APRIL 1, Volume 13 Number 1

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1 APRIL 1, 2004 WORKING TO END CRUELTY TO ANIMALS Volume 13 Number 1 PO Box 38492, Pittsburgh, PA veganoutreach.org vegan@veganoutreach.org UPDATE: Adopt a College Program In our previous newsletter, we mentioned our Adopt a College (AAC) program the first systematic national program to bring the veg message directly to students, our most vital audience. Since then, more than 190 colleges have been adopted, and over 40,000 copies of WHY VEGAN? and TRY VEGETARIAN! have been distributed. In just a few months, this program has led to hundreds of new vegetarians and, theoretically, well over a million animals spared a life of horrible suffering! BY JACK NORRIS, RD, PROGRAM DIRECTOR Please remember: The AAC program is not just for students! In fact, most of our best leafleters are nonstudents. People often wonder what they can do to help animals. One of the main things you can do is to arrange your work schedule in a way that will allow you some time off during a weekday to leaflet at colleges. Taking short road trips to colleges within a few hundred mile radius of where you live is another desperately needed activity. One person, using one day a week, can make a tremendous difference. There are over 2,500 colleges in the United States and Canada, most of which have no animal rights advocacy on campus. We need to be there to spread the word! Please adopt a college near you and/or donate toward supplying booklets for the campaign. With your help, we can continue to expand the AAC program and reach hundreds of thousands of students in 2004! Jack Norris gives a Try Vegetarian! brochure to a very enthusiastic student at Sacramento State University. AAC Prizes! The top 12 leafleters between January 1 and June 30 will receive special prizes! The 1st prize is a $50 gift certificate to your choice of the following: VeganStore.com (Pangea) TheVegetarianSite.com VeganCats.com VeganEssentials.com Gift certificates for $40, $30, and $20 will be awarded to the 2nd through 12th place finishers. Thanks to the companies above for donating prizes, and best of luck to all AAC leafleters! For more on the AAC program, visit veganhealth.org/colleges and read Why Adopt a College? on page 2 Photos: Farm Sanctuary (pig, turkeys, calf ); Image*After (lamb) Leafleting Leaders for the Fall 2003 Semester AREA(S) SCHOOLS FLYERS Josh Balk with Kaya Hansen DC/MD 8 5,104 Gabe Quash with Jennifer Austin, Julie Ahern, Dawn, & Veronica CA 7 4,450 Joe Espinosa with Marsha Forsman IL 10 4,146 Jon Camp with Danielle Marino & Kaya Hansen IL/MD 7 2,396 Eugene Khutoryansky FL 2 1,350 Julie Eyrich MN Jack Norris & Lauren Ornelas CA 6 792

2 WHY ADOPT A COLLEGE? by Jon Camp T his fall and winter, as part of Vegan Outreach s Adopt a College campaign, I along with others have been tramping onto local college campuses giving out WHY VEGAN? brochures. The basic reasoning behind the Adopt a College campaign is this: The number of animals factory farmed and slaughtered each year increases substantially while the amount of time and financial resources available to vegan advocacy remains limited. In order to bring about as much reduction in animal suffering as possible, it makes sense to gear our campaigns towards those who are likely to listen. Young people are generally more receptive to information on vegetarianism than are adults. Therefore it seems reasonable that we spend our time, financial resources, While leafleting, a Northwestern University student came up to me and let me know that she has been vegan since receiving a Why Vegan? a year ago. JC, CHICAGO, IL, 1/8/04 I only leafleted one time last semester at Cal State Hayward, but a guy came up to me today and told me that he went vegetarian after receiving a Why Vegan? from me last semester; Adopt a College is definitely having an impact! GQ, SAN FRANCISCO, CA, 2/9/04 I just wanted to give you an update on Vegan Outreach activities at Hunter College. On Monday, November 24, we hosted a vegan Thanksgiving lunch, selling plates of yummy food outside the cafeteria for competitive $1 (small) and $2 (large) prices. We also screened Meet Your Meat and distributed approximately 200 copies of Why Vegan? to a spellbound and shocked audience. (We would have given out more if we had them.) A friend reports that people were talking about the sixhour event even days later. Interested students picked up more literature, such as Vegan Starter Packs, at our information table. We also leafleted with Why Vegan? for an hour, three times in Times Square, Union Square, and Herald Square distributing a total of about 300 leaflets and maybe 10 Vegan Starter Packs. OL, NEW YORK, NY, 12/8/03 I received a Why Vegan? at the Eastern Kentucky University campus. It has really opened my eyes. LC, ZACHARIAH, KY, 11/5/03 and energy preaching to the potentially convertible namely students. The amount of preparation needed for leafleting is definitely minimal; just throw however many leaflets you wish to give out in your backpack and head towards an area dense with foot traffic. Busy intersections and entrances to student dining halls have proven to be successful locations for me. In just one hour, you can give out a few hundred brochures, giving many students perhaps their only glimpse into the dismal existence of today s farmed animal. Many individuals who leaflet on a regular basis witness firsthand the positive effects of such. A couple of weeks back at Columbia College in Chicago, a young woman came out of the dining hall to let me know that after reading her WHY VEGAN? brochure she couldn t order the chicken salad that she went in to purchase. While I was restocking literature at a local record store last week, a