Have Gone Vegan

be kind to animals week

Celebrated this year during May 6 - 12, this week (apparently the oldest of its kind in the United States) was first observed in 1915 and was established by Dr. William O. Stillman, leader of the American Humane Association at the time.

Admittedly, my first thought upon seeing this on my calendar was, "what, only one lousy week?", but I suppose that even just officially recognizing the notion of kindness towards other sentient beings can't hurt. But as vegans know, we should extend compassion to all others all the time, and one very simple but powerful way to do that is by not eating them. This one act of kindness alone, if practiced by enough people, could do wonders.

“We know we cannot be kind to animals until we stop exploiting them -- exploiting animals in the name of science, exploiting animals in the name of sport, exploiting animals in the name of fashion, and yes, exploiting animals in the name of food.” ―  César Chávez

animals in laboratories

April 21-29 was officially World Week for Animals in Laboratories, and Tuesday April 24th commemorated World Day for Animals in Laboratories. Sadly, as shown in the image above, harming animals during testing and research has a long sordid history, and like other animal use is difficult to stamp out in part because it's such a profitable enterprise. Never mind that nicotine experiments are STILL being conducted on pregnant animals, or done to figure out whether Harry Sadistic Asshole Harlow ("The only thing I care about is whether or not the monkeys will turn out a property I can publish. I don't have any love for them. Never have. I don't really like animals. I despise cats. I hate dogs. How could you like monkeys?" quoted in Deborah Blum, The Monkey Wars, p. 92.) was actually right about maternal attachment and deprivation. The truth is that most animal testing and experimentation isn't done to promote human welfare as falsely claimed, but exists to feed corporate drug companies and keep scientists spinning on their academic research wheels.

As a vegan I object to any use/abuse of other sentient beings, and while I know that vastly more beings are tortured and killed for food, animal experimentation and vivisection seems to send its own particular chill down my spine. Maybe it's the prolonged confinement and repeated torture, or the fear and terror that can't be escaped time and time again, or maybe it's the outrage I feel toward educated scientists and physicians who obviously don't give a fig about the "first do no harm" principle that should be emblazoned on their hearts and beings. I don't know, but there seems to me something so heinous about this form of use that I can only describe it as Mengelian.

So what can we do? Here are a few ideas:

• become informed about the scope and reality of vivisection today
• inform family, friends and others about what you know
• send letters to editors of local papers to reach even more people
• go cruelty-free and boycott products tested on animals
• make sure that the charities you donate to do not fund animal research
• contact the alumni office of your university to let them know how you feel about animal research done on campus (every time I get called to make a donation I tell them exactly why they're not getting a single penny from me)
• support legislative efforts such as the Great Ape Protection and Cost Savings Act
• celebrate stories of rescue like the raid in Italy against Green Hill
• and finally, remember and share this vegan rule: if there's something you wouldn't do unto another human, then don't do it to any other sentient being

top ten reasons to go vegan

In a comment on my previous top ten carnist phrases/excuses that drive me crazy post, I mentioned that I might compile a vegan list as well, so here goes. The Top Ten Reasons to go vegan are:

1. other animals shouldn't have to suffer and die for us
2. other animals shouldn't have to suffer and die for us
3. other animals shouldn't have to suffer and die for us
4. other animals shouldn't have to suffer and die for us
5. other animals shouldn't have to suffer and die for us
6. other animals shouldn't have to suffer and die for us
7. other animals shouldn't have to suffer and die for us
8. other animals shouldn't have to suffer and die for us
9. other animals shouldn't have to suffer and die for us
10. other animals shouldn't have to suffer and die for us


11. it's better for personal health
12. it's better for the environment
13. it has the potential to increase global peace
14. it has the potential to decrease global hunger
15. it'll expand culinary experience (your palate will thank you!)

