Most vegans would likely agree with the proposition that veganism is not a diet. Yet, time and time again, we see the mass media in particular, and some elements in the vegan movement, treating veganism in this way, with a side dish now and then about "ethics" or "animal ethics" - which is often described as vegans' concerns about "animal welfare."
The programme, 5 Live Investigates (10-2-19), was one such example (audio below). I lost count of the number of times "animal welfare" was mentioned in the opening minutes of this national radio show. As ever, the phrase "animal rights" was not mentioned once, let alone explored or explained, not even by the representative of The Vegan Society.
Adrian Goldberg presents 5 Live Investigates and, on the 10th of February 2019, he "investigated" "vegan food." I have long thought that we in the vegan community do not help people understand that veganism is a deep justice-for-all philosophy by conniving with this construction of veganism as principally a dietary matter.
In that regard, then, perhaps we should think critically about using phrases such as "vegan food" and "vegan diet," and, instead, emphasise that vegans' eating a plant diet is driven by the philosophy they adhere to. Technically, a diet cannot be vegan - just as a human infant cannot be. To be vegan requires, first, understanding the philosophy of veganism and, second, committing to it.
To not use "vegan food" and "vegan diet" would help clear up the ongoing problem of failing to differentiate between those who are plant-based and those who are vegans.
For example, we can understand that a plant-based person may wholly or largely eat a vegan's diet without adhering to the philosophy of veganism and therefore support animal experimentation or the wearing of animals' skins, for example.
Thinking in terms of "a vegan's diet" rather than the "vegan diet" would help clear things up it seems. What think you?
The programme, 5 Live Investigates (10-2-19), was one such example (audio below). I lost count of the number of times "animal welfare" was mentioned in the opening minutes of this national radio show. As ever, the phrase "animal rights" was not mentioned once, let alone explored or explained, not even by the representative of The Vegan Society.
Adrian Goldberg presents 5 Live Investigates and, on the 10th of February 2019, he "investigated" "vegan food." I have long thought that we in the vegan community do not help people understand that veganism is a deep justice-for-all philosophy by conniving with this construction of veganism as principally a dietary matter.
In that regard, then, perhaps we should think critically about using phrases such as "vegan food" and "vegan diet," and, instead, emphasise that vegans' eating a plant diet is driven by the philosophy they adhere to. Technically, a diet cannot be vegan - just as a human infant cannot be. To be vegan requires, first, understanding the philosophy of veganism and, second, committing to it.
To not use "vegan food" and "vegan diet" would help clear up the ongoing problem of failing to differentiate between those who are plant-based and those who are vegans.
For example, we can understand that a plant-based person may wholly or largely eat a vegan's diet without adhering to the philosophy of veganism and therefore support animal experimentation or the wearing of animals' skins, for example.
Thinking in terms of "a vegan's diet" rather than the "vegan diet" would help clear things up it seems. What think you?
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