Quite possibly the BEST speech about animal rights of our time.

Please watch and share. And watch and share again!

About Philip Wollen: Philip is an Australian philanthropist. He is a former vice-president of Citibank and was also a general manager at Citicorp. At age 34, Australian Business Magazine named him in the top 40 headhunted executives in Australia. In 2005 he received the Order of Australia and in 2007 he won the Australian of the Year award.

The following was said about Philip by the National Australia Day Council: 

"Through his kindness and generosity, Philip Wollen brings crucial help to many charitable causes and inspires others to share his humanitarian values and ideals. His achievements in the business world mark him as a man of action and he channels this energy into practical outcomes for the causes he champions through the Winsome Constance Kindness Trust. Philip promotes kindness towards all other living beings and strives to enshrine this as a recognisable trait in the Australian character and culture. The measure of his support can be seen in the extraordinary list of organisations the Winsome Constance Kindness Trust supports, benefiting children, animals, the ill, the environment and aspiring youth. Essentially a private man, he seeks no personal publicity but is not afraid to step into the limelight for a just cause.^"

Philip lives with his wife Trix and his four dogs in Melbourne, Victoria.

Above information courtesy of Wikipedia. 

I, Melanie Shields, Am a Vegan!

good morning loves. below, enjoy an email we recently received from a reader and supporter of our blog. messages like this one always remind us of why we started blogging in the first place, and they always, always keep us going on this journey. yay!

 

Hello Lindsay! 

Hopefully you remember me, but if not I'm sure this will be lovely news either way! 

 

I am so happy and proud and unbelievably excited to report that after being blessed with a job I adore, and finally figuring out how to budget for my own groceries, I can proudly proclaim, I, Melanie Shields, am a vegan! 

My sister gave me PETA's College Vegan Cookbook for Christmas this year, and I made it my goal to slowly but surely make the steps to becoming vegan. I'd been trying it off and on for about two years, and I finally realized that I was going about it all wrong. I couldn't do it the same way I became vegetarian, I had to do this slowly. So, I've been trying my hand at cooking and navigating the maze of gross versus delicious dairy alternatives, and have since purchased many more awesome vegan cookbooks - including Alicia Silverstone's The Kind Diet. Lindsay, seriously, if you haven't tried her peanut butter cups... you are missing out on a world of taste heaven!! I made them for my friend's birthday, mostly so that I could join in on the birthday gluttony, and I swear not a single one was left while her entire homemade birthday cake was untouched! I felt a little bad but hey - they're just that good!! :-)

 

Anyways, I've been slowly weeding out dairy from my diet for four months now. It has been so much more difficult than becoming vegetarian was! I became vegetarian overnight, and never looked back but along this journey I've realized I have a pretty concerning obsession with cheese!! Hahahah! But I decided my love for the animals was so much greater than my love of cheese, and luckily they have some pretty kick ass soy cheese out there too! 

It's been a long journey, as you know! I first contacted you two years ago - I had been vegetarian for a year and was trying to figure out what made sense for me. Now, as I look forward to going away for university in Newfoundland this September, I know that I am armed with knowledge, health, and an overwhelming sense of compassion which I know will guide me through whatever challenges life throws at me. I appreciate this journey so much more than the decision to become vegetarian because it has been a real struggle. I had so many moments where I thought I just couldn't do it, and I even questioned why I was doing it! I would ask myself "why am I doing this? No animals are dying for this, are they? I'm not hurting anyone!" I'm almost embarrassed to admit those questions, but that's what this journey is all about - gaining knowledge and compassion! I learned that not only am I hurting innocent animals, I'm hurting my body too. 

 

But I can now say that I have never felt so healthy in all my life! My plan has been to weed out dairy in four months, and this, the last month, will be a bit of a cleanse with absolutely no dairy, making the "official" date of my becoming vegan March 31 - my Vegeversary! It's almost sad that a seventeen-year old girl has just begun to feel optimal health, but this was so worth the wait! I've always been a bit overweight, and since going vegan, even in the beginning stages, I lost fifteen pounds! I'm no longer in the "slightly obese" category, and my body feels so invigorated. My skin glows, I don't wear makeup anymore and everyone always asks me what products I use. To that I say carrots! :-) 

 

I have always loved and connected with nature, but this new attitude has strengthened my relationship with nature so much. Now that I truly understand the life around me, there is such a mutual respect and love that comes from being in nature. I even feel more connected to my dog, and maybe it's just me humanizing him, but I feel like he knows that I've changed and loves me more for it. He follows me around everywhere and doesn't protest so much when I take him on a steep hike! (He's a Pomeranian, so he's very small and has a hard time on the steep inclines!) 

I know this is getting very long! I just wanted you to know what an impact you and your blog have made in my life. Thank you so much for keeping me inspired through the tough times, and for making me laugh through the good times. 

I always look forward to reading your blog, and will of course continue to do so! 

Thanks so much for everything, Lindsay! You've been a true inspiration. 

