2. So What Exactly is Veganism? Veganism is a philosophy and lifestyle whose adherents seek to exclude the use of animals for food, clothing, or any other purpose. Vegans refrain from eating or using any type of animal product. examples: meat, dairy, eggs, leather, fur, and all other animal-derived ingredients
4. The World 20 vegetarians can live off the land required by one meat eater If Americans reduced their meat consumption by 10% it would free 12,000,000 tons of grain - enough to feed 60,000,000 people If they continue to clear American forests to raise cattle at the present rate, in 50 years there will be none left 1 acre yields 165 lbs of beef or 20,000 lbs of potatoes Pressure on land due to meat farming leads to soil erosion 6billion tons/year in the USA If everyone went vegetarian up to 90% of land used for animal farming could be taken out of production & used to replant woodlands, leisure activities, etc. 90% of cattle ranches established on cleared forest land go bankrupt in less than 8 years as the land becomes barren due to nutrient loss & overgrazing 25% of Central America's forests have been destroyed for cattle grazing since 1960 Overgrazing by cattle is destroying the land & increasing desertification, nearly 430 million acres in the USA alone has suffered a 25-50% reduction in yield since first grazed Video http://www.petatv.com/tvpopup/video.asp?video=meats_not_green_peta2&Player=qt
5. Land will be lost due to rises in sea level due to global warming due to animal farming The destruction of the rainforest by cattle farmers is destroying the lungs of the planet & reducing the world’s capacity to replenish our oxygen supply Burning of forests, grasslands & agricultural waste associated with animal farming releases 50-100,000,000 tons of methane per year Combining these figures, 25% of methane emissions are due to animal farming (not including the billions of sheep, pigs & poultry so the real figure is much higher) Fertilizer used to grow crops to feed to animals releases nitrous oxide - thought to account for 6% of the Greenhouse effect Fertilizer, weed killer & pesticides sprayed on crops enter the atmosphere creating a noxious carcinogenic cocktail CFCs are released into the air from refrigeration units used to store decomposing flesh (meat), milk & butter - CFCs destroy the ozone layer Emissions from large chemical plants which produce fertilizer, weed killer & other agricultural chemicals are also poisoning our air 25 gallons of water to produce 1lb of wheat & 2500 gallons to produce 1lb of meat Bloody waste water from abattoirs ends up in our rivers In the USA, every second humans produce 12,000 lbs of effluent while farmed animals produce 250,000 lbs Nitrates & pesticides used on crops grown to feed livestock end up in our rivers Meat & dairy farming uses 70 liters of water per day per animal in the UK or 159,250,000,000 liters per year in total The water used to produce 10 lbs of steak is equivalent to the average consumption of water for an entire household for an entire year The liquid waste from the various parts of the meat & dairy industry flow into the rivers & from there into the seas polluting them & encouraging huge algal blooms to grow
6. Meat & dairy farming uses billions of gallons of oil to run tractors, fuel ships & lorries, pump billions of gallons of water to irrigate fields & run slaughterhouses, power refrigeration units to prevent the corpses from decomposing & to power sewage plants to clean up some of the pollution produced 1lb of beef takes 1 gallon of petrol to produce A family of four eating beef for a year uses enough petrol to run a car for 6 months depending on how far they drive Fishing with drift (and other modern) nets weakens & destroys ecosystems by indiscriminately killing billions of sea creatures & disrupting the sea bed Broiler sheds are artificially lit 23 hours a day to produce rapid growth which wastes energy Less land is required to produce vegetables. Animals would not run rampant if veganism became the norm. Factory farmed animals are bred excessively to keep up with consumer demand. If we stop buying, they'll stop over breeding and the numbers will go down. Meat and dairy are wasteful. The world could be fed on what we feed animals to create animal derived food. Leather pollutes the environment. Ground waters near tanneries have elevated levels of arsenic. Shellfish are nature's garbage filters. 52% of greenhouse emissions come from animal agriculture
7. People Every year in the UK we feed our livestock enough food to feed 250,000,000 people while in the world 30,000,000 people die of starvation Every 3 seconds a child dies of starvation somewhere in the world If all Americans became vegetarian, it would free enough grain to feed 600,000,000 people (the population of India) 70% of all grain is fed to animals Eating vast quantities of animal flesh, eggs, milk & butter is a luxury that most of the planet can not afford
