Chic Vegan

Goals. We all have them. Most of us have put our goals on the back burner because sometimes life just gets in the way. Others are actively trying to achieve their goals but are unsure of how to go about it or how to stay motivated.  Well kids, it is time to get to achieving because you are not getting any younger and the magical dream fairy is not on her way to grant you all of your wishes. Here are some great ideas to help you set and achieve any goal you would like.

“Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.” ~Henry Ford

Set a time frame. You can achieve anything you want to do as long as you give yourself a deadline. If your goal is large and somewhat vague, set a series of mini goals to achieve. For example, if you want to start your own business, choose a date when your business plan needs to be complete. Then set a date when your product development should be done. And so on and so forth.  Just make sure you are being realistic! You are probably not going to be able to write a novel in 6 months or lose 50lbs in 2 weeks. Make sure to give yourself ample time to achieve your goals, but always have an exact date planned out to help you stay on track.

Keep it visible. Write your goal on a piece of paper and hang it in your office, on your fridge or anywhere else it will constantly be seen. While your at it, write down your deadline date. It also helps to keep some inspirational quotes or visuals hung up with it.

One goal at a time. I am so guilty of this! I constantly try to achieve multiple goals at any given time. I am finally convinced that the only way to get anything done efficiently and effectively is to concentrate on one thing at a time. Too many goals can quickly get overwhelming. This makes it so much easier to give up! Working on one thing at a time allows us to completely commit to what we want to do, and do a good job at it. Once one goal is complete, move to the next, and keep going forever – you should always have a goal!

Focus for at least 2 hours a day. Some days it is really hard to find the time to do anything other than what you need to do (grocery shopping, work, appointments). It gets particularly hard if you have a full time job and/or a family. Figure out where  you can spare 2 hours during your day. It can be one hour in the morning, and one at night. Spend those 2 hours doing something for your goal. For example: If you want to lose weight, take that time to exercise, research healthy recipes or plan your meals for the week.

Do more. plan less. Many people have the problem of excessively planning out their goals but never actually doing anything to reach them. It is easy to get stuck in the rut of constantly aiming but never firing. Try to DO something everyday that will help out your goal. Even if it is something you are not even sure needs to be done. Get in the habit of working and leave the planning back in the goal-setting stage where it belongs.

Stay motivated. I know, I know.. easier said than done! I guess the key here would be to figure out what gets you motivated. Mine is looking up people online who are doing things I want to do, or who have had a very successful life. I also look up inspirational quotes or listen to music and watch movies that generally boost my creativity. Zen Habits has a wonderful list of 16 ways to get motivated when you are in a slump. Another way to get motivated: read blogs like Zen Habits.

All in all, just keep doing stuff that caters to your particular goal and stay positive. You can do anything you want, all you need is time and determination!

* Photo by Michel Omar Berrospè

Lately I have been obsessed with the idea of subconscious reality and the vague line between dreaming and “real life”.  I have been toying with meditation and the idea of Transcendental Meditation and lucid dreaming.You can probably blame this obsession on Inception or my lifetime fascination with all things metaphysical. I want to cover TM in a future post but for now lets explore lucid dreaming a bit.

Lucid dreaming is when you become fully aware of the fact that you are in a dream, and you start to consciously control it. There are two types of lucid dreams. The most common is when you realize you are dreaming halfway  through a dream.  The second type is when you go directly from a waking state into a dreaming state without any clear lapse in consciousness.  You probably have experienced this phenomena at least once in your life and woke up thinking “whoa that was freaky”. Lucid dreams are a fascinating phenomena that really make you question reality and your subconscious.

The beauty of lucid dreaming is being totally aware of all the nonsense in your dream while it happens. Many lucid dreamers can control certain aspect of their dreams to make them more interesting or to live out their desires in a “sub-reality”. Our brain patterns are the same when we are dreaming as they are during waking life, so our body reacts the same to dream events as it would in reality. Crazy right?  We all know how real our dreams can be at times and living directly in them is a tempting prospect. Its an exciting, magical, mind-game adventure!

Many people have mastered the art of lucid dreaming and have been able to achieve that state on a regular basis. Some people use this opportunity to rehearse real-life events, get freaky with a crush, ride a unicorn (that’s mine) and fly.. among endless other things. Here is how you too can dream your way to total reality confusion!

