Veggie Pride

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Account of the Veggie Pride 2009 in France

This year, on May 16th 2009, the ninth French Veggie Pride took place, for the first time in Lyon rather than Paris as in the previous 8 years.

Between 300 and 400 vegetarians and vegans gathered for the demonstration, a number significantly lower than the previous years. However the level of energy and resolution displayed by the participants appeared much higher. The activists chanted the slogans with much more strength and determination, and many carried banners and signs they had made themselves. Passers-by could immediately understand the subject of the demonstration and see how varied and tenacious were the demonstrators assembled behind the banner of the Veggie Pride.

The parade marched across downtown Lyon, which was full of people on this sunny day. Some participants found the parade a bit too long, but this small problem was countered by the many “happenings” that took place all along. Just before starting the parade, David read the Veggie Pride Manifesto, then, Place des Jacobins, Isabelle read the resolution for Abolition of Meat. Place Bellecour, Anne-Claire sang a very moving song followed by a slam and a short sketch “The Extremist”. Place Ampere, Agnese read the testimony of Laure, a vegan mother. A little further on, a big happening was scheduled at the center of Place Carnot. Unfortunately, another event was already taking place there and we had to settle for a smaller spot where less people could see us. The happening was however very impressive, with the activists lying down on the ground wearing animal masks while the sound system was loudly broadcasting animals screams and excerpts of the manifesto explaining the horrifying treatment of animals killed for meat. Then Laura, a young vegan girl, read poems just before the parade reached rue de la République, a very busy pedestrian street.

The parade finally reached its destination, the area where the various associations and activists groups had their information tables: L214, CLAM (Montpellier Animal Liberation Group), Vegétarien Magazine, the AVF (French vegetarian association), Tahin Party, the Vaches Rouges, Croc blanc, Un monde vegan, Droits des animaux (Animal Rights) and of course, the official Veggie Pride table.

For a long time after the parade arrived Place de la République, the participants went on loudly chanting slogans and holding banners and signs.

A special note about the presence this year in the parade of a particular section, that of the vegetarian families, with parents and children marching together. It was an opportunity for the children to have a great time and to be proud of being vegetarians, while at the same time being separated from the shocking images of cruelty and abuse of animals displayed on the posters in the rest of the demonstration. The children passing by on the streets were attracted to the sight of activists in rabbit costumes holding the section banner, and were brought to read the posters, despite some uneasiness in the adults accompanying them.

The following day, some twenty people attended a meeting to assess the results of the 2009 Lyon Veggie Pride and to discuss the problem of the lack of commitment on the part of vegetarians to organize such a big event. We will soon send another newsletter on this particular subject.

The Veggie Pride was covered by the media. You can read the newspapers' articles and listen to the interviews on the page dedicated to the results in the media.

The other Veggie Pride demonstrations

In Italy, the Veggie Pride brought together 700 persons, who marched through the center of Milan expressing their refusal to eat animals. During and after the march, participants read texts on the condition of animals; Place San Babila, certain demonstrators lay down on the ground, attracting the attention of passers-by. The march was filmed by the national TV and had good media coverage. You can find a series of photos of the Italian Veggie Pride on YouTube. For further information, visit the site www.veggiepride.it.

Photos of the Prague Veggie Pride can be seen on the site www.veggiepride.xf.cz. We regret the presence of posters putting forward environmental arguments, because they weaken the message that should instead be a unifying one for the animals. We also regret that the demonstration was not explicitly reserved to people who do not eat animals.

Thanks so much to all those who helped organise this 2009 Veggie Pride!

We hope that the Veggie Pride gave you all the energy necessary to go on working hard for the animals throughout all the year.

The Veggie Pride team