The Vegan Autumn 1988

AUTUMN 1988 New Series. Vol.4. No.3

ONE MAN'S MEAT - A TASTE OF TVP PETS & OTHER ANIMALS ORGANICS - REAL FOOD OR RIP-OFF? SHOPAROUND FAMILY MATTERS REVIEWS

- TOM REGAN INTERVIEWED

G H E M M G TH»5I>;DS!

Information Managing Editor: Colin Howlett Editor: Barry Kew Commodity News Editor: Lis Howlett Design by Identity Printed by KSC Printers Ltd., Tunbridge Wells The Vegan is published quarterly by The Vegan Society Ltd Publication Date: Late February, May, August, November Copy Date: 1st of month of publication ISSN 0307-4811 © The Vegan Society Ltd

The Vegan Society T h e Vegan Society Ltd Registered Charity No. 279228 33-35 George Street Oxford OX1 2AY Tel. 0865 722166 President: Arthur Ling Deputy President: Chris Langley Vice-Presidents: Eva Batt Serena Coles Freya Dinshah Jay Dinshah Grace Smith Council: Vincent FitzGerald Colin Howlett Lis Howlett Chris Langley (Chair) Arthur Ling Hon. T r e a s u r e r : Vincent FitzGerald Secretary: Barry Kew Publications Director: Colin Howlett Office M a n a g e r : Susan Kew Administrative Assistant: Jim Crawford

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Veganism may be defined as a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practical, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, the animal kingdom for food, clothing or any other purpose.

In dietary terms, it refers to the practice of dispensing with all animal produce — including meat, fish, poultry, eggs, (non-human) animal milks, and their derivatives.

The status of honey in a vegan diet has varied over the years; whilst remaining contentious, its use is currently left to individual conscience.

The Vegan Ethic challenges all who preach compassion yet acquiesce in institutionalized animal abuse, especially the cruel practices inherent in dairy, livestock and poultry farming.

Abhorrence of these practices is probably the single most common reason ror tne adoption of veganism, but many people are also drawn to it for health, ecological, spiritual and other reasons.

The Vegan Society was formed in England in November 1944 by a group of vegetarians who had recognised and come to reject the ethical compromises implicit in lacto-(i.e. dairy-dependent) vegetarianism and consequently decided to renounce the use of all animal products.

Since those early days it has grown considerably in both size and influence, reflecting the increasingly wide recognition of veganism's ethical, health, ecological and other advantages.

The Society now has the status of an educational charity, whose aims include encouraging the development and use of alternatives to all commodities normally derived wholly or partly from animals.

If you would like more information on veganism a free Vegan Information Pack is available from the Society's Oxford office in exchange for an SAE. If you are already a vegan

or vegan sympathizer please support the Society and help increase its influence by joining. Increased membership means more resources to educate and inform. Full membership is restricted to practising vegans, as defined above, but sympathizers are very welcome as associates of the Society. Both members and associates receive The Vegan free of charge.

Vegan Society Publications The Society publishes a wide range of free leaflets and lowpriced books and booklets of interest to the newcomer. See the section in the magazine entitled Publications and Promotional Goods. This Section also lists a number of works which although produced independently of the Society and not necessarily vegan in viewpoint are nevertheless felt to be useful and informative.

Vegan magazines In addition to The Vegan — the official organ of the Society — the following independent publications may be of interest: Vegan Views 6 Hayes Avenue, Bournemouth BH7 7AD. An informal quarterly with articles, interviews, news, reviews, letters, cartoon strip. Subscription rate for four issues: £2.40 (Europe and surface mail overseas: £2.80).

New Leaves 47 Highlands Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 8NQ. Quarterly Journal of The Movement for Compassionate Living — The Vegan Way (see below). Annual subscription: £3.00. Cheques/POs payable to: 'Movement for Compassionate Living'.

Y Figan Cymreig (The Welsh Vegan) BronyTYsgol, Moritpelier, Llandrindod, Powys, Wales. Bi-lingual quarterly. Annual subscription: £1.25.

The Vegan Community Project, an organization independent of the Vegan Society, exists to form a contact network between

people who are interested in living in a vegan community and to establish one or more such communities. While some of its members seek merely to live close to other vegans, others wish to establish a vegan land project or centre for the promotion of a vegan lifestyle. Contact:

The Vegan Families Contact List provides a link between parents throughout the UK seeking to raise their children in accordance with vegan principles. To receive a copy of the list and have your name added to a future edition, please write in to the Oxford office — marking your envelope 'Vegan Families Contact List', enclosing an SAE, and giving your name, address and names and dates of birth of children.

The Movement for Compassionate Living — T h e Vegan Way, an organization independent of the Vegan Society, seeks to spread compassionate understanding and to simplify lifestyles by promoting awareness of the connections between the way we live and the way others suffer, and between development, consumption and the destruction of the planet.

Co-ordinators:

Veganism Abroad There are active vegan societies in Australia, the Netherlands, Sweden and the USA, as well as contacts in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, and New Zealand.

The views expressed in The Vegan do not necessarily reflect those of the Editor or of the Vegan Society Council.

Nothing printed should be construed as Vegan Society policy unless so stated. The Society accepts no liability for any matter in the magazine. The acceptance of advertisements does not imply endorsement.

Contributions intended for publication are welcomed, but unsolicited materials will not be returned unless accompanied by an SAE.

The Vegan, Au t w n n1988

Contents

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here's a taint of imbecile rapacity in this porcine exploitation, smacking as it does of folly as well as malice.

Catching sight, as one can, of farm animal semen collection and artificial insemination - sexual abuse by other names - one has to wonder whether this is an occupation for decent folk.

Even bees have been victims with, perhaps significantly, a monk as leader in the field.

Priapism was never far removed from violence against the weak.

extends (a more sinister extended circle) beyond the stock market and consumerism into health matters, as if self-interest alone - appallingly, though not surprisingly, subscribed to by religious leaders of late was of importance. But just as animal-laboratory-produced pesticides and fertilizers, battery units, livestock cloning, multiple ovulation and embryo transfer result from inefficient agriculture, pig organ transplants point, at the very least, to a failure to pursue a

their revolution (Who said that?).

It's true, perhaps, that if we make enemies of our opponents (or proponents of the opposite) and triumph in a win/lose clash they will feel resentful and want retribution. All that gets solved that way is the secret of perpetual motion, maintained by the media's attempts at open discussion - by packing a studio full of pros and antis.

Programme finishes; as you were, long live public indifference. Just as socially sanctioned slavery ended probably

»News 4 > Ethics & The Peaceable Kingdom 7 Extract f r o m 1988 Frey Ellis Memorial Lecture ' E t h i c s in A c t i o n 8 Barry K e w interviews Professor T o m Regan

> Greening the Reds A vegan in the U S S R 12

A PIG IN A We have seen recently too how the Nuremburg code ran close to being, or was even, trangressed by experiments on children, defended as ethical because they "made a valuable contribution to medical knowledge" (the easy speeches that comfort cruel men): the cold, callous, inhumane yet unfortunately not inhuman philosophy of H.G. Wells's Dr. Moreau* whose memory, curiously twisted, lingers on in the pig organ transplant work at Dulwich Hospital. (The ALF should know too that there lies jail bait) If any lesson is to be learnt from this development of the once-the killing-starts syndrome it must surely be, as Bewick implied, that only vegans can properly raise ethical objections. It's an idea with credentials.

The current greedlegitimizing social climate 3 The Vegan, Au t w n n1988

policy of ill health prevention. It's an agri-medico version of 'Never Mind the Words, Dig the Music'.

But if the Devil has the best tunes, we have the best lyrics and it can't do us any harm to go back to them and their authors for reference, for clarity and inspiration.

Further on in these pages you will find space given over to just two of those without whom the fight for animal rights would lack coherence and a cogent ethic: Professors Stephen R. L. Clark and Tom Regan.

Stretching the metaphor, one might say that our activities need to provide the rhythm to works like The Moral Status of Animals and The Struggle for A nimal Rights (not that they or any other can be called 'bibles'), remembering that there's a public to win over, and if they can't dance to it it's not

more by black activism and economics than by the white benevolence claimed for its demise (and if animals can sing, they're out there now singing their version of the cotton picker's dawn lament, Hurry Sundown) we'll have to set firm to let other people have our way. Lord knows it ain't easy translating that rush of ugly anger into controlled, persuasive passion when confronted by crude or sophisticated, obvious or covert cruelty.

But, as Regan has said, we have always had the best people on our side, and that's a tradition worth preserving.

At least the public won't catch a vegan masturbating a boar or serving a sow with a catheter.

•The Island of Dr. Moreau (Heinemann, 1896/Pan, 1975).

(Thanks to Animal Aid's Robin Webb for pointing this out.)

• S p e l l - b o u n d on Atsitsa 14 T h a n k s f o r the m e m o r y , says Prize Draw 2ndplacer • Shoparound 16 • O n e M a n ' s M e a t . . . 18 A taste of T V P • Real Food or Rip-off?

20 asks Paul Appleby • Healthwise 21

• Pets and O t h e r Animals 22 Janet Hunt steps out of the kitchen to m a k e a point • Family Matters 24 ' Awkward Customers' • Reviews 26 • Postbag 29 • Noticeboard 30 • Publications & P r o m o t i o n a l G o o d s 32 • Classifieds 34 Cover photo courtesy ofCAF

News

cattle market — the largest calf market in the country, handling 800 per week T H E S E C O N D and operated

by Prudential Property Services— to protest at the cruelty of the dairy industry.

With placards and leaflets they were able to E X H I B I T I O N enlighten the locals on the health risks and cruelty to the cow and calf.

Expo Success The organisers intend to Nearly 6,000 people - the make the demonstration an majority not members of annual event and hope that animal rights/welfare societies other mothers will arrange - attended Animal Aid's similar demonstrations at their second Living Without Cruelty own local markets. Information Exhibition at Kensington Town from: BournemouthlPoole Hall during 24-26 June.

Vegan Mothers & Children, do A huge success, with over 6 Hayes Avenue, Bournemouth.

70 organizations and compaTel. 0202 511011. nies represented, plus videos and speakers, the event was Breast Boost opened by Virginia McKenna and gained extensive media By the end of the year the UK coverage. will be brought into line with Takings on the Vegan the World Health Assembly's Society's double stand were 1986 resolution that govern50% up on last year and the ments should not allow weekend also featured the subsidized supplies of breast Society's 10th Dr. Frey Ellis milk substitutes in maternity Memorial Lecture given by wards and hospitals. Samples Professor Stephen R. L. Clark will be withdrawn and baby (See p7 for edited excerpts). milk manufacturers have The Great British MeatOut, agreed to contribute £30,000 to of which the Vegan Society is a £100,000 government-backed a participant, used the Exhibicampaign to promote breast tion as an opportunity to raise feeding. funds, and Uianks are due to all The Independent 11.6.88 the volunteers who helped throughout the period, to Brian Veal Love Bolger/Sharp Practice for the T-shirt designs and to Marigold Cattle-starved slaughterers are Health Foods, who really made bemoaning the Dutch veal the stand what it was. industry use of growthCongratulations, again, to promoting Beta-blockers Animal Aid. (Beta-antagonists) - which The first Northern Living would contravene the MediWithout Cruelty Exhibition will cines Act if used in Britain take place at Leeds Town Hall giving Dutch finishers extra 17thJ18th September (See carcase income now being used 'Noticeboard'j. to outbid domestic beef finishers and import more British calves. Last year shipments Mothers Against to Holland totalled 130,000 Milk head, up 500% in only two years. Dutch imports now On Monday 18 July some 20 account for around 90% of mothers with their children total British consumption. went to Sturminster Newton

LIVING

WITHOUT

CRUELTY

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Calf exports from Britain to other EEC countries have risen in the wake of dairy cow slaughterings in Europe and last year 373,000 head were 'siphoned off' for slaughter in the European veal industry. An increase is expected this year.

Meat Trades Journal 21.7.88/ 4.8.88/11.8.88

Salmonella was discovered in June in powder milk babyfoods manufactured by Milupa. The DHSS warned the public not to buy the brands Aptamil or Milumil.

The Independent 4.7.88

Hearty Milk

Milk Fraud

About half the world cannot digest milk due to inherited lactase deficiency. A study by M. Tember and A. Tamm 'Lactose absorption and myocardial infarction' (British Medical Journal, January 9, pp95-6.1988) - concluded that people who drink 3 or more glasses of milk daily have 4 times the risk of myocardial infarction ('heart attack') than those who drink less - independent of hypertension, overweight, smoking and family history, "...just one more piece of evidence in an

Arguments still rage over the use of bovine somatotropin (BST) - the genetically-engineered hormone injected into cows to increase milk yields.

Supermarket chains Waitrose, Marks & Spencer and Tesco have all expressed anger at the Ministry of Agriculture's refusal to declare details of the trials: milk from the experimental herds is being sold without identification or special safeguards. Seventeen MPs have signed an early day motion calling for a ban on BST.

overwhelming case against the use of milk as a human food, which it is not." (Leon Chaitow, Stone Age Diet).

Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine, July 1988

Banned Ads Ruckus

Milumella

Anti-battery cage advertisements by Compassion in World Farming have been withdrawn by both Reader's Digest and The Vegan, Au t w n n1988

t

the Cinema Exhibitors Association.

The first, chosen by the Digest in October'87 as part of its Open Space policy which gives a free double-page spread to enable agencies to produce work for charities and worthy causes, was rejected by new Editor Russell Twisk just two weeks before publication date.

CIWF - whose movie ad was passed by the British Board of Film Censors and the Cinema Advertising Authority - was advised that cinemas in future will only permit basic product advertising, thus ruling out other ads too - like Lynx's anti-fur ad. However, the CEA may have bitten off more than it can chew as a strong lobby now forms to challenge the action which the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom condemns as "invidious censorship".

Rank Advertising will be honouring its original contract to show the CIWF ad (running with the film Saigon) for a limited period but the battle goes on. The League Against Cruel Sports is to launch a £20,000 cinema ad to challenge the ruling. Further details from:

No Welfare Funds A report by the Farm Animal Welfare Council (Priorities in Animal Welfare Research and Development*) claims that the; plight of farm animals may worsen as public funding for agricultural research and development continues to fall.

Priority areas identified by the Council are: farm animal health; environment and behaviour; alternative systems; mutilation avoidance; transport; slaughter, biotechnology; body sizes and drugs.

Only 3% of government funds for agriculture go into animal welfare.

•Available from FAWC, Block B, Government Buildings, Hook Rise South, Tolworth, Surbiton, Surrey KT6 7NF.

Not the Nobel A new £70,000 Albert Schweitzer Prize for complementary medicine to rival the Nobel Prize for Medicine is to be presented in the same City Hall in Stockholm one day beforehand to upstage the original event and also "so that public awareness and world consciousness could be generated in the sanctity of human life."

The Guardian 9.5.88

director of the Medical Research Council's Cell Mutation Unit.

What about the pigs, Prof?

The Independent 21.5.88

Matthews MRM Matthews Norfolk Farms have been ordered to pay almost £16,500 after being found guilty of contravening food labelling regulations by failing to state on labels that products contained mechanically recovered meat (MRM).

Bootiful.

Meat Trades Journal 21.7.88

F a r m Pollution 1987 saw the largest number of incidents (3,890) of farm pollution with the average fine running at £300. Cattle farming is behind most of the pollution, with slurry and silage being the two most polluting substances.

Both are directly toxic to aquatic life, slurry being 100 times and silage liquor 200 times more polluting than untreated sewage in terms of oxygen demand.

Environment Digest 14.7.88

Fur Labels Dropped The government has quietly dropped its plan for 'cruelty labels' to be stitched into to coats. This is widely assumed to be a result of pressure from the Canadian government to whom Britain is trying to sell £4 billion worth of nuclear submarines. Fur sales in the UK total around £47 million a year.

The Guardian 24.6.88

Regan Release On 2 June at the London Ecology Centre Tom Regan launched the British cut of his new video, Voices 1 Have Heard - a pioneering film celebrating the contribution of older Americans to the animal rights/welfare movement, which received the Gold Award for an educational documentary at the 1988 Houston International Film Festival (See Regan interview - 'Ethics in Action'-on pp 8-10).

5 The Vegan, Au t w n n1988

Animaline A new telephone service patrons Carla Lane, Linda McCartney, Rita Tushingham - has been launched offering each week a new programme of current events, issues and campaigns presented by celebrities. Keep up to date with the animal rights/welfare movement on this shared revenue service - 38p peak; 25 off-peak - by calling 0898 444033.

Mutagenic Feed Carbadox and Olaquindox, substances still used as feed additives in intensive pig farming, could expose farm workers to the risk of cancer or producing malformed children according to Bryn Bridges,

human health. The campaign, widely supported by concerned members of the medical and nursing professions, also offers a programme for a balanced future health policy based on prevention, alternative research, clinical studies, complementary and curative medicine.

Materials include leaflets, posters, magazine and video (launched 31 August at the Barbican Centre EC2; narrated

by Sue Cook and featuring Dr. Vernon Coleman) and the campaign will include a bus tour of leading universities and 12 major cities.

Details from:

Freemartin "The rewards from producing twins by embryo transfer are unlikely to be as high as commercial breeders might expect... Producers who plan to save female replacements from twins should forget it when mixed-sex twins are delivered. In such cases the female will always be infertile because hormones circulating in the placenta from the bull calf impair development in the heifer. The result is a sterile freemartin with under-developed female organs."

Farmers Weekly 12.8.88

Spongebrain

Health with Humanity Wednesday 8 June saw the start of the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection's national Health with Humanity campaign, which seriously challenges experiments on animals for medical research.

The BUAV exposes not only the cruelty inflicted on animals but also the failure of animal testing to improve

A newly discovered cattle disease could threaten humans by infecting meat pies.

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) - over 500 cases so far - disrupts the nervous systems of cattle and is possibly caused by a primitive, virus-like agent similar to the one that causes degenerative brain disorders in humans e.g. kuru, transmitted by cannibalism in a New Guinea tribe. Another, CreutzfeldJakob disease, remains widespread among Libyan Jews in Israel who eat delicacies prepared from sheep's brains. The sheep disease

scrapie and BSE are caused by the same organism. Sheep offal has n o w been banned from cattle feed.

The Independent 14.6.88/Atew Scientist 9.6.88

Badger Protection The League Against Cruel Sports has launched a campaign for extra badger protection with two demands: badger setts must be totally protected; courts must be empowered to disqualify convicted badger diggers from custody of dogs.

Petitions and information from: LACS, 83-87 Union Street, London SE1 1SG. Tel. 01-4070979.

W h y not support - or p e r h a p s just find o u t m o r e about t h o s e w o r k i n g positively t o w a r d s a n end t o all animal abuse a n d t h e w i d e s p r e a d a d o p t i o n of a more ecologically sound w a y of life? Simply fill in t h e f o r m below a n d return to: The Vegan Society (Memberships), 33-35 George Street, Oxford OX1 2AY. Please tick as appropriate: n P L E A S E S E N D M E A F R E E VEGAN INFORMATION PACK for which I enclose a stamped addressed envelope, n I W I S H T O B E C O M E A M E M B E R of the V e g a n S o c i e t y Ltd and undertake to abide by its rules as set out in the Society's Memorandum and Articles of Association. I declare that I am a practising vegan.

I W I S H T O B E C O M E A N A S S O C I A T E of t h e V e g a n S o c i e t y S,td. Although not a practising vegan, I agree with the Society's aims and would like to support its work.

I enclose payment as follows (please tick as appropriate): Cheques/POs should be made payable to: The Vegan Society Ltd • Individual £7.50 • Family £10.00 • Unwaged individual £5.00 • Unwaged family £7.50 • Junior (under 18) £5.00 • Life membership £125.00 • I W I S H T O S P O N S O R y o u r work, for which purpose I enclose a donation of •

£5.00 •

•

£25.00

£50.00 •

£

Miss/Mr/Mrs/Ms

Name (please print)

-Postcode (please Signature _

Road, Crowborough, E.Sussex TN6 2QH or WSPA, 106 Jermyn Street, London SW1Y 6EE.

T o r c h of H o p e

VIPs

O n e million signatures of protest are needed for the International Fund for Animal W e l f a r e ' s massive world-wide petition: o n e name for each terror-stricken Korean cat or dog to be slowly hanged for h u m a n consumption in the next year. S o m e Seoul food. D o n ' t watch the Olympics without at least adding your name to Carla L a n e ' s and Loretta Swit's.

Further details from: IFAW, Tubwell House, New

At its second meeting on 26 June the Vegan-Inspired Proprietors Group agreed to make membership available to vegan restaurants and to vegetarian restaurants catering for vegans.

Thirty-eight health food stores are already committed to the group, whose next meeting will be held at the Northern Living Without Cruelty Exhibition 17/ 18 September.

All enquiries to Arthur Ling, Plamil Foods, Bowles Well Gardens, Folkestone,

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•

Address (please print)

Jeans On Protesters have now been assured by Lee Jean's President, C. William Crain, that the company has discontinued the testing of its frosted fabric on mice and is now looking at a substitute procedure. (See 'Jeans O f f , News, S u m m e r '88)

£10.00

Title (please delete as appropriate)

print)Date.

Kent CT19 6PQ. Tel. 0303 850588.

Back in the S w i m Former international swimmer Bill Price who represented Great Britain at junior and senior level (Comn.onwealth Games, Edinburgh 1971) swam this year, as a vegan of 10 years standing, in the South of England Masters championships (5 gold medals) and the Essex Masters (6). Later this year he hopes to take part in the National Championships at Oxford.

Splash it to 'em, Bill.

include p & p from: Artists for Animals, PO Box 18, South PDO, Manchester M14 5NB. Youth F o r Animal Rights 93-slide/24-minute tape programme featuring music by Pink Floyd, The Smiths etc.

Narration by Virginia McKenn and Bill Travers, plus an informative Teachers Pack. Hire charge £5, plus return postage.

Details/booking: YFAR Programme, Hillview, Chaffcombe, Nr Chard, Somerset TA20 4AH. Tel. 04606 5090.

Living Without Cruelty Diary 1989 - edited by Mark Gold & Emily Mclvor. Minifeatures and resource information. Pocket (A6) format covering whole spectrum of ecological, humane and vegan/ vegetarian concern. £2.99, or £3.25 incl. p & p from: Green Print, 3 Beggarwood Lane, Basingstoke, Hants RG23 7LP. Intensive Egg & Chicken Production - Chickens Lib invites you to Face the Facts.

94 illustrated facts. Invaluable background information. £1.00 incl. p + p from Chickens' Lib, PO Box 2, Holmfirth, Huddersfield HD71QT. Many members will also be interested to hear of two new walk/guide books written by former Vegan Society Assistant Secretary Laurence Main.

Walk Snowdonia & North Wales and Guide to the Dyfi Valley Way are published by Bartholomew and Bartholomew Kittiwake respectively and sell at £3.95 each.

New Releases Sacrificed on an Altar of Profit & Lies - a compilation L P of animal rights songs by Carla Lane, Frank Chickens, Capt. Sensible and others.

Sponsored by the NAVS, with all proceeds going to local animal rights groups. £5.00.

T h e Animals Song by Robb Johnson/The Abattoir by Carla Lane - a 7" single at £1.80.

Profits to the VSUK and Artists for Animals. Prices The Vegan, Au t w n n1988

Below we publish an edited extract* from the Vegan Society's 10th Frey Ellis Memorial Lecture, delivered at the 2nd Living With out Cruelty Exhibition, Kensington Town Hall, London on 25th June 1988 by Stephen R. L. Clark, Professor of Philosbphy, University of Liverpool and author of Aristotle's Man, The Moral Status of Animals, The Nature of the Beast and From Athens to Jerusalem.

I

f we can once show that any principle which gives us, as it is said, rights for all human beings - not just the 61ite few like us, the rational ones - but all human beings; any principle which gives rights to them all, is going to give rights to a great many non-human beings. So we ought to accord those samerights to those non-human beings.

Obviously, they'll be a bit modified. And of course, there isn't simply a human/non-human divide here. It's simply that animals are different sorts of creatures. I don't think it's particularly a hardship to throw a dolphin into the Atlantic Ocean.

Obviously it would be a lousy idea to liberate a dog into the Atlantic Ocean, because different things matter to dolphins than to dogs, or the other creatures.

The point is not to say we should treat all animals exactly alike - that's a silly principle: we don't do that with human beings - but that we should pay due regard to all creatures in terms of their likely interests and their likely choices. Now we should at times give them the opportunity to choose what they shall do.

That is a principle that I'm all in favour of. The trouble is, of course, that people faced by this sortof line of argumentmay jump either way. They may jump in the direction I prefer them to jump, towards the position I've just described, in which we attempt-it's very difficult to do so - but we attempt to live our lives

7 The Vegan, Au t w n n1988

in such a way that we can pay due respect to the interests and choices of all those individual beings with whom we come into contact. We should try not to encroach upon them, we should try not to take away their power to choose, however minimally they choose. We should not simply think of them as there for our purposes, or the purposes of anybody else. We should treat them as individuals, ends.

However, once one has started eroding the human/animal divide, the "point I made stands. Some people do go the other way. They say, "Well, everything you've said is perfectly all right, but all it shows is that we're totally irrational and sentimental about, for instance, a good many damaged human beings. They're human beings by courtesy. We should not think of them as persons, or subjects of a life at all; we should use them.

And if we don't it is just sentiment, or giving way to public opinion." And I'm afraid that attitude is not simply something that the occasional philosopher has said, taking principles to their logical conclusion. It is sometimes an attitude which has been detected in people actually working in the area. Some experimentalists, although by no means I think, the majority, have said that the only reason they don't use damaged, orphaned, human beings, is that public opinion wouldn't allow them to. I'm afraid they may be being disin-

genuous there in all sorts of ways, and I'm rather afraid that, given what public opinion does come to accept over the years, it may well not be out of the question that we shall see even more things like that done than have in fact already been done.

Whether we will get to the stage, which is of course an historical and philosophical possibility, of thinking in terms of breeding specially defective human beings for our purposes, or of course deciding that some human beings are specially defective for our purposes, or buying babies from their parents, they're all... well, we're on the edge of this sort of thing all the time. It is looming there as, in a sense, a logical conclusion. There are an awful lot of arguments related, for example, to experimentation on embryos. "Why not?", the question begins to arise. "If you're prepared to abort the embryo, why aren't you prepared to 'use' it a little, rather than just kill it; you should 'use' i t Use it for the benefit of all, including other embryos." You may notice the similarity between some arguments there. And if you can use an embryo - well, why not use an infant? It's very difficulttopinpointexactly what it is about an infant which makes it somehow radically different

from an embryo.

After all, it was an embryo, quite recently.

So gradually, you might find yourself in a position of saying: "Well, it's just sentiment, it's an irrational sentiment." We used to believe that human beings, all human beings, by God's grace, or something like that, were immortal souls.They mightnotlook like it, but they really were. And because they were immortal souls, they ought all to be given a special individual respect. But, if you no longer believe that, if that's been eroded in your mind, then it becomes very difficult to see why you should put a line and say "Well, killing embryos is all right; experimenting on embryos is fairly all right, as long as a good thing is going to come out of it. Experimenting on babies, infants is not all right." And so on up. And I'm afraid that does seem to me a possible future. I'm not always particularly optimistic about human nature or even society.

So, in a sense, all this stuff about the resemblance between human beings and non-human beings, the breakdown of the barrier between human and nonhuman, isn't necessarily a very good thing. It may be correct to break it down, but one may have to admit that there are always moral consequences for any, even good, action. *Copies of the full Lecture text (approx. 6,000 words) is available from the Society for 75p (inclusive of postage).

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om R e g a n ' s contribution to the animal rights cause has ranged widely — from his w o r k as Professor of Philosophy at North Carolina State University, through the written and spoken word, to video production a n d protest sit-in. For the philosophy itself readers a r e referred to his classic The Casefor A nimal Rights a n d his m o r e recent The Struggle for Animal Rights (and see bibliography). In this interview with Barry Kew - resulting from his visit to England in J u n e T o m ' s thoughts on the practical application of that philosophy are explored.

Constituencies BK Do any particular groups constitute our main audience ? / have the impression that the right word in the right ear at the right time often does more than getting thousands of people out on the streets.

T R Potentially, I think we should think of everyone as a potential member of "our audience". I know this is difficult because it asks all activists to be ready to raise the consciousness of everyone we meet, and that's probably imposssible. Still, I think we should have both oureyes and ears open first in case a situation presents itself. I say "presents itself' because if we force our ideas on people-you know, mug

the name of ad vancing' scientific knowledge', while the best creative minds in our Movement - our poets and philosophers, painters and sculptors, legal theorists and historians, novelists and playwrights, and our composers, musicians, dancers, choreographers and performance artists - received not a dime's worth of financial support.

And I saw in this absence of support a tragic waste of talent and vision.

Our Foundation was established to help to try to set matters right. Just ask yourself when you last read a poem that celebrates the 'beauty' of vivisection or slaughter, or when you last saw a modern dance that glorifies trapping or fox hunting. The answer is: never. For there is, I think, a genuine contradiction in seeking to create what is beautiful and using the pain and suffering of animals as a vehicle for doing so.

CAF seizes upon this contradiction and, by giving our Movement's most creative minds a slice of the freedom our financial support can buy, allows them to add to the body of work that expresses positive concern for animals.

In this way we think we can help these thinkers and artists reach a constituency other activist organizations tend to miss - the people who read poetry, who go to the theatre and who visit art galleries, for example.

That's why, although we are an educational organization, we think of ourselves as no less an activist group than any other. We refer to our work as "a new kind of activism."

In addition to supporting the creative work of others, CAF also has undertaken a few creative projects of its own. But not carelessly. What we ask ourselves is: "What identifiable groups of people are we, as a Movement, failing to address?". Once we think we have found such a group, we ask: "How can we remedy this oversight?".

Our objective has been to create video resources for grassroots activists, resources they can then take directly to the constituencies in question. In other words, these videos are a kind of bridge to be erected between our activists and these neglected constituencies, a bridge that - hopefully - helps join them and in doing so helps add new people to the Movement.

Without wanting to be or seem vain, I think I may say that we view these two videos as models of the kind of work CAF wants to see done and which we are willing to support, to the extent we are able.

BK Are some people a dead loss though?

An Interview with Professor Tom Regan

W e n e e d to be sensitive to w h e r e p e o p l e a r e in t h e i r life, not impatient b e c a u s e they are not w h e r e w e t h i n k t h e y s h o u l d be.

If w e f o r c e t h e i s s u e s u p o n them, they'll just crawl back f u r t h e r i n t o t h e d a r k n e s s of p r e v a i l i n g i g n o r a n c e a n d indifference. them with our anger or rage - then I think they are likely to retreat. It's better by far, in my view, to let the opportunity to inform and challenge arise naturally - as when, for example, someone expresses an interest in what we are eating, or in a book we are reading, or in a button badge or T-shirt we are wearing, or in a talk we are giving. We need to be sensitive to where people are in their life, not impatient because they are not where we think they should be. If we force the issues upon them, they'll just crawl back further into the darkness of prevailing ignorance and indifference.

8

BK Nevertheless you seem to have identified different 'constituencies' within society and singled them outfor particular attention: the artistic with your Culture & Animals Foundation; the religious with the prize-winning video We Are All Noah; and the older generation with another award-winning video.

Voices I Have Heard*. Perhaps you could tell us about these projects. (•The two videos are available in the UK through Ecuvision/McCrimmon Publishing, 10-12 High Street, Great Wakering, Essex SS3 OEQ.) TR Over the years it has been my custom to avoid aligning myself, in any official capacity, with one or another of the various activist groups. Of course I have given what help I have been able to give, in a variety of ways, to many of them. But I always felt that, given my position, I could be a better activist if I remained 'officially' independent.

In 1985 this changed. That was the year I founded The Culture and Animals Foundation (CAF-3509 Eden Croft Drive, Raleigh, NC 27612, USA.). I sensed a large hole in the Movement. I saw the billions of dollars given to the vivisection industry, for example, in

The Vegan, Au t w n n1988

That is, are some people totally unreceptive to an animal rights message?

TR As unkind as this might sound, I think some people really are 'a dead loss'. Sometimes this is because they are happy in their

I think s o m e p e o p l e really are 'a d e a d l o s s ' . . . In fact I h a v e m e t e n o u g h of t h e m to think that I can now r e c o g n i z e the t y p e after only a few m i n u t e s ' c o n v e r s a tion. W h e n t h i s h a p p e n s , I look for the nearest exit. I m e a n , I want out of t h e situation, t h e quicker t h e better.

timist like myself is faced with the sad fact that most of these people are among the 'dead losses' we spoke of earlier. I just don't think there is much hope of talking these people out of their sweet traditions, by use of 'intellectual' arguments. Much better to try to put them out of business by drying up their market.

BK How do we deal with the 'fact' that the moral argument is on our side and yet that argument is not accepted, possibly not even understood, by animal abusers?

TR Mainly I deal with this fact by avoiding much direct contact with animal abusers. I think I have better, potentially more fruitful, ways to spend my time and expend my energy.

At the same time I think this limitation of rational argument should teach us a lesson.

And that lesson is: people don't always, or

Instead we need to reach those people who can be reached using a variety of approaches - t h e 'rational arguments' of philosophy certainly, but also the imagery of poetry, the power of music, the empathetic possibilities

P e o p l e don't a l w a y s , or o n l y r e s p o n d to, or b a s e their lives u p o n , rational a r g u m e n t s . . . Ins t e a d w e n e e d to r e a c h t h o s e p e o p l e using a variety of a p p r o a c h e s — t h e 'rational a r g u m e n t s ' of p h i l o s o p h y c e r t a i n l y , but a l s o the i m a g e r y of p o e t r y , the power of m u s i c , t h e e m p a thetic possibilities of d a n c e , t h e s e d u c t i v e n e s s of p a i n t i n g .

ignorance, sometimes this is because they are content in their indifference, and sometimes both factors contribute to their sad bliss. I have met researchers of dance, the seductiveness of who are '"dead losses' for painting. There are a lot of these reasons, and not a few empty shelves in our store that religious people too. In fact I need our thoughtful stocking. have met enough of them to think that I can now recogTactics nize the type after only a few What's wrong - fundamentally wrong - with the w a y BK Would you accept then minutes* conversation. When a n i m a l s are t r e a t e d isn't t h e d e t a i l s t h a t v a r y f r o m c a s e the view that damage to the this happens, I look for the to c a s e . It's t h e w h o l e s y s t e m . T h e f o r l o r n n e s s of t h e v e a I property of animal abusers nearest exit. I mean, 1 want has a valid part to play in the calf is p a t h e t i c , h e a r t - w r e n c h i n g ; t h e p u l s i n g p a i n of t h e out of the situation, the struggle for animal liberaquicker the better. I don't c h i m p w i t h e l e c t r o d e s p l a n t e d d e e p in h e r b r a i n is r e p u l tion? think we should feel obliged s i v e ; t h e s l o w , t o r t u r o u s d e a t h of t h e r a c o o n c a u g h t in to offer water to thirsty people TR I have stated my opposit h e l e g - h o l d t r a p i s a g o n i z i n g . But w h a t is w r o n g isn't t h e when what they want is sand. tion to the use of violence as a pain, isn't t h e s u f f e r i n g , isn't t h e d e p r i v a t i o n . T h e s e c o m tactic in the past, and I do so p o u n d w h a t is w r o n g . S o m e t i m e s - o f t e n - t h e y m a k e it here again. Violence never m u c h , m u c h w o r s e . But t h e y a r e n o t t h e f u n d a m e n t a l Limits of changes anything, in my view, wrong.

Reason except the identities of the T h e f u n d a m e n t a l w r o n g is t h e s y s t e m t h a t a l l o w s us agents of violence. Moreover, t o v i e w a n i m a l s as our resources, h e r e for us to b e BK How do you suggest we to suppose that people who e a t e n , or surgically m a n i p u l a t e d , o r e x p l o i t e d for s p o r t o r tackle those who, say in agriused violence to achieve their cultural communities, conm o n e y . O n c e w e a c c e p t t h i s v i e w of a n i m a l s - as o u r ends would miraculously front one with the force of r e s o u r c e s - t h e rest is a s p r e d i c t a b l e a s it is r e g r e t t a b l e . cease to be violent once their tradition, livelihood and a W h y w o r r y a b o u t their l o n e l i n e s s , their p a i n , t h e i r d e a t h ? ends were achieved runs strong sense of what they do S i n c e a n i m a l s exist f o r us, to b e n e f i t u s in o n e w a y o r against everything we know being acceptable? a n o t h e r , w h a t h a r m s t h e m really d o e s n ' t m a t t e r - o r about human psychology.

