Animal Rights National Conference

Learn effective tips and tactics for planting seeds of compassion. Colleen Patrick-Goudreau will address such strategies as:

*The power of telling our stories

*Giving people the benefit of the doubt

*Finding common ground

*Being willing to find solutions rather than win an argument

*Having a sense of humor

*Asking questions rather than always answering them

*Being clear about our intentions and remaining unattached to the outcome

*Not taking reactions personally

*Embracing the true meaning of anger

*Finding hope

Vegan is defined as “a person who does not eat or use animal products”

Warrior is defined as “a brave or experienced soldier or fighter.”

We are Vegan for all the right reasons: compassion, earth, health.
This talk is to educate and empower you to take this to the next level.

I am here to give you some tools you may not have used before to further the cause of compassion, earth and health in very deliberate way. Man or woman, young or old, there is one form or another of a warrior within you. It is my intent to enliven your personal warrior, and ask you to join other warriors on the ethical battlefield.

Some may think that the term “Warrior” is incompatible with ethical compassionate Veganism.
I do not agree. Few things of consequence have been achieved without a show of strength behind it.
Being a Warrior means you are resolute, you are willing to speak up and be counted, and you are willing to do more than just defend yourself and others, you are will to actively and pro-actively defend.

A Vegan Warrior is a Vegan who has, and whose life is an outward and obvious expression of Veganism, intellectually, ethically, and physically. A Vegan warrior is someone who is willing to stand hard for what he/she believes in.

Do you want to be able to go to work, and fight hard for Veganism, just by doing your normal work.
Do you want to attend family events, even when you are the only Vegan, and fight hard for Veganism, withOUT pissing everyone off?
Do you want to be able to go anywhere where others exist, and fight hard for Veganism, just by being present?

You need to arm yourself to be a Vegan Warrior. Here is your arsenal.

Ethically
   Be honorable in all of your dealings.
    This does not mean wimpy. In fact, standing up for things of importance will get you admired.
    Show the world that Vegan means more than a diet, what you wear or use, or a philosophy.
    Take actions that people respect and admire. Be the person they would like to be more like.
    Make people say/think:
        “Wow, he is so nice. Vegans are nice”
        “Wow, she is so strong and resolute on this moral issue that does not even involve animals. Vegans are ethical”
    More examples here...

Have people like you. Not everyone will, but maximize this.

    Animal rights
        Key issues here.
                If you were on an desert island with a cow...
            Only use issues that you know your audience will likely agree with. Use this as a “hook” to get them in deeper, in due time.

Intellectual Health:
Can you be a Warrior just by your intellect?
Ever been in an intense debate or argument?
Ever used your words to strongly influence people, even when not arguing.

Arm yourself with data.

Kim as an example (live on stage)
Neil Barnard as an example (pictures on screen)

Key points on nutritional issues
    Dangers of animal products
        Details here... many of them...
    Comebacks to Vegan issues people pick at
        Where do you get your protein?
        B12
        If you were on an desert island with a cow...
        Etc.

Recoveries from serious illnesses on a Vegan diet, with specific data.
    Obesity
    Diabetes
    Heart disease
    Arthritis
    Osteoporosis
    Cancer

Intellectual Environment:
Key points on environmental issues...
    Water
    Resources
    Pollution
    Food/starvation

Emotionally
    Be deeply proud of who you are.
    Not arrogant or judgmental, but proud.

Physical passive actions
    Clothing – wear stuff with Vegan on it (pictures on screen).
    Vegan on the front of it (picture on screen)
   If you are Hells Angel biker, wear a pleather jacket and advertise it with a sticker.
    Belt sticker (picture on screen)
    Jewlery that shows Veganism (picture on screen)
    One thing and they will think everything you are wearing is Vegan
    New car – Make a stink about the leather seats. Honda no leather.   Lexus no leather (letter). VW no leather (letter). (picture on screen).
    What to do when/if have one thing that is of animal origin (like your car for example, or a part of something someone gave you), and someone calls you on it. Chairs at HealthForce, etc. (picture on screen)
    Be influencial. HealthForce Vegan building. I provide great tasting Vegan snacks for all employees. Do this once if you are in individual – like a Cliff Builder Bar – make sure they know Vegan – have stickers and put them on (picture on screen).
    Mail, use stickers and inserts
    More tips here...

Physical Active Actions
    What you do.
        Nola Veggie Fest (picture on screen)
        Vegan Festival (picture on screen)
        Animal Rights Festival (picture Alex Hershaft)
        Flyers at events, health food stores, at your house (on screen pictures)
        Get the word “Vegan” out there in any way you can
        Put stuff in your mail/bills.
Do everything you can, but also don’t necessarily try to do everything. Tailor to your personality. If you write songs, write them, and make sure they get heard. If you write words, write them and have them be read. If you have some fame use it.

If you are an athlete, write Vegan on your gear.

If you can cook, cook incredible Vegan Foods (on screen picture of Vegan Lasagna, other foods, Vegan products in the marketplace).

Whatever skills or influence you have, use them.

Physical health and appearance
   You are being assessed and judged by how you look and your health.
    Live a HEALTHFUL Vegan diet. Whole Food, Organic, high percentage Raw (onscreen pictures). Handout - international symposium.
    Beware of 100% Raw diets.
    Proactive holistic health in your life.
    Sick and dead Vegans are no value and often of negative value.
        Gretchen Wyler
    Exercise. Get enough sleep.
    Look and be healthy because you will draw in or push away so many people because of this.
    Especially If you are buff, put Vegan somewhere on your clothing.

Physical appearance is HUGE. Which lead us to the final aspect of a Vegan Warrior.

Physical 4
Look like a Warrior

How do you most define a Warrior?   By appearances.
    On screen picture buff Warrior.
    On screen picture of Gretchen Wyler.
    On screen picture Neal Barnard.
    On screen pictures of others who are warriors but do not look like them.
    ON screen pictures and/or live on stage of Vegans who are warriors and do look like them.

Physical appearance is HUGE
Discussion of how the world sees us as Vegans.
Impact that muscular power can make on the world.
Invitation and motivation to get lean and muscular.
Nutritional, lifestyle, and exercise tips and protocols on how to do this.