Choose Life Free of Violence

Vegan Fest Yerevan was first held in Armenia under “Choose Life” slogan. Touting the slogan ‘Choose Life’, the festival seeks to disseminate the ideal of a healthy lifestyle through vegetarianism in addition to highlighting cruelty to animals. “We should love animals, and not to slaughter them, they are our friends.” Under Ani Khachatryan, a festival organizer, the idea of organizing a vegan festival originated still last year. “Several years ago young people from Russia wrote to us, who organize such festivals in different countries. We suggested organizing a festival in Armenia. The festival seeks to advocate not only vegetarianism, but also healthy lifestyle and animal protection, as all these phenomena are interconnected.  In future we may organize actions in these fields,” said Ani in her interview with EcoLur.

Oleg Ozerov from Russia was also present at the festival, who organizes such festivals in Russia and other countries. “Nothing wastes so many resources, e.g. water, electricity, as animal breeding, moreover, it pollutes the environment,” Oleg said.

Dingo Animal Lovers NGO also participated in this event with its animals for adoption. Dingo team deals with the problem of stray animals. “Our aim is to find stray dogs – to treat the ill animals and to find owners for healthy ones, i.e. we want to make their number to minimum in streets. Besides dogs, we provide aid to all other animals, which we meet in the streets, we treat them, feed and wash. We have a mini shelter, where the animals for adoption and animals needing care live,” said Dingo team volunteer Lucy Harutyunyan and mentioned their NGO is self-funding, that’s why they can’t do much.

During the festival concerts, lectures and sport events were held, as well as guests were treated with vegan food.