Vegetarian Star

January is almost over, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make a New Year’s resolution.

Just when most people are starting to break their’s, now’s an equally good time to make one that will benefit you and other life around you.

Poet Benjamin Zephaniah has written an article for the UK Huffington Post, giving his reasons for going meat-free in 2014.

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“It just comes from a love of animals really. I agree with a lot of people who talk about the health benefits and the planetary benefits of eating meat. But from all the shit I suffered when I was young – animals were always my friends. They didn’t judge me for my race, or for who I was. I hate it when people say things like “Hitler was an animal” – what animal? An animal wouldn’t do what he did!”

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Benjamin Zephaniah gave The Guardian an interview where he revealed although he’s traveled to places as exotic as Beijing to eat vegan, his favorite meal is still a simple dish of butter beans, potatoes, yam and dasheen.

Regardless of where or what you eat, Zephaniah insists anything can be made vegan.

“I can honestly say I’ve not been tempted to give up veganism in 27 years. I sometimes smell a chip shop and like the smell but then feel guilty because fish might be part of it. But I’ll go home and make vegan chips.”

“When I moved to Beijing, to study martial arts, I saw teenagers stroking cats which minutes later would be on their plates. Yet in Beijing I also found my favorite vegan restaurant in the world – Pure Lotus. There really is a vegan version of everything.”

More at The Guardian.

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Poet Benjamin Zephaniah has become one of several celebrities to join the campaign to ask the Malvern Conservators to reconsider their plans to close the vegetarian St. Ann’s Well Cafe in Malvern Hills in West Worcestershire, England.

According to a press release from the Save St. Ann’s Well campaign, Zephaniah contacted supporters to offer his thoughts, saying he was sad to hear about the closing.

“In the book Icons of England I named the Malvern Hills as my favourite place in England. I could have also said that St Anns Well cafe is my favourite place on the hills. It is unique, it is a treasure, it is fully in keeping with the hills, and is a sustainable enterprise. This cafe is a great example of the kind of ethical business that can carry us forward in the 21st century. It must be protected, it must be saved, it must just be for all of us. PS I recommend the chocolate cake!’”

The owner of the cafe, John Redman, has occupied the site of St. Ann’s Well for both his business and his residency for the past 20 years.

He was informed late last year that the Conservators would not be renewing his lease.

An online petition has been started in an attempt to persuade them to reverse their decision.

Hope this won’t be the last year for the chocolate cake Zephaniah likes so much.

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“I am 51, but look younger. My ­doctor thinks it is my veganism – I’ve been vegan since I was 13. I try not to have fried food and don’t drink ­alcohol or smoke. I also do yoga and t’ai chi. It’s important to learn how to be relaxed; if you are tense and miserable, it stamps itself on your face.”

—-Benjamin Zephaniah in The Guardian.

If you’re interested in knowing what foods are found in the fountain of youth, check out Benjamin’s grocery list.

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Poet Benjamin Zephaniah recently interviewed with the UK Times Online and revealed when he visits China, he’s often challenged in several ways, including his vegan diet. 

“When I got to China I found I was being challenged in really interesting ways. For instance, I always believed that everybody in China had only one child. But I kept meeting people with six children. And it’s challenging being a vegan in China, like I am — but the best vegan restaurant I’ve come across in the world is in Beijing.”

Sure wish Benjamin had mentioned that awesome vegan restaurant in Beijing. It might come in handy for some of you international travelers.

Have you had any overseas veg dieting challenges?

Read the entire story on Benjamin at entertainment.timesonline.co.uk.

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When you first start reading poet Benjamin Zephaniah’s, “Talking Turkeys,” you hear him asking you to pardon turkeys for Christmas.

Be nice to yu turkeys dis christmas
Cos’ turkeys just wanna hav fun
Turkeys are cool, turkeys are wicked
An every turkey has a Mum

You would think Thanksgiving would have been included. But we know Benjamin is a hard-core vegan who wouldn’t want turkeys eaten any holiday, so he must have been in the Christmas groove when he wrote it and that’s perfectly alright.

Since so many people are eating and not talking to their turkeys today, we thought it’d be cool to include a few lines from Zephaniah’s, “Talking Turkeys,” poem. Enjoy!

Yeah, I got lots of friends who are turkeys
Dey all hav a right to a life,
Not to be caged up an genetically made up
By any farmer an his wife

Turkeys just wanna play reggae
Turkeys just wanna hip-hop
Can yu imagine a nice young turkey saying,
‘I cannot wait for de chop’,
Turkeys like getting presents, dey wanna watch christmas TV,
Turkeys hav brains an turkeys feel pain
In many ways like yu an me

For more turkey talk, visit Benjamin Zephaniah.com

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What can Russell Brand do for Britain? Reduce obesity rates? Encourage more physical activity? Have naked ladies wearing only lettuce cups go door to door reminding you to eat your veggies?

These are just a few of some possible campaign pointers he should mention in case he decides to run for Food Minister.

Celebrity Chef Jamie Oliver has expressed concerns over Britain’s rising health problems and says the country is in need of a Food Minister to help stop and reduce what he calls the “obesity horror show.”

But this horror show doesn’t involve Rocky coming to life. And ooh, girlfriend, those Transylvanians have gotten fa-aat!

Peta UK has jumped on the chance to remind everyone that a vegetarian diet can help you lose weight and is better for the planet and has created its own ballad for vegetarian celebrities that would be perfect for the Food Minister position, including shock jock Brand.

Other celebs on the list include Paul McCartney, Joanna Lumley, Morrissey, Russell Brand, Benjamin Zephaniah, Leona Lewis, Jenny Seagrove, Alexa Chung, Jodie Marsh, Martin Shaw, and Thom Yorke.

Whether you live in the UK or not, you can participate in the decision by going to Fish and Chips and leaving a comment as to who you think should take the helm.

The “obesity horror show” can change. Let’s do the time warp again…but with a vegan Frank. N. Furter.

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