In 1987 Veggies fought off libel action by McDonalds, who then went after the McLibel Two. The ensuing 313 day epic trial and ultimate total victory in the European Court of Human Rights was documented in the film ‘McLibel’, directed by Franny Armstrong.
Franny went on to direct the Climate Change blockbuster ‘Age of Stupid’, which Veggies was pleased to support as part of the Nottingham Not Stupid team that brought the film to Nottingham.
In producing ‘McLibel’, Franny’s Spanner Films invented a new concept of ‘Crowd Funding’, whereby hundreds of ordinary people made an affordable investment in the film.
Now the Crowd Funding concept is (hopefully) bringing a new kick-ass activist film to the screens:
It’s called Just Do It and it’s going to be a feature film about climate change activists, it’s going to be funny and inspiring. Who knows you might even spot Veggies at the now infamous G20 demonstrations in London or at the Great Climate Swoop at Nottm’s Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station.
They’re making it totally independently (ie no big backers) and planning to give it to us for free. But money doesn’t grow on trees, so they need our help.
The producers, all climate activists themselves, are seeking crowd funding and Lush are doubling donations. Having benefited from Lush support ourselves we have sent a small donation from the Samosas for Social Change fund, but others are encouraged to go over to their website, check it out, and make a donation.
In an amazing show of solidarity and compassion many hundreds marched across the west end of London on Saturday 2nd October, to highlight the plight of farmed animals.
The rally was independently organised by grass roots campaigners, “Animal Rights Coalition”, supported by Animal Aid, Viva!, Veggies Catering Campaign and many other groups.
This is the first time that we have held a march for farmed animals in London, and it was a lively day, in solidarity of the millions of animals killed for meat, dairy and eggs, every day.
Speech by Richard Deboo
“Did you know that in the UK alone, around 1000 million animals are killed for meat, dairy and eggs every year? And, that number does not include the fish that are trawled out of the water in their tonnes. None of this is necessary – we do not need to consume animal products.”
Animal Aid Director, Andrew Tyler, spoke of the negative human health and environmental impacts of animal farming but declared: ‘My own argument against meat, milk, eggs, fish and all other animal products arises from my knowledge of the vile cruelty that is integral to these animal product industries. I have seen it for myself during numerous visits to farms, markets and slaughterhouses.” [video] More at Animal Aid’s rally report.
In Viva!’s media release, founder and director, Juliet Gellatley, said: “Viva!, together with many supporters, will be at the forefront of the event, calling for a move away from the reliance on livestock farming, for the sake of animals, people and the environment. It is unbelievable in this day and age that such barbaric and outdated practices, under which animals suffer, are allowed to continue.”
In her speech at the rally, she added: “If one person is unkind to an animal it is considered cruelty, but when a lot of people are unkind to animals, especially in the name of profit, the cruelty is condoned and, once large sums of money are involved, will be defended to the last by otherwise intelligent people”. [video]
Saturday October 2nd saw the National March for Farmed Animals take place in London.
Speeches kicked off at approximately 12.30 and saw Juliet Gellatley of VIVA! give the first, before Andrew Tyler of Animal Aid, Richard Deboo, Louise Wallis, the former president of the Vegan Society and Kevin White, founder of Midlands Vegan Campaigns, who has just been awarded Veggie Achiever Of The Year.
The march itself began around 1.30 and saw animal lovers from around the UK walk up the busy Regent Street, down through Cockspur Street, down Whitehall, along Embankment, finally into Horse Guards Avenue, carrying placards, banners and leaflets, spreading the word to the general public about the cruelty that happens to farmed animals.
At every McDonalds or Steakhouse the marchers stopped to focus on that location for a few minutes, letting them know that they’re far from pleased at the companies for making a living out of the slaughter of animals, chanting ‘Stop the Slaughter, Meat is Murder’. Although what started out as a sunny day eventually saw rain drizzle, it couldn’t dampen the marchers’ passion.
