– Ahmed Labban poziva na veganstvo i najavljuje 18. ZeGeVege festival

U Zagrebu i Puli osvanuli su jumbo plakati s profesionalnim MMA borcem Ahmedom Labbanom, zaštitnim licem 18. ZeGeVege festivala održivog življenja. S vizuala snažno odjekuje poruka „Veganstvo je borba za pravedniji svijet”, kojom Labban povezuje svoju profesionalnu borilačku karijeru sa suosjećanjem prema životinjama i zalaganjem za pravednije društvo. 

Snažni trebaju štititi najranjivije

Ahmed Labban profesionalni je MMA borac libanonskog podrijetla koji već godinama živi i trenira u Hrvatskoj. Veganstvo je odabrao prvenstveno zbog životinja, smatrajući da se prava snaga ne pokazuje iskorištavanjem onih koji su slabiji, nego njihovom zaštitom.„Za mene snaga ne znači mogućnost da povrijedimo slabije od sebe. Upravo suprotno: ako smo snažni, imamo odgovornost štititi najranjivije. Životinje osjećaju bol i strah te žele živjeti jednako kao i mi. Zato je veganstvo za mene borba za pravedniji svijet”, poručuje Labban.

Dodaje da se prelazak na vegansku prehranu pozitivno odrazio na njegove sportske rezultate. Raznolika prehrana koja uključuje mahunarke, žitarice, povrće, voće, orašaste plodove, sjemenke te biljno meso i biljne mliječne proizvode osigurava mu energiju potrebnu za intenzivne treninge, dok mu kvalitetno planiranje veganskih obroka pomaže u oporavku između treninga i borbi.

Profesionalni MMA borac tako pokazuje da se vrhunska snaga, izdržljivost i mišićna masa mogu graditi bez iskorištavanja i ubijanja životinja. Njegov primjer jasno pokazuje da je veganska prehrana dobra za sve pa i za ljude izložene velikim fizičkim naporima. Mnogi profesionalni sportaši biraju biljne proteine i vegansku prehranu upravo zbog lakšeg postizanja zadanog im cilja.

Veganska sarma, curry od slanutka i ljubav prema kuhanju

Ahmed Labban ističe da jako voli isprobavati hrvatska jela i otkrivati kako se tradicionalni recepti mogu pripremiti u ukusnim biljnim verzijama: „Volim upoznavati hrvatsku kuhinju i isprobavati tradicionalna jela pripremljena na veganski način. Posebno mi je draga veganska sarma, a i sam često kuham te istražujem nove okuse i recepte”, kaže Labban.

Osim službenog sportskog profila @ahmedlabban, vodi i Instagram-profil @i.love.food96, na kojem objavljuje videorecepte za raznovrsna veganska jela. Među njima su tikka masala, kremasti curry od mrkve, veganski kebab i biljna verzija bliskoistočnog namaza labneh.

Slična raznovrsna jela posjetitelji će moći kušati i na ovogodišnjem ZeGeVege festivalu. Organizatori, Prijatelji životinja, pozivaju sve da na ZeGeVegeu isprobaju bogatstva novih okusa, kultura i načina pripreme hrane. ZeGeVege festival održat će se od 4. do 6. rujna 2026. godine na Europskom trgu u Zagrebu.

ZeGeVege festival već 18 godina mijenja navike

Iz udruge Prijatelji životinja navode da su Ahmeda odabrali za zaštitno lice kampanje zato što svojim životnim primjerom spaja snagu, disciplinu, suosjećanje i odgovornost. „Sloganom kampanje zajedno pozivamo na pravedniji svijet, odnosno svijet s manje patnje životinja, zagađenja, klimatskih promjena i gladi u svijetu budući da je veganska prehrana jedan od najizravnijih načina na koji kao pojedinci svakodnevno možemo povoljno utjecati na sve navedeno”.

„Jednostavnim svakodnevnim izborima svatko može doprinijeti suosjećajnijem, održivijem i pravednijem društvu”, zaključuje Ahmed.

