Book Illustration from "Lightfoot the Deer" (credit: Harrison Cady)

Their event, “‘Stories from the Wild’ at Central Library” will feature the classic children’s book, Lightfoot the Deer, written by Thornton W. Burgess and illustrated by Harrison Cady, which tells the story of a deer and his hunter, from the deer’s point of view. Storyteller Loretta-Lucy Miller will act as the storyteller at this event (an event which is making me wonder I should reserve a seat on the Bolt Bus — because the City of Brotherly Love is calling!). Artist Zipora Schula and dancer Lara Vracarich will be helping to lead the kiddies in the hands-on portion of the afternoon. It will take place on Saturday, February 18, from 2-4 p.m., at Story Hour Room of the Parkway Central Library Children’s Department, 1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103. The event is free, and it is recommended that you make reservations, by emailing publiceyephilly [at] gmail.com.

For those of you not in the Philadelphia area (and if you’re not, you should probably find yourself there sometime soon, since the new vegan hotspot, Vedge, just opened), it is pretty easy to host an event like this all by yourself. You can either use Lightfoot the Deer, or you can browse around on VegBooks for other animal-friendly books. Be sure to include pro-animal themed activities that make the young ones not only engage in artistic expression, but also begin dialogue with their friends (and with you) about why animals are our friends — not our food.

Basically, what FreeAnimalVideo.org does is provides high-quality clips of animals in all kinds of situations — animals in entertainment, animals in sports and fashion, farm animals, laboratory animals, wildlife, companion animals — and allows anyone to download and use them for free. The videos you can download include everything from general footage that can be placed into a larger context (like a nibbling lamb or a close-up on a goose), to absolutely horrific stuff, like a white fox being anally electrocuted. There are promotional videos for animal advocacy organizations as well. The videos are made available in either HD (suitable for TV), or lower-quality that will suffice for “the internet machine” (I stole that term from Rachel Maddow — who, now that I’m thinking about it, should totally use some of this footage and actually cover an animal story on her show). You can also submit videos, either by uploading them, or sending in physical tapes.

This brilliant activist resource is the brainchild of founders Sandra Mohr and Patty Shenker.

Here is an example of how the footage has been used. The clip below shows our friend Jane Velez-Mitchell (who was on our podcast last year), of CNN’s HLN show, “Issues With Jane Velez-Mitchell.”

A pinup model... WHO KNEW? (We're on the top right.)

The calendar is not only a fun and accessible way to help change these stereotypes, but, you’ve gotta admit, it’s a wickedly creative campaign! I’ve long gawked at the calendar models — both the human and non-human ones — which is why, last year, I decided to take my chances, because what did I have to lose? Getting model and performer Bettina May to do my photos and make-up was icing on my cruelty-free cake, because not only is she a well-known modern-day burlesque superstar, but she’s also an outspoken vegan. She has even created vegan versions of burlesque gear that traditionally uses animal products, like boas made out of fiber instead of feathers, yet look just like the “real deal” (minus the exploitation). My Rose was a trooper that day, too, and thoroughly enjoyed the attention and spotlight.

This is Rose. She totally knows how gorgeous she is. (As she should.)

Pinups for Pitbulls is certainly a think-outside-the-box type of organization, which is another reason why I’m gaga for them. Indeed, it’s not just the attractive women (many of whom have tattoos — sigh…) that draws me in, nor is it the perfect pits who steal the show. PFPB was founded in 2005 by Deirdre “Little Darling” Franklin. Little Darling was increasingly saddened and frustrated by “shelters” euthanizing totally adoptable pit bull-type dogs, simply because of their breed. So she tapped into her experience, skills, and interest in modeling, fine arts, and education, and started this truly one-of-a-kind organization. 7 years later, I am basically ecstatic to be among the women and dogs who can call themselves “Ms. February.”

Photo by Bettina May

In addition to getting the calendar (quick! before it’s March!), and supporting this organization, there is also a lesson to be learned from this organization. A strong takeaway from PFPB is that nobody has to sit idly by and be frustrated by an animal issue. Much like Little Darling demonstrated when she grew this positive, accessible, and fun organization out of a desire to change the world — and a refusal to become complacent and accept a world where pit bulls are put down for no good reason — we can all plug our talents and skills into animal advocacy.

Another takeaway from PFPB? Rose is ridiculously gorgeous. And the 1940′s were a much more fashionable era.

Note to self: Don't be intimidated! Read this book!

That said, I am so intrigued — and slightly intimidated — by this new book by Kim Socha, Women, Destruction, and the Avant-Garde: A Paradigm for Animal Liberation. Though I haven’t read it (yet!), and it might very well be a tad too academic for the casual reader (eh-hem), I love where it’s going. All you need to do is see the book’s description to share in my excitement (and possible trepidation):

This interdisciplinary study fuses analysis of feminist literature and manifestos, radical political theory, critical vanguard studies, women’s performance art, and popular culture to argue for the animal liberation movement as successor to the liberationist visions of the early twentieth-century avant-gardes, most especially the Surrealists. These vanguard groups are judiciously critiqued for their refusal to confront their own misogyny, a quandary that continues to plague animal activists, thereby disallowing for cohesion and full recognition of women’s value within a culturally marginalized cause. This volume is of interest to anyone who is concerned about the continued — indeed, escalating — violence against nonhumans. More broadly, it will interest those seeking new pathways to challenge the dominant power constructions through which oppression of humans, nonhumans, and the environment thrives.Women, Destruction, and the Avant-Garde ultimately poses the animal liberation movement as having serious political and cultural implications for radical social change, destruction of hierarchy and for a world without shackles and cages, much as the Surrealists envisioned.

The comprehensive book will set you back whopping $81 on Amazon (though you can also buy it used and save about ten bucks in the process, or maybe just ask your library to get you a copy). Anyone who reads it, please keep us posted on your thoughts. I’ll keep you posted, too, since Women, Destruction, and the Avant-Garde is most certainly on my wish list — both in terms of books I wish I could afford, and books I wish I could devour. The subject-matter of violence against non-humans, and the many correlations between women and animals, clearly is near and dear to my heart. What Socha created here looks to be a manifesto (a “womanifesto?”) — one that even unacademics, such as myself, might want to read.

This girl is having a much better day than the summers I wasted at day camp. Woe is me...

Though I have tried, unendingly, to block it out, I still remember it all. Days were spent suffering through competitive contact sports like dreaded dodge ball (where I was, without question, chosen last for the team); or being mortified as I changed into my swimsuit, so that everyone — including my prepubescent campmates and snotty teenage counselors — could gawk at my early-to-bud body (blame it on the cow’s milk I guzzled all throughout the 1980′s); or, no matter what activity we were gearing up for, lagging behind the rest of the kids, dragging a stick through the dirt behind me, humming the score of “Gypsy” almost to myself, while the other kids just stared, — or, more accurately, uproariously laughed. On the bus ride home, as the other kids sang “The wheels on the bus go round and round…,” I listened intently to my walkman, thanking god for Ethel Merman, who single-handedly got me through many sad afternoons. Just call me Augusten Burroughs.

If you haven’t guessed, I would not wish day camp on anyone. Camp, as far as I’m concerned, should be reserved solely for song and dance, and, if you’re lucky, for frivolous fun. It’s not like camp could change the world… Could it?

Turns out that camp, shockingly, can be good for something other than a future prescription for therapy. Though, much to my dismay, I’m about 20 years too old to take part in the amazing Youth Empowered Action Camp that arms kids with the resources and creative prowess necessary to change the world, there is one other groundbreaking camp that I have my eye on. I’m not too old for it, nor too awkward for it, and the fact that I have breasts would most likely not come up in discussion. (If it did, I’d know enough now to slap someone silly.)

Note to self: Attend (or organize?) "Animal Advocacy Camp"

It’s called Animal Advocacy Camp, and it is headed up by our friends over at Liberation B.C. — including, of course, the brilliant and dashing Glenn Gaetz. Glenn, who we not only interviewed on our podcast (along with his equally-brilliant partner, Joanne Chang), has guest-blogged for Our Hen House about, among other things, the concept of Open Space as a model for a more effective movement. The thought process of Open Space is that it’s the attendees — not the organizers — of a conference/workshop/camp who set the rules and the agenda. That includes proposing topics for discussion. In the case of Animal Advocacy Camp, some possible suggestions might include how to talk to the public, how groups can better work together, discussions on tactics, and historical precedents. Sounds totally unhierarchical, fair, fulfilling, and timely. This camp, I must say, sounds up my alley. (MOOOOM? ARE YOU LISTENIIIIING?!)

Animal Advocacy Camp — happening this February 25 and 26 in Vancouver — will be using the Open Space format. According to the website:

There is a lot of room for discussion within the framework of this event. We all can learn a lot from each other. This is a great opportunity to tap into the collective knowledge of many other experienced people in your community. Bring along your tough problems, questions you’ve been struggling to answer, problems you’ve been trying to solve.

Though Open Space sounds — I gotta admit it — a bit crunchy, don’t let the hippie vibe fool you. The goal of this camp, which is also being called “Vancouver’s Animal Rights UnConference,” is to work and learn together so that activists can build a stronger community, and, ultimately, “make a greater difference in the lives of animals.” And there is indeed still structure to this format (including fantastic speakers, like Sarah Kramer and Camille Labchuck).

It sounds, to me, incredibly refreshing — especially when other conferences are sometimes too dense with speakers and information, to the point where you every time you attend one workshop, you miss a dozen others that you wanted to attend. That’s not to say that there’s not room for the more “generic” types of conferences, but seeing as how everyone learns in different ways, Animal Advocacy Camp might very well be on to something.

For those of you in the British Columbia area (and — sigh — lucky you, if you are…), check out this game-changing weekend. And if you’re too far away to be able to attend, perhaps it’s high time for a similar workshop, conference, or, hey, camp, in your neck of the woods. Even if you’ve never organized an event before, starting these kinds of dialogues about animal issues and activism, and letting attendees decide what is important to focus on, can sometimes be more empowering than a set itinerary, or someone else’s agenda. (Be sure to check out the Open Space User’s Guide, too.)

As for me, I have certainly moved on (for the most part, anyway) from the drama of being an oddball, ostracized child at day camp, and so perhaps it’s time to wipe that slate clean and start fresh. While, for my mid-1980 campmates, it was the wheels on the bus that went round and round, perhaps for us grown-ups in the 21st century, the way to change the world is to come together — all on the same damn team! — so that, through shared experience, pooled ideas, and delegated responsibilities, the wheels in our brains can go round and round, coming up with more and more new ways to change the world for animals.

In today’s episode, we will tell you about the animal rights character we learned about in The Canterbury Tales, and why we learned about him in rap form. Jasmin will tell you about the most hideous trip to a restaurant she’s ever taken (she trusts that you’ll also be equally horrified on her behalf). We’ll ruminate on whether vegans are too nice, we’ll tell you about our expanding flock of chicks, we’ll profess our love for dahl and for oranges, and we’ll update you on the latest theatre happenings in our world.

Joining us today is Matt Rossell, the Campaigns Director for Animal Defenders International, who will give us the skinny on the international efforts of this animal protection organization, including the latest news on their Break the Chain campaign, and how you can help.

For our review, we’ll talk about the Nova episode, “How Smart Are Animals?”, which is available for your viewing, for free, both on PBS.org, and on Netflix’s instant queue.