After the two hour long march, a few more speeches took place including one from Chrissy Leyland, one of the founding members of Pogo Cafe, one of our fave vegan cafes (in London), Marion Eaton of F.R.I.E.N.D. Animal Rescue and Patrick of Veggies (vegan catering campaign).
The afternoon concluded with a couple of numbers by Mártin the Livewire, vegan hip-hop / rapper.
Full report and photo gallery by Shari Black Velvet at Save-A-Scream website.
Vegan Camp is a well-deserved break for vegans, or anyone willing to be vegan during their stay, including many active campaigners, for 2 weeks, or for a day or two.
The 31st consecutive camp in 2011 is proposed to be held either Chichester in Sussex, South Derbyshire or Kent
All ages are welcome, many children attend, about 35% are under 18. Campers will be welcome for any period of stay within the fortnight.
Seeking Camp Site in Derbyshire
Heather writes:
Hope you’re all well and have had a fab Summer? Been talking to Daniel from Newcastle about vegan camp next year and the venue is hopefully Derbyshire!
They have a potental one at Moira bordering North West Leicestershire, yet has to be checked out, but options are open; so just to let you know if you notice anything on your travels, to let me or Daniel know pleeeeeez!
If the word is spread, someone else who is familiar with beautiful Derbyshire may also know of somewhere. Thought I’d let you know anyway.
TTFN
Heather xx
Criteria are as below : -
________________________________
Criteria, in no particular order, by which sites for the annual (established 1981) vegan camp are chosen:
Please do not mention any issues below to a campsite that may mean they refuse us – better to let John (Dan) mess it up, as he has had plenty of practice! Remember 1983 and 1999!
a. At least Dan (John), the general organiser since 1982 and maybe other committee members are to have visited and assessed the site, not limited to the committee, all welcome to do this, either alone or together with us or others. No site is used without one or more visits.
b. Site is to be vegan friendly, Dan mentions our veganism when booking, but it is not the first thing we say!
c. Site is to have trees/shelter from the winds if possible and to be fairly flat and well drained.
d. Facilities are to include at least laundry and showers and toilets.
e. The site must be able to accommodate up to 65 units over the fortnight, about 100 to 150 people. (NB a unit is either a single, a couple or a family).
f. The camp is to be relatively easy to access by public transport.
g. We request but are seldom given the opportunity, to have an organised camp fire.
h. An on-site swimming pool is to be considered a bonus and is favoured when choosing.
i. Sites to be selected are not to be near main roads or motorways, cities or airports etc., if at all possible.
j. Our standardised dates are the first two full weeks in August, Saturday to Saturday, annually.
k. The site is to allow us to bring our own two small marquees for wet weather.
l. The site is to allow us to organise and sell our own sourced vegan produce and camping accessories.
m. The site must be happy that we shall likely charge our campers different rates to what they charge. (NB this is mainly because we consider children to be aged up to and including 17, most sites don’t agree, and we do not charge for ages under six although the sites charge us for both. Also, adults are often charged at the same rate as couples or families, as they are being charged for the space taken up, not per person. So adult and other prices need to be re-calculated to create a fair balance for our singles, couples and families).
n. Site may need to be encouraged to accept a mixed group of adults, children, singles and couples and families, especially one like us who can provide references from at least last year.
o. We prefer sites which will allow us to organise our bookings centrally throughout the year, meaning that we give them no work to do on our behalf all year till camp.
p. We don’t usually consider fields owned by farmers or other owners with whom we may not see eye to eye, but take care not to offend anyone in the b=name of veganism.
q. We check out and avoid any animal connected activities on site or nearby, like farming etc.
