Make the Vegan Resolution

With New Year’s Eve just around the corner, what could be a better way of celebrating the season of self-improvement than by resolving to minimize one’s harm to other sentient beings? With veganism gaining greater popularity than ever before, and with new vegan products and services appearing on the market all the time, it has never been easier to make the commitment.

For many people, when they are first exposed to the concept of living without the use of animal products, they find themselves daunted by the idea of how much they would have to give up. For some, this means that they refuse to consider the idea further, even if they are, in fact, moved by the ethical reasons behind the practice of veganism. Sadly, because of this, many people never get the opportunity to learn about all they have to gain from making such a far-reaching improvement in their lives.

The resistance to veganism generally results from a lack of solid education about why and how to be vegan, and is exacerbated by the unfortunate myth that has developed around the idea of veganism being an ‘extreme’ choice reserved for those with strong willpower.

Once people are well-informed about the reasons to be vegan, and once they learn how to replace their former favorite meals, drinks, desserts, clothing, and entertainment options with vegan alternatives, they see that not only is being vegan easy, but the transition itself can be fun and interesting, and can lead to a whole new enjoyment of life itself.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Diane L.

3:00AM PDT on Mar 12, 2012

Ummm, yeah, Glenn. Hindus treat cows as members of their family.........right. Cows live in the only water sources available for drinking.........pee in it, and children die daily from malnutrition and lack of clean drinking water. This all makes SO MUCH SENSE to me (not)!

send a green star

Glenn A.

8:42AM PDT on Mar 11, 2012

@ colleen p Yes, Hindus do use milk, as do the Krsnas, and many others, the difference being, these people either worship their animals, or at least treat them as equals...when an animal gives birth, they do not tear the young away, they do not keep them penned up knee deep in thier own filth, and if they get sick, they treat them and make sure they are fully healthy before they resume milking them..in other words, they are not treated as just a posession for nothing more than profit, but as a venerated, well respected member of thier family. I know a family just up the valley where I lie who have a small "Hobby Farm?" they have 6 sheep. 4 goats, 2 LLammas and 2 very large draught horses, along with less than 50 free-range chickens...all are treated like thier children, and the milk, eggs and wools from these animals are taken in a very caring and loving way, no stress or harm to the animals, and the 2 horses seem to relly enjoy being hooked up to whatever equipment they are harnessed into for the days work...yes...animal friendly farming can be done on a small scale.

Samantha M.

4:24AM PST on Mar 2, 2012

thanks!

colleen p.

9:47AM PST on Dec 12, 2011

are there any cultures from the past who were 100% vegan? even Hindus use milk, yes they use milk. a whole nation build on Jainism? http://www.patheos.com/Library/Jainism.html

any tribe, nation what not that didn't even use drauft animals, that did not utilise animals to sniff out hidden foodstuffs. who did not use manure for anything. I am looking for something that goes 100 years ago and further. Maybe 500 years ago, in what we today would call the 3rd world. and I want a place that is above the equator with growing seasons. More so, where they get snow and cold.

I want a people who didn't even make anything from pre-dead animal bones, antler sheds. anything.

using no animal. not insect, crustation, shellfish. nothing.

Ruth S.

5:41PM PST on Dec 1, 2011

I went Vegan 7 years ago and I never looked back, it was the best thing I ever did!

Past Member .

6:33PM PDT on Nov 1, 2011

I agree, Jennifer C---let's hope that many more people will make the vegan resolution this year too and they will remain vegan.

And wow, this thread is a perfect example of how the same anti-vegan trolls flood every vegan related article with the same anti-vegan rhetoric, disdain, intolerance, ignorance and disinformation. Amazing how some people are so threatened by the mere thought of ending animal suffering, cruelty and murder. Very disturbing indeed.

Jennifer C.

5:35PM PDT on Nov 1, 2011

Excellent article. Thank you for the meaningful post.

5:34PM PDT on Nov 1, 2011

8:54PM PST on Feb 12, 2011

(cont)........I watched a documentary a few months back where a rich guy who bought land in Alaska near a hot springs decided to put in a resort. Turned out, his resort BOMBED, but he got the idea to convert the energy from the hot springs into a system where he had a huge greenhouse (about the size of a soccer field) and grew vegetables and fruits YEAR ROUND. He then built cabins for his year-round employees, and a generator that ran the heat and electricity 100% from the hot springs. It CAN be done. I think when you realize that once the equipment is put in place, it would cost very little to run, it makes sense. I live in Washington State (Puget Sound) where it's cold, damp, rainy and dreary most of the year between Oct.1st and May 1st. It's not as colt as in Wisconsin, but it doesn't grow much except weeds and moss. I think there COULD be the technology to grow year-round, however, so carrots would end up costing LESS than the ones trucked in to the grocery stores HERE from Mexico! A lot fresher, TOO!

Just saying, getting back on topic, that the fact some of us do eat meat may NOT have as much of an effect as the vegans/vegetarians who do NOT grow their own, and who must buy everything 100%.