In this issue:Vegan Organic Growing page 4

Interview with Vegan village page 5Vegan Caterers page 6Book reviews page 8

Grassroots News page 10Recipes page 13

Testimony of a Veterinary Student page 14Springtime in Paris back page

No. 101/Summer 2004 A Forum for Vegan Opinion £ 1

Animal groups

Viva!, 8 York Court, Wilder Street, Bristol BS28QH. Tel: 0117 944 1000. Web:www.viva.org.uk. Email: info@viva.org.uk.Publishes the magazine Viva!Life four times ayear. They are very animal oriented and areespecially good for teenagers and young people.Animal Aid. Web: www.animalaid.org.ukPETA. Web: www.peta-online.org

Charities

HIPPO (Help International Plant ProteinOrganisation) is working around the world tohelp hungry people to obtain or produce theirown high protein food from plant sources,supporting projects run by local people in thedeveloping world. Donations/enquiries to:HIPPO, The Old Vicarage, Llangynog,Carmarthen SA33 5BS. Tel/Fax 01267 241547.Email: hippocharity@aol.comVegfam has for 30 years provided short andlong-term Relief to People who have been thevictims of Drought, Flood, Cyclone or War.Website: www.veganvillage.co.uk/vegfamEmail: vegfam@veganvillage.co.uk

Family + children

Vegan Families Contacts List for familieswishing to bring up their children the vegan way.Send name & address and dates of birth ofchildren, and an SAE, to Family Contacts List, 7Battle Rd, St Leonards on Sea, East Sussex TN377AA.Contact Network for measles, mumps, rubella,for families who would prefer children to catchchildhood diseases and gain natural immunityinstead of the MMR vaccination. To go on list tonotify of cases, call Lesley on 020 8861 1233.Vegan Family House Website of a veganfamily living in NE Scotland. Recipes, info onveganism and bringing up vegan children.www.veganfamily.co.uk

Fruitarian + raw food

The Fruitarian/Raw Food Centre ofLondon (100% vegan) in Barnet offers weekendworkshops and consultations on the raw energylifestyle, fasting, preparation of recipes, etc.Guidance for safe, reliable weight control andbodybuilding. Discussion of philosophy, ethics,reference to religion, ecology, etc. Ring 020 84462960 or 020 8441 6253 for details.Go Fruitarian (www.fresh-network.com) Fordetails send SAE to The FRESH Network, POBox 71, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB7 4GU. Fruitarianism Our original and ultimate diet.Free information, send large SAE to JohnRhodes, Longcause Cottage, Longcause,Dartington, Totnes TQ9 6EY.

Magazines

The Vegan is published by the The VeganSociety.

The Welsh Vegan is a quarterly magazine inWelsh and English. Annual subscription £1.25from Bronyr Ysgol, Montpellier, LlandridnodWells, Powys.Arkangel is an animal liberation magazine. £10for 4 issues inc p&p. Arkangel, BCM 9240,London WC1N 3XX. Articles to arkang-elweb@hotmail.comGrowing Green Internatinal is published byVegan Organic Network.Web: www.veganorganic.netThe Green Queen Twice yearly lesbian, gay,bisexual, vegan & veggie mag, welcomes shortstories, poetry, articles, opinion, book/filmreviews, campaign information. Issue 11 nowavailable, please send £1-13 to K Bell, GreenQueen, BM Box 5700, London WC1N 3XX.New Leaves is published by Movement forCompassionate Living.Web: www.MCLveganway.org.ukVegan Voice is a quarterly Australian magazinefor those who want to spread the message ofrespect and love for all life. It promotes a non-violent way of living beneficial to the planet, allanimals and human health; gives a platform forlike-minded groups and individuals. Credit cardfacilities now available – approx £18 for 4 issues,a year’s subscription. PO Box 30, NimbinNSW2480 Australia. Web: http://veganic.netEmail: veganvoice@lis.net.auVega – online magazine: www.vegaresearch.orgViva!Life is published Viva. www.viva.org.uk

Projects

Ancient Woodland Project a 29-acrewoodland near Scarborough, run by a VeganViews subscriber who wants to convert it backinto a native woodland. Details: Louisa 01723514525 or 07748 101117.Email: Ancientwoodlands@aol.comWeb: www.woodlandproject.org.uk

Religion + spiritual

The Fellowship of Life works on a spiritualfoundation for the promotion of veganism andanimal liberation; seeking to unite believers of allfaiths or none in a harmless way of life. Detailsfrom Harrall at 43 Braichmelyn, Bethesda,Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 3RD.A friendly network of vegetarians and veganscommitted to faith in Jesus Christ. Membershipis free. Kindness Unlimited, The Old Vicarage,Llangynog, Carmarthen SA33 5BS. Email:springoftruelife@aol.comJesus Top Secret Fascinating article showingthat Jesus was a vegan, and that he expresslycommanded his followers to observe a purelyvegetarian diet and to show love and kindness toall living things, and explaining why theseteachings were altered and suppressed. Send£1.20 in stamps to BCM Redeemer, LondonWC1N 3XX.Web: www.members.tripod.com/jbrooks2/Followers of the Way Founded by AntonyBates (1920-1996). A group of friends who arevegetarian/vegan, and pacifist in relation to war.They aim to cultivate the inner life and to expressthis through works of reform and creativity. Theyproclaim the Christ has returned and anticipate

the return of the prophets. Tel: 020 8948 2315.365 Sandycombe Rd, Kew Gardens, Surrey TW93PR.Spiritual Veganism The ultimate belief. Youare a spiritual vegan if you are a vegan whose oneand only concern is for the animals, and youbelieve that those beautiful, intelligent, lovingcreatures, bred for an already overladen table,have the divine right to live. Spiritual Vegans,Kent House Kent Place, Lechlade, Glos GL73AW.Veg4Lent This campaign is active each year inpromoting the benefits of ethical vegetarianismamongst Christians. For further information onthis year’s initiative, see www.veg4lent.org, orcontact: Veg4lent, Pines Road, Liphook GU307PL. Tel. 01428 723747.

Printing + resources

Footprint Workers Co-operative, 40Sholebroke Avenue, Leeds LS7 3HB. Veryreasonably priced, very ethically based, all paperis re-cycled, eco-friendly inks. Tel: 0113 2624408. Web: www.footprinters.co.ukSunrise Screenprint, tel: 01356 660430.Web: www.menmuir.org.uk/sunrise. The ownersare vegan, environmental, and print on fair tradeorganic cotton T-shirts. Retail/wholesale andcustom printed.

Sport

Vegetarian Cycling and Athletic Club Opento vegans of any sporting ability. Details: PeterSimpson, 13 Peers Lane, Shenley Church End,Milton Keynes MK5 6BG. Tel 01908 530919.Web: www.vegcac.co.uk

Vegan communities

Brynderwen Vegan Community started inMay 2002 when a large four-bedroom house in asemi-rural location on the outskirts of Swanseawas purchased. It has a huge double garage withplanning permission to convert to furtheraccommodation or part accommodation, partworkshop. Two acres of adjoining land is beingpurchased. Some people live at Brynderwen,others independently nearby. If you’re interestedin visiting or living at the house or nearby contactMalcolm Horne, Brynderwen, Crymlyn Road,Llansamlet, Swansea SA7 9XT. Tel: 01792792442. Email: vegancom@btinternet.com. Asmall newsletter is available (send SAE). Web:www.veganviews.org.uk/brynderwen

Vegan shops

Vegonia Wholefoods sells only veganproducts. 49 High Street, Porthmadog, NorthWales. Tel: 01766 515195.Unicorn Grocery, 89 Albion Rd, Chorlton,Manchester, M21 0BN. Tel 0161 8610010. Web:www.unicorn-grocery.co.ukOne Earth Shop, 54 Allison St, Digbeth,Birmingham, B5 5TH. Tel: 0121 6326909.Star Organics, 84 Cranleigh Rd, Southbourne,Bournemouth. Tel/fax: 01202 418541. Organicfruit and veg, health foods and eco products.

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Notices

4 – 8 August: The Funky Raw FestivalNear Plymouth on an organic farm close to asandy beach. Band and DJs, juice bar, food tent,various stalls & workshops. Camping. Price:£60 or £30 concessions. Details: Chris Kennett023 92611607.

7 – 21 August: Vegan Campthis year it will be held at Longhorsley inNorthumberland. All Welcome. Come for along stay or a short stay. More details fromVeggies Catering Campaign, Sumac Centre,245 Gladstone Street, Notts NG7 6HX. Web:www.veggies.org.uk/vegancamp.

15 August: Cruelty-Free FayreIn North Yorkshire Moors near ScarboroughRavenscar Old Cricket ground behind VillageHall. 12 to 5 pm. Vegan Café, BBQ, Crafts,Campaigns, Plants, Fair Trade, Music andmore. Piches to hire/offers of help toKaren/Kev: 01723 870366.

12 September: Festival of Life10 am – 9 pm £4 (concessions £2, under 16sfree). Celebrating sustainable, compassionate,raw/living-food & holistic lifestyles. Web:www.festivaloflife.net. Conway Hall, Red LionSquare, Holborn, London WC1. Nearestunderground station: Holborn.

25 September: Vegan Organic Farm VisitHeld at Tolhurst Organic Produce inWhitchurch-on-Thames near Reading, 1pm.

Organised by the Vegan Organic Trust(www.veganorganic.net). Find out what adiverse range of foods can be grown in the UK,pick up some tips on growing your own fruitand veg in your garden or allotment withoutanimal by-products (such as blood, fish & boneand manures), meet like-minded people, askquestions, learn! For beginners or experts ingrowing. All are welcome, not just VOTmembers. The tour normally lasts around 3hours, then there will be free light refreshmentsand chat. Cost: £18, which helps to fund VOT’svaluable work in promoting stockfree farming.Numbers are limited so book early! To reserveyour place, send full payment (payable to VOT)to Graham Cole, Coach House, HolywellEstate, Swanmore, Southampton SO23 2QE.Tel: 01489 896471. Email:veganrainbows@tiscali.co.uk. Full details willbe sent on receipt of payment. Closest railwaystation is Pangbourne (nearly 2 miles from thefarm) which is a 25 minute walk if you are afast walker. Lifts from/back to the station maybe possible – ask for details.

11 Dec: Nottingham Vegan Festival The festival will be held at the Council House,Market Square, and feature a whole range ofstalls. Organised by Veggies CateringCampaign and House of Life. Email Ronny andReuben if you would like to have a stall. vegan-festival@veggies.org.uk

Correction:Vegan Camp In VV100 Events was listed asbeing 7 – 21 July, when it should have read 7 –21 August.

3

Food seems to be prominent in thenews lately. There is an increasingworry that illnesses due to bad diet areon the increase and if this trendcontinues it would overwhelm theprovision of health care.

By Harry Mather

Attention has focused on the eatinghabits of children and the fact that foodmanufacturers are targeting children to

promote overconsumption of processed foodsthat do them more harm than good, foods thatlead to too much salt and sugar in the diet andan unbalanced diet generally. Many schools arenow giving children fruit for snacks and thechildren seem to enjoy them. The unhealthydrinks vending machines which drinkspromoters have supplied to schools are alsoseen as unsuitable. Children are now growingup without a basic idea of cookery and it maybe that more emphasis will be placed onteaching the basics of nutrition to counter the

biased promotions of advertisers on TV andelsewhere, but governments stop short ofregulations that would challenge misleadingadvertising.

Hopefully this step in the right direction isthe beginning of an awareness that theconventional diet is not the best and morepeople will come to take note of the nutritionaladvice now given by those who study nutritionand be less influenced by the propaganda ofmanufacturers mainly interested in boostingtheir sales.

Food manufacturers are under pressure toreduce the unhealthy ingredients in theirproducts and are slowly responding, but thechanges need to be much greater.

People still look on milk as the best source ofcalcium, whereas plant foods will provide amore balanced source, and it has not occurredto them that milk is only intended for babies.People still think of meat as an essential andtraditional part of a meal, whereas the greaterpart of populations have either lived withoutmeat or eaten it only on rare occasions.

Editor:Harry Mather

Web designer: John CurtisFront cover: Ruth Lewis

Layout: Knut Caspari

Contributers:Graham ColePat Reeves

Zaak

Post address:Vegan Views,

Flat A15,20 Dean Park Road,

Bournemouth,BH1 1JB,

UK.

Email:info@veganviews.org.uk

Website:www.veganviews.org.uk

The website features highlights fromrecent back issues. From VV93 andonwards, the entire magazine can bedownloaded.

Printed by:Footprint Workers co-op, Leeds. Tel:0113 262 4408. www.footprinters.co.uk

CopyrightIf quoting from this magazine, pleaseacknowledge the source and do notdistort the sense. The sign © shows thatthe author reserves copyright on thatarticle.

