…and he’s been busy:

Hello everyone,

“As some of you may know I’ve been living and working in Vancouver since last October.

Vancouver is amazing for being vegan and vegetarian. There are many exclusive veggie and vegan places to eat out and shop in.

I’m working on a mini series called “Veggie In Vancouver”. It’s aimed at promoting vegetarianism and veganism through the positive example of Food and day-to-day way of life that vegetarian and veganism is for many people.

I’ve created VeggieWorld, a site that will be used to categorise places by City and have video guides for a particular city. It’ll also have further information about each video guide/particular show such as a map and location of a eatery, close ups of food and embedded link of the video.

VeggieWorld : http://www.veggieworld.org.uk/

The video channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/VeggieWorld

I’ve only (last night) put the Video up for Gorilla Food, a vegan organic raw food eatery in downtown Vancouver. If you want to see what it’s like and see some great examples of raw food then check out
both parts on the video channel:

http://www.youtube.com/user/VeggieWorld

There will be more shows appearing in the next week or so (I’ve got three to edit up yet, and filming a couple this week).”

» Jay Davé.com

Via the Echo:

Everton kit failed quality control

EVERTON had to shelve the launch of the club’s new kit because the first batch was not good enough.

The ECHO understands strip manufacturer Umbro decided to pull the original set of shirts after suffering problems with its producers in the Far East.

The firm is said to have cut its workforce back after a big fall in demand for its England shirts after the home nation failed to qualify for this summer’s European championships.

It is understood there were subsequent quality problems with kits produced for Everton and two other Premier League clubs.

The Blues postponed the launch of its 2008-09 strip until this Thursday earlier this month, for reasons the club described as being beyond its control.

Fans reacted angrily when the original July 10 launch date was put back, pointing out that Liverpool’s new kit has been on sale for some time.

Today, Umbro would not comment specifically on the quality of the first batch of Everton strips, although the club promised fans that kits going on sale this Thursday would be “of the highest possible standard”.

An Umbro spokesman said: “The Everton kit delay was due to logistical issues in the Far East.

» Full article

Shortage of child slave labour to make them…?

» Clean Clothes Campaign
» Ethical Consumer

Via the Guardian:

Rose Elliot’s top 10 vegetarian cookbooks

Rose Elliot is a renowned writer on vegetarian cooking. She has written over 50 cookery books,including Not Just a Load of Old Lentils, The Bean Book, Rose Elliot’s Vegetarian Cookery and Vegetarian Express. She is a patron of the Vegetarian Society and in 1999 was appointed MBE for services to vegetarian cookery. Her latest book is Forget the Lentils (Little Books). Fast Fresh and Fabulous (BBC Books) will be out in September.

“So - what do I look for in a top ten vegetarian cookbook? Inspiration, first and foremost: the recipes have to leap off the page and make me want to rush off and cook them. Secondly, the atmosphere of the book: it has to be warm, friendly, accessible. And thirdly, of course, the recipes have got to work.”

» View the list

- RoseElliot.com

» Following up on the item the other day which mentioned about any artist performing in China would be the subject of censorship - here’s a list of musicians that will soon be on a blacklist.

E! Online report via Yahoo News:

Sting, Matthews, Mayer Gamer for Tibet Than Beijing

Just in time for China’s moment in the spotlight, some of the biggest voices in showbiz are taking another stand on behalf of Tibet.

Sting, John Mayer and Dave Matthews are among the rockers lending their musicianship to Songs for Tibet, an all-star album intended to draw more attention to the Asian province’s ongoing struggle for national sovereignty.

The album, which will also feature tunes by Alanis Morissette, Moby and Garbage, will have a global release on iTunes Aug. 5, three days before the 2008 Summer Olympics get underway in Beijing. Hard copies will hit stores Aug. 12.

“We wanted to express our support for the Tibetan people and their message of peace through music, a fundamental means of expression, at a time when the eyes of the world are on China,” said the Art of Peace Foundation’s Michael Wohl, whose Dalai Lama-supporting nonprofit is behind the CD project.

Also on the track list are songs from Rush, Suzanne Vega, Imogen Heap, Damien Rice, Underworld and Duncan Sheik.

“The commitment and enthusiasm from such a wide group of artists has been astonishing and truly heartfelt. It’s been exciting orchestrating such an historic project,” album producer Rupert Hine said.

