Peace With Silence

"Make peace with silence, and remind yourself that it is in this space that you'll come to remember your spirit." ~ Wayne W. Dyer

Quality Meat Packers Has Finally Closed It's Doors!

Quality Meat Packers has shut it's doors! Quality Meat Packers has been around since 1914 and handled one quarter of Ontario's pork production killing 6000 pigs each day. This closure is a victory for any of us who have stood in the hot melting sun, the pouring rain and the cold snow in support of the Toronto and Hamilton/Burlington Pig Save groups at Maple Leaf/Fearmans slaughterhouse in Burlington or Quality Meat Packers in Toronto creating awareness surrounding the cruelties of Factory Farming while the pigs endure those same harsh elements. Our reason for being present is to bring peace to the animals in the horrible transporting conditions in which they await their death. For the first time in their lives they are given a sense of what love is before they are murdered for someone's meal.

To all of the volunteers who would meet many of the thirty trucks that would pull in there daily to give water and words of compassion to the pigs and who looked them directly in their innocent eyes, I say there is a sense of peace in the air for all those beings in knowing that there's one local slaughterhouse down. What we do, we do out of compassion. And what we do does matter.

Niagara At Large Article Mentioning The Marineland Mom -Karl Dockstader

This article was taken from Niagara At Large and it makes my heart melt as I read it. He mentions the Marineland Mom situation..

My Daughter’s First Visit To Marineland

Posted on May 18, 2014 

A Special to Niagara At Large by Karl Dockstader

So my oldest daughter Kathryne and I took my youngest daughter Amelia to Marineland today. We caught wind that Marineland Animal Defense had a parade/march planned for this Victoria Day weekend so we figured we would tag along on this nice day.

Kathryne Dockstader on her first trip to Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Photo courtesy of Karl Dockstader

What a fitting way to start the day as “Marineland Mom” told her simple and humble story. She had asked if her child could not be sent to Marineland for an “educational” field trip and that Stoney Creek school decided that there would be no more trips to Marineland.

That mom’s thoughtful act of objecting to her child’s class trip to Marineland caught the hearts and minds of the public and the debate resumed catapulting Marineland’s dated practice of using animals for the joy of spectators to wrangle cash back into the spotlight. Enslavement is not entertainment, which was a theme of this day, and it’s not education either, which was her important point.

As the parade commenced we jarred tourists from emptying their pockets into the tourist traps en route across Niagara’s scenic roads. Our rallying cries were met with honks of support, cheering, shame filled avoidance of eye contact right down to disdainful head shaking at us. It was an un-orthodox parade of information but our crowd made it clear that “Marineland Sucks!” and it is time to “Shut it down!”

A march to Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario as a voice for inprisoned marine mammals at that amusement park site.

Kathryne, Amelia and I chanted our little hearts out. We hadn’t had this much fun in a march since #idlenomore. We snacked and chanted the crowd messages as we mingled, and we marched up and down all the hot spots in Niagara Falls with the group.

When we hit our destination, it was clear our journey was a success. Kathryne and I, who had been to Marineland separately on previous occasions, made Amelia’s first visit there a special one. And her visit was different from ours. Her visit was actually educational.

We didn’t watch starved trapped animals do parlor tricks to alleviate their hunger. We watched a determined inspired group of millennial’s feed the meter of hope. Amelia and Kathryne, like many children, love animals, but we now know that loving animals means more than admiring them.

Loving animals means that sometimes we have to go out of our way, even to great lengths, to show them that we respect and love them. We did that today, making Amelia’s first trip to Marineland a success.

The only drawback is that we may have to go back soon and often until everybody starts loving animals as much as we saw from the young people leading the March on Marineland today

Many hundreds protest in front of Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario this May 17th despeite efforts by Marineland and the City of Niagara Falls council to stop them. Photod by Karl Dockstader.

.Karl Dockstader is a resident of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Turtle Island. He is a father, husband, and lover of all of creation, including animals, and is an occasional contributor to Niagara At Large.

March On Marineland -Success!

This article is taken from the Marineland Animal Defense site. I was fortunate to be asked to be a guest speaker at this event and what an honour that was :)

MAD E-News: We Did It! Hundreds Marched on Marineland!

