Animal cruelty, climate change, monoculture...the list goes on.

[ChrissyStar]

I feel hopeless and have decided not to have children because of the state of the world (why would I wish to bring a child into this when I myself, do not like to live here?). Does anyone else feel the same?

[Birdy77]

Dear everyone 😊

I have been down a bit of a rabbit hole this month, and I know some others of you have struggled and are struggling too, so I thought I'd share some positive things here that you might like to look at or try. No animals were harmed in the writing of this post 😁

• There are two brands of cruelty free food I discovered this month, they include absolutely delicious plant-based nutrient-dense soft cheeses, dips and pesto: "The Vegan Dairy" and "botanica cuisine". These products are all hand made in Australia, Mount Martha and Collingwood to be precise, so are doubly awesome because they don't entail a squillion food miles.
• I found a new blog called rabbitandwolves full of plant based comfort food , something to enrich the long dark nights of the winter months.
• One of the biggest live sheep exporters in Australia, responsible for almost a third of live sheep exports here has backed out of it's contract to send thousands of these gentle souls into the middle eastern summer (now) ... it is a small step in shutting down this barbaric practice, and proof that pressure from people who care enough to speak out can effect change (even if it's small change). Keep signing petitions even if that's all you can do, they do work.
• There is a great blog by a guy called Leo Babauta, he writes about all sorts of things to improve your life and mental/spiritual equilibrium. It's called zenhabits and I find getting a newsletter from him each week by email a really inspiring way to be reminded of simple, achievable things to help get/Keep things in balance. I mention it here because I know all here have a love and respect for animals and our poor suffering planet, and he does too.

I borrowed the sequel to An Inconvenient Truth DVD from the library this week, it looks interesting, will let you all know.

Sorry if this was boring, but I wanted to share these things to encourage and support you all. And I've missed being in here so wanted an excuse to post😊

Keep the love alive everyone ❤

🌻birdy

[Peppermintbach]

Hi wonderful birdy, Chrissystar and all 🙂

It’s wonderful to hear from you again ❤️ I know you have been having a rough time so it means that much more than you’re posting. If you ever want to talk or vent, I’m always here for you (you’re always most welcome to vent, talk, etc on my thread)...

Now, this bit:

No animals were harmed in the writing of this post.

Love it! That line gave me a chuckle 🙂

Thank you so much for sharing. Honestly, it was not “boring” at all. I found it uplifting and inspiring. Really happy you shared some of your recent “discoveries” 🙂

I’ll definitely look up some of the things that you mentioned. I don’t know what I’ve been doing with my life but is it embarrassing to admit that I didn’t know there was a sequel to An Inconvenient Truth? lol. I thought it was just the one and that was it.

Also, fun fact. I’ve long forgotten the company name but about 3-4 weeks ago, a UK coffee chain banned disposable coffee cups from all its franchises 🙂 I thought that I would share that with you lovely people...

Hugs to you birdy xoxo

A friendly wave to all 🙂

Pepper

[Peppermintbach]

Hi birdy (and a wave to Chrissystar and all),

Sorry, I wasn’t sure where to reach you as I know you don’t have your own support thread so I thought that I would try here...hope that’s okay.

I just wanted to say hello and send you my love. I know you’ve been struggling for some time, and it’s okay, you don’t have to say anything or elaborate or explain. I’m just saying that I care...

Also, a huge thank you for the beautiful post you wrote on my thread. It really moved me.

I have read it multiple times and it made me cry...because you offered to “sit with me” in my pain.

Not many people do that. Sometimes we don’t need to be “fixed” and we don’t need “solutions”...sometimes we just need someone to be there...to be emotionally attuned.

So thank you. I’m here for you too...that said, no need to talk if you’re not feeling up to it.

A wave to all...keep up your wonderful love of animals and the environment 🙂

Pepper xoxo

[Birdy77]

Hello lovely Pepper and everybody 😊

It's so lovely to get your message 😍

Thank you so much for your love and care, it is gratefully accepted and cherished. I hope you are feeling ok, and it warmed my heart to know my offer to sit in the dark with you while you're not able to look on the bright side meant something to you ❤ I meant it.