Wohl added, “This album will focus people’s attention on the importance of Tibet, the gifts of its culture, and the crisis the Tibetan people are facing today.”

And yes, the timing of Songs for Tibet’s release was deliberate, he said.

In addition to being the culmination of four years—or lifetimes—of training for thousands of athletes from all over the world, this year’s Olympics has been the most controversial since the Cold War-era Moscow Games, which the U.S. and others chose to boycott in 1980.

China has been questioned from all sides about a range of issues, from its air pollution to its human-rights record to its ties to the Sudanese government.

Steven Spielberg stepped down from his role as artistic adviser of the Beijing Olympics earlier this year in opposition to China’s relationship with Sudan despite the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Darfur.

In March, both Björk and the seemingly less-controversial Harry Connick Jr. were both told to keep a lid on it—Björk after she shouted pro-Tibet sentiments during a concert in Shanghai, and Connick before he’d even sung a word.

Shortly after Björk was denounced for “turning a commercial show into a political performance,” censors forced the New Orleans-bred crooner to revise his set list after certain songs on the original list were deemed off-limits.

» Full article

Article via the Independent:

Experiments on animals rose to 3.2m last year

By Nigel Morris, Home Affairs Correspondent
Tuesday, 22 July 2008

More than 3.2 million experiments on animals, including dogs, cats and monkeys, were carried out last year – the highest total since the early 1990s.

Government figures showed it had presided over a steady rise in the number of animals used for research in the past 11 years, despite promises in opposition to cut the numbers. Ministers insisted the experiments were tightly controlled and essential for medical research but anti-vivisection groups accused the Government of reneging on promises to look for alternatives.

The number of experiments went up by 190,000 to 3,202,000 last year, a rise of 6 per cent. The main reason for the rise was the growing practice of breeding genetically modified mice and fish for tests in which disease-causing genes are inserted or removed. About 1.15 million such procedures took place last year, an increase of 114,000. The Home Office also recorded the use of monkeys on almost 4,000 occasions but the number of tests was down by 6 per cent.

Wendy Higgins, of the Dr Hadwen Trust, a charity that promotes humane medical research, said: “For a government that claims animals are only used when absolutely necessary, this is a shameful record indeed.”

Meg Hillier, a Home Office minister, said: “Advances with non-animal test methods continue to be made but at present licensed animal use remains essential to develop improved healthcare technologies.”

» Full article

- Alexia over at PETA Europe’s Blog has a few words to say about this plus pictures of some protesters who went to the Home Office after this news got out.

The Olympics are on 19 days away now and here are some items about the Chinese government’s efforts to control every aspect - From the environment to what people can see and hear.

How they are combating pollution, or not as the following item reports:

Beijing Begins Massive Shutdown To Curb Pollution Before Olympics

Beijing’s Olympic shutdown begins Sunday, a drastic plan to lift the Chinese capital’s gray shroud of pollution just three weeks ahead of the games.

Half of Beijing’s 3.3 million vehicles will be pulled off the roads and many polluting factories will be shuttered. Chemical plants, power stations and foundries left open have to cut emissions by 30 percent _ and dust-spewing construction in the capital will be halted.

In a highly stage-managed Olympics aimed at showing off the rising power of the 21st century, no challenge is greater than producing crystalline air for 10,500 of the world’s greatest athletes.

“Pea-soup air at the opening ceremony would be their worst nightmare,” said Victor Cha, director of Asian Studies at Georgetown University.

Striking venues and $40 billion spent to improve infrastructure cannot mask Beijing’s dirty air. A World Bank study found China is home to 16 of the 20 worst cities for air quality. Three-quarters of the water flowing through urban areas is unsuitable for drinking or fishing.

International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge has repeatedly warned that outdoor endurance events lasting more than an hour will be postponed if the air quality is poor.

» Full story

- An item about the American television channel NBC, who paid millions for exclusive coverage of the events for the USA and what will happen and what would they do if anyone protests during the ceremonies:

NBC Officials Uncertain What Censorship They Will Face In China During Olympics

For several years now NBC has meticulously planned all the details for its coverage of the many sports events at the Summer Olympics in China.

But with the Games only 19 days away, many at the network are concerned about how they will be permitted to cover any unscheduled events, like political protests or government crackdowns — or whether the Chinese government will allow them to cover such things at all.

One of the most common hypothetical questions NBC officials have bandied about involves the opening ceremonies on Aug. 8.