young man behind the counter told me that he went vegan after reading the brochure. These are just a few of the success stories that I and other leafleters have had. If there are any leafleting suggestions that I think should be emphasized, they are to dress conservatively and to smile. When we dress similarly to the individuals we are leafleting to, we send a message that we are like them. When smiling, I have found that many smile back and take a brochure. This might be their first encounter with a vegan, and perhaps unconsciously they will equate friendliness with veganism. Lastly, don t waste energy with those who wish to debate. Leafleting deals with statistics; so if you give X amount of brochures out, there will be some who are not receptive, but there will be those who are. Accept that some will disagree and spend your energy towards the potentially convertible. So, enough talk. The plight of today s farmed animal is extreme and must be met with a sense of urgency on our part. If at the very most, we all went out once a month and leafleted for an hour or two at a local campus, there would be a great many animals spared a life of suffering. Imagine if we did this once a week! Each person we get on the path to vegetarianism probably galvanizes another to do the same, and so on, and so on. When we are on our deathbed, it would be nice if we could say that because of our existence, there is less suffering in the world. Adopt a College gives us the means to make that statement an honest one. The number of animals factory farmed and slaughtered each year increases substantially while the amount of time and financial resources available to vegan advocacy remains limited. 2 Photos: Farm Sanctuary (pigs); Compassionate Action for Animals (hens); USDA (cows)

3 Distribution Update In addition to many Vegan Starter Pack and Vegan Advocacy booklets, since our last issue, multiple copies of Why Vegan? and Try Vegetarian! have been requested from these locations: ALABAMA Birmingham Montgomery Phenix City ARIZONA Cottonwood Phoenix Tempe Tucson Yuma ARKANSAS Harrison CALIFORNIA Azusa Bakersfield Brea Cameron Park Chico Concord Davis Diamond Springs El Cajon El Cerrito Encinitas Fairfax Fontana Fountain Valley Fremont Hollywood Irvine La Jolla Malibu Martinez Montara Mountain View Nevada City Newbury Park Newport Beach Newport Coast Northridge North San Juan Novato Oakland Palm Desert Palo Alto Pleasant Hill Pleasanton Pomona Rancho Cordova Red Bluff Redding Redlands Riverside Rohnert Park Running Springs Sacramento San Diego San Francisco San Luis Obispo San Rafael Santa Ana Santa Cruz Santa Monica Sebastopol South San Francisco South San Gabriel Stanford Torrance Ukiah Valencia Walnut Creek Windsor COLORADO Aurora Avon Boulder Broomfield Colorado Springs Deer Trail Denver Fort Collins Frisco Grand Junction CONNECTICUT Coventry Storrs DELAWARE Newark Wilmington DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA FLORIDA Coral Gables Fort Myers Geneva Jacksonville Jupiter Key West Lake Worth Miami Miami Springs Naples North Miami Beach Orlando Pensacola Sarasota Tallahassee Tamarac Tampa GEORGIA Athens Atlanta Decatur Kennesaw SFU-SETA hosts a vegan BBQ feed-in on campus. Marietta Riverdale Senoia HAWAII Honolulu IDAHO Boise ILLINOIS Champaign Chicago Country Club Hills Edwardsville Flossmoor Northbrook Palatine Park Forest Pekin Richton Park INDIANA Bloomington Indianapolis IOWA West Des Moines KANSAS Lawrence Olathe KENTUCKY Lexington LOUISIANA Baton Rouge Bogalusa New Orleans MAINE Dover Old Orchard Beach MARYLAND Baltimore Bethesda Catonsville Easton Rockville Stevensville Takoma Park MASSACHUSETTS Amherst Barre Belchertown Boston Cambridge Dracut Foxboro Jamaica Plain New Ashland Newton Northampton Sandwich Somerville Woods Hole MICHIGAN Ann Arbor Battle Creek Bloomfield Township Detroit Grand Haven Grand Rapids Oak Park Redford Rochester Hills Roseville Royal Oak Swartz Creek Troy MINNESOTA North Mankato MISSISSIPPI Vicksburg MISSOURI Branson Hillsboro Reed Springs St. Ann St. Louis MONTANA Missoula NEVADA Las Vegas Reno Sparks NEW HAMPSHIRE Northwood SFU-SETA shows Meet Your Meat Salem NEW JERSEY Butler Cedar Grove Cranford Glen Rock Lambertville Pennington Pine Brook Princeton Junction Rutherford Sayreville Sparta Toms River Trenton Wayside Wharton NEW MEXICO Albuquerque NEW YORK Albany Batavia Bronx Brooklyn Brooktondale Croton-on-Hudson Dover Plains East Meadow Greenlawn Hamburg Hartsdale Hempstead Ithaca Massapequa New York Pittsford Poughkeepsie Rockaway Romulus Saratoga Springs Webster Yonkers NORTH CAROLINA Andrews Asheville Burlington Chapel Hill Charlotte Morgantown Raleigh Wilmington OHIO Canton Cincinnati and provides literature to students at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, BC. Cleveland Columbus Eastlake Kent Maple Heights New Albany Oakwood Village Olmsted Falls Sandusky Shaker Heights Toledo Yellow Springs OKLAHOMA Edmond Tulsa OREGON Boring Corvalis Eugene Portland PENNSYLVANIA Chester Heights Clarion Easton Emmaus Erie Harrisburg Indiana Mechanicsburg Philadelphia Pittsburgh State College Sunbury Wattsburg Wayne Wyncote RHODE ISLAND Johnston Providence SOUTH CAROLINA Westminster TENNESSEE Bluff City Crossville Knoxville Murfreesboro Nashville Philadelphia TEXAS Bryan Fort Worth Georgetown Grand Prairie Katy 3 Port Neches UTAH Kanab Salt Lake City VERMONT Burlington Jericho Waltham VIRGINIA Alexandria Charlottesville Eagle Rock Fredericksburg Lexington Salem Warrenton WASHINGTON Bellingham Ferndale Port Townsend Redmond Seattle Stevenson Tenino Washougal Woodland WEST VIRGINIA Moundsville Proctor WISCONSIN Green Bay Madison Milwaukee Shorewood South Milwaukee Stetsonville PUERTO RICO San Juan ALBERTA St. Albert BRITISH COLUMBIA Creston Nanaimo Vancouver Victoria MANITOBA Winnipeg NOVA SCOTIA Halifax ONTARIO Deep River Hamilton London McGregor Niagara-on-the-Lake Orangeville Thunder Bay QUÉBEC Montréal AUSTRALIA COSTA RICA DENMARK GERMANY PAKISTAN SINGAPORE URUGUAY ARMY POST OFFICE AP FLEET POST OFFICE AP The Por Qué Vegano? booklets you sent us for Meatout last year were an invaluable tool during our event, where around one thousand people showed up, some staying all day. Please send more for this year! MB, PUERTO RICO, 2/12/04 I ve been eating vegetarian (almost vegan) for five months now and feel good about it. About five weeks ago I flew to Germany with Lufthansa. I was starving on the plane but forgot to preorder vegetarian. Well, I was in for a big surprise! The stewardess came around and asked, Would you like beef or vegetarian? WOW, a great step forward!! A year ago it would have been, chicken or beef. I made an effort to thank the stewardess and told her what a great idea it is to serve vegetarian! I see small baby step changes made every day! KW, 2/11/04 This is my first time ordering from my new address in the States (I m no longer at Camp Zama, Japan). I m still nervous about leafleting here, but I left about 50 each of Why Vegan? and Vegetarian Living at the library last month now only eight Why Vegan?s are left! I left about 350 Why Vegan?s and Vegetarian Livings at the base library in Japan, and the librarian agreed to keep refilling the brochure holders. I had such an excellent time leafleting and talking to people at the base in the past year. EC, VICKSBURG, MS, 1/26/04 I just wanted to let you know how much good your organization is doing. I was at a concert at one of our local underground venues here in Salt Lake City, and the video Meet Your Meat was being shown, pamphlets were being passed out, and discussions were being had. I d never seen any of the videos, I had just seen the pamphlets, but that video pushed me over the edge. It made me decide that when I say I m a vegetarian, I m going to mean it. It made me realize how much I was hurting animals. JR, 12/22/03 [Pictured above is] one of the twice weekly servings of free vegan food by Sacramento Food Not Bombs. At each meal, we always have literature available for the taking, including Why Vegan? and Por Qué Vegano? Through the sharing of our vegan meals, we introduce lots of people to new foods (as well as new ideas), such as TVP and tofu. As a side note, we offer our free meals appropriately enough at Cesar Chavez Park. DD, SACRAMENTO, CA, 12/4/03

4 When I first became a medical doctor, it was rare to encounter another vegan. Now, it is definitely more common. Last week I was mentoring a medical student, and while we were in the exam room with a patient, we discovered all three of us were vegan! Wow! PW, OLYMPIA, WA, 12/1/03 ThankYou! I just got back from leafleting and I was sorry that I only took about 150 Why Vegan?s! What an awesome experience! It only took about 40 minutes to hand them out. I basically held the brochure up and said, Would you like one? The response was excellent. I am going to try to go once a week. LB, MIAMI SPRINGS, FL, 1/14/04 I just wanted to say thanks. I got a handout at an Ani concert that really changed my outlook on animal cruelty. I have been a vegetarian for some time now, but you helped me make the right decision to become vegan and to tell others about the inhumanities done to animals. AL, 2/3/04 Danielle Marino of Protecting Animals, USA distributes close to a thousand Why Vegan?s at an Ani DiFranco concert in January. BENEFACTORS Nicholas Altmann Jeff Bellows Cecil Chesser Christopher Christensen SUSTAINERS Robert Anderson James Austin Robert Bair Carol Barnett David Barnett Syd Baumel Jean Bettanny Rachel Bjork Ron Bohr Sandra Boss Kristina Bradsher Patti Breitman Diane Brooks Heather Buchman Jon Camp Alka Chandna Raju Chelluri Colleen Chiang Rhoda Christopher Jeffrey Colton Courtney Harry DeAngelo A. Dolson Mark Foy & Eric Roberts Pete Gardiner Susan Hammersley Chris Delevoryas Don Dorst Adam Durand Joe Espinosa Mike Everson Ryan Fasani Perdita Fisher Marsha Forsman Joyce Friedman Patricia Friedman Bruce Friedrich Marla Friedrich Lynn Gale Cathy Goeggel Guy Grayson Eric Griffith Marcia Grodin in memory of Glenn Sharon Hall Paul Hammes Nancy Harrison Audrey Haschemeyer Tai Jin JodysJungle.com Justice for Animals Fund NALITH Daniel Haskins Joseph Hayes Madeline Hull Kristina Hulvershorn Carol Hutson Stanley Jones-Umberger Srikanth Karighattam Larissa Keet Camilla Kendall Eugene Khutoryansky Kierstin Kindred Don Knutson Susan Larsen Tammy Lee Holly Lewis Thomas Lewis Andrew Lillie Marco Lorenzi Nancy Mathews Yvette McDonald Celestino Medina Brian Medoro Roy Savarick TheVegetarianSite.com David Sudarsky Victor Tsou Virginia Messina Pat Miles Christine Morrissey Carole Morton Ana Negrón John Nelson Frank Nisbet Nathan Nobis Todd Norris Jules Oaklander Eugene Patrick Susan Petrie Lynn Post Susan Prolman Marsha Rakestraw Ellen Ravodic Jonathan Ross Christian Roth Mark Sabel Ernest Samudio Olivia Sanchez Sharkey Sanchez Muriel A. Van Housen Jerry Vlasak Howard Schultz Robert Schwalb Parthiv Shah Lisa Shapiro Lucy Shelton Rich Shumberger Billie Signer Pam Standfest Suzanne Sutton Annette Swartz Ray Thompson Monte & Amy Toren Deborah Uhlman Kristine Vandenberg Michelle Vazquez Vegan Essentials Greg Waldron Pamela Wible Ana Zale Elisabeth Zall Sandy Zeldes SUPPORTERS I just wanted to let everyone at Vegan Outreach know that the recent negative feelings at the mention of the Christian Vegetarian Association s new booklet, Honoring God s Creation, absolutely does not affect my respect for your association whatsoever. In fact, as an atheist myself, I find those reactions counterproductive in the struggle for religious tolerance and freedom that every American, regardless of faith, should be concerned with. The vegan message ABSOLUTELY MUST be applicable to all religious identifications for any substantial progress to be made, considering most highly religious people use their faith as the basis for many decisions in their life. Jack s response in the last [Vegan Spam!] newsletter was very eloquently stated and only furthered my supreme respect for your organization. If only all people recognized the importance of unmitigated inclusion in spreading the vision of a peaceful, harmonious, and sustainable world. KS, 2/11/04 Publications, such as those put out by the Christian Vegetarian Association, have been immensely helpful to me. I also read publications written about these issues, which are aimed at Muslims and Jews. Most people have some religious beliefs in their life and many struggle with questions surrounding the consistency of those beliefs. MC, 2/11/04 John Abdella Eileen Adamec Windy Adlon Susan Ahrens Ian Albert Bill Allen Pat Aller Michele Alley-Grubb Cari Amici Vasilios Anastasopoulos Chris Anderlik Jessica Anderson Chris Angioletti Alexandra Arbogast Chris Armstrong Lisa Asher Nicolas Atwood Jared Avigliano Norm Bader Cheri Baker Kipley Ballairs Liora Barak Margaret Barnes Logan Barrett Regina Bauer Catherine Baxter Karen Beckner Alexander Belenky Jean Belton Amy Benninger Justin Berkheimer Jennifer Berntsen Florence Berreville Ann Berwald David Blessing Melissa Bohli Laura Bonilla Anna Bourne Reed Bowers Douglas Boyd Jody Boyman Jim Bradley Robert Braun Cara Brewer Dedra Britt Alana Brooks Emily Brown Joanne Bugai Kathryn Bulver Margaret Burgess Kay Bushnell Ken Butland Clint Butler Jeannine Caine Leigh Caldwell Sara Campbell Kelly Capriotti Leslie Carey Judy Carman Jennifer Carpenter Rosalie Carpenter Brenda Carroll Kathy Causer Jan Cejka Sean Chappe Fiona Cheek Mary Chipman Lynn Chorn B. Chudilowsky Brooke Cilea Lauren Clair Holly Clark James Clark Marion Cleeton Kathy Clobridge Charlie Clouse Ronnie Colby Kit Collins Kat Corbett Rosetta Cozart Don Cross Dan Cudahy Angie Darbyson Jan Davenport Stewart David Joanne Davis Tracey Demartini David DeSomer David Devine Robert Dezendorf Judith Dillon Marjorie DiMeo Shawn Donnille Beth Donovan Nancy Draper Breanne Dumouchelle Roger Eastman Andrea Ellinger Rory Ember Karyn Erickson Robert Euler Eric Evert JoAnn Farb Eva Filipiak Carla Filippi Alissa Finley Laura Fischer Peter Fisher Richard Fisher Mike Fitzgerald Kim Flournoy Michael Flyte Eric Ford Erin Fox Larry Frankel Matt Franklin Shelley French Leonard Frenkel Amie Fries Alicia Fukunaga Andrea Fullerton Sarah Fullerton Laura Gardner Priscilla Gargalis Eric Gastfriend Barbara Gates Muriel Geach Sheri Giardini Mary Gilbert Charlotte Gilruth Jen Girgen Philip Glaser Matt Gordan Carmel Granger Ray Greek Richard Gross Chris Grundy Pierre Grzybowski Susan Gudaitis Tamara Hall Colin Hallahan Jason Harding Photos: Farm Sanctuary 4

5 Photo: Image*After Stephanie Hargrove Sandy Harmon Bobbie Harms Helen Harrah Marilyn Hartman Robin Hartmann Paris Harvey Jessica Hawkins Suzanne Haws Henry Hecker Stephanie Hegle Roger Henggeler Ellen Henry Vivienne Hewlett Todd Hilson Christopher Hirschler Chase Hobbs-Morgan Kenny Hodges Kevin Hoffman Daniel Holbert Jordan Holt Mary Hope Amber Horn Nancy Horowitz Sandy Hrabowy Robert Hubbard Holly Hudgins Leah Humes Priscilla Hung Donovan Inch Kathy Ingallinera Keith Jackson George Jacobs Joyce Janicki Charles Jarowski Tom Jenkins Jennifer Joers Jennifer Johnson Kate Johnson Sylvester Johnson Judy Jones Mark Julin Julia Kadish Larry & Jeanne Kaiser Jolie Kakar Kali Ray TriYoga Barbara Kalina Krysia Kaminski Caroline Kane Laura Karel Mahmoud Kassraian Susan Kazenel Maya Kearn Kristine Keefer Mary & Matt Kelly Karen Kenney Margaret Kent David Kestin Lisa Kilborn Zoe Kilduff Lydia Kindheart Lori King Robert Kirkland Elana Kirshenbaum Joshua Kol Ron Korajczyk Lori Korell Margaret Koren Kathryn Kovach Lenore Krasner Kelly Krause Jared Kubly Linda Kwallek Robin Lake Joe Lamoureux Olivia Lane Rachel Lang Mareike Larsen Linda Leas Mary & Steve Lehti Heather Leughmyer Andrew Liberante Lynne Lieberman Robert Lin Janis Lindenberger Michael Shane Little Phil Lobato Mark Lowder Tina Magrabi Michele Makrucki Kyle Mamounis Steffan Manno Karen Marcus Anne Martin Amy Mathews Meghann Matwichuk Mary Max Armaiti May Colleen Maynard Linda McDaniel Marilyn McKinley Colin McMahon Karen Meldrum Satoko Mellinger Michelle Mersy-Frank Duncan Meyers Linda Middlesworth Lindsey Mikash Ruth Milchenko Terra Miskovich Emily Modis Carol Moon Diana Moreton Ava Morgenstern Ginger Mudry Christina Murphy Scott Murray Jean Myers NCSU SPARC Owen Baker Joshua D. Neal Sara Neff Gilian Neiditch Carol Nelson Chris Nelson Miranda Nesler Clifford L. Nestell Vernon Roy Nofziger Jack & Sylvia Norris Elissa North Emily Norton David Nuranen Cailin O Connor Kristen Lee Ohanyan Laura Orban Ann Pallo David Paluch Ava Park Steve Pate Colleen Patrick-Goudreau Linda Paul Edward Payne Brian Pearsall Marcia Pearson David Pfeiffer Gail Philbin Linda Phillips Lula Phillips Becky Pier John Pierre Pamela Pisano Michael Pitkowsky Jim Plezia Wendy Pollack Debra Probert Alice Pueschner Sheher Pundole Eric Purdy Peggy Radcliffe Steve Radtke Adam Ramos Donna Ramsey Cathy Rash Susan Rattenbury Cheryl Rau Naema Ray Helen Rayshick Justin Remais James Requa Ramona Retting Janet Rhodes Jim Rhodes Veronica Ries Cathy Rives Michelle, David, & Brian Roach Josh Roberts William Roberts Mark Robinson Sonia Robinson Marsha Rosenblum Joshua Rosenthal Andree-Marie Ross Ian Ross David Rosskam David Roth Julie Rothman Emily Royer Brian Rumburg Monna Rush Eduardo Salazar M. Liane Salgado Frank Salonia Justin Samuel Heini