European Vegetarian Union
The European Vegetarian Union (EVU) is an umbrella organisation for vegetarian societies and groups in Europe, and works in the areas of vegetarianism, nutrition, health, consumer protection, the campaign for animal rights, ecology, general information and against world hunger. They have their base in Winterthur (Switzerland), together with the Swiss organisation Schweizerische Vereinigung für Vegetarismus.
The main activities of the EVU are:
- To support and represent member societies on a European level, and to offer a platform for close cooperation;
- To raise public awareness of, and promote vegetarianism, vegetarian issues and the benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle;
- To lobby governments, European institutions and organisations for greater recognition of vegetarian issues in policy decisions; and
- To further promote the successful V-label scheme, in the interest of all vegetarian and vegan consumers across Europe. The V-Label is a standardised European vegetarian label from the EVU with the aim of easy identification of vegetarian products and services.
The EVU aims to support vegetarian organisations across Europe and bring them closer together. This is especially important in countries where the vegetarian philosophy has not yet had a chance to develop.
The connection between the various member societies is promoted through the EVU magazine "European Vegetarian". This is produced twice a year and reports on events, news, trends, developments, initiatives and activities that are of interest to vegetarians.
Also very important are the opportunities for vegetarians from all over Europe to meet in person and be able to exchange ideas and information, offer each other help and build links with other organisations. International meetings and events, where the latest developments and findings can be discussed in lectures and working groups, serve this purpose well.
Through membership of the International Vegetarian Union (IVU), the EVU is in contact with the international vegetarian community.
EVU receives regular information and alerts from the most important international organisations and media companies, which allows for a close monitoring of important international economic, political and social developments.
The EVU distribute the 1995 film Devour the Earth about the global consequences of meat consumption. The film was produced by the Vegetarian Society, written by Tony Wardle and narrated by Paul McCartney.[1][2]
In October 2011, Renato Pichler, President of the EVU, reported that the French government's Décret 2011-1227 and associated Arrêté (September 30, 2011) effectively outlaws the serving of vegan meals at any public or private school in France. Similar decrees are proposed for kindergartens, hospitals, prisons and retirement homes.[3]
References
- ↑ "Devour the Earth". World Preservation Foundation.
- ↑ "Devour the Earth". EVU.
- ↑ Renato Pichler "The French Government Outlaws Vegetarianism in Schools", European Vegetarian Union (EVU).
- Also see "The French Government Outlaws Vegetarianism in Schools", European Vegetarian and Animal News Alliance (EVANA).