Information Editor: Colin Howlett Advertising and Distribution Manager: Barry Kew Design by The Tandem Design C o m p a n y Il lustrations by Juliet Breese Typese t by Brains, Reading Pr in ted by L.J . Print Services L td . , 83-87 Union Street , L o n d o n SE1 1SG

The Vegan is published quar ter ly by The Vegan Society Ltd

Published: 21st March , June , September , D e c e m b e r

Copy Date: 1st of preceding month

ISSN 0307-4811

© T h e Vegan Society Ltd

The Vegan Society The Vegan Society Ltd Regis tered Charity No. 279228 33-35 G e o r g e Street Oxfo rd O X 1 2 A Y Tel : 0865 722 166

President: Serena Coles

Deputy President: Chris Langley

Vice-Presidents: Eva Bat t Jay Dinshah Wini f red Simmons

Council: David Barre t t Philip Brown Serena Coles J o h n Cummins Clive Gray Chris Langley (Chair) Ka th Manners Lor ra ine Munn G r a c e Smith Kim Stallwood

Hon. Treasurer: J o h n Cummins

Secretary: Barry Kew

Office Manager: Susan Kew

Fund-Raising Officer: Mike G r e e n

For the benefit of new readers some general information is provided below:

Veganism is a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practical, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, the animal kingdom for food, clothing or any other purpose. In dietary terms, it refers to the practice of abstaining from the use of all animal produce - including flesh, fish, fowl, eggs, animal milks, and their derivatives with the taking of honey being left to individual conscience.

The Vegan Ethic challenges all those who preach compassion yet acquiesce in institutionalized animal abuse, especially the cruel practices inherent in dairy, livestock and poultry farming. Abhorrence of these practices is probably the single most common reason for the adoption of veganism, but many people are also drawn to it for health, ecological, spiritual and other reasons.

For those in doubt , the words 'vegan' and 'veganism' are pronounced 'vee-gan' and 'vee-ganism' with a hard 'g' , as in 'gorilla', and the stress on the first syllable.

The Vegan Society was formed in England in November 1944 by a group of vegetarians who had recognized and come to reject the ethical compromises implicit in lacto-vegetarianism and consequently decided to renounce the use of all animal products. Since those early days it has grown considerably in both size and influence, reflecting the increasingly wide recognition of veganism's ethical, health, ecological and other advantages. The Society now has the status of an educational charity, whose aims include encouraging the development and use of alternatives to all commodities normally derived wholly or partly from animals.

If you would like more information please send a large SAE to the Society at

33-35 George Street, Oxford OXI 2AY.

If you are already a vegan or vegan sympathiser please support the Society and help increase its influence by joining. Increased membership means more resources to educate and inform. The current subscription is just £3.00 a year (£2.00 to the unwaged and those sharing with a member at the same address). Full membership is restricted to practising vegans, as defined above, but sympathisers are very welcome as associate members. Both full and associate members receive The Vegan free of charge. Applications for membership should be sent to the Oxford office, with the envelope marked 'Membership Secretary'.

Local Vegans The Vegan Society has an expanding network of people throughout Britain who act as local vegan contacts (LVCs), providing support for new members and co-ordinating promotional work at local level. For the name and address of your nearest LVC see the Contact section in the magazine.

Vegan Publications Apart from The Vegan magazine, the Vegan Society publishes a wide range of free leaflets and low-priced books and booklets of interest to the newcomer. See the section in the magazine entitled Publications & Promotional Goods.

The Vegan Shop sells all Vegan Society publications and promotional goods, as well as other publications and a wide range of non-animal-tested products. For the address and other details see the section in the magazine entitled Publications & Promotional Goods.

The Vegan Self-Sufficiency Network, an organization independent of the Vegan Society, was established to provide a focus for all those interested in, working towards, or practising self-sufficient

lifestyles based on vegan principles.

The Network produces a quarterly newsletter in which members can share ideas and experiences and discuss subjects related to the many aspects of vegan self-sufficiency. There are sections devoted to vegan gardening, and to crafts and self-sufficiency skills.

If you would like further information on VSSN please write to

A subscription to the newsletter costs £2 a year (overseas surface mail £2.50) -cheques payable to 'The Vegan Self-Sufficiency Network'.

Vegan Magazines In addition to The Vegan, please note the following publications, which are produced independently of the Vegan Society:

Vegan Times 25 Tabley Road, London N7 0NA' Veganism, spiritual growth, healing, ecology, etc. 50p in stamps for sample copy.

Y Figan Cymreig (The Welsh Vegan) 9 Mawddwy Cottages, Minllyn, Dinas Mawddwy, Machynlleth SY20 9LW, Wales. 35p in stamps for a sample copy.

Veganism Abroad There are active vegan societies in Australia, Sweden and the USA, as well as contacts in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands and New Zealand.

The views expressed in The Vegan do not necessarily reflect those of the Editor or the Vegan Society Council. Nothing printed should be construed as Vegan Society policy unless so stated. The Society accepts no liability for any matter in the magazine. The acceptance of advertisements does not imply endorsement. Contributions intended for publication are welcomed, but unsolicited materials will not be returned unless accompanied by an SAE.

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Taking Stock Throughout the history of the world autumn must always have been a busy time. It is a period of gathering in the harvest in order to be well prepared for the rigours of the winter ahead and whatever privations it may bring. It is also a time of standing back and taking stock, and in the light of what we see making plans for the year ahead.

This seasonal pattern is reflected in the political world - witness the trade-union and Party Congresses - and in the Vegan Society. It is almost a year since the most momentous AGM in the Society's history, when a number of far-reaching decisions were taken by the democratic assembly of full members. In the course of that eventful year the Council has met no fewer than 18 times, and individual Council members have put in countless extra hoursof work for the cause. The Secretary and his wife have been working record hours to cope with the ever-increasing volume of incoming post, telephone and personal inquiries; The appearance of the new-look magazine alone prompted a three-fold increase in inquiries. For Society members the'new-look magazine, of which this is the second issue, is , of course, the most obvious result of all this extra work. The overwhelmingly positive response to the change of format and style (see pages 20-21) has been most encouraging and some of the changes in this issue are a direct result of constructive criticisms received. And there's more to come - within weeks other new-look materials will be available and the Fund-Raising Campaign will be in full swing.

In the period since, the launch of the new magazine it has been refreshing and stimulating to be on the receiving end of so much high-quality material from readers - much talent has hitherto lain dormant in the Society. It is to be hoped that as the Society gathers further momentum with its new look and new thinking more people

will put pen to paper, brush to canvas^ pan to cooker, or whatever may be their medium, and make their own personal contribution to the expansion drive.

So, as we draw close to another AGM and take stock of the past year - one of rapid transition - 1 would warmly encourage all members to seriously consider if there are further ways in which they could assist our work at national or local level. At a time of bold, and often difficult decision-making, those responsible for the conduct of the Society's affairs need to know that they enjoy the membership's broad support.

Finally, the autumn is also a

time to concentrate our thoughts and prepare to campaign both publicly and less publicly against the onslaughts of the meat and dairy industriesin the run-up to Christmas. Sunday, 6 October is World Day of Prayer for Animals - if you attend a place of worship, why not suggest some prayers for the animals that people choose to make room for on the dinner-plate, rather than in their homes? World Food Day, on 16 October, is ah ideal time for demonstrating veganism's special role in alleviating Third World hunger and malnutrition. Good campaigning!

Contents

1 News

»Animal Trap Naomi Lewis examines the portrayal of animals in children's books

' Healthwise 9 The Mineral Question

• Jailhouse Blues Vegans in Prison

• Reviews 12 • In the Vegan Kitchen 14

• Growhow The Seaweed Connection

• Vegans & Vaccination 18 P a r t i

• Postbag 20 • Family Matters 22 • Noticeboard 24 • Publications & 25

Promotional Goods • Contact 26 • Classifieds 27

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News

All Systems Go T h a t ' s the mood in the Society 's roomy new Oxford premises . What was once no more than an idle dream - a ful l -blown, easily accessible office - is now an exciting reality. The work of increasing the Society's impact on public opinion and farming practice has now entered a long-awai ted and historic new phase . 1985 will go down as the year of veganism's 'Grea t Leap Forward ' .

Vegans Come Out Tops A nutr i t ional survey part-f u n d e d by Newman Turner Publicat ions has found vegans to be "closer to the ' ideal ' diet than comparison groups of ovo-lacto-vegetarians, whole food omnivores and average omnivores ." The survey repor t , published in the July issue of The Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners, states: "A l though it was only a small pilot s tudy, it confirms that those people on near vegan or vegetar ian diets can more easily mee t currently approved dietary goals as recommended by the Nat ional Advisory C o m m i t t e e on Nutrition Educa t ion ( N A C N E ) . "

Living without Cruelty Animal Aid has launched an ambi t ious countrywide 'Living Wi thou t Cruelty ' campaign, the aim of which is to supply

information about practical alternatives to animal abuse, so prompting people to take a positive personal step towards ending cruelty to animals, either by becoming vegan/ vegetarian, cutting down on meat , avoiding factory-farm products, or boycotting goods tested on animals. Find out more about this celebration of cruelty-free living by writing (please enclose an SAE) for the 'Living Without Cruelty' information pack to: Animal Aid, 7 Castle Street, Tonbridge, Kent TN91BH.

Jacne Guide Out After falling foul of powerful vested interests and attempts at Government censorship of its findings, the guide Eating for a Healthy Heart, drawn up by the Joint Advisory Committee on Nutrition Education ( J A C N E ) , has finally been published. The guide's publication is the final, successful chapter in a long-running battle between health ministers, backed by doctors and nutritionists, and the food industry, backed by Agricul-ture Minister Michael Jopling. Among measures to curb heart disease (UK rates are the high-est in the world), the guide calls for reductions in the consump-tion of saturated fat in meat, but ter and milk.

Safety First Safeway, the supermarket chain, has announced that it is to reduce the number of chemical additives in its own-label foods, following the

large number of letters received from customers - in particular from mothers whose children suffer acute toxic reactions, such as rashes, asthma, migraine and hyperactivity, caused by coal-tar food dyes like tartrazine and other chemical additives. Safeway's move contrasts with the Ministry of Agriculture, which is expected to declare 'safe' 17 suspect colours and dyes currently under review.

Shedding Fat As from the 8 August 1985 issue. Farmers Weekly, the farming establishment's increasingly image-conscious mouthpiece, has banned the use of the word 'fat ' . No longer will its pages talk of fat cattle, fat lambs or fat pigs. When describing animals 'ready for slaughter', the words 'finished,' 'fit ' , or 'prime' are now to be used instead.

RSPCA Dog-fighting Appeal In the wake of the Potters Bar dog-fighting prosecution, the RSPCA has launched a special appeal for money to help improve the Charity's ability to combat animal cruelty. The RSPCA believes that cases like the one at Potters Bar are not uncommon and that the best way of attacking the evil is for the Charity to strengthen its Inspectorate, which for 161 years has been the main force opposing animal cruelty in this country. The Society is hoping to start training 20 new inspectors later this year.

RSPCA national fund-raiser Mike Smithson: "The shocking pictures that have appeared on TV and in the press have brought home to the public what the RSPCA is fighting against. We receive no state aid - we are reliant totally on the public's generosity and we urgently need money." Donations to: RSPCA, Causeway, Horsham, Sussex RH12 1HG.

RSPCA Action Group The RSPCA Action Group (RAG) has been formed by a number of RSPCA members who are committed to the idea of a radical and campaigning Society which will effectively

tackle the commercial abuse of animals.

The Group's aims are: 1. To build a network of

radical RSPCA members and to encourage active animal rights representa-tion within RSPCA branches across the coun-try.

2. To ensure the election of radical animal rights cam-paigners onto the RSPCA's governing Council.

3. To reveal 'confidential' information about conten-tious issues relating to the RSPCA in order to ensure that the Society does not maintain double standards.

A number of disturbing developments which have recently come to light lead R A G to believe that now, more than ever before, the time is right for animal rights campaigners to unite to change the RSPCA.

Firstly, the fact that the RSPCA's Animal Experimen-tation Advisory Committee (AEAC) includes practising vivisectors, employees of pharmaceutical companies, and even a member of the Research Defence Society.

Secondly, the fact that the RSPCA has huge investments in companies which profit from animal abuse and exploi-tation. The RSPCA currently has shares in the following companies: Beechams, Boots, BP, Fisons, Glaxo, ICI and Unilever.

Thirdly, the fact that the RSPCA Council is totally dominated by 'traditionalists', who recently showed their double standards by expelling Council member Kim Stallwood both from the Coun-cil and the Society for pub-licizing the fact that the A E A C includes vivisectors and other avowed pro-vivisectionists, and by suppressing discussion of this issue at the recent RSPCA AGM.

The failure of progressive animal rights campaigners to get elected onto the RSPCA Council underlines the urgent need for all animal rights activists to join the RSPCA, to get involved in local RSPCA branches, and to use their votes to ensure the election of progressive candidates and the adoption of radical animal rights policies. It is hoped that R A G will serve as a rallying-point for activists to get to-

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gether and transform the RSPCA.

If you are interested please contact: RSPCA Action Group, do Box 199, Harrow, Middlesex HA3 9RL.

FAWC Ritual Slaughter Verdict Following a three-year study of the question of ritual slaughter for kosher and halal meat, the Government 's advisory committee on animal welfare, the Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC), has recommended a ban on the use of Jewish and Muslim slaughtering methods.

F A W C chairman Sir Richard Harrison said that, although it was accepted that the Jewish teaching was to cause as little pain and suffering as possible to the animals, the report 's findings showed conclusively that change was needed.

New Movement Launched Kathleen Jannaway has announced the launch of the 'Movement for Compassionate Living', whose aims are described as complementary to those of the Vegan Society. The new movement is designed to appeal to "those who realise that life is reaching a critical stage and that.its furtherance depends on a commitment to compassion to all living things, compassion worked out in action at every level of daily living".

For further details send SAE, together with two postage stamps, to: 47 Highlands Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 8NQ.

VSSN Gathering Paul Appleby reports: Around 50 members attended the first national gathering of the Vegan Self-Sufficiency Network at Canon Frome Court, set in the beautiful Herefordshire countryside, over the weekend of 15-16 June. The midsummer gathering featured films, talks, a craft demonstration, workshops and discussions on various aspects of vegan self-sufficiency.

Robert Hart , co-author of Forest Farming and an

authority on agroforestry, described his V4-acre experimental garden in Shropshire and drew on his extensive knowlege of plants and plant foods in a wide-ranging discussion.

Alan Raddon provided a practical demonstration of rope-soled shoe making, which had some people literally tied up in knots!

Films shown over the weekend included 'Tara's Mulch Garden ' , describing the use of straw mulch on a Canadian smallholding, and a documentary about the late Scott Nearing and his wife Helen, depicting life in and around their hand-built New England homestead.

All in all, an enjoyable and useful weekend. Especial thanks are due to the tireless organizers, Alan and Elaine Garrett , and to Canon Frome Court Community for their hospitality and sumptious vegan fare.

Alternative Medicine Exhibition Gavin Jones reports: The Vegan Society stall was well attended throughout the four days of the Exhibition (11-14 July), held in.Kensington, Central London. Whether consciences had been pricked due to the fact that we'd been placed opposite the refreshments area was hard to establish, but stocks of literature soon began to run low. In particular, there was an encouragingly large demand for cookery books. Next year, with a good range of new-look leaflets and booklets to offer, will hopefully be an even bigger success.

1985 Vegan Camp Camp organizer John Strettle reports: The 1985 Vegan Camp, the fifth to date, enjoyed the largest-ever attendance. Some 53 people, including 23 children, gathered on Anglesey early in August. Activities included morning runs, a communal meal under canvas, a visit to a nature reserve, evening sing-songs, and a puppet-show. Despite the bad weather - eight wet and windy days out of nine — the atmosphere was so good

that almost all the campers are planning on attending next year's Camp, which is to be in Dorset .

Full details of the 1986 Camp from

2nd International Vegan Festival Held at the Martinus Centre, Klint, Denmark, over the period 3-10 August, the 2nd International Vegan Festival was attended by over 50 people from twelve countries. TTie UK contingent, which included Vegan Society President Serena Coles, attended various lectures, workshops and exhibitions connected with the vegan way of living. Serena wishes to thank the Festival organizer, Kirsten Jungsberg, and all of those who helped to make the Festival a success.

Decisions, Decisions... Highlights of Vegan Society Council discussions in the last quarter,

Fund-Raising Mike Green, erstwhile LVC for Northants, took up his duties as Fund-Raising Assistant/Press & Publicity Officer on 6 August. He has now started work on the Fund-Raising Campaign and will ultimately be moving to Oxford in order to work from the Society's new Headquarters.

Staffing After lengthy discussion of his position in the light of changes in Vegan Society priorities and other considerations, Laurence Main has amicably and by mutual agreement left the Society's employ. The Council wishes to record its appreciation for his positive contribution to the promotion of veganism in his period of employment. He remains LVC for Gwynedd.

To help cope with the burgeoning workload at the Oxford office Susan Kew has been appointed Office Manager on a six-month contract.

Literature & Promotional

Materials A Working Party has been formed to oversee the production of a new range of materials. Work is now in hand to implement the recommendations of the specially-commissioned Review of Vegan Society Publicity & Promotional Materials, with the aim of supporting the Fund-Raising Campaign with fresh leaflets.

Promotional Goods Negotiations with the Vegan Shop are underway with a view to expanding the existing range of promotional goods. Establishing a trading subsidiary is a distinct possibility.

TheVegan Following the introduction of the new format , advertising rates have been revised and set at increased* but still advantageous rates. Distribution of the magazine is now being taken over on a national basis by Newman Turner Publications, who service more than 2,000 health-food shops and other outlets.

Oat Cuisine A new wholefood vegetarian/ vegan restaurant.bearing this tongue-in-cheek name has recently opened in Brighton. On the night one reader visited the premises over half the dishes were vegan and starred as such on the menu. Details: Oat Cuisine, 113 St. George's Road, Kemp Town, Brighton. Tel 0273 680317.

Plamil Marathon Plamil Foods plan to sponsor a marathon next spring to demonstrate that orthodox eaters have no monopoly on physical prowess. The date and venue have still to be fixed, but interested readers are invited to drop Plamil Foods a line to indicate if (a) they are willing to run a full I or half marathon, (b) undertake duties on the day of the event (doctors, first-aid, stewards etc.), and (c) whether they would be prepared to attend a preliminary planning meeting some time this autumn. Contact: Plamil Foods Ltd, Bowles Well Gardens, Dover Road, Folkestone, Kent CT19 6PQ.

ANIMAL TRAP

N a o m i Lewis , Chi ldren ' s Books Editor For The Observer, is a we l l -known poet and l i terary crit ic , whose dist inguished contr ibut ion to the cri t ic ism of chil-d r e n ' s f ic t ion and services to chi ldren's books general ly won her the Eleanor Far jeon A w a r d in 1975.

Here N a o m i explores the assumpt ions under ly ing the portrayal of an imals in ch i ldren ' s books and in so doing power-fully i l luminates o n e of the more nega-tive forces shaping the values of adult soc ie ty .

I have a high regard for the child who, hearing the tale of the prodigal son, burst into tears and cried out, "Poor

fat ted calf!". It 's a tiresome parable however you look at it, mistrusted by the good and bad alike. But this child saw straight through the assumptions to an undeniable truth, and that is rare in adult or in child. Assumptions, mind-less acceptances, the notion that you have to think or behave in a certain way because of custom, fashion tradition -these are the cause of most of the world 's evils. "You can't change people" , "It has always been done, so it must be right". A bad or cruel thing does not become un-bad or un-cruel just by crossing a frontier , an ocean or a private wall.

I'll name a few. Slavery. The burning alive of heretics. Or 'witches'. The crip-pling of girls' feet in yesterday's China. Suttee in India. Polygamy and the Harem. The use of five-year olds in En-glish mills and mines. The blinding and caging of songbirds in Mediterranean countries. The bullfight. The rodeo. The hunt. The shoot. The belief that women, the black-skinned, the 'white' labouring poor, the blind, the deaf and of course, all animals, were sub-species, deficient in minds and souls -whatever that meant.

Some of these things are happening somewhere still. But in this country, anyhow, most of the human wrongs have been mended or are being so, vig-orously, with plenty of funds and energy: certainly those that relate to women and 'ethnic' people and human rights and liberties. We don't have human slaves or overworked servants. But through all changes, the same vic-tims remain, perpetual slaves, perpetu-ally without the most basic rights. Who are these? The non-human animals on whom most humans depend. And much of the fault lies in attitudes, pas-sed on to the young in their earliest reading and listening.

When I first gave thought to this arti-cle, I began to make a list of all the things that make me pause before re-commending a book. The list of abuses taken for granted and therefore given

implied approval is long. I'll name a few of the items. Pictures showing birds in tiny cages as an ornament in a room. Pictures showing dogs with amputated tails; books about dogs which take the horrible practice of amputation - a fashion maintained by breeders - as a fact of nature. (They used to do it to horses.) Approving accounts of the rodeo, that national disgrace of Canada. (The whole cowboy business with its branding, roping and all the rest is bound up in cruelty, and for what end? - a gobbet of meat on a plate.)

'Dancing' bears, still to be found in the Middle East, maybe nearer. (Do you know why they stand on their hind legs?) The revived use of bows and ar-rows. They are soon enough turned on animals and are a very nasty weapon in-deed, smashing bones without killing. The horrible treatment of alligators and crocodiles in travel adventure books. The spurring of horses. When I see "He raked his horse's sides" I put the book down and think... Books about heath, bush and forest fires which ignore the real horror - not only the countless animal deaths but the maiming, burning and blinding of the luckless survivors. (I don't mean the humans, who generally get away.) The boiling alive of crabs and lobsters. Isn't it time, I reflect, that veal and lobster and quite a few other things came off the children's book menus? Deep-sea

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fishing. Jokey abuse of camels and mules and donkeys. (A whole book could be given to this.)

Sentimental accounts of cows and sheep giving birth when we know what will shortly happen.

Wolf I'll take a simple but very striking example of what I mean by assump-tions' - the case of the wolf, the 'villain' of so many stories. Need I remind you? There he is, boiled alive in a cauldron of water, worse things too; no fate is too horrible.

What dreadful things he must have done to get such punishments! And from tales and superstitions, handed down and down, passed on and on in print and pictures, such hatred and fear have swollen up that the wolf has been almost wiped out from the earth and in ways so obscene and vile (in our own century too) that I will not set them out here.

Somewhat late in the day the true facts are being brought to light. The wolf is a highly intelligent, clean and or-derly creature. It keeps to one mate, is an excellent father or mother and is far more likely to foster a human infant, make it one of the family, as it were, than to eat it. In the whole of human history the number of humans killed by wolves (then mainly in self-defence, or from provocation or extreme starva-tion) is absurdly small, a mere fraction of the number of animals killed every single day, year after year, by humans for food, or greed, or 'sport', or enter-tainment, or to keep laboratories in business, or by pollution, or because endless human increase has taken their last food and living space. As for the number of wolves destroyed by man, this is beyond counting, an almost total genocide.

The key place to stop all this while a few wolves still remain, is in children's reading or listening.

Every time I see a book with the same old vilification of the wolf as devil, fool and knave I sigh and hide it away. I hope that every parent or adult in touch with children will do the same.

Circus Circuses using animals are (rightly) banned today in a large proportion of London boroughs and in towns elsewhere. Yet publishers who should know better still pretend that wretched tigers, lions, elephants enjoy the de-grading antics they are forced to make, let alone the cracking whip of the ringmaster. (They are shown moreover as fun-things, to be laughed at, as caged animals in menageries used to be. A pa-rent who takes a child to an animal-using circus (or, need I add, to a bullfight or rodeo) is in the exact line of

Assumptions, mindless acceptances, the notion that you have to think or behave in a certain way because of custom, fashion, tradition - these are the cause of most of the world's evils.

parents who took their young to laugh at the mad in Bedlam (a favourite 18th century Sunday sport) or to watch a public hanging. At least the intention here was moral and serious! Never mind if a prominent circus in this coun-try claims to be free from cruelty. There used to be 'good' slave-owners. But what happens to the unhappy crea-tures in Ireland, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Morocco and other parts of Africa and the East? - anywhere in the world where abusing animals is considered either manly, virile or a joke.

So, look out for these circus picture books, and keep them out of the nur-sery, school or library.

The Whipping Boy Here's a curious little piece of history. In many of those old royal courts (there used to be plenty around) a 'whipping boy' was kept at hand to be beaten when the young prince misbehaved. Of course, the tutor couldn't touch the royal delinquent. 'Not fair' says every child who hears of this - it's the ulti-mate junior judgment. But the whip-ping boy still exists today. Behind close-locked laboratory doors living creatures: dogs, cats, delicate mon-keys, horses, rabbits and many others are made the whipping boys for every form of human greed and self-in-dulgence. Nerve gas, mustard gas and other chemical weapons, explosives, injuries caused by reckless car driving, are all repeatedly tested on animals.

I know of only one good work of fic-tion on this subject. The Plague Dogs by Richard Adams - to my mind the best of all his books. But in a reverse way, all young children's books are re-levant. A child who grows up seeing animals as Disney-type caricatures (Thelwell isn't guiltless here), as fools and baddies in myths and fables, as grotesques in 'funny' verses, will not be over-sensitive as an adult. And if there are insensitive adults to do the sinister lab jobs, these foul things will continue.

Fur Trap, Gin Trap A curious double standard seems to op-erate here. In the old-style boy's adven-ture book, any bird or beast of land or sea, never mind how rare, was simply

Th« key plica to stop all this... is in children's reading or listening.

an object for the business end of rod, spear, knife, gun, harpoon, arrow, catapult, trap or snare. In today's tales, the shooting is usually done with a cam-era. (A few alert novelists - not yet enough - have focussed on the real safari villain, the human poacher, kil-ling and maiming the great sad crea-tures in the reserves, in unspeakable ways, for ivory, horn and tourist trophies.) But the taste for animal slaughter doesn't lie down and there are ways of getting round the problem. Reissuing old 'classics' of the Henty/ Ballantyne sort is one.

But almost worse than these, are the new books, often for the youngest readers, set in other times or climes. How little UgWug plunges a knife or spear in his first bear or seal and proves himself a Man! In the same way, the cruelties of the gin trap and fur trap are quite acceptable if they happen Some-where Else.

Fable, Folk Tale This may seem a surprising statement (perhaps not the first in this piece), but don't assume that every animal fable or folk tale is sacrosanct, simply because it's in print, or has the respectable tic-ket of long tradition. The fable was (and still is, as in Animal Farm) a con-venient way for humans to lay their own particular sins and vices on patient creatures with no means of answering back - verbal whipping boys, you could say: "You pig. You ape. You ass. You swine. You beast." Yes, we all say these things.

I was delighted to find that Kenneth Grahame had exactly the same thoughts on the matter, and set them out with charm and point in his intro-duction to Aesop's Fables. You can find it in Beside the River Bank (Souvenir Press), a very good collection of Grahame's essays and other writings. Nor do I see much point in passing on to the young those tales giving silly and often shaming reasons why, say, the rabbit has no tail, the leopard has spots - you know the sort of thing. They don't help children to see the living cre-ature as it is - serious, sensitive and mysterious, with gifts of its own that we cannot equal.

Yes, one of the most revealing fea-tures of human attitudes to animals is the absence of all gratitude; the resent-ment when any concern is shown. "Why don't you think about humans?" Strangely, animal-helpers are generally human-helpers; the reverse is all too rarely the case. The human debt to non-human animals is vast beyond counting. They are used as food (a small word for a vast abuse), 'sport', labour, transport, 'entertainment' (see circuses above) and they bear the load of all human vices in the laboratories. 'Food' animals are branded with hot

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i rons , mut i la ted and kept - for life - in pr isons wi thout room to turn , wi thout chance of escape when some electric faul t sets the whole place a n ightmare of r edho t meta l . This happens to hens and pigs m o r e of ten than you might think and is not a quick or a pleasant way to die . Cows and calves are need-lessly sepa ra t ed soon af te r b i r th , to the great distress of bo th . ("Please, what is a milk mountain?" "Don't worry me, child. That's politics, not natural his-tory.") T h e y cannot s tr ike, or ask for the most basic rights. Yet the absence of g ra t i tude is not so hard to under-s tand . (For the same reason, slaves and servants were hardly ever t hanked . ) In books , in songs, indeed , they were al-ways shown as vulgar comics (see Punch early in our century) . You know the saying "The offender never for-gives"? I t ' s a valuable d ic tum; re-m e m b e r it. If once the e n o r m o u s debt t o animals were admi t ted , the guilt of centur ies would be too much to endure . T h e abuses would have to s top. An ap-pall ing thought !

The Feral Child For readers who are still with me and

If once the enormous debt to animals w e r e admitted, the guilt of centuries would be too much to endure.

still fr iends, I have a small bonus, a rare but invaluable source of evidence about the nature of animals and man. Along the centuries, one here , one there , young children have been lost or abandoned in wild forest regions and have spent all their formative years en-tirely clear of human influences - as-sumptions, if you like. Their teachers and companions have been the forest denizens, wolf and boar and snake. A few - much against their will - have been brought back to the human world, with a unique knowledge that can't be procured in laboratories. Of the au-thenticated cases two are of particular interest; Victor, the 12-year old Av-eyron boy, captured in 1800 af te r nine years in the forests of central southern France, and Marcos, a Spanish boy of our own time, a feral child between 1935 (when he was seven) until 1965, when he was seen by huntsmen and for-cibly brought back into (for him) the disorderly and treacherous human world. There is not space here for more

than a few points, but in addition to ex-ceptional sight, hearing and resistance to cold - all presently lost - the boys had other likenesses. Both lived for choice on roots and nuts. They were not aggressive or warlike. They did not respond to pornography. Marcos, in-deed, is puzzled by the human preoccu-pation with sex. "The animals have their times and seasons." He finds the human world much less clean, honest , affectionate and reasoning, than the one he had left. And , Spaniard though he is, he cannot tolerate cruelty to ani-mals. What is the truth about human -and animal - nature?

Reprinted with amendments, by kind permission of Books for Your Chil-dren, available from PO Box 507, Har-borne, Birmingham B17 8PJ. Annual subscription (3 issues) £3.50.

Editor's Note: Naomi Lewis is among the contributors to a list of recom-mended children's books now available from the Oxford office in return for an SAE. Please mark your envelope 'Chil-dren's Books List'.

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Healthwise Drs Chris and Gill Langley take a vegan view of current medical writing on diet and health.

The Mineral Question

Although mineral elements make up only 1% of the diet, they play very im-

portant roles in keeping us healthy. Despite the fact that various authorities publish Re-commended Daily Allowances (RDAs) for most nutrients, in the case of trace elements like minerals these recommended intakes are more in the nature of educated guesses than hard and fast rules. The problem ve-gans may face with minerals is that when they come from plant sources, they are not al-ways easily absorbed, so al-though we may consume the R D A for a mineral in our diet it is possible that levels in our bodies could, in some cases, be lower than is considered nor-mal.

Iron is needed for the forma-tion of blood, and deficiency leads to anaemia - whose symptoms include tiredness and weakness. Several studies of the health of vegans have shown that children and adults eat more iron-rich food than meat-eaters do - about one and a half times the R D A . How-ever, because some plant foods contain substances called phy-tate (in grains) and oxalate (e.g. in spinach and seeds), some of this iron is not ab-sorbed into the body.

