So, we've finalised most of the details for our first Vegetarian/Vegan challenge!
We'll be promoting the challenge at the school on Wednesday, by the West Gate entrance to the main building, right by the Wyckham House connector! The challenge will officially begin on Monday, May 2nd (after paper and exams), with a kick off b-b-q/potluck/party on Friday, April 29th.
We will be encouraging students, family, friends and strangers to pledge to go Vegetarian or Vegan for two weeks, hopefully helping omnivores examine their consumption choices from a safe distance.
Vegetarianism and Veganism are often misunderstood, and we hope that participants will come to see the rich variety, taste, and healthiness of a Veg*n diet, instead of viewing it as inconvenient or restrictive. It is our belief that it is often difficult to see the forest from the trees, and similarly to how one shouldn't argue with an omnivore while they're chewing on steak, we hope some of the participants will find and nurture some insights on the arbitrarity of a Meat-centred diet as they experience more compassionate, healthier, and less environmentally destructive alternatives!
...And, if I may, if you're unsure about the ethics of eating flesh cut from animals raised in abhorrent conditions, and killed in a state of terror (usually before the skin/feathers is/are removed from them) simply for your own dining pleasure, why would you continue your complicity while you make up your mind? In this case, it seems more reasonable to err on the side of caution--if indeed you decide Veg*nism is erroneous.
Over the course of the challenge, SAFA will provide recipes, nutritional information, sample meal plans, ideas for eating out, and, of course, food for thought. I hope that the frankness of some of our literature (this post included) will not scare you away, we are not judging or looking down on people, it's ideologies we strive to challenge. The vast majority of Veg*ns were once omnivores: we know the invisible trappings of the hegemonies of Meat consumption!
You are stronger than all the cheeseburgers, pork-chops and chicken nuggets in the world! You can do it!
To sign up, email your pledge (nothing fancy) to safmru@gmail.com, "attend" our Facebook event (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=206332676053250 or search for "SAFA presents: Vegetarian/Vegan Challenge"), or talk to one of our members! We will make sure you get our support!
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