The Sweet Side of Activism

Today I baked vegan oatmeal raisin cookies and vegan banana pineapple squares with a little extra deliciousness. I bought them to class with a print out of the recipes and vegetarian and vegan propoganda.

I introduced the snacks and received a warm welcome from the class. They asked interesting questions about animals, their connection to food, health and the earth.

Some students said they would be veggie if they could still eat chicken. Others said pork. And so on and so forth. I reminded them that in life, it is never a good reason not to do something just because you can't do it all. I encouraged them to stop eating all animals but the chicken or pork or the like and they would be reducing the pressure on animal agriculture to birth, nurture and torture and then finally kill that particular animal they are refraining to consume. It will also help their bodies to reduce the amount of meat they eat and increase the veggie portions. And finally, it would help reduce the amount of excrement produced and slipping into out waterways. I told them that in the US alone, we kill 10 million land animals a year. Imagine the amount of feces and urine those animals put into our land water and air.

This was an effective way to raise consciousness about veganism. Some people will commit to some kind of change for the awesome foods they can eat, others for being grossed out on what they did eat, while the last few will have a side of reality with their next few entrees.