Chicago city ordinance: Anti Bull-hook and long term chaining of Elephants

Originally posted: April 8, 2008
Posted and reporting by Jack Nugent at 9:20pm

For almost four hours today, a City Council committee heard testimony and debated an ordinance regarding the use of bull-hooks and long term chaining of circus elephants within the city limits of Chicago.

The ordinance would ban the use of a broad range of devices, such as bull hooks, ax handles, and electric shock, within city limits. The ordinance is currently backed by 25,000 signatures from Chicago City residents and introduced by Alderman Mary Anne Smith.

Smith defined the ordinance as "A legislative tool that will not prohibit (circus) business but will set the highest standards and best practices for a city that signs off on permits. The ordinance’s intent is to modernize the industry and allow for process improvement rather than rely on 100 year old tools that are outdated. It’s a matter of pain and suffering as well as ethics."

Proponents argued that children learn to act violently when they witness cruelty against animals. Animal Welfare advocates suggested alternative animal control measures such as Protected Contact guidelines which are currently in use at the San Diego Wild Animal Park and The Lincoln Park Zoo.

Aldermen heard testimony from retired police officer Blaine Doyle who had the unfortunate task of bringing down a raging elephant in 1992. The elephant was shot 47 times by Doyle and required 2 armor piercing rounds before it was killed. Doyle told the Aldermen that "Bull-hooks and chains are a facade of control".

Testimony was heard from former animal handlers, animal welfare workers, residents and Circus Industry spokesmen. Industry Spokesmen Tom Albert and Sarah Lashford presented the Industry argument stating that if this ordinance is passed Ringling Brothers and Feld Entertainment will not perform in Chicago.

Alderman Toni Preckwinkle questioned the Industry representatives asking if Ringling Brothers had ever performed without animals previously. Lashford responded that "Large cats, lions and tigers, were sometimes not used in shows". Ald. Preckwinkle and Smith rebuffed the Circus Industry’s statement to not do shows in Chicago stating that "economic threats are common threats heard in these chambers" and a common tactic used by Industries hoping to defeat progressive legislation.

In the end today’s meeting resulted in a call for reconvening this ordinance meeting with a discussion set for the third week of May. Ald. Smith strongly reprimanded the Circus Industry stating that new arguments were needed if they hoped to stop this legislation’s approval. Smith stated "The Industry must work with PETA on this issue. We can do better and this (bull-hook and chaining practice) is going to change. Zoos are changing and I see no reason, after today, why the circus industry can’t progress also."

Local coverage

Vegan peanut Butter cups

Peanut Butter Mousse
1 (14- to 16-ounce) package firm tofu
(2 cups), blanched and drained
1 cup maple syrup
3⁄4 cup smooth peanut butter, at room temperature
3⁄4 cup light natural cane sugar, or more to taste
3⁄4 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
1⁄2 teaspoon salt

Chocolate Candy Cups
8 ounces nondairy chocolate chips


Tip: Admittedly, this is a time-consuming process, but chocolate cups can be frozen for up to a month in an airtight container, so make them when you have time to play.

Peanut Butter Mousse in Chocolate Candy Cups
Yield: 4 cups mousse

I practically lived on peanut butter cup candies one semester at college. I don’t know why I was so drawn to them, but I do know it wasn’t a good thing. Tofu and organic peanut butter, both healthful foods, are the main players in this more healthful version of the popular treat, but it’s still not okay to eat too many. Of course, if peanut allergies are an issue, you can use another nut butter in its place.
To make the Chocolate Candy Cups, you’ll need paper candy cup liners or small cupcake liners (mini cups) and a clean, small watercolor paint brush, small pastry brush, or spoon. A pastry bag will be needed to fill them with the mousse.

1. To prepare the mousse, crumble the tofu into a food processor and process 1 minute. Add the maple syrup and process 1 minute. Add the peanut butter, sugar, cocoa, vanilla and almond extracts, and salt, and process until the mixture is perfectly smooth and creamy. This can take up to 5 minutes. Stop the processor a few times to clean the sides of the bowl.

2. The mousse is ready to use, but can be refrigerated in a covered container for up to two days. Bring to room temperature when ready to use.

3. To prepare the chocolate cups, fit the paper liners into mini muffin tins or place on a baking sheet lined with plastic wrap. Melt the chocolate in a small heatproof bowl placed over a saucepan of barely simmering water. Stir occasionally until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Do not overheat. Remove the bowl from the saucepan.

4. Spoon some melted chocolate into each cup. Use the brush to coat the liners as thoroughly as possible. Make sure to coat the inside rim; you want to prevent it from breaking when the paper is peeled off the chocolate.Wipe off any chocolate that drips onto the outside of the rim. Refrigerate or freeze the cups until the chocolate has hardened; this will take 10 to 30 minutes depending upon how cold your freezer is, and how thick a layer of chocolate you have made. Place the bowl of melted chocolate back on the saucepan and keep it warm over barely simmering water.

5. Check the cups for thin spots. Add another layer of chocolate, coating the thin spots more generously. The chocolate doesn’t have to be smooth; the cups will be filled. Chill again until hardened.


6. Slowly and carefully peel the paper off in a spiral motion; don’t pull straight down, or the rim may break. (You may find it easier to peel the paper from the cups after you have filled them. Test one or two and decide which method works better for you.)

7. To assemble the candy cups, spoon or pipe some peanut butter cream into each cup using a pastry bag fitted with a plain or star tip. Refrigerate or freeze until ready to serve.

Don’t believe the hype: Myths from the meat board

Every once in a while I run into a meat eater that has read these page E13 newspaper articles questioning the value of soybeans in a diet. Ethical eaters: here’s a link you want to save to your favorites. It may be a handy tool to use should you ever get this question from meat eaters: "But I’ve heard tofu is bad for you because____________(insert myth here).

The Safety of Soy

My first response is to tell them that; even if the junk science reports being sold to the media by the Texas Cattlemen Lobbyists, or the "Meat, it’s whats for dinner" board, were true then I would still eat wheat protien, nuts, beans and other vegetable protiens. I would still ensure my diet was cruelty free, varied, healthy, and most importantly I would get the satisfaction of not using my dollars to support an industry that the UN Panel on Climate Control reports is the largest producer of greenhouse gases (Yes, factory farms produce more GGs than all the SUVs on the road).

Examples of myths:

Soya disrupts thyroid function: Busted
Processed soya foods are bad for you:Busted
Soya makes you get man boobs:Busted (hell, I bust this or any of the guys over at Veganbodybuilding.com!

Vanilla Mint Iced Vegan Chocolate Ho-Hos

Ok, so ya’ll know I go into Cardiogenic Shock when Buddhists are given the full court press by either rogue elements within Tibet or Red China Party Loyalists sent to kick puppies and show their strength. 

On one hand, with the Beijing Olympics debut in just a few months and China center stage one has to wonder why a Tienanmen  Event would be ordered so close to the kick off that China has been building up to for nearly a decade.

It is with these concerns rattling around in my grey matter that I have to clear my head with some cathartic vegan baking.  And this attempt was originated by a purely base emotion and one of the lowest at that: Jealousy.  Yea, the Urban Housewife and Bake and Destroy have been posting the greatest looking sweet treats this lonely revolutionary has seen since Barbra Billinglsy burned her bra.  The post punk vegan baking revolution is delicious deviant debauchery in the face of a packaged/processed heat and eat world.  So with that I again removed myself from my masculine element and turned towards the kitchen to prove that I can do anything a woman can do. 

Of course The Urban Housewife, who is currently jet-setting the world, passed on this recipe for Vanilla Mint Iced Vegan Chocolate Ho-Hos and for those of you interested I pass it on to you. 

