Convincing people to change

It may be difficult to accept when someone tells you about veganism, because you don't want someone else telling you how to eat, especially when it's being stigmatized with large support from the meat industry. You can do it, you can change, be the world you want to see.


Methods of introducing this information in a way that is convincing, as people often want to ignore ideas which are contrary to what they have believed, there is cognitive dissonance, and it's easier to ignore or dogmatically refute than to change. It is especially difficult for someone to change at the suggestion of another, so some methods will have the person suggesting the change to themself instead of suggesting that they change. This can work by asking questions or suggesting the opposite, which will lead the person to defend your position. Change sticks well when a person feels that they own the idea and convinced themselves, not that someone else convinced them.

In this political season we saw a great acceptance of change, a change in government which should reflect our modern civilization, moving away from the corrupt, violent, greedy politics of the past. This want for change should be brought to individuals as well, forgoing the shallow, selfish, isolating ways of the past for the creative, communal, peaceful ways of a modern society.

I happened upon some star trek, really an idealistic vision of the future. I wish shows like this were more popular, by focusing on how things can be, we can plan our way to that future.

What is natural/herbivore vs omnivore vs carnivore

It's only because of the invention of fire that humans can survive on animal flesh, and survival only goes as far as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes will get you. Any herbivore can survive on the kind of cooked flesh diet that most humans eat today [citation needed].

It's not about what's historical, it's about what is best for us and our fellow earthlings now. The rate of consumption of resources is unsustainable, and the industries producing meat from the flesh of animals are oversubsidized, overpolluting, and overconsuming resources to produce an inferior source of nutrition. And why should animals suffer when we have a healthy alternative.

Think about the news: cholesterol drugs

So, today in the news, a study has suggested that everyone should start taking cholesterol drugs, because you're going to get heart disease eventually and these drugs will stave off the inevitable. No mention of diet of course. It could have been more accurately written as: If You're Eating Animal Flesh, Your Diet Will Kill You Unless You Take These Pills. The meat industry has got to love this, the consumers of their "products" can now live another day to eat another animal. Next they'll be injecting cholesterol drugs directly into the meat.

Link:
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN0939180520081109

My secret love affair with tofurky

I've got to admit, I'm in love with tofurky sausages. There's nothing like a tofurky beer brat with saurkraut and some nice spicy mustard and some grilled peppers and onions and a cold beer mm mm! After a long bike ride, this is basically my nirvana.

I've been thinking lately though, that when people see me enjoying a tofurky sausage, they won't know I'm eating a vegan sausage, and they may feel inspired to eat a sausage made from dead animals =[ When I eat my vegan meat products in public, it's kind of advertising eating meat, since people won't know that I'm vegan. I've thought about this when I'm eating a sandwhich or veggie burger at school.

So now I buy bananas instead of veggie burgers at school, and I eat my sausages in secret.

Not really, I think that at some point the people that know me some at school will be pleasantly surprised when I tell people that I'm vegan. If I was eating some obviously vegan food like..a raw block of tofu nom nom..it wouldn't be much of a surprise then would it?

hurt

why would you hurt an animal when there's an alternative which costs and tastes about the same, and is healthier for you and the world?

Animal eaters lack imagination

They cannot imagine the life and death of the animals they buy. If they could they would certainly change their purchasing habits or be wracked with guilt and cognitive dissonance.

advertising an amendment

At Burning Man this year, they will have amendment proposals on display:

Everyone can participate in this Interactive social forum! Post your AD for amendments to the US constitution, Burning Man's Ten Principles, or any other document in existence! ALL WEEK you can affix your typed up or handwritten amendments to the ADamendment display @ the CENSUS camp! Participants can also interact & add comments to each AD on display! Burning Man is a participation oriented social landscape, any and all options and statements are invited!

I'm going to make one relating to animal rights, and another relating to the debate between the relative cuteness of kittens and puppies (studies show kittens are cuter). As for animal rights, I'm interested in how others might write an animal rights amendment.

The way this is worded is important. For instance it could legalize ideally the beneficial relationship between non-human animals and humans. Or it could extend the protection given to humans to animals. Or it could make violence against animals criminal. Terms should be defined.

I'll write it up later!