th Year! Our 26 THE veGan aDVoCaTe Volume XXVI, Number 3 August 2015- October 2015 Rochester, NY USA A VEGAN DIET PLANTPURE NATION: Let’s Work for It An important part of the PPN program, What is it, and Why? in addition to showing the film, is to organize Jumpstart programs, whereby If you are not a vegetarian or a member We are all familiar with the work of T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D. His groundbreaking participants are given lowfat vegan meals of the Rochester Area Vegan Society for 10 days, so they can experience firsthand (RAVS), this column is for you. Here are epidemiological study, presented in The China Study, a book co-authored with his the power of this way of eating. Even in that some of the basics. short period of time, people see changes in A vegetarian is someone who eats no son Thomas Campbell, provides a strong evidence-based foundation for adopting a their numbers and in their health. Invariably, animal flesh: no meat, poultry or fish. A their reaction is: Why didn’t my doctor ever vegan is a vegetarian who goes further and healthy vegan diet. The film “Forks Over Knives,” which profiles the work of T. Colin tell me this? eats no animal products at all: no eggs, Campbell and Caldwell Esselstyn, Jr., M.D., In addition to the Jumpstart program, cheese, milk, or honey. RAVS recommends among others, has inspired and motivated each community will engage in other a vegan diet as the optimal diet. countless viewers to follow this way of activities to support and spread the adoption What are the reasons to go vegan? It eating. of a plant-based diet. It’s an important aspect comes down to these: for your health, for July 4 saw the preview of a new film of PlantPure Nation that each community the animals, and for the planet. Every day which is a worthy successor to “Forks Over will share its activities with other there are new findings that a plant-based Knives”: “PlantPure Nation.” Nelson communities, via video and social media, in diet is best for health. The standard Campbell, another son of T. Colin, is the order to support and encourage each other American diet (SAD), which revolves writer-director of the film, appears in the and to create a genuine national movement. around meat and animal products, results in film, and is a moving force behind the This is from plantpurenation.com: “A new poor health for people, suffering for initiative presented in the film. social movement is being launched through animals, waste of resources, and devastation Stand back for a moment and ask groups called PlantPure Pods. Members of Pods will work together to promote the for the environment. But changing your diet yourself: Is there an issue you care about message of plant-based nutrition in their can be hard, and people who want to change greatly and which you hope more than anything else to bring to the U.S. communities. Pods will use a social often need help. networking website, a video-based content If you want to move in this direction, mainstream? Do you wish you could enlist government in your efforts, but realize that stream, and local events to deliver education RAVS can help you. We are here to provide and to facilitate a sense of community information and support. You do not need to our gridlocked political system is often more of a problem than a solution? among its members. Pods will connect be a vegetarian or vegan to give us a call, to people through seminars, cooking classes, attend our meetings, or to join our group. Vegan diet—or healthy plant-based diet, if you prefer—is one such issue. By all movie nights, walk groups, potlucks, and And you don’t need to be a member to other events. As Pods achieve success attend our meetings: guests are always that’s right, government at every level should promote human health, and protect with initiatives such as this, these stories welcome, and you don’t have to reserve animals and the environment. But moneyed will be documented on video and shared beforehand. You only need to follow our interests, especially in animal agriculture with the rest of the Pod network, feeding a “vegan rule” for the dinner meetings (see and in the medical establishment, protect the massive cycle of social experimentation and box on p. 2 for a full explanation), and there status quo. The only way to change things is learning. The goal of PlantPure is is a $3 guest fee for non-members. Come to to start a movement on the ground that will nothing short of a health revolution. a meeting, give us a call at (585) 234-8750, trickle up and capture the attention of our Whereas industry and government have or visit our website, rochesterveg.org. You politicians and corporate leaders, so that contributed to our health care crisis, people will find us helpful and welcoming. ! they will then be compelled to move policy working together at the local level can help ! and practices in the right direction. solve this problem.” PlantPure Nation is this kind of grass “PlantPure Nation” IN THIS ISSUE roots movement. One story line in the film is an effort to get something through the Two showings at 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM Sunday, September 27 RAVS Update p. 3 Kentucky legislature and then, failing that, a decision to take things in hand and do the Rochester Academy of Medicine Summerfest Report p. 4 right thing without the government’s help. 1441 East Avenue Summerfest Recipes p. 5 That may sound conservative; but this is an $7 per person, 12 & under $3 Vegan Resource Guide p. 6 initiative that transcends left, right and In the News p. 7 FREE Vegan refreshments before show center. It is a battle for the heart and soul of Q&A with local physicians after show Calendar p. 8 America that’s waged through one of the most important decisions we make every Purchase tickets at plantpurenation.com day: what to eat. Tickets will also be available at the door Page 2 Rochester Area Vegan Society RAVS RULES FOR SHARE-A-DISH MEALS All dishes must be completely vegan. They may not contain any meat, poultry, fish, eggs, Coordinators: dairy products or honey. Please watch out for gelatin (a meat by-product) and hidden milk products, Ted D. Barnett, M.D. such as whey in cookies, crackers, bread and margarine and casein or caseinate in so-called “non- Carol Hee Barnett, Ph.D., J.D. dairy” soy cheese, coffee creamer and whipped topping. Be alert for eggs in baked goods, mayonnaise and salad dressings, and honey in breads, pastries and preserves. Board of Directors: This “vegan rule” embodies our mission of showing how abundant and delicious a vegan meal can be. It also means that members and guests who are vegan can freely partake of everything. If Shelley Adams Leena Isac you mistakenly bring a dish that is non-vegan, you will be very welcome to stay for the meal, but Carol Hee Barnett Ken McBride we will not be able to serve your dish. Please understand that no offense is meant by this. Ted D. Barnett Rhea McBride Please prepare a card with your name, the name of the dish, and a list of all ingredients. If Beth Garver Beha Daryl Odhner possible, write the recipe on the back of the card and indicate where the recipe came from or if it Ellie Cherin Ted Potter was original. Prepare enough to serve a crowd. Please bring your own table setting as well as a Kimber Gorall Barbara Savedoff serving utensil. If you are not able to cook, you may bring fruit, cider, tortilla chips and salsa, green salad, fruit salad, etc. Non-members, in addition to bringing a dish, must pay a $3 Guest Fee, which Nancy Hallowell Bob Zimmermann will be applied to your membership if you join that day. RAVS Staff: Treasurer: Ken McBride IF YOU ARE NEW TO RAVS These are both excellent groups, and Website: Ted Barnett both have mail-order bookshops which are Ted Potter You don’t need to be a vegetarian, included in the publication they will send Bob Zimmermannor a member of RAVS, to attend one of you when you join. Library: Leena Isac our events. And you don’t need to reserve Another not-so-tangible benefit of or notify us beforehand (with the your membership in RAVS is that you The Vegan Advocate Staff: exception of restaurant events). We do ask help others, namely, the people we reach Editors: Carol and Ted Barnett that you follow the “vegan rule” at our through our community education efforts, Contributors: dinner meetings. The box above, and the which are funded by your dues. Pamphlets Poetry Bruce Ross, Ph.D. calendar and directions on the back page we distribute at an outreach table at a Logo Design Bern Berg of the newsletter, tell you what you need health or environmental fair cost money. to know in order to attend a meeting. Call That's why your membership and renewal 234-8750 if you have further questions. The Rochester Area Vegetarian Society, now the are important even if we never see you at Rochester Area Vegan Society, was founded in 1989 by Rhoda and Stan Sapon, two dedicated activists MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS a meeting—though, of course, we hope who worked hard to embody their vision of a Membership in RAVS entitles you to that we do.