New layout!This issue comes to you with a newlayout. We would be pleased to hear ofyour reactions to this.

Vegan Views is independent of theVegan Society but shares its aims. Itwas started in 1975 by a group ofvegans who wanted to make contactwith others interested in creating a moreharmonious way of living based onveganism, and to communicate moreinformally than could be done in theofficial journal of the Vegan Society. Itrealises that many vegans feel isolatedfrom society and appreciate contactwith, and news and opinions of, othervegans.

We rely on readers’ contributions andwelcome letters, articles, news, events,drawings and constructive criticism –and try to print all that is relevant and ofinterest in the magazine. If you don’twant your letter published please makethis clear when writing.

We expect to publish quarterly, buthave no fixed publication date, so writeearly to be included in the next issue.

From the editor…

Events

Visit www.veggies.org.uk/calendar.htmfor the latest vegan and animal events.Vegan related events are also at:www.veganviews.org.uk

It is now that time of year when theplans and labours on our plots reachfruition and there comes the reward ofharvests of health-giving fruit andvegetables and the colours and scentsof the flowers delight the senses. But itis also a time of sowings and plantingsto take advantage of the still warm soiland high light levels.

By Graham Cole

Many Oriental vegetables are compactand fast maturing making themuseful for smaller plots, for

interplanting between rows and filling gaps.Many of the Oriental salad leaves can be grownas cut-and-come-again crops for raw eating,steaming or stir-fry are nutritious and make achange.

They can be raised in modules for plantingout and of a larger and more robust size to resistthe creatures that find them tasty too or directsowing, soaking the shallow drill first beforesowing if the weather is dry and also keepingmoist once through as the flea beetle thrives inhot, dry conditions and peppers the leaves withtiny holes.

Some come in seed mixtures of some half-dozen types and can be sown thinly but closetogether and cut several times at a young tenderstage. Examples of Oriental crops are asfollows:

Chinese Cabbage Many different types,all quick growing with mild flavour. Need amoisture retentive soil and cut semi-mature ormature tight heads. Varieties include "WongBok", "Green Rocket" and "Early Jade Pagoda"(my own favourite).

Mustard Greens A varied group of orientalgreens including Mizuna, Green-in-the Snowand Mibuna with a hot and peppery taste thepungency varies with variety and age of plant.Grow as seedling crop and is ready in a fewweeks.

Pak Choi Close relative of ChineseCabbage-the leaves have a wide, white andcrunchy mid-rib and can be eaten raw or lightlycooked at any stage from seedling to matureheads. These can be sown up to September foreven growing under cover. Shallow rooting soneeds regular moisture. Varieties... "CantonDwarf" and "China Choi".

Oriental Saladini A mixture that caninclude mizuna/mustard greens, pak choi,komatsuna and non-heading Chinese cabbage.Can be good in tubs and containers, again,plenty of moisture and leave a stump and theplants will re-sprout for 3-4 more cuts.

Also at this time Autumn Onions (sets orseed), Chard, Leaf Beet, Chicory and Lettucecan be sown, the latter includes such types as"Valdor", "Arctic King" and "Pinnokio".

Green Manures A time to fill any space tocover the soil in Autumn and through theWinter, ideally a nitrogen fixing legume such asClover, Trefoil or Tares to protect and improvesoil structure and build fertility because it ispossible to grow plants without animal manuresand blood, fish and bone and chemicals as weare demonstrating in the UK and around theworld on Vegan Organic plots of all sizes.

Fruit If you planted some "Autumn Bliss"Raspberry canes last winter as I suggested youshould be getting your first and useful pickings

about now and if you haven't discovered thiseasy, excellent variety that only needs a littlespace to give delicious berries for years to comethen consider it this autumn....

Finally, you can join me for the annual farmvisit at Hardwick Gardens (details: Events,page 3) to see Tolly and his varied crops thatfeed many people on a weekly basis "BoxScheme" in and around Reading, Berkshire. Asfeatured on Radio 4 programme "On YourFarm"... be inspired and see what is possible.

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Vegan organic growing:A Time for Harvests and More Sowings

Graham Cole has worked on severallarge gardens since 1978. He is asupporter of the Vegan OrganicNetwork, and will be the presenter ontheir forthcoming videos on stockfreeorganic agriculture.

Useful informationSeed catalogues: Suffolk Herbs, MonksFarm, Coggeshall Rd, Kelvedon, EssexCO5 9PG. Web: www.suffolkherbs.comTamar Organics, Tavistock, WoodlandsEstate, Gulworthy, Tavistock, Devon PL198JE. Web: www.tamarorganics.co.ukAnimal-free compost: B&Q OrganicPeat free Multipurpose compost.Alternatively, composted municipal waste(i.e. grass and tree cuttings) is available insome areas – try your local recycling centre.Organisations: Vegan Organic Network,Plants for a Future, and Movement forCompassionate Living: see page 18.Website: Vegan Views website containsthe current and all the of previous VeganOrganic Growing articles, and in manycases, has extra colour photographs. Seewww.veganviews.org.uk/vvcrossref.html#grow

Oriental greens for cut-and-come-again.

Vegan Views: How did the idea of theVegan Village website come about, andwhen did it go live on the internet?Libby: It was back in 1997. Me and myhusband both worked with computers and hadstarted to use the web ourselves. We didn’tknow any other vegans, and thought that theweb would be a good way to create a virtualcommunity for vegans in a way that you couldnever do in the ‘real world’.It must have been one of the earliest UKvegan sites. Had the Vegan Society gota website by then?It was actually one of the earliest vegan sites inthe world! There weren’t very many veganwebsites at all at that point. I think the VeganSociety’s website had been up and running forabout a year by then, but that was more forpeople thinking of going vegan, rather than forthose of us who had already taken the plunge.How popular is it. How many ‘hits’ doyou get?The Vegan Village is very popular and wellknown in the vegan world. We get around42,000 visitors each month, looking at 150,000pages. The most popular section is thenoticeboard and we handle up to 1,000 smallads a year. The recipe book is the next most hitsection.I take it that it’s done for the love of it,that you don’t get any income from it?That’s right, we do it in our spare time and fundit from our own money. This means that weretain editorial control over the content, anddon’t have to worry about keeping advertisershappy! This does mean that we occasionally getunhappy vegetarians who feel excluded, but ourphilosophy is that there is already plenty outthere for vegetarians, and it is time that vegansgot some support. The best part about runningthe website is when we get an email fromsomeone who says that the Vegan Village hasmade them feel less isolated.The words Vegan and Village soundgood together, but they also meansomething don’t they?In our ideal world we wanted to be able to walkdown the high street and have a good choice ofvegan products – even to go into a shop and beable to choose whatever we wanted off theshelves without having to read the labels. Wecouldn’t do that, so the next best thing was tohave a virtual village (originally we wanted tocall it the Virtual Vegan Village but thought thatwas a bit of a mouthful!). Since then we haveseen the emergence of companies such asVegan Store, which is absolutely fantastic andtakes us a step closer to our ideal world. We

believe that it is essentialthat the vegan communitysupports vegancompanies – that wespend our ‘vegan pound’with them to help themgrow and innovate.Your website designcompany is calledImaner Consultantswhich is run by Libbyand Andy Watts. Iassume that you’rehusband and wife.Yes, we are husband andwife – we will have beenmarried for 14 years inSeptember and have beenrunning ImanerConsultants and theVegan Village for half ofthat time.Is Imaner your full-time job, or do eitherof you have a day-job?Absolutely 24/7 for bothof us! IC is a well established, very successfulvegan business with an established customerbase. We have both worked full time on it sincesetting it up in 1997. Who have Imaner been working with?Over 90% of our customers are vegan. We havean ethical policy, which means that we turnaway work which conflicts with our veganethics. At first other people thought that thiswas very odd, but now they can see that it hasenabled us to build a very strong business. Weare very proud of our client base which includesAnimal Aid, Ethical Wares, UncagedCampaigns, Plamil, the Captive Animals’Protection Society and the Ethical InvestorsGroup.As well as web design, Imaner doconsulting. What sort of things doesthat involve?The consulting is largely related to the internet.Andy and I both have business studies degrees(Andy has an MBA too) so we are able to take abroader view than simply the design of awebsite. At the moment we are looking at waysof using the internet as an effectivecampaigning tool. We also carry out onlinemarket research and give advice to start-upvegan businesses.I guess that many vegans with web-design skills might consider a career inweb design for ethical companies to bea dream-job. Do you think there’s muchroom out there for more or is there toolittle to go round already?We are definitely seeing a change in thepositioning of veganism. When we started,most vegan-run companies, with a few notableexceptions, thought they should hide the factthat they were vegan – they thought it wouldput people off their products – but this is nowchanging, and companies are becoming proud

to show their vegan credentials. Last year wehad so much work that we had to close ourbooks to new customers. The more vegancompanies there are, the better news that is forall of us.The Vegan Research Panel – is that a bitof fun, or something more serious. Doyou circulate the results tomanufacturers?We do this in our spare time too! (We don’thave much spare time left now!) We set theVegan Research Panel up in order to canvassthe opinions of vegans, and the internet allowedus to do this in a way that had never beenpossible before. Andy’s background is inmarket research, so we ensure that it is allcarried out to industry standards. We send theresults to companies who we think will beinterested in the results, and at some point inthe future we would like to start askingquestions directly on behalf of those companies– for example, to carry out research for newproduct development.How, why and when did you govegetarian, and later vegan (assumingyou didn’t do it in one step)?I was only veggie for about 6 months beforegoing vegan, after reading an excellentmagazine that was around at the time calledVegetarian Living. I’ve been vegan for about 12years now. Andy was what he calls a “passivevegan” – he ate vegan at home but was lessstrict out of the house. After a while he decidedthat he didn’t want to eat any animal products atall and became a fully fledged vegan too.Having done that, it was a natural step for bothof us to want to work in a vegan environmenttoo. That’s when we set up our own veganbusiness, and we haven’t looked back!

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Interview with Vegan VillageJohn Curtis has interviewed LibbyWatts who puts together the VeganVillage website. Unlike many othervegan websites it is UK-based andextremely popular amongst vegans.The free noticeboard is a daily must-see. The website address is:www.veganvillage.co.uk

Libby Watts in front of the Vegan Village logo.

After doing a bit of research, I foundthat there are more groups andbusinesses that can do vegan cateringthan I thought there would be. All of thecaterers below can do fully vegancatering, but as noted, some dovegetarian catering too.

By John Curtis

Ispoke to David Mather (Harry Mather’sson) who got married last December andbooked Leon Lewis to do all of the

catering…He did a wedding buffet for our 60 guests in

a village hall and was fantastic. We had greatreports from everyone, and about 90% of ourguests were meat-eaters – they loved the food.His pricing was extremely reasonable too –around £6 to £7 per head. Since it was a buffet,the food was to be served cold, and he preparedit all the night before. He did, however, heat acouple of the dishes in the ovens at the villagehall. I’ve been told that he can cater for 100s ofpeople. Leon was friendly professional andvery keen to play his part to help make the daya success, which he certainly did. I madenumerous phone calls to Leon to discuss foodbut he also helped me with a few logisticalquestions that I had. He was very helpful. Healso does some of the big vegan events, such asAnimal Aid ones. Tel: 01277 218661.Web: www.leonlewis.co.uk

Purple Penguin CaféAll of their catering is fully vegan. They have amarquee, a grand oven to cook fantastic cakesin, chairs, tables, drapes and all manner ofuseful tat carted around in our dodge and largetrailer. They also have a solar-powered lightingand sound system.

They use organic or locally produced ingre-dients where possible, and include Fair Tradeproducts.

This mobile café started in 2000 and has sixmembers who are based in Hebden Bridge, nearHalifax when they are not travelling. They go tofestivals/events during the summer, living andworking together on the road. Last winter theycatered at some indoor events in WestYorkshire. They also lend equipment andpeople to other groups doing food things suchas the Earth First gathering. They don’t haveany job vacancies, but are always looking forvolunteers who would like to have theirtravel/ticket and food paid for at an event inreturn for their work.

In the last 12 months they have had stalls at:Crickstock, Leamington Peace Festival, PriddyFolk Faire, Hebden Riverside Festival,Buddahfield festival, Big Green Gathering, awedding near Rugby, a party in Wales, oblongXmas Party, a party in scout hut in HebdenBridge, Newcastle Green Fair, and KingstonGreen Fair. Tel: 07786 262 864.

Web: www.purplepenguin.org

VeggiesVeggies are based in Nottingham, and wereformed in 1984. They did fully-vegan cateringright from the beginning and have done eversince. They provided veggie burgers at animalrights demos. In October 1984 they acquired astall and sold burgers in Nottingham. Aroundthat time they also catered at a few demonstra-tions, including the Molesworth Anti-war campand the Smithfields demo organised at the timeby the Vegetarian Society (Smithfield inLondon is a huge meat wholesale market).

