Making Hay

Something to turn your stomach

Photo of Cupid by Connie Pugh 

By Danielle

There is an old adage that milk coats your stomach so you should drink it when you have a stomach ache. Of course that is bunk and science actually shows that drinking milk makes ulcers worse (it does, however, dull the pain). Some people, when their stomachs hurt, drink fizzy soda like ginger ale (which more often than not contains no actual ginger, the herb thought to aid one’s belly). Following the logical path where adding one and three together gets you to five, Coke is introducing a new fizzy milk-soda in a can.

Childhood obesity is a big problem in this country and the direct marketing of nutritionally devoid products (like Coke) to school kids has been blamed. While Coke backed off their marketing efforts a few years ago, the new milk-soda will be appearing in vending machines by the time class resumes in the fall. My stomach is turning worse than on the first day at a new school.

Speaking of schools, they have hurdles to cross before they can offer healthy soymilk in the cafeteria. You can help break down those hurdles by contacting Congress.

What About Eggs?

By Jasmin

In a recent e-mail to me, an activist wrote: “Do chickens need to lay eggs? What does Farm Sanctuary do with the eggs that the chickens lay? What would happen to those eggs in the wild if people weren’t consuming them?”

This question is a fairly common one, so I decided to devote a blog entry to it. From time to time, I will use Making Hay to answer your FAQs, so keep the questions coming!

When it comes to chickens, few people know them better than National Shelter Director Susie Coston, who has worked with these birds for more than a decade. According to her, “chickens do lay eggs on their own as part of their natural reproductive cycle. However, the wild South East Asian ‘red jungle fowl’ from which farm chickens have been bred lay far fewer eggs. Like other wild birds, the red jungle fowl have a spring breeding season, during which they lay 4-7 eggs per clutch. That is quite a ways from the domestic farm chickens of today who  have been selectively bred to lay eggs year-round at a rate of almost one egg per day!” 

 
 This dramatically increased egg production is very demanding on the birds’ bodies, using up a lot of nutrients, particularly calcium, which is used to build shells. At Farm Sanctuary, shelter staff  collect eggs daily, hard boil them, smash them up (shells and all), and feed them back to the hens to help restore lost nutrients, especially the calcium, which is in the shells. Lack of calcium leads to broken bones, osteoporosis and formation of shell-less eggs (which can be fatal) so it is essential for the health of the birds, especially those rescued from factory farms, to consume the eggs. And, as Susie points out, “It sounds odd to a lot of people, but it is actually not far removed from their natural behavior, as wild chickens will eat broken eggs so they don’t attract predators. Chickens will also naturally eat their own eggs if they are calcium deficient.” 
 
For many, the act of eating an egg may seem benign, but the reality is that there is no way to escape the animal abuse that goes along with the producing eggs for human consumption. Egg farms, whether they are small or massive, generally buy their chickens from hatcheries. As there is no economic use for boy chicks, they are killed at hatching, often by gassing or suffocation.  

  
Also, after just one to two years, when factory farmed hens' egg production drops off, they are typically slaughtered, only to be replaced by more chicks from the aforementioned hatcheries. Smaller farms may keep the hens a bit longer, but at some point, these birds are also slaughtered at only a fraction of their natural lifespan – because, let’s face it, no profit-minded producer can afford to keep every hen as a companion. While some smaller farmers may slaughter their hens on-site, many are stuffed into cramped cages and sent off to slaughterhouses on open trucks where they are exposed to the elements for hours at a time. At the slaughterhouse, they are yanked from their cages and shackled upside down on the disassembly line, and such rough handling is a common cause for broken bones, broken wings, and worse.

No matter which way an egg is cooked, egregious cruelties, such as the ones mentioned above, are inescapable. And just because someone says it’s “organic” or even “humane,” it doesn’t mean no harm comes to the chickens. (Learn the “truth behind labels” here.)
 
Supply is driven by demand and the more we vote with our dollars and show that there is a demand for plant-based foods – and alternatives to all animal products – the more these products will be produced and made readily accessible. Since humans can thrive on a vegan diet, and with the abundance of tasty vegan foods available today, it really is easier than ever before to be a compassionate consumer.

