meat is murder

Common sense and scientific reason has prevailed and the English badger cull has been cancelled due to the government considering an earlier, larger scale report that proved no conclusive link between badgers and bovine TB. This has aggravated farmers who are going to stamp and shout about it instead of putting their own house in order and improve the living conditions of and stop the movements of the animals in their charge. Or they could go one step further and just stand aside from the death industries altogether. (Badgers and Bovine TB information at Animal Aid.)

From the bbc

The government has decided against a cull of badgers in England to control TB in cattle, the BBC understands.Its decision goes against former chief scientific adviser Sir David King’s recommendations, made in 2007, that a cull could be an effective measure.
The decision has angered the National Farmers’ Union, which claims cattle TB has already cost the industry millions. In April a “targeted cull” of badgers was announced in Wales as part of a plan to eradicate TB in cattle.

But ministers have instead accepted the scientific arguments of the Independent Scientific Group on TB in Cattle.
NFU president Peter Kendall told BBC News that Westminster had “ducked the issue” and that the union would be organising a protest outside Parliament next week. A policy announcement is due on Monday. The ISG’s analysis - an earlier and much larger study than Sir David’s - concluded that culling badgers would not be economic.

However the imminent remains.

This isn’t a rant, it isn’t an opinion, it isn’t even close to being news…it’s just a post that encompasses two cool things. Zombies and Tofu. Yes, there is an entity out there in the world called ‘Tofu, the Vegan Zombie’.

Tofu, the Vegan Zombie

“Tofu” is a friendly zombie, created from a botched experiment in Professor Vost’s laboratory. Monkey # 5, one of Vost’s lab animals, stuffed a block of tofu into the zombie boy’s open skull after accidentally losing the brain. As a result, “Tofu” eats only vegetables and grains and has no taste for human meat. However, if “Tofu” ever loses his “tofu-brain”, he turns into a dangerous zombie creature, craving human flesh.

Professor Vost’s sole mission in life is to find a cure for the menacing zombie epidemic plaguing mankind. Vost believes the zombie pathogen to be viral, caused by the genetic manipulation of meat products. The Evil Mallesteros, owner of the world’s largest meat packing company, wants to shut down Professor Vost’s research because sales from meat are beginning to suffer due to Vost’s conclusive findings.

“Tofu” is able to walk among both the human and zombie world with safety and ease, however, he is never fully trusted or accepted by either group. The professor’s daughter Addie helps “Tofu” blend into the human world by bringing him along with Lab Monkey #5 for fun and adventures. However, Lab Monkey #5’s mischievous, playful nature always gets “Tofu” and Addie into trouble.

Because of his unique ability to intermingle in both worlds, and his harmless vegetarian nature, the professor believes “Tofu” to be the key in solving the Zombie epidemic. The question is; will he have enough time to find a cure?.

The Birth of Tofu…

The Bristol Vegan Fayre ‘08 is fast approaching. This is a chance to go along to a great day out and learn more about cruelty free lifestyle choices. Sat May 31st and Sun June 1st at the Amphitheatre and Waterfront Square in Bristol

Now in its sixth year, The Bristol Vegan Fayre remains the largest vegan event anywhere in the world today – and the most fun

A superb site location by the Waterside in the heart of Bristol, plus an excellent organising team, top rate security, some stunning stallholders and sponsors, some supreme entertainers, an awesome line up of talks and demos, and a brilliant team of stewards and helpers ensures that everyone who visits the Bristol Vegan Fayre not only has a memorable day out, but leaves brimful with inspiration, education, some excellent shopping and of course extremely well fed.

It doesn’t matter what your current dietary status is – you’ll be welcome at the Bristol Vegan Fayre. Whether you’re a raw foodie looking for the latest info and products, a committed vegan in search of new cookery ideas and some leather free footwear, a veggie tempted by the idea of going vegan and wanting to know more about it, an ‘omnivore’ who is after reducing their meat intake and in search of a few ideas, recipes and products – or none of these, eats anything but likes a good time, enjoys a decent festival and some good bands, and can put up with a veggieburger and pint without too much issue – you know you’re all welcome – it’s an inclusive show designed to suit all comers.

For 2008 we have several new additions including an expanded Living Raw Area with a Raw Food Prep Class zone as well as Living Raw Talks Area, and we have also a ‘Victorian Circus’ for 2008 with Escapologist David Straitjacket and Contortionist Rubber Ritchie.

And we also have some amazing ‘Show Specials’ this year with some excellent shopping deals available including loads of Half Price and Buy One Get One Free opportunities – see our Show Specials page for all the updates on the most amazing bargains imaginable. Plus – our first 250 visitors each day receive a FREE Goody Bag!

The BVF is renowned for its top notch entertainment ever since the organiser donned a Pink Panther costume at the first show and served all the stallholders champagne, before hosting the world’s first vegan custard pie fight a year later. As the show has grown, so has the level of entertainment, and for 2008 we have an even more staggering line up of bands, musicians, artists and completely mind blowing acts that are guaranteed to thrill. The name of the headline band is currently under wraps at the time of writing and will be announced shortly but it’s safe to say in order to accommodate them the PA will have to be bigger than in 2007, when headliners The Beat rammed the place and took the lid right off!

But its not just about the headliners – there’s some excellent up and coming and well established Bristol bands too, and they will be well represented as they were in 2007 when First Degree Burns, Chemical Dub Theory and Se Fire all tore it up. Expect to see some top notch local; talent in the late afternoons and early evening both days.

Whilst most of us love a good dance and a boogie, not all of us do, and the Acoustic Stage caters for more laid back and less noisy tastes, with an eclectic blend of Blues, Jazz, Country, Classical and Opera fused gently into a whole weekend of delightful music designed to suit all tastes.

Meanwhile, for those who are still a bit young to appreciate the bands and musicians, we have a full on Kids Area and Victorian Circus to thrill and inspire kids of all ages, and adults too, combining to make the perfect day out for all the family.

The 3 main areas to watch out for are the Main Stage, the Acoustic Stage and the Kids Area, which for 2008 is incorporating a Victorian Circus!

BristolVeganFayre08

Posi Up!  A London council is set to take a step towards vegetarinism for the benefit of the environment.

A London council wants to encourage its staff to help the environment by going vegetarian.

Cutting meat and dairy products from canteen menus will reduce carbon emissions, according to Camden’s climate change group.

Councillors will vote on the proposal at the end of May after examining a report setting out a raft of measures designed to reduce the borough’s environmental impact.

Camden’s “eco champion” Alexis Rowell said the idea of taking meat off the menu was based on United Nations data showing that the livestock industry is responsible for 18 per cent of the world’s carbon emissions.

He said: “At some point we have to get to grips with the Western diet, which contains so much meat and dairy and is part of the carbon problem and the obesity problem.

“We are not talking about turning everyone into vegetarians but about eating more vegetables and fewer pieces of meat, especially beef which is the most intensive. We are growing grain and manufacturing fertilisers using a lot of fossil fuel and water, which is a scarce resource, to feed cows to then feed humans.

“It would be better to grow vegetables and feed them straight to humans.”

According to the Vegetarian Society, 70 per cent of the world’s agricultural land is used for rearing farm animals, either as grazing land or to grow fodder. Far less land is used to grow crops to feed directly to humans.

The animals themselves are said to emit more damaging gases than the world’s entire transport system. Camden also wants to cut the amount of food flown in from abroad or driven across the country in lorries.

Read more at the Evening Standard

The Wall Street Journal reports how top athletes in the US are turning to a vegan diet.

SALIM STOUDAMIRE
Trainers for the Atlanta Hawks worried when shooting guard Salim Stoudamire decided to eat vegan at the end of the National Basketball Association season in 2006.

Although the diet left him craving chicken, Mr. Stoudamire says, his biggest challenge was convincing coaches and teammates he could still perform on the court. Team managers forced Mr. Stoudamire onto a scale each morning of preseason training and wrote down his weight. After holding steady at 181 pounds, the bosses got off his back. Mr. Stoudamire says he felt better, and that his performance this season improved. So far, none of his teammates have joined him. “They all look at me like I’m crazy,” he says.

MAC DANZIG
Mac Danzig took a diet risk four years ago. The 28-year-old mixed martial-arts fighter had long wanted to spare animals by going vegan. But he was afraid his trainers were right: that he’d lose to stronger opponents.

Last month, on a diet of brown-rice protein, beans, soy, nuts and vegetables, Mr. Danzig defeated the last of his challengers in Spike TV’s “The Ultimate Fighter.” Kim Barnouin, co-author of the vegan best-seller “Skinny Bitch,” says she loves the “Ultimate Fighter” show and cheered Mr. Danzig’s win. When fight fans learned Mr. Danzig was a vegan, some said they didn’t think he’d have the strength, or the stomach, to conquer the ultra-violent sport, which combines kick-boxing and wrestling. “It’s about animal rights,” Mr. Danzig says, “not human rights.”

Remainder of article at the Wall Street Journal

From SARC
Rescue volunteers have saved 2 piglets from an agricultural college in the south. According to the rescuers, this college teaches people how to run a fully functional intensive pig farm, including the use of the notorious farrowing crates where mothers are caged in a space so small they can’t move or turn. The baby pigs were already weaned from their mothers and are now happy and healthy living somewhere suitable to their needs.