Kris Carr is an inspiring woman who beat a rare form of cancer on a plant-based diet, and chronicled her journey in an amazing film, Crazy Sexy Cancer, as well as several books. Today on her blog, Crazy SexyLife , she features an interview with Earthlings writer/director Shaun Monson. Shaun talks about his new film Unity, and has some strong words on diet. 

I don’t mean to be rude, but I want to be real: the only thing animal products do for health is deteriorate it.

 

Check out the interview here and pass it along to someone who needs to know!

[...]

We will be there! Will you?

Admission to the exhibit hall is free, but to hear Shaun Monson speak on Producing/Airing Videos (producing and airing of TV documentaries and PSAs), you will need a day pass for Sunday July 19 His talk will be at 4:30 p.m.

Shaun will also make a special presentation Saturday July 18 at 2 p.m. including scenes from Earthlings and a preview of our new film Unity. 

For complete event details or to register, visit http://www.arconference.org

[...]

Shaun Monson wrote a brilliant piece on the Animal Planet series Whale Wars that appeared in the Hufington Post in response to an editorial that called the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society "terrorists."

“After all, it is a curious terrorist organizationthat hasn't actually killed anybody,” Shaun wrote. He goes on to wonder if the Boston Tea Party would have been accused of "Eco-Terrorism."

You can see the full article here , and post a comment if you’re inclined.

Clicking on the link, posting a comment, and sharing the article with friends will show Huffington Post that its readers care about animal issues.

 

 

[...]

If you’re in SoCal, catch us on June 21 at Pierce College’s Vegan Earth Day.

There will be a screening of Earthlings followed by a Q&A with Shaun Monson, and we will have a booth where you can grab some gear and talk with the team. Admission is free. Check the site for a complete schedule of speakers, music, and films. 

We will also be at Venice Eco-Fest, Saturday June 27. Please stop by and introduce yourself if you're there! 

[...]

By Shaun Monson 

Vegan lifestyles are often perceived as being based on sacrifice or compromise, when quite the opposite is true for animal activists, pet owners and others who care about the suffering and use of animals. Here are some thoughtson beginning and maintaining a vegan lifestyle or vegan diet.

Paul McCartney tells the story of how he was fishing as a young boy when he witnessed the manner in which a fish struggled when forcefully removed from its natural aquatic habitat. During that brief moment, he realized animals feel and experience pain just like humans. This one experience caused a shift in his consciousness and put him on the path of becoming a practicing vegan.

When we see the way animals are treated, and come to our own conclusions about the extent we contribute to it, it is natural to feel overwhelmed by how many changes a vegan lifestyle may require. But we need not make radical choices overnight; in fact it may be that only a small change is possible at first. For example, a pet owner might choose to spay/neuter their pet. A fashionista might pass up a leather handbag in favor of one made without animal skin or hair. Parents or grandparents might treat the children to the amusement park or a baseball game instead of the circus.

Perhaps someone isn't ready to convert to a vegan diet overnight (give up turkey cold turkey, if you will) or become a full-fledged animal activist. However, they may be willing to switch to cruelty-free shampoo, cut out red meat, adopt a pet from a shelter instead of buying one from a breeder, or buy an upholstered sofa instead of one made from leather. Any small change someone is willing to make helps alleviate the plight of all suffering animals. Once we realize that a vegan lifestyle does not require sacrifice, and allows us to live more authentically according to our ethics, it inspires further change.

Most people simply don't know about the practices used to manufacture ordinary goods. People buy leather shoes, but don't realize or think about how the shoe is actually made. It's a shoe company, and that's all, as far as most people understand. When people become aware that in the manufacturing of shoes, cows have chili pepper rubbed in their eyes and have their tails broken, it becomes very difficult to buy leather shoes and most will more than likely stop. We have already seen this to be true as more people have become aware of the inherent cruelty in the fur industry.

Vegan options in food, clothing, personal care, housewares, and entertainment exist at the same quality and value. When we choose non-vegan options instead, we are not only directly using animals, we are rewarding others for their treatment of animals by paying for these goods.

[...]