WHAT is Vegan???

A vegan is a person who uses no animal products of any kind. This is a step beyond the strict vegetarian, who eats no animal products (meat, eggs, dairy, etc.); in addition to abstaining from these foods, the vegan consumer also shuns wool, leather, silk, down, etc., due to the animal suffering which results from the use of these products.

WHY Vegan???

environmental concerns- less impact on the environment by reducing consumption of natural resources
health benefits- avoiding saturated fat, chemicals, preservatives, hormones
animal advocacy- the belief that it is wrong to use and abuse other sentient creatures as commodities

The carnivorous diet is one of the biggest plagues of our environment. Breeding animals for food is destroying the Earth--causing soil erosion, depleting natural resources, wasting water, causing much of our water & air pollution, and contributing to world hunger. If the grain we feed to livestock, especially cattle, were fed to people instead, there would be more than enough for everyone on earth; also, grains, soybeans and other plant foods can be produced using only a fraction of the land and water necessary to produce the same amount of meat, at a fraction of the cost. Therefore, if animals were not bred for food, starvation could be completely eradicated. Livestock produce massive amounts of waste, polluting rivers and ground water--in fact, causing more water pollution than any other activity. Furthermore, raising 'food' animals requires more water than all other water uses combined. Cattle tear up the ground so that precious topsoil washes away, a major contribution to soil erosion; this is responsible for 85% of soil erosion in the United States. In addition to all of this, the cruelty inflicted upon the animals is hideous.

Veganism is the best possible thing for the environment, the animals, and our own bodies. Yes, it takes some getting used to and is often inconvenient, but that is a small sacrifice when compared with the benefits--and there is nothing like the satisfaction that comes from knowing that we're doing the right thing for ourselves, our fellow creatures, and our planet.