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

This week’s news items include:

• “Supreme Court: Federal Meat Inspection Act preempts California’s slaughter ban” from The Sacramento Bee
• “Bill Introduced to Improve Animal Welfare Standard for Egg-Laying Hens” from Food Safety News
• “Anti-Battery Cage Bill Introduced to Congress” from Vegan.com
• “What Are Agribusiness Groups Trying to Hide with ‘Ag-Gag’ Bills?” from A Humane Nation
• “The HSUS Praises Florida Legislative Committees for Removing ‘Ag-Gag’ Language from Agricultural Bill” from The HSUS
• “The Veggie Burger’s New Dream: Be More Like Meat” from The Wall Street Journal 

“All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.” -St. Francis of Assisi

You can listen to our podcast directly on our blog (below!) or you can listen and 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!  Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation. If you’re a weekly listener, you might consider making a recurring monthly donation. Any amount is hugely appreciated, and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so it’s tax-deductible! Don’t forget — we’re reader and listener supported. Plus, we offer some fantastic thank you gifts for your donations. Thank you for helping us to create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new, hour-long podcast each week!

Perhaps it was your childhood kitty companion, who slept on your pillow, right beside your head, all throughout those awkward middle school years. Or maybe it was a pigeon you rescued — the one who opened your eyes and heart to how glorious these birds are. Or it could have been a goat you met at a farmed animal sanctuary, who wanted nothing more than to head-butt you incessantly, which he clearly found hilarious.

We all have these stories — whether it’s regarding an animal who was (or is) part of our family, or one we read about, or saw in a film or a news story. If you’re alive, then you have, at some point, been influenced by an animal. Maybe it was even that very animal who led you down this path of activism, giving you the push you needed to devote your life to changing the world for our feathered and four-footed friends.

Me and Rocky, only moments after he came into my life. I was 11.

For me, there have been several animals who have become part of my heartbeat, but perhaps the most influential was my childhood cat, Rocky, pictured on the left. That photo was taken only minutes after my brother and I opened a box that my mother had carefully set in the middle of the living room floor, out of which popped this thoroughly wondrous cat! He was a friendly neighborhood stray, and our neighbors had taken him in, only to find that their kids were allergic to him. How lucky was I that Rocky found his circuitous way to our home, and my heart. Rocky was my constant companion from the time I was 11 until I was 24. Growing up in a home with a lot of love — but an equal amount of inconsistency, confusion, and my share of sadness — what a treasure it was to always come home to Rocky’s loud purr-squawk as he ran down the stairs to greet me. During the weekends I spent at my father’s house, I would miss my cat, and wait with bated breath until the moment I stepped back into my house, so that Rocky could, once again, be by my side. He was strong, loyal, and protective. When I think of unconditional love, I think of Rocky.

And what about you? Valentine’s Day is, to me, a perfect opportunity to fondly remember the animals who have touched our lives. And so, for our Valentine’s Day podcast episode, which will air on Saturday, February 11, we need your help.

In the comments section below, share with us your story of one animal who has touched you. Why was that animal important to you? How did she or he shape your view of the world? Be as specific as you can, and make sure to convey to us why that animal holds a special place in your heart.

For our Valentine’s Day episode, we will read some of your stories on the air. We also might invite some of you to be guests on our podcast and tell the story yourselves. And anyone who leaves a comment will be entered to win an Our Hen House tote bag. A randomly-selected winner will be announced on the Valentine’s Day podcast episode. In order to be in the running for both the tote bag, and the chance for your story to be featured on our podcast episode, you must leave a comment by midnight, EST, on Sunday, February 5.

By appealing to individual intellect, creativity and compassion, CAF believes we can awaken people to the plight and grandeur of kindred animals – and ultimately build a deeper understanding of human-animal relationships and a greater respect for basic animal rights.

Can we say “well put,” Tom and Nancy?

I admire Culture & Animals Foundation so deeply for their ongoing support of creative and academic projects that aim to change the world for animals. Foundations like this one, I believe, are among the unsung heroes of our movement. They are behind so much greatness.

If you have a project that you think is up their alley, you need to get on that immediately, because their deadline (the only one for the whole year!) is coming up on January 31. And you don’t need to be a non-profit to apply, either. Previous grants have gone to authors, composers, filmmakers, and performance artists.

Bonne chance.

"Vegans Are Cool" (and hot, apparently)

In addition to interviews with us, you’ll find interviews with Brazil-based designer Julia Harger, Australian entertainer Renata Halpin (who is “Teaching Kids to Go Green, the Musical Way“), as well as vegan activists from countries including Iran, South Africa, and Mongolia. There are also eye-opening articles written by movers and shakers from around the globe, including activist Leigh-Chantelle (who was on our podcast), dietician Amanda Benham, and environmentalists Gerard Wederburn-Bisshop and Lefkothea Pavlidis.

Though we’re clearly huge fans of using the internet to influence others to adopt a vegan diet and, what’s more, get involved with changing the world for animals, there is sometimes nothing more powerful than reading a real, live book. Plus, whip out a copy of Vegans Are Cool the next time you’re settling in for a soy latte at your favorite café, and you can bet people will take notice — especially once they see the sexy cover models, Noel Polanco (of “Noel Vegan Fitness Star“), along with the ridiculously cute pup, Bianquita.

Though I knew this before getting the book, it is clearer than ever before that vegans are, indeed, cool.

Photo at top of blog: Courtesy of Neil (photo called “Pig at sanctuary”), uploaded from Vegan Stock Photo.

Sally Tamarkin

First, Sally Tamarkin, whom you may know as our intern extraordinaire (and the brilliant, protein-packed voice behind the recent peanut butter review on our podcast), has graduated to a contributor here at Our Hen House. Sally, whose prolific voice has graced our blog time and time again since she joined us just over 3 months ago, will continue to provide insight and ideas — along with her trademark dry humor that makes me ROTFL at least 4 times a day — right here on our blog. Sally is a long-time activist, but is still on the new side to veganism and animal rights, and the freshness she brings to the (cruelty-free) table, mixed with her years of experience fighting for social justice in other arenas, such as LGBT rights, is nothing short of genius.

JL Fields

Next, I’m proud as a peacock (or a peahen?) to welcome JL Fields to our advisory board. JL, who is the wise and talented voice behind the blog, JL Goes Vegan (the tag line, which I adore, is “Food and Fitness with a Side of Kale”) joins advisory board members Carol Leifer, Dan Piraro, and Donny Moss. What does JL bring to OHH? Oh, you know, just decades of nonprofit experience — including leading three organizations as CEO, and teaching nonprofit management at a college here in NYC. You know, the usual… (!!!) JL is also on the board of Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary (co-founder Jenny Brown’s interview on our podcast remains, to this day, one of our faves), and is the editor behind Stop Chasing Skinny.  We’re honored to have someone as established and smart as JL advising us. (And she’s a blast to hang out with, too, which is a ridiculously fun side benefit!)

Carrie Forrest

You probably have already read Carrie Forrest‘s health-oriented book reviews here on Our Hen House. Did you catch her take on Healthy Eating, Healthy World? Or maybe Super Immunity? Her guest reviews have given us such a well-rounded look at these books, which focus on the benefits of a plant-based diet, that we asked her to join our flock. Carrie already has two more book reviews in the works. In addition to being the voice behind one of my go-to food blogs, Carrie On Vegan (her healthy and delectable concoctions are responsible for a large chunk of my recipe collection), Carrie is currently working on a master’s degree in public health (MPH) in nutrition, and finishing the coursework to become a registered dietitian. So you should listen to her. Even though her background is in health, like JL, Carrie brings a revitalizing (and incredibly important) perspective to her discussions of plant-based food, in that she relates it back to her animal advocacy. And, as Mariann and I won’t stop chirping about, in order to be the best activists we can, our own health and well-being should be amongst our priorities. So keep an eye out for Carrie’s reviews. Like us, you’ll probably learn a thing or two.

Danielle Legg

Lastly, we have a part-time coordinator! I last squawked about Danielle Legg last year, when I told you about her Buffalo, New York film screening that brought in the veg-curious, and paid non-vegetarians cash money so that they could eat delicious vegan food, and watch Mercy for Animals’ short film, Fowl Play. Danielle has stayed on our radar, and I find myself constantly enamored by her positivity, dedication, and passion. We’re elated to have Danielle on board, helping us out with, among other things, our Etsy page, as well as some of the day to day happenings here in Our Hen House.

We are, to say the least, lucky hens. These new chicks are helping us to build our nest, not to mention our voice. Read more about these women, and the rest of our team, as you Meet Our Flock.

You’re also extremely integral to the work we do. With our mission being to mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, it is indeed up to each of us to do our part. It’s not my hen house or her hen house or your hen house, it’s Our Hen House — and that’s because we hope that Our Hen House is a place to find our way to change the world for animals. Hens, of course, are the most hideously exploited animals of them all. When you speak of animal rights, you are mostly speaking of chickens — because over 9 of the 10 billion land animals killed in the U.S. each year are birds. They are among our icon animals, too, showing bravery, humor, and strong social ties. With these precious beings representing, to us, the huge massive world of animals, and with each of our voices speaking up for them in a way that makes sense for us, we can change the world for animals. So thank you for being a part of this movement, and for using your voice to speak up for those who don’t have one.

As always, if you would like to help us grow our flock, and spread our voice, we would be ever so grateful for anything you can afford. Donations are, or course, tax deductible as allowed by law. In any case, thanks for being part of our flock.

***

Growing up on Long Island, I heard tales of the spooky experiments that took place on Plum Island, a livestock disease research facility off the coast. While on my family’s boat, we would pass the island, looking for the smoke that often floated up from the large buildings and the rumored animal-monsters that they created in their labs.

"Primacy" by J.E. Fishman

Perhaps this link between Long Island and animal testing was part of the inspiration for J. E. Fishman’s thriller, Primacy, which takes place, in part, in Pentalon, a fictional animal testing facility in Farmingdale, New York, not far from where I grew up on Long Island. Behind Pentalon’s walls, animals of all kinds are subjected to genetic and disease testing that causes pain, distress and, for some, death. But what if one of these animals could speak to the scientists who were subjecting them to those tests? Would those researchers reexamine the purpose of their actions? Would the whole system of animal testing break down? These are the questions that Fishman tackles.

Primacy follows the story of Liane Vinson, an animal researcher at Pentalon who is fully aware of the rules of detachment that employees must follow in order to keep themselves numb from the cruel harm they inflict on animals. However, for Liane, when it comes to a pair of twin bonobos, whom she has named and grown attached to, somehow those rules don’t matter. When one of them, Bea, who, like her twin brother, was born with unique vocal chords, suddenly begins to speak, uttering Liane’s name — Liane’s world is, naturally, turned upside down. Bea’s brother is soon subjected to a brutal laryngectomy to study his vocal chords, and it is then that Liane knows that she must save Bea from Pentalon’s clutches. Thus begins a journey that will forever change her life and her beliefs about animal sentience.