They are not-for profit. Many of them arevolunteers, although they have sometimes beenable to pay low wages to their permanent staff.Money raised funds new equipment,campaigning, and funds the Sumac Centre.

Several years ago, they also started cateringat private functions – weddings, funerals, etc.

They cater at many events throughout theyear. Their biggest catering event is theGlastonbury Festival in Somerset, closelyfollowed by the Big Green Gathering.Winter/Spring is a quiet time for them for thesesorts of events.

There are two main purposes of Veggies:Educating meat-eaters that vegan food can befun (which is why things like weddings areimportant, since many of the guests will not bevegan), and providing vegan food cheaply (e.g.at festivals & demos). They aim at a 50:50balance of these two.

Veggies also have a vegan café inNottingham, in the Sumac Centre. This is runmainly by a group of volunteers, and not all ofthem are connected with Veggies.

They cater mainly in the Nottingham/Londonareas, but will go anywhere in the UK if theevent is big enough. They have to considertravelling.

They do not provide a postal service, but doget some orders from prisons who cater forvegan prisoners.

Veggies used to make most of their moneyselling things like veggie burgers to businessesin Nottingham. Now, due to the much wideravailability of veggie food from the frozen foodindustry, frozen sales have declined greatly.Event catering has risen to take its place.

Event catering is mainly done by Ronny andPatrick of Veggies, with lots of help fromvolunteers.

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Vegan caterers

Leon Lewis catering stall at the Glastonbury festival, June 2004.

Purple Penguins stall at a festival.

Congratulations Fiona!Vegan Fiona Oakes who runs Tower Hill StablesAnimal Sanctuary ran a sub 3 hour LondonMarathon coming 62nd in the race - please visither sanctuary website www.towerhillstables.comto see how you can help. (Source: Vegan VillageNoticeboard)

New Vegan Café in YorkshireLeeds Vegetarian and Vegan Society discoveredthis brand new vegan cafe on its first day ofopening, Tues 18th May, whilst accompanyingLaurence Main on a small part of his walk acrossthe country for the Vegan Society’s DiamondJubilee.

Canalside Community Café, Hebble End, nextto the Alternative Technology Centre on thecanalside, Hebden Bridge, W Yorks. Tel:07870727373. Email: kurlykathb@yahoo.co.uk

Times: Tues-Thurs 10-6pm, will open onMondays for groups by prior arrangement. Non-smoking, eat in or outside in the garden, childfriendly with children’s menu, toys and highchair.

The Bull Lives OnAt a recent bull fight in Nimes, Southern France,the spectators were so impressed by the staminaand courage of the bull that they clamoured forhis life to be spared. It was only a spark of mercy.Could this spark start a thought process leadingto enlightenment.

Another Cattle DiseaseA new mystery cattle disease has appeared topuzzle the experts. It is not yet sure whether thisnew disease is transmittable to humans, but afterthe fiasco of BSE and its effect on humans,scientists are being cautious.

Vaccines in TomatoesScientists are still working hard on ever newforms of Genetic Modification. Tomatoes can bemodified to provide a vaccine against Hepatitis Bby genetic manipulation. This could be takenthrough eating the tomato, through tomato paste,or through providing it as a pill. This wouldavoid the expensive cold storage needed for thepresent vaccine usage.

Eastern ProgressEconomic Progress is ‘mushrooming’ in Chinaand they are catching up with their view ofprosperity as seen in the ‘West’. This includeseating more meat, also dairy produce which isnot part of their traditional diet. A fish and chiprestaurant in Beijing is also doing good trade!

Superficiality“By being so superficial, the world has becomeartificial” Sundari. There are signs sent byNature to show its unease at the insane use thatwe, human beings, have towards it. Our super-ficiality is so great that it prevents us from seeingreality in its true dimensions.

It is our behaviour that creates great damage tothe life of the planet, but we do nothing to changeit. We prefer, from convenience or laziness, tolook at the problem as something independentfrom us. Consequently to change the damage we

cause, we devise excuses or structures which areexternal to us:

Is the world polluted? Let’s invent ECOLOGYwhich should solve the troubles caused by us.

Is the world at war? Let’s discover PACIFISMwhich would stem the obscenities of battles.

Is cruelty in the world so clear that brutalitiestowards animals seem something normal andunimportant? Let’s think up ANIMALISM thatstems some perpetrated atrocities done to defen-celess beings.

Is there starvation, poverty, slavery in theworld? Let’s discover CHARITY which shouldbe useful in alleviating the suffering of helplessbeings

Finding solutions that lessen disasters causedby us doesn’t give us the authority to continuewith them. If our behaviour causes incurabledamage (for nature, for humans, for the animalworld), hasn’t the time maybe come to changeour lifestyle?

If we really want to stop being destroyers, itwould, in my opinion, be easier, more logical andnormal to look around us and start to read withthe right importance the alarms that Nature sendsus, revising our lifestyle; beginning to be prota-gonists for change, rather than going on withdelegating this task to others. If all people go ondelegating, superficiality cannot but prevail.

After mad cow disease people now talk aboutbird flu. A virus which caused the death of tens ofmillions of winged animals and which seems tobe transmitted to humans with lethal conse-quences. I agree with the opinion of Lee Jong-Wook, the Director General of the World HealthOrganisation, when he affirms that this flu “is aserious world threat to human health”. I don’tbelieve in that case. Thinking about those events,I come to consider our bodies and immunedefences. High temperatures, like many othermanifestations of disease, are nothing but thesymptoms that inform us that something in oursystem is not working.

In the same way, we must understand that madcow disease and bird flu are only the symptoms,the signals, the evidence that Nature is ill.Dangerously ill. Our superficiality makes usforget there exists a natural law of things whichdoesn’t lend itself to compromises like men’slaws do. We must not think that we can carry onliving on this planet with foolishness andpresumption. Planet earth is not man’s planet, it’sthe planet of several forms of life. Nature is theonly true Law, and in the end it comes up withthe bill.

Maybe in the astonishment of our death wecould find the reasons for our existence. But it iscertain that for many people the incapacity ofbeing responsible and conscious of their ownlives only causes inauspicious events not toundervalue the reality of Life on planet Earth.

To be vegetarian doesn’t make us betterpeople, but the vegetarian choice can improvethe world.Carmen Somaschi, President of the AssociazioneVegetariana Italiana. presidente@vegetariani.it.Edited by Harry Mather.

7

They regularly appeal for volunteers –they have a ‘crew’ list who they call uponfor help, and appeal for new volunteers byword-of-mouth and on the Vegan Villagenoticeboard (www.veganvillage.co.uk).They have an increasing number of volun-teers based in the London area which helpsthem to cater at events in this area.

They recently acquired huge pots so thatthey can cater for 300 to 400 people,making things like pasta with pasta sauce atprivate functions. At festivals and demos,they tend to sell veggie burgers, pasties andcake.

Ronny has produced a booklet on vegancake making called “Cake Scoffer“,available from Veggies for £1.20 inc p&p.Tel: 0845 458 9595.Web: www.veggies.org.uk

Other CaterersArjuna A co-operative who run thewholefood shop and a wholefood distri-bution business in Cambridge. Web:www.arjunawholefoods.co.uk. Tel: 012233648450.Buxton Tram Mobile catering within 25miles of Buxton. Hot and coldvegetarian/vegan snacks. Tel: 0129872472. Web: www.thebuxtontram.co.ukCavanaghs The two owners are bothvegan, although they will do vegetarian aswell as vegan catering. Tel: 01277 227138.Web: www.cavanaghs-uk.comClements Vegetarian Catering Basedin Plaistow on the Sussex/Surrey border.They offer a full outside catering servicefor vegetarian and vegan functions. Theyhave catered for many weddings in excessof 100 guests. They have also providedcatering for christenings, birthdays andfunerals. 01403 871 246.Web: www.clementsvegetarian.co.ukGrassroots Organics Based inGlasgow, they can provide veggie, vegan,organic, specialist catering for parties,dinner parties, weddings, gatherings,conferences, talks and festivals.Tel: 0141 353 3278.Web: www.grassrootsorganic.comHappy Hamsters Based in Essex. Tel:0780 3595815.Lewis & Hastings Vegetarians &Vegans provide outside vegetarian/vegancatering in the South East for Animal andHuman Rights Charities. They specialize inbarbecues (on one occasion catering for400 people at an environmental fair) andsalad bars, cakes and savouries. Tel:01435-830150. Web: www.ivu.org/lhvegMm…Deli A Nottingham-based veggiedelicatessen who also do outside eventcatering. Tel: 0115 910 1601.Web: www.mmdeli.co.ukVeg Out Sussex Tel: 01323 449341.Web: www.veg-out-sussex.co.ukAn extensive list of vegetarian/vegancaterers can be found on the Veggieswebsite at:www.veggies.org.uk/acd/groups/caterers.htmAlso, try contacting your nearby veggierestaurants – a few of them do catering.

A vegan look at the news

Food of Bodhisattvas – BuddhistTeachings on Abstaining from Meat

Published by Padmakara Translation Group,Horticulural Hall, 300 Massachussets Avenue,Boston, Massachusets, 02115 USA. $14.95 pbk.www.shambhala.com. ISBN 1 59030 11.This is a plea for vegetarianism written by theBuddhist yogi Shabkar Tsodruk Rangdrol(1781 – 1851). The argument is that all whoaspire to spiritual advancement should adopt avegetarian diet, but milk is not excluded. Thecontext and language are appropriate to thetime and place. They will no doubt be of closeinterest to Buddhists. Of greater interest to thegeneral reader is the lengthy introduction by thetranslators which addresses the often contrarysayings attributed to Gautama Buddha whichseem to imply that he permitted his followers toeat meat. It is suggested that in the severeclimate of Tibet it would be very difficult togrow vegetables sufficient for subsistence andhe was aware that many followers had longbeen accustomed to eating meat. Teachingswere made to various audiences in accordancewith the people and the circumstances he wasaddressing, in the hope that they would at leastlimit their meat consumption and not entirelyreject his teachings.

‘Knowing that people are transformed onlyby what they can understand and actuallyassimilate, he did not mystify them with subtleand abstruse words or try to impose on themdisciplines that were beyond their strength.Instead, he spoke to them according to theirability and need.

The teachings recorded in the scriptures aretherefore circumstantial, bestowed in a givensituation and to specific individuals. A teachingappropriate for one person or group of personsis not necessarily suitable for others.Instructions intended for disciples of greatacuity, and that approximate more closely theBuddha’s own understanding, are not appro-priate for disciples of more modest capacity,who need a more gradual approach. Buddhistscriptures present an entire spectrum ofinstruction, all of which has a single aim: tolead beings to liberation… It is a mistake toquote teachings out of context, applying themtoo broadly, in situations for which they werenot designed.

But no matter how cogent the circumstantialargument may be, and there is little doubt that itwas so in Tibet, it is still important to preservethe essential principle. However much theeating of meat may be justified in the case ofgiven individuals and circumstances, thisshould not be allowed to obscure the basic factthat meat eating does violence to the Mahayanaideal and is in normal circumstances indefen-sible. It is clear from Shabkar’s writings thatthis was one of his main preoccupations.’

As for the idea put out that the Buddha diedfrom eating tainted pork. The authors point outthat any normal person would be aware if anymeat was tainted and would refuse to eat it. It is

ridiculous to suggest thatthe Buddha should not beaware of tainted meat.

Another point is thatBuddhists believe in thereincarnation of soulsand that it is possible forhumans to be reincar-nated as animals. Youmight therefore be eatingwhat had been a human –maybe even your ownmother. Shabkar may bespeaking more widelywhen he says, ‘When wehave acquired anawareness of the fact thatthat all beings have beenour mothers, and whenthis awareness isconstant, the result willbe that when we seemeat, we will beconscious of the fact thatit is the flesh of our ownmothers.’

Those who accept themodern ideas ofevolution could alsoreflect that we have arelationship with theother species of theanimal kingdom andshould treat them with respect.

There could be some circumstances in whichkilling an animal is necessary for our ownsurvival, but such circumstances can only occurvery rarely to very few individuals and is noexcuse in the present day when so many veganfoods are widely available.

Getting many people to eat less meat canhave more impact on animal welfare and,incidentally, on human health than persuading afew to give up meat entirely.

The Grapevine Great British Where ToEat Vegetarian Restaurant Guide

Compiled by Daryl Burton. Published byGrapevine Guides, PO Box 555, MaidenheadSL6 3ZG. ISBN 0 9547243 0 5.Here is a bright, well laid-out and informativeguide to eating out for vegetarians in England,Scotland and Wales (not Ireland); grouped inregions with 38 useful maps, comprehensiveinfo (opening times, seating, non-smoking,licensing, a clue on prices, etc – but not wheelchair access). Vegan availability is mentionedwhere appropriate. There is an informativewrite-up for what each place has to offer, theirspecialities and typical menus – so up-beat thatyou would think even meat-eaters should beflocking there (Which in fact happens in somerestaurants).

