Vegan MoFo 2012, Easy Halloween Activism

Hello boys and girls, it's time once again for a lesson in EASY ACTIVISM!  As you well know, Halloween is right around the corner.  While I wholeheartedly recommend sharing goodies from vegan owned and operated companies at all times of the year, that can get a little pricey when you're dealing with tons of trick or treaters.  Also, on a holiday when kids are hoping to receive their favorite treats, unfamiliar products run the risk of alienating rather than intriguing.  So these are my steps for easy Halloween activism:

Same drill as usual: buy tons of accidentally vegan treats...only this time it's for sharing, not hoarding.

Then, buy tons more.  This way, if the trick or treaters don't finish your stash- you can.  Years of experience, my friends!

If you've been vegan for any length of time, you probably have some pro-vegan stickers in your house (I'm a fan of these from Friends of Animals (especially the artichoke), but you can get others for free here.)  I'm fond of handing them out in and around vegan events- to children who may or may not already be part of the vegan revolution.  But on this day, the children will come to YOU!  And, as Bill Maher would say, "It's all about the children," after all.

Here's what you do: take ordinary treats...

and simply slap a sticker on 'em* (make sure not to cover the ingredients). 

Then pile all your goods in a bowl and wait for the little ones to come.  Chances are no one will notice as you're distributing the goods, but if they do it's simply a great opportunity to start a dialogue with your neighbors.  If they don't, you may just inspire a few kids to think about the message they received anonymously.  Think of it as planting a compassionate seed.

 Trick or Treat.

*make sure your treats are rad; vegans should be generous and have good taste!