In her desperation, Liane turns to her ex-boyfriend, Corey Harrow, a member of FAULT (“Folks Against Unnecessary Lab Testing”), which is known for protesting outside of Pentalon’s gates, and torching animal testing labs. It soon becomes clear that Corey and Liane have very different goals for Bea. Liane wants to release Bea back into the wilds of Africa, while Corey wants to cultivate Bea’s language skills so that she might become a mascot for the movement, appearing on television to plead the case against the exploitation of animals. Liane sees this plan as further exploitation of Bea, and argues that what Bea would want more than anything is the chance to once again just be a bonobo, and live among her own kind in the jungle. Corey counters that no one can know what Bea truly wants, and that with his plan, she will be well cared for while still being of great use to the movement toward total animal liberation. She will be an ambassador for her kind.

In the mean time, while Liane is on the run from the Pentalon forces, and while she’s also trying to get Bea away from the animal rights activists, we are introduced to Dikembe Kasa, who lives in Congo. Grief stricken by the loss of his wife to a hemorrhagic fever, caused by her ingestion of bush meat, Dikembe sets out, with his son, to right a wrong that he committed. He believes that his decision to sell twin bonobos that he caught in the wild – thereby making him a participant in the cruel animal trade – gave him bad karma, ultimately causing the fever that killed his wife. Dikembe sets off to explore his own connection to Bea, the talking bonobo.

One of the great things about Primacy is that these characters, and their stories, create the opportunity for the author to bring up many important questions for anyone who has ever cared about an animal. For the most part, he doesn’t shy away from these issues. An example of this is Corey, who makes cogent arguments against animal testing, specifically regarding its cruelty, monetary motivations, and ineffectiveness. Dikembe’s rejection of poaching in Africa, and the portrayal of the exotic animal dealers, also send a strong conservationist message. And, most of all, Bea is portrayed as a sentient creature with a full range of emotions. Icing on the cake is that each section of the book begins with a quote relating to animal rights.

Unfortunately, however, while the animal rights activists who make up the membership of FAULT are not portrayed as the enemy, or as complete crazies, they nonetheless come across as misguided. Their stance for total liberation of animals at any cost – rather than focusing on what is best for an individual animal – is, in my experience, totally uncharacteristic of animal rights activists, who truly value each individual (as well as total liberation). This flawed portrayal is, perhaps, not surprising, since Fishman, disappointingly, is careful to assert in the epilogue that he is not an animal rights activist, while asking readers to do their own research on the subject of animal testing.

Perhaps telling of Fishman’s ambivalent, even contradictory, attitudes toward our proper relationship with animals is the fact that the book does not adequately go there when it comes to food, and the torture of animals on factory farms. At one point in the story, Liane is eating hamburgers, and notes the irony of it, while Corey is a proud vegan. But, unlike the issues regarding animal research, these issues are never fully developed, nor in any way resolved. They are simply glossed over, leaving a wasted opportunity for interesting discussion among the book’s protagonists.

Still, it’s a breath of fresh air to get a chance to read compelling fiction that addresses harm to animals in a serious and largely thoughtful way. While not every character in the book ended up a vegan activist – an outcome that would have seemed ideal, even obvious, to any animal rights activist reading it – Primacy is nonetheless not only a page-turner, complete with enough violence and adventure to compel any thriller fan, but it exposes the truth about the cruel experiments that are performed on millions of animals in laboratories. It discusses the very real situation of how they are fed toxins to see how long it takes them to die, how they have their bodies cut into in order to study their organs, and how their brains are painfully attached to wires so we can study their brain waves. As an animal activist, the best part of this book, to me, is the fact that readers who would never think to pick up a book obviously focused on animal rights will be exposed to these horrors in the context of this very entertaining read.

In today’s episode, we gripe about the recent NYC subway ads that center around reducing your portion size as a way to reduce disease. We also give you our thoughts on everything from the film, Dive: Living Off America’s Waste, to the sushi rolls at Pure Food and Wine, to the Wellness Club brunch we got to try at a nearby Whole Foods, to Paula Deen.

Joining us today is longtime activist and author, Erik Marcus, the mastermind behind Vegan.com. Erik will talk to us about everything from the strengths and limitations of the health and environmental arguments for veganism, to how to make a truly persuasive ethical argument for living cruelty-free, to how to effectively use social networking tools for advocacy, and a heckuva lot more. You won’t want to miss this interview with the voice behind so many articles and books that speak up for animals (including The Ultimate Vegan Guide, which is available for only 99 cents in digital form).

Tatiana Pavela as Dian Fossey in "Leakey's Ladies." Photo by Shell Sheddy.

For our review, we’ll share with you our thoughts on the play, Leakey’s Ladies, which explores the lives and work of Dian Fossey, Jane Goodall, and Birute Galdikas. This play is the most recent merging of theatre and advocacy to come across our radar, and we’re eager to share with you our experiences of watching these stories of animal ambassadors come to life.

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

This week’s news items include:

• “Are Animal Actors Protected? The Future of Animals in Hollywood” from TIME Magazine
• “Mystery Surrounding Abandoned Horses Finally Solved” from HumaneSpot.org 
• “They Bark, They Fetch, and Their Humans Vote” from The New York Times
• “Vegan Bakery Sticky Fingers Beats Out Traditional Sweets on Food Network’s ‘Cupcake Wars All-Stars’” from The Huffington Post
• “The Evidence for a Vegan Diet” from The Atlantic (featuring Our Hen House!)

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds that you plant.” –Robert Louis Stevenson

You can listen to our podcast directly on our blog (below!) or you can listen and 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!  Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation. If you’re a weekly listener, you might consider making a recurring monthly donation. Any amount is hugely appreciated, and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so it’s tax-deductible! Don’t forget — we’re reader and listener supported. Plus, we offer some fantastic thank you gifts for your donations. Thank you for helping us to create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new, hour-long podcast each week!

Animal Welfare Trust

Past grant recipients have included a doctoral student who worked with the FBI to conduct a study on the link between animal cruelty and personal violence, a law student who interned at Neighborhood Cats to draft a model TNR ordinance, and a vet student who developed a program on alternatives to the use of live animals in surgical training in vet school curriculums.

The deadline is March, 2012. If you are in graduate school, or you know someone who is who deeply cares about animals, this is too good an opportunity to pass up.

The full-length one-act ride is actually comprised of three short plays, by three different playwrights, all interwoven into one — giving the audience the opportunity to delve into the work that groundbreaking primatologists Goodall, Fossey, and Galdikas did with, respectively, chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans.

Animals were never seen the same way again.

The origin of the title, Leakey’s Ladies — which was the one part of the play that I intensely disliked (more on that later) — is in the fact that all three of these women were inspired originally to do their work by anthropologist and game-changer, Louis Leakey. Beyond just a professional relationship, the personal connection that Leakey shared with all three women — the fondness they had for him, the mentorship and friendship he provided — was abundantly clear (and incredibly touching) throughout the play.

However, though Leakey had the foresight to get them started on their paths, his underlying goal was for the three women to study these animals in order to shed light on the human condition, and human origins; the animals themselves, and their sentience, were not his focus. In fact, the work of Fossey, Goodall, and Galdikas ended up going far beyond Leakey’s original mission.

As visualized throughout the play, frequently through the use of moving and effective puppetry, the women connect deeply to the animals — each in different, yet equally profound, ways. The women also become enmeshed in the political situations that surround, and often threaten, them and their work. Not surprisingly, the reality on the ground is far distanced from the “Ivory Tower” research project that was imagined prior to their beginning their projects.

It was particularly interesting to see the contrasts among the three women, and the way they approached their journey. The tender but fiercely determined Goodall was by far the most scientific, and was devoted to simply observing — even though even she was criticized vehemently in the scientific community for supposedly interfering with and anthropomorphizing the animals. Of course, the scientific community has always been quick to play the “anthropomorphizing card,” rather than taking the time, and the infinite patience, needed to see the animals as real. Perhaps more than anyone in history, Goodall saw the animals fully, and even when it became painful, refused to look away. She recognized the chimpanzees as individuals with unique personalities, and reported on them as such. Because of this, her contributions are incalculable — both to our understanding of chimpanzees, and of animals in general.

Tatiana Pavela as Dian Fossey (Photo by Shell Sheddy)

Dian Fossey was a much more emotional character who found herself in an extremely dire situation. At one gripping point in the play, there’s a brief but heart-wrenching retelling of how she had been captured and raped when she was in Congo. Fossey’s later work, in Rwanda, was also fraught with political nightmares — both in dealing with the government that wanted to exploit her work, and fighting the poachers, who, of course, ultimately ended her life.

Birute Galdikas, who came across as a bit of a hippie, was depicted as having enculturated herself much more into the Indonesian world in which she was living. Galdikas left her mark with, among other things, incredibly important observational research. What’s more –presented with a crisis situation in which, because of the trade, there were enormous numbers of orphaned orangutans — she founded a sanctuary, saving thousands of lives.

Through stunning puppetry, which was really beautifully done (just as in the play, War Horse, I forgot I was looking at puppets), as well as costumed actors and video projections, the audience was given the unique theatrical experience of seeing the animals themselves. Not only did this effectively show the intense relationship of the women to these animals, but it also displayed the tragedy of some of the animals’ lives, and gave us a glimpse into their sometimes funny, complicated, social, anti-social, and brave personalities. This was epitomized both in Galdikas’ relationship with TP, a male orangutan with whom she formed a real relationship, and in the truly heartbreaking story of Flo and Flint, which, for anyone who knows Goodall’s work, is all too familiar. The puppets also let us see into Dian Fossey’s relationship with one of her orphaned gorillas and witness up close her struggle about whether to take him in and raise him, knowing she might eventually have to turn him over to the government for life in a zoo.

Just as charming as the play itself was the space where it came to life. Dixon Place, the non-profit theatre that aims to, among other things, “contribute to the community” by making itself available “as a meeting place for social change organizations,” has, as one of their focuses, a bent toward LGBT issues and other issues affecting minority groups. Given that, it was refreshing to see a play focusing on the greatest underdogs of all — animals. And the fact that this work also highlighted the stories of three powerful women was icing on the cake for me (my cake, of course, was vegan). That is why I had issue with the title, Leakey’s Ladies. Though not to undercut the revolutionary work of Louis Leakey, and the primary role he played in fostering the work of Goodall, Galdikas, and Fossey, these truly extraordinary women stood their ground on their own, forging ahead despite nearly insurmountable obstacles. True, before anyone else believed in them, Leakey did. But why lump these women into a subsidiary role as this title seems to do? To me, it undermines the independent and trailblazing work of three pioneer women, at a time (late 60′s and early 70′s) when the women’s rights movement was only beginning to grow into a revolution.

But I digress. Silly name or not, Leakey’s Ladies is well worth a trip to the Lower East Side. For the most part, the main actors portrayed their characters with the necessary depth and emotion that the story demanded, but it was Tatiana Pavela’s masterful interpretation of Dian Fossey — complete with Pavela’s commanding presence, powerful voice, and surprisingly unabashed vulnerability — that stole the show. That, and the puppets, who were designed meticulously by David Valentine. It was all I could do to not “adopt” one of them on my way out of the theatre, when no one was looking…

In the history of Our Hen House — which is 2 years old almost to the day — we have only had a small handful of opportunities to cover theatrical productions that implicitly or explicitly dealt with animal rights issues. To name a few, there were: The Tragical-Comical Trial of Madame P and Other 4-Legged and Winged Creatures, which covered the medieval animal trials; the one-woman play, I’m Sorry: How a People-Pleasing Apologist Became an Animal-Loving Activist; and Dead Pile, a play that followed the story of an undercover investigator inside a dairy farm. The impetus for the Art of the Animal section was, of course, to highlight such work — as well as provide ideas and inspiration for others to get involved in the powerful arts/advocacy union. As someone with a background as an actor, this merging gives me fever-like chills. There is nothing greater than using the huge capacity of even the tiniest stage, and making it a tool to create change. Directed and designed by Gretchen Van Lente, Leakey’s Ladies, which we will further discuss and review this weekend on our podcast, has the wherewithal to change hearts and minds about animals. If it’s true that all the world’s a stage, then perhaps compassion is more within reach than we think.

