Bristol Founder Of Vegfest Vegan Festival Wins National Award

Bristol Founder Of Vegan Festival Wins National Award

Vegfest Wins award

Tim Barford won a well deserved Lloyds TSB Green PEAB award for Vegfest UK at an award ceremony in London this week.

Vegfest UK is now the biggest festival of it's kind in the world.

It's estimated Vegfest UK will have helped 40-50,000 people this year find out more about healthier, more ethical , more sustainable lifestyles.

Meanwhile Google trends shows interest in Vegan Diets has doubled in UK, Germany, Israel and Romania.

It's expected over 20,000 people from all over Europe will visit Vegfest in Bristol this year.

10,000 are expected at the Ticket only Vegfest Vegan Expo at London's Olympia exhibition halls in Kensington.

LindaMcCartneyFoods New TV Advert

LindaMcCartneyFoods (MeatFreeTweets) on Twitter and TV

Linda McCartney Foods, now owned by Hain Europe, tweeted this morning that they are to launch a new TV advertising campaign to claw back some of the market share they've lost to Quorn.

Grassroots vegan activists are dissappointed and exasperated that the Linda McCartney Brand hasn't played to it's vegan strengths to combat egg and dairy containing Quorn. So many of the new Linda McCartney products have dairy or egg in , particularly disappointing are the new vegetarian prawns which contain milk protein making them unsuitable for the Dairy Free, Vegan and Kosher markets.

Other Meat Free Food companies such as Redwoods, Frys, Vegusto, Wheaty, Goodlife, Amy's are managing to keep their Vegan Kudos alive and kicking with a "Sustainable, Delicious and Suitable For Everyone" theme and with a constant stream of new innovative sustainable products that can be enjoyed by all.

Animal Welfare

The trouble is that by adding dairy and egg into the ingredients many of the key USP of the brand and drivers for a greener, more sustainable world fall down. It's not kinder to animals, chickens and dairy cows are some of the most tortured souls on the planet, male chicks are gassed or crushed at birth as they can't lay eggs, baby calfs are dragged away from their mum's so the milk can be used for humans not them.

Health

It's thought that the natural growth hormones in cow's milk to help a calf grow to the size of a shed in a few weeks is like fertiliserfor cancer cells. Certainly it's milk implicated in the China study by Colin T Campbell that he saw switch cancer cells on and off. The other main problem is that milk has so much more saturated fat vs omega 3 fats as most dairy cows don't get a natural diet. Then there's the intolerance, or at least a sub clinical intolerance to dairy protein and lactose that irritates the digestive system.

London Nutritionist Yvonne Bishop-Weston says "New vegetarian products need to be not just as good as, they need to be better than meat. They need to be at least as tasty,  need to be more nutritious and need to be more sustainable and ethically produced than meat. Just being 'meat free' is no longer good enough."

Environment

This is the most perplexing as Sir Paul McCartney himself appeared on National News at 10 to highlight the United Nation's Livestock's Long Shadow report. The Dairy Farming industry is one of the biggest culprits in global warming - we simply no longer have the resources left to feed a cow, water a cow, clean up the waste just for some fatty white liquid that nature designed you to give up by 5 years of age. Second hand food is a luxury we can no longer afford. The clever money is moving into plant food. KFC, McDonalds and their ilk are already looking at plant based meat free alternatives for their products. Old school vegetarian products such as Linda McCartney and Quorn are not on the table.

