Introduction
Veganism has risen substantially since 2014 and has gone more mainstream than ever. I am an 18 years old college student who has been vegan for a year and a half. During that time, I have begun working for PETA and Challenge 22+ as well as becoming a vegan mentor. During the time that I have been vegan I have learned so much not only about food but also about how every action I take effects someone else either negatively or positively. Veganism is a lifestyle and a movement where millions of people make the decisions to minimize the negative impact they inflict on the world and maximize the positive impact that they leave on the world.
Vegan vs. plant based
According to google vegan is “a person who does not eat or use animal products” and according to Wikipedia veganism is “the practice of abstaining from the use of animal products, particularly in diet, and an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals.” In both definitions, they put a heavy focus on the treatment of animals while being vegan, but they do not tell you that there is a difference between being plant-based and being vegan. Plant-based is someone who does not eat or use animal products mostly for their health, however, they have no or very little connection to the vegan movement. Vegan is someone who does not eat, use, or support businesses that use animals in a cruel way. Examples of businesses that use animals in a cruel way are SeaWorld, zoos, some cosmetic companies and even Clorox Bleach for example.
What and why vegans do it
The idea behind veganism is that you are contributing less to global climate change, world hunger and deforestation while also fighting for equal rights, small businesses, and better health. Animal agriculture is the number one contributor to greenhouse gas emission and deforestation. Collectively free enough food to farm animals to end world hunger and animals products have been linked to things such as cancer, heart disease, stroke and diabetes and according to the CDC the number one killer of African Americans is heart disease followed by cancer stoke comes in at number 5 and number 6 is diabetes while the number one killer of Americans is heart disease. Vegans feel as if “medication is sick care and food is health care” therefore vegans continue to fight for the health of American to make a positive impact on the world and eliminate some of the health concerns that we have in this country. In addition, Animal Agriculture contributes to PTSD and has more workplace injuries than any other industry in America with that being paid more poor immigrants work in the industry than anyone else and vegans have made the connection between human rights and animal rights. The people working in these places are working there because they have no other choice and they are treated horribly and are continuously at risk without even getting paid minimum wage. In the book Citizens, some racism was quite subtle and in real life, we have subtle racism and contribute to it without even knowing.
Protect the oceans
Vegan use things such as reusable straws, grocery bags, food wrappers, and more to cut back on plastic in the ocean. Some vegans are waste free where they produce either no or very little trash. While plastic is a big part of the ocean dead zone, vegans also don’t eat fish. The reason being is become the fishing industry collects entire ecosystems of fish ranging from 300 feet to 7 miles vastly contributing to ocean dead zones because they sweep up everything in their path. Because of fishing, 90% of large fish have been “exterminated in the past 50 years.” Scientist predicts that for every 1 pound of targeted fish the nets also catch 20 pounds of bycatch or non-targeted fish and if the fish aren’t dead by the time they reach the deck they kill them by either allowing them to suffocate or cutting their gills. Vegan see this has one of the ways animal products are destroying the planet, so they don’t eat fish to save fish just like they don’t use or use less plastic to save fish.
Shop local
Vegan restaurants are often owned by locals within the community. For Example, Senses Vegan Comfort Food is owned and operated by two African American women living in Norfolk, Virginia and Naomi Vegan Meets is also run by an African American woman living in Chesapeake, Virginia. Vegans will often to go the small local business because they tend to cater to vegan and share some of the same values such as getting produce from other local farmers and collaborating with other local businesses and some small businesses even do things such as cutting back on plastic, paper, and waste while big businesses such as McDonald's, Chick Fil A, and Burger King do none of this.
Bis business
Vegans do still go to places like Starbucks to show out support for vegan items on their menu but many will avoid it. While places like Starbucks do have incredible vegan options, we do not support slavery and Starbucks get their coffee beans from slave labor, Victoria Secret and Walmart use prison labor and child labor, etc. and because veganism is about minimizing your negative impact on the world vegans tend to decide to shop at other places while people who are plant-based do not bother looking into the companies that they support on the regular bases. Vegans like to support companies like Beyond Burger, Tesla, Lush, and E.L.F. because they are sustainable, ecofriendly and aligns with vegan values.
The Opposition
Vegans have focused heavily on animal rights for a really long time making people think that the vegan movement is about animal rights. While animal rights are a small portion of it, veganism is about so much more. Yes, we want every cage opened and every animal free but we also want to fight against global climate change and end world hunger amongst other things. The biggest push back against veganism is the belief that a person cannot receive all of their nutrients being vegan. Vegans eat a variety of fruits and vegetables all containing a variety of different nutrients. Even Doctors from across America have begun protesting to force hospitals to feed patient's vegan food and the World Health Organization agrees with them. Canada is one of the many countries that the government recommends vegan eating.
Vegan Values
Vegan values put simply is that they do not contribute to the suffering of anyone, they do what they can to protect the planet and they put their money where their mouth is. They believe that is every individual's responsibility to impact positive change even if that is by simply shopping at a different store or deciding not to eat or use products that contribute to suffering. Vegans do the little things such as reusable straws, shopping local, changing your diet, throwing recycling in the recycling bin, etc. to inflict as much positive change as they can. Vegans believe that when you begin incorporating these small things into your life bit by bit they become your norm and it becomes your lifestyle, not a diet and not a fad but a lifestyle which is why veganism is a lifestyle and a movement that is catered to minimizing your negative impact on the world and maximizing your positive impact on the world.
Need help going vegan? Click here
Work cited
“How Your Diet Could Help Combat Climate Change in 2019.” CNN, Cable News Network, www-m.cnn.com/2018/10/18/health/plant-based-diet-climate-change-food-drayer/index.html.
“If We All Became Vegan Tomorrow.” New Internationalist, 11 June 2018, newint.org/features/web-exclusive/2018/06/06/vegan-climate-carbon.
Veronika. “DON'T FEED CANCER.” Viva! Health, 11 July 2016, www.vivahealth.org.uk/veganhealth/dont-feed-cancer.
“Vegetarian and Vegan.” Welcome to AICR.org, American Institute for Cancer Research, www.aicr.org/patients-survivors/healthy-or-harmful/vegetarian-and-vegan.html.
“Vegan & Plant-Based Diets and Heart Disease.” Cleveland HeartLab, Inc., www.clevelandheartlab.com/blog/vegan-plant-based-diets-heart-disease/.
“Going Zero Waste.” Going Zero Waste, www.goingzerowaste.com/.
Animals, Mercy For. “McDonald's Cruelty.” McDonald's Cruelty, mcdonaldscruelty.com/.
“21-Year Old Opens Vegan Restaurant in a Bid to Make Plant-Based Food Accessible to Everyone.” Vegan Food & Living, 19 Mar. 2018, www.veganfoodandliving.com/21-year-old-opens-vegan-restaurant-in-a-bid-to-make-plant-based/.
Shekalia. “Glow-Up with These Black-Owned Vegan Companies That Deserve Your Support .” peta2, peta2, 25 Aug. 2017, www.peta2.com/vegan-life/black-owned-vegan-companies/.
Tyler, Mara. “10 Vegan Sources of Protein.” Mindbodygreen, Mindbodygreen, 11 Oct. 2017, www.mindbodygreen.com/0-4771/10-Vegan-Sources-of-Protein.html.
Health- http://amp.timeinc.net/health/nutrition/vegan-diet-nutrition
“Eat a Variety of Healthy Foods Each Day.” Canada's Food Guide, food-guide.canada.ca/en/.
Sidaway, Dave. “Canada Food Guide Changes: More Veg, Less Meat, and No More Eating Alone.” Montreal Gazette, 22 Jan. 2019, montrealgazette.com/news/new-canadas-food-guide-not-about-portion-but-about-proportion.
“Plant-Based Doctors Display 'Go Vegan' Sign Outside The White House.” RSS, www.plantbasednews.org/post/team-of-physicians-go-vegan-white-house.
“Healthy Diet.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/healthy-diet.
Veganism has risen substantially since 2014 and has gone more mainstream than ever. I am an 18 years old college student who has been vegan for a year and a half. During that time, I have begun working for PETA and Challenge 22+ as well as becoming a vegan mentor. During the time that I have been vegan I have learned so much not only about food but also about how every action I take effects someone else either negatively or positively. Veganism is a lifestyle and a movement where millions of people make the decisions to minimize the negative impact they inflict on the world and maximize the positive impact that they leave on the world.
Vegan vs. plant based
According to google vegan is “a person who does not eat or use animal products” and according to Wikipedia veganism is “the practice of abstaining from the use of animal products, particularly in diet, and an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals.” In both definitions, they put a heavy focus on the treatment of animals while being vegan, but they do not tell you that there is a difference between being plant-based and being vegan. Plant-based is someone who does not eat or use animal products mostly for their health, however, they have no or very little connection to the vegan movement. Vegan is someone who does not eat, use, or support businesses that use animals in a cruel way. Examples of businesses that use animals in a cruel way are SeaWorld, zoos, some cosmetic companies and even Clorox Bleach for example.
What and why vegans do it
The idea behind veganism is that you are contributing less to global climate change, world hunger and deforestation while also fighting for equal rights, small businesses, and better health. Animal agriculture is the number one contributor to greenhouse gas emission and deforestation. Collectively free enough food to farm animals to end world hunger and animals products have been linked to things such as cancer, heart disease, stroke and diabetes and according to the CDC the number one killer of African Americans is heart disease followed by cancer stoke comes in at number 5 and number 6 is diabetes while the number one killer of Americans is heart disease. Vegans feel as if “medication is sick care and food is health care” therefore vegans continue to fight for the health of American to make a positive impact on the world and eliminate some of the health concerns that we have in this country. In addition, Animal Agriculture contributes to PTSD and has more workplace injuries than any other industry in America with that being paid more poor immigrants work in the industry than anyone else and vegans have made the connection between human rights and animal rights. The people working in these places are working there because they have no other choice and they are treated horribly and are continuously at risk without even getting paid minimum wage. In the book Citizens, some racism was quite subtle and in real life, we have subtle racism and contribute to it without even knowing.
Vegan use things such as reusable straws, grocery bags, food wrappers, and more to cut back on plastic in the ocean. Some vegans are waste free where they produce either no or very little trash. While plastic is a big part of the ocean dead zone, vegans also don’t eat fish. The reason being is become the fishing industry collects entire ecosystems of fish ranging from 300 feet to 7 miles vastly contributing to ocean dead zones because they sweep up everything in their path. Because of fishing, 90% of large fish have been “exterminated in the past 50 years.” Scientist predicts that for every 1 pound of targeted fish the nets also catch 20 pounds of bycatch or non-targeted fish and if the fish aren’t dead by the time they reach the deck they kill them by either allowing them to suffocate or cutting their gills. Vegan see this has one of the ways animal products are destroying the planet, so they don’t eat fish to save fish just like they don’t use or use less plastic to save fish.
Shop local
Vegan restaurants are often owned by locals within the community. For Example, Senses Vegan Comfort Food is owned and operated by two African American women living in Norfolk, Virginia and Naomi Vegan Meets is also run by an African American woman living in Chesapeake, Virginia. Vegans will often to go the small local business because they tend to cater to vegan and share some of the same values such as getting produce from other local farmers and collaborating with other local businesses and some small businesses even do things such as cutting back on plastic, paper, and waste while big businesses such as McDonald's, Chick Fil A, and Burger King do none of this.
Bis business
Vegans do still go to places like Starbucks to show out support for vegan items on their menu but many will avoid it. While places like Starbucks do have incredible vegan options, we do not support slavery and Starbucks get their coffee beans from slave labor, Victoria Secret and Walmart use prison labor and child labor, etc. and because veganism is about minimizing your negative impact on the world vegans tend to decide to shop at other places while people who are plant-based do not bother looking into the companies that they support on the regular bases. Vegans like to support companies like Beyond Burger, Tesla, Lush, and E.L.F. because they are sustainable, ecofriendly and aligns with vegan values.
