Paws-Ta Dinner - SUPPORT WINDSOR HUMANE SOCIETY!

If you're looking for a delicious way to support a VERY good cause - the Windsor Essex County Humane Society - here's an event you will NOT want to miss...

SUNDAY JUNE 10th
“Paws-ta” Dinner
Rack ‘n ’Roll Club
from 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Tickets are $10 per person and can be purchased at Rack ‘n’ Roll or by calling The Windsor-Essex County Humane Society at 519-966-5751

Helping out the Windsor Humane Society is one of the BEST things you can do to help animals who don't have a voice...or a home. Supporting the Humane Society - means you are supporting them - directly - the animals in THIS community who are homeless, abandoned, abused - but NOT forgotten.

Helping the Windsor Essex Humane Society DO THEIR JOB - is one of the greatest gifts you can give our animals.

I hope to see you there.

For more information - visit the Windsor Essex County Humane Society's webpage.

Dan

NOT PROUD TO BE A CANADIAN...when it comes to the seal slaughter.

SEAL HUNT DEMONSTRATION
TO PROTEST THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF CANADA’S SEAL HUNT 02/04/07

Hey everyone, in my previous post I sent out some info that was passed along to me, and you'll probably find it an interesting read, if you oppose the horrific seal hunt which is happening RIGHT NOW in Canada.
Don't get me wrong, I love Canada, and I would not live ANYWHERE else in the world if given the option. But the Seal hunt does not make ANY sense to me as a Canadian.
It is a) HORRIFIC for the environment, b) POINTLESS - it's for FUR - the meat is wasted and and discarded, and lastly: C) it is unbelievably inhumane.
These are puppies we - not some country we know nothing about - WE are slaughtering - for FASHION!
I don't think of ANYTHING could be more UN-CANADIAN than that...and if you feel the same way - stand up and DO SOMETHING - grab a sign and join me THIS THURSDAY - TOMORROW - to protest this violent and BLOODY Canadian tradition.

It's free.

All you have to do is care.

I hope to see you there...here's some info:

WHAT: This is an international seal hunt demonstration on both sides of the CANADA-US border to protest
Canada’s seal hunt, the largest marine mammal slaughter in the world. We are inviting people to come out, support the rally, and send a message to the Canadian government that we want the seal hunt to end.


WHEN: Thursday, April 5th., from 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. for the Canadian demo. (The American demonstration is from 5:00 p.m – 7:00 p.m.)

* In Windsor, the demonstration is located on Park St. across from the CAN-US tunnel exit.
* In Detroit, it is located alongside the Consulate General of Canada on Jefferson St. This is beside the Old Mariner’s Church, in front of the CAN-US tunnel exit.

Signs will be provided, but attendees are encouraged to bring their own signs with messages such as ‘Ban the Seal Hunt,’ ‘Stop the Cruel Killing of Baby Seals,’ etc.

WHY:
1. CRUELTY: Journalists, veterinarians, animal protection agencies have documented, filmed and reported their findings to the Canadian government. There are videos available on web sites.

First of all, this hunt is fixed on killing seal pups. Most are under one month old. They are defenceless and not even able to swim yet. This hunt takes place in the springtime, a few weeks after the birthing period from March until May. The killing involves use guns and hakapiks, a spiked stick repeatedly bashed over the pup’s head. It is a shockingly cruel slaughter.

The hunt shows clear violations of Marine Mammal Regulations and Cruelty Laws.
These include: 1) As many as 42% of pups being skinned while alive
2. seals which are shot and left to suffer and slowly die
3. live seals being dragged by hooks across the ice for long distances


NOT SUSTAINABLE: This is the largest marine mammal slaughter in the world. Over 300,000 seal pups will be killed this year. It is a drastic loss of marine life. Scientists and conservationists are critical of this management plan. At its present numbers, this hunt is not sustainable and could very well endanger the future of the harp seal population. Global warming has already destroyed much of the ice cover in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence resulting in a 90% mortality rate and the death of thousands of young seal pups. Despite the loss of life, the seal hunt will move ahead and target the surviving seal pup population in the Gulf’s northern part and in the Front off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador.



