NOW VEGAN: FRESH AND HEALTHY
New Holland Publishers Pty Ltd
Sydney, Auckland, London, Cape Town
Lynda Stoner interviewed by Margaret Setter.

It is hard to find words sufficiently enthusiastic to describe Now Vegan, a magnificent new cookbook put together as a labour of love by well-known actor and animal rights activist, Lynda Stoner. More than a collection of recipes (and these are absolutely scrumptious), her book advocates a joyous way of life conducive to building loving relationships between family and friends in a humane and peaceful world. 

Margaret Setter:  Now Vegan reminds me of the song “Everything old is new again”.  I refer to the inclusion of quotations from a diverse set of vegans past and present, beginning with Plato, Albert Schweitzer, Leo Tolstoy et al as well as American TV comedian Rue McClanahan.  Is veganism recovering an ancient wisdom that somehow got lost along the way?

Lynda Stoner:   Yes I do believe many age old wisdoms are returning to us. Recycling was a part of life a century ago, nothing was wasted, water was a precious commodity, electricity (inventor Thomas Edison who said “until we stop harming all other living beings, we are still savages.") was still a miracle to be respected, not wasted. Indicative of increasing awareness of veganism are frequent references by mainstream media and of late Oprah has certainly raised its profile. People rarely come into this movement now as vegetarian, it’s almost always straight to veganism.  I am mystified that people quote the great works and ideas of people such as those you’ve mentioned and, in addition, Plato, Socrates, Emerson, Leonardo da Vinci, Shakespeare and Plutarch et al, yet refuse to acknowledge the commitment of these great thinkers about the rights of animals.

The staples of healthy cultures have been tofu (over 2,000 years old) and various wholegrains (10,000 years old) including wheat, barley, maize and rice.  You will find an abundance of delicious recipes in this cookbook with these staples at their core.

MS: Your book conveys the message that veganism has come of age.  Can you foresee a time approaching when those outdated recipe books, with their unhealthy, fat-laden meat and dairy recipes will be obsolete?

LS: There is so much awareness now of climate warming.  Australia now claims the ignoble honour of being the fattest country on earth.  People are slowly becoming aware that most of the grain grown on earth goes to feed stock animals so people in affluent countries can eat second hand protein while hundreds of thousands of people in Third world countries cannot eek out even a single meal a day.  Added to all of that is the terrible cruelty involved with the meat and dairy industries.  In this age of rapid information it is becoming easier to get the truth out despite billion dollar industries and their propaganda.  With that ever increasing knowledge will be a savvier generation who hopefully will make their food choices with greater compassion and consign cholesterol laden and artery blocking recipe books to the bin.

MS:  Lynda, your introduction refers to your vegan friends as ‘foodie hedonists’.  I suggest that many people remain ignorant about the possibilities of a vegan life-style, seeing it as something frightfully earnest and dull.  How hopeful are you that Now Vegan will help dispel that misconception?

LS: It’s amusing to reflect on the outmoded image of vegans replete with hair shirt and flagellation.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  The vegans we all mix with are earthy with richly fulfilling and diverse lifestyles.  Most I know enjoy one or two drinks and belly laughing.  What IS bizarre is that vegans are considered by some meat eaters to be eccentrics in our society – that people who have chosen not to harm other species, the planet or contribute to Third world poverty are deemed “odd” yet those who directly contribute to suffering are considered “normal.”  It would be nice to think that Now Vegan! might, in some small way, help to offset even a little bit of stereotyping.

MS:  It seems to me that any period in history could be described as the ‘best of times and the worst of times’.  How confident are you that in spite of seemingly intractable global problems, humans will find the strength of purpose to foster an environmentally sustainable and spiritually fulfilling way of life.

LS:  Humans beings are nothing if not ultimately hopeful and resourceful.  It is in our nature to survive despite sometimes overwhelming odds.  I am an optimist and believe in the ingenuity and integrity of the majority of people.  Certainly humans will choose to keep their heads in the sand for as long as possible but there will come a point when they can no longer obfuscate.  It really will be a matter of changing or going the way of the dinosaurs. 

MS:  Veganism focuses on wellness rather than curing illness.  How important are the strong social connections vegans build with like-minded others contributing to this objective? 

LS:  Social connections with like minded people are integral to the human condition.  Your family may not agree with your life style choice, your peers may not agree, your school friends and work colleagues, so when you come into contact with people who share the same values it is an instantly binding thing.  Some people become vegan for environmental or health reasons but mostly because of an abiding passion for the welfare of all species including the human animal.  Even mentioning you are vegetarian, much less vegan, is frequently to encounter sarcasm and other forms of hostility.  This stems from guilt.  If people were entirely comfortable with consuming meat and dairy they wouldn’t feel the need to be obnoxious about veganism.  They know, on a subconscious or even conscious level, that what they are doing is damaging on so many levels. That knowledge makes them feel bad about themselves and rather than changing their eating habits they go with pack behaviour.  Veganism throws the mirror up and the reflection is not pleasant. Therefore to mix with people whose core values are similar to yours helps to offset that negativity and reinforce that the amount of people who “get it” is growing and growing.

MS:  There is great violence and loss in our world today.  Is veganism essential in helping us act on behalf of all that we love – an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling relationship that embraces animals, (human and nonhuman) and the natural world?

LS:  Yes.  I truly believe that the essence of humanity’s best is to live without deliberately harming anyone or anything. 

MS:  You were once a successful actor and television personality, with leading roles in The Young Doctors, Cop Shop and Prisoner.  Do you have any regrets about abandoning your acting career to become a full-time advocate for animals?

LS:  I discovered animal rights while I was working fulltime as an actor and it tapped into something so powerful inside me that it has dictated most of my life choices since then.  I worked as a volunteer for animal rights groups for twenty years while also working as an actor.  The last play I did was “Extremities” about four years ago.  I am in the incredibly privileged role now of working fulltime for Animal Liberation.  I enjoyed fulltime acting which has been for the longest part of my life but my passion is animal rights. 

I would also like to say that without generous people like you Margaret, and family and other friends, the book would not be filled with such an amazing variety of delicious food. Further testimony to the generosity of people in the animal right’s family.  And large may this family continue to grow.