Note from Jon Camp

Like previous weeks, last week's outreach was full of constructive conversations, prolific distribution of booklets, and new inroads created for the animals. With the help of dedicated volunteers, a total of 3,799 Even If You Like Meat booklets were individually handed to students of Eastern Michigan U, U of Michigan, Michigan State, U of Toledo, and Notre Dame.

As I see firsthand on a daily basis, despite being simple, the act of person-to-person college outreach is absolutely vital, yielding big results for the animals. At the U of MI, a young man came up to tell me that he read the booklet, was appalled, and was going to definitely reduce his meat consumption. At MI State, a man came up to thank me for being there, and stated that he has been vegetarian since receiving a Vegan Outreach booklet 5 years ago.

These interactions always drive home the fact that the animals don't need our heroics, they simply need us to be practical and loyal -- choosing activities that will bring forth tangible results and sticking with them unwaveringly.

Next week, I will be leafleting various schools in the Chicago region. If you would like to leaflet with me or if you would like for me to talk to your local or student group, please email jon at veganoutreach.org. Thanks so much!

Overall, Vegan Outreach has sent out 365,000+ booklets so far in 2006 -- an annual pace of more than a million!

Warped Tour is Back!

Gilbert Schwartz of CAA notes: "Attention all leafleters! As the school year comes to an end, I wanted to alert everyone about the annual, national Warped Tour. This rock tour brings together thousands of teenagers and young adults each year, and makes for an IDEAL leafleting opportunity. Last year at the tour's Minneapolis stop, several members of Compassionate Action for Animals were able to hand out over 7,000 EI's as the concert was letting out! I believe Eugene [Khutoryansky] passed out 10,000 by himself at one of these once! Dates and locations are here."

Austin, TX Alert

Vegan Outreach co-founder Matt Ball will be meeting with interested individuals in Austin on Thursday, May 25 at 7pm, at Mr. Natural's (south). Details here. There may be another event in Austin around this time -- check back next week!

Product of the Week

Laurette Timms writes to nominate: "Lightlife's Smart BBQ. It's vegan and delicious. My non-vegetarian BBQ-eating friends love it, and are switching to it because it's convenient and healthier than meat BBQ. Just microwave it in it's package and put some on a roll - there's plenty for 2. You can buy it at Wal-Mart Supercenter or Kroger near the tofu for about $3.

Send your nominees for Product of the Week to product (at) veganoutreach.org; previous products can be found here.

Notes from All Over

Vegan.com's New Podcast, with Links

Listen to Erik's insightful take on Omnivore's Dilemma (with action plan) and "Tom Purcell Loves Red Meat" (again with action plan).

Why Do We Hate Vegans?

[Scroll down here] Excerpt: "Certainly vegetarianism has gone mainstream. In the United States, 19,000 people make the switch to a meat-free diet every week and now more than 12 million people are vegetarians. But veganism? ... One University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee vegan, Cassandra Flecshig, remembers getting an autograph from Goldfinger’s lead singer John Feldmann on a copy of a Why Vegan? pamphlet. 'After reading the horrific details of what goes on in factory farms, I knew I could never support that kind of misery,' Flecshig said. ... Veganism excludes no sentient being -- animal or human -- from its commitment to compassionate, gentle benevolence. Vegans show tender regard for the suffering of animals, but to treat humans with callous contempt is a disheartening contradiction of vegan principles. So next time you encounter a vegan do not be shy or defensive. So what if they prefer tempeh Reubens and don’t believe pigs have 'spare' ribs?"

Notes from Our Members

Today, Casey Constable, Danielle Seger, and I (at right; photo by Casey) handed out approximately an additional 4,400 Why Vegans at the last day of the International Festival. This brought the festival totals to 11,600 Why Vegans, and oodles of GCFEs. One of my favorite exchanges at the festival was yesterday when a young vegan woman shouted "I LOVE YOU!" to me as she took a Why Vegan and a GCFE.
-Eugene Khutoryansky, Stafford, TX, 4/30/06

After reading Why Vegan, I became [a vegan] the next day. Whenever I felt doubtful, I'd just open it up and realize again why I was doing it, because it is so worth it. I have become largely pro-animal/nature in my thoughts, language, and opinions since. Your magazine has really done a great job in its message, and has worked for me!
-AH, 4/26/06

One of my students received your Even If booklet from someone on campus. I teach nutrition, and most of my students are clueless as to where their food comes from. Please send me more -- I have hundreds of students each semester, and I know these will make an impact.
-RL, Fairmont City, PA, 4/23/06

I was delighted on my birthday to pass an Even If You Like Meat to a woman Jon Camp and I leafleted last year at the University of Vermont. She said "I actually already have this; got it last year before lunch and have been veg ever since." She gratefully accepted a Why Vegan pamphlet and a high-five, however.
-Melissa Gates, Burlington, VT, 4/29/06

I was leafleting at an anti-war protest, and I met a young woman who has been vegetarian since receiving an EI pamphlet from us at Warped Tour last summer.
-Gilbert Schwartz, Minneapolis, MN, 4/28/06

I was able to use your Chinese files as soon as I saw you had it. There are a lot of Chinese students here at UNC.
-MS, Chapel Hill, NC, 4/26/06

I borrowed your booklet from a friend and I thought it was very interesting and moving. I have to admit I won't give up meat completely but I will eat it much less!
-LC, Ravenna, OH, 4/25/06

Vegan Outreach
P.O. Box 38492
Pittsburgh, PA 15238

VO is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization; all donations are tax-deductible.