Dannette Lambert

For quite some time now, your International Love Cafe has been serving fine food and in donating profits to help affected by Jadugoda Uranium Mine in India. For those who don't know it could describe the cafe and say something about how you got the inspiration for it? It was at my friend Diane's house. We had all gotten together for a vegan potluck and I mentioned that I would love to have a restaurant, but just for a weekend. The inspiration really stemmed more from laziness, or a desire to see a dream come true without going through the years of hard work and toil that seeing a dream to fruition generally takes.

It was Diane who figured out how to make the love cafe a reality. Then, another friend, Caroline joined in and the three of us worked out the details with ample help from other friends.

What kinds of food do you serve?

The ILC is completely vegan, using no animal products. Outside of that we've also tried to explore cuisines from around the world.

The dishes you serve are certainly delightful. How did you learn to cook?

Initially, from my mother, I was often responsible for making dinner for my family, but that was when I still ate meat. When I was in college I started dating a vegan and learned a lot from him. From there I just tried out recipes that sounded good to me and watched what other people did. I've been lucky enough to know some really good cooks and once you learn the basics you just adjust it for your own taste.

Which International Love Cafe events have been most memorable or enjoyable for you?

The first Love Cafe back in May 2003, was probably the most memorable because it was the largest. It attracted the largest number of people and raised the most money. We were all pretty much expecting to take a loss, but in the end we raised ¥200,000.

My most memorable moment from a personal perspective came at the end of the first Love Cafe at Koba. A few friends and Koba staffers were lingering after having finished their meal. I was washing up in the kitchen and became enchanted by the murmur of their speaking and laughter. These were all people that I loved, and I felt so content to know that my food was fueling their conversation and would continue to fuel their day. I suddenly felt that I knew the satisfaction of a mother who had just fed her brood. It was a feeling of incredible satisfaction. It's a feeling I've tried to replicate at every Love Cafe.

Could you say something about your background? Where are you from? What were you doing before you came to Hiroshima?

I grew up in Tacoma, Washington and went to Howard University in Washington, DC, where I majored in Anthropology and minored in Photography. Prior to coming to Japan I was working as an osteological photographer, photographing skeletal remains for the New York African Burial Ground Project at Howard.

Not everyone is willing to devote so much time and effort to helping others. Where does your caring side, your compassion come from?

I grew up in a relatively poor family and things were often very hard for us. Out of my entire family I am the only one to have attended university. My life is so wonderful now and I feel that I have received a great privilege. Simultaneously, I know that there were so many people who helped me along the way, sometimes in ways they didn't even intend. Sometimes it just meant receiving a kind word on a bad day, but whatever it was it helped me to get to where I am. If I can do the same for even one person then I will be happy.

Besides the fact that I do believe in karma, or the idea that what you put out into the world you will get back. I've received so much positive energy in my life that I have a responsibility to give some of that back or run the risk of tipping the scales in the opposite direction.

Finally, I have to say that it also has to do with being surrounded by so many amazing people doing their own projects and helping to make the world a more enjoyable place. Sometimes I feel like I'm just playing catch up.

On February 13th the International Love Cafe will be raising funds for a rehabilitation center for children affected by Jadugoda Uranium Mine. Could you say something about that project?

This project has been ongoing for a few years now. It is based through the Buddha Weeps Foundation, which has ties to the Global Peacemakers Association, an anti-nuclear group that develops peace missions between Japan and India and Pakistan of which I am a member. The project was inspired by the documentary The Buddha Weeps in Jadughoda by director Shri Prakesh. The rehabilitation center will be used for children in the village who have been affected by radiation exposure. It will also function as a school, a museum for the Adivassis people and a guesthouse. Although we have been working on this project for a while, lack of funds has slowed the pace of construction. At this point the center is less than half finished.

Apart from watching the film and feasting at the cafe are there other ways to support people in Jadughoda?

In March we are starting Charity English Classes to further raise money for the rehabilitation center. We are currently looking for students and teachers for those classes. They will be held every Sunday from 2-3pm. Anyone interested in attending or teaching the class should get in contact with me.

Do you have any other project or plans for 2005?

Beside the charity classes, I will also be visiting the village again this summer. In April I am planning a month of events as a fundraiser for GetHiroshima to help them with their current legal battle. More information concerning that situation will be available in the March edition of PEACE. On top of that I am tentatively planning a few photo exhibitions this year, but I'm not sure about the details of that yet.

Thanks very much for taking the time to talk with us.

The next International Love cafe takes place on Sunday, Feb 13 at Koba. Click here for more details.