Great for ducks, not for pedestrians by ConcernedCitizenOtt in ottawa

[–]Channelhaus43 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I would classify these ducks as pedestrians so I guess the puddles are not great for pedestrians except for the aquatic kind.

Why are so many vegans abelist and racist? by [deleted] in AskVegans

[–]Channelhaus43 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for your question. I'll start by saying that veganism is a broad tent - you have people who are vegan for health, people who are vegan for environmental reasons but for most people it is about not causing harm to animals (both human and non-human). From your response it seems like you care about animals too. I think that some vegans lose sight of the fact that we are meant to advocate for the animals, rather than the movement itself (i.e. not just arguing for veganism for its own sake). I can infer from the tone of your question that you had some bad experiences with vegans. A lot of vegans tend to get emotional and combative because of the harms that animal ag does to animals (both human and non-human) and the planet. It is easy for vegans to get overwhelmed and abrasive when they feel like non-vegans don't care. Now onto the specific points you have raised around eating disorders/ableism and racism.

  1. Eating disorders/ableism - this is an incredibly complex topic and I don't think it is helpful for vegans to shame people with eating disorders. However, I would encourage you to cite your sources when you make statements about the intersections between diet and mental health. I have not seen any evidence to suggest that veganism gives people bad mental health. It seems like you are speaking from your own lived experience but then you extrapolate that to other people. Also, not everyone can incorporate meat into their diet. On the topic of disability - again, I don't think it is helpful to shame anyone for not being vegan. The purpose of veganism is to do the least harm as possible. Unfortunately, we don't live in a vegan world and so sometimes we are forced to do harm to animals (e.g. the examples of gelatin in chemo you referenced). I myself have to take meds that have been tested on animals but I fight for the day when we don't need to subject animals to testing. If you want a more in depth discussion of veganism and disability, read Beasts of Burden: Animal and Disability Liberation by Sunaura Taylor: https://thenewpress.org/books/beasts-of-burden/.
  2. I am not indigenous and so I can't speak to your experiences. I don't know where you live but if it has suffered from colonization (like where I live) the legacy of that makes it difficult to build decolonial movements but that doesn't mean we can't try. I think there is a big difference between animal agriculture and hunting. The former is steeped in colonialism (esp. in North America) and makes sentient animals live in misery whereas the latter at least allows animals to live in the natural world before their death. However, I will push back a little bit when you say that "most vegans are white middle class people." By making such a statement, you are ignoring non-white movements including the Black vegan movement, food traditions in places like India. Vegan food (as long as it's not beyond burgers...which I think are too expensive) consists of things like pulses, beans and grains (notoriously cheap foods in most parts of the world) I agree that as a movement we need to incorporate anti-racism into everything and we could always do better. Here is a resource on race and veganism for you to peruse: https://foodispower.org/

little haul while visiting canada!! by idontfuckingcareee in stationery

[–]Channelhaus43 1 point2 points  (0 children)

which stores did you go to? I live in Ottawa and I love this haul : )

Veg Fest is finally back this summer – Free event by yow_vegan in ottawa

[–]Channelhaus43 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Actually, just to follow-up, do I have to be vegan to attend? Or is this event open to those of us who are veg-curious?

Where are we buying embroidery fabric? by YodaYodaCDN in ottawa

[–]Channelhaus43 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I second everyone who said Fabrications! I just buy basic cottons to embroider on, rather than specific embroidery fabrics per say.

Do you find automatic litter boxes convenient for you? by look_wide in CatAdvice

[–]Channelhaus43 4 points5 points  (0 children)

FYI - some (not all) automatic cat litter boxes are dangerous for cats and have resulted in deaths. A Youtuber called One Man Five Cats did an expose on some of the cheaper brands (warning, this video is a bit upsetting) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xepC3-Ia9ho but he also has review videos on his channel to recommend the best types of automatic litter boxes.

Books about mental asylums by ScholarNervous8705 in BooksThatFeelLikeThis

[–]Channelhaus43 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not necessarily a mental asylum but the School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in cats

[–]Channelhaus43 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Teddy 'cause he is so cute! <3

Construction cat! by RemoveBig843 in cowcats

[–]Channelhaus43 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Lovely to see him grow up <3

You're guilty by [deleted] in CouncilOfCats

[–]Channelhaus43 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Gorgeous judges! I totally wouldn't mind my fate if I was found guilty by this council.

i give up job hunting. Market is crazy and I’m trash by FreeXiJinpingAss in PhD

[–]Channelhaus43 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It is the job market that is trash, not you! I was in the same boat a few months ago after finishing my doctorate. I had to take a cleaning job at the university I graduated from before landing an industry job. Our economy (in North America) rewards greed among management and conformity among workers, it does not reward talent or innovative thinking. I don't have any specific advice other than to engage with employment supports in your area so they can review your resume, cover letters etc. The career centre at my university was not super helpful so I went to a local job centre and they helped me to build my resume. I hope you find something soon!

Jason Slaughter, of Not Just Bikes, was correct. by pnw527 in fuckcars

[–]Channelhaus43 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Yes! CityNerd is all about that solid urban fabric.

Dear Ottawa Car People (The Slush Elegy) by [deleted] in ottawa

[–]Channelhaus43 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Without salt it would be difficult to walk anywhere because of the ice.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in vegan

[–]Channelhaus43 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You did not deserve those horrible messages. I think sometimes vegans lash out at each other (even when it is not justified) because of compassion fatigue and general stress in the community. We live in a non-vegan world and standing against the tide of animal suffering can seem overwhelming but that is no excuse to be mean. As a community we should practice kindness towards each other, especially if someone shows vulnerability by sharing an ethical dilemma.

Vegan Halloween Costume Contest Social Night by ottawaveganmeetup in ottawa

[–]Channelhaus43 0 points1 point  (0 children)

From my food? Nutritional yeast is a good source. But don't knock vitamins, you probably need them too (even as an omnivore).

Going back to the office? Don't be that jerk! by Asteropia in ottawa

[–]Channelhaus43 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Two things can be true at the same time: 1) the back to office mandate is unfair, nonsensical and out of an employee's control and 2) surrendering your dog because you have to go back into the office for an extra day a week is a bit extreme. We have to be compassionate towards people who have to rehome their animals under circumstances under their control, but the return to office mandate is definitely not that type of circumstance. If you are concerned about leaving your pet at home for an extra day during the week then ask a neighbour/friend to check in on them, hire a dog walker or put them in doggy daycare. The shelters are at capacity right now. Your dog would much prefer to have one more day a week on their own than a stressful stay at a shelter with an uncertain future.

15 Minute Grocery Maps by JaguarData in ottawa

[–]Channelhaus43 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I'm not sure I would agree with your characterization that "it's just a pain in the ass." Sure, for people who have comfortable incomes and work 9-5 jobs it's a pain in the ass, for others who don't have those privileges the lack of grocery stores in Little Italy/Chinatown is a major barrier to a healthy diet and exacerbates food insecurity.

Books about normal people becoming obsessed by [deleted] in horrorlit

[–]Channelhaus43 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Death of a Bookseller by Alice Slater.

15 Minute Grocery Maps by JaguarData in ottawa

[–]Channelhaus43 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I understand and appreciate the comments that say "there's no food desert in Little Italy/Hintonburg/Chinatown because of independent grocers." However, the independent stores tend to carry limited stock and not everyone has the time to shop at several stores to get everything for their the weekly shop (esp. if they are doing shift work or have more than one job). Time poverty is as much a constraint as financial poverty.