Mike I don't have a problem with all that you say, but I felt Cazz was being made to feel guilty about what she was doing, after having explained that she hoped to be able to promote veganism as part of it all when she could.

Reminds me of a time when World Environment Day festival up here needed a major sponsor every year, and it was really hard to find anyone. One year, Toyota offered to help as they had just produced the Prius and wanted some cred for this hybrid car that was the first here. So we thought it was good to encourage them for doing this, and accepted the sponsorship. (Plus no-one else put their hand up.) Anyway we then copped untold flak because of Toyota's other, less environmentally friendly involvements..

I don't like this Miss Earth thing for reasons I gave early on in this thread if you go back and read it, but Cazz did tell us what she hoped to do in this role, so I don't think we should hassle her personally about it.
And I have a right to this opinion too. You can ignore me! But I agree a general discussion about such events is open for all...I was just objecting to hassling her.

DH, I could be wrong- I assumed she would be paid..these jobs generally are.

I think if someone's got an issue, let's not bug cazzamanda...email the foundation - http://www.missearth.info/contact.php

That sounds like a good idea te3by.  Think I will suggest that perhaps being vegetarian - or better still vegan - should be a condition of entry and maybe the no.1 condition.

Edit.

Done!

Good one...that takes care of what was worrying me...hassling Cazz... instead go straight to the horse's mouth as it were. (metaphorically speaking of course!)

Who should we address the email to? The Queensland state organiser?

Contacting through the website will go to the head office, which is in the Phillipines I think, samalee.

I'm not sure that people should be expected to make their complaints or opinions/feedback heard about an Australian event/product or organisation to it's International HO. It would be common practice and reasonable to expect that the hosting body in Australia is welcoming this themselves.

This should not be a personal attack against cazzamanda...but as she is the Queensland State Organiser, then I would expect concerns and feedback about the event are best directed to her. Sorry for being a stick in the mud, but I work in event management and you don't start emailing the overseas body when you have contacts here. If The Queensland State Organiser was not responsive and not willing to take the feedback on board (which to Cazzamanda's credit she has been very willing) then you may consider such action.

I appreciate the attempt to tone the thread down, however Cazzamanda has advertised herself here as the Queensland State Organiser. That is the same as any event organiser or manager naming themselves here...feedback should be welcome, not discouraged, and if it is emotional and the feedback includes expression by people noting that they are offended then that is not against forum rules.

Are we heading to a 'nanny state' forum...sometimes I think so :0

It would seem that we're damned if we do and damned if we don't.

For what it's worth - my letter to the Philippines or wherever it went.

Hello

After reading the list of rules that young women must adhere to before becoming eligible to enter the Miss Earth competition, I was struck by the fact that nowhere was there a requirement to be vegetarian – but preferably vegan – as a condition of entry.  

This would be the single most important thing that anyone can do for the environment and to have all the contestants proudly stating that they were vegan would do far more for the cause than stipulating a dress size.

It would also give them the added edge of  being even more beautiful by knowing that they had played no part in any of the cruel practices employed in using animals for food.

Please give this serious consideration.  The girls can still plant a tree, of course, but dropping all animal products from their diet would have a much more profound effect.

Yours sincerely
etc

I was commenting on the  recommendations forum users had made, which I think tried to shut down a conversation that was not unreasonable or breaking the rules. I do think it is a shame if that happens. Look, I hardly post here anymore...I should make it less often ;)

Sorry I jumped to the wrong conclusion samalee, but after a few years one gets a little jumpy, believe me.

my reading of cazzamanda’s posts is that she is both a finalist in Miss Earth Australia and also the Queensland state organiser for Miss Earth Australia

good luck cazzamanda ... lets hope that you can get in the “v” word a couple of times in your coronation speech as hundreds of "Think you can be a meat-eating environmentalist? Think again!" leaflets float down on the audience

mike

Ok yes I am both a QLD state organiser and National Finalist. This is unpaid. I am working towards making the Australian organiser realise that eating meat is the biggest impact on the Earth. She has such a passion for the Earth but can't seem to see where I am coming from. But hopefully over the next few years there will be the inclusion that you must be at least vegetarian to enter.

And I plan on putting a "Think you can be a meat-eating environmentalist? Think again!" on every chair in the audience. And veganism will be mentioned alot in my speech.

Also as for all the requirements Maria the Australian organiser is pretty lenient. She is an amazing woman who's husband has terminal cancer and she has been dealing with that the last few years and still trying to run the pageant. And save the planet. She is beautiful and she makes all the contestants feel beautiful and it makes her cry when she gets those occasional girls who are only in it to be beauty queens. However the Internationl pageant is more strict so only a girl that meets those requirements will win.

Oh and I see everyones point about the bikini thing and objectifying women. Maria hates this part of it too but it must be included for our countries contestant to compete in the international. The bikini portion is held in a private venue and the only people who see the girls are the other contestants and four judges. Stops all the creeps just coming to the comp for a perve. The final night only includes evening gown and ball gown and best of talents and speech.

Any other questions and queries send my way I'm more than happy to answer them.

Hi i'm actually interested to join but not sure if i'm eligible since I'm 26 this year (from WA) otehrwise i would love to be part of the organising team or perhaps help in looking for WA representative. I have organised few pageants in the past and help with grooming representatives for pageants as well..anyone have any info? i have filled in the Contact section in the MEA website, not sure if there's a direct contact that i could use. the website is not updated n no info for the latest MEA 2010 as well or application forms

Permitted tiny rant of sarcasm....

Well that's me out, given birth, too old (34 is ancient), not single. Guess I'll stick to the not very glamorous job of promoting vegetarianism through leafletting, event organisation, workshops, articles and my business. Sorry I cannot be a dolly girl for the planet!

end sarcasm... back to usual programming.

Hey rumiko. Thanks for ur interest. Send an email through to Maria. She is the national organizer and she might be able to tell u a bit more about wat they need help with in wa. Her email is founder at missearth dot com dot au.