native knowledge
Intro to Veganism / Social Responsibility / Native Kids / Additional Resources
What’s a Vegan?
A vegan, is a vegetarian who chooses for ethical, environmental, economic or health reasons (or some combination thereof), to adopt a diet limiting, or eliminating entirely, animal products. Since the widespread adoption of vegetarian diets in the 1960’s, there’s been a whole lotta labeling goin’ on – lacto, ovo, lacto-ovo… Essentially, a vegetarian doesn’t eat poultry, red meat or fish, although they likely consume animal by-products such as dairy or eggs.
Vegans, are vegetarians who are even more particular about what they eat – or don’t eat. Vegans do not eat any animal by-products including honey or gelatin. Some vegans are also careful to avoid using any products derived from animals including certain cosmetics, wool, leather or silk. Choosing a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle is a decision arrived at from many different paths, and defined in many different ways.
It has long been falsely assumed that a vegan or vegetarian diet does not provide adequate protein or nutrition – this is simply not the case. A vegan or vegetarian diet is based on eating a variety of healthful foods that provide a balanced diet. While vegetarian diets provide significant advantages to reducing some of the most serious health concerns facing developed nations – heart disease, diabetes – vegan diets can be the healthiest of all, reducing risk of a broad range of health concerns.
Another major health concern is the need to adopt an organic diet – the level of environmental pollutants found in our bodies due to pesticides, power production and other first world advancements can cause severe health issues.
Health/Nutrition information:
Health / Nutrition Resources
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
The China Study by T. Colin Campbell PhD
Vegan / Vegetarian Resources
Diet for a New America and The Food Revolution by John Robbins
VegNews Vegetarian Lifestyle Magazine
Social Responsibility
Native Foods is a compassionate organization that respects all beings and natural elements without which we could not freely exist. We are dedicated to creating a cruelty-free and sustainable world. As the species responsible for polluting the environment, endangering animals, and imposing a great amount of cruelty upon them – through factory farming, etc. – we feel it is our responsibility to try to clean things up, and speak out for those who can’t speak for themselves!
Although there are many causes in need of assistance, there are two primary areas where Native Foods’ focuses our efforts: the ethical treatment of animals, and environmental protection.
Animal Rights
There are so many circumstances - in the wild, the oceans, entertainment (zoos and circuses), research labs, factory farms, and often even as pets - where we have the opportunity to abuse and torture animals. The fact that abuse is the common outcome in so many cases gives us the opportunity to question not only our sanity as people, but also those in charge of the institutions and organizations allowing abuse. There are a lot of organizations dedicated to improving the lives of animals -- and they can all use our help!
Oh, and save a cow -- eat at Native Foods!
Some resources for compassion towards animals:
PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) operates under the simple principle that animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, or use for entertainment. PETA works through public education, cruelty investigations, research, animal rescue, legislation, special events, celebrity involvement, and direct action.
The Elephant Sanctuary is the nation’s first natural habitat refuge developed specifically for endangered Asian elephants. It exists to provide a haven for aging, sick or needy elephants in a setting of green pastures, old-growth forests, spring-fed ponds and a heated barn for cold winter nights. They also educate about the crisis facing these social, sensitive, passionately intense, playful, complex, exceedingly intelligent and endangered creatures.
Farm Sanctuary has established America´s premier farm animal shelters and waged effective campaigns to stop farm animal cruelty. In addition to its No Downers, Boycott Veal and Farm Animal Defense campaigns, Farm Sanctuary promotes a vegan lifestyle.
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation´s largest animal-protection organization. The HSUS was founded to promote the humane treatment of animals and to foster respect, understanding, and compassion for all creatures. Today our message of care and protection embraces not only the animal kingdom but also the Earth and its environment. To achieve our goals, The HSUS works through legal, educational, legislative, and investigative means.
The No Kill Advocacy Center was established by Nathan J. Winograd who is the former Executive Director of the Tompkins County SPCA and Director of Operations for the San Francisco SPCA. He has created successful No Kill programs in both urban and rural communities, and in both animal control and private shelters. He consults, lectures and gives seminars and workshops on how to implement. If you love dogs and cats, you’ll love Nathan Winograd.
Sea Shepard Conservation Society was established to conserve and protect the world’s marine wilderness eco-systems and marine wildlife species. Their activities extend from education through legal action against violators of international law. Sea Shepard is physically saving dolphins, seals and whales from senseless slaughter, working to end illegal long-line and bottom-dragging fishing and also regularly conduct anti-poaching patrols. Wow! Here’s a group of people really making a difference!
Environmental Protection
There are innumerable areas of environmental protection that need our support. Native Foods focuses our attention on three particular areas: Global Warming and Air Pollution, Protecting Oceans and Waterways, and Eliminating Land Destruction and Reducing Waste.
Global Warming and Air Pollution
Greenhouse gases are creating a thick layer that acts as a blanket keeping in the warmth – the earth’s temperature is now higher than ever previously recorded. How will it ever improve? Power plants, transportation emissions, agricultural dust…and those aren’t even the big polluters – think about the methane emissions from livestock – phew! What are we doing?
Many of the Native Foods tribe members, and of course Tanya, drive hybrid vehicles. Do your part when you can. Simply walking or riding a bike helps and keeps you in the mood – and looking good!
Air Quality Resources:
The Circle of Life operates from a belief in the interdependence and interconnection of all life, and is committed to transforming the way humans interact with the Earth, and with all living beings.
