Vegan-Connections_Nov18_V3

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Every year the festive season creeps up on us just that little bit earlier, and whenever
it comes around we are reminded that it’s not only the time for stuffing our faces,
indulging in boozy get-togethers and stressing over outfits, but is indeed a time for giving.
Surely anyone who has ever given to charity, helped out at a soup kitchen or simply
sacrificed some time for someone in need is aware of the rewarding feeling which comes
with an act of altruism. However, despite the good intentions, most of us are probably
short on time and the task of finding a way to give back can be daunting. To help you
achieve your good deeds we have compiled a short list of ways in which you can give
back (vegan style) this year. Short on time but willing to spare a penny for a good cause?
These charities and communities need your help.
Tribe Animal Sanctuary Scotland
The lovely John and Morag at TASS have set
up a haven for animals with nowhere else to
go. Drawing attention to the disparity in our
human attitudes towards pets versus so called
‘food animals’, the founders of TASS want
to encourage unprejudiced loving engagement
with all animals. By providing extensive
information on the history and character of
each of their animals, and by organising a
‘meet and greet’ on Sundays, TASS helps
educate the public on the sanctity of each
animal’s life. Not only does TASS accept
direct donations, but they work together
with the Tribe Tattoo family who donate all
profits from the tattoo and piercing studios.
www.tribesanctuary.co.uk
facebook: @updatesTASS
Lotus Animal Sanctuary
Lynn, the vegan hero at the head of Lotus
Animal Sanctuary, is looking to set up a
vegan sanctuary which will save animals in
need of shelter. Lynn intends to educate the
public on the emotional capacity of what
she terms ‘ex-food animals’ and thereby
garner the respect and love these beings
deserve. Apart from the sanctuary, Lynn
plans to have facilities providing a range
of relaxation therapies, yoga, as well as a
vegan café and shop. The ultimate goal
of Lotus Animal Sanctuary is to challenge
the ways in which animals are traditionally
viewed and to promote a cruelty-free lifestyle.
Previously, Lynn has managed to save the
two-year old cow Prince and the highland
cow Berry and her daughter Bramble from
slaughter.
www.lotusanimalsanctuary.com
facebook: @lotusanimalsanctuary
Animal Free Research UK
Founded in 1970 as the Dr Hadwen Trust for
Humane Research, Animal Free Research
UK (as the charity is now called) looks to
reduce animal suffering by promoting nonanimal
medical research. The Animal Free
Research team believes that while research
on human biology and disease is important,
it can and should exclude the use of animals.
The charity is non government funded and
has therefore relied entirely on donations
and fundraising activities to finance the 200
grants for research projects which they have
already been awarded. As the Animal Free
Research website gives extensive information
on each completed project, it is easy to
see how your donated money will be used.
According to the website, a donation of
£10 can already help to fund essential lab
equipment, while a £1,000 donation will
help pay for expensive imaging equipment
which provides direct human data, thereby
saving animals’ lives.
www.animalfreeresearchuk.org
facebook: @AnimalFreeResearchUK
OneKind
Looking to end cruelty to animals in Scotland,
the Edinburgh-based charity OneKind calls
for both donations and volunteers to support
their campaigns and investigations. Being
an evidence-based organisation, OneKind
bases their work on solid scientific and real life
evidence through investigation. The charity’s
campaigns are selected with regards to the
ability and size of their potential impact. Not
only is OneKind set on actively ending cruelty
to animals, it also looks to inform the public
on ways to reduce animal suffering though
their educational website: onekindplanet.
org. Current campaigns include stopping
salmon farm expansions, stopping mountain
hare slaughter and banning live animal
exports. The aims of OneKind go hand in
hand with a vegan lifestyle and the charity
allows for individuals to have an impact
through donation, volunteering and online
petitions.
www.onekind.scot
facebook: @onekindfb
Other charities worth donating to:
https://www.vegansociety.com/
https://www.animalaid.org.uk
https://veganuary.com/
https://vegfund.org/
The Gift
of Giving
Words: Isabelle Thul
Vegan Connections
Lifestyle
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