Upcoming events

Tuesday morning vegan fitness club and breakfast, Enmore 6am Tuesday 31 January 2012 (for 8 weeks) 113 Enmore Road Enmore $20 or $120 for 8 weeks Organiser: Alfalfa House PWRD by VEG is a fitness group that meets at Alfalfa House in Enmore every Tuesday at 6am. We do a 5km run/walk to Camperdown Park. After some core exercises, we then head back to Alfalfa House to eat a yummy vegan breakfast and share training and nutrition tips. We finish by 8. Includes breakfast, exercise, nutrition advice, and training tips. More information on the Facebook event page or at the PWRD by VEG website or call Adam at Alfalfa House on 9519 3374.

Sculpture exhibition and opening, Darlington Jane Lennon - The Origin of Species-ism 1 - 11 February 2012 (hours: Wednesday - Saturday 11am - 6pm) (Opening: 6-8pm 1 February 2012) Sheffer Gallery 38 Lander St, Darlington Organiser: Sheffer Gallery 'Lennon wonders how, after Darwin's discovery and the wealth of knowledge and understanding we now possess, the creatures we share this planet with are still at the mercy of our appetites'. Violet Stokoe-Miller, Curator Jane is an artist and a vegan and has invited everyone to her new exhibition. She also conducts vegan cooking workshops. See photos of her work.

Vegan Pot Luck Picnic, Botanic Gardens, Sydney 12:30pm Sunday 5 February 2012 Main Pond, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney Organiser: Vegan Society NSW Bring a vegan dish to share for a picnic in this beautiful harbourside park. Meet by the Main Pond, near the water's edge. See Botanic Gardens website for map. If you can't find us, call Tara on 0402 480 268 on the day. The picnic will be cancelled in case of rain. If in doubt, please call Tara in the morning. All welcome: vegan, vegetarian or just curious! Membership not required. A great chance to relax, have fun, enjoy yummy food and meet new friends. Please see the vegan picnic guidelines for more information.

Animal Liberation Sydney monthly meeting and dinner 6:30pm, Tuesday 14 February 2012 Animal Liberation office Level 5, 89 York Street Sydney Organiser: Animal Liberation NSW Public meeting - 6:30pm, second Tuesday of every month except December and January Come along to find out about all the latest Animal Liberation campaigns and learn how you can get involved. Non-members are most welcome! Agenda TBC The building is locked after 6pm so someone will be waiting downstairs to let you in. If you are late, call the office on 9262 3221 for entry. The meeting will be followed by dinner at Peace Harmony Vegetarian restaurant, just around the corner at 44 Erskine St. Contact: sydneyhq@animal-lib.org.au or call 02 9262 3221. For more information see Animal Liberation

Animal Liberation Parramatta monthly meeting and dinner 7:30pm, Wednesday 15 February 2012 Gwen Logan Room 2 Civic Place, Parramatta (in between the library and Town Hall) Organiser: Animal Liberation NSW Public meeting - 7.30pm, third Wednesday of every month except December and January Come along to find out the latest news about this month's major issues. It's a great way to meet like minded people, and find out how you can get involved. Non-members are most welcome! TBC If you arrive late, please buzz the intercom outside. For more information please email emma@animal-lib.org.au or see Animal Liberation

Vegan BBQ party at David's house, Newtown 7pm, Saturday 18 February 2012 $15 for vegan food, juice, waters BYO alcohol. 28 O'Connell Street, Newtown Organiser: Vegan Society NSW The last vegan BBQ party at David's was a great success, with lots of happy people enoying vast amounts of delicious vegan food, dancing and general merriment. We are having another BBQ party so come and celebrate with us. David's house is a lovely vegan sanctuary in a freshly renovated terrace in a quiet street, right in the middle of Newtown. There are several seating areas inside and outside, so you won't be tied to the one spot all night. Limited space, so book early! Book by phone or SMS to 0402 849 218, by email to events@vegansocietynsw.com or by leaving a message at the bottom of this page. David is looking for one or two people to come a couple of hours early and help out with food preparations. If you can help out, please let us know. All welcome: vegan, vegetarian or just curious! Membership not required.

Vegan Illawarra picnic and Book Swap, Kiama 12 noon Saturday 25 February 2012 Black Beach Park Shoalhaven Street, Kiama (in the area in front of the old primary school site) Organiser: Vegan Illawarra Vegan Illawarra covers the area from Milton to Helensburgh, so this event is half way between. Meet for a picnic, bring a plate to share. At this picnic we will have a Vegan Book Swap, so if you have any books to share bring them along. If you have a movie or book that you would like to have returned to you, please put your name and details into the book as well. Please note: This coincides with the Kiama Produce Markets which go from 8am to 1pm. Local grown fruit and vegies, breads, etc.. Please email Rose at rose.ez@telstra.com if you will be able to get there, and also pass this invitation on to others.

Vegan cooking class, dinner, health talk 5pm Saturday 25 February 2012 Health and Vitality Centre 187 Bringelly Road, Leppington (between Cowpasture Road & Browns Avenue) Organiser: Marilyn Bodnar Vegan cooking class, dinner and health talk by Roger French speaking on the topic of Arthritis.

Vegan Parents Australia - Sydney Gathering, Homebush Bay 11am, Sunday 26 February 2012 Bicentennial Park, Homebush Bay - Concord West Playground Organiser: Vegan Parents Australia Come along and meet some great vegan families! Please bring a vegan plate to share. It's a short walk from Concord West railway station or enter the car park from Victoria Ave which is accessible from George St. Since this is a large and busy park with several picnic shelters and playground areas, we will identify ourselves with some green balloons! The playground is the one closest to the Concord West entrance. It is not accessible from Homebush Bay Drive. More information on the Facebook event page

Macarthur Vegetarians Lunch 12:30pm Sunday 26 February 2012 Organiser: Macarthur Vegetarians The Macarthur Vegetarians group meets on the last Sunday of every month for lunch and has as members vegans, vegetarians and people who are just interested in learning more. They usually meet in someone's home and everyone brings a dish to share and enjoy good conversation and socialising. It is very informal and there is a good range of ages and nationalities. Everyone is very welcome to attend. For details please call Glenys Hierzer on 02 4625 8480 or email higlenys@ozemail.com.au .

Minding Animals Conference, the Netherlands 4-6 July 2012 Utrecht University, the Netherlands Organiser: Minding Animals International Conference on scientific, ethical and social issues related to human interactions with and uses of animals. The aim of the conference is to bring together academics from different areas (animal welfare, animal ethics, and animal studies in general) with politicians and a broad variety of interest groups. The conference offers a platform for exchange of information about research developments, debates about controversial political and ethical issues concerning the treatment of animals and a variety of cultural activities around animals.

Canberra's second (100% vegan) Living Green Festival 'a kinder shade of green' 10am - 5pm Sunday 14 October 2012 (the last Sunday of Floriade) Albert Hall, Commonwealth Ave, Canberra Organiser: Living Green Festival The Living Green Festival will promote a 'kinder shade of green'. The Festival will offer free entertainment, children's activities, cooking demonstrations, talks on a variety of environmental, animal protection and health issues, and a broad range of stalls offering low-emission, sustainable, locally made and cruelty-free food, products and services. The festival aims to raise awareness in the ACT community of the environmental challenges we face and how the choices we make in our everyday lives impact on the environment, on other humans and on animals. Similar festivals have been held in other capital cities around Australia for several years, but only now is a festival focussing on the environmental consequences of all aspects of our modern day lives being held in the ACT. More on the website and Facebook page.