Boy do I love freebies in the morning! :)
http://dengaku.com/free_off1.php
Monday, July 27, 2009
Monday, June 08, 2009
Why I don't eat fish
My main reason for not eating fish is that I believe no animal has to die for me to live. There are plenty of alternatives to the nutrients found in fish without the cholesterol or risk of dangerous mercury levels. Protein can be achieved through beans, nuts and seeds and whole grains. Omega-3s can be obtained through adding ground flax seed to baked goods, oatmeal, cereal or smoothies. It is a cheap source (at least in my area.) A box of ground flax usually costs less than $2. A few brands of soymilk have added omega-3s and you can take veg sources of omega-3s in supplement form.
A second reason is that there have been new studies done that show that fish are capable of feeling pain. Check them out here.
The third reason is the one that I mentioned was very close to my heart. Even if you don't think fish are sentient enough to warrant concern surely you would think twice about eating animals such as dolphins (who have proven to be very intelligent) and endangered species of shark and turtles. Well, everytime you purchase fish you are supporting the killing of those animals and the destruction of the oceans. Commercial fishing practices often accidentally catch other marine species. Due to lack of space on the boats they are thrown off either already dead or injured. The practices used to catch fish, shrimp and crustaceans destroy the ocean floor.
Please consider at least reducing your intake of fish. You can improve your health, help the animals and help the earth at the same time.
Useful links:
Compassion Over Killing: Aquatic Animals
Shark Conservation: Dangers of Long-lining
Rethinking the Way we Treat Animals
Vegetarian Seafood
Vegan Seafood recipes
Vegan Peace
P.S. If you love Sushi and have a lot of sushi restaurants in your area try the vegetable roll at each place. I find they are different at each place. It's exciting and delicious!
A second reason is that there have been new studies done that show that fish are capable of feeling pain. Check them out here.
The third reason is the one that I mentioned was very close to my heart. Even if you don't think fish are sentient enough to warrant concern surely you would think twice about eating animals such as dolphins (who have proven to be very intelligent) and endangered species of shark and turtles. Well, everytime you purchase fish you are supporting the killing of those animals and the destruction of the oceans. Commercial fishing practices often accidentally catch other marine species. Due to lack of space on the boats they are thrown off either already dead or injured. The practices used to catch fish, shrimp and crustaceans destroy the ocean floor.
Please consider at least reducing your intake of fish. You can improve your health, help the animals and help the earth at the same time.
Useful links:
Compassion Over Killing: Aquatic Animals
Shark Conservation: Dangers of Long-lining
Rethinking the Way we Treat Animals
Vegetarian Seafood
Vegan Seafood recipes
Vegan Peace
P.S. If you love Sushi and have a lot of sushi restaurants in your area try the vegetable roll at each place. I find they are different at each place. It's exciting and delicious!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
How can you be pro-life if you kill people?
I write again with very grave news. With all else going on in this crazy mixed up world, I would like it if just once I was bringing good news about the causes I care about. but, no. Alas, I am not. Today, it is about George Tiller the infamous late-term abortionist. He was recently shot to death while participating as an usher in his church. I really don't understand how anyone could think violence against another living being could be ok? It absolutely isn't. Violence is not justified, it is not justified, it is not justified. My heart goes out to his family and friends as well as my prayers.I can't put it anymore beautifully than Robert George has.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
The ends do NOT justify the means.
Sorry I have been so silent lately. I've got the end of semester fever. Things have been crazy busy, especially with a family member getting married last month. I really wanted to comment on a recent news piece I heard about on the radio. I believe this article in Newsweek covers what the talk show hosts were discussing. Here is a bit of the article:
That's the gist of it. Click on the link to read more of the story. I love animals. I am very adamant that animal testing is morally unacceptable. Let me be very clear: What these animal activists did is not ok. It is NOT OK. It is NOT OK. It is NOT OK. The ends never justify the means when violence and harassment is involved. This is disgraceful and they should be ashamed of themselves. I don't care how important the cause (this goes for activists of any kind not just animals) violence is never the answer. I am thoroughly disappointed in my fellow animal activists. The point of living an animal friendly life is extending your realm of compassion to animals. This means you must have compassion on ALL humans as well. I don't know the religious affiliation of these thugs who did this, but this is especially true for Christian political activists. The actions of these individuals have disgraced the reputation of animal activists everywhere and hurt the movement. Yes, that's right, they are really hurting animals by their actions. I hope staff at UCLA will stay safe and unharassed in the future. I hope a peaceful dialogue can be had on both sides.
Let me leave you with some quotes from an amazing man of peace:
"University of California, Los Angeles, research ophthalmologist Arthur Rosenbaum stepped from his home one morning last June and discovered a firebomb had been planted under his white BMW. Cops evacuated the neighborhood, the bomb squad came, but the device's crude fuse had already fizzled. Rosenbaum's UCLA colleague, neuropharmacologist Edythe London, was less lucky. In October, a garden hose was shoved into a broken window of her Beverly Hills, Calif., home, flooding it, causing thousands of dollars in damage. And then on Feb. 5, a Molotov cocktail detonated on her doorstep, scorching her entryway but failing to burn down the house.