TR I don't think I have anym a t t e r s o n l y if it starts t o b o t h e r us, m a k e s u s f e e l a trifle Violence begets violence. The thing new or profound to add u n e a s y w h e n w e eat o u r v e a l e s c a l o p , for e x a m p l e . S o , violent child is the father (or to what already is familiar in mother) of the violent man (or y e s , let u s get veal c a l v e s o u t of solitary c o n f i n e m e n t , this context. Arguments from woman). To imagine that we g i v e t h e m m o r e s p a c e , a little s t r a w , a f e w c o m p a n i o n s . tradition, livelihood and the are immune to these all but B u t let u s k e e p our v e a l e s c a l o p . like are radically deficient aruniversal tendencies because B u t a little s t r a w , m o r e s p a c e a n d a f e w c o m p a n i o n s guments, unless they are bolwe march under the banner of won't e l i m i n a t e - w o n ' t even touch - t h e basic w r o n g that stered by a defense of the animal rights is naive in the a t t a c h e s to our v i e w i n g a n d t r e a t i n g t h e s e a n i m a l s a s o u r justice of the tradition, the extreme. r e s o u r c e s . A veal calf killed to be e a t e n after living i n justice of the means of liveliBK Sometimes it seems that hood, etc. And, of course, this c l o s e c o n f i n e m e n t is v i e w e d a n d t r e a t e d in t h i s w a y ; b u t the animal rights movement is is just the sort of 'bolstering' so, t o o , is a n o t h e r w h o is r a i s e d ( a s t h e y s a y ) ' m o r e at a crossroads: what to do we never find among those h u m a n e l y ' . T o right t h e w r o n g of o u r t r e a t m e n t of f a r m next? PETA [The Washingwho exploit animals, anyanimals requires m o r e than making rearing m e t h o d s ton-based Peoplefor the Ethimore than we found it among ' m o r e h u m a n e ' ; it r e q u i r e s t h e total d i s s o l u t i o n of c o m cal Treatment of Animals those who, for reasons of tramercial animal agriculture.

See The Vegan, Autumn dition or livelihood, eagerly 1987], seems to be taking The Struggle For Animal Rights, 1 9 8 7 participated in the slave trade things into more sophisticated or 'paid' young children to areas-e.g. the $100 ticket cework fourteen hours a day in lebrity-studded vegan banthe mills or the mines. Perhaps a few people only respond to, or base their lives upon, who earn their living off the backs of non- rational arguments. Indeed, my guess is that quet; buying up stocks and shares in animalhuman animals can come to the point where most of us, most of the time, don't do any- abusing industries and voting at AGMs; the specially tailored they see this. And perhaps a few of these few thing remotely like this. fund-raising video, etc. How do will use that insight as the occasion for making So what we should learn, I think, is not to you view such developments? changes in their lives. But even a robust opstock our store with onlv rational arguments.

A Matter of J u s t i c e

9 The Vegan, Au t w n n1988

TR I think PETA's success in the past several years, in growing in the monumental way it has, is in large part due to their being imaginative. They have dared to go where others have either feared to tread or where others never thought of treadng. I applaud their boldness and imagination. I think all activist organizations can learn from what they've done and are doing.

BK In your book The Struggle for Animal Rights - reviewed by former ALF Press Officer Ronnie Lee in The Vegan, Spring 1988 - you suggest that animal liberators give themselves up. Is this not, as Ronnie, put it, "really rather batty"?

T R Not in the least. I think it is both the moral means and the wise tactic we should be willing to use. In fact, it already has been used, this past April, by members of the Califomia-based group, Last Chance for Animals. By breaking-into a laboratory at UCLA [Ed. University of California, Los Angeles], armed only with cameras and a video-camcorder and, not unimportantly, without doing anything to trash the lab, they were able to prove that the research establishment at that university had been lying through their noses about what was being done in that lab. Having arranged to get the visual evidence out, these brave activists then awaited their arrest and willingly faced the criminal charges levied against them.

What did they prove?

That they had been telling the truth and the university had been lying; that their violation of the law was done in the public interest, not as a pretext for having an evening of violence; that the people who seek to liberate animals believe so firmly in the justice of their cause that they are prepared to risk giving up some of their own liberty if that's necessary.

And how did the media cover this? Not in the usual way, I can assure you. In this case the law-breakers - our people - emerged as the heroes; the vivisectors as the villains. So the strategy proved to be wise. Add to that the further consideration that it also is the moral way to proceed and we have, in my view at least, a compelling answer to the suggestion that this way of conducting break-ins is "batty".

The Struggle BK That remark apart, what did you think of Ronnie's review of your Struggle for Animal Rights?

10

TR What's clear I think, is that Ronnie Lee and I agree on the importance of the arts for our Movement but that we have important differences, as I've already indicated. Another which separates us concerns the necessity of involving the religious community.

When he writes that it would be nice if "the attitudes of 'the faithful' towards animals were generally to improve", we are on common ground. But when he goes on to castigate 'the faithful' because of "all its mumbojumbo and repressive nonsense", then we part company and Ronnie Lee becomes, in my view, part of the problem, not part of the solution. Imagine that his views were said to be 'mumbo-jumbo', then I would imagine that he would not be exactly enthralled about the prospect of discussing ways to co-operate with his accuser. To my way of thinking, I can't imagine that, given what he has said, 'the faithful' are anxiously awaiting the opportunity to work co-operatively with him.

And that's apity, for lots of reasons. One concerns some hard facts. As a recent poll in the States revealed, a full 84% of the Ameri-

can public believes in the divinity of Jesus Christ. That teaches me one thing very quickly; this is that our Movement never will achieve its objectives without involving a significant proportion of that 84% - something we are certain to fail to do if we paint their beliefs in the colours o f ' mumbo-jumbo' and 'repression'.

A second thing it teaches me is less direct but no less real; this is that we do well to attempt to find within our religious heritage those sources that really are favourable to the struggle for animal rights. For these sources are there. In fact Andrew Linzey and 1 have been busily excavating them over the past several years, with the result that two relevant books will soon be published by SPCK (In Praise of Animals: Readings and Prayers and Animals and Christianity: A Book of Readings). These books do not represent the last word in this vital part of our Movement, but they do make a modest contribution. It remains to be seen what the Movement makes of these resources.

BK Let's return now to our starting point of constituencies and the need to get more people involved.

Thinking especially of the young - for the older and 'wiser' can usually think of more oars to toput their hands on - what concrete activities! action can we encourage them in.

T R Odd that you should ask this, since our next video project most likely will be made with 'the young' uppermost in mind.

What we envisage - and this is all very tentative at this point in time — is an alternatively hard-hitting andquietly reflective work that features young people in the Movement, who in turn use their personal involvement in the struggle for animal rights as a means for educating their peers and inviting their involvement. The theme throughout will be: having the courage to question authority.

We want to document and celebrate some of those young people who have proven their courage and who therefore can serve as role models for others, just as in Voices I have Heard, for example, we did this in the case of older, wiser activists.

The last thing we should be doing is having someone my age preaching to teenagers about what they ought to do. Let our young heroes speak to their peers. That's where the real action is.

The Vegan, A utwnn 1988

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Orders to: T h e V e g a n Society ( M e r c h a n d i s e ) , 33-35 G e o r g e Street, O x f o r d 0 X 1 2AY. P o s t a l O r d e r s / c h e q u e s p a y a b l e t o : The Vegan Society 11 The Vegan, Au t w n n1988

Ltd.

W

e British vegans have really got it made. Though we may still complain about our social di sad van tages, we do at least live in a country where the word 'vegan' is now generally, if not yet universally, recognized; where restaurants advertise food as 'vegan' on their menus; and where whole- and health-food shops offer what is probably the widest selection of vegan foodstuffs to be found anywhere in Europe. Not least, of course, we have our own society and magazine, which even in Western Europe is the exception rather than the rule.

W h a t m u s t it b e like f o r a v e g a n l i v i n g in a c o u n t r y w h e r e t h e r e a r e n o w h o l e f o o d s h o p s at all, w h e r e t h e r e a r e f e w e r vegetarians t h a n t h e r e a r e v e g a n s in Britain?

What must it be like for a vegan living in a country where there are no wholefood shops at all, where there are fewer vegetarians than there are vegans in Britain, where staples such as wholemeal rice and pulses are all but unobtainable, and where even nuts and most fresh fruit and vegetables can only be bought at special markets for astronomical prices?

Such a country is the Soviet Union - the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

Firstly, there is no Vegan or even Vegetarian Society in the USSR - indeed, in any Eastern European country, except Poland and Yugoslavia. The average Soviet citizen has probably never met a vegetarian in his or her life.

M e a t a p p e a r s t o b e e v e n m o r e of a s t a t u s s y m b o l in R u s s i a . . . t h a n in B r i t a i n ; m o s t R u s s i a n s f i n d it d i f f i c u l t t o c o n c e i v e of a n y o n e v o l u n t a r i l y g i v i n g it u p .

Meat appears to be even more of a status symbol in Russia, the largest of the Soviet republics, than it is - or at least used to be in Britain; most Russians find it difficult to conceive of anyone voluntarily giving it up.

Looking Back Apparently this was not always the case. The Russian literary giant Leo Tolstoy was in later life a staunch vegetarian and contributed articles to the Petersburg Vegetarian Society, which was established late in the last century. His influence can still be felt amongst Russian vegetarians today. One of his essays, 'The First Step', presents as powerful a case for vegetarianism as I have found in any modern vegetarian or animal rights publication; the account of his visit to a slaughter-house in Tula is stomachchumingly vivid.

Vegetarianism seems to have been quite an issue in the last years of Tsarist Russia. A major character in Chekhov's play Uncle Vanya - Dr Astrov, for example, talks of how

12

g a i m

THÂťHX Richard Whitehead reflects on his recent experiences as a vegan visiting the USSR

people find him eccentric because he doesn't eat meat (Chekhov himself was not a vegetarian). In this same period the brilliant Russian painter, Ilya Repin, was also a vegetarian.

Even in the early years of Soviet rule there appear to have been vegetarian restaurants in a number of major cities. Though no expert on the history of Soviet vegetarianism, I imagine that like most free-thinking movements it suffered under the iron grip of Stalinist tyranny. In contrast to the more positive assessment in the standard Tsarist encyclopedia, in Stalin's day the Bolshaya Sovietskaya Entsiklopediya - the Soviet equivalent of Encyclopaedia Britannica branded vegetarianism as an "unscientific doctrine" based on false hypotheses and ideas, and went on to claim that it had no adherents in the USSR. To this day official and popular Soviet attitudes to vegetarianism remain overwhelmingly negative.

The severely limited availability of vegetarian staples, along with many others, in the USSR has no doubt been another major obstacle to a growth in compassionate eating habits over there.

... a n d F o r w a r d Which is not to say that they have died out altogether. Soviet vegetarianism, I can assure you, is alive and kicking. During a recent visit to Leningrad I met a good forty or fifty vegetarians and even a couple of vegans. Though they have no Society to represent them, many Russians practise vegetarianism as individuals and sometimes in small groups. In Leningrad, for instance, groups of enthusiasts called 'walruses' indulge in such gruesome feats as running barefoot through the winter snow in minus 40°C — or even cutting a hole out of a frozen lake and jumping in! These groups are often connected with natural living and some of them are either exclusively or predominantly vegetar-

ian. Some religious sects are also vegetarian - the Hare Krishna movement is quite strong there and finding life easier under glasnost.

Members of the trezvye or' sober' sect of the Russian Orthodox Church, as well as being teetotal and non-smoking, do not eat meat though they generally eat fish.

Growing Awareness There is also a growing awareness of environmental problems in the USSR, both inside and outside of the ruling Communist Party. Gorbachev himself frequently refers to the necessity of protecting the earth's natural resources, and recently a new Ministry for the Protection of Nature was recently established in Moscow.

In general, though, Soviet vegetarians are spiritual rather than political. Many of those I spoke to could not even see the need for a Vegetarian Society in the USSR. "Vegetarianism is just a part of our philosophy; there are much profounder links binding us than purely what we eat."

T h e r e is, unfortunately, a darker s i d e to perestroika. A n i m a l husb a n d r y will m o s t likely be intensified still further to meet W e s t e r n s t a n d a r d s of 'efficiency', a n d next year will w i t n e s s the o p e n ing of t w o M c D o n a l d s restaurants in M o s c o w .

That is not to say that Soviet vegetarianism could not become more outgoing in the future. The dawn ofperestroika and glasnost could bring this about. Unofficial groupings, now already with semi-official status, are flourishing in major Soviet cities and I have no doubt that the establishment of a Soviet Vegetarian Society would nowadays meet with few objections from the authorities.

With the birth of many small co-operatives The Vegan, A utumn 1988

as an invigorating new force in the Soviet economy, some friends of mine in Leningrad are think^ ing of establishing a co-operatively-run shop selling wholefoods and organic produce. There has even been talk of making a programme on vegetarianism for Leningrad TV. So far only talk, but still...

There is, unfortunately, a darker side to perestroika. Animal husbandry will most likely be intensified still further to meet Western standards of 'efficiency', and next year will witness the opening of two McDonalds restaurants in Moscow, with promises of more to come (Moscow, incidentally, already has its own American Pizza Hut). But in general the omens are good provided, of course, that enough dedicated people can be found to emphasize the more compassionate and less commercial aspects of perestroika.

C h o o s i n g Cruelty-Free — Soviet-style So what is there to eat for vegans in the USSR? As already mentioned, most of what we would regard as the vegan staples are virtually unavailable to Soviet people with anything but the thickest of wallets.

For the Western tourist in the USSR, however, it is quite another story. Intourist (the State organization for foreign tourists) will on request provide vegetarian food in its hotels and restaurants, and vegan food is normally negotiable - though patience and persistence are required. The dishes, though often quite small, are usually imaginatively prepared, albeit out of simple ingredients.

Fresh salads, (white) rice, fried mushrooms and potatoes are examples of these. The Soviet vegan has more to put up with, but 13 The Vegan, Au t w n n1988

various vegan foods are available in the shops if you know what to look for. Frozen vegetables and canned or bottled fruit will occasionally make a fleeting appearance on the 'Fruit and Vegetables' street booths which, despite their description, seem to be devoted largely to the selling of meat! In the summer months tomatoes and cucumbers appear in the shops, as do oranges in the winter and spring and apples in the autumn.

Other vegan products include tinned seaweed in tomato sauce, tomato pur6e, and solyanka - a cabbage-based mixture of vegetables and spices, which despite its highly potent smell is quite palatable (beware though, solyanka sometimes contains animal fat).

Also widely available and very tasty are baklazhannaya ikra and kabachkovaya ikra thick aubergine and marrow purges - and vinegret, a distinctive salad of cold, cooked vegetables dressed in sunflower oil.

But the best thing about the Soviet Union for vegans is its incomparable rye bread freshly baked every day and subtly spiced, a large loaf will cost between 12p and 20p. All of these are worth a try, but my own favourite is the Borodinsky variety (named after Borodino - the site of a decisive Battle in the' Great Patriotic War' of 1812 against Napoleon).

Despite the very low wages most Soviet people receive, a trip to one of the privatesector fruit and vegtablemarkets is de rigueur for special occasions. The prices there

tllustr. Juliet Breese

are such to make even the Western tourist gulp - a kilogram of dried apricots, for instance, can easily cost ÂŁ11-12! But the variety and quality of nuts, fresh and dried fruits and vegetables available are spectacularly superior to the lacklustre offerings of the state-run outlets. You may also find dried haricot beans and a good selection of fresh and dried herbs and spices, as well as a few surprises such as pickled garlic - a must if you've never tried it!

... and Finally There's no denying it - it is far from easy, but certainly not impossible, to remain a consistent vegan in Soviet society.

What, then, can we do to help our ethical allies in the USSR? The answer is, I think, not a great deal - in this and in other respects the Soviet Union can only be reformed by its own people, not through Western interference. But we can give them moral support, send them messages of encouragement, maybe even take them food parcels if we happen to go there ourselves.

Ed. For the benefit of readers interested in corresponding with or visiting (Englishspeaking) Soviet vegetarians and vegans, the Vegan Society has contact addresses which can be supplied on request.

Grand Prize Draw second-placer Lucy George looks back on a memorable experience

Options We had two free days in the middle of the holiday, where various options were put to us. Some people went for a boat trip, others went in taxis to Skyros village, others had a day or two to themselves. I accompanied a group led by one of the course instructors for an 8-mile hike across rugged but green countryside to the village, which gave me a look at the beauty of unspoilt Greece.

As part of the Community idea adopted by Atsitsians, we had a meeting called demos each morning after breakfast. This was chaired by a different person each day — it might be an instructor, a staff member or a course participant.

The purpose was to give and receive information, exchange ideas, to air comments and grievances and also for the person leading demos

I

set off with some excitement and a certain amount of trepidation, in the hope that I would find the two weeks to be a good change from London, or at least to attain some sortoftan! The journey proved to be a good starting place to get to know fellow participants. I must say that the welcome we received on reaching the island more than made up for the seemingly endless journey, though of course, the latter was not without interest.

C o m m u n i t y Life As far as I was concerned, the vegetarian food was almost the best part of the holiday and it was certainly the best I have eaten on holiday,

It w a s g o o d t o h a v e a break from cooking, to f i n d I w a s e a t i n g nutrit i o u s f o o d , a n d not t o b e t h o u g h t of a s s o m e k i n d of w e i r d o ! whether abroad or n o t The ComDear Vegan Society, munity life revolved around our outdoor eating and we joined work / have just groups to help prepare for and clear up after meals. The kitchen staff provided a varied and colourful menu for vegans and vegetarians.

They also managed well to meet the slightly differing demands of some of the younger participants and some other special &ets. It was good to have a break from cooking, to find I was eating nutritious food, and not to be thought of as some kind of weirdo!

Turning to the courses offered during the two weeks, which of course were equally as important as the food, there was a wealth of choice available, which made at least 70 minds boggle to begin with. There was Yoga, Massage, Self-defence and Self-preservation, Meditation, Alexander Technique, Art Work, Creative Dance, Tai Chi, Windsurfing, Swimming Technique.... It was a pity we could not sample them all, but we were advised to concentrate on four or five and in the end I chose Alexander Technique, Swimming, Windsurfing and Self-defence. I forgot to mention the Juggling, which was great fun to watch. While the courses lent a useful structure to the day, there was ample opportunity to make use of other facilities, such as the canoes and the snorkelling equipment. When not receiving the excellent instruction common to every course, there was a chance to swim, sun-bathe, walk, wander, explore, collect or laze in the (one only) hammock, under some olive trees. If one had any spare time that is!

14

prae-winnm& ned

0

rfÂť Js "^Jsland,

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Greece, and

W h e n not receiving the e x c e l l e n t instruction c o m m o n to e v e r y course, there w a s a c h a n c e to s w i m , s u n - b a t h e , walk, w a n d e r , explore, collect or laze in the (one only) h a m m o c k , u n d e r s o m e olive trees. If one had a n y s p a r e t i m e that is! to share something on a more personal level. I must not forget to mention the 3-minute Greek lessons we had during demos, particu-

The Vegan, Au t w n n1988

larly as I was asked to be the 'board-holder' on more than one occasion.

At the beginning of the holiday, we formed smaller ecos groups of about nine or ten members. These were designed to give each person a chance to express themselves within a trusting group. To succeed they needed each member to co-operate, to give something of themselves and to have the capacity to support the other members in confidentiality. I also tried out the skill of 'co-listening' and was lucky enough to find a partner with whom I could identify and vice versa. We practised this skill in a number of situations, including once in mid-ocean on two canoes and another time sitting on some pine needles with a glorious view across the bay.

Evening Activities Evening activities varied. Sometimes events were organized for us — such as talks on Greek Language and Culture, or the Local History of the island. Some of the instructors led us in Greek and African dancing and there was the opportunity for group singing and music-making. It was also pleasant to sit in company with a drink at the bar (they did some interesting herbal teas as well as the more commonly known drinks). Evenings were also a good time to take a taxi into the village for dinner in one of the tavemas and a wander around the shops, or a visit to the monastery, one of the two museums or to Rupert Brook's Statue.

S u m m i n g Up Several things stand out for me on the holiday: The most welcome things were the companionship, the vegan food, the comfortable beds and the hot showers after evening courses (when the solar panels had heated the water to a delicious temperature!).

The most memorable events included the walk to Skyros village, a 1.5 mile swim around a smaller island near to the centre, and the surprise on being presented with a vegan birthday cake and the smiles and singing that went with it!

I found Atsitsa's spirit of community living to be a spell-binding feature of the holiday. The centre could buzz with sound, yet a few minutes walk away one could be completely alone or 'at one with the environ-

ment', to coin a phrase. The only thing that did seem to jarr at Atsitsa for me personally was the intermittent roar of low-flying military jets passing above. Effort was required to work at the courses, as well as in communicating with other people, but this was made so much easier because of the hard work of the staff, their excellent organizational skills and their patience with us all.

The cabaret on the last night seemed to demonstrate the tremendous capacity for creativity amongst us all and our ability to have a great deal of fun when we let ourselves.

It was quite hard to come home!

\W% * I

MERCHANDIS

Books, badges, T-shirts, stickers, notelets and more - all in the new Vegan Society MERCHANDISE LIST. Get yours now, free of charge, and place your order early for Christmas.

Available from: The Vegan Society (Merchandise), 33-35 George Street, Oxford OX1 2AY. 15 The Vegan, Au t w n n1988

Shoparound Lis Howlett surveys the latest vegan products

T

here is definitely a lull in the activity of the food trade at this time of year.

The frantic period of product launches in time for the trade fairs is over and the seasonal scramble for the Christmas market has yet to start. So this means less than usual to report in the way of new food products; but it gives me a welcome opportunity to draw readers' attention to a number of other items that would normally get squeezed o u t

S o m e t h i n g Else Firstly, some teas that really are something else when it comes to flavour. Creamy C a r o b G o u r m e t Teas from the United States come in six flavours: Sweet Almond, After Dinner Mint, French Vanilla, Original Spice, Orange Royale and Morning Brew. No caffeine, few calories and a real experience for the taste buds!

Secondly, for those who find wholemeal flour too coarse or difficult to work with Doves F a r m ' s new Flour called Stone-White Flour - has much of the goodness of wholemeal flour yet is as workable as any white flour and is stoneground.

And there's yet more flour news. T h e Watermill in Cumbria has producedSpecial Blend H o u r - an organnic, high-protein flour containing soya flour, sunflower and

16

sesame seeds.

The seasonal lull notwithstanding, there are some new food products that are well worth a mention. Not the least of these is Genice's Ice Delight Cone, which has been sighted and sampled by members on the south coast Choc ices, comettos - what next?

Still in the sweet meat department, but this time with a little less guilt attached, Plain il has just launched a delicious no-added sugar carob spread, and no-added sugar carob bars in plain, orange and roasted hazelnut flavours. Look out for these in the shops soon.

Filling t h e G a p A real gap in the market has been spotted by Kallo Foods, who have just launched Kallo Puffed Rice Cereal - made from organic, wholegrain rice with no artificial additives, added sugar or salt. (Those who like their puffed rice to really 'snap, crackle and pop', however, may have to crisp it up a bit in the oven first.) Now you can try combining the carob bars and the puffed rice for a really healthy version of those children's favourites chocolate crispies.

And another party treat, from Just Wholefoods - Real Fruit Jelly Crystals in three flavours: Lemon, Tropical and Strawberry. These are made with raw cane sugar, natural flavours and natural colours.

Aimed more at preventing a gap than filling one is a new vegan toothpaste, which has added fluoride. Called Kingfisher, it's available at present in a very pleasant fennel flavour. Although specially formulated to appeal to children, it's every bit as popular with adults in my household. Look out for further developments from this company.

The Ener-G Company's Egg Replacer, described as 'a culinary egg substitute', is now becoming more widely available through health-food shops and is obviously a product which will be regarded as a real boon by those vegans who find it difficult to live without the binding and whipping qualities of eggs.

There are full instructions for use on the packet, plus a selection of recipes, and the calcium lactate listed has no relationship to milk or any other dairy ingredients.

The choice of tofu mayonnaise products continues to expand. Rayner Burgess's Soyannaise Tofu Dressing tastes very like a standard salad cream, while two new dressings from Meridian - under the brand name Mayo - are beautifully light and creamy.

There is a Lemon & Garlic or Olive Oil to choose from. By the way, the same company's new fruit juice concentrates Apple & Apricot and Apple & Blackcurrant - are really delicious.

Two final pieces of food news: Cauldron's range of pStds have been reformulated and repackaged. The Vegetable Pat6, Mushroom Pat6, and a new Tomato & Red Pepper Pat6 are all vegan - but beware, Savoury Vegetable Pat6 is not. The company has also issued a recipe leaflet to go with their packs of tofu, but the recipes are not a patch on those in Hera's Tofeata packs mentioned last time - some of which, by the way, were taken from Leah Leneman's International Tofu Cookery Book.

Goodlife Wholefoods have a range of products in the chilled cabinets - Organic Smoked Tofu Satay, Nut Cutlets, Tandoori Cutlets, Vegetable & Sesame Seed Cutlets, Mexican Cutlets and Bean Bangers.

Moving On Moving on from the business of eating to vegan products in other areas, there is a definite expansion afoot and a growing awareness of the vegan market.

The availability of cruelty-free cleaning products has increased tremendously recently. Home Care Products, the makers of Shiny Sinks and Hob Brite, which are available in many large supermarkets, have launched two new products: Microwave Plus - for all white goods, and Copper Glo - for cleaning copper and brass.

Although Ecover is still having difficulty replacing the cow's milk whey in its washing-up liquid, other firms notably Caurnie and Honesty - are coming up with their own versions. Caumie has added another variety to its popular range of round glycerine soaps - this one is mandarin. And Honesty has launched a whole range of new products in attractive new containers. A number of their shampoos and lotions have been reformulated and there are now also foam baths, body shampoos and sun preparations. In addition to the Washing-Up Liquid, they have produced an all-purpose cleansing concentrate.

All Honesty products are available by mail order, so in case you have difficulty obtaining them locally write for full details to: Honesty, 33 Markham Road, Chesterfield, Derbys S40 IT A. New looks and new formulas have been given by Tiki to its range of hair, skin and bath preparations - and with the exception of the Vitamin E Cream, which contains lanolin, the company's entire range is vegan.

Sun Seekers And finally, for those planning a late holiday somewhere warm, Creightons new Sun Veil range is entirely vegan.

These products demonstrate a welcome new trend in the toiletries and cosmetics industry — that of listing the ingredients — even if it does seem as though one needs a degree in chemistry to understand them!

The Vegan, A utumn 1988

ÂŁ3.50

Vegan Nutrition Gill L a n g l e y M A , P h D , MIBiol

Incorporating easy-to-follow tables, chapter summaries and a full bibliography, Vegan

Nutrition aims to be the most authoritative and up-to-date work on the subject and to meet the needs of the interested layperson and health-care professional alike.

17 The Vegan, A utumn 1988

+ 60p p&p

ONE MAN'S M Janet Hunt offers ideas on the role of substitute meats in vegan cuisine

I

t isn't, of course, the real thing that has become such a bone of contention - we all agree about that - but substitute meats, made from processed soya or field beans.

Many vegans feel it's wrong to produce an ingredient that panders to the demand for flesh foods, that does nothing to re-educate the taste buds, and is in any case unnatural.

Others, myself included, think that the wider the variety of vegan food that is available the better the chance of persuading meat-eaters to make the switch. As long as ingredients are ethically and nutritionally sound, and taste good, what does it matter what they're made of, or called? There are many new (and perhaps not so new?!) vegans who miss the flavour of meat, and surely anything that helps prevent them slipping back into old habits can't be all bad?

Most substitute meats are best used in composite d i s h e s - such as moussaka, curry, bolognese sauce, stroganoff, pasties, shepherd's pie. Combined with ingredients such as vegetables, herbs, spices, garlic, they in fact have very little taste anyway - it's the texture contrast (and, of course, their high protein content) that makes them well worth including. They can also be used in burgers, or shaped into sausages, and then fried in the minimum of oil. Or try them mixed with beans to make a stew.

What I especially like about substitute meats is that not only are they nutritious and very versatile, but they're easy to store (you buy them dehydrated in packets and soak in water or vegetable stock when needed), quick to prepare, and - compared with the real thing - excellent value for money.

What I don't like is that some flavoured varieties have monosodium glutamate added, and colouring- but these are easily avoided, if you feel the same as I do! (You might need to add extra herbs or flavouring.)

The two menus I've provided show how meat substitutes can be incorporated into balanced meals using other ingredients that are in season right now.

All recipes are forfour average servings. A n asterisk before a dish indicates that a recipe is supplied.

18

Menu 1 *Autumn Vegetable Crumble Jacket Potatoes •Watercress Salad *Baked Apples A u t u m n Vegetable Crumble 5 oz (140g) soya chunks — flavoured or plain 2 tbs vegetable oil 1 large onion, peeled and sliced 2 carrots, peeled and sliced 2 leeks, cleaned and sliced 2 sticks celery, cleaned and sliced 1 large parsnip, peeled and cubed approx. 1/3 pint (200ml) vegetable stock 2 tbs tahini (optional) 4 oz (115g) wholemeal flour 2 oz (55g) margarine seasoning and dried herbs to taste

Hydrate the soya chunks in water or vegetable stock.

Heat the oil in a large pan, add the onion and cook briefly to soften. Stir in the prepared vegetables and cook for a few minutes more, stirring frequently. Add the stock, bring to a boil, then cover the pan and cook gently for approx. 10 min. The vegetables should be cooked but still firm.

Meanwhile, make the crumble by rubbing the margarine into the flour to make a cnimb-like mixture, add seasoning and herbs to taste.

Drain most of the stock from the vegetables (if any remains) and stir in the tahini (if used). Spread the mixture across the base of an ovenproof dish, sprinkle evenly with the crumble mixture, press down lightly.

Bake at 375°F/190°C/Gas Mark 5 for approx. 30 min.

Watercress Salad 1 bunch of fresh watercress 2 oz (55g) firm mushrooms 2 oz (55g) beansprouts 1 orange (optional) Remove any yellow or wilted leaves from the watercress, wash and shake to dry. Slice the cleaned mushrooms and mix with the watercress and beansprouts. Coarsely chopped orange goes well with this salad.

The Vegan, Au t w n n1988

stock or water, seasoning and yeast extract.

Bring to a boil, then cover the pan and cook gently for 20-30 min., or until the peas are soft.

The soup can be served like this, but it is better liquidized to make it smooth — you might need to add a drop more water too.

Hand round 'bacon' bits to be sprinkled on top.

Stuffed Marrow Rings T ' j ^ ® pPegA-nvE

1 large marrow (approx. 2 lbs/1.15kg in weight) 2 tbs vegetable oil 1 large onion, peeled and finely chopped 5 oz (140g) soya mince, flavoured or plain 2 oz (55g) wholemeal flour 3 tomatoes, chopped or half a large tin of tomatoes 1 tbs tomato puree t/2 tsp dried basil or other herbs seasoning to taste approx. Hi pint (285ml) water or vegetable stock breadcrumbs (optional) margarine (optional)

V SltiCZ

Menu 2 Baked Apples 4 large cooking apples 4 tbs granola or coarsely crumbled biscuits 2 oz (55g) raisins 1 oz (30g) chopped nuts good pinch of mixed spice ap piej uice concen t rate or sy ru p an d lem on juice Wash, dry and remove the core from the apples (with special cutter or a sharp knife).

Slitting the skin in a ring round the centre helps prevent the apple bursting. Mix together the granola or biscuits, raisins, nuts and spice. Moisten with apple juice concentrate or mixture of syrup and lemon juice.

Stand the apples upright in a baking pan (close together so they don't fall). Lightly pack some of the mixture into the centre of each, piling any extra on top. Pour a little extra liquid over the top of the apples. Cover with a lid or silver foil. Bake in the oven with the crumble for about 30 min., or until tender when pierced.

Serve warm, topped with concentrated Plamil or similar.

19 The Vegan, A utumn 1988

*Pea Soup with 'Bacon' Bits *Stuffed Marrow Rings Brown Rice Tomato Salad with Parsley *Hot Banana Dessert Pea S o u p with 'Bacon' Bits 1/2 lb (225g) split green peas, soaked overnight 1 large onion, finely chopped 2 tbs vegetable oil seasoning to taste yeast extract to taste soya 'bacon' bits Drain the peas. Cook onion in the oil until it begins to soften, then add peas, vegetable

Peel the marrow and cut into four even-sized rings. Scoop out the seeds. Place the rings side by side in a greased, shallow ovenproof dish.

Hydrate soya mince, then drain well. Heat the oil and fry the onion for a few minutes until it begins to colour. Add soya mince, stir and cook for 5 min. before adding flour. Cook for a minute. Add tomatoes, herbs, seasoning and liquid. Stir well, bring to boil, then iower heat and cook uncovered for 10 min.

If necessary drain off any excess liquid.

Spoon the mixture into the centre of the marrow rings. Cover with lid or silver foil and bake at 375°F/190°C/Gas Mark 5 for about 40 min., or until marrow is cooked.

For a crispy topping, mix breadcrumbs with a little melted margarine and sprinkle them over the top of the marrow rings. Put under a hot grill for just a few minutes.

Hot Banana Dessert 3 large bananas raw cane sugar 2 tbs lemon juice 1 oz (30g) margarine good pinch of cinnamon (optional) roasted coconut flakes orchopped walnuts Peel the bananas and cut them through lengthways and then into halves, so that you have 12 even-sized pieces. Lay these in the base of an ovenproof dish.

Sprinkle bananas with sugar and lemon juice, dot with margarine. Add cinnamon (if used). Grill bananas under medium heat, spooning juice over the top every now and again.

Serve them hot, three pieces per person.

Nice topped with flaked coconut or walnut pieces. (You can lighdy grill the walnuts too - sprinkle them on top of the bananas and cook for only a minute or so, taking care not to burn them.)

REAL FOOD OR RIP-OFF? Juliet Breese

- w o n d e r s Paul Appleby

"LOOK ORGANIC VEG! IT SAVES THE EARTH." - "COSTS THE EARTH TOO!!"

HEALTHY EATING FOR DIABETICS A V * HELP YOURSELF GUIDE

Healthy Eating for Diabetics PEGGY BRUSSEAU

Peggy Brusseau Century £3.95 Pbk Anyone who is diagnosed as diabetic immediately wonders what this will mean in terms of diet and whether special and expensive foods will be needeid, not to mention cooking special meals etc.

The good news, especially for vegans, is that the best diet for diabetics is now considered to be one which is high in fibre and low in fat, since high-fibre carbohydrates break down more slowly in the

20

body, giving a steady rise in blood sugar levels without the dangerous and damaging over-consumption of fats which used to form the basis of the recommended diet for diabetics.

This new addition to the publisher's 'Help Yourself Guide' series aims to provide an understanding of the condition, how to live with it, and a comprehensive range of recipes - largely vegan but with a few vegetarian ones.

The introduction is clear and straightforward, and the author sensibly advises close co-operation with the doctor and dietitian, especially where the intake of food must be carefully balanced with insulin injections. She deals carefully with the causes of diabetes and thankfully does not overemphasize the "eating too much white sugar causes diabetes" theory, which is notgenerally accepted by diabetic specialists and in any case is too simplistic a view of this complex metabolic disorder (although, obviously, attention to diet will help in both its prevention and treatment).

The recipes are interesting and varied, with total carbohydrate and calorie values given for each recipe - most important in a book for diabetics, most of whom have allowances of carbohydrates or calories to keep to.

There are a couple of things in the book which I think would make the average dietitian wince. One is the advice to use honey instead of sugar. Ouch! Honey is absorbed even more rapidly than sugar and is no good for diabetic use. And the other is the breakfast which manages to notch up 405 calories and almost lOOg of carbohydrate per person. Notmuch use for any diabetic, whether on insulin and counting gTams of carbohydrate or non-insulin dependent and counting calories, as many are.

But all in all a useful guide with plenty of clear information. I think it will most likely appeal to younger diabetics, especially those who are interested in wholefoods and vegan/vegetarian food, and with a family to cater for. As the book points out, a diabetic diet is a healthy diet for all the family, not just for those with diabetes.

• V e r o n i c a Dawson

M

indful of the good publicity given to organic farming in The Vegan and other magazines, I recently polluted my way (no way could I have got there by public transport) 20 miles to my local Organic Farm Shop.

The place looked promising enough.

There were shelves laden with wholefoods, a refrigerator with three different brands of soya 'cheese' no less, and-centre stage-an attractive display of organic fruit and vegetables.

Then came the shock. Cricket fans will know the giant electronic scoreboard at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. Staring dumbfoundedly at the blackboard on which the prices were exhibited I was reminded how the aforesaid scoreboard appears when the West Indies are batting on a good wicket-everyone in double figures, with a liberal sprinkling of 50s and the odd century!

It was enough to turn me to drink literally so, as the shop also sold organic wine, some suitable for vegans (how many readers bother to check?). Unlike their vegetable counterparts, the wines were not outlandishly expensive and I purchased a couple of bottles to aid recovery from the shock (come on now, I wasn't going to drive 20 miles just to buy a pound of carrots, was I?).

Nevertheless, guilt-ridden at the thought of the small mammals, birds and insects sprayed to death by our non-organic farmers and horticulturalists, I relented and bought a pound each of parsnips, apples and pears.

The parsnips were a snip (ouch!) at 36p, the apples a joke at 77p, and the four mediumsize pears I took home an insult at £1.01.

Now I don't want readers to get the idea that I'm opposed to organic fanning. On the contrary, I'm all for a system that uses natural products in moderation, leaving nature to do her wonderful creative work without the dubious benefits of a veritable arsenal of chemical weapons. I'm even prepared to believe that organic produce really does taste better and is healthier than non-organic produce, and that by buying organic food we encourage more growers to switch to organic methods. However, at 25p a pear I think I'll stick to the chemicals for just a little longer.

Ed. Although somewhat tongue-in-cheek, Paul's piece raises a number of serious questions, including - by virtue of its omission the role of vegan organic growing. Look forward to spirited replies in the next issue.

The Vegan, Au t w n n1988

Healthwise

FEED

>iOAa

In 'Meals that Heal' — a guest contribution to the Healthwise column in the Spring issue—Dr. David Ryde, a Becken ham -based general practitioner, spoke of his experiences in the use of vegan diets for therapeutic purposes. He invited readers to supply brief summaries of changes in their body or mood, adverse or favourable, following the adoption of a vegan diet. Here is his follow-up report.

I

'd like to begin by thanking the 32 people, one from as far afield as New Zealand, who took the trouble to reply to my article in the Spring issue. Further feedback of this kind would be most welcome.

Experience reinforced Nearly all the replies were favourable to the change, several made neutral comments, and none were adverse. The particular handwriting and extreme length (26 closely written sides) of one reply caused me to put it aside for the moment.

Although not necessarily an accurate indication of the changes, good or bad, induced by vegan nutrition, the replies do reinforce my clinical experience with patients and acquaintances, and the views of other informed commentators on the subject.

The more I learn about the scientific basis of vegan nutrition, the more certain I am that if every person in this country took even a modest step towards veganism the individual, the Treasury and the National Health Service would benefit appreciably.

That said, there may be others who, disenchanted with the change, desert the camp and 21 The Vegan, A utumn 1988

leave us unaware of their views.

In my practice any disenchantment is in the palate, rather than in health, and this accounts for a substantial drop-out rate. Understandably, the fact that veganism is still widely regarded as eccentric also contributes to the lack of perseverance on the part of patients with significant complaints. The popularization of this eating style and the increas-

" T h e m o r e I learn a b o u t t h e scientific basis of v e g a n nutrition, t h e m o r e certain I a m that if e v e r y p e r s o n in this c o u n t r y took e v e n a m o d e s t step towards veganism the individual, t h e Treasury a n d t h e National Health S e r v i c e w o u l d benefit a p p r e c i a b l y " ing availability and number of meat and dairy alternatives may well lead to easier vegan adaptations and major health benefits.

Implications in therapy Though firmconclusionscannot be drawn, the replies (assuming

that all who wrote in were indeed vegan) suggest where veganism might have implications in therapy: • Six stated that their catarrh was cured and one that he was not helped. Two of them also reported that their depression had lifted and others noted marked improvements in deafness, sinusitis migraine, eczema, recurrent colds and cramps.

• Four reported that their chronic asthma had rapidly improved or even disappeared.

• Of four women writing about hirsutism (excess hair), two were 'cured' and one obtained no benefit. One stated that her "hair stopped growing when she became vegan but when she took the contraceptive pill her hair regrew". I'm uncertain whether this is meant to be good or bad.

9The four who wrote about chronic indigestion all responded favourably - including a medical professor, whose long-standing dyspeptic pains disappeared in three days, whereas H2 antagonists had only given moderate relief. The same people also noted relief or cure in irritable bowel syndrome, colds, sinusitis migraine, diverticulitis, bruising, excess weight and "generalised tiredness".

9The variety of benefits and

cures reported also included one case of acne (cured), menstrual breast discomfort gone (two cases), dandruff, migraine which became worse on vegetarianism and cured on veganism, general debility (three cases), remission ofchilblains and recurrent backache.

No correspondents wrote of the benefits of adopting a vegan diet to sufferers from angina, arthritis, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, gallstones and gout.

The reports echo my experience and justify the recommendation of vegan nutrition in general practice when orthodox remedies have failed to help the patient - for veganism is harmless and, unlike many drugs, is without side effects.

Occasionally one hears of people whose health improves on resuming an orthodox diet, and veganism might genuinely have failed them. However, I spend much of my professional time as a general practitioner attempting to help - often unsuccessfully conventional eaters who suffer from these very same complaints, which are related to orthodox foods.

S e n s e of proportion Whilst being enthusiastic it remains necessary to keep a sense of proportion and not regard veganism as a cure-all. There are other causes and remedies for many of the complaints mentioned, but at least for those who wrote in it worked where orthodox methods were ineffective.

Since not all doctors are prepared, or even know how, to advise patients in the matter of vegan nutritional principles may I suggest the following inexpensive and excellent paperbacks for readers seeking further guidance on the subject: [1] The forthcoming Vegan Nutrition by Gill Langley, MA, PhD, MIBiol (Vegan Society); [2]Vegan Nutrition Pure & Simple [reviewed on page 28] by American physician and nutritional counsellor. Dr. Michael Klaper (Gentle World, Inc.); [3] The Vegan Health Plan by Amanda Sweet (Arlington Books).

Ed. All of the above are available directlyfrom the Vegan Society's Merchandise Dept. as follows: [1 ]£3.50 + 60pp&p; [2] £2 50 + 35p p&p; [3] £4.95 + 75p p&p.

O

nce every four years top sportsmen and women from around the world gather to compete against each other in the Olympic Games, and in 1988 this very special event is being held in Seoul, South Korea. As this is the first time South Korea has hosted the Games it's understandable that the media are focussing on not just the Olympics, but the country itself, its people, their lifestyles and customs.

One of the things getting a good deal of attention is the practice of eating cats and dogs. (Ed. See News, Torch of Hope')

G o u r m e t Delight Quite right too, as far as I'm concerned. If accounts are to be believed, the animals some wild, others either specially reared or family pets - are treated by the Koreans with the minimum of compassion, are slaughtered using cruel and barbaric methods, and all this not to combat starvation, but to provide a luxury food, a gourmet delight - even dog wine.

If a c c o u n t s are to be believed, the a n i m a l s ... a r e treated b y the K o r e a n s w i t h t h e m i n i m u m of c o m p a s s i o n , a r e slaughtered u s i n g cruel a n d barbaric m e t h o d s , a n d all this not to c o m b a t s t a r v a t i o n , but to provide a l u x u r y f o o d , a g o u r m e t delight — e v e n d o g w i n e ... What dist u r b s m e t h o u g h is the fact that t h e m a j o r i t y of t h o s e protesting a n d d e m a n d i n g a c t i o n are not v e g a n s , or e v e n vegetarians.

T h e y ' l l n o d o u b t continue to eat their b e e f b u r g e r s , their lamb c h o p s a n d roast c h i c k e n on S u n d a y ... s e e i n g n o contradiction in their b e h a v i o u r .

It goes without saying that all this publicity is unlikely to change a tradition that has

been part of a heritage for literally thousands of years. What will happen is that it will be driven under cover, so that the more sensitive amongst the hoards of foreigners visiting Seoul for the Games won' t have to come face to face with the grim reality of this less than picturesque aspect of Korean life. (Though I'm sure there will be those amongst them who will be only too keen to try basted dog meat with their rice and pickled cabbage, or cat meat in broth - anything to titillate their steak-jaded palettes!)

However, the alarm has been raised.

Enraged British animal lovers are handing out leaflets giving the gory details, describing the Koreans as wicked, villainous, heartless animal abusers. Good for them; I think it's excellent that all those who do care shout as loud as possible so that their voices are heard. And there couldn't be a better time to distribute and sign petitions, write letters to MPs, diplomats, local newspapers, radio and TV stations - anyone and everyone- saying that the eating of cats and dogs is not only wrong but that we in the western world will not accept it.

What disturbs me increasingly about all this, though, is the fact that the majority of those protesting and demanding action are not vegans, or even vegetarians. They'll no doubt continue to eat their beefburgers, their lamb chops and roast chicken on Sunday (possibly thanking the Lord for his 'bounties'), seeing no contradiction in their behaviour.

Angry A recent press article reported an angry Korean representative as saying that his people don't criticize 'us' for force-feeding geese until they're so fat they cannot stand.

Nor do they condemn us for sending veal calves on journeys that might last days without water and food, and crammed so close together that many of thenm suffocate. Nor do they hand out leaflets deploring the British fondness for milk - which, of course, has a long, and growing, list of attendant cruelties: cows routinely dosed with drugs, forced to endure multiple ovulations, artificial inseminations, embryo transfers, maternal frustration - and fed a diet which may include dried poultry manure!

Loathe as I am to admit it, he has a point.

Andisn'titespecially strange when you consider the British reputation for being animal lovers! You don't have to look very far to see how the myth has grown:

22

The Vegan, A utumn 1988

catflaps in our doors, dogs on our fireside rugs, budgies in cages beside kitchen windows across the country. We put out milk for passing hedgehogs, take home fallen fledglings (despite the advice of the RSPB, who say that most baby birds are better off left where they are).

Television programmes about vets rate top viewing figures, as do nature programmes.

We buy wildlife books, magazines; spend a fortune on pictures of animals, nodding dogs for the back of cars, ornaments shaped like small creatures. Take a look, too, at die most frequently featured advertisements. Advertisers long ago realized that for maximum product sales - be the product a tin of paint, toilet roll, petrol, beer or a bank - all they needed do was feature an animal in the commercial!

W h y , I w o n d e r , don't British 'animal lovers' feel the s a m e about calves, c o w s , s h e e p , chicken, pigs? Don't they too have their o w n u n i q u e characters? Aren't they subject to the s a m e e m o tions as not just our h o u s e h o l d pets, but as us: love for their y o u n g , fear, pain a n d joy? Don't they d e s e r v e the s a m e rights?

So why, I wonder, don't British 'animal lovers' feel the same about calves, cows, sheep, chicken, pigs? Don't they too have their own unique characters? Aren't they subject to the same emotions as not just our household pets, but as us: love for their young, fear, pain and joy? Don't they deserve the same rights?

Call it hypocrisy, ignorance, blinkered thinking - what you will. It exists. But it is changing. The number of people willing to admit a link between their love of animals and the food on their plate is growing. More and more of them are choosing to give up meat, fish and dairy products - which in turn is making it easier for still more to do so.

Apart from today's greater social acceptance of an eating habit that was followed by only the smallest minority not so many years ago, vegetarianism (though not yet veganism) is now big business. Restaurants include meatless meals on their menus; supermarkets stock ingredients we used to be able to buy only in specialist stores; and manufacturers of instant meals — frozen, tinned and dried — are taking this rapidly growing new market into account when developing new ranges.

Not that being vegan is just a matter of eating the right food. For ethical vegans, it's a way of life that includes looking again at products other people take for granted. Clothing, footwear, household cleaning items, toiletries, cosmetics, alcohol... all these (and many, many more) can and usually do involve cruelty to animals in one way or another. Fortunately, there are often excellent alternatives, but it means stopping, questioning, and re-evaluating things that we may 23 The Vegan, Au t w n n1988

have taken for granted for the whole of our lives.

Pet-keeping Pet-keeping is another of those things. It has been suggested that ethical vegans should not have pets. Animals that are specially bred, or imported from abroad, are subjected to varying degrees of suffering, and in any case only encourage profiteers to exploit animals. Pets that are allowed out of the home can cause fouling, destruction, and may - albeit in a very small number of cases - spread disease. Cats and dogs fed tinned food will probably be eating New Forest ponies, as well as by-products of the slaughterhouses that the ethical vegan is trying to avoid.

Pets that are allowed out of the h o m e c a n c a u s e fouling, destruction, a n d . . . s p r e a d disease.

Cats a n d d o g s fed tinned f o o d will probably be eating N e w Forest ponies, as well a s by-products of the s l a u g h t e r h o u s e s . . . and yet I feel strongly that petkeeping is not w r o n g ... • I see the logic of all these reasons. I agree with them. And yet I feel strongly that petkeeping is not wrong; that it can benefit not only the pets themselves, but other animals, and us humans too.

Let me clarify that I'm talking about unwanted animals - usually cats and dogs in need of homes, a little loving and kindness.

In this land of'animal lovers', the RSPCA last year investigated 85,000 cases of alleged cruelty. They also put down over 60,000 unwanted dogs and over 50,000 cats.

Surely ethical vegans have a duty to consider and help these animals, as well as

those that suffer as part of the food production chain? Ignoring them, pretending they don't exist seems to me much on a par with the attitude of 'animal-loving' meat eaters who just can't bear to think about the things that happen in factory farms and slaughterhouses. (And, dare I say it, I suspect an element of not wanting the inconvenience of an animal about the house amongst some of those who are anti-pets... in much the same way as meat eaters shy away from the inconvenience of modifying the eating habits of a lifetime!)

Of course, I'm not saying that al' vegans have a duty to take in strays. But if anyone wants to give a home to a creature that needs one, I don'tthink they should be made to feel guilty. Admittedly, I personally derive pleasure from the animals that share my home.

I 've seen, too, how a visiting child known for his tantrums and destructiveness sat quietly, gently stroking one of the cats for hours. I've watched the face of an elderly and usually cantankerous man who passes the house daily; seen his joy when my dog hurries up to him, tail wagging. Making real contact with animals can do more than give pleasure - it can teach responsibility, lower the blood pressure, and bring out the good in people. Can that be bad?

Take all those who are campaigning for an end to the habit of eating dogs and cats.

Basically, they care; they care enough to try to do something. They are all potential vegans, but the links must be forged in their minds, the facts hammered home, and alternatives suggested. Because many of them genuinely find the truth painful, they may well choose to resist it when written down or presented on television. Which is where we come in. Person-to-person contact seems to me the very best way of getting the message across.

I particularly like to broach the subject of veganism when I'm out walking the dog, and meet another dog walker...

Family Matters Lis Howlett continues her regular column on everyday aspects of vegan living.

AWKWARD CUSTOMERS ^agBHEBOOV

FOOD

I

make no apology for returning so soon (after my article in the Spring issue) to the subject of children and veganism.

Firstly, as a parent with young children it is obviously a subject close to my heart and one on which I feel I have something to say which may be of assistance to others when they have occasion to discuss the subject.

Secondly, to paraphrase George Orwell, "if there is hope it lies with the kids". There simply has to be, for it often seems to me that attempting to raise the consciousness of the average adult, at least on the vegan issue, is just about the most unrewarding activity in the universe! For how much longer I have my doubts, but the mind of a child is still that bit more open, and its heart that bit less hard, than that of its elders.

Steering Clear And yet I have the impression pi that even vegan parents fre'ij quently fail to fully exploit this receptiveness - that they don't talk enough about their lifestyle to their children, or explain from an early enough age precisely why they eat the way they do.

Perhaps it's because they feel that children aren' t able or 'ready' to grasp the concepts involved, or - like members of persecuted minorities - they prefer to steer clear of trouble by keeping their beliefs to themselves. For some vegans the adoption of a low, and studiously non-judgemental, profile certainly appears to be a more attractive option than being branded an 'awkward customer' and risking confrontation by 'telling it like it is', as the Americans say. It is so very English, is itnot, to go to almost any lengths to avoid causing offence. But

24

where life and death issues are involved such passivity strikes me as springing more often from moral cowardice than charity towards others.

Benefits My own experience is that giving vegan children every opportunity to become knowledgeable and self-confident about their lifestyle yields enormous benefits, practical and otherwise. It's very reassuring to know, for example, that one' s children have the self-confidence to enquire politely - and if necessary firmly - what the ingredients of an item are and how to say no when, as is inevitable at some time or another, unacceptable food is offered to them. And this ability to stand up for what one knows to be right is, of course, an asset in many challenging situations quite unrelated to veganism. Patiently cultivating it is one of the wisest investments any parent, vegan or otherwise, can make.

So how and when does one start this educational process?

The sooner the better, for food is an important element in a young child's life and it should leam early on that there are acceptable foods and unacceptable foods in much the same way that it learns about other aspects of life.

The infant that is beginning to talk can distinguish between those items that are 'yuk' and those that are 'yum'. As it gets older the reasons for the yukkiness of certain products and the yumminess ofothers will become clearer. It is obviously more difficult for children to accept a ban on the alluring offerings of the baked goods and confectionery industries, where the use of gelatine and many other animal products or derivatives is far from obvious. Nevertheless, it is possible to bring up children to be The Vegan, Au t w n n1988

discriminating and self-restrained without feeling in some way deprived compared to their peers.

Once they' ve learned to read, they can become as fastidious in their avoidance of cruelly-derived products as their parents.

And as they meet more children in different groups they will find that they are not the only 'awkward customers' around. They will meet the hyperactive child with an allergy to food colourings, the diabetic child that has to' watch what it eats, the coeliac who has to avoid all gluten, etc.

As general diet awareness increases there is less cause for vegan parents to feel self-conscious, or that they are burdening their child unnecessarily or prematurely. The child will be grateful for being informed, for understanding - to the level of its ability - the whys and wherefores of it' s family' s chosen lifestyle.

Material Aid Given time and a larger market we will no doubt see the appearance of educational materials for vegan kids along the lines of those that already exist for other minority groups. Although useful and informative to a degree, these tend, however, to treat the subject concerned in a rather laboured and artificial fashion.

So what materials are available right now, you may ask, to aid me in the task of raising informed, self-confident young vegans? I need some facts, you say, but not too much blood and gore. Well, I'm pleased to say that I can recommend several titles that are by no means obscure and so should be available from your local library.

First, a general book on food: in the Usbome 'Body Books' series You and Your Food by Judy Tatchell and Dylis Wells, moderately priced at £2.50, is all about "understanding nutrition, calories, vitamins and the things you eat". Although very orthodox in its approach, it is generally informative, easy to read and attractively laid out. What is more, it recognizes vegans as a category of people who can survive, although reiterating the exasperatingly widespread fallacy that "careful planning" of such a diet is needed. (What, one wonders, would such authors make of those perfectly healthy vegans who've never had a 25

)

The Vegan, Au t w n n1988

"carefully planned" vegan meal in their life?!) There is a double page spread on vegetarians and vegans, where some of the reasons for the adoption of these diets are briefly given, along with an even briefer mention of typical vegetarian and vegan foods.

Secondly, I have chosen a

fant prodigy says "tofu quiche!".

But at least with this book in hand the vegan child can now go to his/her teacher and say: "These are some of the things we eat".

The older child will find this book very useful for the information it contains on the history of soya, the processing of the

t h i n k i n g A h e a d ?

There must be m a n y readers w h o would like to offer financial support to the Vegan Society in its unique work but have limited means at their disposal. There is, however, an easy w a y of helping regardless of present circumstances — by including a legacy to the Society in your Will. Great or small, such legacies can make a real and enduring contribution to the promotion of vegan ideals. * For those w h o w o u l d like to make a bequest to the Society the following form of w o r d s is suggested: "I bequeath to the Vegan Society Ltd, Registered Charity no.

279228, presently at 33-35 George Street, Oxford OX1 2AY, the sum of £ , and declare that the receipt of the Treasurer or other authorized officer of the said Society shall be good and sufficient discharge of such legacy."

Property left to the Society is another valuable contribution to our cause. If y o u wish to will land or property to the Society, please write for details of how to arrange this.

title from the 'Focus on Resources' series, published by Wayland. Rather pricey at £5.95, this is more likely to be one that you borrow from the library.

What I like about Focus on Soya, and what vegan children will relate to very readily, are the coloured illustrations of familiar food products. Here is the carton of soya milk, the tin of Plamil Rice Pudding, the burgers and the sausage mixes. I can just imagine the look of perplexity on the face of the average primary school teacher if in answer to the question "What is your favourite food?" your vegan in-

different products, and this wondrous bean's potential for helping feed the world.

Thirdly, also priced at £5.95 and from the same 'Survival' series (publ. Franklin Watts) as the Animal Rights title which I mentioned in the Spring issue, a hard-hitting book called Killing for Luxury by Michael Bright.

Although this one's not for the squeamish - tackling the issues head on, I do think children should know the facts of what is being done all around them. The pictures might be disturbing, but how can we bring up a generation determined to put a stop to

these atrocities if we shield it from reality? Here is the truth behind the false glamour of fur coats and crocodile handbags, the horror involved in the collection of musk and the poaching of ivory, and the obscenity of pate defoie gras and other gourmet foods. The book is laced with strongly worded statements from various media conservationists and concludes with a 'Hard Facts' section - all excellent material for project work. I am sure there are other useful titles around and we would be pleased to hear about them, perhaps for a special section in our Children's Books List, an updated edition of which will be available later this year. If you have strong feelings about bringing up kids as vegans, why not put them on paper and send them in to us for publication in 'Postbag', or even as a special feature?

Big Effort It is still, sadly, a fact of life that some vegan families can feel themselves to be isolated and lacking in support. We're doing our level best to make this a thing of the past, but in the meantime here are a couple of suggestions for the present.

Firstly, make sure you and your children are on our Vegan Family Contact List. Simply write in to the office*, giving your name, address, phone number (if applicable) and date(s) of birth of child(ren) and we will add your name to the list, which is regularly updated. We would be most interested to hear from families who have been able to make useful and productive contacts through the List. (*As a result of an incapacitating back injury, Contact List co-ordinator Eve Gilmore, who at the time of writing is expecting her third child, is no longer able to handle this work for us.)

Secondly, please make an extra-special effort to attend this year's AGM in London. Yes, I know AGMs are not renowned for being fun family events, but this year we are making a big effort to make this annual gathering a memorable occasion. See elsewhere in the magazine for full details, but I can guarantee it will be a great opportunity for meeting other vegans, of all generations, and there will be a well-organized and f u l l y equipped crfcche for the children.

Hope to see you there!

Reviews ENTERING

THE GATES OF

HELL

l V v V * ^

. j l '"M

1)1'

g|

OftY CRUELTY fOU WERE O NT MEANT TO SEE

Entering The G a t e s of Hell Brian G u n n International Association Against Painful Experiment on Animals £5.00 (incl. p&p)» Pbk, 58pp This is a disturbing compilation of colour photographs taken during numerous visits to vivisection laboratories throughout Europe, Asia and the Americas.

Due to the greater secrecy surrounding Britain's own research establishments, Brian Gunn had to go abroad to obtain his evidence, although of course access to these foreign laboratories was never easy. Many researchers were unaware who Brian Gunn was, mistakenly thinking that he was a fellow scientist genuinely interested in their work.

As the title suggests, the reader is taken on a nightmare journey into the hellish work of the vivisection laboratory - a God-forsaken place where pity and compassion for other living creatures has no meaning.

Certainly not a publication for the squeamish, but nonetheless an invaluable addition to existing animal rights literature, for as Roland Boyes MP rightly points out in a foreword to the booklet, these photographs must surely "disturb the conscience of all who lay claim to be pan of the ranks of civilised beings."

• Jim C r a w f o r d *Available from 1AAPEA, PO Box 215, St. Albans, Herts AL3 4RD

26

T h e Earth R e p o r t : Monitoring the Battle for o u r Environment (Eds.) Edward Goldsmith and Nicholas Hildyard Mitchell Beazley £7.95 Pbk,240pp In the world today, human welfare is measured in terms of per capita GNP, whilst fresh air, clean drinking water, fertile soil, regular rainfall and a predictable climate are considered to have no economic value. According to The Earth Report this is the dominant attitude, hence the indifference with which the relentless destruction of the environment and escalating human problems are met. The solution advanced by international agencies, government departments, institutions and business corporations - the very people who have most to gain from continuing to legitimize development enterprise - is even more of the economic development which the contributors to this book blame for the earth's plight in the first place.

The Earth Report will prove an invaluable compendium for the increasing number of those who wish to extend their knowledge and question the dominant world view. It contains six major essays on topics of environmental importance and I found the ones on 'The Politics of Food Aid' and 'Nuclear Energy After Chernobyl' particularly informative. There are also 400 alphabetically-arranged articles on topics ranging from additives to zero population growth.

On the minus side, I was disappointed to see no discussion of the importance of

veganism in conserving the environment and maximizing the earth's resources, although the entries on the hamburger connection and hormones in meat were very good. And why oh why, in a book which is making the case for a better kind of society, must people still use the false generic of 'man' to refer to the human species? One final quibble: although the book is attractively presented and aptly illustrated, I came across an inordinate number of typographical errors.

Despite these provisos, I thoroughly recommend The Earth Report. Buy it or ask your library to obtain a copy.

• Hilary Sadler

Factory F a r m i n g : The Experiment that Failed Animal Welfare Institute* $3.00 Pbk, 86pp PO Box *PO Box 3650, Washington, DC 20007, USA Although primarily geared to US readers, this volume includes some information on British factory farms and much that is of relevance to them.

The large-format pages are packed with information and photographs, most of them previously available only in magazines or newspaper articles. Almost all of the contributors write clearly and intelligently about the failings of factory farming on both welfare and economic grounds, amongst them Ruth Harrison, Rachel Carson, Desmond Morris and Professor George Wald. I particularly liked two articles by Brian Klug demonstrating how the language used to defend modem agricultural

practices betrays a vision of animals as simply pawns in the game of profit.

It is the section on alternatives that causes concern.

There is plenty of strawyard veal and 'humanely raised' beef, pork, chicken and eggs; there is even a list of American producers. But there is no mention even of vegetarianism, let alone veganism, as any kind of alternative; nor is there an acknowledgment of any welfare problems associated with dairy farming.

As a book published by an animal welfare society, addressing only animal welfare problems, The Experiment That Failed is totally convincing.

How far the publishers should be applauded for this or criticized for not taking the arguments further should depend entirely on how you believe the meat industry is best opposed tactically. In defence, it is worth remembering that many of us - the present reviewer included took the first steps towards veganism by becoming convinced only that farm animals have the right to more natural rearing conditions. To begin with, even vegetarianism can seem an extreme measure.

"Yes, but...", I hear you saying, and that phrase just about sums up my own feeling about this book.

• Mark Gold

Geoffrey Cannon

T h e ^ ®

Politics!^

H)OD T h e Politics of Food Geoffrey Cannon Century £6.95 Pbk, 372pp Now out in paperback, Geoffrey Cannon's most recent book tells us exactly why Britain is just about the unThe Vegan, A utumn 1988

i

healthiest nation in Europe, with — over the last decade — a serious deterioration in food quality in schools and hospitals, and for the low-waged, unwaged and elderly.

Vegans will already be aware of the meat industry's desperate bid to allay the 'threat' of vegetarianism and will also probably have noticed how the milk people had to start a calcium bandwaggon rolling when milk started losing its popularity. This book describes how, in addition, the food industry in general has responded to the new dietary awareness (which has come about in spite of, rather than because of, official policy) largely by bending the evidence and presenting halftruths in its official-seeming reports and even by colluding with Whitehall to suppress official reports, as with the the 1983/4 NACNE report on diet and health.

Key decisions that determine the quality of food on sale are taken by powerful people in government, in 'science' and industry, and in closed committees often covered by the Official Secrets Act. That, simply, is how the system works in Britain. Public health problems, it seems, are obscured rather than exposed to the general public.

This is a thoroughly researched book by a distinguished journalist which should seriously embarrass the government, but it will only do so if sufficient people act on it.

Geoffrey Cannon gives specific recommendations for a sensible national food policy, and urges informed people to write to their MPs and also to local supermarket managers, newspapers etc.

But I wonder if the problem is really at a deeper level. The author laments that the UK food system is supplyled (by the food giants) not demand-led (by informed consumers), but what also should one expect from a modern free-market economy?

So much of what is wrong with food is tied to other social and cultural issues of the times, as well as with politics in the sense of this book's title. The question I want to ask is very profound indeed — why have people forgotten how to cook?

• Kath Clements The Vegan, Autumn 1988

D o g s a n d Cats G o Vegetarian Barbara Lynn Peden Harbinger House* $9.95 Pbk, 146pp (*.Available in the UK from Hampshire Wholefoods, The Black Horse, Winchester Road, Shedfield, Southampton, Hants S03 2HS) Like other ethical vegetarians with pets, Barbara Lynn Peden faced the dilemma of how to feed her 'animal companions' without supporting the huge pet food industry and thus the cruelty and waste of animal farming.

Whilst well-designed vegan diets appear to be adequate for dogs, cats are very specialized carnivores and need several nutrients which do not occur in plants. The lively story of the author's search for vegan sources of these special nutrients is covered in the first part of the book and this search led to the development and marketing of the supplement 'Vegecat'. The second part describes food preparation, giving recipes for feeding dogs and cats on vegetarian, as well as completely vegan diets.

No detailed analyses of the nutrient composition of 'Vegecat' or of the suggested recipes are given, but the author states that the choice and proportion of the ingredients were computed to meet the most recently published data on the nutrient requirements of cats and dogs (as she acknowledges, this information was produced by animal experiments). This, perhaps, is fine as far as it goes, but leaves

unanswered questions on palatability and on whether the foods can be efficiently digested and the nutrients absorbed. No information is given on how many cats have eaten the suggested diet and for how long, nor on whether any such cats have been examined to assess nutritional status.

This book is certainly a pioneering work, and any vegetarian or vegan diet for cats would be considerably improved by adding 'Vegecat'.

However, a proper evaluation of the diet in practice would be needed before it could be endorsed as adequate for cats.

• T i m Key

THE CRUEL DECEPTION Theu9eofarnnals in medical research I> Robflrt Sharpe

A

T h e Cruel Deception Robert Sharpe Thorsons £7.99 Pbk, 288pp Vivisection has become one of the most fiercely debated contemporary issues. But is vivisection in the name of medical research necessary?

In this controversial book Dr. Sharpe not only exposes the myth that vivisection is essential to health but he

proves conclusively that reliance on animal experimentation has always been dangerously misleading for humans. The Cruel Deception reveals the real factors which determine the nation's health and shows how animal research is failing to combat our major health problems — e.g cancer and heart disease.

The book is not just a catalogue of cruelty but reveals the real effects of vivisection on the general public, the people who fund this method of research. The author argues convincingly that animal-based research can actually hinder progress by diverting attention from more reliable and sophisticated approaches, and if medical research is to progress it must rely on methods of direct relevance and benefit to people: science needs to reject experiments on animals for the benefit of both humans and animals. Dr Sharpe proves clearly and unarguably that animal research is a bankrupt 'technology', irrelevant to our real health needs.

Powerful evidence is also presented here which shows that most new drugs add little to those currently available.

Drugs and research are big business though; as the author points out, relatively little money is spent on research into Third World diseases because few developing countries can afford to pay for expensive medicines.

When the history of the anti-vivisection movement is recorded, the publication of The Cruel Deception will be seen as a major landmark in the campaign to abolish this outdated and obscene method of research.

• Brian Gunn

Reviewers Kath Clements is author of Why Vegan? (GMP) Jim Crawford is author of Kill or Cure (Arc Print) Mark Gold is Campaign Director of Animal Aid and author of Assault & Battery (Pluto Press) and Living Without Cruelty (Green Print)

Brian Gunn, international animal rights campaigner, is author of Entering the Gates of Hell (IAAPEA) Tim Key is a veterinary surgeon currently researching diet and cancer in humans Hilary Sadler is co-ordinator of the Great British MeatOut

27

G e n e r a l practitioner Dr. David R y d e ( S e e Healthwise, p 2 1 ) l o o k s at t w o recent w o r k s identifying the health and therapeutic benefits of s o u n d v e g a n diets.

H e l p Y o u r s e l f to G o o d Health A series of 10 audio-cassettes Dr. Michael A. Klaper Gentle World Inc.* $7 per tape (*PO Box 1418, Umatilla, Florida 32784, USA) Orthodox professional attitudes largely hold that vegan nutrition is incompatible with the needs of pregnancy, infancy, growing up and adult health. This being so, it is scarcely surprising that veganism is still popularly regarded as an eccentric deviation.

Clinical experience has taught me of its value, however, and that the rejectors even when medically qualified - know little about what they reject. Thus any form of media presentation is worth an airing, as with these tapes.

Under the series title Help Yourself to Health, the author an American physician in general practice and a nutritional counsellor - presents via the spoken word ten important topics at a popular level and proceeds to relate how patients can be helped or even cured through vegan nutrition associated with a sensible lifestyle.

The tapes deal with general and specific topics.

Each one contains details specific to its theme and then information common to all tapes - that is, the vegan theme and its associated requirements of exercise, the avoidance of destructive and addictive habits — and they conclude with details of the American Vegan Society and a recommended handbook.

Let's consider them in tum: Tape 1. 'NUTRITION AND YOUR HEALTH; A DOCTOR'S VIEW' The introductory cassette on the principles of vegan nutrition, and the health hazards of traditional

28

foods. It contains many suggestions for easy delicious meals that promote health for everyone prepared to accept such ideas.

Tape 2. 'SECRETS OF WEIGHT LOSS' A solution to obesity is offered by way of the low-fat, low-calorie vegan foodstyle, and a 300-recipe book suggested entitled The Cookbook for People who Love Animals.

Tape 3. 'HEALTHY FOOD, HEALTHY HEARTS, HEALTHY ARTERIES' How to avoid heart attacks, strokes and high blood pressure with the right foods. The fat and cholesterol theory is presented with the appropriate evidence and how animal products cause diseased arteries and all their sequelae.

Tape 4. 'BACK TALK' Simple explanations of how your back works, what goes wrong, how to avoid injuring it and how to heal it.

Tape 5. 'ARTHRITIS? RELIEF THROUGH GOOD FOOD' Rheumatoid arthritis, gout and other types of arthritis improve with nutritious vegan foods.

Tape 6. 'DIABETES? GOOD FOOD TO THE RESCUE' How a delicious plant diet without added sugar and fat can reduce the need for drugs, or avoid them altogether, with a marked improvement in health.

Tape 7. 'CANCER, YOUR DIET AND YOU' A new look at cancer and its causes and how proper food and mental anitudes can often help control or even avoid this disease.

Tape 8. 'HYPOGLYCAEMIA? GOOD FOOD TO THE RESCUE' As with diabetes, sensible vegan nutrition offers relief or cure for this symptom-complex.

Tape 9/10. 'PREGNANCY, CHILDREN AND THE VEGAN DIET' Dr Klaper discusses the inappropriateness of foreign milks in child development. He also discusses the contaminants in animal and dairy foods which include traces of metals and sex hormones, bacteria, antibiotics, pesticides and even residues of fly repellants. Young american children dying from accidents and other causes have on postmortem examination shown early evidence of atherma (fat deposits) which reflects on their

rich meat-dairy-sugar diets. The liver cannot handle promptly the high fat content of blood and so traces of this are deposited in the tissues and on the walls of blood vessels eventually leading to narrowing, even blockage, of these arteries.

Evidence is offered on how cow's milk - designed for rapid calf growth and not for slow infant maturation - might be causative of diseases such as asthma, ear infection, colic and even leukaemia.

Finally a programme of vegan nutrition for children is outlined. . To the outsider some of Dr Klaper's statements may seem far-fetched, but on the basis of my own experience in general

Vegan Nutrition Pure a n d S i m p l e Dr. Michael A. Klaper Gentle World Inc. $5.00* Pbk, 48 pp This large format, fact-filled paperback deals briefly with the advantages of eating vegan food compared to eating animal and fish products.

