Programme

Mezz Lounge (on 2nd floor, lift available)

11.30am - 12.10pm - Cookery Demo 1 - Veganise It! Easy ways with old favourites

With Jane Easton, Food & Cookery Coordinator for Viva! and the Vegetarian & Vegan Foundation

12.20pm - 1.10pm - Yoga Workshop

With Lenka Pagan, Yoga & Meditation Teacher & Healthy Lifestyle Coach
In our hectic modern world many people are taking ‘time out’ to practice yoga - a system of philosophy that originated in India 5,000 years ago. Everyone can practice yoga, regardless of age, sex or ability. Yoga offers us a holistic approach to body, mind and spirit, which can provide us with the ‘tools’ to cope with the challenges of daily life. Yoga can also complement medical science and therapy for specific conditions.

1.20pm - 2pm - Cookery Demo 2 - Lively Up Yourself. Getting saucy with pulses, wholegrains and other staples

With Jane Easton (see above)

2.10am - 3pm - Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

With Darren Collis, UK representative for Sea Shepherd
The crews of Sea Shepherd`s ships risk their lives in order to defend, conserve and protect the world`s whales, seals and other marine life. Whilst Greenpeace ships sail the seas with freezers full of meat, Sea Shepherd is a vegan organisation. Don`t miss this opportunity to meet one of the crew members and learn about his courageous and daring adventures!

3.10pm - 3.50pm - Cookery Demo 3 - A Piece of Cake. Vegan baking made simple

With Jane Easton (see above)

4pm - 5pm - Speed Meeting Session

This will be a fun opportunity to meet likeminded people for networking, socialising or perhaps a little more...! You`ll have the chance to meet and chat to up to 25 people within the hour. The session has been organised by Love Foods - see the news section on their website for a report of a previous event. To register for the speed meeting, go to the Love Foods stall on the day. Over 18`s only. Open to vegetarians and vegans.

Civic Bar, area 1 (on 1st floor, lift available)

11.30pm - 12.20pm - The Truth about Free-Range & Organic

With Kelly Slade, Campaigns Officer for Animal Aid.
'Free range' is a very misleading term that suggests animals live in a natural lifestyle with minimal restraints on their freedom and behaviour. The label 'organic' also implies higher welfare standards but being organic is no guarantee that the animals lived free-range. At this talk, you`ll learn the truth - how millions of `caring` people are basically conned into buying these products of misery and suffering.

12.30pm - 1.20pm - Going Vegan

With Rob Jackson, education officer for The Vegan Society
Starting with a brief introduction to some of the most pressing vegan issues to remind you why you should go vegan. Then, there`ll be a look at some of the easy substitutes for things people usually miss when they go vegan, to help you ease into it. And finally, a question & answer session. This talk will support The Vegan Society`s Vegan Pledge, a new initiative aimed at encouraging people to try veganism for a week, 14 days or 30 days!

1.30pm - 2.20pm - Vegan Nutrition

With Dr Stephen Walsh PhD, nutrition spokesperson for The Vegan Society and author of Plant Based Nutrition and Health
Veganism is not only great for animals and the planet - a well balanced vegan diet is the healthiest there is - for children as well as for adults. Vegans live longer and suffer less from diseases such as hypertension, obesity, coronary artery disease, certain kinds of cancer and diabetes. But as with all diets, nutritional balance is important. Whether you`re already vegan, an aspiring vegan or just vegan curious, Dr Stephen Walsh will tell you how to avoid the pitfalls and obtain an optimum healthy diet.

2.30pm - 3pm - Vegan Campaigning

With members of Midlands Vegan Campaigns
Since forming little over a year ago, Midlands Vegan Campaigns has made a huge impact. MVC members have found that promoting veganism is a highly effective way of saving animals, people and the planet all in one go! This session will involve a whistle stop tour of vegan campaigning, everything from leafletting and street stalls to free food fairs and festivals!

3.10pm - 3.50pm - Vegan Organic Farming

With Rob Jackson, representing the Vegan Organic Network
Rob used to be a volunteer and part-time student at the Welsh College of Horticulture who run 3 hectares of farm land which use no animal inputs (ie no animal manures, fish/blood/bone etc etc). This is called Vegan Organic or Stock-Free Organic farming. It`s a myth that organic growing requires the use of animal manure to fertilise the soil. Rob will show a film and tell us how stock-free organic growing is better for human health, animals and the environment.

4pm - 5pm - Live Music

For the final hour of the event, the bar in the Civic Bar will open and there`ll be live music from 2 talented vegan performers:

4pm - Jennie B

Songs, poems and tangential conversation. Previously, Jennie from Manchester has sung with the goth-rock band Resurrection and the folk band Spiderwoods. Now, the ethical, eco-warrior Jennie B has gone solo and recently performed at the London Vegan Festival. Hear Jennie`s beautiful voice on her Myspace page www.myspace.com/jenniebmusic

4.30pm - Chris Butler

Protest folk singer. For the past 20 years, Chris from Derbyshire has entertained at gigs across the Midlands and beyond. He`s a very politically motivated songwriter. Where folk meets punk and protest meets resistance. He`s shared a stage with Chumbawamba, Eastfield, Robb Johnson and many more... Read more about Chris on his website www.butler1389.fsnet.co.uk

Civic Bar, area 2 (on 1st floor, lift available)

11.30pm - 12.20pm - Magic Show

With Kristoff the Clown
If you`ve got kids, be sure to arrive early so that they can enjoy our fantastic magic show! Kristoff the Clown`s 50 minute show will provide lots of surprises, fun and laughter for all ages. And with children getting into the event for FREE, you can`t go wrong!

12.30pm - 1.20pm - Diet of Disaster

With Justin Kerswell, campaigns manager for Viva!
The global demand for meat has increased more than five-fold since the 1950`s and in 2005, over 55 billion animals were slaughtered. It`s no coincidence that the natural world has crumbled at a corresponding rate. Almost every environmental disaster you have heard of is linked to the meat, dairy and fishing industries. Meat and dairy animals produce more greenhouse gases than all the world`s transport combined!! Justin`s talk will show that adopting a vegan diet is the most effective action that an individual can take to save the planet!

1.30pm - 2.20pm - Kitchen Kosmetics

with Nazama Azmat
As a child, Nazama Azmat learnt many tricks from her mother and grandmother about using natural kitchen ingredients as cosmetics. You can learn about treatment recipes that have been handed down through family generations. Nazama will give beauty tips and demonstrate on a volunteer some easy to make, effective skin care treatments using everyday kitchen ingredients. You will have the opportunity to smell and test some of the cosmetics, and go away with some useful recipes.

2.30pm - 3pm - Animals Count

With Jasmijn de Boo, Co-Founder & Chair of Animals Count.
Animal protection is an issue dear to millions and one on which MP’s receive more mail than on any other. Yet, animals are poorly protected by the government. Animals Count's vision is a world in which animals are not exploited and are seen and treated as sentient beings. Their mission is to establish a voice for the animals through a dedicated political party, which focuses on respect and compassion for all living beings.

3.10pm - 3.50pm - The Power of Living Foods

With Pat Reeves, nutritional therapist, world champion powerlifter and author of A Living Miracle
Learn how nutritional therapy & raw living foods can aid your health & may even save your life! By following a raw, living food diet, Pat Reeves has fought off her cancer & achieved what many of us could never dream of. Pat is a world champion powerlifter and holds many other records. She is also an accomplished marathon runner, personal trainer, fitness consultant & author. As a professional practitioner, she has helped many people using up-to-date scientific techniques. Best of all, Pat is vegan!!

4pm - 5pm - Live Music

See above.