Photo at top of blog courtesy Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary.

Durham, NC — a.k.a. “Bull City” — is said to be known for its diverse culinary selection, but vegan selections are sparse to nil. Yet, the Triangle Vegan Thanksgiving brings in between 600-800 people each year, and recurring Durham vegan brunches typically serve 100 people within the first hour. For those reasons — as well as a keen yearning for more vegan food (a yearning we can all certainly understand) — Eleni and Shirlé founded the Bull City Vegan Challenge. During the month of October, they are recruiting top Durham chefs to create a vegan entree in one or more of five categories: appetizer, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. To avoid your run-of-the-mill hummus and pita dish (delicious, yes, but boooring!), they have certain rules that the chefs must abide by (like, no hummus or veggie burgers).

The winning dishes will be voted upon by the public, and the restaurants with winning dishes will win a Bull City Vegan Challenge certificate for display, as well as a copy of the cookbook, Great Chefs Cook Vegan.

Um, can someone say GENIUS? We are ga-ga for the Bull City Vegan Challenge, partly because it’s a totally positive, win-win endeavor, which makes veganism look cool (which we all know it is, but some folks still need persuading) — but also because it is effectively bringing veganism to the mainstream and winning people’s hearts and minds by way of their stomachs!

We recently spoke with BC/VC co-founder, Eleni Vlachos, all about what prompted this brilliant project, the hopes for what will come of it, and how Anyone Anyname from Anywhere, USA can embark on their own Vegan Challenge.

***

Our Hen House: What was the impetus for this project?

Bull City Vegan Challenge: Durham is such a progressive town in so many ways. When I moved from Seattle, home of the 15+ vegan restaurants, to Durham, home of 0 [vegan restaurants], I was surprised since there were so many other forward-thinking movements in the town. At one point between tours last year, I contacted a chef about adding a vegan breakfast/brunch item to their menu, and was surprised to learn she was ‘fooling around’ with tofu. It gave me hope that change within the existing structure was possible.

My friend, Chef Shirle, took it to a whole new (and more fun) level when she invented the idea of making it a chef challenge rather than simply asking them for vegan options. It creates awareness and incorporates fun all in one fell (hopefully delicious!) swoop. She also began monthly vegan brunches and recently transfered it to other chefs. Last month, there was a line of 163 people within the first 30 minutes.

OHH: Durham isn’t necessarily known for being veg-friendly, but it’s quite the “foodie” town. What kind of reactions do you anticipate from the community?

BC/VC:  Durham is up for most anything.  As long as it is quirky and accommodating, it’s Durham. I anticipate some people will not participate, but based on turnout for the vegan brunches, I’d say a large number of flexitarians will be playing along in addition to the huge veg population.

OHH: Can you describe what you hope the community of Durham — both restauranteurs, press, and the general pubic — will come away with after the Challenge?

BC/VC: Chefs have a varying familiarity with good vegan cuisine. I brought around marinated homemade seitan to expose them to a non-tofu protein. Many had not heard of it. I am hoping that Chefs will further discover the delicious adventures of vegan cooking and add more options to their menus. In turn, we hope the public will request and support these options and eventually have access to a wider variety of creative vegan dishes. In the end, I want it to be easier for people to make vegan choices. Convenience and tasty vegan options equals less suffering. Ultimately, no matter what happens with the menus of Durham restaurants, we have created awareness about the need for good vegan options.

OHH: Have you encountered any hostility while approaching restaurants and asking them to take part in the Vegan Challenge? How have you handled that?

BC/VC: Only two restaurants so far have not wanted to participate. One was a well-established old restaurant with a chef who said vegan cooking was not “in my flavor profile.” Another said my seitan ‘tastes like chicken’ but then showed us his chicken and said, “what’s the point?” This is from a chef who reported that the veggie burger was the NUMBER 2 seller on his menu! In this case, it might be a matter of fear of not doing well in the contest. Rather than get upset, we thanked this chef for considering the contest. It only hurts animals, in the end, if we get angry or negative with the chefs who are not interested. Better to leave a good impression for future dealings.

OHH: How can people start this kind of Vegan Challenge in their own communities?

