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A SPOTLIGHT ON THE UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE SURVEY RESPONDERS "People react with disbelief most of the time while others will be clearly impressed that such a young person would already be taking charge of their health and other beliefs, so early. ... I have evolved into an animal lover in just a couple of months. I view animals through an entirely different lense now. It is truly amazing how much my relationship towards animals has changed just by adopting a vegan diet." "I would describe it as a protest, because that is exactly what it is. It's been a slow process, but I'm dumping all products containing animal products. This extends from food, to clothes, to soap, to everything. [When asked if she could be romantic with a non-vegan] I'll be honest, it would be awkward. I find eating meat and animal products to be really unattractive. It's just barbaric to me, and not to mention I would never agree to kiss a mouth with traces of meat and milk in it. Yuk! He'd have to do lots of teeth brushing. [When asked if she would only date vegans] I'll be honest. It is preferred. Veganism has just become such a huge part of my life and beliefs, that it is sometimes hard to connect with people who don't share that. I don't only date vegans, however, I believe a connection can be made, but that it is more difficult. ... My whole family's lost some weight since going vegan. We're all much happier and full of energy. It feels wonderful for all of us. [She adds] I think a huge part of being vegan is simply waking up to the fact that ALL animals are sentient beings. That just because everyone else sees a cow as nothing more than a bag of flesh waiting to be cut apart for their meal, doesn't make it true. The meat on your dinner table was once a breathing, feeling, and sentient creature much like yourself. The milk in your glass, cake or cheese was taken from the mouth of a calf, and the money you put toward it goes to the same people who raise and kill veal. I could go on and on about this topic, but the point is, animals are the creatures with whom we share this planet, not simple commodities, and they deserve respect." "I didn't think it would, but my relationship with animals really has been changed. I feel more connected and at peace with them. It's as if I'm telling them not to worry, because I'm not going to exploit them or hurt them. It's an interesting phenomenon and a great feeling." "I'm the only vegan in my age group that I know. ... I've always been an animal lover, I just never made the connection between cows in the field and cows on the plate." "It can be disheartening at times to spend my day researching about animal rights issues, or writing animal rights based works, or informing people in my school about how they can help to eliminate animal cruelty and then come home to a family sitting down to a meal comprised of pain and suffering. But to be honest, it makes me more determined to expose the truth about animal products to people like them, people who have a stubbornness to follow the traditional ways that they have been brought up with; regardless of how wrong they may be. ... I think more men would be publicly open to veganism if it weren't for the social stigma of vegan men being 'weak' or 'pansy'. I don't see veganism as emasculating at all; in fact I see it as quite the opposite. As a vegan woman, I find it incredibly sexy to see an empowered man, a man unafraid of what others think because he is willing to see outside of his immediate realm and into the lives and suffering of others; this is, to me, what comprises a true man. A man who follows the crowd is the weak one. ... I cannot be in a relationship with someone who is willing to accept cruelty. Vegansim is to me, a continuous journey, along which, more and more cruelty will be eliminated from my life. Having a partner that is not vegan, is bringing cruelty into my life. Being able to share veganism with my boyfriend is one of the greatest joys of my life. I could not date someone who eats animal products, it would destroy me. Veganism is me. It's who I am and I'm never going to change that. No relationship could ever be worth compromising my beliefs." "I think that women are more open to the vegan concept. A good book to read is 'The Sexual Politics of Meat' by Carol Adams." "When I first went vegan my mum thought it was too extreme, but has now accepted it. My family members are big meat-eaters." "Veganism is a protest to the excess of animal consumption and experimentation in which presents itself in our modern context. I, myself, am militant about my beliefs. As well as veganism, I am Christian, and Straight-Edge. My parents are supportive of their son's vision; though refuse to take part in practicing veganism, due to deeply rooted theories of animal consumption for basic survival and well-being. I am not condemned nor persecuted for what I believe. Rather, I am loved all the same. I Love my parents back, because my beliefs are also for human rights." "I have made it my mission for the next few years to turn as many people vegan as possible. I need to help the animals. Also, I think that women are more open to the vegan concept, because they can relate more to the animals. In history, women too have been downgraded to second class citizens, as the animals are today. Women too have had the misfortune of being kept only for their bodies and body parts. Therefore, I believe that it is easier for women to connect with animals and have more sympathy and empathy for them." "I take my veganism pretty seriously; to the extent that I won't sit on anyone's leather couches. And she says, 'It is more difficult to be in a group of people who are eating lunch/dinner and not to feel sort of resentful towards them.' " "My whole family is not vegan. They leave me to make my own food, and I leave them to make their own. They sometimes ask me questions, but not very often. ... I was inspired by the authors of SKINNY BITCH. That book changed my life. At first my mom was supportive; she got me a bunch of books about veganism and bought me the foods I wanted. Now she seems kind of annoyed by it, like it's a chore for her to provide for me. ... At first, I judged anyone who ate meat to be a horrible person, but now I am more accepting because I did eat meat too, I just didn't know all the facts I know now. Some people just aren't well informed." "Most of my family thinks I'm a little odd for being vegan, but they've grown to accept if fully over time. However, my mother has always been very supportive. Living with three non-vegans works out fine. They agree to buy food for me, and we cook separately." "Being vegan touches all aspects of my life. In particular, I've noticed that opening my heart to animals also makes me feel injustice toward human beings more acutely. Being a vegan makes me a better person." "Vegan, in my opinion, is taking care and being compassionate about all animals, human or non-human. ... Since I went vegetarian at eleven years old, my compassion for animals has only grown stronger. My decision of changing from a vegetarian to a vegan lifestyle was because of my respect for animals." "Now that I am vegan, I don't purposely kill bugs anymore. ... My parents were indifferent at first, but now they are very supportive since they know how seriously I take it." "I am not vegan because I don't see the point. Why should I drastically change my diet just for some animals (who if I was in the same position as them) wouldn't care? ... I don't think I would really go vegan for that girl at school but I might say I am and eat meat in secret. Though, I doubt the need for that will arise." "Some of the other vegans I know have become vegan because it is so much healthier than the Standard American Diet. I am a vegetarian planning on becoming vegan, who is serious about it, but not so much as to judge others." |