Immortality is showing life as a concept but also in the lab – AMEinfo

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Humankinds thirst for infinite existence has taken a new turn with ideas springing from theoretical assumptions that future tech can turn practical to real-life experiments, with mice that is.

Transhumanism

A movement called transhumanism is now devoted to using science and technology to augment our bodies and our minds, and toallow humans to merge with machines, eradicating old age as a cause of death.

Mind uploading describes a hypothetical process of separating a persons consciousness (which involves their emotions, thought processes, and experiences), then converting it into a digital format, and finally transferring the digital consciousness into a different substrate, like a machine.

The process would conceivably incorporate different steps, like mind copying, mind transfer, mind preservation, and whole brain emulation (WBE).

Overview of how mind uploading can actually work

Step 1: Getting theinformationfrom the brain

The human brain regularly performs complex processes with the help of its86 billion neuronsthat function simultaneously in a large neural network. There aremore than 125 trillion synapsesjust in the cerebral cortex alone. That is a lot of information and storage capacity.

Mind uploadingadvocates claimthat noninvasive brain scans can provide sufficient resolution for copying the brain. The information stored in our brain would then be used tocreate aconnectome, a complete map of the neural connections in the brain, created using incredibly precise scanning of the neurons, and the synapses.

However, to date, we only have a complete connectome for a 1.5-millimeter roundworm calledCaenorhabditis elegans, which has just 302 neurons and about seven thousand synaptic connections.In 2014, theOpenWorm projectwhich mapped the brain replicated it as software and installed it in a Lego robot which was capable of the same sensory and motor actions as the biological model.

Building a human connectome is clearly a much more complicated process needing huge amounts of time and resources forthe identificationof about 86 billion neurons, determination of their precise location, and tracing and cataloging of their projections on one another. This is inconceivable using existing technologies.

Another proposed method of getting information from the brain is through a brain-computer interface (BCI). There are already existing implanted devicesthat can translate some types of neuronal information into commands, and arecapable of controllingexternal software or hardware, such as a robotic arm.However, modern BCIs are only very slightly related to the theoretical BCIs which would be needed to allow us to transfer our brain states into a digital medium.

Some suggest that downloading consciousness would require technology capable of scanning human brains at a quantum particle level.

Elon Musks Neuralink is one company working on aspects of mind-uploading. They are designing a neural implant that would work like a Fitbit in your skull. But it is not close to the technology needed to upload an entire brain.

Meeting the challenges of step 1: Preserving the brain

Some wealthy individuals whowish to live foreverare opting to preserve their brains and sometimes bodies through cryopreservation. In theory, in the future when human connectome technology is fully developed, their consciousness could then be retrieved and uploaded. An American cryonics company Alcor Life Extension Foundationalready stores around180 cryopreserved human bodies.

However, some experts also claim that such cryonic techniquesmaydamagethe brain beyond repair.

Recently, an MIT graduate Robert McIntyre, rekindled the brain preservation hype when heannounced his Y-Combinatorbacked startup Nectome is building some next-generation tools to preserve brains in the microscopic detail needed to map the connectome.

Step 2: Reconstruction of the artificial brain

Once all the neural activity is mapped out and the connectome is ready, the next step would be to digitize it. According toa rough estimatepublished inScientific American, the memory storage capacity of the human brain could be around 2.5 Petabytes (2,500 TB).

Apart from the storage, we will require a computer architecture on which the brain can be reconstructed in the form of computable code. And there is the issue of power for that architecture.Today, a computer with the same memory and processing power as the human brain would require around 1 gigawatt of power, or basically a whole nuclear power station to run one computer that does what our computer does with 20 watts,according to Tom Bartol, a neuroscientist at the Salk Institute.

Step 3: Emulation in an external substrate

Once all the requirements are fulfilled and the artificial brain is ready, the mind can now be uploaded into a simulation, such as a virtual world,like the metaverse. Another transhumanist idea suggests that the mind can also be uploaded on ahumanoid robot.Uploading into a physical robot would require robots that are a lot more functional than any that currently exist.

However, if the consciousness is uploaded as a substrate-independent mind (SIM), and if the SIM is deemed to be conscious, then it will also need toexist in a place and be able to interact with things. This will require virtual reality that is identical to how humans experience actual reality. All of this will require yet more storage capacity, signal bandwidth, and power.

Senescent cells

Nowresearchers in Japan saythey may have taken a step toward boosting human longevity with successful trials of a vaccine against the cells that contribute to the ageing process.

In laboratory trials, a drug targeting a protein contained in senescent cells those which have naturally stopped reproducing themselves slowed the progression of frailty in older mice.

The vaccine also successfully targeted the senescent cells in fatty tissue and blood vessels.

We can expect that (the vaccine) will be applied to the treatment of arterial stiffening, diabetes and other aging-related diseases, Juntendo professor Toru Minamino told Japans Jiji news agency.

Cells become senescent when they stop duplicating themselves, often in response to naturally-occurring damage to their DNA.

In laboratory tests, preventing the build-up of senescent cells extended the lifespan of mice by 15%, Euronews reported. But researchers still dont know how much a living creatures lifespan can be extended.

Some believe there is a limit for the human lifespan of around 130 years as a current estimate.

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Immortality is showing life as a concept but also in the lab - AMEinfo

Another Year Without A Family Christmas? – newsconcerns

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While lockdowns were supposed to be temporary initially just a couple of weeks to flatten the curve nearly two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, theres no end in sight. Thanksgiving was once again canceled in many parts of the U.S., and many government leaders again urged residents to cancel their Christmas celebrations too. The latest Omicron mutation has given bureaucrats additional reasons to unleash their power and raise panic.

What many still dont realize is that the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic has little to do with the spread of an actual virus, and everything to do with the planned global takeover and implementation of a technocratic agenda known as The Great Reset.

Universal mask mandates, social distancing, business shutdowns, online working and learning, and quarantining of asymptomatic individuals are all forms of soft indoctrination to get us used to an entirely new, and unfathomably inhumane, way of life devoid of our usual rights and freedoms.

Klaus Schwab is the founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum. Schwab announced the World Economic Forums Great Reset Agenda in June 2020,1 which includes stripping people of their privately owned assets.

In addition to being a poster boy for technocracy, Schwab also has a strong transhumanist bend, and wrote the book on the Fourth Industrial Revolution, a hallmark of which is the merger of man and machine, biology and digital technology.2

According to Winter Oak a British nonprofit social justice organization Schwab and his globalist accomplices are using the COVID-19 pandemic to bypass democratic accountability, to override opposition, to accelerate their agenda and to impose it on the rest of humankind against our will.

While the Great Reset plan is being sold as a way to make life fair and equitable for all, the required sacrifices do not apply to the technocrats running the system.

On the contrary, as noted by Patrick Wood in an interview with James Delingpole, the wealth distribution and circular economies promoted by the technocratic elite will never benefit the people, because what theyre really referring to is the redistribution of wealth from the people, to themselves.

Evidence of this can be seen in the decision to allow big box stores to remain open during the pandemic while forcing small businesses to close, no matter how small the infection risk.

Theres really no rhyme or reason for such a decision, other than to shift wealth away from small, private business owners to multinational corporations. More than half of all small business owners fear their businesses wont survive.3

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the collective wealth of 651 billionaires in the U.S. rose by more than $1 trillion (36%).4 To put their current wealth in perspective, not only did the number of billionaires in America swell to 745 during the pandemic, but their assets grew by $2.1 trillion.5

According to the online newsletter Inequality, The $5 trillion in wealth now held by 745 billionaires is two-thirds more than the $3 trillion in wealth held by the bottom 50 percent of U.S. households estimated by the Federal Reserve Board.

As noted by Frank Clemente, executive director of Americans for Tax Fairness, Never before has America seen such an accumulation of wealth in so few hands.6

Thats technocratic wealth redistribution for you. Ultimately, The Great Reset will result in two tiers or people: the technocratic elite, who have all the power and rule over all assets, and the rest of humanity, who have no power, no assets and no voice.

That the COVID-19 pandemic is a form of class war is also evident in the way rules are enforced. While citizens are threatened with fines and arrest if they dont do as theyre told, those who lay down the rules repeatedly break them without repercussions.

If you need more evidence that were in the middle of a technocratic takeover, look no further than the mass vaccination agenda and the promotion of fake, lab-grown meat. Bill Gates, another frontline technocrat, has repeatedly stated that we have no choice but to vaccinate everyone against COVID-19.

Naturally, hes heavily invested in said vaccine and stands to gain handsomely from a global mass vaccination campaign. Technocrats are nothing if not self-serving, all while pretending to be do-gooders much like COVID Claus in our little video.

Eventually, your personal identification, medical records, finances and who knows what else will all be tied together and embedded somewhere on or in your body. Every possible aspect of your biology and life activities will be trackable 24/7. You will also be digitally tied into the internet of things, which eventually will include smart cities.

All the different parts of this giant population control grid fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. The global vaccination agenda ties into the biometric identity agenda, which ties into the cashless society agenda, which ties into the social credit system agenda, which ties into the social engineering agenda and so on.

When you follow this experiment to its ultimate conclusion, you find all of humanity enslaved within a digitized prison with no way out. Those who rebel will simply have their digital-everything restricted or shut down.

The rise of fake, lab-grown meat is a puzzle piece of The Great Reset agenda too. According to the World Economic Forum, lab-grown, cultured meat is a more sustainable alternative to conventional livestock, and in the future, well all be eating a lot less meat. As noted on its website:7

As the world looks to reset its economy, along with food systems, in a cleaner way post-pandemic, one more sustainable solution coming to fruition is cultured meat Cultured meat takes much less time to grow, uses fewer of the planets resources, and no animals are slaughtered.

But dont think for a second that this has anything to do with environmental protection. No, its about controlling the food supply and preventing food independence.

Already, multinational corporations have taken over a majority of the global food supply with their patented genetically engineered seeds. Patented cultured meats and seafood will allow private companies to control the food supply in its entirety, and by controlling the food supply, they will control countries and entire populations.

Public health will undoubtedly suffer from this dietary switch, as canola and safflower oil8 are primary sources of fat in these fake meat concoctions. Vegetable oils are loaded with linoleic acid (LA), an omega-6 fat that, in excess, acts as a metabolic poison, causing severe mitochondrial dysfunction, insulin resistance, decreased NAD+ levels, obesity and a radical decrease in your ability to generate cellular energy.

Our LA consumption 150 years ago was between 2 and 3 grams per day. Today it is 10 to 20 times higher. If fake meat becomes a staple, the average LA intake is bound to increase even further.

The Great Reset is well underway, but its not yet too late to stop it. Enough people have to see it and understand it, though. And then they must act. If we want to prevent The Great Reset from destroying life as we know it, we must view civil disobedience as a duty. We must resist it from every angle.

We must reclaim our sovereignty, our right to live free, to open our businesses and move about freely. We must communicate with our elected leaders and demand they not infringe on our constitutional rights. We have to engage in political processes and help educate our local sheriffs of their role as defenders of the constitution. We may also need to support legal challenges.

A small step in the right direction that you can take right now would be to celebrate Christmas like you normally would this week, and not allow the Klaus Schwabs and Bill Gateses of the world rob you of valuable time with family and friends.

There are no guarantees in this life, and for many, this will be their last Christmas. So, spend it well. Cherish life by actually living it and spending it with those you love. Refusing to give up our humanity is how we resist The Great Reset.

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Another Year Without A Family Christmas? - newsconcerns

Values of the U.S. Transhumanist Party U.S …

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The U.S. Transhumanist Party is focused onpolicyrather thanpoliticsas conventionally defined. We value initiatives and reforms that will improve the human condition for as many people as possible, with as much beneficial impact as possible and without regard for scoring political points or defeating the other side. We seek to achieve the next, greatest era of our civilization, which will require constructive solutions to the problems of our current era. All of these problems can be solved if we look away from the political trench warfare of today and up toward a far brighter future.

Ideal 1.The Transhumanist Party supports significant life extension achieved through the progress of science and technology.

