LeedsVeg - Leeds Vegetarian and Vegan Society
Local contact: tel Natalie on 0113 2484044 or email here.
LeedsVeg Events: We are an informal and friendly group who meet a couple of times a month usually in each others' houses.We meet for a variety of fun, social activities and themed potluck veggie/vegan Sunday lunches, where we dazzle each other with our culinary creations! We sometimes get together between meetings to go to other veggie friendly events and restaurants. Our monthly meetings have a theme and include activities like going out for meals, having a speaker, walks, creative and holistic sessions etc. The Sunday lunches are an opportunity to get creative in the kitchen and try new recipes, or make old favourites – they are always amazing for the array of food and are often much nicer than any restaurant (and there aren't many veggie places in Leeds anyway). They are also really good social occasions and great for swapping information and ideas. You are always welcome to contact us for recipe ideas. If you’re interested in finding out more about the group or coming to an event please ring Natalie for a chat – we meet in each other’s houses so it’s nice to have made a bit of a connection beforehand and have some idea who each other is! Please also ring Natalie rather than email if you want information close to an event as she doesn’t read emails everyday, whereas she will do her best to answer phone calls.
Urgent - 10,000 hens need rehoming from a battery farm in Norfolk which is closing down. If you would like a hen or two or know someone who would, please contact littlehenrescue@googlemail.com. Any not rehomed by 28 June will be slaughtered. Please pass this message on. Thank you. Katy
Our recipe book, A Taste of Leeds, containing nearly 90 vegan recipes and local info, is available from our stalls price £2.50 or by mail order from Animal Aid and Viva.
Want to go vegan or at least give it a try? Take the Vegan Pledge with the Vegan Society here. For 2009, why not choose a tasty and healthy new way to eat – with a little help from some friends? Get personalised support, recipes, nutrition guidance and much more – all free. For more info on what it would involve or to become a mentor to a pledger, please contact Amanda on media@vegansociety.com.
Our stalls at mainstream and green events across the region provide a range of material on healthy eating, nutrition, animal welfare and the environment from the Vegetarian Society, the Vegan Society, Animal Aid, Viva and the Vegetarian and Vegan Foundation. About twice a month, there is a LeedsVeg healthy eating stall at the Leeds Primary Care Trust "All Being Well" stall in the indoor Kirkgate market in the city centre with info from the above organisations. See the other events page for the dates. We welcome ideas for fundraising and details of events where we can have a stall.
Stop EU Subsidies to Livestock Industry
Our friends at the Nutrition Ecology International Centre (NEIC) have launched a Europe wide petition to end every kind of European subsidy for livestock farming (eg breeding, fishing and crop cultivation for farmed animals' feed). Sign online at www.nutritionecology.org/news/petition_cap.html or print off petitions from www.nutritionecology.org/download/petition_en.pdf.
Fur Petition
"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to make serious representations to the Government of the Peoples Republic of China to introduce stringent animal welfare regulations to reduce widespread cruelty to animals. There should be an immediate ban on all imported fur." Sign the peition here: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/chinacruelty/.
Tetra paks and other paper-based drinks cartons can now be recycled at several sites in Leeds * Milner Road household waste sorting site, Yeadon, LS19 7JE * Owlcoates shopping centre, Pudsey, LS28 7JE * Meanwood Road waste sorting site, Leeds, LS7 2LP * White Rose shopping centre, Dewsbury Road, Leeds, LS11 8LU * Thorp Arch household waste sorting site, Thorp Arch industrial estate, Wetherby, LS23 7BJ
Compassionate Living Guide to Leeds here.
Do You Love Cats? We are trying to to establish a group of volunteers to help with trapping abandoned feral cats in Yorkshire for neutering. We are urgently appealing for people to trap and feed feral cats, fosterers for cats and kittens to begin the rehab process before rehoming, vet runs, fundraising and homechecking. We also need blankets, towels, cat toys, litter trays, bowls, cat beds etc. If you can help, please contact Bobby on 0113 2752782 or email feralcats@animalconnect.org.uk.
