Successful events which took place since the last newsletter:

1 On 6th June 2008 I was interviewed by the BBC World Service. The topic was, ’meat eating and starvation in the world’. Listeners phoned in from many parts of the world. Increasingly the connection between the two is being made!

2 On 10th June I was interviewed by BBC Asian Network. The topic was, ‘bringing up children as vegetarians’.

3 On Friday 20th June I gave a talk to the Swaminarayan youth group in Croydon.

4 On 27th June we protested outside the Austrian embassy in London. Many animal rights activists were imprisoned in Austria without any charges laid against them. They were subsequently released!

5 On 24th July I gave a talk at the Swami Vivekanand Centre in Croydon. I said Yoga and Vegetarianism are gems of our heritage which we should share with the world.

6 On 5th August BBC Asian Network invited me to take part in a debate on Vegetarianism with other faiths. I said compassion is THE religion!

7 On 8th August Swami Ramdev addressed a huge gathering at the Swaminarayan temple in Neasden. We were privileged to be able help in making this event happen. Yog Vivek Swami asked the audience of around 800 to take a pledge to go vegetarian and remain vegetarian.

8 On 24th and 25th August we ran a stall at the Hare Krishna temple during the Janmastmi festival. 20 people pledged to go vegetarian.

9 On 3rd. September I was interviewed by BBC Asian Network. The topic was, ‘Hinduism and Vegetarianism’. I said practicing Hindus have to be Vegetarian!

10 On 7th September Jyoti Mehta attended the Vegan festival at Kensington Hall and ran a stall.

11 On 21st September the South East Jain Association organised their annual Jain event in Crawley. I said Jains should avoid leather goods and consider going vegan. A special thanks to Prakashbhai Mehta for inviting me.

12 On 4th September we were the guests of the Purley United Reformed Church at their harvest festival. They had prepared a delicious vegetarian dinner for us. We were privileged to invite them to our annual Christmas lunch.

13 On 19th October we ran a stall at the mega Diwali event in Trafalgar Square. 4 people pledged to go vegetarian.

14 On 15th November I addressed the morning assembly of Hebershdare Academy in Bromley. Around 125 students were present.

15 On 14th December we had our annual Christmas lunch. Around 125 people enjoyed the lunch. The Mayor of Croydon as well as Croydon MP Malcolm Wicks were present.

16 On 11th February 2009 we ran a stall at the, ‘Health Fair’ organised by Lewisham council in Lewisham.

17 On 17th February I gave a talk to King’s College London, Hindu society. A lively question and answer session took place!

18 On 22nd February we attended a Vegetarian Rally in Trafalgar Square organised by the Supreme Master Ching Hai Organisation. In my speech I said that Trafalgar Square has hosted many rallies over the years but none can be as important as this. We were here to shout for animals who cannot shout for themselves. The time has come for the human race to make peace with the animal kingdom.

19 On 25th February I went to give a talk at the Tonbridge boarding school in Tonbridge. A special thanks to Nitin and Kshama Patel for organising the talk.

20 On 7th April I took part in a discussion on BBC Asian Network. The topic was, 'should meat be served at Hindu weddings?' NO! If invitees do not like this, they do not have to come!

21 On 11th April London Jains organised a two day festival at the Harrow Leisure Centre to celebrate the birth anniversary of Lord Mahaveer. I spoke on, 'Engaging Jains in animal welfare activities in the UK’.

22 On 2nd May, I gave two talks at the Sai Harrow School in Harrow. One group of students numbering around 60 were aged between eight and fourteen. The other group of around 30 were aged around eighteen to twenty. Two students pledged to give up eggs and become, ‘pukka’ vegetarians! A special thanks to Ranuben Mehta and all the members for inviting me and for the kind hospitality.

23 On 16th May I spoke at the first ever Veggie Pride event in Birmingham. In the heart of Birmingham in the shopping centre hundreds of people watched in amazement as we marched through the streets. A very successful event indeed! Sadly hardly any Hindus and Jains from Birmingham took part.