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#383

From: "Clarence Tan" <clarence@...>
Date: Mon Oct 5, 2009 1:08 pm
Subject: International Day of Climate Action - 24 Oct 2009

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International Day of Climate Action

They showed that 350 parts per million CO2 in the atmosphere is the safe limit for humanity.¹

The bad news is we’re already past that number - we’re at 390 parts per million, which is why the Arctic is melting, why drought is spreading across the planet, why humanity is facing perhaps its greatest challenge ever.

The good news: that number gives us a target to aim for.

On 24th Oct, be heard, seen and felt in fun and meaningful activities that will spread this urgent message!

At 8am, hundreds of us will gather at the Padang to use our bodies to form the number '350' - the safe limit for CO2 and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. A boom lift will raise our photographer 12m into the air to capture this mass formation.

From the Padang, we will then 'wacky walk' our way to SMU…that's right, 'Wacky Walk'! Wear a costume, paint your face, walk sideways or any other outrageous gait, gallop or hop that you and your team can come up with. We challenge you to think out of the box and be as fun and creative as possible!

Win prizes for the Best Costume, the Wackiest Walk and Best Showmanship!

All registrants will also receive a Certificate of Participation.

Enjoy a delicious spread of vegan vegetarian cuisine from Loving Hut
(all participants will receive a Free $2 Food Voucher for use on that day, kindly sponsored by Loving Hut.)

Learn more about what each of us can do to curb climate change. Make a pledge to take action!

Please register by 17 Oct: 350@.... Kindly include your name and contact number.

Click here for the Wacky Walk route, and here for a map of SMU.

Organised and/ or supported by:

ECO Singapore Vegetarian Society (Singapore) ACRES

1. 350 part per million of CO2 or CO2 equivalents in other greenhouse gases, such as methane and nitrous oxide. Read more here.

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#384

From: "George Jacobs" <george@...>
Date: Tue Oct 6, 2009 10:53 am
Subject: VSS eNewsletter 6 October 2009

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6 October 2009
VSS NEWS Get in on the Climate Action! - 24 Oct Next Library Talk: ‘Anti-Aging through Anti-Oxidant Foods’ Pls Share Your Story, ‘ Eating Less or No Meat Improved My Health’ Just a Few Places Left for Tanjung Sutera Trip Cycling on Palau Ubin - 1 Nov Brown Rice: Vegetarians Take the Lead What’s VSS Up To? GENERAL NEWS New Name for Stanley St. Restaurant Being a Vegan in India Meatless Mondays Begin in Sao Paulo, Brazil ‘Animal’ Photography Exhibition at 2902 Gallery – 7-21 Oct Top Ice Hockey Player Goes Veg Harvard Learns from NUS Update on Ami’s Veggie Heart Cooking Classes Oct/Nov Schedule from Nutri-Hub, the Organic Fusion Caf�	Less Meat = Less Heat! 18% of human produced greenhouse gas emissions are linked to livestock production. Most people don't know that. Join VSS on 24 Oct to spread the message. Dr George M Jacobs If you have any comments or suggestions, feel free to drop us a line here. Subscribe to this newsletter here. Unsubscribe here Visit us at www.vss.sg


Get in on the Climate Action! - 24 Oct
24 Oct is International Day of Climate Action, and VSS and ECO Singapore are jointly organising fun and meaningful activities that will raise awareness to the urgency of environmental issues. Hundreds of us will gather for an Aerial Photo, Wacky Walk as well as Food and other activities. All participants will receive a Free $2 Food Voucher for use on that day (kindly sponsored by Loving Hut), and a Certificate of Participation. Register by 17 Oct: 350@..., and get in on the action! More details at www.350sg.com. Top
Next Library Talk: ‘Anti-Aging through Anti-Oxidant Foods’
Last Saturday's talk at Bishan Library by Veronyka Lau of Cat Welfare Society offered a great chance for VSS members to connect with other animal lovers, as well as the two cats in the audience. Thanks, Veron. The next talk is Sat, 31 Oct, 3pm-5pm, by Dr Sanjay Doshi, Mediline Wei Min Clinic. 'Anti-Aging through Anti-Oxidant Foods' explains the role of diet in slowing the aging process. The venue, Toa Payoh Public Library, Multi-Purpose Room, holds only 30 people; so, please be on time to secure a seat. Seating for all the talks is on a first come, first served basis; no reservations are possible. The first hour of each of the two hour sessions will focus on what the presenter has to show and tell; the second hour will be open to the public to interact with the presenter and fellow audience members. Here's the schedule for the two November talks. November Date/Time: 21 Nov, 3pm-5pm Presenter: Louis Ng, ACRES Title: Making a Difference for Animals Venue: Central Public Library, Multi-Purpose Room, B1 near lending library (capacity: 70pax) Date/Time: 28 Nov, 3pm-5pm Presenter: Dr Harvey Neo, Geography Department, NUS Title: Meat Production and Land Use Venue: Central Public Library, Multi-Purpose Room, B1 near lending library (capacity: 70pax) We hope to have another series of talks next year. If you'd like to help plan them, pls contact VSS at info@... Top
Pls Share Your Story, ‘Eating Less or No Meat Improved My Health’
There's a lot of scientific evidence about the benefits of going veg, such as that compiled by the American Dietetic Association: http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/ hs.xsl/advocacy_933_ENU_HTML.htm However, sometimes personal experience can speak louder that statistics. Thus, VSS is hoping to compile stories from people in Singapore about how going vegetarian or vegan improved their health or saved their lives. The more compelling stories we collect, the better it speaks for the veg diet and spare others of unnecessary suffering. For instance, VSS president, George Jacobs, suffered from sinus problems for many years. This led to a few colds every year and the build up of polyps in his sinuses, which led to surgery to remove the polyps, although some soon came back. Fortunately, when George gave up dairy - he had already been vegetarian for many years - the sinus problems diminished greatly, and he hasn't had a cold for many years since. Another, stronger example is Mdm Wong Thai Thai who, after being diagnosed with leukaemia, switched to an all plant based diet which helped reverse the terminal disease. Mdm Wong was so inspired, she started a vegetarian restaurant on Smith Street, Ci Yan, to share the importance of diet for health. By complementing medical evidence with real life stories, authorities may become more receptive sooner. So, please send your story - in any language - to info@.... Thanks. Top
Just a Few Places Left for Tanjung Sutera Trip
Details of this 17-18 Oct trip at http://www.vegetarian-society.org/?q=node/1098 Top
Cycling on Palau Ubin - 1 Nov
On Sun, 1 Nov Sun, VSS is planning another joint bicycling event with the Singapore Adventurous Meetup Group. This time, instead of ECP, we'll be going to Palau Ubin. Imagine cycling on rustic Singapore roads. Imagine that you see only green, coconuts trees and barking dogs, with no traffic (not to mention no traffic jams), scenes that are long gone in our daily life on mainland Singapore. You can take this time travel trip on Pulau Ubin. Cycling is the best way to explore this slice of good old Spore. Program 8.30am: Participants gather at Changi Ferry Terminal for boat trip to Ubin (best to arrive on Ubin early to get good bikes and to beat the Sunday crowds) 9.00am: Quick breakfast on Ubin 9.30am: Choosing & testing bicycles 9.45am: Safety briefing/grouping/planning of cycling route -> cycling start 12.15pm: Cycling ends/feedback & comments 12.45pm: Arrive back at Changi Ferry Terminal 1.00pm: Lunch on your own or with your newfound friends Please bring cash for the following expenses 1. Cost of the bumboat: $2.50/person/trip (wef 15 Apr 08). --- Maximum 12 passengers per trip --- additional charge if you bring your own bike on the ferry 2. Bicycle rent will vary from $6 - $10 depending on type of bicycle you chose. Bicycles with full suspension highly recommended 3. Breakfast & Lunch Things you MUST bring or wear: 1. at least 1.5 litres of water/isotonic drinks 2. comfortable shoes & sport wear 3. cap 4. sun block Please ensure you know EXACTLY how to get to the meetup point and that you arrive ON-TIME. To make sure you arrive on time, it's best to share taxi, as the bus route is very long and unpredictable. Contact TS at 9296.1943 tschua@... Kheng at 6258.5031 kheng@... Website: http://www.meetup.com/Singapore-Adventurous-Group/ calendar/11549311/ Top
Brown Rice: Vegetarians Take the Lead
What vegetarians have long known was confirmed in a ST article from last Sat: if you want brown rice, you're mostly likely to find it at a veg eatery. A VSS Exco member sent the following letter to the ST Forum page in response. Let's see if it is published. I refer to “Brown rice for your chicken rice meal?” (Oct 3). The article states that brown rice is available at almost one-third of hawker centres, in particular at vegetarian stalls. It is no surprise that vegetarian stalls and restaurants have taken the lead in offering brown rice, as vegetarians generally tend to be more conscious of health, their own health, that of our fellow animals and the health of the environment. There is even vegetarian chicken rice! By asking for brown rice, we increase demand which, in turn, increases supply. The Vegetarian Society's website, www.vss.sg, has a Food Outlets page which lists more than 400 vegetarian restaurants and stalls around the island. Each listing includes whether the outlet serves brown rice. Top
What’s VSS Up To?
This is a new feature that talks about things VSS is working on that aren't yet 'ripe' enough for inclusion as a regular article in the VSS eNewsletter. If you'd like to help make these events happen, contact info@.... If you want more information, please wait for things to ripen. Thx. 1. Visit by Dr R.K. Pachauri, chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). IPCC shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore. He is tentatively scheduled to appear, either in person or via video conference, on 9 Nov. 2. Visit by Dr Caldwell Esselstyn, author of 'Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease'. Scheduled for March, 2010. 3. GIRO fundraising scheme. 4. More letters to the Forum pages of newspapers and other publications. 5. 'Meat Less in Singapore' Starter Kit Top


New Name for Stanley St. Restaurant
Angel's Bistro is the new name for the veg restaurant at 28 Stanley St, formerly known as Angel's Heart. For more info: http://www.vegetarian-society.org/node/570 Top
Being a Vegan in India
This article, from the India edition of Forbes magazine, recounts the author's experience trying to be vegan after moving from the U.S. to India. http://business.in.com/article/recliner/ being-vegan-in-india/4482/1 Top
Meatless Mondays Begin in Sao Paulo, Brazil
Led by Vegetarian Society of Brazil (SVB), Sao Paulo, Brazil, one of the world's largest cities, with 11 million inhabitants, kicked off a Meatless Mondays campaign on 3-4 October: http://www.svb.org.br/segundasemcarne The kick off to Meatless Mondays involved seminars, food demonstrations and a big event in the city's main park, Ibirapuera. Four stations were set up in the park, Health, Environment, Ethics and New Tastes, each one symbolized by one of the 'toys' of the campaign (pictured above). SVB launched Meatless Mondays in partnership with the Sao Paulo city government's Green and Environment Department, along with NGOs, such as Greenpeace and Slow Food. Plus, another Brazilian city is joining the campaign, Sao Louren�o da Serra. The mayor there is vegetarian and a SVB member. Congratulations! Top
‘Animal’ Photography Exhibition at 2902 Gallery – 7-21 Oct
The 2902 Gallery, at OldSchool, 11b Mount Sophia, #B2-09, is hosting a photography exhibit, 7-21 Oct. The exhibition, entitled 'Animal', explores various interpretations of the relationship between humans and our fellow animals. For more info on the exhibition and the gallery: shihan@... or www.2902gallery.com or http://www.facebook.com/search/?init=srp&sfxp=&o=&q=2902+photo+gallery#/ group.php?gid=9871157090&ref=ts or 6339 8655 or info@... Top
Top Ice Hockey Player Goes Veg
Ice Hockey isn't a popular sport in Singapore, but still it's interesting to learn that a top ice hockey player, Georges Laraque of the Montreal Canadians, went veg earlier this year. Here's an excerpt from an article about Laraque's diet change. Everything changed, Laraque said, after he saw Earthlings, a 2006 documentary that is widely celebrated in animal-rights circles. “It's unconscionable what's happening to animals in this country and the way we treat animals we eat. … I realized I had to make some big changes,” Laraque said. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/ laraque-happy-to-veg-out/article1289191 Top
Harvard Learns from NUS
Last month, as reported in the VSS eNewsletter, a Meatless Thursday campaign was launched at NUS. Already 3500 people there have pledged to go meatless every Thu. Now, the newspaper at Harvard University, the Harvard Crimson, is advocating that people there also reduce meat consumption. Here's an excerpt. [Harvard University Dining Services] and student groups should inform undergrads about the impact of their meat consumption on the environment, which might inspire students to eat less meat. Lowell House already has a remarkable student initiative that aims to do just that by encouraging students to sign up for “Meatless Mondays,” vowing to refrain from meat-eating once a week. The issue of vegetarianism carries weight for numerous reasons in modern society, and the Vegetarian Society should be commended for bringing the debate to Harvard. Together, HUDS and student initiatives can inform the student body about the environmental benefits of eating less meat and encourage students to rethink their food consumption. Top
Update on Ami’s Veggie Heart Cooking Classes
Our previous issue carried news of a new instructor for veg cooking classes, Ami, at 9144.6105. Ami sends news that her 16 Oct class will feature Beehoon with Vegetables. Top
Oct/Nov Schedule from Nutri-Hub, the Organic Fusion Caf�
Congratulations to Nutri-Hub, the Organic Fusion Caf� - Cuppage Plaza,#B2-25 (behind OG Orchard, near Centrepoint), 6738.2746 - for again being named a 'Healthier Choice Restaurant' by Health Promotion Board. This is linked to HPB's whole grain campaign. Nutri-Hub is offering a special 10% discount to paid members of VSS. Also, they have a new schedule: Mon-Sat, 10am-7pm; closed Sun & Public Holidays, but available for group bookings those days. Here's their Oct/Nov schedule of classes. Sat 24 Oct, 2-4pm Nutrimeal - Raw like Cooked Sat 31 Oct, 10.30am-12.30pm Harmonising Your Body Energy I Sat 7 Nov, 2-4pm Nutrition & Nutrimeal Cooking Sat 21 Nov, 2-4pm Nutrition Assessment & Vitality Cooking Sat 28 Nov, 10.30am-12.30pm Harmonising Your Body Energy II Details at http://nutrihub.blogspot.com Top

Join VSS and enjoy great discounts on all our events, plus many other benefits! To unsubscribe from this newsletter, click here. Click here for a comprehensive list of vegetarian eateries, or email us at makan@... to notify us of new places. The VSS eNewsletter is non-copyrighted, and readers are encouraged to share the content. Back issues are available here. Disclaimer: The information provided in this Newsletter is solely for the consideration of the subscribers, and does not constitute an endorsement by the Vegetarian Society (Singapore).

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#385

From: "George Jacobs" <george@...>
Date: Thu Oct 15, 2009 2:59 am
Subject: VSS eNewsletter 15 October 2009

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15 October 2009
VSS NEWS International Day of Climate Action - 24 Oct, Padang & SMU Anyone Can Cook Vegetarian! - with Nazli Anwari - 7 Nov Exhibition at NUS Central Library Sg Veg Food Guide Now at Bookstores & News Stands VSS Speaks at Green Drinks – 29 Oct Library Talk, 31 Oct: ‘Anti-Aging through Anti-Oxidant Foods’ Cycling on Palau Ubin - 1 Nov Can’t Wait for the Next VSS eNewsletter? Follow VSS on Twitter What’s VSS Up To? GENERAL NEWS Health Story Veg Diet Tips from the US Government Are Vegetarians Preachy Fanatics? Burger Beware Beak Trimming of Chickens Korea as Veg-Friendly Altruism in Other Animals Free Documentary at NUS – 28Oct – ‘The Witness’	What's in a number? Perhaps the difference between climate safety and catastrophe. Learn why 350 is so significant and join hundreds in Singapore for a fun and meaningful day on 24th Oct! Dr George M Jacobs If you have any comments or suggestions, feel free to drop us a line here. Subscribe to this newsletter here. Unsubscribe here Visit us at www.vss.sg


International Day of Climate Action, 24 Oct, Padang & SMU
Be part of an international day featuring over 1500 events worldwide on Sat, 24 Oct. Details on the Singapore events at: http://www.vegetarian-society.org/350 Top
Anyone Can Cook Vegetarian! - with Nazli Anwari - 7 Nov
Be inspired by the delectable and health-giving cuisine of spa consultant & horticulturist, Nazli Anwari. Learn to prepare these exquisite dishes: Gotu Kola Salad Mediterranean Digestive Drumstick Spicy Dhal Salad Celery Medley Humus and caramelized vegetables Rujak Limited to 20 persons. Click here for registration and more details. Top
Exhibition at NUS Central Library
An NUS student group, Peace (People Ending Animal Cruelty & Exploitation) - http://blog.nus.edu.sg/animalwelfare - formerly the Animal Welfare group, invited VSS to display our exhibition materials as part of a larger exhibition at the NUS Central Library Lobby Area from 14-23 Oct. If you would like to help to staff our exhibition, pls contact info@... and let us know which weekdays from 9am-3pm you might be available. Top
Sg Veg Food Guide Now at Bookstores and News Stands
VSS is very happy to announce that our Singapore Vegetarian Food Guide is now on sales in many bookstores and news stands. For a list of outlets, please visit http://www.vegetarian-society.org/svfg Top
VSS Speaks at Green Drinks – 29 Oct
Held every last Thursday of the month, Green Drinks is a platform for companies, social groups and individuals to raise awareness of environmental issues, and a space for people who want to find out how they can make a difference and meet like-minded people. Already active in 615 cities worldwide, Green Drinks sessions start from 8pm (closer to 8.30 in Sg) and include presentations by people in the green circle, and are held in an informal atmosphere. The Oct session of Singapore’s Green Drinks incarnation - www.greendrinkssingapore.com - takes place on Thu, 29 Oct and features a Q&A session on the topic of permaculture, organic and non-organic farming, as well as food issues. A VSS representative, along with Andrew Tay, from ACRES, and others will be fielding questions. The venue is Food #03, at 109 Rowell Road in Little India. By bus - 21, 23, 64, 65, 66, 67, 131, 139, 147, 857, NR6; MRT - Farrer Park (NE8), exit G. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=109 +Rowell+Road%2C+Singapore%2C+Singapore Info: 9688.7449. Top
Library Talk, 31 Oct: ‘Anti-Aging through Anti-Oxidant Foods’
Toa Payoh Public Library, Multi-Purpose Room, is the venue for the next VSS talk, on Sat, 31 Oct, 3pm-5pm. The speaker, Dr Sanjay Doshi, of Mediline Wei Min Clinic, will explore ‘Anti-Aging through Anti-Oxidant Foods’. As the room we have at Toa Payoh Public Library holds only 30 people, please be on time to secure a seat. Seating for all the talks is on a first come, first served basis; no reservations are possible. The first hour of each of the two hour sessions will focus on what the presenter has to show and tell; the second hour will be open to the public to interact with the presenter and fellow audience members. Here’s the schedule for the two November talks. November Date/Time: 21 Nov, 3pm-5pm Presenter: Louis Ng, ACRES Title: Making a Difference for Animals Venue: Central Public Library, Multi-Purpose Room, B1 near lending library (capacity: 70pax) Date/Time: 28 Nov, 3pm-5pm Presenter: Dr Harvey Neo, Geography Department, NUS Title: Meat Production and Land Use Venue: Central Public Library, Multi-Purpose Room, B1 near lending library (capacity: 70pax) We hope to have another series of talks next year. If you’d like to help plan them, pls contact VSS at info@... Top
Cycling on Palau Ubin - 1 Nov
On Sun, 1 Nov Sun, VSS is planning another joint bicycling event with the Singapore Adventurous Meetup Group. This time, instead of ECP, we'll be going to Palau Ubin. Imagine cycling on rustic Singapore roads. Imagine that you see only green, coconuts trees and barking dogs, with no traffic (not to mention no traffic jams), scenes that are long gone in our daily life on mainland Singapore. You can take this time travel trip on Pulau Ubin. Cycling is the best way to explore this slice of good old Spore. Program 8.30am: Participants gather at Changi Ferry Terminal for boat trip to Ubin (best to arrive on Ubin early to get good bikes and to beat the Sunday crowds) 9.00am: Quick breakfast on Ubin 9.30am: Choosing & testing bicycles 9.45am: Safety briefing/grouping/planning of cycling route -> cycling start 12.15pm: Cycling ends/feedback & comments 12.45pm: Arrive back at Changi Ferry Terminal 1.00pm: Lunch on your own or with your newfound friends Please bring cash for the following expenses 1. Cost of the bumboat: $2.50/person/trip (wef 15 Apr 08). --- Maximum 12 passengers per trip --- additional charge if you bring your own bike on the ferry 2. Bicycle rent will vary from $6 - $10 depending on type of bicycle you chose. Bicycles with full suspension highly recommended 3. Breakfast & Lunch Things you MUST bring or wear: 1. at least 1.5 litres of water/isotonic drinks 2. comfortable shoes & sport wear 3. cap 4. sun block Please ensure you know EXACTLY how to get to the meetup point and that you arrive ON-TIME. To make sure you arrive on time, it's best to share taxi, as the bus route is very long and unpredictable. Contact TS at 9296.1943 tschua@... Kheng at 6258.5031 kheng@... Website: http://www.meetup.com/Singapore-Adventurous-Group/ calendar/11549311/ Top
Can’t Wait for the Next VSS eNewsletter? Follow VSS on Twitter
VSS is proud of our free eNewsletter, especially with its new look, with the content that readers send it and with about 5400 email addresses subscribed. But enewsletters are so Web 1.0. To keep up with the times, VSS also uses Web 2.0 media, such as Facebook and Twitter. With Twitter, any time we have news to share, we can tweet it to those who follow us on Twitter. To sign up - it’s free - go to http://twitter.com/vssnews Top
What’s VSS Up To?
This is a new feature that talks about things VSS is working on that aren’t yet ‘ripe’ enough for inclusion as a regular article in the VSS eNewsletter. If you’d like to help make these events happen, contact info@.... If you want more information, please wait for things to ripen. Thx. 1. The Asian Vegetarian Congress, 6-9 Nov, in Batam. We will be giving talks, helping with logistics and, as Batam’s neighbour, entertaining visitors from around the region and beyond. 2. Visit by Dr R.K. Pachauri, chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). IPCC shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore. He is tentatively scheduled to appear, via video conference, on 9 Nov. Do you know of places with video conferencing equipment? 3. Visit by Dr Caldwell Esselstyn, author of ‘Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease’. Scheduled for March, 2010. 4. GIRO fundraising scheme. 5. More letters to the Forum pages of newspapers and other publications. 6. ‘Meat Less in Singapore’ Starter Kit Top


Health Story
Recently, VSS asked people to share their stories about how going veg or at least eating less meat seemed to have led to improved health. Of course, such stories do not constitute scientific evidence. Here’s one story from someone who went veg to show kindness to our fellow animals, but seems to have received a health bonus. Please send your story to info@... I just wanted to share that my health has improved a lot since i became a vegetarian. I used to fall sick very often. In fact, I had colds almost every week. I was constantly sniffling away and generally weak. It affected my concentration, and I had to put in double the effort to focus at work which, of course, caused fatigue which, in turn, brought on the illnesses again. So, it was a vicious cycle. However, when i became a vegetarian, I began to fall ill less often. In fact, I can last a few weeks without falling ill. I did not even notice this initially. The people around me pointed it out. I am so happy, especially now that I can concentrate and focus so much better. Another change has been to my asthma. Before I went veg, if I did not use my inhaler every night, a few hours later, I would have an asthma attack. However, since going veg, on the few occasions that I forgot to use my inhaler, I was still ok even till the next afternoon. I became a vegetarian, because I wanted to do my part in saving the animals especially knowing the horrors of factory farming. I never thought that there would be such positive health benefits as well. I would strongly urge everyone to adopt a vegetarian lifestyle. Not only will you be making a difference to the animals, you would also be making a difference to your health. Andrea Kwan Campaigns Officer Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) www.acres.org.sg Top
Veg Diet Tips from the US Government
Life is full of contradictions. Here’s one. The U.S. government spends huge amount of money subsidizing production of animal based foods and encouraging their consumption. Yet, the same government’s US Department of Agriculture also puts out information on how we can be healthy on a plant based diet: http://www.mypyramid.gov/downloads/ TenTips/VegetarianTipsheet.pdf Top
Are Vegetarians Preachy Fanatics?
Some meat eaters claim that vegetarians are arrogant people who are always preaching at others about the horrors of meat consumption and production. In this article, a vegetarian responds: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ari-solomon/ who-you-callin-vegangelic_b_290582.html The moving YouTube video mentioned in the article is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUkHkyy4uqw Top
Burger Beware
The following is a detailed article from The New York Times about food poisoning in hamburger meat and its occasionally disastrous effects. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/04/health/ 04meat.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&em Top
Beak Trimming of Chickens
Chickens have the dubious distinction to humans’ favourite animals (at least land animal) to eat, with more than 40 billion eaten annually. And, their lives before slaughter (at about the age of 6 weeks) is no party either. For instance, to lessen injuries on the terribly crowded factory farms, chickens’ beaks are cut. Earlier, the UK enacted legislation to ban this from 2011, but a move is afoot to roll back the ban. Our friends at Compassion in World Farming (makers of the video ‘Eat Less Meat’) have a petition drive to save the ban: http://tinyurl.com/yjvjzae Top
Korea as Veg-Friendly
It’s an unmistakable trend. Countries that used to be considered as vegetarian obstacle courses are now becoming veg-friendly. Korea is a case in point, as described in the following article (in English) from a Korean newspaper: http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/ 2008/03/14/2008031461017.html And, here’s something about veg-themed films at a film festival in Korea: http://tinyurl.com/yko8pw2 For veg vocab in Korean: http://www.ivu.org/phrases/easia.html Top
Altruism in Other Animals
Some meat eaters tell us that it’s okay to eat other animals because they have little or no intelligence and don’t experience emotions the way that we humans, the highest animal, do. Here’s a video that adds yet another piece of evidence that seems to debunk that view. (Note: one can never be too sure of the accuracy of what’s found on the internet.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTg5VGbzTq8 This raises the issue of whether it is altruistic to be vegetarian. It might be since we are helping our fellow animals. On the other hand, since there’s evidence that being vegetarian is good for our health, maybe vegetarianism is a form of self-protection, not altruism. What do you think? Top
Free Documentary at NUS – 28Oct – ‘The Witness’
NUS PEACE is sponsoring a free showing of the film, The Witness - http://www.witnessfilm.org - on Thu, 28Oct, 6.30-8.30pm, NUS Central Library Theatrette. Here’s from the website blurb. How does a construction contractor from a tough Brooklyn neighborhood become an impassioned animal advocate? In the award-winning documentary THE WITNESS, Eddie Lama explains how he feared and avoided animals for most of his life, until the love of a kitten opened his heart, inspiring him to rescue abandoned animals and bring his message of compassion to the streets of New York. With humor and sincerity, Eddie tells the story of his remarkable change in consciousness. THE WITNESS has been an official selection in 32 film festivals where it has received eight awards for Best Documentary and two for Best of Festival. It has been broadcast on the independent film showcases of several regional PBS stations, as well as LinkTV, FreeSpeech TV, and United Kingdom's Community Channel. Thus far, the film has been translated into 11 languages, including Russian and Chinese. Top

Join VSS and enjoy great discounts on all our events, plus many other benefits! To unsubscribe from this newsletter, click here. Click here for a comprehensive list of vegetarian eateries, or email us at makan@... to notify us of new places. The VSS eNewsletter is non-copyrighted, and readers are encouraged to share the content. Back issues are available here. Disclaimer: The information provided in this Newsletter is solely for the consideration of the subscribers, and does not constitute an endorsement by the Vegetarian Society (Singapore).

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#386

From: "Clarence Tan" <clarence@...>
Date: Thu Oct 22, 2009 7:13 am
Subject: International Day of Climate Action - 24 Oct 2009 - *Update*

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Dear friends,

International Day of Climate Action - 24 Oct 2009

We wrote to tell you about the exciting and meaningful events happening this Saturday.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the following changes had to be made:

The venue for the Aerial Photo has been changed to Hong Lim Park (nearest MRT is Clarke Quay station).

No costumes, placards or unusual walking styles are allowed on the Walkathon.

More details at www.350sg.com (you may need to refresh your browser to see the changes).

Or drop us a line at 350@....

Sincerely,

The VSS Team

www.vss.sg

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#387

From: "George Jacobs" <george@...>
Date: Tue Oct 27, 2009 12:04 am
Subject: VSS eNewsletter 27 October 2009

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27 October 2009
VSS NEWS International Day of Climate Action – Wrap-Up VSS Speaks at Green Drinks – 29 Oct Library Talk, 31 Oct: ‘Anti-Aging through Anti-Oxidant Foods’ Cycling on Palau Ubin - 1 Nov Green Talk at LKY School – 11 Nov Countdown to Copenhagen Concert – 13 Nov Assembly of Youth for Environment – Labrador Park - 17 Nov Letter to my paper – Meat and Fur Are Both Cruel GENERAL NEWS From Sg - How I Became a Vegetarian How I Became a Vegetarian – A US Story New Restaurant on Upper East Coast Road Sign of the Times: Draft Animal Cruelty Law in China Update from One Meatless Day Campaign in Brazil Fun Way To Send a Message to Copenhagen Watch ‘HOME’ Online	The hot topic is climate change - here in Singapore and around the world, thousands of events marked the International Day of Climate Action. And in cyberspace, Greenpeace gives new meaning to the term 'thinking out of the box'. Dr George M Jacobs If you have any comments or suggestions, feel free to drop us a line here. Subscribe to this newsletter here. Unsubscribe here Visit us at www.vss.sg


International Day of Climate Action – Wrap-Up
VSS was one of the main organisers of the International Day of Climate Action events in Singapore: www.350sg.com. According to the international website, there were more than 5000 events in more than 170 countries, making it possibly the most widespread concerted action for change in the history of the world: www.350.org Click here for visuals from the Singapore event. Here’s - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9LLXLkeZSI - a YouTube video by Bhavani Prakash who runs the website ‘Eco Walk the Talk’: http://www.ecowalkthetalk.com We’d like to thank all the other organisations and eateries that made the events possible: ECO (our co-organiser), Acres, Loving Hut, Whole Earth, Na�ve and 7 Sensations. Top
VSS Speaks at Green Drinks – 29 Oct
Held every last Thursday of the month, Green Drinks is a platform for companies, social groups and individuals to raise awareness of environmental issues, and a space for people who want to find out how they can make a difference and meet like-minded people. Already active in 615 cities worldwide, Green Drinks sessions start from 8pm (closer to 8.30 in Sg) and include presentations by people in the green circle, and are held in an informal atmosphere. The Oct session of Singapore’s Green Drinks incarnation - www.greendrinkssingapore.com – takes place on Thu, 29 Oct and features a Q&A session on the topic of permaculture, organic and non-organic farming, as well as food issues. A VSS representative, along with Andrew Tay, from ACRES, and others will be fielding questions. The venue is Food #03, at 109 Rowell Road in Little India. By bus – 21, 23, 64, 65, 66, 67, 131, 139, 147, 857, NR6; MRT – Farrer Park (NE8), exit G. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q= 109+Rowell+Road%2C+Singapore%2C+Singapore Info: 9688.7449. Top
Library Talk, 31 Oct: ‘Anti-Aging through Anti-Oxidant Foods’
Toa Payoh Public Library, Multi-Purpose Room, is the venue for the next VSS talk, on Sat, 31 Oct, 3pm-5pm. The speaker, Dr Sanjay Doshi, of Mediline Wei Min Clinic, will explore ‘Anti-Aging through Anti-Oxidant Foods’. As the room we have at Toa Payoh Public Library holds only 30 people, please be on time to secure a seat. Seating for all the talks is on a first come, first served basis; no reservations are possible. The first hour of each of the two hour sessions will focus on what the presenter has to show and tell; the second hour will be open to the public to interact with the presenter and fellow audience members. We hope to have another series of talks next year. If you’d like to help plan them, pls contact VSS at info@... Top
Cycling on Palau Ubin - 1 Nov
On Sun, 1 Nov Sun, VSS is planning another joint bicycling event with the Singapore Adventurous Meetup Group. This time, instead of ECP, we'll be going to Palau Ubin. Imagine cycling on rustic Singapore roads. Imagine that you see only green, coconuts trees and barking dogs, with no traffic (not to mention no traffic jams), scenes that are long gone in our daily life on mainland Singapore. You can take this time travel trip on Pulau Ubin. Cycling is the best way to explore this slice of good old Spore. Program 8.30am: Participants gather at Changi Ferry Terminal for boat trip to Ubin (best to arrive on Ubin early to get good bikes and to beat the Sunday crowds) 9.00am: Quick breakfast on Ubin 9.30am: Choosing & testing bicycles 9.45am: Safety briefing/grouping/planning of cycling route -> cycling start 12.15pm: Cycling ends/feedback & comments 12.45pm: Arrive back at Changi Ferry Terminal 1.00pm: Lunch on your own or with your newfound friends Please bring cash for the following expenses 1. Cost of the bumboat: $2.50/person/trip (wef 15 Apr 08). --- Maximum 12 passengers per trip --- additional charge if you bring your own bike on the ferry 2. Bicycle rent will vary from $6 - $10 depending on type of bicycle you chose. Bicycles with full suspension highly recommended 3. Breakfast & Lunch Things you MUST bring or wear: 1. at least 1.5 litres of water/isotonic drinks 2. comfortable shoes & sport wear 3. cap 4. sun block Please ensure you know EXACTLY how to get to the meetup point and that you arrive ON-TIME. To make sure you arrive on time, it's best to share taxi, as the bus route is very long and unpredictable. Contact TS at 9296.1943 tschua@... Kheng at 6258.5031 kheng@... Website: http://www.meetup.com/Singapore-Adventurous-Group/ calendar/11549311/ Top
Green Talk at LKY School – 11 Nov
Wed, 11 Nov, 5-7.30pm, VSS is helping to organise a panel discussion, titled “Green Talk”, by IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) experts. The venue is the auditorium of the LKY School of Public Policy. Details: Lim May-Ann, Senior Executive, Public Education, Policy and Research, may-ann.lim@..., 9847.1950. Please attend and help the veg voice to be heard. Top
Countdown to Copenhagen Concert – 13 Nov
VSS is a supporter for the Countdown to Copenhagen Concert, Fri, 13 Nov, from 10pm, at Indochine Empress Place. Copenhagen is hosting the big international climate change conference, starting 7 Dec: http://www.hopenhagen.org. Organisers are hoping to attract 2000 people, and VSS has been invited to do outreach to them. Any ideas/want to help: info@... Top
Assembly of Youth for Environment – Labrador Park - 17 Nov
The inaugural “Assembly of Youth for Environment” will be held in Labrador Nature Reserve, Tue, 17 Nov, 9am-12.30pm, in conjunction with International Energy Week. This event is jointly organized by Eureka Junction (MOE’s S2 Cluster Science and Innovation Centre), National Parks Board, Singapore Polytechnic and Addest Technovation; and supported by the National Environment Agency, Singapore Environment Council and VSS. The event aims: (a) To raise the awareness of sustainable energy and climate change among youths. (b) To empower youths to make an improvement for an environmentally sustainable future (c)To provide a platform for youths to embark on collaborative environmental improvement projects On-line registration at http://www.queenswaysec.moe.edu.sg/ environment/environment.html Top
Letter to my paper – Meat and Fur Are Both Cruel
The following letter by a VSS member appeared, in a slightly changed form, in ‘my paper’ of 21 Oct. I refer to Kong Soon Wah’s expose “Buying a fur coat? Watch this video first” (my paper, 19 Oct). Sadly, such horrible treatment is suffered not only by the fellow animals whom we use for fur but also those whom we use for food. We are treating chickens, pigs and other non-human animals as if they were mere objects, when, in fact, they are intelligent, feeling fellow beings, as revealed by researchers who have studied them. Imagine, please, how we humans would feel if more intelligent beings from another planet took a liking to human flesh and treated us the way we treat chickens, fish, pigs and others. This cruelty is graphically documented in videos by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta), such as ‘Meet Your Meat’ - http://www.goveg.com/factoryFarming.asp - and others of the growing number of organisations worldwide that are speaking up for defenceless animals. Warning: do not watch these videos just before you are planning to tuck into a meat dish; you may end up losing your appetite. Best to plan for a vegetarian meal after you finish viewing. Not only your stomach, but also your heart and mind, will thank you. Top


From Sg: How I Became a Vegetarian
Here’s another in our occasional series in which people recount their path to vegetarianism. This one is by Mr Ong Wee Heng. Never did I think that I would switch to become vegetarian. Meat was my first love. Then, one day I watched a video that showed a “red lake” created by the blood of thousands of animals slaughtered at a large abattoir in the U.S. The video contrasted this horrible red lake with a beautiful blue sea. The contrast started me thinking, and I began to cut down my meat consumption. After the Sichuan Earthquake in May, 2008, I decided to be a vegetarian for one month. After the month was up, I decided to continue into a second month. During that period, I was still not very firm on being a vegetarian. I told myself that when the time was up, I would go back to enjoying my meat. But into the third month, I developed a strong feeling that in order to help others and the planet I should do away with meat completely and forever. As a senior manager in my company, I have to attend many entertainment functions. When I first became vegetarian, I felt awkward telling others about my new diet. However, after the second month, I decided to be honest about it and was pleasantly surprised by the positive response. For instance, when my company hosted a seventh lunar month dinner for staff and their guests, they even requested a vegetarian table for me. Nowadays, I see meals with others as an opportunity to gently promote vegetarianism. Nowadays, whenever I walk past a roast meat stall, there is no more ‘urge’. Sometimes, I even feel it is smelly. After getting over my desire for meat, I started to abstain from drinking. As a result of these changes, my weight has gone down, and I have become much healthier. Top
How I Became a Vegetarian – A US Story
This is a five-page article from the New York Times - http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/11/ magazine/11foer-t.htm?pagewanted=1 – part of a non-fiction book titled ‘Eating Animals’ by an up-and-coming novelist, to be published this November - http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/ 0,28804,1920701_1920699_1920686,00.html Here’s an excerpt from the middle of the article, but the best part is right at the end, about the author’s grandmother who almost died of hunger during WWII. While the cultural uses of meat can be replaced, … there is still the question of pleasure. A vegetarian diet can be rich and fully enjoyable, but I couldn’t honestly argue, as many vegetarians try to, that it is as rich as a diet that includes meat. (Those who eat chimpanzee look at the Western diet as sadly deficient of a great pleasure.) I love calamari, I love roasted chicken, I love a good steak. But I don’t love them without limit. This isn’t animal experimentation, where you can imagine some proportionate good at the other end of the suffering. This is what we feel like eating. Yet taste, the crudest of our senses, has been exempted from the ethical rules that govern our other senses. Why? Why doesn’t a horny person have as strong a claim to raping an animal as a hungry one does to confining, killing and eating it? It’s easy to dismiss that question but hard to respond to it. Try to imagine any end other than taste for which it would be justifiable to do what we do to farmed animals. Top
New Restaurant on Upper East Coast Road
Thanks to a reader for alerting us to a new veg restaurant: Natural Green Vegetarian Restaurant, 91 East Coast Road, S 428791, 6348.1338. Details at http://www.vegetarian-society.org/node/1119 Top
Sign of the Times: Draft Animal Cruelty Law in China
The famous civil rights campaigner, Martin Luther King, Jr., once stated, “The arc of justice is long but bends toward justice”. Another sign of the oh-so-slow, but seemingly sure trend towards greater justice for our fellow animals is the recent draft animal protection law in China - http://tinyurl.com/yz5xywv Top
Update from One Meatless Day Campaign in Brazil
The campaign is going VERY well - many possibilities at hand - we are planning now launching in Rio (with support of some BIG names - already Marisa Monte - who will wear our T-shirt - and many more. Next is coming Salvador, Brasilia, Floripa, Campinas, Sao Louren�o da Serra (this one the Mayor is veg). And, here’s more on the international growth of the one meatless day per week movement: http://www.meatlessmonday.com/join-the-movement Top
Fun Way To Send a Message to Copenhagen
Greenpeace has come up with a fun online way to sent a message to the world leaders gathering at the UN Climate Change conference in Dec in Copenhagen: http://www.action-pact.org/copenhagen-times/ ?source=conf&sesid=1256231617.010393027 Top
Watch ‘HOME’ Online
Click on the link below to see the full length film produced by French photographer and environmentalist Yann Arthus Bertrand, just released this year. It is made available, free of charge, on the Internet so that as many people as possible can see it. Look at what's happening to the Earth, our Home. Look at it from above, from the air: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqxENMKaeCU Top

Join VSS and enjoy great discounts on all our events, plus many other benefits! To unsubscribe from this newsletter, click here. Click here for a comprehensive list of vegetarian eateries, or email us at makan@... to notify us of new places. The VSS eNewsletter is non-copyrighted, and readers are encouraged to share the content. Back issues are available here. Disclaimer: The information provided in this Newsletter is solely for the consideration of the subscribers, and does not constitute an endorsement by the Vegetarian Society (Singapore).

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#388

From: "Clarence Tan" <clarence@...>
Date: Wed Oct 28, 2009 1:28 am
Subject: Anyone Can Cook Vegetarian! - with Nazli Anwari - 7 Nov 2009

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Anyone Can Cook Vegetarian! - with Nazli Anwari

	Venue:	Joo Chiat Place*
	Date & time:	7 Nov 2009, 2pm – 5pm
	Fee:	$40 (VSS members) $50 (non member)
	Limited to 20 persons

Be inspired by the delectable and health-giving cuisine of spa consultant & horticulturist, Nazli Anwari. Learn to prepare these exquisite dishes:

Gotu Kola Salad
A herb growing in South East Asia, has a long healing tradition in Chinese medicine and reputed as a longevity tonic among Taoist monks.
Mediterranean Digestive
A powerhouse combination of watercress, coriander and fennel herbs with distinct body benefits that help the process of digestion.
Drumstick Spicy Dhal Salad
The leaves and seeds of this dish have an anti-biotic effect against bacteria and help in detoxification.
Celery Medley
A combination of three types of celery to boost the health of the kidneys and urinary tract.
Humus and caramelized vegetables
An appetizing Middle Eastern salad to excite the palate and promote digestion.
Rujak
An Indonesian healing salad of fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs.

In addition, learn to make four salad dressings and condiments to store and use with convenience; two Jamu tonics ( Jamu is the Indonesian art of herbal medicine ) to ease gas, flatulence and acid reflux, and a slimming tonic.

Click here to learn more about Nazli Anwari.

Registration

Click here to register.

Limited to 20 participants, so please register early. (Reservation is confirmed upon payment.)

*Complete address will be provided upon registration.

Payment

Make secure online payment here: www.vegetarian-society.org/cook

Cheques should be made payable to 'Vegetarian Society (Singapore)'

Mailing address:

3 Pemimpin Drive,
#07-02, Lip Hing Building,
Singapore 576147

Join VSS and enjoy great discounts on all our events, plus many other benefits!

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#389

From: George Jacobs <george@...>
Date: Thu Nov 5, 2009 12:41 pm
Subject: VSS eNewsletter 5 November 2009

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5 November 2009
VSS NEWS Anyone Can Cook Vegetarian! - with Nazli Anwari - 7 Nov Green Talk at LKY School – 11 Nov Countdown to Copenhagen Concert – 13 Nov Assembly of Youth for Environment – Labrador Park - 17 Nov Nov VSS Library Talks – 21 & 28 Nov SAVE-VSS Meatless Day Flyer VSS Writes Newspaper Advert for International Veg Food Fair in Xiamen Our Letter in Straits Times Online Forum GENERAL NEWS Two December Wellness Classes from Wong Kee Yew Another Climate Experts Says ‘Minus Meat’ Prof Campbell on CNN about Burgers Veg Outlet Opens near Clark Quay MRT New Veg Vocab: ‘Flirt’ and ‘Superhero’ Organic Cooking Classes at New Green Pastures Caf� Annual Meatless Day Charity Carnival in Penang PETA Is Hiring Taxing Meat? Halimah’s New Location on the Internet Wild and Fabulous Seminar and Classes from NutriHub	The climate for change is upon us as yet another expert - Lord Stern of Brentford - calls for meat reduction. And locally, our culinary experts show us that 'meat less' can be more delicious! Take a veg cooking class and never miss meat again! Dr George M Jacobs If you have any comments or suggestions, feel free to drop us a line here. Subscribe to this newsletter here. Unsubscribe here Visit us at www.vss.sg


Anyone Can Cook Vegetarian! - with Nazli Anwari - 7 Nov
Be inspired by the delectable and health-giving cuisine of spa consultant & horticulturist, Nazli Anwari. Learn to prepare these exquisite dishes: Gotu Kola Salad Mediterranean Digestive Drumstick Spicy Dhal Salad Celery Medley Humus and caramelized vegetables Rujak Limited to 20 persons. Click here for registration and more details. Top
Green Talk at LKY School – 11 Nov
Wed, 11 Nov, 5-7.30pm, VSS is helping to promote a panel discussion, titled “Nature Is Changing: Copenhagen and Beyond – What does it mean for Asia”, by IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) experts. The venue is the auditorium of the LKY School of Public Policy. Details: Lim May-Ann, Senior Executive, Public Education, Policy and Research, may-ann.lim@..., 9847.1950. Please attend and help the veg voice to be heard. Free admission but registration required: http://siiaonline.org Top
Countdown to Copenhagen Concert – 13 Nov
VSS is a supporter for the Countdown to Copenhagen Concert, Fri, 13 Nov, from 10pm, at Indochine Empress Place: http://www.indochine-group.com/greenfestival Copenhagen is hosting the big international climate change conference, starting 7 Dec. So much of the world’s hope for preventing climate catastrophe rest on that conference that it has been nicknamed ‘Hopenhagen’: http://www.hopenhagen.org http://hopenhagen.org/hopenhagenBlog Organisers are hoping to attract 2000 people, and VSS has been invited to do outreach to them. Any ideas/want to help: info@... Top
Assembly of Youth for Environment – Labrador Park - 17 Nov
The inaugural “Assembly of Youth for Environment” will be held in Labrador Nature Reserve, Tue, 17 Nov, 9am-12.30pm, in conjunction with International Energy Week. This event is jointly organized by Eureka Junction (MOE’s S2 Cluster Science and Innovation Centre), National Parks Board, Singapore Polytechnic and Addest Technovation; and supported by the National Environment Agency, Singapore Environment Council and VSS. The event aims: (a) To raise the awareness of sustainable energy and climate change among youths. (b) To empower youths to make an improvement for an environmentally sustainable future (c) To provide a platform for youths to embark on collaborative environmental improvement projects On-line registration at http://www.queenswaysec.moe.edu.sg/ environment/environment.html Top
Nov VSS Library Talks – 21 & 28 Nov
VSS has two talks at Central Library this month. 1. Date/Time: 21 Nov, 3pm-5pm Presenter: Louis Ng, ACRES Title: Making a Difference for Animals Venue: Central Public Library, Multi-Purpose Room, B1 near lending library (capacity: 70pax)
2. Date/Time: 28 Nov, 3pm-5pm Presenter: Dr Harvey Neo, Geography Department, NUS Title: Meat Production and Land Use Venue: Central Public Library, Multi-Purpose Room, B1 near lending library (capacity: 70pax) We hope to have another series of talks next year. If you’d like to help plan them, pls contact VSS at info@... Top
SAVE-VSS Meatless Day Flyer
VSS in cooperation with SAVE, the NUS green group, has produced a two-sided flyer to encourage people at NUS and elsewhere to go meatless at least once a day. We printed 10K copies of the flyer. Please let us know if you have ideas for where you can distribute it: info@... Front Back Top
VSS Writes Newspaper Advert for International Veg Food Fair in Xiamen
A VSS representative is speaking at the China Xiamen International Vegetarian & Organic Food Fair: http://www.vffair.com We also wrote the text for a newspaper advert to appear in a Chinese language newspaper in China. The fair’s organisers are paying for the advert. Chinese: http://www.vegetarian-society.org/ files/xiamen-ad-chin.pdf English: http://www.vegetarian-society.org/ files/xiamen-ad-eng.pdf Top
Our Letter in Straits Times Online Forum
The following letter by a VSS Exco member appeared in The Straits Times online forum on 3 November 2009 I REFER to Jeffrey Chan’s letter, “Climate Change: What Singaporean can do” (Nov 2). Mr Chan suggests eating less food, and that may be a good idea for some of us. However, more important than how much we eat is what we eat. In particular, we need to reduce our meat consumption. Last month, Lord Stern, lead author of the UK government’s ‘Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change’, one of the most comprehensive reviews on the economics of climate change, stated, “Meat is a wasteful use of water and creates a lot of greenhouse gases. It puts enormous pressure on the world’s resources. A vegetarian diet is better.” Lord Stern, former World Bank Chief Economist, likened meat eating to drink driving and forecast that as we learn about the environmental harm done by meat production, meat eating will become less socially acceptable. The link between meat and global warming involves two overlapping factors. First, eating meat is inefficient because to produce just one kg of meat, we must feed many kgs of plant food to the animals whom we later eat. This means more forests cut to grow feed for these animals rather than food for humans. Yes, we need these forests to take in carbon dioxide. The second meat-climate change link involves the gases released by the animals whom we eat as part of their digestive processes and from their manure. In particular, the gases methane and nitrous oxide contain much greater climate change power than does carbon dioxide. Fortunately, in Singapore, we have access to a wide range of meatless foods at restaurants, food centres and markets. Furthermore, many non-vegetarian restaurants and stalls are happy to prepare meatless dishes upon request. Thus, every day, three times a day, we can each do our bit to reverse climate change. http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/ Online%2BStory/STIStory_449488.html Top


