Teaching Veganism by Anai Rhoads

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Teaching Veganism by Anai Rhoads

 

As Vegans, we sometimes forget this diet isn't just about what we

eat -

but what we do. In order to really consider ourselves " vegan " we must

follow the lifestyle as it was meant to be.

 

You may know someone who is concerned about the welfare of animals,

but

isn't quite sure how to go about helping directly. It is our

responsibility to help educate those who have not yet completed the

meat-vegetarian-vegan circle.

 

What can you do in your everyday life that can protect animals?

 

Go Vegan You will save animals from suffering and certain death just

by

eliminating meat, poultry, dairy, eggs and honey from your diet. By

choosing Veganism you are sending a clear message that the

mistreatment of

animals is not tolerated and is unacceptable.

 

Check Labels Products that don't say " No Animal Testing " should be

avoided. Billions of animals have had the misfortune of being prodded

and

tested for the sake of a bottle of shampoo or eyeliner. Research the

company online that you plan to buy from. You will be surprised how

many

use animals even when they claim they do not. A list of companies

that use

live testing on animals can be found here,

http://www.penmarric.ns.ca/catcare/usefulinfo/animaltest.htm

 

Clothing It is no longer fashionable to wear a long minx coat as your

mother may have a few years back. This of course is not due to a

trend-phase-out, but a calculated move to stop activists from

campaigning.

It is but one victory for animal rights. Fur is not the only worry

nowadays as we have suede, leather, and wool. If you like the look,

reach

for the fakes.

 

Medication Most of what you use to relieve pain, kill infection and

so on

- was tested on an animal at one point. While we cannot completely

stop

using necessary medications, we can limit the unnecessary overuse of

medication. Recently marketed prescriptions and over-the-counter

medications may have a higher chance of animal testing.

 

Pet Birds Birds were not intended to be caged. If you currently own a

bird

that has lived its life in a cage for a long time, let them be. Don't

buy

birds - they had a long journey to get to your local pet shop. Many

died

in the process.

 

Pet dogs and cats Always adopt from a shelter when considering a dog

or

cat as a new family pet. Be sure you are ready for this

responsibility -

as someone else was not. Spade or neuter your pet to prevent breeding.

Encourage friends, family and strangers to adopt.

 

Don't Declaw The claw and end bone of each toe are amputated when you

have

your pet declawed. This includes the full removal of the cat's dew

claw.

Photographs of this process can be found here Warning, they are

graphic.

 

Exploitation For decades, circuses have forced animals to entertain

us.

Many people have used hidden cameras as a witness to the beatings the

animals endured during their long and difficult training. While not

all

animals are necessarily abused verbally or physically in the

industry, one

can say its clear that animals should not be pushed to entertain.

Consider

also horse carriages, animal racing, pure breed shows and the like.

When

their talent and ability fail or they age, most animals are either

put to

sleep or abandoned.

 

Sport Do not attend, fund, participate in or support any activity that

uses animals as sport. This includes deer hunting, fox hunting, and

fishing to name a few.

 

Dissection Refuse to participate in the dissection of an animal or

insect.

Frogs are the most commonly dissected animals and the tradition has

become

standard practice in high schools across America. To get involved with

activism against dissection, please visit the College Activist.

 

Become An Activist Get involved with current issues. This doesn't mean

that you go around spray painting fur wearers. Join groups that make a

difference. Give your time generously to bring awareness of animal

issues

to your community. Peta.org has free materials to get you started.

 

Links related to the topics in this article:

 

Take a look into a fur factory courtesy of Peta.org,

http://www.petatv.com/tvpopup/Prefs.asp?video=stella-fur-psa

 

All-Creatures.org - Animal Rights, http://www.all-

creatures.org/animalr.html

 

Animal Concerns, http://www.animalconcerns.org/

 

Exposing the circus, http://www.shedonteatmeat.com/circusabuse.html

 

Copyright 2002 Anai Rhoads. .

 

Author Bio:

 

Anai Rhoads is a health and political writer from Virginia, with work

published in various online newspapers. Her main job is editing

Am-I-Pregnant.com, a women's health and reproduction web site. A vegan

since 2000, she is a dedicated supporter of activities which promote

animal and human rights. Send in your question.

 

Check out Anai's Q & A's on the VegWeb Ask the Expert page:

http://www.vegweb.com/faq.shtml