THERE IS HOPE! A MESSAGE FROM OUR RESIDENT VEGAN

There Is Hope!

As a vegan, I often get discouraged by the oblivion that some people seem to reside in when it comes to their food choices. Humans have been systematically killing the planet and it has really accelerated over the past 200 years. We are a planet of people disposing of so many damaging or polluting things/chemicals/lives and food. We are killing our oceans with plastic, chemical pollutions, livestock waste and overfishing. We all know we have put so many gases from man-made chemicals into the atmosphere that there are many cities around the globe where the simple act of breathing is severely compromised. We are destroying rainforests to farm livestock and the grain to feed them to such an extent that hundreds of species of wildlife and insects are becoming extinct as their natural habitats are destroyed. It is becoming very clear that at the rate we are going, all future generations are in jeopardy of ever surviving beyond the end of this century.

There are things we can do to reverse this, but we must act soon. Personally, I have lived a good life though before I became vegan, I too was a contributor to our planet’s demise. It is for my children and grandchildren that I have the most concern for. What are we leaving for those generations and beyond?

The good news is that there is a shift happening and despite what the naysayers are choosing to ignore, there are people and companies working to clean things up and make this planet healthy again. Veganism is on the rise; some countries seeing a 600% increase in the number of people choosing a vegan diet in the last 5 years! Now that science is proving that we can survive very well with a healthy plant-based diet, there are many companies developing new and delicious meat alternatives. Traditional meat based chefs are creating some pretty spectacular recipes making vegan meals accessible and palatable to everyone. Here in Vancouver, I am encouraged by the number of vegan choices now available on restaurant menus and by the new little cafes and restaurants catering to plant-based eaters. Regular folks are inventing devices that are helping to clean up our oceans and air and as more people are educated, they are adopting better food choices.

Gone are the days when plant-based foods taste like cardboard and vegans are skinny, pasty and unhealthy. For omnivores wanting to make changes in their eating choices, this is a great time to start trying vegan foods. We can grow enough vegetables, nuts and grains to feed the human population if we stop growing those crops to feed animals that we are going to butcher anyway for only a few people to eat. As with everything else in this world, it all starts with 1 person and we should never underestimate that power.