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A vegan Jerseyman will be allowed to continue with his 'graffiti', following a dispute with a park keeper over a message deemed to be udderly "offensive."
Blighting buildings, walls, and the Island’s bunkers, graffiti is notorious for being a source of smut and unsavoury sayings. But Paul Miller decided to hijack the idea, using chalk to spread his vegan word through Jersey parks.
He was inspired to start leaving chalk messages in St Andrew’s Park after spotting the success of the #VeganChalkChallenge in promoting the animal product-free lifestyle in the UK and United States.
Mr Miller says he was drawn to the initiative, “…because it engages [vegans] with members of the public in a friendly, compassionate, and loving way that helps to break down the myth that all vegans like to ram their view down others’ throats.”
With an aim of exposing the, “…disconnect between animals and the food that you find on shop shelves”, Mr Miller took to the First Tower-based grounds to spread colourful slogans, including, “Choose compassion, go vegan” and “Take the steps to kindness.”
Responses were positive, he said, and encouraged “discussions with passers-by based on their initial intrigue as to why an adult would be out using children’s chalk in a public place.”
But some of the markings were not as well-received.
Pictured: A slightly more tongue-in-cheek note.
One such engraving – a drawing of an udder alongside “if you had to suck them, you’d drink almond milk” – riled a park keeper, who told Mr Miller that he was offended by the message.
“I assured him that if it were to rain that the chalks would wash away… However, as I walked around the park I noticed that he was walking around with a brush and a bucket of water, scrubbing three of the 25 chalkings I’d completed.”
“I asked him what was offensive and his reply was, “...your messages about milk not being for humans and that meat shouldn't be eaten by humans offended me.” This provided me with the opportunity to chat to him in a compassionate way, taking into account his views,” Mr Miller commented.
“It also offered him an alternative view in a kind way especially seeing as he had grown up in the farming industry and he believed that chalking couldn't make a difference.”
Pictured: The "offensive" message in question.
Despite this debate, Tony Andrews, Director of Parks for the Parish of St Helier, said that after visiting the parks yesterday morning, he decided that future messages could stay.
“It did bring a smile to my face with the simple messages and sketches. I have let the park keeper know that it will be alright to leave these in place for now, as you may appreciate we get all sorts of slogans in parks and they are not all as humorous as these,” Mr Andrews commented.
“I am interested in seeing what sort of feedback we get, as I am sure there will be questions especially from youngsters who may wish to know what a vegan is.”
Pictured: St Helier Parks Director Tony Andrews said that vegan chalk scribblings would not suffer the same fate - to be hosed away - in future.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Department for Infrastructure, which manages the other key Island parks including Howard Davis, said that, “If we were approached, we would give consideration to the proposal.”
The news will be moo-sic to the ears of Mr Miller, who wants to continue the practice elsewhere alongside other Jersey vegans.
“We are hoping to take our messages of loving kindness and compassion all over the Island because we feel that in the last two-year there really has been a shift in views about alternative lifestyle and eating habits.”
Pictured: Mr Miller hopes that his inspirational notes will help islanders 'take the step' into a new animal product-free lifestyle.
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