The time has come for The Bearded Vegans’ 13th mailbag episode! They dig deep into the mailbag and answer YOUR questions, comments and concerns. Should you have a vegan doctor? Is it wrong to hope the Lone Star Tick bites everyone in the world? Are slaughterhouse vigils harmful to animals? All that plus much much more!

Upcoming Events:

LIVE PODCAST: July 14th – Atlantic City Vegan Food Festival (Atlantic City, NJ)

ANDY SPEAKING: July 29th – Vegfest Colorado (Broomfield, CO)

Andy guest co-hosts on Vegan Warrior Princesses Attack – Episode 181: Mother! analysis.

The Food:

Onion Maiden (Pittsburgh, PA)

Watercourse (Denver, CO)

This the bearded duo bring you a conversation that draws from a variety of news stories all regarding the wildly varying ways that various restaurants and butcher shops have responded to vegan protests and vandalism. While some take the high road, others resort to calling protestors terrorists. The one through line is that in every case, it seems that the end result is better publicity and more customers for the establishments being targeted. With the opposite of the desired effect being achieved, they examine what went wrong and what could be done better in the future.

Plus they break down the week’s news and visit Drop Squad Kitchen in Delaware.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

LIVE PODCAST @ Atlantic City Vegan Food Festival – July 14th (Atlantic City, NJ)

ANDY SPEAKING @ Vegfest Colorado – July 29th (Broomfield, CO)

THE FOOD:

Drop Squad Kitchen (Wilmington, DE)

THE LINKS:

All Pediatric Residency Programs End Live-Animal Training(VegNews)

Animal rights protesters charged with animal cruelty in illegal demonstration (Two Good Boys)

Bowing to pressure, a Berkeley butcher shop makes a deal with vegan protesters (Washington Post)

‘Vegan Vigilante’ Grafitti Backfires (IOL)

French butchers want protection against vegan ‘terrorism’ (Euro News)

Butchers ‘living in fear’ as vegan attacks on the rise, says Countryside Alliance (Telegraph)

French Restaurant that Served Foie Gras Will Go Vegan Due to Protests (Munchies / Vice)

Gauthier Soho

This week Paul and Andy ponder whether non-vegan animal advocacy groups are allies to the vegan movement or if embracing them is counter-productive to animal liberation. Should vegans join vegetarian groups. Should vegan groups operate under the term “vegetarian” in order to create a larger umbrella for potential members to gather under? They do their best to find some answers.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

LIVE PODCAST @ Atlantic City Vegan Food Festival – July 14th (Atlantic City, NJ)

ANDY SPEAKING @ Vegfest Colorado – July 29th (Broomfield, CO)

THE PLUGS:

Fanciful Fox – our favorite vegan soaperie and body care products

THE LINKS:

52 New York Dairy Farms Lose Wholesale Contracts(VegNews)

Bill that would ban cosmetic animal testing clears the Senate(iPolitics)

LUXEMBOURG ‘MODERNIZES’ ANIMAL RIGHTS LAWS TO INCREASE THE PROTECTION OF ‘ALL ANIMALS’(Live Kindly)

Vegans Split From National Vegetarian Group – To Start New Organization (Plant Based News)

Nearly 6,000 Hens Saved From Slaughter By Egg Industry Advocates (Plant Based News)

Green Party (Animal Justice)

​This week, the bearded duo bring you a more somber conversation as they dissect the various ways vegans have reacted to the death of celebrity chef, author and tv personality Anthony Bourdain. They look at those who celebrate the man, those who celebrate his death and everything in between. Is he more complicit in animal exploitation than the average Jeff? Is telling someone not to celebrate his death speciesist? Is it best for vegans to just keep quiet in moments like these? Listen in as they wade through the murky waters on this one.

Plus, they discuss the news and follow up on the Evolve Our Prison Farms campaign.

The Food:

Crazy Jack Vegan (Tarpon Springs, FL)

Plant Snacks – Vegan Cheddar Cassava Root Chips

The Links:

Evolve Our Prison Farms – New website, more clarity in their mission statement. Check it out and decide for yourself!

California Senate Unanimously Passes Historic Bill Calling for Plant-Based Meals for Patients and Prisoners (PCRM)

Campaign Launched To Abolish Factory Farming In Switzerland(Plant Based News)

Supermarket scandal: Pork and turkey found in vegan and ‘meat free’ meals (The Telegraph)

Anthony Bourdain Thinks Vegans Are Self Indulgent (One Green Planet)

ANTHONY BOURDAIN: VEGETARIANS MAKE ‘BAD TRAVELERS AND BAD GUESTS’ (Ecorazzi)

Bourdain and Gill on Animal Cruelty and Worker Rights (Youtube)

Interview: Anthony Bourdain on Traveling to the Heart of Trump Country for ‘Parts Unknown’ (Eater)

CNN: Stop Promoting Animal Torture on Anthony Bourdain’s ‘Parts Unknown’ (Last Chance For Animals petition)

I’M VEGAN AND I’M REALLY GOING TO MISS ANTHONY BOURDAIN (Live Kindly)

Anthony Bourdain’s death means loss of a voice for immigrant workers (CBS News)

This week, Paul and Andy have an in depth discussion around one of our favorite topics, learning when to shut up. Vegans often feel pressure to constantly speak up for animals at every possible opportunity, but are there any scenarios in which it makes more sense to hold our tongue? Are there situations in which we might need to realize we aren’t the best person to deliver a message? Sparked by a listener email regarding their experience at a protest targeting a local dairy operation, they do our best to get down to the bottom of it!

Episodes Referenced:

Episode 106 – Should Vegans Advocate For Human Population Control

The Food:

Plant Snacks – Beet and Vegan Goat Cheese Cassava Chips.

The Articles:

Fake ‘meat’ can’t be labeled as meat, Missouri lawmakers say (STL Today)

Iowa Residents to Sue the State Over Air Emissions from Industrial Hog Farms (Civil Eats)

Kat Von D Accused Of ‘No Longer Being Vegan’ – Because Of Pregnancy (Plant Based News)

“The question is not, can they reason?, nor can they talk? but, can they suffer?” this quote from philosopher Jeremy Bentham is often used as the basis for including animal’s within our moral sphere. But what if one could eliminate an animal’s ability to suffer? This is the exact proposal of one award winning ethics paper that concludes it is our ethical duty to advocate for genetically disenhanced animals, who cannot feel (and may even enjoy) pain. This, of course, opens up a host of ethical questions and the bearded duo will do their best to parse them out. They also break down the week’s news and visit one of NYC’s newest vegan eateries.

Food:

Arata (New York, NY)

Articles:

Bye SeaWorld! Attendance at San Diego Park Has Dropped the Most Out of ALL Theme Parks in the U.S. (One Green Planet)

European Parliament votes to support a push towards a global animal testing ban (Cosmetic Design)

Global Animal Testing Ban Is ‘One Step Closer’ After Winning MP Support, Say Campaigners (Plant Based News)

Republican Farm Bill Amendment Threatens Animal Rights (MSN)

What Is the “Protect Interstate Commerce Act” and Why Does It Matter? (Modern Farmer)

Why We Should Genetically ‘Disenhance’ Animals Used in Factory Farms (Practical Ethics)

The Practical Ethicist – An Interview With Peter Singer (Salon)

The Opposite of Human Enhancement: Nanotechnology and the Blind Chicken Problem by Paul B. Thompson (Nanoethics)

 Could Engineering Animals to Enjoy Pain End Animal Suffering?(The Stranger)

 Should Farm Animals Be Genetically Modified to Remove Their Capacity to Feel Pain? (Alternet)