According to Wikipedia, Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal products, particularly as food for human consumption, and an associated philosophy that rejects the economic status of animals, animal agriculture as it pertains to the environment, and the belief that following a plant-based diet is good for their health.
That’s the official version.
Vegan scenes we’d like to see
The vegan wars we are seeing now are not really about veganism at all, like everything else that is touched by human hands, we may later find a hidden ‘agenda’, a behind the scenes gossip about how individual freedom is coming into conflict with things that affect YOU! Particularly your personal health and the welfare of the environment. While these are concerns facing us, should we abandon our approach at promoting veganism?
An individual who follows the vegan diet or philosophy is known as a vegan. Distinctions may be made between several categories of veganism, but all versions of the vegan diet exclude meat.
Here are just a few examples:
The Abolitionist Vegan – A vegan who believes in achieving a fully vegan world at any cost. Abolitionists tend to be more vocal in their criticism of all animal uses than other, more laid-back vegans. They will not travel in a car with leather seats, won’t eat in a restaurant that serves meat dishes. They shun wool clothing and cosmetics and generally make a spectacle of themselves at a vegan protest event.
Ostrovegan – A vegan who eats bivalves such as oysters and mussels. Ostrovegans support this decision by pointing to the fact that bivalves have no brains and likely do not feel pain. How do they know this?
Hardline Vegan – vegans who can outshout the meatheads at a vegan rally.
Intersectional Vegan – Outspoken vegans who act for change within the political structure. Vegan lobbyists?
Pescatarian – Bad news for fish. No meat in their diet means more fish caught and consumed in its place.
An Ethical vegan is someone who not only follows a plant-based diet but extends the philosophy into other areas of their lives, avoiding the unethical behavior of a meathead after a stressful day at work. One who vigorously opposes the use of animals for any purpose and advocates against any cruelty and exploitation of all animals including humans.
Another term associated with the vegan lifestyle is: “environmental veganism”, which refers to the avoidance of animal products on the premise that the industrial farming of animals is environmentally damaging and unsustainable.
Hello! It’s gone beyond a premise!
In case you don’t know by now what makes a Vegan?
A person who does not eat animal products, consumes no dairy products or eggs in their diet, period. It’s that simple. Instead, the true vegan eats plant-based, whole-foods such as vegetables, fruits, legumes (beans) and nuts, seeds.