PLEASE JOIN US IN PROTESTING CANADA’S CRUEL SEAL HUNT

SEAL BABIES

Baby seals are drowning.
The lack of ice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence has led to a mortality rate for seal pups that could exceed 90%. And yet the cruel hunt to kill baby seals continues.
The Canadian government has announced that 270,000 seals can be taken in this year's hunt. Yet according to the government's own scientists, this number is well above the amount of seals needed to maintain a sustainable population.
Your voice is urgently needed to protest this unnecessary and irresponsible hunt. StoptheSealHunt.org is your number one resource to help these baby seals, 98% of which will be between two weeks and three months old when they are cruelly clubbed or shot.
Surveillance flights are reporting that there are virtually no harp seal pups to be found in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Without ice, mothers are forced to give birth to their pups in the water before they can swim.
In light of these tragic ice conditions, the responsible thing for Canada's government to do would have been to call off this year's seal hunt.
Tragically, the Canadian government continues to put politics ahead of science.
Add your voice along with thousands of others from around the globe to create a unique online community that celebrates your participation in putting an end to this cruel hunt.

1) Act: Visit StoptheSealHunt.org>> http://go.care2.com/e/R7lj/gYjv/xRDH
2) Join: Upload your photo and protest message.
3) Share: View images and comments from other activists around the world.

The new interactive site features a Seal Hunt blog with daily updates from Canada, audio podcasts, and videos and photos from IFAW hunt monitors at the scene of the hunt.
You'll also receive information on how to take action as well as multiple ways to enlist others to support our fight against this inhumane practice.

Vegetarian Heaven at Mi Mi Gardens, Windsor

Mi Mi Gardens is just TOTALLY INCREDIBLE.
They have an EXTEND-O Vegetarian / Vegan menu that spans LITERALLy two full pages.
Their tofu roll, wrapped in rice paper and filled with rice noodles and tofu - served with a DELICIOUS peanut-thai type sauce, is to die for.
Their spicy Hot and Sour soup (be sure to specify vegetarian) is to die for - and I am one picky kid when it comes to Hot and Sour.
Lemon Tofu with rice, BBQ Mushroom on Rice Noodle Salad, Curry Vegetables with pan fried Vermicelli, Rice stick noodles sauteed w/ onions and bean sprouts -there is SERIOUSLy not a single bad item on this menu!
If you have a carnivorous party - or you're going on a date and you're not sure if the other half of your party eats meat - this is the place...very small inside, but cozy and cute - and trust me - the food is so spectacular you WILL be a returning customer.
Mi Mi Gardens - Vietnamese & Chinese Cuisine - they DO deliver!!
Located at 440 Tecumseh Road East (just off Highland, across from the Lumberjack!).
All dishes can be made with no msg or peanut, if necessary - and they are also known for catering to special diets, like diabetic.
BROWN RICE DISHES available.
call 519-258-1893 for delivery!

SEAL DEMONSTRATION

SEAL HUNT DEMONSTRATION


WHAT: This is an international seal hunt demonstration on both sides of the CANADA-US border to protest Canada’s seal hunt, the largest marine mammal slaughter in the world. We are inviting people to come out, support the rally, and send a message to the Canadian government that we want the seal hunt to end.


WHEN: Thursday, March 22nd. starting at 4:30 for the Canadian demo. (The American demonstration starts at 4:30 p.m. also.)

* In Windsor, the demonstration is located on Park St. across from the CAN-US tunnel exit.
* In Detroit, it is located across from the Consulate General of Canada on Jefferson St. alongside the Old Mariner’s Church, in front of the CAN-US entrance.


