'Veganism' has become a buzzword in the last decade or so, and both media and real-life examples I've been exposed to have highlighted the highly controversial perceptions of the lifestyle. I envision a future where individuals are free to decide what they wish include/exclude in their diet, regardless of whether they are vegan or not, and for the term to not spur on as much divisive behaviour as it currently does (when the focus should be more on the production and sustainability of the food). I fully support and respect personal dietary choices that people may have- however I would love to further the discussion of treating 'vegan' or 'non-vegan' foods not so much as items that factor into one's identity/eating/ preference practice (although the moral/ethical code of different lifestyles are still very wonderful), but more as food choices that are driven by mitigating socio-ecological practices as a whole. I find that especially in the sphere of social media, influential figures that openly advertise themselves as vegan are easily 'cancelled' for not abiding by the strict boundaries that define vegan diets, yet the fine line for vegan diets is so hard to distinguish anyway by laypersons it almost seems (unintentionally) hypocritical. After learning about agriculture and farming in class today, I came to realize that a lot of products i.e., produce are fertilized by manure (which is the environmentally supported method as opposed to chemicals), which makes me wonder if the products would still be viewed as vegan by those who live by vegan lifestyles. I touched on some things that would really be hard to state interventions for as this is mainly about personal choices, so for the purpose of the assignment I may not have approached this in the best way. I think education/knowledge and intention has a lot to do with my discussion, so perhaps the government could focus some of their time and funds towards providing resources on the benefits (focused on socio-ecological contexts) of vegan food practices, such that those who choose the lifestyle can share the resources with those that are interested. In addition, the resources could focus on shifting ecologically beneficial food practices, and less towards consumer identities or performative intentions.
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I agree that being a purist vegan is difficult when there are so many animal products. I think the mindset around veganism changes from culture to culture but it ultimately comes down to why you have the identity and not so much the identity itself. Interesting topic!
I believe that veganism could definetely help reduce GHG emissions a lot (if you choose the right kind of plant based foods and not only avocados and other energy and water intense products). I also believe that the discussion is also one that should not be carried out on Instagram with influencers, since things get out of hand so quickly.
Hi Anna, western veganism is such an interesting cultural topic. Many ideas of western veganism comes from a reactionary point of view, meaning as a movement, they come out of a reaction of the real issue of the animal agricultural industry. Farming does not have to be built on the misery of millions of animals stuck in cages, we know this because humans have had relationships with domesticated agricultural animals for thousands of years that did not involve this extreme of level industrialization.
I agree that I think better education on food is such a key step. I try to be pretty informed about how my food is impacting the environment but there is still always so much I dont know which makes knowing what foods are bad vs good challenging. There are so many contradictory opinions on veganism I think better education would help people make sustainable choices.
I relate to this post so much Anna - I appreciate you bringing it up!
You're right "vegan" is a bit of a buzzword, and the label of eating 'vegan' is often associated with an identity (that's held to a high standard in media like you mentioned!) rather than simply a food choice that contributes to climate change mitigation. I personally hope more people choose to eat vegan more regularly, but I agree that that should come with some flexibility for people to also include what they wish in their diet. I think moderation is key here.
Hi Anna Chou, while veganism can be a better alternative diet on some fronts, it also presents its own challenges. I always thought of veganism as a full-proof way to reduce carbon emissions, but a lot of issues surround agricultural sustainability in plant production that deplete our land's soil and add to carbon emissions. There are underlying issues of food sovereignty and a level of privilege that comes with being able to choose your diet. Unfortunately, I feel like a lot of the judgement and cancel culture you mentioned surrounding vegan diets boils down to a lack of education, lack of empathy, and cultural ebbs and flows like cancel culture.
There are definetely problems with how veganism is portrayed online. Most people who are hyper-preachy about veganism dont seem to realize that many people simply dont have the resources/capability to do so. Organizations like PETA also dont help with veganism's portrayal.
I'm with you 200%, we shouldn't force people's will to morally kidnap people to become vegan, we should let people know about veganism in a gentler and more common way, instead of showing them pictures of animals being killed to everyone we meet, which I think is very stupid.
We should preach what benefits veganism can bring, like you said, the government can spread this knowledge, and the education industry can increase the programs, all of these can make people properly aware of the importance of veganism.
I hate being surrounded by a group of people in the street forcing me to watch some slaughterhouse video, but if I find a brochure about veganism in a supermarket that says 'SOME vegetables can help you Balabalabal...', then I may be interested.
Don't let 'veganism' become a target, let 'veganism' become a normal conversation in people's mouths.
I really resonate with the ideas in this post, Anna! Hearing the term "vegan" holds relatively daunting connotations for me but I agree that this should be changed! We should focus on the more environmental aspects that this type of lifestyle offers and not feel like this title is one that people are labeled as.
This is a super informative post that definitely tackles the topic of veganism with the right approach. I 100% agree that people should not be judged whether they eat meat or not. I think the biggest thing is that people are at least mindful of their consumption of certain foods. For example i think going vegan to save the environment is a bit extreme, however reducing overall meat consumption could be a better alternative that aids in helping the agricultural dilemma.