30th Anniversary of World Vegetarian Day 2007

MEDIA RELEASE

30th Anniversary of World Vegetarian Day 2007

For Immediate Release

Wednesday 26th September

New Zealand vegetarians are celebrating the 30th anniversary of World Vegetarian Day (October 1st) this year with food & lifestyle festivals in the three main Centres.

“It has never been easier to be a vegetarian in New Zealand” says Yolanda Soryl, the Spokesperson for the New Zealand Vegetarian Society. “More and more New Zealanders are cutting back or eliminating meat from their diets – for reasons ranging from saving the planet, animals, health, taste or to save money.”

The Society expects great public interest in the festivals after a sell-out expo in Auckland last year. This year, the events aim to showcase the diverse range of foods, drinks, businesses and groups of interest to vegetarians, plus to entertain and educate through cookery demonstrations, films, and speakers about the vegetarian lifestyle.

The vegetarian community will be out in force at the festivals. Vegetarian celebrity chefs Alessandra Zecchini and Peter Chaplin, and Cabinet Minister Ruth Dyson, all plan to attend their local festivals and show their support.

The festivals are for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. Yolanda hopes that green thinking non-vegetarians might take up the challenge to go meat free for the event. “Going vegetarian for just one day can reduce the rate of greenhouse emissions since one calorie of animal protein creates ten times the amount of greenhouse emissions compared with one calorie of plant protein. It is pretty hard to call yourself a meat-eating environmentalist,” says Yolanda.

The festivals will be held on:

September 29 - Wellington at St Johns in the City, Cnr Willis and Dixon Streets.

September 30 - Auckland at Mt Eden War Memorial Hall 489 Dominion Rd (opp Potters Park), Balmoral.

September 30 - Christchurch at Shirley Intermediate School Hall (on the corner of North Parade & Shirley Road opposite the Palms Shopping Mall.)

ENDS

WORLD VEGETARIAN DAY IS COMING! Check www.vegetarian.org.nz now to find out how to celebrate near you!

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