Veganism
Veganism
Vegetarian since 1990, and vegan since1993, Bobby has been devoted to the lifestyle for three decades. He has written extensively on the subject, been involved in various forms of activism, and has done numerous public speaking events related to animal issues, humane education and vegan nutrition.
Here’s some of Bobby’s writing on the subject from various book and blog excerpts:
The Philosophy
“Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
Gandhi
I know this Gandhi quote is pretty worn out by now, but in many ways, veganism is this famous quote in action, because we’re talking about “being,” as opposed to simply “doing.” There are many things we can do to promote peace and good will in the world. Many organizations can use our time and money to further this cause, and giving in this way is always encouraged, of course. And yet, veganism gives us the chance to actually be peace and compassion everyday, throughout the day, in every aspect of our daily lives.
Think about it. As a vegan, you are living your life with such consciousness that every food or drink item you consume, every piece of clothing you wear, every consumer product you use and every non-exploitive social function you attend is literally a powerful act of kindness to an animal and a serious statement of reverence to the planet. Then, when you do the math and realize the sheer number of times in a given day that this opportunity for higher expression presents itself, you see how every day of your life is an ongoing series of these acts of compassion, above and beyond any causes you support or acts of kindness you extend to your fellow humans. In this way, veganism is the next logical step in our quest toward a more evolved, peaceful society.
In fact, I have always found it a bit ass-backwards that we, as a conscientious society, gather around the dinner table and denounce war, domestic abuse, gang violence, social injustices, urban crime rates, or even animal cruelty, while much of the very meal we’re consuming has been derived from unspeakable acts of exploitation and violence against our fellow creatures. Clearly, even many of our wisest have yet to make the connection between the “behind-the-scenes” violence rampant in modern animal agriculture and the more obvious, “in-your-face” violence that has a more pronounced presence in our daily lives.
Origins of the Word:
Donald Watson coined the term vegan in 1944 when he co-founded the British Vegan Society. The word was literally created out of the word “vegetarian,” as it contains the first three letters and the last two letters of the word. It is pronounced “VEE-gun,” with emphasis on the first syllable.
Watson had grown to disagree with the use of eggs and dairy in the typical vegetarian diet, and decided to create this sub-group within the existing vegetarian group he was in. Eventually, the small sect of vegans branched out as the British Vegan Society. Along with it, of course, was the birth of a new word to encapsulate their stricter version of vegetarianism.
Vegetarians, Strict Vegetarians and Vegans Defined
To truly understand the depth of veganism as the total lifestyle philosophy that it is, it’s important to understand how the concept differs from other forms of vegetarianism.
Consider the following definitions:
A vegetarian is one who abstains from all flesh foods. There can be a further distinction in classification by saying lacto-vegetarian – for those who consume dairy products like milk and cheese; or ovo-vegetarian – for those who consume eggs; or even lacto/ovo-vegetarian – for those who consume both dairy products and eggs. Under no circumstances, by the way, would a vegetarian diet include chicken, turkey, fish or any other kinds of sea creatures.
A strict vegetarian is one who abstains from all animal products, including dairy and eggs, although honey is generally acceptable.
A vegan is one who follows a strict vegetarian diet (minus honey), and also – by literal definition – avoids:
1. wearing animal-based clothing (leather, wool, silk, fur, etc.)
2. using consumer goods containing animal products or that have involved animal testing
3. supporting events or institutions (like the circus, rodeo or even the zoo) that exploit and/or harm animals in any way.
Obviously, there are many varying degrees by which a “vegan” might choose to abide by the above criteria and, of course, there are no vegan police running around to site a purported vegan’s indiscretion. But the point is, the vegan approach is more of a total lifestyle commitment where the individual aspires to make a consistent statement of compassion for all living creatures in every area of their life. This is a grand idea, and it makes veganism one of the most conscientious and evolved models of living in the world.
The Power of One
Beyond the philosophical aspects of the lifestyle, there are some pretty staggering calculations out there – all of which have been verified by multiple sources at this point – that can quantify exactly what kind of numbers are involved regarding just the ethical and environmental ramifications of going vegan. Here are a few quick ones:
One person going one year without animal products…
- Saves at least 83 animals
- Saves an entire acre of trees
- Saves 960,000 gallons of water
Think about that: 83 animals, saved! If you were a dog or cat rescuer and you saved 80+ animals in one year, it would more or less be a full-time endeavor (saving, fostering, caring for, feeding, eventually adopting out, etc.) and likely require a Herculean effort. And yet, without actually doing anything outside of your normal day-to-day thing, your vegan lifestyle choices can have an absolutely tangible effect in the world.
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To access a number of informative blog posts and articles
on veganism and various animal issues, click below:
http://bobbyrock.wordpress.com/category/veganismanimal-issues/
To check out my full site on veganism, click below:
It’s probably a bit in need of an update, but it’s been around for quite awhile (2002) and the info is still solid.
More soon….