Abolitionism in a Nutshell

I'm reposting something from a great website, The Abolitionist Approach: http://www.abolitionistapproach.com/

As long as we think the issue is the treatment of animals, we will seek to make that treatment more “humane.” But because animals are property, that goal is unreachable as a practical matter. The treatment of animals will always constitute torture under the most “humane” circumstances. And the “treatment” (or welfarist) approach ignores that it is morally wrong to kill animals even if we treat them “humanely,” which we cannot do anyway. Welfare “reforms” not only fail to provide any significant protection for animals; such reforms actually make matters worse because they encourage the public to feel more comfortable about animal exploitation and to continue to consume animals and animal products. The problem is use, not treatment. The goal is to abolish animal use, not to regulate treatment. The means to the goal? Go vegan and educate others about veganism.

Pigs Die on the Way to Slaughter

The comments underneath this article again serve to show the moral schizophrenia of Britain when it comes to animals. These pigs were on the way to be slaughtered, this is merely the face of standard pig farming, 180 packed into a lorry. It's awful they died but they were on the way to be killed. To get outraged and upset about this whilst still consuming animal products makes no sense whatsoever.

www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/UPDATE-50-pigs-killed-lorry-overturns/story-13405613-detail/story.htm

Ban Fur? Then Why Not Leather?

This is an interesting debate about whether a ban on selling fur in West Hollywood is significant in a wider animal rights context. Why ban fur and still sell leather? It seems to be that fur is seen as a less justifiable use of animals than leather or wool, why should this be the case? 

http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2011/09/25/ban-fur-then-why-not-leather

After Bransby

Had a successful day of vegan outreach at Bransby Home of Rest for Horses, giving out lots of leaflets, having conversations and selling cupcakes and other goodies. Because of this we will be making donations to the oceans-protecting work of The Sea Shepherd http://www.seashepherd.org/ and to the listener supported, vegan radio show, Go vegan with Bob Linden http://www.goveganradio.com/. All leftover cupcakes and other goodies have gone to feeding homeless people at The Nomad Trust http://www.nomadtrust.org.uk/.

Flapjacks,Chocolate Chip Cookies,Tiffin and Cupcakes

Francione Literature on the Wall

Not keen on "meat free for under a fiver" as it makes a false distinction between meat and other animal products, however it contains all vegan content. Next time we shall have literature from our friends at Vegan UK.

Our first event! Skillshare @ The Jolly Brewer

Cupcakes, cookies and caramel slices

Lots of vegan info

More vegan info

The stall all set out ready to go

Recipes for converting the most strident omnivore

Carrot Cake

ingredients:

250g (10 oz) self raising flour

1tsp baking powder

4tsp ground cinnamon

2tsp grated nutmeg

100g (4 oz) vegetable margarine (I use Vitalite)

100g (4 oz) sugar

100g (4 oz) agave syrup or golden syrup

250g (10 oz) grated carrot
1/2 cup coconut milk or soya milk

Instructions

1) Melt margarine, sugar and syrup over a low heat. Stir, and take off the heat.

2) Put flour, baking powder and spices into a bowl and pour sugar mixture and milk on top.

3) Stir well and then add the grated carrots.

4) Line the base of a 2lb loaf tin with greaseproof paper or baking parchment. I have also used this recipe for  cupcakes and it works a treat. Just cook at 180 for 30mins or until a toothpick comes out clean.

5) Bake for about 1 hour and 15 minutes (140ºC/275ºF) until golden brown and when tested with a cake tester or skewer it comes out clean.

Gluten Free Chocolate Cup Cakes

Ingredients

250g/8 ozs granulated sugar

250g/8ozs Gluten Free SR Flour

25g/1oz soya flour

25g/1oz Cocoa Powder

125g/4 ozs vegan margarine

2 tablespoons golden syrup

300ml/1/2 pint soya milk

1 heaped teaspoon gluten free baking powder

A few drops of vanilla essence

1 banana

4 tablespoons cold water

Instructions

1. Heat oven to Electric 180°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4

2. Put sugar, SR flour, soya flour and cocoa powder into a bowl and mix well.

3. Take 6 tablespoons of milk from the measured amount and put into a bowl with 1 heaped teaspoon of baking powder and mix.

4. Put margarine, golden syrup and milk into a saucepan and heat until margarine is melted.

5. Mash the banana till smooth and whisk in 4 tablespoons of water until frothy.

6. Add the golden syrup mixture to the dry ingredients along with the milk and baking powder mixture, a few drops of vanilla essence and beaten banana.  Mix well until smooth and lump free.  You can do this by hand or use a mixer.

7. Place muffin cases into muffin tins and spoon the mixture into muffin cases, approximately half fill them.

8. Bake for 10 minutes then reduce heat to 160°C/300°F/Gas Mark 3 for a further 10 minutes until risen and when tested with a skewer or cake tester it comes out clean.

Allow to get cold before icing with vegan butter icing – add a little cocoa powder and sprinkle with grated chocolate for a luxury topping.

Bransby Home for Horses (yes again!)

Apologies for the delay but we're back and just in time to announce we will be spreading the vegan, abolitionist, non-violent message at the Bransby Home for Horses open day on Sunday (that's the 25th). We will be selling lots of tasty treats from four types of cupcakes to tiffin and cookies. We will have gluten free options avaliable so everyone gets to try vegan goodies. We will even have homemade cruelty free dog biscuits. So come along and see us if you can...