The Vegan Spring 1963 by The Vegan Society

T H E VEGAN SOCIETY Founded November,

1944

Veganism is a way of living which excludes all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, the animal kingdom, and includes a reverence and compassion for all life. It applies to the practice of living on the products of the plant kingdom to the exclusion of flesh, fish, fowl, eggs, honey, animal milk and its derivatives, and encourages the use of alternatives f o r all commodities derived wholly or in part from animals. Veganism remembers man's responsibilities to the earth and its resources and seeks to bring about a healthy soil and plant kingdom and a proper use of the materials of the earth.

President : Mrs. E. B. SHRIGLEY, , Purley, Surrey. Deputy-President: Mr. JACK SANDERSON, Upminster, Essex. Vice-Presidents : Dr. FREY E L L I S , Dr. CATHERINE N I M M O , Mr. DUGALD SEMPLE, Miss W I N I F R E D SIMMONS. Honorary Secretary : Mrs. EVA BATT, , Enfield, Middlesex. Honorary Treasurer : Mrs. SERENA N. COLES, Purley, Surrey. Committee : Mr. H . T . BONNIE, Mrs. P. M. COLLINS, T H E LADY DOWDING, Dr. F . E L L I S , Mr. M. MCCULLOCH, Mr. M. S . SHOLL, Miss M . A . SUMP, Mrs.

THOMSON.

Vegan Distribution Secretary : Purley, Surrey.

Mrs. S.

COLES,

Minimum subscription, which includes " T h e Vegan," 15s. per annum (and 7s. 6d. for each additional member of one family at same residence); 7s. 6d. if age under 18 ; payable in January. Life Membership, ÂŁ10 10s. Od.

THE

VEGAN

JOURNAL O F T H E VEGAN SOCIETY Editor : Mr. JACK SANDERSON, , Upminster, Essex. Advertisements : H . H . GREAVES LTD., 1 0 6 / 1 1 0 Lordship Lane, London, S.E.22. Published quarterly: Annual subscription, 7s. post free; single copies, Is. 9d. post free. Obtainable from the Hon. Secretary.

LITERATURE " T h e Reasons for Veganism." 4 page leaflet. Free. " V e g a n Protein Nutrition." 12 page leaflet. Is. 3d. post free. " A Handbook of Practical Veganism." 24 pages with cover. Obtainable f r o m the Hon. Secretary. 2s. 9d. post free. " T h e Vegetarian and Vegan Food Guide." 2s. 6d. post free. " Unnecessary Cruelties among Farm Animals." 8 page leaflet. 6d. post free.

THE VEGAN Journal

of the Vegan SPRING,

Society

1963

EDITORIAL Four seasons fill the measure of the year ; There are four seasons in the mind of m a n : He has his lusty spring, when fancy clear Takes in all beauty with an easy span. KEATS.

It was a lover and his lass That o'er the green cornfield did pass In the spring time, Sweet lovers love the Spring. SHAKESPEARE.

The fields breathe sweet, the daisies kiss our feet, Young lovers meet, old wives a-sunning sit, In every street these tunes our ears do greet, Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to-wdtta-woo.! Sprfng f the sweet Spring! NASH.

Is there a poet who has mot at some time felt himself compelled to write of this the most joyous of seasons? With a few deft strokes he recalls to our memory the highlights of spring, and .paints for us a series of flashesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the stronger light enhancing colour, the bird song, the blossom, the fragrance, the young growth and the growth of the young, the young lovers 'hand-inhandâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;flashes that our imagination weaves into a tapestry of promise and yearning. We feel the sap rise within us and the need to express our thanks and joy for the annual resurrection of life, and we look around to find a way of expressing the renewed life within us. Nor have we far to look. To her fair works did Nature link The human soul that through me ran ; And much it grieved my heart to think What man has "made of man. WORDSWORTH.

Whether we Chink of our own country, with .its half a million denied work, or its millions living their whole lives amid bricks and grime almost apart from Nature ; or whether we turn to less fortunate countries where 1,000 million human beings go to bed ihungry at night: whether we ponder the drug-trafficking trends of modern medicine or the poisonous trends of modern farming ; when we remember that half the adult population of the world cannot read or write, and that one Atlas missile would provide schools for 50,000 children, there is no shortage of urgent jobs for us to do, whether it be working full time abroad or collecting for Oxfam down the road. When we further remember the cruelties of vivisection and hunting, the .pain of trapping and the fur trade, and the growing automation and appalling exploitation in modern methods of farming—not forgetting the cruelties practised in more traditional farming, we can become the voice of the voiceless and helpless and use; every means possible to plead the animals' case, radio, television, newspapers, magazines, talks, discussions and leaflets, and I earnestly hope that every reader will respond to the next article. JACK SANDERSON.

VEGAN MEETINGS (Open to Members and Interested Friends) May.—On Friday, May 17th (please note—not 24th, the date given in Winter issue), at 6.30 p.m. at 34 Westbourne Park Road, London, W.2. Dr. F. Ellis will speak on " Some Aspects of Vitamin B12." Fresh and often surprising facts about this vitamin are constantly being brought to light and, as vegans, it is well for us to know as much as possible about the recent developments. It will help our hostess, Mrs. White (re refreshments) if you let her know by iphone (BAYswater 7057) or otherwise of your intention to be present. July.—The Vegan Society will be having a stall at the B.W.C. Garden F at the home of Drs. Douglas and Monica Latto at Reading, Berks, on Sunday, July 14th, at 2.30 p.m. Members may like to make their own way there, or go by special coach as last year (ring Mrs. White, BAY 7057, to book your seat). December.—Advance notice of the A.G.M., 1963, to be held on Saturday, December 14t)h, at the Caxton Hall, Westminster. OTHER MEETINGS July.—An East Surrey Vegetarian Society Garden Party-will be held at South Croydon on Saturday, July 6th. (Ring Mrs. Shrigley, UPLands 4078, for details.) The A.G.M of the Vegetarian Nutritional Research Centre will be held at Stanborough Park, Garston, Watford, on Sunday, 2

July 21st, at 2.30 p.m., when Mr. Pirie is expected to speak on " Developments with Green-Leaf Protein," and a speaker is to come from Unicef. (Write or ring Dr. Wokes, GARston 4471.) RECENT MEETINGS Australia Unfortunately the weather kept many people away from the meeting on February 16th, but those present enjoyed not only a very interesting talk by Mr. Molineux on his stay in Australia, but some appetising and very tasty refreshments provided by Mrs. Thomson. Mr. Molineux is now attempting to try out some of his ideas in Southern England. During his attempt last year in Queensland, his efforts were largely negatived by the depredations. of wallahies, whilst there was constant anxiety concerning his children because of the presence of numerous poisonous snakes and large biting insects. The family were provided with excellent vegan meals by the airline on their return journey, and although at first they were told that no shipping or airline would accept them without vaccination certificates, perseverance won and they travelled unvaccinated. The Annual Vegan Dinner About 100 people crowded into Maxims for the Vegan Dinner, which was a great success. Although the service was rather slow, the food was well worth waiting for, and I have quite a new opinion of Chinese cookingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;my previous experience being confined to tins from the supermarket! There were short speeches from the Lady Dowding, Dr. G. Latto, Dr. A.. Stoddard and the swimmer, Mr. Jack McClelland (who had flown over specially from Belfast). Then followed a display of attractive vegan shoes -from Bata (arranged by Beauty Without Cruelty), discussion with friends old and new, and dancing for the energetic. The Committee regret that the disposition of the tables at Maxims did not make for ease of meeting members and friends, so many of whom had travelled quite long distances to be present, and this .point will be remembered for next year. Even so, a heartening evening and a happy augury for the future. SHIRLEY C O L L I N S .

QUOTE I regret to say that we are a nation of pet lovers, not animal lovers. Individuals who 'have a true kinship with the animal world cannot eat them or wear their mutilated forms. SYLVIA BARBANELL.

