The Federation concept is a step-by-step process to help organisations and individuals find and share information that benefits animals, and work together on projects requiring mass participation and coalition force when appropriate.
Ref.: India for Animals Conference
I was in Chennai from Jan 29 to 31, attending FIAPO 's (Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations) 'India for Animals' (IFA) Conference. My travel to Chennai, though tiresome, was very eventful and interesting. I would like to share my experiences with you.
- FIAPO's key persons and all paid employees (4 at present)are all vegans.
- The IFA event was totally vegan with even tea/coffee served with soya milk. There was even ubiquitous 'thair sada' (curd rice) made from peanut milk.
- There were several people, references and sessions which dwelt on food animals, animal rights and veganism.
- There were several vegans attending the event (overall 160 people participated)
- The Indian Animal movement is moving towards animal rights from animal welfare, veganism from vegetarianism.
- Ms. Pramoda Chitrabhanu spoke elaborately on veganism and urged people to adopt vegan diet.
- Very professionally organised (though time was not kept in most of the programs) with a strong foundation on systems.
On the sidelines of IFA, I went to meet the people (key persons are Jains) behind Indian Vegetarian Congress, who recently coopted me to their governing council. Some points of my meeting with them are:
- They accept veganism as an ideal thing to practice. They consider veganism as equivalent doing Phd and vegetarianism as graduation. They want to make more people reach graduation level to begin with.
- Their definiton of 'vegetarian' doesnt talk about dairy but they, in principle, shun all products derived from violence. If milk is a violent product, then it is not acceptable.
- They want to make the veg movement a mass based one. As diary, egg and chicken industries are advertising to promote their products, IVC have started advertisement campaigns to counter them.
- They want to set up about 2000 chapters of IVC all over India in about 2 years time. They want to run it like Rotary clubs, taking the message to rich and famous too. (I have taken up to work with them to start their local chapters in Karnataka, my home state. I have started working, to start about 10 chapters in the next 3-4 months).
- They want to lobby with the government for veg cause with a large existing base of vegetarians coming together.
- It seems they have enough resources and experience to make it a reality.
Anyone in India wanting to open a chapter in your area may contact them. Their website is www.vegcongress.org
best wishes,
Ref.: India for Animals Conference
Let me congratulate you first for leading Vegetarian/VEGAN movement in India. Pramodaben Chitrabhanu is known to many of us Jains and Others in Vegan Movement in U.S.A and in India...There is a great future for this movement in Traditional India where most of the Politicians and Religious Leaders are busy, Making Money and Promoting Temple Building and Ritualism. Non-Violence in the India of Gandhi is almost forgotten. It is therefore the responsibility of the Enlightened, Educated and Believers in Science and Technology to LEAD. It will spread like wild fire once it lifts off. I understand that there are about 6 Vegan Organizations in India. They all have to join hands to fight Unitedly the curse of VIOLENCE-HINSA. It is very much needed for the teeming millions who are suffering not only due to Poverty, but Ignorance, Health Problems and being mis-led.
It is the earnest need of Organizations like Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organizations (FIAPO). A few Non-Traditional Jains may Support such Organization. Hindus are in a vast majority, but divided in many sectarian groups. Karnatak and Bangalore are the birth-place of Intellectual Industrialization that has opened up vast vistas of the New Age Industries. Many enlightened entrepreneurs have come forward to take long strides, inspite of rampant Corruption led by Politicians and Bureaucrats. India has come of Age and is Competing worldwide, Expanding and Succeeding. The VEGAN Movement is for the People and All Living Beings for their Health, Environment and Compassion. Wherever there are Huge Problems, the Success of Right Ideas have a tremendous scope. The Environment of CHANGE is in the AIR of Foggy India. The Ancient Country has a pit-fall of centuries of Wrong Traditions to thrive. Revolution in the Minds of Young is a fertile ground for wiping out the accumulated cobwebs of long time. This is a very good omen for starting a New Movement, 21st Century Gandhian Movement for NON-VIOLENCE. It's name is VEGANISM. It can get across all Socio-Political-Religious-Economic Sectors with a very high potential.
It appears that your program of action is great. Multi media-Modern Wireless e.g. Google, Facebook, etc. is the best vehicle. Success is bound to follow. "JAI AHINSA"
Sincerely,
Fakirchand J. Dalal