Vegetarian In Boston

V for Veg: Water ice is great, but ...

2011-08-25T00:08:00.000-04:00

V For Veg: Water ice is great, but...

POSTED: August 25, 2011

By Vance Lehmkuhl

Philadelphia Daily News

Vance Lehmkuhl / Staff Photographer

A one-scoop chocolate vegan ice cream cone from Franklin Fountain is seen outside the nostalgic Old City parlor.

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WATER ICE IS A cherished summer institution in Philly, and those of us who skip dairy, whether for ethical, health or other concerns, can appreciate this cool vegan treat. Sorbet, Popsicles, frozen fruit bars and the like are also delish.
But let's face it: "You can always have water ice [or sorbet]" is the cool-treat equivalent of "you can always have a salad." Nothing against salad or water ice, but we sometimes want that singular richness and flavor associated with ice cream. And finally, we're getting it.
Soy-based Tofutti premium was first on the scene in your grocer's freezer (if your grocer is Whole Foods or Shop Rite, an early mainstream adopter) soon joined by the likes of Soy Dream and Soy Delicious. The latter quietly dropped the "Y" from its name, and "So Delicious" has led the new breed of coconut-based ice creams.
Nowadays, coconut is more popular than soy, along with entries from almond, rice and hemp milk. A local company makes a kosher, organic, vegan product called "KOV" after just those attributes; it's also soy-free.
So dairy- and cholesterol-free desserts abound at the store. But what about the iconic ice cream cone - the one you purchase on a summer night and eat right there as it drips on the sidewalk?
Pickings here in Philly used to be pretty slim. But Govinda's Gourmet to Go (Broad and South) and the Franklin Fountain (Old City) stepped in to fill the gap a few years ago, stocking Klein's, a vegan ice cream out of NYC.
In homegrown terms, it's Little Baby's Ice Cream, with several vegan flavors, that's set to put Philly on the map. Launching this spring from an eco-friendly tricycle, Little Baby's has already acquired a solid following despite its tricky accessibility: It's sold at Green Aisle Grocery on Passyunk Avenue, but for a hand-scooped cone, you gotta catch the tricycle.
Company founder Pete Angevine explained: "None of us are vegan, but we have many friends that are, and it's important to us to provide options for them." And provide they do: Coconut Tea, Mint Oreo, Chai, Banana Chip and Panko Fried Plantain are available so far, with more on the way. All use a coconut-milk base.
Angevine plans to expand the vegan line, adding, "We always knew that there would be an interest in that kind of alternative, and now, after seeing how well they've been received, we'd like to have as many flavors as possible."
It's a cool trend: Even vegan soft-serve (vanilla only, but you can get sprinkles!) is now available, down at B2 (Passyunk and Dickinson). So whether you're lactose intolerant, you're allergic to dairy, or you're of the "I scream, you scream, the cows scream when their calves are taken away" set, you needn't be left out in the cold.
As Angevine puts it, "Ice cream is an emotional experience that is so universal it shouldn't be limited to folks that eat cream!"
V-NEWS TO USE: You can get a cone from the Little Baby's tricycle at Saturday's Roller Derby with the Philly Roller Girls, 6 p.m., Class of 1923 Arena, 3130 Walnut St., 215-898-1923.

Vance Lehmkuhl is a cartoonist, writer, musician and 10-year vegan. "V for Veg" chronicles the growing trend of plant-based eating in and around Philadelphia. Send your veg tips to VforVeg@phillynews.com and follow @V4Veg on Twitter.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

2011-05-03T16:58:00.000-04:00

Anecdote: Charles Wesley, hymnwriter, vegetarian - discouraged from marrying lovely woman

2011-04-02T15:26:00.000-04:00

Charles Wesley, the hymnwriter, was vegetarian, you know. The family of the woman he married didn't like him because they felt that marrying their daughter to an itinerant vegetarian hymnwriter was unsuitable for her, not because he wasn't a lovely man, but because he was not likely to count for much over time and couldn't support her in the style to which ladies of her station should wish to become accustomed.

They married anyway by addressing the family's most reasonable objections, and history shows that Charles Wesley became one of the most prolific and deeply revered hymnwriters of the Christian faith.

And he was a vegetarian - one might say, a devout vegetarian.

