ThanksVegan & Food For Kind Thought

What a fantastic meal and celebration we had at the 8th Annual ThanksVegan event coordinated by Florida Voices for Animals! Robert Shepherd was the keynote speaker and you can read his moving essays here.

Robert D. Shepherd

It was a wonderful time with more delicious food than one could imagine. Best part was getting to be with friends who are dear but seldom seen. 

Tucker & me

The poster you see behind us is one distributed by United Poultry Concerns. Many took advantage of this backdrop for cool photo-ops. The truth couldn't be more clear! We know that turkeys are too neat to eat, and no one at ThanksVegan missed out a bit!

Another one of these posters held a place of prominence at the library display that I previously mentioned I would do in the month of November. Of course the major focus was all about the turkeys and the many reasons they are best left off our plates:

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I was pleased with the display... It looked festive and colorful. The message was clear that we ought to be kind:

Available in the lobby were brochures also provided by United Poultry Concerns. If people didn't get the message on the way in... They certainly could learn more on the way out. 

I hope that all gentle folks had a wonderful holiday! Food for kind thought is always delicious - Isn't it? :)

Read more...

Death With Pumpkin Pie? No Thanks.

Franny from Animal Place

In the Name of Tradition 
By Heather Leughmyer 

In a smothering sea of white
Gentle beauty is lost

Born and bred to be dinner

Whatever the cost.

Debeaked, detoed, crippled and weak

Disease running rampant

Your future is bleak.

In a huge sunless warehouse

Tens of thousands crammed tight

Kept like a secret

Out of mind, out of sight.

When your body is fattened

And you collapse from the weight

You are grabbed by rough hands

And sent to your fate.

Hung by your feet

Flapping and scared

Still conscious, confused

If only they cared.

Your neck is then slit

By a mechanized blade

As life drains from your body

You’re alone and afraid.

Another beside you

Misses the knife

Still conscious, she’s boiled

Slowly ending her life.

Andrea with rescued turkey hen Clove

Neatly you are packaged

Shipped to every store

Butterball makes money

Spent breeding millions more.

Behind the tidy shrink-wrap

Is a mutilated bird

Who had feelings and emotions

And cries that went unheard.

Emily and Beatrice the turkey

In the name of “tradition”

Tens of millions will die

Somehow their sad remains

Seem so wrong with pumpkin pie.

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You can observe a turkey. Hold a turkey. Pet a turkey. 

You can adopt a turkey. Sponsor a turkey. 

You can save a turkey. Liberate a turkey. Or rescue a turkey.

You can bathe a turkey.

Sing to a turkey. Train a turkey. Or feed a turkey.

Farm Sanctuary 

And you can certainly love a turkey.

In fact, there are 46 million ways to honor turkeys!

But please, oh pretty please --- Don't ever, ever eat a turkey!

Pumpkin pie is much more delicious when served with kindness instead.

Read more...

Giving Thanks to the First Farmers

With gratitude to the first American farmers - The natives on this soil who grew abundant plant based foods:

And apologies for having repaid you so unkindly: Thanksgiving A Native American View

We European immigrants should be the ones who plead for pardon. 

In Lakota wolakota wa yaka cola - peace without slavery - Would be something all of us would be very thankful for. le mita pila - my thanks to those who strive for this goal.

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Turkey Slaughter Inspires Veggo to Go Vegan - Happy ThanksLiving Story

It was working in a turkey slaughterhouse for a day, that made Veggo think, question and learn enough to opt for a compassionate vegan diet... If only we all were as courageous and kind as  he!

Read more...