(NB this would include sites with zoos, animal corners, birds of prey centres, factory farming.)
r. We try to avoid sewerage plants and cement factories being located nearby.
s. We avoid all areas where there may be the proximity of a nuclear site.
t. If at all possible we are to have a field or part of a field to ourselves, being aware of any internal roads which may cause a problem especially where children are concerned, so we usually look for a site with no or few internal roads for the safety of all.
u. We like our sites to have a play area or adventure playground.
v. We try to ensure that sites are either by rivers or near running water or are near the coast.
w. We try to use sites that also have alternative accommodation to camping for those who require such.
x. Added 2009 – we check with sites as to whether they have any plans for future developments on site, especially those which may involve animals.
y. Added 2009 – we check out the existence/proximity of a pond or lake and any fishing activity and consider it in our decision.
z. Added 2010 – we need to ensure that there is alternative accommodation either on site or very close nearby for those who do not want to camp.
All the vegan caterers deserve your support in the UK Vegan Awards. Veggies is very pleased to be amongst them!
The UK Vegan Awards 2010 are an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the products, places, companies, organisations and campaign groups who make a real difference to veganism, animals and the environment.
Voting in the 10 categories will take just 2 minutes. Please click here to vote now.
PRIZE DRAW – Everyone who votes has the chance to win a gift voucher worth up to £30. Gift vouchers have been donated by the following online vegan shops:
Here’s a pic of the some of the literature being gathered together ready to travel down. For more info on the groups featured see the Charity Pot Section at Veggies Directory.
As ever, Veggies Free Info Exchange features Info For Action, with details of a number of forthcoming campaign events, including:
One of the groups featured in the Info Exchange is Regugee Action, a national charity that works with refugees to build new lives in the UK. At the recents Barefoot Festival we took some time out to put together a new exhibition panel for them.
It is great to hear that FNB is active in London still/again.
We continue to do FNB-type things at Veggies Catering Campaign in Nottingham, including a monthly Vegan Free Food Give-Away and feeding various camps, gatherings and protests.
I wanted to contact you all just to check out how much contact there was between all the groups already.
If there is some, fantastic – please count me in, and how do I get involved?
If there isn’t, would anyone be interested in our UK Food Not Bombs family becoming closer??
I have a few ideas for possible collaborations:
Campaigns: There are so many food waste issues + all sorts of issues like homelessness that I’m sure our groups share common ground on – if we coordinated protests/got a campain together it would be far stronger, and I think we could create quite a stir As far as I’m aware none of the big campaign groups like Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, etc. are running any campaigns on food waste – Tristram Stuart and This Is Rubbish are probably the only to do stunts around the issue, and I think it’s too important for noone to stand up for!
There are loads of other groups/individuals who deal with similar issues to Food Not Bombs – like This Is Rubbish, Tristram Stuart (author of “Waste”), FoodCycle, FoodShare, Replenish and FareShare. Some of these are charities, some campaigners/activists, but all of them share our aims to varying extents. I’ve met up with/worked with quite a few of these groups and they’re all great, dynamic people – many of whom already want to work with us!
We could share info on best strategies for finding/cooking food/generally running Food Not Bombs groups
First things first:
**Climate Camp in Scotland**
Is anybody from your FoodNotBombs groups going? It would be great for our groups to meet up! We could also maybe set up a talk/workshop to try to get our message out/encourage people to start new groups? I would be well up for that, would anyone want to collaborate? I’ll probs only be up Friday night till Sunday.
What are your thoughts?
Hopefully I’ll meet some of you soon
We’re on the final countdown to the Summer Gathering: below is an update and some important information for those planning to attend. Keep an eye on the website for further updates over the next few weeks, or get in touch for more details.
The gathering will officially start on Friday 27th August after lunch, and will end on the afternoon of Monday 30th (Bank Holiday). You are more than welcome in the days before and after these dates to help set up the site and clear away afterwards, vegan food and camping space will be provided for these volunteers.
This is the national gathering of the grass roots animal rights movement. It’s a chance for activists from throughout the country to get together for a weekend of talks, discussions, workshops and films on a wide range of topics connected to animal rights activism, to take stock of where we are and make plans for the future, as well as some practical and skills based workshops and activities to share and learn new skills.
There will also be plenty of time and opportunities for us to relax and unwind, to spend some time catching up with old friends and meeting some new ones, to try some tasty vegan food and drinks, all in in beautiful rural surroundings.
