Saturday, May 26, 2007

Over 25 Vegan Organisations Form Super Team to Turn Everyone Into Vegetarians

Major Summer Offensive: Over 25 Vegan Organisations Form Super Team to Turn Everyone Into Vegetarians

As over 25 vegan organisations and the vegan cream of the UK vegetarian manufacturers gang up for a major offensive on the UK's unsustainable eating habits events in Bristol seem to be building up to the battle of the little big horn. This could be a turning point for world veganism.

Summer Battle for UK hearts and minds at the Vegan Festival in Bristol.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Vegan Firemen - Healthy Firefighters

Engine2.org > Home

I've spoken to a number of Vegan Firemen over the years but never come across a whole crew of fire fighters who were vegan.

This lot are amazing. One of them had heart problems and very high cholesterol - he has reveresed all his symptoms on a healthy vegan diet. The rest of the crew were so impressed they went Vegan too.

vegan fireman vegan firefighters

Friday, May 18, 2007

Animal Rights , Activists, Extremists

Animal Rights Activists: 16 May 2007: House of Commons debates (TheyWorkForYou.com)

Who is this guy???

Evan Harris Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon, Liberal Democrat). Given that it is both Government and Opposition policy to support well regulated animal research, does he agree that it is vital to win the battle for the hearts and minds of young people, who should be exposed to arguments that are at least balanced? Given that there is underfunding of some of the non-governmental organisations working in this area in comparison with the anti-vivisection organisations, could he look further into the co-ordination and funding of efforts in schools to put balanced arguments about animal research?

Arrrggghh what planet is this cretin from? The Pharmaceutical companies invest millions in support of Animal Testing! Has anyone ever seen a rich animal rights campaigner? The Vegan Society spent about £2.50 on anti-vivisection last year. To suggest anti vivisectionists are well funded is plain stupid - I guess ignorance is bliss.

2 Jag John Prescott 2 Jag John Prescott - "the extremists have done an excellent job" we have been discussing how we can do more to continue the education in schools about such extremism. We are working to provide materials for teachers to help them to approach these topical issues in the classroom. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills is leading work to provide training for teachers through a national network of science learning centres and the Government are also funding the production of a DVD of the play "Every Breath", which addresses animal rights issues, for distribution to teachers.

We would expect nothing less from you John!

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Survey: Better Animal Welfare say 8 out of 10 Europeans

EUROPA - Rapid - Press Releases

european survey

EU consumers are willing to make an extra effort to buy animal welfare friendly products, even if this means changing where they shop or paying more for goods, according to a Eurobarometer survey on attitudes to animal welfare, published today. The report shows, however, that citizens feel they lack the necessary information to distinguish between products on animal welfare grounds.

In the first EU survey on animal welfare to cover all 27 Member States, as well as Turkey and Croatia, 62% of respondents said that they would change their shopping habits in order to access more animal welfare friendly goods. The survey also revealed that citizens do not feel that they are provided with this option at the moment, due to insufficient information on animal welfare in food production. A large majority of respondents backed the idea of labelling or logos to indicate the animal welfare standards met in producing the foods they buy. The survey demonstrates general support for financially rewarding EU farmers who use better animal welfare practices.

Markos Kyprianou, Commissioner for Health, said "The message from EU citizens is clear – they view animal welfare as a priority and are willing to contribute to its promotion. The results of this survey are an affirmation of what the Commission is trying to achieve in the field of animal welfare and confirm that our efforts are a response to public demand for action in this area. The Commission attaches great importance to improving animal welfare both in the EU and internationally, and it is good to see that citizens support our efforts."

A priority for citizens

The Eurobarometer shows that animal welfare is an issue which EU citizens rank highly, giving it an 8 out of 10 on average in terms of importance. Most perceive that animal welfare has improved in their country over the last decade, although 77% still believe there is more to be done. Greeks (96%) Cypriots (91%) and Portuguese (90%) in particular would like more attention to be given to the wellbeing of animals in their country. The Eurobarometer also shows that citizens are in favour of further incentives to promote animal welfare in the EU. Over 70% of respondents supported the idea of financial rewards for producers who apply high animal welfare standards. There was also strong consensus (89%) that imports should have to be produced under the same animal welfare conditions as those originating in the EU.

Perceived benefits of animal welfare

In addition to the traditional ethical concerns that generate support for animal welfare, the wellbeing of animals during the production of food now appears to be strongly associated with the healthiness and quality of products. Over half of those surveyed perceived food produced in keeping with high animal welfare standards to be healthier than other food, while 48% said they thought it to be better quality.

Monday, May 14, 2007

Mars Bars - Now With Free Cow Sick!



BBC NEWS | Business | Mars starts using animal products in Mars bars

Some of the UK's best-selling chocolate bars, such as Mars bars and Twix, will no longer be suitable for vegetarians.

Also affecting brands such as Snickers and Maltesers, owner Masterfoods said it had started to use animal product rennet to make its chocolate products.

See Hemp Chocolate for sustainably made, ethical, healthy, sugar free chocolate.

