What is a Vegan?A vegan (pronounced VEE-gun) is someone who, for various reasons, chooses to avoid using or consuming animal products. While vegetarians choose not to use flesh foods, vegans also avoid dairy and eggs, as well as fur, leather, wool, down, and cosmetics or chemical products tested on animals. Why Vegan?Veganism, the natural extension of vegetarianism, is an integral component of a cruelty-free lifestyle. Living vegan provides numerous benefits to animals' lives, to the environment, and to our own health–through a healthy diet and lifestyle. EthicsThe most common reason people choose to become vegan is because of a recognition that using animals for inessential human needs causes untold suffering. This is an ethical reason; in other words, a response to the question, 'how should we consider the lives of others and the world around us in how we choose to live our lives?' HealthComing soon.. The EnvironmentAnimal agriculture takes a devastating toll on the earth. It is an inefficient way of producing food, since feed for farm animals requires land, water, fertilizer, and other resources that could otherwise have been used directly for producing human food. Why not vegetarian?But isn't vegetarianism enough? Isn't veganism just a radical fringe group? The truth about WoolWhat's wrong with wool you ask? "Well on the surface, it appears that wool is a benign product because, at least theoretically it can be obtained without harming the sheep. However upon a closer inspection you'll find the wool industry is actually very similar to the exploitative egg and dairy industries. While animals such as egg laying hens, dairy cows and wool bearing sheep are not immediately killed to procure their salable products, the suffer tremendously for years prior to their ultimate and unavoidable slaughter." The truth about LeatherAre you a vegan? Vegetarian? If so then I expect that you already have your views on why leather is ‘bad’. It is a by-product, sometimes referred to as a co-product, of the animal food industry. This article explains more about the ‘down’ side to leather - the well-known product that is used for all sorts of items, from furniture, car seats and belts to shoes, clothing and handbags. The truth about FurFur coats and fur consumer products are found all around the world. The truth about SilkSilk is a protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. Today, China and Japan are the two main producers, together accounting for more than 50% of global production each year.
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