Avatar director James Cameron says "You cannot call yourself an environmentalist if you are not vegan"

Vegfest 2013

Vegans have already given the Linda McCartney TV advert a makeover to encourage people to try more legitimately,  more sustainable options at The UK Vegfests at Brighton , Bristol and London

Vegans Give Linda McCartney TV advert a pirate vegan  makeover

Brighton Vegetarian and Vegan Festival

Vegfest Brighton Vegetarian and Vegan Festival // UK Vegan Festivals:

A celebration of ethical, healthy, sustainable Vegetarian Vegan living

The dates for Europe's biggest veggie events for 2012 are getting closer - and with Brighton already 80% sold and Bristol 40% sold, they are both looking like a sell out! Both events are FREE TO THE PUBLIC and see thousands of visitors pour in to sample the best veggie and vegan products on the market. Brighton is on March 17th & 18th, and Bristol is from 25th - 27th May There's still time to book a stall at either or both events, and there's also some very attractive marketing options available, including advertising opportunities on the website, in the event programmes and in our ebulletin. And there's a special 20% off all marketing options for Brighton too! And there's also opportunities for product presentations and product placements at both shows too For all the options for Brighton, click here http://brighton.vegfest.co.uk/price-information And for Bristol, click herehttp://bristol.vegfest.co.uk/price-information Feel free to contact the office on 0117 3079872or email info @ vegfest.co.uk for further information about these two great events - and remember, they are both FREE TO THE PUBLIC!  www.vegfest.co.uk www.facebook.com/vegfestukwww.twitter.com/vegfest.co.uk

Vote - Bristol VegFest :: VegFest UK - The UK's biggest and best Vegetarian/Vegan Festival

Vote Now - Bristol VegFest :: VegFest UK - The UK's biggest and best Vegetarian/Vegan Festival

Last chance to Vote for your favourite Vegan Things (such as Plantarian One World Day)

or ice cream, or chocolate, or cakes

1 World Day - Vegan is Cool Bitch!

1 World Day:

So here's the latest idea for the World Vegan Day world record attempt for healthy plant eating on Nov 1st - 1:11:11 - 11:11:11

One World Day. The more well seasoned vegan campaigners will recognise the shutting down of people's brains once you mention the word vegan a bit like when you stumble over one of those religious guys on the street with a big placard proclaiming the end of the world, hell , brimstone and the fury of God. Most of us haven't got any time or emotional energy left for more problems, more vexing and worrying imponderables.

If we are going to change the world we need to reach new people not just preach to the converted.

If we can't even get our foot in the door or their brain just drops into screen-saver when we talk vegan then , for those people at least we need to put a different hat on. A new hat that doesn't come with all the baggage of veganism.

Skinny Bitch is a good example - "OMG like you mean like saving the planet and being kinder to animals means I can be like slim and beautiful??? OMG I never knew that! How kewl is that? Awesome!"

Suddenly Vegan is cool. How did that happen?

"A no nonsense tough-love guide for savvy girls who want to stop eating crap and start looking fabulous"

Do you think if it had said "The Vegan Diet" in big red letters on the front it would still have been a world best seller? Would Posh spice still have picked it up for it to be spotted in her handbag?

We are facing a Plantarian revolution my friends we just need to entice more of those naysayers onto the Plantarian road - 1 World Day seems another good stepping stone, another good tool to reach our goal, not instead of but as well as World Vegan Day

World Vegan Day - Vegan News

National Nut Day Not just for Nuts

Restaurants and cafes to celebrate National Nut Day - Eat Out Magazine: 22nd October in case you were wondering. A little bit of me wonders about the benefits of The Vegetarian and Vegan Society aligning themselves with National Nut Day.

We've spent so long trying to shake of the stereotype of veggie nut cases are we not playing into the Daily Mail's hands for a Sun style pickle a nut day headline and the office vegetarians up and down the UK being thrown into a tub full of vinegar?

Perhaps teenage vegetarians and vegans around great britain are gagging to be nibbled on and can't wait til the 22nd October when they finally get to join in some group action.

Kate Gaskell, managing director of Liberation said: "Some people are unsure about the many ways they can use their nuts and we hope they will be inspired by seeing how they can be used in restaurants . We also have top tips to get people started."

Oooh matron , don't get me started! Tips? Make sure they are fresh! Soak them in water and then whizz them up, cover in chocolate to make fantastic after dinner treats!

