Founded | November 1944 |
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Founder | Donald Watson |
Type | Non-governmental organisation |
Focus | Veganism |
Location | |
Area served | International |
Method | Information, support, campaigns |
Members | 4,000 (in 1988[1] and 2005[2]) |
CEO | George Gill |
Key people | Donald Watson |
Website | www.vegansociety.com |
Vegan Trademark for the labelling of vegan products | |
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Effective region | United Kingdom |
Effective since | 27 February 1990 |
Legal status | Recognised by the consumers |
Website | www.vegansociety.com |
The Vegan Society is a registered charity and the oldest vegan society in the world, founded in the United Kingdom in November 1944 by Donald Watson and his wife, Dorothy, along with four friends - Elsie Shrigley, Mr G. A. Henderson and his wife Fay K. Henderson among them.[3][4]
Watson coined the word "vegan" to stand for "non-dairy vegetarians" who also ate no eggs.[4] The founding of The Vegan Society is celebrated annually on 1 November, World Vegan Day. The day was established in 1994 by Louise Wallis, the then President and Chair.[5] However, the founding of The Vegan Society is thought to have been either 5 or 12 November 1944.[6]
The Society now defines veganism as "A philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of humans, animals and the environment. In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals."[7]
The word 'vegan' was coined by Donald Watson from the first three and last three letters of 'vegetarian' in 1944.[8]: 4 Vegans separated from the Vegetarian Society in 1944 because that group refused to support veganism, which they saw as extreme and antisocial.[8]: 4
In November 1944 the then-new Vegan Society held its first meeting, at the Attic Club, 144 High Holborn, London. Those in attendance were Donald Watson, Elsie B. Shrigley, Fay K. Henderson, Alfred Hy Haffenden, Paul Spencer and Bernard Drake, with Barbara Moore observing.[9]
A breakaway group from The Vegan Society, the Movement for Compassionate Living, was founded in 1984 by the former Vegan Society Secretary Kathleen Jannaway and her husband Jack.[11][12][13]