1. taking responsibility for your mistakes
2. apologising for them
3. taking steps to right the wrongs done

I’m happy to report that yesterday VegNews did all of those things. Am I completely and totally satisfied with it? In all honesty, no. I do think this should have been their first reaction, and that it should be featured more prominently on the site… But the bigger issue to me is that there’s no comment on what really bothered me about the whole thing: their attempt to cover up the issue, and their poor attitude when first called on it. I read a really interesting article lately on the dangers of forgiving too easily. In fact, there was also a brilliant quote in Mad Men that I think sums up my feelings on the issue: “Since when is forgiveness a better quality than loyalty?” I don’t think I completely trust VegNews – not yet.

Having said that… Following Quarrygirl’s lead, I think I’m willing to take a step back and let my hurt feelings go. VegNews is, after all, run by people. People who also have feelings. I would be lying if I said that I had never found myself getting defensive when confronted with mistakes. True, overcoming that defensiveness is a big part of growing up, but I’m willing to cut the company some slack – if they actually carry through with their promises. A business relationship is like many others. When trust is betrayed, apologies don’t automatically rebuild broken trust. That takes time, and effort.

VegNews has committed to i) representing recipes with custom vegan photography, ii) using only vegan stock images, and iii) working towards the development of (and later hosting) a vegan photo bank. I’m sure there will be people who don’t think this is enough. For example, depending on how the photo bank is run, some photographers may feel that their profession is not being given its due. Hopefully VegNews is taking this into account. In the meanwhile, I see that they’ve signed their names on this letter, unlike the previous one, which was a source of aggravation for some people. It seems to me that the people at VegNews are making some sort of effort to stand behind the promises they’ve made, and are willing to work towards repairing the damaged relationship with their readers. They’ve even included contact information and invited feedback, which is a good sign.

Like any promises, these ones need to be honoured to mean anything. As I’ve said, forgiveness shouldn’t always come easily. I ended my last post by saying that “VegNews does not deserve your forgiveness because they haven’t even asked for it. And, until they do, they will not get it. At least, not from me.” Well, they have now asked for our forgiveness – and I am (tentatively) willing to give it.

The publishing world is a ruthless one. No one is denying that. I agree that it’s great that VegNews is able to reach an audience that may otherwise not have access to vegan materials… As one of the commentors on Quarry Girl’s recent exposé remarked, VegNews is available to people shopping at Safeway in Nebraska – T.O.F.U. Magazine and the vegan blogosphere isn’t so immediately visible. It’s great that we have a vegan-run publication that is so prevalent among mainstream media. I agree with VegNews about these things.

But you know what? That doesn’t negate what they did wrong, and their response did nothing to assuage my newfound unease with their publication. Nowhere in that letter did they even acknowledge their readers’ concern with anything but accusations. You know what they did instead of saying “we fucked up”? They accused us of being the assholes. They were “deeply saddened with the dialogues that [had] transpired over the last 12 hours.” Meaning: “we’re upset that you caught us.” Anyone can see how that is not an appropriate response here. VegNews wants you to believe that your feelings of betrayal (if you have them) are illegitimate. The thing is, they’re not, and here’s why:

1. They Photoshopped images of actual meat to look like vegan dishes. This is straight-up deceit. If it isn’t, I don’t know what is.
2. They used stock photos to illustrate recipes. Have they even tested the recipes they publish? What are they meant to look like? No wonder my quiche didn’t work as well as theirs did – mine didn’t involve any egg!
3. They tried to cover up the truth. This is the worst part. When word got out, VegNews’ first response was to try and hide what they did. If they really think that using stock images is acceptable, and , then why did they try to hide it? Why didn’t they just explain themselves right away? Answer: because they knew their readers would be upset. So, instead, they lied to us some more.

So, now we have a list of sins that VegNews simply did not account for in their (long overdue) response, and a reply that essentially tells us to STFU and praise them for everything else they do well. Sorry, but it doesn’t work that way in the grown-up world. There are three steps to repairing damaged relationships: i) take responsibility for your mistakes, ii) apologise for them, iii) try to make up for your misbehaviour. VegNews has done none of these things. At this point, their reaction has consisted entirely of “This is everybody’s fault but mine!” and “You should be grateful we even publish this magazine!” VegNews does not deserve your forgiveness because they haven’t even asked for it. And, until they do, they will not get it. At least, not from me.

I’ve only been vegan for a little over a year, but I haven’t eaten meat since elementary school. For me, there was no way I could reconcile my steadfast belief in the extension of compassion to all feeling beings and meat eating. At ten years old, this seemed like an impossible feat. It still does. I am healthy as a vegan, and I was healthy as a vegetarian, too. If the only justification for eating meat in my case is taste, well… To me, that’s not an ethically sound decision. Still, I’ve always made exceptions for people who didn’t have the means to access my diet in a way that was healthy. I do believe that there are (some) bodies that require animal products. Beyond that, though, I also believe that there are social and economic contexts that make vegetarianism and veganism inaccessible. Extreme poverty or poor access to vegetables (like in the far North) would put a large financial/environmental burden on people that may not be justifiable in some ways. Ironically, here is where the argument for humane meat falls apart: it ain’t cheap, and it ain’t accessible. Unlike standard, factory-farmed grocery store meat, “ethical” meat is expensive, and mostly available (to urbanites, who comprise the majority of the North American population) in specialised stores and farmer’s markets. The people who buy these meats are therefore in a financial postion to afford them, a social position to find them, and have at least some interest in the well-being of animals and/or the planet. So why are they still eating meat? Barring a health issue, there is nothing stopping these people from cutting it out of their diet.

Except, perhaps, nature.

As Sunaura Taylor argues in this article, nature has long been used to justify bad behaviour. As Taylor states, human biases infuse our ideas about what is “natural,” and what is “justifiable.” Reasonable people no longer apply the nature agument to issues like racism or sexism (“a woman’s natural place is in the kitchen,” “black people are naturally not as worthy as white people”). In fact, most would find those arguments abhorrent – and rightly so! So why does this not apply to animals? The problem is that many omnivores simply do not grant animals the same value as humans… Much like slavers did not view black people as worthy of human consideration, much like women were not officially recognised as people until the last century. This cognitive dissonance allows “conscientious omnivores” to think of themselves as compassionate towards animals, without having to acknowledge the harm they do to them.

What does and does not constitute a body worthy of compassion and respect is a fluid concept. Both slaves and women were viewed as property at one time; it was no more  a crime to kill them than it was to destroy an old carpet. The animals deemed worthy of protection and care are also arbitrarily selected. Most North Americans would cringe at the idea of torturing a dog or shooting an elephant, but don’t think twice about raising a cow for the sole purpose of being able to kill it later. It seems to me that what determines a valuable life is not related to the actual value of that life. Just because people don’t want to think of animals as having a right to life doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t; the prevailing social opinion here is just as worthless as it was in regards to the rights of black people or women. Much like Natalie Portman’s hypocritical return to eggs and dairy for the sake of craving bakery cookies (as if LA isn’t chock-a-block full of vegan options?), the idea of humane meat cannot be examined on its own terms. Once you turn a critical eye to this concept it becomes apparent that, as Taylor claims, “humane meat is an oxymoron.”

If you are Canadian and able to vote in the upcoming election, it might be of interest to you to know that one of our contributors, David J. Parker, is a candidate for the Green Party in Edmonton Central. A 20 year veteran of the Green Party and environmental activism, David has been a vegetarian since 1987, a vegan since 1997, and wrote about his vegan genesis in the last issue of T.O.F.U. Magazine.

Whether or not you’re able to or interested in voting for David, however, please do vote. We are a notoriously apathetic country when it comes to our own political system, but change doesn’t happen on it’s own. There is always the risk that things may make a turn for the worse, but there is also the certitude that things will not improve unless we act. In the end, it is up to each of us to not only be the change we want to see in the world, but also to push for that change. Voting in a flawed system might not be the perfect solution, but it can be a step in the right direction.

St. George’s Market, by Flax Fox

While I was in Northern Ireland, I visited botanical gardens, a museum, and a castle… Of particular interest to vegans, though, is St. George’s Market.

With a history that stretches back to the 19th century, when the structure that currently houses the market was built, St. George’s Market is certainly the oldest community market I’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting! This long history helps contribute to the atmosphere (the latin motto built into the building, Pro Tanto Quid Retribuamus, means “For so much what shall we give in return?” This is a great motto for a market!), but can also be a little morbid (during the Belfast Blitz of World War II the building was used as a mortuary for over 200 of those killed in the bombings). History lesson aside, though, St. George’s has a lot to offer.

St. George’s Market is open from 6 AM – 2 PM on Fridays (the Variety Market), from 9 AM – 3 PM Saturdays (the City Food and Garden Market), and 10 AM – 4 PM Sundays (the Sunday Market). I visited on a Sunday, which was also their St. Patrick’s Day celebration. There was lots of green and shamrock-themed food, crafts, and artwork – not to mention performances!

At first I wasn’t sure if there would be much food for me… But as you can see, I walked away with a pretty sweet haul. The bread, which was tomato and fennel, came from the Barleycove Bakery, the carrot and sweet potato soup from The Soup Kitchen, and the pokora and samosa from Goloka Catering. I’m not including the baklava stall in this review, because although they told me it was vegan (minus the honey, if you count that), it tasted very strongly and distinctly of butter, so I can’t recommend them!

