Facts of Life - 1 - Companion Animals

Some simple facts about the companion animal industry worth thinking about...

A Gorilla.. Thinking about it..

1. Roughly 50% of all fish caught goes toward feeding companion animals.
   
2. In 1986, around 70% of animal medicines were used in farm livestock. Now over half animal medicine sales, by value, are for companion animal use.
   
3. Pet food provides a convenient way for slaughterhouse offal, grains considered “unfit for human consumption,” and similar waste products to be turned into profit. This waste includes intestines, udders, heads, hooves, and possibly diseased and cancerous animal parts. - about 50% of every food animal does not get used in human foods. Whatever remains of the carcass — heads, feet, bones, blood, intestines, lungs, spleens, livers, ligaments, fat trimmings, unborn babies, and other parts not generally consumed by humans — is used in pet food.
   
4. Because irresponsible people accidentally or intentionally allow their animals to reproduce, about 10 million “excess” dogs and cats will be killed in shelters this year, while millions of homeless animals live short, hard, hungry lives on the streets, only to die miserably from disease, injury, or predation.
   
5. Most dogs sold in pet stores, through multiple breed newspaper ads, or over the Internet come from “puppy mills,” where dogs are bred solely for profit, are kept in abhorrent conditions, and are frequently denied adequate veterinary care.
   
6. In some localities, animals who end up in shelters may be sold into research through a practice known as pound seizure.
   
7. companion animals from clinics, pounds, and shelters can and are being rendered and used as sources of protein in pet food.

Disobedient Beaver

These are just a random selection of some of the multitude of facts, that many, even seasoned vegetarians, are not fully aware of, and reasons why it is worth considering not being part of this particular animal domination field..

- Or at the very least why serious efforts should be made to feed pets a more sane diet. In my opinion, preferably a raw vegan one, but better still to take a firm step forward from keeping animals as pets, and realise that doing so is degrading for both animals and ourselves.

peace,
mango the raw vegan fruitarian.

Movie Review - 3 - The Earthlings Movie

This video is quite distressing.. But still, I believe it could benefit the planet if the vast majority of the human race could open their hearts and minds and watch it honestly and openly..



I particularly would like people to understand some of the truth behind the whole pet industry.. (see here for: my view on companion animals).

Peace,
mango.

Meat Free Mondays?

Hi everyone, meatless mondays seems to be the new rage..

Read more here: http://www.supportmfm.org/

Quite a few mentions of it on the internet recently.. - It's a simple way to help the environment - reduce ones flesh intake..

Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg, and although far from ideal, i guess each step is worth celebrating on the path to freedom.



recent news:

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2009/07/20/1247941868281.html

Peace,
Mango.

Veganism/Fruitarianism and Religion

Those that are at all into religion, should already be aware that when you get down to the nitty gritty of it, the essence of pretty much every religion is about doing no harm, treating others with the respect that we ourselves expect, or fundamentally deserve, and generally loving and helping others when and where we are able.

Breakfast abomination

Buddhism, for example, has what it calls the 5 precepts, the first of which clearly states that one should undertake the precept to refrain from harming all living creatures (ie, both humans and other animals alike, and I'm supposing the ultimate harm is death!).

Albeit, I've yet to really meet a Buddhist that fully understands what that entails, and goes out of their way to put it into practice. (even the dalai lama regularly eats the flesh from other beings)..

Christianity, in addition to jesus's teachings of respect for others, has the very clear 6th commandment given in the old testament "thou shall not kill" (Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17)..

A true carnivore would look at this creature, and think "food".

Specieistic scholars addicted to the scorched flesh of butchered animals, have tried to distort the true meaning of the commandment, and would have us believe that it refers purely to the murder of another human being, where I would seriously doubt that any such exception was ever intended.

Islam, supposedly the fastest-growing religion on the globe, quotes several times in it's Koran, that one should show respect for animals:

...but to hunt...is forbidden you, so long as ye are on the pilgrimage. Be mindful of your duty to Allah, unto Whom you will all be gathered.
(Koran, surah 5, verse 96)

It teaches that in Mecca, the birthplace of Mohammed, no creature can be slaughtered and that perfect harmony should exist between all living beings.. Which is odd, as I can't quite imagine that all the restaurants there are vegan..

Definitely not food.

Whoever is kind to the creatures of God is kind to himself. (the Prophet Mohammed)

There is not an animal on the earth, nor a flying creature flying on two wings, but they are all peoples like unto you. (Koran, surah 6, verse 38)

Ahimsa is an east Indian term that relates to the principal of non-violence toward all life. Ahimsa is an important tenant of both Hinduism and Jainism

- Animals are seen as sentient beings worthy of human love and protection. Killing animals for food or any other reason is supposedly completely unthinkable to an adherent of Ahimsa, although I suspect as with other religions many disciples will ignore or regularly turn a blind eye toward this tenant. - Violence toward animals is said to negatively affect a person's destiny and fate. The idea is that one reaps what one sows and the adherents of Ahimsa believes that the violence and misery experienced by a murdered animal will be metaphysically transferred to the flesh-eater during his own lifetime.

What gives us the right to eat animals?

The Bahai Faith teaches that respect for animals is just, and even supports it's followers to become vegetarian. Some even choose to cut out all animal products, and eat vegan. Admittedly, not all followers have the insight enough to equate respect for animals with diet at all, so I'm guessing that vegetarians in the faith are most likely to be in the minority..

