A way in?
As our lifestyles become ever conflicted with the moral pressure to become more eco-friendly, consumer aware and trying to ensure low carbon living in every area of our lives, it is easy to forget that the one thing that could allow us to lessen our impact on the environment considerably as well as our health, is making definitive changes to our diets.
A Vegan diet is in general 4 times better for the environment per person in the affluent West than a standard meat eating diet, and this is shocking news!
More and more statistics, information, studies and facts are exploding the myth that a standard UK diet has no affect on the environment around us, and in my mind this issue of environmental impact should be on a par with not only health benefits when changing to a Vegan diet, but the immorality and cruelty to animals, as a motivation to switch without delay. All three are huge reasons to make the change to a Vegan diet, but the question is, is the information isn’t getting out there enough, and with enough vigour? I would like to reply ‘yes’ to this question but that would be fooling myself.
So what is the solution? Storm the streets with megaphones shouting out these facts and get in peoples faces about why they need to change to a vegan diet? Or is there a better way? Education in this respect is the key word, and where better to educate than in schools?
If you are reading this and are a parent or teacher, have you ever thought: I wish my kids didn’t have to struggle against peer pressure, and feeling like they could be alienated for not eating meat and dairy, or if you are generally passionate about getting the word out there would you ever consider schools as an option to target your passions and potentially change minds? If not then here is an opportunity to transform the frustration, anger and disbelief at the harsh treatment of animals, of society’s health and of our rapid environmental deterioration into a force for positive change. Every parent wants the best life for their kids, and every kid wants a future where their planet is still functioning in a sustained opportunity laden society.
We should all focus on ways to bring about change in a way that is factual yet fun, persuasive yet thoughtful and compassionate yet profound, because non Vegan parents, children and teachers alike will all appreciate efforts to reducing the carbon footprint, the plight of animals and their health and so packaging this information in a way that is mind changing rather than forceful is also key.
The recent Interactive CD available from the Vegan Society is a perfect example of a simple yet effective way to get children, teachers and parents involved in learning more about the Vegan diet and the logistics this entails.
Having witnessed a talk by Rob Jackson, education Officer at the Vegan Society, I instantly felt the urgency that this was something that needed to get wide distribution, to as many schools, teachers, parents and students as possible, but also to anyone wanting to promote Vegan-ism or learn more about it, as it contains a massive range of facts and statistics. I had been told later, that the CD had taken 4 years to develop, and I had to say it was a brilliantly produced, easy to use and addictively clickable Interactive CD that deserves widespread recognition and use, and as a platform, gimmick and way in to the ‘hearts and minds’ of our education or non-education involved populace.
This is something everyone who is already Vegan should be promoting and those who are not should be viewing, even for the reasons of energy decline that Veganism can help to balance on a wide scale, if not for the sake of an individual’s health and effect on animal welfare.
So get yourself a copy whoever you are, promote it as much as possible and let’s turn heads and make change before we are forced to.
To buy a copy click here