Text by Arun N. Toké, editor; Photos by Paul Dix, Oregon.

A Rainbow at Sunset, Montana, the Big Sky State

Happy Earth Day 2026!

Planet Earth, our only home has been around for about 4.6 billion years. Since its beginning, there have always been constant changes on the planet. Early in Earth’s history, most changes were geological or astronomical, but over time, life and the biosphere have become significant drivers of change on our planet. 

With the beginnings of the industrial revolution, the human embrace of a collective growth mindset, and the subsequent emergence of multinational corporations and large-scale international trade, we have become the primary driver of changes to our global home.

With an exponentially-increasing human population, now approaching 8.4 billions in 2026, the extraction, production, and consumption of fossil fuels, minerals, plastics, and other chemicals have skyrocketed. Our carbon footprint is continuing to rise and carbon dioxide, methane, and other greenhouse gases are accumulating in our atmosphere and changing local and global climates. The impacts of pollution on the air, water, and land is observable globally and our collective actions (as well as inaction) are altering ecosystems and the biosphere. The human-caused climate change is occurring and its impacts are already being felt in vulnerable coastal areas, along ecological boundaries, and in our cities. Major consequences of climate change will be felt around the globe in a matter of decades.

Unfortunately, the majority of our governments, corporations, and businesses, either ignore the understanding gained through scientific knowledge and computer modeling, pretend to be ignorant of its consequences, or push off action to future generations. They keep on doing business as usual—growth, growth, growth. Wanting more profits and more control over the market, they go for more production, more consumption, and as a result, greater impact on the Earth’s natural systems. The current U.S. leaders side with corporations over future generations of people, favoring ecologically-suicidal fossil fuels—oil, fracked gas, and coal—over renewable energy like wind mills and photovoltaic (solar) power.

Emissions from a Steel Factory

Aluminum Cans and Beer Bottles in the Backyard a Bar in Montana

Everything is interconnected in nature: weather systems, ocean currents, and the cycles of important chemicals (water, nutrients, metals, etc.) are all mediated over long time periods by the Earth’s geology and make our Earth a unified system capable of nurturing diverse fauna and flora over hundreds of millions of years. But humanity, with our amazing ability to invent and create technological know-how and build huge systems to serve our ever-growing population, has reached a state where we’re able to alter the very environment that has enabled our growth. The planetary system has ways to balance the short term ecological changes that we have made in the last 200 years, but they operate over timescales (millions of years) that are inaccessible to us. As a result, we cannot rely on natural cycles to solve the serious problems we have created. We must be proactive to protect society and the natural cycles and systems as we know them. Else, life on this planet would become hard to sustain in many regions. It would need to be supported by artificial means because of life-threatening storms, huge temperature fluctuations, and large-scale habitat destruction. 

In this photo essay, we offer a glimpse of our precious planetary home. But having experienced various parts of this beautiful home of ours in real life, we know the limitations of this virtual medium. This visual-only medium is unable to fully convey the multi-sensory, magnificent nature of the Planet Earth! We want all of us to experience it in real life, because we know that when we’ve experienced it, we’d love it! And when we love nature, we’d do all we can to preserve its beauty, its wholesomeness.

We wish you a beautiful Earth Day, every day!

Nature is Priceless! A Demonstrator Raises Nature Awareness at the Oregon Coast

Mt. Aconcagua, in Argentina (elevation 22,858 ft.), is the highest peak in the Americas.

The Jirishanka Peak (almost 20,000 ft.) in the Andes, Peru, South America

Amboseli National Park, Kenya, Africa

Two Giraffes in Masai Mara National Game Reserve, Kenya, Africa

A Lioness Pride in Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, Africa

Volcan de Fuego, Guatemala, Central America, is an active volcano.

Bison Roam in the Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Yellowstone NP is 2.2 million acres in Size

An Intense Lightning Storm in the Big Sky State, Montana

Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska

Mt. Jefferson and Mt. Hood (Oregon), and Mt. Adams (Washington), an Aerial View

A Windmill Farm in the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon, has a 450 MW generating capacity.

Text by Arun Narayan Toké, editor, Skipping Stones, and photographs by Paul Dix, nature photographer and world-traveler, Oregon.

Mother is the one who cares for me
She keeps me safe, like a big tree.
Her smile is soft, her heart is kind
She always has me on her mind.

SHE teaches me what is good and what’s bad
She is always with me when I’m sad.
God says he can’t be everywhere
So he gave me a mom who always cares and shares
Who helps me grow, layer by layer.

She is important because she loves me everyday
She teaches me what’s right in a simple way.
Sure, She scolds me a little
But she’s always with me when I’m ill.

You are useless if your mom becomes sad because of you
Mom is like a diamond, always cherish and know her value.

By Mayank Yadav, age 12, Jharkhand, India.

Student life

Student life is not easy at all,
Sometimes we rise, sometimes we fall.
We smile outside and try to be strong,
But inside we feel something is wrong.

We study hard day and night,
Still grades decide if we are “right.”
We get tired but don’t give up,
We keep trying and keep growing up.

Some days we feel happy and bright,
Some days we cry alone at night.
YET every day teaches us something new—
How to be brave, and how to push through.

Student life has pain and fear,
But also hope that keeps our heads above water.
One day all our hard work will matter,
And the world will see how far we can soar.

By Mayank Yadav, age 12, Jharkand, India.

A Middle-Class Family

We don’t have gold or cars so wide,
But we have love and joy inside.
Papa works hard from morning till night,
Mummy’s care makes everything right

School bag old, but dreams so high,
Wishing stars in a small sky.
We save, we share, we sometimes wait,
Still smile together, call it fate.

No big house or fancy ride,
But strong hearts walk side by side.
Festivals simple, but full of cheer,
Happiness grows when all are near.

We may not be rich in money or fame,
But middle-class love is never lame!

By Mayank Yadav, age 12, Jharkand, India.

Under the Water

Under the water, deep and wide,
Fish and turtles swim and glide.
Crabs walk slowly on the sand,
Jellyfish move like a magic band.
Octopus hides behind a rock,
Starfish sleeps near a sea-shell clock.
Dolphins jump and play all day,
In the ocean, far away.

Waves above and calm below,
Under the sea, the magic flows.
Seahorses float, so small and sweet,
Tiny shells lie near their feet.
Bright blue fish go zip and zoom,
Dancing gently in ocean’s room.
Come with me, let’s take a ride,
To the sea world, deep inside!

By Mayank Yadav, age 12, Jharkand, India. He lives in the Province of Jharkhand, in an extended family—with his father (Ranjan), mother (Kumari Sangita), older sister (Shreya Ranjan), grandfather (Kedarnath), and grandmother (Bina Devi).