Hey MAD’rs,

Last Saturday the captive animal facility Marineland Canada opened for its 53rd season and it was met with the first ever march through downtown Niagara Falls onto the facility! Hundreds took to the streets of Niagara Falls - marching from HWY 420 and through the tourist district - to let the public know that we want an end to animal captivity!

The crowd was electric - driven by chants and a marching band - and the impact was undeniable. A new chapter in the 40+ years of opposition to Marineland has begun.

Some of the best photos of the day are attached and links to some of the best media coverage is below.

A huge thank you to everyone who volunteered, participated and supported the #MarchOnMarineland. This could not have happened without a massive team effort and we are so grateful for all of the support!

Marineland Wildlife “Dying” to Entertain You (Now Magazine) - http://www.nowtoronto.com/news/story.cfm?content=198064

My Daughters First Visit to Marineland (Niagara At Large) - http://niagaraatlarge.com/2014/05/18/my-daughters-first-visit-to-marineland/

March On Marineland (Video - The Indignants) - https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=717232701651899

A reminder to everyone that this weekend we follow this up with our demonstration on site as part of "Empty the Tanks" - please come out and support this global day of protest against animal captivity!

Empty the Tanks - https://www.facebook.com/events/599980720088182/

xo,

Marineland Animal Defense

Photo Cred: Truly Organic Foods

Photo Cred: nataliec98 

For My Ambivalent Mother On Mother's Day

If my mom happens to be celebrating Mother's Day today then this is from me to Sandra. This song has been interpreted by many people and in so many different angles but for me it defines my life in terms of trying to be the reflection of my mother that she wanted me to be. She had to have control over everything we did that might say something about her. And we were mindful of that. But if she had stood back and let us be who we really are, I believe she would have been pleasantly surprised by our nature. And no, not everything I did or wanted to do in my life would have been okayed by Sandra but it really would have been okay overall. Instead, I lived my childhood in fear of disappointing her. I was constantly climbing a mountain to reach her, to connect with her and even though I felt I had made it to the top many times, she could never admit to my accomplishments even though my presence there couldn't be ignored. Instead she'd see me there then find a way to push me down again. In recent years I discovered that the bottom of that mountain is where I actually belong. There are people here, children, friends, family who need me and I can't spend my life trying to reach Sandra anymore. The last time I feel I was at the top of that mountain I was expecting my youngest son. I hadn't seen my mom this delighted in years and she couldn't wait to start shopping and telling all her friends. I felt as though I had done it again. Reached the top and had made her proud. But then the baby's kidneys failed him, I lost him and through it all I lost her too. The landslide brought me back down to where I belong, where love lives. To the friends and family who care about me as I am. Brought me back down to the people who laid low with me at my weakest and who stand to support me when I have strength. This is where I belong. I wonder if Sandra sees me in her reflection way up there. I wonder if she is tired from striving to be at the top all the time, trying not to slide away from it. Holding such control of a life she thinks she wants instead of living the life she could instead enjoy. One with children and grandchildren. One with holidays and celebrations. It's too much of a struggle for me to constantly strive to reach her up there and she's far too strong willed for the landslide to ever bring her down. So it is what it is. I celebrate Mother's Day as I'm grateful to be a mom. If Sandra is celebrating Mother's Day hopefully it's because she grateful for some part of her motherhood experience.

Do What You Have To Do -Sarah McLachlan

Got my Sarah McLachlan tickets today for her Shine On Tour! This song has been on my mind lately so it's getting posted today :)

What ravages of spirit
conjured this temptuous rage
created you a monster
broken by the rules of love
and fate has lead you through it
you do what you have to do
and fate has led you through it
you do what you have to do ...

and I have the sense to recognize that
I don't know how to let you go
every moment marked
with apparitions of your soul
I'm ever swiftly moving
trying to escape this desire
the yearning to be near you
I do what I have to do
the yearning to be near you
I do what I have to do
but I have the sense to recognize

that I don't know how
to let you go
I don't know how
to let you go

a glowing ember
burning hot
burning slow
deep within I'm shaken by the violence
of existing for only you

I know I can't be with you
I do what I have to do
I know I can't be with you
I do what I have to do
and I have sense to recognize but
I don't know how to let you go
I don't know how to let you go
I don't know how to let you go

Strong Enough To Be My Man

I do not have an eccentric career like these ladies but I do live a full life. Aside from being a mom I am a wife to a very understanding man who puts up with my craziness. He supports me in my animal welfare pursuits, puts up with my social life and allows me to be me. I'm not so sure anyone else in this world be more tolerant of my lifestyle than Chris :)

Creamy Caesar Salad Veganized!

