Category: Peace (Page 1 of 2)

Vegan for a Peaceful World

“Whilst there are slaughterhouses, there will be battlefields” – Tolstoy

Vegan for a Peaceful World

Veganism is a lifestyle promoting peaceful living because it is interconnected with so many important ethical issues. These span animal rights, human rights and environmentalism. In the words of a wonderful farmed animal sanctuary: ‘If we could lead happy and healthy lives without harming others, then why wouldn’t we?

Concern for Animals

More than 70 billion farmed animals are reared annually worldwide. More than 6 million animals are killed for food every hour, in ways that would horrify any compassionate person. Other animals are sentient beings like us, with their own needs, desires and interests. We now know that like us, they can experience a wide range of sensations and emotions such as happiness, pain, pleasure, fear, hunger, sadness, boredom, frustration or contentment. They are aware of the world and what happens to them matters to them. Their lives have intrinsic value – they are not inferior beings nor just here as resources or tools for human use.

Vegetarians and vegans will save anywhere from 100 – 400 animal lives each year.

Concern for People

“The fact is that there is enough food in the world for everyone. But tragically, much of the world’s food and land resources are tied up in producing beef and other livestock – food for the well off – while millions of children and adults suffer from
malnutrition and starvation”.  (Dr W Bello, Director of the Institute for Food and Development Policy)

We are currently growing enough food to feed 10 billion people but worldwide more than 40% of grain is fed to livestock. 82% of starving children live in countries where food is fed to animals, and the animals are eaten by western countries. On a  plant-based diet no one has to go hungry.

Concern For The Planet

Each day, a person who eats a vegan diet saves 1,100 gallons of water, 45 pounds of grain, 30 sq ft of forested land and 20 lbs CO2 equivalent. To produce one pound of animal protein vs. one pound of soy protein, it takes about 12 times as much land, 13 times as much fossil fuel and 15 times as much water.

For more info on all of these issues see: vegansociety.com / viva.org.uk / vegankit.com

vegan for a peaceful world flier

PDF of Flier: Vegan for a Peaceful World

PDF of Vegan for a Peaceful World Flier

 


 

From our archives:

February 15, 2003, anti-war protests – Wikipedia

On February 15, 2003, there was a coordinated day of protests across the world in which ….. Demonstration[edit]. The British Stop the War Coalition (StWC) claimed the protest in London was the largest political demonstration in the city’s history.

Nottingham Info : Elsewhere : Nowhere

www.iraqbodycount.org www.iraqbodycount.org
www.iraqbodycount.org

We’ve been civil; It’s time to get disobedient!

See See http://uk.indymedia.org for independent info on actions in the uk.


  • Join protests and direct actions to stop war.
  • The conflict in Iraq has been presented in the media as a purely human catastrophe. Other animals have been largely ignored. There is no reason to remain silent in the face of the interlinked abuses of all animals – including humans. Until we get rid of cruelty – all cruelty – we will never end animal abuse. We need to stop being abusers, full stop – not just pick and choose our victims. If the world was vegan and we still waged wars we would not have won our cause. The risk we run is that our circle of cruelty rather than compassion will continue to spread and destroy the world that all creatures inhabit.
  • Disclaimer: Please don’t do anything to stop the indiscriminate killing of men, women, children and animals unless it is specifically authorised by unanimous agreement of the international community.

No War For Oil

Action Against the Oil Trade

  • 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.
  • To get a picture of the scale of the oil trade in Nottingham, you should visit the Colwick Oil Depot photo /map here.

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.

Info from Movement for Compassionate Living – see www.MCLveganway.org.uk


Food Not Bombs

Rice For Peace Food Not Bombs Help Blair get the message: “Send rice to the people of Iraq; do not attack them”.

Send contributions of rice to Tony Blair, 10 Downing St, London SW1A 1AA.

Tell Blair & Bush that their terrorism will only make more enemies.<clear=”left”><clear=”right”

 

Why ‘Food Not Bombs’
 


Anti-War Action supported by Veggies & Sumac Centre

On 15th February 2013, Veggies Crew rose to the challenge of feeding 1000 of those travelling to London from Nottingham. Food was co-ordinated for 20 (out of 24) coaches departing from 4 different locations, including 3 from Hyson Green / Forest Fields, which left from the Sumac Centre.