• Constantly ask yourself throughout the day: Am I dreaming? You want to turn that question into a consistent thought so it will come to mind while you dream. If you are like me, this question will freak you out from time to time.. and will also help you live with more awareness.
• Keep a dream diary. Write down every detail of your dreams immediately after waking up. This is very important! It will help you recognize consistent themes.
• Learn your sleep pattern. Figure out what time most of your dreams occur. You can set your alarm to wake you up during one of these cycles. If you remember your dream vividly you can go back to sleep with intentions to control it – and it will usually work!  (I used to do this all the time without really knowing what I was doing.)
• Do reality checks during strange moments in your day. Pinch yourself, flip a light switch, or look at your reflection – all of those things are distorted in dreams.
• Go to sleep with a mission. Plan out your dream or intention before going to sleep. Usually your mood or ideas will transfer to your dreams.
• Listen to Binaural Beats. They are often used to induce lucid dreams in studies.
• Think and learn about lucid dreaming every day. The more you inundate your brain with the idea, the more it will sneak into your subconscious.

Learn more about Lucid dreaming here.

Or you can check out this great Discovery Channel segment on Lucid Dreaming.

Do you have lucid dreams?  Have you ever had one by accident?  What has worked for you to achieve this state?

This is the second part of the article I wrote last week  about what the true price of cheap clothing is. I was surprised to discover that many of you are going through (or have gone through) the same moral dilemma as me.  Inexpensive, cheaply made clothing produced by large companies are typically void of ethical business practices. This clothing is produced by underpaid workers, using toxic production methods for either the material or final product. Large corporations push out small businesses and designers creating a monopoly of cheaply made, cookie cutter clothing. What is an ethical girl on a budget to do?

Now it is obvious that supporting an industry that actively chooses to produce vegan, environmentally  friendly, sustainable products will help make those products readily available and more affordable in the future. However, I know that most of you (myself included) are on a strict budget and can’t afford to buy clothing from ethical designers although you would really like to.  Below are some great ways to shop ethically, on the cheap!

Vintage - Vintage shopping is a great way to recycle, shop frugally and develop your own killer style. I am a huge advocate of vintage shopping and think that on top of all the other perks, it is so much fun! Try out your local vintage shops. While Goodwill and The Salvation Army can sometimes have good finds, you may have more luck with smaller shops. For more info check out: The Comprehensive Guide To Thrifting Like a Champ.

Etsy – Oh, Etsy. How I love you so. For those of you that don’t know, Etsy is a huge marketplace for creators. There are thousands of little shops selling handmade jewelry, clothing, and beauty products. There is even an option to search locally, so you ensure your purchase will be supporting your local economy.

Get creative – If you are looking for a new hobby, maybe you could start making your own clothing and accessories! You could upcycle clothing purchased second hand to create a custom piece you would love to wear. Try to think of new and exciting ways to use recycled and sustainable materials.

Be a deal hunter – Many vegan designers frequently have huge sales either directly (50% off at Beyond Skin right now!) or through membership sites like Rue La La, and Beyond The Rack. Membership is free if you can score an invitation code.

Buy off season – At the end of each season, scour your favorite indie sites and local boutiques for sales. I have found that you can typically find pieces for 50-70% off and sometimes even more. You can wear your finds during the season transition and during future seasons to come. If you buy all of your clothes off season you can save piles of money, the only thing you need is patience.

Buy less. Buy timeless - Instead of buying a ton of random items that end up in the back of your closet with no partner, try to purchase with intention. Developing a “core wardrobe” is a great idea and can save you time, money and frustration. Also, make sure your purchases aren’t obvious trends that will only last a season.  Super trendy clothing will only make you look like everyone else and waste a whole lot of money.

Lately I have been having an internal conflict about certain products that I regularly suggest as “cruelty-free” options for women on a budget. This consists of clothes, shoes and accessories from chain stores such as Forever 21, H&M, Target and other corporations that offer hoards of clothes for incredibly affordable prices. Although these products are technically vegan, it is more of an accidental side effect of cheap mass production. Sure $20 shoes are wonderful for our wallets but what effect do they have on the rest of the world?

Whenever we spend money on a purchase, we are supporting the industry and ethics behind the company. Our purchase is a vote towards that company and their practices.  Do we really wish to support inhumane working conditions, environmental destruction, and corporate greed? Even if animal cruelty is not involved in the process, does that make it ok?