A 1983 study of vegans' con-ducted at Surrey University showed that despite the fact that they ate nearly twice the R D A of iron-rich foods, and seven times the R D A of vita-min C (which aids iron absorp-tion), three out of ten vegans showed signs of mild anaemia. This is the first time that the vegan diet has compared un-favourably with meat-eating on this score, but since the sample of vegans tested was very small (only 10 people), it may have been unrepresentative.

Although the iron in meat is more easily absorbed, meat-eaters' daily intake can actually be very low. A report pub-lished this year2 revealed that a group of omnivorous young

women were consuming, on av-erage, only three quarters of the R D A , and it has been esti-mated that many omnivorous women suffer from mild anaemia.

Various studies of vegans in-dicate that our calcium intake may fall short of the RDA . A 1981 report3 observed that the average calcium intake of 23 vegan pre-school children was only half the R D A , although, signficantly, none showed clini-cal signs of deficiency. The Sur-rey study1 showed a wide varia-tion of calcium intake in the vegan volunteers, but the aver-age level was 98% of the R D A . None of the studies has taken into account the contribution to calcium in the diet made by drinking water; this depends on the hardness of the water and varies widely throughout the country. It's been calculated that this provides an average of 15% of our daily calcium re-quirement.

Like iron, the absorption of calcium is inhibited by phytate in grains, so that although wholewheat bread and other whole cereals contain calcium, it's not all available to the body. The oxalate in green leafy veg-etables has the same effect. About half of the phytate in wholewheat flour is destroyed during the proving of the dough in bread-making, if it is left for a total of 3-4 hours; so if you make your own bread, leave it to rise for as long as possible!

Although our intake of cal-cium is marginal, there is no evidence for clinical calcium deficiency in British vegans. But calcium deficiency has its most profound effect in young children up to the age of six, when rickets can occur; and teenagers and pregnant or lac-tating women need higher levels, so do try and include cal-cium-rich foods in your daily diet. These could be blackstrap molasses (also a very rich source of iron), sesame and sunflower seeds, carob flour, parsley, most beans and nuts, miso and edible seaweeds (also very rich in iron). The absorp-tion of calcium needs vitamin D

- the best vegan source of which is the sunshine, although vegan margarines, and Plamil soya milk are fortified with it.

Two other minerals deserve a mention. Zinc is a constituent of 25 enzymes in the body, and is important in wound and burn healing. A letter in the medical press4 in 1984 referred to the Ministry of Agriculture survey which reported that zinc defi-ciency may be quite common, the level in the average diet being only V i - % of the R D A , 'with risk of less for vegeta-rians'. However, two scientific studies refute that statement for vegans: pre-school children on a vegan diet took in the same levels of zinc as omnivorous children, which were, admit-tedly, below the RDA 3 ; as were the intakes of Swedish adult ve-gans, who nevertheless were found to have one and a half times the amount of zinc in their diets than their meat-eat-ing counterparts5. So we may all be eating too little zinc, but vegans are certainly no worse off than omnivores. Nuts and seeds are good sources of zinc.

Selenium has hit the head-lines recently as a mineral which is a natural anti-oxidant and helps preserve tissue elas-ticity. An R D A has not yet been calculated, and intakes of selenium in plant foods depend on how rich the soil is in this mineral. This varies from coun-try to country, but Swedish soil is poor in selenium. A study published this year6 showed that although the selenium in-take of a group of Swedish veg-ans was low, their blood levels were as high as omnivores' and higher than lacto-vegetarians'.

Possibly because the vegans ex-creted less selenium they were able to conserve their body levels. Whole grains and nuts are good sources of selenium for the vegan.

In conclusion, there is no clinical evidence of mineral de-ficiency in vegans, with the pos-sible exception of iron-defi-ciency anaemia revealed by one small study. Although our intakes of the various minerals may differ f rom those of omni-vores, where they are lower evidence suggests that we may adapt to those lower levels; and our vitamin intake is likely to be high, which encourages min-eral absorption - important since not all the minerals we consume are available for use by the body. As one of our greatest assets is good health, do pay attention to your food sources of minerals.

References 1 Lockie and others, Journal

of the Royal College of General Practitioners, July 1985, pp333-336

2 Barber and others, British Medical Journal , 9 March 1985, pp743-744

3 Sanders & Purves, Journal of Human Nutrition, vol 35 pp 349-357, 1981

4 Bryce-Smith & Simpson, Lancet, 11 August 1984, p350

5 Abdulla and others, Ameri-can Journal of Clinical Nut-rition, vol 34, pp2464-2477, 1981

6 Akesson & Ockerman, British Journal of Nutrit ion, vol 53 ppl99-205,1985

9

JAILHOUSE BLUES One of our major tasks is to make

known the ease with which one can live as a vegan. Breaking down the

mystique and false stereotype image so that veganism takes on the appearance of 'normali ty ' is, of course, a difficult brief. However , to some vegans finding themselves in less than salubrious sur-roundings such a job might seem to be a luxury ; for them, mere day-to-day exis-tence is a trial.

Those of whom I write (many of them at least) know all about trials and briefs. They too must understand more of what vegan pioneering means than the major i ty of vegans now benefitting f rom the effor ts of those who eschewed all animal products in the 1940s and earlier. Being a vegan in prison is tough going, though the morning post coming into the Oxford office brings, inevita-bly, the batch of familiar Prison De-par tment envelopes to prove that even whilst ' inside' some vegans continue to p romote veganism.

Until only very recently the Home Office seems neither to have fully un-ders tood , nor cared much, about veg-anism in prison, yet there has been some vague kind of policy - in the shape of guidelines issued to prison governors. These are designed to assist them in their efforts to cater for the in-creasing number of vegans in their charge. Alas, there is ambiguity from the start .

The H o m e Office: 'Governors must be satisfied that requests for such a diet are bona fide. If there is reason to doubt an inmate 's commitment to veg-anism the Governor may require him to produce written evidence ... f rom the Vegan Society."

A prison governor: 'I am obliged to opera te according to Home Office in-struction which is, as you are aware, that only card-carrying members of the Vegan Society will be allowed a vegan die t . '

A prison administrative officer: 'Do you allow prisoners to join your Soci-e ty? '

Fertile ground then for misun-ders tanding, mistreatment, evasion and Catch-22. No wonder some prison-ers have been refused vegan diets on the grounds that they were not ' the right religion'. Further details of the 'guidelines ' given below have never -despite regular requests - been given to us by the H o m e Office, only the odd letter giving a bare interpretation.

These were obtained via a prisoner: a. The basic food requirements for ve-gans are available from the vegetarian ration scale provided with its additional

This article is intended purely as an in-troduction to an area which almost defies stable description. For twelve months most of our information has come from vegan prisoners - the Home Office being in this regard miserly, sec-retive and unreliable. This is not, then, a definitive piece on the subject. Moreover , it deals only with some vegan experiences and not with the broader issue of penal conditions generally.

i t y / -

cash extras allowance. If eggs and cheese are not required, they can be re-placed with additional rice and tex-tured vegetable protein; or, if consi-dered advisable by the Medical Officer, the cash value of the eggs and cheese can be used to purchase other suitable substitutes. (NB. The MOs coming to our attention seem intolerant of veg-anism). b. In addition, the official weekly pro-vision of the following items may be made if necessary: - 8ozs Granogen plantmilk (or other

suitable brand) in lieu of fresh milk; - l ib of honey in lieu of sugar, jams,

marmalade etc; - 8ozs yeast extract in lieu of tea to

provide for hot drinks.

c. The vegetarian diet provides for an all-vegetable-oil margarine, oil and extra fruit, vegetables and onions. The weekly vegetarian allowance can be used to buy fruit, nuts, pasta, soya oil and lemons. It is also suggested that the canteen could stock suitable items which the inmate could purchase from his earnings.

Clothing The requirements of the prison regime mean that no special privileges in non-dietary areas, as clothing or footwear, may be permitted.

So much for the theory. Enter a vegan. If he/she is not already a member of the Vegan Society then a lengthy process can be faced whilst membership forms are sent, com-pleted, returned, card issued etc., dur-ing which time no vegan diet can be ex-pected. When, or once, the inmate is a 'card-carrying' member he/she can often find that even then things are not that simple. "The 'vegan' diet consisted of white bread/rolls, butter, powdered milk, eggs, cheese, fishfingers. The prison shop had no vegan produce on sale." "Basically our diet consists of white bread, pastries made with white flour, and vegetables that are boiled stupid." "I 'm told I have to eat the ordinary sweets like everyone else, which is duff and custard. This last week it's been duff and custard four times." "I've gone between two and three months before being given an orange. I'm told they're too expensive to buy." "The Prison Department seems to feel that vegans are a nuisance, that we're trying to 'pull one over' on them." "I 'm told that the more I complain the worse things will get for me." "I had learnt on the normal prison wing that they had no knowledge of nutri-tion, now in the hospital wing I was able to observe that they knew little or no-thing about medicine also. If I had to describe what the hospital wing was like I would say just like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest."

The Vegan Society has, during the last year, taken up the problems with the Home Office and with individual governors and catering officers, some of whom have been co-operative, superficially at least. Details of veg-anism and vegan nutrition have been supplied. In February this year we found that the efforts of an MP on our behalf were followed by a Home Office announcement that 'a nutritional analysis of the typical prison vegan diet'

10

was being undertaken. On 31st July we were informed that: 'We have not yet reached a final conclusion, but I hope we will be able to do so in the not too distant future. I can assure you that we have not been dragging our heels on this complex matter, but it is essential that the end result is not jeopardised by precipitate action.'

So much one has to sacrifice in order to remain patient and polite! However, day by day menus have been sent to us by prisoners, and our own provisional analysis shows that in terms of nutrients the diets supply only marginal or de-ficient intakes of riboflavin (B2), B12, vitamin D, calcium and zinc. Generally there appears to be no supply of wholemeal cereals, very few pulses, lit-tle or no salad or greens, a reliance on refined carbohydrates, and a wides-pread suspicion of the inclusion of non-vegan ingredients. Whilst we cannot expect vegan gourmet fare to be pro-vided we can demand that recom-mended dietary allowances are made available.

At this time we recommend that: 1. Whilst there is this peculiar ruling (?) that cards must or may be pro-duced, all vegans, especially those whose animal-liberation or related ac-tivities make them eligible for prison sentences, join the Vegan Society and obtain a membership card. Not only will this mean that a lot of trouble and

starving can be avoided but our in-creased membership figures will begin to give us the kind of clout many people think we already must have. 2. If you find yourself in prison you quickly establish the facilities afforded, such as: - what vegan food is regularly pro-

vided; - what food and other goods can be

purchased by you and/or brought in by friends/family (prisoners on re-mand have this right);

- what clothing, especially shoes, can you wear - standard issue or your own.

3. Any complaints are lodged simul-taneously with the Governor and the Vegan Society (see also note at end). 4. Maximum use should be made of Members of Parliament, who should be urged to make representations to Lord Glenarthur at the Home Office.

If you know a vegan in prison find out if you can take or send any items in to him/her. Again, there is confusion in this area. The Home Office tells us that prisoners may have goods brought in to them unless these goods are deemed to be a 'security risk', and this can be any-thing from toothpaste (drug carrying) to yeast extract (alcohol base).

Individual prisons differing so much in size and classification, and each Gov-ernor's autonomy being harnessed to idiosyncracy, any idea we might have of

producing a vegan prisoners' handbook would lead us to over 140 versions of it - one for each gaol. Moveover, al-though it would be possible to classify them on a five-star rating system, it is doubtful whether any would deserve the top award and there would be many contenders for the wooden spoon.

The case does not rest here. Apart from the results of the dietary analysis and the developments therefrom, we await from the Home Office details of a budget upon which to base specimen menus for prison use. Two prisoners have intimated their desire to act as Vegan Society prison liaison officers upon their release; one is considering taking his case to the European Court for Human Rights. However, in all de-alings with the Home Office one tends to walk a knife-edge. The last thing we want to do is antagonise the au-thorities; matters could easily worsen for those inside. Already they seem to have enough trouble, but not food on their plates.

Useful organisations: Support for Animal Rights Prisoners (SARP), Box 101, 84b Whitechapel High Street, London El. PROP, The National Prisoners Movement, BM Prop, London WC1N3XX Tel: 01-5423744 Barry Kew

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Reviews Compassion: The Ultimate Ethic. An Exploration off Veganism by Victoria Moran Thorsons £4.95 Pbk

Victoria Moran ' s book is something of a milestone for veganism. It 's the first t ime, as far as I 'm aware, that all aspects of veganism have been collected comprehensively together under one cover. What ' s more , Thorsons are a leading health publisher and, as a result, the book is more likely to make an impact on the wider world than if it were a Vegan Society publication.

It 's going to be a good advert isement . Although perhaps a trifle expensive for the more casual buyer, the book is attractively designed, it's well written and it's balanced and it 's sensible.

Al though Victoria is an American vegan (she lives in Chicago), the emphasis is on veganism as it has developed in Britain, rather than in the States. She gathered material for the book both at home and during two research trips to Britain; she quotes frequently f rom individuals she spoke to, which adds to the book 's readability.

The history of veganism is explored, and its evolving definition. Then she writes about its predominant ethical aspect, and its links (for some)

with Eastern thought , Schweitzer, Gandhi , Christianity, etc. There ' s a chapter on hunger, ecology and peace. The nutritional and holistic aspects are discussed, as is the rearing of vegan children, and slimming on a vegan diet. There 's also a section of recipes, and an appendix on vegan organisations.

I liked the emphasis on ethical veganism. Nutritional aspects are well covered but take second place, and the hunger/ecology aspects, which, in my opinion, can be used to argue near veganism, but not veganism, receive relatively little attention. On the other hand, the paradox is this: if vegetarianism or veganism, or something approaching it, is to take firm root in the coming decades, it is not likely to be for ethical reasons.

She is glowing about veganism: 'I personally believe that veganism is part of an all-encompassing spiritual quest . . . This compassion in action may be the glorious possibility that could protect our crowded, polluted planet f rom its most intelligent and dangerous inhabitant, man. ' She doesn't find 'a single crack' in its logic but , at the same time, observes that vegans 'are not . . . ripe for canonization: at times, a vegan is apt to gossip or criticize, to be as rude or resentful or angry as anybody else'.

What 's missing f rom the book? Not so very much. But I would like to have seen the use of non-sexist language rather than the man/he approach which suppresses (in subtle ways) one half of the human race!

Also, I felt Victoria was too of ten inclined to praise veganism rather than to analyse it. There is a section in which she asks several vegans "How do you respond to the statement 'Jesus ate f ish '?" (to which one reply was "I trust he would not eat it if he were a close friend of mine now"), but the 'problem areas' appear only patchily, or tend to be too easily skimped over. A chapter , for example, on genuine objections to

veganism would have been interesting. It might have given the book that little bit more credibility (though it might also have provided some readers with an excuse not to change their diets).

A chapter, for example, on genuine objections to veganism would have been interesting. It might have given the book that little bit more credibility (though it might also have provided some readers with an excuse not to change their diets. But take for example those people who sincerely feel that veganism does not quite fit with the broad ecological sweep of Nature. Or consider that there are quite a number of ex-vegans, only some of whom have lapsed for social reasons or lack of staying power.

The most notable group of ex-vegans (not mentioned by Victoria, and indeed very little heard of) are perhaps the small band of people who ran the journal of the Vegan Communities Movement in the late sixties. They began, however, to believe that 'the vegan ethic is now suspect', and reverted to meat-eating. Their long document Vegan Ethic Reappraised is fascinating if you don't mind having your beliefs challenged. That I'm still vegan shows that I didn't quite agree with them, but my point is that there are other positions.

I did, though, often find Victoria's enthusiasm catching. She has been inspired by veganism and she conveys that inspiration well. As Thorsons' press release says: 'For those who are considering joining the vegan ranks, this book forms an ideal guide'.

Victoria: 'Vegans.. . seem to have developed their potential for compassion to a great degree... I did not find vegans to be weak, emotional or hypersensitive as some critics have intimated, nor completely selfless, totally courageous or generally bordering on saintly. They are human beings with human failings, although they are exceptionally caring, thoughtful and consistent.'

Her book will, I hope, inspire many people to take the plunge, and to live out the caring. Malcolm Home

The Extended Circle: A Dictionary of Humane Thought Edited by Jon Wynne-Tyson Centaur Press £12.95 Hbk £4.95 Pbk

Where can one begin to give the flavour of this unique anthology, which runs to more than 400 pages? From the obvious, the vaguely remembered, the hitherto unknown and unlikely quotations here compiled, any selection for this review's purposes can only be taken at random. One is spoilt for choice, and what a choice.

In the Editor's Note, Jon Wynne-Tyson expressed his hope 'that every quotation in this source book may be, for someone, a starting point'. He will not be disappointed, for not only will this dictionary begin a new train of thought for many, for as many others it will be a returning point from which to begin again and again.

'Those who refuse to help erect the milestones are not on the march. ' (Lord Houghton)

It is in itself a review, of the mileage already clocked up. In its gathering together of those who have pointed the way it strengthens one's resolve to travel further in the best tradition. The book appears at a key moment and yet it seems as if it has always been with us; it soon becomes an old friend whose flow of words is always a great encouragement. Weighed against its cumulative force of argument any opposing sentiment can only seem like the drivel it is. Here

THE EXTENDED CIRCLE

A DICTIONARY OF HUMANE THOUGHT EDITED BY JON WYNNE TYSON

12

we have the coherence of compassion: articulated anger. That it is possible to compile such a poignant and inspiring work is heartening. That in the face of its sheer common sense societies can still be based on systematic animal abuse only fuels one's rage at the insane callousness that even now masquerades as respectability.

Some of those quoted and still among us - 'In the end we must, I think, somehow conclude that they (the animals) have as much right to this planet as we have.' (Duke of Edinburgh) - would do well to read through the entire book for they might be surprised to find themselves in such varied company. And whilst many may not need to read every word, we would do animals no small service by presenting some of them to people we all know.

'When a thing exists which you really abhor, I wish you would remember a little whether in letting it strictly alone you are minding your own business on principle, or simply because it is comfortable to do so.' (John Galsworthy)

Here we have the major religions: 'The Goddess of Mercy has a thousand hands -and needs them all.' (Buddhism) literary giants: 'Blood sacrifices are not in my line.' (George Bernard Shaw) politicians: 'I am in favour of animal rights as well as human rights. That is the way of a whole human being.' (Abraham Lincoln) and many others who speak with one voice, though some of them be peculiar bedfellows who would deny that part of themselves which brought them between these covers.

One of the more pleasing effects is indeed that of the underlying harmony which can all too often be forgotten: 'I am not basically a conservationist.. . I have only one concern, the suffering which we deliberately inflict upon animals whilst they live.' (Clive Hollands) 'An individual animal doesn't care if its species is facing extinction - it cares if it is feeling pain. ' (Ronnie Lee)

Two minor reservations might be raised. One is that

having once found a particularly outstanding quote one can have trouble finding it again. The other is that the reader must be careful that the sheer weight of words does not overwhelm with the thought that there's nothing more to be said. However, a further volume might contain more specifically vegan quotes. For now the words we have will bear repetition. 'We must admit into our moral treatises the question of the rights of animals; and not only the limits of our rights over them, but other topics hence arising ... to nourish a taste for killing is morally evil; to be accustomed to inflict agony on harmless animals without remorse prepares men's hearts for other cruelty.' (Francis William Newman)

Jon Wynne-Tyson is to be warmly congratulated for performing this somewhat inevitable task. The book is destined to become a classic, a standard reference work. A place for it on every bookshelf in home libraries and schools will consolidate extension of the circle's warm embrace and will clarify the 'areas where the moral issues are blurred by material gains or by the pleasures involved.' (Lord Houghton). Barry Kew

Clinical Ecology: The treatment of Ill-Heath Caused by Environmental Factors by G.T. Lewith and J.N. Kenyon Thorsons £4.95 Pbk

Over the past ten years the medical establishment has been critical and dismissive of the possible role of Clinical Ecology in the diagnosis and management of various 'sensitivities', or those allergies which defy orthodox immunological medicine. The authors of this book are well placed to provide an introductory account of the subject, as they are co-founders and directors of the Centre for the Study of Alternative Therapies in Southampton.

Drs. Lewith and Kenyon provide a sound discussion of

the possible ways in which pollution of our food and environment may lead to a wide variety of puzzling ailments, including diseases of the intestines, lungs and respiratory system, and those conditions termed 'undifferentiated disease'. This latter category includes general malaise, headache, stomach discomfort with a 'thick head' feeling, and palpitations.

Vegans will be interested to read that cow's milk is implicated in many diseases found in children and adults. Thus the status of this non-food receives yet another blow.

The sceptical scientist and the intelligent lay reader will have important criticisms to make, however. Firstly, the exasperating lack of references. Wild claims are made and one is left wondering where supporting evidence may be found. On page 46, for example, we are told that 'it has been demonstrated quite clearly that chronic gastritis will respond to food exclusion'; but the authors do not say who has demonstrated this, where and when, or how large the sample of patients was. On page 58 we are told that heart-attack patients fare better if treated at home, rather than in intensive coronary care units; this is a fairly well-known finding, but we are not given any references.

Secondly, nowhere is there a satisfactory definition of eczema, some of which will respond to an exclusion diet and others will not. When comparing the efficacy of the treatment of childhood eczema it is therefore essential to know which kind one is looking at. Thirdly, the chapter on techniques of measurement of the various symptoms of 'sensitivities' is grossly unsatisfactory. In particular, I have serious reservations about the value of hair analysis in the study of the levels of heavy-metal pollutants. It is almost impossible to control for metals which appear in samples of shampooed hair. Among a range of objections, medicated shampoos contain zinc, selenium and sometimes other fairly noxious chemicals. Also, how does one take account of frequency of hair-washing and hardness of water?

In summary, as a thorough introduction to the subject this book is largely unsatisfactory. This is a serious and worrying criticism, since the orthodox medical profession needs to be convinced that alternative or unorthodox treatment can work. One of the conclusions of the joint Royal College of Physicians/British Nutritional Foundation Working Party (referred to on page 110) states that there is a need for dietary diagnostic methods to be carried out and interpreted in accordance with strict criteria, particularly as placebo responses are common. This book does not succeed in persuading the critic that the methods of Clinical Ecology are sufficiently rigorous or soundly based. Dr. C.K. Langley

Editor's Note: Copies of Compassion: The Ult imate Ethic and The Extended Circle are available from The Vegan Shop (see pp25-26 for ordering details).

©mdhaurdl

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13

In the Vegan Kitchen A regular colnmn on vegan cookery and food preparation, together with news and views on new vegan food products

The Soya Scene — Part I Soya Beans Soya beans are perhaps the world's old-est food crop. In one form or another they have been a staple of the diet in the Or ien t for thousands of years. Only comparat ively recently, however, has this remarkable food resource become more widely known and exploited in the West .

Soya beans may be used in an ex-t raordinary variety of forms f rom field-fresh to highly processed. The dried beans , which are available from wholefood and health-food outlets, as well as some supermarkets , are a very cheap source of protein. Try them out in this simple, but tasty dish:

Baked Soya Beans 1 lb (450g) soya beans , soaked in a cool

p lace for 24 hours 3 tbs (45ml) vegetable oil 14 oz (400g) tin of tomatoes 5 oz (140g) tin of t o m a t o puree 1 tbs (25g) b r o w n sugar 2 tsp dr ied mixed herbs Rinse soaked beans, drain and place in an ovenproof casserole with all other ingredients and cover with about an inch of water . Bring to the boil and sim-mer for a few minutes, then cover and place in a slow oven (275°F/135°C/Gas Mark 2) for 4-5 hours, or until the beans are cooked and a thick sauce has fo rmed . Season to taste. This makes a large quant i ty , so some can be frozen and used later to make quick stews and casseroles more substantial.

Soya beans can be sprouted in the same way as other pulses in about 5-6 days. Soya sprouts are a valuable source of protein and vitamins, and can be added to soups rs^ and salads. j ^ ]

Soya Hour Perhaps the best known soya product is soya flour. It is not a flour in the same sense as wheat and rye flours and can-not be used on its own for thickening, since it contains no gluten or starch. But it is a valuable addition in baking, because it adds extra protein and also helps to emulsify the fat. It can be suc-cessfully added to other flours in the ratio of 1 part soya flour to 7 parts of the other flour. Always sift it first. Add a tablespoon of soya flour and then use water to mix in most recipes requiring milk. Try the following recipe:

Soya Custard 1 heaped tbs (20g) soya flour 1 tbs (20g) custard powder 1 t b s ( 3 0 g ) s u g a r >/2 pt (280ml) water Mix flour, custard powder and sugar in a small saucepan. Gradually mix in water, stirring well to avoid lumps. Heat gently until desired thickness is reached.

Here 's another recipe for those with a sweet tooth. It makes a delicious and nutritious sweetmeat, also avoiding cocoa for those with allergy problems.

Soya Carob Fudge 8 oz (225g) golden syrup 1 oz (30g) margarine 2 oz (60g) carob powder 4 oz (120g) soya flour 2 oz (60g) chopped nuts (optional) Dessicated coconut or ground nuts. Cream margarine and syrup. Sieve carob powder and soya flour and gradually work into syrup mixture. Add chopped nuts. Shape into logs and roll in coconut or ground nuts. Refrig-erate. Slice into small sections as re-quired.

Soya Milk Much of the credit for pioneering the production and sale of soya milk and other soya-based products in this coun-try belongs to Plamil Foods, an all-vegan enterprise launched in 1965, when people were far less conscious than now both of the cruelty inherent in dairy farming and of the health benefits of dairy-free food products. Plamil now market their liquid soya milk in concen-trated, ready-to-use, and sugar-free versions. These soya milks are, by the way, the only readily available liquid soya milks which are fortified with cal-cium and vitamins - a fact which

strengthens their appeal to the more nutrient-conscious section of the soya milk market.

Soya Milks in the Supermarket Spectacularly increasing demand has, however, made liquid soya milk pro-duction big business in the mid-eighties and smaller companies, like Plamil Foods, have been outpaced in the keenly-contested race to win a place on supermarket shelves. Granose, who launched their liquid soya milk in late 1981, are now selling 3Vi million litres a year. Other brands are appearing regu-larly and the consumer has no lack of choice. Here's a current list of what the big chains stock:

Boots Granose Co-op Sunrise (sugar-free) Safeway Provamel (sugar-free),

under own label Sainsbury Sunrise Tesco Alpro Waitrose Alpro Superdrug Granose and Sunrise. If your local branch of any of the

above is not yet stocking a soya milk it may be because it does not fall into the right size-category. But have a word with the manager(ess), and that might be all that's needed to establish a cheap and convenient supply source.

To give new or would-be vegans some guidance in the matter, we sam-pled all four brands listed above, along with the long-established Plamil and Sojal - a sugar-free newcomer availa-ble from Holland & Barrett branches. All were fine for tea and coffee whiten-ing purposes. As for general palatabil-ity, Granose, Provamel, Sojal and Plamil scored high marks: Alpro we found to be too 'flavoured' (vanilla?) and Sunrise too 'beany'. Our six-year-old daughter, a life vegan, liked Granose and Alpro , but gave all the others the thumbs-down. Of course, our preferences may not coincide with yours, so do your own experimenting, and remember: if the first one you try doesn't grab you, keep on trying until you find one that suits your palate. The days of being limited to an single brand are long gone, thank goodness!

In part II of The Soya Scene I shall be discussing powdered soya milks, in-cluding soya infant formulas, as well as other soya products. Lis Howlet t

Cooking with Sea Vegetables by Peter and Montse Bradford Thorsons £3.95 Pbk

Subtitled 'a vegan macrobiotic cookbook' this attractive volume ably fills a gap in the vegan household, as most macrobiotic books are quite heavily fish-oriented.

Sea vegetables (never 'weeds') are a fairly recent addition to the European kitchen, though they have long been popular in the Orient , and also locally (e.g. laverbread and samphire).

The book contains a brief history of the cultivation and uses of sea vegetables through the ages, as well as a useful introduction to other ingredients commonly used in the macrobiotic kitchen, nutritional analyses, advice on storage and cooking methods, and how to make the best use of the key elements of cooking - fire, water, salt, pressure and time. The Bradfords also point out the enormous potential of off-shore farming, if practised on a larger scale, to help alleviate world hunger.

Sea vegetables are remarkably high in many essential minerals - notably iodine, calcium and iron - high in protein, and have useful amounts of most vitamins, including traces of the elusive B12 - indicating that their daily use (or that of such other macrobiotic ingredients as miso and tempeh) would be a sensible and ethical alternative to either supplements or fortified vegan 'convenience foods' .

Each section of the book is devoted to a particular vegetable (e.g. nori, wakame, hijiki), briefly mentioning their cultivation, nutritional properties and general uses, before giving the actual recipes. A newcomer to sea vegetable cookery, imagining this would mean a dollop of slimy green next to the nut roast, is in for a pleasant eye-opener. The versatile and imaginative recipes range from Crepes with green nori flakes and Stuffed pumpkin with wakame, through a variety of sushi-nori rolls and pickles, to such exotic desserts as 'Tangerine' or 'Strawberry' kanten, set with agar-agar.

Plenty of use is also made of the soya wonder-foods tofu, miso and tempeh.

Our household was excited and inspired by this book, and in fact the only criticism I would venture to make is regarding the indifferent quality of the artwork. Japanese/macrobiotic dishes look so attractive that it would have been nice to see really detailed illustrations, or better still, some colour plates. However, this is a relatively minor point, and at £3.95 would perhaps be unrealistic to expect. Hilary Craddock.

Editor's note: Anyone wishing to find more about macrobiotics might like to send for a copy of Macrobewek, a quar-terly newsletter containing articles, in-terviews and book reviews, and listing macrobiotic food outlets in the UK. The August issue carries an article enti-tled 'Veganism and Macrobiotics' . For a sample copy send 50p to: 9 Trevethan Rise, Falmouth, Cornwall.

Try this recipe, selected from 'Cooking with Sea Vegetables ' , reviewed above:

Sweet and Sour Tempeh Serves 3-4 Vz lb (225g) block of tempeh Vegetable oil for deep-frying

(preferably unrefined sesame oil)

2 5-inch (12.5cm) strips of kombu

8 fl oz (230ml) water 4 medium carrots, cut into

chunks 3 tbs shoyu 2 tbs mirin or barley malt 3 tbs brown rice vinegar Spring onions, chopped to

garnish

If tempeh has been deep frozen allow time to thaw out thoroughly before using. Cut the tempeh into rectangles about l'/2 inches x 3 inches (4cm x 7 .5cm). Heat the oil in your deep-frying pan to 350°F/180°C. Deep-fry the tempeh for 2 or 3 minutes until the colour changes. Remove from the oil and drain on a paper towel. Place the kombu in the bot tom of a heavy pot, cover with the water and soak for 1 hour. Cut the kombu into fine strips and return to the pot . Add the fried tempeh, carrots, shoyu, mirin o r barley malt , brown rice vin-egar and any additional water needed to cover the tempeh. Cook for 20 mi-nutes on a medium f lame or until the liquid has evaporated. Garnish with the chopped spring on-ions.

• i ^ y P m i r c m i t I n U a a i a B October 26th - Diana Virgo: 'Right uay bourses in vegan f r o m t h e S t a r t . G e t t i n g i t Together Cookery in the Vegan Kitchen' . ~ . . . . , ™ . . November 16th - Joyce D'Silva: To be held at The Vegetarian ' C o o k i n g & B a k i n g Without Dairy Centre , 53 Marloes Roadf, Ken- P r o d u c e and Eggs' sington, London W8 6LA. November 23rd - Leah Leneman:

'International Vegan Cooking ' , \ \ i / . , ^—^ Each session will last f rom 10 .30am-

U g r * 3.30pm . f c t i u Fee: £12.50 per session, including

•V. > " m o r n i n g coffee, lunch and af te rnoon v, tea.

sy ?7" ^^x ' A n y o n e wishing to book for all three r. (,.A- <i. sessions may do so for just £30.

