Category: Ethical Practice

Final Wishes

8/22/2019

Should ethical vegans feel obligated to bequeath their assets to relatives with contrary lifestyles?

Q:
I am updating my will and have run into a problem. I have no children, and my only relatives are my niece and nephew. We’re not that close but get along okay, and I'd normally be happy to leave them my residuary estate. The problem is that my nephew is a butcher.

Is Vegan Purity Possible?

1/31/2019

Is it possible to live a totally vegan life in the modern world?

Q:
I want to be as vegan as possible. How can I be sure what I buy is 100% vegan?

The Art of Vegan Giving

11/29/2018

Gifts should be given freely from the heart, with no reservations.

Q:
Where should vegans draw the line on issues such as gift giving? For instance, what should I do if a family member requests a nonvegan present, such as leather gloves, and adamantly rejects a vegan alternative, such as fiber fleece gloves? Is it unethical to buy such a present if it is truly what the person wants?

Compassion for All?

10/18/2018

Is it possible to feel compassion for people whose ethics and behavior clash with the core values of veganism?

Q:
I am keenly aware of your views on compassion for all living things -- even humans who think it is acceptable to eat meat, or humans who think they were put on this earth to dominate animals and eat their flesh, or humans who use animals for entertainment, or humans who think that war is necessary or that hunting is valuable. I find myself unable to reach such levels of empathy. I am not even charitable enough to excuse them simply because they do not know how animals suffer for trivial human purposes. How do you find it in your heart to be open to such people? Why do you allow them such latitude?

Are Vegans Too Picky?

6/7/2018

Is it OK to occasionally "cheat" on a vegan diet?

Q:
I’ve been vegan (well, “strict vegetarian”) for several months and really feel good about my decision. However, whenever I refuse a cookie or a piece of cake because it has eggs or dairy products in it, my friends and family tell me to “stop being so uptight and strict" about what I eat. Am I being too unreasonable? Do vegans occasionally “indulge" and eat desserts with dairy products in them?

Is Coffee Vegan?

4/19/2018

Is it OK for vegans to drink coffee?

Q:
Is there anything in coffee or that's part of the growing and processing of coffee beans that isn't vegan?

Tension at the Table

4/5/2018

Anger, no matter how righteous, can be as destructive and counterproductive as any other type of anger.

Q:
We are desperate for help to keep our family together and loving each other. My grandson has been a vegan since he was about thirteen. He is now twenty-five and currently lives with us. His continual anger toward us because we eat meat has created a great deal of unhappiness and division within our family.

Should I Treat If They Eat Meat?

3/8/2018

A true gift takes into account the preferences of the recipient.

Q:
What should I do when I take meat-eating friends out to lunch and I offer to treat? I'm really disturbed by the thought of paying for a meat meal, but I feel equally uncomfortable saying, “Sorry, but I won't spend my money on increasing the suffering of animals.”

Will Veganism Make a Difference?

2/22/2018

Should the effect our ethical choices have on other people matter?

Q:
An acquaintance of mine recently found out that my boyfriend and I are vegan and was curious to know why. He said he hoped it wasn’t to “save the cows” because it won’t work -- one person not eating animal products isn't going to change anything. I explained that I wasn’t the only one and that there are quite a few vegans around the world. He still insisted that nothing will change because people's food habits are culturally ingrained.

Rooming with a Vegan

1/18/2018

Can vegans and nonvegans get along living under the same roof?

Q:
I am a nonvegan who is searching for a roommate. I came across an ad placed by a woman who also is looking for a roommate. I called her, and she sounds great, but she did mention that she's vegan. I was wondering what I could expect sharing space with a vegan. She told me she has lived with nonvegans before, but one remark has me concerned. She said she may not be able to concentrate on her studies if I were cooking meat. However, she did express interest in living with me. If a vegan says she is willing to live with a nonvegan, should I expect that she will be tolerant of my nonvegan lifestyle?

Should We Prioritize Our Compassion?

12/7/2017

Should concerns about animals take a back seat to concerns about other people?

