Abandon Confessions

The Facts About Eating Animal Products… by John Robbins, author of “Diet for a New America” and founder of Earthsave International.

The Hunger Argument:
Number of People worldwide who will die of starvation this year: 60 million
Number of people who could be adequately fed with the grain saved if Americans reduced meat intake by 10%: 60 million
Human beings in America: 303,824,640
Number of people who could be fed with grain and soybeans now eaten by US livestock: 1.3 billion
Percentage of corn grown in US eaten by people: 20%
Percentage of corn grown in US eaten by livestock: 80%
Percentage of protein wasted by cycling grain through livestock: 90%
Percentage of oats grown in US eaten by livestock: 95%
How frequently a child starves to death: every 2 seconds
Pounds of potatoes that can be grown on an acre: 20,000 lbs
Pounds of beef produced on an acre: 165 lbs
Percentage of US farmland devoted to beef production: 56%
Pounds of grain and soybeans needed to produce 1 pound of feedlot beef: 16 lbs.

The Environmental Argument:
Cause of global warming: greenhouse effect
Primary cause of greenhouse effect: Carbon Dioxide from fossil fuels
More beneficial for global warming–Switching to a Toyota Prius vs. Switching to a Vegetarian Diet: Vegetarian Diet
Fossil fuels needed to produce a meat-centered diet vs. a meat-free diet: 50 times more
Percentage of US topsoil lost to date: 75%
Percentage of US topsoil loss directly related to livestock raising: 85%
Number of acres of US forest cleared for cropland to produce meat-centered diet: 260 million acres
Amount of meat US imports annually from Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Panama: 200,000,000 pounds
Average per capita meat consumption in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Panama: Less than eaten by average US house cat
Area of tropical rainforest consumed in every quarter-pounder hamburger: 55 sq. ft.
Current rate of species extinction due to destruction of tropical rainforests for meat grazing and other uses: 1,000 species extinct per year

The Cancer Argument:
Increased risk of breast cancer for women who eat meat four times a week vs. less than once a week: 4 times
Increased risk of breast cancer for women who eat eggs daily vs less than once a week: 3 times
Increased risk of breast cancer for women who eat cheese and butter 3 or more times a week vs less than once a week: 3 times
Increased risk of ovarian cancer for women who eat eggs 3 or more times a week vs less than once a week: 3 times
Increased risk of fatal prostate cancer for men who consume meat, cheese, eggs and milk daily vs sparingly or not at all: 3.6 times

The Natural Resources Argument:
User of more than half of all water used for all purposes in the US: Livestock production
Amount of water to produce a pound of wheat: 25 gallons
Amount of water to produce a pound of meat: 2,500 gallons
Cost of common hamburger if water used by meat industry was not subsidized by US taxpayer: $35/pound
Current cost of pound of protein from beefsteak, if water was no longer subsidized: $89
Years the world’s known oil reserves will last if every human ate a meat-centered diet: 13 years
Years the world’s known oil reserves will last if human beings no longer ate meat: 260 years
Barrels of oil imported into US daily: 6.8 million
Percentage of fossil fuel energy returned as food energy by most efficient factory farming of meat: 34.5 percent
Percentage returned as food energy from least efficient plant food: 328%
Percentage of raw materials consumed by US to produce present meat-centered diet: 33%

The Cholesterol Argument:
Number of US Medical Schools: 125
Number requiring a course in nutrition: 30
Nutrition training received by average US physician during four years in medical school: 2.5 hours
Most common cause of death in the US: Heart attack
How frequently a heart attack kills in the US: Every 45 seconds
Average US man’s risk of death from heart attack: 50%
Risk for average US man who avoids the meat-centered diet: 15%
Risk for average US vegan man: 4%
Amount you reduce risk of heart attack if you reduce consumption of animal products by 10 percent: 9%
Amount you reduce risk of heart attack if you reduce consumption of animal products by 50 percent: 45%
Amount you reduce risk by changing to a vegan diet: 90 percent
Meat, dairy, and egg industries claim you should not be concerned about your blood cholesterol if it is: “normal”
Your risk of dying of a disease caused by clogged arteries if your blood cholesterol is “normal”: >50%

