Rawganic
Rawganic is the creation of its founder, Swami, who has a passion for chocolate and a love of animals. Swami is a strong believer in The Universal Law Of Attraction, and decided to manifest and create a business that would combine her passion with her vegan ethics.
During October 2007, Swami did a 40 day raw challenge, and it was during this time that she first tasted raw chocolate. As a chocoholic with a daily habit, Swami couldn't believe she had stumbled across chocolate that tasted amazing, was vegan, and was good for her!
The seed was planted, and by November, Swami realised she could combine her love of chocolate with her cruelty-free lifestyle, and the embryonic stages of Rawganic began.
It took 9 months of recipe trials, taste testing and research before Rawganic chocolate made its arrival into the world, and on August 13, 2008, it celebrated its first home on the shelves of Mrs Flannery's Robina.
Rawganic is a business of passion and vision, and Swami plans to create a Rawganic empire, based on love, compassion and ethics.
Fair Trade
All the ingredients Swami purchases are sourced from businesses that practice fair trade. Ensuring fair trade practices helps promote sustainability, eliminate poverty and reduce child labour and abuse in developing countries. It helps to ensure that small farmers are not ruined by the practices of rich countries.
Charities
A percentage of the profits from the sale of Rawganic products will be donated to various ethical charities each month in an effort to help save the world's voiceless animals. Swami has chosen charities whose primary work involves helping abused, tortured and neglected animals, and those that support and promote a vegan lifestyle. As such, the following humane charities have been chosen:
January - Australian Orangutan Project
February - World Society for the Protection of Animals
March - Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
April - Edgar's Mission
May - Animal Liberation Queensland
June - Vegetarian & Vegan Society of Queensland
July - Australian Orangutan Project
August - World Society for the Protection of Animals
September - Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
October - Edgar's Mission
November - Animal Liberation QLD
December - Vegetarian & Vegan Society of Queensland
Mission Statements from each of the Charities (copied with permission):
Australian Orangutan Project
Our mission is to ensure the survival of both Sumatran and Bornean orangutan species in their natural habitat and promote the welfare of all orangutans.
World Society for the Protection of Animals
For 25 years, WSPA has aimed to promote the concept of animal welfare in regions of the world where there are few, if any, measures to protect animals.
Understanding that human ignorance is a major factor in the continuation of animal cruelty, WSPA's education programmes facilitate a change in people's attitudes towards animals, and their plight, for the better.
Our rescue teams provide direct help to animals that have been abandoned, neglected or caught up in natural or man-made disasters all over the globe.
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
Established in 1977, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) is an international non-profit, marine wildlife conservation organisation. Our mission is to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world's oceans in order to conserve and protect ecosystems and species.
Sea Shpeherd uses innovative direct-action tactics to investigate, document, and take action when necessary to expose and confront illegal activities on the high seas. By safeguarding the biodiversity of our delicately-balanced ocean ecosystems, Sea Shepherd works to ensure their survival for future generations.
Edgar's Mission
Edgar's Mission is a not for profit sanctuary for neglected, abused and discarded farm animals. Our outreach centre aims to expand the public's circle of compassion to include all animals.
Animal Liberation Queensland
Animal Liberation Queensland aims to contribute to the animal rights movement and to work towards a more practical and compassionate human worldwide.
Vegetarian & Vegan Society of Queensland
Our aim is to encourage vegetarianism as a healthy, humane and environmentally responsible way of life, and to offer support to vegetarians and vegans and to those wishing to make the change.
Why vegan?
As a compassionate vegetarian from an early age, Swami only discovered the atrocities of the dairy industry in early 2006, and from that day on, chose to no longer consume dairy products or wear leather, wool or silk.
Swami loves animals and is horrified that billions of innocent animals are unnecessarily tortured every year to satisfy people's tastebuds, fashion ideals and vanity.
Swami's dream is to create a sanctuary for abused, neglected and unwanted animals, and to reduce the suffering of these beautiful, sentient creatures.
"To my mind, the life of a lamb is no less precious than that of a human being. I should be unwilling to take the life of a lamb for the sake of the human body."
~Mahatma Gandhi
"Would you kill your pet dog or cat to eat it? How about an animal you're not emotionally attached to? Is the thought of slaughtering a cow or chicken or pig with your own hands too much to handle? Instead, would hiring a hit-man to do the job give you enough distance from the emotional discomfort? What animal did you put a contract out on for your supper last night? Did you at least make sure that none went to waste and to take a moment to be grateful for its sacrifice?"
~Anonymous
"You have just dined, and however scrupulously the slaughterhouse is concealed in the graceful distance of miles, there is complicity."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson