So long sweet boy

I once so a sticker on someone's car that was a paw and read "Who Saved Who?".  I remember thinking to myself how true that sticker was at the time and even more so now.  The last month of 2011 was one of the hardest of my life.  Early in the month, Titan- my love and partner- suddenly stopped eating.  Titan had these spells before in his life and so I was not to concerned.  Still, I took him to the vet.  The vet ran some blood tests and the next morning called and said I needed to come in right away for a chest x-ray as there were irregularities in his blood work. The chest x-ray appeared to show something that scared my vet (a dark shadow near his lung) and before I knew it we were off to Angell Memorial's emergency room.

I cried that day more than I have in my life.  Once at Angell, Titan's critical care doctor ran an untrasound which showed masses on my boy's splean.  He had emergency surgery that night to remove his splean.  He came home the next day and started acting somewhat like his old self.  But that bad news continued to come and his biospy showed that Titan had hysiositic sarcoma, the most aggressive kind of cancer.  A few days later we started chemotherapy and Titan's onocologist seemed confident that he could live another 3-6 months.  Unfortunately, just two days later his health took a turn for the worst and Titan could not barely work.  I got him back to Angell where tests revealed that his platlet count was dangerously low.  The only option was for a blood transfusion to try to give the chemo more time to work.  I thought about this decision really hard.  The reality is that the blood tansfusion would only have given him a few more day and his quality of life had deteriorated.  I decided at that moment that my beautiful boy had given me nearly 12 years of unconditional love and he deserved the same.  It was the hardest decision I have ever made in my life and saying good bye to him was harder than anything I have ever faced in my life.

But I don't want to remember the sad part because there is so much more to Titan than his ending.  Titan was an old soul and one of the kindest dogs I have ever met.  He was the definition of good and all that is right in the world.  To this day, I cannot believe that his life started off so wrong and that any person would disguard this amazing soul.

When I was 21 years old I volunteered at the Sonoma County Humane Society in Santa Rosa, CA.  Titan had been there for about three months, before I brought him home.  I remember the first time I saw him.  When I entered the adoption floor with rows upon rows of cages, at the very end there was head that just kept popping up.  Sure enough it was Titan jumping up and down- oh my g-d could this dog jump! he was full of energy and so beautiful, though painfully thin.  He had cigarette burns all over his body.  People are so cruel.  I remember when I took him home, the staff was amazed that anyone wanted this mangy mutt.

Titan wasn't easy in the beginning.  He was hard to walk, anxious and skiddish all at once and an escape artist!  I cannot tell you how many times he got away and my friends and I would spend hours looking for him.  He was so fast.  But of the years, this crazy boy turned into a stately man.  He has been through it all with me.  Break ups, moves across the country, everything.  Titan lived in CA, CA, CT and MA.  He never acted out and just happily followed me where ever my life took us.  When I was hit by a car in May, Titan never left my side.  When I awoke in the emergency room, the police told me how he stood over me licking my face.  Titan was all that is good in the world.


When he was 4 years old, I brought home Max (an 8 week old chihuahua).  Sure, he pretended Max didn't exist for a month and made sure that I still knew he was #1, but he also accepted Max and took him in and taught to be a great dog.  Titan was always patient, always strong, but never aggressive.  It was amazing to see him with Max.  And in the end Max knew how special Titan was.  When he started to get really sick, Max would lay on Titan's bed with him and just lick him. He was a pure and gentle soul.

Titan was the epitome of all that an amazing dog and friend can be.  He showed the genuine kindness that most humans are incapable of and yet he was stereotyped as aggressive because of his breed.  From the second I laid eyes on Titan, I knew that he would be my partner for life.  I loved him from the second I laid eyes on him until he breathed his last breath in my arms.  I hope that he knows that.  I know that he truly saved me and not the other way around. Titan showed me that I am capable of love and taught me how to be more compassionate.  I am forever grateful for his unconditional love. 

Titan, you lived your life the way I only dream of- accepting, loving and trusting everyone.  I know that you are resting now and I am so thankful for the 12 years we had together.   You taught me so much about myself and about love.  You were my pillar when I was unsure and you are always in my heart.  I think of you every day and I still cry almost daily.  Thank you for loving me and for saving me.  Drop in on me from time to time, my sweet boy. It's hard to imagine my life without you, but I know that you are always with me.  I love you big boy.

Are we predisposed to kindness?

"You put a baby in a crib with an apple and a rabbit. If it eats the rabbit and plays with the apple, I'll buy you a new car." ~ Harvey Diamond


I have been thinking about this quote a lot lately.  It is so simple, and yet it couldn't be more true.  Which got me thinking, are we- as human beings- predisposed to kindness over cruelty?  It's an interesting question and one that I am certain would be difficult to answer. 


