Enewsletter

Historically, man has expanded the reach of his ethical calculations, as ignorance and want have receded, first beyond family and tribe, later beyond religion, race, and nation. To bring other species more fully into the range of these decisions may seem unthinkable to moderate opinion now. One day, decades or centuries hence, it may seem no more than ‘civilized’ behavior requires.
-The Economist

Notes from Vegan Outreach

Adopt a College Ready to Roll!

Schools around the country are starting up around this time, and Adopt a College activists are already starting to hit students flush with the optimism of a new school term.

You, too, can get involved! Stewart Solomon, with a wife and kids, and a full-time job, reached tens of thousands of students with booklets last year. Read about why here, and how here.

Help Jon Camp!

In mid-September, Jon Camp will start a five-week leafleting tour through MA, upstate NY, ON, QC, VT, and NJ with a couple days in NH and CT. He would love for you to see firsthand the simplicity and effectiveness of college leafleting. If you would like to help leaflet with him or if you would like for him to give a talk to your local group, please email jon at veganoutreach.org.

Also, Jon is finalizing his plans for a tour through western NC, TN, KY, and the Cincinnati, OH region which will take place throughout November. As of today, he has found limited housing in TN and KY and he would like to cover both states thoroughly. If you would be willing to house VO's official "courteous young man" for 1 -3 nights, please email Jon.

Growth of Veganism, Revisited

People often think that it is not possible for veganism to become the norm, or even widespread. But, even ignoring the millions of vegans in the country currently, if just the 32,000 who receive this e-mail list grows by 20% a year -- that is, one-fifth of those receiving this influence just one person to change their diet each year -- then the entire U.S. population would be vegan by 2058 (adjusting for population growth based on Census projections).

If active outreach efforts like Adopt a College influence just an additional 2,500 people this year, with this number growing by 20% a year, veganism would be the norm by 2050; if an additional 5,000 people next year, growing at 33% -- 2039.

Start 'em young! Riley Law leaflets in Chicago; photo by her father, Mikael Nielsen.

Of course, there is no way to know how the future will progress. It is likely that not everyone alive in 2050 will choose to be an ethical vegan, but this doesn't mean they will eat the same as today. In addition to more vegans and vegetarians, there will be many more near-vegetarians and people choosing animal products from small farms. There will be many more great faux-meat options available, at many more places, at significantly lower prices (since it is more efficient to eat plant foods directly). The worst farming practices will be vilified and then outlawed, and animal agriculture, at the very least, will be radically changed.

Person-to-person educational outreach is unglamorous work, but with your help, we will see tremendous advancement within our lifetime!

Product of the Week

Both Arnold Freeman and lauren Ornelas point out Amy's Rice Crust Spinach Pizza. Arnold: "It has vegan cheese and is delicious. I tried it at the Natural Products Expo a few months ago and it is finally on the market. I asked my local Whole Foods to order me some and they said they will have them for me tomorrow. I can't wait. BTW, for those who care, the pizza is also gluten free."

lauren adds that Amy's "Ziti Bowl (rice & veggie bowl, also with Follow Your Heart's vegan cheese) should be out on the west coast now and making its way east!"

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

Notes from All Over

Using Viruses to Treat Contaminated Meat

Yummy! Excerpt: "A mixture of six bacteria-killing viruses can be safely sprayed on meat and poultry to combat common microbes that kill hundreds of people a year, federal health officials said Friday."

Notes from Our Members

At the local DragonForce concert, I handed out about 600 Why Vegans. Extremely receptive crowd. In fact, several people at the concert who were already vegan stopped to help me leaflet. I overheard one girl telling her friends, "I got one of these at Warped Tour. This is why I am a vegetarian." I chased after her to hand her a GCFE, and she was very happy to get one.
-Eugene Khutoryansky, 8/18/06

I just want to say thanks to the friendly guy who handed me a Why Vegan pamphlet whilst my friends and I were exiting Number's Night Club in Houston in the wee hours of the morning one Sunday. I was too tired to read it that night, but my curiosity made me hold on to it until later in the day. I just want the passionate dude to know the pamphlet was not trashed and it has inspired me to become vegetarian. I'm proud to declare that I am a vegetarian, and happy to tell people why when they ask, and show them the pamphlet I received that balmy night. I still find it challenging to cook delicious (although they are interesting) vegetarian meals, but I'm willing to stick with it and keep experimenting to discover what my family and I like. Those graphic images are implanted in my mind and I don't think I can go back to eating meat. I am grateful for this eye-opening experience and will do what I can to help educate people about what they're actually eating.
-C, via e-mail, 8/18/06

Vegan Outreach is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing the suffering of farmed animals by promoting informed, ethical eating. All donations are tax-deductible. Vegan Outreach POB 30865, Tucson, AZ 85751-0865