Upcoming Vegan-Related Events
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- May 16th: World Fest in Encino, California.
Description: “The WorldFest 2009 Earth Day Festival will be held at the beautiful outdoor setting of Woodley Park in Encino, CA. We welcome our attendees to a magnificent day filled with entertainment, education and enlightenment. The combination of great music, empowering speakers, environmental, humanitarian and animal welfare non-profits, kid’s activities and a delicious food court make for an earth-friendly experience that is sure to be inspiring and enjoyable for all.”
Details here: http://www.worldfestevents.com/ - May 17th: Veggie Pride Parade in NYC
Description: “Marchers will come from all persuasions of the vegetarian movement: There will be animal-rights activists, environmentalists, spiritualists, raw enthusiasts, and people just concerned with their health. But on May 17, 2009, all will came together with one voice, one expression, of veggie pride. At about 2 p.m. on stage, at the post-parade rally, the winners of a costume and poster-slogan contest will be named.”
Details here: http://veggieprideparade.org/ - June 13th: National Pigeon Day
Description: “Speakers, political activism,entertainment, materials distribution and pigeon shaped cookies; 100 copies of the book “Pigeon Woman and the Snagged Bag“, by the author Sam Hack, will be given to the first 100 people who attend. Enjoy the awesome grace and beauty of the Flock of Doves, Mark Alexander’s giant dove puppets from the Mortal Beasts & Deities performance troupe as they soar through the National Pigeon Day festivities on Pilgrim Hill. ”
Details here: http://nationalpigeonday.blogspot.com/ - June 20-28: Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale
Description: “Hold a vegan bake sale. Raise money for your cause. Promote delicious, cruelty-free food. Be part of a fun global event that helps people, animals, and the planet.”
Details here: http://www.veganbakesale.org/
Why should vegans support “Veggie Pride Parades”? As Nathan points out at his Vegan Abolitionist blog, the whole concept is unfortunate on many levels. I don’t think of myself as part of the same movement as vegetarians, or people who are just concerned with their health or the environment–and I’m sure most of the people there fall into one of those categories. Let me make this clear: I am extremely concerned with health and environmental aspects of veganism, but the real focus of and reason behind our movement is animal rights. Having a parade like this doesn’t get anyone to consider the moral paradigm shift required for the rejection of all animal exploitation. In fact, it comes off as pretty obnoxious, and doesn’t even have a message behind it.
Nick, if you don’t want to support Veggie Pride Parades, don’t. But here’s why I do:
a) I like the Manifesto: http://www.veggiepride.org/en/manifesto.html
b) Parading vegetarians and vegans debunk myths. No, we’re not all skinny and pale. No, we’re not all angry and hostile. No, we’re not all [fill in the blank].
c) Parades help develop community. When I was a child, one of the things I struggled with most being a vegetarian was the fact that I didn’t know other vegetarians. Parades help our community develop and grow.
d) Look at the photos and videos. It’s NOT a bunch of health-oriented vegetarians only. It’s vegans, ethical vegetarians, veg-supporters, etc. too. Examples:
http://mydisguises.com/2008/05/21/veggie-costumes/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXg9Gl0xRYg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/brownbetty/2512783902/
Perhaps the point that Nick and Nathan are missing is that you can gain more allies by being inclusive than you can by being an elitist. When vegans include vegetarians and vice versa, then vegetarians become exposed to vegan philosophy and many may make positive changes in their lives. Allies are much more likely tio listen to and agree with your point of view than are enemies. If we turn vegetarians into enemies and attack their veggie pride efforts we miss an important opportunity for vegan education – and that hurts the vegan movement.
UPDATE:
AR conference coming up: http://arconference.org/
And another AR conference: http://www.tlov.org/tlov2009/