What caused Covid-19. It did not need to happen.

What caused Covid-19?  It did not need to happen.

This virus has evolved to its current pathogenic state by transmission from its non-human host to humans.  Corona virus 2019 (Covid-19), as well as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), “Swine Flu”, avian influenza viruses (H5N1, H9N2, and H6N1 from poultry) and other epidemics are the result of Speciesism.

Animal-to-Human Diseases Kill 2.2 Million People Each Year.

Epidemics are the direct result of Speciesism – the abuse of other species for the benefit of the human species.

Currently in the world today, the non-human population outnumbers human population by literally billions.  This is not because of wild animal populations - species extinction and habitat destruction are causing these individuals to quickly disappear.  It is the individuals raised in the horrific conditions that breed disease and suffering – animals raised and murdered for human food.  Under these circumstances, pathogens appear which threaten the lives, health, and incomes of the worldwide human population who eat these individuals, and their eggs, and drink their milk.

About 60 percent of all human diseases and 75 percent of all emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic. 

This includes HIV which ignited the AIDS epidemic, and coronavirus responsible for SARS, and now COVID – 19.  According to researchers. most human infections with zoonoses come from livestock, including pigs, chickens, cattle, goats, sheep and camels. 

Zoonoses from the livestock sector, animals raised for human food, cause the most human deaths.  Researchers have found 13 so-called zoonoses are responsible for 2.2 million human deaths every year. 

The only way to avoid another pandemic in the future is to stop raising, and eating animal, and their eggs, and drinking their milk. 

GO VEGAN!

World Heritage Sites – Near and Far

There are World Heritage Sites in countries on all continents of the world.  Some are near, and some are far. 

The idea of creating an international movement for protecting heritage emerged after World War I.  The event that aroused particular international concern was the decision to build the Aswan High Dam in Egypt, which would have flooded the valley containing the Abu Simbel temples, a treasure of ancient Egyptian civilization.  In 1959, after an appeal from the governments of Egypt and Sudan, UNESCO launched an international safeguarding campaign.  Archeological research in the areas to be flooded was accelerated.  Above all, the Abu Simbel and Philae temples were dismantled, moved to dry ground and reassembled.

The campaign’s success led to other safeguarding campaigns, such as saving Venice and its lagoon (Italy) and the Archeological Ruins at Moenjodaro (Pakistan), and restoring the Borobodur Temple Compounds (Indonesia).  The idea of combining conservation of cultural sites with those of nature comes from the United States.  In 1965, a White House Conference called for a “World Heritage Trust” that would stimulate international cooperation to protect “the world’s superb natural and scenic areas and historic sites for the present and the future of the entire world citizenry”. 

Two examples of World heritage sites, both here and abroad are Grandfather Mountain on the Blue Ridge parkway in North Carolina, and Virunga national Park in Africa.  Grandfather Mountain has some of the most spectacular views in the United States!  In addition to natural beauty, the park offers hiking on all levels of expertise from beginner to advanced. 

Virunga National Park lies in the north-east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the border with Uganda and Rwanda, and includes part of Lake Edward, the Semliki River valley, parts of the Rwindi, Ishasha and Rutshuru valleys south of the lake, the Virunga area within the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and part of the Rwenzori range.  Lake Edward belongs to the Nile river system and Lake Kivu to the Congo Basin river system.  Virunga National Park is notable for its chain of active volcanoes and the greatest diversity of habitats of any park in Africa: from steppes, savannas and lava plains, swamps, lowland and Afromontane forests, to the unique Afroalpine vegetation and ice fields of the Ruwenzori Mountains.  The great diversity of habitats harbors an exceptional biodiversity, including endemic as well as rare and globally endangered species, such as the mountain gorilla.

Whether you choose to visit a World heritage site here in the US, or travel abroad to visit one, you are sure to enjoy an outstanding and memorable experience. 

WHY NOT LEATHER

How many people do you know who would never think of eating meat (and maybe dairy) but love to wear leather?  Maybe you wear leather!  Here are some facts to consider before you purchase your next leather article.

Slaughterhouse production lines move at breakneck speeds, so workers routinely skin and dismember fully conscious animals to produce leather.  Much of the leather sold in the U.S. comes from India, where workers beat and torture tired, thirsty cattle to keep them marching endless miles to slaughter.  In Asia dogs and cats are cruelly killed for their skin.  They are simply labeled ‘leather” and show up in products all over the world.

 

What about shoes, belts, and handbags?  Being leather free can be fashionable.  Products abound that are leather free.  Markets respond to consumer desires, so more choices are constantly becoming available as we shop for them.   For example, there is the vegan leather free Moo Shoes, that are very popular.  Payless Shoes has leather free shoes that are very popular.  If your taste is designer quality, consider Stella McCartney, daughter of Sir Paul McCartney, and one of the world’s top designers.  She makes designer leather free items.  

When I shop,  I often ask salespeople if a handbag is leather .  I make sure they are aware I want a cruelty-free product.  Their response is always positive as they assure me no animals were hurt to make this product.

Would you wear your dog or cat?  Shop compassionately!   Visit www.CowsAreCool.com for more ideas and to find everything from pleather pumps to synthetic biker jackets.  Enjoy your new faux leather goods.  Your friends the animals will thank you for it!

Vegan Is About Compassion

‘Vegan’ is about compassion’.  It is not just a diet.  It is about making the world a better place, not only for people, but for the billions of other inhabitants on this planet whose lives and well-being have been overlooked, habitats destroyed, some species driven to extinction, and used as vehicles for providing human satisfactions of all types. 

Vegan is about providing simple solutions to complex global issues.  The non-vegan lifestyle is a major contributor to Climate Change - the world’s current greatest threat to security and survival.   This is because methane from animal agriculture holds heat in the atmosphere more effectively than carbon dioxide.  In addition, forests are cut down to provide grazing land.

The meat and dairy based diet causes catastrophic health concerns - such as skyrocketing diabetes, cancer, heart disease, potentially devastating antibiotic resistance, along with accompanying rising health care costs. 

Then non-vegan lifestyle exacerbates world hunger since crops which could feed hungry people are fed to abused, incarcerated, soon to be slaughtered, animals while unfortunate people are hungry and starving.  The world has enough for everyone’s need, but not enough for everyone’s greed.

Vegan is not a form of deprivation.  It is a lifestyle which embraces life, and life lived to the fullest.  Vegan holds the promise of a healthier population, a sustainable planet, and kindness and compassion for all.  Support Raoul Wallenberg Vegan International and Raoul Wallenberg Vegan Retreat.  www.VeganInternational.org and www.VeganRetreat.org.