Our choices have more impacts than just the ones we realize. Veganism, for example, impacts not only animal welfare but also the environment and health of those who commit to this lifestyle. All of these motivations interconnect and shape the values of the vegan community. Analyzing the vegan community in this context, we can truly see what it means to be a part of it while realizing the true goals of the choice for this lifestyle as well as the challenges within the community.

As a community, those who practice veganism share one common characteristic: our diet. We all differ in our reasonings for choosing a vegan lifestyle. These differing reasons can include animal welfare, environmental sustainability, and health benefits. For some, all three of these make an impact on their choice. For me, the decision started with health, but educating myself on the other issues relating to veganism, and increasing my awareness of those issues, helped me stand firm in my decision to live a vegan lifestyle. Those who practice veganism come from all different walks of life, different religions, and so many other differing world views and experiences, but all share a common commitment in our diets. 

As vegans, we can flourish in our community when we realize the trinity of purpose within our lifestyle. We cannot look only at the cruel treatment of animals and ignore the cruel treatment of the planet. We also cannot acknowledge the cruelty on the planet while ignoring the cruelty on our bodies. Acknowledging these three areas as issues to address and facing them with this lifestyle is how we can live harmoniously with each other and the planet. While it is not true that all vegans care about each of these issues to the same degree, continuously educating each other will help us flourish as a community. It will also help us to educate non-vegans and strive for widespread acceptance of plant-based diets, reduce animal suffering, and promote environmental stewardship.

One of the key virtues of the veganism community is acknowledging the environmental impact we as humans leave on the earth. With no environment, we would have no community in which to thrive. Acknowledging our environmental impact comes in addressing things such as factory farming, which not only is seen as negative in terms of animal welfare but also has detrimental effects on the environment. Sometimes we have to raise ethical questions on what products we as a community should choose, especially regarding alternatives. One such example is almond milk, an alternative that doesn’t utilize animal cruelty in its production, but still leaves a hefty environmental impact. Some choose to drink it despite this, believing that its lesser impact makes it okay, but I believe this is not a good way to look at it in terms of continuing to have a flourishing community. It’s not about always making the right choices, but it’s about always striving to make the choices that leave the smallest amount of negative consequences, whether this be on animals, the environment, or our health, and part of this is visible in even small choices such as which alternative milk we choose to buy.

In order to lessen our impact, it’s important to the vegan community that we grow and become mainstream, which has happened in recent years with new vegan restaurants popping up consistently. To grow the vegan community, many are involved in activism, promoting animal rights and sustainable practices through protests, campaigns, and educational outreach. Some vegans, such as myself, are more of a realist, knowing that persuading someone to change their lifestyle and eating habits is not always possible, but educating people on their impacts can make a difference. Sometimes this means that instead of telling someone they shouldn’t eat meat, encouraging them to support less processed options and to consider where their meat comes from can help them consider the consequences of their choices. A harmful tactic sometimes utilized by vegans is shame, which historically has never been a tactic that aims for true progress. Understanding the broader consequences of one’s actions is crucial in ethical decision-making and this means educating individuals about the impacts of their dietary choices rather than simply condemning them.

With our emphasis on justice for not only animals, but the environment, vegans have created many campaigns that lead to positive social and environmental change. This can be seen in the “Meatless Monday” Campaign, which spread awareness of the impact of reducing meat consumption and influenced meat eaters to eat meat less, and it encourages those who partake to engage in temperance. In many vegan campaigns, we strive for small changes, and in this, we engage in practical wisdom. We have big goals that may seem unattainable such as ending animal cruelty, but we place the same importance on practical solutions to allow for gradual but impactful changes. This sentiment can be applied to all types of activism, such as the feminist movement; we can acknowledge what we are striving for but not ignore our wins in small battles. 

For some vegans, they can only accept an all-or-nothing approach. You’re either vegan or a murderer. You can’t be vegan and own leather, even if it’s second-hand. You can’t be vegan and eat your food that wasn’t supposed to have cheese but you didn’t want to throw it away. This perfectionist approach to veganism ignores the true nature of the movement and creates barriers to entry. If you truly care about the environment, owning second-hand leather and not wasting food is a great way to be a vegan. Also, no vegan is perfect. Everyone messes up sometimes, and even if it isn’t an accident, everyone moves at their own pace. It’s not about what you do wrong, it’s about always trying to do better. Not leading with shame, but fostering a welcoming community receptive to any and all changes people make that lessen our impact as humans.