Why Vegan? A Lecture from Jonathan Balcombe

Why Vegan? Lessons From An Animal Scientist

Vegan Hezbollah

Anthony Bourdain famously said:

“Vegetarians, and their Hezbollah-like splinter-faction, the vegans, are a persistent irritant to any chef worth a damn.

To me, life without veal stock, pork fat, sausage, organ meat, demi-glace, or even stinky cheese is a life not worth living.”

Let's be very clear on what he's saying. Anthony claims his life is worth not living unless he has baby animals killed, adult animals killed, and animals subjected to a life of servitude and confinement just because it pleases his tastebuds.

This cycle of abuse can continue because the victims are not human. Can you imagine if they were?

"Police, and their Hezbollah-like splinter-faction, the Special Victims Unit, are a persistent irritant to any psycho worth a damn.

To me, life without killing children, murdering men women, eating their organs, and rape is a life not worth living."

The natural reaction to any meat-eater reading this will probably be offense. And why wouldn't it be? It seems that I'm insinuating that they are some sort of deranged mass-murdering maniac! Please don't take offense, this is not what I've set out to do. I ate meat for well over 20 years so I know it's difficult to get your head round this - it challenges the behavior you've practiced every meal.

Just understand that animals share the same emotions, pain and pleasure responses as humans. It may be to a different magnitude (although we really don't know yet,) but that doesn't justify killing them when there is another way. The minds of many animals mankind uses as commodities are just as sharp and advanced as those of human children - can you imagine ever subjecting children to that sort of abuse? Just think about it next time you're choosing between the beef or bean burrito. Doing the right thing will make a difference and I have so much respect for you for doing so.

Grey Areas

Vegans are united by belief in the principle that the unnecessary suffering of any species is bad. As Charles Darwin put it:

“There is no fundamental difference between man and the higher animals in their mental faculties.… The lower animals, like man, manifestly feel pleasure and pain, happiness, and misery.”

Like any belief system, subscribers to the ethical vegan philosophy may agree on the fundamentals, but may differ on some of the details. I remember when I first became a vegetarian, it was all so simple. Just don't eat meat – right?! Then it starts getting chilly, summer turns to autumn and those cooler nights are creeping in. So I reach for my favourite leather jacket.

Now this is a dilemma!

My favourite jacket, a gift from my family, and a pretty stylish garment, I thought. However, it did not escape my attention that some poor being was dead because of it. I reasoned that what was done was done, not wearing the jacket would not bring the animal back to life. My decision to wear or not wear the jacket would not result in any suffering.

Yup, I ended up giving the jacket away. Which opens up a whole other bag of worms – if I'm not prepared to do something, then why should I think it's ok for someone else to?

I gave it away because what you wear is a statement. If I want to tell people I'm against killing animals, then I can't very well be wearing part of dead one.

And this was the first of the grey areas!

These issues rise up again and again, the friend who cooks a meal just for you but doesn't get it quite right, the product you want wasn't tested on animals, but the parent company conducts animal tests, the vaccine you need contains egg and monkey tissue (yes really http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_vaccine_ingredients)

If only the whole world were vegan, things would be so much easier!

Nobody can tell you what's right and wrong in these situations, it's a judgement call. The point is we aren't living in a vegan world so we're all going to have to make these choices, and if we make different calls to each other, so what? If we lived in a vegan world, there would be no room for disagreement, so lets not let good vegans fall out with each other because we are put in impossible situations.

As vegans let's strive towards a more perfect and just world, lead with compassion, strength and forgiveness. Including self-forgiveness. 

We are not perfect and we do not always agree, but together we are stronger. Don't worry too much about they grey areas your heart will tell you what to do, just know you are living a life of compassion.

Overcoming Objections to Veganism

When you introduce yourself as a vegan, you'll either be met with mutters of support, questions why, or objections. The more progressive the area you live in the more support you are likely to receive! However, wherever you are you will always run into a few objections, even if it's a “That's great, good for you, but what are canine teeth for?”

From my experience objection fall into one of three categories:

Number One: The Absurd!

“If a lion was attacking you, and you had a gun, does being a vegan mean you can't shoot it?” Yes, I was on the receiving end of this one.

As fate would have it I was in a car with three colleagues heading over to the mall one lunch break. “Humm, that's quite a dilemma,” I replied, “and you do bring up a good point, but I must concede, I'd have to defend myself.” I paused a moment to let his satisfaction sink in. “However, I think at Taco Bell, it's more likely your meal was attacked by a slaughterhouse worker, than I will be by a lion.”

