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HIGHLIGHTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD "Being vegan has changed my relationship with animals 200%. I respect them a lot more. It has changed my relationship with Mother Earth. I am trying to be as 'green' as I can; I compost, recycle, and much more. I feel being vegan makes me a better citizen of the earth." "[When asked how she meets vegans] I try to convert everyone I meet! [She adds] It was my idea to become vegan. As soon as I explained my feelings to my fiancé (and we watched 'MEET YOUR MEAT' together) we both instantaneously became vegans. Sometimes it's hard not to get frustrated with my non-vegan friends who claim to love animals so much, as they are chowing down on a hamburger. Or they cry when confronted with pictures form inside a factory farm but still order pizza for dinner. It is easier to be friends with a vegan because there is that baseline of common ground and safety." "Some people used to ask me to taste meat, but I do not go to the houses of non-vegetarians much anymore. [When asked if being vegan changed his relationship to animals] I expect it did, though I do not recall the past of my consciousness before birth. [When asked if his veganism directly related to the influence of a relationship] My relationship with my parents, I was born vegan." "[When asked about people's reactions to her veganism] They generally consider that I'm weird [She also says] Friendships with non-vegans means my having to censor what I say. I've become a misanthrope in relation to meat-eaters. [When asked of the extent of her veganism she responded] Very seriously, indeed." "Being an atheist, it's hard to find something to believe in as much as being a vegan. It's like a religion." "I stopped being a hypocrite... I mean lacto-vegetarian (1999-2005) [Furthermore] There's not so many vegans here, it is hard to count, we don't know each other, maybe sometime we will make the vegan connection group. [Speaking about the animals] Yes, they should be liberated; do it now!" "My two daughters are vegan from birth. I'm jealous of them. They are active, compassionate, brilliant, creative beings and I'm sooooo honored to be their father. [Also he says] People's reactions to my being vegan used to be more confrontational; downright assholes. But over the years, I think societal opinions have changed towards veganism. I'm also an incredibly confident vegan and there are no arguments that I don't have a logical, don't-bother-me-with-that-crap answer for." "It's very difficult to observe over and over how blind people are and unaware of what their choices mean. And it's even harder when they KNOW and continue to ignore and justify the senseless killing and torture of animals. The ability of humans to suppress and deny the truth amazes me." "I long for the day when we no longer have a 'Humane Society' as a small subgroup of our society but instead simply BECOME one." "Some thought my veganism was strange. I've been vegan for 25 years now, so they just accept it. I have always loved animals, that's why I went vegan." "All friendships can be challenging; both close-minded carnivores and self-righteous vegans can be very disagreeable. I was an animal lover from a very early age. Becoming a vegan was a long, slow process, aided immensely by my soul mate Jacob who taught me about the feelings of non-human animals." "Veganism led me to examining speciesism in society and in myself." "[When asked how people react to her veganism] Usually with surprise, astonishment, shock and ignorance. Most of them get into a defensive mode for some reason and start expressing unwelcome opinions about how veganism is wrong. But many of them genuinely ask questions and show a desire to learn and understand. Over the years more people seem to have become aware of veganism and are accepting." "In the long term I cannot see that I would be able to share my life with someone that shows so little empathy for other creatures... I can understand that not everyone has looked into this, but when confronted with plain and obvious facts (like the United Nations report: Livestock's Long Shadow or the cruelty of what happens to dairy cows, etc.), not changing your ways only shows weakness of character. I would not be romantically involved with someone that knows all these facts but ignores them." "Non-vegans tend to feel threatened. It's really odd. They first check to make sure that I don't 'cheat' at being vegan (shoes, wallet, etc.). They get defensive, as if by existing, I'm somehow judging them. It could be amusing if it wasn't so stupid." "We did adopt our dog from Eddie Lama (THE WITNESS), and that is when we moved from a vegetarian to a vegan lifestyle...I like people to know the world would be an easier place for everyone to live (humans and non-humans) if everybody adopted a vegan diet, but people are running on auto pilot for the most part. Our parents and our culture set us on a course from birth and very few of us question that. Although it hurts me very much to see how staunchly people defend cruelty, I try to remember that there are surely other great truths to life that I have yet to recognize. Hopefully we'll all catch up soon." "I do object to being romantically involved with a non-vegan, but not if there's a chance that the person will turn over a new leaf and go vegan. I see speciesism as equivalent to racism, sexism, homophobia, etc. So this question might as well be 'Would you date a homophobe?' 