This is fantastic! It would have been great to know about sooner though.

If I lived in the Washington, D.C., area, I'd so be there! I'm so happy they're doing this - I hope it continues for years (until factory farming is abolished!!).

My daily combat isn't huge or loud and outspoken; it's a few things here and there with people who normally buy animal-product food without a second thought. I bring in a vegan chocolate cake for an office party, or share my everyday dips and lunch recipes with people at work. I email friends and family about great foods I've tried that are vegan and kind, and introduce them to sites like yours. I've learned that you're not going to change someone by pushing and shoving them onto your path, and that small, friendly tips, tricks, and other acts are more effective. Often, when I point out to someone that "that's vegan," they're shocked because of how good it is - like "vegan" food equates with tasteless and bland! Slowly opening someone's eyes is better than not at all. :)

Also speaking is the Animal Welfare Institute's Dena Jones - my lovely colleague

I'll be there! So excited!  

by Alicia Silverstone: "you can still do your part at home, by maintaining your kind lifestyle and sharing it with your friends and loved ones!"

Have maintained my kind lifestyle [i.e., VEGAN] OVER 2 years & will continue to do so 'til the day I die [perhaps longer~lol], but friends & loved ones would rather I not share it with them! Other than my 25-yr-old daughter who lives in WV and is also VEGAN [I live in AL], No One that I know Cares! Tho' I feel I've had ZERO effect on friends 'N' fam, I shall march on proudly--just as if everyone really is interested!

Nothing would bring me greater happiness than to see factory farming and animal cruelty of any kind put to an end, once and for all.  One can only dream, right? And yet, the pessimist in me wonders if this will ever happen when most humans cannot even be kind to one another, in this country and other countries. How can we hope to end cruelty/inhumane treatment towards animals when some humans cannot even be kind to one another?...

Case in point: Last night on my way home from work, after a very long day mind you, I stopped at Whole Foods to pick up a few things. A woman was blocking the aisle with her carriage. I politely asked her if I could get by (I said, "Excuse me, do you mind if I get by.") only for her to turn and give me a dirty look with a scowl on her face.  I shook my head, walked past her thinking, get over yourself! The way she reacted, you would have thought I asked her to cut off her right arm.

And I assume most, if not all of you reading Alicia's blog heard/saw on the news this morning about the wild exotic animals in Ohio that were let loose from their cages?  Some were shot down by local police.  The news of those animals being shot and killed left me bewildered and frustrated.  Is that the best the Ohio police could do was shoot these innocent animals? 

HEAVY SIGH.

To the last response. I know how you feel. But the Ohio thing is so very sad.  I feel they had no choice but to unfortunately shoot these animals even though it is wrong, because if one of these animals hurt someone then they would be condemned for that to. Also I am sure most of these animals were terrified and scared being out of there enclosures for the first time. In the article it said that tried to tranquilize a tiger and it went crazy so they had to put it down.  who knows if that is true though. Unfortunatly Ohio has very lax exotic animals laws and it is really sad and hopefully will change soon. BTW i always just try to keep smiling at those grumpy people and remember how sad their life mus be to be like that. And hey you should be super happy to have a whole foods! In Iowa they are finally building the first one in Des Moines... 3 Hrs away!!! Have a great night!

I too watched the news in horror as they talked about shooting these animals this morning (I am a mobile phlebotomist working in long term care facilities and I was with 2 Alzheimer's patients who both burst into tears_how do I explain such cruelty to these old women?).  I am happy that they brought in Jack Hanna to work with these animals - the goal being to recapture if possible.  The problem was it was dark and these were WILD animals and human life was the first priority.  The man who owned them was responsible for this tragedy.  Wild animals should not be owned.  They do not belong in cages.  He released these animals before killing himself.  He is responsible for their deaths as well as the welfare of anyone who may be injured or killed in their recapture.

I'm just living the kind life.  I believe that you need to be the change you want to see in the world.  That's the most effective way.

I am so glad to read this! Good news all around. Meatless is so safe FOR ALL! :)

(I thought they were into eating CATS; or is that just some joke that was always out there?!) 

This is wonderful, there is hope...

I am in Florida but spreading the word out to my DC friends. After the eastern-china festival cancellation...it goes to show how far your voice can take us.

Katie, That is a great way to look at it.

I feel a sense of peace knowing that I am doing the right thing for myself and animals by no longer eating meat, and animal byproducts. I feel proud of myself.

My daughter's paternal grandmother just sent a response to her being Vegan, which included literature about B-12. It started off, "The next time a hollier than thou Vegan blabbers on about a plant based diet"...

I think that the animosity toward Vegans is because we have a determination, that can make some meat eaters feel inadequate. I get the same responses sometimes because I homeschool my daughter. No one wants to think they aren't doing the best for themselves and their children, and they select the information they choose to believe accordingly. 

This is great to see that this event is taking place.  A great step towards ending Factory Farming.  Although I cannot attend, I do my part locally I suppose.  Tonight I just read "That's Why We Don't Eat Animals" to my kids.  If you haven't read it, it's so great!  It's tastefully done yet still gets the message across.  

I also just launched a 2 Week Plants Only Pledge on Veggie Kids site hoping to convince non-vegs to give it a try!

-Sarah

veggie-kids.blogspot

@Penelope

I would tell the paternal grandmother that she is terribly mistaken. In fact, she couldn’t be more wrong. You see, “holier-than-thou is spelled with one “l,” and the phrase is hyphenated.

 Seriously, the phrase holier-than-thou is defined as offensively sanctimonious or self-righteous. So by definition, anyone who labels a vegan as holier-than-thou is operating out of defensiveness and fear. It’s just ignorance.