Goloka Catering offers “homemade vegetarian & vegan cooking,” “catering for all occasions,” and “cookery classes.” Shyam Das, the owner and operator, is also fantastic. There were lots of yummy curries available, but as I’d just eaten at Archana the night before, I wanted something different. Both the pokora and samosa were delicious, and the prices were very fair!

The Barleycove Bakery is frequently present at St. George’s Market, and offers a wide variety of artisan bread – a good portion of them vegan! I bought half a loaf of tomato bread, and ate some of it the next day… It was filling, delicious, and cheap. If you’re in and around the Belfast area, definitely give them a shot!

Oh man, the Soup Kitchen! These guys were fantastic. So very sweet and friendly, and the soup? Fantastic! I ate half that day and half the next (with my leftover artisan bread)… Delicious and nutritious. Plus, the owners let me know that they make an effort to provide vegan options in their ever-changing soup lineup, which I very much appreciate. They’ve recently been upgraded to a permanent stall at the market, with a brand spanking new sign. Check out their Facebook fanpage – I’m currently drooling over their curried parsnip and apple and spicy butternut squash concoctions…

Alright, that’s it, that’s all folks! From now on I’ll be blogging about… Something else! I’m very grateful to have been given the opportunity to talk about my time in Belfast, as well as the amazing food I was able to eat there. The Republic of Ireland gets all the play, but I think I’ll be visiting Northern Ireland again. Next time you fancy a British vacation, give Belfast a try! I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Oh look, what a surprise, yet anther article about how veganism kills babies (English article here).

A couple in a Amiens, France, is facing charges of neglect after their exclusively-breastfed, 11-month-old daughter, Louise, died of pneumonia and vitamin deficiency. Distrustful of Western medicine, the parents treated a 2007 case of bronchitis with cabbage poultices and camphor, and bathed their daughter with dirt. Both parents are facing up to 30 years in prison.

While the French article makes a point of saying that we shouldn’t confuse a “respectable lifestyle choice and human drama,” the English articles I have come across on the internet often do not make the same distinction. In fact, some of the articles even neglect to mention the bronchitis/pneumonia, which is recognised as playing a part in the death. Comments on these articles include such gems as “Poor kid… vegans are idiots to begin with,” and “Those idiots, here is a clue, mothers milk is an animal product. Cows are mammal’s so are humans. I feel so sorry for children of morons.”

Is anyone really surprised by this anymore? In T.O.F.U.’s last issue, our focus was on vegan parenting. Both Kelly Twomey and I spoke on the additional scrutiny vegan parents face, and stories like this just contribute to that hysteria. Among other issues that some news sources don’t mention is the fact that the child had an older sister – who is still alive and well – and that the family lived in a “run down” home. Ignoring economic context, the baby’s long battle with illness, and the parents’ reluctance to seek medical care frames veganism as the main element of Louise’s death… But this just isn’t the case (or at least, it’s not the whole case). The sensationalist headlines and blatantly anti-vegan spin represent a dishonest, incredibly biased form of journalism that I am, frankly, sick and tired of seeing. For those of use who are vegan parents raising healthy, happy children, this kind of coverage is a reminder that we will always have to defend ourselves and our children from a sea of status quo.

Not every media outlet is so blatantly biased, however. At the very least, this article from UPI makes a point of mentioning not only the bronchitis/pneumonia, but also the fact that the parents did manage to raise a 13 year old without any vitamin deficiencies. Why it is so difficult for most other media outlets to handle this story with an ounce of even-handedness, I don’t know. When Fox News is reporting with more journalistic integrity than you, you know you’ve got some issues to work out.

Archana

Archana used to be split into a vegetarian-only restaurant on the top floor, and an omni restaurant on the main, but it has since been combined into one, anything-goes Indian restaurant. Still, their vegetarian menu is expansive, and there are many clearly marked vegan items. I ordered the Thali, which is a chef’s selection of three curries (you can specify that you want vegan curries!), pokoras, rice and naan. It was about £11, or $17.50 CAD, which is kind of pricey, but I’m sure this dish could easily serve two! They brought out a complimentary papadum and marinated onion appetiser beforehand, which was great, but by the time the curry came I was mostly full! Still, the service was really friendly and the food was really, really delicious.

Complimentary papadums! The salsa-like mixture is actually spiced onions, and the sauce was spicy, tangy, and mildly sweet. It was incredibly delicious. The main course came out in a flash! By the time I’d finished the papdums, it was ready.