See more at

National Nut Day

Brighton Eco Veggie Fayre - March

Brighton Eco Veggie Fayre - The UK's Best Veggie Fayre's - the biggest vegan veggie eco friendly family day out in the UK

Be there or be square - come to the Vegetarian epicentre of the UK for what is promising to be even more fabtastic than last year - with catering by Heather Mills' new V Bites lunch should be a bit more reasonable than Brighton Centre's commercially suicidal effort last year. That's why it's been moved to Hove so expert ethical caterers can be brought in.

The Brighton Eco Veggie Fayre March 20th 2010 at The Hove Centre

Some of the UK’s finest veggie food producers gather together at the first ever Brighton Eco Veggie Fayre on Saturday March 20th from 11am – 6pm, with the organisers expecting thousands of people through the door to experience the delights of one of the UK’s fastest growing lifestyle choices – the veggie diet.

Some choose to be veggie on health grounds, others because they are concerned about the welfare of animals, but a growing number of people from all backgrounds are going veggie for one reason only – the food!

Veggie food has long since shed the earnest but rather dull hippy image of the 70’s, and with leading UK veggie caterers at the Brighton Eco Veggie Fayre including the likes of V Bites, Heather Mill’s flagship Hove based restaurant, alongside food producers with the likes of the award winning Fry’s and Redwood ranges available to sample free, there’s a huge choice to be had.

‘Visitors to the show will be spoilt for choice when it comes to what to eat’ says the organiser Tim Barford from Bristol based hemp firm Yaoh. ‘There’s an incredible selection of really tasty food on offer and all of it is 100% plant based. We have up to 80 stalls at the event with some amazing products on offer, including bodycare and clothes, plus loads of information – it’s a really good way to find out just how good the veggie lifestyle can be.’

With a talks room, a cookery demos area, and an entertainments arena as well as an all day licensed bar, there’s a full line up to suit all tastes and with an admission price of just £3 for adults and £1 for kids and OAP’s, Tim is expecting a full house.

‘There’s a real increase in interest in anything eco friendly and especially in Brighton and Hove, which has the biggest population of veggies anywhere on the planet’ add Tim,’ and with such an excellent variety of products, food, experts and information available, its going to be a busy day.’

It’s not all fun and games though – there are some serious issues at stake, and the keynote speech at the event looks at Global Food Security, and in particular the effect livestock farming has on developing countries. ‘We are very pleased to have Dr Stephen Walsh from the Vegan Society at the show to deliver this vital talk’ says Tim. ‘We have to remember we are all responsible for what happens next on this planet.’

www.brighton.ecoveggiefayre.co.uk
The show is organised by Yaoh and sponsored by Beanie’s Health Foods, V Bites, Chunkies and Macrobiotic Shop, and supported by Excellart, Ethical Singles, VeggieVision, Foods for Life and Flax Farm Linseed.

Contact
Tim Barford 0117 9239053 info @ yaoh.co.uk www.yaoh.co.uk

Meat Free Monday - Launch

Meat Free Mondays Support Meat Free Monday – Eat less meat for a better planet Actually it's more of a relaunch as Sir Paul McCartney has been suggesting that Meat Free Monday was a good idea since he read the UN report Livestock's Long Shadow.

As people are struggling to work it out for themselves he's clearly decided it would take a little more effort. Today 15th June Meat Free Mondays launches with a big article in the independent and a new website.

The Independent reveals - 'The McCartneys have attracted support from across the worlds of showbusiness, science, business and the environment. The singer Chris Martin, Hollywood stars Kevin Spacey and Woody Harrelson, actress Joanna Lumley and Sir Richard Branson are advocating meat-free Mondays.

Support has also come from comedians Ricky Gervais, David Walliams and Matt Lucas, the poet Benjamin Zephaniah and Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman.

Another supporter, Sir David King, the Government's former chief scientist, said: "The carbon and water footprints associated with producing beef are about 20 times larger than maize production. Eating less meat will help the environment."'