WHY:

CRUELTY: 1) Studies showing that some 42% of seal pups were skinned while alive
1. Video documentary showing seals shot and left to suffer and slowly die
2. Videos of live seals dragged by hooks across the ice for long distances


UNSUSTAINABLE: This is the largest marine mammal slaughter in the world. Over 300,000 seal pups will be killed this year. It is a drastic loss of marine life. Scientists and conservationists are critical of this management plan. At its present numbers, this hunt is not sustainable and could very well endanger the future of the harp seal population.


NOT ECONOMICALLY VIABLE: Less than one-half of one percent of Newfoundland’s economy is generated by the hunt, and sealers earn less than 5% of annual income from hunt, yet global opposition to the seal hunt has already cost fisheries $350 million in lost snow crab exports to the U.S.

RISK TO CANADA’S REPUTATION: Intense opposition to the seal hunt expressed in protests around the world. Politically, a number of countries have introduced resolutions calling on Canada to end the seal hunt or have introduced legislation banning the import and sale of harp seal products.


PLEASE JOIN US IN PROTESTING CANADA’S CRUEL SEAL HUNT

Attention All Vegetable-atarians!

Hey Windsor and Detroit people - there is an upcoming event which will probably interest anyone remotely interested in vegetarianism and what not.
It's in honour of a VERY special day:
MEAT OUT DAY!
Even if you aren't a vegetarian - how bout you do it for ONE DAY and help the world out in extending a great big "F-YOU" towards every company and every person who has not yet adopted "humane" methods in "manufactoring" food.

Hell - you might end up becoming a convert yourself - and join the rest of us tofu-shovelling hippies in the cult of vegetarianism.
I assure you though - it's not that bad.

Here's some info on the event:

WINDSOR-ESSEX VEGETARIAN SOCIETY

Presents a lecture

On the
ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL

MEAT-OUT DAY

By
Dr. Harshad Joshi

Followed by
Dinner ($6.00)

Saturday, March 24th, 2007, 5:30-8:30 PM

Optimist Community Center
1075 Ypres, Windsor

For information call
776-4796, 254-3504
250-7693


Admission Free

Hope to see some of you there,

laters,

Dan

NOT Proud to be Canadian...when it comes to the Seal Hunt.

The LARGEST slaughter of marine mammals on EARTH - happens in Canada with the annual Seal Hunt.
Not a proud moment for this Canadian.

Last year, our peace-loving government permitted the slaughter of more than 330,000 harp seals.
These beautiful baby animals - all usually under 3 months of age are shot or repeatedly clubbed during this horrific "Canadian Tradition".
Sealers bludgeon the animals with clubs and “hakapiks” (clubs with metal hooks on their ends) and drag the seals—who are still conscious—across the ice floes with boat hooks. An estimated 42 percent of the animals are skinned alive. Hunters toss dead and dying seals into heaps and leave their carcasses to rot on the ice floes because there is no market for seal meat. Veterinarians who have investigated the hunt have found that hunters routinely fail to comply with Canada’s animal welfare standards.
It is legal in Canada to kill seal pups when they are about 12 days old. Many seals killed in last years hunt had not yet learned how to swim or eaten their first solid meals. Baby seals are helpless and have no way to escape from the sealers’ clubs.
These are puppies being slaughtered.
PUPPIES. In this country.
There is NO MARKET FOR SEAL MEAT.
This is a HUNT that is based SOLELY on FASHION - for their fur.
The sealing industry claims that it is killing more seals because of an increased demand for fur. Although the U.S. banned the sale of seal fur in 1972, anyone wearing the fur of minks, rabbits, foxes, or any other kind of animal is responsible for creating a demand for fur, which pushes Canadian hunters to club more seals each year.
Click here to help stop the slaughter.
Please tell everyone you know about Canada’s cruel slaughter of baby seals and urge them to contact the Canadian government. Forward this page to a friend.
We live in the year 2007.
We do not need fur to keep warm any more than we need fur as a status symbol.
We need to tell "rich" people that fur only makes them look STUPID.
Disgusting.
IDIOTIC.
Cruel. Inhumane.
FUR is not a status symbol - unless you want your status to read "Heartless ASSHOLE".
Canada is NOT benefitting from this HORRIBLE tradition.
Seals are peaceful, sweet creatures - and although there is a plethora of HORRIFIC seal hunt pictures - I chose to post this picture - which I feel captures the essence and beauty and peacefulness of this hunted animal.
Seriously - no one can justify this practice.
It's cruel - any way you slice it - and no matter what kind of market we are in - no one can justify profit off suffering or killing for something as trivial as fashion.
You disappoint me, Canada.
Please do anything you can - this is one part of a heritage we need to disown.