This was probably our biggest ant-war catering operation since the heady days of the 1980’s when we catered on Nottingham CND’s TRAIN to London. During that same period, we also catered in 6 inches of February snow at Molesworth and at the ‘Reclaim Chilwell’ direct action (events which were co-ordinated out of offices at the Rainbow Centre, the former home of Veggies).

Demo report from Squall website (and much other stop the war news)..


Nottm 8th March - by Tash

An amazing feat of indy photo journalism has been put together by Nottingham based photogapher, Tash. To check out his galleries and slide shows from London, Feb 15th and Nottingham, March 8th [click here].


Saturday 8th March : Despite the wet & windy weather Veggies turn out as Nottingham Marches Against War in probably the biggest protest seen in Nottingham since the days of the Miners Strike.

Read the report from Nottingham Evening Post website

Saturday 15th March : Chetwynd Barracks

Chetwynd Barracks, at Chilwell, near Nottingham, is the national mobilisation centre for the TA & reservists. It is where they are being trained, equipped and receiving medical treatment and innoculations prior to being sent to the Gulf.

It has been the focus of several local actions, including the regional/national action on the 15th March at the Toton Main Gate, Swiney Way, Toton, (with catering by Veggies)

This multimap view includes a photo of the base and a route planner, centred on the Toton Gate. You can zoom out to see more of the surrounding roads. There is another main gate on Chetwynd Road on the Chilwell side of the base.

For future reference: Chetwynd buses: 33/33a/c run from Victoria Centre, via Angel Row & thru Beeston Station, which is adjacent to Beeston Square; 5b from Broadmarsh, via Friar Lane off Market Square, thru to Chilwell Depot Corner. Both services run roughly on the hour & every half hour during the day including saturday.

 

Saturday 22nd March : Foil The Base

Peaceful, Creative Direct Action Against Menwith Hill, the largest US spybase in the world; operating as US sovereign terrortory (sic) and playing a crucial role in the war on Iraq and a key element in the expansion of the ‘Star Wars’ project.

Indirect Report received by email:

Monsters picture by Chris Croome “I met some of the Nottingham contingent to Menwith Hill after I got back from London, and heard of a good turn out numbering more than 1000. There was some fence damage and digging under. Police response was fairly hands-off but there was still 6 arrests, according to those present, including one from Nottingham.” (nb after staying over in Manchester, he arrived back the next day).

For more info see www.now-peace.org.uk and Yorkshire CND . Photo of the base and a route planner.


Friday 4 July 2003 : The Gatecrasher’s Ball at Menwith Hill

INDEPENDENCE FROM AMERICA DAYFrom report from Yorkshire CND

About 400 people came from all over the country – north, south, east and west to the Gatecrasher’s Ball at the American base at Menwith Hill calling for Independence FROM America. It was a very good day. The weather was kind – blue skies and sunshine. People rose to the occasion and came dressed in wonderful costumes including beautiful, imaginative ball gowns and masks (some men included!) and top hats and tails.

There was a wonderful line up of artists – musicians and poets which was hosted by Mark Thomas who also spoke in his unique way – a combination of humour and political satire. Food was provided by Veggies.


Veggies Catering Campaign gives regular support for peaceful, creative direct action against Menwith Hill, nr Harrogate, the largest US spybase in the world; which played a crucial role in the war on Iraq. After the ‘Foil the Base’ event in March, ‘Independence from America’ on July 4th and ‘Don’t Take the Peace Out of Space’ in October, we look forward to travelling to the beautiful Yorkshire Moors again in 2004.
To join us, contact Veggies at the Sumac Centre.

Grass Roots Anti-War Gathering

A national weekend gathering is to be hosted by the Sumac Centre in March 2004, with Justice Not Vengeance and ARROW (Active Resistance to the Roots of War), for activists to discuss, debate, and share skills, experiences and ideas.

Samosa for Social Change

 

Through this new and simple initiative, Veggies Catering Campaign raises regular funding for local campaigns for global justice, including donations to Nottingham Friends of the Iraqi People.
For more info on these and other events see our diary at www.veggies.org/diary.htm


Other local links in the War Machine

RAF Cottesmore is a key component of Joint Force Harrier, and is currently home to three squadrons of Harrier GR7 aircraft. A significant element of the Harrier force is now in the Gulf.

For more information see www.raf-cott.demon.co.uk and Reclaim the Bases

RAF Cottesmore is less than 40 miles from Nottingham, in nearby Rutland.
For those interested in visiting here is a map and aerial photo of the village and base.


Make Tea Not War

For more info on these and other events see our diary at www.veggies.org.uk/diary.htm
Nottingham Stop The War Coalition

Many more anti war links at www.guardian.co.uk antiwar subsection

3218 peace groups in 162 countries linked from www.notwar.net


War Kills Animals Too

  • Animals are the forgotten victims of war. They are never reported or even mentioned in the casualty figures, despite the fact that the numbers killed must far outweigh the human dead. War is not only an assault on people, it is an assault on the whole of nature, on the fragile ecosystems that all living beings require for their survival.
  • Moreover, even before wars are fought, animals are the victims of weapons’ research. In places like the top-secret Ministry of Defence laboratory in Wiltshire, Porton Down, animals are routinely used in experiments to develop more lethal and efficient weapons of mass destruction.
  • And in the event of a US-led attack on Iraq the US army plans to ride chickens into battle in cages atop Humvees, used as early warning gas detectors – but the plan has been put on hold after 41 of the 43 chickens deployed to the Gulf died within a week of arrival. Still, headed into the fray will be some of the 1,400 dogs who work in the US military – carrying out tasks ranging from mine detection to the rescue and recovery of dead and wounded personnel.
  • The U.S. army unveils its most unlikely mine detector – the Atlantic Bottle-Nosed Dolphin. At the southern Iraqi port of Umm Qasr, secured by U.S and British forces after days of fighting, soldiers made preparations for the arrival of a team of specially trained dolphins, to help divers ensure the coastline is free of danger, before humanitarian aid shipments can dock. U.S. Navy Captain Mike Tillotson told reporters that three or four dolphins would work from Umm Qasr, using their natural sonar abilities to seek out mines or other explosive devices which Iraqi forces may have planted on the seabed … (Reuters) – More on this topic.
  • Animal victims of war are invisible. Our culture conspires to make them so. Animals understand none of it, play no part in any of it, but when they are crushed and mutilated – wilfully or otherwise – there are those who dare tell us to remain silent.
  • We say: dare to speak out for the helpless animal victims and do so loudly and with confidence. Let those who have made an argument for this war, who have helped engineer it, see what war means for species other than our own.

More Comment from Animal AidSee also info on ‘Animals in War’ Memorial at http://www.indielondon.co.uk


CarToon by Andy Singer

Bio-fuel

Although not a permanant solution for our fuel needs, bio-diesel is a much more sustainable system that can decrease reliance on fossil fuels. Veggies & Sumac Centre are founder members of Nottingham’s bio-diesel purchasing collective.

Even the most optimistic commentator forecasts that oil supplies will be exhausted within 60 years. Some say, with a growth of 2% per annum, as soon as 40. So what are our children to use for transport? How is the so-called “sustainable society” to be achieved?

Biodiesel is a sustainable transport fuel made from organic oils and fats, to be used alongside a policy of reduced vehicle usage. Because plants absorb carbon dioxide whilst growing, CO2 emissions are also substantially reduced.

Lets work towards a carbon neutral economy – send for our leaflet or see www.veggies.org.uk/biodies.htm

 



“Non-Violence begins on your dinner plate” – Veggies

Veggies Home         email us         Sumac Centre

Minimum maintenance layout – we’re too busy in the real world to get lost in cyberspace.
Please excuse any delay in updating the diary whilst we are busy with the events listed.

 

Joan Court R.I.P

Joan Court & DarrenWe are sad to bring you the news of Joan Court‘s death this month. She died very peacefully, her cats around her. She was ninety seven.
 
Joan’s Funeral will be on Wednesday 14th December at 12.45 pm in Cambridge City Crematorium, Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0JJ

 It will be followed by a party to celebrate Joan’s life at Mill Road Baptist Church, 178 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 3LP Veggies will be providing food and drink but it is strictly non-alcoholic!
 
All Joan’s friends are warmly invited. If you are able to come, please email JoanCourt74@gmail.com.
 
Joan requested donations instead of flowers, to be shared equally between Animal Aid and Hunt Sabs.There will be collection boxes at the party.

 It would be lovely if you could bring something purple (e.g. a ribbon or a flower) to put on her coffin at the crematorium.
 
We will have Memory Boards at the party, and we hope that you will post a memory or a thought about Joan. After the party we will put these together into a book to celebrate her life.
 