BC/VC: That is a wonderful idea and one I hoped would happen. They are of course welcome to contact us for ideas, at bullcityveganchallenge@gmail.com, but on my to-do is to create a DIY ‘kit’ for activists. I think, in this case, it was very important that my BC/VC partner, Chef Shirle, is a patron of most of these restaurants and knows many of the chefs. Working with a non-veg advocate who is an enthusiastic supporter of veg cuisine is a great way to ensure the chefs are more likely to participate. Short of that, make sure you do eat at the establishments you are approaching, or at least have some familiarity. Even if the vegan food they currently offer is not great, you will at least create a relationship or base for your future request.

The theme for this year’s Women’s Studies Annual Conference is “outsider feminisms.” Chris, who teaches women’s studies, saw the theme as a way to get a room full of feminists talking and reflecting about the many connections between animal rights and feminism. Here is her proposal description, which she kindly shared with us:

In this paper, using the work of bell hooks as a theoretical foundation, I explore and call for a new perspective called inclusionism. What is an inclusionist? An inclusionist recognizes the intersections of multiple perspectives and resists all bigotry and discrimination. Inclusionists are ethical vegans who reject speciesism, ableism, sexism, ageism, racism, heterosexism, and other forms of bigotry and discrimination. Inclusionists work for social justice, equal rights and equal treatment, the inclusion of all species. Inclusionists reject hierarchies of marginalization and recognize that no human can be free while members of any species are othered, oppressed, or ostracized.  The inclusionist perspective is built on the idea that theory for the sake of theory does not work, that theory must be applicable and that all forms of discrimination are connected. Inclusionists recognize that the othering of nonhuman animals is directly connected to the othering of human beings and work to educate and raise awareness regarding the same. I recognize that such a perspective is an “outsider feminism” as it asks human beings to lift the veil regarding the idea that human beings are more valuable than other species. This perspective is both reflective and reflexive in that inclusionism demands that human beings work to reflect on and eliminate cognitive blocks regarding the use and ownership of nonhuman animals and reflect on (include) the connections to the abuse, discrimination, and domination to othered human beings.

If you are an academic, a professor, teacher, or student, whenever you can bring up animal issues within the context of your studies, papers, or presentations, do! Given the many bridges between social justice issues, there are thousands of ways in.

If the connections between women’s studies and animal rights is something that intrigues you, there are tons of essays and books written about it (start here), and Mariann and I actually discussed this topic when we were interviewed for women’s history month.

Photo: Courtesy Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary

Photo: Strut Your Mutt

The shirt I wore to the 2008 MENY march.

A few years ago, I had a similar idea. My friend, Marisa and I took part in that same march and wore our favorite vegan t-shirts. Of course, there were only us two — hardly the scene MFA will make with their flurry of gay rights and animal rights advocates, but still. It’s a nice reminder that when you’re speaking up for other social justice movements in any capacity, you can always try to work in the animal theme somehow. You can do this through veganizing the food at the event (if that’s in your control), handing out vegan-themed leaflets when possible, and, at the very least, wearing vegan messagewear.

Here’s a super-short video we made for the (Broadway-)star-studded event, Broadway Barks, brought to you by the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals. It’s just a teaser, really, which is sometimes all you need to create a wider awareness about your event. Then, go viral.

Craigslist is a powerful place, and don’t I know it. Activist Darius Fullmer knows it too, which is why he decided to tell us all about Take 5 Save 5 — which is perhaps the most genius grassroots effort I’ve heard of this year. By posting ads to the “Free Stuff” section of Craigslist offering free vegetarian starter kits, like Darius, you will soon be deluged with people coming to you for information on going vegan. Genius.

Take 5 Save 5 even makes the already insanely easy process ridiculously easy, by offering a semi-automatic way of managing the whole thing. According to a guest blog that Darius wrote over at FoodFight’s blog:

The entire process of posting an offer takes just a couple minutes. First hit the “Pick Me A Craigslist” button and you will be directed to a listing from somewhere in the country. You will need a Craigslist account to post. If you don’t aleady have one, don’t worry. It’s free and takes only minutes to set up. You’ll be glad you did.

