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"If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be vegetarian. We feel
better about ourselves and better about the animals, knowing we're not
contributing to their pain."
- Paul and Linda McCartney
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"I believe that to knowingly commit actions that cause or condone suffering
is reprehensible in the extreme. I call upon you to be compassionate and
treat others as you want to be treated. If you don't want to be beaten,
imprisoned, mutilated, killed or tortured then you shouldn't condone such
behavior towards anyone, be they human or not."
- Moby
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"I am in favor of animal rights as well as human rights. That is the way of
a whole human being."
- Abraham Lincoln, 16th U.S. President
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"I'm stopped. I'll never eat another burger".
- Oprah Winfrey
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"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the
way its animals are treated."
- Mahatma Gandhi, statesman and philosopher
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"Humans are the only hunters who kill when not hungry."
- Steven Spielberg
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"The beef industry has contributed to more American deaths than all the wars
of this century, all natural disasters, and all automobile accidents
combined. If beef is your idea of 'real food for real people,' you'd better
live real close to a real good hospital."
- Neal D. Barnard, M.D., President Physicians Committee for Responsible
Medicine
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"Compassion is the foundation of everything positive, everything good. If you
carry the power of compassion to the marketplace and the dinner table, you
can make your life really count."
- Rue McClanahan
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"Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life
on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet. "
- Albert Einstein, physicist,
Nobel Prize 1921
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"I became a vegetarian when I realized how irreversible death is. Life is magical. To create and end it carelessly seems to not appreciate the full meaning of it. I believe, however, that being human means separating oneself from animals. Just because I CAN kill and eat animals, does not mean that I have to. Unlike animals, we have logic and reason to overcome basic urges. I do not need to end a life to live and I choose not to. Also, animals are usually cute and furry and I want to hug them."
- Destiny NYC
Hearing from you- Becoming Vegetarian
Name: Kevin Triplett
State: Austin, TX, USA
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I went to live with my brother Timothy and sister-in-law Elaine for 3 months in 1993. Elaine is a wonderful chef from a large Italian family and is so vegan, she doesn't eat anything that casts a shadow! No oils, organic goodies and no animal products.
Can't say I'm a vegan solely for animal rights -- my family has a strong incidence of colon cancer and the latest thought is that fats can store carcinogenic chemicals, hence Elaine's low fat diet with no animal products. But I can say I feel good that I'm not contributing to the inefficient and arguably cruel harvesting of animals.
I believe each person has their own diet that is right for their physiology, but humans can live well from sources of food that are not animal. Our flat teeth and the length of our intestines are more akin to herbivores than carnivores. I think we're just clever monkeys who learned how to burn our food free of micro-organisms. My favorite quote: |
It is just like man's vanity and impertinence to call an animl dumb because it is dumb to his dull senses. - Mark Twain
Name: Chrissy Flatt
State: Austin, TX
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Fortunately I was born with an aversion to
meat which made it easier for me to become a
vegetarian as an adult. When I was a child I did
not like the taste, the texure or the little
hard things (bone) I'd find in hamburger. When I
was old enough to realize that meat was a dead
animal it really freaked me out!
I loved animals and had moral problems about
eating them but for peer and health reasons I did
eat a bit of meat...
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I was often asked if I was a
vegetarian and I since I didn't particularly care
for vegetables a whole lot either I said "no". The
thing my mother was concerned about was where I
would get my B vitamins and since I displayed
quite a temper it was apparent I had a lack of
them...after some research at the library and
questioning some fellow "vegetarians" I found
other foods containing these vitamins:almonds,
almond butter and flaxseed oil are a few.
But my main reason is the philosophy of "Do
unto others". I am a PETA member and have read
The Mad Cowboy by Howard Lyman (at Blaze's
suggestion). What I have learned from my reading
is that by being vegetarian or vegan I am not
only a healthier, happier spirit but I am also
showing compassion to my animal friends and to
the earth and humankind as well!
Name: Jay
State: California
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WHAT CAN I DO? How I became a vegetarian activist.
As we heat the Earth everyday with our Global Warming actions, we
jeopardize the plants and animals that comprise the natural world. They
have adapted to millions of years of climatic conditions and cannot
simply get a ride to the climate they are use to. What can I do for the
innocent animals?
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Before I confront anyone's actions that contribute to
Global Warming, I must get my own Global Warming house in order & limit
my contributions to an industry that causes pain, suffering and death
everyday to millions of animals. To sincerely support animal rights,
there's no room for eating animals or animal products. I also gain
personally since eliminating animal products from ones diet helps one avoid the
diseases and illnesses inherent in the consumption of animal products.
Though the meat and dairy industry don't want you to believe it, your
life will actually improve both mentally and physically if you can
overcome your psychological dependence on the consumption of animal
products. Additionally, the Earth's finite resources won't be burdened
supporting animals for slaughter (it takes 28 times the water to produce
a pound of beef compared to a pound of potatoes). In summary, the
animals, Earth & you all benefit and you've got to love Win, Win, Win
situations!
Name: Miriam
State: Kentucky
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I have been vegetarian now for 15 years. Before that, I had
severe migranes. I got tired of taking medicine that just didn't help all
the time, or made me sleepy. |
I somehow found out about John Robbins
book, "Diet for a New America" and since then that is my Bible of health!
with your story and picture!
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