Number Two: The Scientist

It's strange how many people suddenly have a PhD in nutrition or evolutionary biology when they find out your vegan. I've always found these objections a little strange, as to insinuate that I'm not intelligent enough to make proper food choices is insulting. Remember, this is just a defense mechanism. The person you are speaking to knows, even if it's only subconsciously, that hundreds of animals die each year because of their choices, so they need to rationalize this with science, all be it bad science.

The easiest and most aggressive way to defend against this is to ask, “Do I seem unhealthy to you?” “No?” “And how many animals died because of me last year?” This will probably illicit another stupid response and cause an argument that will win you no support.

A very basic way to help sell your point of view in any situation is acknowledge and overcome:

Acknowledge the validity of the the other persons perspective, because we all like to be respected, and no one likes to feel like an idiot.

Overcome, because there is always a better reason to be vegan!

“Veganism is crazy you can never get enough protein!”

Acknowledge: “I can see why you'd think that, meat is packed full of protein.”

Overcome: “Some of the worlds top athletes are vegan, beans are packed full of protein, have no cholesterol and plenty of fiber.”

Even better, invite them for a run and kick their ass!

Number Three: The Ethicist

The Ethicist is the one who will argue that by being vegan we are terrible people. These are the rarest of objectors, but the nastiest.

Let's remind people that regardless of how “crazy” we may seem being vegan is a completely benign act. People don't choose to become vegan because they hate the earth or don't care for the environment. It's madness to say that the choice to become vegan is somehow selfish. It's a selfless act in that it restricts our options. Now before you object wildly and say that it's exposed you to so many new foods and has given you better health, there's no reason why you couldn't have done this while eating meat once a month, or putting a little cheese on your pasta.

Yes, we do have these benefits, but as ethical vegans we have not made this choice for our palate, we have made this choice so that our existence is a sustainable one that causes the least amount of suffering possible. We have made this choice so that there will be enough food for all of the children in this world, we have made this choice to reduce our environmental footprint, so that life itself can continue to flourish and our fellow earthlings will not be slaughtered!

“Oh really?” says the Ethicist, “So, you think that because you chose the veggie burger you're so righteous?”

Calm down, take deep breaths :)

Acknowledge! “Yes, it's a very simple choice, and of course I'm no better than you – in fact I think this if anything you're better than me!” (fingers crossed behind my back.)

Overcome! “Since it takes up to 16 pounds of feed to make one pound of meat, there's much less land usage and fewer resources used to create the veggie burger, so I'm just trying to play my little part and be good.”

Still feeling malicious the Ethicist responds: “You neglect to realize that some areas can only support livestock as the soil isn't good enough to grow crops, so while my meat is local, your precious vegetables are being flown in from half way around the world!”

I never really understand the zeal some people show when trolling veganism. Were you attacked by a vegan as a child? I bet a heck of a lot more cows have been attacked by Ronald McDonald – but let's not go there.

Acknowledge: “Absolutely, the soil is very poor in some areas, and it's fantastic your are eating locally produced food, if more people were like that, I'm convinced the world would be a much better place.”

Overcome: “Over three quarters of cattle in the US are grain fed, wouldn't it be fantastic if we could use that grain to feed humans instead and return the land to nature, and as much as I support local production, there is quite a problem with the high levels of methane produced by grass fed cattle...have you ever tried a veggie burger, they taste pretty good these days!”

The trick is to keep being nice to them until they can't help but be nice back! Smile, be nice, acknowledge, overcome and the world will be ours!!

Remember...

Acknowledge the validity of the the other persons perspective, because we all like to be respected, and no one likes to feel like an idiot.

Overcome, because there is always a better reason to be vegan!

Why aren't more people vegan?

When I first became vegetarian, and then vegan, it was like someone switched on the lights. I had no idea why more people couldn't see the world how I did. Do you want animals to suffer at our hands? No? Then why aren't you vegan?

Most people absolutely want to do the right thing, but to really understand why they aren't we need to see things from their point of view.

We all still drive our cars

Let's look at another issue. We all care about the environment. This is really crazy: we have sea levels rising, oil spills, climate change, we are on the brink of one of the largest extinctions, but we all still drive our cars.

But what choice do I have? I live in an area with no sidewalks, no public transport, I would cycle, but there aren't any showers at work. I feel trapped, like I want to do the right thing, but I can't.

