals is “practical” – it’s whether it’s possible to solve the big human problems or remedy the other animals’ plight any other way. The answer is definitely no. <br /><br />Be well! Keep in touch! Donate when you can! See event details below! <br /><br />David Cantor<br /><br />Founder & Director<br /><br />Responsible Policies for Animals, Inc.<br /><br />P.O. Box 891, Glenside, PA 19038, USA<br /><br /><a href="mailto:dcantor@rpa1.org">dcantor@rpa1.org</a><br /><br />215-886-RPA1<br /><br /><a href="http://www.RPAforAll.org">www.RPAforAll.org</a><br /><br />______________________<br /><br /><strong>« Presentation – Free to the Public « <br /><br />Elephant in Every Room:<br /><br />Human Misery and the Treatment of Nonhuman Animals <br /><br />Presented by David Cantor </strong><br /><br />Thousands of dedicated citizens and officials work daily to improve human wellbeing – health, justice, equality, an end to war, restraints on pollution, conservation. But what do we see? Ever more human disease, fighting terrorism a way of life, human-caused biodisruption rampant, global economic disaster a mere news story, everything fun, no one happy. Could civilization’s millennia-long assault on nonhuman animals and the natural world be the root of human suffering and violence? If so, can we change course? Hear a surprising and thorough analysis. Start considering practical long-term solutions. Bring everyone 13 and up – Elephant in Every Room will be hard to recap over breakfast.<br /><br /><em>David Cantor, a full-time advocate, educator, and writer, founded Responsible Policies for Animals (RPA) in 2002; is preparing the first-ever news-industry guide for reporting on animals; and has published countless articles and letters as well as chapters in several books. Learn more: <a href="http://www.RPAforAll.org">www.RPAforAll.org</a> // <a href="http://www.ExpertsOfConscience.org">www.ExpertsOfConscience.org</a> // <a href="http://www.EatForSports.org">www.EatForSports.org</a>. </em><br /><br /><strong>7:00 P.M. Tuesday, September 13, 2011 <br /><br />Trinity Episcopal Church <br />Parish Hall <br />708 Bethlehem Pike<br />Ambler, PA 19002 <br /><a href="http://www.trinityambler.com">www.trinityambler.com</a><br /><br />7:00 P.M. Wednesday, September 14, 2011<br />Summit Presbyterian Church<br />Common Room, 1st Floor<br />6757 Greene Street<br />Philadelphia, PA 19119<br /><a href="http://www.summitpres.net">www.summitpres.net</a><br /><br />More details: <br /><br /><a href="mailto:dcantor@rpa1.org">dcantor@rpa1.org</a></strong><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=9631520&postID=4669966655146833637#a081511a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a081511a14"></a><strong>14. Doctors take Aim at Antibiotic Resistance From Its Use on Factory Farms</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/16/factory-farms-antibiotic-resistance-doctors_n_928140.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000008">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/16/factory-farms-antibiotic-resistance-doctors_n_928140.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000008</a><br /><br />Thanks to JVNA advisor Steve Schuster for sending us this link<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=9631520&postID=4669966655146833637#a081511a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">** Fair Use Notice **<br /><br />The material on this site is provided for educational and informational purposes. It may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. It is being made available in an effort to advance the understanding of vegetarian, environmental, nutritional, health, economic, social justice and human rights issues etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have an interest in using the included information for educational or research purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. The information on this site does not constitute legal, technical or medical advice.</span>.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17349614588789907464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9631520.post-29772556435090655862011-08-30T00:10:00.060-04:002011-09-08T23:41:43.025-04:0008/09/2011 JVNA Online NewsletterShalom everyone,<br /><br /><a name="a080911a0"></a>This update/<strong><a href="http://jewishveg.com/">Jewish Vegetarians of North America</a></strong> (JVNA) Online Newsletter has the following items:<br /><br /><strong>1. <a href="#a080911a1">JVNA Nominated for Favorite Nonprofit Vegan Organization in VegNews Contest!</a><br /><br />1a. <a href="#a080911a1a">JVNA Seeking Volunteers</a><br /><br />2. <a href="#a080911a2">Improving and Updating My Articles That Are On the Internet</a><br /><br />3. <a href="#a080911a3">Why There is So Much Denial About Climate Change</a><br /><br />4. <a href="#a080911a4">Farm Animal Rights Movement (FARM) Conference Highly Successful</a><br /><br />5. <a href="#a080911a5">Interview of Nutrition/health Expert Michael Gregor</a><br /><br />6. <a href="#a080911a6">Can Genetically Modified Foods reduce World Hunger?</a><br /><br />7. <a href="#a080911a7">Nutritional and Health Benefits of Vegetarian Diets</a><br /><br />8. <a href="#a080911a8">Is Lab Grown Meat: a Solution to Climate Change?</a><br /><br />9. <a href="#a080911a9">Powerful Veg Documentary “Forks Over Knives” Featured on CNN, Released</a><br /><br />10. <a href="#a080911a10">Kathy Freston Tells How to Kick a Meat Addiction</a><br /><br />11. <a href="#a080911a11">Comprehensive Article on Judaism and Vegetarianism by Rabbi Simcha Roth</a><br /><br />12. <a href="#a080911a12">Guide to Meat-Free Meals Available Free from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)</a><br /><br />13. <a href="#a080911a13">Israeli Music Star Going Vegan</a><br /><br />14. <a href="#a080911a14">Animal Advocacy and Islam</a><br /><br />15. <a href="#a080911a15">Veg-Related Novel Published</a><br /><br />16. <a href="#a080911a16">Sustainable Seafood Myth</a></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Some material has been deferred to a later update/newsletter to keep this one from being even longer.<br /><br /> [Materials in brackets like this [ ] within an article or forwarded message are my editorial notes/comments.]<br /><br />As always, your comments and suggestions are very welcome. <br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Richard</span><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a080911a1"></a><strong>1. JVNA Nominated for Favorite Nonprofit Vegan Organization in VegNews Contest!</strong><br /><br />This is a great honor and I hope we can take advantage of it to increase awareness of JVNA, get more people involved, and help increase awareness of Jewish teachings related to vegetarianism.<br /><br />Suggestions welcome. <br /><br />Here is the list of nominated organizations: <br /><br />Favorite Nonprofit Vegan Organization <br /><br /><a href="http://awellfedworld.org/">A Well-Fed World</a> <br /><br /><a href="http://www.americanvegan.org/">American Vegan Society (AVS)</a> <br /><br /><a href="http://www.all-creatures.org/cva/default.htm">Christian Vegetarian Association</a> <br /><br /><a href="http://foodispower.org/">Food Empowerment Project</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.jewishveg.org">Jewish Vegetarians of North America</a> <br /><br /><a href="http://www.navs-online.org/">North American Vegetarian Society (NAVS)</a> <br /><br /><a href="http://www.pcrm.org">Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM)</a> <br /><br /><a href="http://www.veganoutreach.org/">Vegan Outreach</a> <br /><br /><a href="http://www.vrg.org/">Vegetarian Resource Group (VRG)</a> <br /><br />Other (please specify) <br /><br />Please use the following link in order to vote:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Ip3lFGrh262wXnNNUXyTq4U%2b1tVEaoTiLi8OBLk6%2bwE%3d">http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Ip3lFGrh262wXnNNUXyTq4U%2b1tVEaoTiLi8OBLk6%2bwE%3d</a> <br /><br />Please also help spread the word and encourage others to vote. <br /><br />Please note that you have to vote in at least half of the categories in order for your vote to count. <br /><br />Once again, suggestions on how to use this contest in positive ways welcome. There are some great groups that have been nominated, so our chances of winning may not be great, but let us use this opportunity to increase awareness. <br /><br />Many thanks to our wonderful volunteers who helped make this nomination possible: <br /><br />Noam Mohr: JVNA Vice President and coordinator of the JVNA website (<a href="http://www.JewishVeg.com">JewishVeg.com</a>) <br /><br />John Diamond: JVNA Secretary/Treasurer; he has been extremely helpful in sending out many thousands of DVDs of “A Sacred Duty: Applying Jewish Values to Help Heal the World.” <br /><br />Maida Genser: Maida has been very helpful in posting JVNA newsletters and other materials at the JVNA website and my articles at <a href="http://www.JewishVeg.com/schwartz">JewishVeg.com/schwartz</a> <br /><br />Many thanks to the wonderful people on the JVNA advisory committee who have provided me with valuable suggestions many times. <br /><br />Many thanks to all of you who have sent me valuable material for the JVNA newsletter. <br /><br />And, finally many thanks to all of you who are reading this newsletter for your example and your help in spreading vegetarian messages. <br /><br />Once again, please vote for JVNA using the link above, and please encourage others to vote for us. Many thanks.<br /> <br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a080911a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a080911a1a"></a><strong>1a. JVNA Seeking Volunteers</strong><br /><br />Please help us continue our momentum by volunteering for JVNA, even if only for an hour a week, to help us promote our vegetarian messages. <br /><br />We need help in compiling lists of synagogues, JCCs, rabbis (especially vegetarian rabbis) and other lists that will help us promote vegetarianism. <br /><br />Right now, we are especially interested in a volunteer to help us create a trailer for the JVNA documentary, “<a href="http://www.asacredduty.com">A Sacred Duty: Applying Jewish Values to Help Heal the World</a>.”<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a080911a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a080911a2"></a><strong>2. Improving and Updating My Articles That Are On the Internet</strong><br /><br />Please take a look at my articles at <a href="http://www.JewishVeg.com/Schwartz">JewishVeg.com/Schwartz</a>, and please consider building articles around them. I will be happy to help with that. Many thanks.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a080911a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a080911a3"></a><strong>3. Why There is So Much Denial About Climate Change<br /><br />White Conservative Men In Denial About Climate Change</strong> <br /><br /><a href="http://www.grist.org/climate-skeptics/2011-08-02-stuff-white-people-like-denying-climate-change">http://www.grist.org/climate-skeptics/2011-08-02-stuff-white-people-like-denying-climate-change</a> <br /><br />One reason is at the following site <br /><br /><strong>Conservative Media Downplays Heat Wave</strong> <br /><br /><a href="http://mediamatters.org/blog/201107260010">http://mediamatters.org/blog/201107260010</a> <br /><br />Responses to a Wide Variety of Assertions by Climate Skeptics <br /><br />Thanks to Dan Brook <br /><br /><a href="http://www.grist.org/article/series/skeptics">http://www.grist.org/article/series/skeptics</a> <br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a080911a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a080911a4"></a><strong>4. Farm Animal Rights Movement (FARM) Conference Highly Successful<br /><br />AR2011 Inspires Hundreds of Animal Activists!</strong><br /><br /><em>I was impressed by AR2011 beyond my highest expectations!</em> - T. Scott, Seattle<br /><br />Nearly a thousand animal activists and other caring people converged on the Westin LAX hotel in Los Angeles between July 21-25th for <strong><a href="http://arconference.org/">Animal Rights 2011 National Conference</a></strong>. They came from 40 U.S. States and 13 other countries. They left re-energized, more educated, and more effective.<br /><br />The one hundred sessions were organized into four tracks: animal abuse, organizing, tactics, and issues. The program opened with a plenary session on the history and recent progress of the animal rights movement. It concluded with a panel of three leaders of the environmental movement addressing cooperation options. Other key panels addressed repression of animal activism, tactical issues, new challenges, effective arguments,<br /><br />Among the <strong><a href="http://www.arconference.org/speakers.htm">100 presenters</a> </strong>were <em>Farm Sanctuary's </em>Gene Baur and Bruce Friedrich, <em>SAEN's</em> Michael Budkie, <em>FARM's</em> Alex Hershaft, author Melanie Joy, <em>COK's</em> Erica Meier, <em>600 Million Dogs' </em>Alex Pacheco, <em>Compassionate Cooks' </em>Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, <em>Green Is the New Red's</em> Will Potter, <em>Alley Cat Allies' </em>Becky Robinson, <em>Mercy For Animals'</em> Nathan Runkle and <em>The Simpsons </em>co-creator Sam Simon.<br /><br />The Saturday night’s Awards Banquet, marked the climax of the conference. <a href="http://www.caroljadams.com/">Carol J. Adams</a>, author of "The Sexual Politics of Meat," was inducted into the <a href="http://arconference.org/ARHOF.htm">Animal Rights Hall of Fame</a> by AR2011 speakers. Juliette West received the Young Activist Award for defense of threatened elephants.<br /><br />Bryan Pease and Kath Rogers of the <a href="http://www.aprl.org/">Animal Protection and Rescue League (APRL)</a> received the Henry Spira Grassroots Animal Activist Award for their effective vegan outreach and their campaign to end the production and sale of foie gras. Kate Danaher was similarly honored for her work rescuing animal victims of the recent disasters in Japan.<br /><br />Newcomer orientations, regional lunches, and daily networking receptions provided ample networking opportunities. This year's video program included premieres of "<a href="http://www.kindgreenplanet.org/programs/glasswalls/">Vegucated</a>" and "<a href="http://www.project-nim.com/">Project Nim</a>." Nearly 70 organizations offered literature, merchandise, and food in the Exhibit Hall. Morning and evening snacks featured delicacies from our generous <a href="http://www.arconference.org/donorsfood.htm">food donors</a>.<br /><br />A detailed <strong><a href="http://www.arconference.org/ARprogramjournal.pdf">program booklet</a> </strong>is posted online. You may view 180 photos in our <strong><a href="http://www.arconference.org/gallery11/index.htm">AR2011 photo gallery</a></strong>. Our <strong><a href="http://www.arconference.org/recordings.htm">Recordings page</a> </strong>offers instructions for ordering recordings of individual sessions or the entire conference.<br /><br />Animal Rights 2011 was organized by the <strong><em>Farm Animal Rights Movement (FARM)</em></strong> and co-sponsored by 17 other organizations, including In Defense of Animals, Mercy For Animals, Compassion Over Killing, United Poultry Concerns, Int'l Primate Protection League, Stop Animal Exploitation Now!, A Well-Fed World, Compassion Circle, Healthforce Nutritionals, E-Magazine, and VegNews.<br /><br /><strong>Please join us for AR2012 in the nation's capital!</strong><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a080911a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a080911a5"></a><strong>5. Interview of Nutrition/health Expert Michael Gregor<br /><br />Kathy Freston Interviews Dr. Michael Greger Part 2</strong> <br /><br /><a href="http://h2opodcast.com/vsse.html#fsff2">http://h2opodcast.com/vsse.html#fsff2</a> <br /><br />Thanks to podcast coordinator Joseph Puentes for sending this message to us. <br /><br />01 August 2011 <br /><br />This is part two of a transcript reading of Kathy Freston's interview of Dr. Michael Greger posted on The Huffington Post January 8th, 2010. The title of the interview<br /><br />"Flu Season: E. Coli, Salmonella and Other Deadly Bacteria and Pathogens in Food: Factory Farms Are the Reason" <br /><br />---------------------- <br /><br />We have a new addition to the speech archive. Listen to "The Missing Piece from World Peace" by Dr. Aryan Tavakkoli FRACP: <br /><br /><a href="http://h2opodcast.com/speech.html#at">http://h2opodcast.com/speech.html#at</a> <br /><br />Speeches entitled "Harvesting animals and consuming the planet" by Jamie Rivet are ready on the website at http://h2opodcast.com/speech.html Many, many thanks to Jamie Rivet for his work on this project. <br /><br />Are there any other speechwriters in the group? Let's continue assembling an archive of "Ready To Go" speeches that anyone can use to further the cause. Email me at: <a href="mailto:NoMeat@h2opodcast.com">NoMeat@h2opodcast.com</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a080911a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a080911a6"></a><strong>6. Can Genetically Modified Foods reduce World Hunger?</strong><br /><br />Great article by John Robbins, author of Diet For a New America and Food revolution. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-robbins/gmo-food_b_914968.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-robbins/gmo-food_b_914968.html</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a080911a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a080911a7"></a><strong>7. Nutritional and Health Benefits of Vegetarian Diets</strong><br /><br />Thanks to author, educator and JVNA advisor Dan Brook for forwarding the website below to us. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.foodnutritionscience.com/index.cfm/do/monsanto.article/articleId/557.cfm">http://www.foodnutritionscience.com/index.cfm/do/monsanto.article/articleId/557.cfm</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a080911a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a080911a8"></a><strong>8. Is Lab Grown Meat: a Solution to Climate Change?</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://theweek.com/article/index/216528/lab-grown-meat-a-solution-to-global-warming">http://theweek.com/article/index/216528/lab-grown-meat-a-solution-to-global-warming</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a080911a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a080911a9"></a><strong>9. Powerful Veg Documentary “Forks Over Knives” Featured on CNN, Released</strong><br /><br />Forwarded message: <br /><br />I am waiting for a copy of this fantastic new documentary that has garnered much attention.<br /><br />Exciting that it will be featured on CNN. Here's the link: <br /><br /><a href="http://www.forksoverknives.com/the-last-heart-attack-cnn-special-doctor-caldwell-esselstyn-bill-clinton/">http://www.forksoverknives.com/the-last-heart-attack-cnn-special-doctor-caldwell-esselstyn-bill-clinton/</a><br /><br />Laura Slitt <br /><br />-------------------------<br /><br />We are pleased to announce that the Forks Over Knives DVDs are now available for immediate shipping. The DVD includes six bonus features, including extended interviews with FOK experts. Order the DVD, 4-Pack, or DVD book combo today! <br /><br /><strong>Visit the FOK Store and <a href="https://shop.forksoverknives.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=5000&Click=4487">Order Now</a></strong><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a080911a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a080911a10"></a><strong>10. Kathy Freston Tells How to Kick a Meat Addiction</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kathy-freston/meat-addiction_b_904417.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kathy-freston/meat-addiction_b_904417.html</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a080911a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a080911a11"></a><strong>11. Comprehensive Article on Judaism and Vegetarianism by Rabbi Simcha Roth</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.bmv.org.il/v/vegan.html">http://www.bmv.org.il/v/vegan.html</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a080911a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a080911a12"></a><strong>12. Guide to Meat-Free Meals Available Free from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.humanesociety.org/forms/guide_to_vegetarian_eating.html">http://www.humanesociety.org/forms/guide_to_vegetarian_eating.html</a> <br /><br />Thanks to JVNA advisor Ron Landskroner for sending us this link.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a080911a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a080911a13"></a><strong>13. Israeli Music Star Going Vegan<br /><br />Forwarded message:</strong><br /><br />Hello Richard, <br /><br />In case you didn't hear about it until now, the internationally famous Israeli singer, <strong>Achinoam Nini</strong>, decides to slowly go vegan after watching the incredible speech by <strong>Gary Yourofsky</strong> (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omweihtaYwI">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omweihtaYwI</a>). <br /><br /><strong>You can see her here:</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u48JJ406kFQ">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u48JJ406kFQ</a> <br /><br />Please share this information in your next newsletter. A lot of Jewish people around the world will be glad to find about this great news. <br /><br />Thank you and keep doing your wonderful work. <br /><br />:)<br /><br />Daniel Erlich,<br /><br /><a href="mailto:daniel@animal-tv.org">daniel@animal-tv.org</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.animal-tv.org">http://www.animal-tv.org</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a080911a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a080911a14"></a><strong>14. Animal Advocacy and Islam</strong><br /><br />Forwarded message: <br /><br />August 2011 <br /><br />Nadeem Haque : The Qur'an contains numerous passages that directly relate to the welfare of nature, with the human being as custodian and representative of a non-anthropomorphic creator and originator of the universe that evolved from the Big Bang. <br /><br />In fact, four very clear principles emerge, which are termed "Ecognitions", in a recent journal article by 'Quranic Philosopher' Nadeem Haque. It is argued that these form the foundations of animal advocacy and welfare in Islam.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a080911a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a080911a15"></a><strong>15. Veg-Related Novel Published</strong><br /><br />Below is a message from the author (who prefers not to use capital letters): <br /><br /><strong>a utopian novel with vegan offerings for wild living carnivores </strong><br /><br />in the novel titled "ascende, maima, perma and mary the lifeship", a central theme is, how human beings can nurture themselves with hurting the least possible their fellow living beings. as part of the introduction of the abundance scheme, plant protein packets are being distributed with air vehicles to the wildlife areas, for the carnivores. quite a number of philosophical exchanges accompanied with the aim to build bridges between nature and technology focused types of interest give the short novel a deep space for one's own thinking. the writer, andreas buechel publishes under the artist name mayloveheal and is most happy, if someone takes time to write a feedback about the novel and its ideas to his email <a href="mailto:androgyneas@gmail.com">androgyneas@gmail.com</a>. the novel itself can be found at many places online<br /><br />--- at <a href="http://www.novlet.com/stories/passages/584">http://www.novlet.com/stories/passages/584</a> as an open text, everyone is invited to edit, enhance, and add one's own visions<br /><br />--- at <a href="http://www.bookrix.com/_title-en-andreas-buechel-as-mayloveheal-ascende-maima-perma-and-mary-the-lifeship-1">http://www.bookrix.com/_title-en-andreas-buechel-as-mayloveheal-ascende-maima-perma-and-mary-the-lifeship-1</a> , to read either online or download text<br /><br />--- at <a href="http://youtu.be/UMLTqlsAAjY">http://youtu.be/UMLTqlsAAjY</a> as a kind of audio play of it with several computer voices<br /><br />--- at <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/androgyneas/AscendeCartoon">https://picasaweb.google.com/androgyneas/AscendeCartoon</a> as a loose collage of snippets and graphical exercises on how a graphical translation of the story eventually could feel like ( anyone with joy in creating visual stories is very much welcome to use the story what is in the public domain and make something visually touching with it ) <br /><br />We would welcome a review from one of our readers. Thanks.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a080911a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a080911a16"></a><strong>16. Sustainable Seafood Myth</strong><br /><br />Thanks to author, educator, and JVNA advisor Dan Brook for forwarding the link below to us. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.grist.org/sustainable-food/2011-08-01-the-sustainable-seafood-myth">http://www.grist.org/sustainable-food/2011-08-01-the-sustainable-seafood-myth</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a080911a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">** Fair Use Notice **<br /><br />The material on this site is provided for educational and informational purposes. It may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. It is being made available in an effort to advance the understanding of vegetarian, environmental, nutritional, health, economic, social justice and human rights issues etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have an interest in using the included information for educational or research purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. The information on this site does not constitute legal, technical or medical advice.</span><em></em>.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17349614588789907464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9631520.post-27024498444055358792011-07-24T15:21:00.081-04:002011-09-08T23:39:27.269-04:0007/24/2011 JVNA Online NewsletterShalom everyone,<br /><br /><a name="a072411a0"></a>This update/<strong><a href="http://jewishveg.com/">Jewish Vegetarians of North America</a></strong> (JVNA) Online Newsletter has the following items:<br /><br /><strong>1. <a href="#a072411a1">Tisha B’Av and Vegetarianism</a><br /><br />2. <a href="#a072411a2">The Powerful Prophecy of Isaiah That is Read in Synagogues on the Shabbat before Tisha B’Av</a><br /><br />3. <a href="#a072411a3">Tour of Israel for Animal Lovers Scheduled</a><br /><br />4. <a href="#a072411a4">Powerful Statements on Food Issues By Two Christian Groups/Models for Jewish Groups?</a><br /><br />5. <a href="#a072411a5">Vegan Foods or Local Foods/Which Are More Beneficial?</a><br /><br />6. <a href="#a072411a6">How Threatened Are Our Oceans?</a><br /><br />7. <a href="#a072411a7">Authoritative Article on Dietary Connections to Colon Cancer</a><br /><br />8. <a href="#a072411a8">Can a Global Food Crisis Be Averted?</a><br /><br />9. <a href="#a072411a9">Non-Violent Civil Disobedience Planned to Save the Environment</a><br /><br />10. <a href="#a072411a10">People’s Love Affair With Fish is Unsustainable</a><br /><br />11. <a href="#a072411a11">A Cautionary Story on Climate Change by the President of an Island That Is Sinking</a><br /><br />12. <a href="#a072411a12">Animal Experiments in Israel Decreasing</a><br /><br />13. <a href="#a072411a13">Is the Hotter Weather the New Norm?/NY Times Op-Ed Article</a><br /><br />14. <a href="#a072411a14">NY Times Op-Ed Article: Tax Meat and Subsidize Plant Foods</a></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Some material has been deferred to a later update/newsletter to keep this one from being even longer.<br /><br /> [Materials in brackets like this [ ] within an article or forwarded message are my editorial notes/comments.]<br /><br />As always, your comments and suggestions are very welcome. <br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Richard</span><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a072411a1"></a><strong>1. Tisha B’Av and Vegetarianism</strong><br /><br />Tisha B’Av commemorates the destruction of the first and second Temples in Jerusalem. Today it is not just Jerusalem but the entire world that is threatened by climate change and many environmental threats. We must play a prophetic role and warn others about the severity of the threats and doing everything possible to reduce them, including promoting vegetarian/vegan diets. Please see my articles “Tisha B’Av and Vegetarianism” and Relating Tisha B'Av to Today's Environmental Crises at the festivals section at <a href="http://www.JewishVeg.com/Schwartz">JewishVeg.com/Schwartz</a>, and please build on the ideas in these articles to help promote vegetarianism. Thanks.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a072411a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a072411a2"></a><strong>2. The Powerful Prophecy of Isaiah That is Read in Synagogues on the Shabbat before Tisha B’Av<br /><br />Isaiah 1:1-27</strong><br /><br />English Standard Version (ESV) <br /><br />[I believe that this is one of the most powerful, eloquent, and challenging statements in all of literature. I also believe that it has much relevance for today.] <br /><br />Isaiah 1<br /><br /> <strong>1</strong> The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. <br /><br />The Wickedness of Judah <br /><br /> <strong>2</strong> Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth;<br /> for the LORD has spoken:<br />"Children[a] have I reared and brought up,<br /> but they have rebelled against me.<br /><br /><strong>3</strong> The ox knows its owner,<br /> and the donkey its master’s crib,<br />but Israel does not know,<br /> my people do not understand."<br /><br /> <strong>4</strong> Ah, sinful nation,
a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers,
children who deal corruptly!
They have forsaken the LORD,
they have despised the Holy One of Israel,
they are utterly estranged.<br /><br /> <strong>5</strong> Why will you still be struck down?
Why will you continue to rebel? The whole head is sick,
and the whole heart faint.
6 From the sole of the foot even to the head,
there is no soundness in it,
but bruises and sores
and raw wounds;
they are not pressed out or bound up
or softened with oil.<br /><br /> <strong>7</strong> Your country lies desolate;
your cities are burned with fire;
in your very presence
foreigners devour your land;
it is desolate, as overthrown by foreigners.
<br /><br /><strong>8</strong> And the daughter of Zion is left
like a booth in a vineyard,
like a lodge in a cucumber field,
like a besieged city.<br /><br /> <strong>9</strong> If the LORD of hosts
had not left us a few survivors,
we should have been like Sodom,
and become like Gomorrah.<br /><br /> <strong>10</strong> Hear the word of the LORD,
you rulers of Sodom!
Give ear to the teaching[b] of our God,
you people of Gomorrah!
<br /><br /><strong>11</strong> "What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?
says the LORD;
I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams
and the fat of well-fed beasts;
I do not delight in the blood of bulls,
or of lambs, or of goats.<br /><br /> <strong>12</strong> "When you come to appear before me,
who has required of you
this trampling of my courts?
<br /><br /><strong>13</strong> Bring no more vain offerings;
incense is an abomination to me.
New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations—
I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.
<br /><br /><strong>14</strong> Your new moons and your appointed feasts
my soul hates;
they have become a burden to me;
I am weary of bearing them.
<br /><br /><strong>15</strong> When you spread out your hands,
I will hide my eyes from you;
even though you make many prayers,
I will not listen;
your hands are full of blood.
<br /><br /><strong>16</strong> Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes;
cease to do evil,
<br /><br /><strong>17</strong> learn to do good;
seek justice,
correct oppression;
bring justice to the fatherless,
plead the widow’s cause.<br /><br /> <strong>18</strong> "Come now, let us reason[c] together, says the LORD:though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson,
they shall become like wool.
<br /><br /><strong>19</strong> If you are willing and obedient,
you shall eat the good of the land;<br /><br />
<strong>20</strong> but if you refuse and rebel,
you shall be eaten by the sword;
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken." <br /><br />The Unfaithful City <br /><br /> <strong>21</strong> How the faithful city<br /> has become a whore,[d]<br /> she who was full of justice!<br />Righteousness lodged in her,<br /> but now murderers.<br /><br /><strong>22</strong> Your silver has become dross, your best wine mixed with water.<br /><br /><strong>23</strong> Your princes are rebels<br /> and companions of thieves.<br />Everyone loves a bribe<br /> and runs after gifts.<br /><br />They do not bring justice to the fatherless,<br /> and the widow’s cause does not come to them.<br /><br /> <strong>24</strong> Therefore the Lord declares,
the LORD of hosts,
the Mighty One of Israel:
"Ah, I will get relief from my enemies
and avenge myself on my foes.
<br /><br /><strong>25</strong> I will turn my hand against you
and will smelt away your dross as with lye
and remove all your alloy.
<br /><br /><strong>26</strong> And I will restore your judges as at the first,
and your counselors as at the beginning.
Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness,
the faithful city."<br /><br /> <strong>27</strong> Zion shall be redeemed by justice,
and those in her who repent, by righteousness.<br /><br /><strong>Footnotes:</strong><br /><br /> Isaiah 1:2 Or Sons; also verse 4<br /><br /> Isaiah 1:10 Or law<br /><br /> Isaiah 1:18 Or dispute<br /><br /> Isaiah 1:21 Or become unchaste<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a072411a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a072411a3"></a><strong>3. Tour of Israel for Animal Lovers Scheduled</strong><br /><br />Forwarded message from Israeli animal activist Tova Saul, the tour organizer: <br /><br />Shalom! I am writing to inform you about a very exciting opportunity to tour Israel, specially geared for animal lovers. <br /><br />This tour is called "Israel Unleashed". It is a one-of-a-kind experience that blends a love of animals, the Land of Israel, and explorations into Judaism. This adventure will include major tourist sites, animal-related sites, Israel's exquisite nature trails, and several Jewish experiences, such as Friday evening at the Western Wall. <br /><br />Many people are not only animal-lovers, but are also very involved with animal rescue or wildlife conservation. Many have a trip to Israel on their “to-do” list. This tour, during which they will travel with kindred spirits to uplifting animal-related sites, will inspire them to tour the country. We will visit places involving animal rescue, wildlife conservation, and zoo therapy, and meet some of Israel’s foremost wildlife conservationists and animal welfare advocates. <br /><br />The trip will be led by a licensed Israeli tour guide and committed animal lover. The dynamic educators are among the most popular in Jerusalem, and are in high demand as speakers around the world. <br /><br />We are now accepting applicants for our October 23-November 2, 2011 trip, which will be limited to 15 people. <br /><br />I would be very grateful if you could send this announcement to everyone on your Email list or to possibly interested individuals. Thank you so much in advance.
Sincerely, <br /><br />Tova Saul <br /><br />For the itinerary and registration information and questions, please contact Tova Saul at <a href="mailto:tovasaul@yahoo.com">tovasaul@yahoo.com</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a072411a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a072411a4"></a><strong>4. Powerful Statements on Food Issues By Two Christian Groups/Models for Jewish Groups?</strong><br /><br />Thanks to vegetarian activist Jeff Tucker for forwarding this information to us.<br />A. link to the resolution that the UCC (United Church of Christ) has pending approval:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ucc.org/synod/resolutions/gs28/Resolution-on-Mindful-and-Faithful-Eating.pdf">http://www.ucc.org/synod/resolutions/gs28/Resolution-on-Mindful-and-Faithful-Eating.pdf</a> <br /><br />Message forwarded to us about this resolution: <br /><br />Last week, the United Church of Christ General Synod passed“Resolution for Mindful and Faithful Eating.” The resolution calls for church bodies “to explore ways in which our food choices can be mindful and faithful, so that, to the best of our abilities, what we eat reflects our values and beliefs.” Further, it encourages the identification, development, and promotion of curricula at all education levels help Christians understand how what we eat impacts our health, God’s earth, and God’s animals. <br /><br />This resolution will help open the door to discussions about animal agriculture, as well as other aspects of faithful eating. It was supported by Rev. Diane Ryder, Rev. Lisa Hadler, and CVA chair Steve Kaufman.<br /><br />------------------------------- <br /><br />B. From Unitarian Universalists<br /><br /><strong>Ethical Eating: Food & Environmental Justice<br /><br />2011 Statement of Conscience </strong><br /><br />Aware of our interdependence, we acknowledge that eating ethically requires us to be mindful of the miracle of life we share with all beings. With gratitude for the food we have received, we strive to choose foods that minimize harm and are protective of the environment, consumers, farmers, and all those involved in food production and distribution.<br /><br />Environmental justice includes the equitable distribution of both environmental burdens and benefits for populations of residents and workers. Marginalized people have often been able to find housing or work only in areas exposed to environmental pollutants, with consequent negative health and quality of life effects. <br /><br />As Unitarian Universalists, we are called to address our relationship with food. Our Principles call for recognition of and respect for the other. As we search freely and responsibly for truth, meaning, and spiritual wholeness, we will make a variety of individual choices about food. Ethical eating is the application of our Principles to our food choices. What and how we eat has broad implications for our planet and society. Our values, Principles, and integrity call us to seek compassion, health, and sustainability in the production of food we raise or purchase. <br /><br />Food production involving growing, processing, packaging, transporting, and distributing food has become a vast worldwide industry. The mass production of food often maximizes production while minimizing price. This mass production has greatly increased food supply, but has resulted in the overuse of fertilizers and pesticides with crops and the mistreatment of animals and workers in food production. Both this overuse and the large waste streams from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) result in pollution of water, land, and air. <br /><br />Access to an adequate supply of healthy food and clean water is a basic human need and right. Many people do not have adequate food, while others have a surplus. In many locations, poor distribution of food is a major contributor to hunger and malnutrition. The effects of climate change, weather conditions, and armed conflicts can also expose many people to starvation. Paradoxically, an abundance of food does not guarantee access to healthy food.<br /><br />We acknowledge that aggressive action needs to be taken that will ensure an adequate food supply for the world population; reduce the use of energy, water, fertilizer, pesticides, and hormones in food production; mitigate climate change; and end the inhumane treatment of animals. These steps call for an evolution of our eating habits to include more locally grown, minimally processed whole foods. We acknowledge that this evolution must respect diversity in cultures, nutritional requirements, and religious practices. <br /><br />Minimally processed plant-based diets are healthier diets. Some of us believe that it is ethical only to eat plants while others of us believe that it is ethical to eat both plants and animals. We do not call here for a single dietary approach. We encourage a knowledgeable choice of food based on understanding the demands of feeding a growing world population, the health effects of particular foods, and the consequences of production, worker treatment, and transportation methods. We commit to applying this knowledge to both personal and public actions, recognizing that many of us might embark on a dramatic change in eating choices and some might pay more for food that is ethically produced. For congregations, helping congregants gain this understanding and supporting their choices will require a long-term collective process of engagement, education, discernment, and advocacy. Unitarian Universalists aspire to radical hospitality and developing the beloved community. Therefore, we affirm that the natural world exists not for the sole benefit of one nation, one race, one gender, one religion, or even one species, but for all. Working in the defense of mutual interests, Unitarian Universalists acknowledge and accept the challenge of enlarging our circle of moral concern to include all living creatures. <br /><br />As individuals and as congregations, we recognize the need to examine the impact of our food choices and our practices and make changes that will lighten the burden we place on the world. We also recognize that many food decisions will require us to make trade-offs between competing priorities. These priorities include: taste, selection, price, human health, environmental protection, sustainability, adequate food supply, humane treatment of animals used for food, and fair treatment of farm and food workers. <br /><br /><strong>Environmental</strong> concerns include the use of fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, and hormones and high volumes of animal wastes produced by CAFOs, all of which can contaminate soil, air, and water. Contributors to global warming include the overreliance on fossil fuels for food production; the methane produced by animals, including but not limited to cattle, sheep, and pigs; and the long-distance transport of food. Expanding agriculture and animal farming often removes natural habitats and reduces natural biodiversity. An additional environmental concern is the deterioration of the oceans and their life forms due to overfishing and pollution. <br /><br /><strong>Human Health</strong> concerns include producers' use of growth promoters, pesticides, and antibiotics that can affect child development, antibiotic resistance, and other health conditions. Advertising and marketing can encourage overeating, poor food choices, a focus on body image that can contribute to eating disorders, and the use of infant formula in preference to breast feeding. <br /><br />Concerns about the <strong>Humane Treatment of Animals </strong>include intensive confinement and abuse in CAFOs, and inhumane conditions during production, transport, and slaughter.<br /><br />Concerns about the <strong>Fair Treatment of Food and Farm Workers </strong>include low pay, poor and unsafe working conditions, exploitation of undocumented workers, and enslavement of others. <br /><br /><strong>Policy </strong>concerns include agricultural subsidies that reward the production of certain crops and animal products that are less healthful and environmentally friendly than unsubsidized ones and that penalize small to moderate-sized farming operations. Agricultural subsidies of exported crops have driven small farmers in developing countries off their land. The consequences of agricultural subsidies and mono-cropping include increased gender disparity where women have been the traditional agricultural producers. We recognize replicating corporate agricultural modes in our aid to developing countries is not in the best interest of humanity. We support the development of farming models that safeguard the environment, produce safe foods, provide economic benefits to all economic levels, and create environmentally and economically sustainable models.<br /><br />Classism, racism, sexism, and other forms of oppression are deeply connected to economic justice, which is a prime determinant of access to food. Some of us will not be able to pay more for ethical food. Others of us will. Yet all of us can have a role in improving the ethics of food. We affirm that the fight for environmental and economic justice is inherently a fight against all forms of oppression. As a result, ethical eating requires different ways of thinking about these issues that reflect their interconnected nature, and we understand that this work will require creativity, patience, and resolve. <br /><br /><strong>Calls To Action<br /><br />Individual Actions</strong><br /><br />Recognizing that individual circumstances vary, we aspire to buy, raise, and consume food for ourselves and our families that: increases our proportionate consumption of plant-based foods, which increases the global access to calories, provides health benefits, and prevents injuring animals;<br /><br />· minimizes the pain and suffering of animals by purchasing meat or seafood produced under humane conditions, for those who choose to eat meat or seafood;<br /><br />· minimizes the negative environmental effects of raising animals or plants by purchasing organically produced food, and seafood certified as responsibly farmed or harvested;<br /><br />· minimizes transportation-related carbon dioxide emissions by obtaining foods locally produced through home or community gardens, farmers markets, or community supported agriculture (CSA);<br /><br />· provides farm workers with living wages and safe working environments;<br /><br />· contributes to social harmony by encouraging communal eating;<br /><br />· promotes health, consuming food in quantities that do not lead to obesity; and<br /><br />We advocate for the benefit of animals, plants, food workers, the environment and humanity by:<br /><br />· purchasing fair trade--certified products as available.<br /><br />· asking food sellers and producers to label where their products come from to determine distance of transport and whether the products were irradiated or contain Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs);<br /><br />· pressing food sellers to require that their suppliers certify the humane treatment of animals;<br /><br />· supporting legislation that requires the labeling of products that are irradiated or contain Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), distribution of adequate ethical food supplies, effective safety inspection of food production, and realignment of agricultural subsidies to support growing more produce and the viability of small farmers; and protecting and encouraging organic food production and its producers.<br /><br /><strong>Congregational Actions</strong><br /><br />As congregations, we aspire to:<br /><br />· provide and sell more plant-based, organic, locally produced, and fair trade foods at congregational events;<br /><br />· promote economic accessibility to safe, ethically produced food by organizing members to work for food justice through activities such as: urging grocery chains to locate stores in low income neighborhoods, supporting local food co-ops, helping people obtain food stamps, advocating for increased funding to alleviate hunger, and assisting local meals on wheels and food bank programs;<br /><br />· support the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office, and other relevant UU organizations in their efforts to ensure that everyone has adequate nutritious food, produced sustainably;<br /><br />· provide educational programs for all ages that address the issues of environmental justice, world hunger, gardening, food preparation, and nutrition;<br /><br />· become Green Sanctuary—accredited and include ethical eating in programs;<br /><br />· advocate for healthful food for school and other institutional meals; and engage in direct action in solidarity with workers and labor advocacy groups to support agricultural and food workers. <br /><br /><strong>With gratitude and reverence for all life, we savor food mindful of all that has contributed to it. We commit ourselves to a more equitable sharing of the earth's bounty.</strong><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a072411a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a072411a5"></a><strong>5. Vegan Foods or Local Foods/Which Are More Beneficial?</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://civileats.com/2011/07/15/it’s-plants’-time-in-the-sun/">http://civileats.com/2011/07/15/it’s-plants’-time-in-the-sun/</a> <br /><br />Why one or the other? Why not both?<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a072411a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a072411a6"></a><strong>6. How Threatened Are Our Oceans?</strong><br /><br />EDITORIAL<br /><br />A Look Into the Ocean’s Future<br /><br />Published: July 15, 2011 NY Times 7/16/11 <br /><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/16/opinion/16sat3.html?_r=1&emc=tnt&tntemail1=y">http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/16/opinion/16sat3.html?_r=1&emc=tnt&tntemail1=y</a> <br /><br />There is simply no exaggerating the importance of the oceans to earth’s overall ecological balance. Their health affects the health of all terrestrial life. A new report by an international coalition of marine scientists makes for grim reading. It concludes that the oceans are approaching irreversible, potentially catastrophic change. <br /><br />The experts, convened by the International Program on the State of the Ocean and the International Union for Conservation of Nature, found that marine “degradation is now happening at a faster rate than predicted.” The oceans have warmed and become more acidic as they absorbed human-generated carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. They are also more oxygen-deprived, because of agricultural runoff and other anthropogenic causes. This deadly trio of conditions was present in previous mass extinctions, according to the report. <br /><br />The oceans’ natural resilience has been seriously compromised. Pollution, habitat loss and overfishing are dangerous threats on their own. But when these factors converge, they can destroy marine ecosystems.<br /><br />The severity of human impact was reinforced last week when scientists concluded that seven commercially important species, including marlin, mackerel and three tuna species, were either vulnerable to extinction, endangered or critically endangered according to I.U.C.N. standards. The solutions that might help slow further degradation include immediate reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, a system of marine conservation areas and a way to protect ocean life that goes beyond national jurisdictions. <br /><br />This is the work of nations, but such goals require pressure from ordinary citizens if there is to be any hope of bringing them about in the face of opposing political and economic interests. As the new study notes, changes in the oceans, caused by carbon emissions, are perhaps “the most significant to the earth system,” particularly because they will further accelerate climate change.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a072411a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a072411a7"></a><strong>7. Authoritative Article on Dietary Connections to Colon Cancer</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.aicr.org/site/News2?abbr=pr_&page=NewsArticle&id=20691&news_iv_ctrl=1102">http://www.aicr.org/site/News2?abbr=pr_&page=NewsArticle&id=20691&news_iv_ctrl=1102</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a072411a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a072411a8"></a><strong>8. Can a Global Food Crisis Be Averted?<br /><br />Taking Back Our Food - Dealing With Hunger And The Land</strong><br />By Jan Lundberg <br /><br /><a href="http://www.culturechange.org/cms/content/view/758/63/">http://www.culturechange.org/cms/content/view/758/63/</a> <br /><br />The housing crisis -- foreclosures, homelessness, renters cutting rents, disappearance of credit, slowdown in construction and home-buying – has gotten much more attention than the food crisis. The growth economy and<br /><br />Wall Street's "financial instruments" have been more important to corporate media and politicians beholden to their more affluent constituents. And rising hunger can be silent, for a time. <br /><br />But food is coming on strong as more serious: people can double up in a bed to stretch housing, but a plate of food split two ways means two still-hungry people. One billion people already go without sufficient food daily, a 1-7 ratio. In the U.S. it is 1-6, with record high Food Stamp reliance. One in four U.S. children are "food security at risk" (hungry).<br /><br />Trends indicate things will get worse before they get better: in the U.S., soaring farm values reflect that crop prices have risen because demand for food is growing around the world, while the supply of arable land is shrinking. In Iowa, 25 percent of farmland buyers are investors, double the proportion 20 years ago. <br /><br />The food crisis and the housing crisis are really one...<br />_ _ <br /><br />To read the remainder of this report, obtain resources and see inspiring photos, go to <a href="http://www.culturechange.org/cms/content/view/758/63/">http://www.culturechange.org/cms/content/view/758/63/</a> <br /><br />· * * * *· <br /><br />Culture Change<br /><br />Publisher and Editor: Jan Lundberg,<br />independent oil industry analyst<br />P.O. Box 3387, Santa Cruz, CA 95063 USA<br />tel./fax: 1-215-243-3144<br /><br />Send feedback to <a href="mailto:info@culturechange.org">info@culturechange.org</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a072411a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a072411a9"></a><strong>9. Non-Violent Civil Disobedience Planned to Save the Environment</strong><br /><br />Forwarded message from Rabbi Arthur Waskow: <br /><br /><strong>A Prophetic Voice in Jewish, Multireligious, and American Life </strong><br /><br />Dear Richard,
Ten days ago, I wrote you two letters about a specific form of nonviolent civil disobedience -- "embodying the future in the present." I described how the US Sit-in/ Freedom Ride movement of 50 years ago, the Israeli settler movement, and recently the "Freedom Flotillas" sail-ins to Gaza, very different from each other in many ways, all won success by using that approach. (<a href="http://www.theshalomcenter.org/">To read those two articles, click to our Home Page here.</a>)<br /><br /><strong>And I promised to explore an upcoming nonviolent civil-disobedience campaign in Washington DC, just a month from now. <br /><br />Bill McKibben and several other leaders of the US and world-wide movement to prevent climate disaster have called for a wave of nonviolent civil disobedience at the White House gates between August 20 and Labor Day.</strong>
The action will focus on convincing President Obama to withhold permits for the so-called ‘Keystone XL Pipeline’ from Canada’s tar sands to flow to Texas refineries, thence to add enormously to planet-scorching CO2. Below you will find McKibben’s letter.
More than 1100 people have signed up already. I am intending (God willing & the creeks don’t rise, or even if they do!) to take part in the tar-sands nonviolent CD action in DC in August. If you think you might want to be a part of this action, please sign up <a href="http://www.tarsandsaction.org/sign-up/">here</a>. <strong>And please forward this whole letter to your friends, co-workers, and co-congregants.
I am especially interested in helping to put together a multireligious contingent to express our spiritual commitment to the Earth and its human communities, and to focus the attention of the various faith communities on this issue and the larger climate crisis of which this is a part. <br /><br />If you are interested in this multireligious aspect of the event, please drop me a note at <a href="mailto:office@shalomctr.org">office@shalomctr.org</a>."</strong> At very best, a religious presence might not only risk arrest at the White House, but precede that with a religious event — “Blessing the Earth,” for example. <br /><br />Please note -- these action plans are NOT an example of "embodying the future in the present." To do that with the climate issue as the sit-ins did 50 years ago about racial segregation would require creating an alternative approach to energy, or transport, or food, etc. -- and then acting it out in such a way as to interrupt and challenge the conventional habits. For instance, imagine thousands of bike-riders filling the streets of a major city and preventing auto traffic.
Shalom, salaam, shantih, peace -- <strong><em>Arthur</em>
</strong>
<br /><br />From: Bill McKibben
Date: Sun, 3 Jul 2011 13:56:30 -0400
Subject: Fwd: civil disobedience this summer
<br /><br />Dear Friends,
<br /><br />This will be a slightly longer letter than common for the internet age—it’s serious stuff.
<strong>The short version is we want you to consider doing something hard: coming to Washington in the hottest and stickiest weeks of the summer and engaging in civil disobedience that will quite possibly get you arrested.</strong>
The full version goes like this:
As you know, the planet is steadily warming: 2010 was the warmest year on record, and we’ve seen the resulting chaos in almost every corner of the earth.
And as you also know, our democracy is increasingly controlled by special interests interested only in their short-term profit.
These two trends collide this summer in Washington, where the State Department and the White House have to decide whether to grant a certificate of ‘national interest’ to some of the biggest fossil fuel players on earth. These corporations want to build the so-called ‘Keystone XL Pipeline’ from Canada’s tar sands to Texas refineries.
To call this project a horror is serious understatement. The tar sands have wrecked huge parts of Alberta, disrupting ways of life in indigenous communities—First Nations communities in Canada, and tribes along the pipeline route in the U.S. have demanded the destruction cease. <br /><br />The pipeline crosses crucial areas like the Oglalla Aquifer where a spill would be disastrous—and though the pipeline companies insist they are using ‘state of the art’ technologies that should leak only once every 7 years, the precursor pipeline and its pumping stations have leaked a dozen times in the past year. These local impacts alone would be cause enough to block such a plan.
But the Keystone Pipeline would also be a fifteen hundred mile fuse to the biggest carbon bomb on the continent, a way to make it easier and faster to trigger the final overheating of our planet, the one place to which we are all indigenous.
How much carbon lies in the recoverable tar sands of Alberta? A recent calculation from some of our foremost scientists puts the figure at about 200 parts per million. Even with the new pipeline they won’t be able to burn that much overnight—but each development like this makes it easier to get more oil out.
As the climatologist Jim Hansen (one of the signatories to this letter) explained, if we have any chance of getting back to a stable climate “the principal requirement is that coal emissions must be phased out by 2030 and unconventional fossil fuels, such as tar sands, must be left in the ground.” In other words, he added, “if the tar sands are thrown into the mix it is essentially game over.”
<br /><br />The Keystone pipeline is an essential part of the game. “Unless we get increased market access, like with Keystone XL, we’re going to be stuck,” said Ralph Glass, an economist and vice-president at AJM Petroleum Consultants in Calgary, told a Canadian newspaper last week.
Given all that, you’d suspect that there’s no way the Obama administration would ever permit this pipeline. But in the last few months the administration has signed pieces of paper opening much of Alaska to oil drilling, and permitting coal-mining on federal land in Wyoming that will produce as much CO2 as 300 power plants operating at full bore.
And Secretary of State Clinton has already said she’s ‘inclined’ to recommend the pipeline go forward. Partly it’s because of the political commotion over high gas prices, though more tar sands oil would do nothing to change that picture.
But it’s also because of intense pressure from industry. The US Chamber of Commerce—a bigger funder of political campaigns than the RNC and DNC combined—has demanded that the administration “move quickly to approve the Keystone XL pipeline,” which is not so surprising—they’ve also told the U.S. EPA that if the planet warms that will be okay because humans can ‘adapt their physiology’ to cope. The Koch Brothers, needless to say, are also backing the plan, and may reap huge profits from it.
So we’re pretty sure that without serious pressure the Keystone Pipeline will get its permit from Washington. A wonderful coalition of environmental groups has built a strong campaign across the continent—from Cree and Dene indigenous leaders to Nebraska farmers, they’ve spoken out strongly against the destruction of their land. We need to join them, and to say even if our own homes won’t be crossed by this pipeline, our joint home—the earth—will be wrecked by the carbon that pours down it.
And we need to say something else, too: it’s time to stop letting corporate power make the most important decisions our planet faces. We don’t have the money to compete with those corporations, but we do have our bodies, and beginning in mid August many of us will use them. We will, each day, march on the White House, risking arrest with our trespass. We will do it in dignified fashion, demonstrating that in this case we are the conservatives, and that our foes—who would change the composition of the atmosphere are dangerous radicals. Come dressed as if for a business meeting—this is, in fact, serious business.
And another sartorial tip—if you wore an Obama button during the 2008 campaign, why not wear it again? <br /><br />We very much still want to believe in the promise of that young Senator who told us that with his election the ‘rise of the oceans would begin to slow and the planet start to heal.’ We don’t understand what combination of bureaucratic obstinacy and insider dealing has derailed those efforts, but we remember his request that his supporters continue on after the election to pressure his government for change. We’ll do what we can.
And one more thing: we don’t just want college kids to be the participants in this fight. They’ve led the way so far on climate change—10,000 came to DC for the Powershift gathering earlier this spring. They’ve marched this month in West Virginia to protest mountaintop removal; a young man named Tim DeChristopher faces sentencing this summer in Utah for his creative protest.
Now it’s time for people who’ve spent their lives pouring carbon into the atmosphere to step up too, just as many of us did in earlier battles for civil rights or for peace. Most of us signing this letter are veterans of this work, and we think it’s past time for elders to behave like elders. One thing we don’t want is a smash up: if you can’t control your passions, this action is not for you.
This won’t be a one-shot day of action. We plan for it to continue for several weeks, till the administration understands we won’t go away.
Not all of us can actually get arrested—half the signatories to this letter live in Canada, and might well find our entry into the U.S. barred. But we will be making plans for sympathy demonstrations outside Canadian consulates in the U.S., and U.S. consulates in Canada—the decision-makers need to know they’re being watched.
Twenty years of patiently explaining the climate crisis to our leaders hasn’t worked. Maybe moral witness will help. You have to start somewhere, and we choose here and now.
<br /><br />
If you think you might want to be a part of this action, we need you to sign up here.
As plans solidify in the next few weeks we’ll be in touch with you to arrange nonviolence training; our colleagues at a variety of environmental and democracy campaigns will be coordinating the actual arrangements.
We know we’re asking a lot. You should think long and hard on it, and pray if you’re the praying type. But to us, it’s as much privilege as burden to get to join this fight in the most serious possible way. We hope you’ll join us.
Maude Barlow – Chair, Council of Canadians
Wendell Berry – Author and Farmer
Tom Goldtooth – Director, Indigenous Environmental Network
Danny Glover – Actor
James Hansen – Climate Scientist
Wes Jackson – Agronomist, President of the Land Insitute
Naomi Klein – Author and Journalist
Bill McKibben – Writer and Environmentalist
George Poitras – Mikisew Cree Indigenous First Nation
Gus Speth – Environmental Lawyer and Activist
David Suzuki – Scientist, Environmentalist and Broadcaster
P.S. Please pass this letter on to anyone else you think might be interested. We realize that what we’re asking isn’t easy, and we’re very grateful that you’re willing even to consider it. See you in Washington!
Bill McKibben<br /> <br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a072411a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a072411a10"></a><strong>10. People’s Love Affair With Fish is Unsustainable</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.truth-out.org/end-line/1311010953">http://www.truth-out.org/end-line/1311010953</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a072411a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a072411a11"></a><strong>11. A Cautionary Story on Climate Change by the President of an Island That Is Sinking</strong><br /><br />OP-ED CONTRIBUTOR<br /><br /><strong>On Nauru, a Sinking Feeling</strong><br /><br />By MARCUS STEPHEN NY Times<br /><br />Published: July 18, 2011 <br /><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/19/opinion/19stephen.html?_r=1">http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/19/opinion/19stephen.html?_r=1</a> <br /><br />Thanks to JVNA advisor Steve Schuster for forwarding this to us.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a072411a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a072411a12"></a><strong>12. Animal Experiments in Israel Decreasing</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/study-shows-steady-decline-in-use-of-animals-for-lab-testing-in-israel-1.373762">http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/study-shows-steady-decline-in-use-of-animals-for-lab-testing-in-israel-1.373762</a> <br /><br />Study shows steady decline in use of animals for lab testing in Israel<br /><br />Number of animals used for lab tests down nine percent in past year; been steadily dropping since 2007, stats show. <br /><br />By Ilan Lior <br /><br />Laboratory experiments were performed on 286,000 animals in 2010 - some 9 percent down on the 2009 figure, according to data released by the National Council for Experimentation on Animal Subjects. <br /><br />According to the council figures, the number of experiments performed on animals in Israel has steadily dropped since 2007, when a record 340,000-plus animals underwent laboratory testing. Of the animals on which experiments were carried out last year, around 63 percent were laboratory mice, 18 percent rats, 9 percent chickens and 6 percent were fish. The remainder of the experiments, less than five percent, involved rabbits (about 2,000 ), pigs (1,400 ), bats (110 ), dogs (45 ), primates (33 ), cats (25 ) horses (10 ) and a single snake. <br /><br />The council, which supervises the issue for the Ministry of Health, reported that 43.5 percent of these experiments were for "basic scientific research," 42.5 percent for the purposes of "health and medicine," 11 percent for "the testing or manufacture of objects or materials" and 3 percent for "educational and instructional purposes." <br /><br />Permits were issued for experiments on 561,000 animal subjects, but nearly half of the permits were not utilized, mainly due to difficulties in obtaining funding.<br /><br />Animal experiments are classified according to the amount of suffering they cause to their subjects, on a scale from one to five. About 11 percent of last year's experiments were rated five, causing the most suffering, with 34 percent at level four and 31 percent rated three. The council's figures do not include experiments on animals that were put to death prior to the use of their bodies, nor do they include animal experiments carried out by the defense establishment. <br /><br />The chairwoman of the Behind Closed Doors animal-rights organization, Anat Refua, admitted that she was pleasantly surprised by the figures for 2010. "Experiments using live animals are bad, archaic and barbaric science that destorys human morality and needlessly hurts both animals and human beings," Refua said. "As someone who has been battling this issue for 14 years, this decline is extraordinary to a significant degree.<br /><br />"<br /><br />On the one hand, more laboratories, research centers and biotechnology firms are being opened; on the other hand, there is a decline in the number of animal experiments. In England there was a 3 percent increase this year and in the United States a 2 percent rise. Here in Israel, there's suddenly this 9 percent drop. It's really significant - 30,000 fewer animals than last year, that means 30,000 souls that were saved," Refua said. <br /><br />A state comptroller's report issued two months ago noted serious oversights in the supervision of animal experimentation in Israel. The report noted that the national council did not act to introduce proper procedures for its own operation, and that in the 17 years since its establishment, it had discussed alternatives to animal experiments just once.<br /><br />The State Comptroller's Office also found that many of the subjects of animal experiments are needlessly put to death when the experiment is completed and implied that the reasons for this were financial.<br /><br />Thanks to JVNA advisor Rabbi Adam Frank for forwarding this message to us.<br /><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a072411a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a072411a13"></a><strong>13. Is the Hotter Weather the New Norm?/NY Times Op-Ed Article</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/20/opinion/20cullen.html?_r=1&hp">http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/20/opinion/20cullen.html?_r=1&hp</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a072411a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a072411a14"></a><strong>14. NY Times Op-Ed Article: Tax Meat and Subsidize Plant Foods</strong><br /><br />Important article by food expert/writer Marc Bittman: <br /><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/24/opinion/sunday/24bittman.html">http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/24/opinion/sunday/24bittman.html</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a072411a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">** Fair Use Notice **<br /><br />The material on this site is provided for educational and informational purposes. It may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. It is being made available in an effort to advance the understanding of vegetarian, environmental, nutritional, health, economic, social justice and human rights issues etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have an interest in using the included information for educational or research purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. The information on this site does not constitute legal, technical or medical advice.</span><em></em>.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17349614588789907464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9631520.post-53510039798907508742011-07-13T15:21:00.056-04:002011-09-06T03:57:00.174-04:0007/13/2011 JVNA Online NewsletterShalom everyone,<br /><br /><a name="a071311a0"></a>This update/<strong><a href="http://jewishveg.com/">Jewish Vegetarians of North America</a></strong> (JVNA) Online Newsletter has the following items:<br /><br /><strong>1. <a href="#a071311a1">Vegetarianism and Tisha B’Av</a><br /><br />2. <a href="#a071311a2">Israeli Chief Rabbi Responds to Appeals to Ban Shackling and Hoisting</a><br /><br />3. <a href="#a071311a3">Summary of Many Reasons to be Vegetarian</a><br /><br />4. <a href="#a071311a4">News From Orthodox Jewish Environmental Group Canfei Nesharim</a><br /><br />5. <a href="#a071311a5">Climate Change Threatening World Food Supply</a><br /><br />6. <a href="#a071311a6">Outline of Current Crises and Future Prospects</a><br /><br />7. <a href="#a071311a7">Jewish Farms Donate Vegan Bounty</a><br /><br />8. <a href="#a071311a8">Is Nonviolent Civil Disobedience an Effective Way to Promote Efforts to Stabilize Climate?</a><br /><br />9. <a href="#a071311a9">Climate Change is Increasing Injustice and Instability</a><br /><br />10. <a href="#a071311a10">Jerusalem Post Article Extols Vegan Diets</a><br /><br />11. <a href="#a071311a11">Resource Scarcities Threaten the World’s Future</a><br /><br />12. <a href="#a071311a12">Animals Voice Magazine Summer Issue Now Available</a><br /><br />13. <a href="#a071311a13">Campaign to Educate People on Climate Realities Initiated</a><br /></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Some material has been deferred to a later update/newsletter to keep this one from being even longer.<br /><br />[Materials in brackets like this [ ] within an article or forwarded message are my editorial notes/comments.]<br /><br />As always, your comments and suggestions are very welcome. <br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Richard</span><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a071311a1"></a><strong>1. Vegetarianism and Tisha B’Av</strong><br /><br />I recently sent you a special JVNA newsletter on “Vegetarianism and Tisha B’Av” that included a press release, 2 articles (that can also be found in the holidays section at <a href="http://www.JewishVeg.com/Schwartz">JewishVeg.com/Schwartz</a>, and a letter (in a longer and shorter form). I encourage you to pass some of that material along to others, especially the Jewish media, and to use it for letters to the editor, calls to radio talk shows, and talking points in general. Suggestions on the material are very welcome. Thanks.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a071311a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a071311a2"></a><strong>2. Israeli Chief Rabbi Responds to Appeals to Ban Shackling and Hoisting<br /><br />a. Jerusalem Post Article <br /><br />Chief Rabbinate ‘against’ shackle-and-hoist method</strong><br /><br />By <a href="mailto:mandeljonah@gmail.com">JONAH MANDEL</a> <br /><br />07/08/2011 <br /><br /><a href="http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishNews/Article.aspx?id=228454">http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishNews/Article.aspx?id=228454</a> <br /><br />Also at <br /><br /><a href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=66123">http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=66123</a><br /><br />included to show that the message is spreading already. <br /><br />Kashrut, other dietary activists: South American practice of chaining steer’s leg to lift animal for ritual slaughter is cruel, abusive. <br /><br />The Chief Rabbinate says it’s doing its upmost to bring an end to the shackle-and-hoist method applied to cattle slaughtered in South American abattoirs for meat exported to Israel. <br /><br />Last year, media reports quoted Avi Blumenthal, a top aide to Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi Yona Metzger, as setting the end of 2011 as a deadline for the slaughterhouses to stop attaching chains to the legs of fully conscious cattle in order to hoist them into position for ritual slaughter. <br /><br />According to those reports, Metzger – who is in charge of kashrut in the rabbinate – threatened that if the abattoirs did not change over to the somewhat-better solution of “inverted boxes,” in which the cattle are walked into box-like structures that are then rolled over to expose the animal’s throat, the rabbinate would refuse to issue them with kashrut certificates. <br /><br />Reality, however, provides a more complex picture. <br /><br />According to Blumenthal, the Chief Rabbinate never made any such commitments. <br /><br />Rather, it was more an expression of the desire to see the abattoirs move to inverted boxes, although some of the slaughterhouses, he said, lacked the space or the means. <br /><br />Jewish vegetarian advocacy groups were up in arms over what they saw as a breach of promise.<br /><br />“As president of Jewish Vegetarians of North America, I very respectfully urge you to please fulfill your promise to put an end to shackling and hoisting of animals for shechitah,” Professor Richard Schwartz wrote to Metzger last month, using the Hebrew word for ritual slaughter. <br /><br />“I believe that this action would be a kiddush Hashem [sanctification of God’s name] by helping end violations of <i>tsa’ar ba’alei chaim</i> at South American slaughterhouses and by showing how Judaism’s eternal teachings apply to contemporary situations,” Schwartz wrote. “It would also be consistent with other rulings you have made about the proper treatment of animals, including banning the use of furs imported from China, where animals are skinned alive.” <br /><br />Schwartz added that Jews “must strive to emulate” the ways of God. <br /><br />“Therefore, we turn to you, as Chief Rabbi, to redress this avoidable <i>tsa’ar ba’alei chaim</i> and to institute restraint systems for shechitah that minimize suffering. If this is done, it will surely help fulfill our divine mandate to be a ‘light unto the nations’ by our example, and not the opposite.” <br /><br />Blumenthal issued a careful response to Schwartz in which he stressed the importance Judaism gives to preventing cruelty to animals. He also noted actions taken by Metzger to diminish such cruelty, such as requesting that the Agriculture Ministry mark eggs with a description of their source. <br /><br />“In the context of the fervent action taken by the Chief Rabbi for the well-being of animals and the prevention of cruelty to them, he also called a meeting of those concerned with the importing of meat from all over the world into Israel, and explained to them that the continued use of the fettering [shackling] method is likely to lead to an attack on kosher meat and that this might lead to blasphemy and constitute a threat to the Jewish method of ritual slaughter all over the world,” Blumenthal wrote. <br /><br />“[Metzger] has instructed the importers to cease using this method, and expressed the hope that the phenomenon will totally disappear. He has also given them a certain amount of time in which to change the manner of preparation for ritual slaughter.” <br /><br />Blumenthal did not note what the time frame was. <br /><br />“Nevertheless,” he continued, “by reason of various constraints, such as long-term contracts signed between the importers and the factory owners or local and technical restrictions, the phenomenon still exists, albeit in minimal percentage terms, the information in our possession having revealed that the old system [of shackling] has been substantially reduced.” <br /><br />Blumenthal noted that shackling was not employed by rabbinate staff ion the abattoirs. <br /><br />“There is no such requirement on our part; quite the reverse, we have given an unequivocal instruction to go over to the inverted box method. Furthermore, this process is not part of the ritual slaughter, but is carried out prior to it,” he wrote to Schwartz. “The chief rabbi completely associates himself with your feelings and hopes that this phenomenon will disappear completely.” <br /><br />In responding to the letter on Wednesday, Schwartz said he was “very pleased by Chief Rabbi Metzger’s deep commitment to applying Judaism’s strong teachings about compassion to animals” and increasing such awareness. <br /><br />“I hope that he will continue to use the power of his office to help end the many current abuses of animals, including the shackling and hoisting of cows prior to slaughter at slaughterhouses in South America, which ships meat to Israel, the raising of egg-laying hens in very crowded battery cages, and the immediate removal of calves from their mothers to be raised for veal in very small spaces,” Schwartz wrote. “In addition, since animal-based diets are contributing significantly to an epidemic of diseases, animal-based agriculture is a major contributor to climate change and water, energy, and food shortages that threaten all of humanity, and plant based diets are most consistent with Jewish teachings on taking care of our health, treating animals with compassion, protecting the environment, conserving natural resources, and helping hungry people, I hope that Chief Rabbi Metzger will help increase awareness of the importance of eliminating or at least sharply reducing the consumption of meat.” <br /><br />-------------------------------------------<br /><br /><strong>b. My response</strong> in a letter to the editor and postings after the article (divided up and shortened due to space limitations): (On July 8, the Jerusalem Post published my letter, but in a shortened form.) <br /><br />As president of Jewish Vegetarians of North America and author of <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Judaism-Vegetarianism-Richard-H-Schwartz/dp/1930051247/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1315273196&sr=1-1">Judaism and Vegetarianism</a></i>, I was, of course, very happy to read this article. Kol hakavod to Jonah Mandel for his excellent reporting. <br /><br />While I hope that the cruel shackling and hoisting method will soon be ended, I believe that this issue is just the tip of the iceberg in at least two ways. <br /><br />First, even if animals are slaughtered in the most painless way, consistent with Jewish ritual slaughter laws, can we ignore the many violations of <i>tsa’ar ba’alei chaim</i> on factory farms where they live in cramped, confined spaces, and are often drugged, mutilated, and denied fresh air, sunlight, exercise, and any enjoyment of life, before they are slaughtered and eaten. <br /><br />Second, even if animals were raised more humanely, can we ignore the devastating effects of animal-based diets on human health and the environment and how animal-based diets arguably violate Jewish mandates to preserve human health, treat animals with compassion, protect the environment, conserve natural resources, and help hungry people. <br /><br />I would love to have a respectful dialogue/debate with a rabbi or other Jewish scholar on "Should Jews be Vegetarians?" It would be a <i>kiddush Hashem</i> (a sanctification of God's name) in showing the relevance of Judaism's eternal teachings to current threats. <br /><br />For more information on Jewish teachings on vegetarianism please visit <a href="http://www.JewishVeg.com/schwartz">JewishVeg.com/schwartz</a>, where I have 140 articles and 25 podcasts of my talks and interviews and the complete text of my book "Judaism and Vegetarianism." Please also visit <a href="http://www.aSacredDuty.com">aSacredDuty.com</a>, where you can see our acclaimed, award-winning documentary "A Sacred Duty: Applying Jewish Values to Help Heal the World."<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a071311a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a071311a3"></a><strong>3. Summary of Many Reasons to be Vegetarian</strong><br /><br />Forwarded message: <br /><br /><strong>21 REASONS for being VEGETARIAN<br /> <br />Vegetarianism is the fastest growing trend in the developed world. Here are 21 reasons why you should think about turning green too.</strong> <br /><br /><a href="http://www.giveusahome.co.uk/articles/vegetarianism.htm">http://www.giveusahome.co.uk/articles/vegetarianism.htm</a> <br /> <br /> Avoiding meat is one of the best and simplest ways to cut down your fat consumption. Modern farm animals are deliberately fattened up to increase profits. Eating fatty meat increases your chances of having a heart attack or developing cancer.<br /> <br /> Every minute of every working day, thousands of animals are killed in slaughterhouses. Pain and misery are common. In the US alone, 500,000 animals are killed for meat every hour.<br /> <br /> There are millions of cases of food poisoning recorded every year. The vast majority is caused by eating meat.<br /> <br /> Meat contains absolutely nothing - no proteins, vitamins or minerals - that the human body cannot obtain perfectly happily from a vegetarian diet.<br /> <br /> African countries - where millions are starving to death - export grain to the developed world so that animals can be fattened for our dining tables. <br /> <br /> 'Meat' can include the tail, head, feet, rectum and spinal cord of an animal. <br /> <br /> A sausage can contain ground up intestines. How can anyone be sure that the intestines are empty when they are ground up? Do you really want to eat the content of a pig's intestines?<br /> <br /> If we eat the plants we grow instead of feeding them to animals, the world's food shortage will disappear virtually overnight. Remember that 100 acres of land will produce enough beef for 20 people but enough wheat to feed 240 people. <br /> <br /> Every day, tens of millions of one-day-old male chicks are killed because they will not be able to lay eggs. There are no rules about how this mass slaughter takes place. Some are crushed or suffocated to death. Many are used for fertilizer or fed to other animals. <br /><br /> Animals who die for your dinner table die alone, in terror, in sadness and in pain. The killing is merciless and inhumane.<br /> <br /> It's must easier to become (and stay) slim if you are a vegetarian. (By 'slim', I do not mean 'abnormally slender' or 'underweight' but rather, an absence of excess weight!)<br /> <br /> Half the rainforests in the world have been destroyed to clear ground to graze cattle to make beef burgers. The burning of the forests contributes 20% of all greenhouse gases. Roughly 1,000 species a year become extinct because of the destruction of the rainforests. Approximately 60 million people a year die of starvation. All those lives could be saved because those people could eat grain used to fatten cattle and other farm animals - if Americans ate 10% less meat.<br /> <br /> If you eat meat, you are consuming hormones that were fed to the animals. No one knows what effect those hormones will have on your health. In some parts of the world, as many as one on four hamburgers contain growth hormones that were originally given to cattle. <br /><br /> The following diseases are commoner among meat eaters: anemia, appendicitis, arthritis, breast cancer, cancer of the colon, cancer of the prostrate, constipation, diabetes, gallstones, gout, high blood pressure, indigestion, obesity, piles, strokes and varicose veins. Lifelong vegetarians visit hospital 22% less often than meat eaters and for shorter stays. Vegetarians have a 20% lower blood cholesterol level than meat eaters and this reduces heart attack and cancer risks considerably.<br /> <br /> Some farmers use tranquillizers to keep animals calm. Other routinely use antibiotics to starve off infection. When you eat meat you are eating those drugs. In America, 55% of all antibiotics are fed to animals and the percentage of staphylococci infections resistant to penicillin went up from 14% in 1960 to 91% in 1988. <br /> <br /> In a lifetime, the average meat eater will consumer 36 pigs, 36 sheep and 750 chickens and turkeys. Do you want that much carnage on your conscience? <br /><br /> Animals suffer from pain and fear just as much as you do. How would you like to spend your last hours locked in a truck, packed into a cage with hundreds of other terrified animal and then cruelly pushed into a blood soaked death chamber. Anyone who eats meat condones and supports the way animals are treated.<br /> <br /> Animals which are a year old are often far more rational - and capable of logical thought - than six week old babies. Pigs and sheep are far more intelligent than small children. Eating dead animals is barbaric.<br /> <br /> Vegetarians are fitter than meat eaters. Many of the world's most successful athletes are vegetarian. <br /><br />Thanks to author, educator, and JVNA advisor Dan Brook for forwarding this material to us.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a071311a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a071311a4"></a><strong>4. News From Orthodox Jewish Environmental Group Canfei Nesharim<br /><br />Learn to Express Your Purpose,<br /><br />Engage Your Community and Motivate Action</strong><br /><br />Join Jewish environmental leaders and activists from California and around the world on August 21 at the third <a href="http://www.jewcology.com/content/view/Leadership-Training-at-Hazon-Food-Conference-August-21">Jewcology Leadership Training</a>, a bonus day to the <a href="http://www.hazon.org/programs/food-conference/">Hazon Food Conference</a>. <br /><br /><strong>Date:</strong> Sunday August 21<br /><br /><strong>Time:</strong> 10:30am-6:30pm<br /><br /><strong>Location:</strong> UC-Davis (Sacramento, CA)<br /><br /><strong>Cost:</strong> $60 (<a href="http://www.jewcology.com/content/view/Apply-for-a-Scholarship-Jewcology-Leadership-Training">Scholarships</a> available!) <br /><br />In this full-day session, we will:<br /><br /> <strong>learn</strong> how to share the experiences and values that have led us to engage in Jewish environmental education and action<br /><br /> <strong>gain skills</strong> to help us tell our personal stories in a way that connects us with others and clearly expresses our purpose, and<br /><br /> <strong>practice</strong> using these values and commitments to connect with a wide range of individuals and groups, and to inspire a diversity of audiences to take meaningful, collective action.<br /><br /><i>This event is intended for Jews of all denominations. Food served at this event will be kosher.</i><br /><br /><strong>Learn more and register here! <br /> <br />And... from our friends at Ashrei</strong> <br /> <br />Ashrei, Sulam Yaakov's entry-level Torah study track for men, is happy to announce that this year's program will feature "Eco-Ashrei," a weekly environmental Torah learning active-seminar. Created by Yonatan Neril and Shaul Judelman, veteran Torah environmental activists and educators in Israel, Eco-Ashrei adds an essential element to Ashrei's rich program. <br /><br />Each week, Ashrei participants will join Shaul and Yonatan as we venture to sites throughout and outside of Jerusalem and learn about/work on Jewish environmental topics. <br /><br />Ashrei is a MASA-approved program, as is its sister program, Shirat Devorah (which will also be featuring a unit designed by Yonatan and Shaul). For more information about the programs, visit <a href="http://ashrei.org.il/">Ashrei</a> and <a href=" http://shiratdevorah.org/">Shirat Devorah</a>, and/or contact <a href="mailto:ravyehoshua@ashrei.org.il">R. Yehoshua Kahan</a> or <a href="mailto:mur7@yahoo.com">Miriam Esther Hadid</a>.<br /> <br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a071311a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a071311a5"></a><strong>5. Climate Change Threatening World Food Supply</strong><br /><br />Rising Temperatures Melting Away Global Food Security
<a href="http://www.earth-policy.org/book_bytes/2011/wotech4_ss3">www.earth-policy.org/book_bytes/2011/wotech4_ss3</a>
<br /> Earth Policy Release
Book Byte
July 6, 2011<br /> <br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a071311a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a071311a6"></a><strong>6. Outline of Current Crises and Future Prospects<br /><br />A 50,000 Foot View of The Global Crisis</strong><br /><br />By Paul Chefurka<br /><br /><a href="http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=b8e53c620300ae88791163048&id=02bb17cef6&e=075b57f662">http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=b8e53c620300ae88791163048&id=02bb17cef6&e=075b57f662</a> <br /><br />SNIP [Initial part of this very insightful article not shown here for space reasons. The entire article is highly recommended. The VERY frightening analysis reinforces my belief about the importance of our efforts.] <br /><br /><strong>The Present: </strong><br /><br />There are of course many symptoms of the global problem, but these are representative:<br /><br />Climate change due to CO2 emissions from fossil fuels is probably the most significant existential threat humanity faces today. Climate change is altering weather patterns, causing physical damage though extreme weather events, and is increasingly disrupting rainfall and food production in various regions.<br /><br />Soil fertility is plummeting worldwide.<br /><br />Fresh water extraction from long-term and fossil aquifer storage is increasing to support the intensification of agriculture. Water tables are sinking around the world.<br /><br />We may have already lost the oceans, because of a combination of over-fishing, acidification, temperature changes, and pollution from plastic waste and agricultural runoff. Food fish species exploited by humans are near collapse and the entire food chain is showing signs of disruption (e.g. jellyfish population explosions).<br /><br />Desertification and deforestation are continuing largely unchecked around the world.<br /><br />Species are going extinct at a very rapid rate, from a combination of habitat loss due to human activity, climate change and pervasive pollution.<br /><br />The human food supply is showing signs of peaking due to climate change and increasing input costs.<br /><br />Many genomes of agricultural species of plants and animals have been streamlined to such an extent that the resilience of the stocks is now in question.<br /><br />We hit Peak Oil around 2006. Global crude oil production has been on a plateau since late 2004 (7 years now) despite massive upward excursions in the price.<br /><br />The world economy is in a continuing recession caused by a combination of human factors (excessive complexity and loss of control) and a tightening of resource inputs – especially oil. The symptoms vary from place to place, but the underpinnings are global. <br /><br /><strong>The Future:</strong> <br /><br />The following points constitute a scenario based on my reading, that I believe becomes increasingly probable as the time horizon is pushed out. Take this as a 75 year scenario.<br /><br />Climate change will not be ameliorated by international agreement. This is due to the cooperation problems identified in the “Prisoner’s Dilemma” game, national and corporate self-interest, a lack of urgency due to the hyperbolic discount function mentioned above, and the complete lack of any realistic substitute for fossil fuels.<br /><br />The general replacement of declining oil supplies by biofuels will not succeed due to the low ERoEI of such fuels.<br /><br />The global impact of Peak Oil will be made worse as producing nations retain more of their declining oil output to satisfy domestic demand. This will drain the international oil market of most supplies by 2040 or so.<br /><br />Over the next 25 years the decline in oil exports will trigger repeated rises in world oil prices. Those prices will in turn trigger waves of economic instability, with the prices falling during recessions/depressions and surging again during attempted recoveries.<br /><br />The amount of capital available for new equipment manufacturing and infrastructure maintenance and development will decline in a stair-step fashion during the repeated recessions, as the global debt bubble implodes.<br /><br />Nuclear power will not be developed any further because of public resistance due to the perceived risk. Some exceptions may occur in autocratic, centrally planned economies (esp. Russia and China).<br /><br />While much renewable power will be installed in some places, in global terms renewable power will not save the day. This will be because of the lack of capital, the huge disparity between current renewable generating capacity and power needs, the inability to upgrade or even maintain national electrical grids, and the difficulty in addressing some transportation problems with electricity.<br /><br />Most new electrical generation capacity will be fuelled by natural gas and coal.<br /><br />There will be spreading electrical grid breakdowns as poorly-maintained infrastructure fails.<br /><br />The human food supply will fail to keep pace with population growth, probably starting within the next two to five years. Despite international aid, famines will begin to spread out of sub-Saharan Africa into the rest of that continent and Asia. Pockets of starvation will begin to appear in developed nations over the next decade or two.<br /><br />International tensions will rise over access rights to water, oil and gas. Regional and civil wars will become more common.<br /><br />Populations will panic, and demand strong protective measures from their governments. This will result in an increase in repressive, bellicose authoritarian regimes. Asymmetric warfare will increase.<br /><br />The use of transportation to move food from consuming to producing regions will become increasingly difficult, unreliable and expensive. This will cause a re-localization of food production, but some regions will not have enough land, water or skills – or a suitable climate – to permit the replacement of imported food supplies.<br /><br />Sanitation infrastructure will suffer for the same reason as electrical grids – the progressive lack of capital for maintenance and refurbishment. Sanitation failures will trigger disease outbreaks.<br /><br />Fertility rates and birth rates are likely to plummet worldwide over the next 30 years, due to the same influences seen in Russia from 1987 to 1993 during the break-up of the Soviet Union. These changes will largely be driven by personal choice rather than centralized planning and legislation.<br /><br />Mortality rates will begin to climb somewhat later, due to food supply problems and the regional spread of communicable “breakdown” diseases like cholera, typhoid and dysentery. The spread of diseases will be aided by the breakdown of local and regional sanitation and health care systems.<br /><br />Population growth will slow faster than the UN currently projects. World population may reach a peak of between 7 and 8 billion between 2030 and 2040, and then begin to decline. The speed of the decline is unknowable. The world population will begin to stabilize as it drops below two billion.<br /><br />The world’s political landscape will undergo massive changes. In some cases there will be fragmentation as regional populations secede or are increasingly isolated by traditional geographic barriers (mountains, rivers, lakes, oceans and deserts). In other cases there will be amalgamations as wars of conquest are fought over resource access rights. <br /><br />I do not believe, based on what I have learned, that new technological developments offer any hope for escaping this scenario. Much of the possibility for technological development hinges on the availability of capital and oil, both of which will be in increasingly short supply in the coming decades.<br /><br />Some technological developments will cushion the shocks in some places. For instance the OECD may be able to make use of new low-energy or renewable technologies. However, the probability that such changes will penetrate deeply enough into Africa and Asia to prevent catastrophe is, in my estimation, vanishingly small. And in the end, the entropic forces at work may overrun even the most technologically sophisticated regions.<br /><br />I do not support the use of genetic engineering or biotechnology to address the food supply problem. In my opinion the risks are too great and the probability of success is too low. Nor do I support the further development of nuclear power, for similar reasons.<br /><br />In any event, what we face is not, at its heart, a technology problem amenable to an engineering solution. What we have is an ecological problem. We are in an overshoot situation relative to the ecological underpinnings that are required to support life, as well as having drawn down most of the accessible resources on which our civilization’s operation now depends. Our numbers and our needs have filled our ecological niche, which we have expanded to include the entire planet.<br /><br />The good news is that human extinction is extremely unlikely. This is a very large planet, and we are a very resilient species. There is evidence that we rebounded from the Toba bottleneck when our species was reduced to at most a few tens of thousands of individuals. Barring a cosmic accident, humans will be around for a long time. Our current civilization, though, is quite another matter. On that scale we are about out of time, resources and options.<br /><br />So what do we do about it? It’s not in our nature to simply roll over and give up – our survival instinct is, after all, built into the oldest reptilian part of our brains.<br /><br />There will be some governments that will come to their senses in time, and have the courage to institute helpful measures. Unfortunately, institutional responses will usually be reactive rather than proactive. The worse the situation becomes before they take action, the more likely it becomes that panic will cloud the decision-makers’ judgment, leading to short-sighted, mistaken and ultimately harmful policies.<br /><br />Most of the effective preparation for the coming changes will happen where it always does – at the individual level. This is already happening as people break free from the groupthink of their cultures, wake up and realize what’s going on.<br /><br />This awakening is the source motivation that feeds all the small, local independent environmental and social-justice groups that are springing into being like antibodies throughout the infected bloodstream of our global culture. These groups are independently addressing local problems as diverse as water rights, education, local food production, environmental cleanup, social justice issues, home energy production, local currencies, cooperative housing and child care – the list is effectively endless.<br /><br />As these groups do their work, they also wake up many of those they come in contact with, to one degree or another. There may be over two million such groups in existence today, and there is one or more in every city on the planet. As far as I can tell their number is growing by about 30% per year. They are the true repositories of hope in a gloomy landscape.<br /><br />“Big solutions” are what got us into our current predicament. I reject the notion that more big solutions will get us out. Instead I prefer to count on the boundless courage, compassion, and ingenuity of individuals. People like you.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a071311a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a071311a7"></a><strong>7. Jewish Farms Donate Vegan Bounty<br /><br />Beyond canned food drives: Jewish farms donate bounty</strong><br /><br />By <a href="mailto:jpostcolumns@gmail.com">JTA</a> <br /><br />07/04/2011 19:27 <br /><br /><a href="http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishFeatures/Article.aspx?id=227897">http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishFeatures/Article.aspx?id=227897</a> <br /><br />Volunteer: Spending time in the field, turning the earth together, harvesting together, is a great way to get to know each other and build community.<br /><br />BERKELEY, Calif. - Tali Weinberg walks along the rows of leafy green vegetables poking out of neatly raised beds of soil at Urban Adamah, a newly launched Jewish garden project in this university town. <br /><br />“We’re growing chard, kale, lettuce, summer squash, cucumbers, beans, basil, fennel, dill, tatsoi, broccoli, cabbage,” she said, surveying the garden. Later in the summer, they will add peppers, tomatoes and eggplants. <br /><br />SNIP <br /><br />Thanks to author, nutrition expert, and JVNA advisor Jay Lavine for forwarding this material to us. He also submitted the following comments: <br /><br />This is the kind of thing we need to support! I submitted a comment [after the article] earlier. As I indicated in my comment, it would be great to have a charity that supported programs of this nature exclusively. Programs such as these promote vegan nutrition more effectively than anything could because they embody the idea that plants foods are the most healthful and the most nutrient-dense and that they support all nutritional needs. The donation of produce to the needy is a concept we should strongly support. We all know that food banks often reject perishable food items and instead collect unhealthful processed foods, especially animal products, for distribution. Other charitable organizations often provide meat and other animal products as well. This serves to provide self-validation for the donors, in terms of their own dietary choices, but comes at the expense of the poor. <br /><br />Providing fresh produce and produce alone to the needy is consistent with nutritional recommendations for an ideal diet. A research editorial accompanying a recent study reported online in The Journal of the American Dietetic Association began with the words, “What could be more nutrient dense than a vegetarian diet?” This, of course, is antithetical to common public beliefs. Therefore, by furnishing the poor with fresh vegan foods, we are doing what is in their best interests – giving them the most nutrient-dense foods to insure nutritional adequacy, the same foods that provide the most benefit and the least detriment to health. What a powerful statement in favor of the nutritional superiority of a plant food diet! It represents ideal nutrition in practice, not just in theory, and is therefore much more influential than all the rhetoric directed at unhearing ears.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a071311a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a071311a8"></a><strong>8. Is Nonviolent Civil Disobedience an Effective Way to Promote Efforts to Stabilize Climate?</strong><br /><br />Forwarded message from Rabbi Arthur Waskow, author, activist, and director of the Shalom Center: <br /><br />Dear folks, Bill McKibben and many other leaders of the US and world-wide movement to prevent climate disaster have called for a wave of nonviolent civil disobedience at the White House gates between August and Labor Day, focused on convincing President Obama to withhold permits that would allow the so-called ‘Keystone XL Pipeline’ from Canada’s tar sands to flow to Texas refineries, thence to add enormously to planet-scorching CO2. <strong>Below you will find McKibben’s letter. </strong> <br /><br />I am intending (God willing & the creeks don’t rise, or even if they do!) to take part in the tar-sands nonviolent CD action in DC in August. <strong>If you think you might want to be a part of this action, please sign up here. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.tarsandsaction.org/sign-up/">http://www.tarsandsaction.org/sign-up/</a></strong> <br /><br />I am especially interested in helping to put together a multireligious contingent to focus the attention of the various faith communities on this issue and the larger climate crisis of which this is a part. (Bill is asking for a 3-days-in Washington expectation: one to prepare, one to act, one to deal with legal issues. For me, a 3-day period between Aug 28 & Sept 1 would be best.) If you are interested in this multireligious aspect of the event, please drop me a note. At very best, a religious presence might not only risk arrest at the White House, but precede that with a religious event — Blessing the Earth, for example. <br /><br />Shalom, salaam, shantih, peace -- <i>Arthur</i> <br /><br />Rabbi Arthur Waskow, director, The Shalom Center <br /><br />------ Forwarded Message<br /><br />From: Bill McKibben <bill.mckibben@gmail.com><br /><br />Date: Sun, 3 Jul 2011 13:56:30 -0400<br /><br />Subject: Fwd: civil disobedience this summer <br /><br />Dear Friends, <br /><br />This will be a slightly longer letter than common for the internet age—it’s serious stuff. <br /><br /><i>The short version is we want you to consider doing something hard: coming to Washington in the hottest and stickiest weeks of the summer and engaging in civil disobedience that will quite possibly get you arrested.</i> <br /><br />The full version goes like this: <br /><br />As you know, the planet is steadily warming: 2010 was the warmest year on record, and we’ve seen the resulting chaos in almost every corner of the earth.<br /><br />And as you also know, our democracy is increasingly controlled by special interests interested only in their short-term profit. <br /><br />These two trends collide this summer in Washington, where the State Department and the White House have to decide whether to grant a certificate of ‘national interest’ to some of the biggest fossil fuel players on earth. These corporations want to build the so-called ‘Keystone XL Pipeline’ from Canada’s tar sands to Texas refineries. <br /><br />To call this project a horror is serious understatement. The tar sands have wrecked huge parts of Alberta, disrupting ways of life in indigenous communities—First Nations communities in Canada, and tribes along the pipeline route in the U.S. have demanded the destruction cease. The pipeline crosses crucial areas like the Oglalla Aquifer where a spill would be disastrous—and though the pipeline companies insist they are using ‘state of the art’ technologies that should leak only once every 7 years, the precursor pipeline and its pumping stations have leaked a dozen times in the past year. These local impacts alone would be cause enough to block such a plan. <br /><br /><i>But the Keystone Pipeline would also be a fifteen hundred mile fuse to the biggest carbon bomb on the continent, a way to make it easier and faster to trigger the final overheating of our planet, the one place to which we are all indigenous.</i> <br /><br />How much carbon lies in the recoverable tar sands of Alberta? A recent calculation from some of our foremost scientists puts the figure at about 200 parts per million. Even with the new pipeline they won’t be able to burn that much overnight—but each development like this makes it easier to get more oil out. <br /><br />As the climatologist Jim Hansen (one of the signatories to this letter) explained, if we have any chance of getting back to a stable climate “the principal requirement is that coal emissions must be phased out by 2030 and unconventional fossil fuels, such as tar sands, must be left in the ground.” In other words, he added, “if the tar sands are thrown into the mix it is essentially game over.” <br /><br /><strong>The Keystone pipeline is an essential part of the game. “Unless we get increased market access, like with Keystone XL, we’re going to be stuck,” said Ralph Glass, an economist and vice-president at AJM Petroleum Consultants in Calgary, told a Canadian newspaper last week.</strong> <br /><br />Given all that, you’d suspect that there’s no way the Obama administration would ever permit this pipeline. But in the last few months the administration has signed pieces of paper opening much of Alaska to oil drilling, and permitting coal-mining on federal land in Wyoming that will produce as much CO2 as 300 power plants operating at full bore. <br /><br />And Secretary of State Clinton has already said she’s ‘inclined’ to recommend the pipeline go forward. Partly it’s because of the political commotion over high gas prices, though more tar sands oil would do nothing to change that picture. <br /><br />But it’s also because of intense pressure from industry. The US Chamber of Commerce—a bigger funder of political campaigns than the RNC and DNC combined—has demanded that the administration “move quickly to approve the Keystone XL pipeline,” which is not so surprising—they’ve also told the U.S. EPA that if the planet warms that will be okay because humans can ‘adapt their physiology’ to cope. The Koch Brothers, needless to say, are also backing the plan, and may reap huge profits from it. <br /><br />So we’re pretty sure that without serious pressure the Keystone Pipeline will get its permit from Washington. A wonderful coalition of environmental groups has built a strong campaign across the continent—from Cree and Dene indigenous leaders to Nebraska farmers, they’ve spoken out strongly against the destruction of their land. We need to join them, and to say <strong>even if our own homes won’t be crossed by this pipeline, our joint home—the earth—will be wrecked by the carbon that pours down it. <br /><br />And we need to say something else, too: it’s time to stop letting corporate power make the most important decisions our planet faces. We don’t have the money to compete with those corporations, but we do have our bodies, and beginning in mid August many of us will use them. We will, each day, march on the White House, risking arrest with our trespass. We will do it in dignified fashion</strong>, demonstrating that in this case we are the conservatives, and that our foes—who would change the composition of the atmosphere are dangerous radicals. Come dressed as if for a business meeting—this is, in fact, serious business. <br /><br />And another sartorial tip—if you wore an Obama button during the 2008 campaign, why not wear it again? We very much still want to believe in the promise of that young Senator who told us that with his election the ‘rise of the oceans would begin to slow and the planet start to heal.’ We don’t understand what combination of bureaucratic obstinacy and insider dealing has derailed those efforts, but we remember his request that his supporters continue on after the election to pressure his government for change. We’ll do what we can. <br /><br />And one more thing: we don’t just want college kids to be the participants in this fight. They’ve led the way so far on climate change—10,000 came to DC for the Powershift gathering earlier this spring. They’ve marched this month in West Virginia to protest mountaintop removal; a young man named Tim DeChristopher faces sentencing this summer in Utah for his creative protest.<br /><br /><strong>Now it’s time for people who’ve spent their lives pouring carbon into the atmosphere to step up too, just as many of us did in earlier battles for civil rights or for peace. Most of us signing this letter are veterans of this work, and we think it’s past time for elders to behave like elders. One thing we don’t want is a smash up: if you can’t control your passions, this action is not for you. <br /><br />This won’t be a one-shot day of action. We plan for it to continue for several weeks, till the administration understands we won’t go away.</strong><br /><br />Not all of us can actually get arrested—half the signatories to this letter live in Canada, and might well find our entry into the U.S. barred. But we will be making plans for sympathy demonstrations outside Canadian consulates in the U.S., and U.S. consulates in Canada—the decision-makers need to know they’re being watched. <br /><br />Twenty years of patiently explaining the climate crisis to our leaders hasn’t worked. Maybe moral witness will help. You have to start somewhere, and we choose here and now. <br /><br /><strong>If you think you might want to be a part of this action, we need you to sign up here. <http://www.tarsandsaction.org/sign-up/></strong> <br /><br />As plans solidify in the next few weeks we’ll be in touch with you to arrange nonviolence training; our colleagues at a variety of environmental and democracy campaigns will be coordinating the actual arrangements. <br /><br />We know we’re asking a lot. You should think long and hard on it, and pray if you’re the praying type. But to us, it’s as much privilege as burden to get to join this fight in the most serious possible way. We hope you’ll join us. <br /><br />Maude Barlow – Chair, Council of Canadians<br /><br />Wendell Berry – Author and Farmer<br /><br />Tom Goldtooth – Director, Indigenous Environmental Network<br /><br />Danny Glover – Actor<br /><br />James Hansen – Climate Scientist<br /><br />Wes Jackson – Agronomist, President of the Land Insitute<br /><br />Naomi Klein – Author and Journalist<br /><br />Bill McKibben – Writer and Environmentalist<br /><br />George Poitras – Mikisew Cree Indigenous First Nation<br /><br />Gus Speth – Environmental Lawyer and Activist<br /><br />David Suzuki – Scientist, Environmentalist and Broadcaster <br /><br />P.S. Please pass this letter on to anyone else you think might be interested. We realize that what we’re asking isn’t easy, and we’re very grateful that you’re willing even to consider it. See you in Washington! <br /><br />Bill McKibben<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a071311a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a071311a9"></a><strong>9. Climate Change is Increasing Injustice and Instability<br /><br />The Globe’s Not Only Getting Hotter. It’s More Unjust and Unstable, Too <br /><br />By Michelle Chen, ColorLines
Posted on July 6, 2011, Printed on July 7, 2011 <br /><br /><a href="http://www.alternet.org/story/151542/the_globe%E2%80%99s_not_only_getting_hotter._it%E2%80%99s_more_unjust_and_unstable%2C_too">http://www.alternet.org/story/151542/the_globe%E2%80%99s_not_only_getting_hotter._it%E2%80%99s_more_unjust_and_unstable%2C_too</a></strong><br /><br />Over the next few decades, tens of millions of people will be driven from their homes. Braving violence and poverty, they’ll roam desperately across continents and borders in search of work and shelter. Unlike other refugees, though, their plight won’t be blamed simply on the familiar horrors of war or persecution; they’ll blame the weather.<br /><br />If you haven’t heard about the rising tide of <a href="http://www.climate.org/topics/environmental-security/climate-refugee-policy.html">environmental migrants</a>, that’s because throngs of displaced black and brown people don’t evoke the same public sympathy as photos of polar bear cubs. The governments of rich industrialized nations will scramble to shut the gates on the desperate hordes with the same self-serving efficiency with which they’ve long ignored the social, ecological and economic consequences of their prosperity. But both efforts at blissful ignorance will fail, because climate change is forcing society to confront the mounting natural and man-made disasters on the horizon. <br /><br />In 2010, according to the <a href="http://www.pewclimate.org/science-impacts/extreme-weather">Pew Center on Global Climate Change</a>, “more than 90 percent of all disasters and 65 percent of associated economic damages were weather and climate related (i.e. high winds, flooding, heavy snowfall, heat waves, droughts, wildfires). In all, 874 weather and climate-related disasters resulted in 68,000 deaths and $99 billion in damages worldwide.” <br /><br />Those numbers look worse on the ground. In <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2009/03/09/09climatewire-the-road-from-growing-rice-to-raising-shrimp-10034.html">rural Bangladesh</a>, where some of South Asia’s major riverways converge, rising waters are threatening to swallow vulnerable coastal communities and leave millions without homes. According to the <a href="http://mainelaw.maine.edu/academics/oclj/pdf/vol16_1/vol16_oclj_211.pdf">Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change</a>, the sea level need only rise by a few feet to turn a cultivated area of 1,000 kilometers squared into sopping marsh. The frequency and intensity of floods continues to escalate exponentially, pushing young workers into the cities to earn a living and eroding rural communities and their cultures. <br /><br />While some places soak, others bake. An ongoing drought crisis in East Africa has created massive hunger and aggravated conflict between groups vying for dwindling resources in an increasingly barren terrain. The United Nations estimated that in 2009, <a href="http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/6335/tribes_in_kenya_wage_water_war">conflicts over cattle grazing and water resources</a> led to several hundred deaths.<br /><br />It’s hard to pinpoint climate as a decisive factor in this sort of social upheaval, but the evidence grows more pronounced with each violent storm, ruined harvest and tribal clash: the cumulus of natural calamities makes it harder to live and thus harder to coexist with our neighbors.<br /><br />On “Democracy Now!”, Christian Parenti, author of “Tropic of Chaos,” described how climate-driven warfare <a href="http://www.democracynow.org/seo/2011/6/30/climate_chaos_christian_parentis_new_book">brings the environmental toll of imperialism full circle.</a><br /><br />From 1945 to 1990 the U.N. said there were 150 or so armed conflicts that killed 20 million people, displaced 15 million, 16 million were wounded. That all happened in the “global south” in this belt of states. And so now that’s where climate change is kicking in and that was also the same terrain where the last 30 years of IMF and World Bank-backed structural adjustment of privatization, deregulation of economies, cutting state support for farmers and fishermen—that program affected those states most intensely. <br /><br />And now the weather associated with climate change, extreme weather such as the drought, punctuated by flooding in East Africa, is adding to this. And there’s this catastrophic convergence.<br /><br />Grassroots environmental groups have rallied around the concept of “climate debt” to demand justice for the ecological destruction of the Global South. Still, the immediate humanitarian threats posed by climate change reveal the difficulty of thinking long term in the face of intense scarcity. <br /><br /><strong>Trickle-Down Effect </strong><br /><br />A warming planet is a <a href="http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2010/world/water-and-climate-connection-will-it-make-the-cop-16-negotiating-texts-in-cancun/">thirsty one.</a><br /><br />Water is one reason why Southern Sudan’s new independence could just be a temporary respite in a raging struggle for ecological wealth. The world’s youngest nation is at the heart of the Nile River Basin, which supports several economies and ecosystems and fuels toxic tensions among them. Last year, economics professor Paul Sullivan of National Defense University, <a href="http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2010/world/perspective-sudan-land-of-water-and-thirst-war-and-peace/">predicted</a> that without equitable management of precious water, Sudan’s partition would merely pave the way for more turmoil: <br /><br />Water, land, food, energy and development are tightly and importantly interlinked. Water is also very much linked to the potential for peace in the country. The tensions and potentials for peace in Darfur, between the north and the south—and amongst many other in other regions, including between local tribes and clans—can be, in part, determined, by the availability, quality, sharing, management and maintenance of water sources in the country.<br /><br />A recent <a href="http://www.eurasianet.org/node/62974">Senate Foreign Relations Committee report</a> offered similar warnings about Afghanistan and Pakistan, where “water scarcity… triggers human insecurity, which can intensify potentially explosive tensions among neighboring countries or regions.” Alarmingly, the report recommended that the U.S. government integrate water management into its occupation of the region, which would <a href="http://news.change.org/stories/is-us-food-and-water-aid-to-pakistan-motivated-by-war">expand Washington’s control</a> over civilian resources in an arena of unending conflict.
And long before popular uprisings in Egypt, analysts were <a href="http://www.climate.org/topics/international-action/egypt.html">predicting</a> that climate change would feed into <a href="http://www.oecd.org/document/14/0,3746,en_2649_34361_1933710_1_1_1_1,00.html">geopolitical instability in the Middle East</a>. <br /><br />Al Jazeera <a href="http://www.oecd.org/document/14/0,3746,en_2649_34361_1933710_1_1_1_1,00.html">reports</a> that water shortages could tip Yemen’s political turmoil toward full-blown civil war. <br /><br />Yemen’s capital Sanaa, from where president Ali Saleh left the country after he was injured during protests, could effectively run out of water by 2025, hydrology experts say.<br /><br />Water shortages could cost the unstable country 750,000 jobs, slashing incomes in the poorest Arab country by as much as 25 per cent over the next decade…. <br /><br />Commentators frequently blame Yemen’s problems on tribal differences, but environmental scarcity may be underpinning secessionist struggles in the country’s south and some general communal violence. <br /><br />One of the perverse intersections between the water and climate crises is a misguided attempt to solve both through the energy industry. <br /><br />For instance, while hydroelectricity has been <a href="http://www.internationalrivers.org/en/node/6636">touted as a “clean” power source</a>, activists <a href="http://www.internationalrivers.org/en/blog/peter-bosshard/2011-6-8/how-dams-can-kick-storm-and-change-our-climate">point out</a> that energy-intensive mega-dam projects may actually ruin ecosystems and belch even more carbon into the atmosphere—and strengthen oppressive regimes as well. The government of Burma has used dam construction as a pretext for <a href="http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Burmese+projects+fuel+minority+uprisings/4974006/story.html">driving out indigenous groups</a> and crushing political dissent. The military has repeatedly cracked down on isolated minority villages to clear the way for lucrative dam-building projects, which are typically designed to funnel electricity to energy-hungry consumers in China at the expense of Burma’s poorest communities.<br /><br />One 85 year-old who fled to Thailand from his homeland in 2008, whose story was recorded by the <a href="http://www.salweenwatch.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=222:new-report-roots-and-resilience&catid=37:publications&Itemid=66">Shan Sapawa Environment Organization</a>, couldn’t imagine life in exile:<br /><br />My spirit is here; I am connected to this land…. When the military burned our village and forced us out from our homeland, we still hand the land. If the water floods over, we will have nothing left.”<br /><br />Frustrated by political gridlock in international negotiations on carbon emissions, the climate justice movement sees the link between climate and conflict as a <a href="http://grassrootsclimatesolutions.net/climate-briefs">call for broad-based solutions</a> that blend the environmental with the social. That can start with the political enfranchisement of indigenous groups and securing food and water sovereignty for the poor. From there, the people most impacted by climate change can work toward inclusive development to heal the damage and move toward more sustainable energy.<br /><br />But environmental migrants have a long way to go before they reach justice. Meanwhile, whether displaced by nature’s wrath or civil war, the new refugees are running out of places to run. <br /><br /><em>Michelle Chen has written for ColorLines, In These Times, South China Morning Post, Clamor, INTHEFRAY.COM and her own zine, cain.</em><br /><br />© <strong>2011 ColorLines All rights reserved.
View this story online at: <a href="http://www.alternet.org/story/151542/">http://www.alternet.org/story/151542/</a></strong><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a071311a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a071311a10"></a><strong>10. Jerusalem Post Article Extols Vegan Diets</strong><br /><br />Veganism – doing the right thing<br /><br />By <a href="mailto:jpostcolumns@gmail.com">GLORIA DEUTSCH</a> Jerusalem Post<br /><br />07/07/2011 <br /><br />Far from being limited, a<strong> vegan diet</strong> can be very varied and quite delicious. <br /><br />Vegans are people who take vegetarianism a step further. Not only do they eschew all meat, poultry and fish, but they also won’t touch eggs or any kind of dairy produce. <br /><br />For a carnivorous family like ours, where the favorite get-together of children, grandchildren, nephews and nieces is a barbecue in the back garden with mountains of chicken skewers, hot dogs and hamburgers and a few steaks for the adults, the announcement that one of our number was becoming a vegan was a shock from which we still haven’t quite recovered. <br /><br />Nowadays if we want to include everyone in a celebration, we go to the vegan restaurant Buddha Burger in Tel Aviv, where they work their magic with seitan and tofu, producing convincing replicas of schnitzel, chicken and goulash without bending their belief in not being the indirect cause of cruelty in any form to animals. <br /><br />In fact, there are two very good reasons to follow a vegan diet. The first, and the one that changed my son’s life, is because of the suffering of animals in the food industry. While he dislikes dwelling on the horror stories of factory farming and battery hens, he has read and seen enough to know that he can no longer eat any creature that once lived. For David, the transition to vegan has been painless, healthy and very satisfying. For me, his mother, it has been an education, having to learn totally new approaches to food. For a meat and two-veg. family, it has required serious adjustment.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.jpost.com/LifeStyle/Article.aspx?id=228001">http://www.jpost.com/LifeStyle/Article.aspx?id=228001</a> <br /><br />SNIP <br /><br />Thanks to JVNA advisor Ari Knoll for forwarding the link to this article to us.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a071311a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a071311a11"></a><strong>11. Resource Scarcities Threaten the World’s Future<br /><br />The World's Political Uprisings Will Change Nothing Until We Embrace the Fact That We're Running Out of Resources</strong><br /><br />By Jan Lundberg, Culture Change
Posted on May 5, 2011, Printed on May 14, 2011
<a href="http://www.alternet.org/story/150845/the_world%27s_political_uprisings_will_change_nothing_until_we_embrace_the_fact_that_we%27re_running_out_of_resources">http://www.alternet.org/story/150845/the_world%27s_political_uprisings_will_change_nothing_until_we_embrace_the_fact_that_we%27re_running_out_of_resources</a><br /><br />Popular protest against rulers in many parts of Africa and Asia has spread faster than most anyone would have dared hope. Ferment in other countries may well materialize and mount, including the U.S. However, while the recent uprisings have potential and are well stoked by rampant oppression and greed, we are no longer in a 19th or 20th century set of social or ecological conditions. The attainment of peace and prosperity can no longer be fully addressed with revolutions or social movements. The decades of economic growth from cheap oil -- producing wealth for some, not bringing peace -- cannot be replicated. <br /><br />The common people have always just wanted peace and prosperity, but are pushed beyond a certain point by relentless opportunists seizing greater power. This results in eventual revolt, but new immutable factors in social change include the deteriorating health of the biosphere, cultural breakdown, and economic collapse. <br /><br />We must view the aims of today's uprisings for social justice as naive, and the expectations outmoded, if much of the population is not in accord with the direction in which humanity and the Earth are actually going. There can be no consensus if unbridled capitalism or other systems for massive industrial development can hold sway, for they leave behind the majority of people, at best, while mostly preying upon them. Even when people are willing to take action in concert to redistribute the pie, whether by Gandhian mobilization or use of force, this may resonate falsely, for the pie is disintegrating. Its recipe and ingredients are obsolete. And freedom attained in harsh austerity, characterized by intense competition for food, will be doubtful or of little comfort. <br /><br />In the absence of finding common ground, and having failed to address resource limits, humanity veers ever more sharply towards collapse. The form of collapse can appear to be primarily financial, oil-supply related, or climate disruption, but it will be all three. Continuing to "develop" nature is seldom seen as contributing to collapse, including by countries that were not 20th century powerhouses. Industrial pursuits thus seem perfectly okay, exempting them (in their minds) from greenhouse gas limits and protections of wildlife. There's hypocrisy too, as in Bolivia's pursuit of petroleum production -- justified for Mother Earth because capitalism is claimed to be the "only" cause of climate change. <br /><br />The common thread in movements for social change today is that they are still anthropocentric. The main delusion is that mass material prosperity can continue or spread despite global oil extraction's having peaked and energy famine just beginning. Another delusion is that the global conflict can be fixed by trying to communicate with corrupt, myopic politicians or by a modern equivalent of storming the Bastille.<br /><br />A simple way to look at uprisings, strife and activism is in the context of unprecedented population size afflicting the planet with consumption. Wars, terror, privatization, and hostile politics dividing people, are prevalent. Strife can be traced to overcrowding; with significantly fewer people there is plenty of room for people to enjoy peace and nature's bounty. Shortages then don't exist, and people live in balance with nature and her carrying capacity. <br /><br />The rebellious Egyptians, for example, were getting hungrier early this year as oil prices pushed up the cost of food. Unfortunately, the people could not and cannot be lifted out of their misery with more oil because the cheap stuff is well depleted. Mubarek and Tahrir Square were just logical focal points, albeit outrageously corrupt and infuriating. Most demonstrators -- poor and desperate for the most part -- would not believe that neither the dictator's wealth redistributed nor U.S. influence terminated can fix much. Perhaps Egyptians feel they cannot cope with the huge, underlying issues of overpopulation and ecological degradation. Cairo's population is put as high as 18 million. The population of Egypt doubled since the Second Oil Shock of 1979. Those who understand petroleum and energy know that renewable and alternative energy cannot float today's petro-fed population. <br /><br />It doesn't appear that even intellectual giants such as Noam Chomsky are looking beyond the present culture and its inability to produce an alternative to familiar power structures. When his position is, "Only a Massive Uprising Will Change Our Politics" he's putting the cart before the horse: collapse and deprivation will change (end) our politics and economy, and the uprising will be a reaction against (and adding to) society's failure and disorder. But neither upheaval nor uprising can create more oil and material prosperity; rather, the reaction will redistribute the depleted natural wealth, and poorly. Eventually, when the system is completely undermined and shopping is finally passé, an equitable and sustainable culture must form. It would helpful if progressive activists and writers could focus more on the real prize. <br /><br />Activism in many forms has been good for keeping a rebellious spirit alive and for pointing the masses toward independent thinking and action. But the limited critique of most of today's activists and commentators fails us at this time of both apocalyptic breakdown and opportunity for a positive vision. It's difficult to admit that no matter what anyone does to help the situation now, these are dire times, and things will get worse before they get better. <br /><br /><strong>Historical perspective for the US movement</strong> <br /><br />The U.S. probably has the most out-to-lunch population on the planet. Provincialism and ignorance have encouraged embracing the consumer lifestyle on a small planet. The skills and family cohesion of our great grandparents are fading from our knowledge base, as we trust digital media for individual consumption and superficial knowledge. We have obtained techno-toy glamour, but group and personal mediocrity spreads deeply as something laudable and modern. Few seem aware of the consequences: conformity, passivity and ultimate failure on many levels. Meanwhile, the population's underlying violent streak -- with the highest per capita gun ownership world wide at almost 90 guns per 100 residents -- buttresses little more than a false sense of individualistic security. This only contributes to the average community's steady loss of cohesion and compassion. The average person is not so blameworthy when overworked and overcharged for life's necessities. This reinforces the tendency to become more downtrodden, brainwashed and in poor health. <br /><br />Foreclosures and rent hikes by the very rich turn people out onto the streets, as food and oil costs rise. But news sources and common discourse dwell mostly on infotainment or superficial observations on key events. People also need to start talking among themselves seriously about rampant pharmaceuticals addiction and environmental contaminants -- all-too-familiar threats going unchecked. Despite today's unprecedented disparity in wealth, the super rich don't seem to fear a French Revolution-style backlash. Most of us want no such bloodshed, but when a system in denial finally self-destructs it will take down many from all walks of life -- especially the most petroleum-dependent among us who may not own their own oil refinery (with uninterrupted crude supply and product-distribution -- fat chance). <br /><br />Assuming there will be a gradual dwindling of oil is as commonplace as the fear that there will always be extreme social stratification even in a post-petrocollapse, climate altered world. Both assumptions are wrong, and seem to go together. A common, erroneous prediction is that "The Corporate State Will Continue its Inexorable Advance Until We're Locked into a Permanent Underclass" as Chris Hedges wrote. He claims, "They will continue to exploit the nation, the global economy and the ecosystem. And they will use their money to hide in gated compounds when it all implodes." But how long will the food and water last in the compounds without free interaction with the land where others also dwell? <br /><br />The idea of "losing our democracy" and wondering, "where did we go wrong" are time-wasting notions, considering that Western Civilization was founded on amassing for the few the unlimited spoils of wealth obtained by disregarding other peoples and species. Hedges, a scholarly moralist whom I have had the pleasure to meet, supports his "lost democracy" idea by quoting Sheldon Wolin who wrote that today's form of imperialism just grew, instead of being planned as the Nazis' was. The naivete of this view is clear when the culture of materialism and greed is known to have already been at play when even the nicest of the British colonialists invaded North America. Today, the idea of righting the wrong of the corporatization of America as a single problem, or the idea of any similar movement or revolt, is bound to fail or fall moot at this stage of the game. Attacking the top of the foundation of a rotten pyramid does little good. <br /><br />The 1960s' idealistic youth had a yearning to remake the world. As Graham Nash sang in his song "Chicago" in 1971: "We can change the world / Rearrange the world / It's dying." The song was in support of the protests at the Chicago Democratic Party Convention of 1968. There was revolution in the air, and liberation movements were forming out of the civil rights campaigns that had begun in the 1950s. But the Sixties Movement failed, giving way in the 1970s to the Me Generation. The Movement (as it was called) was derailed in part through assassinations, and hobbled by other subversion campaigns by corporations and government. This period was a critical juncture for U.S. culture and civilization: resource limits were suddenly clear, but the Population Bomb was never defused. <br /><br />To focus on the present we mustn't endlessly debate the '60s or '70s. But we must distinguish between a time when reform and remaking society may have been possible, in contrast to 2011 when we have lost the chance to challenge the power structure and build anew <em>within an intact infrastructure</em>. This is because humanity has gone down the path of economic growth and ecological destruction so far that social movements now have a backseat role compared to decades ago. <br /><br />Peak oil, massive population increase, climate change, and out-of-control nuclear radiation releases have taken over. These dilemmas can be possibly addressed with policy, but not "solved." Hindering us unnecessarily is that the "powers that be" demand the status quo in order to pad their portfolios, although some say the real agenda is to control the population toward "demand destruction." The top owners of the material world seem thus far unafraid of a mass backlash, in part because most everyone continues to drink the same Kool Aid of technological progress and the unstoppable march of civilization. But a few critiques of the system's faulty, common assumptions appear here and there; we are nibbling at the edges so as to call attention to a radically different vision for post-industrial humanity.<br /><br />Opinion pieces and other expressions of political feeling about our current challenges have proliferated since long before the current post-Bush state of affairs. Going back to the Clinton administration, we saw the corporate state's intent to exploit the Earth to the maximum for "free trade" and "democracy." We realized that much activism was mere "stamping out brush fires" -- endlessly reacting, often ineffectively. Nothing has changed, except the excesses of the Bush II Neocons -- supposedly gone when Obama was installed -- served to push people off balance and make them settle for "Hope" via continued piecemeal critiques of policy. <br /><br />Massive demonstrations have not materialized to end wars and disgorge from Wall Street the spoils of casino capitalism. In the absence of such popular mobilization, we activists and vocal members of the intelligentsia have naturally joined campaigns to try to push society in a more reasonable direction. Some have attained mild success, without changing society's overall direction of self-destruction and ecological catastrophe. <br /><br />These benign strategies are not gaining much ground, regardless of other methods of expression and tactics that some say should be tried. There is no organized militant opposition, despite the dreams of a few advocates of violence (against people in power or their armed servants). Anger over species extinction, poisoning of our water, medical costs and other aspects of the overall global crisis seems to come down to blaming certain people rather than modern humanity's <em>mistake of Western Civilization</em>. For example, in an essay Alyssa Battistoni asks, "The Public Overwhelmingly Wants It: Why Is Taxing the Rich So Hard?" This sentiment is off the mark, as happens when social-justice urges lack realism or even mention of larger forces. Additionally, the need for deep cultural change is almost never voiced. <br /><br />In another article Zaid Jilani wrote, "More GOPers Feeling Town Hall Heat: Attendees Tell Rep. Ending Medicare Is ‘Unconscionable,’ Demand ‘Tax The Rich!’" I sadly have to ask: Are we asking the rich to tax themselves? The government and the rich are one and the same, for the rich control the government. Tax the rich? That's like suggesting to an executioner that he shoot himself, and asking people to join in a chant for it. <br /><br />One might ask me what the answer is, since I differ with the approaches rooted in the prior century's leftism. In general, I advocate the love tribe. You can make of it what you want, but it is timeless: embracing egalitarianism and harmony rather than competition or keeping up with the Joneses. This elusive sounding Utopia is none other than our evolution. The question on everyone's lips should now be "Where must we go?" We cannot easily go back, and few desire to do so. But discussing our plight and opportunity can let us work things out -- as long as we don't think we can have our cake and eat it too, for planetary changes have been unleashed that compromise our very survival.<br /><br />Let us venture an idea of what the answer is not. Let's say there's an uprising such as a general strike in the U.S., and the stressed out population manages to avoid major bloodshed. And the power structure gives way to sincere, kinder people such as a provisional government led by Dennis Kucinich, Cindy Sheehan and Julia Butterfly.<br /><br />Their lifestyles are known to be conscious and uplifting. But even among the progressive population, deep cultural change is almost never advocated or put into practice. How we live and what we value does not stop at what kind of greener machines we buy or if we bicycle to a Saturday farmers market with reusable bags. The sustainability movement (e.g., Transition Towns) is more than scratching the surface, but urgently needs intensive public involvement.<br /><br />The reality is that even the best, most accountable leadership cannot usher us out of collapse and the coming deprivation that our material waste has caused. One way to understand it is to grasp that the abundant cheap oil -- energy and materials -- is gone forever. The accelerating and wrenching change in society will be much more than shifting from cars to bikes; government services cut for the poor and other fiscal reprioritization; enacting humane policies such as ending (unaffordable) wars, and; encouraging community involvement in economic decisions. <br /><br />The entire culture will have to change rapidly for us to sort out what doesn't work, as we ultimately find the mix of traditions and innovations for survival in a time of violent ecological instability. <br /><br />Social justice activists and even full-time environmentalists often harbor simplistic expectations, as, like most of us, they are clouded and confused by cultural myths. The accomplishments of industry and science that have eased some physical work or dazzled the senses still give rise to a knee-jerk approval of huge, centralized and questionable energy systems, for example. Author Keith Farnish recently pointed out on the Global Warming Crisis Council listserve that a few prominent environmentalists are "going nuclear because they can't -- very sensibly -- see a way of powering industrial civilization through renewables, and fossil fuels are running out soon. The line [that these environmentalists] won't cross is towards an alternative to industrial civilization. That's the argument people like us have to be pushing forcibly and without giving way. There is no way to fuel civilization without mass species extinction and climate breakdown..." <br /><br /><strong>Rejecting the system</strong> <br /><br />We all need to recognize the imbalance between social movements (or their intentions) and the overwhelming realities of petrocollapse and nature's batting last. When many of us are unable to consider these realities, a better future for us all is unimagined or even precluded.<br /><br />There's little point in progressives' persisting in the dominant critique by clamoring for reforms or implying there is an easy way out of the perceived crisis and collapse. More sensible is a rejection of the system -- Western Civilization -- whereby we create the alternative with local community and a rebirth of solidarity. So far, this isn't getting through to many progressives or those who could formerly be considered radicals. Perhaps out of timidity or sense of privilege they bypass discussing the magnitude of change humanity is undergoing. Until the total collapse, we will still see commentators ignoring the larger forces of change, calling for reforms and the fixing of an unfixable system or at best a changing of the guard. The dominant critique is a distraction, as it keeps pointing to the bad guy du jour and yet another shameful policy to try to reverse. <br /><br />The alternative to the faltering "$ociety," the love tribe, has been practiced long before the hippies began the Back to the Land movement at People's Park, Berkeley, in 1969. Today, some of us still live so as to constructively undermine the dominant system, living outside it as much as possible. We thereby hasten -- at least by example -- the end of the corporate economy and the U.S. as we know it. We are messengers and preservers of viable natural systems. We stand for nonviolence, and thus support a truly sustainable culture. Perhaps at best we are showing the way modestly and minimally, through a tough transformation beyond the settling of the dust. <br /><br /><em>Jan Lundberg is founder of Culture Change and was an oil industry analyst at Lundberg Survey before joining the grassroots environmental movement in 1988.</em><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a071311a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a071311a12"></a><strong>12. Animals Voice Magazine Summer Issue Now Available</strong><br /><br />© <strong>2011 Culture Change All rights reserved.
View this story online at: http://www.alternet.org/story/150845/</strong><br /><br />Dear Animals Voice Supporter, <br /><br />The Summer 2011 issue of The Animals Voice Magazine is now available. You may order your copy from the link below: <br /><br /><a href="http://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/217250">http://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/217250</a> <br /><br />This special double issue focuses on the global transportation of animals raised and slaughtered for food. It also features articles about the Faroe Island pilot whale slaughter, wild boar hunting and baiting, the history of the animal rights movement, and horse slaughter. Specifics are the live export trade of sheep from Australia to the Middle East, the live export of cattle to Indonesia, American cattle drives, state hunting legislation, branding, battery hen welfare, worldwide calendar of events, hog/dog fighting, pig factories and slaughter, and a lot more. 62 pages. Perfect-bound. <br /><br />[This issue is a special issue because it has nearly twice the number of pages of our regular issues (and the cost, unfortunately, will be higher); due to our editor's recent illness, we had to merge our May/June issue with our July/August issue. Thank you for your patience. <br /><br />Please consider giving a copy of the magazine to your friends, family, co-workers, clergy, legislators, veterinarian, and others. The magazine's pictures and presentations are geared toward the newcomer as much as they are for the veteran activist. <br /><br />To help Laura Moretti (the magazine's founder and editor) keep the magazine moving forward, as well as help her keep The Animals Voice web site online and growing, please consider giving The Animals Voice a tax-deductible donation, even a small one. You can use the link below: <br /><br /><a href="http://www.animalsvoice.com/support.html">http://www.animalsvoice.com/support.html</a> <br /><br />Thank you so much for your support — then, now, and in the future!<br /><br />The Animals Voice <br /><br />P.S. Laura thanks all and everyone who sent her well wishes and support during her battle with 'thyroid storm.' Though it's a slow recovery, she IS on the mend!<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a071311a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a071311a13"></a><strong>13. Campaign to Educate People on Climate Realities Initiated</strong><br /><br />Forwarded message: <br /><br />Dear Richard,
<br /><br />On September 14, Reality needs you.
Every day, millions of dollars are spent trying to convince you that climate change isn't real. Or that humans don't cause it. Or that the biggest polluters are trying to solve the problem.<br /><br />
But climate change is a reality. And big polluters -- drawing from the playbook used by the big tobacco companies years ago -- are trying to fool citizens and consumers around the globe by denying proven science. So how can we get the world to embrace reality? How can we share the truth about the climate crisis?
Meet The Climate Reality Project. On September 14, in a 24-hour event spanning the globe, we're introducing a brand-new organization with one clear goal: to bring the facts about the climate crisis into the mainstream by engaging everyone -- especially leaders like you -- in a conversation about how to solve it But enough talk for now. Former Vice President Al Gore helped create this video to explain where we are going. Watch it:<br /><br /><a href="http://climaterealityproject.org/#step-1">http://climaterealityproject.org/#step-1</a>
<br /><br />Leading up to September 14, we will need our most ardent supporters with us to help promote the event and start the conversation. That means we need you.
We're building this new project on the foundation of the remarkable work we've done together as the Alliance for Climate Protection. We are joining together with The Climate Project -- a group of volunteer climate Presenters trained by Al Gore. So when you hear from us moving forward, it will be as The Climate Reality Project.
Thank you for your continued support.
To get started, watch the video:<br /><br />
<a href="http://climaterealityproject.org/#step-1">http://climaterealityproject.org/#step-1</a>
<br /><br />Thanks,
Maggie L. Fox
President and CEO
The Climate Reality Project<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a071311a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">** Fair Use Notice **<br /><br />The material on this site is provided for educational and informational purposes. It may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. It is being made available in an effort to advance the understanding of vegetarian, environmental, nutritional, health, economic, social justice and human rights issues etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have an interest in using the included information for educational or research purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. The information on this site does not constitute legal, technical or medical advice.</span>.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17349614588789907464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9631520.post-81824900291270567872011-07-10T00:28:00.008-04:002011-09-02T00:20:22.273-04:0007/10/2011 Special JVNA Online NewsletterShalom everyone,
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<br /><a name="a071011a0"></a>This special Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA) Online Newsletter is devoted to seeking ways to help get vegetarianism and related issues onto the Jewish agenda through connections to Tisha B’Av.
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<br />The threats from global warming are so serious that we must take every opportunity to get our issues onto the Jewish agenda. Therefore, I have put this special JVNA newsletter together as an attempt to relate our issues to Tisha B’Av. Please use information in this newsletter for letters to editors, calls to talk shows, and talking points. Please feel free to pass any of this material on. Suggestions very welcome. Thanks.
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<br />This newsletter has the following items:
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<br /><strong>1. <a href="#a071011a1">Press Release Relating Tisha B’Av to Today’s Environmental Crises</a>
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<br />2. <a href="#a071011a2">Article: “Relating Tisha B’Av to Today’s Environmental Crises”</a>
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<br />3. <a href="#a071011a1">Article “Tisha B’Av and Vegetarianism”</a>
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<br />4. <a href="#a071011a1">Sample Letter to the Editor</a>
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<br />5. <a href="#a071011a1">Shorter Version of Letter to the Editor</a></strong>
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<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Some material has been deferred to a later update/newsletter to keep this one from being even longer.
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<br /> [Materials in brackets like this [ ] within an article or forwarded message are my editorial notes/comments.]
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<br />As always, your comments and suggestions are very welcome.
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<br />Thanks,
<br />
<br />Richard</span>
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<br />=========================
<br /><a name="a071011a1"></a><strong>1. Press Release Relating Tisha B’Av to Today’s Environmental Crises</strong>
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<br />JEWISH GROUP URGES THAT LESSONS OF TISHA B’AV BE APPLIED TO CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS
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<br />For Immediate Release:
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<br />July 10, 2011
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<br />Contact:
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<br />Richard H. Schwartz, President of the Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA)
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<br /><a href="mailto:President@JewishVeg.com">President@JewishVeg.com</a> Phone: (718) 761-5876
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<br />Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA) announced today that it is initiating a campaign to have the Jewish community apply lessons of Tisha B’Av (which starts this year on the evening of August 9) to responding to current environmental threats.
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<br />“Thousands of years ago, Jews failed to respond to the warnings of the prophet Jeremiah, with the result that the first Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed,” stated JVMA president Richard H. Schwartz. “Today, we have modern day ‘Jeremiahs’ warning that it is not just Jerusalem, but the entire world that is threatened. Many climate scientists, including James Hansen of NASA, are warning that climate change could reach a tipping point and spin out of human control within a few years, with catastrophic consequences, unless major changes are soon made. We have been receiving many wake up calls, including the severe heat waves (2010 tied 2005 for the warmest year and the past decade was the warmest decade since records have been kept), floods, wild fires, droughts, and storms and much more. In a 2007 report, 11 retired US generals and admirals stated that the effects of global climate change, including droughts, flooding, wildfires and severe storms, will sharply increase the number of refugees and increase the prospects for instability, violence, terrorism and war.”
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<br />JVNA is urging rabbis to connect the many calamities that occurred to the Jewish people on Tisha B’av through many centuries to the major threats to Jews, Israel and all of humanity today. The group advocates that tikkun olam (the healing of the world) become a major focus in all sectors of Jewish life today.
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<br />JVNA also urges consideration of an inconvenient truth that is generally being ignored: animal-based agriculture emits more greenhouse gases (in CO2 equivalents) than all the cars and other means of transportation worldwide combined according to a 2006 UN Food and Agriculture Organization report. Making the situation even worse, that same report indicates that the consumption of animal products is projected to double in 50 years. If this happens, it will make it very difficult, if not impossible, to reduce overall greenhouse emissions enough to avoid very severe effects from global climate change.
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<br />Further information about these issues can be found at the JVNA web site JewishVeg.com and at JewishVeg.com/schwartz. Also, JVNA’s acclaimed, award-winning documentary “A Sacred Duty: Applying Jewish Values to Help Heal the World” can be seen at ASacredDuty.com.
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<br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a071011a0">Return to Top</a></span></em>
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<br />=========================
<br /><a name="a071011a2"></a><strong>2. Article: “Relating Tisha B’Av to Today’s Environmental Crises”</strong>
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<br />RELATING TISHA B’AV TO TODAY’S ENVIRONMENTAL CRISES
<br /> Richard H. Schwartz
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<br />Tisha B'Av (the 9th day of the month of Av) which occurs this year on August 9-10, commemorates the destruction of the first and second Temples in Jerusalem. The first Temple was destroyed after the Jews failed to heed the warnings of the prophet Jeremiah.
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<br />Today, modern day “Jeremiahs” are warning that it is not just Jerusalem, but the entire world that faces destruction, from climate change and other environmental threats. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has projected a temperature increase of 2 to 11 degrees Fahrenheit in the next century. That such a change would have disastrous effects can be seen from the fact that an increase in about 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit in the past 100 years has already resulted in many negative effects, including severe heat waves, droughts, storms, floods, and wild fires.
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<br />Some noted climate experts, including James Hansen of NASA, are warning that global warming could reach a tipping point and spin out of human control within a decade, with catastrophic consequences, unless major changes are soon made. In a 2007 report, 11 retired US generals and admirals stated that the effects of global climate change, including droughts, flooding, wildfires and severe storms, will sharply increase the number of hungry, thirsty, frustrated refugees and increase the prospects for instability, violence, terrorism and war. A UN report indicated that the genocidal conflict in Darfur has been driven by climate change and environmental degradation, which threaten to trigger a series of additional wars across Africa unless the damage is soon contained.
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<br />A 2007 report by the Israel Union for Environmental Defense (IUED) warned that Israel is especially threatened by climate change. The organization warned that climate change could: cause major heat waves; reduce the rainfall that Israel is so dependent on by up to 30 percent; cause severe storms; increase the level of the Mediterranean Sea, threatening Israel’s ports and infrastructure and threatening the 60 percent of Israelis who live in its coastal plain with flooding. Israel also has other major environmental problems. More Israelis die from air pollution than from terrorism and automobile accidents combined and almost all Israeli rivers are badly polluted.
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<br />Environmentalists are also warning that the world faces many other environmental threats, including rapid species extinction, destruction of tropical rain forests and other valuable habitats, soil erosion and depletion and pollution of air and water. Unfortunately, as in the time of Jeremiah, these increasingly strong warnings are generally being ignored.
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<br />Jeremiah stressed that people should apply basic Jewish teachings to avoid the looming catastrophe. Today, as well, the application of basic Jewish environmental teachings can help us avoid modern perils. These teachings include:
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<br />* We are to be co-workers with God in working to protect the environment.
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<br />* We are to work the land and to guard it (Genesis 2:15); hence, we are to be shomrei ha’adamah, guardians of the Earth.
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<br />* We are not to waste or unnecessarily destroy anything of value (bal tashchit, based on Deuteronomy 20: 19. 20).
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<br />Jewish sages connected the word "eichah" (alas! what has befallen us?) that begins the reading of Lamentations on Tisha B’Av and a word that has the same root "ayekah" ("Where art thou?"), the question addressed to Adam and Eve after they had eaten the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. In order to avoid having to mournfully recite “eichah” regarding present results of climate change, perhaps we have to properly respond to “ayekah” today by answering “hineni,” here I am, ready to apply Jewish teachings in response to current environmental threats.
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<br />The reading of the book of Lamentations on Tisha B’Av is meant to awaken the Jewish people to the need to return to God's ways, by showing the horrors that resulted when God’s teachings were ignored. The readings on Tisha B'Av help to sensitize us so that we will hear the cries of lament and change our ways. Rabbi Yochanan stated "Jerusalem was destroyed because the residents limited their decisions to the letter of the law of the Torah, and did not perform actions that would have gone beyond the letter of the law" ('lifnim meshurat hadin') (Baba Metzia 30b). in this time of major environmental threats, widespread hunger, and epidemics of chronic degenerative diseases, perhaps it is necessary that Jews go beyond the strict letter of the law and play out our mandated role to be a “light unto the nations” in leading in efforts to reduce climate change and other environmental threats.
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<br />In view of the many threats to humanity today, it is important that Jews enhance their commemoration of the spiritually meaningful holiday of Tisha B'Av by making it a time to begin striving even harder to live up to Judaism's highest moral values and teachings. On this solemn occasion, we should learn from our history and heed a basic lesson of the holiday -- that failure to respond to proper admonitions can lead to catastrophe. The Jewish people must make tikkun olam (the repair and healing of the planet) a major focus in Jewish life today, and consider personal and societal changes that will reduce environmental threats.. By doing this, we would be performing a great kiddush Hashem (sanctification of God’s Name) by helping move our imperiled planet to a sustainable path, and by showing that Judaism’s eternal values have relevance to today’s critical issues.
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<br /><a name="a071011a3"></a><strong>3. Article “Tisha B’Av and Vegetarianism”
<br />
<br />TISHA B’AV and VEGETARIANISM</strong>
<br />Richard H. Schwartz, Ph.D.
<br />
<br />There are many connections between vegetarianism and the Jewish holiday of Tisha B'Av:
<br />
<br />1. Tisha B'Av (the 9th day of the month of Av) commemorates the destruction of the first and second Temples in Jerusalem. Today the entire world is threatened by destruction by a variety of environmental threats, and modern intensive livestock agriculture is a major factor behind most of these environmental threats.
<br />
<br />2. In Megilat Eichah (Lamentations), which is read on Tisha B'Av, the prophet Jeremiah warned the Jewish people of the need to change their unjust ways in order to avoid the destruction of Jerusalem. There have been many warnings since then from modern “Jeremiahs,”including climate scientists who argue that global warming may soon spin out of control, with disastrous consequences, unless major changes are soon made. Vegetarians join in these warnings, and add that a switch toward vegetarianism is an essential part of the "major changes" that are required.
