BOSTON - A federal judge has ruled that the state’s prison system violated a convicted child killer’s civil rights by denying him a vegan diet.

U.S. Chief District Judge Mark Wolf ruled this week that the Department of Correction violated federal law protecting religious freedom and ordered the department to provide Daniel Yeboah-Sefah a diet in line with his Buddhist beliefs.

[Source]

[Read more about Buddhist prisoners]

I'm conflicted about blogging this story. This guy beat his 5-week old son to death. He apparently has changed his ways and is vegan now. I believe all vegans should be allowed to have food choices, even in prison. Poor baby though.

Check out the Comments Section. People (meat-eaters for sure) are not having it.

~inga~

Labels: buddhism, diet, inmate, prison, vegan, veganism

How to get Protein in a Vegan Diet -- powered by ExpertVillage.com

I get asked this question more times than I care to admit. "How do vegans get their protein?" Doing ... :-P

This video should wrap that up!

Labels: deficiency, protein, veganism, vegans

I just had a conversation with someone that I consider very intelligent. HOWEVER! He said, "Animals were put on this Earth to serve mankind." WHAT!

This is how the rest of the debate went:

HIM: "Humans can do many things that animals can't do."

ME: "Animals can do what they need to do."

HIM: "Yes, but an animal can't build a building."

ME: "If an ant was our size, he could pick up this building."

HIM: "We have dominion over animals."

ME: "What does that mean, exactly?"

HIM: "We are the superior species. All animals answer to us. They are here for our benefit."

ME: "We learned to fly, swim, build, hunt, travel, colonize and adapt from animals."

HIM: "Yes, but animals cannot learn things from us."

ME: "Humans teach animals things all the time. Usually for entertainment purposes."

HIM: "Yes, but anything an animal can do we can do."

ME: "Wrong! Elephants can send a vibrational signal through the ground that can be felt and understood by other elephants 100 miles away. Can we do that?"

HIM: "Yes, through the phone."

ME: "Certain starfish can instantaneously clone themselves in the presence of danger."

HIM: "So."

ME: "Certain frogs can become female if their population is predominately male."

HIM: "So."

ME: "I give up."

This is the kind of conversation I have with MY FATHER on a daily basis. Tiring but fun... :-X

Labels: animals, egocentricity, evolution, flawed thinking, humans, mankind, philosophy, superiority, vegan, veganism

I joined veggieboards.com because I'm missing more vegan interactions. There are a few vegan friends I have in Miami, but I can count them on one hand. =( However, they are amazing!

Anyway, there was this survey that I wanted to participate in, and I purposely didn't read the responses before I posted to see how similar they were. It was eerie, man.

Check it out here:

---

Hiya vegans!

In my class, we have started a project called "Making Differences", and my topic is.. well, you can guess! Veganism. Although I had to narrow it down to Chickens & Cattles, I also decided to include more of the animals thought of as food. I would feel quite guilty leaving the fishes, or bees behind! And for this project, interviewing someone is mandatory. I just recently (by recent, I mean about 5 minutes ago this was made) mailed a vegan author the same thing, and I would like more responses in case mine is not answered!

Although I'd joyfully take on this interview and interview myself, sadly, that's not allowed. However, looking at other vegans' responses are much more interesting, and, well, allowed.

The vegans I would like to interview are ones who exclude honey out of their diet, or very very very rarely consume it. I don't want to restrict you from taking this either! So everyone is welcome; all boys & girls, women and men, young and old.. the only rule? Have fun!

I will look at every interview (unless I receive 1000 o_o ) and I will be looking for outstanding and specific answers! And of course, I want to hear your stories. Don't give me a 50 page essay though. Although detail is great, too much is.. well, an eye killer. xD

Every interview will benefit my project and convince others that vegans are NOT some hippies that are super afraid of killing animals or something like that.
[My Survey][All Surveys]

Labels: survey, vegan, veganism, veggieboards

Discussing their daughter's latest romance, Hilton's father Rick Hilton told reporter Robin Leach, "He's the perfect example of 'don't judge a book by its cover'. He's polite, well-mannered - [he] even calls me sir! We love him like family already. Benji doesn't drink, doesn't smoke and is a healthy vegan!"

