Event Recap: Festival for the Earth

I had the pleasure of being able to attend this event on Sunday the 3rd of November. It was held at the Earthwise Community area on Bagot Road, Subiaco.

The event was organized by the group Animal Amnesty and held to raise awareness on how to live a cruelty free life and being environmentally aware. 

There were activities for children, including story telling and face painting, plus live musical entertainment, a raffle and cooking demonstrations.

Roaming the grounds were several greyhounds up for adoption,  plus the cutest rescue rabbit who had his own little space in the shade.

Naturally, all the food stalls present offered vegan food. 

There was the Yumeeme Persian food stall that offered delicious sweet and savoury vegan food, with gluten free options.

 We tried the Potato Curry Puffs. They were delicious! We really liked that they clearly labeled the ingredients of their foods.

Down the other end, we visited Awesome Rawsome stall, which had all sorts of raw vegan foods and drinks on offer. After seeing one of our friends eating a raw vegan falafel with hummus on top, we thought we better try one for ourselves. They were very tasty and quite substantial. Loved the hummus on top!

After that, we just HAD to have dessert, which was a veganized Cherry Ripe ball, which we picked up at the Animal Amnesty stall. 

Wow! So delicious and yes, it really does taste like a Cherry Ripe - minus the cruelty of course!

Aside from the food stalls, there were other stalls selling clothing, giftwares, and natural body care. There was also a stall by Sea Shepherd, Animal Rights Advocates, Australian Justice Party and a few others.



I was particularly pleased to see that there was a stall by Greener Pastures Sanctuary, where they were selling some of their brand new promotional items. My partner and I bought a t-shirt each and we have both already worn ours. A lovely design with prints both front and back, in women's fitted styles, men's styles and children's sizes.

Thank you, Animal Amnesty, for organizing this event. There was such a lovely, relaxed vibe to it and it was great to see some familiar faces and to chat and hang out with like minded people.

International Vegetarian Food Fair 2013

I went to this event last year with a friend and rather liked it, so I decided to go back this year, with my

partner. As before, a lot of the food on offer was vegan and was marked clearly as being vegan. In fact, all the signs also listed the ingredients in each dish, which was great.

We didn't arrive at the venue (South Perth Community Center) until several hours into the event, and discovered that some of the foods were already sold out. I missed out on the savory Vietnamese pancake which I really wanted to try this year. Drats!

The place was quite busy - even more so than last year, which was great to see.

We had a walk around the stalls, having a look and deciding on what we wanted to try. Most of the food appeared to be Vietnamese and Thai cuisine. Certainly, all of it was Asian. There was a fair bit of mock meat dishes, some deep fried items, some fruity desserts and my favourite - the Green Papaya Salad. (More on that soon.)

The boyfriend decided to first try the Bean Curd and Seaweed Rolls which contained tofu, carrot, seaweed and mock ham made of soy. I wasn't a fan of the ham as it tasted way too much like the 'real thing' but the boyfriend seemed to have enjoyed it.

We then tried a sample of Fried Coconut Cake. We were won over and bought a pack to take home.

After loading up with some Taro and Sweet Potato Rolls and some Samosas, I thought I had better try something that wasn't deep fried  - the Green Papaya Salad.
Never before had I eaten green papaya and certainly not in a salad that combined it with tomatoes, soy sauce, peanuts, carrot, chilli, lemon and something called 'salted bean'.

I was asked how spicy I wanted it and I opted for 'not very'. I watched as the ladies at the stall added the ingredients into very large mortar and pestles and started pounding away at it. Before I knew it, I was handed the salad in a container. When I tried it, I was so impressed. The taste sensations! A bit spicy, a bit salty, juicy, crunchy, and the tomatoes went so well with it all. I did not eat it all in one go. I ate half and then the rest a bit later, and  I have to say that it tasted even better once it had 'stood' for a while. I will have to try and track down the recipe for this!

I am definitely planning to go again next year but earlier next time, before some of the dishes on offer disappear!

Event: Swan Animal Haven annual fete, 2013

Swan Animal Haven's Annual Fete and Garage Sale helps raise much needed funds to support the many 100's of abandoned, abused and unwanted dogs that comes through its doors each year and cares for them until forever homes are found. It is a no-kill shelter.

At this event, you can pick up bargains in regards to clothing, bric-a-brac, books, toys, plants - you name it! There will also be a cake stall and a 100% vegan sausage sizzle. Yes, you read that right. This year, the sausage sizzle will be offering Geoff's famous vegan sausages which you may have tasted at various other animal friendly related events, such as the Cruelty Free Festival.

These have always sold out fast, so aim to come in early to avoid disappointment!

When: 14th April, 10am to 2pm
Where: Kalamunda Road, South Guildford

Please come down and show support for an animal charity that sees the hypocrisy of serving up animals in order to help other animals, and has made moves to do the right thing.

Event: Christmas Day Lunch at PAWS

Great news! PAWS are offering a FREE Christmas lunch for those who choose to have a truly peaceful celebration. 

This event is on Christmas day itself, and runs from 11am to 2pm.

As the kind people at PAWS put it: 

Christmas is a time for Peace on Earth, a time for Christians to reflect on a message of kindness and compassion so hear at PAWS we would like to demonstrate just how easy it is to leave animals off our plate.

Enjoy a nut Roast covered in Vegan gravy with all those steamed veggies a nice cup of punch followed by a xmas trifle, there will be games all in an air-conditioned environment and just a great place to meet people.

I'll be there with my partner and hope you will join us!

If you are in Facebook, you can rsvp to the event's page there.

Event recap: Cruelty Free Festival, 2012

This was my second year in attendance and I must say, this event is getting bigger and better. Much kudos to the wonderful people at ARA for organizing it!
There food demos, talks, raffles, lots of product stalls and information stalls from animal rescue groups, environmental groups, activists, etc. There was also live entertainment and kids activities.
The biggest draw card, I felt, were the food stalls. There were way more than last year, and I did my best to sample the wares... My biggest mistake? I didn't bring a container to take food home! Next time!

The event took place in Subiaco again and it was packed. There definitely were more people in attendance this year, than last and it was so nice to see people bring along their kids..and their dogs! There were a lot of pooches there, along with greyhounds up for adoption.
It was so nice to see so many familiar faces, but also to meet new people, chat to stall holders, and to soak up the positive vibes, in general.
Naturally, I took a lot of photos. What follows is just a small sample.

Pictured to the left is Geoff's famous 'not-dog'. Well, half of it actually! It is much longer than that, but I was so keen to get stuck into it, that I forgot to take a photo first! This is a gorgeously spicy vegan sausage that has fooled many a meat eater. I am not keen on mock meat - especially the kind that tastes and feels a little too much like meat. This item hits a wonderful balance - delicious but not too 'meaty' for my tastes. Oh, and they are all handmade! Needless to say, Geoff's stall sold hundreds and ran out before the event was over.



At the same stall were sausage rolls and Ric's awesome pies. I had the corn mornay one, which was delish and creamy.
Also to one side of this stall, was a sweets stall, run by some friends. For sale were biscuits, cupcakes, cakes, and various other sweets. I do believe that they sold out of items, as well, and no wonder considering how wonderful everything looked! You could tell a lot of effort and care went into the making of these goodies!

Out the front of the stall was a lovely lady who was offering to take people's email addresses so the recipes of these items on sale, could be sent to them. What a great idea!

As it transpired, the lady in question turned out to be none other than fellow vegan blogger Vegan Sparkles ! It was so nice to finally meet her in person!

After stuffing ourselves for a bit, my partner and I went and checked out the stalls. We especially liked the Sea Shepherd stall, ARA stall, and PAWS stall. And then I spotted the stall by Edgar's Mission! I heard that they were coming, and were so pleased! Based in Victoria, they are a farm animal sanctuary and do a lot of important rescue work and are also active in educating school students and the public at large, on animal issues. If you haven't heard of them before, please check out their website. As I listened to the stall holder speak, it dawned on me that it was none other than Kyle whom I have seen on videos by Edgar's Mission and in lots of photos. That is when I had my fangirl moment! Kyle was very sweet about it, giving me a hug and letting me have his photo taken with him. My partner thought is was all very amusing...hehe. Well, what can I say? Some women get all fangirly over sportsmen, actors, singers, etc..For me, it is compassionate, vegan activists!

Speaking of meeting awesome people...I got to meet this awesome little guy. His name is Jolly and he is cutey! He was a very popular little fellow! I love pigs. They are smart and have a lot of character, and are very dog-like.

Wandering around for a bit, we also came across the greyhounds that were up for adoption. Now, the greyhounds are the one breed of dog that suffers a lot at the hands of humans. I had no idea until I was told about it. No wonder there is the need for rescue groups for these gentle creatures. If you were like me - in the dark about the greyhound racing industry - read about it here and work to educate others.

Although all the greyhounds there were gorgeous, here was one greyhound that caught my attention and heart. Her name is Chloe. She was sweet, placid and affectionate to all that took their time to give her a bit of attention and kindness. Having two cats and a small home, I am in no position to adopt, but I do hope some met her on the day and opened their hearts and home to her. This is a photo of her with my partner.



After a while, it was time for some dessert, so my partner and I split a tub of dairy free, vanilla icecream, topped with crushed oreos, from Loving Hut. Yum!

It did rain a little on the day, though not for too long. It certainly did not affect the crowd attendance, from what I could gather. I am looking forward to next year's event and WILL be bringing an empty lunchbox to take food home!

Event: Wet Nose Day, Cat Haven & Dogs' Refuge Home - 28th October 2012

It's back! Wet Nose Day is on a little earlier than last year. At the Cat Haven, there will be fun activities for the kids, raffles, plant and clothing stalls, bric-a-brac for sale, items up for auction, and more.

I will yet again be running the book/dvd/cd stall. Last year, this stall raised the most funds out of all the stalls on the day. There were THOUSANDS of items for sale and I dare say it will be the same this year! I am actually taking a week off work, so I can dedicate some time to sorting and organizing donations for the stall, so expect so method to the madness when you come down and have a look. (ie books, cd's and dvds will be organized into genres, fiction/non-fiction, kids, etc. ) 

This year there will be a sausage sizzle, I am told. Ideally, I would like to see an end to the offering of meat products to raise funds at animal charities. It makes no sense to me to exploit animals to help others. Perhaps that is something Cat Haven can embrace in the near future. In the meantime, I am told there will be food on offer for vegans and vegetarians, which will involve the use of a separate BBQ and equipment. What exactly will be on offer, I don't know, but I will be keen to see.

Event: Seminar on animal welfare, 16th October at UWA

A little late notice, but I hope to be able to attend and maybe see you there!

VENUE: FOX LECTURE THEATRE (G.59 - in Arts Building), University of Western Australia

WHEN: Tuesday October 16th, 5pm sharp - 6.30pm (including informal Q&A session)

WHAT: "Does Animal Protection Law Protect Animals?" - a seminar on animal welfare.

Just because we are at the top of the food chain does not mean animals belong on the bottom.

Interested in the cruelty and treatment of animals? UWA cordially invites you to a talk about how law treats animals, its history, and possibilities for future developments in this area.

This lecture is open to the public, so you don't need to be a law student or even a university student in order to attend. But you DO need to have a passion for animals and an interest in their welfare.

Seminar begins at 5:00pm sharp, intended to run for 1-1.5 hours. Questions are welcome (speakers will gladly answer related questions, so bring yours along!)

Event: Art for the Ocean, 17 November, 2012

Note this one down in your diaries if you live in Fremantle, Perth, or thereabouts.

See below for details, plus the event's webpage for more information.
(Pardon the clumsy look of this post - the image will not show the details clearly if made smaller to fit on page.)

Event: Human Chain, 18 November 2012

I attended this event last year and hope to attend this year's. Let's keep up the pressure. Let's stay visible to show our federal government and all other politicians that we abhor this disgusting 'trade' and that we will not  stop until a ban is put into place, once and for all.

If you live in Perth, Fremantle, and surrounds, I hope to see you there!

See below for details.

Event recap: International Vegetarian Food Fair 2012, Perth

I must admit that when I first heard about this event, I was put off by the 'vegetarian' tag, as I thought either there would not be any or very much vegan food available. And then fellow Perth vegan blogger Vegan Sparkles posted on Facebook that she found out from the organizers that the majority of the food would be vegan suitable. Well, that tipped the scales and I decided to go with a friend who is newly vegan.

