It’s Almost VegWeek–Get Excited!

A week from today, Tuesday September 30th, marks the kick-off of VegWeek here in the Twin Cities.  If you live here or nearby, you definitely have to come check out some of the great events that Compassionate Action for Animals has lined up:

Tuesday, 9/30 @ 7pm:  Jim Mason, author and attorney, will give a presentation called The Ethics of What We Eat: Why Our Food Choices Matter.  This will be followed by a reception catered by the awesome local restaurant chain, Pizza Luce.

Wednesday, 10/1 @ 5pm: Veg cooking class! Learn how to cook some awesome vegan food, and then you get to eat it!

Thursday, 10/2 @ 5:30pm: Vegan potluck – bring something to share and enjoy meeting other vegans.  New to vegetarianism?  Come check out all the great food we eat, and talk to people about what it’s like to be vegan.

Friday, 10/3 @ 6pm: Film screening of The Emotional World of Farm Animals.  We’ll have snacks and refreshments there, and what promises to be a thoughtful discussion will follow the showing.  I’ll actually be hosting this one, so come on down & say hi!

Saturday, 10/4 @ 6pm:  Dine out at Evergreen Chinese Restaurant. This is a great opportunity to meet and hang out with other people who have pledged to be veg for the week.

Sunday, 10/5 @ 2pm: Guided tour of a local chicken sanctuary. Come meet these amazing animals and hear their stories.  Again, we’ll have snacks available (yes, we really like our food!).

Monday, 10/6 @ 7pm: Dine out at the Red Sea Bar & Restaurant. Enjoy some delicious Ethiopian food & drink, and celebrate the closing of what will undoubtedly be a successful week.

Sounds fun, right?  That’s because it will be!

I have to say, last year was my first VegWeek, and despite the fact that I didn’t know many people, I always felt totally welcome and I had a great time.  CAA is all about community (OK, and food, we admit it) and that sense of community is especially strong during VegWeek.  I encourage everyone to come & check out at least one event–you won’t be sorry!

Go check out the website for more information, and shoot me an email if you have any questions.  If I can’t answer it for you, I will find someone who can.  Hope to see you there!

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Midwest Animal Advocacy Conference 2008

I am so excited about an upcoming animal advocacy event scheduled to take place here in the Twin Cities from June 6 – June 8. It’s called Their Lives, Our Voices:

Their Lives, Our Voices 2008 seeks to bring together individuals from across the region for a hands-on, high-quality conference focused on helping animals. Our goal is to make the conference as inclusive and accessible as possible for both new and veteran activists in the Midwest region, with a focus on farmed animal advocacy efforts.

There will be some amazing speakers, including Gene Baur from Farm Sanctuary, Carol Adams, author of Beyond Animal Rights: A Feminist Caring Ethic for the Treatment of Animals, and Paul Shapiro from the Humane Society of the United States (just to name a few). I went to see Gene Baur speak once, and was able to visit with him afterwards and I have to say that he is truly inspiring. I left that evening feeling so much more positive about my ability to effect change for farmed animals. What amazes me about him is that despite all the horrible things he’s seen, he is still so optimistic and determined. For me it is all too easy to get depressed when I read about or watch a video on factory farming cruelty ….but somehow he manages to keep a positive attitude, and is such a great example for the rest of us. I can’t wait to hear the other speakers as well, all of whom I imagine will be just as energizing as Gene Baur.

If you live in the Midwest or feel like visiting, you should totally register for this conference. You can find all the details here. I am really looking forward to it!

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