• 1 and 2/3 cups sugar
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup oat flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup Dutch-processed cocoa
• 1/3 cup natural cocoa
• 1 1/2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
• 1 cup hot brewed coffee
• 1 cup light coconut milk
• 2 tablespoons cider or white wine vinegar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup vegan butter substitute

Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray two 9-inch round cake pans with non-stick cooking spray; set aside.

Sift sugar, flours, baking soda and salt into a large bowl, then whisk to combine.

Combine cocoas and chocolate in a large bowl and cover with hot coffee; whisk until smooth.

Combine coconut milk, vinegar and vanilla in large measuring cup.

Place vegan butter substitute in a medium bowl. Add coconut milk mixture in two additions, whisking until smooth after each.

Add vegan butter-coconut milk mixture to the chocolate mixture and whisk to combine, then add this mixture to dry ingredients and fold gently with rubber spatula until just incorporated and no streaks of flour remain.

Divide batter evenly between cake pans and bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes, switching position of and rotating pans after 12 minutes. If making cupcakes, bake for 12 minutes, then rotate the pan, start checking for a toothpick inserted in center to come out clean at 16 minutes.
Cool cakes in pans on wire rack to room temperature, about 2 hours.

Mint icing:
1/4 cup (spectrum) shortening
3 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup soy creamer or soy milk
1 tsp mint extract
1 tsp vanilla extract

All hail Kale!

Ok, earlier this week Vegan Danielle wrote a piece mentioning Kale as a leafy veg that's chock full of vitamins. She got me thinking about the atributes of this butchy broadleaf.

Why does Kale matter to me?

• 1. Kale is tough as nails. No, not in your mouth but it's tough out in the elements. Resilient plants don't get more badass than Kale which is closely related to wild cabbage and grows well in Siberia and cooler climates or is a natural part of Brazilian cooking.
  
• 2. Popeye's Spinach had nothing on the musk-uls that Kale swings and Kale don't pull punches. In fact Spinach is a very good comparisons because preparation and cooking of kale is most similar to it except Kale is not so slimy. Kale is the most robust cabbage type - indeed the hardiness of kale is unmatched by any other vegetable.
  
• 3. Kale is considered to be one of the most highly nutritious vegetables, with powerful antioxidant properties and is anti-inflammatory. Kale is very high in beta carotene, vitamin K, vitamin A, vitamin C, lutein and zeaxanthin and reasonably rich in calcium. Kale is a very good source of iron, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin K and Carotenoids (which provide vitamin A). In Japan, kale juice (known as aojiru) is a popular dietary supplement.

So without more jabber-jawing I've detailed one of my favorite ways to quickly whip up an easy entree' suitable for any cocksman on the run.

Stuff to get

• 1 lg bundle of fresh kale (It's in the lettuce section)
  
• 170 grams / 6 ounces whole wheat linguine or spaghetti (Why whole wheat? Cause that layer of metastasized fritos on your obliques says you don't need any more processed flour)
  
• 1-2 tablespoons Extra-virgin olive oil
  
• 4-5 plump cloves garlic (Benefits: proven ability to lower cholesterol and blood pressure as well as help the body to fight infections.)
  
• 3 tablespoon pignoli nuts (pinecone seeds or pine nuts lubricate the lungs and large intestines, and are 14 percent protein.)
  
• Sea salt
  
• Fresh black pepper

How to cook Kale Alla Toscana 

Start boiling the water for the pasta first. Next, chop the garlic into small slivers and saute it in about 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. When the garlic is soft, add the pine nuts and saute until everything is golden and lightly browned. Turn the heat off.

When the water boils, throw in the pasta with some salt -- it'll take about 10 minutes to cook. Put a steamer over the pot. Strip the kale off its stems and tear into bite-sized pieces; put them aside until the last 2 minutes of cooking the pasta; then put the kale into the steamer and cook over the pasta.

