there's always one...

you’re at a work function, there’s catering, there’s a big spread for the carnists - then there’s the vegan not-so-varied spread the caterers threw together for those who don’t eat other earthlings… have you ever noticed there’s always some non-vegan who decides they will just tuck into the vegan fare without regard to the vegans missing out?

we had an in-service staff training day last week and it was the obligatory spread for the carnists – morning tea for them consisted of sweet muffins, pastries, scones (you get the picture) - and what did the caterers do for the vegans? a small plate of dry, crumbly, savoury muffins - at least lots of fruit is always provided for all!!!

knowing that would likely happen though i got up at 5.30am to make a dozen vegan muffins to make sure we had something yummy to eat (6 berry, 6 chocolate - and no, not pics of mine - who thinks to take photos that early in the morning while psyching yourself up for work?) - exactly enough for us vegans (and one colleague with all sorts of allergies and special dietary needs who often brings in vegan-friendly stuff he or his partner have made that i can share) - so that meant we had one each for morning tea and one each for afternoon tea…

but of course, there was a lot of cajoling by many - 'are you sure there's none to spare?'  or 'can't i just try a little bit' - did i already mention they had quite a bit of food? - that meant someone had to 'stand guard' over them until those they were made for – the vegans - actually got theirs – oh, did i mention i paid for everything to make them? i'm not begrudging that at all - so long as the vegans were benefitting - but it adds a bit more perspective to something that happened in the afternoon...

nearly everyone understood the refusal (although it can get really draining explaining yourself all the time!!) - many asked me for the recipe on sight alone though (because they looked delicious, and of course everyone knows someone who is either vegan or has some sort of animal-product intolerance) but i had a ‘stand off’ at afternoon tea time… yes, that one particular belligerent, selfish, greedy fucker who was determined he was going to have the last one regardless – i was equally determined he wasn’t and i certainly wasn't going to be intimidated by his belligerence… after a few attempts at 'civil explanation' with his response 'i don't care' and insistence that he was entitled because it was there, i got to the point where i started to sound like a broken record - ‘you’re not fucking vegan, you're not having it' to his 'i'm vegan for the moment if i say so' - a real spoilt selfish smart arse... i really had to contain my urge to pick up the container they were in and smash it across his face – another colleague had a go at him pointing out the obvious:  he was able to eat anything else there, the vegans couldn’t…

i was really pissed off (still am when i think about it!) - guess if you're totally self absorbed and believe in your own entitlement to everything, courtesy and respect for colleagues don't enter the picture... sometimes we've all just had enough, reached our tolerance threshold - i certainly had that day, i was well over pain-in-the-arse selfish uppity humans - especially ones i have to work with (but luckily not often!)...

this sort of shit happens all the time though - i’ve spoken to a number of vegans (and vegetarians) and all have had the same sort of experiences at functions – that’s when vegans even get catered for at all!!

while on 'catering' - whatever happened to the plain old garden variety salad, the type that went perfectly on a sandwich - you know, tomato, lettuce, onion, cucumber, beetroot, perhaps some coriander, maybe some vegan mayonnaise – when did sloppy marinated eggplant, capsicum, etc. become the 'gourmet' ingredients for a wrap that had to sit for who knows how long? don't get me wrong, i love these foodstuffs - as part of a vegan platter... as well as the wraps last week we got wholegrain sandwiches with something that looked like mashed steamed veg on spinach – now that really was a slop sandwich!! where do these so-called caterers get their 'inspiration' for vegan food from? there are so many recipe sites, vegan cook books, information in general so how can they make such crap?

methinks next time i’ll just take my own salad roll for lunch!!

as for being vegan, i long for the day the majority live a compassionate lifestyle and all catering is vegan (and edible!!)...

a good place to find out information on the vegan philosophy, lifestyle and food is at the world vegan day gatherings... and as november is world vegan month activities are happening worldwide, with melbourne's world vegan day celebration to be held on 11 november at princes park in carlton...

but before that celebration, there is soi dog australia's trade of shame demonstration against the brutal dog smuggling trade in asia at federation square on 3 november... perhaps i'll see you there...