ZeGeVege festival i ove će godine trajati tri dana i simbolično proslaviti svoju punoljetnost. Posjetitelji će moći upoznati velik broj domaćih i inozemnih izlagača, kušati raznovrsna veganska jela, poslušati razgovore na pozornici s osobama koji prakticiraju odživi način života i upoznati se s praktičnim načinima održivijeg i suosjećajnijeg življenja.

Više informacija dostupno je na www.prijatelji-zivotinja.hr.

Prijatelji životinja zahvaljuju Ahmedu Labbanu i fotografkinji Niki Paus na suradnji.

 

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Professional Vegan MMA Fighter Featured on Billboards

“Veganism is a fight for a more just world”

– Ahmed Labban promotes veganism and announces the 18th ZeGeVeGe Festival

Billboards featuring professional MMA fighter Ahmed Labban, the face of the 18th ZeGeVeGe Festival of Sustainable Living, have appeared in Zagreb and Pula. The powerful message “Veganism is a fight for a more just world” connects Labban’s professional fighting career with compassion for animals and his commitment to a more just society.

The strong should protect the most vulnerable

Ahmed Labban is a professional MMA fighter of Lebanese origin who has lived and trained in Croatia for several years. He chose veganism primarily for the animals, believing that true strength is not demonstrated by exploiting those who are weaker, but by protecting them.

“For me, strength does not mean having the ability to hurt those who are weaker than us. Quite the opposite: if we are strong, we have a responsibility to protect the most vulnerable. Animals feel pain and fear, and they want to live just as we do. That is why, for me, veganism is a fight for a more just world,” says Labban.

He adds that switching to a vegan diet has had a positive impact on his athletic performance. A varied diet that includes legumes, grains, vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, plant-based meat and dairy alternatives provides him with the energy needed for intensive training, while carefully planned vegan meals support his recovery between training sessions and fights.

The professional MMA fighter demonstrates that outstanding strength, endurance and muscle mass can be developed without exploiting and killing animals. His example clearly shows that a vegan diet is suitable for everyone, including people exposed to intense physical exertion. Many professional athletes choose plant-based proteins and a vegan diet because it helps them achieve their goals more easily.

Vegan sarma, chickpea curry and a love of cooking

Ahmed Labban says that he greatly enjoys discovering Croatian dishes and exploring how traditional recipes can be prepared in delicious plant-based versions.

“I love getting to know Croatian cuisine and trying traditional dishes prepared in a vegan way. I particularly enjoy vegan sarma, and I often cook myself, experimenting with new flavours and recipes,” says Labban.

In addition to his official sports profile, @ahmedlabban, he also runs the Instagram account @i.love.food96, where he shares video recipes for a variety of vegan dishes. These include tikka masala, creamy carrot curry, vegan doner kebab and a plant-based version of the Middle Eastern spread labneh.

Visitors will be able to try similarly diverse dishes at this year’s ZeGeVeGe Festival. The organisers, Animal Friends Croatia, invite everyone to discover a wealth of new flavours, cultures and approaches to food preparation at ZeGeVeGe. The festival will take place from 4 to 6 September 2026 at European Square in Zagreb.

ZeGeVeGe has been changing habits for 18 years

Animal Friends Croatia states that Ahmed was chosen as the face of the campaign because his personal example brings together strength, discipline, compassion and responsibility.

“Through the campaign slogan, we are jointly calling for a more just world: a world with less animal suffering, pollution, climate change and global hunger. A vegan diet is one of the most direct ways in which individuals can have a positive daily impact on all of these issues.”

“Through simple everyday choices, everyone can contribute to a more compassionate, sustainable and more just society,” Ahmed concludes.

This year, the ZeGeVeGe Festival will once again last for three days and symbolically celebrate its coming of age. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet numerous exhibitors from Croatia and abroad, taste a wide variety of vegan dishes, listen to stage discussions with people who practise sustainable living, and learn about practical ways to live more sustainably and compassionately.

More information is available at www.prijatelji-zivotinja.hr.

Animal Friends Croatia thanks Ahmed Labban and photographer Nika Paus for their cooperation.