Calendar of Events

Are you interested in trying a vegan diet with some help and support? If so, then sign up for the London Vegan Pledge.

Once you have been registered, you will be given joining instructions for two meetings at a venue in central London, one at the start of your pledge month on Sunday 12th May 2013, and one at the end of your vegan month on Sunday 9th June 2013.

This two-part “Introduction to Veganism” course includes: speakers, films, delicious vegan food, cookery demos, free recipe booklets and basic health and nutrition advice. At the first meeting you will also meet your vegan buddy who will support you during your month. All of this is completely free!

• Download flyer
• Download press release
• Register online

If you have any questions please feel free to get in touch via info@vegancampaigns.org.uk.

Details of the 2012 Vegan Pledge can be found here.

Vegan Campaigns promotes veganism, mainly in the London area. Among the activities that have already taken place are vegan food fairs, information evenings, veggie burger giveaways and street stalls. We also helped to organise the London Vegan Festival in 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011, as well as the London Vegan Pledge.

We have occasional meetings in Central London, and also have an email list to inform about events and campaigns planned. To find out more, visit the rest of the site or contact us for more details to get involved.

This conference is focused on issues concerning all fur-bearing animals, particularly the exploitation and cruelty of fur farms, wool and leather production, “harvesting” of wildlife (hunting, trapping, penning, etc). It will also explore other areas of animal exploitation including vivisection, puppy mills, animals in entertainment, horse slaughter, animals for food.

Attention will be given to individuals and groups dedicated to the care of and advocating for fur-bearing animals; farmed, domestic, or wild. Also of interest are issues relating to the environment, which directly affects all living beings on our planet, our air, our food and water, which are seriously compromised by chemicals and pollution caused by animal exploiting industries like factory farms.

This exciting conference offers a new view and approach to animal rights advocacy and leadership, as it is also designed for grassroots activists and organizations, namely:

• to provide a forum for those who rarely have an opportunity to speak to large audiences about the work they do;

• to create a platform for grassroots activists that focuses on: “Reviving the Animal Rights Movement: Effective Grass Roots Activism.” A New View and Approach to Animal Rights Advocacy and Leadership.

AFS Conference Highlights Include:
• Over 20 outstanding national and international speakers, leaders in the field of animal rights

• Opportunities to meet and network with people of like-mind during and after the conference

• Ground-breaking animal rights films, some never before seen by the public

• Opportunities to chat with animal rights authors, artists, filmmakers.

• Provocative and informative presentations and panels on fur bearing animals, and many other animal rights issues: animals killed for food and clothing; “disposable” pets, hunting for “sport”, lobbying for animals, knowing your legal rights and more.

• Vegan Banquet and Reception with surprise guests, entertainment and silent auction

• Vegan breakfast buffet, lunches, reception and banquet included in full registration VIEW REGISTRATION

Resistance Ecology is about movement building. It is about cultivating an ecology of resistance that can adapt to the circumstances of domination. For us, this work begins with scrutinizing the state of the animal liberation and radical ecology movements of North America by addressing previous shortcomings and providing remedies.

The Student Animal Liberation Coalition is pleased to announce the first annual Resistance Ecology Conference in Portland, Oregon, May 31st to June 2nd 2013, at Portland State University (PSU). This conference is a cooperative effort between the Student Animal Liberation Coalition (PSU), the Jericho Movement and a new movement organization: Resistance Ecology.

The conference advocates for a movement of resistance that is multi-layered, unified, diverse and intersectional. Previously, the organizers of this conference have helped to organize the Let Live and Law and Disorder Conferences in Portland, Oregon as well as the Portland Anarchist Bookfair. There will be speakers, panels, and workshops occurring all three days.

Resistance Ecology is about movement building. It is about cultivating an ecology of resistance that can adapt to the circumstances of domination. For us, this work begins with scrutinizing the state of the animal liberation and radical ecology movements of North America by addressing previous shortcomings and providing remedies. The most novel way that we can achieve this is by creating a movement-wide discourse that is accessible to everyone involved.

Our mission is to compel others to evaluate the systematic exploitation of other species and ecological communities, and to inspire personal transformation, engagement and activism through educational and participatory events. We exist to keep the discourse of animal and ecological liberation thriving on our campus, with the intent of promoting the confrontation and abolition of these exploitations as they manifest in our lives and community.

