INCREDIBLY DELICIOUS
Butterflies M. Katz. interviewed by Claudette Vaughan

“To the shared vision of a new paradigm of peace; not in some far-off tomorrow when the lion lies down with the lamb; but today, when we do”.

*Note: Some of the questions were also answered by the founder of Gentle World, Light, and the co-authors of Incredibly Delicious.

Abolitionist: Why are you a vegan and how did you become one?

Butterflies Katz: My veganism had its birth when I was a 12 year old girl. I was eating dinner with my family. The centerpiece of the table and the main course was 'tongue'. My older brother, who was trying to acquire my meal portion, told me it was the tongue of a dead cow. I looked and became horrified to learn his words were true! I never ate animals again. I grew towards veganism, step by step, until at 21, when reading the works of H. Jay Dinshah (founder of the American Vegan Society), I pronounced myself a vegan. Until I read Jay Dinshah's writing, I didn't know another vegan. A few years later, I bought a copy of The Cookbook for People Who Love Animals published by Gentle World. I went to meet the authors, 20 dedicated vegans. It was as though I had met my real family. I have lived as part of that vegan family ever since.

Abolitionist: Incredibly Delicious is an exciting vegan cookbook that you have coined recipes for a new paradigm. What is that paradigm Butterflies?

BK: That paradigm is a new level of living; a gentle world where no being, human or animal, lives in fear. It is a world in which compassion, the ability to feel another's joy or pain, is the normal way of life.

Abolitionist: What is New Zealand like for veganism. What is your usual vegan day like?

BK: Veganism was hardly a reality when we moved here about 8 years ago, but it is slowly growing. Veganz (the Vegan Society of New Zealand) emerged within that time period. Veganz Chat is an online forum for vegans. S.A.F.E. (Save Animals from Exploitation), a long standing animal rights group, promotes veganism and rights for animals. Gentle World's Vegan Paradigm Center, based on the north island of New Zealand, brings vegan awareness to the area. Gentle World accepts W.W.O.O.F.E.R.'s (willing workers on organic farms) and states in the wwoofer booklet that the community is strictly vegan. Since Gentle World receives many wwoofers from all over the world, the vegan message is being spread internationally to young people who are delighted by the incredibly delicious meals prepared daily by the former owners of The Vegan Restaurant (Maui, Hawaii) and authors of best-selling vegan recipe books: "The Cookbook for People Who Love Animals" and "Incredibly Delicious; Recipes for a New Paradigm". We love this country and are impressed with the reactions and openness many New Zealanders display in response to our vegan food (most of which comes from our veganic gardens) and our vegan lifestyle. My days are never typical, as I move across the continent to several places. All my days are spent trying to make things better, which includes objects, the lives of animals, plants, myself and my friends and family and the whole world.

Abolitionist: Veganism extends the circle of consciousness to include in the animals. Are we going to win this struggle to educate others? How do you achieve this?

BK: Yes, there will be a vegan world someday. Veganism is the solution to so many of our planet's problems. Because of the environmental concerns associated with the 'food animal industry', and because of the world hunger issue that questions breeding and feeding grains to cows and pigs when that same grain can feed many, if not all, of the starving children of the world, and because of the threat of Mad-Cow, E-Coli, and other food-born diseases that loom over the meat industry, and because we can better prosper, in all ways, without causing suffering to other living beings, it seems obvious that veganism is inevitable for the future of the human race. As vegans, we can make a healthier society, no small thing in itself, but also, a more compassionate society, which is a prerequisite for the evolution of the human race. If humans are going to survive to greet the next millennium, then "reason" and "right" must prevail, therefore veganism must replace carnivorism. In the meantime, it is the responsibility of each vegan to exemplify a life that shows the advantages of their cause: physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Abolitionist: Is every creature an outward sign of an equal soul and as such must be respected as such?

BK: Souls, to me, are not measurable. They are the presence within us of the God which is beyond us. Actually it is irrelevant if an animal has a soul, equal or not, (though living with dogs all my life is enough proof for me that they do!) as the determining factor as to our treatment of them. They feel pain and enjoy pleasure. We need no further reason to treat them humanely.

Abolitionist: What is your world view? What role does non violence play in the animal rights paradigm Butterflies?

BK: Hopeful! The truth is out. If you are of a certain age, you can remember when 'vegetarian', let alone 'vegan', was virtually unknown. Today it exists and is growing all over the world. Nothing can stop an idea whose time has come; I am therefore hopeful.

Non-violence is mandatory. When one becomes a vegan, they disassociate themselves from violence, not a select violence, but all violence. The only way to win the peace is peacefully.

