WTF Blog - What is Veganism? — We The Free Activism

Veganism is the fastest growing social justice movement in the world, but it’s fair to say there is sometimes confusion around what exactly veganism is. Allow us to clarify.

So What is Veganism, Really?

The term “vegan” was first coined by Donald Watson in 1994, using the first 3 and last 2 letters of the word “vegetarian”. According to The Vegan Society:

“Veganism is a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of animals, humans and the environment.”

What does this mean, exactly? Let’s start with the biggest and most obvious factor: food.

What do Vegans eat?

Simply put, foods for a vegan diet can include anything with the exception of animal products; including meat, fish, eggs, honey, and dairy. Vegans can eat everything non-vegans can like pizzas, burgers, curries, sushi, hot dogs, and much more, by simply substituting animal products with plant-based alternatives.

Now, there are different types of vegan diets. Some vegans eat a whole-food, plant-based diet while some call themselves “junk food vegans”. Very different diets but the important thing they have in common is neither one deliberately contributes to harming animals. It doesn’t matter if you’re whole food, plant-based or if your fridge is full of meat alternatives, as long as you don’t consume animals or their secretions, your diet is vegan.

But let’s not forget: veganism is not a diet, it is a moral philosophy! There’s more to it than just food.

What Else Do Vegans Look Out For?

Vegans also avoid animal by-products and products tested on animals. To the vegan-curious, this can sound pretty daunting. Thankfully, the rising popularity of veganism has made it easier to spot vegan and cruelty free skin care lines, makeup, cleaning products and so much more! Symbols like the vegan “V” and the Leaping Bunny are commonly found on these items.

It is worth noting that vegan and cruelty-free do not mean the same thing. “Vegan” means the product contains no animal-derived ingredients while “cruelty-free” means the product was not tested on animals. A product can be both, or sometimes one but not the other. Some quick Googling will help you find brands you can trust.

vegan-leather-pineapple-jacket — Vegan Clothing

In today’s society, we have access to an array of vegan fabrics. Still, some clothing lines are stuck in the past with their use of animal-derived materials like leather, fur, wool and silk. A common misconception is that vegan fabric alternatives are not natural or sustainable. The truth is: the production of leather and fur is far from “green”.

While it’s true that some “faux” materials are made of plastic, there are so many vegan AND eco-friendly options. There’s organic cotton, cactus leather, lotus silk and faux fur made from recycled materials, to name a few. With younger generations wanting more cruelty-free and sustainable frocks, the demand for vegan fabrics is skyrocketing. By the year 2027, vegan and sustainable fashion is expected to be valued at $1095.6 billion US!

This brings us to one more major way in which we use animals: entertainment.

Animals are extensively used and abused in places like the circus, aquariums, rodeos, resorts and zoos. I know, you probably have cherished childhood memories of going to the aquarium to see the whales or riding a pony at a petting zoo. We’ve been there, too. Although these activities are often considered as fun for humans, they most certainly are not fun for the animals involved. Why not? In order to get animals to “perform”, trainers use cruel tools and methods like whips, tight collars, bullhooks and even starvation.

You are sure to find handlers who vow that their animals are happy and healthy but ask yourself this: Would you be happy spending your life with people riding your back or being forced to perform for rowdy crowds? There is just no ethical way to use animals for entertainment.

Sadly, the use of animals does not stop with food, consumer products, and entertainment.

Humans use an alarming amount of animals in medical experimentation. These animals are tortured with psychosis-inducing confinement, burns, holes drilled in their heads, chemicals dropped in their eyes and much more. We’ve been led to believe these experiments are necessary, however, the conclusions found from testing on animals rarely transfer to humans. In fact, The National Institutes of Health reports that 95% of drugs tested on animals fail in human trials.

animal testing monkey — (Picture: CEN/Cruelty Free International/SOKO Tierschutz)

Of course, we can’t forget there is a lot of other “stuff” that might not be vegan. Animal ingredients are often found in items like furniture, vehicles, pillows and bedding, and art supplies, amongst other things.

But please don’t let this overwhelm you!

We’ve covered a lot here but we promise, veganism is not as complicated as it might seem. Sure, there is some research involved at first but like any new venture, it gets easier in time. With veganism becoming more and more popular, new support options are popping up all the time. You can sign up for Veganuary, Challenge22 or even join a local support group. Another easy place to start is by Googling vegan recipes for meals you currently enjoy, ie. “vegan mac and cheese” or “vegan steak” - yes really, vegan steak!

As any vegan will tell you, the benefits of veganism are well worth the effort. You will often hear vegans say, “My only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner”. There is no better feeling than knowing you no longer contribute to unnecessary animal suffering. As we mentioned earlier, veganism is a moral philosophy but it is also an unbelievable joy.

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