Krony 2012

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, it’s probable that you are at least remotely aware of the video that’s been sweeping the nation, Kony 2012.  Produced and released by the nonprofit, Invisible Children (IC), the film is clearly compelling and has an almost hypnotic vibe to it.  The video does an excellent job at persuading the unthinking youth of the US with vivid images, emotional storytelling, techno music, and colorful Kony 2012 kits that come complete with signs and bracelets.  For only a few bucks a month, you can feel like you’re making even more of a difference for this tremendous cause, which over 77 million people have tuned into at most recent count.

So, who exactly is Kony?  What’s the deal with Invisible Children and is there something we aren’t being told about this cause?  Since the videos release, the have been numerous, credible criticisms of the film.  So many, that the CEO of Invisible Children even released a video to dispute them.  IC also has a “critique” page on their website that lays out the criticisms, alongside their financials.  Their financials are just one of the many valid criticisms of IC, considering they only spent 3.3 out of the nearly 8.9 million dollars they raised in 2011 on “helping” kids in Africa.

That’s only the tip of the iceberg, though.  What the film doesn’t tell you is that Kony hasn’t been in Uganda for over six years, believed to have fled to the Democratic Republic of Congo, and hasn’t been militarizing children for some time now.  In fact, the Ugandan government itself, which supports the Kony 2012 “movement,” is run by a leader that he himself used child militias to get into power.  Not to mention the myriad of hideous and heinous atrocities the Ugandan government has partaken in for some time now.  One such human rights violation is their controversial “kill the gays” bill, which has caused unfathomable violence and discrimination against Uganda’s LGBT community.  The “kill the gays” bill was largely introduced to Uganda through evangelists from the US, who traveled to Uganda to spread anti-gay propaganda.

You might wonder who is funding Invisible Children.  Well, that’s perhaps the scariest part of this entire scheme.  Invisible Children has received many large donations from US-based evangelical Christian hate groups, like Focus on the Family.  The connection?  Many of the bigots who run these Christian hate groups are directly responsible for traveling to Uganda to propel their religion and hate in an effort to support the “kill the gays” bill.  Furthermore, the CEO of IC is also a Christian, who has spoken at colleges and universities recently to discuss his strategies to quietly evangelize the world.  Still, IC claims to be a secular group, but one must question this when they receive funding from these Christian hate groups and have a CEO with similar beliefs.  Why exactly would these groups donate to IC, unless there was an incentive for them?

The icing on the cake, which further legitimizes the idea that Kony 2012 is an absolute scam, is that the US military has been itching to expand forces in Africa and what a better way to do it then to get US youth riled up about military intervention in Uganda?  Officials have already been searching for Kony for years now.  The people affected by Kony in Uganda years ago are now in the recovery process and to send in military intervention to search for a man that doesn’t even exist in that country would seem to add insult to injury.  In fact, a recent public screening of the film in Uganda, at a camp setup to help those affected by Kony to recover, incited outrage.  The people actually affected by Kony were appalled at the message of the film, its misinformation, and the way it exploits their people without offering really any solution as to how we are going to catch Kony.

Everyone agrees that Kony is a horrendous individual that has committed unthinkable crimes against humanity, that’s not being debated.  What is being debated is the legitimacy of Invisible Children and the film, Kony 2012.  Is there some other motive behind all this?  Is this a way to invite military invention and get US youth excited about it?  Is this some dubious way for evangelical Christian hate groups to funnel in more money and what’s their interest in all of this?  Remember, they’re the ones who have been systematically destroying Uganda for many years now.  And what will IC’s next “issue” be?  Obviously, with all the donations they’re getting, they must have other projects in the works.  Watch the Kony 2012 video and decide for yourself if you believe it’s all a big conspiracy.  Research the facts and criticisms; the information is out there.  Perhaps we need to put an end to this deliberate and mischievous indoctrination?  #Krony2012

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Pumpkin Mac and Cheese

I figured it's been a while since I've posted a recipe, so I decided to share one with you that I just created for the autumn season.  I also have some more recipes to post soon, like Boston Cream Pie, White Bean and Rice Soup, and Butternut Squash Stuffing.  Stay tuned (and subscribe!) for those recipes, among other things.  Also, there will be a new Eating Consciously Podcast episode in the very near future (featuring an interview with TimmyFan!), as well as a piece about communicating with non-vegans over at veganexaminer.com. If you try the Pumpkin Mac and Cheese, leave a comment about how it came out!

1 lb macaroni (I used whole wheat)

1 block extra-firm tofu

2 cloves garlic

1/2 cup unsweetened soymilk

1/2 tsp black pepper, ground

1/2 tsp nutmeg, ground (or 1/4 tsp if freshly grated)

1 tsp salt (or more to taste)

1/4 cup Earth Balance (or olive oil)

1, 15 oz can cooked pumpkin 

1 cup nutritional yeast

Cook the macaroni according to the instructions on the bag.  Strain and set aside.  In a food processor, blend the tofu, garlic, soy milk, pepper, nutmeg, and salt until everything is thoroughly combined.  It should be roughly the consistency of ricotta cheese.  In a large bowl, mix the cooked macaroni and Earth Balance until the Earth Balance is melted from the heat of the macaroni.  Then, add the tofu mixture, pumpkin, and nutritional yeast.  Mix thoroughly to combine.  Pour into a 9 x 12 (or similar) glass baking pan and cook in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes.  

Serves 4-6.