'Would you date a chauvinist?' 'Would you date a racist?' The answer is the same there: of course not, unless I thought they had the potential to change. [Also from this responder] A lot of people see veganism as a direct threat, even if you don't rant about it, or complain about their omnivorous ways. The very presence of a vegan is enough to shake people up and make them realize, at least subconsciously, 'I am destroying sentient life for no reason' and that is a very unsettling thought. People have all sorts of defense mechanisms to avoid facing the moral imperative of veganism." "I used to never want to look at pigs, chickens, cows, turkeys, etc. I think I always felt I should not be eating them or their products and since I did, I just tried not to think about them. I have learned so much about these animals that we usually just think of as food. Pigs have become a favorite animal of mine. I just see them so differently! They are really quite intelligent and love affection. I have always been an animal lover. Now that extends to more kinds of animals; cows, pigs, chickens, etc. Unfortunately I have also learned that the days of 'the lovely little family farm' are gone and most of these animals live horrific lives and die cruel deaths." "I decided to become vegan because of my relationship with a goat. While visiting a friend in California, I helped bottle feed a kid that had been found by the roadside, suffering from a broken leg. The goat was believed to have fallen off a truck full of kids being taken to slaughter so their mother's milk could be used for (my favorite) goat cheese instead of its proper use; feeding it's young. The relationship between dairy and death could not have been made clearer to me. The Spirit at work..." "I also influence strangers with my activism; explaining the injustice of animal consumption, both to the animals and to the workers. Environmentalism is a big issue right now, so I remind people that animal consumption is the single worst thing for the environment. ... I grew up surrounded by farms so I've always been friendly to 'food animals'. I stopped eating meat at an early age, after learning what became of my neighbor's pigs and cows. They all have unique personalities..." "I live in Amsterdam and we have quite a group of vegans and everyone knows at least one vegan. There are enough resources around as well to stay vegan easily (fresh veg markets, natural food stores, etc.), although the veg restaurant and café scene is lacking." "I actually had to leave my last wife to gain complete control of my refrigerator and go vegan." "When my husband and I were first married I was vegetarian and he was not but I knew he was open to it. I did not allow meat in the house in any way. We went along that way for several years before I became vegan and he became vegetarian. He understood my choice and always knew he would someday make the same choice for himself. I was patient in waiting for that to happen and very happy when it eventually did take place. It certainly made for a more harmonious relationship." "[When asked do you have a pet?] Yes and my pet has a human. (Vegan, of course)." "I now speak to animals more intelligently than I speak to humans (Ha ha ha!). I really do understand the world from an animals' perspective and all I want to do is help them get free of their human enslavers. I'm sure I will pursue this advocacy till my last breath." "I started my own social group (www.vegansunite.org.au) in order to meet other vegans. I also attend World Vegan Day in Melbourne where I meet many other vegans. I cannot see myself in a long-term relationship when there is meat in the house and a mindset of violence and cruelty to animals. I have never dated a vegan (not through lack of trying) and am looking forward to meeting the right vegan girl in the nearest future. I do believe in people changing through my influence, and though I would not force my partner to become vegan, I could see how she could change her mindset through associating with me. This is the way I became vegetarian; with a patient and loving vegetarian girlfriend." "My father thinks I'm a 'militant vegan'. If spreading the Truth amidst lies is militant then he's right." "River Phoenix and John Robbins inspired me to become vegetarian when I was 18 (1988). Last year I was very inspired by the abolitionists (Gary Francione and friends). These days I'm less