November 28, 2004

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Mine was wonderful.
I made myself a Tofurkey, which came out really good. It was the first time I ever made one from scratch, and I was pleased with myself. It took a lot of work, though, and I think next year, unless I am the hostess (in which case my meals are much more elaborate) I'll have a store bought tofurky.
I also made Tofu-pumpkin pie, which came out incredible. Everyone--even my meat eating relatives--really loved it. I didn't tell anyone it had tofu in it until after it was eaten. They looked a little shaken up at this idea, but no one tried to take back the fact that they'd liked the pie.
I also made cranberry sauce. I make it every year. My grandmother, this year's hostess, was in charge of everyone else. Sweet Potatoes, mashed potatoes, carrots, asparagus, a big salad, stuffing, broccoli... and of course, they had their turkey and gravy, but I turned the other way and didn't look at that.

In reference to my post on 11/24 regarding Forever21, I still haven't gotten a response from the company. I just wanted to let everyone know that that campaign is being spearheaded by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (www.peta.org or www.peta2.org) with the help of what they call their "street team"--a group of teens and 20-somethings who work with the group to spread the word about the animal rights movement. Anyone who is interested in getting involved in this movement should check out those sites.

Till Next Time,
M

Posted by Mallory at 03:46 PM | Comments (1)

November 23, 2004

Hi, Friends,
This posting is not about the vegan diet, but my cruelty-free lifestyle that does not include fur.
I recently learned that Forever21 stores had made promises to several Animal Activism groups, including PeTA (who contacted me about this issue) to stop selling items made from fur. The chain, however, did not stick to its promise.
I wrote the following letter to the CEO of Forever21, letting them know I plan to boycott the chain until they honor their promise. I also told the CEO that I would be letting as many people know about this deceit as I could. Here is a copy of my letter, FYI, if you're interested. The contact info for the CEO, if you'd like to email is chang@forever21.com

Don Chang
CEOForever 21, Inc.
2001 S. Alameda St.
Los Angeles, CA 90058

My Name
My Mailing Address
Brooklyn, NY my zipcode

(emailed and sent by US Post)

Dear Mr. Chang;
My name is Mallory XXXXXXX, and I have been a shopper at Forever21 for several years. I have always appreciated your stores' dedication to quality clothing at reasonable prices, and have enjoyed the wide range of styles you offer.

A longtime vegan and animal rights activist, I have always frustrated and angered to see fur items on your shelves. The ticket that reads "100% rabbit fur," supposed to be a symbol of quality, to my eyes is a symbol of cruelty. I have never understood how anyone could overlook the unnecessary cruelty to animals that is caused by the fur industry. Animals are kept in inhumane conditions before they are slaughtered for their skins. While some may be able to overlook this fact, I cannot. I encourage you to visit a pet store and look into the soulful eyes of a rabbit, and then picture that animal as a coat or a muff.

Last year, when you were contacted by People for the Ethical Treatment for Animals (PeTA), you and your company ensured the group that fur items would be removed from your stores. I was so happy to hear this--finally I could shop at Forever21 and not be saddened and guilt ridden. I was excited to see that Forever21 was embracing compassion over fashion.

Now, however, I have realized that Forever21's promises mean nothing. This winter season, your shelves are stocked with many fur items. It was bad enough that these items had been present on your shelves before--but now I felt deceived by a company that I thought I could trust.

Until Forever21 honors its promise to PeTA and its customers concerned with animal welfare, I will be boycotting your company. If your word to so many means so little to you, I do not feel I can have faith in your product anymore. Furthermore, I will be letting my friends know of this broken promise, and encouraging them to boycott Forever21 as well.

I run a blog for vegans and prospective vegans at www.healthdiaries.com/young-vegan-healthy and will be posting a copy of this letter on that site, and also plan to forward this letter, and information about your company, to the several vegan and animal rights e-mail lists I am a member of. If I learn that Forever21 has pulled fur items from its shelves and is no longer encouraging animal abuse by selling fur, I will notify my friends, post in my blog, and contact those on my e-mail list servs. I will let them know that Forever21 is a company of compassion, and shopping there will be encouraged.

I hope that, as the holiday season approaches, I hear back from you. If the fur products are pulled, I look forward to doing my holiday shopping with you. If not, my business and the business of my friends and family will go to your competition.

Thank you so much for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Mallory XXXXXXX

Posted by Mallory at 07:06 PM | Comments (1)