We work to network and organize with other campus and off-campus organizations, beyond the boundaries of animal rights or environmentalism, in order to create the most functional, resilient and ever-evolving liberation movement. Liberation, for animals and for the earth, cannot be thought of as isolated from other revolutionary struggles as the structural causes of racism, sexism, and speciesism are interrelated.

We strive to create an open dialogue where members and the community can communicate with one another to achieve the goals that we want to see.

It is also our mission to interject issues of animal and ecological exploitation into discourses where they have been historically absent.

Compassion Over Killing and VegRehoboth are excited to host this all-veg celebration in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. The Rehoboth Beach VegFest celebrates how easy and delicious it is to choose vegetarian foods. This FREE outdoor festival highlights the community’s diverse range of animal-friendly cuisine and the many benefits of choosing plant-based foods. Featuring speakers, cooking demonstrations, free food samples, dozens of exhibitors, and area food vendors, the Rehoboth Beach VegFest has something for everyone to enjoy.

Compassion Over Killing (COK) is a national non-profit animal protection organization based in Washington, DC with a second office in Los Angeles. Working to end animal abuse since 1995, COK relies on a variety of strategies to expose cruelty to farmed animals and promote vegetarian eating as a way to build a kinder world for all animals. Compassion Over Killing is also the proud presenter of the DC VegFest, happening on Sat., Sept. 28 in Washington, DC. Visit COK.net to learn more about campaigns to run pro-veg ads on HULU.com, persuade companies to offer more vegan options, and more.

VegRehoboth is a social and outreach organization that provides connection and resources for the Vegetarian and Vegan community in Rehoboth Beach, DE and the surrounding areas. VegRehoboth is open to all—including those just curious! We welcome vegetarians and vegans, part-time vegetarians, flexitarians, and meat-eaters who want to cut back on meat and learn about healthier new ways of eating.

VegRehoboth hosts informal get-togethers at new or favorite restaurants, veg happy hours, veg film screenings, & more. We share friendship, good conversation, and great food! Visit us at VegRehoboth.com.

Cleveland VegFest promises to be a fun, educational event for the whole family! VegFest is planned for approximately 10 AM – 8 PM.

Plant-based eating and cruelty-free living has been shown to be:
~Healthy for the human body and mind
~The optimum way to ‘go green’ for the sustainability of our Earth
~Strongly connected to social justice and the alleviation of hunger worldwide
~The one truly compassionate choice for all living beings

Featuring many top national speakers and authors in their fields on issues of health, environmental sustainability, social justice, and animal rights, the Cleveland VegFest will be an opportunity to explore how choosing a whole, plant-based, vegan meal, directly impacts conditions in each of these critical areas.

LEARN!
WHAT is vegan
WHY does vegan matter
HOW to make vegan work

Plus…
What kind of impact does a vegan lifestyle have? ~ Where is the evidence?
How do I stay healthy without meat and dairy?
Why haven’t I been told this by my doctor? ~ How much does it cost to eat vegan?
How does what I do make a difference? ~ What does vegan taste like?
…and more!

TASTE!
HOW delicious vegan food can be…
Experience the flavorful, wholesome, and indulgent flavors which encompass vegan cuisine, as presented by some of the best culinary experts in our area… Cleveland’s favorite chefs, restaurants, and confectioneries will be featuring their best-selling vegan menu items.

Plus, national vendors will be showcasing a wide range of vegan products and resources.

EXPLORE!
WHAT effects the Standard American Diet has on our bodies
WHY westerners are dying of heart disease and cancer
WHO has convinced us that we need animal products to be healthy
HOW a vegan diet can greatly improve your health and turn around disease

MEET!
Local vegan groups who provide guidance, support, and opportunities to continue learning and share experiences.

Mad City Vegan Fest is an annual celebration of veganism filled with great food, inspiring speakers, awesome raffle prizes, and a host of vegan-minded exhibitors. The event is free and open to the public.

Whether you’re a vegan, vegetarian, flexitarian, or omnivore, Vegan Fest has delicious food samples and helpful information on how you can protect animals, the environment, and your health through vegan choices.

Mad City Vegan Fest is a project of Alliance for Animals, Wisconsin’s voice for animals since 1983 (address below).

Mad City Vegan Fest
Alliance for Animals
P.O. Box 1632
Madison, WI 53701

Our Mission Statement

• To highlight the ethical, environmental, and health benefits of a lifestyle free of all animal products (vegan).
• To provide a nonjudgmental, supportive, and fully inclusive environment for vegans and for those hoping to learn more about veganism.
• To demonstrate the accessibility of veganism by showcasing vegan products and organizations with an emphasis on local resources.
• To advocate compassion as the means by which to alleviate the suffering of humans and animals alike.

The 12th Annual North American Conference for Critical Animal Studies is being held at Minneapolis Community and Technical College from June 20-22, 2013.

About 350-400 national and international scholars, activists, and scholar-activists generally attend this conference each year. This conference merges academic and activist insight, with presentations from scholar-activists and grassroots organizers alike.

Theme: Breaking the Silence on Global and Local Intersections of Ethnicity, Spirituality, and Nonhuman Animals

As the poor become poorer, more prisons are constructed, and the global south struggles with exploitation, disease, hunger, and mass displacement, social justice activists are becoming more intolerant of global racism and discrimination. In kind, the theme of this year’s annual North American Conference for Critical Animal Studies is the intersectionality of race, ethnicity, animals, and spirituality. Some of the foundational questions that the conference is interested in discussing include: Can activists compare struggles of racism to nonhuman animal suffering? What is the intersectional history of ethnicity and animals? Do you have to be anti-racist to be an animal advocate? How has religion aided in the marginalization of people of color and nonhuman animals? How has religion aided in the liberation of people of color and nonhuman animals? How, if at all, do animal advocates challenge colonization, imperialism, and racism? What are the theoretical and scientific similarities between racism and speciesism? How have different ethnic and spiritual groups addressed animal advocacy?

About ICAS

Critical animal studies is a field that promotes total liberation and explores the ways in which oppression intersects amongst human animals, nonhuman animals, and the environment. This year’s special theme is Breaking the Silence on Global and Local Intersections of Ethnicity, Spirituality, and Nonhuman Animals.

The Institute for Critical Animal Studies (ICAS) is a fully volunteer non-profit organization that is dedicated to the liberation of human and nonhuman animals, as well as to the end of environmental destruction. We are also an intersectional organization interested in coalition building and exposing of the interconnectedness of all oppressions.

Saturday, June 22nd – 8:00 am – 4:00 pm

8:00–9:00 – Registration and Vegan Continental Breakfast

9:00–9:15 – Welcome

9:15–10:30 – Jonathan Balcombe, Animal behavior expert and author of four books, including Pleasurable Kingdom.

10:30-10:45 – Break

10:45–noon – Michael Budkie, co-founder and Executive Director, SAEN (Stop Animal Exploitation Now).

noon–1:30 – Vegan Lunch, Networking

1:30–4:00 – Harold Brown, former beef farmer and founder of Farm Kind. He is also a subject of the documentary film Peaceable Kingdom: The Journey Home. The documentary will be shown and discussed by Farmer Brown.

5:00–7:00 – Guests are invited to attend an informal dinner at Jazzy Veggie – 15% off entrees for conference attendees.

Sunday, June 23rd – 8:00 am – noon

8:00–9:00 – Vegan Continental Breakfast

9:00–noon – Roundtable Discussion lead by Scott Harris, with Jonathan Balcombe, Michael Budkie, Harold Brown and Jill Fritz.

Please attend and learn what we can do in Michigan, our communities and in our lives to better the lives of all animals.

The Symposium of Animal Liberation is a conference intended to unite, inspire, and motivate activists and anyone new to the animal rights movement or interested in learning more about it. This is the very first Symposium and it will consist of workshops addressing different animal abuse and exploitation industries, effective forms of activism, vegan and activist lifestyles, and more! You’ll hear presentations from experienced activists, network and meet other people who share your views, and have the opportunity to visit the exhibit hall.

The idea for the Symposium stemmed from the notion of advancing the positive, powerful effects FARM’s Animal Rights National Conference produces. Individuals are motivated to get active, provided with knowledge, form friendships, and those who do not yet follow a compassionate lifestyle are inspired to take the leap. The majority of animal rights conferences and veg-fests, however, are usually on either the East coast or the West coast. So why not have one farther inland to spread the inspiration to impel change to those who might not otherwise be able to take part in such a powerful experience? Anyone is enthusiastically welcomed — encouraged — to attend: the Symposium is not limited to Arizona residents.

Speakers
Joe Miele, Committee to Abolish Sport Hunting; Karen Davis, United Poultry Concerns; Morgan J. Dunbar, Animal Allies NY, Farm Kind

Workshops
• Desensitization & Indoctrination Within the Academic Industrial Complex: How Vivisectors are Made…and Broken
• Staffing Tables and Leafleting for Animal Rights
• Moving Beyond the Rhetoric of Apology and Speciesism
• “Varmint”/Small Game Hunting in the Southwest

Film Screenings
Vegucated

The Animal Rights National Conference is the premiere annual event for the U.S. animal rights movement. It is also the world’s largest and longest-running animal rights gathering, hailing back to 1981. By serving as a platform for training, skill-sharing, philisophical discussion, and networking, it provides the best annual forum to legitimize the animal rights movement as a social justice struggle. It is the only conference open to all points of view on achieving animal liberation.

AR2013′s four-day program will feature over 70 presenters from more than 60 organizations representing virtually all sectors of our movement.

These presenters appear in seven Plenary Sessions, which bring all attendees together, and 75 daytime workshops, which are configured along three concurrent tracks: Issues, Organizing, Remedies. On select days, the program also includes Rap Sessions, Campaign Reports, and Videos.

In each time slot, you choose the session that best fits your needs and interests:

The Issues track covers various types of animal abuses and the underlying issues (best for newcomers).
The Organizing track suggests improvements in personal and organizational effectiveness.
The Remedies track addresses campaign strategies and outreach to various constituencies.
Rap Sessions engage participants in debates about controversial issues.
Campaign Reports report on recent achievements in preventing various types of animal abuse.
Videos are shown on Friday and Saturday.
Networking Receptions, every evening, offer free snacks and a chance to meet fellow attendees.
The Awards Banquet, on Saturday evening, features award presentations and a keynote address. Exhibits, open between 10am – 6pm, showcase movement merchandise, educational materials, and delicious vegan treats.

Speakers too numerous to list. Click here for the presenters.

Vegetarian Summerfest is the 39th annual conference of the North American Vegetarian Society. It is set for July 3 – 7 at the Conference Center at Pitt-Johnstown, on the picturesque campus of the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, PA. The campus is a 650-acre mountaintop wildlife preserve with 40 acres of hiking trails.

The conference features experts in the fields of health, nutrition, animal rights, the environment, exercise and related lifestyle areas, plus talented chefs. Click here for the speakers list.

How do you build a No Kill community? How do you get animal control, the health department and other government agencies to embrace it? How do you include feral cats in your community’s lifesaving protection?

And what about those big black dogs, shy cats and other “compromised” animals with impediments to adoption – can good homes be found for them too?

Come to the conference that has been called “a prerequisite for rescue groups and organizations that are serious about changing their communities to No Kill.”

You’ll get practical answers to end the killing of pets in your community including finding homes for dogs, cats, rabbits and other animals most shelters currently consider unadoptable. Not in ten years, not in five years, but now – because Animals Deserve Our Protection Today!

Drawing over 800 people from 44 states and 10 nations, last year’s No Kill Conference was the sold out, must attend event of the year. And we’re doing it again!

In 2012, over one new community per week achieved a save rate of at least 90% and as high as 99%. The No Kill revolution is ON THE MARCH. Join us as we celebrate that achievement and teach you how to do the same.

The Karuna team has been very busy at work planning the first Long Island Animal Rights & VegFest. Within the event we will also be holding our second annual art show and auction. Many of you were involved in our art show and auction last year and your hard work and generosity allowed us to put together a beautiful and profoundly impactful event. We so hope you will each be involved again this year.

