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By
Evelyn Gilbert [email]
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For
the last 10 years, Pamela Rice has been fighting the good fight.
A self-proclaimed "veg-evangelist," she's done more
in one decade to get the word out about animal cruelty and the
benefits of vegetarianism than most have in a lifetime. The
author of the well-known 101 Reasons Why I'm a Vegetarian, founder
of the Viva Vegie Society, and the New York-based Vegetarian
Center, this 45-year-old vegan shares some tips on how to be
a grassroots activist. |
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GLOW:
What prompted you to write101 Reasons Why I'm a Vegetarian?
PR: Before I became
a vegetarian, I just didn't get it. A friend of mine was
a vegetarian and I would ask her, "Why are you one?"
but she could never really explain it. She had a stack
of animal rights information. One night I plowed through
the stuff and it really turned my head around. Getting
all of this information got me started writing a makeshift
list of why someone would want to be a vegetaria.
GLOW: Once you
had the pamphlet, how did you distribute it?
PR: I didn't know
anybody or anything, but I felt like I just had to get
this information out. Before I read my friend's magazines
she couldn't get through to me. I felt like, my god a
lot of people have to be asking the same question I did:
Why become a vegetarian? With a quixotic and naive attitude,
I put on a fruit bdecked headdress and went out to the
street. There was such a positive response. People turned
on to it because there was a real need.
GLOW: Why did you
decide to open the Vegetarian Center and how did you accomplish
it?
PR: It's a symbol
— a place of our own to have meetings, lectures,
and share information. Some people say, "You can
go to a health food store, or go out for a meal, why do
you need a center?" To me the question isn't why
have a center, it's why didn't we have one already. Since
we opened last year we've had hundreds of people visit
to get literature and attend lectures. As far as funding
goes, someone gave me $5,000 and said if I raised $10,000
they'd match it. Non profit status has also allowed us
to be more successful in getting foundation money.
GLOW: What suggestions
would you give someone who wants to follow in your footsteps?
PR: Most activists
have a lot of heart and good intentions, but lack focus.
To be successful, you have to focus on doing one thing
well and doing it for the long term. But, I never want
to say you can't do anything if you don't go to the extent
I go. This is America, you can go out on the street with
flyers and reach people like that. You can leaflet and
let them know that vegetarianism is more than a dietary
lifestyle — it's a political stance. Diet impacts
the economy, human health, and the environment.
GLOW: What other
steps can aspiring activists take?
PR: Respond to
articles in your local paper. I saw one the other day
that said vegetables were bad for you; we've got to keep
sending letters to the editor about things like that.
Since our views are often left out of the mainstream debate,
we have to build an analysis of issues from our value
system. We have to be visible. I go around wearing a painted
sandwich board that says, "Ask me why I am a vegetarian."
Even if people walk right past me, I've sparked something
in their brain and had an affect.
* For more information call
212-871-9304, www.vivavegie.org.
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What
prompted her to write about being a vegetarian |
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Before
I became a vegetarian, I just didn't get it. A friend
of mine was a vegetarian and I would ask her, "Why
are you one?" but she could never really explain
it. She had a stack of animal rights information. One
night I plowed through the stuff and it really turned
my head around. Getting all of this information got
me started writing a makeshift list of why someone would
want to be a vegetaria.
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