The Antibiotic Argument:
Percentage of US antibiotics fed to livestock: 55%
Percentage of staph infections resistant to penicillin in 1960: 13%
Percentage of staph infections resistant to penicillin in 1988: 91%
Response of European Economic Community to routine feeding of antibiotics to livestock: Ban
Response of US meat and pharmaceutical industries to routine feeding of antibiotics to livestock: Full and complete support

The Pesticide Argument:
Percentage of pesticide residues in the US diet supplied by grains: 1%
Percentage of pesticide residues in the US diet supplied by fruits: 4%
Percentage of pesticide residues in the US diet supplied by vegetables: 6%
Percentage of pesticide residues in the US diet supplied by dairy products: 23%
Percentage of pesticide residues in the US diet supplied by meat: 55%
Pesticide contamination of breast milk from meat eating mothers vs non-meat eating: 35 times higher
What USDA tells us: Meat is inspected
Percentage of slaughtered animals inspected for residues of toxic chemicals such as dioxin and DDT: <0.00004%

The Ethical Argument:
Number of animals killed for meat per hour in US: 500,000
Occupation with highest turnover rate in US: Slaughterhouse Worker
Occupation with the highest rate of on-the-job injury in US: Slaughterhouse Worker
Cost to render animal unconscious with “captive bolt pistol”: 1 cent
Reason given by meat industry for not using “captive bolt pistol”: Too expensive

For once we should all pay attention to the advertisements found on our local transit systems such as the one’s introduced to the TTC for the month of June.

This Controversial Ad Campaign Asks Torontonians:
“Why love one but eat the other?”

A group of concerned Toronto citizens has launched a provocative series of ads on
the TTC subway system that draws attention to the similarities between the animals we call“family” and the animals we call “dinner”, and then exposes the shocking cruelty faced by animals raised for food in Canada.

One of the three ads features an inquisitive puppy and a cheerful piglet side-by-side and asks, “Why love one but eat the other?” The other two ads feature a fluffy kitten and an equally fluffy baby chick, and an alert Labrador Retriever beside a curious cow. In each case, these heart-warming images are juxtaposed with graphic photographs of the horrific conditions on factory farms where animals are crammed by the thousands into filthy windowless sheds, battery cages, gestation crates, and other cruel confinement systems. Over 95% of the 650 million animals raised for food in Canada today will never root in the soil, build nests, or do anything that is natural to them. Most won’t even feel the sun on their backs or breathe fresh air until the day they are loaded onto trucks bound for slaughter.

Farmed animals are no less intelligent or capable of feeling pain than the dogs and cats we cherish as companions. Yet cruelty, such as intense confinement, staggering neglect, mutilation, genetic manipulation, transport through all weather extremes, and gruesome and violent slaughter, is commonplace in Canadian agribusiness. In fact, the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies (CFHS) says Canada’s record in farm animal welfare is "shameful" – lagging well behind the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and the EU.

“Pigs, cows and chickens are remarkable beings,” says campaign spokesperson Kimberly Carroll. “Cows will walk for miles to reunite with a calf after being sold at auction. Pigs have intelligence beyond that of a 3 year-old human. Chickens mourn the loss of their loved ones. We hope that in connecting with these animals and the grievous suffering that is behind every burger, omelette, and hot dog, people will be motivated to make more compassionate food choices.”

The ads encourage people to “Choose Compassion. Choose Vegetarian.” and points viewers toward its www.ChooseVeg.ca website to receive the support and resources to do just that.

Visitors to the website can download free Vegetarian Starter Kits and information about making dietary choices that do not inflict cruelty on animals.

For more Information:
Contact: Kimberly Carroll
Email: info@chooseveg.ca
Website:
www.chooseveg.ca

You mentioned that you do not want to be silenced and I honestly respect you for that. You said millions of Americans agree with you, I respect that as well. What I am here to say is that there are millions of Americans and other nationalities that disagree with you. You are not being punished. You sound like a spoiled brat. What is happening to you is that you’re being bombarded by the truth and you can’t handle it because it goes against your faith. 

