Vegan News and Reviews
To help you find new products, news, reviews, recipes and websites in the vegan space.
User Submission
05 December 2007
Holly has sent me a link to BAVA - British Anti-Vivisection Association and she encourages everyone to read the article The Enemy Within. Check it out.
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Greenpeace Guide to Greener Electronics Six
29 November 2007
Greenpeace has added Nintendo, Microsoft, Philips and Sharp to its guide to greener electronics. They all scored under five with Microsoft scoring two and Nintendo scoring an reprehensible zero! We will have to see if being included on the table puts enough pressure on these electronic giants to change their ways and acknowledge their responsibility to the wider world.
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Do you eat Pringles?
9 November 2007
Some tubes of Pringles are labeled as vegan but they do not mention how destructive their use of palm oil can be. According to a new report from Greenpeace palm oil is linked to the destruction of Indonesian forests and peatlands. To make things difficult palm oil may not be specifically listed in a product's ingredients - it may be described as vegetable oil. Although they cannot tell if palm oil in an individual product is linked to deforestation, Procter and Gamble - the company behind Pringles, Nestlé and Unilever have all been linked to palm oil suppliers "who aren't picky about where they site their plantations." See Greenpeace for more details.
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Vegan Store Ready for Christmas
31 October 2007
Check out veganstore.co.uk for Christmassy food, stocking fillers, and gifts. Check out their Christmas tree chocolates, Christmas pudding, bath salts, and shaving brush and soap set.
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Animal Aid Announces Vegan Month
30 October 2007
Starting with a farting cow in Winchester, Animal Aid has organised several events throughout November. They also have a website for Vegan Month packed with recipes, videos, freebies and information on veganism.
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World Vegan Day
29 October 2007
World Vegan Day is fast approaching - November 1st, this year in the UK the organisers are asking people to sign this petition to the Prime Minister asking for a legal definition of the word 'vegan'. Check out this article for more details.
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Animal Experiment is Replaced in Arthritis Research
27 October 2007
The Dr Hadwen Trust is reporting that American researchers are using tissues that have been grown as opposed to using animals which have had arthritic symptoms artificially induced. The tissues are grown from joint and cartilage removed from dogs during surgery which would otherwise be discarded. Whilst this type of experiment is a great step forward in replacing animals in experimental research and is more efficient and cost effective the Trust believes that using human tissue in would be more accurate. They would like to see the government support a national system of human tissue banks and for them to make it easier to obtain permission to use human tissue for research.
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Save Energy
22 October 2007
I came across a couple of articles today designed to help people save energy.The first is from Motley Fool and lists ten ways to save energy, mostly basic stuff but it is always useful to reassess your habits occasionally, maybe your circumstances have changed and you are able to put your freezer in the garage or insulate your roof. The second is from Animal Aid and is really about communicating the energy cost of farming animals. It contains some useful facts for your "Why go vegan?" arguments.
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Special Offer from Aquados Simply Washing
16 October 2007
Aquados offers laundry and dishwasher products which as well as being vegan also carries the EU Eco-label. The laundry product comes in tubs of 30 soft-tabs which gives you about 15 washes per tub. Each tub retails at £2.99. The dishwasher product comes in tubs of 30 giving 30 washes. These tubs retail at £4.99. At the moment they have a buy four get one free offer, free delivery and 10% off for new customers using the promotional code: ECOCLEAN.
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New Action Alert from Animal Aid
15 October 2007
A new plan to build a large aquarium in Bedfordshire has caused Animal Aid to issue an action alert. The plan involves keeping wild animals and the creation of a laboratory which would be used by drug companies to experiment on animals. Animal Aid is encouraging people to join Bedford Animal Action in their demonstration outside Mid Bedfordshire District Council's Offices see Animal Aid's Action Alert page for more information.
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"We need to turn them off - for good."
28 September 2007
That's Hilary Benn about phasing out high energy light bulbs, and about time too. Greenpeace's reaction is not entirely positive calling the voluntary initiative "weak". However Greenpeace have had their own victory in this arena after Woolworths announced they will be phasing out incandescent light bulbs by 2010, after continued pressure by Greenpeace.
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Greenpeace Guide to Greener Electronics Five
21 September 2007
Greenpeace has published it's fifth edition of the Guide to Greener Electronics. This time all the companies on the list scored 5 or over, this compares well to the first edition when eight out of the fourteen top computer and mobile phone manufacturers fell below that mark. This time Nokia and Sony-Ericsson took the top spots for removal of the worst chemicals from their products. Panasonic are at the bottom of the list maintaining there score from June, this just shows that standing still will just make you look worse in an environment where being green is of increasing importance.
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More Animal Cruelty from the Dairy Industry
18 September 2007
Animal Aid reveals the existence of the battery cow which is kept inside a shed all year round. This is a new low for the dairy industry who routinely keep cows pregnant and kill most males shortly after birth. And some people say they understand vegetarians but not vegans!
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Good News from Viva
29 August 2007
Check out this article from Viva to see the progress we are making in decreasing the number of animals slaughtered for food. It also looks like the percentage of vegetarians in the UK is twice that of the USA.
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How Climate Change Affected My House
29 August 2007
I know I'm incredibly lucky compared to many people in the developing world, especially those who have been affected by severe weather caused by climate change, but it might be that people in the more developed areas will only change if they can see the effects in their part of the world, to that end here are some photos of the ground floor of my house a month after it was flooded in the Great Tewkesbury Flood. Here are our kitchen goods and lawn mower waiting to be collected by the council.
That used to be our dining room, the builders have removed the plaster to allow the walls to dry out.
The kitchen was through that doorway, we are now using a caravan parked on our driveway. 
Here is our furniture also waiting for collection, you can also see a caravan in the background, they are now a very common sight down our street and around the Tewkesbury area.
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Good Buys
25 August 2007
Natural Collection has introduced tens of products for the new season, I especially liked this little fair trade bag,
these lovely glass gifts are from a project which pay a good wage and look after workers, 
they also offer a tap fitting which you can use with your existing taps to create a strong but water saving spray when the tap is turned on a little and returns to normal when it is turned on more.
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User Submission
14 August 2007
This is an excellent site to educate people regarding vegetarian diet. Almost all the diseases in this world are caused by eating animal flesh and eggs. Mind it, sea food is also animal flesh. Some people very foolishly treat that as vegetarian.
Strange, that we use the phrase "Fish out of water" to express extreme pain and discomfort. Why can't we see that when a fish is taken out of water it suffers a great deal and ultimately dies of asphyxiation.Just as we will die for want of breath if drowned in water. The same way the fish dies an extremely painful death panting for breath. How many of us see that pain of fish while frying the fish in hot oil.
Some vegetarians however refrain from taking milk products treating that to be an animal product( which it is). The difference to be seen here is that to take milk the animal is not killed, and is therefore legal in the court of Nature ( call it GOD).
A lecto-vegetarian is the best diet for human consumption to remain fit, healthy and mentally and spiritually healthy.
I wish all the best for the excellent endeavor to propagate vegetarianism. We talk about crime and sin in the loose sense, but the greatest crime and sin man performs is when it eats animal flesh.
Submission from Brij B. Sethi
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Deforestation Rates of Amazon Have Dropped Again
13 August 2007
Greenpeace is reporting about a statement from the Brazilian government; the rate of deforestation in the Amazon has decreased for the third year in a row and the rate for the last year ending August 2007 has seen the lowest rate since measurements have been taken from space in 1988.
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Just Over Half of Public Favour Non-Animal Experiments
8 August 2007
More specifically, a YouGov online poll of 2169 adults from the UK found that 51% believed that the UK government should "have a strategy to reduce animal experiments". It also found that only 43% would "support a ban on experiments causing any suffering to animals", although these numbers clearly represent a large proportion of the British public, we still have a long way to go to convince everyone that animal experiments are not necessary and that they can be replaced given more funding for non-animal alternatives. On that front check out Dr Hadwen's Trust and consider becoming a member and shopping in their Cruelty Free Shop to support research using alternatives to animal experiments.
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Longcroft Soap Company Announces Vegan Products
7 August 2007
The Vegan Society have approved several products from the Longcroft Soap Company. I love the look of their Lemonhead Handmade Soap but the cost is a little prohibitive. The website is very clear and easy to navigate. The vegan products are labeled with the Vegan Society logo on the products pages but there is no indication on the various section pages. The delivery charge is £1.95 for any order in the UK which seems quite reasonable, and they also ship all over Europe. All of the products are vegetarian and none of the ingredients are animal tested so the company seem quite ethical if not vegan.