Two December Wellness Classes from Wong Kee Yew
Wong Kee Yew is becoming well known for his science based Holistic Wellness classes. Here are two classes he’s doing in December. 1. Date: 10 Dec, Thu, 7.30-9pm Title: Simple Vegetarian Cooking (Mandarin) Investment: Free Venue: Buddhist Life Mission Association 19B Lorong Bachok (off Geylang Lor 19) S. 387788. Tel: 6836.9088 http://buddhistlife2006.blogspot.com buddhistlifemission@... 2. Date: 12 Dec, Sat, 4-7pm Title: Biodynamic Diet Workshop (English) Investment: $80/pax includes full biodynamic meal Venue: Onaka 8A Biomedical Grove #01-17/18, Immunos @ The Biopolis, S.138648 Tel: 6464.2007 http://www.onakagroup.com info@... Visit Kee Yew’s blog at http://learning-holistic-wellness.blogspot.com Top
Another Climate Experts Says ‘Minus Meat’
From the UK newspaper, The Telegraph: Lord Stern, author of the 2006 Stern Review on the cost of tackling global warming, predicts that eating meat could in the future become as socially unacceptable as drink driving. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/ climatechange/6442164/Lord-Stern-People-should- give-up-eating-meat-to-halt-climate-change.html Here are some differing views: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/oct/ 30/vegetarianism-climate-change-meat-stern http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1223671/ Giving-meat-save-planet-daftest-idea-Ive-heard.html http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/world/ europe/23degrees.html?_r=2&hpw Top
Prof Campbell on CNN about Burgers
T Colin Campbell, professor of Nutritional Biochemistry at Cornell University and author of the best selling ‘China Study’, did a series of talks here last July organized by VSS. Recently, he was among the guests on the CNN show ‘Larry King Live’. The topic was whether people should stop eating burgers. While the focus was food safety, nutrition and other issues also came into play. Prof Campbell advocated a plant based diet, and Jonathan Safran Foer, whose upcoming book, ‘Eating Animals’ was mentioned in the last VSS eNewsletter, talking about cruelty and env. The show is worth watching to see a very broad range of views, including someone from the meat industry and a Nutrition professor who admits that veg is possible but claims being veg is more difficult and that there’s nothing nutritionally wrong with meat. This professor has received many hundred of thousands of dollars in research grants from the meat, egg and dairy industries: http://www.cag.uconn.edu/nutsci/nutsci/hpg/nrr.html http://edition.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/10/13/ lkl.meat.infection/index.html#cnnSTCVideo http://transcripts.cnn.com/ TRANSCRIPTS/0910/12/lkl.01.html Top
Veg Outlet Opens near Clark Quay MRT
Real Food Organic Grocer + Caf� Address: 6 Eu Tong Sen Street, The Central. #B1-52 Singapore 059817 Tel: 6224.4492 Open: Daily 9am-8.30pm Specialty dishes: Organic Brown Rice Set, Organic Chinese Noodles Top
New Veg Vocab: ‘Flirt’ and ‘Superhero’
In her new book, ‘The Kind Diet’, actor Alicia Silverstone introduces two new terms into the veg lexicon. A flirt is someone who is just getting their feet wet with going veg, trying things out, not sure if they will go all the way to becoming veg. A superhero is someone who has committed long-term to eating a plant-based diet. http://newsroom.mtv.com/2009/10/13/ alicia-silverstone Top
Organic Cooking Classes at New Green Pastures Caf�
Sophia Teh runs New Green Pastures Caf� on Level 4 of Fortune Centre, the only eatery with a VSS donation can. Please support her. Your taste buds will thank you. Sophia is doing a new series of cooking classes, once a week, beginning Sun, 22 Nov. Each class covers four recipes from the vegetarian cuisine of a different Asian country. The total price is $200, including food and recipes. All classes are from 3-6pm. 1. 22 Nov - Chinese 2. 29 Nov - Japanese 3. 06 Dec - Thai 4. 13 Dec - Indian For more information, call Sophia at 6336.8755. Top
Annual Meatless Day Charity Carnival in Penang
Our vegetarian friends in Penang are staging their annual charity carnival on Sun, 15 Nov at Jalan Padang Kota Lama (Esplanade). Lots of great Penang style veg food, plus entertainment. Info: penangmeatless@... or meatlessday@... Top
PETA Is Hiring
PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is one of the world’s best known animal advocacy organizations. PETA Asia, PETA India and PETA Australia are hiring. The work is certainly tough and long, and the pay is probably low. If you’re interested: newsmanager@... Top
Taxing Meat?
Don’t expect this to happen any time soon, but a tax on meat makes lots of sense and has been proposed by ground breaking animal advocate and Princeton University Philosophy professor Peter Singer. http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2009/ 10/25/2009-10-25_make_meateaters_pay_ ethicist_proposes_radical_tax_says_ theyre_killing_themselves.html Top
Halimah’s New Location on the Internet
Halimah Ilavarasi is known for her vegan baking, especially the cupcakes she brought to one VSS function. She now has a new blog address: http://vegbuzz.blogspot.com Plus, you can read more from Halimah at http://www.vegvibe.com which is the home of VegVibe, Sg’s premier veg magazine. Top
Wild and Fabulous
Wild and Fabulous is a fashionable affair at The Loof - www.loof.com.sg 331 N Bridge Rd - to raise funds and awareness for ACRES as they help the wild animals in Singapore. Come chill out with our delectable green poison, get tangled in our wild quiz, and take your pick of clothing and accessories from our exquisite range of jungle wear. Where: The Loof When: 5 Dec (Sat) Time: 6pm till late, lucky draw at 11pm Contact: leonora@... Top
Seminar and Classes from NutriHub
NutriHub, the organic fusion caf�, is hosting a seminar and dinner on 14 Nov, Living in Harmony with Ayurveda: A Focus on Women’s Health, by Dr. Poornima K. Murthy, MD, PhD, MRAV & Dr. N. V. Krishnamurthy, MD, PhD, DNY, Directors and Chief Consultants, Prajna Kuteera, Mysore, India. Nutrihub will also be offering its usual interesting mix of classes. For detail: http://www.nutrihub.blogspot.com Members or associates / corporate members, enjoy discounts. Non-members: 10% discount when registering for 2 workshops or more. 10% discount for group of 2 persons or more registering for 1 workshop. To register, contact the Caf� at 6738.2746 or sms Ms Vinitha Ang at 9236.8402. Enquiries: contact Ms Vinitha Ang at 9236.8402. Top

Join VSS and enjoy great discounts on all our events, plus many other benefits! To unsubscribe from this newsletter, click here. Click here for a comprehensive list of vegetarian eateries, or email us at makan@... to notify us of new places. The VSS eNewsletter is non-copyrighted, and readers are encouraged to share the content. Back issues are available here. Disclaimer: The information provided in this Newsletter is solely for the consideration of the subscribers, and does not constitute an endorsement by the Vegetarian Society (Singapore).

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#390

From: "George Jacobs" <george@...>
Date: Mon Nov 16, 2009 1:16 pm
Subject: VSS eNewsletter, 17 November 2009

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17 November 2009
VSS NEWS Nov VSS Library Talks – 21 & 28 Nov VSS at Countdown to Copenhagen Concert The Next Veg Congress – Oct 2010 in Jakarta VSS at International Vegetarian Forum in Xiamen Letter to the Forum Page on World Hunger GENERAL NEWS New Organic Vegan Restaurant List of Health Food Shops in KL Author of Eating Animals Appears on the Ellen Degeneres Show Global Warming and Singapore’s Economy A New Class from Ami Veggie Heart – Veg Snacks Finally – Al Gore Says Cut Meat Consumption WWF Joins the Choir New Veg Blog: ‘Hungry Ang Mo’ Are Other Animals Stupid? Interview with Bala	'If you don't eat meat, where do you get your protein?' is perhaps the most common question asked of vegetarians. Read on to see what Jonathan Safran Foer, author of the new book Eating Animals, has to say. Dr George M Jacobs If you have any comments or suggestions, feel free to drop us a line here. Subscribe to this newsletter here. Unsubscribe here Visit us at www.vss.sg


Nov VSS Library Talks – 21 & 28 Nov
VSS has two talks at Central Library this month. 1. Date/Time: 21 Nov, 3pm-5pm Presenter: Louis Ng, ACRES Title: Making a Difference for Animals Venue: Central Public Library, Multi-Purpose Room, B1 near lending library (capacity: 70pax)
2. Date/Time: 28 Nov, 3pm-5pm Presenter: Dr Harvey Neo, Geography Department, NUS Title: Meat Production and Land Use Venue: Central Public Library, Multi-Purpose Room, B1 near lending library (capacity: 70pax) We hope to have another series of talks next year. If you’d like to help plan them, pls contact VSS at info@... Top
VSS at Countdown to Copenhagen Concert
VSS was invited to participate in the Countdown to Copenhagen concert at Indochine Waterfront last Friday night. In addition to a display and a flyer on how meat production damages the environment, we livened things up a bit with cow, chicken and rabbit costumes. Dancing in those costumes was lots of fun. Top
The Next Veg Congress – Oct 2010 in Jakarta/Bali
With the Asia Vegetarian Congress successfully concluded earlier this month, we can now turn our attention to an even larger event coming up next year, the World Vegetarian Congress - http://www.wvc2010.org - being organised by the International Vegetarian Union and the Indonesia Vegetarian Society, with a little help from VSS. Top
VSS at International Vegetarian Forum in Xiamen
The photo shows VSS member, Lee Song Mau, addressing participants at the International Vegetarian Forum 2009, which was part of a larger vegetarian and organic fair. Song Mau’s talk was on how businesses can cater to the needs of their vegetarian and meat reducer customers. Top
Letter to the Forum Page on World Hunger
A VSS Exco member sent the following letter to The Straits Times forum page. We’re waiting to see if it is published. I refer to “Save the hungry, give one euro a week” in the Straits Times of 15 November, 2009 and “Gearing up for the end of cheap food” in the Straits Times of 14 November, 2009. As these pieces point out, the situation is indeed urgent with approximately one billion people without enough to eat. In addition to donating money, as proposed by the World Food Programme, we can also address world hunger by changing our diets, because what we eat strongly impacts the world’s food supply. When we eat one kg of meat, we are actually eating many kgs of plant food, the plant food fed to the animals on our plates. In fact, there is already more than enough food to feed everyone, if some of that food were not diverted to become feed for meat production. Estimates of how many kgs of plant food are required to produce one kg of meat vary widely, but certainly chickens, pigs, etc. are not going to gain one kg of weight for every one kg of plant food they eat. The point is that we who can afford to eat meat regularly make a choice each time we have a meal. Will I eat food that comes directly from the earth, nurtured by the sun’s energy, or will I eat indirectly by eating animals fed plant foods? It’s not just a lifestyle decision; it’s not just about what tastes best. It’s also about freeing resources to feed our fellow humans. Top


New Organic Vegan Restaurant
Vegsenz is the name of a new organic vegan restaurant in Little India. They are having a 20% off opening promotion. Below is more info. A complete listing is on the Food Outlet page of our website: http://www.vegetarian-society.org/node/1124 Address: 2 Serangoon Road #01-24, The Verge, S. 218227 Bus Number (separate with commas if there is more than 1 bus): 2N, 4N, 48, 56, 57, 131, 166, 170, 851, 960, 980. MRT: Little India - Exit C. Open: Daily 10am-10pm Landmarks: Tekka Centre Tel: 6392.0369 Email: vegsenz@... Top
List of Health Food Shops in KL
VSS has a list of veg outlets in Singapore that includes restaurants, stalls and organic shops: http://www.vegetarian-society.org/?q=fdl We don’t have such lists for other places, but our friends at Cielo Sereno have put together the following list of health food shops in KL: http://www.cielosereno.net/healthfoodshop.htm Top
Author of Eating Animals Appears on the Ellen Degeneres Show
Last month, we had an article by the Jonathan Safran Foer, author of the new book Eating Animals: www.eatinganimals.com Here’s a clip from his recent appearance on the Ellen Degeneres’ tv show (available in Singapore): http://www.vegsource.com/news/2009/11/ jonathan-safran-foer-on-thanksgiving.html BTW, we hear that Ellen is also veg. Here a hilarious video of hers on the topic: http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm? fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=38570661 Here are a couple reviews of Foer’s book. The first review is from a Nobel Prize winner in Literature, and the second review is from a leading name in alternative medicine. "The everyday horrors of factory farming are evoked so vividly, and the case against the people who run the system presented so convincingly, that anyone who, after reading Foer's book, continues to consume the industry's products must be without a heart, or impervious to reason, or both." (J.M. Coetzee) "Eating Animals carefully, deliberately, takes you through every relevant dimension of factory farming...One sees it from the inside, the outside, the moral high ground, the dithering consumer level, through Foer's family stories, from slaughterhouse workers, animal behaviorists, even from defenders of the system... Foer's aim is not to make your choice, but to inform it. He has done us all a great service, and we, and the animals, owe him our thanks." (Dr. Andrew Weil) And, here’s an extensive review from The New Yorker magazine: http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/books/ 2009/11/09/091109crbo_books_kolbert Top
Global Warming and Singapore’s Economy
One of the speakers at the Asia Vegetarian Congress, held earlier this month in Indonesia, was Dr Art-Ong Jumsai, who has had a distinguished career in Thailand as engineer (including work on NASA’s Viking Space Project), university lecturer, businessperson and elected politician in Thailand. Dr Art-Ong’s presentation focused on the impact of global warming. One of those impacts is that because the ice is melting in the Arctic region, ships will soon be able to travel by a northern route between Europe and Asia. This could mean a decrease in the number of ships travelling past Singapore. Another impact highlighted by Dr Art-Ong could be more earthquakes and tsunamis. This impact would arise because the melting ice from certain parts of the world flows to other parts of the globe, resulting in a shift in the distribution of weight on the planet, putting pressure on the tectonic plates, such as the plate under Indonesia. Top
A New Class from Ami Veggie Heart – Veg Snacks
Ami’s next class is on Fri, 20 Nov, 10am-12noon, and specializes in snacks such as Upama and Aloo Poha. For details and to register, email mehtaami_66@... or call 9144.6105. If there is demand for a specific menu, additional classes will be added. Each class will be at $60, payable on that day by cash. If you have a custom requirement for any specific item or menu or for weekend classes, please feel free to contact Ami. Top
Al Gore Says Cut Meat Consumption
After years of being queried by vegetarian activists, Nobel Prize winning Global Warming campaigner Al Gore has come out to advocate meat reduction: http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/ 2009/11/05/2733587.htm Excerpts below. In an interview with ABC News, when asked if he agreed with British climate expert Lord Nicholas Stern’s call for people to be vegetarian to reduce emissions, Mr. Gore replied, “It’s a legitimate point of view. Nick Stern is a very able advocate for whom I have enormous respect… I have cut back sharply on the meat that I eat and it’s absolutely correct that the growing meat intensity of diets around the world is one of the issues connected to this global crisis. Not only because of the CO2 involved, but also because of the water consumed in the process.” The former vice president went on to say, “You can add in the health consequences as well. We’ve all heard from our doctors for many years that vegetables and fruits should occupy a bigger part of all of our diets, and that’s important for a lot of reasons. I’ve made those changes.” Top
WWF Joins the Choir
Another long established environmental/animal welfare NGO, WWF, has joined the eat less meat choir: http://www.wwf.org.uk/news_feed.cfm?3306/ The-meat-eating-vs-global-warming-debate Top
New Veg Blog – ‘Hungry Ang Mo’
A lacto-ovo veg from England has started a Singapore food blog: http://thehungryangmo.blogspot.com Go there for “tell-it-as-he-tastes-it” reviews of local veg eateries. Nice photos too. Top
Are Other Animals Stupid?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ari-solomon/ animals-are-stupid_b_336049.html Top
Interview with Bala
Bala is a yoga teacher and a teacher of so much more. You can frequently see him at events by VSS and other animal-friendly groups. Here’s an interview and video with Bala done by Bhavani of EcoWalkThe Talk: http://www.ecowalkthetalk.com/ profile_view.php?Mid=156&Nick=smilingyogi Two more valuable resources on Bhavani’s site are: 1. A video, called High Stakes, on Global Warming in SE Asia, by the UK government: http://www.ecowalkthetalk.com/blog/2009/11/14/ high-stakes-a-movie-on-the-economics-of- climate-change-in-se-asia 2. A Quicklist of 1001 Steps to Save the Planet is a free e-book in first draft form which can be downloaded at www.ecowalkthetalk.com Top

Join VSS and enjoy great discounts on all our events, plus many other benefits! To unsubscribe from this newsletter, click here. Click here for a comprehensive list of vegetarian eateries, or email us at makan@... to notify us of new places. The VSS eNewsletter is non-copyrighted, and readers are encouraged to share the content. Back issues are available here. Disclaimer: The information provided in this Newsletter is solely for the consideration of the subscribers, and does not constitute an endorsement by the Vegetarian Society (Singapore).

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#391

From: "Clarence Tan" <clarence@...>
Date: Fri Nov 20, 2009 2:29 am
Subject: The Age of Stupid - Movie and Dinner under the Stars - 5 Dec 2009

clarence@...

Send Email

Dear friends,

Join us for a mesmerising evening this December!

THE AGE OF STUPID

Movie and Dinner under the Stars
Sat 5th Dec 2009, 7pm
*Jalan Binchang
(10 mins walk from Bishan MRT)
For VSS members only

Hailed as an incredibly powerful and emotional film, The Age of Stupid is a drama-documentary starring Oscar-nominated Pete Postlethwaite. In the devastated world of 2055, he watches 'archive' footage from 2008 and asks: why didn't we stop climate change while we had the chance? (More details here.)

“It is definitely going to change my life. It was so powerful and so moving I wanted it to go on for another hour." Gillian Anderson, actress

“The first successful dramatisation of climate change to hit the big screen.” The Guardian

Catch this thought-provoking film in a beautiful garden setting**, while enjoying a delicious, earth-saving, vegan vegetarian dinner from Loving Hut.

Registration

Click here to register.

Limited to 30 people, so please register early. (Reservation is confirmed upon payment.)

*Complete address will be provided upon registration.

**In the event of rain, event will be moved indoors.

Cost

VSS members: $12
Premium members (Giro donors): $6

Make secure online payment here: www.vegetarian-society.org/movie

Cheques should be made payable to 'Vegetarian Society (Singapore)'

Mailing address:

3 Pemimpin Drive,
#07-02, Lip Hing Building,
Singapore 576147

We look forward to seeing you on the 5th!

Sincerely,
The VSS Team

Join VSS and enjoy great discounts on all our events, plus many other benefits!

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#392

From: "George Jacobs" <george@...>
Date: Thu Nov 26, 2009 7:39 am
Subject: VSS eNewsletter, 26 November, 2009

jacobs_george

Send Email

26 November 2009

Editor's Note

VSS NEWS

Last VSS Library Talk of 2009 – 28 Nov

The Age of Stupid -
Movie and Dinner under the Stars - 5 Dec

VSS Gets a New Face!

Check Out Our Corporate Members

Report on China Xiamen
International Vegetarian & Organic Fair 2009

Quoted in My Paper

Forum Page Letters on
World Hunger and Global Warming

GENERAL NEWS

Life in Sg Keeps Getting Better for Vegetarians

How I Became a Vegetarian at Age 7

Losing Weight the Veg Way

Brownie Factory in New Location

After Skinny Bitch, Now It’s Skinny Bastard

NutriHub News

World Vegan Day Message

Three Little Pigs Revisited

Sarah Palin’s View of Veg – No Surprise

Animal, Vegetable, Miserable

Talk on Physiology & Waldorf Curriculum

VegVibe’s Nov09 Issue

Amazonia Exhibition till 30Nov

With Hopenhagen just over a week away, VSS is screening climate change movie
THE AGE OF STUPID. Do the smart thing - join us on 5th Dec for movie and dinner under the stars!

Dr George M Jacobs

If you have any comments or suggestions, feel free to drop us a line here.

Subscribe to this newsletter here. Unsubscribe here

Visit us at http://www.vss.sg/

Last VSS Library Talk of 2009 - 28 Nov

VSS’s final 2009 library will be on Sat, 28 Nov, 3pm-5pm
Presenter: Dr Harvey Neo, Geography Department, NUS
Title: Meat Production and Land Use
Venue: Central Public Library, Multi-Purpose Room, B1 near lending library (capacity: 70pax)

We hope to have another series of talks next year. If you’d like to help plan them, pls contact VSS at info@...

Top

The Age of Stupid - Movie and Dinner under the Stars - 5 Dec

VSS Gets a New Face!

Drop by our website and you’ll notice a brand new symbol perched on top left - the new VSS logo!

At once a butterfly as well as four leaves, the new image embodies change towards a more natural way of living.

Thanks to long-time friend and vegan, Juggi Ramakrishnan, for helping to develop it!

Top

Check Out Our Corporate Members

VSS has a new corporate member. Tian Ran Vegetarian Food manufactures and imports a wide variety of veg foods. You can visit their store at Block 3017, Bedok North Street 5, #03-30 Gourmet East Kitchen, S. 486121, Tel: 6445.1686, http://www.tianranveg.com.sg/
http://www.vegetarian-society.org/CorporateMember

Also, in the right frame of our homepage – http://www.vss.sg/ – you’ll see two ads from other corporate members, The Whole Earth and Na�ve restaurants.

Top

Report on China Xiamen International Vegetarian & Organic Fair 2009

Earlier this month, VSS engaged with the world's 3rd largest economy, when, in conjunction with the 1st China Xiamen International Vegetarian Food Fair, we were part of a forum which had five speakers discussing three broad topics – vegetarianism’s evolution and how Asia can play a larger role in vegetarianism’s future; nutritional aspects of vegetarianism; and how businesses can serve vegetarians and meat reducers. VSS member Lee Song Mau was our representative, touching on the business aspect.

Speaking in Mandarin, he gave a concise discourse of the various factors that support a booming vegetarian industry, what vegetarians want and some suggestions on what people can do to build sustainable businesses. What surprised him was that people from Malaysia, Mongolia, Taiwan and, of course, all over China were very enthusiastic and sincere in learning everything they could about vegetarianism. Name cards were exchanged and possibly, some overseas links could be established in the near future. With this successful inaugural vegetarian fair and forum, let's hope that vegetarianism will prosper in the most populous nation and the world!

Top

Quoted in My Paper

A VSS Exco member was quoted in an article in My Paper of 16 Nov. Written by Kong Soon Wah, the article is titled, “Say ‘No’ to foie gras and veal”. The VSS member is quoted as writing, “Imagine how we humans would feel if more intelligent beings from another planet took a liking to human flesh and treated us the way we treat chickens, fishes and pigs, for example. This cruelty is graphically documented in videos such as Meet Your Meat at www.goveg.com/factoryFarming.asp”.

To conclude his article, Mr Kong follows the VSS quote by writing, “So, the next time you are in a restaurant, spare a thought for ducks, geese, calves, lambs, sharks… Make an informed choice”.
http://www.vegetarian-society.org/node/957

Top

Forum Page Letters on World Hunger & Global Warming

Writing to the media, both the traditional media and the new media, offers one way to get veg voices heard. Of course, our letters/comments won’t always be published. Here are two letters. The first was not published by ST, but the second appeared in the online edition of TODAY: www.todayonline.com/voices

Letter #1 (unpublished)

I refer to “Save the hungry, give one euro a week” in the Straits Times of 15 November, 2009 and “Gearing up for the end of cheap food” in the Straits Times of 14 November, 2009. As these pieces point out, the situation is indeed urgent with approximately one billion people

In addition to donating money, as proposed by the World Food Programme, we can also address world hunger by changing our diets, because what we eat strongly impacts the world’s food supply. When we eat one kg of meat, we are actually eating many kgs of plant food, the plant food fed to the animals on our plates.

In fact, there is already more than enough food to feed everyone, if some of that food were not diverted to become feed for meat production. Estimates of how many kgs of plant food are required to produce one kg of meat vary widely, but certainly chickens, pigs, etc. are not going to gain one kg of weight for every one kg of plant food they eat.

The point is that we who can afford to eat meat regularly make a choice each time we have a meal. Will I eat food that comes directly from the earth, nurtured by the sun’s energy, or will I eat indirectly by eating animals fed plant foods? It’s not just a lifestyle decision; it’s not just about what tastes best. It’s also about freeing resources to feed our fellow humans.

Letter #2 (published online)

I refer to “Earth will get hotter”, TODAY, 19 November. The large majority of climate scientists are warning that we must prioritize the reduction of our greenhouse gas emissions or face catastrophic, possibly irreversible, consequences. This is not a science fiction movie, such as the recent film ‘2012’; this is ever-worsening reality.

Fortunately, there is one easy way to cut our greenhouse gas emissions: eat less meat. The UN’s 2006 report, Livestock’s Long Shadow, attributes 18% of our greenhouse gas emissions on livestock, whereas transportation accounts for 13%.

As a result of this and other research, more and more international leaders, including Nobel Peace Prize winner, Al Gore, are asking us to reduce meat consumption. Instead, global meat consumption is projected to double by 2050.

Dr R. K. Pachauri, head of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change believes that reducing meat consumption is the biggest single contribution people can make to curbing climate change, and he has called on people to try going meatless one day a week. He himself goes meatless every day.

Others are following Mr Gore and Dr Pachauri’s lead. For instance, the cities of Ghent, Belgium and Sao Paulo, Brazil have one day a week in which everyone is encouraged to enjoy meatless meals. In the UK, meat-free menus are being promoted in hospitals as part of a National Health Service strategy to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

The German government’s environment agency went further, advising people to eat meat only on special occasions. Meat reduction for green reasons is in line with a trend in Germany to eat less meat for health reasons. According to Destatis, Germany's federal statistics agency, meat consumption there has dropped from 64kg per capita per year in 1991 to 58.7kg today.

Let’s hope that the world’s governments meeting in Copenhagen in December reach an agreement that can strongly reverse our greenhouse gas emissions. However, we need not leave everything to government. Every day, every time we eat, we can do our part by enjoying a diet lower in meat. And, who knows, our health may benefit too.

Top

Life in Sg Keeps Getting Better for Vegetarians

Here are two hopeful experiences that your faithful editor had this month. These stories give hope that healthy vegetarianism is on the rise here.

1. At his neighbourhood veg stall there was, lo and behold, a raw dish: shredded green and red cabbage lightly seasoned with vinegar and plum sauce. The stall assistant said that they now have a raw option a few times each week.

2. He went out for Sunday breakfast with seven meat eaters who chose a shop that didn’t have any veg options; so, he went to the next door shop to get something to take over to eat with his seven friends. As he was ordering, in comes another person who was there for the same reason. Although she was also vegetarian, she hadn’t yet heard of VSS. They had a nice chat and agreed to gently encourage the shop to include a veg option.

3. He went to a new organic vegetarian restaurant: http://www.vegetarian-society.org/node/1124 You might also like to visit and give them your feedback.

Top

How I Became a Vegetarian at Age 7

At the Assembly of Youth for the Environment event at Labrador Park, we met a Sec 1 student who described how all by herself she went veg when she was seven. Here’s her story.

I was seven years old when I became vegetarian. I decided to become a vegetarian, as all the meat started to taste weird to me. There wasn’t any special event that occurred. I didn’t read any pamphlet or watch any video, and no one else in my family was vegetarian.

At first, my parents objected to my vegetarian diet. They worried that I wouldn’t get enough nutrients; so, they tried many ways to convince me to eat meat again. As the years passed, they realized they should accept my vegetarian diet and not force me to do something that I’m not comfortable with. My friends had no reaction to me being vegetarian. I have remained as a vegetarian as I’ve grown up. Now, at age 13, I have no regrets about changing my eating ways.

I am a vegetarian that’s not going to give up on my diet any time soon. I feel that being a vegetarian is probably my own way of lessening the number of animals being killed daily. Trust me, after you’ve seen the way the animals are slaughtered, you won’t feel like eating meat any more.

I’ve also learnt only recently how the shark fin in shark fin soup is obtained. After the sharks are caught, their fins are cut off. Then, they are tossed into the ocean and left to die. It’s pretty sad how humans treat our fellow animals in order to get the meat that we humans think they need. That’s why I think more people should join me in being vegetarian. That way, we can lessen the cruelty of slaughtering animals.

Top

Losing Weight the Veg Way

According to an article from the world famous Mayo Clinic, “Research has shown that, on average, people who follow a vegetarian diet eat fewer calories and less fat than do nonvegetarians. Vegetarians also tend to have lower body weight relative to their height than do nonvegetarians. This makes sense, since a diet that largely consists of fruits and vegetables generally has fewer calories. However, switching to a vegetarian diet doesn't guarantee weight loss”. Full article at:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/
vegetarian-diet/AN01580

Top

Brownie Factory’s New Location

The Brownie Factory has re-located from its store at Takashimaya to Raffles Xchange Shopping Mall, B1 (above Raffles Place MRT station). Their Vegetarian Triple Chocolate Fudge Brownie and Vegan Brownie are still available at their Raffles Xchange store. Open: Mondays to Fridays, 11am-7:30pm.

Look out for their Christmas Brownie gift box. For enquiries, browniefactory@... or call our fellow vegetarian, Mahn Ling, at 9180.9501. You can also get a free copy of the Global Warming flyer that VSS did with NUS SAVE. Something to read while munching on your brownie.

Top

After Skinny Bitch, Now It’s Skinny Bastard

The authors of the 1million+ selling Skinny Bitch, now have a vegan manifesto aimed at men, titled - what else? – Skinny Bastard:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/23/
books/23skinny.html?_r=2&emc=eta1

Top

NutriHub News

NutriHub, the organic fusion caf�, has another round of Dine and Learn Workshops that you won’t want to miss. Here are the titles, dates and times.

1.	Harmonising Your Body Energy II, Sat, 28 Nov, 10am-12noon or Fri, 4 Dec, 7-9pm
2.	Raw Like Cooked – Series 1, Wed, 9 Dec, 2-4pm
3.	Nutrimeal Cooking – Series II, Sat, 12 Dec, 2-4pm
4.	Lunar New Year Cooking, Sat, 19 Dec, 2-4pm

For details: http://www.nutrihub.blogspot.com/

Members or associates / corporate members, enjoy discounts. Non-members: 10% discount when registering for 2 workshops or more. 10% discount for group of 2 persons or more registering for 1 workshop. To register, contact the Caf� at 6738.2746 or sms Ms Vinitha Ang at 9236.8402. Enquiries: contact Ms Vinitha Ang at 9236.8402.

Also, their retail shop in RedHill will be moving and sharing the Cuppage Plaza premises with NutriHub Caf�.

Top

World Vegan Day Message

Here’s a very nice piece by a animal welfare philanthropist:
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/supplementary/
sunday-chronicle/vegan-lifestyle-holds-key-
spiritually-evolved-society-855

Top

Three Little Pigs Revisited

Here’s an update on pig cognition. It’s nothing to turn up your snout at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/10/
science/10angier.html?_r=2&em

Top

Sarah Palin’s View of Veg – No Surprise

Sarah Palin, the unsuccessful vice-presidential candidate in the 2008 U.S. elections, recently published a memoir, ‘Going Rogue: An American Life’. Palin, known for hunting non-human animals via helicopter in the U.S. state of Alaska, where she served as governor, writes, “If any vegans came over for dinner, I could whip them up a salad, then explain my philosophy on being a carnivore: If God had not intended for us to eat animals, how come He made them out of meat?”

She goes on to state, “I love meat. I eat pork chops, thick bacon burgers, and the seared fatty edges of a medium-well-done steak. But I especially love moose and caribou. I always remind people from outside our state that there's plenty of room for all Alaska's animals -- right next to the mashed potatoes.”

Top

Animal, Vegetable, Miserable

This opinion piece, contributed to The New York Times, shows that our agenda is no longer being dismissed as kooky and, thus, beyond the realm of acceptable discourse. Our issues are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. Let’s use this advantage to speak ever more strongly:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/22/
opinion/22steiner.html?_r=2

Top

Talk on Physiology & Waldorf Curriculum

Dr. Lakshmi Prasanna is a paediatrician (neonatologist) with 25 years of experience. Before starting private practice, she was the Head of the Department in Child Development Unit at Apollo hospitals, Chennai. She then founded Little Hearts Children's Hospital in Hyderabad. Dr. Lakshmi also founded the Saandeepani Centre for Healing and Curative Education in 2004 for children with special needs.

She will be speaking at the function room of Park East Condo, 77 Jalan Tua Kong on 4 Dec, 6:30-9:30pm. Admission is $40. To register, 9118.7153, 9067.3726, 8200.7710

Top

VegVibe’s Nov09 Issue

Don’t miss the Nov issue of VegVibe magazine, available online at http://www.vegvibe.com/ with a picture of the International Day of Climate Action event that VSS helped to organise.

Top

Amazonia Exhibition till 30Nov

This free exhibition, at Old City Hall, St Andrew's Road, opposite the Padang, is all about raising awareness on sustainable development and conservation of the Amazon forest, “The lungs of the planet”. Much of the deforestation of the Amazon forest occurs due to demand for meat, with huge areas of trees cleared to create grazing land and to grow feed. The exhibition is open 10am-7pm and closes on 30Nov:
http://social.amazoniainsingapore.info/

Top

Join VSS and enjoy great discounts on all our events,
plus many other benefits!

To unsubscribe from this newsletter, click here.

Click here for a comprehensive list of vegetarian eateries,

or email us at mailto:makan@...?subject=Vegetarian Eatery to notify us of new places.

The VSS eNewsletter is non-copyrighted, and readers are encouraged to share the content.

Back issues are available here.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this Newsletter is solely for the consideration of the subscribers, and does not constitute an endorsement by the Vegetarian Society (Singapore).

__________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4637 (20091125) __________

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Reply | Messages in this Topic (1)

#393

From: "George Jacobs" <george@...>
Date: Thu Nov 26, 2009 8:35 am
Subject: VSS eNewsletter 26 November 2009 - pls use this one

jacobs_george

Send Email

26 November 2009

Editor's Note

With Hopenhagen just over a week away, VSS is screening climate change movie
THE AGE OF STUPID. Do the smart thing - join us on 5th Dec for movie and dinner under the stars!

Dr George M Jacobs

If you have any comments or suggestions, feel free to drop us a line here.

Subscribe to this newsletter here. Unsubscribe here

Visit us at www.vss.sg

Last VSS Library Talk of 2009 - 28 Nov

The Age of Stupid - Movie and Dinner under the Stars - 5 Dec

VSS Gets a New Face!

Check Out Our Corporate Members

VSS has a new corporate member. Tian Ran Vegetarian Food manufactures and imports a wide variety of veg foods. You can visit their store at Block 3017, Bedok North Street 5, #03-30 Gourmet East Kitchen, S. 486121, Tel: 6445.1686, http://www.tianranveg.com.sg
http://www.vegetarian-society.org/CorporateMember

Also, in the right frame of our homepage – www.vss.sg – you’ll see two ads from other corporate members, The Whole Earth and Na�ve restaurants.

Top

Report on China Xiamen International Vegetarian & Organic Fair 2009

Quoted in My Paper

Forum Page Letters on World Hunger & Global Warming

Life in Sg Keeps Getting Better for Vegetarians

How I Became a Vegetarian at Age 7

Losing Weight the Veg Way

Brownie Factory’s New Location

After Skinny Bitch, Now It’s Skinny Bastard

NutriHub News

NutriHub, the organic fusion caf�, has another round of Dine and Learn Workshops that you won’t want to miss. Here are the titles, dates and times.

1.	Harmonising Your Body Energy II, Sat, 28 Nov, 10am-12noon or Fri, 4 Dec, 7-9pm
2.	Raw Like Cooked – Series 1, Wed, 9 Dec, 2-4pm
3.	Nutrimeal Cooking – Series II, Sat, 12 Dec, 2-4pm
4.	Lunar New Year Cooking, Sat, 19 Dec, 2-4pm

For details: http://www.nutrihub.blogspot.com

Members or associates / corporate members, enjoy discounts. Non-members: 10% discount when registering for 2 workshops or more. 10% discount for group of 2 persons or more registering for 1 workshop. To register, contact the Caf� at 6738.2746 or sms Ms Vinitha Ang at 9236.8402. Enquiries: contact Ms Vinitha Ang at 9236.8402.

Also, their retail shop in RedHill will be moving and sharing the Cuppage Plaza premises with NutriHub Caf�.

Top

World Vegan Day Message

Here’s a very nice piece by a animal welfare philanthropist:
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/supplementary/
sunday-chronicle/vegan-lifestyle-holds-key-
spiritually-evolved-society-855

Top

Three Little Pigs Revisited

Here’s an update on pig cognition. It’s nothing to turn up your snout at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/10/
science/10angier.html?_r=2&em

Top

Sarah Palin’s View of Veg – No Surprise

Animal, Vegetable, Miserable

Talk on Physiology & Waldorf Curriculum

VegVibe’s Nov09 Issue

Don’t miss the Nov issue of VegVibe magazine, available online at http://www.vegvibe.com with a picture of the International Day of Climate Action event that VSS helped to organise.

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Amazonia Exhibition till 30Nov

Join VSS and enjoy great discounts on all our events,
plus many other benefits!

To unsubscribe from this newsletter, click here.

Click here for a comprehensive list of vegetarian eateries,

or email us at makan@... to notify us of new places.

The VSS eNewsletter is non-copyrighted, and readers are encouraged to share the content.

Back issues are available here.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this Newsletter is solely for the consideration of the subscribers, and does not constitute an endorsement by the Vegetarian Society (Singapore).

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#394

From: "Clarence Tan" <clarence@...>
Date: Mon Nov 30, 2009 2:39 am
Subject: Anyone Can Cook Vegetarian!.htm - Lila's Delightful Desserts! - 12 Dec

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Anyone Can Cook Vegetarian! - Lila's Delightful Desserts!

	Venue:	Second Ave*
	Date & time:	Sat 12 Dec 2009, 2pm – 5pm
	Fee:	$40 (VSS members) $50 (non member)
	Limited to 20 persons

When martial arts instructor Lila Evrard isn't showing students how to subdue an opponent, she's making friends surrender to her sweet creations! Join her this December and learn her vegan sweet secrets!

Mango Dream
More like a smoothie, this tastes and looks just wonderful. Mango and Coconut lovers get ready for an absolute treat! The simple ingredients include mangoes and coconut cream.
Chocolate Cake
An all-time favorite vegan cake, using luscious dark chocolate, of course.
Coco-Choco Cookies
A heavenly combination of coconut and chocolate, these healthy, low fat, low sugar, egg and dairy free cookies are a sheer delight!.
Lemon and Apricot Muffins
Another sublime combination - scent of lemon and perfume of apricot. Marvellous muffins perfect for tea time.
What is Christmas without a gift?
A sweet surprise patisserie, specially for participants!

"I discovered my passion for cooking after I met my husband. I guess love had a lot to do with it. :) I would recall the wonderful flavours of my mother's and grandmother's cuisine and create something reminiscent yet new." - Lila Evrard

Registration

Click here to register.

Limited to 20 participants, so please register early. (Reservation is confirmed upon payment.)

*Complete address will be provided upon registration.

Payment

Payment can be made online or by cheque.

Make secure online payment here: www.vegetarian-society.org/cook

Cheques should be made payable to 'Vegetarian Society (Singapore)'

Mailing address:

3 Pemimpin Drive,
#07-02, Lip Hing Building,
Singapore 576147

Join VSS and enjoy great discounts on all our events, plus many other benefits!

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#395

From: "George Jacobs" <george@...>
Date: Mon Dec 7, 2009 8:26 am
Subject: VSS eNewsletter 8 December 2009

jacobs_george

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8 December 2009
VSS NEWS VSS Cooking Class Fills Faster than You Can Say ‘Mango Dream’ The VSS Team ‘Asia for Animals’ Conference in Sg – Jan 2010 VSS Xmas Tree at Botanics GW Letter in ST Online Forum GENERAL NEWS More Signs of the Times Health Care Savings Could Start with Diet Changes Brunei Update When Will Circuit Road Food Centre Reopen? New Veg Stall Near Farrer Park MRT And Another New One in Ghim Moh Worth-a-Look Books Test Tube Meat Update Fiesta Veg Cooking Class by Ananda Marga Vegan Xmas Buffet, Talk and Carolling Life in Sg Keeps Getting Better for Vegetarians	With Dr Pachauri and Sir Paul McCartney as veg ambassadors, awareness that Less Meat = Less Heat is certainly growing. Here in Singapore, life for vegetarians just keeps getting better - with more veg cooking classes, food outlets and X'mas events! Dr George M Jacobs If you have any comments or suggestions, feel free to drop us a line here. Subscribe to this newsletter here. Unsubscribe here Visit us at www.vss.sg


VSS Cooking Class Fills Faster than You Can Say ‘Mango Dream’
Seems that lots of vegetarians have a big sweet tooth. ‘Lila's Delightful Desserts’, another in our series of Anyone Can Cook Vegetarian classes filled up super fast. Let’s ask Lila about doing a repeat next year. Top
The VSS Team
Ever wonder who are the people behind all the motion in the VSS ocean? Read profiles of some of the people who power VSS at: http://www.vegetarian-society.org/Team Maybe your picture will be there someday soon. Top
‘Asia for Animals’ Conference in Sg – Jan 2010
VSS is proud to give a talk at the Animals for Asia conference, 15-19 Jan, at Furama Hotel. Our friends at ACRES are organising this event, and people from many Asian countries will be participating: www.asiaforanimals.org One outstanding feature of the conference will be its optimistic focus. Rather than listening to long talks about the many problems that we humans are causing for our fellow animals, the conference will focus on what people are doing and can do to improve the situation. For instance, there will be a workshop on Running Effective Education Outreach Programmes. Top
VSS Xmas Tree at Botanics
As the final event of its 150th anniversary celebration, the Singapore Botanic Gardens offered 150+ Xmas trees, each to be decorated by a different local organisation. VSS was invited, and to decorate our tree, we laminated the ‘Love Us, Not Eat Us’ stickers, along with quotes from famous vegetarians and facts about the hazards of meat production. To add a bit more colour to our tree, we’ve also hung plastic fruits and vegetables. The trees will be on display at Botanics throughout December. At last report, our tree was located near the symphony stage. Top
GW Letter in ST Online Forum
VSS published the following letter in The Straits Times online forum on 3 Dec. Let’s write to the media, including blogs and other new media, to make a lot of noise in hopes of influencing the Sg government and others to put meat reduction front and centre on the agenda of the Copenhagen Climate Change conference. Here’s the VSS letter: Boost health, slow global warming with Eat Green days I REFER to Tuesday's report, 'Eat less meat for the green cause', a table talk with Dr Rajendra Kumar Pachauri. Dr Pachauri was instrumental in the establishment of Veggie Thursdays in Ghent, Belgium earlier this year as a way for people to voluntarily cut their global warming impact. Similar days have been started elsewhere, including in Sao Paulo, Brazil. This week, Dr Pachauri and Sir Paul McCartney are addressing the European Parliament with the 'Less meat = less heat' message, calling on mayors and other policymakers to follow Ghent and Sao Paolo's example. Here in Singapore, the National University of Singapore (NUS) has taken the lead with Meatless Thursdays, a voluntary campaign endorsed by the university president, Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, and led by an NUS environmental organisation, Save (Students Against Violation of the Earth). Perhaps other educational institutions, organisations, businesses, as well as families and even individuals would like to start such weekly Eat Green days. Not only would we slow global warming, we may also boost our health by adding more fibre and antioxidants to our diet. Top


