The Eleventh Annual International Compassionate Living Festival, sponsored by The Culture and Animals Foundation, will be held on Friday, October 4 through Sunday, October 6th at the Holiday Inn Downtown-State Capital, 320 Hillsborough Street in Raleigh. This is always an informative and exciting event, and I hope many people in the community can attend.

Speakers will include Registered Dietitian and author, George Eisman, who will discuss the benefits of a vegan diet; The Reverand Gary Kowalski, author of The Souls of Animals; Dale Riffle, founder of PIGS, a sanctuary, home for thousands of pot-bellied pigs, and spokesperson for farm animals; Vicki and Tony Moore, who have exposed, through videotape and photographs, the live animal exports in England and abuse of animals in Spanish bullfights and fiestas; as well as many other authors, philosophers, and scholars. Back by popular demand will be storyteller and Professor Lois Flynn whose personal tales delighted and moved last year's audience.

The keynote address will be delivered by Captain Paul Watson, founder and director of the Sea Shepherd Society, whose direct action has saved the lives of tens of thousands of marine animals. The conference is worth attending just to hear him speak; I was quite moved when I had the great fortune to hear him give a keynote talk at an animal rights banquet I attended in Tucson this past March (see the previous Grapevine).

On Saturday, there will be a vegan lunch and dinner. I was delighted to be asked to coordinate the dinner, and have planned a wide variety of scrumptious middle eastern dishes.

Founded in 1985 by Dr. Tom Regan, The Culture and Animals Foundation is a nonprofit, cultural organization committed to fostering the growth of intellectual and artistic endeavors by providing grants to promote research, creativity, and performance. For additional information, please contact CAF at 3509 Eden Croft Drive in Raleigh (27612), 782-3739.