Vegan Clothing Explained
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.12.06
In a recent post, Commenter Brenton asked- "What's wrong with wool? How is wool cruelty to animals? All they do is shear off the hair of the animal in the summer, which then grows back, and they do it again the next year." Good questions all which we could not answer. We first heard the term Vegan Clothing from Elisa Camahort, who blogs for Hip & Zen, and she graciously agreed to write this guest post.
Veganism on, and in, your body.
Many people wonder why people go to what they consider to be the “extreme” of veganism. After all, vegans are asked, chickens aren’t killed for their eggs, sheep aren’t killed for their wool…and do you really care about snails and silkworms?
The thing to understand about veganism, as a philosophy, is that it starts with the precept that we, as humans, do not have any right to “use” animals for anything. That our use of animals, who have no choice in the matter, is a form of exploitation. And that we should avoid, to the extent it is possible, all forms of that exploitation.
It’s helpful to realize that when vegans have that philosophy as a starting point, the extent of the harm to the living creature is simply moot. Vegans do not want to participate in what they consider to be exploitation, just as many other people don’t want to buy clothing made with sweat-shop labor.
Further most vegans believe that the vegan lifestyle is healthier for people, healthier for the environment, and of course healthier for animals.
For those who don’t believe in this philosophy wholesale, there are still many reasons to avoid all kinds of animal products, and almost every reason comes back to the inherently cruel practice of factory-farming.
Factory-farmed chickens, sheep and dairy cows live in appalling conditions. It’s not just the fact that they are packed in tightly and live in their own filth, but each of these animals is subject to routine mutilation without anaesthesia. Battery chickens have their beaks cut off to prevent them from pecking themselves and other chickens as they react to being kept in unnaturally confined spaces. Lambs born for wool production are castrated, have their ears punched through and their tails cut off, all without anaesthesia.
One might think that wool production is benign…like getting a haircut, and perhaps it was that way before sheep were bred for constant wool production, rather than seasonal production linked to their natural molting schedule. Now, sheep are sheared before they naturally would shed their winter coats, then the wool grows back during the summer months. Many sheep die of exposure (heat and cold) every year.
Worst of all is a technique called mulesing. Merino sheep produce the most wool because they are bred to have the most folds of skin. Unfortunately all those folds of skin become breeding grounds for fly infestations around their tail area. The factory farm solution for this problem is to carve off folds of skin, yes, their skin…hoping to create a smooth, scarred surface where the flies can’t lay eggs. And no, they don’t use anaesthesia for that either.
There is nothing benign about factory farmed animal conditions, and it’s pretty hard to make sure you’re not getting such a product.
That brings us to that qualifying phrase I used above: “to the extent possible.” I am a long-time vegetarian who believes in the vegan philosophy, but have had a hell of a time adhering to it in my diet. I do my best, which isn’t good enough, but is better than doing nothing.
I started out considering vegetarianism 17 years ago because I felt sympathy for the conditions of factory-farmed animals, antipathy for the violence of slaughter. But what sealed the deal for me was thinking it through: there was no reason not to be a vegetarian. I am not physiologically required to eat meat. I am not constrained in any material, important way by my vegetarianism. This goes double for what I wear. Being a vegan in my clothing and accessory choices is a piece of cake.
I’d like to close by turning the “why vegan?” question around. When you know that buying vegan products can eliminate your personal contribution to cruel practices, and when you know you can get both function and style with available vegan alternatives, then I think the pertinent question is really: “why not vegan?”
Good Sources for more info:
The Vegan Society:
PETA on wool
Vegan Action:
Oy! Extremists... gotta love 'em. They are so absolutely blinded to reality because their simpleton intellects can't handle anything more complicated than an episode of Sesame Street. So they simplify...AKA...become extremists.