THE

VEGAN

SOCIETY

STATEMENT OF INCOME AND EXPENDITURE FOR THE YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30th, 1962 INCOME Subscriptions received Donations received Sale of Literature Sale of Journals Advertisements—The Vegan Advertisements—Food Guide ... Collections at: Lecture on 3/4/62 .. » .. 7/4/62 Social on 19/5/62 Party on 2/6/62 Contributions to cost of A.G.M., 1961 ... Sale of tickets for Dinner on 16/3/62 Dr. Ellis Research Fund Sale of Vegan Badges Sale of Food Guide Booklet (not yet printed) Interest on P.O. Savings Bank Account at 31st December, 1961

£ 276 115 36 11 42 17 2 3 2 15 2 16 5 43 14

s. d. 10 8 2 3 11 1 12 0 10 1 16 0 2 0 7 6 0 6 11 6 8 0 4 6 0 0 17 6 3 0 1

£604 18

EXPENDITURE Printing of Vegan Magazine Secretarial Expenses Postage Expenses of A.G.M., 1961 Hire of L.V.S. rooms for meetings Contribution to Nutritional Centre—Dr. Wokes (2 years) Contribution to Beauty Without Cruelty — Lady Dowding Contribution to I.V.U Cost of Dinner on 16/3/62 Cost of Vegan Badges Balance of Income over Expenditure ...

£ 283 77 66 2 6

s. d. 10 9 1 3 10 7 12 0 2 3

10 10

3 3 2 2 16 12 71 18 64 15

0 0 7 6 2

£604 18

BALANCE SHEET AS AT SEPTEMBER 30th, 1962 LIABILITIES AND SURPLUS Surplus Balance at 30th September, 1961 Excess of Income over Expenditure

£ s. d. 693 12 8 64 15 2

£758

4th October, 1962.

ASSETS Literature at cost price ... Vegan Badges at cost price Reserve Fund in P.O. Savings Bank ... Balance at Westminster Bank at 30/9/62

£ s. d. 29 9 0 32 4 0 350 0 0 346 14 10 £758

7 10

Audited and found correct. (Signed) H . MONTAGU HAINES.

1st October, 1962.

7 10

SIMMONS,

Treasurer.

We should like to pay tribute to the voluntary work of Messrs. H. Montagu Haines, V. Lidiard, P. Rothwell and J.M. Woods, who in turn have kindly acted as auditors of the annual accounts prepared by Miss W. Simmons. OUR NEW VICE-PRESIDENT The above accounts will be the last to be prepared by Miss Winifred Simmons whose resignation was tendered and accepted with great regret a few weeks after the 1962 A.G.M. Miss D. W. Simmons has served the Vegan Society with great devotion during her seven years of office and her personal care of our accounts has been a model of stewardship. She brought an expert knowledge and a lifetime's experience to bear upon our financial situation and when she took over as Acting Treasurer in the Autumn of 1955 and then as Hon. Treasurer in the Winter of 1955, our assets were very small indeed. Since that time, through the work of the Committee, and particularly through the work of Mrs. Drake and Mrs. Batt as secretaries, Mr. Heron as Editor, Miss Mabel Simmons (recipes and demonstrator), and Miss C. Harvey and Mrs. Batt on commodities, the membership and income have steadily grown; and it is in the conservation and use of this income that Miss Winifred Simmons' guidance and advice have been invaluable. The figures will speak for themselves. The balance in hand at the end of each financial year since she took office was as follows: — £25 1955 1959 ... £421 £144 1956 1960 ... £464 £261 1957 1961 ... • £632 £343 1962 ... £758 1958 Apart from a little help given in the early stages of her work by Miss C. Harvey, Miss Winifred Simmons has dealt with all the necessary correspondence and accounting herself, and this has involved steady work, day by day throughout the year. Her husbanding of our modest resources and her guidance over spending have undoubtedly led to the comparatively healthy state of our finances today. Right from the beginning she set herself the target of a reserve fund, so that the life members' subscriptions should be safeguarded and also to lend financial stability to the Society so that the former hand-to-mouth existence of the Society should become a thing of the past. In this she has succeeded and so has become one of the major builders of the larger Vegan Society which is yet to be. And I say this in a two-fold sense. For I will never forget that she was one of the three voices that stood out at the A.G.M. of 1960 against the proposal " to discontinue the Vegan journal and to have 4 pages in the British Vegetarian." That way would have led to the decay and extinction of the Vegan 5

Society for it would not have had a free voice and the fact that it is flourishing and growing now is a further tribute to her wise judgment. The Committee was unanimous and enthusiastic in its desire to honour Miss Winifred Simmons for her services by making her a Vice-President of the Society, and I am sure that every member will echo this tribute to one of the finest servants they have ever had. I.S. A MESSAGE FROM OUR NEW TREASURER Dear Friends, I would like to take this opportunity of greeting you in my new capacity as your treasurer. Whether I shall be able to live up to the same high standard as my predecessor I very much doubt but I promise to do my best. I feel that I already know so many of you and I have been overwhelmed by the kind little notes that have accompanied your subscriptions. As some of you know, I do try to write scraps to you on the back of the receipts or when I have been addressing the journals but it is impossible to write to everybody. We appear to be very blest with members who always try to give the little or big extra and I know that many of you do this at great cost to yourselves. There is the kindly soul of 93 years who cannot read very well now but still sent a donation although not requiring the journal and I could quote many other similar kindly gestures. We have, because of this generosity, been able to print many more leaflets for propaganda and we hope that, by this method of publicity, we can interest many more people for the sake of the creatures and mankind in general. I would like to thank all of you who have sent in this year's subscription already. It would greatly facilitate the work if the rest of you would send your money direct to me and make ALL cheques and postal orders payable to " The Vegan Society" — never to anybody personally. • Please accept my apologies for any delays that may have occurred. You will be pleased to know that we have had two offers to send journals to our Czech friend in response to his letter and the editor's appeal. Two of our new members, Mrs. Collins and Mr. Bonnie, have kindly taken over the work of addressing the envelopes for the journals but queries concerning these can still be sent to me. It would give me great pleasure if each member would try to introduce either a new member or a journal subscriber. So much information is gathered together by our editor and it is gratifying to all concerned when the sales go up. By the way, have you bought your Food Guide yet? Most of the credit goes to our secretary who worked on it for nine months with unfailing energy. I would like to thank you all for your continued support. We • 6

have come a long way but we still have very far to go in order to spread the Oneness of Life. To each one and, especially to those who are very isolated on the physical level, I would send kindest thoughts. SERENA COLES. HAVE

YOU?

The Treasurer wishes to thank those who .have sent their subscriptions for 1963 and says that she would Like to hear from the others soon. Have you considered Life Membership? A

NEW

PUBLICITY

AND

PUBLICATION

FUND

The Committee have for long been aware that one of the most urgent needs of the Society is to have more literature to spread its knowledge and ideas far and wide, and .it has during recent years, within its very limited resources, produced a small number of booklets and leaflets which have been invaluable in serving a much wanted need. In the last few years the Society would have printed many more leaflets such as the new one referred to further on had it had the funds, whilst it has plans for further leaflets and booklets as soon as funds permit. There are many other aspects of publicity which have had to be dormant which will be taken up as soon as it is possible. The more people we reach, the greater the spread of our message, and this results in the growth of our membership, which again means more funds available for literature. Growth is the paramount theme of Spring, and this is an opportune time to begin a Fund whose special purpose is Literature and Publicity. If you have read the Editorial above you will know the need, and we ask you to make a special effort so that the new Fund gets off to a good start. Please make cheques and orders payable to the Vegan Society, and send them, with your request that they are specially for the new Fund, to the Treasurer. f.S. A UNNECESSARY

NEW

CRUELTIES By A

LEAFLET AMONG

FARM

ANIMALS

VETERINARY SURGEON

The Editor and Committee deeply appreciated the privilege of printing this article in the Summer 1962 issue, and the response has been such that the Committee has had it printed as an 8-page leaflet. It is just the thing to hand out to the person who says, "At least there isn't much cruelty in British farming," and the vital information it contains should be in the hands and minds of every vegan. Price 3d. each. Why not send for a dozen to the Secretary? 7