This recent revelation came when I made a quick stop by Forever 21 a few days ago to pick up some basic pieces that I so desperately needed. I spent a bit of time sifting through the endless racks of clothing and trying to control my heart palpitations induced by the cheapest fashionable clothes I had ever encountered. Upon returning home I dumped a huge pile of clothes onto the bed and marveled at the wonder of what $60 can buy. Then I thought about it. Why were these clothes so cheap? What corners are cut that make mass produced clothing so cheap and independently produced clothing so unbearably expensive?  Why does this belt smell like poison?

Most cheap clothing is made in factories by underpaid workers doing their jobs in squalor. Unfortunately like many industries out there, these companies are expected to adhere to vague regulations and monitor production themselves. Think this is only an issue in Asian countries? Think again. It happens in the good ol US of A.

Conventional clothing production puts heaps of toxins into our air, water and bodies. It supports forest destruction and unfair situations for farmers. Cotton production uses more pesticides than any other single crop in the world!

Companies conveniently offering low prices push out small businesses and ruin local economies. They take business away from small shops owned by a single person devoted to quality goods and personal service.

It is often argued that these large businesses provide jobs, but in retail they typically employ people who do not give back to the local economy, and spend most of their money at their place of employment – like teenagers, or younger persons with no mortgage or property tax.

Large retail companies are known to throw out or even burn clothing after each season, instead of giving those garments to charities and people who could greatly use them.

Inexpensive clothing is not made as well as its designer or independent counterpart. After clothing falls apart, stretches or develops holes we are forced to go buy more clothing, creating more waste.

Many trendy chains (I’m looking at you Forever 21) rip off designers who have worked hard to develop their line and a quality product. They sell these sub-par rip-offs for ridiculously cheap prices, devaluing the work of real artists.

Supporting an industry that actively chooses to produce vegan, environmentally  friendly, sustainable products will help make those products readily available and more affordable in the future.

Now the question is – How do we still wear fashionable, and affordable clothing while remaining an ethically well-rounded individual?  THAT my friends is in Part 2 of this article.

In my short time on Earth I have discovered some pretty wonderful life lessons that I like to keep around as a constant reminder to myself. Most of these are common sense and maybe even trite, but also easily forgotten.  It is important to remember the things that inspire us and keep us sane when our brains get carried away with negative thoughts. Here are some random bits of wisdom that have made me who I am.

You will never be exactly like anyone else – You will never draw exactly like your favorite artist. You will never look like your favorite actress. You are you and while it is okay to borrow bits and pieces of other people you admire, attempting to copy them wholly and completely will just lead to frustration and disappointment. Accept the fact that you are your own person and love that.

You have not missed something crucial – Every time I learn something new I have a nagging voice in my head that says “I totally think you missed something really important”.  Then I begin to doubt myself. I lose my concentration and start to look for that thing I’m convinced I missed. I guess the point here is: trust yourself.  Trust that you are capable and even if you don’t know everything, you will learn along the way.

Follow your own path…really – If I had a puppy for every time someone told me a choice I have made was wrong, I would be a very happy girl. Numerous people told me that going vegan was a bad decision, people made bets that I would not sell all my possessions and move across the country, I was scolded for paying twice the tuition to go to the art school I wanted to go to. I ignored everyone, followed my heart and in the end those decisions were the best I ever made. Do what you want to do. If the college/marriage/kids route is not for you.. don’t do it. If you want to spend the day laying in a sunbeam eating sorbet – go for it. You are the only person living your life.

Do your own research - Don’t ever believe what someone else has to say, especially if it is something profound to you. Many people have their own agendas which my not be jiving with yours.. at all. If someone tells you they sell lemonade on the moon, research it yourself and find your own ways of getting there. That is the whole reason why Google was invented… right? On a related note: don’t believe everything you read on the internet.

It’s not pretty unless it was painful – This is a lesson I learned in circus training. In order for a pose or sequence to look pretty it requires a ton of strength, concentration, awkward flexibility, and a lot of practice. It quickly became clear that when a performance looked absolutely beautiful,  it took a whole lot of pain and suffering to get there. This is true of anything in life. The path to success is not filled with daisies and butterflies.  It is hard and long and painful.  But in the end if you have truly worked hard, everything will be beautiful.