More Signs of the Times
Want more proof vegetarian activism is changing things? Here are five pieces of evidence from three heavy meat eating countries. 1. Karen Dawn of DawnWatch notes: On November 19, the icon of American homemaking, Martha Stewart, for the first time in her television’s history, devoted the hour to vegetarian Thanksgivings. One of her guests was author Jonathan Safran Foer, with whom she made a vegan casserole. She noted that she would be having a vegetarian Thanksgiving meal at her daughter Alexis’s home. Alexis is veg. You can watch the entire episode online. 2. 60 Minutes Australia did a primetime feature on the horrors of the pig industry. Video and transcripts at: http://sixtyminutes.ninemsn.com.au/ article.aspx?id=973831 3. In recognition of India’s veg roots, the U.S. government put on an almost complete vegetarian meal to welcome the Indian PM: http://www.nbcnewyork.com/around-town/ food-drink/Obamas-Call-On-Local-Chefs- Expertise-73553672.html 4. A Stanford University biochemist (featured in Forbes magazine) has a new mission: "Eliminate animal farming on planet Earth." http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2009/1130/ thought-leaders-mcdonalds-global-warming- drop-that-burger.html 5. At Windsor Castle, Prince Philip and UN Secretary Ban Ki Moon hosted a vegan dinner: http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/berkshire/hi/ people_and_places/religion_and_ethics/ newsid_8337000/8337997.stm Top
Health Care Savings Could Start with Diet Changes
With health care costs skyrocketing, the New York Times article cites experts who explain why the right diet can greatly cut health expenditures. Here are some excerpts. “We need to put food back in the heart of health care,” says Zoe Finch Totten, Full Yield’s chief executive. “It’s the cheapest way to deal with health and the simplest, and definitely the most pleasurable”… Ms. Totten contends that overeating doesn't result from a nationwide failure to count calories, but from the fact that so many people consume a diet of processed, refined foods. "People overeat Doritos because those foods are designed to trick the body's beautiful ability to be able to self-regulate," she said. "When you eat primarily health-supporting foods you will recover those protective mechanisms". A study in the January-February 2009 issue of the journal Health Affairs concluded that 75 percent of the country's $2.5 trillion in health care spending has to do with four increasingly prevalent chronic diseases: obesity, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Most cases of these diseases, the report stated, are preventable because they are caused by behaviours like poor diets, inadequate exercise and smoking. Obesity alone threatens to overwhelm the system. In a recent study, Kenneth Thorpe, chairman of the department of health policy and management at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, found that if trends continued, annual health care costs related to obesity would total $344 billion by 2018, or more than 20 percent of total health care spending. (It now accounts for 9 percent.) Dr. Thorpe also said that if the incidence of obesity fell to its 1987 level, it would free enough money to cover the nation's uninsured population. Complete article at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/29/ health/policy/29diet.html Top
Brunei Update
A reader living in Brunei sends this update: There are now more vegetarian outlets in Brunei. Some non-vege restaurants are also offering a “Vegetarian” menu. The Brunei Health Ministry has been contributing to the popularity of vegetarian by promoting more fruits and vegetables for a healthy diet. Top
When Will Circuit Road Food Centre Reopen?
A reader wrote in to say that the Circuit Road Food Centre, one of Sg’s veg oases, is closed for renovation, but she was not sure when it will reopen. If you know, please send the info to info@... Thx. Top
New Veg Food Stall Near Farrer Park MRT
Le Le Vegetarian is the name of a new veg stall open 7am-2pm, except Sundays, at 166, Jalan Besar, Berseh Food Centre. For details: http://www.vegetarian-society.org/node/1131 Top
And Another New One in Ghim Moh
The Green Vegetarian Address: Blk 19 Ghim Moh Road #01-263 (coffeeshop) Operating Hour: 11am-8pm/9am-8pm on 1st 15th Day of Lunar Month In-charge: Miss Chen Dan Contact: 9011.5093 Details: http://www.vegetarian-society.org/node/1136 Top
Worth-a-Look Books
Here’s a review of ‘Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs And Wear Cows’ by Melanie Joy, PhD. Be sure to watch the video of a dramatisation of a scene from the book. http://www.vegsource.com/news/2009/11/why-we- love-dogs-eat-pigs-and-wear-cows-book-review.html Top
Test Tube Meat Update
At the VSS talk last month by Professor Harvey Neo of the NUS Geography Dept., the topic came up of meat manufactured in test tubes without any factory farms or killing involved. Prof Neo suggested that this is still a long way off. Here’s an update on recent developments. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/ 6680989/Meat-grown-in-laboratory-in-world-first.html http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/technology/ growing-plants-indoors-no-longer-rooted-in- sci-fi/article1330448/ Top
Fiesta Veg Cooking Class by Ananda Marga
Ananda Marga Yoga Society is hosting another cooking class. Here are the details: Date/Time: Sat, 19 Dec, 1:30-3:30pm Place: 21 Jalan Pokok Serunai Cost: $55 (non-members of Ananda Marga); $50 (Ananda Marga members) Dishes: - Carrot Cake (Eggless) - Dim Sum: Siu Mai - Dim Sum: Tofu Skin Roll - Honey Sago Recipes are provided as well. Registration or Enquiries: 6344.6519 / yoga@... Website: http://www.anandamarga.org.sg Top
Vegan Xmas Buffet, Talk and Carolling
Our friends at Kampung Senang work hard to make people of all faiths feel welcome at their centres. In keeping with that spirit, Kampung Senang is organising a Xmas event. Date/Time: 19 Dec (Sat), 12-3pm Venue: Blk 106, Aljunied Crescent - Kampung Senang's Holistic Lifestyle Centre Cost: $30 (public) $25 (member) Featuring: Talk by Dr Koh Lam Son Topic: Reversing + Preventing Alzheimer's, Dementia & ALL lifestyle diseases naturally + Q & A + Discussion Plus: Vegan Xmas lunch and caroling Dr Koh graduated from the University of Bristol UK in 1972. He worked at the Hammersmith Hospital and St Thomas Hospital in London before he returned to Singapore in 1979 with a double postgraduate degree in obstetrics & gynaecology and general surgery. In addition to working as a doctor, Dr Koh was also a Member of Parliament from 1984-1991. In 2006, he retired from active O & G practice and started a clinic on age management and regenerative medicine. He co-chaired the 2008 First Asian Conference on the Science of Aging and Regenerative Medicine with Dr Robert Goldman, the co-founder of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine Top
Life in Sg Keeps Getting Better for Vegetarians
Here are three more signs that it continues to continue to be easier to be a healthy vegetarian in Singapore. 1. While organising the Singapore Vegetarian Meetup event after Professor Harvey Neo’s Library talk last month, Neil Madhvani and I were chatting with the owner of Kwan Im restaurant. We asked if they could supply brown rice. She said that this was the first time anyone had asked but that she’d be glad to do so. Moral of the story: if we want healthier veg food, we should use not only the eating function of our mouths but also the talking function. 2. Neil was telling me that Ananda Bhavan veg restaurants, with 3-4 outlets, plus one coming up at Changi Airport, is now offering a brown rice set. Moral of the story: Change is happening, and we should support it by purchasing healthier options. 3. I was talking to a teacher in her 30s who was limping and complaining of leg pain because of gout. George: “What does the doctor say you can do?” Teacher: “Cut down on meat. Yes, I know you’re a vegetarian and some of my colleagues are also veg and they are telling me I should stop eating meat.” George: “How many vegetarian teachers are there at your school?” Teacher: “There used to be two, but now there are six”. Moral of the story: It’s going to be easier for her to switch with all that support; much easier than doing alone. Thus, we should let colleagues, friends, family members, etc. know that we are here for them if they want to move towards a less meat or no meat diet. 4. A reader wrote in: “I stay at Bukit Gombak. I would like to inform VSS that Chua Chu Kang Sec has a pure vegetarian stall in their canteen. Plus, I was told that Bukit Batok Sec has a vegetarian stall too. For my Bukit Gombak area, there are about 6 vegan stalls. They are at Blk 323, Blk 376, Blk 373, Blk 385, Blk 347, Blk 359. Moral of the story: Starting kids off right is important for many reasons. We should tell other school about these pioneers and encourage not just veg stalls, but also veg options at all stalls. 5. When the International Vegetarian Union’s Manager, John Davis, came thru Sg to attend the Asia Vegetarian Congress, he flew on Emirates Airlines and was very impressed with all their veg options: http://www.emirates.com/uk/english/plan_book/ essential_information/dietary_requirements.aspx And, it’s not just Emirates; more and more airlines that fly into and out of Sg are offering more and more veg choices. But the best story I heard in connection with this was told by a vegetarian who had to book his flight at the last minute and didn’t have time to request a veg meal. No worries, when he boarded the flight, he informed one of the flight attendants of his needs and received what he called, “The best in-flight veg meal of my life”. Moral of the story: Be a ‘noisy’ vegetarian, because “The squeaky wheels get the grease”. Of course, I hope your veg meals aren’t too greasy. :) Top

Join VSS and enjoy great discounts on all our events, plus many other benefits! To unsubscribe from this newsletter, click here. Click here for a comprehensive list of vegetarian eateries, or email us at makan@... to notify us of new places. The VSS eNewsletter is non-copyrighted, and readers are encouraged to share the content. Back issues are available here. Disclaimer: The information provided in this Newsletter is solely for the consideration of the subscribers, and does not constitute an endorsement by the Vegetarian Society (Singapore).

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#396

From: "George Jacobs" <george@...>
Date: Thu Dec 17, 2009 2:09 pm
Subject: VSS eNewsletter 18 December 2009

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18 December 2009
VSS NEWS Ways to Join VSS Linking with Other Green Groups VSS Materials on Display at Dubai Fair SE Asia Veg Congress, Tour & Expo – Medan Learn to Demo the VSS Smoothie VSS Letter Appears in MyPaper GENERAL NEWS Orchard Gets Another Veg Eatery Circuit Road to Reopen Mar/Apr Another Way for Eateries to Go Green Veg Food Carnival in KL – 20 Dec Life in Sg Keeps Getting Better for Vegetarians Another School with a Veg Stall Detox Talk	A start-up company is converting cooking oil into biofuel. Perhaps one day, instead of warming the earth, vehicle exhaust would just make our mouths water! Dr George M Jacobs If you have any comments or suggestions, feel free to drop us a line here. Subscribe to this newsletter here. Unsubscribe here Visit us at www.vss.sg


Ways to Join VSS
VSS members enjoy discounts at restaurants and at VSS events that offset the cost of membership. More importantly, we support lifesaving work to reduce meat consumption. The various membership plans can be found at http://www.vegetarian-society.org/Join?q=node/1135 Top
Linking with Other Green Groups
On Sun, 13 Dec, VSS took part in a gathering at Ubin House on Palau Ubin. Our friends at Nature Society (Singapore) – www.nss.org.sg – have been hard at work preparing the place for use in promoting green ideas, and they are generously allowing other green groups to also use the facility. Any ideas? Top
VSS Materials on Display at Dubai Fair
Copies of the VSS exhibition panels, which we use at libraries and other places, were on display in Dubai recently, as part of the Middle East Vegetarian Society’s (MEVeg) - http://www.meveg.info/index.html - exhibition at the Middle East Natural and Organic Products Expo 2009: http://www.naturalproductme.com We sent soft copies to our MEVeg friends. Thus, there was no expense to VSS. However, we are constantly trying to update, upkeep and improve the panels for use here. Donations are warmly welcomed for that. The best way to donate is via our GIRO scheme: http://www.vegetarian-society.org/support_vss#donate Top
SE Asia Veg Congress, Tour & Expo – Medan
Our friends at the Indonesia Vegetarian Society are organising the Southeast Asia Vegetarian Congress, Tour & Expo, 19-21 Mar in Medan. Details at http://www.seavc2010.org Top
Learn to Demo the VSS Smoothie
Convincing people to eat less meat involves not only convincing them that meat is bad (the Why) but also convincing them that life with less or no meat is possible and enjoyable (the How). One way that VSS attempts to teach people the how is via our smoothie workshop, at which we give 30-40 people hands-on practice in making their own smoothies. Doing this smoothie workshop is very labour intensive, including purchase of the ingredients, transportation, set up and clean up. Furthermore, the workshops often take place during office hours. The payoff is seeing participants enjoying themselves, savouring their creations and becoming more resolved to cut back on meat. If you have a strong belief in the benefits of such workshops, think you would be able to conduct the workshops and would like to learn how, please contact info@... Top
Letter Appears in MyPaper
A VSS member published the following letter in the 14 Dec edition of MyPaper. VSS is keen to hear your ideas on the question at the end of the letter: info@... I refer to ‘Save time, take along a bag to this supermart’, about the meritorious fact that NTUC FairPrice’s City Square Mall is doing more to encourage us to reduce our use of plastic bags. Being environmentally friendly goes beyond what shopping bags we use; it also includes what we put in our shopping bags. As the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference continues, we should be reminded that Climate Change experts, such as Nobel Peace Prize winner Al Gore, recommend meat reduction. The UN Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO)’s report ‘Livestock’s Long Shadow’ demonstrates that meat production is much less efficient in the use of inputs, such as land and energy, and very intensive in emissions of greenhouse gases and use of water as compared to equivalent plant food production: http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/a0701e/a0701e00.HTM What Vegetarian Society (Singapore) would like to propose is that companies, schools, organisations, families, and individuals adopt a weekly Eat Green Day, a day on which the suggestion is made that everyone eat plant foods rather animal-based foods. Elsewhere in the world, places such as Ghent, Belgium and Sao Paulo, Brazil have adopted a weekly day of this type: http://www.time.com/time/world/ article/0,8599,1900958,00.html Similar moves are being proposed in other places, such as Croyden, England: http://www.thisiscroydontoday.co.uk/thorntonheath/ Community-leader-s-plan-make-Mondays-meat-free- Croydon/article-1574592-detail/article.html Would an Eat Green Day work in Singapore? Top


Orchard Gets Another Veg Eatery
Orchard Road does not have many dedicated veg eateries. There’s NutriHub in the basement of Cuppage Plaza and a stall in the basement of Ngee Ann City, but not much else. Fortunately, a new stall has opened at Lucky Plaza: http://www.vegetarian-society.org/node/1138 Top
Circuit Road to Reopen Mar/Apr
A couple of readers wrote in to say that the Circuit Road Food Centre, a great place to go to enjoy various local veg dishes, should be reopening in Mar/Apr 2010. Top
Another Way for Eateries to Go Green
The best way for a restaurant or food stall to go green is to serve veg food, and recently VSS was contacted by Trevor Ong - e0179@... 9773.0387 - of a small start-up company with another green idea. Eateries can now send their cooking oil to be converted into biofuel at a facility in Tuas: Asia Biofuel Centre, http://www.asiabiofuelcenter.com Trevor and his colleagues will give eateries a receptacle for their used oil and, at no cost collect the used oil for transport to Tuas. At the same time, we would like to point out that for health reasons, it’s probably best to ask eateries to use less or even no oil in the preparation of our food. This is what Dr Caldwell Esselstyn prescribes: http://www.heartattackproof.com Dr Esselstyn is highly recommended by Professor T Colin Campbell who spoke here last July. We hope to bring Dr Esselstyn in Mar, 2010. If you have ideas for speaking engagements for Dr Esselstyn, especially speaking to health professionals, pls contact info@... Top
Veg Food Carnival in KL – 20 Dec
Our friends at the Malaysian Vegetarian Society are organising a Food Carnival on Sun, 20 Dec, 10am-4pm, at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa, opposite Kompleks Sukan Titiwangsa, Jalan Tembeling, off Jalan Kuantan. For info: Dr Vythi, 012.2997.239 or Dr Happy Thong, 012.2295.303. Top
Life in Sg Keeps Getting Better for Vegetarians
Here are yet more signs that it continues to continue to be easier to be a healthy vegetarian in Singapore. 1. More support for vegetarians and meat reducers, new and old, comes via a club recently set up at the Civil Service College. We hope to have more on the new club, called the V8 Club, in a future issue. UBS bank has had a similar group for a while now. 2. More support #2. There’s a Facebook group called Raw Vegan Singapore with more than 160 members. I’m sure that you don’t need to be 100% raw or 100% vegan to join or just lurk. BTW, VSS had a call on 14 Dec from a ST journalist doing a story on raw. 3. More raw. I was eating with one of my tennis buddies at a well-established Chinese veg restaurant last week. My buddy is good friends with the family that runs the restaurant; so, when we go there, they often bring us some surprises. Last week, the surprise was a big plate of salad, discreetly seasoned with a light sauce and some nuts and seeds. 4. More options. Another place I ate last week is a non-veg chain of restaurants with many outlets around Singapore and elsewhere in Asia. I’ve eaten there before and have always been able to find tasty veg items in the menu or on the conveyor belt. Last week, it was even better; the menu had a whole page of veg items, and not just veg versions of meat dishes, but some unique items. Salad places are becoming more popular among those looking for something light and healthy. Sort of a combination of 3 and 4 above is that one of these salad places, a non-veg place called SaladStop, in Marina Square (6720.8590, www.saladstop.com.sg), is offering a 10% discount to VSS members. Details on the different membership plans that VSS offers can be found at http://www.vss.sg/join Top
Another School with a Veg Stall
A reader wrote into the VSS Twitter page to report that another school has a veg stall in their canteen: Admiralty Secondary. Top
Detox Talk
Talk on Liver and Gallbladder Detox Using Natural Ingredients by Janssen New (Health Educator) - Date: 17 Jan (Sun) Time: 3:30pm-5pm Place: 6 Ashwood Grove, S. 739956 Fee: $5 per person Registration: To register for this talk and another one on balm making, pay only $10.00. Sms your name to 9743.8362 or email sheewai@... For more information: http://www.4shared.com/get/173050714/ 2b6acb7a/2_in_1_workshops.html Top

Join VSS and enjoy great discounts on all our events, plus many other benefits! To unsubscribe from this newsletter, click here. Click here for a comprehensive list of vegetarian eateries, or email us at makan@... to notify us of new places. The VSS eNewsletter is non-copyrighted, and readers are encouraged to share the content. Back issues are available here. Disclaimer: The information provided in this Newsletter is solely for the consideration of the subscribers, and does not constitute an endorsement by the Vegetarian Society (Singapore).

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#397

From: "Clarence Tan" <clarence@...>
Date: Wed Dec 23, 2009 11:09 am
Subject: Season's Greetings from VSS

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Dear friends,

As 2009 draws to a close

we are grateful for family ties
new and old friends
triumphs as well as
life lessons

May your every journey be filled with joy, love and compassion!

Peace from

The (wacky, flawed, at times serious,
occasionally brilliant, ever so human) VSS Team

www.vss.sg

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#398

From: "Clarence Tan" <clarence@...>
Date: Mon Dec 28, 2009 10:06 am
Subject: VSS eNewsletter 28 December 2009

clarence@...

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28 December 2009
VSS NEWS Food Outlet Page Updates Another 10,000 VCDs Thanks for a Great Decade Searching the VSS Web Letter Appears in The Sunday Times VSS Greeting Cards GENERAL NEWS Video Shows What We Already Knew Chinese Language Video Promotes Vege Mondays Another Vegetarian Top Athlete New Video from PETA Cartoon Video on Why We Aren’t Made for Meat Interview with the Founder of ‘Vegetarians at Microsoft’ ONE Planet: Animals and Us, on the BBC World Service – from Dec 31 Not Too Late to Register for Asia for Animals Conference Life in Sg Keeps Getting Better for Vegetarians	This issue includes 4 videos for your viewing pleasure. Compliments of the Season! Dr George M Jacobs If you have any comments or suggestions, feel free to drop us a line here. Subscribe to this newsletter here. Unsubscribe here Visit us at www.vss.sg


Food Outlet Page Updates
One of the most popular pages on the VSS web is the Food Outlets page: http://www.vegetarian-society.org/?q=fdl Recently, we’ve done a lot of updating of the list of outlets, thanks to people who have written in: info@..., in particular Thomas Tay. However, there’s still a huge amount of info that needs adding. Every little bit helps. Thanks. Top
Another 10,000 VCDs
Last Sun, VSS had a party to pack another 10K of our VCD, ‘SEEDS for a Better World’, complete with a complimentary lip-smacking veg dinner when we had finished. As you probably know, we do free distribution of the VCD and our flyers at our events and exhibitions. This batch will put us over 100K VCDs distributed. Donations are much needed so that we can continue this crucial education effort: http://www.vegetarian-society.org/support_vss Top
Thanks for a Great Decade
As the first decade of the 21st century closes and the second begins, VSS, born in 1999, can say indisputably that 2000-2009 was a time of unprecedented advance for vegetarianism. There are so many people to thank for that: everyone who gave the time and/or dollars, the (underpaid) staff, all the people at the veg eateries and food products companies and everyone else who helped people understand and do meat reduction and vegetarianism. At the same time, 2000-2009 was a decade of escalating meat consumption and escalating damage due to that consumption. Thus, we need to expand our numbers and increase our efforts. Find out more about VSS. Top
Searching the VSS Web
Last week, someone wrote to VSS asking where to find vegetarian roast pig to serve at a wedding. Actually, all that person would have needed to do was to go to the Search box of the VSS web and type ‘roast pig’, and they would have been directed to Miao Yi Vegetarian Restaurant, 587 Bukit Timah Road, #03-01/02, Coronation Plaza, Tel: 6467.1331. Isn’t the internet great? However, it costs money to maintain and upgrade the website. You can help: http://www.vegetarian-society.org/support_vss Top
Letter Appears in The Sunday Times
A VSS Exco member published the following letter in The Sunday Times of 20 Dec. Giving Up Meat Can Have Many Benefits I refer to Mr Wu Guanglong’s letter, “Eat less meat? Leave it to consumers” (Dec 13). While agreeing that meat production harms the environment, Mr Wu questions the wisdom of a campaign to spur people to eat less meat. Three of the arguments Mr Wu makes are: (1) meat production provides vital income to the people involved in this sphere of economic activity; (2) meat prices might increase if consumption falls; and (3) meat consumption provides enjoyment. I would like to raise counter arguments to these three points. One, yes, meat production does provide livelihoods for many people, but so does the production of tobacco, yet society promotes voluntary reduction in the consumption of tobacco products. As meat consumption declines, consumption of plant based foods can increase. People currently involved in meat production can be helped to shift to production of more environmentally friendly foods. Two, as to possible increases in the price of meat, perhaps higher meat prices would be in society’s best interest. Society pays a steep price for meat consumption due to the environment damage such production causes, but the costs of this damage are not reflected in the price of meat. Nor does the price of meat include the costs of the health problems arising from humankind’s increased meat consumption, such as higher rates of heart disease and diabetes. Thus, just as higher cigarette prices benefit society by encouraging voluntary reduction in smoking, so too might higher meat prices provide a net benefit to society. Finally, what about the pleasure people derive from tucking into a juicy burger, a tasty chicken breast or a hearty bowl of bah kut teh? For about half my life, I too enjoyed eating meat every day, but I gradually reduced my meat consumption when I realized the consequences, just as many people have given up or cut down on cigarettes because of the harm cigarette smoking causes to themselves and others. Fortunately, after giving up meat, I found so many other greener, healthier foods to savour. Thus, reducing meat was not reducing enjoyment; it was finding that same enjoyment in other foods. Top
VSS Greeting Cards
With 2009 coming to a close and New Year just round the corner, it's time to send eGreeting Cards to friends and loved ones. Here are some from VSS. If you'd like to create one for VSS, we'd love to hear from you. Just drop us a line at info@... Top


Video Shows What We Already Knew
Here’s a video that shows the mistreatment of calves on a U.S. factory farm. The video apparently received extensive press coverage, but what is depicted doesn’t seem to be exceptional; the meat industry treats non-human animals as though they were objects, when anyone who knows anything about them knows that the cows, chickens, pigs, etc. are thinking, feeling fellow beings: http://www.vegnews.com/web/articles/ page.do?pageId=1156&catId=1 Top
Chinese Language Video Promotes Vege Mondays
Here’s an energetic 5min video in Chinese about Vege Mondays. http://you.video.sina.com.cn/b/ 27044160-1341563274.html Seems like there are many names for the idea of going veg once a week: ‘Vege’, ‘Meatout’, ‘Meatless’, Meat Free’, ‘Veggie’, ‘Eat Green Day’. If VSS tries to spread the idea of such a day, what should we call it and why? For instance, mentioning ‘meat’ seems negative, but mentioning ‘Veg’ might lead people to think that they have to be full-time vegetarian. Putting ‘green’ in the name of the day tells one of the reasons for the day, but eating green has other meanings, such as eating only organic food grown in or near Sg, which some people might find daunting. Suggestions? Pls send them to info@... Top
Another Vegetarian Top Athlete
Here’s news of another plant-powered athlete. Appearing in the pages of Men's Fitness, Rich Roll was deemed one of the world's 25 most fit men in the world. A devoted husband, father, full-time lawyer, and personal coach, Roll recently completed his training for the 2009 Ultraman World Championships - a grueling race comprised of a 6.2-mile swim, a 261.4-mile bike ride, and a 52.4-mile run. "Fit" might be an understatement. Read the entire article at http://www.vegnews.com/web/articles/ page.do?pageId=1339&catId=1 Top
New Video from PETA
PETA’s video ‘Meet Your Meat’ is a well-known tool of veg activists with its graphic depiction of the horrors of factory farming. Now, PETA has sort of an update of ‘Meet Your Meat’, titled ‘Glass Walls’ and narrated by Paul McCartney, a long-time veg who has recently been promoting Meat Free Mondays – http://www.supportmfm.org The title ‘Glass Walls’ is from a McCartney quote, “If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be a vegetarian”. Glass Walls extends Meat Your Meat buy adding such topics as fishes and the environment. View and download Glass Wall (also available in 3D), Meet Your Meat and other videos at http://meat.org Top
Cartoon Video on Why We Aren’t Made for Meat
The veg creator of the Bizarro comic strip - http://www.bizarro.com/ -which used to appear in The Straits Times, has a 5min video explaining why humans aren’t designed for eating meat: http://www.epipheo.com/epipheo/vegan+video Top
Interview with the Founder of ‘Vegetarians at Microsoft’
Mark Aggar is the founder of ‘Vegetarians at Microsoft’ at the corporation’s main campus near Seattle, USA. Approximately, 40,000 people come to the campus on a daily basis. Below, Mark answers some questions. 1. How long have you been vegetarian? I became vegetarian over 15 years ago, and officially declared myself as vegan in 1999, coincidentally just before I started at Microsoft. 2. What is Vegetarians at Microsoft? When did it form? MSVeg (as it’s known informally) is a group for vegans, vegetarians and anyone looking for veg-friendly food choices at Micrososft. I formed MSVeg in 2004, but didn’t start promoting it until 2005. After an article in our weekly internal ‘newspaper’, we grew to about 350 members. We now have about 650 active members, but I estimate that at least a couple thousand people have been part of the group over time. 3. What was it like to be a vegan at Microsoft 10 years ago? Very hit and miss. I got to know the caf� staff very quickly, and even had some folks making special items just for me. But if I needed to eat at another caf�, there was no guarantee I’d find something to eat. And don’t get me started on food preparation practices! 4. How did the idea arise to form the organisation? It was formed out of frustration of not having very good or consistent vegan choices in the MS cafeterias and the suspicion that there were a lot of folks at MS who felt the same. Basically I formed it to create a loud voice for better food choices for vegns. 5. Do you receive support from Microsoft? Initially it was purely grass roots. However, after a particularly vociferous discussion on the DL (Distribution List, similar to a Listserv) following an incident involving a mislabelled soup, our VP of Human Resources instructed our food service provider (Eurest, part of Compass Group) to ‘fix it’. She apparently understood the significance that one places on being vegn. After that. things started getting a lot better, and Eurest were very good about reaching out to us to understand our needs and concerns. They now hold a quarterly meeting with members of the MSVeg where we discuss issues, suggest improvements and review progress and upcoming changes. 6. Tell me about the types of changes you’ve seen since meeting with Eurest. Change has been significant and very much appreciated. Aside from increases in choices (the primary goal), there is a much greater awareness of veg issues among all levels of the dining staff. Food preparation is much better: there are green handled serving spoons and spatulas, green cutting boards and training for the staff on how to use these. Additionally, there are many specialty items such as vegan cheese and mayo. The most recent highlight has been a Eurest operated vegetarian ‘caf�’ that serves items such as mushroom and root vegetable flatbreads and oven baked sweet potato ‘fries’. 7. Have you tried to reach out to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to encourage them to promote vegetarianism in the charitable work in health and education? No. Thought about it, but frankly, being at Microsoft doesn’t make it any easier for me to do this than anyone else outside the company. There are two very distinct organizations. 8. What types of people are members of Vegetarians at Microsoft? Everyone and anyone. We have everyone from committed vegan raw foodists to folks are who looking for help in becoming vegetarian. 9. Do you sense that more people on your campus are moving towards vegetarianism? If so, why? Having veg choices out there in plain view is definitely moving people to eat less animal products. I’ve had lunch with many omnivores that eat a lot more veg food now than before, because of the choices that are available. Some are even on a journey to becoming completely veg. 10. Has there been any kind of backlash, for example, a ‘Carnivores at Microsoft’ organisation? Funny you should ask. When MSVeg was first getting broad exposure, I think someone did create that very group. It didn’t last long though. However, there is a ‘Bacon Fans at Microsoft’ group. We even had an on-going thread about ‘bacon bits’ that had both groups on the to: line. Some good natured banter between the two groups but nothing really adversarial. 11. What are the purposes of the group? What ideas do you have for the future of the organisation? The group has achieved its initial goal (getting the food service company to provide better options), so we’re generally in ‘maintain and improve’ mode. On the improve side, I’m trying to drive the notion of ‘vegan by default’. That is if only one veg dish is available at a catered event, make sure it’s vegan so it is suitable for everyone. 12. Do you know of similar organisations at other IT companies? No, but maybe with this article we can start a coalition of corporate veg groups and drive the food service industry everywhere to cater to vegans. Top
ONE Planet: Animals and Us, on the BBC World Service – from Dec 31
Why do humans continue to exploit other species? Are we capable of changing our ways? A global radio documentary series by Victor Schonfeld (maker of The Animals Film) will explore these and other thought-provoking questions. Where: BBC WORLD SERVICE, 88.9 FM When: From Thurs Dec 31 2009, 09:32, 16:32 21:32 Whatever your preconceptions, be prepared for astonishing insights. Go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/ programmeguide/schedule/date/101058:1/ fm/1880252/date/today for daily programme schedules Email reactions to BBC forum “World Have Your Say” http://worldhaveyoursay.wordpress.com/ Top
Not Too Late to Register for Asia for Animals Conference
Asia for Animals (AFA), the largest most representative Asian animal protection conference, will be held here, 15–19 Jan. Hosted by ACRES, AFA Singapore 2010 – "Achieving long-term positive change", will focus on developing and implementing concrete long-term solutions for ongoing animal protection and cruelty problems. Register now and join more than 300 delegates representing 169 organisations. Come and learn and share your experiences about achieving long-term positive change for the animals! Register now at http://www.asiaforanimals.org/ Registration%20n%20Rates.htm to enjoy the special rates of only SGD$160 for the 5-day conference. Special rates close on 31 Dec. Conference day passes are now available, please download the registration form at: http://www.asiaforanimals.org/Registration%20form% 20AFA%20Singapore%202010%20Day%20Passes.doc Top
Life in Sg Keeps Getting Better for Vegetarians
Here are yet more signs that it continues to continue to be easier to be a healthy vegetarian in Singapore. 1. Here’s another very useful veg eating blog: Sunny’s Veg Food Hunt: http://vegefoodhunt.blogspot.com 2. The Sunday Times on 20 Dec had an article in the Lifestyles section on raw vegan food. What stood out was that the journalist didn’t treat being raw or being vegan as something weird. VSS Director of Education and Outreach, Loh Yeow Nguan, was quoted. BTW, VSS warmly welcomes vegetarians of all types: lacto-ovo, lacto, vegan, etc. Although people who eat fishes or chickens are not vegetarians by definition, anyone regardless of their diet is most welcome to be a VSS member and participate in VSS activities. 3. Several of you wrote in following the call in our last issue for people to learn to teach others to make the VSS smoothie. It’s great to see people coming forward to help others be happy and healthy on a meat reduced or meat free diet. 4. Our previous issue listed a new veg place on Orchard, this one at Lucky Plaza. Soon afterwards, we heard about another Orchard veg eatery, this one at Orchard Towers, Level 4: http://www.vegetarian-society.org/node/1187 5. An Indian veg stall just opened close to me next to Tanjong Pagar MRT: http://www.vegetarian-society.org/node/1188 6. Michelle, one of the main people who did the SG Veg Food Guide, and I had a nice visit this week with a vegetarian from France (you don’t meet so many of those, but there are more and more these days) who recently moved here to run a non-veg Japanese/French restaurant, Shibaken (in Gallery Hotel). Previously, she had veg restaurants in BKK and Hanoi. She plans a veg menu at Shibaken for early next year. Top

