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

Today, we’re back home in NYC. Mariann’s animal law classes have started, and Jasmin has given up coffee. We also have some exciting announcements from here in Our Hen House!

Joining us today is long-time animal law guru, Steve Wise, who will talk to us all about the Non-Human Rights Project.

Henrietta by David Mamet, Illustrated by Elizabeth Dahlie

In our review section, we’ll be reviewing the book Henrietta, by David Mamet – which follows the story of a pig who wants to go to law school.

All that, some vegan banter, and of course, current events from the world of animal rights.

This week’s news items include:

• “Where’s the Beet?” from Time Magazine
• “Weekday Vegetarians” from Time Magazine
• “Food Fight” from Utne Reader
• “Vegan Anyone?” from NPR

“The question is not, “Can they reason?” nor, “Can they talk?” but rather, “Can they suffer?” -Jeremy Bentham

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!

Picture from Henrietta by David Mamet, Illustrated by Elizabeth Dahlie

With our new status as a 501(c)(3), we’d like to announce our absolutely amazing advisory board. Join us as we welcome to our flock Carol Leifer, Dan Piraro, and Ari Solomon. Carol, Dan, and Ari are the soy crème de la soy crème of animal activism. Each of them bring experience and expertise to our vegan coop! The rest of our flock gleefully welcome our new advisory board to Our Hen House. We think it’s clucking awesome that you’ve joined our family.

Read more about Carol, Dan, and Ari:

Carol Leifer, Advisory Board

Carol Leifer is an accomplished stand-up comedian and an Emmy-winning writer and producer for her work on such television shows as Seinfeld, The Larry Sanders Show, Saturday Night Live and The Academy Awards.  She has starred in several of her own comedy specials, which have aired on HBO, Showtime, and Comedy Central. Carol’s book, entitled When You Lie About Your Age, the Terrorists Win is a bestseller. In promoting her book, Carol recently appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Late Show with David Letterman, The View, The Today Show, Real Time with Bill Maher, Fresh Air with Terry Gross on NPR, and The Howard Stern Show on Sirius/XM. Carol recently guest starred on Curb Your Enthusiasm as the “Lemonade Mom.” She was one of the writers for this year’s Oscars with hosts Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin and for her work on that, she was just nominated for an Emmy.

Dan Piraro, Advisory Board

Dan Piraro, creator of the BIZARRO cartoons, was raised in Oklahoma in the late 1900s and escaped as soon as possible. In addition to 13 collections of BIZARRO cartoons, Piraro has published two books of prose, including “Bizarro Among the Savages” (Andrews McMeel, 1998), and a political satire disguised as a children’s book recounting the Bush administration’s foray into Iraq called, “The Three Little Pigs Buy the White House” (St. Martins, 2004). BIZARRO has won an unprecedented three consecutive “Best Cartoon Panel of the Year” awards from the National Cartoonists Society, and in 2010 was given their highest award, “Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year.” Piraro regularly speaks and performs comedy across the country, and works as an animal rights and environmental activist. For his animal rights-themed cartoons, he has won numerous awards from the Humane Society of the United States. He also writes a monthly humor column for VegNews Magazine. Since 2002, Piraro has sporadically toured the U.S. with his one-man stand-up comedy show called “The Bizarro Boloney Show.” Piraro has appeared on CNN and “Fresh Air” with Terry Gross on NPR. In 2007, Dan Piraro reached the self-proclaimed pinnacle of his career thus far when he and BIZARRO appeared as a clue on the popular game show, “Jeopardy!” and was included as a clue in a New York Times crossword puzzle.

Ari Solomon, Advisory Board

Ari Solomon is the President and co-creator of the celebrated vegan candle line A Scent of Scandal®. After graduating from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Ari first worked as an actor in New York and Los Angeles, and later hosted the wildly popular ARI’S HOLLYWOOD UPDATE on Miami’s Y-100FM. Now a prolific activist and writer for animal and human rights, Ari’s letters have appeared in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Miami Herald, and The Advocate. He regularly blogs for The Huffington Post.

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.

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

On today’s episode, we come to you from Sag Harbor, where we’re grateful that we have family right by the beach. Joining us today is animal rights lawyer Carter Dillard, who will talk to us about everything from the organization he co-founded – Four Feet Forward — to litigating on behalf of animals, to human overpopulation.

In our review section, we’ll be discussing a new animal rights themed novel called The Tourist Trail, by John Yunker. If you’re like us, you’ll want to eat this book up, which is fine, since it’s vegan.

All that, some vegan banter, and of course, current events from the world of animal rights.

This week’s news items include:

• “Eat an Apple (Doctor’s Orders)”
• “The Ugliest Catch”
• “Eggs Recalled After Outbreaks”
• “Vegans ‘Significantly Less Polluted’”

“The squirrel that you kill in jest, dies in earnest.” -Henry David Thoreau

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!

Photo: The Tourist Trail

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.

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.

On today’s episode, we come to you from Big Sur, California where we are searching for good food, breathless from the scenery, and trying to weed out an offensive word from Jasmin’s vocabulary.

Joining us today is animal and environmental lawyer, David Cassuto, who will talk to us about some of the intersections between those overlapping areas.

In our review section, Kyle Knies – a California boy himself – will give us the skinny on faux gras (and we really mean faux gras).

All that, some vegan banter, and of course, current events from the world of animal rights.

This week’s news items include:

• “Inside the Minds of Animals” – Time Magazine
• “Farmers Lean to Truce on Animals’ Close Quarters” – The New York Times

“California, California… such a wonder that I think I’ll stay in bed.” –Rufus Wainwright

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!

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+.

In today’s episode, we come to you from the City by the Bay, San Francisco. We’ll start by telling you about our vegan adventures and misadventures, including some a tale of delicious cruelty-free Japanese food, and a rather disturbing  stuffed animal story.