There you go, my hand-picked top ten, snort. I included reasons 11-15, but really, they could easily be thought of as benefits primarily for human animals as opposed to reasons per se. Because what struck me as I was Googling top ten lists was how many did not have animals at the TOP of their list. Human concerns such as living longer, better, healthier and even sexier, for Pete's sake, seemed to crowd out concern for other sentient beings. Well, as nice as those things may be, they're not the primary reason I became vegan. For me, it's all about the top ten. Okay, I can see why these lists would be put together the way they are to entice others to join the fold, but we know better, eh? ;)

not vegan yet? then please view farm to fridge

 

Vegan already?

Excellent! Then scroll down for latest post. 

words of encouragement

One of the books I'm reading right now is The Longest Struggle by Norm Phelps as I think the adage of "to know where you're going you have to know where you've been" is so true. And because reading about the long history of humans treating other sentient beings badly (which is an understatement if ever there was one) was depressing even if informative, I snuck a peek at the conclusion to see if he would at least be able to end on a cheerier note. Well, encouraging is probably a better adjective, so here are his last two paragraphs:

For more than 2,500 years--since the days of Lord Mahavira, the Buddha, the later Prophets, and Pythagoras--men and women of compassion and goodwill have sustained the struggle for a world in which no sensitive being is imprisoned, enslaved, tortured, or killed simply because it suited humankind to do so. And the end of that struggle is not yet in sight. Today, we still face the same twofold challenge that has existed since the Axial Age: first and foremost, to bring closer the day when all sentient beings will live securely in a world without cruelty; and in the meantime, to relieve as much suffering as we are able.

Our strategy, therefore, must be to accomplish the possible while inspiring those who will come after us to achieve the impossible. We must dream the impossible dream and broadcast that dream so that every year, every decade, every generation, there are more and more of us who share it. All the while, we must never retreat from doing what we can. To abandon either the dream or the work is to abandon the animals, because it is this union of the impossible dream with the possible work that will bring success. Nothing else will. At some time that we cannot yet see, the dream and the work will merge, brought into reality by generations of dedicated dreamers and workers, and the animals will be freed forever from what George Orwell's philospher pig called by its true name: "the tyranny of human beings." p. 310

Amen, brother! If, like me, the negative reaction of those who don't get it yet and the seemingly monumental task ahead of us sometimes discourages you, I think these are good words to keep in mind. Other books if you're interested in exploring vegan and animal rights history while trying to keep your eyes on the better future ahead include: A Vegan History: 1944-2010 by Erik Marcus (Kindle Edition) and For the Prevention of Cruelty: The History and Legacy of Animal Rights Activism in the United States by Diane L. Beers.

vegan videos by John Sakars

Had never heard of him until The Vegan Spyder sent me a Flickr message one day saying, hey, check this out:

  

Turns out it was pretty funny and John certainly has a unique voice/style to add to the vegan choir. Then on Provoked I saw this brilliant piece and was really impressed:

 

So thanks to both my pals for introducing me to this cool Canuck (slang for Canadian), and be sure to check out his other works. I know I certainly will! :)

Update: As it turns out, YouTube decided that the work of vegan activist John Sakars was in violation of its Community Guidelines whereas the numerous animal crush videos and other videos celebrating hunting, dogs being barbecued, people tossing live goats to lions in Chinese zoos for entertainment and all other manner of sick crap is, well, perfectly fine. And yes, some may find a few of John's videos too crude for their taste, but really? Actual violence against animals is okay, but speaking out against said violence is not? But that, my friends, is where YouTube stands. So, YouTube terminated John's original account, but he has uploaded 25 videos to his new one (from where I uploaded the Vegan Marriage Counsellor above), and he can always be found on Facebook.

political parties representing animal rights

As I nervously await the results of Canada's federal election today (if you're Canadian and haven't voted yet please read Shit Harper Did and go vote!), I thought I'd check out political parties that specifically represent animal rights. I actually wasn't aware that there were any until I started seeing Party for the Animals badges on other blogs. They've got tons of information on their website, including what you can do to help. 

