Whichever way you look
at it - whether it's the environment, animals, world hunger, spiritualty
or health - vegetarianism has everything going for it.
Sometimes it can feel frustrating that the word doesn't spread
more quickly. What
can individuals do to help spread the word about the benefits
of going vego?
Be "living proof"
Seeing is believing, and the most powerful argument for vegetarianism
is - simply - being one!
Knowing you and knowing you're vegetarian helps people around you
to get used to vegetarianism as a normal, acceptable choice rather
than seeing it as an extreme or alien choice. Observing what you
eat reassures them that vegetarian foods are abundant, varied and
interesting - and normal! And, as long as you're healthy, simply
being yourself and being vego is the shortest, most powerful response
to those old myths that a vegetarian diet is inadequate or unhealthy.
Talk, talk, talk!
Whenever you get a chance, talk about vegetarianism, how easy it
is, and the arguments in favour. Also talk about related topics
like animal rights, the environment, food production.
It's not necessary to be strident or antagonistic. Often, the most
powerful conversation rests on quiet self-disclosure - ie, simply
mentioning your own choices, without judgement or persuasion and
without too much explanation unless asked, and quietly answering
questions. Gentle humour also helps.
Get informed
Read, read, read - magazines (like Vegan Voice and Natural Health
& Vegetarian Life), the web (see our Links
page), books. Seek out recipes and nutritional information if
you need it. Learn about the arguments in favour of vegetarianism
and responses to common myths and arguments against it.
Information is vital - both to ensure you're a healthy, positive
role model, and to make sure you can intelligently discuss issues
and answer questions. It's not that it's harder to be healthy on
a vegetarian diet than any other diet, but just that many of us
make the switch from a meat-based diet have to relearn how to "do"
food from a vegetarian perspective, which can mean finding additional
information. It's also human nature to point to the example which
proves our point. Non-vegetarians will point the finger at the one
vegetarian who goes to hospital - ignoring the 15 meat-eaters they
know who are also sick!
Raise vegetarian children
Raising kids takes a lot of time and energy, and it can feel frustrating
that you don't have much of either left for anything else. However,
raising vegetarian children is one of the the most powerful ways
you can promote vegetarianism. For children raised vegetarian, their
mental conception of food will be organised around plant foods and,
if they choose to remain vegetarian, they'll find it easy and normal
to eat this way.
Moreover, having vegetarian kids brings you in contact with many
other parents and kids - not to mention many other people like teachers
and doctors, sports coaches, the lady next door and people in the
supermarket! - for whom your family becomes "living proof" that
vegetarianism is healthy, easy and normal for adults and children
alike.
Hold a dinner party (or lunch, brunch, birthday party, office
party or afternoon tea)
Invite friends and family to eat with you. There's no need to make
a big fuss about the food being vegetarian - on the contrary, act
like it's normal (which it is!) If they know you're vegetarian,
you don't need to point it out every time. But do answer questions,
and do share your recipes if asked! Sharing food with you helps
people get used to the idea that vegetarian food is normal, tasty,
substantial, varied, easy to prepare, and all in all, well, why
would anyone bother with meat?
Phone talk back radio
Help spread the word - let people in as many forums as possible
hear the word "vegetarian" and the arguments in favour of it. Link
it with other issues like the environment, water, animal welfare,
food production, world hunger or spirituality - whatever the current
hot topic.
Write letters to the Editor
Another effective way to spread the word, inform people and bring
a vegetarian perspective into current debate.
Contact companies
Let companies know that you are looking for vegetarian alternatives
and that you refuse to buy products which involve the exploitation
of animals (whether food products or other items).
You may think you're too small to make a difference, but trying
being in bed with a mosquito! In a market-driven economy, consumer
choice is one of the real (if limited) forms of power each of us
have. Like water dripping on stone, each individual consumer comment
adds up to a significant lobby. Companies operate in a competitive
marketplace and have their ears to the ground on what consumers
are looking for.
Support vegetarian shops and eateries
Vegetarian shops and eateries help spread the vegetarian word and
make the vegetarian lifestyle easier and more appealing. The more
vegetarian shops and eateries we have, the more visible vegetarianism
is to the wider public.
Ask for vegetarian options
In non-vegetarian eateries and shops, ask for vegetarian options.
This builds consumer pressure and helps raise awareness about vegetarianism.
It encourages eateries and shops to offer vegetarian options, which
in turn makes vegetarianism more visible, and more accessible, easy
and normal.
Lobby MPs
Vegetarianism is a key part of the solution to many of the critical
problems facing our society, such as water shortage, global warming,
animal diseases resulting from intensive farming, and many more.
Help get vegetarianism on the agenda by informing MPs about the
links
Distribute flyers
Vegetarian Action frequently runs flyer campaigns
promoting vegetarianism and raising public awareness. We always
invite participation by anyone interested, anywhere in Australia.
For Vegetarian Action supporters, we will deliver flyers to you
to distribute. For non-supporters, our flyers are available on the
web (see our campaigns page)
for download and distribution.
Volunteer!
Vegetarian Action offers various ways to get involved in promoting
vegetarianism, from distributing flyers to standing on stalls at
public events, from wearing sandwich boards or making phone calls
to helping without our website. Being a supporter is the first step
towards becoming involved as a volunteer.
Support Vegetarian Action!
Vegetarian Action is a not-for-profit organisation run by volunteers,
and dedicated exclusively to promoting vegetarianism as an ethical,
humane, healthy and ecologically sustainable way of life.
We receive no funding from government or corporate sources. This
allows us to remain independent and to promote vegetarianism, regardless
of whether this fits with government or corporate agendas. It also
means donations from supporters such as yourself are crucial in
allowing us to do what we do.
Becoming a supporter has many benefits for you, too. One of these
is that being a supporter entitles you to receive our email updates
and to participate in our activites to promote vegetarianism.
More about becoming a supporter
More ideas? Why not let us know if you can think of
anything to add to this list!
Page updated: October 2007
