Petition for Vegetarian and Vegan Options in Luxembourg!

Before I went 'Vegan,' I never had a huge problem when eating out at restaurants with my family. Sure there were some places we just couldn't go to because there were NO VEGETARIAN options on the menu, but in general I could usually find something (smothered in cheese.)

Then I became a Vegan and the list got way shorter, like less than 5 places shorter (This was 5 years ago.) Every time my family would invite my husband and I out for a meal I felt really guilty.....because I knew it was going to be difficult for me to find something to eat and would also limit their choices massively. It wasn't a pretty picture, so I started 'declining' their invitations, just so I didn't put them in an awkward position.

Then 'ONE DAY' I suddenly said to myself.....,

"What the hell! Why should I be deprived of spending time with my family because I choose not to harm animals!????"

So the 'Worm turned' and I started to be a right, royal pain in the arse when eating out!

Now don't get me wrong, there are some places in Luxembourg that are happy to cater for us Herbivores and carnivores alike - Indies is one - Bless you Indies! But if you want to try one of the 10 Michelin star restaurants and you are Vegan.....Forget it!

So when I learnt about petition 478 to offer vegetarian and vegan options in ALL Luxembourg restaurants, I was Ecstatic!

Camille Muller is the brains behind the petition and you can read all about it on the Vegan Society Website.

It's really quite simple, we are asking for restaurants in Luxembourg to offer at least One (JUST ONE) option for us non-meat eating folk! It's not a massive request and, as I see it, in no way a 'hassle' for restaurant owners who already have vegetables, beans, legumes and grains somewhere on the menus!!

More importantly scientific study after scientific study has manifested the benefits of eating a plant based diet as it:-

1. Significantly reduces your likelihood to contract 'some' cancers, heart disease, Diabetes etc
2. Benefits the planet
3. Is the most compassionate diet, saving millions of animals each year.
4. Could help to end world hunger!

If these were not reasons enough.....It is also YUMMY and can help you lose and maintain a healthy weight! 
N.B - You might want to skip the Vegan donuts below!

 So, How can you help!?

The Petition requires 4,500 signatures to be heard by the Chamber of Deputes. So far we have around 10% of that figure and the petition closes on 27th March 2015.

Please, please, please take a couple of minutes to sign the petition (you can do it anonymously if you wish.) You will then receive an email from the Chamber of Deputes asking you to confirm your signature, PLEASE ACCEPT this!

Spread the word to your friends, family, co-workers etc. asking them to sign the petition! Share on your FB Status or Twitter feed!

There is SO much you can do, just from the comfort of your own home, so please take a minute to help out.....Your body, the planet and the animals will Thank you!

Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.  - Albert Einstein

Say No to Fur on Saturday 21st February at LUSH

"Beautiful animals and ugly people wear fur!"

Come and join Save the animals on Saturday 21st February outside the LUSH store on Grand Rue to show you support against fur!

We will be there from 11am onwards, with lots of information and yummy vegan snacks.

Follow the link for more info!

Looking forward to seeing you!

Alix

50 shades of..............Kale (Much better than the film!)

http://www.peta.org/living/food/50-shades-kale/?utm_campaign=021815&utm_source=PETA%20E-Mail&utm_medium=Alert

Sign the Fur Free pledge!

https://secure.peta.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=3191

Kill it, Skin it, Wear it

If you are still undecided about wearing fur....watch this. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-r7TQVW4dZQ

Global Divestment Day Luxembourg

Unless you have been living in a cave for the last 20 years, or you happen to be Former President George W Bush; you will have heard of a little thing we call ' Global Warming!'

Global Warming is the increase of Earth's average surface temperature due to effect of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide emissions from, amongst other things, the burning  of fossil fuels.David Suzuki, scientist and  environmental activist, said of Climate Change;

"Humanity is facing a challenge unlike any we’ve ever had to confront. We are in an unprecedented period of change."

Global Divestment Day takes place on 13th and 14th February 2015 in 380 cities and 48 countries around the globe . In Luxembourg it came a little earlier, with Greenpeace holding it's on Divestment Day at the Place Clairefontaine on the morning of 11th February.

"So what is Global Divestment day and how does it affect us here in Luxembourg?"

The Fossil fuel industry is the richest trade body in the world, in 2014 there estimated net worth was approximately $5 trillion. It's this financial strength that has allowed the  fossil fuel industry to have our political process in shackles and is the moral and ethical conflict most politicians are reluctant to discuss..............'Money, and more specifically making it!'

So whilst world leaders nod their collective heads and agree that we have to look at alternatives to fossil fuels, they continue to spend public money in the exact same companies through investments!