Ideal 2.The Transhumanist Party supports a cultural, societal, and political atmosphere informed and animated by reason, science, and secular values.

Ideal 3.The Transhumanist Party supports efforts to use science, technology, and rational discourse to reduce and eliminate various existential risks to the human species.

Find the U.S. Transhumanist Party Platform as Article VI of our Constitution or in this standalone presentation. Below is just a selection of some of our key values and goals, as determined by votes of our members, but we have many other ideas as well, and we also frame the ideas below with a great deal of thought and detail.

Individual privacy and liberty over how to apply technology to ones personal life. [Article VI, Section I]

Tolerance and inclusivity of all individuals of all races, genders, classes, religions, creeds, national origins, and other characteristics.[Article VI, Section II]

Support of most technologies but opposition to certain detrimental technologies (e.g., weapons of mass destruction, privacy-infringing technologies, engineering of new pathogens).[Article VI, Section III]

Opposition to nuclear weapons, support of complete nuclear disarmament, even if unilateral.[Article VI, Section IV]

Support of research on eradicating disease.[Article VI, Section V]

Morphological freedom.[Article VI, Section VI]

Support of all values and efforts toward cultivation of science, technology, reason.[Article VI, Section VII]

Support of all emerging technologies that improve the human condition, including:

Autonomous vehicles

Electric vehicles

Economical solar power

Safe nuclear power

Hydroelectricity

Geothermal power

Applications for the sharing of durable goods

Artificial intelligence

Biotechnology

Nanotechnology

Robotics

Rapid transit

3D printing

Vertical farming

Electronic devices to detect and respond to trauma

Beneficial genetic modification of plants, animals, and human beings[Article VI, Section IX]

Ending the drug war.[Article VI, Section XIV]

Reforming the prison system to reduce the incarcerated population.[Article VI, Section XV]

Universal Basic Income (UBI) not conditional on life circumstances, occupations, other income, or wealth.[Article VI, Section XVI]

Reasonable measures to fund space travel.[Article VI, Section XVII]

Using science and technology to eliminate disabilities.[Article VI, Section XVIII]

Ending the two-party duopoly.[Article VI, Section XIX]

Life extension / anti-aging.[Article VI, Sections V, VIII, IX]

Removal of barriers to medical research and deployment of treatments.[Article VI, Sections LXXIX, LXXX, LXXXI, LXXXII]

Reducing the national debt.[Article VI, Section XXXV]

Alternative sources of energy and their technological implementations. [Article VI, Section XXXVIII]

Increasing the budget of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).[Article VI, SectionLXXVII]

Support for political, economic, and cultural experimentation e.g., seasteads and micronations.[Article VI, SectionXXII]

Childrens rights proportional to their rational faculties. [Article VI, Sections XXIII, LXII]

Animal welfare (but not animal liberation). [Article VI, Section XXIV]

Opposition to intolerant, rights-violating, anti-technological, and compulsion-imposing doctrines, be they religious or secular.[Article VI, Sections XXV, XL, LXIII]

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Values of the U.S. Transhumanist Party U.S ...

Scientists Are Using Brain Implants To Read Patients’ Minds, Then Yours – The Federalist

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Last year, Elon Musk predicted his Neuralink brain implant could eventually allow people to bypass human language. With a handful of AI-powered chips jabbed into their brains, Neuralink users could converse with their thoughts alone. Poetry and liturgy would become a sentimental pastime, like roasting marshmallows over a campfire.

In principle, you would be able to communicate very quickly, and with far more precision, ideas, Musk mumbled to Joe Rogan. And language would Im not sure what would happen to language [But] really, in the first few versions all were going to be trying to do is solve brain injuries.

Many scoffed at the time, just as they did when Musk hyped the idea of a self-driving Tesla. Today, a quick glance around the 405 freeway in Los Angeles provides evidence that a billionaires dreams can quickly become the publics reality even if a few models have to burst into flames to get there.

On July 14, the transhumanist goal of neuro-telepathy came a step closer to realization, thanks to a major breakthrough by a team at the University of California, San Francisco.Neuroscientists surgically implanted a subdural electrode array on the surface of a stroke victims brain. For 81 weeks, they fed his sensorimotor cortex signals into an artificial intelligence system. Using the algorithms predictive power as a sort of auto-complete feature, the team was able to translate the subjects attempts at speech into text with extraordinary accuracy.

Although presently limited to a 50-word vocabulary, the silent patient is able to string together full sentences, which are displayed onscreen in real time. A few evocative examples include: Here is my computer, My family is very comfortable, They have faith, and Faith is good.

This experiment was supported by Project Steno, a long-term program funded and supported by Facebook. One of the projects broader goals was to create a non-invasive helmet that could translate the average users thoughts into digital information. Although Facebook Reality Labs decided to put this mass-market brain-cap on hold for now, the engineers are celebrating the UCSF neuroprosthetic implant as a new milestone in brain-computer interface.

The experiments leader, neuroscientist Edward Chang, extended his gratitude to the social media company. Weve learned so much about how speech is processed in the brain [over the past decade], but its only in the last five years that advances in machine learning have allowed us to get to this key milestone, he said. Facebooks machine learning advice and funding really accelerated our progress.

Changs results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The scientists and engineers over at Neuralink are either seething with envy or dying to announce their next breakthrough in the race to create a cyborg elite.

Whether or not Changs invasive procedure can be reproduced consistently, the momentum behind it is irrefutable. According to the prevailing mythos in Silicon Valley and various academic programs, technology can ultimately heal what ails us. Brain implants will cure stroke damage, paralysis, traumatic injuries, and even soothe emotional maladies such as depression. Far beyond medical treatment, though, advocates for full augmentation intend to overcome the human condition itself.

Of all the transhumanists in high places, Elon Musk is perhaps the most famous. Last April, he stunned the unsuspecting world with avideo of a macaque monkey playing MindPong using two Neuralink chips drilled into his brain. While Neuralinks next planned step will be treating degenerative brain disease in humans, Musk has said many times his ultimate goal is cognitive enhancement and human-AI symbiosis.

The tycoons urgency stems from a belief that artificial intelligence will soon outstrip flawed human cognition, as weve already seen with Go champions, cancer and heart disease diagnosis, Amazon warehouse management, and aerial dogfight simulations.

Over time I think we will probably see a closer merger of biological intelligence and digital intelligence, Musk told a crowd in Dubai. Its mostly about the bandwidth, the speed of the connection between your brain and the digital version of yourself. Hed better get moving, because theres plenty of competition.

Blackrock Neurotech has arguably made the most progress on neuroprosthesis, at least in terms of medical applications. The company provided a key component for the UCSF breakthrough. Thirty people worldwide have had an implanted brain-computer interface, their website boasts. Twenty-eight of those use Blackrocks technology.

With the longest chronic implant being over six years, we know we can make BCI work for millions today! the site homepage says. And tomorrow we can aim to make hundreds of millions of people walk, talk, see, hear, and feel again.

Beyond medicine, Kernel is among the most audacious players using a brain-computer interface solely for cognitive enhancement. Currently, the company has developed two non-invasive skullcaps that monitor neurological activity to optimize human performance. Kernel Flow uses near-infrared spectroscopy to measure blood flow. Kernel Flux uses magnetometers to track the brains electromagnetic fluctuations.

These helmets can have numerous biofeedback applications, including cognitive and athletic performance, heightened focus during meditation, and brain-to-brain synchrony. Two weeks ago, the company announced its partnership with Statespace to produce superhuman video gamers.

By 2030, Kernels founder Bryan Johnson aims to put a brain helmet in every American household. Like Musk, hes convinced mere humanity will need a wide range of enhancement tools to remain relevant in the age of artificial intelligence because anything you can do, AI can do better.

As a religious philosophy, transhumanism sees technological augmentation as a moral duty. It begins with the quest to overcome disease, old age, and death, and it ends with something like the Christian vision of human perfection and immortality.

Its an underappreciated fact that many transhumanists are not atheists. Some see technology as a way to realize Gods unfolding plan even if that means irreversibly altering the human form, or replacing humans with simulacra altogether.

Resting on the pillars of gene-editing, bionic modification, neuro-enhancement, robotics, and artificial intelligence, transhumanism is yet another dream for a better world. Naturally, these far-reaching ambitions invite revulsion and ridicule from normal people.

Perhaps more importantly, human perfection has always proven to be an impossible dream (the Kardashians are a fine example). That limitation may not matter, though, as long as powerful people are driven to pursue grand visions and intend to drag the rest of us along.

Changs UCSF brain implant experiment shows that some aspects of the transhumanist vision are already within reach. Technology confers miraculous powers. Even if the subjects immune system eventually rejects the electrodes in his head (as is quite common), for now hes able to do something that for nearly two decades was impossible: directly express his thoughts in words.

One of the more touching phrases hes able to convey is, I need you. Although the study makes no mention of it, I imagine he immediately said, Thank you. Progress wont stop with this heart-warming scenario, though. It never does.

The first computers were developed out of military necessity. Today, more than six billion people in the world casually use smartphones to enhance memory and cognition as if they always existed.Sex-change operations were pioneered to cater to troubled souls who saw no other option. Now hormone therapy is in vogue and even children are being convinced to try it.

Its only a matter of time before we see attempts to use elective brain implants to create elite mathematicians and super-soldiers. Over and over again, were told this new world is inevitable. That may be the case, but not because God or nature deemed it so. Transhumanism is inevitable for the same reason that war is always imminent: because someone with enough power wants it to happen.

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Scientists Are Using Brain Implants To Read Patients' Minds, Then Yours - The Federalist

Down on the ‘Transhuman Farm’ Nightmares are Technocratic – Being Of Click Built Panopticons and Tractors in Human Form , Alas. – CounterPunch.org -…

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The horror!, The horror!

Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad

Recognizing the broad potential of mRNA science, we set out to create an mRNA technology platform that functions very much like an operating system on a computer.

Moderna

simulacrum

[ sim-yuhleykruhm ]

noun, plural simulacra [sim-yuh-ley-kruh].

1. a slight, unreal, or superficial likeness or semblance.

2. an effigy, image, or representation: a simulacrum of Aphrodite.

Dictionary.com

In the novel We, written almost a century ago, Yevgeny Zamyatin introduced the concept of Great Operation: which as psycho-surgery had the effect of producing as he described tractors in human form.

Small article here examines the utility and potentiality of psycho-surgery and transhumanism from the perspective of the early 21st C given technological advance; and not so much Great Operation but Great Reset as currently in progress of being introduced at a Global level.

This apropos the quote from Heart of Darkness above and psycho-surgery being a polymorphous concept as ripe for technological development, alas and as Wilde put it paraphrased : technocratic evil bastards can resist anything but temptation.

At least one office in DARPA is devoted to Biological Technologies.

Social Credit as some parallel of tractorship in human form effected on a mass level is bleeding edge in China, such the technocratic prototype as unipolar, such the Dystopia?

Zamyatin conceived of the Great Operation as entailing destruction or impairment of function of parts of the human brain thru deployment of X-rays, and as a labor intensive as surgical operation; being as one brain lobotomized/strait jacketed phenomenological as much as one tractor in human form rendered at a time, such the psycho politics dystopian s algorithmic..

In fairness to Zamyatin when he wrote We X -Rays represented cutting edge technology, having only been discovered in 1895. Mass production as capital intense was still in its corporatist infancy back when Zamyatin wrote Model Ts were just beginning to roll off assembly lines.

It is said that Orwell drew heavily upon We concerning 1984.

The Great Reset contains the vision that in the future you shall own nothing and be happy. The potential implications of this statement in relation to technological development and transhumanism will be explored here; alongside the alternate conception of said Great Reset being as a new form of Feudalism not based on ownership of land and fief, but on ownership of transhumans and the fief of tractors in human form as said transhumanism exploited by way of debasement, such the simulacrum, such the tragedy, such the absurdity as Marx claimed.

Can transhumans be owned down on the technocratic farm?

Patent WO2020060606 Cryptocurrency System Using Body Activity Data; it shine a light?