Mill Valley Cycle Works - Reducing emissions one bicycle at a time! A vegan owned and operated bike shop in Mill Valley, Ca. Find the bike you like and have them ship it if you don’t live close by. Not only are they vegan, but really nice too!
EarthSave - An organization established by John Robbins dedicated to ending Global Warming. Peruse this site to learn how a vegan / vegetarian diet helps drastically reduce global warming.
Earth Justice is a non-profit public interest law firm dedicated to protecting the earth and to defending the right of all people to a healthy environment. The dedicated legal professionals at Earth Justice work to enforce and strengthen environmental laws on behalf of hundreds of organizations and communities. Check out their site to keep abreast of the front-line battles for clean air.
Natural Resources Defense Council is the nation's most effective environmental action organization. The NRDC combines law, science and the support of 1.2 million members and online activists to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all living things. The NRDC is a great information resource and provides a means to get informed and get active. It takes action to make a difference – Go vegan and get on NRDC mailing list!
Protecting Oceans and Waterways
Our oceans and waterways have served as waste and sewage dumps for centuries, and have been severely over-fished – almost to the point of permanent devastation. Fertilizer, manure and agricultural chemicals washed from the Mississippi river have created “The Dead Zone” – a 7,000 mile lifeless expanse at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico. That’s sad and bad. Destruction from commercial fishing is pervasive and horrifying. Fishermans’ longlines and driftnets destroy countless sea turtles, seabirds, sharks and sea lions, and trawling effectively bulldozes the ocean floor. Save our Seas! Go Vegan! Eat Organic!
Water Quality Resources:
The Fate of the Oceans, by Julia Whitty is a shocking article about the devastation inflicted on our oceans and coastlines each year.
Blue Frontier Campaign seeks to bring together over 2,000 grassroots organizations working towards ocean and coastal conservation into a coordinated effort focused on bringing the voices of citizen-activists into national decision-making. Check out their site to find hundreds of organizations with thousands of ways to make a difference.
Heal the Bay provides an excellent example of a dedicated group of citizens working towards, and succeeding at, healing our environment and our waterways. Heal the Bay uses research, education, community action and policy programs to make Santa Monica Bay and Southern California coastal waters safe and healthy for both people and marine life.
Surfrider Foundation is a grassroots organization started by surfers with conscience. Surfrider Foundation is dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of ocean’s waves and beaches. Check out their site for what’s going on – including daily surf and water quality conditions!
Eliminating Land Destruction and Reducing Waste
Our rainforests are burned, or harvested at an alarming rate – and for what purpose? Mainly to grow agricultural crops or range cattle. Rainforests are an invaluable resource and are treated as though they are disposable. Speaking of disposable, when you tear the fancy packaging off a new product, what do you do with it? Throw it away? Likely – but don’t you wonder where that trash goes? And what toxic substances might be lurking in that trash that then seeps into the earth, the water table, etc. We log old growth trees for the purpose of creating disposables – an odd practice as best.
Native Foods’ goal is to achieve “zero waste” where everything can be reused or composted into the earth. Our take-out boxes, utensils and cups are biodegradable / compost-able. Our goal is to compost all our food waste and help speed the process via vermiculture, ending up with the best and healthiest fertilizer! Eat at Native Foods and reverse the aging of the earth!
Land Protection and Recycling / Composting Resources:
Learn more about rainforests at Rainforest Web or take a look at their portal for links to all kinds of information on our disappearing rainforests.
Also, check out what California Biomass (a recycling and organics company) is doing to address issues facing growers.
Come back soon and link up to Southern California's local exotic nematode dealer. Go Earthworms!
Native Kids
Green Kids Rule!
Getting an early start on a healthy and active lifestyle is an important advantage to living a long and healthy life. Ask mom or dad to invite some friends over to create a delicious and healthy Native Feast – oh, and Bess thanks you!
Mango Lassi: An East Indian Yogurt Drink / Treat
Hip & Healthy Tasty Tips for Tots
Some Cool Sites for Green Kids!
Make Waves! The Natural Resources Defense Council shows how kids can protect the earth one ripple at a time!
The Green Squad is an interactive guide to kids taking action for greener, healthier schools.
Green Kids Books: A site to meet authors and illustrators of children's environmental literature.
Appetite for a Change: A campaign to reduce kids' exposure to pesticide, toxins and junk food!
The Elephant Sanctuary provides information on the true nature of elephants, and educates the public as to the crisis facing these social, sensitive, playful, intelligent and endangered creatures
Farm Sanctuary has an entire site specifically designed for kids, dedicated to learning about the plight of farm animals and fun activities and ideas to get involved.
For Parents Interested in Inciting Change in School Lunch Programs:
The Center for Ecoliteracy launched the Rethinking School Lunch program that addresses the growing childhood obesity crisis, provides nutritional education and ecological knowledge.
Growing Great is an organization dedicated to inspiring kids and adults to adopt healthy eating habits – educating children and adults about nutrition and healthy eating.
Brown Bag Naturals provides delicious, well-balanced, nutritious lunches – taste-tested by kids, packaged for school and conveniently delivered.
Additional Resources
The Future of Food is a great source to learn more about genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and the importance of organic and non-GMO foods. Prepare for a small gust of wind to blow you away.
Supersize Me is Morgan Spurlock's classic spoof on eating fast food everyday for a month. Hilarious and alarming at the same time.
McLibel is a documentary based on the seven year-long English libel case that has been called the worst corporate PR disaster in history. McDonald’s takes on those protesting McDonald's food. Educate yourself and anticipate the movie's ending!
Recommended movies at theatres now:
