VeganMoFo 2: Vegan news you can use (10/2/11) and the weekly round-up

It’s day two of Vegan MoFo!

If you are new to the blog, each Sunday I share “vegan news you can use” that I have discovered during the week. I also provide a weekly round-up of my blog posts because I know a lot of folks try to catch up on blog reading over the weekend. I like to make it easy for you!

Since this is the vegan month of food, I’ll start with some vegan food news first. Last week I alerted you to the controversy surrounding a donation made by Bob and Charlee Moore, founders of Bob’s Red Mill, that had the potential to support animal research. In the realm of good news, the Moore’s issued a statement this week. Others in the blogosphere wonder if this restricted donation may simply free up other sources of revenue to be used on the animals. What do you think?

There’s another great event to look forward to in NYC next month! I’m going to A Hen Party on November 2 to celebrate Jasmin Singer’s birthday. Jasmin is co-founder and executive director of Our Hen House: a place to find our way to change the world for animals. Donations will be accepted at the party to support Our Hen House. Will you join me?

In JL goes Vegan news there’s bad and there’s good. The bad: yesterday the FoodBuzz ads were over the top NOT okay. A shrimp and mussels in Crisco ad alternating with a Greek yogurt ad. I pulled my FoodBuzz ad and tossed up this message:

FoodBuzz Ad: An apology

Readers. I have been a proud FoodBuzz Publisher since last summer when I launched my blog. Before i signed the contract I asked if they could omit ads that were contrary to a vegan diet. I was asked to submit a formal letter (I did) and that they would do the best they could; if I saw ads that were problematic to let them know. I have been doing so. Today, on the first day of Vegan MoFo and World Vegetarian Day, I noticed an inordinate amount of animal-based ads. I apologize. I am mortified. I have removed the FoodBuzz ads until FoodBuzz and I can work this out. Know that as I have evolved from a dietary vegan to an ethical one, I find this situation 100% unacceptable and I apologize if you were offended today. I certainly was. I will keep you posted. — JL, 10/1/11

I hope FoodBuzz and I can work it out. Trust me, I don’t make a living from blogging, but the ad revenue does help pay my self-hosting and web-related costs. I did learn something about myself yesterday. I was getting a heavy flow of traffic (thanks So Delicious and Vegan MoFo) yet I pulled the ad. I learned how strong my convictions are for the animals, who are far more important than blog revenue. My contact at FoodBuzz was super-responsive yesterday and she understands my frustration, which is great. I will keep you posted.

In better news, how about something unexpected and fun? JL goes Vegan was in the news! In the Irish Independent, to be exact.

How fun is that?!

This was a busy week of blogging, both here and elsewhere!

On Monday you could find me on VEGGIN’ OUT WITH CHRISTA where I shared a post on what I learned going vegan.
Tuesday I tried to blow your mind with my Recreation of the “Macnocheeto”
Wednesday I was on Happy Herbivore sharing What Vegans Means to me. Also Wednesday, on Stop Chasing Skinny, I asked What’s YOUR story?
Thursday I shared my latest lunch bowl: What’s for lunch? A quinoa-chickpea-kale bowl!
Friday, back on Stop Chasing Skinny, I shared This week’s body image links to love (9/30/11).
Saturday I kicked off 31 days of posting for Vegan MoFo with Vegan MoFo 1: “World Class Vegan Express” cooking class + a biscuit recipe!

Whew! What a fun week. Back tomorrow with a breakfast recipe!

Tagged as: vegan mofo, vegan news, veganmofo, weekly round-up

Becky

I’ve just recently discovered Foodbuzz and wasn’t quite sure how it worked. I do know the emails they sent me are all meet and dairy centered recipes. Besides the offending ads, did you find it was a good was to promote a vegan blog? ^_^
- http://jlgoesvegan.com JL
  
  Hi Becky. Actually, yes, my relationship with FoodBuzz has led me to great vegan blogs and vegans have found me. FoodBuzz isn’t just advertising –they have a huge community of food bloggers on FoodBuzz.com who share recipes, blog posts and photos. I follow tons of vegan bloggers. Having said that, I hope they find a way to provide me ads that contains absolutely no animal-products ads.
Anonymous

It’s so great that you were in the Irish Independent! I’m just discovering your blog thanks to MoFo & I’m looking forward to keeping on reading.
Anonymous

I am so proud of you for standing up for your values and demanding a little respect.

