Veganism: The Purpose of the Practice. Veganism is the practice of refraining from the consumption of meat and any products

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Veganism: The Purpose of the Practice. Veganism is the practice of refraining from the consumption of meat and any products"

Delphia Walker
5 years ago
Views:

1 Last name 1 Student name Professor Apostolidis English May 2013 Veganism: The Purpose of the Practice Veganism is the practice of refraining from the consumption of meat and any products that derive from animals, such as dairy, leather, wool etc. A person that follows such precise regulations is called a vegan. Vegans are also known to be strict vegetarians because they take the practice more seriously to promote animal welfare. They believe that by not consuming any products from animals, they can one day put an end to animal exploitation. Vegans became known around the 19 th century when Donald Watson created a group called The Vegan Society, whose main focus was the well-being of animals. Throughout the years, veganism has become a practice that besides benefitting animals, it also benefits humans and the environment. Veganism always caught my attention, but not enough to learn more about it. Recently, I was walking to the library and a lady stopped me to hand me a booklet. I usually reject them, but this time I received it. It was a booklet about animal cruelty in factory farms; I was astonished by all the graphic pictures the booklet contained. After that experience, I learned to admire vegans because of their self-control and sacrifices to help animals. I used this research paper as an opportunity to learn more about them and educate myself of their purpose to follow such practices. Personally I want to become a member of the vegan society, but I believe it is a difficult decision to make. Vegans main concern is the well-being of all animals. They are against any cruelty committed towards them because most animals are made of flesh, bone and blood just like we

2 Last name 2 are. They feel pain and have the five same physiological senses, just like we do (Friedrich 1). Friedrich believes that since animals are capable of feeling pain and are somewhat similar to humans, they shouldn t be abused. The problem is that animals are critically mistreated and brutally killed in factory farms. They are kept in unsanitary and crowded conditions. In Going Vegan, Dana Rau asserts that Chickens are crowded by the thousands in large sheds [that] are cramped so chickens can t run around and lose weight (15). She illustrates to us the horrible and unhealthy conditions where chickens are forced to live in. Even though chickens aren t killed when they re laying eggs, they are being exploited and mistreated. This is why vegans refuse to consume eggs and other products that derive from the exploitation of animals. Another example is the mistreatment of cows in their production of milk. Cows are forced to reproduce as soon as possible to reach peak milk production. They are crowded together to get milked twenty-four hours a day. Recent studies show that between 1950 and 2000 dairy cows average annual milk yield more than tripled (Weeks 28). This shows us that factories are using fewer cows but are producing more milk than what cows are supposed to produce naturally. Vegans refuse to consume dairy because farmers are taking advantage of innocent cows to create mass production of milk. Vegans go beyond eggs and dairy; they also focus on cosmetics that contain animal ingredients such as lanolin (oil from wools) and beeswax (wax from bees). I believe that being a vegan takes time and commitment that only a few are able to sacrifice. They sacrifice their time by reading every product they purchase to assure themselves they aren t consuming any ingredient that derives from animals. Vegans hope that with their hard work they can put an end to animal cruelty in factories.

3 Last name 3 Vegans main focus is to promote animal rights, but various studies have shown that a plant- based diet can also be healthy for humans: More and more people are converting to vegetarianism or veganism because of the treatment of animals by the meat industry. However, the benefits of vegetarian and vegan diets extend beyond animal welfare. Veganism promotes a healthy body more than a traditional western diet. Most lifestyles diseases, such as cancer, obesity, and diabetes, can be prevented by the right diet. A plant-based is the best choice to maintain healthy. (Velayanikal 1) Velayanikal argues that besides helping animals, vegans are also benefitting themselves with their diet. Since vegans don t eat meat, they aren t exposed to all the chemicals that meat contains due to the overuse of antibiotics on animals. Instead of meat, most vegans eat replacements such as tofu and tempeh. These replacements are made out of soy beans, which are good for your body. Soy is a major ingredient in the vegan diet that can be converted into various dairy products and meats. You can find all the vitamins your body needs with a vegan diet without consuming the unnecessary fats. There are athletes that are switching to a vegan diet because of its benefits. For example, Velayanikal illustrates that the ten-time Olympic medalist Carl Lewis switched to veganism to up his stamina (2). Velayanikal proves to us that there are people who switch to a vegan diet because it benefits their body and gives them more power and endurance. Many studies have proved that vegan diets are healthy for you and can provide you with all the nutrients your body requires. Besides helping animals and themselves, vegans also help the environment. Factory farms feed their livestock the majority of crops being produced in the United States. Due to the

4 Last name 4 high demands of crops, farmers use various chemicals to make the crops grow faster. The soil absorbs all these chemicals and releases them to the nearest river or lake. This can be dangerous for the creatures living in water since they are forced to consume these chemicals that can harm them. These chemicals also contaminate our waters and create a thick layer of oily substances on top which cause a threat to our environment. Another threat to our environment is the excess of animal waste from livestock farms. Weeks states that According to the Sierra club, livestock operations generate 500 million tons of animal waste a year (31). Weeks informs us of the tremendous amount of animal waste that is being produced in factory farms, which concerns vegans because manure contains many chemicals that aren t beneficial to the environment. The great amount of animal waste is due to the excess feeding of animals in factory farms. All the manure is placed in tanks that can be used as plant fertilizers. The problem is that these tanks leak liquefied manure that can contaminate nearby waters with hormones, bacteria and antibiotics (Weeks 31). Week proves to us how harmful these chemicals can be to the environment. Besides waste, animals also create greenhouse gases that can cause health problems to humans and severe climate changes to our environment. Vegans believe that by not consuming any meats and animal derived products, they can eventually reduce the pollution in our environment. Veganism is a practice that benefits humans, animals and the environment. Vegans deserve respect and admiration because they are selfless individuals that can make a difference in the world we live in. They sacrifice so much to put an end to animal cruelty, and to help create a safe environment. Their greatest advantage is that a vegan diet helps them as well because it provides them a healthy life-style. They hope that their magnanimous efforts can make a change.

5 Last name 5 Works Cited Friedrich, Bruce. "A Vegan Lifestyle Is Necessary to Stop the Mistreatment of Animals." The Rights of Animals. Ed. Debra A. Miller. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, Current Controversies. Rpt. from Vegetarianism in a Nutshell: Animal Rights." People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 27 April Rau, Dana Meachen. Going Vegan: A Healthy Guide to Making the Switch. North Mankato, MN: Compass Point, Print. Velayanikal, Malavika. "A Plant-Based Diet Is Healthier than the Standard Western Diet." Is the Western Diet Making the World Sick? Ed. Susan C. Hunnicutt. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, At Issue. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 27 April Weeks, Jennifer. "Factory Farms." CQ Researcher 12 Jan. 2007: Web. 27 April 2013.

Vegetarianism & Veganism. Vegetarianism & Veganism Western Kansas Vegetarian Society

Vegetarianism & Veganism. Vegetarianism & Veganism Western Kansas Vegetarian Society Vegetarianism & Veganism Vegetarianism & Veganism Western Kansas Vegetarian Society Who Are We? Western Kansas Vegetarian Society http://wkvs.wordpress.com Founded in the summer of 2007 Meet at the Hays