I do hope you can come, and help us make this a true celebration of an amazing life.
 
Joan was a tireless campaigner who has supported Veggies Catering on many occasions. Her book ‘In the Shadow of Mahatma Gandhi’ has been available from Veggies bookstall.
 


Today we say goodbye to a great warrior for the oppressed, Joan Court who was a nurse, midwife and social worker, who walked with Mahatma Ghandi, who fought for the rights of women in India and Pakistan, who fought for children’s rights and for the rights of non humans. In 2013 she came to the Gloucestershire badger cull zone and, we think, in her mid 90s was the oldest sab in the field for the 2 nights she was out. Total respect and love to this wonderful lady, sleep well Joan, you have earned it xxxxx

Image may contain: 1 person, smiling, cat

A tribute to Joan Court, written by Andrew Tyler of Animal Aid, has appeared on the “other lives” section of the Guardian website & in print edition on 24 December.

https://www.theguardian.com/law/2016/dec/22/joancourtobituary

My friend Joan Court, the animal and human rights activist, who has died aged 97, was driven by a powerful impulse to expose and remedy injustice and cruelty. She was also, as she put it, a “born sensualist”, her tastes running to strong colours, perfumes and “exciting action”. This, and her desire to do good, underpinned her many adventures.

Her start in life was hard: her father, Cecil Court, a solicitor, took his own life, and her mother, Muriel (nee Gibson), was an alcoholic. She had an older brother, Peter.

Joan’s schooling ended when she was 12, after her father’s death. She and her mother moved from their London home to work in domestic service in Cornwall and then Cape Town, South Africa. Returning to London in 1936, she went on to qualify as a nurse and midwife at St Thomas’ hospital, and as a social worker in Bristol. She practised as a midwife and, funded initially by the Friends Service Council (FSC) and later as a World Health Organisation employee, worked in impoverished regions of India and Turkey, and the Appalachian mountains of North America.

In the 1960s, she was appointed director of the NSPCC battered child research unit, and was influential in gaining acceptance of a then unfamiliar concept in the UK.

In 1946, when she was working for the FSC, organising midwifery services in the slums of Calcutta (Kolkata), she met and got to know Mahatma Gandhi. Joan, a lifelong vegetarian, developed a profound respect for his commitment, compassion and determination to achieve change through non-violent means. She tried to emulate these goals, campaigning first for children and, for the last 38 years, for animals.

In 1978, after seeing a poster describing the horrors of animal research, she took part in an Animal Aid anti-vivisection march in Cambridge. The next day she founded a new Cambridge group, which was soon involved in all animal-related issues, including live exports, hunting, shooting, whaling and the meat and dairy industries.

Her advanced age made her attention-grabbing stunts also irresistible to the media. Her animal campaigning began just before she was 60 – when she gained a social anthropology degree from Cambridge. There were banner-hangs, public hunger strikes and sit-downs in inconvenient
places. She locked herself in a cage and chained herself to railings. In speeches and interviews she refused to apologise for radical direct action, although she was opposed to violence.

Her most lasting triumph was, with Pat Griffin and Sue Hughes, as one of three Cambridge “granarchists” who initiated what became a national campaign of opposition to Cambridge University’s plans for a massive new research facility that would have specialised in invasive neurologicalexperiments on monkeys. The university abandoned the project in January  2004.

At the age of 85, she joined the Sea Shepherd flagship, Farley Mowat, on a hunt for illegal fishing vessels in the South Atlantic.

Joan could be self-absorbed, cantankerous, bossy and infuriating, but her friends were friends for life.

 

Nottingham Green Festival

We are delighted to announce that the Nottingham Green Festival will return on Sunday 11th September, following its hugely successful relaunch in 2015.

The event is organised by grass roots, community based volunteers, with no statutory funding, so your help would be most welcome. Whilst we are only a small part of the organising team, Veggies is pleased to provide support by facilitating planning meetings, hosting the NottmGreenFest.org.uk website and, of course, providing Food by Veggies on the day!

