This message is about Human beings, Democracy, UNHCR, Refugees, The Iraqis,
Islam, Kurds, Human rights, Respect, Money, Donations, Angelina Jolie,
Pavarotti, Giorgio Armani, Donors, Peace, History, Campaigns and about you if
you care about these words.

Hi there,

I am SAM, an Iraqi refugee living in Lebanon at the moment; I have spent the
last 10 years of my life as a refugee registered with the UNHCR in Beirut. The
last 4 years, I have spent as an activist for peace and human rights (especially
refugees and asylum seekers) on the Internet; I'm also books author and ebooks
publisher. I have launched many campaigns to improve our situation as refugees
in Lebanon and hopefully bring more understanding to our problems worldwide. I
helped make many changes and improvements at the UNHCR office in Beirut; I used
the Internet as the field for my activities (you can read more about that in my
free ebook 'MY CAMPAIGNS'). All my ebooks are free and could be download from my
sites.

This is my newest campaign, it's about the illegal and humiliating actions of
the UNHCR, who using photos of refugees as banners and human-buttons to collect
money. This is an abuse of the dignity and humanity of the refugees and must
stop immediately and a clear public apology present by The United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees. My friends, I am talking about the pictures you can
see here: http://www.angelfire.com/yt3/un4 Where you can read the rest of this
message as web page.

Also you can read my new campaign 'Urgent, we need smile' here:
http://truth4all.atspace.com/smile.html

For more info about UNHCR and life of refugees you can read my free ebooks. I
invite you as fellow humans and members of the world community to support my
campaign by reading my article on my site and see the human-buttons. The
campaign is to support and improve the UNHCR http://www.unhcr.ch especially
after the last scandals in the UN and UNHCR, just for example: The refugees
allege that UNHCR staff is selling most of the food items they are supposed to
be supplied.
"They aren't supplying sufficient food to us because they sell most of the food
items," they allege: http://allafrica.com/stories/200503140214.html

  Here is another example: Burmese Refugees Withdraw Protest Against UNHCR 
http://www.mizzima.com/archives/news-in-2005/news-in-april/12-April05-22.htm

"We make demonstration and fast because the UNHCR office in Cairo did nothing
for our problem..." http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4440730.stm

Together we will build better world.

You could reach me fast via this form: http://unhcrlebanon.reco.ws/email_me.htm
and if you like to know more about me, you can google for my name 'osam altaee'.

Thanks
THE TRUTH WARRIOR
http://www.ServerX.info/un4

At last tasty and healthy guilt free chocolate!

No sugar, no dairy, higher in essential fats as made with shelled Hemp
seeds

http://nutrition-news.blogspot.com/2005/10/new-chocolate-sugar-free-
dairy-free.html

http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2005/10/emw296951.htm

http://www.plamilfoods.co.uk/news.htm

Too good to be true?

NOVEMBER 1st 2005 - World Vegan Day.

Making a difference is easy - there are nearly 60 ideas on
www.worldveganday.org - one for every day of the year.

How are you going to make a difference to people, animals and the
environment ? What are you going to do?

World Vegan Day is the perfect day for making a difference.

POWER AND RESPONSIBILITY

I'm one of those weird people who believes humans are animals. We
might be a bit smarter than most of them, and we're certainly more
destructive and violent, but in the end we're just animals. If there
is such a thing as a soul, then I believe animals have it too - from
the greatest whale to the smallest bug that crawls across the ground.

But although we are animals, we are also something quite different. We
have the ability to think and reason, and plan our actions, and we
have the ability to understand the consequences of those actions.
Although many of the more intelligent species on this planet can push
a button to receive a serve of food, we're the only species with the
ability to build the button and the machine that does the serving.

In other words, although we are animals, we are something unique and
special as well. Our combination of brain, language and dexterity
gives us control over our surroundings in a way that no other animal
can match.

There's this great line in one of my favourite movies, SpiderMan.
Uncle Ben is talking to Peter Parker (a.k.a. SpiderMan) and he says:
"With great power there comes great responsibility."

I believe that we, as the dominant species on the planet, should live
by these words. We should - we must - take these words into our hearts
and minds, and live them daily in every way possible.

Unfortunately, when it comes to responsibility, humanity isn't doing
too well.

I could go into reams of statistics about the environment - about land
degradation, about our ancient rainforests disappearing, about our
oceans being overfished, about the Barrier Reef dying. I could talk
about the Ozone layer, or the millions of plastic bags we use and
throw away each year.

I could talk about these things, but I won't. You already know the
details, unless you've been living under a rock these last few years
with our old mate George Dubya Bush. There's no point in restating the
obvious.

I also don't want to come across as all preachy. Vegans are good at
doing that - I'm one of the best preachers in the trade (or worst,
depending on your point of view), so I should know!

What I will say is that, in order for us to advance as a species and
as a civilization, we need to learn to be responsible. We need to open
our eyes and look about, and see what we can do to change the world.

Some people say that there's not a lot one person can do. I reckon
that's rubbish. Saying there's nothing one person can do then
proceeding to do nothing is giving away both our power and our
responsibility. It's throwing this beautiful, fragile, glorious planet
into the too-hard basket. It's giving in; it's saying that being a
loser is acceptable.

I'm sick of losers. They're a pitiful, sniffling bunch. I can almost
hear them whinging from here: "But I don't want to give up meat! I
don't want to stop smoking! I don't want to be bothered with
recycling, or re-using, or with ethical shopping, or with living
within my means."