You were in the Irish Independent? That’s pretty fantastic. I agree with everything they said about you, you are “wonderfully enthusiastic” JL.
- http://jlgoesvegan.com JL
  
  Thank you, my friend. You mentor me everyday, whether you know it or not.
Diana @ VeggieNextDoor

JL, I love your round-ups! Thank you for keeping us informed re: Bob’s Red Mill, and congrats on all your recent press! I am sure Food-buzz will come around, it would be a shame for them to lose you!
- http://jlgoesvegan.com JL
  
  Diana, thank you so much for the feedback. I only want to write up the new piece if it’s helpful. I”m glad to know you appreciate it!
Anonymous

You are the second Veg blogger I’ve seen with issues on Foodbuzz – and who has taken action on it. I hope that they take action and make a change, especially as one of their competitors does offer the ability to customize. Good for you for speaking up!

Awesome shout-out in the Irish Independent – how cool is that?!
http://brokencookiesdontcount.wordpress.com/ Fran@BCDC

Cool…the Irish Independent…you’ve gone Global!!
http://copycatmashup.blogspot.com Beth

Wow! I’m so proud of you on so many levels based on your past week. Most of all, I’m super excited that you received a shout-out in an ol’ timey newspaper! Whoop whoop!
http://dietdessertndogs.com Ricki

Good for you. And I’m so glad they were willing to work with you on this one. And congrats on the Irish Independent mention–how cool is that??
Elizabeth @ RunWithSneakers

Sorry about the FoodBuzz issue. Hope you’ll get it worked out. I discovered several great bloggers via FoodBuzz’s “HealthBuzz”, too bad they don’t have that feature anymore (or at least I don’t see it.)
Congrats on the mention in the ‘Irish Independent’.
Gonna make those biscuits today. Can’t wait.
http://bittsblog.blogspot.com bitt

Hope Foodbuzz wakes up and changes their actions. I wouldn’t even want those other ads to their site recipes either because they aren’t all vegan. you would think technology would be advanced enough at this point to be able to make categories for ads. Good for you for caring for the animals. It’s not always an easy choice to take a stand and do what is right and sometimes we get heat for it. But knowing you did the right thing for the voiceless animals is priceless.
- http://jlgoesvegan.com JL
  
  Bitt, thank you for the support (and the support you offered me yesterday when I became aware of the ads).
Haley O

I thought it was really random when I saw an “I love beef” ad on ‘peas and thank you’ this weekend – thanks for standing up for your values and being such an inspiration!!
- http://jlgoesvegan.com JL
  
  Thank you for the support, truly!
http://www.tiedyefiles.com Kaitlyn@TheTieDyeFiles

Here’s my take on the Bob and Charlee Moore issue: Yes, they donated to a university known for animal testing and I don’t respect that. However, they are not the owners of Bob’s Red Mill anymore. They sold the company, and they are giving THEIR money, not the company’s money. yes, the company allowed them to make that money, but they’re not representing the ethics of the company by donating their money. I think it’s good we speak out to them, but don’t necessarily think Bob’s Red Mill needs to be boycotted.

Also, I plan on writing Foodbuzz about getting non-vegan ads toned down on my blog. Thanks for the inspiration. And congrats on your feature!
- http://jlgoesvegan.com JL
  
  Kaitlyn, I agree with you but a funny thing happened yesterday. I was in the grains aisle at the yesterday and for some reason I just couldn’t buy the Bob’s. I’m not boycotting but wow, I was shocked when I realized my inclination was to grab another brand. I look at Bob’s and I see animal testing. Not fair, but true.
  
  Let me know what happens with FB. If more of us ask, it could get better. I hope more vegans will make requests!
http://www.jenojoon.com jenojoon

I usually only look at blogs from my phone- but that needs to change! Your blog is so full of goodies on the desktop version! Love it.
- http://jlgoesvegan.com JL
  
  Oh, thank you!!!
Carrieonvegan

JL, I’m glad you wrote about the Foodbuzz situation. I’m also under contract with them and requested no animal-based ads when I first joined. But, I’ve been lazy about monitoring the ads. Please keep us updated on your progress, it would be nice if they can accommodate vegan blogs to ensure our relationships in the future.
- http://jlgoesvegan.com JL
  
  Carrie, please write to them, too! I’m sure FB wants to hear from us, to make sure we’re happy with the arrangement!
http://blog.veganosaurus.com Susmitha – Veganosaurus

Thank you for sticking to your strong principles and removing the non vegan ads.
http://veggieecolife.wordpress.com Sara (The Veggie Eco-Life)

Congrats on being in the news, it is really fun!
I’m sorry to hear about the foodbuzz trouble, I read from other vegan blogs that there also were non-vegan advertises.. It think it’s a little bit weird that they can’t live up to the expectations from their bloggers.
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