Of course, you’ll find the delicious vegan food inspiring, and that’s a major feature of this festival celebrating compassion. But we’ve also got a line-up of incredible speakers, both local and national, to inspire you with their presentations. Here’s a glimpse of what each of them will be sharing at Twin Cities Veg Fest on November 1 at Coffman Memorial Union:

• The Ethics of Eating Animals at 10:30am
  • Jeff Johnson, Associate Professor of Philosophy at St. Catherine University
  • In this talk we will critically examine some of the common defenses offered in favor of eating animals. We will discuss a few of the prominent positions and arguments philosophers have offered on both sides of the ethical issue of eating animals. And we will explore ways our ordinary ethical concepts can be brought to bear on the issue.
• How We Can Combat Factory Farm Abuses at 11:30am
  • Christine Coughlin, Minnesota State Director for The Humane Society of the United States
  • The political muscle of Big Ag and the factory farming industry may seem impossible to combat, but our movement is achieving victories and more are on the horizon. Learn about winning strategies and how we can work together to build our power for change.
•  Going Vegan Made Easy at 12:30pm
  • Toni Okamoto, Founder of the highly successful blog, Plant Based on a Budget
  • Toni will be sharing ideas to challenge misconceptions of the general public regarding veganism, including: not sacrificing time, taste, money or culture in the pursuit of healthier and more compassionate eating. Be ready to learn tips on meal planning, money saving, and time-efficient cooking that are perfect for those with families and busy schedules!
• Inspiring Compassion: Putting Our Ethics on the Table at 1:30pm
  • Mikael Nielsen, National Volunteer Coordinator for Mercy For Animals
  • Mikael will give a brief overview of Mercy For Animals, as well as a quick history of factory farming in the United States. He will discuss the current situations facing farmed animals today and how MFA’s work is helping to improve those conditions and reduce suffering. He will touch on recent investigations and the changes to animal welfare that have resulted. He will conclude the presentation with things we can all do to prevent cruelty to farmed animals through our daily actions. This will be followed by a Q&A session.
• Easy Vegan Nutrition at 2:30pm
  • Suzy Sorenson, Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator, and founder of Move2Veg Nutrition Counseling
  • Compassionate eating is as easy as 1-2-3! If you’re ready to move to plant-based eating, this is your opportunity to gather tips and tools to plan simple, balanced vegan meals. We’ll also touch on nutrition recommendations, health benefits of plant based eating, reliable nutrition references, and how to get the fuel you need to feel your best without breaking the bank. Whether amateur chef or heat-and-eat master, you can be a great example of compassionate living.

We hope you can catch one or more of these motivational presentations at the festival. If you haven’t already, RSVP to the Twin Cities Veg Fest Facebook event page. It’s a good way to stay tuned in to what’s happening with the festival and to show your support. The countdown has begun!

Also, the location of October Potluck: I Can’t Believe It’s Vegan has been moved to the home of Bill and Jackie Van Susteren at 1929 James Avenue South in the Kenwood neighborhood of Minneapolis. Join us for this fun potluck on Sunday, October 25 from 12:30 to 2:30pm and bring a vegan dish to share. If you plan to attend, please RSVP on the Facebook event page or email Justin Leaf at justin@exploreveg.org.

For the animals,

Unny Nambudiripad