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Foot and Mouth: Yet Another Reason to go Vegan!
1 August 2007
This article from Animal Aid shows that this foot and mouth incident is just the latest in a series of recent outbreaks in livestock. They conclude that the only viable solution is for the public to go vegan, I'd like to second that. Unfortunately that option is not even being put into the consciousness of the general public, whilst it is an obvious solution it just would not occur to people that it is their own actions which are to blame.
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Tewkesbury Flood
1 August 2007
Apologies for the interruption in posts, I live in a village on the outskirts of Tewkesbury and my house got flooded. Among other things I lost my land line until yesterday. Things are getting back to normal though, although we still do not have running water that can be used for drinking that is only a minor inconvenience and there is plenty of free bottled water and a water bowser fairly close to my house. Tewkesbury town is getting back to normal, I work in the Tewkesbury Post Office and we have been very busy for the last few days mostly with car taxes but also with mail redirections for all the people that had to leave their homes due to flooding. For everyone who has been flooded things will take longer to get back to normal, it will take between months and a year to repair peoples homes and the memory will be with us all for a long time. The 'Great Flood' as it has been called has been blamed on climate change, over development on flood plains and the lack of storm drains. These things all need to be addressed by society and government and it would be good if everyone could be a part of it. For now I'm thinking that preparation for other freak weather on the level of the individual would be a good idea. Storage of some drinking water would be an example that easily comes to mind. Even a couple a days worth would be make life directly after an event easier. There are a lot of issues to reflect on and maybe we can learn some useful lessons and increase the sense of urgency that is associated with reducing global warming and climate change.
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Greenpeace Compares Nuclear and Renewables
18 July 2007
This new Greenpeace video talks about nuclear power and the problem of nuclear waste, how renewable energy sources can be harnessed and how we can all be more efficient in order to make their "convenient solution" work out. I was most surprised by the figures they give for the governments research and development spending on nuclear compared to renewables.
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Natural Collection Sale
18 July 2007
Natural Collection are having a massive summer sale with several items with 60% off. Check out this men's hemp hooded sweater at £24.95, they also have recycled storage baskets, fair trade and recycled gift wrap, among many other things.
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Vote For Best Sweet or Chocolate Bar
17 July 2007
Help promote your favourite vegan sweet or chocolate bar to vegetarians through the Vegetarian Society Awards 2007. I voted for Whizzers Speckled Eggs which I love and fortunately for me they sell in the health food shop next door to where I work.
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Plastic Bags
15 July 2007
As a ten pence tax is considered for plastic shopping bags the Science Friday show discusses the importance of packaging, the new materials being created and the consequences of changing packaging and taxing plastic bags. You can download the podcast from their show notes page.
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Bad Woolworths
14 July 2007
Another funny video from Greenpeace, again about light bulbs, this time focusing on Woolworths policies, or lack of such, on energy saving light bulbs.Find out what Greenpeace did about it and how to contact Woolworths through their aritcle.
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New Shoes
12 July 2007
Alternative Soles have started to sell No Sweat baseball boots which look quite nice. The No Sweat brand ensures that the workers get paid a decent wage and work in good conditions. They have a good range starting at £37. Look for the No Sweat category as opposed to the vegetarian shoes category.
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Cloned Meat by 2010
11 July 2007
Are people trying to make animals suffer even more? According to this article in the Telegraph the FDA has already approved cloned meat as safe for Americans, and the same research will be looked at by an EU committee with a similar outcome predicted. Animal welfare campaigners have said that the cloned animals will have a higher rate of birth defects and the donor animals will have cruel surgical procedures performed on them. That's another thing to add to the 'reasons to be a vegan' list.
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Moby Criticises Live Earth for Serving Meat
9 July 2007
Moby compares eating hamburgers and hot dogs at Live Earth to getting drunk at the funeral of someone who died of alcohol poisoning. He makes a very good point, no one mainstream seems to be talking about going vegan to help save the environment. I guess it's high profile celebrities that can make a difference with a lot of the youth of today.
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Funny Greenpeace Video
7 July 2007
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Climate Care Progress
6 July 2007
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Public Apathy Towards Climate Change
6 July 2007
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Good News For Dark Chocolate Lovers
4 July 2007
The Telegraph are reporting that one square of dark chocolate a day can lower blood pressure. I just love these stories about foods that you think are naughty but can actually be healthy, I'm not sure I could ever just eat one square though - that's only 6.3g. This also shows another natural benefit of the vegan lifestyle, we'd automatically go for the dark chocolate anyway.
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Energy Costs For Different Types of TV
4 July 2007
An article from the BBC today was talking about the rising energy consumption of consumer electronics. What I found interesting about this report was the graph at the bottom comparing the old style cathode ray televisions (CRT) with LCD's and projection TVs. I had heard that LCD TV were worse but that LCD computer monitors were better and I had no idea whether changing my small TV for an LCD would be good or bad for the environment. According to the chart as long as your TV is less than about 21" it is better to have an LCD but after that the CRT wins. The projection TV is also much better than LCD but not comparable to the CRT because CRTs do not go over 41" and the projection TVs start at 46".
The article also mentions the energy used by mobile phone chargers which are plugged in but not in use, these have got much more efficient in the past few years but because of the increasing numbers of mobiles around they draw a significant amount of energy all together. So remember to turn off those chargers everyone!
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Link From Susan
3 July 2007
Susan wrote in to recommend veginity.com, this site is full of vegan recipes and videos showing how to make them. "It's the best receipe resource I've come across in years as the food is really innovative but clearly explained vegan vids." So thanks a lot for the tip Susan. Anyone else who has anything to share please use the comment system or the user submission form on the website.
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Free Hippo Water Saver
3 July 2007
The Green Store is offering a 5% discount and a free Hippo Water Saver for each order placed in July with discount code 'NEWS0705'. The Green Store is great for energy saving devices like the Freeloader Portable Solar Power Supply which I have just bought. They also sell eco-friendly household products and recycled goods. I especially like the look of the stationery made from recycled car tyres, unfortunately I don't really need any and I'm really trying not to buy anything I don't need.
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What To Do With Your Old PC or TV...
2 July 2007
It should be easier for all of us to recycle our electrical and electronic equipment thanks to a new law on e-waste. According to this BBC article retailers must either offer a free take-back service like for like on any new goods purchased or help fund the local councils recycling facilities. Manufacturers are also involved, they have to take responsibility for a percentage of e-waste based on the amount they sell. Whilst this law is obviously a step in the right direction it does not seem to do enough to convince manufacturers to make their own products easier to recycle or to make them with less toxic substances. The organisations may implement these ideals themselves because of outside pressures from concerned consumers, I hope so because this law took over four years to be put in place who knows how long it would take for additional laws to be passed.
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Wettest June Leads to Weather Warning
1 July 2007
This article from the Independent describes how the recent record breaking rainfall and flooding in the UK and heatwave across mainland Europe. Even more evidence for global warming and climate change, will everyone accept it's happening yet and maybe try to make a difference?
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New Secretary of State for DEFRA is Vegetarian
30 June 2007
Gordon Brown has appointed Hilary Benn (MP for Leeds Central) as the Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Mr Benn has been vegetarian for the past 35 years and it looks like he's got a lot of farmers worried. Personally I doubt he'll be allowed to do anything drastic but hopefully he will be able to change things for the better and push animal welfare as an important issue. It looks like he will make decisions on any badger culls which he must be against personally. Maybe he can show the farmers how disease spreads easily in the conditions they keep their animals - see my previous post on badger culls. I wish him well, hopefully he can make a difference.
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EU Supports New Targets for CO2 Emissions from Cars
29 June 2007
EU environment ministers met in Luxembourg yesterday and have given unanimous support for reducing average CO2 emissions from cars from the current level of 163 g/km to 120 g/km by 2012 according to the EUObserver.
Reducing emissions by a quarter seems like a lot but that is exactly what we need and they have five years to put pressure on the car manufacturers. There also needs to be more awareness from the public when they are buying new cars. I know that the CO2 emissions or at least the tax band the car is in has been a factor for some people but the message has not reached everybody yet.
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Guide to Greener Electronics is Out
27 June 2007
Greenpeace has today published it's forth edition of the Guide to Greener Electronics. Nokia (8/10) and Dell (7.3/10) are at the top of the ranking which is based on companies policies and actions on hazardous chemicals and recycling. Nokia has already removed PVC from their new models and is now eliminating BFR's (Brominated Flame Retardants) and Dell is phasing out both PVC and BFR's by 2009, it is also planning a voluntary takeback service all around the world. Sony got the worst score - 4/10 mainly because it takes one stance on takeback and recycling schemes in Europe compared to the US.