***

Helping Vegan Parents Navigate the Not-So-Vegan Landscape

By Robyn Moore

I recently read an article that asked the question, “As a vegan, should you raise your child vegan?” To me, that question is absurd on many levels. As parents, we are responsible for making decisions for our kids based on our own sets of values and beliefs. Typically, we do not allow kids to make their own decisions when it comes to things that are dangerous to them physically or developmentally, or that we find morally abhorrent. So if we believe that eating animals and animal products is morally wrong (or unhealthy, or detrimental to the environment), then why would we let our kids engage in that behavior?

Charlotte

As a vegan parent, I encounter messages, and experience situations every day, that contradict what I’m trying to teach my daughter, Charlotte. Some of these (“milk is necessary for strong bones,” “you need meat for protein,” etc.) come directly from the industries whose livelihoods depend on our buying into them. Yet many others come from less obvious places: story time, gym class, music class, books, cartoons, the playground, the toys we buy. Our world revolves around the idea that animals are here for our personal use — this includes food, clothing, products, and entertainment — so being a vegan parent can sometimes feel like an uphill battle.

One example of this is story time at the library. The books that are chosen often center around “blissful” farm and zoo animals — only reinforcing society’s misperceptions about animals in confinement. Many of the books that Charlotte grabs from the shelves show animals in some sort of exploitive situation, such as a circus, or they include pictures of kids eating hot dogs or drinking milk. In music class, kids sing songs such as “Fried Ham,” “Baa Baa Black Sheep,” and “Old MacDonald Had a Farm.” In gym and other group settings, toddlers tend to share (or grab) one another’s snacks, so I have to be keep a watchful eye on Charlotte to make sure she doesn’t take somebody else’s goldfish or string cheese. And then, of course, there are the playground and play date conversations with other parents. Food always comes up, and, much to my dismay, I hear about what other kids are eating. More often than not, it’s chicken nuggets, or macaroni and cheese, always accompanied by a big glass of milk.

But if examples like these are what I’m up against, I can handle it. I will trade these minor inconveniences any day for the satisfaction of knowing that my husband and I are raising our child based on principles of integrity and compassion.

Robyn and her family at the NYC Walk for Farm Animals

Still, I’m acutely aware that Charlotte is only a year and a half old. She’s still at the age where I can, for all intents and purposes, control what she eats and drinks, who she plays with, what books she reads. Charlotte is our only child, and, being in the (quickly growing!) vegan minority, we’re also learning as we go. Just as we adults evolve and change, so will Charlotte. That means that, 10 years from now when little Charlotte is in middle school, my challenges as a vegan parent raising a vegan child will radically shift. There will be a whole new set of joys and happiness that we’ll share, and, with that, a whole new set of questions. No doubt things will get more difficult as she becomes an autonomous person. Of course, my hope is that, as Charlotte grows, her values – respecting animals, and not exploiting them – will be so instilled in her, that even as she grows to be a teenager and an adult, she will carry her moral compass and live her life according to these ethics.

Every age has its own set of issues and growing pains, and as a mother of a vegan child, that is something I am looking forward to handling. But if we, as parents – and aunts, uncles, grandparents, and neighbors – trust that we are doing the right thing, then my hope is that everything else will fall into place. It is up to us as parents to be activists not only for the animals, but also for our own kids.

With that in mind, here are few tips to help vegan parents navigate the not-so vegan landscape.

1. Read books and watch movies that affirm and reinforce vegan values. VegBooks lists over 500 titles.
2. Visit an animal sanctuary. Exposing vegan kids to rescued farm animals is so important — it helps them make the connection between their cruelty-free lifestyle and the animals they are saving.
3. Get together with local veg families so that your kids will have the opportunity to meet other like-minded kids, and you’ll get to meet other like-minded parents. If you live in the NYC area, join my meet-up group: NYC Vegetarian and Vegan Families. If a meet-up group like that doesn’t exist in your area, think about starting one.
4. Show your kids the power of activism! If they feel strongly about a specific animal or issue, encourage them to join a protest, write a letter to a newspaper, have a vegan bake sale, hand out literature, or create an art project. This will empower them and teach them to be a voice for the voiceless.
5. Search for websites and blogs about raising veg kids. Many of them, including my own, RaisingVegKids.com, offer resources, articles, and support for vegan families.
6. Make holidays special. Instead of focusing on what kids can’t do or eat, make vegan versions of traditional dishes, and even crafts. For example, make a vegan gingerbread house or egg-free potato latkes, and color papier-mâché Easter eggs.
7. Cook and bake delicious vegan recipes with your kids. Order the book, Vegan Lunchbox.
8. When dining out at a non-vegan restaurant, look to the side dishes (instead of the meat- and dairy-heavy kid’s menu), where you’ll find healthy and yummy choices such as veggies, beans, rice, etc.
9. Adopt a rescued farm animal (virtually). Farm Sanctuary will send you a picture of an animal of your choice with some fun details about him or her. Your kids can frame it and keep it in their room, and even visit their adopted animal at the sanctuary. They can even bring the picture to school and tell their classmates all about it, effectively spreading the message. Of course, if you have the space, adopt a real rescued farm animal whom kids can help care for and love.
10. Be an active parent when it comes to birthday parties and school events. Find out what is being served, and if it’s not vegan, make or buy a similar vegan version so that your child will not feel left out. Make enough for the other kids, too, so that they can see first-hand how delicious compassion can taste.
11. Show your kids that being vegan is fun! Make vegan pancakes on the weekend, or have a vegan pizza party on a school night. Make things like DIY vegan ice cream sundaes, or, on movie night, popcorn with vegan butter.

Embracing veganism is the most effective step a family can take to fight animal cruelty. It’s about teaching your kids to vote with their dollars by boycotting industries that exploit and harm animals. It’s about choosing a side — the animals’ side. Encourage your kids to be proud, confident, and courageous in their family’s decision to respect and value the lives of all others, including animals. Read books about brave people throughout history who were once viewed as being different and in the minority – such as those who worked for the abolition of slavery, for women’s suffrage, for civil rights – but were later viewed as heroes, who, despite challenges, spoke up for what was right.

As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said:

Cowardice asks the question, “Is it safe?” Expediency asks the question, “Is it politic?” Vanity asks the question, “Is it popular?” But conscience asks the question, “Is it right?” And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular; but one must take it because it is right.

 ***

Robyn Moore

Robyn Moore is a mom to Charlotte, whom she and her husband, Martin, are raising vegan. Robyn has her master’s degree in education. She is the creator of RaisingVegKids.com, the organizer of NYC Vegetarian and Vegan Families Meetup, and is a book reviewer for VegBooks. Robyn is an avid traveler who has taught English in Nepal, volunteered helping animals in Africa, and lived abroad in Switzerland.

Intern with VegFund!

Now, with this part-time, work-from-home volunteer position (roughly 15-20 hours per week), you can have the opportunity to work with this groundbreaking organization, which was named the “Non-Profit of the Year” in 2009 by VegNews Magazine. Among other duties, the internship gives you the chance to train and coordinate volunteers, maintain and grow VegFund’s resources for grassroots activists, and conduct at least one outreach event per month. You’ll be working with and learning from VegFund’s Director, and for those of you who are students, you might even be able to get class credit. Their ideal candidate for this 3-month position has grassroots experience, strong writing skills, and, obviously, a passion and interest in farmed animal advocacy.

Check out the full listing for this internship, and spread the word to your passionate vegan friends and colleagues.

Internships can, needless to say, be important inroads for those interested in pursuing a career in animal rights. Most people working in the movement had, at one time or another, an internship position. But even for those of you who don’t want to quit your day job, opportunities like this one can utilize your skills and passion, allowing you to grow and learn, all while strongly and effectively working to change the world for animals. I honestly can’t think of many better places to start — or step up — your AR journey, than to work with the visionaries behind VegFund. Have I mentioned I’m a fan?

And head’s up: Stay tuned for a not-to-be-missed interview with VegFund’s co-founder, Zia Terhune, which you will be able to find on our podcast in the coming weeks.

Picture of top of blog: Courtesy of VegFund

***

A Look Inside Unlikely Friendships

Review by Samantha Rosenberg 

Fair warning – get out the tissues. Unlikely Friendships: 47 Remarkable Stories from the Animal Kingdom pretty much redefines the word “heartwarming.” Bringing together forty-seven stories about interspecies friendships from all over the world, this beautiful book – appropriate for all ages – is illustrated with amazing photographs that truly capture these hard-to-believe animal unions, often between animals who are normally identified as predator and prey.

"Unlikely Friendships" by Jennifer Holland

As set forth in her introduction, the starting point, and impetus, for this remarkable compilation by Jennifer S. Holland – a science and nature journalist and senior writer for National Geographic magazine – was the conflict in the scientific community between those who reject, and those who embrace, the idea that non-human animals have the capacity to experience emotions similar to humans. Of course, the former view has the benefit of convenience, in that it makes all the torture and confinement performed in the name of science (and appetite) easier to justify. If scientists are able to convince themselves that animals cannot feel emotional pain, the moral dilemma simply disappears. The other school of thought, which hopefully represents a growing majority, holds that emotions are inherent in all sentient beings to some degree, even if they are expressed in different ways. As summarized by evolutionary biologist Marc Bekoff, this position holds that “evolutionary continuity — a concept that came from Charles Darwin — stresses that there are differences in degree rather than in kind between humans and other animals. That applies to emotions. We share many bodily systems, including the limbic system, where emotions are rooted. So if we have joy or sorrow, they have it, too. It isn’t the same joy or the same sorrow. But the differences are shades of gray, not black versus white.”

Unlikely Friendships takes that abstract premise and makes it real. Mindless instinct cannot possibly account for these extraordinary relationships: A dog and a koi meet regularly at a pond to bump noses and connect on a level that makes you question the complexity of a fish’s mind; a cow tied up in a field is visited nightly for months by a wild leopard who seems to want nothing more than a snuggle and a tongue-bath; a momma dog accepts a baby squirrel into her litter; a hamster served to a snake as dinner becomes his friend instead; a lioness protectively watches over her adopted baby Oryx; and too many other remarkable stories to mention, each guaranteed to melt your heart and challenge your preconceptions about animals. Furthermore, while the photographs are stunning, the book is far more than just cute pictures. Each story, although brief, sheds light on the often tragic circumstances that brought the animals together, and into the lives of humans, who were able to witness, and document, the ways the animals related to one another. Despite their sad beginnings, these animals ultimately triumphed, finding solace, joy, and friendship.