inspired by someone who is just a vegan and more inspired by someone who is vegan AND promotes peaceful ways to approach, well, everything (activism against animal cruelty, the war(s), government corruption, social injustice, etc.) I have found, to my dismay, that there are many activists who are wiling to use physical force or threatening behavior to achieve their goals." "I believe that women are more open to veganism because of the fact that we nurture and care for our babies, children of our specie. Most of us women can't think of someone or something using our baby's skin to make purses, or to use our milk to feed another creature and let our baby die inside a little box. We understand that defenseless creatures need our help to survive. We have the power to grow life inside of us... it makes us care about life in an unspeakable way.] Also this responder says] After a year living the vegan lifestyle I found The Compassionate Cook's podcast (Colleen Patrick Goudreau: author of 'The Joy of Vegan Baking') and subscribed to Veg News... they simply feed me every week/month with so much good information about our vegan lifestyle." "I would never have fallen in love with my wife were she not vegan, and she would say the same about me." "Although I'd consider dating a non-vegan, I wouldn't consider living with one. If they didn't seem likely to ever try veganism I'd leave since I don't think we'd be compatible in the long run holding such fundamentally different ethical stances. [This responder tells us] There are a few entirely vegan restaurants in the nearby city of Glasgow. [Finally] I became a vegan at a time when I had never met another vegan." "Since I'm vegan for animal rights reasons, watching a loved one eat the products of suffering would be too much for me. I need my home life to be peaceful in that respect, since the outside world is so indoctrinated to hurtful practices without even realizing it usually." "People observe what I'm doing in my life i.e. rescuing animals from factory farms, speaking at schools, writing and showing films about animal abuse. I find people are more receptive when they observe my actions as opposed to when I'm preaching at them or nagging them." "They (animals) like me more now that I'm vegan...I think they know." "I became vegan because my parents became vegan. They explained their reasoning to me and I agreed. ... I used to be very quiet about being vegan when I was a child, but now I feel more of a duty to explain my reasons. I feel strongly that the world would be a much better place if humans quit animal consumption, but I think awareness is most likely to come through fear of climate change and ill health, rather than animal rights." "I'm vegan for animals, environment, world hunger, and for my health!...Yes I would object to being romantically involved with a non-vegan; their bodies are made of animal corpses." "I look at others as human beings that I am the same as...we are all choosing our experience...all I can do is do my best to inspire others to become more conscious about everything. Veganism is the next evolutionary step, so it occurs naturally and at the right time for all." "I take my veganism very seriously. I'm proud to be a vegan. I don't believe it is my right to own the entire life, or body of anyone else, including an animal. I believe in Ahimsa, Compassion and that no animal should be forced to suffer as greatly as those do living in New Zealand's abhorrent factory farming systems. [He continues] I feel awkward and restrained when people talk about how great wool is and their feather comforters, leather jackets, delicious steak and egg. I feel like I cannot be completely open and comfortable with people who do not know, who do not want to hear, who cannot listen with their hearts and spirit. I feel a bit isolated and disconnected from those I work with and those that surround me, my friends. I find it very hard and crave deeper relationships that include an appreciation of veganism." "I was a vegetarian until I heard a cow crying for her calf and she called for about 36 hours." "Women who subscribe exclusively to a whole foods, plant-based diet, in addition to the ethical portion of veganism are, in my opinion, extremely attractive beings." "With my vegan friends there is a bond that keeps us close. We are working toward the common good and chit chat is not just about what store we went shopping at or which restaurant are we going to eat at. Conversation is on a different level. We have animals to rescue and a planet to save. We really do not have time or the patience to talk superficially." "The longer I am a vegan, the more compassion I have developed towards animals. They are the best beings on the planet. Just that they are helpless and cannot voice their feelings makes me feel like helping them even more. It's very frustrating to know there is so much violence to them and that we are so limited in changing it globally. I do feel