1. Recent Jain Vegans news 1. Young Jains host vegan Jain Diwali event - On Saturday 18 October, Young Jains UK hosted a fantastic Diwali event depicting the life of Bhagavan Mahavir. In addition to providing interactive family entertainment, all food and refreshments served were 100% vegan. Many of the delicious dishes provided were home-cooked by volunteers. 
2. Institute of Jainology announce long-term vegan as Ahimsa Award winner - Oh 15 October, the Institute of Jainology celebrated its annual Ahimsa day at the beautiful House of Commons in London. For the second year running, the IOJ announced a long term vegan and animal advocate as an Ahimsa Award winner - Ingrid Newkirk is founder and President of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), one of the largest animal advocacy organisations in the world. Juliet Gellately, founder and director of VIVA, a leading UK based animal advoacy organisation, was keynote speaker at the event. 3. Claremont Lincoln University hosts all vegan conference on Jain Business ethics - On 3 and 4 October, Claremont Lincoln University in California hosted a conference on Jain business ethics. The food served at the event was Jain and vegan, as have several recent events hosted by the Centre of Jain Studies at Claremont Lincoln. To read more about the conference, please see the write-up by Dr. Atul Shah of Diverse Ethics. | | |
2. Plantshit.com publishes vegan Jain mithai recipes for Diwali | | |
3. Pistha burfi recipe Ingredients: - 100g creamed coconut
- 150g coarsely ground pistachios
- 50g maple syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla essence
- 1/2 teaspoon of cardamom powder
- Flaked almonds and whole pistachio nuts (for decoration only)
Instructions: - Melt the creamed coconut by placing it in a bowl on top of a pan of hot water.
- In another bowl mix all the ingredients together.
- Use your hands to knead the mixture to distribute the flavours evenly.
- Pour the mixture into a mould, lined with cling film.
- Leave to cool down for 10minutes, and then place in the fridge for 30 minutes.
- Cut to size
Recipe initially developed by Anabel Zalvidar and adapted by Nishma Shah of the Jain Vegans Working Group | | |
4. Vegan date and nut slices Ingredients: Instructions: Roughly chop the dates (removing any stones) and place in a large saucepan. Add the water and heat for about 15 minutes until the dates have softened and formed a paste-like consistency. Add the nuts and mix well Once mixed together, roll the mixture into cylindrical rolls, about 4cm in diameter. Coat the rolls in dessicated coconut, cover with greaseproof paper and put in the fridge for at least 12 hours. When ready to eat, slice the rolls into 1cm thick pieces. 
Recipe kindly provided by Rehma Chandaria of the Jain Vegans Working Group | | |
5. All vegan diwali & new year party at SCVP - Friday 24th October 2014
The Jain dinner served will be entirely vegan
SCVP Jain School will be celebrating Diwali and New Year on Friday 24th October in unique style with a narration of Mahavir Bhagwan’s legacy accompanied with music and singing from UK renowned singers and musicians, followed by Chopda Poojan which will allow us all to start a new chapter in our spiritual lives by following the values propounded by Mahavir Bhagwan.
This is a not to be missed family event. Details are set out on the above flyer - tickets are limited so book early to avoid disappointment (children under 16 are free).