When we arrived, the place was busy. We decided to do a circuit of the stalls and then decide what we wanted to order. It quickly became apparent that the food was Asian in theme with Thai, Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese (I think!) being represented - along with some others, I am sure. I am not all that familiar with some of these cuisines, especially Thai, so it was a bit of a learning curve for me, and that was perfectly fine.

To my delight, I saw that not only were the goods on offer clearly labelled 'vegan' but they also listed the ingredients. This was great, as sometimes people label things as 'vegan' without fully understanding what it means. As we progressed around the stalls, I saw that most of the food on off was actually vegan, which made me wonder why they did not call this the 'Vegetarian and Vegan Food Fair'?  Hopefully, the organizers will consider this for next year, as I know there is a considerable vegan community in Perth and some who might have skipped this event, thinking as I had, initially, that there was going to be slim pickings for vegans.

We came across a Thai sweets stall first and tried a few samples. I ended up buying some balls that were covered in coconut shavings and inside was a sweet, gooey concoction. I can't tell you exactly what was in them (though I did check it was vegan, of course) but I can tell you they were delicious. You can see them on the left in this photo ----->

Wandering on, we found a rather brilliant looking dessert. I had to take a photo of it. (I might add that the people running the stalls were quite happy with having their creations photographed, which was nice.)

Onwards we wandered....When I saw the bags of fried seaweed, I HAD to get a bag for my partner (who could not make it to the event) who loves dulse and seaweed stuff, in general. They met with his approval when I brought them home later. I had a nibble too, and they get a thumbs up from me too.

I was sorely tempted by the Thai pancakes  and the pan fried dumplings.

But in the end, I got me some deep fried wickedness. I never deep fry at home when cooking, and rarely eat it when I go out, so this was a treat for me. Between the two of us, we had the Cheesy Balls (which were rice based), spring rolls, samosas, and a sweet little number titled 'Taro and Sweet Potato Rolls'. I know what taro is but have never eaten it before. These rolls were delicious. Sweet, but not overly. I made sure I saved some for my partner to have later and he ended up enjoying them too.

Just a note: payment for the food was via a coupon system, which you purchase at a table at the entrance. I was not aware of this, and only found out once I tried to pay a stall holder with a bank note. I didn't see any signage that explained the coupon system. Perhaps I just missed it? I wonder if anyone else there got mixed up or confused by the system? Don't get me wrong, it is a good system (food handlers do not have to deal with notes and coins), it perhaps should be more clearly advertised before and during the event.

All, up I was happy to attend this event and pleased to see so many people there with their children, too.  I look forward to next year's food fair!

Event: Ban Live Export Rally, 6th October 2012

This is a national event to protest against this cruel 'trade'. The flyer below is for the Perth/Fremantle event but there will be rallies on this day, in other locations around Australia. Please see here for  further details.

Event: International Vegetarian Food Fair, Perth 2012

Don't let the 'vegetarian' part put you off. The organizers have assured that there will also be vegan food available. Yay!

It is on THIS SUNDAY - 23rd Septmember at the rather nice venue that is the South Perth Community Centre.

Starts at 10am and goes until 3pm.

Some of the foods on sale:
Thai papya salad, sushi, Indonesian yellow rice, curry puffs, spring rolls, pad thai, fresh fruit juices, etc.

Be there and bring your appetite!

Event: Cruelty Free Festival, 3rd November 2012

I am so excited that this festival will be back for 2012!

I volunteered last year and will be attending this year, for sure.  It felt good to be surrounded by like minded people, watching cooking demonstrations, finding out about vegan products and services, tasting cruelty free food, attending talks, and just soaking up the positive vibe from other attendees.

 Entry is FREE and animal companions are welcome.For more info on the event, check out the website.

See you there in November!!

Event - A special presentation by Philip Wollen, 3rd August

I am a little late with this, so apologies for the short notice. This event will be taking place THIS FRIDAY, 3rd August, at Fremantle Town Hall. Check the image below for details. 

Also, have a watch of this video clip below in which Philip Wollen debates For "Animals Should be Taken off the Menu".  Simply put, his presentation and argument  is informative, logical and clear.

Event: Tree Planting Day with Perth Advocates for the Earth

Kaarakin Black Cockatoo Rehabilitation Centre and Perth Advocates for the Earth invite YOU to be involved in a day of Tree Planting.
This will be a  hands-on community project to help regenerate the habitat for the endangered Black Cockatoos.

