What is Veganism?

The internationally recognized definition of veganism comes from the Vegan Society:

Veganism is a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose.

This means vegans don’t eat any animal products (flesh, dairy, eggs, bee products). We also don’t wear animals, so we avoid leather, wool, fur, silk, and down. We don’t support or participate in animal exploitation for entertainment, such as marine parks, zoos, circuses, rodeos, elephant/horse/camel/donkey riding, aquariums, etc.

We don’t buy cosmetics, toiletries, household products, etc, that contain animal ingredients or have been tested on animals.
We also don’t support the breeding of animals for “pets”, instead, we adopt animals from shelters and give them a loving home for life as companions.

We’d like to add this line from Evolve Campaigns U.K to the definition of veganism:

Veganism is the rejection of speciesism and human supremacy in mind, heart, and action.

Why Vegan?

Because, as our tagline says “Going vegan is not the most we can do, it’s the least we can do!”

That means, not paying for the needless exploitation of and violence towards animals so we can enjoy a sandwich, for example, is the least we can do. Choosing vegan options for meat, dairy, eggs, and honey to avoid the needless exploitation and killing of innocent beings, is the least we can do.

Animals are sentient beings. They have families, just like us. They have feelings, just like us. They avoid pain, just like us. They seek love and joy, just like us.

All of the animal exploiting industries cause immense pain and suffering to animals. Many of these animals are bred into existence solely for the purpose of being slaughtered or exploited.

They are denied the basic right and freedom to live their lives as they choose to.

In the food and clothing industries, animals are enslaved, confined, mutilated, violated, and ultimately slaughtered against their will.

The only reason this happens, is because there is a market for it. When consumers demand these products, industry responds and produces them. That’s very powerful because it means consumers can also help to start to end this violence by not buying animal products, and instead creating demand for vegan products.

It’s important for consumers to know that it makes no difference what kind of farm animals are raised on. Labels such as cage-free, free-range, local, sustainable, antibiotic-free, hormone-free, organic, grass-fed, humane etc, are designed by industry to make consumers feel good about their bad habits.

But the truth is that all animals, irrespective of the type of farm they are raised on, end up in the same place – a slaughterhouse. They are all terrified when they’re forced to walk to their death, and they all suffer the same violent fate.

It’s cruel and totally unnecessary, especially considering the abundance of vegan options for food, clothing, personal and household products, etc.

We urge you to click here to learn more about why veganism is important.

Of course what we eat also affects us. Our leading causes of death, including heart disease, type 2 Diabetes, and some forms of cancer, have been scientifically linked to eating animal products.

The good news is that many of these devastating diseases can be prevented, treated, and in some cases even reversed, with a change in diet. So not only does living vegan save animal lives, but it can also save human lives.

You can learn more by watching What the Health here (or on Netflix), and you can check the facts in the film here. After watching What the Health, see this helpful video we made of our tips for what to eat and how to go vegan.

Of course what we eat also affects us. Our leading causes of death, including heart disease, type 2 Diabetes, and some forms of cancer, have been scientifically linked to eating animal products.

The good news is that many of these devastating diseases can be prevented, treated, and in some cases even reversed, with a change in diet. So not only does living vegan save animal lives, but it also saves human lives.

You can learn more by watching What the Health here (or on Netflix), and you can check the facts in the film here. After watching What the Health, see this helpful video we made of our tips for what to eat and how to go vegan.

What we eat also affects the planet we all live on. Animal agriculture is one of the leading causes of environmental destruction and produces more greenhouse gas emissions than the entire transport sector!

It’s also the largest user and polluter of fresh water. The environmentally devastating facts behind meat, dairy, and egg products will make any consumer think twice about what kind of planet we are passing onto the next generation.

You can learn more by watching Cowspiracy here (or on Netflix), and you can check the facts in the film here.

You have nothing to lose by eating a vegan diet, so why not join Challenge 22? It’s a free, online, mentoring program to help people transition to a vegan diet.

You’ll have personal guidance from a mentor, access to a dietitian, as well as resources and recipes.
It takes about 21 days to change a habit, so by day 22 you’ll be feeling very confident!

So why not get free help to transition? It’s better for you, the planet and, of course, our animal friends.

You have nothing to lose by trying a vegan diet, so why not join Challenge 22? It’s a free, online, mentoring program to help people transition to a vegan diet.

You’ll have personal guidance from mentors and dietitians, as well as resources and recipes.
It takes about 21 days to change a habit, so by day 22, you’ll be feeling very confident!

So why not try it out? It’s better for you, the planet and, of course, our animal friends.

Activism

Not participating in the needless exploitation of and violence towards non-human animals by living vegan is a great first step in a society where eating, wearing, and using non-human animals is considered normal, natural, and necessary. However, if we saw someone needlessly beating a dog would it be enough to simply not participate?

Or would we think it necessary to take some form of action to try to stop the needless violence towards the dog? If so, to be morally consistent, we must think likewise with respect to the ongoing needless exploitation of and violence towards other non-human animals. Although non-human animals do resist their oppression every day, because of the clever and pervasive deception of industries that exploit and kill them, as well as our culture's dominant ideologies of speciesism and carnism, we must act in solidarity with non-human animals and help educate other people about why it’s unnecessary to exploit and kill them, and why it therefore cannot be morally justified. We need to use our heads, hearts, and hands to help other people understand that non-human animals are here with us, not for us. We need to show people

the truth that industries deliberately keep hidden, and we need to give them resources to help them transition away from the needless exploitation of and violence towards non-human animals. Taking action for non-human animals, in any way, is also empowering and helps to counter the challenges of living in a speciesist and carnist culture.

How To Get Active?

The number of ways to take action for non-human animals is endless. We encourage people to start by simply thinking about how they can utilize their existing skills and interests in some way.

Click on these links to find out more about the leading grassroots animal rights activist groups. You can find a chapter in your area via their respective websites, or by sending them an enquiry. If there isn’t a chapter in your area, there is information on how to start one on most of their respective websites, where you can also contact them for support if needed.

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What is Veganism?

Why Vegan?

Activism

How To Get Active?

Animal Save Movement

Anonymous for the Voiceless

The Earthlings Experience

Direct Action Everywhere

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