[Source]

Vegan men are "IT". If you can find one that's good-looking and can cook, kiss the ground he walks on! Maybe she'll be next, eh? =)

Labels: benji madden, love, paris hilton, vegan, veganism

Labels: code, religion, spirituality, ten commandments, vegan, veganism

1. Eating Cake - Last night I went to a party. They had birthday cake. I haven't had birthday cake in almost 4 years.

2. Buying Candy Bars - I spent 10 minutes in Walgreens looking for something chocolatey to eat. Nothing!

3. Pizza - Most pizza has butter and cheese on it. Not vegan friendly.

4. Going Out To Dinner - if someone invites me to dinner, I have to already decide that I'm going to eat plain baked potato or salad. No one ever recommends eating at a vegan or vegetarian restaurant. Everyone eats steak, chicken and fish in front of you, making you lose your appetite anyway.

5. Eating Soup - I love soup, especially on the rainy days Miami has been having. Soup has either beef broth, chicken stock, cream, milk, eggs, butter ... etc.

6. Cookies - Wild Oats has some Vegan Cookies that are to die for. Also, I just discovered Famous Amos makes their own version of OREOS ... so good! Most people can pick up a box of cookies and go to town without worries. They should worry but they don't.

Ah well, nobody made me become a vegan, Just wanted you to know ... it ain't easy being GREEN baby ... but I wouldn't change it for the world.;-)

~inga~

Check out VEGGIEMUNN.COM http://www.veggiemunn.com for desserts, soups, entrees and snacks for vegans/vegetarians/raw foodists/veg-curious.

Labels: birthday cake, cookies, herbivores, miami, omnivores, oreos, pizza, raw, raw vegan, south florida, vegan, veganism, vegetarian

CONTEST PROVIDED BY - ecorazzi.com

So, want to bring your pet to the top of the green class? We’ll get 2 readers started off right! We’ve got one copy of the book Pet Food Nation, one Eco-Me Dog Kit, and one Eco-Me Cat Kit. And we’re giving ‘em away!

With the dog kit, you’ll be able to make a flea & bug spray, dry powder shampoo, and dog biscuits. You’ll also receive doggie wipes and biodegradable poo-poo bags. With the cat kit, you’ll be able to grow cat grass, make litter freshener, and flea & bug spray. Plus, an organic catnip pillow is included.

Labels: cats, contest, dogs, eco-friendly, ecorazzi, environment, giveaway, organic, pet food, vegan pets, veganism

Labels: activism, union square, vegan, veganism

Inga Ambrosia has been raw for about three weeks. I must say it has been good and bad. For some reason, the sugar highs and lows have put me out of commission on many occasions. Sometimes, I can only stay awake for an hour or two. It may have something to do with all the philosophical stuff I've been reading also. The brain has to organize that which has been soaked up.

Also, when I write myself, it is so draining that I need to replenish my energy. One thing I know is eating green grapes sends me on a sugar supernatural high that plops you down to the ground in 60 minutes. Not something I can give up, but not something I need either. Cherries are still my best friends. Naval oranges are giving me much needed Vitamin C. Took a week off from salads just out of sheer boredom ...

Made a giant mistake of trying to eat soy ice cream. My body rejected that before I even finished the last bite. I'm going to get gross here ... but you can go to the next paragraph if you choose to. When I ____ in the bowl, I saw that all the fruit was excluded from the mixture. Isn't the body amazing ... ok gross part over.

Something has happened to my body and senses. The crap I used to get away with eating is no longer valid. Oreo cookies make me feel ill. Potato chips make me break out. I can detect the freshness of foods (or lack of freshness) so much easier. My sense of smell is heightened. This can become quite costly when I've spent $100 on groceries for two weeks. I stopped eating bread altogether. You can get addicted to bread if you aren't careful. It's funny, I pass by the entire first section of the grocery store. Have you ever noticed how disgusting the fish department smells at the grocery store? ... Pew! If I didn't have to buy shampoo and floss I would skip the first two aisles completely. How can the people behind the counter work there? ... Blek!

