What’s the deal with Vegans?!

The moment one discovers I’m vegan I am bombarded with numerous questions, looks of disbelief, and judgement. I am automatically characterized as a tree-hugging hippie, whose goal in life is to make everyone else’s complicated. This could not be further from the truth. Many people who become vegan, do so as a conscience choice to minimize their ecological footprint, improve their health and to lead a more ethical and compassionate life. 

We are not out to get you, trust me.

A vegan is a person who has made the conscious decision to live a life free of meat, eggs and dairy. These individuals also avoid products that are made from and are tested on animals.  I know what you’re thinking, why on earth are you not consuming dairy– cows are not killed during the production of milk. Yes, that may be true; however the dairy industry has desecrated of the entire process. Cows produce milk for their young the same way mothers produce breast milk for their babies. The dairy industries inject artificial insemination into dairy cattle to impregnate them and kill them after 4 -5 year, even though their average life span is 25 years. These cows are fed numerous chemicals and antibiotics to ensure they produce the most amount of milk possible, so that the industry can make the most bang for their buck.  Not only is this painful and inhumane, but it also contributes to many health issues we as North Americans face today.

 The ongoing battle of what came first: the chicken or the egg? Who the hell cares?! These little beings are forced to live their entire life in horrific living conditions and complete confinement.  Multiple hens are crammed into cages in which they are unable to simply spread their wings. They have their beaks cut off without the use of painkillers, most commonly referred to as debeaking, and often urinate on each other due to space restrictions. These hens are fed hormones that allow them to continually lay eggs until they are calcium depleted and on the verge of death. All this for what?  To be able to consume something that is so high in cholesterol and will likely cause clogged arteries, high blood pressure and heart disease. These processes are extremely cruel and immoral. It is a very unsettling to think that humans have the smarts to advance in terms of development and technology, but are capable of causing such pain on innocent creatures.

Anything can seem daunting and difficult if you allow it to be - being vegan doesn’t have to be. We are all very fortunate to be a part of a society that allows us to opt for one choice over another, so make it count. Next time you run into a vegan and question ‘why?’ consider ‘why not?’