The plight of our soil is in danger. In the last few years, much evidence has come on the dangers of pesticides and their impact on the health of the soil.  Along with the soil being damaged, the engineers of the soil are killed off too. The colonies of not so visible creatures like earthworms, insects, snails, slugs and bees are collapsing. Over the last 80 years, since ww2, the level of nutrients in our fruit and veg has dropped considerably, sometimes up to three times.  This hinsa (violence) to these stakeholders of the earth is also significant from a Jain perspective too. How do we address these issues so that they become another important thread of the conversation of Veganism? 

Almost one year on from opening their hub in Somers Town (Kings Cross)  Lifeafterhummus Community Benefit Society have taught over 800 people,  with 40% of these being BME/POC how to adopt a low-fat, unprocessed  vegan diet/lifestyle using, what they call, an “intersectional  framework”. The majority of participants are either not vegan, vegan  curious or want to go vegan (for varying reasons). In this talk they will pass on their wealth of information on how you too could create a  hub in your community: from addressing unconscious biases, using data to find a permanent location and apply for funding, advertising to attract the ‘non-converted’, attracting volunteers, developing a case for social prescription and creating an inclusive environment. This is not vegan vs plant-based; this is about community.

Helen Wright and Julian Wilkinson, founders and trustees of Vegans Against World Hunger, will look at how veganism can help tackle many of the world’s biggest and most urgent problems: global food insecurity, water insecurity, deforestation, soil erosion and climate change. They’ll also talk about the projects which Vegans Against World Hunger supports and how you can get involved.

A panel to discuss how education and disruption can help to build vegan awareness.

Moderator: Jeremy Hess

Panellists:

• Jennifer D’Netto – Creator of DxE UK
• Pamela Nvova – Founder of Animal Justice Emergency
• Dr Roger Yates – Founder of Vegan Information Project
• Alex Lockwood – Co-Coordinator of Animal Rebellion 

Each year in Spain, 70,000 bulls are tortured and killed in the name of bull fighting. At this talk Carlos will cover some of the lesser known facts surrounding bull fighting, what vegan activists are doing about it in Spain, and the results of this activism so far.

In this talk Dina will share who The Save Movement, as a grassroots organisation is, as well as speak about why bearing witness to animals going to slaughter is an important part of the animal rights movement. She will also touch upon the future of The Save Movement and how it is strategically expanding its avenues of activism.  

Why do social movements moderate over time and lose the radicalism of the pioneers of the movement – and why has it happened to the vegan movement?

In 1944, during “World War II,” the vegan social movement emerged as declared peace and justice-for-all. At least three of the anti-authoritarian founders of the vegan movement were conscientious objectors, refusing to kill anyone, and prepared to suffer the consequences of their moral consistency. Donald Watson says that people were “shattered” by the experience of a global conflict, and the early vegan movement pioneers set about analysing why humanity was so violent and what could be done – their solution was a revolutionary philosophy of veganism. Their vision of a vegan future was truly remarkable.

Presently, that vision is being challenged and reduced versions of veganism are currently proposed. In this talk, I will argue that modern day veganism has lost the radicalism of the founders of our movement: a revolutionary vision needed more than ever at a time of climate crisis.

We will be announcing the launch of the first Asian conference focused on farmed animals. Come and find out more about the current animal rights scenes in Asia! 

What’s it like to be an animal living in Occupied Palestine? Come and hear the stories of the Palestinian Animal League, and find out how we can use these experiences to enrich animal activism across the globe.

Why do social movements moderate over time and lose the radicalism of the pioneers of the movement – and why has it happened to the vegan movement?

In 1944, during “World War II,” the vegan social movement emerged as declared peace and justice-for-all. At least three of the anti-authoritarian founders of the vegan movement were conscientious objectors, refusing to kill anyone, and prepared to suffer the consequences of their moral consistency. Donald Watson says that people were “shattered” by the experience of a global conflict, and the early vegan movement pioneers set about analysing why humanity was so violent and what could be done – their solution was a revolutionary philosophy of veganism. Their vision of a vegan future was truly remarkable.

Presently, that vision is being challenged and reduced versions of veganism are currently proposed. In this talk, I will argue that modern day veganism has lost the radicalism of the founders of our movement: a revolutionary vision needed more than ever at a time of climate crisis.

Words create emotions; emotions create actions. By changing the words we use to accurately portray the reality of animal oppression, we open up new possibilities for change and influence.

Naming and calling out human supremacism and exposing the deliberate hiding of the realities of the animal death industry and the ways in which non-human persons are marginalised, open up opportunities for radical and effective activism at all levels.

Journalist, activist and cultural critic, Pamela, founder of the Animal Justice Emergency collective, gives powerful reframes aimed at challenging the subtle and embedded cultural assumptions taken as ‘normal’.

By describing what ‘farmers’, ‘meat’ and ‘non-vegan’ (and other loaded terms) actually mean, the invisible is made visible and denial gives way to understanding and change.

A panel to discuss various forms of grassroots activism and where to go from here.

Moderator: Jeremy Hess

Panellists:

• Lynn Sawyer – Animal Rights Activists / Sab
• Emma Louisa – YouTuber (Banana Warrior Princess)
• Roger Yates – Vegan Information Project
• Mark Flood – Organiser with Anonymous for the Voiceless

The animal rights movement was built around the activities of it’s grass – roots activists.  From the ALF to the Animal Liberation Leagues and the local group structure to ARC (Animal Rights Coalition).  We may have many more vegans now but does that necessarily mean animal rights is any nearer or are we being seduced by our own reflection on social media?

A panel to highlight the work of various national organisations and where we go from here.

Moderator: Jeremy Hess

Panellists:

• Isobel Hutchinson – Director of Animal Aid
• Laura-Lisa Hellwig – Campaigner with Viva!
• Samantha Calvert – Head of Communications for The Vegan Society
• Abigail Penny – Acting Executive Director of Animal Equality