"After all," they say. "Life is short."

Well, I believe life is too short for whinging, for making excuses,
for copping out, for refusing to take responsibility for our actions.
If life is short, and this is all there is to it, and there is no
heaven or afterlife, then that makes this life, this world, even more
precious. And if there is a Goddess or God up there, or down here, or
in some parallel Universe, do you really think She/He would want to
waste Her/His time on a pack of whingers who couldn't be bothered to
take care of this planet, the most precious gift of all?

Just imagine - for a moment - that the Rapture isn't going to happen
any time soon. That there is no afterlife or reincarnation. That this
short, wonderful life is it. Then consider all those items you
purchased bulk-discount. All those steaks you have eaten. All those
gallons of fatty milk you have drunk. Have they made you a happier,
more complete person? If your honest answer is yes then go on doing
what you're doing, and stop reading this rant now because I probably
don't have anything more that you would want to hear.

But if you, like me, know that true happiness comes from loving
others, taking care of our families and friends, being kind to
non-human animals, and preserving our ancient wildernesses - if you
know that happiness can't be bought or sold in a box, no matter how
well that box is presented or which deluxe store it came from - then
we might have something in common. And there are millions of people
out there, just like us, who have this in common with us too.

I'm asking you to stand up and be counted. Make a vow to yourself, or
to God, or to your family, or to whatever or whomever you hold dear,
that you will seek to fight the good fight. Stand on the side of the
earth, and the animals, and the generations to come. They all depend
on you to do so.

With great power comes great responsibility. But responsibility can
also be a gift. We are Caretakers of this planet, Guardians of its
flora and fauna. We are Stewards of its high mountains and scorched
silent deserts and blossoming valleys and quiet creeks and deep blue
oceans.

Open yours eyes. Look around. And be proud to take responsibility for
this shining planet Earth.

====
You can read more Rants & Raves at the VeganForLife website
http://www.veganforlife.org

It's easy to get rid of junk on an egroup. I simply placed all my
egroups (I run quite a few!) onto 'membership must be approved'
status, and placed a warning on the home page of each group stating
that spamming and flaming are not tolerated. Then I simply ban anyone
who spams.

Who is the moderator of the group? If you're out there, and don't know
how to do this, email me and I'll help you.

Cheers,

daharja XXX

I have a lot of friends who call themselves animal lovers.

You would never catch them being cruel to a cat or dog. Many of them
have companion animals, and they treat those animals very well. Their
companion animals are family members, in every sense of the meaning.
In many ways, in fact, I believe we are more humane to our animal
companions than to our own fellow humans. We don't wage wars against
cats and dogs. We don't generally judge superiority or inferiority
based on colour or breed. We don't care about what colour eyes our cat
or dog might have.

But I'm not going to talk about our companion animals.

Instead, I am going to talk about the forgotten animals. The millions
of lost souls who, even as I sit here and type, are dying the slow
death of their lives in battery cages, in sow stalls, in veal crates,
and in feedlots. I try to not get emotional when I think of their
suffering, but it is so hard. I try to harden my heart to reality, so
that it won't disturb my sleep. I try to laugh and smile when good
friends order meat at restaurants, even though I know so well where
that meat came from, and the suffering that it caused. I watch in
silence, or sometimes in conversation, as that very suffering is
served up with orange sauce, or in a stir-fry, or perhaps battered,
roasted or grilled.

I wouldn't call myself an overly compassionate person. I'm just your
everyday Jane. But when I think of the animals that are in our 'food
stream' it upsets me. Why I feel the pain so strongly of the animals
we cause to suffer I don't think I will ever completely understand.
I'm no different to the next person. Or am I?

What makes a person into a vegetarian or a vegan, anyway? What made me
become a vegan? I can't even really remember anymore. I just know that
it was something that I had to do. I couldn't stand the hypocrisy of
my life any more. I couldn't stand calling myself an animal-lover
(just like any person who might be reading this 'rant') while
continuing to eat meat and cause agony to the nameless animals that
found their way onto my plate.

Something just 'clicked' - and once it had, there was no turning back.
I can't even remember what it was, but something opened my eyes. From
that point on I was spiraling along a path that would inevitably lead
me to veganism.

Every step I took along the path of veganism, I felt better. I was
making a difference. Maybe not to the millions, but at least to a few
animals. I didn't like the way the meat industry operated, so I opted
out. Such a simple thing to do, but one of the most powerful
statements a person can make. To say 'no' to the majority, to the
mainstream, can be hard sometimes. Yet this was so simple, and so easy.

In this life, we all have a choice: to do what is easy, or to do what
is right. I voted with my feet. I couldn't bear any longer to talk the
talk of being a freedom-lover, an animal-lover, and of being a good
person. I couldn't bear the hypocrisy of walking the walk of cruelty,
and of supporting the industries of pain and suffering at every meal.

I chose to do what is right. I turned my back on the easy path. I
sided with the animals, and with the vegans, and with the vegetarians.
I sided with the people of the world who truly value freedom, and
honesty, and charity, and love.

Now, several years along that path, I look backwards in amazement. I
have so much to thank veganism for. Something incredibly profound in
me has changed. I have found a life of compassion, and service, and
love. I know that I am a good person. Outwardly I still look the same.
Within me, I feel complete. I have found who I was meant to be. I have
found peace within myself. I have found my soul.