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<br />3. On Tisha B'Av, Jews fast to express their sadness over the destruction of the two Temples and to awaken us to how hungry people feel. So severe are the effects of starvation that the Book of Lamentations (4:10) states that "More fortunate were the victims of the sword than the victims of famine, for they pine away stricken, lacking the fruits of the field." Yet, today over 70% of the grain grown in the United States and about 40% of the grain grown worldwide is fed to animals destined for slaughter, as nearly a billion of the world’s people are chronically hungry and an estimated 20 million people worldwide die annually because of hunger and its effects.
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<br />4. During the period from Rosh Chodesh Av to Tisha B'Av known as the "nine days," Jews do not eat meat or fowl, except on the Sabbath day. After the destruction of the second Temple, some sages argued that Jews should no longer eat meat, as a sign of sorrow. However, it was felt that the Jewish people would not be able to obey such a decree. It was also believed then that meat was necessary for proper nutrition. Hence, a compromise was reached in terms of Jews not eating meat in the period immediately before Tisha B'Av.
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<br />5. Jewish sages connected the word "eichah" (alas! what has befallen us?) that begins Lamentations and a word that has the same root "ayekah" ("Where art thou?"), the question addressed to Adam and Eve after they had eaten the forbidden fruit. Vegetarians are also respectfully asking, "where art thou?" What are we doing in response to climate change, widespread world hunger, the destruction of the environment, the cruel treatment of farm animals, etc.? Let us properly hear and respond to "ayekah" in terms of stating "Hineni" - here I am, ready to carry out God's commandments so that the world will be better – so that we will not have to say and hear "eichah".
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<br />6. The Book of Lamentations was meant to wake up the Jewish people to the need to return to God's ways. Since vegetarianism is God's initial dietary regimen (Genesis 1:29), vegetarians are also hoping to respectfully alert Jews to the need to return to that diet.
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<br />7. Rabbi Yochanan stated "Jerusalem was destroyed because the residents limited their decisions to the letter of the law of the Torah, and did not perform actions that would have gone beyond the letter of the law" ('lifnim meshurat hadin') (Baba Metzia 30b). In the same way, perhaps, many people state that they eat meat because Jewish law does not forbid it. Vegetarians believe that in this time of factory farming, rapid climate change, environmental threats, widespread hunger, and epidemics of chronic degenerative diseases, Jews should go beyond the strict letter of the law and move toward vegetarianism.
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<br />8. Tisha B'Av has been a time of tears and tragedy throughout Jewish history. Animal-based diets are also related to much sorrow today due to its links to hunger and environmental destruction.
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<br />9. Tisha B'Av is not only a day commemorating destruction. It is also the day when, according to Jewish tradition, the Messiah will be born, and the days of mourning will be turned into joyous festivals. According to Rabbi Abraham Isaac Hakohen Kook, Chief Rabbi of pre-state Israel, the Messianic period will be vegetarian. He based this view on the prophecy of Isaiah, "The wolf will dwell with the lamb . . .the lion will eat straw like the ox . . . and no one shall hurt nor destroy in all of God's holy mountain" (Isaiah 11: 6-9).
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<br />10. The readings on Tisha B'Av help to sensitize us so that we will hear the cries of lament and change our ways. Vegetarians are also urging people to change their diets, to reduce the cries of lament of hungry people and of animals.
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<br />11. The first Temple was destroyed because the people committed three cardinal sins: idolatry, immorality, and bloodshed (Yoma 9b). Animal-based diets today have links to these sins; (1) we have made our stomachs an idol and will do almost anything to appease it; (2) a diet that wastes so much grain and other agricultural resources while millions of people lack adequate food can be considered immoral; (3) there is much bloodshed from the 10 billion farm animals that are slaughtered annually in the United States alone to satisfy people's appetites for meat.
<br />
<br />12. After the destruction of the second Temple, the Talmudic sages indicated that Jews need not eat meat in order to rejoice during festivals. They stated that the drinking of wine would suffice, (Pesachim 109a)
<br />
<br />13. More than a day of lamentation, Tisha B'Av is also a day of learning - learning essential lessons about our terrible past errors so that they will not be repeated. Vegetarians believe that if people learned the incredible realities related to the production and consumption of meat, many would change their diets so as to avoid continuing current errors.
<br />
<br />14. After the destruction of Jerusalem, while sighing and searching frantically for food, the people proclaimed, "Look God and behold what happened to me because I used to be gluttonous!" (Lamentations 1:11). Today too, gluttony (excessive consumption of animal and other products) is leading to widespread hunger and destruction.
<br />
<br />15. The Book of Lamentations ends with "Chadesh yamenu k'kedem - make new our days as of old." We can help this personal renewal occur by returning to the original human diet, the vegetarian diet of Gan Eden (the Garden of Eden), a diet that can help us feel renewed because of the many health benefits of plant-based diets.
<br />
<br />16. On Tisha B'Av, Jews do not wear leather shoes; one reason is that while commemorating events that involved so much death, we do not want to wear something manufactured from animal skin, a product derived from the deaths of another Divinely-created living being.
<br />
<br />17. The Book of Lamentations has many very graphic descriptions of hunger. One is: "The tongue of the suckling child cleaves to its palate for thirst. Young children beg for bread, but no one extends it to them." Today, major shortages of food in the near future are being predicted by the Worldwatch Institute, a Washington DC think tank, and others, and one major reason is that people in China, Japan, India, and other countries where affluence has been increasing are moving to animal-centered diets that require vast amounts of grain.
<br />
<br />In view of these and other connections, I hope that Jews will enhance their commemoration of the solemn but spiritually meaningful holiday of Tisha B'Av by making it a time to begin striving even harder to live up to Judaism's highest moral values and teachings, and one important way to do this is by moving toward a vegetarian diet.
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<br /><a name="a071011a4"></a><strong>4. Sample Letter to the Editor</strong>
<br />
<br />Dear Editor:
<br />
<br />Tisha B'Av (the 9th day of the month of Av) which we commemorate this year on August 9-10, reminds us that over 2,000 years ago Jews failed to heed the warnings of the prophet Jeremiah, with the result that the first Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed.
<br />
<br />Today there are many modern “Jeremiahs” warning us that now it is not just Jerusalem but the entire world that faces destruction from climate change, and its effects, species extinction, destruction of tropical rain forests and other valuable habitats, and many other environmental threats. We have already seen many effects of climate change, including severe heat waves, droughts, wild fires, storms, and floods. Many climate scientists, including James Hansen of NASA, are warning that global warming may soon reach a tipping point, and spin out of human control, with disastrous consequences, unless major changes soon occur.
<br />
<br />This Tisha B’Av, I hope that we will begin to heed one of its basic lessons -- that failure to respond to proper admonitions can lead to catastrophe. The Jewish people must make tikkun olam (the repair and healing of the planet) a major focus in Jewish life today, and consider personal and societal changes that will start to move our precious, but imperiled, planet to a more sustainable path. By doing this, we would be performing a great kiddush Hashem (sanctification of God’s Name) by working to meet our mandate to be a “light unto the nations,” and showing that eternal Jewish teachings are relevant to today’s crises.
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<br /><a name="a071011a5"></a><strong>5. Shorter Version of Letter to the Editor</strong>
<br />
<br />Dear Editor:
<br />
<br />Tisha B'Av (the 9th day of the month of Av) which we commemorate this year on August 9-10, reminds us of the destruction of the first and second Temples in Jerusalem.
<br />
<br />Today it is not just Jerusalem but the entire world that faces destruction from global warming and many other environmental threats. We have already seen many effects of global warming, including severe heat waves, droughts, wild fires, storms and floods. Many climate scientists, including James Hansen of NASA, are warning that global warming may soon reach a tipping point, and spin out of control, with disastrous consequences, unless major changes soon occur.
<br />
<br />Israel is especially threatened by global warming. A 2007 Israel Union of Environmental Defense projected severe heat waves and storms, an average decrease in rainfall of up to 30 percent and a rising Mediterranean Sea that could cause major flooding.
<br />
<br />This Tisha B’Av, I hope that we will begin to heed one of its basic lessons -- that failure to respond to proper admonitions can lead to catastrophe. The Jewish people must make tikkun olam (the repair and healing of the planet) a major focus in Jewish life today, and consider personal and societal changes that will start to move our precious, but imperiled, planet to a more sustainable path.
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<br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a071011a0">Return to Top</a></span></em>
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<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">** Fair Use Notice **
<br />
<br />The material on this site is provided for educational and informational purposes. It may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. It is being made available in an effort to advance the understanding of vegetarian, environmental, nutritional, health, economic, social justice and human rights issues etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have an interest in using the included information for educational or research purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. The information on this site does not constitute legal, technical or medical advice.</span>.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17349614588789907464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9631520.post-33709003468785874192011-07-06T18:22:00.041-04:002011-08-23T16:00:55.031-04:0007/05/2011 JVNA Online NewsletterShalom everyone,
<br />
<br /><a name="a070511a0"></a>This update/<strong><a href="http://jewishveg.com/">Jewish Vegetarians of North America</a></strong> (JVNA) Online Newsletter has the following items:
<br />
<br /><strong>1. <a href="#a070511a1">Tisha B’Av and Vegetarianism</a>
<br />
<br />2. <a href="#a070511a2">Update on Plans for a “World Vegetarian Week” (October 1-7, 2011)</a>
<br />
<br />3. <a href="#a070511a3">Great Vegetarian Talk by Gary Yurofsky Now Viewable With Hebrew Subtitles</a>
<br />
<br />4. <a href="#a070511a4">Climate Effects Becoming Increasingly Severe?</a>
<br />
<br />5. <a href="#a070511a5">Ted Turner’s Views On Climate Change</a>
<br />
<br />6. <a href="#a070511a6">Slaughterhouse Workers More Likely to Commit Crimes</a>
<br />
<br />7. <a href="#a070511a7">An Attempt to Reduce Antibiotic Use for Farmed Animals</a>
<br />
<br />8. <a href="#a070511a8">Online Vegetarian Magazine ”Vegetarians in Paradise” Continues to Educate on Benefits of Vegetarianism</a>
<br />
<br />9. <a href="#a070511a9">Update on Efforts to Produce Artificial Meat</a>
<br />
<br />10. <a href="#a070511a10">New Book Presents Voices of Activist Women Who Connect Advocacy for Animals With Activism for Social Justice Issues</a>
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<br />11. <a href="#a070511a11">Update on Vegetarian Podcasts</a>
<br />
<br />12. <a href="#a070511a12">Mother Jones Magazine Report on Connections Between Diabetes and Eating Meat</a>
<br />
<br />13. <a href="#a070511a13">Video Dramatizes Ten Current Examples of Climate Change</a>
<br />
<br />14. <a href="#a070511a14">Article in Israeli Media Exposes Realities of Dairy Farming</a>
<br />
<br />15. <a href="#a070511a15">Vegan Event Scheduled in Manhattan</a>
<br />
<br />16. <a href="#a070511a16">Benefits of Being Vegetarian Even For One Day a Week</a></strong>
<br />
<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Some material has been deferred to a later update/newsletter to keep this one from being even longer.
<br />
<br />[Materials in brackets like this [ ] within an article or forwarded message are my editorial notes/comments.]
<br />
<br />As always, your comments and suggestions are very welcome.
<br />
<br />Thanks,
<br />
<br />Richard</span>
<br />
<br />=========================
<br /><a name="a070511a1"></a><strong>1. Tisha B’Av and Vegetarianism</strong>
<br />
<br />With Tisha B’Av about 5 weeks away (on August 8-9 this year), time to consider connections between Tisha B’Av and vegetarianism. I plan to send my article, “Tisha B’Av and Vegetarianism” to the Jewish media soon. So please take a look at the article in the holidays section at <a href="http://www.JewishVeg.com/Schwartz">JewishVeg.com/Schwartz</a> and let me know if you have suggestions for improvements. Also, please feel free to forward the article to others and to use the points in the article for letters to editors, calls to talk shows and as talking points in general. A key point is that while the first and second Temples in Jerusalem were destroyed on Tisha B’Av, today all of humanity and all of creation are threatened and a major societal shift to plant-based diets is essential to shift our imperiled planet to a sustainable path. Thanks.
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<br /><a name="a070511a2"></a><strong>2. Update on Plans for a “World Vegetarian Week” (October 1-7, 2011)</strong>
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<br />Forwarded message from WVW organizer Mateus Mendes:
<br />
<br />The preparations for the Vegetarian Week 2011 continue, under the motto "A sustainable Future Depends on Our Food Choices". [Note that this is very consistent with JVNA’s recent emphasis.] See the Call For Action and use our Resources to prepare your own Vegetarian Week.
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<br />October 1-7, or around those days.
<br />
<br />Call for action:
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<br /><a href=http://www.vegetarianweek.org/Article-36-Call%2Bfor%2BAction.html"">http://www.vegetarianweek.org/Article-36-Call%2Bfor%2BAction.html</a>
<br />
<br />Dan Piraro supports the Vegetarian Week
<br />
<br />World famous cartoonist, writer, performer and activist Dan Piraro has given his support to the Vegetarian Week project.
<br />
<br />Complete article:
<br />
<br /><a href="http://www.vegetarianweek.org/Article-40-Dan%2BPiraro%2Bsupports%2Bthe%2BVegetarian%2BWeek.html">http://www.vegetarianweek.org/Article-40-Dan%2BPiraro%2Bsupports%2Bthe%2BVegetarian%2BWeek.html</a>
<br />
<br /><strong>Vegetarian Week 2011 contest</strong>
<br />
<br />This year the Vegetarian Week is organizing a contest, to highlight the benefits of the vegetarian lifestyle. The total value of awards is more than 200 euros. Anyone can submit one or more contributions (essays, posters, flyers, cartoons, slogans, poems, music, etc.). All contributions are welcome. The best ones will receive prizes. The deadline is 10 September. Submit your contribution(s) and good luck!
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<br /><a href="http://www.vegetarianweek.org/Page-25-Vegetarian+Week+contest+Guidelines.html">http://www.vegetarianweek.org/Page-25-Vegetarian+Week+contest+Guidelines.html</a>
<br />
<br />More organizations join the Vegetarian Week
<br />
<br />The latest coming aboard is Unión Vegetariana Argentina (UVA). UVA will organize its 6th congress in the Vegetarian Week. See the list of organizations promoting the Vegetarian Week: <a href="http://www.vegetarianweek.org/Page-56-Who.html">http://www.vegetarianweek.org/Page-56-Who.html</a>
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<br /><a name="a070511a3"></a><strong>3. Great Vegetarian Talk by Gary Yurofsky Now Viewable With Hebrew Subtitles</strong>
<br />
<br />Forwarded message from veg activist, author, and JVNA advisor Arthur Poletti:
<br />
<br />Hello Richard---
<br />
<br />Here is a URL
<br />
<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omweihtaYwI&feature=player_detailpage#t=69s">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omweihtaYwI&feature=player_detailpage#t=69s</a>
<br />
<br />The speech is now being viewed in several countries with sub-titles in several languages, including Hebrew, German, Russian, and others that will soon be available.
<br />
<br />This is the most remarkable speech I have ever watched and it is making a huge difference for animals and people.
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<br />Please visit Gary Yourofsky's web site. It has loads of vegan info as well as references to other speeches and a video of questions and answers from students that is also very impressive.
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<br /><a href="http://www.adaptt.org/index.html">http://www.adaptt.org/index.html</a>
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<br />The cruelty associated with dairy farming is horrible and is not well known.
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<br />I hope you will post the Hebrew version of “Best Speech You Will Ever Hear” [on vegetarianism] far and wide within the Jewish community in the United States and Israel.
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<br />I hope you are doing well.
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<br />Richard, please cross post the speech everywhere you can.
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<br />All the best to you.
<br />
<br />Thank you.
<br />
<br />Arthur
<br />
<br />AN AMERICAN HERO---(120,000 Youtube Hits-English Version and counting)--(38000 Hits- Hebrew Version and counting)---The Best Things In Life Are Free *Best Speech You Will Ever Hear Is One Of Those Things!! POWER-PACKED SPEECH BY VEGAN WARRIOR Can Change Your Life And Save The Lives Of Millions Of Animals <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es6U00LMmC4">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es6U00LMmC4</a>
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<br /><a name="a070511a4"></a><strong>4. Climate Effects Becoming Increasingly Severe?
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<br />NOAA Issues 2010 Climate Report Indicating Increasingly Severe Effects of Climate Change</strong>
<br />
<br /><a href="http://www.weather.com/outlook/weather-news/news/articles/parker-blog-62911_2011-06-29">http://www.weather.com/outlook/weather-news/news/articles/parker-blog-62911_2011-06-29</a>
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<br /><a name="a070511a5"></a><strong>5. Ted Turner’s Views On Climate Change
<br />
<br />Ted Turner Says Climate Change Is Humanity’s Most Serious Problem</strong>
<br />by Beth Buczynski Care2
<br />June 29, 2011
<br />6:15 pm
<br />
<br /><a href="http://www.care2.com/causes/ted-turned-says-climate-change-is-humanitys-most-serious-problem.html">http://www.care2.com/causes/ted-turned-says-climate-change-is-humanitys-most-serious-problem.html</a>
<br />
<br />Last week, media mogul Ted Turner spoke to reporters via a telephone conference held by his United Nations Foundation on the Norwegian island of Svalbard.
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<br />Responding to a question by reporter Sunny Lewis of the Environment News Service about how to change the minds of climate change skeptics, Turner said climate change is “probably the most serious — and, in all fairness, the most complex–problem that humanity has ever faced.”
<br />
<br />Turner also stated his disappointment in the fact that the United States has never had comprehensive energy policy to help govern consumption and production.
<br />
<br />Referring to climate change skeptics, Turner added: ”It’s really easy to understand how some people don’t get it because it’s so complex and complicated. But that doesn’t mean we have to do, all of us, do what we can to try to convince people to do the right thing and then motivate them to take the action.”
<br />
<br />Read more: <a href="http://www.care2.com/causes/ted-turned-says-climate-change-is-humanitys-most-serious-problem.html#ixzz1QlEgLk92">http://www.care2.com/causes/ted-turned-says-climate-change-is-humanitys-most-serious-problem.html#ixzz1QlEgLk92</a>
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<br /><a name="a070511a6"></a><strong>6. Slaughterhouse Workers More Likely to Commit Crimes</strong>
<br />
<br /><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=14643145&authType=name&authToken=UBQ9&goback=.nmp_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1&trk=NUS_UNIU_SHARE-prfl">Colleen Patrick-Goudreau</a>
<br />
<br />Slaughterhouse employment increases total arrest rates & arrests for violent crimes & rape, compared w/ other industries
<br />
<br /><a href="">http://t.co/eDvppFX</a> via Twitter
<br />
<br />Thanks to author, educator, and JVNA advisor Dan Brook for forwarding this information to us. His comment on it is below.
<br />
<br /><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=28437359&goback=%2Enmp_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1">Dan Brook, Ph.D.</a> “It may be due to what sociologists call the brutalization effect, basically stating that when violence of any kind is legitimated it leads to more violence in society.”
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<br /><a name="a070511a7"></a><strong>7. An Attempt to Reduce Antibiotic Use for Farmed Animals</strong>
<br />
<br />Forwarded message:
<br />
<br />SENATE BILL ADDRESSES COMMON USE OF ANTIBIOTICS TO FUEL FARM ANIMAL GROWTH (Food Safety News)
<br />
<br />A bipartisan group of senators re-introduced a bill aimed at preserving the effectiveness of medically important antibiotics by limiting their use in food animal feed. In the face of the rising threat of antibiotic resistance, public health experts and activists have pushed for regulation to limit the sub therapeutic use of antibiotics in animal agriculture. "The effectiveness of antibiotics for humans is jeopardized when they are used to fatten healthy pigs or speed the growth of chickens," said Senator Feinstein. "This is a basic food safety initiative that would phase out the misuse of these drugs so that food in supermarkets across America will not spread strains of drug-resistant bacteria."
<br />
<br /><a href="http://t.co/KlcpLuz">http://t.co/KlcpLuz</a>
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<br /><a name="a070511a8"></a><strong>8. Online Vegetarian Magazine ”Vegetarians in Paradise” Continues to Educate on Benefits of Vegetarianism</strong>
<br />
<br />Forwarded message:
<br />
<br />With a refreshing touch of humor in its plethora of information, Vegetarians in Paradise is an online magazine that makes it easy to go vegan. New and long time vegetarians will find vital information in popular features like Vegetarian Basics 101 and The Road to Vegetaria, both included on the USDA Vegetarian Nutrition Resource List. Valuable features include Protein Basics, Calcium Basics, Cooking Beans and Grains Charts, book and media reviews, cooking advice, and spotlighted food features. The magazine maintains databases like Vegetarian Associations Directory, Vegparadise Bookshelf, Vegetarian Food Companies, and a giant Recipe Index. Los Angeles readers enjoy the convenient Los Angeles Vegetarian Restaurants listings plus veg dining reviews, farmers' market reports, and the Vegparadise Yellow Pages.
<br />
<br />It’s easy to subscribe at the top left on any page and costs absolutely nothing.
<br />
<br />Health and Joy,
<br />
<br />Zel and Reuben Allen
<br />Vegetarians in Paradise
<br /><a href="http://www.vegparadise.com">http://www.vegparadise.com</a>
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<br /><a name="a070511a9"></a><strong>9. Update on Efforts to Produce Artificial Meat</strong>
<br />
<br />Forwarded message:
<br />
<br />PRACTICAL ETHICS
<br /><a href="http://blog.practicalethics.ox.ac.uk/">http://blog.practicalethics.ox.ac.uk/</a>
<br />
<br />Ethics in the News
<br />
<br /><a href="http://www.practicalethics.ox.ac.uk/staff/staff/honorary_fellows/jonathan_glover">http://www.practicalethics.ox.ac.uk/staff/staff/honorary_fellows/jonathan_glover</a>
<br />
<br />Artificial meat – the best idea you’ve heard all year!
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<br />Published June 29, 2011 | By Michelle Hutchinson - <a href="http://blog.practicalethics.ox.ac.uk/author/michelle-hutchinson/">http://blog.practicalethics.ox.ac.uk/author/michelle-hutchinson/</a>
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<br />Last week scientists from Oxford and Amsterdam announced the results of an nvestigation into the environmental impact of growing meat artificially <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/jun/20/artificial-meat-emissions">http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/jun/20/artificial-meat-emissions</a> in labs rather than keeping livestock. They found that greenhouse gases would be reduced by up to 96%. In addition, cultured meat production would only require 1% of the land and 4% of the water that conventional meat does. They estimated that if more resources were put into the research, it would take about five years to produce artificial meat with the consistency of mincemeat, and another five years to produce steaks. Their conclusion is modest: “We are not saying that we could, or would necessarily want to, replace conventional meat with its cultured counterpart right now.” This modesty is misplaced – it should be considered not just desirable, but hugely important to replace conventional with artificial meat.
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<br />Think about the amazing feat under discussion. We’re not just talking about a substitute for meat – a slightly improved kind of Quorn. What they are producing is real meat, with the taste, texture and nutritional value of meat. And they are producing it in a way that cuts emissions of harmful gases by 96%! Climate change is a major threat facing the world today. Increases in the release of carbon dioxide and methane are leading to the planet heating up, which in turn will cause (potentially is already causing) floods in some areas, droughts in others, and also extreme forms of weather such as hurricanes. Meat production, particularly beef, is one of the major contributors to emissions.
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<br />Replacing traditional meat with artificial meat would therefore make a huge difference to total emissions.
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<br />The other benefits of artificial meat are also significant. Beef cattle need large amounts of land for grazing, leading to deforestation <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/approved_entry/A3556848">http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/approved_entry/A3556848</a> to provide land for them. Lab-grown meat uses just 1% of the land that animals require. Rising food prices are currently a big problem for much of the world. Part of the problem is that meat is an inefficient source of energy – much more grain is required to feed enough animals to keep people well fed, than would be required if people ate the grain itself. This pushes up the price of grain. Growing meat in a lab reduces the energy used by between 7 and 45%.
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<br />Last, but by no means least, is the plight of animals. To push down the price of meat, animals in factory farms are severely mistreated. If we’re not willing to pay enough for meat to allow animals to live adequate lives, and we’re not willing to give up eating meat, surely we ought to take seriously the possibility of replacing factory farmed animals with meat which can’t suffer.
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<br />What are the arguments against producing meal artificially? One argument is based on people’s reaction to the thought of where the meat came from. If people were repulsed by cultured meat, eating artificial meat would be less beneficial than eating conventional meat, since it produced less pleasure. Theoretically it might even be harmful, if people felt obliged to eat meat, but were repulsed by what was going into their body.
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<br />However, while it seems quite plausible that people would initially feel such meat to be rather grisly, the evidence seems to show that people are adept at ignoring where their food came from. Almost everyone has a rough idea of where their meat currently comes from, and that there is suffering involved, but we usually manage not think about that when we actually eat meat. This indicates that if we felt repulsed by the way artificial meat was produced, that would not necessarily stand in the way of our enjoyment of eating it.
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<br />Moreover, it seems unlikely that people would continue to feel that cultured meat is more grisly than factory farmed meat when they were used to it. Surely the idea that what is on your plate was once alive and was deliberately subjected to harm and then killed, is much less savoury than the idea that it was grown in a vat, whether in a lab or a factory.
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<br />A second reason for being hesitant about cultured meat is the possibility of its being physically harmful to people. In the past we have sometimes rushed into eating new substances, and it has backfired. There is strong reason to think that this won’t be the case with cultured meat, since what is being produced is not a substitute for meat, but the very substance which we eat all the time. That is not to say that we should not apply rigorous tests to make sure what’s being produced is what we expect, and is safe. But the necessity of such tests shouldn’t prevent the development of artificial meat being a priority.
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<br />Artificial meat would provide people with the benefits of traditional meat – taste and nutrition – without the attendant suffering to animals. It would make the world a fairer place, since reduced land and water use, as well as reduced emissions, would mean that the rich’s meat consumption would no longer cause as much damage to the poor. Ultimately, mitigating climate change and its ensuing problems would benefit everyone. Therefore, we should make research into cultured meat a priority.
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<br /><a name="a070511a10"></a><strong>10. New Book Presents Voices of Activist Women Who Connect Advocacy for Animals With Activism for Social Justice Issues</strong>
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<br />Forwarded message from Karen Davis, Director of United Poultry Concerns:
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<br /><strong>Sister Species: Women, Animals, and Social Justice, University of IL</strong>
<br />Posted by: "UPC News" <a href="mailto:news@upc-online.org">news@upc-online.org</a> <a href="mailto:upcnews@ymail.com">upcnews@ymail.com</a>
<br />Thu Jun 30, 2011 2:48 pm (PDT)
<br />United Poultry Concerns - <a href="http://www.upc-online.org">http://www.upc-online.org</a>
<br />30 June 2011
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<br />Sister Species: Women, Animals, and Social Justice, University of Illinois Press, 2011
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<br />If it weren't for women like those contributing to this book, the voices of those who can't fight for themselves would only be heard in slaughterhouses and experimental laboratories.
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<br />UPC President Karen Davis is pleased to announce publication of this amazing anthology of writings by women who advocate for animals & tell their stories why.
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<br />The Book Garden - A Review
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<br />A feminist view on animal advocacy? I certainly haven't heard about such an approach before. All the more reason for me to pick up Sister Species: Women, Animals And Social Justice to satisfy my curiosity.
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<br />In her anthology Lisa A. Kemmerer introduces the reader at length to the topic of animal activism and its close connection to other forms of oppression such as sexism, racism, homophobia, etc. sharing a collection of essays focusing on animal ethics. These essays are as diverse as the women who wrote about their experiences, including cockfighting, factory farming, the bushmeat trade, as well as contemplating theology and animals, to mention but a few.
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<br />You don't have to be a feminist to understand this book and its message. Being vegetarian probably helps. Overall I think it's almost safe to say that a lot of people won't like this book, because it forces them to rethink their view of "the other," in this case non-human animals, but it is important to understand that what we do for "us" (humans) should not be achieved at the cost of "others" (animals). Inconvenient truths? You bet. And if it weren't for women like those contributing to this book, the voices of those who can't fight for themselves would only be heard in slaughterhouses and experimental laboratories.
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<br />In short: This book will change your way of thinking about animals who don't happen to be human. Read it!
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<br />5/5 stars
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<br /><a href="http://the-book-garden.blogspot.com/2011/06/review-sister-species-lisa-kemmerer.html">http://the-book-garden.blogspot.com/2011/06/review-sister-species-lisa-kemmerer.html</a>
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<br /><strong>We Animals - A Review</strong>
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<br /><a href="http://www.weanimals.org/blog.php?entry=114">http://www.weanimals.org/blog.php?entry=114</a>
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<br />Sister Species: Women, Animals, and Social Justice addresses interconnections between speciesism, sexism, racism, and homophobia, clarifying why social justice activists in the twenty-first century must challenge intersecting forms of oppression.
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<br />This anthology presents bold and gripping--sometimes-horrifying—personal narratives from fourteen activists who have personally explored links of oppression between humans and animals, including such exploitative enterprises
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<br />as cockfighting, factory farming, vivisection, and the bushmeat trade. Sister Species asks readers to rethink how they view "others," how they affect animals with their daily choices, and how they might bring change for all who are
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<br />oppressed. These essays remind readers that women have always been important to social justice and animal advocacy, and they urge each of us to recognize the
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<br />links that continue to bind all oppressed individuals. The astonishing honesty of these contributors demonstrates with painful clarity why every woman should be an animal activist and why every animal activist should be a feminist.
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<br />Contributors are Carol J. Adams, Tara Sophia Bahna-James, Karen Davis, Elizabeth Jane Farians, Hope Ferdowsian, Linda Fisher, Twyla François, Christine Garcia, A. Breeze Harper, Sangamithra Iyer, Pattrice Jones, Lisa Kemmerer, Allison Lance, Ingrid Newkirk, Lauren Ornelas, and Miyun Park.
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<br />------------------------------
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<br />To Order click on
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<br /><a href="http://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/catalog/77dgs4fn9780252036170.html">http://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/catalog/77dgs4fn9780252036170.html</a>
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<br />--
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<br />United Poultry Concerns is a nonprofit organization that promotes the
<br />
<br />compassionate and respectful treatment of domestic fowl.
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<br />Don't just switch from beef to chicken. Go Vegan.
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<br /><a href="http://www.UPC-online.org">http://www.UPC-online.org</a>
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<br /><a name="a070511a11"></a><strong>11. Update on Vegetarian Podcasts
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<br />Kathy Freston Interviews Dr. Michael Greger</strong>
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<br /><a href="http://h2opodcast.com/vsse.html#fsff">http://h2opodcast.com/vsse.html#fsff</a>
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<br />01 July 2011
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<br />This is part one of a transcript reading of <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kathy-freston/flu-season-factory-farmin_b_410941.html">Kathy Freston's interview of Dr. Michael Greger</a> posted on The Huffington Post January 5th, 2010. The title of the interview "Flu Season: Factory Farming Could Cause A Catastrophic Pandemic"
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<br />Thanks to Joseph Puentes, organizer of the campaign to build up a backlog of podcasts on vegetarian, animal rights, mad related issues for sharing the above information and his continues efforts.
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<br /><a name="a070511a12"></a><strong>12. Mother Jones Magazine Report on Connections Between Diabetes and Eating Meat</strong>
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<br />"Is Your Meat Habit Giving You Diabetes?"
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<br /><a hef="http://motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2011/07/are-pesticides-giving-you-diabetes">http://motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2011/07/are-pesticides-giving-you-diabetes</a>
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<br />Thanks to animal rights activist Batya Bauman for forwarding this link to us.
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<br /><a name="a070511a13"></a><strong>13. Video Dramatizes Ten Current Examples of Climate Change</strong>
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<br /><a href="http://www.linktv.org/climatechange">http://www.linktv.org/climatechange</a>
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<br /><a name="a070511a14"></a><strong>14. Article in Israeli Media Exposes Realities of Dairy Farming</strong>
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<br /><a href="http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/there-s-a-cow-behind-the-cottage-1.371517">http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/there-s-a-cow-behind-the-cottage-1.371517</a>
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<br />Thanks to JVNA advisor, Rabbi Adam Frank for forwarding this link to us.
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<br /><strong>Message that I submitted for posting after the article at the Haaretz web site:</strong>
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<br />As president of Jewish Vegetarians of North America and author of Judaism and Vegetarianism, I was happy to read this article and I hope it increases awareness about the realities of the dairy industry.
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<br />I hope the Jewish community will consider the ways that plant-based diets are most consistent with basic Jewish mandates to preserve human health, treat animals with compassion, protect the environment, conserve natural resources, help hungry people and pursue peace; also how animal-based diets and agriculture are contributing to an epidemic of diseases among Jews and others and to climate change, food, water, and energy, shortages and other threats to humanity.
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<br />I would love to have a respectful dialogue/debate with a rabbi or other Jewish scholar on "Should Jews be Vegetarians?" It would be a kiddush Hashem (a sanctification of God's name) in showing the relevance of Judaism's eternal teachings to current threats.
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<br />For more information on Jewish teachings on vegetarianism please visit <a href="http://www.JewishVeg.com/schwartz">JewishVeg.com/schwartz</a>, where I have 140 articles and 25 podcasts of my talks and interviews and the complete text of my book "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Judaism-Vegetarianism-Richard-H-Schwartz/dp/1930051247/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1310015563&sr=1-1 ">Judaism and Vegetarianism</a>." Please also visit <a href="http://www.asacredduty.com">aSacredDuty.com</a>, where you can see our acclaimed, award-winning documentary "A Sacred Duty: Applying Jewish Values to Help Heal the World."
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<br />Message from author, publisher, and JVNA advisor Roberta Kalechofsky in response to the article:
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<br />Yoav Kenny's article about the abuse of farm cows is right on the mark and needs to be said hundreds of times. It was one thing when milk products were a cottage industry, but that day is mostly passed. Modern methods of production for commercial dairy products make the use of farm animals extremely abusive and a violation of tsa'ar ba’alei chayim.
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<br /><a name="a070511a15"></a><strong>15. Vegan Event Scheduled in Manhattan</strong>
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<br />Thanks to vegetarian activist Janine Bronsom for forwarding this announcement to us:
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<br />Wednesday, July 13 · 6:30pm - 9:00pm
<br />205 W. 107th Street, 3e, Manhattan
<br />New York, NY 10025
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<br />Created By Eric Ackland
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<br />Our food choices make an enormous impact upon ourselves, on the well-being of all living creatures and on the planet. Usually for the worse. But we can change that.
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<br />Please join me on Wednesday night, July 13th as I share the insights and experience I've gleaned from many years of eating a fruit and vegetable-based diet.
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<br />We'll approach the subject philosophically and scientifically, examining the full impact of our dietary choices... on our health, our society, on other animals, and on the environment. We'll learn how we can best leverage our life-choices to maximize the measure of good that we can do in the world, and thus leave it a better place for our having lived.
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<br />Consider this evening a “Everything you've always wanted to know about Vegan, Vegetarian, Fruitarian, Quasi-vegetarian, Organic, Local, Ethical, and Humane Diets but Were Afraid to Ask” session.
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<br />This event is 100% free.
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<br />Light refreshments will be provided.
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<br />(Coke, Spam, veal, Twizzlers, and deep-fried Crisco frosting.)
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<br />Not.
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<br />Anyone is welcome. Please invite yourself if you're interested. We do have a maximum capacity of about 20. If there is enough interest I will do this on subsequent Wednesdays this summer as well.
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<br />And feel free to rsvp privately if you prefer.
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<br />RSVP to <a href="mailto:a11massage@aol.com?subject=RSVP for Wednesday night vegetarian event">a11massage@aol.com</a>
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<br />Blessings,
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<br />Janine Bronson
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<br /><a name="a070511a16"></a><strong>16. Benefits of Being Vegetarian Even For One Day a Week
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<br />Going Meat-Free One Day a Week Saves More GHG Emissions Than A 100% Local Diet</strong>
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<br /><a href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/06/new-study-going-meat-free-one-day-week-saves-more-emissions-than-local-diet.php">http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/06/new-study-going-meat-free-one-day-week-saves-more-emissions-than-local-diet.php</a>
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<br />Thanks to author, educator, and JVNA advisor Dan Brook for forwarding this information to us.
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<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">** Fair Use Notice **
<br />
<br />The material on this site is provided for educational and informational purposes. It may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. It is being made available in an effort to advance the understanding of vegetarian, environmental, nutritional, health, economic, social justice and human rights issues etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have an interest in using the included information for educational or research purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. The information on this site does not constitute legal, technical or medical advice.</span>.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17349614588789907464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9631520.post-51700667532001106282011-06-27T22:52:00.018-04:002011-07-06T22:28:07.588-04:0006/27/2011 JVNA Online NewsletterShalom everyone,<br /><br /><a name="a062711a0"></a>This update/<strong><a href="http://jewishveg.com/">Jewish Vegetarians of North America</a></strong> (JVNA) Online Newsletter has the following items:<br /><br /><strong>1. <a href="#a062711a1">My Webinar on “Judaism and Vegetarianism”/Suggestions Very Welcome</a><br /><br />2. <a href="#a062711a2">Vegan Resort in Costa Rica Seeking Help</a><br /><br />3. <a href="#a062711a3">Al Gore’s Comprehensive, Challenging Article About Climate Change Published in Rolling Stone Magazine</a><br /><br />4. <a href="#a062711a4">Vegetarian Week-Related Contest Organized</a><br /><br />5. <a href="#a062711a5">MANY Thanks to Some Wonderful JVNA Volunteers</a><br /><br />6. <a href="#a062711a6">More JVNA Volunteers Needed</a><br /><br />7. <a href="#a062711a7">JVNA Advisor To Participate in Half-Marathon to Raise Money To Improve Conditions for Animals</a><br /><br />8. <a href="#a062711a8">Terrible Rumor of Dog Stoned in Israel Is False!</a><br /><br />9. <a href="#a062711a9">State Of The Ocean: 'Shocking' Report Warns Of Mass Extinction From Current Rate Of Marine Distress</a><br /><br />10. <a href="#a062711a10">Will Cultured Meat Production Benefit Humanity?</a><br /><br />11. <a href="#a062711a11">Climate Change Accelerating Sea Level Increases</a><br /><br />12. <a href="#a062711a12">Western Fast Food Causing a Diabetes Epidemic</a></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Some material has been deferred to a later update/newsletter to keep this one from being even longer.<br /><br /> [Materials in brackets like this [ ] within an article or forwarded message are my editorial notes/comments.]<br /><br /><strong>Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the JVNA, unless otherwise indicated, but may be presented to increase awareness and/or to encourage respectful dialogue. Also, material re conferences, retreats, forums, trips, and other events does not necessarily imply endorsement by JVNA or endorsement of the kashrut, Shabbat observances, or any other Jewish observances, but may be presented for informational purposes. Please use e-mail addresses, telephone numbers, and web sites to get further information about any event that you are interested in. Also, JVNA does not necessarily agree with all positions of groups whose views are included or whose events are announced in this newsletter.</strong><br /><br />As always, your comments and suggestions are very welcome. <br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Richard</span><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a062711a1"></a><strong>1. My Webinar on “Judaism and Vegetarianism”/Suggestions Very Welcome</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.jewishveg.com/schwartz/Webinar_Judaism and Vegetarianism.ppt">http://www.jewishveg.com/schwartz/Webinar_Judaism and Vegetarianism.ppt</a> <br /><br /> Many thanks to JVNA advisor Kris Haley and her husband and Craig Haley for their great work putting this webinar together. <br /><br />I plan to add audio explanations and possibly use the slides as part of a power point presentation. So, suggestions will be very welcome. Thanks.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a062711a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a062711a2"></a><strong>2. Vegan Resort in Costa Rica Seeking Help</strong><br /><br />Forwarded message: <br /><br />I am writing on behalf of Lands in Love animal friendly zone, hotel and resort founded six years ago by a group of 18 friends from Israel, all vegetarian and animal lovers with the purpose of providing safe home for homeless animals. <br /><br />The resort is functioning as an economical structure enabling to provide all the needs to the many animals we host as well as a community structure for ecological, vegetarian and animal lovers retreat. <br /><br />In the last three years we are encountering economic difficulties due to the global economic crisis and its impact on Costa Rica tourism. <br /><br />The animals we host (more than 200 and growing) need daily treatment, food, vaccination, shelter, medical care and much more. <br /><br /><strong>We need help</strong> <br /><br />Accommodation or lots on our property are optional in return to your donation.<br /><br />We are dedicated and persistent in our efforts and need assistance to keep saving animals, being a new home for them.<br /><br />Thank you. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.landsinlove.com">www.landsinlove.com</a><br /><br /><a href="mailto:rescue@animalfrontier.com">rescue@animalfrontier.com</a> <br /><br /><strong>Ace</strong><br />Tel: + 506 2447 9331<br />Fax: + 506 2447 9334<br />US: + 1 408 21 0991<br /><strong>Skype user: assaf6791</strong><br />Costa Rica<br /><a href="mailto:assaf@landsinlove.com">assaf@landsinlove.com</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a062711a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a062711a3"></a><strong>3. Al Gore’s Comprehensive, Challenging Article About Climate Change Published in Rolling Stone Magazine<br /><br />Climate of Denial<br /><br />Can science and the truth withstand the merchants of poison?</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/climate-of-denial-20110622">http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/climate-of-denial-20110622</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a062711a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a062711a4"></a><strong>4. Vegetarian Week-Related Contest Organized</strong><br /><br />* Vegetarian Week Contest <br /><br />This year the Vegetarian Week planners have organized a contest in order to highlight the benefits of the vegetarian lifestyle. The total value of awards is more than 200 euros, and anyone can submit one or more contributions (essays, posters, cartoons, slogans, etc.). <br /><br />All contributions are welcome, and the best will receive prizes. <br /><br />The deadline is 10 September. Submit your contribution(s) and good luck! <br /><br />Read the contest Guidelines:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.vegetarianweek.org/Page-25-Vegetarian+Week+contest+Guidelines.html">http://www.vegetarianweek.org/Page-25-Vegetarian+Week+contest+Guidelines.html</a> <br /><br />Login to submit contributions:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.vegetarianweek.org/index.php?destin=user">http://www.vegetarianweek.org/index.php?destin=user</a><br /><br />* Vegetarian Week 2011 <br /><br />The preparation for the Vegetarian Week 2011 continues, under the motto "A sustainable Future Depends on Our Food Choices". See the Call For Action and use our Resources to prepare your own Vegetarian Week. <br /><br />October 1-7, or around those days. <br /><br />Call For Action:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.vegetarianweek.org/Article-36-Call%2Bfor%2BAction.html">http://www.vegetarianweek.org/Article-36-Call%2Bfor%2BAction.html</a><br /><br />Posters and Flyers<br /><br /><a href="http://www.vegetarianweek.org/Article-37-Posters%2Band%2Bflyers.html">http://www.vegetarianweek.org/Article-37-Posters%2Band%2Bflyers.html</a> <br /><br />Images, Videos and texts<br /><br /><a href="http://www.vegetarianweek.org/Article-38-Images%252C%2Bvideos%2Band%2Btexts.html">http://www.vegetarianweek.org/Article-38-Images%252C%2Bvideos%2Band%2Btexts.html</a> <br /><br />To change e-mail address or stop receiving this newsletter :<br /><br /><a href="http://www.vegetarianweek.org/index.php?destin=user">http://www.vegetarianweek.org/index.php?destin=user</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a062711a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a062711a5"></a><strong>5. MANY Thanks to Some Wonderful JVNA Volunteers</strong><br /><br />Maida Genser has been helping JVNA for several years by putting the e-newsletters out on the blog at <a href="http://jewishveg.blogspot.com/">http://jewishveg.blogspot.com/</a> and doing some web site updates. <br /><br />She would like everyone to please check out her web page for her main charitable work, Citizens for Pets in Condos at <a href="http://www.petsincondos.org">http://www.petsincondos.org</a>. Citizens FOR Pets in Condos is a non-profit public advocacy and educational organization dedicated to increasing acceptance of companion animals in condos and other types of association-run housing. <br /><br />Maida summarizes the groups activities, “We educate the public about the health benefits of having animal companions and also advocate for responsible pet ownership/guardianship. Our motto: ‘creating a win-win situation for both people & pets.’ We provide resources for a pet-friendly America/Florida.” <br /><br />We have another wonderful volunteer keeping our website well organized, but he prefers to be anonymous, at least for now. <br /><br />John Diamond, our secretary/treasurer continues to do very important work in sending out DVDs, and Israel and Eva Mossman continue to be very helpful in sending out JVNA leaflets on request.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a062711a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /> <a name="a062711a6"></a><strong>6. More JVNA Volunteers Needed</strong><br /><br />We can always use more voluntary help in getting our messages out more effectively. There is much work to be done, and we have absolutely no paid staff at all. Even if you can only spare an hour a week or so, that would be very helpful and much appreciated. Thanks. <br /><br />We can especially use some voluntary accounting help and help finding contacts - rabbis, synagogues, JCCs, professors of religion, etc. - that we can send our messages to.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a062711a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /> <a name="a062711a7"></a><strong>7. JVNA Advisor To Participate in Half-Marathon to Raise Money To Improve Conditions for Animals</strong><br /><br />Forwarded message: <br /><br />Greetings,<br /><br />I will be participating in the Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon October 2 in San Jose. This is a fundraiser for PETA and I am writing to ask for whatever donation you can afford to help animals the world over. <br /><br /><a href="http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/san-jose">http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/san-jose</a> <br /><br />Please go to the link below and click on the green SUPPORT RON! box to the right in order to make your donation online. Thank you on behalf of the animals everywhere. If possible, kindly share this with loved ones, friends, relatives, co-workers, professional associates, and neighbors.<br /><br /><a href="http://www2.peta.org/site/TR/Events/PETAsOnlineCommunity?px=3292498&pg=personal&fr_id=1081">http://www2.peta.org/site/TR/Events/PETAsOnlineCommunity?px=3292498&pg=personal&fr_id=1081</a> <br /><br />Ron Landskroner<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a062711a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a062711a8"></a><strong>8. Terrible Rumor of Dog Stoned in Israel Is False!<br /><br />The Case of the Dog Who Was Not Stoned</strong><br /><br />There has been a story going around, based on an incorrect story in an Israeli newspaper, alleging that an Israeli rabbinic court ordered a dog that was causing a commotion to be stoned to death. <br /><br /><strong>Jewish court orders dog to die by stoning, believing it was a godless lawyer reborn</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://freethinker.co.uk/2011/06/18/jewish-court-orders-dog-to-die-by-stoning-believing-it-was-a-godless-lawyer-reborn/">http://freethinker.co.uk/2011/06/18/jewish-court-orders-dog-to-die-by-stoning-believing-it-was-a-godless-lawyer-reborn/</a> <br /><br />Fortunately, as indicated at the website below, the story is false.<br /><br /><a href="http://honestreporting.com/sleeping-dogs-dont-lie-but-the-press-does/">http://honestreporting.com/sleeping-dogs-dont-lie-but-the-press-does/</a> <br /><br />I submitted the posting below after the article at the website immediately above. Please go to that website and post a message reinforcing our position. Thanks. <br /><br />------------------------------<br /><br />As president of Jewish Vegetarians of North America, I am very happy to learn that the story about the stoning of a dog is false, because many people emailed me asking for my reaction to the original story. <br /><br />However, while there is evidently much concern about one dog allegedly being stoned to death, I wonder why there is little or no concern about what I consider a far more disturbing situation - the massive mistreatment and then slaughter of almost 60 billion farmed animals annually worldwide, so that people can enjoy eating meat, a product that is causing an epidemic of heart disease, various types of cancer, and other chronic, degenerative diseases. Making the situation even worse is that animal agriculture is contributing to climate change, food shortages, scarcities of water and energy, deforestation, desertification, rapid species extinctions, soil erosion, and other problems that greatly threaten humanity. <br /><br />It is important that we strive to increase awareness of Judaism's beautiful teachings on compassion to animals. <br /><br />For more information on Jewish teachings on the proper treatment of animals and other vegetarian-related issues, please visit JewishVeg.com/schwartz. Also, please visit aSacredDuty.com to see our acclaimed documentary "A Sacred Duty: Applying Jewish Values to Help Heal the World." <br /><br />How about a respectful dialogue on "Should Jews Be Vegetarians?" It would be a Kiddush Hashem (a sanctification of God's Name), by showing the relevance of Judaism's eternal teachings to modern issues. <br /><br />------------------------------------<br /><br />A later article: <br /><br />'No dog stoned to death in Jerusalem court' <br /><br /><a href="http://www.thejc.com/news/israel-news/50487/no-dog-stoned-death-jerusalem-court">http://www.thejc.com/news/israel-news/50487/no-dog-stoned-death-jerusalem-court</a> <br /><br /><strong>By Jessica Elgot, June 20, 2011 <br /><br />Jewish Chronicle Online <br /><br />A rabbinical court in Mea Shearim did not sentence a dog to death</strong><br /><br />No stray dog was condemned to death, or stoned by a rabbinical court in Jerusalem, the Beth Din have insisted.<br /><br />Israeli’s newspaper Maariv reported that a stray dog has wandered into a Beth Din financial court in the strictly Orthodox area of Mea Shearim and refused to be moved, which a judge decreed was a reincarnation of a secular lawyer who died 20 years ago.<br /><br />Reports said the judges then "decreed" that local children stone the dog to death. But the secretariat of the court released a statement calling the reports “bitter humour” and said all that had happened was that the city dogcatcher had been called to remove the stray.<br /><br />The story made headlines around the world, and was the “Most Read” story on the BBC – despite a correction and apology being printed in Maariv.<br /><br />A statement from the court said: “There is no basis for stoning dogs or any other animal in the Jewish religion, not since the days of the Temple or Abraham.<br /><br />“The female dog found a seat in the corner of the court. And the children were delighted by it; there were hundreds outside the court. They are used to seeing stray cats but most have never seen a dog before. The only action we took was to dial the number of the Jerusalem Municipality to get the people in charge to take it away.<br /><br />“There was no talk of reincarnation, a lawyer has never been mentioned, either now or 20 years ago, and there was no stoning. Such inventions are a kind of blood libel, and we wonder why the inventor of the story did not continue to describe how we collected the blood of the dog to make our matzah.”<br /><br />The story, when circulated on Yahoo, attracted more than 1,800 comments, most expressing violent anger. One wrote “the more I see of Israelis, the more I like my dog.”<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a062711a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a062711a9"></a><strong>9. State Of The Ocean: 'Shocking' Report Warns Of Mass Extinction From Current Rate Of Marine Distress</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/20/ipso-2011-ocean-report-mass-extinction_n_880656.html?utm_source=DailyBrief&utm_campaign=062111&utm_medium=email&utm_content=NewsEntry&utm_term=Daily%20Brief">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/20/ipso-2011-ocean-report-mass-extinction_n_880656.html?utm_source=DailyBrief&utm_campaign=062111&utm_medium=email&utm_content=NewsEntry&utm_term=Daily%20Brief</a> <br /><br />A related article:<br /><br /><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110621/sc_nm/us_oceans;_ylt=Au41Uj4iX6p4c7IROAjZTGKs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTFpamw1bW81BHBvcwMzNwRzZWMDYWNjb3JkaW9uX21vc3RfcG9wdWxhcgRzbGsDb2NlYW5saWZlb250">http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110621/sc_nm/us_oceans;_ylt=Au41Uj4iX6p4c7IROAjZTGKs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTFpamw1bW81BHBvcwMzNwRzZWMDYWNjb3JkaW9uX21vc3RfcG9wdWxhcgRzbGsDb2NlYW5saWZlb250</a> <br /><br />Very frightening situation. <br /><br />From a cyber friend from Malaysia: <br /><br />[Moshiach] Ben David will not come until they will seek fish for a sick person and not find it - [the rivers will be as thick as oil, fish cannot live in them]- Talmud Sanhedrin 98a <br /><br />Pollution, global warming and other man-made problems are pushing the world's oceans to the brink of a mass extinction of marine life unprecedented in tens of millions of years, a consortium of scientists has warned. <br /><br />Dying coral reefs, biodiversity ravaged by invasive species, expanding open-water "dead zones," toxic algae blooms, and the massive depletion of big fish stocks are all accelerating, according to the report, which is due to be presented at the United Nations on Tuesday. <br /><br />"We now face losing marine species and entire marine ecosystems, such as coral reefs, within a single generation,'' the report said. <br /><br />The rate at which carbon is being absorbed by the ocean is already far greater than at the time of the last globally significant extinctions, which wiped out up to 50 per cent of some deep-sea animals, the report said. <br /><br />Overfishing has also reduced some commercial fish stocks by more than 90 per cent. <br /><br />"We are looking at consequences for humankind that will impact in our lifetime." <br /><br />Sources: CNN and Aljazeera<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a062711a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a062711a10"></a><strong>10. Will Cultured Meat Production Benefit Humanity?<br /><br />Environmental Impacts of Cultured Meat Production</strong><br /><br />Hanna L. Tuomisto†* and M. Joost Teixeira de Mattos‡<br /><br />University of Oxford, Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney, Oxon OX13 5QL, U.K.<br /><br />University of Amsterdam, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Molecular Microbial Physiology Group, NL-1018 WV Amsterdam, Netherlands<br /><br />Environ. Sci. Technol., Article ASAP<br />DOI: 10.1021/es200130u<br />Publication Date (Web): June 17, 2011<br />Copyright © 2011 American Chemical Society<br />E-mail: <a href="mailto:hanna.tuomisto@zoo.ox.ac.uk">hanna.tuomisto@zoo.ox.ac.uk</a>; Tel.: +447726450316;<br />Fax: +441865393101. <br /><br />Abstract <br /><br />Cultured meat (i.e., meat produced in vitro using tissue engineering techniques) is being developed as a potentially healthier and more efficient alternative to conventional meat. Life cycle assessment (LCA) research method was used for assessing environmental impacts of large-scale cultured meat production. Cyanobacteria hydrolysate was assumed to be used as the nutrient and energy source for muscle cell growth. The results showed that production of 1000 kg cultured meat requires 26–33 GJ energy, 367–521 m3 water, 190–230 m2land, and emits 1900–2240 kg CO2-eq GHG emissions. In comparison to conventionally produced European meat, cultured meat involves approximately 7–45% lower energy use (only poultry has lower energy use), 78–96% lower GHG emissions, 99% lower land use, and 82–96% lower water use depending on the product compared. Despite high uncertainty, it is concluded that the overall environmental impacts of cultured meat production are substantially lower than those of conventionally produced meat. <br /><br /><a href="http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es200130u">http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es200130u</a> <br /><br />Thanks to Herma Caelen for forwarding this material to us.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a062711a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a062711a11"></a><strong>11. Climate Change Accelerating Sea Level Increases<br /><br />Sea Levels Rising at Fastest Rate in 2000 Years</strong><br /><br />By Samantha Oltman<br /><br />Wed Jun. 22, 2011 12:00 PM PDT <br /><br /><a href="http://motherjones.com/blue-marble/2011/06/new-study-sea-level-rise-global-warming">http://motherjones.com/blue-marble/2011/06/new-study-sea-level-rise-global-warming</a> <br /><br />The science behind a new report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal is complicated, but the evidence is more precise than it has ever been: Sea levels are now rising at a faster rate than they were at any time in the past 2,000 years. For much of the two millenia measured in the study, sea levels were either stabilized or rising at .25 millimeters per year. But right around the end of the 19th century, sea levels started rising at a comparatively drastic 2.1 millimeters per year, and the trend has continued today. <br /><br />SNIP<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a062711a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a062711a12"></a><strong>12. Western Fast Food Causing a Diabetes Epidemic<br /><br />Diabetes epidemic affecting 350m – and western fast food is to blame</strong><br /><br />• Lancet study shows diabetes now a major health problem
• Number of people with disease has doubled since 1980<br /><br /> <strong>Robin McKie</strong><br /> guardian.co.uk, Saturday 25 June 2011 16.59 BST <br /><br />SNIP <br /><br />Thanks to author and JVNA advisor Lewis Regenstein for sending this article to us.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a062711a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">** Fair Use Notice **<br /><br />The material on this site is provided for educational and informational purposes. It may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. It is being made available in an effort to advance the understanding of vegetarian, environmental, nutritional, health, economic, social justice and human rights issues etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have an interest in using the included information for educational or research purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. The information on this site does not constitute legal, technical or medical advice.</span>.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17349614588789907464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9631520.post-46261479896132712122011-06-27T00:15:00.065-04:002011-06-29T01:11:35.635-04:0006/20/2011 JVNA Online NewsletterShalom everyone,<br /><br /><a name="a062011a0"></a>This update/<strong><a href="http://jewishveg.com/">Jewish Vegetarians of North America</a></strong> (JVNA) Online Newsletter has the following items:<br /><br /><strong>1. <a href="#a062011a1">Ten Ways You Can Make JVNA More Effective</a><br /><br />2. <a href="#a062011a2">Update on Efforts To Get the Israeli Chief Rabbinate To Ban Meat Produced by Shackling and Hoisting</a> <br /><br />3. <a href="#a062011a3">Sampling of Letters Sent to Chief Rabbi Metzger in Support of CHAI’s Initiative Above</a><br /><br />4. <a href="#a062011a4">Vegetarian Week Contest Scheduled</a><br /><br />5. <a href="#a062011a5">Message From United Poultry Concern’s Director on Denial About How “Food” Animals Are Treated</a><br /><br />6. <a href="#a062011a6">Still Time to Register for AR2011</a><br /><br />7. <a href="#a062011a7">Study Indicates that Vegetarian Diets Are Healthier in Every Way</a><br /><br />8. <a href="#a062011a8">Arsenic Found in Chickens</a><br /><br />9. <a href="#a062011a9">Essay: How Much Is Global Warming Due to Animal Agriculture?</a><br /><br />10. <a href="#a062011a10">Message From Canfei Nesharim Seeking Support</a><br /><br />11. Important Climate Change Articles:<br /><br />11a. <a href="#a062011a11a">How the West Was Lost</a><br /><br />11b. <a href="#a062011a11b">Are Progressives in Denial About Climate Change?</a><br /><br />11c. <a href="#a062011a11c">"Merchants of Doubt": How a Handful of Scientists Obscured the Truth on Issues From Tobacco Smoke to Global Warming</a><br /><br />12. <a href="#a062011a12">Dead Sea Threatened by BOTH Shrinking and Flooding</a><br /><br />13. <a href="#a062011a13">Jews and Muslims Work Together to Protect Their Slaughtering Methods</a><br /><br />14. <a href="#a062011a14">2012 IVU World Veg Congress Planned</a></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Some material has been deferred to a later update/newsletter to keep this one from being even longer.<br /><br /> [Materials in brackets like this [ ] within an article or forwarded message are my editorial notes/comments.]<br /><br /><strong>Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the JVNA, unless otherwise indicated, but may be presented to increase awareness and/or to encourage respectful dialogue. Also, material re conferences, retreats, forums, trips, and other events does not necessarily imply endorsement by JVNA or endorsement of the kashrut, Shabbat observances, or any other Jewish observances, but may be presented for informational purposes. Please use e-mail addresses, telephone numbers, and web sites to get further information about any event that you are interested in. Also, JVNA does not necessarily agree with all positions of groups whose views are included or whose events are announced in this newsletter.</strong><br /><br />As always, your comments and suggestions are very welcome. <br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Richard</span><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a062011a1"></a><strong>1. Ten Ways You Can Make JVNA More Effective</strong><br /><br />It is becoming increasingly clear that the world is rapidly approaching climate, food, water, energy, economic, and other crises and that a major shift to plant-based diets is essential to preventing disasters. <br /><br />JVNA is trying to be a positive factor as much as possible. <br /><br />Here are ten things that you can do to make JVNA more effective: <br /><br />· Volunteer to represent JVNA at veg and animal rights conferences to give out literature.<br /><br />· Get people you know to contact me (<a href="mailto:president@JewishVeg.com">president@JewishVeg.com</a>) to get our free JVNA newsletters.<br /><br />· Suggest that people visit our website (<a href="http://www.JewishVeg.com">JewishVeg.com</a>).<br /><br />· Suggest that people visit <a href="http://www.JewishVeg.com/Schwartz">JewishVeg.com/Schwartz</a>, where I have about 150 articles, 25 podcasts of my talks and interviews, and the complete text of my book Judaism and Vegetarianism.<br /><br />· Suggest that people visit <a href="http://www.aSacredDuty.com">aSacredDuty.com</a> to see our acclaimed documentary, “A Sacred Duty: Applying Jewish Values to Help Heal the World.”<br /><br />· <a href="http://jewishveg.com/feedback.html">Request a complimentary DVD</a> of “A Sacred Duty” and arrange a showing.<br /><br />· Send one or more of my articles at <a href="A href="http://www.JewishVeg.com/Schwartz">JewishVeg.com/Schwartz </a> to Jewish publications.<br /><br />· Write an article using material at the websites mentioned above and send it to a Jewish publication.<br /><br />· Write a letter to the editor using material at our websites.<br /><br />· Call a talk show and present the Jewish case for vegetarianism or the case for becoming a vegetarian to reduce current threats to humanity.<br /><br />· Your suggestions? <br /><br />Many thanks for all that you do.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a062011a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a062011a2"></a><strong>2. Update on Efforts To Get the Israeli Chief Rabbinate To Ban Meat Produced by Shackling and Hoisting</strong><br /><br />Forwarded message from CHAI (Concern for Helping Animals in Israel): <br /> <br /><strong>Israeli Rabbinate Fails to Keep Its Promise to Ban Import
of Meat from Slaughterhouses Using Cruel Methods <br /><br />PLEASE WRITE!</strong> <br /> <br />Despite the Chief Rabbinate of Israel’s promise to stop certifying as kosher meat from cows slaughtered in South America using the extremely cruel method of shackling and hoisting, it continues to certify the meat and allow it to be imported to Israel. Shackling and hoisting, which has already been banned in Israel, the U.S., and the European Union, requires that fully conscious animals be chained by the ankle and hoisted upside down before slaughter, causing excruciating tearing of muscles and tendons and extreme fright. <br /><br />"The Rabbinate is on record as finding the practice of shackling and hoisting ethically problematic and certainly inflicting pain and suffering on animals," said Rabbi Adam Frank, rabbi of Congregation Moreshet Yisrael in central Jerusalem and Board member of Hakol Chai, the Israeli sister charity of Concern for Helping Animals in Israel (CHAI). <br /><br />A year ago, Avi Blumenthal, an assistant to Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger, promised that if the South American slaughterhouses did not abolish shackle-and-hoist and switch to a more humane method by 2011, the Rabbinate would cease to certify the meat produced there as kosher. Rabbi Menachem Genack, the head of the kashrut division at the New York-based Orthodox Union, said Rabbi Metzger had told him of his intention to switch to the less cruel inversion pen. <br /><br />But the Rabbinate has not kept its promise. At first, says Frank, “the public was pacified by statements on behalf of the Israeli Rabbinate that they would ensure a change would occur. Either they misled the public or they lied." <br /><br />Blumenthal admitted that the Rabbinate still certifies meat slaughtered using shackling and hoisting. The Rabbinate requires that every cow be slaughtered while lying on his or her back, in accordance with kosher laws, but a box-like holding pen that inverts the animal before the throat is slit can be substituted for the more cruel shackling and hoisting method. <br /><br />Blumenthal claimed that some slaughterhouses in South America have switched to the inversion method and those who did not will do so eventually, but the director of the Rabbinate's overseas slaughtering and meat imports department, Rabbi Ezra Harari Raful, said that while a small number of South American slaughterhouses have installed inversion pens, most of the 15-odd slaughterhouses that supply Israel still use shackle-and-hoist. Blumenthal conceded that the bottom line is that Israeli importers signed long term contracts with the slaughterhouses and so have no leverage to pressure their owners. The contracts with several of the slaughterhouses will expire over the next few years. <br /><br />The fact that Israel is still buying kosher meat from slaughterhouses known to engage in extremely and unnecessarily cruel practices is completely unacceptable, says Frank. <br /><br />See the <strong>article about this subject in <i>Ha'aretz</i></strong>, 10 June 2011. <br /><br />For further details about this issue, please see <strong><a href="http://www.chai-online.org/en/compassion/judaism/heritage_judaism_shackle.htm">Kosher Slaughter: Should Shackling and Hoisting Be Permitted?</a> <br /><br />WHAT YOU CAN DO</strong> <br /><br />CHAI asks that you <strong><a href="http://www.chai-online.org/en/news/action_alerts/action_alert_shackle.htm">send a letter</a></strong> to Chief Rabbi Metzger, urging him to keep his promise to ban the importation of meat from cruel South American slaughterhouses that practice shackling and hoisting. <br /><br />Please also consider reducing or eliminating your consumption of meat to prevent animal suffering, preserve human health, and save the environment. <br /><br /><strong>Please donate to CHAI and Hakol Chai. Send your tax-deductible donations to:
CHAI, POB 3341, Alexandria, VA 22302, USA, or <a href="http://www.chai-online.org/en/contact/membership/contact_join_contents.htm">donate through our website</a>.</strong>
<br /><br />
Yours for a more compassionate world,
<br /><br />
Nina Natelson <br /><br /><strong>CHAI - Concern for Helping Animals in Israel</strong>
PO Box 3341, Alexandria, VA 22302
Email: <a href="mailto:chai_us@cox.net">chai_us@cox.net</a>
Phone: 703-658-9650
Web: <a href="http://www.chai-online.org">http://www.chai-online.org</a><br /> <br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a062011a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a062011a3"></a><strong>3. Sampling of Letters Sent to Chief Rabbi Metzger in Support of CHAI’s Initiative Above</strong><br /><br /><a href="mailto:rabbis@rabbinate.gov.il">rabbis@rabbinate.gov.il</a><br /><br />Shalom Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger, shlit"a: <br /><br />Kol hakavod for all of your important efforts on behalf of Medinat Yisrael and Klal Yisrael. <br /><br />As president of Jewish Vegetarians of North America, I very respectfully urge you to please fulfill your promise to put an end to shackling and hoisting of animals for shechitah. I believe that this action would be a kiddush Hashem by helping end violations of tsa’ar ba’alei chaim at South American slaughterhouses and by showing how Judaism’s eternal teachings apply to contemporary situations. It would also be consistent with other rulings you have made about the proper treatment of animals, including banning the use of furs imported from China, where animals are skinned alive. <br /><br />"Tov Hashem la-kol, vi-rachamav al kol maasav -- God is good to all, and His mercy is upon all of His works." As Jews, we must strive to emulate Hashem's ways and thus bring this world closer to what the Creator wants it to be. Therefore, we turn to you, as Chief Rabbi, to redress this avoidable tsaar baalei chaim and to institute restraint systems for shechitah that minimize suffering. If this is done, it will be surely help fulfill our divine mandate to be a "light unto the nations" by our example, and not the opposite. <br /><br />Thank you for your kind consideration. <br /><br />Very truly yours, <br /><br />Richard H. Schwartz <br /><br />-----------------------<br /><br />Shalom Rabbi. <br /><br />Please fulfill the promise you made to end the cruel practice of shackling and hoisting in slaughterhouses that ship to Israel from South America. <br /><br />Since all kosher meat imported from South America into Israel must be approved by your office, the decision in favor of humaneness or cruelty is entirely yours. <br /><br />Further, please consider how any meat, even if permitted like the quail at Sinai that we just read about in Torah, is antithetical to our highest Jewish values of <i>sh’mirat haguf, pekuach nefesh, tsa’ar ba’alei chayim, shomrei adamah, bal tashchit, tzedakah, shalom v’tzedek, v'Klal Yisrael</i>. <br /><br />Shalom,<br /><br />Dan Brook, Ph.D.<br />The Vegetarian Mitzvah<br /><a href="http://www.brook.com/jveg">www.brook.com/jveg</a> <br /><br />--------------------------------------------<br /><br />"I urge you to stop the importation of meat from South American slaughterhouses that continue to practice shackling and hoisting. It is disgraceful to eat such meat, and your action in this matter is noted by Jews around the world. It would be a message to the Jewish world that Jews have a moral conscience about the food they eat, if you would follow through on your promise to censure the importing such meat." <br /><br />Roberta Kalechofsky<br /><br />----------------------------<br /><br />Bs"d <br /><br />L'khvod HaRav Metzger shlit"a <br /><br />Shalom uverakha. <br /><br />Please heed the many appeals you have received to put an end to shackle and hoist restraint systems used for shechita in South America. Not only are there superior restraint systems today, but this practice adds to the growing opposition to shechitah around the world and to hostility toward the Torah Hakedoshah and Klal Yisrael. <br /><br />Dovid Sears<br />Brooklyn, NY<br /><a href="http://www.orot.com/eden.html">http://www.orot.com/eden.html</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a062011a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a062011a4"></a><strong>4. Vegetarian Week Contest Scheduled</strong><br /><br />Forwarded message: <br /><br />This year the Vegetarian Week has organized a contest, to highlight the benefits of the vegetarian lifestyle. The total value of awards is more than 200 euros, and anyone can submit one or more contributions (essays, posters, cartoons, slogans, etc.). <br /><br />All contributions are welcome, and the best will award prizes.<br /><br />The deadline is 10 September. Submit your contribution(s) and good luck! <br /><br />Read the contest Guidelines:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.vegetarianweek.org/Page-25-Vegetarian+Week+contest+Guidelines.html">http://www.vegetarianweek.org/Page-25-Vegetarian+Week+contest+Guidelines.html</a> <br /><br />Login to submit contributions:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.vegetarianweek.org/index.php?destin=user">http://www.vegetarianweek.org/index.php?destin=user</a> <br /><br />_____________________________<br /><br />List mailing list<br /><br /><a href="mailto:List@vegetarianweek.org">List@vegetarianweek.org</a><br /><br /><a href="http://vegetarianweek.org/mailman/listinfo/list_vegetarianweek.org">http://vegetarianweek.org/mailman/listinfo/list_vegetarianweek.org</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a062011a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a062011a5"></a><strong>5. Message From United Poultry Concern’s Director on Denial About How “Food” Animals Are Treated</strong><br /><br />Thanks to JVNA advisor and producer of “<a href="http://www.asacredduty.com">A Sacred Duty</a>” Lionel Friedberg for sending us this message and for his introduction below:<br /><br />I simply have to share this brilliantly written piece with all of you. It is the work of a woman whose beliefs, efforts and dedication I admire very much. She is Karen Davis, the president of a wonderful organization called United Poultry Concerns. In the article pulled from her e-mail today she talks about -- among other things -- how powerfully influential people such as Mark Zuckerberg, the guy who started Facebook, still has much to learn about what it is to be a compassionate human being. It'll only take a minute of your time and I assure you it is a most worthwhile read. <br /><br />Best, <br /><br />Lionel <br /><br />---------------------<br /><br />13 June 2011 <br /><br /><strong>“Only Connect.” Is Boiling a Lobster a Bonding Experience?</strong><br />by Karen Davis, PhD, President of United Poultry Concerns <br /><br />Yes, it appears that most people are “very removed from” the meat they eat. Well, not from the meat, obviously, but from the animals to whom the meat was once attached. This removal dates to the mid- 20th century, when animals raised for food in Western countries disappeared from barnyards into factory farms. <br /><br />Drive by the long, low buildings on the Virginia Eastern Shore where I live, and unless you already know what you’re looking at, you would never guess that many thousands of chickens are living inside each one of those buildings. And those huge Tyson and Perdue “processing plants” with the smoke pouring out of the smokestacks and the cement parking lots filled with cars, who would guess what is going on behind those walls? Except when you see the truckloads of chickens going up and down the roads all day, from the chicken houses to the slaughtering plants, or you’re one of the thousands of poultry industry employees on the Eastern Shore. Otherwise, how would you know?<br /><br />So, to reconnect meat eaters with the animals they eat or, more precisely, to reconnect them with the fact that they’re eating animals, media culture and society have got on board with the animal welfare, deep ecology idea that what’s needed to bridge the gap, between urbanized meat eaters and the animals behind the scenes of this meat, is to slaughter their own animals. Look your chicken or your goat in the eye as you slice “its” throat and watch “it” struggle in pain and suffocate to death in “its” own blood. This will teach you that eating meat involves killing an animal, although Michael Pollan’s alter ego, Joel Salatin, owner of the Virginia family farm Polyface, told Feedstuffs that “people should not accept that it’s okay toeat grain but not a pig or a chicken just because one has eyes and one does not” (May 23, 2011). <br /><br />The idea put forth by sectors of the animal welfare community seems to be that killing one’s own animals will somehow develop empathy in the killer. It isn’t just about “now I know” but “now I care.” But is this so? In the case of billionaire Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, there is no evidence in his account of his latest “personal challenge” that killing animals himself began or ended in empathy for the animals he had previously bonded with only as meat. According to the story, he “evolved,” from boiling a lobster to death, to cutting the throats of a goat and a chicken. And so on from there. Of the lobster episode Zuckerberg said, “The most interesting thing was how special it felt to eat it after having not eaten any seafood or meat in a while.” <br /><br />In other words, the “most interesting, special thing” for Zuckerberg, by his account, was not the lobster or his relationship with the lobster as a fellow creature as opposed to “lobster”; it wasn’t about expanded or deepened empathy at all. It was about his Seafood experience, his Meat experience and the thrill of eating an animal he had, just minutes before, intentionally tortured to death in boiling water. (Don’t plead that Zuckerberg didn’t know the lobster was sentient.) <br /><br />So what does it mean to bond with an animal or anyone else one chooses to kill for pleasure? Bear in mind that rapists and serial murderers sadistically, ritualistically “bond” with their victims – they know their victim’s pain and they experience it vicariously as pleasure. The fact is that bonding and “connecting” do not necessarily entail compassion, and violating another’s body does not invariably lead to sympathy with the victim or with anyone else. Indeed, hurting others is a thrill for many people who lust for more of the delicious sensation. We know this is true when it comes to humans intentionally hurting other humans, but when it comes to humans intentionally hurting animals, the rhetoric disconnects from reality as easily as the face disconnects from a small helpless body under the smack of a hatchet. <br /><br />Which brings me to the animal protection spokesman who recently blogged that while many Americans were shocked by Zuckerberg’s cruel behavior and “sympathized with the animals he killed,” their – our – reactions were/are misplaced: “While I understand those natural reactions to the killing of these creatures, I think we owe Zuckerberg some plaudits, not only for reminding people that eating meat involves the killing of animals, but also for recognizing that it’s morally dubious to simply pass on the ‘dirty work.’” Sure, okay, but let us ask, then, whether it is even more morally dubious, or just plain wrong, to do the dirty work yourself, especially when there is no need to do it at all. The topic is death, ladies and gentleman, not hauling the garbage. <br /><br />Regarding the mantra that urban people need to “reconnect” through personal killing with “where their food comes from,” let us recall the fact that throughout most of human history and in many if not most parts of the world today, animals were, and are, driven to market on foot, slaughtered, beaten and otherwise openly abused in the streets in all kinds of ways, and the people doing and witnessing these events were and are basically oblivious to it. Familiarity breeds oblivion as much as absence does. <br /><br />As I noted in my book, The Holocaust and the Henmaid’s Tale, B.R. Myers writes that research could prove “that cows love Jesus, and the line at the McDonald’s drive-through wouldn’t be one sagging carload shorter the next day.” Only consider: in Salisbury, Maryland, a McDonald’s sits on one side of the street and on the other side a gigantic chicken slaughter plant looms, surrounded by its endlessly sagging truckloads of chickens waiting on the dock to be killed. There is no clear evidence that the sight of suffering evokes sympathy or protest in the majority of people, and the first shock of seeing suffering can wear off. Even if it doesn’t, people can choose not to look. (p. 24) <br /><br />In conclusion, I will simply say, in response to recent discussions about Zuckerberg and the like, that I do not believe that people voluntarily killing their own animals for gastronomy raises the moral level of society or the ethical status of animals in society. I do not believe that Zuckerberg’s behavior will have the slightest positive effect on ending global factory farming except, ironically, to further it since his fundamental message is that it’s perfectly all right to kill an animal needlessly if you wish to and can get away with it. Which in the case of “food” animals, you can. I do not share the view that Zuckerberg killing his own animals “reduces animal suffering,” nor do I believe that now that he is killing his own animals he “connects” with them, other than as a hedonistic sadist or an affectless sociopath, and sociopathology paradoxically comprises both. He boasts that he loves to hunt and kill animals. What else do we need to know? <br /><br />When you choose to terrorize and torture an animal to death for culinary pleasure, or even let us say to kill a chicken or a lobster or a goat “humanely” with a death-inducing sedative, which nobody does, you’re saying that for you this animal is Nothing. You are Everything. Since animals have no protection against us, our words, and our lies, we can say and do whatever we please about our reasons for debasing them and making their lives miserable. <br /><br />While it’s distressing, though not surprising, that a person like Mark Zuckerberg is killing animals for pleasure and publicity, it is much more distressing, and harder to overcome, the oily sanction bestowed on him by influential animal welfare representatives who seems to bond more closely with Zuckerberg than with animal rights activists and people who really do care about animals, not just in the abstract and bureaucratically, but genuinely. We’re chided that we should consider Zuckerberg’s behavior to be, not cruel, but somehow admirable and worth imitating – to help the animals, of course! “[I]f every American were to adopt Zuckerberg’s approach – or even just witness, if not participate in, what happens to farm animals – you can bet there’d be many fewer animals suffering on factory farms.” I’d bet otherwise, or maybe there would just be a lot more [in]visible blood everywhere, since the moral status and use of animals as edibles would still be exactly the same. <br /><br />Why oh why did a 16th-century British observer write of the animal raised for food on those nice English “family farms” and estates: “They feed in pain, lie in pain, and sleep in pain.” And this was the life experience of these animals before they were dragged off to slaughter, and before factory farms. – Karen Davis, PhD, President of United Poultry Concerns<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a062011a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a062011a6"></a><strong>6. Still Time to Register for AR2011</strong><br /><br />Forwarded message frm Alex Hershaft of Farm Animal Rights Movement (FARM): <br /><br /><strong>There Is Still Time - AR2011 Is Almost Here!</strong><br /><br />Don't miss out on the animal rights event that will change your life! The <strong>Animal Rights 2011 National Conference</strong> will take place July 21-25 in Los Angeles.<br /><br />Check out this year's <strong>exciting program</strong>. The 100 speakers include Gene Baur, Marc Bekoff, Bruce Friedrich, Alex Hershaft, Elliot Katz, Erica Meier, Jack Norris, Alex Pacheco, Nathan Runkle, Sam Simon (<i>of The Simpsons</i>), and many more.<br /><br />Still making up your mind about attending? Here are some ways to save money:<br /><br />You can earn back part or all of registration by volunteering at AR2011.<br /><br />You can apply for a low-income discount or a full scholarship.<br /><br />We offer discounted hotel rates and free morning & evening vegan snacks.<br /><br />You can coordinate with fellow attendees on the travel & lodging boards.<br /><br />Get an additional $20 off the discounted registration rate by entering "Member20" in coupon code box (on checkout page).