For those who claim that veganism is radical or difficult, I beg to differ. What’s radical is the way farm animals, especially laying hens, are treated and exploited, and what’s truly difficult is the knowledge that this kind of abuse is the norm. And what is exciting is that we have the power to change this.

As the saying goes, you can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs, but you can make a darn good tofu scramble!

Me and Camila

• You can start easy, even if you only have a few minutes.

• Here are some tipson making the transition to veganism.

• To get involved with our advocacy efforts, join our Advocacy Campaign Team.

Resolved: We Shall Eat Green

By Jasmin

There’s some very big news on the environmental front, and it’s big news for the animals, too! Green food resolutions are starting to pop up, and this is a very good thing for everyone, as it’s an important sign that the public at large is beginning to confront the truly inconvenient truth: What and whom you consume has a direct effect on our planet.

By consuming a plant-based diet, you are significantly reducing your global foodprint. You’ve probably already heard by now that in 2006, the United Nations came out with a study (“Livestock’s Long Shadow”) documenting that livestock production is a major contributor to global warming, land degradation, air and water pollution, and loss of biodiversity. The report estimates that livestock are responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions; that’s more than the entire transport sector combined.

Thanks to the diligence of hay-makers like you, people are slowly starting to talk about this. And recently, two city council resolutions have found their way into the mix.

Earlier this week, Chicago's City Council Committee on Energy, Environmental Protection and Public Utilities approved a resolution urging that sustainable plant-based food be made readily available to all the city’s residents. This signaled a milestone in Farm Sanctuary’s campaign to introduce Green Food Resolutions in cities across the country. Thanks to Alderman Margaret Laurino, the sponsor of the resolution, the Windy City is a shining example of green progress. People are listening. Eating animals is simply unsustainable and wreaks havoc on our planet. This resolution is a platform for change, and it shows without a doubt that there is a strong demand for vegan food, which is the best answer for the animals, our health and, of course, the environment.

As if that were not enough, the Big Apple is also making big strides. On June 30, New York City Councilmember Bill de Blasio introduced Resolution 2049, another groundbreaking step toward a greener, kinder planet. FoodprintNYC, as it is called, is the creation of the NYC Foodprint Alliance, a coalition of several nonprofits – including Farm Sanctuary. It is a citywide initiative that aims to create greater access to local, fresh, healthy plant-based food, especially in low-income communities and city-run institutions.

For two years, I have been personally enmeshed in FoodprintNYC. What started with a conversation between Farm Sanctuary and the New York League of Humane Voters grew to become a coalition of movers and shakers, and now, thanks to Councilmember de Blasio, we can see this resolution get passed. If you reside in New York City, we need your help to make that happen.

Here’s a video that Councilmember Bill de Blasio put together, along with the help of me and my dog, Rose:

Watching this idea grow to become a citywide and then national campaign is enough to make this hay-maker a believer. Not only can change happen, but change needs to happen so that we can preserve and care for our planet and all its inhabitants. That is why we’d like to work with you so that a Green Food resolution can be introduced in your city, too. And if you need support in doing that, let me know.

I have the sudden strong desire to end this entry with my favorite quote, said by Margaret Mead. If you know me personally, then you know I recite it on a regular basis. It’s my MO, and it should be yours, too:

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”

 

Rockin’ Out for Change

By Jasmin

Neil Cavanagh rocks out

Put me on a stage in a club on Bleecker Street and I will pretend I’m a rock star. Put me on a stage in a club on Bleecker Street next to real rock stars and I will get a little flustered. Add to that that they are also rock star activists and I will be beside myself. Make the event an awareness-raiser for Farm Sanctuary and you have yourself Rockin’ Out for Farm Animals, which is exactly what we did last week in the Big Apple.

The idea stemmed from one inspiring activist, Jenn London. At our monthly activist meeting a few months ago, Jenn – an awesome singer/songwriter in her own right – said that she’d love to put together a music event for Farm Sanctuary. We decided to showcase animal-loving activists and vegans with a flair for music.

