European vegetarian union
Encyclopedia
The European Vegetarian Union (EVU) is an umbrella organisation for vegetarian societies and groups in Europe, and works in the areas of vegetarianism
, nutrition
, health
, consumer protection
, the campaign against world hunger, animal rights
, ecology
and general information.
The main activities of the EVU are:
The EVU aims to support vegetarian organisations across Europe and bring them closer together. This is especially important in countries where the vegetarian philosophy has not yet had a chance to develop.
The connection between the various member societies is promoted through the EVU magazine "European Vegetarian". This is produced twice a year and reports on events, news, trends, developments, initiatives and activities that are of interest to vegetarians.
Also very important are the opportunities for vegetarians from all over Europe to meet in person and be able to exchange ideas and information, offer each other help and build links with other organisations. International meetings and events, where the latest developments and findings can be discussed in lectures and working groups, serve this purpose well.
Through membership of the International Vegetarian Union
(IVU), the EVU is in contact with the international vegetarian community.
EVU receives regular information and alerts from the most important international organisations and media companies, which allows for a close monitoring of important international economic, political and social developments.
In October 2011, Renato Pichler, President of the EVU, reported that the French government's Décret 2011-1227 and associated Arrêté (September 30, 2011) effectively outlaws the serving of vegan
meals at any public or private school in France
. Similar decrees are proposed for kindergartens, hospitals, prisons and retirement homes.
Vegetarianism
Vegetarianism encompasses the practice of following plant-based diets , with or without the inclusion of dairy products or eggs, and with the exclusion of meat...
, nutrition
Nutrition
Nutrition is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary to support life. Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy diet....
, health
Health
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
, consumer protection
Consumer protection
Consumer protection laws designed to ensure fair trade competition and the free flow of truthful information in the marketplace. The laws are designed to prevent businesses that engage in fraud or specified unfair practices from gaining an advantage over competitors and may provide additional...
, the campaign against world hunger, animal rights
Animal rights
Animal rights, also known as animal liberation, is the idea that the most basic interests of non-human animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings...
, ecology
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
and general information.
The main activities of the EVU are:
- To support and represent member societies on a European level, and to offer a platform for close cooperation;
- To raise public awareness of, and promote vegetarianism, vegetarian issues and the benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle;
- To lobby governments, European institutions and organisations for greater recognition of vegetarian issues in policy decisions; and
- To further promote the successful V-label scheme, in the interest of all vegetarian and vegan consumers across Europe. The V-Label is a standardised European vegetarian label from the EVU with the aim of easy identification of vegetarian products and services.
The EVU aims to support vegetarian organisations across Europe and bring them closer together. This is especially important in countries where the vegetarian philosophy has not yet had a chance to develop.
The connection between the various member societies is promoted through the EVU magazine "European Vegetarian". This is produced twice a year and reports on events, news, trends, developments, initiatives and activities that are of interest to vegetarians.
Also very important are the opportunities for vegetarians from all over Europe to meet in person and be able to exchange ideas and information, offer each other help and build links with other organisations. International meetings and events, where the latest developments and findings can be discussed in lectures and working groups, serve this purpose well.
Through membership of the International Vegetarian Union
International Vegetarian Union
The International Vegetarian Union is an international non profit organization whose purpose is to promote vegetarianism. IVU was founded in 1908 in Dresden, Germany....
(IVU), the EVU is in contact with the international vegetarian community.
EVU receives regular information and alerts from the most important international organisations and media companies, which allows for a close monitoring of important international economic, political and social developments.
In October 2011, Renato Pichler, President of the EVU, reported that the French government's Décret 2011-1227 and associated Arrêté (September 30, 2011) effectively outlaws the serving of vegan
Veganism
Veganism is the practice of eliminating the use of animal products. Ethical vegans reject the commodity status of animals and the use of animal products for any purpose, while dietary vegans or strict vegetarians eliminate them from their diet only...
meals at any public or private school in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Similar decrees are proposed for kindergartens, hospitals, prisons and retirement homes.