A Cruelty Free Christmas

• Dec. 16 by Emma Williams (3)

Vegans from all over the Midlands and even further afield, gathered this Saturday, the 12^th December, to raise awareness of their causes and get in the festive spirit, at the Midlands Vegan Campaigners’ Christmas Fair.

Birmingham Recycled went along to the event, held at All Saints Church Hall in King’s Heath, to find out what it was all about.

I spoke to Kevin White, who founded the Midlands Vegans Campaigners group almost three years ago, on his beliefs and why he thought events such as Saturday’s were so important.

“I’ve always been a protester for animal welfare, so it just made sense to become veggie. Believe it or not it was actually a good year or so after becoming vegetarian that I took the next step to becoming vegan. It’s something that you have to do in your own time, we’d never pressure anyone into it, but you really will feel the benefits.”

On launching MVC, Kevin explained:

“I originally started a group in my local area, the Redditch Veggies. We held an Annual Redditch Green Fair, which became really successful. After a while I though I wanted to expand on this idea, as there are many more vegans out there than you think, and so I started the Midlands Vegan Campaigners. I think local events such as this vegan fair work as an effective way to get our message across, and have some fun at the same time.”

And it seemed the fair was certainly a success, with the stalls bustling and everybody feeling the compassionate Christmas spirit. I even got to try a vegan mince pie!

Stalls’ produce included vegan cosmetics, vegan cakes, vegan stationary, health food, recipe books and campaign merchandise.

Flicking through some of the leaflets littering the stalls it’s easy to see the reasons why people may choose to boycott meat and dairy products, but saying and doing are very different, and I wanted to get some people’s real experiences – what spurred them to make that step?

Years ago, Andy Wakeman made that change, and he explained his story to me.

“I used to be a massive meat eater – Macdonalds burgers, the lot! It actually all started when I was in Birmingham City centre one day, and there was a stall of protesters. I took some of the leaflets away with me and read them in my own time and something just resonated in me. It just seemed the right thing to do.”

Andy is now a committed vegan, and has also taken up running, having recently completed a marathon. He puts his new healthy lifestyle completely down to veganism.

“I just feel good all the time, I have a healthy diet, I exercise and have a good happy life. It’s good on every front really.”

Dedicated Vegan Harry Eyles explained:

“The main reasons people chose to become vegan fall into three categories. The first is the health benefits that come from eating the natural products. The second is because of the animal welfare; because they don’t believe the way animals are treated is right. Thirdly, is because of the benefits to the planet.”

Perhaps not a reason you would think of straight away, but going vegan really can help the planet, in reducing your greenhouse gas emissions. In current society, farmed animals now outnumber people but more than three to one, and the impact on the environment is showing. Kevin told me that:

“Research carried out by the Farming and Agricultural Department of the United Nations showed that a shocking 18% of greenhouse emissions are from the livestock industry, whereas just 13.5% of greenhouse emissions are caused from all transport. In fact they found that livestock farming is up there with the top three causes of all major problems facing the earth; disease, energy use, climate change, water – you name it!”

He concluded saying:

“As veganism is becoming more publicised, more and more people are becoming vegans for good reasons. I believe we are all on the path to a better lifestyle.”

Are you a vegan? Tell us your story in the comment box below, and be sure to check back to Birmingham Recycled early next year, when I will be attempting to “go vegan” for a week!