Veganism is more and more popular than it was 10-20 years ago. This trend looks like it’s not going to slow down any time soon.

Just look at these recent newsworthy bites of vegan goodness…

Celebrity Veganism: Seven-time Grand Slam winner Venus Williams decided to eat a raw, vegan diet recently in order to manage her symptoms of Sjogren’s syndrome. Read more >>

Smart Animals: “Increasing evidence supports the notion that humans and dogs share some social skills, with dogs’ social-cognitive functioning resembling that of a 6-month to 2-year-old child in many respects,” more here >>

Vegan Bodybuilding: “As the popularity of veganism has spread in recent years — fueled in part by a flurry of food-focused documentaries like ‘Super Size Me,’ ‘Food, Inc.’ and ‘Forks Over Knives’ — its imprint can be seen in industries like publishing (VegNews) and fashion (hemp tote bags).  It has even entered bodybuilding, perceived by many as a population of vein-popping men and women thriving off meat and artificial enhancements. Competitors like Sitko are forging a distinctive subculture of antibeef beefcakes who hope to change more of their competitors’ eating habits.” read more from the NY Times >>

Truth in Advertising: “We have labels on cigarettes saying you will die I don’t know why we can’t have labels on packages of meat saying these 60,000 of these animals were raised in a windowless shed and fed antibiotics from birth to death. It’s the truth so why shouldn’t we have access to it?” JSF in an interview with the Ecologist >>

Activism: Erik Marcus offers 5 ways to spread veganism >>

Education and Entertainment: Delicious TV is fundraising for a six episode season of fun and lively new 1/2 hour vegan cooking show to be distributed to U.S. public television stations. The show will be called Vegan Mashup. You can  donate here >>

Gluten-free vegan curry chickn salad recip here >>

On Humane Meat: “Raising happy animals just so that they can be killed is really an egregious double cross. The “raise them, love them, and then kill them” line of reasoning doesn’t have a meaningful ring of compassion. And this isn’t mercy killing (euthanasia) performed because these animals need to be put out of their pain. No, these healthy and happy animals are slaughtered, and if you dare to look into their eyes, you know that they’re suffering. If you wouldn’t treat a dog like this, then you shouldn’t treat a cow, a pig, or any other animal in this way.” more here >>

Travel: “The number of airport restaurants offering healthy foods has increased sharply from 2001, when PCRM’s inaugural airport food review found just 57 percent of airport eateries offering at least one healthful option.” more >>

Want to share more vegan news or even a recipe? Leave a link below so others can find it.

Below, there are resources for travel and cooking. Plus there’s news about PETA, vegan bloggers, and a bit about e coli.

Got any good links to share or new news? Leave a comment!

Veg Travel: As a vegan who has been to Paris twice and never once felt the need to eat animals, I assure you there is plenty of vegetarian food in France despite anyone’s protestations. But now a new book will soon be out called “A Vegetarian in Paris”. The book features “more than 300 restaurants that serve pure vegetarian and vegetarian-friendly fare” and should demonstrate why the Paris Exemption is poorly named. The guidebook offers a grand set of solutions for travelers committed to eating kindly. Read more about the new book here >>

Don’t forget, too, that if you need to find vegan, vegetarian, or veg-friendly eats whilst traveling check out these websites:

• Happy Cow: http://www.happycow.net/
• Veg Guide: http://www.vegguide.org/

Vegan Food: Want a recipe for black bean and beer soup? Sounds like a great idea for the cold winter nights. Here you go >>

Wintertime is cookie time, so here’s a recipe for Pistachio Praline Linzer Cookies >>

And here’s a recipe for curry burgers that look awefully good >>

Vegan Pie in the Sky is now widely available. Pick up a copy today from Amazon and support us at Vegan Soapbox.

Bloggers who quit: Erik Marcus of vegan.com announced “After nearly three years and more than 5000 posts, I’ve decided to pull the plug on daily blogging.” The key here is the daily part. He is still updating his blog, just not as often.

And the blogger at Quarry Girl says “This blog is no longer updated” and cites life as the problem: “i used to have a vegan blog, but life got in the way.” Oh well.

