WHAT IS A VEGAN?

it occured to me the other day that i neglected to put up a basic description of just what veganism is. after all the blank stares i've gotten when i even say the word "vegan", i'm surprised it's taken me this long. anyway, the general definition of vegan is one who does not use animal products OR byproducts. (whereas a vegetarian only abstains from animal products) there is argument as to how strict one can be with this simple rule and still be considered to live a truly vegan lifestyle, but when the day is done only you can define yourself. some aspects are obviously non-negotiable, such as meat, eggs, and dairy. some items such as honey, silk, and refined sugar are debatable. (honey and silk come from an insect rather than an animal, and some sugars are refined with animal bone char) a good rule of thumb is that a vegan doesn't want to cause any harm to any living creature. some people eat a vegan diet for health reasons but will still wear animal skin and/or participate in animal exploitation, like visiting circuses. that person would not be considered a true vegan. veganism is a total lifestyle change that requires a lot more than just switching around one's diet. from your very first day as a vegan you become more aware of your food and other purchases. omnivores, even "healthy" ones, are usually not conscious of the things they are putting into their bodies. as you begin to read labels (which vegans do on a continual basis!) you'll find those hidden ingredients snuck in everywhere. you'll notice how many items are constructed with animal skins, and how many "normal" activities involve animal suffering and exploitation. you'll finally begin to notice the innumerable ways the world has managed to mainstream cruelty. but here's the good news- veganism isn't just a boring list of things one CAN'T do. it's a testament to the many ways we CAN help alleviate needless suffering, both for animals and humans. there are many things to change when becoming vegan, and each one of those is an opportunity to voice one's opinion. every dollar spent on synthetic shoes, veggie burgers, or a pet from the pound is a dollar not going to cattle farmers, or puppy mills. that's right... one dollar = one vote each purchase or non-monitary lifestyle choice counts, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise! but back to the actual description for those of you still incredulous as to the "sacrifices" vegans make. first off i would like to mention that for each animal product vegans don't use, there is an equally wonderful substitution. i swear. anyway, for food the obvious exclusions are meat, eggs, and dairy. this also includes many secret ingredients such as gelatin and whey. coverings such as leather, suede, wool, and sheepskin are avoided, as are activities like circuses, pet store purchases, marine parks, zooz, and rodeos. the truly activist consumer obtains information on companies who are notorious for unnecessary animal testing and boycot their products. the list could go on for miles since animal byproducts are in just about everything (like film for your camera, the beams in your home, the glue in your junk drawer...) but it won't overwhelm you unless you let it. make it a point to stay informed and should you find you've been using an animal product, simply discontinue using it. every vegan decides their level of commitment.