Well worth thinking about when you are choosing your next phone or computer, vote with your cash and show how important it is to get rid of the most dangerous chemicals and make it easy to recycle old electronic equipment.
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New Report Criticises Animal Testing
26 June 2007
This article from Dr Hadwen's Trust highlights a new report which concludes that "testing chemicals on animals is slow, expensive and often out-performed by modern test-tube methods". This report is important because it was commissioned by the US Environmental Protection Agency who conduct thousands of tests on animals each year. They are also an internationally respected organisation so their conclusions could make a big difference to animal suffering across the world.
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Search For Charity
26 June 2007
I've just been pointed to a Search Engine which gives half of the profits they make to a charity. You get to choose your own charity from thousands listed and the proportion they get is directly related to the number searches people do who have chosen that charity. I have chosen the Vegan Society to start with but it is simple to change whenever you want. Give it a try at www.everyclick.com
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Free Toilet Roll
25 June 2007
Sainsbury's are giving away free toilet roll on Wednesday* as part of their monthly 'Make the Difference Day'. The toilet rolls are approved by the Forest Stewardship Council - an international network promoting responsible management of the worlds forests. Sainsbury's believe that this offer will involve millions of customers and help them 'bring about real environmental and lifestyle changes'. All of Sainsbury's own brand toilet roll, kitchen roll and tissues are either from recycled materials or sources which are approved by the Forest Stewardship Council.
*Minimum £3 purchase applies see site for details.
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Glastonbury Festival Goers Say 'I Count'
25 June 2007
70,000 new supporters of the I Count campaign signed up at Glastonbury last weekend. The campaign is from the Stop Climate Chaos coalition which includes Greenpeace and Oxfam and seeks to make the government cut UK emissions by 3% every year, take the lead on an international agreement on reducing CO2 etc and help poorer countries move forward with clean energy. Also check out their section on e-cards it's lots of fun and they allow you to make your own.
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Prince Charles' CO2 Emissions Sky High
24 June 2007
An article from the Times Online shows that although Prince Charles will be announcing that his household is carbon neutral this week, his actual carbon emissions are extreme. The emissions seem to be mostly from travel but his utility bills are also concerning - his three homes produce CO2 that is equivalent to 500 houses. His claim to be carbon neutral rests on his carbon offsets with Climate Care which works in developing countries to decrease emissions through more efficient stoves and lighting and reforestation in rain forest areas. Whilst I do see the point of these carbon offset schemes and I have offset a flight that I took with my family last year it is not a solution and the Prince should really be looking at drastically reducing his CO2 emissions as well.
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NHS and Climate Change
23 June 2007
The BBC has recently reported that a think tank, New Economics Foundation, have focused on the NHS in relation to both the causes and effects of climate change. The NHS produces a lot of waste and accounts for 5% of the UK's transport emissions. Climate change promises increases in the frequency of heatwaves and skin cancers in the UK and the NHS must be ready to deal with these issues. The think tank concluded that the NHS is well placed to get the population ready for climate change and if it can significantly cut its emissions and waste going to landfill it could be an example to other large organisations.
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Free Chocolate from Alternative Soles
22 June 2007
The online vegan shoe shop Alternative Soles is giving away a bar of chocolate with the first 20 orders of the week so get in quick if you fancy some new shoes. They also sell chocolate, bags, jewelery and bath products at www.alternativesoles.com
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Progress with Biofuels
21 June 2007
It looks like a lot of our waste will soon be able to be used for biofuel according to this article from the BBC. It is also reporting that a fuel made from fructose - a sugar found in fruit - can make a new biofuel which contains 40% more energy than ethanol. The processes that make the fuel are expensive at the moment but I expect they will get cheaper over time.
When reports like this come out quite often it does make me more optimistic that we can keep our climate fairly stable. There must be a lot of researchers all around the world trying to solve some piece of the puzzle, making existing products more energy efficient and creating new technologies to reduce our emissions of greenhouse gases.
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Next Ten Years are Pivotal in Struggle Against Climate Change
20 June 2007
The Independent is reporting that our civilization is in imminent peril from global warming. Six eminent US scientists have published a paper titled "Climate Change and trace gases" which urges people not to ignore the threat of climate change. The scientists say that humanity's greenhouse gas emissions have taken us very close to dramatic climate change which would spiral out of control. They say we have the next ten years to curb climate change before the ice sheets melt and their reflective surfaces are replaced by dark water which absorbs the sun's heat. The scientists conclude that we almost certainly need to extract CO2 from the atmosphere.
That is incredibly scary. Ten years is really not very long to make the kind of changes to our society that we would surely need to significantly decrease our greenhouse gas emissions. People going vegan would definitely make a big difference and I think we really need to encourage everyone to switch to renewable energy sources as much as possible. Presumably nuclear power must also be necessary if it can be built up quick enough in the ten year time span. See my post about nuclear power plants and the synthetic trees which might be the key to extracting the CO2 from the atmosphere.
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Natural Toothbrush Review
19 June 2007
So I bought a natural toothbrush from The Green Store (see my previous post), it arrived quickly and was well packed with a few other things in recycled cardboard and covered in corn starch packing material - very green indeed. The toothbrush/araak root was shrink wrapped in plastic and looked quite amusing. I used a knife to scrape off the outer part of the root and then I had to chew the inner part to make it brush like.
I had ordered the mint variety but it did not taste of mint, I'm not sure what it tasted like but it was not particularly pleasant. The root cleaned my teeth very well, at this length it is as easy to maneuver as a normal toothbrush but I imagine it would be more difficult as it gets shorter. I really missed the minty freshness of my normal toothpaste, that is a huge downfall for me. The brush is supposed to last between 4 - 6 weeks but if you brush twice a day and want some part of the root to hold on to I think this is an overestimate.
Overall this brush does work but it is not pleasant and would be too expensive for me over the long term. Of course it is a root - what did I expect?
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Badger Culls - Pointless
18 June 2007
On the back of a statement from a government-appointed independent Scientific Group saying that badger culls might increase bovine TB and will certainly not reduce it, Animal Aid have called upon the farming industry to acknowledge that the disease is spread because of the very poor and crampt conditions that cattle are typically kept in. This article really highlights the reasons that being a vegetarian is not enough, a lot of people say they can understand why someone is a vegetarian but not why they turn vegan - I think this article would explain it.
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We Must Halve CO2 Emissions by 2050
17 June 2007
Greenpeace has released a booklet called 'How To Save The Planet' which says that we can and must reduce our CO2 emissions by 50% by 2050. That's 50% of the whole worlds emissions, for industrial countries the figure is as much as 80%. Sounds very scary, but Greenpeace is positive that we can make it. They suggest that renewable energy can supply half of the world's energy requirements by 2050 but only if we become more efficient. Their vision sees us all changing and becoming more environmentally friendly. That will not be easy. Greenpeace does have a lot of ideas on how to save energy and shows how reducing CO2 by 50% is possible. I just worry that not enough people want to change. Seeing the supermarkets try to go green and the political people start talking about being green makes me think that people might get forced into changing a little at a time. Greenpeace are obviously not interested in pursuing the nuclear option at all which might be a mistake it's not perfect but it might be necessary. Anyway, check it out.
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14 More Nuclear Power Plant per Year
16 June 2007
That's how many the world will need if we are to halt climate change according to this article from MSNBC. 14 plants per year for 50 years. That is a large amount of nuclear waste to worry about. I think a lot of people are interested in the nuclear solution to reducing CO2 emissions because it means people can live as they do now, perhaps with some kind of electric car, but much the same. This type of 'no contribution' solution seems like the most likely to work given the attitudes of a lot people I've talked to. Another 'no contribution' solution was highlighted by Groovy Green recently, they show a synthetic tree that is designed to take in huge amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere. The technology, or chemistry really, could also be used at CO2 sources.
I think at this point we are going to have to go ahead with the nuclear option because it is getting to late to do anything else, I am personally hoping that other technologies can be put in place to reduce the number of plants needed. As individuals I think we should lead by example and buy as many solar powered products as we can.
