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NEWS
AMERICANF C.E.O. SPREADS THE VEGGIE MESSAGE
NEW GUEST EDITOR
Education International
or telephone company C.E.O. Norm Mason, a vegan and lifelong animal lover, there was never any doubt of what he would offer at his company cafeteria. Soy steaks and soy sloppy Joes, veggie burgers, nachos and other meatless, egg-less, butter-free delicacies are cooked daily using heavy bags of texturised vegetable protein. If all this doesn't sound so great, consider this: it's all free. Mason, for contributing to the promotion of vegetarianism, has won the 'Pioneer of the Year' prize at the PETA 2004 Proggy Awards, which I celebrate progressive movements and
acts.
2004 PETA
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PROGRESS
Mason says he created the 'Vegeteria' out of concern for the well-being of his 200 employees of Cat Communications International. So he's giving them all the fresh vegetables, meat substitutes, cakes and drinks they could ever want. "This was a way to say: 'Look,
ust got used to Jain Spirit's quintessential British ways? Well you're in for a surprise! We are committed to not
only the variety, but also the internationality of the magazine and our next issue will be guest edited by 24 year old Californian Shayna Parekh. Shayna's background may be a familiar story for many people - a grandfather who fled from Idi Amin's Uganda for England and parents who left for America in search of bigger and better things. As a child of this search she has grown up aiming high and with an urge to understand the issues of the world. Winner of the University of California For Personal & Private Use Only
we don't feel its right to have the flesh of an animal, an animal killed for your benefit," Mason said. "I see it no different than smoking. People are asked to go outside and smoke." He hopes it will also help promote respect for animal as well as human life.
Bruce Friedrich, a spokesman for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, says that Mason is one of the growing number of vegetarian and vegan C.E.O.s, including Steve Jobs of Apple Computers Inc., Michael Eisner from Walt Disney Co., John Mackey of Whole Foods Market Inc. and Bill Ford of Ford Motor Co., who have made it easier for employees to eat meat-free. "They haven't actually prohibited eating meat, but they've certainly increased exponentially the vegan offerings in their cafeterias," Friedrich said.
But Mason, who is a PETA member, wants to go beyond catering to current vegetarians. He sees a person's craving for meat as a nasty habit that can be broken. By providing free vegetarian lunches and stocking the room with information pamphlets about vegetarianism, Mason hopes to nudge his carnivorous employees toward a different lifestyle.
The Jain diet is not strictly vegan, as Jain food is still served with dairy products such as yoghurt. But younger Jains, who take part in animal welfare campaigns such as PETA, are turning increasingly to veganism. More than ten per cent of the delegates to the recent Young Jains of America convention in New Jersey described themselves as vegans.⚫
Berkeley's Gold Medal for outstanding accomplishments in 2002, Shayna Parakh has accepted our invitation and Jain Spirit is honoured to have her take on the role of Guest Editor for Issue 23. An obvious choice intellectually, Shayna also fits the bill with her deep appreciation of her faith, living her life as closely to the Jain principles of nonviolence and multiplicity of view-points as she can. She is now preparing for law school and says, "We promise to provide a Jain Spirit issue American style: a little shocking, a little eclectic, but always great fun." Make sure you get your copy of Jain Spirit, Issue 23!⚫
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