There is sample text for the subject line and body of the ad on the Take5Save5.com page. You can cut and copy from there if you want. Or, just make up slightly different variations. For the subject, you could use…

Vegetarian Starter Kit booklet
Free Vegetarian Starter Kit Booklets!
Vegetarian Info & Recipe Booklets

…or a million other variations. Changing it up a little is important because if you try to post multiple listings, Craigslist will block the repeat post. But minor changes will allow you to post as many listings as you want. The same goes for the body.

As a bonus, I like to include a picture, as it draws more attention to the posting. For ideas, just put “vegetarian” into Google Images. Try a few different ones and see what gets the best response.

Once you have posted your ad the fun begins. Requests for booklets will start popping up in your inbox. After years of trying to give out information on veganism to people, what an awesome feeling to have them coming to you!

You don’t need to send them anything yourself. Remember, I promised it wouldn’t cost you a cent. Just go back to the Take5Save5.com website and hit the “Click Here to Enter Past Orders” button. Then simply cut and paste their name and address into the fields provided, and magical vegan elves in the North Pole will mail them one. (I’m not sure where they actually come from, but I like to think that it’s elves.)

Easy? Yes. Effective? Yupper!

Even if you’ve never had the roommate/nightstand/date experience that I’ve had with Craigslist, Take 5 Save 5 should give you a whole new perspective on the power of Craigslist. There is seriously no excuse to not do this.

Photo: Courtesy Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary, photo by Derek Goodwin

But book clubs aren’t just for Oprah’s picks anymore. Not that I have anything at all against books like The Lovely Bones (in fact, I quite enjoyed that).

Activist Adam Weissman from Global Justice for Animals and the Environment has a slightly different vision for his book club, called Animal Ethics Reading and Discussion Group. From the title, you get the gist. The goals of his NYC-based book club include exploring animal ethics through reading and discussion, and clarifying ideas in order to become a better spokesperson for the movement. According to Adam, upcoming selections for the book club possibly include:

The Great Ape Project: Equality Beyond Humanity * Animals, Men, and Morals * In Defense of Animals (1st Edition) * In Defense of Animals: The Second Wave * The Feminist Care Tradition in Animal Ethics: A Reader * Ethics and Animals *Animal Rights: A Symposium * Political Theory and Animal Rights * Animal Rights: The Changing Debate * Animal Ethics Reader * Beyond Animal Rights: A Feminist Caring Ethic for Animals *Animal Rights and Human Obligations (1st & 2nd Editions) * On the Fifth Day: Animal Rights and Human Ethics * and more! [Read their full book list.]

I’ve heard of book clubs like this one existing elsewhere, and I think they’re just ducky. What better way to hone your own thinking, learn about other points of view in a safe space, and have a community of peers with whom you can explore ideas and talking points.

And for those of you reading this who might be involved with a non-AR book club (Mom, are you listening?), why not suggest an animal rights themed book for your group? The goal there would obviously be to expose new people to animal issues, and during the discussion portion, you would have the chance to clearly and communicatively advocate on behalf of animals. Sounds like  a win-win.

Alternatively, because of the Internet, another option would be to start a virtual AR book club. The book can be discussed in a chat room during a particular time-frame, or — as a less-structured model — perhaps even in an online forum.

And if you’re not interested in purchasing the book, need I remind you that most libraries will happily supply you with all your AR-reading needs. I cannot lie — I like free books.

Photo: Used with permission via Creative Commons.

According to the press release, “Art for Pitties is a NYC-based fundraising initiative that has partnered with pit bull lovers and artists alike to create an animal friendly art show and raise awareness of the pit bulls’ plight! Tote-bags/carry-alls and more have been recreated as unique artworks and will be auctioned off online.” Read more info about Saturday’s event, and learn more about Art for Pitties.

And if you heart HEART as much as we heart it, check out our recent podcast interview with Meena Alagappan, their lovely Executive Director.

Photo: Used with permission with a Creative Commons License.

