by Sentient Rights IrelandWHAT IS VEGANISM?
Veganism is often portrayed as a diet, which is a mistake: veganism is rather a wide-ranging philosophy that evolved from 1944 when the first ever vegan social movement organisation was founded, and when the word “vegan” was coined.
By 1955, a radical justice-for-all philosophy marked the meaning of veganism. Indeed, as early as 1945, the best-known co-founder of the vegan movement, Donald Watson, declared that veganism was about opposing the exploitation of sentient life, and later wrote that veganism, by definition, set out to help both other animals and human ones.
The focus of veganism is on the relations between humans and other animals. It is for animal liberation and would abolish the property status of other animals. It is also for the end of animal use rather than about regulating how we use other animals. As vegan movement pioneer, Leslie Cross wrote, vegans stand not so much for welfare as it stands for liberation; that veganism is steadfastly on the side of liberators.
The vegan vision would mean that, when humans encounter other animals, we encounter them as fellow rights-bearers. This will transform many aspects of our lives and alter how we relate to other animals, each other, and the planet.
The Irish Vegan is compiled by Bronwyn Slater and is a huge resource for all things Vegan in Ireland – we fully recommend a visit.