Yesterday I posted about my new found love -Creamy Vegan Ranch Dressing -but I have to share my 'winged it' caesar dressing I made today because I think I love it just as much. Although some of the ingredients are similar to the ranch, it tastes very different and you won't miss the parmesan cheese typically found in caesar after making this! ..plus it's packed with B12 :)

1 cup vegan mayo (garlic flavour works well!)
1/2 cup raw unsalted cashews, rinsed
1/3 cup nutritional yeast (give it the cheesy flavour, add more if you want!)
1/3 cup almond milk
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon of either prepared brown mustard OR mustard powder is fine
2 teaspoons onion powder
2 teaspoons black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Blend together in a food processor until smooth. Some cashew chunks will remain but gave my salad a good nutty flavour. Adjust the flavours as necessary to taste ..to me a caesar dressing can never be too lemony! If you want it cheesier tasting, load up on the nutritional yeast.

I didn't have any miso or vegetarian worcestershire on hand but have heard adding in a teaspoon of one or the other gives a vegan caesar the kick it needs to make up for the anchovy taste. I've never tried any of the vegan parmesans but it's an option too. Next time I'll give those all a try but for today I was happy to get what came as a result of whipping this together.

Creamy Vegan Ranch Dressing

Following a Vegan diet has been far easier than I thought it might be but there are a few things that I miss! I made an attempt at recreating a ranch dressing/dip vegan style and after a few taste tests and alterations I managed to get one that my son loves to dip his cheeseless pizza into :)

1 cup vegan mayo (grapeseed flavour is good!)
1/4 cup raw unsalted cashews, rinsed
1/4 cup unsweetened almond or soy milk
1 tablespoon dill pickle juice (lovvvve Strubbs)
1 teaspoon onion powder
2 teaspoon parsley
2 teaspoons dill weed
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt

I should write ish after each of these ingredients because I did adjust afterwards with a little more of each of the spices ..but this is a good base then do whatever tastes best to you. To make it more of a dip than a dressing just change out the almond milk for more vegan mayo.

Blend everything together in a food processor until it's smooth but note you'll probably end up with a few chunks of cashews through it ..but does it really matter?! We now have VEGAN RANCH DRESSING!! Adjust as necessary to taste. Too thick? Add some more almond milk. Too thin? A little more mayo will thicken it up. Hooray for being able to eat creamy dressing again!

Yummy Mommy Club Talks About The Marineland Mom

MAR272014

Mom Halts School Trip To Marineland

THERE'S NOTHING EDUCATIONAL ABOUT USING ANIMALS FOR OUR ENTERTAINMENT

by: Mummy Buzz

Jennifer Jamieson has cause to celebrate—the mom single-handedly put a stop to a school field trip to Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ont.

According to an article in Yahoo, the Stoney Creek mom is hoping the public school board will ban all school visits to the tourist attraction.

“This is not some hippie bandwagon stunt," said Jamieson. "I am a mother [who is] truly concerned for and dedicated towards the welfare of animals."

Indeed, Jamieson's family has protested against Marineland, African Lion Safari, and the circus at Copps Coliseum in the past. So, when she heard about her nine-year-old son's forthcoming class trip to Marineland, she immediately got in touch with his teacher.

Fortunately, the teacher took her concerns to heart, and the kids at Mountain View are now headed to the Royal Botanical Gardens.

"I want my children to live a compassionate lifestyle and for society to stop viewing captivity as just another social norm," said Jamieson. "There's nothing educational about using animals for our entertainment.”

Last year, the board failed to approve school trips to Marineland due to "concerns." 

The park has long been dogged by allegations of abuse, though inspection of the park by associations, like the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, haven't revealed any "major issues."

Officials maintain that students will be missing out on “an unforgettable educational experience.”

Spill it. Should kids get a chance to experience animal parks as part of their "education"?

Marineland isn't the only park facing animal abuse allegations.

- See more at: http://www.yummymummyclub.ca/blogs/mummy-buzz/20140326/mom-blocks-school-trip-to-marineland#sthash.jBij0BWv.dpuf