Paul McCartney and his team have suceeded where the rest of us have failed and pulled in over 40 celebrities for a lunchtime media event at Inn the Park in St James's Park today

Nutritionist Yvonne Bishop-Weston says "It will be interesting to watch the UK get healthier as a result of eating less meat as well as the planet"

More Meat Free Monday News

Channel 4 News * Sky News * Daily Mail * The Guardian * The Mirror * The Telegraph * The Sun * The Scotsman

Meat Free Monday supporters celebrity quotes in The Independent

See also Meatless Monday

Vegan Shop London - Opening this Mother's Day

SSOV Blog - Our Camden Shop - Opening this weekend!


OK You now have TWO choices this Saturday and Mothering Sunday/Mothers Day treat for Ethical Mums

1) Go to The Seaside - Britains biggest Vegan Festival hits Brighton in the Brighton Centre with vegan cinema, vegan art gallery, vegan cookery demos, vegan live music, Vegan Reggae, Vegan Talks, Vegan Celebrities, Vegan Penthouse Restaurant with sea view, Vegan shopping, vegan shoes, vegan cakes, vegan fish and chips, vegan hot dogs, vegan cosmetics, vegan nutrition,etc (See Croydon Guardian )

OR if you just totally screwed up your diary and you can't get to Brighton then

2) The opening of The Secret Society of Vegans (shhhh don't tell a soul) fantasmagorical new shop in Camden.

The choice is yours but you only have 2 choices OK? O'Kaaaay?

Croydon Is National Vegetarian Week 2008

National Vegetarian week Croydon is Top London Venue for National Vegetarian Week Events

Croydon is linked to some highly esteemed people from DH Lawrence to Kate Moss but it is often the butt of comedians’ satirical taunts. Certainly it’s a place full of oxymorons , thus a lush oasis of comedic material ready for harvest.

Rarely making the top 10 fact lists about Croydon is that Croydon is home to one of the oldest surviving vegetarian groups in the world. Croydon Vegetarians was established in 1886 and is still going strong. Armed with this fact it’s probably then not quite so surprising that Croydon should have the most events organised for the Vegetarian Society’s National Vegetarian Week (19th – 25th May)

This year Croydon is celebrating National Vegetarian Week on every day of the week

1. National Vegetarian Week kicks off with a chocolate tasting session in Oasis Natural Health 96 The High Street, Croydon. Other goodies to try will be on offer too. Ladies from Croydon Vegetarians will be there to help you with any burning questions you may have.
2. On Tuesday 20th May a Croydon greengrocers in Waddon will be challenging Croydon citizens to try a different fruit or vegetable and dishing out free tasters. Graham the greengrocer will also have some tips about what to do with various more exotic fruit and veg and their nutritional properties.
3. On Wednesday the 21st Oasis health food store in Croydon High street has organised a Battle of the Bangers BBQ to engage Londoners and inspire them to judge London’s best meat free BBQ alternative from 5 competitor manufacturers. You’ll be able to nibble on Linda McCartney, Frys, Redwoods, Real Eat and Wicken Fen sausages. Celebrity nutritionist Yvonne Bishop-Weston will be on hand to answer nutrition questions.
4. Thursday 22nd is the night when Lush Croydon will be hosting a pamper party, a book-signing, massage and taster therapy sessions. The first 50 visitors will receive a free rare bath bomb not available in the shops – a Rainbow Worrier.
5. On Friday night the 23rd Peppertons vegetarian restaurant in Selhurst will be offering a free glass of wine to the first 20 diners and the option to try a dairy free vegan cheese board supplied by Bute Island foods.
6. For Saturday the 24th of May Croydon’s Fair trade shop Fair Enough opposite the Croydon Parish Church in Church Street will be holding a Fair trade Tea Party for National Vegetarian Week with Fair trade cake and biscuits to try from Doves Farm.
National Vegetarian week 2008 celebrations end with a finale down in Bristol harbour on the 31st May and the 1st June at the Bristol Vegan Fayre. www.bristolveganfayre.co.uk - 10,000 people attracted by an awesome line up of bands, food, speakers, entertainment and ethical shopping.

Vegan Aware at London Aware

It's hoped the penny will drop and an eco light bulb will light up in the heads of visitors to UK London Aware at the Barbican this weekend.