Anecdote: Charles Wesley, hymnwriter, vegetarian - discouraged from marrying lovely woman

2011-04-02T11:20:00.000-04:00

MEATOUT 2011 BLOGGERS' VIRTUAL EVENT

2011-03-19T15:04:00.001-04:00

MEATOUT 2011 BLOGGERS' VIRTUAL EVENT

On March 20th the following bloggers will post a special blog post in honor of Meatout! We hope you enjoy visiting their sites where you'll be sure to find delicious vegan recipes,
vegan tips, and/or thoughtful reflection.
***Please note that some bloggers are also doing GIVEAWAYS!
Thanks so much, bloggers, for supporting Meatout!
If you are a blogger and would like to participate, see the bottom of this page. Thanks!

Mighty Vegan (Julie Kelly)

Lola Lollipop (Lara Matthews) *has already created a special
Meatout comic strip that you can also find on her Facebook page. Check it out!

Vegan Heartland (Matthew) * is also having Meatout giveaways on his blog on 3/20

Don't Fear The Vegan (the DeRobertis family) *Will be raffling off 2 canvas bags
custom designed for Meatout that also say - Don't Fear the Vegan!

Vegan Machine (Kaycee Bassett)

MeloMeals: Vegan for $3.33 a Day (Melody Polakow)

Kiss Me, I'm Vegan (Lindsay Wolf)

Action For Our Planet (Oli Dillon Squire)

Hungry Vegan (Vegiegail)

Hungry Hungry Hippie (Elise)

Daisy Wares (Roni Seabury)

We Animals (Jo Anne McArthur)

Our Hen House (Jasmin Singer & Mariann Sullivan)

Your Time Travels (Liz Longacre)

The Tourist Trail (John Yunker)

Ashland Creek Press (Midge Raymond)

The Vegan Project (Bridget Burns, Jennifer Hanover, and Jessica Grajczyk)

Tracie Cooks (Tracie Boyle)

Veg Reflections (Jessica)

Vegan Gluten Free Karaoke (Rachel Lee)

The Dirty Vegan

The Blooming Platter

Julie Beyer's For the Love of Food (Julie Beyer)

The Vegan Swedes (Emma)

Veg Vine (Ryan Draving)

Vegan Splendor (Carol Kunze)

The Fruit Pursuit (Sabine)

VegKitchen

My Vegan Blog (Breezy Rondilone)

My Big Yellow Book (Breezy Rondilone)

LJ's Veganlicious (Laura Jill)

Vegan Miss (Alexis)

Dinner Peace (Colleen Boucher)

The Veganomaly (Shannon Alberta)

Eat & Talk (Kelly E. Spivey)

Reverence Gardens (Chris)

Vegan Wellness (Charlotte Cressey)

Greenderella (Franzi Schleiter) *not a 100% vegan blog, but promoting Meatout
& more vegan recipes every week.

Amanda Eats (Amanda Rock)

Hungry Vegan Traveler (Amanda)

Vegetarian ( Xiao Kang, Terri Lynn Merritts, and Isobella Merritts)

Serendipitous Vegan (Ashley & Richard)

Vegan Fazool (Dawn Carlock)

Vegan Version (Lee Khatchadourian-Reese)

Vegan Appetite (Tami Noyes)

Bankrupt Vegan (Jen Manriquez)

Bunny Bread Surprise (Emily Keith)

Little Vegan Planet

Tena Burnett

The Opinioness of the World (Megan Kearns)

Empire 118

Beyond Willpower (Alicia Birmingham)

VegBlogger

Gone Vegan (Lindsay Hutton)

JAM Vegan Bakery (Jesse Coyne & Mallori Simko)
*Will have special Meatout activities on 3/20

Viva la Vegan! (Leigh-Chantelle)

Soul Veggie (Mark Sutton)

Jill of Ark (Jill Ennis)
* Will be raffling off a free 30-minute animal communication phone session

Lifeforce (Peter Hamilton)
*see a special Lifeforce Meatout news pdf

And don't forget to check in on the
FARM Blog

If you'd like to participate and be added to our list of Meatout bloggers,
please send an e-mail to Cindi@farmusa.org

Maynard | GoogleChat: Maynard.Clark | Google Profile

Maynard S. Clark, RAC | 617-615-9672 (GoogleVoice) | Skype: MaynardClark

MEATOUT 2011 BLOGGERS' VIRTUAL EVENT

2011-03-19T15:04:00.000-04:00

Mighty Vegan (Julie Kelly)

Lola Lollipop (Lara Matthews) *has already created a special
Meatout comic strip that you can also find on her Facebook page. Check it out!

Vegan Heartland (Matthew) * is also having Meatout giveaways on his blog on 3/20

Don't Fear The Vegan (the DeRobertis family) *Will be raffling off 2 canvas bags
custom designed for Meatout that also say - Don't Fear the Vegan!

Vegan Machine (Kaycee Bassett)

MeloMeals: Vegan for $3.33 a Day (Melody Polakow)

Kiss Me, I'm Vegan (Lindsay Wolf)

Action For Our Planet (Oli Dillon Squire)

Hungry Vegan (Vegiegail)

Hungry Hungry Hippie (Elise)

Daisy Wares (Roni Seabury)

We Animals (Jo Anne McArthur)

Our Hen House (Jasmin Singer & Mariann Sullivan)

Your Time Travels (Liz Longacre)

The Tourist Trail (John Yunker)

Ashland Creek Press (Midge Raymond)

The Vegan Project (Bridget Burns, Jennifer Hanover, and Jessica Grajczyk)

Tracie Cooks (Tracie Boyle)

Veg Reflections (Jessica)

Vegan Gluten Free Karaoke (Rachel Lee)

The Dirty Vegan

The Blooming Platter

Julie Beyer's For the Love of Food (Julie Beyer)

The Vegan Swedes (Emma)

Veg Vine (Ryan Draving)

Vegan Splendor (Carol Kunze)

The Fruit Pursuit (Sabine)

VegKitchen

My Vegan Blog (Breezy Rondilone)

My Big Yellow Book (Breezy Rondilone)

LJ's Veganlicious (Laura Jill)

Vegan Miss (Alexis)

Dinner Peace (Colleen Boucher)

The Veganomaly (Shannon Alberta)

Eat & Talk (Kelly E. Spivey)

Reverence Gardens (Chris)

Vegan Wellness (Charlotte Cressey)

Greenderella (Franzi Schleiter) *not a 100% vegan blog, but promoting Meatout
& more vegan recipes every week.

Amanda Eats (Amanda Rock)

Hungry Vegan Traveler (Amanda)

Vegetarian ( Xiao Kang, Terri Lynn Merritts, and Isobella Merritts)

Serendipitous Vegan (Ashley & Richard)

Vegan Fazool (Dawn Carlock)

Vegan Version (Lee Khatchadourian-Reese)

Vegan Appetite (Tami Noyes)

Bankrupt Vegan (Jen Manriquez)

Bunny Bread Surprise (Emily Keith)

Little Vegan Planet

Tena Burnett

The Opinioness of the World (Megan Kearns)

Empire 118

Beyond Willpower (Alicia Birmingham)

VegBlogger

Gone Vegan (Lindsay Hutton)

JAM Vegan Bakery (Jesse Coyne & Mallori Simko)
*Will have special Meatout activities on 3/20

Viva la Vegan! (Leigh-Chantelle)

Soul Veggie (Mark Sutton)

Jill of Ark (Jill Ennis)
* Will be raffling off a free 30-minute animal communication phone session

Lifeforce (Peter Hamilton)
*see a special Lifeforce Meatout news pdf

And don't forget to check in on the
FARM Blog

If you'd like to participate and be added to our list of Meatout bloggers,
please send an e-mail to Cindi@farmusa.org

Maynard | GoogleChat: Maynard.Clark | Google Profile

Maynard S. Clark, RAC | 617-615-9672 (GoogleVoice) | Skype: MaynardClark

Vstream Zine - the First Ever 54-page Zine about Vegan Blogs - Available Worldwide

2011-03-19T13:31:00.000-04:00

Press Releases

Vstream Zine - the First Ever 54-page Zine about Vegan Blogs - Available Worldwide

Friday, March 18, 2011

San Diego, Ca (Vocus/PRWEB) March 18, 2011

It's officially here the "Vstream Zine - A Vegan Blog Reporter!" Vegan Mainstream is excited to offer the first ever 54-page Zine about Vegan Blogs. It's a compilation of blog recommendations and preferences from your favorite vegans on the planet - not watered down at all. It's sure to become an official guide to the world of vegan blogging.

On Monday, Vegan Mainstream announced the first edition of VStream: The Vegan Blog Reporter. This project started with a simple idea: to create a guide that would help old-school vegans, new veg heads, and people exploring veganism, a list of the best vegan blogs online. However, the team learned quickly that classifying "the best" was nearly impossible because everyone had their own opinion.