Ha! I also had no idea there was a sequel to An Inconvenient Truth until it jumped off the library shelf into my arms! I would recommend this DVD to everybody here as I know you all are passionate about our beautiful and vulnerable planet. It basically outlines what has happened in the 10+ years since An Inconvenient Truth came out (where did that decade go???). It was really inspiring to see the passion, dedication and integrity of Al Gore and his team, and i was amazed at how much work he put in behind the scenes to negotiate and pretty much facilitate the Paris Agreement ... only for a certain new president to come and implode the whole thing. Highly recommended viewing.

Another film I borrowed is called Blue (the film). Absolitel essential viewing my friends. It is Australian and was made last year I think. It's a thoughtful, insightful, heartwrenching exploration of what is going on with life in our oceans. It is beautifully made and equal parts devastating and inspiring. Hope some of you are able to watch it and get others to watch it. Also there is a website for it bluethefilm.org

I have just made unbelievably scrummy burgers made with a new product called "Minced" by a new plant based company called Funky Fields. It's in the meat section (😱😳😱😳😱😳) at woolies. You can make cruelty free burgers, Bolognese, chilli con carne, lasagne ... yippee!! Their motto is "There is no planet B". True that!

Thanks Pepper ❤ and everybody ... keep the love alive.

🌻birdy

[Peppermintbach]

Hi ChrissyStar and all;

ChrissyStar and all: please feel free to chime in whenever you like 🙂

birdy: you’re most welcome. If anything, I should be thanking you for your beautiful posts to me (not the other way around lol).

Speaking of which, there’s no rush, but when you have a bit of time , you might like to check out A bouquet of pearls- share your appreciation for other members thread (Staying Well forum) as there’s something for you there from the 7th July there 🙂

Thank you so much for all the documentary recommendations. I’ll have to look up Blue. I have heard of it (and vaguely remember seeing the trailer unless of course I’m confusing it with another film).

Yes, Al gore’s An Inconvenient Truth really helped put climate change on the public agenda. Sighs, it’s sad how climate change has become so political...

Your plant based mince sounds like quite the treat 🙂 In a way, I feel it’s a not entirely a bad thing that they placed it in the meat section. It means more people who might not otherwise have heard of it (or considered it) might at least have their curiosity piqued, and might want to try it one day...or I think that’s what the Vegan Strategist said when he was commenting on plant product placement in supermarkets. What are your thoughts on this?

Hugs to you, my friend.

Wave to all!

Pepper xoxo

[Birdy77]

Hello Pepper ❤ and Chrissystar and all 😊

Pepper ❤❤❤ you lovely lovely lovely friend. Wish I could hug you 😊 Your heartfelt words moved me deeply. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I truly treasure your friendship and your beautiful presence here.

Pepper and everyone, I cannot recommend Blue (the film), highly enough ... it is excellent. Would love to know if anyone watches it. I thought I was pretty mindful of things I used, plastic etc, but after watching this film, it has changed my thinking entirely. But in a good way ... it's inspiring .... makes you want to do better, be better ...

Pepper, I think it is absolutely wonderful that the vegan mince is in the meat section 😂 truly... I realise, looking back at my post that I looked horrified, but only because I had to enter the meat section to retrieve my exciting new product (foreign territory, as you would understand). But it is aimed at meat eaters, not vegetarians or vegans, so it necessarily should be in next to the beef mince etc, and if even one meat eater decides to try it, that's a win. I agree with you and the vegan strategist wholeheartedly 😊.

I did a shop at The Cruelty Free Shop today (online) and picked up a book Vegan Cooking for Carnivores, it's a NYTimes bestseller, so thought I'd give it a go, I'm sure there will be plenty of opportunity to try the new mince with the recipes in there. Have you ever tried Jackfruit?

Pepper, I was so happy to read (forgot to say) of your news about the coffee cup ban by the chain in the UK. I was reading last week that loads more people in Australia have started using KeepCups, but that still there's something like 16 million takeaway coffeecups thrown away everyday in oz! And apparently lots if them can't be recycled because their lined with plastic?? 😔😔😔 It has to stop.

Everyone, keep up being awesome advocates for our beautiful, fragile planet and our gentle animal friends.

Love and light to you Pepper ❤ and everyone xo

🌻birdy

[Speak Your Truth]

Hello Birdy and Pepper and all

I happened on this thread by chance and am so glad to have found it.

Its so lovely to read your posts - so much passion, compassion, love, caring - I feel quite emotional reading them.

The sad state of our environment, our world, the pain and suffering caused to animals and people really breaks my heart too. I said on my thread before I wish we lived in a kinder, gentler world.

I have to get ready to go out (unfortunately to Dr - it’s too cold and I feel lousy) but wanted to touch base quickly and say hi. It’s so good to have contact with people ❤️ who care so much and show their feelings so openly.

Thank you, Cala 🤗🙏

[Peppermintbach]

Hi ChrissyStar and all,

All: feel free to contribute. Join in the conversation whenever you like 🙂

birdy : Oh thank you, I felt the hug from way over here ❤️ I’m so glad you found that thread. It was well deserved. Emotional attunement is a real gift and sadly often underrated and overlooked...thank you for being the beautiful friend that you are to so many of us here ❤️

Hmm...it sounds like I’ll have to get my hands on a copy of Blue. I’m 200% certain that I must have some unknown wasteful habits that I didn’t know about...

Vegan book for carnivores? That is one intriguing title. I’m guessing lots of plant based meats are used?

Speaking of cruelty free, my makeup and skincare products still have room for improvement. Most of my makeup and skincare (admittedly not all) is cruelty free. I’m ashamed to admit that...

I’m trying to use up what I have then find cruelty free alternatives once they’re finished. My issue is I have very sensitive skin and so it can be a bit tricky for me sometimes...

Yes, apparently about 1 billion disposable coffee cups end up in landfill every year in Australia. The issue with paper based disposable coffee cups is that they need to be waterproof.

So you’re right, they are lined with polyethylene (plastic) and therefore not recyclable. They’re also not biodegradable either.

Plus well meaning people with good intentions often don’t realise takeaway coffee cups aren’t usually recyclable so they throw it in recycling bins. This means that they accidentally “contaminate” the rest of the actual recyclables, and the entire bin ends up landfill as a result. I feel, in this instance, clearer labels for recycling bins would help...

Also, a grateful thank you for the heart warming post you left on my thread. You really are a beautiful person ❤️

Cala: it’s wonderful to have you on board!

Hello to you too and I hope your appointment went well. Feel free to chime in whenever you like 🙂

I’m happy that this thread has resonated with you. You sound like a very caring and compassionate person; 2 qualities that I value very highly.

I hope we hear from you again ❤️

Pepper xoxo

[Birdy77]

Hi Chrissystar and everyone 😊😊😊,

Cala, it is so lovely to see you here. Your wish for a more gentle and kind world is echoed here, so you are in good company. I had a feeling you might find your way here some time ... And you did 😊.

Pepper, you are absolutely right, I think the labelling on all recyclables should be clearer. I am guilty of having put coffee cups in the recycling bin in the past (I don't use them anymore) ... And it's horrifying for well-meaning people to realise they've contaminated a whole bunch of recyclables. Surely with all the waste organisation these days a better labelling system can be used ...

You will really get so much out of and be really impressed by Blue. I implore everyone to see it, it's just vert affecting in so many ways.

So, my Vegan Cooking for Carnivores cookbook arrived this arvo, and it looks yummy scrummy. I didn't see this in the write-up for it, but it's written by the chef to Portia de Rossi and Ellen DeGeneres. But guess who the photographs are by? Quentin Bacon. Can you believe it???? I almost feel like returning it. Haha!!! Just kidding.

He should change his name though, seriously ...

I had something I really wanted to share with you all here, but it's completely gone from my brain just at the moment.

Keep the beautiful gentle love alive lovely people ❤

🌻birdy

[Ggrand]

Hello Everyone,

I have heard you mention "Blue" on a few occasions here, I had a look at the trailer, and Birdy it's definitely something I will watch as soon as I can find a copy of it...

We have a beautiful planet, I'm out in country NSW..and we all just last week got the recycling bins, we only had the one bin before last week..The new bins have moulded into their lids what's to be put in them...

I get the occasional coffe from a big franchise, I always take my stainless steel coffee cup in the shop with me, and the girls will make my coffee in it... I have 2 coffee cups in the glove box of my car...

I just needed to Thank you for letting us know about blue...

Grandy.