We need to hear about the solution!

People often feel the same way about veganism: they know eating less meat is healthier and they don't really like to think of animals being killed, but they only know how to cook with meat, and where would they get their protein? Plus, milk and meat and eggs are in everything, right?

People don't want to hear the problem, we all already know the problem. We need to hear about the solution!

Show them just how easy it is!!

Bashing a sign on my windshield telling me I'm killing the planet won't make any difference other than to make me dislike you. Try starting a ride sharing scheme, that will save the world and put a few extra dollars in my pocket. It's a win-win situation.

When you see someone eat a burger, don't call them a murderer, they already know what meat is. Buy them a Gardein beefless burger!  Show them just how easy it is!! Better yet, throw them a few vegan coupons, put some dollars back in their pocket too for doing the right thing. It won't take many ethical meals until they form a life long habit of good ethics.

Thoughts To Live By

Here are some thoughts to live by:

A man can live and be healthy without killing animals for food; therefore, if he eats meat, he participates in taking animal life merely for the sake of his appetite. And to act so is immoral.

Leo Tolstoy


Now I can look at you in peace; I don’t eat you anymore.


Franz Kafka


Poor animals! How jealously they guard their pathetic bodies…that which to us is merely an evening’s meal, but to them is life itself.


T. Casey Brennan


As long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other. Indeed, he who sows the seeds of murder and pain cannot reap the joy of love.


Pythagoras


It ill becomes us to invoke in our daily prayers the blessings of God, the Compassionate, if we in turn will not practice elementary compassion towards our fellow creatures.


Mahatma Gandhi


The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.


Charles Darwin

For more select quotes see: Vegan OutReach

"Why are you vegan?"

It's a common question. Let's flip it.

In a world where we did not kill animals simply because we liked the taste of them, in a world where we embraced sustainability, would it not seem out of place to decide to slaughter an animal and eat its carcass?

When people ask why I'm vegan, I often feel like scratching my head and asking why I'd be anything but vegan.

Veganism isn't a diet.Veganism isn't even a choice to be compassionate. 

Veganism is a choice not to be cruel.

How to Debate

There's nothing worse than winning the argument but loosing the respect of your opponent. Regardless of how good your rationality for being vegan - or any other point you wish to make - is, if you present yourself in the wrong way you will not change minds, just upset them.

"What would have made us more receptive to the ideas veganism has to offer?"

Most of us who are vegan today used to eat meat, drink milk, eat eggs and cheese, wear leather, and do numerous other things that we wouldn't dream of doing now our eyes are open. We need to remember this when engaging others in discussion. Rewind the clock to our pre-vegan days and what would have made us more receptive to the ideas veganism has to offer?

My first exposure to openly vegan people didn't do much for me. They were generally shouting, looked scruffy and were waving around pictures of tortured animals.

What did that have to do with me? I wasn't one of the great un-washed and I certainly didn't torture animals.

These days I don't feel a lot has changed. There is still this general perception of a vegan as an unshaved, unemployed, unproductive...and a bunch of other words beginning with "un", high on drugs living in a tent somewhere. The first comment I usually get when people find out I'm vegan is "Wow, you don't seem the sort!" to which I generally laugh and explain that we don't all have two heads.

"Match and mirror."

This gives me the opportunity to engage people as an equal. In sales there is a technique known as "match and mirror," basically what it boils down to is that you are much more likely to listen to (and do business with) someone who is similar and/or a friend.

When you engage someone on the topic of veganism, find out what matters the them. Is it the environment, animal rights, health, super-bugs, sustainability, etc. and use that angle first. Think back to the time before you were a vegan and remember how you'd have liked to be spoken to, the sort of person you'd be likely to take seriously and the respect you would have liked to have been shown.

"Find out what matters to them."

You're unlikely to get a home-run first time round, but you may well win that persons respect and change their attitude towards veganism. The next time you speak invite them over for a meal and send them home with lots of leftovers! Show them just how easy it is!

Like most other vegans I feel a lot of urgency and anger. Animals are dying in the worst ways, we need to change this now! But I didn't get to this mindset overnight, and it's unlikely that by implying someone is a murderer of baby animals we will do much other than upset them.

"It's not about proving people wrong, it's about showing people they have the power to change!"

Find out what matters to them and show them how transitioning to veganism matches exactly with their existing values. It's not about prooving people wrong, it's about showing people they have the power to change!