T r . V Full details on how to find The Veg-J " etarian Centre will be sent to applic-

ants on receipt of their fee. Send the completed form below to the Oxford

' ^ f c - / * - office, marking your envelope j r sZ R , ? 'Cookery Day Courses ' .

J? • ip % The number of places available on •k ft. J \ k. these courses is limited so as to keep ((• them friendly and informal, with

JP 1 ^ plenty of time for questions, so early booking is strongly advised.

S x :

Please enrol me/us on the following courses(s): October 26th No. of places November 16th No. of places November 23rd No. of places Names(s) Address

TelL_

I enclose cheque/P.O. for £ made payable to The Vegan Society Ltd.

15

Shoparound The latest edition of the fast-selling Vegan Shopper's Guide is available f rom The Vegan Shop for just £1.25 (see pp 25-26 for ordering details).

H e r e are some new vegan products you may like to try or ask your local suppliers to stock, if they do not have them in already: Sunrise soya-milk yoghurt - this is a live yoghurt based on a yeast culture. Re-tailing at 30p a car ton, it comes in five f lavours, plain, peach melba, rasp-berry, black cherry, and strawberry. Sunrise soya-milk 'Ice Dream ' - at last a vegan ice-cream without all sorts of dubious (healthwise) additives. It comes in hazelnut and vanilla flavours and is priced at £1.49. Sunrise 'Vegetar ian Frozen Quar ter -pound Burgers ' are vegan and should be in the shops any time now. Direct Foods - have a range of 'Savoury Bakes ' for the substitute-minded: beef , chicken, and pork and pepper flavours. Retail ing at £1.25, they are quick and easy to prepare . Hera of fer two complete meals in a pac-ket , each at 99p - 'Complete Pizza Mix' and 'Couscous with Vegetable Kofte ' . Both are very easy to prepare and were thoroughly enjoyed by our fam-ily. It 's good to have convenience foods with natural ingredients and free from chemicals. They may also inspire users to be more adventurous in their own cooking, when time allows. Duchesse 'All-Natural Tofu Dressing & Dip ' is vegan and actually says so. It is, in fact , the first food product I know of to be clearly marked as being suitable for vegans. Beware , however, of the o thers in their range which are not! Duchesse also have an 'All-Natural Sandwich Spread with Dill Pickle', which is a very tangy and attractive filling.

CRUEL-rrFREE. COSMETICS

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Cewo-osiNs _S.A=E:.)

Marks & Spencers produce a number of oven-ready dishes which are vegan, but I would like to particularly recom-mend their 'Vegetable Casserole & Herb Dumplings'. This sells at £1.15 for one serving and comes in a con-tainer suitable for heating in a mic-rowave or a conventional oven. It makes a delicious complete meal and is likely to become a firm favourite among those with lunch-time access to a microwave and people living on their own who don' t want to cook every night.

Finally, call in at your local health-food stores and encourage them to lay in stocks of Plamil's delicious new 'Carob Bar ' , priced at 59p. If it's stocked already, look out for the yellow and green wrapper.

Titbits Signs of the times:

The Co-operative Wholesale Society has produced a leaflet entitled 'Cook-ing the Vegan Way', which contains some 20 different and imaginative vegan recipes. If you'd like a copy, sim-ply write to: Mary Langham Home Cookery Service, 28 Knowsley Street, Manchester M8 8JU.

Heinz, increasingly aware of the commercial potential of the vegan mar-ket, are also anxious to please. The company recently contacted the Vegan Society to determine the acceptability to vegans of foods fortified with Vita-min D 3 and were informed that its non-vegan derivation ruled it out in favour of the all-vegan D 2 . Other manufactur-ers, including Van den Bergh, have consciously brought the ingredients of some of their products into line with vegan requirements.

Even farmers' wives are thinking twice before serving up meat and two veg. In the May 31 issue of 'Farmlife' (a magazine insert in 'Farmer's Weekly'), an article entitled 'What Should We Eat? ' questioned the use of chemically-contaminated foods produced by mod-ern intensive farming methods, and ended up with two vegan recipes!

If you live in or near the Oxford area you might care to pay a visit to Earth 'n' Wear, at 15 Cowley Road. This is an 'alternatives shop', run as a voluntary co-operative. All products are de-scribed as 'cruelty-free, containing no artificial additives, resource-conscious, vegetable-based non-polluting and biodegradable' (phew!). They stock cosmetics, toiletries, cleaning pro-ducts, recycled paper products, alter-native medicines, garden products and much more. Shop there for some of the items mentioned in Growhow. And here at last are some ecologists who practise what they preach: all deliveries (locally, I presume) are made by bicy-cle trailer!

Tried & Tested Tlie Food & Cookery editor shares some off her favourite recipes with readers

Here is a good, warming pudding to use up some windfalls:

Apple Brown Betty 3 tbs (45ml) vegetable oil 3 oz (90g) soft breadcrumbs IV2 lbs (750g) cooking apples,

peeled, cored and diced 3 oz (90g) brown sugar V2 tsp nutmeg 1 tsp cinnamon Grated rind and juice of V2 lemon 5 tbs (75ml) water

Combine oil and breadcrumbs. Com-bine apples, sugar, lemon rind and spices. Arrange alternate layers of fruit and crumbs in a greased baking dish, ending with a layer of crumbs. Pour over lemon juice and water. Bake at 350°F (180°C)/Gas Mark 4 for 40 min. Serve with a soya custard or nut cream.

Eva Batt's Vegan Cookery How nice it is to welcome back an old friend in a spanking new outfit and yet know that inside it is still a faithful helpmate from the past.

I wonder how many people have, like myself, learnt from the pages of this book their first lessons in a way of cooking that was to become part of a whole new way of living and looking at the world?

Eva's pioneering and now classic work has been completely reset to make it easier to consult and has been embellished with attractive line-draw-ings. The background information is all there, updated in some places, as are all the handy hints and little factual gems for which I particularly valued it. Gone only is the convenience of the spiral binding, but perhaps you could treat yourself to one of those perspex cook-ery book stands to protect this treasure from floury fingers.

In the next issue of The Vegan this sec-tion will be edited by Leah Leneman.

16

Growhow Alan and Elaine Garrett, co-founders of the Vegan Self-Sufficiency Network, continue their regular column aimed at existing and would-be vegan gardeners.

The Seaweed Connection

One of the questions we are most frequently asked asked as vegan gardeners

is how we maintain soil fertility without the use of. manure and other animal by-products. In addition to vegan composting and the practice of 'green man-uring', seaweed is one of the most useful and versatile fer-tilisers for vegan growers. We hope the following information will be both of interest and as-sistance to many of you.

Gardeners and farmers in Europe have used seaweed as a soil improver at least since the twelfth century, and, in other parts of the world, its use can be traced back much further. Seaweed is rich in minerals, trace elements and h o r m o n e s -all beneficial to healthy plant development. Various re-search programmes have been carried out to record the effects of seaweed fertilisers on crops, and very positive results have been produced. Crops treated with seaweed in various forms showed improvements in seed germination rate, improved re-sistance to frost, insect damage and fungal diseases, and also increased yields and enhanced storage qualities.

In their Report of Seaweed Research (1975), T.L. Senn and A .R . Kingman of Clemson University USA recorded that plants treated with seaweed solution showed the following favourable results in compari-son with untreated control plants: pepper plants fruited earlier, peaches had a longer than average shelf life, and to-mato plants survived a frost of —2°C which would normally have killed them.

Seaweed can be obtained in three main forms: in its fresh state, as a liquid concentrate, and as dried seaweed meal.

If you live near the sea, you can collect seaweed from the beach - abundant supplies are especially available after rough weather, when seaweed is

thrown above the high tide mark. Fresh seaweed can be used as a mulch on top of the 5>oi| - it will gradually rot down into the ground - or it can be used as an ingredient of the compost heap.

Several brands of liquid sea-weed concentrate are availa-ble, and these should be di-luted before use in accordance with the manufacturer 's in-structions. The solution can be used for soaking seeds before sowing, as a plant food which also helps to develop resistance to frost, disease and insect damage, and as a root-cutting compound.

Dried seaweed meal can be used in many ways around the garden, particularly as an in r gredient of potting compost or applied to the soil around plants. It will act as a slow-re-lease fertiliser for two o r three months after application and will also help to improve the soil quality.

Commercially available sea-weed products include the fol-lowing:

S.M.3 is a concentrated liquid form of selected seaweed and land-plant tissues and is av-ailable in a variety of sizes from: Chase Organics, Gibral-tar House, Govett Avenue, Shepperton TW178AQ.

Chase Organics also market a dried Seaweed Meal, availa-ble in several sizes.

Maxicrop is another liquid concentrate manufactured from a seaweed containing over sixty minerals. It is availa-ble in several varieties, each suitable for a specific purpose. Maxicrop is stocked by many garden centres and is distri-buted by: Maxicrop Garden Products Ltd, 21 London Road, Great Shelford, Cam-bridge CB2 5DF.

A seaweed which is naturally high in calcium is dried and ground to make Seagold, It is available from some garden centres or directly from the manufacturer: Vitseamin (S.C.) Ltd, Woodside, Char-ney Road, Grange over Sands,

P. W e have assurances f rom

each of the above companies stating that no animal-derived ingredients or animal testing is used in the manufacture of these products.

Indoor Cultivation

Fresh herbs are a welcome addition to many dishes, and late summer to early autumn is the time to pot; up a few plants of your personal favourites to ensure a supply through the winter months.

Basil, mar joram, thyme, chives, mint and parsley are all suitable for indoor cultivation..

JBefore transplanting a gar-den plant into a pot , check that the surrounding soil is moist. If necessary, water an hour or two beforehand. Place a layer of stones in the bottom of the pot for drainage, then add some good potting compost. Carefully transfer the plant to the pot , then top up with more compost. Water the plant and leave.it in a shady place out of doors for a few days.The final indoor position for the plant should be well lit and of an even. temperature.

Another crop which can be grown indoors during the winter - or at any other time of the year - is sunflower greens. These delicious sprouts have a mild watercress flavour and are an excellent ingredient for a crispy salad.

Use whole sunflower seeds -those with the black and white striped hulls still intact. Soak 50g/2oz of the seeds in water for 24 hours, then drain and leave to sprout for a fur ther 24 hours. Fill a standard size seed tray with a 2.5cm/l inch layer

of moist peat and cover the sur-face with the seeds, one deep , pressed lightly down.. Cover the tray with a piece of cardboard for about three days or until the sprouts are about 2.5cm/l inch high. Remove the card and place the tray in a par-tially-lit position. Make sure the peat remains just damp. The sprouts will be ready to eat when they are approximately 7.5-10cm (3-4 inches) high. They can be put in a well-lit position for a day or two before cutting to maximize the de-velopment of chlorophyll. Cut at soil level to use.

Happy Growing!

Ah

BRIGHT EYES In add i t ion to o u r o w n range of vegan sk in a n d hair care p roduc t s , w e also stock a w i d e range of vegan a n d vege ta r ian cosmetics m a d e b y o the r cruelty-free manufac turers , e.g. Jane Howard , Yin Yang, Caurn ie Soap Co, Chandore (per fumes) .

For a copy of ou r cur ren t catalogue please s e n d S.A.E. (large, if poss ib le ) to: Bright Eyes, 15 Todstable Gardens , Stonehouse , Lanarksh i re ML9 3NY

17

VEGANS AND VACCINATION One of our body's most important

defence mechanisms is the im-mune system, which enables

specialised cells and proteins (an-tibodies) in the bloodstream to combat ' foreign' substances, including bacteria and viruses. When exposed to germs, the body creates antibodies to deal specifically with them, and in a healthy person infection is overcome.

Principles... The aim of vaccination is to prime this natural defence system. A vaccine con-sists of large numbers of killed or weakened bacteria or neutralized to-xins. Introduction of these substances into the body by vaccination results in their recognition as 'foreign' and the production of antibodies against them. As the vaccines are not virulent (i.e. cannot cause infection), the main result is that if the vaccinated person sub-sequently comes into contact with the infection, the immune system swings into action much more quickly and gives protection against the disease.

...and Practice That ' s the theory anyway; do the re-sults show that vaccination is always successful? Vaccination, being based on the germ theory of disease, is a cent-ral part of modern medicine. The 'con-quest ' of the infectious diseases of the last century and early years of this is often claimed by doctors to be one of the major successes of modern medicine. But a closer look at the his-tory of medicine reveals a somewhat different picture.

In his book The Role of Medicine (Blackwells, 1979), Professor Thomas McKeown writes that the contribution of clinical medicine to the prevention of death and increase in life expectancy was smaller than that of other influ-ences (and certainly smaller than is often claimed), and he spends some time dealing with the part vaccines have had to play. For example, deaths f rom tuberculosis fell consistently from the time it was first recorded in 1838, and by the time the BCG vaccine was introduced in the mid-1950s, deaths had already fallen from 3,500 per mill-

people. The rate of decrease in deaths from tuberculosis has not changed since vaccination became common, and McKeown attributes most of the reduction in mortality to increased re-sistance due to better nutrition, and to less overcrowding. By comparison with Britain, the Netherlands has never had a national BCG vaccination prog-ramme, but has the lowest death rate from tuberculosis of any European country.

Since the early years of this century the death rate from diphtheria fell con-stantly both during and after the intro-duction both of antitoxin treatment and

„.the Netherlands has never had a national BCG vaccination programme, but has the lowest death rate from tuberculosis of any European country.

later, in the 1940s, a national immuni-sation campaign. Even though Profes-sor McKeown reckons diphtheria im-munisation is one of the more success-ful, he admits that because deaths from whooping cough and measles also fell over a long period - when there was no vaccine available - it can't be assumed that vaccination alone accounted for the decrease in diphtheria deaths. Again, better nutrition, improved sani-tation and housing conditions, and purer drinking water played a major role.

It's impossible to generalise about the successes of vaccines of different sorts. As we've seen, results depend not only on the effectiveness of each vaccine but also on nutritional, en-vironmental and behavioural factors. So it seems that smallpox has been eradicated, at least for the time being; and yet a study of BCG vaccination in India showed after seven years that there were as many cases of tuber-culosis of the lung in vaccinated people as there were in those who had not been immunised. Success rates for BCG vac-cine vary from 80% among American Indians to nil among schoolchildren from Georgia!

Safety Everyone is concerned that vaccines should be safe, and vegans will also be concerned about the origins of vaccines and the way they are tested for safety.

In the case of viral vaccines such as smallpox and rabies, in the early days the virus was obtained from infected animals. Smallpox virus was collected from skin sores on infected calves. But later developments have allowed the virus to be grown in cell cultures, and human cells are now used in culture to produce rabies, smallpox, polio (in the UK), german measles and measles vac-cines. Bacterial vaccines such as dipth-eria and tetanus were originally pro-duced from meat broths, but the bac-teria are now grown in chemically-de-fined liquids.

Each batch of vaccine is subjected to a number of tests before it is sold, and most of these entail the use of laborat-ory animals. Safety tests are done to en-sure that there is no active, virulent virus remaining in the vaccine, and

18

these involve injecting mice, guinea pigs, rabbits or monkeys, sometimes directly into the spinal cord, to see if any infection results. Potency tests check that the vaccine really does give protection: two groups of animals are infected with the disease, and one group then receives vaccination. This group shouldn't develop the disease, but the other animals aren't so 'lucky'. Finally, the vaccines have to be tested for purity, to ensure that there are no other infectious viruses contaminating the vaccine, and these tests are con-ducted using adult and suckling mice, guinea pigs and rabbits.

Alternative humane methods of vac-cine testing are being developed, such as cell-culture techniques and biochem-ical tests, but so far I believe there is no vaccine which does not at some stage involve animal exploitation.

