Highlights

Articles in this newsletter:

• COP29 Climate Talks: All Talk, No Action?
• Three Things YOU Can Do Concerning Climate Change
• Humane Voters Oregon to Present at Portland Eastside Potluck
• Spotlight on: Linda SantAngelo, NW VEG treasurer and board member
• Recipe of the Month: Hoppin' John Stew

Local in-person events:

• Eastside Potluck: Stone Tower SDA Church, Sunday, 1/19, 5-7:30pm
• Vancouver Potluck: Unitarian Universalist Church of Vancouver, 1/29, 5:30-7:30pm
• Westside Potluck: West Hills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Sunday 2/16 5-7:30pm

Partner Events:

• Eugene VeganFest coming in May

COP29 Climate Talks: All Talk, No Action?

By Keith Iding

Despite yearly promises of progress, the UN climate talks (COPs) often fail to deliver meaningful action. COP28 and COP29, hosted by oil-dependent nations, were no exception. While the Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming, adapt to its effects, and promote sustainable development, many countries, including the US, prioritize the status quo over real change.

The US: Protecting Profits Over the Planet

The US talks a big game about sustainable agriculture, but refuses to acknowledge the massive impact of animal agriculture on climate change. Instead of advocating for reduced meat consumption, the US protects its heavily subsidized meat industry, focusing on technological fixes rather than addressing the root of the problem.

Greenwashing and Grassroots Activism

COP29, hosted by Azerbaijan, was criticized for greenwashing – promoting renewable energy while failing to secure concrete commitments for fossil fuel reductions. However, amidst the chaos, groups like ProVeg and Plant Based Treaty made their voices heard, demanding a shift towards plant-based diets. Even the conference's failure to provide adequate vegan options inadvertently highlighted the issue, educating attendees on the importance of plant-based eating.

The Future of Climate Action

With COP30 taking place in Brazil, the world's top beef exporter, the stakes are high. Will the US, the world's top beef consumer, continue to prioritize its economic interests over the planet's future? Or will it finally acknowledge the urgent need to transform our food system and embrace a plant-based future? The answer remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Grassroots activism and continued pressure on world leaders will be crucial in driving meaningful change.

Three Things

YOU Can Do



Concerning Climate Change

Are you feeling helpless to affect climate change? Maybe you can’t afford an electric vehicle, but have you considered your gasoline-powered lawn mower or leaf blower? What about your natural gas stove, furnace, or water heater? Is it time to replace any of them?

The foods we choose to eat — animal-based vs. plant-based — also make a big difference because of everything involved in producing them. In the world as a whole, animal agriculture actually has an even greater impact on climate change than the burning of fossil fuels. So it’s important to consider the sources of your meals if you want to reduce your carbon footprint.

Lastly, since carbon dioxide is a major contributor to climate change, and all growing plants draw carbon dioxide out of the air, the bigger the plant you can grow, the better.

Below are three things you can do to have an impact:

1. Reduce or eliminate consumption of animal-based foods. 

2. Reduce or eliminate use of fossil-fueled vehicles and appliances. 

3. Plant trees.

Humane Voters Oregon to present at the Portland Eastside Potluck

Sunday January 19

As a nonprofit charitable organization, Northwest VEG cannot endorse or help promote any candidate for public office, and our ability to lobby for animal-friendly legislation is limited, but there is an organization here in Oregon that can endorse candidates who support good legislation and can lobby fully for that legislation.

Humane Voters Oregon is a nonpartisan organization that promotes humane treatment of animals through participation in Oregon’s political process. They endorse, support and contribute to candidates who support humane treatment of animals, lobby for humane legislation, and publish voting records so voters can hold their elected officials accountable.

This Sunday, January 19, we are fortunate to have both Brian Posewitz and Cassandra Scheffman of Humane Voters Oregon present a program about animals, legislation, their organization, their many successes at the ballot box in 2024, their legislative achievement last year, and the issues they expect to be working on in the new Oregon legislative session, which kicks off just two days after their presentation.

The program will begin at 6:15, following the Northwest VEG Eastside Potluck that starts at 5:00 pm at the Stone Tower Church, 3010 NE Holladay Street, Portland. If you are interested in supporting animal and vegan-friendly legislation and candidates, you will not want to miss this program.

Spotlight on:

Linda SantAngelo

Northwest VEG board member and treasurer

Each month we highlight a Northwest VEG board member, employee, or key volunteer.

In 1996 my husband Rick and I started a Vancouver EarthSave chapter. A little later Don and Carol Merrick joined us and expanded to Portland. In 2003 our ambitious core group formed Northwest VEG. As a founding board member, I was charged with managing our books and finances and the adventure of growing our thriving chapter. Over 21 years later I am still on the board and I still handle the accounting and bookkeeping.

When we moved to the Vancouver area in 1990 we realized that Vancouver was NOT Portland and the area could use an infusion of consciousness. Even at that time there was only one fully vegetarian restaurant in the Portland-Vancouver area. Our founding board envisioned a thriving vegetarian community and today Northwest VEG is everything we hoped for and more. I believe this organization has been instrumental in making Portland one of the best vegan communities in the nation. 

I retired from a career in accounting and taxes in 2021 and never looked back. I love being retired and have no idea how I had time to work. My days are filled with volunteering in various capacities and having fun!

I am passionate about vegan cooking, our health, and the footprint we leave on this beautiful planet. Rick and I have a 30 year-old daughter who graduated from the University of Washington and works for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife as a biologist. We have a wonderful Whip-Bull (pit bull and whippet mix) who is one of the friendliest dogs you’ll ever meet. We like to camp and we spend lots of time in Hawaii.

I would love to see us produce another VegFest and to see our community grow and thrive. 

Plant-Based Recipe of the Month

Hoppin' John Stew



By Linda Tyler, the Gracious Vegan

Hoppin’ John Stew originated in the southern United States. It was likely made first by enslaved African cooks and then adopted more widely. The oldest recipes from the mid-1800s feature black-eyed peas, rice and pork. In this plant-based version, I use smoked paprika and mushrooms to get a similar smokiness and earthiness. This can be made in the Instant Pot or on the stove.

Many people in the South celebrate New Year’s Day by eating black-eyed peas and greens (such as collards or kale). These foods are supposed to bring good luck in the months ahead. The black-eyed peas symbolize coins and the greens symbolize paper money. 

Hoppin’ John Stew

Call for newsletter articles

Would you like to write an article for our newsletter or provide feedback? How about reviewing a great new vegan restaurant, or telling us about a recent vegan-oriented experience? We are also looking for volunteers to edit and publish this newsletter (training and support included). If you are interested or have any questions, write to susan@nwveg.org.

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