*Timetable / Workshops*
There are already some great workshops, discussions, talks and entertainment planned, but there’s space for much more, so if you’ve got anything interesting to contribute please get in touch soon with your ideas. This applies also to practical and skills based workshops.
*Camping*
Accommodation on site will be camping. Bring clothing and camping equipment suitable for all weathers if possible. If you don’t have a tent don’t worry, you can stay in one of the big marquees which will be on site throughout. Don’t forget to bring a torch as well if possible!
Getting there.
To enable us to plan facilities and catering etc please let us know in advance if you plan to attend, how many of you and when you expect to arrive/leave. There will be 2 mobile phone contacts if you have any problems, these will be available nearer the time.
Public Transport
If you are using public transport, here are a few tips to enable you to plan your journey. There is a bus which takes you from Northampton (Grey Friars) bus station to the site of the gathering. If you are coming to Northampton by train there is a 10 minute walk to the bus station. The journey time from the bus station to the gathering site is half an hour, the bus leaves the bus station at the following times 07.45, 0900, 1020, 1210, 1405, 1645 and 1800, and there are no buses on Sundays, so please bear this in mind when making connections. If you have to arrive or leave after 1800, or on Sunday (when the bus doesn’t run), contact us and we’ll try to make other arrangements.
*Driving*
If you are driving, the directions depend on which direction you’re coming from, so contact us for details how to get there. The site is fairly central, it is only about 15 minutes from the major junction of the M1/M6/A14.
Car share
If you’re driving to the gathering and can offer spaces to fellow activists either from your area or en route, please get in touch so we can get more people involved. Or if you need a ride, get in touch and we’ll try to put you in touch with others from your area.
Volunteers for Set-up
If you’re free earlier in the week to help set up the site, put up marquees etc, and/or you can stay a few days afterwards to help tidy up the site, you’ll be very welcome, we’ll provide camping space and food, some good company, and as well as some work we’ll have some fun and a bit of entertainment too no doubt! Please let us know if you can do this so we can get an idea of numbers, thanks in advance.
Volunteers will also be needed during the gathering for a variety of tasks such as catering, washing up, getting workshop spaces ready, recycling, driving to pick up activists and supplies, gate duty etc, there’ll be a rota organised at the site for this
Vegan Catering Skillsharing
If you want to get involved with the catering, it’s a great way to learn about vegan catering and to meet new people. We will run two cooking sessions a day as ‘mass vegan catering workshops’, and will also hope to hold cake baking sessions. The start time will be advertised on a board at the kitchen each day, but will generally be about 3 hours before each meal. We will actively encourage people to pass on skills and learn about vegan cooking.
Food
Veggies Catering Campaign will be providing three tasty vegan meals per day at a reasonable price. Plus Veggies d-i-y Cafe will run throughout the weekend with drinks and snacks, as well as stalls offering a selection of vegan goodies.
Vegan Fish and Chips On top of this, the world’s first and only mobile vegan fish and chips caterers will be on hand all weekend if you fancy something different. For more information about “Something Fishy”, visit their website www.something-fishy.org.uk
Children
It would be very useful for us to know how many children are likely to attend, and also whether their parents will provide food for them, or whether they eat alongside adults.
Special diets/allergies
If you have any food-related enquiries such as special diets/allergies, please contact us in advance and we will try to help.
First Aid
If you’re a First Aider, let us know when you’ll be there, and don’t forget your First Aid kit! There will be First Aid workshop on the timetable as well.
Sorry No Dogs
Sorry dogs are now allowed because the gathering will be on land where there are rescued farmed animals. However the central location may make it easier for day visits.
Donations.
The gatherings play a vital role in promoting and co-ordinating the movement.
If you or your group can help by making a donation, send cheques/PO’s payable to “ARGathering” and send to the address above, or use the paypal/plastic donation button on the AR Calendar listing at http://www.veggies.org.uk/event.php?ref=1711
2011 Gathering
The next AR Gathering is likely to be around the 12th or 19th August 2011.
