Letter From a Vegan World

[rxqueen]

I just wanted to share a blog post by the Peaceful Prairie Sanctuary that I was particularly touched by. It's about the increasing popularity of "humane alternatives" in factory farming.

Peaceful Prairie Sanctuary: Letter From A Vegan World


Do any of you think that animal welfare is effective? Or do you think, in the case of farm animals, that a vegan world is really the answer?

[wickedrodent]

Wow, that touched me too.

Its a hard question that deserves a better answer than I can give, at least in one sitting.

I think that animal welfare is effective, but not nearly as effective as it needs to be. I don't think a vegan world is the answer because not everyone WILL go vegan. I think the answer is correcting the way the animals are treated. I do NOT think we should eat meat. Im 100% against taking a life. A human life or an animals life. It's just wrong. However, I wouldn't be against eating eggs or drinking milk if I had my own farm and actually SAW that the animals were being treated properly.

As I said, its a tough question.

[guineapigluver1]

I agree with you WR, I just don't like it that animals die because someone likes how that meat tastes.

[Maisiepaisie]

Originally Posted by rxqueen

Do any of you think that animal welfare is effective? Or do you think, in the case of farm animals, that a vegan world is really the answer?

A vegan world would most definitely be the answer but as Wickedrodent says, not everyone will go vegan. Animal welfare and so called 'humanely produced food' is better than nothing I guess. I'm vegan because I could not live with myself if I was contributing in any way to the suffering I see as being so immoral. In reality, there simply would not be enough meat, dairy and eggs for everyone who wanted them if we were to only use humane farming methods therefore Veganism is the only logical answer.

[guineapigluver1]

One thing I don't really get about vegans. I know about the leather and wool and silk thing, and the meat, but what I don't get is how is the milk and eggs and stuff like that bad? Are they mistreated while getting the eggs and milk and such? I have always wanted to know about that. I mean never eat eggs alone: they tear my stomach up and I hate them, and a some things my mom bakes that call for eggs she uses flax seed instead. Its healthier and cheaper.

[Maisiepaisie]

Originally Posted by guineapigluver1

Are they mistreated while getting the eggs and milk and such?

In factory farms, yes most certainly. Cows are selectively bred and given hormones to produce up to 10 times the amount of milk they would need for their calf. Their udders become swollen and infected with mastitis. Sometimes the weight of their udders causes their legs to buckle so farmers may shackle the legs together. Even in the best case scenarios the cow must be made pregnant in order to produce milk. The baby is then taken from her, usually slaughtered and she will wander around in distress, sometimes for several days looking for her baby. Dairy cows cease to be profitable at around 4 years of age so are sent for slaughter.

In egg production baby males are discarded and often killed by horrific methods as they are an unwanted by product. Again hormones and selective breeding is used to maximise profits at the expense of the hens well-being.

[rxqueen]

Maisiepaisie pretty much said it best, but I want to add some sites with info.

Some of the articles are from PETA and are somewhat graphic, so be warned.

GoVeg.com // Cruelty to Animals // Chickens // The Egg Industry

GoVeg.com // Cruelty to Animals // Cows // Cows Used for Their Milk

What Wrong with Dairy & Eggs

Vegetarian Frequently Asked Questions - Eggs/Dairy

Many animals still suffer and die from the egg and dairy industries. Veal is a byproduct of dairy, and the cows that can no longer produce milk get slaughtered. Chickens are also slaughtered when they are "spent."

[guineapigluver1]

Oh my gosh!! I never knew that! As soon as I'm paying for my food I'm going full vegan!! One question, I'm assuming that chocolate is not allowed? Is carob?

[Char-x]

You can get vegan chocolate I think !

[guineapigluver1]

Okay, than I can go vegan after I can pay for my own food! I think you could eat carob (though I'm not sure if its vegan?). I have had it before (carob covered peanuts from a health food store). and it tasted really good.

[rxqueen]

I have eaten chocolate that's vegan before, but it was just some dark chocolate. Most dark chocolate that doesn't have milk in it is incredibly gross and tastes a little like dirt, but the last one I had was really good and sweet. I forget the brand though. How inconvenient.

I occasionally eat some chocolate and peanut butter soy ice cream and it tastes REALLY good. I have a box of chocolate Tofutti Cuties in the freezer, but I am honestly not excited to eat them because I think they may taste like garlic now(I live with koreans and they put kimchee and tons of raw garlic in the freezer. You leave something in long enough and it could smell or taste like garlic).

