Vegan Starter Pack Beyond not buying the products for which animals the visual impact of the pictures and films that are raised and slaughtered, each individual has have documented so many abuses? different opinions about being vegan. Everyone On Being Not Just What We Avoid On Being takes their own path. Once you make the decision to oppose factory Some would argue that vegans should replace farms and industrial slaughterhouses, you will face their current cameras with digital ones. However, a number of questions. There are two particularly we have to ask if spending money replacing a Vegan difficult questions that you’ll need to ask yourself: functional object with a new one is the best way 1. What exactly is a “vegan”? to oppose cruelty to animals. (This is also an issue 2. How should I deal with other people who with leather and wool goods we had purchased aren’t vegan? before becoming vegan.) Might the extra money be better spent creating resources to spread The Impossible Quest for Purity vegetarianism, such as printing literature? When you first discover the reality of modern ani- We believe that being vegan isn’t simply avoid- mal agriculture, you might feel compelled to try ing a list of products. We seek to maximize the to root out every single product associated with good we accomplish with our decisions. As vegans, animal suffering. Unfortunately, personal purity what we do is as important as what we don’t do. is impossible. Some vegans and non-vegans alike are quick All around us are items connected in some to call others “hypocrites” if they don’t avoid a way to animal exploitation: organic foods (animal certain hidden ingredient. But if your goal is to manure used as fertilizer), cotton (animal products alleviate suffering, it isn’t hypocritical to accept in the bleaching process), bicycles (animal fat used that avoiding all hidden ingredients can be pro- in the vulcanization of tires), books (hooves and hibitively expensive, time-consuming, and make bones in binding glue), roads and buildings (animal veganism appear impossible to others. It is also products used in curing concrete), water (tested worth noting that animal by-products will dis- with animal products, often filtered through bone appear as the meat, dairy, and egg industries fade. char), etc. Even many vegan foods result in killing Therefore, our time and energy are most likely bet- some animals during planting and harvesting. ter spent focused on spreading vegetarianism than on shunning minor ingredients. Why, What, and How Vegan Outreach’s View: continued on page 2 People are interested in veganism for many rea- A Results-Based Approach sons. These include reducing suffering, helping We believe that framing veganism as the avoid- the environment, and improving their health. ance of a specific list of “bad” ingredients is not Regardless of why you are exploring veganism, the best way to achieve results. When looked at your example and your choices are the most closely, any ingredients-based definition of vegan important things you can do to help make the collapses into inconsistencies. This is why we world a better place. By not buying meat, eggs, stress that the essence of being vegan is working and dairy, each individual is making a statement to end cruelty to animals. against cruelty to animals, undertaking an eco- Working to end cruelty to animals is a clear nomic boycott, supporting the production of motivation that can be easily comprehended by nonanimal products, and supporting more sus- others. When discussing veganism, we admit there tainable agricultural practices. These decisions, are not always clear-cut answers and explain that and the message they send to others, help make it’s not a matter of making the “right” or “wrong” society more humane. choice in every situation. This practical, goal- As Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “The time is oriented approach shows that being vegan is an always ripe to do right.” active, progressive means by which we make the world a better place. Two Questions Although all views of vegan include withdraw- With so many reasons to ing support from factory farms and slaughter- become vegan, it’s not sur- houses, there are many instances where a results- prising based approach can help animals more than an there are ingredients-based approach. For example, a consis- many tent vegan dedicated to an ingredients-based view views of of veganism wouldn’t use film (which contains what vegan- gelatin) under any circumstances. Yet how much ism means. animal suffering has been alleviated because of INSIDE ᮣ Speciesism and Animal Rights ..............2 Vegan Foods Glossary ......................3 An expanded version of Vegan Recipes..............................4 this brochure is available at Staying a Healthy Vegan ...................5 veganoutreach.org/vsp Vegan Resources ..........................11 Questions & Answers......................12 continued from page 1 Many people Dealing with Others agree that animal Choosing to stop eating animals implicitly com- ultimately be the best voice for the animals. agribusiness is municates to family, friends, and colleagues that Although some of the information regarding cruel, yet feel their their continued eating of animals is wrong. When vegetarianism is outdated or biased, there is a lot efforts will never make vegans share their new ideas, some family and of solid information available to help us educate any significant difference. friends not only show resistance, but can even ourselves about the issues. (We list sources of But consider the following scenario: react with mockery or anger. Combine this with good information later in this booklet.) However, the fact that vegans naturally view meat eaters we needn’t be encyclopedias of facts. The simplest Suppose the current 5,000+ members of as supporting cruelty and causing suffering, and reasons for being vegan can be the most power- Vegan Outreach influence one person to it is not surprising that some vegans can develop ful: “I know that I don’t want to suffer. Therefore, become vegan every five years on average, a near hatred of them. I don’t want to cause others to suffer.” and these new vegans, in turn, also influence In order to prevent and alleviate suffering, one new person every five years. Although however, we must let the compassion we feel On Being Vegan the change will be imperceptible at first, for animals shine through the pain and anger we The most important tool we have in our efforts by the middle of the century, more than feel about their exploitation. Unless non-vegans against cruelty to animals is our positive, sincere, ten percent of the U.S. population will have can respect us—as opposed to finding us cold thoughtful example. Looking at the long-term become vegan, and far more suffering will and judgmental—they will have little interest changes in society, we can know that each of us, have been prevented than had we abolished in veganism. in our example, actions, attitude—our entire exis- every other form of animal exploitation in Instead of expecting others to go vegan tence—is changing the world. If we could focus the country. As more people stop eating ani- immediately, we need to offer understanding and all our energies on understanding and outreach, mals, there will be many more vegan options give them time to deal with their unique situa- rather than on anger, the world would be signifi- for everyone (e.g., vegan burgers will be tions. Burning bridges with anger only serves to cantly better. Living honestly and compassionately cheaper and more readily available), making create enemies and feed the stereotype of vegans as a vegan is an affirmation of life, a means to ful- it much easier for others to change. At this as hostile, isolated misanthropes. As long as we fillment and joy. These positive aspects of vegan- pace, it will only take a few more decades remain respectful, our positive example of vegan- ism are what we must embrace for ourselves and for the entire U.S. population to be vegan. ism, as well as the information we provide, will communicate to others. VO S PECIESISM AND A NIMAL R IGHTS SPECIESISM Speciesism is the act of mutilated, and boredom and frustration when treating individuals according to the species to caged for long periods of time. Since we under- which they belong, rather than according to “I look at the term stand how horrible these sorts of suffering are, the characteristics they possess, such as the ‘species,’ as one arbitrarily we protect humans from being caged, killed, ability to suffer. Most people who consciously given for the sake of convenience or mutilated. As an “enlightened” society, we support the exploitation of nonhuman animals to a set of individuals closely condemn those who would violate these rights are speciesist. resembling each other.…” of other humans. In the past, there have been a number Based on common physiology and behavior, CHARLES DARWIN of definitions of what constitutes a different THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES it is safe to say that cows, pigs, chickens, and species. Today it is defined genetically. To the other animals we raise to eat also experience defenders of speciesism who believe that only fear when their lives are threatened, pain when humans have rights, this raises the following their bodies are mutilated, and boredom and questions: frustration when caged for long periods of time. Ⅲ Why should rights be granted on the basis Nonhuman animals show they value their lives of genes? and freedom by their struggles against being caged, mutilated, and killed. Depriving them Ⅲ If rights should be based on genes, why of life or freedom harms them in many of the should the line be drawn at species rather same ways that humans are harmed when than at race, order, phylum, or kingdom? deprived of life or freedom.