And I like who she is.

(you can read other 'rants' at http://www.veganforlife.org)

Does anyone have any suggestions for the 2005 WVD awards????

See the official Website www.worldveganday.org for the latest news
and visit the Forum to find out what you can do to join in , have fun
or make this the best international vegan day ever in 2005

Please visit

www.worldveganday.org  for latest on World Vegan Day 1st November

and www.piratesofthecarobbean.com for Vegan Pirate Day 19th Sept

Hello Vegetarian Resource Center,

VolunteerMatch is pleased to inform you that a volunteer has expressed
interest in the following opportunity:

Organization name: Vegetarian Resource Center
Opportunity title: World Vegan Day Coordinator (every year! everywhere!)

Name: Lynne Bryant
Email: theladydragonfly@...

UK Vegan Week Recipes for World Vegan Day 1st November

Pumpkin Soup

Ingredients
Med sized pumpkin
2 med Onions
250 ml Orange Juice
I x 400ml  tin of coconut milk
2 Tablespooons of Olive Oil
Teaspooons of Cumin, ground coriander and salt and pepper.

Cut the top off a medium sized pumpkin with a big sharp knife in
a Zig Zag pattern.

Remove the "hat" and scoop out the seeds and mush.

Score the flesh of the inside of the pumpkin with a knife in a
criss-cross pattern and then hack out 1 _ lbs (750g) of Pumpkin
flesh with a strong spoon.

Put into a large saucepan with 2 mugs of boiling water (or
vegetable stock), 2 finely chopped onions, 1 mug of orange juice,
1 teaspoon ground coriander, salt and pepper, 1 teaspoon
cumin, 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 3/4 tin of coconut milk
(300ml – shake well before opening).

Meanwhile, as all that is simmering, cut some triangular eyes, a
nose and a smiley Zig Zaggy mouth from the pumpkin carcass.
All you then need is a tealight candle and you have the perfect
decoration for a romantic candlelit bath.

Once the pumpkin is soft, blend soup ingredients together with a
hand blender.

Serve the soup with a drizzle of some of the remaining Coconut
milk to decorate.



Chocolate Cake

Ingredients
2 mugs of self raising flour
1 mug soft brown sugar
2 Tablespoons of organic fair trade cocoa powder
1/2 mug of sunflower oil
3/4 mug of Rice milk/soya milk

Blend all ingredients together and then pour equally into 2 round
oiled baking tins (approx 20 cms dia.)

Cook on a med high heat for about 20-30 mins or until cocktail
stick poked in centre of cake comes out cleanly without gunk on
it.

Make some vegan toffee using mashed midjoor dates ( or dried
dates cooked until mushy with a little orange juice) or use jam
and Vegan Cream cheese or use Silken (Chinese) tofu with
icing sugar and cocoa and zest of lime for the filling then make a
sandwich from the 2 cakes.

Melt some dark vegan chocolate and a little soya cream in a
bowl over hot water and pour over the top of the cake to serve.

Some vegan Ice cream would go splendidly with this.



Pancakes

1 1/2 mugs of self raising flour
1 mug of Rice Milk/soya milk

Blend together with 3 teaspoons of Lemon juice.

Add herbs, garlic, vegan bouillon powder, grated vegan cheeses
or toasted crushed seaweed for savoury pancakes.

Add sugar, vanilla, cocoa, raisins, chopped apricots or zest of
lime for a sweet pancake.

In a very hot non stick frying pan put a dribble of olive oil and
enough mix to barely cover the bottom of the pan. Swirl the mix
around in the pan to get an even thickness and wait for bubbles
to rise and the mix to start to set. Then toss and cook the other
side.

If a savoury pancake you can fill with stir-fry etc.

If it's a sweet one fill with bananas and ice cream and drizzle
with Agave syrup.



Vegan toasty Tscheeze Topping/mayo/cream

1 mug of hot sweetened soya milk
(heat in saucepan – do not boil)
1 mug of cold sunflower oil

Whizz together with a hand blender (not a whisk) or liquidizer and
whilst blending add juice of 1/2 a lemon or a tablespoon of
vinegar. Like magic it turns to a mayonnaise consistency.


For salad dressing add

Garlic
Herbs
Mustard

Vegan toasty Tscheeze Topping/mayo/cream

1 mug of hot sweetened soya milk
(heat in saucepan – do not boil)
1 mug of cold sunflower oil

Whizz together with a hand blender (not a whisk) or liquidizer and
whilst blending add juice of 1/2 a lemon or a tablespoon of
vinegar. Like magic it turns to a mayonnaise consistency.


For salad dressing add:

Garlic
Herbs
Mustard
Salt & pepper

For Vegan toasty Tscheeze Topping add:

2 level tablespoons of yeast flakes (and salt) or Vegan bouillon
powder.
2 Tablespoons of Tomato sauce
Some yeast extract if you like it.

To thicken it for cheese on toast or using for a vegetable flan add
2 tablespoons of oats or potato flakes and blend again.



For delicious dairy free cream add:

In some sugar when heating the milk in the beginning then after
it has been blended together add a few drops of vanilla.

Press Release

BARBIE'S BAR-BIE-QUE CHALLENGE

Real life Barbie model Cindy Jackson has issued a challenge,
via The Vegan Society, to the world's sweet manufacturers, for
them to produce a pork/beef gelatine-free, pink, vegan
marshmallow by World Vegan Day, 1st November, 2003.