Vote for your preferred T-shirt design! (click on image to view) <br /><br /><strong><a href="http://farmusa.org/">FARM Undertakes Pay-Per-View Program!</a></strong> <br /><br />FARM has received a grant from a very generous donor to conduct the national Pay-Per-View program, which pays passersby $1 to view a graphic 4-minute video of factory farming and slaughter-house atrocities. We are currently engaged in the program's pilot stage, operating booths at summer street fairs and festivals in the Washington, DC, and San Francisco areas.<br /><br />We’re also teaming up with <strong><a href="http://www.afa-online.org/">Action For Animals</a></strong> to bring Pay-Per-View to the Warped (rock music) Tour this summer! We’re still looking for volunteers for several of the tour stops, so please <strong><a href="mailto:alexf@farmusa.org?subject=PPV">let us know</a></strong> if you’re available to help.<br /><br /><strong><a href="http://farmusa.org/">Learn more about the Pay Per View Program, and offer local coordination.</a></strong><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a062011a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a062011a7"></a><strong>7. Study Indicates that Vegetarian Diets Are Healthier in Every Way</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.vegsource.com/news/2011/06/study-vegetarian-diets-healthier-in-every-way-than-diets-with-meat.html">http://www.vegsource.com/news/2011/06/study-vegetarian-diets-healthier-in-every-way-than-diets-with-meat.html</a><br /><br />Study: Vegetarian Diets Healthier In Every Way Than Diets With Meat<br /><br /><strong><a href="http://www.pcrm.org">PCRM.ORG</a></strong> | Neal Barnard, MD | 06/14/11 <br /><br />Vegetarian diets are not just better for weight management, they are more nutritious than diets that include meat, according to a new study in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. With two out of three Americans needing to lose weight, the message is more urgent than ever. <br /><br />The new findings are based on a study including 13,292 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Not only were vegetarians slimmer than their meat-eating counterparts, their fiber intake was 24 percent higher and calcium intake was 17 percent higher. Vegetarians also consumed more magnesium, potassium, iron, thiamin, riboflavin, folate, and vitamins A, C, and E, and less total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol. <br /><br />The study was accompanied by an editorial concluding that “the benefits of following a plant-based diet can be valuable beyond weight loss goals.” Specifically, the editorial noted, vegetarians have lower cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, and “lower risk for many disease states including heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and hypertension.”<br /><br />At PCRM, we have often used vegan diets to help people lose weight or improve diabetes or other health problems. In our 2006 review, 38 of 40 published studies comparing vegetarians and nonvegetarians showed that vegetarians weighed less. We also found that adopting a vegetarian or vegan diet brings a dramatic improvement in nutrition. Cholesterol and saturated fat intake plummet, while fiber, beta-carotene, and important vitamins increase. Using the Harvard School of Public Health’s Alternate Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) score, we have found that vegan participants excel in every AHEI category. <br /><br />So this raises the question: If meat tends to crowd out nutritious vegetables, beans, and whole grains, and increases the risk for disease, why would anyone recommend it? The answer is that they shouldn’t.<br /><br />When the USDA released its new MyPlate diagram on June 2, it looked very much like PCRM’s Power Plate developed in 2009 in that it included no meat group. However, instead of PCRM’s “legume group,” USDA opted for a “protein” group that includes beans and soy products, as well as meat. While USDA is slowly moving in the right direction, there is no scientific reason to include meat at all. Avoiding animal products is a key step for maximizing good nutrition and good health. <br /><br />Farmer B, Larson BT, Fulgoni VL, Rainville AJ, Liepa GU. A vegetarian dietary pattern as a nutrient-dense approach to weight management: an analysis of the National health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2004. <i>J Am Diet Assoc.</i> 2011;111:819-827.<br /><br />Turner-McGrievy GM, Barnard ND, Cohen J, Jenkins DJA, Gloede L, Green AA. Changes in nutrient intake and dietary quality among participants with type 2 diabetes following a low-fat vegan diet or a conventional diabetes diet for 22 weeks. <i>J Am Dietetic Assoc.</i> 2008;108:1636-1645.<br /><br />Berkow SE, Barnard NB. Vegetarian diets and weight status. <i>Nutr Rev.</i> 2006;64:175-188.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a062011a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a062011a8"></a><strong>8. Arsenic Found in Chickens</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.grist.org/food-safety/2011-06-08-fda-admits-supermarket-chickens-test-positive-for-arsenic">http://www.grist.org/food-safety/2011-06-08-fda-admits-supermarket-chickens-test-positive-for-arsenic</a><br /><br />Thanks to JVNA advisor and author Rabbi David Sears for forwarding this link to us.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a062011a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a062011a9"></a><strong>9. Essay: How Much Is Global Warming Due to Animal Agriculture?</strong><br /><br />[This essay was prepared for distribution [by Steve Kauman, director of the Christian Vegetarian Association (CVA)]at the upcoming General Synod of the United Church of Christ. Comments and suggestions to <a href="mailto:cva@christianveg.org">cva@christianveg.org</a> are appreciated.] <br /><br />When environmentalists talk about what we need to do address global warming, they rarely emphasize, and often don’t even mention, moving toward a plant-based diet. Yet doing so is one of the most important things each of us can do to reduce our greenhouse gas footprint. The 2006 United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization report Livestock’s Long Shadow concluded that animal agriculture is responsible for 18% of human-derived greenhouse gasses – more than cars, trucks, and airplanes combined. <br /><br />Actually, this 18% figure might be a gross underestimate. A 2009 analysis by Robert Goodland and Jeff Anhang published in World Watch entitled “Livestock and Climate Change” concluded that at least 51% of human-derived greenhouse gasses derive from animal agriculture. By necessity, this report included estimates, and I offer a brief critical review of Goodland and Anhang’s article. I conclude that there is good reason to believe that far more than 18% of human-derived greenhouse gasses come from animal agriculture. <br /><br /><strong>The Analysis</strong> <br /><br />Many gasses have different degrees of greenhouse effects, that is, they trap heat leaving the earth and give the atmosphere its warmth. In order to “compare apples to apples,” the FAO calculated the greenhouse effect potency of different gasses compared to CO2, or “CO2 equivalents” (CO2e). The FAO estimated that animal agriculture adds 7,516 million tons of CO2e to the atmosphere each year. Goodland and Anhang argued that the FAO did not include 8,769 million tons CO2e added to the atmosphere by livestock breathing out CO2. The FAO did not include this source of CO2 because the amount of CO2 that farmed animals breathe out is roughly equivalent to the amount of CO2 taken from the atmosphere by the plants which the animals eat. However, if the farmed animals had not eaten those plants, there would be a steady increase in CO2 sequestration as farmland returned to forests. Further, continued intensive farming designed to provide feed for farmed animals releases carbon sequestered in soil. <br /><br />Methane is a much more potent greenhouse gas than CO2, but it has a significantly shorter half-life in the atmosphere. The FAO calculation adjusted methane to a CO2e value by lowering methane’s short-term impact but lengthening the methane effect over a longer duration. However, by reducing the short-term CO2e for methane, the FAO did not account for global warming positive feedback loops. For example, as methane and other greenhouse gasses increase global temperatures, polar ice melts. This converts ice, which reflects 70-80% of the sun’s light back into space, into water, which absorbs most of the sun’s light energy and reflects less than 10%. Warmer water and air then melt more ice. Goodland and Anhang’s adjustment for methane increased its CO2e by 5,047 million tons annually. <br /><br />There are several other considerations, of which I will mention a few. Goodland and Anhang noted that the FAO used 2002 data on world tonnage of farmed animals, but this tonnage has increased rapidly since then. They estimate that the growth of the tonnage of farmed animals has contributed an additional 2,560 million tons CO2e. Goodland and Anhang also noted that the FAO overlooked other significant sources of greenhouse gasses attributable to animal agriculture, including farmed fish; fluorocarbons to cool meat, dairy, and eggs; cooking (meat typically entails higher temperatures and longer durations than plant foods); disposal of liquid and solid wastes of livestock; production, distribution, and disposal of packaging for animal products (which for sanitary reasons is generally much more extensive than for plant-based products); and carbon-intensive medical treatment of diseases related to consuming animals, including infectious organisms derived from farmed animals, and heart disease and other conditions related to consuming animal products. Goodland and Anhang estimated that these other categories add over 8,500 million tons CO2e annually. <br /><br />I think that it is clear that, if we aim to avert an environmental crisis due to global warming, moving toward a plant-based diet must be a part of the effort. <br /><br />Stephen R. Kaufman, M.D.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a062011a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a062011a10"></a><strong>10. Message From Canfei Nesharim Seeking Support<br /><br />Forwarded message from Canfei Nesharin director Evonne Marzouk: <br /><br />Changing the World</strong><br /><br />Dear Richard and Loretta, <br /><br /><i>I'm nine or ten years old, and my next door neighbor asks me, "What do you want to do when you grow up?" Still a child, I answer from the heart: "I want to change the world." His response: "Change it into what?"</i> <br /><br />I will remember this moment as the first time that my desire to make an impact, to matter, turned into a desire to make a difference. It was not enough to change the world. There was a world I was seeking to create.<br /><br />Perhaps you too have been seeking to create a better world. Perhaps you've walked onto the bima of a synagogue with your hands shaking, ready to give your first speech about the environment. Or you've seen the faces of children light up in a garden, or taken a group of families blueberry picking - seeing them connect their food with the land for the very first time. You've chopped endless piles of fruit for Tu b'Shevat seder, helping people appreciate the value of trees, fruit and all of the earth's blessings. <br /><br /><strong>With more than 300 change agents engaging their communities worldwide, Canfei Nesharim is empowering Jews to educate and empower our community to protect the environment. Not just to "change" the world, but to create a better world: a world in which we preserve our resources and live sustainability for today and for future generations.</strong><br /><br />But this change doesn't happen by itself. It requires your support to keep the momentum going. As we come to the close of our fiscal year (June 30), we need your help to continue creating that world. Can you help us with a donation of $36, $54, $100 or more (any amount is welcome!), or with an ongoing monthly or annual commitment to support our work, in our Planting and Building Campaign? <br /><br /><a href="http://www.razoo.com/story/Plantandbuild">Donate here via Razoo</a><br /><br />With all best wishes,<br /><br />Evonne Marzouk and the whole Canfei Nesharim team<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a062011a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><strong>11. Important Climate Change Articles</strong> <br /><br />The following articles provide great insight on the climate change issues:<br /><br /><a name="a062011a11a"></a><strong>11a. How the West Was Lost</strong><br /><br />Chip Ward, TomDispatch: "Arizona is burning. Texas, too. New Mexico is next. If you need a grim reminder that an already arid West is burning up and blowing away, here it is. As I write this, more than 700 square miles of Arizona and more than 4,300 square miles of Texas have been swept by monster wildfires. Consider those massive columns of acrid smoke drifting eastward as a kind of smoke signal warning us that a globally warming world is not a matter of some future worst-case scenario. <strong>It's happening right here, right now."<br /><br /><a href="http://www.truth-out.org/how-west-was-lost/1308232489">Read the Article</a></strong><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a062011a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a062011a11b"></a><strong>11b. Are Progressives in Denial About Climate Change?</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/06/12">http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/06/12</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a062011a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a062011a11c"></a><strong>11c. "Merchants of Doubt": How a Handful of Scientists Obscured the Truth on Issues From Tobacco Smoke to Global Warming</strong><br /><br />Truthout's Progressive Pick of the Week: "Merchants of Doubt," by authors Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway, exposes how radical think tanks have created a cadre of scientists - motivated by money and ideology - to debunk established scientific facts on threats such as DDT, tobacco, nuclear weapons and global warming.<br /><br />Read the Article: <br /><br /><a href="http://www.truth-out.org/merchants-doubt-how-handful-scientists-obscured-truth-issues-tobacco-smoke-global-warming/1308235932">http://www.truth-out.org/merchants-doubt-how-handful-scientists-obscured-truth-issues-tobacco-smoke-global-warming/1308235932</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a062011a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a062011a12"></a><strong>12. Dead Sea Threatened by BOTH Shrinking and Flooding</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20110613/ap_tr_ge/ml_travel_israel_dead_sea;_ylt=AhmNhCd6tQIpmwvKkY.g3Uus0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTFkdmxsdjN1BHBvcwMxNzcEc2VjA2FjY29yZGlvbl90cmF2ZWwEc2xrA2RlYWRzZWF0aHJlYQ--">http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20110613/ap_tr_ge/ml_travel_israel_dead_sea;_ylt=AhmNhCd6tQIpmwvKkY.g3Uus0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTFkdmxsdjN1BHBvcwMxNzcEc2VjA2FjY29yZGlvbl90cmF2ZWwEc2xrA2RlYWRzZWF0aHJlYQ--</a> <br /><br />Thanks to JVNA advisor and author Rabbi Dovid Sears for forwarding this link to us.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a062011a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a062011a13"></a><strong>13. Jews and Muslims Work Together to Protect Their Slaughtering Methods</strong><br /><br />[Note: JVNA opposes all types of slaughter, but we protest when shechitah (Jewish ritual slaughter) is singled out for criticism. We recommend the book Slaughterhouse by Gail Eisnitz, which points out the many problems and cruelties at non-kosher slaughterhouses.] <br /><br />Forwarded message from vegetarian activist Scott Young:<br /><br />Hello Richard, Thought you might find this of interest. Looks lke these two diverse groups have finally found some common ground. From, Scott <br /><br /><a href="http://www.montrealgazette.com/life/Dutch+Jews+Muslims+appeal+plan+stun+animals+before+ritual+slaughter/4961558/story.html">http://www.montrealgazette.com/life/Dutch+Jews+Muslims+appeal+plan+stun+animals+before+ritual+slaughter/4961558/story.html</a> <br /><br />Jewish and Muslim representatives Thursday appealed to Dutch lawmakers not to enforce plans requiring animals to be stunned before halal and kosher slaughtering rituals.<br /><br />"We are against any form of stunning because it's against our religion," Yusuf Altuntas, president of the CMO - an organization that links the Muslim community with the Dutch government - told a parliamentary commission.<br /><br />"One of the first measures taken during the Occupation (during the Second World War) was the closing of kosher abattoirs," Dutch Chief Rabbi Binyomin Jacobs said during the debate in The Hague.<br /><br />Dutch law required animals to be stunned before being slaughtered but made an exception for ritual halal and kosher slaughters.<br /><br />The country's Party for Animals (PvdD) which holds two seats in the 150-seat Dutch parliament, has submitted a proposal which, if implemented, would see this exception abolished.<br /><br />Dutch media widely reported that the PvdD's proposal was expected to get a majority nod from parliamentarians, but a time frame was not given.<br /><br />"The animals suffer more and are more distressed if they are not stunned," Esther Ouwehand, a PvdD parliamentarian told AFP. "By getting this modification in the law, we hope to inspire other countries," she added, pointing out that in Norway and Sweden these measures had already been taken.<br /><br />More than 2 million animals - mainly sheep and chickens - are subjected to ritual slaughter every year in the Netherlands, the PvdD added.<br /><br />Abdelfattah Ali-Salah, director of Halal Correct, the organization which issues halal certificates in the country, however called the figure "inexact." He said some 250,000 animals were slaughtered yearly without being stunned beforehand.<br /><br />Jewish and Muslim representatives Thursday insisted ritual slaughter respected the animals' welfare, notably restriction methods used to limit suffering and that those slaughtering received expert training.<br /><br /><strong>"If we no longer have people who can do ritual slaughter in the Netherlands, we will stop eating meat," Chief Rabbi Jacobs said.</strong><br /><br />They did however offer to implement some measures which they said would ease the animals' suffering, especially better controls in abattoirs where ritual slaughters were performed and an improvement in conditions under which animals were being transported.<br /><br />Several organizations in France in January launched a poster campaign reporting conditions in which animals were killed during ritual slaughter.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a062011a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a062011a14"></a><strong>14. 2012 IVU World Veg Congress Planned</strong><br /><br />Forwarded message: <br /><br />It‘s still about more than a year away, but planning is already moving forward for the 2012 IVU World Veg Congress (WVC) to be held in San Francisco. Among the featured speakers will be John & Ocean Robbins (pictured here), Dr Michael Greger, Dr Don Forrester, Prof T. Colin Campbell, Dr Richard Oppenlander, Colleen <br />Patrick-Goudreau and Cherie Soria. <br /><br />Other not-to-be-missed elements of the WVC include a wide variety of international <br />vegan cuisine, healthy food demos, vegan speed dating, children‘s corner, the <br />Veghealth Awards ceremony and, last but not least, live entertainment. For updates, <br />visit <a href="http://www.ivu.org/congress/2012">www.ivu.org/congress/2012</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a062011a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">** Fair Use Notice **<br /><br />The material on this site is provided for educational and informational purposes. It may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. It is being made available in an effort to advance the understanding of vegetarian, environmental, nutritional, health, economic, social justice and human rights issues etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have an interest in using the included information for educational or research purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. The information on this site does not constitute legal, technical or medical advice.</span>.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17349614588789907464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9631520.post-41153092358802416232011-06-12T23:41:00.024-04:002011-06-16T22:30:21.536-04:0006/12/2011 JVNA Online NewsletterShalom everyone,<br /><br /><a name="a061211a0"></a>This update/<strong><a href="http://jewishveg.com/">Jewish Vegetarians of North America</a></strong> (JVNA) Online Newsletter has the following items:<br /><br /><strong>1. <a href="#a061211a1">Superb PDF Refutes Claims of Climate Skeptics</a><br /><br />2. <a href="#a061211a2">How Veg Diets Can Fight Cancer</a><br /><br />3. <a href="#a061211a3">Why Such Denial While the World approaches a Climate Catastrophe?</a><br /><br />4. <a href="#a061211a4">Excellent Material on Environmental Impacts of Animal-Based Agriculture</a><br /><br />5. <a href="#a061211a5">Update on the World Week for the Abolition of Meat</a><br /><br />6. <a href="#a061211a6">The Coming Food Crisis</a><br /><br />7. <a href="#a061211a7">Animated Cartoon Shows Animal Abuses on Factory Farms</a><br /><br />8. <a href="#a061211a8">YOU Can Become a “World Peace Diet” Educator</a><br /><br />9. <a href="#a061211a9">We Are In for Even Hotter Weather</a><br /><br />10. <a href="#a061211a10">Position Paper on Climate Change from the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America</a><br /><br />11. <a href="#a061211a11">International Vegetarian Week Contest Being Planned/Suggestions Welcome</a><br /><br />12. <a href="#a061211a12">Great Videos About Yale University Program Combining Religious Teachings to Environmental Issues</a><br /><br />13. <a href="#a061211a13">Action Alert: You Can Help Get Healthier Food Choices Into Schools</a></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Some material has been deferred to a later update/newsletter to keep this one from being even longer.<br /><br /> [Materials in brackets like this [ ] within an article or forwarded message are my editorial notes/comments.]<br /><br /><strong>Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the JVNA, unless otherwise indicated, but may be presented to increase awareness and/or to encourage respectful dialogue. Also, material re conferences, retreats, forums, trips, and other events does not necessarily imply endorsement by JVNA or endorsement of the kashrut, Shabbat observances, or any other Jewish observances, but may be presented for informational purposes. Please use e-mail addresses, telephone numbers, and web sites to get further information about any event that you are interested in. Also, JVNA does not necessarily agree with all positions of groups whose views are included or whose events are announced in this newsletter.</strong><br /><br />As always, your comments and suggestions are very welcome. <br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Richard</span><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a061211a1"></a><strong>1. Superb PDF Refutes Claims of Climate Skeptics</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.skepticalscience.com/The-Scientific-Guide-to-Global-Warming-Skepticism.html">http://www.skepticalscience.com/The-Scientific-Guide-to-Global-Warming-Skepticism.html</a> <br /><br />This PDF is at the website of Republicans for Environmental Protection. Hence, it can be an especially valuable way to respond to climate deniers. It is very clearly written, with helpful graphs, and responses to comments from readers.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a061211a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a061211a2"></a><strong>2. How Veg Diets Can Fight Cancer<br /><br />Fight cancer with your fork</strong><br /><br />By BRUCE FRIEDRICH<br /><br />People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals<br /><br />Published: Monday, Jun. 6, 2011 - 5:13 am <br /><br /><a href="http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/06/3679963/fight-cancer-with-your-fork.html">http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/06/3679963/fight-cancer-with-your-fork.html</a> <br /><br />According to a new study, one of the deadliest types of cancer is also one of the most preventable. The World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research found that eating too much meat raises the risk of colorectal cancer and that eating fiber-rich vegetarian foods reduces the risk. What's more, nearly half (45 percent) of colorectal cancer cases "could be prevented if we all ate more fiber-rich plant foods and less meat."<br /><br />This serves as yet another reminder that one of the best weapons in the war on cancer is a fork.<br /><br />Scientists at Imperial College London conducted the new analysis as part of the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research's groundbreaking Continuous Update Project (CUP). They found that a person who eats just 3.5 ounces of pork, beef or lamb every day has a 17 percent higher risk of developing colorectal cancer than does someone who eats no meat.<br /><br />Three ounces of meat is approximately the size of a deck of cards. That's just one serving size as determined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, yet it's far less than most Americans ingest in one sitting, let alone in one day.<br /><br />Just about any meat is loaded with the saturated fat that the American Cancer Society believes is linked to cancer of the colon and rectum, but processed meats such as ham, bacon, hot dogs and deli slices carry an even greater risk. According to the CUP report, if a person eats 3.5 ounces of processed meat every day, his or her risk for colorectal cancer increases by 36 percent. The more meat you eat, the higher your risk will be.<br /><br />Almost as bad as what's in meat is what's not in it: fiber. Meat and dairy products have absolutely no fiber at all, while fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains are loaded with it. Fiber helps speed the passage of food through the colon. Meat, on the other hand, tends to hang around and, well, rot.<br /><br />In my work with PETA, I've been researching and writing about vegetarian issues for more than 15 years. And the conclusion of each new nutritional study is nearly always the same. There is overwhelming evidence linking meat to some of our society's most severe health problems. Conversely, eating vegetarian foods can greatly reduce your risk of developing many of these same diseases - and in some cases, actually reverse them.<br /><br />For example, according to the American Dietetic Association, vegetarians have "lower rates of death from ischemic heart disease, lower blood cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, and lower rates of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and prostate and colon cancer" than meat-eaters do. The American Cancer Society recommends "choosing most of your foods from plant sources and limiting your intake of high-fat foods such as those from animal sources."<br /><br />If we take away anything from such nutritional research, it should be that the best prescription for good health is always prevention. And if making the sensible switch to a vegan diet can so greatly benefit our health - not to mention save animals' lives - why not at least try it? With summer fast approaching, and with it a wealth of locally grown fruits and vegetables available in farmers' markets and at produce stands, now is a great time to start eating for life. <br /><br />ABOUT THE WRITER<br /><br />Bruce Friedrich is a vice president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, 501 Front Street, Norfolk, Va. 23510; www.PETA.org. Information about PETA's funding may be found at <a href="http://www.peta.org/about/numbers.asp">www.peta.org/about/numbers.asp</a>. <br /><br />This essay is available to McClatchy-Tribune News Service subscribers. McClatchy-Tribune did not subsidize the writing of this column; the opinions are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of McClatchy-Tribune or its editors. <br /><br />Read more: <a href="http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/06/3679963/fight-cancer-with-your-fork.html#ixzz1OWwD77Qz">http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/06/3679963/fight-cancer-with-your-fork.html#ixzz1OWwD77Qz</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a061211a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a061211a3"></a><strong>3. Why Such Denial While the World approaches a Climate Catastrophe?<br /><br />Glued to The Weather Channel While the World Burns</strong><br />By Paul Rogat Loeb <br /><br /><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-loeb/glued-to-the-weather-chan_b_871832.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-loeb/glued-to-the-weather-chan_b_871832.html</a> <br /><br />Following the weather is beginning to feel like revisiting the Biblical plagues. Tornadoes rip through Missouri, Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma—even Massachusetts. A million acres burn in Texas wildfires. The Army Corps of Engineers floods 135,000 acres of farmland and three million acres of bayou country to save Memphis and New Orleans. Earlier in the past year, a 2,000-mile storm dumped near-record snow from Texas to Maine, a fifth of Pakistan flooded, fires made Moscow’s air nearly unbreathable, and drought devastated China’s wheat crop. You’d think we’d suspect something’s grievously wrong.<br /><br />But media coverage rarely connects the unfolding cataclysms with the global climate change that fuels them. We can’t guarantee that any specific disaster is caused by our warming atmosphere. The links are delayed and diffuse. But considered together, the escalating floods, droughts, tornadoes, and hurricanes <a href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=warning-flooding-ahead">fit all the predicted models</a>. So do the extreme snowfalls and ice storms, as our heated atmosphere carries more water vapor. So why deem them isolated acts of God—instead of urgent warnings to change our course?<br /><br />Scientists are more certain than ever, from the National Academy of Science and its counterparts in every other country to such “radical groups” as the American Chemical Society and American Statistical Society. But the media has buried their voices, giving near-equal “point/counterpoint” credence to a handful of deniers promoted by Exxon, the coal companies and the Koch brothers. Fox News’s managing editor <a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1210/46409.html">even prohibited any reporting</a> on global climate change that didn’t immediately then question the overwhelming scientific consensus. The escalating disasters dominate the news, but stripped of context. We’re given no perspective to reflect on their likely root causes.<br /><br />Meanwhile, leading Republicans who once acknowledged the need to act, like <a href="http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/04/tim-pawlenty-will-steger-climate-change">Tim Pawlenty</a>, disavow their previous stands like sinners begging forgiveness. A Tea Party Congress insists that they know better than do all the world’s scientists, dismissing decades of meticulous research as Ivory Tower elitism. Even Obama has fallen largely silent, as if he can’t afford an honest discussion.<br /><br />As a result, too many Americans still don’t know what to believe. We can’t see, smell or taste the core emissions that create climate change. The industrial processes that create the crisis are so familiar we don’t even question them, no more than the air that we breathe. And if we’re not getting hammered by the weather, the world still seems normal, particularly on a lovely summer day. Plus we’re told that in the current economic crisis we can’t afford even to think about climate change or any other urgent environmental issue, even though the technologies that provide the necessary alternatives are precisely those our country will need to compete economically. Add in a culture of overload and distraction, and it’s easy to retreat into denial or self-defeating resignation. It’s as if <a href="http://wattsupwiththat.com/2011/03/28/gallups-public-opinion-on-global-warming-dead-last/">half our population</a> was diagnosed with life-threatening but treatable cancer—visited the world’s leading medical centers to confirm it--and then decided instead to heed forwarded emails that assure them that they can freely ignore the counsel of the doctors and simply do nothing.<br /><br />The antidote to denial and the forces that promote it is courage. And as Egypt and Tunisia remind us, courage is contagious. We need to act and speak out in every conceivable way, and demand that our leaders do the same. We need to engage new allies, like religious evangelicals who’ve recently spoken out to defend “God’s creation,” from best-selling minister Rick Warren to highly conservative organizations like the Christian Coalition. We need to work with labor activists who link this ultimate issue with the renewal of American jobs. A recent <a href="http://wattsupwiththat.com/2011/03/28/gallups-public-opinion-on-global-warming-dead-last/">BlueGreen Alliance</a> conference, for instance, brought together leaders of major unions like the United Steel Workers, SEIU, Communications Workers of America, United Auto Workers, Laborers’ International, and American Federation of Teachers, with environmental groups like the Sierra Club, National Resource Defense Council, National Wildlife Federation and Union of Concerned Scientists, all speaking about the need to invest in an economy where both ordinary workers and the planet are respected. We need to join with these allies and others to voice our outrage at those risking our common future for greed. We need to find creative ways to do this until America’s political climate comes to grips with the changing climate of the earth. Here’s hoping the mounting disasters will finally teach us to turn off The Weather Channel and begin taking action. <br /><br />Paul Loeb is author of Soul of a Citizen, with 130,000 copies in print including a newly updated second edition. He's also the author of The Impossible Will Take a Little While: A Citizen's Guide to Hope in a Time of Fear, named the #3 political book of 2004 by the History Channel and the American Book Association. See <a href="http://www.paulloeb.org">www.paulloeb.org</a>. <br /><br />To receive Paul’s articles directly please email <a href="mailto:sympa@npogroups.org">sympa@npogroups.org</a> with the subject line:
subscribe paulloeb-articles.edu<br /><br />Sign up here for Paul's Huffington Post articles (a more comprehensive list)<br /><br />To sign up for Paul’s Facebook page, visit <a href="http://www.facebook.com/PaulLoebBooks">http://www.facebook.com/PaulLoebBooks</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a061211a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a061211a4"></a><strong>4. Excellent Material on Environmental Impacts of Animal-Based Agriculture</strong><br /><br />Veg Mondays Good for the World <br /><br /><a href="http://www.vegmondays.org/Environment.html">http://www.vegmondays.org/Environment.html</a> <br /><br />Eating ‘veg’ has tremendous benefits for our land, water and air. By reducing or eliminating our consumption of animal products we not only conserve vast quantities of fresh water (needed to slaughter and “process” animals), but we also protect our land, water and air from a major source of pollution.<br /><br />On average it takes 11 times more fossil fuel to make one calorie of animal protein as it does to make one calorie of plant protein. (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 78, No. 3, Pimentel & Pimentel, Sept. 2003) <br /><br />Livestock are responsible for 68% of ammonia emissions, which contribute significantly to acid rain and the acidification of ecosystems. (United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, “<a href=" http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2006/1000448/index.html">Livestock’s Long Shadow</a>”, 2006, p. 272)<br /><br />In the U.S., livestock production is responsible for 55% of all soil erosion on cropped land and pastureland, 40% of which ends up in water resources. (United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, “Livestock’s Long Shadow”, 2006, p. 73, Box 2.5) <br /><br />It takes 5 times more water to yield 1000 kcal of meat as it does to yield 1000 kcal of fruits, vegetables or grains. (Malin Falkenmark & Johan Rockstrom, “Balancing Water for Humans and Nature”, 2004, p. 50) <br /><br />You could save more water by not eating one pound of California beef than you would save by not showering for an entire year. (Based on 1 shower/day, 7 minutes/shower, using 2 gallons water/minute). (John Robbins, The Food Revolution, 2001, p. 237) <br /><br />More water is taken from the Ogallala aquifer (western U.S.) each year for beef production than is used to grow all the fruits and vegetables in the entire country. (Dr. Candace Chase, The Journal of Ecologically Sustainable Medicine, “Healthy Earth, Healthy Eating”, Dec. 2005) <br /><br /><a href="http://www.vegmondays.org/Environment.html#Resource_depletion">Learn more</a> about the environmental impacts<br /><br /><strong>Your Can Help Protect the Environment</strong><br /><br />If everyone went vegetarian just for one day, the U.S. would save:<br /><br />100 billion gallons of water, enough to supply all the homes in New England for almost 4 months;<br /><br />1.5 billion pounds of crops otherwise fed to livestock, enough to feed the state of New Mexico for more than a year;<br /><br />70 million gallons of gas--enough to fuel all the cars of Canada and Mexico combined with plenty to spare;<br /><br />3 million acres of land, an area more than twice the size of Delaware;<br /><br />33 tons of antibiotics.<br /><br />If everyone went vegetarian just for one day, the U.S. would prevent:<br /><br />Greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 1.2 million tons of CO2, as much as produced by all of France;<br /><br />3 million tons of soil erosion and $70 million in resulting economic damage;<br /><br />4.5 million tons of animal excrement;<br /><br />Almost 7 tons of ammonia emissions, a major air pollutant.<br /><br />Taken from Kathy Freston's column, "<a href=" http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kathy-freston/the-breathtaking-effects_b_181716.html">The Breathtaking Effects of Cutting Back on Meat</a>" April 1, 2009. <br /><br /><strong>Resource Depletion</strong><br /><br />Approximately half the population of Africa and Asia will be facing water scarcity in 2025 and are also the regions that will face the most serious challenges in terms of poverty, population growth and food requirements. (Malin Falkenmark & Johan Rockstrom, “<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Balancing-Water-Humans-Nature-Ecohydrology/dp/1853839272/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1308276461&sr=1-1">Balancing Water For Humans and Nature</a>”, 2004, p. 135) <br /><br />Livestock production accounts for 23% of global water usage, including drinking, servicing, processing and feed crop irrigation. (United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, “Livestock’s Long Shadow”, 2006, p. 271, Table 7.1) <br /><br />Livestock grazing and feed crop cultivation account for 59% of global land use. (United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, “Livestock’s Long Shadow”, 2006, p. 271, Table 7.1) <br /><br />More than 71,300 mi2 (an area twice the size of Portugal) of the Amazon rainforest has been cleared to graze livestock. (Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), “<a href="http://www.cifor.cgiar.org/publications/pdf_files/media/Amazon.pdf">Hamburger Connection Fuels Amazon Destruction; Cattle Ranching and Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon</a>”, April 2004) <br /><br />As of 2004 more than 10,000 miles of the Amazon rainforest had been cleared to grow soybeans to feed livestock. Kristal, Arnold, “Globalization: It’s a Small World After All”, Food Systems Insider, May 1st, 2005) <br /><br />In just five months in 2007 Brazil lost more than 1236 mi2 of Amazon rainforest to illegal farming and ranching, as high prices for cattle, soybeans and corn led farmers and ranchers to plant more crops and raise more animals. (BBC News, 2008. “Brazil Amazon Deforestation Soars” <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7206165.stm">http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7206165.stm</a>, See also: Sibaja M. 2008. “Brazil to Increase Monitors in Rain Forest as Illegal Clearing Spreads”, <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/24/AR2008012401059.html">www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/24/AR2008012401059.html</a> <br /><br /><strong>Green House Emissions</strong><br /><br />Livestock production is responsible for more than 50% of all GHG. (Robert Goodland & Jeff Anhang, World Watch Institute, “Livestock and Climate Change”, Vol.22 No. 6, Nov/Dec 2009)<br /><br /><strong>Distribution of Food Resources and World Hunger</strong> <br /><br />It is much more efficient to grow food directly for human consumption than to cycle it through animals. <br /><br />Livestock consume more edible protein (77 million tons) than they produce (58 million tons). (United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, “Livestock’s Long Shadow”, 2006, p. 270) <br /><br />70% of all corn and grain grown in the U.S. is fed to livestock (Durning and Brough, “Taking Stock”, p. 14. See also, Ayres, Ed, “Will We Still Eat Meat?” Time Magazine, Nov. 8th, 1999. See also The Food Revolution by John Robbins, 2001 p.292) <br /><br />1,400,000,000,000 (1.4 Trillion) people could be fed by the grain eaten by U.S. livestock alone (John Robbins, The Food Revolution, 2001, p.292) <br /><br />Worldwide, 80% of all soybeans grown are used for animal feed (Mark Ash, Economic Research Service, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, email to Danielle Nierenberg, Worldwatch Institute, May 2005) <br /><br />26% of the world’s surface is used for livestock grazing, 33% of all arable land is used for feed crop cultivation (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) “Livestock’s Long Shadow”, 2006, p.271 Table 7.1) <br /><br />25,000 people (adults and children) die every day from hunger and related causes (FAO & The State of Food Insecurity in the World, 2006. (World Food Programme: <a href="http://www.wfp.org/hunger/st">www.wfp.org/hunger/stats</a>)) <br /><br />1,200,000,000 (1.2 Billion) people worldwide are underfed and/or malnourished (Gardner and Halweil, “Underfed and Overfed” Worldwatch Institute paper #150, March 2000) <br /><br /><strong>Water Pollution</strong> <br /><br />The livestock sector is the largest source of water pollution, contributing to eutrophication, ‘dead’ zones in coastal areas, degradation of coral reefs, human health problems, emergence of antibiotic resistance and many other problems. (United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, “Livestock’s Long Shadow”, 2006, p xxiii) <br /><br />The amount of water pollution generated in producing a pound of ‘meat’ is 17 times greater than that generated producing a pound of pasta. (Brower & Leon, “The Consumer’s Guide to Effective Environmental Choices: Practical Advice from the Union of Concerned Scientists”, March 1999) <br /><br />The main water pollutants in the U.S. are sediments and nutrients. Animal agriculture is responsible for 55% of the erosion that causes sedimentation, and for 33% of nutrient pollutants, nitrogen and phosphorous. (United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, “Livestock’s Long Shadow”, 2006, p 162) <br /><br />Animal agriculture is responsible for 33% of the United States’ water pollution from pesticides, and 50% of its water pollution from antibiotics. (United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, “Livestock’s Long Shadow”, 2006) <br /><br /><strong>Pollution from Manure Lagoons</strong> <br /><br />Bursting, leaking and overflowing manure lagoons have spawned environmental disasters around the country, sending animal waste gushing into rivers, groundwater and coastal wetlands. Each year thousands of lagoon leaks are reported and it is estimated that thousands more go unreported. (National Resources Defense Council, “America’s Animal Factories: How States Fail to Prevent Pollution From Livestock Waste” by Robbin Marks and Rebecca Knuffke, Dec. 1998) <br /><br />The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that confined farm animals generate 3 times more raw waste each year (more than 450 million tons) than is generated by Americans. (Environmental Protection Agency, National pollutant discharge elimination system permit regulation and effluent limitation guidelines and standards for concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs); Final Rule, 68 Fed. Reg. 7176, 7180 (Feb. 12th, 2003.)) <br /><br />The amount of waste produced by North Carolina’s 7 million factory-raised hogs is 4 times greater than the amount of waste produced by the entire human population of that state (6.5 Million) (Facts and Data, Waste Pollution and the Environment, GRACE Factory Farm Project, <a href="http://www.gracelinks.org/factoryfarm/facts">www.gracelinks.org/factoryfarm/facts</a>, 2000) <br /><br />Compare: 12 million gallons of oil spilled by Exxon-Valdez in 1989 vs. 25 million gallons of putrefying hog urine and feces spilled into the New River in North Carolina, June 21st, 1995, when a lagoon holding 8 acres of excrement burst. 10 - 14 million fish were killed as an immediate result. (Williams, Ted, “Assembly Line Swine”, Audubon, March/April 1998, p.27. See also, “Environmental and Health Consequences of Animal Factories”, Natural Resources Defense Council report, 1998., see also “Feedstuffs”, July 3rd, 1995) <br /><br />On factory dairy farms one cow produces 115 lbs. of manure each day. (Citizens’ Environmental Coalition & Sierra Club, “The Wasting of Rural New York State”, 2005) <br /><br /><strong>Land and Air Pollution</strong> <br /><br />Livestock are responsible for 68% of ammonia emissions, which contribute significantly to acid rain and the acidification of ecosystems. (United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, “Livestock’s Long Shadow”, 2006, p. 272) <br /><br />In the U.S. livestock production is responsible for 55% of all soil erosion on cropped land and pastureland, 40% of which ends up in water resources. (United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, “Livestock’s Long Shadow”, 2006, p. 73, Box 2.5)<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a061211a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a061211a5"></a><strong>5. Update on the World Week for the Abolition of Meat</strong><br /><br />Forwarded message: (Sorry that some is already out of date) <br /><br />Greetings, <br /><br />Please find below the English version of the closing communiqué* for the May 2011 WWAM (World Week for the Abolition of Meat). <strong>The awareness actions will nevertheless continue through the month of June.</strong> <br /><br />If you have organized actions, please remember to publish your reports here. If you'd like to organize events, please announce them here! <br /><br />You can join us on <a href="http://www.causes.com/causes/55332">Facebook</a>! <br /><br />Look forward to hearing from you, <br /><br /><a href="http://www.meat-abolition.org/en">WWAM Organizational Committee</a> <br /><br />* This closing communiqué is available in the following languages: Brazilian/Portuguese, English, French, German, Greek, Italian, Spanish. Please ask at contact@meat-abolition.org. <br /><br />Please post and circulate widely <br /><br />Closing communiqué for the May 2011 WWAM: <br /><br />Once again there has been great mobilization for this year's second World Week for the Abolition of Meat (WWAM): fifty actions took place in the world, all aiming towards the same goal: to promote the idea that the consumption of meat is not ethical and that it should be abolished at the societal level, just like human slavery, for example, was abolished in its time. <br /><br />Numerous organizations united to demand the end of a deeply ingrained injustice, perceived as natural and ancestral, and thus perceived as normal. <br /><br />They united to say:<br /><br />No one has the right to eat meat. <br /><br />Even the most basic morals, accepted by all, which affirm that one must not kill or make an animal suffer unnecessarily, unavoidably lead to the conclusion that the consumption of meat must be banned. This practice which produces the most suffering and death that have ever existed on the face of the earth is not justified by any physiological necessity. <br /><br />Throughout the world, individuals, groups and organizations stand up to proclaim their dissent. <br /><br />We demand the banning of animal agriculture, fishing and hunting. <br /><br />We no longer want to tolerate that reasons as ridiculous as the good taste of flesh in one's mouth can overcome the fundamental interests of those concerned: sentient beings who are raised, fished, and hunted in order to become dead bodies for consumption. <br /><br />These World Weeks for the Abolition of Meat, we hope, are the beginnings of a world where everyone will have it in her or his heart to avoid making other beings suffer. <br /><br />WWAM Organizational Committee <br /><br />---------------------------------<br /><br />Contact: <br /><br />International organization: <a href="http://www.meat-abolition.org">http://www.meat-abolition.org</a> <br /><br />Yves Bon: + 33 4 75 21 44 91<br /><br />Florence L.: + 33 6 85 79 22 61<br /><br />email: <a href="mailto:meat-abolition.org and meat.abolition@gmail.com">meat-abolition.org and meat.abolition@gmail.com</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a061211a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a061211a6"></a><strong>6. The Coming Food Crisis<br /><br />Spirituality and Ecological Hope</strong><br />The looming threat of food shortage<br />Posted: 06 Jun 2011 09:23 PM PDT<br /><br />Fostering Ecological Hope
Today from Margaret Swedish:<br /><br />Friends, this is a busy week, too busy for a truly thoughtful post, yet my heart is heavy with many worries and fears. We really are right up against it now, this threshold I tried to describe in my book (<a href=" http://www.amazon.com/Living-Beyond-End-World-Spirituality/dp/1570757674/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1308274349&sr=1-1">Living Beyond the "End of the World": A Spirituality of Hope</a>). We are at the moment when we really must decide what kind of world we want to leave to our children, just how bad things are going to get, what it will be like to live in a world where everything we need for life will be under the threat of our changing ecological reality.<br /><br />I invite you to read this lengthy article from Sunday’s NY Times – because it is very important. While the news media can make me crazy, this is one story that tells us something we need to know – our global food shortages are not something to worry about in the future, they are arriving right now. And whether or not this planet will be able to feed this growing human population (until we can get it to stop growing) depends entirely on the decisions we make, you know, right now.<br /><br />Here is the article: <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/05/science/earth/05harvest.html?_r=1">A Warming Planet Struggles to Feed Itself</a>, by Justin Gillis. It was on the front page and consumed 2 pages inside. The NY Times made this the most important news story of their Sunday edition – for good reason.<br /><br />Now I want to add a couple of links to give this more perspective, and then add a thought or two.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/may/29/carbon-emissions-nuclearpower">Worst Ever Carbon Emissions Leave Climate on the Brink</a>, from the UK’s The Guardian.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/19/floods-droughts-extreme-weather-us_n_864046.html">Floods, Droughts, Are ‘New Normal’ of Extreme US Weather Fueled by Climate Change</a>, a Reuters article.<br /><br />Now put this news up against the profound political dysfunction in this country, the utter impossibility of even having a national conversation about any of this.<br /><br />We can’t, because if we did certain things would become obvious:<br /><br />* industrial agriculture as a model for food and fuel production would have to be brought to an end as quickly as possible;<br /><br />* growth as a model for the global economy would have to be renounced and something new created;<br /><br />* our western societies would need to get off meat as quickly as possible;<br /><br />* new international laws would need to prohibit multinational corporations and sovereign funds from buying up access rights to water and food production on arable lands in other countries;<br /><br />* affluent societies would have to begin to renounce their wealth and privileges and drastically downscale the lifestyles of the richest;<br /><br />* tax structures would need to change, meaning taxes on the rich and on corporations and global financial transactions would need to be raised sharply;<br /><br />*Monsanto’s GMO seed business would need to be made illegal, along with patents for seeds needed to grow food, returning seed sovereignty to local farmers;<br /><br />* growing food grains for fuel would need to be halted;<br /><br />* and massive amounts of international aid would need to be offered to poorer countries to help them develop local agriculture for the purpose of attaining seed sovereignty and food security.<br /><br />And perhaps most of all, food would have to be removed from the list of commodities to be sold for profit and become what it really is – a basic right for all.<br /><br />In chapter nine, I begin to articulate a ‘spirituality of scarcity,’ using the gospel story of the loaves and fishes, breaking it open to see what it suggests about how to proceed. The course of the narrative suggests a path. The crowd is hungry and the time is late. How to feed the throngs? Jesus’ first response is a challenge, “feed them yourselves.” Yes, that is our charge. The disciples, lacking confidence in their own ability to do this, lament that they have only found these few loaves and fishes.<br /><br />Again, the course of the narrative is what matters, certainly more than the ‘miracle’ itself. First, Jesus blesses the food, then they break it into smaller pieces, then they share it with the crowd. Not only are all fed, but there is food left over, there is abundance.<br /><br />Abundance came from the sharing of the smaller pieces with everyone.<br /><br />This is a story out of a faith tradition, yes. It is also a story out of an ethic, a moral framework suggesting how we can live with dignity, sharing the abundance of creation. Jesus did not come to start a religion, and much of the religion that claims his name falls shamefully short of proclaiming the worldview that got him into so much trouble.<br /><br />So I leave us tonight with the story of the loaves and fishes and invite it to disturb us, to invite us to a conversion and transformation in how we see the human journey and our current predicament. We either create a world built upon a vision like the one suggested in this story, or we descend into moral chaos as more and more of our sisters and brothers grow hungry and die.<br /><br />It really is that stark.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a061211a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a061211a7"></a><strong>7. Animated Cartoon Shows Animal Abuses on Factory Farms</strong><br /><br />WATCH: Agribusiness on the Assault (Cartoon) <br /><br /><a href="http://motherjones.com/media/2011/05/zina-saunders-undercover-animal-abuse-videos">http://motherjones.com/media/2011/05/zina-saunders-undercover-animal-abuse-videos</a> <br /><br />— By Zina Saunders <br /> Tue May. 3, 2011 3:00 AM PDT<br /><br />Mother Jones illustrator Zina Saunders creates editorial animations riffing on the political news and current events of the week. In this week's animation, a look at our sordid meat production industry where agribusiness has been pushing laws in a number of states that would criminalize shooting or displaying undercover videos that show animal abuse on farms. One such law has already passed the House in Iowa, and would carry a penalty of up to 5 years in jail. As always, that's Saunders with the voiceovers. Other sound effects are courtesy of freesound.org. —The Editors <br /><br />Thanks to author and JVNA advisor Dan Brook for sending this material to us.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a061211a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a061211a8"></a><strong>8. YOU Can Become a “World Peace Diet” Educator</strong><br /><br />Forwarded message, from author, speaker, activist Will Tuttle <br /><br />Richard <br /><br />Greetings! <br /><br />Hope you're enjoying these early June days, wherever you are! <br /><br />If you're interested in deepening your understanding of the ideas in The World Peace Diet, I've got some exciting news. We are now offering two self-paced online educational programs focused on providing you with the liberating skills and training to thrive as a vegan and also to be an effective advocate for compassion and health. <br /><br />The basic 4-week program, the World Peace Diet Mastery Program, provides an excellent foundation for the 8-week program, the WPD Facilitator Training. This 8-week advanced training leads to certification as a World Peace Diet Facilitator, and can open many doors in your life, from greater health and self-confidence to a new career in the growing vegan movement. The two programs are independent and provide an in-depth experience of the empowering ideas in The World Peace Diet, directly from me, the book's author. <br /><br />To get the skinny on these new programs, please go to <a href-"http://worldpeacemastery.com">http://worldpeacemastery.com</a><br /><br />I hope you'll join us in the rewarding adventure of personal and cultural transformation that is calling! <br /><br />Madeleine and I would also like to thank everyone who has helped organize our recent presentations in Texas, Arizona, and southern California. We are constantly humbled by the generous, creative, and hard-working efforts of you, our fellow advocates for a better world. Bless you all! <br /><br />We have some upcoming lectures in San Diego and L.A. before we present at the terrific Vegetarian Summerfest in Pennsylvania in early July. Please join us if you can and check our constantly-updated <a href=" http://willtuttle.com/schedule.htm">tour schedule</a>.<br /><br />We appreciate you and all you're doing to embody the ancient wisdom teaching: to be the change you'd like to see in others. <br /><br />That's it for now, <br /><br />All the best, Will & Madeleine<br /><br />Dr. Will Tuttle<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a061211a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a061211a9"></a><strong>9. We Are In for Even Hotter Weather<br /><br />Summers Are Going To Get Hotter, Stanford Scientists Say <br /><br />The Huffington Post</strong> Joanna Zelman First Posted: 06/ 9/11 11:26 AM ET Updated: 06/ 9/11 11:37 AM ET <br /><br />The summer season has not even officially started yet in the U.S. and already people are cranking up the a/c, boxing away the sweaters, seeking out the best swimming hole, and plotting how to avoid sweat stains. It’s about to get a lot worse.<br /><br />A recent study conducted by Stanford University scientists has concluded that if greenhouse gas concentrations continue to increase, many regions in the world will probably experience an irreversible rise in summer temperatures within the next 20 to 60 years.<br /><br />LiveScience explains that a single heat wave or warm day is not a sign of global warming. But while an individual weather event cannot be attributed to a warming world, more long-term trends are accepted in the scientific community as evidence of man-made global warming.<br /><br />The recent Stanford study, which will be published this month in the journal <i>Climatic Change Letters</i>, found that middle latitude regions of Europe, China and North America (including the U.S.) will likely see extreme shifts in summers temperatures within the next 60 years. In just the next two decades, tropical regions of Africa, Asia and South America could see permanent and “unprecedented” summer heat. The most immediate rise in extreme temperatures is expected to occur in the tropics.<br /><br />Last year tied with 2005 as the hottest year on record, with the average worldwide temperature 1.12 degrees Fahrenheit above normal, according to the National Climatic Data Center. The Associated Press reports, “Most atmospheric scientists attribute the change to gases released into the air by industrial processes and gasoline-burning engines.” This is man-made global warming.<br /><br />The Stanford study's lead author, Noah Diffenbaugh, sought to determine when the current hottest temperatures would become “the new normal.” He says, "According to our projections, large areas of the globe are likely to warm up so quickly that, by the middle of this century, even the coolest summers will be hotter than the hottest summers of the past 50 years."<br /><br />Diffenbaugh and co-author Martin Scherer came to this conclusion after analyzing over 50 climate model experiments, including both computer simulations of 21st century predictions and 20th century simulations that accurately predicted the Earth’s climate over the past 50 years.<br /><br />Beyond perhaps a need to stock up on sunglasses and deodorant, what is the significance of these findings? According to Diffenbaugh, this dramatic rise in seasonal temperatures could severely affect human health and agriculture.<br /><br />Regarding health, heat waves can kill. As Diffenbaugh cites, heat waves in 2003 killed an estimated 35,000 people in Europe. Last year, a record heat wave in Russia killed 700 people per day. As for agriculture, new research reveals that global warming has hindered crop yields. Higher temperatures cause dehydration and prevent pollination, resulting in a rise in food prices. Other studies suggest that warmer winters keep pests alive longer, allowing them to carry plant diseases, and greenhouse gases affect a plant’s structure, reducing its protection abilities. <br /><br />The Stanford report comes amid many other dire global warming predictions. One recent study found that rising sea levels could threaten 180 U.S. coastal cities by 2100. Reuters reports cities including Miami, New Orleans, Tampa, and Virginia Beach could lose over 10 percent of their land area by the end of this century.<br /><br />U.N. predictions suggest that there may be 50 million environmental refugees by 2020. This past year alone, natural disasters displaced 42 million people, according to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre. According to the organization, over 90 percent of the disaster displacements were caused by weather incidents that were probably, to some extent, impacted by global warming.<br /><br />Scientists and government planners announced in May that heavy rains, deep snowfalls, monster floods and deadly droughts signal a "new normal" of extreme U.S. weather events influenced by climate change.<br /><br />How many looming threats and even visible evidence are needed before serious action is taken to fight global warming?<br /><br />Instead of recognizing that another air conditioner is just a bandaid on our warming world, climate talks are expected to miss the Kyoto deadline, climate scientists are receiving death threats, and global emissions of energy-related carbon dioxide were the highest ever last year.<br /><br />Will significant action against global warming have to wait until we can’t take the heat?<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a061211a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a061211a10"></a><strong>10. Position Paper on Climate Change from the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America</strong><br /><br /><a href="https://www.agronomy.org/files/science-policy/asa-cssa-sssa-climate-change-policy-statement.pdf">https://www.agronomy.org/files/science-policy/asa-cssa-sssa-climate-change-policy-statement.pdf</a> <br /><br />One more example of the scientific consensus on climate change. <br /><br />Thanks to agricultural expert and JVNA advisor Professor Joe Regenstein for forwarding this link to us.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a061211a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a061211a11"></a><strong>11. International Vegetarian Week Contest Being Planned/Suggestions Welcome</strong><br /><br />Forward message from IVW organizer Mateus Mendes: <br /><br />1. I will create a contest in <a href="http://www.vegetarianweek.org/">the website</a>. The software we use is prepared to run contests, we have done it in Portugal using this software. <br /><br />2. Participants can submit their ideas and works directly, after logging in to the system. <br /><br />2.1 The deadline for participating is 10 September.<br /><br />2.2 These kinds of contributions are accepted:<br /><br /> - Cartoon<br /><br /> - Essay<br /><br /> - Leaflet<br /><br /> - Poster<br /><br /> - Slogan <br /><br />2.3 Participants must be individuals. <br /><br />2.4 All the submitted texts must be in English. <br /><br />2.5 There is no limit of submissions per author - each author can submit many different works. <br /><br />3. Prizes <br /><br />3.1 The awarded contributions will become official IVW material, and the authors will be promoted by vegetarian week project;<br /><br />3.2 The winner can be announced with a press release, presentation of the person with picture and article about her/him or an interview - whatever is preferred. <br /><br />3.3 Additionally, the following prizes can be given:<br /><br /> 1 - 60 Euros voucher for <a href="http://en.efeitoverde.com">http://en.efeitoverde.com</a><br /><br /> 2 - 50 Euros voucher for <a href="http://www.amazon.com">http://www.amazon.com</a><br /><br /> 3-10 - Vegdining cards (valued at $11.95US for members of recognized veg groups, $15.95US others - <a href="http://vegdining.com">http://vegdining.com</a>) <br /><br />4. NGOs, companies and individuals taking part in the IVW are invited to promote the campaign on their websites, via their distribution systems and newsletters and in whatever form they find suitable. <br /><br />5. A jury consisting of reps from all NGOs supporting the idea will grade the contributions until 25 September. <br /><br />5.1 The grading system will be double-blinded (the author doesn't know who are the reviewers, and the reviewers don't not know who are the authors). <br /><br />5.2 Each submission will be graded by at least 2 reviewers. <br /><br />6. The winners will be announced on 1 October. <br /><br />7. The authors agree that their submissions are actually contributions to the IVW project, and the winning contribution(s) may be freely used to promote the IVW. <br /><br /> 1) Relevance for the International Vegetarian Week goals (promotes the vegetarian lifestyle? promotes the vegetarian week?); <br /><br /> 2) Quality (is the message scientifically correct [if applicable]? Are there typos in the texts [if applicable]? are the illustrations or images good-looking [if applicable]?); <br /><br /> 3) Expected effectiveness (is the message appealing? is it clear? May it reach a wide audience?). <br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a061211a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a061211a12"></a><strong>12. Great Videos About Yale University Program Combining Religious Teachings to Environmental Issues</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://environment.yale.edu/profile/tucker">http://environment.yale.edu/profile/tucker</a> <br /><br /><a href="http://www.globalonenessproject.org/videos/maryevelyntuckercomplete">http://www.globalonenessproject.org/videos/maryevelyntuckercomplete</a> <br /><br />Thanks to JVNA advisor Ron Landskroner for forwarding these links to us.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a061211a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a061211a13"></a><strong>13. Action Alert: You Can Help Get Healthier Food Choices Into Schools</strong><br /><br />Forwarded message: <br /><br />Hi Richard, <br /><br />I have been working with a fantastic group - the New York Coalition for Healthy School Food as a volunteer for the last 3 years, because I see the amazing work they are doing in schools, and they also develop great resources for schools to educate children about the importance of plant foods. <br /><br />I hope you will join me in supporting the important work they are doing. You can click here to see the details of how you can help them, but essentially, they need DONATIONS:) <br /><br />© Corporate sponsorships of our fall Gala: $1000, $2,500, $5000, $10,000 or more.<br /><br />Some past sponsors (not yet confirmed for this year): Whole Foods Market, The Hain Celestial Group, Nutiva, Candle Cafe & Candle 79, NuTru, HealthForce Nutritionals, and Wildwood Pulmuone.<br /><br />(Click here for more details, including what you get in return) <br /><br />© Items for Gift bags for our fall Gala (need 300) – no samples, regular size products only; coupons for free products, not discounts; all items must be fully plant-based (vegan). Donation includes listing on our website and Gala program guide. <br /><br />© Silent Auction item for our fall Gala (minimal value $300) – all items must be fully plant-based. Donation includes listing on our website and Gala program guide. <br /><br />© Charity Buzz online auction items (minimal value $1000) – unique experiences and items. Great Publicity! See sample donations at www.charitybuzz.com. Donation includes listing on our website. <br /><br />Note: please send low resolution logo in .jpg format for all donations listed above.<br /><br />PLEASE respond by September 1, 2011 for Gala sponsorship, gift bags, and/or silent auction.<br /><br />A little more about New York Coalition for Healthy School Food: <br /><br />They are in partnership with the NYC Office of SchoolFood, the largest school food operation in the country. They have developed plant-based entrée recipes and conducted educational presentations for all staff and food service personnel. They are in 19 schools with a waiting list of 48 schools! In addition they are in partnership with the Ithaca City School District Child Nutrition Program and they have developed plant-based entrees using local organic beans and grains – a true Farm to School program. In addition, they have created Wellness Wakeup Call, nutrition education in the form of “easy to digest sound bites” read over the loudspeaker each morning. It is currently heard by over 100,000 students each day in New York and many other states around the country. <br /><br />Please let me know if you need any other information, and I look forward to hearing from you. <br /><br />Best wishes, <br /><br />Deer Fields<br />Volunteer Development Director<br />NYCHSF, New York Coalition for Healthy School Food<br /><br />Check out our new website: <a href="http://www.healthyschoolfood.org">www.healthyschoolfood.org</a> <br /><br />The New York Coalition for Healthy School Food (NYCHSF) is a statewide nonprofit that works to improve the health and well-being of New York's students by advocating for healthy plant-based foods, including local and organic where possible, farm to school programs, the elimination of unhealthy competitive foods in all areas of the school (not just the cafeteria), comprehensive nutrition policy, and education to create food- and health-literate students.<br /><br />Sign up for our email list from our homepage to be kept up to date on Healthy School Food! Happenings and join as a member - it's free! <br /><br />-- <br /><br />Love, Deer <br /><br />Animals are my friends... and I don't eat my friends. ~George Bernard Shaw <br /><br />"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."<br /><br /> -- Mahatma Gandhi <br /><br />Live and Let Live, Go Vegan!<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a061211a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">** Fair Use Notice **<br /><br />The material on this site is provided for educational and informational purposes. It may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. It is being made available in an effort to advance the understanding of vegetarian, environmental, nutritional, health, economic, social justice and human rights issues etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have an interest in using the included information for educational or research purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. The information on this site does not constitute legal, technical or medical advice.</span>.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17349614588789907464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9631520.post-67835177297831039172011-06-06T21:41:00.027-04:002011-06-16T20:27:10.275-04:0006/05/2011 JVNA Online NewsletterShalom everyone,<br /><br /><a name="a060511a0"></a>This update/<strong><a href="http://jewishveg.com/">Jewish Vegetarians of North America</a></strong> (JVNA) Online Newsletter has the following items:<br /><br /><strong>1. <a href="#a060511a1">Chag Shavuot Sameach/Happy Shavuot</a><br /><br />2. <a href="#a060511a2">Newsweek cover story on Climate Change / "Freak Storms Are the New Normal: Are You Ready for More?"</a><br /><br />3. <a href="#a060511a3">New Videos Show Positive Health Benefits of Vegan Diets</a><br /><br />4. <a href="#a060511a4">Environmental Impacts of Our Food</a><br /><br />5. <a href="#a060511a5">Message From Veg Podcast Producer Joseph Puentes</a><br /><br />6. <a href="#a060511a6">Article Submitted to JVNA on Judaism and Vegetarianism</a><br /><br />7. <a href="#a060511a7">National Animal Rights Day Event Scheduled</a><br /><br />8. <a href="#a060511a8">Hazon Food Conference Scheduled / Volunteers Sought To Represent JVNA</a><br /><br />9. <a href="#a060511a9">350.org Schedules Major Day of Action on Combating Climate Change</a><br /><br />10. <a href="#a060511a10">Israel Opens Solar Energy Facility</a><br /><br />11. <a href="#a060511a11">Anyone Paying Attention to Climate Change Devastation?</a><br /><br />12. <a href="#a060511a12">A Warming Planet Struggles to Feed Seven Billion People</a><br /><br />13. <a href="#a060511a13">Greenhouse Gas Emissions Continue to Grow</a><br /><br />14. <a href="#a060511a14">Climate Change Hitting Home</a></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Some material has been deferred to a later update/newsletter to keep this one from being even longer.<br /><br /> [Materials in brackets like this [ ] within an article or forwarded message are my editorial notes/comments.]<br /><br /><strong>Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the JVNA, unless otherwise indicated, but may be presented to increase awareness and/or to encourage respectful dialogue. Also, material re conferences, retreats, forums, trips, and other events does not necessarily imply endorsement by JVNA or endorsement of the kashrut, Shabbat observances, or any other Jewish observances, but may be presented for informational purposes. Please use e-mail addresses, telephone numbers, and web sites to get further information about any event that you are interested in. Also, JVNA does not necessarily agree with all positions of groups whose views are included or whose events are announced in this newsletter.</strong><br /><br />As always, your comments and suggestions are very welcome. <br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Richard</span><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a060511a1"></a><strong>1. Chag Shavuot Sameach/Happy Shavuot</strong><br /><br />Shavuot begins at sundown on Tuesday evening, June 7. It commemorates the Israelites receiving the Torah on Mount Sinai. Hence we should stress how many Torah laws and teachings point to vegetarianism as the ideal diet for Jews today. Please see my article, Shavuot and Vegetarianism” at the holidays section at <a href="http://www.JewishVeg.com/Schwartz">JewishVeg.com/Schwartz</a>. And please feel free to share that article and other material at that website with others. Many thanks,<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a060511a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a060511a2"></a><strong>2. Newsweek cover story on Climate Change / "Freak Storms Are the New Normal: Are You Ready for More?"</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2011-05-29/global-climate-change-freak-storms-are-the-new-normal/">http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2011-05-29/global-climate-change-freak-storms-are-the-new-normal/</a> <br /><br />Please help spread this and other items in this newsletter widely. Thanks.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a060511a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a060511a3"></a><strong>3. New Videos Show Positive Health Benefits of Vegan Diets</strong><br /><br />TWO NEW FEATURE FILMS EXPLORE WHETHER WE CAN CUT DISEASE RISK JUST BY GOING VEGAN (Ecologist)<br /><br />-- Dr. Campbell and Dr. Esselstyn are now featured in two films, 'Planeat,' which premiered in the UK on May 20th, and 'Forks over Knives,' a Hollywood production that recently opened in the US. The directors of Planeat, Shelley Lee Davies and Or Shlomi, were inspired to make the film after reading The China Study and realizing that, "the same diet that can help save the planet can also help prevent chronic diseases and tastes amazing." Indeed, the film makes clear that you need not live on lentils and lettuce if you decide to forgo animal protein.<br /><br /><a href="http://bit.ly/jgwPxM">http://bit.ly/jgwPxM</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a060511a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a060511a4"></a><strong>4. Environmental Impacts of Our Food</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.platetoplanet.org/"?>http://www.platetoplanet.org/</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a060511a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a060511a5"></a><strong>5. Message From Veg Podcast Producer Joseph Puentes</strong><br /><br />HELP: I need people willing to speak on the topic of morality/immorality. I would like to shift strongly toward the immorality of eating meat with particular emphasis of how immoral it is toward OTHER HUMANS. CAN YOU PLEASE SUGGEST people that you feel qualified to speak on this topic? Just pass me their names and I'll do what I can to find their contact info so I can send an invitation. Please Help! <br /><br />"Save The Human" - "Namrock" - "Sixth Commandment" <br /><br /><a href="http://h2opodcast.com/vsse.html#sts">http://h2opodcast.com/vsse.html#sts</a> <br /><br />01 June 2011 <br /><br />We have three offerings this month. <br /><br />The first is a video called "Save The Human" by Bobsy Gaia, Chairman of ABLE Charity Many thanks to the Save The Human! Campaign <br /><br />The second is a great song by Namrock "Have Mercy On The Animals". <br /><br />The third is a video by Aryan Tavakkoli "Sixth Commandment". Warning: This video is the graphic truth of what humans do to animals. <br /><br />================================== <br /><br />4993 Facebook Friends and Counting (I deleted several hundred friends that were already members of the VSSE fb group). At this point I've suspended inviting friends on a wholesale basis from the Vegan/Vegetarian community and will concentrate on adding friends from "Environmental" groups. The limit of friends a person can have is 5000 so I need to start thinking of options of what I'm going to do in a few months when I reach that threshold. Is there anyone in the group that is Facebook Savvy that could council me on alternative options? I know that many people have more than one FB account but I think that is illegal and since I've had my account suspended twice already I'm very hesitant to do anything that would ban my account for life. <br /><br />I wish there was a way to invite Facebook individuals that are NOT my friends to join the VSSE podcast FB group: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=40863727638">http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=40863727638</a> <br /><br />================================== <br /><br />The VSSE podcast has a Facebook presence. You can ADD me as a friend and send me your friend suggestions (<a href="http://www.facebook.com/VeganEnvironmentalSolutions">http://www.facebook.com/VeganEnvironmentalSolutions</a>). You can also join the VSSE Podcast Facebook group here: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=40863727638">http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=40863727638</a> Please spread the word that the podcast exists and share with your "Environmentalist" friends. <br /><br />Also we have FB Events at: <br /><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=220522351311022">http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=220522351311022</a> <br /><br />I NEED 5-10 people to help me Veg-Evangelize to<br /><br />Environmental Groups on Facebook (and off facebook too). Here is what I need. We'll each send out a short message (I can supply the message) to 4 FB Environmental Groups per week/per month/or just as often as you'd like. The problem is <br /><br />that I've already had my FB account suspended a few weeks ago for being too "aggressive" in trying to spread the word about transitioning to a plant based diet and the next time it might be permanent. I've already gained two more warnings and feel like I'm walking on thin ice. So the plan is to gather a "Few" good folks to send out these messages with the <br /><br />goal being to FORCE the conversation in the direction of "The single most important thing an individual can do for the environment is to go Vegan."- email me: <a href="mailto:"NoMeat@h2opodcast.com>NoMeat@h2opodcast.com</a> and I'll give more details - <br /><br />Please Help! <br /><br />================================== <br /><br />We have a new addition to the speech archive. Listen to "The Missing Piece from World Peace" by Dr. Aryan Tavakkoli FRACP: <br /><br /><a href="http://h2opodcast.com/speech.html#at">http://h2opodcast.com/speech.html#at</a> <br /><br />Speeches entitled "Harvesting animals and consuming the planet" by Jamie Rivet are ready on the website at <a href="">http://h2opodcast.com/speech.html</a> Many, many thanks to Jamie Rivet for his work on this project. <br /><br />Are there any other speechwriters in the group? Let's continue assembling an archive of "Ready To Go" speeches that anyone can use to further the cause. Email me at: <a href="mailto:NoMeat@h2opodcast.com">NoMeat@h2opodcast.com</a> <br /><br />================================== <br /><br />I need help with the VSSE podcast. This podcast is a community effort and the project can definitely benefit with the liberal sharing of "YOUR VOICE." I have material waiting to be read on the Environmental Reasons the world needs to TRANSITION toward a plant based diet so please contact me (<a href="mailto:NoMeat@h2opodcast.com">NoMeat@h2opodcast.com</a>) so we can discuss how you can read for the podcast. Here is more material on this subject: <a href="http://h2opodcast.com/wtp.html">http://h2opodcast.com/wtp.html</a> <br /><br />SNIP<br /><br />Joseph Puentes <br /><br /><a href="http://h2opodcast.com/vsse.html">http://h2opodcast.com/vsse.html</a> (Vegan Environmental Solutions Podcast) <br /><br /><a href="http://h2opodcast.com">http://h2opodcast.com</a> (Environmental Podcast) <br /><br /><a href="http://h2opodcast.blogspot.com/">http://h2opodcast.blogspot.com/</a> (Blog for above) <br /><br /><a href="http://PleaseListenToYourMom.com">http://PleaseListenToYourMom.com</a> (Women's Peace Podcast) <br /><br /><a href="http://NuestraFamiliaUnida.com">http://NuestraFamiliaUnida.com</a> (Latin American History Podcast) <br /><br /><a href="http://NuestrosRanchos.com">http://NuestrosRanchos.com</a> (Jalisco, Zacatecas, and Aguascalientes Genealogy)<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a060511a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a060511a6"></a><strong>6. Article Submitted to JVNA on Judaism and Vegetarianism<br /><br /> “Every moving thing that liveth shall be food for you.”<br /><br />Judaism and the Ethics of Eating</strong><br /><br />Caitlin Eisenberg