Over 500 places – restaurants, cafés, pubsand bistros are listed, but there is no mention ofshops, nor guesthouses favourable to veggies.This book can be ordered direct fromwww.grapevineguides.co.uk. Your local

bookshop should also find it for you.

Recommended Books…Vegan Rustic Cooking For All Seasonsby Diana White. Published by Vegan OrganicTrust, 10 Charter Road, Altrincham, CheshireWA15 9RL. Animal-Free Shopper 6th Edition £4-99 +£1-50 P&P from The Vegan Society.Specious Science by C. Ray Greek, MDand Jean Swingle Greek, DVM Authors ofSacred Cows and Golden Geese. How Geneticsand Evolution Reveal Why Medical Researchon Animals Harms Humans. ISBN 0 8264 13986 US$ 26.90.Vegan Stories Vegans around the world telltheir stories of how and why they went vegan.Collected by Julie Rosenfield. £7-99 + p+pfrom The Vegan Society. Julie’s Vegan Londonwebsite: www.veganlondon.freeserve.co.ukPlant Based Nutrition and Health byStephen Walsh Ph. d. Published by The VeganSociety. 240 pages £7-95 ISBN 0 907337 26 0paperback.

An up-to-date review of current scientificresearch on vegan nutrition. Using soundscience he is able to show the health benefits ofa vegan diet, and to inform vegans about thebest nutrition they can follow. The points madein various chapters are explained in simplelanguage and each chapter ends with a clearsummary of the practical points. There is clearguidance on the often raised topics of calcium,iron, vitamin B12 and fatty acids (e.g. omega3’s).

8

Books

Past Vegan Views RememberedI remember when Vegan Views was TheNewsletter. When the newsletter started wasabout the time I became vegan, so we have a lotin common!

There are many things I remember, e.g.“Birth of Seonaid”, “Interview With LeahLeneman”, “Interview with Liz Cook”. I’vealso contributed over the years with variousletters!

I’m so proud to be vegan! I’ve met somewonderful friends, e.g. Lesley Dove, MarilynHarrison, Doreen Craddock, Mary Horsfield.

Through getting depressed I started artclasses and found a talent, which I now use topromote veganism. I draw and paint flowersand animals. I have had it tough looking afteran autistic son, having two violent partners, butmy veganism has always got me through it!

I now do art for Autism and children withcerebral palsy. So I can help animals as well ashumans, because I believe in Equal Rights forhumans and animals.

Lots of Love to all my Friends out there,Linda BoyleVegan for 28 years!

Sheep and CattleIt was with a note of horror that I read the NewScientist article on sheep. Apparently ‘we’ thescientists are near to producing wool fromtissue cells of sheep in great vats of nutrientsand hormones.

They, the scientists, have isolated the hairfollicle from the epidermis, which, whenfloated on the nutrient medium can producesheep fibres. It states that the wool follicle issuch an autonomous, self-sufficient organ, thatit will ‘scrape’ together whatever nutrients itneeds from its surroundings. Large scaleproduction might mean cultivating a lawn ofdermal cells then seeding them with immorta-lised cloned papillae cells.

Another gem: this one from ‘Walk’, theRamblers Association magazine, talking aboutcattle near footpaths. I quote, “A group ofyoung cows may approach you out of curiosity,but stop before they reach you. Keep walkingconfidently and HOLD EYE CONTACT – thuscoupling to their consciousness”Philip Beeching

Meat Look-AlikesI have every sympathy with the seriousquestions which Nicola and Chris raise (VV99and VV100) for every Vegan and indeed facedby every thinking person. We do not haveVegan tablets, nothing is in stone. We wouldrather respect flesh and life.

Perhaps I should feel guilty that I did not,back in the 60s, follow Vegan principles to theletter. Why not? Well, I couldn’t withoutcausing considerable hurt. Will I ever? I doubtthat I shall ever be beyond criticism; the worldis not made that way and all our critics arehappily free.

I turned away from the waste, cruelty anddangers of the carnivorous life. Everything

since has driven home the message; there is nonatural paradox, the message is unambiguous.Even if that had not been the case, I knew Iwould never retrace my old steps. This I hopefor every convert.

Is anyone less a Vegan who would if theycould but they can’t? Trapped in a dotingfamily perhaps, or incarcerated, an illegalcombatant in Guantanamo Bay perhaps?

A dear friend once said to me the mostirritating thing about me was my eating habits.Why, said I in astonishment, I never mentionthem? Every time you sit down in the canteenwith a plate of vegetables, you reproach me, hereplied. We can care for kind humans, be theynever so misguided. The dedicated meat eater isbest served a different menu.

Do ersatz educators peddling faux foodsditch our principles to make pretend converts?We may get an unpleasant sense that someoneis getting away with it; having their cake andeating it, as it were. On the whole, I agree withChris. What people think we crave doesn’tmatter. We don’t need to pleasure our virtues,they comfort the heart but do not come formallylabelled.

Thank you, dear Vegan Views, for yourwonderful contribution to our open forum – theonly thing I read from cover to cover.Peter Edmonds

Fish Look-AlikesWell, well done to all the businesses producinganimal-free meat and fish look-alikes that arecurrently flooding the market, and may they gettastier and tastier than every meat and fishproduct available, so making it much easier forpeople to change over to a new diet causing lessand less exploitation of animals. When friendsand family visit, I can produce a lovely spreadof food to show them how “easy it can be to eatcruelty-free”, and they will no more look at meperplexed and say “if you don’t eat meat thenwhat do you eat?”!

There are some things not widely knownsuch as the majority of the 6 billion humanworld population are vegan, thus vegetarian,and the greatest proportion of world fuel energysource is already renewable, from wood andhydro, but also walking, handwashing and windand sun drying of clothes, and everybody’shome already benefits from some passive solarheating. So, being Vegan, we have to askexactly what is it that we are concerned about,and what does it in practical terms affect, and Iwould say only two things:1. lessening the exploitation and cruelty to ourtrue animal cousins and2. our children’s and our own bodily health.

I understand the point that Nicola Watsonmade in her “meat look-alikes” letter [VV99],but where does this negativity stop? Because,as far as diet is concerned, I think the evidenceis quite clear that any animal is going to be at itspeak physical fitness and live healthily for thewhole of its long life, if it is eating the food thatevolution has designed it to eat, and for usbeing relatively hairless, riverside and seaside

dwelling primates, has to be raw fruit and veg,roots, nuts and raw fish. With the diet, eatensparsely, there are areas in the world wherepeople live to be 100 years and more –Okinawa and Azerbaijan being two. The mainpoint I am making though is on our way tofinding out and changing to the diet which isthe one which we are supposed to eat (veganssubstituting other things for fish), why notconfine one’s disapproval to the moreimportant things such as “starvation ofexploited human being animals in an alreadyabundant world”. It seems to me that humanbeings who cannot make choices about theirpredicament because they are dispossessed byricher human beings need those richer humanbeings – us to say enough, I’m rich enough now– I start to SHARE and be fully Vegan?Love, Light and Circle,Frank Bowman

Veganism Solves Health ProblemsI’ve just recently been to a lecture by a mancalled Philip Day. He researches healthproblems and advises people to eat mainlyvegan. Instead of a ‘normal’ diet of meat, dairyproduce and wheat, he recommends eatingmostly fruit and veg – no more than 10 – 15%of one’s diet should be meat or dairy produce.This he thinks will heal many ‘incurable’illnesses. He has a video ‘How to live to be100’ and has studied primitive cultures who donot have access to Western health care. Thelongest lived eat mainly vegan. He stresses it’stheir diet that is the key to their longevity. Istruggle to be vegan when I’m away from homeand find myself in a café/restaurant that hasvery little to offer me. When I’m hungry I don’tstick rigidly to veganism, but have to eatvegetarian. With people like Philip Day,perhaps soon this will change.Patricia Millar

Restaurants, also questions.I’m writing to tell you that I found two lovelyVegetarian restaurants in Sheffield: OliveGarden, 117 Norfolk Street (0114 272 8886)and Blue Moon, Cathedral Street.

Good For You Café in Matlock are nowselling Vegan Views.

“The Globe” Pub at Glossop, Derbyshire, hasa Vegan café but they need someone to takeover as Melody who works there is too ill tocontinue. Any one interested contact them.01457 852417.

Does anyone know how to get rid of kidneystones apart from lipotripsy which has notworked for me?

Can anyone recommend anything formacular degeneration. I know kale and spinachis high in lutein. Can anyone recommendanything else please?

Please contact me via Vegan Views address.Lots of Peace and Love,Sue Fox

9

Letters

Vegan Organic Trust (VOT)They have recently had a graphic designer puttogether a colour leaflet promoting VOT, andinvested in a large and colourful banner for useat stalls. Another graphic designer, this timefrom www.emonkeys.co.uk, has redrawn andtidied up their logo. (Shown below.)

Their stall at the North West Vegan Festivalin Manchester on 8 May was very successful.Most of the people who run VOT are based inand around Manchester, so it was a chancefor them to meet people who have notheard of VOT. Many leaflets andinformation sheets were handed outto spread the word. It was also thefirst time that they used theirabove-mentioned new banner,which was made just a few daysbefore.

They plan to have more stalls at othersimilar types of events in other parts of the UK,and are always looking for volunteers to helpon these stalls.

They want to get their message on stock-freeagriculture far and wide, especially to relatedgroups in the green, animal rights and veganareas. To do this, they are looking for groupswho will put VOT leaflets on their stalls or givethem out to their members.

They are also trying to get some VOTregional events going, so that ideas can bebounced around amongst VOT supporters, andwho knows, maybe some of them might gettogether, do some networking, and becomemore active, perhaps helping with the runningof VOT. One such event has just been arrangedin the South of England in late July, andhopefully more will follow.

Iain Tolhurst’s home patch at Whitchurch onThames near Reading is an outstandingexample of stockfree organics and features inthe latest issue of VOT’s magazine: GrowingGreen International; Once more, there’s theyearly visit to this farm in September – see page3 for details.

Plants for a FutureThey are developing their ideas of a Land Club

(described in Grassroots news VV99) attheir site in Cornwall called The Field.

For more information on this, contactPhil James, 24 Lerryn View, Lerryn,Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0QLacousticthyme@phonecoop.coop.If you would like to do volunteer

work at the Field, contact Addie on01208 871253.

At their Blagdon site in Devon, they areworking towards the construction of a eco-builtvisitors centre. They desperately need morecharity trustees so that they have the minimumnumber needed to pursue funding bids.

Becoming a Friend of PFAF is a valuablesource of income to them. Membership is only£10 (or £25 if you wish to be a supportingfriend). They are also keen to explore the ideaof sponsorship. Blagdon holds huge potential

for different groups andindividuals to sponsorcertain projects and pocketsof land, such as specialistgardens or parts of thewoodland. Please get intouch with PFAF if you wantto discuss this further.

Vegan SummerGathering

Malcolm Horne whoorganises this event told us…

“It went well, and around 70adults and 10 childrenparticipated. Theaccommodation, which

caused some problems last year, was better thisyear. The weather was excellent – hot andsunny. There were many talks including ones onBuddhism and Compassion, and Psychology ofVeganism. Frieden Howard of Vegfam andNeville Fowler of Hippo also did a joint talk onpromoting vegetarian and vegan ideas in thedeveloping world. Other events included TaiChi and yoga, a raw-food lunch, trips out to theGower, and a meal at Govinda's, the vegetarianrestaurant in Swansea for which 40 peopleturned up. We also had a couple of big meetingsat a local hall. Next year's gathering will be inMumbles again, from 11-18 June 2005.”

North West Vegan Festival – ReviewUntil recently, there was just one big veganfestival per year in the UK, and you had to go toLondon to appreciate it. How things change.Now there’s also one in Bristol, and for the firsttime, one in the north, and Manchester was it’sfirst destination on 8th May this year. Therewere plenty of big names there with stalls, likePlamil, Viva!, Uncaged, Vegan Store, the VeganSociety and the Green Party. There were alsoplenty of smaller groups with stalls, includingsome local animal groups. Veggies were theredoing the catering. Realfood(www.realfood.org.uk) organised it, and wespoke to Mary Brady of Realfood about it…

“It’s the first time there’s been a free-of-chargevegan festival. We wanted not just vegetarians& vegans, but also meat-eaters to attend. Meateaters don’t want to pay for the privilege ofbeing told that they’re wrong! Around 2,000people turned up, which was beyond ourexpectations. We had people outside with raffletickets and vegan butties, pulling people off thestreet into the festival. We would estimate that40 to 60% of the people who attended weremeat-eaters. Many took leaflets and askedquestions about the vegan diet.