By Hope Bohanec, author and activist, Oregon

As consumers become aware of the animal agriculture industry’s cruelty and environmental impact, clever industry marketers adapt with “humane” labels, small-scale tall tales, and other feel-good falsehoods. The term “humane hoax” is defined as new language and labels in animal product marketing that convey a false narrative of humane treatment and sustainable management of farmed animal operations. The marketing language and euphemistic labels tell a story of a supposed distinction from conventional animal products. But the reality on the ground, in the manure pits, during the mechanical milking, and inside the terrifying slaughterhouse, is fundamentally unchanged, despite promises to consumers of something new. Humanewashing and greenwashing are becoming more prevalent and pervasive than ever.

Also encompassed in the concept of the humane hoax is the new trend of people attempting to “do-it-yourself” with backyard farmed animal raising and slaughtering, generally with good intentions, but all too often, with cruel consequences. It has never been more important to educate people on the truth behind the industry lies, and people are hungry for the truth.

Overview:

In the time since I wrote the first book on the subject of the humane hoax, called The Ultimate Betrayal: Is There Happy Meat?, consumer awareness of the suffering of farmed animals has grown exponentially and so has the “alternative” animal product industry. “Cage-free,” “Certified Humane,” and other comforting labels are no longer elusive—dusty items only seen in the back corners of health food stores. They are now as common and numerous as cattle on a feedlot, spotted in common places like Walmart and your local coffee shop. In 2010, eggs labeled cage-free were a mere four percent of the market; that had risen to sixteen percent by 2017. The industry predicts that to meet consumer demand, cage-free production will be seventy-five percent of the market by 2026.

It is a hopeful sign that consumers are demanding better treatment for animals, but the actual difference in the life and death experience for a cow or a chicken with humane labeling is sadly minimal. I have done extensive research on this issue, interviewed numerous stakeholders, and personally visited multiple animal operations, and concluded that these unregulated labels mean very little, if anything at all, for the animal’s experience. I have examined this particular area of farmed animal advocacy, having written the first, and one of the only books on the topic, and having been professionally involved in the field for over two decades. I found, for example, that comparing hens confined in battery cages to those in cage-free barns bodes only slight improvements and those differences can vary widely from farm to farm.

Animal activists have time and again exposed the horrors of egg-laying hens crammed tightly in battery cages, with only the space comparable to a crowded elevator to live in. In response, the shrewd marketers representing the egg industry have distorted the story, altered the labels, and changed consumers’ conceptions. Instead of rejecting the inherent cruelty of commercial egg production, shoppers have been deceived by the fictitious choice of a seemingly “humane” alternative of “cage-free”—but the reality for the birds, however, is bleak.

The difference in the experience of a bird in a conventionally managed operation versus a cage-free one is negligible. Despite the optimistic label, most chickens in cage-free egg facilities still live in miserable overcrowded conditions in massive windowless buildings. Their eyes and throats burn from the ammonia gas released from their accumulated waste. They never feel the sun on their wings or experience a simple satisfying dust bath. Irrespective of any label, all the chickens still go to a brutal slaughter at a very young age. We must not let the deception of “new” marketing eclipse the fundamental cruelty of animal agriculture. The perception invoked by the “cage-free” label—that the birds are now living a good life—is a decidedly false one, a mirage created by the interaction of euphemisms and consumer hopes in the absence of accurate information.

As animal agribusiness attempts to wash the blood off its hands with a new fabrication of fresh farming methods, consumers, activists, and other caring people must educate themselves about the new narratives that the industry continues to weave. This anthology features a range of knowledgeable authors who are at the forefront of this marketing shift, chronicling every aspect with in-depth analyses and intellectual rigor. Among other topics, the book explores how so-called alternative animal agriculture intersects with feminism, affects the environment, is represented in the media, and impacts human and non-human communities alike.

On Contributors to the Anthology:

This anthology has an impressive list of contributing writers who are a diverse assortment of activists, academics, authors, and campaigners. They range from radical protesters to educating advocates to professional scholars in the academy. Of the seventeen expert contributors, eight are published authors, five leaders of advocacy organizations, eight have Ph.D. degrees, and three have masters. What they all share is a forward-thinking vision and common concerns with animal agriculture’s marketing shift from big to small, from industrial to local.

The Humane Hoax contains essays by noted animal rights and environmentalism figures like Carol Adams, Robert Grillo, Sailesh Rao, Karen Davis, and Christopher “Soul” Eubanks. Some of the contributors have done extensive peer-reviewed research on the subject while others have been working with farmed animal advocacy for decades thinking deeply about this issue. Still others are rescuing farmed animals directly from local and small-scale farms, witnessing first-hand the undeniable suffering that is commonplace in animal farming.

The Humane Hoax: Essays Exposing the Myth of Happy Meat, Humane Dairy, and Ethical Eggs; edited by Hope Bohanec. The book is available as a paperback and also as an e-book from Lantern Publishing & Media; lanternpm.org.

By Diponkar Chanda, Ontario, Canada

No one remembered the name of the kingdom anymore, but it did exist, a long ago!

Far, far away, nestled close to a forest, there was a tiny village, and it was the seat of this kingdom. There was a palace as well; but not like the ones in our big cities.

This palace was very different. Its walls were made of straw and clay, it had a thatched roof, and it stood gently beneath the sky, like a well-kept secret.

In this palace lived a little princess with her ancient grandmother.

One sunny morning in spring, when a sweet breeze was blowing, birds were chirping joyfully, and flowers bloomed in every corner of the yard, the little princess woke up.

She rubbed her eyes, looked out the window, and noticed something—their little walls didn’t seem as colorful as the world outside.

The trees wore fresh green dresses. The flowers in the meadows sparkled with red, yellow, pink, and purple. Even the butterflies danced in colors—too bright and too many to name them here!

Pale Swallowtail Butterfly. Photo by Herb Everett, Oregon.

Monarch Butterfly. Photo by Ted Rose, Indiana.

The princess longed to bring those colors into their home, their palace.

And she knew, like everyone else in the kingdom, that the true owners of all the colors were those beautiful butterflies.

So, the little princess wanted to catch one. But she was far too little.

Art by Makayla Liu, age 12, Vancouver, Canada.

No one else was home, so she turned to her granny. Now, her granny was like eighty or a hundred years old, or maybe even more. Nobody really knew how old she was. She was the oldest person in the whole kingdom. And, she was certainly far too old to run after those butterflies!

What could they do?

The old woman thought for a moment. Then she searched the hut carefully—every corner, every pouch, every pot.

Finally, she found something she was searching for, a little fistful of sunflower seeds. She smiled.

Granny stepped outside into the wide, sleepy yard. With her slow, gentle feet, she planted the seeds in tidy rows and began to care for them. She watered them every day, with all the love in her heart.