<br /><br />Email: <a href="mailto:cdeisenberg@mindspring.com">cdeisenberg@mindspring.com</a>
<br /><br /> All Jews are deeply connected by our history of oppression and survival and we exhibit this connectedness through cultural bonds and similarities. One of the most distinct traits of Jewish culture is our deep and abiding relationship with food. This food culture is not just about what we eat, but also about how, when, where and with whom we do the eating. Many people eat bread or drink wine, but the ways in which Jews consume these foods is distinctive. Praying over a braided loaf or a metal cup filled to the brim is not typical eating or drinking style for most people on Friday night. And of course, no one can force food onto an unwilling individual better than a Jewish grandmother and no meal can rival a Shabbat dinner in a large Jewish community.<br /><br /> The Jewish affair with food is not purely cultural; it is also deeply tied to our religious tradition. The Torah, Talmud and other historical Jewish texts give us countless standards for our eating. On Yom Kippur, we are instructed to fast as part of our repentance, followed by the ritual slaughter and consumption of a lamb. [The ritual slaughter is no longer necessary.] On <i>Pesach</i>, we do not consume leaven. And of course, there are many <i>kashrut</i>, or kosher, laws that restrict our consumption by telling us what animals are unclean, what afflictions make otherwise clean animals unclean and other standards for acceptable foods.<br /><br /> Though the punishment of <i>karet</i>, or spiritual exile, is designated for certain failures to observe kosher laws, such as eating non-kosher fat (The Holy Scriptures , Lev. 7.25), eating blood (17.10-12), or the incorrect consumption of sacrificial meat (Lev. 19.8, 20.20-1), the punishment for breaking <i>kashrut</i> is not generally specified. However, from these few specificities, we do know that when God restricts our consumption, defiance of the laws is serious. So we must observe <i>kashrut</i> with the utmost care, as we are to be in compliance with dozens of laws. In order to avoid defiance of God’s commandments, we must strive to be constantly aware and conscious of that which we are consuming. Having been raised with strong ethical Jewish values, part of this conscious consumption is pursuing an awareness of my food sources to ensure that all of it is ethically sourced. In my investigation of and exposure to the realities of modern agriculture, I was confronted with the question of whether an ethical Jew today can eat meat. The vast majority of kosher rules relate to our consumption of animals, including <i>shechitah</i>, or proper ritual slaughter. These guidelines, as well as a preponderance of other ethical standards provided for us in the Torah and Talmud, are frequently neglected in the factory farming system in both kosher and non-kosher facilities. In addition, we must ask whether or not it is truly God’s desire for us to use animals for food. In doing this, we must strive to utilize only food sources that comply with ethical imperatives given to us, not just by <i>kashrut</i>, but by Judaism in general.<br /><br /> The foundation for <i>shechitah</i> is the prohibition against <i>tza’ar ba’alei chayim</i>, literally “the suffering of living creatures,” which is discussed extensively in the Talmud. These discussions draw largely from the Torah, citing the many instances of God’s direction to us to be kind to His other creatures. It is well known that man is instructed to rest on the Sabbath and keep it holy (Ex. 20.8-10), but he is also told to rest his animals (Ex. 23.12). In a Psalm of David, God is hailed as righteous and preserver of man and beast alike (Ps. 36.7), while he is later described as one who “satisfiest every living thing with favour” (Ps. 145.16). God’s righteousness and kindness is mirrored in his children, with the idea that “a righteous man regardeth the life of his beast; but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel” (Prov. 12.10), meaning that a righteous man tends to the needs of his animals, while the utmost kindness of the wicked is still cruelty.<br /><br /> In Deuteronomy 12.20, it is said that when one’s soul is desirous of meat, “thou shalt kill of thy herd and thy flock… as I have commanded thee,” which is understood to mean that God communicated the laws of <i>shechitah</i> to Moses at Sinai. With this consideration and that of <i>tza’ar ba’alei chayim</i> discussed above, these laws are expounded upon in the Tractate Hullin in the Order Kadoshim of the Talmud. <i>Shechitah</i>, therefore, has as its primary goal the minimization of suffering of the animal to be slaughtered and the laws build from there, detailing everything from the who, when and how of slaughter to what animals are acceptable for consumption. <br /><br />In order to discuss the modern reality of <i>shechitah</i>, one must establish a fundamental understanding of the standards set down for us. A <i>shochet</i>, one responsible for kosher slaughter, is not simply a butcher, but a man of esteemed piety who is well versed in all of the laws of slaughter or is being overseen by one well versed in the laws (b. Hull. 2a). Hullin goes into great detail on how slaughtering must be performed and with what implements. Significance is attributed to the need to cut, not tear or strangle the throat of an animal (Ibid. 15b). Raba specifies the types of blades to be used, in order to ensure that the esophagus has not been perforated by a notch (Ibid. 17b). Most notably and relevant to modern slaughter, an animal is <i>nebelah</i>, a carcass and therefore unclean and renders unclean any who touch it, if there is a fault in its slaughter. These faults include the tearing away of the windpipe after the cutting of the esophagus and cutting one of these organs and then pausing until the animal dies (Ibid. 32a-32b). In addition, an animal is <i>trefah</i>, or forbidden meat, if there is a defect outside of the slaughtering process (Ibid. 32a-32b), including if the animal dies before the completion of slaughter (Ibid. 37a). It is of note that the requirement for certainty of vitality eliminates the option of rendering an animal unconscious before <i>shechitah</i> is performed. Though <i>nebelah</i> is more serious in that in can render one unclean through contact, it is important to remember that both <i>nebelah</i> and <i>trefah</i> are forbidden from consumption by man.<br /><br />With this understanding of ritual slaughter and a faith that it complies with the principle of <i>Tza’ar ba’alei chayim</i>, it only requires a simple examination of the workings of modern kosher slaughterhouses to determine if consumption of this meat complies with the ethical standards of Judaism. Agriprocessors, Inc. was founded by Aaron Rubashkin, a Lubavitcher butcher, in 1987 and quickly became the largest kosher slaughterhouse in the world, bringing in $250 million a year. They had slaughterhouses in Iowa, Nebraska and South America, with warehouses in Brooklyn and Miami, employing over 1,000 people in the United States facilities alone (Popper). On November 30th, 2004, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals released video footage taken during an undercover investigation of the main AgriProcessors’ facility in Iowa. The video showed conscious cattle having their tracheas and esophagi torn from their throats, being shocked in the face with electric prods, and suffering for minutes after <i>shechitah</i> was performed. The removal of the organs was performed on every animal slaughtered in the seven weeks that PETA managed to film and the same process was witnessed as early as 1998. On a tour of the slaughterhouse in 1996, acclaimed journalist Stephen Bloom viewed many animals struggling to stand minutes after their throats were slit and organs removed (Gross). In direct noncompliance of Hullin 32b, which categorizes the act as rendering the animal <i>nebelah</i>, AgriProcessors was tearing out the trachea after the cutting of the esophagus. In addition, they used restraining pens that were condemned as a violation of Judaism’s mandate to avoid causing pain to animals and are well documented as stressful and cruel[1][1]. Executive Vice President of the Orthodox Union who was responsible for <i>hechshering</i> AgriProcessors’ products, Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb acknowledged the inhumanity of some of the practices in the facility and still released a formal statement that the OU stood by the <i>kashrut</i> of AgriProcessors’ meat (Gross).<br /><br />However, we must also take into account the significant population of modern Jews that do not keep kosher, but still wish to follow the ethical imperatives of Judaism. Chickens killed for food are kept in cages that are far too small and crowded to allow them to stretch their wings. In order to prevent them from pecking at other chickens, a behavior caused by overcrowding, chickens have their beaks clipped at a young age, an act that is similar to cutting off the finger or ear of a human. At the slaughterhouse, chickens are shackled by their legs and sent down a conveyor belt to have their throats slit (DeGrazia). However, the automated blade misses many chickens, who are conscious and struggling against their restraints, and so the chickens are dropped alive into boiling water. About 80% of the 8 billion chickens slaughtered annually go to slaughter with bruises and fractured bones, indicating extensive abuse (Rollin). Additionally, products like eggs are not addressed by kosher laws at all and so are singularly sourced for all people, but cruelty to animals is exhibited in these factories as well. Laying hens are also debeaked and confined to cages for years, stacked on top of each other and subjected to being walked over and defecated on by other hens (Rollin). Hens are forced into extreme productivity, often laying up to 250 eggs each year, all of which are laid on sloped, wire floors that are completely contrary to their instincts. Some hens are subjected to forced molting, where water and food are withheld in order to prolong their productive lives (DeGrazia). At the end of their laying period, hens are shipped to slaughterhouses to undergo the same slaughter as broiler hens.<br /><br />Rabbi David Rosen, Chief Rabbi of Ireland from 1979 to 1985, states outright that “the current treatment of animals in the livestock trade definitely renders the consumption of meat as halachically unacceptable” (Schwartz), and from the above examples, it seems that this is certainly the case, for both kosher and non-kosher slaughter. The Torah tells us: “Put not your trust in princes, Nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help” (Ps. 146.3). We are here being warned that we should trust only in God, who loves and preserves us, while men can be deceitful and may fall into error. In relying on slaughterhouses to perform <i>shechitah</i> or at least generally humane practices, we entrust our salvation to them, but/ they are clearly not upholding the ethical standards that I learned as a child and to which our people adhere.<br /><br />The discovery that kosher slaughterhouses, which are widely believed to practice more humane methods slaughter, are in reality just as bad, if not worse, than regular slaughterhouses stirred in me concern over other Jewish ethical mandates that are relevant to factory farming. Though kosher slaughterhouses are distinct in their form of slaughter, they are markedly similar in the day-to-day function of the slaughterhouse and therefore can be considered with the whole when discussing practices relating to the environment, human rights and concerns over health. One such concern relates to the <i>mitzvah</i> of <i>Bal Taschis</i>, which prohibits needless destruction and waste, based on a Torah passage that forbids the destruction of fruit-bearing trees and allows for the cutting down of trees that do not produce food only if they are needed (Deut. 20.19-20). As God placed man into the Garden of Eden, he directed him to “dress it and keep it” (Gen. 2:15); the Midrash Ecclesiastes Rabbah emphasizes this, by telling us that as Adam first passed through Eden, God said to him, "See my works, how fine and excellent they are! Now all that I have created, for you have I created it. Think upon this and do not destroy and desolate My World, For if you corrupt it, there is no one to set it right after you” (7.28), placing the responsibility on man to care for the earth God has created. Isaiah also says, “He is God; That formed the earth and made it, He established it, He created it not a waste, He formed it to be inhabited” (Is. 45.18), reminding us that this world is precious and we may use it, but must not abuse it. <br /><br />Yet, once again, in an examination of real world modern practices, we see blatant disregard of these mandates. Between 1930 and 1990, two-thirds of farms disappeared, while the remaining farms have tripled in size (Bodley) and AgriProcessors shows that kosher meat producers are participating in this global conversion from small farms to large-scale animal agriculture. Rainforests are home to more than half of the world’s plant and animal species and are major reservoirs of global carbon and producers of oxygen. As many as 29,000 square kilometers of rainforest are harvested each year, which totaled 16% of the original rainforests by 1998, and the conversion to industrialized cultivation is largely credited with the destruction of the rainforests (Bodley). In addition, Factory farms use dioxin on their crops, pollute soil and water with raw chemicals, and emit pollutants into the air; all of these chemicals are incredibly harmful to humans and animals, as well as being damaging to natural ecosystems (Bodley).<br /><br />In addition to the clear concerns about animal welfare and environmental protection voiced in the Torah and Talmud, we are directed to value human life. It is said, “Whosoever destroys a single soul, Scripture imputes guilt to him as though he had destroyed a complete world, and whosoever preserves a single soul, Scripture ascribes merit to him as though he had preserved a complete world” (b. San. 37a-37b). The sanctity of human life is communicated as the need to protect human rights and human health. There are extensive commandments instructing us to treat all men as equal (e.g. Lev. 19.14-17, b. Pes. 25b), as well as discussions of the right of all people to be free from damage, pain, healing, loss of time, and disgrace (b. B.K.). Nonetheless, we find countless human rights violations in the factory farming industry, from the abuse of workers to contributions to world hunger. AgriProcessors was able to expand availability of kosher meat because of low prices, but these low prices came at a cost to their employees. The company did not offer health-care benefits or paid vacation to its employees, resulting in several lawsuits. When union organizers attempted to talk to workers at the main AgriProcessors factory in Iowa, Heshey Rubashkin, son of the company’s founder and co-manager of the Postville facility, almost ran over one of the organizers and shouted at him in attempts to intimidate him (Popper). These sorts of practices are commonplace and when considered with the highest injury rate of any employment field of 27% annually (Foer), they explain slaughterhouse worker turnover rates that have been estimated at 150% annually (Foer). <br /><br />Employees are not the only people abused by this system. The large scale farms discussed above have been found to foster income inequality, poor infrastructure and low standards of living, as well as countless other social ills (Bodley). In fact, over a billion people around the world suffer from chronic undernourishment (Food and Agriculture Oraganization of the United Nations), while resources are used to inefficiently produce meat. It takes up to 26 calories of animal feed to produce just one calorie of meat, and over 976 million tons of grain, corn and soy go into meat production each year (Foer). This inefficiency contributes to hunger and defies the many commandments that tell us to provide for those who are hungry, which is credited as one reason for fasting on Yom Kippur (Is. 58.7) and said to be the holiest of all <i>mitzvot</i> (b. B.B. 9a); we are told to feed even our enemies if they are in need (Prov. 25.21).<br /><br />God also expects us to observe the sanctity of human life by protecting our health and lives above all else. Moses told the Jewish people, “Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves” (Deut. 4.15), ensuring that we guard our lives so as to continue to live and carry out God’s commandments. Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch tells us: <br /><br />You may not in any way weaken your health or shorten your life. Only if the body is healthy is it an efficient instrument for the spirit's activity… Therefore you should avoid everything that might possibly injure your health… And the law asks you to be even more circumspect in avoiding danger to life and limb than in the avoidance of other transgressions. (Hirsch) <br /><br />The connection between factory farming and degradation of human health becomes clearer as time passes. Foer expounds on the numerous international agencies that recognize the link between pandemics, such as H1N1, SARS and BSE, and animal agriculture; the growth of anti-microbial-resistant pathogens that results from overuse of antibiotics and farm animals; and the relationship between meat consumption and America’s most prevalent health problems, namely heart disease, cancer and strokes, as well as obesity, diabetes, cholesterol problems and countless others.<br /><br /> While it is a frightening experience to come to the realization that you have been participating in a wholly unethical practice for the entirety of your life, it is even more distressing to realize that this practice is based not just in this world, but in the ethical code that your God has set before you. This was the dismay that I was confronted with when I began my quest to live as a fully ethical Jew. I had heard from a young age that eating meat is a <i>mitzvah</i>, especially and when it is the meat of a <i>korban</i>, a ritual sacrifice. Over 100 of the permanent 613 <i>mitzvot</i> that are drawn from the Torah are directly concerned with <i>korbanot</i>, and an entire order of the Talmud, the Kadoshim, directs our practice of sacrifice. Though the practice of ritual sacrifice in Judaism has been discontinued in modern times, the slaughter of animals for food is heavily connected to <i>korban</i>, as <i>shechitah</i> is practiced for both, and the consumption of kosher meat is still considered a <i>mitzvah</i> by many authorities. Alas, I was presented with an ethical dilemma: ignore a <i>mitzvah</i> or continue to participate in a system that I believe to be ethically reprehensible. Thankfully, I soon discovered that I was not alone in these concerns and was provided with guidance from many rabbis and scholars, including those whose commentary is found in the Talmud. We are told that when we enter the Holy Land and our “soul desireth to eat flesh; thou mayest eat flesh, after all the desire of thy soul” (Deut. 12.20). This references consumption of desire, not necessity and according to the sages, it was an allowance of eating non-sacrificial meat once we entered Israel, not a mandate to do so (b. Hull. 16b-17a).<br /><br />Some scholars even claim that not only do we not need to eat meat, but we should not. Chaim Milikowsky, chair of the Talmud department at Bar Ilan University, believes that the performance of slaughter that follows neither the proper practice of nor the underlying essence, namely the prohibition against <i>tza’ar ba’alei chayim</i>, of <i>shechitah</i> is “guilty of <i>hillul Hashem</i> — the desecration of God’s name — for to insist that God cares only about his ritual law and not about his moral law is to desecrate His Name” (Gross), an idea supported by Rabbi David Rosen (Schwartz). This means that the consumption of this meat, which is not kosher, is a <i>mitzvah haba'ah b'aveirah</i>, a <i>mitzvah</i> based in sin. The Talmud tells us that a pious deed may not be perfo/rmed through a transgression (b. Suk. 29b-30a), so, in the case of meat, we are not to eat meat that conflicts with Jewish commandments. As thoroughly discussed above, kosher meat today is not guaranteed to have been slaughtered in accordance with kosher law, and the production of this meat defies the ethical laws relating to the animal welfare, environmental protection, and the value of human rights and health.<br /><br />My research has exposed me to the idea that a vegetarian diet is in better compliance with God’s will. In the beginning, God created the earth, and on the sixth day He created man, after which the Torah tells us, “And God said: ‘Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed… and to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is a living soul, I have given every green herb for food’ And it was so. And God saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good” (Gen. 1.29-31). In His original plan, God gave man and all other creatures of the earth a plant-based diet and knew it was good. Yet, He later saw the villainy of man and smote earth with the flood, protecting only the bloodline of Noah, in hopes that the goodness of Noah would give man a fresh start. He soon saw that “man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living” (Gen. 8:21) and as a part of this covenant He told Noah that all living things would fear and dread man and He gave man the animals for food, as He did with the plants (Gen. 9.2-3).<br /><br /> Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, the first Chief Rabbi of pre-state Israel, taught that God permitted the consumption of meat as a concession to human weakness and that we were provided with the many restrictions relating to consumption of animals in order to punish us and remind us to hold animal lives in high regard (Schwartz). In fact, it is shown that God made a second attempt at human vegetarianism, even after granting us the animals as food. In Exodus 16, God told Moses that he would rain bread down for the people to collect as food in the desert after being freed from Egypt. Yet, the book of Numbers tells of how the people wept and wished for meat to eat, but when Moses communicated these desires to God, God was angered. He gave the people meat to eat for a month, but as they ate “the anger of HaShem was kindled against the people, and HaShem smote the people with a very great plague” (Num. 11.33).<br /><br />In fact, it is believed that with the coming of <i>Meshiach/</i> and the Day of Judgment, we will return to the light and the vegetarian diet that God intended for us. It is said that “every cloak rolled in blood, shall even be for burning, for fuel of fire… For wickedness burneth as the fire” (Is. 9.4, 17), telling us that the spilling of blood is wicked. As God judges earth, the animals that previously preyed on each other will live together in peace and all creatures “shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of HaShem” (Is. 11.5-9). When God passes judgment and eliminates all wickedness, man will pass into the light and gain the knowledge of God and in that time, all consumption of animals will cease.<br /><br />It is the task of a Jew to be in a constant process of learning and growth, as well as devoting ourselves to the carrying out of God’s commandments. God created men as vegetarians and even in later allowing our eating of meat, we were told to take care that we not subject any of God’s creatures to excessive pain. We are also taught to care for God’s earth and our fellow man. Of course, compliance with God’s ethical commandments is a struggle daily and many scholars do not interpret these issues in the same way. All we can do is interpret the Torah and God’s word to the best of our abilities and pursue righteousness with a pure heart and sincere intent. With consideration of all of these elements and the fact that a modern Jew can fully honor God’s commandments with a healthy vegetarian diet, it became apparent to me that the way to fulfill the ethical mandates of living as a compassionate Jew is to choose a plant-based diet.<br /><br />Works Cited<br />Bodley, John H. <i>Anthropology and Contemporary Human Problems</i>. Lanham: AltaMira Press, 2008.<br /><br />DeGrazia, David. "Meat-Eating." <i>The Animal Ethics Reader</i>. Ed. Susan J. Armstrong and Richard G. Botzler. London: Routledge, 2008. 219-224.<br /><br />Epstein, Isidore, ed. <i>The Babylonian Talmud</i>. London: Soncino Press, 1978.<br /><br />Foer, Jonathan Safran. <i>Eating Animals</i>. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2009.<br /><br />Food and Agriculture Oraganization of the United Nations. <i>The State of Food Insecurity in the World</i>. Rome: FAO, 2009.<br /><br />Grandin, Temple and Joe M. Regenstein. "Religious slaughter and animal welfare: a discussion for meat scientists." March 1994. <i>Livestock Behaviour, Design of Facilities and Humane Slaughter</i>. 16 11 2010 <a href="http://www.grandin.com/ritual/kosher.slaugh.html">http://www.grandin.com/ritual/kosher.slaugh.html</a>.<br /><br />Gross, Aaron. "When Kosher Isn't Kosher." <i>Tikkun Magazine</i> 2005.<br /><br />Hirsch, Samson Raphael. <i>Horeb</i>. Trans. I. Grunfield. London: Soncino Press, 1962.<br /><br />Margolis, Max Leopold, ed. <i>The Holy Scriptures according to the Masoretic text: A new translation with the aid of previous versions and with constant consultation of Jewish authorities</i>. Philadelphia: The Jewish Publication Society of America, 1917.<br /><br />Popper, Nathaniel. "How the Rubashkins Changed the Way Jews Eat in America." <i>The Forward</i> (December 19, 2008).<br /><br />Rollin, Bernard E. "The Ethical Imperative to Control Pain and Suffering in Farm Animals." <i>The Animal Ethics Reader</i>. Ed. Susan J. Armstrong and Richard G. Botzler. London: Routledge, 2008. 248-259.<br /><br />Schwartz, Richard. "Rabbinic Teachings on Vegetarianism." 2010. <i>Jewish Virtual Library</i>. 21 11 2010 <a href="http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/rabbinicveg.html">http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/rabbinicveg.html</a>.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a060511a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a060511a7"></a><strong>7. National Animal Rights Day Event Scheduled</strong><br /><br />Forwarded message:<br /><br /><strong>PLEASE JOIN US.....EVERYONE IS INVITED TO COME WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY~ NATIONAL COALITION OF ANIMAL<br /><br />ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS <br /><br />[I am sorry that you are receiving this after the event. I stopped by and helped JVNA advisors Rina Deych and David Rosenfeld distribute literature.] <br />HUNDREDS GATHER IN PUBLIC PRAYER CEREMONY FOR ANIMALS<br /><br />AT FIRST NATIONAL ‘ANIMAL RIGHTS DAY’<br /><br />SUNDAY, JUNE 5th at 1:00 P.M. - North Side of Union Square Park at 17th Street<br /><br />-PUBLIC SIGNS A GIANT- SIZED ‘DECLARATION OF ANIMAL RIGHTS’ – <br /><br />WHAT- First National ‘Animal Rights Day</strong>,’ a festival of music, food, and displays encouraging the public to adopt an animal & planet-friendly lifestyle .<br /><br /><strong>OPENING CEREMONY 1:00 p.m.:<br /><br />- Prayer Ceremony: 300 supporters dressed in black join in prayer for the animals of the world harmed by humanity.<br /><br />- A moving tribute to these animals delivered by Rose McCoy and Phoebe Holden, dynamic 10-year-old girls. -<br /><br /> - Greetings by State Assembly Member Linda B. Rosenthal and other invited guests.<br /><br />- Unveiling of the Giant-Sized ‘Declaration of Animal Rights’</strong> to be sent to President Obama and world leaders around the globe in an effort to promote animal rights legislation & raise public consciousness about the way humanity treats animals. <strong>People will be signing the Declaration all afternoon.<br /><br />- Performance by rapper, K Lethal</strong>, to raise awareness of the depravity of dog fighting; also Jenn London, Asi Meskin and other artists. <br /><br /><strong>CLOSING CEREMONY 4:00-4:15 p.m.:<br /><br />- Exhibition of the signed Giant-Sized ‘Declaration of Animal Rights’; Closing comments by Borough President Scott Stringer, Senator Tony Avella; Musical performance by Broadway star Nellie McKay.<br /><br />WHEN- Sunday, June 5th 1:00-4:00 p.m.<br /><br />WHERE - North Side of Union Square Park at 17th Street.<br /><br />WHY/ PURPOSE - To ask the public to sign the ‘Declaration of Animal Rights’ and to develop an animal and planet-friendly lifestyle by not eating any animals or animal products for just one week in order to demonstrate that if you can do it for one week, you can do it forever!</strong><br /><br />Animals are feeling beings who are being abused daily around the world: *56 billion land animals are raised & slaughtered worldwide for human consumption every year.* Four species of animals become extinct every hour. *Each year, 115 million animals are used and killed in lab experimentation, many of which are for testing household products and makeup. *16 pounds of grain and over 2,500 gallons of water are needed to produce just 1 pound of beef. *Each year in the U.S. 200 hunters kill million animals.<br /><br /><strong>SPONSORS: National coalition of over 20 animal advocacy organizations:</strong> Animal Freedom International; Mercy For Animals; People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA); Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary; Catskills Animal Sanctuary; Caring Activists Against Fur (CAAF) ; Friends of Animals United NJ (FAUN); Animal ACTivists of Philly; Vegan Outreach; National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS); Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages; The Alliance to End Chickens as Kaporos; Darwin Animal Doctors; LUVegans; Empty Cages Collective; Super Sprowtz; SOS:Save Our Shelter Animals; People for the End of Animal Cruelty & Exploitation~PEACE; In Defense of Animals; Heart For Animals; Animalia Qualia; League of Humane Voters; Green Mountain Energy; Urban Animal Alliance;<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a060511a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a060511a8"></a><strong>8. Hazon Food Conference Scheduled / Volunteers Sought To Represent JVNA</strong><br /><br />Forwarded message from the: Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism Sustainability Program Coordinator.<br /><br />Friends, <br /><br />I'm excited to let you all know about a great event taking place this summer – the <strong>Sixth Annual Hazon Food Conference</strong> at the University of California Davis, August 18-21. <br /><br />Join the thinkers and doers of the Jewish Food Movement for four days of learning and celebration! The $445 registration fee includes programming and accommodations, with additional scholarships available for rabbinical students, young adults and many other groups (<a href="http://www.hazon.org/go.php?q=/food/conference/2011FC/PricingAndScholarships.html">more scholarship info here</a>). <br /><br />Our own Naomi Abelson will be among the presenters, and she will also convene a special meeting with all Reform Jews at the Conference. (Click here for full list of presenters.) <br /><br />You’ll meet and be inspired by farmers and rabbis, nutritionists and chefs, vegans and omnivores all coming together to explore the ties among food justice, Jewish traditions, and contemporary life. The Conference will include do-it-yourself food workshops; farm tours; classes on discussions on the 2012 Farm Bill, food writing and urban farming; joyful Shabbat celebrations; family programming, and delicious, consciously-prepared food. It all ends with an Eco-Fair and <i>shuk</i> (market) with dozens of eco-friendly vendors. <br /><br />The Early Bird discount rate is in effect until June 7, so <a href="http://www.hazon.org/go.php?q=/food/conference/2011FC/HazonFoodConference.html">register this week</a>. You’ll receive an <strong>additional $50 registration discount</strong> by entering the code "<strong>URJFOOD</strong>." Sign-up now to join this amazing food justice experience, and <a href="mailto:anna@hazon.org">contact Anna Hanau</a> at Hazon for more information. <br /><br />L'Shalom,<br /><br />Rachel Cohen<br />Sustainability Program Coordinator<br />Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism<br />2027 Massachusetts Ave NW<br />Washington, DC 20036 <br /><br /><i>Going Green? Connect with like-minded community members on the Greening Reform Judaism listserv. To subscribe, visit <a href="http://www.urj.org/egroups">www.urj.org/egroups</a>, and choose "GreeningRJ" from the list of available choices.</i><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a060511a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a060511a9"></a><strong>9. 350.org Schedules Major Day of Action on Combating Climate Change<br /><br />forwarded message from 350.org:</strong><br /><br />Dear friends,
<br /><br /><strong>The momentum building for September 24th’s Moving Planet day of action is extraordinary:</strong> hundreds of big, ambitious events are already planned all around the world.
Many of you have organized some pretty big demonstrations with 350.org in the past (OK, really big -- CNN called our mobilization in 2009 “the most widespread day of political action in history”), but this one might be the most impressive yet.<br /><br /><strong>Click here to sign up an event or see what’s happening in your community: <a href="http://www.moving-planet.org">www.moving-planet.org</a></strong>
Today, I wanted to share one story of how a group of young organizers in the Dominican Republic -- "350Dominicana" -- are using Moving Planet to create lasting change in their community.
When the leaders of 350Dominicana heard about this September 24’s “Moving Planet” they knew they wanted to do something extraordinary.
Last year, for the Global Work Party on 10/10/10, the 350Dominicana team got hundreds of people to paint and distribute the first set of recycling bins at a school on the island. Since then, they’ve continued to expand the program to 3 more schools, and are slated to expand to 6 more by later this year. So far, they’ve been able to divert 18,740 kg (41,315 lbs) of waste in just 3 ½ months.<br /><br />This year, as 350Dominicana began to plan a big bicycle mobilization for Moving Planet, they realized something -- there isn’t a single bike lane in their capitol, Santo Domingo. The lack of sustainable transportation options isn’t just a challenge for cyclists, it’s also a major source of pollution. The Dominican Republic has doubled its CO2 emissions in the last 7 years and cars are the second biggest contributor.<br /><br />So, from now until Moving Planet, 350Dominicana and their allies will be campaigning to get the first bike lane painted in their capitol city. On September 24th, they’ll organize a mass bike ride to deliver petitions and a plan for the bike lane to their city leaders.
<strong>From pushing for the first bike lane in Santo Domingo, to rallying to stop proposed coal plants in Andhra Pradesh, India to getting 15,000 people into the streets of Istanbul, Turkey to call for climate action, Moving Planet will be a single day for all of us to move away from fossil fuels -- and demand that our leaders do the same.</strong>
We can't wait to see what you'll come up with in your community--if you haven't already signed up, please do so today: <strong><a href="http://www.moving-planet.org">www.moving-planet.org</a></strong>
Onwards,
Kelly Blynn for the whole 350.org Team<br /><br />P.S. Stories help fuel this movement--they create collective inspiration and help spread ideas throughout the network. If you want to share your local organizing story of how you're working to transform your community, just email it to "<a href="mailto:story@350.org">story@350.org</a>"--and we'll share the best ones with our global network.<br /><br />P.P.S. It's up to all of us to grow this movement--please spread the word about Moving Planet by passing along this email, or by sharing with just a couple of clicks on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/dialog/feed?app_id=111707862250788&link=http://www.moving-planet.org&picture=http://www.moving-planet.org/sites/all/themes/movingplanet/images/logos/mp-web-logo-en.png&name=Moving%20Planet%20-%20A%20single%20day%20to%20move%20beyond%20fossil%20fuels.&description=Moving%20Planet%20is%20a%20worldwide%20rally%20to%20demand%20solutions%20to%20the%20climate%20crisis%E2%80%94a%20single%20day%20to%20move%20away%20from%20fossil%20fuels.%20For%20too%20long,%20our%20leaders%20have%20denied%20and%20delayed,%20compromised%20and%20caved.%20That%20era%20must%20come%20to%20an%20end.%20&message=This%20day%20is%20going%20to%20be%20amazing--who%20wants%20to%20join%20this%20incredible%20mobilization%20and%20organize%20an%20event%20with%20me?%20&redirect_uri=http://www.350.org/FBredirect">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/intent/session?return_to=%2Fintent%2Ftweet%3Ftext%3DThe%2B%2540movingplanet%2Bday%2Bof%2Baction%2Bon%2BSeptember%2B24%2Bis%2Bshaping%2Bup%2Bto%2Bbe%2Bextraordinary--join%2Bme%253F%2Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.moving-planet.org%2B%2523climate%2B%2540350%26source%3Dclicktotweet&source=clicktotweet&text=The+%40movingplanet+day+of+action+on+September+24+is+shaping+up+to+be+extraordinary--join+me%3F+http%3A%2F%2Fwww.moving-planet.org+%23climate+%40350">Twitter</a>.<br /><br />-------------------------------------------------<br /><br /><strong>350.org is building a global grassroots movement to solve the climate crisis.</strong> Our online campaigns, grassroots organizing, and mass public actions are led from the bottom up by thousands of volunteer organizers in over 188 countries. You can join 350.org on Facebook by becoming a fan of our page at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/350org">facebook.com/350org</a> and follow us on twitter by visiting <a href="http://www.twitter.com/350">twitter.com/350</a>. To join our list (maybe a friend forwarded you this e-mail) visit <a href="http://www.350.org/signup">www.350.org/signup</a>. To support our work, donate securely online at <a href="http://www.350.org/donate">350.org/donate</a>. <br /><br />
<strong>What is 350?</strong> 350 is the number that leading scientists say is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. Scientists measure carbon dioxide in "parts per million" (ppm), so 350ppm is the number humanity needs to get below as soon as possible to avoid runaway climate change. To get there, we need a different kind of PPM — a "people powered movement" that is made of people like you in every corner of the planet.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a060511a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a060511a10"></a><strong>10. Israel Opens Solar Energy Facility</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.greenprophet.com/2011/06/arava-power-solar-ketura/">http://www.greenprophet.com/2011/06/arava-power-solar-ketura/</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a060511a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a060511a11"></a><strong>11. Anyone Paying Attention to Climate Change Devastation?</strong><br /><br />Forwarded article: <br /><br />Hello, Earth to humans. Is anyone paying attention? <br /><br /><strong>Severe storms wreak havoc from Vermont to Georgia</strong><br />/<br />From Associated Press<br /><br />May 27, 2011 10:48 AM EDT<br /><br />MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Violent weather swept across the Eastern seaboard overnight, dropping heavy rains that flooded towns from New England to Georgia, knocking out power and killing at least three people in the Atlanta area.<br /><br />Intense thunderstorms stalled over central Vermont, pushing rivers over their banks and ripping up streets. About 200 people were forced from their homes.<br /><br />Churning brown water from the rising Winooski River and a tributary flooded into the streets of Vermont's capital city, Montpelier, sending business owners with inundated basements scurrying to move merchandise to higher ground.<br /><br />"It looked like the river was right there on my porch," said Darlene Colby, 47, who was woken up by police around 1 a.m. She gathered a bag for belongings for herself and 25-year-old son and spent the rest of the night at a shelter.<br /><br />School was canceled for the day in Montpelier and a number of other communities in central Vermont, and state workers were given a delayed opening.<br /><br />Plainfield, just east of the capital city of Montpelier, got 5.22 inches of rain, St. Johnsbury got 4.74 inches, and Montpelier got 3.89 inches, the National Weather Service said.<br /><br />There was also flash-flooding in parts of northern New Hampshire, with some homes evacuated in the Littleton area and a few roads washed out.<br /><br />In the western Pennsylvania town of Seward, high winds toppled a circus tent, injuring five people, including three children.<br /><br />Hail up to 2 inches across was reported in Franklin, Schuylkill, Cumberland and Northumberland counties in Pennsylvania. Nearly 30,000 customers were still without in power in central Pennsylvania early Friday. <br /><br />In eastern New York, about 65,000 utility customers lacked power. Most of the New York outages Friday were in the Binghamton area.<br /><br />Toppled trees and flooded roads were reported Thursday in the Lake Champlain community of Willsboro, and a lightning strike was blamed for setting a home on fire Thursday evening. No one was injured.<br /><br />In Georgia, two Decatur women were killed in Atlanta when a tree fell on a truck, police said. Atlanta station WSB-TV reported that a 19-year-old man was killed in Mableton when a tree fell on him while he cleared debris from a driveway.<br /><br />Power was knocked out to more than 200,000 customers statewide, utilities said. High winds toppled trees in the Macon and Columbus areas. A flash flood warning was issued for portions of Fulton and DeKalb counties in the Atlanta area.<br /><br />The storms delayed flights leaving Atlanta, home to one of the world's busiest airports, for more than two hours.<br /><br />Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. <br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a060511a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a060511a12"></a><strong>12. A Warming Planet Struggles to Feed Seven Billion People</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/05/science/earth/05harvest.html?_r=1&emc=tnt&tntemail1=y">http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/05/science/earth/05harvest.html?_r=1&emc=tnt&tntemail1=y</a> <br /><br />y JUSTIN GILLIS (NYT)<br /><br />As global warming puts stresses on farmers feeding a growing world population, financing to develop new crop varieties and new techniques has been slow to materialize. <br /><br />[Another important reason why a major societal shift to plant-based diets is so essential.]<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a060511a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a060511a13"></a><strong>13. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Continue to Grow<br /><br />Greenhouse gas emissions hitting record highs</strong><br /><br />AP – In this June 1, 2011 photo released Saturday, June 4, 2011 by Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO), workers …<br /><br />By ARTHUR MAX, Associated Press – Sun Jun 5, <br /><br />AMSTERDAM – Despite 20 years of effort, greenhouse gas emissions are going up instead of down, hitting record highs as climate negotiators gather to debate a new global warming accord. <br /><br />The new report by the International Energy Agency showing high emissions from fossil fuels is one of several pieces of bad news facing delegates from about 180 countries heading to Bonn, Germany, for two weeks of talks beginning Monday. <br /><br />The tsunami-triggered nuclear disaster in March apparently has sidelined Japan's aggressive policies to combat climate change and prompted countries like Germany to hasten the decommissioning of nuclear power stations which, regardless of other drawbacks, have nearly zero carbon emissions. "Japan's energy future is in limbo," says analyst Endre Tvinnereim of the consultancy firm Point Carbon. <br /><br />The fallout from the catastrophe has "put climate policy further down the priority list," and the short-term effect in Japan — one of the world's most carbon-efficient countries — will be more burning of fossil fuels, he said. And despite the expansion of renewable energy around the world, the Paris-based IEA's report said energy-related carbon emissions last year topped 30 gigatons, 5 percent more than the previous record in 2008. <br /><br />With energy investments locked into coal- and oil-fueled infrastructure, that situation will change little over the next decade, it said. Fatih Birol, the IEA's chief economist, says the energy trend should be "a wake-up call." The figures are "a serious setback" to hopes of limiting the rise in the Earth's average temperature to 2 degrees Celsius (3.8 F) above preindustrial levels, he said. Any rise beyond that, scientists believe, could lead to catastrophic climate shifts affecting water supplies and global agriculture, setting off more frequent and fierce storms and causing a rise in sea levels that would endanger coastlines. <br /><br />The June 6-17 discussions in Bonn are to prepare for the annual year-end decision-making U.N. conference, which this year is in Durban, South Africa. Even more than previous conferences, Durban could be the forum for a major showdown between wealthy countries and the developing world. <br /><br />Poor countries say the wealthy West, whose industries overloaded the atmosphere with carbon dioxide and other climate-changing gases over the last 200 years, is not doing enough to cut future pollution. A study released Sunday supports that view. The report, based on an analysis by the Stockholm Environment Institute commissioned and released by Oxfam, evaluated national pledges to cut carbon<br /><br />emissions submitted after the 2009 Copenhagen climate summit. It found that developing countries account for 60 percent of the promised reductions. <br /><br />The analysis is complicated because countries use different yardsticks and baseline years for measuring reductions.<br /><br />But the study calculated that China, which has pledged to reduce emissions in relation to economic output by 40-45 percent, will cut its carbon output twice as much as the United States by 2020. <br /><br />"It's time for governments from Europe and the U.S. to stand up to the fossil fuel lobbyists," said Tim Gore, a climate analyst for Oxfam, the international aid agency.<br /><br />Another keynote battle in Bonn will be the fate of the Kyoto Protocol, the 1997 accord whose provisions capping emissions by industrial countries expire in 2012.<br /><br />Wealthy countries falling under the protocol's mandate are resisting demands to extend their commitments beyond 2012 and set new legally binding emissions targets unless powerful emerging economies like China, India and Brazil accept similar mandatory caps. <br /><br />"The Kyoto Protocol uncertainty is casting even a bigger shadow over the negotiations than in years past, and is going to come to a head," said Jake Schmidt of the New York-based Natural Resources Defense Council.<br /><br />Negotiators also must prepare options for the Durban conference on how to raise $100 billion a year for the Green Climate Fund created last December to help countries cope with global warming. One source under discussion is a<br /><br />levy on international aviation and shipping, said Oxfam's Gore. "South African negotiators are hoping a deal on sources for long-term finance will be Durban's legacy issue," he said. <br /><br />Thanks to Lionel Friedberg for sending this message to us.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a060511a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a060511a14"></a><strong>14. Climate Change Hitting Home</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.linktv.org/video/4748/climate-change-hits-home">http://www.linktv.org/video/4748/climate-change-hits-home</a><br /><br />Great video with ten examples of climate change effects already happening.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a060511a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">** Fair Use Notice **<br /><br />The material on this site is provided for educational and informational purposes. It may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. It is being made available in an effort to advance the understanding of vegetarian, environmental, nutritional, health, economic, social justice and human rights issues etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have an interest in using the included information for educational or research purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. The information on this site does not constitute legal, technical or medical advice.</span><strong></strong>.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17349614588789907464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9631520.post-11096954264930305022011-05-19T22:41:00.011-04:002011-06-16T01:09:48.738-04:0005/17/2011 JVNA Online NewsletterShalom everyone,<br /><br /><a name="a051711a0"></a>This update/<strong><a href="http://jewishveg.com/">Jewish Vegetarians of North America</a></strong> (JVNA) Online Newsletter has the following items:<br /><br /><strong>1. <a href="#a051711a1">Are We Living in the Century of Disasters?/Why Our Efforts are So Important</a><br /><br />2. <a href="#a051711a2">Letter to the Editor on Shavuot and Vegetarianism</a><br /><br />3. <a href="#a051711a3">A New Approach for the Vegetarian Movement? Stressing that Animal-Based Agriculture is a Major Contributor to Climate, Environmental, Food, Water, and Energy Crises</a><br /><br />4. <a href="#a051711a4">Major Article on Judaism and Vegetarianism</a><br /><br />5. <a href="#a051711a5">Are the Mississippi’s Historic Floods Due to Climate Change?</a><br /><br />6. <a href="#a051711a6">Food Day Scheduled/Let Us Use it To Help Spread the Jewish Vegetarian Message</a><br /><br />7. <a href="#a051711a7">Message From Long-Time Environmentalist Noam Dolgin On Upcoming Events and Opportunities</a><br /><br />8. <a href="#a051711a8">Campaigns to End Government Subsidies for Meat and Dairy Products Launched</a><br /><br />9. <a href="#a051711a9">Article in the Jerusalem Post Discusses Jewish Teachings on Sustainability</a><br /><br />10. <a href="#a051711a10">Major Article on Test-Tube Meat in the New Yorker Magazine</a><br /><br />11. <a href="#a051711a11">Requiem Ceremony for Animals Scheduled</a></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Some material has been deferred to a later update/newsletter to keep this one from being even longer.<br /><br /> [Materials in brackets like this [ ] within an article or forwarded message are my editorial notes/comments.]<br /><br /><strong>Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the JVNA, unless otherwise indicated, but may be presented to increase awareness and/or to encourage respectful dialogue. Also, material re conferences, retreats, forums, trips, and other events does not necessarily imply endorsement by JVNA or endorsement of the kashrut, Shabbat observances, or any other Jewish observances, but may be presented for informational purposes. Please use e-mail addresses, telephone numbers, and web sites to get further information about any event that you are interested in. Also, JVNA does not necessarily agree with all positions of groups whose views are included or whose events are announced in this newsletter.</strong><br /><br />As always, your comments and suggestions are very welcome. <br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Richard</span><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a051711a1"></a><strong>1. Are We Living in the Century of Disasters?/Why Our Efforts are So Important</strong><br /><br />Forwarded message: <br /><br />Spirituality and Ecological Hope<br /><strong>The century of disasters</strong><br />Posted: 16 May 2011 01:41 PM PDT<br /><br /><strong>Fostering Ecological Hope</strong>
Today from Margaret Swedish:<br /><br />I didn’t make up that headline. I know I am often grim, but this one is not mine. However, it is about a story that backs up what I try to communicate in some of my speaking and writing and retreat work:<br /><br /><i>The world is changing. We have crowded the planet. We have created conditions for ongoing disasters. We have lived wrongly within the Earth and its eco-communities. We will pay a high price. We face some real challenges over the course of this century. How well we survive and with what quality of life depends on the decisions we make now. We have already run out of time to keep the changes and disasters from coming. They are here. But, again, how we live through them, what kind of human beings we decide to be as we face the consequences of our species’ presence here, that can still affect the outcome for humans and our fellow beings, that can still decide how bad things are going to get.</i><br /><br />Then my niece sent me this article:<br /><br /><strong><i>The Century of Disasters: Meltdowns. Floods. Tornadoes. Oil Spills. Grid Crashes. Why disasters are becoming more frequent and what we can do about it</i></strong>, by Joel Achenbach.<br /><br />Not cheerful reading. Not the kind that gets your day off to a high-energy start as you sip your morning coffee. More like, staring at the wall with eyes glazed over trying to take it in.<br /><br /><i>In the same way that the 20th century was the century of world wars, genocide, and grinding ideological conflict, the 21st will be the century of natural disasters and technological crises and unholy combinations of the two. It’ll be the century when the things that we count on to go right will, for whatever reason, go wrong.</i><br /><br />I know he’s right. This is not a stunning breakthrough in journalism, just a good summary of what the research (and our actual experience if we got off our computers and iPhones and back into our bodies) has been trying to tell us for some time now. We have already passed many tipping points, and we have recklessly attached ourselves to risky technologies for delivering many basic necessities (like our dependence on satellites for the delivery of electricity or communications with one another) even though there is a growing risk, therefore, of catastrophic breakdowns in the event of the inevitable failures to come (like the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, or the potential for a solar storm to disrupt our satellite communications).<br /><br />Carbon emissions 800,000-year record. Source: US Global Change Research Program<br /><br />We are beyond the Earth’s biocapacity – it can’t carry us as we are living now much longer; we have already changed climate and therefore weather patterns; we have already set melting of glaciers and ice sheets on a course that will cause sea levels to rise and inundate coasts; we have already set in motion a population rise that is not sustainable unless we scale down the human project drastically and stop an industrial process that is depleting all the natural resources we need for life – well, I could go on.<br /><br />As I wrote last week, add the historic Mississippi River floods to the disasters list already this century, a perfect example of all that is wrong with how humans have tried to engineer the planet to suit us.<br /><br />Just wanted to hang my head in despair with Obama’s announcement that the feds will <strong>speed up oil and gas drilling</strong> off our Atlantic Coast, the Gulf of Mexico, Alaska, caving in to political pressures, another sign that we as a political culture are incapable of responding appropriately to the mounting crises.<br /><br />Speaking of politics, let me add into the mix here what it means that our governments at the federal and state level are coming increasingly under the control of super-rich corporate plutocrats who are purchasing it right out from under us. Want to read something really scary? Maybe not, but it’s something you need to know – the extent to which David and Charles Koch and Koch Industries are becoming CEOs of the corporate power grab over all things government, and all the policy tools and resources we would need if we really wanted to make government responsive to all these current and looming threats.<br /><br /><strong><i>You Thought the Koch Brothers Were Bad? Turns Out They’re Even Worse Than You Thought.</i></strong><br /><br />Okay, I’m just trying to be the messenger here. Democracy depends upon a well-informed citizenry, something we don’t have right now, not to the extent needed, that’s for sure. This stuff should be on the news every day; good journalists ought to be doggedly following this most crucial story of our times. But mostly they won’t because the mainstream media is pretty much owned by them, too. And people might get very, very angry with them if they try to tell this most unpopular truth. ‘Dancing with the Stars’ is more fun anyway, right? and gives you something to talk about with your neighbors.<br /><br />I swear, it feels that dysfunctional these days.<br /><br />Where do I find gift and grace? Well, still there is friendship, family, playtime with my goddaughter – and still, no matter how badly we have abused this most intimate lover of ours, there is still the Earth’s beauty. If we could just turn off all the noise and distractions and <strong><i>wake up again into what is most real, lasting, essential</i></strong>, we might find what we need to carve out a new path even as the old crumbles, even as we face disaster after disaster.<br /><br />Yesterday we had what can only be called a day and night long gale, a classic Lake Michigan gale. I braved it briefly in the afternoon, gusts up to 50 mph coming directly off the water. I let a tree give me just enough protection to hold my hand steady to take a couple of photos of the waves crashing over the breakwater.<br /><br />It’s hard to describe the thrill of being on the shore during one of these gales – the deafening deep howl of the wind, the nearly constant crashes of waves that make the ground seem to tremble, the expanse of waves and white caps all the way to the horizon. Many others were out (most parked in their cars) and it always gives me some reassurance to know that there are folks who take time in their day to watch something like this.<br /><br />I know that when our technology and industrial civilization faces all sorts of crises and collapses, these gales will still rise up; this lake will still roar at times like a wild animal full of fury, humbling us one more time, reminding us yet again that we are not in charge here.<br /><br />I wish we learn this as the disasters mount; I wish we learn this lest the disasters become more than we can bear. <br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a051711a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a051711a2"></a><strong>2. Letter to the Editor on Shavuot and Vegetarianism</strong><br /><br />Please consider using my letter below and/or my article “Shavuot and Vegetarianism,” which is in the holiday’s section at <a href="http://www.JewishVeg.com/Schwartz">JewishVeg.com/Schwartz</a>, to compose your own letter to the editor of a Jewish publication. Thanks. <br /><br />Dear Editor, <br /><br />Since Shavuot, which begins on Tuesday evening June 7 this year, commemorates the Jewish people receiving the Torah, many religious Jews stay up that entire night engaged in Torah study. As president of the Jewish Vegetarians of North America, I believe that this provides a good opportunity to consider if we are properly applying Torah values: <br /><br />* Since the Torah mandates the avoidance of <i>tsa’ar ba’alei chaim</i> (causing unnecessary pain to animals), shouldn't there be far greater concern in the Jewish community about the horrible treatment of animals (10 billion annually in the US alone) on factory farms? <br /><br />* Since the Torah stresses that we should very diligently guard our health, shouldn't we consider the many negative health effects of animal-based diets? <br /><br />* Since the Torah teaches that we are to be <i>shomrei adamah</i> (guardians of the earth – Genesis 2:15), why are the many current severe environmental threats (all of which are significantly worsened by animal-based agriculture) not being adequately addressed by the Jewish community? <br /><br />* Since the Torah mandates that we are not to waste resources (bal tashchit – Deuteronomy 20: 19, 20), shouldn't the Jewish community address the fact that animal-based agriculture requires far more land, water, energy, and other agricultural resources than plant-based agriculture? <br /><br />* Since the Torah mandates that we are to share with hungry people, shouldn't the Jewish community address the fact that 70% of the grain produced in the United States is being fed to animals destined for slaughter, while an estimated 20 million people die from malnutrition and its effects annually? <br /><br />Let us make this Shavuot a time to begin truly applying Torah values in order to produce a more humane, healthy, environmentally sustainable, just and compassionate world.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a051711a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a051711a3"></a><strong>3. A New Approach for the Vegetarian Movement? Stressing that Animal-Based Agriculture is a Major Contributor to Climate, Environmental, Food, Water, and Energy Crises</strong><br /><br />Below is my article that was submitted to the group planning this year’s World Vegetarian Week: <br /><br /><strong>ENVIRONMENTAL CATASTROPHES OR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE – IT DEPENDS ON OUR FOOD CHOICES</strong> <br /><br />There are many reasons for people to consider becoming vegetarians, including concerns for their health, how animals are treated, and environmental impacts. This article considers why a major societal shift to plant-based (vegan) diets is essential to avoid impending climate, environmental, food, energy, and water crises. <br /><br /><strong>Climate Change</strong> <br /><br />There are increasing indications that the world is rapidly approaching an unprecedented climate catastrophe. The year 2010 tied 2005 as the warmest year in recorded history and was also the wettest. The previous decade was the warmest on record. Glaciers and polar ice sheets are melting far faster than even the worst-case projections of climate scientists. In January 2011, Australia had the worst cyclone in its history. There have been recent floods of almost biblical proportion in many countries, including China, Brazil, and Pakistan. Many countries, including China and Israel are facing severe long-term droughts, and this has led some climatologists to call this century, “the Century of Drought.” While many people are in denial about climate change, there is a very strong scientific consensus that climate change is happening, that it poses a major threat to humanity and that human activities are the primary cause as indicated by many peer-reviewed articles in respected science journals and statements by science academies all over the world. <br /><br /> While not all changing weather patterns can be attributed to global warming, most are consistent with projections for a warmer world. Since these events have occurred during an average temperature increase of slightly more than 1 degree Fahrenheit in the past 100 years, it is very alarming that global climate scientists, including those with the Nobel Prize-winning IPCC, are projecting an increase of from 2 to 11 degrees Fahrenheit in the next 100 years if we continue on our present course of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. If this increase is more than 4 degrees Fahrenheit -- a change that is increasingly likely as atmospheric GHG levels keep rising -- there is a consensus of concern among climate scientists, biologists and social scientists that this would have devastating effects on humanity and the current balance of life on the planet, in terms of severe droughts, storms, floods, wildfires, and other negative effects. <br /><br /> Many climate experts, including James Hansen, director of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Institute for Space Studies, believe that a safe threshold value for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is 350 parts per million (ppm). We are already at 390 ppm and growing by at least 2 ppm per year, another indication that major changes are needed very soon.<br /><br /> What has Hansen and other climate scientists especially worried is that climate change could soon reach a tipping point, unleashing a vicious cycle of rapid climate change leading to disastrous consequences -- melted sea caps, flooded cities, mass species extinctions and spreading deserts, among other events -- unless major changes in how humanity uses energy soon occur. <br /><br /><strong>How a Shift to Vegan diets Can Reduce the Threat</strong><br /><br />It may seem naïve to argue that a mere change of diet could be a potent prescription for combating climate change, but the evidence is incontrovertible, and slowly the public is getting the message.<br /><br /> Much of global warming discussions by governments, environmental groups and individuals over the past 20 years has focused on implementing changes in energy use and given little attention to the impact of our diets. This trend changed somewhat upon publication of a landmark 2006 report by the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), estimating that livestock production globally is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs, in CO2 equivalents) than the emissions from all of the world's cars, planes, ships, and all other means of transportation combined.<br /><br /> The FAO report, Livestock’s Long Shadow, also projected that the world's current annual consumption of almost 60 billion land-based animals will double by mid-century if current human population growth and dietary trends continue. The resulting increase in GHGs would largely negate reduced GHG emissions from conservation and improved efficiencies in transportation, electricity and other sectors, making it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to reach the GHG reductions that climate experts believe essential to avoid a climate disaster. While that doubling may not occur, it is troubling that in the face of livestock’s strong role in warming the planet, many countries are encouraging the expanded consumption of animal products. <br /><br /> More recently, an in-depth analysis, “Livestock and Climate Change,” by World Bank Group environmental specialists Robert Goodland and Jeff Anhang was published in the November/December 2009 issue of World Watch magazine. The authors argue that there are sources of GHGs from the livestock sector that were overlooked, underrepresented or placed in the wrong sectors in the FAO report, and concluded that the livestock sector is responsible for at least 51 percent of all human-induced GHGs. <br /><br /> Goodland and Anhang call for the replacement of livestock products with plant-based alternatives, based on the rationale that this would result in quick reductions in atmospheric GHGs, while also reversing on-going world food and water crises. <br /><br /> Leading climate specialists have focused increasingly on the role of food in global warming, pointing out that there is no more powerful environmental action that any individual can take than adopting a plant-based diet. <br /><br /><strong>Environmental Crises</strong><br /><br />The raising of 60 billion farm animals for slaughter worldwide annually is creating many environmental threats. These include deforestation, desertification, rapid species extinction, air and water pollution, and many more. <br /><br /><strong>How a Shift to Vegan diets Can Reduce the Threats</strong><br /><br />Modern agricultural methods used in meat production are a prime cause of the environmental crises facing the United States and much of the rest of the world today. Some examples include:<br /><br />1. Over 85 percent of soil erosion is caused by animal grazing and feed lot food production. <br /><br />2. Cattle production is a prime contributor to every one of the causes of desertification: overgrazing of livestock, over-cultivation of land, improper irrigation techniques, deforestation, and prevention of reforestation.<br /><br />3. Mountains of manure produced by cattle raised in feedlots wash into and pollute streams, rivers, and underground water sources. <br /><br />4. The tremendous amount of grain grown to feed animals requires extensive use of chemical fertilizer and pesticides, which cause air and water pollution. Various constituents of fertilizer, particularly nitrogen, are washed into surface waters. High levels of nitrates in drinking water cause illnesses to people, as well as animals. <br /><br />5. Demand for meat in wealthy countries leads to environmental damage in poor countries. Largely to turn beef into fast-food hamburgers for export to the U.S., the earth's tropical rain forests are being bulldozed at a rate of a football field per second. Each imported quarter-pound fast-food hamburger patty requires the destruction of 55 square feet of tropical forest for grazing. <br /><br /><strong>Food Shortages</strong> <br /><br />We appear to be at the start of major food shortages that have great potential to worsen. Prices for grain have risen to record levels recently. One reason is that a tremendous heat wave in Russia – temperatures in July 2010 averaged 14 degrees Fahrenheit above the norm – caused a loss of almost 40 percent of the Russian wheat crop. The severe drought currently afflicting China, its worst in 60 years, threatens its wheat crop, and, since China has over 20 percent of the world’s people, this could cause another major spike in grain prices. Already, nearly a billion of the world’s people are chronically hungry and an estimated 20 million people die annually worldwide due to hunger and its effects.<br /><br /> Unfortunately, meeting the food needs of the world’s people will become increasingly difficult, Demand is expected to increase because of rising population, the movement of many people up the food chain, eating more animal products that require the consumption of grain for their production, and the increasing use of corn for ethanol. And the production of grain is likely to decline because of the effects of climate change – droughts, floods, crop withering heat waves, melting glaciers, and shrinking aquifers – and by the conversion of farmland to other uses. The contamination of food by radiation from the Japanese nuclear power plants damaged by the recent powerful earthquake and tsunami will make the situation even worse. <br /><br /><strong>How a Shift to Vegan diets Can Reduce the Threat</strong> <br /><br />A shift to vegetarian diets can help greatly reduce world hunger. Consider these statistics:<br /><br />1. It takes about eight pounds of grain to produce one pound of feedlot beef for human consumption. <br /><br />2. While the average Asian consumes between 300 and 400 pounds of grain a year, the average middle-class American consumes over 2,000 pounds of grain, 80 percent of which comes in the form of meat from grain-fed animals.<br /><br />3. Over 70 percent of the grain produced in the United States and over one-third of the world's grain production is fed to animals destined for slaughter. <br /><br />4. While one hectare (about 2.5 acres) of land growing potatoes can feed 22 people, and one hectare growing rice can feed 19 people, that same area producing beef can feed only one person. <br /><br />5. Making the situation even more scandalous, feeding grain to livestock wastes 90% of the protein, 99% of the carbohydrates, and 100% of the fiber of the grain, and produces a product that is high in cholesterol and saturated fat. <br /><br /><strong>Energy Shortages</strong> <br /><br />There are also many problems related to the world’s ability to produce enough energy to meet future needs. Many experts believe think we may soon reach a time of peak oil, when oil production will start to decline. The recent nuclear disasters in Japan caused by the major earthquake and tsunami show the dangers of relying on nuclear power. And coal-burning power plants are a major source of greenhouse gases. It is essential that there soon be a major increase in the production of renewable sources of energy as well as major efforts to reduce the demand for energy. <br /><br /><strong>How a Shift to Vegan diets Can Reduce the Threat</strong> <br /><br />Animal-based diets waste much energy. In the United States, an average of 10 calories of fuel energy is required for every calorie of food energy produced; many other countries obtain 20 or more calories of food energy per calorie of fuel energy. To produce one pound of steak (500 calories of food energy) requires 20,000 calories of fossil fuels, most of which is expended in producing and providing feed crops. It requires 78 calories of fossil fuel for each calorie of protein obtained from feedlot-produced beef, but only 2 calories of fossil fuel to produce a calorie of protein from soybeans. Grains and beans require only two to five percent as much fossil fuel as beef. The energy needed to produce a pound of grain-fed beef is equivalent to one gallon of gasoline. <br /><br />------------------------------- <br /><br /><strong>Water Shortages</strong><br /><br />The world is also experiencing increasing water shortages. As mentioned above, climate change is causing severe droughts in many parts of the world. Trying to grow adequate food for the world’s people through irrigation is causing aquifers to shrink in many countries, and some may soon be depleted. In addition, glaciers that provide replenishment water to rivers in the spring are receding rapidly. Already about one-sixth of the world’s people lack access to safe drinking water. And the worldwide demand for water is projected to double within 20 years. <br /><br /><strong>How a Shift to Vegan diets Can Reduce the Threat</strong> <br /><br />The standard diet of a meat-eater in the United States requires 4,200 gallons of water per day (for irrigation of feed crops, animals' drinking water, meat processing, washing, cooking, etc.) A person on a purely vegetarian (vegan) diet requires only 300 gallons per day. <br /><br /> Animal agriculture is the major consumer of water in the U.S. According to Norman Myers, author of Gaia: An Atlas of Planet Management, irrigation, primarily to grow crops for animals, uses over 80 percent of U.S. water. Almost 90 percent of the fresh water consumed annually in the U.S. goes to agriculture, according to agriculture expert David Pimentel. The production of only one pound of edible beef in a semi-arid area such as California requires as much as 5,200 gallons of water, as contrasted with only 25 gallons or less to produce an edible pound of tomatoes, lettuce, potatoes, or wheat. Newsweek reported in 1988 that "the water that goes into a 1,000 pound steer would float a (naval) destroyer." <br /><br /><strong>Security Concerns Related to the Above Crises</strong> <br /><br />Many military leaders and security experts are increasingly concerned about the national security implications of climate change and the other threats discussed above. In 2007, eleven retired United States generals and admirals issued a report indicating that millions of hungry, thirsty, desperate refugees fleeing from droughts, floods, heat waves, storms, wildfires and other effects of climate change will make instability, violence, terrorism and war more likely. Military and intelligence strategists in many countries are revising their planning to take climate change effects into account. <br /><br /><strong>Conclusion</strong><br /><br />When we consider all of these negative environmental and climate-change effects, and then add the harmful effects of animal-based diets on human health, it is clear that animal-centered diets and the livestock agriculture needed to sustain them pose tremendous threats to global survival. It is clear that a major societal shift toward veganism is imperative to move our precious but imperiled planet away from its present catastrophic path.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a051711a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a051711a4"></a><strong>4. Major Article on Judaism and Vegetarianism</strong><br /><br />This article, “Vegetarianism From a Jewish Perspective,” by non-vegetarian Rabbi Alfred Cohen, was written about 30 years ago, and it has much valuable information. I respond to many of the points in the article in my book Judaism and Vegetarianism. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/55396435/Vegetarianism-From-A-Jewish-Perspective">http://www.scribd.com/doc/55396435/Vegetarianism-From-A-Jewish-Perspective</a> <br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a051711a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a051711a5"></a><strong>5. Are the Mississippi’s Historic Floods Due to Climate Change?</strong><br /><br />The article below discusses this issue. As the first item in this newsletter asserts, we are arguably living in the “Century of Catastrophes,” and it is important that we connect events like the recent floodings to climate change and stress how important dietary changes and other changes are to reduce the prospects of future catastrophes. <br /><br />Climate Crisis Fueling Mississippi’s Historic Floods <br /><br /><a href="http://www.grist.org/climate-change/2011-05-11-climate-crisis-fueling-mississippi-rivers-historic-floods">http://www.grist.org/climate-change/2011-05-11-climate-crisis-fueling-mississippi-rivers-historic-floods</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a051711a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a051711a6"></a><strong>6. Food Day Scheduled/Let Us Use it To Help Spread the Jewish Vegetarian Message</strong><br /><br />Forwarded message: <br /><br />I'm excited to let you all know about Food Day, a recently launched campaign that "seeks to bring together Americans from all walks of life—parents, teachers, and students; health professionals, community organizers, and local officials; chefs, school lunch providers, and eaters of all stripes—to push for healthy, affordable food produced in a sustainable, humane way." Food Day will take place on October 24, but there will be hundreds of events leading up to Food Day as well. We at the RAC and URJ are proud that Rabbi Eric Yoffie, URJ President, is serving on the Food Day Advisory Board, and we look forward to creating meaningful Food Day celebrations in our communities across North America. <br /><br />Visit <a href="http://www.foodday.org/">http://www.foodday.org/</a> to learn more or <a href="http://www.foodday.org/participate/">http://www.foodday.org/participate/</a> to learn how to host an event or serve as a community coordinator. Look for more resources on tying Food Day to the fall Jewish holidays soon. For more information, contact Lilia Smelkova at the Food Day campaign (copied here). <br /><br /><strong>Fix America's broken food system</strong><br /><br />Dear [Decision Maker],<br /><br />
I am writing to tell you about an exciting new initiative and to ask you to help fix America's broken food system. The initiative is Food Day--a massive, nationwide mobilization for healthy, affordable food produced in a sustainable, humane way. On October 24, 2011, thousands of events will take place in homes, schools, colleges, houses of worship, and farmers markets to talk about what's right and what's wrong about the foods we eat. And, we hope that city councils, health departments, governors--and you--will seize the opportunity to focus on how to fix our food system. For instance:
*Poor diets promote obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic diseases. We need sustained government programs that promote healthy, delicious diets based more on vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, as recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
*It's time to cut wasteful subsidies to big agribusiness and enact policies that support small and mid-size family farms that are the backbone of rural communities.
