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August-05-2012
Today was Seafair Sunday in Seattle, WA. The highlights of Seafair are the Navy’s Blue Angels Air Show and the hydroplane races on Lake Washington.
In 2010, we were on our way to the Washington coast and we noticed the Blue Angels at Boeing Field during a practice session. We stopped to watch for a while. It was intense to see and hear five jets take off at once!
It’s really unfortunate that Seafair– year after year– seems to be inextricably linked with the Oh Boy! Oberto company. Why?
I discovered on the Miss Madison Unlimited Hydroplane website that:
“The Obertos’ Seattle-based meat products business is the second oldest corporate sponsor in Unlimited racing.”
No wonder.
In case you didn’t know…The Oberto Sausage Company has been in the business of turning sentient animals– cows, pigs, chickens, and turkeys– into “jerky,” “pepperoni,” and meat “sticks” since 1918.
Here’s something really interesting (if not at all surprising):
Apparently, the Oberto Sausage Company, in partnership with The National MS Society, Greater Washington Chapter, is also “making outstanding strides towards finding a cure for MS.”
How is a sausage company doing that?
In 2009, they were a corporate sponsor for a 2-day MS Society event “to find a cure for MS.” The company provided Oberto sausages to the 10,000 walkers for lunch.
????
Maybe it’s just me, but I find it beyond bizarre that anyone would consider it wise to feed anyone interested in any disease’s “cure” SAUSAGES for a fundraiser lunch.
Furthermore, with respect to Multiple Sclerosis specifically, there is ample evidence that a low-fat plant-based diet is an important factor in:
- preventing the onset of MS,
- decreasing symptom severity, and
- slowing the disease’s progression.
Read this excellent article by Dr. John McDougall for details and references.
I digress. Back to Seafair…
This post was supposed to be about the perpetual “meat pushing” that goes on in mainstream society. Seafair is a case in point: I can’t watch a simple boat race without being literally bombarded by the logo of a company that profits from unnecessarily exploiting and killing animals. (To be clear, they are only in business because people are willing to buy their products.)
Again, it seems beyond bizarre that vegans are the ones constantly being accused of “pushing” a certain kind of diet.
So, there I was watching the “Meatfair” television coverage and I noticed the Twitter feed along the bottom of the television screen. I decided to provide one of the few (if any) anti-meat messages on the television for viewers today:
Yes…GO VEGAN!
By the way– here’s that blueberry ice cream, from Lick It! (Contains blueberries, coconut milk, sugar, agave nectar, non-dairy milk and vanilla bean):
August-01-2012
Today was bittersweet. I’m happy…It’s my 4th veganniversary!
It’s also a very sad day, because today I lost my best goat friend, Bubba.
Every animal has inherent worth, but Bubba was extra special to me. He was sweet as pie, but in a regal and so very dignified way. Often, I would stand close to him and just savor his presence. He wouldn’t walk away for several minutes. I cherish those memories.
I felt a unique connection with Bubba. I loved to crouch down in front of him, hold his face in my hands and just stare into his eyes. What can I say…I love him just like I love my kitties…past and present.
I’m happy that, from now on, I’ll associate Bubba with my veganniversaries…
It is because I went vegan 4 years ago that I sought out the opportunity to work and play with the animal residents of New Moon Farm Goat Rescue & Sanctuary. I started volunteering at the farm within the first couple months of going vegan because I wanted to help “farm” animals in a direct and tangible way.
I’m sure that the animals at the sanctuary have helped me a lot more than I’ve helped them. When I’m alone with the animals, I’m grounded. The serenity of the barn and the pasture is immensely therapeutic.
If I hadn’t gone vegan, I wouldn’t have known Bubba or any of the other goats, sheep, dogs, cats, horses and donkeys of the farm. I also gained a wonderful human friend there. Veganism has blessed me in a thousand…a million…a gazillion ways.
I’m very sad that I won’t ever stand beside Bubba in the pasture again, but I’m happy that he was infinitely loved and so well cared for. Too many animals are not so lucky. If you really think about it, there is really no difference between the animals who are consumed and the animals who are rescued.
I’m vegan for all of the animals. Until my last breath I will use my voice to help liberate innocent animals from unjust servitude.
A kiss from Ellen, the wonderful caregiver of New Moon Farm Goat Rescue
I miss you, Bubba.
(For more pictures of Bubba– and the lucky humans who got to love him– click here.)
Freeheel Vegan 