Your heart knows better than your head – Sometimes logic can get you into trouble.  You can “logically” talk yourself out of things you really want to do and into things you don’t. I’m a huge fan of following your instincts and living from the heart. When faced with a decision in life, feel the answer instead of thinking about it.  This always leads to a positive outcome.

Know your worth – In all aspects of life, don’t put yourself on sale. You are an amazing valuable person, don’t ever settle for something that “will do.”

Love without dependence – It is ok to love everything. I love the moon and stars and strangers and music. But I don’t depend on them.  Love completely and without any expectations. Don’t depend on anybody or anything to make you happy or fulfill your needs. You are the only one who can do that.

Don’t speak your thought process – At one time I thought everyone was fascinated with every random thought that went through my brain. They weren’t.  They’re still not. Don’t speak just to hear yourself talk. Listen to others and try to keep your words relevant to the conversation and not all about you.

There is nothing to be afraid of- We all have our fears we need to overcome. But being frightened of small things and stuff we don’t have any control over is a waste of  time. So, you might make a fool out of yourself? Who cares? Everyone else is so worried about themselves they won’t even notice or remember your embarrassing moment.  Actively try to overcome your fears. Jump into them without thinking. You will be so happy you did.

I know most of you are the go-getter type that really try to make a difference in the world as well as your own lives (or else you wouldn’t be vegan!). Do you have your own life-lessons? I’d love to hear what is important to everyone.

image by Cole Rise

“Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.”
~Mary Lou Cook

Even if you don’t deem yourself as a “creative person” the truth is – everyone is creative. We are conditioned throughout life to think and behave as everyone else does and this beats the individuality out of us.  Some lucky people still have a natural proclivity towards creative thinking, but many have no concept of it at all. Well, I’m here to help! Working on a creative project is probably the most satisfying thing a person can do. There is something about giving birth to a fresh new idea that satisfies our soul. Here are some great ideas on how you can embrace your creativity and apply it in new and exciting ways.

Relax- Stress and constant worry leave no room for innovative thought. Your constantly racing mind doesn’t have time to think constructively. Be sure to take a few moments out of your day to relax. Sit in silence, focus on your breathing or full on meditate. Practicing yoga is another great way to relax and clear your mind for creative thoughts to emerge.

Carry a notebook – An inspiration notebook can change your life. We all literally have thousands of thought and ideas running through our head during any given day. Thoughts are fleeting and can be gone in a matter of seconds. If you have a notable thought or idea, or even if you hear a song you like or see a book you want to read – write it down. I carry my little notebook in my bag and write down ideas, songs, movies, books, words, and imagery that I like. Since my memory is like a sieve, this has been a godsend.

Ignore everybody-If you care about what people think, you won’t get anywhere creatively. Most people shun new ideas because they are comfortable with the way things are and change makes them woozy. When you create something you have to do it solely for you. Feel free to ask the opinion of those you respect, but don’t live by their words. When it comes down to it, your creativity is sacred and no one else should touch it. This idea is greatly inspired by Hugh MacLeod (who you should totally check out for more creative ideas).

Keep an inspiration folder – This can be a tangible folder or a folder on your desktop. Even if you are not creating something visually I think you should still keep folders of visual stimuli such as photos, illustrations or designs. I find that looking through images I find aesthetically pleasing, I can quickly get myself into a creative mindset

Limit your media intake – This is especially hard in modern times and something I struggle with constantly. We are regularly being bombarded with a crazy influx of information.  Most people will say that TV should be cut out of your life and internet should be severely limited. I think that as long as you are using those things as tools to learn and be inspired, they are fine in moderation. When it comes to 4 hour soap opera marathons and 5 hours on Facebook, you might need to re-evaluate your media consumption!

Try new things -New experiences are scary and challenging and that is exactly why you need them. The more you expand your brain to new possibilities the more ideas it can generate.

Use a different medium- If you are an illustrator then try writing a story.  If you typically write, try drawing a picture. Don’t worry about grammar, drawing ability, or any other feelings of inadequacy you might have. Just worry about getting your ideas down in a dramatically different way. You will be amazed at how your creative process changes.

