tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5055598777203654547.post5101993068737103453..comments2024-03-01T06:20:29.087+00:00Comments on qualia and other wildlife: ragbag blog January 1 2016rosellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00971482422276765335noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5055598777203654547.post-6005349309630994582016-01-06T14:46:56.477+00:002016-01-06T14:46:56.477+00:00Christopher, I meant to add: good luck with the ve...Christopher, I meant to add: good luck with the vegan-heroism!rosellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00971482422276765335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5055598777203654547.post-59153132006668701552016-01-06T14:46:03.167+00:002016-01-06T14:46:03.167+00:00Another fantastic response, Christopher. Thank you...Another fantastic response, Christopher. Thank you. SO hard to be congruent, especially if we want to do that in every area of our lives. And important too not to beat ourselves up when we fall from our high ideals. We do what we can, each of us, as I said, don't we?<br /><br />But yes all of this is much easier if we do it together. I'm hoping the new website/blog (on hold because of work and family stuff for a little while) will be a cooperative one, somehow. I shall look forward to any input you might have or wish to have.<br /><br />Meantime, do you know (I imagine so) Positive News? http://positivenews.org.uk/<br /><br />More anon.<br /><br />rosellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00971482422276765335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5055598777203654547.post-15983014141468583412016-01-05T09:05:23.054+00:002016-01-05T09:05:23.054+00:00Thanks for mentioning the Syria-thread, Roselle - ...Thanks for mentioning the Syria-thread, Roselle - and the link to New Statesman. Perhaps informing ourselves further about the reasons for one of these grievous world-situations will empower us more to do contribute a little bit to ameliorating it, in some way, down the line. <br /><br />If nothing else, such increased knowledge might make us more empathetic to the plight of the people who flee the crisis. Though I suspect the readership of this blog are not the ones who need to change their minds most about this, but perhaps via our social connections we can move someone else a little bit, if we know more.<br /><br />*<br /><br />Apropos global, 'systemic' problems I'm glad you brought up the meat ... so to speak! And I applaud you for your new site/initiative in this regard. I esp. like that you seem to have a less preachy angle towards this very real problem, as I believe that is the only way to connect with people whose minds and hearts one wants to move towards more ethical consumption choices.<br /><br />I was just about to walk through the snowfall to our local store and buy three liters of milk, and I was thinking that maybe I should not do so - and buy some soy milk instead from another store, further away. I have been living as a lacto-occasionally-seafood-eating-vegetarian for 21 years, with bursts of heroic attempts at going vegan. So I know a lot about these considerations, relapses, dilemmas and so on. And then I began to think about how the soy cultivation in Brazil hurts the rain forest and perhaps, overall, kills more animals and biodiversity. <br /><br />I also began to think about what else I was using right now, in my little place in the great system, which is - ultimately - linked to abuse of people and planet.<br /> <br />For example: In front of me is a big Samsung flat-screen which I recently purchased because my eyes were hurting from using just my laptop. It is a wonderful screen - very useful to me in my daily work. <br /><br />However, when I just now googled "Samsung" and "ethical track record" I got all sorts of disheartening articles about their ties to child miners in the Congo ... kids who work in the mines and dig out the minerals for cheap which goes into electrical appliances like this screen. I've been in such a mine in Bolivia (Potosí) and it is perhaps the most hellish place on Earth imaginable ... <br /><br />So where am I going with this? Is it something new to me - these strands of considerations about how much responsibility I have, if I really want to think about it all? <br /><br />No. I have been conflicted about this for years and thought and written extensively about how much is right to act on and how much is not. I am certainly not someone who says - 'we can't avoid hurting someone by living (in the modern world) so let's not care about it'. That is the weakest and most cowardly excuse for not taking SOME measure of responsibility.<br /> <br />But what? How much? When? In what circumstances? Things sure have gotten a lot more complicated for the ethical consumer since I was selling fair trade coffee from stands in the supermarket 15 years ago and thought that this would surely make a Big Difference.<br /><br />(As a matter of fact I'm not even sure I have any fair trade coffee in the house currently.