Who would want to target academics? Underground militant animal-rights activists took credit for the attacks, but despite an FBI investigation, no one has been arrested. UCLA officials complain that protesters--angry over the school's use of research primates--have continually harassed, threatened and vandalized the university, as well as its faculty and staff."That's the gist of it. Click on the link to read more of the story. I love animals. I am very adamant that animal testing is morally unacceptable. Let me be very clear: What these animal activists did is not ok. It is NOT OK. It is NOT OK. It is NOT OK. The ends never justify the means when violence and harassment is involved. This is disgraceful and they should be ashamed of themselves. I don't care how important the cause (this goes for activists of any kind not just animals) violence is never the answer. I am thoroughly disappointed in my fellow animal activists. The point of living an animal friendly life is extending your realm of compassion to animals. This means you must have compassion on ALL humans as well. I don't know the religious affiliation of these thugs who did this, but this is especially true for Christian political activists. The actions of these individuals have disgraced the reputation of animal activists everywhere and hurt the movement. Yes, that's right, they are really hurting animals by their actions. I hope staff at UCLA will stay safe and unharassed in the future. I hope a peaceful dialogue can be had on both sides.
Let me leave you with some quotes from an amazing man of peace:
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Porn IS human trafficking.
I don't write about human trafficking as much as I would like. It's an issue that is largely underestimated and under covered.
I just finished reading an eye-opening article in World Magazine's newest issue about the problem of child sex slavery in the United States. Surely, child prostitution is a gross epidemic in other countries, but I had yet to realize the depth of it in my own country.
The most beautiful part of the article was the spotlight on an organization working against it and how they get to the heart of the matter. Sure, they help the girls get out of the bad situations and this is a very important job. However, they are also working on changing a culture that exploits and degrades women.
The Church needs to be a leader in this. We need to speak out about this problem and about the infection of sin in the church. (Christians fall prey to porn too and porn and human trafficking are linked)
http://www.thepinkcross.org/
http://www.humantrafficking.org/updates/469/
I just finished reading an eye-opening article in World Magazine's newest issue about the problem of child sex slavery in the United States. Surely, child prostitution is a gross epidemic in other countries, but I had yet to realize the depth of it in my own country.
The most beautiful part of the article was the spotlight on an organization working against it and how they get to the heart of the matter. Sure, they help the girls get out of the bad situations and this is a very important job. However, they are also working on changing a culture that exploits and degrades women.
The Church needs to be a leader in this. We need to speak out about this problem and about the infection of sin in the church. (Christians fall prey to porn too and porn and human trafficking are linked)
http://www.thepinkcross.org/
http://www.humantrafficking.org/updates/469/
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
12 year olds impassioned speech against abortion
I know this has been picked up by the majority of the pro-life blogs across the internet and has gotten over 200,000 hits on youtube, but just in case anyone hasn't seen it.... please take a look.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOR1wUqvJS4&eurl=http://www.care2.com/c2c/people/profile.html?pid=745236049
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOR1wUqvJS4&eurl=http://www.care2.com/c2c/people/profile.html?pid=745236049
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Take time to love yourself this Valentine's day
Take some time to take care of yourself. I promise it isn't selfish. Especially if you have others counting on you to be refreshed. Here are some tips to stay at the top of your game:
Don't forget quiet time
Health experts now agree that there are many aspects to health including physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. Take some time to slow down. Go somewhere quiet. Get outside in the fresh air, go to a park or a museum where you can be surrounded by something beautiful. If you are a Christian take some time to pray or meditate on scripture.
1 Samuel 25:6 "Long life to you! Good health to you and your household! And good health to all that is yours!"
Shut Off the News
For goodness sake, turn off the news every once in a while! Don't read blogs for a day. They will still be here tomorrow. For political and social activists this can be hard to do, but trust me its important. Being constantly bombarded by depressing news can numb you to the true horrors of this world. It's OK to take a break. Spend time with friends or family doing something fun or new and exciting. You will come back with more energy to combat injustice.
Proverbs 15:30 " A cheerful look brings joy to the heart,
and good news gives health to the bones."
Flaxseeds
Get in your Omega-3s with flaxseeds. Grind them up and sprinkle them on salads, bake them in breads (sweet or savory) or blend them in a smoothie. Other sources are Walnuts and Almonds. Try Odwalla's Berries GoMega bar.
For more information on Omega's click here.
Grace and Peace to you!
Don't forget quiet time
Health experts now agree that there are many aspects to health including physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. Take some time to slow down. Go somewhere quiet. Get outside in the fresh air, go to a park or a museum where you can be surrounded by something beautiful. If you are a Christian take some time to pray or meditate on scripture.
1 Samuel 25:6 "Long life to you! Good health to you and your household! And good health to all that is yours!"
Shut Off the News
For goodness sake, turn off the news every once in a while! Don't read blogs for a day. They will still be here tomorrow. For political and social activists this can be hard to do, but trust me its important. Being constantly bombarded by depressing news can numb you to the true horrors of this world. It's OK to take a break. Spend time with friends or family doing something fun or new and exciting. You will come back with more energy to combat injustice.
Proverbs 15:30 " A cheerful look brings joy to the heart,
and good news gives health to the bones."
Flaxseeds
Get in your Omega-3s with flaxseeds. Grind them up and sprinkle them on salads, bake them in breads (sweet or savory) or blend them in a smoothie. Other sources are Walnuts and Almonds. Try Odwalla's Berries GoMega bar.
For more information on Omega's click here.
Grace and Peace to you!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
