MiniVDO: The Phuket Cultural Council remind people of 3 significant religious occasions this month and to ease feelings away from conflicts.

Andaman News NBT (VHF dial) + FM90.5 Radio Thailand at 8.30am & perhaps relays/repeats on local Cable TV channel 1, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, & possibly FM108 Mazz Radio 7.30pm in Phuket, Friday 5th September 2008 & http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/ Contact AndamanNews@yahoo.com

The Phuket provincial Council on Culture led by Supote Sa-Nguankittiphan and Tribanyat Jariyalerpong request people to review their expressions and participation towards the political conflicts saying that they should carefully consider the long term impacts. They remind the members of the public that September is a blissful month in Thailand as it’s the period that Muslims observe fasting, Thais make merit for the Sart or Festival of the Hungry Ghost where they offer food to ancestors and spirits plus the vegetarian festival when Chinese descendants observe vegetarian diets, refrain from all vices, eating meat or killing animals thus creating inner peace. They think that expression or political participation in Phuket can be different from other locations due to its uniqueness as it is an image for Thailand as well.

Do you know the Position Paper on vegetarian diets, from the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada?

Well-planned vegan diets are appropriate for all stages of the life cycle!

Position of the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada: Vegetarian Diets
J Am Diet Assoc. 2003 Jun;103(6):748-65.

In the field of ‘Diet and Nutrition’ lets analyse, what does the Bible say. The Bible says in the book of Genesis, Ch. No.1, Verse No.29, that… ‘God has given you all the herbs bearing seeds, the trees bearing fruits - those that bear seed, as meat for you.’ New International Version says… ‘The seed bearing plants, and the trees bearing fruits bearing seeds are food for you, all of them.’ Today, even a layman knows that there are several poisonous plants like wild berries, stritchi, datura, plants containing alkaloid, polyander, bacaipoid - that which if you ingest, if you eat there are high possibilities you may die. How come the Creator of the universe and the human beings, does not know, that if you have these plants, you will die. I hope Dr. William Campbell does not give these vegetarian diets to his patients.

for more details,please visit http://www.suprememastertv.com

The environmental science club at the Science Academy promoted vegetarian diets and lifestyles to the student body. we kicked ****!

Vegetarian diets are gaining in popularity. They can reduce the risk of many common diseases, promote weight loss, and help the environment.

Andaman News NBT (VHF dial) + FM90.5 Radio Thailand at 8.30am & perhaps repeats on Phuket Cable TV channel 1, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, Monday 15 September 2008 & http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/ Send comments to AndamanNews@yahoo.com

During the Phuket Vegetarian Festival,
Chinese shrines clearly reflect
their roles as community centres.
People wearing white go in and out all day
to pray and attend ritual ceremonies.

All shrines are opened as alms houses.
People flock in to take food
& make donations to make merit.

Its the time to share happiness
among the wealthy and the poor.
Everyone is equal when entering the shrines.

In Phuket dialect we say Chai Tueng.
Chai is vegetable. Tueng is place.
It is like the central dialect.
They use Taejiew Chinese, but we use Hokkien.

I would like to invite people
to take a bit of food from shrines
as we believe its a blessing.
When its a blessing, it becomes
a harmonious gathering of the poor & wealthy.
When everyone has a meal here
it means that they share the same rice pot.

The vegetarian diet was brought into Phuket
by Chinese settlers over 100 years ago.
During that time, people grew sick,
so the Chinese opera company
decided to keep to a vegetarian diet
& the sickness disappeared.
This led to peoples faith
& generations since keep practicing
the diet until today.

During the old days, we did not bring
the incense stick ash from China.
Later there was a person who volunteered
to go bring the incense stick
& the tray to place in Phuket.

The rules which vegetarian participants must observe emphasize bodies, speech and mind.
They not only wear white
& refrain from eating animal flesh,
but some more rules should be recognized.
People who are in mourning
cannot practice the vegetarian diet.
Pregnant women or during womens period
can eat vegetarian diets, but cannot visit shrines
to pray or attend the ritual ceremonies.

Despite keeping to vegetable diet,
some vegetables cannot be consumed.
These are strong smelling ones such as
garlic, leek, spring onion, onion, its leaves,
Chinese Chives & tobacco.

Flavor enhancers like Monosodium Glutamate,
artificial food like ducklike dishes
should not be taken.
Strict Phuket vegetarians would NOT eat them.

If you strictly observe the vegetarian festival rules
from the 1st days for 3 years of festivals,
people believe you purified your mind & bodies.
The most important thing is that
we are abstaining from killing animals,
which is considered sinful.
Vegetarian diet also contributes to good health.
Jai Chai means eating food prepared from vegetables
and not consuming strong smelling vegetables.
Song Keng means pray
& Je Seam means keep to the rules
or purify the mind for inner peace.

Many famous shrines are located in Phuket city area
such as Bangniew and Jui Tui Shrines.

Michael Davis, MD, pediatrician, discusses vegetarian diets in children.

Part 5 Contains: Protein, Avoiding Soy, Regarding Vegetarian Diets, Carbohydrates. Julie Matthews, Certified Nutrition Consultant, gives a comprehensive presentation to Parents and Clinicians in Toronto, Ontario.

Video by TVOntario - Click here http://www.tvo.org/cfmx/tvoorg/tvoparents/index.cfm?page_id=145&action=article&article_title_url=HowdoesdietaffectASDkidsAParentsPerspective&article_id=3242

There are many health benefits for being vegetarian. Learn about how healthy being vegetarian is in this free vegetarian video.