RVV Review of 2007
We have put together a Review of 2007 which is basically a summary of everything we`ve been doing in the last 12 months. Click the link above to read the review. If you would like to help us make 2008 even more successful, please come along to one of our meetings or contact us.
We wish you all a Happy & Healthy New Year!!
JANUARY
Group Meal Out
On Friday 12th January, 11 members of our group ventured into Birmingham to Jyoti`s Vegetarian Restaurant for our first meal out of 2007. Read more
FEBRUARY
Public Screening of `Jill`s Film`
Our meeting in February was devoted to the memory of Jill Phipps, who died whilst campaigning against the live export trade 12 years ago. We screened Jill`s Film and displayed an exhibition about her life. Read more and see www.jillphipps.org.uk
MARCH
Guest Speaker Meeting
At our meeting in March, there was a talk and presentation about the Dr Hadwen Trust for Humane Research, given by Julie Roberts of Coventry Veggies and Vegans. Read more and see www.drhadwentrust.org
Redditch stall and leafletting
In conjunction with Viva!`s Farrowing Crate Day of Action(timed to coincide with Mothers Day), we held a stall and handed out hundreds of leaflets in Redditch Town Centre. www.viva.org.uk
RVV Talk at Everywomans Circle Meeting
We were invited to give a talk at a meeting of the Everywomans Circle(similar to Womens Institute) in Redditch. A group of 40+ women listened to an hour long talk about RVV and veggie/veganism. After the talk, there was a question and answer session and finally, many of the women tucked into some vegan food samples which we took along. Many of the ladies thanked us for our informative talk and delicious food, for which we received enough donations to cover the cost. Read more
MAY
Guest Speaker Meeting
At our meeting in May, alternative therapist Angie Westwood gave a fascinating talk about Bach Flower Remedies. Angie has been vegetarian for 20 years and is fully qualified and experienced in various alternative treatments, including Reiki and Reflexology. Read more
Festival Fever at Ragley!
Eco-friendly living was the name of the game at the first Ragley Green Fair, held from 5th - 7th May in the grounds of Ragley Hall near Alcester. Never before has such a large eco festival been held so close to Redditch. RVV jumped at the opportunity to educate the masses - we held a stall there on all 3 days. Gallery of photos
An Audience with Benjamin Zephaniah
Half a dozen members of RVV travelled to Stratford to see vegan poet Benjamin Zephaniah perform his poetry and talk about his life before a 300 strong audience. www.benjaminzephaniah.com
Weekend Ramble/Meal
On Saturday 19th May, nine members of RVV (and five 4 legged friends) enjoyed a leisurely 3-4 mile ramble alongside the River Arrow at Studley, before ending up at The Little Lark for a delicious lunchtime meal. Gallery of photos
Meal, Quiz and Social at Hillfields Animal Sanctuary
On Saturday 26th May, as part of National Vegetarian Week, Hillfields Animal Sanctuary (at Blackwell near Bromsgrove) held a `Friends of the Sanctuary` meal, quiz and social evening. 9 members of RVV joined over 30 others for a fantastic evening and a scrumptious 3 course meal. The event raised £175 for the sanctuary and brought together lots of old friends. www.hillfields-animal-sanctuary.com
JUNE
Redditch Eco Fair Success
On Sat 2 June, the second annual Redditch Green Fair was a fantastic, fun filled, informative event. Who would have thought that Redditch could ever be home to a vibrant and growing `green` movement?!! But this green fair proved that`s exactly what is taking shape in Redditch! Vegetarian and vegan awareness was a key part of the day and there was masses of free, climate-friendly, vegan food on the RVV stall. Not only did RVV volunteers feed the masses, we also served fair trade, organic, vegan refreshments all day long. Read more on our website and see the dedicated green fair website www.redditchgreenfair.org.uk
Cookery Demo Meeting
Our June meeting was devoted to the culinary skills of Liz Hughes of Birmingham Vegetarians & Vegans. Liz demonstrated how to make mouthwatering vegan cakes that not only look great, but are delicious too, as we soon discovered!! Read more
RVV addressed a full council meeting
A member of Redditch Vegetarians and Vegans, along with 3 members of other environmental campaigning groups in Redditch, formed a deputation on Mon 25 June at the full council meeting of Redditch Borough Council. The deputation related specifically to a screening of Al Gore`s film An Inconvenient Truth, but one of the councillors chose to make an ill informed comment about how soya(health food) production is destroying Amazon rainforests! Of course, he was very quickly made aware that the large majority(perhaps upto 90%) of this soya is actually fed to livestock!! Read more
Animal Aid Street Collection in Redditch
RVV members staged the annual Redditch street collection for Animal Aid. Not only did we collect inside the Kingfisher Shopping Centre, we were also allowed to hold an information stall inside due to the heavy rain. £91 was raised for Animal Aid`s peaceful campaigns. Read more
JULY
Library display in Redditch
Throughout July, a veggie/vegan display was on show in Redditch library.
AUGUST
Indian Cookery Demo/Workshop
Our August get together attracted by far the most people ever seen at our meetings. Hardly surprising since it was an Indian Cookery Demonstration and Workshop! Anita Sharma-James of The Spice Trade showed 29 of us how to make vegetable pakoras, then everyone had a go themselves and spent all evening sampling the delicious results! Read more
Fun, Fun, Fun and Lots of Vegan Food at Council Fun Day
On Sat 11th August, the annual Morton Stanley Family Fun Day was bigger and better than ever. The sun shone all day and 1,000`s of people flocked to this free council organised extravaganza. The RVV food sample/info stall is now a familiar sight at many such events in Redditch, but at each one, we meet masses of new faces eager to taste the wonders of healthy, veggie living! Another increasingly familiar attraction is vegetarian/vegan caterers, this year in the form of The Warehouse Cafe from Birmingham.Gallery of photos and see www.thewarehousecafe.com
Cut the Carbon March in Birmingham
Several members of RVV joined approx 40 more veggie/vegans from groups across the Midlands, at the `Cut the Carbon` march and rally in Birmingham City Centre on August Bank Holiday Monday. Organised by Christian Aid, the march and rally aimed to raise awareness of climate change. We joined them to highlight the fact that livestock production is a major cause of climate change. This event marked the launch of Midlands Vegan Campaigns. Read more and see www.veganmidlands.org.uk
Cut the Carbon March in Bromsgrove
When the Christian Aid climate campaigners marched through Bromsgrove, 2 members of RVV were there to hand out leaflets and generally raise awareness of the connection between livestock and climate change.
SEPTEMBER
Guest Speaker Meeting
At our September meeting, the new chief ececutive of The Vegan Society, Nigel Winter, gave a talk about the environmental benefits of veganism and about basic vegan nutrition. He also spoke about the society`s recent move to Birmingham. www.vegansociety.com
Friends of the Earth Conference Success!!
Our biggest achievement of the year came when FoE local group members voted overwhelmingly in favour of a `Food Production` motion, which was drafted by RVV, at the local groups conference in Reading. The motion called on Friends of the Earth to "publish detailed information via FoE literature and the FoE website, that will explain how the production of various foods have vastly differing environmental impacts, in order to clearly illustrate the many environmental benefits of adopting a plant based diet." Read more
Free Food Fever at Fresher Fairs in Redditch and Bromsgrove!
RVV held stalls at NEW College Fresher Fairs in Redditch and Bromsgrove. Our free vegan food samples were ever popular with the students as they crowded round and emptied our plates faster than we could fill `em up again!!!! Gallery of photos
OCTOBER
Guest Speaker Meeting
At our October meeting, complimentary therapist Lisa Kite of Red Kite Health Foods (shop in Bromsgrove) talked to us about natural ways to combat stress. Red Kite Health Foods
Sustainability Meeting, Redditch Borough Council
Councillors and council officers met with 3 members of Redditch environmental campaign groups to discuss how the council could become more sustainable. RVV was of course represented! We submitted a page of information detailing how the council should ensure that climate friendly veggie/vegan options are available in all their premises, at events they organise etc. One of our suggestions was that they could promote awareness of the issues via a `No Meat Monday` where only veggie/vegan options would be available in their staff canteen!! Read more
Climate Change Public Meeting in Redditch
At a public meeting titled "What on earth shall we to do about climate change" we gave a talk about the impact of livestock on the planet and distributed leaflets. Our eco-veggie posters were also on display. Read more
NOVEMBER
Free Vegan Food Fair in Birmingham
7 members of RVV helped to ensure that Midlands Vegan Campaigns first food fair was a fantastic success. Upto 700 were thought to flock through the doors. Read more
DECEMBER
Bring & Share Xmas Supper
Our December meeting took the form of a Bring & Share Xmas Supper. A small culinary contribution from everyone produced a festive feast for all to share. A great night was had by all.
Veg*n Climate March
Members of RVV joined many other veggie/vegan campaigners on a coach that travelled from Redditch to the Veg*n Climate March in London. The veg*n march formed part of the National Climate March, which was attended by an estimated 10,000 people from across the UK. Read more
AND WE`VE ALSO BEEN BUSY WITH THE FOLLOWING
On top of the stalls listed above, we`ve held a further 10 stalls at local eco fairs, family fun days, animal sanctuary open days etc.
We have spoke at several other local meetings - aimed primarily at spreading awareness of the environmental impact of meat/dairy production.
Several of our members letters have been printed in local papers.
We have featured approx 20 times in local press articles.
Throughout the year, we have produced 4 newsletters, hundreds of which have been distributed at events we`ve attended and also via our website.
Our website now attracts over 1,000 unique visitors every month and we have also set up a MySpace page! www.myspace.com/redditchveggies (needs alot of work!)
We continue to work closely with various local eco/ethical/social justice groups under the banner of Redditch Alliance of Greens. Under the RAG banner, we also continue to work with Redditch Borough Council and the college in Redditch.
Date: 2007-12-30
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Last updated by kevinrd on 2007-12-30 22:54:44 )