In addition Veggies gathering catering includes breakfast with Essential deleuxe muesli, Dove’s Farm gluten free cornflakes, peanut butter, fruit spreads, yeast extract, wholemeal bread, sunflower spread; and teas, coffees and juice throughout the day.
Information Exchange
The Camp provided another opportunity to display and distribute information from a selection of campaigns from the Lush Charity Pot exhibition …read more…
We also led a facilitated discussion, following 3 themes:
Non-violence begins on your dinner plate – Veganism in the peace movement.
Food and Climate Change – the elephant in your kitchen.
Catering for all – can veganism offer a link between movements for social change?
We received the following feedback:
Make Cake, Not War
Content: 10/10 average!
Presentation: 9/10
What people liked:
Very creative, participation, good to learn new skills and see how easy it is to make a cake, cake!
What could be improved:
Organisation!
Can we eat our way out of crisis?
Content: 9.6/10
Presentation: 9.6/10
What people liked:
The open totally non-judgemental approach to the topic and the supportive attitude towards me as the least ‘vegan’ member of the group to encourage and help me to reduce my consumption of animal products, very relaxed, lots of info, well presented, friendly, how everyone chipped in their own ideas and it was more of a group discussion, clear, interesting and intelligent discussion.
What could be improved?
Maybe a break halfway through, listening to each other.
Peace News are planning to run the camp again next year and would really welcome your feedback on the experience. Below are the questions to which they are particularly interested in getting feedback. Reply to beth_rowan@riseup.net
How did you feel about your experience before the camp?
About how you were contacted and approached?
Did you feel you were provided with adequate information at the right time?
Did you find it easy to get to the camp?
Do you have any thoughts on the schedule?
How did you feel about the arrangements when you were at the camp itself? Both the site as a whole physical set up for the workshops (space, facililities, signs etc).
Do you feel that the camp should have provided a facilitator for your workshop or any other workshop you attended?
What did you particularly like about the camp?
What did you feel could be improved?
No War For Oil
Farming animals for food wastes a lot of energy. Animals are food and energy factories in reverse – most of the nutritional and energy value of what they eat is used by their bodily functions. It takes about 10kg of prime vegetable protein to produce 1kg of meat protein. Oil-based fertilisers are needed to produce crops fed to intensively reared animals. By burning fossel fuel for unnecessary industrialisation world-wide, the human race is causing a change in climate which, if unchecked, will make life on this planet unsustainable.
Prevent water wars
Not satisfied with overconsumption of the world’s oil supplies, the affluent west exports its wasteful practices to hungry countries. Factory farming systems are being promoted in hot, dry areas, competing with people for limited water supplies. 200 – 250 gallons of water are required to produce a pound of rice, but between 2,500 to 6,000 gallons are used to produce a pound of meat. Future conflicts are predicted for control of water supplies, whilst inappropriate mega-dam projects benefit western construction companies, whilst displacing local peoples.
The world produces enough food to feed everyone, if distributed equally. There is an abundance of food. In fact, in this country, every day in every city, far more edible food is discarded than is needed to feed those who do not have enough to eat.
Although Veggies is not formally a Food Not Bombs group, consider this description of their work:
“It will take imagination and work to create a world without bombs. Food Not Bombs recognizes our part as providing sustenance for people at demonstrations and events so that they can continue participating in the long term struggle against militarism. We also make it part of our mission to bring our message to other progressive movements. We attend other organizations’ events and support coalition building whenever possible. We try to encourage the … recognition that if we cooperate together, all become stronger.”
Veggies of Nottingham have been providing mass vegan catering to social change movements since 1985.
Climate Friendly Catering
To get to the Peace News 130 miles from our home base at Nottingham’s Sumac Centre, (and back), Veggies will have emitted 160kg CO2.
However by helping 100 people Eat Vegan we will “offset” the equivalent of 640 kg CO2 (averaged over event). If ONE participant goes Vegan For Life, they will save 1.5 tonnes CO2 equivalent every year, as well as saving 4022 animals’ lives, and enabling all the world’s peoples to receive a Fair Share of the world’s resources.
