lots of vegan esque talking, dvds and lots more great vegan food. Day 3

Had another cool day of just relaxing around my home and outside.  It's so so cool how much more openminded my folks seem to be thesedays.  It seems they're really enjoying their older semi retired years.  They are so much more compassionate in the way they talk about life, health, animals etc.  I guess before they just weren't conscious.

My Dad was saying how he lost 20 pounds over the last couple of years through a more plant based diet.  He was showing me a thing he got from a more enlightened doctor 8 years ago pointing out to move towards more plant based eating and regrets that he was quite dismissive at the time.  He's in the living room right now reading 'Thrive' by Brendan Brazier which I bought for my sister's birthday.

My sister talks about animal rights lots.  I have to stop her sometimes as she started talking about horrible animal conditions.  She's pretty much vegan now I think.  Today I was just recommending she get a b12 supplement which she hasn't done as yet.

My sister and me watched forks over knives which was pretty cool and those same themes.  I wasn't sure if it goes a bit too far maybe.  I am a strong vegan but some stuff concerns me and seems a bit less than concrete.

I do personally advocate veganism as the optimum diet for physical and mental health and that there is no need to harm an animal (to do so is a psychopathic act as some Psychologists hold).  Nonetheless I felt the film clumped fish with meat etc.  I feel fish in non polluted waters wouldnt be so bad on a pure physical level but best not from an ethical angle first and foremost.  Also it talked about being vegan as maybe being the same as plant based but being vegan is a lifestyle incorporating more than just what we eat. 

It quotes the China study a lot which does seem to have good work in it but nonetheless in some ways seems a lot of stats which are interpreted in a certain way and could potentially be seen slightly differently.  It concerns me sometimes as I strongly advocate people to become vegan as a whole physical and mental health optimum lifestyle however I don't want things to become distorted and lack substance for movements towards credibly making animals as food and clothing illegal.  We don't need to do that I don't think.

I do still think however the very main principles of the film are fundamentally correct.  The depressing reality of a brainwashed culture and pretty much showing eating animals is bad for us... eating plants is good etc etc... eating animals causes this this and this.. eating plants reverses.  Such a simple depressing truth.  Shame everyone can't get it.

natural argument and harming plants

The natural argument is always a stupid one. People saying that we are naturally something. This annoys me in a few ways. Firstly it annoys me since the human body does not have any omnivorous features.  The only think ive found omnivorous about a human is some production of stomach acid for digestion which is similar to an omnivore.  However in teeth, hands, digestive tract, the way the mouth opens we have all the traits of a herbivore. Meat eaters often point to our corner teeth
but these are still herbivore teeth. They are not for plunging into a cows neck and eating raw flesh.

Evolution seems to show that eating meat has perhaps been helpful at a certain point. In just my view and in reference to literature such as 'spiritual partnership by Gary Zukav' I would say that eating meat is a stage we are passing through spiritually whereas we change from a power over to a more authentic type of power based on communion.

The China study is interesting in its' conclusion that the optimum human diet is a vegan diet with a source of b12 and an added source of vitamin d should one reside in a colder climate.  Some of the evidence can be interpreted a bit differently in that study i feel.  I prefer books like diet for a new America which show all the illnesses linked with eating animal flesh and secretions.

I'm liking the way it is becoming studied by Psychologists. Dr Zab. Psychiatry for a mad world' seems really interesting. I want to get a full copy but haven't been able to yet.  The conclusion that eating meat is a psychopathic act. Similarly Steven Harnad comes to similar conclusions. The idea is that since there is no reason to eat an animal then to do so or to be involved in the murder of an animal is a psychopathic act. Seems a reasonable conclusion.

Saying something is natural is not only frustrating in the sense that our body has practically zero omnivorous qualities but also in the sense it is like giving away power. It seems to me like someone saying to their partner it's natural for me to cheat. it seems time to take charge and really take responsibility. To show respect for ourselves as individuals connected to the world we are in and make good conscious choices.

The other one about what about ripping plants out of the ground? Well there is some point there.  Maybe that does also hurt a plant.  We know though that we can live without consuming sentient beings with a central nervous system. Perhaps in the future we wont have to harm plants either. maybe we'll find a way to fully live on fruit but right now that does seem totally unrealistic.  We know we can thrive as vegans.

The problem seems to be to support people to have a shift in mindset and realise all the great food out there and that we do not cut out but we crowd out and we eat better.  I always feel that we do not miss out on anything that's worth putting in a humans mouth.