Near me there are many small family farms that have sheep for wool. These animals are basically cared for as family pets. Same goes for chickens, Llamas, Alpacas, cattle, etc... New England is full of these kinds of farms. They are happy to have people stop by, take a tour, buy some product. This is not a parasitic relationship, it is a symbiotic relationship. I know you extremists are now covering your eyes and ears, humming some song, but that won't make reality go away.
Factory farming... evil to anyone. I'm a full blown meat eater, but I have no desire for any kind of animals to suffer due to greed, ineptitude, or inherent evil.
Oh, one more little jab at you extremists.. there are many species of plants that are either carnivorous or parasitic to their hosts. REALITY, ITS FACINATING!!!
Re: the comment by "Chingy"
I'd just like to restate the comment guidelines:
"please note the following:
a) Imagine you are raising your hand in a crowded room to ask a question or make a comment. Please add value and be respectful."
Do plants have feelings? When we harvest (ie, kill) a plant, does it hurt, cause pain to the plant? What about all the little bugs that once dined on the harvested plant, and called it home – are we not hurting those creatures as well when we make a plant-coat for ourselves? Let’s get real: we have no idea the extent to which plants have feelings.
If you find yourself in San Francisco with a few minutes to spare, take the "L" train to Taraval St in the Sunset District. There, somewhere between 30th and 40th Avenues, deep in the fog and within a few blocks of the Pacific Ocean, you will find a barbershop with a house plant that is over 40' long and almost 80 years old. An Opening Day gift to the original owner of the barbershop when it opened in the 1930s, this giant has never left the building - in fact, it has taken it over. Years ago, a hole was put in the back wall so a branch from could grown unimpeded into the next room.
When I saw the plant in 1995 it was healthy and lush and happy, but only after a prolonged period of mourning. This is a plant that loves, and years ago, it grieved.
In the late 1980s, the original owner, by then an old man, retired and sold his shop. But he did not abandon his 50-year-old friend. Instead, he came and watered it almost daily. With the passage of time, watering the thriving plant became less a labor of love, and more of a burden. He instructed the barber then working in the building on how and when to water the plant, instructions which were carried out faithfully. The plant continued to thrive and grow.
The plant was fine, in fact, until the owner became seriously ill. Then, the plant yellowed. The sicker the old barber became, the yellower the leaves. The new barber watered the old plant as before, but to no avail. The plant was dying, its leaves scattering the floor, which the new barber would sweep up, along with fallen hair. When the original barber finally died, the plant, its branches drooping and leaves falling, was a goner.
Ultimately, the plant recovered, and when I saw it in the mid-1990s, it was robust and happy, living in the room it had called home for almost 60 years. Was its illness and the old barber's death a coincidence? Skeptics with tiny hearts would say yes. I am not so sure.
should we then relate ourselves to the level of plants?
it's great that there are farms like that near you and i hope they do take care of their animal friends as they would like themselves to be treated. and as you said, factory farming is (hopefully) evil to everyone. so why not refrain from supporting it? is that being extreme? it seems more like simply just putting one's belief into practice.
it makes me sad to hear you so quickly refer to vegans as extremists with "simpleton intellects" that "can't handle anything more complicated than an episode of Sesame Street." Perhaps you could research many of the well known vegans who are much more known for their intellectual contributions to the world than for their vegan lifestyle.
To me it seems it would take a lot of courage and empathy to become a committed vegan. With the effects of such a commitment covering such a wide spectrum of social justice issues, I commend these so-called "extremists" for standing up for something so simple yet so easily disregarded.
Lloyd, thanks for the post.
It seems that vegans go quite far with their "respect" for animals and animal life. An opinion I guess I don't share.
I don't feel bad eating an egg, no more then I feel bad when the grey fox kills the rabbit under my front porch (hasn't happened yet, but I think he'll get it soon). There are three different classes of animals, and we happen to be omnivores (eat both plant and animal).
There are things we need in meats, milk, and eggs that you can't get from plants. The easiest to target would be vitamin B12. Without which, you can suffer from pernicious anemia, mouth irritation, and brain damage.
If a vegan wants to hurdle this fact of life, kudos to them! I just hope they don't resent us vegetarians as much as Chingy seems to hate them.
You know I would comment negatively at the above post (I being an "extremist" vegan) but this person is obviously a troll.
Ill try to be constructive, you say that in New England you have cute little sheep farms where sheep are treated with respect and dignity? I've seen such places so I can understand. However, I doubt that every piece of wool clothing you have come from these cute little farms. They probably fall more in line with this:
http://www.peta.org/mc/factsheet_display.asp?ID=55And for the whole plant parasitic thing, vegans are about animals. Plant is not equal to Animals. Umm, I don't even get where you are going with that statement. All creatures consume each other, vegans just attempt to not consume animals. If a plant wants to consume an animal that is fine by me.
Yes, reality is fascinating, where a person can truly believe that factory farming is evil but still be a " full blown meat eater"....
If you see extremism in my post it's because you want to. Like I said above:
1. It's hard to find products that aren't factory-farm produced because most of us are not that close or connected to the producers of products we purchase. If you are, bully for you.
2. Did you miss the part where I say I do the best I can, but am hardly perfect? And that doing something is better than doing nothing? Wow, that's so extreme!
Talk about fingers in the ears singing "la la la."
Thank you Elisa for explaining. I too was confused as to the theories behind veganism. I got tired of asking questions when I was in high school 10 years ago because everyone that followed it was a little slow on the uptake in explainig. The whole follower mentality where someone doesn't actually research what it is their following.
Having grown up with farming grandparents I'd have to (very) loosely follow what Chingy's saying. I'm more into the concept of symbiotic living than the idealogy of exploitation.
No veganism for me, but it'd be interesting if there was a subculture similar to the "organic" crowd. Only supporting smaller farms that held up certain moral beliefs.
Brenton, are you aware of the fact that many, many people live very heathy and long lives on a strict vegetarian (non-animal) diet? (By the way, vitamin B12 is a bacterial product, not an animal product.)
If you personally believe that you will die without animal foods, then by all means eat them. But those of us who are healthy strict vegetarians know that we don't need animal products to be healthy, no fact hurdling necessary. We are living proof that the human body is amazingly adaptive! It's surprising to most of us, so I understand your doubts.
And as far as folks who believe that the vegan attitude is extreme, I can easily understand them, because most people have been raised with the idea that we need to eat/use other species or we'd die. I can also see that it would seem extreme to care about other species welfare because most people are raised with the belief that humans are the only species that have thoughts and feelings.
Remember that people once said that only extremists believed that the world was round, that women could think, and that airplanes could fly.
If you are honestly intersted in understanding the vegan world view, I encourage you to really look at other species scientifically, and consider how similar we humans are to them biologically, psychologically, and sociologically. Then consider what it is about humans that makes us so deserving of rights. Ask yourself if other species don't have those same qualities that we consider requirements for granting rights. (Keep in mind that we grant rights to people in persistant vegetative states, severely mentally handicapped people, and small children.)
An even easier way to do this sort of intellectual exercise is to consider what we should do in the case of alien lifeforms coming to visit the planet Earth. What kind of rights would we grant them and why? Do not our own fellow Earthlings deserve the same rights?
Do plants feel pain?
Besides my gut feeling that animals suffer in real and profound ways while plants don't, there is also a logical evolutionary explanation why plants escape suffering. Pain is a vital biological adaptation that stimulates an animal to quickly withdraw from a dangerous situation. Plants are fixed in one spot, so they can't escape and would therefore have no reason to process pain, fear, terror, etc.
If you still want to equate plant sensitivity to animal consciousness, the case for vegetarianism is still strong because animals have been fattened on guess what - huge amounts of innocent plants. Most of our agricultural land is used to grow feed crops or to provide grazing. North American farm animals as a whole outweigh the human population by 4 to 1. See Meat production's environmental toll
While plants alone likely don't suffer, growing crops creates a huge amount of suffering through loss of habitat, killing of "vermin" and spraying of pesticides. Vegetarians and vegans minimize their impact by eating low on the food chain - i.e., directly from the land instead of eating farm animals that are very inefficient at converting plant matter to edible flesh.