Anyway, have a nice weekend and support local live music and artists. They're usually good people ... Peace! ;-)

[Photo]

Labels: grocery store, inga ambrosia, raw vegan, veganism

NEMCOVA BECOMES A VEGAN IN A BID TO SAVE THE FISH

Supermodel PETRA NEMCOVA has become a vegan after reading up on the planet's fish problems. The stunning Czech Republic catwalk star reveals she gave up meat and dairy in February (07) because she wants to set an example and help save ocean life. Nemcova explains, "I became quite green... I have a very strong connection to nature... and I read that if we fish the way we fish, in 2048 there will be no more fish left, which is pretty soon. So it's a statement."

18/07/2007 22:29

[SOURCE]

Right on, girl! ;-)

Labels: fish, petra nemcova, supermodel, vegan, veganism

Labels: steaz, vegan vixens, veganism, vegans, video of the day

AFI snuck in a little vegan activism before their performance at Live Earth. This warms my soul. ;-)

AFI is such a very good popular youth rock group (moreso that Duran Duran of the 80's) go to www.myspace.com/AFI to listen (Love Like Winter is a great song) and see how many diehard fans they have! They are fairly reserved, but stating that they are all Vegetarian and the lead singer has been Vegan for 10 years live in front of millions was sooo important. Oh yeah the lead signer was voted sexiest veggie by peta2 this year. (Source)

Pre-performance:


Interview:


[www.myspace.com/AFI]

Labels: al gore, climate change, environment, global warming, live earth, vegan, veganism

VEGAN TURNS RAW:
So, yesterday I told you I was trying out this whole raw vegan deal. So far so good. Today, I had a bowl of cherries and it tasted like LIFE. Minus the seeds, I'd forgotten how juicy they were. The grocery store was displaying them like fine art and I surrendered.

There were probably 30 seeds in that bowl. I wasn't hungry after though. Later I had grapes, a head of romaine w/shredded carrots. A gigantic bowl of strawberries with (this is bad) Cookie Avalanche Purely Decadent Soy Ice Cream. I know, I know. Look - baby steps man. The soy ice cream is gone, so is the temptation.

Tonight, I will have 2 ears of steamed corn, cut from the cob with organic pea soup (barely heated).

So far the digestion hasn't been a problem. My energy is good and I'm learning to find something physical to do to burn off that natural sugar. It's only been a few days but my face is thinner, and an issue I've had with my skin is clearing up nicely. My friend Eric gave me the book by Dr. Douglas N. Graham, The 80/10/10 Diet. Will post some interesting page numbers later this week. I'll keep you posted.

~i. ambrosia~

[Photo]

Labels: 80/10/10, douglas n graham, raw vegan, vegan, veganism

Eco-friendly MOBY has hit out at the organizers of the LIVE EARTH concerts for selling meat at the events.

The vegan musician's complaint echoes that of animals rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) who claim meat production massively damages the environment.
Moby writes on his blog,

"The one thing that still stuns me, though, is that almost no-one in the 'stop global warming' camp talks about the environmental ramifications of animal production. To quote a U.N. article: Rearing cattle produces more greenhouse gases than driving cars.

"At the Live Earth concerts people were eating hamburgers and hot dogs and chicken, which is akin to getting drunk at the funeral for someone who died of alcohol poisoning.

"It's just depressing that some huge truths about climate change are too inconvenient."

[Source]

My sentiments exactly.

Labels: blog, inconvenient truth, live earth, meat, moby, peta, veganism

A very wise friend of mine, Eric Dez - a raw vegan activist, gave me a real good talking to about eating a batch of french fries this weekend. I rarely eat fried food. However, when I'm at a Tiki Bar, listening to karaoke (I mean live entertainment?), sitting on a couch near the beach, french fries come to mind. Also, I like to shock my body with a 1,000 calories sometimes to keep it guessing! He said it was easier to convince a vegan to go raw, so with every fry came another infusion of raw education. I ate fast!