I don't hold any degrees in psychology and don't know too much about how the mind works.  However, what I can comment on is they way that I see people interact with animals.  I have seen people pull over on the highway to help a wandering dog.  I have seen people dedicate their lives for the wellness of animals.  In my own experience, I have seen people go above and beyond to help my dogs in some tough times.  When you look around, there really is kindness everywhere.  I realize that there are exceptions in every case.  But just for a moment, let's look at the rule and not the exception.


As children, we don't think about killing or harming animals.  Our default is to play with animals, to nurture them and to love them.  This leads me to believe that we are predisposed to kindness and it is only our experiences over the years that make us numb to this default behavior.


Through the years, the meat and dairy industries desensitize us to the depravity that is a result of consuming their products.  They tell us that we need milk to grow tall and strong.  They show us happy cow commercials, where the cows talk and stroll in green pastures.  But the reality is that they are merely masking the destructiveness of their products.


So let me ask you this: If we, as Americans, are so okay with how our food is produced and where it comes from, why are not able to watch the process?  I recently watched the Oprah episode on veganism.  It was interesting in so many ways, but to me the most interesting part was where a correspondent went to the Cargill- the single largest (in terms of revenue) meat producer- and toured the facility but was unable to show how our meat is actually slaughtered.  Why is that?  Maybe if people knew what their meat went through to get to their plate, they would think twice about other options.  Maybe that is why Cargill didn't want the footage seen by millions of viewers.


I can’t imagine that if you’re putting something in your body that’s filled with fear or anxiety or pain that that isn’t somehow gonna be inside of you.” ~Ellen DeGeneres

Ellen's words are so true.  But if eating meat is natural, why do most Americans have such an adverse reaction to viewing the process that their food goes through?  It doesn't make sense if we are not predisposed to kindness.  So instead most people choose indifference- if I didn't see it, it didn't happen.  I suppose ignorance is bliss to most Americans.


Perhaps the only way to face in the inhumanity is to stop the desensitization and to expose these industries for they are- pure cruelty.  My inclination is that if people regularly saw what their meat has been through, they would be less likely to eat if everyday.  Below is this great video that PETA has out about where you food comes from.  It is honest and scary, but true.  If more Americans knew about their food, do you think they would still eat it? Maybe they would, but do you think they would think twice before bringing that fork up to their mouth?

I love my friends who say "Oh I only eat chicken".  As if that is better?  In fact, it is worse.  The FDA actually imposes fewer restrictions on the humane slaughter for chickens because they are classified as birds and birds apparently don't have the same rights as cows.  I wonder, if they saw this video, I mean really watched it, if their minds would change.

“Be the change the change you want to see in the world.” ~ Ghandi

It is human nature to believe that just one person cannot make a difference.  With this popular notion ingrained in our minds, we are content going about our lives the best way we know how.  Then one day, we are struck with a reality check that changes our view of the world and our purpose in life forever. 

For me, it took volunteering and realizing that I was being a complete hypocrite- being kind to the animals that I saw everyday and oblivious to those who went through so much just to end up a steak on my plate.  Today, nearly two years later, I can say that my eyes are open.  And through that realization, I have become a kinder person. And you know what? I feel better as a human being. 

I do believe that just one person can make change happen.  I have seen it occur. I have spent my life seeking out opportunities to make a difference on the issues that are most important to me. I have had the privilege to see first hand real people making a real difference. 

But our jobs are easy.  Kindness is in our nature, we have just have to remind people that violence is not our default.  That big industry can't always win and sometimes, the little guy is the champion.

Last week I had a unique opportunity to meet some truly amazing people.  People who are the shining example that kindness is in our nature.  At a rally to protect baby seals, I was surrounded by true champions.  And you know what- people were receptive.  Cars of people supported our voices.  The only question in my mind, is how do we get them to take that home? Or to the grocery store? Or even to mall?  It's an interesting question that I don't know how to answer.  How do we get people to practice kindness when we are not reminding them of it all the time?

"Until he extends the circle of his compassion to all living things, man will not himself find peace." —Albert Schweitzer, Nobel 1952

For now, I will leave you with this thought.  Maybe the answer to peace is ending the circle of violence in all things.  Maybe if we practice the kindness that is in our nature, peace will happen organically.  What a novel concept.

Monsanto Growing Through Intimidation

Monsanto’s control of the seed market is so high that 93% of soybeans, some 82% of corn, 93% of cotton and 95% of sugar beets grown in the U.S. contain Monsanto’s patented genes.

I first learned about the agricultural abuses of Monsanto after watching the movie Food Inc.  As a vegan, I knew about the abuses of the meat and dairy industries and the importance of buying organic veggies.  But I didn't know much about the evil that lurked in the soy industries.

According to the Monsanto website, they seek to produce more, conserve more and changes lives.  Sounds great, right?  Monsanto claims that their main goal is to double the world's food supply, which is a noble goal, but at what cost?

