DIFFERENT FORMS OF ANIMAL ACTIVISM

Updated January 2024

It is in almost every vegan’s interest to be active, but why? Because there is this totally new world you discover and you get introduced to (unfortunately and fortunately) and it’s a tough and – out of empathy – a very painful world. You start to see things, you’ve never seen before. As a vegan you want others to be able to see – see the truth about how living beings are treated so poorly and getting unnecessarily killed – for nothing.

When you transition to veganism you get to see a world you never thought was there. With getting more and more informed and educated it’s like living in a totally different world. You also get faced with so many problems and tasks and things you want to change because of your moral and ethical beliefs. You suddenly also get to see what the animal industry desperately tries to keep from everyone and how desperately they try to push a positive image consuming animal products and hiding the ugly truth from the public through the media, so people keep on buying certain products. You see how brainwashed and totally disconnected our society is from their moral beliefs. How hypocritical we all are raised and taken in by the society the industry is making us believe is morally right and normal. As a vegan, you see life in a different light and it’s very overwhelming at first.

THE BUBBLE OF THE ANIMAL INDUSTRY

You see other human beings in this bubble of the animal industry, which is though slowly going to burst – taken down by the vegan movement. You see people talk and act out of cultural habits, lack of knowledge and often not thinking about what they’re actually saying or doing and eating. Sometimes people say something very unethical and it makes you think about whether that person truly means the spoken words or if he/she is simply apathetic and disconnected from another life besides his/her own. And you as a vegan have the strong will and drive in you to change peoples views, break down walls and make them connect to the fact that ‘meat’ was once a living and breathing being, who went through hell on earth and felt fear, sadness, loss and pain and in the end had to give his/her life in order to just be seen a product for a quick humans ‘taste’.

Activism comes in all kinds of forms. Activism nowadays doesn’t only happen on the streets anymore.

THE DIFFERENT FORMS OF ACTIVISM

Some people love to cook vegan food for others, some even open a restaurant, cafè or start their own sanctuary. Some educate people daily over the internet (Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, etc.) or in face-to-face conversations and sometimes have great speeches, workshops, and talks to clarify and make people think about their actions and moral beliefs and daily actions.

Some have an apparel line, do art, and with it spread the vegan message. Some vegans have a YouTube channel, and some give vegan workshops and write blog posts or express themselves via vegan memes. Others do undercover work, do sitting protests, or are in an informing position like finding vegan products in local stores like ‘VeganfindsAustria’ or ‘Once Upon A Cream’. Others organize vegan get-togethers to exchange within the movement. Some go on the streets and protest against cruelty and unnecessary killing.

Some support organizations or sanctuaries with a monthly donation. Whatever is possible for someone to do to educate and/or support and therefore add to the growth of the vegan and animal rights and liberation movement or vegan places, we have to do it!

We need to also care about ourselves along the way to keep this ongoing and care about our mental and physical health.

Some do some things, some do more things and some might do it as a profession. Some educate their friends and families and do it by living it and showing others indirectly how easy and kind it is. No matter WHAT you do – if you’re doing something and if that might be starting to educate your family and friends on it (which is by far the toughest thing by the way), you’re active. It’s so important to stay active!

Speaking out for the ones who can’t speak out for themselves, who don’t speak our language, who can’t say ‘please don’t hurt me’ and ‘I don’t want to die’. Speak out against unnecessary cruelty and killing. Speak out for those you empathize with. Speak out as loud as you can, just like you would if you were in their position. Speak out for life.

It’s the least we can do! This is what we as humans owe the animals. The basic right of any sentient living being: the right to live.

As a vegan activist, you are mainly active for the animals, not someone’s health. Not wanting to rub someone the wrong way to talk about veganism – which could lead to a further big discussion on morals and ethical or even nutrition and the environment – will never cause change. You’re open to discussing, you’re open to clarifying and teaching people what wrongdoings our society is supporting and how unacceptable those doings truly are, based on moral beliefs.

*Please note, that this video is an older one. Activism may change over time, as it changed for me.

THANK YOU

Thanks to all vegans out there, who are making a change for the animals and this planet every single day. A huge thank you to all vegan activists, who put a lot of effort into their videos or blog posts to get the public more educated on the topic and change many hearts and minds. Thank you to those, who stand on the streets and educate people, hour after hour. Thank you to all vegan restaurants for showing it is possible to eat anything you want but leave out the cruelty and killing! Thanks to every single vegan, who passes on the vegan message their own way! Be active and stay active, stand up and speak out – because only together we can achieve a change for the victims of this cruel industry. Thank You!

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Please note: All definitions of words and/or stated facts are based on the correct terminology and are carefully researched and the sources taken are linked here or directly in the blog post. This blog post is also stating a personal opinion and views on certain topics.

All shown illustrations and graphics are our own and are highly restricted from being copied and used freely, without any permission.