Andrew Fenwick – foodPHYTE.net
No, this is not a grammar issue, just an oddly structured question.
I am concerned and I think it is a valid point that needs to be explored and considered by everyone in or considering joining the Vegan movement by name or by action.
Lets break down what I believe is at the core of Veganism.
It is to reduce and eliminate where possible, the use, abuse and suffering of animals; who wouldn’t want to see that happening? ‘Vegan for the animals’ is the statement delivered with conviction.
This could mean doing everything possible to make the shift to the Vegan ethical position as logical, attractive and beneficial as possible for as many people as possible, by as many people as possible, as quickly as possible.
Although the Vegan movement has grown rapidly in recent times, my main concern is it never making that critical point of growth where the concept is no longer marginal and becomes a decision made with no stigma attached.
To many non-Vegan folk the logic behind not wishing to harm or exploit animals is admired, even shared in their own illogical specist way towards domesticated pets (intelligent emotional dogs are friends, yet intelligent emotional pigs are food?).
However, the social stigma attached to becoming ‘a Vegan’ has become a larger mental barrier than ever before; making the socially sensitive person very reluctant to step up, regardless of their personal level of alignment to the compassion involved.
So, from a PR (public relations) viewpoint, the outside world looks in at the Vegan crowd with a very judgemental, microscopic examination of every possible personal and public action, taken at an individual or movement level.
Looking for fault, failure and offense.
Even as a member of the Vegan community I often cringe at how Veganism is projected outwards into the public arena, subsequently evaluated and how the evidence seen validates all those memes you’ve all seen, no doubt.
We may be able to cope with it; but will the large number of currently non-Vegan people be open to cop the often-well-deserved negative judgement and media commentary?
Worse still, if those curious, heaven forbid, should ever dip their toe into a Vegan Facebook group and see how the loving, caring, kind Vegans judge and treat each other and new enquiries (it’s not always pretty).
In the short term, the issues around ‘attractiveness’ need to be dealt with via an internal conscious shift within the movement. One that realises to grow and thrive into the future, to save millions more animals from existing purely as an abused commodity; arrogance and distain need to be replaced with more welcoming supportive traits.
That is a very brief wrap up of making this an attractive prospective future for someone to consider trying at any level. Hopefully, food for thought. Now some thought for food.
My last article was focussed on the idea that there is no such thing as a ‘Vegan diet’. As true as this is by definition, it is not how the outside world sees this decision and measures it against other diets.
It is important that we all operate knowing the choice is being measured and those measuring the outcomes are not always your friend. The rapid growth of both the Vegan and Plant Based communities is attracting the wrath of disrupted industries. From the paleo personal trainer to the beef (dead cow) industry, individuals and corporations are looking for the reasons to discredit our decision to stop consuming animals and by-products.
Harking back to the idea that the biggest impact on reducing suffering is, increasing the number of people turning their back on the outdated animal-based lifestyle choices; we need to create favourable data about the benefits.
The science is in, a healthy plant-based lifestyle delivers what the westernised world needs right now. It addresses the top handful of chronic health burdens on modern society. Cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, many common cancers, obesity, degenerative neurological conditions and depression in many cases (that is the short list).
These conditions cost our society dearly in lost life years, productivity and quality of life. In Australia there are 25,000+ cardiac arrests each year! Plus, eliminating or dramatically reducing these diseases will release billions of dollars of taxpayer funds out of healthcare back into society.
In the short-term Veganism may grow to a point as a result of outward thinkers and empaths, the minority, all connecting up as a movement.
Humans on the whole are self focussed, not one of our most appealing characteristics for sure. The W.I.F.M. (what’s in it for me) comes to the front of any new decision. The human ego also thrives on validating the status quo; good or bad, our subconscious will resist moving away from our current beliefs.
Vegans have it in their power to use these benefits to save billions of animals from coming into existence purely as commodities, to live short tormented lives that end in immense fear and suffering.
In the long term however, if measured, the ‘Vegan diet’ comes up to be anyway detrimental; the financial sponsors of the measuring and their advocates will use that data to weave doubt into the minds of those people who are easily swayed, to avoid the contrived risks and continue on their current path. The tobacco industry did it and the food industry is doing it better.
Doing what we can to create favourable data from any study of the poorly defined ‘Vegan diet’, when compared to those containing animal products; is the best thing that can be done to end suffering in a truly significant and industry changing way.
The animals need modern Veganism not to be a flash in the pan fad, or an eternally marginalised pocket of society.
What can you do from today to give Veganism a long and effective lifespan?
Easy, give yourself a long and effective lifespan. Become an example of wellbeing and kindness in all aspects of life, create a collection of irrefutable positive health data that sells the benefit to humanity and enrol people into the idea from where they are at.
By that, be cognisant that everyone’s relationship to animals, food, health and the environment are at a different spot to yours.
Find where that unique spot is via some friendly conversation and talk to their main concern vs vomiting volumes of our favourite platform at them until they cave in to it, or run away with a soured perception of all Vegans and Plant Based community members.
Let’s work together to be great examples of why someone needs to consider the Vegan Plant Based message, rather than be the understandable reason to avoid it.
Copy write 2019 Andrew Fenwick