An expanding list of celebrity vegans is transforming the popular image of the "no meat, no dairy" lifestyle that has often been seen as the choice of holier-than-thou tree-huggers in plastic shoes.
Bill Clinton and his daughter Chelsea, Michelle Pfeiffer, Alec Baldwin, Demi Moore, Ben Stiller, Ellen DeGeneres, Portia De Rossi, Tobey Maguire, Betty White, Joaquin Phoenix, Pamela Anderson, Mike Tyson, Ted Danson, Venus Williams, Woody Harrelson, Rosie O'Donnell, Robin Williams, KD Lang, Russell Brand, Alicia Silverstone, Carl Lewis, Casey Affleck, Erykah Badu, James Cromwell, Alanis Morissette, Russell Simmons, Fiona Apple, Sandra Oh, Bryan Adams, Jessica Chastain, Moby, Carrie Underwood, Ed Begley Jr, Daryl Hannah, Thom Yorke (Radiohead), Abbie Cornish, Erik Roberts, Andre 3000 (Outkast), Chrissie Hynde, Grace Slick, Daniel Johns (Silverchair) ... the list of TV and movie stars, musicians, politicians and athletes who have stopped eating meat and dairy products continues to grow.
The latest celebrity to make the switch to a vegan diet is US talk-show host Rosie O'Donnell, who suffered a potentially fatal heart attack on August 14.
O'Donnell also spoke to Dr Caldwell Esselstyn, author of Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease, in which the former surgeon and Olympic rowing champion argues that a vegan diet can reverse cardiovascular disease.
Former US president Bill Clinton read Esselstyn's book before switching to a plant-based diet following his quadruple bypass surgery.
"I had been playing Russian roulette," says Clinton, who now consumes no meat, no dairy and no eggs.
"I like the vegetables, the fruits, the beans, the stuff I eat now," Clinton told CNN. "All my blood tests are good, my vital signs are good and I also have, believe it or not, more energy."
Actress Michelle Pfeiffer (Scarface, Dangerous Liaisons) recently stopped eating meat and dairy products after reading the same book.
Seven-time Grand Slam tennis champion Venus Williams switched to a raw vegan diet last year after being diagnosed with Sjogren's syndrome – an autoimmune disease which left her with fatigue so overwhelming that "sitting in a chair was a huge effort." Williams told CBS, " I've made huge improvements since I was first diagnosed ... changing my diet has made a big difference."
Comedian Russell Brand, a longtime vegetarian, became a vegan last year after watching Forks over Knives - a documentary about the health effects of eating animal-based and processed foods.
One of the more unlikely converts to veganism is former world heavyweight boxing champion, "Iron" Mike Tyson - notorious for biting off part of the ear of rival Evander Holyfield during a 1997 title fight. Tyson turned vegan in 2009 and last year told Fox News that he feels "awesome, incredible."
"When you find out about all the garbage you've been eating ... no wonder I was crazy all those years," he says. "The drugs didn't help either," Tyson jokes.
Others including actor Robin Williams and musician Ozzy Osbourne also switched to a vegan diet because of health concerns, but many celebrities cite moral and ethical grounds for their veganism.
"Around 450 billion animals are factory farmed on our planet every year," says talk show host Ellen DeGeneres. "Dairy cows are kept constantly pregnant to produce milk, while their calves, considered by-products, are put to death almost instantly.
"Animal farming is the number one cause of climate change in the world and has a 40 per cent larger carbon footprint than all global transportation – every car, truck, bus, train and plane combined," says DeGeneres.
2012年4月17日星期二
Walk In Her Shoes Fundraiser
Walk A Mile in Her Shoes has been a successful fundraiser for Citizens Against Spouse Abuse, and the nonprofit is expanding the number of walkers to 24 for the third annual charity walk May 12 at Market Common on the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base.
JoAnne Patterson, executive director of CASA, says she is “still looking for a half-dozen walkers” – men who are willing to walk a mile wearing high heels. Now’s the time to sign up so the walkers have some time to learn how to walk in heels and, more importantly, to line up $1,000. That’s the main reason for the advance registration, although a little practice in the heels probably is not a bad idea. The charity walk raised $14,000 the first year with 17 participants and last year netted $11,000. Patterson is hoping to increase the amount with more walkers and each raising $1,000 from supporters.
Walk A Mile in Her Shoes is one of CASA’s two big fundraisers, the other being the Dickens Show, an auction of decorated Christmas trees. That’s “our big signature fundraiser” organized for many years by Myra Starnes – “she does so much for the community,” Patterson says.
