Driven to Tears

The Swedish Avenger strikes again!

Lorenzo, now going to stop eating all animals!

This Santa Monica College student was driven to tears;
is now going back to being veg!

Tara has been vegetarian since getting a VO booklet last year!

Lonnie is now going vegan!

Tiffany McWilliams

Catching Up on News

Ginny does her standard honest and thorough job on grains:
Grains in Vegan Diets: No, They Won’t Make You Fat or Sick
(See also her analysis on Potassium in Vegan Diets)

The more vegan options, the closer we are to a vegan world!
Chipotle's Sofritas Burrito, its new vegan option, is available starting March 3rd in New York City and Boston, and is rolling out nationally. (Also see Restaurant News' take)

Along those lines, remember: Alex on Animal Advocacy for All

And why would someone want to try this vegan option?
Drug-Resistant Bacteria on Chicken: It’s Everywhere and the Government Can’t Help

Spring Into Service!

Melissa MacDonald handed out
more than 2,600 VO booklets working
alongside Vic Sjodin last semester!

Thanks to The Pollination Project, you can get the “buzz” from service with Vegan Outreach this spring semester!

Would you like to try your hand at handing out Vegan Outreach booklets with an established Vegan Outreach leafleter? Our great friends at The Pollination Project have set up a new fund to reimburse up to $250 in expenses for individuals who are able to take 2–12 days to leaflet this semester!

Activists of all ages are welcome to apply!

For this pilot program, opportunities are limited to cities/areas where Vegan Outreach will have experienced leafleters. If you are interested and want to check eligibility, please contact us with your location and available date(s).

"Meat is an addiction," and more from Vic

Vic with Thomas, who said "meat is an addiction"
and was very grateful for the conversation and Guide.

Daisy and Medea both want to go veg now!

Super long conversation with Monica, very interested!

Dina Kourda at Downtown Disney.

Swedish Avenger, Pt. 2

Lauren now wants to go veg and get active for the animals!

Inez now wants to go veg!

Jeremy wanted more info on veg eating -- BAM! Guided!

Brendan got veg lunch, interested in going veg full-time!

After reading their booklets, had very positive discussion with Vic.

The Swedish Animal Avenger, Pt. 1

Vic's latest batch of pictures:

Everything is good ... now that Dwight is going vegan!

Monique now wants to go vegan, too!

UFC fighter Dominic now interested in going veg!

Stephen Litrov makes the animals' case.

Vic almost always sees loads of students entirely engrossed in the VO booklets.

Although not everyone is moved by the booklets.

Pics from Across the Country!

After talking with Steve Erlsten, Melinda is going
to use her Guide to cut out all animal products!

Kassy Ortega reports from George Washington U: Dave gave Deleana
a booklet, and she later came back to say she was now committed
to going vegetarian and eventually vegan!

Dan and his girlfriend now planning to go vegan
after talking with Christoper Guinn!

Rachel Shippee (above) and Haley Chaffey (below)
at Oklahoma State.

Cincdy told Kassy she stopped eating animals
since getting a VO booklet last semester.

Finally! Some Pictures from Vic.

Josh hasn't eaten animals since getting a
VO booklet three years ago.

Rodrigo took more booklets to distribute to others.

After reading, had a productive conversation with Vic.

Engrossed at USC.

A hunter who now wants to oppose factory farms
and eat more veg meals.

Even skateboarders are drawn to Vic!

Dislikes animals, hates factory farms more.

"Brendan thanked us for our work, said he was very moved by booklet,
getting veg lunch and very interested in veg eating and not harming innocent animals."
-Vic Sjodin

"Last week I ran into a lady who dislikes animals, but hates factory farms even more. I was handing out VO booklets at Devry College in Queens NY. Upon finishing up there I ran into a lovely lady named Dawn by Bramson Ort College. I offered her an "Even if you like meat.." booklet, and she quickly delved into it, while asking questions as she grimaced at the pictures inside. She asked for more booklets to pass on. She kept thanking me, saying the booklet helped deepen her resolve, and that she'd keep fighting the tortures of factory farming and now with the help of VO booklets.

"She admitted to having a dislike for animals, but Dawn was against the tortures of factory farms about as strongly as anyone I've ever met. I can only hope I'd be brave enough to make sacrifices for those I dislike no matter what, fight for what's right regardless of personal prejudices. The animals need everyone voice they can get; I doubt very much if they care if the people helping them from suffering like them or not.

"Please don't give up on future advocates because they don't think as you do, results are all that matter."
-GG

Blast from the Past, Forward to the Future!

Accompanying an order for booklets and The Animal Activist's Handbook:

“Thanks so much for everything. I was reminiscing about Vegan Outreach a bit this morning. I went vegan in '96 and ordered my first booklets from you not long after that, and continually while I was at Penn State. You were based in Pittsburgh then, and VO felt like a local group. At first, I didn't appreciated how unique your position is. But I do now!

“Your writing and approach has really, really influenced how I promote veganism. Often people tell me they are grateful for how I speak about veganism, and I have you to thank for this.

“It really is a ripple effect, and the progress over the last 10 years is proof of that. Again, thank you for all you do.”

Your Choice and the Health Argument

DD asks:
“I was a bit surprised when I saw that Your Choice uses the health argument. Have you changed your mind about this kind of argument?”


Thanks for writing.

There are two problems with “the health argument” as sometimes used by animal advocates.

The first is the possibility of people altering their diet by cutting down on red meat (given that society has the general message of being anti-red-meat, in terms of health), and replacing that with chickens and fishes. That is why the new booklet continually says “chicken, fish, and other meat,” and focuses so much on chickens.

The second is overpromising – making meat, eggs, and dairy, out to be “deadly poison,” and saying being vegan will have magical properties. The information in YC is basically the ADA position information we have in all our booklets (e.g., p. 13 of Compassionate Choices), with the emphasis on can – can have more energy, etc. It is followed up with “DOING IT RIGHT,” as opposed to just saying meat is poison and you'll be great just by going veg.

And it also ties in “minimize your support of animal suffering” right in the “A BETTER YOU” portion.

Thanks again!

For the animals,

-Matt Ball

Executive Director

Hot February Action

We had an hour to spare in Phoenix on Feb. 13, so we used it to leaflet the mob scene that is Arizona State. Even though the take rate was low, the sheer volume of students meant we reached nearly 450 students in 52 minutes!

I talked with cyclist now interested in going veg (above); Matt met a student with a "Free Hugs" sign who now wants to leaflet for VO (below); gave both Guides.

As it happened, there was an interfaith council event going on in the plaza by the union. After taking a few quick photos of Matt, I took advantage of this opportunity and spent time in conversation with the group leaders at the dozen or so tables, using Compassionate Choices to good effect. After all, faith-based groups are about compassion, too, and everyone I spoke with was interested in the booklets.

A fun, productive hour!

-Anne Green

Director of Development and Programs

Peace Prize

“I have seen firsthand how injustice gets overlooked when the victims are powerless or vulnerable, when they have no one to speak up for them and no means of representing themselves to a higher authority. Animals are in precisely that position. Unless we are mindful of their interests and speak out loudly on their behalf, abuse and cruelty go unchallenged.”
-Desmond Tutu

One Farmer's Story

Our pal Heather sends this story:

Happy Pigs Make Happy Meat

(A follow-up to:
The Importance of Our Evolution Beyond Killing for Food )

Be sure to read all the way to the end.

Where the Wind Comes Sweeping Down the Plain

Rachel Shippee's day in Central OK.

Danielle, at Oklahoma Central U, now really interested in going veg!
(Note the snow in the background.)

Jennifer Bodiker makes the animals case!