See also Mc Mars Bar - Glasgow Vegetarian Restaurant launches Vegan Mars Bar Dessert - Mono / Stereo / The 78

See also Daily Mail - This is London - Food Production Daily - The Guardian

Vegan Kitchen Nightmares

Real Kitchen Nightmares - London Nutritionists Challenge British Chefs and Restaurants for National Vegetarian Week.

"Diners looking for meat free options on restaurant menus are still often getting a raw deal on quality, choice and value for money," says Tony Bishop-Weston from Foods for Life, Nutritionists, London. "Chef's should use extra demand during National Vegetarian Week ( 21st - 27th May) to try out healthy new dishes."

Despite the many vegetarian and vegan pubs and restaurants that have sprung up all over the UK (mono & Stereo in Glasgow, Banns in Edinburgh, 222 , Pogo and Mildreds in London , Bob Trollops in Newcastle, The Porter in Bath, Cafe Maitreya in Bristol, The George in Brighton), it seems only The London Brewery Fuller's in Chiswick are taking vegetarian demand seriously. According to The Publican Fuller's are now training their chefs about vegan diets, how to avoid vegan kitchen nightmares, and following the lead of Aramark, leaders in USA college catering.

There is a prize on offer to the best healthy vegan innovation from a chef during The UK Vegetarian Society's National Vegetarian Week - a gift box of Lush goodies from notoriously smelly, sparkling, vegetarian eco-superstars, Lush Cosmetics. Winners will be announced at The 5th Bristol Vegan Fayre on the 9th & 10th June after the program of vegan cookery demonstrations.

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Welsh Say "Nuts" to Eco Friendly Green Vegan Fashion

icWales - Howies finds alternative to wasteful plastic

AN ETHICAL Welsh company has found a solution to the plastic buttons problem – using dried nuts from South America.

Sounds nuts to me - great if you get caught out needing a quick vegan snack! I hear a mass migration of squirrels has already begun.

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Last Minute Holidays & Holiday Bargains

Are you looking for Last Minute Holidays ideas and holiday bargains? Short Breaks? Forget the last minute cheap flights and burdoning your carbon footprint! Get yourself along to one of the Vegan Festivals this summer !

The biggest one, probably the biggest vegan festival in the world will be in Bristol at The Bristol Vegan Fayre on the 9th and 10th June.

Download the programme here...

Bristol Vegan Festival

Destination Bristol has been in touch with all the local hotels to see which ones can accommodate people who are vegan. You can now book online from a wide range of accommodation that they have vetted, and if you go onto www.conferencebookings.co.uk , where it says 'New Reservation' you will need to enter the code BRSVEGAN2007.

Good value offered in a range of selected hotels kindly provided by Destination Bristol. See Bristol Events

This Weekend there is the Cruelty Free Festival in Southampton

Southampton vegan festival

Then there is The Vegan Festival in London on the 19th August

London Vegan Festival

Great ethical opportunities for last minute holidays and holiday bargains for all the family.

Much simpler than www.lastminute.com don't you think?

See also Vegetarian Visitor activity holidays and courses

Sunday, May 06, 2007

Gluten Free Vegan Wedding Cakes New Trend

Gluten Free Vegan Wedding Cakes & Birthday Cakes See New Demand As Eco-Chic Make by Zedz Foods Gluten Free Vegetarian Cakes, Muffins & Snacks

Apparently gluten-free wedding cakes are very in and U at the moment. Perhaps all the in-breeding has left the upper classes more susceptable to food intolerance ? (although food intolerance is very un U). The trouble is as soon as something becomes popularly known as being U it becomes Un-U very quickly - The Times reports Tomatoes are vulgar and now very un-U (proper people don't eat tomatoes)

Doves Farm report 20% of people believe that they have adverse reaction to particular foods including wheat, dairy, eggs and gluten.

Whatever, it seems to be wedding etiquette that you don't have a wedding cake that is full of ingredients that a quarter of your guests are trying to avoid.

Certainly veganism is becoming an unstoppable trend with fancy vegan restaurants opening up all over America and veganism now featuring regularly in the Fashion pages (see elsewhere on Vegan News)

gluten free wedding cakes, wheat free snacks and Muffins




Gluten Free Vegan Wedding Cakes & Birthday Cakes

Wednesday, May 02, 2007

Posh Nosh for Vegans and Vegetarians

Worcester Telegram & Gazette News

sublime A new breed of fine dining vegan restaurants are opening up all over the world - the latest is apparently Sublime.....

At Sublime, cascading waterfalls trickle from 10-foot windows in a low-lit dining room filled with live palm trees and customers sampling $19 caviar — made of seaweed, not fish eggs.

Once a network of grungy, obscure cafés, the vegetarian and vegan experience in some cities has blossomed on par with its carnivorous counterparts, complete with Zagat ratings and celebrity clienteles.

There are between 1,000 and 1,200 vegetarian restaurants in the U.S., almost double the number seven years ago, according to Dennis Bayomi, president of VegDining.com.

For Vegetarian Restaurants in the UK see www.vegetarianvisitor.co.uk

For London see Croydon Vegetarians webpage Favourite Vegetarian Restaurants London