Congress Report

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From August 4th to 8th 2006, the Latin American Vegetarian Union - UVLA and the Brazilian Vegetarian Society - SVB held the 1st Brazilian and Latin American Vegetarian Congress at Latin America Memorial, one of the seeing sighs of Sao Paulo city. The motto of the congress was “Peace for all Beings: for a Healthy, Sustainable and Compassionate World”.

The object of the Congress was to show that much more than a healthy diet, vegetarianism is a crucial element for the construction of a more balanced society, without hunger and without violence, a society that promotes peace and compassion within and among species, preserving the environment.

We had the support of several organizations and companies that helped us with institutional support, products, equipment, and many resources. Vegetarianism is barely starting its journey in a widely animal-exploitative society and it is encouraging to see that more and more people are noticing the importance of this nutritional option that is above all an ethical and philosophical posture on life, crucial in the construction of the better world that we all long for.

In spite of still having a long way to cover, the network of Latin American people on behalf of vegetarianism as the preferential nutritional option for our continent is advancing. The presence of several delegates from Latin American countries was an evidence of that, making the Latin American Vegetarian Union - UVLA a concrete fact. It is important to mention the delegation from Uruguay with 5 people, contributing in several lectures and presentations. Ffrom Argentina we had Drª Ana Maria Boglio with an active participation narrowing the ties among all of us.

The number of subscriptions was below the expected, but we had a great representativity: people from 75 different cities and 16 different states of Brazil took part of the Congress. The Northeast region was present with Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Pará, Paraíba, Pernambuco e Sergipe. A marvelous thing.

The balance was very positive. The media coverage was excellent. For the first time in the world a Vegetarian Congress was recorded in video and broadcasted by a TV network. Representative lectures in the main axes approached by the Brazilian Vegetarian Society will be broadcasted by the affiliate stations of Uniao Planetária, covering about 40 million telespectators around the country. Again, we also had the coverage of the TV program Alternativa Saude (Health Alternative) from GNT which also is going to broadcast, during its programs, several interviews recorded during the Congress. The main communication vehicles, TVs, newspapers and magazines were present or recorded interviews before or after the Congress. It was a great campaign that gave great visibility to vegetarianism. We thank our press office, Polo Communication, that once again accomplished its task.

31 expositors animated the Veg Culture Fair of products without any animal ingredient, covering an ample range of different products and services.	This market is in frank expansion and those who since now are betting on it deserve all our consideration and gratitude for the courage of opening up a field still little explored.
The culinary demonstrations did not leave a great deal to be desired, teaching several ways of feeding with quality, taste and respect. Multiple ingredients were used and many recipes were taught showing that the vegetarian diet, on the contrary of what many think is very delicious, diverse and singularly beautiful.
One more time the Live Drawing Fair was present and called the attention making participants happy and praising the awesome degustations distributed in abundance.
The Fashion Show modaCOMpaixao (fashion with compassion) accomplish its object of working with the concept that we can dress with glamour, dignity and creativity without	being conivent with an industry that use an infinity of ingredients all obtained from animals causing them appalling suffering.

The partnership with the Secretary of the Green and the Environment, represented by its secretary Dr. Eduardo Jorge Sobrinho and the coordinator of the Urban and Periurban Agriculture, Mr. Luis Galleti brings lots of joy and hope to us. Soon we will have good news.

All Coordinators of SVB´s Departments were present including the coordinator of the Foreign Affairs Department, based in Paris. Everybody had a very important role for the realization of event. The Capacitating Course in Vegetarian Diet for Health Professionals organized by the Nutrition Department had an expressive participation from people inscribed in the Congress and people inscribed just for the Course. The Sound and Image Department covered the whole Congress and is preparing a documentary with the material. The Web Department had a very important role, mainly before the Congress, updating WebPages, tables, forms etc. The Membership Department conducted the Campaign 1000 Thousand Members until the Congress. We didn’t reach this number, yet, but we’re closer! Soon we’re going to start a new Campaign, because the light can’t be extingeshed. Departments of Environment, Group Formation, Translation and Review and Ombudsman were also present giving their contribution. The Ombusman Department distributed a form asking for criticism and suggestions for further improvement of our work. About 90% of the participants considered the Congress good or excellent.

The SVB’s stand was under the responsibility of Group Florianópolis of SVB. It was a great success to be repeated in other SVB events and in events of other organizations. The majority of the SVB’s coordinators were present and they came back home stimulated and full of ideas to be applied in their own groups. Many of them were also lecturers.

The Activist of the Year Award (2005) was given to Adriano Saran, Group Ribeirao Preto of SVB coordinator, for his recognized work ahead of a dedicated team of volunteers. The Activist of the Year Award (2006) was given to Rafael Bán Jacobsen, Group Porto Alegre of SVB coordinator, which is a very active, dynamic and good-humored group.

The program has several very pleasant, hilarious and artistic moment.

We thank the public, the press, the SVB’s members and the volunteers that efforted so much so that everything could work in the best way possible. Some people worked almost beyond their own strength, I want to specially thank them, which anonymously made a remarkable effort for the Congress to go by with suaveness and competence.

In a recent research of the Ipsos Institute, 28% of the Brazilians declared that they wish to eat less meat. SVB has as a task to provide well-grounded information to these people and make them able to step forward going vegetarians. Events like the Vegetarian Congress are very important for the consolidation and the visibility of SVB’s work and vegetarianism as well. We hope to keep this flame always alive due to the great importance of our message in the construction of a better world. We have a lot of work ahead. The effort must goes on.

Vegetarians of the world, unite!

Marly Winckler – president of SVB

Pictures:

www.svb.org.br/galeria/thumbnails.php?album=36

www.guiavegano.com.br/galeria/thumbnails.php?album=66

Videos:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_ZXVlS1Buk&mode=related&search=

www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMc_VIkurqQ&mode=related&search=

www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHc9s2f5CY4&mode=related&search=

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkxKEbo27ds

Music presentation

36th World Vegetarian Congress

www.youtube.com/watch?v=fo_RRBNZYwg&mode=related&search=

See also: Meat is Weak - trailer