8. Your Health Vegans on average live 6 years longer than non-vegans. Vegetarians have a 20% lower rate of mortality from all causes Meat is full of traces of antibiotics, hormones, toxins produced by stress & pesticide residues that become concentrated from all the crops they have eaten which causes bacterial resistance Fish contain heavy metals & other pollutants -many of which originated on farms The world health organization recommends a diet low in saturated fat, sugar, salt & with plenty of fiber - exactly what you get on a vegan/vegetarian diet Farmed animals contain up to 50% saturated fat in their bodies Vegetarians have a 40% reduced level of cancer than the general population Vegetarians have a reduced risk of developing gall & kidney stones You are what you eat. Video http://www.goveg.com/feat/chewonthis/
9. 80% of food poisoning is due to infected meat 50% of people do not have the enzyme to digest milk properly & milk allergy is related to asthma & eczema Meat eaters have double the rate of Alzheimer's disease as Vegans & Vegetarians Meat eaters are two and a half times more likely to get bowel cancer than Vegetarians The cling film used to wrap meat in supermarkets & butchers contains chemicals linked to falling sperm counts in men Vegetarians have 24% reduced risk of getting heart disease & Vegans a 57% reduction Obesity is rare in vegetarians, obesity is related to many diseases Vegans & vegetarians have lower blood pressure & cholesterol levels - high levels are associated with heart disease, strokes & kidney failure Vegetarians have a 50% reduced risk of dying of diabetes Milk consumption has been linked to cholic, ear infections, asthma, and a whole slew of other diseases. Vegans don't consume any cholesterol. Cholesterol can cause impotence. 33% percent of Americans are obese, while only 2% of vegans are Fur has formaldehyde in it, which has been known to cause cancers Charred meats contain carcinogens that can cause cancers The USFDA recognizes vegetarian and vegan diets as the healthiest diets. Humans are the only animals that drink milk beyond infancy There's no such thing as a "mystery vegetable”.
10. Studies have revealed that consuming dairy does not reduce your risk of bone breaks. Ecoli comes from animal feces and is found in hamburger. Lactose intolerance is widespread and natural. Veganism reduces your risk of heart disease. If you're eating a reasonable vegan diet, your proteins will balance themselves. Eating soy reduces your risk of reproductive cancers. There is evidence that milk consumption inhibits iron absorption. Several population studies show that a diet without meat leads to lower BMIs. A healthy weight loss is a typical result of a smart vegan diet. Eating vegan eliminates most of the unhealthy foods that tend to cause weight issues. When following a healthy vegan diet, you will find your energy is much higher. The nuts and vitamins A and E from vegetables play a big role in healthy skin, so vegans will usually have good skin health. Eliminating dairy and red meat from the diet significantly reduces body odor. Vegans frequently experience a reduction in bad breath. Many who follow vegan diets report that their hair becomes stronger, has more body, and looks healthier. Healthy vegan diets are also responsible for much stronger, healthier nails. When switching to a vegan diet, many women tell how PMS symptoms become much less intense or disappear altogether. Migraine suffers who go on vegan diets frequently discover relief from their migraines. Getting protein from beans and grains is much healthier and reduces the risk for osteoporosis than from meat.
11. The human body is not designed to digest cow milk and cow milk dairy products so as many as 75%of people in the world may be lactose intolerant Growing plants takes much fewer resources than growing animals. By eating vegan, you can help reduce the toll on the environment. Eating vegan means completely avoiding the risk of E. coli infection. Going vegan eliminates this risk of salmonella altogether. Feeding grain to animals meant as food sources reduces the amount of food that is available to underdeveloped nations. Dairy products and meats contain a large amount of saturated fats. By reducing the amount of saturated fats from your diet, you’ll improve your health tremendously, especially when it comes to cardiovascular health. Carbohydrates provide energy for your body. When you don’t have enough carbohydrates, your body will burn muscle tissue. A diet high in fiber (as vegan eating usually is) leads to healthier bowel movements. High fiber diets help fight against colon cancer. Aiding in the absorption of calcium, magnesium is an often overlooked vitamin in importance to a healthy diet. Nuts, seeds, and dark leafy greens are an excellent source of magnesium. Potassium balances water and acidity in your body and stimulates the kidneys to eliminate toxins. Diets high in potassium have shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Folate, this B vitamin is an important part of a healthy diet. Folate helps with cell repair, generating red and white blood cells, and metabolizing amino acids. For protection against cell damage, antioxidants are one of the best ways to help your body. Many researchers also believe that antioxidants help protect your body against forming some types of cancer.