Grass-fed cow flesh: “when it comes to E. coli O157:H7, the advantages of grass-fed beef aren’t so clear. In fact, exploring the connection between grass-fed beef and these dangerous bacteria offers a disturbing lesson in how culinary wisdom becomes foodie dogma and how foodie dogma can turn into a recipe for disaster. Step back from it all and veganism starts to look like the best option.” read more at Eating Plants >>

PETA stuff: “For the second consecutive year, Northwestern University has been selected by peta2, an affiliate of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, as the most vegan-friendly college in the small U.S. schools category.” read more here >>

“Just in time for the holiday season, [PETA] will be showcasing the top 20 vegetarians of all-time by putting their faces on postage stamps.” read more at Ecorazzi >>

Want to share a good vegan website? Got a news story that needs attention? Leave a comment!

If you haven’t noticed, Vegan MoFo has started. For the month of October, bloggers everywhere will be sharing vegan recipes, posting photos of vegan restaurant food, and just generally raving about vegan food. Learn about the project here >>

Want a recipe for a homemade energy bar? Check this out >>

Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker is a vegan. Read details here >>

Pretenders star Chrissie Hynde closed her vegan restaurant. According to the Washington Post, Hynde commented that the current state of the economy has forced them to shut the doors to VegiTerranean.

Meatless meatloaf recipe and photos here >>

Garlicky Greens and Beans Stew recipe here >>

A new vegan gelato is coming to Whole Foods soon. Check out the mouth-watering photo here >>

Denmark has become the first country in the world to impose a tax on unhealthy foods such as foods high in saturated fat. Butter, milk, cheese, pizza, meat, oil and processed food. Read more here >>

Leonardo DiCaprio will be leading a campaign by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) raising awareness of endangered elephants. Read more here >>

“the sort of consciousness that humans conventionally value as morally relevant is shared by the pig, cow, and even chicken more then the dandelion, pussy willow, or venus flytrap. I would think the vast majority of “plants have feelings, too” advocates would agree with this distinction.” keep reading here >> and see the first part here >>

And by the way, right now is a good time to order your vegan candies for Halloween. That is, if you’re getting them mail-ordered.

Cookbook reviews: The Veganopolis Cookbook, Venturesome Vegan Cooking, and Vegan Baking Classics. Read the reviews here >>

Glee star Lea Michele talks about veganism in Harper’s Bazaar. See the article and accomanying photo-shoot video here >>

Ellen has a new website dedicated to all things vegan. The site offers tips like “Soy milk is delicious, but there are also great almond and rice milks worth trying” and “Middle Eastern and Asian cuisine restaurants often have more vegan options on their menu and can be accommodating by using tofu or vegetables instead of meat.” Check it out at http://vegan.ellen.warnerbros.com/

A vegetarian won Germany’s Strongest Man 2011 competition. You can read an article about him at The Discerning Brute >>

This isn’t new news, but it’s still a helpful resource for vegans and nonvegans alike: the USDA offers 10 tips to how to add more veggies to your diet. The tips come in a handy one-page PDF that you can print out and tape to the fridge. Check it out here >>

More vegan dining options to come! The University of North Texas will open the nation’s first strictly vegan cafeteria soon. Read the details here >>

Michael Greger, M.D. has a new website dedicated to helping people learn about vegetarian and vegan nutrition. The website is NutritionFacts.org and you should check it out! Then share it with your veg and nonveg friends!

PaleoVeganology comments about genetic research and engineering: “frivolous at best, cruel at worst.” Read about chickens and fish here >>

CNN has a great article and video about Bill Clinton’s transformation to a plant-based diet. It says “Former President Clinton now considers himself a vegan. He’s dropped more than 20 pounds, and he says he’s healthier than ever. His dramatic dietary transformation took almost two decades and came about only after a pair of heart procedures and some advice from a trusted doctor.” Read the piece here >>

Another pet store made the switch from selling breeder’s dogs to encouraging adoptions of rescued dogs. “PJ’s Pets and Pets Unlimited have announced that they will no longer sell puppies in any of their stores. As of September 1st, their focus will be to support pet adoption services in an effort to find homes for thousands of pets in local SPCA’s, Humane Societies, rescue groups and shelters across the country.” See the press release here >>

HRC reports that “more than 9 billion land-based farm animals are slaughtered for food annually” and “an estimated 3.5 million cats and dogs were killed in animal shelters in 2010.” See the other stats here >>

Check out this blog on different speciesist positions >>

Looking to lose weight without deprivation? Check out this post about “the easiest diet plan” at Girly Girl Army >>

The LA Times reports that “More than 70 people in 26 states have fallen ill, and a Californian has died. Officials say the strain of salmonella is resistant to drugs.” Learn more about this huge turkey recall >>

See some examples of what real vegans eat at the Cafe VegNews blog here >>

Got more veg links to share? Add them in the comments below!