Furthermore, Abdu’l-Bahá said, Fruits and grains [will be the foods
of the future]. The time will come when meat will no longer be eaten..

The next time those Mormons come knocking on the door, take a look at one of their small colourful brochures.. They often have one baring a picture of an idylic setting with colourful fruit baskets and lions lying peacefully next to lambs..

This they see as a future paradise, clearly portraying the Isaiah prophecies of a time when carnivorism will stop, even as behaviour between other species.. To me, it makes perfect sense that in order to bring about such a setting, we will all need to change our eating habits.. Apparently a fact that not one of those young mormons I've spoken with, has ever understood or appreciated.. Although, perhaps they were Jehovas Witnesses? I've always ignorantly confused the 2 groups.

Real food, for real people.

I'm quite certain that a few google searches would show similar thoughts expressed by other religions.. Quotes that are generally swept under the carpet by both leaders and followers of each religion.

The Pope, head of the catholic faith, similar to the dalai lama, is a regular flesh eater, devouring gluttonously all creatures great and small.

So clearly, it appears to me, and I repeat myself, the core of all religions is about Non-Violence..

The most nonviolent of all food, and thus the pinnacle of religious food, is unquestionably fruit. - No exploitation, killing or theft from animal or plant - No unjust imprisonment, branding, castration, torture or eartag punching of voiceless innocent animals.. - No acre upon acre of annual mono-agriculture, reliant on heavy industry tractors and harvesters, resulting in the loss of many small animals lives, and the loss of habitat of creatures of all sizes.. (The statistics in that industry of how many accidents, and deaths to humans alone, annually, is quite shocking - as well as millions of mammals and other creatures sliced by combines, harvesters).

Alive with colour

Fruit is the only food given freely and generously from the plant which bequeaths it all..

If you think of heaven as a place where you can sit and fish all day, then think again. I am convinced that heaven is heaven for all, including the fish.

Adopt a fruit diet, and help humanity evolve toward the light side!

Peace,
mango.

Veganism is not a diet..

You know how some people say that they are vegan for health reasons? or vegan for environmental reasons? or even vegan for social reasons??

..Well..they're all wrong!!..

Wrong, that is, unless they have redefined the term veganism from that which it was originally intended.. Which of course, is what has colloquially happened to many words becoming misused and abused as is the plight of the daily spoken english language.. So.. on 2nd thoughts.. that makes them right in a sense.. but not if one takes the literal meaning of the word as it was first coined back in the 40s..

I believe the original definition went something like this:

VEGANISM may be defined as a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as possible and practical, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose.



That's pretty simple, yet pretty profound too.. Nowhere is it defined as a diet.. rather it is a lifestyle that attempts to minimise suffering toward animals..

Thus Veganism not being a diet as such, offers no real guidelines as to how the diet of a follower should or shouldn't be.. There is no concern if the diet is raw or cooked, condimented or plain, mixed or mono, toxic or palatable, rotten or ripe or unripe, deep fried, roasted, boiled, sautéed, smoked, alcohol fortified, preserved, MSG flavour enhanced, coloured, fermented, pasteurised, curried, sugared, spiced or just plain natural..- Provided of course, no animal was exploited during it's production..

Actually, as a philosophy, there is no clear definitive rule forbidding even the eating of animal flesh.. Yes, you read me orrectly..- Read the definition again, and you will see what I mean.. It just says "seeks to exclude, as far as possible and practical, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose" .. Which doesn't mean that if you were to find a naturally dead animal, that there would be any fundamental moral vegan prohibition, denying you from eating it..

Clearly, veganism per sé, has little regard or concern for the health of those that practise it..

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that vegans aren't concerned for their own health.. of course they are, who isn't?! Who doesn't want to live a long and happy healthy life?? All I am saying is that their concern stems not from the philosophy of veganism or any of it's original guidelines, but from their own will to live happily and healthily..

Adopting fruitarianism to an already existing vegan enhanced lifestyle, is a good sound choice and complimenting companion.. Together the 2 philosophies can say no to both animal and personal health exploitations.. instead saying yes(!) to healthy long lives for all concerned..

Similarly, also, don't misunderstand me that I am in any way opposed to veganism, I am all for its guidelines and enthusing others to follow them, thus I would heartily encourage, also, those that may have already embraced fruitarianism as a diet only, to adopt the vegan philosophy into their lives too.. Remember - harm to a part, is harm to the whole..



Actually, the English language is really missing a word to describe someone that purely eats a diet free of animal products.. The French for example, in addition to the word veganisme, have the word végétalisme, which describes the philosophy of just eating from the vegetable kingdom.. So they have végétarisme, végétalisme and véganisme.. Similarly, the Spaniards do the same, with the words vegetarismo, vegetalismo and veganismo.. I guess the english equivalent to vegetalismo would be dietary veganism..

hugs,
Mango
ps the 1st picture is of kveta holding a very unusual pineapple with a crown at both ends..
the 2nd picture is me with my trusty bike..i biked across much of europe with it, and was on the road for a year..later i flew to australia with it and used it along the east coast.. Finally ended up leaving it in Northern NSW with a friend, and she still had it in her shed even after 7 years..

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