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London Vegan Fest 2006 Review
100% Vegan
Hard To Swallow

Yes another year of celebrating "veganism"... another chance to meet other liked-mind individuals. "Well so I thought", but I will not get into that just yet. As always this year the food was delicious to sample. Some of the treats were of familiarity from visitation to the local health food stores, while one and two were new products that caused an awaken of new bodes on the tongue and left a sense of satisfaction of a very pleasing taste. Visiting the festival is like a family reunion, it's a must for Vegan families living in the Greater London area. The space was very accommodating, with a wide ranges of activities to peak the interest. Also attending were a wide range of people at this year event. Some were tall some were not, some were fat some were slim, the young and the old all seeking and gaining a sense of belonging to a family of oneness.

It was a nice Sunday at the Kensington Town Hall; people were at gather on the steps basking in the beautiful day, enjoying her sunrays. My wife, daughter and myself arrived, found a parking space, which I thought was an available spot, but to my horrors the car was given a ticket of £50. When you don't live in London or not from the UK, the signs are so many and the meanings are unclear if you don't know the associate clauses of errors. Still that did not damper the spirit of festival no way, I left the ticket on the car after retrieving my water bottle and went back to the festival.

Earlier, when we arrived, my wife went to the bathroom so my little one and I went to stroll around the area of merchants. Heading to the upstairs section of the festival my daughter and I stopped at the stage where the projector screen was then blank. I was told some images on veganism and vegetarianism issues were showed earlier. Soon after I got a call on my mobile, it was my wife, "Where are you?" "On the stage" I replied. "Oh I see you both". She came, soon after I gave my camera to my four year-old daughter and told her to take lots of photos, then I decided to just stay seated on the stage as to do some people watching as they do their vegan social interactions.

Truly, it was a magnificent sight and I was not alone in this thought. In my head... some time after listening to the patterns of the sounds around me and the gathering of my thoughts, the words began to formulate in my head on what I will write today. Suddenly, a woman came about inches to me. Cheek to cheek we were, her voice said, "let me see what you are seeing". In replied, I shared the visions of my sights... the many people, the children all in joy.... She said yes oneness.

Funny... I said under this oneness lays the struggle. She said no... there are no struggles. Again I replied, your mother struggled to push you out into the light thus life is a struggle. It was then we exchanged names. Hers was Venus. In her departure for a presentation she asked if I know of Ama. I said yes she is my daughter. A bit surprised she asked do I know what 'Ama' means, we both said Mother together. Leaving then returning. Venus gave me a leaflet of 'Amma' visits to the UK. Again I sat alone watching the people as they moved from merchants to merchants bumping into each other, stopping to have polite conversations. Yes it was an awe-inspiring sense of togetherness.

So much so this sight was an inspiration that I decided to head back to the car for my note pad, on my way back near the main entrance, I was stopped by a man, he identified himself as an associate of the London Vegans hosting the event and he would like to take a photo of me. Smiling I asked why and I was told because I looked cool and he would put it on their web site about the event. It was in love so I did not mind. He took his needed image and I continued on to get my note pad.

Returning back inside as I strolled around, I would pause for some notations of my thoughts and sights as well as the words from people lips. Of course one cannot resist the desire to shop and I was no different. So I got some "Vegideli" chicken style soya products. In order to get a discount on the quantity I bought, the merchant asked me to sing...hehehehehehehe. Yes I did sing and happily we both parted with a smile and happiness of the shared moment.

As I continue on my stroll, I came to another merchant who was selling a type of pastry. The slogan "let food be thy medicine" Hmm... I thought... something to hit the sweet tooth... yeah. The first contact with the merchant at this stall caused a change of togetherness. In seeing my note pad he stated that he should charge me for writing about his products, because nowhere else anybody got his type of products. Dismissing me he said what I wanted to know I should ask his agent and pointed to a woman to his left.

As he stepped out of the scene, I asked the Goddess about the products, while speaking to me about a chocolate carrot cake she was interrupted by the insulting figure, the merchant. The man stated she should leave me alone and deal with the people who were spending money. Yes even a blind man would feel the dishonour of his action. So I stated no, he should not be like that. He then started to squabble about his stall was hard work, he got to pay to be here and I didn't respect him for if I was to buy anything I would do so already. Sensing the demon side of a human, I left. I continued on my journey with a bitter taste in my mouth. So I stopped to buy a bar of "Plamil" dairy free chocolate with hazelnuts.

Later, as I sat back on the stage, I began to enjoy my dairy free chocolate bar. My daughter came running to me, showing me all the vegan buttons and stuff toys she had bought with her spending money. She was very happy, telling me of her encounters and the pictures she took. Again she departed, as I watched her leave, I was with joy for this is what it is about, teaching the next generation about a vegan society so they can continue with a stronger sense of healing. When my daughter returned, I borrowed the camera from her and began to take series of photographs inside and outside.

On my way back inside, I noticed my family was near the stall of the insulting merchant. I took two photos. The flash went off and I was noticed thus an unpleasant mood and tone were shared, of how he {the merchant} would not come to my home to take picture without permission and that he was a Grenadian. I stated "look where you are". For in light of the situation this was an event catering to the public and everywhere was someone taking pictures of the event. In expressing myself I was told to go way as if I didn't exist, a fellow merchant even joined in, not knowing the detail of the stress but adding his bias opinion.

In my departing I asked a lady sitting at the entrance table to point me to the person who was in charge of the event. I dully and politely expressed my dismay, my dissatisfactions and dishonour of the encounter with the merchant in question to the womb-man in charge (A Goddess). As I was pointing out to whom my woe was caused by, the merchant with his bias opinion spoke aloud that she should get me out of here. Stepping aside, I further let her know the situation of my encounter. As well as telling her, such food the merchant sold I would not be able to eat due to the ill vibrations. And to me that type of meal would not cause healing.

In our modern society most consider a vegan to be a passive tree lover, a tofu-eating hippy that will run away when confronted with the reality of stupidity. Well I am not the typical vegan and when ignorant shines especially directly on me I will not turn the blind eye. A factor of history one must never forget when the errors of human's action are not checked then a repeating action of error will continue. Often times, only through the struggles of awareness can true healing begin to correct these errors. And sometimes only through conflicting issues we may gain some resolution of resolves.

In our global society today our academic institutions have a program of higher learning in association with Socrates, the known greek philosopher of the ancient world. This program along with others are for the continue stimulations of the best of the best of scholars striving for wisdom and knowledge as to aid humanity in her growth of oneness. Nevertheless, a funny but important aspect of Socrates life seems to be forgotten by scholars. Socrates was a strict vegan, so much so, that in a state of conflicts he chose not to wear the issued gear of leather sandals giving to the troops in their conflicts with their neighbours.

Due to Socrates strength of will, by not conforming to the norms of the land, Socrates was sentenced to death by his fellow citizens. In the festival of life there are many with the desire to silent those speaking or questioning the patterns of errors. The healing area of humanity needs more than rubbing hands or directing energy at focal charka. In a state of high the pains are faded from view but once the euphoria is gone the evidence of chaos remind. Only when we are drastic for positive change... only then the resolution of harmony will engulf us in a state of oneness.

Our world is in chaos and the driven force is economical greed, everybody wants to get rich for their ideas and dreams. We as vegan... please... let us not forget the reasons why we come together as vegans. For far too long our voices have not reached the mainstream of change. So to argue over sales and denying love is an act not becoming a vegan of "consciencement". Overall the 2006 London Vegan Festival was a moment of harmony.

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