Some news from Turkey

Turkey is a wonderful country. If ever I could imagine living in another country I would love to spend some time in Turkey, a country with beautiful mountains, shores and seas, lakes and forests, an ancient culture with relicts from several thousand years ago, nice friendly people and a never ending choice of food for all kind of vegetarians. A walk through a Bazar gives you the idea of how many different vegetables, salads or fruits are available in the country. The lacto-ovo as well as the vegan and especially the raw-food eater will think they are in heaven. When I spent some holidays in the south of Turkey a couple of years ago, I did not find any vegetarian but a great acceptance of the vegetarian idea. Recently I came into contact with two young men from Turkey who are vegetarians and who are very devoted to the vegetarian idea. Victor is editing a very well made journal in colour. My friend Bige, a mathematics teacher from Izmir translated the articles for me. She was most impressed by the excellent language and I was surprised to find articles ranging from nutrition to agriculture, ecology, housing, animal protection and many more subjects, all illustrated with beautiful colour photos. Victor is running a vegetarian restaurant in Bodrum. They would both like to attend the EVU Congress '99! But, if you consider that a waiter in a first class restaurants earns something like 120$ a month it is obvious that they cannot afford to travel to western European countries. The EVU would like to offer them the stay at the EVU Congress free of charge. If any of our readers could help with the journey please contact the EVU office or Victor and Ibrahim directly. In the following you can read what Victor and Ibrahim wrote about their personal conditions and the national situation regarding vegetarianism. Sigrid De Leo Dear Sigrid, Victor Ananias First of all thank you very much for your kind attention. It always makes me happy and excited to get in touch with people somewhere outside my own country. I enclose you the last 3 copies of Bugday Magazine, none is left of the first one. With the help of your Turkish friend Bigge I think you may have some ideas of our work here in Turkey. I say 'our' but still it is too much of a personal effort. I started a health food store 8 years ago and Bugday Vegan Restaurant over six years ago, which I am still running. This place is like a contact point for every person on health food, vegetarianism, ecology, ecological building, organic farming etc. here in Turkey. There is no other organisation and place working in similar way other than a couple of alternative tourism points, some restaurants including some vegetable dishes in their menus and some farmers who got into organic farming in recent years in our country. As a result all my work still depends too much on my personal effort. I find a lot of support and source material from within Turkey's own culture. I have been trying hard to bring those values to the face, show their importance to its people. I like my work, it is my life. Still it is very hard sometimes because of the low level of awareness that looks as if it is going to change more slowly these days in this country. Specially I suffer on the financial side. A lot of people are interested including the Prime minister of the country who is very happy about the diet I offered him, but they still do not valve it with their economic power which is low in general anyway. For instance I am not sure if I'll be able to print the fifth Bugday Magazine. Well I'll pray and do my best so whatever comes is it! Menu-card of Victor's restaurant By the way, I am 27 years old, I was born in Zurich at Bircher Benner Clinic from a Turkish mother and a Chilean father. My profession is life, I am a good cook, baker, architect, musician and actually whatever I do well. I have been a vegan from birth and very healthy and productive till now. A lot of travels. My father has a vegan restaurant in Chile at Conception. It is called 'Naturista'. As a result I would really like to have close contact with your organisation, get news, be a member, representative, whatever, inform people here in that respect and actually be able to come to the EVU Congress '99 there. But as I said I do even not have the 40 DM at the moment to send you for the membership. I know it might be difficult for a European to understand that but I don't even know how I am going to survive the next day financially. So I would happily appreciate any kind of support like free membership, donation to our work, bursary for me to come to the congress or anything that you are able to do-... And if there is anything I can do for you here, such as provide any knowledge on our subjects, anything you want to know, food samples etc. just let me know. Also you or anyone from your organisation is very welcome to come and visit us here in Turkey to enjoy, to share. We always have a lot to share with our guests happily. Love and best wishes Victor Ananias Turkkuyusu c Cad.72 Bodrum Turkey