Enewsletter

This issue is sponsored by Malcolm's Miracle.

Note from Vegan Outreach

Question of the Week

VO often receives questions like this:

I have tried unsuccessfully to talk with my family about the cruelty of factory farming. I get the same response from just about everyone: Don't tell me, I don't want to know about those things, I don't want to see all those gross pictures. Some even laugh it off saying animals have been eaten for food since the dawn of time. How can I get my family and close friends to listen and take me seriously? It hurts me that they won't even consider reading and learning more about this cruel treatment of animals. HELP!

Have advice? Send your suggested reply to anne (at) veganoutreach (dot) org, and we'll compile a few of the best for next week.

Product of the Week

Office: Have you been searching for that out-of-the-ordinary vegan cookie? Wanting to amaze your friends and family with home-baked vegan cookies (without all the mixing and stirring)? Just dying to eat scrumptious cookie dough (yes, cookie dough)? Sam & Ruby's Vegan Goodies is for you!

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

Notes from All Over

Lightning Round

• For some teen vegetarians, a meat-free diet is a style statement.
• MFA investigation report by ABC News.
• New Moby video: Chicken revenge.
• Burger With a Side of Spies; h/t Vegan.com.
• Free Johnny Rockets burger for World Vegetarian Week!
• Union of Concerned Scientists report on factory farms.

Notes from Our Members

Your pamphlet is so effective that after reading, my husband,10-year-old daughter, and I have decided immediately to stop eating all meat. Fellow students here at UT San Antonio were handing out the pamphlets, and I am just really fortunate to have gotten one so I could learn about what really goes on in order to turn animals into meat. Thank you.
-SH, 5/6/08

Rob Gilbride leaflets at the University of North Carolina; photo by Jeff Boghosian.

At UC Berkeley, a student said, "When I was in 4th grade, I got one of these (Why Vegan). I went vegetarian right away and then went vegan two years later. I've been vegan ever since. You really are doing great work. Keep it up!"
-Miranda Robbins, 5/7/08

I received a copy of Even If You Like Meat today at San Jose State University and I was very impressed with it -- I have now turned vegan. I am very happy with this new lifestyle and I was excited to see the word being put out to college students! This booklet provides great and convincing information! Thank you very much for publishing this booklet!
-KL, 5/8/08

At Medgar Evers, one student came back later in the day and said, "Lady, I was about to get a Philly Cheese Steak for lunch, but when I got to the counter, I just couldn't order it after seeing those pictures! You changed my mind!" Also ran into a student who has been veg for 2 months, and wanted some extra for her family and friends, as she has been trying to find a tactful way to educate them. She was excited about the GCFE, because she didn't really know what to eat other than veggie burgers. Another student said, "Oh is this the thing with the sad pigs? You gave one of these to some girl in my class and our class spent the whole period talking about it!"
     Yesterday was also a great at LaGuardia Community College, with lots of students saying they wanted to go veg, asking me questions, etc. One student I leafleted earlier in the day was reading the leaflet as he walked past me in the afternoon. He showed it to his friend, saying, "This is crazy. This is absolutely crazy," while shaking his head in disbelief. I heard from 2 different teachers who were really appreciative of my efforts. One was teaching a class with some of Peter Singer's materials, and requested leaflets to hand out to her class. She really liked the leaflets and thought they would be a great visual aid. Another faculty member was with the environmental group on campus and was excited that I was there. When some other teachers walked by, she encouraged them all to take leaflets and read about factory farming!
-Eileen Botti, 5/8/08

I just wanted to say how much I appreciated your starter guide. I received it in the mail and was so excited to get started. After reading your guide I am amazed at all the options I have to choose from! I can't wait to try a lot of the "new" (to me) products I see listed in your guide! I have incorporated a few already and am so excited that I don't even miss the "real" stuff! I'm so outspoken about eating this way, I now use my co-workers as "guinea pigs" to try new recipes. They love it and can't believe it's not "real food" as they call it! I'm so happy to have stumbled across your site online. You're a life saver ...not only mine but animals as well!!
-Kimberly B, 5/12/08

At Montgomery College, I handed out a mere box of booklets. But as I've seen through my leafleting experiences, one box of booklets can go a very long way. Within my first minute or two of leafleting, a woman came up and heartily thanked me for being there. She had seen the Even If before and was very interested in vegetarianism. I gave her a GCFE. One young woman said, "You know what? You made me a vegetarian!" She went on to say that she had received a booklet from me in late '07 and hadn't eaten any meat since. One young woman mentioned that someone in her class had just recently done a presentation on factory farming issues (very likely influenced by the booklet) and that receiving the EI now made her really think about this issue and want to make some changes. Numerous others asked me questions, thanked me for being there, said, "Keep up the good work," asked for a couple brochures to give to others, etc.
-Jon Camp, 5/6/08

Jon Camp leaflets at George Mason; photo by Aashish Bhimani.

I received an Even If You Like Meat at school [Santa Rosa Junior College]. I've been vegan now for 8 weeks, and will use your booklets for a presentation in my class.
-LN, 5/8/08

On my third trip to Northern Illinois University this semester, a student came up to let me know that two presentations given in her class this semester were on farmed animals, and the presenters stated that our booklets inspired them to choose this topic.
-Joe Espinosa, 5/7/08

Anne, Ellen, and I had a late lunch today with friends at Lovin' Spoonfuls. We had brought in some Compassionate Choices for display, and not long after, we watched two women standing outside reading a CC together. They kept pointing, reading sections out loud, and getting more and more visibly upset. It was amazing to watch.
-Matt Ball, 5/10/08

Your website is my favorite – it is brilliant and reliable. Your site, pamphlets, etc. have saved more lives than we will ever know. To me, you are superheroes.
-BD, 5/6/08

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