Vegetarian Star

It’s recently been unearthed that thousands have lost money in the multi billion dollar Ponzi scheme ran by Bernard Madoff, including famous vegan author John Robbins, who lost his entire life savings.

People For the Ethical Treatment of Animals’ (PETA) Bruce Friedrich, vice president for policy and government affairs, found an online inaugural package to bid on that sounded too good to be true. That’s because it was.

The auction on eBay consisted of a great pair of inaugural tickets and a private meeting with the President himself, according to The online Wall Street Journal.

“2009 White House Full Inauguration Tickets VIP Access” was being offered by Chicago-based charity group December Rain, which provides for foster children who have life-threatening medical conditions. The group paid thousands of dollars to investors for tickets to a variety of events, which it then attempted to auction off online.

December Rain representatives invested with Connecticut-based investment firm Fairfield Greenwich which invested with Mr. Madoff. And you know what kinds of rewards those investments reaped.

A week before the inauguration, PETA received an email stating the tickets did not exist. Although the charity promised to reimburse everyone financially involved, it recently had to close its doors after receiving death threats from those that invested.

Possibly Related Posts:

• Ben And Jerry’s Launch Vegan Ice Cream
• Best Vegetarian Stories Of 2015
• Moby Opens Little Pine Vegan Restaurant
• White Castle Goes Vegan
• IKEA Unveils Its Vegetarian Meatball Option

Before there was Skinny Bitch author Rory Freedman, there was John Robbins advocating how a vegan diet was better for maintaining health, healthy weight, and a healthy planet through books such as Healthy at 100, The Food Revolution, and Diet for a New America.

He is currently facing financial crisis after learning that he and his wife lost their entire life savings in the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme.

In an attempt to scrape by, the Robbins have resorted to renting out rooms in their home, according to Patti Breitman on VegSource:

“To economize, the family has rented out every extra room in their house and every spare space on their property. Still, it is not clear if they will be able to pay their mortgage or keep the property they share with their son, his wife and their two grandsons.”

“I cannot imagine a man who has had a greater positive influence on the vegetarian movement than John Robbins. Because of his books, countless people around the world have changed their way of eating, dressing, and relating to animals. Because of the integrity he has shown in his life, countless people have found the courage to turn down job opportunities and great financial gain if the work caused harm to others.”

Ironically, although he preached otherwise, Robbins was the very object of work that caused harm to others.

Wishing him and his family the best as they fight to recover from this tragedy.

Possibly Related Posts:

• Best Vegetarian Stories Of 2015
• Yotam Ottolenghi Gives “Plenty More” Vegetarian Recipes In New Book
• Benjamin Zephaniah Advocates Plant Diet For New Year’s Resolution
• Sam Simon Offers Sealers One Million For Government Buyout
• Meatless Mouthful–Rick Warren Praises The Plant

Weird Al Yankovic is a vegetarian. No, really. He definitely makes tofu very white and nerdy.

The performer who is known for his parodies was once asked by Paul McCartney when he was going to make fun of him. That’s right. McCartney wondered when one of his songs would be remade by Yankovic.

A little later, Yankovic, a vegetarian, asked Paul for permission to use the song, “Live and Let Die,” for a song called, “Chicken Pot Pie.” Paul said no, because it dealt with eating meat, but Yankovic used it anyway because apparently he didn’t need Paul’s permission after all, he was just trying to be nice.

When we were young, Bernie’s Deli was down the block
(Ooh ooh ooh ooh)
He made a great liver pate
(You know he did, you know he did, you know he did)
But if there’s one thing in this world that I like better
Than a corned beef on rye

It’s Chicken Pot Pie
Chicken Pot Pie

[chorus of chicken-cluck imitations]

“Chicken Pot Pie,” by the strange man who turned vegan after a fan gave him the book, “Diet For A New America,” by John Robbins.

via Jeff Rubin Jeff Rubin (no, amazingly not a typo)

Possibly Related Posts:

• The Passing Of A Vegan Prince
• Meatless Mouthful–Stevie Wonder Says Vegan Helps His Good Looks And Planet
• Meatless Monday Recipe–Waka Flocka Blueberry Vegan Muffins (Video)
• Best Vegetarian Stories Of 2015
• Moby Opens Little Pine Vegan Restaurant