12. Besides boosting your immune system, Vitamin C also helps keep your gums healthy and helps your bruises heal faster. Vitamin C is also an antioxidant. Powerful vitamin E has benefits for your heart, skin, eyes, brain, and may even help prevent Alzheimer’s Disease. A diet high in grains, nuts, and dark leafy greens is full of Vitamin E. Plant-based foods provide phytochemicals, which help to prevent and heal the body from cancer, boost protective enzymes, and work with antioxidants in the body. Protein. That protein is good for your body is no surprise. It may be a surprise to learn that most Americans eat too much protein and in forms such as red meat that are not healthy ways of getting protein. Beans, nuts, peas, lentils, and soy products are all great ways to get the right amount of protein in a vegan diet. A British study indicates that a vegan diet reduces the risk for heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. Eliminating any food that comes from an animal and you will eliminate all dietary cholesterol from your diet. A diet rich in whole grains is beneficial to your health in many ways, including lowering high blood pressure. Not only is a vegan diet a weapon against Type 2 diabetes, it is also "easier to follow than the standard diet recommended by the American Diabetic Association.” A major study showed that men in the early stages of prostate cancer who switched to a vegan diet either stopped the progress of the cancer or may have even reversed the illness. Eating a diet consisting of whole grains, along with fresh fruits and vegetables, can greatly reduce your chances of colon cancer.
13. Diets with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables can help prevent the onset of age-related macular degeneration. Cataracts are also thought to be prevented through the intake of the same fruits and vegetables. Produce high in antioxidants are also believed to help prevent cataracts. Eliminating dairy consumption has long been connected with alleviating arthritis symptoms, but a new study indicates that a combination of gluten-free and vegan diet is very promising for improving the health of those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. A vegan diet can help prevent Osteoporosis. Countries where women eat very little meat and animal products have a much lower rate of breast cancer than do the women in countries that consume more animal products. Low fat/high fiber vegan foods don't give you the after-meal energy slump of high fat meats and dairy products. Dairy contributes to excessive mucous. It's easier to maintain a healthy weight on a vegan diet. Meat and dairy products contain no fiber. High fiber vegan foods help reduce your risk of colon cancer. There is growing evidence that milk may contribute to osteoporosis. Eating animals that have been given hormones to speed growth (a common practice in the meat industry) means those hormones go into your body. Not only can this disrupt the natural balance of your hormones, but some of the hormones given to animals have shown to cause tumor growth in humans.
14. Animals Your veganism can save 35 animals a year. Fishermen's nets kill 10 times as many other animals as the fish they are hoping to catch Fish caught in nets die an agonizing slow death of suffocation Each year 15,000,000,000 land animals are slaughtered for food & an unknown but much larger number of sea creatures Chickens are crammed into battery cages with up to 3 other birds, they are unable to even spread their wings & many can not even stand up Chicks are debeaked without anesthetic to prevent them injuring each other in the unnaturally confined conditions they are kept in - this is equivalent to having your fingernails pulled out without anesthetic Modern farming methods using growth hormones & artificial lighting mean that many chickens out grow their bones, resulting in fractured & broken legs Sows are kept tethered in stalls 1.3 x 1 meter on concrete or slatted floors - they can not even turn around Poultry raised for meat are kept in windowless broiler sheds, with around 20-30,000 in each shed, they live in an area of 10-20 cm square - fighting due to overcrowding is common & like battery hens they commonly suffer from suppurating bed sores Vegetables don't bleed. Hunting orphans baby animals. Video #1- http://www.petatv.com/tvpopup/video.asp?video=tyson_heflin&Player=qt #2- http://www.petatv.com/tvpopup/video.asp?video=fostering_cruelty&Player=qt #3- http://www.goveg.com/factoryFarming.asp More Research http://www.all-creatures.org/anex/index.html
15. Animals travel between farms & to slaughter in overcrowded transporters with no food or water - resulting in stress, injuries & deaths - legal requirements are widely ignored 95% of poultry suffer injuries before being killed & 30% suffer broken bones Problems with stunning practices mean that many animals have their throats slit while still conscious & are then dipped in tanks of scalding water while fully conscious 4000 animals die spurting their blood out every minute in a British slaughterhouse Calf leather comes from animals killed at just 2 weeks old Cows only give milk for 10 months after they have a calf so they are routinely artificially inseminated to keep them pregnant & milking. Their calves are taken away (usually at 12 hours old) for meat or export to veal crates Cows would naturally live up to 20 years but are slaughtered after 5-7 years when their milk production begins to fall Veal calves are confined in stalls in the dark, unable to move & are fed on pigs blood, chocolate & dried milk while humans are drinking the rich fresh milk of their mothers Veal calves are often stillborn or unborn. Pigs are more intelligent than dogs, and have the intelligence of a 3-year old. Egg-laying hens are kept without water and food for 14 days at a time to force their bodies into another egg-laying cycle Egg laying battery hens spend their entire lives in a space smaller than a sheet of notebook paper. Bovine Growth Hormone causes grotesque enlargement of the udders so they may drag on the ground where the cows step on them as they walk. The draize eye test involves holding an animal's eye open and dousing it with caustic chemicals.