And now, Four Feet Forward is seeking a president:

Four Feet Forward helps small animal advocacy organizations with their legal and media campaigns by offering professional services at no cost. The organization is made up of a group of people dedicated to advocating for animals in the courtroom and the broader public sphere. Our network of professional consultants volunteer their time to help non-profits achieve their goals in support of animal welfare. Four Feet Forward is seeking a qualified, highly motivated president to help run and grow our organization.  The president will work in close collaboration with our project manager, and will be responsible for communicating regularly with the board. This is a volunteer position and requires a commitment of 5-10 hours a week. A background in fundraising and managerial experience is preferred. Above all, the president must have the passion and time to help grow this animal advocacy organization into a significant force.

Intrigued by this incredible organization? Be sure to tune in to our podcast this weekend where we will be interviewing animal rights lawyer and Four Feet Forward co-founder, Carter Dillard.

What I like best about this series is that Joanne Rose is taking a fresh approach to advocating for animals. This is the first vegan web series I know of, and it’s “LOL factor” combined with Joanne’s popularity (the show was prominently featured on Will Ferrell’s website, Funny or Die) is a creative activism A+.

“As well as being a vegetarian business, we also strive to be a socially responsible small business. We like the challenge of thinking of social, environmental, and ethical solutions to the challenges owning a business presents. Examples of ways in which we are proud to be a socially responsible business include:

• As much of the produce as possible is from local farms and not large corporatized health food conglomerates. This not only supports a local economy and community, but it also saves fossil fuels (because food is not shipped as far) and supports independent small farmers. We believe eating local (first) and organic (second) is the single best political action we can take, as it’s a way of voting with our dollars several times a day.
• By using reusable food storage containers (which are sterilized every week), we save the waste accumulated from disposable take-out containers.
• Each week’s menu sheet is printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper. We can also e-mail you your menu sheet instead of putting a copy in your bag.
• We advertise in progressive and local publications, like Inside Out (The Hudson Valley’s gay and lesbian magazine), and The Nation (we love The Nation!).
• All paper products and cleaning products are recycled, biodegradable and/or all natural.
• All kitchen scraps are composted (we love our Earth Machine!), and all leftover food is fed to hungry musician friends, never thrown away.
• All kitchen towels are washed in my bicycle-powered washing machine.
• We believe that by actively striving to authentically cook the food of many peoples from around the world we are combating the isolationist politics that so often grips our country. Seriously!”

The service is run by Lagusta herself (and yes, that’s her real name). This might’ve been my favorite part of the website: “I went to cooking school (the Natural Gourmet Cookery School Chef’s Training Program in New York City), but hierarchical restaurant world is a little too much for a feministy woman like me.”

Oh, Lagusta, it’s like I know you…

If you’re in New York (parts of upstate as well as the city), you might want to ask for Lagusta Luscious for your next birthday gift.

(Actually, my birthday is October 30, if anyone is feeling generous…)

And if you’re not in New York, well first of all, why the heck not?, and second of all, starting a vegan meal delivery service like this one may just be the sine qua non of foodtivism.

Chow Down is exactly the kind of thing that has mainstream appeal. Since heart disease is so prevalent right now, it’s pretty easy to picture film screenings in Anywhere, U.S.A. being sold out. So pick up a copy of the DVD and contact your local community center/YMCA/library/health food store/college so that you can host your own screening of this vegan-minded film.

And stay tuned for this weekend’s podcast for a full review of Chow Down.

This new find has pretty broad submission guidelines, and you can submit anything from a vegan food find to a vegan resource to a vegan celeb story. It’s almost like a user-driven aggregator. Or, a vegragator.

brodysbakery.com

Turns out that’s the only word I could use to describe it. I emailed Katie Olson, the founder and baker, saying that, on the off-chance that she was up for it, I’d love to meet her and take some photos of her bakery for my blog. Katie returned my email with a phone call only moments later. After being awestruck and flattered that she follows Our Hen House (that always feels good), I learned that the woman behind Brody’s Bakery is just as sweet as Lynn said her concoctions were. Katie told me that she doesn’t have a storefront so there was nothing really for me to photograph (they do most of their business either online or at local K.C.-area establishments), but, she asked, would it be okay if she dropped off some baked goods for me and my family?

WOULD IT BE OKAY?! Why yes, we can manage that, no problem. (OMG!!!!!!)