“Look down at your body. You see two dime-sized bruises on your right side, and blood streaks on your legs. Your eyes burn from ammonia. Parts of your body responsible for touch and taste have been, ah, removed. And why are your toes blackened?!” keep reading >>

The vegan community in Las Vegas is “heating up”. See how >>

Have you checked out CFK’s website www.welovesubway.com yet and let your voice be heard?

Time to Reform Chemical Testing: Animals Out, Better Methods In >>

A “healthy and quick vegan chocolate mousse”:

Soapbox writer, Ed Miller (aka Plump Vegan), just recently did an interview with VegNews. Check it out >>

Vegan Outreach just got a fresh, new website design. Take a look >>

Need ideas for family-friendly vegan meals? Look no further >>

Twelve animal rights and environmental activists have been arrested in Spain and are being labeled “eco-terrorists.” Read the story >>

Steve-O explains why he went vegan. Read the details >>

“Yet while the terrorist attacks of 2001 led us to transform the way we approach national security, the deaths of almost twice as many people annually have still not generated basic food-safety initiatives.” read more at the NY Times >>
As a reminder, if you enjoy reading Vegan Soapbox, won’t you please “like” us on Facebook? Our page is here >>

And it’s short: two articles.

Read ‘em and share ‘em:

“A new strain of the MRSA ‘superbug’ has been found in British cows and is believed to be infecting humans. Environmental campaigners say the new strain has emerged because of the over-use of antibiotics by dairy farmers.”

Read more at BBC >>

“The point of factory farming is cheap meat, made possible by confining large numbers of animals in small spaces. Perhaps the greatest hidden cost is its potential effect on human health.

Small doses of antibiotics — too small to kill bacteria — are fed to factory farm animals as part of their regular diet to promote growth and offset the risks of overcrowding. What factory farms are really raising is antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which means that several classes of antibiotics no longer work the way they should in humans. We pay for cheap meat by sacrificing some of the most important drugs ever developed.”

Read more from the New York Times >>

For more articles on this issue, check out the antibiotics section of Vegan Soapbox >>

(Don’t forget to “like” Vegan Soapbox on facebook. Check out the facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/VeganSoapbox )

“Where do you get your protein? The Smart Answer: Lots of places! Whole grains, legumes, nuts, tofu, soy milk, hummus, falafels, veggie burgers, bean burritos, pad thai – just to name a few.” Keep reading >>

Check out some awesome photos of tasty vegan food  at Finding Vegan >>

A new film about eating a plant-based diet as preventative medicine has recently hit the theaters. The film is called Forks Over Knives and the showtimes are listed online here >>

“Government cheese is making us sick” says PCRM. Read more about Dr. Neal Barnard’s proposal to remove animal products from the food stamp program here >>

Rescued farm animals provide stories of hope and healing for abused children >>

PETA has a facebook post up about 15 Reasons Not To Eat Bacon. Check it out >>

Summer, the goat, gets new wheels! Read the story here >>

“Empathy, long thought to be a defining human trait, causes one individual to be affected by the emotional state of another. [...] The research demonstrated that hens possess a fundamental capacity to empathise” read more >>

Got more news and links? Please share them below in the comments!

News, cookbooks, and more…

Take a look!