As is the case for nearly all the nonprofits providing a variety of vital services, fundraisers are increasingly important. CASA’s financial support from its major grants is down 30 percent. “Our agencies [and all area nonprofits] are suffering from a dramatic shortfall in financing,” Patterson says. “We’re down to the bare minimum of staff.” CASA’s annual operations budget is $600,000; it was $900,000 before the recession of 2008. Patterson reaffirms that for many people, the recessionary economy continues, in spite of positive signs of recovery in tourism.
CASA operates safe houses in both Myrtle Beach and Georgetown. The number of spouse abuse victims helped annually is 386 in both counties, 286 in Myrtle Beach, 100 in Georgetown. At least that many more are served in individual and group counseling in locations other than the safe houses, such as the Little River United Methodist Church, and in court advocacy and case management. On a recent day, 12 women and children were in the Myrtle Beach safe house and 9 in Georgetown. The length of stay of course depends on circumstances; it typically is two weeks. Finding housing is very difficult, Patterson says. CASA helps victims in finding a job, medical care and in enrollment in assistance programs.
“Generally, somebody has been hurt – or feels they’re going to be hurt.” CASA works closely with other agencies such as the Little River Medical Center, the Rape Crisis Center and Myrtle Beach Haven.
Unfortunately, women typically return to the abusive situation. “They do go back. Seven to eleven times they go back,” Patterson says. It’s a statistic that has stuck with her for the 13 years she has been the director of CASA. She also worked at the Myrtle Beach Housing Authority. After being here 30 years, “I’m a local now.”
She recalled two families that “came [to the safe house] with nothing and left with everything – they broke the cycle and are living violent-free.” That’s success. “All of us in the trenches – what sustains us is our successes. When it happens, you know you can do it [keep on trucking] again today.”
JoAnne Patterson, executive director of CASA, says she is “still looking for a half-dozen walkers” – men who are willing to walk a mile wearing high heels. Now’s the time to sign up so the walkers have some time to learn how to walk in heels and, more importantly, to line up $1,000. That’s the main reason for the advance registration, although a little practice in the heels probably is not a bad idea. The charity walk raised $14,000 the first year with 17 participants and last year netted $11,000. Patterson is hoping to increase the amount with more walkers and each raising $1,000 from supporters.
Walk A Mile in Her Shoes is one of CASA’s two big fundraisers, the other being the Dickens Show, an auction of decorated Christmas trees. That’s “our big signature fundraiser” organized for many years by Myra Starnes – “she does so much for the community,” Patterson says.
As is the case for nearly all the nonprofits providing a variety of vital services, fundraisers are increasingly important. CASA’s financial support from its major grants is down 30 percent. “Our agencies [and all area nonprofits] are suffering from a dramatic shortfall in financing,” Patterson says. “We’re down to the bare minimum of staff.” CASA’s annual operations budget is $600,000; it was $900,000 before the recession of 2008. Patterson reaffirms that for many people, the recessionary economy continues, in spite of positive signs of recovery in tourism.
CASA operates safe houses in both Myrtle Beach and Georgetown. The number of spouse abuse victims helped annually is 386 in both counties, 286 in Myrtle Beach, 100 in Georgetown. At least that many more are served in individual and group counseling in locations other than the safe houses, such as the Little River United Methodist Church, and in court advocacy and case management. On a recent day, 12 women and children were in the Myrtle Beach safe house and 9 in Georgetown. The length of stay of course depends on circumstances; it typically is two weeks. Finding housing is very difficult, Patterson says. CASA helps victims in finding a job, medical care and in enrollment in assistance programs.
“Generally, somebody has been hurt – or feels they’re going to be hurt.” CASA works closely with other agencies such as the Little River Medical Center, the Rape Crisis Center and Myrtle Beach Haven.
Unfortunately, women typically return to the abusive situation. “They do go back. Seven to eleven times they go back,” Patterson says. It’s a statistic that has stuck with her for the 13 years she has been the director of CASA. She also worked at the Myrtle Beach Housing Authority. After being here 30 years, “I’m a local now.”
She recalled two families that “came [to the safe house] with nothing and left with everything – they broke the cycle and are living violent-free.” That’s success. “All of us in the trenches – what sustains us is our successes. When it happens, you know you can do it [keep on trucking] again today.”
2012年4月15日星期日
Show Them The Money?
As you will have all seen, commented on, and tweeted about, the big talking point over the last week was whether guys should get paid for playing ball at the Olympics—kicked off by Ray Allen, and taken on by Dwyane Wade.
Here’s what DWade said, in case you missed it:
‘It’s a lot of things you do for the Olympics—a lot of jerseys you sell,’ Wade said. ‘We play the whole summer. I do think guys should be compensated. Just like I think college players should be compensated as well. Unfortunately, it’s not there. But I think it should be something, you know, there for it … The biggest thing is now you get no rest,’
‘So you go to the end of the season, (Team USA) training camp is two weeks later. You’re giving up a lot to do it. It’s something you want to do. But it’s taxing on your body. You’re not playing for the dollar. But it would be nice if you would get compensated.’
