Veggie Pride, May 17, 2008, in Paris

"Festival of vegetarian and vegan pride"

Our aims :

To declare that we are here

All over the world millions of people refuse to condone the killing of animals for food. But when do you hear about it ?

To express our pride

We are taught to look down on non-human animals and to be their executioners. If barbarity is the norm in a society it is difficult to say no. We are proud of having the courage to say no.

To denounce vegephobia

Simply by existing, Vegetarianism challenges the legitimacy of the confinement and slaughter of billions of animals. That is why it is ignored, laughed at and defamed. They want us to feel ashamed of our compassion. But we shall not let ourselves be intimidated.

To defend our rights

The right to an equal platform for expressing our opinions, the right to vegetarian meals wherever groups are served, the right to refuse to take any part in exploiting animals through our work or through the taxes we pay ...

To act on behalf of our fellow-creatures whose rights have been taken away

No rights are granted to animals raised and slaughtered for food. We are determined to exercise our rights in full, because they are the only ones that animals have today, albeit indirectly. We shall speak out on their behalf until the massacre ceases.

On an ordinary day
in a country during peacetime ...

Impaled birds are roasting behind shop windows. Dismembered bodies are decorating market stalls. On the bridges of boats twitching fish are slowly asphyxiating. Dismal lives are spent in foul-smelling hangars. Live animals have their beaks, teeth and testicles forcibly removed. Specially designed feeding funnels are forced into throats. Everywhere there are lorries stuffed with the condemned. Those that will have their throats cut, bleed and be carved up.

On this ordinary day, there are millions filled with fear and suffering. In this country at peace; torture and murder are a part of daily life.