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It seems that November is going to be all about veganism. The Vegan Society has pronounced 1 November to be World Vegan Day, while Animal Aid is being slightly more ambitious, organising a full Vegan Month for November.
Both organisations are promoting not only the personal health benefits of the lifestyle, but also highlighting the environmental impact of meat and dairy farming. "Livestock farming contributes more to our global climate change gas emissions than all land, air and sea transport combined," says Nigel Winter, CEO of the Vegan Society. "Our cows belch vast clouds of methane, a gas 20 times more potent for global warming than carbon dioxide."
Bizarrely, both groups have come across the same unusual publicity stunt to draw attention to this problem. On World Vegan Day, the Vegan Society will be taking 'Belching Brenda' the cow to Birmingham, to illustrate that cows create large amounts of greenhouse gas by burping and farting. Starting that same day, 'Wendy the Windy Cow' (pictured) will begin her tour of seven UK cities with Animal Aid.
Neither cow will be real, though. "It wouldn’t be vegan to use a real cow, because they couldn’t volunteer or agree to the event," says Amanda Baker, the dedicated woman behind the 'Belching Brenda' costume. If the thought of heading out to go and see a faux farting cow doesn't appeal, there's still plenty of ways you can get involved in either World Vegan Day or Vegan Month.
Animal Aid is encouraging people to try veganism for a day, week or month, and is also running a competition where you can win a hamper of vegan food, simply by submitting 100 words on why you deserve to win. The Vegan Society is also arranging various food fairs where you can try out vegan food, and is offering to send out copies of Eating the Earth? (although it’s much greener to download it).
31 October 2007 12:21pm
Purely on principles, I'd love to be vegan... but what about the cheese?
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