New Ghent festival puts spotlight on veganism
Every week, Flanders Today surveys the world of local cuisine to fill you in on the best recipes, culinary events and new eateries. This week: Flanders’ first-ever vegan festival
No vegan police
“We want to stress that – vegans and non-vegans, there won’t be any vegan police at the door,” says Tim Bruneel from BE Vegan. “We’re really hoping for lots of non-vegans to come and see what it’s all about.”
There have been vegan festivals in the Netherlands and Germany, “but nothing like this has been seen before in Belgium,” Bruneel continues. The event, at Ghent community space KERK, will find food trucks serving such fare as Veg-Mex, raw food and vegan kebabs.
“There will be live music, cooking demonstrations and workshops where you can learn to make your own cosmetics and cleaning products,” says Bruneel. The festival will also spotlight vegan businesses like Ghent-based tattoo parlour Torymun Tattoo, which uses vegan ink, and Shoezuu, a shoe company that sells non-leather shoes.
Because veganism is about more than food. Many vegans abstain from consuming or using any animal products, both edible and non – from handbags to cosmetics. It’s no coincidence, then, that there will also be information stands from animals rights organisations and awareness groups for anyone interested in delving into the ethics of the lifestyle choice.
If you’ve got an entrepreneurial spirit, be sure to check out the talks delivered by those who have ventured onto the vegan start-up road. “We’re hoping this will inspire people who are thinking about starting a business themselves,” Bruneel explains.
Concern for animal rights is the main reason people become vegan, he continues, “but there is also a huge ecological benefit. It takes a massive amount of resources to raise animals, which puts a burden on climate change and increases CO2 and methane production. Being vegan reduces your ecological footprint.”
Health benefits are also a consideration, with links being made between a diet low in saturated fats and reduced incidences of cardiovascular diseases.
The Ghent venue has indoor and outdoor facilities, so even if it’s raining, you can still get your vegan on.
23 August, 11.30-21.00, KERK, Gentbrugge (Ghent)
Photo courtesy VivaVega