A few of my favorite stories include “The African Elephant and the Sheep,” which is about a baby elephant named Themba, whose mother fell off a cliff when Themba was just six months old. To the surprise of the staff at the reserve, none of the other female elephants stepped up to adopt Themba. Recognizing that it was a critical time in Themba’s development of social bonds, one of the workers brought a sheep from a nearby farm, Albert, and put him into Themba’s enclosure. Why a sheep? Not only are they intelligent, but sheep have been shown to form close emotional connections with other animals. It wasn’t an instant fix – the two didn’t hit it off at first. But after a while they became inseparable, sleeping together and even eating the same food. Finally, this lonely little elephant had a friend.

Then there’s “The Bobtailed Dog and the Bobtailed Cat,” which documents a moving friendship that was born in New Orleans right after Hurricane Katrina, when hundreds of thousands of animals were left to fend for themselves. The bobtailed dog of the title had been left tied up to face the storm, but had managed to break away, dragging with her the remains of her chain. Somehow, she hooked up with a bobtailed cat, and they wandered the city together for weeks. When anyone tried to approach, the dog, later named “Bobbi,” growled protectively. Nevertheless, eventually the two were rescued and taken to a shelter. There, Bobbi let out piercing barks whenever anyone tried to separate her from “Bob Cat.” Realizing that the two needed one another, rescuers caged them together. Only later did they discover that Bob Cat was totally blind! Bobbi had been using barks and bumps with her hind leg to guide Bob Cat around.

Because of the unusual pairings of species, the stories in Unlikely Friendships depict relationships that may be surprising. But anyone who has ever had an animal companion in their life, or has even just observed animals – be it through volunteering at a shelter, visiting a sanctuary, or spending time with a loved one’s pets – will agree that there is no question that they have individual personalities. Indeed, animals of all kinds experience the feel-good emotions that are depicted in this book, and – like us – they also feel sadness, depression, anxiety and grief. They also form relationships in astounding ways that we neither orchestrate nor control.

I have certainly seen that in my own home. My 11-year-old daughter and I have two cats, both feral rescues, who are alone together all day, five days a week. Yet, even after three years of living together, they can barely tolerate each other’s company. Despite the “sibling rivalry” they have, one of the cats has bonded with my daughter in a way that is almost otherworldly. Utterly protective, she perches on my daughter’s back while my daughter sleeps, follows her everywhere, shows her constant affection with unending little kitty kisses, and, whenever she thinks my daughter is hurt, immediately comes running. Who could ask for more in a companion? This kind of deep human-animal connection is relatable to so many of us. It is, after all, an unlikely friendship – but it’s also the best sort.

The fundamental lesson in Unlikely Friendships is, perhaps, that animals interact with other animals – human and non-human – on levels that are not very different from our own. Much like human relationships, motivations for animal unions may be rooted in their need for protection, comfort or companionship. But regardless of the reasons that brought them together, many of the bonds between these animals are the product of a true emotional connection that can only be classified as genuine friendship. These stories are great reminders of how alike animals and humans are. At the end of the day, we are all seeking pleasure in some form. If we’re lucky, we manage to find it in each other.

***

Samantha Rosenberg

Samantha Rosenberg is an attorney  living in Cambridge, MA, with her 11-year-old daughter and two cats. 

In today’s episode, we discuss our foray into Brooklyn to visit the new all-vegan establishment that’s garnering tons of buzz, Dunwell Doughnuts. We’ll also share our thoughts on the hideous piece that we feel is, to say the least, off the mark, “A Dog’s Right to Life?” from the New York Times column, “The Ethicist,” as well as the on-the-mark piece from The Thinking Vegan (written by Kezia Jauron). And we’ll give you the skinny on the new Whole Foods Wellness Club, and the talk that we saw Dr. Fuhrman give this past week.

Today’s episode is full of strong, inspiring, changemaking women! First, Chicago-based jewelry designer, and animal rights activist, Michelle Rubin, will spill the beans about a prank she instigated this week. Let’s just say that Jasmin put her BFA in Acting to the test. Michelle is the talented jeweler behind the sterling silver and hematite necklaces that say “vegan” that we offer on our site in exchange for a donation. Listen closely for your chance to get in on a one-week special that Michelle is offering just to our devoted podcast listeners.

Our feature interview today is with activist and scholar, Lori Gruen, who is – among other things – the author of Ethics and Animals: An Introduction. Lori will discuss with us what’s involved in teaching animal ethics, the crossovers between animal studies and animal activism,  the role that chimpanzees have played with shaping her ethical thought, and her feelings regarding the prevalence of women in the animal protection movement.

For one week, donate $75 to OHH and in addition to getting a silver and hematite necklace stamped "VEGAN," you will also receive this heart pendant, and an additional stone!

For our review, Our Hen House’s protein-prosperous intern, Sally Tamarkin, will give us her thoughts about a subject she feels she was put on this planet to discuss: peanut butter. Sally put several peanut butter brands to the test and has determined the very best one – that is, of the unsalted, crunchy variety.

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

This week’s news items include:

• “DA: State Official Told Butterball Turkey Farm Raid Was Coming” from ABC News
• “COK files lawsuit against California hatchery to stop cruel and unlawful practices” from Compassion Over Killing
• “We’re Eating Less Meat. Why?” from The New York Times
• “A Tighter Leash on Exotic Pets” from The New York Times
• “Natalie Portman Considers Doing Eating Animals: The Movie” from Vegan.com

“When you cease to make a contribution you begin to die.” -Eleanor Roosevelt 

You can listen to our podcast directly on our blog (below!) or you can listen and 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!  Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation. If you’re a weekly listener, you might consider making a recurring monthly donation. Any amount is hugely appreciated, and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so it’s tax-deductible! Don’t forget — we’re reader and listener supported. Plus, we offer some fantastic thank you gifts for your donations. Thank you for helping us to create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new, hour-long podcast each week!

When I’ve been in the position of having to select a course of action from a list of possibilities, my response is simply to do it all. Indeed, I want to try every single thing — sometimes all at once — because I am just not sure what the most appropriate tactic may be for my campaign or goal. And testing multiple tactics is not necessarily a bad thing. It’s just that, in my experience, we pressed-for-time-and-resources changemakers make these decisions on the fly because, frankly, we just aren’t sure what to do next.

In the midst of all this improvising and best-guessing, I’ve thought many times,”Isn’t there just an Organizing for Dummies book?” I just wished for a simple how-to guide with the steps I needed to take to win our campaign.

Of course, advocacy isn’t like that: Most campaigns are waged using a variety of actions and a wide repertoire of tactics. While there are no simple, cut and dried answers here — after all, there really is no one way to mount a successful campaign — the best thing we activists can do is learn from the battles that have already been fought, and allow those successes and challenges to inform the decisions we make going forward.

Light up your changemaking efforts with Animal Impact: Secrets Proven to Achieve Results and Move the World.

The 2011 book, Animal Impact: Secrets Proven to Achieve Results and Move the World, promises to provide a blueprint to do just that. Author Caryn Ginsberg, a longtime animal advocate, asks “Why do some animal protection efforts succeed while others fail?” The answer to this question comes in the form of stories and tips from over 80 advocates working in animal rights. Ginsberg has more than a decade of experience working with leaders of the animal protection movement. The knowledge she has accumulated is vast. I confess that I haven’t yet read this book, but after reading a sample of the book’s front material, introduction, first chapter, and index, I can’t wait to get my hands on it. The sample is so informative and comprehensive, it’s difficult to believe that it represents just a fraction of the resources included in the book.

Animal Impact covers everything from crafting a message, to using social media, to how to pursue advocacy without breaking the bank, to tons more practical tips about creating your change campaign. The best part is that the tips and strategies shared in the book aren’t there because they’re effective in theory. They come from advocates who used them successfully, people who are now spilling the beans on everything they have learned in their own advocacy. This is the how-to guide I have been waiting for!

Whether or not you’re an experienced activist or a brand new changemaker, this book appears to be a must-have. It also comes with a bonus Companion Journal that will help you get your campaign started, allowing you to make the most out of everything you’ve learned from the book.

Animal Legal and Historical Center

The Animal Legal and Historical Center is an absolutely invaluable website for anyone interested in animal law. Founded by Professor David Favre, an eminent and longstanding animal law scholar at Michigan State University School of Law, this voluminous and constantly updated website organizes over 12oo full text cases and 1400 statutes into subject areas. It also includes comprehensive descriptions and explanations of the original sources, original articles, links to articles on every conceivable animal law topic, and news updates on hot topics in animal law. If that weren’t enough, it also includes an international collection of materials.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund has recently released the sixth edition of it’s amazing resource, Animal Protection Laws of the United States of America and Canada. The entire 4000 pages, in searchable form, can be downloaded for free, and will provide you with “a detailed survey of the general animal protection and related statutes for all of the states, principal districts and territories of the United States of America, and for all of Canada; [and] up-to-date versions of each jurisdiction’s laws.”

Many law schools now provide research guides to animal law in their online library guides and, while they may not provide links which outsiders can use to access the materials, they can be a useful starting point for those who want to do research in this area who have access to Lexis or Westlaw, or other ways of accessing the materials. For example, UCLA’s Libguide provides a very useful research guide to animal law. Of particular interest is the section called Getting Started: Suggested Readings for Those New to Animal Law, which compiles articles of interest to those just finding out about animal law to help them in their journey. And, while you’re at it,  you should be aware that Westlaw itself now includes animal law as an individual subject area in its database.

There are now so many animal law journals published by law schools that it’s impossible to keep up! It’s so exciting. They include the venerable Animal Law out of Lewis and Clark, which has been published regularly since 1994(!), the Journal of Animal Law out of Michigan State University, and the Stanford Journal of Animal Law and Policy.

For less scholarly, and more newsy ways to stay on top of animal law, you might want to regularly peruse new issues of The Animals’ Advocate, published by the Animal Legal Defense Fund. Another great resource is the Animal Blawg, which was founded by Professor David Cassuto of Pace Law School, and is updated quite regularly. Or, quickest and easiest, just “like” the facebook page of the Animal Law Committee of the American Bar Association’s TIPS section, where articles of interest to animal lawyers — and animal lovers — are posted on a daily basis.

In addition to these awards for people, there are several awards for particular pieces of work. These include Media of the Year, Undergraduate Paper/Project/Thesis of the Year, Graduate Paper/Project/Dissertation of the Year, and Faculty Paper/Project of the Year. If you are proud of one of your accomplishments in this area, or know someone who has produced stellar work during the past year, check out the requirements and get your nomination in now.

While we’re on the subject, you probably will want to consider submitting a proposal for a presentation to be made at the Institute’s annual conference, which will be held at Canisius College, in Buffalo, on March 2-4. The theme of this year’s conference will be From Greece to Wall St.: Global Economic Revolutions and Critical Animal Studies, and they are seeking presentations from a wide variety of disciplines on a wide variety of topics, including Critical Criminology, Animals in Relations to Religion and Spirituality, Social Networking, and Redefining Nature. The proposal only needs to be 500 words, so even though it’s also due on January 15, there’s no reason not to jump on this and get it in.

As most of you already know, Vegan Mainstream not only “provides marketing solutions” to vegan businesses, but also empowers and supports an eager and thriving vegan community (such as through their Facebook page, which is interactive and full of current AR happenings). The upcoming webinars are one hour long, totally free, and — if you ask me — a much more productive way of spending your lunch hour than playing Snood (which, okay, I also thoroughly enjoy).