Make things better -As you go through your day, make note of the things that aren’t working as well as they can be.  This might be a policy at the bank, your dishwasher, or the highway. Brainstorm ways to make these things better for you and everybody else.  The sky is the limit with this. For example: I think that all waiting rooms should have live entertainment, like a juggler or contortionist.

Don’t think – Stop rationalizing. Stop trying to figure out “how it is done”. Just get and idea and make it happen.

“Don’t think. Thinking is the enemy of creativity. It’s self-conscious, and anything self-conscious is lousy. You can’t try to do things. You simply must do things.”
~Ray Bradbury

Single Task-I used to be the queen of multitasking but I found that doing too many things at one time leaves certain projects slighted. Only work on one creative project at a time. This gives you the opportunity to live and breathe your ideas and not get scatterbrained and mixed up.

Have fun – If you are working on something that drains your happiness and excitement then drop it, because your creativity will get sucked away right with it. The purpose of being a creative person is enjoying the act of creation, including all the hard work involved.

Unless you live under a massive rock in a series of tunnels with earmuffs on, you have probably heard of this “oil spill” in the Gulf.  This “spill” is in fact a leak and it is leaking a whole, whole lot. This situation seems virtually unfixable at this point and the scariest part is.. no one knows what to do. Those that have the means and the power to do something substantial don’t really seem to care that much. I think the whole world agrees with the fact that the blatant disregard for life and our entire planet for the sake of monetary gain is absolutely sickening. I hear a revolution calling.

Some scary facts

1. Since April 20, when the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded, the Interior Department has approved 27 new permits for offshore drilling sites. Two of these permits are for BP.  (source)
2. Transocean Ltd., the owner of the Deepwater Horizon rig leased by BP, insured the  rig for about twice what it was worth.  They have made a $270 million profit from insurance payouts after the disaster. (source)
3. If the problem is never solved and the oil continues to gush, it could potentially leak over 1 billion barrels of oil. (source)
4. Hurricane season (late summer, early fall) creates a powerful gulf stream that sends hurricanes -as well as water from the Gulf – up the east coast and out into the Atlantic. This will absolutely ruin containment efforts and spread the effect of the leak across a good portion of the US and other countries. (source and source)
5. Fishermen and volunteers aiding with cleanup have been reported to be getting incredibly ill. This could be from the chemical dispersant used to “clean” the leak or the oil itself. Or a combination of both. (source)
6. The incredibly toxic and ineffective dispersant that BP is spraying on the spill causes worse environmental and physical damage than the oil itself. (source)
7. Even if BP eventually finds a method of cleanup that works,  experts say the best  scenario is to recover 20 percent of the spilled oil. (But only 8 percent of the crude oil deposited in the ocean and coastlines off Alaska was recovered in the Exxon-Valdez cleanup, and that spill was far less devastating) (source)
8. BP Chief, Tony Hayward cashed in about a third of his holding in the company one month before a well on the Deepwater Horizon rig burst. (source) Goldman Sachs also sold $250 million of BP stock right before the accident. (source)
9. When the 2010 BP oil leak first occurred, it was estimated that roughly 1,000 barrels of crude oil were leaking into the ocean per day. The estimate has risen and is currently 5,000 barrels a day. That is roughly 210,000 gallons per day. At this point it is probably much more, but BP and the government refuse to release exact information. (source)
10. Hundreds, maybe even thousands of animals are dead and dying from the oil that has wrecked their home. This includes fish, birds, turtles and dolphins. Some of which are endangered or soon will be. (source)
11. BP’s approved “Plan of Action” is a complete and total joke. A man who died in 2005 is listed as the “national wildlife expert” and walruses are listed as one of the animals effected by the spill. (source)

How you can help

At this point the situation may seem bleak and hopeless, but I beg you to remain positive! Anything can be fixed if we have enough committed human beings, hungry for a change. Here are some things you can do to make a difference.

