Speakers: South Florida VeganFest 2016

Via skype: Dr. Michael Klaper, M.D. 

with questions and answers
12:00 - 1:00 (large room)

Michael A. Klaper, M.D. is a 1972 graduate of the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago, with post-graduate training in internal medicine, surgery, anesthesiology, and orthopedics at the University of British Columbia hospitals in Vancouver and obstetrics at the University of California, San Francisco. ~ Dr. Klaper has practiced acute care medicine in Hawaii, Canada, California, Florida and New Zealand. Far more fulfilling to him is his current practice, focusing on health-promoting food and lifestyle choices to help people stay out of hospitals and off of operating tables. He has authored numerous articles on plant-based nutrition as well as two books on the subject (no longer in print.) ~ A long-time radio host and a pilot, Dr. Klaper has served as nutrition advisor to NASA’s programs for space colonists on the Moon and Mars and on the Nutrition Task Force of the American Medical Students Association. ~ To minimize suffering of all sentient beings and to improve the health of his patients as well as his own, Dr. Klaper adopted a vegan diet and lifestyle in 1981. He currently practices nutritionally-based medicine at True North Health Center in Santa Rosa, California.

Film debut: Vegan Voices

A collection of film clips edited and arranged by

Angel Flinn; Outreach Director Gentle World
2:00 - 3:00 (large room)

Casey Taft, Ph.D.

Co-founder VeganPublishers.com

Professor of Psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine

Author and Vegan Book Publisher

(Vegan Publisher books will be available for purchase at the VeganFest)

Presentation: Motivational Methods for Animal Advocacy

3:10 - 4:10 (large room)

Elizabeth DeCoux 

Attorney and Professor of Law

Elizabeth DeCoux has taught animal law for more than 15 years. She teaches Animal Rights and the Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law. She has also taught animal rights law at Indiana University School of Law and Florida Coastal School of Law. Vegan for nearly a decade, Professor DeCoux has spoken at numerous animal rights conferences both in United States and abroad. Her publications focus on the changes in the law that are needed for animals to be recognized as persons, instead of incorrectly categorized as property. She lives in Jacksonville, Fl., with her wife and six rescued dogs and cats.

Presentation: 12:00 - 12:30 (smaller speaker room)

From Property to Persons: The Progress of the Animal Rights Movement

Sarah K. Woodcock 

Founder and Executive Director (volunteer)

The Advocacy of Veganism Society (TAVS). 

Sarah is an adopted Korean-American vegan. She lives in the Minneapolis area of Minnesota in the United States, with her husband and adopted nonhuman animals. 

Presentation:Veganism and Social Justice:Taking a Pro-Intersectional Approach
11:00 - 11:50 - larger room
Presentation:  Unequivocal Vegan Advocacy
12:35 - 1:05 - smaller room

Keith Berger

South Florida Vegan Education Group 

Keith has been vegan since 2004 and believes in creative, non-violent, unequiVOCAL vegan education as the means of creating a world in which veganism is the moral baseline for our treatment of individuals of other species. In 2013, together with Elena Brodskaya, Keith co-founded South Florida Vegan Education Group, a non-profit organization dedicated to public education on veganism, animal rights and ethics with the goals of abolishing all forms of animal exploitation and oppression, and eliminating the status of animals as chattel property. 

The SFVEG website is www.facebook.com/VeganEducationGroup

Presentation: Striking at the Root: Vegan Education as Activism
2:00 - 3:00 (smaller speaker room)

Via Skype: Michael Budkie

Michael is the co-founder and Executive Director of SAEN; Stop Animal Exploitation NOW!, which works exclusively on the animal experimentation issue by successfully terminating research projects, forcing the USDA to take legal action against laboratories, and coordinating release of animals into sanctuaries. He has been published and travels extensively, appearing on TV and radio programs to expose the truth about animal experimentation. SAEN is a non-profit (vegan, nonviolent) organization working towards the total liberation of animals from laboratories.