16. Many lower cost furs are imported dog and cat fur. Chickens have their beaks cut of with a hot wire and no anesthesia. Factory farmed turkeys have been bred to have such grotesquely huge chests, they can no longer breed on their own. Animals confined in cages on fur farms often exhibit stress related cannibalism. Dairy cows and egg hens end up at the slaughterhouse, too. Milk begins at the "rape rack". The LD50 test is a chemical test in which animals are given a toxin in increasing dosages until 50% of the test population has been killed. Slaughterhouse workers have the highest rate of job dissatisfaction of any commercial industry. Cosmetic and household product testing is not required by law. Sick and injured animals are discarded on dead piles instead of receiving veterinary care. Hen house workers have more frequent lung problems due to elevated ammonia levels in chicken rearing facilities. Veal calves are kept anemic to make their flesh a pale color. Bulls have their horns sawed off without anesthesia. Female pigs with litters are kept in pens too small to move in. Male livestock animals are castrated without anesthesia. Animals on fur farms are often killed by anal electrocution. Pigs scream in unison when they hear one of their own being killed.
17. Money& Ease Tofu is cheaper than steak Cotton and fake leather do not need to be dry cleaned, saving money. Vegetables are cheap. All religions allow you to eat vegetables.
22. Vegans Eat… Vegetables Fruits Nuts Grains Most Cereals are Vegan with Soy Milk instead Whole Grains Beans Rice Soy Tofu In short, vegans can eat basically whatever they want, as long as it isn’t animal derived.
23. “But I have a sweet tooth and being vegan means only eating boring lettuce…” Nope! Here are just some of the sweets you can eat!
24. Think You Can’t Eat Your Favorites? Here’s Some Things That Are Secretly Vegan…
25. Vegans Don’t Eat… Meat Poultry (chicken, turkey, duck, goose, capon, etc.) Eggs Milk Cheese Fish Any Dairy Product Honey Gelatin Rennet Gelatin Rennet Gelatin is a translucent, colorless, brittle (when dry), nearly tasteless solid substance, derived from the collagen inside animals' skin and bones Rennet is a natural complex of enzymes produced in any mammalian stomach to digest the mother's milk, and is often used in the production of cheese
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27. What about at Fast Food Restaurants? Although at times finding vegan meals at fast food chain restaurants can be difficult, you just have to look around. Many meals just require you to remove one item to make it vegan. Here’s a website that can help you out in the beginning: http://aveganlife.blogspot.com/2006/03/vegan-fast-food-options.html
28. Why not just go vegetarian? Because then you’re only fighting half of the problem and still supporting the rest Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYTkM1OHFQg&feature=player_embedded
29. Why shouldn’t I wear fur or leather? Why would you even want to wear this? We have so many cheaper, humane options for clothing ourselves that we don’t need to resort to wearing another living creature’s skin. Videos #1-http://www.petatv.com/downloads/fur_farm_med.mov #2-http://www.petatv.com/downloads/fur_farm_med.mov #3-http://www.petatv.com/swf/video.swf?v=canada_shame_peta_500x375_high #4-http://www.petatv.com/tvpopup/video.asp?video=fur_is_dead_peta2&Player=qt #5-http://www.petatv.com/tvpopup/video.asp?video=covance_30&Player=qt #6-http://www.peta.org/whoseskin/index.asp #7-http://www.petatv.com/tvpopup/video.asp?video=skins062&Player=qt
31. Why not animal test or experiment? Do your research, it’s costly, ineffective and cruel. There are better, more reliable alternatives. Videos #1- http://www.petatv.com/tvpopup/video.asp?video=testing123&Player=qt #2-http://www.petatv.com/tvpopup/video.asp?video=mice_and_rats_USA_QT&Player=qt #3- http://www.petatv.com/tvpopup/video.asp?video=malish&Player=qt
32. Animals That Are Experimented On Mice, rats, amphibians, fish, birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, dogs, cats, non-human primates like humans, other rodents, farm animals, and other mammals.
45. One of the greatest reasons to be vegan… If you can’t even look at how your food is prepared, you probably shouldn’t eat it. *these images are disturbing
61. Summary Go Vegan For Yourself For the Planet For the World For the Animals To Help End Violence To Explore New Foods http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC9OgM5N3uA Do your research. It might surprise you how great veganism can be!