Samuelsen Michele Sanchez Gino Santilli William Sawtelle Jack Sawyer Karen Schaller Hillary Scheel Ron Scheinberg Jackie Schmidt Peter Schnell Anna Schoen William Schramm Laureen Schrauger Barbara Schugt Kate Schumann Tosh Schurz Ellen Selm Jane Shakman Paul Shapiro Suzanne Shealy Annie Sherman Venessa Sherman Nancy Shinn Sheng Shiou Kathleen Shopa Lisa Siegfried Larry Siegler Mandella Silverio Theodore Simmen Rohit Singh Susan Sivananada Alice Smith Darryl Smith Judy Smith Paul Smith & Jill Campbell Anita Soldar Hana Solvarova J. Sorrentino Lauren Spees Frank Spence Angela Spencer Jeffrey Spring Alicia Stafford Barbara Stagno Brandon Steets Todd Steinlage Maria Stellato Harold Stroman Chuck Swanson Denise Swanson Denise Szczucki Kelley Taft Carolyn Tampe Larry Temin Marjorie Terrell Jean Thalar Janie Thomas John Thornberg Krista Toriello Walter Trepashko Tina Triggian Beulah Trist Kevin V. Sherry Vanstone Cynthia Veneri Darlene Vermeulen John Vias Dorothea Villarreal Amy Vitro Nancy Voitko Daria Vyaersi Heather Waddell Laura Wakeman Jennifer Walk Lauren A. Walter Darren Walters Brad Walworth Rachel Wechsler David Wehrle Mike Weinberg Wendy Welsh Bonnie West Nicolle White Jessica Whitney Ellen Wickramaratne Bergen Williams Ann Wilson Lish Witt Caroline Wood Michael Worsham Mariam Yaqub Lynee Zajac Paul Zickert Jill Ziegler Laura Zitzer Mary Zoeter As we know, people are searching for alternatives to the actual system of values, but sometimes they don t have the time to search in the specific or designated places, because of their daily life routines or because they just feel alone in the struggle. It is important to break the silence and talk to strangers. We need to incorporate our feelings and desires in our daily lives, to share ideas and space, learn from each other, and take advantage of our surroundings and their possibilities. So I decided to transform Toda Via [shown above] a little skateboard shop at Old San Juan, where I work sometimes into an information center of veganism. The people won t expect that there! Some people seem shocked and impressed, others grateful and interested, looking forward for more. Every little thing helps. Be creative and don t be afraid of drawing outside the lines. ST, TRUJILLO ALTO, PUERTO RICO, 2/11/04 To everyone at Vegan Outreach supporting the leafleting program, I just wanted to thank you for sending me the 300 Why Vegan? leaflets. I recently have been active in getting them out, passing out 60 + at a local craft fair, leaving them in restaurants and stores around town, and bringing an armful of them to any community event I go to. They are wonderful tools to educate the community. LK, VERGENNES UNION HIGH SCHOOL, VT, 12/19/03 I d first like to thank you very much for this incredibly informative web site. It supported me when I became the only vegan I knew, as a sophomore in high school. The FAQ link left me feeling well prepared to answer anything others might ask me. CR, PHILADELPHIA, PA, 1/18/04 I accidentally stumbled upon your web site while reading an essay about the LDS Word of Wisdom, which promotes a plant-based diet. I NEVER imagined that the animals were being treated so horribly. I feel ashamed for ever eating meat. NI, WASILLA, AK, 12/30/03 5

6 I have been ordering booklets from you for the past two years and they have helped me in teaching others to become vegan Thank you for all your work, I believe it s really making a difference! SH, NORTH MANKATO, MN, 11/16/03 Vegan Outreach has become the most important web site and information source that I have ever turned to. My love and pity for farmed animals all over the world has become the center of my life and focus. Our family s vegan diet and health is rich and blessed beyond belief! If everyone could live like this, what a difference we would make. There would finally be peace among mankind. That is where peace starts with the beautiful animals that share our earth. LD, 1/25/04 I just want to express my gratitude for everything that you are doing here. Through positive examples set by close friends, and receiving a copy of the Why Vegan? leaflet, I decided to become vegan. For six months now, the information and support that you have on your web site has since strengthened my resolve and commitment. DK, SALT LAKE CITY, UT, 1/25/04 I am completely astounded by the atrocities that those animals endure. The information you all have provided has been pivotal in my final decision to go completely vegan. Thank you for your diligence. YE, PHILADELPHIA, PA, 11/23/03 Thanks for all the good info. You couldn t be doing better! You come across as levelheaded, factual, and nonjudgmental. The starter packs are perfect! LC, FOXBORO, MA, 12/14/03 Vegan Outreach is obsessed with maximizing the impact of every dollar donated, as well as every hour worked. One of the main expenses is shipping; each year, tens of thousands of dollars go toward getting booklets to activists. It is most efficient to send boxes of 300 copies of WHY VEGAN? and/or TRY VEGETARIAN! straight from the printer, rather than have booklets sent to the Pittsburgh office, and then out to activists. Of course, it does no good if the box sits in a closet gathering dust; but if you will be leafleting multiple times over the course of 2004 or are stocking several displays in your area, it is best to order a carton. (Note: To avoid fraud, we do require some level of donation from people who have not previously ordered from or donated to Vegan Outreach. If this is your first time ordering, please see veganoutreach.org/catalog/ explanation.html. Thanks!) Please, please, please, look carefully at your calendar for possible outreach opportunities and order accordingly. Each order sent priority mail (instead of book rate) cuts into our ability to print more booklets. Let s all work smarter, instead of just harder, and make 2004 the best year ever for the animals! A new edition of TRY VEGETARIAN! will be available soon. We hope readers, such as Kerri Nienstedt (left), will find this version even more compelling than the first! Members sometimes ask if they can set up automatic donations. Now you can, with GiveDirect (tinyurl.com/du1c you ll find this option on the second screen). Thanks to all who have already done this! On January 1, 2004, Vegan Outreach instituted a new membership policy to reflect the efforts of our members. Levels are based on animals saved by the booklets printed and distributed because of your tax-deductible donations: $ 40 donation... 