Reviews A N ALLERGY COOKBOOK
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not recipes for children to make, but ones for children to eat. This is understandable for the purges, but I am sure that many adults would enjoy the Bread and Spice Pudding while many children would happily devour recipes elsewhere in the book. An Allergy Cookbook is a worthwhile addition to a vegan library. Judge it by its recipes, not by its cover. • Richard Youngs The First Annual Centre for Applied Ethic* Public Lecture Delivered 21 November 1991
An Allergy Cookbook (Vegetarian Edition) Patricia Carter Ian Henry Publications £6.25 Pbk, 121pp
Painism: Ethics, A n i m a l Rights and Environmentalism
The difference between this and other vegan cookbooks is, obviously, its concern for food intolerance. The rather uninspiring cover states: "Recipes free from eggs, milk, cheese, butter, wheat flour, chocolate, salt, sugar, baking powder and cornflour". Since there are vegans who find themselves sensitive to such foods, this is a useful publication. Naturally, the book is animal derivative-free; eggs are omitted, while soya milk is often listed as an ingredient. "Margarine" may be interpreted as 'vegan margarine'. In addition, much use is made of potato flour as a thickener for sauces. However, some of the recipes do mention, say, salt and flour, though the author explains that since very few are allergic to all the usual foodstuffs, "normal" ingredients should be used as far as possible and adjustments made only when required. So, for instance, salt can be left out and wheat flour replaced by gluten-free flour where necessary. Such an agenda, the dreary cover and lack of illustrations could suggest a dull and austere book. The recipes do not bear this out. I particularly like the many and interesting ideas for combining sweet and savoury foods. Here are a couple: Sweet Potato, Raisin and Nut Pie as a main course, and Curry with Bananas. The book closes with 'Recipes for Children'. These are 26
N R i c h a r d D. R y d e r
Centre for Applied Ethics University of Wales College of Cardiff
Painism: Ethics, Animal Rights and Environmentalism Richard D Ryder Centre for Applied Ethics,
"I'm afraid it undermines those in the Green movement who argue as if hedgerows, ozone layers and the tropical rainforests themselves have rights. In the absence of even minimal evidence of their painience, I would say that these things are important only because their survival affects the consciousness of other individuals, human and non-human." (Not to mention the animals and diverse wildlife in tropical forests, and those who inhabit hedgerows.) And he disqualifies mountains, rivers, rocks and trees. But, in the case of a tree, who can say that a dying tree is not suffering? Certainly it looks as if it might be, if looks can be relied on. But that is not scientific, which Ryder infers throughout is what matters. Shortcomings of science he does not entertain. He introduces 'The Cult of Machismo', and so, rightly, suggests that the Western culture manifests it mightily, but he fails to connect it with the adolescence which the majority of Western adults have not outgrown. With maturity comes understanding. The answer remains to be seen; whether the word 'painism' will act to change perception. • Rodney Aitchtey * Available from Centre for Applied Ethics, University of Wales College of Cardiff, Cardiff Tel. 0222 874822.
uwcc £2.00 (p&p incl.)* Pbk, 15pp The susceptibility to pain does need to be addressed, if it is not being so already. But does it need a new label: 'Painism'? Richard Ryder proposes that it does. To me, it seems to be a distancing word. The words pain and suffering are strong enough words; emotive and to the point. He says, "we need a word to describe individuals who have the capacity to suffer." But is a new word needed to inspire compassion? He describes compassion as being "close to the mystical". Bentham is recalled here unapologetically, "The question is not, can they reason? Nor, can they talk? But, can they suffer?" Suffering is needful of concern. Suffering and pain are not one and the same. When he discusses the implications of 'painism' he says,
Fruits of Paradise A V K o E T A R I A N 1 EAR-BOOK
Fruits of Paradise Rebecca Hall Simon & Schuster £7.99 Pbk, 254pp Subtitled 'A Vegetarian YearBook', this so very nearly also earns the accolade 'vegan'. Sadly, the inclusion of just four quotations which mention eggs, honey, milk or wool, and rather
unfortunate use of an out-of-date Vegan Society policy statement that left the taking of honey to individual conscience, bar the way. On the credit side redemption is at hand with a powerful quotation from Edward Smail that tells us: "Vegetarians, by consuming milk, cheese and possibly butter, besides supporting the cruellest and most unnatural life of cow and calf, are just as big a burden on land usage as carnivores . . . This book is, in fact, an anthology promoting (mostly) veganism, with a quotation for each day of the year plus three bonus passages in an epilogue. Set out in a manner that links the reading day-by-day — for example, 9-19 November offers thoughts on whales and dolphins — it will provide, for many people, a source of inspiration to pursue a compassionate diet. The ALF is often accused by some within our movement of violence, despite its claim to take every precaution not to endanger life. Perhaps the critics should take heed of the Jainist offering on ahimsa (non-violence) for 'March 20' which includes the thought "How can a man live in this world without taking life and thereby committing violence?.. . It demands constant vigilance. Where an action is performed with due care not to hurt anyone, no violence is committed. The emphasis is on the word ' C a r e ' . . . " There are many useful references but — and this is almost unavoidable in an anthology of this nature — a number of quotations have appeared many times before. Nevertheless, Rebecca has done a difficult job very well. It's coming up to Yuletide, so why not buy it for someone whom it may convert? It's not a bad reference book for yourself either! • Robin Webb
Reviewers Rodney Aitchtey is a freelance writer Robin Webb is national Press Officer for the Animal Liberation Front and former Assistant Director of Animal Aid Richard Youngs is The Vegan's regular cookery writer and author of Cook Vegan
The Vegan, Winter 1993 j