My partner Neil Lea, who edits ARC News,has been thinking for years that there should bea vegan festival outside London. He didn’t justwant it to be a big group hug for vegans, but acampaigning effort for veganism, which is whyit was important that entrance was free.

We had a stall at the Bristol Vegan Fair lastyear which was organised by Yaoh, and it wasvery well attended with over a thousand people,so it really should have been called a festivalrather than a fair. It was also very professional,and there were lots of meat-eaters there. Tim

If you run or help out with a“grassroots” vegan group, project orcommunity and would like news fromit listed in this section, please sendus details. It would be nice to getsome more news of non-agriculturalprojects!

Grassroots News

Vegan Organic Trust trying out their new banner at avegan festival. This truck was for sale at the North West Vegan Festival.

from Yaoh is very good at organising things,and got lots of sponsorship. It worked beyondanyone’s expectations. Neil was born and bredin Manchester so knew all the best places, anddecided that there should be a vegan festivalthere too. We chose a hotel that was right on themain shopping drag, which was professionaland cheerful looking – we didn’t want it lookinglike a fringe interest. We did press releases andgot sponsors, and got people in the local areaon the local radio to promote it, and to doleafleting for it. They even organised localmini-buses.

The next vegan festival that we organise willbe in the midlands, possibly Birmingham orDerby, which will be called the Heart ofEngland Vegan Festival, then the year after itwill return to Manchester.

Veggies are planning to hold a vegan festivalin Nottingham and have been asking us foradvice following how well the North West onewent. All these vegan festivals came aboutbecause of a brainwave of Robin and Alysonwhen they had the idea for the National VeganFestival in London; they have organised it eversince.”

In April a huge crowd from all overBritain gathered at Parker’s Piece inCambridge to demonstrate againstanimal experimentation, mainlydirected at the Huntingdon LifeSciences Labs situated in the area,which is still active although it ishugely in debt.

By Harry Mather

The crowd heard speakers who insistedthat activities would continue by allpossible means until the labs are

closed down. Normal political means haveproved frustratingly ineffective becausepoliticians have consistently ignored theexpressed opinions of majorities In parti-cular, scientists who profess that animalexperimentation is essential for researchrefuse to argue their case with experts whooppose them. A professor from USA whoadmitted he had at one time experimented onanimals, but now spoke against them, saidhe was always refused a debate on thesubject. It is obvious that those who supportanimal experimentation know that theirarguments will be lost.

Modern methods of research are nowincreasingly being used: cell cultures canuse human tissue which is more reliablebecause species differences make testing onanimal unreliable, scanners and computermodels also give better results than tests onanimals. The latter have become obsoleteand are maintained because of outmodedconventions, which are stubbornly resistingchanges to more modern and more efficientmethods.

There followed a noisy march through theancient streets of Cambridge with a constantcry to close down HLS (Huntingdon LifeSciences). Whistles and drums supported theshouting and it is good to know that drumswith synthetic skins seem to be as effectiveas those made from animal skins. However,when we reached the University science labsa minute’s silence was observed toremember the animals lives that have beenso cruelly sacrificed. The silence was onlybroken by the sound of a police helicopterhovering above, for the police were in therein force.

It is the knowledge that demonstrators andother activists will continue to harass theproposed development of a primate researchcentre near Cambridge that has added aprohibitive cost to that project.Unfortunately, Oxford are proposing toextend the existing facilities that they havethere. The crowd, on the other hand, areobviously determined to maintain aneffective opposition to what is a perceivedbarbarity. It may take time, but the protestersare confident they will eventually overcome.

April inCambridge

A photo from Plants for a Future’s “The Field” site in Cornwall.

Good Food in FranceLe Speakeasy (Snack Bio) provides organicvegetarian/vegan meals in Nice in the South ofFrance Open everyday for lunch (exceptSunday) at 7 rue Lamartine, just behind theNice-Etoile Shopping Centre. Owned andoperated by an American lady it is small, seatsonly eight and was covered with animal rightsposters when Vegan Views readers MercyStonehill and Miriam Mather visited this yearand found the food excellent.

CorrectionsIn Vegan Views no. 100 we said that Provameluse fish in their recipes. This seems to have leda reader to think that there was a link with fishin the soya milk they produce. What we weretrying to say was that when Provamel publishrecipes using their products they include fish insome of these recipes and this does not promotethe vegan ethic. We did not mean to imply thatthere was any fish product in the soya milkitself. Sorry if this was confusing.

On page 15 of Vegan Views no. 99 on anarticle on Bird Flu we referred to the fluepidemic of 1918. Unfortunately the date

printed came out as 1718 (but was corrected inthe downloadable version on our website).Apologies if anyone was confused by this!

What’s In A Name?Bob Flowerdew sounds a suitable name for agardener, and Jim Parsley of Peckham was agood name for a vegetarian cyclist. Miss L.Seal was secretary to the Ladies SwimmingSection of the Vegetarian Cycling and AthleticAssociation, but some vegetarians and veganshave names that clash with their principles. The man who at the beginning of the 19thcentury preached vegetarianism and whoseinfluence eventually led to the founding of theVegetarian Society was called Rev. Cowherd.There was a Mrs. Hunter who ran a vegetarianguesthouse. Several brothers who weresuccessful in boxing and wrestling were calledthe Bacon brothers. In fact one of them, later inhis life organised a party for travelling to avegetarian event and this group was known asthe Vegetarian Bacon Party!Do any readers know of similar oddities?Harry Mather

Here and There

Garden Peas and PastaServes 2

25g of sun dried tomatoes, chopped small650g of unshelled peas, shelled1 soupspoon of olive oil1 large onion, chopped100g of mushrooms, sliced225g of pasta bows or shellssalt and pepper to taste3 heaped soupspoons of ground almondssmall bunch of fresh parsley or mint, chopped1. Put two dinner plates to warm. Soak thetomatoes for 30 minutes in just enough hotwater to cover them. Shell the peas.2. Place half a large pan of water to boil.Meanwhile put the olive oil in a frying pan andsauté the onion until half cooked, then add themushrooms and cook until tender, set aside.3. When the water is boiling add the peas andpasta to it, reduce to simmer and cook until thepasta is tender, then drain. Place back on theheat and add the tomatoes plus a quarter mug oftheir soaking water, the onions and mushrooms,salt, pepper to taste and the ground almonds;mix all well in.4. Place on the plates and garnish with theparsley or mint.

Moulded Summer MedleyServes 4

8 radishes, chopped4 Spring onions including green parts,choppedSmall bunch of parsley, chopped (discardstems)2 medium carrots, grated1 rounded soupspoon of Nori flakes2 410g cans of red kidney beans, drained500 ml Apple Juice1 soupspoon of Tamari soya sauce2 rounded teaspoons of Gelozone (or otherunflavoured vegan thickener, following theinstructions on the packet)

1. Prepare the vegetables and place in a bowlalong with the Nori flakes and beans. Mix allwell together. Distribute the mixture between 4bowls pressing well down.2. Place the apple juice and tamari in a pan andsprinkle evenly with the Gelozone and mix in.Bring to boil, stirring constantly. Take off theheat as soon as it bubbles, then pour equallyover each of the bowls and leave to set.Refrigerate if wished.3. Serving suggestion: Carefully loosen themoulds with a knife and top them onto 4 plates.Encircle with a layer of chopped salad leavesand new potatoes. Top the mounds with a littlenatural soya yoghurt if wished.The two recipes above were taken from: VeganRustic Cooking For All Seasons by DianaWhite. (See page 8 for details to order thisbook.)

Mushroom Soya Bake2oz Soya mince (preferably flavoured)2oz Oats3oz Vegan Burger mix (Sosmix, Sosfry, etc.)2 teaspoons dried parsley

2 Tablespoons OilI Onion, finely chopped1 Clove garlic, finely chopped4oz Mushrooms, finely chopped

1 teaspoon Yeast Extract3 Dessertspoons Soy Sauce1 teaspoon Miso400ml (3/4 pint) boiling water.

1lb loaf tin, lined with foil and oiledOven preheated to 180 C (Gas4)

Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a pan and add theonion and garlic. Cook gently till softened.

In a large bowl, mix the soya mince, oats,burger mix & parsley.

Add the mushrooms to the onions and garlicand continue cooking until the mushrooms startto exude their juices.

Dissolve the yeast extract and miso in the400 ml of boiling water, then add soy sauce.

Pour the liquid into the pan with the cookedvegetables, stir briefly then tip the contents ofthe pan into the dry ingredients and mixthoroughly.

Pack the mixture into the prepared tin andbake for 45 to 50 minutes at 180 C (Gas mark4).Dave Sharman

Plain Oat BiscuitsMany people are allergic to wheat or wheatimprovers in the flours owing to intensivefarming and toxic sprays, so that it is helpful touse grains other than wheat when cooking.

3/4 lb breakfast porridge oatspinch of sea salt1/2 pint water1 and 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil

Boil water in a saucepan. Pour quickly on theoats, add 1.5 tablespoons of olive oil untilporridge like consistency (thick) adding morewater or more oats as required.

Roll out on a board ‘floured’ with porridgeoats.

Use medium sized cutter for shapes. Put onbaking trays.

Bake at Gas mark 4 for 15 minutes then Gasmark 3 for 30 minutes or more.

Biscuits need to be baked through, so theymay need turning to finish off.

Cool on wire tray. Do not seal in a tin untilquite cool or they will go soft. Adding choppedwalnuts make them even tastier.Eileen Scott

Recipes

Hi! Are you going with Mom tothe store today? Do you like to goto the store? Any store? Oh! Youlike going to the grocery store. Doyou mind if we come along? Youdon’t have to wear a coat or a hat,or even a scarf because It’salways just right in Bookland.Let’s go right NOW!Remember. Mum is a vegetarianand Dad is a vegetarian and youare a vegetarian too.Here we are at the grocery store.Which door shall we use today?Let’s do eanie, meanie, minie,mo. Catch a potato by the toe. Weknow potatoes don’t have toes.We can go in this door anyway.Wrong, wrong, wrong door!See the vegetables ‘way downthere?Hop in the magic basket. It willget us over there as fast as

A BLINK“Vegetable stop. All out” forRed potatoesRed tomatoesThe best cornEver bornCelery and carrotGood cooking meritSpinach is fineNot all the timeTiny peasThey say pleaseBroccoli is really green cauli-flowerCooked way, way under an hourString beans are sweet,For you a real treat.Artichokes are for when you areolder,

and wiser and a wee bit bolder.Lettuce goes with all tomatoes,Spinach is great mixed andmashed with potatoesA taste of tofu and green and redpepperFried with onions makes tastysupper.Oh! I forgotEggplant and mushroomsAndraisins and nutsand yesgive us a big, big, big smile

You can have ice cream once in awhile

andApples and blueberries

And strawberries tooVeggies and fruitsjust for youIt’s fun to be a vegetarianYummyThank you Mum and Dad!By Dr. Nora JacobsDr. Jacobs holds a Ph.D inpsychology and practised as atherapist in Los Angeles for overthirty years. Prior to that, shecreated and performed in achildren’s theatre group known as“The Magic Basket”. Thecompany enjoyed a commercialsuccess and was called the bestchildren’s theatre currentlyavailable by Life Magazine.

Dr. Jacobs was responsible forwriting, directing, and choreo-graphing as well as performing inthe various shows.

Veggie Kids

Animal cries; that is the first thing that Ihear each morning when I arrive to workfor my Practical Certificate. My refusingto take part would mean five years ofstudy wasted and giving up on all myplans for a future. But all of me – everyfibre, every thought – is nothing butdenial, repulsion and dismay, and theconsciousness of an insurmountablepowerlessness. I have to look on andyet am unable to do anything about it,and they will oblige me to co-operateand be spattered with blood. Alreadyfrom a distance, when I get off the bus,the squealing of the pigs cuts throughme like a dagger.

By Chritiane M. Haup

For six weeks, for hours on end, withoutrespite, these cries will sound in my ears.Hold on. For you, there will be an end.

For the animals never. At the bottom of a ramp,the lorry lowers its tail board, and the first pigs,frightened by the noise and the steep slope,push backwards; but meanwhile a man hasclimbed to the back and hits out with a rubbertruncheon…

When the pigs come to a corner, they sticktogether in a block and freeze, which makes theworkers furious. Whilst I witness this scene,petrified – this is not real, just a dream – themanager turns round to see to another lorrywhich arrived at the same time. And all must bespeeded up with much more squealing…

Behind me, something rubs against myknees; I turn round and see two piercing blueeyes. I know many friends who enthuse aboutthe eyes of cats so full of deep feelings, of thelook of deep devotion in the eyes of dogs. Butwho speaks about the intelligence and curiosityto be seen in the eyes of a pig? Later, I willlearn to understand them, those eyes, but in adifferent manner: dumb with fear, smitten withpain, more empty, broken, exhausted, rolling onthe ground spotted with blood.

