The main reason for the creation of the International Vegetarian Union, way back in 1908, was simply to help veg*ns in different countries communicate with each other.  This was done mostly by exchanging newsletters, journals and personal letters - but there was no substitute for real face-to-face meetings with people of diverse cultures, languages and cuisines. IVU was founded at such a gathering and they have continued ever since.

For about the last 15 years we have seen a vast communications transformation. Thanks to the internet we can now have real-time, anytime, talks with anyone, anywhere in the world - even with live video links. And yet... there is still no substitute for actually meeting in the flesh. Sitting around a meal table where everyone comes from a different country is a unique experience, and for veg*ns there is a special significance in sharing our plant-based food (all congress food is always completely vegan).

However we do, of course, have to be aware of the environmental impact of travelling to other countries, and IVU today is reluctant to encourage large numbers to fly halfway around the world to attend global gatherings. The alternative is an increase in regional or sub-regional meetings, so that it becomes much easier to travel by more environmentally friendly means, such as rail or ship. There will, of course, always be those who want to visit far-flung places, and it has to be a matter for each individual to decide how to balance their own decisions.

IVU divides the world into six regions, as in the map, we have events in all regions coming soon (see below):

Below - some photos from recent gatherings in Brazil, China,  Dubai (UAE), Germany, Ghana, India and Indonesia (that's me top right, in China with Susianto, see below for more details):

Photo details: top row: left: a youth group performing at the opening ceremony of the Asian Congress in Indonesia
center: Shankar (India) Jowly and Susianto (Indonesia) and Prof. Jumsai (Thailand), same event
right: the IVU stall in Xiamen, China. Susianto and myself talking to leaders of an IVU member society from Mongolia.
2nd row: left: The beach resort  venue of the world veg congress in Florianopolis, Brazil
center: musicians at the world veg congress in Goa, India.
right: Sandhya Prakash meets a local visitor the Middle East veg conference  in Dubai (UAE) - and Sister Wako Ishikawa from Japan speaking at the IVU centenary congress in Dresden, Germany.
3rd row: left: some of the fabulous vegan  food in Brazil
center: some of the audience at the 2nd West Africa veg congress in Accra, Ghana
right: a fire dancer in Brazil
bottom row: a speaker in the Chinese lecture room in Xiamen, China.
center: a day trip on a bus in Indonesia
right: some of the audience, with headphones, for my talk at the international forum in China.

This is a summary of what is happening in each of these regions, do come and join us at any of them!

Africa
The first ever veg congress in Africa was for West Africa in Lagos, Nigeria in 2007; followed by Accra, Ghana in 2009. This year we're planning an East & Central African Congress in Nairobi, Kenya, December 5-7, 2010. If all goes well it could be a venue for the first ever IVU world veg congress to be held in Africa, possibly in 2014. More info soon at www.ivu.org/africa - or email Emmanuel Eyoh, IVU regional coordinator for Africa, from that page.
Right: A giraffe at Nairobi National Park, with Nairobi's skyline in background.

Asia-Pacific
The first world veg congress in eastern Asia was Chiang Mai, Thailand in 1999, followed by regional events in Bangkok, Taiwan and Indonesia . This year we will be in Jakarta and Bali in the first week of October for the 39th IVU World Veg Congress - see: www.wvc2010.org
Right: The critically endangered Sumatran Orangutan, a great ape endemic to Indonesia.

Next year we will have our first veg congress in China, the 5th Asian congress at Hangzhou in October 2011 - more details soon at www.ivu.org/asia-pacific - or email Susianto Tseng, IVU regional coordinator for Asia Pacific, from that page.
Right: The Lingyin Temple, Hangzhou

Europe
Europe has a long history of veg events, including the last IVU world veg congress, our centenary, in Dresden, Germany. The International Vegan Festivals began there in 1981, and will return next year for the 13th IVF in Malaga, June 4-12 2011, in the south of Spain, organised by Asociación Vegana Española (AVE). More details soon at www.ivu.org/europe
Right: Cathedral of Málaga, Spain

India & SW Asia - ISWA
The first IVU congress in India was in 1957, and we've been back many times. Now we have the first ISWAVeg (India & South West Asia) congress in Bangalore, India, Oct 30-Nov 2. Organised by the Indian Vegan Society - Full details at: www.vegansociety.in/ivu-iswaveg_congress
Right: Yakshagana -- a theatre art often performed in the town hall at Bangalore

And in December we'll have a second congress at MENOPE (Middle East Natural & Organic Expo) in, Dubai (UAE), organised by IVU council member, and president of MEVEG (Middle East Veg Group), Sandhya Prakash. More info soon at: www.ivu.org/swasia - - or email Shankar Narayan, IVU regional coordinator for ISWA, from that page.
Right: Burj Al Arab, Dubai (UAE)

Latin America
Latin America led the way with regional veg congresses, hosting the first in Venezuela, way back in 1972. Our first Latin American world congress was in Brazil in 2004. Next January the regional congress will be in Bolivia. More details soon at: www.ivu.org/lac - or email Marly Winckler, IVU regional coordinator for Latin America, from that page.
Right: A llama in the Laguna Colorada, a shallow salt lake in the southwestern Bolivian sector of the Altiplano.

North America
The next big event is the Vegsource Expo in Los Angeles, October 15-17, 2010 - mostly American but when I was in China last year I met a guy with a veg-restaurant in Beijing who is a regular at the VegSource events, it's open to all - see: www.vegsource.com/news/2010/06/-ready-set-get-healthy.html

We'll be welcoming people from many countries to the 40th IVU world veg congress  in San Francisco, October 2012. More info soon at www.ivu.org/northam/index.html - or email Dilip Barman, IVU regional coordinator for North America, from that page.
Right: San Francisco from the Marin Headlands, with the Golden Gate Bridge in the foreground

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