Alicia Silverstone's Blog, page 156

canine heroes of 9/11

Ida Kendall sent me this piece about dogs who searched the World Trade Center rubble in the aftermath of 9/11.

These are the dogs that worked the trade center that are still alive but retired. They are heroes too. Their eyes say everything you need to know about them.  Just amazing creatures. True heroes of 9/11 still with us today...

[image error]

Moxie 13 from Winthrop Massachusetts arrived with her handler Mark Aliberti at the World Trade Center on the evening of September 11 and searched the site for eight days.

[image error]

Tara 16 from Ipswich Massachusetts arrived at the World Trade Center on the night of the 11th. The dog and her handler Lee Prentiss were there for eight days.

[image error]

Kaiser 12 pictured at home in Indianapolis Indiana was deployed to the World Trade Center on September 11 and searched tirelessly for people in the rubble.

[image error] [image error]

Bretagne and his owner Denise Corliss from Cypress Texas arrived at the site in New York on September 17 remaining there for ten days.

[image error]

Guinness 15 from Highland California started work at the site with Sheila McKee on the morning of September 13 and was deployed at the site for 11 days.

[image error]

Merlyn and his handler Matt Claussen were deployed to Ground Zero on September 24 working the night shift for five days.

[image error]

Red 11 from Annapolis Maryland went with Heather Roche to the Pentagon from September 16 until the 27 as part of the Bay Area Recovery Canines.

[image error] [image error]

Abigail above was deployed on the evening of September 17 searching for 10 days while Tuff arrived in New York at 11:00 pm on the day of attack to start working early the next day.

[image error]

Handler Julie Noyes and Hoke were deployed to the World Trade Center from their home in Denver on September 24 and searched for five days.

[image error]

Scout and another unknown dog lie among the rubble at Ground Zero just two of nearly 100 search and rescue animals who helped to search for survivors.

During the chaos of the 9/11 attacks where almost 3000 people died nearly 100 loyal search and rescue dogs and their brave owners scoured Ground Zero for survivors.

Now ten years on just 12 of these heroic canines survive and they have been commemorated in a touching series of portraits entitled 'Retrieved'.

The dogs worked tirelessly to search for anyone trapped alive in the rubble along with countless emergency service workers and members of the public.

Traveling across nine states in the U.S. from Texas to Maryland Dutch photographer Charlotte Dumas 34captured the remaining dogs in their twilight years in their homes where they still live with their handlers a full decade on from 9/11.

Their stories have now been compiled in a book called Retrieved which was published on the tenth anniversary of the attacks.

Noted for her touching portraits of animals especially dogs Charlotte wanted Retrieved to mark not only the anniversary of the September 2001 attacks but also as recognition for some of the first responders and their dogs.

"I felt this was a turning point especially for the dogs who although are not forgotten are not as prominent as the human stories involved" explained Charlotte who splits her time between New York and Amsterdam.

"They speak to us as a different species and animals are greatly important for our sense of empathy and to put things into perspective."

What are some doggie hero stories that you love?

kind classics: pads and tampons oh my!

Here's another one from the archives...enjoy!

[image error]This blog is for the ladies! Men no need to read further. Unless of course I have now grabbed your attention and you are curious. I found this article on EMagazine.com and what it had to say was quite disturbing! "According to waste consultant Franklin Associates 6.5 billion tampons and 13.5 billion sanitary pads plus their packaging ended up in landfills or sewer systems in 1998. And according to the Center for Marine Conservation over 170000 tampon applicators were collected along U.S. coastal areas between 1998 and 1999."  

So what's a girl to do? Well there are a couple really great options like Seventh Generation and Natracare I always go for the ones with wings. Love wings. These products are awesome for a number of reasons. They are whitened without chlorine are dye-free and are made with things like organic cotton and wheat based ingredients. The FDA does not require feminine products to put ingredients on their packaging so we have no idea what we are getting! But with Seventh Generation and Natracare we know exactly what's in store. 

I also like to use the slightly more pain-in-the-butt but oh so better for the environment GladRags washable pads or Lunapads. They are these little fabric pads that you snap into little liners. Personally I find Lunapads to be better for me than GladRags... I have used GladRags for so many years now. But Lunapads are softer and more thin. Yes it feels slightly like wearing a diaper but let's face it... Wearing regular pads do too. What I do is use my cloth pads and then let them soak in the sink and then throw them in the wash. It's super easy. I try to use these the most but if I'm in a hurry or leaving the house for the day I go for the Seventh Gen or Natracare pads so that I can change them. I like seventh gen the best.   

I am so not a tampon girl. Never have been probably never will be. But if you prefer tampons to pads then there are alternatives like the Diva Cup and the Keeper which are reusable cups made from silicone or rubber that you wash out and can reuse for up to ten years. Supposedly popular among European ladies. I haven't tried them but if you have I'd like to hear your thoughts. I love the idea of these but am freaked out by them cause I'm so not into tampons. But I think that if you like tampons you might be into these. Let me know!

There is a lot controversy about feminine protection. Chlorine nasty chemical is used to make pads and tampons ultra white. This creates water waste and there are some studies out there that say chlorine bleaching can cause dioxin bad news to leach into the body at very low levels. According to the EPA there is no safe level of dioxin exposure. It is a carcinogen. Frequent exposure to it using pads/tampons once a month for instance can lead to problems like hormone interruption and immunity issues. There are other bad things in pads and tampons like alcohol dyes some have rayon...but you get the point...they are no good. I don't want that stuff near me.

Bottom line - "regular" pads and tampons and such clog landfills use chemicals and "virgin" paper in their production and are bad for your body. I once heard a rumor that tampon manufacturers were adding asbestos to their products because asbestos makes women bleed more and this made women go out and buy more tampons. No truth has been found in this rumor but can you imagine if that were true!?

Be safer and use natural products that we know are organic and these companies are taking appropriate measures to be kind to the environment and our bodies? And if anyone has any more research on dioxins or asbestos in feminine products please leave your comments. I'd like to know.

sponsored post: win a 100 gift certificate towards your good health!

Top Five Reasons Why Omega-3 is Important:

Cardiovascular health
Emotional well-being
Reduced inflammation
Immune function
Glowing skin

Supplements can be a helpful way to increase the nutrients in your diet – but what if you're vegan lost in a world of fish oil capsules?

[image error]

Your solution is Ascenta's NutraVege! Instead of getting DHA from fish NutraVege goes straight to the source: algae. They combine algal oil with echium to make a supplement that has 4x the omega-3 as flax oil. Packing 400mg of DHA 420mg of GLA omega-6 and 550mg of SDA per serving NutraVege is the highest potency and most complete vegan omega-3 available.

NutraVege is committed to quality and transparency. Not only is each lot third-party tested for quality and purity you can even read your specific bottle's test report online – no other omega-3 supplement offers this kind of transparency.

Perhaps best of all this liquid supplement tastes fresh and citrusy so you can take it straight up or put it into smoothies and juices – no after taste like fish oil supplements!

Win a 100 Gift Certificate

Buy a bottle of NutraVege before September 30 and be automatically entered to win a 100 gift certificate to Ethical Ocean your destination for animal- and earth-friendly home beauty food and fashion products!

Order your bottle of NutraVege from Ethical Ocean today and start getting your omega-3 the cruelty-free way!

pooch head-butts bed

This made Christopher and me giggle - this little guy treats his bed just like a trampoline! I especially love when he comes at the camera with his tongue out at the end.

Do your dogs play on your bed or just sleep there?

success story: monica's weight loss new body and newfound confidence

Kind Lifer Monica recently shared her dramatic success story along with before and after pictures. She's such an inspiration – check it out:

"A year ago I watched the 'Oprah' show that Alicia was on. She was talking about her book and how going vegan changed her life and how she felt better physically. I was feeling very sluggish and I felt as if I was too big for my own body. I had always struggled with my weight and nothing ever worked. After watching that show I went out and bought the book The Kind Diet and read it that night.

[image error]Monica is on the left in the black shirt

After reading the book I decided to go vegan. That was over a year ago and I have never felt better. I lost 60 lbs and went from a size 14 to a size 2. I have never been in better shape in my life. My stomach no longer bothers me. I don't have migraines anymore. My skin and hair are much healthier. Most importantly my self-confidence improved dramatically.

[image error]After a year of being vegan

Had I not watched that show I may have never changed my eating habits. Thank you soooo much Alicia for changing my life and helping me to see how to be kind to my body. I love the way I feel and I love the food I eat. I am always excited when I find new recipes or restaurants to eat at. I live close to NYC so I am lucky to have access to a varied selection of vegan restaurants. I love taking non-vegans with me and seeing how much they love the food as well. I hope that people will see the change in me and want to do the same for themselves. Everyone deserves to feel this amazing!"

