“The animals of the world exist for their own reasons. They were not made for humans any more than black people were made for whites or women for men.” – Alice Walker
For me, veganism is a way to practice consistent anti-oppression and extend my values of justice and compassion towards all living beings.
In my experience, most people already share the same core values that vegans do: compassion, empathy, justice, family, freedom, fairness, love, truth, peace, open-mindedness and non-violence. There is nothing different or special about a vegan mentality–it simply involves applying our existing values to all animals as well as our fellow humans, and aligning those values with our consumption choices.
Becoming vegan is the best decision I’ve ever made. I feel like I’ve learned something on this earth that I was meant to learn, and that I wasn’t who I was meant to be until just recently. I only wish I’d gotten here sooner, but I’m so relieved and grateful that I got to this place at all, and I can think of no better way to live the second half of my life. Onwards, with love and boundless compassion!
“Ethical veganism results in a profound revolution within the individual; a complete rejection of the paradigm of oppression and violence that she has been taught from childhood to accept as the natural order. It changes her life and the lives of those with whom she shares this vision of nonviolence. Ethical veganism is anything but passive; on the contrary, it is the active refusal to cooperate with injustice”
Gary L. Francione
What Is Your Why?
When I first began exploring veganism, I found it enormously helpful to read other peoples’ stories, and hear about their journey towards greater compassion and kindness.
Like most people, I didn’t become vegan overnight, and there was no single moment that made me go vegan. Rather, for me, becoming vegan was a lot like my experience of falling in love, which happened slowly at first, then all at once.
Becoming vegan was less a linear process and more a constellation of connections over time and, in retrospect, throughout my entire life (though I would not have recognized let alone admitted to that). Though my journey to this point in time was not linear or straightforward, there were a few key moments that played a part in becoming the person I, happily, am today.
Read about why I, personally, became vegan here.
And read on to learn about the leading reasons more and more people are choosing a vegan life: Social Justice, the Environment, and their own Health & Wellbeing.
What Now?
If you’re convinced–or curious–but don’t know where to begin, my Vegan Starter Guide covers the most common questions and topics that come up when transitioning to the lifestyle.
“Veganism is not about giving anything up or losing anything; it is about gaining the peace within yourself that comes from embracing nonviolence and refusing to participate in the exploitation of the vulnerable”
Gary L. Francione
This page is a work in progress. Updates and added links coming later this week!