Nigel Winter CEO of The Vegan Society and Annette Pinner CEO of The Vegetarian Society will be speaking as well as celebrity London Nutritionist Yvonne Bishop-Weston. It's hoped all three will highlight the many advantages of eating lower in the food chain and the subsequent benefits for the planet.

Check out the Foods for Life 2 for 1 ticket offer - quote IT241 for an extra free ticket. See London Aware

A great warm up act for National Vegetarian Week 2008

Vegans out Rock National Vegetarian Week

Vegan Greens will Rock UK in World's biggest Vegan Festival and Music Event



Bristol Greens and Vegans are set to out rock all the other events for National Vegetarian Week and National BBQ week with an awesome line up of Reggae, Rock, Ska, Pop and Jazz on the 31st May and 1st June.

It's not just vegan food and talks anymore - The annual Bristol Vegan Fayre event has morphed into a monster ethical party in Bristol harbour part green fair, part music festival, part food fayre, part vegan congress and rally - it's difficult to put your finger on the true essence of The Bristol Vegan Fayre apart from ethical fun and frollocks.

Check it out on www.bristolveganfayre.co.uk

Aswad, Dreadzone, Misty in Roots & Bad Manners head up Bristol’s premier Multi Cultural Music Festival May 31st June 1st 2008 for only £12 for the whole weekend!!!!

Reggae Stars head for Bristol Vegan Event

Vegans to Rock Bristol harbour in National Vegetarian Week Event

Vegan Display Bad Manners in Bristol

Green Vegan Event to Rock UK

World Vegan Day Petition to UK Prime Minister

Petition to: create a legal definition of the words Vegan and Vegetarian.

Please sign this World Vegan Day petition and forward to your friends.

The UK Govt confirms - "There is no single definition in law for the use of the terms 'vegetarian' and 'vegan' either at UK or European level, and any labelling of food or drink products as 'vegetarian' or 'vegan' is voluntary. However, consumers are protected by general legal provisions outlawing false or misleading labelling in UK legislation. The Food Safety Act 1990 (as amended), the Trade Descriptions Act 1968, and Article 16 of European Union Regulation 178/2002/EC must be complied with if such labelling is used."

Many Thanks for signing

World Vegan Day Petition

See also Legal Definition of Vegan

Blogs of Note !!

Thanks to the Blogger Team for naming us as a blog of note on the 1st March 2007

It wasn't so long ago the topic of veganism was on the fringes of acceptability and we'd struggle to be honoured in this way. These days with all the talk about the environment, healthy eating, and fair trade products, vegetarian and vegan diets are now rising rapidly in popularity.

The International Vegan Festival- The Bristol Vegan Fayre on the 9th and 10th June will I'm sure speed this growing consciousness along.

With live bands, more delicious vegan food than you can shake a stick at, speakers, Hemp Expo, ethical fashion show etc etc etc it's going to be a weekend not to be missed.

World's Biggest Ever International Vegan Festival ?

Fancy an orgy of ethical and environmentally friendly Vegan-ness?

What are you doing on the 9th and 10th June 2007 ? - going to Bristol for the weekend? With live bands , an ethical fashion show, Hemp Expo, Speakers from around the world, vegan cooking and non cooking ( raw food )demonstrations, health and fitness zone, nearly 200 exhibitors, 007 awards, dance tent, floating bar, more vegan food than you can shake a stick at and all the major Vegan Charities this event in June will be one you better not miss.

It's shaping up to be a total orgy of vegan-ness - the likes of which that have never been seen before - invite your friends (especially the non vegan ones) bring your family, tell the world.

Yaoh the organisers are gearing up to welcome 20,000 people over the weekend which is about 10 times the number that usually visit The London Vegan Festival that inspired the first Bristol Vegan Fayre 4 years ago.

See more about the Vegan Festival at Bristol Vegan Fayre

For travel arrangements contact Vegetarian Travel Agents Green Earth Travel