Days passed. Little by little, green shoots appeared. Then leaves. Then came tall, strong stems.

And then one morning, a thousand sunflowers bloomed across the yard—each one like a small sun, shining with golden joy.

Granny didn’t need to chase butterflies anymore.

The butterflies came to them—fluttering, dancing, and painting the air with their beautiful colors.

And you know what?

They shared their colors generously. And from then, true beauty arouse on the boundless canvas of nature—born from careful sharing.

And the little palace also sparkled with butterfly colors—reds, oranges, blues, and purples that no brush could ever copy.

Not just the tiny palace, but also the little princess herself sparkled with those attractive colors.

Her smile shone with every color of the butterflies.

And from that day on, little princess learned that true beauty grows many-fold when we share it with everyone, with profound care.

Diponkar Chanda is an emerging writer based in greater Toronto area of Canada. Originally from Bangladesh, he writes stories and poetry that bridge cultures, languages, and imagination. English is not his first language, and he brings the rhythm and depth of his native Bangla (also known as the Bengali) language into his storytelling.

Art by Makayla Liu, age 12, Vancouver, Canada. She adds: “I’ve loved drawing since I was a child, and in the future I hope to work in a field related to drawing or character design.”

By Connie Salmon, Published author, Connecticut.

Who is the best friend of Ukrainian children and soldiers alike? Patron, that’s who! And who is Patron? Patron is nine pounds of military might. He is a Jack Russell Terrier—the mascot of the Ukrainian State Emergency Services. 

Patron, the Mascot of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. Photo credit: the State Emergency Service of Ukraine; dsns.gov.ua.

Mykhailo Llyev is the head of the pyrotechnic unit of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. He bought Patron for his son when he was just a puppy. (The name comes from the Ukrainian word “patron,” meaning “bullet cartridge.”) The original plan was to train him to participate in dog exhibitions. But, at six-months-old, Patron showed the abilities of a sniffing dog. Mykhailo started taking him to work with him and gradually taught him how to recognize explosives by their smell. Patron has a keen sense of smell. And his size and weight make him ideal for getting into the small spaces the army needs for sniffing out bombs and mines. An antipersonnel mine will detonate with a weight of about 11 lbs. However, since Patron weighs only 8.8 lbs., he will not detonate the bomb.  

When the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia started on February 24, 2022, Patron went to work. As of September of 2022, Patron had helped to find more than 300 enemy explosive devices!  

In May 2022, Patron became the face of the Ministry of Internal Affairs mobile application, “Deming of Ukraine.” This App allows citizens to quickly inform law enforcement agencies about discovered explosive objects. Also, it has a map of areas where unexploded shells and mines may be.  

On May 9, 2022, Patron was awarded the medal for “Dedicated Service” from the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky. And his owner, Mykhailo, was awarded the “Order for Courage.” That same month, the brave Jack Russell won the “Palm Dog” Award at the Cannes Film Festival in France. In November of 2022, Patron received the “Dog of Goodwill” title from UNICEF of Ukraine. He is the first dog ever to become a Goodwill Ambassador. He has also received lots of pats and praises from top politicians and celebrities from many nations.

The bomb-sniffing dog also made it to TV screens. Starting on January 7, 2023, supported by USAID and UNICEF, Patron stars in the animated series, “Pes Patron.” The main character tells children about the rules of mine safety and how to move around safely in a war zone. 

Today, you can see Patron’s image on candies, soft toys, pillows and T-shirts.       

Patron brings much comfort to Ukrainian children. He offers them companionship and emotional support during these challenging times. He reminds us, that even the smallest among us, can make a big difference.     

By Connie Salmon is originally from Puerto Rico. She now resides with her husband and their two pets in Rocky Hill, Connecticut. Patron Photo from the social media of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine; dsns.gov.ua.

By Keren He, age 16, grade 10, Louisiana.

In Louisiana’s heart, a lush embrace,
A sanctuary sprawls, a wild, open space.
The Global Wildlife Center, a haven graced,
Where creatures roam free, their freedom traced.

Nine hundred acres, a vast expanse,
Where wild hearts freely roam and dance.
A thousand beings grace this grand land,
In harmony, they live as if by chance.

Safari wagons roll through verdant terrain,
As guides share tales that educate and entrain.
Of habitats lost and efforts to sustain,
Of balance restored, new life to regain.

Zebras with stripes like an artist’s brush,
Kangaroos hop with a playful rush.
Giraffes bend low, their touch gentle, plush,
Camels sway by, their steps soft as hush.

Ostriches dart beneath the azure sky,
Emus stride through, their gait never shy.
Bison show strength as they wander by,
Antelopes leap, so graceful and spry.

Conservation’s call rings clear and true,
As visitors learn what they can do.
To protect these wonders, both old and new,
For future generations to cherish, too.

The Center stands tall, a beacon for all,
A refuge, a teacher, heeding nature’s call.
So come one, come all, let your spirit soar,
In this sanctuary of life—forevermore.

By Keren He, age 16, grade 10, Louisiana. 

By Sara wael, age 14, Al Ain, U.A.E.

Bears by Daemion Lee, Oregon.

Bears here, bears there,
bears are found everywhere!
Let’s take a trip to meet them all,
Who’s your favorite bear of all?

First, we visit the panda bear,
Found in forests deep and rare.
They love to munch on fresh bamboo,
And nap around the whole day through.
They tumble, roll, and sometimes share,
Pandas are the playful bears!

Ready for more? Let’s move along,
To places chilly, wild, and strong!

Then we go where the weather snows,
And icy wind forever blows.
There we meet the polar bears,
Fishing for food and swimming in pairs.
White and tough with icy stares,
Polars are the coolest bears!

Keep the pace, there’s more to see,
The forest calls to you and me!

Soon we find a grizzly bear, tall,
Roaming the forest, proud and strong
Eating honey with a mighty swish,
Their claws are sharp, their steps are swift.
With watchful eyes and steady care,
Grizzlies are the protective bears!

Quiet now, don’t make a peep,
Moon bears rest where midnight sweeps!

Found at night in forests deep,
Where moonlight glows and shadows sleep.
There we meet the moon bears, shy,
Peeking up at the starry sky.
With quiet steps and gentle glares,
Moon bears are the mysterious bears!

Under stars, our journey’s bright,
Next comes bears with eyes of night!

Found beneath the northern skies,
With beauty bright in golden eyes.
There we meet the black bears, bold,
Clever, curious, and never cold.
With black, brown and soft dark hair,
Black bears are the boldest bears!

Now let’s explore the mountains high,
Where secret bears are passing by!