I love your story! Congratulations and thank you so much for sharing your story with us. If any of you have a success story you'd like to share private message me or post a note to your profile and "like" it. I may feature your story on the homepage of The Kind Life!

sponsored post: win an 8 week natural weight loss program

Dr. Steve Bae medical director of the YB Clinic in Los Angeles is proud to be sponsoring The Kind Life! Watch for the monthly posts featuring wonderful health tips and remedies as well as information about holistic healing.

Kind Life readers from Los Angeles who "Like" the YB Clinic on Facebook and comment on this post will get a free consultation and 35 off additional services. They'll also be entered to win a free 8 week weight loss program. You could lose up to 50 pounds naturally!

[image error]
Acupuncture is a holistic system known to relieve pain and promote healing but did you know it's also used for weight loss anti-aging fertility issues hormonal imbalances depression pregnancy healthcare pains allergies and more?! It works by connecting with the body's energy patterns and redirecting its channels without having to swallow a remote control!

Celebrities such as Mariah Carey Khloe Kardashian Celine Dion and more have all used acupuncture.

The YB Clinic accepts many forms of insurance.

SEPTEMBER TIP FROM DR. BAE: "A whole foods plant based diet low in acidity is excellent in conjunction with acupuncture and paired with vitamins and herbs like B-12 which I recommend to a lot of patients! Coming into winter months it is most important to stay hydrated which will help with your skin and wrinkle care weight loss and added energy. Adding Sea Salt or better yet alkaline salt to your water can improve the pH level keeping your hydration levels higher and alkalinity more in balance! This along with acupuncture will create hormonal balance high energy levels and aid in weight loss."

[image error]

The YB Clinic is located in Beverly Hills and Downtown Los Angeles. If you don't live in Los Angeles you can "Like" the YB Clinic on Facebook for access to tips and information. Ask Dr. Bae direct questions about Chinese medicine or any issues you are having!

To learn more about the YB Clinic visit their website. L.A. residents be sure to become a fan on Facebook for your discount and the chance to win!

vegan pumpkin bread

[image error]

You don't have to wait for Halloween to enjoy a pumpkin-y treat. This recipe for pumpkin bread comes from vegan baker and author Isa Chandra. I haven't tried it but it looks yummy especially for all you flirts and vegans! Superheroes you can make this for your friends and try a few bites once in a blue moon – but I don't recommend it if you're following a strict superhero diet.

Super Moist Pumpkin Bread
by Isa Chandra

Serves 8

The bread gets its name Super Moist from the addition of an unusual ingredient: coconut milk! This bread is so good that most people even vegans don't believe that it's vegan.

Equipment

2 8″ x 4″ loaf pans

Ingredients

1 cup chopped walnuts
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups packed dark brown sugar
2/3 cup vegan white sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 cups pumpkin puree
1 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup coconut milk
2/3 cup flaked coconut

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour two 8″ x 4″ loaf pans.
Spread walnuts in a single layer on an ungreased baking sheet. Toast in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Set aside to cool.
In a large bowl stir together the flour brown sugar white sugar baking soda salt nutmeg and cinnamon. Add the pumpkin puree oil and coconut milk and mix until all of the flour is absorbed. Fold in the flaked coconut and toasted walnuts. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans.
Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes in the preheated oven or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and cover loaves tightly with foil. Allow to steam for 10 minutes. Remove foil and turn out onto a cooling rack. Tent loosely with the foil and allow to cool completely.

Thanks Isa! If any of you try this recipe let me know how you like it. What's your favorite pumpkin recipe?

my thoughts on fur...

[image error]

Through the years I've struggled to find the right reaction whenever I've come into contact with people who wear fur. I have so many strong feelings about this issue that I've often become tongue-tied and have not known what to say.

At times I've said things that even though they were truly what I felt only angered or alienated people. Other times I've said nothing and just accepted that it's their choice. But holding it in and simmering in silence didn't feel right to me either.

What I've finally learned is that being warm and kind is the best way to open a dialogue on this subject. Often people wearing fur expect me to say something harsh that will put them on the defensive. But if I'm willing to engage with them openly and respectfully even if I can't stand the choice they've made it gives us an opportunity to have a friendly conversation one where they're far more open to hearing another point of view.

