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Press Release - World Vegan Day - 1/11/02. The Vegan Society announces three new honorary patrons (including Moby).




At the 2002 Annual General Meeting of the Vegan Society (26 October) three new patrons were appointed; drawn from an interesting mix of grass roots campaigning, politics and entertainment. “All three new patrons are fearless campaigners for animals, people and the environment – the three pillars of the Vegan Society’s mission statement.“ said a delighted Vegan Society.



Moby - Musician

Born Richard Melville Hall, he was renamed Moby after his famous ancestor’s book. Despite disappointment with his album “Animal Rights” which ‘tanked’, Moby’s passion for music led him to success with sales of over 10 million copies of his album “Play”. It went platinum in over 25 countries. “Play” has an essay about veganism and Moby allowed free use of the music for the Vegan Society Video “Truth or Dairy”. Moby is never slow to point out the benefits of veganism and, with his friend Kelly, has opened a veggie/vegan café in New York called TeaNY. When asked about becoming patron he said “I have been a vegan for 16 years now. Being a vegan is a very central part of how I live my life and how I hope that others would someday live their lives, as well. I would be honoured to be a member and patron of The Vegan Society, and somehow encourage veganism around the world.”



Kathleen Jannaway - Campaigner

Now 87, Mrs Jannaway - a Quaker and science teacher - joined The Vegan Society in 1964. She became honorary general secretary of The Vegan Society in 1971 and over the next 13 years worked tirelessly to produce a variety of educational vegan pamphlets and leaflets and a slot for the Society on the BBC2 programme “Open Door”. When this was broadcast in 1976 it led to a record number of 5,000 responses from people eager to find out more about a compassionate vegan lifestyle. Her most successful leaflet was “First Hand – First Rate” which highlighted the logic of eating as low down the food chain as possible. In 1984 she moved on to found the Movement for Compassionate Living (MCL). She continues to this day to campaign for a compassionate and ecological lifestyle.



Maneka Gandhi - Politician

Widowed in her early twenties when her husband was killed in an air crash, Mrs Gandhi raised her young son on a vegan diet despite hostility from mother-in-law Indira Gandhi and the Nehru clan. Sacked more than once from ministerial office for speaking out against cruelty, injustice and corruption wherever she finds it, Maneka is doing for the animals of India what Mahatma Gandhi did for the people. Her organisation People for Animals is known throughout India and beyond, as are her many publications. She also chairs Rugmark, which provides care and education for children rescued from forced labour in the carpet industry. Her arguments against environmental destruction through the raising of animals for food are compelling: in Bristol last month she illustrated vividly how animal exploitation leads inexorably to deforestation, drought, famine and ultimately war, demonstrating the truth of Tolstoy's maxim that "so long as there are slaughterhouses there will always be battlefields."



Her appointment as a patron of the Vegan Society will make it clear to the Hindu community in the UK who are concerned about the cruelty of the Western dairy industry that veganism is the answer and that they are more than welcome within the Society as members and supporters.



CONTACTS:



Tony Weston - media@vegansociety-removefirst.com
Tel 01424 448828
Fax: 01424 717064




EDITORS NOTES:



World Vegan Day 1st November celebrates the invention of the word "vegan" and the formation of the Vegan Society in November 1944 by Donald Watson. The Vegan Society promotes ways of living free from animal products – for the benefit of people, animals and the environment.



For more information see:
www.vegansociety.com
www.worldveganday.org
www.goaspca.com/frmaneka.htm
www.Moby.com



Message from Moby;



I've been a vegan now for 16 years, which for some people might seem like an unbearably long time to go without animal products, but quite the opposite, actually. It surprises people to find out just how much I enjoy being a vegan, especially from a culinary perspective. When I was a carnivore my diet was limited. As a vegan it's seemingly limitless, what with necessity being the mother of invention.



I'm often asked, 'well, as a vegan, what do you eat?' which seems like such a strange question. What do non-vegans eat? Meat, cheese, milk, eggs. Vegans eat everything else. Indian food, Chinese food, Mexican food, Thai food, Japanese food, African food, and so on, and so on.



Whether I'm having a Pan pagnia sandwich (olive tapenade, roasted red peppers, basil and onions, on ciabatta bread) at Teany, my restaurant, or having marinated exotic mushrooms with mixed baby greens and an orange vinaigrette in Paris, or having fajitas in Los Angeles, or vegan Chinese food in lower Manhattan, or vegan Pad Thai in Melbourne, or etc etc I'm always a very happy eater.



Primarily I'm a vegan for ethical reasons, but if the truth be told it's the culinary aspect of veganism that has sustained me for 16 years of animal-product free living.



Thanks to The Vegan Society for promoting a way of life that is ethical and tasty.



Moby




The Vegan Society Donald Watson House 7 Battle Road St. Leonards on Sea East Sussex TN37 7AA UK Tel: 0845 45 88244 Fax: 01424 717064 www.vegansociety.com
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