Hidden in the southern clouds,
In mountains deep, special and proud.
They wander alone in quiet steps,
And eat wild fruits on jungle treks.
They’re quiet, sweet, and very aware,
Andeans are the special bears!

Off we go, you’re almost there,
To meet a bear with shaggy hair.

Seen in grasslands climbing trees,
Their tongues stretch out with skill and ease.
They feast on bugs with great delight,
They sleep by day and wake at night.
They’re gentle, sweet, and beyond compare,
Sloth bears are the caring bears.

Now for last, the smallest one,
Our bear adventure’s almost done!

Finally, we meet the smallest bear,
Cute and sweet, with gentle care.
Found in tropics, bold and bright,
Resting deep through day and night.
With honey dreams and silly stares,
Sun bears are the cutest bears!

Bears here, bears there, bears live everywhere!
Let’s keep them safe with all our care.
From forests deep to mountains high,
They need our help to thrive, not die.
So show some love, be bold, be fair,
Who’s your favorite bear out there?

—Sara Wael, United Arab Emirates. She adds: “My name is Sara, and I’m 14 years old. I live in the U.A.E. in a city called Al Ain. I wrote this poem (which I hope to publish as a book someday) to help spread awareness about endangered bears and to shine a light on bear species that many people don’t know much about. I hope this poem inspires others to learn more about these amazing animals, their habitats, and just how important they are to our world.”

By Hope Bohanec, Oregon.

The current tumultuous political climate has left many in our community feeling powerless and vulnerable. Amidst immediate concerns like climate disasters, declining health and well-being, and rampant injustices, we are now confronted with the reality that relying on government or legislation to effect positive change in the near future is likely futile. However, there are choices we can make and daily actions we can take to alleviate suffering, support the planet, and nurture our bodies. Eugene has been a hub for community-led action and we have been at the forefront of embracing vegetarianism, veganism, and eco-conscious lifestyles. It’s vital that we collectively work to amplify this progress on a grassroots level to effect the necessary changes for our survival on planet Earth. Personal choices hold immense power, and one of the most significant choices we can make every day, that impacts numerous aspects of our lives, is the food we choose to buy, cook, share, and eat.

Many people agree that our food system is broken and that it harms workers, animals, and the environment. As more people wake up to animal exploitation, the epidemic of degenerative disease, the climate crisis, and other negative impacts of animal derived foods, veganism offers a solution. At its core, vegan living is an economic boycott of a cruel, unsustainable, and harmful industry. However, vegan philosophy transcends this to also encompass a social justice strategy for a just, global food system as well as a profound appeal for nonviolence and compassion for all animals with whom we share this planet. Vegan living helps to considerably reduce one’s climate footprint, promotes fairness for those lacking access to healthy foods, and can help us potentially avert the next pandemic—just by extending our compassion to all sentient beings. Veganism reminds us just how political food is.

The damage that is being done to our planet is an imminent threat to our collective survival. Scientific research overwhelmingly demonstrates that producing food from animals has a significantly greater environmental impact compared to producing food from plants with equivalent dietary value. These studies consistently show that, regardless of the production method or product label, plant-based foods repeatedly require less water, energy, and fossil fuels and generate substantially fewer greenhouse gas emissions than comparable calories of meat, dairy, and eggs. We are experiencing this damaging effect in Eastern Oregon with nitrate-laden drinking water caused primarily by animal agriculture. Eating plant-based is eating planet-based.

Experts agree that we need both systemic and individual behavior change to support a global transition to plant-based diets to mitigate climate disasters and alleviate numerous other impacts of animal agribusiness. While working to create systemic change is crucial—it’s incredibly challenging and agonizingly slow. Individual actions that support and demand these larger shifts can happen now, today, with your next meal.

Having been vegan for 35 years, I have witnessed the remarkable progress we’ve made in a relatively short period of time. In just a couple of decades, we have seen plant-based milks become common at coffee shops, most every restaurant menu offering vegan options, and countless cruelty-free products in grocery stores. This progress was made because of individuals standing up against injustice and making compassionate choices. Every day, I am inspired to reclaim our agency and harness the collective power of our plates, palates and pockets. Together, we can continue to dismantle oppressive dairy, poultry, and meat production and marketing systems of violence and alleviate immense suffering.

Plant-based is the global future of food, and it starts locally. About 1,500 people came together for the first ever Eugene VeganFest on Sunday, May the 4^th. This celebration of compassionate community in Eugene, Oregon featured 45 vendor booths offering a wide variety of non-animal focused offerings like delicious plant-based foods, animal sanctuaries for rescued animals in need, and eco-forward products that help heal our planet. Fifteen speakers gave well-attended presentations on various topics revealing the ethical and environmental reasons to be vegan as well as focusing on the health and nutritional advantages of a plant-based diet. Everyone was welcome—veg-curious, pre-vegans, heck-no-I-could-never-be-vegans, and vegans alike! People came and learned how much power we have to help make our community a more sustainable, healthier, and kinder place for all.

Encouraged by the success of this event, we’re already preparing for the Second Annual Eugene VeganFest on Sunday, May 3^rd, 2026.

About the Author:
Hope Bohanec is the organizer of the Eugene VeganFest (www.EugeneVeganFest.org) and the Executive Director of Compassionate Living. (www.compassionate-living.org)

Resources:
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aba7357

https://www.newsweek.com/even-one-persons-food-choices-effect-whole-planet-opinion-2030211

https://www.opb.org/article/2025/01/27/oregon-bill-would-ban-new-livestock-farms-in-states-most-polluted-areas/

By Ya-Ting Yu, Taiwan

Black Bear recently moved north for climate change research. During the festive season, Black Bear’s colleague, Polar Bear, invited him to her family dinner. “No Bear should be alone on Christmas Eve,” she said when she heard the un-partnered Black Bear planned to hibernate in his cave. With no excuse to say no, Black Bear obliged.

That evening, Black Bear arrived at Polar Bear’s home with a basket of cloudberries in his paws. He’d agonized over the gift, unsure what to bring. Though he’d seen Polar Bear’s lunch boxes: ringed seals, whale carcasses, geese eggs, he still preferred chestnuts and persimmons. Honey and beetle larvae were rare treats he savoured after long hours of foraging through data at the lab, but to be inclusive, a value Polar Bear emphasized, he chose cloudberries, safe for vegans, vegetarians, and the nut-allergic.

Polar Bear’s family welcomed Black Bear warmly, hugging, kissing and thanking him profusely for the cloudberries. Flustered by the sudden physical contact, Black Bear forced a courteous smile and awkwardly patted Polar Bear’s Mom’s back, relieved when she finally let go of his paw. It was his first time receiving kisses from complete strangers. Where he came from, in the East, Bears rarely even shook paws, sniffing was usually as close as they got.