Vegans have focused heavily on animal rights for a really long time making people think that the vegan movement is about animal rights. While animal rights are a small portion of it, veganism is about so much more. Yes, we want every cage opened and every animal free but we also want to fight against global climate change and end world hunger amongst other things. The biggest push back against veganism is the belief that a person cannot receive all of their nutrients being vegan. Vegans eat a variety of fruits and vegetables all containing a variety of different nutrients. Even Doctors from across America have begun protesting to force hospitals to feed patient's vegan food and the World Health Organization agrees with them. Canada is one of the many countries that the government recommends vegan eating.
Vegan Values
Vegan values put simply is that they do not contribute to the suffering of anyone, they do what they can to protect the planet and they put their money where their mouth is. They believe that is every individual's responsibility to impact positive change even if that is by simply shopping at a different store or deciding not to eat or use products that contribute to suffering. Vegans do the little things such as reusable straws, shopping local, changing your diet, throwing recycling in the recycling bin, etc. to inflict as much positive change as they can. Vegans believe that when you begin incorporating these small things into your life bit by bit they become your norm and it becomes your lifestyle, not a diet and not a fad but a lifestyle which is why veganism is a lifestyle and a movement that is catered to minimizing your negative impact on the world and maximizing your positive impact on the world.
Need help going vegan? Click here
Work cited
“How Your Diet Could Help Combat Climate Change in 2019.” CNN, Cable News Network, www-m.cnn.com/2018/10/18/health/plant-based-diet-climate-change-food-drayer/index.html.
“If We All Became Vegan Tomorrow.” New Internationalist, 11 June 2018, newint.org/features/web-exclusive/2018/06/06/vegan-climate-carbon.
Veronika. “DON'T FEED CANCER.” Viva! Health, 11 July 2016, www.vivahealth.org.uk/veganhealth/dont-feed-cancer.
“Vegetarian and Vegan.” Welcome to AICR.org, American Institute for Cancer Research, www.aicr.org/patients-survivors/healthy-or-harmful/vegetarian-and-vegan.html.
“Vegan & Plant-Based Diets and Heart Disease.” Cleveland HeartLab, Inc., www.clevelandheartlab.com/blog/vegan-plant-based-diets-heart-disease/.
“Going Zero Waste.” Going Zero Waste, www.goingzerowaste.com/.
Animals, Mercy For. “McDonald's Cruelty.” McDonald's Cruelty, mcdonaldscruelty.com/.
“21-Year Old Opens Vegan Restaurant in a Bid to Make Plant-Based Food Accessible to Everyone.” Vegan Food & Living, 19 Mar. 2018, www.veganfoodandliving.com/21-year-old-opens-vegan-restaurant-in-a-bid-to-make-plant-based/.
Shekalia. “Glow-Up with These Black-Owned Vegan Companies That Deserve Your Support .” peta2, peta2, 25 Aug. 2017, www.peta2.com/vegan-life/black-owned-vegan-companies/.
Tyler, Mara. “10 Vegan Sources of Protein.” Mindbodygreen, Mindbodygreen, 11 Oct. 2017, www.mindbodygreen.com/0-4771/10-Vegan-Sources-of-Protein.html.
Health- http://amp.timeinc.net/health/nutrition/vegan-diet-nutrition
“Eat a Variety of Healthy Foods Each Day.” Canada's Food Guide, food-guide.canada.ca/en/.
Sidaway, Dave. “Canada Food Guide Changes: More Veg, Less Meat, and No More Eating Alone.” Montreal Gazette, 22 Jan. 2019, montrealgazette.com/news/new-canadas-food-guide-not-about-portion-but-about-proportion.
“Plant-Based Doctors Display 'Go Vegan' Sign Outside The White House.” RSS, www.plantbasednews.org/post/team-of-physicians-go-vegan-white-house.
“Healthy Diet.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/healthy-diet.
Comments
Post a Comment