Guest guest Posted April 12, 2005 Report Share Posted April 12, 2005 Hi Veg Friends- I wanted to put my two cents in. I don't think we can expect every group to have the same focus. In fact, I think it is more helpful to build bridges than to find differences. Gay pride let's SFbayVeg table, but I wouldn't call SFbayveg a Gay Lesbian rights group, even though it is gay friendly. I feel the same way about environmental groups. If our focus is animals we must not only care about domesticated animals (pets and farm animals) but wild animals as well. We humans are doing more harm to most animals through destruction of habitat than we can enumerate. Working to preserve habitat and endangered species is just another form of animal rights. If sierra club isn't doing enough in that area, then there are other groups who focus specifically on endangered animals and habitat preservation. We should all support or not support a group as we see fit. Make your own decisions, but don't expect every group to focus soley on your own issues. Perhaps building bridges is better than throwing stones. Just my opinion, please follow your own heart regardless of what ANYONE on this list says. -lh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 13, 2005 Report Share Posted April 13, 2005 Thanks Lori, I agree with you. I'm new to this group and was surprised to see negative comments about the Sierra Club. I would assume that people who are interested in animal welfare care not only about farm and domestic animals but about ALL animals and living creatures. The Sierra Club and other environmental organizations have helped to protect uncountable numbers of wild animals. What I like about the Sierra Club is that it's an organization with a rich history and roots here in the bay area. If you enjoy outdoor activities the Sierra Club has many sub-groups which are all very active. It's quite easy to become an event leader and if animal welfare is your main interest you can lead a vegetarian or vegan activity such as a monthly potluck. You can also let your voice be heard by serving on an executive committee or writing articles for one of their newsletters. Currently the environment is undergoing quite an assault from the Bush administration. If you're considering joining an environmental group, there's no better time than now to do it! Thanks, Valerie , Lori Howe <lori_nami> wrote: > Hi Veg Friends- > > I wanted to put my two cents in. I don't think we can > expect every group to have the same focus. In fact, I think > it is more helpful to build bridges than to find > differences. > > Gay pride let's SFbayVeg table, but I wouldn't call > SFbayveg a Gay Lesbian rights group, even though it is gay > friendly. > > I feel the same way about environmental groups. If our > focus is animals we must not only care about domesticated > animals (pets and farm animals) but wild animals as well. > We humans are doing more harm to most animals through > destruction of habitat than we can enumerate. > > Working to preserve habitat and endangered species is just > another form of animal rights. If sierra club isn't doing > enough in that area, then there are other groups who focus > specifically on endangered animals and habitat > preservation. We should all support or not support a group > as we see fit. > > Make your own decisions, but don't expect every group to > focus soley on your own issues. Perhaps building bridges is > better than throwing stones. > > Just my opinion, please follow your own heart regardless of > what ANYONE on this list says. > > -lh > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 13, 2005 Report Share Posted April 13, 2005 Thanks for everyone's 2 cents; I have only 1 cent to put in. Though many people who choose not to support the Sierra Club, Audubon Society, and World Wildlife Fund do so on the grounds that they don't have vegetarian policies, etc., many people choose not to support them because of their assault ON wildlife. Each one of these organizations is pro-hunting and pro-fishing. Though environmentalists generally have no problem with this, animal advocates do tend to care about all species and have difficulty with seemingly pro-animal organizations actually supporting killing them. I also think it's very important that animal advocates know that the Nature Conservancy is the worst of the bunch, using their multibillion dollar budget to cruelly kill "non-native" species to protect native plants, etc. Personally, I have a problem with that. Farm Sanctuary took in 200 of the Santa Cruz Island feral sheep after animal groups were able to convince the Nature Conservancy to STOP the incredibly cruel aerial shoots (where thousands of sheep had already been killed). Now, Nature Conservancy is doing the same thing on the same island to feral pigs. I just think there's something wrong with a society that supports "environmental groups" killing wild/feral pigs but supporting the breeding of millions of domestic pigs just so we can kill them and consume them. So, for me, it's all one