The next day, Katie and her mom, Sally, brought us a smorgasbord of vegan deliciousness. I soon learned that Lynn was right: the food was delectable.

brodysbakery.com

The pistachio cupcakes (left) were the overall winner.  They had a dollop of icing, complete with a cherry on top, and their moistness was unmatched by any other baked good I’ve had.

The twinkies (pictured above) had me skeptical at first, since they were gluten-free, and I’ve had my share of icky, tasteless, GF foods. But Katie’s little yellow creme-filled cake proved my assumptions wrong. Though they weren’t a complete throw-back to my 1985-twinkie-craze, they were scrumptious in their own right.

Giving the pistachio cupcakes a run for their sugar were the rocky road cookies. The only unfortunate part about these cookies are that I don’t have them in front of me RIGHT THIS MINUTE. Unlike my comments about the twinkies, the cookies were indeed a blast from the past. I suddenly remembered many-a-day when I’d sink into rocky road ice cream. In cookie form — and in vegan form! — Brody’s Bakery rocky road cookies are a must if you are planning an order. Which I hope you are, because 1)you have got to try these for yourself, and 2)Katie is a remarkable individual who has devoted her life to making the world a better place, one compassionate concoction at a time.

In addition to the satisfaction that comes from indulging in a healthier, delicious sweet snack like the ones from Brody’s Bakery, the satisfaction that comes from knowing it is ethically-sourced, cruelty-free, and brought to you by a small, family-run operation feels pretty good. And, hats off to Katie Olson for making delicious vegan food widely available. Food activism is a delicious thing. Furthermore, products from Brody’s Bakery are available at several chain grocery stories in the Kansas City area, as well as at an amusement park.

10 brownie points for Kansas City. And 10 more since the brownies are vegan.

Photo pictured at top of blog: Courtesy Lynn Chen and The Actor’s Diet

In addition to doing amazing work in increasing public awareness about some of NYC’s at-risk animals, Rational Animal wins the prize for Best Name Ever.

Photo: From In Perfect Harmony 2010 Calendar from Rational Animal

Exploring the relationships between art and advocacy is not new for this artist, whose other provocative installations have also been known to raise eyebrows. Her previous work has included “Choking Hazard,” about overpopulation; “Fishing for Jesus,” about her relationship to religion, and “Bad Barbies,” about women and aging. Mara hopes this new installation will introduce viewers to compassionate eating. “On today’s factory farms,” she says, “animals are denied even their most basic natural behaviors. They are crowded in cages, not even allowed to be outside, and raised in misery.”

In addition to 100 small scale sculptures that will make up the installation, Mara also intends to include a short video that will further explain her own process in creating the piece. Since only area visitors will be able to attend the gallery installation (Mara has not yet finalized a location for it), by posting the accompanying video on the Internet, her hope is that it will reach a broader audience. “This documentation will be used beyond the site specific exhibition to broaden the animal rights statement of the art.”

Below is a sneak preview of some of the work from Mara Lefebvre’s installation, “No Mercy.” To view some of the artist’s other work, check out www.myartspace.com and do an artist search.

If you follow Our Hen House, you know that our inspiration for our Art of the Animal series was to shed light on the awesome work artists like Mara are doing to raise awareness about the plight of animals in cutting-edge, tantalizing ways. This kind of art — and, specifically, Mara’s — gives me shivers.

No More Mercy; by Mara Lefebvre

No More Mercy; by Mara Lefebvre

No More Mercy; by Mara Lefebvre

No More Mercy; by Mara Lefebvre

No More Mercy; by Mara Lefebvre

This is quite possibly the easiest activist “ask” one could muster: Add Fowl Play to your Netflix queue. If you don’t have Netflix, get it (hello, free trial period!) and add the film. Why? Because when enough people do, over 10 million subscribers will have the chance to learn about the cruelties inherent in egg production and question their own role in perpetuating that cruelty.

As vegans, we have probably all been faced with a moment where we challenged ourselves to question the status quo and look deeper. At some point early on, we watched footage of factory farming, or we read a book about veganism, or we were influenced by a celebrity or friend. We listened to what they had to say, and we realized there was no other way to live in line with our ethical beliefs than to go vegan. Maybe there were no doubts or hesitations.  Or maybe we worked through them all by ourselves. Or maybe someone actually listened to our doubts and helped us through them.