Join VSS and enjoy great discounts on all our events, plus many other benefits! To unsubscribe from this newsletter, click here. Click here for a comprehensive list of vegetarian eateries, or email us at makan@... to notify us of new places. The VSS eNewsletter is non-copyrighted, and readers are encouraged to share the content. Back issues are available here. Disclaimer: The information provided in this Newsletter is solely for the consideration of the subscribers, and does not constitute an endorsement by the Vegetarian Society (Singapore).

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#399

From: "Clarence Tan" <clarence@...>
Date: Thu Dec 31, 2009 3:25 am
Subject: Anyone Can Cook Vegetarian! - CNY Fortune Cooking - 16 Jan 2010

clarence@...

Send Email

Anyone Can Cook Vegetarian! - CNY Fortune Cooking

	Venue:	67 Spottiswoode Park Road (3 storey shophouse, nearest MRT is Outram)
	Date & time:	Sat 16 Jan 2010, 2pm – 5pm
	Fee:	$40 (VSS members) $50 (non member)
	Limited to 20 persons

The Chngs have been serving up tantalising vegetarian treats for almost 15 years! Now let them show you how to ring in wealth and good health with these sumptious New Year Specials:

Prosperity Yu Sheng
A must for the Lunar New Year, this prosperous medley of special spices, crispy bean curd, fruit, veggies and veg sashimi is sure to excite your taste buds.
Golden Pumpkin Treasure
A treasure trove of mouth-watering goodness - pumpkin, dates, mushroom, green peas and nuggets of juicy veg chicken.
Wealthcome Pineapple Rice
Usher in good fortune with this favourite - pineapple fried rice with Chinese almonds, ginko nuts and veg prawns.
Longevity Noodles
This delicious mee sua dish is a traditional symbol of long life and good health. Prepared with mushroom, sliced veg ham, bean sprouts and cabbage.
Sweet Celebration
Celebrate the sweetness of life with longan, red dates, winter melon, dried persimon and lotus seed.

Registration

Click here to register.

Limited to 20 participants, so please register early. (Reservation is confirmed upon payment.)

Payment

Payment can be made online or by cheque:

Make secure online payment here: www.vegetarian-society.org/cook

Cheques should be made payable to 'Vegetarian Society (Singapore)'

Mailing address:

3 Pemimpin Drive,
#07-02, Lip Hing Building,
Singapore 576147

Join VSS and enjoy great discounts on all our events, plus many other benefits!

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#400

From: "George Jacobs" <george@...>
Date: Wed Jan 6, 2010 3:02 pm
Subject: Seeds of Hope

jacobs_george

Send Email

On 5th Oct 2006, Ignatius Chan (not his real name) received the news - the kind we think only befalls other people. A good-natured man for whom cigarettes and drink never held any attraction, he enjoyed an enviable life – a good career in the IT industry, a loving wife and two adorable young daughters.

That fateful Thursday, Chan’s world fell apart when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Often referred to as a silent killer, this form of the disease rarely shows early symptoms – by the time it was detected, the cancer had already spread throughout his body. Surgery was impossible.

His wife recalls how quickly he deteriorated. Within a year, at the prime age of 41, Ignatius Chan passed away.

Dear friends, while Ignatius’ story is certainly sad, it is hardly uncommon. How many of us have lost uncles, aunts, a brother, a parent, a spouse or a close friend to so-called incurable diseases? How many of us will also suffer the same fate?

In Singapore, the numbers are alarming - almost one in three of us will die of cancer. In fact, cancer, heart disease and stroke – all lifestyle diseases - account for nearly 62% of deaths (statistics from Ministry of Health).

Yet there is another way, one which would save countless lives and avert enormous suffering; one which more and more people are waking up to.

The research is clear – many modern diseases are linked to our diets. Evidence from world renowned researchers - such as Prof T. Colin Campbell, Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, Dr. John McDougall and others – shows that the risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis etc. can be dramatically reduced through a healthful diet.

Veg Burger Launch at RI - part of our efforts to improve the healthfulnees of school canteen food.

VSS is committed to bringing this awareness to as many people as possible. Through road shows, work with schools, public talks, community activities and online resources, thousands have already been inspired to make positive changes in their lives.

Help us reach thousands more.

Sow the Seeds of Hope - so that daughters don’t have to lose their fathers prematurely, husbands and wives their spouses, parents their children.

A contribution of just $5 a month will make a world of difference in someone else’s life. It will give them a message of hope, a message of empowerment, so that perhaps one day, stories like Ignatius Chan’s will be a thing of the past.

Thank you for considering.

Be a Seeds of Hope donor and automatically enjoy VSS Premium Membership.

Make a Giro contribution of $5 or more per month and help build a wiser, kinder, healthier world while enjoying the following benefits:

	1.	*$100 worth of food vouchers per year.
	2.	Discounts (equal to or greater than for ordinary members) on all
		VSS organised events.
	3.	Members Only events.
	4.	**Free Copy of Singapore Vegetarian Food Guide.

Just drop us a line at soh@... and we will mail you the Giro form and a return envelope.

Or please download the Giro form here and mail it to:

Seeds of Hope
Vegetarian Society (Singapore)
3 Pemimpin Drive
#07-02, Lip Hing Bldg
Singapore 576147

Thank you.

* Subject to change depending on VSS’s agreements with restaurants.
** Subject to change depending on availability.

Towards a kinder, healthier world.

Reply | Messages in this Topic (1)

#401

From: "George Jacobs" <george@...>
Date: Wed Jan 6, 2010 4:22 pm
Subject: Seeds of Hope - with pictures this time

jacobs_george

Send Email

Seeds of Hope

On 5th Oct 2006, Ignatius Chan (not his real name) received the news - the kind we think only befalls other people. A good-natured man for whom cigarettes and drink never held any attraction, he enjoyed an enviable life – a good career in the IT industry, a loving wife and two adorable young daughters.

That fateful Thursday, Chan’s world fell apart when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Often referred to as a silent killer, this form of the disease rarely shows early symptoms – by the time it was detected, the cancer had already spread throughout his body. Surgery was impossible.

His wife recalls how quickly he deteriorated. Within a year, at the prime age of 41, Ignatius Chan passed away.

Ignatius Chan

Vege Burger Launch
Veg Burger Launch at RI - part of our efforts to improve the healthfulnees of school canteen food.

Be a Seeds of Hope donor and automatically enjoy VSS Premium Membership.

Make a Giro contribution of $5 or more per month and help build a wiser, kinder, healthier world while enjoying the following benefits:

	1.	*$100 worth of food vouchers per year.
	2.	Discounts (equal to or greater than for ordinary members) on all
		VSS organised events.
	3.	Members Only events.
	4.	**Free Copy of Singapore Vegetarian Food Guide.

Towards a kinder, healthier world.

Reply | Messages in this Topic (1)

#402

From: "George Jacobs" <george@...>
Date: Sat Jan 9, 2010 6:50 am
Subject: VSS eNewsletter, 9 January 2010

jacobs_george

Send Email

9 January 10

Editor's Note

VSS NEWS

Vegetarian Singles Night in Aid of VSS
and Post Museum – 15 Jan

VSS Launches Seeds of Hope Campaign

Anyone Can Cook Vegetarian! - CNY Fortune Cooking
- 16 Jan

Asia for Animals Conference in Sg – 15-19 Jan

Letter by VSS Member in ST and TNP

GENERAL NEWS

Haute Cuisine Restaurant Launches
Meatless Mondays – 11 Jan

January 2010 Dine & Learn Workshops at NutriHub

New Year Goodies Galore

Interested in Attending Raw Food Potlucks?

Antibiotics in Factory Farming

Founder of Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary on Okto

Here's a fun and fruitful way to help the veg cause - Veggie Singles Night on 15th Jan. Be warned though, bringing the wrong fruit may bear undexpected consequences!

Dr George M Jacobs

If you have any comments or suggestions, feel free to drop us a line here.

Subscribe to this newsletter here. Unsubscribe here

Visit us at www.vss.sg

Vegetarian Singles Night in Aid of VSS and Post Museum – 15 Jan

Fri, 15 Jan, 8.30pm-midnight, Food #3 at 109 Rowell Road is the venue for a Veggie Singles Night: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=
213023091892&ref=ts

With Valentines Day looming, this is the perfect opportunity to find yourself a date, contributing to the greater causes of vegetarianism and environmentalism in the process! Entry is free and part proceeds of all food and beverages go to Vegetarian Society (Singapore) and Food#03!

Omnivores are certainly welcome, as long as you are keen to pledge to having one vegetarian day a week (or three meals a week - breakfast is not counted!)

A menu featuring a variety of finger food and alcoholic/non-alcoholic drinks will be available on the night to lubricate your five senses!

Bring a fruit/veg to indicate your gender preference! Carry a long fruit/veg if you prefer men, or a round fruit/veg if you prefer women!

For people of all persuasions. Veg interested please apply! 50 people have already registered.

Top

VSS Launches Seeds of Hope Campaign

VSS has many plans for making 2010 the year when even more people take life-saving steps towards eating less or no meat. These plans require funds, and to sweeten your gift giving, we are offering a premier membership package to those who sign up for a Giro donation of $5 or more per month. That’s less than 20 cents a day.

Details at http://www.vegetarian-society.org/node/1242

Thanks.

Top

Anyone Can Cook Vegetarian! - CNY Fortune Cooking - 16 Jan

The Chngs have been serving up tantalising vegetarian treats for almost 15 years! Now let them show you how to ring in wealth and good health with their sumptious New Year Specials.

Venue:	67 Spottiswoode Park Road (3 storey shophouse, nearest MRT is Outram)
Date & time:	Sat 16 Jan 2010, 2pm – 5pm
Fee:	$40 (VSS members) $50 (non member)

Just a few places left, so do register now if you're interested. More details here.

Top

Asia for Animals Conference in Sg – 15-19 Jan

VSS is proud to give a talk at the Animals for Asia conference, 15-19 Jan, at Furama Hotel. Our friends at ACRES are organising this event, and people from many Asian countries will be participating: www.asiaforanimals.org

One outstanding feature of the conference will be its optimistic focus. Rather than listening to long talks about the many problems that we humans are causing for our fellow animals, the conference will focus on what people are doing and can do to improve the situation. For instance, there will be a workshop on Running Effective Education Outreach Programmes.

Top

Letter by VSS Member in ST and TNP

The following letter by a VSS member appeared in the online versions of The Straits Times and The New Paper, plus The New Paper’s print edition of 7 Jan.

Step up to the climate change challenge

IT IS always tragic when politics gets in the way of saving humanity from its own wrongdoings. However, whether or not governments do their share to ease global warming, we can as individuals still step up to the climate change challenge.

This can be as simple as switching to a plant-based diet. Livestock agriculture is one of the biggest culprits in the emission of greenhouse gases because it is an inefficient way of using resources. We need to feed many kilos of plants to feed the animals which we later eat.

The grain we feed to livestock could feed all the approximately one billion people on our planet who have not enough to eat. By not consuming meat, we can help tackle global warming and ease world hunger at the same time.

Taking our own bags when shopping and recycling as much as we can is not enough to save this planet. Tackling climate change should be part of our lifestyle and this includes our dietary choices.

If a global treaty cannot be agreed upon by governments and the bigger corporations, then individuals should take it upon themselves to do what we can.

Our children and the future generations who will inherit this planet should not be burdened with an uninhabitable planet that we could have saved now.

American anthropologist Margaret Mead was right when she said: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

Imagine the depth of positive changes if a large group of thoughtful, committed citizens decide to make tackling climate change part of their everyday lifestyle.

Nuraishah Athly (Miss)
http://www.straitstimes.com/ST+Forum/
Online+Story/STIStory_471254.html

Top

Haute Cuisine Restaurant Launches Meatless Mondays – 11 Jan

Shibaken, an elegant Japanese-French fusion restaurant at Level 2 of Gallery Hotel (1 Nanson Road near Robertson Quay) -
http://www.galleryhotel.com.sg/html/indulge_shibaken.html - joins the international movement towards eating less meat by launching Meatless Mondays on Mon, 11 Jan.

The restaurant, helmed by a French vegetarian has veg restaurant experience in Hanoi and Bangkok, is open 12pm-3pm and 6.30pm onward. For info or reservations: 6836.1613, shibaken.sylvie@...

They are offering ala carte and sets. Many of the dishes are vegan. Shibaken membership cards are free to veg customers in Jan (normally, registration is $60). This card entitles holders to a 30% rebate for each $100 spend. Some of the veg dishes are also available on other days.

Top

January 2010 Dine & Learn Workshops at NutriHub

NutriHub - the Organic Fusion Caf� at Cuppage Plaza, #B2-25 (behind OG Orchard, near Centrepoint (6738.2746, www.nutrihub.blogspot.com) is offering another round of their Dine & Learn workshops. Details can be found on their blog.

Dates are Sat, 16, 23 and 30 Jan. Discounts for VSS members. To register, call or sms Ms Vinitha Ang at 9236.8402.

Top

New Year Goodies Galore

With Chinese New Year approaching, veg eateries are offering up all sorts of mouth watering goodies. More and more vegan baked good are available, such as those from Genesis Health Food Restaurant: www.genesishealthfood.blogspot.com, 9145.4218.

Check your favourite veg eateries to see what treasures they harbour: http://www.vegetarian-society.org/?q=fdl

Top

Interested in Attending Raw Food Potlucks?

More people are experimenting with adding more raw food to their diets. One way to meet fellow raw food experimenters is by attending a potluck. To learn more, contact: michelleayn@...

Sorry, Elvis won’t be there, but perhaps you can honour him with a karaoke session afterwards.

Top

Antibiotics in Factory Farming

Here’s more evidence of the dangers posed by the large scale use of antibiotics in factory farming: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091229/ap_on_he_me/
when_drugs_stop_working_the_meat_we_eat

Top

Founder of Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary on Okto

Raymund Wee, founder of Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary in JB (VSS arranged for a visit there once) will be featured on Okto’s Different Faces programme on Mon, 11 Jan, 9.30pm. http://noahsarkcares.blogspot.com

BTW, our friends at Singapore Vegetarian Meetup are in the midst of arranging a visit to the Animal Lovers League shelter, Pets Villa, in Pasir: http://www.animalloversleague.com/?p=44

To join Singapore Vegetarian Meetup (non-vegetarians are most welcome):
http://www.meetup.com/singapore-vegetarian

Top

Join VSS and enjoy great discounts on all our events,
plus many other benefits!

To unsubscribe from this newsletter, click here.

Click here for a comprehensive list of vegetarian eateries,

or email us at makan@... to notify us of new places.

The VSS eNewsletter is non-copyrighted, and readers are encouraged to share the content.

Back issues are available here.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this Newsletter is solely for the consideration of the subscribers, and does not constitute an endorsement by the Vegetarian Society (Singapore).

__________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4755 (20100108) __________

The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.

http://www.eset.com

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#403

From: "George Jacobs" <george@...>
Date: Mon Jan 18, 2010 10:09 pm
Subject: VSS eNewsletter 19 January 2010

jacobs_george

Send Email

19 January 2010

Editor's Note

VSS NEWS

Volunteering with VSS

Fund-Raising/Event-Organising Companies Needed

VSS CD Helps Start Veg Organisation in Bangladesh

The VSS InBox – Coping at Non-Veg Eateries

Letter to ST – Unpublished

GENERAL NEWS

Great Recipes and Much More in the
Dec09 and Jan10 Issues of VegVibe

Want One More Reason to Stay Away from Meat?

Chef Oh Does Strawberries – 22 Jan

Ami’s Latest Line-up of Classes

Workshop Combines Raw Food and Yoga – 30 Jan

Vegetarian Strongman Dies at 104 in Car Accident

Meat Eating Will Go the Way of Whaling –
A Prediction from Oz

‘Animals & Us’ from BBC Radio

Meatless Mondays in ST

Vegan Food Relief for Haiti

Will meat eating one day be frowned upon by society? Philip Wollen, of the Kindness Trust certainly thinks so. But no need to wait, sign up for a veg cookery class today and live a wiser, healthier and kinder life.

Dr George M Jacobs

If you have any comments or suggestions, feel free to drop us a line here.

Subscribe to this newsletter here. Unsubscribe here

Visit us at www.vss.sg

Volunteering with VSS

To make it easier for people who would like to volunteer with VSS, we now have a form that you can use: http://www.vegetarian-society.org/node/260?q=contact

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Fund-Raising/Event-Organising Companies Needed

As we don’t have enough volunteers to do all the things we’d like to do, we are look for companies that can, for a fee, help us to organise events and help us raise the funds needed for those events and other projects we do to raise awareness of the great need to move away from meat.

If you have had positive experiences with companies in those two spheres, please send their contact info to info@... Thx

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VSS CD Helps Start Veg Organisation in Bangladesh

At the recent Asia for Animals Conference 2010, here in SG, we met the founder of the Vegetarian Club of Bangladesh: Mr Ataur Rahman Miton. Miton is also Country Director for Hunger Free World - www.hfwbd.org Hunger Free World helps 200 organic farmers, gives scholarships for girls, provides food to two primary schools, gives people loans to do small business.

Miton became veg about two years ago after seeing VSS’s SEEDS CD, which contains videos by VIVA and PETA, two organisations based in the UK and US, respectively. If you’d like to help: hfw2021@...

Get your own copy of SEEDS at the next VSS event that you attend, share it with others, and who knows whom you might influence. To help VSS produce more copies of SEEDS: http://www.vegetarian-society.org/node/1242

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The VSS InBox – Coping at Non-Veg Eateries

Recently, two readers emailed VSS about the difficulties communicating with staff at non-veg eateries. Here’s one of the emails and our reply.

Reader:
I wonder if the vegetarian society has any list of non-vegetarian restaurants that has vegetarian options? We are having our section annual lunch and (desperately) looking for a Halal restaurant that serves vegetarian options to cater to Muslims, vegetarians and non-vegetarians...in city area, which is not very easy! Any help would be much appreciated.

VSS:
In my experience, almost every non-veg restaurant has veg options, especially if you call ahead. After all, if they don’t satisfy your request, they don’t get your business. Be sure to specify exactly what you mean by vegetarian, as there are many definitions.

Reader replies:
Thank you very much for your response.

I prefer restaurants that with vegetarian options available on the menu, as they are usually more vegetarian friendly and staff have some knowledge on vegetarianism.

I have experiences whereby the chefs are totally clueless on how to cook up a nice dish without meat. They just throw in like 4 strands of vegetable in your fried rice and it's so *boring*. I have also found ham and fish cake, among other stuff in the "vegetarian" food even though I have told them no meat, no seafood blah blah :-)

Once again, thank you for sharing your tips on dining at non-veg restaurants.

VSS replies:
I’ve had similar problems. I try (when I’m in a good mood) to view meeting clueless chefs, etc. as an opportunity to educate people and help clue them in to what veg food is and why people eat it.

I enjoy dialoguing with you. Someone else wrote in with a similar experience. Maybe we should have something in VSS eNewsletter about it. Also, we’ve written to NEA for their advice.

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Letter to ST – Unpublished

A VSS member sent the following letter to The Straits Times, but to date it has not been published.

I REFER to “The spectre of a health pandemic” (Jan 6) by Ho Kwon Ping. If we want to breathe easier about the possibility of a major pandemic killing millions of people, as did the bubonic plague and the Spanish flu of previous centuries, we need to look at the causes of 21st century pandemics.

Dr Michael Greger, MD, Director of Public Health and Animal Agriculture for Humane Society International, is one of many investigators who traces SARS, bird flu and H1N1 (swine flu) to the way that we produce our meat: http://www.hsus.org/farm/news/ournews/
qa_on_swine_flu_050209.html. In the name of efficiency and lower prices, we confine chickens, pigs and other animals in crowded conditions ripe for the breeding, spread and mutation of disease. For example, the chickens on these factory farms (known also as Concentrated Animal Feed Operations) must survive in a space approximately the size of an A4 piece of paper.

Public health experts have long warned of the risks created by these factory farms. For instance, in 2003, the American Public Health Association, the world’s largest and oldest association of public health professionals, called for a moratorium on new factory farms: www.apha.org/advocacy/policy/policysearch/
default.htm?id=1243

To sleep easier during the next ten years, we can reduce the risk of catastrophic pandemics by reducing our meat consumption. Eating less meat will also address two other major worries confronting the planet in the new decade: intensifying global warming, with livestock accounting for 18% of human produced greenhouse gas emissions; and increased rates of cancer, stroke, heart disease and diabetes, all of which are linked to diet.

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Great Recipes and Much More in the Dec09 and Jan10 Issues of VegVibe

The latest issues from our friends at VegVibe, the locally produced online veg magazine, features the usually tasty mix of information and advice, including climate change myths, tips of visiting Manila and insights into the minds of meat eaters.

Among the recipes are shepherd’s pie, persimmon and cranberry jelly, roasted cauliflower and leek soup mixed greens salad with citrus dressing and bean patties with lemon tahini sauce. Be careful when reading the mouth watering recipes and looking at the photos of the dishes – slippage from excessive mouth watering can damage your computer!

Here are the urls for the Dec09 and Jan10 issues: http://vegvibe.com/VegVibeDec09.pdf
http://vegvibe.com/VegVibeJan10.pdf

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Want One More Reason to Stay Away from Meat?

Here’s an article that describes in horrific detail some of the infections that animal based food can carry:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kathy-freston/
e-coli-salmonella-and-oth_b_415240.html

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Chef Oh Does Strawberries – 22 Jan

Oh Chong Fah has done many classes and workshops on veg cooking. His latest features strawberries. You might have seen him demonstrating veg dishes last year on Channel 8’s morning news show.

I would like to share this event/workshop with all VSS friends, the course fee is "super cheap" (heavily sponso red by the Korean Agro-Trade Centre to promote their strawberry).

When: Fri, 22 Jan, 7-9pm
Where: Kallang CC
How much: $5 (PA member)/ $10 (non-member)

Menu:
1. Nutty fruity Strawberry Tart (Vegan)
2. Strawberry Chocolate
3. Strawberry Candies (Vegan)
4. Strawberry Nut Milk (Vegan)

Plus: Free bunnet of Korean strawberry for participants.
How: www.one.pa.gov.sg , also for details.

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Ami’s Latest Line-up of Classes

January 16th Saturday 2 pm-4pm Mini Meal Paneer With Mixed Vegetables Corn Salad Parathas	January 18th Monday 12pm-2pm Salads Sprouted Green Bean Salad Brown Gram (Chana) Salad Potato Chaat salad
January 23th Saturday 2pm-4pm Mini Meal Mixed Dal French beans with Carrots Cabbage Rice	January 30th Saturday 2pm-4pm Salad Easy Pasta Salad Thai Rice & Sprouted Bean Salad Tomato & Feta cheese with Olives Salad
February 1th Monday 12pm-2pm Mini Meal Hummus Falafel wraps Tahini Sauce	February 6th Saturday 2pm-4pm Salad Coriander Dressing & Marinade salad Yogurt Dressing Salad Dressings to use on Salads
February 8th Monday 12pm-2pm Mini Meal Shelled Macaroni with Bell Peppers Colourful Salad Saffron Rice	February 12th Friday 12pm – 2pm Salads Chickpea & Potato with Vegetable Salad Potato with Dill Salad Green Bean Sprouts Salad

Email ami@... or call 9144.6105 to register for any of the above sessions. Each class will be at $55/- which is payable on that day by cash. After each class there will be either lunch or a high tea session too.

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Workshop Combines Raw Food and Yoga – 30 Jan

On Sat, 30 Jan, 2-4pm, the ancient art of Yoga is combined with Living Foods for an afternoon of Detoxification and Rejuvenation. This unique workshop, led by Linda Loo who has worked with VSS in the past, consists of a specially written set of Asanas (yoga postures)and Pranayams (breathing techniques) designed to flow in a certain pattern to cleanse the body, detoxify impurities and re-start the body's natural metabolism. Details at http://rawfoodlifestyles.com/courses

Towards the end of the session, you will learn an easy 10 min set for regular detoxification and maintenance which you can do on your own after the workshop. Included is an organic smoothie meal. This event will jump start as well as regulate the body's internal detoxification process, so that you can brace yourself for the rainstorm of Festive Goodies!

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Vegetarian Strongman Dies at 104 in Car Accident

Another incredible example that we needn’t eat meat to be strong:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/12/
nyregion/12ironman.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/11/
joe-rollino-dead-104yearo_n_419269.html

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Meat Eating Will Go the Way of Whaling – A Prediction from Oz

Philip Wollen, of the Kindness Trust - http://www.kindnesstrust.com – based in Australia, sends the following prediction. Does it make sense to you? Have you seen similar changes in your lifetime or the lifetimes of your parents/grandparents?

Times change - Australian meat will soon be as dead as Australian whaling

In the 70's, I was called a "communist" (???? huh ??) when I criticized Australia's whaling industry. After all, it was a massive industry at the time.

1. Remember, this was a time when Australia murdered 20 times as many whales as Japan does today?

2. Remember when captains of Australian whale killer boats also fired harpoons at activists - Captain van der Gaag on the Cheynes II.

So, isn't it reassuring to see that today, only 30 years later, Australia is one of the world's most outspoken critics of whale slaughter?

The world changes - sometimes too slowly - but it does change.

The same is true about the hideous, filthy meat industry. . . . . and that includes beef, dairy, wool, kangaroos, poultry, fishing and hunting. Have I left anything out?

By 2050, meat eating will be considered gauche, unhealthy, cruel and sick. It will be seen in the same way as female genital mutilation, incest, and drug trafficking. (Many of us already do!!)

People will be ashamed to be meat eaters and animal abusers.

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‘Animals & Us’ from BBC Radio

BBC Radio recently aired a series of shows entitled ‘Animals & Us’. No worries if you missed it; you can listen online: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/
p005k2zy/One_Planet_Animals_and_Us

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Meatless Mondays in ST

On Sat, 16 Jan, The Straits Times, p. A34, had an article titled ’16 ways to cut 16 per cent’, referring to how SG can reduce our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. One of the 16 suggestions was to go meatless on Mondays. Some useful stats were provided:

a. Producing just 1kg of beef leads to the same quantity of GHG emissions as driving a car 250km.
b. Singaporeans’ per capita meat and fish consumption (90kg) now more or less equals that of Americans at 90.7kgs.

There’s also a poll along with the article. Why not take part? Quoting from the article:

What is your reaction to the 16 ways listed by Insight to cut down on carbon emissions? … Email stpol@... or send an SMS to 98277514. for SMS messages, type stpol followed by a space, your name and then your message.

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Vegan Food Relief for Haiti

Food for Life Global - www.foodforlife.org - provides vegan food relief for disaster victims, including those in Haiti. They also have regular programmes that make a small dent in the world’s disgraceful hunger problem. Meat production exacerbates this problem by diverting food to the inefficient meat industry.

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Disclaimer: The information provided in this Newsletter is solely for the consideration of the subscribers, and does not constitute an endorsement by the Vegetarian Society (Singapore).

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From: "Vegetarian Society $Singapore$" <news@...>
Date: Fri Jan 29, 2010 1:34 am
Subject: VSS eNewsletter 29 January 2010

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29 January 2010
VSS NEWS VSS To Exhibit at Youth Forum on Animal Welfare – 6 Feb 550 and Counting RI Talk and Smoothie Demo The VSS InBox GENERAL NEWS Another Climate Change Expert Minces Meat Ex-Vegetarians New Veg Outlet near Aljunied MRT Cielo Sereno Does Bali CNY Cooking Class at Genesis Report from Copenhagen Other Online Sources of Veg News Possible Progress Towards Banning Dog and Meat in China Vegetarian New Year Goodies Another Veg News Source WWF on Meat and Global Warming “No need to eat animal products at all”, Says Best-Selling Food Author	Two more notable personalities champion cutting meat - one a leading climatologist, the other a food author. Whether for health, environment or ethics, meat reduction is the way to go. Dr George M Jacobs If you have any comments or suggestions, feel free to drop us a line here. Subscribe to this newsletter here. Unsubscribe here Visit us at www.vss.sg


VSS To Exhibit at Youth Forum on Animal Welfare – 6 Feb
On Sat, 6 Feb, Chong Pang CC YEC, in partnership with ACRES, is hosting Singapore’s first youth forum on animal welfare, 2-5pm, at Chong Pang CC Hall, 21 Yishun Ring Road. MPs from Sembawang GRC will be participating. To register and/or for more information, send an email with your full name to louis@... Top
550 and Counting
One of the most popular pages on the VSS web is our Food Outlets page: http://www.vegetarian-society.org/?q=fdl There, organised by MRT stations, you can find information on veg restaurants, stall and food shops. A recent count found more than 550 outlets listed! You can help in two ways: (1) can you convert the list so that it is usable in PDAs, etc.? (2) can you help to add/correct/modify the info listed? If your answer to either question is Yes, please contact info@... Thx. Top
RI Talk and Smoothie Demo
Last week, VSS did another talk and smoothie demo for the entire Sec 2 cohort at RI, about 450 students. If you’d like such a talk where you or one of your family members study or where you work, please contact info@... Top
The VSS InBox – Coping at Non-Veg Eateries
Our previous issue included correspondence about problems that vegetarians have had communicating with staff at non-veg eateries. In this issue is some correspondence, VSS had with NEA. The NEA staff member’s name has been deleted. From: @nea.gov.sg] Sent: Thursday, January 21, 2010 10:02 AM To: george@... Subject: Labelling of vegetarian foods Dear Mr Jacobs, We refer to your feedback appended below. National Environment Agency (NEA) regulates the safety of all food at the retail end, such as ensuring hygienic food handling and preparation at restaurants, supermarkets and hawker or market stalls. For our local vegetable dishes sold in non-vegetarian foodshops, it is common to add meat or meat-containing products (e.g. sauces) to enhance the flavour of the dishes. NEA does not determine the type of food to be sold or ingredients to be added and we leave the decision to the owners of the food establishments. NEA's role is to ensure that food served to the public is hygienically prepared and safe for consumption. With regards to labelling of cooked food, it is not mandatory to label cooked or ready to eat food. We would like to suggest that you clearly indicate your preference for vegetarian food and verify clearly the ingredients of a certain dish before ordering any food from a non-vegetarian foodshop. Thank you. ___________________ Environmental Health Department. National Environment Agency VSS Replies Dear _____________ Thanks for your clear reply. We understand the limits of NEA’s authority. Might some kind of effort be undertaken to encourage better communication between vegetarians and non-vegetarian stalls? For instance, some restaurants (not stalls) have a symbol system to indicate which dishes are particularly spicy or are favourites or are vegetarian. Any steps towards labelling vegetarian food at non-veg stalls would be completely voluntary. Do you have any ideas on how we might voluntarily encourage better communication? For example, perhaps a different colour container might be used for vegetarian dishes waiting to be served to customers. I can tell you from my own experience as well as from others’ experience that communication is not always successful, even when the customer and the stall staff share a common language. Thanks again. Top


Another Climate Change Expert Minces Meat
Dr James Hansen is one of the world’s leading climatologists and serves as Director of NASA’s Goddard Institute of Space Studies at Columbia University where he focuses on climate change. Dr Hansen is one more climate expert talking about meat reduction. Here are some excerpts from an interview he did with Nature.com: http://www.nature.com/climate/2009/0912/ full/climate.2009.124.html James Hansen, arguably the world's most famous climate scientist, is prone to shouting from the rooftops. … Often referred to as the 'grandfather of global warming', he first publicly aired his concerns about the climate back in 1988, during testimony to the US Senate in which he said that the Earth had entered a long-term warming trend and that man-made greenhouse gases were almost certainly responsible. His conviction that a climate catastrophe is looming has led Hansen to increasingly take on the role of advocate, sending numerous pleading letters to world leaders and CEOs, and attending well-publicized protests against coal plants with the explicit aim of being arrested. It's also prompted him, at the age of 68, to write his first book. The title, Storms of My Grandchildren, refers to the ferocity of extreme weather events that will greet the next generation if the unmitigated use of fossil fuels continues... But one of the best actions an individual can take, he allows, is to stop eating meat. "I've almost become a vegetarian," he says. For more on Dr Hansen http://www.nature.com/climate/2008/ 0802/full/climate.2008.3.html Top
Ex-Vegetarians
Some people are born vegetarians; others become vegetarians. Some people are vegetarians for part of their lives and later decide to eat meat again or for the first time. Every day that people eat less or no meat is good. Therefore, ex- is better than never, and less is better than more. The link goes to a related article. http://www.care2.com/causes/animal-welfare/ blog/something-almost-primal Top
New Veg Outlet near Aljunied MRT
A reader sent the following info about a new outlet. Address: Junction of Lor 27 Geylang and Sims Ave, inside the coffee shop Yue Yuan Open: Mon-Sat, 9am-7 pm; Sun, 9am-2 pm Onion & garlic? No Organic? Some organic food and they make their own bean sprout MSG (ajinomoto)? No Eggs? No Brown rice? Yes Dairy? No Price Range of Main Dishes: $5 and below Type of Outlet: Food Stall Top
Cielo Sereno Does Bali
Cielo Sereno is organising another overseas organic veg tour overseas, this time to Bali. Brochure and booking form are downloable at http://www.cielosereno.net/Bali.htm Top
Genesis Cooking Class for 7 Feb
The folks at Genesis Health Food Restaurant will hold their next cooking class on Sun, 7 Feb, 4-6pm. The fee is $50. Dishes include yu sheng, dumplings, eight treasure dessert and money bags. For more info: 9145.4218, genesishf@... Top
Report from Copenhagen
ECO Singapore sent a delegation to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties 15 at Copenhagen. Learn about their impressions and future plans, which may include encouraging people to eat less meat. Event: COOL IT! Post COP15 Sharing Session Date: Sat, 30 Jan Time: 1-5pm (1-1.30pm light refreshments served) Venue: One Marina Boulevard (Room 801) Details: http://twitpic.com/z6qp8 ) Blog: http://www.unfcccecosingapore.wordpress.com Top
Other Online Sources of Veg News
In addition to IVU Online News, there are many other places to go online for general veg-related news, rather than news mostly about one country or one organisation. Here are some. 1. Dawn Watch http://www.dawnwatch.com/alerts.htm 2. European Vegetarian Union http://www.evana.org 3. Farmed Animal Net http://www.farmedanimal.net 4. Vegan Outreach http://www.veganoutreach.org/enewsletter 5. VegE-News http://www.vege-news.com 6. VegNews www.vegnews.com Top
Possible Progress Towards Banning Dog and Meat in China
VSS distributes a sticker and decal that reads, “Love Us, Not Eat Us” – you can request copies at http://loveusnoteatus.com - and shows pictures of non-humans animals, including some, such as dogs and cats, whom are not eaten in many countries and others who are eaten almost everyone, such as chickens and pigs. One of the ideas behind the sticker/decal is to encourage people to ask themselves why we eat certain of our fellow animals but not others. Now, even countries where dogs and cats are regularly eaten by humans are moving towards change. For details: http://www.abc.net.au/news/ stories/2010/01/26/2801862.htm Top
Vegetarian New Year Goodies
The Lunar New Year is a special time when many of us renew ties with family and friends, giving (or receiving) red packets and enjoying New Year goodies. You’ll be happy to know that our friends at LivinGreens - http://www.livingreens.com.sg - and many other outlets are also offering vegetarian versions of these delicious treats. Go ahead and indulge away! Two other places that wrote to us about their special CNY treats are Genesis Health Food Restaurant - http://www.vegetarian-society.org/node/529 - behind Boat Quay, and Ananda Marga Yoga Society at Parkway Parade - http://anandamarga.org.sg Top
Another Veg New Source
Ecorazzi is a website that has environment news, often but not always, linked to Western celebrities. Lots of pro-veg stuff. Categories include film & tv, animals, music, fashion, events and houses: http://www.ecorazzi.com Top
WWF on Meat and Global Warming
The World Wildlife Fund has released what it calls a “short and preliminary study” focusing on how greenhouse gases associated with UK food production could be reduced 70 percent by 2050. The study estimates that food production, and the land use changes it entails, are responsible for 30 percent of the UK’s consumer-driven greenhouse gas emissions: http://assets.wwf.org.uk/downloads/ how_low_can_we_go.pdf Top
“No need to eat animal products at all”, Says Best-Selling Food Author
Food Matters author Mark Bittman participated in a live chat on CBC Books. Bittman is the author of six books and has a weekly column in the New York Times. Since food is Bittman’s speciality, Moby, the musician, took a moment during the chat to ask the author what he thinks about veganism and factory farming. Mark had this to say: “I think veganism is the most principled position one can take when it comes to eating; there is no need to eat animal products at all, and – aside from processed food – they are the most damaging foods produced, both from a personal and a global perspective. “Having said that, I think veganism is a very tough sell. And I would rather see millions, tens of millions of people significantly reduce their consumption of animal products than see tens of thousands eliminate them. “As an aside, let’s also remember that one can be a vegan and still eat junk. So my advice remains – eat plants above all else, eat unprocessed or minimally processed plants whenever possible, and eat these foods at the expense of everything else, particularly animal products and junk.” http://www.cbc.ca/books/MT/bookclub/ chats/oct15-09.html (it’s near the end of the chat) Top

Join VSS and enjoy great discounts on all our events, plus many other benefits! To unsubscribe from this newsletter, click here. Click here for a comprehensive list of vegetarian eateries, or email us at makan@... to notify us of new places. The VSS eNewsletter is non-copyrighted, and readers are encouraged to share the content. Back issues are available here. Disclaimer: The information provided in this Newsletter is solely for the consideration of the subscribers, and does not constitute an endorsement by the Vegetarian Society (Singapore).

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#405

From: "Vegetarian Society $Singapore$" <news@...>
Date: Mon Feb 8, 2010 5:16 am
Subject: VSS eNewsletter 8 February 2010

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8 February 2010
VSS NEWS VSS AGM – 20 Mar (Sat) Our Exhibition at Anderson JC Youth Forum on Animal Welfare Ethical Eating in The Sunday Times The VSS InBox GENERAL NEWS Eco News from Wild Singapore Loving Hut Opens Outlet at International Plaza Ananda Bhavan Opens 24-Hour Airport Outlet The Downside of Dairy Veg Restaurant Chain Seeks Staff Mongolia Too NUS PEACE Fundraising Drive (9 & 12 Feb) Cat Welfare’s Week-Long Art and Advocacy Event Another Online News Sources Words Worth Pondering Food Fair Seeks Veg Sellers	A secondary school student urges the authorities to take steps to reduce shark fin consumption, while in Mongolia, an unlikely vegetarian movement is taking root. Dr George M Jacobs If you have any comments or suggestions, feel free to drop us a line here. Subscribe to this newsletter here. Unsubscribe here Visit us at www.vss.sg


VSS AGM – 20 Mar (Sat)
VSS will be holding our AGM on Sat, 20 Mar, 2pm-5pm at National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre, Level 4, The Central, above Clarke Quay MRT. Hope to see you there. We’ll review VSS’s 2009 efforts and talk about what to do in 2010. Top
Our Exhibition at Anderson JC
The VSS exhibition materials are on display for a while at Anderson JC. If you’d like such an exhibition – including display panels, flyers, sculptures, videos and more – where you study, work, etc., please contact info@... Top
Youth Forum on Animal Welfare
On 6 Feb, Chong Pang CC YEC, in partnership with ACRES, organised the “Youth Forum on Animal Welfare - Animals Matter to Me!”, a first-of-its kind forum in Singapore. VSS had a booth there to distribute materials and solicit more readers for our eNewsletter. The Forum was organised as a panel, moderated by ACRES Executive Director, Louis Ng, with two MPs, Dr. Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman (Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of National Development) and Dr. Lim Wee Kiak, fielding questions from the 200+ youths and others in attendance. Topics ranged from dogs and cats in HDB estates to monkeys to Resorts World to sharks. The youths had lots of questions and comments, with the MPs encouraging them to share what was on their minds. Here are some of the noteworthy points that were raised. During a discussion of the poisons in sharks fin, a young VSS Exco member suggested that by moving away from eating sharks, we help our own health and protect the welfare of the sharks. Also on the topic of eating sharks, when a secondary school student called on the government to take steps to reduce shark fin consumption, one of the MPs asked where we should stop in the consumption of animals; should we also move to reduce the eating of chickens, pigs, cows, etc.? [Yes, yes, yes!] The student’s reply was a good one. She suggested that where we stop is a separate question but that we should start with sharks. Another shark related topic was extinction and whether we should refrain from eating sharks who are members of endangered shark species but continue to eat sharks from non-endangered species. However, this overlooks the point that each of the billions of fellow animals whom we human animals eat annually is a living, thinking, feeling being in their own right. As a quote on the ACRES website, from the novelist Alice Walker, puts it, “The animals of the world exist for their own reasons. They were not made for humans … .” When the forum ended, many of those in attendance came to the VSS table to take materials and chat, with more than 20 signing up for our free eNewsletter. It was great to feel the energy in the room. Top
Ethical Eating in The Sunday Times
VSS was mentioned in an article on ‘Diets of conscience’ in The Sunday Times of 30 Jan. As an indication that people are becoming more concerned about ethical eating and about ‘saving the planet, one meal at a time’, the article reported that VSS membership had doubled to 300 in 18 months, and the number of subscribers to our free eNewsletter had doubled in 24 months. The article also highlighted two people in their 20s who had fairly recently become vegetarians, one of whom had attended a VSS event before deciding to go veg, although this was not mentioned in the article. A VSS member sent the following letter in response, but it wasn’t published: I refer to ‘Diets of conscience’ ST, Jan 30. As noted in the article, some people are eating less meat as awareness increases of the environmental damage caused by meat production and of the cruel, short lives of the non-human animals whom we eat. Furthermore, as noted in the article, “free range” is a term of dubious veracity, not to mention the fact that an increasingly large majority of the meat on offer is, for the sake of economics, factory farmed. That said, few if any of us are pure ethical eaters. Few of us faithfully follow our conscience. All we can do is to try our best. For instance, some people find it difficult to do without meat for such reasons as cravings for meat dishes, concerns about nutrition, worries about social pressures and the exigencies of convenience. No worries. Every little bit helps the planet and our fellow animals, not to mention boosting our own health. One example of the “every little bit helps” approach is the increasingly popular idea of a voluntary weekly meatless day. In 2009, city governments in Belgium and Brazil endorsed the idea, and a Meatless Thursdays campaign was started at NUS. This year, Bremen, Germany came on board, and a local French/Japanese restaurant started Meatless Mondays. As the article states, more people are working at “saving the planet, one meal at a time”, and reducing meat can be an important, not to mention surprisingly tasty, part of that process. Top
The VSS InBox
One of the most interesting email VSS received recently was from Starbucks, saying that they are adding veg sandwiches to their offerings and asking about vegetarian labelling. Just one more indication that that businesses are concerned about catering to vegetarians and meat reducers. So, let’s continue to let businesses know that we care about having more veg options. Top


Eco News from Wild Singapore
For local eco news, here’s a good place to visit on the web: http://wildsingaporehappenings.blogspot.com Top
Loving Hut Opens Outlet at International Plaza
Loving Hut has opened a fourth restaurant, this one at International Plaza. For details: http://www.vegetarian-society.org/node/1278 Top
Ananda Bhavan Opens 24-Hour Airport Outlet
Regardless of when you’re at the airport, you can now find veg food at the new Ananda Bhavan outlet in the T2 Departure Hall, Level 2: http://www.vegetarian-society.org/node/1282 Top
The Downside of Dairy
Here’s some disturbing video from a U.S. dairy farm: http://www.mercyforanimals.org/dairy Top
Veg Restaurant Chain Seeks Staff
A chain of veg restaurants requires both assistant cooks & service staff. Working hours/days can be flexible, and salary will depend on experience and hours worked. As a rough guide, a normal working schedule is 5 or 5.5 work days (44hrs per week), and outlets require staff to alternate between morning or afternoon shifts. Salary: probation period $800-1200, depending on experience. Uniform – t-shirts, apron, cap - provided. Outlets include: 1. Suntec - Skygarden, Tower2/3 level 2. Parklane Mall 3. International Plaza 4. Bukit Merah Central For more info: 6225.5507. Top
Mongolia Too
A delegate from Mongolia participated in last year’s Asia Vegetarian Congress. For more on vegetarianism in that country, here are excerpts from a recent article in Christian Science Monitor: http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2010/0203/ Vegetarianism-takes-tender-root-in-meat-loving-Mongolia An unlikely vegetarian movement is taking root in Mongolia, where livestock outnumbers people 14 to 1 and meat consumption tops 200 pounds per person a year. The first vegetarian restaurant in Mongolia, Ananda’s Cafe, opened in 2006. Today more than 20 vegetarian and vegan restaurants pepper the capital, Ulan Bator, and a handful of others are scattered throughout the country. Ananda’s has launched a catering service, and another popular restaurant, Luna Blanca, now sells frozen faux-mutton dumplings in supermarkets. … Mongolians are turning to vegetarianism “mostly because of health. Also because of meditation – they’re following this trend,” says Solongo, a former assistant doctor for the United Nations, who like most Mongolians uses only one name. She estimates that vegetarians number around 30,000 or 40,000, just over 1 percent of the population. Top
NUS PEACE Fundraising Drive (9 & 12 Feb)
Our friends at NUS PEACE - http://blog.nus.edu.sg/animalwelfare - People Ending Animal Cruelty " Exploitation – are raising funds in a tasty way. Make a donation of $3 and above, and receive a free vegan brownie, sandwich, cinnamon roll, muffin or cookie of your choice (while stocks last)! All baked items sold are 100% vegan! This means that no dairy or eggs or animal products were used in making them! NUS PEACE would like to thank Brownie Factory, Wholesome Deli and Sam's Cakes for their kind support and donation of these vegan goodies. They will be setting up a booth on Tuesday (9 Feb) and Friday (12 Feb) along the Central Library Walkway, from 11am to 4pm. Top
Cat Welfare’s Week-Long Art and Advocacy Event
Don’t miss Cat Welfare Society full line-up for the week of 21-28 Feb: http://www.catwelfare.org/drupal/node/2031 Included are an art exhibition and an Advocacy and Mediation Workshop, plus speakers and panelists from SPCA, Action for SG Dogs and other social groups addressing issues not only in the area of animal welfare but political participation and social activism. Top
Another Online News Sources
In our last issue, we listed other online sources of veg news. A reader suggested another: VegSource, http://www.vegsource.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi Top
Words Worth Pondering
In reaction to proposed legislation in China barring the sale of dog and cat meat, a restaurateur was quoted in The New York Times as stating, “This is ridiculous! You make dog and cat meat illegal, but aren’t chickens, duck, goose, pig, cow, lamb also animals?” http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/05/ opinion/05iht-edcohen.html?th&emc=th Top
Food Fair Seeks Veg Sellers
Omega Events – eddie@... – is seeking to add veg food to their Asia Food Expo 2010, 18-21 Mar, Expo Hall 6A. Please contact Eddie if you’re interested. Top

Join VSS and enjoy great discounts on all our events, plus many other benefits! To unsubscribe from this newsletter, click here. Click here for a comprehensive list of vegetarian eateries, or email us at makan@... to notify us of new places. The VSS eNewsletter is non-copyrighted, and readers are encouraged to share the content. Back issues are available here. Disclaimer: The information provided in this Newsletter is solely for the consideration of the subscribers, and does not constitute an endorsement by the Vegetarian Society (Singapore).

