The Supreme Master Ching Hai
By United Kingdom News Team (Originally in English)
VegfestUK Brighton 2016
On February 27 and 28, 2016, our Surrey Association members participated in the VegfestUK Brighton event. We shared Master’s teachings and also offered vegan delicacies such as curry rice, rice rolls and curry pastries.
In our booth, we displayed Master’s books and DVDs and arranged free viewing or downloading of the online materials available at EdenRules.com. We placed an online advertisement for Loving the Silent Tears musical at the popular VegfestUK Brighton site, which will be displayed for three years (http://www.brighton.vegfest.co.uk/). A half-page print advertisement for Edenrules was also included in the May 2016 issue of the Vegan Life magazine.
Many who came to our booth expressed interest in Master’s teachings, and took copies of The Key of Immediate Enlightenment Sample Booklet as well as From Crisis to Peace – The Organic Vegan Way Is the Answer. Some asked for more information about the vegan food, including a gentleman who was the director of a kosher food company. One of our Association members had long conversations with the visitors about the vegan lifestyle. We felt grateful to be part of this meaningful event.
VegfestUK Brighton 2015
The 2015 Brighton edition of VegfestUK was held from March 28-29. Despite the windy and wet weather and the congested traffic to Brighton city center, we witnessed a new record of 12,000 visitors. People came from all over the globe, and the vegan lifestyle was given prominent coverage by major newspapers such as The Independent and London Evening Standard, making 2015 truly the year of the vegan.
At an earlier VegfestUK in London in 2014, we spoke with Mr. Tim Barford, who founded VegfestUK in 2003 to promote all things vegan. A vegan himself for 30 years, Mr. Barford’s philosophy is simple, but effective – make it fun:
“What we did is we put the fun into it, a bit of the child into it, a bit of the young energy, and a bit of dynamism, and a bit of the rock and roll in there; we shook it up a bit, we made the whole thing come alive and interesting to people, and suddenly, we had vegan events that were actually attracting people who weren’t vegan, and never heard of the whole concept and were just coming along because it looked like this was a really good event.”
According to Mr. Barford, in each event, about one third of visitors are omnivores, one-third vegetarian, and one-third vegan. Not only are the majority of VegfestUK attendees not vegan, but Mr. Barford’s research shows that two out of every three meat eaters who attend a VegfestUK say that they are going to change their diet. The event is even encouraging vegans to adopt healthier eating practices. About 500 vegan visitors said that they were going to incorporate more whole foods in their diet. All in all, Mr. Barford says, about 4,000 people say that they will probably change their diets after coming to VegFestUK. Mr. Barford also gave some good advice when it comes to encouraging others to go vegan.
“… start with food. Feed your friends food. Invite them round or cook for them, maybe doing a little stall in your shopping center and handing out free vegan food with leaflets. Try and embrace people and welcome people in. It’s about making it attractive and unifying people.”
Our United Kingdom Association members had a stall at the VegfestUK Brighton 2015 festival, providing some delicious, hot vegan foods and snacks and displaying Master’s publications. Master’s book From Crisis to Peace: The Vegan Organic Way Is the Answer was offered free to all visitors. We also did a screening of the musicals The Real Love and Loving the Silent Tears. The reception was good, with a number of people saying they were impressed by the musicals and bought the DVD set.
As a token of appreciation to the event organizer, a DVD set of Loving the Silent Tears and a copy of The Real Love book were presented to Mr. Tim Barford, and to Mr. Alan Lee, the organizing manager with whom we worked closely. Certainly, VegfestUK Brighton was a huge accomplishment, with thousands learning about and celebrating the many benefits of the nourishing, cruelty-free, plant-based lifestyle. As Mr. Barford put it:
“This is the future for mankind. This is the lifeline to the future of the planet. The convoy is only as fast as its slowest vehicle. We’re all in this together. And for everybody who gets it, there’s going to be others who don’t. And it’s up to us to show compassion and tolerance and understanding and help people get it.”
Hear, hear, Mr. Barford! We congratulate and thank you for another amazing VegfestUK, as we wish you every success in your continued endeavors. With such compassionate efforts, may we soon herald a vegan era in which all beings live in health, peace, and love.
VegfestUK Brighton 2016
VegfestUK Brighton 2015
VegfestUK London 2014