" WOMAN " Following upon the excellent publicity given to the vegetarian and vegan cause last summer by Che magazine She, the February 23rd issue of the large circulation weekly Woman, under the title " How It's Done," by Angela Talbot, printed the following: " My husband has invited some people whom (he took to be vegetarians home for a meal. Now we have been told they are vegans. What is the difference, and what sort of food should I provide for them?" (Answer.) " Vegans live on fruit, vegetables, nuts, grains and seed. Tihey do not eat the produce of living animals—eggs, butter, cheese, milk and honey—eaten by vegetarians. A suitable meal would consist of vegetable soup, followed by nut cutlets or vegetable curry (fry in vegetable or nut oil) and a salad, fresh or cooked fruit or nuts and dried fruit. If you would like any further advice, the Vegan Society, 123 Baker Street, Enfield, Middlesex, will ibe glad to help." W e are grateful for such publicity and glad to receive the letters and requests for free literature and sample copies of the Journal which have followed. It is important tfiat this aspect of our work should not be hampered by lack of funds, and those friends and sympathisers who may have already taken advantage of the service and would wish it to be continued for others are invited to help by supporting the new Publicity Fund. E.B. CONCERN! The following extract is taken from The Farmer and Stockbreeder (4th September, 1962): — Cabbage Milk. Last week's news of the development of a synthetic milk using cabbage leaves makes an eye-catching headline. But if the process finally proves successful it could have much wider implications than just as an addition to the diet of vegetarians To start with the scientists involved are quite right in saying that there can never be enough cow's milk for all the world's children or to solve all protein deficiences; yet there is plenty of vegetable protein if only it can be extracted and made up into a suitable human food. Effect on Market. But even more important to dairy farmers is the fact that a plant milk such as this might conceivably turn out to have a similar effect on our market as has margarine on the butter market. Already it is claimed that this milk could be competitive in price with cow's milk. Production in any quantity would almost certainly make it very much cheaper. The theory of strong competition from synthetic milk might seem far fetched today but no doubt dairy farmers thought much the same when margarine was first introduced. 8

VEGAN FARE (Some recipes by Mabel Simmons selected by the Editor). Watercress Soup bunches of watercress 1 tablespoon barley 1 onion 1 bay leaf £ oz. margarine 2 pints of stock 1 large carrot Seasoning Make stock of a bunch of watercress and peelings of (washed) vegetables. Braise onion in margarine, add carrot cut finely then add stock, bay leaf, seasoning and barley. Simmer f hour; add half a bunch of chopped watercress and serve with crofitons of wholemeal bread. Vegetable Roll 1 lb. mixed vegetables Seasoning 1 oz. margarine Pastry: £ lb. Nutter Barmene * ^ lb. wholemeal flour £ tsp. mixed herbs Prepare vegetables, making stock of outer peelings. Make pastry: rub Nutter into flour, mix with water into fairly stiff dough, roll out oblong, damp edges, spread Barmene on thinly. Grate all vegetables into basin, add seasoning, herbs, mix well. Spread on pastry, roll up, put into greased paper and cloth. Steam one and quarter hours. Serve with tomato or onion gravy. Nut Galantine £ lb. milled cashews 1 oz. margarine £ lb. wholemeal bread\ teaspoon sage crumbs Seasoning 1 onion Mix breadcrumbs and nuts together, also seasoning. Cut onion finely, fry golden brown, add powdered sage. Place onion on top of mixture. Put sufficient thick sauce to bind and form into roll. Place on greased paper, also cloth and steam £ hour. When cold brush over with Agar-agar jelly or Gelozone. Agar-agar Jelly 1 cup stock \ tsp. Barmene 1 tsp. Agar-agar (or Tomatoes Gelezone) Heat stock, add Barmene. Sprinkle in Agar-agar or Gelezone. Bring to the boil, simmer 5 minutes. When cool dip pastry brush in and brush Galantine until all is used up. Garnish with tomatoes. 9

Amber Tart Pastry: £ lb. wholemeal flour £ lb. apples 1 oz. brown sugar £ lb. Nutter 1 lemon 2 oz. sultanas Cook apples except one; add sugar, sultanas, grated rind of £ lemon, also juice, mix well. Make pastry, line shallow tins, prick the bottom, cook. When cold put in apple mixture also rings of apple uncooked on top, sprinkle with coconut. See our next issue for Salads and other Summer Fare. All enquiries about recipes should be se Simmons (Teacher of Vegetarian Cookery), London, N.W.ll.

M O T H E R AND BABY BUREAU

BEING DIFFERENT B y JANET E . LING, S . R . N . ,

S.C.M.

In my article in the last issue of The Vegan I proposed starting a " Question and Answer " series for Vegan mothers, and I have decided to commence this series with a question I have been asked by a reader which is very fundamental, in its general application, to the Vegan way of life: Question: " From your experience, what is the usual attitude of Vegan children to being ' different' from their associates, and how do you think it best to prepare them for the difficulties they will encounter ? " Answer: I do believe that a Vegan's attitude to society is closely connected with his health, and that however perfect his diet may be if the child or adult is consciously worried or anxious about being " different" this attitude of mind could adversely affect his health. " Mind over matter " is very true here. Primarily, the person should be convinced in his own mind that what he is doing is right, and know why. This realization comes to all of us at different ages in the same way that we come to Veganism from a wide variety of circumstances. The adult has had time to think things out for himself, and has made his decision. He should not be troubled by society, or what his friends think; and he should know how to adapt himself and his ideals to whatever situation arises, and know how to answer criticism and cynicism. 10

With a child this is, of course, quite another matter. He eats what he is given, and does not question it, until he is old enough to mix with other children at school and at parties. It is up to the parents to give the child confidence and to help him to overcome criticism that might well be made against his type of diet. If a child has been taught right from the beginning to love all animals, then the thought of eating them will displease him. Often a seemingly casual remark can be lastingly effective, e.g., a comment when passing a butcher's or fish shop " . . . the poor cow's or fish . . ." etc. On the other hand it is sometimes advisable to turn a blind eye to certain things when out in company, and not make any comment at the time in front of the child. If a well balanced wholesome diet is followed at home, I don't think it matters if the child unwittingly make an occasional lapse when he is out alone. When a child asks a question we parents must be quite honest and answer the point raised. Our little girl, Julia, is nearly 3, and as yet she does not feel different in the slightest degree. She loves going out and, in return, having friends in to " tea."' I had initially to watch her when she was out, to see that she was not given a cup of milk, but now all her friends know she does not drink it and they, automatically, give her fruit juice. She does not ask for milk, so no comment is made. A child should not merely just be told he must not eat this "or that, because his instinctive reaction to such negative approach might well be to go out of his way to eat it. The Suggestion, " you don't want to eat that, do you, because it is a poor . . ." is much more likely to achieve the desired result. Let him go out to parties, and have children in to tea. Remember, example can achieve more than words. As he grows older he will start working things out for himself. Allow him to do this, and just be content to answer his questions, and surreptitiously slip in a word or two here and there. It is far more difficult for a boy to stick to his beliefs than a girl, because boys can be rather cruel to each other, and can be terrors for teasing. Every endeavour should be made to bring the child into contact with other vegetarian or vegan children, because he will then see that he is not brought up by " cranky " or " peculiar " parents and will see that there are many other children who live in the same way. This is most important because a child may sooner or later sense a feeling of isolation. For those who live in or near large cities it is fairly easy to establish such contacts, but there are also ways and means in which Vegan parents who live in more urban areas may make contact with other Vegans, e.g., at holiday time, at a holiday-centre, suitable guest house, etc. Children can very often form very valuable friendships in this way. One of the reasons I have offered to establish a register of Vegan families is in order to create such necessary contact between the children; and I have already had the pleasure of introducing mothers to 11

one another in this way. If you would like your name to be added to the register, please write to me at the address below. Readers' comments on how to avoid their children feeling different will be welcome; some parents have obviously passed through this experience, whilst others are in the process of overcoming the problem, and will doubtless appreciate some tips. , Coulsdon, Surrey.

SENSITIVITY IN PLANTS B y DOROTHY

THOMSON

" We who are Godlike now were once a mass of Quivering purple, flecked with bars of gold. Unsentient of joy or misery And tossed in terrible tangles Of some wild and windswept sea." —Oscar Wilde, " Panthea." We are often asked by those who wish to defend the carnivorous way of life how we can be sure that vegetables do not feel pain when they are being eaten, as they too are living things. Now when this frequent question is posed—usually as the last bastion of the defeated—it may seem a rather awkward one to answer unless one has thought about it for some time. However strongly the voice of our own intuition may tell us that the question is hardly a fair one we may feel at a loss as to how to convey our own inner awareness of truth. When first this argument was put forward I simply asked which it would be preferable to do, if one were placed in the position of having either to slit the throat of an innocent lamb or to pull up a carrot. From which would one instinctively shrink? It is as well, however, to put forward a few more positive ideas upon this subject —the sensitivity and degree of feeling in plants. We can begin with the occult saying which refers to the ever unfolding consciousness of life as it journeys through the kingdoms of nature: " God sleeps in the mineral, dreams in the vegetable and wakes in the animal, which, of course, includes Man." As the life wave journeys through the elemental to higher and higher forms, ever seeking more adequate means of expression, so the vibrations of the outer world play upon the waking consciousness within the form, and according to the length of its experiences so there is an appropriate response. Minerals have inertia and energy and display fatigue under certain conditions. Crystals reproduce themselves forming complex patterns of indescribable beauty, while the molecules preserve the original design, ever faithful to life's mysterious intent. 12

With the operation of evolutionary law, as the same elemental life passes through the vegetable kingdom there is a greater response to outer stimuli. For it is slow Time the transformer that touches with gentle fingers the heavy lids of life and opens the eyes that the inner and outer may meet. But not yet has the dreaming plant moved to a degree of consciousness that possesses a brain with which to register its own responses to the outer world and relate them into inner experiences. Not yet has the plant the power of voluntary movement from place to place, which is possessed by the life which has passed to the animal kingdom. Nevertheless there is a degree of response in plants as has been adequately proved by the famous Delawarr Box. There is even much evidence that they respond to music. The magazine "Mind and Matter " gives a great deal of information on this subject for those who are interested in the subject of radionics; it has experimented in no small way in this particular field. However, when we think of plants responding to music, we must not lose sight of the fact that music is a vibration that we translate through the medium of the brain which requires an ear to turn it into an inner experience. We cannot therefore attribute to a plant the same degree of sensitivity as that possessed by animals. We know too that primitive tribes have an immunity to pain not possessed by more civilised races. I will not elaborate on the mutilations of the body and tests of endurance which are commonplace among more primitive people. It would indeed be too horrible to describe some of the self-inflicted tortures and barbaric customs at this stage of evolution. As the consciousness evolves we find a gradual revulsion from cruelty and a loathing of suffering inflicted upon innocent creatures, because the highly tuned nervous system has become more acutely aware of pain, and endeavours to eliminate it wherever possible. Artists possess a highly evolved nervous system and .are usually humanitarian in outlook for the imagination develops at the same ratio. Through imagination man breaks the barriers of sense and can transcend himself. Through imagination he changes his heart and his environment and feels one with the world around him, and without it he could never cross the threshold of heaven, for this is God's greatest gift to Man. The greater the degree of consciousness the greater the response to outer stimuli. This state of conscious awareness is not yet possessed by plants. Animals are conscious enough to suffer at our hands. That animals suffer we can have no doubt at all, so when we have to compromise with life let us at least choose that form not possessed of emotions and feelings akin to our own. â&#x20AC;˘How close the animals' consciousness is to ours is shown when they are capable of gratitude, sympathy and love. Super13

stition and exoteric religion have made dumb creatures into the prey of Man, so that he blindly exploits them, and never tries to understand them or realise that they have a place in the evolutionary plan.

NEWS A N D COMMENTS The Queen. We are grateful that the Queen and the Royal Family give so much of their time to encouraging good causes. But it is sad to see that she and also Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy, who tend to set a lead in fashion, were recently shown wearing leopard skin coats. Sad too, to read in T.V. Times that the Hon. Angus Ogilvy who " is kind, considerate and understanding," also " h u r r i e s north to his beloved glens to shoot and fish." And very sad to read that Mr. Adlai Stevenson likes bull-fighting. Wine. According to persons who live in Marsala and according to the Italian Encyclopedia Dictionary, Marsala wine from Italy is one in which blood is used in the clarification process. If in doubt about a particular kind of wine why not write to the producer. (From Awake). Thalidomide. The name of this drug immediately brings to mind pictures of deformed babies. But names like penicillin and streptomycin are thought of as being highly respectable wonder drugs of great benefit to mankind. An excellent leaflet about the dangerous side effects of these and other drugs, news of which rarely reaches the popular press, is available from Science Without Cruelty, 27 Palace Street, London, S.W.I. It selects 17 from over 2,000 drugs in recent use which can result in appalling " side-effects " which are quite unwanted and were quite unforeseen by those who manufactured or prescribed them. The sad truth is that though these drugs had been submitted to exhaustive tests on live animals, such tests had failed to reveal the hidden dangers for human beings. If you believe in anti-vivisection, you will find this leaflet of great value to yourself and also to friends, especially those who accept drugs as the best way to treat disease. B.B.C. Broadcast.â&#x20AC;&#x201D;The Secretary and Editor were interviewed last summer for a radio programme which was put on by Jeremy Sanford under the title " Eat No M e a t " on Friday, February 1st, on the Home Service. A terrific amount of material was crammed into 30 minutes and not a great deal was said about veganism. Mrs. Batt's voice was heard, however, speaking on behalf of the animals. Reference was made to her in two local newspapers The Enfield Gazette and The Weekly Herald. 14

COMMODITY A N D OTHER NEWS B y EVA BATT

Footwear. We are pleased to be able to announce a very important step forward on the vegan footwear front, and we would like to congratulate our member, Mrs. Rosemary MaidwellDodd on the success, at last, of her untiring efforts in this field. An Italian-styled court shoe, fashioned especially for Beauty Without Cruelty and guaranteed to contain no animal substance, has just been produced by Messrs. Bata of 151 Oxford Street, London, W.l. The very pliable, lined uppers, are made from an entirely new material by Messrs. Dupont of America, which simulates a fine black patent leather. At present they are obtainable only from the Beauty Without Cruelty Boutique, 34 Westbourne Park Road, London, W.2. (Orders sent to me will be forwarded). They are available with round or pointed toes and, if the response justifies it, will later be made in other shades and styles. The cost is 4 9 / l i d . per pair, plus l / 6 d . if ordered by post. Please allow about 7 days for delivery. NEW B.W.C. BOUTIQUE Whilst we have always done what we could, through the pages of the Vegan and various local exhibitions, to acquaint our members of the availability of Vegan commodities, the problem has always been to know where members could see the recommended items, buy the soaps and cosmetics, examine some of the footwear, and. know that all the items offered for sale had been humanely produced. It has long been our ambition to have such a centre, but until quite recently it has been little more than a dream of the future. But now the members of the Beauty Without Cruelty committee, with unlimited courage and conviction, and quite undeterred by all the apparent obstacles, have opened and stocked their very home of our member Mrs. C. White, W.2. (BAY 7057). We are sure that all London members and visitors to the Metropolis will want to call there for help and advice as well as to shop for soaps, cosmetics, footwear, nylon " fur " coats, etc. The Boutique is open at present on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 2 to 8 p.m. and it goes without saying that for the " assistants," this service is a labour of love. We wish all success to Beauty Without Cruelty in this fine new venture, and know that they can rely on the full co-operation of our members. 15

MICH/CLA D E N I S ' S V I S I T TO THE

B.W.C. BOUTIQUE "One cannot have a bendable conscience!" So summed up Michsela Denis when discussing the plight of " many wild animals threatened with extinction through man's greed and thoughtlessness. The popular television star, expert on wild animal conservation, and authoress (remember Leopard in my Lapl), had earlier been examining, with Lady Dowding, the man-made " furs," leatherless footwear, and animal-free soaps and cosmetics, in the Beauty Without Cruelty Boutique at 34 Westbourne Park Road, London, W.2. After expressing disagreement with the " foot in both camp " conservationists who are more concerned with protecting big game from poachers for hunters than the animals themselves, she said: " The only justification for killing is when it is the only way to spare the animal a slower and more agonising death. In the African Parks, where the animals are protected, some species, of course, increase out of proportion and destroy the habitat. Elephants and rhinos are starving and dying of thirst in some parts of Africa now. The destruction of the habitat is a most serious problem; de-afforestation through over-population has a long range effect on climate, causing drought due to lack of tree cover, and the picture deteriorates very quickly indeed. Having created the problem, in many cases by destroying the natural predators of certain species, man must now do the best he can to keep the animal population regulated to what can be supported on a given area, but never, NEVER, must this be done on a commercial basis. I am not so very happy when expediency is the only reason for actionâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;even when it does happen to benefit the animals for a while. I like it better when a thing is done for the right reason, you know? It is more likely to work and it also means that people are thinking and feeling." Michaela went on to give examples of the results of hunting and poaching in protected areas and reminded us all that this will not be stamped out while the demand for the spoils remains. There were a number of shops in Africa, she said, where rugs made from the skins of " protected " monkeys were sold, but an inquiry was always answered with, " We do not kill them, we buy the skins from Ethiopea." There are too many loopholes! , . One must protest! and protest! and protest! wherever and 16

whenever one meets this slaughter for commercial gain, always giving reasons for refusing to buy, or accept, carved ivory ornaments, stuffed baby alligators and other such knick-knacks. There were times when one even had to forget one's manners and offend a host or friend. On one occasion, because she spoke out forcibly against the idea of giraffe shooting for sport, her host, an intending big game hunter, decided to go shooting after all, but with non-lethal cameras! How much more we could all do if, like Michaela, we too had the courage of our conviction with us all the time, and put the animals' welfare firstâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;even before the directives of habit and the niceties of polite behaviour. Michaela ended with feeling, and a laugh, " Yes, I must go back. Do you know I think that' Africa and I could not live without each other! " The other members of the Beauty Without Cruelty Committee could appreciate how Africa might feel, and we went home with renewed enthusiasm and added knowledge, to continue our efforts on behalf of those who are unable to plead for mercy, let alone demand justice from their human exploiters. E. V. B.

FROM OUR VICE-PRESIDENT DR. NIMMO " The behaviour of men to the lower animals and their behaviour to each other, bears a constant relationship." â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Herbert Spencer. I was happy to read the splendid article by Dorothy Thomson in the Autumn, 1962, Vegan! The 'two phrases " Nature, Red in Tooth and Claw " and " The Jungle Law " always ihurt my feelings. Indeed, they are incompatible with a God of Wisdom and Infinite Compassion, as Mrs. Thomson so ably brought out. No doubt aeons ago, man was a Vegan and for some reason fell from grace, setting up low vibrations in his environment and thus degrading himself and the animals, his younger brothers, whom he should try to defend and elevate. I am grateful that Mrs. Thomson expressed this idea so beautifully. It is my belief, shared by others, that the so-called wild animals are made so by us, as by ignorance most of us have now or in the past contributed to the reservoir of fear and cruelty. And even at this time, we train dogs for war, police, hunting, watching, etc., thus making them unfriendly. As most of us have taken part in various cruelties, we should not blame any one; but now we have better examples and the various scriptures teaching compassion, and as we have come to 17

greater understanding, it behoves us to live and teach the highest principles of Veganism for the welfare of humanity and our dependants, the animals. There is no doubt, that Nature responds to the degree of our inner vibrations of Love, or fear, or hate. Slowly and gradually we have to grow to Compassion and Understanding. It takes time. We all are climbing slowly, but there is no doubt that the animals and, if I dare to go farther, all Kingdoms, and even circumstances will treat us according to our inner feelings and outer practice. A few examples of this understanding are: â&#x20AC;&#x201D; " Mr. and Mrs. Albert Parker, who have already walked 17,000 miles through the Union and Central Africa, are now planning to walk from Pietermaritzburg to Liberia. They journey through game-infested veldt and jungle, but they have never considered it necessary to carry a weapon of any sort, other than Mr. Parker's walking stick." From the Evening Standard, London. " The author of Wild Animals' Homesteads, Mr. Enos S. Mills, lived in a cabin in the forest and mountain solitudes of Colorado, among wild creatures there; mountain lions, grizzly bears, wild cats, deer, coyotes, squirrels, rabbits, beavers. Mills was never, apparently, in any danger, except once, when a mother grizzly bear mistook his friendly, indeed, most charitable intentions towards her cub." From Animals' Crusaders. " Leo has a little Lamb." " The Bible quotation about the lion lying with the lamb recently came true here. Animal-farm owner Ralph Heifer's pride and joy is Zamba, a lion, he raised from a cub. Zamba is friends with everyone, so Ralph decided to introduce him to Muffle, a young lamb. The two have been friends ever since, as various pictures show." From Animal Alley. " On a particularly dark night, after a discouraging hard day, the Sadhu found a cave, where he spread his blanket and spent the night. When daylight came it revealed a large leopard still asleep and close to him. ' Never to this day,' he said, ' has any wild animal done me harm.' " From " The Message of Sadhu Sandar Singh." In Telepathy with Rattlesnakes by William Esenwein in the February, 1961 issue of Fate magazine, among his many striking experiences, one was: " On one occasion, I was in the Pit of Death at the Reptile Gardens in Phoenix, Arizona, where different 18

varieties of rattlesnake from the surrounding desert were kept as a touristic attraction. I alone was permitted in this pit, where I often went to pet the snakes. Many had a colouration, which made them difficult to distinguish from the sand of the pit. Suddenly a friend shouted from above, that I was standing on a side-winder, most ill-reputed of all rattlesnakes. Looking down I saw that it was squirming under me. I lifted my foot and he crawled away into a corner and pouted. Similar incidents might often have occurred at Rattlesnake Haven, a mining claim in Arizona, that I transformed into a snake refuge. The rattlers, however, know that I would not purposely step on them and took care that I did not accidentally do so, when I walked among the boulders." " In .1928 there was another tiger hunt in India. Two English men were the would-be murderers, and two little goats had been tied to a stake. The hunters watched with guns in hand. After some hours, the goats showed signs of abject terror. From one side of the jungle came a tiger; from another an Indian Yogi, who went across to the goats and untied them. Away they ran. Then he approached the tiger, and caressed him and after the tiger had rolled over on his back in delight, together they went slowly and disappeared into the jungle." From Killing for Pleasure. By Ger M.S., Barrister-at-Law, Worcester, England. If we talk about the Jungle Law, what do we think about our civilised laws of Atomic Warfare, Capital Punishment, Slaughter for Meat, Vivisection, etc., etc.? In this glorious and promising time, in which, despite the wars, we notice more and more light being accepted by people in all corners of our globe, I believe that practising the highest aspects of Veganism, based on the Great Universal Laws, can help us very much in our climb, not only towards our own Unity with the Supreme and all there is, but also in bringing harmony among other people and other parts of Life. The books of J. Allen Boon: Letters to Strongheart, and Kinship with All Life, give us a wonderful and practical understanding of the Truth that Life is One. Dr. C. NIMMO, Oceano, California, U.S.A.

(Overheard recently). Lady pouring tea for guests: " Do you take nut milk, or the udder kind? " 19

" So many gods, so many creeds, So many paths that wind and wind, While just the art of being kind Is all the sad world needs." i

" I am the voice of the voiceless: Through me, the dumb shall speak; Till the deaf world's ear be made to hear The cry of the wordless weak. From street, from cage and from kennel, From jungle and stall, the wail Of my tortured kin proclaims the sin Of the mighty against the frail." " For love is the true religion, And love is the law sublime; And all that is wrought, where love is not Will die at the touch of time. Oh shame on the mothers of mortals Who have not stopped to teach Of the sorrow that lies in dear, dumb eyes, The sorrow that has no speech." " The same Power formed the sparrow That fashioned manâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the King; The God of the whole gave a living soul To furred and to feathered thing. And I am my brother's keeper, And I will fight his fight; And speak the word for beast and bird Till the world shall set things right." ELLA WHEELER

WILCOX.

