Category: Climate Action (Page 2 of 2)

One Day – One City – Ten Vegan Free Food Give-Aways!

Wed December 8, 2010 / pat

From 2005 – 2009 the East Midlands’ Vegan Festival welcomed 2000 or more members of the public to the Council House on Nottingham’s Old Market Square on the 2nd Saturday in December.

However the Council House have refused to host further EMVFs so, to maintain public engagement on the urgency of dietary change for the health of people, other animals and the environment worldwide, Nottingham’s vegan campaigners held 9 Vegan Free Food Give-Away and campaign stalls on December 11th, each aiming to reach some 200 members of the public.

The success of the day depended on the support of autonomous self-contained teams of volunteers, each with 3 people including one adult confident to explain the ‘political campaign’ status of their stall to anyone official that might ask.

On the Friday cakes, pizza and other food samples were prepared at the Sumac Centre, and each stall kit was sorted out with tables, literature and utensils.

We then gathered at Sumac from 10am on Saturday to tour around the City, dropping off each stall in turn and collecting each one back as and when time, crew or supplies run out. Base camp was at the Old Angel, Stoney Street off Hockley, opposite the end of Broad (Broadway) Street, with a sampling stall nearby.

The People’s Kitchen meal afterwards at Sumac from 6.30pm was run as a fundraiser for Avalon Guinea Pig Rescue with a disco/party afterwards..

Please contact nottsfreefood[at]gmail.com if you are interested in supporting future giveaways, providing some food samples, or helping out in any other way. Or call 07870 861837.

http://www.veggies.org.uk/campaigns/nvvs/emvf/

Read the full East Midlands Vegan Festival posting for more info and the announcement at Nottm Indymedia.

Full report and pictures at
http://nottingham.indymedia.org.uk/articles/804

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Just Do It

Wed October 20, 2010 / pat

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.

If you want to see why Lush are matching your generosity, watch of Veggies supporter, Andrew Butler, Campaigns Manager at Lush, speaking at the launch of the fund.

http://www.just-do-it.org.uk

http://www.facebook.com/jdi.thefilm

http://www.twitter.com/justdoitfilm

Find more campaigns and charities on our Lush Charity Pot exhibition a-lush-plan-for-glasters and on Veggies Networking Directory.

Veggies Climate Change Campaigns

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East Midlands Vegan Festival stalled

Sat July 10, 2010 / pat

Sadly we have hit a hitch with the potential 7th East Midlands Vegan Festival (EMVF).

East Midlands Vegan Festival Due to its success in bringing in some 2000 people each year, the Council will no longer allow the use of the Council House, due to the ‘wear and tear’ that the event is causing to the building.

We have been searching for other options, but are stuggling to find another venue immediately where the public pass by. We have always targetted the EMVF at the non-vegan general public by holding the event right where they are, rather than at a less prominent venue that would likely attract only those already committed to dietary change.

It may be possible to take it out onto Nottingham’s central Old Market Square (in front of the Council House), but this would take the budget over £2000 rather than the previously affordable £1000 – the event is self-funded, with the support of the Vegan Society and many small independent vegan traders, and organised by volunteers from Nottingham’s vegan community.

Taking the event outside would also necessitate a move from its prime pre-christmas Saturday date, and none of our shortlisted dates have found favour with the Council.

Other options include taking the event on the road, for example to Derby, Leicester or Lincoln, or taking it out of the city centre, for example to the Arboretum, the successful venue for Nottingham’s Green Festival.

So it is unlikely that there will be an EMVF in 2010.

However, never to be deterred, campaigning continues with the vegan outreach offered by the EMVF being replaced by monthly Vegan Free Food Give-Aways at various city centre locations, including on the doorstep of the Council House! Each of these events gives the opportunity to engage directly with a hundred members of the public, reaching a thousand during the year.

The EMVF team also hosted the world’s first Vegan Beer Festival at the Sumac Centre, Nottingham’s vegan social centre.

Call on the City of Nottingham to support a weekly VeggieDay (Meat Free Monday): http://veggieday.org.uk/

Follow Veggies Catering Campaign News at http://twitter.com/veggiesnottm

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