When: Sunday 27th May, 9am – 2 pm

Where: Kaarakin Black Cockatoo Rehabilitation Centre , 322 Mills Road East, Martin

Come and join Perth Advocates for the Earth at Kaarakin Black Cockatoo Rehabilitation Centre for a fun day of tree planting.
You will be involved in a major reforestation program helping to restore a regional park of Jarrah and Marri trees.
Kaarakin Black Cockatoo Rehabilitation Centre relies on volunteers and tax deductable donations from the community and local businesses.

What you’ll need:
• Warm clothes or wet weather gear
• Boots for the muddy conditions
• Hat
• Byo lunch (tea and coffee provided)

Event: Kanyana Open Day - May 6th

Late notice, I know, but better than never!
Kanyana is a not for profit organization that provides care for sick, injured, and orphaned native animals - including reptiles, mammals and birds.

When: Sunday May 6th. 10am to 4pm
Where: Kanyana Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, 120 Gilchrist Road, Lesmurdie
Cost: I believe entry is by gold coin donation
What: Live entertainment, stalls (white elephant, 2nd hand books, etc), food, drink, tour of the hospital, and children's activities.

There is no public parking on site, so people are encouraged to get themselves to Lesmurdie Senior High School at 21 Reid Road, Lesmurdie, and catch the shuttle bus which will be running every 15 minutes up until 4:15pm.

Event: Cruelty Free Money Speaking Tour, Perth - 14th May

Where: PAWS, 120 Beaufort Street, Perth
When: 14th May, 6.30pm
Cost: Donations are encouraged. Funds raised will be shared equally between PAWS and Animal Actionist.
What: Cruelty Free Super is Australia's only animal friendly Superfund.
Their mission is to bring animal welfare issues to the areas of retirement planning, savings and investment.
Cruelty Free Super will not invest in companies which are involved in animal testing, intensive farming, polluting, armaments, deforestation, climate change, live exports, tobacco, human rights abuse, gambling or genetic modification.

Cruelty Free Super offers a choice for those with certain beliefs, such as Christians, Muslims, vegetarians and vegans, who might be in a default industry fund that invested in shares that did not match their belief systems. No other super fund exists to truly cater for people who want to avoid investing in companies whose activities exploit animals. Now Australians have a choice, and they can put their money where their principles are.
People are exploited by companies, as is the environment, and Cruelty Free Super will make sure that no investments are made in any company whose activities could be considered cruel or exploitative in three main areas – animals, people and planet.

Lee Coates, OBE owns and runs one of the largest specialist, ethical investment financial planning firms in the UK, as well as a separate ethical research company. Lee has come to Australia for the months of April and May this year to deliver a speaking tour all about money.

To be honest, I had never before thought of what my super may be used for on my behalf. I just always went with the flow, mostly out of ignorance. This talk should be prove to be very informative.

Event: An Evening with Black Cockatoos and Humpback Whales - 13th July

Perth Advocates for the Earth present this fundraising event:
When: 13 July (Friday)
When: 7pm
Where: Perth Irish Club, Townshend Rd, Subiaco
Cost: $25pp, $45 per couple, or $200 per group of 10.
Bank details:
BSB: 016 318
Acc: 530453381
Please use your surname as reference.
Tickets will be deemed as booked once all funds are received.

For further information, or to book your tickets please contact:
Lizzy MacCasker on 0434 822 559
Raewyn Plackson on 0433 472 602

or email: perthadvocatesfortheearth@hotmail.com

Beneficiaries: Kaarakin Black Cockatoo Rehabilitation and 
Centre for Whale Research Fremantle


What: Spend your evening with Leighton DeBarros, Rick Dawson, Chris Phillips and Curt Jenner.

You will view an edited version of "A Wing and a Prayer".

View NEVER BEFORE SEEN FOOTAGE

From ‘Birthplace of the Giants’

A film being made by Producer, Director, Cinematographer Leighton De Barros. This film is documenting the work of Curt and Mich Jenner from the Centre for Whale Research in Fremantle as they attempt to document the first 48 hours of a humpback whale calf's life

Leighton De Barros will present footage of the expedition in the Kimberley taken over the last two years. See some incredible footage before the film is broadcast.