To book your tickets, contact:
Shandipbhai: 07780 690432
Bakulbhai:07917 708370
| | |
6. Reversing diabetes with Nandita Shah - Saturday 8th November 2014 
Date and time: Saturday 8th November 2013 9.30am to 6.30pm
Address: The Kings Langley Community Centre, London WD4 8ET
Price: £149 per person or £249 per couple
www.sharan-india.org/events/reversing-diabetes-2 Nandita Shah is the founder and director of SHARAN UK and INDIA. She facilitates regular workshops and retreats all over the world to help make changes to overcome lifestyle and diet related diseases. This workshop draws on research by Dr Neal Barnard (author of a best-selling book on reversing diabetes), and offers a step-by-step lifestyle method that has helped participants control/reverse type 2 diabetes, lose weight and lose cholesterol, while also reducing/eliminating the need for medication. Ramesh Hirani participated in the 21 day disease reversal retreat in June this year. He was so impressed with the results he experienced that he invited Nandita to conduct a 1 day seminar in London, and will help support participants on their journey once Nandita returns to India. The course fee includes 3 healthy gourmet vegan meals, cooking demos, course materials and workbooks. For enquiries and registration: Ramesh Hirani Tel: 07586 291473, Email:
Karina Hirani Tel: 07951 719115, Email: | | |
7. Other upcoming vegan events
| | |
8. Abuse and killing of cows in milk production 
The abuse and killing of cows on dairy farms is the main reason why many members of the Jain community have decided to make a switch to a vegan lifestyle:
- The cow is forcefully impregnated by means of artificial insemination. If a cow isn’t made pregnant, she won’t produce milk.
- The newborn calf is normally taken away from its mother within 24-48 hours. This is traumatic for cows, who, like human mothers, are very motherly and develop strong bonds with their babies.
- Male calves are killed shortly after birth or sold on for meat/leather production. They have no other use to dairy farmers.
- Female calves are kept on to replace their mothers as milk-producing cows.
- The mother cow will be killed when 5-7 years old, even though she could live for 20 to 30 years if given the chance. This is because after bearing a calf and giving milk each year, her milk yield drops such that it is no more profitable for a dairy farmer to keep her alive.
Even though cows on organic farms might experience slightly better conditions, they are still artificially inseminated and killed long before they would leave their bodies naturally. For further information about the way in which cows and other animals are exploited in the milk production process, please visit the Vegan Society website: http ://www . vegansociety . com/ | | |
9. NHS website supportive of a vegan diet | | |
10. Alternatives to dairy to help you give up It is possible to get a range of dairy free alternatives to traditionally animal based products. Normally available from free-from sections of supermarkets and also from healthfood stores.
You can easily replace:
- Cow milk with Soya/Rice/Almond/Coconut Milk (Supermarket ownbrands, Alpro, Provamel, Bonsoy, Ecomil, Koko)
- Yoghurt / Dahi with plant based curds (Provamel, Alpro, Sojade)
- Butter with vegetable spreads (Pure and Vitalite are commonly available from supermarkets. Note many margarines contain butter milk and thus are not suitable for vegans)
- Cheese / Paneer with Dairy Free Cheeses (Tofu, VBites, Scheese, Tofutti, Vegusto, Vegourmet)
- Ice Creams with sorbets or dairy free ice creams (Bessant and Drury, Swedish Glace, Booja Booja, Worthenshaws)
- Chocolate with dark chocolate (Plamil and Organica do specialist dairy free ‘milk chocolate’ and many brands do vegan dark chocolate)
- Eggs with egg replacement powder (baking) or tofu (scrambled)
- Honey with maple syrup, rice syrup, agave syrup, date syrup or golden syrup
| | |
11. About Jain Vegans Jain Vegans supports members of the Jain community in the transition towards a plant-based low-himsa lifestyle, and helps raise awareness about the abuse, violation and killing of cows in milk production.
You can find out more about Jain Vegans online (www . jainvegans . org) or interact with us through the following online channels:
..a friendly online forum where you can ask questions and exchange ideas about the vegan lifestyle with other members from around the world....
...follow us on Twitter (@JainVegans) for instant news and information...
..'like' us on facebook for updates on our activities and invitations to events...
JAIN VEGANS WORKING GROUP
In the UK, the Jain Vegans Working Group actively works with UK Jain organisations to deliver informative and empowering events on a plant-based lifestyle, and to encourage them to make the transition to all - vegan catering at their events. Please us if you'd like us to help your Jain organisation/community in this way. Please also if you are interested in supporting our activities, for example by volunteering.
| | |
|
