Step #1 is all about making the connection between the food on our plate / in the supermarket, and the living beings that are born and killed to satisfy our appetite + convenience.
It’s natural that you may feel some resistance at this point. Try to sit with it and journal your feelings in the fillable PDF worksheet below.
Did you know that each year in America alone 10 billion land animals are killed and 18 billion marine animals for food [Source].
By 2050, it will take 100 billion land animals to provide the world’s population with meat, dairy, eggs and leather goods. [Source]
Every year, one billion animals face a barbarous slaughter in Britain, and a further 4.5 billion fish and 2.6 billion shellfish are killed for the UK. [Source]
Science has already proved that animals experience emotions and pain, just like humans. The New York Times reported in July 2014:
“… A profusion of recent studies has shown animals to be far closer to us than we previously believed — it turns out that common shore crabs feel and remember pain, zebra finches experience REM sleep, fruit-fly brothers cooperate, dolphins and elephants recognise themselves in mirrors, chimpanzees assist one another without expecting favors in return and dogs really do feel elation in their owners’ presence.” [Source]
In 2012 The Cambridge Declaration on Consciousness in Human and Nonhuman Animals was signed by leading animal researchers in the presence of Stephen Hawking.
It asserted that mammals, birds and other creatures “possess consciousness and, in all likelihood, emotions and self-awareness.” [Source]
In the last 100 years, industrial systems of food and clothing production began treating animals as commodities on an epic scale.
Despite the advancement of human civilisation, mechanisation and the shear scale of production means that animals are treated more cruelly today than in ancient times.
Vegan Facts
One of the most dynamic, logical and impactful summaries of vegan facts is ‘The Best Speech You Will Ever Hear’ by activist Gary Yourofsky. It has now been viewed by millions and translated into 28 languages. You can watch it now on YouTube.
Must-see films
Cowspiracy (2015)
Earthlings (2005)
Forks Over Knives (2011)
UNITY (2015)
You may also enjoy: Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead, or Food Inc.
Step #1 Action:
Watch at least one of the above films over the next seven days.
If you like journalling, download and print or fill-out this PDF worksheet to reflect on how it affected your perspective and made you feel.
>> Download / Print / Fill Worksheet <<
Go to the next Step 2: Get Inspired!
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