<br />My latest purchase was coffee from Colombia, and they don't have a particularly shiny record with regard to allowing worker organization ... )<br /><br />So I guess my conclusion here is that if I am the kind of audience you imagine - somewhat ethically conscientious but conflicted and confused ... then I do very much look forward to following your new blog and finding out what we can do. Together. Because we can always do more than we thought we could, even if we can't take responsibility for all.<br /><br />I wouldn't mind some support for another heroic vegan-attempt, either ... :-)<br /><br /><br />Christopher Marcushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03077904474530085769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5055598777203654547.post-10249411699229265972016-01-02T17:03:43.096+00:002016-01-02T17:03:43.096+00:00Yes – so easy to forget to be kind to oneself. Tha...Yes – so easy to forget to be kind to oneself. Thanks so much, R, and for the vegan tips. I used to use sunflower oil until I discovered rapeseed. Shall try Meridian when baking.<br />M xAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5055598777203654547.post-23719628356601588052016-01-02T11:46:53.304+00:002016-01-02T11:46:53.304+00:00**** 'ON and off'!!**** 'ON and off'!!rosellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00971482422276765335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5055598777203654547.post-48345398957783509782016-01-02T11:46:06.026+00:002016-01-02T11:46:06.026+00:00Just seen a mistake - blogger won't let me edi...Just seen a mistake - blogger won't let me edit. Only the brackets though. <br /><br />Meant to say: I didn't write 50,000 when in Brittany; only 30,000! The rest was one and off through the summer. xrosellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00971482422276765335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5055598777203654547.post-30147280795119278542016-01-02T11:44:44.269+00:002016-01-02T11:44:44.269+00:00Hello lovely Miriam - delighted to hear all that (...Hello lovely Miriam - delighted to hear all that (and in response to your email, thank you! - and yes, TWR whenever you're ready). You have plenty on your mind! - perhaps a resolution might be to be kinder to yourself??) ;-)<br /><br />I use sunflower oil for baking - organic, of course! - and the Meridian one has a truly lovely nutty taste. I also put a little olive oil into a jar in the fridge to congeal, and use instead of butter on toast: much more healthful than all those grim non-dairy spreads.<br /><br />A good grinder is a good idea - I don't have one. <br /><br />Fired up re the new website/blog. Two brief holding pages up now at 57billion.org (don't know it it's visible yet). Anything from you of course v welcome. It'll grow only slowly though I think. But tis done.<br /><br />Much love to both and am delighted Jeremy reads my blog! xxrosellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00971482422276765335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5055598777203654547.post-80705385726127475342016-01-02T11:31:35.943+00:002016-01-02T11:31:35.943+00:00David, I've just set up a holding page for sai...David, I've just set up a holding page for said site: http://57billion.orgrosellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00971482422276765335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5055598777203654547.post-17344904607854482822016-01-02T10:17:25.657+00:002016-01-02T10:17:25.657+00:00I agree: just what I need to start the year. Vegan...I agree: just what I need to start the year. Vegan son Jeremy (he now subscribes to your blog) is home and again we're shamed into giving up dairy and fish, though latter gets less and less anyway. The only way is to do it properly and if we can find a decent butter substitute for baking (coconut oil too high in saturated fat, surely? as is palm oil with its frequent non-sustainability). I'll try cashew butter instead and invest in a powerful grinder to make my own. Like you I don't like to preach or proselytise but the simple fact of all that horrifying cruelty to animals is enough to make me vegan for ever. I look forward to the vegan blog and to a fluid exchange of recipes.<br /><br />The other thing was your 50,000 words written between Oct and now. I'm full of admiration and even more fired-up to try and equal it before the end of this year! Just before reading your ragbag I emailed you about my pathetic efforts this autumn. So, on with it, I say.<br />Miriam xxAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5055598777203654547.post-29915743991896378862016-01-02T09:10:18.438+00:002016-01-02T09:10:18.438+00:00David, how lovely to hear from you. Thank you. And...David, how lovely to hear from you. Thank you. And I would certainly like to repost some of your vegan posts on the new website/blog when I set it up, if I may?<br /><br />Meantime, I wish you all good things for 2016, and new inspiration.rosellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00971482422276765335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5055598777203654547.post-30031336609040335082016-01-02T05:48:31.475+00:002016-01-02T05:48:31.475+00:00Hi Roselle, what a great way to start the new year...Hi Roselle, what a great way to start the new year! Looking forward to checking out your going vegan blog. And glad your arm is healing nicely!<br />All the best.David Ashtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18339979176989832285noreply@blogger.com