Another set of upcoming animal-themed webinars come to us thanks to the ASPCA, are also one hour long and offered at no cost, and focus on the subject of animal abuse, with an emphasis on animal law. They include “The AniCare Approach for Treating Animal Abuse: What it is and how you can use it,” “Non-Human DNA in Criminal Cases,” “The Psychological Aspects of Maltreated Animals,” and “Common Issues Law Enforcement and Prosecutors Confront When Investigating and Litigating ‘Puppy Mill’ Cases.”

Also on the webinar circuit is Julie Lewin, the passionate activist behind the book Get Political for Animals. Though not yet up on the website, we hear through the grapevine that she will next be offering her series of webinars on that same topic starting later this month. On January 21, at 1 pm EST, you can view “Get Political for Animals and Win the Laws They Need in Your Town, City, County or State”; on Sunday, January 29, at 1 pm EST there’s “How the Lawmaking Process Really Works — and How Your Political Group for Animals Impacts Each Step”; and, on Sunday, February 5, at 1 pm EST, you can see, “How to Launch and Run a Political Organization for Animals in Your Town, City, County or State — and the Simple Steps It Takes to Do It.” These sound like the perfect next step for those who were intrigued by what our intern Sally so eloquently talked about last week – changing the law for animals. In addition to the above scheduled webinars, Julie even offers private ones, all as part of the National Institute for Animal Advocacy. To register, first email Julie at jlewin[at]nifaa.org and, once she tells you there’s still an opening, donate what you can afford on the website. Don’t forget to join her email list to stay up to speed about current webinars.

We at Our Hen House have talked about using Webinars for Animal Rights before. Beyond just attending the ones that Vegan Mainstream, the ASPCA, and Julie Lewin are offering — and ones that other advocacy groups have offered in the past, sometimes even as online conferences — maybe you want to go further into webinar world. If you are a person with a unique skill set that can be plugged into changing the world (and we all have one, folks, as we discussed in our recent workshop on activism that is now available online), perhaps its time for you to dust off your webcam and start your own webinar. These can include subjects such as vegan nutrition, using art to speak up for animals, Leafleting 101, animal law, and about a bzillion other pro-animal themed subjects.

Another plus? You don’t have to leave your living room. You can even be naked from the waist down, and no one would know. Which gives me an idea: “Change the World Wearing No More than a Necktie?” Perhaps…

Now, you can view the entire workshop for free on the Lewis & Clark website (just fyi — viewing it requires that your computer be up to date with Silverlight). It’s a good workshop to even have on in the background as you do house chores or the likes. In other words, you only really need to hear it.

Even more exciting for us (since we did, in fact, already attend our own workshop) is that the vast majority of the workshops presented throughout the weekend are now up on the Lewis & Clark site. We are pretty stoked to catch up on some of the ones we missed, and revisit the workshops we already attended. Some highlights include “Drawing Connections Between Animal Law and Other Disciplines” by Taimie Bryant and Maneesha Deckha, “Developing New Legal Theories to Help Animals: Benefits and Limitations” by Kathy Hessler and Matthew Liebman, and “Where Did Your Food Really Come From? A Guide to Food Labeling,” by Carter Dillard and Will Fantle.

In today’s episode, we will discuss what makes some people act in unethical ways. This topic was inspired by a couple we passed “oo-ing” and “ahh-ing” in front of a puppy store, discussing which one to buy. It made us think of this saying by RD Laing:

In order to change something: The range of what we see and do is limited by what we fail to notice. And because we fail to notice that we fail to notice, there is little we can do to change until we notice how failing to notice shapes our thoughts and deeds.

We’ll talk about that, and ruminate on how, as animal advocates, we can help people notice that they’re… failing to notice.

We’ll also banter about Portlandia, TOFU Magazine (check out the interview with Jasmin in Issue Six), and the new, raw, NYC restaurant that found its way into our hearts, Gingersnap’s Organic.

Joining us today is longtime activist, Bruce Friedrich, who will tell us about the plans he has with his new role at Farm Sanctuary – including the “Someone, Not Something” campaign, and how he intends to involve local community in ending animal cruelty and adopting a vegan diet.

For our review, Our Hen House’s brilliant intern, Sally Tamarkin, will join us for a fun look at the new board game, Fur & Feathers, which is dedicated to educating children and adults on the importance of remembering how our everyday choices affect the lives of animals. Not to ruin anything, but let’s just say that Jasmin kicked some ass. (And through the end of February, enter code “OURHENHOUSE” when you purchase your very own Fur & Feathers board game, and Our Hen House will get $5 of the purchase!)

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

This week’s news items include:

• “Long awaited legislation outlaws puppy farming in Ireland” from Irish Central
• “Sculptured by Weights and a Strict Vegan Diet” from The New York Times
• “FDA limites 1 class of antibiotics in livestock as public health groups urge gov’t to do more” from The Washington Post
• “Livestock Groups, Egg Industry at Odds Over HSUS Deal” from Food Safety News
• “Justice And A Safe Haven For Chicago’s Court Case Dogs” from Forbes

“It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it.” -Lena Horne

You can listen to our podcast directly on our blog (below!) or you can listen and 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!  Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation. If you’re a weekly listener, you might consider making a recurring monthly donation. Any amount is hugely appreciated, and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so it’s tax-deductible! Don’t forget — we’re reader and listener supported. Plus, we offer some fantastic thank you gifts for your donations. Thank you for helping us to create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new, hour-long podcast each week!

Photo at top of blog: Courtesy of Farm Sanctuary. Photo by Connie Pugh. 

March 30-31, 2012

Of course, humans share their vulnerability not only with other humans, but with all the sentient creatures of this planet. That is why it is exciting to see that the latest project of this Initiative is a workshop entitled, “An Uncomfortable Conversation: Human Use of Animals.” And it’s also exciting to see that it recognizes that, not only do animals share humans’ vulnerability, they are additionally vulnerable to the enormous suffering imposed upon them by humans.

A few of the guiding questions for the workshop are: “Where do our obligations to animals originate — their capacity to suffer or other morally relevant properties; rights; relation to humans, and/or vulnerability to harm?” “What is the significance of the fact that humans create and control the permanent dependency of domestic animals?” and “Are animals made vulnerable by their legal status as property, human creation, or use, and how should individuals, private entities, or the state respond to such vulnerability?”

If these are the kind of questions that intrigue you, a call for papers has been issued, and proposals are due on February 1, 2012. The workshop itself will be held on March 30-31, 2012.

During that time, I was the lead organizer and coordinator of a coalition called ctEQUALITY. We were a group of over 40 organizations who were leading a campaign to pass a transgender non-discrimination bill in Connecticut. The coalition had been at it for several years — the bill had been raised repeatedly and died at some point during the legislative session each time — but we felt like 2011 was our year. And it was.

Change the world for animals... through legislation.

In October 2011, Connecticut became the 15th state to include gender identity and gender expression in its non-discrimination laws. This was a hard-earned, satisfying, and important victory. One of things that made it so meaningful was the number of people — everyday Connecticut folks — who got involved in our effort by talking to their legislators about why our bill was so important to them, their families, and their communities. And the legislators listened. There is little I’ve experienced that is as rewarding as watching a legislator stand up during a vote and, in remarks to her colleagues about why she will support your bill, reference a meeting with a constituent that educated her on our issue, thereby persuading her to cast a vote in our favor. Call me a nerd, but democracy in action is pretty darn cool.

Over the course of 2010 and 2011, I evolved into a brazen advocate. While I was once shy about even talking to my state senator’s aide over the phone, I turned into a loudmouth who wouldn’t hesitate to tap a legislator on the shoulder while in line at the Legislative Office Building’s cafeteria. I knew my issue and talking points so well that I actually relished any opportunity I had to make a case for my bill.

Now that I am almost six months vegan (5 months and 23 days, to be exact), I am itching to use my passion for legislative advocacy to change the world for animals. I’ve read about the changes that can be made at the state level, whether through ballot initiatives, like California’s Prop 2, also known as the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act, which prospectively eliminates veal crates, gestation crates, and battery cages, or through the legislature, like Oregon’s SB 616, which, when it was signed into law this past June, allowed judges to include companion animals when protecting domestic abuse survivors via restraining orders. These are just two examples of successful state laws passed for animals.

However, while it’s clear that my interest in animal rights can be easily funneled into legislative advocacy, I have been pretty intimidated at the thought of going there because I’ve only ever really talked to people I know about my veganism, and about my interest in animal protection.

Then something dawned on me. Legislators are people I know. They’re my neighbors, people I follow on Twitter, my Facebook friends, the folks I run into at the farmers’ market. I must’ve made this same point a bazillion time when I was trying to persuade ctEQUALITY’s prospective volunteers and citizen activists to reach out to their legislators. If I can articulate to a peer, colleague or neighbor why a certain issue is important to me and my community, I’m basically 75% of the way to lobbying my state representative!

If you’re like me and are either new to animal rights or new to legislative advocacy, I invite you to make 2012 the year you tune into how animals are faring in your community and state, and start talking about it with the people you elected to represent you. With that in mind, I have a couple of steps that might help ease you through the process.

This place is full of your friends and neighbors.

1. Find out who your state representative and senator are. My favorite way to do this is to visit Project VoteSmart and look up my reps by my 9 digit ZIP code. (You will need those extra 4 digits that come after your ZIP code, which you can quickly look up at the USPS website.) Project VoteSmart should tell you who all of your elected officials are. For finding your state legislators, you will want to click on “State Legislative.”

2. Find their contact info. In most cases, Project VoteSmart is great about linking you to all kinds of contact info. However, if it’s not telling you how to contact your legislators, you can find out easily enough by going to the website of your state legislature, which you can find using the super handy database at the National Conference of State Legislatures.

3. Familiarize yourself with the issue. Google around. Find out what organizations are already advocating on this issue, and then ask them for their talking points and tips about how to approach your legislator. Animal Legal Defense Fund offers a handy tool to tell you what the laws are like in your state, and the Humane Society of the United States will tell you about much of the animal-related legislation currently pending in your state. The best part is that, as a citizen activist, you’re not expected to know tons of heady legal information or wonky policy data about whatever issue you want to discuss. You’re expected to know the issue, sure, but more importantly, to be able to passionately assert why something is so important to you. And you can expand “you” to include your family, friends, children, community, etc.

4. Get in touch. In-person contact is best, but a phone call, email, tweet or Facebook message is a great start. I really like this list of pointers when it comes to the actual conversation you’re going to have with your legislators. Take a look to give you a sense of how the meeting should go. Once you  make contact, you can make your case over the phone or in an email, or you can make an appointment to visit your legislator’s office or meet in the district somewhere — maybe over a soy latte at a nearby coffee house, or in a local park. If you have likeminded friends and neighbors, so much the better — invite your legislator to a local home where you will all be gathered (don’t forget the vegan cupcakes). Remember that legislators are most persuaded by those who have the power to vote them in (or out) of office, so gathering people from other districts, or talking with legislators outside of your district, will be less effective.

These are just a few tips to start getting involved in policy advocacy in your community. For most people, it just takes getting over the initial hump of not knowing who their legislators are and/or being intimidated about making contact. Remember that laws in our communities are made by passionate advocates who are persistent and committed, and aren’t afraid to let those with the power to make laws know it.

