International International

Four to five percent of the Chinese population—or more than 50 million people—no longer eat meat or dairy. In other words, China has more vegans than any other nation in the world

ince 1944, when founder of Food Fight! “In the old days, we were coined the term ’vegan‘ and kicked really focused on making it easier to be vegan off a revolution of compassion, and to show interested folks that there were the world has seen the v-word go tasty options. Nowadays, with vegan stuff from fringe to familiar. Gone are everywhere and the ethical focus sometimes Sthe days when vegans were considered pale, getting lost in healthy-eating fads, I think vegan bark-eating weaklings. Today, we have such stores need to do our part to keep the spotlight vegan athletes as footballer Dean Howell, on the animals, environment, and food justice, champion mixed martial artist Mac Danzig, and not just turn into specialty stores catering to Global and Olympic gold medalist Alexey Voyevoda upscale customers.” to remind us that -based eating is not Down Under, you can grocery shop at Vegan only the most ethical choice, but better for our Perfection in Melbourne or The Cruelty-Free health. And as mounting evidence points an Shop in Sydney, a one-stop shop with a stunning From movement to mainstream, veganism accusatory finger at animal agriculture as a selection of vegan food items, cosmetics, shoes, major contributor to climate change, it’s now handbags, and more. Stroll into Vegan Style has truly gone global common to find at least one vegan cookbook or Vegan Wares and walk out with the kind of in even an omnivore’s kitchen. footwear and purses that make people say, “Wow, that’s vegan?” Retail with a conscience Boutique vegan stores abound in the United Among the signs that veganism has grown Kingdom, where ethical shoppers can find beyond a health-food craze to become a global groceries at such markets as Birmingham’s 100% phenomenon is the spectacular evolution of Vegan, Honest to Goodness in Hoylake, and vegan shopping. Remember when buying non- Vx in London. Vegans the world over hoof it to leather boots or a wool-free winter coat meant Vegetarian Shoes in Brighton for their amazing ordering online, waiting two weeks, and hoping range of boots, shoes, and sandals, and The Third they fit when they arrived? Now, brick-and- Estate in Camden offers a welcome choice of mortar vegan businesses from grocery markets ethical fashion for men and women. to clothing and shoe shops are changing the On the continent, Un Monde Vegan is Paris’s face (and feet) of veganism around the world. answer to the something-for-everyone shop, The United States has no fewer than eight with a truly énorme variety of vegan groceries, vegan grocery stores—Food Fight! in Portland, as well as shoes, shirts, belts, and books. Oregon; NOOCH in Denver, Colorado; Vegan Meanwhile, the German supermarket chain Haven in Seattle, Washington; Republic of V in is re-branding the idea of the vegan Berkeley, ; Park+Vine in , grocery store with seven locations in Germany, Ohio; Artichoke Red in Orlando, Florida; and one in Prague, one in Vienna, and a goal of two locations of Viva la Vegan in the having 60 markets worldwide by 2020, including area—with more on the way. And the plethora a London branch this year offering more than of stateside vegan shops offering clothing and 6,000 vegan products. accessories includes Éthique Nouveau, Herbivore, And, of course, this doesn’t include the Moo Shoes, Vaute, and Vilchez Boutique. countless vegan bakeries that are springing up like “I think the importance of vegan markets has cake batter in major cities and small towns from shifted over the years,” said Chad Miller, co- to Zurich.