The author is simple, direct and reassuring in his approach to the apparent inadequacies that some authorities attribute to the vegan diet and he concludes the book with a reference list helpful to any research worker.

The principles of vegan nutrition are discussed, classic recipes presented using popular vegan ingredients and advice offered on the cooking of grains, legumes and vegetables.

Suggestions are made for vegan travellers, highlights about vitamins and mineral nutrition given and a bibliography appended for further reading. The health benefits of vegan nutrition

practice I fully endorse his claims.

Each cassette tape lasts approximately half an hour and they are clearly and pleasantly presented. However, specific content apart, much on each tape is repetitious and I feel that two 90-minute tapes would have been adequate and much cheaper. In their present form, however, they could still be used to good effect by local activists/groups instead of, or together with a speaker, at meetings. Individual tapes could also be hired out for a small fee.

are compared to the diseases such as heart attacks, obesity and diabetes which accrue from eating animal products.

The initial larger stature of children who eat animal products is related to their excess protein and fat intake, which includes traces of growth-stimulating hormone. The slimmer smaller vegan children are not malnourished; indeed they catch up in size with their meat and dairy-eating peers - though without putting on excess fat. Dr Klaper reinforces this point when he writes that the growth spurt in adolescent children on the standard Western diet may not be a healthy phenomenon at all and goes on to quote relevant medical sources in support of this view.

Besides health Dr Klaper makes brief mention of the ecological and economic benefits of plant eating and the anthropological basis for it; his summary of the disadvantages of fish eating filled some gaps in my knowledge.

In keeping with his gentle philosophy of life, Dr Klaper advocates mild exercise, walking in the sunshine, non violence, and laughter as key ingredients for true health and inner peace.

All in all a concise and valuable text for new vegans before they graduate to more comprehensive works. * Available in the UK from the Vegan Society for ÂŁ250 + 35p p&p.

The Vegan, Au t w n n1988

Postbag Contributions to Postbag are welcomed, but accepted on the understanding that they may be edited in the interests of brevity or clarity.

Send your letters to: The Editor, THE VEGAN, 33-35 George Street, Oxford OX 12AY

Silence Breaking Jackie Short's article 'Breaking Silence' (Summer'88) was a good and amusing article, but wind can be a real problem for many people. I am a consultant medical herbalist and a nutritional therapist, (as well as a vegan of 3 years) and I am often asked by my patients how to deal with it.

Many culinary herbs and spices have a carminative action - that is, they dispel wind and ease indigestion. Caraway, fennel, dill, celery, parsley, sage and rosemary can all be used, either in cooking or drunk as an after-meal tea. All the spices used in an Indian curry, such as coriander, cumin, cardamom and turmeric, not only impart a good flavour but also act to reduce the wind factor of the various pulses used in curries. Ginger also does this, and a very pleasant post-prandial drink that soothes the digestion can be made with a finely chopped slice of fresh ginger root and 6 crushed cardamom pods in a pot of black tea. Peppermint and chamomile teas are also carminative and very pleasant either singly or together.

Useful in preventing the build-up of wind is to place a selection of the following seeds in a pepper grinder to be used in place of salt and pepper on the food: coriander, fennel, cardamon, cumin, celery and dill.

If indigestion is acute you can often relieve it by taking 2 drops of peppermint oil in a glass of warm water, or by taking 1 teaspoon of powdered ginger in a glass of warm water.

• C h a n c h a l Atkinson, Glasgow

W i n d Brake Jackie Short's piece 'Breaking Silence' in the last issue was amusing, but in fact for those 29 The Vegan, Au t w n n1988

with delicate digestions, switching to a high-fibre vegan diet really can be difficult, and some advice might be useful.

Using tofu (either plain or smoked) as a protein source in place of pulses in some meals is a good idea, as it is very easy to digest. So is tempeh, which has the fibre content that tofu lacks.

Best of all is to have some soya yoghurt daily, or at least frequently, as this really does have a miraculous effect on the digestion of pulses (much more so than charcoal tablets). And a tip for those who want to save money by making large quantities of yoghurt: Hera natural soya yoghurt works as a starter with any soya milk.

• Leah Leneman, Edinburgh

Ain't Too M u c h Jean Wilcox states ('Holier Than Thou', POSTBAG, Summer '88) that the real issue of veganism is the cruelty in the dairy industry. I do agree this should be a concern of every vegan, but I became vegan because I disagree with the exploitation of any living creature, whether it be humans, cows or bees.

Even if we take the dictionary explanation - 'a person who on principle abstains from all food of animal origin' - honey would still come under the hammer.

I do agree that no-one can yet become 100% vegan, - but surely honey isn't that much to miss, is it?

• J o n Richards, Bournemouth

Just for Fun I have never read an article ('Ain't So Sweet', Spring '88) of such confused, rip-roaring silliness as that written about bee-keeping by your President, Mr. Ling.

First off, let me say that most bee-keepers are in it for fun, not for profit. If bees were kept solely for profit in this country, there would be very few beehives. In fact, most commercial bee-keepers earn at least half their income through pollination and are doing constant battle against insecticides and herbicides, thus providing at least one bulwark against the effects of modem agriculture and preserving

the natural flora (practically all honey comes from wild flowers and trees). No-one would bum bees or beehives (except for disease control, but not live bees!) - they are a valuable asset.

I have kept bees since the age of 12. I have worked with the 'monk' described (Brother Adam OBE), and on a Nebraskan bee farm. I have watched closely Brother Adam inseminating his queens, and was amazed and awed by the sophistication and gentleness of his technique.

The bee-farmer I worked for took tons of honey from each 50-hive apiary, but also left tons. (Feeding bees sugar even on a commercial scale is uneconomic - sugar syrup is almost as expensive as honey itself when all costs are taken in. It is an emergency measure to save the colonies from starvation.) He was a pastmaster in the art of leave well alone, often said to be the watchword of the bee-farmer.

Queens have their wings clipped to prevent swarming after they have mated. They would not leave their hive anyway, except at the head of a swarm - an instinct which is caused by overcrowding in unmanaged hives. Anyway most bee-keepers don't bother

with this practice. Besides wings are made solely of chitin and have no nerves or blood vessels.

Bees and bee-keepers are a major force against the denudation of our countryside by the agrochemicals industry. Please support them.

• Bill Boys, Leeds

Plaintive I would like to make a criticism of the cartoon (woman and man holding caravan) on page 59 of the Vegan Holiday and Restaurant Guide.

The couple portrayed seem to exude a kind of virtuous, wholesome plainness which I find very off-putting. Can't you make vegans look sexy, decadent and interesting? How about a few punks for a start?

• D a v e Womersley, London

Songalongavegan Have any of your readers ever thought of song titles and how they could be given a vegetarian or vegan slant?

After being given the first title, I tried to think of some more myself and wonder how many more other readers could come up with: The Carnivore is Over (The Seekers); Meat Me on the Corner (Lindisfame); Butcher

by Golly Wow (Stylistics); Alone Agar, Naturally (Gilbert O'Sullivan); The First Time Ever I Soya Face (Roberta Flack); Will You Love Me Tamari (The Shirelles); Since You've Bean Gone (Rainbow); Vegan Work it Out (The Beatles).

There could even be a prize for the most original!

• T r a c e y Beer, Winnersh

Isle of Wight which, as from mid-September, will become a private residence. The Stratton family send their best wishes to all those guests who enjoyed their visits over the years.

Noticeboard Diary Dates 17-18 S e p t e m b e r . First Northern Living Without Cruelty Exhibition. Leeds T o w n Hall. See Notice.

18 S e p t e m b e r . Friends of the Earth Sponsored Walk for the Tropical Rainforest Campaign.

G o as an animal or bring umbrella. History Museum to the Ark on Whitestone Pond, Hampstead. Contact: FoE, 2628 Underwood Street, London N1 7JQ. Tel. 01-490 1555.

19-21 S e p t e m b e r . International Conference on The Status of Animals. Clark, Midgley, Linzey, Hollands, Hampson, Balls et al. Nottingham University. £75 res. (vegan catering available)/£35 non-res. Bookings via:

B. 2 4 S e p t e m b e r . Vegan Society A G M / E G M . Westminster Cathedral Conference Centre, Morpeth Terrace, Victoria, London. See Notice.

2 5 S e p t e m b e r . Sunday Times National Fun Run. If you are vegan or vegetarian and can walk, jog or run and want to be part of a team contact: Chris Phillips, 4a Oakdene,

7/8 O c t o b e r . Action Alert: The Bio-Revolution. A conference organized to investigate the options for humanity, animals and the environment in the light of recent developments in genetic engineering. The Princess A n n e Theatre, B A F T A , 195 Piccadilly, London. 10am-6pm. Details: The Athene Trust, 3a Charles Street, Petersfield, Hants GU32 3EH. 8 O c t o b e r . Walk for Laboratory Animals. T w o nationally co-ordinated sponsored walks in London and Manchester, plus local walks, organized by the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection.

Contact: BUAV, 16a Crane Grove, Islington, London N7 8LB. Tel.01-700 4888.

9 O c t o b e r . Co-ordinating Animal Welfare meeting. New Imperial Hotel, Temple Street, Birmingham City Centre. 1pm6pm. Items: bloodsports and

30

the fur trade. Contact: CAW 0272 428969.

16 October. World Food Day and World Day of Action Against McDonalds. Leaflets and further details from: London Greenpeace, 5 Caledonian Road, London N1.

22 October. Animal Aid National Demonstration against sight deprivation experiments in Oxford.

Contact: Animal Aid, 7 Castle Street, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1BH. 22 O c t o b e r . Gala Performance of Whale Nation by Heathcote Williams, read by Roy Hutchins, plus a presentation of Operation Sunflower by Dr. Horace Dobbs. Westminster Theatre, Palace Street, London (nearest tube: Victoria) at 8pm.

Black tie event. Royalty and celebrities expected. Tickets (minimum price donation) £300 box to £5. Proceeds to Animaline and Operation Sunflower. Contact: 23-30 October. One World Week: Making Peace with the Planet. Details of materials and events from: OWW, PO Box 100, London SE1 7RT. Tel. 01620 4444.

28-30 October. Vegetarian Convention '88. Stratfordupon-Avon. See Notice.

29 October. Anti-McDonalds Fayre. A celebration of life without the Big Mac. Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London W C 1 (nearest tube: Holbom) from 1 lam-5pm. Stalls, videos, speakers, theatre, puppet show, cheap food, beer, wine and cr&che. Free. Contact: London Greenpeace, 5 Caledonian Road, London N1.

3-6 November. Healing Arts Exhibition. Kensington Rainbow Exhibition Centre.

1 lam-7pm. £3.00 (£2.00 senior citizens/£l .00 children).

Contact: 01-938 3788.

Early Notice The second Plamil HalfMarathon is being pencilled in for Saturday, 8 April 1989 at the same venue as 1986: St. Mary's bay, Kent. Further details from:

Missing Mail Like several other kindred organizations, the Vegan Society has been experiencing mysterious postal losses and misdirections. With unprecedented frequency both incoming and ougoing mail is going astray. If you have not received a reply from us please accept our apologies and do try to make contact again.

Primate Vigil Vigils are held every second Sunday of the month between 12 noon and 2pm outside the Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park Road, London N5 (nearest BR: Denmark Hill) as part of a peaceful campaign to end primate research.

Details: Primate Action, PO Box 571, Brentwood, Essex.

Vegetarian Meet Vegetarian Convention '88 will take place at Stratford-uponAvon Youth Hostel 28-30 October, bringing together group representatives and individuals concerned with the promotion of vegetarian/vegan diets. The weekend will take the form of a series of practical workshops on campaigning methods, introduced by keynote speakers - e.g. Mark

Hotel to Close Holidaymakers will be sorry to learn of the closure of Brandelhow Vegetarian Hotel on the

SICK O F A L I F E S T Y L E B A S E D O N T H E A B U S E O F H U M A N S , AND THE

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17th-18th SEPTEMBER 1 9 8 8 SATURDAY 10am-7pm

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SUNDAY 10.30am-7pm

L E E D S T O W N HA LL

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ENTRANCE E2.00 HERBAL « NATURAL MEDICINES HEALTH* UVWO CONSERVATION A N » M l RIGHTS CflUELTY-EREE COSMETICS AND HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS HUMANE M E D I C * RESEARCH ORGANIC GARDENING VEGETARIANISM THIRD WORLO NUCLEAR ISSUE FILMS LECTURES - FOOO ETHICAL INVESTMENT

•

EXHIBITION TO SE OPENED BY r U W SELLER

The Vegan, Au t w n n1988

Gold, Juliet Gellatley. Full weekend, incl. meals and accommodation, approx. £30.

Further details and booking forms (closing date: 16 September) from: VC '88, do 57 Sharland Close, Grove, Wantage 0X12 OAF. Tel. 02357 69425 (eves/weekends).

Mystery Slides An untitled, unlabelled, unexplained set of slides has turned up at the Vegan Society's offices. If you sent them, please explain!

Families List We are sorry to report that Vegan Families Contact list compiler Eve Gilmore has suffered a crippling accident obliging her to hand over the work to the Society's Oxford office. We hope that by now all outstanding correspondence has received a response from us but if not please get in touch. We offer our thanks to Eve for the work she's put in and wish her a speedy recovery.

Animals Diary It missed a year but it's coming back. Copies (pocket size) will be available at £2.95 plus 50p from: Animus, 34 Marshall Street, London Wl.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING & EGM 24 September 1988 at Westminster Cathedral Conference Centre, Morpeth Terrace, Victoria, London Current members only Members are referred to the enclosed Annual Report & Accounts 1987/8 for Agenda and Resolution details.

Readers are reminded that the deadline for the receipt of nominations for members to serve on the Society's Council of Management is 10 September. For full details of nomination procedure please see AGM notice on page 30 of the Summer issue of the magazine.

Memorabilia & Grand Reunion As a final pre-AGM request, we ask all readers, especially oljjer members, to assist us with the task of assembling a collection of vegan memorabilia for a display on 24 September.

Photos, booklets, leaflets, letters etc. are needed not only for the AGM but for an official vegan archive in which at present there are many empty spaces. The greatest care will be taken with materials offered for either purpose.

Please contact the Secretary if you think you have something which could be of interest and use.

Encore!

Such was the popularity of the Society's recent Grand Prize Draw (see feature on pp 14-15) that consideration is being given to holding a Christmas/ New Year Draw. Look out for details in the next issue.

Guide Supplement The Editor of The Vegan Holiday <6 Restaurant Guide 31 The Vegan, A utumn 1988

An especially warm welcome to this year's AGM is extended to elderly members of the Society, many of whom will want to hear the talk The Vegan Society: The Early Years and the Present Challenge to be given

by Donald Watson, the first Secretary of the Society.

It is hoped that the 1988 AGM will mark the biggest vegan reunion in the Society's 44-year history.

wishes to thank those readers who have sent in information towards a supplement to the Guide which it is hoped to publish early in 1989. Please keep up the good work and help make both the supplement and the next edition as comprehensive as possible.

pass it on to: PO Box 10, Ryde, Isle of Wight, P033 1JX or by tel. 0983 616980.

Animaline

Which? Magazine is offering a £20,000 award to non-profitmaking organizations or individuals for new and selfcontained research projects which contribute to the development or improvement

If you have any information of animal rights/welfare events, campaigns, materials etc which you would like broadcast on Animaline (see News) then

MM? Which? A w a r d

of goods, services or systems available to consumers.

Applications deadline: 15 Septembe . o r l v nt forms contact:

Local G r o u p s / Events Barnet Animal Rights Group meets the first Wednesday of every month at the Quaker Meeting House, Alexandra Grove, North Finchley at 8pm.

Contact: BARG, PO Box 76, Barnet, Herts EN4 9AW. Berkshire Vegetarian & Vegan Group welcomes new members. Details of events, campaigns from:

South Bucks Vegetarian Group welcomes vegans.

Regular talks, socials. Details from:

Cheltenham & District Vegetarian Group. Campaigning, social events, food & cookery. Vegans welcome. Tel. Hemel Hempstead. Anyone wishing to help start a vegan and vegetarian group (emphasis on socials and veganism is fun) in this area should contact Oxford Vegans is now coordinated by Bill Breckon who can be reached at: The Alice Lindsay, Weirs Lane, Oxford.

The Vegan Action G r o u p meets twice each month and welcomes help. Own leaflets, posters, city centre stalls.

Contact: VAG, R16,136 Ingram Street, Glasgow G1 1EJ. Wirral Animal Rights.

Animals Festival: 18 September. Hulme Hall, Port Sunlight, llam-5pm. 50p/25p; New Age Festival: 5/6 November. Same venue, 11 am-6pm. £1.00/50p.

Contact: WAR on 051 645 0485.

Publications & Promotional Goods T h e items shown in this section are just a selection from the range stocked by the Vegan Society. Please send for our free Merchandise List for a full listing.

All prices include VAT, where applicable, but are exclusive of postage and packing (See Order Form for rates). Items marked [VS] a r e published by the Vegan Society.

PUBLICATIONS GENERAL

sections. Handy, pocket-sized format. £2.50

FOODFOR AFUTURE The CompMU Cm <o» Vrgvtartannm

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[VS] T h e Vegan Holiday & Restaurant Guide (Ed.) Colin Howlett Brand-new (publ. April 1988), 136-page edition of the standard guide to vegan holiday accommodation and eating places in the UK. Just under 600 clearly-organized entries, incl. new secdon on vegan holidaymaking abroad.

Handy, pocket-sized format. £2.50

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GARDENING

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,

[VS] The Caring Cook Janet Hunt An ideal, easy-to-follow first vegan cookbook produced with those new to cruelty-free living in mind. A comprehensive selection of everyday and special-occasion recipes, plus a mass of hints and tips. Sturdy, wipe-clean cover. £1.99

Food for a Future Jon Wynne-Tyson A classic work, powerfully arguing all aspects of the vegan case — moral, economic, ecological, physiological and nutritional. Packed with information, statistics, quotations, nutritional and dietary data. £2.95 Compassion: The Ultimate Ethic Victoria Moran An examination of the history and philosophy of the vegan movement. £4.95

main course dishes and desserts. "A gem of a book" — Leah Leneman. £6.95 Soya Foods Cookery Leah Leneman First-rate introduction to this vast subject, with hints and more than 100 adventurous recipes for soya yoghurt, soft 'cheese', mayonnaise etc. £4.95

choosing 100% animal-free products as part of a vegan lifestyle. Thousands of entries organized into easy-to-consult uig<uiiz.cu iiuu cas^-iu-vuuauii

THE VEC-AN R eHOLIDAY s t a u r a n tJ

COOKBOOKS

The Vegan Cookbook Alan Wakeman and Gordon Baskerville 200 richly varied and carefully graded recipes — ranging from the quick and simple to "the slower or dearer or more complicated but delicious!"