The red curry in the corner is Achari Aloo, it was sweet and tangy, with potatoes and tomatoes. The green curry in the middle, Dal Saag, had lentils and spinach and was a bit like chili in terms of flavour. The third, orange curry was Vegetable Jalfreezi, and was made with peas, tomatoes, potatoes, and corn. Do I need to tell you again how mouth-wateringly delicious this was? Normally the Thali plate comes with dessert, however, they had no vegan options. Still, the servers told me upfront that this was the case, and there was enough food that I didn’t have room for dessert anyway!

Sadly, there was a miscommunication between the server and I, so he threw out my leftovers. I was shattered that all that lovely food had ended up in the trash can! Still, the service was quick and the food was delicious. I would highly recommend Archana to any vegan eating in the Belfast area!

My rating: ★★★★

Thai Village

The next restaurant I visited was Thai Village, which is actually directly across the street from Archana. I found this incredibly frustrating, because I got lost on the walk to and from Archana from my guest house. I seriously wandered around for about half an hour each way, maybe a little longer. It took me ten minutes to walk to Thai Village and back because it is literally a straight line from point A to point B. Only I could get lost while trying to walk in a straight line. Sigh. But I digress. Let me tell you about the delicious Thai food I ate!

First off, I have to say, I have a soft spot for any restaurant that serves sparkling apple juice, so that was an automatic plus for me. I know this food is coming off as very… Beige in this photograph, but trust me, it tasted anything but! The portions weren’t as generous as Archana’s, but the food was spicy, the tofu melted in your mouth (I didn’t know tofu could do that!), and the combination of bamboo and coconut milk is fool-proof! The crisps you see in the corner had a buttery, vaguely fishy flavour, and I’m not sure if they were vegan or not… Just to be safe, I avoided them. There was a bit of a language barrier between the staff and I, but the menu says that all bean curd-based dishes are free of animal “produce,” so I stuck to the curry (and was not disappointed). I still had a little left over for a snack the next day, and all for under £12!

My rating: ★★★★

Cayenne

My experience with Cayenne was a bit of a strange one, so I’m not sure I’ll be able to do it justice with this review. However, I’ll give it the old college try! The first thing I should mention is that Cayenne is a beautiful restaurant. The place settings and decor are lovely, and the place has a really intimate atmosphere to it, even in the middle of the day. The next thing I should mention is that they don’t have a single vegan thing on the menu. They have a really brilliant looking vegetarian menu, but it’s very cheese-heavy… They may have had a salad that was vegan, but I think there was even cheese in that. The chef offered to make me anything I wanted (they have a “richly-stocked kitchen”), but for some reason, offering me unlimited choice made me incapable of deciding what to eat! The thing is, I have to plan meals at home. At a restaurant, I don’t want to have to think that much… I just want to eat. Still, eventually the chef made up my mind for me, and I was treated to this beautiful salad (sorry for the low lighting):

It was good, but truthfully, I found it a little high on the olive oil front and a little short on vinegar, but that’s probably just a matter of taste. Unfortunately, an emergency of sorts came up that required access to the internet, so I had to make a mad dash from Cayenne to my guest house. I begged my server to box my food and ran like the wind. The food, to it’s credit, was still hot by the time I made it home. Also, it was still beautiful:

Okay, so I added the leaf for garnish. Anyway. The chef ended up preparing me a rice ball with grilled vegetables. It was pretty tasty, but nothing I haven’t made at home before. Ultimately, I found Cayenne a little disappointing. This is too bad, because it came highly recommended, the service was impeccable, and the kitchen was very flexible… It just isn’t set up to cater to vegans at all. I would say that if you’re a vegan traveling through Belfast you should either call ahead with a meal already planned, or give Cayenne a miss. If you are a vegetarian, however, please do try them out, for me? Their vegetarian menu really did look sublime.

My rating: ★★☆☆

I’m sure there are a few restaurants I should have eaten at while I was there… I’ve since been told that Boojum is a must-taste, and you could always try your luck at one of the many Deanes locations (although I suspect you’ll fare about as well there as at Cayenne). I hope to return one day and see what other treats Belfast restaurants have to offer!

My name is Kira, and I’m vegan. You probably don’t know me. This is because I’m new(ish) around here. I was the creative director for T.O.F.U.’s fourth issue (and also a contributor), but now Ryan’s asked me to help out with blog posts, so hopefully you’ll be seeing my name a lot more!

I’m currently in Belfast, U.K., for a conference, so I’ll try to get a post up sometime in the next few days about my experiences as a vegan in Northern Ireland. In the meanwhile, I can tell you that they have the most beautiful shopping mall I’ve ever seen, the weather is just about what you’d expect from an island in the North Atlantic, I’m very much looking forward to checking out St. George’s Market‘s St. Patrick’s Day Celebration tomorrow, and that both the conference organisers and my B&B have been very accommodating of my diet.

Slán go fóill!