Anyway, he told me something about 'mono-eating' and 80/10/10 which is a raw vegan diet consisting of 80% carbohydrates. (More info below)

I'll tell you this. I went to the grocery store yesterday and bought only vegetables and fruits. Not much different than what I normally buy except, no bread, no soy burger, no oil or fattening products like peanut butter or cashews. The woman in front of me in the checkout line watched me unload my items onto the conveyor belt, probably searching for the meat or any sign that I wasn't completely nuts. Hopefully, I've influenced her to at least consider a healthier diet. She was buying cherries and a banana cream pie ...

My first meals were a whole canteloupe, 1/2 pound strawberries and a head of romaine w/shredded carrots. Eric told me to eat a pound of strawberries. I laughed. Well, one hour later I was hungrier than a horse. I probably ended up eating 2 pounds of fruit at the end of the day. Man, I can see how this can be addictive. Honestly, I've always considered fruit a dessert and now I eat dessert all day long, who'd have guessed! I had so much energy today, I could barely sit still long enough to write this. I'll keep you posted.

Comprehensive in scope yet simple in implementation, the 80/10/10 approach makes good sense. Every element of the program is based in hard science, and every meal is delicious and appealing. Fresh, juicy fruit takes center stage in this symphony of simple taste sensations, and tender greens and nonsweet fruits like tomatoes are their sole accompaniments. Grains, legumes, supplements, superfoods, dehydrates, juices, stimulating condiments, and refined oils play no part in the 80/10/10 program, and the healthful fats in nuts, seeds, avocados, and coconuts are invited for rare guest appearances only.

Essentially, The 80/10/10 Diet outlines a plan that derives a minimum of eighty percent of its calories from carbohydrates. All the best science points to this key dietary concept, yet no approach has taken the low-fat vegan plan to its rightful heights, because they all rely upon the consumption of cooked, complex carbohydrates as their primary calorie source. Starches and grains are bland foods, so inevitably we end up compromising their potential health value by amending them with fat, refined or chemical sweeteners, and salt. Dr. Graham bypasses the entire problem by using the simple carbohydrates in fruits as the main staple of his program.

[Source]

Labels: fruit, grocery store, raw vegan, supermarket, vegan, veganism

Stream at 11am-pacific time / 2pm-eastern time Saturdays at
www.AirAmerica.com , where there's also a listing of all Air America radio station affiliates whom you can contact to find out when they broadcast the show.
Radio stations running "GO VEGAN with BOB LINDEN" also stream live, so you can listen to them anywhere in the world. For example -

Listen to "GO VEGAN with BOB LINDEN"
-in South Florida: WINZ-AM-940, Saturday 2pm-eastern
-in New York: WWRL-AM-1600, Saturday 10pm-eastern
-in San Francisco: KQKE-AM-960, Sunday 9pm-pacific
-in Los Angeles: KTLK-AM-1150, Sunday 11pm-pacific

Consult your local station -
XM Satellite broadcast begins July 14 - 10pm-eastern

Visit the web page for GO VEGAN with BOB LINDEN at www.AirAmerica.com

Program podcasts via Air America and also www.GoVeganRadio.com

Archives at www.GoVeganRadio.com

Labels: air america, bob linden, go vegan radio, vegan, veganism

‘Razzi caught up with Fall Out Boy’s vegan drummer Andy Hurley—now on the band’s Honda Civic 2007 Summer Tour—to investigate this globe-trotting musician’s knack for ethical eating on the road, his stance on the environment and advice for aspiring vegetarians and vegans alike.

E: What is the best part about veganism?
AH: I just like not having a dependency on other forms of life. I like having a compassionate way of life. I am into a lot of human rights stuff and whatever I think, it is important for me to follow through with my diet and the way I live.

[Read More]

Labels: andy hurley, ecorazzi, fall out boy, vegan, veganism

This is our 2nd Stop on the Ambrosia Ambiance Tour:

When:
Thursday, July 12, 2007 @ 8 p.m. - Midnight

What:
Ambrosia Ambiance is an ambient, downtempo, chill lounge music, poetry and art tour.