The above poem has been sent to us by The Millennium Guild of 40 Central Park South, N.Y.C. 19, U.S.A. The object of this Association is to promote by precept and example, a just consideration of the rights of all races, human and sub-human and to teach that foremost among the unnecessary evils of the world and one which underlies most of the other evils, is the mutilation and slaughter of our fellow creatures for food and other selfish ends and to set forth the physical and!moral reasons why this is so.

'20

THE LAWSON TAIT MEMORIAL AWARD This is a Nobel type fund with an initial foundation of ÂŁ5,000 whose purpose is to stimulate new developments in medical research without using living animals. The constantly increasing number now used in this way is causing grave concern to the majority of animal welfare workers. The fund will be administered by trustees who will be authorised to make grants and award prizes for original work of outstanding value t o medicine, conducted without use of living animals and of such a nature that the future use of living animals, in that particular field of investigation, will be unnecessary. The trustees will seek the co-operation of persons prominent in their respective spheresâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Science Editors, Editors of medical journals, Examiners in surgery, pharmacology, medicine, etc., who will be asked to bring to the notice of the Trust any papers or articles describing work which would seem to qualify for an award. It is the hope of the founders of the Trust that the Government will help to establish other methods of research by allocating a certain proportion of the annual Parliamentary medical research grant for the specific purpose of research designed to find methods alternative to the use of living animals. Some such developments have taken place fortuitously in the past, as a byproduct of research carried out on existing lines, but it is thought that much more rapid development would occur if it were made a special project. The Trust would also be authorised to devote some part of its funds to the financing of such projects if necessary, although the main purpose of the Trust fund would be the making of awards for work accomplished. Before outlining the very distinguished career of the great surgeon whose name is commemorated in this prize we cannot do better than give you some characteristic quotations from his published works, thus: " The real questions are: What advances in detail are due to vivisection? Could those advances have been made without vivisection? If vivisection was necessary for elementary and primitive research is it any longer necessary seeing that we have such splendid and rapidly developing methods in hundreds of other directions? Have we made complete and exhaustive use of all other valuable methods not open to objection? And finally, are the advances based upon vivisection of animals capable of being adopted conclusively for mankind, for whose benefit they are professedly made? " (From a paper read before the Birmingham Philosophical Society, April 20, 1882.) 21

" Some few years ago I began to deal with one of the most dreadful calamities to which humanity is subject by means of an operation which had been scientifically proposed nearly two hundred years ago. I mean ectopic gestation. The rationale of the proposed operation was fully explained about fifty years ago but the whole physiology of the normal process and the pathology of the perverted one were obscured and misrepresented by a French physiologist's experiments on dogs and rabbits. Nothing was done and at least ninety-five per cent, of the victims of this catastrophe were allowed to die. I went outside the experimentalist's conclusions, went back to the true science of the old pathologist and of the surgeon of 1701 and performed the operation in scores of cases with almost uniform success. My example was immediately followed throughout the world; during the last five or six years hundreds if not thousands of women's lives have been saved, whilst for nearly forty years the simple road to this gigantic success was closed by the folly of a vivisector." (From a letter to the Birmingham Daily Postâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;October 4th, 1892.) [The thousands of women's lives saved by that time must now run easily into millions.] Lawson Tait, M.D., LL.D., died at his home in Llandudno, on Tuesday, June 13th, 1899, at the early age of 54. World faimous as a surgeon in the diseases peculiar to women, his early training was at Heriot's Hospital and later at the University of Edinburgh. His studies took him to New York and Chicago where he was invested as an Honorary Fellow of the American Gynecological Society. A t the relatively early age of 28, Lawson Tait won the Hastings Gold Medal of the British Medical Association for his series of brilliant essays, and indeed throughout his life he continued to express his views and opinions and record his progress both in articles and letters to medical journals and the Birmingham Postâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;newspaper of his day. He asserted emphatically that experiments carried out on animals quite often produced results entirely different from those obtained when applied similarly in the human field. By 1867 Lawson Tait who had become House Surgeon to Wakefield Hospital, was the pioneer of modern abdominal surgery. In 1871 he helped to establish the Birmingham Hospital for Women, where he became Consulting Surgeon, and in 1875 was elected to the Birmingham Town Council where with his usual exactness and devotion to duty Lawson Tait for ten years was highly instrumental in effecting the improvements made to the whole system of sanitation inaugurated by the statesman, the Rt. Hon. loseph Chamberlain, M.P. Just four weeks before he died he bought the Old Telegraph Inn on the highest point of Great Ormes Head with the intention of converting it into a sanatorium for the victims of tuberculosis. 22

It can surely be said without fear of contradiction that here indeed was a great and brilliant controversialist who on the grave issue of the validity of experimentation on the living bodies of animals neither gave nor sought quarter. Another development in his day on which he fought with final success was the issue of what was then termed the " antiseptic technique " which consisted in the very liberal use of carbolic on the-patient, the surgical instruments, the dressings to be applied and even the air of the operating theatre. Today the carbolic spray—symbol of Listerism is dead. The antiseptic technique has been abandoned in favour of aseptic methods, on which Lawson Tait pinned his faith, and hundreds of thousands—probably millions of women's lives have been saved because of this great man's unwillingness to accept without question those findings of his colleagues whose researches had been based on a method whose cruelty he detested. The pages of the British Medical Journal from 1872 onwards attest to his concrete and constructive progress in every sphere he chose to adorn. All such technical information can be obtained readily from the Secretaries of the respective Societies backing the Lawson Tait Memorial Award. (The Lawson Tait Memorial Award was initiated by the National Anti-Vivisection Society, in collaboration with its sister societies the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection and the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Vivisection.) Interested persons or organisations who would like to receive further information concerning the fund should apply by post only to: The Secretary to the Trustees, Lawson Tait Memorial Trust, c/o The Midland Bank Ltd., 22 Victoria Street, S.W.I.

AND NOW PIGS The broiler method is now almost the rule for rearing poultry. in this country and the method has been adopted for the rearing of cattle for some time in the U.S.A. and more recently in this country. And • now automation has been extended to include pigs. In various parts of Britain, experimental pig-breeding stations have been set up in which the system is as follows: Piglets freshly weaned from their mothers, and about 11 weeks old, are jammed into a small sty—about 50 pigs in a space about 22 ft. by 10 ft.— and then after a few weeks, they are split up into smaller sties— about 25 to a sty measuring 16 ft. by 8 ft. Tube straphangers during the rush hour will appreciate their plight only too well— the pigs are packed so tightly that there is no room for them to lie down to rest or sleep. There is no straw or any other form of bedding to cover the concrete floors and as the sties are never cleaned out during their stay the stench is appalling. It is said that pigs like warmth and draught-free sties, but it is highly '23

doubtful whether they enjoy being kept at a humid 80°F. for weeks on end so that they generate a steamy turkish bath atmosphere that sweats off their surplus fat and makes for the leaner bacon that the customers demand. Even though their food is fed to them automatically through pipes it is eaten in the almost complete and perpetual darkness that is part of their sentence before they escape from their dark prison to suffer capital punishment. One can only wonder at the treasures in heaven that are being stored up by the sweat-box proprietors, and the broiler-chamber designers and builders; it is not a far cry from the unfeeling mentality and merciless system of the broiler house system to the wartime mentality of the gas chamber. Similarly those who actively supported the Nazi system have their counterparts in those who support the broiler system by eating its products. I- S. (This article is based on a report in The People of February 3rd; we are very grateful to this paper for the excellent work it is doing to reveal the exploitation of animals.—Editor.)

