Vegetarianism, Veganism, and the New Zealand Factor — Part 14

Animal Rights and Non-Violence

Moreover, imagine what New Zealand’s example could trigger in all of these other areas of the world were it to actually transform itself into a nation of non-violence, the premiere tourist destination on Earth; and the greatest model in history for a multicultural commitment to spiritual ecology in practice. If nothing else, the profitability of such a concerted effort would be internationally contagious. New Zealand would truly Continue reading

Vegetarianism, Veganism, and the New Zealand Factor — Part 13

Vegetarianism and the Ecosystem

But the fact remains, there are well over one hundred million vegetarians in the world and yes, the data is terribly deficient. In some countries people who continue to eat fish but no beef consider themselves vegetarians. Elsewhere, people calling themselves vegetarian will each chicken or shrimp. Some Jain parents, whose entire spiritual and community traditions are predicated upon non-violence, have seen their children Continue reading

Vegetarianism, Veganism, and the New Zealand Factor — Part 12

Bhutan and the Vegetarian Debates

The country’s total exports amounted to $154 million in 2000, their imports, $196 million. The national assembly of Bhutan met in July of 2002 to discuss a proposal put forth by a head religious leader of the country who indicated that “It would benefit us if the government could ban the slaughtering of animals in the whole country.” The Minister of Agriculture (whose office is also in charge of the country’s ten national parks Continue reading

Vegetarianism, Veganism, and the New Zealand Factor — Part 11

Global Environmental Factors

Economists have spoken of the fact that the Obama administration, engaged in essentially two simultaneous wars, is spending just over 2% of America’s GNP, whereas Franklin Roosevelt diverted over 40% of America’s GNP towards the effort to fight World War II. That vast expenditure was a huge economic stimulus for the… Continue reading

Vegetarianism, Veganism, and the New Zealand Factor — Part 10

Animal Abuse: the Slaughterhouse

By way of an odd analogy, we cite John Van de Kamp’s editorial in the Los Angeles Times in which he wrote “We can’t afford the death penalty — Capital punishment is costing California $125 million a year.”

“Lying to animals” is one of the paramount “sins” of every country involved in raising animals for slaughter. Slaughter is one form of condoned lying. Of course, the lie is transparent, and the animals and human children Continue reading

Vegetarianism, Veganism, and the New Zealand Factor — Part 9

Health, Economic, and Ecological Benefits

He decided to run for State Senator, then moved to Washington, D.C. to agitate for family farm reforms, to halt the patenting of animals and to try and change the way that farmers did business. Howard was one of the first activists to discuss Mad Cow Disease publically and was also sued for appearing on the Oprah Winfrey Show and voicing his opinions. He won that suit, in a trial that took place on the cattlemen’s backyard, namely, in a courtroom in Amarillo, Texas. His legal victory was a victory for the U.S. Constitution and the First Amendment Continue reading

Vegetarianism, Veganism, and the New Zealand Factor — Part 8

The Vegetarian Economy

We say “vegetarian” rather than vegan for the following reasons: While the authors subscribe to the vegan model (a vegetarian diet without dairy) and embrace the no-brainer proliferation of dairy alternatives in the form of soy cheeses, soy milk, etc., we also note that mother’s milk in every species, including humans, is essential; and that boutique cheeses and milk products that are the result of carefully designed and monitored non-violent systems are possible, where the animals are treasured members of a small family farm Continue reading

Vegetarianism, Veganism, and the New Zealand Factor — Part 7

Vegetarian Diets Around the World

From the manioc-based diets among the Caribes, to the emphasis on lentils in India, oats in Wales, corn cakes in Mexico, millet throughout Africa, sourdough and pancakes made with milk in America, the vegetarian preference can be read easily into the human habits of consumption.

And during the Tang Dynasty in China, most practitioners of Zen were vegans. Continue reading

Vegetarianism, Veganism, and the New Zealand Factor — Part 6

History of Vegetarianism

In Elsdon Best’s comprehensive work, Forest Lore of the Maori he presented a synopsis of the Maori people as extraordinarily sophisticated cultivators and extractors, whether of berries, fungi, leaves, fern roots, or pulp. But Best’s greatest accomplishment was his earlier book, Maori Agriculture. The Cultivated Food Plants of the Natives of New Zealand, with some Account of Native Methods of Agriculture, its Ritual and Origin Myths. Best focuses on the cultivation of the sweet potato, yams Continue reading

Vegetarianism, Veganism, and the New Zealand Factor — Part 5

Agriculture vs. Weight Loss or Gain

Where and how we live, and the manner in which we go about leaving a footprint, a handprint on our cave, are signatures for which every human being is responsible. New Zealanders no less or more then Americans, Chinese or diverse members of the world’s indigenous human populations. With its “undisturbed virgin soil” New Zealand offered to early New Zealand farmer Conrad Hoos a nation of “perfect germination” whose very “stability” was the fact of a country Continue reading