Vegans - aren't we so entitled?

Nothing gets my blood boiling more than people who choose to eat meat saying that vegans feel entitled. I remember talking to my dad about my wedding and how it, of course, would be vegan. He says to me, "I think you should have some non-vegan options for the non-vegans."

"Are you being serious??" was my natural reply as my eyebrows hit the roof.

"Yeah," he says, "when you go to a normal wedding they have special options for the veggies, so you should be polite to your guests and have some non-vegan options for the non-vegans."

I had to wait about ten seconds  to compose myself before I replied, or I'm sure I'd have said something I'd regretted.

"Well now," because of course all good retorts start with a nicely placed ' well now.' "Well now, if you were invited to a Jewish wedding would you expect them to serve bacon?"

"No, but..."

"No, Dad. There are no 'buts' you don't have to be vegan to eat vegan food! Do you have to be Chinese to eat Chinese food? Why would you expect me to violate my deepest principle on what's supposed to be one of the happiest days in my life?"

"Grumble, grumble, grumble."

I think that it's rather an entitlement to expect some poor innocent creature to lay down its whole life just because you like the taste of it.

However, as vegans we must be doing something wrong since this attitude still prevails. Next time I'm invited to a celebration I'll explain that I'll bring the damn vegan roast so they don't have to lift a finger, and what's more I'll let them all have some, and I'll make them all vegan brownies that will blow them away.

As humans we consider ourselves a very entitled species. We need to be on the cutting edge of showing everyone just how great it can be to be humble.

Prime example, Obama on Israel, "There's no country on earth that would tolerate missiles raining down on its citizens from outside its borders."

Hello? Maybe he killed irony in one of his drone attacks on Asian soil.

This sort of BS is even coming from the President of the United States, who otherwise is a pretty cool guy - but I suppose that's no surprise. I don't mean to get too political here, but it's just another prime example of human arrogance where it's ok for us to do it, but God forbid someone does it to us.

Vegans are the least entitled, every food choice, clothing choice, an umpteen other choices we make we are considering other people, animals, the environment, future generations. I'll be, and forgive the cliche, totally transparent here: before I was vegan I really liked meat, cheese, eggs and all the rest of it...I also like carnal pleasures, but I don't think it's ok for me to rape; I get angry, but I don't think it's ok for me to assault; I get hungry, but I don't think it's ok for me to murder!

How do we suggest this in a non-offensive way? By upsetting the omnivores amongst us we're not going to help them make the right choices. Sometimes we just need to bite our tongues, cool it, count down from ten, smile and say, "Hey, don't worry about me, I'll bring the vegan food!" then make sure it's the best food they've ever tasted.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. This year I'm so thankful for being vegan, for the growing popularity of veganism and for all of you vegan heroes out there spreading the good word that no blood has to be spilled for a good meal!

Kale vs Pork

It's here! The smack-down we've all been waiting for! 

In the green shorts, weighing in at 50 calories per 100 grams, it's the reigning vegetable-champion-of-the-world, the green wonder, the cruciferous kid - Kale!

In the pink shorts, weighing in at 458 calories per 100 grams, it's the current vogue meat, the dead animal everyone loves to see on their plate, the fantastically fatty - Bacon!

Round One: It's common knowledge that cruciferous vegetables can give you gas, POW, take that Kale - Bacon comes out swinging. Wait, Kale bounces off the ropes, Bacon raises cholesterol (only found in meat!) SMACK! Elevated risk of cancer with 17 carcinogens being released with cooking temperatures over 212 F BAM! And what's this, a combo move - Bacon can cause poor calcium retention whereas Kale is calcium rich, KERPOW!

Ding-Ding: Looks like Kale is the clear winner this round.

Round Two: With no carbs and 12 grams of protein per 100 grams Bacon is the clear choice for anyone on the Atkins diet, how will Kale possibly recover from a blow like that? Kale just seems to roll off the attack and throw one right back, with only 1 gram of fat to Bacon's 45 grams, it'll be hard for Bacon to carry on. Bacon throws out that it contains no fiber... the move has completely backfired with Bacon finding its self down face first and is struggling to get up.

Not long left in the round. Bacon has chosen to continue and is taking volley after volley from Kale, let's go over to the nutritiondata.self.com box for a moment and listen to their commentary:

Kale: This food is low in Saturated Fat, and very low in Cholesterol. It is also a good source of Dietary Fiber, Protein, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Folate, Iron, Magnesium and Phosphorus, and a very good source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Vitamin B6, Calcium, Potassium, Copper and Manganese.

Bacon: This food is high in Saturated Fat.

Ding-Ding: Another decisive victory for Kale.

Round Three: Bacon staggers into the ring to meet Kale, but the ref calls in the ringside doctor for an opinion. The doctor swings his hands high in the air, yet that's right, he always recommends eating more cruciferous veggies, but can't recall the last time he advised someone to increase their bacon intake. What a dramatic end to such a one-sided fight.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present the winner of this fight, STILL the UNDEFEATED CHAMPION-OF-THE-KITCHEN, the cruciferous kid - Kale!