Due to the withdrawal of funding the event did not happen in 2014, but Veggies covered essential up-front expenses and the Nottingham community rose to the challenge of making it happen in 2015, regardless of the tight budget. However these funds will need to be recouped and recycled long before 11th September to fund this year’s event, so your support is invited:

Show support for the event by making a small donation. Click the button to donate with PayPal or credit/debit cards; send a cheque to “Nottingham Green Festival”, c/o Sumac Centre, 245 Gladstone Street, Nottingham NG7 6HX; or transfer directly to: Nottingham Green Festival, Unity Trust Bank, sort code 08-60-01, a/c no 53110426 …more…

Nottingham Green Festival Ethos

Inspired by the decision by Shambala Festival to be the first mid-scale commercial festival to declare a meat free policy – a position established by Nottingham Green Festival over 30 year ago – we welcome a debate about whether to stay ahead of the game by taking the next logical step, aiming for vegan catering, whilst sharing info inviting other stall holders to leave animal products at home on this occasion.

“Shambala HQ is a mixed bag, with vegans, veggies and meat eaters co-existing harmoniously together, but the whole team agrees that it is important to be bold with our environmental stance, and encourage this debate.”

“The research available clearly demonstrates that overall, a meat-free diet has about half the carbon impact of a meat diet, and a dairy-free vegan diet has a third of the impact.”

Please, see the full meat-and-fish-free-for-2016 discussion.

As Shambala say: “We’re certainly not trying to tell everyone they should become vegan overnight. We are simply not serving meat for [4 days at] the festival to reduce the festival’s impacts, to take a stance, and to encourage an important debate.”

Please let us know what you think: info@NottmGreenFest.org.uk


Nottingham Green Festival Gallery

Veggies is also hosting a mailing list for announcements, news and information about Nottingham Green Festival. (Note: You may get a ‘security certificate‘ warning! Fear not; this is because the list is provided by The Riseup Collective, an activist internet group that doesn’t tick all the corporate boxes). You can safely click through. Honest. Please do subscribe.

Nottingham Green Festival LogoYour support will make all the difference in ensuring the success of Nottingham’s own Green Festival, the place for the whole family to learn, explore and try the latest in everything environmentally friendly and ethical, whilst also having lots of fun in the beautiful setting of the Arboretum Park, Waverley Street / Addison Street, a couple of minutes from Nottingham’s Old Market Square.

With your help, the event will have over 100 product, information and food stalls, kids rides, workshops, natural therapies and sustainable technologies, performers and entertainment throughout the park and live music from the bandstand.

Visit the Nottingham Green Festival website for more event details.


Food for a Future

Food for a Future imageFor over 20 years at Glastonbury Festival, Veggies has invited different groups to campaign alongside us, including Camp for Climate Action, Bicycology, Animal Aid, Indymedia, Calais Migrant Solidarity and many more.

This year we were going to invite ‘Food for a Future‘ to work with us, but their proposal was so amazing we think it would be lost in Veggies cafe space.

We suggested that they go it alone and pitch their ideas directly to the Green Fields team. They said “YES”, so we are excited to look forward to seeing a unique new campaign space at Glastonbury Green Futures, which we think would add something exciting and new to the great diversity of things that already take place at the event.

As well as running this space at Glastonbury Festival, we are keen to invite the Food for a Future team to work alongside us at our many other other green-orientated events on our tour, including the Green Gathering, the Northern Green Gathering and Nottingham Green Festival

They say:

“Essentially we would like to empower people to make green lifestyle choices through what they eat, something simple anyone can do at home that would have a positive impact on the environment. Current estimates for the global greenhouse gas emissions for animal agriculture are at least 20%, which is more than all the world’s transport combined.

Therefore a green cookery, talks and workshop space would be very appropriate for an ethically-minded event such as Nottingham Green Festival. We would like to show people in a creative and interactive way how ethical food choices can create a greener, more sustainable planet.

All workshops and resources will be available just by donation, with any proceeds likely going to Vegfam, a registered humanitarian charity that helps people overseas by providing funds for self-supporting, sustainable food projects which do not exploit animals or the environment.

“We have a large recycled canvas tent, which would be an ideal space for hosting talks, workshops and environmental documentaries. We would like to put together a programme of activities including ‘Ethical Eating Cookery Workshops’, which would teach people how to cook creatively with plant-based foods and reduce food wastage, raw food demos, and ‘Greener World Talks’, which would include talks by eminent nutritionists, green athletes and green campaigners about how a plant-based diet is the most healthy and sustainable for the planet and the issues surrounding this.

“The ultimate aim of our space is to give festival goers a fun, creative experience, combined with information and skills to lead a greener, healthier and more compassionate life. The leading of such a life will benefit the individual, the planet’s rainforests, oceans and air, and its animals.”