In Canada we have the Animal Alliance Environment Voters Party of Canada (which I hadn't heard of before), Animals Count in the UK, The Animal Protection Party in England, the Animal Welfare Party of Germany, the Animal Justice Party of Australia, Partito Animalista Italiano of Italy, Spain's Party Against Bullfighting, Cruelty and Mistreatment to Animals and the Animal Rights Party USA modeled after the Dutch Party for the Animals mentioned above. Wow! Now admittedly not all parties may be currently active, but it's heartening to see different regions of the world determined to make a political impact in support of animal beings.

And I think the key IS making animal rights a global affair. Apparently a staggering two billion people (2!) watched Kate and William get hitched (in comparison to about 750 million who watched the doomed Diana and Charles ceremony), so can you imagine if approximately one-third of the world's population were to actively get involved with something as important as how we treat each other?

As for the election occurring today, I find the fact that Canada and the US don't have proportional representation bizarre, embarrassing, undemocratic and just plain stupid. I mean, if smaller countries can at least get this right, why can't we? 

Update: So bummed out about Harper's Conservative majority. It's a huge loss for anyone concerned about animals, people, the environment, democracy and social justice. And it makes me discouraged about veganism because if Canadian voters don't even give a crap about the human species, then where does that leave all the others? :(

vegan mail delivery part 1

Woohoo! Received Nick Cooney's Change of Heart: What Psychology Can Teach Us About Spreading Social Change in the mail Friday and after only one chapter I already think it'll be invaluable. Not only is it interesting reading (although I'm biased towards the social sciences), but I feel it will help us to become more effective activists. I like how the title is Change of Heart as opposed to Change of Mind because while facts, logic and reasoning are certainly part of the activist's arsenal, facts by themselves are not enough. Compassion is more a matter of the heart, and hearts have to be opened before information can settle in. 

Chapter One is called Looking Inward and it deals partly with the relationship between self-identity and activism. Cooney reminds us that because we're so strongly and emotionally invested in our cause, we tend to believe that our own advocacy methods are the right ones and that any criticism of them can feel like criticism of us. That in turn can make it hard to abandon them if it's shown they're flawed.

He also suggests that negative aspects of self-identity (like ego, jealousy and insecurity) need to be kept in reign if we want to be effective, and asks the following:

Are we as activists willing to keep our anger and passion in check so that we're directing them rather than they directing us? Are we willing to put those we hope to help ahead of our desires for self-expression, for standing up for ourselves, and for loudly proclaiming what we believe regardless of how others will respond? Are we willing to go beyond the comfortable boundaries of our current self-identity in order to be as effective as possible? (p.15)

All good questions.  (And it makes me wonder what HE thinks of the VegNews scandal, snort. My own take on it is expressed in a comment I left at The Discerning Brute, but check out the excellent post Vegan Feminist Agitator has written on the matter.)

So I'm looking forward to the next chapters, and if any of you are interested I may share bits in the future that resonate with me. Or, if you don't want to wait, you can read a complete interview posted by Vegan Outreach to get a sense of what's in store.

Better yet, buy the book! :)

don't give a hoot about animals?

Dear Vegan-To-Be:

Don't care about other animals? Don't understand all the fuss vegans make when there's enough human suffering already? Annoyed that we spend time and money helping critters when you feel people should come first? Wish bleeding-heart vegans would just STFU?

Then go vegan because you love people more. 

Go vegan because you want to help end world hunger and feed children instead of cattle. Why should all that grain go to feed animals when it can be used for human consumption? Think of the number of people that could be fed (about 800 million!) if all the crops grown to feed livestock were diverted to them instead. Why should beasts be fed first when people are starving? Kinda crazy if you think about it, no? 

Sincerely,

Vegan who gives a hoot.

================================

Dear Vegan-Already-Reader:

Why did I write the above? Am I not vegan because of ethics? Of course I am, and so are you, but you're not the person who needs to stop eating meat. And while I would prefer that everyone become vegan for what I feel are the right reasons, I think there's a case to be made for having as many compelling reasons as possible for people to go vegan period. Let there be a smorgasbord of reasons so that no one can have an excuse not to! Besides, I'm sure it doesn't matter to the other animals why any of us are vegan, just that we are.

Sincerely,

Vegan who gives more than a hoot. 

animal rights work getting you down?