IMMATURE

TORTOISES

A Private Members' Bill has been introduced in the House of Commons by Sir Hugh Linstead (Tory M.P. for Putney), which aims at prohibiting the sale of immature tortoises, i.e., those which measure less than four inches along the undershell. The cruelty of the whole tortoise trade is a disgrace. The import of the piteous babies is degrading to all who allow or encourage it. These tiny creatures, some only two inches long, have only to be seen in our pet shops to make it abundantly clear that this trading should never be allowed to continue. The tiny legs are often too frail to support their own small weight. Picked up, they seem to be only the weight of the shell. Frequently a leg has been partially or completely severed by the tethering string. Eyes are closed through sheer physical weakness. No young creature can be expected to stand up to the long wait without food or water, from the time they are collected and tethered, packed (when the collector has found sufficient for export), in deep baskets (sixty to a basket). Sometimes a long wait for a ship. A train journey from the port to distributing centres. Then dispatch to pet shops, there to wait with little comfort until sold. The smallest babies are usually dead within six weeks of arrival. The slightly bigger ones (say three inches long), may just survive the summer. The not quite four inches often survive until the autumn, but then the trouble starts—they must not be allowed to hibernate, but must be kept warm and fed throughout the winter because they have no reserve fat to draw on. To keep them sufficiently warm and adequately fed, requires expert 24

knowledge, a great deal of time and an abundance of loving patience. We import a quarter of a million tortoises every year and probably only one per cent, survive for more than a few months or a year. Our climate is not suitable for fully grown tortoises. If we are going to allow the import of these frail babies knowing they are doomed to die, then we must no longer call ourselves an animal loving nation. Please see that Sir Hugh Linstead has every available supp iculars please apply to: Miss K. A. Gray, Exmouth, S. Devon, enclosing stamped addressed envelope. And be sure to write to your own M.P. at Westminster, London, W.l. asking him to support this and similar Bills aimed at alleviating suffering.

CRUSADE AGAINST ALL CRUELTY TO ANIMALS " Thank you for your article ' Meat for your Table.' I have not eaten meat since I read it and have written to my M.P." Thus wrote a member of the Crusade after reading a recent article in the series currently running in our journal under the title, " Meat for your Table "â&#x20AC;&#x201D;a series designed to show the ordinary public and meat-eating animal lovers at what cost they obtain their meat. Responses such as the above-mentioned are by no means rare occurrences in our Crusade and were we to know how many others react in similar fashion without advising us of the change we should probably be immensely encouraged. This follows the same pattern as do reactions which take place in still larger measure as a direct result of our unique film shows which reveal at what cost such products as whale oil (used in the manufacture of soap, margarine, lubricants and cosmetics), furs, and, of course, the products of the slaughterhouses are obtained. The ever-widening distribution of our telling leaflets on many aspects of animal exploitation is also a highly potent force in the " revolution in the shopping basket." The results are a clear vindication of the policy pursued by the Crusade since its inception in 1955, namely, that of informing the public without fear or favour of the unsavoury details involved in man's use of the animals and thereby giving indisputable proof of the cost in animal suffering at which many everyday commodities are obtained. It is by no means a pleasant task, for although in the main " unconverted " audience response is interested and sympathetic, there are cases when the guilt complex makes itself felt in more aggressive forms and although as yet there have been no " pitched battles " physically, there have been a number of wordy ones. 25

But this is all part of the campaign and serves to keep us as campaigners on our toes. There is no opportunity for complacency and indeed no room for it. Many and varied are the questions and points of view put forward. This endlessly varied experience in taking humane truths to the unconverted public and dealing with their reactions is a salutary education in itself and keeps the humanitarian worker on an even keel, learning from experience how far to go with particular people and when not to try at all, with certain aspects. It is an experience in human communication which I for one would never have missed. Two specific campaigns we are running which have attracted widespread interest throughout the country have borne out our contention that once the public are given facts about a particular form of cruelty and are also given a clear directive how they can help towards its abolition or easement, they will act. Firstly, our Humane Farming Campaign. As I mentioned in my last report, our leaflet, " Cheap Food ? Yes! But is it good food? ", has achieved even better reults than we dared to hope during the past two years in educating public opinion regarding the broiler and battery methods of food production. In the November/December, 1962, issue of our journal, " With Sword and Shield," we were able to publish highly encouraging news on this front. When the British Chicken Association (the association for the broiler chicken industry) held its annual convention at Harrogate in November last year, it was reported that " there had been a recession in the industry lasting more than a year. If the tide had not turned, there would have been a disastrous fall in production." As it was, " Mr. A. J. Peppercorn, Chairman, estimated chicken production in Britain this year at about 115 million, 20 million fewer than in 1961." Thus reported the Daily Telegraph, 7th November, 1962. These production figures revealing a drop of 20 million on the previous year's prove, as we have always maintained, that the housewife can win this particular fight if she will. Secondly, our campaign against the import of pate de foie gras, the expensive " delicacy " produced by the forcible cramming of geese. Since we published our March/April, 1962 magazine, by kind permission of The People, in which it first appeared, a revealing article on the modern machine method of cramming, we have pursued, with the splendid help of our supporters, an intensive campaign designed to enlighten and encourage the public to boycott this product. In addition to the circularising of every M.P. with a special letter and leaflet, another important aspect of our campaign was the circularising of all four and three star A.A. hotels throughout the country with the result that some proprietors wrote expressing their agreement with our campaign and asked for leaflets. The People of 16th December, 1962, carried the excellent news in an article by the same person who did the initial investigating 26

that, " The pate de foie gras producers of France are very worried men — their sales to Britain of the so-called delicacy have slumped." In addition, the French Ministry of Agriculture strongly advised the pate producers to form production groups for their own defence, and to offset the slump the French are now concentrating on the United States. " But (states The People article), the American health authorities are not too sure that this unnaturally fatty goose liver is always as healthy as it might be. They are insisting on all geese being examined by a veterinary surgeon before they are slaughtered and their bloated livers removed." We invite readers to send for copies of the literature mentioned above and welcome their help in these and other aspects of the Crusade's work. A specimen copy of our magazine and other free literature, including a graphic article on whaling, will gladly be sent upon request. MARGARET A .

COOPER,

Secretary, Crusade Against All Cruelty to Animals, 3 Woodfield Way, Bounds Green Road, London, N . l l .

PLANT MILK NEWS T H E GLOWING YEAR

The year 1963, which began as the iceiest most of us can remember, may prove to be a glowing one for Plantmilk. Recently a good deal of serious and detailed work has been carried out with the object of making 1963 the year in which Plantmilk took its baby steps in the world of trade and commerce. This part of the work belongs to Plantmilk Ltd., the company formed by the Plantmilk Society in 1961 to carry the project forward as soon as the Society achieved its first main goal—to produce in the laboratory a satisfactory non-animal alternative to dairy or other animal milk. The realities of the situation are being met step by step. For . example, several members of the Plantmilk Society have indicated their willingness to invest in Plantmilk Ltd. The total so far probably exceeds the immediate requirements of Plantmilk Ltd. for capital investment. At the same time, machinery is being installed at the Buckinghamshire site with a view to setting up the first commercial-scale pilot plant. The supporting structure — direction, management, quality control, technical development, labour — is being organised. It looks very much as though a dream is in process of coming true. Of course, there are often slips twixt cup and lip. On the other hand, the people whose noses are down to the grindstone 27

know now that only the unforeseeable, the totally unpredictable, can stop this dream emerging into the light of the day. If sound planning, expert advice, and faithful human endeavour are anything to go by, 1963 will indeed be the glowing year for Plantmilk. F R O M THE KITCHEN

Recently, Mrs. Kathleen Long, of Greenford, Middlesex, put an up-to-date sample of Plantmilk through its paces in her kitchen. We cannot do better than quote her own words : " I obtained a generous supply in order to make practical tests both in cooking and as a substitute for cow's milk in beverages. I can confidently state that results are excellent, and my family and I find it digestible and palatable. " I find that taken as a drink, it is really stimulating. " In no instance has Plantmilk curdled, even in strong tea. Drinking chocolate made with it is sheer delight, and in both ordinary and dandelion coffee it was superior to cow's milk. " I was at first hesitant about using it to make a savoury sauce, because I thought its slight sweetness might conflict with other flavours. My fears were ungrounded. As a white sauce with parsley or other herbs it was very enjoyable, and of course, an excellent souce of protein. " When cooked vegetables have been put through an emulsifier, the addition of Plantmilk makes the most delicious soups I have ever tasted. " I have had extremely good results with milk puddings—rice, macaroni, and so on. " Its use when undiluted " — (Plantmilk is supplied at triplestrength, requiring dilution with water to bring it to a normal •strength milk)—" as a substitute for cream on fruit, porridge, cereal, is invaluable. Possible dangers from animal fats are eliminated, and protein and Vitamin B12 requirements are adequately supplied. " In the making of a cake in which Gelezone was used as an egg substitute, Plantmilk provided a finely textured cake. A carageen chocolate mould and a lemon-flavoured Gelezone blancmange attracted requests for second helpings." When Mrs. Long obtained her supply of Plantmilk she did so purely for personal reasons: to find out for herself how Plantmilk behaved in the kitchen. She had no idea that she might be asked for a report. In case your mouth is watering, we are sorry to say that at present Plantmilk research samples are obtainable in limited quantities and only within a reasonable radius of the London laboratory where our Director of Research (Dr. H. B. Franklin) prepares them. Anyone living not too far from Kensington or lucky, if they first write to Dr. Franklin, , Fulham, London, S.W.6. The rest of us must wait! 28