"It's not fair - I want this year's bonfire night during UK Vegan
Week to be the last year the veggie kids have to miss out on the
fun" said Cindy " We want to be able to toast an animal free pink
marshmallow on a stick just like the meat eaters can."

Vegan Society CEO Rick Savage said; "There may be more
demand for a vegan dairy free Mars bar, however whilst there are
more vegan chocolates and sweets in the latest edition of our
Animal Free Shopper guide there's nothing yet that can quite
replace that traditional toasted marshmallow on a stick."

"How could we refuse to help Cindy? Especially after she has
helped us put together a special Vegan Top Ten BBQ Tips. As
an incentive we are offering manufacturers a free year's use of
our Vegan Society Trademark and free publicity on our website
and in our magazine once the product has been authenticated by
us and is available nationally."

Anyone wishing to organise a "Barbie-que" with food that
everyone can enjoy should send 2 X 1st class stamps and their
address to The Vegan Society for their Barbie BBQ information
sheet, telephone 08454588244 or visit www.worldveganday.org.

Contacts:

Vegan Society Office: Tony Weston - Head of Media/PR
T: 01424 448828  Fax: 01424 717064
media@...

Outside office hours:  Mobile 07944068432

Cindy Jackson - c/o Cindy Jackson Ltd. www.cindyjackson.com.

Notes for Editors:

The Vegan Society (Reg. Charity No. 279228) was established
nearly 60 years ago (1944) to promote a healthful diet, whilst at
the same time avoiding animal exploitation and the wasteful use
of the world's resources.
World Vegan Day is celebrated on 1st November - National
Vegan Week (U.K.) is 27 October - 3 November 2002 see
www.worldveganday.org This year's theme targets caterers to
encourage them to provide more food that everyone can enjoy.
The Vegan Society also publishes The Vegan Shopper - a guide
to animal free shopping, Vegan Stories, the Vegan Passport, a
vegan travel guide and guides to nutrition.
For photographs, BBQ recipes and more information about The
Vegan Society see www.vegansociety.com or telephone local
rate number 0845 45 88244.


Barbie's Top ten tips for a "Barbie-Q" everyone can enjoy
**************************************************************

1) - Check out your local health store and ask them about the
very best vegan burgers and sausages. Watch out for
ingredients like battery eggs, L- Cysteine made from hair or
feathers, and hydrogenated trans-fats. Look out for new products
using organic ingredients.
2) - Make sure you have lots of fresh organic salads. Use egg
free mayonnaise to make potato and seaweed salad, coleslaw,
pumpkin seed and cumin salad, or vegan waldorf salad with
walnuts apple and celery. Quinoa, shoyu, finely chopped
smoked tofu lime and parsley is a good one.
3) - Some other ideas for the BBQ are organic vegetable, fruit
and tofu kebabs marinated and sprinkled with sesame seeds,
corn on the cob, sweet potatoes, pumpkin or potato waffles.
4) - For pudding try BBQ banana with some yummy vegan dairy
free Ice cream and maple syrup or make a vegan chocolate cake
(see www.vegansociety.com for recipe)
5) - Make sure you have a plan B in case it rains.
6) - If it is insect season have some citronella or Lavender
candles to keep the buzzy things away.
7) - Many people get the BBQ too hot too quick - it should be a
gentle glow not an eyebrow removing, towering inferno,
producing carcinogenic cremated offerings. Avoid using
flammable fluid that will taint the food and always follow BBQ
manufacturer's instructions. Keep dogs, cats, goats and small
children safely away from the BBQ area.
8) - Make sure there is lots of organic beer and wine made
without gelatine/isinglass and some nice non alcoholic drinks
for the person in charge of the BBQ and any drivers.
9) - Try some vegan music as well from vegan musicians like
Moby, Bryan Adams, Madonna, Heather Small or for something a
little more lively check out my band The Dollz ( see
www.thedollz.com )
10) - Prepare as much before hand as you can and delegate
tasks so you can relax and  enjoy yourself too. Make a list so you
don't worry about forgetting things.

If you are including fireworks as part of your BBQ please try to be
considerate of the animals. Bonfire night on November 5th
seems to be extending to the entire month of November -
fireworks going off all the time upsets the both the local wildlife
and pets.

Love

Cindy Jackson

Cindy Jackson Ltd. www.cindyjackson.com.

Vegan hitches – Getting married animal-free.

Ten, may be even five years ago, vegetarian weddings were not
that common. As for vegan weddings well this was a very brave
step indeed. Now, hearteningly, both are more common and
this, I believe, is due not only to the increasing rise in numbers of
those choosing a vegetarian/vegan diet but also to the number of
people choosing to eat more healthily in response to the health
scares that seem to besiege the meat industry on a regular
basis.  This has had a domino effect in that even those not
choosing to change their diet are forced to consider these others
who do not fit under any convenient umbrella. Some will not eat
red meat, only white, some will not eat fish and some will not eat
dairy. The potential permutations are endless and can be both
the hosts' and caterer's nightmare. Conversely, this should
make the animal-free option an even easier one since there are
no such complications.

An individual's reasons for following a particular diet obviously
will vary, but it is clearly going to be an important part of their life,
and their partner is likely to be at least sympathetic to that dietary
choice, if not sharing it. As a result there are an ever increasing
number of couples who consider meat-free weddings, wanting
their food to reflect their own tastes. Frequently family pressures
may be brought to bear on them, but in our experience more
couples are standing firm, possibly because many are now
paying for the reception themselves, but also because many
families now recognise that it is ultimately the couple's day.

