Vegan lifestyle articles that discuss ways of living in peace with humans, animals, and the environment.
The
Abolitionist Vegan Society
December 2013
“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
Going vegan is simple. If you are going vegan, that means you are discontinuing consuming animal products including what you eat, wear, and use.
What You Eat
Vegans do not eat animals or animal secretions.
Vegans do NOT eat:
Dairy
Eggs
Flesh (meat including fish)
Honey
Other animal ingredients/byproducts
Vegans DO eat:
Vegetables
Legumes (beans, lentils, etc.)
Fruits
Grains (oats, rice, wheat, etc.)
Nuts
Seeds
What You Wear
In addition to not eating animal products, vegans do not wear (or use to the best of their ability) animal products.
Vegans do NOT wear:
Feathers (down, etc.)
Fibers from animals (angora, cashmere, mohair, silk, wool, etc.)
Skin (fur, leather, etc.)
Other animal products
Vegans DO wear:
Bamboo
Cotton
Hemp
Jute
Linen
Microfiber
Nylon
Pleather
Polyester
Rayon
Satin
Suedette
What You Use
Vegans do not use animal products, to the best of their ability. For example, if a vegan were buying a new car, a vegan would choose cloth seats instead of leather seats.
Should I go vegan immediately?
Some people choose to go vegan immediately and never put another animal product in their mouth and never put another animal product on their body. We encourage you to go vegan immediately and never purchase another animal product. It is much easier than most people think it will be. You can go vegan immediately. And we recommend it. After all, if you have decided you no longer want to participate in animal exploitation, why continue to participate?
But some people choose to go vegan in steps. We do not recommend going vegan in steps (decreasing participation in animal exploitation in steps), but if you are committed to going vegan, that is excellent. If you choose to go vegan in steps, you could follow The BLDO Plan [Breakfasts, Lunches, Dinners, Other].
We do not recommend going vegan by adopting a vegetarian diet first. To learn why, see Should I Go Vegan by Adopting a Vegetarian Diet First?
While going vegan results in one not consuming products of violence, being vegan is not just about not eating this or wearing that or a list of Dos and Don’ts. It is about nonviolence in action.
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