‘Vegan’ is a word first coined by British activist Donald Watson (1910 – 2005), founder of the first vegan organization. He was frustrated that the word ‘vegetarian’ came to include dairy products and eggs. His definition of ‘vegan’ was a "philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude – as far as possible and practical – all forms of exploitation of and cruelty to animals for food, clothing, or any other purpose.
‘Vegan’ is about
compassion. It is about making the world a better place, not only for people,
but for the billions of other inhabitants of this planet whose lives and well-being
have been overlooked, sometimes driven to extinction, and usually used as
vehicles for providing human satisfactions of all types. It is about providing
solutions to complex global issues. The meat
and dairy based diet is a major contributor to Climate Change – the world's
greatest threat to security and survival, and causes diabetes and heart disease
and antibiotic resistance.
‘Vegan’ is not a form of depravation. It is a lifestyle which
embraces life, and life lived to the fullest. Vegan holds the promise of a
healthier population, a sustainable planet, and kindness and compassion for all.
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