We have grown used to the resistance shown by some guests to
the idea of having to eat vegan food- the inevitable "Well what is
there that I can eat?", where it is so difficult not to reply
"Everything" without a trace of sarcasm. Or the recent wedding
where 2 carnivorous guests guiltily started devouring the
children's section containing sausage rolls- we never had the
heart to tell them that they were actually vegan sausages! Nor
the  chocolate lover who refused to eat our vegan chocolate cake
because she was afraid of what was in it! The reason we are
able to overlook these incidents is the fact that without fail the
comments from guests is always so positive. Guests are
genuinely pleased to be served food that they know has been
freshly prepared for them- it might be from guests who are
already vegan or vegetarian which is nice, but it is particularly
satisfying when it is someone who does eat meat.

Many people, it has to be said, cannot even conceive what a
vegan diet comprises but what is very rarely appreciated is that,
ironically, vegans enjoy a wide range of foods, far wider than
those who eat meat, are more willing to experiment and are
generally more adventurous. Thus if you can find a caterer that
offers you a varied and imaginative menu there should be far
more choice to tempt even the meat eaters.

The greatest reward of all, of course, is when having abided by
all these rules as we as a company do, the food is presented
and consumed with relish by the guests.  It is wonderful to be
thanked afterwards not only by the veggies present but also by
those confirmed meat eaters who having been brave enough to
test (either that or starve!) what for them is, no doubt, a culinary
nightmare and surprised themselves by actually enjoying what
was on offer – and for those still sceptical parents I can confirm
that it happens with gratifying regularity.

More important than any other consideration though is that those
who have chosen a veggie diet as a way of life are comfortably
able to share this with their family and friends on one of the most
important days of their lives. It is after all a wonderful opportunity
to proudly say to people that this is the food that you enjoy. You
never know, your function might be the one where a guest
grappling with yet another health scare/suspected food
intolerance might finally discover that there is another way. Even
if you are not responsible for a wholesale conversion you might
have improved a lifelong carnivore's view of vegan food, which
can only be for the better. Now, anybody know a good caterer?

Cavanaghs was formed several years ago, and  both the
owners, Kathleen and David Smith are vegan. David received a
formal classical training from Leiths School of Food and Wine
and is probably the only vegan chef that the school has ever
produced! They specialise in providing both vegan and
vegetarian food for all types of family events from weddings for
over 200 people through to small dinner parties. Although they
are based in Essex and work mainly in London, the South East
and East Anglia they have catered for weddings as far afield as
Oxfordshire, West Sussex and even Cornwall, in venues as
diverse as the abbey ruins at Abingdon and a Napoleonic Wars
fort in Cornwall.

Worried about osteoporosis?  To protect our health we need the
vitamins and minerals found in plant foods.

The Vegan Society today called for bodies responsible for
combating the near-epidemic of osteoporosis in the western
world to focus on plant foods rich in potassium and vitamin K,
which reduce calcium losses without any detrimental effects on
health, rather than on dairy products which increase calcium
losses and contribute unhealthy saturated fat to the food supply
at the same time as providing calcium.

It's not just vegans who are sceptical of the health claims made
for dairy products. The Sunday Times Magazine (21/07/02) noted
widespread bias in research into the health benefits and
hazards of dairy products, pointing out that all the beneficial
components of milk are found in fruits and vegetables, plus the
added benefit of protecting against other diseases, and advising
readers, "Next time you hear a dietary expert saying milk and
dairy are essential parts of a well-balanced diet be advised you
are in the presence of a nincompoop".

There are two fundamental errors in public policy with regard to
promoting healthy bones:  the undue pre-eminence accorded to
calcium and the erroneous view that calcium is synonymous
with dairy products. Dairy products are not the best source of
calcium as they cause calcium losses at the same time as
increasing calcium intake.  Bone health is influenced positively
by many nutrients, including potassium, vitamin K, calcium,
vitamin D, and magnesium, and negatively by sodium and
excessive protein.

Walter Willett of Harvard Medical School (nether a vegetarian nor
a vegan) notes that "there are more reasons not to drink milk in
large amounts than there are to drink it", pointing to the
weakness of evidence for a protective effect of adult dairy
consumption on bone health and the strength of evidence for
adverse effects of dairy products on heart disease and prostate
cancer. For anyone wanting more
calcium than provided by their usual diet, Willett suggests that
"calcium supplements are the best way to do this" as they meet
the need without adding unhealthy extra fat and calories. [Ref:
"Eat, Drink and Be Healthy", The Harvard Medical School Guide
to Healthy Eating. 2001 Walter C Willett, MD]

In the UK, the National Osteoporosis Society, whose donors
include Dairy Crest, Express Dairies PLC, Unigate Dairies Ltd,
Muller Dairy UK Ltd and The Nestle Charitable Trust (NOS
Accounts 2000/2001), agree. Their publication "Diet & Bone
Health" (page 32) confirms that "vegans can maintain a very
healthy calcium intake from tofu, green leafy vegetables, nuts
and dried fruit, which all contain high calcium levels. The lack of
animal protein in your diet may also make more calcium
available for your bones..."