One thought runs through my mind like asharpened knife, and will return to me ahundred times during the following weeks:Eating meat is a crime – a crime…

After a quick tour of the abattoir, I end up inthe rest room. From a window opening onto theslaughter room you can see the pigs covered inblood, hung up, passing along on an endlesschain. Quite indifferent, two workmen eat theirbreakfast. Bread and sausage. Their whiteoveralls are covered in blood. A strip of flesh isstuck on one man’s boot. Here, the inhumannoise which will be deafening when I enter theslaughter room, is dampened. I step back, forthe half of the corpse of a pig turning quicklyround the bend has hit the one following. It

brushed against me, warm and soft. This can’tbe real – it’s absurd – impossible.

All hits me in one go. The piercing cries. Thesqueaking of the machinery. The metallic clashof the instruments. The penetrating stench ofthe scorched hairs and flesh. The smell of bloodand warm water. Bursts of laughter; the callingof the heedless workmen. Glinting knivescutting through tendons to hang up on hooksThe halves of animals without eyes, whosemuscles are still throbbing. Pieces of flesh fallinto gutters through which blood is flowing inabundance, and this disgusting liquid splashesat me. You slip on bits of grease which litter theground. Men in white, from whose overalls theblood is dripping have, under their helmets orhats, faces such as one sees everywhere: on theunderground or at the supermarket.

Involuntarily one expects to see monsters,but it’s the kind neighbourhood grandfather, thecarefree young man who passes you in thestreet, the well-dressedman who comes out of abank. They give afriendly greeting…

The second day I go tothe huge machine thatcuts up the parts. Briefinstructions “Here, remove the rest of the collarbehind the throat and detach the nodes oflymphatic glands. Sometimes a hoof is stillhanging on, remove it”. So, I cut up; you haveto be quick, the chain rolls on pitilessly.

Above me, other bits of corpses are going ontheir way. My colleague works with vigour,whilst in the gutter so much bloody liquid isflowing that I am splashed up to the face. I tryto move to the other side, but there a hugewater-cooled saw is cutting pigs bodies intotwo; impossible to stay there without beingsoaked to the skin. Gritting my teeth I keep oncutting , but I must act quickly, in order toreflect on all this horror, and I have to bedevilishly careful not to cut my fingers.Tomorrow I will borrow a pair of metallicgloves from a colleague who has finished herpractical…

Why do they make horror films, when all canbe found here?

I come to thinking that – a few exceptionsapart – the people who work here are notreacting in any inhuman way; they have justbecome indifferent, like me too in time. It isself-protection. No, the really inhuman peopleare those who daily order these mass murders,and who, because of their greed for meat,condemn the animals to a miserable life and asad end, and oblige other humans to carry out adegrading task which changes them into coarsebeings…

Returning home, I lie on my bed, my eyeslook to the ceiling. Hours go by. One afteranother. Each day. Those around me areirritated. “Don’t be so gloomy; smile a little.You really wanted to be a vet” A vet, yes, but

not a killer of animals. I cannot contain myself.Such comments. Such indifference…

I would like to tell about the number ofslaughters each day – 530. I will never be ableto forget this number. I would like to speakabout the slaughter of cattle, of their soft browneyes, filled with panic. Of their attempts toescape, of the blows and the swearing, until thepoor creature is finally captive behind iron barsand double locks, with a panoramic view of thechamber where their fellow sufferers are beingskinned and cut into pieces, then the meetingwith death and in the moment following, thechain to which it is attached and which it vainlytries to shake off, which hoists it aloft. Of thefloods of blood which spurt from the headlessbody, whilst the legs curl under…

I would like to tell you that amidst thisviscous, bleeding mass, one finds a pregnantwomb, and that I have seen small calves,already perfectly formed, of all sizes, fragile

and naked, their eyesshut, in a uterineenvelope which is nolonger able to protectthem. – the smallest astiny as a new-bornkitten, and yet is a

miniature cow, the biggest with tender, silkyhide with long eyelashes, whose birth was onlya few weeks away. “Isn’t this a miracle thatNature has created?” notes the vet on duty thatweek., whilst throwing the uterus together withthe foetus into the gurgling mill that cuts up thewaste matter. I am now certain that no godexists, because no lightning flash comes topunish these wrongs here below, and that theseare being committed endlessly. Nor to relievethe thin and pitiful cow who, when I arrive at 7o’clock, drags itself exhausted on the icy,draughty corridor and stretches itself out just bythe death box… For her there is no god, noperson either, to give her a little helpful push.After all, it is necessary to deal with the rest ofthe animals destined for slaughter.

When I leave at midday, the cow is still lyingthere, trembling. In spite of repeated orders, noone has come to rescue her. I then loosen thehalter that is cutting into her flesh and I caressits forehead. She looked at me with her largeeyes, and in that moment, I learned that cowscan cry…

Often during this time I was asked, “Andhow goes it at the abattoir? In any case, Icouldn’t do it”. I dig my fingernails into thepalm of my hands until they might bleed, or toavoid throwing the telephone out of thewindow; to cry, that is what I would like to do,but since I have been seeing this sight for dayson end, each cry sticks in my throat. No oneasked me if I could hold out.

Such niggardly reactions and responsesbetray the unease on this subject. “Yes it’s allvery terrible, so we rarely eat meat”. Often Igive myself courage: “Grit your teeth, you must

The Testimony of a VeterinaryStudent on a Course in an Abattoir

14

If slaughterhouses had glass walls,We’d all be vegetarian

Albert Einstein (1879 – 1955)

I thought you might all care to have anupdate from when I last wrote in mid-September. Actually I submitted a reporttoward the end of 2003 that somehownever was published. However, maybeHarry Mather had reasons for that!

By Pat Reeves

2004 began badly for me, with major brainsurgery performed privately in Paris – therisk of a major stroke from the cancer was

imminent. This was successful in reducing therisk, though it compromised my left kidney (nilfunction now). The cancer has already madeinroads into my right kidney during the pastfew weeks. At the time of writing (April 2004),I am about to return to Germany for further

surgery to implant a similar compound that wassuccessful in annihilating cancerous liver cellslast year. This will be implanted into closestproximity to active tumours in leftshoulder/arm, with the hope of stemming theflow of toxic by-products generated by thesetumours, which are compromising the rightkidney function. Two weeks ago in Germany Iwas educated in the self administration ofperinodular injections; (left groin lymph node),but this is not sufficient without furthertreatment.

UK medics have seen fit not to sanction anyfurther surgeries in UK due to high risk, so nowI am completely alone with radical unorthodoxtreatments. I have formed a unique liaison withan eminent German doctor who is assisting me.I feel entirely fortunate in this regard.

Just eight days ago, with almost no training

at all, I retained the 2004 British Master’spowerlifting title – now of many yearsstanding. This was an empowering day for me –and a truly remarkable one. Never under-estimate your true capabilities!

Though the cancer has a renewed grip andhas found additional ways to compromise myorgans, I remain resolute in this battle.Whatever time remains, I shall fight on to thevery end.

I am very aware that I would not be aroundnow to help my UK and International patients,had it not been for Nutritional Medicine and araw vegan lifestyle.

We are happy to report that Pat Reeves is atpresent in a stable condition.

hold out, soon it will be all behind you”. Forme, the fact that this goes on day after day isone of the worst manifestations of indifferenceand ignorance. I don’t think anyone has under-stood that it is not these six weeks that I have toget by that is important but really thismonstrous mass murder, which is renewed amillion times, and for which those of us whoeat meat are responsible. Particularly those whosay they love animals and eat meat: they are notworthy of trust.

“Stop. Don’t put me off my food!” It is alsothis type of reaction that more than once has leftme dumb. Sometimes the tone is raised; “Butyou are a terrorist, every normal person mustlaugh at you” How can I live through suchmoments? I sometimes go and look at thefoetus of a calf that I brought home and put intoformol. “Memento mori” And I let the “normalpeople” go on laughing.

When I look at the rows of anonymous pigstransported in the same way through thechamber, I ask myself: “Would it be different ifinstead of pigs they were humans?” All themore since the anatomy of the rear of theanimal, thick, spotted with pustules and redspots, strangely resembles what one can see onsunny holiday beaches: loads of fatoverflowing from too-narrow bathingcostumes. Moreover, the cries that soundendlessly in the slaughter chambers when theanimals feel the approach of death, could becoming from women and children. No longer tosee the difference becomes inevitable. Thereare moments when I think: Stop, this must stop.Let him be quick with the stunning calipers, sothat he can stop. “Many animals do not cryout”, said one of the vets, “whereas others standas still as statues and cry out without anyreason” I wonder how they can stand still and“cry out without any reason”.

More than half my time has passed before Ifinally enter the slaughter chamber so that I cansay “I saw it”. Here ends the journey thatstarted at the off-loading ramp. The gloomycorridor that all paths lead to narrows to a door

opening onto the holding box with a capacityfor 4 or 5 pigs. If I had to put in words theconcept of “fear”, I would do it by depicting,pigs heaped up together against a closed door,and I would draw their eyes. Eyes that morethan ever I am unable to forget. Eyes that eachone of us who wants to eat meat should bemade to see. The pigs are kept apart by using abig rubber stick. One of them is pushed towardsa space closed in on all sides. At the press of abutton, the floor of the space is replaced by amobile trailer on which the pig finds itselfastride, then a second conveyer opens aheadand the trailer with the animal on it slidesforward into another box. There a brutishbutcher, the slaughterman – I always thought ofhim as Frankenstein – connects the electrodes.A stunning bracket with three prongs, as themanager explained to me. You can see in thebox how the pig tries to rear up, then the traileris quickly removed and the animal, throbbing,falls down in a spurt of blood, nervouslytwitching its feet. Here another brutish butcherawaits, who confident in his aim, plunges theknife below the front right leg of the pig; a flowof dark blood spurts out and the body slumpsforwards.

A few seconds later, an iron chain closesonto one of the rear legs of the animal which ishoisted up; the brutish butcher then puts downhis knife, picks a stained bottle of cola from theground which is covered in blood for at leastone centimetre, and drinks a mouthful…

It is not because I want to be a vet that I havecome here, but because people want to eatmeat. And not just that: but because they arecowards. Their escalopes of veal, sterile andwhite, that they buy in the supermarket, nolonger has eyes flowing with tears at the fear ofdeath and no longer is crying as the knife isabout to strike. All you who feed on the corpsesof shame, that is carefully spared to you, youwho say: ”Me, no, I could not do it”.

One day, a countryman came with his 10 or11 year-old son, to have a sample analysed fortrichinosis. Seeing the child with his nose flat

against the glass window, I thought that ifchildren could see all the horror, all this animalslaughter, there might be a hope for change. ButI only heard the child call to his farther;” Dad,look, what a huge saw!?”

One night, on the television, there is a newsitem: “the mystery has not been solvedregarding of the murder of a young girl, killedand cut into pieces and I remember the generalfright and the people’s disgust at this atrocity. Isay: “Similar atrocities, I have seen 3,700 injust one week”.