Curt Jenner will provide a fascinating presentation about their satellite tagging work, which will give an amazing insight into the migration of Humpback whales along the Western Australian coast.


You will receive information on what to plant to provide food and shelter for the Black Cockatoos

Event: Swan Animal Haven Annual Fete and Garage Sale - 15th April

The Swan Animal Haven are having their annual fete and garage sale on the 15th of April, which is a Sunday. The event will be running from 10am to 2pm. On sale will be bric-a-brac, plants, cakes, books, clothing, etc. There will also be raffles and a sausage sizzle, which although is not vegan, is at least vegetarian, which is a great step forward! Kudos to the organizers for that.

The shelter is NO KILL and is a charitable organization that receives no government funding, so this fundraiser will assist them in keeping the place running and pay for sterilizations.

The event will be taking place at the shelter, on Kalamunda Road, South Guildford.

Prior to the event, if you have items you wish to donate (bric-a-brac, books, clothing, plants, etc), please leave them at the gate of the shelter.

Event recap: An evening with Lyn White

A few months ago, I posted about this event. Well, not only was I able to attend, but I was also fortunate enough to volunteer for the night and meet Lyn White.

With the event being sold out, we expected to be kept busy...and we were! As volunteers, we had to show up several hours early and help with some of the set up. The staff from Animals Australia were warm and friendly and made sure that once Lyn had begun to speak, we would all have the chance to be present for it.
Some of us worked as ushers for attendees, helping check tickets and name lists. I volunteered to work behind the merchandise stall, where we sold some fabulous Animals Australia T-shirts. We were inundated with people joining AA, buying t-shirts and also donating funds.

Before attendees arrived, volunteers were able to meet with Lyn White. What an exciting moment that was! I think we were all rather star struck. Here was the woman who helped to expose the Australian live export trade for what it was - cruel, barbaric and archaic. Here was the woman , who first hand, bared witness to so many atrocities in her fight to expose animal cruelty. She shook my hand, looked at my name tag and we both  had a bit of a laugh at the 'strangeness' of my name. She was warm and personable, and I felt very privileged to have been   able to meet her.

When it was time, myself and the other volunteers were able to sneak into the back of the hall and wait for the event to begin.
Unsurprisingly, when Lyn White appeared on stage, she received a standing ovation.
She spoke with eloquence and intelligence, and covered so many topics - from live animal exports to factory farming, to environmentalism. Myself and my friends and fellow volunteers were en-rapt. I am not ashamed to say that I was deeply moved and inspired.

With Lyn's speech were some visuals - both photographic and video. Evocative but not too startling and harsh. When presenting people with harsh truths and realities, you always walk a fine line with how much and what needs to be shown to get your point across. I felt the visuals provided during this presentation were just right.

At the end of the speech, Lyn received another standing ovation and I felt very proud and happy to be there.

After the speeches, Lyn mingled with attendees who were treated to drinks and vegan canapes which I must say, were delicious. Never before have I had vegan caviar! I managed to mingle amongst the crowd and to my delight, saw many familiar faces.

All in all, the event was such an uplifting experience that I will remember for a long time. One thing nagged at me afterwards, however. I went home wish so much that I could share what a Lyn shared with us that night. I knew I could paraphrase some of it, but really could not do it justice. I could not express myself the way she had. I wish I could have had my friends, family, co-workers and acquaintances  there with me, to hear, listen and think on what Lyn had to say. A few days later, I was pleased to find out, via Facebook, that I could share the experience in a way via "A Virtual Evening with Lyn White". 


 From Animals Australia, about this virtual event:
Following a sell-out national speaking tour, Lyn will share her inspirational journey into animal protection and vision for a kinder world with all in a free virtual event. Join us for the launch at 6PM EST March 19th at www.AnimalsAustralia.org - or visit any time after the 19th to watch the full event online.

“What if the purpose of each new generation is to question... To identify where there are injustices and to right them. We would inevitably leave this world a kinder place for those who followed us.”

-- Lyn White, Animals Australia Campaign Director & Investigator

So, if you missed out on attending (the Perth event was sold out) please check out the virtual event and hear what Lyn had to say.

[Photo credits: Top photo used with kind permission by Katrina Love. Following photo by Alex Cearns from Houndstooth Studio.)