International Vegetarian Union
The International Vegetarian Union (IVU) is a non-profit organization with the aim of promoting vegetarianism worldwide. It was founded on August 18, 1908 during the first World Vegetarian Congress in Dresden . The idea for IVU came from the French Vegetarian Society; the first congress was organized at the international level by the British Society and locally by the Dresden Society with the support of the Vegetarian Association Germany . Since then there have been a number of congresses taking place all over the world.
IVU is run exclusively by vegetarians. Every individual, family or organization that supports IVU's goals and objectives can be a sponsor of IVU, regardless of whether they are vegetarian or not.
To promote vegetarianism, the following points are pursued:
- To encourage the establishment of local, regional and national groups and to support their cooperation with one another.
- To stimulate both world and regional congresses to bring the vegetarian idea to the public and to give vegetarians the opportunity to exchange ideas.
- Raising funds to support local and regional groups where needed.
- To promote research on all aspects of vegetarianism and the collection and publication on vegetarianism in all types of media by IVU itself and all of its member societies.
- To represent vegetarianism in the responsible bodies internationally and to speak for vegetarians worldwide.
Activities are regulated by the General Assembly held at every World Congress. Between the congresses, the International Council, whose members are elected at each congress, is responsible for day-to-day operations at IVU.
The Union has been celebrating World Vegetarian Day since the late 1970s and has since been adopted by numerous initiatives and associations around the world.