"I don't Believe in Vegans"

Here is a photo (note the conclusion at the bottom):

Check out the awesome response at My Face Is On Fire.

My response to the "there is no such thing as a vegan" is like my friend Grace's response to "I don't believe in abortion":

Well, they EXIST.

Another Quick Link to Inspiration..

Part of my major problem when I first went vegetarian (about 7 years ago) and then vegan (about 6 months ago with a few occasional slip-ups that I am really, really working on!!!!) was the utter lack, of under-emphasis on, the ways in which food "choices" are greatly constrained not only by culture, but by material circumstances.

Many people cannot (1) afford to buy healthy food options; (2) do not have access to fresh produce, vegetables and non-GMO meat-substitutes and other veg products anywhere near their neighborhood; or, (3) do not have access to knowledge about genetic modification of food, dangers of food (particularly meat and dairy), and what to do to pressure those in power to make sure they get it. Well, I stumbled across this AMAZING website, Appetite for Justice by Food Empowerment Project. I think that every, single last damn vegan in the world should be reading about the important social justice activism this group is doing and support (however they can) the work that they do.

Here is a link to their most recent study as well.

Something Inspriational

By all accounts, I am far more angst-ridden and too busy being irritated most of the time (whether it's from teaching my 5 classes, being disrespected and/or treated like a sex object by my students, not having any $$$, hearing something racist/sexist/homophobic/specieist, having to clean-up cat puke when I come home from working for 10 hours) to really stop and think about the amazing things I have in my life. (I am trying to work on that!) I also do not often stop to really think about being a "Joyful Vegan," in the words of Colleen Patrick-Goudreau or about how I decided to stop eating meat and why, or what I am actually doing to make a difference. Of course, I had better start if I want to get this super cute necklace at Colleen's site (and you KNOW I do!)

Part of this, of course, is due to my Marxist-Feminist inclinations on collective action as a necessary catalyst for social change (so, I do not always *or ever* think of my food choices as being activism) and the other part is due in large part to my feeling that my individual actions simply do not do much in terms of eradicating environmental racism/classism, ending exploitation of animals, bridging gaps between various types of oppressions and violent behaviors and a slew of other things. I could talk about this for a while; however, I have not completely formulated my thoughts on the subject. I will post on it in-depth once I sort out the various theoretical/practical inclinations I have and how those relate (or don't) to other passions I have. Part of this searching for information involves looking for things for inspiration and once in a while I stumble upon a website and links to videos that at least make me feel as if I am doing something--and validate that what I am doing is not "bourgeois," "unimportant" or "stupid."

So, I would like to thank Lindsay at Kiss Me, I'm Vegan for inspiring me to take on more activism in my area and for providing me with something to smile about. In addition, a wonderful thought-provoking video by the aforementioned Colleen Patrick-Goudreau on female animal exploitation:




And, of course, since I love links to browsing stuff I wish I could have on a Sunday night when I am all prepared for the week (and wrote 1st drafts for 3 of my 7 PhD applications this weekend), I came across Vegan Etsy and this cool video about deciding to go vegan and making the connections between animals we love to play with and animals whose flesh we love to eat:




Inspiration is a great way to end a day!