vegansaurus!

Meet Florence, the vegetarian shark!  »

TreeHugger reports on Florence, a nurse shark living at the Birmingham National Sea Life Centre in England, who has been trying to follow a vegetarian diet. Florence here swallowed a rusty fish hook three years ago, and vets performed out-of-water surgery to remove it, and since then, she’s refused all fish.

Unfortunately, sharks cannot live on vegetables alone, even delicious, nutritious algae, so Sea Life Centre workers have to pull a Marge Simpson and hide the fish in lettuce to supplement Florence’s diet. Apparently if she even gets a whiff of fish, Florence will refuse the food and wait for the animal-free option.

Aw, Florence! We know how hard it is to feed a carnivore an animal-free diet. Maybe scientists will figure out a way to meet your nutritional needs without compromising your morals. A lady-shark can dream!

[photo from the Birmingham National Sea Life Centre via TreeHugger]

Vote for us for a Treehugger award and support vegans ruling the world!  »

Check us out, we fancy: We’re nominated for a Treehugger Best of Green Readers’ Choice award! Thank you, Treehugger! Even if you spelled our name wrong, we love you because sometimes we spell our names wrong, too! Ain’t no thang. (But really, fix it.)

The category is Best Food Website, and we’re up against omni-geared spots Food52 (let the record show that when I clicked to their website, a huge picture of ribs popped up) and The Kitchn (which has loads of good veg info and fun decorating and storage tips, but also an article on “vat-pasteurized milk”). Both sites are great for often promoting vegan deliciousness but on the reals, you vegans better support the vegan site, lest society crumble and burn to the ground. OR WORSE: Things will continue as they are. Terrifying.

Last year we were voted Best Food Twitter Feed, so don’t let us backslide! Vegan pink dinos forever! Vote for us, and we will do anything* you ask.

*Give you a high five, or a smooch if you’re Michael Fassbender-level attractive, which you all are!

[Thanks to our pals on Facebook and the PPK boards for the support! You are all terrific!]

Top 10 links of the week: a hopscotch game through the playground of veganism!  »

Your cute pet video of the week! I just love how intense the kitty is. Like, so intense.

File under things that are actually a big deal—Livestock, antibiotics and superbugs: IT’S ALL TRUE! Original story in NPR but Grist has a great discussion of it.

Philly.com has a message for you: not all vegans are white! I really never got this stereotype, maybe because I’m from Philadelphia and the first vegans I ever knew were Black Panthers. Of course, it makes sense if there are more white vegans in the US than other ethnicities because there are more white people in the US than other ethnicities. Bonus: the piece features Vegan Mainstream’s mom!

 New Yorkers, take the A/C to Nostrand Avenue and get ready for an affordable fake meat extravaganza! One of Vegansaurus’ very favorite sites, Broke-Ass Stuart, is here to guide you through this reasonably-priced TVP adventure!

You’ve probably heard, but in case you haven’t, Mary Kay and some other brands have started animal testing again. Good idea? People are more aware of the cruelty-free label then ever. I hope this tanks them.

From Scientific America, a dingo named Sterling used a table to steal name tags. He’s at some kind of “Centre” that I don’t know about but still, animals are supre cool.

From Treehugger: Global warming could give rise to miniature animals. I am trying SO HARD not to be excited. I’m not, I swear.

A New York Times blog writes about Blossom’s new bakery in Manhattan!

National Geographic presents the “Rhino Wars” in pictures. Pretty sad stuff. Poor rhinos.

Fit Sugar has the lowdown on the top vegan protein sources. It’s a very short list. But I like to see us in the mainstream!

Vanity Fair has an interview with one of my faves, Brigitte Bardot! She gets into her love and activism for animals. 

“I am not playing political games,” she says. “I don’t care. I don’t bother with that. I belong to no party and I am militant for no one. All of my causes, including the most radical, are motivated by the defense of animals.” 

I love you, BB!

Newsflash: Horse-drawn carriages are abusive and tacky  »

There’s been a lot of debate recently in New York City about horse-drawn carriages, since one poor horse, Charlie, collapsed and died in the middle of the street. Now that the results of the necropsy are in, concerns are as high as ever: “The gross necropsy report indicates that Charlie was not a healthy horse and was likely suffering from pain due to pronounced chronic ulceration of the stomach and a fractured tooth,” reports the ASPCA. So this wasn’t just a freak accident—this horse was ill, despite Bloomberg’s insistance that the horses are “well taken care of.”