That is to say; psychotronic technology is , alongside Artificial Intelligence (AI )and gene therapy the technology of the future as it meets the needs of technocratic pathology by way of facilitating widespread as Globalized owning nothing as well as happiness being as enforced under political form totalitarian as technocratic, such the anorexic mirror. The wet dreams of technocratic man gods as obscenely wealthy on the transhumanist farm await explication such the ius est?

Never in the course of history has so much been owned by so few, such the ius, nest ce pas?

As these small quarters write (early 21st C), we impoverished Humans still have the capacity to independently think; albeit this becoming rarer as is biodiversity under the military industrial corporatist complex as a result of technocratic direction and the growing power of technology to effect by way of winnowing not only behavioral patterns, but the thought patterns underlying same such the dumbing down, such the propaganda, such the drone/litany of woe as dystopian?

For neoliberalism synonymises technocracy such the freedom of do what thou wilt as the degenerate satanical bastard Aleister Crowley propagated?

It is reasonable to suppose that were Joseph Goebbels to be alive today he would be gleeful over the power of broadcast media to effect propaganda on a mass scale and its singularity of repetition of line to some corporatist technocratic parallel of Ein volk, ein reich, ein fuhrer attained as facilitated Globally and that would be before he as a degenerate introduced to the monitoring, controlling and manipulative aspects of technological progress as amoral; such the goose steps algorithmic as of Artificial Intelligence (AI); let alone the psychotronic potentialities of a new operating system as under genetic modification, such the hack, such the reboot as about to be jacked as further jagged up down on the transhuman farm?

The social media implications of dopamine release being as to some variant psychotronic of B-b-b-baby, you just aint seen n-n-nothin yet as the transhuman farm all set up to go into overdrive so it goes under megalomanical madness.

For electrosmog has a panotpiconic utility as truly fearful, and alas offers a synergy as Gestalten with the concept of genetic modification as much as the potentiality of new operating system to attain?

(Electrosmog of War on the Globalized Transhumanist Farm was considered for title this small article.)

Permit these small quarters to temporarily control and issue some currency as alternative as metapolitical questions raised here?

In accordance with Technocratic vision as weltsanchauung the term surplus population has been passed into the mundane via cultural hegemony as much as R2P as build back better; such the new normal, such the casus belli?

Such the head offed as menticidal as ecocidal, indeed?

What if , and here small quarters just speculating alternative as mindful of irony; a new operating system for Humanity could be possessed of eugenical characteristics? More prone to parallel of blue screen such the reboot? More susceptible as amenable to update?

A swab up every nose or ass, an injection in every arm as update effected under R2P?

What if Bill Gates , such the window, other than a money making philanthropist under trillionaire technocratic muppetry is pursuing a eugenical agenda based on technocratic apperception of surplus population?

What if the very concept of R2P has been even further corrupted/debased to mean the Protected not Humanity or Democracy or Human Rights but rather Resource Transfer as enables obscene wealth accumulation translated into obscene power, sense of Lord Actons proposition vis a vis power?

R2P - further corrupted/degenerated as in control and issue of opium in Afghanistan, oil in Iraq, oil in Libya, Oil inSyria such the production as in a theater of war morphing before our very eyes such the contemptoraneity (sic)?

Is there a responsibility to protect the health of a surplus population as apperceived; or does a live and let die ethos prevail under Technocracy?

Do Bears shit in the woods?

Does evil exist as incarnate or is it just dysfunctionality as pathological aberration under an empirical paradigm of objectivity?

Underneath not so much the spreading chestnut tree but rather the Empirical Tree down on the Transhuman Farm I sold you as much as you sold me demanded?

Are covidiots now as that charming man as ex passenger on the Lolita Express Alan Dershowitz professed fit to be held down and forcibly injected such the Nakba Transhumanist as a gene drive expressed?

Is such questioning under TINA as Technocratic hegemony goes by way of the Fourth Reich/ Industrial Revolution now Verboten?

The psychotropic as psychotronic possibilities arising from conjunction of AI, genetic modification, nanotechnology, beam formed electrosmog as a plasma are truly horrific to contemplate: they place Zamyatins concept of great operation and tractors in human form alongside Jose Delgado and his chipping of individual bulls via neurosurgery; this as much as a spear stands in relation to a hypersonic thermonuclear missile, both in context of economy of scale and metadeath, sense of genetic mutation effected?

Perhaps an algorithmic exposition of the transhuman farm as a click built panopticon is apposite/called for?

Congratulations, you are in just the right place at the right time!

The psychotronic potentiality of non ionizing radiation has already been demonstrated. It should be noted that this technology by way of beam forming can effect not only a sense of burning, but also the delivery of intelligible voice commands such the voice of god.

The ubiquitous presence of non ionizing radiation is something which can be attained thru telecommunications infrastructure. 5G roll-out exemplifies an environmental modulation apropos.

An enhancement of psychotronic potentiality as of aforementioned can be attained by way of:

a) Modulation the genetic base/ DNA code as an operating system.

b) The presence of electromagnetic nanotechnology

Artificial Intelligence is capable of co-ordinating the delivery of psychotronic control on a mass as global level; in conjunction as interfaced with suitable non ionizing radiation presence, genetic modification and electromagnetic nanotechnology , any biomass can be impacted pro actively; sense of surveillance, control and manipulation.

And all because the 0.001% love money, love power such the alpha point effected?

We shall own nothing and be happy!

Nothing includes our thoughts no longer our own such the psychotronics; includes our genes no longer same such the therapy, our own happiness such the soma as electromagnetic nanotechnologically to be enforced such the man gods supplicated unto to be?

Even bastard degenerate Nazis had a choice as to raise an arm or click heels?

Even in 1984 a ration could be seen as it was as?

Say hello to technocratic psychotronics!

Is it like thisIn deaths other kingdomWaking aloneAt the hour when we areTrembling with tendernessLips that would kissForm prayers to broken stone.

As T.S. Eliot wrote concerning hollow men as transhuman as technocratic?

Final words to Orwell, such the paraphrase.

(Transhuman Farm, indeed.)

The humans looked from technocrat to transhuman, and from transhuman to technocrat and could see no difference

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Down on the 'Transhuman Farm' Nightmares are Technocratic - Being Of Click Built Panopticons and Tractors in Human Form , Alas. - CounterPunch.org -...

Batman and Oracle Make Big Changes to the Bat-Signal – ComicBook.com

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After the fallout of Joker War and the Infinite Frontier beginning, Batman has found himself with an all-new status quo in Gotham City. Not only is the Dark Knight Detective without his riches, his traditional BatCave, and even a decent Batmobile, but his Bat-Signal is actually getting an upgrade, sort of. Batman doesn't have many friends in the GCPD anymore as Commissioner Gordon has retired (replaced by Renee Montoya) and Mayor Christopher Nakano has a very Anti-Batman policy. To that end the Bat-Signal won't be sitting at police headquarters, and Oracle has a big idea.

Revealed in the pages of Batman #107, Oracle tells Batman that she's developed a new version of the Bat-Signal to have around Gotham but this time there will be more than one. "It's not like the cops are going to put the old one back on the roof of the central precinct with Nakano in office," Barbara says. "But I think it's important to remind people that you're still out there. And I want a way to keep in touch when you turn off your radio."The plan includes developing twelve different Bat-Signals to put across rooftops around Gotham. These signals won't ever appear on the same roof twice and will be picked up and relocated by the members of the Bat-Family after just one use.

"Signal goes up, and you go to meet A Gordon on top of a weird old building, and find out about the crisis of the day," she adds.

The new signals aren't out yet by the issue's end but we can fully expect them to get some use as the problem with the Scarecrow is only heating up.

You can find the full cover art and solicitation for the next issue of Batman below.

BATMAN #108written by JAMES TYNION IVart and cover by JORGE JIMENEZbackup story art by RICARDO LOPEZ ORTIZcard stock variant cover by STANLEY ARTGERM LAU1:25 card stock variant cover by RICCARDO FEDERICION SALE 5/4/21$4.99 US | 40 PAGES | FC | DCCARD STOCK VARIANT COVER $5.99 USBatman goes undercover to infiltrate the transhumanist gang known as the Unsanity Collective and learn more about their sudden appearance in Gotham. And what nefarious plans does Simon Saint have for Arkham Day survivor Sean Mahoney? How does it connect to the Magistrate?And in part two of the action-packed, bone-rattling Ghost-Maker backup storycan our hero stand up to the horror of Kid Kawaii?Plus, dont miss the debut of the mysterious Miracle Molly!

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Batman and Oracle Make Big Changes to the Bat-Signal - ComicBook.com

Scientist proposes new plan to "resurrect" the dead with a Dyson Sphere, kind of – Boing Boing

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Russian transhumanist Alexey Turchin has shared a new "roadmap to immortality," which proposes several different plans (with backup plans!) for extending human life through technology. Here's the gist, as he explains it:

Plan A. The most obvious way to reach immortality is to survive until the creation of Friendly AI; in that case if you are young enough and optimistic enough, you can simply do nothing or just fund MIRI. However, if you are older, you have to jump from one method of life extension to the next as they become available. So plan A is a relay race of life extension methods, until the problem of death is solved.

This plan includes actions to defeat aging, to grow and replace diseased organs with new bioengineered ones, to get a nanotech body and in the end to be scanned into a computer. It is an optimized sequence of events, and depends on two things your personal actions (such as regular medical checkups), and collective actions such as civil activism and scientific research funding.

Plan B.However, if Plan A fails, i.e. if you die before the creation of superintelligence, there is Plan B, which is cryonics. Some simple steps can be taken now, such as calling your nearest cryocompany about a contract.

Plan C.Unfortunately, cryonics could also fail, and in that case Plan C is invoked. Of course it is much worse less reliable and less proven. Plan C is so-called digital immortality, where one could be returned to life based on existing recorded information about that person. It is not a particularly good plan, because we are not sure how to solve the identity problem which will arise, and we don't know if the collected amount of information would be enough. But it is still better than nothing.

Plan D.Lastly, if Plan C fails, we have Plan D. It is not a plan in fact, it is just hope or a bet that immortality already exists somehow: perhaps there is quantum immortality, or perhaps future AI will bring us back to life.

The first three plans demand particular actions now: we need to prepare for all of them simultaneously. All of the plans will lead to the same result: our minds will be uploaded into a computer with help of highly developed AI.

Here's a visual summary of his "Immortality Roadmap."

Of course, as Turchin explained to Popular Mechanics [Paywalled], it would take a lot of energy to power a super intelligence of this scale, which is where the Dyson Sphere would come into play. Also, if we're being technical, this super intelligence wouldn't so much be resurrecting you as it would be making a copy of the data that is you. Tomayto, Tomahto.

A Dyson Sphere Could Bring Humans Back From the Dead, Researchers Say [Stav Dimitropoulos / Popular Mechanics]

Immortality Roadmap [Alexey Turchin]

Image: Public Domain via NASA

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Scientist proposes new plan to "resurrect" the dead with a Dyson Sphere, kind of - Boing Boing

Vegums Conscience-Tests the American Vegan and Plant-Based Eater With U.S. Launch – Yahoo Finance

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Vegums, the rapidly growing UK vegan vitamin and supplement brand will make its U.S. debut in January with three of its Ve-ssentials gummy products, Vegan optimized Multivitamins, Fish-Free Omega-3 and Vegan Iron.

HOBOKEN, N.J., January 04, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Vegums, the multivitamin and supplement gummy for vegans and those adopting a plant-based lifestyle, announced today the launch of Vegums USA. Founded by John Rushton and Abdul Sharief, two UK pharmacists in 2018, Vegums was created to address the vitamin and mineral deficiencies associated with rapidly growing vegan and plant-based lifestyles as well as staying passionately committed to sustainability and animal welfare.

