Goldsmiths University – Faiths & Civil Society Unit

presents

Ethical Veganism: A New Worldview in Religious Education?

Thursday 18th January 2024, 5.00pm-7.00pm GMT – Online Event

Book online here

Organised by the Faiths and Civil Society Unit, based at Goldsmiths, University of London, this event brings together education experts, researchers, RE advisors, and practitioners, to explore the introduction of Ethical Veganism as a ‘worldview’ within the RE curriculum. By examining its ties with diverse religious and non-religious perspectives, the event investigates in what ways Ethical Veganism can be understood as a ‘worldview’ in light of recent proposals for Religion & Worldviews by the RE Council for England & Wales. Introducing the VinE initiative and some of its educational resources and practices, its founders reflect on their motivations for coming together and how they envisage their initiative to encourage compassionate, ethically informed, and responsible citizens. The event invites critical reflections by RE and education experts on the pedagogical opportunities and challenges of Ethical Veganism in RE within the broader debates concerning worldview literacy and citizenship.

Image credit: Joude, Age 6, ‘Take Care of the World’, NATRE Spirited Arts, 2023

Speakers

· Angela Hill, National Religious Education Adviser at RE Today and Editor of RE Today Magazine

· Michelle St John, Retired Barrister and Founder of Veganism in Education (VinE)

· Barbara Gardner, Founder and CEO of the Animal Interfaith Alliance (AIA)

· Jennifer Harding-Richards, RVE Adviser Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Swansea

· Dr Martha Shaw, Associate Professor, School of Law and Social Sciences, London South Bank University

· Alexis Stones, PGCE RE Subject Lead, UCL; museum educator at National Gallery & Wallace Collection, London 

· Dr Heather Marshall, PGCE Secondary Religion Education with QTS* Course Leader, Edge Hill University

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Article by Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz is a rabbi who seeks to do interfaith and social-justice work. He is the President & Dean of the Valley Beit Midrash (Jewish pluralistic adult learning & leadership), the Founder & President of Uri L’Tzedek (Jewish Social Justice), the Founder and CEO of Shamayim (Jewish animal advocacy), the Founder and President of YATOM, (Jewish foster and adoption network), and the author of 22 books on Jewish ethics. 

In his article, in The Times of Israel, Rabbi Yanklowitz talks about how healing can begin between Muslims and Jews by sharing vegan food together. This excellent and important article can be read here.

Picture above – A Jew and a Muslim playing chess in 13th century al-Andalus. El Libro de los Juegos, commissioned by Alphonse X of Castile, 13th century. (Wikimedia Commons)

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Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Animal Interfaith Week 2023.  Interfaith Week ran from Sunday 12th – Sunday 19th November and AIA celebrated it with its Animal Interfaith Week.  AIA and its member organisations held a number of events and the highlights from these are shown here.

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The Anglican Society for the Welfare of Animals (ASWA) held their 2023 Animals in War Memorial Service on Sunday 12th November at the Park Lane Animal War Memorial.

AIA directors Fr Martin Henig, who co-led the service, and Dr Christina Nellist represented AIA, as well as their own organisations, ASWA and Pan Orthodox Concern for Animals. Dr Nellist laid a wreath for AIA.

We remember those animals, not only in past wars, but who are caught up in the new wars of today, and pray that there will be and end to all wars.

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Bob Isaacson, Founder and President of Dharma Voices for Animals (DVA) talks to the AIA AGM 2023 about DVA’s inspirational work.

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Antidote Europe has interviewed Dr Pandora Pound, Research Director for Safer Medicines Trust, a UK based patient safety charity. Dr Pound is the author of the book “Rat Trap” and has written numerous academic papers on the scientific drawbacks of using animals as models for humans.

Read the full interview here.

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Interfaith Week 2023 runs from 12th – 19th November and is run by the Interfaith Network in the UK.  During that week, AIA and its members will be promoting animals in religion and will be holding a series of events.

A full list of the events can be seen here.

Please do join us!

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Pope Francis released his apostolic exhortation Laudate Deum on 4th October 2023 which follows his historic encyclical letter Laudato Si’, released in 2015, and focuses on the climate crises.  AIA member, Catholic Concern for Animals has responded it to it and their response can be read here.

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You are invited to the upcoming Vegan Convergence Of the People #15 (V-COP 15) which will be held online on 28th & 29th October 2023, 11am – 9pm Eastern time (3pm-1am GMT).

V-COPs are being organised by Climate Healers and have been convening every quarter following the debacle at the UN Conference Of the Parties #26 (COP26) in Glasgow where meat, dairy, fish and eggs were being served in the cafeterias, while nations agreed to continue deforesting the planet until 2030. V-COPs intend to co-create the Greatest Transformation in Human History. As Stephane Pace Marshall said, “Adding wings to caterpillars does not create butterflies.”

The theme for V-COP15 is “Sea of Change” as it will be focusing on the state of our oceans. 

Join V-COP 15 in transitioning from a Climate Heating system to a Climate Healing system, creating a Vegan World by 2026, and ushering in a Homo Ahimsa stage of humanity. 

Also, AIA’s Barbara Gardner will be speaking with AIA patron Dr Lisa Kemmerer and Isabella La Rocca Gonzalez on “Food Choices that Protect the Planet” on Sunday 29th Oct from 11:05-11:55 AM eastern time (15.05-15.55 GMT). Please join us.

Full details of V-COP 15, including the schedule and registration and joining instructions are here.

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