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Why Even Bother Being Vegan?
I think every vegan (and probably vegetarian) has heard some variation of this:
- one person being vegan doesn’t save animals.
- just because you’re vegan doesn’t mean animals aren’t killed.
- the problem is just too large; individual behavioral changes just don’t have an impact.
That’s the big question, right? Why do anything at all when you know that there isn’t a direct correlation between YOUR behavior and an act of violence?
Why, indeed?
The answer is…because it’s the right thing to do.
As I say in The Joyful Vegan, the world isn’t one big math problem to solve. Even though I can’t quantify the benefits to the animals and our planet, I’m vegan, because I don’t want to contribute to the culture of violence that IS (by design) the meat, dairy, and egg industries.
I may not be able to save the 9 to 10 billion land animals brought into this world only to be killed, but I can at least put my head on my pillow each night and know that *I* didn’t consciously partake in something that is anathema to my very being: HURTING ANIMALS.
For me, being vegan is about being
- compassionate
- consistent
- in alignment with my values
After all, what’s the point in having values and principles and ethics if they don’t manifest themselves in our behavior?
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Hi! I’m Colleen.
Hello, and welcome. I’m Colleen, aka The Joyful Vegan, and I’m here to give you the tools and resources you need to eat, cook, travel, and live compassionately and healthfully.
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