"As pharmacists, Abdul and I just couldnt find vitamins for our families that were committed to the true vegan cause, so we created one!" said John Rushton, Co-Founder of Vegums. "We saw the meteoric rise of veganism as well as plant-based diets coupled with the huge concern about the planet and animal welfare and decided there was a great opportunity. We set about using our health, wellness, and pharmacy skills to design vitamins and supplements that not only have completely vegan ingredients none of this 'suitable for' rubbish!" He continued, "The vegan diet can mean that people become deficient in certain nutrients which in turn can lead to health issues, so we adjusted levels to compensate for this. We also care greatly about the planet we live on and animal welfare, so we built the brand to give back for the next generations future. We feel that our whole ethos is best summarized by Vegums tagline 'Conscience tested'."

Certified by the Vegan Society, Vegums vitamin gummies comprise genuine, easy-to-grasp, vegan ingredients. Citrus peel is used as a gelling agent as opposed to animal-based gelatin. Natural colors and flavors are always employed and where a touch of sweetness is required, it is with unrefined cane sugar to avoid the use of bonemeal common in refining. "We also went the tasty gummy route why not make vitamins pleasant to take and digest?" said Rushton. "And, for the adults as well as the kids, weve created bear families."

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"There are so many benefits to following a vegan diet, but it can be easy to fall short of some important vitamins and minerals," said Dr. Nicole Avena, Ph.D., a research neuroscientist, author, and expert in the fields of nutrition, diet, and addiction. "Vegans need to pay extra special attention to a few vitamins and minerals like vitamin B12, iron, or Vitamin D (among others) because the best sources of these nutrients come from animal foods. A supplement optimized for vegans could target these nutrients that vegans are likely missing out on, and help someone following a vegan diet feel secure knowing that they aren't lacking important vitamins and minerals they need to stay healthy."

Winner of the 2020 World Plant-Based Awards, Vegums will initially be available in the U.S. via three "Ve-ssentials":

Vegan Multivitamin: Specifically optimized for the vegan diet. It contains vitamins B12, B6, and D3 plus folic acid, selenium, and iodine on the premise of everything you need and nothing you dont. The gummies come in a tasty strawberry flavor and get their vibrant red color from natural black carrot extract.

Fish-Free Omega-3: Fully vegan Omega-3 from sustainably sourced marine algae, provides a huge 80mg DHA per daily dose. Omega-3 is considered to help build and maintain healthy eyes, skin, heart, and brain. It is especially important during childhood development. Vegums have the natural sweetness of oranges and are absent of the fishy taste.

Iron: A daily dose of two naturally flavored blackberry gummy bears results in an amazing 14mg of easier-to-absorb ferrous iron. A good iron level is essential to prevent anemia, which manifests as tiredness and a lack of energy.

"Were passionate about the planet and have built sustainability into the framework of our brand," said Abdul Sharief, Co-Founder of Vegums. "All Vegums ingredients have been traced back to their source to ensure that no animal products were used at any stage. Additionally, unlike many vegan competitors, weve abandoned plastic packaging. All Vegums products come in biodegradable cellulose and recycled cardboard, designed to be stored in our custom reusable tin. We will not contribute to landfill waste. Importantly, in the UK, Vegums has achieved carbon-negative status; we aim to do the same in the U.S. We know its a big place, but we are ready for it and by all accounts, the vegan population is ready for our products."

Vegums are available for purchase directly from http://www.vegums.us, and via Amazon, in addition to a growing number of selected local vitamin and health and wellness stores across the country. A one-month adult or two-month childrens supply of the Vegan Multivitamins and the Iron retail for $19.95 with a subscription; with Fish-Free Omega-3 retailing for $21.95, again with a subscription. The brand will be offering large introductory discounts around the launch.

With every purchase, Vegums donates a percentage of its profits to Vitamin Angels, a charity that assists pregnant women, infants, and children who live beyond the margins. Additionally, for every review on TrustPilot, the brand has partnered with MoreTrees to plant trees in local communities, helping improve opportunities for work and to offset the CO2 the business emits. To date, the brand has planted trees for local and tribal communities in Madagascar, for local farmers in Haiti, and with the Kijabe Forest Trust in Kenya.

Visit http://www.vegums.us to learn more.

About Vegums

Vegums was founded in 2018 by two UK pharmacists, John Rushton and Abdul Sharief, to address the vitamin and mineral deficiencies associated with rapidly growing vegan and plant-based lifestyles. Certified by the Vegan Society and winners of the 2020 World Plant-Based Awards, Vegums has formulated the perfect blend of vitamins and minerals specifically to complement a plant-based diet. Upon entering the US market in the fall of 2021, Vegums offers a range of vitamin gummies including: a Vegan Multivitamin specifically optimized for the vegan diet; Fish-Free Omega-3, a vegan Omega-3 from sustainably sourced marine algae, and Iron, 14mg of ferrous iron. All Vegums products subscribe to the core vegan spirit and avoid animal-based ingredients such as gelatin or sugar refined with bonemeal. Ingredients such as citrus peel are used as a gelling agent as opposed to animal-based gelatin and natural colors and flavors are used together with a pinch of natural, unrefined cane sugar for sweetness. Advocates of a better planet, Vegums only use biodegradable and/or recyclable packaging. All Vegums products are available on http://www.vegums.us and Amazon. Join the plant-based conversation with @Vegums.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220104005931/en/

Contacts

Press: AMC Consulting Annmarie Mercieri Colonnaannmarie@amccomms.com press@vegums.com

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Vegums Conscience-Tests the American Vegan and Plant-Based Eater With U.S. Launch - Yahoo Finance

Plant-Based Food Has Gone Mainstream But Why Are Brands Still Alienating Vegans? – Plant Based News

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Back in 2017, a popular food and drink brand caused a stir after penning a gushing Instagram post about dairy.

We are for good quality, proper milkwere talking whole milk. Full fat milk, it wrote. We dont use skimmed milk powder in any of our foods.

The brand went on to describe cows milk as the perfect balance of protein, good fats and natural sugars (lactose), concluding that they live life to the full, with full fat dairy products.

These words didnt come from a dairy milk or cheese company, but a supposedly progressive plant-based milk brand named Rude Health, which had, until then, been hugely popular with vegans.

The post understandably sparked outrage from vegans, most of whom had adopted the lifestyle because of the cruelty in the dairy and other animal industries. The situation was made worse when one of the brands founders called veganism modern madness, and described vegan films like What the Health as propaganda.

It was truly shocking to see a company seemingly actively try to alienate its consumer base, but Rude Health was just one of the first of a number of brands to do so.

Last week, plant-based meat alternative company THIS came under fire after posting an advert that claimed to show a number of vegans eating what they were told were real meat products (they were actually the companys vegan alternatives).

The video diluted and miscommunicated what veganism is, and THIS was heavily criticized in the comments. By showing a group of alleged vegans who are willing to eat meat, it sent a message that veganism is nothing more than a diet that can be dipped in and out of, rather than a movement seeking to end animal exploitation.

Things, again, were made worse after one of their staff members posted a picture of a bacon meal she was eating on her personal profile in response to the criticism the company had received.

She wrote: After 24 hours as a vegan punching bag, I enjoyed every mouthful of these cheesy, creamy, bacon covered pierogi. In its subsequent apology, THIS said that they were genuinely, really sorry for undermining veganism with our silly marketing vid.

THIS has since taken steps to amend and atone for this misfire in marketing, issuing a public apology.

Non-vegan companies have also used similar tactics to promote their plant-based food. When Subway released its Meatless Marinara, a plant-based version of its famous Meatball Marinara, it released an advert showing a group of meat-free members of the public taking part in a taste test.

As a joke, the woman hosting the event then told the group that shed accidentally given them the meat version. After a few moments, during which the people were shown looking understandably appalled, they were told that they were in fact the vegan versions.

These kinds of marketing tactics feed into the narrative that veganism is nothing more than a fad and something to poke fun of, which is a commonly held belief in our society. Adverts like these are likely created because of the prevailing idea that veganism is a trend, something that people are into now but probably wont be soon. There is an assumption that vegans would be able to easily laugh off eating meat, rather than being deeply upset at the thought that their ethics had been compromised.

A decision to prioritise more occasional plant-based eaters over vegans is another reason why brands could be getting their marketing so wrong. There are thought to be around 23 million flexitarians in the UK, as opposed to around 600,000 vegans.

Oatly, an oat milk brand valued at $13 billion last year, recently shied away from the vegan label in a paid-for article in the Guardian. The piece included a quote reading: As more of us move towards a plant-based life, our labels may need to shift to reflect a whole spectrum of new normals. It said that all or nothing labels like vegan can be a disincentive for us to make plant-based choices wed otherwise be open to.

Its true that veganism is all-encompassing, but the articles attempt to present that as a problem undermined the fact that its a movement to end animal cruelty and exploitation, rather than a simple dietary choice.

Oatly also caused controversy after promoting the label part-time vegan on its Instagram. This was criticized by many of its customers on the basis that ethical vegans cannot be part-time, and that being vegan means rejecting animal exploitation in every aspect of your life (where possible). Oatly later apologized, saying it was committed to bringing as many people as possible into the plant-based camp, but acknowledging that the post was a failure.

These marketing misfires expose a deep rooted misunderstanding in our society of the fact that veganism is a philosophy and movement, not a fad or trend. It also seems that some brands are trying to attract the increasing number of flexitarian and plant-based consumers at the expense of the vegan customers who built the foundations for their success.

While its of course great news that more people are making small steps to eat less animal products, that doesnt mean the vegan message should be undermined. Brands should find ways to promote their products without biting some of the hands that feed them.

Can you lend us a hand? For the past six years, the team behind Plant Based News has worked tirelessly to create high-quality, high-impact content that sparks dialogue and shifts the conversation around agriculture, public health, animal welfare, and the climate crisis.

More than 2.8 million fans from 100+ countries read, share, engage, and connect with what we cover and that number is growing all the time.

Unearthing the facts often buried deep by leading (and sometimes unethical) organizations, we pride ourselves on being completely independent from commercial control.

Perhaps most importantly, we keep our content free because everyone should have access to, and the opportunity to engage with these discussions.

In the age of information, where internet users are bombarded with money-driven narratives and messaging, keeping thought-provoking, moving, and above all, honest content available to all is at the heart of what we do.

Our goal, of course, is for as many communities as possible to engage with our reporting, and open the minds of people around the world.

This is where you come in. If youre in a position to do so, please consider supporting us from just $1, as a one-off or ongoing donation. Any amount helps us continue our mission and keep content free, for everyone.

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Plant-Based Food Has Gone Mainstream But Why Are Brands Still Alienating Vegans? - Plant Based News

Veganism and the Environment | PETA

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Raising animals for food requires massive amounts of land, food, energy, and water. The byproducts of animal agriculture pollute our air and waterways. By shunning animal products, vegans are de facto environmentalists.

Using Up Resources

As the worlds appetite for meat increases, countries across the globe are bulldozing huge swaths of land to make more room for animals as well as crops to feed them. From tropical rain forests in Brazil to ancient pine forests in China, entire ecosystems are being destroyed to fuel humans addiction to meat. According to scientists at the Smithsonian Institution, seven football fields worth of land is bulldozed every minute to create more room for farmed animals and the crops that feed them.1 Of all the agricultural land in the U.S., 80 percent is used to raise animals for food and grow grain to feed themthats almost half the total land mass of the lower 48 states.2 In the finishing phase alone, in which pigs grow from 100 pounds to 240 pounds, each hog consumes more than 500 pounds of grain, corn, and soybeans; this means that across the U.S., pigs eat tens of millions of tons of feed every year.3

Chickens, pigs, cattle, and other animals raised for food are the primary consumers of water in the U.S.: a single pig consumes 21 gallons of drinking water per day, while a cow on a dairy farm drinks as much as 50 gallons daily.4,5 It takes more than 2,400 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of cow flesh, whereas it takes about 180 gallons of water to make 1 pound of whole wheat flour.6

Polluting the Air

Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide together cause the vast majority of global warming. Producing a little more than 2 pounds of beef causes more greenhouse-gas emissions than driving a car for three hours and uses up more energy than leaving your house lights on for the same period of time.7 According to the United Nations, a global shift toward a vegan diet is one of the steps necessary to combat the worst effects of climate change.8

Factory farms also produce massive amounts of dust and other contaminates that pollute the air. A study in Texas found that animal feedlots in that state produce more than 7,000 tons of particulate dust every year and that the dust contains biologically active organisms such as bacteria, mold, and fungi from the feces and the feed.9 And when the cesspools holding tons of urine and feces get full, factory farms may circumvent water pollution limits by spraying liquid manure into the air, creating mists that are carried away by the wind and inhaled by nearby residents.10 According to a report by the California State Senate, Studies have shown that [animal waste] lagoons emit toxic airborne chemicals that can cause inflammatory, immune, and neurochemical problems in humans.11

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that roughly 80 percent of ammonia emissions in the U.S. come from animal waste.12 A California study found that a single dairy cow emits 19.3 pounds of volatile organic compounds per year, making dairies the largest source of the smog-making gas, surpassing trucks and passenger cars.13

Polluting the Water

Each day, factory farms produce billions of pounds of manure, which ends up in lakes, rivers, and drinking water.