Abolitionist: How must it feel for a pig or cow or sheep to see others being slaughtered and the panic and fear welling up in their consciousness. What are your thoughts?

BK: We cannot positively know how each animal is feeling at such a time. There is no doubt, however, that any ill treatment causes some degree of suffering, just as it does in a human. It is our obligation when confronted as to whether to treat them cruelly or mercifully, to choose the merciful, as that is how we would wish to be treated. The Golden Rule needs to be extended to include all animals.

Abolitionist: Do we have a right not to be vegan after all we know about the abomination called 'factory farming?'

BK: Non-violence, gentleness, Love, and veganism are RIGHT. Cruelty, abuse, torture, and slaughter are WRONG. It is as simple as that. Every human has a divine spark that lights up when it hears Truth. The rightness of veganism is more than a spark, it is a flame in me that emanates the light of Truth. I look forward to the day when that same light shines brightly from everyone upon a peaceful, compassionate world.

Abolitionist: Do you have a vision of a gentle world for animals?

BK: Yes, that's why I became vegan in the first place. I have visions of a gentle world for everyone, human and animal alike. I believe there are enough people who want to live in peace with all life, that someday, their views shall prevail. We vegans are the forerunners of The Peaceful World.

Abolitionist: Any last thoughts?

BK: I want to share with others that which has healed me. Therefore, I am proud to spread the message that 'Vegan' is an imperative step on our path to becoming more evolved human beings. No one can escape it. If a person claims that they are enlightened and then tells you it is okay to eat animals or use animal products, they are approving of cruelty. No one can approve of cruelty and be truly saintly or Godly. That truth has saved me countless dead-end paths in search of mentors for my spiritual growth. I believe that if one is on a spiritual path and is not a vegan, they need to 'learn' and if one is on a spiritual path and is a vegan, they need to 'teach'.

Please visit www.gentleworld.org
My upcoming web site: www.veganpoet.com

BOOK REVIEW:

Incredibly Delicious Recipes For A New Paradigm
Gentle World Publications
ISBN: 0-929274-25-3
Website: www.gentleworld.org
Reviewer: Claudette Vaughan

Butterflies Katz and Gentle World Publications believe passionately in vegan food and it shines through in their vegan cookbook. Her 'Simply Delicious Recipes for a New Paradigm' are creative yet straightforward and easy to follow. Nobody in the Vegan Community should be without this book. With a vegan diet there is no need to panic about eating the correct balance of vegan foods, all we need is to eat a good mix of ingredients and balance it well for all our nutritional requirements.

Butterflies 'Incredibly Delicious' cookbook recipes are suitable for a variety of occasions – for that simple meal at home or a dinner party for a few friends or that gala 'let's impress em' occasion. We can't speak highly enough of this vegan cookbook at the Abolitionist-Online. It is a stupendous effort and every bit of praise she receives is richly deserved!

The book is divided into Bread and Breakfast recipes, Scrumptious Salads and Soups, Dips, Dressings, Sauces and Gravies, Appetizers and Side Dishes, Entrees to Delight, Rawsome Recipes, Just Desserts and whole sections on helpful hints, feeding your companion animals, therexs a section on recognising animal-based products and ingredients and recommended reading and kitchenware plus much more.

As a bonus, 'Incredibly Delicious' is aesthetically beautiful to read. Renowned Michael A. Klaper, M.D. wrote the Introduction, there are boxed in 'animal related' quotes throughout the book and the photographs are first-class!

Here's a taste of what's in store if you wisely decide to buy this book. Recipes for: Peking Tempeh Rolls, Spinach Tofu Philo Wraps, Teriyaki Vegetable Rice, Mexican Enchilada Pie, Stuffed Manicotti, Mushroom Pepper Tofu Bake, Potato Wellington, Hal-Moon Pot Pies, Mock Salmon Loaf, Sunflower Corn Chips, Chocolate Zucchini Cake, Ambrosia Cake, Marble Cake, and Blueberry Cream Pie to name just a few!

In producing this fine work Butterflies Katz and all the guys at Gentle World Publications have done their duty to the animals, have expanded the circle of consciousness to include in healthy exciting vegan recipes that will bring many ardent carnivores over to our side while keeping hard-core vegans happy and busy preparing delicious vegan meals. Bravo Gentle World! Over 500 cholesterol-free recipes from quick and easy methods to gourmet banquets says it all. Veganism has come of age and it's largely due to the good people in the world like Gentle World Publications and Butterflies Katz who are making their vision become a reality.

Personally, The Abolitionist-Online A Voice For Animal Rights staff wants to thank Butterflies sincerely for jumping on board with her mighty Vegan Directory and also for writing the piece on Veganic Gardening that we have previously published of hers.