The safety of vaccines in use remains a contentious issue. If animal tests are effective, all vaccine batches which 'pass' should be safe for human use, but this is obviously not the case. Cause of the greatest concern has been the who-oping cough (pertussis) vaccine. In the early 1970s eight out of every ten chil-dren received the triple vaccine, diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus. However there were cases of brain damage as-sociated with the pertussis vaccine, and fears led to a fall in the vaccination rate so that by 1977 only three out of ten children had been immunised against whooping cough, and even now only six in every ten are vaccinated, and mini-epidemics occur every two or three years.

Until 1968 the whooping cough vac-

Success rates for BCG vaccine vary from 80% among American Indians to nil among schoolchildren from Georgia1

cine was only effective 20% of the time, but doctors claim that since then the vaccine has been improved. There are, though, some eminent doctors who re-gard the whooping cough vaccine as in-effective and dangerous. A study of its safety was set up, and in 1981 reported that the risk of permanent brain dam-age after pertussis vaccination was 1 in 110,000 injections. Critics claim that by only counting those children who were hospitalised, the numbers were under-estimated and the risk could be as high as one child brain-damaged for every 50,000 injections. Earlier this year the controversy was sparked off again by the sudden deaths of five-month-old twins two hours after receiving the tri-ple vaccine. So the situation remains unclarified, and although there is also a risk of brain damage from the disease itself, the words of reassurance from the Department of Health have a hol-low ring to them.

A question about the long-term safety of vaccines has recently been posed by a study of measles in Denmark. A team of doctors found that most of the people who apparently never had measles in childhood actu-ally did have antibodies to the measles virus in their blood, showing they had been infected but hadn't developed the

...there is no vaccine which does not at some stage involve animal exploitation.

characteristic rash. These people de-veloped more apparently unrelated dis-eases in later life including such serious conditions as arthritis, bone problems, skin diseases and certain tumours -than those who had a full-blown measles infection.

The doctors suggest that if a person is exposed to measles but doesn't develop a rash, the virus may survive and cause illness later on. This casts a doubt on the advisability of vaccination, which causes a build-up of antibodies to the measles virus. A doctor will not know when vaccinating a child whether or not they have already been exposed to in-fection, in which case measles may be in the incubation stage. If so, the rash could be suppressed and the virus may linger in the body, causing much more serious problems in years to come.

This study provides unexpected sup-port for the philosophy of holistic medi-cal practitioners who have always be-lieved that suppression of illness dam-ages the body's long-term ability to fight off disease; to them, childhood in-fections such as measles help establish natural immunity in later life, and sup-pression of symptoms drives disease deeper into the body. The Unitary Theory, common to all natural therapies, states that the identity of the disease-causing bacteria or virus is of less importance than the equilibrium of the body, mind and spirit.

In Part II of this article we shall explore the question of to what extent these holistic practitioners can offer a healthy and humane alternative to or-thodox vaccination. Dr. Gill Langley To be continued.

THINKING AHEAD?

There must be many of our readers who would like to sup-port the Vegan Society in its work but have limited means at present. There is, however, an easy way of giving valued financial support regardless of present circumstances - by including a legacy to the Society in your will. Great or small, such legacies can make a real and lasting contribu-tion to the promotion of vegan ideals. What better way can there be to help the Society without loss of income? For those who would like to remember the Society in their will the following form of bequest is suggested:

"I bequeath to the Vegan Society Ltd, Registered Charity no. 279228, presently at 33-35 George Street, Oxford OX1 2AY, the sum of £ and I declare that the receipt of the Treasurer or other authorised officer of the said Society shall be good and sufficient discharge of such legacy."

Property left to the Society is another valuable contribu-tion to our cause. If you wish to will land or property to the Society please write for details to the Treasurer, at the re-gistered office.

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19

Postbag Contribntions to Postbag are welcomed, but accepted on the understanding that they may be edited in the interests of brevity or clarity. Send your letters to: The Editor, THE VEGAN, 33-35 George Street, Oxford OX 1 2AY.

Feedback — readers' reactions to the new-look magazine

Yes, I like it. The new Vegan displays all that 's good in the Vegan Society -clear thinking, a definite direct ion, and awareness. T h r e e most important const i tuents for a magazine present ing what in the general public 's eyes are controversial and highly emotive subjects.

A few weeks ago I registered my concern at the rumblings going on within the Society's s t ructure and leadership, which sounded most disturbing. However , if this is the result I can only applaud it and wish The Vegan and all w h o sail in her every success.

Long live the Vegan Society and may it go f rom strength to s t rength . Sylvia Matthews, Salesbury, Nr. Blackburn.

Many thanks for the new-look Vegan, it was very good. My wife and I were two of the people who asked for the magazine to remain as it had been for years, but after seeing the new fo rmat we both admit that we were wrong.

K e e p up the good work, all power to your printing press! Tony Smith, Boston.

Congratulations on the first issue of the new-look Vegan. I thought it was splendid. Reading it I was really struck by how much talent there is within the Vegan Society and how it has been wasted in the past. Thank heavens the breakthrough was made. Leah Leneman, Edinburgh.

Congratulations! No, many congratulations on the splendid new-image Vegan magazine!

Congratulations on reaching the turning-point, the turning-point in bringing veganism and the Vegan Society up to date and into the eighties.

Having been in advertising and PR for many years, I have long been concerned about the ' image' of veganism projected to the outside world, i.e. dull and strictly for weirdos! With the dawn of this new magazine I feel sure that every vegan now has a better chance of being heard and understood. Non-vegans will now, I am sure, sit up and take notice.

If the Vegan Society had millions to spend on its public image, and was given the chance to state its case to the mass media, we'd surely see the end of animal exploitation. But the new magazine is a start - and a good one!

Lots of luck. Lizzie-Anne Meachin, Ness, South Wirral.

Congratulations on the transformation of The Vegan magazine.

The new format and content are excellent. The previous (1950s) style magazine had no place in the 1980s, and served only to project an old-fashioned and cranky image of the Society.

I 'm sure that the new image will result in a much broader

appeal and win many new readers.

I look forward to the next issue. Vincent E. D. Fitzgerald, Wraysbury.

I, for one, welcome the change of format of The Vegan. A few years ago, before I was a vegan, I saw a copy of the magazine in our local library and, to be honest, found it a little stuffy and uninspiring. I feel the new format is much more likely to attract non-vegans to read it, which must be the aim - no point in preaching to the converted or engaging in self-indulgent back-patting.

All the best for the work ahead. Steve Bailey, Felixstowe.

Congratulations on the new-look magazine. It is well worth all the effort that must have been put into it. Whereas I can't even remember if I read the last issue - it's probably at the bottom of a pile of 'things to read soon' - 1 read this one from cover to cover as soon as I got it. Lisa Geary, Brighton.

Feedback on the new Vegan - yes, I like it very much, particularly because it is now much easier to show it to friends. The interview with Chris Langley impressed me -caring is not enough and just being vegan yourself is too slow a method of change, even though it is a necessary and important factor. We have to try and combat the effects of advertising - the most powerful force against us, apart from sheer apathy - and we can only do that by advertising ourselves. Jane Davies, Huskvarna, Sweden.

The new-look Vegan is so much better than the old turgid and stilted offerings. I particularly welcome the acknowledgement of convenience foods (Bejam frozen puff pastry containing -dare I say it - white flour). OK, we all know that wholemeal is much healthier, but it's nice to let the puritanism slip a little now and then! Sue Boulding, Morden.

I As an ex-ALF activitist, with a prison term for damaging a

slaughterhouse and numerous chickens and rabbits rescued to my credit, I am willing to admit that I haven't really achieved anything. The chicken cages have been refilled, the rabbits have been replaced with more purpose-bred, and the slaughterhouse repaired on insurance money. The only way to end the torture and death of these animals is to take away the consumers' need for them, which is exactly what the new Vegan magazine is all about.

Love, light and liberation. Tony Smith, Boston.

\ We are sorry to be critical of a first effort , but do not at all like the enlarged page-size and thin cover of The Vegan, which now necessitates a vertical fold for posting. My wife at first thought it was another double-glazing advertising circular and almost dumped it in the bin - until we spotted The Vegan on the wrapper.

We feel that far from enhancing the professionalism of the magazine, as claimed, the new format greatly reduces it! In the rush to embrace new technology the innate quality and composition of the old-style Vegan has been forgotten. Far too little credit is given to the sterling work of the stalwarts of the past, which ignores the fact that in a far less favourable public opinion environment these people have, by their quietly dignified efforts and writings, brought about the present high joining rate for new members. We have yet to read better articles than those written by Kathleen Jannaway, the late Jack Sanderson and others. Anne and Edward Smail, Christchurch, Dorset.

Opinions are requested on the new-look Vegan magazine. I don't like it!

20

The layout in the old-style mag was actually better -more clear, less 'bitty' and easier tofollow. Also since photographs are not vegan, why have you begun printing them? I don't need to know what people look,like. It goes without saying that I approve the subject matter, but I 'm concerned that you may become less purist with all this newness. Sue Berry, Leyland.

I regret the change in format of The Vegan. The old design was clean and simple and to me spoke of a life free from guilt. I always read it on the tube, held up so that the title could be seen for some distance. Now it has to be folded to travel, the title cannot be easily read, and surely vegans do not need to be reminded of the suffering of cows! A positive statement has become negative, it now looks like any other animal magazine. Change is not necessarily a good thing - in this case it seems to have been without benefit. (Miss) S.M. Turtle, London.

You.have asked for comments on the new-look magazine.

My horror began with the front cover. The old-style cover had always conveyed to me beauty and gentleness and I had hoped only that the pictures of wild flowers and fruit might be produced in colour. If I saw the new-look magazine, in a bookshop I would not open it, never mind buy it.

I am a life-member of the National Anti-Vivisection Society, but I cannot bear to read their magazine. I put it in our College library in the hope that others will read it, but I have yet to see anyone do so. Human sensitivity can accept just so much horror and so a concentration on it can be counter-productive.

The inside of the new magazine I found had moved towards a cheap trendiness, which was lacking before, and, far from being new, the size had simply joined the ranks of the majority, which, because they will not stand up, find themselves in the dustbin instead of the book-cupboard.

You say in the magazine that veganism was spreading rapidly - why then did you feel

such a burning desire for change? H. A. Warwick, London.

Having received The Vegan magazine for Summer 1985,1 am hereby writing to cancel my former subscription to it, as I do not like the enlarged form or increased price. The cover photo of a cow is quite revolting. M. Frackman, St Leonards on Sea.

Direct Action In reply to Pat-Brown's letter in the Summer Vegan (Vegans and Violence), I am afraid that 'educating by example' is no longer feasible. If we take the example of the anti-vivisection movement, for over 100 years dedicated campaigners have handed out leaflets, collected signatures

and written polite letters to their MPs, all to no avail. We have gone from barely 200, to some 3 % million experiments a year!

In the last 10 years, since the inception of the Animal Liberation Front, the animal rights issue has been rammed into the headlines - it is on everyone's lips and the subject"" of public debate. For the first time, the pharmaceutical industry and factory farmers are on the defensive. Smashing, butchers' shop-windows and laboratory equipment or threatening to poison consumer products may be distasteful, but this economic sabotage is justifiable.

There is nothing wrong with violence towards property, as long as this never spills over into violence towards other living things. The A L F are motivated by compassion. To sit meekly by and wring our hands, while all the horrors of the world pass us by, in the vain hope that people will come round to our way of thinking because of our radiating goodness is a naive attitude. People will never

change unless they are challenged. And challenge we must. Taggart King, Bishop's Stanford.

I would like to comment on Pat Brown's letter regarding so-called 'violent actions'.

I refuse to believe that an animal rights person would really inject turkeys with poison, as claimed. R e m e m b e r that the A L F have a strict policy of non-violence towards humans and animals, which to my knowledge has never been broken.

I take great offence at the insinuation that people who commit these actions are not compassionate. Why do you think they do this? It 's not for self-glory or personal gain, but out of compassion - to try and stop animals from being abused and tortured. Remember that these people are laying their liberty on the line for animals - that must be the ultimate in unselfishness and compassion.

Yours for human and animals rights, John Quirke, London.

The Editor replies: Considerations of space

prevent me from taking up every point in the above letters, but I would like to make the following brief remarks.

The Smails are mistaken -the cover of the new Vegan is no thinner than that of its immediate predecessors. Nor have 'the innate quality and composition of the old-style Vegan' been forgotten - -merely carefully examined and found wanting in a number of important respects, as the overwhelming majority (around 90%) of the letters received on the subject confirm. I'm totally at a loss to understand the criticism that the new magazine is in any way harder to follow than the old one. Among other innovations, the addition of detailed 'Contents' and 'Classifieds' sections was expressly designed to make the magazine easier to refer to.

The appearance of photographs in Vegan Society publications does not represent a new departure. The appearance of photographs in the Summer 1985 and subsequent issues of the magazine does, however, reflect a policy decision on the part of the Vegan Society Council to more fully exploit the medium than in the recent past.

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21

Family Matters Lis Howlett, a vegan of 13 year's standing and mother of two daughters, aged six and two, continues this regular column exploring various aspects of vegan child-care and parenting.

While gathering materials for this column I received a moving letter f r o m Claire Rhys-Jones, a vegan mother of three f rom Fishguard , which touched on a whole range of issues relating in one way or another to vegan pa-rent ing. So forcefully did it br ing home to me the discre-pancy between popular miscon-ceptions and assumptions on the one hand , and objective re-ality on the other , that I thought it deserved a wider readership. I make no apology for quoting f rom it at some length:

" In Augus t 1984 I gave birth to a little boy , Silfan, with gas-troschisis - a serious congenital abnormal i ty . His stomach wall open and his intestines hanging outside of his body, he was rushed to hospital , where his intest ines were replaced and his s tomach sewn up. It was not known whether or not he would survive. Although he was not allowed any milk for the first th ree weeks, I was ex-pressing my breast milk 3-hourly every day, to keep it going until he could feed. Be-fore Silfan was allowed home several people working in the hospital expressed ignorance and doubt about our 's trange' vegan diet . Relatives blamed my diet during pregnancy for Silfan's gastroschisis and were hysterical at the thought of me ' inflicting' my way of eating on the ' poor baby ' . He weighed 51bs when he came home at 4 weeks , but took happily to feeding and , apart f rom being sick o f t en and having very bad wind (bo th due to the condition of his intest ines) , he was very well and happy. At about four mon ths I int roduced solids, — mashed banana , avocado pear , baby cereals etc. - one at a t ime, so that I could ascertain any adverse effect on his very delicate digestive system. I found that he reacted badly to whea tge rm, fruit juices and pulses, and if I ate beans or pulses he would still react badly f rom dr inking my breast milk. By six months , however, he was able to take all of the above

without problems. He was, however, still considered to be extremely underweight. He was admitted into hospital with pneumonia and was there for two weeks while they did do-zens of tests to see why he was so thin. One doctor told us that what he needed to 'build him up ' was meat and fish and plenty of added sugar to his meals. While he was in hospital we were under constant criti-cism about our diet, despite the fact that they could see that my other two children, both life ve-gans, were obviously very heal-thy and not at all thin. It was found that Silfan was suffering f rom malabsorption and was only absorbing 50% of the food he was eating. Consequently, he has to eat twice as much as any normal baby of his age.

At last he started to gain weight and now, one year on, is physically and mentally per-fect, with only his scar to re-mind us of past troubles. He eats everything we eat and drinks soya milk. Had I been less devoted to a vegan way of life I may have given in under the determined pressure from the so-called experts.

On the plus side, however, babies in the Special Care Baby Unit are either fed on breast milk or soya milk, of which they have vast supplies in the 'Milk R o o m ' , as they have found that these babies do better on soya milk than on cow's milk for-mulas ."

Good for you, Claire, for fly-ing the vegan flag!