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#406

From: "Clarence Tan" <whatscooking@...>
Date: Sun Feb 21, 2010 2:37 am
Subject: Anyone Can Make Yummy Vegan Yogurt! - 6 Mar 2010

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Anyone Can Make Yummy Vegan Yogurt!

	Venue:	Jalan Binchang*
	Date & time:	Sat 6 Mar 2010, 5.30pm – 7.30pm
	Fee:	$40 (VSS members) $50 (non members)
	Limited to 20 persons

Creamy, delicious and dairy free! That’s how holistic health practitioner,
Adeline Lo, makes her yogurt. ‘There are so many ways to enjoy this nutritious snack’, says the passionate organic business owner. Not just a delight to the senses, her choice creations will also give your immune system a boost.
Sample and learn to prepare these health-giving treats:

Tasty & Therapeutic
A delightful beverage that is healing to both body and mind.
Nuts & Cream
Rich in fibre, essential minerals and vitamins, this crunchy combo is a favourite with the kids.
A Sea of Goodness
Coral seaweed is rich in enzymes, vitamins and minerals - a soft, sweet jelly that helps to strengthen bones, reduce wrinkles and aids in slimming.
Vegan Lassi
A nutritious and appetizing drink that can also be served as a smoothie!
Applelicious
Cooked apple with black dates and raisins, topped with creamy soy yogurt and ground walnuts.

Registration

Click here to register.

Limited to 20 participants, so please register early. (Reservation is confirmed upon payment.)

*Complete address will be provided upon registration.

Payment

Payment can be made online or by cheque.

Make secure online payment here: www.vegetarian-society.org/cook

Cheques should be made payable to 'Vegetarian Society (Singapore)'

Mailing address:

3 Pemimpin Drive,
#07-02, Lip Hing Building,
Singapore 576147

Join VSS and enjoy great discounts on all our events, plus many other benefits!

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#407

From: "Vegetarian Society $Singapore$" <news@...>
Date: Tue Feb 23, 2010 6:53 am
Subject: VSS eNewsletter 23 February 2010

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23 February 2010
VSS NEWS Anyone Can Make Yummy Vegan Yogurt! - 6 Mar (Sat) Why I Became a New VSS Member Reminder: VSS AGM – 20 Mar (Sat) VSS Listed on Concerns SG The VSS InBox GENERAL NEWS Recipes Galore! Meet an Animal Communicator UK Veg Society’s Pregnancy and Baby Booklet Online Permaculture Design Course Talk on Vegetarian Food as Preventive Medicine – 27 Feb ‘In Their Own Words’: Videos on Plant Power for Disease Reversal Feb Issue of VegVibe New Classes from Nutri-Hub Veg Cooking School in UK Offers Classes Raffles Place Gets Another Veg Eatery 18 Minutes with Jaime Oliver	VSS has been raising awareness to the benefits of meat reduction for 11 years. Join us at our AGM on 20 March, to share, celebarate, and plan for even better things to come! Dr George M Jacobs If you have any comments or suggestions, feel free to drop us a line here. Subscribe to this newsletter here. Unsubscribe here Visit us at www.vss.sg


Anyone Can Make Yummy Vegan Yogurt! - 6 Mar (Sat)
Creamy, delicious and dairy free! That’s how holistic health practitioner, Adeline Lo, makes her yogurt. ‘There are so many ways to enjoy this nutritious snack’, says the passionate organic business owner. Not just a delight to the senses, her choice creations will also give your immune system a boost. Venue: Jalan Binchang Date & time: Sat 6 Mar 2010, 5.30pm – 7.30pm Fee: $40 (VSS members), $50 (non members) Limited to 20 persons, so do register early! Registration and more details here. Top
Why I Became a New VSS Member
VSS membership (http://vegetarian-society.org/Join) is a great bargain – the discounts more than pay for the membership – and you get the satisfaction of knowing that your membership fee supports the education work that VSS does. Here’s why one person recently joined. I do believe in the aims of vegetarianism on a personal level. It was what got me interested in VSS in the first place. I was curious as to what kind of an organisation you were. The first time I met VSS folks was a bit more than 1 year ago. Since then I have of my own volition joined many gatherings of vegetarians, some official, others private. I have met a number of VSS members and many have become my friends. Although I have openly admitted that I am not a full-time vegetarian, this does not seem to have made a difference to how I am treated. The VSS members I am in contact with are kind, respectful of others and compassionate. You do not present a holier than thou attitude just because you are lacto-ovo vegetarians or vegans. Top
Reminder: VSS AGM – 20 Mar (Sat)
VSS will be holding our AGM on Sat, 20 Mar, 2pm-5pm at National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre, Level 4, The Central, above Clarke Quay MRT. Hope to see you there. We’ll review VSS’s 2009 efforts and talk about what to do in 2010. Top
VSS Listed on Concern SG
Concern SG is a community-edited encyclopedia for the non-profit & social change sector in Singapore - a Wikipedia for people who care. VSS has a new listing there. http://www.concern.sg/Vegetarianism Top
The VSS InBox
1. We received the following invitation from a new member: Peace Cafe in Siem Reap, Cambodia - morni108@... - joined as a VSS member. They cordially invite readers of this eNewsletter to stop in should they visit Ang Khor Wat 2. We received the following from a secondary school looking for someone to take up a veg stall: I would like recommendations for a Vegetarian Stall vendor for my school. We are going to have a vacancy on the 26th of Feb 2010 onwards. The stall vendor will have to pay a monthly rental of $10, and utilities. Contract will be for a year. Possible applicants (vendor and helpers) have to go for typhoid vaccinations and chest x-ray (if more than 45 years old). They will also have to go for a Basic Hygiene Course if chosen. Yours sincerely, Ms Liannie Admin Manager Temasek Sec 600 Upper East Coast Road Singapore 465561. Tel: 64495020 3. If your preferred email address changes, please do send us an update as this faithful reader did. Thx. Also, if you suddenly stop receiving the VSS eNewsletter, as befell the same faithful reader, you might want to check you Spam box, as mass emails like ours are prone to accidently be sent to spam. Here’s what the reader wrote. BTW, the eNewsletter is free to all, although we do very much appreciate readers joining as members, and member receive financial benefits in excess of the $30 membership fee. I used to receive emails from your society about vegetarianism, new stalls opening, etc. at my old email address: [ _____________]. However, lately I have not received anything from you at all. I juz saw your website about membership etc. Do we have to be a member before you send us any news etc like before? Bec I have not receive any news about it from you. Pls reply to [____________]. Thank you. Happy New Year Top


Recipes Galore!
A very helpful reader sent the following links: If you're looking for ezi, tasty, healthy (sometimes) recipes for LNY, check out Crystal's blog. I visit it from time to time for ideas and for her new creations: http://crystalbyblog.blogspot.com/ I'm trying her Yusheng recipe: http://crystalbyblog.blogspot.com/2007/ 05/simplified-yu-sheng-salad.html And here's another recipe with very detailed instructions like those For Dummies/Idiots book series (not saying we are... just that it even has what to say while tossing): http://sakurambokitchen.blogspot.com/2007/02/ vegetarian-yu-sheng-lo-hei.html Significance of the ingredients: http://www.foodiepassion.com/ Pictorial: http://www.noobcook.com/2010/02/04/ yu-sheng-chinese-new-year-raw-fish-salad/ Top
Meet an Animal Communicator
What are the non-human animals in our homes thinking? What are they trying to tell us? Are they happy? Animal Communication is designed to provide some answers to such questions, and Noah's Ark animal shelter is bringing renowned Animal Communicator, Ms Rosina Arquati, to Singapore. Date: 8 or 10 Mar Time: 7-10pm Price: S$80 per pax Venue: Infusion Restaurant (Dempsey Road) Each evening is limited to 50 pax per night. It includes dinner and an introduction on Animal Communication by Ms Rosina Arquati. For more details on the events, location or how to register, please visit the Noah’s Ark blog: http://noahsarkcares.blogspot.com Only human animals are allowed, but please bring along photographs of your non-human animal friends. Top
UK Veg Society’s Pregnancy and Baby Booklet Online
Our friends at the UK Veg Soc have a new booklet with advice on enjoying a veg pregnancy and raising veg babies. Download it a no cost by going to www.vegsoc.org/info and clicking on "pregnancy". Top
Permaculture Design Course
Learn about organic farming in this stay-in course from 27 Feb-13 Mar at Embun Pagi, Batu Arang, Malaysia. If notice of this course reaches you too late, never fear; contact them to express your interest in future courses. In this course, you will acquire the practical tools to transform spaces in your homes, balconies, backyards, neighbourhoods and farms into gardens and forests bursting with the abundance and diversity of nature. You will also develop an understanding on how to work with the wisdom of nature to create simple systems that work together to conserve water and energy, produce healthy food, regenerate the social and ecological landscape, build self reliance and save money! Course Fee is min. RM 1850 (inclusive of food and accommodation). If you can't make it for the whole 2 weeks, join us for an Introduction to Permaculture session, followed by a 1-day Adobe Brick Making Workshop for RM 240 on 14 Mar. Seats are limited to first 20 registered participants. A full scholarship is also being offered. To download the registration form, or for course details, visit our website at http://embunpagi2009.wordpress.com Top
Talk on Vegetarian Food as Preventive Medicine – 27 Feb
Our friends at Kampung Senang are offering a free English talk on ‘Vegetarian Food as Preventive Medicine’ by Dr Priya Darshani Kabirkamat on Sat, 27 Feb at 3pm at thei Holistic Lifestyle Centre, Blk 106 Aljunied Crescent. On the same day, there will be a sharing by Mdm Han Jin Mei on Hand Reflexiology Exercise (in Mandarin) from 1:30pm to 2:30pm. Last but not least, at 5:30pm enjoy Kampung Senang’s Lunar New Year Organic Buffet Dinner at their ECO Kitchen. $20 per pax (member) $25 (non member) Please RSVP hlc@... or 6749.8509 Top
‘In Their Own Words’: Videos on Plant Power for Disease Reversal
Watch video testimonials to the power of plant-based diets for reversing disease: http://www.youtube.com/plantbasednutrition?utm _source=Master+List&utm_campaign=cfe777b026 -Newsletter_Feb_2010_tracking&utm_medium= email#p/u/0/ACtCqcRrIyc Top
Feb Issue of VegVibe
The latest issue of VegVibe e-magazine is now available at http://vegvibe.com/VegVibeFeb10.pdf In honour of Valentine’s Day, this is a special romance issue, including aphrodisiac recipes and other ideas for bringing more romance to our lives. Top
New Classes from Nutri-Hub
Here’s the new line-up of classes from Nutri-Hub: The Organic Fusion Caf�, at Cuppage Plaza, #B2-25 (behind OG Orchard, near Centrepoint), Tel: 6738.2746. They also have a new range of raw food snacks. For registration, call or sms Ms Vinitha Ang at 9236.8402. Details at www.nutrihub.blogspot.com 10% discount for VSS Member or those registered for 2 workshops or more. Or 10% discount for group of 2 persons or more register for 1 workshop. Sat 27/2 10.30am to 12.30pm Harmonising Your Body Energy I Sat 6/3 2pm to 4pm Nutrition Assessment & Vitality Cooking Sat 13/3 2pm to 4pm Raw like Cooked – Series I Sat 20/3 10am to 12noon Harmonising Your Body Energy II Top
Veg Cooking School in UK Offers Classes
Some vegetarians here have attending veg cooking schools abroad. One such school is the UK Veg Society’s Cordon Vert cookery school based in the North West of England: www.cordonvert.co.uk Top
Raffles Place Gets Another Veg Eatery
The newest branch of Yes Natural is called Yes Natural Cozy Corner. It’s located at 146 Market Street #01-41. Market Street Car Park, S. 048945. Tel: 6438.6648. Open: Mon-Fri, 8am-7.30pm, Web: http://www.yesnatural.biz/ http://chicvegetarianfood.blogspot.com/2010/02/ yes-natural-cozy-corner-market-street.html Top
18 Minutes with Jaime Oliver
Many people will have seen Jaime Oliver on tv, talking about food and doing cooking demos. He’s not veg, but he does crusade for healthier food and against many unhealthy eating practices. This video shows him giving a talk. His stats and examples are from the West, but Singapore seems to be picking up some of the same bad habits: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go_QOzc79Uc&feature=featured Top

Join VSS and enjoy great discounts on all our events, plus many other benefits! To unsubscribe from this newsletter, click here. Click here for a comprehensive list of vegetarian eateries, or email us at makan@... to notify us of new places. p.s. - Please share the VSS eNewsletter with family, friends and colleagues. That's how we convince more people to eat less or no meat! Back issues are available here. Disclaimer: The information provided in this Newsletter is solely for the consideration of the subscribers, and does not constitute an endorsement by the Vegetarian Society (Singapore).

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#408

From: "Vegetarian Society $Singapore$" <events@...>
Date: Fri Feb 26, 2010 4:05 am
Subject: Talking to Animals - Tue 9 Mar 2010

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Talking to Animals

	Venue:	Jalan Binchang*
	Date & time:	Tue 9 Mar 2010, 7 – 9pm
	Fee:	Free (VSS members) $10 (non members)
	Limited to 30 persons

Rosina Arquati was born with a unique gift -
a natural ability to communicate with animals.

She explains that Animal Communication is the art of talking, without language, to animal companions or even wild animals, such as those in parks.

Rosina believes that accessing these skills requires that we connect with an ancient part of the brain and consciousness, opening up long forgotten pathways of communication.

Married to a veterinarian, the Reiki master also combines complimentary therapy with conventional medicine to enhance the healing and recovery of animals.
Learn more about Rosina here.

As noted in our most recent enewsletter, Rosina will be in Singapore thanks to our friends at Noah's Ark, and, as a vegetarian herself, has kindly agreed to do this talk for VSS while she is in town.

Come meet Rosina Arquati on 9th of March for a fascinating introduction to the world of Animal Communication, and learn how you can better connect with non-human animals.

Registration

Click here to register.

Limited to 30 participants, so please register early. (For non-members, reservation is confirmed upon payment.)

*Complete address will be provided upon registration.

Payment

Payment can be made online or by cheque.

Make secure online payment here: www.vegetarian-society.org/animal-com

Cheques should be made payable to 'Vegetarian Society (Singapore)'

Mailing address:

3 Pemimpin Drive,
#07-02, Lip Hing Building,
Singapore 576147

Join VSS and enjoy free talks, discounts and many other benefits!

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#409

From: "Vegetarian Society $Singapore$" <news@...>
Date: Tue Mar 2, 2010 9:13 am
Subject: VSS eNewsletter 3 March 2010

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3 March 2010
VSS NEWS Anyone Can Make Yummy Vegan Yogurt! – 6 March Talking to Animals – 9 March 2010 Library Talks Begin 3 April Reminder: VSS AGM – 20 Mar (Sat) Our Executive Director of Education in Mind Your Body The VSS InBox GENERAL NEWS Vegan Snowboarding Olympic Medallist Helps African Village Are You Getting Enough Vitamin D? Meet an Animal Communicator Report from JB Organic Living – Talk and Meetup Group Tea Reception on Preventing and Overcoming Cancer Post Museum’s Monday Soup Kitchens Phone Apps 8 Reasons to Go Meatless at Least Once a Week How I Became a Vegetarian Science Fiction: Do Humans Have Rights?	Do we really need meat for strength? Let's see what these two have to say - Hannah Teeter, a vegan Olympic medalist in snowboarding, and VSS' very own, fruit and nut powered triathlete, Yeow. Dr George M Jacobs If you have any comments or suggestions, feel free to drop us a line here. Subscribe to this newsletter here. Unsubscribe here Visit us at www.vss.sg


Anyone Can Make Yummy Vegan Yogurt! – 6 March
Don’t miss this chance to learn how to make your own soy yogurt and some of the tasty things you can do with that yogurt. So tasty and so healthy too. And, it’s easier to do than a Sec 1 chemistry experiment! Details at http://www.vegetarian-society.org/?q=node/1301 Top
Talking to Animals – 9 March
Just a few places left to learn about communicating with our fellow animals: http://www.vegetarian-society.org/?q=node/1305 Top
2010 Library Talks Begin 3 Apr
Last year, VSS had a series of four excellent talks at libraries. This year, we hope to equal the quality and increase the quantity of our talks. The first talk will by Heng Guan Hou, and his title is Why Brown Rice is a Better Choice. The venue is Bishan Public Library, Level 2, Progamme Zone, on Sat, 3 Apr, 3-4pm. http://golibrary.nlb.gov.sg/Event.aspx?EventID=32048 To read more about Mr Heng, here are two pieces from the local media: http://www.straitstimes.com/SME%2BSpotlight/ SME%2BHighlights/Story/STIStory_481497.html http://www.todayonline.com/Business/Enterprise/ EDC100127-0000091/Food-for-thought Top
Reminder: VSS AGM – 20 Mar (Sat)
VSS will be holding our AGM on Sat, 20 Mar, 2pm-5pm at National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre, Level 4, The Central, above Clarke Quay MRT. Hope to see you there. We’ll review VSS’s 2009 efforts and talk about what to do in 2010. Top
**Our Executive Director of Education in Mind Your Body**
Loh Yeow Nguan, VSS’s Executive Director of Education and Outreach was featured in Mind Your Body last week. Read what he has to say about diet at http://www.vegetarian-society.org/node/957 Top
The VSS InBox
A reader saw Yeow’s interview in Mind Your Body and wrote in to VSS. We especially like the last line in the email. Hi, I read the newspaper and there was mention of dates and figs. Can you kindly let me know where to buy these items? Do you also hold classes on how to prepare smoothies? … Best of all, Mr Loh looks healthy even without consuming meat. Yeow wrote back: I buy nuts, seeds, dried fruits like dates/figs... from Bugis, Blk 270, Queens St, #03-85, Albert Centre [tel 6336 0277]. Of course, there are many other shops selling similar stuff. There are 4 kinds of figs... the black ones [sun dried] are better. The brownish ones may be sulphur dried. Same for apricots. We have no plans to hold regular classes. However, we do smoothie workshops for schools or other organisations. We’re hoping to do a simple video to put on the website, but we’re not sure when we can find the time. Perhaps, you can keep a lookout in our newsletter? Besides the good energy this diet can provide, the high anti-oxidant level is also good for anti-stress and anti-aging. Glad to help and thanks so much for the interest : ) p.s. – figs contain potassium, fibre, tryptophan (for sleep), calcium. Top


Vegan Snowboarding Olympic Medallist Helps African Village
Hannah Teeter is a vegan Olympic medalist in snowboarding. Plus, she also donates major money to help a village in Africa. Here’s a quote from a recent interview: “I feel stronger than I've ever been, mentally, physically, and emotionally. My plant-based diet has opened up more doors to being an athlete. It's a whole other level that I'm elevating to. I stopped eating animals about a year ago, and it's a new life. I feel like a new person, a new athlete”. Read the entire interview at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/avital-binshtock/ hannah-teter-gold-medal-s_b_468137.html Top
Are You Getting Enough Vitamin D?
We’ve been reading – for example, at http://www.veganhealth.org/articles/bones#vitD - that many people, veg and non-veg, lack sufficient vitamin D. What about in sunny Singapore? We asked a local vegetarian health professional, Dr Ho Soon Lye. Here’s what Dr Ho said. 1. Why is vitamin D, specifically D3, so important? The ABCDE of vitamin D3: (A) The effect on the auto-immune diseases--vitamin D is being used for treating lupus, where it tampers the over-activity of the immune system, by suppressing it. If the immune system is down, it will push it up. It modulates the immune system. (B) The action on bone, for osteomalacia, osteopenia and osteoporosis. (C) The effect on cancer and also on cardiovascular diseases, e.g., stroke, heart diseases, hypertension. It helps in cell differentiation and maturation, and cuts down cell proliferation in malignancy. It slows abnormal apoptosis. (D) The role it plays in some way to prevent dementia, and diabetes mellitus type I, and possibly, type II. (E) The effect it has on skeletal muscle- we feel stronger in the muscles, and on the nervous system when we are more alert and we feel less fatigue. It has a role in helping depression. It energises. 2. What can do to get enough vitamin D? The sun gives sunlight every day without fail and without charge. How many people really appreciate the sun? We should be grateful to the sun. The portion (UV 290-315nm) of the light spectrum shines on our human skin and generates vitamin D3; and a full exposure (in a white body) of 15-30 minutes will make about 10,000 to 50,000iu, enough to meet an individual daily need. Generally, I like to make two general principles: (1) The production of vitamin D3 is inversely proportional to the density of the skin pigmentation, the area and the amount of the time the skin surface is exposed to the sun. (2) The production of vitamin D3 is inversely proportional to the age of the individual. This rule applies to those especially after the age of forty, when, as a rule, aging starts. So, the best way to get enough vitamin D is to expose our skin to the sunlight or artificial UV light. We do not get enough because we wear clothes and use umbrellas on sunny days. Thousands of Singaporeans are in danger of being insufficient or/and deficient in vitamin D because of our lifestyle. Most food is poor in vitamin D; so, the next best option, other than sunlight, is to take supplements. As stated in response to the first question above, being insufficient or/and deficient in vitamin D has serious consequences. This state of vitamin D inadequacy in the world is being called a pandemic. In short, welcome gladly the light of the sun and walk in the sun when the opportunity permits, or resort to ingesting vitamin D supplements. Top

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