FOR HEALTH'S SAKE

Although most members of the Society would probably put moral reasons at the top of the list of points in favour of Plantmilk, a strong case can be made out on other groundsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;including the fact that animal milk is not really suitable for many humans. Allergy to animal milk is found mostly among children, but some adults also have trouble. Recently we heard from Mr. A. D. Turquette, a geological engineer, of Littleton, Colorado, U.S.A., to the following effect: " For more than six months my family has been enjoying artificial milk, whipped cream, and ice cream. Our discovery was made while searching for a cow's milk substitute to offset the craving we felt from lack of milk in our diets. " Milk has been eliminated from my diet because of a kidney stone problem; my wife's diet because of allergy causing hives; my son's diet because of asthma reactions; and my daughters' because of allergy. Our family physician tells us that millions of people throughout the world suffer from milk allergies in one form or another. " The milk which I formulated six months ago is delicious and can hardly be detected from cow's milk in taste. The whipped cream will hold its firmness for days without running, and the ice cream is rich and creamy in any flavour. The milk will keep in the refrigerator without souring for ten days. After six months' testing, there has been no allergic reaction from any member of our family." Unlike commercial vegetable milks on sale in America, Mr. Turquette's private vegetable milk is not based upon soyaâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;nor, as Plantmilk is, upon green leaf. The family is not vegetarian, and the search for a vegetable milk arose solely because of the disadvantages of animal milk. We understand that Mr. Turquette is trying to interest the commercial world, with the object of putting his discovery on the market as a diet milk and ice cream. We wish him every success in this endeavour. Plantmilk will eventually move out of the sphere of charitable effort into that of the commercial world. However, it has not yet quite reached this stage, and the role of the Society is still vital. Even later, the Society will continue to act as a moral watchdog, and to send out information of a kind which a commercial organisation cannot do. , ' (The Plantmilk Society is a registered Charity whose main object is to promote research into a satisfactory non-animal alternative to dairy and other animal milk. Minimum annual subscription: five shilli ptember 1st. Secretary: Mr. L. J. Cross, , Uxbridge, Middlesex. (Uxbridge 37008). 29

APOLOGIES The Secretary was away taking a well-earned holiday during late January and February, and she and the Editor regret any delay in answers to their correspondence. The Editor also regrets the delay in this issue due to the severe winter and personal matters (e.g., mother broke her thigh).

READERS' LETTERBOX Dear Sir,—" The Vegan " may have only a relatively small circulation—but it is read by some very well-informed people and is very influential. Peterborough. F.P. Dear Sir,—I am faced with a painful tooth operation and am told by my dentist that although it does not call for gas, he will not undertake it unless I submit to an injection. In common with many other vegetarians and vegans, I object to vaccinations and injections on principle. In addition, dentists' injections invariably derange my blood and I suffer the discomfort and embarrassment of intense facial irritation and pigmentation for a considerable time afterwards, until the poison has finally worked out. How grateful I shall be if any reader can offer a solution to my problem. It looks as though hypnosis may be the only alternative, and about that, somehow, I cannot feel enthusiastic. , Worthing, Sussex. ( M R S . ) THEA VIVEASH. Dear Sir,—Dorothy Thomson begins her excellent article, " Upon Predators" in your Autumn issue by quoting such hackneyed phrases as " the survival of the fittest" and " Nature red in tooth and claw," and many other similar utterances, and proceeds to show up the weakness of the latter statement. But she makes no further reference to the former, which I think is most certainly an eternal verity. Whether a herd of antelope is chased by a predator, or subject to natural fire or flood, the fittest will, as a general rule, survive longest and have most progeny. In the human race, although physical force seems to prevail for a time against wisdom and spiritual power, it contains the seeds of its own destruction, and proves unfit for survival. Whatever dangers and hardships are awaiting mankind in. the future it should be clear to all who face facts thoughtfully that those who have the self-control to fast when they cannot obtain reasonably pure food and water from the vegetable kingdom, and who keep out of the way of violent men who are trying to subdue one another by force, are the most likely to survive in their physical bodies. Similarly, souls which are the fittest to sacrifice 30

their bodies in a good cause (such as losing their life for another) are most likely to survive in the realms of spirit. I fully agree with all Dorothy Thomson writes about the fallacies of " Nature red in tooth and claw." The vast majority of animals and birds who fight at all only do so in order to claim sufficient territory to raise a family, and never fight to the death if they can avoid it. Man would have long ago ceased to exist if any one type of animal or insect had made a concerted effort to exterminate him by continued aggressive attacks. It is the exceptions who are predators, and a good case can be made for them containing transmigrated souls of violent animal-killersand-eaters among men. Non-violent flesh-eating humans would transmigrate into jackals, vultures, and similar carrioneaters; while liars, cheats, and society parasites would be seen as snakes, scorpions, pests and vermin (or animal parasites). This conception of poetic justice should not be dismissed without full study of the evidence; but, whether accepted or not, it is one explanation of how the sins of mankind can maintain or increase the blood-shedding elements in nature, and rebound to hamper his efforts to procure food, even when vegetable food. Horsham, Sussex. M . H . TALBOT. (An extract) . . . Dear Sir,â&#x20AC;&#x201D;(1). Will readers send me in duplicate if possible, their ideas on how to increase the circulation of The Vegan. These will be summarised and sent to the Vegan Society. I would like a three-figure response. Please enclose stamped addressed envelope for acknowledgment. (2). What. position should the cause to prevent World Hunger take in our lives if not first place? Surely, we should feed the hungry before trying to convert anyone. We know that double the present population on this planet can be fed just as soon as we cultivate all the available arable land. To me it seems the greatest crime of civilisation that millions should die annually from hunger. C/O

St. John's Wood Rd., London,

R . U . REDDY.

N.W.8.

Dear Sir,â&#x20AC;&#x201D;-One fine thing about holidays is the opportunity it gives to catch up on some reading, even the advertisements. Recently I read two items which made me pity the poor meatfilled, wool clad individual. For instance, in a current magazine, a picture and about 1,000 words were devoted to the art of making " delicious meals from offal." Presumably it is only possible, even for those brought up to it, to swallow these offensive intestines if they are completely disguisedâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;it seemed to be necessary to add so much in the cooking. Mushroom, tomatoes, onion, herbs, lemon, milk, condiments, rice, eggs, batter, butter, sugar, vegetables, extracts 31

and all. I am sure the sweetbreads, liver, tripe, etc., could easily have been omitted and no one the wiser! Likewise, would you believe it? Apparently one has to train oneself to wear wool, as one advertisement was headed, " How to wear wool and like it." Could it be that the " Nothing like wool " devotees do not really enjoy wearing it either? Many of these people hnust be " clinging to the tiger's tail "; they don't want to hang on (to their lamb's hearts, etc), but they are afraid to let go! Afraid because they have always thought that life and health were impossible without " animal proteins." The more healthy, happy vegans they meet, the sooner will they be free of these outworn ideas and fears. Enfield, Middlesex. EVA BATT.

Do you ever wonder " What is in it?" when purchasing Soup, Soap or Margarine? Don't ' hope for the b e s t ' in future, send for

THE VEGETARIAN AND VEGAN FOOD GUIDE WITH HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS and know which are the humanely produced articles. This 40-page booklet lists hundreds of items conveniently grouped for quick reference. 2/6d. post free, f r o m : THE VEGAN SOCIETY, 123 Baker Street, Enfield, Middlesex

MISCELLANEOUS