But their habitat differences didn’t stop there. For an occasion like Christmas Eve, Polar Bear’s family usually indulged in seal and whale fat. Vegetation was more for decoration, except for the hippie Cousin who’d recently turned vegan to combat the melting ice.

Before dinner, the family gathered in prayer positions, bowing their fluffy heads to say grace. Black Bear, unfamiliar with their faith, looked from left to right at the table and hurried to mimic their gestures.

“Amen,” Black Bear echoed, a pace too slow.

“Do Bears in your forest also celebrate Christmas?” Polar Bear’s Mom asked.

Black Bear scratched his ear. “I guess so? But it’s more of a time when Bears hunt for deals—shopping sprees, fancy meals. We don’t get the day off, you see. Lunar New Year, now that’s a feast worth hibernating in Taiwan.”

“Oh, are you from Taiwan?” Polar Bear’s Aunt leaned closer, her snout twitching. “My son volunteered to build homes for the poor children in rural parts of your forest. Right, Cubby? He, sorry—they have an igloo architectural license.”

Mortified, Polar Bear injected, “Auntie, Cousin went to Thailand, not Taiwan.” Her fur bristled as she glanced at Black Bear.

“That’s cool,” Black Bear said. “But igloos? My Sun Bear friend told me they melt once the volunteers take off. At the end, it seems easier for them to sleep in trees.”

“In trees!” Polar Bear’s Aunt gasped. “Son, you must go back and build them un-meltable igloos next time. The poor cubs. Just imagine—they don’t even have blackout curtains!” She sighed sympathetically and turned to Black Bear. “Do you have blackout curtains in Taiwan? Don’t tell me you also sleep in trees.”

“Oh no,“ Black Bear said with an uneasy laugh. ”Mostly caves or tree cavities. The only time I climb trees is when I’m hungry—for honey and bee larvae. Have you tried them?”

“Bee larvae? That sounds disgusting,” Polar Bear’s Cousin said, wrinkling their nose, unfazed by Polar Bear’s death glare across the table. “Thailand fed us Pad Thai and Green Curry every day.”

“Son,” Polar Bear’s Uncle rumbled as he lumbered over with a platter of barbecued seal fat. “Don’t you know Formosan Black Bears are battling Giant Pandas to protect their territory? What propaganda are you watching all day on TikTok? Read the news.”

Polar Bear’s Aunt sniffled. “I heard about that conflict. Is that why you left, Black Bear? It must be so dangerous back home. Don’t worry. Stay here in the Arctic as long as you want. We’ll sponsor you.”

No longer able to tolerate her extended family’s political incorrectness, Polar Bear tried to stir the conversation. “So, Black Bear, how’s your research? Any insights to share?”

“Yes, actually,” Black Bear said. “Before coming here, I thought Taiwan did a terrible job on climate change initiatives. Sure, we mostly rely on fossil fuels, but imagine squeezing Australia’s population into an area the size of Switzerland. Add typhoons and earthquakes to the mix. Our islands need to generate energy for millions and the semiconductor industry, which, by the way,” he added, fixing his gaze on Polar Bear’s Cousin, “powers your AI, EVs, solar panels, and wind turbines. Charity case, eh?”

A beat of silence followed as Polar Bear’s family exchanged looks. The Cousin shifted in their seat, ears flattening. Minutes passed. Polar Bear cleared her throat.

“Did you know Taiwan is smaller than many of our icebergs?” she asked, her voice tentative, like a kind schoolteacher. “Every Bear does what they can with what they have. And really, isn’t that what this is about? Climate change affects us all—even those big-headed humans. Here we are, just bears trying to adapt.”

She surveyed her family, looking each in the eye, and finally at Black Bear. “And if Black Bear can adapt to seal fat and bear kisses, maybe we can try a little harder too.”

For the first time that evening, Black Bear felt the tension in his shoulders ease, melting faster than glaciers. Maybe he didn’t fully belong in the Arctic yet, but any bear could find a caring companion who understood, even in this icy corner of the world. He leaned in to sniff the barbecue seal fat and said, “Hold up. Let me get my soy sauce.”

Story and illustration by Ya-Ting Yu is a Taiwanese writer based in Taipei, with roots stretching to Toronto and Edinburgh. Writing in English as her second language, she weaves themes of identity and belonging, drawing on her background in counseling and psychology to tell the stories of East Asian expatriates and international students.

Save Them Bears was inspired by my own experience as a Taiwanese expat, navigating the nuances of cultural assimilation and identity. I hope to highlight how cultural misunderstandings can be wrapped in well-meaning gestures. By anthropomorphizing the characters, I aim to create a story that is somewhat ‘trigger-free’ yet thought-provoking.

By Prof. Joanne Kong, author and speaker, Virginia

This is a slightly condensed transcript of a powerful presentation made by author and speaker, Joanne Kong, to a gathering of Eugene Veg Education Network (EVEN) on May 24, 2024.

Prof. Joanne Kong with Olive, at River’s Wish Animal Sanctuary in Spokane, Washington

We are dealing with many challenges at present. Some of them affect our very existence—climate change and its effects all around us—increasing numbers of catastrophic weather events, rising temperatures, losses in the natural world, and the looming danger of rising sea levels. And with the COVID-19 pandemic (that we went through for a few years), out of necessity, drastic changes to our daily habits and livelihoods caused us to re-examine the ways in which we interact with others. We still live under social tensions, racial divisions and harmful political divisiveness. No wonder we feel powerless; unable to change these circumstances. We feel as if the problems are too big for us to solve, and that we can’t make a difference.

How do we heal the world? How do we rise above these serious problems, and find strength, as well as inner peace?

I believe that we have arrived at crossroads in our lives, where the choices we make WILL determine our shared destiny. I’m not minimizing or discounting humankind’s extraordinary achievements. But I want to say that the threats to our sustainability are very real, and affect many spheres of our existence—physical, mental, emotional and spiritual, and also our Earth, and other beings with whom we share this planet.

I suggest that a VEGAN lifestyle offers a way to heal.

Food We Eat:

Plant-based eating has been identified as a definite, top trend in recent years. That’s evident in just a casual trip to the grocery store! Veganism is one of the fastest-growing movements today. While physical health is certainly a primary reason why many people decide to go plant-based, I want to point out that veganism has unique power to impact so many aspects of our lives. I hope that you will gain deeper insights into your own values and what are some of the influences that have shaped your food choices, whether you consume animals or not. I wish to discuss aspects of our food consumption in relation to the Natural World, Our Perceptions in Regards to other animals, our own Physical Health, and the State of our Mindfulness and Spirituality.