We will be joined today by Zoe Weil from the Institute for Humane Education. Zoe, who was just inducted into the Animal Rights Hall of Fame, will talk all about humane education, as well as what it really means to do the most good and least harm.

In our news section, we will tell you about a group of cattlemen who are having some issues with a recent audit of their spending.  We’ll also discuss why conflicted meat-eaters deny that animals have the capacity to suffer. And we’ll discuss the vegan fare at Chelsea Clinton’s wedding.

In our review section, we will give you our impressions of the new film, Chow Down, which follows three people with severe heart disease who have decided to make some serious and necessary lifestyle changes. And trust me, you’ll be batting for them.

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!

Photo: Used with permission (http2007) through a Creative Commons License.

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

In today’s episode, we will tell you about our upcoming vegan filled trip to the West Coast, some new one-of-a-kind arty tote bags that will benefit Our Hen House, and lots more about what’s new and good here in Veganland.

Joining us today will be best-selling vegan cookbook author, Isa Chandra Moskowitz. Isa will talk about everything from her upcoming book, to the changing scene of veganism, to palm oil.

In our news section, we’re talking about a lot of bull – bullfighting in Catalonia, and bull-riding and other rodeo horrors in Santa Cruz. Plus, we’ll tell you about a cool new movie that’s full of heart.

In our review section, we will give you our thoughts on a blast-from-the-past animated film with a message – Chicken Run.

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!

Photo: Chicken Run

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.

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

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You’ve probably been to lots of meetings and workshops, just like me. We go. We sit in the audience and listen to an expert. We sometimes ask questions. It’s a very traditional form of passing information along. We see it in schools, at work, and in most areas of our lives. We also see it in how animal rights organizations, campaigns, and conferences are run.

The Open Space format is an alternative that I think is reflective of how we need our movement to be: self-organizing, diverse, passionate, and willing and able to take action on our own. This may sound chaotic — and it is — but it’s controlled chaos, with just enough chaos to allow for creativity,  and just enough control to hold it all together.

How does it work?

An Open Space event begins with the attendees sitting in a circle of chairs. One wall holds the day’s agenda — which is blank. I like to divide up the day into time slots, much like a regular conference is divided into sessions, just to give a little bit of order.

I usually open the meeting by restating the topic that everyone is there to talk about, such as, “How can we better work together to achieve animal rights?” Then I go through the basic ground rules: The Four Principles and One Law of Open Space.

The Four Principles are:

1. Whoever comes is the right people.
2. Whatever happens is the only thing that could have.
3. Whenever it starts is the right time.
4. When it is over, it is over.

Really, these are essentially about letting go of our expectations. I mean, there is no point in worrying about the people who are not at your meeting. The people who came want to be there, they’re the ones with the passion. It’s pretty zen, really: focus on what is rather than what you think it should be. As the Open Space User’s Guide states, “Be prepared to be surprised — positively. Those who come to an Open Space event with a precise and detailed list of intended outcomes will be frustrated.”

The One Law of Open Space is what makes it all work. It’s usually referred to as the “Law of Two Feet.” Wherever you are, it’s up to you to contribute or learn. If you are sitting in a conversation and finding it to be uninteresting, it’s up to you to make it interesting. It’s simple, really. You are ultimately the person responsible for the success or failure of the way you experience the event. If you want something to happen, you’ve got to make it happen.

Photo by Amanda Daniell

Then the fun part: Everyone is invited to write down a topic or question that they would like to address, and post their topic up on the agenda wall. Very quickly, the agenda wall fills up with topics. Fight the urge to control them – just let the self-organizing happen.

Each person who posted up a topic is responsible for leading that discussion, and it is up to them how they will lead it. The space is open and it is theirs. As the host, I’m just there to set it up and then get the hell out of the way.

That’s really it. The rest of the event will just unfold. I do like to bring everyone back into the circle at the very end for any closing thoughts. I’ve heard people in the closing speak about all sorts of things, from reflecting on feeling empowered by the process to actual things they’ve learned at the event.  It’s really amazing to see how excited people get by just being able to have their own event.

So what’s the point?

One of my main objective with these events is community-building. Open Space provides a format that can bring diverse viewpoints, passions, and interests together. The format itself equalizes and dissipates a lot of potential conflict.

Another main objective, though, and the most important in my view, is to build capacity in our community for taking action, leading, and making things happen. So often, we want some expert to tell us what to do and how to do it. We want the answers to come to us.

But that’s not going to happen.

We are all experts in some way or another, and no one has the one right answer to how to end the exploitation of animals. We need a multi-pronged approach, and it’s up to each of us to decide what we think should happen – then stand up and make it happen.

Some might say that Open Space is “just a meeting format,” but to me, it’s a model for a more powerful, more effective, and more cohesive grassroots movement. It’s imperative to continually explore how we can create even more spaces where we are all invited to voice our passions — spaces where the diversity of our movement is honored and welcomed.

Join the circle. You are all invited. Let’s get started.

Photo Credit: Liberation B.C., photo by Amanda Daniell.

Glenn Gaetz

Glenn Gaetz is a Director of Liberation BC, an animal rights organization based in Vancouver, BC. After attending a social change event that used an Open Space format he got interested in applying it to animal rights. He liked it so much, in fact, that he got a Certificate in Dialogue and Civic Engagement from Simon Fraser University. So far this year he has organized or helped to organize 3 Open Space events and one other dialogue event. He loves to answer questions, so if you’ve got any feel free to email him at glenn@liberationbc.org, find him on Facebook, or get in touch on Twitter (@glenngaetz or @liberationbc). He’s written a bit more about Open Space and dialogue on both the Liberation BC blog and his personal blog.

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: