Category: Reflections
-
The perverse tradition of “pardoning the turkey”
It’s Thanksgiving in the U.S. today (we had our Canadian Thanksgiving back in October). Frequently called “Turkey Day,” Thanksgiving is a day when the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates 46 million turkeys will be eaten. Another 22 million will find their way onto Christmas tables. Altogether, Americans consume an estimated 245 million (PETA) to 250…
-
Vegan catering fail—gluten free pizza, no cheese
I think “Vegan Catering Fail” and “Vegan Catering Win” are going to become blog series because bad vegan catering is just so common and good vegan catering is just so refreshing. I know some people might think I should be happy, grateful even, that there was any option at all that I could eat. But…
-
Happy World Vegan Day / Month!
Happy World Vegan Day to one and all! Since November 1, 1994, this day has been set aside for vegans to celebrate. I got an email from Veganuary this morning that offered five things we can celebrate today: If you’re not vegan but have been thinking about it (or not), here are five things you…
-
Why single out horses?
Did you know that Canada is the leading exporter of live horses for meat? This fact hit the news this week because of a private member’s bill introduced to Canadian Parliament calling for a ban on these live exports. In 2022, 2600 live horses, bred specifically as livestock for consumption, were shipped to Japan. Once…
-
Should vegans be eating “facsimiles of flesh”?
I just read a paper called “Facsimiles of Flesh“ by philosophers Bob Fischer and Burkay Ozturk that goes against my long-held belief that there is nothing wrong with eating realistic facsimiles of animal products. Indeed, I have even made the case that from a harm reduction perspective these imitators are welcome additions to the vegan…
-
On leading a “less hypocritical or richer or better life…”
One of the great things (for me) about starting this blog is the steady stream of recommendations people (especially Shelley and Samantha) send my way. This week, it was Lorna Finlayson’s London Review piece, “Let Them Eat Oysters” (thanks, Shelley!). Ostensibly a review essay of Peter Singer’s Animal Liberation Now (Harper 2023) and Martha Nussbaum’s…
-
Hope for Defending Animals
I’m a bit late with my “Tuesday-post” this week (it’s Thursday now) because I wanted to report on Kendra Coulter’s book launch for her new release, Defending Animals: Finding Hope on the Front Lines of Animal Protection. I attended the energizing launch on Tuesday and purchased myself a copy of the book. So far I…
-
Where to draw the line?
Last week the article, “The case against pets: Is it time to give up our cats and dogs?” came across my desk from a number of different people. They sent it to me, not because I have cats, but for a couple of other reasons. First, one of the researchers quoted, Jess Du Toit, is…
-
How compelling are ethical reasons?
As a moral philosopher maybe I live in a bubble where I feel more uncomfortable than other people when my actions depart dramatically from my considered beliefs. I’m not saying moral philosophers are necessarily more ethical than the average person. And I’m not saying other people don’t have strong moral convictions. I’m suggesting that maybe…
-
Catering fail—no protein
Here’s a thing that has always been annoying: when so-called chefs can’t figure out protein that is not from an animal source. I blogged about it at Fit Is a Feminist Issue back in 2015. I have just come from two days at an off-site meeting where the catering fell short in this way. Now,…
Vegan Practically 