• Stop supporting big oil. I realize this is an entirely separate post in itself! Drive less, eat local, avoid plastics, and of course if you absolutely need to fuel up.. boycott BP, Aral and Arco stations. Also avoid buying Castrol brand products.
• Stay educated. Stay on top of all news about the oil leak. Research the history of the oil industry and their corrupt practices. Try to avoid mainstream (US) media, it has become apparent that they are being fed propaganda! Independent news sites like the Huffington Post, Examiner, and even blogs like this one can be a wealth of information
• Speak up. A lot of people think that letter writing, petition signing, and phone calls are a waste of time. But truthfully, there is nothing scarier to a corrupt politician or corporate honcho than a huge revolt of the (angry, enlightened) masses. After all, our support is what ultimately lines their pockets.  Let your voice be heard! Write you local politicians who have supported offshore drilling. Write congress to demand stricter regulations on big business. Get a soapbox and stand on it at the foot of your driveway and preach to your neighbors about the environmental repercussions of this disaster. Do something!
• Volunteer or Donate. If you have the time and the means, volunteering can be one of the best experiences in your life. There are so many organizations seeking help that it shouldn’t be hard to find a gig. If you are not able to commit to volunteering, a donation seriously helps all those who are.  Here is a great list of volunteer and donation opportunities.
• Become an advocate of renewable energy. Start converting to a sustainable life. Run your house/office off of solar panels, buy products made of sustainable material, and support local business.  This may take years, but it will be worth it! Show everyone you encounter that living this way is entirely attainable and very rewarding!
• Take photos. Word on the street has it that photos being taken of the damage caused by this disaster are being blocked by BP and the Coast Guard. This is your opportunity to be a renegade and exercise your freedom of speech. Even if your photos are taken with an old point and shoot and published on your own personal blog, you will help to spread the truth.
• Spread the word. If you have a blog, write a post like this one! Actually… you can have this post – republish it wherever you like. Share news links via social media. Hand out pamphlets on street corners. Don’t let jaded America continue to think that this is not a big problem.

Look at some eye-opening photographs at The Huffington Post and The Big Picture

With all of the distractions that are popping up in the world, it is hard to finish any given day with the feeling of accomplishment. It has become so easy to be inundated with social media, information, and even daily chores that it may begin to feel like you are treading water.

Do you have a novel that needs writing? A canvas that needs painting? Or do you just need to focus more on your current work?  Would you rather be sleeping? THIS, my friends, is a productivity checklist for those that excel at doing nothing (myself included). Hopefully this will help you reorganize your day so you can relax and enjoy it, while getting stuff done.

Get up early or stay up late - Everybody is either a morning person or an evening person. Decide which one you are and schedule your day accordingly. If you find that you are more active and able to concentrate in the morning, then wake up a few hours earlier and get something important like a project, workout or housework out of the way. If you prefer moonlight, then stay up late and get stuff done.  As long as you are getting at least 7 hours of sleep you can push your hours one way or the other. Just give your body some time to adjust!

Turn off distractions – Anything that is going to stand in the way of getting things done needs to be eliminated. Turn off the Internet or TV. If you need to work online, block time-suck websites like Twitter and Facebook. If some of your work involves social media make sure it becomes the last thing on your to-do list to ensure you don’t use up creative time with socializing.

Do one thing at a time – Multi-tasking is the death to all productivity. Set allotted chunks of time for each task you need to accomplish. If you keep interrupting your work with emails and social media, you will get nothing done! Keeping your brain focused on the task at hand will also lead to Flow.. which is ultimately the goal of work, no?

Make a list – A to-do list is pretty much crucial to being productive. I would suggest writing it on a Post-It or scrap of paper so you can get that wonderful feeling of accomplishment when you cross things off. Also, be realistic with your list. I have the habit of writing a list that would take 3 people 2 days to accomplish. In this case, less is more – you can always do more after your list is complete.

Do the fun stuff first – Some argue that you should do the most tedious and excruciating tasks on your list first. But usually by the time you are finished with your mundane, un-fun tasks your enthusiasm is drained. I think that you should work your list according to what you are most excited about.  That way your passion will shine instead of having to be built back up after being squashed with lame work.

Set a timer - I would suggest taking a 5 minute break every hour. Set a timer and make sure you are working non-stop for an hour! (I like this app.) Then take a break to move around, relax, breathe deeply, snack, dance -whatever.

Save plenty of time to do nothing – make sure you have a big chunk of your day that is not scheduled. You can use this time to nap, read, watch movies, troll around the internet, or do something creative without feeling guilty for being unproductive. The same principle of building muscle applies here: The rest time in between workout is just as important as the workouts themselves. A relaxed, happy brain is the most creative!