We look forward to hearing your feedback.

The ‘Food for a Futures’ campaign team.

Weirdigans Tent

Follow Foodforafuture on Twitter and on Facebook


Vegan Athletes for Peace

On 21 January 2015 we received this from Neil Robinson:

My name is Neil Robinson and I’m a vegan former professional footballer. Myself and another vegan former professional footballer, Dean Howell, are undertaking a charity cycle challenge, starting on May 22 2015, cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats and to be completed in 9 days.

See our website for further information: http://veganathletesforpeace.com

vegan-athletes-for-peace logoWe’re doing the cycle challenge to raise awareness of the benefits of a vegan lifestyle for the health of humans, animals, and the planet. Also, to raise funds for a variety of charities who are doing great work to bring about the healing of the planet and all who live on it.

You’ll see from our website that we’ve chosen your charity as one of our 13 supported charities, and our grand plan is to raise £2,000 for each charity. If you agree to being one of our supported charities, we would be very grateful if you could help to promote our website and our cycle ride through your website and social media pages.

I’ve attached a short ‘media pack’ for your info too.

Many thanks!

Regards

Neil Robinson

Neil Robinson

Website: http://neilrobinsonvegan.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NRobinsonVegan
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/neilrobinsonvegan

Vegan Athletes for Peace

http://veganathletesforpeace.com

The Peaceful Planet

Website: http://thepeacefulplanet.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepeacefulplanet
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thepeaceplanet

Veggies reply to Vegan Athletes for Peace

Thank you so very very much for including Veggies amongst the great charities that you are supporting on your vegan charity cycle challenge from Land’s End to John O’Groats in May.

We have worked with almost all of those charities & campaigns over our 30 years of “networking for humans, animals & the environment”, so i find it hard to convey how honoured we are to be included alongside them.

We will of course do all we can to spread the word, including a listing on Veggies diary, on the UK Vegan Outreach Diary and on the Animal Rights Calendar (these are integrated listings).

I have also started a conversation on @VeggiesNottm Twitter feed, which I hope will be picked up by our 1600 followers. Once we get it out to the 122,000 AnimalRightsUK facebook followers, combined with the efforts of all the other charities, the effect should be a huge vegan outreach opportunity!

Please pass on our enthusiastic gratitude to Dean too.

best wishes

Pat and the Veggies Crew

Vegan Athletes for Peace Charities
Vegan Athletes for Peace Charities


Latest News Tweets

Veggies Twitter Account includes news of Veggies Events and other activities, and substantial items from like-minded friends.

As we are busy people, and expect that you are too, we do not tweet too often. We do not intend to document the trivia of our daily lives! Likewise we tend not to follow others on twitter who tweet too often.

Follow our news at http://twitter.com/veggiesnottm or on Facebook.

Search Veggies Tweets:

Recent news tweets from http://twitter.com/veggiesnottm
Use scroll bar to read more


The Vegan Side of Twitter

Twitter co-founder, Biz Stone, went vegan in 2001 after visiting Farm Sanctuary.

Biz Stone is also lobbying for vegetarian meals in school lunches. He sent a letter to Rep. George Miller, chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, writing: “Hundreds of thousands of students across the country don’t eat meat, according to a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study. However, these young vegetarians often can’t find healthy, meatless meals in the school cafeteria.”

Biz Stone obviously believes in the power of lunch, because Twitter’s San Francisco headquarters provides free vegan lunches to its employees.

…more…

See also Interview at Farm Sanctuary on YouTube.


Veggies Summer Tour

Between now and the end of August, Veggies has eight weekend camping events, as well as several single day events.

Veggies Action CateringWe recommend you to check out all these events with view to attending / supporting them.

Even better, if you are attending any of these events you might like to help with Veggies Campaign Catering.

Please contact us if you might help in any way.

Warmest wishes and motivational ‘Go Team Veggies!’

Friday 18th to Sunday 20th July
Peace in the Park – Oxfordshire

A Buddhist event at the Global Retreat Centre with a mix of music, talks and meditation pavilions. Events and activities will include ‘Mindset Talks’, new ‘One Question’ events, woodland activities for children and adults, story-telling from ancient lands, an open air chill-out meditation lounge, sacred music in the grounds, and the hugely popular ‘Meditation & Music for the World’ event.