So, instead of providing a flavorless list of the top 10 or 25 blogs, Vegan Mainstream asked some top bloggers, influential vegans and their own staff to tell readers about their favorite blogs in their own words.

This compilation of recommendations will equip a novice or expert with new insights to some of the funniest, strangest and most awesome blogs the Vegan community has to offer. In addition, interviews were conducted of fellow bloggers to get their perspective on how they started their blogs, why they think blogging is important to the vegan community and how readers can become more active in the vegan blogosphere.

To top it all off, the Zine includes a directory of 200 vegan blogs. Readers simply click on the links in the digital copy of the Zine to quickly access any blog in the directory.

The Zine is available as a Print or Digital version. The printed version includes a free copy of the digital version, thus creating the best value.

Vegan Mainstream chose a third party to manage the print version to ensure the Vstream Zine is available to a worldwide audience. So, readers anywhere in the globe can access a printed or digital copy.

Download the digital copy today to get instant access to the Vstream Zine. Or get your feet wet with a Free Sneak Peek copy.

###

For the original version on PRWeb visit:www.prweb.com/releases/prwebvstream/veganmainstream/prweb8220084.htm

Who's There?

2011-03-16T07:40:00.000-04:00

Reminds me of the 'maverick' Episcopal clergyman from the 1960s, Malcolm Boyd, who sat on tall stools in Sixties coffeehouses and read poetry and other meditations.

Boyd hit the scene with Are You Running with Me, Jesus?, which was NOT a book about jogging.

As I sit in offices layered with stuffed bookcases, I think of how many books there are on so many different sides of issues - not just TWO sides of things - could be 3 sides or 4 sides.

Another side to the "Are you there?" controversy is the late Dr. Francis Schaeffer's The God Who Is There. Some of us might have thought, fleetingly, that Schaeffer was just 'begging the question' on God's existence based on the insufficiency of other widely-held worldviews grounded in modernity, such as deconstruction, absurdity, plurality of 'personal truths', etc. Nonetheless, Francis and Edith Schaeffer set up a popular working retreat in Huemes, Switzerland, called L'Abri, where Evangelical dropouts could go pray for answers to prayer, while they studied with this professional philosopher who had dropped out of religious liberalism.

What kind of dry fleece could they craftily set out for God to trick Him into answering their prayers?

The problem of pain and suffering is one of the classical problems of theodicy, and as more and more folks are globally aware (missionaries have been globally aware for millennia) of the depth and expanse of human suffering, the reflections become even MORE poignant, particularly when we consider priorities in the allocation of scares resources - but isn't that how economics is often defined: the quantitative social science of dealing with scarcities - real and presumed, temporary and long-term?

Those of us who have been sensitized to the nature of suffering as pervasive through ALL of sentient life realize that mere palliation is not the total answer. I was pharmacy students on the hoof, parading past my Huntington Avenue windows all day long, but the problem of suffering is not merely about aging and injury, nor about humans alone. Whether we call it 'structural inefficiences' or whatever, agency - human wills/volition - and action from that volition - are often set in motion so that real suffering occurs, not only in the agents, but also in both overt victims and unintended victims.

We KNOW that WE are there, but we're still quibbling about how MANY of us and which of us are morally significant enough to consider... reflectively, ethically.

Coffee smoothies" by Maynard S. Clark

2011-03-16T07:26:00.000-04:00

Coffee smoothies"
by Maynard S. Clark

Coffee smoothies, our communion
Of our vegetarian union
Symbol of ongoing grip
On our ways of being hip

Caffeine, our necessity
For each working person's me.

Apologies to the LATE Christopher Gist Raible

Renaissonics - Vegan Early Music Group in Greater Boston

2011-03-15T08:10:00.000-04:00

Renaissonics, a Vegan Early Music Group in Greater Boston, tours in many configurations--from a quartet featuring Renaissance Chamber Music to as many as 10, or more, presenting gala Renaissance Dance and Music spectacles.

http://www.Renaissonics.com

http://www.WGBH.org/carols

Renaissonics tours as a vegan group group of musicians. Many of its members are fully vegan all the time, and the others are totally happy eating vegan with those real vegans.