Join people from across the broad spectrum of the British peace movement for five days of exploration, celebration and empowerment!
This year’s themes include: feminism and peace; sharing our skills; challenging the military; engaging with other movements; radicalising our lives; and debating nonviolence (see below for more info).
Over 40 workshops, including:
> ‘Can we eat ourselves to a better world?’ and ‘Practical Cakemaking’ – Veggies (www.veggies.org.uk)
> ‘What Can People Do, Where They Live, to Change the World?’ – Haringey Solidarity Group (www.haringey.org.uk)
Plus: Samba, play-readings, poetry, camp-fires, good company and much, much more!
The Camp will be located in a lovely field belonging to farmer Adam Twine at Westmill Farm, Watchfield. The farm is on the B4508. It is about 5 miles outside of Faringdon and about 8 miles from Swindon, SN6 8TH . See map for the location of the farm.
The Camp costs £15 – £60 depending on income. Food (3 meals a day and drinks) will cost £6 – £10 a day for adults, depending on income. Payment can be made by cheque, online or by phone.
Peace News Summer Camp is an inclusive, democratically-run five-day experience-in-miniature of the kind of world we are trying to bring about. Bring your own contribution to a space that bridges the usual divisions in our movements and our society, where we pay as much attention to how we bring about change as to the changes that are so desperately needed. This year, feminism joins our standing themes of peace and justice.
We will be learning from other movements, struggling with challenging issues, creating greater cohesion in a segmented peace movement and debating nonviolence. Workshops will range from theoretical discussions to practical planning for actions later in the year. There will be over fifty years of activist experience at the camp, along with fresh faces.
Fed by local organic fruit and veg (lovingly cooked by the wonderful Veggies of Nottingham), we’re camping in a family-friendly and renewably-powered way from 23-27 July near Faringdon, Oxfordshire, to make the world a better place.
THEMES FOR THIS YEAR’S CAMP
> Feminism and Peace
Gender perspectives on violence, nonviolence and activism
> Building our Skills, Sharing our Skills
Nonviolent direct action training, consensus decision making, building a strategy, working in affinity groups, public speaking skills, radical music and more.
> Challenging the Military
Let’s get the military out of our lives and out of other peoples’ countries
> Engaging with other Movements and Struggles
What can we learn from other like-minded campaigns such as radical climate activism, animal rights, student activism and European peace campaigns
> Radicalising our lives
Food, education, power production and more
> Debating Nonviolence
How can we take effective action?
WHAT PEOPLE SAID ABOUT LAST YEAR’S PN SUMMER CAMP
Some quotes from last year’s campers:
“The fascinating and engaging discussions, debates and conversations that seemed to be taking place all the time all over the camp. Fantastic networking amongst groups and individuals.”
“Camaraderie, challenge, ideas, stimulation, re-energising, contacts, space for input and importing information, wood collecting, tree climbing, tripod, all ages, relaxed feeling, lovely food, fire.”
“The spirit of the occasion. Also the chance to discuss in depth issues we have been campaigning for/support and of course meeting folk and getting to learn new ideas and about ‘them’ as people.”
“Discussions, relationships, people, depth of thought. LOVED IT!”
We’ve been offered a fantastic opportunity by Lush Charity Pot, the fund that raises money & awareness about charities and campaigns for a better, fairer world.
For over 20 years Veggies has participated in the Green Futures Field at Glastonbury Festival.
As well as providing a vegan catering oasis, we run a ‘free information exchange‘ to feature different projects that we support. In the past we have featured groups such as Indymedia, the Movement for Compassionate Living and the Vegan Society.
This year Lush are sponsoring the space to help promote many campaign groups and charities that we both support. Veggies crew will engage with the public and distribute information for 10 hours a day over 5 days to the greenest of the 200,000 people that attend Glastonbury, i.e those that visit Green Futures at the heart of the Green Fields.