What productivity tips work best for you? Are you working on getting more done?

photo by *maya*

For the next two night you need to plant your butt in front of the TV and tune into CNN for incredible, can’t miss coverage on the dangers of toxins that lurk in our everyday life.  Deemed “Toxic America” and hosted by Sanjay Gupta M.D.,  it will be covering the newest research about what horrible chemicals are really in our foods, cleaning products, and the dangers of plastics. If you are not in the US of A or can’t tune in, check out Cnn.com/toxicamerica.  Lets support this type of  programming, that will hopefully shed the light on these important topics for mainstream America.

Night One (June, 2), focuses on the specific story of Mossville, Louisiana residents who have been struggling for decades to get government help for problems they say are related to toxic chemical plants.  After a year-long study, Dr. Gupta goes on location to investigate and try to get answers.

Night Two (June, 3), Toxic Childhood, is where they’ll focus on the hidden effects of toxins on all of us, especially pregnant mothers. The team dissects the latest science on how to minimize risks to pregnant woman and children form potentially harmful chemicals found in the air, in homes, food and in common household products.

Check out your local listings and be sure to tune in – and spread the word!

By now you probably have seen the Conklin Dairy footage. If you have not please go watch it here…right now. Then report back! (I could embed it in this post, but it is so horrific I cannot bear to.) I must emphasize the fact that this incident is extreme, but by no means is it rare. The dairy industry is just that -an industry. These companies regard these animals as products and a means to gain capital, not as living, breathing, feeling, sentient beings.

Now come, lets sit by the fire and talk about what is wrong with this picture by covering some questions that are now running through the minds of many.

Why does this happen?

This issue of abuse is not just an animal rights issue.. it is a human rights issue. Dairy and factory farms typically employ those who are willing to do hard, dirty labor for extremely cheap. There is no background check necessary.  The type of people that apply for these positions are typically ones with sordid pasts and/or psychological problems. They are treated poorly and are expected work in inhumane conditions themselves.  This industry is completely self-regulated, so this leaves these frustrated, troubled employees left to do as they please – as long as they are producing.

Are all dairy farms operated like this?

In all fairness – no. There are a handful of companies that pride themselves in treating their animals, employees and consumers with much respect. These are typically small family-owned farms that hold the credo of providing an organic and sustainable product. But again, this industry is completely self regulated. Do not trust labels like “free range” or “cage free” – they mean virtually nothing. Unless you can go visit these farms yourself – do not believe what the label says.

Are there any other issues with dairy?

So many! Dairy essentially makes no sense for humans to consume. We have been duped by the dairy industry into believing that we NEED their products in order to live a healthy life, and this is not the truth at all.

Fact #1 We are the only species that drinks another mammals milk and continues to drink it past the early stages of childhood. Mammals are meant to drink their mother’s milk until they are fit to be weaned. For humans this is 6-12 months.

Fact #2 Most dairy contains steroids, growth hormones and antibiotics. All of these things are given to cows to help them grow bigger, faster and to not spread disease. You know what else is commonly found in milk? Pus and mucus. Fun!

Fact #3 We are led to believe that dairy is our only source of calcium and vitamin D. Let me start by saying that the vitamin D in milk is fortified! That means it is added after the fact – the same as taking a supplement. The same amount of vitamin D can be found in fortified soy and rice milks or in the sun! Calcium can be found in all leafy greens (kale, spinach, collards), molasses, tofu, tempeh, beans, tahini, broccoli and almonds – just to name a few!

Fact #4 Dairy consumption is linked to allergies, cancer, acne, obesity, diabetes and even osteoporosis!

Fact #5 What happens to the male calves that will not become a mating bull? Why, they become veal of course. And we all know about veal.

Fact #6 Dairy farms contribute to the same environmental degradation that factory farms do. This includes toxic runoff, wasted corn and soy supplies, and tremendous use of fossil fuels.

What can we do to help?

Go vegan! (duh!) Boycotting the whole industry is the  best way to prove a point. Money speaks louder than anything else!

Spread the knowledge. In this day and age, knowledge spreads quicker and more effectively than ever before. Share this article and the Conklin video with everyone you know and love.

Support organizations that dare to bring the truth to the masses.  Farm Sanctuary, Compassion Over Killing and Mercy For Animals are good places to start.

Be a leader. Start your own campaign. Be creative and fight for a noble cause.

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