I won’t lie: Throughout the past seven years of being an animal activist, there have been times when I’ve found it trying to have the same damn conversation again and again with the same person who justifies their meat-eating with ridiculous fallacies. But it is these moments precisely when it is most urgent for us to be effective communicators. And, with the exception of dealing with people who are treating us abusively and without respect, these are the moments when it’s more important than ever to listen. Effective communication simply cannot exist unless it starts with open-hearted and conscientious listening.

Oh yes. It is so easy to just jump over what the other person is saying because you’re sure you know what they’re going to say next. You’ve heard it before. So let’s just skip the drivel about them “just loving meat” or “needing protein” or “caring about humans more than animals” and get right into our talking points that we’ve memorized so astutely. Come on, admit it. We’ve all been the interrupter at one time or another. After all, there is no time to waste in a world eager to ignore us.

If you’re lucky, at the beginning of your vegan journey, someone took the time to actually hear your concerns, your excitement, your hesitance, your passion, your pain, and even your resistance and denial. And probably, there is someone else out there now — a budding vegan — who needs the good luck of finding you, ready and willing to extend your own hand. And believe me, I am not absolving myself. Communication is something which I constantly have to check with myself. Am I becoming an automaton? Step back, Jasmin… Listen to what Potential Vegan is saying and then respond thoughtfully. You might actually learn something you didn’t know about the obstacles people face, or think they face, in opening their hearts to animals.

And, if I may: That kind of listening and patience needs — it neeeeeeeeds — to also extend to our peers. It’s got to, or we’re going to waste such valuable time and energy coming to assumptions about this person’s tactics or that person’s ideals, and the ones who will truly suffer will be the the ones who we’re (all!) trying to save. This is not to say we can’t or won’t ever disagree — but let’s try to do it only after we have made a sincere effort to actually understand the nuances of the other person’s position and where we agree and where we differ.

I realize that this blog entry is slightly off the beaten path from our usual entries, but since listening is obviously key to effective communication and therefore activism, I felt justified going there. Thanks for listening.

Photo: Courtesy Chief Trent and used with permission via a Creative Commons License.

buttonmakers.net

Regardless of my reasonings for craving a vinyl-headed, soft-bodied dollie, I am now reminded of my unrelenting yearning. That’s because of my most current craving: a button maker. And I want one real bad. Like, Cabbage Patch bad.

During my recent trip to Portland for the Let Live Conference, I met the folks at Buttonmakers.net, and I became obsessed. Because they were sponsors of the conference, I had heard their name before. And because they had a table set up at the conference, I became a frequent visitor, and soon, a button-making aficionado.

At first, I didn’t put two and two together: Why would a button making company be tabling at an animal rights conference? But then I noticed the ethical messaging on the buttons by the people at the table, and I thought: Aha! They’re vegan!

Rex Ray and Rebecca Bolte, the couple — and couple of activists — behind Buttonmakers.net, are vegans with a cause — hence their sponsoring of Let Live.

Face it: Your button collection of today could rival my Cabbage Patch Kids collection of the early 1980′s (and my subsequent Garbage Pail Kids trading cards collection of the mid-80′s). That’s because you’re vegan, and with your ethics, come buttons. So imagine if you had your very own button maker to make all those “go vegan” pins?

buttonmakers.net

Or maybe you have a vegan business, or a non-profit, or even just a slogan that you really want to wear… Wouldn’t it be great to advertise the vegan message on your own self-made button? Especially for those of you who are in the market to make hundreds of these little gems, getting a button maker from Buttonmakers.net could save you money — and boredom, too, since, as I learned recently, making buttons is fun and delivers immediate satisfaction.

According to Anika Lehde (remember her? from Vegan Score?) who recently blogged on the button making duo:

“Now if you are going into the button-making business, run a non-profit, or are involved in activism or campaigns, then the investment in a button maker (starting around $215) [...] is a very smart investment. The parts to make the buttons only cost about $.06 or .07 per button (depending on size and how many you are making). [...] Plus button making is good team building for your volunteers. Word.”