Can you rehome an unwanted dog? The Doris Banham Dog Rescue charity urgently needs help with rehoming local dogs permanently and where necessary, fostering the dogs until permanent homes become available. We also need volunteers to help with walking, cleaning and socialising the dogs (weekdays and week-ends), vet runs, food collections, homecheckers, blankets, towels, dog leads and toys and fundraising. Dogs are put to sleep every day. We are assisting Dog SOS to save them. Any help you can give will be greatly appreciated. If you can offer any help, please contact Bobby (Dog SOS Yorkshire Group contact) on 0113 2752782 or email straydogs@animalconnect.org.uk.
Facebook Group for LeedsVeg This on-line group will act as one of the main mediums of communication with members and will be very effective to post messages about meet-ups, events, demos and other news items and to exchange ideas. Also, members will be able to communicate with each other using private messages. Becoming is a member is easy. You will need to have a facebook account. If you already don't have one, please go to http://www.facebook.com/. Here click on the "Sign Up" button. Just provide a few registration details and you are done!! Log into facebook with your user ID and password. Next step ... on the top left hand corner, there is a search box. Type "Leeds Veggies and Vegans" and click search. You are likely to get two matches. One of them will have a photo next to it (3 people and lots of cakes!!). Click on this. Last step ... on the right hand side you will find "Request to Join Group". You will find this just below the main photo. Thats it. A notification will automatically be sent to the administrator to approve your membership. Once the membership is approved, the group name will appear in your facebook profile and you can access it anytime you need.
Protecting Animals in Democracy
Visit www.vote4animals.org.uk to find out if your MP has voted for Early Day Motions (EDMs) number 4 "Use of Animals to Test Food Additives", 74 "Ombudsman and Suffering in Animal Experiments", 480 "Animal Protection Policy", 1215 "Household Products" and 1279 "Animal Testing of Cosmetics". If they have not, please email them to ask they do so. Uncaged’s ambitious Protecting Animals in Democracy (PAD) project was launched in the run up to the 2005 election with the aim of translating public concern for animals into political pressure for real changes. PAD is now building political momentum in pursuit of 6 crucial policy areas they highlighted in their 2005 Manifesto for Animals as well as intervening for animals when urgent issues arise. The foundation stone of this work is a unique campaigning website which makes it really easy for the public to lobby their MPs. See also www.uncaged.co.uk.
Petition for a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare at the United Nations
To sign the petition go to www.animalsmatter.org/default.asp
The RSPCA, the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and America's largest welfare organisation, the Humane Society, amongst others, are working together in a unique global campaign to get recognition for animal welfare at the United Nations (UN). The Animals Matter to Me campaign is calling for the UN to adopt a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare - similar to earlier initiatives in the sphere of human rights and the environment. WSPA and its member societies (local and national animal welfare organisations based in 142 countries) are campaigning hard to reach the petition's goal of 10 million signatures and by so doing, raise awareness about animals and the importance of considering their welfare.
The Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare recognises that animals are sentient
beings, capable of experiencing pain and suffering and that animal welfare is an
issue of importance as part of the social development of nations worldwide. Five
UN member states (Costa Rica, Kenya, India, Czech Republic and the Philippines)
have formed a steering group committed to taking the initiative forward to the
UN. A number of leading animal welfare organisations are members of a core
working group to help progress the initiative - including the RSPCA, HSI and
Compassion in World Farming.
Please sign the petition! The 'Animals Matter' petition will be delivered to the UN where it is hoped unanimous support for a UN Declaration will be given.
TIPS FOR VEGGIES AND VEGANS IN HOSPITAL
1. If possible, tell the hospital beforehand that you are veggie or vegan and explain what you can and cannot eat.
2. If you are vegan, request specific alternatives, such as non-dairy milk and marg. Ask if it is necessary to bring your own.
3. When in hospital, if you are having trouble getting suitable food, ask to speak to the catering manager or nutritionist and explain how they could better meet your dietary needs.
4. Do not be afraid to ask for veggie or vegan dishes even if none is listed on the menu.
5. If you are admitted to hospital with no prior warning, explain (or get someone else to on your behalf) that you are veggie/vegan and what this entails. The hospital may need time to sort out appropriate food for you, so ask friends and family to bring food in the meantime.