You talk about freedom, truth and justice. I am happy that you are able to speak your mind, you live in a country that gives you the freedom to speak your mind. But do you also live in a country that keeps your mind so closed to the idea that there are others living in the country that want freedoms too, like the freedom to marry who they want? You can disagree with them yes, but why try to ban them or stop them? This is what I don’t understand. I don’t know what it is about America, but I hate it more and more everyday. I am anti-American. I will say that right now. I don’t hate the people who live there, and I don’t intend them any harm, but I DO hate their ideologies, their patriotism, the fact that they think America is NEVER wrong. Well America is wrong in this case. Gay rights are HUMAN rights. When did Americans start disassociating gay people from being human? I’m sorry but does making you homosexual automatically exempt you from obtaining certain rights? I am so ANGRY right now because people actually hang on to these empty ancient beliefs and apply them to the 21st century. 

We live in a time where homosexuals are more out then ever before and I love that. I love the fact that people can express themselves in a way they deem fit. And I believe that if a person loves someone so much that they want to marry that person and EXPRESS themselves in that way they should be allowed to do it, whether they are homosexual or not. I honestly believe that marriage is a freedom of speech. You tell the world that you are forever committed to this person, through marriage. 

She talks about her grandfather protecting her country in WW2 (don’t even get me started on the American involvement of WW2, it’s a whole other story that pisses the heck out of me) he was probably fighting beside a few (very closeted) homosexuals. If her grandfather were to find out that his best war buddy was a flamin’ fairy would he cease to protect him because of his religious beliefs? Does the freedom that he fought for only apply to certain people that live in America or everyone?

What she is promoting here is that it’s okay to alienate certain groups in society. This type of segregation can be linked to the civil rights movement. If you deem that these HUMANS are not fit enough to get married you’re taking away a right from them, a HUMAN right. They are not children on the middle of the boardwalk that want to get married, they have the maturity and ability to fathom what it is they are asking for, and they understand the responsibilities that come with marriage (unlike many heterosexuals); they deserve to be treated equally BECAUSE they are living, breathing human beings, just like black people are HUMAN, just like Japanese are HUMAN, just like Jews and Muslims are HUMAN!!!

We had an amazing movie season where Sean Penn and Dustin Lance Black took home the Oscar for an amazing movie called Milk.  Can you honestly sit there and say that Harvey Milk does not deserve HUMAN RIGHTS because he is gay? Can you honestly sit there and watch the movie and say “FUCK YA… He fuckin died that gay mother fucker” and not feel an inch of empathy towards him and his cause. Can you honestly say that after almost 40 years we still haven’t deemed homos worthy of human rights? Are homos the new niggers?

I can’t fathom that a country that fought so hard to liberate black people would deem another set of people unworthy of rights or freedoms. And to have a Black man as president, Mr. Barack Obama,  a man who was 200 years in the making, come forth and be the President of the United States and NOT inspire people to stand up for the minority, just goes to show what kind of country America really is. We’re not talking about homosexuals being allowed to have sex on the sidewalk here, we’re talking about them getting married. I mean comon people, marriage is so over-rated and America has the worst divorce rate in the WORLD. If heterosexuals get married and then get divorced 6 months later why won’t you allow the homosexuals to feel this happiness?

In case you all still believe GOD has a say in this, read some of these facts:

Facts about Homosexuality:
1.  Homosexuality is not a choice, much like being a human is not a choice. Some people kill themselves because they don’t want to be Homosexual, how can you call this a choice? One does not choose to be homo, they are biologically programmed to be that way whether it’s genetic or not is uncertain, but it is the brain’s ability to process attraction towards someone that determines one’s sexuality.  
2. Homosexuality is not a disease. All major mental health organizations, including the American Psychological Association (APA), have stated that homosexuality is not a mental disorder.
3. Homosexuality occurs in nature. There are many species that show homosexual tendencies these include but are not limited to: Penguins, Black Swans, Lions, Sheep, Dolphins, Bonobos, Chimps (wah no way our closest relatives that we share 95% of our DNA are homos?), Elephants, Giraffes, Dragonflies, Lizards and many more.
4. Homos will not corrupt our children and try to convert them. People cannot be “converted” into a homosexual. Many children who were raised in homosexual households are not homos themselves. Being around, or in contact with a homo will not and never will MAKE you gay.

