David Román

My name is David Román and I live in Alcoy, a small town on the eastern side of Spain, surrounded by mountains and a pioneering centre of spanish vegetarianism in history. Born in 1967, I've been vegetarian since 1989, and a vegan since 1997. In this time, I have become increasingly involved in the vegetarian cause, not only in my country, also in other nations.

I work as a full time computer technician for our public health service, which has enabled much of my capabilities for working with the internet. My private life is now devoted to raising a wonderful vegan child together with my partner Estrella, who has always supported me in all the activities I've been involved with. The remaining time (not as much as would be desired) is spent in running our local veg society, writing articles, giving talks and interviews, composing and editing magazines, collaborating with several other groups and writing books.

My involvement with IVU began as a translator, and since 1998 maintaining the webpages of spanish-speaking groups and all the translated materials, making spanish the second most used language on the overall website. Being entitled as deputy webmaster in 2002, I'll do my best to back up the work of John Davis and keep on helping in every possible way.

Apart from veg*anism, other personal interests include natural parenting, organic gardening, music and films, and running (best personal record in half-marathon: 1 hour 29 min).

Here is a non-comprehensive list of links and activities - so far.

• Spanish Vegetarian Union (UVE) - promoter and current president
• Spanish Vegan Society (AVE) - webmaster and active member
• Sociedad Naturista Vegetariana de Alcoy - the vegetarian society in our town
• Vegania - our local project for promoting natural, healthy lifestyles
• European Vegetarian Union (EVU) - internet team member
• Unión Vegetariana Argentina (UVA) - helped to create this veg society from Argentina, initially designed their website and regularly contribute to their quarterly magazine with articles
• Coordinadora de Higiene Vital - Natural Hygiene group in Spain, and a former IVU member - webmaster, composing and printing their magazine
• Also supported the creation of other veg groups in Latin America (Chile, Uruguay) and Ceuta (a north-african spanish city)

Materials in english:

• Fasting according to the principles of the Natural Hygiene system (World Vegetarian Congress, Thailand, 1999) - transcription of the talk given by Arne Winqvist
• A personal "Tour de France" - the vegan way - a descripion of a journey through France (August 2001)
• Contribution to the book Vegetarian Europe, edited by Alex Bourke (Vegetarian Guides) - a guide to vegetarian restaurants all over Europe
• Contribution to the book Vegan Stories, edited by Julie Rosenfield

Materials in spanish:

• La Dieta Ética (The Ethical Diet) - author, the first in-depth book on veganism published in spanish - distributed throughout Spain, Latin America and the USA (thanks to PETA)
• Leche que no has de beber (Milk you will not drink) - author, a comprehensive work of documentation about the problems linked to the consumption of dairy products, with lots of scientific references. Foreword by Dr. Neal Barnard (from the PCRM)
• ¿Lácteos? ...no, gracias (Dairy? ...no, thanks) - a compilation of texts on the subject of milk-related concerns
• Ganadería Industrial y Medio Ambiente - translator of the report "Factory Farming and the Environment" from Compassion in World Farming (also in Acrobat Reader format)
• Article - "El Veganismo" at Mundo Vegetariano (April 2000)
• Interview at Mundo Vegetariano (February 2001)
• Interview at Sólo Vegetales (June 2001)
• Article - "Mis razones para no consumir productos lácteos" (My own reasons for quitting dairy products) (April 2002)
• "Guía de Iniciación Vegetariana" - translation of the Vegetarian Starter Kit from Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (May 2002)
• Prologue to the book "Historia del vegetarianismo: desde Adán y Eva al siglo XXI", by Ana Moreno - a book on history of vegetarianism for spanish people (July 2002)