Donald Watson Founder, The Vegan Society (UK) 2 September 1910 – 16 November 2005 The word ‘vegan’ represents the principles of nonviolence, sociological consciousness, and empathy without restriction or caveat. It is a word we have rallied around, as a tangible handle for a broad and inclusive perspective. It signifies both the beginning of […] Read more
“Where does it live, that place of permission that lets a person chart a new terrain of possibility, that makes her dare to believe she can be something otherthan what her culture tells her she is, and then become what she believes she can?” ~ Maria Popova, Figuring Dear Friends, It is with truly heavy hearts that we share the devastating news that Sun, Gentle World’s co-founder and beloved […] Read more
On February 22nd, Gentle World’s Co-founders Light and Sun celebrated their 47th veganniversary, providing living proof that vegan human beings can not only lead an exemplary, love-filled, respectful, responsible, caring, healthy, active and vibrant life, but also inspire countless others to do the same. Becoming a vegan 47 years ago was not only forward-thinking, but also forward-feeling, as there was […] Read more
When Light and I became vegan in February of 1970, there was one reason and one reason only. It wasn’t because of its health benefits, which were unknown at the time, as was its positive effect on the environment. If factory farms existed, we hadn’t heard of them. Animal rights was not yet an issue, […] Read more
“In a vegan world the creatures would be reintegrated within the balance and sanity of nature. A great and historic wrong, whose effect upon the course of evolution must have been stupendous, would be righted. The idea that his fellow creatures might be used by man for self-interested purposes would be so alien to human thought […] Read more
“The object of the Society shall be to end the exploitation of animals by man” and “The word veganism shall mean the doctrine that man should live without exploiting animals.”
Jazz singer Billie Holiday was one of the greatest female vocalists of her time. In 1948, Holiday sang to a sold-out crowd in Carnegie Hall. The venue broke its own record, with 2,700 tickets sold in advance.
We didn’t know that there was a word “vegan” at the time. There were no health food stores, no tofu, and no animal rights movement that we knew of.
Instead of a philosophy and way of life that seeks to avoid the exploitation of nonhuman animals, veganism is viewed by many as a fad diet now – and often as one that allows the occasional consumption of products derived from other animals.
Shifting away from the common belief that other animals are renewable resources will lead to a new perception that recognizes animals as the conscious, feeling, innocent individuals they are.