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Raw Food Homophobes

While a raw food diet truly makes no sense for an ethical vegan, there’s another unethical consideration that should be taken into account. There’s a lot of evidence that many males in the raw foods movement are flat out homophobic. Not only homophobic, but also ignorant and disgusting bigots.

Take the Raw Brahs for example, who recently made an extremely homophobic video featuring the self-proclaimed “Life Regenerator.” The video features them taking a shower together and making homophobic statements and gestures to each other. The Raw Brahs are, to their own admission, “solar powered Christian raw food radically honest nomadic elitist minimalist brothers.”

In a book entitled, The Raw Controversies, page 118 cites that, “According to David [Wolfe], Durian was a gay guy that went raw, and then 'left the dark side' and decided to go for women. David and Stephen [Arlin] were convinced that homosexuality could be 'cured' by the raw food diet. More specifically, they thought that the 'hormones' in wheat and bread were causing men to become gay.” Arlin and Wolfe even wrote out about homosexuality being curable in early editions of their book, "Nature's First Law: The Raw Food Diet", these comments were later removed.

Another raw foodie, by the name of Doug Graham, posted on another raw foodist’s Facebook page that you only find homosexuality in nature because of environmental pollution. And a full detox should cure it. The comment was later removed.

It’s no wonder that comments like these are being made when one of the founders of the raw food diet, Ross Horne, had an incredibly homophobic book called, “Health and Survival in the 21st Century.” In the book he devoted two entire chapters to “Sexuality and Homosexuality” and “The Myth of the AIDS Virus.”

He cites that, “Homosexuality, like these other manifestations of diesease, is a symptom of disturbed personality. Its origins lie in the same breeding grounds as those that stunt the maturation of so many heterosexuals.” He also cites that, “As with all other disaffections, society should concern itself with increasing its awareness of the cause of homosexuality and the ways to prevention and cure.”

Not only is the raw food diet itself, completely and scientifically unfounded, but it shows that those who promote it also engage in the same type of uninformed ignorance in their social beliefs. Please do not purchase any products from these sadistic individuals and furthermore, make sure we inform others of their hateful rhetoric.

Vegans don’t need to a eat raw foods diet and there’s no conclusive evidence that it’s any healthier than eating a diet that includes cooked food. A vegan lifestyle is about promoting compassion for all, not hate. Please take a moment to unfriend and unfollow any of these homophobic bastards and please check your sources before following any fanatical diet “advice.”  Also, don't trust anyone who is selling you books, vitamins, and asking for personal donations.

Watch the RawBrahs video for yourself and decide whether or not it’s homophobic:





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Stay Consistent, Reject All Oppressive Isms

Most homosexuals eschew the discrimination and prejudice towards them known as heterosexism. In order to be consistent with our morals and ethics, we should make a conscious effort to reject all isms which result in similar discrimination and prejudice towards others. Actions speak louder than words and we can most effectively implement change by living through example.

Oppressive ideologies all hold the position that one group of individuals is superior to another. The same discriminatory thought patterns that allow some heterosexuals to see themselves as superior to homosexuals are also inherent in other discriminatory belief systems such as sexism and racism. Sadly, these hateful beliefs too often end in violence towards those being oppressed.

Since there is clear commonality among all forms of discrimination, it would make sense that those pushing for justice and equality would embrace the plight of others who are suffering similar injustice and inequality. While many would agree that gay rights advocates should not support other oppressive isms like racism and sexism, there is one ism that’s often overlooked – speciesism.

Speciesism is the belief that one’s own species is superior to another species. Humans are animals, but we have the ability to make rational, informed decisions and empathize even with those outside of our own species. Many of us prove this each and everyday by way of showing love and affection towards our pets. We care for them, look out for their interests, and can even detect their feelings despite the species barrier.

Although we care for the animals that we interact with on a daily basis, many of us were raised in a society that is radically disconnected from the interests of the animals we consume, wear, test upon, and enslave for entertainment. Speciesism is so entrenched in our society that we often don’t stop to think about how many animals suffer and die for no necessary reason as a result of our actions.

One step that every one of us can take to reject injustice towards animals is to adopt a vegan diet, or begin the transition towards it.  Being vegan is one of the biggest contributions you can make to support your health, the environment, and the well being of others.

Veganism has never been easier and there are non-animal solutions to nearly everything from food to fashion that are comparable or better than their animal-based counterparts. The time has come to consider the choices you make everyday and take action.

Check out this insight from another gay vegan, Nathan Runkle:






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Michele Bachmann is a lunatic!

For those of you who didn't listen to my last podcast, I mentioned that I wanted to begin including more social concerns to my activist efforts. I was thinking it's been a while since I had a blog post and I think I've found the perfect opportunity to include such information.

In case you don't know, Michele Bachmann is a Tea Party candidate for president, who's married to a "silverfox," that runs an anti-gay conversion therapy clinic. Basically, he "turns" gays into "straights."

Well, beyond the many things this woman is confused about, she seems to truly believe that gays can be turned straight by God. Yes, she and her anti-gay husband attended an anti-homosexual sermon, where the below video was played. She sat in the crowd and watched the video and then she proceeded to take photos with the pastor putting on the hateful sermon!



It's funny to us, but sad that Bachmann and those sitting in the sermon with her, likely believed this total bullshit. In fact, most mainstream psychology groups agree that attempting to change one's sexuality is incredibly, psychologically damaging.

What do you think? Is this woman a whack-job, or what? And how funny is it that anyone could even think the guy in the above video was a heterosexual?! Anyway, more vegan stuff to come, but just wanted to get this out there while it was fresh on my mind.

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