As a consumer, it is important to understand the science behind Monsanto engineering.  And let's just put it out there, their product is just that- science.  Monsanto is a pioneer in GMO's- genetically modified organisms.  GMO's use recombinant DNA technology to mass produce.   This technology allows Monsanto to be able to produce  at a much faster rate then the typical farmer.

So why is this bad?  GMO's can iintroduce new allergens into foods and contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance. On top of this, seed farmers reclaim and clean seeds at the end of each harvest and re-plant them in the Spring.  Thanks to Monsanto, this is really no longer possible.  Monsanto developed genetically modified seeds that resist Monsanto's own herbicide, Roundup, offering farmers a convenient way to spray fields with weed killer without affecting crops. Monsanto then patented the seeds. 

Farmers who buy Monsanto’s patented Roundup Ready seeds are then required to sign an agreement promising not to save the seed produced after each harvest for re-planting. This means that farmers must buy new seed every year. Those increased sales, coupled with ballooning sales of its Roundup weed killer (now the most popular weed killer not only in agriculture, but also in homes across America), have been a gold mine for Monsanto.

Roundup, independent of its market implications, has its own demons for the American people.  In a recent study, the inactive ingredients in Roundup were found not to be quite so inactive. In fact, the inert ingredients were found to cause human cell damage and even death at residual levels.  Watch out if you are pregnant too, Monsanto's chemicals were found to have damaging effects on embryonic and placental cells.  Think about that as you prepare your lawn this Spring or when you eat your tofu tonight.

Anyway, back to the main point of this rant.  With their patents in hand, Monsanto's Roundup has been the leading weed killer since the 1970's.  Their are almost no other options for agricultural farmers.

Monsanto states on their website that one of their goals is to change lives.  They certainly have changed the lives of America's local farmers by hauling them off to court to drive up their already dominate 93% market share.  

Back to the seeds.  For generations seed farmers re-planted seeds from year to year.  Now, thanks to Monsanto's patent, they cannot do this. Seed farmers historically have little return on investment for their crops and the high cost of Monsanto seeds have left their profit margins pretty desolate.  On top of that, the cost of the seeds inflate every year even though the output does not.  And Monsanto doesn't stop their.  They disenfranchise farmers even further by no longer allowing them to claim ownership of the seeds of the crops they are growing.

So what are the options for farmers?  They can buy normal seeds which are not resistant to Roundup (these are virtually non-existent for soy) or they can buy the Monsanto seeds.  How's that for options?

And even if they don't go with Monsanto seeds, they can still get sued.  Due to wind and other environmental conditions genetically modified seeds can cross pollinate with conventional seed farms.  Monsanto has sued several organic farmers after finding genetically modified tainted crops from cross pollination.

So Monsanto is taking them to court and then heading to the bank.  They get the organic seed farmers on cross pollination and the farmers using Monsanto seeds for re-planting seeds from harvest to harvest.  And the sad part is that in the majority of cases where Monsanto sues, or threatens to sue, farmers settle before going to trial because the costs and stress of litigating against a global corporation are just too great. 

Where is the FDA?

You would think that the FDA would have our back as consumer, but you would be wrong. Monsanto was required to submit a scientific report on rBGH to the FDA so they could determine the growth hormone's safety. Margaret Miller put the report together, and in 1989 shortly before she submitted the report, Miller left Monsanto to work for the FDA. Guess what her first job was? Strangely enough, to determine whether or not to approve the report she wrote for Monsanto.

And through Miller, Monsanto approved its own report. Very interesting.  But it doesn't end there.

Prior to being the Supreme Court Judge who put G.W. in office, Clarence Thomas was Monsanto's lawyer. The former Secretary of Defense (Donald Rumsfeld) was on the Board of Directors of Monsanto's Searle pharmaceuticals. Former U.S. Secretary of Health, Tommy Thompson, received $50,000 in donations from Monsanto during his winning campaign for Wisconsin's governor. And in 2009, President Obama appointed Michael Taylor, a former Monsanto executive, as the Senior Advisor to the Commissioner of the FDA.  Are you feeling sick to your stomach yet?

I know I am.  But there are still somethings you can do.  First, you can contact your representatives and let them know that you are not okay with Monsanto's practices.  Second, educate yourself.  Read books, read labels and know what you are eating.  Buy organic because clearly we can't trust the FDA to look out for our best interests.

Last year the Department of Justice and U.S. Department of Agriculture held a series of 5 workshops investigating anti-competitive practices in the food and agricultural sectors.  Clearly, Monsanto is one of, if not the, worst abusers in agriculture.  So it's time to speak up and tell the Department of Justice to break up Monsanto.  Join Food Democracy Inc and sign a petition to tell Obama and the DOJ that enough is enough.  You can sign the petition here:  http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/sign/break_up_monsanto/?akid=303.151696.DJmXl3&rd=1&t=1