Its members (as of 2005) were:

Dan Ryan - cello

James Johnston - violin'

Miyuki Tsurutani - virginal recorders, crumhorn

Laura Gulley - violin

Douglas Freundlich - lutes

John Tyson - recorders, crumhorn, pipe and trbor

Nancy Hurrell - harps

Eric Galm - percussion

Room for Rent

2011-02-27T13:25:00.000-05:00

0BR/1.5BA Apartment - Cedar St

Malden Center, Ma 02148 in Malden

Maynard S. Clark
anon30588@padlister.com
(617) 615-9672
Browse my other listings

Price	$600
Bedrooms	0
Bathrooms	1.5 (1 full, 1 partial)
Availability	Now
Address	Cedar St, Malden, MA 02148
Neighborhood	Malden Center, Ma 02148
Cats/Dogs Allowed?	Neither
Fee?	No
Listed By:	Maynard S. Clark
-Email	anon30588@padlister.com
-Phone	(617) 615-9672
Full Details on PadLister.com
Browse my rental listings on an interactive map

Description:

$600 FAST WiFi/Utilities-for quiet nonsmoking student in SAFE, low-stress family home (Malden Center, MA) (map)

WHAT IS OFFERED:
* Large furnished upstairs room in tree-lined suburb near MBTA Orange Line stop
* VERY FAST WiFi (Verizon Ultimate 10-15 GB download) - All Utilities included.
* Both WiFi and Cable TV AND Internet cable access in room. Room has TV and furniture: bed, desk, chair, bookcase, etc.
* Furnished upstairs room in QUIET nonsmoking family home in quiet tree-lined suburb of Malden (3 minutes walk from elevated MBTA Orange Line: Malden Center - near Summer Street and Clifton/Mountain Streets).
* Free use of washing machine and dryer in house;, shared use of two bathrooms.
* Refrigerator shared with one other tenant (but not with family)
* Easy walk to Stop & Shop grocery, Walgreen's and CVS pharmacies, Super 88, other shopping, coffee (Dunkin' Donuts), dry cleaning and laundry, etc.

Available immediately

WHO IS SOUGHT:
* SERIOUS nonsmoker, nondrinker graduate or undergraduate student or a working professional)
* Scholarly student types are especially welcomed.
* No smoking, no alcohol, and no illegal drugs are to be brought into house or onto the property.
* No pets; no parties; no overnight visitors.

For the right person (such as an ESL student), this is an optimal short-term OR long-term housing situation.

WHAT IS ASKED:
$600/month
First and Last month's rent + key deposit + house rules acceptance in order to occupy the room].

CAVEAT:
In addition to first and last months' rent and $15 key deposit (total $1115 to get set of keys), homeowner requires of tenant, in order to occupy the room:

(a) local reference (local college/university reference for students) and
(b) tenant's personal signed acceptance of "House Rules" (mostly respect for others in the house, like consideration and good etiquette issues).

No open cooking in kitchen after 9 pm because this is a family's home with school-age student with 9 pm bedtime.
Contact INITIALLY through e-mail or phone.

Again, ONLY full-time NON-smokers should apply to live in this room.

And quiet, quiet, quiet ... !!

For the right person (such as a serious graduate or undergraduate student), this can be an optimal short-term OR long-term quiet housing situation near the MBTA.

Around Cedar Street and Chestnut Street (google map) (yahoo map) NEAR Summer Street and Malden Center.
Location: Malden Center, MA

Listing Powered by PadLister � Apartment Mapping Provided by PadMapper

Tofu is Tasty - Respect all living things

2011-02-26T19:19:00.000-05:00

Tofu is Tasty - Respect all living things

2011-02-26T14:16:00.000-05:00

Higher Fiber Intake for a Longer Life

2011-02-16T07:09:00.000-05:00

Higher Fiber Intake for a Longer Life

Higher fiber intake is associated with significantly lower risk of dying, according to a study published online this week. Researchers looked at diet records from 219,213 people who were part of the NIH (National Institutes of Health)-AARP Diet and Health Study. Those who ate the most fiber had lower risks of death from cardiovascular disease and infectious and respiratory diseases, compared with participants who ate the least. Men who ate the most fiber also had a lower risk of cancer death, compared with men who consumed the least. Women with the highest fiber intake showed a non-statistically significant lower risk of death from cancer.

Fiber is only found in foods from plants, such as beans, grains, vegetables, and fruits.

Park Y, Subar AF, Hollenbeck A, Schatzkin A. Dietary fiber intake and mortality in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study. Arch Intern Med. Published ahead of print February 14, 2011. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2011.18.

For information about nutrition and health, please visit www.pcrm.org/.