The great thing is that many of the groups are ones with whom we already have a well established direct working relationship.
We are also making connections with other excellent groups with whom we have not worked previously, but who are active at a grass roots level on concerns that we share.
We don’t want to encourage people to abandon their “rubbish” and perpetuate the disposable consumer culture, but if anyone has tat they would like to drop off for the Calais Migrant Solidarity, the AT Collective or Climate Camp, take it to the Climate Camp area in the Dragon Field.
Glastonbury Festival is huge, time is short and there are many distractions, so we hope that ethical festival visitors will welcome the opportunity to find out about many of the finest charitable projects all under one roof. So come on down to the Green Fields!
Lush cosmetics charity support
Lush supports charities and other good causes (we don’t just support registered charities) through a variety of ways; campaigns in our shops and on our website; cash donations through Charity Pot, limited edition charity products and our Carbon Tax fund and through product donations.
We like to look after those who look after others and are committed to supporting small, grassroots charities, non-violent direct action groups and other good causes working in the areas of environment, animal protection and human rights.
We believe we can make the most impact by supporting causes and funding projects that others won’t, therefore we give priority to less popular causes which are more difficult to gain support for. We support non-violent direct action as we feel it plays an important part in bringing about positive social change.
Campaigns
Throughout the year we partner with organisations to run nationwide campaigns in our shops. Our campaigns team, along with the help of our creative design team and enthusiastic shop staff, have run a variety of campaigns over the last few years, including issues such as animal testing, the impact of the palm oil industry on orangutans and indigenous people, vegetarianism, packaging, fox hunting, shark finning, destitute refugees, climate change and an end of torture and the right to a fair trial. We’ve worked with organisations such as Reprieve, Refugee Action, Hunts Saboteurs Association, Animal Aid, Climate Rush, Biofuelwatch and Uncaged.
Our 90 stores around the UK and Ireland are the perfect way of reaching thousands of people; we use our windows to grab people’s attention and lure them in to find out more. Once in the shop we ask customers to take part in the campaign by taking personal action, signing postcards and petitions or simply learning more about the issue.
Funding
In April 2007 we created Charity Pot to raise funds for charities and other good causes. Charity Pot is a hand and body lotion made with fair trade cocoa butter. Every penny the customer pays for the product (less the VAT which we have to give to the government) is put in to the Charity Pot fund and then distributed to various causes nominated by staff and customers.
Charitable funds also come from our Carbon Tax Fund. Our staff do not fly domestically for Lush work and for international flights we charge ourselves a Carbon Tax; for every tonne of CO2 emitted when we fly, we pay £50 in to the fund. The fund is used to support internal and external environmental projects, especially those relating to climate change and sustainable transport, and also discourages staff from taking international flights.
Product donations
We donate stock to charities to help with fundraising (eg raffles) and for direct use by patients and clients (eg homeless shelters, women’s refuge and hospices).
Get in touch
If you know of an organisation that you feel would benefit from Lush’s help please contact Sophie Pritchard on charitypot@lush.co.uk or call 01202 667 830.
In 1987 Veggies fought off libel action by McDonalds, who then went after the McLibel Two. The ensuing 313 day epic trial and ultimate total victory in the European Court of Human Rights was documented in the film ‘McLibel’, directed by Franny Armstrong.
It’s called Just Do It and it’s going to be a feature film about climate change activists, it’s going to be funny and inspiring. Who knows you might even spot Veggies at the now infamous G20 demonstrations in London or at the Great Climate Swoop at Nottm’s Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station.
Vegan Camp is a well-deserved break for vegans, or anyone willing to be vegan during their stay, including many active campaigners, for 2 weeks, or for a day or two.
As far as I’m aware none of the big campaign groups like Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, etc. are running any campaigns on food waste – Tristram Stuart and This Is Rubbish are probably the only to do stunts around the issue, and I think it’s too important for noone to stand up for!
August 27th to 30th.
Getting there.
Vegan Fish and Chips
“Non-Violence begins on your dinner plate”
