Description
(This page is adapted from an article which first appeared in
the June 2002 issue of IVU News, the magazine of the International
Vegetarian Union, of which Oxford Vegetarians are a member
society.)
Oxford Vegetarians are a local voluntary group whose aim is to
promote the vegetarian/vegan diet to the moral, physical,
environmental and economic benefit of humankind. We believe that
education, rather than confrontation, is the key to unlocking the
hearts and minds of the public, encouraging more people to adopt a
vegetarian or, better still, a vegan diet.
The group was founded in 1967 and now has more than 150 members of
all ages and from all walks of life. We are affiliated to The Vegetarian Society of the UK, as well as
being a member society of IVU. Most of
our members live in Oxford, a city of just over 100,000 people,
although we aim to cover the whole of Oxfordshire, a predominantly
rural county in the heart of England. Oxford is, of course,
internationally famous for its university and many historic
buildings. Vegetarian scholars of the past have included the poet
Shelley and Peter Singer, author of Animal Liberation.
We hold regular speaker meetings, social events and meals out, and
run information stalls at local fairs. Our members receive a
monthly e-newsletter, OV News, featuring a diary of forthcoming
events. We have also negotiated a number of members discountsat local shops and
restaurants.
Highlights of Oxford Vegetarians 35-year history have included
cookery demonstrations to packed houses, helping to organise and
run the Oxford Animal Charities Fair - a major event in the local
calendar for over twenty years, and many memorable speaker meetings
and social events. Hundreds of people have been members of Oxford
Vegetarians during this time, and we hope that we have had a
positive impact on their lives. If we have helped them to adopt and
sustain a vegetarian or vegan diet then our existence has been
justified.
The group is run on the proverbial shoestring budget, and financial
assistance is always welcome! More important than this, however, is
gaining the active support of local vegetarians and vegans.
Although relatively large, our total membership represents only a
small fraction, perhaps less than five per cent, of the number of
vegetarians in Oxfordshire. We are fortunate in that Oxford is a
relatively "green" city (the local branch of the Green Party are particularly strong)
with a high proportion of young people, so that we operate in a
comparatively favourable environment. However, this also means that
we are to some extent competing with other local campaigning groups
for support. In recent years we have found it especially difficult
to attract student members, perhaps because there are so many other
meetings and activities to draw their attention. Vegetarianism is
not seen as a campaigning issue in the same way as, for example,
the environment, world development, or animal rights, although the
lifestyle we promote affects all of these issues. Perhaps our
greatest challenge is to make these links in the public mind, so
that vegetarianism is not seen as an optional extra, but rather, as
Thoreau put it, "a part of the destiny of the human
race".
Vegetarians and vegans visiting Oxford are welcome to contact us for advice on where to stay, shop
and eat out. We have a busy calendar of events with activities most
weeks, so your visit may well coincide with one of these. Details
may be found in the event section. We look forward to meeting you
in the city of dreaming spires.
Paul Appleby
OxVeg Assistant Secretary and Online News
Editor