Breaking Medical News is a service of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine,
5100 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Suite 400, Washington, DC 20016.

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
5100 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., Ste. 400
Washington, DC 20016

Phone: 202-686-2210
E-mail: info@pcrm.org

Types of Vegans

2011-02-06T13:31:00.000-05:00

I distinguish three (3) broad categories of vegan practice (real vegan practice, not 'pretenders' to be vegan, who may or may not be vegetarian):

* Dietary vegans (includes rawfooders involved with diet ONLY)

* Lifestyle vegans (who exclude ALL products resulting from exploitation of sentient beings in their lifestyle: clothing, food, accessories, household furnishings, medication as much as possible, etc.). These folks MAY CALL themselves 'ethical vegans' if their motivations are ethical (or altruistic), but there's much quibble room here

* Abolitionist vegans (who work for the abolition of all exploitation of sentient beings, and the abolition of all structures, industrial processes, and business or military operations that exploit animals).

I place vegans doing rescue operations in the 2nd category UNLESS they are working for structural upheaval (not merely punitive legal action for welfare violations). I do NOT believe that animal rescue operations are in themselves abolitionist actions.

These distinctions can be helpful in sorting out here folks 'are coming from' in their conversations about 'veganism' and 'vegan' this and that.

I do NOT believe that things OR food can be vegan; they MIGHT, however, be vegan-friendly. I believe that ONLY persons can be vegan by one or more of these categories.

What's awesome?

2011-02-06T13:04:00.000-05:00

Recently I was complimented that 'my thoughts are awesome' and that I'm doing 'awesome work'. Really, though, after my gut reaction to the compliment (one I consider to be undeserved), I had to note that, in my own self-understanding, I don't think that my thoughts are 'awesome' as much as they are conditioned by my choices to be around smart, critically-thinking, discerning, concerned, did I say SMART, well-read, accomplished, highly-disciplined, did I say VERY SMART and disciplined. Of course, I work at Harvard and treasure that opportunity, and a number of the friends and acquaintance I would like to bring closer to me are both ethical vegans and lifestyle vegans (dietary vegans who include an ethic of avoiding products of animal suffering in their lifestyles). Raw fooders (a type of dietary vegan) are interesting and, when they get good results, often quite admirable at that level. But I'm interested in the critical thinking that CAN come from disciplined, caring ETHICAL vegans.

Choosing who conditions us CAN be an ethical choice. Responsibility for what we do with our energies probably IS an ethical choice. I'm really not very good at that.

I would like to think about optimization of my energies (and others' energies) vs. ad hoc claims by others (coming from all around each of us, often with little accountability for the outcome of any 'aid' that is given to them).

Helping out nonhuman animals surely goes TO them without any sense of accountability on their part for converting our aid to them into their service to others. Humans don't show a very LARGE amount of that accountability, either, but at least we have social cultures around the world in which, occasionally, the issue is mentioned and sometimes raised to a level in public consciousness. Of course, often notions of 'accountability' are selectively applied - to highly visible persons.

Of course, I'm also interested in the SCIENCE around dietary veganism, and again, I treasure my good fortune in working with the Harvard School of Public Health. I only wish that 'professional vegetarians' and 'professional vegans' could systematically engage those resources for 'the greater good' of all.

The problem

2011-02-05T15:26:00.000-05:00

'In a perfect world' is often heard around here, where I am; perhaps, where you are, that phrase is also heard. Surely, we'd be literary characters in Candide if we believed our world to be 'perfect'; even many of those who claim to believe in Intelligent Design talk about a tragic flawing that occurred at some point.

Given that we PROFESS to be ethical in regard to animals, there is something about the claim that rings false when we're SO unfair in our application of that regard, based upon any animals' vulnerability to the mortal designs of converting their bodies into meat for meat-eaters.

Sociologically, I find quite interesting - distractingly interesting, - the earnest desire to walk around the moral difficulty of affirming OUR place in this tragic scheme of things while at the saem time claiming that all humans can be vegan, safely, albeit for ethical reasons.

If there's an ethical mandate to be vegan, which we can safely do, with a little forethought, support, discipline, and that ethical mandate has to do with the 'at risk' status of nonhumans who are often killed for their muscle tissues, is there any moral mandate for us to kill those animals to feed OTHER TYPES of beings who may have different physiologies (than ours) which require certain amino acids found NATURALLY only in animal tissues?

I see NO moral obligation for humans to accept that kind of role; it seems like the worst hybris to claim it.

