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ಕೃಷ್ಣ ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರಿ - Krishna Shastry
ಪ್ರಾಣಿ ಹಕ್ಕುಗಳು, ಶುದ್ಧ ಸಸ್ಯಾಹಾರ, ಪರಿಸರ, ಆರೋಗ್ಯ ಇವೆಲ್ಲವನ್ನೂ ಒಳಗೊಂಡ ವೀಗನಿಸಂ ಎಂಬ ತತ್ವದಲ್ಲಿ ನಂಬಿಕೆ ಇಟ್ಟಿರುವ ಒಬ್ಬ ಸರಳ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗ ನಾನು.
ನನ್ನ ಇತರ ಆಸಕ್ತಿಗಳೆಂದರೆ ನೀತಿಶಾಸ್ತ್ರ, ಸಾರ್ವಜನಿಕ ನೀತಿಸಂಹಿತೆಗಳು, ಸಾರ್ವಜನಿಕ ಆರೋಗ್ಯ, ಆವಿಷ್ಕಾರಗಳು, ವಿಜ್ಞಾನ, ಕನ್ನಡ ಭಾಷೆ, ಭಾಷಾನೀತಿಗಳು ಇತ್ಯಾದಿ.

I am a simple Kannadiga following veganism, that cares about animal rights, pure vegetarianism, environment and health.
My other interest include ethics, public healthcare, public policies, innovation, science & technology, Kannada language and linguistic policies.
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Monday, February 6, 2012

An Open Question to Non-Vegans

There are 3 reasons to GO VEGAN – it is healthy, it reduces animal suffering and it protects environment.

I have become a Vegan, but when it comes to dealing with others around, I have 3 options:
  • I can advise/recommend OR
  • I can request OR
  • I can insist/demand

Which one of the above 3 options is more appropriate? Did you say 1st one? Is that all I can do? Really?

Alright, kindly read further – at the end I have a question for non-vegans.

1) Impact on Own Health
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Vegan diet is healthier – this should be one of the obvious reasons to become vegan at least in terms of eating. But slow transformation in bodies and “feeling of invincibility” together help people brush aside this factor easily, and succumb to their temptations as well as unhealthy lifestyles.

If someone cares only a little about their own long term health, what can I say?

Here I can only advise Non-Vegans to research on health benefits of Veganism.


2) Cruelty towards Animals
----------------------------------------
Most people are sensitized about human rights, and gone are the days of open human slavery. But many are still insensitive towards animal rights and their direct or indirect suffering in numerous ways. Majority still feel it is perfectly okay for humans to “use” other animals in whichever way they want.

Even though I personally disapprove such insensitive practices/choices, when majority says it is not important to care for other species’ pain, what can I say?

Here I can only request Non-Vegans on behalf of suffering animals.


3) Environmental Impact
-------------------------------------
Let me take just one sentence from Wikipedia on Livestock: According to a 2006 report by the Livestock, Environment And Development Initiative, the livestock industry is one of the largest contributors to environmental degradation worldwide, and modern practices of raising animals for food contribute on a "massive scale" to air and water pollution, land degradation, climate change, and loss of biodiversity.

Here is the main article; you don’t even have to go to the references given, just the basic article highlights mind boggling statistics.


When majority of the non-vegans continue to be insensitive towards huge environmental degradation they cause by consuming/using meat, dairy, leather, fur, wool etc. what can I say?

Here I am neither advising nor requesting, but I am DEMANDING an answer from Non-Vegans …… And here is the question……

“You are directly or indirectly destroying the environment at a rapid pace. The environment belongs to me too – tell me why do you think you have the right to make MY life miserable?”

***********************************************************************

Once again, I reiterate:

  • I advise non-vegans to take care of their health by being a Vegan; I care about other human beings.
  • I request non-vegans to stop causing pain and suffering to animals; I care about the animals.
  • I demand an answer from non-vegans as to why they think they have rights to destroy the environment that belongs to me too; I care about myself too, shouldn’t I?

Whether non-vegans take my advice or not, whether they consider my request or not, I sincerely hope they get back to me with an answer, openly or in private!

Yours sincerely,
Krishna Shastry.

Disclaimer: The intent of this post is not to offend anyone or undermine anyone’s efforts towards a ‘better world’ and ‘better tomorrow’. The aim is simply to highlight that vegans do have certain rights in promoting their beliefs as well as questioning others for not being vegans, especially when the ‘environment’ belongs to them too. The intent is also to make non-vegans think if they are making the right choices by not being vegan.

3 comments:

STEAM(Striving Towards Eradication of Animals'Misery) said...

good article, Krishna!

Mani said...

I appreciate your concern and thoughts on being a NON VEGAN and feel we should progress further to create awareness among our people on the same.

satchitananda said...

Veganism is going to be a pretty tough target to achieve in our country. This is ironical because Indian culture is basically non-violent, but sad to say, even traditionally strict vegetarians (not vegans)are turning to eating meat as they consider it "cool". In such an atmosphere, getting them to revert first to vegetarianism and then to veganism is going to be hard work.

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