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A China study Veganz is re-branding Although China has yet to provide the variety of cruelty-free shopping you’ll find in the West, the idea of the vegan it’s becoming a vegan powerhouse. According grocery store with seven to Public Radio International (PRI), four to five percent of the Chinese population—or more than locations in Germany, one in 50 million people—no longer eat meat or dairy. Prague, one in Vienna, and In other words, China has more vegans than any other nation in the world. They are mavericks in a goal of having 60 markets a country where consuming animals is seen as a worldwide by 2020 sign of happiness and prosperity. (In China, the words for ’chicken’ and ’fish’ sound like those for Veganism goes on the road ’auspicious’ and ’abundance’.) Of course, the best way to experience a changing Call it a counter-movement; while meat and vegan world is to see it firsthand. Like ecotourism dairy consumption are on the rise throughout for the adventure traveller, vegan tourism is Asia, there is a growing concern about how these spreading like hummus on a bagel, and it’s yet mass-produced foods impact human health, another example of how the lifestyle is going the planet, and . Not surprisingly, global. Tour companies such as Veg Voyages it’s the twenty- and thirtysomethings who are and UK-based VegiVentures specialise in taking driving the dietary shift. “Young people are more vacationers to far-flung destinations for a vegan environmentally aware and more open to new getaway, while Holistic Holiday at Sea, a health- ideas,” Dong Ziyang, the manager of the organic educational foundation, even offers a seven-day vegetarian Jintai Catering Club, told China vegan cruise of the Caribbean. 2 Central Television. “They love to be in the trend Green Earth Travel kicks things up a notch by or lead the trend. So we’re quite confident about 1 offering tours of Italy with author and vegan chef the prospects.” Colleen Patrick-Goudreau. “One of the biggest 1 Vegan Chinese pop star and vegan activist Long Kuan wanted an abattoir in their city, so the facility has misconceptions is that it’s hard to eat vegan in consumerism has agrees. “Times have really changed,” she told PRI. been transformed into a cultural centre that hosts Italy,” said Patrick-Goudreau. “It’s a misconception given rise to a new “Maybe 10 years ago, when I was a vegetarian, a decidedly more peaceful activities. because of all the European countries, Italy values wave of boutiques lot of people said, ‘Why? Are you Buddhist?’ or The two major annual events in the United the local food of the various regions, and so your cropping up in something. But now, it’s completely different. The States—FARM’s National options in restaurants are often locally grown unexpected places, young generation, especially, they love to be eco- Conference and Taking Action for Animals, , mushrooms, pastas, breads, , including middle friendly, and they love to be compassionate. And organised by the Humane Society of the United and nuts.” America (in this case, they really care about the environment and the States (HSUS)—have a strict vegan policy, Green Earth Travel’s founder Donna Zeigfinger Cincinnati, Ohio) quality of life, about pollution . . . they really care as do New Zealand’s National Animal Rights says she’s seeing more people than ever 2 At Vegan Style in about fellow creatures on this planet, animals, Conference, Australia’s Animal Activists Forum, participate in vegan vacations. “It’s definitely on Melbourne, stylish and even trees.” every event managed by the Institute for Critical the rise. I’ve been doing this since the early ‘90s, leather-free footwear Animal Studies, and the Minding Animals and I had to offer vegan travel because of so reigns. Owner Justin Convening for compassion Conference in India, which recently switched many requests.” Mead (pictured) is a What better place for these caring Millennials from vegetarian to vegan. For those with an itch for travel—or who just longtime vegan and Gen Xers to convene than an animal-rights The ethic is catching on with the welfare gang, want a new recipe—the Internet has become the conference? Not only do they attract attendees, too. The week-long Animal Care Expo, hosted vegan’s most valued companion. But the real exhibitors, and speakers from around the globe, by HSUS, has been completely vegan for the last proof of veganism’s mushrooming popularity is but there’s a growing list of such events that do decade, and more animal shelters around the what’s happening in the real world. From brick- not serve animal products. One of them, the world are eschewing meat, eggs, and dairy foods and-mortar retail and compassionate young is the author of Bleating Hearts: annual International Animal Rights Conference at their fundraising events. Colombia’s Paramatma adults to conferences and ethical vacations, The Hidden World of Animal Suffering and in Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg, is even held Animal Shelter, for example, opened a few years it’s clear that veganism is making its way from : A Practical Guide to at a former . Locals no longer ago and is the country’s only vegan sanctuary. movement to mainstream. Animal Activism. Tweet him @markhawthorne.

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