Skip to content or view screen version

Veggie Pride UK, Birmingham, 16th May 2009

Stalingrad O'Neill | 21.05.2009 21:56 | Animal Liberation | Culture | Ecology | Health | Birmingham

Birmingham played host to the UK's first Veggie Pride event, which celebrated an animal cruelty free lifestyle and promoted Vegetarian and Vegan food. The organizers cited the City’s central location, and the historic link Birmingham has played in the progress of Vegetarianism over the last century and a half, as the reason for location choice

Compere Rakhee Thakrar
Compere Rakhee Thakrar

Wolverhampton’s World renowned Reggae artist Macka B
Wolverhampton’s World renowned Reggae artist Macka B

An appreciative crowd watching him rhyme his itals
An appreciative crowd watching him rhyme his itals

Macka B finishing his set
Macka B finishing his set

Further applause for the main man
Further applause for the main man

Kristoff the Clown with volunteer from his audience
Kristoff the Clown with volunteer from his audience

People gather to watch Bloco Louco the Samba Band
People gather to watch Bloco Louco the Samba Band

Bloco Louco themselves performing
Bloco Louco themselves performing

Friends of the Earth promotion - Fix the food chain
Friends of the Earth promotion - Fix the food chain

Sea Shepard Information Stall
Sea Shepard Information Stall

10 O’clock Horses playing on stage
10 O’clock Horses playing on stage

Not many fans of Ronnie Mac ‘round then?
Not many fans of Ronnie Mac ‘round then?

Aaagh! Besieged by a flash mob!
Aaagh! Besieged by a flash mob!

Spacebar samples! ‘ think I’ll just try another one
Spacebar samples! ‘ think I’ll just try another one

Martin The Livewire Hip Hop Vegan opens his act
Martin The Livewire Hip Hop Vegan opens his act

Just a guess but I’d say he’s a Scots vegan
Just a guess but I’d say he’s a Scots vegan

Chris Butler entertains with his acute social observations
Chris Butler entertains with his acute social observations

‘Veggies Catering Campaign’ mobile catering trailer doing the business
‘Veggies Catering Campaign’ mobile catering trailer doing the business

Rivals ‘Something Fishy’ also pulling a hungry crowd
Rivals ‘Something Fishy’ also pulling a hungry crowd

Banner of the ‘Supreme Master TV’?
Banner of the ‘Supreme Master TV’?


Unfortunately I attended the UNITE March for Jobs Demonstration and Rally in Birmingham’s Centenary Square on the Saturday morning; so was not able to visit the Veggie Pride event till later in the afternoon

Then the adverse weather with its heavy showers often sent people scurrying for shelter and tended at times to clear the event location area (Victoria Square) But despite this obstacle, there was a continual stream of Saturday folk passing the square, who took time to browse the stalls and talk to the MVC (Midlands Vegan Campaigns) volunteers and others

Lots of onlookers took their time and gathered to listen to the speakers or enjoy the music offered by the bands and artists. People also tried and enjoyed the Vegan food on offer I noticed there was a constant queue at both Vegan catering vans throughout the afternoon. The other entertainment laid on for younger folk (Kristoff the Clown) also looked well attended

So despite the obstacle of the weather, it looked a major event success!

Photos, Copyright Stalingrad O'Neill - permission is required for third party usage

Stalingrad O'Neill
- e-mail: robograd@tiscali.co.uk

Comments

Hide the following 7 comments

controversy

22.05.2009 21:29

 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/05/429924.html?c=on#comments

@ntispeciesist

Excellent Day!

23.05.2009 07:57

What a positive event to attract veggies/ vegans and the public. It was great that there was such a mix of stalls, everything from Sea Shepherd to Greenpeace. There was also a delicious range of vegan food for people to try. The Veggie Pride events in other countries and here will act as a forum for more and more people to learn about veggie/ vegan/ green lifestyles.
Looking forward to next year's!

Niki

Greenpeace ships serve meat

23.05.2009 09:03

Greenpeace were at a veggie event?! But Greenpeace ships serve meat. Even when they are on anti-fishing/whaling activity they serve flesh including that from fish!

Hypocrites!

Capuchin

Congratulations!

23.05.2009 13:29

Congratulations to MVC and everyone who worked their buns off on the day. It's a brilliant event and a great addition to the veggie calendar.

Osian

Osian

Videos of the day too

23.05.2009 14:31

On YouTube here  http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=B88185D0D92E4EEA&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL

Vegan4Life

Greenpeace NOT at Veggie Pride!!

23.05.2009 14:48

Veggie Pride UK was a fantastic event with a wide variety of stalls and entertainment. But I can assure you that Greenpeace did not have a stall and took no part in the event.

VP attendee

Clarification

24.05.2009 23:47

Sea Shepherd were at Veggie Pride, not Greenpeace.

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is a marine wildlife conservation organization that focuses on the enforcement of existing international conservation law protecting marine species and habitats.

Captain Paul Watson: "My ships are vegan because we are conservationists. There are simply not enough fish in the sea to continue to feed the ever expanding populations of humanity."
 http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/editorial-080221-1.html


Veggies Catering Campaign was delighted to be at Veggie Pride alongside Something Fishy and Green Garden Cafe, two new campaign caterers that Veggies is pleased to support. There is no 'competition' in vegan catering - there is room for and a need for more. Indeed Something Fishy is run by volunteers from a converted Veggies trailer on long term loan. See  http://www.veggies.org.uk/somethingfishy and  http://www.greengardencafe.co.uk/

A directory of vegan caterers is compiled by Veggies at  http://www.veggies.org.uk/acd/groups/caterers.htm

For more events on the Veggies Calendar see  http://www.veggies.org.uk/arc.php

Pat
- Homepage: http://www.veggies.org.uk