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Britain's Research Laboratories Fail to Meet EU Guidelines
15 June 2007
Dr Hadwen's Trust, whose aim is to replace animals in medical research, have exposed Britain's failure to comply with new Europe wide guidelines which they agreed to a year ago. The failure is centered on pen sizes. Of course this goes nowhere near even thinking about the actual torment these research animal face. Please support Dr Hadwen's Trust in their efforts, they have a shop which is suitable for vegans and you can become a member and receive magazines throughout the year (printed on recycled paper of course).
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Dixons Call for the End of Stand-By
14 June 2007
According to an article from The Independent Dixons Store Group is pressuring its suppliers to phase out the stand-by function on TVs and DVD players. They are also asking for more energy efficient products, information and labeling.
I think that anything that will make our current lifestyle better for the environment is bound to have a big impact. Some people just will never put any effort into saving in the environment, it's great that Dixons is forcing them in this way.
14 June 2007
Check out the Vegan Search Engine. It is a custom search engine I made with Google and is very useful when searching for vegan products or recipes. It searches sites I have selected which are mostly UK sites that are either for vegans or especially ethical in some way like Ecotopia which sells environmentally friendly products. This search engine produces results which are much more likely to be relevant to vegans and can cut down on the number of results. I am still adding sites but the engine has a good base at the moment if you would like to try it out. Google does put non-vegan adverts around the results so beware of those. You can use the search box on the right of the page or go to the Vegan Search Engine Homepage. You can also add the search box to your own site or blog if you wish.
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Turning the Tide of Tyranny
13 June 2007
PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) have recently launched the Animal Liberation Project: 'We are all animals'. It compares the plight of animals to slavery, the oppression of women and forced child labour. It's a fairly graphic series of articles and includes an exhibition and a video. Worth a look if your not too squeamish, definitely pass it on to friends if you think it might have an effect on them.
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National Solar Week
12 June 2007
I have decided to buy at natural toothbrush because it seems the best for the environment and it makes a change. I am a little skeptical so my second choice would be the Monte Bianco Clip Adult Toothbrush because I think that is the next best for the environment. Having said that the delivery rates would make my final decision, I would by the one whose store I shop from next. Smile about Ethical Banking
11 June 2007
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Ban the Farrowing Crate
10 June 2007
After reading this article on Viva - "URGENT: Support the Early Day Motion to Ban the Farrowing Crate", urging people to write to their MP, I have emailed Laurence Robertson, the MP for Tewkesbury, asking him to sign the motion. I haven't had any contact with him before so I don't know what will happen or even if he can really make a difference but just in case your MP has not signed you might want to send them a quick email asking them to do so. Viva provides a handy template email and you can find your MP with http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/l/.
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Eating the Earth
9 June 2007
Check out this booklet – Eating the Earth from the Vegan Society, on how the Vegan diet helps protect our land and water and helps to prevent global warming. Among other topics it considers the growing 'westernization' of the middle classes in China and India and the effect this will have on the livestock population which is currently expanding faster than the human population.
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Bristol Vegan Fayre 2007
8 June 2007
Heads up to all the vegans in the Bristol Area - the Bristol Vegan Fayre is on this weekend. Check out their website www.bristolveganfayre.co.uk - looks like they've got all sorts, from cookery to fashion. Wish I could go.
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Go Vegan for the Environment
7 June 2007
I just read this article on the Animal Aid news feed, they give five reasons to go vegan for the environment including "On average, a dairy cow belches out 500 litres of methane a day." - lovely. Anyway I like to have some fresh arguments on hand for anyone who ask me "why go vegan?". I guess we just have to keep chipping away at them.
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Spaghetti Bolognese
7 June 2007
Here is my family's recipe for Spaghetti Bolognaise, this is the basic recipe there is lots of room for changes as you wish.
Cover the TVP in boiling water until it expands and stops soaking up water. Roughly dice the onion and fry it in some hot oil over a low light with the basil and thyme. Chop the plum tomatoes and mix in the tomato puree. When the onion is transparent add the tomatoes, TVP, marmite, raisins. Bring the bolognaise to the boil and then simmer on a low to medium light until the mixture is thick which should be 30 – 40 mins. Serve with spaghetti or pasta shells and add worcestershire sauce and parmezano to taste.
Comment
Congratulations
7 June 2007
This may be old news now, but I just want to say congratulations to all of us vegans after the article from the Telegraph on the 30 May - "Go vegan to help climate, says Government". Most of us already know that our lifestyle is better for the environment but I think it's nice when that fact is acknowledged by the Government. It might also be worth showing this article to anyone you want to convert especially if they are already concerned about environmental issues.
Comment
Ace Pumps
7 June 2007
I don't want to talk about shoes all the time but I just saw these new pumps from Vegetarian Shoes, they're a little expensive for me but they look great! Just in time for Summer.
Comment
VeganStore.co.uk
6 June 2007
VeganStore.co.uk has got to be the site I visit most often to find out if they have any new products or sale items. Their new products section is full of sandals at the moment and they have had a shoe sale on for a while now, there are some great bargains to be had if you can find your size! I recently purchased the pair on the right and was very pleased. Their returns policy is fair, I had to return a pair which did not fit and they refunded my money fairly quickly minus postage costs. I must also mention the chocolate spread (chocoreale) - it's gorgeous, I highly recommend it. I tend to stock up when I buy shoes to get a better postage deal.
Comment
Introduction
6 June 2007
Hi, I'm Steph and I would like to introduce you to Vegan News and Reviews. I hope this site will be a summary and a portal to all the great things that are happening in the vegan space. I want to let you know when a new vegan product launches, when a there is a sale on or if a vegan story hits the headlines. I also want to find out what people think of the vegan products and services on offer. I will be experimenting a bit to start with to see what works and what's possible so keep dropping by to see what has changed or subscribe to the feed: http://vegannewsandreviews.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default
Comment
05 December 2007
Holly has sent me a link to BAVA - British Anti-Vivisection Association and she encourages everyone to read the article The Enemy Within. Check it out.
Comment
Greenpeace Guide to Greener Electronics Six
29 November 2007
Greenpeace has added Nintendo, Microsoft, Philips and Sharp to its guide to greener electronics. They all scored under five with Microsoft scoring two and Nintendo scoring an reprehensible zero! We will have to see if being included on the table puts enough pressure on these electronic giants to change their ways and acknowledge their responsibility to the wider world.
Comment
Do you eat Pringles?
9 November 2007
Some tubes of Pringles are labeled as vegan but they do not mention how destructive their use of palm oil can be. According to a new report from Greenpeace palm oil is linked to the destruction of Indonesian forests and peatlands. To make things difficult palm oil may not be specifically listed in a product's ingredients - it may be described as vegetable oil. Although they cannot tell if palm oil in an individual product is linked to deforestation, Procter and Gamble - the company behind Pringles, Nestlé and Unilever have all been linked to palm oil suppliers "who aren't picky about where they site their plantations." See Greenpeace for more details.
Comment
Vegan Store Ready for Christmas
31 October 2007
Check out veganstore.co.uk for Christmassy food, stocking fillers, and gifts. Check out their Christmas tree chocolates, Christmas pudding, bath salts, and shaving brush and soap set.
Comment
Animal Aid Announces Vegan Month
30 October 2007
Starting with a farting cow in Winchester, Animal Aid has organised several events throughout November. They also have a website for Vegan Month packed with recipes, videos, freebies and information on veganism.
Comment
World Vegan Day
29 October 2007
World Vegan Day is fast approaching - November 1st, this year in the UK the organisers are asking people to sign this petition to the Prime Minister asking for a legal definition of the word 'vegan'. Check out this article for more details.
Comment
Animal Experiment is Replaced in Arthritis Research
27 October 2007
The Dr Hadwen Trust is reporting that American researchers are using tissues that have been grown as opposed to using animals which have had arthritic symptoms artificially induced. The tissues are grown from joint and cartilage removed from dogs during surgery which would otherwise be discarded. Whilst this type of experiment is a great step forward in replacing animals in experimental research and is more efficient and cost effective the Trust believes that using human tissue in would be more accurate. They would like to see the government support a national system of human tissue banks and for them to make it easier to obtain permission to use human tissue for research.
Comment
Save Energy
22 October 2007
I came across a couple of articles today designed to help people save energy.The first is from Motley Fool and lists ten ways to save energy, mostly basic stuff but it is always useful to reassess your habits occasionally, maybe your circumstances have changed and you are able to put your freezer in the garage or insulate your roof. The second is from Animal Aid and is really about communicating the energy cost of farming animals. It contains some useful facts for your "Why go vegan?" arguments.