Milk Tokens Over the years the Society has made repeated at tempts to per-suade the DHSS to allow veg-ans in receipt of milk tokens to use them to obtain soya, rather than cow's milk. Despite mounting scientific evidence to the contrary, the DHSS's stock reply continues to be that soya milks are nutritionally inferior to cow's milk. Contrast this statement with the closing lines of Claire Rhys-Jones's letter

above; one would be hard pres-sed to find a clearer example of the left hand not knowing what the right is doing.

At a time when a full-scale review of the Social Security system is underway, the Secret-ary has written to the DHSS, making further representations on the matter of milk tokens and soya milk. Vegan parents can lend practical support to the Society's efforts by writing individually to their MPs, urg-ing high-level action. Please in-form the Secretary of any sym-pathetic response you may re-ceive.

Breastfeeding Claire's letter also underlines the role that breastfeeding can and should play in vegan mothering, whatever place soya milk may have in the diet, "if you had a friend who was breastfeeding, you'd find it a lot easier" is the watchword of The Association of Breastfeed-ing Mothers, which aims to es-tablish throughout the country a network of informal groups and counsellors offering sup-port and encouragement to mothers who want to breastfeed. You can find out details of your nearest counsel-lor by ringing 01 778 4769, or by writing to: The Association of Breastfeeding Mothers, 129 Catford Hill, London SE6. The Association publishes a regular newsletter, plus lots of helpful leaflets, and runs a very reason-ably-priced breast-pump hire service.

Family Contacts Following the notice in the Summer Vegan, Vegan Family Co-ordinator Eve Gilmore re-ports that she now has upwards of 20 families from different parts of the country 'on the books'. Some of these parents, especially those new to veg-anism, often feel very isolated and vulnerable in the face of ag-gressive questioning from seri-ously underinformed medical personnel and sceptical rela-tives. Even though not needing contact yourself, if you have a vegan child or, perhaps, grand-child, you could offer valuable and much-appreciated support to young vegan families in your area. So, please write and add your name to our list. You may also have older children look-ing for pen-friends in different parts of the country; Eve will do her best to satisfy all such re-quests. Simply write to her do the Oxford office, giving your name, address, telephone number (where applicable), and the names and birth-dates of your child or children, and enclosing an SAE. All families joining the list will be sent a copy of a new Vegan Society in-formation sheet on recom-mended reading for children.

Children's Books Talking of which, I hope you enjoyed Naomi Lewis's thought-provoking feature ar-ticle on pages 6-8 of this issue.

22

If so, you will no doubt be eager for more information on this important subject . For the more contact-shy, the informa-tion sheet referred to above is available separately f rom the Oxford office. M a r k your letter of inquiry 'Children 's Books List' and b e sure to enclose an SAE.

By way of a preview, let me draw your a t tent ion to the fol-lowing quartet of books, which tackle the subject of hunting in

different ways, yet in each one the tables are turned .and it is the hunter , ra ther than the prey who ends up being hunted . Firstly, for the youngest age group: 1 Hunter, by Pat Hutch-ins (Puffin, £1.25), a.delightful counting and hide-and-seek book with a surprise ending. Slightly older children would enjoy the beautiful and original illustrations in Tomie de Paola 's The Hunter and the Animals (Sparrow Books,

£1.50), a story without words, in which the hunter loses his way in the forest , is befr iended and helped by the animals and birds and finally decides to throw away his gyn. Michael Foreman ' s Trick a Tracker (Gollancz, £4.50) is an amusing fantasy, stretching f rom the earliest t imes to the modern day, in which people are out-witted by the animals in their hunting expeditions. Children familiar with Egyptian

pyramids and Inca temples would find this a novel twist to history. Finally, f r o m mas te r story-teller Roa ld Dah l . The Magic Finger (Puff in , 95p) is a hunting story for 7-9 year-olds, where the hunters really do get a dose of their own medic ine .

In the next issue I shall b e surveying books of fer ing ad-vice on a vegan diet dur ing pre-gnancy and lactat ion, as well as on weaning children on to a healthy diet.

With Presents in Mind It is with some reluctance that I draw your, at tention so early in the autumn to the season of great slaughter that marks the end of our western calendar year. But , despite the carnage and gross self-indulgence, the Christmas period does have a positive side - it is a time of giving and a t ime of sharing. The winter Vegan arrives at the end of December , when one may have already bought yet another pair of socks or chain-store gift voucher for that friend or relative who might well have appreciated a gift reflecting a little more of the giver. For this reason I invite readers to consider the following ideas that show that gifts can both please and make an important point; that we can all contribute to lessening the burden of suffering and cruelty borne by animals. So see if you can fit the people to the presents; with a little extra thought there should be some-thing suitable for everyone.

Most obviously, you can send for a current gift catalogue from your favouri te charity and know that you are pain-lessly contributing to a good cause. To ment ion just a couple of candidates: The Doctor Had wen Trust for Humane Research (46 Kings Road, Hitchen, Her t s SG5 1RD) has an attractive range of Christ-mas cards, as well as packs of recycled stationery and various toilet bags and herb pillows; Animal Aid (7 Castle Street, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1BH) publishes a good anthology entitled The Unkindest Beast, with contributions both old and new on the subject of humans ' mistreatment of their fellow creatures.

H o t f rom the press and ready for gift-wrapping are Jon Wynne-Tysons 's instant classic The Extended Circle (sec the review elsewhere in the magazine), and Eva Bat t ' s Vegan Cookery. Copies of both can be obtained f rom T h e Vegan Shop (see pages 25-6 for details), which also stocks many other items that would make excellent gifts, including cruelty-free toiletries, cosme-tics and perfumes. Books are also a suitable gift for children. You might like to send for a copy of our list of recom-mended books (see Family Matters) and select one f rom there. I would like to make a special mention, though, of a new anthology of nature verse for children selected by Naomi Lewis, entitled A Footprint on the Air (Hutchinson, £4.50; paperback edition out very soon). It includes some real treasures and none of the usual 'sentimentalia ' .

Something to last right through the year is a magazine sub-scription. H o w about giving a special friend or relative a subscription to the new-look Vegan (just £2.75; see pages 25-6) or to Animals Now, published by Youth for Animal Rights? (Hjllview, Chaffcombe, Nr. Chard, Some-rset TA204AH).

This year there are even re-cords promoting humane causes. Greenpeace has a compilation L P (EMI Fund 1) with tracks by over a dozen big-name artists, including Eurythmics, Kate Bush, George Harrison, and vegan singer-actress Haze) O 'Connor (look out for a profile in the next issue of the Vegan). Pro-ceeds f rom sales of this record, available f rom record shops, go to support Greenpeace pro-jects.

Postage and packing can be expensive and fiddly, so if you want to save money and time leave the recipient f r e e to select their own gift. Holland <$: Barrett have gift Vouchers available in £1,.£3 and £5 denominat ions . Pick up a leaflet in o n e of their shops.

Last , but not least, that classic gift - a box of chocolates - can be a vegan one . The Welsh Fudge Shop specialises in

The 1986 Animals Diary shows animal exploitation and

liberation in photos, drawings and cartoons - many produced

especially for the book. Following last.year's format,

the Diary contains 128 pages with a week to each double-page spread. Special dates are marked, and appropriate picturesaccompany World

Day for Laboratory Animals, hunting seasons etc.

The resource section at the back includes an expanded list

of cruelty-free cosmetics, alternative medicine, first aid for wild birds, information on

animal farming/human famine and, of course, comprehensive lists of animal societies in the

UK and abroad.

Size: 8V« x S W (leaflet size) wjth laminated cover.

Price: £2.50 + 50p p&p.

from The Vegan Society Ltd,

33/35 George Street, Oxford OX1 2AY.

The Animals Diary is produced by Animus - Against All Forms

of Animal Abuse.

hand-made confect ionery. They have a varied vegan selection available in e i ther carob or chocolate , and also some delightful novelty i tems suitable for children or de-corating a Chris tmas t ree . G i f t boxes and whole h a m p e r s can be made up to o rde r . For full details and prices send an S A E to: The Welsh Fudge Shop, 6 Bridge Street, Aberystwyth, Dyfed, Wales. Lis Howlett

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23

Noticeboazd 2 October World Farm Animals ' Day. 4 October St Francis of Assisi Day 6 October World Day of Prayer for Animals

12 October 9.30am-5.15pm. Commonwea l th Institute Thea t re , Kensington, London W8. 'Doing Right by Animals ' Symposium. Among those participating will be Neil King, Cha i rman , British Veterinary Association Animal Welfare Foundat ion , Alastair Mews, Assistant Chief Veterinary Officer , R S P C A ; and Dr Alan Long, Vegetarian Society. Tickets: £2.50 ( O A P s and s tudents £1.50) f rom: The Vegetarian Society, 53 Marloes Road, Kensington, London W8 6LA (SAEplease).

16 October World Food Day. Your opportuni ty to demons t ra te veganism's role in helping alleviate Third World famine and malnutr i t ion. Contact your L V C (full list on p.26) for details of local initiatives to mark the occasion.

6 .30pm. Nature Cure Clinic, 15 Olbury Place, London W1M 3AL. ' Improving the Quality of Life for Bet ter Heal th ' by Gilbert Anderson , M . N . C . P . Tickets £1.50.

20-27 October One World Week . Oxfordshire LVC Paul Appleby has drawn up a leaflet (Recipes for Justice) for use in the days leading up to and during this week. Price: 1 0 0 -£1.34, 2 0 0 - £ 2 . 6 6 , 5 0 0 - £ 6 . 2 2 , 1000 - £ 1 1 . 1 0 , including p & p from Paul at 57 Sharland Close, Grove, Wantage, Oxon OX12 0AF.

9 November Oxford College of Fur ther Educat ion, Oxpens R o a d , Oxford OX1 ISA. Extraordinary General Meet ing, followed by 1985 Annual Genera l Meeting of The Vegan Society Ltd. (see Annual Report insert for full details).

Proposals for resolutions must be seconded and received in writing at the registered office by 18 October 1985.

Nominations for members of 12 months or greater duration to serve on the Council or as officers of the Society must be made in writing, signed and received at the registered office not more than 21 days, and not less than 3 days before the A G M . Within the same period candidates are required to furnish written confirmation of their willingness to stand for election. When so doing they are also requested to furnish a brief (not more than 200 words) personal profile.

It must be stressed that the efficient management of the affairs of a modern and rapidly expanding Society requires that , over and above enthusiasm and a desire to serve, candidates for election offer expertise or professional skills in fields such as company law, accounting, personnel management, publicity and marketing.

Refreshments and creche facilities will be available.

16 November 1.00pm. Cambridge. Campaign Against Farm Animal Abuse ( C A F A A ) National Demonstrat ion against Babraham Laboratories. For fur ther details contact: CAFAA, PO Box 45, Birmingham B5. Tel 021 5447581.

20 November 6.00pm. Rooms 7, 8 and 9, Friends House, Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ. Frey Ellis Memorial Lecture. On 'Food, Fats and Heal th ' , by Dr . W.R. Hare , Dept of Nutrition, Institute of Zoology, London.

23 November 2.00pm. Manchester Abbatoir Demonstrat ion and march. For details contact: VSUK, Parkdale, Dunham Road, Altrincham, Cheshire WA14 4QG. Tel 061-928 0793

23-29 November National "No Meat ' Week. See below for further details.

30 November 1.00pm. Institute for Complementary Medicine, 21 Portland Place, London W l . Annual General

Meeting of The Nature Cure Clinic. Vegan lunch will be served, followed by talks by Drs. L. Mount and G. Latto.

4 December 6.30pm. Nature Cure Clinic. 'Homeopathic Aspects of Vaccination' by Dr. Michael Finnegan. Tickets: £1.50.

14 December 1.00pm. Norwich. CAFAA-coordinated demonstration against Bernard Matthews Turkey Farm. For further details contact: CAFAA, PO Box 45, Birmingham B5. Tel. 021 544 7581.

Wot! No Meat? Saturday 23 November to Friday 29 November. Take part in National 'No Meat ' Week.

Why? • To raise money for long-

term vegetarian projects in the Third World.

• To reduce the number of animals slaughtered for food.

• To educate people about the link between eating meat and Third World hunger. How?

• By sponsoring someone to give up meat for one week, 23-29 November 1985. All proceeds to Third World

projects. For further information

telephone, Sherry: 03224 37084 (evenings). Geoff: 01-989 2762 (daytime), or send large SAE (18p) for information pack and sponsorship forms to: Dartford & Bexley Animal Rights, PO Box 46, Erith, Kent.

Animal Rights or Wrongs? 24 September - 29 October 7 .30-9 .00pm. Runnymede Educational Institute. Rosla Centre, Magna Carta School, Thorpe Road, Staines, Middlesex. Six-part course examining the animal rights issue, sponsored by Surrey County Council. Believed to be the first of its kind in Britain. Guest speakers: Angela Walder, Scientific Advisor to British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection, and Mark Gold, Campaign Director of Animal Aid. For further

details contact Course Tutor

Travelling Fellowships The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust annually awards grants to people to engage in research abroad relating to their trade, profession or interests. Categories for awards include: the role of education in animal welfare and farming and market-gardening in relation to the environment. Readers are invited to apply direct to the Trust: The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, 15 Queen's Gate Terrace, London SW7 5PR. Closing date: 31 October 1985.

New NAVS Group The City of London NAVS group has recently been formed and has a full programme of autumn events. Vegans, vegetarians and others living in London are welcome as members. Further details from: Robin Bourton, 152 Upper Clapton Road, London

Missing Papers Would the lady who borrowed papers from me at the International Vegan Festival in Denmark please return them without delay to:

Vegan Farm Project The Council has entered into negotiations with a kindred organization regarding the use of land for an agricultural project. The services of a member with agricultural expertise are sought for the purpose of determining the suitability of various locations. Please apply to the Oxford Office.

Treasurer Sought The Council regrets that it is shortly to lose the valued services of the Society's present Hon. Treasurer, John Cummins. Members able and willing to perform this responsible task are invited to contact the Secretary without delay.

24

Publications & Promotional Goods

FIRST HAND FIRST RATE

What better gift to an interested friend or relative than a year's subscription (4 issues) to the new-look Vegan? Just send the.name and address of intended recipient and we'll take care of the rest. Price £2.75.

Please order from The Vegan Shop not The Vegan Society (see order form at the bottom of page 26 for details). All prices include postage and packing. Unless otherwise indicated, all publications are paperback.

Publications:

home-grown foods. Includes gardening hints. 65p

Vegan Nutrition by F. Ellis M D F R C (Path) and T. Sanders P h D (Nutr) A scientific assessment of the vegan diet , incorporating easy-to-follow tables enabling recommended intake of essential nutrients to be met f rom plant products only £1.00

PRACTICAL

VEGANISM

WHAT ELSE IS COOKING?

FURTHER ADVENTURES IN COOKING WITH COMPASSION

By EVA BATT

An Introduction to Practical Veganism A beginner's guide. 60p

First Hand, First Rate by Kathleen Jannaway 60 simple and economical sugar-free recipes based on

What Else is Cooking? by Eva Batt 300 vegan recipes, together with practical hints. Wipe-clean cover, spiral-bound £3.95

Vegan Shopper 's Guide by Sandra Hood Check-list of vegan products £1.25

Vegan Menus/Nutrition Card Laminated for kitchen use 50p

Feeding the Family Leaflet with recipes 25p

Festive Recipes Leaflet with Christmas and special occasions in mind 25p

Backpacking & Hostelling the Vegan Way Leaflet with recipes 25 p

Plant Foods for Human Health Prof. J . Dickerson 35p

The Role of Plants in Feeding Mankind by Prof, A . Bender Price 45p

Veganism - Scientfic Aspects by T . Sanders P h D (Nutr) 40p

THE VEGAN WAY...

... Why? & How ?..