"As long as people will shed the blood of innocent creatures there can be no peace, no liberty, no harmony between people. Slaughter and justice cannot dwell together." ... Isaac Bashevis Singer

world vegan day...

november is world vegan month, and to celebrate world vegan day melbourne's event was held yesterday, sunday 6th, in the beautiful building and grounds of the magnificent abbotsford convent... and i finally made it this year!!!!

i'd asked a close friend, brann, to come along too so we were up early to 'hit the road'... well, you don't so much 'hit the road' when you're a public transport user in melbourne on a sunday... it's a slow, slow wait... that's if the transport mode arrives at all!!! how many times we watched the screens at southern cross station to see the train line we needed just disappear off the list without any announcement - it was frustrating to say the least... we gave up on the train after a while and found a tram that would get us close to the venue - i'm a tram person, why didn't we do that to start with? hmmm, that's what i get for believing someone who thinks train travel is quicker - might be, but the trains have to arrive first!!!!

it was heartening to see such a turnout... and interesting to see the number and diversity of animal activist groups - although sad on another level that so many exist due to so much cruelty...

i located the cruelty free shop stall where i found the munchie bars i've been wanting to try for ages... i bought vegan versions of bounty, snickers and mars bars, and some hard-to-come-by vegan marshmallows - those i intend making some vegan rocky road with this week - yummmmm....

a bit more wandering around, reading pamphlets and a few more purchases later and it was time to head towards the speakers area... i really wanted to hear philip wollen speak... 

 

and just who is philip wollen i can hear you ask.... the short answer is he's a man who turned his back on the privileges and lifestyle he experienced as a very, very wealthy merchant banker... he's been described as a 'humanitarian philanthropist' - but that description doesn't tell you of his commitment to animal welfare, of his activism, of his commitment to the earth... it doesn't tell you that at age 40 he decided a vegan lifestyle was the only compassionate way to live... this interview gives a wee insight into who he is and what he believes... 

he is a recipient of...

• the medal of the order of australia ""For service to international humanitarian relief and to animal welfare, particularly through the establishment of the Winsome Constance Kindness Trust”, 

• the australian humanitarian award - "The Australian Humanitarian Award  dismantles the narrow belief that humanitarianism is the exclusive domain of health care professionals,volunteers, carers and charities. The Australian Altruism Foundation sees humanitarianism as an inspiring and uniting value that we can all adopt and display in our every contact with other living beings."

• australian of the year victoria 2007 ... the following excerpt comes from the national australia day council... "Philip Wollen OAM, Philanthropic humanitarian. Through his kindness and generosity, Philip Wollen brings crucial help to many charitable causes and inspires others to share his humanitarian values and ideals. His achievements in the business world mark him as a man of action and he channels this energy into practical outcomes for the causes he champions through the Winsome Constance Kindness Trust. Philip promotes kindness towards all other living beings and strives to enshrine this as a recognisable trait in the Australian character and culture. The measure of his support can be seen in the extraordinary list of organisations the Winsome Constance Kindness Trust supports, benefiting children, animals, the ill, the environment and aspiring youth. Essentially a private man, he seeks no personal publicity but is not afraid to step into the limelight for a just cause..."

he is without a doubt one of the most fascinating, passionate, articulate people i have ever had the pleasure of listening to - a believer in the universal rights of other species, he made one statement yesterday which expressed a belief i've long held - "animal rights is the greatest moral issue facing humanity today"...

it was good to come away feeling less isolated and alone in my beliefs, that they had been validated, that there were others who thought like me, that my frustration and anger at humankind is shared - and justifiable... it was encouraging when brann said he'd go home and finally watch 'earthlings'-- i've been trying to encourage him (and others) to watch this for ages, but after listening to philip wollen he was possibly a little inspired by his very persuasive arguments...

i came across this article this morning while reading a bit more about the man - and his has definitely been an interesting journey and makes fascinating reading... "radical kindness: the banker who gave it all away" by katherine kizilos... you might also like to check out the winsome constance kindness trust - named for his mother and grandmother, it's an initiative founded by him, and actively supported by his life partner and political ally trix...