If I feel comfortable I might ask them in a disarming tone "Hey is that real?" This gives them the chance to answer yes or no but I think just asking the question plants the seed in their mind. If they say it is I just go "Ahhh" or give a look that expresses my reaction - but without judgment or condemnation; I just try and express my truth.

Many times people will say things like "Oh gosh I know… My mom gave it to me" or "I struggle with this issue myself!" Whatever their response by staying compassionate and non-judgmental I have a much better chance at planting a seed of change in their mind or opening up a dialogue than if I get into an argument with them. I think I've wound up having a far more positive effect by calling out my feelings on the issue while not cutting off the chance to have a respectful dialogue. A lot of times people who wear fur might already have an openness to hearing another point of view but if you go at them in a way that's confrontational they will shut down.

It doesn't make me hate the fur trade any less but if my goal is to win over people and eliminate fur clothing for good then a kind and understanding approach can be the most effective. Living a compassionate life means sometimes even having compassion for people who are making choices that are harmful or ignorant. We don't have to like or accept what they're doing but the most effective way to start changing it is by engaging them in constructive dialogue.

What do you do when you see someone wearing fur? What have you found to be the most effective way to get people to change?

petas ingrid newkirk speaks out in forbes

In a recent interview with Forbes.com PETA's Ingrid Newkirk spoke frankly about the issues and challenges facing animal rights groups today. She also highlighted some recent stories in the media that have been helping our cause and gave a friendly shout out to The Kind Diet!

Here's the full interview:

PETA's Ingrid Newkirk - A Conversation with Michael Tobias

[image error]

Michael Tobias MT: What is the most pressing problem that animal rights groups like PETA face today?

Ingrid Newkirk IN: That's a bit like asking which shoes pinch the most. It's got to be what people eat simply because while not everyone wears fur or experiments on animals everyone eats. That means a mind-boggling number of animals suffer for the palate. And the cruelty isn't just in daft and cruel killings. It's the casual cruelty of the lunchtime sandwich or the evening meal. This is not to say that dietary habits aren't changing. Putting aside the New Jersey woman who is vying to be the fattest person on the planet we see cookbooks like Alicia Silverstone's The Kind Diet and programs like Dr. Neal Barnard's 21- Day Weight Loss Kick Start become bestsellers right out of the gate. But in America alone human beings breed raise transport and then slaughter more than 16 billion land animals every 365 days. That doesn't even count fish and crabs who aren't inanimate objects no matter how hard it may be for us to relate to them.

MT: Indeed in the marine and riparian realms recent data suggests "0.97 – 2.7 trillion wild fish" are caught and killed by humans. That said how do you respond to criticism that PETA is pushing the vegan agenda too aggressively?

IN: Let's get graphic for a moment as I hate this namby-pamby cowardly business of "Don't show me what animals go throughI like my steak." We are talking about an enormous number of individual pigs having bits of their ears cut out with a hole punch for identification purposes chickens having their beaks seared off with a hot wire cows having their horns removed with a pair of tongs; animals being thrown into crates kicked and prodded up ramps into something they've never seen before a truck and ending up eyes wide with fear in a place where they see others right before them being strung up and having their throats slit. Fish are slit open on board ships after being hauled up suffocating with their eyes bulging out of their heads from decompression and their gills torn in the nets. Eating animals and stealing what's theirs like the milk meant for their calves is aggression. Pointing out what such behavior means to animals is education. There's no way to make it sound pretty.

MT: What one thing would you ban?

IN: Supremacism! That's like racism and sexismthe idea that others are less than you in intellect or table manners or looks and that therefore that gives you carte blanche to manipulate use abuse and slaughter them as you like. It's self-serving ignorant malarkey.

MT: Animal stories are constantly in the news. Which ones do you think have been helpful to PETA if any?

IN: You'd have to live in a cave to have missed the Michael Vick trialthat has at least put dogfighting the silent blood sport on the map in this country. And the story about the chimpanzee who tore a woman's face off has made some legislators think about a ban on wild animals who get so frustrated in captivity that they go berserk. When newspapers ran the whistleblower photos of how the circus trains baby elephants with beatings and tie-downs that woke a lot of people upso much so that almost 1000 people showed up in Los Angeles to protest when the beast wagons rolled into town.  PETA's "silly" stunts get ink and air time. Like our beating Michelle Bachmann to the punch by bringing back two dollar a gallon gas first. We paid the extra pump cost and served up Tofurkey sandwiches to motorists and it allowed us to make the point that you can do more to reduce your carbon footprint by going vegan than you can by driving a hybrid car. Our "sexy" ads get a lot of play and while people might laugh at them they also look at them and they come to PETA.org to watch the sexy videos but go away the wiser for it.