"Does a potato cry out when it is taken from the earth the way a calf does when it is taken from its mother? Does a stick of celery scream in pain and terror when it is picked the way a pig does when it is being led to slaughter and is having its throat cut? And how sad, lonely, and frightened can a head of lettuce feel?"
- To Cherish All Life, by Philip Kapleau, The Zen Center, Rochester, New York
Turil,
I'm not saying you are going to die. I'm just saying that it's just going to be harder to replace what you loose. Also "healthy strict vegetarians" still eat eggs, cheese, and drink milk. Perhaps you meant "vegans".
========
Do plants feel pain?
This reminds me of a joke...
========
Q: If trees screamed, would you still cut them down?
A: Sure, if the screamed all the time for no apparent reason.
When people ask me why I''m vegan, I reply with a very simple answer: because I don't have to use or harm animals. Compassion and non-violence are two ideals that I strive to uphold in all aspects of my life.
I am of the belief that all animals should be free. You can point out example after example of small family farms that look after their farm animals well and have animals that are "content". That's a start, but not sufficient, in my mind. Would you rather be trapped in a zoo/farm and taken care of, or free to live life as you see fit? Your answer should dictate the way animals are used (or not used) in society.
I choose the path of love and empathy.
Brenton, I do mean strict vegetarian diet - which means eating no animal products (so no eggs, dairy, etc.). Vegan is the term sued to describe the entire lifestyle where you eschew all animal products, an applies to far more than just diet. And yes it is more difficult in our Western culture to find healthy vegetarian foods, but hey, it's hard to exercise and not drink too much alcohol in our society too.
"Let’s get real: we have no idea the extent to which plants have feelings."
Least-harm.
Most vegans I take it are vegans for reasons of cruelty-free, live by the "best I can" philosophy. That is, live in a way least harmful. Elisa herself states it succinctly as "I do my best".
"The whole follower mentality where someone doesn't actually research what it is their following."
My feeling is that is why meat-eating is so popular within the USofA; folks going along with the crowd, without much thought into who/what/when/where this packaged food comes from.
"I'm just saying that it's just going to be harder to replace what you loose."
How does one loose something that you state is not ingested in the first place? For what it is worth, all the supposedly essential protein-based foodstuffs (that seem to ever be unnamed) would be fulfilled if children were still nursed to age 4 or so. You may thank the Americanization of the World for the depreciation of appropriate child-rearing.
- Not a vegan.
OK Lets get some clarification out there for people...
My name is bob and I eat a lact-ovo vegetarian diet. This means I abstain from flesh (meat) but enjoy there juices and little bits that fall out of them. Note, I do not eat fish, this is indeed flesh...
My name is jane, and I eat a strict vegetarian diet. This means that I eat no animal pieces such as there flesh, eggs, juices(milk), or any other items that fall off the animals. However, I see no problem with draping there flesh over my shoulders in the form of a jacket. I just don't eat that jacket....
My name is Ralph, and I eat and live with a vegan philosophy. This means that I never consume or use ANY animal products. This includes:
bees honey and wax
animal hair (wool)
animal stomach contents (most wines and beers, latex condoms, etc)
meat (duh)
dairy eggs etc
Even though this might seem restrictive to most people, it actually forces me to eat healthier and experiment with food I would have never tried before (why on earth would I want to eat something called Quinoa?)
Ok, I hope that helped. If someone really wanted to see this topic expanded head over to http://veganporn.com and post on the forums there, you will see quite a few "extremists" that will give you 1000 more descriptions of vegans.