that the word is spreading (especially since Oprah has decided to try a 21-day trial of a vegan diet). This is a great evolutionary step for a peaceful world." "Those who truly love me are 100% supportive of my veganism." "I went vegan with MEATOUT 1997 (a campaign of Farm Animal Reform Movement). [This responder explains] If someone is blatantly carnivorous, I tend to avoid." "Before I wasn't an animal lover, didn't give them a second thought. Now that I'm vegan, I'm concerned about animal issues, and I wish I could rescue all the animals in the world and set them free/give them a loving home, and hug them all! Sometimes I cry over their suffering. I care about all animals now and I care about people too. I wish the 'Church' would promote vegetarian/veganism. Most Christians are caring people. My husband and I both wish we had known about eating meat and animal issues a long time ago, and wish we had never eaten it at all. Thank goodness there is more info about it nowadays." "As a kid I was inspired by River Phoenix. [Also from this responder] I always treated animals with respect; vegetarianism, then veganism, was a natural development as a young teenager starting to think for herself. [And] There are vegans here, but not as many as in Britain and Ireland." "I would never be with anyone (intimately) who was not vegan, for a hundred reasons. Why would I be with someone who is uneducated and ignorant? When someone eats animals they are showing me their poorest quality; that they don't love themselves or the world enough to change something as simple as their own diet. They cannot make great changes in the world because they cannot even make small changes in themselves. I love myself enough not to settle for that." "I read John Robbins's THE FOOD REVOLUTION and asked myself why I couldn't do this. I made myself confront my own stereotypes of what a vegan was. When I couldn't find any good excuses, I did it. And I haven't looked back." "My kids have been vegan since conception! They are 4, 6, and 9. That is all they know. They wish everyone was vegan. They don't like to bring attention to themselves by eating differently, but if given the choice, they continue to choose not to eat animals. My children are active, growing, and in advanced learning classes!" "I've had discussion with people about this thing that they had no idea about (veganism). I notice people usually have a tendency towards this, however have no idea how to live cruelty-free and imagine it to be extremely hard to impossible. Then they see me and realize it's completely attainable." "I love, respect and honor all animals as spiritual brothers and sisters. I see their beauty and intelligence and they see mine." "I always try to lead by example; stay healthy, stay fit, etc. I guess that's a good way to inspire people." "My friendships with vegans are on the same level. There are no hippy or vegan jokes. You can talk openly about being vegan without feeling like your preaching. It's nice to be feel you are on the same page with people." "I live in a run-down and deteriorating area that is populated by people who eat 'halal', not exactly conducive to any animal welfare ethics. ... I try not to judge but admit that I do. I think eating animal products is beyond all reasoning and absolutely inexcusable. I despair at human greed, gluttony, and utter selfishness in the face of such monumental suffering. So yes, I do judge. And yes, I do feel superior (but only on this one issue; I'm far from perfect myself!) I believe, where at all possible in life, we should all do what is the right thing to do, even if it is not necessarily what we want to do." "I couldn't be in a serious relationship with a non-vegan. When a person avoids making the decision, which could save thousands of animals from pain and suffering, I can't have feelings for him." "I have a good friend in Los Angeles who is in her eighties and has been vegan all her life! Her parents were vegans. She is healthy, bright, active and smart." "I am a vegan-sexual. I only get intimate with plant-eaters." "My children are vegans since conception. My son will turn 12 in October and my daughter just turned 14. They are healthy, and proud to be vegan. They have never asked why we are vegan, rather, they have asked why other people are not. I have always educated them as to the reasons we are vegan and these reasons make a lot of sense to them." "In Canada women are more open to veganism. Canada is a hunting, meat-eating society influenced by the aggressive North American attitude towards things." "My own health improved considerably when I went vegan, including the asthma which was getting worse every year as a vegetarian but which disappeared within a few weeks of going vegan. I know of no one who has suffered as a result of a vegan diet and the people I have spoken to about it have found their feeling of well-being improved." "I was a fishing guide for 30 years, now I am an animal rights