Presentation: The $14 Billion Hoax - Correcting the Myths and Combating the Propaganda. As taxpayers  and consumers, we have the right to know how our government is wasting millions on outdated animal research. Learn how these labs are squandering your hard-earned money, all the while making you believe that they are "well-regulated" and "humane" when nothing could be further from the truth. No graphic images or content. 
11:00 - 11:50 (smaller speaker room)

Eriyah Flynn 

Founder: Vegan Shift

Eriyah is a decorated USAF Desert Storm Era Veteran, with a 20+year career in Project/Operations Management in Logistics, Telecom, Legal/Law Enforcement, Health Care, and Renewable Energy Development in both government and private sectors. She was born and raised in Southern California and considered herself an environmentalist and animal lover.  However, she did not begin to make the vegan connection to be consistent with both values until 1996. Over the course of her experience with multiple social justice movements, she saw gaps in the vegan animal rights movement’s strategies and decided to apply her professional knowledge and expertise and two decades of seasoned vegan advocacy to develop and launch a new non-profit organization in 2014, www.VeganShift.org. Eriyah lives in a suburb of Columbus, Ohio.

Presentation: 3:05 - 4:00 (smaller speaker room) 

Vegan Verbal Aikido is shifting energy of negativity and rejection of veganism, by redirecting and inspiring non/pre-vegans into seriously considering and/or pursuing veganism. Using subtle, yet important, nuances in language and relational skills to compel people towards veganism while using unequivocal vegan messaging in our methodologies.  

Dr. Moses Seenarine 

Dr. Seenarine is a graduate of Columbia University and a former Assistant Professor at Hunter College, New York. He is a vegan father and activist, founder of Climate Change 911, and author of Meat Climate Change (2016). Dr. Seenarine has produced several documentaries on Marti Kheel and ecofeminism, sexism and carnism, food justice, and race and class in the animal rights movement. His work on gender, caste and migration has been cited by the FAO, UNESCO, Human Rights Watch, Anti-Slavery International, the Institute for the Study of Labor, World Council of Churches, and many others. 

Presentation: 10:00 - 10:55 (smaller speaker room)

Global warming is advancing rapidly, yet most businesses and the general public are operating as if nothing has changed. And governments are also not taking serious action to curb their national footprints. The good news is the adoption of plant-based diets can stop climate chaos! The bad news is that climate and food denial are major barriers. This presentation discusses the links between climate denial among the general public and denial among climate scientists and government officials regarding farmed animals and global warming. To avoid climate catastrophe, going plant-based is as important as adopting alternative energy to reduce planetary warming emissions.

Sally Sanders, MS. 

Sally is an advocate for animal rights and for the holistic benefits of a vegan lifestyle. She currently serves as a Humane Educator with the Ethical Choices Program, raising awareness of the environmental, health, and ethical impacts of animal agriculture. Her credentials include an MS degree in Science Education from Montana State University, and BS degree in Agriculture from the University of Florida. She has 20 years of experience as a secondary science teacher in Florida public schools and ten years of leadership with the state Department of Education, including serving as the state K-12 science curriculum specialist. She is certified as a Vegan Lifestyle Coach and Educator from the Mainstream Vegan Academy. 

Presentation: 4:05 - 5:00 (smaller speaker room)

Ethical Choices: Bringing Humane Education into the Classroom

M. Butterflies Katz

Butterflies; the organizer of the South Florida VeganFest, will have a few words mid day. As a vegan of nearly 38 years, she is an animal RIGHTS advocate, and a volunteer member of Gentle World for over three decades. She is the publisher of Why I will ALWAYS be vegan; 125 essays from around the world. She resides in New Zealand where she volunteers for Gentle World's educational center, teaching visitors from all over the world about vegan living and vegan-organic gardening. Butterflies maintains that we should take the vegan ethic as far as we are capable, to avoid all participation with and demand for animal exploitation. Visit her blog: Veganism: A Truth Whose Time has come.
Presentation: A few words somewhere between 12:00-1:00 (larger room)

Vegan Body-Building Presentation 

4:15 - 5:00
Korin Sutton, Torre Washington, Geoff Palmer

Torre Washington

Torre is a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) certified coach and six-time champion pro-competitive natural bodybuilder with pro cards in four distinct bodybuilding organizations. Raised vegetarian since birth and vegan since 1998, Torre built his physique entirely on a vegan diet without the aid of supplements. Torre’s training style focuses on physical symmetry and aesthetics, and has therefore become the most sought after vegan bodybuilder internationally. Torre Washington is the first vegan bodybuilder to be featured in GQ Magazine (March 2016). Torre advocates for veganism to his global fan base and brings awareness to the plight of animals as well as the need to heal mother earth through living the vegan lifestyle. He has been awarded the Humane Hero Award by the Florida Humane League in 2016 for his animal advocacy.