Now for all of you who make the Christian argument that God says homosexuality is wrong and should be punished, how do you make that argument equate the fact that homosexuality isn’t a choice but most likely biologically programmed in the homo’s mind? For those of you who says God doesn’t love homosexuals makes God look like a hypocrite considering God created them. He did, he had too, he created everything according to your bible. For those of you who says that God will punish homosexuals, how can he punish someone that was predetermined to act the way they did because that was how they were created? And for those of you who says God doesn’t want the gay community to participate in getting married, why stop there? What about Atheists that get married? They don’t even believe in God. Maybe we should stop them from getting married. Or wiccans, or Satanists, or Agnostics, or midgets? I mean midgets getting married… ridiculous, am I right?

I just don’t understand how people can be so closed-minded because of religion and/or upbringing. This is from where hate stems. Break the cycle and do yourselves a favour, accept every animal and everyone in peace.

This was written by a VERY 100% Homosexual-lovin’ Heterosexual!!!!

(If you do or do not agree with me, let me know; I am always open to hearing opinions)

“Human exploitation of the planet is reaching a critical limit, but human demands and expectations are ever increasing. We cannot continue to pollute the atmosphere, poison the ocean and exhaust the land. There isn’t anymore available.” – Stephen Hawking

Corporations are destroying our planet. They mass produce everything, and in order to continue the mass production they use Earth’s natural resources as if they are abundant. Wake up you economical terrorists; you are destroying the only planet that can sustain life in our solar system. We do not have the technology to move to another planet, and other planets cannot sustain us. You call me a terrorist when I stand up against you, when I write you letters, or when I protest against your monstrosity, but you are the terrorists. You have caused massive droughts, corporate made deserts, famine, hotter climates, and earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados, tsunamis that have killed millions. You are to blame for deforestation, for massive extinctions, for ozone depletion. And then you call me and anyone who has the balls to stand up against your monstrosity a terrorist. Your greed is destroying my planet, a planet that I don’t want to bring children into because I don’t want them to be corrupted and killed for your greed.

Wal-Mart is a killer to small owners and businesses that run on ethics and have the planet’s best interests in mind. Instead of supporting these businesses, you buy their products, sell them for a fraction of the cost and then when it comes to pay up you give them half of what you promised. I bet that’s why Happy Planet Organic Juices dumped your ass and refused to sell to you anymore. Exxon Mobile you take advantage of our planet and everyone on it when it comes to fossil fuels and their alternatives. Instead of using your massive amounts of stored money into preserving the oils you’d rather wipe your asses with it and then give it to you lower employees that are paid $9/hr. Procter and Gamble you spend millions upon millions of dollars to advertise your products without a second thought as to what those products contain and how they affect human health as well as the environment. You continue to do needless research on animals, you put dangerous chemicals like parabens , ammonia and nitrobenzenes in your products without a second thought about your consumers all in the name of profit. Yes that’s right you only want to make MONEY!!!! You don’t even CARE that your products have caused and is causing cancer and destroying our home. SC Johnson “a family company” that also puts parabens in their products so you can rub it all over your babies bums and watch them age prematurely and end up with testicular cancer, that shove hundreds of ounces of toxins down animals throats, animals that in most households would be considered part of the “family”, a company that still produces the product Drano whose chemicals destroy so much in our lakes and oceans, I love the fact that you’re trying to change your products for the better, but you still have greed in you only because you KNOW there are better alternatives and you refuse to get rid of the products that destroy our planet simply because you seek to make a profit. You are a corporate monster. To HLS thanks for genetically modifying our plants and animals so that we can get massive tumours the size of our fists stuck to the sides of our livers, oh and for punching puppies in the face, we all need to punch those dogs once in a while don’t we. And finally to Monsanto, for polluting my country’s soil with herbicides and pesticides, rock on mofos!!!