Where:
Wallflower Gallery
10 N.E. 3rd Street
Downtown Miami, FL
www.wallflowergallery.com

Cover:
$8.00

Sounds by:
PHIsonica (www.phisonica.com) - with live visualizations and instruments (50% raw vegan)
DJ Jared Cole, Host & DJ (vegetarian)
DJ Inga Ambrosia - with fractal and nature videos (vegan)
Angela Fischetti, devotional singer (vegan)

Live Art Performance:
Kacey Westall

Come celebrate the New Moon with us as we create and share positive energy with positive people.

Sponsored by:
VeggieMunn (www.veggiemunn.com) (Raw Vegan - Mariela)
Who is providing free raw vegan food. Come early.


Visit www.ambrosiaambiance.com or www.myspace.com/ambrosiaambiance for more info.

See you there!!

~i. ambrosia~

Labels: ambrosia ambiance, ambrosia ambience, food, inga ambrosia, phisonica, poetry, raw vegan, spoken word, vegan, veganism

Labels: cooking, gay god gourmet, vegan, vegan cheese burgers, veganism, youtube

QUINCY, Mass. – Tara Withington, with her two young sons in tow, combs the aisles of Hannaford Bros. Co. supermarket for what she deems healthy enough to feed her family. Besides reading ingredients and studying her fruit for bruises, Withington says she needs a guarantee the organic foods she buys are kept far, far away from the store’s conventional products

“I need to know it’s natural and I’m not giving them chemicals,” said Withington, 33, of Milton, playfully tapping her 1-year-old son’s hand as he reached out of his shopping cart seat for a jar of pickles. “I’m trying to keep them healthy, and this reassures me that they are not coming into contact with anything I don’t want them to.”

Chasing the success of Whole Foods Market Inc., and the announcement last year that Wal-Mart Stores Inc. would double its organic products, several regional grocers are going deeper into the market with a government-backed seal as “certified organic retailers.” In recent years, supermarket chains such as The Kroger Co., Lund Food Holdings Inc. and now Maine-based Hannaford represent a growing number securing the certification.

While organic foods are certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as free of pesticides and hormones, this designation says the retailer will comply with handling standards nearly as meticulous as those for kosher or vegan foods.

[Source]

Labels: environment, food, green, vegan, veganism

Tampa parents fighting for custody of their quintuplets

Labels: parenting, quintuplets, vegan, veganism

Labels: apathy, awareness, frank lero, my chemical romance, vegan, veganism, youtube

Not just to me ... anybody unfortunate enough to be on his mailing list. The answer is NO AL! I will not host a Live Earth Party because me and my friends have contacted you about adding veganism to your agenda. You've ignored us because your beef industry friends will oust you if you tell the truth. Any environmentalist that doesn't mention the livestock trade is clueless!

Sure, turn off your cell phones and unplug your computers. Let's see how long that lasts. Tell people to stop having so many kids and stop eating meat, then I'll host a party. Until then, sell those tickets to your "rock show" and I'll see you in 20 years. You'll probably be as dark as me by then, if the sun hasn't turned us into "beef" jerky.

L8A ;-)



[Photo]

[Letter from Al]

On July 7, more than 2 billion people will join together to watch the Live Earth concerts and demonstrate to our leaders that the time has come to solve the climate crisis.

Wherever you are that day, you can be part of the action. At events around the world, we are going to convert the potential energy of Live Earth into a global campaign. In thousands of homes, people will invite their friends and neighbors to watch the concerts and join the movement to solve the climate crisis.

NBC will be televising Live Earth (and even more extensive coverage will be available live on MSN) so turning your house into a Live Earth venue is easy. Will you commit to organize a Live Earth house party on July 7th? The parties will be fun and they'll make a difference.

http://joinliveearth.org/hellno

7.7.07 will be the one opportunity we have to bring hundreds of millions of new people into our campaign. We cannot let it slip by.

If you host a Live Earth Party, you'll have access to a special video I’ve made urging people to take action. Together, I know we can convince everyone attending these parties to get involved. In a few short hours, you and your friends can watch the concert, take action and at the end, upload a photo from your event that will be accessible to others taking part throughout the world. Through these parties, we can reach more people than ever before and build a truly global movement to solve the climate crisis.

