'Whale Wars' Capt. Paul Watson's vegan vessel -- with recipes!

Article from Los Angeles Times

Here's a tasty tidbit for fans of activist/conservationist Capt. Paul Watson and his acclaimed Animal Planet series "Whale Wars."

The exciting new season (airs at 9 p.m. Fridays) just started last week.

But we found out from Paul that everyone on board the Sea Shepherd, eats vegan. No fish. Ever.

DR: Tell me what you and the crew of the Sea Shepherd eat?

PW: I run my ship as a vegan vessel. It's not for animal rights reasons but to set an example and to try and get people to think about the connection between what they eat and what we're doing to the oceans, because it's quite simple, really. I personally feel that it's the most important cause on the planet; more important than anything else for the simple reason as this – if the oceans die then we all die. And we've removed 90% of the fish from the oceans. Marine ecosystems are in serious situation and it could collapse. Two weeks ago the world's experts on coral reefs met at an international conference. The conclusion of that conference is that coral reef ecosystems will be gone, worldwide, in 20 years, and it's irreversible. Nothing can be done now to stop that. That's the first major collapse of a large ecosystem on the planet and that's the first of many. This is something people have got to be very concerned and involved with because if too many ecosystems collapse, the whole structure comes down. That is going to bode very ill for all of us."

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Beluga whale carries struggling diver to surface

A DROWNING diver has a beluga whale to thank for helping to save her life after her legs were paralysed by cramps.

Yang Yun was taking part in a free-diving contest at Polar Land in Harbin, north-east China, in which participants were required to sink seven metres to the bottom of a pool and stay there for as long as possible without the aid of breathing equipment.

Ms Yun, 26, thought she was going to die amid the beluga whales she shared the arctic pool with, after struggling to move her legs while trying to kick her way to the surface.

"I began to choke and sank even lower and I thought that was it for me - I was dead," she told The Sun.

"Until I felt this incredible force under me driving me to the surface."

That "incredible force" was Mila, a beluga whale which had noticed her distress and clamped its jaws around her leg.

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Soymilk Mayonnaise

Ingredients:

1 cup soymilk
1 cup sugar
3 tsp salt
1 2/3 cups sunflower oil
3 tsp vinegar (adjust the degree of sourness, according to taste)

Directions:

Mix soymilk, sugar and salt and blend in a completely dry blender. A very important tip for making mayonnaise is to blend the ingredients at high speed. Then slowly stir in oil, and continue to blend at high speed. When oil is blended thoroughly, the mixture will become very thick. Finally, stir in vinegar and mix well.

Tofu Tuna Salad

Created by admin



This recipe really brings back memories of childhood. Do make sure to freeze and the thaw the tofu before preparing this recipe. It gives it a more chewy texture.



Ingredients:

* 1 block firm or extra firm tofu, frozen, then thawed and pressed
* 2 stalks celery, diced
* 1 tbsp pickle relish
* 2/3 cup vegan mayonnaise
* 1 tbsp lemon juice
* 1/2 tsp kelp powder
*1/2 tsp sea salt or more to taste
*1/4 tsp ground black pepper

Preparation:

In a small bowl, crumble or mash the tofu with a fork until it reaches the desired consistency. Add the celery and relish.

In a separate small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and kelp. Gently add this mixture to the tofu and stir to combine.

Serve chilled on toast with lettuce and pickle on the side.

Tesco criticised by vegetarians for using waste meat to generate electricity

Article from Telegraph.co.uk

The Vegetarians International Voice for Animals (Viva) claims that consumers should be informed if any of their home electricity is being generated by what it described as the "macabre" recycling process.

Tesco now sends 5,000 tonnes of meat that has passed its sell-by date to be turned into enough National Grid electricity to power 600 homes for a year.

It has hailed the scheme as part of a "green" drive which has enabled it to stop sending any of the waste it produces to environmentally damaging landfill sites.

But Viva said many vegetarians would be "horrified" that their houses were being powered partly by out-of-date meat.

They said any environmental benefits of recycling the meat were far outweighed by the greenhouse gases produced by rearing more meat than was needed in the first place.

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21-Day Vegan Kickstart

By Eccentric Vegan on August 9th, 2009

PCRM launches a new program to help people go vegan.

Here's their description of the program:

Whether you're drawn to chocolate, cookies, potato chips, cheese, or burgers and fries, we all have foods we can't seem to resist-foods that sabotage our best efforts to lose weight and improve our health. But PCRM's Vegan Kickstart will help you win the food fight.

Based on research by Neal Barnard, M.D., PCRM president and one of America's leading health advocates, this 21-day program is designed for anyone who wants to explore and experience the health benefits of a vegan diet.

During these three weeks you will have an all-access pass to:

*Daily e-tips that will put you on the path to weight loss, better health, and greater well-being
*Delicious, easy, and satisfying recipes that will help you break your cravings for unhealthy foods *Weekly motivational nutrition webcasts featuring Dr. Barnard
*Social support of other Kickstart participants through a message board where nutrition
*Professionals answer your health and diet questions

Curious? Sign up here >>