11/13/2008: "Veganism and me - a positive note."

music: Television
mood: Motivated

I really hope that those who know me (and maybe those who don't) will take the time to read this note because I feel like it explains a lot about my recent lifestyle choices and maybe provides some insight into veganism to those who don't know much about it. This will not be an activist note but simply an explanatory one about veganism, why I am pursuing it, and why I am looking for support within my own peer groups.

Veganism, stated simply, is abstaining from the use of animal products. It is an expansion of vegetarianism, which is a primarily dietary choice that avoids consumption of products that required the death of an animal. Vegans have many reasons for taking this choice and turning it into an entire lifestyle. Most vegans will not only refuse to eat animal products (meat, fish, gelatin, eggs, milk, honey, etc.), but they will also refuse to use any product that has been produced through the exploitation of animals. This means discontinuing the use of products you would normally find at large chain stores like Wal-Mart and instead buying from "cruelty free" companies - those that don't test on animals.

Many environmentalists and even social justice activists dismiss animal issues as irrelevant. I just wanted to make clear how connected these issues truly are. You cannot be concerned for the planet without being concerned for its species. You cannot be concerned for animal welfare without being concerned for human welfare, as well. Many vegans not only make this choice for the welfare of animals, but also for the welfare of human kind and the rest of the earth. They recognize that society today has built itself upon an exploitative relationship with the entire planet. For this reason, many vegans also prefer natural products free from human made destructive chemicals. They will buy locally produced items rather than over processed and commercialized ones. Although veganism starts with one's relationship with animals, sometimes it is connected with a whole personal philosophy concerning social justice for people too. For instance, some will straight out refuse to shop at a mass merchandiser because of its unjust practices toward workers. Not only does this affect humans, but it affects the entire peaceful coexistence with the planet and all of its species that vegans try to respect. Of course I cannot generalize for all vegans, but this is how I personally have understood the lifestyle.

For me, veganism started 7 months ago with the elimination of animal products from my diet, after existing as a vegetarian since 2001. However, only recently have I begun to understand the expansiveness of the lifestyle. Since then, I have given away all my leather products that were sitting in dusty corners of my room. I am currently working to transition to only cruelty-free products. After I have exhausted my supplies of name brand shampoos, cleaning products, soaps, and the like, I will only be purchasing these items from companies that have pledged not to test on animals, and preferably those that derive their ingredients naturally.

Because I am at college, it's difficult to buy organic and local food to sustain myself. It's really even difficult to ensure that all my foods are totally vegan, but I try. I am the only vegan I know on this campus. This is why at times I feel lonely here and partially why I am so excited to be leaving in the spring. I want to be able to reach out to people who share ideas with me. My situation right now is one that anyone would face if he or she had an identity that no one around shared. As an example, I am so happy to have had the chance to be a part of the Organization of Sexual Minorities and Allies (OSMA) on my campus and to know that people different sexual identities and orientations have such a huge support group here on campus. The problem for me is that there is no group like that for vegans. I know veganism is a choice, not a purely inherent identity, but it is similar in that its followers are fighting for an oppressed group. I really wish I could start an organization like that here on campus, but with no support base or free time, I feel that such efforts would not go far. Therefore, I am going to be looking for more and more opportunities to meet like-minded people off campus and participate in demonstrations in cities like Richmond and DC. I welcome anyone to join with me, but I primarily am just stating this so that you all understand one of the reasons why I am not so satisfied with this campus and why I am constantly escaping... By nature many people seek out those who share their passions and ideals, and I'm not much different.

I know many here on campus who are concerned for the environment and for the welfare of various oppressed human groups, and I am just hoping I can reach out to them to at least understand my viewpoint a little better. As a vegan I am not stating that animal issues are more significant than human ones. I just hope that people can realize that they are all interconnected. We are all living on the same planet, and we all hope to live by principles of respect - why can't we extend that to all of life on this planet?

According to the film Earthlings, humans exploit animals in 5 different ways: food, entertainment, clothing, pets, and experimentation. In all of these relationships, the focus is on human benefit and is not mutual. For instance, food animals are frequently mistreated and confined to very tiny living spaces for their entire lives. Even if raised free range, the focus is still placed upon profit for people, and it is still exploitation. While I commend the efforts of these farmers to reduce the suffering of the affected animals, for me, choosing to consume these products would still violate the principles I have been making so many strides in following. Another of the biggest fields of exploitation is with experimentation - for medicine and for beauty. What many don't realize is how many of these animals die unnecessarily. Many of these tests are required by agencies like the FDA but really prove nothing. Some relationships between drugs and animals will never hold true for drugs and people. It's just a way of making people feel safer about their products through the deaths of millions of dogs, cats, rodents, fish, and primates.

As Gandhi said, "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." One cannot truly care about the earth without caring about all of life. By transitioning to veganism, I simply hope to uphold this idea to the best of my ability throughout my entire life. I just hope that those who consider themselves my friends or family will respect these decisions, and maybe even open their hearts up to understanding my lifestyle and choices. I don't expect people to change their own lifestyles for this sake but to simply try to be open to mine as I am trying to be open to theirs... a system of mutual education, if you will. I am becoming an activist, which will necessitate some form of pressure on others by definition. But in my personal interactions with everyone, I will maintain a respect for them and their beliefs above all else. I am also really thankful for all the support I have received so far... and I will always try to return that favor!

Because of the reasons outlined in this note, I am leaning toward pursuing a career in animal welfare and activism. It's a very thin line with any activist movement - how far will you go to raise awareness without alienating others? I learned a lot working with Greenpeace last year about campaign tactics and I think this will help me a lot in trying to find an organization that fits with my values. I am just hoping to find one that respects all creatures, big and small. Perhaps this will involve some controversial methods, but I will only partake if I see a justifiable reason for implementing them.

Thank you all for reading this and I hope this at least helps shed light on my lifestyle. I know that many probably are not concerned with these issues, but my hope is that they can open their minds to the ideas. I've spent a lot of my time working for human rights issues and I am just hoping that those who have fought along with me will try to recognize how interconnected all of these things are or can at least respect why I feel this way. Thank you. smile