A Universal Vegetarian Symbol

Already 20 years ago there was an intention to launch one symbol for vegetarianism world-wide. In fact William Pick, founder and President of the Jewish Vegetarian Society, tried to spread a universal vegetarian symbol in 1976. There were two signs under discussion, the Italian one and the English one. The VSUK did not agree that their symbol would be taken for general use and that is why the Italian sign was promoted. The 'V'-sign was created by the Italian artist Prof. Bruno Nascimben, (Castenaso) and has been presented for world-wide use at the EVU Congress 1985 in Cervia Italy. Many vegetarian and vegan societies have adopted the 'V'-sign in the meantime and it has become the widest spread vegetarian symbol world-wide. The market for vegetarian products, for alternative 'meat products' is growing rapidly and there is obviously a need to make all these products recognisable for the interested consumer. When 'Migros', the biggest Swiss super-market chain started to use the symbol on their products in 1996, Renato Pichler, president of the Swiss Vegetarian Union, had the symbol registered for his society in Switzerland. As many commercial societies are multinational, the EVU decided to have the 'V' sign registered in Europe in order to prevent misuse by some non-vegetarian society. Only this way can there be control of the ingredients for instance. The 'V'-sign is registered in the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Great Britain, Denmark, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Finland, France, Germany, Norway, Poland; Portugal, Slowakia, Spain, Switzerland. The protection of the sign is valid from July 1997 onwards. Since then a lot of work has been done for the elaboration of rules, conditions and many more things for the use of the symbol. Sigrid De Leo The promotional text from the Jewish Vegetarian Society It has been said that a picture is worth a thousand words. A symbol is a picture in epitome, and conveys in its simple outline the longings, hopes, dreams and beliefs of those who use it. It is a constant recall to duty of those who recognise it, and to those who don't it is an object of curiosity and a source of enquiry, until the ideals that inspired it are revealed. To have full impact, the symbol must be repetitive; it must be identical in colour and form; it must be seen in the busy market place and in the remote country side, until it imprints itself on the mind's eye and communicates its message to the beholder. Great international companies are fully conscious of its advertising value and ensure that it is set to work to achieve the desired ends. Political parties owe much of their international following to its power, and after all, what is a national flag but a symbol of the nation? The Stars and Stripes or the Union Jack immediately convey a complete image and understanding of all that they represent. Let us also convey the message of vegetarianism to the world at large through the means of the symbol. We profess to fight the evils inherent in the carnivorous way of life and we aspire to achieve positive change through practical action. Merely to set a good example is not sufficient: if we represent anything worth working for let us declare it from the rooftops, so that our vision shall not bloom unseen like a desert rose. We tend to believe that vegetarian philosophy has been publicised among the populace; if the truth were known the proportion of those who have been aware, let alone understand what vegetarianism involves, is pitifully small. The means of achieving world-wide and universal publicity are not available, but the power of a universal symbol which may be displayed by every inspired human being, can quicken the tempo of our mission, and help to awaken the compassion that lies dormant in millions of ordinary kindly folk. It may be a pennant flying on a luxury yacht in the Caribbean, a sticker in the rear window of a car travelling down Broadway in New York, a bold sign outside a guest house in an English village, a West End Shop or department store. Certainly the symbol should appear on letter headings, envelopes, party invitations and millions of small food containers. And with what delight will the vegetarian travelling in far distant places see it proudly displayed where he least expected it, or learn with surprise that he has vegetarian neighbours in the same street or district. The Symbol is not to replace the badges of international, national or local societies, whose motifs are complex in design and intended for limited use only. The Universal Symbol must be simplicity itself and preferably carry no wording: the impact of repeated display is great indeed, lending massive support to existing publicity and helping the common cause to go from strength to strength. Jewish Vegetarian Society HQ 855 Finchley Road London NNW11 8LX England Tel: +44 (0) 181 455 0692 To Member Societies of the EVU European 'V'-Label Finally, after a long time of preparatory work and negotiations, we are pleased to offer you the European 'V'-label to mark vegetarian goods, products and services in Europe. It is an excellent way to profile European vegetarianism as propagated by the European Vegetarian Union. This duly registered 'V'-label will enable the vegetarian societies to position themselves as consumer organisations and act as an interlocutor for manufacturers, producers and catering services. You may sell the use of this 'V'-label to firms and companies that produce vegetarian products, mainly food, but also to restaurants, hotels and guest houses, that serve vegetarian meals. The 'V'-label is intended primarily to help the vegetarian consumer to find the adequate products in ordinary shops and supermarkets as well as in health food stores. With this label you can offer several advantages to the growing group of vegetarian consumers in your country: They do not have to study the list of ingredients in the shop (saves time), an independent body (EVU) guarantees the quality, and especially products which vegetarians often are in doubt of, are marked clearly by the specific European 'V'-symbol and the text "Approved by the European Vegetarian Union". Obviously the 'V'-label may be granted to specialised producers of vegan products, too, which then carry the additional word 'vegan'. From the Marketing Department of the EVU you can order promotional material for your own use and to pass on to your partners. There is no copyright for societies to use the registered Vegetarian Symbol and it may be freely reproduced by printing, photography, painted sign, rubber stamp etc. For commercial use in the above indicated countries there has to be a previous agreement with the EVU. If your society is interested to know the conditions for the use of the 'V'-label for marketing purposes, please contact: Hans van Boven EVU Marketing Officer c/o Nederlandse Vegetariers Bond Larenseweg 26 NL-1221 CM Hilversum Nederland Tel +31-35-683 4796 Fax +31-35-683 6152 e-mail: nvb@multiweb.nl Nothing on earth is as mighty as an idea whose time has come - Victor Ugo © European Vegetarian Union - http://www.ivu.org/evu