*Throughout America, in cities and rural areas, too many citizens lack access to fresh, healthy food. It's time for programs that bring supermarkets, farmers markets, and other solutions to these areas and eliminate "food deserts" once and for all.
*Huge animal confinement systems on factory farms pollute the air, soil, and water; reduce the quality of life in nearby communities; and promote needless animal suffering. It's time to reform factory farms and make life better for animals and rural Americans.
*Food companies spend billions convincing children to want packaged, processed foods that promote obesity, tooth decay, and ill health. Junk-food marketing also undermines parents' authority. It's time to curb that predatory behavior and promote children's health.
Thank you for considering my views. And I hope you will participate in a Food Day event either in your state or in Washington, D.C. on October 24, 2011. If you would like to learn about Food Day, please visit <a href="http://www.FoodDay.org">www.FoodDay.org</a> or call 202-777-8392.
<br /><br />Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP] <br /> <br />Dear Friend,<br /><br /><a href="http://www.FoodDay.org">Food Day</a> is taking off!<br /><br />We’re more than five months away, but already Food Day organizers are hard at work in every corner of the country getting ready for October 24. Food Day will celebrate healthy, delicious, and sustainably produced food—and serve as an opportunity for communities to discuss and solve their food problems.<br /><br />We invite you to please join in this effort!<br /><br />Let me give you some ideas by sharing what others around the country are planning:<br /><br />• Food Day events are being planned at the University of Vermont, University of Pennsylvania, University of Minnesota, New York University, Stanford, Yale, University of North Carolina, and other campuses;<br /><br />• Real Food Challenge is dedicating a paid intern to campus organizing;<br /><br />• The American Medical Student Association is organizing Food Day activities around food deserts, hunger and healthier diets;<br /><br />• Syracuse, NY, folks are organizing a Food Day festival to celebrate local food and their rich cultural and ethnic diversity;<br /><br />• The New Haven, Conn., Food Policy Council and community partners are organizing a city-wide cook-in and harvest festival;<br /><br />• Philadelphia is planning a city-wide event focused on ending hunger and food deserts;<br /><br />• Sioux City, IA, is planning for nearly 1,000 people to participate in activities at three cultural institutions; the highlight will be a major conference on how small and mid-size farmers can get their produce to market;<br /><br />• America the Beautiful Fund will provide plant and flower seeds in September for all Food Day coordinators to plan community gardens; and<br /><br />• California organizations are building a statewide Food Day partnership to promote common food policy issues.<br /><br />As you can see, the possibilities are endless. Here is how you can help:<br /><br />1. <a href="http://foodday.org/participate/people/community_coordinator">Volunteer to be a local coordinator</a> if you’re interested in stimulating multiple Food Day events across your state, county, city, town, or campus. Our new <a href=" http://foodday.org/files/FoodDay_CoordinatorsGuide.pdf">Coordinator’s guide</a> (and our terrific staff) will help you organize an event.<br /><br />2. <a href="http://foodday.org/participate/event_memberships/host">Host an event</a>, whether it’s a private dinner or a big rally—every event that raises awareness for food issues is vital to making Food Day a success. Put your event on the <a href="http://www.foodday.org/">map</a> to let us and others know what you are planning!<br /><br />3. Help us to spread the word! Start by ‘liking’ Food Day’s <a href="http://www.facebook.com/FoodDayEatReal?sk=wall">Facebook page</a>, following CSPI on <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/CSPI">Twitter</a>, and tweeting Food Day ideas using the #FoodDay hashtag. <br /><br />I look forward to hearing your ideas!<br /><br />Sincerely,<a href="mailto:foodday@cspinet.org">Michael F. Jacobson</a>
Executive Director, CSPI, and Founder, Food Day<br /> <br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a051711a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a051711a7"></a><strong>7. Message From Long-Time Environmentalist Noam Dolgin On Upcoming Events and Opportunities<br /><br />Dear Friends and Colleagues,</strong><br /><br />This Spring and Summer I am delighted to be involved in a number of exciting projects for participants of all ages including Bnai Mitzvah students/families, adults young and old, and Jewish educators. Check out the list of programs and resources below to find something that is right for you or someone you know. <br /><br />As always, for more information on the work of Noam Dolgin: <a href="http://www.noamdolgin.com">www.noamdolgin.com</a> <br /><br />Or check out Noam's Blog: <a href="http://www.noamdolgin.blogspot.com">www.noamdolgin.blogspot.com</a> <br /><br /><strong>Teva Seminar for Jewish Environmental Education</strong> <br /><br />May 31 - June 3, 2011<br />Shabbaton: June 3 - 5, 2011 <br /><br />The Teva Seminar is an innovative professional development opportunity for Jewish educators, environmentalists, camp staff, farmers, rabbis, lay leaders and students. Engage in a three thousand year old dialogue about the connection between God, earth, and humanity within a dynamic learning community. Gain the skills you need to bring inspiration and vibrancy to your camp, synagogue, school, youth group and college campus. <br /><br />Noam will be presenting at his 13th Teva Seminar, on May 31st & June 1st. <br /><br />For more information on the Teva Seminar, click here. <br /><br /><strong>Limmud Germany</strong> <br /><br />June 2 - 5, 2011<br />Werbellinsee, Germany (North of Berlin) <br /><br />The <a href="http://limmud.de/en">Limmud.de</a> Festival is a four-day event with more than 150 sessions on various Jewish themes. Every participant has the chance to contribute by registering to offer a workshop, discussion or performance. The program is offered in three languages: German, English and Russian. <br /><br />Noam will be presenting on a range of Jewish environmental topics (In English, in case you were wondering). <br /><br /><a href="http://limmud.de/en">For more information on Limmud Germany, click here.</a> <br /><br /><strong>Wilderness Canoe Trip for Jewish Young Adults <br /><br />Backcountry Camping & Canoe Skills; <br />Jewish Eco-theology; Integrated Jewish Wilderness Experience.</strong> <br /><br />When: June 23 - 27, 2011<br /><br />Where: Adirondack National Park, NY<br /><br /><strong>Last chance to register!</strong> <br /><br />Co-leader: Rabbi Howard Cohen <br /><br />For more info: <a href="http://www.burningbushadventures.com">www.burningbushadventures.com</a><br />Email: <a href="mailto:burningbushadventures@gmail.com">burningbushadventures@gmail.com</a><br />Call: 413-652-7086 <br /><br /><strong>Becoming an Adult in the 21st Century: Family B'nai Mitzvah Journey</strong> <br /><br />August 15 - 21, 2011<br />Isabella Freedman Retreat Center, Falls Village CT <br /><br />Join Noam and a team of experience educators for a week of intergenerational activities, outdoor education and discussions about Jewish, environmental and social values of responsibility. We’ll look at the engaging effects of these topics on the next generation of Jews and reexamine our responsibilities to others through tikkun olam, tzedakah and gimilut chasadim. We’ll explore our interconnectedness with wild spaces, discover social responsibility through agricultural practices, learn how to observe Shabbat as a weekly environmental holiday and find out how to make environmentally and socially conscious shopping decisions for your big event. This retreat is designed to help you and your whole family bring social, environmental and personal responsibility into your daily lives. <br /><br />Optional activities for participants of all ages include getting to know the chickens and goats, fire-building, yoga and meditation, hiking, text study, arts & crafts, ultimate frisbee and more. <br /><br />For more information on this and other Bnai Mitzvah programs, click here. <br /><br /><strong>Jewcology.com - Your One Stop Source for All Things Jewish & Environmental</strong> <br /><br />Join Jewcology.com, a great forum for idea and resource sharing with hundreds of Jewish environmental programs and resources, including many perfect for spring, uploaded by Jewish environmental professional and lay leaders. <br /><br />I have been very active in the site's launch, check out my Jewcology Blog, my Question of the Week or Follow Me for a full list of educational resource, blogs and other recent activity on the site. <br /><br /><strong>Prepare Now for the Next School Year: <br /><br />Noam's Jewish Environmental Curricula<br /><br />Torah Aura Instant Lesson (Grades 1 - 8)</strong><br /><br />A series of seven full color worksheets with teacher's guide for students in grades 1 - 7. No background in Jewish or environmental education is required to facilitate these easy to use worksheets.
Topics include:
1 - In Our Image
2 - Guarding the Planet
3 - Caring for the Animals
4 - Birkot Ha'Nehanim (Blessings of Appreciation)
5 - Bal Tashchit (Do Not Waste)
6 - Modern Jewish Food Ethics
7 - A Jewish Response to Climate Change<br /><br /><strong>Elijah's Covenant Climate Change Curriculum (Grades 8 - 11)</strong> <br /><br />A 4-week curricular progression on Jewish values and climate change published by the Shalom Center. <br /><br />"An engaging, creative and spiritually rich curriculum linking Judaism and environmental activism. A welcome addition to the educator's toolbox." Rabbi David Saperstein - Director, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. <br /><br />Click here for the store at <a href="http://www.NoamDolgin.com">NoamDolgin.com</a> to buy these or other items. <br /><br /><strong>Noam for Hire: Environmental Programming in your Community</strong> <br /><br />As one of North America's most experienced Jewish environmental educators, Noam teaches on a range of Jewish environmental topics. Review the available options on <a href="http://www.noamdolgin.com">www.noamdolgin.com</a> or contact Noam to discuss a program this is right for your needs.<br /><br />
<strong>Year Round Programming Available on Topics Including:</strong>
* Awe, Appreciation and the Natural World
* Ecological Systems and the Interconnectedness of All Life as seen from a Jewish perspective
* Food, Food Production Technologies and Jewish Thought
* The Unnatural Jew: Our Relationship to Land in Canada, the United States and Israel
* Greening your Synagogue, School or Community Building
* And Much More!<br /><br />
Noam’s teaching has been described as “inspirational”, “motivating”, “down to Earth”, “approachable”, “eye opening” and just plain “fun!”
<br /><br />Visit <a href="http://www.noamdolgin.com">noamdolgin.com</a> for a full list of program topics and details, to view my upcoming calendar or be in touch about a program in your community. <br /><br />Please forward this e-mail onto anyone you know who might be interested in any of these programs. I hope you or someone you know can join us. <br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Noam Dolgin<br />Jewish & Environmental Education<br /><a href="http://www.noamdolgin.com">www.noamdolgin.com</a><br />604-254-2549 Canada<br />646-807-2468 US<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a051711a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a051711a8"></a><strong>8. Campaigns to End Government Subsidies for Meat and Dairy Products Launched</strong><br /><br />Forwarded message: <br /><br /><strong>Launched! Our Campaign to End Subsidies for Meat and Dairy Products</strong><br /><br />Dear Dr. Schwartz,<br /><br />As Americans filed their taxes in April, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elizabeth-kucinich/agriculture-subsidies-are-making-u_b_851468.html">PCRM launched a new campaign against the government’s spending of billions of those taxpayer dollars on subsidies</a> that support the production of unhealthy meat and dairy products.<br /><br />To kick off the campaign, we released our <a href="http://www.pcrm.org/health/agriculture/index.html">new report</a> that exposed disastrous conflicts between what our government recommends people eat and what foods are boosted by federal dollars in the form of agricultural subsidies. <br /><br />Shockingly, while national dietary guidelines advise consumers to cut meat and dairy consumption and increase their intake of fruit and vegetables, more than 60 percent of <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elizabeth-kucinich/agriculture-subsidies-are-making-u_b_851468.html">agricultural subsidies have directly or indirectly supported meat and dairy production</a>, while less than one percent benefit fruit and vegetable producers.<br /><br />PCRM’s president Dr. Neal Barnard sent a letter to the chairs of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees in Congress, urging them to consider critical reforms to agricultural policy that will save money and reverse epidemics of chronic disease.<br /><br />The country’s unprecedented rates of heart disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes are linked to diets high in the fat and cholesterol found in meat and dairy products, and the cost to individuals and taxpayers is enormous. For example, the Medicare and Medicaid spending for obesity-related conditions – which are largely preventable—now totals $61 billion per year. By 2030, the annual medical costs for cardiovascular disease alone are projected to triple to $818 billion!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.pcrm.org/email/subsidies_alert.html">Take action</a> by asking your representatives in Congress to support cuts to agricultural subsidies that promote unhealthful food.<br /><br />Please read my Huffington Post blog <a href="http://pcrm.org/health/agriculture/index.html">posted here</a> and share it with your network of friends and family! Click here to learn more.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br /><br />Elizabeth Kucinich<br />Director of Government and Public Affairs<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a051711a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a051711a9"></a><strong>9. Article in the Jerusalem Post Discusses Jewish Teachings on Sustainability</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.jpost.com/ArtsAndCulture/Entertainment/Article.aspx?id=220221">http://www.jpost.com/ArtsAndCulture/Entertainment/Article.aspx?id=220221</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a051711a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a051711a10"></a><strong>10. Major Article on Test-Tube Meat in the New Yorker Magazine<br /><br /><a href="http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/05/23/110523fa_fact_specter">http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/05/23/110523fa_fact_specter</a> <br /><br />Abstract of the article is below: <br /><br />ANNALS OF SCIENCE</strong><br /><br />TEST-TUBE BURGERS<br />How long will it be before you can eat meat that was made in a lab?<br />by Michael Specter<br />MAY 23, 2011<br /><br />Subscribers can read this article on our <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id370614765?mt=8">iPad app</a> or in our <a href="http://archives.newyorker.com/?i=2011-05-23#folio=032 ">online archive</a>. (Others can pay for access.) <br /><br />Audio: Michael Specter on lab-grown meat.<br /><br />Keywords: Cultured Meat; Willem Van Eelen; Laboratories; Stem Cells; Test Tubes; Hamburgers; Scientists <br /><br />ABSTRACT: ANNALS OF SCIENCE about the future of cultured meat. Willem van Eelen was born in 1923 in the Dutch East Indies, yet his youth of freedom ended abruptly on May 10, 1940—the day the Nazis invaded the Netherlands. Van Eelen enlisted and served in Indonesia, but he was eventually captured and spent most of the war as a prisoner, dragged from one P.O.W. camp to another. After the war, he studied psychology at the University of Amsterdam, but he struggled with the intertwined memories of starvation and animal abuse in the camps. At one lecture, he was seized by an idea: “Why can’t we grow meat outside of the body? Make it in a laboratory, as we make so many other things.” In-vitro meat can be made by placing a few cells in a nutrient mixture that helps them proliferate. As the cells begin to grow together, forming muscle tissue, they are attached to a biodegradable scaffold. There the tissue can be stretched and molded into food, which could, in theory, be sold, cooked, and consumed like any processed meat. Most people laughed when they heard about van Eelen’s project—it took decades for the science to catch up to his imagination. That began to happen in 1981, when stems cells were discovered in mice. In 1999, van Eelen received U.S. and international patents for the Industrial Production of Meat Using Cell Culture Methods. A new discipline, propelled by an unlikely combination of stem-cell biologists, tissue engineers, animal-rights activists, and environmentalists, has emerged in both Europe and the U.S. Teams are forming at universities around the world. Mentions Vladimir Mironov and PETA. Lab-grown meat raises powerful questions about what most people see as the boundaries of nature and the basic definitions of life. Yet our patterns of meat consumption have become increasingly dangerous for both individuals and the planet. The global livestock industry is responsible for nearly twenty per cent of humanity’s greenhouse-gas emissions. Cattle consume nearly ten per cent of the world’s freshwater resources, and eighty per cent of all farmland is devoted to the production of meat. The consequences of eating meat, and our increasing reliance on factory farms, are almost as disturbing for human health. Vascular biologist Mark Post says, “The goal [of cultured meat] is to create the volume previously provided by a million animals.” Mentions the Eindhoven University of Technology and Daisy van der Schaft. Describes the process of growing meat in a laboratory. Mentions Stone Barns and chef Dan Barber. The moral and ethical issues that would accompany the use of lab-grown beef may ultimately prove more intractable than the scientific issues. Mentions Princeton philosopher Peter Singer. <br /><br />Read more <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/05/23/110523fa_fact_specter#ixzz1MbfD5UnO">http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/05/23/110523fa_fact_specter#ixzz1MbfD5UnO</a> <br /><br />Many thanks to long time vegetarian activist Susan Kalev for alerting us to this article.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a051711a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a051711a11"></a><strong>11. Requiem Ceremony for Animals Scheduled</strong><br /><br />Forwarded message: <br /><br /><strong>Our Planet. Theirs Too.<br /><br />When: Sunday, June 05, 2011 noon - 6pm</strong><br /><br />The New York Animal Rights Coalition presents:<br /><br />“OUR PLANET. THEIRS TOO.”<br /><br />A REQUIEM CEREMONY FOR EARTH’S NON-HUMAN ANIMALS , AND A CELEBRATION OF WHAT IS POSSIBLE FOR ALL ITS SPECIES<br /><br />Sunday June 5th 2011, 11 am-4 pm, Union Square North, NYC<br /><br />The public is invited to a mass requiem ceremony, to mourn and commemorate the billions of animals, Earth’s greatest inhabitants, who are confined, abused, and killed every day by ‘humanity’, all over the world.<br /><br />We will recount the horrors and cruelty inflicted upon these innocent beings in countless industries and practices, such as factory farms, dairy and egg farms, the fur and skins trade, research labs, hunting grounds, menial labor, religious rituals, sports and entertainment, and the list is endless. We will celebrate their lives, and mourn their deaths, and cry out to the world on their behalf: how come, how far, and how long, will the human race put itself above them, use them and destroy them as it destroys this planet which we all share? We will show the world that we are a massive movement that will not rest until humanity takes responsibility, and protects all animals instead of harming them. Until planet Earth is given back to all its inhabitants, human and non-human alike, to be shared equally, in harmony and in peace.<br /><br />During the event, there will also be opportunities for everyone, young and old, to watch displays and attractions, and learn about the many cruelty-free alternatives to all the practices mentioned above. The public will be invited to join our movement and make the moral, ethical, environmental, and healthy choice to adopt a cruelty-free, non-animal based lifestyle. To help us create a planet which is ours and theirs too.<br /><br />Please join us at the square!<br /><br />Location<br /><br />South side of Union Square, NYC<br />14 Street, between Broadway and University Place, NYC<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ourplanetnyc.org/">Go HERE for all the info</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a051711a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">** Fair Use Notice **<br /><br />The material on this site is provided for educational and informational purposes. It may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. It is being made available in an effort to advance the understanding of vegetarian, environmental, nutritional, health, economic, social justice and human rights issues etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have an interest in using the included information for educational or research purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. The information on this site does not constitute legal, technical or medical advice.</span>.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17349614588789907464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9631520.post-81201907998217152062011-05-13T14:34:00.020-04:002011-06-13T00:44:34.874-04:0005/08/2011 JVNA Online NewsletterShalom everyone,<br /><br /><a name="a050811a0"></a>This update/<strong><a href="http://jewishveg.com/">Jewish Vegetarians of North America</a></strong> (JVNA) Online Newsletter has the following items:<br /><br /><strong>1. <a href="#a050811a1">Shavuot and Vegetarianism</a><br /><br />2. <a href="#a050811a2">Very Comprehensive Collection of Facts and Concepts on Vegetarianism and the Environment and on Climate Change</a><br /><br />3. <a href="#a050811a3">Diet for a Low-carbon Planet</a><br /><br />4. <a href="#a050811a4">Annual World Vegetarian Week Scheduled/My Suggested Themes</a><br /><br />5. <a href="#a050811a5">A Call to Progressives to Embrace a Wider Ethic That Includes Animals</a><br /><br />6. <a href="#a050811a6">Review of New Edition of Prisoned Chickens, Poisoned Eggs</a><br /><br />7. <a href="#a050811a7">JVNA Advisor’s Son Seeking Wife</a><br /><br />8. <a href="#a050811a8">Article in the Jewish Forward About Kosher Slaughter by Temple Grandin</a><br /><br />9. <a href="#a050811a9">Article Re a Vegan Returning to Eating Meat in the Forward/My Posting</a><br /><br />10. <a href="#a050811a10">Message From Leaders of 350.org, a Group Dedicated to Getting CO2 Levels Below 350 ppm From Its Present Level of 390 ppm.</a><br /><br />11. <a href="#a050811a11">Veggie Pride Parade Update/JVNA Volunteers Needed</a><br /><br />12. <a href="#a050811a12">Papers On Veg-Related Issues Called For</a><br /><br />13. <a href="#a050811a13">Anti-Fur Society Schedules Conference</a><br /><br />14. <a href="#a050811a14">Nice Reading of the Classic Children’s Story, “The Lorax,” by Dr. Seuss, Showing the Book’s Pictures</a></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Some material has been deferred to a later update/newsletter to keep this one from being even longer.<br /><br /> [Materials in brackets like this [ ] within an article or forwarded message are my editorial notes/comments.]<br /><br /><strong>Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the JVNA, unless otherwise indicated, but may be presented to increase awareness and/or to encourage respectful dialogue. Also, material re conferences, retreats, forums, trips, and other events does not necessarily imply endorsement by JVNA or endorsement of the kashrut, Shabbat observances, or any other Jewish observances, but may be presented for informational purposes. Please use e-mail addresses, telephone numbers, and web sites to get further information about any event that you are interested in. Also, JVNA does not necessarily agree with all positions of groups whose views are included or whose events are announced in this newsletter.</strong><br /><br />As always, your comments and suggestions are very welcome. <br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Richard</span><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a050811a1"></a><strong>1. Shavuot and Vegetarianism</strong><br /><br />Now that we are counting the days to Shavuot and it is about a month away, I am planning to soon send my article, “Shavuot and Vegetarianism” to the Jewish media. The article can be found in the holidays section at <a href="httpA://www.JewishVeg.com/Schwartz">JewishVeg.com/Schwartz</a>. Suggestions very welcome about the article and about ways to use its messages and other Shavuot-related concepts to help promote vegetarianism.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a050811a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a050811a2"></a><strong>2. Very Comprehensive Collection of Facts and Concepts on Vegetarianism and the Environment and on Climate Change</strong><br /><br />Forwarded message from European Vegetarian activist Renato Pichler:<br /><br />I've collected all environmental facts in this article:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.vegetarismus.ch/info/eoeko.htm">http://www.vegetarismus.ch/info/eoeko.htm</a><br /><br />(It is available as a brochure in different languages) <br /><br />Collection of facts about climate change:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.vegetarismus.ch/klimaschutz/index_en.htm">http://www.vegetarismus.ch/klimaschutz/index_en.htm</a> <br /><br />But we should work with pictures.<br /><br />Two examples of diagrams (we made is as posters and small cards):<br /><br />Climate:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.vegetarismus.ch/km/index_en.htm">http://www.vegetarismus.ch/km/index_en.htm</a><br /><br />(Available in 7 languages) <br /><br />Water:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.vegetarismus.ch/wasser/images/water.pdf">http://www.vegetarismus.ch/wasser/images/water.pdf</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.vegetarismus.ch/wasser/index_en.php">http://www.vegetarismus.ch/wasser/index_en.php</a><br /><br />(in 6 languages, yet)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.vegetarismus.ch">www.vegetarismus.ch</a> - <a href="http://www.v-label.info">www.v-label.info</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a050811a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a050811a3"></a><strong>3. Diet for a Low-carbon Planet</strong><br /><br />Article by Alan Miller on Tue, 05/03/2011 <br /><br /><a href="http://blogs.worldbank.org/climatechange/diet-low-carbon-planet">http://blogs.worldbank.org/climatechange/diet-low-carbon-planet</a> <br /><br />Most of the proposed solutions to climate change such as substitution of fossil fuels require large investments, policies that are politically contentious or difficult to enforce, and years to fully implement. However, some of the most effective and lowest cost opportunities for greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions are lifestyle choices that can be made today that cost little, and that are actually good for us. Chief among them is the decision to adopt a healthier, less meat intensive diet. <br /><br />The significance of this opportunity was emphasized in a recent presentation at the World Bank by <a href="http://environment.umn.edu/about/ione_bios/jon_foley.html">Jonathan Foley</a>, director of the University of Minnesota Institute on the Environment. According to analysis by the Institute, every pound of meat is equivalent to about 30 pounds of grain production in its contribution to climate change when allowance is made for the full life cycle of livestock production. This is primarily because methane emissions from ruminants have a GHG impact roughly 25 times that of carbon dioxide. <br /><br />Another expression of the resource intensity of meat production, Foley explained, is that even highly efficient agricultural systems like that in the US only deliver about the same calories per hectare in human consumption terms as poor African countries with more grain based diets. The surprisingly large role of livestock in global warming was explored in a 2009 <a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/files/pdf/Livestock%20and%20Climate%20Change.pdf">article</a> by Robert Goodland, formerly a World Bank economist, and Jeff Anhang, an <a href="http://www.ifc.org/">IFC</a> environmental specialist. They estimate that when land use and respiration are taken into account and methane effects are properly calculated, livestock could account for half of current warming when using a 20-year time frame. According to Goodland and Anhang, replacing 25% of livestock products with alternatives would liberate as much as 40% of current world grain production with comparable benefits in reduced burdens on land, water, and other resources. <br /><br />We are increasingly learning about the risks that climate change present to agricultural production, which are very real and increasingly discussed as reflected in a World Bank paper on food security prepared for the recent Spring meetings of the World Bank and IMF titled <i><a href="http://siteresources.worldbank.org/DEVCOMMINT/Documentation/22887406/DC2011-0002(E)FoodSecurity.pdf">Responding to Global Food Price Volatility and its Impact on Food Security</a></i>. Rising temperatures, fires, and drought have already contributed to rapidly rising global grain prices and projections are for much more severe impacts, particularly in Africa, by mid-century. Fortunately, there are significant opportunities for improving agricultural productivity with existing techniques. Because current yields are so low in many parts of the world, the potential for improvement – even allowing for some losses due to climate change – is significant. Research is also being directed toward still more climate resilient seeds and agricultural methods through major initiatives such as that underway at the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (<a href="http://www.ccafs.cgiar.org/">CGIAR</a>). <br /><br />While improving agricultural productivity and transforming the global energy system are both possible and perhaps even likely, both will take time, major investments, and coordinated international effort. In contrast, modest changes in diet require no major change in technology or capital investment and would immediately contribute to public health and lower medical costs (read New York Times article on the same subject <a href="http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/12/how-to-save-a-trillion-dollars/">here</a>). <br /><br />Despite these multiple benefits, promoting healthy and environmentally sustainable diets won’t necessarily be easy. Unless it takes hold in more affluent countries, it will be virtually impossible to urge on rapidly growing developing countries. People don’t like being told what to eat (as IPCC Chairman Rajendra Pachauri quickly found when he began promoting this message and several prominent UK leaders reacted strongly against it). On the other hand, the public needs to be given information in order to make informed choices. <br /><br />Relative to almost any other means of addressing climate change, making modest changes in diet is a clear winner that merits much attention and support. <br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a050811a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a050811a4"></a><strong>4. Annual World Vegetarian Week Scheduled/My Suggested Themes</strong><br /><br />My suggestions for the week are below: <br /><br />I respectfully suggest that the theme this year should be that a major shift toward vegan diets is essential to avoid an unprecedented climate catastrophe and many other serious threats to humanity. <br /><br />I suggest that we spell out that the world is increasing facing climate, environmental, hunger, water, and energy crises, and to point how much animal-based agriculture is contributing to these crises, and how vegan diets can help alleviate them. <br /><br />We could prepare fact sheets on these and other issues and urge veg, AR, environmental, hunger, and other groups to help spread the messages. <br /><br />I would try to help get many groups behind such a campaign. <br /><br />All the best, <br /><br />Richard <br /><br />------------------<br /><br />My suggestions received strong support. <br /><br />I plan to submit an article spelling out the issues for the group’s approval. <br /><br />Suggestions welcome. Thanks.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a050811a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a050811a5"></a><strong>5. A Call to Progressives to Embrace a Wider Ethic That Includes Animals</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.care2.com/causes/animal-welfare/blog/a-call-to-progressives-to-embrace-a-wider/">http://www.care2.com/causes/animal-welfare/blog/a-call-to-progressives-to-embrace-a-wider/</a><br /><br />Thanks to Dan Brook, author, educator, and JVNA advisor, for this insightful message.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a050811a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a050811a6"></a><strong>6. Review of New Edition of Prisoned Chickens, Poisoned Eggs<br /><br />3 May 2011 <br /><br />Journal of Animal Ethics 2011 Review of Prisoned Chickens, Poisoned Eggs<br /><br />Prisoned Chickens, Poisoned Eggs: An Inside Look at the Modern Poultry Industry, Revised Edition.</strong> By Karen Davis. (Summertown, TN: Book Publishing Company, 2009. 209+xiv pp. Paperback. $14.95. ISBN: 978-1-57067-229-3.)<br /><br />Reviewed by Les Mitchell
<i>Hunterstoun Centre, University of Fort Hare, South Africa</i><br /><br />This is a book for anyone who needs a detailed overview of the farmed chicken industry and who seeks to understand the philosophy that guides its practices. Karen Davis writes as an activist for chickens and other birds used in farming and is the director and founder of United Poultry Concerns. She dedicates her writing to “the chicken” but especially to Viva, a “crippled and abandoned ‘broiler’ hen” who, she tells us, deflected her from making a lifelong career as an English teacher to becoming an activist and writer (p. xiii). The first edition, she explains, was written to bring to light a story that has been told largely through the channels of the poultry industry, and this is the story of the transformation of the chicken from an active outdoor bird, “scouring the woods and fields to a sedentary indoor meat-and-egg ‘machine,’ filled with suffering, diseases and antibiotics” (p. v).<br /><br />For the most part she tells the story of the life and death of chickens used in farming by using industry references and direct quotes from industry publications, which she contrasts with the words of activists. The author’s own voice seldom intrudes, but when it does, it is to make a reasoned comment or pose a pertinent question.<br /><br />The early part of the book sets out to tell us about who chickens are. Not surprisingly, I found there was a lot I did not know, and I learned much about their natural history, personalities, and behavior in their natural state, reproduction, family life, and special abilities. This was an enjoyable section to read, although it was also sobering and rather depressing to find out that chicken farming is not new and that as long as 4,000 years ago, Egyptians were using chickens in farming on a large scale and even building fire-heated incubators that could hatch 10,000 birds at a time.<br /><br />But the section on who chickens are is not just a pleasant segment in a dark book; it is critically important to everything that follows. Here we fleetingly rediscover the free bird of the ancient forests, a sentient, complex, social being rather than the object of cartoon fun, a fast-food item, or a living commodity. It is with this conception of chickens as sentient beings who have “interests in life” (Regan, 1988) in mind that we are invited to evaluate what follows. The remainder of the book deals with chickens through the eyes of an industry where the chicken is socially constructed as machine and commodity, where chickens are crammed together, starved, gathered up, minced, gassed, debeaked, clipped, and whatever else might lead to the maximum profit in the minimum time.<br /><br />Davis documents industry practices with clear, concise, scientific language, well supported by references, and provides the economic justifications and descriptions used by the industry. We learn about such things as transportation; housing; trade-offs between death rates, disease, and profit; calculations of pounds of flesh per square foot; ammonia concentrations; a whole range of farmed chicken disorders; stunning; slaughter; and the disposal of corpses. Descriptions are meticulous; for example, the section on killing explores the advantages and disadvantages of neck cutting (various types), the vacuum chamber, and gassing with carbon dioxide or argon or nitrogen; discusses the problems of using carbon monoxide; and also mentions suffocation and chopping by high-speed blades.<br /><br />The book is a chilling journey into an often surreal and at times frankly bizarre world. The landscape of Marek’s disease, ammonia blisters, Gumboro, swollen head syndrome, animals grown too heavy for their skeletons, chicken rage, live hang rooms, the gigantic mechanized bird harvester, the national Chicken of Tomorrow program, and the Nozbonz1 is brought vividly to life. This world, we are also reminded, is populated not only by profit-driven multinational agro corporations but also by pharmaceutical companies, government departments, research institutes, and universities.<br /><br />The text tells us a great deal about the chicken industry, and what we read is deeply disturbing and a moral challenge that is sufficient enough in itself. However, we may also reflect on what it tells us about our own species and will find here abundant and depressing evidence of our human ability to objectify living others and of our capacity to be held utterly in the thrall of a particular ideology. It is a frightening demonstration of complete moral disengagement and objectification (Bandura, 1999).<br /><br />Toward the end of the book, we look to the future with the hope that apparently more enlightened practices in the industry, such as free-range farming, might offer some respite. Sadly, these often turn out to be false dawns, and research now is moving toward altering the bird to fit the industry rather than the other way around. Experiments with red contact lenses, blind chickens, birds without feathers, and chicks with wings clipped off confirm that it is, for the most part, business as usual.<br /><br />A question that might be asked is, does the position of the author as an activist make the book any less valid than a so-called academic text on the subject? My answer to that would be no. The book is well referenced using industry and other journals, and there is never any pretence by Davis that she is other than an activist. Universities, research institutes, and government departments have their own agendas, as do the individuals who work for them, and to pretend otherwise would be simplistic. At least in this text the agenda is stated openly.<br /><br />This is a “one stop” book on the chicken farming industry, detailed enough for most of us and with good leads for those brave individuals who wish to delve further. A great strength of the book is its accessibility; it is clear, well written, and often broken into relatively small blocks. It is also a rich source of texts for those interested in analyzing linguistic constructions and discourses related to nonhuman farming, mass violence, and capitalism.<br /><br /><i><strong>Note</strong></i><br />1. A piece of plastic pushed through the nasal septum of male birds to prevent them from eating the food of female breeding hens.<br /><br /><i><strong>References</strong></i><br /><br />Bandura, A. (1999). Moral disengagement in the perpetration of inhumanities. <i>Personality & Social Psychology Review, 3</i>(3), 193.<br /><br />Regan, T. (1988). <i>The case for animal rights</i> (2nd ed.). London, England: Routledge.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a050811a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a050811a7"></a><strong>7. JVNA Advisor’s Son Seeking Wife</strong><br /><br />Forwarded message from Dean Kimmel: <br /><br />To Jewish vegetarian/vegan women of childbearing age who'd like to marry: <br /><br />From Dean<br /><br /> I welcome correspondence with you as we Veggies are a minority of a minority! I'm grateful to Dr. Richard Schwartz, JVNA president, who knows my family for many years. <br /><br /> I was born at home, nurtured on Mother's milk, the third of my parents' four children. I was happy to be taught much by my parents by home schooling. My mother is a Columbia U. grad. She and Dad will be married fifty years June 29th. I was raised Orthodox Jewish vegetarian from birth, and evolved from vegetarian to vegan. <br /><br /> In my teens I collected first edition comic books, later semi-rare coins, and more recently, investment grade corporate shares of stock. In each case too many people were acquiring the items. They had the same smart idea! Then the speculators came. <br /><br /> I'm a Levi, happily participating in synagogue celebrations. <br /><br /> I love to select my vegetables and fruit. My "high" feeling of well-being comes from vegetables and fruit I eat. I learned physiology and why the Creator made us as we are. I became skilled with the hands, too. Carpentry, concrete work, doors, windows, landscaping, and roofing. Very practical. <br /><br />I became a real estate salesman, and evolved into real estate broker. <br /><br /> I'm a six-footer, never married, and am 44 and therefore most interested in meeting women 25 to 45. Why not write? Tell me about yourself. I prefer regular U.S. mail for a beginning. Please include my apartment number, above. My email address is <a href="mailto:ak08129@gmail">ak08129@gmail</a>. <br /><br /> Dean<br /> <br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a050811a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a050811a8"></a><strong>8. Article in the Jewish Forward About Kosher Slaughter by Temple Grandin</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://forward.com/articles/137318/">http://forward.com/articles/137318/</a><br /><br />As in most cases, Ms. Grandin ignores the many negative health, environmental, and other effects of animal –based deist. Her focus is on minimizing pain related to slaughter. She is critical of shackling and hoisting, which is still common ofr animals slaughtered in South America.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a050811a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a050811a9"></a><strong>9. Article Re a Vegan Returning to Eating Meat in the Forward/My Posting</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.forward.com/articles/137484/">http://www.forward.com/articles/137484/</a> <br /><br />Please consider sending comments for posting at the website. Thanks. <br /><br />My comments posted after the article: <br /><br />As president of Jewish Vegetarians of North America, I commend Leah Koenig for her concern for how chickens are raised and for only eating chickens that have been raised humanely. However, the vast majority of the 9 billion chickens slaughtered annually in the US and other animals raised for food are treated very cruelly on factory farms. <br /><br />As a writer on Jewish food issues, Ms. Koenig could do a great public service by discussing the following: <br /><br />· Animal-based diets and agriculture are inconsistent with basic Jewish mandates to protect human health, treat animals with compassion, protect the environment, conserve natural resources, and help hungry people.<br /><br />· There are many healthy, nutritious, delicious, kosher substitutes for chicken and other animal products.<br /><br />· At a time when the world is rapidly approaching an unprecedented climate catastrophe, animal-based agriculture is a major contributor to global warming/scorching.<br /><br />· At a time when almost a billion of the world’s people are chronically hungry, 70% of the grain produced in the US is fed to animals destined for slaughter.<br /><br />· At a time when many areas are facing major water scarcities, an animal-based diet requires up to 14 times as much water, mostly for irrigation for feed crops, than a vegan diet.<br /><br />· Animal-based diets have been strongly linked to heart disease, various types of cancer, and other chronic, degenerative diseases.<br /><br />For more information on the points above, please visit <a href="http://www.JewishVeg.com/Schwartz">JewishVeg.com/Schwartz</a>, where I have about 140 articles, 25 podcasts, and the complete text of my book Judaism and Vegetarianism. Also, please visit <a href="http://www.aSacredDuty.com">aSacredDuty.com</a> to see our acclaimed documentary “<a href="http://www.aSacredDuty.com">A Sacred Duty: Applying Jewish Values to Help Heal the World</a>.” <br /><br />My second post: <br /><br />The issues related to our diets and the production of food are so critical to the future of our imperiled planet that I invite rabbis and other Jewish scholars to engage with me in a public, respectful dialog/debate on "Should Jews be Vegans?" It could be done through email with mutually agreed on rules. If interested, please contact me at <a href="mailto:president@JewishVeg.com">president@JewishVeg.com</a>. <br /><br />I also hope that the Forward will investigate and report on the many moral issues related to our diets. <br /><br />--------------------------------------------<br /><br />I submitted additional posts that were accepted, as did other JVNA activists, at my request.<br /><br />Thanks. <br /><br />Read more: <a href="http://www.forward.com/articles/137484/#ixzz1LTjHt7zh">http://www.forward.com/articles/137484/#ixzz1LTjHt7zh</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a050811a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a050811a10"></a><strong>10. Message From Leaders of 350.org, a Group Dedicated to Getting CO2 Levels Below 350 ppm From Its Present Level of 390 ppm.</strong><br /><br />Friends,<br /><br />We knew Moving Planet [a campaign to get people out of cars and onto bicycles] would move--we just didn’t know how fast.<br /><br />It feels like it’s going 82.8 miles per hour (which happens to be the fastest speed ever recorded on a bicycle). In the week since we launched this global day of action, we’ve already heard from hundreds of organizers in every corner of the planet who are making plans for September 24.<br /><br /><strong>Wherever you happen to be, you can help build momentum for this big day to move beyond fossil fuels:<br /><br />
<a href="http://www.moving-planet.org">www.moving-planet.org</a></strong><br /><br />A few previews from organizers around the world:<br /><br /><strong>In Wellington, New Zealand, parades will converge from every point of the compass onto the city’s waterfront</strong>--some will be bike parades, others will feature roller-skaters or kayakers or boaters or swimmers. And they’ll all be moving together with their demands for real renewable energy solutions.
<br /><br /><strong>Sao Paolo, in Brazil, is planning a huge bike action that takes over the streets.</strong> That city is so crowded with cars that it holds the dubious distinction of having more helicopters than any place on earth--that’s how the rich get around. On the big day, thousands of regular folks will converge on the Minhocao thoroughfare, a giant road notorious for having been built without a bike lane or sidewalk, preventing cyclists and pedestrians from getting around. But not on Sept 24!<br /><br /><strong>In Papua New Guinea, the “moving” will be from the larger villages inland into the forest</strong> in a “symbolic gesture to hold on to the forest for future generations.” Our friends at the Center for Environmental Law and Community Rights are taking the lead on organizing hundreds of young people for this powerful event.<br /><br />You can check out some more <a href="http://www.moving-planet.org/ideas">event ideas here</a> -- they will give you inspiration for figuring out what to do in your hometown, or on your campus, or in your neighborhood. Any kind of movement is good: wheels, feet, boards--whatever you can dream up that isn't powered by fossil fuel. We’ve already heard from Dominicans who will be on skateboards, and Vermonters who will be on horseback.
We’re aiming for big gatherings, though of course the meaning of “big” depends on where you live. In a dozen or so huge cities around the world we will have huge actions. If you live near those locations we will be contacting you soon with more details.
<br /><br /><strong>And we’re aiming for real, sharp, powerful political actions.</strong> Being on a bike illustrates one solution we badly need, but it also gives you a chance to deliver demands. Imagine what your state capitol or city hall would look like ringed by a thousand bikes. Around the world we will be unified by our demands for the global action necessary to get us back to 350, but in every province and city and state people will also be making the specific demands for the kind of local work that needs to get done now.
Nothing gets solved in a day--but we’re never going to win this fight if we don’t show the global solidarity that starts to get the message across to our politicians: you may be stuck, but we’re in motion. If you want to lead, you better catch up.<br /><br /><strong>This day can be amazing--but only if people around the world come together to make it happen. Let's build something incredible on September 24th: <a href="http://www.moving-planet.org">www.moving-planet.org</a></strong><br /><br />Onwards,<br /><br />Bill McKibben
P.S. Check out <a href="http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/422012">this dispatch</a> that just arrived from Cairo, where youth organizers are blazing a trail for us all to follow. Sarah, a young activist quoted in it, is leading the plans for Egypt on Sept. 24--and it's going to be huge!<br /><br />P.P.S. Have friends that don't yet know about Moving Planet? Share it with just a couple of clicks on <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/350">Facebook</a>. <br /><br />
You should join 350.org on Facebook by becoming a fan of our page at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/350.org">facebook.com/350org</a> and follow us on twitter by visiting <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/350">twitter.com/350</a>
To join our list (maybe a friend forwarded you this e-mail) visit <a href="http://www.350.org/dia.php">www.350.org/signup</a>
350.org needs your help! To support our work, donate securely online at <a href="https://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1879/t/11555/content.jsp?content_KEY=8255">350.org/donate</a>
<br /><br />
<strong>350.org is building a global grassroots movement to solve the climate crisis.</strong> Our online campaigns, grassroots organizing, and mass public actions are led from the bottom up by thousands of volunteer organizers in over 188 countries.
<strong>What is 350?</strong> 350 is the number that leading scientists say is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. Scientists measure carbon dioxide in "parts per million" (PPM), so 350ppm is the number humanity needs to get below as soon as possible to avoid runaway climate change. To get there, we need a different kind of PPM—a "people powered movement" that is made of people like you in every corner of the planet<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a050811a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a050811a11"></a><strong>11. Veggie Pride Parade Update/JVNA Volunteers Needed</strong><br /><br />forwarded message fro Veggie Pride Parade Organizer Pam Rice: <br /><br />
RE-POST FREELY AND WIDELY<br /><br />…<br /><br />GENERAL TASK LIST FOLLOWS:
WHAT TO DO BEFORE PARADE DAY
* Publicize parade to your social network (Facebook, Twitter, Meetup, Yahoo, Google, etc., etc.) <br /><br />Go to: <a href="http://www.veggieprideparade.org/dept/plaintext.htm">http://www.veggieprideparade.org/dept/plaintext.htm</a> to find plain text to post everywhere. Everyone can do this.
* Help our publicity expert by posting parade info to media sites (we'll show you how to do this in one short lesson, even over the phone).
* Arrange for a food donations (vegan only, of course). Some quick clerical work can yield a lot.
* Engage in outreach to the local vegan community. Collect menus for expo menu table; post poster; inform vegan businesses of parade.
* Network with the Meetup groups. Go to vegan Meetup events and work the crowd
* Stuff bags full of donated pro-vegan literature.
* Engage and nurture potential funding sources. <br /><br />what TO DO ON PARADE DAY
MORNING.
In the morning 9:30 a.m. at Union Square Park area
* Help carting boxes from our office on Union Square West to expo site (north end of Union Square Park).
* Label exhibit tables in morning prior to parade; lay down kraft-paper on tables.
* Be a personal assistant to organizer Pamela Rice.
LINEUP/PARADE
At line-up and during parade (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
* Manage the signboards: pass them out, make sure we get them back.
* Assist photographers on ladders (we'll have two).
* <br /><br />Megaphone management: pass them out at parade line-up, and make sure you get them all back later.
* Leaflet during the parade.
* Manage the leafleters.
* Twitter during parade to official parade Twitter site. <br /><br />AT POST-PARADE EXPO IN PARK
After parade as the expo begins (in the north end of Union Square Park at about 1 p.m.)
* Banner management. Banners need to be properly hoisted on stages, then properly cared for and accounted for after parade.
* Man a Flip (video camera) with tripod; we'll have four pointed at stages and exhibitor tables.
* Be a personal assistant to expo manager Alan Rice.
* Menu table management & oversight. Keep menus neat and tidy throughout the day at the post parade rally & expo. They get picked over awfully fast.
* Assist sound technician and dj throughout the day.
* Oversee exhibitor tables: make sure exhibitors are abiding by all Parks Dept. rules and guidelines.
* Distribute food (food donations) to hungry crowds at post-parade expo.
* Pass out flyers and programs during the post-parade expo.
NOTE: 2 impromptu meetings are also scheduled
Same location (Veggie Center), tomorrow, Saturday, May 7:
(1) video team: 11 a.m.
(2) banner-management team: 5 p.m.
FOR ALL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PARADE, VISIT OUR WEB PAGE
<a href="http://www.veggieprideparade.org/">http://www.veggieprideparade.org/</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a050811a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a050811a12"></a><strong>12. Papers On Veg-Related Issues Called For</strong><br /><br />CALL FOR PAPERS <br /><br /><strong>Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare</strong> <br /><br />Deadline: December 30, 2011
<strong>Redefining Social Welfare: Connections across Species</strong><br /><br />A growing body of research supports the notion that human well-being is inextricably connected to the welfare of other animals. Social scientists are exploring these connections in research in social work and various subfields of sociology, including those focusing on the environment, deviance, the family, health, social inequality, and religion, as well as the emerging field of animals and society. This special issue will tap researchers and theorists in a wide range of subfields in order to capture the breadth of the connections among species that affect all aspects of human well-being.
We want articles that address every aspect of the ways that animals' well-being intersects with human well-being. These could include many subfields of sociology, such as environmental sociology, sociology of health and medicine, deviance and violence, sociology of sports, sociology of religion, and so forth. What we envision is to having articles on any of the following:
<br /><br />1. socio-emotional connections between species, e.g., the role of companion animals across the life course and other related topics
<br /><br />2. the connection of animal agriculture to climate change and environmental destruction, which of course is inextricably connected to human welfare
<br /><br />3. health issues--the impact of consumption of animal products on health--cardiovascular disease, diabetes, etc.--directly plus the impact of antibiotics and hormones fed to animals plus pesticides and poisons and contaminants--a big topic
<br /><br />4. animals and science ranging from the impact of dissection on young people to genetic engineering and cloning of animals (and of course, the impact on human welfare)
<br /><br />5. animal abuse and interpersonal violence
<br /><br />6. contributions of companion animals across the life course from children to older adults (of course!)<br /><br />7. animals in sports and entertainment (hunting, zoos, circuses)
<br /><br />8. animals and religion (ranging from symbolism and its meaning--or lost meaning--in some traditions to animal sacrifices continuing within some groups)
All these issues are inextricably linked to human well-being. This is an opportunity to articulate the idea that animal welfare is inextricably connected to human welfare through all the ways that human and animal lives intersect.<br /><br />Manuscripts can be submitted directly to special editor Dr. Christina Risley-Curtiss at <a href="mailto:risley.curtiss@asu.edu">risley.curtiss@asu.edu</a> as email attachments, preferably in MS WORD 2003-2007 by December 30, 2011.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a050811a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a050811a13"></a><strong>13. Anti-Fur Society Schedules Conference</strong><br /><br /><strong>FIRST CONFERENCE ON FUR BEARING ANIMALS</strong><br /> <br /><a href="http://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/tools/refer.php?s=3194936759&u=23524907&v=3&key=8599&skey=e5fdbd1b46&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.afsconference.org">http://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/tools/refer.php?s=3194936759&u=23524907&v=3&key=8599&skey=e5fdbd1b46&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.afsconference.org</a><br /> <br /><strong>HELP KEEP FUR BEAUTIFUL ALIVE!</strong><br /><br />Dear friends, <br /><br />We have some exciting updates to share with you. Not only the arrangements are successfully underway but we also have several new "entries" that you will love to know about. Among great speakers and exhibitors, we'll have a great cast of fabulous people hosting our delicious vegan dinner reception. Meanwhile, we would like to introduce our new celebrity who is coming all the way from Hollywood to honor us with his energetic and charming presence. He is none other than Zoli Teglas, the front man of the bands <a href="http://www.pennywisdom.com/index.html">PENNYWISE</a> & <a href="http://www.igniteband.com/bio.php">IGNITE</a>. <br /><br />What you may not know about Zoli is that he is a fierce animal rights activist, has his own rescue group and represents Sea Shepherd. He will be exhibiting at our conference: <a href="http://www.pelicanrescueteam.com/">PELICAN RESCUE TEAM</a>. We are not equipped to have a band at our conference, so we're trying to convince Zoli to sing solo for us. Regardless you will have a chance to meet him and check for yourself what a great guy he is! <br /><br /><strong>SCHEDULE:</strong><br /><br />Please note some exciting changes to our schedule to include a lecture by Joshua Katcher, a fashion journalist in NY whose blog "The Discerning Brute" is very well known. His lecture will be focused on fashion v. animals. Thus the title: Fashion & Animals: Decoding and Harnessing the Dialect of Fashion Culture to Help Animals. <a href="http://www.afsconference.org/Program.html">click here</a>. You do not want to miss it! <br /><br /><strong>RAFFLES:</strong><br /><br />We are excited to announce that we have some incredible vegan and cruelty-free items up for auction, as well as some unique collectibles and signed memorabilia for our Silent Auction and Raffles! Check our website often for updates on our item! (note that not all will be posted). We will soon be publishing the names of vegan organizations that are donating cruelty-free items including vegan chocolates for all attendees! <a href="http://www.afsconference.org/RAFFLES.HTML">CLICK RAFFLES</a> <br /><br /><strong>EXHIBITORS:</strong><br /><br />Right now we have all of the exhibitors we can accommodate, as well as a couple of organizations on the waiting list. However if we receive applications from FOUR more exhibitors, we will be opening up another room for the additional six exhibitors. So, if you want to exhibit, sign up NOW: <a href="http://www.afsconference.org/Registration.html">HERE</a>. <br /><br />Hope to see you there! <br /><br />Rosa Close & Shannon Keith<br /><a href="http://www.AFSConference.org">www.AFSConference.org</a><br /><a href="http://www.ARME.TV">www.ARME.TV</a><br /> <br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a050811a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a050811a14"></a><strong>14. Nice Reading of the Classic Children’s Story, “The Lorax,” by Dr. Seuss, Showing the Book’s Pictures</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soRbNlPbHEo&NR=1">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soRbNlPbHEo&NR=1</a> <br /><br />Great story to educate children about the importance of environmental sustainability. My favorite children’s story.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a050811a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">** Fair Use Notice **<br /><br />The material on this site is provided for educational and informational purposes. It may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. It is being made available in an effort to advance the understanding of vegetarian, environmental, nutritional, health, economic, social justice and human rights issues etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have an interest in using the included information for educational or research purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. The information on this site does not constitute legal, technical or medical advice.</span>.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17349614588789907464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9631520.post-73586295479048143962011-05-13T14:26:00.022-04:002011-06-07T00:14:57.196-04:0005/01/2011 JVNA Online NewsletterShalom everyone,<br /><br /><a name="a050111a0"></a>This update/<strong><a href="http://jewishveg.com/">Jewish Vegetarians of North America</a></strong> (JVNA) Online Newsletter has the following items:<br /><br /><strong>1. <a href="#a050111a1">My Latest Vegetarian Podcast</a><br /><br />2. <a href="#a050111a2">Notice of Talk I Gave in Israel at the Jewish Vegetarian Society Center</a><br /><br />3. <a href="#a050111a3">Update for the Veggie Pride Parade/JVNA Volunteer Needed</a><br /><br />4. <a href="#a050111a4">Vegan Authors Seeking Input</a><br /><br />5. <a href="#a050111a5">Insightful Talk on Climate Change</a><br /><br />6. <a href="#a050111a6">Benefits of Reducing Meat Consumption</a><br /><br />7. <a href="#a050111a7">New Creative Card Game Helps Educate About Climate Change</a><br /><br />8. <a href="#a050111a8">Campaign to End Animal Experiments in Canada</a><br /><br />9. <a href="#a050111a9">Great Article on Environmental Benefits of Plant-Based Diets</a><br /><br />10. <a href="#a050111a10">World Week for the Abolition of Meat Scheduled</a><br /><br />10a. <a href="#a050111a10a">Discussion of Recent Examples of Climate Irregularities</a><br /><br />11. <a href="#a050111a11">Yes, Climate Skeptics Can Change</a><br /><br />12. <a href="#a050111a12">PETA Offers to Help “Green Synagogue” if it Would Help Promote Veganism</a><br /><br />13. <a href="#a050111a13">Veggie Pride Parade Exhibitor List/Volunteer Needed for the JVNA Table</a><br /><br />14. <a href="#a050111a14">New Book Dispels the “Protein Myth”</a><br /><br />15. <a href="#a050111a15">Top Scientist Argues That Recent Severe Tornados Are Related to Climate Change</a><br /><br />16. <a href="#a050111a16">Update From Joseph Puentes re Vegetarian and Environmental Podcasts</a></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Some material has been deferred to a later update/newsletter to keep this one from being even longer.<br /><br /> [Materials in brackets like this [ ] within an article or forwarded message are my editorial notes/comments.]<br /><br /><strong>Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the JVNA, unless otherwise indicated, but may be presented to increase awareness and/or to encourage respectful dialogue. Also, material re conferences, retreats, forums, trips, and other events does not necessarily imply endorsement by JVNA or endorsement of the kashrut, Shabbat observances, or any other Jewish observances, but may be presented for informational purposes. Please use e-mail addresses, telephone numbers, and web sites to get further information about any event that you are interested in. Also, JVNA does not necessarily agree with all positions of groups whose views are included or whose events are announced in this newsletter.</strong><br /><br />As always, your comments and suggestions are very welcome. <br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Richard</span><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a050111a1"></a><strong>1. My Latest Vegetarian Podcast</strong><br /><br />Rae Sikora Interviews Richard Schwartz: "Why People Should be Vegetarians" <br /><br /><a href="http://traffic.libsyn.com/water/2011-05-01_VSSE_RichardSchwartz.mp3">http://traffic.libsyn.com/water/2011-05-01_VSSE_RichardSchwartz.mp3</a> <br /><br />Many thanks to Joseph Puentes for facilitating and editing and posting this interview. More about his work and plans is at the end of this newsletter. Also, many thanks to Rae Sikora for her excellent job conducting the interview and for her valuable comments during it. Rae is one of the truly super stars of the veg movement.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a050111a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a050111a2"></a><strong>2. Notice of Talk I Gave in Israel at the Jewish Vegetarian Society Center<br /><br />Vegetarianism: Revitalize Judaism and Shift Our Imperiled World To a Sustainable Path<br /><br />Speaker: Prof. Richard Schwartz <br /><br />Thursday, April 21st, 7pm<br />At "Ginger"<br />8 Balfour Street, Jerusalem</strong><br /><br />Admission: free <br /><br /><strong><i>Richard H. Schwartz</i></strong>, Ph.D. is Professor Emeritus, College of Staten Island, president of Jewish Vegetarians of North America and author of “Judaism and Vegetarianism,” “Judaism and Global Survival,” and “Mathematics and Global Survival,” and over 130 articles at <a href="http://www.JewishVeg.com/schwartz">www.JewishVeg.com/schwartz</a> <br /><br />For details: <a href="mailto:veginger@gmail.com">veginger@gmail.com</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a050111a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a050111a3"></a><strong>3. Update for the Veggie Pride Parade/JVNA Volunteer Needed<br /><br />[If you would like to help give out “A Sacred Duty” DVDs, and help at the JVNA table, please let me know. I am scheduled to speak at the event.]</strong> <br /><br />For immediate release: February 25, 2011
Contact: Pamela Rice, 212-242-0011
info@vivavegie.org <br /> <br /><a href="http://www.veggieprideparade.org/pdfs/pressrelease7.pdf">CLICK FOR PDF OF THIS PRESS RELEASE</a> <br /><br />Veggie Pride Parade NYC 2011 <br /><br /><a href="http://www.gvshp.org/_gvshp/resources/history.htm">Greenwich Village / Union Square</a> <br /><br />May 15, 2011<br /><br />Every stand-up comedian in the business knows you can always get an instant laugh: make a vegan the butt of your joke. Every vegan kid knows he or she is not likely to get a good meat-free and dairy-free meal in the school lunchroom and faces ridicule just for asking. All too many vegans who live in remote areas have to buy their food by mail order or travel to other towns just to eat. And ask any vegan about what he or she must go through to convey a simple food order in a non-veg restaurant. It isn't fun.<br /><br />All this even though we know meat is cruel, unhealthy, and catastrophic for the environment. And why are meat, dairy, and fish so heavily subsidized by governments around the world, particularly in the United States and Europe? None of it makes a bit of sense. Nor is it fair or right.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.veggieprideparade.org/">Enter the 4th annual NYC Veggie Pride Parade</a>, which will take place in Greenwich Village/ Union Square, on Sunday, May 15, 2011. For vegetarians, the day's festivities are sure to give their meatless way of living a much-needed boost.<br /><br />Parade participants are encouraged to <a href="http://www.teamorganicnyc.org/gallery_05_16_10.html">dress up in costumes and wear signboards</a> announcing their pride in their vegan lifestyle. Local restaurants, veg groups, and veg everything will be represented with banners and chants. The parade will include <a href="http://www.teamorganicnyc.org/TOAG/100516/IMG_1455.jpg">animal-rights activists</a>, <a href="http://www.teamorganicnyc.org/TOAG/05_18_08/IMG_1368.jpg">environmentalists</a>, and <a href="http://www.teamorganicnyc.org/TOAG/05_18_08/IMG_1369.jpg">people simply concerned with their health</a>. But on May 15, 2011, all will come together with one voice, one expression, of veggie pride.<br /><br />The procession will begin at 12 Noon in the <a href="http://www.veggieprideparade.org/dept/maps.htm">Old Meat Packing District</a> (where 9th Ave. & Gansevoort St. intersect). It will culminate in a festival for all to enjoy at the <a href="http://www.veggieprideparade.org/images/ClaudiaRoseEmerson6419.sm.jpg">north end of Union Square Park</a>. There, revelers of all persuasions will hear <a href="http://www.veggieprideparade.org/dept/bios.htm">well-known vegan speakers</a> and music by vegan artists. They'll all partake in <a href="http://www.veggieprideparade.org/dept/exhibitors.htm">free vegan food and explore a wide variety of exhibitor presentations</a>. At 2 p.m., a <a href="http://www.veggieprideparade.org/dept/contests.htm">costume contest</a> will take place.<br /><br />Throughout the day, individuals will be encouraged to speak their mind at the <a href="http://www.veggieprideparade.org/dept/soapbox2010.htm">Soapbox Testimonial Station</a>. Other activists will beckon passersby to get a dollar to watch a veggie video.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.veggieprideparade.org/dept/about.htm">Organizer Pamela Rice</a> feels confident that this year's parade will be bigger and better than ever. Ms. Rice said, "I'm hoping that at this event people will see vegans and vegetarians come out of the shadows, once and for all."<br /><br />Visit <a href="http://www.veggieprideparade.org">www.veggieprideparade.org</a> for more information about every aspect of the event. <br /><br />Pamela Rice<br />Organizer, Veggie Pride Parade<br />VivaVegie Society 501(c)3<br />One Union Sq. West, #512<br />New York, NY 10003<br />212-242-0011, office<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a050111a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a050111a4"></a><strong>4. Vegan Authors Seeking Input</strong><br /><br />Message from our friend, bestselling vegan author, Patti Breitman:<br /><br />Carol Adams and I are looking for vegans who are willing to tell others what they eat on a typical day, as well as some of their favorite foods, healthy or otherwise. <br /><br />Your answers may be included in our new book that is intended to help "not yet vegans" discover the ease, joy, variety and abundance of a vegan diet. <br /><br />If you are interested in participating, click the link below for more info: <br /><br /><a href="http://www.caroljadams.com">www.caroljadams.com</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a050111a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a050111a5"></a><strong>5. Insightful Talk on Climate Change</strong><br /><br />Bill McKibben Talk <br /><br /><a href="http://action.350.org/content_item/powershift-speech">http://action.350.org/content_item/powershift-speech</a> <br /><br />Forwarded message from <a href="http://www.">350.org</a> <br /><br />Dear friends, an extraordinary event took place in Washington, D.C. this past weekend.<br /><br />Over 10,000 young people came together for Power Shift 2011 -- a 3-day conference to train, organize, and mobilize for climate action in the United States. The US has been an obstacle to climate action for years, so seeing the power and energy of the young people together was one of the most hopeful moments for the climate movement in quite some time.
