Welcome to Widnau and Eastern Switzerland

In the name of the European Vegetarian Union, I would like to welcome you to the EVU Congress at Widnau Sports Centre. It is the 7 th Congress since the founding of the EVU in 1985 and is the first to take place in Switzerland.

Switzerland, in the heart of Europe, has seen several important people and movements from the vegetarian way of life that have extended their influence beyond the country’s boundaries. I am thinking, in particular, of Zurich physician Dr. Max Otto Bircher-Benner and of Dr. Alfred Vogel, the pioneer of the natural way of living and healing, who worked for many years quite near here, in Teufen/Apenzell. In Ascona there is the ‘Monte Verità’, a settlement, which was important as a meeting point between eastern and western philosophies. In 2000 it will be celebrating its 100th birthday.

We are very happy that so many participants have accepted our invitation to Widnau. From Turkey to Spain and from Finland to Italy, almost all European countries are represented. In addition, we can welcome guests from Korea, India, South Africa, Nigeria, Canada, the USA, Venezuela and Brazil.

Interest in the vegetarian way of life increases with every meat scandal. More and more well-known per sonalities are declaring themselves to be vegetarians. Unfortunately there are still many prejudices which have to be removed and it would be good if this Congress could help towards bringing the vegetarian idea closer to a wider public.

Since 1995 the EVU secretariat has been in Widnau, and it is, therefore, no coincidence that the EVU has set up this Congress in cooperation with several Swiss vegetarian organisations.

We hope tha t you will like the extensive programme that we have put together. One of Swiss doctor Bircher-Benner’s main concerns was to show the value of the raw vegetable diet and it is a great pleasure for me personally, that several of the world leading representatives of the raw diet are going to be giving lectures. What can be more appropriate than to consider the optimum diet for sportsmen and women in a Sports Centre? One day is totally dedica ted to sport, however, all the other aspects of the vegetarian way of life will come under discussion also.

We have spent two long years preparing for this event. Now we hope that you will all have an informative, interesting and enjoyable week with us, during which you will be able to meet old friends again and, we hope, make many new ones!

Sigrid De Leo, EVU Secretary