activist." "Vegans are not fat at all and they have good complexions and are very active, are keen gardeners, feel for nature and the environment." "Over the years, the biggest change I have seen is people claiming to be vegan even though they eat dead animals or animal products. The word 'vegan' is rapidly losing its meaning as the word 'vegetarian' has. For non-vegans to claim to be vegan is offensive and disrespectful of our beliefs, philosophy and culture." "My boyfriend has gone near-vegan after watching the documentaries Earthlings and Baraka together. He had decided to go near-vegan one month after I decided to go vegan. [Also, this responder tells us] I have learned a great reverence for all life on this planet through veganism." "I am a vegan because of moral values. People who don't share these values are not good friends." "The activists at Vegan Outreach are quite inspirational and I suspect their campus campaigns are one of the most positive influences in growing the vegan movement currently." "Veggies make better lovers; they taste better, smell better, and are all around more loving people. Changing your diet in an effort to ease the lives of animals, no matter how small the impact, is the mark of a truly selfless person." "[When asked how you meet vegans?] I don't meet them; I change the mindset of non-vegans." "I have definitely noticed a change in people's reactions to veganism. I'm not sure how much of this is my own confidence and ability to express myself and be sure about my values, or whether it is also partly due to a changing attitude and awareness in society; probably both." "I think I might find it hard to kiss a mouth that has consumed animal products. I think it would just be pretty gross. [She adds] When I was newly vegan, it was so obvious to me why it was important and I wanted others to see it too. Of course it didn't happen and then I was actually sort of angry. I realize that we all have our own paths to follow; I need to be who I am and I also need to allow others to do the same. If it's not about Love, then what is it about? Hopefully, we can raise awareness at the least and perhaps plant seeds that will take root at some point. Who knows what kind of influence we really will have? [And finally] Before I went vegan I think I was in denial. I hadn't yet come face-to-face with my decisions and choices. Once I began to come to the realization of what I was choosing it was pretty sickening. I believe that I've become a more compassionate and loving person towards animals and people in general as a vegan." "In the past I used to be able to see the slaughter videos and ill-treatment of animals, now I just avoid it... because you will end up crying." "I would lie if I say I felt equal to animals since being vegan (although I would like to feel that way), but at least they are not as inferior as I thought them (unconsciously) to be in the past. [He informs us] I have never met a vegan in my area." "If someone doesn't want to understand me, then he doesn't love me. (I mean I would give a chance to a meat-eater but before we go out we should talk about veganism as I could not kiss anyone who just ate a cow. If he understands me and want to live like I do, that's o.k., if not there is no chance to be in an emotional relationship as I can't have emotions for someone who can't understand me.) Love is over-rated; we can't make sacrifices because of someone who doesn't understand us." "In the world we live in today there are vegan alternatives to just about everything. I am more than happy to take extra care to live my life ethically." "I'm vegan as much as practically possible but not only when it's convenient because it rarely is in western culture. A non-practical issue, off the top of my head, includes animal by-products in car and bike tyres. My food is always vegan as that's easy, even when travelling. A bit of persistence is all that's required. I wouldn't engage in other forms of bigotry for convenience; e.g. sexism, racism, heterosexism, nor will I engage in speciesism as far as is practically possible." "The temperament of vegan individuals tends to be calmer and less prone to angry moods or violent behaviors. They are also more happy ... I have always known that animals deserve so much more from the humans who have so much power over their lives. Now there is a name and lifestyle that embodies that conviction." "Currently we are nomads, spending a lot of time in Costa Rica, where the idea of vegan is somewhat lost to them. Americans pass through that are vegetarian, pretty frequently though, and we have turned a bunch of newbies vegan by cooking and talking with them. [She also says] My fiancé and I take pride in being the only professional surfers/athlete vegan couple in the circuit right now. [Finally she says] Romance delves deeper into the human spirit than friendship and I could not truly be in a relationship with my heart if they were o.k. with cruelty. I would certainly try to show them all what I have learned and let them decide on their own but at the end of the day, if they chose non-vegan, I would let them go. (Thankfully, I found my vegan soul mate already; I showed him what I learned and he became vegan that instant and has been loving it ever since!)" "I would object to being romantic with a non-vegan; they smell weird and I am not turned on by people who eat like they don't give a damn." "I haven't been vegan for a full year yet, but over the past several months, I've noticed that people typically react with a kind of shocked 'oh!'