The following is a translation I made (hope it's good enough, not having found any English or Spanish "official" versions) of Esmeraldo Siqueira's Pantheistic Creed. I find it breathtakingly beautiful.
Pantheistic Creed
I believe in you, Nature, you I worship.
I believe, without mystic rites or altars.
In the awesome radiance of the ocean,
Where looms the greatness of your mien.
I believe in your strenght, and fear, and rejoice,
Seeing, through slow manifestations
The nuances of singular shapes
Until the wonder of enlightened men.
I believe in your forests, in your mountains,
In the poetry of the rivers and the fountains,
In the beauty of the earth in bloom.
I believe in the dainty starry nights,
In the harborage of white dawns,
In universal symphony of life.
viernes, 13 de noviembre de 2009
miércoles, 4 de noviembre de 2009
Some more veg issues
Having been a long time vegetarian (made the decision as a child, made it real at age 12) and an an almost 1-year old vegan, I'm so used to my way that I sometimes forget people actually eats meat.
This may sound a little familiar to my fellow vegs out there in the world.
It's crazy, isn't it? I mean, I would never eat my dogs. How could I eat a cow, or a pig or a chicken? Just the thought of it sounds so gross and unhealthy...
Or milk. Gosh, milk and eggs are an issue for me. I certainly don't miss them, but sometimes trying to find out the ingredients everywhere I go just makes me crazy.
Since I don't want to seem too extremist and I don't want the people to get the idea that veganism issome sort of sick obsession, I confess I son't always ask for the ingredients when my family or friends invite me out to dinner, even if I suspect the bread may contain eggs.
Not quite the same with lactose, because it gives me heartburn, cramps, bloating and nausea. Even if I wasn't morally convinced on how wrong it is to exploit an animal, I wouldn't ingest it.
Doesn't matter how you season it, it's still murder.
A long time passed since I last wrote. Anyway, the most disgusting thing happened to me today an I had to spit it out.
A childhood friend of mine came over to visit around lunchtime. I had nothing prepared (and I didn't actually feel like cooking) so we thought of eating at a cafeteria not so far from my place. Everything seemed ok: I ordered a cheeseless tuscan salad and a cheeseless black bean soup. At the menu, it just described it as plain black bean soup with avocado and fried tortilla.
I started eating it and there was no major problem while the tortilla and the avocado lasted, yet its texture seemed a little suspicious comparing it to the bean soup I had known. After a while I felt a chewy mini-chunk on my gum. I took it out of my mouth and surprise: it was pink.
What kind of animal was it? I have no idea, actually I don't really care. I'm indignated it wasn't specified on the menu. And I'm so profoundly nauseous no non-vegetarian persona could ever imagine it.
I stopped eating the soup right away and I asked my friend (an omnivore) to try it out.
"Gosh" She said. "This must be bacon, maybe they prepared it along with meat or maybe... well, I'm sorry, pal".
Ew.
I just got home, and I've vomited so many times I lost count.
I will never set a foot again in that place.
NOT EVER AGAIN!
A childhood friend of mine came over to visit around lunchtime. I had nothing prepared (and I didn't actually feel like cooking) so we thought of eating at a cafeteria not so far from my place. Everything seemed ok: I ordered a cheeseless tuscan salad and a cheeseless black bean soup. At the menu, it just described it as plain black bean soup with avocado and fried tortilla.
I started eating it and there was no major problem while the tortilla and the avocado lasted, yet its texture seemed a little suspicious comparing it to the bean soup I had known. After a while I felt a chewy mini-chunk on my gum. I took it out of my mouth and surprise: it was pink.
What kind of animal was it? I have no idea, actually I don't really care. I'm indignated it wasn't specified on the menu. And I'm so profoundly nauseous no non-vegetarian persona could ever imagine it.
I stopped eating the soup right away and I asked my friend (an omnivore) to try it out.
"Gosh" She said. "This must be bacon, maybe they prepared it along with meat or maybe... well, I'm sorry, pal".
Ew.
I just got home, and I've vomited so many times I lost count.
I will never set a foot again in that place.
NOT EVER AGAIN!
martes, 25 de agosto de 2009
Guatemala of our Sorrows
I am sick of watching the forests fall and the rivers disappear. Ican no longer stand to see starving people, to hear gunshots every night, to walk not knowing if I will get home safely, to see 6 year old beggars on the streets.
Alas, this is the Guatemala of my sorrows.