Today's Market - Yesterday's Expectations

2011-02-03T09:32:00.000-05:00

Are we 'obligate carnivores' (or 'obligate herbivores')?

2011-02-02T14:31:00.000-05:00

Years ago, when I (started and) ran the Boston Vegetarian Society, I invited comparative anatomist, Dr. John McArdle, then Scientific Director of NEAVS, later Scientific Director of the Humane Society of the United States, to speak on the anatomical argument for vegetarianism.

Dr. McArdle was then a lacto-vegetarian for ethical reasons.

Dr. McArdle's conclusion, after walking us through the anatomical argument for vegetarianism, was that the idea is faulty for a variety of reasons (which he listed!).

So, for specific reasons, he rejected the argument IN FAVOR OF ethical arguments for vegetarianism. Ethicists like to consider the relative legitimacy of each of the arguments offered against or in favor of a point of view or course of action, and if outcomes (vegetarian practice) are to be sanctified (as consequentialists/utilitarians wish to do), then due diligence (prudential reason) brings us to seriously and systematically consider whether or not there is utility in arguments that only a few believe (e.g. how many go vegan because of 2-3 naked 20-something coeds on vegan diets, whatever their motivations?).

I want to cite a great Israeli philosopher, Dr. Nir Eyal of Harvard:

"For the consequentialist, consequences are everything - EVERYTHING!" Consequences (of a course of action/s) is the same as results or outcomes.

So, one MIGHT say that questionable arguments (or even good arguments) are 'good' (according to the consequentialists) to the extent that they effectively motivate thinking folks who consider them towards the desired or desirable actions or course/s of action. By this account, one COULD argue that faulty arguments are 'bad' or undesirable to the extent that they yield undesirable results (in motivating behaviors). Of course, should behaviors be decided on the basis of ethical arguments? What is the status of ethical arguments.

Dr. Randall Collura (PhD, Biological Anthropology, Harvard, 2006), a lifelong vegetarian (now a vegan) ALSO gives a talk on this topic and reaches conclusions like that of Dr. McArdle, that the anatomical argument for vegetarianism is invalid because it's (a) logically faulty AND (b) is contradicted by the facts (which likely were NOT evident to those who developed the argument, when it was developed). It may seem persuasive to some, but it fails falsification tests. Remember that the anatomical argument for vegetarianism is NOT an ethical argument; it is purportedly a descriptive claim about the propriety of the feasibility of nourishing ourselves on botanical foods ONLY.

The more widely held view today is (a) that we humans are omnivorous BUT (b) that we are NOT 'obligate carnivores'. We do not NEED to eat meat to survive or thrive, but we are ABLE to derive nutrients from all manner of soft tissues - from animals or from plants.

Ecorazzi - 2 February 2011 - Celebrity GreenWatch

2011-02-02T06:09:00.000-05:00

Besides The Oil Spill

BP Says '10 Was One Of Their Best Years

PETA's Sexy Veggies

Will Their Second Ad Attempt Get Rejected?

Profits To Charity

Avatar Sequel to Benefit Green Charities

TwitChange Two
Army of Celebs Pushes For Troops

Oprah's Vegan Challenge: Everything You Need To Try It

Oprah's "Vegan Challenge" special aired yesterday- and we're happy to say that it offered a very positive and inspirational look at what going vegan can do for people. Author Kathy Freston did an admirable job helping to advise the 378 Harpo staffers that signed up for the seven-day experiment (300 ultimately made it to the end) and it's wonderful to see so many considering making similar changes to their lives.

Read the full story on Ecorazzi.

Top Ten Vegan Super Bowl Recipes

The Big Game is coming up, and some of you out there might already be scrambling for recipe ideas. Pleasing everyone food-wise on game day is hard enough as it is, but when you're aiming to cook vegan... well, it can be downright daunting. But don't you worry your eco-minded head, because we have a list of ten vegan football-food recipes that will have you doing your own touchdown dance.

Vegetarian Mini Meatballs
Buffalo Tofu
Chips and Guacamole
Vegan Cupcakes
Sweet Potato Fries

Click to see the other 5 dishes and get recipes on Ecorazzi.