Comment
Special Offer from Aquados Simply Washing
16 October 2007
Aquados offers laundry and dishwasher products which as well as being vegan also carries the EU Eco-label. The laundry product comes in tubs of 30 soft-tabs which gives you about 15 washes per tub. Each tub retails at £2.99. The dishwasher product comes in tubs of 30 giving 30 washes. These tubs retail at £4.99. At the moment they have a buy four get one free offer, free delivery and 10% off for new customers using the promotional code: ECOCLEAN.
CommentNew Action Alert from Animal Aid
15 October 2007
A new plan to build a large aquarium in Bedfordshire has caused Animal Aid to issue an action alert. The plan involves keeping wild animals and the creation of a laboratory which would be used by drug companies to experiment on animals. Animal Aid is encouraging people to join Bedford Animal Action in their demonstration outside Mid Bedfordshire District Council's Offices see Animal Aid's Action Alert page for more information.
Comment
"We need to turn them off - for good."
28 September 2007
That's Hilary Benn about phasing out high energy light bulbs, and about time too. Greenpeace's reaction is not entirely positive calling the voluntary initiative "weak". However Greenpeace have had their own victory in this arena after Woolworths announced they will be phasing out incandescent light bulbs by 2010, after continued pressure by Greenpeace.
Comment
Greenpeace Guide to Greener Electronics Five
21 September 2007
Greenpeace has published it's fifth edition of the Guide to Greener Electronics. This time all the companies on the list scored 5 or over, this compares well to the first edition when eight out of the fourteen top computer and mobile phone manufacturers fell below that mark. This time Nokia and Sony-Ericsson took the top spots for removal of the worst chemicals from their products. Panasonic are at the bottom of the list maintaining there score from June, this just shows that standing still will just make you look worse in an environment where being green is of increasing importance.
Comment
More Animal Cruelty from the Dairy Industry
18 September 2007
Animal Aid reveals the existence of the battery cow which is kept inside a shed all year round. This is a new low for the dairy industry who routinely keep cows pregnant and kill most males shortly after birth. And some people say they understand vegetarians but not vegans!
Comment
Good News from Viva
29 August 2007
Check out this article from Viva to see the progress we are making in decreasing the number of animals slaughtered for food. It also looks like the percentage of vegetarians in the UK is twice that of the USA.
Comment
How Climate Change Affected My House
29 August 2007
I know I'm incredibly lucky compared to many people in the developing world, especially those who have been affected by severe weather caused by climate change, but it might be that people in the more developed areas will only change if they can see the effects in their part of the world, to that end here are some photos of the ground floor of my house a month after it was flooded in the Great Tewkesbury Flood. Here are our kitchen goods and lawn mower waiting to be collected by the council.
That used to be our dining room, the builders have removed the plaster to allow the walls to dry out.
The kitchen was through that doorway, we are now using a caravan parked on our driveway. 
Here is our furniture also waiting for collection, you can also see a caravan in the background, they are now a very common sight down our street and around the Tewkesbury area.
Comment
Good Buys
25 August 2007
Natural Collection has introduced tens of products for the new season, I especially liked this little fair trade bag,
these lovely glass gifts are from a project which pay a good wage and look after workers, 
they also offer a tap fitting which you can use with your existing taps to create a strong but water saving spray when the tap is turned on a little and returns to normal when it is turned on more. Comment
User Submission
14 August 2007
This is an excellent site to educate people regarding vegetarian diet. Almost all the diseases in this world are caused by eating animal flesh and eggs. Mind it, sea food is also animal flesh. Some people very foolishly treat that as vegetarian.
Strange, that we use the phrase "Fish out of water" to express extreme pain and discomfort. Why can't we see that when a fish is taken out of water it suffers a great deal and ultimately dies of asphyxiation.Just as we will die for want of breath if drowned in water. The same way the fish dies an extremely painful death panting for breath. How many of us see that pain of fish while frying the fish in hot oil.
Some vegetarians however refrain from taking milk products treating that to be an animal product( which it is). The difference to be seen here is that to take milk the animal is not killed, and is therefore legal in the court of Nature ( call it GOD).
A lecto-vegetarian is the best diet for human consumption to remain fit, healthy and mentally and spiritually healthy.
I wish all the best for the excellent endeavor to propagate vegetarianism. We talk about crime and sin in the loose sense, but the greatest crime and sin man performs is when it eats animal flesh.
Submission from Brij B. Sethi
Comment
Deforestation Rates of Amazon Have Dropped Again
13 August 2007
Greenpeace is reporting about a statement from the Brazilian government; the rate of deforestation in the Amazon has decreased for the third year in a row and the rate for the last year ending August 2007 has seen the lowest rate since measurements have been taken from space in 1988.
Woo Hoo!
Comment
Just Over Half of Public Favour Non-Animal Experiments
8 August 2007
More specifically, a YouGov online poll of 2169 adults from the UK found that 51% believed that the UK government should "have a strategy to reduce animal experiments". It also found that only 43% would "support a ban on experiments causing any suffering to animals", although these numbers clearly represent a large proportion of the British public, we still have a long way to go to convince everyone that animal experiments are not necessary and that they can be replaced given more funding for non-animal alternatives. On that front check out Dr Hadwen's Trust and consider becoming a member and shopping in their Cruelty Free Shop to support research using alternatives to animal experiments.
Comment
Longcroft Soap Company Announces Vegan Products
7 August 2007
The Vegan Society have approved several products from the Longcroft Soap Company. I love the look of their Lemonhead Handmade Soap but the cost is a little prohibitive. The website is very clear and easy to navigate. The vegan products are labeled with the Vegan Society logo on the products pages but there is no indication on the various section pages. The delivery charge is £1.95 for any order in the UK which seems quite reasonable, and they also ship all over Europe. All of the products are vegetarian and none of the ingredients are animal tested so the company seem quite ethical if not vegan.
Comment
Foot and Mouth: Yet Another Reason to go Vegan!
1 August 2007
This article from Animal Aid shows that this foot and mouth incident is just the latest in a series of recent outbreaks in livestock. They conclude that the only viable solution is for the public to go vegan, I'd like to second that. Unfortunately that option is not even being put into the consciousness of the general public, whilst it is an obvious solution it just would not occur to people that it is their own actions which are to blame.
Comment
Tewkesbury Flood
1 August 2007
Apologies for the interruption in posts, I live in a village on the outskirts of Tewkesbury and my house got flooded. Among other things I lost my land line until yesterday. Things are getting back to normal though, although we still do not have running water that can be used for drinking that is only a minor inconvenience and there is plenty of free bottled water and a water bowser fairly close to my house. Tewkesbury town is getting back to normal, I work in the Tewkesbury Post Office and we have been very busy for the last few days mostly with car taxes but also with mail redirections for all the people that had to leave their homes due to flooding. For everyone who has been flooded things will take longer to get back to normal, it will take between months and a year to repair peoples homes and the memory will be with us all for a long time. The 'Great Flood' as it has been called has been blamed on climate change, over development on flood plains and the lack of storm drains. These things all need to be addressed by society and government and it would be good if everyone could be a part of it. For now I'm thinking that preparation for other freak weather on the level of the individual would be a good idea. Storage of some drinking water would be an example that easily comes to mind. Even a couple a days worth would be make life directly after an event easier. There are a lot of issues to reflect on and maybe we can learn some useful lessons and increase the sense of urgency that is associated with reducing global warming and climate change.
Comment
Greenpeace Compares Nuclear and Renewables
18 July 2007
This new Greenpeace video talks about nuclear power and the problem of nuclear waste, how renewable energy sources can be harnessed and how we can all be more efficient in order to make their "convenient solution" work out. I was most surprised by the figures they give for the governments research and development spending on nuclear compared to renewables.
Comment
Natural Collection Sale
18 July 2007
Natural Collection are having a massive summer sale with several items with 60% off. Check out this men's hemp hooded sweater at £24.95, they also have recycled storage baskets, fair trade and recycled gift wrap, among many other things.
Comment
Vote For Best Sweet or Chocolate Bar
17 July 2007
Help promote your favourite vegan sweet or chocolate bar to vegetarians through the Vegetarian Society Awards 2007. I voted for Whizzers Speckled Eggs which I love and fortunately for me they sell in the health food shop next door to where I work.
Comment
Plastic Bags
15 July 2007
As a ten pence tax is considered for plastic shopping bags the Science Friday show discusses the importance of packaging, the new materials being created and the consequences of changing packaging and taxing plastic bags. You can download the podcast from their show notes page.