A vegan diet including plenty of fruit and vegetables provides
abundant bone-protecting potassium and vitamin K along with
good amounts of calcium, particularly if green leafy vegetables or
calcium-set tofu are used regularly.  It also provides abundant
folate, carotenoids and other protective antioxidants which may
reduce risk of heart disease and cancers.  Levels of saturated fat
are healthfully low and there is no cholesterol whatever. The
advantages of the green stuff over the white stuff are scientifically
beyond dispute.

Contact:  Stephen Walsh PhD tel. 07967 361510
email <stephen_walsh@...>

Office: Tel 01424 448828 Fax 01424 717064
Out of hours : 07944068432

Editors notes:
The Vegan Society (Reg. Charity No. 279228) was established in
November 1944 to promote a healthy diet, whilst at the same
time avoiding animal exploitation and the wasteful use of the
world's resources.

World Vegan Day is celebrated on 1st November - National
Vegan Week (U.K.) is 27 October - 3 November 2002 see
www.worldveganday.org . This year's theme targets caterers to
encourage them to provide more food that everyone can enjoy.

The Vegan Society publishes The Vegan Shopper -  a guide to
animal free shopping, the vegan passport and a travel guide.

For more information about The Vegan Society see
www.vegansociety.com or telephone local rate number 0845 45
88244.

LET'S HAVE SANDWICHES THAT EVERYONE CAN ENJOY IN
UK VEGAN WEEK - 27 OCTOBER TO 3 NOVEMBER

The average Briton eats 155 sandwiches a year, sustaining a
market worth over £3 billion according to findings of Taylor
Nelson Sofres (TNS).

"Caterers forget that tasty vegan fillings are suitable for meat
eaters too," said a Vegan Society spokesperson. "On our
birthday, World Vegan Day 1st November, we want to see
sandwiches that everyone can enjoy – in work canteens, on
trains, in bakers' shops, in supermarkets, at motorway service
stations, in cafes, in fact anywhere people might need a snack."

There are a host of new vegan sandwich ingredients - ready
cooked vegan sausages, Mediterranean spreads and roasted
vegetables, vegan chicken, pumpkin seed pates, delicious
dairy-free cream cheeses, egg-free mayonnaise, vegan caviar
and lots of unusual dark green leafy salads to bump up the
nutritional value while cutting down on unhealthy saturated fats
and other fast food nasties,

Andy Mitchell, Associate Director of TNS' consumer usage
panels said: "As consumers become more used to the high
standards that the sandwich industry has set, they are more
critical about the quality of their sandwiches. Although emphasis
has been placed on increasing the variety of exotic flavours to
entice new consumers and maintain the interest of regular
sandwich purchasers, there is a strong view in the industry that
much can be gained by improving the standard sandwich by
using the best quality breads and ingredients."

The Vegan Society wholeheartedly agrees.

According to Mintel's research, ready-to-eat chilled vegetarian
foods are one of the most buoyant growth markets. "It would be
great to see more snacks that everyone can enjoy," said The
Vegan Society.

Fillings don't necessarily have to be in bread or pitta pockets
(which exclude people on gluten-free and wheat-free diets) –
they can be presented in corn tortillas or rice pancakes or as
tasty salad in a take-away tray.

Especially for UK Vegan Week the Vegan Society has 50
sandwich suggestions with something for everyone to enjoy:

1. Korma Have a Go! - smoked tofu or vegan "chicken" and
vegetable korma
(in curried egg-free dairy-free mayonnaise) with crispy lettuce.
2. Blokes BLT - vegan "gammon" steak, lettuce and tomato, thick
bread.
3. Wee Willy Winkie -  vegan sausages with HP sauce and
lettuce.
4. Just Philly? - dairy-free cream cheese with red peppers, garlic
and celery.
5. Scrambled Meg - scrambled tofu, cauliflower and mashed
sweet-corn, parsley, dairy/egg-free mayo and nutmeg with cress.
6. Peanut Buttie - organic fair trade peanut butter with dairy-free
coleslaw, bean-sprouts and lettuce
7. Funny Bone - olive hummus, red onion and salad on posh
bread.
8. Cocktail Cob - sweet corn, strips of smoked baked tofu in
"prawn-less" cocktail sauce, nori seaweed flakes with lettuce,
lemon and capers.
9. Peanut Butter and Jelly - organic peanut butter and organic
no-sugar jam.
10. Ploughman - vegan cheddar Cheezly, pickle, radishes and
lettuce.
11. Fungi Filler – wild mushroom and tarragon pate with
gherkins and red onion.
12. Moscow Munch - vegan "caviar" and salad with egg-free
mayo.
13. Med Veg - Roasted Mediterranean vegetables and hummus
on sun-dried tomato bread.
14. Bagpipe Bun – vegan haggis, Piccalilli and salad
15. Posh Chip Buttie - roasted rosemary and sesame seed
potatoes with watercress.
16. Borscht Buttie – pickled beetroot, caraway, hummus and
lettuce
17. My Mate - yeast extract, soft dairy-free cream cheese and
slithers of Granny Smith apple.
18. Sehr Gutenburger - cashew nut burger with sauerkraut.
19. Cinderella surprise – grated carrot, red peppers, red onions,
zest of orange with toasted pumpkin and coriander seeds,
raisins and chilli
20. Dolphin Friendly Salad – (frozen) flaked smoked tofu, vegan
tomato pesto, spring onions, vegan mayo and salad.
21. Tapenade Tantalizer - olive pate with dairy-free cream
cheese and salad.
22. Cold Dog - vegan frankfurters, sauerkraut, tomato sauce,
mustard and onions.
23. Miso You Madly – miso, walnuts or beansprouts and crisp
salad.
24. Devil's Delight - ginger marinated seitan with chilli and
beansprouts.
25. Mock Duck - mock duck or crispy smoked tofu with black
bean sauce, spring onion, shredded Chinese leaves and
beansprouts.
26. For Alfalfa's Sake - alfalfa and red roasted pepper hummus.
27. Tikka Bite o' This- vegan "chicken" marinated in Tikka sauce,
vegan mayo and salad.
28. Bloody Mary - tomatoes, black pepper, sun-dried tomato
paste on olive ciabatta.
29. Monster Munch - nut loaf, salad and pickle.
30. Dhal Delight - lentil, garlic and lime pate with red onion and
mango chutney.
31. Tzatziki Tingler – cucumber, vegan yoghurt, tahini, mint, garlic
with watercress.
32. Kentucky Fried Wicken - crisp-baked Wicken Fen sausages
with salad.
33. Club sandwich - vegan nacho cheese, red peppers, onions,
olives, sun-dried tomato paste, oregano, vegan pepperoni.
34. Chocoholic - organic fair-trade hazelnut and chocolate
spread with bananas.
35. Wimbledon - vegan dairy-free cream cheese and
freeze-dried strawberries or sugar-free strawberry jam.
36. Totally Tropical - vegan cream cheese with dried apricots,
pineapple and sunflower seeds.
37. Wonderful Waldorf - vegan mayo, apple, celery, walnuts and
sultanas.
38. Frittering Fancy - corn and smoky snap fritter with salad in a
buttie.
39. Moussaka Me Gently - roasted aubergine, garlic, creamed
potato, nutmeg, sun-dried tomato paste, grated vegan "cheese"
and vegan mayo.
40. Bubble 'n Squeak – pickled red cabbage, onion, shredded
green cabbage, crushed black pepper, low-sodium salt, tahini,
toasted sesame seeds, yeast extract, shredded baked potato
and vegan mayo.
41. Bounty Hunter - creamed coconut, toasted nori seaweed,
beansprouts, fresh coriander and lime.
42. Mole in the Hole - guacamole with smoked garlic, sliced
baked vegan sausages and lollo rosso.
43. Falafeling About – sliced falafel with onions, chilli sauce and
shredded cabbage.
44. Swedish Cobbler– vegan Swedish-style "meatballs" with
pickle and salad. (Ikea - are you listening?)
45. Sunday Roast – "Cheatin beef", horseradish, alfalfa and red
onion.
46. Popeye Picnic - roasted perpetual spinach, garlic, vegan
mayo, low-sodium salt and crushed black pepper
47. Spotted Dick - vegan cream cheese with raisins and
sultanas
48. Salsa Switch - red kidney beans, sweetcorn, jalapeno chilli,
tomato paste, onion, gherkins.
49. Squish and Chips – fishless fingers and chips with vegan
mayo and lettuce.
50. Hot Pot - hemp seed pate or hemp pesto with onions, alfalfa,
Jamaican hot pepper sauce and cucumber.


CONTACTS:

Tony Weston, UK Vegan Week Coordinator -
Tony@...
Tel 01424 448828
Fax:  01424 717064
Mobile 0794 4068432

UK Vegan Week is 27 Oct-3rd Nov. See our new website
www.worldveganday.org

EDITORS NOTES:

The research was carried out by TNS for the British Sandwich
Association (BSA) and published in the BSA's Sandwich Industry
Review 2002. The report indicates that in today's 'time-poor
cash-rich' society speed and convenience are the ultimate
factors associated with lunch, and sandwiches fit perfectly into
the British culture of longer working hours and less kitchen time.

World Vegan Day 1st November celebrates the invention of the
word "vegan" and the formation of the Vegan Society in
November 1944 by Donald Watson.

More information on UK Vegan Week can be found at
www.worldveganday.org

For more info on the Vegan Society and its work see
www.vegansociety.com

I've been a vegan now for 16 years, which for some people might
seem like an unbearably long time to go without animal
products, but quite the opposite, actually. It surprises people to
find out just how much I enjoy being a vegan, especially from a
culinary perspective. When I was a carnivore my diet was limited.
As a vegan it's seemingly limitless, what with necessity being
the mother of invention.

I'm often asked, 'well, as a vegan, what do you eat?' which
seems like such a strange question. What do non-vegans eat?
Meat, cheese, milk, eggs.  Vegans eat everything else. Indian
food, Chinese food, Mexican food, Thai food, Japanese food,
African food, and so on, and so on.

Whether I'm having a pan bagnia sandwich (olive tapenade,
roasted red peppers, basil and onions, on ciabatta bread) at
Teany, my restaurant, or having marinated exotic mushrooms
with mixed baby greens and an orange vinaigrette in Paris, or
having fajitas in Los Angeles, or vegan Chinese food in lower
Manhattan, or vegan Pad Thai in Melbourne, or etc etc I'm always
a very happy eater.

Primarily I'm a vegan for ethical reasons, but if the truth be told
it's the culinary  aspect of veganism that has sustained me for 16
years of animal-product free living.

Thanks to The Vegan Society for promoting a way of life that is
ethical and tasty.

