When Paul told me about this interview and about his subsequent letter I wanted to post it here because a lot of people are unaware of the complete lack of credentials or scholarship from some of the largest anti-vegetarian lobbies (i.e. The Weston A. Price Foundation.) This chorus is the foundation of the “dangers of soy” lobby and the its important to start asking these questions in the face of such ludicrous claims. (Eds. Note)

Hello:

I am writing to express my disappointment regarding an interview conducted today with Dr. Kaayla Daniel author of a recent book exposing the dangers of soy. The interview was embarrassing in my view as it violated what I would assume to be fundamental principles of journalism. The author’s credentials to pronounce a commonly available food product ‘dangerous’ were not revealed nor her institutional affiliations. Repeatedly she described soy as a ‘dangerous’ food that could ‘get people into trouble’. There were no details on the biochemistry of soy nutrition nor reference to any peer reviewed publication that would support such an interpretation. Instead we have to rely on the interviewer’s lack of curiousity and critical analysis. I looked into this author’s background and see that she has a doctorate from a private, distance learning institution in Ohio that has had problems securing federal student loans and graduate degree accreditation in the past. I also see that she is on the board of an odd foundation (The Weston A. Price Foundation) that endorses principles of nutrition developed by a Dentist in the 1930s. This organization is wedded closely to the idea that animals fats are essential for human nutrition. One of the authors fellow board members’ small publishing company published this book. I assume the book was not subjected to double-blind peer review, as would be standard for any serious epidemiological study, let alone one making such outrageous and fear-mongering claims. The author did not conduct any original research. The book is a cherry picked sample of studies favouring her position and ignores studies that are ambivalent or that draw conclusions contrary to her thesis. I don’t expect journalists to be experts on any given topic, but they owe their audience a committment to basic journalistic ethics. In my view, CKTB let its listeners down today with this irrational and hyperbolic segment. I have no problem with critiques of soy, or any other product, but when you allow someone to declare a legal food item that is served in Niagara restaurants on a daily basis “dangerous’, you have now violated core principles of journalism and shifted into the infomercial business.

Sincerely,

Paul Hamilton
St. Catharines, Ontario

Send your letters to the Editor here. If they get printed in your local news, awesome, if they don’t then remember there is no rejection in DIY!

Meat Plant Marks Potemkin City Revitalization? 

I had to shudder as I read the recent article on the New Foods Classic meat plant coming to the Niagara Region. Is this supposed to be a sign of Mayor Brian McMullan’s vision for the region? The slaughterhouse and packaging industries prey upon regions in economic turmoil. If anything this move should symbolize how dire the situation in Niagara is. What about “growth” and “sustainbility,” those buzz words repeated endlessly during the municipal election campaign only a few weeks ago. While this move may provide some jobs for local workers, this is not a move that can be considered “sustainable” in any sense of the word.

The recent United Nations study Assesing the Environmental Impacts of Consumption and Production urged for a reduction in the consumption of animal products in order to combat climate change, resource scarcities and global poverty. Similarly, a WorldWatch Institute study recently attributed 51% of man made carbon emissions to animal agriculture. These kinds of animal enterprises guzzle resources like land, water and oil. In light of repeated studies highlighting the alarming rate at which these resources are disappearing it is even more disappointing to think that government dollars subsidized this move. 

Does the Niagara Region really need an industry which is notorious for poor work environments, human rights violations and dangerous work? Do we really need to shell out $1 million to rely on an industry on the verge of collapse? Are we setting ourselves up for even further economic difficulties in this region? This decision indicates a lack of foresight and vision on the part of our community leaders. If these are the industries we are selling Niagara on, then we are selling ourselves woefully short. 

xo,
Dylan Powell

A new day, a new Letter. This one comes from the lovely Krys Kagan at Two Vegan Boys. . Ecorazzi recently posted an article that ad space for this show has flopped and it may not see the light of day. Let’s all pray.

Sarah F-cking Palin

Hasn’t she done enough?!?!? Now as most of you have heard, she is getting her own show on TLC. Don’t even get me started on TLC and their shows. The Duggars, 19 Kids and Counting-Hey, let’s have 30 kids, while one of them is fighting for her life in the NICU ward. And the show Jon and Kate Plus Eight-a trainwreck in itself. I am so glad the show is off the air. And then there is Sarah Palin.

TLC is giving her a show. It is about Alaska and will be an eight part reality series. She does not deserve her own show. Remember, this is the woman who offered a $150 bounty for the severed front legs of dead wolves. That is awful. She also fought against the protection of polar bears. Their population is struggling. And fought against the protection of the beluga whales in the Cook Inlet whose population is dwindling. What I find really sad is that TLC is owned by Discovery Communications. The same company that shows the Discovery Channel. You know, the channel that has shows about nature, wildlife, and preserving mother earth. Why they would ever allow Sarah Palin to have a show is beyond me. She represents all that is evil, especially when it comes to animals and the environment.

Defenders of Wildlife has started a petition to stop Sarah Palin’s new show. Please go to this link and sign the petition.