Now, I am not simply a terrorist, but I amalso not right up there in my head. For I notonly feel a shudder and repulsion towards themurder of a human being, but also at the murdercommitted on animals thousands of times in asingle week in a single abattoir. Being humandoes that not mean saying no and refusing to bethe cause of murder on a huge scale – for apiece of meat? Strange new world. It is possiblethat the tiny piglets found in the womb tornfrom their mother, and who died even beforebeing born, may have met the better fate thanall the rest of us…

The last of these endless days has finallyarrived. A weak November sun follows mefrom the yard of the slaughter-house to the busstop. The animal cries and the sound of themachinery is dulled. I cross the road as a lorryenters the yard of the abattoir. It is full on twotiers of pigs, crammed one against the other. Igo away without a backward glance, for I haveborn testimony and, now, I will try to forget andcarry on living. Others must struggle on. Mystrength, my will and my joy in life have beentaken away and replaced by a feeling of guiltand paralysing sadness. Hell is amongst us,thousands and thousands of times, day afterday. And yet there is one thing each one of uscan do: Say No. No, no and again no. For ever.This is a shortened version, translated from theFrench leaflet distributed by Collectifantispeciste de Paris, 49 rue de la divisionLeclerc, 94110 Arcueil, France. Emailantispe@n0-log.org

15

My long battle continues…

B&Bs & ACCOMMODATION

North Yorkshire Moors Organic vegannatural foods in peaceful coastal villageoverlooking Robin Hood’s Bay. Close to thebest fossil beach in Europe. Non-smoking.Special diets. Children really welcome. B&Bfrom £20, ensuite £22, 4-course dinner £10,packed lunch £5. Karen, Ranworth Guesthouse,Ravenscar, Scarborough, North YorkshireYO13 0LZ. Tel: 01723 870366.B&B North Wales Borderlands FraserCottage, High Street, Bangor-on-Dee,Wrexham LL13 0AU: Phone/fax 01978781068. Picturesque rural village. Non-smoking. Fresh organic ingredients. Dogswelcome. Tasty and healthy vegan breakfast.Email: helen@frasercottage.comWeb: www.frasercottage.comBrambles Vegan B&B. Packed lunch andevening meal on request. Regret no pets. Wellbehaved children welcome. Smoke free.Brochure from: John Anderson, 10 ClarenceRoad, Shanklin, Isle of Wight PO37 7BH. Tel:01983 862507. Fax: 01983 862326.Email: brambles.vegan@virgin.netWeb: freespace.virgin.net/brambles.veganLydford, Devon Room to let for VEGFAMsupporters, vegan, non-smoking. TheSanctuary, Lydford, Devon EX20 4AL. Tel:01822 820203.Exmoor vegetarian and vegan guesthouse.Gourmet meals. Organic food where available.Children and pets welcome. Rescued animals.Exmoor walks. Jane and Cliff Strehlow, FernTor, Mesham, South Molton, Devon EX364NA. Tel/Fax: 01769 550339. Web:www.ferntor.co.uk. Email: veg@ferntor.co.ukMaking Waves Vegan Guesthouse inpicturesque St. Ives, Cornwall. Food 100%animal free, organic. Special diets catered for.Children welcome. Voted best guesthouse1999/2000. From £21 per night. Tel: 01736793895. Web: www.making-waves.co.ukEmail: simon@making-waves.co.ukCornwall Vegetarian & Vegan B&B. Dinneron request. Lizard Peninsular 1.5 miles fromsea. 3 miles Falmouth. Good walking. Not forchildren or pets. Non-smoking. Derek andLynne Smith, Treneere, Penwarne, MawnanSmith, Cornwall TR11 5PG. Tel: 01326250297.Low Cost Holidays Want to get out of the ratrace? Interested in sustainable living? VeganOrganic farm near Snowdonia set in forestclearing near scenic reservoirs. £10 per night.Own room, shared facilities. Extra low rates ifyou volunteer a little of your time helping out.Details Vic: 01244 819088.Small Vegan/Organic Community inreclusive scenic Pyrenees (France) offersaccommodation in rustic homestead and chapelover 250 years old and beautiful home cooking.Contact Bleuette, Douceur et harmonie, ‘elFaitg’, 66230 Serralongue, France. Phone 00 334 68 39 62 56.

Web: www.douceur-harmonie.orgEmail enthousiasme@wanadoo.frB&B in private vegan house with large gardenin pretty little town. Lovely scenery and placesof interest. Persons caring for someone withAlzheimers specially welcome. Joan Bryan,River View, Woodside, USK, Gwent NP5 1SZ.Tel 01291 672429.Bournemouth AccommodationOccasional, inexpensive accommodation inPokesdown, Bournemouth. Non-smoking. Tel.01202 426870.Lovely Attic Room available in house inLeeds 8, to share with one vegan and cat! £45per week. Tel: Natalie 0113 248 4044 fordetails.

BOOKS

Vegan Recipe Book by RachelHenderson This electronic recipe bookcontains 100 delicious vegan recipes. It isdesigned both for vegans and people who havedifficulty catering for vegans. Would be anideal gift for friends and relatives who havetrouble thinking of original vegan meals. Tel:01453 762487.Web: www.bowbridgepublishing.comEmail: info@bowbridgepublishing.comNew book now available by Dr GinaShaw ‘Nutrition and Emotions: How toTransform your Life Through OptimumNutrition’. Price £7.99 including P+P (chequesto be made payable to GLS Publications).Please send orders to GLS Publications, 22Webber Close, Ogwell, Devon TQ12 6YL.

CAFÉS & RESTAURANTS

Hollyhocks Vegetarian and Vegan restaurant.Imaginative world vegetarian food. NoSmoking. 10 Knights Hill, West Norwood,London SE27 0HY. Tel: 020 8766 8796.Wessex Tales wholefood vegan restaurant.Licenced organic drinks. 20 Ashley Road,Boscombe, Bournemouth (opposite Boscombebus station & Sovereign Centre car park). Tel:01202 309869. Lunch: Tuesday – Saturday11.30 – 2.30. Dinner: Friday & Saturday 7 – 10.Web:www.geocities.com/vegetarian_restaurantHeaven And Earth Organic Vegetarian caféand bakery. 37e Robertson Street, Hastings.Tel. 01424 712206.Allsorts Psychic Café Drinks, cakes and afew savouries. Fully veggie, good choice forvegans, soya milk available. 22 Carlton Place,Southampton. Tel: 023 80237561. Web:www.allsorts-psychic-cafe.comGood For You! 23 Firs Parade, Matlock, DE43AS. Fully vegetarian café + shop + veggie infocentre. Tel: 01629 584304.

CATERING

Purple Penguin Café: Vegan OrganicCatering have marquee will travel! Cateringfor specialist diets, cake fanatics and peoplewho love good food… based in the Yorkshirearea over Winter (and looking for work) and onthe road over the Summer at festis, gatheringsand parties… see www.purplepenguin.org, orcall Emma on 07786 262 864 for more info.

GENERAL

The Shellfish Network works to end thecruelty involved in, and eventually end theslaughter of shellfish for human consumption.Springside, Forest Road, East Horsley, SurreyKT24 5AZ.Meat-Free Cats Supplements for home maderecipes. In use since 1986. Send to Vegecat, TheVegan Society, 7 Battle Road, St. Leonards onSea TN37 7AA. Tel: 01424 427393.Vegan Cat-Collars And Catnip Toys Non-Leather, Non-Animal Fur. For details, sendSAE to: Ann, 4 Green Street, Wollaston,Northants NN29 7RA.Amplifaire A new and most efficient systemfor heating home and water. Also Amplifaireflue pipe to make AGA or Rayburn moreefficient. Send a large SAE (47p 2nd class) toFrieden Howard at The Sanctuary, Nr Lydford,Okehampton, Devon EX20 4AL.Translations into English from French,German, Italian & Spanish (personal,commercial, legal, technical), over 30 years’experience, big discount for VV readers, noVAT. Patricia Tricker MIL Cert Ed (FE).Tel/Fax 0845 4584714 (BT local rate).Email: patricia@p-m-t.freeserve.co.ukChipke Natural toiletries. Wide range.Suitable for vegans (with exception of honeysoap and lip salve). Products sourced locally orinternationally to avoid exploitation of peopleor environment. Animal testing is unnecessaryand unacceptable. Send for brochure to:Chipke, 6 Wyle Cop, Shrewsbury, ShropshireSY1 1UT. Tel 01743 244466.Email chipke@hotmail.comWelhealth Fruit Farm (North Wales) Allyear round vegan camp! On Forest GardenLand. We are down shifting, co-operative anti-consumerist, vegan diggers and have land tocreate an alternative renewable sharing forestgarden community. We are seeking holidaymembers and full-time members. Tel: Vic01490 420074 or Tel/txt: Frank 07980 158661.Vegetarian Web Designer Websites for thevegetarian and vegan community byVegDesign. For more info, rates and portfoliosee www.vegdesign.com. Tel: 07742 336858.

Small ads are free to subscribers orcost £2 for insertion in four issues fornon-subscribers. Send your ad to:Vegan Views, Flat A15, 20 Dean ParkRoad, Bournemouth, BH1 1JB, UK.

16

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HEALTH

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on 01626 352765.Email: DrGinaShaw@aol.comWeb: www.vibrancy.homestead.com/pageone.htmlMicrocare Tooth Powder from HealthConnections. Contains no fluoride, SodiumLauryl Sulfate, saccharin, preservatives, animalingredients, aspartame, artificial colours orflavours. For free sample, tel: 01892 683439.Dissolve Cataracts with Bright Eyes nutri-tional eyedrops. Safe, gentle. Also used bydoctors. As seen on the Richard and Judy show.Tel: 01892 683439 for details.Chinese Yoga Try something old! Deepbreathing stretching and relaxing exercisesbased on Chinese medicine principles.Excellent for improving posture, breathing,circulation, aches and pains, co-ordination andconfidence. These 2000 year old exercises weredesigned by Daoist masters to reverse illnessand stop the ageing process. Small friendlyclass meets Thursdays 5.30 – 6.30 pm. StMichael’s Church hall, Westgate End,Wakefield. £3 per class. Enquires: MarkPopplewell 01924 462261.Chinese Herbal Medicine andAcupuncture Commonly used for skindisease, respiratory conditions, digestivecomplaints, irritable bowel, gynaecologicalproblems including infertility, arthritis,headaches, chronic fatigue, anxiety anddepression. Mark Popplewell MRCHM,MBAcC is a qualified and insured healthprofessional, vegan for 23 years. Member of theRegister of Chinese Herbal Medicine and theBritish Acupuncture Council. Practising inDewsbury, West Yorkshire. Enquires andappointments: 01924 462261.

PERSONAL

Evergreen for those seeking friends,soulmates, or penfriends. Friendship agency forfree-thinking individuals. Interests includevegetarianism. PO Box 147, Waltham Cross,Herts EN7 6BZ. Tel/fax: 01992 632250.London-based Gay Guy vegan/vegetarian,slim, quiet, honest, 50ish; interested in history,buildings, gardens, cinema, cycling &recycling, not spiritual, not interested in «pets»,would like to correspond with/maybe meetyounger (18-30) similar, in the country. Box202, Vegan Views, Flat A15, 20 Dean ParkRoad, Bournemouth BH1 1JB.Attractive Vegan Female (38) N/S, healthy,free-thinking individual. Loves sunshine,walking, cycling, camping, music, travel… thesimple things in life! Hates human,environmental and animal abuse. Is caring,compassionate, sensitive and loyal. Searchingfor lifelong love with gentle, affectionate malewith similar qualities (ALA), photo appreciated& returned. Reply to Box 103, Vegan Views,Flat A15, 20 Dean Park Road, BournemouthBH1 1JB.Vegan Gentle Man (raw food bias) seeks alady for friendship and relationship. OHAC inthe South West. Willing to work at the mutuallysupportive relationship (B.de Andelis student).

Currently involved in promoting veganism andcompassionate lifestyle – helpmate sought.A.L.A. Reply to: Box 102 Vegan Views, FlatA15, 20 Dean Park Road, Bournemouth BH11JB.Is there a Like Minded Person? Are you100% vegan (A.R.)/100% organic(environment) and dislike cars/TV etc? (prefera simple lifestyle). Please write me (woman 36)for support anyway. (I’m depressed now). Ineed like-minded friend(s) to meet, live/writewith. More info; vgnwmn@yahoo.co.uk (no,do not have own PC!)Brand New Vegan Male (Nottingham)loves walking, countryside, seaside. Seekingopportunity penpals as new on path. Alsofemales for possible long-term relationship.Non-smoker. ALA. Tom Healy, 19 BaldwinCourt, Ilkeston Road, Nottingham NG7 3FZ.Aubergine Introductions. A new dedicatedUK introduction service for vegetarians andvegans. Open yourself up to meeting educated,eligible, like-minded people.www.aubergineintroductions.comJamie Burrell-Corey, Male, 25, Brampton,Cumbria. jamieburrell_corey@hotmail.com.I’m a trainee electrician with a degree inEnvironmental Biology and would really enjoythe company of someone who doesn’t getfrustrated with me at meal times. Does such aperson exist? I hope so because I’m beginningto feel like I’m on the wrong planet!!Vegan male, 57 N/S 6’1”. Sensitive CaringCalm Nature. Enjoy Music Art Travel AnimalsReading History Cultures of other countries.Seek Kind Compassionate Female to share Joy& a deep Love For which the soul yearns. ALABrian Robinson, 117 Somerton Rd, NewportNP19 0JX.

SHOES

www.veganline.com sell vegan shoes online– Freepost LON10506, London, SW14 1YY0800 458 4442. Their website also has a vegrecipe search engine.Freerangers sell animal free footwear. Sendfor brochure to 9B Marquis Court, LowPrudhoe, Northumberland NE42 6PJ.Web www.freerangers.co.ukTel: 01661 831781. Fax 01661 830317.Vegetarian Shoes, 12 Gardner St, BrightonBN1 1UP. Tel: 01273 691913.Web: www.vegetarian-shoes.co.ukEthical Wares sell vegan footwear andclothing. Send SAE for catalogue: Caegwyn,Temple Bar, Felinfach, Ceredigion SA48 7SA.Tel: 01570 471155.Web: www.ethicalwares.comVegan Shoe Repairs and large range ofvegan shoes. Total Liberation, c/o LymeLeisure, South Street, Axminster, Devon EX135AD. Web: www.lymeleisure.org.uk. Tel:01297 631133. Also making vegan moccasinslippers. Will shortly make shoes starting withchildren’s.

