We are excited to announce that Tofurky is interviewing our Ghost-Free Co-Coaches Donna Oakes and Rosemary Tarentino Foos in this month’s “Talking Tofurky” blog.
“The Tofurky Team became aware of The Ghosts in our Machine (TGIOM), a Multi-Platform Social Issue Documentary, through the work of world renowned photographer and animal super heroine Jo-Anne McArthur and her work with Farm Sanctuary, an animal sanctuary that Tofurky sponsors. While the documentary is not set to launch until the spring of 2013 we can look forward to the film addressing a very fundamental question: ”Are non-human animals property to be owned and used, or are they sentient beings deserving of rights?” How we think and act about that pivotal question has all kinds of profound ramifications. We can barely wait for the documentary to come out and we will be keeping our Tofurky community in the know for release dates, and asking all of you to spread the word, as well.
In the meantime, a key online initiative for The Ghosts in our Machine is “The 5-Day Ghost-Free Journey”, designed to help gently guide participants towards living a “ghost-free” life. Part of the mission of The Ghosts in the Machine is to help guide and mentor people who want to learn how to live a “ghost free journey”, a lifestyle that treads healthfully and sustainabely on Planet Earth.
Rosemary T. Foos and Donna Oakes, GFJ Co-Coaches
Q – Explain how this Ghost Free Journey works?
The 5-DAY GHOST-FREE JOURNEY (GFJ) is an educational, fun, supportive and community building initiative featured bimonthly right here on our website. Together, as GFJ Co-Coaches, we gently coach a chosen participant on a memorable and customized 5-day vegan challenge. Designed to inspire a broad audience about the value of becoming a Ghost-Free consumer, for the animals, each participant is chosen through an automated lottery system.
Q – What kind of commitment does one need to have? How does one sign up?
Participants are required to be online up to three times each day (morning, afternoon and evening) for the duration of their 5-Day Journey. They post comments about their journey on their personalized GHOST-FREE JOURNEY BLOG, and engage in dialogue with our Ghost-Free Journey Co-Coaches, Rosemary and Donna, and with others who join the discussion.
Q – What if someone is just super busy and doesn’t have time to learn how to prepare all kinds of new foods and dishes? Can they still participate?
Everyone is welcome to the GFJ, whether they are super busy or have more leisure time. Contrary to most beliefs, eating a vegan diet does not have to take a lot of time to prepare or require learning new foods/dishes. Anyone can easily begin with staple pantry items and basic produce to start. In our Resource Guide, we have outlined how to stock a pantry, and how to shop for basic items. Many people start with substituting meat with other ingredients in their favorite recipes, like Tofurky products, tofu,tempeh, beans, or wheat gluten. This allows for an easy and smooth transition. There are also many vegan cheese products available in the market. We plan to grow our recipe section on our site, but also include several places to find easy to prepare recipes.
Q – What have been some of the challenges and successes you have experienced in people’s journeys? Where do people get stuck?
The GFJ is designed to uniquely respond to each person’s individual needs and goals and to open the door to a new, Ghost-Free life. Participants have been brave to engage in a diet change and to allow themselves to be vulnerable and willing to look at challenging issues. Many start their Journey focused on a vegan diet. Some were omnivores when they started and following their GFJ, two have transitioned to a vegan diet and one to a vegetarian diet. This type of Journey calls for dramatic change.
We’ve had several vegetarians wanting to make the transition to a vegan diet and lifestyle. After their diet transformation, they begin to want more. This leads to considering other aspects of veganism, such as animals used in entertainment, animals used to test household/personal products and for clothing. One person’s GFJ focused on transitioning to using cruelty-free household and personal hygiene products, and finding ghost-free athletic wear. Other participants have focused on the social aspects of their transition. “How do I host a holiday dinner, now that I’m veg”, or “ What should I bring to a work related event”, and “When should I tell my family I’m vegan”, were just a few of the challenging questions posed during these journeys. Others explored the ethics of being vegan. Questioning male stereotypes and how art and fashion is influenced by going vegan proved to be very lively discussions.
Each participants’ journey requires them to examine their ethics, values and even their spiritual beliefs. People are challenged by life-long belief systems that culture, family, religion, and other powerful forces dictate. The GFJ is a brave process for those who choose to take the time and energy to look closely at themselves and try to establish a new way of seeing and being in the world. It can trigger a lifetime process aimed at causing the least harm possible to our earth and each other. Most of all, it is for the Ghosts.
Q – What are the best practices to overcome the biggest hurdles in wanting to live a GFJ?
Patience with oneself, and a non-judgemental approach is always helpful when facing an obstacle. If someone is finding it difficult to live Ghost-Free, it may be helpful to seek out a support system in their community to assist them through the process, such as a Veg Society, or online groups. We feel that the GFJ is an important, profound, and individual process that each person designs for themselves, it’s not about being perfect. Some people go cold-tofurky, and some choose a transition period; eliminating animal products in stages.
Q – Why is community important when one chooses to live a GFJ?
Vegans are a minority and although the world is a more vegan-friendly place now than it was years ago, there are people who make major changes in their lives but live in an area where they are virtually alone in their beliefs. Seeking out and finding like-minded people is crucial – especially in the beginning of someone’s journey. It could be for reasons as simple as finding out information about meal preparations or finding out where to buy vegan/cruelty-free personal care products. After feeling alone in their beliefs, discovering a support system – a cheering section of sorts – made up of non-judgmental and loving people can make all the difference in helping somebody with their resolve. One of the truly beautiful things about social media is that there is no need to go it alone anymore. Support is out there and most people are thrilled to be a part of somebody’s journey.
The 5-Day Ghost-Free Journey is customized for each participant. It is impossible to cover all aspects of living a Ghost Free life in 5 days – our desire is to address the most pressing questions/issues that have been voiced by the participant in order to get them started and motivated. Once the 5 days are over, some recommended next steps are :
· Sign up for the PCRM 21-Day Vegan Kickstart Program (great for people who need to build a repertoire of recipes and learn more about nutrition).
· Visit sanctuaries to make connections with farm animals.
· Volunteer at Animal shelters.
· Remain active on The Ghosts In Our Machine FB page and join in on new participants’ journeys.
· Download our Tips for Getting Started on the Ghost Free Journey section of the website, and read some of the books.
· Take things to the next level – if you have the food issues down pat, maybe it is time to look through your wardrobe to see if there are any ghosts in there (leather shoes, wool sweaters, etc.) Think about how you will shop in the future. If you have never thought about animals being used in entertainment, it’s a good time to do some reading – raise your awareness in areas that were not covered during the journey – or go deeper into the issues that you are already a little bit familiar with.
· Most importantly of all, be kind to yourself on your journey. As they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Some people are able to transition very quickly – others take a while. If you backslide on something, move forward and think positively. The Ghosts In our Machine community will be there to support you!
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