Hundreds of athletes will parade into a stadium in front of world leaders, including President Bush, and a huge global television audience. If an athlete holds a protest sign or waves a Tibetan flag, how will the Chinese hosts react? Will the television networks show the scene? How will the Chinese handle the media for the rest of the Games?

The stakes are high for both the network, which paid $900 million for broadcast rights for the Olympics, and the reputation of NBC News. If it covers any controversies aggressively, it risks drawing the ire of the Chinese and interfering with coverage of sports events. But if it shies from coverage of any protests, NBC risks being criticized in the West for kowtowing to China — particularly since its corporate parent, General Electric, is aggressively expanding its investments in China.

It is a moot point actually. Since the broadcasting of pictures from the Olympics will be done by the Chinese government controlled television stations, if there are any protests it will never be seen. The screens will just go black.
» Full story.

- Lastly one from the Guardian about the knock on effect from Bjork’s appearance in Shanghi:

China to screen setlists for anti-government songs

Björk’s protest song forces China’s Ministry of Culture to review musicians who ‘threaten national unity’ or ‘violate religious policy or cultural norms’

Sean Michaels/Friday July 18, 2008

When Björk yelled “Tibet! Tibet!” at a concert in Shanghai earlier this year, she might as well have been shouting “O Chinese government - crack down on foreign artists!” Though the state’s initial response was just to rebuke the Icelandic singer, they have now implemented new policies to guard against musicians who “threaten natural unity”. China will not just be screening artists’ work visas - they will even be screening setlists.

“Any artistic group or individual who has ever engaged in activities that threaten our national sovereignty will not be allowed in,” the Ministry of Culture announced in a statement. Artists from Hong Kong, Taiwan and overseas will be under particular scrutiny.

China has already banned pop festivals and restricted outdoor events in the lead-up to this summer’s Olympics, fearing protests or simply unruly crowds. Björk seemed to have protesting in mind when she performed her song Declare Independence in March, throwing Tibet’s name into the mix.

China has occupied Tibet since the 1950s, calling it their own rightful territory. The Tibetan independence movement - long active on the world stage - has received renewed attention in advance of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

China has now promised to ban any performer who “threatens national unity”, “whips up ethnic hatred”, “violates religious policy or cultural norms” or “advocates obscenity or feudalism and superstition”. These conditions are sufficiently vague that we suspect Ringo Starr could be banned, say, just for singing of a superstitious Octopus’s Garden. The Ministry of Culture will also be reviewing setlists for hints of trouble - for example, any songs called Declare Independence. Even encores will be subject to government scrutiny. “Nothing that has not been approved will be allowed to be performed,” they have stated.

» Full article

… always finish with a song:
Bjork - Declare Independence:

Via the Beeb:

Gore challenges US to ditch oil

The Nobel laureate and former US vice- president, Al Gore, has urged Americans to abandon electricity generated by fossil fuels within a decade.

Mr Gore compared the scale of the challenge to that of putting a man on the moon in the 1960s.

He said it did not make sense that the US was borrowing money from China to burn oil from the Middle East which then contributed to climate change.

Critics say weaning the US off fossil fuels is not possible within a decade.

Mr Gore, who won the Nobel Peace Prize last year for his work on climate change, insists his goal is achievable and affordable.

“The answer is to end our reliance on carbon-based fuels,” he said in a speech in Washington.

“When you connect the dots, it turns out that the real solutions to the climate crisis are the very same measures needed to renew our economy and escape the trap of ever-rising energy prices.”

To secure this green revolution, Mr Gore said the single most important policy change would be to “tax what we burn - not what we earn”.

Green campaign?

Mr Gore’s speech elicited huge cheers from a packed conference hall near the White House, but whether his message is taken up in the presidential election campaign depends on how much the electorate warms to his vision, says the BBC’s Warren Bull.

» Full article

Last year we had extensive coverage of the Mars debacle.

Quick reminder for those too lazy to click the link: Masterfoods, the makers of Mars products decided to change their recipes and include ingredients from animals. [Namely rennet] and this decision provoked a massive outcry and because of this Mars backed down and issued an apology. But still left some confusion on which bars had rennet and which didn’t.

We thought that Masterfoods (Mars) had learnt their lesson with trying to involve anything to do with animals with their food.

But sadly not.