issue, and it's all connected. And until "environmental groups" get that, we'll all be running on a big speciesist treadmill. Okay - so maybe that was 2 cents after all. Best, Colleen ---------------------Colleen Patrick-GoudreauFounder & DirectorCompassionate CooksP.O. Box 18512Oakland, CA 94619510.531.COOK (2665)colleenhttp://www.compassionatecooks.com Join our mailing list http://www.compassionatecooks.com/join.htmCheck out our vegetarian cooking DVD http://www.compassionatecooks.com/video.htmRegister for our vegetarian cooking classes http://www.compassionatecooks.com/reg.htm --------------------- Compassionate Cooks is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people to make informed food choices and to debunking myths about vegetarianism through cooking classes, nutrition workshops, supermarket tours, and a cooking DVD. - ph_mom Tuesday, April 12, 2005 5:05 PM Re: environmental groups Thanks Lori, I agree with you. I'm new to this group and was surprised to see negative comments about the Sierra Club. I would assume that people who are interested in animal welfare care not only about farm and domestic animals but about ALL animals and living creatures. The Sierra Club and other environmental organizations have helped to protect uncountable numbers of wild animals. What I like about the Sierra Club is that it's an organization with a rich history and roots here in the bay area. If you enjoy outdoor activities the Sierra Club has many sub-groups which are all very active. It's quite easy to become an event leader and if animal welfare is your main interest you can lead a vegetarian or vegan activity such as a monthly potluck. You can also let your voice be heard by serving on an executive committee or writing articles for one of their newsletters. Currently the environment is undergoing quite an assault from the Bush administration. If you're considering joining an environmental group, there's no better time than now to do it!Thanks,Valerie , Lori Howe <lori_nami> wrote:> Hi Veg Friends-> > I wanted to put my two cents in. I don't think we can> expect every group to have the same focus. In fact, I think> it is more helpful to build bridges than to find> differences.> > Gay pride let's SFbayVeg table, but I wouldn't call> SFbayveg a Gay Lesbian rights group, even though it is gay> friendly.> > I feel the same way about environmental groups. If our> focus is animals we must not only care about domesticated> animals (pets and farm animals) but wild animals as well.> We humans are doing more harm to most animals through> destruction of habitat than we can enumerate. > > Working to preserve habitat and endangered species is just> another form of animal rights. If sierra club isn't doing> enough in that area, then there are other groups who focus> specifically on endangered animals and habitat> preservation. We should all support or not support a group> as we see fit. > > Make your own decisions, but don't expect every group to> focus soley on your own issues. Perhaps building bridges is> better than throwing stones.> > Just my opinion, please follow your own heart regardless of> what ANYONE on this list says.> > -lh> > > > > > > > ____BAY AREA VEGETARIANS (BAV) is a non-profit community group for veggies to network, find support and promote veganism.Events Calendar - http://bayareaveg.org/events.phpNewsletter - http://bayareaveg.org/newsVeg Mentor Program - http://bayareaveg.org/mentorCharter & Post Guidelines - http://bayareaveg.org/charter.htm____ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 13, 2005 Report Share Posted April 13, 2005 > I'm new to this group and was surprised to see negative comments about the Sierra Club. For Sierra Club supporters, my intention wasn't to dismiss or diminish what the Sierra Club does for the environment or other issues. My answer was framed in regards to the original question -- whether the Sierra Club is animal friendly. . While they have campaigns and materials about factory farming and how bad it is environmentally, they aren't proponents of vegetarianism. The response that I received indicated they consider vegetarianism an 'animal rights' issue, not an environmental one. For seven years I volunteered with a local environmental non-profit. While it was rewarding to get the veg message out to tens of thousands of people every year, it was also very frustrating because so many environmentalists don't personally 'walk the talk' when it comes to what they eat.As a volunteer, I am happier and more effective working and financially supporting organizations that are more closely aligned with what I believe to be the most effective way to help the majority of animals -- let's stop eating them (i.e. slaughtering animals for human consumption is the leading cause of animal cruelty and death).Given my priorities, and the fact that I have limited time and money to donate, when it comes to helpubg the animals, Sierra Club just isn't one of the charities that I choose to financially support. While they acknowledge the detrimental effects of