Much love, 

 

Melanie

Want to be featured on our blog? Send vegan success stories to kissmyvegan@gmail.com!

Interview #21: Joshua LaBure & Vanessa Gochnour of NOOCH Vegan Market

Believe it or not, it's been 11 months since the last KMIV interview.  We needed to make sure a full year didn't go by without connecting with some amazing person(s) from our vegan community, and, sure enough, we stumbled upon two of those people in the nick of time: Joshua LaBure and Vanessa Gochnour.  

You may not have heard of them yet, unless you live in Denver or have been catching wind of their recent valuable entrepreneurial efforts and/or Kickstarter campaign.  All we can say is: they represent the little people who make a big difference.  That big difference is now manifesting in what aims to become Denver's first all-vegan market, NOOCH.

"That's outstanding!" you say.  Well, yes it is, but there's still one last step that's needed to get NOOCH up and running successfully - and it involves coming together to support the vegan community.

Let's meet Joshua and Vanessa!

Vanessa & Joshua

Kiss Me, I'm Vegan: What was the turning point in your life that led you to veganism? Was it one huge moment, or a collective group of small moments that changed you?

Joshua: For me it was a long collective process from the first vegans I met in high school, to PETA videos on a Goldfinger CD, then to getting a job at Whole Foods when I was 21. But the moment that it really “clicked” was when I was 23 and I was having dinner with my friend. I was exploring different political ideas at that time in my life and I was questioning a lot of the traditional ideas that I held. Our conversation led to the idea of property, I came to the realization that I was uncomfortable with the idea of treating animals as mere machines. After that conversation, I knew it was over, I decided to stop eating meat that day and after doing more research went vegan less than 2 months later. It has now been close to 3 years!

Vanessa: I’ve been vegan for over 4 years now and was vegetarian for 6 years before that. I’d been gravitating toward vegetarianism for some time because meat was always pretty disturbing to me. I gradually shifted to being a fairly strict vegetarian because milk and eggs really grossed me out. I ate cheese but only if it didn’t have animal rennet in it. Then someone told me about dairy production and how cheese was most certainly not cruelty free, even without the rennet. I had no idea! That definitely changed everything for me. I went vegan right after and have never looked back!  

KMIV: What have been the greatest rewards of your vegan lifestyle? What have been the greatest challenges? 

J: The greatest reward for me was the change in my health. I ate very poorly up until I went vegan, I have lost 70 pounds and feel better than I ever have in my life. Also, I have gotten so much more involved with activism and community organizing, it has really given me an outlet for my passion to make the world a better place. I feel like the recognition of animals' rights, especially the right to their lives, will lead to a more peaceful world.

The biggest challenge for me is the naysayers, people don’t like to think that the choices they make are harmful, especially when it comes to something so ingrained in every culture, like food. People can be very defensive.

 

KMIV: Tell us about the birth of NOOCH Vegan Market, trials and tribulations, joys and rewards, and upcoming plans.

V: Well, it’s been Josh’s dream to open a vegan grocery store for quite some time now and I’d been throwing around the idea of a vegan retail shop for a little over a year. We’d been working together on projects and outreach through Plants & Animals Denver, and, back in January, Josh mentioned that he was ready to give the store a try and I thought what better an opportunity to combine forces. The amount of work that goes into starting a business is pretty crazy but we’re really lucky that this type of business is something we’re both extremely passionate about. We’ve been selling a small selection of hard to find vegan items at a popup market called Neat Market that’s put on by our group Plants & Animals Denver. Developing relationships with local and national vendors has been really fun. It’s so cool to work with vendors who are in it for the same reasons you are. Aside from having amazing vegan products in our store, we plan to use Nooch as another way to reach out to the community. We’ll host events at our space and around town, fundraise for nonprofits, and have workshops and teach classes.

KMIV: You're very involved in your local vegan food/activism environment, with Chomp! Vegan Supper Club, Animal ACTion Network, etc. How important do you feel community is to the vegan movement? What has your vegan experience been like in Denver, CO? 

J: I think that community is the MOST important component to the vegan movement right now, going against conventional wisdom can sometimes be isolating and people can lose motivation. But if you have people around you who are super excited and positive, it can be the very thing that helps people go and stay vegan! 

V: It wasn’t until a couple of years ago that I really got involved in Denver’s vegan community. I was definitely a quiet vegan at first but realized how important it was to get out there, meet others and share my knowledge and experiences. Vegans who gravitate towards each other and work together can really make a difference.

KMIV: While it may still be a little bit before we have the joy of shopping - food or retail - at a national mainstream vegan store, it's the little ones all throughout the country that provide accessible opportunities to be a compassionate, cruelty-free consumer. What advice do you have for other vegan entrepreneurs who are looking to open up an incredibly beneficial store, market, or other shop in their city/town?

V: I would say, stay focused but also stay open to change and possibilities. Veganism is such a new idea to most people and it’s important to recognize that most everyone comes at it from a different angle.

KMIV: As it says at the top of the blog, Kiss Me, I'm Vegan! is a blog "for the happy vegan in all of us." What are the most positive aspects of the animal advocacy movement for you, and what do you feel are the biggest reason to smile when doing this work?