Wow! So some of you are saying that if they found a farm that indeed takes good care of its livestock, you wouldn't be averse to using their products? Cool, then you should be totally stoked, since you can now buy all the wool you want, eat all the eggs you want, drink all the milk you want, and eat all the cheese you want. Excellent!
Just use this little internet thing in front of you and find yourself one of these farms. Google is an amazing tool. Then call them up (or email if you prefer) and order their stuff! No need to be within horse & buggy distance these days. Aint technology a hoot!
Another thing you could do is find yourself one of these farms and ask them what manufacturers use their products. Who knows, you could find out a wool hat is on a store shelf down the block with your name on it.
Awesome, I'm so happy that a bunch of you who are vegans will now be able to enjoy a broader and more comfortable existence without violating your principles! Heck, you'll even be making a statement with your wallet that factory livestock farming is evil. Imagine... "This farm's products are proudly used by Vegans"
fear not, those non vegans out there, who feel that there is a superiority thing going on with vegand vs. the rest... (not to say that ALL vegans are like that at all). See,RC Dini from Natures First Law, in his book Raw Courage World (chapter 12), says that it's easier to get a cheesburger eatin obese person to understand the whole logic and beauty behind the raw food raw food movement than it is a vegan. for what it's worth.
fear not, those non vegans out there, who feel that there is a superiority thing going on with vegand vs. the rest... (not to say that ALL vegans are like that at all). See,RC Dini from Natures First Law, in his book Raw Courage World (chapter 12), says that it's easier to get a cheesburger eatin obese person to understand the whole logic and beauty behind the raw food raw food movement than it is a vegan. for what it's worth.
Chingy: If you really wanted to start an "intelligent" conversation, why not quote how you came to the conclusion that
First off, if you even read the above article, and posts (it does not seem that you did) you would realize that vegans do not like to exploit animals for a variety of reasons, ethical treatment is just one. There is also the whole "environmental" issue... you know this site is called "TreeHugger" where we are all suppose to have "new" or "positive" ideas about helping the environment. Not such harsh negativity and blatant sarcasm.
I suggest you use this "internet" thing and lookup "vegan" for more information. Then at least you could have interesting arguments with us vegans instead of arrogantly misapprehending the concept.
One gentle point: this discussion partly revolves around the premise that there are ample food and clothing options available and on that basis argues that killing or exploiting animals for their products is immoral.
This argument doesn't take in to account that a significant portion of the planet has very narrow choices for feeding, clothing and housing themselves.
If we are just talking about affluent Westerners, we have the luxury of pointing out that eating another animal when you can sustain yourself without doing so is unethical, but I can't justify telling someone in a famine that they should starve rather than eat an animal or freeze rather than use its fur. We can save the discussion of how our Western lifestyle creates resource shortages in the third world for later.
John Hritz, have I got a book for you! Many years ago Frances Moore Lappé wrote a wonderful book called Diet for a Small Planet, in it she shows how the idea of food shortages is a manufactured problem, and could be easily solved if we really cared. And she's not just talking about "Western" lifestyles.
So if you are interested in the issue, please check that book out, or perhaps some of Lappé's newer books, which go way beyond just food problems, and show ways of solving many or our social ills. Her book, Hope's Edge is a mammoth tome that could keep you busy for decades...
As for being vegan, all I can say is that I believe it's the best choice for me. People can argue with me all they want, but hey, it's not really any of their business what I chose, as long as I'm not hurting anyone else. And if they want to live in the middle of the woods, wear other species' furs and skins and walk around with long hair and a scraggly beard with a half eaten turkey leg stuck in it, then, well, I suppose that's their right. (Though I might choose to speak up if I catch them maliciously torturing the aforementioned turkey before they kill it...)
Hello
The "superiority thing going on" exists primarily in the minds of insecure meateaters. Again, I am not vegan, but I have witnessed more often than not a knee-jerk defensiveness by meateaters to any mention of the word "vegetarian". This reaction appears to occur from, what I imagine is, a notion by a meateater that because a person eats (or does) something different than him-/herself (i.e.,"the norm") that somebody is doing something wrong. Nobody likes to be wrong, so obviously it must be the person who is "different". I have yet to come across a vegetarian giving an unsolicited lecture, but have come across many meateaters encountering a vegetarian and soon let loose with a "I am almost a vegetarian", or "that is unhealthy because" type of speech.
________________________________
"This argument doesn't take in to account that a significant portion of the planet has very narrow choices for feeding, clothing and housing themselves."
I disagree. This argument speaks of how to go about doing the best you can. Looking through the posts I see no mention of cultural superiority with regards to diet. The idea is look at what is available and think if it is possible to live in a least harmful way. Yes, we, the people typing on computers and visiting a site such as this have the benefit of dietary choices not available to others, so why not advertise them and discuss amongst those who are able of utilizing them?
Many people of the world are incapable of purchasing an automobile, does that negate the need for discussions on fuel efficiency and alternative fuel?
cheers!
I'm a westerner and definately NOT affluent. Eco-friendly, organic, and other such lifestyles are way outside my budget. Unfortunately.
Yeah, I'm not affluent either, but I make radical choices that let me buy organic and simplify my life. I'm vegetarian, but not vegan - the vegan options for many products use oil, which I'm much more averse to.
Veganism is religion - there are no two ways about this - and I respect it, largely because it furthers environmental causes.
I respect vegans' choices. I wonder, however, about the larger-picture ethical tradeoffs between something made from wool/silk and something made from crude oil byproducts (nylon, rayon, polyester, basically all synthetics).
The end of my musings is usually me putting on one of my four pairs of hemp pants.
Ibex
I always find it somewhat strange when vegetarianism or veganism (and all of the ambiguities in those two terms) is pursued in a way that is dogmatic. If we are to seriously approach life from a position that values nature rather than seeks to exploit it, then it seems to me that one of the first realizations that we come to is that nature operates on the basis of sustainable, ecological models that emphasize the interconnectedness of all phenomena, rather than on the basis of strict objective delineation. Positing a series of "objects" is convenient, but breaks down as the inquiry becomes more precise -- and much has been said to this effect in the past 100 years in science and philosophy. One of the first results of a move away from 'substance'-based ideologies and toward procedural, ecological models is the giving up of that which is somehow stable "in itself". Actuality emerges in the ecological relation between ourselves and all that we call our world, and always exists relative to our position as a part of the whole.
This is my first comment; perhaps I have said too much. I would like to think my comment is fashioned after a tentative raising of the hand, among those that may be interested; the response, I suppose, is the only way to find out.
I was very pleased with the inclusion of the article. I thought it was well-written and enjoyed reading it.
From dictionary.com
"re·li·gion Audio pronunciation of "religion" ( P ) Pronunciation Key (r-ljn)
n.
1.
1. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.
2. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.
2. The life or condition of a person in a religious order.
3. A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.
4. A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion."
Veganism doesn't fall under 1, 2, or 3, but in a way it falls under 4. The 4th definition however applies to many activities of humans. Hunting, eating meat, not eating meat, driving, cutting trees, digging holes, building houses, etc.
On the note of "Eco-friendly, organic, and other such lifestyles" being out of ones budget, that's unfortunate. My yearly income is currently about $15,000 a year. I am a vegan and eat as much organic food as possible. My parents critique me about that, however combined they make more than $60,000 and they eat at restaurants almost every day or every other day. I'm not implying that you eat out often though, but I've found that the price to eat out (even at fast food) is more expensive than to eat organic food.
Also it's something like 33% of the people who regularly buy organic foods make less than $15,000 a year.
I used to get by on $150 a month on food (organic), now that is up to about $250, cause I splurge now. I am a little ashamed of that. Anyways, I realize this is in my area, but it's in a small rural town with a Co-Op. That comes out to about $3,000 a year. Maybe I just don't get why people say it costs so much. That's 1/5 of my yearly income.
Just my thoughts.
I'd like to point out how heated this conversation got so quickly - why is it that this debate sparks such intense emotion? Could it be that this is a symbolic cornerstone of our wasteful society where all but a few aspects of life become a "market externality"?
I'll start by admitting I'm vegan. However I do support the people that say "I'm almost a vegetarian" or at least think critically on the subject in the same way I applaud Ford making more fuel-efficient engines for gas-guzzling SUVs - it's a start. I do agree with calling veganism almost a religion of sorts, and let me briefly explain why. If one is an agnostic or an athiest, or something else without a "God" passing down moral beliefs in a book, it can then be ascertained that all life on earth came to its present form by the process of evolution in a void of moral judgment - if killing an animal gets calories to live another day, then sharp teeth and the appropriate digestive system ensued. However, using this as an excuse for meat-eating is akin to saying that many adaptations in human behavior - such as an increased likelihood in killing adopted children, cheating on one's sexual partner, and so on - are also justified. As "moral" beings, we ascribe a value onto social interactions, and rationalizing these values, it is easy to see that these should also apply to animals. Would you torture your cat cruely and kill it in order to enjoy its leg? Why not? Is it simply the attachment you have to the animal, or is it some intrinsic value in the cat? In this way, veganism is much like a religion, but so is any moral judgment.
Quick environmental reasons to become vegan (though research what to eat first and eat a variety of vegan foods!): Dairy cows consume more water directly and indirectly in arid California than all household uses combined. Livestock are a substantial contributor of the greenhouse gas methane. Factory farm effluent (including fecal matter) is not treated and is responsible for a great deal of environmental issues downstream and in the water table. We could feed all the hungry of the world with the grain we feed cows in America (though yes, this is a gross over-simplification). Land cleared for South American cattle is one of the biggest contributors to deforestation of the rain forests. The list is almost endless. If you consider yourself an environmentalist and eat meat, don't you think it's time to at least cut down some more and research some alternatives?
K, I think the point is that even a poor Westerner is far more affluent than the average person in non-industrial country.
And yes it is somewhat difficult to buy some of the fancier eco-friendly stuff out there, but when you think about it, it's actually much cheaper to live sustainably than to live unsustainably. Biking is cheaper than driving a car, growing your own organic food is cheaper than buying processed food a the supermarket, living in an apartment with friends and family is cheaper than living in a McMansion by yourself, and reusing old things is cheaper than buying new things. So, really, living sustainably is very doable even for those of us who live paycheck-to-paycheck.
Vegetarian foods are generally much cheaper than animal foods, since raising animals is a much more complicated process than growing plants. Obviously if you are looking at vegetarian foods that are highly processed "mock" meat/dairy, then stuff does get expensive, but good old healthy whole vegetarian foods are very affordable, even the organic kinds, usually. And buying at farmers' markets makes stuff really affordable. The ones around me (in Massachusetts) even take food "stamps".
A lot of people seem to think that it's OK to eat meat/animal products because it is a natural realtionship. Anyone who is using the whole "animals aren't as smart as we are/animals don't have feelings" argument should consider a unique emotion that humans have that most animals don't: a concience. So while animals cannot distinguish the concept of right and wrong, humans should be able to. It is the reason most humans don't steal from other people; it is the reason our hearts ache when we hurt one another. It is the reason those who research the cruel and inhumane practices used against animals are moved to liberate themselves from the cycle of killing. If you feel you are superior to animals, why abuse that power? We KNOW that the meat we eat is a result of mindless slaughter, therefore there is really no excuse not to act upon that knowledge. The idea that one might die without certain vitaminsthat can be obtained elsewhere or god forbid have to go out of their way to find food is irrelevent. It is within our power to redefine our natural relationship. It is within your power to eat vegan; that should be reason enough.
Peace to all.
First off...
What are we discussing here? Someone's Personal beliefs? Or the stigmatism sourrounded by a term?
For example, My self as a good upstanding agnostic, should I come unglued over someone listening to christian rock, or shall I become flustered and beside my self with fear/rage over some goodly folk knocking at my door, wanting to explain what happened 2000 years ago in a galaxy far far away, on a continent I will probably never set foot on. On the same token I don't plan on suicide bombings at the nearest steak house... I digress.
Why does it matter whether or not the wheat for my bread was free range, or whether the hemp clothes I am wearing was made from non-synthetic organically fertilized free-trade high grade hemp? I can't smoke it.
The vegan way of life is simply a ploy to live within the parameters set about by somebody's ideas of what is and isn't right or good.
The question you should be asking is Do you know where your food comes from? A majority of mine comes from my garden. Don't get me wrong, vegan is not all about vegetables. It is about being happy in one's own skin. Vegan is what happened to the protesters when the war was over. It is simply another sign to hold up, another cry for freedom. It is also an indemnifiable way of being unique, just like everyone else. I once googled vegan, and came up with 8,950,000 sites that had the word vegan in it. How many came up with religion and vegan? about a quarter of them. glancing quickly through the descriptions on the goolge search page, none of them claimed that veganism was a religion, but most claimed that it was like a religion or religion-like. Me personally i love a good juicy steak, a hamburger, and a side of ribs; My heart on the other hand likes Eggplant Parmesean, Tofurkey, and Zuccini stuffed peppers on a bed of steamed millet and cous cous.
Veganism is a way of life, Kind of like deciding to take the bus as a eco-friendly way of disposing of fossil fuels, the way is not always as clear as remove meat from your diet or you will die, sometimes it is more like that bimbo on tv is a vegan, it sounds like fun, hey let's try it.
Dont judge a book by it's cover, and seldom judge a book by reading the story description on the back cover. Both will tell you little about the book. If you want to know god, go to church, if you want a haircut go see a barber,however If you want to know vegan, make a conscious choice to eat no meat for a week.
I would like to express my profound disagreement with the inaccuracy and hypocrisy of this particular Vegan's rationale.
PETA too often paints an entire industry with the same brush, wrongfully lumping responsible and ethical institutions with the dubious
ones.
In the case of wool production and harvest, PETA frequently publishes information on its website and circulates propaganda to its membership that in no way reflects the methodologies of all wool producers.
Organic farmers for instance, consistently raise sheep in the most healthy, clean and respectful manner imaginable. The animals are not biologically altered, mutilated, arbitrarily slaughtered or marginalized in any of the ways mentioned in PETA's public relations material.
It is tragic that PETA sees fit to assault the efforts of organic farmers and textile producers who continue to make positive contributions to the sustainability of this great planet.
Which brings me to an even more disturbing aspect of PETA philosophy. The organization frequently extolls the virtues of animal-free products like
Gore-Tex, Thermolite, Thinsulate, Ultrasuede and Polartec to name but a few.
Does it not seem immensely short-sighted, if not hypocritical to endorse and promote synthetics which in actuality, cause tremendous harm to
wildlife and plant ecologies throughout the world.
Surely PETA is aware of the gigantic volumes of water, energy and unrenewable resources required to produce these "revolutionary" materials as they often call them.
Let's not forget the air and water pollution associated with petroleum based microfibre production and the variety of toxic dyestuffs used to infuse colour. Or the millions of pounds of high-tech landfill that continues to
consume terrestrial space.
Even recycled polyester production when studied objectively cannot approach the environmental soundness and sustainability of natural fibres.
Simply put, I cannot grasp the logic of an animal rights group promoting products that in fact, contribute directly to the detriment
and suffering of the group they profess to protect!
For these reasons I encourage PETA to seriously reconsider its promotion of synthetic fabrics and take steps to better acquaint itself with the
ideology, science and practice of organic textile production.
Respectfully,
Robb Wilkin
www.ejust.ca
thaks you so much for your concerd