Peace,

Dan

FLAMING TIPS: Vegan Candles?!?!?!?!

When I first started looking into veganism - I was shocked at all the surprising places animal by-product showed up.
For example: Candles.
And it's more than just the beeswax (stolen from industrious bees' hives) that make most candles a vegan no-no.

Many candles are also made with tallow (a slaughterhouse product derived from beef or sheep fat), and cetyl palmitate, a waxy oil taken from sperm whales' heads or from dolphins.
How insane is that!?!
Seriously - WHY? Why must there be animal product in something as simple as a candle?
I don't get it.
So - below is a list of companies that sell "Vegan" candles - usually made with soy wax. Just check them out - and think about it the next time you light your favourite candle - what (or WHO) it is you are REALLY burning....

Artistic Candle Company
1-877-557-4940 (fax)
customerservice@artisticcandleco.com
www.artisticcandleco.com

Barn Loft Soy Candles 574-643-2500

barnloftcandles@Lneti.com
www.barnloftcandles.com

The Candle Bakery
mailto:Bakeryinfo@thecandlebakery.com
www.thecandlebakery.com

Different Daisy 740-820-3146
differentdaisy@yahoo.com
www.differentdaisy.com

Ethical Wares (UK) +44 1570 471 155
mailto:155vegans@ethicalwares.com
www.ethicalwares.com

The Flame Candleworks Company, Inc. 568-944-5651 1-877-944-5651mailto:1-877-944-5651chakrarose@earthlink.net
www.theflamecandleworks.com

Good Humans 831-420-0118mailto:831-420-0118feedback@goodhumans.com
www.goodhumans.com