eating animals, they are unwilling to make any effort to promote vegetarianism. To me, that is an ineffective strategy for a group dedicated to protecting the environment since everyone eats every day. Anyways, in short, there are a myriad of ways to help animals, and each of us should work on the issues that resonate with us, in the manner which makes us the most effective. For me, it's not the Sierra Club. But I think it is a good strategy that there are folks who are active in environmental organizations and spreading the veg message. For example, Kay Bushnell (who teaches veg cooking classes) writes a veg article for the newsletter of the Loma Prieta chapter of the Sierra Club. So, for any other Sierra Club members who are active in their local Chapters, or any other types of organizations, if you would like to coordinate having a presentation or educational workshop to promote vegetarianism, please email me. Cheers, Tammy Veg and Animal Rights events, food, fun, and fellowship http://www.BayAreaVeg.org Check out the Ultimate Guide to Vegetarian Living in the San Francisco Bay Area ... veg foods, services, and more! http://www.bayareaveg.org/ug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 13, 2005 Report Share Posted April 13, 2005 Valerie, I don't think anyone said anything "negative" about the Sierra Club, per se. They were just reporting that it is a big disappointment how anti-veg it is. The main reason why veg*n groups are considered "radical" is because there are few mainstream national or multinational organizations that promote (or even condone!) veg*n living. The few that do promote it are groups that are considered radical themselves, so the image of us all being "abnormal" in some way is only reinforced. It would be nice if a few more mainstream organizations jumped on the bandwagon, so that we could all be taken a little more seriously. And it is especially shocking that most environmental groups refuse to tackle the issue. After all, animal farming for food (and other animal products) is one of the industries with the highest negative impact on the environment. -Mike Borgph_mom <valsf wrote: Thanks Lori, I agree with you. I'm new to this group and was surprised to see negative comments about the Sierra Club. I would assume that people who are interested in animal welfare care not only about farm and domestic animals but about ALL animals and living creatures. The Sierra Club and other environmental organizations have helped to protect uncountable numbers of wild animals. What I like about the Sierra Club is that it's an organization with a rich history and roots here in the bay area. If you enjoy outdoor activities the Sierra Club has many sub-groups which are all very active. It's quite easy to become an event leader and if animal welfare is your main interest you can lead a vegetarian or vegan activity such as a monthly potluck. You can also let your voice be heard by serving on an executive committee or writing articles for one of their newsletters. Currently the environment is undergoing quite an assault from the Bush administration. If you're considering joining an environmental group, there's no better time than now to do it!Thanks,Valerie , Lori Howe <lori_nami> wrote:> Hi Veg Friends-> > I wanted to put my two cents in. I don't think we can> expect every group to have the same focus. In fact, I think> it is more helpful to build bridges than to find> differences.> > Gay pride let's SFbayVeg table, but I wouldn't call> SFbayveg a Gay Lesbian rights group, even though it is gay> friendly.> > I feel the same way about environmental groups. If our> focus is animals we must not only care about domesticated> animals (pets and farm animals) but wild animals as well.> We humans are doing more harm to most animals through> destruction of habitat than we can enumerate. > > Working to preserve habitat and endangered species is just> another form of animal rights. If sierra club isn't doing> enough in that area, then there are other groups who focus> specifically on endangered animals and habitat> preservation. We should all support or not support a group> as we see fit. > > Make your own decisions, but don't expect every group to> focus soley on your own issues. Perhaps building bridges is> better than throwing stones.> > Just my opinion, please follow your own heart regardless of> what ANYONE on this list says.> > -lh> > > > > > > Small Business - Try our new resources site!> ____BAY AREA VEGETARIANS (BAV) is a non-profit community group for veggies to network, find support and promote veganism.Events Calendar - http://bayareaveg.org/events.phpNewsletter - http://bayareaveg.org/newsVeg Mentor Program - http://bayareaveg.org/mentorCharter & Post Guidelines - http://bayareaveg.org/charter.htm__________________________"I have from an early age abjured the use of meat, and the time will come when men such as I will look upon the murder of animals as they now look upon the murder of men." - Leonardo Da Vinci Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.