Let Live Foundation

Let Live is very happy to get Jasmin Singer back to town to help kick start some increased participation here in Portland. Bring a friend or two and help spread the word pretty please.

When: January 24, 2010 / 1pm
Where: Matt Dishman Community Center, 77 NE Knott Portland, OR 97212, Classroom A
Cost: Free
RSVP over at this event’s FaceBook page if you please.

If you saw a dog getting kicked, you would probably do all you could to help her. But what if you don’t actually see her getting kicked, yet you know for sure it’s happening? Do you just shake your head and say “that’s too bad…”? As long as you’re not kicking the dog yourself, is it really up to you to do something about it?

Practicing non-violence is a necessary and harmonious way of life. But when it is up to you to take “Ahimsa” one step further and – in the words of Gandhi – truly “be the change you wish to see in the world”?

In many ways, we are gaining traction as a movement: pro-animal legislation is popping up left and right; vegan celebrities are coming out by the masses to speak up for animals; cruelty-free cuisine is becoming more widespread and delicious than ever before; positive animal rights-themed media coverage and book publications are on the rise; and it seems that people are “seeing the light” and going vegan before our very eyes.

Shockingly though, the percentage of vegans is so small that it is still considered by some to be within the “margin of error.” For those of us who spend our evenings at vegan potlucks, meet-ups, and social gatherings with like-minded friends, this can seem unreal. Still, outside of the “vegan bubble,” ditching meat and dairy is usually considered “fringe” and animal rights is often seen as “radical”.

That is why it is absolutely necessary that vegans extend their advocacy to beyond just their meals, and speak up for animals in their daily lives. If everyone did just one thing a day for animals – one thing that can easily fit into your life as you know it – perhaps we’d exit the margin of error, wake up the rest of the world to the fact that veganism is a moral imperative and animal rights is a must, and create real change.

Margin of Certainty: from Veganism to Activism is an interactive workshop which will be led by Jasmin Singer, Farm Sanctuary’s campaigns manager. Jasmin last visited Portland when she spoke at the 2009 Let Live Northwest Animal Rights Conference. She is one of the voices behind the blogs “Making Hay” and “VEGdaily,” and her writing has also appeared in blogs such as “Crazy Sexy Life” and “Civil Eats,” as well as print publications like Satya and Heeb. Jasmin is also a contributor to VegNews Magazine. She has presented at numerous conferences including Taking Action for Animals, SUNY Social Justice Conference, and Farm Sanctuary’s Hoe Down. Last year, at age 29, VegNews named her a “20 Under 30.” Visit her at www.jasminsinger.com.

In anticipation of the December 13th Let Live End of Year Community party, we thought it’d be nice if we re-watched Will Potter’s opening talk from last summer’s Let Live Conference. We really need to all be thinking of how we can best be involved in our own local communities, and get to work making things better. Our numbers are limited, let’s use them to their full potential, OK?

from Let Live Foundation on Vimeo.

Let Live is hosting a community get-together, please join us and help this event be a success.

When: Sunday, December 13th, 5-8pm
Where: Matt Dishman Community Center (77 NE Knott, Portland, OR)
Cost: Free

Activities:

• There will be a volunteering open house. Come meet local animal groups, see what they are all about, and see who you might like to get involved with.
• “Re-thinking the Holiday Table” talk with Michelle Schwegmann. Will you be sharing your holidays with non-vegans? Michelle will share some tips on how to keep the tension low, and will arm you with several sure to please recipes.
• Cooking demo with Aaron Adams, chef at Portobello Vegan Trattoria. Come hear Aaron discuss crowd pleasing vegan entrees everyone will love.
• Cooking demo with Lisa Higgins, owner of Sweetpea Baking Company. Lisa will discuss holiday desserts, come see how the pro’s do it.
• Come sample treats from local vegan companies.

We’d love you RSVP over at the Facebook Event page, thanks. We’d also love you to please help spread the word about this. Bring a friend or three. Repost on your FaceBook, MySpace, Twitter, Blog, whatever. Anything helps.

Hope to see you there.

xoxo
Let Live