Greenridge Herbals1-866-250-HERB
greenridgeherbals@hotmail.com

www.greenridgeherbals.com

Hanna’s Candles 1-888-242-6627

sales@hannascandles.com

www.hccbrands.com

Kiss My Face 1-800-262-KISS

www.kissmyface.com

Lamplight Farms 1-800-328-7717

sales@lamplightfarms.com

www.lamplightfarms.com

NaturaLights Candle Boutiques 1-800-774-0104

www.naturalights.com

Natural Soy Scented Candles 830-896-3221830-792-3221

kim@natural-soy-scented-candles.com

www.natural-soy-scented-candles.com

Nature’s Gifts, Inc. 1-877-464-4929

info@ngiwax.com

www.ngiwax.com

Pangea Vegan Products 1-800-340-1200

www.veganstore.com

Pier 1 Imports 1-800-245-4595

www.pier1.com

Rudgewick Candles (UK) +44 01543 428 882

Sensia 1-800-777-8027

customerservice@sensia.com

www.sensia.com

Soy Candle Works1-800-470-4061

www.soycandleworks.com

Soy Scentsations440-260-9708

sales@shelbydistributing.com

www.shelbydistributing.com/soycandles.htm

Tulalit.com custserv@tulalit.com

www.tulalit.com

Vegan Essentials 414-607-19531-866-88-VEGAN

www.veganessentials.com

The Vegan Store (UK)+44 1273 302 979

imailto:information@veganstore.co.uk

http://www.veganstore.co.uk/

Bad News means Good News

Well folks,

Since we last spoke, which was back in early December of 2006 - I am happy to report that I have remained 100% vegan!
YAY! YAY! APPLAUSE SOUND! APPLAUSE SOUND!
Perhaps everything DOES happen for a reason..who knows...but just after the ball dropped in Times Square NY and 2007 paraded its purrrty face in like a storm of confetti and glitter - my gallbladder exploded and had to be removed.
This forced me on a VERY low-fat diet for QUITE a while, and franky - after doing that - veganism feels easier than ever, which rocks.
Here's the secret: Just don't buy non-vegan shit!
Done!
If you don't buy ANY non-vegan food...then there is NOTHING in the house you CANNOT EAT!! An entire WORLD of possiblity opened up.
okay, I'm being a little stupid now.
But seriously - the whole point of this blog was my struggle with becoming vegan...and perhaps i am speaking too soon...but something is different now.
It's just...easier. It just...is.
Period.
Go figure.
At any rate, rather than continue on about my struggles with being a vegan - I am going to shift the content of this blog more on animal activism, insteresting articles about current issues regarding animal rights - and maybe cover some of the demonstrations that take place in and around Windsor - Detroit.

Look forward to reading me!

Dan

Holiday Prep Time

Hey Peoples...

I'm LONG overdue right now in the blogging department.

But with the holidays coming, part of me can't help but long for one of my OLD favorite non-vegetarian dishes: Gravy.

Mind you - I then immediately think of what it is made of and trust me - it's the last shit I want to pour on my CREAMY potatoes...

Hmm...CREAMY potatoes...

Yeah, I miss those too.

So, and I know I touched down on this in the Thanksgiving spot - I fished up a little recipe that I am promising to try before Christmas time.

This way - if it works - I can bring it to my mom and dad's place, for xmas din-din.

As a sidenote - that's a really tough aspect that you don't usually hear about with regard to vegetarianism - your friends and family.

Suddenly, it makes the idea of a potluck...a bit of a stumbling block.

Does this mean your friends now have to bring things you CAN eat??

Does this mean mom has to scramble to make something OTHER than turkey for your holiday feast??

Horrid.

And no - it doesn't, at least not for me.

In fact - I feel like I'm being annoying sometimes....that awkward feeling you get when someone says: "I just made some DELICIOUS turkey chili...i can't wait for you to try it!!" and then you see the disappointment in their face sink in and they're like: "Wait...you can't have any...shit..." as they think desperately of what ELSE they can whip up for you on a second's notice.

Crappy, horrible feeling. And I hope to NEVER EVER make anyone feel this way - that they have to go out of their way to accomodate me. I hate that.

And - if you any of you out there HAVE any vegetarian friends - and you DO feel like you wanna make something...hey - this might help you out for the OTHER side of awkwardness!!!

Vegan Mashed Potatoes and Gravy...

5 large potatoes, diced

1 cup liquid nondairy creamer (try Silk brand)

2 Tbsp. margarine1/4 cup fresh chives,

choppedSalt and pepper, to taste

• Place the potatoes in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook for 20 minutes. • Drain the potatoes, place in a bowl with the remaining ingredients, and mix until smooth.• Serve hot.

Makes 4 to 5 servings

GRAVY:

2 cups boiling water

2 Tbsp. vegetable oil

3 Tbsp. nutritional yeast

1 vegetable bouillon cube

1/2 cup fresh mushrooms,

diced1/2 cup onion, finely chopped

Onion salt, to taste

Unbleached all-purpose flour

• In a large saucepan, simmer all ingredients except the flour for approximately 5 minutes.• Slowly add the flour by tablespoons, whisking after each addition, until the desired thickness is reached.• Keep warm. Preparation time: 10 minutes

While I am still not COMPLETELY sold on the idea of Soy in potatoes...I think the gravy sounds delicious. I always preferred non-meat gravy anyway...to think it's made with the fat that is cooked off an animal...yuck.

So nasty.

So there you have it folks...mashed potatoes and gravy - Vegan Style.

No harder than the regular versions, which use animal product.

Pretty much the exact same deal.

I'll keep you posted - and if anyone tries any of these - let me know!!

dan