Why veg*n

If we ask meat-eaters what they think 'vegetarian' means, most would probably say 'someone who does not eat meat' - but that is not at all how I see it. I define myself by what I do, not by the negative of what I do not do. If we define ourselves as a negative of others, then we are saying that they are 'normal', and we are abnormal for abstaining.

The driver didn't know my name and at one point referred to me as 'the European guy', which was fine - he could have called me the 'non-Asian guy' as I was the only one, but that would have been odd, maybe even slightly offensive. I do not 'abstain'. I do not 'avoid'. I am not 'meatless' or 'meat-free'. I simply make a positive choice to eat, and to wear, the things I prefer, and my health, the animals, and the planet, all benefit from that choice.

By way of comparison, when I was growing up in the s and 60s most people smoked tobacco. They branded me as a 'non-smoker' but I didn't see it way, I just thought it was disgusting and unhealthy , and I certainly did not consider my preference for clean air to be some sort of self-denial.

So when I was offered a cigarette I asked them why they did it - but they couldn't defend it of course, as the real reason they smoked was just because everyone else did, and they thought it looked 'cool' - encouraged by film star images and mass advertising.

I like the graphic below as a representation of the image and the reflected reality as I always saw it courtesy of www. A great example from North America is the San Francisco based group Seed the Commons , a grassroots organization seeking to create sustainable and just food systems without the use of animals.

The paper is intended to be a starting point for even greater levels of critical self-reflection among vegans and animal advocates alike. The essay, however, does come with some shortcomings in terms of its rigor and scientific basis. There is no evidence presented for the proposed null cumulative effects that increased plant-based product demand has on animal suffering, be it human or nonhuman. In either case, the essay is thought-provoking, and could prompt reflection among animal advocates as many of us entertain purist ideas of veganism and sometimes struggle to place efficacy over ideology in our day-to-day activism.

White, R. EuropeNow , This month's Faunalytics Index provides facts and figures about alternative meat naming, perceptions of pit bull dogs, animal donor demographics, what we're thankful for, and much more. This study predicts global trends in vegetarianism and identifies potential drivers of large-scale shifts towards reduced-meat diets by the end of the century. Faunalytics delivers the latest and most important information directly to your inbox.

Choose what topics you want to see and how often you get our emails, and you can unsubscribe anytime. This essay explores a discussion of — and distinction between — lifestyle-based veganism and more critical forms of the practice. It can be hard to be in such a minority that traditionally has been looked upon as strange or weird.

But times are changing, and vegetarians and vegans are slowly becoming more mainstream. You can help bring more people to this way of life by being open to their questions — even if they seem argumentative — and explaining succinctly, eloquently and compassionately why you have chosen this way of life. One by one, we will all make a difference! You must be logged in to post a comment.