Complete with nutrition notes and checker. £4.95

The Compassionate Gourmet Janet Hunt Exotic dishes from all around the world for those who love animals and food! £4.99

Vegan Cookery Eva Batt An updated [1985] and restyled edition of the first major vegan cookbook ever published, with over 300 recipes, plus practical advice and nutritional information. £2.99

ANIMAL RIGHTS T H E .STRUGGLE FOR

ANIMAL RIGHTS TOM REGAN

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. . «

SHOPPER

[VS] T h e Cruelty-Free Shopper (Ed.) Lis Howlett Best-selling, informationpacked (124 pages) guide for those seeking assistance in

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Veganic Gardening Kenneth Dalziel O'Brien A comprehensive, yet easy-tofollow guide to the subject by the system's greatest living exponent. £6.99

Tofu Cookery Louise Hagler Superbly illustrated, largeformat collection of more than 200 recipes, from appetizers to

NEW! The Struggle for Animal Rights Prof. Tom Regan A leading philosopher lucidly puts the case for animal rights.

Chapters on farm and laboraThe Vegan, Au t w n n1988

tory animals, hunting, dissection, plus autobiographical sketch. £3.50

THE EXTENDED

CIRCLE

A DICTIONARY OF HUMANE THOUGHT

PROMOTIONAL GOODS T-Shirts Adult: Two designs on 100% cotton: 'Give Bottle the Boot' — red and white on navy blue; 'Ban Blood Foods' — red and black on white. Sizes : 'Bottle': S/M;'Blood Foods': S/M. £3.50 Children's: Multi-colour 'Famous Vegans...' design on white cotton Sizes: 22", 26", 28". £2.75

EDITED BY JON WYNNE TYSON

The Extended Circle: A Dictionary of Humane Thought " (Ed.) Jon Wynne-Tyson Indispensable, award-winning anthology of quotations concerning our treatment of non-human species. £5.95

Button Badges (11/2") Two colours. Please specify design(s) required using letter code.

25p each, four for 90p Multi-purpose Stickers (11/2") Same designs and colour schemes as button badges, in sheets of 12 of same. Please specify design(s) required using badge letter code.

20p per sheet, five sheets for 90p

Envelope Savers (Re-use Labels) 100%- recycled paper, nonanimal gum. Two designs: 'Globe' — black and green on white; 'Bottle' — black and red on white. £1.15 per 100 (of one design)

Ballpen Red and black casing, with slogan 'Ban Blood Foods' printed in white on clip.

Refillable.

35p

GIVE BOTTLE THE BOOT ( j Car/Window Sticker Bearing slogan 'Give Bottle the Boot — Go Vegan!' and printed red and black on white self-cling plastic. 11" x 21/2".

50p

NUTRITION & HEALTH

ORDER FORM N i l AMI I H H I iS MICHAtl Kt A W i t

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Order now (BLOCK CAPITALS THROUGHOUT PLEASE) from: The Vegan Society (Merchandise), 33-35 George Street, Oxford OX1 2AY. Item

Quantity

Cost

Notelets Printed on high-quality, 100%recycled paper. Colour scheme: chocolate brown on cream. Pack of twelve, with four different seasonal designs. £1.25

TOTAL COST OF MERCHANDISE.

NEW! Vegan Nutrition Pure and Simple Michael Klaper, MD An American physician demonstrates how sound vegan diets can satisfy all the body's needs and play a major role in the prevention and treatment of many degenerative diseases. £2.50 The Home Herbal Barbara Griggs A handbook of simple remedies. £2.95 33 The Vegan, Au t w n n1988

POSTAGE & PACKING Inland: Order up to £2.50 in value — add 35p • £2.51 to £3.50 — add 60p • £3.51 to £5.99 — add 75p • £6.00 to £9.99 — add £1 • £10 to £20 — add £1.50 • over £20 — free Eire and Overseas: Please increase total payment by further 10% to cover additional surface-rate postal charges. (NB Goods sent airmail by special arrangement only.)

TOTAL REMITTANCE* I enclose a cheque/postal order for £ made payable to: The Vegan Society Ltd. Name Address Postcode_ •Orders to be sent to Eire or overseas must be paid for by International Money Order or by Sterling cheque drawn on an English bank

Bookmarks Printed on high-quality, 100%recycled card. Colour scheme: chocolate brown on cream. Set of four different designs, with recipes on reverse. Ideal small gift.

45p

4-course breakfast & EM. For brochure and menus telephone Devon.

ACCOMMODATION K I N G S T O N . VeganAiear-vegan nons m o k e r to s h a r e c/h house 10 m i n s f r o m B R station, R i c h m o n d Park and river. £ 1 6 9 p . c j n excl. Tel: 01 5 4 9 6 0 2 0 o r 0 1 8 7 8 1499.

F U R N I S H E D r o o m to let — Balham, L o n d o n in single-parent household.

Central heating, washing/drying m a chines, i n c o m i n g phone calls, good transport/shops, large garden. £40 p.w. inclusive. C o n t a c t

T H R E E - R O O M E D furnished flat suit m i d d l e - a g e d business couple. For quiet p e o p l e w a n t i n g privacy. £ 3 0 weekly, inclusive of f l o w e r s and produce f r o m organic g a r d e n . Write Dallas, 8 C o l l e g e R o a d , Ardingly, W . Sussex.

ACTIVITY HOLIDAYS THF

VEGAM

HOLIDAY

F o r comprehensive list see Special-Interest Holidays a n d Holidays Abroad sections of The Vegan Holiday & Restaurant Guide (£2.50 + 35p p & p ) A T S I T S A — a holistic health and fitness holiday c o m m u n i t y on the beautiful island of Skyros. Activities: f r o m windsurfing, dance, art and aerobics to yoga, meditation, massage and T ' a i C h i . Details: 1 Fawley Road (Ve), L o n d o n NW6 1SL Tel. 01-431 0867.

HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION For comprehensive list see Holiday Accommodation section of The Vegan Holiday & Restaurant Guide (£2.50 + 35p p&p) A N G L E S E Y . E n j o y a winter break on the beautiful isle of Anglesey. Vegan B & B . Delicious cuisine. "Dwyfor", Llanbedrgock, Anglesey, N. Wales (024 870) 5 3 2 .

"WOODCOTE" The Saltings. Lelant. St Ives.

Cornwall Tel (9736) 753147 Quiet country hotel overlooking beautiful tidal estuary and bird sanctuary. Britain's oldest vegan/vegetarian hotel is family owned ana stands in its own grounds close to beaches and unspoilt coastal walks.

Superb cuisine and friendly personal service.

For further information and brochure e c act appreciated)

PATHWAY T O PEACE Saturday, 19 N o v e m b e r 1988 10.30am to 1.15pm T a l k s and sharing o n the theme.

Vegetarian/vegan lunch available (£1.50) T h e Order of the Cross 10 D e V e r e G a r d e n s Kensington W 8 5 A E Contact: Joy Roseveare on 01-937-7012

T H E HEALING POWER O F PRAYER 2-4 D e c e m b e r 1988 at T h e O r d e r of the Cross " S n e l s m o r e House Near Newbury Berks R G 1 6 9 B G Contact: Frank T h o m l e y on 0635-41266

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LAKE DISTRICT - LYTH VALLEY The perfect retreat for non-smoking vegans and vegetarians, next to our unspoilt water mill. A very special place for bed and breakfast with evening meal by arrangement.

"THE BERJAC" 69 Westborough.

Scarborough YOll ITS * Close to shops and entertainments * * Wholefood/VegetarianA/egan meals « * Special diets if required * * Non-vegetarians welcome * * Private car park * * Midweek bookings * * Free child-listening service * B.B.E.M. £9.75

Reductions for children sharing and OAPs out of season Guaranteed Prices, no extras!

Brochure: Tel: (0723) 374937 B E X H I L L - O N - S E A . Vegan/ vegetarian bed and breakfast. £ 7 night.

Radio, television, tea and coffee facilities. Completely vegetarian household. Vegan bedding etc. 10 Deerswood Lane, Bexhill T N 3 9 4LT. Tel. 0 4 2 4 3 5153.

E D I N B U R G H . Enjoyable, relaxing, low-cost accommodation offered with vegan, vegetarian o r vegan macrobiotic fare. Families welcome. Non-smoking.

T h e Green Door, 10 Greenhill Terrace, Edinburgh. 031 447 0804.

HAZELMERE GUEST-HOUSE, T O R Q U A Y . Exclusively vegetarian/ vegan. Karen and David Norman extend a warm welcome to vegans. W e are situated close to parks, beautiful cliff walks, town, coach station. Family rooms available, pets welcome. Plenty of places to visit, whatever the weather.

Suitable for touring, with o r without transport. Prices from £88.50 p.w., inc.

2RZ. F O R S A L E . Cherries in November, fresh, first-grade, direct from growing area by air freight. Contact: All Fresh Ltd, Ethelton Avenue, PO Box 104, Bathurst 2795, Australia. Tel: +61 6 3 312246. F a x : + 6 1 6 3 321129.

(044 88) 314 P E M B R O K E S H I R E C O A S T near Aberreidy Beach and St. Davids. B&B. Optional evening meal. Genuine vegetarian household. Vegan meals always available. Non-smoking. Tel. 03483 339.

P E N Z A N C E . Self-catering accommodation for 3-4. T w o miles from Penzance with large garden, sea and country views. Occasional vegan meals available. Tel. 0 7 3 6 62242.

S H R O P S H I R E . Bentley House — 1 8 C house in unspoilt countryside, close Ludlow and Strettons. Exclusively

When replying to an advertisement please mention that you saw it in The Vegan

B&B £7.50

EVENTS

Crosthwaite Mill Cottage

years.) Top-quality, pure, holistically blended therapeutic oils, essential oils, vegetable carrier oils, for massage, inhalation, vaporization. For information and price list send S.A.E to

New Generation Spirulina. Increased Iron and Calcium levels. The finest available in freshness, purity and nutritional potency. Please send for our free information leaflet. Available by mail order: Powder 100g-f7.00. 250g£15.25. Tablets 500mg X 100-£5.l», 200-£8.00. 500-£19.25. Prices include postage.

Life Stream, Ash House, Stedham.

Midhurst, W. Sussex. GU29 OPT. Tel. (073081) 3642.

NEW AGE CRUELTY-FREE P R O D U C T S . A complete range of vegan personal care & household products from various manufacturers.

Catalogue from: New Age Products, PO Box 22, East Horsley, Leatherhead, Surrey KT24 6SX. Tel: (04865) 5115 — 24 hours.

P E T F O O D . HAPPIDOG: The only completely balanced, vegan food for dogs in the world. Palatable and economical, made from only natural ingredients with N O additives required.

Telephone Preston (0772) 614952 for your nearest stockist or mail order form.

vegetarian/vegan wholefood. Central heating. No smoking. B&B., EM. Tel: 05887 255.

PERSONAL

S O M E R S E T . Exclusively vegetarian/ vegan accommodation in 16th-Century listed house. Situated bordering Devon and Dorset. Is an ideal base for touring, country walks or just relaxing. Informal atmosphere, BB Sl EM. Vegan proprietors. Details: Merefield House, East Street, Crewkeme, Somerset.

T A 1 8 7AB. Tel 0460 73112.

S T . IVES, Cornwall. Exclusively vegetarian/vegan guesthouse overlooking St. Ives Bay. Close to beach and scenic coastline. Open all year. Central heating. Children welcome. Brochure:

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NATURAL FRIENDS

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VEGAN/VEGETARIAN GUESTHOUSE IN THE HEART OF WALES PARK CRESCENT, LLANDRINDOD WELLS, POWYS. Tel. (0597) 2186.

MAIL ORDER A R O M A T H E R A P Y . The fastest growing alternative therapy in Britain.

(Probably the oldest, dating back 4000

©3

Make new friendships wilh others interested in veganism/vegeiariamsm, fitness, alternative therapies. New Age philosophies, 'green' issues, the countryside, animal welfare. Peace, astrology, paranormal phenomena, alternative lifestyles, and all things natural. NATURAL FRIENDS is a unique friendship organisation.

There are many hundreds of members nationwide — and we're growing fast, but organically! Very reasonable fees! Yearround advertising ! Regular update lists! Plus a members' magazine! Please send a stamp for details to: NATURAL FRIENDS (VGN), 15 BENYON GARDENS. CULFORD, BURY ST. EDMUNDS. SUFFOLK, IP28 6EA. TEL. 028484-315 (ANYTIME).

The Vegan, Au t w n n1988

SINGLES PARTY near you soon?

Write for details of provinces and als to

VEGAN PLAYGROUP. Are there any vegan parents in London who would be interested in gathering regularly with their babies, toddlers and under-5s?

Possibly alternating between North and S act

H A P P I N E S S IS...

VEGETARIAN

REFLEXOLOGY. Guia school asm.

Vegan principal. Cre

PUBLICATIONS AH IMS A. Quarterly magazine of the American Vegan Society. Veganism, Natural Living, Reverence for Life.

Calendar year subscription S8. Address: 501 Old Harding Highway, Malaga, NJ 08328, USA.

SITUATIONS VACANT

Details: 14* W o o d l a n d s Rd. Isleworth, Middx

WANTED. Partner with capital and ideas to open vegan/vegetarian/health foods/sandwich bar. Suggested locations: Canterbury, York, Cornwall?

Must be non-smoker. Box No.136.

SITUATIONS WANTED ABSOLUTELY SOLITARY occupation, full- or part-time, sought in the countryside by man. Box 138

Medicine Swedestyle W a t e r Filters Vita Florum Kirlian Photography Nat. Fed. Spiritual Healers Yoga Culture Therapy Aura Soma N e w W o r l d Cassettes Audio-Biofeedback M e t a m o r p h i c Ass.

35 The Vegan, Au t w n n1988

RATES AND CONDITIONS

COPY DATES First of month of publication

Personal : £3.50 for 20 words (minimum).

Additional words: 17peach.

Commercial : £4.75 for 20 words (minimum).

Additional words: ,25p each.

Semi-display : £5.00 per single column centimetre Series discount (4 consecutive insertions): 10% PAYMENT

MISCELLANEOUS

VEGFAM feeds the hungry — vegetable foodstuffs, leaf protein, horticulture, irrigation, afforestation etc.

The Sanctuary, Nr Lydford, Okehampton, Devon EX20 4AL. Tel: 0822 82203.

Complementary Medicine Primrose Healing Centre Caritas Homoeopathies Brit. Touch for Health Ass. Shirley Price A r o m a t h e r a p y School of Tai Chi Inst, of Bioenergetic

Late February, May, August, November

Box No : £2.00 extra

UP THE STEPS. V f

EXHIBITORS INCLUDE: College of O s t e o p a t h s Ass. of Reflexologists Ass. of Therapeutic Healers M a t t h e w M a n n i n g Centre Tisserand A r o m a t h e r a p y Black Forest Herbs Blackmore Laboratories Journal of Alternative a n d

PUBLICATION DATES

All prices inclusive of V A T .

I NEED someone to help me look after 1 baby, 7 cats, 1 dog, 1 monkey, 1 goat, 2 businesses, not to forget 1 husband. If you are clean, caring, conscientious, hardworking, easygoing and would enjoy helping a struggling vegetarian slay vegan and sane, please phone 0255 830062. (I am flexible re hours, pets etc).

MATCHMAKERS

drawn on an English bank or by international money order

Pre-payment please by cheque or postal order made payable to 'The Vegan Society Ltd' and sent to: The Advertising Manager, The Vegan, 33-35 George Street, Oxford OX1 2AY. Eire and Overseas: payment must be by sterling cheque

THE

HEALING ARTS

CONDITIONS O F ACCEPTANCE The submission of an advertisement is deemed to warrant that the advertisement does not contravene any Act of Parliament nor is it in any other way illegal or defamatory or an infringement of any other party's rights or an infringement of the British Code of Advertising Practice.

The Vegan Society reserves the right to refuse or withdraw any advertisement without explanation.

Although every care is taken, the Vegan Society cannot accept liability for any loss or inconvenience incurred as a result of errors in the wording, or the late or non-appearance of an advertisement.

LECTURES a n d W O R K S H O P S include: Matthew Manning: H o w to H e a l Clarke Peters: Roots of stress Paddina C o l e : Reality of H e a l i n g Harry H o w e l l :

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE & C o m p l e m e n t a r y Therapies

EXHIBITION

KENSINGTON R A I N B O W EXHIBITION CENTRE 3rd t o 6th NOVEMBER 1988

EXHIBITS LECTURES W O R K S H O P S DEMONSTRATIONS For f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n a n d f u l l free p r o g r a m m e contact the organisers HEARTEX NEW LIFE DESIGNS ARNICA HOUSE 170CAMPDEN HILL ROAD LONDON W87AS TEL. 01-9383788

Environmental Stresses M a r i e Louise Lacy: Know Yourself t h r o u g h C o l o u r Neville H o d g k i n s o n : Illness, Unhappiness a n d Healing Paul Taylor: Breath as a key to H e a l i n g Elizabeth Bellhouse: Flower Remedies M o i r a Adorns: Understanding Your D r e a m s Lionel Fifield: Laugh Your W a y to Health Soozi H o l b e c h e : The Near D e a t h Experience

Be a responsible vegan and ensure your long-term health with a daily intake of the essential

VITAMIN B 12

It is far more easily assimilated in liquid than tablet form.

B 12 — J u s t o n e fifth (100ml) of a c a r t o n of PLAMIL provides t h e average dally r e q u i r e m e n t of this i m p o r t a n t vitamin.

PLAMIL also s u p p l i e s i m p o r t a n t CALCIUM a n d v i t a m i n s B2 a n d d2PLAMIL is t h e only SOYA MILK f o r m u l a t e d for vegan n u t r i t i o n a l requirements.

I enclose an SAE. Please send nutrient sheet.

Name Address o

Send to: PLAMIL FOODS • PLAMIL HOUSE • ^ BOWLES WELL GARDENS • U FOLKESTONE • KENT jH