To be fair to Wade, he then took to Twitter to clarify:
“I responded 2 a specific question asked by a reporter on my thoughts of Olympians being paid. I never asked to be paid to PLAY.”
“What I was referencing is there is a lot of Olympic business that happens that athletes are not a part of—and it’s a complicated issue.”
“BUT my love 4 the game & pride 4 USA motivates me more than any $$$ amount. I repped my country in 2004 when we won the bronze medal and stood proudly to receive our gold medal in 2008 in Beijing. It’s always been an honor for me to be a part of the USA Olympic family and I’m looking forward to doing it again in London this summer.”
I’m not going to jump on the guy—although he probably should have dodged the question, as teammates LeBron James and Chris Bosh both managed to do when asked the same thing—but Wade is right, it is a complicated issue
To me, there are two sides to this. The first is around getting paid to play basketball at the Olympics.
The Olympics are the purest expression of sporting achievement. I think most, if not all athletes would agree that participating in the Olympics should be about the personal pride of having represented your country, your family, your home town and anyone who has helped you become an elite athlete, in front of billions of people. And that’s exactly the same whether you play basketball or soccer, run the hundred meters, swim, or ride bikes around a track.
So no, guys shouldn’t get paid for the physical act of playing basketball at the Olympic Games, they should be honored to get the opportunity.
The other side of the argument, the one that Wade hinted at, is one that people seem less keen to acknowledge because it dirties the purity of the Games.
The Olympics are a money making machine, the biggest money making machine in all of sports—bringing in billions of dollars for the host city, broadcasters, and a host of brands who clamor to be a part of the circus. Replica jerseys and apparel, shoes, and merchandise are big business. The London Organizing Committee has a revenue target of $1.5 billion for merchandise alone, and adidas paid $150 million to be an official 2012 sponsor.
By playing (and winning) at the Olympics, guys like Dwyane, LeBron and Derrick Rose are chalking up huge sales for the Organizing Committee, adidas, Nike and anyone else with a logo on a shoe or shirt this summer. In any other situation, that contribution would be recognized. Do they actually need a cut of profits? No, they are multi-millionaires, that is why it gets the rest of us fired up. Do they deserve a cut? Arguably, yes.
There was a time when it looked unlikely that Great Britain would be represented in the Olympic basketball competition this summer. To a lot of people it’s probably news that Great Britain even has a basketball team. But, after a lengthy campaign, they got approval from FIBA to take the ‘host nation’ spot in the final twelve—great news for Luol Deng and his team, and all UK hoops fans.
Not such great news for the team who’s spot at the Olympics Great Britain took—Russia, who would ordinarily have gained automatic qualification for finishing third at last summer’s European Championships, and now has to go through a qualification tournament.
Russia’s head coach, David Blatt, is not exactly cool with the situation, and told Ria Novosti:
“Only because the Olympics are in London this year, the British team received a free pass, and that was at our expense, basically,” Blatt said. Asked whether he felt the British deserved the berth as Olympic host, he replied: “Sports-wise, no.”
“That’s the politics of the situation, and that’s what it is. It’s part of the picture, not a whole lot that I can do about it.”
As a normal person with the ability to use reason and logic, I totally agree with Blatt. Great Britain are probably not good enough to play at the Olympics, and there are several teams that, in a basketball sense, deserve to be there more than them. As a basketball fan who happens to be British, I’m not so sympathetic. We’re the host nation. We have a basketball team. That team gets to play at the event, like every host team has, ever. Sorry, Russia. Maybe see you in the summer.
Here’s what DWade said, in case you missed it:
‘It’s a lot of things you do for the Olympics—a lot of jerseys you sell,’ Wade said. ‘We play the whole summer. I do think guys should be compensated. Just like I think college players should be compensated as well. Unfortunately, it’s not there. But I think it should be something, you know, there for it … The biggest thing is now you get no rest,’
‘So you go to the end of the season, (Team USA) training camp is two weeks later. You’re giving up a lot to do it. It’s something you want to do. But it’s taxing on your body. You’re not playing for the dollar. But it would be nice if you would get compensated.’
To be fair to Wade, he then took to Twitter to clarify:
“I responded 2 a specific question asked by a reporter on my thoughts of Olympians being paid. I never asked to be paid to PLAY.”
“What I was referencing is there is a lot of Olympic business that happens that athletes are not a part of—and it’s a complicated issue.”
“BUT my love 4 the game & pride 4 USA motivates me more than any $$$ amount. I repped my country in 2004 when we won the bronze medal and stood proudly to receive our gold medal in 2008 in Beijing. It’s always been an honor for me to be a part of the USA Olympic family and I’m looking forward to doing it again in London this summer.”
I’m not going to jump on the guy—although he probably should have dodged the question, as teammates LeBron James and Chris Bosh both managed to do when asked the same thing—but Wade is right, it is a complicated issue
To me, there are two sides to this. The first is around getting paid to play basketball at the Olympics.
The Olympics are the purest expression of sporting achievement. I think most, if not all athletes would agree that participating in the Olympics should be about the personal pride of having represented your country, your family, your home town and anyone who has helped you become an elite athlete, in front of billions of people. And that’s exactly the same whether you play basketball or soccer, run the hundred meters, swim, or ride bikes around a track.
So no, guys shouldn’t get paid for the physical act of playing basketball at the Olympic Games, they should be honored to get the opportunity.
The other side of the argument, the one that Wade hinted at, is one that people seem less keen to acknowledge because it dirties the purity of the Games.
The Olympics are a money making machine, the biggest money making machine in all of sports—bringing in billions of dollars for the host city, broadcasters, and a host of brands who clamor to be a part of the circus. Replica jerseys and apparel, shoes, and merchandise are big business. The London Organizing Committee has a revenue target of $1.5 billion for merchandise alone, and adidas paid $150 million to be an official 2012 sponsor.
By playing (and winning) at the Olympics, guys like Dwyane, LeBron and Derrick Rose are chalking up huge sales for the Organizing Committee, adidas, Nike and anyone else with a logo on a shoe or shirt this summer. In any other situation, that contribution would be recognized. Do they actually need a cut of profits? No, they are multi-millionaires, that is why it gets the rest of us fired up. Do they deserve a cut? Arguably, yes.
There was a time when it looked unlikely that Great Britain would be represented in the Olympic basketball competition this summer. To a lot of people it’s probably news that Great Britain even has a basketball team. But, after a lengthy campaign, they got approval from FIBA to take the ‘host nation’ spot in the final twelve—great news for Luol Deng and his team, and all UK hoops fans.
Not such great news for the team who’s spot at the Olympics Great Britain took—Russia, who would ordinarily have gained automatic qualification for finishing third at last summer’s European Championships, and now has to go through a qualification tournament.
Russia’s head coach, David Blatt, is not exactly cool with the situation, and told Ria Novosti:
“Only because the Olympics are in London this year, the British team received a free pass, and that was at our expense, basically,” Blatt said. Asked whether he felt the British deserved the berth as Olympic host, he replied: “Sports-wise, no.”
“That’s the politics of the situation, and that’s what it is. It’s part of the picture, not a whole lot that I can do about it.”
As a normal person with the ability to use reason and logic, I totally agree with Blatt. Great Britain are probably not good enough to play at the Olympics, and there are several teams that, in a basketball sense, deserve to be there more than them. As a basketball fan who happens to be British, I’m not so sympathetic. We’re the host nation. We have a basketball team. That team gets to play at the event, like every host team has, ever. Sorry, Russia. Maybe see you in the summer.
2011年10月20日星期四
Sweet feet: An edible shoe
Philly Cupcake/Philly Chocolate, the twin boutiques in Center City, are now creating edible, lifesize shoes.
The first of the series, part of the Candyland Collection and named "Candy Garden," is a replica of a Christian Louboutin, and will make its debut Sunday, Oct. 23 at a fundraiser for the kid charity Little Smiles at the Hughes Center, inside the Curtis Center at Sixth and Walnut Streets. (Details here.)
This shoe, which will retail for $225, is constructed with 72-percent dark Belgian chocolate with a layer of painted white chocolate. Nonpareils are used to create a fabric look and Jelly Belly jelly beans create a magical line around the collar of the shoe. Jelly beans are also used to create the heel and sole. The bow is constructed of white chocolate and embellished with nonpareils and sour gummy and cream pumpkins.
The first of the series, part of the Candyland Collection and named "Candy Garden," is a replica of a Christian Louboutin, and will make its debut Sunday, Oct. 23 at a fundraiser for the kid charity Little Smiles at the Hughes Center, inside the Curtis Center at Sixth and Walnut Streets. (Details here.)
This shoe, which will retail for $225, is constructed with 72-percent dark Belgian chocolate with a layer of painted white chocolate. Nonpareils are used to create a fabric look and Jelly Belly jelly beans create a magical line around the collar of the shoe. Jelly beans are also used to create the heel and sole. The bow is constructed of white chocolate and embellished with nonpareils and sour gummy and cream pumpkins.
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