If you are Canadian and able to vote in the upcoming election, it might be of interest to you to know that one of our contributors, David J. Parker, is a candidate for the Green Party in Edmonton Central. A 20 year veteran of the Green Party and environmental activism, David has been a vegetarian since 1987, a vegan since 1997, and wrote about his vegan genesis in the last issue of T.O.F.U. Magazine.

Whether or not you’re able to or interested in voting for David, however, please do vote. We are a notoriously apathetic country when it comes to our own political system, but change doesn’t happen on it’s own. There is always the risk that things may make a turn for the worse, but there is also the certitude that things will not improve unless we act. In the end, it is up to each of us to not only be the change we want to see in the world, but also to push for that change. Voting in a flawed system might not be the perfect solution, but it can be a step in the right direction.

All bad jokes aside, David J. Parker and the folks at the Vegans & Vegetarians of Alberta Association have put some serious work into spreading the word about being veg, and the results have been great. Luckily, along with putting so much time and effort into VofA and his work with the Green Party here in Canada, David was kind enough to contribute “A Veggieman’s Journey” to the last issue of the magazine.

Recently, we also got a few answers from him to fill in the story a little more.

Green Party | VofA

In one word, why are you vegan?
Once I learned how animals affect my health and the environment, and even later how they are treated, I wonder how I stayed omnivorous for the first 40 years.

How long have you been vegan?
We went to the North American Vegan Society annual conference in Olympia, Washington in about 1997 and came back vegan.

Who would win in a fight: Quinoa or Couscous?
I eschew allusions to conflict and combat – anyway, variety is the spice of life.

Would you prefer to lead a revolution or to live quietly in the woods?
I like to think that every day I participate in a revolution. Leaders are a bore, and I’m too soft for the back woods.

If there is a revolution, will it be televised or a Facebook event?
To repeat, we are in the revolution, but it won’t be acknowledged until it is over.

Favourite vegan thing in your town:
Padmanadi Restaurant weekend buffets