This is a tragedy but it seems to have brought the absurdity of the horse-drawn carriage industry to light. Horses should not be living in New York City, trotting alongside cars day and night. That’s nuts. That’s not the only issue, however. The Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages outlines the many reasons this industry sucks. Like where do these horses sleep at night? Surprise: it’s not Dream Valley. It’s a stuffy, fire-trap of a warehouse.

The attention Charlie has been getting has also brought attention to Intro 86, an initiative that would replace horse carriages with eco-friendly, vintage-replica cars like the model below:

Now I think that is a great idea! And the current carriage drivers would get first dibs on the jobs driving the pretty cars. Come on, this car is so much cuter than a horse-drawn carriage! And it still has all the nostalgia. 

Not everyone supports Intro 86. If you feel like reading something ridiculous and infuriating on the matter, look no further than Treehugger. Jaymi Heimbuch wrote the most absurd piece on the subject for them, saying one dead horse shouldn’t end the industry. Heartwarming. While she claims she’s “always on the side of horses” she also draws the genius conclusion that “it’d be a real bummer if city kids couldn’t see animals like horses while walking in the park.” Yeah, poor city kids. They wouldn’t get to witness horse abuse as a normal part of culture! I don’t even want to think about what that might do to their developing minds. I have what I feel is an even more genius conclusion, though: How about we send a message of compassion to city kids! I know, I’m out of control. 

Top 10 links of the week! An edifying ramble through veganism!  »

Per usual, I slipped up last week, so this spans a couple weeks. Leave me alone, I have a real job!

National Geographic has a nice infograph about the LEGAL wildlife trade in Asia. It’s ill. I would have posted it but it’s too big to post the whole thing so go check it out.

From One Green Planet, vegan wine pairings! I love my wine and you know this.

Grist wonders, is Idaho a safe haven for CAFOs (Confined Animal Feeding Operation)? Damn, Idaho, that’s whack.

Ke$ha is the Humane Society International’s new Global Ambassador. All right.

Wildlife officials in upstate New York “are squealing over ‘captive hunts’ upstate that have flooded three counties with out-of-control feral hogs.” Squealing.

This is kind of a big deal but I don’t have time to write a good post on it so maybe it can be our discussion topic: A new economics study confirms Namibian seal-watching is worth 300 percent more than seal hunting. I’ve heard of things like this before, where like safari-type tourist things could be worth more than elephant ivory and whale-watching could bring in more cash money than whale-killing. Have you guys? Seems pretty awesome. There should be an organization that JUST focuses on this. Money makes the world go round!

Our favorite guilt-ridden omni, Sami Grover from Treehugger, says all the meat eaters should eat less meat! It’s totes true.

Vegan Mainstream says our Laura is a vegan mover and shaker! That Laura, she’s so lovable. And foul-mouthed.

Gothamist taste-tested the Dun-Well faux-gras donut and the foie gras donut, and the dudes who made the actual dead-goose-liver pastry were all, The fake one is good, but we won’t be making a vegan version ourselves because vegans have “a FUBU mentality when it comes to vegan delights.” Which, buddy, do you know how much more business you would get if you offered novelty fancy vegan food? So much.

Refinery29, of which my favorite ex-boyfriend is a founding member, has a nice vegan shoe list: 12 Vegan Shoes That Aren’t Fugly. Some of the usual suspects, but several I hadn’t seen! And YOU KNOW I seen a lot of shoes. I like those first loafers, buy them for me.

Giant squids are being killed by ocean noise pollution. NOT COOL  »

This is so unacceptable. First of all, don’t fuck with giant squids because they will cut you. WITH THEIR AWESOMENESS. If you’re not convinced of this fact, I have a list of ways in which the giant squid rules all:

1. They can measure up to 60 feet long
2. They have eight arms
3. Their eyes are the size of beach balls
4. They’re so enormous, that sometimes they eat whales as a snack! (please see accurate dramatic representation below)
5. They can change colors! What! I thought only hyper color t-shirts could do that! Also, Mom, I’m still waiting for one of those! It’s not too late for me to be one of the cool kids
6. Female giant squids are bigger than male giant squids and still, they work it. Go ‘head, ladies

Annnnnnnd case closed.

Because giant squids are so wily and elusive (good job, giant squids!), humans haven’t figured out how to kill and eat them just yet. However, when humans can’t destroy ocean animals by ripping them out of the water, we just murder them via sonic waves. We are so amazing at killing everything! In related and also unrelated news, I’m gonna throw myself off a bridge later today. I kid, I’m not ready to end it all, I must stay around to torture you all via exclamation marks and CAPS LOCK!!

