9 March 2008 Issue - Christian Vegetarian Association Update Newsletters


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Update Newsletters
9 March 2008 Issue

1. Latest Issue of Peaceable Kingdom
2. Animals Platform
3. Comment on The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan
4. Upcoming Leafleting Opportunities

1. Latest Issue of Peaceable Kingdom

* One of the NewsNotes tells of a short animated film that can educate viewers of any age about how "downer" cows turn into hamburgers.

* The Zookeeper's Wife, describing the heroism of Antonina and Jan Zabinski in working to save some of the humans and animals during the German decimation of Warsaw, is among the books reviewed.

* The Film Review features A Sacred Duty: Applying Jewish Values to Help Heal the World, which informs viewers about the causes of our present ecological crisis, particularly the major contribution of animal agriculture, and how putting into action the Torah's principles of responsibility and compassion can pull us back from the brink.

* Among the Recipes is a savory peppers-and-tofu dish that will both gratify taste buds and build health.

* Nathan Runkle, the founder of Mercy for Animals, tells his story in "My Pilgrimage."

* The Pioneer for March is Dick Gregory, civil rights hero and comedian who very early extended to animals the principles of nonviolence that he learned from Martin Luther King, Jr.

You can read this issue at http://www.vegetarianfriends.net/issue41.html

Toward the Peaceable Kingdom,
Gracia Fay Ellwood, Editor

2. Animals Platform

In this election year, we should consider how candidates stand on animal issues. For general legislative goals, check out the National Council for Animal Protection’s Animals Platform Working Group comments at

http://animalsandsociety.org/resources/index.php?pid=40&tpid=8

3. Comment on The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan

Pollan discusses how animals on modern factory farms routinely experience painful mutilations without painkillers, stressful crowding, and chronic frustration due to their inability to express instinctive drives. The practice of “Tail-docking” pigs illustrates the inherent cruelty of factory farming. Farmers remove piglets from their mothers at ten days, and the pigs retain a life-long desire to suck and chew. If given the chance, they would bite neighboring pigs’ tails. Normal pigs would fight off such attacks, but stressed, chronically depressed pigs often fail to fight back. Their skin could become infected, which would cost money to treat, leaving farmers with a choice to absorb this expense or kill infected pigs. In order to stop pigs from engaging in this tail-biting “vice,” the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture has recommended that farmers cut off most of the piglets’ tail, which is done without painkillers. However, farmers leave a small stump, which is very sensitive. Consequently, if another pig tries to bite a pig’s tail stump, the pain will be so intense that the pig will fight back, reducing the risk of an infection. While such a strategy to avoid this consequence of factory farming strikes me as diabolical, it makes perfect economic sense, as long as the pain and suffering of pigs have no value. (p. 218)

Stephen Kaufman, M.D.

4. Upcoming Leafleting Opportunities

FL 3/16 Tampa Beyond Measure Tour with tobyMac

TX 3/21 Arlington Beyond Measure Tour with tobyMac

CA 3/21 San Diego The Katinas Christian Rock Concert

NC 3/21 Asheville New Song Christian Rock Concert

CA 3/22 Santa Barbara The Katinas Christian Rock Concert

GA 3/22 Atlanta Natalie Grant Relentless Tour

NE 3/28 Omaha Women of Faith Conference

SC 3/28 Greenville Extraordinary Women Conference

FL 3/28 Jacksonville Living Proof Live with Beth Moore

FL 3/28 New Port Richtie Natalie Grant Relentless Tour

FL 3/29 Boca Raton Natalie Grant Relentless Tour

FL 3/30 Vero Beach Natalie Grant Relentless Tour

AR 4/4 Little Rock Women of Faith Conference

FL 4/4 Miami The Katinas Christian Rock Concert

FL 4/5 Kendall The Katinas Christian Rock Concert

SD 4/9 Brookings Natalie Grant Relentless Tour

MO 4/10 Kansas City Natalie Grant Relentless Tour

WA 4/12 Seattle Natalie Grant Relentless Tour

CA 4/12 Fresno Women of Faith Conference

DC 4/15 Washington Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the USA (huge!)

NY 4/18 New York Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the USA (huge!)

WA 4/18 Spokane Women of Faith Conference

To find out about all upcoming leafleting and tabling opportunities in your area, join the CVA Calendar Group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group.christian_vegetarian/ . Read the home page, and then join. You will then be able to log in anytime to identify upcoming events in your region. Contact Paris at christian_vegetarian@yahoo.com if you might be able to help.

Your question and comments are welcome

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