What is veganism?

Veganism is a practice which excludes all products of animal origin. But not only the meat or insects, as we can think, it also includes all products coming from an animal like: dairy products, eggs or honey… Moreover, it includes all other products, which aren’t food: like leather, wool, fur or skin for clothes or shoes. The ideology of veganism is to respect and preserve the environment, and, especially how humans should treat animals. This lifestyle could be adopted for ethical or environmental reasons, sanitary reasons or, more rarely, for a religion. It is defined as a doctrine according to which, humans must live without exploiting animals.

What is his history?

Contrary to what we can think, veganism was not created in the 21^st century. Some experts even said it could be born in the antiquity. Indeed, in the History, a lot of people were vegan, for example: Pythagoras, the famous mathematician, would have forbidden to his pupils to eat meat. There were also the gladiators according to researches. The term veganism, was created in London, in 1944, by Donald Watson. It is the contraction between the beginning and the end of the word vegetarian. At the begging, it was only a food practice. But, in 1950, it took another dimension. Indeed, it became a lifestyle defined by the fact of not exploiting animals.

Why is this a good thing for the environment?

We all know veganism is a good thing for the environment. Indeed. But how? 

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, rearing is responsible of fourteen-point five percent of greenhouse emissions in the world. This represent more than all directs emissions of all transports combined.

Moreover, according to the French NGO of grains who supports the peasants, the 3 biggest companies of meat and dairy products produce more greenhouse gases than the whole France.

Become vegan is also a way to protect forest, especially the Amazonian: raising beef is responsible of sixty three percent of the destruction of Amazonian forest. 

To finish, it can also protect water resources, indeed, rearing needs a lot of water to grow cereals for the animals or even for water them. For example, a lactating cow needs one hundred thirty litters per day, either as much as an elephant. 

Are there limits?

Veganism seems to respond to all environmental concerns, but according to some people, it isn’t such a good idea. For example, a French farmer Pierre Etienne Rault explains that it isn’t rearing that is responsible of animal pain, but the industrialization of living things. Moreover, getting dressed with synthetic fibres isn’t that environmentally friendly. 

To finish, the farmer says that a farming without rearing cannot impose oneself without dooming populations living on a soil bereaved of plant resources.

So, to conclude, veganism is a practice which have always existed, but it was developed in the 20^th century. Its goal is to protect animals in stopping their breeding and production. It is a good thing to protect the environment but there are some limits to consider.