And for all of you who think I’m some kind of hypocritical bitch that buys the shit these companies are selling… stop right now. I do not and will never shop at mass produced garbage stores that sell these shitty products. I shop at primarily vegan/health food stores found in Toronto, and I use public transit (that runs on bio-fuels) if I need to get around.

Think about what you are buying and who you are supporting the next time you go shopping. Remember you can all do something to save this planet and shut down these corporations simply by choosing the products that promote peace and environmentalism. Your product choice is your vote for or against corporate terrorists!!!

“I don’t believe for a minute that life will be extinguished. Even though we’ve radically altered the air, the water and the soil of the Earth life has been incredibly tenacious and adaptable. But as a species at the very top of the food chain I know that we’re the most vulnerable. Life has existed on Earth for 3.8 to 4 billion years. Over that time there have been a lot of species. But you know what? 99.9999, four decimal points, percent of all species that have ever existed are extinct. So extinction is a natural part of life. Extinction is what has enabled life to flourish and evolve and change with the conditions of the changing planet. The planet hasn’t been stuck in one condition over 4 billion years. The tragedy of our existence is that we’re an infant species. Not only are we hastening the conditions for our own demise, we’re taking down, according to the United Nations Environment Programme, 50 to 55,000 species a year are going extinct because of us. The tragedy is not the imminent or potential extinction of humankind, but the enormous extinction crisis that we’re causing right now.” David Suzuki

For those of you who want to call in or write a complaint on the Governor General’s despicable actions here is how you would go about doing it.

Telephone Directory

The Office of the Secretary to the Governor General telephone directory is located on the Government Electronic Directory Services (GEDS) Web site. This is a searchable database, and information retrieved includes the names, titles, telephone numbers, fax numbers and mailing addresses of departmental employees.

Inviting the Governor General to your event

Each year, the Governor General and His Excellency Jean-Daniel Lafond attend special events, ceremonies and celebrations across the country, both together and separately. If you would like them to attend an event, you can invite them by writing a letter (addressed to the Governor General) that includes:

• background information on the event or organization
• the date and time of the event (and whether these are flexible) and the venue
• the number of people expected to participate
• the role you would like the Governor General to play, if any (e.g., speech, award presentation, etc)
• name and telephone number of a contact person (and fax if available)

Keep in mind that their programs are planned five to six months in advance.

Please send your invitation by regular mail (no postage necessary) to 1 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A1. All invitations are reviewed by a program officer, who will contact you if any further information is needed. Invitations are then presented to Their Excellencies and decisions are made based on their availability, confirmed program of engagements, travel requirements and other factors.

If you have any questions, please contact the Program Planning section through info@gg.ca

How to write to the Governor General

The full title of the Governor General is:

    Her Excellency
    the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D.
    Governor General of Canada

The title of the Governor General’s spouse is:

    His Excellency Jean-Daniel Lafond, C.C.

If you are writing to the Governor General, address the letter to:

    Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean
    Governor General of Canada
    Rideau Hall
    1 Sussex Drive
    Ottawa, Ontario
    K1A 0A1
 (no postage necessary)

You can write to His Excellency at the same address.

In either case, the salutation is: Excellency

If you want to write to both of them, address the letter to:

    Their Excellencies
    The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean
    Governor General of Canada
    and
    Mr. Jean-Daniel Lafond

Taken from www.gg.ca/contactus/index_e.asp#3

Please tell her respectfully how you feel, no point making a scene. Remember we’re trying to change her (and Canada’s) views and change doesn’t come with hate mail!

I am for TOTAL animal liberation, which means there will be no animal harmed for any reason by humans, at all, ever!

In the case of Inuit people in our country, I do not agree with the hunting of our nations animals for any reason be it food, clothing, or profit, especially profit, because there are so many different alternative available, but I’ll tolerate their traditions (for now) only because the Inuit community does not exploit the animals in any means and they have the utmost respect for them.