Theone trillion pounds of waste produced by factory-farmed animals each year are usually used to fertilize crops, and they subsequently end up running off into waterwaysalong with the drugs and bacteria that they contain.14 Many tons of waste end up in giant pits in the ground or on crops, polluting the air and groundwater. According to the EPA, agricultural runoff is the number one source of pollution in our waterways.15

It doesnt stop there. Streams and rivers carry excrement from factory farms to the Mississippi River, which then deposits the waste in the Gulf of Mexico. The nitrogen from animal fecesand from fertilizer, which is primarily used to grow crops for farmed animalscauses algae populations to skyrocket, leaving little oxygen for other life forms. A 2006 report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found that the Gulf of Mexicos dead zonean area in which virtually all the sea animals and plants have diedis now half the size of Maryland.16 In 2006, a separate study by Princeton University found that a shift away from meat productionas well as Americans adoption of vegetarian dietswould dramatically reduce the amount of nitrogen in the Gulf to levels that would make the dead zone small or non-existent.17

Cruelty to Animals

In addition to polluting the environment, factory farming strives to produce the most meat, milk, and eggs as quickly and cheaply as possible and in the smallest amount of space possible, resulting in abusive conditions for animals. Cows, calves, pigs, chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, rabbits, and other animals are kept in small cages or stalls, where they are often unable to turn around. They are deprived of exercise so that all their energy goes toward producing flesh, eggs, or milk for human consumption. They are fed drugs that fatten them more quickly, and they are genetically manipulated to grow faster or produce much more milk or eggs than they would naturally. For more industry-specific information, please see our factsheets about pigs, cows, veal, chickens, turkeys, and foie gras.

Dont be fooled by products labeled as organic or free-range. Because definitions and enforcement of regulations are inconsistent, its difficult to determine which products actually come from animals who are treated decently. Since none of the labels applies to transport or slaughter and none prohibits bodily mutilations such as debeaking, tail-docking, ear-notching, or dehorning, the worst cruelty continues to be completely unregulated. For more information, please see our factsheet about these misleading labels.

What You Can Do

Switching to a vegan diet reduces your ecological footprint, allowing you to tread lightly on the planet and be compassionate to its inhabitants. With so many great vegan options, eating green has never been more delicious. Whether you go vegetarian for the environment, for your health, or for animals, you have the power to change the world, simply by changing whats on your plate.

References1Smithsonian Institution, Smithsonian Researchers Show Amazonian Deforestation Accelerating, Science Daily 15 Jan. 2002.2Marlow Vesterby and Kenneth S. Krupa, Major Uses of Land in the United States, 1997, Statistical Bulletin No. 973, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1997.3John Carlson, Evaluation of Corn Processing By-Products in Swine Diets, Western Illinois University, 3 Apr. 1996.4Theo van Kempen, Whole Farm Water Use, North Carolina State University Swine Extension, Jul. 2003.5Rick Grant, Water Quality and Requirements for Dairy Cattle, NebGuide, Cooperative Extension, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1996.6Marcia Kreith, Water Inputs in California Food Production, Water Education Foundation 27 Sept. 1991.7Daniele Fanelli, Meat Is Murder on the Environment, New Scientist 18 Jul. 2007.8International Panel for Sustainable Resource Management, Assessing the Environmental Impacts of Consumption and Production, United Nations Environment Programme 2010.9Consumers Union SWRO, Animal Factories: Pollution and Health Threats to Rural Texas, May 2000.10Jennifer Lee, Neighbors of Vast Hog Farms Say Foul Air Endangers Their Health, The New York Times 11 May 2003.11Kip Wiley et al., Confined Animal Facilities in California, California State Senate, Nov. 2004.12State of North Carolina, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Review of Emission Factors and Methodologies to Estimate Ammonia Emissions From Animal Waste Handling, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Apr. 2002.13Jennifer M. Fitzenberger, Dairies Gear Up for Fight Over Air, Fresno Bee 2 Aug. 2005.14R.S. Dungan, Board-Invited Review: Fate and Transport of Bioaerosols Associated with Livestock Operations and Manures, Journal of Animal Science, 88(2010): 3693-3706.15U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.16NOAA Forecasts Larger Than Normal Dead Zone for Gulf This Summer, NOAA News Online, 24 Jul. 2006.17Simon D. Donner, Surf or Turf: A Shift From Feed to Food Cultivation Could Reduce Nutrient Flux to the Gulf of Mexico, Global Environmental Change 17 (2007): 105-13.

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Veganism and the Environment | PETA

Vegan Lifestyle: Why Veganism Is More Than a Diet

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What is a vegan lifestyle? When we talk about veganism, many people hear the word diet as the most important part of the conversation. After all, one of the most well-known aspects of the vegan lifestyle involves not eating meat or animal byproducts. Yet by centering diet as the soul of veganism, we might be doing a disservice to vegans. Theres far more to the ethos of veganism than simply controlling what one puts in ones mouth, and ignoring these other facets of the vegan lifestyle denies its power.

If youre thinking about going vegan or if you already consider yourself a vegan, its important to understand why you make specific choices as a human and as a consumer, and why you choose to avoid things that other people consider commonplace. No, you dont have to become an academic scholar, nor do you need to tell everyone you meet about your vegan lifestyle. However, part of the movement involves living your values. Instead of just expressing them, you demonstrate them through what you choose to do and not to do.

Lets take a deeper look at the vegan lifestyle and what it truly means to those who practice it.

The Vegan Society defines the vegan lifestyle as a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose. Thats pretty comprehensive.

Vegans lead with intent. They do their best, however small, to create a world in which no animals are harmed by service to humans.

And it goes far beyond diet. Vegans have been behind many protests against circus acts and other entertainment venues that force animals to perform for human entertainment. A circus has nothing to do with diet unless you count popcorn and cotton candy but everything to do with animal welfare. Animals forced to perform for human entertainment often show no signs of enjoying the work or wanting to perform. Consequently, the trainers have to use pain to evoke the desired response from the animal.

The vegan lifestyle involves actively avoiding any practice that damages animal welfare or subjugates animals for our benefit as humans.

A vegan lifestyle is a creed and a way of life that denies that other animals exist for our use. We were all put here for our own purposes, and animals other than humans contribute just as much as we do to our ecosystem. Vegans believe that we can live side by side with animals rather than as apex predators. Instead of exerting dominion over animals, we can help them live their lives as naturally as possible.

The vegan lifestyle does involve diet. Vegans dont eat meat, eggs, dairy, or any other animal byproduct, including the honey that bees produce. However, its much more than that.

We know that animals are used to create many consumer products, from soaps and cosmetics to clothing. Vegans wear synthetic fabrics, for instance, instead of wool made from sheep, llamas, alpacas, and other animals. Its true that these animals arent killed for their fur. However, theyre terrorized during the shearing process, which they dont understand, and are left without their natural protection from the elements.

Just as the vegan lifestyle is about intent, its also about mindfulness. Before buying something at the store, a vegan considers whether or not it has had a deleterious impact on animals in any way.

According to statistics from 2017, the incorporation of vegan foods into meals across all American households has risen by 40 percent. Furthermore, nearly half of all Americans support banning slaughterhouses, and in some countries vegan populations have increased by as much as 600 percent. The data is clear: more people are going vegan every day.

This evolution creates significant demand for consumer products that fit the vegan lifestyle. Businesses, including factory farming operations and slaughterhouses, operate on supply and demand. If nobody wants to eat meat or animal byproducts, these businesses shut their doors because they cant justify continued operations.

Part of the vegan lifestyle means refusing to put dollars into the hands of people who would hurt animals in any way. As more people take up the vegan lifestyle, vegans voices become louder and more difficult to ignore.

Nobody can deny that vegan food is delicious. Its whole, plant-based, and diverse, which means you cant possibly get bored if youre open to all the foods available to you. However, the vegan lifestyle doesnt revolve around food alone. As mentioned above, its an ethos or creed that helps people to live their values. Vegans know what they believe, and what they hold sacred, and they do their best to ensure that their behaviors follow their hearts.

Its important to understand the vegan lifestyle, because its easy to say that you love animals and support their rights but still to chomp down on an all-beef burger for dinner. Its similar to an environmental activist driving a gas-guzzling car and drinking water from disposable plastic bottles.

When other people see that youre living a vegan lifestyle, they might become curious. Most people dont enjoy hearing lectures, but they emulate behaviors they admire and respect. Thats the key to turning your vegan lifestyle into a statement that spreads to those around you.

Lets look at what it means to put vegan beliefs into practice as a lifestyle.

When it comes to living your beliefs, there are three stages:

When people talk about their beliefs and ideologies but act in direct opposition to them, others dont take those people seriously. Theres a dissonance between belief and action, and intent is often the missing link.

When youve defined a belief for yourself, such as that all animals should be treated humanely, you then need to think about how that belief will manifest. What changes do you want to make? How do you want other people to treat animals?

From intent follows action. Once you create an intention, the next logical step is to act out that intention through your habits as a consumer and a human being. The vegan lifestyle isnt just about what you put in your mouth at mealtimes. Its about how you show other people what you believe.

Very few people will say they hate animals or want them to suffer. Nevertheless, omnivores outnumber herbivores by a significant margin.

Theres a cognitive dissonance in cuddling your cat right before digging into a steak or enjoying a bucket of fried chicken. Just because a chicken or a cow doesnt look like your family pet doesnt mean those animals dont experience the same emotions and instincts. All animals want to live. They desire to thrive with other animals of their own kind, form emotional bonds, care for their young, and protect each other from predators. By consuming animals and otherwise using them for our own benefit, we deny them those basic rights.

If you live a vegan lifestyle, however, you make a statement with every product you buy, every article of clothing you wear, and every piece of food you eat. Instead of just saying how much you love animals and wish the best for them, youre contributing to their cause.

Many of the industries that vegans fight against contribute to pollution, deforestation, reduced habitats, and other impacts on animals lives. For instance, animal testing has become a huge strain on our collective resources, requiring large labs in which to house and feed animals. The same goes for dairy farms. These operations consume massive amounts of fossil fuels, contribute to contaminated soil, and introduce large quantities of ammonia into the environment. None of these things is healthy for humans or other animals.

The vegan lifestyle is directly tied to environmentalism. We want to preserve the earth for all creatures, including our own descendants. By selfishly farming animals and using up resources without thought for the future, we contribute to a world far less hospitable than the one we enjoy now.

If you believe that we should reduce our carbon footprints and protect animals, the vegan lifestyle is the perfect way to live your beliefs and show that veganism is more than just a diet.

We dont have to hurt others to survive; human beings have proved that through centuries of living on this earth. Despite political and social divisiveness, were still a social species. Humanity has only survived because of our ability to care for one another, whether that means staying awake at night to make sure a predator doesnt ravage our village, or shouting a warning to a stranger whos about to step in front of a moving car. The fact that we still exist despite the innumerable ways in which we could destroy each other is proof positive of our destiny to live peaceably.

