| VUNA
Views, Vol. 8, No. 2, Spring (June), 1999 |
WORLD CONGRESS MARKS END OF AN ERA, TAKES
UP FUTURE'S CHALLENGE
by Judy Miner, Gerry Coffey, and Kevin Pickard
Every two years, the International Vegetarian Union (IVU)
offers the world's vegetarians an opportunity to get acquainted,
to learn, to celebrate, and to recharge their batteries for the
ongoing task of spreading the word about the many advantages
of vegetarian diets and lifestyles. In addition, the IVU uses
the occasion to determine its own direction for the next two
years and beyond by voting on policies and electing its governing
board, the International Council. The most recent World Vegetarian
Congress, held last January in Chiang Mai, Thailand, proved to
be a watershed for the IVU and the worldwide vegetarian movement.
The last Congress before the year 2000, it was also the last
Congress to operate under rules developed when the world was
a much less connected place. Decisions made at this Congress
promise to revitalize the IVU and its member organizations so
that we can take advantage of the communications revolution to
present the role of vegetarianism in dealing with the severe
challenges to health, the environment, the food supply, and ethics
caused by what people eat.
When several hundred vegetarians get together, you can count
on a lively time with people who often march to their own drummer
That was indeed the case at January's 33rd World Vegetarian Congress.
Among those attending from North America were half the VUNA Regional
Council: VUNA president Peter McQueen and vice president Kevin
Pickard, both from Ontario; and Gerry Coffey (Alabama), Ruth
Heidrich (Hawaii), Kay Sheehan (Colorado), and Paul Turner (Maryland).
Gerry led a daily Bodyworks class, Ruth spoke on "Vegan
Athletes," Paul described Food for Life Global, the organization
he directs. Peter brought the Congress up to date on plans for
the World Vegetarian Congress 2000 in Toronto, and Kevin participated
in a panel on 'Vegetarianism East and West."
VUNA Councillors to Play Major Roles
North America fared well in elections for a new International
Council, with VUNA vice president Kevin Pickard chosen as deputy
president of IVU (Maxwell Lee of the United Kingdom was elected
IVU president). Howard Lyman decided not to seek re-election
to the IVU presidency, but as immediate past president he holds
a two-year IVU Council membership. VUNA's Paul Turner was elected
to the IVU Council; Saurabh Dalal also serves on the Council
as regional secretary for North America.
Despite organizational problems and the glitches that happen
at every Congress, reports from participants have been nearly
all positive. The program was interesting. varied, and if anything
too full but that's as it should be at a world gathering.
The presentations of Thai music, dancing, and fruit carving seemed
to make everyone's "favorites" list, along with regional
excursions during and after the Congress. And of course, becoming
acquainted with people from all over the globe and linking up
with seldom-seen friends occupied first place as highlights of
the Congress.
The evolution of the IVU into a major player in the worldwide
advance of vegetarianism was furthered at the Congress. Until
recently, the timely communication necessary for a vital and
responsive organization was a major hurdle facing a financially
challenged world body like the IVU. A constitution and structure
more suited to an English gentlemen's club than a diverse, multicultural,
democratic group of autonomous organizations added to the difficulty.
Many IVU members would have been hard pressed to describe what
the organization does and because voting took place at biennial
Congresses, members could not have been involved even if they
wanted to unless they could afford to make a trip sometimes halfway
around the world. Joining IVU was often little more than a gesture
of support for the hoped for worldwide growth of vegetarianism.
Members neither expected nor received benefits beyond a newsletter
- scarcely an incentive to join in areas where numerous vegetarian
publications already exist to the point of information overload.
Growth of Internet Vitalizes IVU, Leads to Real Benefits
for Members
These times of genteel irrelevance have now officially ended,
thanks largely to the popularity of the Internet. A sizeable
and growing majority of IVU member groups have e-mail addresses,
making rapid communication possible without huge mailing expenses.
Complete and timely information can be posted on the World Wide
Web. The possibility of voting by e-mail or by proxy may enable
the IVU to make decisions more rapidly and with the involvement
of all interested members, not just those who can find the time
and money for international travel. As member organizations are
also adopting e-mail communications and putting up Web sites,
IVU membership now offers an immensely valuable benefit: a permanent,
easily remembered e-mail address and Web address for member groups
and space on the IVU server for group Web pages. An e-mail address
like vuna@ivu.org is not only professional-looking and
easy to remember; it also stays the same even if your group changes
its e-mail provider or the person who handles your e-mail. A
Web address like http://www.ivu.org/vuna is certainly
preferable to a long assemblage of slashes, dots, and tildes.
The IVU also offers e-mail discussion lists for members who wish
to share thoughts on being vegetarian or practical concerns with
people of common interests all over the world. Thanks to the
IVU's energetic, no-nonsense Webmaster, John Davis of the UK,
and others, the IVU Web site has expanded to become a prime source
of vegetarian information ranging all the way from recipes to
religion.
The vitality of the IVU's Internet presence has invigorated
the entire organization. No longer will election to the IVU Council
provide a lofty-sounding title with no work required. At the
Chiang Mai Congress, it was decided that all IVU duties be shared
by Council members, with members accepting responsibility for
specific areas. It was also decided that the IVU Constitution
should be updated, with every IVU member group able to join the
discussion of suggested changes through participation in a voters'
e-mail list. The proposed Constitution will be voted on at the
2000 World Vegetarian Congress in Toronto and thanks to input
from capable and experienced members from many world regions,
the IVU should have a structure adequate for the unprecedented
opportunities for the growth of vegetarianism we will encounter
in the next century.
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