If you’re intrigued by legislative advocacy to benefit animals, you might also check out Julie Lewin’s book, Get Political for Animals and Win the Laws They Need, which is a must-read for any animal advocate interested in lobbying for change. Farm Sanctuary also has some helpful pointers on their website, including “How to Lobby for Farm Animals in Your State Legislature and in Congress,” “A Resource Guide to Bill Drafting,” “Raise Farm Animal Awareness at a Town Hall Meeting,” and, for our Northern neighbors, “Advocating for Farm Animals in Canada.”

As for myself, I certainly didn’t start out as a teacher. I am a lawyer, and have been for longer than I care to admit in this blog entry. But law was one of the first areas of academia to focus on animal issues in a serious way, and law schools were eager to find people with some expertise in the brand new field of animal law to teach courses. Thus, about 5 years ago, my teaching career was born.

These days, when I’m not running Our Hen House with Jasmin, I teach animal law as an adjunct at 3 law schools in New York City — positions I hold near to my heart, even if it has caused me a few grey hairs in the process. Incidentally, those grey hairs are thanks to the nature of the work itself, given that I am, since birth, an introvert. It has nothing to do with my incredible and eager students, nor does it involve the coursework, which I frequently find riveting. There are so many aspects of teaching that I love — but, let me tell you, I never thought I would be the one standing at the podium. I have found that, sometimes, animal advocacy combines with life in an unusual and unpredictable way. I am, indeed, “the professor and Mariann.” (If you are too young to get that reference, I don’t even want to know about it.)

If you’ve never taught before, it may — at first, anyway — seem a bit daunting. It certainly did for me (and, truth be told, it still has its moments). In order to ease your way in, one way to start fairly small is to explore the adult education resources in your area. Perhaps there is a formal adult education program at your local community college, or your nearby high school. Or perhaps your community library has adult ed programs. Or there may be a private provider of continuing education courses, such as New York’s Open Center. Look at the current course offerings and think about what sort of class you would want to pitch that would fit in with the type of courses they offer. One idea might be a broad introduction to the issues involved in animal rights. Another idea is a focus on animals in food production. Or, if you’re a lawyer, you could teach one on the fundamentals of animal law. That could be a great opportunity to inform people on the laws concerning some of the everyday issues that confront them regarding their pets, while also broadening their knowledge-base about animal exploitation.

Can you cook? (If so, feel free to drop by for dinner.) A course in the fundamentals of vegan cooking is one of the most valuable things you could offer someone who wants to live more compassionately, but doesn’t know where to start. And such a course could give you the entrée (pun intended) to offer people some much-needed information about vegan nutrition. People are hungry for this information (pun intended again), and, as you make it available to them, you can literally save their lives — along with the animals. How’s that for food for thought?

If you have some academic credentials, you might want to think about moving beyond adult education. Animal studies is now a growing and vibrant part of almost every academic field, as the New York Times has recently recognized, and undergraduate courses in animal studies are booming, as is also evident from the directory kept by the Animals and Society Institute. Our friend David Wolfson, who has taught animal law for many years, is now teaching an undergraduate Animals and Public Policy course at New York University, as part of their minor in Animal Studies. These kinds of opportunities are going to be growing by leaps and bounds, and there are not that many people with the expertise to fill them. Moreover, we certainly don’t want to see the field of animal studies coopted by industry, or by people with a shortsighted view of the issues.

Needless to say, undergraduate teaching gigs may be difficult to get for the beginner. However, community colleges could certainly be a possibility. It’s 2012 — the year of taking chances! That’s according to me, anyhow — and I just made that up right now. But, hey, let’s go with it. If teaching is something you’ve always wanted to do, but it seems scary to you, that’s because it’s a Big Deal. But it’s also a totally necessary step in terms of long-term change for animals, and there are ways of approaching it that are both attainable and fulfilling. It doesn’t have to be terrifying. Don’t make it harder than it is.

While we’re on the subject, if you are, like me, a lawyer, remember that there are still not a lot of people out there with an expertise in animal law, and there are a ton of law schools adding courses — so the possibility of getting an adjunct professorship is very real. If there’s already a course at your local law school, think about pitching a separate course on, say, companion animal law, or farmed animal law, or some kind of other subset of animal law. Or, if all of this seems way too daunting, think about hooking up with your bar association to teach a Continuing Legal Education program on your area of expertise. Believe me, one thing can lead to another!

Maybe teaching feels outside your comfort zone. If so, try to rethink. While you may have to brush up your public speaking skills (Toastmasters, anyone?) or overcome your shyness (if I can do it, anyone can), you already possess the most important thing that any teacher can have — the truth.

Whether or not you’re into New Year’s resolutions per se, early January — the time when the holiday mayhem is over (and yes, that was me shouting it from the rooftop this morning) — is the perfect time to size up our pro-animal projects, and perhaps get out the drafting paper for some new ones. Or revamp the ones we’ve got. It’s time to take stock and act accordingly.

I am also a big fan of reassessing. I think an ongoing discussion we should all be having with ourselves is: “Self, what are my life goals? In what ways am I working toward them? Through my job? My volunteer work? Both? Is there anything I need to adjust in order to better work toward my life goal?”

With all of this in mind, the post-holiday season is ideal for reevaluating our animal activism, and figuring out where we can and should step it up. Tied into that is, of course, the sustainability factor — and I’m not talking about hemp socks or hybrid cars. I’m talking about our own sustainability. The animals need us to be in this for the long run. Are we positioned to stick around? While the fact that in the U.S. alone, 286 chickens are killed every second, may make this a life-threatening emergency that must be addressed RIGHT NOW, are we nevertheless fighting the good fight in a way that takes care of our own needs, too?

Below are 10 questions that might help you take stock of where your advocacy is as we start 2012. As always, check in daily with Our Hen House (and weekly with our podcast) for ideas and opportunities to change the world for animals.

10 Questions Animal Advocates Should Ask Themselves 

1. Am I effectively doing what I can in my life to change the world for animals?
2. Am I appropriately putting my talents and skills into use with regards to my animal activism?
3. Am I feeling fulfilled in the process? Is there anything I can do to feel more fulfilled?
4. Even though working in animal rights can be hideously depressing and infuriating, am I noticing the tiny victories along the way? Am I seeing the good stuff?
5. Is my activism sustainable or am I on the fast-track to burnout? If it’s not sustainable, why not? What do I need to do to change it up? Perhaps that means temporarily shifting my focus, whether to a different animal issue, or a different tactic?
6. Do I have a safe space around me — through my romantic relationship or my social circles, or even online — in which to express my fears and desires as they pertain to my animal activism?
7. Is there a dream I have for promoting animal rights that I am ready to work toward?
8. Am I taking care of myself? Do I have enough energy? Am I getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods, and getting enough exercise?
9. Am I learning something new every day that will further enrich my own knowledge and insights regarding animal issues?
10. Am I remembering that, just as I have mentors, I am probably a mentor to someone else — even if I don’t know to whom? Therefore, am I setting a good example?

With that in mind, we felt that the appropriate way to start 2012 is with a review of Super Immunity: The Essential Nutrition Guide for Boosting Your Body’s Defenses to Live Longer, Stronger, and Disease Free, by Dr. Joel Fuhrman, M.D. Sharing her wisdom once again with us is guest reviewer, Carrie Forrest. This is Carrie’s second book review for Our Hen House. When she is not studying for her graduate degree in public health nutrition, and finishing the coursework to become a registered dietitian, Carrie loves to visit farmers’ markets around California’s central coast, and post healthy, plant-based recipes on her popular blog, Carrie on Vegan (which is one of our absolute favorite go-to places for healthy vegan recipes). 

In addition to taking care of ourselves, gifting books that focus on plant-based foods can be just the ticket to get our Aunt Ida to try on vegan for size. Even though the gift-giving season is officially over, the season of sharing scrumptious, nutritious vegan food is year-round. Super Immunity is yet another resource for us in terms of making headway with the health argument for veganism. Hook ‘em with health, and while they are enjoying the benefits that come from eating this way, slip them a copy of, say, Eating Animals, and you have your very own activist in the making.

And don’t miss your very own opportunity to win a copy of Super Immunity. Read on for details (and for a healthy cake recipe that you absolutely must try). 

***

Eating Your Way to Super Immunity

Review by Carrie Forrest

For a multitude of reasons, I was one of those kids who was often sick. Starting every year in late fall, I found myself battling cold after cold, missing school and going to the doctor  – only to be prescribed another round of antibiotics. Up until my early 30′s, a plane ride inevitably meant the onset of a virus upon reaching my destination.

Finally, a few years ago, I started making the connections between diet and health. The turning point in taking charge of my health destiny was discovering the Eat to Live program (and the book by the same title by Dr. Joel Fuhrman, M.D). As many of you may already know, Dr. Fuhrman — who has been featured on Our Hen House’s podcast — is a family-practice physician who advocates a diet based on the scientific evidence that shows eating a diet rich in micronutrients from whole, plant-based foods is optimal for human health.

In late 2011, Dr. Fuhrman released a new book, Super Immunity: The Essential Nutrition Guide for Boosting Your Body’s Defenses to Live Longer, Stronger, and Disease Free, which offers more evidence showing how we can transform our immune system from weak or damaged (thanks to the Standard American Diet), to one that is of a “superhero” quality, and can ward off dangerous bacteria, viruses, and — in some cases — even cancer.

In fact, the bulk of Dr. Fuhrman’s advice in this book is about fighting cancer and building the strongest defenses possible against that risk. In Super Immunity, he cites research that “the lifetime probability of being diagnosed with an invasive cancer is 44 percent for men and 37 percent for women. However, because of the earlier median age of diagnosis for breast cancer compared with other major cancers, women have a slightly higher probability of developing cancer before the age of sixty. Currently, one in four deaths in the United States is due to cancer.”

While these statistics are scary, Dr. Fuhrman counters them with recommendations that can significantly reduce the risk of cancer development, along with reducing the risk for many of the other diet-related diseases that commonly kill Americans. In short, his immune-building advice centers around consuming a diet that is plant-based, consisting of primarily vegetables (especially green ones), fruits, beans, nuts, seeds and whole grains.

My favorite section of this book is the one entitled “Super Foods for Super Immunity” because it describes the research and mechanisms that give certain foods properties to fight both cancer and infections. The most immune-enhancing foods are cruciferous vegetables, mushrooms, onions, garlic, pomegranates, berries and seeds. The point is to consume generous amounts of these foods because “phytochemicals are the fuel that run our body’s anticancer defenses.”

In the chapter regarding how to fight colds and flu, Dr. Fuhrman reviews the evidence regarding some common remedies, some of which he shows have not been proven to be effective. One example — the traditional “chicken soup” remedy has no scientific basis and, in fact, could slow the recovery process because the body has to work harder to digest animal protein. Other unproven strategies include taking vitamin C, using a humidifier, irrigating the nose, and taking echinacea. Dr. Fuhrman’s advice for when you are ill is to avoid unnecessary medications and supplements and to simply rest, reduce food intake, and let your body heal naturally.

Dr. Fuhrman’s comments on the flu vaccine are thought-provoking, too. As a future health professional, I’ve always advocated on behalf of vaccines. His point is that “the flu is not a dangerous disease in healthy individuals,” and that the evidence that the vaccine actually reduces the number of people hospitalized or missing work is shaky. Also, besides the fact that there are known risks to any vaccination — including the flu shot — the vaccine usually covers less than 10 percent of the viruses circulating. Other controversial topics he tackles include folic acid intake for pregnant women, the health benefits (or lack thereof) of coffee, pesticides in our food supply, and the safety of soy products.

In the chapter “Healthy Carbs, Fats and Proteins,” Dr. Fuhrman explains how a nutrient-rich diet contributes overall to a superior immune system. He addresses common nutritional myths that a very low-fat diet is healthiest (it’s not!), and that sea salt is not as dangerous as regular salt (it is!). As a vegan and future registered dietitian, I was fascinated by the research he presented on protein, including how animal protein increases insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in the body, which has associations with increased rates of cancer.

Overall, Super Immunity offers a wealth of information for anyone wanting to reduce his or her risk against disease. Dr. Fuhrman distills the complex, scientific research into clear suggestions for the healthiest way to proceed. He concludes the book with a section devoted to recipes, using many of the superfoods he describes.

One of my favorite all-time recipes by Dr. Fuhrman is the one for a “Healthy Chocolate Cake,” which you’ll find below. While it is intended to be consumed on special occasions, it is indeed made from health-promoting ingredients and, in fact, is absolutely delicious. I have found Dr. Fuhrman’s recipes in general to be outstanding. If you are new to this way of cooking and eating, it takes a little while to adjust to the lack of salt and oil. However, I encourage you to read his books, check out his website, and discover for yourself how what you eat can drastically change your health for the better.

And keep scrolling for your chance to win your own copy of Super Immunity: The Essential Nutrition Guide for Boosting Your Body’s Defenses to Live Longer, Stronger, and Disease Free, by Dr. Joel Fuhrman, M.D.

***

Healthy Chocolate Cake (re-printed with permission from the publisher)

Serves: 12

For the Cake:

1 ¾ cups whole-wheat pastry flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

3 teaspoons baking soda

3 ½ cups pitted dates, divided

1 cup pineapple chunks in own juice, drained

1 banana

1 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 cup shredded raw beets

¾ cup shredded raw carrots

½ cup shredded raw zucchini

3 tablespoons natural, nonalkalized cocoa powder

½ cup currants

1 cup chopped walnuts

1 ½ cups water

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

For the Chocolate Nut Icing:

1 cup raw macadamia nuts and/or raw cashews

1 cup vanilla soy, hemp or almond milk

2/3 cup pitted dates

1/3 cup brazil nuts or hazelnuts

2 tablespoons cocoa powder

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Unbaked cake...

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix flour, baking powder and baking soda in a small bowl. Set aside. In blender or food processor, puree 3 cups of the dates, pineapple, banana and applesauce. Slice remaining ½ cup dates into ¼-inch pieces. In large bowl, mix sliced dates, beets, carrots, zucchini, cocoa powder, currants, walnuts, water, vanilla and flour mixture. Add the blended mixture and mix well. Spread in a 9 x 13-inch nonstick baking pan.

Bake for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. For the icing, use a high-powered blender and combine all icing ingredients until smooth and creamy. Spread on cooled cake.

Final cake with icing. YUM!

***

The publisher has kindly agreed to send a copy to one lucky reader! To enter to win a copy, simply make a comment on this post telling us why, as an animal advocate, it is important to you to stay healthy — and what techniques you use to do so. This can also include healthy resolutions or hopes you have for the New Year. A random winner will be chosen after Monday, January 9, 2012, at midnight, EST — which is when the contest ends.

In today’s episode, we are putting aside our stomach virus and sharing with you – not our virus – but our feelings about the recent 42 million dollar donation to Heifer International, our experiences being perceived as the difficult vegans at our Christmas dinner, and our hopes for the New Year, vis a vis changes to our attitudes.

Joining us on this extra special episode – the last of 2011 – is nutritionist and writer, Gena Hamshaw. Gena, who is the mastermind behind the uber-popular blog, Choosing Raw, will let us in on how much raw food vegans should ideally have in their diets. She’ll also talk about how she incorporates animal activism into her mostly food-centric platform. And she’ll discuss disordered eating, and how veganism can act as a healing mechanism for people who have struggled with these issues. Gena will discuss loads more, too. You won’t want to miss this year-end interview with an incredibly articulate and insightful woman who is on the road to taking the medical profession by storm, the vegan way.

Then, Our Hen House’s Hollywood correspondent, Ari Solomon (of “Shit Vegans Say” fame), will be joining us for a very special musical tribute to some of the vegan and AR highlights of 2011. We flex our vocal chords too. Don’t miss this.

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

This week’s news items include:

• “Leaving Animals Out of the Cosmetics Picture” from the New York Times
• “Butterball Turkey Raided Amid Animal Abuse Allegations” from ABC News
• “How Smart Is This Bird? Let It Count the Ways” from the New York Times
• “An Idyllic Picture of Serenity, but Only If You’re Not Inside” from the New York Times
• “Liberty, the last battery hen in Britian, is set free” from Metro
• “Fur Coats Banned at Animal Lover’s East Side Bars” from DNAinfo.com

“Activism is the rent I pay for living on this planet.” -Alice Walker

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Photo at top of blog from Choosing Raw.

There are dozens and dozens of job openings at PETA.

As for me, though it was my friend Marisa Miller Wolfson (of Vegucated) who, 8 years ago, showed me some footage of factory farming, effectively turning my long-time vegetarianism into full-fledged, passionate veganism — it was the subsequent week-long volunteer trip I took to PETA that brought my activism into full-swing.

If you’re in the market for a job in animal rights, there are currently 41 openings with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals in the U.S. alone. They fit every category you can think of, including administration, media, communications, campaigning, science, and investigations. And the domestic openings span the country — from NYC, to Washington, DC, to Norfolk, VA, to Los Angeles, to even a few telecommuting positions. There are also ample PETA positions overseas, such as in Asia, Australia, India, and the UK.

In browsing around, some of the highlights of these positions included, for me anyway, Media Officers, both in NYC and in DC, a Production Artist in Norfolk, a Celebrity Marketing Coordinator in PETA’s brand-spanking new office in LA, a Translator for PETA Asia, and a Campaign Coordinator in either PETA India or in Japan. There are literally dozens more.

I am, to say the least, in absolute awe of the amount of materials PETA produces, and, as is evidenced by our first paragraph, the amount of  influential changemakers it has created (superstar phenomenon Maggie Q is one of thousands of celebrities who also attributes her animal rights and vegan awakening to PETA). Even though many of them have gone on to have their own spin on their activism and outlook, there is no question as to who was at the root of their awakening.

All of this said, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again (and again and again): You do not need to work for an animal rights organization, or a vegan restaurant, or a vegan PR firm, in order to create change for animals. Truly, one of the most powerful things you can do for animals is to spread the message of non-violence and compassion in your everyday lives in a way that works for you. That is clearly the essence of what we talk about here in Our Hen House. Changemakers come in all shapes and sizes. We hope that the multimedia tools and resources we offer daily help you to figure out what shape and size you are, and how to plug that into animal activism.

But for those of you whose hearts desire nothing greater than a job in animal rights — I get that. I spent years working for AR organizations, including as the campaigns manager at Farm Sanctuary (by the way, they are also hiring) – a job I held very close to my heart, and a position that allowed my activism to grow by leaps and bounds. And, of course, I am lucky enough to write for my favorite publication on the planet, VegNews Magazine (shameless plug: keep an eye out for my article, “Veganism Saved My Life,” in the February 2012 issue). And, as you can see, I started my own advocacy organization. So if there’s one thing I understand, it’s the unrelenting gnawing at your heartstrings that leaves you no other choice but to pursue a career in vegan advocacy and animal rights. Just know that you don’t have to go down that road to change the world for animals. But if you do, I hope that some of the resources we highlighted this week are helpful to you. And I wish you the best of luck in your search, and a happy, healthy, compassionate, changemaking New Year.

So it’s no wonder that so many of those who care about animals are eager to get involved in legal work. Of course, many, many lawyers who care about animals don’t make animal law their career. Instead, they help out animal organizations by doing pro bono work whenever they can. Or, even better, by bringing lawsuits that do good for the animals and make them a lot of money at the same time. But for those who want to do this full-time, there are some opportunities out there. Here are a few current ones:

For law students, an upaid summer internship with an animal protection organization is the most valuable experience that you can get, regardless of whether you ultimately make animal law your full-time career, or your part-time passion. Compassion Over Killing is seeking legal interns for this summer and I can’t think of a better learning opportunity than working with Cheryl Leahy, COK’s general counsel and one of the best and the brightest that animal law has to offer. For more information, contact COK at legal[at]cok.net. The Humane Society of the United States is also seeking interns for their crack legal department.

On the professor front, Lewis and Clark University currently has a few outstanding opportunities. They are seeking a visiting faculty member to teach animal law starting in the 2012-2013 academic year . They are also seeking an administrator (with teaching responsibilities) for their brand spanking new LLM program in animal law. And even if you’re not a professor, if you have an expertise in animal law, don’t hesitate to check out whether you local law school has a course in animal law. If not, you may be just the person they are looking for to start one up.

Careers in Animal Law

Lawyers who want a job practicing law with an animal protection organization have to look to organizations large enough to have a legal department, or at least a general counsel, and these will not always be organizations with a specifically vegan philosophy. But, as long as the job doesn’t involve work that you actually don’t believe in, that can actually present a wonderful opportunity to bring a vegan philosophy into your workplace. These jobs can be hard to find, but they’re out there. One organization that is looking right now is the ASPCA, which wants to fill two remote positions, Legal Advocacy Counsel, which will involve the provision of back-up and hands-on assistance to prosecutors and investigators involved in animal cruelty cases across the country, and State Legislative Director. Another possibility is to look for an opportunity on the environmental side of animal law. For example, Defenders of Wildlife is currently seeking an Endangered Species Policy Associate, and Earthjustice is seeking associate attorneys in its offices in Florida and Alaska.

For further ideas on how to find a job in animal law, or to fit animal law into your career, you might want to check out Yolanda Eisenstein’s new book, Careers in Animal Law.

How you spend your day is how you spend your life.

I realize that it sounds obvious or like simple common sense, but this quote is something I come back to every so often when I need to be reminded that although jobs that are disconnected from my values might be more plentiful (not to mention more lucrative), I know that for me, it’s important to marry the gig that pays my bills with the beliefs that make me who I am, because, to whatever extent I can, I want to spend my days and therefore my life promoting social justice.

If your mind runs in the same direction, there is an incredible opportunity at Vegan Mainstream, which provides marketing services for vegan professionals (bloggers, authors, business owners, entrepreneurs, and so on). And don’t let “marketing” make you think this isn’t a kind of social justice work. Anytime we can bring attention to the amazing folks promoting a vegan lifestyle, we’re changing the world for animals.

The position that caught my eye is Public Relations Outreach Manager. It is a part-time gig (5-10 hours per week) for anyone located in Atlanta, San Francisco, Portland, Washington DC, Austin, Chicago, or Philadelphia. The position’s main responsibility is “getting the agency and its work featured in various press and trade publications as well as distributing and managing releases.”

Vegan Mainstream does fantastic work (for one thing, they run the vegan job board that listed this position), and helping them help vegan professionals spread their products, services, and advocacy is a win-win!