MT: What do you think makes humans ignore some cruelties?

IN: At PETA we often say that the issue of how animals are treated isn't just about them; it's about us how we behave.  It is about what we are thinking when we do violent things to others whom we find it difficult to relate to or whom we dismiss as too unimportant to take into consideration at all. A lot of people have culturally induced ethical blindness but they can be cured! A lot of people profess to holding religion dear. One of the main tenets of Buddhism is that "all lives are equal." Confucianism teaches us that "we shall treat everything in the world as one." Jesus talked of being kind even to the "least of them" of watching out for the smallest sparrow. Judaism and Islam have wonderful teachings about kindness to animals as a prime virtue. Whether or not we are religious respecting others should be seen as just as important as looking out for ourselves yet it requires discipline to change our bad habits that cause pain to animals. I think that the more we learn about animals the harder it is to abuse them. For instance that the average dog in a human family learns hundreds of household words without being taught them. Ants build boats to cross streams. Bats take food to nearby bats who are sick. Chimpanzees crows elephants and even fish use tools. Octopuses learn how to open a jar simply by watching a person do it. Elephants cradle their dead relatives' bones in their trunks tears pouring down their faces. Little desert rats collect dew by rolling a stone in front of their burrow. Geese and pigeons mate for life mourn and become demonstrably depressed if a mate dies. All these things and many others have been measured witnessed studied and published.

MT: People must ask you "Aren't there more important causes?"

IN: That's a sort of "As long as I'm all right Jack" attitude. When Martin Luther King Jr. protested U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War his followers admonished him and said that he should stay out of it that it didn't directly involve civil rights. Dr. King replied "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." I don't subscribe to the idea that we must look after men or whites or Americans or whomever we most closely identify with first and then and only then can we help others. Our compassion is big enough to let us look beyond the identity of the victim to the injustice and object to that. To me it is one world and the non-human animals bear the brunt of oppression and suffering.

MT: What position do you take on the upcoming elections?

IN: PETA can't electioneer but we can ask every candidate to improve the health of this country which is down the drain by abandoning meat and dairy subsidies; supporting laws that would require assistance for military personnel relocating from overseas and disaster area evacuees so that they can take their beloved animals with them; stopping Department of Defense training exercises that hurt animals in terrible ways and that can easily be replaced by more sophisticated teaching methods; and enforcing the Animal Welfare Act against traveling shows that are dragging arthritic lame elephants around in shackles. Anyone who agrees should be writing to their representatives and the candidates. Oh and please Mr. Obama choose a veggie burger or a veggie dog when you pop into your favorite Washington fast-food joint! PETA has made sure that they stock them!

For a recent three-hour filmed discussion with Ms. Ingrid Newkirk in addition to several other prominent scientists and social scientists see "State of the Earth" viewable as 12 YouTube videos; or as three one-hour down-loadable videos or obtainable in one boxed set.

Copyright Dancing Star Foundation

What do you think are the greatest challenges are to the animal rights movement today?

kind orgs: help patricia arquette give love to haiti

[image error]

Actress Patricia Arquette is helping to rebuild Haiti and she's been making great progress. Her organization Give Love has developed a system that turns human waste into fertilizer using natural agricultural byproducts to break down human waste – no plumbing required! It's a sustainable system that can work on a large scale and with one third of the Haitian population living in tents crammed along the side of the road this kind of solution is desperately needed.

As a relatively small organization Give Love gets things done without the interference of an inefficient bureaucracy. Sometimes the little guys achieve meaningful change a lot faster than giant NGOs non-governmental organizations! In addition to developing its innovative sewage system Give Love has already built an orphanage and is working on a second one.

If you're wondering why you should donate to Haitian children when there is so much strife in the U.S. remember how far the dollar goes in Haiti versus here. For example in Haiti 20 buys a mattress for a beautiful kid who lost his mom and dad in an earthquake. If you think about it that's a pretty major contribution to a child's comfort and happiness.

Find out more about Give Love and donate what you can here. What organizations are you most passionate about? Tell me about them in the comments below and I may feature them in a future blog!