Moby

Press Release 1/11/02. The Vegan Society announces three
new honorary patrons.

At the 2002 Annual General Meeting of the Vegan Society (26
October) three new patrons were appointed; drawn from an
interesting mix of grass roots campaigning, politics and
entertainment.  "All three new patrons are fearless campaigners
for animals, people and the environment – the three pillars of the
Vegan Society's mission statement." said a delighted Vegan
Society today

Moby - Musician
Born Richard Melville Hall, he was renamed Moby after his
famous ancestor's book. Despite disappointment with his
album "Animal Rights" which `tanked', Moby's passion for music
led him to success with sales of over 10 million copies of his
album "Play".  It went platinum in over 25 countries.  "Play" has
an essay about veganism and Moby allowed free use of the
music for the Vegan Society Video "Truth or Dairy".  Moby is never
slow to point out the benefits of veganism and, with his friend
Kelly, has opened a veggie/vegan cafι in New York called
TeaNY.  When asked about becoming patron he said "I have
been a vegan for 16 years now.  Being a vegan is a very central
part of how I live my life and how I hope that others would
someday live their lives, as well.  I would be honoured to be a
member and patron of The Vegan Society, and somehow
encourage veganism around the world."

Kathleen Jannaway - Campaigner
Now 87, Mrs Jannaway - a Quaker and science teacher - joined
The Vegan Society in 1964. She became honorary general
secretary of The Vegan Society in 1971 and over the next 13
years worked tirelessly to produce a variety of educational vegan
pamphlets and leaflets and a slot for the Society on the BBC2
programme "Open Door".  When this was broadcast in 1976 it
led to a record number of 5,000 responses from people eager to
find out more about a compassionate vegan lifestyle.  Her most
successful leaflet was "First Hand – First Rate" which
highlighted the logic of eating as low down the food chain as
possible.  In 1984 she moved on to found the Movement for
Compassionate Living (MCL).  She continues to this day to
campaign for a compassionate and ecological lifestyle.

Maneka Gandhi - Politician
Widowed in her early twenties when her husband was killed in
an air crash, Mrs Gandhi raised her young son on a vegan diet
despite hostility from mother-in-law Indira Gandhi and the Nehru
clan.  Sacked more than once from ministerial office for
speaking out against cruelty, injustice and corruption wherever
she finds it, Maneka is doing for the animals of India what
Mahatma Gandhi did for the people.  Her organisation People for
Animals is known throughout India and beyond, as are her many
publications.  She also chairs Rugmark, which provides care
and education for children rescued from forced labour in the
carpet industry.  Her arguments against environmental
destruction through the raising of animals for food are
compelling:  in Bristol last month she illustrated vividly how
animal exploitation leads inexorably to deforestation, drought,
famine and ultimately war, demonstrating the truth of Tolstoy's
maxim that "so long as there are slaughterhouses there will
always be battlefields."

Her appointment as a patron of the Vegan Society will make it
clear to the Hindu community in the UK who are concerned
about the cruelty of the Western dairy industry that veganism is
the answer and that they are more than welcome within the
Society as members and supporters.

CONTACTS:

Tony Weston, UK Vegan Week Coordinator -
media@...
Tel 01424 448828
Fax:  01424 717064
Mobile 0794 4068432

EDITORS NOTES:

World Vegan Day 1st November celebrates the invention of the
word "vegan" and the formation of the Vegan Society in
November 1944 by Donald Watson. UK Vegan Week 27 Oct – 3
Nov.

For more information see:
www.vegansociety.com
www.worldveganday.com
www.goaspca.com/frmaneka.htm
www.Moby.com

Other ideas for World Vegan Day

<sum> 50 ideas for sandwiches everyone can enjoy.
<sum> 10 ideas for a Vegan Bonfire "Barbie-Que" from Cindy Jackson
(Barbie)
<sum> Osteoporosis? Beware the advice of nincompoops.
<sum> Survey shows caterers need to do better see
www.worldveganday.org
<sum> A message from Moby for World Vegan Day.
<sum> Range of new products launched for UK Vegan week – reader
offers available.
<sum> A new vegan authentication scheme for caterers.
<sum> A new vegan shopping guide "The Animal Free Shopper"


  The Vegan Society Donald Watson House 7 Battle Road St.
Leonards on Sea East Sussex TN37 7AA UK Tel:  0845 45
88244  Fax:  01424 717064 www.vegansociety.com

Registered Charity No. 279228 Company Registration No.
1468880

The Vegan Society promotes ways of living free from animal
products – for the benefit of people, animals and the
environment.

Enter your vote today!  A new poll has been created for the
worldveganday group:

What do you think would encourage
more people to be vegan?

   o Better choices in restaurants?
   o Better labelling in shops?
   o Better health education?
   o More vegan recipes?
   o More vegan celebrities?
   o Tasty vegan cheese?
   o A vegan mars bar?
   o Vegan Fish?
   o Vegducate doctors?
   o vegducate Kids?


To vote, please visit the following web page:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/worldveganday/surveys?id=105291

Note: Please do not reply to this message. Poll votes are
not collected via email. To vote, you must go to the Yahoo! Groups
web site listed above.

Thanks!

Delicious Vegan food can be enjoyed by everyone - share your
favourite recipes at www.worldveganday.org

What's your favourite filling? Please help
www.worldveganday.org

celebrate with us around the world at www.worldveganday.org