Because let's face it, building a vegan world (or at least, reducing animal cruelty and suffering as much as we can until everybody else catches up) is a daunting task. While being vegan is rewarding (how many other actions have the direct impact of saving lives?) and ultimately a win-win-win solution for the planet, the environment and ALL animals including ourselves, being immersed in the continual bombardment of animal pain can be stressful. Especially, I think, because most vegans are more empathetic to the violence other sentient beings face on a daily basis, we can easily get lost in negativity and despair and wonder if what we do will ever be enough. And that we need to be careful of because burnout isn't going to push our cause forward whatsoever. To that end, I'd like to share a few articles that should banish some of the pessimism you may feel, and help you deal with the stress of being an activist.

Vegan Outreach has written some great stuff over the years about the process of building a vegan world piece by piece, about how much things have already changed, and more recently, strategies with real results. And this week on their blog they're having a series of interviews with  Nick Cooney author of Change of Heart: What Psychology Can Teach Us About Spreading Social Change. Cool. 

A guide for animal activists called Animal Action! by David Sztybel has a lot to offer to both new and seasoned activists whether you're an animal welfarist, partial abolitionist or total abolitionist, and covers private activism, public activism, empowered and disempowered thinking, and ways of avoiding burnout. It's comprehensive, and some of the things I like about it include the cognitive approach, inclusiveness of different types of activists, and its concrete action orientation. I defy anyone to read it and not feel encouraged! David has also written an excellent document on coping with animal rights stress using cognitive therapy techniques, which you may find useful as well. 

Remember, just by being vegan you are already doing so much. You're part of a growing social justice movement that is getting stronger by the day, one that will eventually change the lives of every sentient being in this world for the better, and for that (regardless of what our ideological differences may be), I think you're awesome. :)

@havegonevegan

Yep, I've taken the plunge and am now on Twitter. I did this even before Erik Marcus wrote a couple of posts outlining why it's a good idea, and I think the shift for me took place when it occurred to me that instead of just being a silly social networking site (yes, I've done my share of mocking!), Twitter could also be used as a tool for social justice. I mean, nobody cares about the daily minutiae of our lives I hope, but using Twitter to keep abreast of vegan happenings and to spread the word of awesome posts and videos by other bloggers is pretty cool. I haven't tweeted much myself yet and am still learning how it all works, but I can see the potential now. It's been fascinating recently to see ordinary folk around the globe standing up to dictatorial governments, and if a media mechanism like Twitter can be used to make our world more vegan even faster, than why not?

If you want to follow me, follow the "follow me on Twitter badge" on the left! ;)

Oprah and staff go vegan for a week!

And they'll be airing the episode later today -- Tuesday, February 1 at 4:00pm. 

See how fast resolutions can work? Snort. No, I can't take any credit as obviously this show has been a while in the making and I haven't even gotten caught up with commenting on blog entries (yours and mine), let alone contacting people in TV land, but I'm stoked that Oprah is paying attention to the issue. What I like even more is that this episode has already generated over 200 comments and nearly 17,000 Facebook likes and it hasn't even aired yet! Clearly, this is getting a lot of attention.

Not sure how I feel about Michael Pollan, but I like Kathy Freston, despite the serious flak she's gotten from fellow vegans for not pushing people to go 100% vegan overnight. My take though is that she has probably reached more folk who otherwise would not even have heard of veganism, let alone try to incorporate it into their lives, and perhaps her more patient approach is more effective in the long run. At any rate, I'm looking forward to watching this and will have a follow-up post as soon as I can!

a disjointed and somewhat longish essay on death

Don't know about you, but I for one will be glad when this month is over. January has been a trying one: my step-dad was taken to hospital on the 2nd, discharged to a hospice a couple of weeks later where he died a few days after, and about half of those in attendance at his private funeral quickly developed and spread a virulent strain of flu. Thus, not a great start to the year. But his death and long-time suffering (he was 94 and had deteriorated a lot both physically and mentally over the last few years) has made me think more about what would make for a "good" death, or perhaps more importantly, a good life. I know this isn't a cheerful post, but I'm hoping that writing out some of my seriously scrambled thoughts will help somehow. Please bear with me.