Over the course of humanity’s existence, there has emerged a growing loss, of the sense of just how deeply connected we are to the natural world. COVID-19 was like a spiritual “alarm bell” that we have reached a state of disconnection, with human influence reaching its point of greatest damage upon the planet. The growing risk of zoonotic diseases is directly linked to the widespread environmental damage caused by us human beings, which has brought us into increased contact with wildlife. As David Quammen, author of Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Pandemic, writes: “We invade tropical forests and other wild landscapes, which harbor so many species of animals and plants—and within those creatures, SO many unknown viruses…. We disrupt ecosystems, and we shake viruses loose from their natural hosts. When that happens, they need a new host. Often, we are it.”

Dr. Anthony Fauci says: “It boggles my mind, how when we have so many diseases that emanate out of that unusual human-to-animal interface, that we don’t just shut it down.” We hear about animal wet markets, but that is only the tip of the iceberg. Industrial factory farms, spreading around the world and accounting for more than 98% of animals killed for food in the USA, are a global health threat.

Dr. Michael Greger, infectious disease specialist, has been sounding the alarm on pandemics for over a decade. He likens each animal to a test tube, capable of brewing up the next new virus. “When we overcrowd animals by the thousands, in cramped football-field-size sheds, to lie beak to beak or snout to snout, and there’s stress crippling their immune systems, and there’s ammonia from the decomposing waste burning their lungs, and there’s a lack of fresh air and sunlight—put all these factors together and you have a perfect-storm environment for the emergence and spread of disease.”

At least 75% of emerging infectious diseases can be traced to animals, and the escalating rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in factory farms is already a global menace. If we remain complacent and fail to see COVID-19 as a wake-up call to rapidly move away from industrialized animal agriculture, it will only be a matter of time before more, potentially deadlier pathogens arise.

Environmental damage is occurring on a vast scale—through fossil fuel extraction, mining, drilling, logging, construction, urbanization, and most destructive of all, the livestock industry. As Peter Singer, philosopher at Princeton University and author of the groundbreaking book, Animal Liberation, has noted, “The kind of secret source of greenhouse gas emissions that no politicians are talking about at the moment are the emissions that come from the livestock industry.” While cutting emissions from energy and transportation, and making a decisive shift away from fossil fuels to renewable and alternative energies are vitally necessary, this will NOT be enough to successfully combat climate change, especially in light of projections that global meat consumption could rise as much as 75% by 2050 due to population growth, urbanization and rising incomes.

Livestock production currently accounts for at least 51% of anthropogenic greenhouse gases; that’s 4 times the amount of emissions from all modes of transportation combined, worldwide. The one major global initiative that will have more rapid and greater impact is to bring about planetary healing through a profound transformation of our food production systems, in particular, by ending the mass killing of animals for food. This must be nothing less than a broad-scale intervention for the health of our planet. Ilmi Granoff, Director of Sustainable Finance at ClimateWorks Foundation, said: “Forget cars. Forget coal. The fastest way to address climate change would be to dramatically reduce the amount of meat people eat.”

We can cut our carbon footprint in half, just by going vegan.

In one of the most comprehensive studies showing the connections between food consumption and the environment, a research team (headed by Dr. Marco Springmann at the University of Oxford, in 2018) concluded that reductions in meat consumption of 75 to 90% in Western countries would be necessary to avoid the ravaging impacts of climate change. Furthermore, it’s startling to realize just how massively inefficient our current food production systems ARE—meat and dairy industries are enormously water-intensive, accounting for at least a third of global water usage. Almost 80% of the Earth’s usable agricultural land is dedicated to livestock, yet the resulting yield is less than 20% of all calories produced, worldwide.

Why this disparity? Farmed animals eat huge amounts of food over their short lifespans. At least 70% of that energy is lost, through the animal’s metabolism and waste. We become SECONDARY consumers of those plants. It is far more efficient to gain nutrition from the source, and eat plants directly! If we made a decisive global move towards plant-based foods instead of growing massive amounts of feed for animals, we actually wouldn’t have to grow as many crops, and could free up over 70% of the earth’s arable land that is dedicated to raising livestock in the US.

Large-scale deforestation, for grazing land and growing livestock feed, not only increases the risk of infectious disease spread; the staggering loss of biodiversity Impacts the survivability of all living beings. Animal agriculture is the Number One cause of Species and Habitat loss. We have ushered in the Sixth Mass Extinction, with up to one million animal and plant species facing extinction; more than at any other time in our history. It’s no wonder that our era has been labelled as the Anthropocene, for it is HUMAN activity that has become the dominant force upon climate and the environment.

Scientist Ron Milo and others note that 60% of all mammals on Earth now consist of Livestock, and only 4% are wild animals. And 70% of all birds are Poultry. Humanity accounts for just a tiny 0.01% of all the Biomass on Earth—that includes all animal and plant life and bacteria, yet we’ve destroyed 83% of wild mammals, and half of plant life.

Did you know that the animal agriculture industry is directly tied to world hunger? Nearly half of global feed crops go to animals raised for food, instead of to the people who need them the most. Did you know, only 6% of soybeans grown in the world actually get used to feed human population!

A decisive shift towards plant-based foods could make it possible to sustainably feed a global population expected to reach close to 10 billion by 2050.

Professor and Scientist Peter Smith at the University of Aberdeen says: “We know food choices are very personal, and that behavior change can be difficult to encourage, but the evidence is now unequivocal—we need to change our diets if we are to have a sustainable future. The fact that it will also make us healthier makes it a no-brainer.”

In considering our relationships to other beings, it is helpful to look at historical and cultural contexts, to see what shaped our perceptions throughout the centuries. Our path of human culture has followed a long trajectory, from our early existence as nomadic hunter-gatherers to the growth of tribal and agrarian societies.

We know that the origins of animal agriculture in human culture can be traced back to roughly 10 to 12,000 years ago. Prior to that, we existed as foragers—nomadic, opportunistic eaters—gathering, hunting, and scavenging for food. We co-existed with animals in a complex web of life, highly observant of their unique abilities and behaviors, and fascinated by the powers they seemed to hold. As our culture developed, a shift in this relationship began to take place. Along with a rise in population, people began to abandon nomadic lifestyles, seeking and settling in places where food, shelter, and land for growing crops were available. Agriculture slowly took hold, as did the concept of ownership, not only of land, but also of animals, beginning with cattle, sheep and goats.

This marked a critical change in our perceptions of animals; we began seeing them not as kindred spirits, but as commodities, objects, even tools for our use. The ultimate rise of urbanization and consumerism which shaped the foundations of our modern culture, served only to reinforce this view of animals—that they are units of production within industries whose sole goals are efficiency and profit.