BY W VERY DIFFERENT VEGANS

Vegan Mothers and Children Ten mothe r s of this and the last genera t ion describe t he rearing of vegan chi ldren. Includes repor ts of recent research by T . Sanders , P h D (Nutr) 70p

VEGAN COOKERY

The Vegan Way: Why? And How? Ten very different vegans tell their tale 60p

Pioneers of The New Age Twelve-early vegans reminisce 60p

In Lighter Vein by Eva Batt Verses to amuse and arouse pity 65p

For a Future More Sane, More Humane by Reuel Lahmer A spiritual plea 45p

1985 Directory of Places Catering for Vegans Lists hotels, guest-houses, bed & breakfast accommodation, cafes, restaurants 90p

•s (ft^p " IV Cbsskr\fcgan Cucifcbcvfc

G>-j*iHishcd wiih lhe\fcgan Society

Eva Batt's Vegan Cookery by E v a Batt A revised and upda ted reprint of What's Cooking? the classic vegan cookbook . Packed with recipes and practical advice £3.45

In addition to the Vegan Society publications listed above, the following are among many useful and informative works produced independently of the Society available from The Vegan Shop:

Food for a Future by Jon Wynne-Tyson A classic work , powerful ly arguing all aspects of the vegan case - mora l , economic, ecological, physiological and nutritional. Packed with information, statistics, quotations, nutri t ional and dietary data £1.80

Compassion: The Ultimate Ethic by Victoria Moran Examines the philosophy and history of veganism £5.45

Healthy Eating for the New Age by Joyce d'Silva A vegan cookbook full of excellent and varied recipes which follow hea l th- food, as well as vegan principles £4.35

Vegan Cooking by Leah Leneman A vegan best-seller. Includes 'The Vegan Dairy ' , 'Tofu -the Wonder Food ' and recipes using proprie tary heal th foods £2.25p

An Extended Circle: A Dictionary of Humane Thought

25

THE EXTENDED

A DICTIONARY OF HUMANE THOUGHT,. EDITED BY JON WYNNE TYSOKN

Promotional Goods

Button Badges 1 W badges 25p (please enclose SAE)

ed i t ed by J o n Wynne-Tyson A u n i q u e an tho logy , des t ined to b e c o m e a s t a n d a r d r e fe rence w o r k £5 .95

T o f u Cooke ry by Lou i se Hag le r 200 easy- to- fo l low recipes , f r o m appe t i ze r s to main-course d i shes and desser ts . Superbly i l lus t ra ted £10.95

New-style Vegan Society T-shir t (as i l lustrated) with co lourfu l , eye-catching design Sizes: Adult - S / M / L £3.50 Child - ages 2-4, 6-8, 8-10 £3.00

A small stock remains of the old-style T-shirt , with 'Veganism Shows the Way ' slogan written green on white . Chi ldren ' s sizes only - 24" 26" 28" 30" Price £3.00

Look good and spread the word!

Order Form O r d e r n o w (block capitals t h roughou t please) f rom: The Vegan Shop, 86 Ti lehurs t R o a d , Reading , R G 3 2LU

Please s e n d the fol lowing i tem(s) :

Item Quantity Cost

I enc lose a cheque /pos ta l o r d e r m a d e payable to: The Vegan Shop fo r £

N a m e

A d d r e s s

Postcode

Eire & Overseas: P a y m e n t must be by sterling cheque d r a w n o n an English bank or an internat ional money order .

Overseas: A d d ext ra to cover addi t ional postal expenses .

P lease tick he re Q if you would like to receive our Vegan Products Mail Order List. If r equ i red separately, please s e n d S A E . P lease allow up to 28 days fo r delivery.

In addition to national initiatives, local campaigning and activities are essential to a vigorous and effective Vegan Society. With back-up from the Oxford office, each of the local vegan contacts (LVCs) listed below is responsible for co-ordinating promotional work at local level. You can play your part by getting in touch with your nearest LVC and finding out what's on in your area. If you would like to act as an LVC yourself, please write for full details to the Oxford office, marking your envelope •LVC Co-ordinator'.

ENGLAND

N. IRELAND

SCOTLAND

WALES

26

When replying to these advertisements please mention The Vegan.

ACCOMMODATION ACCOMMODATION in return for help with upkeep; house/grounds (nature reserve). Vegfam. The Sanctuary. Nr Lydford, Okehampton. Devon EX20 4AL Tel 082 282 203 ACCOMMODATION available from October 1st in shared centrally heated vegan house in East Oxford. 3 miles from town centre. Phone (0227) 276727.

ACCOMMODATION in return for part-time organic gardening in beautiful part of North Wales Tel 0766-770242

ANIMAL RIGHTS/ WELFARE ANGLING - THE NEGLECTED BLOODSPORT Maimed fish, lead in swans, fish used as bait CAA, PO Box 14, Romsey SOS9NN.

CATERING IMAGINATIVE VEGAN AND VEGETARIAN CATERING AND QUALITY ease telephone for sample menus.

EATING OUT For comprehensive list see Vegan Society publication 1985 DIRECTORY OF PLACES CATERING FOR VEGANS. ESSEX. ACORN NATURAL FOOD CAFE Oakwood Arts Centre. Maldon. Vegan and vegetarian catering. Open Mon-Sat. 10am-5pm. Early closing Wed 2pm. Tel 52317 LA VIDA, 164 Cherry Orchard Road. Croydon, Surrey. 681 3402. South London's vegetarian restaurant which also caters for vegans.

GARDENING SUPPLIES ORGANIC GARDENING WITH CHASE. High quality seeds and seaweed products free of chemical additives. Also SPROUTING SEEDS in bulk. Free catalogue from: Dept V, Chase Organics, Terminal House, Shepperton TW17 8AS.

HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION For comprehensive list see Vegan Society publication 1985 DIRECTORY OF PLACES CATERING FOR VEGANS. BEXHILL-ON-SEA. Vegan/vegetarian bed and breakfast. Bedtime and morning drinks facilities. £7 a night. £35 weekly. Tel. 042 43 5153. IRELAND. County Wicklow. Vegan accommodation: Old world cottage in scenic location. Close forests, beaches, mountains, charming town. Details: Tel London 01-341 1577 or write: Palmer, 134B Middle Lane, Hornsey. London N8 7JP. ISLE OF WIGHT. Small private hotel in peaceful West Wight. Near National Trust downland and Tennyson Heritage Coast Comfortable accommodation with central heating. Excellent home cooking by vegetarian proprietor. Wholefoods, vegetarian or vegan. Open Easter ring h

MOORHAYES VEGAN/VEGETARIAN FARMHOUSE HOTEL. Talaton, East Devon. Tel Whimple (0404) 822895. Comfortable, caring service Relaxed, peaceful atmosphere. The house is full of antiquity and character. Beautiful rural surroundings. 10 miles coast. Organic vegetables. Home-made bread. Enquiry and brochure. Write or phone Duncan and Jennie Hulin PENZANCE. Self-catering accommodation for 3-4. Two miles from Penzance with large garden, sea and country views. Occasional vegan meals available. Tel 0736 62242.

LINCOLNSHIRE. Vegan D. B&B Lincoln Wolds, Viking Way. Children welcome. No smoking, dogs. Crompton, Lapwings, Apley LN3 5JQ Tel Wragby 858101. LONDON. QUIET. WARM, friendly hotel. Good home cooking, proprietors vegetarian. B&B from £10.50. Queendale Lodge, St Augustine's Avenue. Croydon. Greater London Tel 01-688 2839. HOLIDAYS IN PEACEFUL SURROUNDINGS midway Inverness/Nairn. Vegetarian/Vegan. Touring, walking. Guests welcome all year. Lawson. Eynhallow, Croy. Inverness. Tel 06678-352. SCARBOROUGH. The Berjac'. 69 Westborough. Family-run hotel. Near town centre, own car park, midweek bookings accepted. BB&EM £8.70, no VAT. Reductions children sharing. Vegetarian and vegan meals always available. Brochure - Mr.

mountains sweep down to the sea, our converted farmhouse (inglenook/woodburner) nestles high on the slopes of Yr Eifel. Spectacular views of sea/ mountains. Designated 'area of national beauty'. Superb beach. Hiker's, sailor's, historian's paradise. Strictly vegetarian/vegan. D.B&B £89.25 per wee

August Dorset. All vegan families (couples and singles also welcome) are invited to the 6th Annual Camp. Come for the weekend and/or the full week. Full details are available from J

MAIL ORDER 'THE VEGAN SHOP' sells all Vegan Society publications and merchandise, plus other books of interest to vegans. Also vegan, non-animal-tested toiletries, cosmetics and household goods. 5% discount to Vegan Society members (except on books). Please support an all-vegan enterprise, and help us expand into s order

CELLULAR COTTON BLANKETS. Grade 1 Government surplus, excellent condition and value. Colours orange, grey or mauve. Single £2.75. double £3.25, both p&p.

LIQUID CONCENTRATE is the biodegradable liauid soap derived from coconut oil, whicn is free from animal products and animal testing. SAE for details: Dept EV, Janco Sales, 11 Seymour Road, Hampton Hill, Middlesex TW12 1DD.

NATURAL BEAUTY (See also MAIL ORDER) DOLMA VEGAN PERFUMES. Animal-free and not tested on astamp for details.

PUBLICATIONS AHIMSA. Quarterly magazine of the American Vegan Society. Veganism. Natural Living, Reverence for Life. Calendar year subscription $8. Address. 501 Old Harding. Highway, Malaga. NJ 08328, USA. VEGAN TIMES. Articles on spiritual growth/ healing; personal and planetary; ecology; animal rights; food; recipes; letters; poems, etc. A non-violent Green magazine. Sample copy 50p or 4xl3p stamps. Subscription £2.50 for 4 issues inclusive of postage Back copies available. All cheques/P.Os made pavabie to Alpay Torgut, 25 Tabley Road, London N7 0NA. WORDS TO AWAKEN THE WORLD. Posters, books and cards with powerfully transforming energy. Books inclusive p&p: The Superbemgs £5 90. Self-mastery £6.90 Acorn Book 1 £3. Hopi Prophecy £2. Trade enquiries from Bookshops and Centres welcome. Send large SAE for catalogue: Acorn (VN), 2 High Street, Glastonbury. Somerset.

SITUATIONS VACANT Young, truly dedicated ANIMAL RESCUE CENTRE (reg. Charity) needs totally reliable staff. Essential qualities - versatile, honest, hardworking, responsible, good memory, vegetarian, nigh sense of hygiene, ability to get on with people. not seeking fame or Fortune, desire to help animals in every way, 101% dedicated. In return - small wages, caravan accommodation, good fun, job satisfaction, exhaustion, sense of achievement, lots of animals to love. Over 25yrs preferred but any age if all above qualities are there. Please write (enclosing phone no if possible) to: Heaven's Gate, Animal Rescue Centre, W. Henley, Langport, Somerset TA109BE.

SITUATIONS WANTED

MISCELLANEOUS BUDDHIST MEDITATION: Two practical booklets. Send £1 to: Buddhist Publishing Group (V), PO Box 136, Leicester LE2 4TZ VEGFAM feeds the hungry via plant-based foodstuffs, leaf protein, seeds, irrigation etc. The Sanctuary, Lydford. Okehampton, Devon EX20 4AL. Tel Lydford 203 SEND SAE to Unit A1, Chapman's Yard. Waterhouse Lane, Scarborough Y O l l 1DP for free leaflets on 'Raw Food Diet ' and/or 'Tao', the great philosophy of ancient China, still thriving.

GO MAD O

LOOKING FOR PENPALS? Monthly lists of people in many countries. £1 each. 1 Burnwood Drive, Wollaton, Nottingham NG8 2DJ CONTACT CENTRE is a friendship agency, quite different from all others. It enables you to choose your friend(s) from detailed advertisements or to write an advertisement yourself without disclosing your name and address. CONTACT CENTRE gives you full scope; you don't even have to complete a form. CONTACT CENTRE now operates a Vegan Service in addition to the Vegetarian/ vegan Service and the International Pen-friend Service without hidden charges and with many offers for a nominal fee, or even free. As we cannot tell all in this advertisement, please find out how you too can benefit by the range of flexible services by requesting free details from Contact Centre, BCM Cuddle, London WC1V 6XX. Full translational services from and into German, French and Dutch

KALAMAKI RETREAT, Dover. Imaginative, nutritious vegan/vegetarian/wholefood. Bed, breakfast, evening meal. Tranquil, spiritual

atmosphere, bungalow home. Evening meditation in the cedar room. Tel (0304) 373739 'LIFE IS FOR LIVING'. Informal conference with buffet lunch at St Andrew's Church Hall. Cullompton, Devon. (M5 328) on Saturday October 12th. 12 noon. Subject 'Christianity

VEGETARIAN MATCHMAKERS: Discreet postal introduction service exclusively for unattached adult vegetarians/vegans, nationwide. (Clients from diverse walks of life - ages from 18 to sunset years). Dreams could become reality for you too, by requesting details today from V M M . Dept VQ, 131 Sirdar Road. London N22.

RATES AND CONDITIONS Personal £3.00 for 20 words (minimum). Additional words 15p each. Commercial £4.00 for 20 words (minimum). Additional words 20p each. Series discount 4 consecutive insertions 7 V i%.

PAYMENT By cheque or postal o rder , made payable to The Vegan Society and sent to: Advertisement Manager, The Vegan, 33-35 George Street, Oxford OX1 2 A Y.

Eire and Overseas: payment must be by sterling cheque drawn on an English bank or by international money order .

PUBLICATION DATES 21 March (Spring) 21 June (Summer) 21 September (Autumn) 21 December (Winter)

COPY DATES The first day of the month preceding the month of publication

CONDITIONS OF ACCEPTANCE The submission of an advertisement is deemed to warrant that the advertisement does not contravene any Act of Parliament nor is it in any other way illegal or defamatory or an infringement of any o ther party 's rights or an infringement of the British Code of Advertising Practice.

The Vegan Society reserves the right to refuse or withdraw any advertisement without explanation.

Although every care is taken, the Vegan Society cannot accept liability for any loss o r inconvenience incurred as a result of errors in the wording, or the late or non-appearance of an advertisement.

Cancellations may not be accepted after the copy date.

Refunds are only payable when an advertisement is cancelled before the copy date. In such cases a charge of £1 is made.

27

Sportspeople sebhhhb takes the biscake

This is the new and convenient way to take a high proportion of your daily requirement of first-class protein Each biscake (and there are twelve in every pack) provides 1.875g of protein. Sports people need extra protein and 'Granny-Ann' Hi-Pro Biscakes can give that neces-sary complementary boost. Take a couple with you on your training sessions - eat them anytime, anywhere.

They are really wholesome and nutriti-ous too . . . all the ingredients are natural and free from animal products and glu ten. Because of this they are also a most useful source of additional nutrition for people who are ill or convalescing. Or for people who simply like good wholesome food!

'Granny Ann' Hi-Pro Biscakes are avail able from health food stores.

QRflN/yrmW HI-PRO Btscahes For fur ther in format ion send SAE for free leaflet to:

Itona Products Limited, Leyland Mill Lane, Wigan

SATISFIED? DISSATISFIED? You real ly l ike y o u r w o r k b u t you ' re no t set t led in the j ob . M a y b e y o u c o u l d e a r n m o r e or maybe y o u r f u t u r e doesn ' t s e e m secu re o r y o u r p rospec ts no t b r i g h t e n o u g h

W e m a y n o t be able t o o f f e r y o u a job s t ra igh taway b u t if y o u like us a n d w e like y o u w e can soon prov ide a real c a r e e r o p p o r t u n i t y tha t you ' re unl ikely to f ind e l s e w h e r e

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You have t o live in L o n d o n and be engaged professionally as either a: —

JOBBING, ELECTRICIAN (Advanced/Technician) JOBBING, P L U M B E R (Advanced/Technician) HEATING/HOT WATER FITTER/TECHNICIAN/ ENGINEER (wi th weld ing experience) AIR CONDITIONING TECHNICIAN (Maintenance) SALES ENGINEER (Building Services Maintenance) JUNIOR SECRETARY

TECHNICAL TRAINING OFFICER (Part ime/Evenings)

Simpson, Delvarr & Co. Ltd., 10 Market Parade, Portland Road, S.E.25