Dear Friends Around the World

Global warming. Probably, the issue has gained the greatest global concern and fear ever in human history. Its definite force of massive destruction is real, inconvenient and menacing from moment to moment. But, to those advocating vegetarian lifestyles, the issue is fundamental. It is not the fear. It is the urging necessity to promote a change in human lifestyles, a situation explicitly conjured by Albert Einstein over half a century ago.

Vegetarianism is basically a universal lifestyle of harmony. But it also represents the basic knowledge and the actual science of living harmoniously in the universe, which is all the actualisation of love for life. The motivation, spirit and determination of people going vegetarian are very clear, definite and firm: to bring health, welfare and harmony to life and Planet Earth. To serve the purpose stated above, the Organising Committee underlines the importance of developing more discussion on issues of information and education systems at the congress this time.

We believe it is urgent to establish better-organised systems to develop vegetarianism as a basic need for the sustainability of life and the environment in the world’s largest and most-densely populated continent Asia. Considering the strong traditional beliefs of Asian people in meat-consumption, let’s work out actual programmes to help them understand the benefits of going vegetarian, particularly for the reasons of health and environmental protection.

Now is also the time for the Asian Pacific vegetarian societies to begin establishing communication and friendship with health and environment groups in other parts of the globe, which is also an indispensable issue. I believe it is our hope that the forum can be a good opportunity for everyone to share their concern, experience, motivation, knowledge and expertise for the sake of the world. But the event can also be everyone’s joy in knowing one another from other parts of the planet. We warmly welcome you to the 4th Asian Vegetarian Congress, Batam Island, 6-10 November 2009.

Warmest regards,

Susianto Tseng
Chairman Of the Organising Committee

Welcome The World

As President of Indonesia Vegetarian Society (IVS), a member of Asian Vegetarian Union (AVU) and International Vegetarian Union (IVU), it brings me great pleasure that our country will have the opportunity to host the 4th Asian Vegetarian Congress in 2009. Enthused and motivated, our team has already begun the planning and preparation for the upcoming congress in Batam, and we are all very hopeful of the event’s success.

As always, we are confident that IVS events such as the 4th Asian Vegetarian Congress will fruitfully increase global awareness on the multifaceted benefits reaped from a vegetarian lifestyle. Locally, IVS has been extremely active in holding events throughout the country, and promoting the merits of vegetarianism. Our branch offices in the smaller cities outside of Jakarta have been contributing to our organization’s mission of promoting a healthier way of living.

The world has clearly shifted its focus on becoming pro-green, and it is comforting to know that more and more global citizens are turning environmentally friendly. The high frequency of natural disasters prevailing in the past decades, the continuing deforestation of the world’s rainforests, and worries of the supply of sources for energy, are a few examples of the worsening condition of our planet earth. What will happen if this all continues? The answer is not a pretty sight: possibly more natural disasters, the extinction of animal and plant species which may potentially be valuable sources in curing diseases, and continued world hunger and famine. We all need to realize that living a vegetarian lifestyle will help our planet earth. For example, remember that every time one consumes beef, one is supporting the deforestation of our rainforests as cow-grazing requires acres and acres of open land-space. The environmental merits of vegetarianism will most definitely be a highlighted topic in the 4th Asian Vegetarian Congress in 2009.

Once again, we are proud to have the opportunity to host the 4th Asian Vegetarian Congress. Along with our entire team, we are looking forward to meeting old friends, meeting new faces, and making new friends, all for the common goal of promoting a better way of living.

Respectfully,

Bambang Sumantri

President of Indonesia Vegetarian Society

Dear all friends

The Asian Vegetarian Union (AVU), a member of International Vegetarian Union (IVU), was formally launched in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on 14 February 2000. The establishment was planned and decided during the 33^rd World Vegetarian Congress in 1999. The Founding President of AVU is late Mr. Jashu Shah from Mumbai, India, and the first Secretary General was Dr. Pichai Tovivich from Bangkok, Thailand. From the list of IVU’s  organization members in Asia, AVU members include Armenia, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Turkey.

One of the important aims of AVU is to promote vegetarianism in Asian countries and the Pacific regions by encouraging the members to host the Congress every two years. So far, there have been three AVU congresses. The first one was held in Goa, India, 14-20 October 2001; the second in Bangkok, 19- 21 March, 2006; and the third in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 3–7 November 2007. All the congresses were successfully organized by the hosts. During the third congress, the AVU committee were thankfully pleased and accepted that the Indonesia Vegetarian Society (IVS) would host the 4th Asian Vegetarian Congress in Batam Island, Indonesia, 6–10 November 2009. We certainly congratulate and gratefully acknowledge the IVS organization.

On behalf of the Asian Vegetarian Union, I would like to encourage all of you to support and join the 4^th AVC, Batam Island, Indonesia. The island is very close to Singapore. Those who have or have not attended the previous three congresses must not miss this exciting 4^th AVC. We whole-heartedly trust and are fully confident that, under the experienced supervision of the IVS President, Mr. Bambang Sumantri, and his energetic team of the IVS Batam, the 4^th AVC will be another most successful one.

The main purpose and the theme of the 4^th AVC are to promote and disseminate knowledge about health and environmental merits of vegetarianism, and to discuss on technical issues in promoting vegetarianism from various aspects more efficiently and effectively.

Besides the enlightened scientific topics and well arranged programmes, you will have a real good opportunity to meet vegetarian friends, distinguished delegates and outstanding speakers as well as to enjoy the natural beauty of Indonesia – sightseeing and shopping on the island and the neighbouring Singapore. You can also appreciate a delicious variety of the veggie foods, the traditional culture, and the Indonesian excellent hospitality.

Finally, please make sure that you do not miss the upcoming 4th AVC. We kindly recommend that you register your participation now. Your advanced registration will help the host make better arrangement for all. Thank you for your kind cooperation and attention.

We eagerly look forward to meeting you in Batam Island in 2009.

With my best wishes,

Maitree Suttajit

President of Asian Vegetarian Union (2007-2009)

A Global Act of Love

In this brief talk, Dr George Jacobs, chair of the International Council of the International Vegetarian Union and president of Vegetarian Society (Singapore), welcomes the Congress participants on behalf of IVU and thanks the Congress organisers for their sterling efforts in preparing this splendid event. Dr Jacobs also brings greetings from Vegetarian Society (Singapore), Batam’s next door neighbour.

George salutes the participants for coming to Batam. Vegetarianism is, at its core, an act of love. With every vegetarian meal we eat, we show our love for our Mother Earth, because choosing vegetarianism saves water and trees, and reduces pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. With every vegetarian meal we eat, we show our love for our fellow animals, because choosing vegetarianism saves the lives of other animals and spares them the cruel and unnecessary suffering they must endure on the path to the plate. With every vegetarian meal we eat, we show our love for our fellow humans, because choosing vegetarian is the efficient way to obtain our food; therefore, vegetarians make more food available for the hundreds of millions of other humans who do not have enough to eat. With every vegetarian meal we eat, we also show our love for our fellow humans by setting a model of healthy food choices, choices which lower people’s risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, cancer, obesity and other illnesses. Finally, with every vegetarian meal we eat, we show our love for others by looking after our own health so that we can do our best to serve those whom we love.

In conclusion, Dr Jacobs will urge Congress participants to enhance their ability to love by using this Congress as an opportunity to learn more about how to promote vegetarianism, an opportunity to share our knowledge and experience with others, an opportunity to appreciate our fellow vegetarian activists and an opportunity to reach out to those who are not yet vegetarian.

Respectfully,

George Jacobs, Ph.D

Chair of the International Council of the International Vegetarian Union