Holding a Live Earth party is easy and we will have all the tools you need to make your party a success.

Sign up as a party host by visiting:

http://joinliveearth.org/hellno

Live Earth will be a unique moment when the uninterrupted and undivided attention of the world will be focused on the climate crisis. I need your help to really make it count.

Thank you,

Labels: environment, global warming, live earth, vegan, veganism

So, my family invited me to Outback Steakhouse for Father's Day. Luckily, they don't read my blog so I can express myself FREELY!!!!

Labels: father's day, holiday, outback steakhouse, puke, sick, vegan, veganism

Make your own KFC sign at peta2.com

Labels: animal rights, animal testing, boycott, cruelty, kfc, vegan, veganism

Ah, the cookie. A simple treat that brings delight to millions. The cookie is the choice companion to cups of tea, the pacifier of boo-boos, the financial means for Girl Guides everywhere, and the choice prize handed out by the snarkily sarcastic. But for people with food allergies, finding tasty cookies and treats that won’t make them swell up and fall down can be a difficult task, as most mainstream brands include eggs, dairy, nuts, definitely wheat, and sometimes even animal fat. What’s an allergic vegan to do?

These days, folks once deprived of the joy of simple baked goods have found new hope in Eden Hertzog’s New Moon Kitchen. This gourmet bakery started in 1997 offers a range of six types of cookies and four loaf-style cakes that are entirely nut, egg, dairy, wheat, cholesterol and preservative free. Whew! They’re also made without the use of trans-fats, and all items are certified Kosher and vegan. And the best part is - they’re all really good!

[Source]

Labels: cookies, food allergies, vegan, veganism

Biblical Quotes

"I have had enough of the roasted carcasses of rams and of the fat of fattened beasts. I take no pleasure in the blood of calves, lambs and goats . When you spread out your hands, I close My eyes to you; despite however much you pray, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood! Wash yourselves clean! Put away your misdeeds from before My eyes and stop doing evil." (Isaiah 1:11, 1:15-16) "Whatever you do unto the least of my brothers, you do it unto me." (Matthew 25:40)

Leonard Bernstein

"Half the people are stoned and the other half are waiting for the next election. Half the people are drowned and the other half are swimming in the wrong direction."Mass

Dr Neal Barnard

"The beef industry has contributed to more American deaths than all the wars of this century, all natural disasters, and all automobile accidents combined. If beef is your idea of "real food for real people", you'd better live real close to a real good hospital."

Buddha

"To become vegetarian is to step into the stream which leads to nirvana." "May all that have life be delivered from suffering."

Dr T Colin Campbell

"Cows' milk protein may be the single most significant chemical carcinogen to which humans are exposed"

Senator Ian Campbell, Australian Minister for the Environment

"Highly intelligent animals ...were taken to the brink of extinction by mankind's actions in previous generations, and we owe it to future humanity to make this stand for conservation."

Daharja

"I will NOT remain silent. I will speak for those who cannot, or will not speak, and it will hurt." "Being vegan is a statement to the whole world, no matter who listens, that I am a person who cares." "It is what we bring to life, not what we take, that really matters." "Mercy begins with the smallest creature, and peace cannot exist without us until it exists within."

Roger Ebert (Journalist, Sun Times)

"Eating responsibly at McDonald's is like going to a strip club for the iced tea."

Albert Einstein

"Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet." "Few are those who see with their own eyes and feel with their own hearts." "When the solution is simple, God is answering." "Only a life lived for others is a life worth while." "Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocre minds. The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence." "It is only to the individual that a soul is given." "Peace cannot be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through understanding." "Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts." "Only one who devotes himself to a cause with his whole strength and soul can be a true master. For this reason mastery demands all of a person."

T S Eliot

"Do I dare disturb the Universe?"

M K Gandhi

"We must be the change we wish to see" "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." "The only tyrant I accept in this world is the still voice within." "Where there is love there is life." "What you do is of little significance. But it is very important that you do it."

[Source]

Labels: albert einstein, buddha, gandhi, spirituality, vegan, vegan quotes, veganism