This perception has become internalized in society’s daily customs. Cultural inertia is a powerful force; it’s a part of human nature to resist change, and it’s often much easier to just stay with what has been established and accepted as the status quo. It’s a kind of subconscious acceptance—everyone else is doing it, so it must be right! We derive this sense of security, stability and even validation from continuing the habits we grew up with. This is especially the case with our food habits, for what we eat is a matter of daily personal choices that can be grounded deeply in family and cultural traditions. I want to make it clear that my views are in no way intended to be judgmental, or to lay guilt.

I often ask, “Were any of you here BORN vegan?” And as you might expect, usually no one raises their hand. Through no fault of our own, most of us, including me, were born into a meat-eating culture, one that dominates and exploits animals. That is the simple reality. Only when I learned about factory farming (as a graduate student in college), did it hit home that our society as a whole has grown further and further away from seeing other living beings as our equals. We grew to hold onto, even if subconsciously, a false belief that consuming animals is necessary for good health, and that there is some kind of hierarchical food chain that requires us to eat them, despite our clearly-herbivorous physiology. We have created a set of beliefs, an egocentric view that humans are superior to other animals, that it is acceptable to abuse and kill them for our own needs, pleasure and profit.

Some believe this all ties into an anxiety about our own mortality.

Anthropologist Ernest Becker wrote, “Mortality is connected to the natural, animal side of [human] existence; and so man reaches beyond and away from that side. So much so that he tries to deny it completely. As soon as man reached new historical forms of power, he turned against the animals with whom he had previously identified—with a vengeance, as we now see, because the animals embodied what man feared most, a nameless and faceless death.”

Writer Michael Mountain says, “The terrible irony in our behavior is that it is our very efforts to raise ourselves above our fellow animals that are, in fact, bringing about our demise. The more we seek “progress”—building an industrial civilization through which we strive to take dominion over nature and its cycles of life and death—the more we are playing into our very worst nightmare: not just death, but now mass extinction. We are part of nature, and life becomes a lot more comfortable when we stop trying to defend ourselves against it. While we may never be able to dissolve our existential terror altogether, we can gain comfort by embracing the world of nature rather than constantly trying to transcend it. That means acknowledging that we are animals, just like all the other animals. And it means ceasing to exploit them as commodities, in our quest for immortality.”

On HEALTH:

Part of the irony of our exploitation and dominance over animals is how using them as a food source has impacted our health, all over the globe. Yes, it is true that early man adopted meat eating when it was necessary for survival, as nomadic, opportunistic eaters. But today, for most of the world’s population, it is not a necessity to eat animals in order to survive. Our typical Western diet is responsible for over 70% of health issues. These include our so-called “diseases of affluence,” heart disease (leading cause of death in the world), hypertension, diabetes, and cancer. And obesity rates are rising globally.

In the US, it’s called the Standard American Diet, or SAD. A 2015 landmark report by the World Health Organization (WHO) classifies processed meat as carcinogenic, and red meat (that’s consumption of cows, pigs, goats and sheep) as a probable carcinogen. And it’s not only the pandemic risk associated with using animals as a food source; meat carries the highest contamination risk for foodborne illness—salmonella, E. Coli and campylobacter. The chronic diseases and conditions associated with an animal-centric diet are among the leading causes of deaths worldwide, both in developing countries and industrialized nations. Globally, consumption of meat has more than doubled in the past 20 years.

However, there is a growing awareness that plant foods are the key to maintaining optimum health, and preventing, even reversing, diseases. One of the most proactive, powerful things we can do to maintain our health is to increase our intake of plant-based foods. We know that countries with the greatest intake of plant foods HAVE the lowest incidences of disease. What are the benefits? Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds—offer a wide range of nutrients that include the all-important fiber, antioxidants that protect against cell damage, and thousands of phytochemicals that support good health and boost our immune systems. We’re starting to see a real shift towards a new model of healthcare, with the emphasis on PREVENTING disease through nutrition.

There are many physicians taking active roles in promoting the vegan lifestyle. A few of these include Dr. Michael Greger, Dr. Neal Barnard, and Dr. Michael Klaper. Unbelievably, the study of nutrition is not standard curriculum in a large percentage of medical schools. The Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics found that most medical students have only an average of 11 hours of nutrition training.

Dr. Kim Williams, past president of the American College of Cardiology, went vegan for HIS own health reasons, and now recommends a plant-based diet for his patients. He says: “There are two kinds of cardiologists—vegans, and those who haven’t read the data.” He also says: “I don’t mind dying. I just don’t want it to be MY fault!”

You are what you eat! It is really no wonder that eating animals and their products are tied to so many physical problems, as we are ingesting THEIR negative states of pain and suffering.

On Spirituality and Consciousness:

I believe that ALL life is energy, and all matter IS a manifestation of vibrating energy. Negative vibrations are heavy and low, resulting from stress or fear, and we know that in such instances the hormone Cortisol is released. So the negative energy carried by the animal upon its death thus transfers into OUR bodies upon consuming them. In fact, comparative studies have shown that mothers who ate a greater percentage of meat vs plant foods during pregnancy gave birth to children who grew up with significantly higher blood pressure, compared to moms who ate primarily plant-based. The energies of everything we consume enter ALL levels of our being—the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.

Abbott George Burker, of the Light of the Spirit Monastery in New Mexico, puts it this way: “When the energies within us are positive, they produce harmonious states of mind and behavior. But when the energies are negative, they move in a random and chaotic manner and produce negative states of mind and, consequently, negative behavior. Moreover, these toxic energies can also manifest as physical illnesses or defects. Substances that are toxic to the body–such as meat, alcohol, nicotine, and drugs–are toxic on the inner levels as well, and their ingestion poisons all our bodies…”

For many, turning away from consuming animals and animal products, whether a gradual process or an overnight decision, is something that at its deepest level becomes a reflection of spiritual values. This is even true of those who initially go vegan for health or environmental reasons; once they are no longer are taking part in another being’s suffering through their food habits, their openness and capacity for kindness naturally expands. For some, going vegan leads to a spiritual awakening, for others, it’s the reverse.

If we define Spirituality as: “The quality of being concerned with the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things,” we can see that veganism opens up that part of us that touches on our emotional, mindful, and spiritual lives.

There is a greater sense of connection to Nature and all life; seeing we are all One, seeing ourselves in others, that we are all expressions of the same Divine Source. I call this aspect COMPASSIONATE ONENESS. To me, ANIMALS, human or non-human, are deeply interconnected because we EQUALLY share in this oneness—we are all conscious, and we are all aware. Think of all the ways all animals are alike, in what it means to be a sentient being! The desire to live free from pain, seeking adequate nourishment and shelter, freely engaging in unique ways of social interaction and communication. We protect and raise our young, care for one another, we breathe, we all can experience pain, fear and joy. Other Animals, they are unique as WE are unique, and I feel we should not abuse them, exploit them, treat them like property or commodities, and then subject them to the ultimate suffering which is the loss of their lives. You can’t quantify scientifically what consciousness is, but you see the life force in every animal, whether dog, cat, pig or cow.

