Here is a summary of some of the work of The Vegan Society during 2009.

Vegan Society Website

This website has a whole new look!

Work with Other Organizations

Our Chief Executive Officer, Nigel Winter, met with Sainsbury’s and Tesco to help them find ways to meet the requirements of vegans and many of our members e-mailed Tesco with suggestions. 

Political Influence

Our Chief Executive, Trustees and staff have attended over a dozen conferences and seminars to influence decision makers such as the Department of Health Healthier Food Mark conference.  We also submitted responses to several consultations.

Cook Vegetarian Magazine

We got a substantial advertorial feature into the November issue of Cook Vegetarian magazine, giving the reasons why switching to a vegan diet is better for the environment. 

Education

This year our speakers have visited colleges, universities and youth groups.  However, our most common invitations are still for cookery demonstrations and focus days in secondary schools and we’ve reached almost 2000 young people during 2009.  Rob Jackson, our Education Officer, presented a seminar to a group of teachers at the Design and Technology show at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC).  Rob has been using online social networking sites to stimulate interest in The Vegan Society and our activities:

http://www.facebook.com/TheVeganSociety 

http://www.myspace.com/thevegansociety 

http://twitter.com/thevegansociety 

If you have marketing experience or have worked with or in schools please contact Rob to offer assistance in raising awareness of our services: youth@vegansociety.com   

Vegan Advocacy

We continue to work alongside the Vegan Prisoners' Support Group to help vegans in prison.  Information Officer, Verity Hunt-Sheppard, attended meetings with prison shop suppliers to try to get more vegan products into prison shops.  Verity also presented the joint VPSG/Vegan Society awards at a prison service training centre in Rugby.  While Vegan Society group contact Nitin Mehta continued to press the Department of Health regarding animal ingredients in medicines. 

Trademark

Despite the recession we continued to attract new trademark holders in 2009 and our overall turnover increased.  The Vegan Society has applied for trademark registration in India, which may take until December 2010 to be granted but should lead to some great new products and revenue.  The trademark has recently been registered in Australia and Canada, helping to brand veganism on a global scale.  In 2009 we continued to raise the profile of the trademark and attract new interest by attending trade shows such as the Natural and Organic Products Show and the International Food and Drink Exhibition.

Spreading the Word

Vegan Society group contact, Nitin Mehta, and Nutrition and Health Spokesperson, Stephen Walsh, supported the expanding Jain Vegan movement by speaking about veganism and vegan nutrition at a two-day Annual Jain Festival attended by about 3,000 people.  Stephen Walsh also did a series of talks for the Adventist community in Watford throughout the early Spring and Summer.  Nishma Shah of Shambhu’s Kitchen did cookery demonstrations at the Adventist events.  

Vegan Training in China

In September, Vegan Society Trustees Dr Matthew Cole and Dr Karen Morgan ran a course at Xiamen University, South-East China, entitled 'Critical Studies of Hierarchical Relations'.  The course provided the chance to speak to Chinese postgraduate students about veganism and the connections between the exploitation of nonhuman animals, women and people of colour.  As a result of the course some students expressed an interest in becoming vegan in the future and trying to work for better animal protection in China.

Published Academic Work

Vegan Society Trustees Dr Matthew Cole and Dr Karen Morgan got an article and interview about their academic work on veganism published in the German magazine:  Tierbefreiung.  The article’s title is:  Understanding the exploitation of nonhuman animals: why isn’t there more opposition?  The article refers to the following paper written by Vegan Society Trustee Dr Matthew Cole and Vegan Society member Dr Kate Stewart which appeared in a USA peer reviewed journal and looks at how children are encouraged to care about fictional animals, while their attention is diverted from the real animals used to produce food:

Stewart, K. & Cole, M. The conceptual separation of food and animals in childhood. Food, Culture and Society 2009; 12(4): 457-476.

'Vegans Catered for Here' Window Sticker Scheme

Caterers currently carrying our 'Vegans Catered for Here' window stickers are: VBites, the new vegan restaurant in Hove, Jyoti in Birmingham, Word of Mouth in Evesham, Coriander in Bournemouth, The Warehouse Cafe in Birmingham, Itadaki-zen in London and Zouk in Leeds.

Media

Amanda Baker, our PR and Media Officer, gave a well-received talk on stock-free farming at The Glastonbury Festival 2009.  Amanda has also given many other talks and radio interviews. 

We sent out an open letter to Hilary Benn about pollinating insects and media releases on various subjects including swine flu, Fiona Oakes in the London Marathon and Enzymes in bread. 

Vegan Society Vegan Pledge

Our Vegan Pledge offers new vegans or those curious about veganism the opportunity to receive the support of a mentor.  Pledges can last for a week, two weeks or a month.  About 200 people from the UK and overseas took the Vegan Pledge in 2009 and we have received back almost seventy post-pledge questionnaires and the good news is that most people who returned their post-pledge questionnaire plan to stay vegan. 

If you are interested in becoming a mentor please contact info@vegansociety.com.

Magazine

The Vegan magazine continues to go out quarterly and our editor, Rosamund Raha, considers all submissions, letters and comments that are sent in.  So please send articles or other items to info@vegansociety.com mark them ‘For The Editor.’ 

Enquiries

Throughout the year we have responded to many thousands of e-mail, telephone and letter enquiries which shows that The Vegan Society is considered to be the greatest authority on all things vegan.

Jeffrey Masson

Jeff Masson launched his new book The Face on Your Plate at events organised by Vanessa Clarke our International Coordinator in London, Oxford and Cambridge.   

Events Sponsored by The Vegan Society in 2009

• Veggie Pride UK
  
• The London Vegan Festival
• The Bristol Vegan Festival
• The West Midlands Vegan Festival
• The East Midlands Vegan Festival
• Croydon Eco Veggie Fayre
• Events featuring Jeffrey Masson in London, Oxford and Cambridge
• Vegan Campaigns vegan pledge meetings

Global Food Security

We have produced a Global Food Security leaflet plus more detailed information sheets.  The leaflet is aimed at policy makers, farmers and development agencies to help them see the benefits of vegan diets and stock-free farming for Global Food Security. 

Looking forward ... there will be a UK General Election next year.  Climate change and food security are at the top of the political agenda.  Stock-free farming can provide nutritious, climate friendly food for all and needs to feature in mainstream debate in the run-up to polling.  Our Global Food Security leaflet is an ideal summary.  Please send a copy to your sitting MP, who is obliged to respond to their constituents.  When the Election is called, you can send copies to all candidates too.  Please email media@vegansociety.com for support.

All of this work is made possible by the generosity of Vegan Society members and we are grateful for this.  With Season’s Greetings and best wishes for the New Year from all at The Vegan Society.