This doesnt mean, however, that doing no harm to our fellow humans is enough. We also have to realize that harming animals and the environment leaves just as obvious a stain. Were wired to bond with other animals. We domesticated dogs before any other creature, and for centuries weve worked alongside canines in mutually beneficial relationships. Dogs enjoy working with humans, just as horses and many cats do, because we care for each other.

The problem, though, is that many people pick and choose. If you embrace the belief that you should do no harm to another sentient creature, its impossible to separate dogs and cats from cows, chickens and fish.

One of the purest ways to embrace the vegan lifestyle is to ask yourself one question:

Are you willing to slaughter an animal yourself to feed your family, when other alternatives exist?

If not, youre a good candidate for the vegan lifestyle. You dont want to slit a cows throat, boil a chicken alive, or gut a fish from head to tail, so in your mind youve separated the animal from the food in the supermarket. A chicken breast doesnt look like a chicken, so weve allowed ourselves to compartmentalize. Once you take a more holistic view of the world and realize that all lives are sacred, however, eating meat and using animal byproducts become repulsive.

Ancient cultures often hunted animals because they had no other choices. They lived in areas where crops couldnt grow, for instance, so they had no other food sources. These peoples often prayed over the animals they killed even revered them and vowed to use their bodies in as many ways as possible to honor their unwilling sacrifice. They viewed all lives as sacred but were forced to kill to survive. Anyone who has the ability to read this article doesnt live in such circumstances. Other food choices exist, so honoring animals means not needlessly exploiting them.

Youre excited about the vegan lifestyle. Youre ready to commit. So what do you do to ensure you live your beliefs and help spread the word about veganism?

Start by learning everything you can about the vegan lifestyle. The Sentient Media articles youve read are a great start. Learn about nutrition and healthy living, research ways to get the foods you love without harming animals, and find any supplements you need to make sure you meet your bodys requirements.

The vegan lifestyle is a practice. You might screw up. Maybe you find yourself out to dinner with friends and accidentally order a dish that has milk or eggs in it. Dont beat yourself up.

Practice veganism. Learn how to read labels and ask questions. Before you travel, research vegan-friendly supermarkets or restaurants in your destination city so youre not forced to scramble. Take snacks with you on the go. Plain nuts, dried fruit, and similar foods are perfect for slipping into a pocket, purse, or briefcase. Carry water, too, so you dont get dehydrated.

Its not a coincidence that people who openly live a vegan lifestyle are also advocates for healthy living and good nutrition. They talk about hydration, exercise, sleep, and other aspects of a healthy lifestyle. Remember, its not just about diet.

You dont have to proselytize over the Thanksgiving dinner table. Most people dont respond well to that approach. Simply let your friends and family know that youve adopted a vegan lifestyle and ask them to respect it.

Who knows? Your loved ones might start asking questions and learning more about veganism. Thats a great start. Live by example live your beliefs so others can witness what youre willing to consume and what youre not.

Surrounding yourself with people who believe what you believe can be immensely helpful. For one thing, you can learn from one another about how best to live a vegan lifestyle. For another, you can keep yourselves on track.

If you go to the gym with a few fellow vegans, youre unlikely to suggest a trip to Taco Bell afterward for beef quesadillas. Youll keep yourself honest while enjoying the company of people who believe, as you do, that all animals deserve rights.

Keep your eye out for situations in which animals are mistreated. Adopt unwanted pets from a local rescue organization, report animal cruelty to law enforcement, and refuse to patronize businesses that serve animal products.

Your dollars matter. Organizations that fight against animal abuse need your money to further their efforts on animals behalf. Donating even a small recurring amount, such as $5 or $10, can make a huge impact on the lives of animals in your community and around the world.

The vegan lifestyle doesnt require advocacy, but if youre moved to get involved in a more active way, consider joining an animal rights organization. These groups help fight against animal cruelty on numerous fronts, and you could become part of their work.

Veganism isnt just about a diet. Its about a way of life. If you believe that all animals deserve to live their lives free of obligation to humans, youre on the right path.

Subscribe to the Sentient Media newsletter to learn more about the vegan lifestyle and animal matters in which you might be interested. Dont hesitate to join conversations about veganism, animal rights, animal cruelty, and other issues that impact our animal friends.

Are you ready to adopt the vegan lifestyle? Have you already?

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Vegan Lifestyle: Why Veganism Is More Than a Diet

Syracuses best-known vegan cafe to launch its first out-of-town location – syracuse.com

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Vegan milkshakes and more are headed to Buffalo.

Strong Hearts Caf, which introduced Syracuse to the seemingly endless possibilities of plant-based, vegan food when it debuted in 2008, plans to open a location in downtown Buffalo by early summer.

Strong Hearts co-owners Joel Capolongo and Nick Ryan have been considering an out-of-town location since they moved their main Syracuse shop to its current spot at 900 E. Fayette St. down the hill from Syracuse University in 2020. The idea grew after they closed a former satellite location on Marshall Street in 2021.

Once we settled in here (East Fayette Street) we began to look at other cities with the idea of replicating what we do here, Capolongo said today.

The Buffalo location will be in a mixed residential-commercial neighborhood at 295 Niagara St., on the west side of downtown. Its just off the 190 expressway, about four or five blocks from Buffalos City Hall, and not too far from Buffalo State University.

When we closed Strong Hearts on The Hill in 2021, we said we would focus our efforts into growing elsewhere, Strong Heart posted today on social media sites like Facebook and Instagram. Well, say hello to elsewhere.

While the Buffalo area has a few other vegan-exclusive eateries, Capolongo said the combination of the Strong Hearts menu and the downtown location will set it apart.

We definitely feel there is room for another vegan option in Buffalo, he said.

The Buffalo caf will have a similar look, feel, and functionality to the Syracuse location, according to the Facebook post. But Capolongo said the menu will start off a little pared down at first. Eventually, it may offer some Buffalo exclusive options, he said.

Syracuses East Fayette Street location replaced the original (and smaller) Strong Hearts at 719 E. Genesee St., which opened in 2008. The East Genesee location was Syracuses first restaurant dedicated exclusively to vegan fare, in keeping with Ryan and Capolongos health-conscious philosophy and animal rights activism.

In a January 2022 review of the Syracuse Strong Hearts, syracuse.com restaurant critic Jared Paventi noted that the menu includes references to items like chicken, bacon and milk, although all are actually plant-based alternatives. The cafs offerings can sound a bit like many other fast-casual places in town, with BLTs, chicken wings and milkshakes.

Veganism has transitioned from niche lifestyle to mainstream diet, Paventi wrote. Restaurants like Strong Hearts have normalized what once was relegated to college students and animal rights activists. Rather than allowing itself to be pigeonholed, Strong Hearts expanded and, judging by the diversity of its guests during our visit, it has become just another dining option in Syracuse.

Capolongo said Strong Hearts will see how it goes in Buffalo before venturing into other possible locations. That includes potential moves to other cities or even more locations in Central New York.

We have a strong following in the region, Capolongo said. We think we can build on it.

MORE UPSTATE NY FOOD & DRINK

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Don Cazentre writes forNYup.com,syracuse.comand The Post-Standard. Reach him atdcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on TwitterorFacebook.

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Can veganism really lower a person’s COVID-19 risk?

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A vegan or plant-based diet cannot prevent a person from developing COVID-19, but it may help support a healthy immune system. This in turn could aid in SARS-CoV-2 infection prevention and lower the risk of severe symptoms.

People should note, that there is no direct evidence to support a link between a plant-based or vegan diet and protection from COVID-19 or other severe diseases.

That said, plant-based diets can also decrease a persons risk of obesity and chronic diseases. These are conditions that tend to worsen the outcome of COVID-19.

This article explores plant-based diets and their health benefits in relation to COVID-19 and otherwise. It also looks at how a vegan diet could decrease the risk factors for more severe effects of COVID-19.

There is no specific diet that lowers a persons risk of developing COVID-19.

The World Health Organization (WHO) advise people eat a balanced diet to strengthen their immune systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes eating fresh, unprocessed foods, such as vegetables, legumes, and whole grains.

The WHO also recommend avoiding consumption of sugar fat, and salt, and limiting red meat consumption to 12 times a week, and poultry to 23 times per week. They also suggest consuming no more than 160g of meat and beans daily.

According to research, a plant-based diet has health benefits for weight, energy metabolism, and systemic inflammation. These beneficial effects could support a healthy immune system and lower a persons risk of severe impacts of COVID-19.

That said, it is important to note that eating a plant-based diet and identifying as a vegan are not, strictly speaking, the same. The term plant-based refers only to diet, while veganism incorporates other factors.

People who identify as vegans object to exploiting or killing animals for food, clothing, or any other reason. However, some people who identify as vegans may eat mainly processed foods, which in itself as a dietary plan is not beneficial to health.

By contrast, people who follow a plant-based diet eat mainly or exclusively plant foods. People may have a diet that consists solely or predominantly of freshly prepared whole foods. They may choose this approach for health, environmental, or ethical reasons.

It is of note that a plant-based diet does not necessarily lead to an improved immune system. A person can follow a plant-based diet and have poor health due to consuming far too many processed foods, plant-based alternatives, and plant fats.

If a person eats mainly processed foods and few vegetables and fruits and does not supplement essential nutrients, such as vitamin B12, they may counteract the potential benefits of a plant-based diet.

Learn more about foods with B12 for vegetarians and vegans here.

In the sections below, we discuss some of the health benefits of plant-based diets and how following them may impact the risk of developing COVID-19.

A review in the British Journal of Nutrition suggests that people with optimal levels of micronutrients may be more resilient to COVID-19.

Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals that people obtain from their diet. Human bodies also produce vitamin D in response to exposure to sunlight.

Plant foods contain many vitamins and minerals essential for a healthy immune system, such as zinc, selenium, and vitamins A, C, and E. Selenium is a trace mineral that benefits immune system health and cognitive function.

However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), only one in 10 adults in the United States eat enough fruits or vegetables.

By switching to a plant-based diet that includes a wide variety of fruits and vegetables or eating more plant-based foods, people will increase their intake of essential minerals and vitamins that support the immune system. This in turn may increase peoples resilience to COVID-19.

Learn more about anti-inflammatory foods here.

Healthy vegan diets that include a wide variety of fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants. These are compounds that fight free radicals and help counteract oxidative stress.

Some vitamins and minerals, as well as plant compounds such as polyphenols, act as antioxidants. Polyphenols are present in berries, olives, and nuts, among other foods.

According to a 2021 review, studies are currently underway to test whether polyphenols could potentially help prevent or treat viral infections, such as infections with SARS-CoV-2. However, at present, there is no evidence of this.

The authors explain that as people age, their immune system is less able to combat infections. The researchers refer to this immunological aging as immunosenescence. Polyphenols can counteract the senescence process and reduce inflammation.

Another review notes that excessive oxidative stress may be responsible for the lung damage, thrombosis, and red blood cell dysregulation that occurs in some people with COVID-19.

The authors of the review suggest that antioxidants could have therapeutic effects. Therefore, a plant-based diet rich in antioxidants and polyphenols may help protect against COVID-19.

Learn more about some of the top foods high in antioxidants here.

According to some research, SARS-CoV-2 alters the gut microbiota, and probiotics and prebiotics may improve the immune function in people with a SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The fiber in plant foods provides prebiotics to feed gut bacteria. Research shows that plant-based diets influence the gut microbiome favorably, increasing bacterial diversity and potentially reducing inflammation.

According to a 2020 review, a plant-based fiber-rich diet may have protected COVID-19 patients in India. The authors suggest that plant-based foods are likely to boost a gut microbiota capable of triggering an anti-inflammatory response.

Eating a plant-based diet may help people avoid having obesity and other health conditions that could worsen their experience of COVID-19 if they develop it.

Research suggests that a SARS-CoV-2 infection results in increased hospitalization rates and greater severity of illness in people with diabetes or obesity.

According to a 2020 study, obesity was the most commonly reported underlying medical condition 72.5% in healthcare personnel hospitalized for COVID-19 in the United States.