Korin Sutton

Korin Sutton served in the United States Marine Corps and U.S. Navy for a total of 8 years and deployed to OIF III and IV. He is a two-time Bodybuilding Pro Champion and a judge in ANBF and NGA, and won top 3 in total of 12 shows in different federations including NPC, INBF, and DFAC. He is the president of BodyHD Fitness. He's a Health Coach/ISSA Master Fitness Trainer with an AS Exercise Science. He is affiliated with (vegan) Clean Machine and Plant-Built Muscle Teams. Korin is founder of Vegan Live Fit, Speaker, and also a writer of Where Is The Protein Being Vegan? Korin has been vegan for 4 years speaking and educating for the speechless!

Geoff Palmer

Geoff Palmer, Champion Natural Vegan Bodybuilder

Geoffrey Palmer is the CEO and Founder of Clean Machine®, an all-natural, vegan sports nutrition company. Mr. Palmer is a 31 year vegan with over 25 years’ experience in the Natural Foods & Nutritional Supplements Industry with companies such as Whole Foods, The Vitamin Shoppe, 24 Hour Fitness, as well as several supplement and sports nutrition companies. Mr. Palmer is an author, lecturer, patent holder, natural and vegan products consultant, and Natural Bodybuilding and Natural Physique Champion in the Masters Class (50+).

Food Demo/Presentations

Evelisse Capó holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree and practices as a health and nutrition educator, lifestyle coach and vegan plant-based cooking instructor in Southwest Florida where she has resided since 2005. She completed a Bachelor's degree in Science at Purdue University and Pharm D. training at the Philadelphia College of Science. While practicing clinical pharmacy, she witnessed the pain and suffering of many cancer and heart disease patients in hospitals and long-term care institutions. After questioning the effectiveness of the conventional approach to treating chronic conditions, Evelisse switched to a eating a whole food vegan diet. She enjoys creating wholesome recipes inspired by her Puerto Rican roots with a vegan twist. Dr. Capó has completed continuing education in plant-based nutrition, including the eCornell T. Colin Campbell Plant-Based Certification, The Wellness Forum Certified Health Educator Program, and VEGEDINE Vegetarian Nutrition Training. Evelisse offers health coaching and “Plants over Pills” workshops through her consulting practice, The Food Pharmacy. She also teaches PCRM’s Food for Life Program, facilitates CHIP  (Complete Health Improvement Program), and is an instructor for the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies. Dr. Capó was also involved in the GEICO Workplace Nutrition Study coordinated by the Washington Center for Clinical Research. This research study provided evidence of the power of a low-fat plant based diet in managing diabetes and weight loss. Together with her husband and business partner Sig, Evelisse has raised their four vegan children with an understanding and love for healthy whole plant foods. As a family, they work together to bring awareness about the benefits of a plant-strong lifestyle for health, animal welfare, and the environment. For more information about Dr. Capo and the Food Pharmacy, check out her website www.thefoodpharmacy.com

Presentation: 10:00 - 11:00 (larger room, near stage)

Quick and Easy Vegan Meals

Brook Katz has been a vegan for over 30 years. He realized that talking to people about veganism was not enough and came to the conclusion that you can't just tell them, you have to show them. Brook became a chef in order to combine his message of science and food to the public. It's a lot easier to get people to change if they have something to replace what the think they are losing. Brook believes that once they understand the science and reasoning behind our anatomy's herbivorous design that the compassion and ethical side of veganism will also come through. It's all one package and the more you understand it, the easier it is to accomplish it. Brook has authored several cookbooks and has lectured worldwide on vegan topics. Come and join Brook from 10:00 to 11:00 as he turns the blandest substance on earth into sweet treats, savory dressings and sauces, and spicy chewy entrees all using the same basic ingredient.

Presentation: 10:00 - 11:00 (larger room, near kitchen)

100 and more things to do with TOFU - food demo and lecture