 

Jenn London

A few short months later, there we were. The event was smashing. Kenny’s Castaways even made Soy White Russian specials that night, which I can fully attest were heavenly, almost as heavenly as the performances. Six bands brought down the house: Rorie Kelly; Fire Queen (formerly “New Professionals”); Jenn London; The Dead Stars on Hollywood; Neil Cavanagh; and Joy Askew. When Joy called me up onstage to sing back-up, I nearly plotzed. (Later that evening, when she agreed to perform at our NYC Walk for Farm Animals, I did plotz.)

Joy Askew and company

Our own Gene Baur even made an appearance, charming as ever. The Masters of Ceremony were NY Advocacy Organizer, David Benzaquen, and yours truly. Though we only charged $10 a head, we raised $1500, money which will directly benefit Farm Sanctuary’s rescue, education and advocacy efforts. That’s a lot of hay.

  Me and Gene

Part of the beauty of this type of event is that anybody can put one together, and everybody can enjoy it. Many bars or clubs will be happy to let you hold a music event at their location, especially if people buy drinks! And featuring musicians who have a taste for compassion is a great way to both support their talent and utilize creative advocacy. As we did at Rockin’ Out, you can have a table full of literature (which we’ll be more than happy to provide for you). You can feature one band, or several.

Dead Stars on Hollywood

With art as a form of activism, the sky is the limit. Rockin’ out for farm animals – or painting for them, writing for them, acting for them … – has the potential to reach (and move) new audiences.

Plus, it’s a good ol’ time. Having fun while advocating for compassion?! Imagine that!

Shift Happens

By Gene

Animal advocates want to change the way farm animals are treated, while agribusiness tends to defend the cruel status quo. But it’s important to recognize that farm organizations’ perspectives vary, just as different animal protection groups have different approaches.

Although animal advocates are animated by diverse perspectives, we’ve been able to join forces on common purpose, to push forward with achievable goals, such as banning cruel factory farming confinement systems like veal crates, gestation crates and battery cages. With each legislative advance and with growing mainstream awareness about and opposition to these inhumane systems, farmers and agriculture groups are responding. Some are beginning to recognize that change is inevitable, but industry hardliners are digging in their heels and trying to maintain the status quo.

I recently visited Ohio and Michigan and met with agribusiness representatives to express concern about legislation they are advancing in both states to set up quasi governmental bodies to give the factory farming industry control over regulating how it should treat animals. These measures are a blatant violation of democratic principals, just as factory farming cruelties are an affront to basic humane sensibilities. On both counts, industrial farming is out of sync with mainstream societal values.

We are urging lawmakers and others in Michigan and Ohio to oppose or amend agribusiness’ extreme bills so they better reflect popular sentiments. Though factory farms have an inordinate amount of influence in Lansing and Columbus (as well as in other state capitols), and they are often unwilling to compromise, we remain hopeful.

If the legislature fails to take appropriate action, we’ll have to explore other options, and there is a good chance these matters could be addressed through direct democracy, such as the ballot initiative. Stay tuned …

Your Summer Vacation

By Jasmin

Since Danielle got you up to speed on some pertinent summer reading for the avid activist, I thought I’d bring up some tips for the vegan traveler – so that you have the perfect place to sit back, chillax and enjoy your enlightening reads. 

There are a plethora of Web sites, travel companies and destinations that strive to cater to vegan travelers. Check out the thorough list on vegforlife.org.  It contains everything from vegan B&Bs and green travel companies to eco-conscious lodges.

This vegan cruise – A Taste of Health – looks particularly intriguing. If their menu doesn’t grab you (seitan paella, kasha cabbage roll with mustard sauce), then maybe their presentations will. That menu includes talks on the benefits of veg eating, breath work for stress relief and vitality (great for avoiding activist burnout!), and vegan cooking classes. Their Web site also boasts that a portion of the cost goes to animal protection organizations.

If you’re a land-lover, and interested in traveling abroad, the options are endless. For those skeptics who never thought it was possible to be vegan in France, check this out. 

As for me, I just got back from a lovely vacation to the very vegan Vancouver, which was preceded by an awe-inspiring trip to Portland, where I spoke at the Let Live Northwest Animal Rights Conference. Vancouver’s vegan-friendliness blew my mind, and I’m not quite sure if it’s just a well-kept secret, or if I’m living under a giant rock. Regardless, there were some real treats. Every corner hot dog stand, for example, has a veggie dog option. Even the snack shack at Jericho Beach had veggie dogs. But perhaps the most amazing surprise was the fancypants hotel, The Westin Grand, whose menu featured 100 percent vegan cupcakes! Upon looking further, I realized that about half the menu there was vegan. And not hold-the-cheese-vegan, either; there were dishes that had faux meat, and others that centered around plant-based deliciousness. I nearly wept.

The point is, traveling as a vegan is easy – sometimes, even surprisingly so! My friend, David – who also happens to be Farm Sanctuary’s New York Advocacy Organizer – told me a story about how he was staying in Spain in the pre-Internet days (remember those?) and couldn’t find anything vegan to eat. When he finally found his way to the Net, he realized that all the time that he was in Spain, there was a knock-your-socks-off vegan restaurant two blocks from where he was staying. Nowadays, with amazing sites dedicated to vegan restaurants – such as my favorite, HappyCow.net – traveling cruelty-free could not be simpler. There’s even an application that you can download for your iPhone, called VegOut, which automatically maps the veg restaurants near you, wherever you are!

This summer, when you’re traveling, one thing to keep in mind is that reticence is for lazy people. So if you are in a veg-friendly restaurant/hotel/lodge/ship/plane/train/resort, be vocal about your appreciation! And certainly, if you sought out the establishment because of its veg-friendliness, let the owners know that, and also mention how you heard about them.

And if you’re at a location that is not veg-friendly, be sure to talk to the owner or manager. Let them know that you’re traveling and that it would really make a big difference (not to mention drum up their business) if they added some vegan items to their menu. Show them that there’s a demand. If everyone did that, we’d have veggie hot dogs coming out of our ears.

As we continue to revamp and revitalize our Veg for Life program, we need your feedback! So throughout your travels, this is your mission, should you choose to accept it: If you have an experience similar to the one I had at the Westin, where there was vegan food a-plenty, let us know! Or if you speak with the owner or manager of a particular hotel regarding adding vegan items to menus, let us know that too! We want your feedback so that we can work with these hotels to offer more and more vegan options. I look forward to hearing from you!

I hope your summer travels are safe, fun and vegan.

“Side of Greenwash”

By Jasmin

If you read one article this summer, make it Stewart David’s “Greenwashed.” And then forward it to everyone you’ve ever met in your entire life.

The locavore movement has started to make serious and cogent arguments (many of which are reaching the mainstream) that factory farming is devastating for the animals and the planet. At the same time, the industry is quite persuasively arguing that you can’t feed the world on “sustainable, humane” small-farm animal production.

David puts these two realities together to draw the obvious conclusion: A plant-based diet is the best answer for a hungry, overcrowded world. He ponders the question: “how can something that uses so much land and other resources ever really merit the ‘sustainable’ label?” and comes to the conclusion that “feeding food to animals and then eating the animals is an extremely inefficient use of resources. More than half the grain grown in America is fed to animals who, like humans, expend most of the calories consumed living their lives.”

I could go on and on – and I will, in a future entry – but for now, read the article.

Agribusiness Subverts Democratic Process

By Gene

The factory farming industry has a lot to hide, and when its harmful behavior is exposed, there are inevitable calls for change. Industrial animal agriculture’s practices are irresponsible and repugnant, and out of step with mainstream values. But rather than reflecting and adjusting its behavior to be more aligned with societal norms, industrial animal agriculture is trying to prevent transparency and public discourse.

Agribusiness would do well to remember that it depends on consumers to buy its products, and it should not ignore the old adage: “the only constant is change.” Thus far, there have been three statewide citizen initiatives to address the cruel confinement of animals on farms in the U.S. In all three instances, voters sent a clear message that confining animals in cages and crates so tightly that they cannot turn around or stretch their limbs is unacceptable. But some aggies still don’t get it.

Rather than adapting its practices to fit societal norms and consumer expectations, the factory farming industry continues attempting to squelch public discussion and the democratic process. This industry is seeking to pass misguided legislation to give itself control over how farm animals are treated . This is bad for animal welfare and an affront to basic democratic principals. But unfortunately, it is typical of an industry that engages in cruel and aberrant behavior that cannot stand the light of day.

Summer Reading

by Danielle

Many, many years ago, I read the Jeremy Rifkin’s Beyond Beef while at the beach. A book about the rise and fall of the cattle culture isn’t your typical summer read, but it was the perfect escape for me at the time and filled my appetite for more information on factory farming. There are a lot of good non-fiction books on both farm animal issues and animal activism, and I try to read as many of them as I can fit in my day. Yet summer is also a great season to explore other genres. My summer reading is a bit lighter this year: a dose of fiction with a factory farming backdrop. The main character in Dakota by Martha Grimes discovers the truth behind pork after getting a part-time job at a modern pig operation. The young amnesiac, vegetarian drifter finds it horrifying but wants to know more. I’m still reading…

Using fiction to tell the story of farm animals or to highlight vegan values is a form of activism. While we might not have the time or talent to write such books ourselves, we can read them, talk about them, share them with others, and use them to help rejuvenate our activist-energies. Start a book club with your vegan friends and non-vegan neighbors. Post a review of a novel exposing factory farming on your Facebook page. Or let the characters inspire your own activism. Here are a few books to consider reading this summer:

PopCo by Scarlett Thomas – A must read for any vegan activist. Really. If you haven’t read it yet, put down your fliers and treat yourself to this brainy novel. From code breaking and conspiracy theory to marketing mind control and veganism as activism, this book serves up everything you need for a fun summer read – including a vegan cake recipe and the list of the first 1000 prime numbers. When you need a second helping, reach for The End of Mr. Y. While this one doesn’t have the same connection to farm animal issues and veganism, there are some pretty important mice and a clear animal rights message.

My Year of Meats by Ruth Ozeki – More truths about factory farming are exposed in this story of a Japanese television show, My American Wife! sponsored by a Texas-based meat lobby. A satirical look at the role meat plays in shaping the stereotypical American family, complete with the fallout of feeding hormones to farm animals. When you need a second helping, plow through All Over Creation, in which eco-activist group Seeds of Resistance team up with a salt-of-the-earth farmer in a struggle against genetically modified potatoes.

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair – This classic isn’t as much fun as my previous suggestions, but it is well worth putting on your to-read pile. Written in 1906 to expose the corrupt meatpacking industry, this book tells the story of an immigrant family struggling to survive by working at the Chicago Stockyards. The book led to the passage of the federal Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act. While the author was attempting to highlight the plight of slaughterhouse workers, the public was more concerned about the cleanliness of their meat than about any suffering. Unfortunately, not much has changed in the last 100 years, particularly for the animals.

The Little Book of Vegan Poems by Benjamin Zephaniah – For when you really don’t want to read too much. “Vegan Steven” is one of my faves. A fun book to read out loud to kids and adults.

I’d love to hear your recommendations for summer fiction with a factory-farming or vegan theme or character. Post you suggestions in the comment box below.

Independence Day

By Gene

This July 4th, Farm Sanctuary will be hosting our annual Pignics in Orland, California and Watkins Glen, New York where visitors will have a chance to try meatless hotdogs and other vegan treats, and to meet rescued farm animals. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has sent out a press release warning consumers to be careful about pathogens in meat. "Safe food handling is always important, but during peak grilling season in the warm summer months, there needs to be an increased awareness of safe food handling practices," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Of course, eating plants instead of animals is a good way to reduce the risk of contamination since plants don’t produce fecal pathogens.

Hopefully you can come to a Farm Sanctuary Pignic, but if not, please think about bringing a Pignic to your town by hosting a vegan event for July 4th, or by bringing veggie dogs, veggie burgers, veggie chicken patties, veggie skewers, etc. to other festivities. In 1776, American revolutionaries resolved to throw off the tyranny and exploitation of their overlords. Today, we can make a statement against factory farming and the cruel exploitation of the animals raised for food by declaring our independence from eating animal products.