Authors of a 2016 analysis indicate that plant-based diets could decrease inflammation and risk of chronic disease in people who have obesity.

A 2019 review notes a plant-based diet may help prevent the development of overweight, obesity, and diabetes. Research also supports the diets cardiovascular benefits.

People wishing to switch to a vegan diet should ensure that they eat fresh whole foods and avoid processed foods and vegan junk food.

With veganism gaining popularity, more and more grocery stores and food outlets now offer a variety of vegan products.

It is important to note, however, that that a product is vegan does not necessarily mean it is healthy. It is still advisable to check nutrient density and the amounts of vitamins, minerals, fats, and added sugars of vegan products people consider buying.

People will benefit most from choosing fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats and protein sources.

Including a wide variety of plant foods and eating a rainbow allows people on a plant-based diet to get all the nutrients they need.

However, plant foods do not contain vitamin B12, an essential nutrient needed for red blood cell production and brain function, among other things.

That is why it is important for people on a plant-based diet to eat foods fortified with vitamin B12 and preferably take a vitamin B12 supplement. They may also need to supplement omega-3 fatty acids.

People can find numerous resources and recipes online to plan their plant-based meals. They may also consult a registered dietitian or nutritionist.

Learn more about plant foods high in protein here.

There is no conclusive evidence to suggest that any single diet can lower a persons risk of developing COVID-19.

However, a plant-based or vegan diet may support a healthy immune system. This in turn can limit the risk of a SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as its serious health complications.

Eating a plant-based diet may also help prevent the development of chronic health conditions that might cause complications or increase the severity of COVID-19 symptoms.

A vegan diet may also help people reach a moderate weight and prevent obesity, reducing the risk of worse COVID-19 outcomes.

It is worth noting that not all vegan foods are healthy, and people should avoid processed vegan foods and choose a whole foods diet instead.

People following a strict vegan diet should also ensure that they supplement essential nutrients, such as vitamin B12.

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Eat To Live: The Black Vegan Cooking Show Debuts With Styles P As A Guest – HipHopWired

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Source: MADAMENOIRE / MadameNoire

A new show putting a spotlight on plant-based cooking done a famous Black chef has made its debut, with veteran MC Styles P joining in the fun for the first episode.

Veganism in the Black community is in the midst of a resurgence, and a new cooking show capitalizes on that with a passion. The Black Vegan Cooking Show, presented by MADAMENOIRE, made its debut on Tuesday (March 22nd). Hosted by Chef Charlise Rockwood, The Black Vegan Cooking Show is the next step in a journey that the London-born chef, model and entrepreneur began with her Vegan Soulicious platform on Instagram. Rockwoods first guest in the kitchen was none other than one-third of iconic Hip-Hop group The Lox and entrepreneur Styles P. The Good Times rapper has been a proponent of the vegan lifestyle for quite some time himself, partnering with fellow Lox member Jadakiss to open and run the Juices For Life chain of juice bars in their native Yonkers as well as the Bronx and Brooklyn.

The pair kicked off the episode savoring a delectable smoothie with a tropical touch, which was constructed with pink guava nectar, coconut milk, lime, soursop, and sparkling water. That set the stage for the keynote dish of the episode, Jamaican Red Pea Soup that is beefless. Chef Rockwood gives viewers important tips on the preparation throughout, and she along with Styles P also made cornmeal dumplings to complement the hearty dish.They also talked at length about their reasons for adopting the healthy lifestyle. I like to say Im plant-based and not vegan and heres the reason, Styles P said. Love to the vegan community. Love to all the people who fight for the animals. One day I aspire to beas great as Dick Gregory, so I like to say Im plant-based and Ive been plant-based for nine years.

For Rockwood, her mission with the show is simple. I really wanted to keep The Black Vegan Cooking Show as intimate, organic, and as personal as it is on Instagram, she said in an interview with VegNews before the premiere. Most of them are not vegan, so Im going to veganize something for them and try to change their perception [of plant-based food]. The Black Vegan Cooking Shows first season will also feature Chyna Love, founder of the plant-based Caribbean company Bad Gyal Vegan.

New episodes of The Black Vegan Cooking Show will air every Tuesday on Madame Noires YouTube channel and their Facebook page. Check out the first episode below.

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Eat To Live: The Black Vegan Cooking Show Debuts With Styles P As A Guest - HipHopWired

How Bad Vegan Reminds Us That Not All Vegans Are Bad – The Takeout

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The latest in the string of Netflixs true-crime docuseries is the genre at its best: Where some documentaries are full of unnecessary speculation or rehash well-known facts, Bad Vegan digs deep into the nuances of Sarma Melngailiss entanglement with her abusive, scamming husband, and the ripple effect of both of their actions. And perhaps one of the greatest revelations throughout the four-episode limited series is an indictment of how the world treats people who eat a vegan diet.

The docuseries (which I highly recommend) follows Melngailis, a chef who ran Pure Food and Wine and One Lucky Duck, two highly acclaimed vegan and raw food restaurants in New York City. The series features her employees, food critics, and family talking about the restaurants heydayand Melngailis loneliness. She adopted a dog, Leon, as a companion to combat the latter and soon fell in with Anthony Strangis, who went by many names, eventually marrying him and sharing her business.

The docuseries reveals the twists and turns of Melnagailis relationship with Strangis, which led to her sending him more than a million dollars as part of a supernatural test that would eventually lead to her and her dog Leons immortality (it sounds crazy, sure, but the series reveals even more details and intricacies that make you understand how the relationship gets to this point). Because all of Melnagailis money was in her business, her constant lending of funds to her husband eventually affects her employees, who walk out not once, but twice after not being paid.

In the end, the story that is most known from its news coverage in 2016, Melnagailis and Strangis went on the run to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and were eventually caught because of a Dominos pizza orderthe two were arrested for fraud.

Its common (and easy) for people to make vegans the butt of a joke. Theres a perception that they see themselves as better than others, or that theyre crunchy granola hippies who arent to be taken seriously, or that its unfathomable that they would deprive themselves of cheese and ice cream.

Just eat a cheeseburger, already! was a real phrase thrown around by the media when covering Melnagailis case as shown in the doc. While more important details of the case were buried in the stories about Melnagailis and Strangis arrestlike a giant unpaid tab at a Vegas hotelevery publication and social media meme focused on the fact that this raw food restaurateur was caught because of a pizza. Instead of looking into the story any further, the public delighted in the chance to dunk on this woman for getting caught eating a pizza and being a bad vegan, the phrase the Netflix documentary itself cashes in on.

But whats revealed over the course of the series is that Melnagailis herself was a victim of fraud. Trapped in an emotionally abusive relationship, she found herself forced to give up her lifes work to hide away in hotel rooms. Even after, her veganism is seen as her downfall. Of course she would believe in the supernatural story this man was telling her, some interviewees supposed. Vegans are always into that new age stuff.

But ultimately, Melnagailis diet had nothing to do with her demise. Imagine being essentially held hostage by your abusive husband for nearly a year, only to be told to just eat a cheeseburger already.

Being vegan should no longer be a punchline, and veganism shouldnt be framed as a villainous thing. There are good and bad people who eat all kinds of diets. Lets take a lesson from this series and look at everyone simply as a person regardless of what they choose to eatunless its people, but thats a different true crime doc for a different time.

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How Bad Vegan Reminds Us That Not All Vegans Are Bad - The Takeout

Veganism Statistics 2021 How Many Vegans Are There in …

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2020 was a big year for veganism in the UK. And judging by the response to Veganuary this year, the rise of the movement for culinary, social, and agricultural change is set to continue in 2021. Whats more, the responses from retail giants and entrepreneurs will continue to make it easier for people to switch to a plant-based diet.

Weve rounded up the most important veganism facts and statistics for the UK as more Brits make the decision to go vegan.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of Brits sign up for the Veganuary campaign a pledge to embrace plant-based diets for a month.

According to the Guardian, a record 500,000 people, of whom 125,000 are based in the UK, took the Veganuary pledge to eat only vegan food in January. The figure is up by 100,000 on last years, and its double the number of people who signed up for Veganuary in 2019.

However, this time, its not just individuals who are getting into the vegan spirit. The beginning of 2021 has seen major supermarket brands doing more to cater to the growing number of Brits who have turned their back on animal products.

Aldi, Asda, and Iceland published detailed vegan recipe and product pages on their websites. Marks & Spencer created a 31-day vegan meal plan, and Tesco ran an advertising campaign to promote Veganuary on radio and television. Veganuarys Toni Vernelli speaks of how the Aldi website features a message which says that cutting down on or totally avoiding animal products demonstrates a commitment to make a difference to the planet.

Its not just supermarkets that are seeing a demand for vegan options; food delivery services like Deliveroo are noticing an increased demand from customers for vegan dishes.

The UK-based delivery service saw the number of vegan restaurants on its app more than double since last year, with 12 000 restaurants now offering vegan-friendly options. The most vegan orders in 2020 were placed in Brighton, Bristol, London, Manchester, and Edinburgh.

VegNews reported that in the first week of 2021, at the beginning of Veganuary, searches for vegan food on Deliveroo spiked by 153% compared to the previous month. Many Deliveroo partners have added special vegan options to their menus, from Wagamamas vegan sticky ribs to Majestic Wines vegan wine options.

Research on plant-based meat alternatives conducted by investment bank UBS last year also indicates rising interest in vegan lifestyle choices. Its also in keeping with some of what are predicted to be the biggest vegan food trends in 2021.

UBS research found that the number of people who tried plant-based meat alternatives increased from 48% to 53% between March and November last year. Of those who tried plant-based alternatives, approximately half said that they would continue to eat them at least once a week.

The banks Andrew Stott said the survey also revealed why some consumers are not happy to switch to an entirely plant-based diet just yet. He explained that 59% of respondents who were not willing to try plant-based meat substitutes did not think they would taste good, 29% said plant-based alternatives were too expensive, and 37% objected to the highly processed nature of the products.

Even so, more than half of respondents agreed that plant-based alternatives were the environmentally friendlier and healthier option. UBS surveyed 3,000 consumers in the UK, Germany, and the US.

Veganism is said to be most popular among younger generations. Food Revolution Network believes this is partly due to their increased availability of information via the Internet about where their food comes and how its made.

As encouraging as many of these stats are, 2021 is not likely to be the year in which Britain goes vegan. British Nutrition Foundation and YouGov research found that 61% of Brits were unlikely to switch to a plant-based diet this year. Of course, that simply may be because they havent been exposed to what are predicted to be the big vegan food trends of 2021.

The last few years have seen the launch of various vegan food products as well as all sorts of culinary innovations by creative cooks. Vegan Food And Living reckons that this year will be no different. In fact, the options for folks who are committed to a plant-based diet are going to get even more exciting. Some of the top trends the magazine predicted will be on the rise this year include:

Vegan butchers Last year saw the launch of Rudys Vegan Butchers in London. The establishment looks very much like a traditional butchers shop, minus the carcases and animal meat. Instead, its counters and fridges are packed with plant-based meat substitutes. Not to be outdone, Asda started trialling a vegan butchers counter at its Watford store earlier this month.

Vegan egg replacements Aquafaba is the vegan go-to egg replacement, but that may change in 2021. One of the predicted food trends this year is egg replacements, such as the liquid egg replacement launched by Crackd last year. Singaporean and French scientists recently unveiled an egg replacement that is almost indistinguishable from the real thing.

Vegan sweets The magazine also predicted that more and more major confectionery brands will release vegan sweets in 2021. According to Vegan Food And Living, vegan chocolate recipe internet searches increased by 31% last year.

Vegan chicken replacement Many plant-based meat alternatives were created as substitutes for red meat. Very little attention was paid to replacements for chicken, but 2021 looks like it could be the year in which that changes. In the last year or so, weve seen the launch of vegan alternatives to chicken by KFC, Marks & Spencer, Subway, Papa Johns, and Nandos.

(Source: The Vegan Society and Finder)

In the mood for some plant-based cuisine? Have a look at our list of vegetarian restaurant gift vouchers for an unforgettable meat-free dining experience.

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McDonald’s launch first vegan McPlant burger – and here’s the verdict – Nottinghamshire Live

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The big day has finally arrived - McDonald's first vegan burger, the McPlant, has arrived in Nottingham.

The plant-based burger was originally trialled in ten restaurants last year - none of them local - but today it's being rolled out nationwide.

The patty has been created using pea protein in conjunction with vegan company Beyond Meat. It's topped with vegan cheese, vegan sauce, ketchup, mustard, onion, pickles, lettuce and tomato in a vegan sesame seed bun.

It has taken three years to research and develop and costs 3.39 at Nottingham's Victoria Centre McDonald's - the same price as a Quarter Pounder (prices may vary at other restaurants).

Although McDonald's has previously introduced vegan-friendly veggie dippers it's the first time it has put a vegan burger on the menu, lagging between other fast food big guns Burger King and KFC which already sell plant-based burgers.

It is cooked separately from other McDonalds burgers using colour-codes to avoid any contact with meat.

The burger chain says it's confident that the new menu item will appeal to all burger lovers, adding: "It's everything you love about our iconic taste only this time it's vegan!"

Nottinghamshire Live roped vegan of four years Paul Hodgson, of Sherwood, to test out the new burger and give his verdict.

Paul, who who works as a video creator at the University of Nottingham and vlogs under the name Falcore on Instagram, said: "I turned to veganism after considering it for some time, but it was looking into the ins and outs of the dairy industry and the environmental impact of the meat industry that really triggered me to do make the change. It wasn't a difficult swap for me really.

"My favourite things to eat are real home cooked plant-based foods, I actually tend to avoid processed meat free alternatives generally, but when new ones appear like the McPlant I like to give them a try to see what my options are."

It's more than two decades since the 33-year-old last had a McDonald's burger after turning vegetarian at the age of 13.

Tucking into the burger he said: "It's been a really long time since I had a real McDonald's burger but the taste does really remind me of that.

"The texture is very light - it doesn't have the same firmness as a proper burger but it's really nice. I approve."

Even the vegan cheese - which can be notoriously unpleasant both in terms of taste and texture - won him over.

"The worst thing with vegan cheese is when it's melted - like on a pizza they go gloopy and weird - but that's in there and just warm from the burger, it's really nice. I'm a fan of that.

"It's really nice to have a proper option now. I go on long journeys all the time and we always go to McDonald's. I have veggie dippers which are really nice but now I can have an actual burger which is great."

Nottinghamshire Live's Lynette Pinchess also tested out the burger to give the view of a life-long meat eater.

She said: "I was secretly not expecting to like it. I've an inherent dislike of fake meat after trying different kinds but this shocked me.

"The patty had its differences - the texture seemed lighter but it still had a meaty taste. If I'd a blindfolded test taste between this and Quarter Pounder I don't think I'd have known the difference.

"I'm genuinely surprised. Would I have a McPlant again? Yes, definitely."

The McPlant has 429 calories, which is less than a Quarter Pounder that has 518.

Paul said: "I'm impressed. I'd say it's 10/10.

"It's affordable as well. There's a lot of conversation around vegan food not being affordable for everybody.

"I don't eat a lot of meat alternatives so I see it as a bit of a treat.

"I think it's important for big players like McDonald's to give options and support plant-based alternatives to bring it to the masses and make it seem more affordable.

"Many vegans would string me up for that, I know lots of people are against supporting brands like McDonald's but I think balance is important and having a sensible approach."

Mark Potter, who looks after the Victoria Centre McDonald's expects the McPlant to be popular.

"We've sold six already within the first ten minutes.

On the length of time it's taken in development, he added: "I think it's important to get it right and not just rush it out for the sake of it.

"Giving people more options can only be a good thing. I'm not an expert by any stretch but you go shopping now and see the range that's building and building all the while."

Every January supermarkets and restaurants introduce new specials for Veganuary - the month where people pledge to give up meat and dairy for 31 days - but come February they sometimes disappear.

However the McPlant is a permanent fixture of the menu.

Other restaurants launching new vegan offerings this month include Burger King's vegan nuggets.

Wagamama is introducing vegan fish and chips called Tempura F-ish + Bang Bang Yaki-imo. The F-ish (soy, rice and pea protein) is served with chips sweet potato and red onion, coated in the brands firecracker sauce.

Tortilla, which has branches in Clumber Street and Victoria Centre, Nottingham, has teamed up with Applewood vegan cheese to launch a vegan quesadilla.

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McDonald's launch first vegan McPlant burger - and here's the verdict - Nottinghamshire Live

Industry Insiders Discuss Veganism: Companies Must Focus on Winning The Game – vegconomist – the vegan business magazine

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Vegan products are taking over the meat and dairy market by storm, with demand for nutritionally competitive vegan meat and dairy products gaining impetus with every passing year.

With scientists highlighting the positive effect of vegan lifestyle on ones own health and the environment, its safe to say veganism is here to stay. Heres what industry insiders say about the vegan industry and growth strategies adopted by top market players.

With scientific research establishing a deeper connection between diet, health, and environment; demand for vegan alternatives has increased exponentially. The frozen dessert segment has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of this trend. Top market players are increasingly making moves to introduce vegan ice-cream options to capture maximum market share. For instance, Froneri, an ice cream manufacturer, owned by R&R and Nestle, introduced a novel-plant based ice cream range ROAR.

Following increased awareness of the detrimental influence of food additives, chemicals, and animal antibiotics on human health, consumers are switching towards vegan protein alternatives. To cater to such demands, Smithfield Plc. recently introduced its Pure Farmland plant-based protein product range.

Likewise, Kelloggs launched its new INCOGMEATO plant-based ground package manufactured with 100% plant protein with 48% less saturated fat.

Collaboration between market players is on the increase as producers work to make vegan food items more accessible. For instance, Subway collaborated with Beyond Meat Burger in order to provide more efficient products and services to their customers.

Industry Insider predicts that both companies and investors involved in the vegan business have backed the right horse, given the expected growth of the vegan food sector. With Europe and North America leading the vegan revolution and collectively holding 65% of the global protein supplement market, according to MarketNgage, a potential strategic advantage is emerging for these regions going forward.

With thanks to Hakimuddin Bawangaonwala of MarketNgage for the input.

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Industry Insiders Discuss Veganism: Companies Must Focus on Winning The Game - vegconomist - the vegan business magazine

Are vegan meat alternatives putting our health on the line? – New Scientist

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Veganism is typically equated with healthy eating, but todays factory-produced fake bacon, sausages and burgers could be tarnishing the halo of a plant-based diet. New Scientist investigates

By Helen Thomson

Kyle Bean

DONALD Watson was born in Yorkshire and spent much of his youth on his uncles farm. But rather than making him feel at ease with breeding animals for food, the realisation that these friendly creatures went for slaughter horrified him. He became a vegetarian in 1924, aged 14. Two decades later, with his wife and four friends, he coined the word vegan from the first and last parts of the word vegetarian, and founded the UK Vegan Society.

Watsons diet was filled mostly with nuts, apples, dried fruit, vegetables and, when wartime rations allowed it, lentils. Fast-forward to today, and Watson would have been astonished at the wealth of vegan-friendly offerings. Browse the aisles of supermarkets in the UK, US, Australia and beyond and you will find a growing amount of space dedicated to vegan fish and meat alternatives. But while Watsons diet turned out to be a healthy one, a different picture is emerging for some of todays vegans.

Take a look at the ingredients in the ever-increasing variety of products and they can seem more like junk, packed full of salt and ingredients such as soya protein concentrate that you wouldnt find in a chunk of meat.

While todays factory-produced foods make it easy to switch to a vegan diet without the need to make drastic changes to eating patterns, these alternatives might be worse for our health than the meat versions they are replacing. Finding out is increasingly important, due to the growing number of people avoiding meat and dairy in their diet. So what do we and dont we know?

When Watson applied for vegan

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Are vegan meat alternatives putting our health on the line? - New Scientist

Why Nigella won’t go vegan and the stars who are – Yahoo Entertainment

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Nigella loves sesame chicken and isn't ready for plant-based jelly. (Getty Images)

Veganism has taken over the world in the past few years, as concerns about climate change and animal welfare push what we eat to the top of the agenda.

Now, every supermarket has a dedicated plant-based aisle and there are vegan versions of every food, from chorizo to king prawns to stir-fry chicken.

But though the public are increasingly ditching meat in favour of vegetables and replacement products like pea protein and tofu, one very famous cook isn't so keen.

Nigella Lawson tried going vegan for a fortnight recently, and concluded that she "doesn't see the point" in giving up animal products.

Watch: Communal Table: Jamie Oliver

She added that while she likes vegetables and also respects the vegan viewpoint, it's not for her.

Nigella believes that "humans have the teeth for meat" and admitted she craved eggs within the fortnight, saying that without meat or dairy, she felt run-down.

"As far as Im concerned I want to eat proper food," she said.

"I dont want to lecture anyone because I feel, well, I cling to the thing that we have the teeth for meat and so its natural for us to want to eat it... its an argument that a lot of vegans disagree with I respect that position but I feel that Im not ready."

Nigella Lawson is not going plant-based just yet. Or ever. (BBC)

More in tune with the growing vegan vibe is Jamie Oliver. The famous chef has announced that he will reduce or "eliminate" meat in two-thirds of new recipes, in a bid to go carbon-neutral over the next 20 years.

His hugely popular recipes will still use some meat, but he also pledged to cut down the amount used in individual recipes such as spaghetti bolognese. However, he failed to set a deadline for changing his approach.

Read more: We tried 14 vegan cheeses and ranked them just for you

A spokesperson for The Vegan Society said: While its hugely encouraging to see well known food giants, such as the Jamie Oliver Group, making an effort to reduce the amount of meat theyre offering customers, its perhaps not as ambitious a pledge as others have already made.

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"It would be great to see the Jamie Oliver Group step it up a little.

Others in the spotlight who are promoting the vegan cause include baker Freya Cox, just voted off this year's Great British Bake Off on Channel 4.

Vegan brownies made with courgettes. They look just as good... (Getty Images)

The 19-year-old cook promised to showcase vegan baking, and created impressive challenges and showstoppers using aquafaba instead of egg white and replacing butter with a vegan alternative.

Judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith were complimentary, but Freya went home last week.

Other advocates of the vegan lifestyle include actor Joaquin Phoenix, who used his Joker Oscar winning speech to promote the cause, asking the audience: "Why (do) we feel entitled to artificially inseminate a cow and steal her baby, even though her cries of anguish are unmistakable?

Phoenix: Not here to make us feel good about our choices. (PA)

Pop star Billie Eilish is also a vegan, recently posting: "Leave animals alone. Damn," while Harry Potter actor Evanna Lynch is a campaigner for animal rights and says she stopped eating meat aged 11, after feeling "viscerally repelled by the idea of eating animal flesh.

Actor Elliot Page is also a vegan who often speaks up on behalf of animals in interviews and on social media.

TV presenter Fearne Cotton has released a vegan cookbook, as has Made In Chelsea star Lucy Watson.

Even veteran star Stevie Wonder is a convert. He turned vegan in 2016, saying: (It's) helped my already good-looking self. I think that eating healthy is important.

Billie Eilish is not here for your meat-eating nonsense. (Getty Images)

Read more: Alicia Silverstone on how she raises her son Bear by example: 'I'm not running around and shouting and getting angry'

Others have put their money where their mouths are, with Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton recently opening the restaurant Neat Burger, serving plant-based burgers.

Actor Rooney Mara co-founded vegan fashion label Hiraeth and narrated Dominion, a documentary on animal welfare, with her partner Joaquin Phoenix.

Well-known vegan and animals rights advocate Pamela Anderson often appears in campaigns, and recently opened a pop-up vegan restaurant in France.

Lawson may not be ready to climb onto the vegan bus just yet but plenty of others are already on board.

Why Joaquin Phoenix won't 'force' veganism on his and Rooney Mara's son

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Why Nigella won't go vegan and the stars who are - Yahoo Entertainment