J: The most positive for me is just meeting amazing people! There are so many people doing positive things for animals and to promote veganism right now, it’s so exciting and inspiring being in the middle of it! Also, telling people about the delicious vegan foods that are out right now, it’s ridiculous. Vegan cheeses like Punk Rawk labs and Daiya to vegan meats like Denver Seitan and Gardein, then magazines like Chick-Pea and VegNews. I can’t believe the amount of creativity and craft that is going into the movement right now. We’ve come a long way, even in the 3 years that I’ve been vegan. It’s inspiring!

KMIV: Okay - here's a silly one, and our personal favorite: You're stuck on a deserted island with three vegan food items - what are they?

J: This one is tough! Though I would have to say, Chick-Peas, Collard Greens and some BBQ SASS from my friend Keith. Yum!

V: I’d be totally content with black beans, quinoa, and green chile!

To support NOOCH on its journey, please donate what you can to Joshua & Vanessa's Kickstarter campaign.  As of this post, they have raised over 60% of their goal but still need our help.  Let's bond together for the sake of vegan markets all around and make NOOCH happen!

Bringing Farm Sanctuary to All: This Saturday!

hey loves!

check out an amazing opportunity in LA - THIS WEEK! - to celebrate the animals, as well as the people who work crazy hard to speak up for them.  

join farm sanctuary president and co-founder gene baur and special guests kevin nealon, emily deschanel, seamus dever and many more, for a magical evening of music, cocktails, and delicious hors d’oeuvres on saturday, June 16th at the los angeles home of HBO executive james costos and designer michael smith.

as many of you know, farm sanctuary took over running animal acres, one of my favorite sanctuaries in california, so if you love the animal acres bunch, help farm sanctuary celebrate their new presence in southern california! 

steve and i will be there living it up, and we'd love to have you there too.

mwah!

lindsay & steve @ kissmeimvegan

To view this as a Web page, please use this link: Message Viewer If you'd like to forward this message, please click here: Tell-A-Friend . James Costos & Michael Smith and Co-Chairs Dorr Begnal & John Talbot, James Costa & John Archibald, Wallis Annenberg, Emily Deschanel, Nancy & Howard Marks, Sean McVity & Robin Ishmael, Ali Wentworth & George Stephanopoulos, Ady Gil World Conservation Along with our Host Committee Lorenzo Borghese, Megan & Peter Chernin, Nancy & Bruce Newberg, Donna Roth, Alexandra Von Furstenberg & Dax Miller  And Honored Friends Kristin Bauer and Abri van Straten, Seamus & Juliana Dever, Vanessa Getty, Jennifer Westfeldt & Jon Hamm CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO JOIN US Saturday, June 16, 6:00-9:00 p.m. At the Costos-Smith Home In Los Angeles $200 per person  Join Farm Sanctuary’s dedicated supporters, celebrity advocates, and the media on this special night to celebrate our farm animal ambassadors and their impact on people everywhere. Our hosts are preparing a magical evening at the Costos-Smith home in Los Angeles, including music, cocktails, and a delicious assortment of vegan hors d’oeuvres. Mingle under the stars with our hosts and special guests and enjoy an exciting unveiling of Farm Sanctuary’s newest initiatives. Dress is cocktail casual. Register today! SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Sponsors are invited to the exclusive Underwriter Reception. If you would like to be a Sponsor, or if you cannot attend but wish to make a donation, please click here. For more information about Sponsor opportunities, the Underwriter Reception, or general inquiries about the event, please contact Michael Wasserman,  mwasserman@farmsanctuary.org. . .Post to Twitter    Post to Facebook

A Thought As You Go Through Your Day.

"There is a light in this world: a healing spirit more powerful than any darkness we may encounter. We sometimes lose sight of this force when there is suffering, too much pain. Then suddenly, the spirit will emerge through the lives of ordinary people, who hear a call and answer in extraordinary ways." - Richard Attenborough, actor and filmmaker, director of Gandhi

How can we best apply these words to honoring veganism in our daily lives? Share in the comments section below!

(Photo above: My friends Mira and Frances sitting pretty with Lila the Turkey at Farm Sanctuary's Animal Acres.)

Make this today. Make it make it make it.

kale avocado salad amazingness.

a big bowl full of kale.

1-2 avocados. 

juice of 1-2 lemons.

salt and garlic powder to taste.

handful of nooch (nutritional yeast) if yer feelin' fancy.

wash your hands! 

rip kale into little pieces in bowl. peel avocado and scoop the good stuff inside with a spoon over the kale. squeeze lemon juice over the kale, and sprinkle in a little garlic powder and salt. 

add nooch if you have it on hand. 

get your hands in the bowl and mix everything together, massaging the kale with your fingers as you go. 

this will make the kale soft and yummy. 

eat all by yourself or with a friend. 

share this recipe with anyone who thinks kale is gross or has no idea what this magical green leaf is!

huzzah!