See: http://peaceinthepark.globalretreatcentre.org/


Friday 18th to Sunday 20th July
and Friday 25th to Sunday 27th July
Goddess Camp – Bestwood Park, Nottm

Women, men and children are welcome for a weekend of celebration, ritual and workshops at the Goddess Camp at Bestwood Country Park.

See: http://peakspirit.wix.com/goddesscamp


Thursday 24th to Sunday 27th July
Northern Green Gathering
Derbyshire Dales, Nr Ashbourne, Derbyshire

A small volunteer-run environmental/educational gathering, a 4 day event on a beautiful new site, focussed around sustainable living and green campaigns. There will be environmental workshops & campaigns, permaculture, organic veggie cafes, stalls, healers & alternative therapies, kids space, theatre & circus workshops, and a showcase of environment living in action, including solar power and wind power.

See: http://www.nggonline.org.uk/


Thursday 31st July to Sunday 3rd August
Green Gathering – Chepstow, Wales

At the Green Gathering you can rediscover ancient skills and explore
pathways to future sustainability; talk with key speakers from the Green movement and engage in lively debate at the Green Forum venue and inform yourselves about current issues and causes with groups in the Campaigns area, which will include a Co-ops Camp, co-ordinated by Radical Routes.

See: http://www.greengathering.org.uk/


Thursday 31st July to Monday 4th August
Peace News Summer Camp 2014 – E.Suffolk

Event to help build a radical movement for the future by building a living community today, with local activists – top trainers – revolution – non-violence – learning from other movements – community – glorious countryside.

See: http://peacenewscamp.info/


Thursday 7th to Monday 11th August
Animal Rights Gathering – Notts/Derbys

The Animal Rights Summer Gathering exists to promote cooperation and to spread information between the various groups and individuals working throughout the UK to stop animal abuse.

See: http://www.argathering.org.uk/


Thursday 14th to Wednesday 20th August
Reclaim The Power – location TBA

August will see thousands ‘Reclaim the Power’ and stand in solidarity with communities opposing fracking. Camp will be a hub for skillshares, workshops, entertainment and direct action. There will be a probable Veggies Cafe space & action catering.

See: http://www.nodashforgas.org.uk/


Thursday 28th to Monday 1st September
Earth First Summer Gathering

The Earth First! Summer Gathering is the place where people involved in radical ecological direct action – or those who want to be involved – get together for five days of time and space to talk, walk, share skills, learn, play, rant, find out what’s going on, find out what’s next, live outside, strategise, hang out, incite, laugh and conspire. The workshops, networking and planning of actions at this low impact eco-living camp is organised non-hierarchically.

See: http://efgathering.weebly.com/


During this period we also have these one day events:

Community Circle

Tuesday 22nd July &
Tuesday 19th August
Details from http://www.veggies.org.uk/event.php?ref=555

Cycle Mania

Friday 8th August
Details from http://www.veggies.org.uk/event.php?ref=994

Brinsley Animal Rescue Open Day

Sunday 10th August
Details from http://www.veggies.org.uk/event.php?ref=423

London Vegan Festival

Sunday 17th August
Details from http://www.veggies.org.uk/event.php?ref=269


Much more on Veggies Events Diary

More on Veggies Catering for Gatherings

Veggies vs the Arms Trade

Published: September 17, 2013 21:54 at Nottingham Indymedia by Tally

Last week saw peaceful days of action co-ordinated by the ‘Stop the Arms Fair Coalition’ in response to the bi-annual arms fair DSEi (Defence & Security Equipment International) at the London ExCel Centre. DSEi is the world’s largest arms fair and it exists so that arms buyers and sellers can come together, network and make deals.

From ‘Campaign Against the Arms Trade’ (CAAT): ‘DSEi 2013 featured 1,500 exhibitors from around the world displaying arms ranging from rifles to tanks to fighter jets to battleships. They were joined by “trade visitors” and military delegations, including countries involved in conflict and from human rights abusing regimes, as well as those with desperately underfunded development needs.’

On the Sunday 8th September the week of action was kicked off with a demo organised by Occupy London: Occupy vs the Arms Trade. Volunteers from Nottingham-based Veggies, the vegan catering campaign, went down to London on this Sunday to provide food by donation for the peaceful protesters. Veggies has been supporting campaigns for humans, other animals and the environment since 1984.

Dsei_1-medium

Dsei_1-medium

On Sunday 8th September, Veggies of Nottingham packed up their vegan cakes and samosas and headed down to London to give their support to the hundreds of peaceful protesters campaigning against the immoral and unethical DSEi arms fair. 

At least two Nottingham companies had stalls at DSEi. Heckler & Koch and Ergo Computing exhibited their wares to military delegations from around the world. H&K, which is based in the Lenton Lane industrial estate, sells assault rifles and submachine guns to repressive regimes such as those in Bahrain and Egypt.

Campaigners were very happy to see the Veggies team (and their delicious vegan food!) along on the day. The team provided a boost of morale to those that had been out protesting since the early hours of the day and hadn’t had anything to eat. In fact people were so happy to see Veggies that the stall was swamped with those eager to get hold of food by donation and all boxes of food and trays of cake quickly sold out. 

People were also very interested in the campaign literature the team had brought along, as human rights and animals rights campaigning is all part of the same struggle against needless suffering and injustice. Animal Aid’s purple poppies, sold to commemorate the many animal victims of war, were available on the day and people donated generously for these.

If you would like to join the friendly Veggies team to campaign against social injustice, animal abuse and enviromental destruction then you can contact them at: info@veggies.org.uk

Information on the website: www.veggies.org.uk

More details about the Arms Trade and what happened during the week of action can be found on the following websites:

www.stopthearmsfair.org.uk

www.caat.org.uk/issues/arms-fairs/dsei/

Animal Aid’s purple poppy appeal:
http://www.animalaid.org.uk/h/n/CAMPAIGNS/living//2256//

Email Contact email: info@veggies.org.uk


Sumac Centre – a future vision

In 1985 Veggies helped establish Nottingham’s Rainbow Centre, later taking on the co-ordination of the running of the space. In 2001 the support generated over the previous decades enabled the purchase of the Sumac Centre, a collectively owned space supporting a wide range of interconnected initiatives, including being the home of Veggies Catering Campaign.

Sumac ImageOn Satuday 8th December 2012 there is to be a discussion on the future of the Sumac Centre noting, amongst other things, its role as “a meeting place for politically motivated activists, a resource centre and library. Meeting place for vegans and animal rights activists/campaigners and a tool for their propaganda.”

This role hasn’t just happened in isolation.
It is due to Veggies and others being centrally involved in the running of Sumac from 15 years before it even existed. We may feel this role to be carved in stone, and this may well be the case.

However Sumac is simply the sum of its parts so we, as ‘vegans and animal rights activists/campaigners’ must continue to play our part.

If you are free on Saturday 8/12/12 (11am-6pm) please consider supporting the vegan status of the Sumac Centre and its role as a national resource for the animal rights movement.


This Saturday is a Sumac visioning day, a chance for all of you who come to the Sumac Center to bring your excitement, enthusiasm and inspiration in order to help shape the future of the Sumac Centre.

1) Intro

2) Use

– How is the Sumac used?

Meeting place, tat storage, music venue, peoples kitchen, food bank, a base for lots of varied campaigns/alternative cultures, bike project, fundraiser events, information and awareness raising events, film screenings, autonomous DIY infrastructure, ABC letter writing, gardening club.

– Is this the kind of useage we want to continue?

3) Purpose

– What is the current purpose of the Sumac?

A meeting place for politically motivated activists, a resource centre and library. Meeting place for vegans and animal rights activists/campaigners and a tool for their propaganda.

This will include a conversation about whether the sumac is there to engage with the local geographical community or the activist community. It’s a stable part of infrastructure for ‘our movement’.

– Is this the purpose we want to go forward with?

There will be lunch in the middle and we’ll all have a big ole delicous peoples kitchen at the end.

Hope to see you all there.

Sumac Visioning Poster
The Sumac Centre
http://www.sumac.org.uk
0845 458 9595
245 Gladstone Street, Forest Fields, Nottingham, NG7 6HX


The Sumac Centre is an independent community and activist resource centre. It is made up of a community cafe, social club, library, exhibition space, veggie catering campaign, filmnights, talks, meeting spaces and the residents. The centre is used by various campaign groups and collectives working towards social change and justice for all. Come and visit us!

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Full details of Sumac Events (and more from like-minded groups):
http://www.sumac.org.uk/diary.htm

Veggies News: http://twitter.com/veggiesnottm

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