Comment
Bad Woolworths
14 July 2007
Another funny video from Greenpeace, again about light bulbs, this time focusing on Woolworths policies, or lack of such, on energy saving light bulbs.Find out what Greenpeace did about it and how to contact Woolworths through their aritcle.
Comment
New Shoes
12 July 2007
Alternative Soles have started to sell No Sweat baseball boots which look quite nice. The No Sweat brand ensures that the workers get paid a decent wage and work in good conditions. They have a good range starting at £37. Look for the No Sweat category as opposed to the vegetarian shoes category.
Comment
Cloned Meat by 2010
11 July 2007
Are people trying to make animals suffer even more? According to this article in the Telegraph the FDA has already approved cloned meat as safe for Americans, and the same research will be looked at by an EU committee with a similar outcome predicted. Animal welfare campaigners have said that the cloned animals will have a higher rate of birth defects and the donor animals will have cruel surgical procedures performed on them. That's another thing to add to the 'reasons to be a vegan' list.
Comment
Moby Criticises Live Earth for Serving Meat
9 July 2007
Moby compares eating hamburgers and hot dogs at Live Earth to getting drunk at the funeral of someone who died of alcohol poisoning. He makes a very good point, no one mainstream seems to be talking about going vegan to help save the environment. I guess it's high profile celebrities that can make a difference with a lot of the youth of today.
Comment
Funny Greenpeace Video
7 July 2007
Comment
Climate Care Progress
6 July 2007
Climate Care, the CO2 offsetting organisation, have recently released a project update which shows them working in India replacing diesel pumps with people powered treadle pumps. Each pump saves over half a tonne of CO2 per year, which apparently is the equivalent of adding double glazing to a three bedroomed semi detached home in the UK. Climate Care also claims to change the lives of Indians living on the poverty line - they have better crops, are healthier and earn more money. I love that you can do a good thing by paying to remove your CO2 from the environment and as a consequence of that help some poor people somewhere, that's just lovely.
Comment
Public Apathy Towards Climate Change
6 July 2007
Just thought I'd link to this news article from the Independent, it's just true.
Comment
Good News For Dark Chocolate Lovers
4 July 2007
The Telegraph are reporting that one square of dark chocolate a day can lower blood pressure. I just love these stories about foods that you think are naughty but can actually be healthy, I'm not sure I could ever just eat one square though - that's only 6.3g. This also shows another natural benefit of the vegan lifestyle, we'd automatically go for the dark chocolate anyway.
Comment
Energy Costs For Different Types of TV
4 July 2007
An article from the BBC today was talking about the rising energy consumption of consumer electronics. What I found interesting about this report was the graph at the bottom comparing the old style cathode ray televisions (CRT) with LCD's and projection TVs. I had heard that LCD TV were worse but that LCD computer monitors were better and I had no idea whether changing my small TV for an LCD would be good or bad for the environment. According to the chart as long as your TV is less than about 21" it is better to have an LCD but after that the CRT wins. The projection TV is also much better than LCD but not comparable to the CRT because CRTs do not go over 41" and the projection TVs start at 46".
The article also mentions the energy used by mobile phone chargers which are plugged in but not in use, these have got much more efficient in the past few years but because of the increasing numbers of mobiles around they draw a significant amount of energy all together. So remember to turn off those chargers everyone!
Comment
Link From Susan
3 July 2007
Susan wrote in to recommend veginity.com, this site is full of vegan recipes and videos showing how to make them. "It's the best receipe resource I've come across in years as the food is really innovative but clearly explained vegan vids." So thanks a lot for the tip Susan. Anyone else who has anything to share please use the comment system or the user submission form on the website.
Comment
Free Hippo Water Saver
3 July 2007
The Green Store is offering a 5% discount and a free Hippo Water Saver for each order placed in July with discount code 'NEWS0705'. The Green Store is great for energy saving devices like the Freeloader Portable Solar Power Supply which I have just bought. They also sell eco-friendly household products and recycled goods. I especially like the look of the stationery made from recycled car tyres, unfortunately I don't really need any and I'm really trying not to buy anything I don't need.
Comment
What To Do With Your Old PC or TV...
2 July 2007
It should be easier for all of us to recycle our electrical and electronic equipment thanks to a new law on e-waste. According to this BBC article retailers must either offer a free take-back service like for like on any new goods purchased or help fund the local councils recycling facilities. Manufacturers are also involved, they have to take responsibility for a percentage of e-waste based on the amount they sell. Whilst this law is obviously a step in the right direction it does not seem to do enough to convince manufacturers to make their own products easier to recycle or to make them with less toxic substances. The organisations may implement these ideals themselves because of outside pressures from concerned consumers, I hope so because this law took over four years to be put in place who knows how long it would take for additional laws to be passed.
Comment
Wettest June Leads to Weather Warning
1 July 2007
This article from the Independent describes how the recent record breaking rainfall and flooding in the UK and heatwave across mainland Europe. Even more evidence for global warming and climate change, will everyone accept it's happening yet and maybe try to make a difference?
Comment
New Secretary of State for DEFRA is Vegetarian
30 June 2007
Gordon Brown has appointed Hilary Benn (MP for Leeds Central) as the Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Mr Benn has been vegetarian for the past 35 years and it looks like he's got a lot of farmers worried. Personally I doubt he'll be allowed to do anything drastic but hopefully he will be able to change things for the better and push animal welfare as an important issue. It looks like he will make decisions on any badger culls which he must be against personally. Maybe he can show the farmers how disease spreads easily in the conditions they keep their animals - see my previous post on badger culls. I wish him well, hopefully he can make a difference.
Comment
EU Supports New Targets for CO2 Emissions from Cars
29 June 2007
EU environment ministers met in Luxembourg yesterday and have given unanimous support for reducing average CO2 emissions from cars from the current level of 163 g/km to 120 g/km by 2012 according to the EUObserver.
Reducing emissions by a quarter seems like a lot but that is exactly what we need and they have five years to put pressure on the car manufacturers. There also needs to be more awareness from the public when they are buying new cars. I know that the CO2 emissions or at least the tax band the car is in has been a factor for some people but the message has not reached everybody yet.
Comment
Guide to Greener Electronics is Out
27 June 2007
Greenpeace has today published it's forth edition of the Guide to Greener Electronics. Nokia (8/10) and Dell (7.3/10) are at the top of the ranking which is based on companies policies and actions on hazardous chemicals and recycling. Nokia has already removed PVC from their new models and is now eliminating BFR's (Brominated Flame Retardants) and Dell is phasing out both PVC and BFR's by 2009, it is also planning a voluntary takeback service all around the world. Sony got the worst score - 4/10 mainly because it takes one stance on takeback and recycling schemes in Europe compared to the US.
Well worth thinking about when you are choosing your next phone or computer, vote with your cash and show how important it is to get rid of the most dangerous chemicals and make it easy to recycle old electronic equipment.
Comment
New Report Criticises Animal Testing
26 June 2007
This article from Dr Hadwen's Trust highlights a new report which concludes that "testing chemicals on animals is slow, expensive and often out-performed by modern test-tube methods". This report is important because it was commissioned by the US Environmental Protection Agency who conduct thousands of tests on animals each year. They are also an internationally respected organisation so their conclusions could make a big difference to animal suffering across the world.
Comment
Search For Charity
26 June 2007
I've just been pointed to a Search Engine which gives half of the profits they make to a charity. You get to choose your own charity from thousands listed and the proportion they get is directly related to the number searches people do who have chosen that charity. I have chosen the Vegan Society to start with but it is simple to change whenever you want. Give it a try at www.everyclick.com
Comment
Free Toilet Roll
25 June 2007
Sainsbury's are giving away free toilet roll on Wednesday* as part of their monthly 'Make the Difference Day'. The toilet rolls are approved by the Forest Stewardship Council - an international network promoting responsible management of the worlds forests. Sainsbury's believe that this offer will involve millions of customers and help them 'bring about real environmental and lifestyle changes'. All of Sainsbury's own brand toilet roll, kitchen roll and tissues are either from recycled materials or sources which are approved by the Forest Stewardship Council.
*Minimum £3 purchase applies see site for details.
Comment
Glastonbury Festival Goers Say 'I Count'
25 June 2007
70,000 new supporters of the I Count campaign signed up at Glastonbury last weekend. The campaign is from the Stop Climate Chaos coalition which includes Greenpeace and Oxfam and seeks to make the government cut UK emissions by 3% every year, take the lead on an international agreement on reducing CO2 etc and help poorer countries move forward with clean energy. Also check out their section on e-cards it's lots of fun and they allow you to make your own.