This year’s event is shaping up to be much larger, and will cover a very broad scope of topics, each pertaining to animal rights, veganism, compassion, loving-kindness, environmental issues and sustainability, and much more. The day will include live music performances, vegan cooking classes and demonstrations, expert guest speakers including Jenny Brown, co-founder of Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary, and Jennifer Greene, organizer of Vegan Long Island Meetup. As well kids and adult yoga classes, film screenings, including Peaceable Kingdom: The Journey Home and The Witness, both generously donated by the organization Tribe of Heart. As well as Dr. Will Tuttle’s new film, Conscious Eating: The Power of our Food Choices. In addition to our art show and auction, which will be going on throughout the day, there will be numerous exhibitors present, all of whom are dedicated to promoting animal rescue/welfare (adoptable animals will be present), promoting environmentally friendly products that are animal-free/vegan, promoting organic/vegan foods and sustainability, and promoting a holistic lifestyle.

So, suffice to say, we are very excited. And we need your help. We need our brilliantly talented artists and musicians to donate their work and time again. And we need volunteers to help us advertise as well as work the actual event. We need your good ideas and suggestions and input. We need you to exhibit your crafts, your artwork, your organizations, your stores, your books, your music, etc., etc. We need our community to come together for the community of all animals for which we seek liberation from pain and suffering.

For those of you who are local, we would like to schedule a meeting that will take place at Huntington Yoga & Wellness Studio in Huntington Village where we will discuss all the details and delegate lots of responsibilities. For our college student friends, please let us know when you will be back in town (for your winter break) so that we can try to accommodate your schedules and have you at the meeting. For those of you out of town but who still so generously donate and contribute, please be in touch by email confirming your involvement again this year. We are asking that all artwork and raffle contributions be to us by June 1st.

For those of you who have artist friends and family members, please pass this along to them. The more contributions of art, time, and talent we receive, the more sponsorships we get, the more exhibitors present, the more we stand to contribute to the animals in need. For those of you who are involved in organizations whose missions match our own, please put them in contact with us. It is time for the compassionate and passionate voices of activists on Long Island to join together and rise up in a peaceful song for the benefit of all living beings.

Thank you all for your time, for your hard work, for your care and compassion. Thank you for seeing and treating all others as you would yourself. Thank you for your courage to speak out against the injustices far too many living beings face each day. Thank you for recognizing the urgent need to do something, and most importantly, to do it with a smile; with compassion and love for all living beings no matter what form they may take. As always, we are humbled to work amongst you.

In peace and gratitude,
The Karuna Team

Life-Changing Summer Camp for Youth Making a Difference!

YEA Camp is a unique and inspiring leadership summer camp for youth 12-17 who care about community service, activism and social justice. A week-long sleep-away program in a beautiful camp location, YEA is designed to be a fun and transformative experience that builds life-long friendships between youth with similar interests. Our program also provides a meaningful opportunity for campers to learn more about some of the issues facing our planet and to get inspired and empowered to take action on those issues.

For more information, visit our website: www.yeacamp.org

When: July & August 2013, See website for session dates
Where: OR, CA and MA
Contact: info@yeacamp.org or 503-347-0223
Watch a two minute video about our program: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJ4T15gx_UU

This is an annual worldwide protest called Empty the Tanks. This is a day for everyone around the world to stand up against marine mammal captivity. The abuse and exploitation of these sentient beings has no place in the 21st century.

On a single day there will be protests held all over world in front of marine mammal parks and aquariums. If the park is exploiting marine mammals for entertainment and profit then we want people out front creating noise and awareness. The only way to close their doors for good is to get the general public to stop buying tickets. We need your voice, your posters, and your dedication to seeing an end to the captivity industry.

Please join us on July 27, 2013 at your local marine park or aquarium. Here is the list of protest locations so far. If you do not see your city or local marine park on the list please contact me about creating your own Empty the Tank protest.

SeaWorld San Diego – California, USA

SeaWorld San Antonio – Texas, USA

SeaWorld Orlando – Florida, USA

Marineland Canada – Ontario, Canada

Miami Seaquarium – Florida, USA

Georgia Aquarium – Georgia, USA

National Aquarium – Baltimore, USA

SeaWorld Australia – Gold Coast, Australia

Dolfinarium Harderwijk – Netherlands

Shedd Aquarium – Chicago, USA

** More locations to be added soon.

Please join us on July 27th and tell the captivity industry that enough is enough! It is time to Empty the Tanks!