6.
If asked by health professionals to justify your veggie or vegan diet, point them to the research-based info on human health and nutrition as on the websites of the Vegetarian Society, the Vegan Society, the Vegetarian and Vegan Foundation and the Physicians' Committee for Responsible Medicine - all websites above. Lend them a copy of Stephen Walsh's book "Plant Based Nutrition and Health", published by the Vegan Society. You may not get very far by arguing the ethical and environmental reasons but doctors and nurses should hopefully be open to hearing about research on nutrition and health, particularly if they ask why you're veggie/vegan.
Vegan Society Catering Guide for Hospitals and Care Homes
Animal Aid Veggie/Vegan Catering Guide for Hospitals
WHERE TO BUY ORGANIC FRUIT & VEG
Home Delivery Box Schemes * also has a shop
Beanstalk Organics Unit 9, Townhead Trading Centre, Main Street, Addingham, Ilkley, LS29 0PD Tel: 01943 831103 www.beanstalkorganix.co.uk *
Farmaround The Old Bakery, Mercury Road, Richmond, DL10 4TQ Tel: 01748 821116 www.farmaroundnorth.co.uk
Green Growers 1 Station Cottages, Wansford Road, Nafferton, Driffield, YO25 8NJ Tel: 01377 255362 www.greengrowers.fsnet.co.uk *
Goosemoor Organic Produce Warfield Lane, Cowthorpe, Wetherby, LS22 5EU Tel: 01423 358887 www.goosemoor.co.uk
Org Organics 79 Great George Street, Leeds, LS1 3BR Tel: 0113 2347000 www.org-organics.org.uk *
Pure Organic Produce 12 Cragside Place, Kirkstall, Leeds, LS5 3LY Tel: 0113 2168063 or 07737 130337 www.pureorganicproduce.co.uk
River Ford Home Farm Newby Wiske, Northallerton, DL7 9HB Tel: 0845 6002311 www.riverfordhomefarm.co.uk
The Organic Pantry St Helens Farm, Newton Kyme, Tadcaster, LS24 9LY Tel: 01937 531693 www.theorganicpantry.co.uk *
Shops
Leeds Farmers' Market Kirkgate Market, George Street, Leeds city centre, 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month, 9am - 2pm
Love Organic 4 Regent Street, Chapel Allerton, Leeds, LS7 4PE Tel: 0113 266 3030
Meanwood Valley Urban Farm Sugarwell Road, Leeds, LS7 Tel: 0113 2629759 www.mvuf.org.uk
Millies Fresh & Organic 109 Vicar Lane, Leeds, LS1 6PJ Tel: 0113 2429217 http://milliesfreshandorganic.co.uk
Oakwood Health Foods 458 Roundhay Road, Leeds, LS8 2HU Tel: 0113 2179977
Out Of This World 20 New Market Street, Leeds City Centre, LS1 6DG Tel: 0113 2441881
Pudsey Farmers' Market Market Place, Pudsey, LS28, last Thursday of the month except December, 9am - 2pm
Swillington Organic Farm Garden Cottage, Coach Road, Swillington, Leeds, LS26 8QA Tel: 0113 2869192 www.swillingtonhousefarm.co.uk
The Olive Branch 2 Westgate, Shipley, BD18 3QT Tel: 01274 582007
For info and advice on growing your own, contact Garden Organic, the national charity for organic growing. Tel: 024 7630 3517 www.gardenorganic.org.uk
ALENTEJO/PORTUGAL Relax, revive and recuperate at a beautiful retreat. One hundred year old sympathetically converted and restored cart maker's cottage in the heart of a Natural Park with full solar power and constant hot water. Sleeping up to 8 with private swimming pool, surrounded by over 200 olive trees, chestnut and cork trees and 14 different types of fruit trees in over 2 acres of fully organic land. Mountain bikes available to explore the many forest tracks and signposted walks to local place of interest. Vegetarian breakfast provided by the pool or BBQ terrace, with homemade organic jams and eggs provided from completely free range chickens. Optional vegetarian English afternoon tea available. Short break prices from £135 for 1 person. Contact Sarah Lawson, see www.casadossonhos.co.uk.
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