Comment
Prince Charles' CO2 Emissions Sky High
24 June 2007
An article from the Times Online shows that although Prince Charles will be announcing that his household is carbon neutral this week, his actual carbon emissions are extreme. The emissions seem to be mostly from travel but his utility bills are also concerning - his three homes produce CO2 that is equivalent to 500 houses. His claim to be carbon neutral rests on his carbon offsets with Climate Care which works in developing countries to decrease emissions through more efficient stoves and lighting and reforestation in rain forest areas. Whilst I do see the point of these carbon offset schemes and I have offset a flight that I took with my family last year it is not a solution and the Prince should really be looking at drastically reducing his CO2 emissions as well.
Comment
NHS and Climate Change
23 June 2007
The BBC has recently reported that a think tank, New Economics Foundation, have focused on the NHS in relation to both the causes and effects of climate change. The NHS produces a lot of waste and accounts for 5% of the UK's transport emissions. Climate change promises increases in the frequency of heatwaves and skin cancers in the UK and the NHS must be ready to deal with these issues. The think tank concluded that the NHS is well placed to get the population ready for climate change and if it can significantly cut its emissions and waste going to landfill it could be an example to other large organisations.
Comment
Free Chocolate from Alternative Soles
22 June 2007
The online vegan shoe shop Alternative Soles is giving away a bar of chocolate with the first 20 orders of the week so get in quick if you fancy some new shoes. They also sell chocolate, bags, jewelery and bath products at www.alternativesoles.com
Comment
Progress with Biofuels
21 June 2007
It looks like a lot of our waste will soon be able to be used for biofuel according to this article from the BBC. It is also reporting that a fuel made from fructose - a sugar found in fruit - can make a new biofuel which contains 40% more energy than ethanol. The processes that make the fuel are expensive at the moment but I expect they will get cheaper over time.
When reports like this come out quite often it does make me more optimistic that we can keep our climate fairly stable. There must be a lot of researchers all around the world trying to solve some piece of the puzzle, making existing products more energy efficient and creating new technologies to reduce our emissions of greenhouse gases.
Comment
Next Ten Years are Pivotal in Struggle Against Climate Change
20 June 2007
The Independent is reporting that our civilization is in imminent peril from global warming. Six eminent US scientists have published a paper titled "Climate Change and trace gases" which urges people not to ignore the threat of climate change. The scientists say that humanity's greenhouse gas emissions have taken us very close to dramatic climate change which would spiral out of control. They say we have the next ten years to curb climate change before the ice sheets melt and their reflective surfaces are replaced by dark water which absorbs the sun's heat. The scientists conclude that we almost certainly need to extract CO2 from the atmosphere.
That is incredibly scary. Ten years is really not very long to make the kind of changes to our society that we would surely need to significantly decrease our greenhouse gas emissions. People going vegan would definitely make a big difference and I think we really need to encourage everyone to switch to renewable energy sources as much as possible. Presumably nuclear power must also be necessary if it can be built up quick enough in the ten year time span. See my post about nuclear power plants and the synthetic trees which might be the key to extracting the CO2 from the atmosphere.
Comment
Natural Toothbrush Review
19 June 2007
So I bought a natural toothbrush from The Green Store (see my previous post), it arrived quickly and was well packed with a few other things in recycled cardboard and covered in corn starch packing material - very green indeed. The toothbrush/araak root was shrink wrapped in plastic and looked quite amusing. I used a knife to scrape off the outer part of the root and then I had to chew the inner part to make it brush like.
I had ordered the mint variety but it did not taste of mint, I'm not sure what it tasted like but it was not particularly pleasant. The root cleaned my teeth very well, at this length it is as easy to maneuver as a normal toothbrush but I imagine it would be more difficult as it gets shorter. I really missed the minty freshness of my normal toothpaste, that is a huge downfall for me. The brush is supposed to last between 4 - 6 weeks but if you brush twice a day and want some part of the root to hold on to I think this is an overestimate.Overall this brush does work but it is not pleasant and would be too expensive for me over the long term. Of course it is a root - what did I expect?
Comment
Badger Culls - Pointless
18 June 2007
On the back of a statement from a government-appointed independent Scientific Group saying that badger culls might increase bovine TB and will certainly not reduce it, Animal Aid have called upon the farming industry to acknowledge that the disease is spread because of the very poor and crampt conditions that cattle are typically kept in. This article really highlights the reasons that being a vegetarian is not enough, a lot of people say they can understand why someone is a vegetarian but not why they turn vegan - I think this article would explain it.
Comment
We Must Halve CO2 Emissions by 2050
17 June 2007
Greenpeace has released a booklet called 'How To Save The Planet' which says that we can and must reduce our CO2 emissions by 50% by 2050. That's 50% of the whole worlds emissions, for industrial countries the figure is as much as 80%. Sounds very scary, but Greenpeace is positive that we can make it. They suggest that renewable energy can supply half of the world's energy requirements by 2050 but only if we become more efficient. Their vision sees us all changing and becoming more environmentally friendly. That will not be easy. Greenpeace does have a lot of ideas on how to save energy and shows how reducing CO2 by 50% is possible. I just worry that not enough people want to change. Seeing the supermarkets try to go green and the political people start talking about being green makes me think that people might get forced into changing a little at a time. Greenpeace are obviously not interested in pursuing the nuclear option at all which might be a mistake it's not perfect but it might be necessary. Anyway, check it out.
Comment
14 More Nuclear Power Plant per Year
16 June 2007
That's how many the world will need if we are to halt climate change according to this article from MSNBC. 14 plants per year for 50 years. That is a large amount of nuclear waste to worry about. I think a lot of people are interested in the nuclear solution to reducing CO2 emissions because it means people can live as they do now, perhaps with some kind of electric car, but much the same. This type of 'no contribution' solution seems like the most likely to work given the attitudes of a lot people I've talked to. Another 'no contribution' solution was highlighted by Groovy Green recently, they show a synthetic tree that is designed to take in huge amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere. The technology, or chemistry really, could also be used at CO2 sources.
I think at this point we are going to have to go ahead with the nuclear option because it is getting to late to do anything else, I am personally hoping that other technologies can be put in place to reduce the number of plants needed. As individuals I think we should lead by example and buy as many solar powered products as we can.
Comment
Britain's Research Laboratories Fail to Meet EU Guidelines
15 June 2007
Dr Hadwen's Trust, whose aim is to replace animals in medical research, have exposed Britain's failure to comply with new Europe wide guidelines which they agreed to a year ago. The failure is centered on pen sizes. Of course this goes nowhere near even thinking about the actual torment these research animal face. Please support Dr Hadwen's Trust in their efforts, they have a shop which is suitable for vegans and you can become a member and receive magazines throughout the year (printed on recycled paper of course).
Comment
Dixons Call for the End of Stand-By
14 June 2007
According to an article from The Independent Dixons Store Group is pressuring its suppliers to phase out the stand-by function on TVs and DVD players. They are also asking for more energy efficient products, information and labeling.
I think that anything that will make our current lifestyle better for the environment is bound to have a big impact. Some people just will never put any effort into saving in the environment, it's great that Dixons is forcing them in this way.
Comments
Hm ... as a carer, I can tell you that this will mean many elderly people and people with disabilities will end up sleeping with the TV on all night. Instead of phasing out standby - which is really about our being holier-than-thou regarding other people's (perceived) laziness - why don't Dixon's and the manufacturers involved simply make standby energy-efficient?
- Anonymous
That's a good point I guess it's too easy to just think about how things affect people that you know and not everyone. I did see a product that might help though - this Standby Energy Saving Kit from Nigel's Eco Store, it's a bit expensive at £29.99 but I'm sure similar products will show up some to compete.
- Steph
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Vegan Search Engine- Anonymous
That's a good point I guess it's too easy to just think about how things affect people that you know and not everyone. I did see a product that might help though - this Standby Energy Saving Kit from Nigel's Eco Store, it's a bit expensive at £29.99 but I'm sure similar products will show up some to compete.
- Steph
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14 June 2007
Check out the Vegan Search Engine. It is a custom search engine I made with Google and is very useful when searching for vegan products or recipes. It searches sites I have selected which are mostly UK sites that are either for vegans or especially ethical in some way like Ecotopia which sells environmentally friendly products. This search engine produces results which are much more likely to be relevant to vegans and can cut down on the number of results. I am still adding sites but the engine has a good base at the moment if you would like to try it out. Google does put non-vegan adverts around the results so beware of those. You can use the search box on the right of the page or go to the Vegan Search Engine Homepage. You can also add the search box to your own site or blog if you wish.