Alexia over at Fish & Chimps: PETA Europe’s Blog reports on a petition sent to Mars in the UK urging them to stop their U.S counterparts from funding experiments on animals:

Mars Swap-Shop: This Chocolate Bar for That Rabbit’s Life

More than 5,000 petition slips have been sent to the UK branch of Mars in a bid to get the company in the US to stop funding painful and deadly tests on mice, rats, guinea pigs and rabbits. What really rattles us and is that these experiments aren’t even required by law and violate Mars’ own written policy…

… in a letter sent with the petitions, we urge Mars to forward the slips to the company’s US president and ask if similar tests are being conducted in the UK. And this is something we would all want to know about, as PETA US discovered that just a handful of tests which Mars has funded include:

• Rabbits forced to eat high-cholesterol diets with cocoa. Later, the animals were killed, and the primary blood vessels connected to their hearts were removed and examined.
• Rats force-fed through plastic tubes, which were shoved down their throats. Then the rats were cut open and killed.
• Plastic tubes were surgically attached to guinea pigs’ carotid arteries, and cocoa ingredients were injected into their jugular veins.

» Read the full post here

Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present to you… The Vegetable Orchestra:

Found via Noise Addicts:

The Vegetable Orchestra performs on instruments made of fresh vegetables.

The utilization of various ever refined vegetable instruments creates a musically and aesthetically unique sound universe. The Vegetable Orchestra was founded in 1998. It consists of 11 musicians, a sound engineer and a video artist. Based in Vienna, the Vegetable Orchestra plays concerts in Europe and Asia. From time to time workshops are given - on how to manufacture an instrument or on musical topics.

There are no musical boundaries for the Vegetable Orchestra. The most diverse music styles fuse here - contemporary music, beat-oriented House tracks, experimental Electronic, Free Jazz, Noise, Dub, Clicks’n’Cuts - the musical scope of the ensemble expands consistently, and recently developed vegetable instruments and their inherent sounds often determine the direction.

… as an encore at the end of the concert and the video performance, the audience is offered fresh vegetable soup.

Link: vegetableorchestra.org

Welsh Demo for the Badgers, Colwyn Bay, 26th July

Demonstration in Colwyn Bay outside the Welsh Assembly Office, 2pm Saturday 26th July

The delight with which the news that Hilary Benn had rejected a badger cull soon turned sour with the news that Elin Jones from the Welsh Assembly still proposes to go ahead with a cull in Wales. Hilary Benn’s decision was based on the results of a ten year study costing the tax payer £50 million which concluded that a cull of badgers would in the long run make a bad situation worse.

The delight with which the news that Hilary Benn had rejected a badger cull soon turned sour with the news that Elin Jones from the Welsh Assembly still proposes to go ahead with a cull in Wales. Hilary Benn’s decision was based on the results of a ten year study costing the tax payer £50 million which concluded that a cull of badgers would in the long run make a bad situation worse.

Elin Jones has based her decision to cull badgers on a three day review by non-expert former Government chief adviser Sir David King.

If you are outraged by this unscientific cruelty please join the demonstration organised by North Wales Animal Rights in Colwyn Bay on Saturday 26th July at 2pm outside the main Welsh Assembly Office at Princes Park, Princes Drive, Colwyn Bay, North Wales, LL29 8PL. There will also be gathering on the promenade at around 3pm for a prayer delivered up by the Rev James Thompson.

Welcoming the reports of Hilary Benn ruling out a cull in England, Trevor Lawson, for the Badger Trust, commented

“A decision against a badger cull would be the right decision, based on sound science, which will allow farmers to move forwards in tackling this disease.”

“There is no scientific, economic or practical case for culling badgers to control bovine TB. The most robust research, by the Independent Scientific Group, concluded that culling can make no ‘meaningful contribution’ to TB control. No-one has presented a robust case to challenge that view. Professor Sir David King, who last year claimed that culling could make a contribution, considered ten years-worth of evidence for just a day with a less expert team. And he failed to consider the costs or practicalities of badger culling.”

“Attention must be focused on cattle, the main agents of the disease. The challenges are substantial. We need better and more frequent cattle testing. The current test misses around one in three infected animals. Around 70 per cent of cattle are never tested for TB in their lifetimes. Animal Health [formerly the State Veterinary Service] needs to record the disease on computers rather than on paper and infected cattle need to be removed from farms in day rather than in months.”

Welsh Assembly Member would do well to take note. Mass slaughter of these popular animals at great expense and with no benefit will prove to be immensely unpopular and politically damaging.