As soon as the kale is wilted, pull the steamer off the pot and dump the kale in with the garlic and nuts. Mix well. Drain the pasta and put it into a deep bowl. Toss it with the kale mixture; serve immediately, with sea salt and fresh-ground pepper.

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Survey

1. Do you like blue cheese?
about as much as blue balls.

2. Have you ever smoked heroin?
smoking's bad for you so I just mainline the shit.

3. Do you own a gun?
I'm always packing and fully cocked.



4. Your favorite song?
David Bowie - It's Hard To Be A Saint In The City (Springsteen)

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointment?
I get nervous before FISA and wiretapping votes. Doctors can only kill me once. Politicians and judges can cut us deeper than ony quack.

6. What do think of hot dogs?
Not much; I realize as I filter back through my thoughts of cased meat products in general and neither my best nor worst memories are linked to frankfurters or red hots. I'll tell you one thing, whoever says hot dogs are all American was some pudgy jowled tutonic son of a facist anti semite trying to force the fatherland on my nutrient rich heartland of brown earth and rich amber waves of grain and fruited plane.

7. Favorite Christmas song?
The Waitresses - Christmas Wrapping

But seriously: FUCK CHRISTMAS.

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?
strong, black coffee

9. Can you do push ups?
Like Jack Lalane

..
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..

11. What's your favorite piece of jewelry?
Prince Albert

12. Favorite hobby?
climbing, hiking, backpacking

14. Do you have A.D.D.?
nope, I'm too focused. More like O.C.D.

15. What's one thing that you hate about yourself?
my narcissism

16. What is your middle name?
David

17. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment.?
got to get ready for tomorrow's trip.

Got to get those letters sent

Why do the British call cigarettes -- fags?


18. Name 3 things you bought yesterday
emergency kit for my car
last month's electricity
fritos

19. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink.
limeade
protein shakes
coffee

20. Current worry right now?
am I forgetting anything for tomorrow's trip.

21. Current hate right now?
The Military Commissions Act of 2006 and the USA Patriot Act

22. Favorite place to be?
On a mountain

23. How did you bring in the New Year?
kissing another frog

24. Where would you like to go?
Malaysia

25. Name three people who will complete this?
Holly (already did), Lizzie, and Irish (cause she's the survey queen)

26. Do you own slippers?
hawaiians call flip flops or thongs --slippers, so yes. I have some thongs.

27. What shirt are you wearing?
my least favorite dress shirt. It doesn't stay tucked in.

28. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets
no, and I don't know anyone that does. They suck.

29. Can you whistle?
Yes! and I don't know why more people don't whistle. People that whistle are confident and happy.

30. Favorite color?
I like Kelly Green

31. Would you be a pirate?
Arg, me cutlass has sometimes missed the mark

32. What songs do you sing in the shower?
I've been jammin to The Coup lately. (Thanks Holly!)

33. Favorite girl's name?
Dementia

34. Favorite boy's name?
Fallatio (both from lost Shakespeare manuscripts I've been hoarding)

35.whats in your pocket right now?
wouldn't you like to know? Oh, wait...lint. :(

36. Last thing that made you laugh?
jamie spears' pregnancy.

37. Best bed sheets as a child?
whatever.

38. Worst injury you've ever had?
Broken arm

39. Do you love where you live?
It's alright, but I still want to live on a mountain.

40. How many TVs do you have in your house?
1

41. Who is your loudest friend?
None of my friends are loud.

42. How many dogs do you have?
none.

43. Does someone have a crush on you?
Yes, and she needs to stop being so shy!

44. Favorite book?
Perfume by Peter Suskind

46. What is your favorite candy?


47. Favorite Sports Team?
whatever, maybe the San Diego Padres.

48. What song do you want played at your funeral?
And when I die by Blood Sweat and Tears

49. What were you doing 12 AM last night?
working the new chicago activist direct action website

50. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up?
"someone should raise a flag on that pole"