My step-dad did not have what I would consider a good death; passing away quickly and painlessly while asleep in your own bed. Instead, his death was slow, lingering, and uncomfortable. Despite strong Christian beliefs he was clearly afraid (and hence struggled against death even though having difficulty swallowing and breathing), and I don't believe he was at peace.  It was hard to watch (and certain images of him in my brain I wish I could erase) and it made me sad because I know most people would not let their cat or dog suffer in a similar way. And isn't it odd that while it's considered humane to end your animal companion's life when they are visibly in pain and there's no chance of regaining health, it's murder to end a human's life. Is that because we view animals as personal property to be disposed of when and how we want? And yet, our compassion lets us relieve them of suffering when appropriate, while some people are doomed to struggle to the end.

Conversely, billions of animals are sent to their early, painful, and unnecessary deaths precisely because many do think of them as property. They too struggle to stay alive, but unlike my ailing step-dad, have long and healthy lives in front of them snatched away prematurely. There's no choice for them, and that's a crime. Each sentient being should have some say (barring accidents and natural causes of course) in when and how they would like to live and die, or have as in the case of companion animals, someone who has their (hopefully) best interest at heart.

I also believe that in the name of supposed progress, we try to extend natural human life beyond what is necessary at both ends of the spectrum. Babies now come into the world that wouldn't have survived a hundred years ago, and we do our best to have everyone live a hundred years or more (percentage-wise the biggest growing segment of the population I believe), and for what? Okay, I can understand the what somewhat, but the how I have a real problem with -- in trying to extend the human life span at any cost the human animal feels it's perfectly acceptable to research and experiment on other species without their consent, and even use their body parts if so required. Good grief!

Why should other species have to pay the price for us wanting to live longer? And frankly, I don't. Having watched both my parents grow older and grapple with a host of physical problems in addition to aging-related dementia, I don't want any part of it. Hit me with the proverbial bus if you will, please, but I have no desire to be in my eighties or nineties if I don't have all my faculties intact and can't do the things that are most important to me: think, create, communicate and interact rationally. Now I'm not a young twenty-something who can't even imagine being old, but at 48 am clearly aware of my mortality and have seen aging and death up close. By the way, I'm seriously considering donating my body to medical school when I die to: a) offset the cost of a funeral (do you know how expensive it is to be buried?), and b) offer my body as a research or teaching tool. While b) may be more of a symbolic gesture on my part, there are now veterinary schools where you can donate the remains of your companion animals so that fewer live animals get used in their programs. Good idea?

Another question I find myself asking in the midst of all this death is what constitutes a good life. Because while we don't have a lot of control over our death, we certainly have a bigger say in how we live our life and how we impact the lives of others. If nothing else, this past month has made me even more committed to helping end the unnecessary death of so many. I'm proud to be vegan, and proud to be a part of a growing social justice movement that values ALL species. 

Thank you for reading. Hope to catch up on your blogs and email soon!

so much for resolutions!

I had especially wanted to start 2011 with keeping my first resolution of posting more frequently. But of course a family emergency popped up January 2 (which while still ongoing has thankfully become somewhat more manageable*), and thus no new post until now. And I WAS going to compile a vegan wish list today, but then remembered a couple of resolutions I forgot to include in my last post. So, I also resolve:

• to contact figures like David Suzuki, Oprah, and Dr. Oz because like it or not, these folk (and celebrities in general) can influence more people than you or I
• to order Would Jesus Eat Meat Today? for all the churches in my town 
• to speak up and out more often with family and friends about why I'm vegan
• to avoid burnout by spending time on my other passions too e.g. Pyrex! :)

* unfortunately has slid over to unmanageable again, but I hope to be back soon...

my vegan new year's resolutions

So I never did come back after my last post (as I said and hoped I would), thus it is only fitting that I begin 2011 off on the right foot, and what better way than with resolutions? Snort. Now normally I don't believe in resolutions and figure that if you're going to make changes you make them when you're truly ready because intention is everything. And luckily becoming or staying vegan ISN'T a resolution I have to make, as being vegan is such a part of my nature now that it's not something I have to consciously think about. But the following I do resolve:

• to post more frequently
• to post about the topics I said I'd post about last year!
• to figure out what organizations I'll support financially
• to find animal sanctuaries here in Ontario, Canada 
• to find more vegans offline
• to start (if I'm very brave) a vegan group in my own town
• to read more animal rights books
• to better keep up with other vegan/AR blogs
• to better understand how people become (or sadly, unbecome) vegan
• to learn how to become a more effective advocate
• to order and distribute outreach material
• to write at least one letter to the editor of my local paper
• to be more adventuresome with vegan cooking and baking
• to frequent vegan/vegetarian restaurants when I can (sadly not in my town)
• to ask grocery stores to stock vegan products (failed with soy creamer last year)
• to get a vegan tattoo

Okay, maybe not a tattoo, snort. But really, I can't think of any other cause that I would be willing to endure the pain of tattooing for, and be more committed to physically displaying on my body. And in a sense, "branding" myself could be seen as highly fitting given the literal branding so many nonhuman animals suffer daily.

How about you? Any vegan goals or resolutions? If not, please read Eccentric Vegan's Let 2011 be the year that your life matters most post for inspiration! :)

the paradox of being vegan part 2

Note: the paradoxes of being vegan that I discuss in this and other posts are my own personal observations, and not necessarily universally applicable to all vegans

Paradox #2:

• As a vegan I've never been more at peace
• As a vegan I've never been more pissed off

I'm at peace because what I consume is in line with my moral and ethical values. For the most part (keeping in mind the two important words "possible" and "practical" from the veganism definition), I do not eat, wear, or use animals/animal products, and try to encourage others to do the same. As much as I can, I attempt to follow the adage of "first, do no harm", and vote with my fork and wallet every day. While it may not seem like enough, at least I can rest more easily (even if I didn't participate in any other form of activism) knowing that I do my best not to contribute any further to animal harm and exploitation.

But while I personally feel more at peace, I have also never felt angrier. As a vegan, I probably don't even have to explain this, and I assume that most of you know exactly what I'm talking about. Part of the process of becoming vegan is learning to see the world with new (or perhaps it would be more accurate to say opened) eyes and becoming aware of and being witness to the cruelty and injustice that nonhuman animals face daily and worldwide can be overwhelming. There is so much to be pissed off about! Animal use is so pervasive and ingrained and virtually no individual, group, society, institution or corporation is blameless. We can even become angry with other vegans or vegan groups that we feel aren't tackling the issues in the ways we would like, or in the ways we find most effective. And I think that while anger can be an extremely useful tool and a vehicle for change, it's also exhausting. For myself I've come to realize that I have to find ways to channel that anger more effectively because I don't think increased blood pressure and stress (as just two physical manifestations) will make me or anyone else a better activist.

How about you? How do you straddle trying to be more compassionate towards ALL living creatures when some of those creatures piss you off the most? ;)

p.s. in case you haven't read it yet, here's the paradox of being vegan part 1 

the paradox of being vegan part 1

Note: the paradoxes of being vegan that I discuss in this and subsequent posts are my own personal observations, and not necessarily universally applicable to all vegans

Paradox #1:

• Being vegan is easy
• Being vegan is hard

Being vegan is easy. It really is. In fact, it's probably never been easier to be vegan what with all the resources readily available today. There are countless vegan products on the shelves, cookbooks galore, and a lot more awareness of veganism in general. Most people will know what you're referring to when you say you're a vegan, and while it may sting a little to hear veganism being parodied on TV, it means that veganism is becoming mainstream enough to be made fun of. And that's not necessarily a bad thing because it also means that veganism can no longer be ignored. I imagine that for those who've been vegan for decades or more, support was a lot harder to get back then. Now, even if you don't personally know a single other vegan, you can join all kinds of groups and networks, read vegan blogs until you're blue in the face, get whatever information you need, and really feel that you're part of an expanding and worthwhile community. Like I said, it's easy being vegan.

But, the opposite is true as well. No matter how easy it is to be vegan, it's damn hard too. Being vegan automatically means you're part of a minority that others view as radical and that brings its own challenges. Having been involved with other social justice movements over the years, I can tell you that supporting women's rights, gay rights, and disability rights does not evoke the same amount of hostility and suspicion that supporting animal rights does. Not surprising I guess because using animals is practically viewed as an inalienable right by most, and since almost everyone consumes animal products, you're going to get a lot of defensiveness if not downright anger. And because animal exploitation is big business, this anger is not only personal, but societal as well. Animal use is profitable, and when you attempt to stop this, you're stepping on big corporate toes as well. Add to that the common assumptions and stereotypes veganism evokes, the misconceptions (but where do you get your protein, we need to eat animals to stay healthy, blah blah blah), and the sometimes having to be a bit more resourceful in getting your food supplies, yeah, being vegan can be hard.

Luckily though, most vegans are pretty smart (and empathetic), and more than capable of dealing with two opposing truths in trying to create a better world. 

treat us kindly

Got this cute little stamp off of Etsy a while back. She has a whole shop full,
but here are some more of StudioMo's animal stamps. 

Ninety-Five

It wasn't planned, but by coincidence this happens to be my 95th post, so I think it highly appropriate to be reviewing one of my favourite animal rights books today: Ninety-Five: Meeting America's Farmed Animals in Stories and Photographs. 

As the subtitle of the book says, Ninety-Five is about meeting America's farmed animals in stories and photographs, and what photographs and stories they are! The photos are gorgeous, and besides being a visual feast for the eye, they are illuminating for folk like me who have never seen most animal species in real life. And that, I think, is one of the saddest facts: people who regularly dine on chickens, cows and turkeys (Thanksgiving is celebrated here in Canada next weekend) are probably more familiar with what the animals they're eating used to look like from the packaging, than from what they've seen in real life. Justice, on the front cover for example, is beautiful, and I was quite amazed to see tufts of hair on his back, and that's how far removed I am from the reality of real animals. 

I loved reading the stories of all these rescued animals and when I brought this book over to show my parents (at ages 83 and 94, these two are unfortunately not prepared to give up their meat-eating ways) I kind of had to laugh (even though it was sad) when what struck them the most was that all the featured nonhuman animals had names. For them the primary purpose of these beings is to be eaten, so naming them seemed foreign. But that's exactly what I love about this book: it gives names and faces to those that we are used to--and here is where I get stuck with language because really, the most appropriate word to use is dehumanizing. One of the ways we distance ourselves from other species is by using the terms humans and animals, but even human animals and nonhuman animals still puts the human animal as the norm and treats nonhuman animals as deviations from that. 

But what I'm really trying to say here is that we're so used to objectifying other species and stripping them of their sentient features, that this book is a contrast and a welcome relief. It does the opposite and reintroduces us to who our fellow creatures are, which is so important when trying to convince others that veganism is the way to go. After all, what good is focusing on the horrors of factory farming and other animal use/abuse when most of us don't even know who the victims are? I'm not saying those other books aren't valuable in their own right, but I think this one does a great job of showing who we're actually slaughtering and makes us more aware that the meat (another distancing term  I hate) we're eating had a name and a face. 

I keep this book on my desk as a daily visual reminder of why I'm vegan, and wish I could donate a copy to every library and every school because it's just that good.

Oh, nearly forgot, the title Ninety-Five refers to the estimated average number of animals said to be spared annually by one person's vegan diet. And because I'm actually not that good at writing book reviews, here is a much better one. (Thankfully I wrote mine before finding his otherwise this might have been a one-line post, snort.)

we're more alike than you think

While we humans use all kinds of ways (including language) to try and distance ourselves from other animals, I think it would be wise to remember that we share many of the same instincts, emotions, needs and desires. The major thing setting us apart in my humble opinion? 

Arrogance. And maybe greed.

So let's prove our rationality and show our peers respect! :)