Why Go Vegan?
Before detailing the key reasons we think you should consider a vegan lifestyle, let’s define what we mean when we use the term “vegan.” Veganism expands well beyond a diet abstinent of animal products and byproducts. Simply put, veganism is a lifestyle that seeks to promote or participate in the least harm possible.
Animals and their bodies are exploited for a shocking number of unnecessary reasons in addition to food production, and humans can live healthy and productive lives without choosing to participate in that exploitation. We can also be more compassionate toward humankind, toward our planet, and toward our own bodies by refusing to support these cruel industries. Veganism is realizing that participating in this varied cruelty to animals, people, and planet is a choice, and when faced with a choice between causing harm and living with compassion, what good reasons are there for choosing anything but compassion?
Veganism isn’t about perfection, and it shouldn’t be daunting. It isn’t looking at a laundry list of all of the things you “can’t” do, eat, or use anymore, but rather, it’s matching your actions with your morals. Veganism is recognizing that all animals, not just your pets at home, are individuals with rich lives, complex social hierarchies, and the ability to experience love, fear, joy, pain, grief, and everything in between. It’s recognizing that justice for all people is a necessity, that we only get one planet and one body to enjoy this life in, and we have to treat them with nothing but respect. It’s recognizing these things, and then refusing to participate in it any longer. So, why Go Vegan? A better question might be, “Why not?”
For the Animals
For the Environment
For Your Health
For Humanity
Here are some more reasons to consider going Vegan.
My boyfriend and I took a weekend getaway to Catskill Animal Sanctuary (CAS) in Upstate New York, just two quick hours north of New York City. CAS has rescued over 4,000 animals since 2001 and is currently the home of more […]
The American South has its own distinctive brand of hospitality—greetings for every passerby, an unhurried pace of life, and home-grown, country cooking. Every summer, we look forward to the greenery, the quietude, and comforting Southern drawl, but there is little […]
My vegan children have never been to a zoo or animal park. It was one of those parenting decisions that my husband and I made early and had no intent on renegotiating. From America to Asia, we politely decline seeing [...]
Daegwallyoung Sheep Farm I had the opportunity to visit a sheep farm near Pyeongchang – where the Olympics will be held in 2018 – which is a lovely town in the east side of South Korea. I usually don’t visit […]
Decided not to stay in France too long after my return from Asia, with the desire to learn spanish, I went at the end of July in Asturias, a small mountainous region of northern Spain, to spend five weeks at […]
We had a chance to go to Back 2 Earth in Berry, Australia while in Sydney. We took a train from Sydney to Berry to spend a few days on their property that functions as an animal sanctuary and a […]
A few years ago I stumbled upon several videos of severely injured animals being rescued by local heroes in India. Some of the videos were very graphic, and every single one was incredibly touching. It was so wonderful to see […]
In Costa Rica, it’s estimated that there could be around one million stray dogs in the streets. These dogs have a really hard time in the streets; they can be victims of animal abuse, hit by cars, and suffer from […]
Hearing about Greece, all most people think about is their beautiful white hilltop buildings with deep blue waters and the ultimate romantic destinations. But if you dig a little deeper or even visit a city like Athens, you will not […]
David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is an elephant and rhino orphanage located inside Nairobi National Park. We had hoped that since our last visit 7 years ago they would no longer be needed, but due to the vile ivory industry, the […]
In the East of Phuket, Thailand, you will find a temple named ‘Wat Pa Klok’. This is a special place because on the grounds is a dog sanctuary called Bodhi Animal Shelter & Clinic! We stumbled across this place due […]
I’d say when most people think about humans’ relationship with horses it seems quite good, and I do believe most horse owners have a positive and loving relationship with their horses. You would think of horses the way you think […]
Viva Poland is an animal protection organization located in Warsaw. One hour drive away from Warsaw is a village called Korabiwice. In this village is 14 hectares of land purchased by Viva Poland that is a haven for used and […]
Deutsches Tierschutzbüro is an animal rescue organization based in Berlin, Germany that focuses on exposing the cruelties of factory farming through undercover documentation, campaigning for the end of factory farming, and promoting veganism. Cody and I were invited by Deutsches […]
Let me start off saying, that visiting Leilani Farm Sanctuary was one of the highlights of my 2-week trip to Maui. When I first heard of this sanctuary a few years ago, I thought, ‘it’s on an island, how many […]
To be fair, it could have been any country, but it was Thailand. And I could have been volunteering with orangutans, or sloth bears. But elephants are one of my favorite animals, so I chose elephants to spend time with. […]
Hello fellow vegan travellers!! This is our first ever blog, so we thought what better way to start it off – Elephant Nature Park! This place is amazing for so many different reasons!! Our first time volunteering here, we were unaware […]
We have just come to an end of our time in Thailand, and what a way to end a visit! The night before we were about to leave Chiang Mai our plans went a little astray. We both very suddenly […]
Hey Vegan Travellers! I just had the most incredible week at the Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The whole week went by so ridiculously quickly that I almost don’t even know how to separate it out to find […]
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PAWS Awhile Animal Sanctuary Kristin spent an afternoon visi...
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PACS - PhaNgan Animal Care for Strays Sandra (@framesoflife)...
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Peepal Farm - Humans Helping Animals Lucas (@lucas) shares h...
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Shae and Marissa's Elephant Sanctuary Experiences in Thailan...
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Sydney VEGAN Food Tour - Australia! Join Kristin for a vegan...
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Diwali, Animal Aid & Vegan Food in India! Giselle and Cody (...
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Back 2 Earth Animal Sanctuary & Raw Vegan Retreat! Shae ...
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Santorini Animal Welfare Association Vegan Travelers Shae an...
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Spending the day with Elephants at the David Sheldrick Wildl...