“Judging by the number of new vegetarian cookbooks, this is a good time to be interested in a plant-based diet. Five new cookbooks, some totally vegan and some vegetarian, are out or due out in the next few weeks.” Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/04/26/2826023/cookbooks-serve-up-a-bounty-of.html#ixzz1Kq0ZKtmL

“According to the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, half of the meat and poultry sold in U.S. supermarkets may be tainted with the deadly pathogen staphylococcus aureus. The study tested 136 samples of beef, chicken, pork, and turkey in five cities. Half of the bacteria were resistant to antibiotics. One organism, MRSA, is a leading cause of fatal infections in schools and hospitals.” link >>

“Statistically, vegans have lower blood pressures and less hypertension than meat-eaters and possibly even compared to vegetarians who eat dairy foods and eggs. And with 100 percent of their calories coming from plant foods, their diets are automatically lower in compounds that raise heart disease risk. Vegans have lower levels of blood cholesterol, too.” Continue reading: Preventing heart disease with a vegan diet – National vegan | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/vegan-in-national/preventing-heart-disease-with-a-vegan-diet#ixzz1Kq1dnJcU

“With a lack of federal and state laws providing protection, we need independent investigators as watchdogs.” read more: http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/26/who-protects-the-animals/

“You all know him as the ‘Old Spice Guy’ or ‘The Man Your Man Could Smell Like,’ with those chiseled abs and toned arms — but what you may not know is that Isaiah Mustafa is a vegan — and ‘not much of a cook.’” more >>

How much water do you use? Your diet is the major factor. Take the quix here >>

By the way, Vegan Soapbox is in good company. We’re listed in the blogroll of the Encyclopædia Britannica Advocacy for Animals.

Got links to share? Leave a comment below with your veg news.

“Being vegetarian does not mean compromising on traditional foods, like wings and ribs, during special events such as the Super Bowl. Veggie Brothers offers a variety of traditional finger foods that are perfect for game day.” read more >>

“Compassion in World Farming’s colleagues in South Africa have had an amazing success. After intense lobbying of the South African Pork Producers’ Organisation (SAPPO), the organisation’s Chief Executive has agreed to phase out the use of sow stalls – the narrow concrete-floored stalls in which breeding sows spend their 16 week pregnancies, unable even to turn round.” source >>

“In an open letter sent to Greg Creed, President of Taco Bell, Mercy For Animals’ Executive Director, Nathan Runkle, asks: Why not ‘Think Outside the Bun’ and switch to a healthy and delicious vegan meat substitute and cash in on the growing demand for meatless meal options?” more here >>

Sam Simon, co-creator of The Simpsons, “started a charity called The Sam Simon Foundation, which offers to spay and neuter pets for free, and offers pro bono operations on sick dogs. They also feature an “Assistance Dogs Program,” which rescues dogs from shelters and being euthanized to train them as hearing dogs for the blind and deaf, or place them in retirement homes as pets for the elderly.” details >>

Take a look at the vegan recipe for Roasted Yellow Beet Salad with Warm Maple Mustard Dressing here >>

New veg restaurant: “Imagine grabbing a vegetarian take-out lunch that’s, of course, super healthy and tastes amazing. No, it’s not Chinese or a salad at any of the mainstream fast-food franchises. It could be some chilli sin carne, which is red and black beans in a juicy tomato sauce served with crispy garlic bread or roasted vegetable panini, which is flame-roasted sweet red pepper and zucchini topped with red onion, black olives and mushrooms, toasted to perfection on a wholewheat baguette.” learn more >>

“Stein Mart, a nationwide department store with more than 260 retail locations, was selling a mislabeled fur-trimmed sweater that lab testing revealed to be raccoon dog.” But HSUS stepped in and “Within hours, Stein Mart made the decision to go fur-free.” read the story here >>

Got more veg news to share? Please tell us about it in the comments below!

100 mile race winner is a vegan advocate, you can win vegan cooking classes, and more… check it out!

“Win vegan cooking classes from SporkOnline” learn more and enter here >>

“According to the School Nutrition Association, 65 per cent of U.S. schools now offer vegetarian lunch options.” more here >>

“A clever cat has been hailed a hero after he prevented his owners’ home from burning down – by opening a window.” details >>”

Mark Bittman’s new year’s resolution is to stay on the path he says he’s been on “which is to eat no animal products or highly processed foods before dark. This vegan-until-6 thing has worked for me for four years now, and I see no reason to change it. So I’ll save my resolve for talking to other people about why it makes sense.” Another food writer says he’s going vegan for the month of January. link >>

Wild salmon population “has dwindled to a level that some advocates say might warrant protection as an endangered species.” more here >>

A vegan advocate won the Bartram 100 Mile race! link >>