Veganism has changed me for the better
I’ve been vegan for over eight years—and like every vegan I know, my only regret is not having made the change sooner.
What I’ve learned, witnessed, and experienced during this time has been deeply eye-opening, often heartbreaking and emotionally hard to process. But it shapes everything I do, because I know that no one truly wants to support suffering once they learn about it and see it for what it is. And I believe that each of us has the power to be the change we want to see in the world.
Introduction to Veganism
Many people still associate veganism with restrictive eating habits. In reality, it has nothing to do with giving things up—instead, it’s about expanding awareness: for all animals, for the environment, for our own health, and for the ethical compass we want to create. Living vegan means making conscious choices and bringing compassion into everyday life, without losing joy, flavor, or variety.
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Veganism is a lifestyle that avoids the use of animal products—not only in food, but also in clothing, cosmetics, and everyday choices—with the goal of reducing harm to animals as much as possible.
It comes from seeing animals on eye level, recognizing them for who they truly are: sentient beings who, like us, want to live in peace with their families.
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Many choose veganism primarily to reduce harm to animals.
By recognizing them as sentient beings—capable of feeling pain, fear, joy, and forming family bonds—we understand that every choice matters. Veganism is a natural extension of human rights and moral responsibility, reflecting the principle that no being should suffer for the benefit of others. Living this way aligns with compassion and ethics, fostering a more just and caring world for all beings.
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No. Humans are omnivores, able to digest both plant and animal foods, but that doesn’t mean we need to eat animals.
“Natural” doesn’t automatically mean necessary or ethical. We have the ability to make conscious, compassionate choices, and choosing plant-based foods allows us to reduce harm, live ethically, and thrive in health.
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Absolutely. Veganism opens a world of delicious plant-based foods—fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, and innovative meat and dairy alternatives—without causing harm.
Vegans enjoy all the foods we’re used to eating; the difference is that everything is made from plants. It’s not about giving up flavors or dishes, but about breaking common habits and discovering new, compassionate ways to eat.
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By avoiding animal products, you directly reduce demand for industries that exploit, confine, and kill animals for food, clothing, or testing.
Every choice not to support these industries sends a clear message: that causing suffering for convenience, profit, or habit is unacceptable.
Over time, these individual decisions add up, helping to shift society toward more compassionate and ethical practices, where animals are no longer treated as commodities but recognized as sentient beings deserving respect and care.
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Yes, most animals feel pain—specifically those with a nervous system, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and many fish.
They are capable of experiencing distress, fear, and suffering. Even some invertebrates, like octopuses and crabs, show signs of pain, highlighting the importance of compassion toward all sentient beings.
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Veganism goes beyond diet. It also avoids products tested on animals or containing animal-derived ingredients—everything from cosmetics to household items and clothing. Choosing vegan alternatives supports cruelty-free practices and encourages industries to adopt ethical, non-animal testing methods.
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Even in so-called “ethical,” “bio,” or “free-range” farms, animals are still confined, bred for human use, and ultimately killed. While these systems communicate “better conditions,” the cycle of exploitation remains the same.
Veganism avoids contributing to this system entirely, promoting a truly compassionate approach—one that respects animals as sentient beings and aligns our actions with empathy and ethical responsibility, rather than simply making small improvements to their suffering.
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Farmed animals are naturally social and form strong family bonds. Cows, pigs, chickens, turkeys, rabbits, etc. and even fish live in structured social groups, communicate with each other, and care for their young.
In farming systems, these natural behaviors are disrupted: offspring are separated from parents, groups are confined or overcrowded, and animals are prevented from forming meaningful social connections.
Recognizing this helps us see that animals are not “products”—they are sentient beings with relationships, emotions, and a desire to live their lives freely.
Free Kickstart Programs
Going vegan—embracing a fully plant-based diet and a way of living that seeks, as far as possible, to do no harm to other animals—need not be daunting.
They gently guide you to see why veganism is not only necessary, but also simple to embrace and live by—for the animals, the planet, our health, and the future of our children.
Multi-lingual Vegan Kickstart Program
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