17 December 2006 Issue - Christian Vegetarian Association Update Newsletters


	Update Newsletters

Update Newsletters
17 December 2006 Issue

1. New Video from God's Creatures Ministry

2. Farmed Animals Are a Top Contributor to Environmental Problems

3. CVA Activism - Upcoming Events

4. Regarding Vegetarian Pet Food

5. Christianity and Violence: Healing - A Christian Calling

Please consider making a holiday contribution to the Christian Vegetarian Association. We believe that our ministry is important and effective, and worthy of your support.

Send donations to CVA, PO Box 201791 Cleveland, OH 44120, or you can donate via PayPal at www.christianveg.org/materials.htm.

That web page also has some nice gift options.

1. New Video
God's Creatures Ministry announces a new DVD "Christian Concern For All God's Creatures," based on God's Creatures Ministry's 2006 Conference. Its
length is 26 minutes. Speakers include Rev. Frank and Mary Hoffman, Stephen Kaufman, M.D., Deborah Jones, Judy Carman, and a message from Rev. J. R.
Hyland.

The video includes questions for discussion and is ideal for pastors, bishops, and classes for seminaries, universities and churches.

Warning: There is graphic footage of animals being trapped and animals in the food industry.

Suggested donation is $15.00 to God's Creatures Ministry, P.O. Box 322, Wayne, NJ 07474

For more information, contact Jan Fredericks at Godscre58@yahoo.com.

2. Farmed Animals Are a Top Contributor to Environmental Problems
According to a new report from the Food and Agriculture Organization, farmed animals are a top contributor to today's serious environmental problems. The report found that livestock produced 35 percent to 40 percent of all methane emissions (which have 23 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide), 65 percent of nitrous oxide (which is 320 times as warming as carbon dioxide), and 64 percent of ammonia, which contributes to acid rain.

In addition to climate changes, the growth of global meat production adds immensely to water pollution and the reduction of forests for livestock grazing. Nearly 30 percent of the Earth's entire land surface is used for
grazing animals, and that amount is expected to grow because the global livestock sector is growing faster than any other agricultural sub-sector.

Steinfeld H, De Haan C, Blackburn H. Livestock-Environment interactions: Issues and options. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations,
the United States Agency for International Development and the World Bank. 2006.

Available at: http://www.fao.org/docrep/x5305e/x5305e00.htm#

Rearing cattle produces more greenhouse gases than driving cars, UN report warns [press release]. UN News Centre; Nov. 29, 2006.

Available at:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=20772&Cr=global&Cr1=environment#

3. CVA Activism
Upcoming Events

1/1 VA Lynchburg The Afters Christian Rock Concert
1/5 MD Ocean City Kutless Christian Rock Concert
1/5 TX Dallas The Afters Christian Rock Concert
1/5 SC Greenville Joel Osteen Conference
1/6 OK Oklahoma City The Hoppers Family Gospel Tour
1/7 TX Houston The Afters Christian Rock Concert
1/7 TN Morristown The Hoppers Family Gospel Tour
1/12 TN Johnson City Stephen Curtis Chapman Winter Jam
1/12-13 NM Glorieta LifeWay's Vacation Bible School 2007
1/13 TN Pigeon Forge The Afters Christian Rock Concert
1/13-14 AZ Mesa Rage Christian Music Festival
1/13 KY Louisville Stephen Curtis Chapman Winter Jam
1/14 MS Southaven Stephen Curtis Chapman Winter Jam

To find out about all upcoming leafleting and tabling opportunities in your area, join the CVA Calendar Group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group.christian_vegetarian/. Read the home page, and then join. You will then be able to log in anytime to identify upcoming events in your region. Contact Paris at christian_vegetarian@yahoo.com if you might be able to help.

4. Regarding Vegetarian Pet Food
Kay writes: Our Dalmatian lived to be 18-1/2 years old and thrived on a vegan diet. I made sure that the food she ate contained taurine, which most dogs can synthesize but some dogs cannot and need to obtain it from their food. PETA has a very helpful fact sheet on feeding dogs and cats a cruelty-free vegan diet: http://www.peta.org/mc/factsheet_display.asp?ID=34

5. Christianity and Violence: Healing - A Christian Calling
[This series reflects my views and not "official" CVA positions. It is being archived at http://www.christianveg.org/violence_view.htm.]

We are called to express love and forgiveness. This alone can help heal many wounds, including the deep wounds that arise from being treated as "unworthy" by people who gain their own sense of self-esteem over and against other people. Often, the most deeply wounded are those who have been victims of scapegoating. Many have rejected God, either because they have internalized their status as scapegoats and believe they are unworthy
of God's love, or because they do not believe that a loving God would fail to protect them.

Specifically, what can we do to help heal? We can listen, which shows that we care. We can also respectfully offer what help we can. Further, we can help heal with respectful, appropriate touch, such as when Simon
Wiesenthal let a dying, confessing Nazi hold Wiesenthal's hand. The greatest healing, which is not always possible, is to help people understand that they matter to God.

While only God can fully heal the soul, we are called to help, and our life experiences provide valuable tools. To varying degrees (some much more than others), we have all been wounded by life.

We have all experienced loss, and we have all experienced the crushing feelings associated with humiliation. Also, we know what it feels like to be wounded
(intentionally or unintentionally) by family, friends, strangers, and life itself, and we have tried to develop coping strategies to make the most of our lives.

These experiences help us empathize with other wounded people, even if their pain is far deeper than what we have experienced. Our empathy makes it possible for us to connect with wounded people intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually, which in turn helps us heal other wounded
individuals holistically.

How can we help heal those who cannot speak, such as people who cannot express their feelings or voiceless animals? Sometimes, we can help heal through mere presence or touch. Sometimes, we can help heal from afar, by mobilizing efforts to change the conditions that wound them. Also many people believe that prayer can help heal, by directing God's healing energy towards them.

Whatever we do to reconcile God's Creation is a healing ministry. Consequently, healing often involves being a peacemaker. Next week, we will begin a series of essays on peacemaking.

Stephen R. Kaufman, M.D.

Your question and comments are welcome

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