Bioneers

[Guest guest]

p.s.

 

Halloween stores should be full of animal costumes like Alka's cow.

Red paint splashed on costumes may do the job...

I know many of you would prefer a more peaceful approach, but I'm sick and

tired

of so called " earth healers " like Starhawk and Matthew Fox, etc...who

have avoided the issue for Y E A R S!!!

amy

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends,

 

The following message is from Marti Kheel:

 

I agree with the comments that Davy made to the list. I had a long talk with

one of the organizers today. My tone of voice was calm but straighforward. I

was arguing that I felt that it was a major flaw not to have at least one

panel dealing with the subject of vegetarianism at a progressive-minded

environmental conference. She obviously felt antagonized, even though I made

every effort to not make her feel personally under attack. She said that

they had received criticisms from the animal rights member over the years

and that of all the people they had heard from their comments had been the

most antagonistic. She claimed that they had tried to cover the subject a

number of times. John Robbins was supposed to be the speaker a few years ago

but apparently had to cancel. She also pointed out that Julia Butterly and

Frances Moore Lappe and her daughter had spoken in the past. I pointed out

that although Frances Moore Lappe argues for eating low on the food chain,

she never mentions the v word. I also said that it's great that Julia

Butterfly mentioned vegetarianism in a talk but that there is a big

difference between mentioning it in the context of a larger talk and

devoting a whole session to the subject. She admitted at one point that four

our of the five organizers (or was it thee out of four?) were meat-eaters.

They all feel that the treatment of animals needs to be changed but...well,

you know the argument. She said that they didn't want the Bioneers to

represent any point of view, that they wanted to represent a diversity of

views. I said that that was all we were asking for--i.e. that vegetarianism

be one of those views that was represented.. I told her that people were

searching for actions that they could take in their lives that would make a

difference and that adopting a vegetarian diet was, in my opinion and in the

opinion of many emminent respected individuals, one of the most significant

steps that we can take to stop environmental degradation and eliminate

animal suffering, not to mention im! proving our health. In any event, she

ended by saying that we should send in suggestions for speakers for next

years event.

 

It is clear that since meat eaters dominate the planning committe that

vegetarianism will never be given the attention it deserves at Bioneer

conferences. But I do agree that if we are too confrontational we will

alienate the organizers and probably many other people as well. I like the

idea of handing out flyers and bringing up vegetarianism in any of the

panels where it is appropriate. And lets all write letters and/or make phone

calls. That's my two cents worth. Marti