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Veganism means living on plantproducts and excludes, as far aspractical, the exploitation of animals forfood, clothing, or any other purpose.Like other vegetarians they excludefrom their diet meat, poultry and fish.They go further and exclude animalmilks, eggs, honey, and their derivatives(eg cheese and butter). They are leftwith an abundance of grains, pulses,nuts, seeds, fruit and vegetables, whichmodern nutritionists recommend for ahealthy diet. Most vegans find they canenjoy greater variety in their diet thanthey did before. There are also manytasty substitutes for animal products(even delicious ices).

The Vegan Society If you would like moreinformation on Veganism send two 1st classstamps for an information pack to The VeganSociety at Donald Watson House, 7 Battle Rd,St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex TN37 7AA.Tel: 01424 427393. Web:www.vegansociety.com. The Vegan Societypublishes The Vegan, a quarterly magazinewhich members receive. Also available from a

few shops.VEGA (Vegetarian Economy and GreenAgriculture) Free on-line magazine. Web:www.vegaresearch.orgThe Movement for CompassionateLiving (The Vegan Way) founded by KathleenJannaway, works non-violently for lifestylespossible for all the world’s peoples, sustainablewithin the planet’s resources and free from allanimal exploitation. Annual subscription £5 (orwhat you are able to afford) includes thequarterly journal New Leaves. Other literatureavailable. SAE for details to MCL, 31 WaltonClose, Ernesford Grange, Coventry CV3 2LJ,UK. Web: www.MCLveganway.org.ukVegan Organic Trust encourages andresearches into non-animal growing techniques.Publishes a magazine Growing Green

International to spread knowledge, and reportsfrom vegan organic growers worldwide.Contact Patrick Browne, 161 Hamilton Rd,Longsight, Manchester M13 0PQ. Tel: 0161248 9224. Email: veganorganic@riseup.net.Web: www.veganorganic.netPlants for a Future Blagdon Cross,Ashwater, Beaworthy, Devon EX21 5DF.Researching ecologically sustainable veganorganic horticulture. A resource and infor-mation centre. Web: www.pfaf.orgThe Plant Milk Trust was established in 1976to promote soya milk and other vegan foods,particularly in the areas of research andpublicity. It is managed by five devotedhonorary trustees. Gifts or legacies are mostwelcome, and all monies received are totallydevoted to the Trust’s work, without anyadministrative expenses. Write for details to DrG J Buist, 53 Gosden Hill Road, Guildford,Surrey GU4 7JB.Vegan Business Connection wants to hearfrom individuals as well as companiesproviding goods and services suitable forvegans. Contact VBC c/o Veggies, 245Gladstone Street, Forest Fields, NottinghamNG7 6HX. www.veggies.org.uk/vbc.htm

Veganism & vegan organisations

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❏ 101 Interview with Vegan Village (this issue)❏ 100 Vegan Views: The early years❏ 99 No More Fish❏ 98 Food co-ops❏ 97 Interview with Steve Walsh❏ 96 Interview with Karin Ridgers❏ 95 Interview with Liz Cook❏ 94 Vegan Organic Network

❏ 93 Nutritional Supplements❏ 92 Veggie Pride❏ 89 Feeding the world❏ 88 Farming crisis❏ 87 Meat in crisis❏ 84 Leah Leneman: in memory❏ 37 Arthur Ling interview❏ 34 Leah Leneman interview

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Be kind to animals!(Even if an elephant lifts you up by the trunk…)

SOUTHLondon Vegan & Vegetarian FamiliesGroup If interested contact Lesley on 0208861 1233 or email Lesley@vegan4life.org.uk.Also wants to hear from families anywherewanting to holiday together.London Vegans meet on last Wednesday ofthe month (except December) 6:30 – 9:30pm atMillman St Community Rooms, Millman St,London WC1. 24 hour info line: 020 89311904.Web: www.londonvegans.freeserve.co.ukLondon Animal Action A local animal rightsgroup campaigning against all forms of animalcruelty, e.g. the fur trade, the meat industry,animal experiments and hunting, and for a wayof life not based on the exploitation of animals,people or the environment. BM Box 2248,WC1N 3XX. Tel 0845 458 4775.Web: http://londonanimalaction.org.ukEmail: info@londonanimalaction.org.ukVegetarian and Vegan Gay Group(London) Informal social & campaign groupmeets in London on the last Sunday of eachmonth and has other events for gay, lesbian,bisexual and transgender vegetarians, vegans,fruitarians and raw foodies and their friends,and those who would like to be. Further details:information line: 020 7713 9063.Email: vvgg@freeuk.comWeb: www.vvgg.freeserve.co.ukVegan Essex meet 1st Tuesday every monthat Brentwood School Sports Hall (CourageHall, Middleton Hall Lane).Web: www.veganessex.org.ukKingston & Richmond Vegetarianswelcome vegans. Send SAE for programme toJohn, 49 Harrowdene Gdns, Teddington,Middlesex TW11 0DJ.Waltham Cross (near Enfield) RegularSocials. Vegan buffet. Everyone welcome. Tel.Lisa 01992 624079.Hertfordshire Lisa Ceneri would like to havecontact with other vegans in her area, especiallythose with children. 63 Leven Drive, WalthamCross, Herts EN8 8AL. Tel: 01992 426710.Harlow Lian Tyler, the Vegan Society and

Vegetarian Society Local Contact for Harlowhas compiled an online Vegan guide to Harlowand the surrounding areas. Tel: 07754 166813.Web: www.veganharlow.co.ukEmail: info@veganharlow.co.ukHastings Animal SHAC meet every secondTuesday of the month, 7:30pm at FriendsMeeting House (upstairs), Priory St. Veganrefreshments available. All welcome.Norfolk Vegetarian & Vegan Society JaneJohnson, 17 St Austins Grove, Sheringham,Norfolk, NR26 8DF. Tel. 01263 821609.Email: janejohnson@vegfolk.co.ukWeb: www.vegfolk.co.ukSolent Vegetarians & Vegans John Curtis,31 Cranbury Rd, Eastleigh, Hants SO50 5HB.Tel. 023 80643813. Email: solentveg@ivu.orgWeb: www.ivu.org/solentvegBournemouth Vegetarians & Vegans Tel.01202 555712. Email: t.west@oneteldsl.net.Web: www.ivu.org/uklocal/bournemouth.Isle of Wight Vegetarians & Vegans Tel.01983 407098. Email: iow@ivu.orgWeb: www.iwvv.org.ukPenzance Vegans social group currentlymeet each Wednesday, 8pm in the Bath Inn pub(right-hand bar), Cornwall Terrace, Penzance.To confirm details, please call 01736 786473 oremail wilf_frith@lineone.netWeb: www.wiz.to/penzancevegansGuildford Vegans & Vegetarianswelcomes vegans to its varied programme of

events (see local groups listings onwww.vegsoc.org/network) for furtherinformation or to join the email list ring 01483425040.NEW Thames Valley Vegans &Vegetarians social events, veggie and vegansupport and info, talks and presentations,displays, information stands in the Readingarea. Web: www.makessense.co.uk/tvvvs

WALESSwansea Vegans meet on third Monday ofeach month. Details: George Barwick. Tel:01792 518773Email: george.barwick@ntlworld.comCarmarthen Vegetarian Friends We arenearly all vegans and we meet socially on thefirst Tuesday of each month at 11.30am at theWaverley Vegetarian Restaurant, Lammas St,Carmarthen. Just come, or to check phone01267 241547 or hippocharity@aol.com

MIDLANDSNottingham The Animal RightsConfederation meet on the first Monday of themonth from about 7pm, usually at the SumacCentre, 245 Gladstone Street, Forest Fields,Nottingham. Social, speaker, snacks. Phonebeforehand 0845 458 9595 for detailsEmail: nar@veggies.org.ukBirmingham Vegetarians & Vegans c/o 5Esher Road, Kingstanding, Birmingham B449QJ. Tel: 0121 353 2442.

NORTHSheffield Vegan Society meet in theupstairs room of the Fat Cat, Alma St, KelhamIsland, on the first Wednesday of the month.Business 7:30pm, and then social 9pm. ContactPO Box 537, Rotherham S66 7WW.Tel: 0114 258 8869.Web: www.sheffieldvegansociety.org.ukDoncaster & Area Vegans & Vegetariansmeet about once a month for socialising invarious ways (e.g. walks, picnics, meals out,yoga). Ring Vivien on 01405 769730.East Riding Vegans meet once a month forsocialising. New members welcome. Mark, 140Victoria Avenue, Hull, HU5 3DT. Web:www.merrydowncontrolware.co.uk/ervegansEmail: ervegans@merrydowncontrolware.co.ukTel: 01482 471119. Leeds Vegetarian & Vegan Society Meettwice a month for various social events andactivities, fantastic pot luck lunches, newsletterevery few months. For a programme and/ornewsletter ring Natalie on 0113 2484044 oremail natalie@tharraleos.freeserve.co.ukNorth Riding Vegetarians & VegansMeals, walks, theatre etc. Patricia, tel/fax 0845458 4714 (BT local rate).Email: patricia@p-m-t.freeserve.co.ukCumbrian Vegans Are you interested injoining a local group for sharedinformation/support? If you are then please callMandy on 01900 817038.

19

Vegans in your areaTo publicise your meetings, appeal tomeet vegans or request penpals,please send details for this page. Wealso put these details on our website.The Vegan Society have their ownlocal contacts – see the Veganmagazine for details, or there websiteat www.vegansociety.com for a list.The Vegetarian Society have affiliatedlocal groups and information centreswhich often include vegans – seewww.vegsoc.org/network for a list.

Generalwww.veganvillage.co.ukwww.btinternet.com/~bury_rd (Vegan News:free on-line magazine)www.eco-centric.co.uk (A website for vegansand people interested in alternate lifestyles inthe UK/Ireland)

Listings of Veggie Restaurants &cafés

www.happycow.net (worldwide)www.vegdining.com (worldwide)www.veggieheaven.com (UK)

Travelwww.vegetariansabroad.com (places to stayabroad)

Vegan online shoppingwww.isitvegan.info (vegan foods/drinks)www.isitveggie.com (vegan foods/drinks)www.crueltyfreeshop.com (run by DrHadwen Trust)www.veganstore.co.uk

Vegan-run business listsArtists, accountants, translators,decorators… www.veggies.org.uk/vbc.htmwww.veganvillage.co.uk/services.htm

Vegetarian informationwww.vegsoc.org (UK vegetarian Society)www.ivu.org (International Vegetarian Union)www.planetveggie.co.uk (Planet Veggie)

Useful websites

Vegetarians and Vegans gathered inParis on 15th May for the 4th annualevent to demonstrate for Veggie Pride.They want everyone to know that theyare tired of being marginalised insociety, to assert their right to have theirdiet respected and catered for incanteens, schools and otherinstitutions instead of being looked onas of no importance. They want peopleto face the facts of animal exploitationand mass slaughter and the crueltyinvolved in the meat industry, animalexperiments and sports (especiallybullfighting which is legal in France).

By Harry MatherFotos by Amandine, Cathrine and Loetitia

In the afternoon of May 15th, on a dry sunnyday that was quite hot at times, about onethousand people gathered in the Place

Beaubourg in the centre of Paris whereinformation stalls were on display and attractedattention. Then a march was begun through thecentre of Paris with many banners andcontinuous shouting of slogans. Police stoppedthe traffic at intersections. Parisians are quiteused to demonstrations holding up the traffic,but they may have found that here wassomething unusual. The march lasted about onehour and returned to the starting point wheremany continued to shout their slogans. so thatthe stream of passers by should also get themessage. Peter Simpson of the VegetarianCycling and Athletic Club had brought alonghis hen’s head mask and attracted muchattention. He was much photographed, but ashis face was not visible fame will elude him.

About hundred people were then grouped atarm’s length of each other wearing animalmasks. The loudspeakers played animal noiseswith a commentary on animal exploitationwhich was very moving. Passers by had tosqueeze round the edge of the demonstratorsand could not help but hear the message. Thenseveral speakers followed to give their personaltestimony. Many showed their strongconvictions and determination to continue their

efforts. The third Saturday in May is fixed asthe date for the next Veggie Pride demo inParis.

There was an arrangement for a later gettogether at Charlie’s Bar (not far away) forveggie food and to get to know one anotherbetter.

There is no doubt that vegetarianism andveganism are a strong voice in the world thatwill have to be listened to.

Springtime in Paris

Lively day in Paris.

We do not have one heart for humans and another heart foranimals.

Peter Simpson from UK attracted much attention with thismask.