newsworthy
Good news in the world of veganism! After surviving a harrowing lawsuit filed by a group of Texas cattle ranchers and subsequent years of eschewing any mention of the "v" word, high–visibility celebrity Oprah Winfrey recently undertook a three–week vegan cleanse. The source of her inspiration was author Kathy Freston's book Quantum Wellness (Weinstein Books, 2008). She glowingly effuses, "Wow, wow, wow! I never imagined meatless meals could be so satisfying."
While the cleanse is for reasons of personal health, Oprah also openly speaks of the spiritual and ethical aspect of eating meat. She states, "How can you say you're trying to spiritually evolve without even a thought about what happens to the animals whose lives are sacrificed in the name of gluttony?"
Freston's book describes how conscious eating (which includes veganism) has a ripple effect. As even a single person makes dietary changes, she inspires others to do so as well. This certainly seems to be happening. Ellen DeGeneres recently interviewed Freston on her show and shared how she has always cared about animals but is only now beginning to question her choice to eat meat. Having had the courage to come out as a lesbian on national television, one can only hope that she now will "come out" as a vegan!
Meanwhile, Oprah's O Magazine lists 10 things that you can do to help the environment but fails to mention meat eating. Given that an exhaustive United Nations (Food and Agriculture Organization) report concludes that 18% of greenhouse gases are attributable to the livestock industry, this is a serious omission.
Please send your comments and words of encouragement to Oprah and Ellen and write letters to the editor in local and national papers.
A major figure in ecofeminism, Marti Kheel's original thinking about nature ethics culminates in this sweeping 