Visit our website: HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------------------------- U N I T E D P O U L T R Y C O N C E R N S [UPC] E-mail list (to be removed please visit http://www.upc-online.org/email) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - http://www.pilotonline.com/news/nw0909veg.html VegFest tells visitors that there's more to eat than meat By MICHELLE MIZAL-ARCHER, The Virginian-Pilot � September 9, 2001 NORFOLK -- Karen Davis once owned a chicken she named Viva. She found the white hen abandoned in a shack that her landlady used as a chicken house in Maryland. She frequently walked the narrow, dirt path to the chicken shack, where she saw a hundred sets of small beady eyes stare at her through the wire. Then they were gone, except for the small, white hen who hid in the shadows of the coop. Davis adopted Viva, who was sick and couldn't walk. ``My landlady told me the chickens were sent to a farm to lay eggs, but I knew they went to the slaughterhouse,'' said Davis, president of United Poultry Concerns Inc., a nonprofit chicken-rescue organization that informs the public about the treatment of poultry. Davis, a Machipongo resident, told the story from behind a booth at the VegFest held at Town Point Park on Saturday. She was among the hundreds of animal lovers and vegetable eaters who gathered to let Hampton Roads know that veggies sure beat beef -- and chicken for that matter. The VegFest was sponsored by Whole Foods Co-Op, Vegan Action, The Hampton Roads Vegetarian Community and Applied Chiropractic Center of Virginia Beach. ``Our goals were to strengthen our vegetarian community and create more awareness of the local vegetarian restaurants,'' said Brian A. Lancaster, president of the festival's committee and owner of Applied Chiropractic Center. The usual park festival smells of Italian sausages on the grill or Philly cheese steaks frying were replaced with spices and peanut butter. Participants tasted free samples of organically grown apples, grapes and soy nuts. Vendors offered hummus, pita bread and avocado smoothies while folk musicians and guest speakers took turns on the stage. Rogers R. Brown walked in a meat-eater and came out a reborn vegetarian. The Chesapeake resident said he ate only vegetables for a few years and then started eating meat again when he got married. He hoarded samples and free brochures in a plastic bag and was determined to give vegetarianism another go. ``It wakes you up,'' he said. ``I do know for sure that if I give up the meats then it will strengthen me up.'' That's exactly what Davis wanted to hear, and that's why she said the festival is a good idea. ``Every vegetarian becomes a vegetarian from something,'' she said. ``Unless you're lucky enough to be born into a vegetarian family.'' Plus, she said, the more vegetarians, the more happy chickens. Reach Michelle Mizal-Archer at 222-5116 or [EMAIL PROTECTED] _____________________________________________________________________ UNITED POULTRY CONCERNS http://www.UPC-online.org Promoting the compassionate and respectful treatment of domestic fowl PO Box 150 Machipongo, VA 23405 * 757-678-7875 The Moment You Turn Your Back You Are Involved ------------------------------------------------- This Discussion List is the follow-up for the old stopnato @listbot.com that has been shut down ==^================================================================ EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9spWA Or send an email To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This email was sent to: [email protected] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