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Turning the Tide of Tyranny
13 June 2007
PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) have recently launched the Animal Liberation Project: 'We are all animals'. It compares the plight of animals to slavery, the oppression of women and forced child labour. It's a fairly graphic series of articles and includes an exhibition and a video. Worth a look if your not too squeamish, definitely pass it on to friends if you think it might have an effect on them.
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National Solar Week
12 June 2007
Maplin Electronics have launched National Solar Week starting June 18th, they are providing advice both online and in their stores to help people save the planet and reduce their electricity bills.
They have also created a petition to the government asking for zero VAT on energy-efficient products, which is a fantastic idea! Here is the link - I encourage all of you to sign now.
Toothbrushes
12 June 2007
I need a new toothbrush. I thought I'd find out what was available in the ethical arena. Here are four toothbrushes that I've found:
Ionic Toothbrush, £12.49 from Ecotopia.co.uk
This toothbrush uses light power to "activate plaque-dissolving ions". The toothbrush is built to last and its heads are replaceable.
I don't understand how this toothbrush works and it is very expensive so I kept on looking.
Preserve Recycled Toothbrush, £2.99 from Vegan Store
This toothbrush looks more like a normal toothbrush but apparently it represents "the latest in toothbrush design and function". The toothbrush is both recycled and recyclable and comes in a variety of colours.
I like that this one is made from recycled materials but I don't know how you would go about recycling it. Quite nice though.
Monte Bianco Clip Adult Toothbrush, £2.15 from Ecotopia.co.uk
Here we have another fairly normal looking toothbrush with a good price tag. The idea is to replace just the head of the brush thus reducing waste. They tout their quality bristles and you can choose between medium and sensitive. Replacement heads are £2.79 for three and there is also a junior brush available.
I don't like the colour combination of this one, but I do like the price especially considering after you buy the first one you only have to buy replacement heads. You are still using new plastics and creating waste though.
Natural Toothbrush, £1.99 from The Green Store
This one is very different, in fact it is a root. You can peel back a layer each day which removes the germs and apparently it can remove a variety of stains from your teeth, "It prevents the formation of cavities and plaque and makes teeth whiter and enamel stronger." The brush lasts 4 - 6 weeks and there is no need for toothpaste. Available in natural, lemon and mint. There is also free delivery at the moment.
Sounds quite fun and it is cheap both per brush and because you don't need toothpaste. No new plastic used (except for packaging possibly) and presumably you can compost it afterwards.
I have decided to buy at natural toothbrush because it seems the best for the environment and it makes a change. I am a little skeptical so my second choice would be the Monte Bianco Clip Adult Toothbrush because I think that is the next best for the environment. Having said that the delivery rates would make my final decision, I would by the one whose store I shop from next. Smile about Ethical Banking
11 June 2007
I started using Smile for my current account and credit card about a year ago mainly because of their ethical policy (pdf file). They guarantee that your money will never be invested in unethical organisations. Of course what they consider ethical does not completely mesh with vegan ethics. They do mention animal welfare, they will not invest in animal testing, intensive farming methods, blood sports or the fur trade. They also support businesses which are attempting to find alternatives to animal testing and farming methods which promote animal welfare. Whilst it is not a vegan philosophy it is about making things better than they are now and I can support that. Their stance on human rights, the environment and the arms trade is also worthwhile.
Smile is also good for your hemp wallet, the current account has an interest rate of 3.04% AER and the credit card gives you 0.05% back on your purchases. That's probably only a good thing if you pay off your balance each month. There is no annual fee and the online banking service is very easy to use. I've only had to use the telephone help line once but it was quick, effective and I could understand the person on the other end. Smile also do loans, mortgages, savings and investments.
Other points interest include pvc-free credit and debit cards, online statements (to minimise paper waste) 100% recycled correspondence made without use of chlorine. Plus you can deposit and withdraw cash at your local post office for free which is convenient and helps to support the network.
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Ban the Farrowing Crate
10 June 2007
After reading this article on Viva - "URGENT: Support the Early Day Motion to Ban the Farrowing Crate", urging people to write to their MP, I have emailed Laurence Robertson, the MP for Tewkesbury, asking him to sign the motion. I haven't had any contact with him before so I don't know what will happen or even if he can really make a difference but just in case your MP has not signed you might want to send them a quick email asking them to do so. Viva provides a handy template email and you can find your MP with http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/l/. Comment
Eating the Earth
9 June 2007
Check out this booklet – Eating the Earth from the Vegan Society, on how the Vegan diet helps protect our land and water and helps to prevent global warming. Among other topics it considers the growing 'westernization' of the middle classes in China and India and the effect this will have on the livestock population which is currently expanding faster than the human population.
It also looks at how the finite area of useful farm land is used and how it might be put to better use by feeding people directly from the land instead of feeding crops to animals and eating them.
You can check out your ecological footprint at http://www.myfootprint.org/ and see the difference a vegan diet can make compared to an omnivorous one.
The booklet also highlights the problems caused by deforestation. Obviously the forests are essential carbon dioxide reservoirs but they are also home to most of the world's biodiversity, both of which would be very dangerous things to lose.
You can read about how the vegan appetite is satiated with the use of much less energy and how methane from cattle is a very dangerous greenhouse gas which seems to be being ignored in the drive to become carbon neutral.
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Bristol Vegan Fayre 2007
8 June 2007
Heads up to all the vegans in the Bristol Area - the Bristol Vegan Fayre is on this weekend. Check out their website www.bristolveganfayre.co.uk - looks like they've got all sorts, from cookery to fashion. Wish I could go.
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Go Vegan for the Environment
7 June 2007
I just read this article on the Animal Aid news feed, they give five reasons to go vegan for the environment including "On average, a dairy cow belches out 500 litres of methane a day." - lovely. Anyway I like to have some fresh arguments on hand for anyone who ask me "why go vegan?". I guess we just have to keep chipping away at them.
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I'm glad that the climate change impact of animal farming is starting to get recognition. Did you know that a vegan diet causes 1.5 tonnes less carbon-equivalent emissions than a typical western diet?
- Chris (Animal Aid)
I'm glad that the climate change impact of animal farming is starting to get recognition. Did you know that a vegan diet causes 1.5 tonnes less carbon-equivalent emissions than a typical western diet?
- Chris (Animal Aid)
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Spaghetti Bolognese
7 June 2007
Here is my family's recipe for Spaghetti Bolognaise, this is the basic recipe there is lots of room for changes as you wish.
1 Large onion
1 Tin of plum tomatoes
75g TVP (textured vegetable protein)
½ tbsp Tomato puree
1 tsp Marmite
Sprinkling of raisins
½ tsp Basil
½ tsp Thyme
½ tbsp Oil
Cover the TVP in boiling water until it expands and stops soaking up water. Roughly dice the onion and fry it in some hot oil over a low light with the basil and thyme. Chop the plum tomatoes and mix in the tomato puree. When the onion is transparent add the tomatoes, TVP, marmite, raisins. Bring the bolognaise to the boil and then simmer on a low to medium light until the mixture is thick which should be 30 – 40 mins. Serve with spaghetti or pasta shells and add worcestershire sauce and parmezano to taste.
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Congratulations
7 June 2007
This may be old news now, but I just want to say congratulations to all of us vegans after the article from the Telegraph on the 30 May - "Go vegan to help climate, says Government". Most of us already know that our lifestyle is better for the environment but I think it's nice when that fact is acknowledged by the Government. It might also be worth showing this article to anyone you want to convert especially if they are already concerned about environmental issues.
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Ace Pumps
7 June 2007
I don't want to talk about shoes all the time but I just saw these new pumps from Vegetarian Shoes, they're a little expensive for me but they look great! Just in time for Summer.
CommentVeganStore.co.uk
6 June 2007
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Introduction
6 June 2007
Hi, I'm Steph and I would like to introduce you to Vegan News and Reviews. I hope this site will be a summary and a portal to all the great things that are happening in the vegan space. I want to let you know when a new vegan product launches, when a there is a sale on or if a vegan story hits the headlines. I also want to find out what people think of the vegan products and services on offer. I will be experimenting a bit to start with to see what works and what's possible so keep dropping by to see what has changed or subscribe to the feed: http://vegannewsandreviews.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default
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