| by miow-miow3 for everyone |
VSS eNewsletter 6 Nov 2006
Interview with Designer-Distributor of “Love Us, Not Eat Us” Sticker
Editor’s Note: T Y Lee is a Singapore vegetarian who came up with a great idea for spreading the word about going veg to help our fellow animals. T Y conceptualized, designed and printed the colourful decal that you can view and order at http://www.loveusnoteatus.com.
The design juxtaposes non-human animals who we often eat with ones who we often bring into our lives as companions. Via this juxtaposition, T Y challenges meat eaters to ask themselves why they treat some of our fellow animals so nicely while treating others so cruelly by subjecting them to factory farming and an early death .
Below is an online interview with T Y.
1. How long have you been a vegetarian?
Not long at all, just coming to two years.
2. Did you go veg overnight, or was it a longer process? What is your favourite vegetarian dish?
It was very much of an overnight thing. Once I made up my mind to become vegetarian, it took me just a few days to get over not eating animals. I like Indian vegetarian food, in particular the dry and spicy Potato Masala.
3. What gave you the idea for the sticker?
Shortly after I became vegetarian, I thought it would be nice to have some kind of decal to stick on my car to promote vegetarianism but I couldn't find any nice ones. Therefore I decided to make my own! I figured that there are also many other vegetarians that would like something like this, so I decided to produce and distribute them for free.
The idea came from the irrational thinking of most people that while they agree it is cruel to eat dogs and cats, it is okay to eat, for example, cows and pigs. People are conditioned to think in this way from a very young age. By mixing 'food' and 'non-food' animals together in the design of the decal and showing how lovable all these animals are, the intention is to break down this kind of conditioning. I hope that the design and the positive and direct slogan, will enable more people to see and realize the truth of meat-eating.
4. Have you ever had any pets/companion animals?
Yes, I have two cats. I love cats!
5. How big was the original sticker? Why did you start making the smaller size? Which size is more popular? Why?
The original was a car decal about 32cm in length. The new version is slightly more compact at about 30cm long. There is also a sticker which is 20cm long. The car decals seem to be more popular in places like Europe, Australia and the USA. The stickers seem to be more popular here in Singapore and the Asian region.
6. How do you promote the sticker?
Mainly through my website: www.loveusnoteatus.com. I also use Google Adwords, which enables me to reach out to people in countries all over the world. I now get many requests from people who have told me that they have either seen the decal on a car or a sticker around somewhere
7. To date, how many have been sent out?
I really don't keep track of any numbers but I think they number in the tens of thousands.
8. In what languages is the sticker available?
Right now in English and Chinese as far as I know. I have made the design free from copyright so that anyone can reproduce and translate the decals if they wish to do so.
9. To how many countries has the sticker been sent?
As of now, to more than 40 countries all over the world.
10. What are your favourite stories about people's reactions to the sticker?
I've been told more than once that cats and dogs should not be included in the design as people don't usually eat them. I just ask them to think about why they are included, and quite often the reason dawns on them as if they have suddenly become enlightened. I have also received more than a few letters from people telling me that they have decided to become vegetarian after seeing the decals!
What is really satisfying is the positive response from people all over the world. I have had people from diverse places like Bulgaria and Bhutan, Cyprus and Chile, Finland and Mauritius and Latvia, South Africa and Sweden, etc. writing to me requesting for the stickers and telling me how much they like it. This kind of international reaction and popularity is truly way beyond what I could ever have expected when I first started this project.
11. Do you have any plans for other stickers or other projects?
No plans now, but I'll be open to any new ideas that will help promote or create more awareness of vegetarianism and animal rights.