Seriously though, the pork industry messes up the environment, our health and causes the suffering of millions of pigs worldwide, don't eat pork.

P.S. Eat more kale.

With a big thanks to our commentators:

http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2461/2

http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/pork-products/2208/2

http://www.livestrong.com/article/256224-the-dangers-of-high-meat-diets/

Meaning of Life

We'll all turn back to dust and be forgotten...so while we're here, let's be happy and kind!

Hope and Frustration

Has anyone ever seen that episode of South Park where Cartman goes to teach at an inner city school? The kids are just about given up and Cartman turns around and says to: "How do reach these kids?!"

Just in case you haven't:

That's exactly how I feel when people ask me about veganism. They clearly get it, animals should not be abused, but are unwilling to end the cycle of violence and exploitation. At which point I cradle my head in my hands and scream "How do I reach these omnivores?!" Although admittedly, my accent is significantly more British!

A few days ago I had my dad visiting me and we had gone out for meal. He's sat there, enjoying his pork dumplings and chicken curry while talking about how much he loves animals.

I hear this sort of thing from so many people, I can only conclude that either the whole world is totally f***ing insane, or it's just me.

It's like pausing mid-rape to express your devotion to women's rights.

I can only think of one solution - forget GMO labeling for now, instead let's have a label showing the moment of harvest, photographed by an independent organization. I would have absolutely no problem looking at a picture on my food package of a combine harvester working its way around a field, or a farmer's hand reaching up to pick some fruit. In fact I think it would be a great idea! That way I can ensure that there's no child labour, no sweatshops, no burning rainforest in the background. It would really make my food producers think about the ethics of their operation.

By the same token, if you're buying beef then it would reasonable to show that cow being bolted or having it's carotid slashed. Why not? Surely you'd want to check that your meal was being 'ethically' slaughtered. If you don't like what you see, then go vegan.

We live in a society where we are fed lies about where our food comes from. We see fried chicken places with a grinning rooster, dairy products with winking cows and BBQ places with pictures of pigs working the grill. At the entrance to death camps, do they have statues of prisoners grinning and giving the thumbs up?

It's very important to know where our food comes from and what we are eating - or am I somehow unique in this viewpoint? Maybe I'll start out with a petition to help make this reality, please give me any ideas you might have...

Tough Times

Sometime life throws us a tough few days, weeks or even years! This last week has been quite rough for me, to start with I had to have some dental work done. Unfortunately when I went in for stage one a couple of weeks ago the anesthesia wore off.

It started out as a mild discomfort then started to really smart. The dentist changed the drill head went back in and it was like lighting hit my mouth! Crack! Starting from my tooth, pain traveled at light speed along my spine, making my fingers and toes shake and tingle. Luckily it was over in an instant. She took the drill out and injected the roof of my mouth, "now this might hurt...quite a bit," the dentist said before she stuck the needle in. Anyway, as uncomfortable as it was it was all over in a few minutes.

This time when I went back in, I wasn't really too worried. I knew that worst case it would be sharp pain and in a few moments it would be over. Oh, why didn't my body agree with my brain? As soon as I sat down my back feels like a clammy waterfall. Regardless of how much I rationalized it and knew there was nothing to be scared of, I was terrified! Fortunately it went better this time and was relatively pain free. The dentist - a superstar - even asked for my cell number and called me at about 8:30pm to see if I was ok!

There's also the US Department of Homeland Security to worry about. I need to apply to remove the conditions on my residency in the US, provide a whole heap of paperwork and pay $590 for the privilege. Last time I dealt with them it was a process that was meant to take three months that ended up taking nine months during which time I was unable to work. Goodbye life savings! I'd call them to check on the progress, wait on hold for 45 minutes, would ask one question, they'd answer and hang up - I had more questions than that! This happened more than once.

Anyhow, good news they collected the money from the check and wrote to me saying they'd extend the green card by one year (which now means I have to carry my green card and a letter of explanation of why it's expired around with me) while they investigate my case. apparently it'll take about nine months. I'm not so sure why it takes so long since I've provided them with all of the documentation required and paid $590...but there you go.

Then there was work on Thursday. Another guy at the office started about a month before me, being the new guys we really hit it off and became close friends. A few months ago I was promoted and ended up becoming his manager. It seemed he was doing his job well until I was called into the CEO's office on Thursday.

My CEO (I report directly to him) showed me a report that shone a pretty harsh light on the shortcomings of my colleague, as a result of which I was told to get rid of him that day. I ended up calling one of my best friends into the office to fire him. It made me feel sick, because I know right now is a very difficult time for him personally with various family problems, so loosing his job was the last thing he needed.

Next is my family - my mum is going though a very difficult time right now.  On Tuesday she called me in tears to let me know she was dying.  Things seem to be a little better since then, all I can say is it's tough being so far away!