I haven't had access to much else and I haven't really been motivated to investigate further because I don't even really care for it anymore. I stopped eating it for so long that I no longer crave it. I'm pretty sure there's more out there, though.

And I bet, even if because of your food situation you can't go totally vegan, you can still take some small steps to reduce your egg and dairy consumption. A way to do that would be to start reading labels on processed foods (if you go shopping with your parents) and do things like get pasta that has no eggs (Barilla is a mainstream brand that has no eggs. It is very easy to find) and stay away from foods that contain dairy or eggs like certain soups and salad dressings. Also check labels on bread. You can find bread without animal products if you look for it.

If you can do any of that, it would be a good place to start.

Wow, I'm very long-winded with my replies.

[PiggieMamaKelly]

Tofutti Cuties are heavenly.


And carob itself is vegan because it's from a plant. But whether or not carob chips etc are made with animal products is going to depend on the product. Just like cocoa is vegan, but when you make most chocolate products and add milk, butter etc it becomes non-vegan.

[Maisiepaisie]

You can get some really nice vegan chocolate, THIS ONE for example. I'm not sure if its available in the US though but there should be something similar. Booja Booja chocolate is to die for but pretty expensive. I'm not a fan of dark chocolate or carob, unfortunately for me.

[guineapigluver1]

Okay, thanks everyone! Yeah, I checked our pasta yesterday, and suprisingly it doesn't have any eggs in it. So thats good. One thing my mom was trying to find a packet to make ranch dressing (so we could make it without msg) and she couldn't, does anyone know where you can get something of the sort thats vegan and not too terribly expensive? My mom for the most part makes all of our bread, and I think she mainly makes it without eggs. I too hate dark chocolate! If you hand me carob covered peanuts, you'll be my best friend for life. Also how do you know if products (i.e body stuff hair stuff etc) is vegan? I use stuff that says it isn't tested on animals I just don't know if it's vegan.

[rxqueen]

Some brands will just say on the bottle (Pureology shampoo says 100% vegan) but for the most part you have to do research. Paul Mitchell's products are also vegan.

I wrote a blog about the vegan stuff I use (shampoo, body wash, etc) on myspace, and I can link it to you if you want.


Also, Last time I checked Rite Aid sells some vegan stuff like Jason and Alba (who I don't think is completely vegan, they have beeswax in their lip balm). Walmart stopped selling Jason and Kiss My Face

If you can manage it, places like Trader Joes, Whole Foods (I hear so at least; I have never been to Whole Foods) and natural stores sell some good vegan products like lotion and shaving cream and stuff.

That's if there is any in your area. I often take for granted the fact that here in western Washington we have several natural food stores, as well as multiple Trader Joe's and Whole Foods locations. There are like 3 Trader Joe's in Seattle I think. I'm pretty lucky where I live.

[guineapigluver1]

Is St. Ives vegan? *bites lip* I'm currently using there facial scrub, exfoliating body wash as well as moisturizing body wash, St. Ives body lotion, and for hair stuff I'm using Vo5 and a hair gel that has a very long name, Mitchums deoderant (I know thats vegan), and my mom is making me finish off my Crest toothpaste before I get Kiss My Face, and she got Act mouthwash I know for a fact it isn't vegan and they test on animals, I'm trying to do research for her to find a better mouthwash without alcohol and that is vegan and doesn't test on animals that isn't outragously expensive. Is Pure SIlk shaving cream vegan? Could you link me to the blog?

[rxqueen]

I'll have to check on the Vo5 and St. Ives, but I think that both of them are not vegan. Also, I'm pretty sure Pure Silk isn't either.

I'll admit my blog is not completely finished, but here it is. If you have any questions about some of the stuff in my blog, feel free to ask.

Myspace.com Blogs - Vegan products I use and some warnings about research. - Ruby Soho MySpace Blog

[guineapigluver1]

Awwww...I just found out St. Ives works for me. Thanks for the link!

ETA- Forget that question! Ewww! St. Ives is NOT vegan, after seeing what is actually in it I am NEVER using it again if I can get away with it!

[guineapigluver1]

Also, it seems Vo5 is vegan; at least from the majority of responses I have seen. My hair gel is vegan too...phew!

[caviecrazie]

Ohh...that letter was beautiful. I mean - written in a beautiful way, and sad in a beautiful way...

I know what I mean!