5,000 animals saved $ 80 donation... 10,000 animals saved $200 donation... 25,000 animals saved $400 donation... 50,000 animals saved Levels are good for a year; see member list at veganoutreach.org/membership.html. PRINCIPLE & PURPOSE: Vegan Outreach s philosophy is that each sentient animal has a right to his or her body and life. To that end, Vegan Outreach promotes the lifestyle of veganism living so as to contribute to as little animal exploitation and death as possible. Compassionate people will end their support of animal exploitation once they are informed of the suffering a nonvegan lifestyle causes. Vegan Outreach focuses on preaching to the convertible with our booklet on veganism, Why Vegan? DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily shared by all members of Vegan Outreach. BOARD OF DIRECTORS: WEBMASTER: GRAPHIC ARTIST: BOARD OF ADVISORS: Printed on recycled paper Matt Ball Anne Green Jack Norris, RD Nick Altmann Lauren Panos Steve Kaufman, MD Virginia Messina, MPH, RD Florida Dept. of Ag. & Consumer Services Reg. No. SC The first draft of the new on-line WHY VEGAN? has been completed. We hope it will become the web reference for veganism! Send us an with any feedback you have. Matt Ball (right) and Jack Norris will be among the presenters at the First Annual Animal Liberation Student Association Conference. The event will be on April 24 & 25 at Syracuse University in New York. Please see tinyurl.com/ 2WKKQ for more information. 6 We re always looking for high-quality digital images or prints showing how you distribute Vegan Outreach literature. Send pictures of your tabling or leafleting events, feed-ins, library displays, etc. If we use your photo, we ll send you any item from our catalog no charge! Photo: Kari Nienstedt (Kerri)

7 I would just like to say a HUGE thank you for your amazing Why Vegan? I thought it was a wonderful way to show my family, my boyfriend s family, friends, and classmates about the cruelty that these poor creatures endure. When I was in high school, they never had a vegetarian choice, but with the help of my friends and support of my family, they finally made an option available! ND, MASSAPEQUA, NY, 11/12/03 A report by Lacey Gaechter of the University of Colorado has been added to the web version of WHY VEGAN? (see veganoutreach.org/whyvegan/gaechter.html): This report is designed to provide readers with peer-reviewed scientific or governmental information regarding the environmental impacts of the United States animal agriculture industry. All the information is carefully cited so that readers may easily investigate sources. One in every five American adults (21%) say that fear of mad cow disease will change their eating habits, according to results of a recent Wall Street Journal Online/Harris Interactive Health-Care Poll. The survey shows that 77% will eat more poultry, 61% will eat more fish, and 50% will eat more lamb or pork. I would like to share with you an idea that was quite successful at a fundraising [event] that our local group had in October. The Alliance for Animals has a vegetarian dinner and silent auction twice a year. The food is actually all vegan, and I am in charge of the silent auction. I have noticed that we have not made enough of an impression as to why we have these dinners, other than that it is to support our organization. I do put up the posters that I obtained from Vegan Outreach. Still, I felt more needed to be said about the plight of farmed animals. Thus, when it was time to announce winners of the various items bid upon for the silent auction, I decided that they could not pay and take their item without also taking at least two copies of Why Vegan? to give to anyone who asks them why they don t eat meat. I stated that if we all reach out and educate at least two people who are willing to listen, we are making a difference for animals. My speaking up was a success. Everyone who won an item took two or more Why Vegan? brochures, and I was told that it was a very appropriate action on my part. I urge any grassroots group who purchases Why Vegan? to put them in the hands of the converted and let them know that we all must speak out for the animals suffering for mere consumption. DLC, MADISON, WI, 1/30/04 When I read Why Vegan?, I was absolutely mortified by the inhumane treatment of dairy cows. I had been unaware of their shortened life span. Please send me a Vegan Starter Pack so I can go vegan and stay healthy! AS, FORT COLLINS, CO, 1/16/04 Photos: USDA (feedlot and cow); Anima Anima, an animal advocacy group in Denmark, has produced Danish-language versions of WHY VEGAN? (RESPEKT FOR LIV) and the VEGAN STARTER PACK. Anima s Joh Vinding wrote, Some site that is a portal for free things on the Internet listed [the Anima starter pack] as a free vegetarian cookbook, and about 400 people ordered it in one day. Anima activists distribute Respekt for Liv at a Pretenders show. I just wanted to thank you for your excellent Vegan Starter Pack. It has sent me down a path of enlightenment. I passed it around in one of my classes, and everyone else was shocked. Even if I didn t convert anyone, at least I got them thinking. We still have a long way to go to end cruelty to animals, but Vegan Outreach has touched me and inspired me. BP, DENVER, CO, 11/29/03 You guys are truly awesome in your efforts to make the world we live in a more humane and compassionate place to be not to mention healthier! I hope every one of you involved in this process goes home at the end of every day feeling as good as you can possibly feel about what you do. I am doing what I can in my little corner of the world thanks to you, I can do even more. LN, NASHVILLE, TN, 1/25/04 7