We welcome all animal rights activists and all people who care about animals, the environment, and would like to learn more about animal rights in both theory and practice.

What is the Goal of the Conference?
The organizers of the conference are active in the animal rights movement in Luxembourg and other countries in Europe and have participated at various others conferences in Europe and the United States and also organized the international conferences in 2011 and 2012. The goal of the International Animal Rights Conference 2013 is to provide a truly international platform for people active in the animal rights movement and those interested in learning more about animal rights. The conference should function as a networking platform for animal rights activists, but should also present current animal rights views. One main aspect is also the practical animal rights work. Therefore we have decided to provide/organize the following:
• presentations
• workshops
• discussions
• panel discussions
• campaign reports
• stalls and exhibits
• animal rights concerts
• animal rights protests

Why Luxembourg?
We have been searching for a while for an appropriate location for the second international animal rights conference. Since we did not want to organize just another regional animal rights conference where mostly participants from close by areas would attend, we needed a truly international location which provides that basis for bringing animal rights advocates from various countries together. We believe that Luxembourg is such a location, since this small country in the heart of Europe does hot have a large animal rights community itself and since this multilingual region is very international by itself.

Click here for the Speakers List (which include Steve Best, Chris DeRose, Anthony Marr, Kim Stallwood, others).

Join Farm Sanctuary this fall for our annual Farm Animal Care Conference, which will be held on September 14 and 15 at our New York Shelter in Watkins Glen. This weekend workshop offers an in-depth look into what it takes to start and operate a farm animal sanctuary.

Our interactive seminars will provide participants with information about animal care, day-to-day operation of a nonprofit sanctuary, program administration, educational outreach, and fundraising, while also offering hands-on experience with the animal residents at our shelter. Members from our senior staff are excited to share insight from more than 25 years of experience as the nation’s leading farm animal protection organization. Farm Sanctuary is uniquely qualified to offer expert training to participants; all will leave with a greater understanding of what is needed to rescue and provide lifelong care for farm animals in a sanctuary setting.

The ticket cost for Farm Sanctuary’s Farm Animal Care Conference is $175 per person, and registration is open to adults 18 or older. The registration fee covers all workshop activities and materials and a vegan breakfast and lunch on both days. Accommodations during this conference will not be provided; however, participants are welcome to camp on sanctuary grounds.

Registration is limited to ensure each attendee gets the most out of this experience, so be sure to register today to reserve your spot!

About Chicago VeganMania

Vegan culture and community have grown rapidly in the last few years. Not long ago, most people had never heard the word vegan. Vegans – people who live compassionately by not eating or wearing animals or products that come from animals – were basically invisible. We did much of our shopping in tiny health food co-ops, and our dining in a few carefully selected restaurants.

Now there are dozens of products with the word vegan gracing the fronts of the packaging in most supermarkets, and vegan options abound in dining establishments all over the place. Celebrities describe how their vegan diets give them their sexy bodies or protect them from heart disease, and the small but burgeoning vegan culture is moving from the fringes to middle America.

Nowhere is this more apparent than in Chicago. Famous as the “hog butcher to the world”, Chicago boasts more than a dozen exclusively vegan restaurants (and dozens more vegan-friendly ones), several local vegan food companies, and a rapidly growing community of herbivores.

Chicago VeganMania is a celebration of this dynamic new community. We bring together the vegan restaurants and food companies, leaders and entrepreneurs, doctors and chefs, businesses and organizations, singers and dancers, and we put them in one big place to show them all off to the world.

You certainly don’t have to be vegan to attend or enjoy Chicago VeganMania. You don’t even have to understand or care why people would adopt a vegan lifestyle. We just want you to have fun. Chicago VeganMania is basically a big friendly party, a festival where you can eat wonderful food, enjoy great music and lively entertainment, and have an opportunity to discover unique vegan products and learn the secrets of vegan chefs. There are even places where you can learn about the whys and hows of veganism is you’re so inclined.

Our first three celebrations exceeded everyone’s expectations, and this fall we’ll be back, bigger than ever. So stop by and prepare yourself for an exciting and wonderful day.

Our Vision, Mission and Values

Vision
Our Vision is to help create a world based on compassion, peace, and respect for all living things, where people live in radiant good health and have the full capacity to be active participants in all matters of government and commerce as well as their own livelihood, a world where everyone has a sincere appreciation for the interconnectedness of the entire web of life.