It was an amazing event: there were inspiring talks from Van Jones and Al Gore, workshops on local solutions, and even a mass march against big polluters in the streets of Washington DC.
But there is one highlight from the weekend you truly need to see: the speech from Bill McKibben, which energized a crowd 10,000 people-strong. Watch the video of this incredible talk: <br /><br />I have worked with Bill for several years now, and I've seen him give a lot of speeches. This one fired me like never before. Within the speech you’ll also get a preview of the announcements set for the coming week about some of our new plans for this year.
Hopefully this video gets you as charged up as we are to get moving and to go bigger than ever with our movement in the months ahead.
More from us very soon,
Will Bates and the whole 350.org team
<br /><br />P.S. Wondering why folks were rallying at the US Chamber of Commerce? Visit <a href="http://chamber.350.org">http://chamber.350.org</a> to learn more about a campaign we’re running in the US to take on those obstructing progress.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a050111a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a050111a6"></a><strong>6. Benefits of Reducing Meat Consumption</strong><br /><br />Forwarded message:<br /><br />
One of the easiest ways you can help stop global warming and improve the health of the planet is by reducing your consumption of meat (for a powerful article on the environmental impact of meat, see our friend Mark Bittman's 2008 NYT piece: "<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/weekinreview/27bittman.html">Rethinking the Meat-Guzzler</a>").<br /><br />But reducing your meat intake, and becoming more aware of meat industry practices, can also have a major positive impact on your personal health.<br /><br />A shocking <a href="http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2011/04/14/cid.cir181.full">recent study</a> by the Translational Genomics Research Institute found that nearly half of the meat and poultry sampled in the nationwide study was contaminated with Staph bacteria, much of it resistant to antibiotics. The bottom line? The widespread use of antibiotics in animal feed on factory farms, used to make the animals grow faster, not to treat them for infections, is creating breeding grounds for drug-resistant bacteria that threatens all of us.<br /><br />When you do eat meat, try your best to serve products that you know were made without the irresponsible use of antibiotics. If you don't have the luxury of buying direct from a farmer or rancher whom you trust (most people don't), purchasing foods labeled with the organic seal may be the safest bet.<br /><br />For more on the issue of antibiotics and food production, check out two of my recent submissions to The Huffington Post:<br /><br />"<A href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laurie-david/this-is-the-game-changer_b_850368.html">This is the Game Changer</a>"<br /><br />"<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laurie-david/antibiotics-and-food-prod_b_847711.html">Antibiotics and Food Production</a>"<br /><br />From Laurie David, Producer/Author/<a href="http://www.nrdc.org/">NRDC</a> Trustee<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a050111a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a050111a7"></a><strong>7. New Creative Card Game Helps Educate About Climate Change</strong><br /><br />Shalom everyone, <br /><br />Just wanted to let you know about a new, creative card game produced by the Union of Conservative Scientists called "Cool It!," <br /><br />It is an excellent way to learn more about and help teach others about climate change. The game is for people 8 years old and older. <br /><br />You can learn more about this game and order a copy by visiting: <br /><br /><a href="http://www.ucsusa.org/publications/cool-it-card-game/cool-it-climate-change-card-game.html">http://www.ucsusa.org/publications/cool-it-card-game/cool-it-climate-change-card-game.html</a> <br /><br />This message is sent purely as a public service, because I think the more one knows about climate change, the more chance there is that the climate will be stabilized. I played the game with children and grandchildren in Israel and they enjoyed it and learned about causes of climate change and ways to reduce it. <br /><br />Best wishes, <br /><br />Richard<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a050111a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a050111a8"></a><strong>8. Campaign to End Animal Experiments in Canada<br /><br />FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, April 19, 2011<br /><br />NEW NATION-WIDE COALITION CALLS FOR END TO ANIMAL RESEARCH IN CANADA</strong><br /><br /><i>Canadian Coalition Against Animal Research and Experimentation urges reforms while ultimately phasing out experiments on animals<br /><br />Vancouver, BC</i> – Today, more than 40 animal advocacy organizations across Canada announced the formation of a new coalition that is calling for an end to experiments on animals. The network – the <strong>Canadian Coalition Against Animal Research and Experimentation (CCAARE)</strong> which includes the Animal Alliance of Canada, Calgary Animal Rights Effort, Stop Animal Testing at Dalhousie University, and Stop UBC Animal Research among many others – is the first of its kind in Canada. In a letter this week to the Canadian Council on Animal Care, the body that oversees animal experiments, the CCAARE also called for immediate reforms to animal research as experimentation is phased out. The announcement of the coalition comes during World Laboratory Animal Liberation Week, an annual event during which animal activists across the globe organize rallies, protests, news conferences, and information tables to fight for animals in laboratories. <br /><br />“Animal research is cruel, unnecessary, and hazardous to both animal and human health,” said the coalition’s Co-director, Brian Vincent. Mr. Vincent also serves as director of the Vancouver-based Stop UBC Animal Research. “Experimenting on animals is at odds with our country’s sense of compassion and has no place in a civilized society.” <br /><br />“The shroud of secrecy that envelopes animal research in Canada equals that of military covert operations,” said Liz White, CCAARE Co-director and Director of the Animal Alliance of Canada in Toronto. “Although institutions like the University of British Columbia and the University of Guelph receive public funds, the public has few rights to know how those monies are spent, how many animals are used, and what happens to them. If people knew what went on behind the closed doors of research institutions, the number of animals used would begin a steep and rapid decline.” <br /><br /> Specifically, the coalition urged the CCAC to immediately implement major reforms while it phases out animal experiments altogether. <br /><br />SNIP<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a050111a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a050111a9"></a><strong>9. Great Article on Environmental Benefits of Plant-Based Diets<br /><br />Eco-Eating: Going Green Begins With What’s On Your Plate</strong><br /><br />Posted on April 18, 2011 by Hope Bohanec (author of the article): <br /><br /><a href="http://www.onegreenplanet.org/lifestyle/eco-eating-going-green-begins-with-whats-on-your-plate">www.onegreenplanet.org/lifestyle/eco-eating-going-green-begins-with-whats-on-your-plate</a><br /><br />With Earth Day approaching [now today], I have some great news for the planet. The food and drink an average person consumes are the single largest determining factor of one’s overall ecological footprint. Why is this good news? Because knowing this, it’s easy and affordable to make important improvements to our global impact. You don’t need to buy a hybrid or get solar panels to make the biggest difference; just changing our shopping and eating habits to delicious plant-based choices can have positive effects.<br /><br />Our food choices have dramatic consequences on the environment. Reducing or eliminating the consumption of animal products is one of the most powerful ways an individual can reduce his or her carbon footprint. What we put into our bags at the grocery store actually has more environmental impact than whether we bring a reusable shopping bag or drive a hybrid to the store.<br /><br />Animal agriculture is responsible for many of the world’s most serious environmental problems — global warming, water use and pollution, massive energy consumption, deforestation, loss of biodiversity and species, as well as the deep impact of fishing on our oceans. A 2010 Report from the UN International Panel of Sustainable Resource Management <strong><i>strongly urges a global shift to a plant-based diet</i></strong> to both feed a hungry world and greatly reduce environmental impacts like global warming.<br /><br />Unfortunately, recognizing animal products for the global warming culprits they are is an abstract concept. Identifying carbon emissions from, let’s say, a car, is much more observable. The fossil fuel gets pumped in and emits from the tail pipe — how much fuel you burn is the calculator of your impact. On the other hand, an animal product sits innocently concealed in a plastic-wrapped package, with no way to tally its heavy environmental toll.<br /><br />So how does an animal product come to have such a profound carbon footprint? It’s a combination of factors. Producing animal products wastes enormous amounts of energy and fossil fuels, and emits greenhouse gasses in the process. Throw in the destruction of the Amazon Rainforest for cattle grazing and raising soy beans fed to animals, and you have a recipe for serious impact on climate change.<br /><br /><strong>Climate Change</strong><br /><br />When it comes to global warming, farmed animals and their byproducts are responsible for <strong><i>51 percent of annual worldwide human caused greenhouse gas emissions</i></strong>. This is according to a 2008 report from two prominent World Bank environmental advisers. Based on their research, they conclude that replacing animal products with plant-based foods would be the best strategy for reversing climate change. They advise that this can reduce emissions even more than the actions currently taken to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy (see <a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/node/6294">Livestock and Climate Change, Robert Goodland and Jeff Anhang, World Watch Nov./Dec. 2009</a>)<br /><br />The United Nations Food and Agriculture Committee looked at the global impact of animal agriculture and found that farming animals emits more greenhouse gasses then all the world’s transportation— that’s all the automobiles, planes, trains and any other form of carbon-emitting transportation combined. So when you are contemplating how to significantly reduce your carbon footprint, often what comes to mind first is driving less or getting a more fuel-efficient vehicle, and while that certainly helps, your impact can be even more powerful by reducing or eliminating animal products from your diet.<br /><br /><a href="">A study by the University of Chicago found</a> that consuming no animal products is <strong>50 percent more effective</strong> at fighting global warming than switching from a standard car to a hybrid.<br /><br /><strong>Water</strong><br /><br />Most of the world’s water is used for irrigation. Agricultural production, including livestock production, consumes more fresh water than any other activity in the United States (See <a href="http://www.ajcn.org/content/78/3/660S.full">Sustainability of Meat-Based and Plant-Based Diets and the Environment, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 78, No. 3, 660S-663S</a>). In fact, over half the total amount of fresh water consumed in the U.S. goes to irrigate land to grow feed for livestock. Huge additional amounts of water are used to water the animals, clean the equipment, etc. A dairy operation that utilizes an automatic “flushing” system can use up to 150 gallons of water per cow per day (US Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service. “<a href="http://policy.nrcs.usda.gov/viewerFS.aspx?hid=21430">Agricultural Waste Management Field Handbook</a>.” USDA. April 1992: p. 4-8).<br /><br />It takes less water to produce one year’s worth of food for a completely plant-based diet than it does to produce one month’s worth of food for a diet with animal products. Producing 1 lb. of animal protein requires about 100 times more water than producing 1 lb. of grain protein (See <a href="http://www.ajcn.org/content/78/3/660S.full">Sustainability of Meat-Based and Plant-Based Diets and the Environment, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 78, No. 3, 660S-663S</a>). It has even been said that a vegan can leave the shower running for a year and still not waste as much water as a meat eater in the same year.<br /><br /><strong>Deforestation</strong><br /><br />Animal agriculture destroys thousands of acres of forests that help purify the air, reduce carbon dioxide, and that are home to many species of animals, birds, and plants. According to the UN, “In the Amazon, cattle ranching is now the primary reason for deforestation.”<br /><br />Large-scale dietary change to a plant-based diet could actually reverse deforestation. In the US, over 400 million acres of pasture and range land could be reforested (See <a href="http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/a0701e/a0701e00.HTM">Livestock’s Long Shadow: Environmental Issues and Options</a> Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, 2006).<br /><br />Hundreds of millions of additional acres goes to growing feed for livestock, most of which could be reforested if the land was used directly to feed people instead of animals. It is estimated that one acre of trees is preserved each year by each individual who switches to a completely plant-based diet.<br /><br />So while celebrating this beautiful planet during Earth Day, remember that reducing or eliminating the consumption of animal products is one of the most powerful ways we can reduce our impact on the environment. A plant-based diet is by far the most ecological dietary choice we can make. <br /><br /><strong>Hope Bohanec</strong> has been active in animal protection and environmental activism for over 20 years. She is the Grassroots Campaigns Director for the international animal protection organization, <a href="http://www.idausa.org/">In Defense of Animals</a>. Hope was the Sonoma County Coordinator for Proposition 2 and soon after that victory, founded <a href="http://www.farmanimalprotection.org/fapp/home.htm">Farm Animal Protection Project</a>. Hope offers an influential power point presentation called Eco-Eating: A Cool Diet for a Hot Planet that addresses the environmental impact of animal agriculture through peer reviewed scientific research. She is a nationally recognized leader and speaker in the animal protection movement, and a well-known presenter throughout the Bay Area and across the U.S.<br /><br />Share <a href="http://www.onegreenplanet.org/lifestyle/eco-eating-going-green-begins-with-whats-on-your-plate/">http://www.onegreenplanet.org/lifestyle/eco-eating-going-green-begins-with-whats-on-your-plate/</a> on Twitter<br /><br />Related posts:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/facts-on-animal-farming-and-the-environment/">Facts On Animal Farming And The Environment</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.onegreenplanet.org/lifestyle/green-living-10-eco-friendly-materials-for-your-home/">Green Living: 10 Eco-Friendly Materials For Your Home</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.onegreenplanet.org/lifestyle/beyond-green-hype-eco-concious-and-ethical-designers-labels/">Beyond Green Hype: Eco-Conscious And Ethical Designers & Labels</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.onegreenplanet.org/lifestyle/the-5-reasons-people-go-vegan/">The 5 Reasons People Go Vegan</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/the-moral-foundations-of-eating-animals/">Opinion: The Moral Foundations of Eating Animals</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.onegreenplanet.org/lifestyle/making-the-vegan-connection-a-cultural-challenge-not-a-moral-one/">Making the Vegan Connection: A Cultural Challenge, Not a Moral One</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.onegreenplanet.org/lifestyle/how-to-open-a-vegan-restaurant-anywhere-in-the-world/">How To Open A Vegan Restaurant Anywhere In The World</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.onegreenplanet.org/lifestyle/building-strong-bones-the-vegan-way/">Building Strong Bones The Vegan Way</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.onegreenplanet.org/lifestyle/5-amazing-off-beat-eco-lodges-in-costa-rica/">5 Amazing Off-Beat Eco-Lodges In Costa Rica</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/the-significance-of-going-green-and-vegan/">Bits of Star: The Significance of Going Green and Vegan</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a050111a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a050111a10"></a><strong>10. World Week for the Abolition of Meat Scheduled</strong><br /><br />Forwarded message: <br /><br />Greetings! <br /><br />We've been organizing the WWAMs (World Weeks for the Abolition of Meat) for some time, and have been doing our best in order to promote the demand for the abolition of the production and consumption of animal flesh around the world. <br /><br />It will be a total success if groups of people from all over the world take part in the upcoming WWAMs and raise awareness among the general public and as many media as possible. <br /><br />In January over 70 groups participated in this large collective effort that goes beyond frontiers. <br /><br />Please find below the call for the upcoming WWAM that will be held between May 21 and May 28, 2011. <br /><br />Hope you'll be part of this campaign, <br /><br />Look forward to hearing from you,<br /><br />Florence and Yves<br /><br />WWAM Organizers<br /><br /><a href="http://meat-abolition.org">http://meat-abolition.org</a> <br /><br />It is a sad assessment that, despite the fact that the animals used for food represent almost all the animals exploited, they are extremely invisibilized. It is up to us, activists, to make their lives and their miserable destiny visible and to present prospects for putting an end to their slaughtering. It is up to us to proclaim that it is morally necessary to abolish the exploitation of animals used for their flesh.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a050111a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a050111a10a"></a><strong>10a. Discussion of Recent Examples of Climate Irregularities<br /><br />Fostering Ecological Hope</strong> Today by Margaret Swedish: <br /><br /><a href="http://www.ecologicalhope.org/featured/in-some-places-the-world-really-is-coming-to-an-end/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SpiritualityAndEcologicalHope+%28Spirituality+and+Ecological+Hope%29">In some places, the world really is coming to an end</a><br /><br />Right? I mean, Missouri, Arkansas, western Texas – it really is the end for some folks, homes, whole communities, burned, torn apart by tornadoes, flooded out by rain totals of 15 inches or more over 4 days and more to come. In inundated and damaged areas of Missouri, more severe storms, some with tornado potential, are in store for today. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/04/26/missouri.levee.failure/index.html?hpt=T1">Levees have been breached</a> in some areas and quick evacuations and water rescues are underway. And forecasters’ predictions for today and through the rest of the week use the word, ‘<strong>dire</strong>.’ <br /><br />Texas Widlfires April 15 - NASA Earth Observatory<br /><br />Dallas and eastern TX will get some much-needed rain, though downpours may not be welcome, but most of the state remains in drought and large parts of it in <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/04/26/26climatewire-extreme-drought-sets-texas-ablaze-and-may-sp-28352.html">severe or extreme drought</a>. Wildfires continue to burn – more than 1.5 million acres as of now.<br /><br />What in the world is going on?<br /><br />April has been a stunningly violent month weather-wise, and we still have a few days to go. Check out this <a href="http://www.weather.com/outlook/weather-news/news/articles/april-severe-scorecard_2011-04-18">Weather Channel page</a> and ponder the map from just 2 days of these outbreaks, April 4-5. And this: 5400 severe weather reports in a month that averages 3300 <i>nationwide</i>. Incredible!<br /><br />Now consider that May is actually the most active month for tornadoes in this country.<br /><br />In Texas, where drought has deepened in recent years, at least one climatologist is not afraid to say that <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/04/26/26climatewire-fighters-from-43-states-battle-far-flung-tex-37260.html">climate change is a contributing factor</a> in the fires.<br /><br />And the floods and tornadoes? Here’s reference to a study conducted by NASA a few years ago predicting exactly what is now occurring: <i><a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070830105911.htm">Global Warming Will Bring Violent Storms</a></i> (see more on NASA’s climate research <a href="http://climate.nasa.gov/">here</a>).<br /><br />Can we talk again about the <i><strong>moral and ethical issues involved in climate change denial</strong></i>, in the intentional efforts by Exxon Mobil, the Exxon-funded <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Heartland_Institute">Heartland Institute</a>, or certain Republican members of Congress (e.g. <a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/people/i/james_m_inhofe/index.html">Sen. James Inhofe</a>), various Fox News pundits, and other corporate backed groups (<a href="http://www.care2.com/causes/global-warming/blog/how-the-koch-brothers-fund-the-climate-change-denial-machine/">Koch Industries</a> is another of these backers) to obfuscate the science and try to convince you that climate is not changing because of industrialization and the burning of fossil fuels?<br /><br />We have always insisted that no single weather event can be directly attributed to climate change; it’s the patterns over time that matter. It is also how accurately computer models predict the future – like the NASA study cited above. <br /><br />Source: US Global Change Research Program<br /><br />What worries me as much as how quickly weather patterns are changing and how unprepared we are for the changes is that we are not yet done warming the atmosphere with our greenhouse gas emissions. They will rise exponentially over the rest of this century no matter what we do now – not an excuse for inaction, just the opposite. Because another century will follow this one and there are folks being born now who would like to have children and grandchildren with prospects for a decent future.<br /><br />This week’s <i><a href="http://www.earthweek.com/2011/ew110422/ew110422a.html">Earthweek: A Diary of the Planet</a></i> contained a little snippet about two ‘eminent’ scientists, Royal Astronomers Martin Rees and John Brown, who believe human prospects beyond this century are pretty grim.<br /><br /><i>Beyond the tangible threat of a terrorist nuclear attack on a major city, the eminent astrophysicist points to climate change and overpopulation as the world’s leading manmade perils.</i><br /><br />You know, this is the stuff that can get a person pretty depressed trying to walk through one’s day. I am not a believer in the human extinction story, at least not so soon. I insist that we will not get off that easy, that we will have to live through these hard times, and that how hard they get is still up to us. <i><strong>But we will have to become very skilled at adaptation, and far more willing than we are now to accept changes in the entire mode of human living on this planet from that in which we exist right now.</strong></i><br /><br />Finally, if climate change and overpopulation are our leading ‘manmade’ [sic] perils, when was the last time you heard policy-makers, economists, teachers, religious leaders saying anything meaningful about these things, or leading us in a conversation about what to do and how to proceed? Many good statements – and I am getting so tired of good statements and petitions and sign-on letters and all – but little meaningful action at the scale necessary.<br /><br /><i><strong>Ecological hope?</strong></i> We don’t have to wait for leadership ‘from above’ to take action. Around the world small communities are beginning to reinvent the meaning of the human project, of our role within the living communities of this planet, <i><strong>to advance the great leap in consciousness that has come with our return to the Earth and our place within it</strong></i>. We have to put our hope there – I don’t know where else to put it. We have to plant seeds deep into the Earth of our cultures, our broken messed up societies, our woefully lacking religious and educational institutions, our dreadful media, and <i><strong>nurture these seeds carefully, lovingly and with great dedication</strong></i>. It won’t make for an easy future, but it can make for a future from which goodness and ecological wholeness just might emerge.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a050111a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a050111a11"></a><strong>11. Yes, Climate Skeptics Can Change</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.care2.com/causes/global-warming/blog/yes-climate-skeptics-can-change/">http://www.care2.com/causes/global-warming/blog/yes-climate-skeptics-can-change/</a><br /><br />Thanks to author, educator, and JVNS|A Advisor Dan Brook and Israeli activist Mark Feffer for sending us this link<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a050111a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a050111a12"></a><strong>12. PETA Offers to Help “Green Synagogue” if it Would Help Promote Veganism</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.greenprophet.com/2011/04/peta-offers-to-support-green-synagogue-but-only-if-they-promote-going-vegan/">http://www.greenprophet.com/2011/04/peta-offers-to-support-green-synagogue-but-only-if-they-promote-going-vegan/</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a050111a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a050111a13"></a><strong>13. Veggie Pride Parade Exhibitor List/Volunteer Needed for the JVNA Table</strong><br /><br />Following is the list of confirmed exhibitors for the Veggie Pride Parade. <br /><br />Table space is provided. <br /><br /> * A Well Fed World<br /><br /> * American Vegan Society<br /><br /> * author's table, Rynn Berry & Hannah Kaminsky<br /><br /> * Black Vegetarians of New York<br /><br /> * Catskill Animal Sanctuary<br /><br /> * Deliciious TV<br /><br /> * DoNotEatUs.org<br /><br /> * F.A.R.M.<br /><br /> * Farm Sanctuary<br /><br /> * Bruce Friedrich, speaker<br /><br /> * Friends of Animals<br /><br /> * Global Justice for Animals and the Environment (after 3 p.m.)<br /><br /> * Green Compassion / Youth Buddhism Communications<br /><br /> * Healthy Planet (Long Island)<br /><br /> * Hearts for Animals<br /><br /> * Integral Yoga (food donation) (until 3 p.m.)<br /><br /> * Jewish Vegetarians of North America, JVNA<br /><br /> * Dr. Michael Klaper, speaker<br /><br /> * Lantern Books<br /><br /> * Meetup Dot Com (veg groups)<br /><br /> * Mercy for Animals<br /><br /> * Micah Books<br /><br /> * Mid-Hudson Vegetarian Society<br /><br /> * Victoria Moran<br /><br /> * No. American Vegetarian Society (NAVS)<br /><br /> * PeTA<br /><br /> * Raw Revolution (food donation)<br /><br /> * Pay-Per-View (watch a video, get a dollar)<br /><br /> * Sadhu Vaswani Center<br /><br /> * Sequel Naturals (Vega protein packet, food donation)--(after 3 p.m.)<br /><br /> * 7th Day Adventists<br /><br /> * Supreme Master Ching Hai, Int'l.<br /><br /> * Team Organic, vegan triathletes<br /><br /> * United Poultry Concerns<br /><br /> * Vegan Outreach<br /><br /> * Vegetarian Resource Group, VRG<br /><br /> * Vegetarian Vision<br /><br /> * VivaVegie Society<br /><br /> * V-Spot (food donation)<br /><br /> * Whole Earth Bakery (food donation)<br /><br /> * Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a050111a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a050111a14"></a><strong>14. New Book Dispels the “Protein Myth”<br /><br />The Protein Myth:
<i>Significantly Reducing the Risk of Cancer, Heart Disease, Stroke, and Diabetes While Saving the Animals and Building a Better World</i><br /><br />By David Gerow Irving
<br /><br />Reviewed by Frank and Mary Hoffman <br /><br />Publisher:</strong><br /><br />O-Books
An imprint of John Hunt Publishing Ltd.
Laurel House
Station Approach
Alresford
Hants, SO24 9Jh, UK
Copyright © David Gerow Irving 2010
ISBN: 978-1-84694-673-8
£12.35 UK
$19.95 US<br /><br /><strong>Review:</strong><br /><br />David Irving's scholarly and well documented, but easy to read work, <i>The Protein Myth</i>, drew us immediately into the content. At the same time, we began to smile, because we saw the intrigue David developed leading the reader ever closer to the solution of our health care problems, but then telling us to read the next chapter for the answer.<br /><br /><i>The Protein Myth</i> presents the scientific evidence and clinical trial results that prove that a whole (unprocessed) plant food diet will significantly reduce the risk of almost all of our major chronic diseases: Cancer, Heart Disease, Stroke, Diabetes, and Arthritis; and at the same time showing the reluctance or corruption of the major health care organizations to honestly report these findings to the general public.<br /><br />Within the pages of <i>The Protein Myth</i>, there are chapters and sections that discuss in detail every one of our major chronic diseases, and the physicians, clinicians, and organizations that are continually proving that a plant food diet will prevent, reverse, and even cure these diseases and others. There are in-depth discussions on the health care establishment (government, industry, and charitable organization) who are working against the interests of the public's health, much as they had done with smoking in the past. <br /><br />If our federal government really wants to lower healthcare costs and provide coverage for every citizen, they should listen to David Irving instead of the lobbyists.<br /><br /><i>The Protein Myth</i> is a must read book for every single person, and a wonderful reference book.<br /><br /><strong>About the Author:</strong><br /><br />. David Gerow Irving graduated Magna Cum Laude, Phi Bata Kappa from Columbia University.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a050111a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a050111a15"></a><strong>15. Top Scientist Argues That Recent Severe Tornados Are Related to Climate Change</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://truthout.org/top-climate-scientist-monster-tornadoes-it-irresponsible-not-mention-climate-change/1304176772">http://truthout.org/top-climate-scientist-monster-tornadoes-it-irresponsible-not-mention-climate-change/1304176772</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a050111a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a050111a16"></a><strong>16. Update From Joseph Puentes re Vegetarian and Environmental Podcasts</strong><br /><br />HELP: I need people willing to speak on the topic of morality/immorality. I would like to shift strongly toward the immorality of eating meat with particular emphasis of how immoral it is toward OTHER HUMANS. CAN YOU PLEASE SUGGEST people that you feel qualified to speak on this topic? Just pass me their names and I'll do what I can to find their contact info so I can send an invitation. Please Help! <br /><br />-------------------------------------<br /><br />4993 Facebook Friends and Counting (I deleted several hundred friends that were already members of the VSSE fb group). At this point I've suspended inviting friends on a wholesale basis from the Vegan/Vegetarian community and will concentrate on adding friends from "Environmental" groups. The limit of friends a person can have is 5000 so I need to start thinking of options of what I'm going to do in a few months when I reach that threshold. Is there anyone in the group that is Facebook Savvy that could council me on alternative options? I know that many people have more than one FB account but I think that is illegal and since I've had my account suspended twice already I'm very hesitant to do anything that would ban my account for life.<br /><br /> <br /><br />I wish there was a way to invite Facebook individuals that are NOT my friends to join the VSSE podcast FB group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=40863727638<br /><br /> <br /><br />--------------------------------------------<br /><br /> <br /><br />The VSSE podcast has a Facebook presence. You can ADD me as a friend and send me your friend suggestions (http://www.facebook.com/VeganEnvironmentalSolutions). You can also join the VSSE Podcast Facebook group here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=40863727638 Please spread the word that the podcast exists and share with your "Environmentalist" friends.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Also we have FB Events at:<br /><br />http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=199555366752285<br /><br /> <br /><br />I NEED 5-10 people to help me Veg-Evangelize to Environmental Groups on Facebook (and off facebook too). Here is what I need. We'll each send out a short message (I can supply the message) to 4 FB Environmental<br /><br />Groups per week/per month/or just as often as you'd like. The problem is that I've already had my FB account suspended a few weeks ago for being too "aggressive" in trying to spread the word about transitioning to a plant based diet and the next time it might be permanent. I've already<br /><br />gained two more warnings and feel like I'm walking on thin ice. So the plan is to gather a "Few" good folks to send out these messages with the goal being to FORCE the conversation in the direction of "The single most important thing an individual can do for the environment is to go<br /><br />Vegan."- email me: <a href="mailto:NoMeat@h2opodcast.com">NoMeat@h2opodcast.com</a> and I'll give more details -<br /><br />Please Help! <br /><br />------------------------------------------------- <br /><br />We have a new addition to the speech archive. Listen to "The Missing Piece from World Peace" by Dr. Aryan Tavakkoli FRACP:<br /><br /><a href="http://h2opodcast.com/speech.html#at">http://h2opodcast.com/speech.html#at</a> <br /><br />Speeches entitled "Harvesting animals and consuming the planet" by Jamie Rivet are ready on the website at <a href="http://h2opodcast.com/speech.html">http://h2opodcast.com/speech.html</a> Many<br /><br />Many thanks to Jamie Rivet for his work on this project. <br /><br />Are there any other speech writers in the group? Let's continue assembling an archive of "Ready To Go" speeches that anyone can use to further the cause. Email me at: <a href="mailto:NoMeat@h2opodcast.com">NoMeat@h2opodcast.com</a> <br /><br />----------------------------------------------- <br /><br />I need help with with the VSSE podcast. This podcast is a community effort and the project can definitely benefit with the liberal sharing of "YOUR VOICE." I have material waiting to be read on the Environmental Reasons the world needs to TRANSITION toward a plant based diet so please contact me (<a href="mailto:NoMeat@h2opodcast.com">NoMeat@h2opodcast.com</a>) so we can discuss how you can read for the podcast. Here is more material on this subject: <a href="http://h2opodcast.com/wtp.html">http://h2opodcast.com/wtp.html</a> <br /><br />---------------------------------------<br /><br />Keep it in mind that the best way to listen to the audio is to subscribe to the free podcast by downloading a free copy of the iTunes program at: <a href="http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/">http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/</a> You would then proceed to insert the VSSE RSS feed (<a href="http://h2opodcast.com/rss/vsse.xml">http://h2opodcast.com/rss/vsse.xml</a>) into iTunes to<br /><br />complete the free subscription process. If you don't feel like doing that just click on the individual links at the <a href="http://h2opodcast.com/vsse.html">http://h2opodcast.com/vsse.html</a> site and listen directly from the internet or right click, save to your computer and upload to your mp3 player.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a050111a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">** Fair Use Notice **<br /><br />The material on this site is provided for educational and informational purposes. It may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. It is being made available in an effort to advance the understanding of vegetarian, environmental, nutritional, health, economic, social justice and human rights issues etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have an interest in using the included information for educational or research purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. The information on this site does not constitute legal, technical or medical advice.</span>.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17349614588789907464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9631520.post-8403059034958330302011-05-13T14:25:00.009-04:002011-06-02T23:57:51.022-04:0004/12/2011 JVNA Online NewsletterShalom everyone,<br /><br /><a name="a041211a0"></a>This update/<strong><a href="http://jewishveg.com/">Jewish Vegetarians of North America</a></strong> (JVNA) Online Newsletter has the following items:<br /><br /><strong>1. <a href="#a041211a1">Happy Passover</a><br /><br />1a. <a href="#a041211a1a">Dvar Torah: Can a Vegetarian Observe All the Passover Requirements?</a><br /><br />2. <a href="#a041211a2">Livestock Sector Now the MAJOR Cause of Greenhouse Gas Emissions</a><br /><br />3. <a href="#a041211a3">New Haredi Animal Rights Group Formed in Israel</a><br /><br />4. <a href="#a041211a4">European Jews seek help opposing anti-shechita [Kosher Slaughter] Law</a><br /><br />5. <a href="#a041211a5">My letter to the Editor of the Jerusalem Post Re the Above Two items</a><br /><br />6. <a href="#a041211a6">Hot Spots in the Global Food Crisis</a><br /><br />7. <a href="#a041211a7">You can hear 130 Hour Long Interviews With Leading Vegetarians and Other Activists</a><br /><br />8. <a href="#a041211a8">Another Great Reason Not To Eat Fish</a><br /><br />9. <a href="#a041211a9">Have a Question About Any Aspect of Judaism and Vegetarianism?</a><br /><br />10. <a href="#a041211a10">Compiling a List of Vegetarian Rabbis</a><br /><br />11. <a href="#a041211a11">Challenging Vegetarian Lecture Translated Into Hebrew</a><br /><br />12. <a href="#a041211a12">Food Day Coming</a></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Some material has been deferred to a later update/newsletter to keep this one from being even longer.<br /><br /> [Materials in brackets like this [ ] within an article or forwarded message are my editorial notes/comments.]<br /><br /><strong>Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the JVNA, unless otherwise indicated, but may be presented to increase awareness and/or to encourage respectful dialogue. Also, material re conferences, retreats, forums, trips, and other events does not necessarily imply endorsement by JVNA or endorsement of the kashrut, Shabbat observances, or any other Jewish observances, but may be presented for informational purposes. Please use e-mail addresses, telephone numbers, and web sites to get further information about any event that you are interested in. Also, JVNA does not necessarily agree with all positions of groups whose views are included or whose events are announced in this newsletter.</strong><br /><br />As always, your comments and suggestions are very welcome. <br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Richard</span><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a041211a1"></a><strong>1. Happy Passover</strong><br /><br />Best wishes to everyone for a sweet, happy, kosher, meaningful Passover (Pesach). <br /><br />To help spread the vegetarian message, please see my article “Passover and Vegetarianism” at the holidays section at JewishVeg.com/Schwartz, and please feel free to use the ideas for letters to editors, calls to talk shows, talking points, etc. Thanks. <br /><br />Chag Pesach kasher v’sameach! <br /><br />My letter to the editor (longer and shorter versions) sent to many Jewish weeklies is below: (Please also check: <a href="http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=64427">http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=64427</a>) <br /><br />Dear Editor: <br /><br />As President of the Jewish Vegetarians of North America and author of Judaism and Vegetarianism, I suggest that we commemorate the redemption of our ancestors from slavery this Passover by ending the current slavery to harmful eating habits through the adoption of vegetarian diets. <br /><br />An increasing number of Jews are turning to vegetarianism and they are finding ways to celebrate vegetarian Passovers consistent with Jewish teachings. Contrary to a common perception, Jews are not required to eat meat at the Passover seder or any other time. According to the Talmud (Pesachim 109a) and other sources, since the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, Jews need not eat meat to celebrate Jewish festivals. <br /><br />Jewish vegetarians see vegetarian values reinforced by several Passover themes: <br /><br />At the seder, Jews say, "Let all who are hungry come and eat". This seems inconsistent with the consumption of animal-centered diets which involves the feeding of 70% of the grain grown in the United States to animals destined for slaughter, while 20 million of the world's people die of hunger and its effects annually. Vegetarian diets require far less land, water, gasoline, pesticides, fertilizer, and other resources, and thus enable the better sharing of God's abundant resources, which can help reduce global hunger and poverty. <br /><br />2. Passover is the holiday of springtime, a time of nature's renewal. It also commemorates God's supremacy over the forces of nature. In contrast, modern intensive livestock agriculture and animal-centered diets have many negative effects on the environment, including air and water pollution, soil erosion and depletion, the destruction of tropical rain forests and other habitats, and contributions to global warming. <br /><br />3. The main Passover theme is freedom. While relating the story of our ancestors' slavery in Egypt and their redemption through God's power and beneficence, many Jewish vegetarians also consider the "slavery" of animals on modern "factory farms". Contrary to Jewish teachings of compassion, animals are raised for food today under very cruel conditions. <br /><br />Very truly yours, <br /><br />Richard H. Schwartz, Ph.D. <br /><br />==============<br /><br />Shorter version <br /><br />As President of the Jewish Vegetarians of North America and author of “Judaism and Vegetarianism,” I suggest that we commemorate the redemption of our ancestors from slavery this Passover by ending the current slavery to harmful eating habits. <br /><br />An increasing number of Jews are finding ways to celebrate vegetarian Passovers consistent with Jewish teachings. Contrary to a common perception, Jews are not required to eat meat at the Passover seder or any other time. <br /><br />Several Passover themes have vegetarian connections: <br /><br />At the seder, Jews say, "Let all who are hungry come and eat." Vegetarian diets require far less land, water, fuel, pesticides, fertilizer, and other resources, and thus enable the better sharing of God's abundant resources, which can help reduce global hunger and poverty. <br /><br />Passover is the holiday of springtime, a time of nature's renewal. It also commemorates God's supremacy over the forces of nature. In contrast, the production of meat has many negative environmental effects. <br /><br />The main Passover theme is freedom. While relating the story of our ancestors' slavery in Egypt and their redemption, many Jewish vegetarians also consider the "slavery" of animals on modern “factory farms". <br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a041211a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a041211a1a"></a><strong>1a. Dvar Torah: Can a Vegetarian Observe All the Passover Requirements?<br /><br />Dvar Torah for Pesach 2011 (by Rabbi Burton Schwartz) <br /><br />Can a Vegetarian observe all the rituals and requirements for Pesach?</strong> <br /><br />The short answer to my question is an emphatic yes! <br /><br />How you may ask?........well let’s look at the what the Rabbi’s have said and done about the slaughtering of animals for atonement of sins throughout the ages.<br /><br />According to the late first century Rabbis, ‘The G-d of Israel does not need to be fed, but the Torah instead maintains that what G-d desires is “the sweet smell” of the sacrifices ....not their meat!’<br /><br /> Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai once was walking with his student, Rabbi Joshua, near Jerusalem after the destruction of the Temple. Rabbi Joshua looked @ the Temple ruins and said “ Alas for us! The place that atoned for the sins of the people Israel thru the ritual of animal sacrifices lies in ruins!” Then Rabbi Yohanan spoke to him in these words of comfort: “Be not grieved, my son,. There is another equally meritorious way of gaining atonement even though the Temple is destroyed. We can still gain atonement through deeds of loving kindness....as it is written, ‘Loving kindness I desire.... not sacrifice’ ( Hosea 6:6)” <br /><br />Rabbi Elazar said: Doing righteous deeds of charity is greater than offering all the sacrifices, as it is written, “Doing charity and justice is more desirable to G-d than sacrifice “(Proverbs 21:3). <br /><br />Maimonides goes even further in the Guide for the Perplexed, Part III, Chapter 32 when he states that G-d really never wanted Jews to sacrifice animals to worship Him, but only allowed them to do so because people in the ancient world were accustomed to worshipping their gods in that way, and G-d, being a good leader and teacher, knew the Israelites simply could not worship Him in any other way. Using this divine ruse of worshipping only one G-d was a way to deface idolatry and establish the true foundation of our belief.....namely the existence and oneness of G-d. <br /><br />Maimonides points out that G-d could have created our ancestors in such a way as to be able to worship w/o animal sacrifices, but the fact our ancestors were used to them indicates that G-d wanted us to be that way ....then He weaned us from these sacrifices by restricting them to the Temple in Jerusalem and then requiring that they be offered only by the priestly class....demonstrating that they were not how He ultimately wants us to worship Him.<br /><br /> Maimonides further points out how the Israelites used animal sacrifices to worship Baal and other Canaanite gods thus exposing the ease with which that mode of worship can be used to undermine the very purpose of worship.....which is to know G-d and follow His commandments. <br /><br />Today there is no need to cook or eat meat on Pesach. The eating of the Pascal lamb is no longer required now that the Temple is not standing. Therefore one is required to commemorate the act...not participate in it.<br /><br />In these times there is no obligation to eat meat, as we see in the Shulchan Arukh, based on the Gemara in Pesachim 109a. The essence of the Pesach seder is to recall the miracles associated with the redemption from Egypt. As for the Pascal Lamb..... when the Mashiach comes we’ll find out what is expected of us. However, according to Rav Kook, based on kabbalistic sources, the tikkun accomplished by consumption of animals will then be complete and vegetation alone will be offered in the Third Beth HaMikdash. <br /><br /> The Seder plate is meant to demonstrate the various symbols of the story of our journey to Freedom from the enslavement we suffered under the Egyptians. Therefore it is no sin to improvise. There were and are many vegetarian Rabbi’s such as the late Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rav Shlomo Goren, the late Rav Dovid Cohen of Jerusalem and his son Rav Shear-Yashuv Cohen of Haifa, The chief Rabbi of England, Rav Jonathan Sachs and many others. Using substitutes for the shank bone goes back even to a century ago when the Kamenetzer Maggid, Rav Chaim Maccoby used two roasted eggs on the seder plate instead of the bone. In our home we use a beet. <br /><br /> It should been noted that the slaughtering of the Pascal lamb represented the submission of the animal the Egyptian’s deemed sacred to the service of G-d. Thus it is meant to represent the nullification of idolatry....but on a deeper level the position of the Pascal lamb ‘with its head on its knees’ brings to mind the prophetic position for meditation and prayer mentioned in the Gemara.....”head on (or between) one’s knees. <br /><br />The Chassidic master Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev interpreted this position as a unification of the sefirot associated with the knees and the mind as channels for prophecy to which Pesach alludes. <br /><br />The proper celebration of Pesach requires the absence of leaven and the use of unleavened bread, which we are commanded to eat “throughout your generations”. There are many vegetarian substitutes that are appropriate for Seders and my wife has become an expert at preparing things like vegetarian stuffed cabbage and vegetable/nut filled squash to name just two possible recipes. <br /><br />Because Pesach is the celebration of our redemption from slavery, we should also consider freeing ourselves from the slavery of harmful eating habits....and as our homes are freed from leaven, perhaps we should also consider freeing our bodies from harmful foods. <br /><br />Since Pesach is a time of regeneration both physical and spiritual, we should consider the maximum use of raw fruits and vegetables which have been shown to have a cleansing effect on our bodies. <br /><br />In conclusion may I wish all of us a sweet and kosher Pesach and may we all succeed in making our prayers and acts of loving kindness a fitting substitute for the animal sacrifices in days of yore. <br /><br />Hag Sameach!<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a041211a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a041211a2"></a><strong>2. Livestock Sector Now the MAJOR Cause of Greenhouse Gas Emissions</strong><br /><br />Below is a link to an interview of Robert Goodland, co-author of “Livestock and Climate Change,” which argues (with much logic) that the livestock sector is now responsible for at least 51% of all human-induced greenhouse gas emissions. It is translated from Chinese. (The interview took place in China, where Dr. Goodland spoke. His talk is in the previous JVNA Newsletter.) <br /><br /><a href="http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=zh-CN&u=http://finance.sina.com.cn/roll/20110411/23219670311.shtml&ei=M0ijTanqD4HagQfJ3bXaBQ&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CFwQ7gEwBw&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%2522robert%2Bgoodland%2522%26hl%3Den%26tbo%3D1%26tbs%3Dqdr:d%26prmd%3Divnslo">http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=zh-CN&u=http://finance.sina.com.cn/roll/20110411/23219670311.shtml&ei=M0ijTanqD4HagQfJ3bXaBQ&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CFwQ7gEwBw&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%2522robert%2Bgoodland%2522%26hl%3Den%26tbo%3D1%26tbs%3Dqdr:d%26prmd%3Divnslo</a> <br /><br />Please help spread the word about this very important message. Thanks.<br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a041211a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a041211a3"></a><strong>3. New Haredi Animal Rights Group Formed in Israel<br /><br />New org to educate Haredi [very Orthodox] community on animal rights</strong> <br /><br />Jerusalem Post article April 5, 2011<br /><br /><a href="http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishNews/Article.aspx?id=215197">http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishNews/Article.aspx?id=215197</a> <br /><br />Thanks to Rabbi Adam Frank for sending this link to us. <br /><br />Here is my submitted post at the end of the article: <br /><br />As president of Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA), I am very happy to learn about this group and I wish them much hatzlacha [success]. Judaism has very powerful teachings on compassion to animals and it is important that they be put into practice. I hope that the group will address dietary issues because plant-based diets are most consistent with Jewish mandates to take care of our health, treat animals with compassion, protect the environment, conserve natural resources, hep hungry people, and seek a more peaceful world. <br /><br />For more information, please visit <a href="http://www.JewishVeg.com/schwartz">JewishVeg.com/schwartz</a>, where I have 140 articles, 25 podcasts of my talks and interviews, and the complete text of my book "Judaism and Vegetarianism."<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a041211a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a041211a4"></a><strong>4. European Jews seek help opposing anti-shechita [Kosher Slaughter] Law</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishNews/Article.aspx?ID=215117&R=R1">http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishNews/Article.aspx?ID=215117&R=R1</a> <br /><br />My post at the end of the article: <br /><br />As president of Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA) I want to point out that, while we would prefer that no animals be slaughtered for meat, we also oppose efforts to single out shechitah for criticism. Anyone who thinks that stunning animals before slaughter minimizes pain should read the book "Slaughterhouse" by Gail Eisnitz and learn about the many problems at non-kosher slaughterhouses. JVNA argues that even if shechitah is carried out perfectly and there is relatively little pain, we should not ignore the horrible mistreatment of animals on factory farms.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a041211a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a041211a5"></a><strong>5. My letter to the Editor of the Jerusalem Post Re the Above Two items</strong><br /><br />April 5, 2011<br />Editor, Jerusalem Post<br /><a href="mailto:Letters@JPost.com">Letters@JPost.com</a><br /><br />Dear Editor: <br /><br />As president of Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA), I would like to briefly comment on two articles in your April 5 issue. Re "European Jews seek help in anti-shechita law," while JVNA prefers that no animals be slaughtered for meat, we also oppose efforts to single out shechitah for criticism. Anyone who thinks that stunning animals before slaughter minimizes pain should read the book "Slaughterhouse" by Gail Eisnitz and learn about the many problems at non-kosher slaughterhouses. JVNA believes that shechitah is the most humane means of slaughter, but argues that even if shechitah is carried out perfectly and there is relatively little pain, we should not ignore the horrible mistreatment of animals on factory farms that often are violations of tsa’ar ba’alei chaim, the Torah-mandate to avoid causing unnecessary pain to animals. <br /><br />Re “New org to educate haredi community on animal rights,” we are very happy to learn about this group and wish them much hatzlacha in educating Jews about Judaism’s beautiful teachings on the proper treatment of animals. <br /><br /> Re both articles, I hope that the Jewish community will address the many ethical and halachic issues related to our diets. There is increasing evidence that plant-based diets are most consistent with Jewish mandates to take care of our health, treat animals with compassion, protect the environment, conserve natural resources, help hungry people, and seek a more peaceful world. <br /><br />For more information, please visit <a href="http://www.JewishVeg.com/schwartz">JewishVeg.com/schwartz</a>, where I have 140 articles, 25 podcasts of my talks and interviews, and the complete text of my book "Judaism and Vegetarianism." And please visit <a href="http://www.aSacredDuty.com">aSacredDuty.com</a> to see our acclaimed documentary “A Sacred Duty: Applying Jewish Values to Help Heal the World.”<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a041211a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a041211a6"></a><strong>6. Hot Spots in the Global Food Crisis</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.ewg.org/hot-spots-emerging-global-food-crisis?utm_source=2011q1update&utm_medium=email&utm_content=fifth-link&utm_campaign=fund">http://www.ewg.org/hot-spots-emerging-global-food-crisis?utm_source=2011q1update&utm_medium=email&utm_content=fifth-link&utm_campaign=fund</a><br /><br />Thanks to JVNA advisor Ron Landskroner for forwarding this website link to us. There are many indications that providing sufficient food for the world’s growing population is going to be a great challenge to humanity.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a041211a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a041211a7"></a><strong>7. You can hear 130 Hour Long Interviews With Leading Vegetarians and Other Activists</strong><br /><br />Forwarded message from Will Tuttle, author of the <i>World Peace Diet</i>, a book I very highly recommend. <br /><br />Hello Richard <br /><br />Greetings! Hope you're doing well! <br /><br />In these challenging times of mass media misinformation, it's vital to have sources of information that lead to health, kindness, and peace. In light of this, I wanted to let you know about an excellent opportunity to get a LOT of terrific information ---<br /><br />I'm delighted that Steve Prussack is making his "Interview with the Masters" program available to everyone starting today, April 7th. It includes 130 hour-long interviews with some of the leading names in health, nutrition, consciousness, and relationships, like Kris Carr, Gabriel Cousens, John Robbins, Rory Freedman, T. Colin Campbell, Mike Adams, Louise Hay, Gary Null, Don Miguel Ruiz, Cherie Soria, Angela Stokes Monarch, David Wolfe, Harville Hendrix, Jameth Sheridan, Dan Millman, Brendan Brazier, Brian Clement, yours truly, and many more. You'll have access to some of the most respected and cutting edge voices in this series--people who understand the big picture of health and how we can positively transform our lives. Most highly recommended - <a href="http://www.rawinterviews.com/">here's the link</a> if you'd like to find out more. <br /><br />Tour update - Madeleine and I just left Florida, and we're putting on events here in Georgia for a couple of weeks, then Alabama, Tennessee, Texas, Arizona, and by early June, we'll be in southern California. Here are <a href="http://willtuttle.com/schedule.htm">the details</a>. <br /><br />Finally, I've just recently written an article entitled: <a href="http://www.vegsource.com/dr-will-tuttle/spiritual-people-moving-toward-veganism.html">Spiritual People Moving Toward Veganism?</a> <br /><br />Please check it out and let me know what you think! <br /><br />Thanks to you, and to everyone who has made our past few months presenting events here in Florida so absolutely terrific!! The best part of this job is the beautiful people we meet and work together with to spread the message of compassion and health. Keep up the great work!! <br /><br />That's it for now, and love from Madeleine, too, <br /><br />Will <br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a041211a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a041211a8"></a><strong>8. Another Great Reason Not To Eat Fish</strong><br /><br />If you know anyone who eats fish, please ask them to watch this video. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0F8x4i5GYE&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0F8x4i5GYE&feature=related</a> <br /><br /> It might get them to change their minds.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a041211a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a041211a9"></a><strong>9. Have a Question About Any Aspect of Judaism and Vegetarianism?</strong><br /><br />Please feel free to let us know what vegetarian-related questions you have. We have some very knowledgeable people and will try to provide you with answers.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a041211a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /> <a name="a041211a10"></a><strong>10. Compiling a List of Vegetarian Rabbis</strong><br /><br />We are trying to update our list of vegetarian rabbis. If you know of any, please let us know, along with contact information if possible. Thanks.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a041211a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a041211a11"></a><strong>11. Challenging Vegetarian Lecture Translated Into Hebrew</strong><br /><br />Forwarded message: <br /><br />Hello Richard, <br /><br />I'm sure you already heard about Gary Yourofsky's incredible lecture. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es6U00LMmC4">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es6U00LMmC4</a> <br /><br />Now the Israeli TV for Animal-Rights, Yoman Hayati ("יומן חייתי") has translated the lecture to Hebrew!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omweihtaYwI">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omweihtaYwI</a> <br /><br />I think it will be wonderful if you can share this information in your next newsletter. <br /><br />Many thanks and keep doing your wonderful work. <br /><br />Happy Passover!<br /><br />:)<br /><br />Daniel Erlich,<br /><br /><a href="mailto:daniel@animal-tv.org">daniel@animal-tv.org</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.animal-tv.org">http://www.animal-tv.org</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a041211a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a041211a12"></a><strong>12. Food Day Coming</strong><br /><br />Forwarded message from Michael Jacobson, co-founder and director of Center for Science in the Public Interest: <br /><br />[If anyone would like to consider vegetarian connections to this important event, please let me know. Thanks.] <br /><br />Dear Friend, <br /><br />I’m excited to tell you about a major new campaign that we are launching later today with some of the most prominent voices for change in the food policy world. That venture is <a href="http://www.foodday.org/">Food Day</a>! <br /><br />We’re launching what we hope will become an annual event that is both a celebration of real, healthy food—and a powerful, grassroots movement for change. <br /><br />We’ve modeled <a href="http://www.foodday.org/">Food Day</a> on Earth Day. It is led by honorary co-chairs Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Rep. Rosa Delauro (D-CT), and is backed by an impressive <a href="http://foodday.org/about-foo -day/food-day-advisory-board.php">advisory board</a> including author Michael Pollan, physicians David Satcher and Michael Roizen, professors Walter Willett, Kelly Brownell, and Marion Nestle, and prominent chefs such as Alice Waters, Dan Barber, and Nora Pouillon. <br /><br />Food Day also has the support of a wide range of national and <a href="http://foodday.org/about-food-day/partner-organizations.php">local organizations</a> focused on hunger, sustainable agriculture, animal welfare, and public health. <br /><br />But the most important ingredient in Food Day is you! We envision thousands of events on October 24, 2011, from coast to coast, ranging from small events in homes and classrooms, to large rallies in public parks, and hearings in city councils and state legislatures. A Food Day event could be as simple as a vegetable-recognition contest in a<br /><br />kindergarten, a potluck dinner with friends featuring locally sourced ingredients, a spirited debate on a college campus, or celebrating the harvest from an urban garden you start this spring. <br /><br />Food Day is all about solving local communities’ food problems. Nationally, we’ve identified five key priorities: <br /><br />• Reducing diet-related disease by promoting healthy foods <br /><br />• Supporting sustainable farms and cutting subsidies to agribusiness <br /><br />• Expanding access to food and alleviating hunger <br /><br />• Reforming factory farms to protect animals and the environment <br /><br />• Curbing junk-food marketing to kids <br /><br />Can we count on you to participate in a Food Day event near you, or better yet, will you organize a Food Day event in your community? If none of the topics above appeals to you, is there another food issue confronting your community that needs attention? A growing network of partner organizations, advisors, and Food Day <a href="http://foodday.org/about-food-day/food-day-staff.php">organizing staff</a> is standing by to help you put a Food Day event on the calendar. (In weeks we’ll have a web-based map that lets you schedule or RSVP to Food Day events with just a few clicks of a mouse!) <br /><br />Please email me at <a href="mailto:foodday@cspinet.org">foodday@cspinet.org</a>, or call us at 202-777-8392. Food Day is just a little more than six months out. That’s more than enough time to plan, but let’s get started together, today! <br /><br />Sincerely, <br /><br />Michael F. Jacobson<br />Executive Director, CSPI and Founder, Food Day <br /><br />P.S. You can keep up with Food Day and other exciting things by ‘liking’ Food Day on Facebook <a href="http://www.facebook.com/fooddayeatreal">http://www.facebook.com/fooddayeatreal</a>, or following us at our new Twitter handle <a href="http://www.twitter.com/cspi">http://www.twitter.com/cspi</a>.<br /><br />And please share this message with your friends and family.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a041211a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">** Fair Use Notice **<br /><br />The material on this site is provided for educational and informational purposes. It may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. It is being made available in an effort to advance the understanding of vegetarian, environmental, nutritional, health, economic, social justice and human rights issues etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have an interest in using the included information for educational or research purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. The information on this site does not constitute legal, technical or medical advice.</span>.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17349614588789907464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9631520.post-8835808543403033792011-04-05T00:45:00.022-04:002011-06-02T22:57:23.667-04:0004/03/2011 JVNA Online NewsletterShalom everyone,<br /><br /><a name="a040311a0"></a>This update/<strong><a href="http://jewishveg.com/">Jewish Vegetarians of North America</a></strong> (JVNA) Online Newsletter has the following items:<br /><br /><strong>1. <a href="#a040311a1">Passover and Vegetarianism</a><br /><br />2. <a href="#a040311a2">Vegetarianism and Kashrut (the Kosher Laws)</a><br /><br />3. <a href="#a040311a3">Major Talk By Noted Environmental Author and Researcher Stresses That Reducing Meat Consumption Can Avert Climate Catastrophe</a><br /><br />4. <a href="#a040311a4">JVNA Website As a Valuable Tool</a><br /><br />5. <a href="#a040311a5">Letters Sent to the Jerusalem Post in Response to My Op-ED Article on Parshat Tzav</a><br /><br />6. <a href="#a040311a6">Great Short Video Shows the Major Impact of Animal-Based Agriculture on Climate Change</a><br /><br />7. <a href="#a040311a7">Important New Book on Animal Advocacy</a><br /><br />8. <a href="#a040311a8">VegFund a Valuable Support Group for Vegan Events</a><br /><br />9. <a href="#a040311a9">Tips for Tabling at Large Events, From VegFund</a><br /><br />10. <a href="#a040311a10">NY Times’ Mark Bittman’s Food Manifesto</a><br /><br />11. <a href="#a040311a11">Ten Studies on the Impact of Animal Agriculture on Climate Change</a><br /><br />12. <a href="#a040311a12">Posting Comments At the End of Online Articles Can Help Spread Vegetarian Messages</a><br /><br />13. <a href="#a040311a13">Chart Indicates Nutritional Benefits of Plant Products</a><br /><br />14. <a href="#a040311a14">Update On Veggie Pride Parade (Scheduled for May 15, 2011 in NY City)</a><br /><br />15. <a href="#a040311a15">Reform Rabbis Address “Ethical Eating”</a><br /><br />16. <a href="#a040311a16">Journal of Animal Ethics Launched</a><br /><br />17. <a href="#a040311a17">Israeli Sephardic Rabbis Oppose Foie Gras</a></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Some material has been deferred to a later update/newsletter to keep this one from being even longer.<br /><br /> [Materials in brackets like this [ ] within an article or forwarded message are my editorial notes/comments.]<br /><br /><strong>Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the JVNA, unless otherwise indicated, but may be presented to increase awareness and/or to encourage respectful dialogue. Also, material re conferences, retreats, forums, trips, and other events does not necessarily imply endorsement by JVNA or endorsement of the kashrut, Shabbat observances, or any other Jewish observances, but may be presented for informational purposes. Please use e-mail addresses, telephone numbers, and web sites to get further information about any event that you are interested in. Also, JVNA does not necessarily agree with all positions of groups whose views are included or whose events are announced in this newsletter.</strong><br /><br />As always, your comments and suggestions are very welcome. <br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Richard</span><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a040311a1"></a><strong>1. Passover and Vegetarianism</strong><br /><br />Passover, which begins on the evening of April 18, provides another opportunity to promote vegetarianism. My article on “Passover and Vegetarianism” is in the holidays section, along with articles relating all the other Jewish holy days to vegetarianism, at <a href="http://www.JewishVeg.com/Schwartz">JewishVeg.com/Schwartz</a>. Please feel free to pass the article on, post it, and to use it as the basis of letters to editors, calls to talk shows, and talking points. Thanks.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a040311a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a040311a2"></a><strong>2. Vegetarianism and Kashrut (the Kosher Laws)<br /></strong><br /><br />Rabbi Dovid Sears, a JVNA advisor and author of The Vision of Eden: Animal Welfare and Vegetarianism in Jewish Law and Mysticism has suggested that a good way to promote vegetarianism among Orthodox Jews is to show that it is easier to keep kosher as a vegetarian, and that an article summarizing the argument would be valuable. <br /><br />He suggests 4 areas for consideration: <br /><br />1) practical kashrus problems in the meat and fish industries; 2) Torah sources discouraging consumption of animals for kashrut reasons (he already has a few in the VOE); <br /><br />3) advantages of vegetarianism from a kashrus point of view; and 4) rabbinic statements in favor of this position (should be a few anyway). <br /><br />He further suggests that once there is enough material to work with, articles and letters to the Orthodox media could be written and submitted. <br /><br />If you have suggestions or would like to help with such a study or draft an article, please let me know. Thanks. <br /><br />--------------------------------------------------<br /><br />Response to the message above by JVNA advisor and long-time Israeli vegetarian activist Shaya Kelter: <br /><br />With regard to relating vegetarianism to kashrut my dream is to create a new kashrut hechsher sponsored by a major international organization in the field of kashrut: food would be declared kosher only if it met criteria of "tzar baalei chaim" – cruelty to animals – this would in include not only slaughter and preparation for slaughter but the raising of animals. This would affect dairy as well as meat. Issues of tzaar baalei chaim include separating calves from their mothers at birth and not allowing cow to ever graze. <br /><br />The effect of such a hechsher would be several:<br /><br />1. animal based food approved would be so expensive as to make animal consumption very greatly reduced for Jews who adhere to this type of hechsher. The economics would point many Jews in the direction of vegetarian or vegetarian most of the time. <br /><br />2. It would raise awareness of the importance of treating animals compassionately. <br /><br />3. It would help Jews understand that this is what the Torah expects. <br /><br />I would expect opposition to acceptance of such standards by an organization such as the OU [Orthodox Union]. The opposition would be not only philosophical but economic. There are many who earn their living from the present system and they would be very opposed. <br /><br />Perhaps at first this kind of hechsher could be offered as an alternative by a new kashrut organization. Perhaps eventually it could be adopted as an alternative by the OU. <br /><br />Further thoughts about my proposal for a new hechsher - kashrut authorization. The Torah sanctions the eating of meat, including the killing of animals to be eaten, but with the proviso of not being cruel to these animals. The "heter" - the dispensation was given immediately after the Flood to Noah. However, the Torah does not sanction cruelty to animals. The kosher food industry is currently based on systemic cruelty to animals by default, by silence, by ignoring. It is not as mitzvah to eat meat. It is a mitzvah to not treat animals cruelly. I think this is the weak link in the armor of the carnivore advocates within the Orthodox community. Rather than attack them in their eating of meat, let's advocate adherence to the mitzvah of tzaar baalei chaim. <br /><br />My metaphor is how the Feds finally nailed Al Capone, the number one leader of Organized Crime in the U.S. They couldn't get him on his main felonies but they got him on his tax evasion. It is very difficult to combat the desire of the majority to eat meat. Where we can succeed more easily is to insist on abidance with the mitzvah of not being cruel to animals.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a040311a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a040311a3"></a><strong>3. Major Talk By Noted Environmental Author and Researcher Stresses That Reducing Meat Consumption Can Avert Climate Catastrophe</strong><br /><br />The link below is to a talk by Robert Goodland, co-author of the November/December 2009 World Watch magazine cover article “Livestock and Climate Change.” This is a very important talk! Please help spread this message. Thanks. <br /><br /><a href="http://awellfedworld.org/sites/awellfedworld.org/files/pdf/GoodlandChinaSpeech2011.pdf">http://awellfedworld.org/sites/awellfedworld.org/files/pdf/GoodlandChinaSpeech2011.pdf</a> <br /><br />It's been covered by one Chinese journalist, then picked up and run by other Chinese outlets. The original coverage, translated into English, is at <br /><br /><a href="http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=zh-CN&u=http://www.caijing.com.cn/2011-03-29/110678509.html&ei=ZWuSTcT2Auux0QGgj6nNBw&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CD8Q7gEwAw&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%2522robert%2Bgoodland%2522%26hl%3Den%26tbo%3D1%26tbs%3Dqdr:d%26prmd%3Divnslo">http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=zh-CN&u=http://www.caijing.com.cn/2011-03-29/110678509.html&ei=ZWuSTcT2Auux0QGgj6nNBw&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CD8Q7gEwAw&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%2522robert%2Bgoodland%2522%26hl%3Den%26tbo%3D1%26tbs%3Dqdr:d%26prmd%3Divnslo</a>. <br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a040311a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a040311a4"></a><strong>4. JVNA Website As a Valuable Tool</strong><br /><br />As the message below indicates, our JVNA website is a very valuable tool for Jewish vegetarian outreach. So please let others know about it (<a href="http://www.JewishVeg.com/Schwartz">www.JewishVeg.com">www.jewishVeg.com</a>), and about my 140 articles and 25 podcasts of my talks and interviews and the complete text of my book Judaism and Vegetarianism all and more at <a href="http://www.JewishVeg.com/Schwartz">www.JewishVeg.com/Schwartz</a>. <br /><br /> Many thanks.<br /><br />-----------------------------------<br /><br />Forwarded message: <br /><br />Hello.<br /><br />My name is Lior Zyser and I’m the Israeli Shlicha for the Jewish Federation of Peoria, IL. I wanted to thank you for being a great resource for everything that has to do with vegetarianism, going green, the environment and Judaism. <br /><br />This coming Shabbat [March 26] I’m giving a Dvar Torah in a traditional synagogue about Parashat Shemini- that describes which animals are Kosher to eat in Judaism and I was having a really hard time writing something about it since I’m a vegetarian myself. A friend told me about your<br /><br />organization and so I went on your web-site and found a lot of useful information for my sermon. Your site taught me a lot of new things and Jewish reasons for why vegetarian, and I enjoyed looking through it and quoting from it.<br /><br />So thank you very much!<br /><br />תודה רבה<br /><br />:) <br /><br />Lior Zyser<br />Israeli Shlicha<br /><br />Jewish Federation of Peoria<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a040311a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a040311a5"></a><strong>5. Letters Sent to the Jerusalem Post in Response to My Op-ED Article on Parshat Tzav</strong><br /><br />My op-ed article is at: <br /><br /><a href="http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/Judaism/Article.aspx?id=212400">http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/Judaism/Article.aspx?id=212400</a> <br /><br />The article only appeared on their website, but not in their print edition. <br /><br />---------------------------- <br /><br />Richard Schwartz's excellent article on the differences between eating meat when meat---and the animals they came from--were hallowed in the days of the Temple, and today when kosher meat comes largely from factory farmed animals and the animal dies a most -unhallowed death in an industrial facility where perhaps as many as 2,000 head of cattle a day are slaughtered, should make every Jew who respects historic kashrut realize that we violate it daily. There was a time when Jews were cognizant of the ethics of food---now only appetite reigns. <br /><br />Roberta Kalechosky, Ph.D., author of The Vegetarian Shabbat <br /><br />--------------------- <br /><br />Kudos to Dr. Schwartz on a compelling drash on Parshat Tzav, leading us to better understanding, higher spirituality, and a more compassionate and sustainable world. However, where Dr. Schwartz suggests "Avoid[ing] animal products that involve especially serious violations of tsa'ar ba'alei chaim", I wonder why we wouldn't want to avoid ALL products that violate this and other forms of Jewish justice. If not now, when? <br /><br />Dan Brook, Ph.D. <br />The Vegetarian Mitzvah: <a href="http://www.brook.com/jveg">www.brook.com/jveg</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a040311a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a040311a6"></a><strong>6. Great Short Video Shows the Major Impact of Animal-Based Agriculture on Climate Change</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGAKXYibgBk">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGAKXYibgBk</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a040311a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a040311a7"></a><strong>7. Important New Book on Animal Advocacy</strong><br /><br />Forwarded message from Wayne Pacelle, President & CEO, Humane Society of the United States: <br /><br /><strong>A New Era in Animal Advocacy</strong> <br /><br />Dear Richard, <br /><br />I’ve put my 25 years of work, experience and hopes into my first book, <i>The Bond: Our Kinship with Animals, Our Call to Defend Them</i>, due out for release April 5 by William Morrow. I hope this will be the dawn of a new era in our movement to protect animals, and I'm excited to personally share with you why I chose to write this book.<br /><br />Please <a href="http://www.humanesociety.org/about/events/the_bond/author_tributes_to_the_bond.html">watch this latest video</a> in which I speak about writing <i>The Bond</i>, and then <a href="http://www.humanesociety.org/about/events/the_bond/author_tributes_to_the_bond.html">read some of the early feedback</a> it has received. If you wish, you can also <a href=" http://www.humanesociety.org/about/events/the_bond/how_to_preorder_the_bond.html">preorder a copy</a> of The Bond from your favorite bookstore or online retailer.<br /><br />Sincerely,
