3 main reasons why there are more and more vegans
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For the animals
“If slaughterhouses had glass walls, the whole world would be vegan”Most vegans choose to live a vegan life for moral reasons (althought "veganism is all about animals, otherwise talking about a "plant based diet" is more appropriate). Ethical vegans refuse to be part of a system that uses, abuses, tortures and kills billions of innocent lives each year (More than 200 million animals are killed for food around the world EVERY DAY just on land), and view the unnecessary use and consumption of non-human animals and their byproducts to be irreconcilable with living a life free from causing harm. By choosing veganism, we recognize that animals are not ours to use or consume, and we take a stand against cruelty and exploitation by abstaining from its products and practices.
There are many ways that the industries and individuals who stand to make a profit off of animal exploitation and cruelty try to hide or tame the facts about how animals are treated in captivity or before they are turned into food and byproducts. Terms like “ethically sourced,” “humanely raised,” “free range,” “cage free,” and more show up on animal products to put the consumer at ease, but the bottom line is that it’s not an ethical practice to kill a living being that does not want to die just so you can enjoy the taste of their body for a brief moment in time, no matter how nicely you treated them before sending them to slaughter.
But isn't being vegetarian enough? The suffering caused by the dairy and egg industry is possibly less well publicised than the plight of factory farmed animals. The production of dairy products necessitates the death of countless male calves that are of no use to the dairy farmer, as well as the premature death of cows slaughtered when their milk production decreases. Similarly, in the egg industry, even 'ethical' or 'free range' eggs involve the killing of the 'unnecessary' male chicks when just a day old.
Watch Dominion -
For the environnement
Going vegan is one of the best things an individual can do to reduce their impact upon the planet. Farmed animals produce a lot of methane and this has resulted in meat and dairy production being one of the biggest causes of greenhouse emissions. In fact, animal farming is responsible for an estimated 14.5% of all greenhouse gas emissions. The carbon footprint of a vegan diet is as much as 60% smaller than a meat-based one (intensive way, free range, organic, etc), and 24% smaller than a vegetarian diet.
To get more information about the link between veganism and environnement, you can watch Cowspiracy or Seaspiracy (on Netflix). -
For the health benefits
Well-planned plant-based diets follow healthy eating guidelines, and contain all the nutrients that our bodies need. Both the British Dietetic Association and the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recognise that they are suitable for every age and stage of life. Some research has linked vegan diets with lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and lower rates of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some types of cancer. Going vegan is a great opportunity to learn more about nutrition and cooking, and improve your diet. Getting your nutrients from plant foods allows more room in your diet for health-promoting options like whole grains, fruit, nuts, seeds and vegetables, which are packed full of beneficial fibre, vitamins and minerals.
It's time to ask ourselves: if it is now possible to live a life that involves delicious food and drink, delivers better health, leaves a smaller carbon footprint and avoids killing other creatures - then why don't we?
