Vegetarian Star

Miyun Park and Moby

Together at last!

Well, not really, but the editors of Gristle, Moby and Miyun Park answered a few short questions via email and their publicist to Washington City Paper.

While many previous interviews in the media have been made with only Moby, Miyun offers an additional perspective, one that hints her goal is to get everyone thinking about factory farming but not necessarily going vegetarian.

Take for example, the creatively worded question of “Gustatory preferences aside, is there any good reason for wealthy urbanites in industrialized nations to eat meat?”

Moby’s Answer:
Objectively, I cannot think of a good reason to eat meat — wealthy urbanite or not. It is an inefficient use of resources and more often than not, it leads to obesity, heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

Miyun’s Answer:
There is certainly no reason for anyone to support industrialized animal production and there is no reason for farmers themselves to support these intrusive systems. I encourage everyone to make informed choices at every meal.

Similarly, while Miyun applauds the work of Temple Grandin for easing the stress of slaughter animals, Moby considers the question “tricky” because although less suffering is desirable, a world where animals aren’t used for food period is his ultimate dream.

Read more at Washington City Paper.

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The book edited by Moby and Miyun Park on factory farming, Gristle, isn’t meant to be a vegetarian or vegan converting source.

As co-editor Park said, “This book isn’t about veganism, and it isn’t about bringing down the animal agriculture industry.”

In fact, some contributors are even part of the meat industry.

So why would Moby, a vegan for two decades, decide to partake in something that doesn’t outright condem using animals as food?

Moby answered to Philly.com:

“The book is about presenting people with the facts and ramifications of factory farming and large-scale industrial animal production. What people do with the information is up to them. There are so many different types of animal agriculture, from the pernicious to the relatively benign, so it’s hard for me to make any huge blanket statements.”

Bottom line is, Moby isn’t using Gristle to tell you if consuming or using animals to produce food is okay.

That’s a decision you’ll have to come to on your own.

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So Moby, George Bush and Jesus are all over at Moby’s house sitting in the living room and George gets hungry.

There really is no punchline to this, just a fantasy of the bald vegan musician he told to Rachael Ray, when he revealed his kitchen is stocked full of condiments and vitamins.

“You know, I think it would be nice to have George Bush and Jesus over for dinner,” Moby said.

What would he serve for the two leaders?

“Well, George spent a lot of time in Texas, so I’d make some rice and beans and salsa, maybe some guacamole,” Moby said. “I’m not a particularly good cook, but I can make reasonably palatable bachelor food.”

Moby’s Mexican fare may need a few miracles before it’s palatable, but it would definitely answer some scholars question of whether Jesus was a vegetarian.

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Chipotle founder, co-CEO and co-chair Steve Ells says the pork sourced for their products is obtained from Niman Ranch, a small network of family farms that raise their pigs on open pastures or deeply bedded barns, feed them vegetarian diets and give them no hormones or antibiotics.

After switching to this supplier, Ells found sales increased even after having to charge an extra dollar to cover the cost of the non factory farmed meat.

Paul Wills, manager of Niman Ranch Pork Company, is a contributor in Moby and Miyun Park‘s edited collection of essays, Gristle, where he discusses the strain big farms put on small family ones.

Although Wills may be a fish out of water in a book edited by a vegan with a vegetarian slant, the experience with Chipotle restaurant teaches us that the more humane way to raise an animal for food not only puts less stress on the organism and the environment, but results in more satisfaction for the consumer.

Niman Ranch’s “ethical meat” is not a vegetarian carnita, but it’s a step forward in taking better care of the world and every living thing, including part time vegetarians, that inhabits it.

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Besides Boo Boo Stewart‘s raving about his mom’s Japanese style tofu, the Vegetarian Times was able to catch a few other celebrities at the Genesis Awards to find out what their favorite dish was.

Moby loves the vegan tacos at Real Food Daily as well as the vegan sushi at Souen in New York.

Nicole Lapin sounded as if she’s a fan of old fashioned comfort food, as she had plenty to say about the meals that were prepared during a “Fabulous faux” dinner party she hosted, featuring “you wouldn’t believe it’s vegan” versions of American dishes.

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Billboard reports that the annual SXSW (South By South West) festival in Austin drew record numbers with 13,022 registered music industry professionals.

And while 100,000 people were expected to attend the 10 day music, film and networking event, official figures are still being tallied.

Wouldn’t it be great if there was a vegetarian musician fest offered annually?

Just think of all the great award winning acts that could take the stage, not to mention the great food to eat at the concessions.

Chrissie Hynde and The Pretenders would ensure seitan and not roast beef sandwiches would be sold to hungry fans.

The smooth sounds of hip hop artist Erykah Badu could combine with jazzy DJ skills of someone like Moby for an evening of soul topped off with a hearty helping of UK women Joss Stone and Leona Lewis.

Singer songwriter Nellie McKay controls the piano, indoors or outdoors.

And another day could be reserved for the meatless rockers like Joan Jett, Boston’s Tom Scholz and Queen’s Brian May.

Meatless music fanatics with an entrepreneurial spirit, can you make this happen in the future?

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“The pancakes are whole-wheat flour and oat bran and almond milk and a little baking soda. I think I added some peaches — whatever I have lying around. In winter it’s only frozen fruit. People who are used to IHOP pancakes — big and fluffy — they would be disappointed. I had an ex-girlfriend; when we were breaking up — one of the few endings of a relationship that was a bit contentious — one of her parting shots was having her tell me she never liked my pancakes. I thought that was very cruel. Insult my sexual prowess, my intellect, but not my pancakes.”

—-Moby, in the New York Times, on his vegan pancakes. Moby was featured on Epicurious (video above) awhile back demonstrating how he whips up his not big and fluffy, but still delicious pancakes.

If you promise not to say anything bad about them and send Moby into an ego disaster, grab the recipe and try them out for yourself.

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After learning that Moby is not the uptight, holier than thou vegan he was years ago, Grist.org provides more insight as to why he’s more likely to turn the other cheek and quietly suggest you do better next time if you indulge in some macaroni and cheese at a mom and pop’s diner in the middle of nowhere on a road trip.

You see, Moby has fallen a few times in his life. And he’s fessing up.

“In the last 22 years, I cheated twice. I had, and this is going to sound so crazy, I had yogurt in 1992, and I have to say it was really good. And about five years ago, I was talking to a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, and he said I should start eating eggs. So I went to the store and I bought organic, free range, locally grown eggs and I tried to eat an egg, but I just didn’t like it.”

The experience didn’t send him into a lifestyle of reckless, dairy debauchery, but instead served to confirm his values, making him a “born again” vegan.

“I was just reminded of why I’m a vegan, but really I don’t judge people’s lifestyles. If someone chooses to eat meat or dairy, that’s their choice. I just think that meat and dairy can be produced a lot more ethically than they currently are being produced and with much less impact on communities, on the environment, and on people’s health.”

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