So that's where I am right now. I'm not going to pretend it's worse than it is, because I'll be ok, but it's been a difficult week. All of this reminds me of what caused me to become vegetarian. It was before I came to the States and I was at a real low point. Now whatever I go though to I can think back to the and think "well, if I survived that then I can get though this!"

It must have been nearly five years ago, I was sat down eating a chicken sandwich and worried sick with my own problems. I looked at the meat in that sandwich and realized that now matter how bad things were for me things had been a whole lot worse for that chicken. I'd have done just about anything to get out of my situation, yet here I am causing something a whole lot worse, and because of what...I liked the taste of it?

I cared so much for my own life and those of my loved ones, but I had complete disregard for the lives of the animals I ate. From that point on I realized I no longer had any moral justification for eating meat, and since then it's never even crossed my mind that I made the wrong decision. What sort of a person would I be to want to kill animals just for my own pleasure? That was the last chicken sandwich I ever had.

Several months later veganism was explained to me (by my hero!) there was no additional thought required. From that moment on I was vegan! How could I defend my stance that animals should not be killed and abused and still support the veal industry, the massacre of fluffy male chicks who go "peep, peep, peep!" I had no other recourse other than to become vegan.

The worse things get for me, the more it opens my eyes to the range of suffering that is possible, and the less it makes me want to be part of the suffering of others. 

What sort of a vegan blog would this be without...

The food post :)

Yup, like all vegans, I enjoy taking bad pictures of homemade food. Vegans/vegetarians on the whole seem to love food a lot more than the non vegan population, and for good reason! Veganism is often seen as such a restrictive diet, on the contrary, it's really opened my palate to so many great foods! It exposes you up to all of the nicest food from all over the world. When you're watching some program me about weird food on the Discovery Channel do you go "Ewww!" when they bust out the salad or the monkey brain? Enough said! 

Wherever you are, you know vegan food will be good, and with all of the meat substitutes these days you really don't have to change much if you don't want to.

Anyway, last night was one of those nights I was expecting to be fed, so didn't have a meal planned. That turned out not to be the case so I peered into the fridge. Half a head of broccoli, cold rice from last night, a few mushrooms left in the box and a block of tofu met my gaze.

About fifteen minutes later it had turned into this:

Ingredients

Broccoli

Tofu

Mushrooms

Rice

Sauce

Rice Vinegar (tablespoon)

Mirin (tablespoon)

Soy sauce (tablespoon)

Sesame/Vegetable oil (teaspoon)

Sugar (teaspoon)

Garlic (1 or 2 cloves)

I put the broccoli on to steam, chopped some tofu and crushed up some garlic. In a large frying pan I put a little vegetable and sesame oil on a medium heat, immediately I added the other sauce ingredients (excluding garlic) and stirred until it started to simmer. I then added the garlic, simmered for a minute little longer and reduce the heat.

I poured the sauce into a new sauce-pan set to a low heat, put the frying pan back on the heat and added the tofu into the frying pan, this way as it cooks it mops up the delicious savory flavor from the sauce! About now the broccoli was done steaming, so I added it to the pan with the sauce I also added last night's cold rice to the mix and gave it a good stir!

The tofu was coming on nicely so I added the mushrooms. I cooked for a further 4 or 5 minutes until the mushrooms and tofu were cooked though.

I put the broccoli and rice on a plate and then topped with the mushrooms and tofu. 

Moments later I was being a typical nerdy vegan photographing my food.

Anger!

There are few species that could claim to be as abused as chickens:

• More chickens are slaughtered each year in the US than there are people in the world.
• Chicken naturally live for 6 or more years, most are dead by six weeks.
• Male chickens of the egg breeds are killed within 72 hours of hatching, many by being discarded, live, into grinders.

It's easy to draw a few conclusions:

• The egg industry is a machine of genocide, killing half of chickens at birth, keeping the other half as slaves.
• At birth the date of death is already decided, welcome to Auschwitz.
• For these animals, there is no hope, there is no one coming to save them and they will die against their will as infants at the hand of man.

Are we all being good and moral by not involving ourselves with this by being vegan, vegetarian or, shudder, - 'flexitarian'? Yes, in part we are, but only to the same extent that we can claim to be good moral people by not exhibiting the same behavior towards humans. How crazy would it be to hear someone say, "You know, I try to be good, I gave up murdering people, I don't keep any slaves in my dungeon and I have't orchestrated any war crimes recently." Hmmm!

I don't know about you, but I would find it very hard to sleep at night knowing this is going on and I'm not doing anything to stop it.

We are born free, a luxury that not all our fellow earthlings have. Use your voice, write to businesses, sign petitions, tell your friends about compassion, be an example, show love, kindness, adopt, make a donation, invite people for cruelty free meals, support ethical businesses! Use your anger in a positive way, it's the catalyst for change.

To acknowledge suffering is bad is to acknowledge veganism is good!

If you haven't done so already, check out the video in that last post, he's a fantastic speaker :)

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!