To cheer us all up somewhat, I leave you with this Brandon Bird original, Bad Day on the High Sea:

Bad day, indeed.

Treehugger talks about vegans again and bores the hell out of me  »

Sami Grover at Treehugger is talking about veganism again, in “What does a Vegan World Actually Look Like?” He in no way answers this question or attempts to take a stance. Because I’m always willing to share knowledge, I’ll answer his questions for you: Is a vegan world healthier? Yes. Is it less cruel? Yes. Is it more sustainable? Yes. Now here’s MY question: We see so many good reasons to be vegan, what’s a good reason NOT to be vegan? I’d love to hear a legitimate reason that goes beyond “bacon tastes good.”

Further: Sami Grover, what is up with you, sir? With posts like “I Don’t feel Bad for Eating Meat. So Why Do I Apologize For It?” (pro tip: because you do!) and “Why Vegans Are Welcome to Call me a Murder” (OK, murderer!), it’s starting to look like you’re sourcing your articles from Defensive Omnivore Bingo. If you’re not, you should be! Please see the below game board, that should keep you busy for a while—you can do a write-up for each square!

Meat is murder and I don’t care yet  »

I read this piece today on Treehugger, “Why Vegans Are Welcome to Call Me a Murderer” by Sami Grover. Just wanted to let you know what I’ve been doing with my day, that’s all. Just kidding! I have thoughts about it! You know me, always with the thoughts!

First let me say that Grover’s Treehugger bio says he’s a committed environmental activist. It’s my opinion that you’re not an environmental activist if you eat meat and dairy. It’s like being an environmentalist and driving an SUV, they just don’t go together. However, in Grover’s post he says he is an occasional, sustainable-meat eater. If he is actually diligent about this, it’s very impressive considering the minuscule (ed.: MINUSCULE) amount of meat that is raised sustainably. But I have to wonder, does he also only eat sustainable dairy? Dairy is TERRIBLE for the environment. Oy, that’s a lot of work. Might as well be vegan and not worry about it!

I always have to question a supposed environmentalist who eats meat or dairy. Does not compute. Grover’s main point is that maybe people are right to call meat murder but maybe it’s not helpful for the cause to actually say that. He finishes with this sentiment:

So while ideas like a weekday vegetarian diet may strike many non-meat eaters as hypocritical and strange (who says murder is OK on the weekend!?), I’d suggest they are a very real step forward—whether you believe we should eat less meat, or no meat at all. I recognize that is a hard step for those who believe in the murder-analogy to take, but it may be one that ends up saving a lot of animal lives.

I don’t disagree with Grover at all on these points. Meat is murder but society doesn’t view it as such and maybe you’ll turn more people off by telling them that. Like him, I’m not sure if this is true but I’ll give it a solid, “maybe.” And while in my heart of hearts, I can’t stand vegetarians (what makes one vegetarian that shouldn’t translate into being vegan?), I applaud and am very proud of my family and friends who have committed to Meatless Monday. For someone who isn’t a serious environmentalist and doesn’t have ethical qualms with eating meat to slow their roll, look at the environmental impact and try to reduce their meat consumption is a great step forward.

So now you’re like, “OK, Megan Rascal, where are these thoughts of yours?” Well, this post of Grover’s brings up what I’ve been thinking a lot about lately; so often, when we talk about veganism, it becomes a discussion about whether or not killing animals is wrong—I think this conversation is premature! The main reason I am vegan is because the way animals are raised for meat and dairy is inhumane and horrifying. Until all animals are treated in a humane manner up until the day they are killed, we are not ready to have the discussion of whether or not meat is murder.

Grover brings up the death penalty, which is a comparison I often use to explain my point. I’m against the death penalty—not necessarily because I don’t think the government should kill people but because the death penalty is RACIST and INNOCENT PEOPLE GET KILLED. When we have a 100 percent foolproof way to ensure that only guilty people get the death penalty and it is without a doubt sentenced fairly across race and class lines, only then should we begin to discuss whether or not the government should kill people at all. Until they find a way to do this, the death penalty should be abolished. In this same way, until it can be guaranteed without a doubt that animals are raised humanely, we haven’t reached the point where we need to discuss whether or not killing animals is wrong. As long as money and people are involved, I doubt all animals will ever be treated decently but while we wait, I think I’ll just be vegan.

[graph from the Death Penalty Information Center]