And if, like Anika, you’re lucky enough to reside in Seattle, and are selfless enough to advocate for a good cause, you might even be able to rent a machine or barter for a rental.

As if it weren’t already evident, this sums up some of the reasons I love Buttonmakers.net:

• The owners, Rex and Rebecca, are vegan — so by supporting them, you are supporting vegans. And keeping it in the family is a good thing.
• Rex and Rebecca have creatively used their interests to speak up for social justice causes, and they have turned that into a for-profit business. There’s a lesson here.
• With that for-profit business, they are very supportive of the vegan community, doing things like sponsoring animal rights conferences and being extra generous and kind to vegan activists who want buttons and button makers.
• Button-making can easily be turned into a volunteer party activity, which can build community morale.
• If you purchase a button maker to suit your vegan needs, you can quickly make your investment back by selling buttons for a reasonable cost.

Plus, buttons are a lot cooler than Cabbage Patch Kids, and you don’t have to worry about stupidly cutting off the string hair of a button maker, since button makers don’t have any hair at all.

OH — And if you happen to reside in NYC and you find yourself with a button maker, give me a shout. Because I really want to be your friend.

If you’re in NYC, be sure to catch Monday’s screening (there are two) at the Anthology Film Archives. Oh, and Russell Simmons will be there for the first showing, which is extra incentive for you.

In today’s episode, we give you the low-down on a very special vegan bakery that delivers all over the country. Trust me, you’ll want to try their cupcakes. I’ll also tell you all about a very melodic animal rights fund-raiser that I attended in NYC.

Joining us today is Michael Croland, from Heeb’n'vegan. Michael is joining us as part of our religion series, where we talk with people about how their religion or spirituality relates to their philosophy on animal rights. Michael will enlighten us about how Judaism and veganism relate. He’ll discuss everything from Kosher slaughter, to philosophy, to an ingredient you simply have to include in your next tofu scramble.

In our news section, we will discuss a new bill for animals that just passed the US House of Representatives. We’ll also talk about a debarking law in Massachusetts, and Mariann will share her thoughts on an article in Time Magazine that asks: Can animal rights go too far?

For our review section, Mariann and I will share with you an amazing restaurant experience we had, right in the Heartland.

You can listen to our podcast directly on our blog (below!) or you can subscribe on iTunes. Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it on iTunes, and don’t forget to leave us a friendly comment! Thanks!

As online activism continues to soar, we animal advocates should do our part in staying abreast of new tools and resources that can further our message. This Ultimate Glossary can be a great go-to for that purpose.

You’ll surely want to bookmark this one, so that the next time you are asked if you have a Kyte, you won’t show up with a triangular flying device and a string. (Incidentally, a Kyte is “an online and mobile video application that provides video hosting and stream for both recorded and live video feeds.” Now I sound smart, don’t I?)

h/t to Glenn Gaetz from Liberation B.C.

Photo: The Ultimate Glossary

A month later, Jane Velez-Mitchell adopted little Kennedy, and their family (which is also comprised of two other rescued dogs, and a very vibrant 94-year-old lifelong vegetarian mom) was complete. Jane, of course, is a longtime vegan and animal rights activist. I documented the adoption for the Mayor’s Alliance:

If this resonates with you, you’ll probably love what animal chaplain (yup!) Donna Yuritic is doing. Yuritic runs Compassion for Creatures, a Ministry for Animals and their human families. Her services include prayer requests, funerals (formal or informal), and special children’s informal funerals (she also is the author of Animal Angels: Paws to Remember, which focuses on how to talk to children about the loss of a family member companion animal). In addition to her services, Yuritic’s website is full of information on coping, grief, and other helpful info for people affected by the loss of an animal. And if you’re not Christian, fear not! (There’s a sentence that could be taken a whole lot of different ways.) According to Yuritic, her services can be “Christian, Non- Christian, Traditional or Non -Traditional.”

It would be nice to see more people in the clergy make people’s relationships with animals part of the pastoral care that they provide as part of their ministry.  From the counseling and provision of services related to the death of animals, to helping people find their moral compass when it comes to their relationship with animals in general, this could, and should, be an important part of every ministry.