If only I could get away I would... but still I love my country so much...!
jueves, 16 de julio de 2009
miércoles, 15 de julio de 2009
Barbarism begins at home OR Speciesism begins at school
Hi there!
On Tuesday, the kids had to make a "written project" about the farm. It was quite simple: write sentences about what happens on a normal day at a farm.
I was quite astonished by some answers, because it makes me see how these children have been educated. For many, the prize for getting good grades is having their parents taking them to McDonalds. I mean, when they foud out I am a vegan, most were like "Miss, a vegetarian? Do you actually LIKE veggies?"
That's not the worst part. I'll literally transcribe some of the things they wrote, and you can judge for yourself. It's awful witnessing how children are raised to perceive animals as mere objects.
I could tell "MY" kids from section B from the section A. Mine (they spend more time with me!) were so much more peaceful on what they wrote. The worst it got was "the cow gives milk", which I think is still pretty innocent. Today I even saw one of my girls defending a bee against one of her classmates, reminding him that all beings have a right to live. IPU, I'm proud.
Bu now, let's go to the speciesist top ones:
"The pig gives ribs and meat."
"The farmer kills the pigs."
"The cow gives ribs"
"The chicken gives eggs"
"The sheep gives wool"
"The cows give ME milk"
"The horse gives leather"
"The farmers eat pigs"
"The farmer eats the chickens with corn"
Barbarism begins at home.
Speciesism... begins at school?
On Tuesday, the kids had to make a "written project" about the farm. It was quite simple: write sentences about what happens on a normal day at a farm.
I was quite astonished by some answers, because it makes me see how these children have been educated. For many, the prize for getting good grades is having their parents taking them to McDonalds. I mean, when they foud out I am a vegan, most were like "Miss, a vegetarian? Do you actually LIKE veggies?"
That's not the worst part. I'll literally transcribe some of the things they wrote, and you can judge for yourself. It's awful witnessing how children are raised to perceive animals as mere objects.
I could tell "MY" kids from section B from the section A. Mine (they spend more time with me!) were so much more peaceful on what they wrote. The worst it got was "the cow gives milk", which I think is still pretty innocent. Today I even saw one of my girls defending a bee against one of her classmates, reminding him that all beings have a right to live. IPU, I'm proud.
Bu now, let's go to the speciesist top ones:
"The pig gives ribs and meat."
"The farmer kills the pigs."
"The cow gives ribs"
"The chicken gives eggs"
"The sheep gives wool"
"The cows give ME milk"
"The horse gives leather"
"The farmers eat pigs"
"The farmer eats the chickens with corn"
Barbarism begins at home.
Speciesism... begins at school?
Hello!
Well, I'll introduce myself so you can understand me better.
I'm a guatemalan schoolteacher who loves teaching. And adores her students.
I currently teach second grade to 65 lovely kiddos, divided in two groups (setion A and section B).
I'm the Homeroom teacher of one of those groups (section B), but I love 'em all (yea, that's what all teachers say).
I teach ESL, so it's half a day with section A and half-and-something day with section b (they're "MY" group, so I spend more time with them).
I attend college at week nights and Saturday mornings.
My life is stressful but quite fun, actually.
I'm the kind of person a "decent" person is not suposed to be: environmentalist, vegan, ecosocialist and atheist.
Maybe I'm not the "role model" many parents would like for their children, but hey, I teach just for the sake of it. I adore the kiddos and consider myself a good teacher. Plus, my students love me because I'm the "Mrs. Frizzle" kind of teacher.
The main rule in all my lessons is "use your imagination".
Well, I'll introduce myself so you can understand me better.
I'm a guatemalan schoolteacher who loves teaching. And adores her students.
I currently teach second grade to 65 lovely kiddos, divided in two groups (setion A and section B).
I'm the Homeroom teacher of one of those groups (section B), but I love 'em all (yea, that's what all teachers say).
I teach ESL, so it's half a day with section A and half-and-something day with section b (they're "MY" group, so I spend more time with them).
I attend college at week nights and Saturday mornings.
My life is stressful but quite fun, actually.
I'm the kind of person a "decent" person is not suposed to be: environmentalist, vegan, ecosocialist and atheist.
Maybe I'm not the "role model" many parents would like for their children, but hey, I teach just for the sake of it. I adore the kiddos and consider myself a good teacher. Plus, my students love me because I'm the "Mrs. Frizzle" kind of teacher.
The main rule in all my lessons is "use your imagination".
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