Veganism thus widens our circle of empathy, sensitivity and our INNATE compassion. Modern industrialized animal agriculture IS the greatest amount of suffering and violence taking place on our planet today, happening every second of every day, yearly exceeding the sum of human deaths by at least 2,000 times over. It is also the greatest area of society’s cognitive dissonance, a situation in which our decisions or behaviors are in conflict with our core values or beliefs. Case in point: most people continue to eat meat, even though on some level they know that meat production entails unnecessary suffering, violence and death. In order to avoid the mental and emotional conflict of this inconsistency, they avoid bringing the issue to the forefront of their conscious awareness. This avoidance is perfectly exemplified in what is probably the most common response when you try to tell people about factory farms—what do they say? “Don’t tell me; I don’t want to think about it!” By distancing themselves from the conflict, this allows them to eat meat without a sense of guilt or complicity. People want to protect their sense of self; they don’t want to see themselves as enablers of such horrific violence, and they’re able to do so by distancing and disconnecting themselves from that reality. Certainly, the ingrained acceptance of food habits is a strong factor, reinforced by marketing messages. The industry employs misleading feel-good labels, like “cage-free,” “free-range” “natural,” “humane certified,” and “grass-fed,” falsely implying that consideration is given to the welfare of the animals. But any industry whose main goal is to profit from the slaughter of innocent animals can never be humane.

There is also the invisibility of meat production. How many of us know where factory farms are located? As a result, the immense suffering that happens behinds their walls remains largely hidden, and most of us have become desensitized to the ongoing violence that IS a part of our everyday lives as consumers. On the path of becoming plant-based, it is a transformative shift in our identity, when we no longer consume food that was borne of violence. It’ a raising of our vibration level and expanding our sense of unconditional love.

Veganism can be a part of our spiritual journeys—moving beyond material desires or temporary taste pleasures.

I invite you to consider a new perspective, one that you may have not thought of. We give serious thought to many of our choices every day, but what distinguishes meal choices from many others, is that it can involve another living being. Writer Mark Hawthorne puts it best when he says, “A person’s “right” to eat whatever they want ends where another’s life begins.” In the relatively SHORT amount of time it takes to eat a meal, your choice is an opportunity to give your capacities for compassion deepest consideration. You may ask yourself, “Does the taste I enjoy from eating this animal, justifies what it went through, to become my food?”

For many of us, one of the aspects of Spirituality is: Seeking inner peace, that center of calm within us. It’s about knowing that our individual actions, and how we express Love in the world, build a powerful energy that shapes the world around us. This can be immensely powerful, and sometimes we get messages that arise from our inner self or subconscious mind. The following is a quote from vegan activist Gwenna Hunter. She lives in Los Angeles, and actually created the city’s first vegan food bank!

“I dreamed once that I was flying in the sky overlooking a beautiful bright green pasture. I noticed a beautiful cow looking up at me. Our eyes connected and when they did it was like I flew inside of her and became one with this cow. I was the cow. We merged and I felt her joy. Her sorrow. Her grief. Her love. Her excitement. Her joy. Giving birth to children. Loving her children. Enjoying companionship and her love for humans. I emerged from the dream in shock, knowing what I experienced had to be real but of course I questioned it. I was crying uncontrollably because what I felt more than anything was their immense capacity to love. It was a love that was pure and kind and gentle and sweet. It was unconditional. But how could a cow be capable of this? After all weren’t they put here for us? As I cried and sat up in my bed I suddenly felt a physical warmth on my chest right where my heart resides. I took my right hand and put it on the warm spot and I was paralyzed with the most beautiful feeling of tranquility and complete peace. I also want to share another dream I had—another experience that was beyond the normal limits of reality. I found myself in a different space and time, and I was standing outside of a slaughterhouse where there were cows and pigs standing in line waiting for their turn to be slaughtered. I instantly had a telepathic connection with them and I knew that they had full awareness of what was going to happen. I began crying and yelling at them, telling them to stop reincarnating back to this planet and to not come back to earth because we keep killing them and hurting them. All of a sudden one of the pigs turned to me and spoke to me in the most powerful male voice and said, ‘We will keep coming back again and again until you all get it right. We love you all that much. Our suffering gives some of your lives purpose.’ He then sent an impulse of his love to my heart and it was so incredibly pure and beautiful. This impulse let me know that it’s not just us trying to save them but they are also saving us.”

One of the aspects of becoming more spiritually aware through our food choices can manifest in the desire to be of service, to make the world a better place. For myself, my journey as a vegan is about filling every waking moment of my life with the highest good and intentions that I can put out into the world, towards ALL beings. It is about AHIMSA—non-violence—to do no harm. I can best describe it as feeling more in the flow of just how sacred all life and Nature are. Our times, more than ever, call for our innate gifts of kindness, empathy, and seeing ourselves in every other living being, to create a more peaceful world.

I would like to end with a quote by Albert Einstein:

“A human being is part of a whole, called by us the Universe, a part limited in time and space. We experience thoughts and feelings, as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his our consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circles of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. The true value of a human being is determined by the measure and the sense in which they have obtained liberation from the self. We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking if humanity is to survive.”

About the Author:

Dr. Joanne Kong, D.M.A., has been praised as one of the most compelling advocates for plant-based nutrition today, centered ethically in raising awareness that greater compassion for animals and our planet is vitally necessary for transformative growth and positive world change. Her TEDx talk, The Power of Plant-Based Eating, has over one million views on YouTube. Her vegan advocacy has been recognized around the world with international talks in Italy, Spain, Germany, Norway, Canada, and a three-week, 10-city tour of India. Dr. Kong is the editor of Vegan Voices: Essays by Inspiring Changemakers (Lantern Publishing & Media, 2021) featuring 50 vegan advocates from around the world, is the author of If You’ve Ever Loved an Animal, Go Vegan, and was profiled in the book, Legends of Change, about vegan women impacting the world. She appears in the major documentary Eating Our Way to Extinction and the upcoming documentary, Taking Note. 

Dr. Kong is a critically acclaimed, award-winning classical pianist on the music faculty at the University of Richmond, and draws upon a diversity of skills as a musician, writer, speaker, and creative artist in her advocacy activities. She performs and speaks in a duo known as Vegan Virtuosi with fellow animal advocate Christoph Wagner. Find further information about her on the websites www.vegansmakeadifference.com and www.joannekongmusic.com.