Wayne Pacelle, President & CEO, Humane Society of the United States<br /> <br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a040311a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a040311a8"></a><strong>8. VegFund a Valuable Support Group for Vegan Events<br /></strong><br /><br />Forwarded message from JVNA advisor, educator, and author Dan Brook: <br /><br />I've done a few events sponsored by <a href="http://vegfund.org/">VegFund</a> and it's always a great experience serving vegan food and drink, surprising people with generosity and good taste, educating them about health, compassion, and sustainability, and shifting some of them to a veg*n diet and lifestyle. I applied to VegFund, got approved, bought the food and drink, went to the location, set up, and served vegan food and literature, and then VegFund promptly reimbursed me after I sent them my report, photos, and receipts. I highly recommend it! Peace, Dan <br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a040311a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a040311a9"></a><strong>9. Tips for Tabling at Large Events, From VegFund<br /></strong><br /><br />Hello [Spring &] Summer, Hello Festivals! <br /><br /><strong>Tips for Successfully Tabling at Large Events</strong><br />By: Zia Terhune, VegFund Co-Founder
<a href="http://vegfund.org/">www.VegFund.org</a> <br /><br />Summer is festival season, and I can’t think of a better opportunity to get out from behind our computers and make a difference! I’ve participated in more than 20 large, multi-day festivals and have found that, with good planning, you can reach thousands of people with little more effort than you would for a much smaller event. By simply following the steps below, you’ll be on your way to a great vegan outreach experience! <br /><br /><strong>1) Select an appropriate target audience.</strong> Choose a festival that has people who will be open to your message. For example, Frontier Days might have a ton of meat-eaters, but the Westside Arts Fest will have a greater number of future vegans. Use the <a href="http://vegfund.org/events-calendar.html">VegFund Event Calendar</a> to find a local fesival. <br /><br /><strong>2) Plan ahead!</strong> Start planning 2-3 months in advance and have a checklist. The <a href="http://vegfund.org/food-sampling-best-practices.html">checklist</A> on the VegFund website is a great place to start. Don't forget to research your local permitting requirements. <br /><br /><strong>3) Create a simple menu.</strong> Sample out no more than three items. Focus on quality, not quantity. Usually two food items and one beverage (soy/nut milk) works best. At least one item should be a vegan meat alternative. Check out VegFund’s <a href="http://vegfund.org/food-sampling-suggestions.html">food sampling page</a> for more sample suggestions and tips. <br /><br /><strong>4) Test it out.</strong> Test and triple test the products you will serve. If making food samples yourself, use a kitchen that is clean and free from pet hair. Be sure to print out recipes to give to those who love your samples (usually 100 is a good number of copies). <br /><br /><strong>5) Purchase a banner.</strong> Consider purchasing a colorful banner. Banners usually cost around $50, which is well worth the price if you plan on doing multiple tabling events. The banner will attract more passersby and you’ll be able to use it again and again. <br /><br /><strong>6) Volunteers.</strong> Be kind to your volunteers. Ideally, shifts should be three hours. Be sure to thank everyone afterward. <br /><br /><strong>7) Don’t be shy!</strong> Instead of waiting for people to approach your table or take your literature, appoint volunteers to get out from behind the table with leaflets and trays of samples. <br /><br /><strong>8) Follow-up.</strong> Ask people to sign a VegPledge, invite them to a vegan potluck, collect email addresses and follow-up, or add them to a monthly AR newsletter. If you have other creative ideas for follow-up, please <a href=" http://vegfund.org/contact.html">contact us</a>. <br /><br /><strong>9) You don’t have to serve everyone.</strong> Judging the number of food samples you’ll need can be challenging. But, keep in mind that it’s okay to run out of food…just make sure you always have more literature than food samples.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a040311a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a040311a10"></a><strong>10. NY Times’ Mark Bittman’s Food Manifesto</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.consumerfreedom.com/news_detail.cfm/h/4405-new-york-times-bit-champions-animal-rights-emotionalism">http://www.consumerfreedom.com/news_detail.cfm/h/4405-new-york-times-bit-champions-animal-rights-emotionalism</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a040311a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a040311a11"></a><strong>11. Ten Studies on the Impact of Animal Agriculture on Climate Change</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.greenmuze.com/nurture/meat/910-ten-studies-on-meat-a-global-warming-.html">http://www.greenmuze.com/nurture/meat/910-ten-studies-on-meat-a-global-warming-.html</a> <br /><br />This is included to show how the message about connections between animal-based diets and climate change is spreading. But some of the articles may be out of date. A more recent analysis “Livestock and Climate Change” in the November/December issue of World Watch magazine argues that at least 51% of all human-induced greenhouse gases are from the world’s livestock sector.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a040311a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a040311a12"></a><strong>12. Posting Comments At the End of Online Articles Can Help Spread Vegetarian Messages</strong><br /><br />Forwarded message from JVNA advisor, educator, and author Dan Brook: <br /><br />I often post comments with pro-veg messages and links at the bottom of online articles (which I recommend that we all do periodically). <br /><br />Just today, I received a response telling me to "learn more" about nutrition, livestock farms, etc. I took it as another great opportunity to spread the message of health, compassion, and sustainability and get people thinking in a more positive direction, knowing that I wasn't only responding to the one person who posted, but potentially engaging thousands of other readers. Below is what I posted. <br /><br />Peace, Dan<br /> <br />= = =<br /><br />Should I learn more about how meat is laden with saturated fat and cholesterol, which are associated with heart disease, cancer, stroke, obesity, diabetes, Alzheimers, and other major killers? Should I learn more about how families suffer and also how these diseases dramatically decrease our productivity and increase health care costs? <br /><br />Should I learn that animal products have cholesterol and never any fiber or anti-oxidants, while plant foods never have cholesterol and instead have healthy fiber and protective anti-oxidants? <br /><br />Should I learn more about how meat is totally unnecessary for health and survival, while we can easily get all the nutrients we need from a plant-based diet and that we'll also be happier, healthier, more peaceful, more compassionate, and environmentally sustainable? <br /><br />Should I learn more about the cruelty of raising animals for food and how those animals are killed when they're quite young, often as babies? Should I learn more about chickens being killed at only 6 weeks of age? <br /><br />Should I learn more about debeaking, tail docking, branding, castrations, rape racks, etc., all without anesthesia? <br /><br />Should I learn more about how the livestock industry is the #1 contributor to global warming, how it degrades the land, fouls the water, and pollutes the air? <br /><br />Should I learn more about the role of animals raised for meat and the spread of diseases, such as E. coli, SARS, swine flu, bird flu, and other public health threats? <br /><br />Should I learn more about the devastating role of meat in Amazon deforestation and species extinction? <br /><br />Should I learn more about how millions and millions of people are vegetarian and vegan, living healthy and compassionate lifestyles? <br /><br />Should I learn more about famous vegetarians, such as Socrates and Plato, Pythagoras, Isaac Newton, John Milton, Benjamin Franklin, Johnny Appleseed, St. Francis of Assisi, Leonardo da Vinci, Leo Tolstoy, Susan B. Anthony, Mohandas Gandhi, Albert Einstein, Cesar Chavez, Dalai Lama, Alice Walker, Benjamin Spock, Gloria Steinem, John Rawls, Carl Sagan, Jane Goodall, Carl Lewis, Paul McCartney, and many others? <br /><br />Learn more at<br /><br />Eco-Eating at <a href="http://www.brook.com/veg">http://www.brook.com/veg</a><br /><a href="http://www.factoryfarming.org">www.factoryfarming.org</a><br /><a href="http://www.goveg.com">www.goveg.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.serv-online.org">www.serv-online.org</a><br /><a href="http://www.brook.com/food">www.brook.com/food</a><br />and many other sites and sources<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a040311a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a040311a13"></a><strong>13. Chart Indicates Nutritional Benefits of Plant Products</strong><br /><br />This <a href="http://www.soflavegevents.net/NutritionalBenefitsofPlantProducts.html">chart</a> is awesome! Everyone can use it. Please pass it on to others.<br /><br /> Do share this <a href="http://www.soflavegevents.net/NutritionalBenefitsofPlantProducts.html">Chart</a> with everyone<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a040311a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a040311a14"></a><strong>14. Update On Veggie Pride Parade (Scheduled for May 15, 2011 in NY City)</strong><br /><br />Forwarded message from parade organizer Pamela Rice: <br /><br />You can always send people to this Web site<br /><br /><a href="http://www.veggieprideparade.org/dept/volunteering.htm">http://www.veggieprideparade.org/dept/volunteering.htm</a> <br /><br />People do not have to come to the meeting. They can contact me any time.<br /><br /><a href="mailto:info@vivavegie.org">info@vivavegie.org</a> or 212-242-0011 <br /><br />There are other meetings scheduled, per open Google calendar page:<br /><br /><a href="http://tinyurl.com/45fypv3">http://tinyurl.com/45fypv3</a> <br /><br />Thank you very much !! <br /><br />Pamela R. <br /><br />-------------<br /><br />On Mar 23, 2011, at 1:36 PM, Pamela Rice wrote: <br /><br />WHAT: Meeting, volunteering for VEGGIE PRIDE PARADE 2011<br /><br />Contact Pamela for latest times and places: <br /><br />We'll eat, then get to work divvying up the responsibilities: <br /><br />If you already know what you want to do (see following list) contact Pamela Rice to sign up (and avoid the meeting)<br /><br /><a href="mailto:info%40vivavegie.org">info@vivavegie.org</a> or 212-242-0011 <br /><br />WHAT YOU CAN DO BEFORE PARADE DAY <br /><br />* Publicize parade to your social network (Facebook, Twitter, Meetup, Yahoo, Google, etc., etc.) We'll give you text copy to use. (Everyone can do this.)<br /><br />* Help our publicity expert by posting parade info to media sites (we'll show you how to do this)<br /><br />* Arrange for a food donations (vegan only, of course).<br /><br />* Engage in outreach to the local vegan community. Collect menus for expo menu table; post poster; inform vegan businesses of parade.<br /><br />* Make phone calls to potential prize donors to costume contest<br /><br />* Help with "invite" mailing to about 75 public officials prior to parade<br /><br />* Network with the Meetup groups.<br /><br />* Contact pro-veg nonprofit groups to ask them to donate veg literature (NAVS, PeTA, PCRM, Mercy for Animals, etc.).<br /><br />* Stuff bags full of donated pro-vegan literature.<br /><br />* Notify APs Day Book.<br /><br />* Distribute promo post cards (we'll have 7,000 cards by April 2). <br /><br />* Engage and nurture potential funding sources <br /><br />WHAT YOU CAN DO ON PARADE DAY <br /><br />MORNING<br /><br />In the morning 9:30 a.m. at Union Square Park area<br /><br />* Help carting boxes from our office on Union Square West to expo site (north end of Union Square Park)<br /><br />* Label exhibit tables in morning prior to parade; lay down kraft-paper on tables.<br /><br />* Be a personal assistant to organizer Pamela Rice. <br /><br />LINEUP/PARADE<br /><br />At line-up and during parade (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.)<br /><br />* Manage the sign boards: pass them out, make sure we get them back.<br /><br />* Assist photographers on ladders (we'll have three).<br /><br />* Megaphone management: pass them out at parade line-up, and make sure you get them all back afterwards.<br /><br />* Leaflet during the parade.<br /><br />* Twitter during parade to official parade Twitter site. <br /><br />AT POST-PARADE EXPO IN PARK<br /><br />After parade at the expo in the north end of Union Square Park begins (about 1 p.m.)<br /><br />* Banner management. Banners need to be properly hoisted on stages, then properly cared for and accounted for after parade.<br /><br />* Man a Flip (video camera) with tripod; we'll have four pointed at stages and exhibitor tables.<br /><br />* Be a personal assistant to expo manager Alan Rice.<br /><br />* Menu table management & oversight. Keep menus neat and tidy throughout the day at the post parade rally & expo. They get picked over awfully fast.<br /><br />* Assist sound technician and dj throughout the day.<br /><br />* Oversee exhibitor tables: make sure exhibitors are abiding by all Parks Dept. rules and guidelines.<br /><br />* Distribute food (food donations) to hungry crowds at post-parade expo.<br /><br />* Pass out flyers and programs during the post-parade expo.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a040311a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a040311a15"></a><strong>15. Reform Rabbis Address “Ethical Eating”</strong><br /><br />Thanks to JVNA advisor, author, lecturer, editor, and publisher Roberta Kalechofsky for forwarding the article below to us: <br /><br /><strong>Reform Rabbis Put Forth Options for Ethical Eating<br /><br />"The Sacred Table," Book Featuring Jewish Voices on Food Trends, Launches at Gathering of Reform Rabbis, World's Largest Group of Jewish Clergy</strong><br /><br />NEW ORLEANS, LA--(Marketwire - March 30, 2011) -<br /><br /><strong>Highlighted Links</strong><br /><a href="http://ccarnet.org/">http://ccarnet.org/</a><br /><br />The world's Reform rabbis, the largest group of Jewish clergy, have put forth options and models for ethical eating and approaches to food in the 21st Century.<br /><br />In publishing <strong>"The Sacred Table: Creating a Jewish Food Ethic" (CCAR Press, March 2011), the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR)</strong>, the professional organization of nearly 2,000 Reform rabbis, offers how-to's for creating a meaningful Jewish food ethic and putting it into practice.<br /><br />Themes include concern for oppressed agricultural and food workers; kindness to animals; guarding one's health, including food allergies and eating disorders; the spirituality of eating and fasting; caring for the hungry; environmental ethics; the local food ethos; perspectives on kosher (Kashrut); scarcity and sustainability; and food preparation as a Holy act. <br /><br />"At a time when food and issues of eating and sustainability are on our minds and in the news, "The Sacred Table" offers up groundbreaking Jewish perspectives. It enables us to engage with Jewish values regarding food and eating, and apply those values to contemporary concerns," said Rabbi Mary L. Zamore, the editor of "Sacred Table." <br /><br />"The Sacred Table," comprised of a series of essays by a range of thinkers, was introduced here at the 122nd Annual Convention of the CCAR at an evening event devoted to sustainability topics. (The overall theme of the Convention is a New Vision for Reform Judaism.) <br /><br />"The book doesn't take a position on any one approach to food. Rather, it offers models and options, and underscores questions to ask about ethical eating," said Rabbi Zamore.<br /><br />Rabbi Mary L. Zamore (editor of "The Sacred Table") is the associate rabbi of Temple B'nai Or in Morristown, New Jersey. She writes frequently on a range of topics, including food and food ethics. To learn more about "The Sacred Table," visit <a href="http://www.ccarpress.org">www.ccarpress.org</a>. <br /><br />Contact:<br /><br />Itay Engelman<br /><br />Sommerfield Communications, Inc.<br /><br /><a href="mailto:itay@sommerfield.com">itay@sommerfield.com</a> <br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a040311a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a040311a16"></a><strong>16. Journal of Animal Ethics Launched<br /><br />NEWS RELEASE <br /><br />IMMEDIATE: 2 April 2011<br /><br />Launch of ground-breaking <i>Journal of Animal Ethics</i></strong> <br /><br />A ground-breaking new journal covering the issue of animal ethics has been launched by a US and UK academic partnership with the goal of widening international debate about the moral status of animals. This month, the University of Illinois Press will publish the pioneering new <i>Journal of Animal Ethics (JAE)</i>, the result of years of collaboration between the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics and the University Press.<br /><br /><i>The Journal of Animal Ethics</i>, which is to be published bi-annually in the summer and winter, is jointly edited by the internationally known theologian the Reverend Professor Andrew Linzey, Director of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics, and Professor Priscilla Cohn, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at Penn State University and Associate Director of the Centre. The JAE is the first academic journal in the world to include the phrase “animal ethics” in its title. <br /><br />“For far too long, academics have been slow to contribute to the burgeoning public debate about animal ethics. This is an opportunity for them to make their contribution to a multidisciplinary journal that aims to put animal ethics on the academic map” said Professor Andrew Linzey. “We want to ensure that animals receive the academic attention they deserve.”<br /><br />The Journal comprises: full-length scholarly articles, “argument” pieces in which authors will advance a particular perspective (usually related to current affairs) or respond to a previous article, review or research report, as well as review articles and book reviews.<br /><br /><i>The JAE</i> is devoted to the exploration of progressive thought about animals and is multidisciplinary in nature and international in scope. It covers theoretical and applied aspects of animal ethics that will be of interest to academics from both the humanities and the sciences, as well as professionals working in the field of animal protection. It aims to publish ground-breaking work written by new and established academics from a wide range of disciplines including anthropology, ethics, history, law, literature, linguistics, political theory, religion and science.<br /><br />In the first issue of the <i>JAE</i>: David M. Lavigne and William S. Lynn address Canada’s commercial seal hunt; Joel Marks writes on how animal suffering is unrecognized in research; Andrew Fenton and Frederic Gilbert question the use of animals in spinal cord research; Judith Benz-Schwarzburg and Andrew Knight examine the cognitive abilities of animals and asks how long they can be denied similar rights to humans; Grace Clement asks whether animals can be classed as “pets or meat”? Barbro Froding, Martin Peterson, and Mark J. Rowlands debate whether animal ethics should be based on friendship, and Jan Deckers and Jay B. McDaniel debate whether Whiteheadians should be vegetarians.<br /><br />To subscribe to the <i>Journal</i>, please visit the <i>Journal’s</i> website at <a href="http://www.press.uillinois.edu/journals/jane.html">http://www.press.uillinois.edu/journals/jane.html</a>. Contributions to the <i>Journal</i> are welcomed and submission guidelines can be found on the JAE’s website.<br /><br /><strong>For more press information please contact Sam Calvert, Samantha Calvert Marketing & PR, sam@samcalvert.plus.com / +44 (0)1782 505430 / +44 (0)7967 042050 or Jeff McArdle, Associate Journals Manager at the University of Illinois Press, <a href="mailto:jmcardle@uillinois.edu">jmcardle@uillinois.edu</a> on + 1 -217-244-0381. <br /><br />Notes to editors</strong><br /><br />· The Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics, founded in 2006 by its director Professor Andrew Linzey, is an independent Centre with the aim of pioneering ethical perspectives on animals through academic research, teaching and publication. The Centre has more than 50 Fellows drawn from a variety of academic disciplines from throughout the world. For more information about the Centre and its Fellows please see its website at <a href="http://www.oxfordanimalethics.com">www.oxfordanimalethics.com</a>.<br /><br />· <i>The Revd Professor Andrew Linzey</i> is a Member of the Faculty of Theology, University of Oxford. He has written or edited 20 books, including Animal Theology (SCM Press/University of Illinois Press, 1994) and Creatures of the Same God (Winchester University Press, 2007), and <i>Why Animal Suffering Matters</i> (Oxford University Press, 2009).<br /><br />· <i>Professor Priscilla N. Cohn</i> is Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at Abington College, Penn State University. She has taught courses on animal ethics for 35 years, and lectured on five continents. Her books include <i>Contraception in Wildlife</i>, Book 1 (Edwin Mellen Press, 1996) and Ethics and Wildlife (Edwin Mellen Press, 1999).<br /><br />· The Centre is dedicated to the memory of the celebrated Catalan philosopher José Ferrater Mora. His prodigious scholarship is widely acclaimed, and the Centre honours his name because of his outstanding contribution to humanitarian thought, particularly in the area of animal ethics.<br /><br />· Founded in 1918, the University of Illinois Press ranks as one of the USA’s larger and most distinguished university presses. It publishes works of high quality for scholars, students, and the citizens of the state and beyond. More information about the University of Illinois Press and the JAE can be found here: <a href="http://www.press.uillinois.edu/journals/jane.html">http://www.press.uillinois.edu/journals/jane.html</a>. The JAE’s Facebook page can be found at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Journal-of-Animal-Ethics/150427961683536?v=info&sk=info#info_edit_sections">http://www.facebook.com/pages/Journal-of-Animal-Ethics/150427961683536?v=info&sk=info#info_edit_sections</a>. <br /><br />The Revd Professor Andrew Linzey, PhD, DD<br />Director of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics,<br />Honorary Research Fellow, St Stephen's House, Oxford, <br />Member of the Faculty of Theology, University of Oxford,<br />and Honorary Professor, University of Winchester. <br /><br /><a href="mailto:director@oxfordanimalethics.com">director@oxfordanimalethics.com</a> <br /><br />Centre's website: <a href="http://www.oxfordanimalethics.com">www.oxfordanimalethics.com</a><br /><br />Journal for Animal Ethics: <a href="http://www.press.uillinois.edu/journals/jane.html">http://www.press.uillinois.edu/journals/jane.html</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a040311a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a040311a17"></a><strong>17. Israeli Sephardic Rabbis Oppose Foie Gras</strong><br /><br />Forwarded message: <br /><br />Shalom Richard, <br /><br />How are you? I just wanted to let you know that this week's <a>Yom leyom</a> - which is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shas">Shas</a>' official newspaper - has a big piece dedicated to the halachic prohibition to eat foie gras, by none other than Rabbi Ovadia Yosef. Turns out that Chief Sephardi Rabbi Shlomo Amar also ruled similarly. They said that even thought the tubes are shorter now and cause less internal damage, due to <a>tza'ar ba'alei chayim</a>, Jews shouldn't consume it... <br /><br />Shabbat shalom and all the best, <br /><br />Jonah<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a040311a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">** Fair Use Notice **<br /><br />The material on this site is provided for educational and informational purposes. It may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. It is being made available in an effort to advance the understanding of vegetarian, environmental, nutritional, health, economic, social justice and human rights issues etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have an interest in using the included information for educational or research purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. The information on this site does not constitute legal, technical or medical advice.</span>.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17349614588789907464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9631520.post-73180443625638866082011-04-05T00:44:00.014-04:002011-05-18T23:22:30.855-04:0003/16/2011 JVNA Online NewsletterShalom everyone,<br /><br /><a name="a031611a0"></a>This update/<strong><a href="http://jewishveg.com/">Jewish Vegetarians of North America</a></strong> (JVNA) Online Newsletter has the following items:<br /><br /><strong>1. <a href="#a031611a1">Happy Purim</a><br /><br />2. <a href="#a031611a2">My Article To Be in Friday’s Jerusalem Post/Please Send Letters to the Editor at Letters@JPost.com</a><br /><br />3. <a href="#a031611a3">My Essay on Judaism and Veganism in a Newly-Published Book</a><br /><br />4. <a href="#a031611a4">NY Times Op-Ed on Animal Abuses Compares Treatment of Pets to Treatment of Farmed Animals</a><br /><br />5. <a href="#a031611a5">Articles Relate Animal-Based Diets to Climate Change</a><br /><br />6. <a href="#a031611a6">Very Comprehensive Article On Judaism and Vegetarianism Published by Israeli Rabbi</a><br /><br />7. <a href="#a031611a7">Some upcoming Events at the Israeli Jewish Vegetarian Society Headquarters</a><br /><br />8. <a href="#a031611a8">Excellent PDF on Veganism Produced</a><br /><br />9. <a href="#a031611a9">Action Alert: Please Protest Against Efforts to Inhibit Efforts to Spotlight Factory Farming Abuses</a><br /><br />10. <a href="#a031611a10">'American Greed’ Episode to Feature Sholom Rubashkin</a></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Some material has been deferred to a later update/newsletter to keep this one from being even longer.<br /><br /> [Materials in brackets like this [ ] within an article or forwarded message are my editorial notes/comments.]<br /><br /><strong>Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the JVNA, unless otherwise indicated, but may be presented to increase awareness and/or to encourage respectful dialogue. Also, material re conferences, retreats, forums, trips, and other events does not necessarily imply endorsement by JVNA or endorsement of the kashrut, Shabbat observances, or any other Jewish observances, but may be presented for informational purposes. Please use e-mail addresses, telephone numbers, and web sites to get further information about any event that you are interested in. Also, JVNA does not necessarily agree with all positions of groups whose views are included or whose events are announced in this newsletter.</strong><br /><br />As always, your comments and suggestions are very welcome. <br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Richard</span><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a031611a1"></a><strong>1. Happy Purim</strong><br /><br />Purim begins this year immediately after the upcoming Shabbat. I wish everyone a very joyous and meaningful Purim. For my article, “<a href="http://www.jewishveg.com/schwartz/hlydysp1.html">Purim and Vegetarianism</a>,” please visit the holidays section at <a href="http://www.JewishVeg.com/schwartz/">JewishVeg.com/schwartz/</a>. And please feel free to use the points in the article to promote vegetarianism. One conversation starter is to mention that the heroine of the Purim Queen Esther was a vegetarian while she lived in the palace of King Ahashveros. This enabled her to keep her Jewish identity secret while also avoiding eating non-kosher meat. <br /><br />The sources are Targum Esther 2:7; and Midrash Panim<br /><br />Aherim 63 and 64 ( the Talmud , Megilla 13a, also mentions that Esther only ate permitted food, and one could deduce that that would necessitate a vegetarian diet.) <br /><br />Thanks to former Chief Rabbi of Ireland and JVNA advisor Rabbi David Rosen for these sources.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a031611a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a031611a2"></a><strong>2. My Article To Be in Friday’s Jerusalem Post/Please Send Letters to the Editor at <a href="mailto:"Letters@JPost.com>Letters@JPost.com</a></strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/Judaism/Article.aspx?id=212400">http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/Judaism/Article.aspx?id=212400</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a031611a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a031611a3"></a><strong>3. My Essay on Judaism and Veganism in a Newly-Published Book</strong><br /><br />Message I received from a co-author of the book:<br /><br />To the Amazing Contributors of Call to Compassion!<br /><br />Thank you so much again for being part of this outstanding, powerful, and one of a kind book that will surely be used in courses in religion, theology, critical animal studies, sociology, philosophy, anthropology, and beyond. [The book has essays relating various religions and spiritual paths to veganism.]<br /><br />The book is very beautiful and I will be developing a website and youtube for it shortly. <br /><br />There will be a book release party at the North American ICAS Conference at Brock University April 2, 2011. <br /><br />Please help promote the book at your schools, community centers, libraries, and bookstores. If you can promote it also on your websites, facebooks, and linkedin that would be very helpful. Please help hype up the book every way you can think of. <br /><br />Here is the book page on Lantern books: <a href="http://www.lanternbooks.com/detail.html?session=&id=9781590561829">http://www.lanternbooks.com/detail.html?session=&id=9781590561829</a> please send this around to friends and family. <br /><br />With care!<br /><br />Anthony Nocella<br /><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a031611a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a031611a4"></a><strong>4. NY Times Op-Ed on Animal Abuses Compares Treatment of Pets to Treatment of Farmed Animals<br /><br />Some Animals Are More Equal Than Others</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/15/some-animals-are-more-equal-than-others/?ref=opinion">http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/15/some-animals-are-more-equal-than-others/?ref=opinion</a> <br /><br />------------------------------------------------------ <br /><br />My letter to the NY tTmes in response: <br /><br />March 16, 2011 <br /><br />Editor, NY Times<br /><a href="mailto:Letters@NYTimes.com">Letters@NYTimes.com</a> <br /><br />Sir: <br /><br />Kudos to Mark Bittman for his March 16 article, “Some Animas Are More Equal Than Others,” in which he points out the sharp discrepancies between people’s treatment of pets and the treatment of almost ten billion animals raised for slaughter on factory farms. What makes the severe mistreatment of farmed animals even more shameful is that their consumption is causing an epidemic of heart disease, cancer and other chronic degenerative diseases and the raising of these animals contributes to climate change, deforestation, soil erosion and depletion, water pollution, rapid loss of biodiversity, and other environmental problems and is very wasteful of water, energy, land, and other scarce resources.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a031611a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a031611a5"></a><strong>5. Articles Relate Animal-Based Diets to Climate Change</strong> <br /><br /><a href="http://www.examiner.com/green-business-in-seattle/un-says-global-warming-could-be-halved-with-focus-on-shorter-lived-greenhouse-ga">http://www.examiner.com/green-business-in-seattle/un-says-global-warming-could-be-halved-with-focus-on-shorter-lived-greenhouse-ga</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.examiner.com/green-business-in-seattle/is-meat-killing-the-planet-un-says-diet-change-will-slow-climate-change">http://www.examiner.com/green-business-in-seattle/is-meat-killing-the-planet-un-says-diet-change-will-slow-climate-change</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a031611a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a031611a6"></a><strong>6. Very Comprehensive Article On Judaism and Vegetarianism Published by Israeli Rabbi</strong><br /><br />There is a very important, comprehensive, scholarly new article by Rabbi Simchah Roth, titled: <strong><i>And you shall be holy people unto Me [Exodus 22:30] - Why an observant Jew should follow a plant-based (vegan) diet.</i></strong><br /><br />You can find the article here: <a href="http://www.bmv.org.il/v/vegan.html">http://www.bmv.org.il/v/vegan.html</a><br /><br />A Hebrew version can be found here: <a href="http://www.bmv.org.il/v/h-vegan.html">http://www.bmv.org.il/v/h-vegan.html</a><br /><br />Please share this article with friends!<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a031611a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a031611a7"></a><strong>7. Some upcoming Events at the Israeli Jewish Vegetarian Society Headquarters<br /><br />Part of a message from the Ginger Society director Yossi Wolfson<br /><br />Sunday March 20th<br /><br />Purim / Meatout events</strong><br /><br />February 20th is both Purim and World Meatout – a day dedicated to veggie education. We will celebrate both together.<br /><br />1:00 pm baking session in Ginger [8 Balfour Street, Jerusalem]<br /><br />5:00 pm a tasty educational activity in the city center: we will distribute vegan hamantashen and literature.<br /><br />8:00 pm Purim party at Ginger!<br /><br />Feel free to come in costume.<br /><br />Admission to the party: 25 NIS or individual donation.<br /><br />Ginger - the Vegetarian Community Center<br />8 Balfour Street, Jerusalem; telephone: 02-5665737<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ginger.org.il">www.ginger.org.il</a><br /><br />Lecturers and facilitators in events at Ginger, are solely responsible to the information they present and to the opinions they express. Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views of Ginger. Information presented has not necessarily been veified by Ginger. Ginger publishes initiatives that may interest community members or promote plant-based diets. Ginger also participates and co-organizes such initiatives. This should not be construed as endorsement of any opinion, data or practice involved in these initiatives.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a031611a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a031611a8"></a><strong>8. Excellent PDF on Veganism Produced</strong><br /><br />Forwarded message: <br /><br />Dear Richard, <br /><br />I attach the PDF file, and yes, I just made a blog with the full text. <br /><br />Here: <a href="http://www.veganlifenow.blogspot.com">veganlifenow.blogspot.com</a> <br /><br />Also in spanish: <a href="http://www.vidaveganahoy.blogspot.com">vidaveganahoy.blogspot.com</a> <br /><br />Hope you like it! [I skimmed the PDF, and it looks very comprehensive and very valuable. It covers a wide variety of vegan-related topics.] <br /><br />Best regards, <br /><br />Rafael.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a031611a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a031611a9"></a><strong>9. Action Alert: Please Protest Against Efforts to Inhibit Efforts to Spotlight Factory Farming Abuses</strong><br /><br />Thanks to JVNA advisor and award-winning film maker Lionel Friedberg for forwarding this message to us: <br /><br />Please take a look at this archaic and draconian proposal and publicize it<br /><br />as widely as possible: <br /><br /><a href="http://floridaindependent.com/23574/jim-norman-bill-would-make-farm-photography-a-first-degree-felony-animal-rights-groups-outraged">http://floridaindependent.com/23574/jim-norman-bill-would-make-farm-photography-a-first-degree-felony-animal-rights-groups-outraged</a> <br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a031611a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a031611a10"></a><strong>10. 'American Greed’ Episode to Feature Sholom Rubashkin<br /><br />March 8, 2011</strong><br /><br />(JTA) -- Jailed former Agriprocessors official Sholom Rubashkin will be featured on an episode of the CNBC series "American Greed."<br /><br />The March 23 episode of the cable TV network series will tell the story of the failed kosher meatpacking plant in Postville, Iowa, according to the Gazette of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The episode is being billed with the tagline “The head of a kosher slaughterhouse uses unorthodox methods to make money.”<br /><br />Rubashkin, 51, is serving a 27-year prison sentence and was ordered to pay $26 million in restitution after being convicted in November 2009 on 86 counts of financial wrongdoing. He was the highest level executive of the plant to be prosecuted following a May 2008 immigration raid that led to the arrest of nearly 400 illegal workers, most of whom were deported.<br /><br />The plant went bankrupt in late 2008 and has since reopened under new ownership as Agri Star Meat and Poultry.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a031611a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">** Fair Use Notice **<br /><br />The material on this site is provided for educational and informational purposes. It may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. It is being made available in an effort to advance the understanding of vegetarian, environmental, nutritional, health, economic, social justice and human rights issues etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have an interest in using the included information for educational or research purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. The information on this site does not constitute legal, technical or medical advice.</span>.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17349614588789907464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9631520.post-91597547255750772242011-04-05T00:40:00.025-04:002011-04-11T01:12:21.129-04:0003/09/2011 JVNA Online NewsletterShalom everyone,<br /><br /><a name="a030911a0"></a>This update/<strong><a href="http://jewishveg.com/">Jewish Vegetarians of North America</a></strong> (JVNA) Online Newsletter has the following items:<br /><br /><strong>1. <a href="#a030911a1">Getting Dietary Connections to Climate Change on Society’s Agenda</a><br /><br />2. <a href="#a030911a2">I am now involved with Linkedin/Connections and Suggestions welcome</a><br /><br />3. <a href="#a030911a3">Update on the Veggie Pride Parade</a><br /><br />4. <a href="#a030911a4">JVNA Advisor Dan Brook’s Article
on Preventing Heart Disease Through Diet</a><br /><br />5. <a href="#a030911a5">Video of JVNA Advisor Rabbi Adam Frank Discussing Jewish Teachings on Animals</a><br /><br />6. <a href="#a030911a6">JVNA Advisor Rabbi Yonassan Gershom’s Blog on Judaism and Ecological Stewardship</a><br /><br />7. <a href="#a030911a7">Trailer for Gala Event Hosted by Lionel Friedberg in Cancun, Mexico on Responding to Climate Change</a><br /><br />8. <a href="#a030911a8">Anyone Interested in Creating a Jewish Vegetarian App?</a><br /><br />9. <a href="#a030911a9">Announcements from Vegan Group “Wings of Wellness”</a><br /><br />10. <a href="#a030911a10">Paul McCartney Video on Mistreatment of Animals</a><br /><br />11. <a href="#a030911a11">Producers of Feature Documentary on Milk Hazards Seeking Support</a></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Some material has been deferred to a later update/newsletter to keep this one from being even longer.<br /><br /> [Materials in brackets like this [ ] within an article or forwarded message are my editorial notes/comments.]<br /><br /><strong>Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the JVNA, unless otherwise indicated, but may be presented to increase awareness and/or to encourage respectful dialogue. Also, material re conferences, retreats, forums, trips, and other events does not necessarily imply endorsement by JVNA or endorsement of the kashrut, Shabbat observances, or any other Jewish observances, but may be presented for informational purposes. Please use e-mail addresses, telephone numbers, and web sites to get further information about any event that you are interested in. Also, JVNA does not necessarily agree with all positions of groups whose views are included or whose events are announced in this newsletter.</strong><br /><br />As always, your comments and suggestions are very welcome. <br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Richard</span><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a030911a1"></a><strong>1. Getting Dietary Connections to Climate Change on Society’s Agenda</strong><br /><br />I am planning a major article and other steps to increase awareness of the very significant connections between animal-based agriculture and climate change, Suggestions very welcome. Thanks. <br /><br />Below is a link to an article that indicates that climate change is happening faster than recent worst-case scenarios. <br /><br /><strong>NASA Says Ice On Both Poles Is Melting Faster Than Earlier Expected</strong> <br /><br /><a href="http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/8414784-nasa-says-the-poles-are-crumbling-faster-than-expected">http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/8414784-nasa-says-the-poles-are-crumbling-faster-than-expected</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a030911a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a030911a2"></a><strong>2. I am now involved with Linkedin/Connections and Suggestions welcome</strong><br /><br />If you are also involved, please feel free to connect with me. <br /><br />Also, if you have any suggestions as to how use Linkedin to help spread our vegetarian messages, please let me know. <br /><br />If you have suggestions about using Facebook, Twitter, or other modern technological approaches to spread vegetarian messages, or any other suggestions, please also let me know. Thanks. <br /><br />You may reach me at <a href="mailto:President@JewishVeg.com">President@JewishVeg.com</a>.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a030911a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a030911a3"></a><strong>3. Update on the Veggie Pride Parade</strong><br /><br />I am presently scheduled to attend and to speak. JVNA will have a table. If you would like to volunteer to help at the table and/or by distributing JVA literature and DVDs or in any other way, please let me know. Thanks. <br /><br />Forwarded message from the Veggie Pride Coordinator Pamela Rice: <br /><br />May 15, 2011: Veggie Pride Pride Parade NYC 2011
Veggie Pride Pride Parade NYC 2011
[Sunday, May 15, 2011]
<br /><br />Mark your calendar, take part, support, & spread the word.
<br /><br />Visit and bookmark the HOME PAGE:
<a href="http://www.veggieprideparade.org">http://www.veggieprideparade.org</a>
From the home page, find links for everything:<br /><br />=> official press release
<br /><br />=> downloadable poster
<br /><br />=> exhibitor list
<br /><br />=> speaker/performer list
<br /><br />=> volunteering info
<br /><br />=> videos/images pages
<br /><br />=> media links
<br /><br />=> blog
<br /><br />=> bulletin board
<br /><br />=> maps
<br /><br />=> e-mailing-list sign-up page
<br /><br />=> sponsorship/donation info
<br /><br />=> costume-contest prize-donation page
<br /><br />=> goals & why-we-march pages
<br /><br />Become a SPONSOR and see your name or company name on the parade's home page:
<a href="http://www.veggieprideparade.org/dept/sponsors.htm">http://www.veggieprideparade.org/dept/sponsors.htm</a>
<br /><br />VOLUNTEER. <br /><br />Go to the comprehensive list of things you can do:
<a href="http://www.veggieprideparade.org/dept/volunteering.htm">http://www.veggieprideparade.org/dept/volunteering.htm</a>
<br /><br />DONATE a PRIZE for the costume contest, and use this exposure for your vegan business:
<a href="http://www.veggieprideparade.org/dept/contests.htm">http://www.veggieprideparade.org/dept/contests.htm</a>
<br /><br />Make a DONATION:
<a href="http://www.veggieprideparade.org/dept/donations.htm">http://www.veggieprideparade.org/dept/donations.htm</a>
<br /><br />JOIN the email list:
<a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vivavegie">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vivavegie</a>/
<br /><br />Frequent F.A.Q.s:
<br /><br />Exhibit space? The NYC Veggie Pride Parade is a non-commercial, First Amendment event. Exhibit space is granted by invitation only, not for payment. If you want to know if you are an invited exhibitor, go to: <a href="http://www.veggieprideparade.org/dept/exhibitors.htm">http://www.veggieprideparade.org/dept/exhibitors.htm</a>
<br /><br />Where/when is the line-up/start point? Go to <a href="http://www.veggieprideparade.org/dept/maps.htm">http://www.veggieprideparade.org/dept/maps.htm</a> for maps.
<br /><br />Where can I advertise? The 2011 parade will not have an ad booklet as in years past. (There will be a program, however.) Consider advertising in the veg-advocacy pamphlet 101 Reasons Why I'm a Vegetarian. Your sponsorship box supports the organization that sponsors the parade (VivaVegie Society). For more information, go to: <a href="http://www.vivavegie.org/vv101/ccorders/11-101.sponsbox.htm">http://www.vivavegie.org/vv101/ccorders/11-101.sponsbox.htm</a>
<br /><br />DONATE a PRIZE for the costume contest, and use this exposure for your vegan business:
<a href="http://www.veggieprideparade.org/dept/contests.htm">http://www.veggieprideparade.org/dept/contests.htm</a>
<br /><br />Make a DONATION:
<a href="http://www.veggieprideparade.org/dept/donations.htm">http://www.veggieprideparade.org/dept/donations.htm</a>
<br /><br />JOIN the email list:
<a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vivavegie/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vivavegie/</a>
<br /><br />Frequent F.A.Q.s:
<br /><br />Exhibit space? The NYC Veggie Pride Parade is a non-commercial, First Amendment event. Exhibit space is granted by invitation only, not for payment. If you want to know if you are an invited exhibitor,
go to: <a href="http://www.veggieprideparade.org/dept/exhibitors.htm">http://www.veggieprideparade.org/dept/exhibitors.htm</a>
<br /><br />Where/when is the line-up/start point?
Go to <a href="http://www.veggieprideparade.org/dept/maps.htm">http://www.veggieprideparade.org/dept/maps.htm</a> for maps.
<br /><br />Where can I advertise? The 2011 parade will not have an ad booklet as in years past. (There will be a program, however.) <br /><br />Consider advertising in the veg-advocacy pamphlet 101 Reasons Why I'm a Vegetarian. Your sponsorship box supports the organization that sponsors the parade (VivaVegie Society).
<br /><br />Go to: <a href="http://www.vivavegie.org/vv101/ccorders/11-101.sponsbox.htm">http://www.vivavegie.org/vv101/ccorders/11-101.sponsbox.htm</a>
<br /><br />Special features at post-parade rally & expo? <br />=>Michael Klaper & Bruce Friedrich are confirmed speakers, <br />=>soapbox testimonial station, <br />=>pay-per-view (booth where members of general public can get a dollar for watching a veggie video), <br />=>costume contest, <br />=>fan-fu dance, <br />=>dj Cloud.
<br /><br />How can I contact the organizers? Call: 212-242-0011.
Thank you, one and all,
<br /><br />Pamela Rice
organizer, Veggie Pride Parade<br /><br />-----------------------------------------<br /><br /><strong>RE: Wed., Mar. 9: Big volunteers POW-WOW</strong>, VEGGIE PRIDE PARADE
RE-POST FREELY & WIDELY
ALL INFO, CLICK HERE:
<br /><br /><a href="http://www.veggieprideparade.org/dept/volunteering.htm">http://www.veggieprideparade.org/dept/volunteering.htm</a>
<br /><br />Volunteers meeting, VEGGIE PRIDE PARADE
Description
<br /><br />WHAT: Big meeting, volunteering for VEGGIE PRIDE PARADE 2011
<br /><br />WHERE: BONOBOS, 18 E 23rd St. New York, NY 10010
DATE: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2011
TIME: 6 P.M.<br /><br />We'll eat, then get to work divvying up the responsibilities:
Go to the following link to review a list of important things you can do to help make this parade a great success:
<a href="http://www.veggieprideparade.org/dept/volunteering.htm">http://www.veggieprideparade.org/dept/volunteering.htm</a>
<br /><br />RSVP, Pamela Rice: <a href="mailto:info@vivavegie.org">info@vivavegie.org</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a030911a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a030911a4"></a><strong>4. JVNA Advisor Dan Brook’s Article
on Preventing Heart Disease Through Diet</strong><br /><br />Dan Brook, Ph.D., is a writer, speaker, poet, photographer, activist, and instructor of political science and sociology. He maintains Eco-Eating at <a href="http://www.brook.com/veg">http://www.brook.com/veg</a>, The Vegetarian Mitzvah at <a href="http://www.brook.com/jveg">http://www.brook.com/jveg</a>, Food for Thought and Action at <a href="http://www.brook.com/food">http://www.brook.com/food</a>, and No Smoking? at <a href="http://www.brook.com/smoke">http://www.brook.com/smoke</a>. Dan welcomes questions, comments, contributions, and other communication via <a href="mailto:brook@brook.com">brook@brook.com</a>. <br /><br /><strong>Controlling Cholesterol & Beating Heart Disease <br /><br />By Dan Brook</strong> <br /><br />Vegetarians in Paradise has republished my cholesterol article. Take a look at the article, please share it with others, and also check out the other great items on VIP while you're at it. Peace, Dan <br /><br /><a href="http://www.vegparadise.com/otherbirds.html">http://www.vegparadise.com/otherbirds.html</a> <br /><br />Heart disease is the number one killer for both men and women in the U.S. (followed by cancer and stroke). It doesn't have to be that way.<br /><br />Numerous scientific studies show that reducing your cholesterol, among other activities, is the best way to beat heart disease, cancer, stroke, and other deadly diseases. A major study by Kaiser Permanente and the University of Kuopio (Finland) also concluded in August 2009 that high cholesterol is associated with Alzheimer's Disease. Being such a grave concern, lowering cholesterol and improving heart health has been declared a "national health priority." It also needs to be a personal priority for all of us.<br /><br />In general, your liver produces all the cholesterol you need, a necessary function for building cell membranes. Consuming cholesterol, however, can create an excess, which often leads to the clogging of arteries, causing heart disease (a blockage in the heart) and stroke (a blockage in the brain). In the U.S. and other western countries, there is, shockingly, widespread evidence of arterial clogging even in teenagers.<br /><br /><strong>They all agree on this diet</strong>
Many reputable health and science organizations -- including the American Cancer Society, American Dietetic Association, American Heart Association, American Institute for Cancer Research, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Food and Drug Administration, National Cancer Institute, National Heart Foundation, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, Union of Concerned Scientists, World Health Organization, and others -- all agree that a diet centered around fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, as well as beans, nuts, and seeds, can significantly reduce your incidence of heart disease and heart attacks as well as cancer, stroke, obesity, hypertension, osteoporosis, diabetes, arthritis, endometriosis, Alzheimer's, gout, and other major maladies.<br /><br />Further, what's best for your heart turns out to be good for your brain -- and also good for the environment! "People tend to think of the brain and the heart as totally separate, but they are not," Rachel A. Whitmer, Ph.D. of Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, Calif., told WebMD. "We are learning that what is good for the heart is also good for the brain -- and that midlife is not too soon to be thinking about risk factors for dementia." It's vital that both our heart spans and our brain spans are as long, healthy, and happy as our maximum life spans.<br /><br />High-protein, low-carbohydrate fad diets (i.e., Atkins-style diets) may lead to temporary weight loss, but they are often a health disaster. A Northwestern University study reports that increases in the consumption of animal protein is correlated with, over time, increases in a person's weight and a greater risk to a person's health. The evidence is in; these fad diets should be out.<br /><br />Eating the right foods, and avoiding the wrong ones, is the key to achieving both your appropriate weight and great health. Doing so will help lower your cholesterol and can prevent or reverse heart disease and other major maladies. Take control of your life!<br /><br />There are many plant foods that are heart-healthy and could be beneficial for lowering your cholesterol, especially these that are high in antioxidants, vitamins, or fiber:<br /><br /> turmeric<br /><br /> fenugreek seeds<br /><br /> cinnamon<br /><br /> lecithin<br /><br /> moderate amounts of red wine<br /><br /> tea and coffee in moderation<br /><br />That said, some foods are, to paraphrase George Orwell, more equal than others. Various plant food sterols can very effectively block cholesterol and also help reduce LDL (low-density lousy cholesterol), while increasing the body's HDL (high-density healthy cholesterol).<br /><br /><strong>Top ten cholesterol reducers</strong>
Here are the top ten most effective foods known for lowering cholesterol and beating heart disease. Whenever possible, you should eat them in their unprocessed form and in combination with each other, consuming them regularly, even daily, for your optimum health: <br /><br /> soy products (including miso, soybeans, soy flour, soy milk, soy nuts, tempeh, tofu, and TVP)<br /><br /> colorful fruits and vegetables (ones that are red, orange, yellow green, blue, purple -- eat the rainbow!)<br /><br /> whole grains (including barley, brown rice, corn, oats and oat bran, whole wheat, and the less common amaranth, kamut, millet, quinoa, red rice, rye, spelt, teff, triticale, and others)<br /><br /> beans (including black, chickpea, kidney, lentils, navy, peas, pinto, and, of course, soy)<br /><br /> berries (including blackberries, blueberries, cherries, cranberries, currants, strawberries, and raspberries)<br /><br /> garlic (preferably raw, and others in the allium family, including chives, leeks, onions, scallions, and shallots)<br /><br /> nuts (including almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamia, peanuts, pecans, pistachios, and walnuts)<br /><br /> seeds (including hemp, flax, pumpkin, psyllium, sesame, and sunflower)<br /><br /> olive oil (preferably extra virgin)<br /><br /> tea (especially green, but also black, oolong, and white)<br /><br />As a special bonus, cocoa could be #11, which is likewise rich in natural phytonutrients, as it is also good for lowering cholesterol. Needless to say, chocolate is also delicious! The higher the cocoa level -- meaning dark chocolate -- and the lower the amount of dairy and sugar, the better for your health.<br /><br /><strong>Cholesterol sinner list</strong>
Besides eating the right foods, it is similarly important for you to avoid certain things. The seven most deadly sins are:<br /><br /> cholesterol (exclusively found in animal products)<br /><br /> saturated fats (disproportionately found in animals products and other rich foods)<br /><br /> hydrogenated oils or trans fats (often found in prepared processed, fast, and other junk foods, these are unhealthy and unnecessary)<br /><br /> smoking (especially yours, but also of those around you)<br /><br /> stress (which makes everything worse!)<br /><br /> processed foods and refined flour (these foods tend to be empty calories)<br /><br /> unscientific and faddish "miracle" cures (especially when it comes to health, stick with the science!)<br /><br />In addition to eating healthy foods, and avoiding the "deadly sins," scientific studies indicate that it is beneficial to: <br /><br /> exercise (especially aerobic exercise to strengthen our hearts and bodies)<br /><br /> eat lots of small meals instead of a small number of large ones (for better metabolism)<br /><br /> lose weight (to reduce the pressure on our hearts and bodies)<br /><br /> meditate (to reduce and control stress) <br /><br />It is important to recognize that the human body produces all the cholesterol it needs. If you consume cholesterol, your body will then likely have an excess amount of it, too often leading to clogged arteries and heart disease. Regardless of genetics and other factors, your diet is usually the biggest factor determining your cholesterol level and health risk -- despite the fact that the pharmaceutical industry spends billions of dollars claiming otherwise.<br /><br />Indeed, according to the research conducted by Dean Ornish, M.D., 82% of those who switched to a low-fat plant-based diet, along with increasing exercise and engaging in stress management, were able to arrest and even reverse their heart disease.<br /><br /><strong>Statins are not the only answer</strong>
While cholesterol-lowering statin drugs may reduce cholesterol levels, there is little evidence that they help prevent heart disease, probably because they do not address underlying issues, but rather only the symptoms. Further, as with many other drugs, cholesterol-lowering drugs may, at some later time, be determined to have serious side effects.<br /><br />In very stark contrast, there is overwhelming long-term, cross-cultural, multi-national evidence that a plant-based diet is not only safe and healthy, but indeed capable of preventing or reversing heart disease as well as preventing other diseases (e.g., cancer, diabetes, gout, and others) and being beneficial for all-around good health and nutrition.<br /><br />Generally, foods rich in vitamins and fiber are good for reducing your cholesterol; in contrast, foods without significant amounts of vitamins and fiber are unhealthy. Animal products often contain saturated fat and cholesterol, but never fiber or antioxidants. Plant foods often contain fiber and antioxidants, and never cholesterol and typically little or no saturated fat.<br /><br />Organic fruits, vegetables, and grains tend to have higher nutritional levels than those produced through chemical agriculture, as the chemical pesticides may suppress the plants' innate abilities to properly protect themselves, therefore making organic produce a better choice for you as well as the environment.<br /><br /><strong>Vegetarians have lower cholesterol</strong>
Numerous scientific studies show that, overall, vegetarians have much lower cholesterol levels than meat-eaters -- and vegans, who eat no animal products at all, even more so -- and a much lower incidence of heart disease and heart attacks, as well as lower rates of various forms of cancer, stroke, hypertension/high blood pressure, diabetes, gout, and other very serious and deadly diseases. It's not too late to take back control of your life and reverse the ill effects of high cholesterol.<br /><br />We should note that some foods and herbs may interact, either positively or negatively, with some medicines (e.g., antibiotics, antidepressants, anti-clotting/blood thinning medications, birth control pills, cholesterol-lowering drugs, etc.). If you are taking any medicine, herb, or drug, for any reason, be sure to learn about that medicine and with what it may interact. Likewise if you have any disease, medical condition, or are pregnant. In addition to doing your own research, check in with your doctor, pharmacist, and other trained medical professionals.<br /><br />In a nutshell, according to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, the ten basic facts to know about cholesterol reduction are:<br /><br /> "Cholesterol is found only in animal products."<br /><br /> "Cholesterol in foods raises the cholesterol level in one's blood."<br /><br /> "There is no 'good cholesterol' in any food."<br /><br /> "There is no fiber in any animal products."<br /><br /> "A diet including fish is not as beneficial as a pure vegetarian diet."<br /><br /> "Making only modest changes yields only modest results."<br /><br /> "The best thing to do is to keep one's fat intake very low and to avoid any animal products."<br /><br /> "Basing one's diet on plant foods -- grains, beans, vegetables, and fruits -- is the best way to keep saturated fat intake low and to avoid cholesterol."<br /><br /> "A low-fat, vegetarian diet coupled with exercise, smoking cessation, and stress reduction program[s] is the best way to lower one's cholesterol levels and can even reverse heart disease."<br /><br /> The choice is yours.<br /><br />If you're ready to take control of your life, by controlling cholesterol and beating the top three killers, including heart disease, now's the time. Dr. Susan Bennett, director of the Women's Heart Program at George Washington University Medical Center, reminds us that "It's never too late to take action to prevent and control the risk factors for heart disease."<br /><br />Now's the time. Live long, healthy, and happy!<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a030911a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a030911a5"></a><strong>5. Video of JVNA Advisor Rabbi Adam Frank Discussing Jewish Teachings on Animals</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://adamfrank.typepad.com/adam_frank/2011/03/does-torah-intend-to-protect-animals-part-ii.html">Part II -- Does Torah Intend to Protect Animals?</a> <br /><br />Video: in this second round of chevrutah [scholarly dialogue] with Pardes Institute Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Danny Landes, Rabbi Adam Frank uses traditional sources to show that Torah includes emotional pain in the definition of Tsa'ar Ba'alei Chaim (pain of living creatures).<br /><br />---------------------------------<br /><br />Rabbi Adam Frank <br /><br />Congregation Moreshet Yisrael <br /><br />Jerusalem, Israel <br /><br />02-625-3539 <br /><br /><a href="http://www.moreshetyisrael.com">www.moreshetyisrael.com">http://www.moreshetyisrael.com">www.moreshetyisrael.com</a> <br /><br /><a href="http://www.adamfrank.typepad.com">www.adamfrank.typepad.com">http://www.adamfrank.typepad.com">www.adamfrank.typepad.com</a> <br /><br /><a href="http://adamfrank.typepad.com/adam_frank/2011/03/does-torah-intend-to-protect-animals-part-ii.html">http://adamfrank.typepad.com/adam_frank/2011/03/does-torah-intend-to-protect-animals-part-ii.html</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a030911a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a030911a6"></a><strong>6. JVNA Advisor Rabbi Yonassan Gershom’s Blog on Judaism and Ecological Stewardship</strong><br /><br />Blog: Notes from a Jewish Thoreau <br /><br /><strong>Post: On God, ecological stewardship, and imitating an ostrich</strong> <br /><br />Link: <a href="http://rooster613.blogspot.com/2011/02/on-god-ecological-stewardship-and.html">http://rooster613.blogspot.com/2011/02/on-god-ecological-stewardship-and.html</a> <br /><br />--<br /><br />Powered by Blogger <br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/">http://www.blogger.com/</a> <br /><br /><strong>SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2011<br /><br />On God, ecological stewardship, and imitating an ostrich</strong> <br /><br />News item: Minnesota State Representative Mike Beard (R-Shakopee) says he wants more coal-burning power plants in Minnesota because God will fix global warming, so we don't need to worry about it. (<a href="http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2011/02/17/gop%E2%80%99s-beard-wants-more-coal-plants-because-god-will-fix-global-warming">read more on him</a>). He believes God will prevent the planet from running out of fossil fuels while also eliminating the harms associated with climate change, and that it is "arrogant" of us to think we can do anything to harm God's Creation or destroy the Earth unless God wills it. <br /><br />This guy happens to be a Christian, but I have run into similar attitudes among religious Jews recently, most notably an email that claimed Israel was never under water during the Great Flood (based on an ancient story about Noah's dove getting the olive branch from there) so Israelis needn't worry if the ocean rises from polar ice melting. The Holy Land, this email claimed, will always stay high and dry. So not to worry about climate change. <br /><br />These are not, of course, the opinions of all religious people. Not everyone is sticking their head in the sand (which ostriches really don't do, they are actually lowering their heads to guard their eggs -- but the metaphor has entered the English language, so you all know what I mean.) A lot of denominations have come out with more responsible directives concerning our stewardship of the Earth. (See for example <a href="http://interfaithpowerandlight.org/">Interfaith Power and Light</a>, an org working to educate congregations about environmental issues.) <br /><br />As for the possibility of Humans harming the Earth, there is an ancient rabbinical teaching (at least 2000 years old) which disagrees with Representative Beard. Jewish tradition says: <br /><br />"When God created the first human beings, God led them around the Garden of Eden and said: “Look at my works! See how beautiful they are—how excellent! For your sake I created them all. See to it that you do not spoil and destroy My world; for if you do, there will be no one else to repair it.” (Midrash Kohelet Rabbah 7:13) <br /><br />So, on the one hand, Judaism teaches that God created the Earth and everything in it for us. But on the other hand, we are charged with taking care of it and not destroying it. The fact that God tells us not to destroy it means that we do have that ability. It comes along with our free will. God has set the stage, but the choice is ours whether to act responsibly or not. And to face the consequences of our actions. <br /><br />The Jewish interpretation of having "dominion" over the world is one of stewardship, not exploitation. And our tradition goes even further. Another midrash says: <br /><br />"Last and first You created me" (Psalms 139:5) ... If man is worthy, he is told: You are first among the works of creation. If he is not worthy, he is told: The flea preceded you, the earthworm preceded you." (Midrash Rabbah, Vayikra 14:1) <br /><br />From this we learn that our "dominion" is not absolute. It is dependent on our behavior. We were created last, and that can either mean we are the "crown of creation," or it can mean that we came after the worms and fleas. ( I remember being told back in the 1960s that if we ever had a nuclear war, the cockroaches would be the most likely to survive the radiation.) Genesis 2:15 says: <br /><br />The Lord (YHVH) God put the human being (literal meaning of "Adam") in the Garden of Eden, to work it and guard it." <br /><br />Yes, we are allowed to use the resources of the Earth ("to work it") but we must also guard and care for it. Even in the innocence of Eden, we are charged to protect the environment. But I suppose that even in the time of Noah there were people like Beard who said, "What? A flood in the desert? Impossible!" And we all know what happened to that generation...<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a030911a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a030911a7"></a><strong>7. Trailer for Gala Event Hosted by Lionel Friedberg in Cancun, Mexico on Responding to Climate Change</strong><br /><br />Forwarded message from JVNA advisor and producer of JVNA’s documentary “A Sacred Duty: Applying Jewish Values to Help Heal the World”: <br /><br />I was privileged to be part of the Supreme Master Television Channel's 'Greenest Heroes' celebration and show that coincided with the Global Climate Change Conference in Cancun, Mexico in November. <br /><br />SMTV does a terrific job in promoting awareness of global warming and climate change and are fervent promoters of a vegan diet and green lifestyle. The show featured performers from all over the world and recognized a number of people who advocate a green lifestyle. It was a very exciting and worthwhile occasion, attended by scientists, environmentalists and politicians from many countries. Guests of honor included the President of Costa Rica, the past President of Ireland and the mayor of Cancun. <br /><br />SMTV's leader, Ching Hai, was also present and spoke eloquently about the imperative need to adapt a vegan lifestyle to help save the planet. She sets a great example of the potential power of the human spirit. My co-host was animal activist, environmentalist and actress Mariana Tosca. It was a wonderful evening and the show went out on TV and the internet, reaching an audience of millions worldwide. I feel proud to have been part of it. <br /><br /><strong><a href="http://www.twitvid.com/ME8DD">http://www.twitvid.com/ME8DD</a></strong> <br /><br />[We are proud of Lionel for this very great, well-deserved honor, and wish him much continued success. We owe a great debt to Lionel for his wonderful work producing “A Sacred Duty” as a labor of love and dedication to the vegetarian cause.] <br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a030911a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a030911a8"></a><strong>8. Anyone Interested in Creating a Jewish Vegetarian App?</strong><br /><br />I decided to ask after seeing the message below. Producing such an app would be very helpful to our cause.<br /><br /><strong><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/07/business/media/07drill.html?_r=2&partner=rss&emc=rss">Apps are now the favorite cell phone communications tool</a></strong><br /><br />People with cell phones are now using apps more than they are surfing the web or talking on the phone. This is a good reminder to me to create a public speaking and media training app for the iTunes stores ASAP. If you don’t have an app to demonstrate your expertise or your business’s strengths, what are you waiting for? <br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a030911a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a030911a9"></a><strong>9. Announcements from Vegan Group “Wings of Wellness”</strong><br /><br />NEEDED: 2 vegan young men for 2 vegan young women. Prefer they are fluent in Hebrew. Women are excellent vegan cooks, committed to G-d and family, well skilled in homemaking and healthy living. To make contact: email with subject “Attention Matchmaker” to <a href="mailto:JVNANewsletter@gmail.com?subject=Attention Matchmaker">JVNANewsletter@gmail.com</a><br /><br /> _________________________<br /> <br /><br /><strong>Wings of Wellness</strong>, a team of three vegan health and wellness educators, will be <strong>coming soon</strong> for a short time to the St Paul, MN area. If you are an individual, family, or small group who would be interested in gaining knowledge and skill, they offer instruction in the following areas: <br /><br />Health & Wellness Classes<br /><br />Raw & Vegan Food Preparation <br /><br />Detoxification & Cleansing of the Body and Home <br /><br />Nutritional Counseling<br /><br />Lifestyle Coaching<br /><br />Reversing Dis-ease Within Yourself<br /><br />Label Reading & Grocery Shopping<br /><br />Optimal Weight for Life<br /><br />Hydrotherapy, Essential Oils, & Herbs<br /><br />Oxygenating on a Cellular Level<br /><br />Creating Healthy Personal Care Products & Clothing<br /><br />Applying Torah to Your Daily Life <br /><br />Please contact them at <a href="mailto:WingsOfWellness@live.com">WingsOfWellness@live.com</a> 620-214-1108. <br /><br />If you would be interested in having Wings of Wellness come to your area, please contact them to make arangements. <br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a030911a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a030911a10"></a><strong>10. Paul McCartney Video on Mistreatment of Animals</strong><br /><br />Great summary of factory Farming Abuses of Animals <br /><br /><a href="http://www.meat.org/">http://www.meat.org/</a><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a030911a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><a name="a030911a11"></a><strong>11. Producers of Feature Documentary on Milk Hazards Seeking Support</strong><br /><br />Forwarded message:<br /><br />Hello fellow animal lovers!<br /><br />Got the facts on Milk?’ Also known as the Milk Documentary (a feature documentary that questions the health benefits of milk and dairy products), has been in the making for nearly 5 years, and is complete apart from some remaining funds needed for the distribution of it so we have collaborated with Kickstarter, the startup, to conduct an experiment in community-funded film releasing. With your help by pledging to buy a DVD we can get the film out there now, we have only 20 days!<br /><br /><a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1730342331/got-the-facts-on-milk-the-milk-documentary">https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1730342331/got-the-facts-on-milk-the-milk-documentary</a> <br /><br />Kickstarter is all or nothing: If we cannot secure at least $25,000 in pre-orders by March 25th, release of the film will not go ahead, and you will not be charged. The funds go towards our releasing obligations that have been holding up the film up until now. With your help by pledging to buy a DVD we can get the film out there now!<br /><br />Thank you<br /><br />For all you do for the animals<br /><br />All the best <br /><br /><strong>Shira Lane</strong><br />Unleashed Productions<br />A Green Media Production Company<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="#a030911a0">Return to Top</a></span></em><br /><br />=========================<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">** Fair Use Notice **<br /><br />The material on this site is provided for educational and informational purposes. It may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. It is being made available in an effort to advance the understanding of vegetarian, environmental, nutritional, health, economic, social justice and human rights issues etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have an interest in using the included information for educational or research purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. The information on this site does not constitute legal, technical or medical advice.</span>.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17349614588789907464noreply@blogger.com