International Vegetarian Union (IVU) | |
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17th World Vegetarian Congress 1963 Barcelona, Spain |
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Delegate Report Miss Monica Copinger, Nature Cure Clinic, London We are a small out-patient clinic which was established in 1928 to enable people of limited means to have Nature Cure advice and treatment. Many people cannot afford the fees of private practitioners, and Nature Cure is not available under the National Health Service. We ask very low fees, adjusted to the means of the patient, and in necessitous cases treatment is entirely free. To enable us to keep going we have a faithful body of subscribers, and we are recognised as a charity by the Inland Revenue. We have received legacies from time to time and this money is invested and the income used for the work of the clinic. We have qualified doctors in charge of the patients, and osteopaths,
physiotherapists, a teacher of relaxation, a psychotherapist and Bates
prac-titioner. The doctor sees the patient first and plans the treatment. The main principle on which we were founded is humanitarianism. We
use no product of animal suffering, such as injections, etc. All the
practi-tioners and staff promise to uphold our principles and for 35
years we have always had such people, who will do this and also work
on an "expenses only" basis. At present we badly need another
doctor to give us, say, one clinic a week so that we could increase
our work. Miss Hilda Nixon, Leeds V.S. & Yorkshire Federation The members of our society meet about once each month to hear lec-tures
and to discuss various aspects of good health through a vegetarian diet
and natural healing methods, also to study the importance of living
without causing cruelty to God's creatures. Frequently our meetings
are attended by people who are not vegetarians especially if we hold
demonstrations of vegetarian cookery. An increasing number of people
are beginning to realise that much of the food sold in shops and markets
is not pure and is spoilt by chemicals and artificial methods of production. In the county of Yorkshire there are seven other vegetarian societies
and we try to meet together twice each year to strengthen the bonds
between us. In soring, we spend a weekend in the country or by the sea;
in autumn we hold a conference at which each secretary gives a report
on the work and future plans of the society he or she represents. At present, we are particularly interested in a plan to establish a
home for elderly vegetarians in the north of England. We hope eventually
to extend this idea to the founding of a clinic, where naturopathic
treatment can be given. Of course, such a plan demands much money, courage
and hard work, which are not easy to come by, but we have no intention
of giving up hope. Finally, I wish to say that if any of you travel as far as England,
please do not forget to visit the northern parts, where the scenery
is so beautiful and varied, and where you will be welcomed with the
greatest friendliness. |