. Sometimes they leave it at that and sometimes I get quizzed and confronted. Many people are more understanding, particularly since the knowledge that a vegan diet is good for the planet is becoming widely recognized and being 'green' is very trendy right now. [She adds] Being vegan has definitely changed my relationship to animals. Although I didn't initially become vegan for the animals, it has become a large reason why I stay vegan. I feel more comfortable looking at them in pictures or real life knowing that I don't eat them or exploit them." "[When asked if she would object to being romantic with a non-vegan) It's simply not nice. Difficult to know what would happen if in that situation...We have one daughter who is vegan from birth, and another who was vegetarian from birth, and vegan from the age of 2. We have one dog, who is mostly vegan. He'll also eats virtually anything else he finds." "I have vegan friends that are competitive runners that are ranked in the top 5 in the state of Illinois." "Living in a city that is so incredibly vegan-friendly inspired us to become vegan ourselves." "I just moved to Gainesville, Florida to attend college and I'm happy to say that it is a pretty veggie-friendly town (in fact, it's very veg-friendly in contrast to the tiny redneck town in north Florida I used to call home). The cafeteria at the local University even has a small vegan section for the cruelty-free students. (yay!). [She further explains] Honestly, most people haven't been very accepting of my becoming vegan. I guess it's because I lived in a tiny town in the Bible Belt for so long where everyone loves fried chicken and thinks being a vegan is strange and against God's Will (yes, I've been told that before). Apparently, God wants us to torture and kill innocent chickens? Hmmmmm..." "Some vegans are fat, actually, and better should not tell non-veggies that they are vegan, it would destroy the image of the healthy and slim vegan. [When asked the extent of their veganism] I am an extremist. [When asked how they relate to non-vegans] I am Good and they are Evil." "I know many other vegetarians and, to a lesser extent, some vegans. Most of the vegetarians I know have decreased their dairy intake (they don't eat eggs) due to the current climate change situation that we are experiencing. Some of the vegetarians have become vegan due to the plethora of studies showing what a crisis the Earth is experiencing currently." "I have been involved with omnivores and lacto-ovo vegetarians before. You can always try to convert them! But mainly I go for vegans (they taste better). Being a vegan makes someone infinitely more attractive to me. ... I know vegans who virtually never get sick." "My first inspiration was a bumper sticker that read 'If you love animals why do you eat them?'. I really wish I knew the person driving that car, so I could tell them they changed my life...I view animals as interesting fellow earthlings. Now that I'm vegan, I feel more peace when I look at them, and more wonderment. Now that I know how complex, aware and interesting they are I see them very differently. I respect them as individuals. I appreciate nature like never before." "There aren't many vegans around, but there are a few. This is a really rural city in the sense that many people are involved with cattle industries or mining, they love the rodeo, fishing tournaments, etc. I didn't meet vegans for the fist two years I lived here. Then I set up an animal rights group with someone I found by googling 'Townsville vegan' and vegans are coming out of the woodwork. There are about 20 of us now and we only started two months ago." "My parents/family think my being vegan is weird and uncalled for. They haven't changed, but I have." "I am an abolitionist vegan, meaning I want to see a total end of exploitation, so I don't support welfarism...The changes came 16 years ago when I became vegetarian; previously I hunted, I fished and was a total drop-kick. One day it dawned on me what I was doing and that it was wrong, that day my relationship to animals changed." "I live with 8 non-vegans; they are my family members. It sucks, to say the least. I hate smelling what they cook; it makes me feel ill." "London is a great place to be vegan, with a large array of vegan restaurants, cafes and health food shops, along with plenty of vegans! [In