UVA News 2010-12-03
1 view
Skip to first unread message
UVic Vegan Association
Dec 3, 2010, 2:53:23 AM12/3/10
to UVA-Anno...@googlegroups.com, uva-...@niilo.ca
Hi everyone,
The UVA directors would like to wish everyone well on their semester-ending papers and exams. And, once you're done kicking butt on those things, we wish you a happy and relaxing holiday that will fully recharge you for the Spring semester.
In this newsletter:
1. Coming Event: Semester-Ending Potluck
2. Recent Events: Cooking Class; Chat and Chow
3. UVA in the News
4. Thought for the Day: Answering Those Questions
1) Coming Events
Potluck!
We'd like to have a relaxing evening with awesome people and yummy food. Obviously, most of you are busy juggling a social life with the exam period, so we'd like your input for the best date and location. Here is a Doodle poll to select the date/time:
http://doodle.com/diivfavr8ma2ntr6
For locations, we were thinking of grabbing a room on campus or using Sara/Niilo's house (near the intersection of Tillicum and Craigflower). Do you have a preference (or another option)? Please reply to this email to let us know.
We'll send out the winning date/time/location by Monday.
2) Recent Events
Cooking Class:
Once again, everyone had a great time learning new recipes, eating good food, and hanging out with each other. We also covered nutritional topics more than usual, focusing on B12, Calcium, and Iron. The recipes are now online:
http://tinyurl.com/36sh9aa
For the first time, we had turn away people from attending, due to space issues. We'll try to have another cooking class early in the next semester to meet demand.
Chat and Chow:
From vegan jobs to black holes, the discussion at our noon dine-out varied greatly. This sort of event is really easy to put together, and we hope to do them on a regular basis. If you have a hankerin' to combine some vegan company with a meal at Green Cuisine or Lotus Pond, let us know and we can set one up!
3) UVA in the News
The Martlet's December 2, 2010 issue contained an article on the "Fur is Green" marketing campaign by the Fur Council of Canada. UVA director, Niilo Van Steinburg, was interviewed and several of his comments were included in the article. You can view the article online here:
http://tinyurl.com/3x59bov
Feel free to leave comments on their site, or send us your thoughts.
4) Thought for the Day: Answering Those Questions
Yes, 'those' questions. You know: "Why are you vegan?"; "What's wrong with milk?"; "Don't plants feel pain?" The UVA has held a couple of Vegan FAQ sessions that not only cover the answers to these questions, but strategies on dealing with these questions in general. Since we didn't get around to having another FAQ session this semester, here are some thoughts on the matter.
First, it's important to consider any question as an opportunity to engage with someone on the topic. The best way to move toward a non-speciesist world is to advocate for veganism. If someone asks you a question, even if it's a frustrating or antagonistic question, they have given you permission to respond. As well, any question can be a sign that the person is actually curious about veganism or concerned that there is an ethical inconsistency with their daily choices. So be thankful for all questions and treat each one as a golden opportunity.
Second, release any attachment to the outcome. For example, expecting someone to go vegan after you speak with them or expecting to prove someone wrong after debating them are forms of such attachment. This can be easier said than done, but attachment can affect your ability to answer questions calmly and with reason. Fear of making mistakes is another form of outcome attachment - you can only do your best and if your message needs work, you'll know for next time. If fear holds you back, you will never find out if your message can be improved.
Third, genuinely consider the question and rephrase it to the person asking it. It is normal to want to jump right in and counter common misconceptions about veganism, but taking your time is a valuable tactic. When you paraphrase the question, this accomplishes three things: a) it gives you more time to think about your answer and to step into it calmly; b) it verifies with the other person that you understand what it is exactly that they're asking; and c) it shows the other person that they are being heard and their question is important. That last one is particularly important if someone asks you a question defensively or offensively (where emotional diffusion is necessary) or when someone asks what may seem like a stupid question to a vegan, but is a genuine question from someone who hasn't considered veganism before. Remember, few of us have been vegan for all our lives, and most of us have asked questions that were just as silly.
Other than that, just do your best to be friendly and try to stay focused on the central point of your answer. We hope these thoughts help. Best of luck out there being a vegan advocate! (Quick, what would we do with all the cows if the world went vegan?)
[ Two good podcasts addressing this issue are:
http://tinyurl.com/2wqqvdh
http://tinyurl.com/29nurmt ]
Thanks everyone, and we hope to see you at the potluck!
- UVA Directors
"The animals of the world exist for their own reasons. They were not made for humans any more than black people were made for whites or women for men."
- Alice Walker
The UVA directors would like to wish everyone well on their semester-ending papers and exams. And, once you're done kicking butt on those things, we wish you a happy and relaxing holiday that will fully recharge you for the Spring semester.
In this newsletter:
1. Coming Event: Semester-Ending Potluck
2. Recent Events: Cooking Class; Chat and Chow
3. UVA in the News
4. Thought for the Day: Answering Those Questions
1) Coming Events
Potluck!
We'd like to have a relaxing evening with awesome people and yummy food. Obviously, most of you are busy juggling a social life with the exam period, so we'd like your input for the best date and location. Here is a Doodle poll to select the date/time:
http://doodle.com/diivfavr8ma2ntr6
For locations, we were thinking of grabbing a room on campus or using Sara/Niilo's house (near the intersection of Tillicum and Craigflower). Do you have a preference (or another option)? Please reply to this email to let us know.
We'll send out the winning date/time/location by Monday.
2) Recent Events
Cooking Class:
Once again, everyone had a great time learning new recipes, eating good food, and hanging out with each other. We also covered nutritional topics more than usual, focusing on B12, Calcium, and Iron. The recipes are now online:
http://tinyurl.com/36sh9aa
For the first time, we had turn away people from attending, due to space issues. We'll try to have another cooking class early in the next semester to meet demand.
Chat and Chow:
From vegan jobs to black holes, the discussion at our noon dine-out varied greatly. This sort of event is really easy to put together, and we hope to do them on a regular basis. If you have a hankerin' to combine some vegan company with a meal at Green Cuisine or Lotus Pond, let us know and we can set one up!
3) UVA in the News
The Martlet's December 2, 2010 issue contained an article on the "Fur is Green" marketing campaign by the Fur Council of Canada. UVA director, Niilo Van Steinburg, was interviewed and several of his comments were included in the article. You can view the article online here:
http://tinyurl.com/3x59bov
Feel free to leave comments on their site, or send us your thoughts.
4) Thought for the Day: Answering Those Questions
Yes, 'those' questions. You know: "Why are you vegan?"; "What's wrong with milk?"; "Don't plants feel pain?" The UVA has held a couple of Vegan FAQ sessions that not only cover the answers to these questions, but strategies on dealing with these questions in general. Since we didn't get around to having another FAQ session this semester, here are some thoughts on the matter.
First, it's important to consider any question as an opportunity to engage with someone on the topic. The best way to move toward a non-speciesist world is to advocate for veganism. If someone asks you a question, even if it's a frustrating or antagonistic question, they have given you permission to respond. As well, any question can be a sign that the person is actually curious about veganism or concerned that there is an ethical inconsistency with their daily choices. So be thankful for all questions and treat each one as a golden opportunity.
Second, release any attachment to the outcome. For example, expecting someone to go vegan after you speak with them or expecting to prove someone wrong after debating them are forms of such attachment. This can be easier said than done, but attachment can affect your ability to answer questions calmly and with reason. Fear of making mistakes is another form of outcome attachment - you can only do your best and if your message needs work, you'll know for next time. If fear holds you back, you will never find out if your message can be improved.
Third, genuinely consider the question and rephrase it to the person asking it. It is normal to want to jump right in and counter common misconceptions about veganism, but taking your time is a valuable tactic. When you paraphrase the question, this accomplishes three things: a) it gives you more time to think about your answer and to step into it calmly; b) it verifies with the other person that you understand what it is exactly that they're asking; and c) it shows the other person that they are being heard and their question is important. That last one is particularly important if someone asks you a question defensively or offensively (where emotional diffusion is necessary) or when someone asks what may seem like a stupid question to a vegan, but is a genuine question from someone who hasn't considered veganism before. Remember, few of us have been vegan for all our lives, and most of us have asked questions that were just as silly.
Other than that, just do your best to be friendly and try to stay focused on the central point of your answer. We hope these thoughts help. Best of luck out there being a vegan advocate! (Quick, what would we do with all the cows if the world went vegan?)
[ Two good podcasts addressing this issue are:
http://tinyurl.com/2wqqvdh
http://tinyurl.com/29nurmt ]
Thanks everyone, and we hope to see you at the potluck!
- UVA Directors
"The animals of the world exist for their own reasons. They were not made for humans any more than black people were made for whites or women for men."
- Alice Walker
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages