McCruelty: Leafleting & Peacefully Protesting

Claudine, Sarah, Zachary and Jeff

My youngest brother, Zachary, came into town last week from Minnesota for a wintery visit.  I'd really missed him!  He's 24, very strongly opinionated- he knows everything (aaaah, I remember those days) and he is also Vegan.  He's never protested anything in his life, so a few days before we set off for our Downtown Day in Seattle, I arranged to meet with the lovely Claudine, who happens to be French (and maybe my new best friend).  Claudine is at this intersection in North Seattle every Thursday from 12-1PM and has been for the past year.  She also leaflets at the KFC/Taco Bell down the street on Tuesdays.  On this particular day, a fellow peaceful protester, Jeff, joined her (I saw him at the circus protest in October as well).

Anyway, I keep my protesting materials in my trunk, so I whipped out a marker and on the other side of my Women's Rights protest sign, wrote the message, "McCruelty, We're hating it!!" because, well... we were pressed for time and I couldn't come up with something more creative.  Now that I've had a bit of time to think about it, I think I may have written something like:

 Hehe... a nod to John and Yoko.  Or perhaps something more graphically direct, such as:

But passive-aggressive is my favored way to go:

There's always next time, I suppose.

Back to the point here though: peacefully protesting and leafleting outside of a fast food restaurant is not meant to close the business down or make anyone angry (but if it does, that's a bonus).  It's simply meant to offer people FACTUAL information they may not have otherwise known was available to them.  Not to mention the added benefit of being able to connect with other like-minded and passionate animal rights activists in a world full of the "ignorance is bliss" mindset.

So what can you do to help?

1: Educate yourself on the issue.
2: Order or make protesting materials (signs and leaflets).  Feel free to use my message ideas above!
3: Form a group or stand alone (bring an extra sign or two- people will join you!).  Try to find a parking spot in another lot other than the restaurant you are protesting and set up shop just off the property on the public sidewalk (being careful not to block walking traffic).
4: Any time the topics of fast food, animal cruelty, healthy eating, etc. arise in everyday conversation, use it as an opportunity to kindly and positively share information you know.  Remember, when you are kind, others are more apt to hear what you have to say.

Peacefully protesting is not a matter of changing anyone's mind in a moment, but just opening a window and giving them a bit of information to do the research themselves.

Oh, and just for fun, please watch this hilarious interview of Ronald McDonald.  His mannerisms are just so perfectly comedic.  "I'm lovin' it!"  ;)

Local Yum: Shawn's Vegan Mac & Cheese

I seriously dream of this vegan mac & cheese!  Love, love, love this tasty dish from Bang Bang Cafe.  And the BLT...Field Roast, lettuce, tomato and Vegenaise on that delicious bread!  I literally go out of my way to stop at this cafe every time I'm in Seattle!  You must try this mac and take an order to go!

Peaceful Protesting

This past Thursday, my younger brother and I attended the opening day circus demo with NARN (Northwest Animal Rights Network) in Kent, WA.  The purpose of protesting these kind of events is not to force our views on others, but to promote awareness and educate the public on the cruel practices of the circus.  Many people have grown up attending events such as these without questioning them because its what was viewed as normal in their childhood.  A circus is an outdated form of entertainment, which relies on capturing animals from the wild, breaking their spirits by beating them into submission and forcing them to perform painful tricks to make a profit.

I remember as a child, watching the Disney film, Dumbo.  There is a scene in which Dumbo's captured mother rocks him with her trunk from behind bars, while singing him a lullaby.  It was the saddest thing I'd ever seen!  I still tear up watching it. There is truth in this film's message because this is exactly what happens even in present day.  Elephants in the wild live for 60-80 years in herds between 8-100, with the females staying together for life.  The males will stay with the herd until around ages 12-15, when they leave, roaming from herd to herd or living solo.  An elephant that is captured to perform tricks for a circus is subject to a life of imprisonment and isolation that is so debilitating that they often sway from side to side in an effort to comfort themselves.

Here is a line of uninformed parents with their children, either unknowingly or knowingly, teaching their children that it is okay to exploit animals for human entertainment.

Some of the protesters in front of the venue, the Showare Center in Kent, WA.

I'm smiling just because I like to smile, but I am very serious about the issue!

Dusk and the show has started.

Representing NARN and Peta.

Ready to call it a night... for now.  Where there is a circus, I will be back with my signs and leaflets.

If you would like to be a part of a peaceful protest, I highly recommend getting connected with a local group via google search, facebook event, or by simply organizing your own event and meeting up with like-minded strangers along the way.

For more information on the practices of circuses, facts about elephants and what you can do to help, follow the links below.  Happy protesting, loves.

Elephants: Broken Spirits via PETA.org
Under The Big Top via Animal Liberation Front (ALF)
Elephant Facts via Defenders.org
Circus Resources via PETA.org

Canning: How To Make Dill Pickles

Ingredients:
30-35 small-medium cucumbers
2 cups vinegar
4 cups water
2 packages of pickling mix

Materials:
canning pot
4 quart sized mason jars
tongs

Optional: Labels, if giving as gifts

Makes: 4 quart sized jars of pickles

Tips:

• If you need a bit more brine to fill your jars, just use 2 parts vinegar and 1 part water to top them off.
• Never, ever add brine to the jars if it is not very hot/boiling... putting cooled down brine in the jar and then adding them to the boiling canning water will surely crack your jars and leave you pickle-less! 
• Don't stop at cucumbers!  Pickle peppers, onions, cabbage, cauliflower, or any other kind of veggie you might like to try pickled!  Experiment!  :)

Local Yum: French Toast Donut

Mighty-O Donuts

My youngest brother, Zachary is eying these treats for good reason... they're vegan!  Mighty-O Donuts makes the best animal-free donuts!  Love all of the delicious flavors, especially the French Toast Donut!  And the apple fritters...so tasty!