addition] Even in just 5 years, the word 'vegan' sounds less strange to the public. More and more people know what vegan means. More cafes are catering, and people are starting to learn about the health benefits. I think reactions are much more positive now." "There are many, many vegetarians/vegans in the area. [Furthermore] I try to relate to everyone as open and compassionate as I want them to relate to me; vegan or not! [Finally] Animal cruelty is only one reason I choose to be vegan; environmental responsibility, spirituality, health and longevity... these are all reasons I choose to live this fabulous vegan life!" "I had a relationship with a meat-eater that begun getting serious and we broke it off because I would want to raise vegan children and he would want meat-eating children. I can't have the future I want with a meat-eater and at the end of the day, I don't want to compromise on my morals." "I see the enslavement and commodication of animals as being a moral wrong, something that is very wrong with the world and has to be changed. Non-vegans don't care as much about their health, the environment, the workers who are exploited by this industry, etc. Dating a non-vegan would be like dating a Republican who is anti-choice, pro-war and pro-gun (i.e. hellish). [She concludes with] Veganism and the suffering of non-human animals has definitely shown me the suffering of people; both those involved with the animal exploitation industry and those not. Ultimately by being vegan we are striving for a more just, peaceful world and that can't happen if anyone is being oppressed." "With vegans I think we have an instant bond, we see things a little differently from meat-eaters. I think they are like my family rather than friends." "People's reactions to veganism are becoming better accepted as the years roll on! When I first went vegan many people had not heard the word and it was really difficult to get a soy cappuccino! [Also she says] I have some rescued mice. They are vegan. I would only ever feed companion animals vegan food. The argument about it not being natural is silly when you understand that nothing about being a pet is natural!" "It's about equal in my age group, but with the older generation women have been more open to being vegan than men, in my experience." "A friend of mine became vegan after me; I hope I was a positive influence. He also came along to the Bristol Vegan Fayre, so that may have had some bearing." "There are a few vegans here, but mostly foreigners. My girlfriend and I are the only Portuguese ones I know of." "Just the thought of kissing or doing the oral thing with a walking graveyard for animals repulses me. And the consciousness and compassion is just not there. It's a no-brainer to be vegan. I don't want to be involved with selfish non-thinkers who are involved in the torture of creatures for no reason. ... I keep my distance from meat-eaters. I view them as basically stupid people who do not see the far-reaching and overwhelming consequences of their culinary choices. I'll still be polite and engage them of course but as far as any warm, loving vibration exchange; it would be difficult." "I have lived with non-vegans in the past. I lived with a non-vegan boyfriend and a non-vegan roommate, and I would not do it again. Both experiences were pretty bad after awhile." "I would prefer to date someone who is vegan or vegetarian but there are not many single veg*n men in my area!" "I think being vegan changed the way I related to all living beings. I feel more connected to everything. I like to share the exciting news I've heard about reversing heart disease and your body naturally fighting cancer with a vegan diet, but have learned to only do so when asked first." "...I always bring something they can try and they always love the non-animal food. I then say something about the health benefits of the non-animal food versus the meat. I feel it out first; I never want to turn them off, the whole idea is to save the animals from cruelty, and if I can add the health reasons (because we all know the obesity rate is only getting higher) why not!!" "Friends and co-workers are okay with it but that's only as long as I don't try talking to them about the virtues of a vegan lifestyle. I have to say that is the only thing that really bothers me and truly surprised me when I became vegetarian/vegan; that friends and family don't care enough to want to know more about something that I feel is vitally important." "If I found myself single again for some reason, I believe I would seek out or tend to date vegans. Though love has a mind of its own, eh, it seems like that could be a deal breaker. I am very lucky in that my partner and I became vegan around the same time. It's a joy and a pleasure that we embarked on our 'Vegan Journey' simultaneously and that we speak the same language and have so many of the same values and beliefs though we are opposite in plenty of other ways." |