Mission
The Mission of Chicago VeganMania is to celebrate, unite, promote, and strengthen the diverse vegan culture, economy, and community of Chicago and beyond. We provide a platform and audience for vegan businesses, organizations, groups, and individuals through a series of innovative programs and events culminating in an exciting, inspirational, and fun annual weekend festival.

Values
We eschew the killing, injuring, enslavement, or exploitation of all people and all sentient creatures. The core human values of justice, equality, peace, freedom, and goodwill are consistent with and paramount to these vegan values, and we believe that all aggression and exploitation, even if committed by those who purport to hold our own standards, is not to be excused or tolerated.

We value the enterprise of those who choose to expand the vegan culture, economy, and community by launching new businesses, products, services, ideas, groups, and other forms of expression, and we are committed to helping them all expand their voices, their audiences, and their markets by offering them the platform and tools to achieve their goals.

We acknowledge and value the larger community, and we recognize that each of us is on our own path. We attempt to treat everyone’s path with respect and welcome while adhering to our core values. We invite everyone into our events, including those whose values are contrary to our own. We present our culture, economy and community in the spirit of sharing, with goodwill toward all, and respect for each person’s decision to embrace our values or not. Our position is above judgment, cajoling, ridicule, and bitter argument.

Educating for a Just, Peaceful & Sustainable Future is a groundbreaking opportunity to discover your role in comprehensive humane education — and lead global change. If you are a teacher, educational administrator, changemaker, policymaker, humane educator and/or concerned citizen, please join us Saturday, Sept. 21, for an exciting and transformative day.

You will gain new skills to communicate and teach others about the most important issues of our time, meet and network with people in your field, explore the purpose of education, and witness extraordinary examples of relevant education for our time.

The conference features keynotes from Jane Goodall, Arun Gandhi, and Zoe Weil, hands-on humane education workshops and an International Day of Peace parade.

Presented by Humane Education Advocates Reaching Teachers (HEART), the Institute for Humane Education (IHE) and Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots, this conference features a dynamic program of speakers including Jane Goodall, DBE, UN Messenger of Peace and founder of the Jane Goodall Institute; Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and founder of the Gandhi Worldwide Education Institute; Zoe Weil, president of the Institute for Humane Education; and many other acclaimed speakers.

The conference also includes applied humane education workshops and a parade in honor of the U.N. International Day of Peace, when the United Nations calls upon all nations and people to cease hostilities for 24 hours and to offer education and public awareness about issues related to peacemaking. The theme for this year’s observance is “Education for Peace.” Our humane education conference will offer information, tools and motivation to people wishing to help build a peaceful world for all people and all species through education.

The conference will be hosted by New York University’s Animal Studies Initiative in the NYU Global Center for Academic and Spiritual Life. The conference welcomes educators, changemakers, students and concerned citizens from across the United States and abroad. Early general registration is $75 through Aug. 1, 2013, and $95 thereafter. Student registration is $25 through Aug. 1, 2013, and $35 thereafter. If the cost prevents a potential participant from registering, an adjusted rate may be considered on a sliding scale. Please use the Contact Us tab to submit a request.

VegFest celebrates and promotes sustainable, compassionate and healthy food choices and lifestyles. This low-cost, educational, and fun event welcomes everyone. VegFest connects organizations, businesses and educators with the local public and each other.

Bring your own bag to collect samples and info! Souvenir cloth bags will be available for $3 each.

VegFest features:
• Free samples of hundreds of different foods!
• Delicious main dishes, decadent desserts and chocolates, fresh organic produce, veggie burgers, non-dairy cheeses, milks and ice creams; fruit smoothies and juices, hummus, whole grain breads and gluten-free crackers, tofu spreads and dips, nut and seed butters, energy bars and on-the-go snacks, raw snacks and treats, and so much more!
• Speakers
• Cooking Demonstrations
• Ask the Experts
• Family and Teen Activities
• Restaurants
• Non-Profit Organizations
• Film Screenings

Portland VegFest will need 400+ volunteers to make it an even greater success than last year. Want to help out with VegFest 2013? Please email Chelsea Davis.