Farm Sanctuary is encouraging people to hold screenings of Our Daily Bread, a narrative-free succession of images illuminating the horrors of factory farming and agribusiness. (If you’re nearby, there will be a screening at the Indianapolis Museum of Art on March 20.) Sounds like a good idea; I still haven’t been able to bring myself to watch my DVD of Earthlings on my own.
Also on March 20 but within subway distance, there will be a screening of Blinders, about the abuses of the horse-drawn carriage industry. The 7pm showing at Village East Cinemas will be followed by a Q&A with director Donny Moss. Buy advance tickets here.
I was bummed when Pumpkin’s went under; I like giving my money to vegan places, and how often does a vegan market come along? On its heels, the V-Spot is having so much trouble staying afloat, they’ve closed for lunch and are three weeks overdue on the rent. Help add to their coffers by attending a “rent party” on Monday, Feb. 23, between 6 & 10pm, with full menu and $3 beers.
Another worthy vendor: Above and Below Herbals creates handmade vegan (and often organic) body care free from synthetic materials and other unecessary crap. I’m allergic to pretty much everything, but my skin loves, loves, loves their Body Butter, Moisturizing Cream and Lip Balm. And there’s free shipping within the U.S.! Place your order now at info@aboveandbelowherbals.com.
If only the show were vegan, then they’d be cookin’!
Okay, the Food Network would never turn Iron Chef veggie, but a live version with a vegetable as the secret ingredient is taking place this weekend in Billyburg. On Sunday, from 2 to 5, head to McGolrick Park for the 2nd annual Iron Chef Kohlrabi. Judging begins at 3, and the winner gets an Iron Chef prize pack, whatever that is. Brought to you by the Greenpoint-Williamsburg CSA and Garden of Eve farm.
Some things that raise interesting questions have been collecting in my browser tabs bar. I thought I’d share them with you.
There’s a thorough post over at U.S. Food Policy about the scope of meat in rising food costs. It takes into account the rising cost of animal feed (and competition from the biofuels industry) and also the dramatic increases in meat consumption, especially in developing nations.
A turtle named Myrtle, who was well known in the backyards of her block in Williamsburg was painted pink, presumably by some construction workers. It became quite a local “human interest” story. It seems like Myrtle will be OK, which is great, but I’m sure that most of those sympathizing with her story would have no moral qualms eating turtle soup.
I’ve been noticing a similar disconnect in regards to Eight Belles, the racehorse who was driven to her death last week at the Kentucky Derby. The mainstream seems sort of upset about the abuse and effective murder of Eight Belles, but not really enough to realize that horse racing can be just as evil as their favorite bugaboo, dog fighting.
[It] started growing, growing, growing until it became too big. And [the artists] were back in Australia, so I had to make the decision to kill it. And you know what? I felt I could not make that decision. I’ve always been pro-choice and all of a sudden I’m here not sleeping at night about killing a coat…That thing was never alive before it was grown.
I wonder how Antonelli thinks other “things” become alive?
Last Thursday, protesters held a press conference and vigil for Smoothie, a NYC carriage horse who died on September 14.
Activists have been working for years to end the abusive carriage horse industry in NYC. The movement took a step forward at Thursday’s vigil, when NYC Council Member Tony Avella announced that he will sponsor legislation to ban horse-drawn carriages. This is the first time a politician has introduced legislation for a ban in NYC; other cities such as London, Paris and Toronto already have bans.