8 Mr. Ball: I have read a number of your articles on the web site, and I have to tell you what an excellent writer you are and how much you have helped my vegan quest. Your article Anger, Humor, and Advocacy was so good I had to print it out and share it with my husband, who is very skeptical, but he thought you make great sense. Thank you. You are a hero to me, and I am sure to many. I want to help as many animals as I can. I think I would like to do Adopt a College. Like you said, the younger generation are our best hope. MP, MADISON, OH, 12/16/03 Your article on humor and advocacy today [ Anger, Humor, and Advocacy ] is consistent with everything I ve read from Vegan Outreach. I think it s a very enlightened approach, consistent with Gandhi, Buddha, Jesus, and many other heroes of mine. Gandhi pointed out that the very act of being alive means we will be the cause of suffering, but the goal is to minimize that suffering. Keep up your good work and your good humor. JC, 1/21/04 Thanks again for coming up here. It was a huge success. Every activist needs to hear that talk! I wish I would have either video or audio taped it. If you ever get an audio/video of that talk, I d love a copy. My mom and I were talking about it this morning, and you really made an impact on her! She is going to type up some of her notes from yesterday and keep them posted in her office as a daily reminder. KN, PHOENIX, AZ, 1/4/04 Thank you so much for your wonderful talk yesterday. I was really grateful to hear about how to not spend so much energy, worrying about the small amounts of animal products in meds/vitamins, etc. I ve tended to drive myself nuts with the ingredients, both not wanting to support those products and worrying about their effects on my system. VB, PHOENIX, AZ, 1/4/04 From the introduction to the rap session How Vegan? presented by Matt Ball at AR2003 East Our purpose as animal activists is to help people open their hearts and minds. If we are going to make progress in lessening and eventually ending cruelty to animals, it is going to be because more and more people are able to give up their preconceptions and consider new ideas. The best way to achieve this is to be an example of an open mind, rather than being judgmental. As much as we would prefer it to be otherwise, the world isn t black-and-white, with clear and easy answers to everything. When we act as if we know everything and our audience is wrong about everything, we do very little to open their minds to new ideas. To me, veganism has nothing to do with being pure or perfect. A vegan diet is merely a tool to reduce suffering. It is not the tool, but one of many different tools. Given the immensity of the animal agriculture industry, government subsidies, and the tremendous waste in this country, the signal of one consumer is almost certainly drowned out. In other words, if I were to go out and buy a Big Mac right now, the probability that this choice would have a concrete impact on the amount of suffering in the world another steer or dairy cow bred and slaughtered is absolutely minuscule. Although we like to say that we are saving dozens of animals every year by being vegan, our personal veganism is more important as an example to others a means of speaking for the animals hidden from the public s view. Our personal veganism is most powerful as part of a growing boycott of the cruelty in factory farms and industrial slaughterhouses. In this respect, our example is again more important than the details of our choices. Some advocates pick certain marketing strategies to apply to their activism. Often, though, activists forget the single underlying principle of all marketing (and psychology): People want to be happy. This is perhaps the most significant problem for advocates. Many of us are, understandably, enraged and/or depressed about the atrocities in factory farms and industrial slaughterhouses. However justified our anger, the vast majority of people aren t going to open their hearts and minds to a negative message, one that can be easily caricatured as deprivation and isolation to no concrete end. So these are my premises: our goal is to open people s hearts and minds; veganism matters as a tool to reduce suffering and is meaningful as part of a growing boycott of cruelty; and veganism is sometimes dismissed as contradictory to happiness. If you accept these, the How vegan? question that needs to be answered isn t, How far should I take my personal veganism? but How can I be the best example to make other people want to become vegan? Coming Soon... Optimal Health/ Optimal Advocacy: A Path to a Meaningful Life a talk delivered by Matt Ball at the Paiute Neighborhood Center in Phoenix, Arizona on Saturday, January 3, 2004 A Meaningful Life: Human Nature, Animal Advocacy, and a Better World, a new essay from Matt Ball 8

9 Thank you for the latest Vegan Outreach writings. They have helped me with anger towards mankind and the world in general. DU, 1/21/04 Animal Liberation by Peter Singer CATALOG Above: vinyl sticker and display posters PRICE QTY TOTAL $10.00 I just wanted to say I received your brochure this past December, and I am now a vegan. I ve been a vegetarian for the past 12 years or so, and your Why Vegan? pamphlet really helped me take the next step. Thank you so much!! They are workin! SD, 1/27/04 B O O KS V I D E O Becoming Vegan by Brenda Davis & Vesanto Melina The Convenient Vegetarian by Virginia Messina & Kate Schumann Plant Based Nutrition and Health by Stephen Walsh Vegan Vittles by Joanne Stepaniak A Cow at My Table 90-minute VHS documentary $ $11.00 $ $11.00 $20.00 I looked over Why Vegan? and was shocked! I never realized the cruelty to animals you opened my eyes! I ve been vegetarian since June that s seven months so far. I feel great! Now I can look at animals in peace, knowing I m not contributing to their suffering. Thank you! SS (15), STEVENSON, WA, 1/2/04 D IS P L A Y S Maximum Nutrition 2-hour DVD cooking show with Michael Greger Meet Your Meat 2-hour VHS tabling video; looped, with narration Brochure holder clear plastic stand for x inch booklets Boycott Cruelty: Go Vegan vinyl sticker x inches Display posters set of 3; 11 x 17 inches Display prints set of 10; x 11 inches SHIPPING & HANDLING NOTES MERCHANDISE: Please include $4.00 for your first item and $1.50 for each subsequent item (excluding brochure holders and stickers). Unless otherwise specified, orders will be sent via book rate to minimize costs. WHY VEGAN? AND TRY VEGETARIAN! BOOKLETS: Shipping is least costly ($6.00 $10.00) when cartons of 300 are sent via UPS from the printer. If you plan to leaflet and/or stock displays often, order a box. Please provide a street address UPS will not ship cartons to PO boxes. Vegan Outreach is dependent upon donations to continue printing Why Vegan? and Try Vegetarian! PAYMENT: Please add exchange rate difference to checks drawn on foreign banks. Make check or money order payable to Vegan Outreach. All credit card payments will be processed on-line through JustGive.org, GiveDirect.org, or NetworkForGood.org. REMINDERS: Please adjust shipping charge for international orders. To place orders on-line, visit veganoutreach.org/catalog. Please print your address clearly. PA residents add 7% sales tax Shipping & handling (see notes) SUPPORT FOR OUTREACH CSC # (last 3 digits on the back of card): _ To help get Why Vegan? and Try Vegetarian! to more people, I m enclosing a tax-deductible donation of: $20 $35 $50 $100 Other: $ I would also like to receive the following number of booklets to distribute: Why Vegan? _ carton(s) of 300 booklets Try Vegetarian! _ carton(s) of 300 booklets Por Qué Vegano? _ carton(s) of 300 booklets NO S&H FEE! NO S&H FEE! REDUCED PRICE! Please clip and mail to Vegan Outreach, PO Box 38492, Pittsburgh, PA Thanks! $ 2.00 $ 1.00 $ 5.00 $11.00 GRAND TOTAL NAME _ PHONE (optional) _ ADDRESS _ CITY _ STATE _ $16.00 $ 5.00 ZIP _ AmEx Discover MasterCard Visa Expires: YES! I want to support Vegan Outreach s work to end cruelty to animals! _ I was just given your brochure called Why Vegan?, and I was absolutely appalled by the way the animals are treated and slaughtered. You should be happy to know that you have now converted me to become vegan. Thank you so much for opening up my eyes even further to this awful situation. SH, SEATTLE, WA, 12/4/03 Seeing your booklet made me think that what is going on is the equivalent to the Holocaust, and I was ashamed to be taking part in it. AD, 1/13/04 I m quite the admirer of your cause, and I want to help you as much as I can. I admire the levelheadedness of your approach on the subject of veganism the whole Don t get bogged down in little facts, trying to be perfect. EN, NC, 1/10/04 As of 3/15/04, Vegan Outreach s members have raised more than $14,000 toward the next printing of Why Vegan? and Try Vegetarian! We need just $5,256 to reach our goal! If you d like to contribute, please earmark your donation Winter 2004 Printing. Many thanks to all of you who have donated!! Note: See veganoutreach.org for updates. Total cost to print will be $40,000; we had $20,000 when drive began on 1/24/04. 9

10 WORKING TO END CRUELTY TO ANIMALS PO Box 38492, Pittsburgh, PA Address Service Requested Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Norfolk, VA Permit No. 555 I ve recently been doing the ebay thing (selling many things on-line worldwide) and including a [Why Vegan?] booklet in each shipment. I have received many positive responses with lots of questions from people in Italy, Denmark, New Zealand, Spain, Chile, and the Netherlands, to name a few. KH, CANTONSVILLE, MD, 12/11/03 AR2004 National Conference July 8 12, 2004 AR2004 Washington, DC Jack Norris is scheduled to speak, and there will most likely be a Vegan Outreach gathering planned for one of the evenings. Stay tuned to Vegan Spam! for the latest news: veganoutreach.org/spam I m very pleased that your focus is on reaching out to young people. I agree that we can have a much greater return on our efforts with this approach. For example, we recently read about a new vegan profiled in the local newspaper. She went vegan not long after we had given her one of your veg pamphlets! KM, PALM DESERT, CA, 1/23/04 [Leafleting] West Palm Beach s Breast Cancer Walk was a huge success. I was there at an ungodly 8 A.M. I distributed approximately 100 Try Vegetarian! leaflets in a half hour. My line with a smile was, Thanks for coming to the walk; would you like some prevention info? I only saw one leaflet lying on the ground when I turned around. Important tidbit: A coworker told me this morning that she heard a news announcer report that parents are concerned because many of their kids are going veggie and they don t know the reason! Think it has anything to do with us? DM, 2/5/04