That being said I am utterly appalled and disgusted at Canada’s Governor General Michaelle Jean who visited the Arctic this week and used her photo op to eat the raw heart of a baby seal. According to the Toronto Star the GG went the Arctic to visit our fellow Inuit peeps and decided to take a stand for the seal hunt saying: “These are ancient practices that are part of a way of life. If you can’t understand that, you’re completely missing the reality of life here.”

Okay well I understand ancient practices. This coming from a person who spent a lot of time behind history texts learning about ancient civilizations. And I’ll list some ancient practices that were considered normal then that are now currently outlawed:

1.  Cannibalism
2.  Human Sacrifices
3.  Slavery
4.  Incest
5.  Witch Hunts
6.  The burning of Protestants in England
7.  Poaching
8.  Using children in psychological experimentations
9.  Sterilizing mentally disabled people
10. Polygamy

All of these things are now taboo and if done by any human, whether primitive or civilized, it is frowned upon. So if we can get rid of ancient traditions such as these then why can’t we get rid of this one ancient tradition: The Seal Hunt. 

In fact the commercial seal hunt isn’t ancient at all. It started roughly around 1723 when settlers from Europe were looking for a way to make an income, except in the 21st century it’s unnecessary and barbaric. We don’t need seal pelts to make a living, in fact the seal hunters only make $1000-2000 for the whole season. For the government of Canada to say these hunters rely on the seal hunt as it’s their source of income… BULLSHIT! I don’t know any Canadian that lives off of $2000 a year. Even in Nunavut that amount would be ridiculous. 

The lies that the government is feeding our public and the international community is ridiculous. The commercial seal hunt has absolutely nothing to do with the Inuit seal hunt, yet they continue to play the Aboriginal card in order to get votes and people on their side. They say it’s humane, it isn’t humane to club an animal to death, and club the animals they do. Regardless of the regulations (which are not governed and are equally inhumane) these hunters continue to butcher these poor animals in a very inhumane way. And to say it’s their livelihood is the most idiotic thing I’ve heard of since they made it a law that one is allowed to demand a gun and a horse after getting out of jail in Alberta!!! These hunters don’t kill because they need the money, they kill because they like it. Some of the time they don’t even take the pelts, and the bodies that are skinned are left on the ice to rot, the animal is not disposed of humanly, they are killed in front of each other and their meat is wasted. I suppose this is what our fricken GG calls humane.

With the dying demand for seal fur I think it would be best just to abolish the hunt entirely.

“But Phoenix, if we abolish the hunt, there will be an ecological problem considering the seals will eat all of the fish!!!”

Um… No. The only reason why we have a shortage of fish right now is because of the overfishing of our oceans. DO NOT TRY TO DENY THIS HATERS THIS IS A FACT!!!! If we can regulate the amount of fish caught, or abolish fishing all together there will not be an imbalance at all.

Today for the first time I am ashamed to be a Canadian. I am ashamed that PETA actually wants to ban Canadian maple syrup because of the seal hunt, I am ashamed that we look like brutal, ignorant savages to the international community, and I am ashamed that we have such a horrific woman as our Governor General, our only link to the Queen and she behaves in such a primitive, barbaric way. Adrienne Clarkson has never and would never piss on our flag the way Michaelle did (at least not in public).

I am so sick to my stomach I can’t even type.

Song and Lyrics written by Goldfinger

I didn’t ask you to take me from here,
I didn’t ask to be broken,
I didn’t ask you to stroke my hair,
Or treat me like a worthless token,
But my skin is thick,
And my mind is strong,
I am built like my father was,
I have done nothing wrong
So free me,
I just want to feel how life should be,
I just want enough space to turn around,
And face the truth,
So free me
When are you gonna realise,
You’re just wrong,
You cant even think for yourself,
Cant even make up your minds,
So my minds a jail,
And I hate the whole goddamn human race,
What the hell do you want from me,
Kill me if you just dont know,
Or free me,
I just want to feel what life should be,
I just want enough space to turn around,
‘Cause you’re all fucked,
And maybe someday you’ll treat me like you.