Take Luxembourg as an example, according to the 2013 annual report, the Luxembourg pension fund (Fonds de Compensation) invested €1/2 billion alone in the petroleum industry through the purchase of stocks and bonds. In addition, approximately €7 million was invested in French nuclear companies. In the same year, only 0.7% of Luxembourg's primary energy came from sustainable sources!

Perhaps it's just me, but isn't there  something fundamentally wrong with this picture?

"Should we be putting our money into an industry that is polluting our planet?"

Martina Holbach of Greenpeace Luxembourg spoke briefly to  the Minister Romain Schneider (responsible for the FDC)  to urge the Luxembourg government to 'rethink' their current investment policies and look for moral and ethical alternatives.

On the 13th and 14th February the same message will be delivered to governments throughout the globe. Urging an immediate freeze on 'New Investments' in fossil fuel industries and a complete phase out over the next 5 years.

It can be done.....earlier this year, the Norwegian Sovereign Wealth (oil) fund divested from 22 companies, potentially totalling billions of dollars in assets. Given Norway's'  economic reliance on the oil industry in particular, this was something of a 'coup d'état' and one we can only hope other countries will follow!

“Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world.”  - Howard Zinn

Remember there is no planet B!

Alix

*Photo credits - Greenpeace Luxembourg/Alix Burton

It's time to ban European Fur farms!

It's around this time of year that 'certain' individuals decide to dress themselves in the skin of dead animals. Why? Quite simply....Vanity! Wearing fur is 'alledgedly' a sign of  wealth, glamour and social status. Therefore it's hardly surprising that there is a proliferation of fur coats in Luxembourg.

Personally, and I am sure I am not alone here, I think it looks vile and discussing. Every time I see someone wearing a fur coat, I want to ask them if they know the cruelty imposed on the animal they have draped around them? On more extreme occasions, I wish I had a can of red paint! I've concluded, there isn't enough red paint to go around!*

I actually once sat in a cafe in town on a balmy summer day and watched a woman gently stroke the fur pelt she had strewn across her neck. It was quite visibly a fox as it's head and tail were still attached! How on Earth can someone think this is publicly acceptable?! If it were the skin of a dead cat or dog swathed around her neck, someone would have surely called the police! 

Did you know, that the European union is the world's largest producer of factory farmed animals?

"Around 30 million mink, 2 million fox and 100,000 raccoon dogs are killed each year in EU factory farms." -Source: - Humane Society International.

There are 6,000 fur farms in Europe; accounting for 63% of global mink production and 7% of fox production. The worst offenders are Denmark ( which produces 28% of global mink production), Finland and the Netherlands. Fur factory farms can also be found in Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia,France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden.

The most common factory fur farmed animals are Mink, Foxes, Raccoons and Chinchillas. On average to make one single fur coat:-

30 - 70 Mink are killed
10 - 20 Foxes are killed
30 - 40 Raccoons are killed
30 - 200 Chinchilla's are killed

Since their meat is not consumed in Europe, the carcasses are just discarded.

As if these statistics were not grim reading enough, these animals are treated abhorrently. Fur farms use the cheapest and cruelest killing methods available, including suffocation, electrocution, gas and poison.

Carbon monoxide poisoning  is the most widely used technique for killing in the EU and European legislation still permits it. This is despite scientific findings that the animals die an extremely slow and painful death often first provoking excitation and convulsions.

Thankfully, there have been some success stories! Austria and the U.K both passed legislation to fully prohibit the breeding of animals for fur production. The Netherlands banned the production of fox and chinchilla fur in 1995 and 1997 respectively and mink farms are to be phased out by 2024.

Despite these small accomplishments, there is still a long way to go to introduce a complete ban on fur farming in Europe.

"5 things you can do to help? "

1) First and foremost, if the demand for fur decreases, there will be no need for fur farms. Quite simply put; DON'T BUY FUR! You can take the Fur free pledge at PETA's website!

2) Many retailers  have signed up for the 'FUR FREE RETAILER PROGRAM' Here you will find a list of fur free retailers in Luxembourg who have taken the pledge and can use the 'Shop the Fox' logo.

3) Sign the petition to Ban Fur Farms in Europe.

4) Write to your local government representative urging Luxembourg to support an EU wide ban on fur farming.

5) Save Animals Luxembourg will be organising several events to promote the ban of fur. Visit the Save Animals Facebook page to keep yourself informed of where and when these will take place.

We don't need to wear fur! There are so many 'natural' and 'synthetic' choices we have to keep warm during the Winter.

Be a Voice for the animals! Say NO TO FUR!

Alix

*Please note that it's a common misconception that activists use red paint....We would be arrested if we did. Leafleting is much more effective!