GirlieGirlArmy: A Letter to Taco Bell - Think Outside The Bun and Go Vegan

Tonic: Color Changing Sweatshirt Indicates Air Pollution

Welcome to English

2011-02-01T12:25:00.000-05:00

Welcome to English

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Student Profiles

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"Walk Like An Egyptian": A Playlist For "A Moment of Promise"

2011-02-01T10:38:00.002-05:00

Here's hoping President Obama's words today that, "This moments of volatility" must become "a moment of promise" actually comes to pass. In the meantime, here are some promising songs for a very volatile moment in world history. And here's hoping everyone in Egypt can read The Huffington Post -- or anything else they want to read-- very soon.

"Walk Like A Egyptian" - The Bangles

"There's A Riot Goin' On" - Sly & The Family Stone

"A Change Is Gonna Come" - Sam Cooke

"Changing Of The Guard" - Bob Dylan

"Wild In The Streets" - Garland Jefferys

"Get Up, Stand Up" - Bob Marley & The Wailers

"You Haven't Done Nothing" - Stevie Wonder

"Respect" - Aretha Franklin

"Riot" - Miles Davis

"Riot Gear" - Regina Spektor

"Little Egypt" - The Coasters

"Simple Song Of Freedom" - Bobby Darin

"Fortunate Son" - Creedence Clearwater Revival

I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free" - John Legend & The Roots

"Ordinary People" - Neil Young

"For What It's Worth" - Buffalo Springfield

"I Predict A Riot" - Kaiser Chiefs

"Killing In The Name" - Rage Against The Machine

"Wake Up Everybody" - Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes

Now wake up, and please add your own songs for Egypt.

"Walk Like An Egyptian": A Playlist For "A Moment of Promise"

2011-02-01T10:38:00.001-05:00

"Walk Like A Egyptian" - The Bangles

"There's A Riot Goin' On" - Sly & The Family Stone

"A Change Is Gonna Come" - Sam Cooke

"Changing Of The Guard" - Bob Dylan

"Wild In The Streets" - Garland Jefferys

"Get Up, Stand Up" - Bob Marley & The Wailers

"You Haven't Done Nothing" - Stevie Wonder

"Respect" - Aretha Franklin

"Riot" - Miles Davis

"Riot Gear" - Regina Spektor

"Little Egypt" - The Coasters

"Simple Song Of Freedom" - Bobby Darin

"Fortunate Son" - Creedence Clearwater Revival

I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free" - John Legend & The Roots

"Ordinary People" - Neil Young

"For What It's Worth" - Buffalo Springfield

"I Predict A Riot" - Kaiser Chiefs

"Killing In The Name" - Rage Against The Machine

"Wake Up Everybody" - Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes

Now wake up, and please add your own songs for Egypt.

"Walk Like An Egyptian": A Playlist For "A Moment of Promise"

2011-02-01T10:38:00.000-05:00

"Walk Like A Egyptian" - The Bangles

"There's A Riot Goin' On" - Sly & The Family Stone

"A Change Is Gonna Come" - Sam Cooke

"Changing Of The Guard" - Bob Dylan

"Wild In The Streets" - Garland Jefferys

"Get Up, Stand Up" - Bob Marley & The Wailers

"You Haven't Done Nothing" - Stevie Wonder

"Respect" - Aretha Franklin

"Riot" - Miles Davis

"Riot Gear" - Regina Spektor

"Little Egypt" - The Coasters

"Simple Song Of Freedom" - Bobby Darin

"Fortunate Son" - Creedence Clearwater Revival

I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free" - John Legend & The Roots

"Ordinary People" - Neil Young

"For What It's Worth" - Buffalo Springfield

"I Predict A Riot" - Kaiser Chiefs

"Killing In The Name" - Rage Against The Machine

"Wake Up Everybody" - Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes

Now wake up, and please add your own songs for Egypt.

Release of New Dietary Guidelines for Americans

2011-01-31T09:00:00.000-05:00

Release of New Dietary Guidelines for Americans

The new Dietary Guidelines for Americans devote more attention to vegetarian and vegan diets than any previous version of the Guidelines. The new Guidelines devote two full pages to vegetarian and vegan nutrition and point out that these eating patterns provide nutritional advantages and reduce obesity, heart disease, and overall mortality.

U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010. 7th Edition. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, December 2010. Available at: http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/dietaryguidelines.htm. Accessed January 31, 2011.

For information about nutrition and health, please visit www.pcrm.org/.

Breaking Medical News is a service of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine,
5100 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Suite 400, Washington, DC 20016.

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
5100 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., Ste. 400
Washington, DC 20016

Phone: 202-686-2210
E-mail: info@pcrm.org