Q:
I had been vegetarian for many years and then became vegan, but I struggled with an ethical dilemma. After spending several months working overseas in Guatemala, I questioned whether veganism is for me. Aside from the dietary struggles facing a vegan in the poorer countries of the world, I faced some value conflicts. After seeing the extreme poverty and suffering of many Guatemalans, the plight of animals just seemed less important.

Holiday Heartache

11/16/2017

Many people have idealistic expectations for holidays, but reality doesn't always bend to our wishes.

Q:
My best friend, who isn't vegan, invited my family to a traditional Thanksgiving celebration. Initially I turned her down because I didn't want to be surrounded by a dead bird and other animal products. But she came back a few days later and offered to make a vegan feast instead. When her other friends were told of the change in menu, they reacted with extreme hostility, and now the whole thing is off. I want to help my bestie deal with her other friends' reactions, but I feel lost. Any suggestions?

How Much Is Enough?

10/26/2017

How can we distinguish between extravagance and necessity, desire and need?

Q:
In your writings you've mentioned that it's important for everyone to "learn how to maintain a comfortable and responsible balance between austerity and excess." This is something I grapple with every day. Do you have any suggested questions that I could ask myself when I'm in the midst of decision-making that would help me determine if my choices fit somewhere between the two?

Sharing the Table with Meat Eaters

10/5/2017

What should vegans do when friends, family, or colleagues eat meat in their presence?

Q:
A dilemma that keeps turning up in my life is the issue of sharing meals with nonvegans while they're eating meat. My wife is very much against it and has decided to arrive at gatherings after the food has been consumed. Some family members are okay with this, but others are not. My mother feels that we should be with the entire family to “break bread,” as she says. I say that “breaking bread” would be fine, just not “breaking animals.”

Shopping with a Conscience

6/15/2017

With vegan start-ups regularly being bought out by huge corporations, how can vegans make ethical purchases?

Q:
As a vegan, I try to make deliberate and informed choices. To that end, I have recently come across information that has left me a bit perplexed. It seems that quite a few vegan brands are being bought out by large corporations, some of which are involved in producing, processing, and supplying animal products -- the very products that we as vegans try not to support.

Hidden Ingredients

4/6/2017

Is it realistic to rebel against the minutia?

Q:
I have considered myself vegan for five and a half years now, consuming only plant-based foods and doing my best not to purchase products tested on animals or containing animal-derived ingredients unless absolutely necessary (such as pharmaceuticals). Lately, though, I've been wondering where to draw the line with the effort I make to live a compassionate lifestyle.

Cupcake Crisis

3/9/2017

An important part of parenting is teaching children how to make smart decisions.

Q:
My two children, ages eight and nine, and I have been vegan for five years. We love animals and feel a deep happiness knowing that we will not spend our money on anything that would increase their suffering. However, my children tell me “Mama, it's okay if we can eat the cupcakes at birthday parties because we didn’t buy the animal products, and it won’t lessen the animal’s suffering if I reject this one cupcake.”

Nonvegan Medications: Take or Avoid?

9/12/2016

Without self-love, our circle of compassion is incomplete.

Q:
I've been a strict vegan for many years in all respects but one: prescription medicines. If I don't take certain medications, I'm unable to function normally. So I continue to take them even though I know they contain animal products and were tested on animals.

Are Vegan Commodities Bad for the Environment?

7/17/2016

In terms of environmental ethics, which is worse: leather or synthetics?"

Q:
Since I became vegan, I have refused to buy leather or any other items made from animal skins. However, I'm very concerned about synthetic materials. In terms of environmental ethics, which is worse: leather products or synthetics?

Transitioning to Veganism

3/27/2016

Being vegan demands compassion for all life, especially those with the greatest need and the least resources.

Q:
I just started the transition into veganism. Rather than take it slowly, I'm jumping right in. I can't bear the thought of ever consuming animal products again, but I have a problem because I still possess items of animal origin.

Grassroots Vegan
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