What exactly is a vegan?

[andyswarbs]

The debate around what a "vegan" actually is has varied throughout history. Today it can be strongly associated with animal rights, but was that always the case?

Looking at the history of the Vegan society itself can be an eye opener. Check out this video youtube.com/watch?v=zTx_d8p...(Not working as expected?) for a definitive look at the subject.

Here is a synopsis provided by the video creator, "The term veganism was coined in 1944, and it was started for reasons of animal compassion, with health as a strong second. In addition to eating a vegan diet, vegans were always encouraged to try to avoid all animal products like for clothing, etc., but it was left to the vegan to decide how far they could go. But people calling themself vegan have always wished to try to minimize animal products for clothing and other products, etc, not just for food, just like ethical vegetarians had done in England for a hundred years before veganism. If you simply eat a vegan diet, you are vegan according to the original definition from Watson. Animal rights activists took over the Vegan Society six years after Watson invented the word, kicked him out for not being a proper vegan, and turned it into a strident, angry, judgmental animal rights organization, and drove most of the members away as a result, nearly bankrupting the org. The history of the org since then has been infighting and even fist fights because the animal rights people have no idea how to sell veganism to the greater world, and so the vegan society is largely a failure and many people view vegans as judgmental holier-than-thou ineffective a-holes -- an unfortunately largely accurate view - just ask PewDiePie. BUT -- you can choose to be a Watson Vegan and be accepting and friendly to others, non-judgmental and encouraging, in other words be a nice person and take your ego out and live an example that inspires rather than lectures other. If not eating animals solves 90% of the problem of animal exploitation, that was enough for Watson to consider you a vegan doing good in the world. "

[Hidden]

I would say, veganism would really need to consider the sustainable agriculture and the whole impact on biodiversity.

ukessays.com/essays/environ...

[Aretak in reply to Hidden]

veganorganic.net/plant-base... 🙂

[Hidden in reply to Aretak]

I already know permaculture for decades but it's nice to see someone bringing it up. That's my ultimate paradise.

[Aretak in reply to Hidden]

Permaculture garden is on my wishlist. Until then just learning about it. Hopefully next year I visit the forest garden in Totnes+ Sumacher collage😊

[Hidden in reply to Aretak]

Visiting gardens is one of the best summertime activities.

Thank you for the visionary inspiration.

[Agoodenough]

Thanks for posting this I found it very interesting. Me and my partner were having this conversation the day before you posted this. About people’s attitudes to how vegan someone is etc...