Peace and Environment News * September 1995

The Many Voices of Vegetarianism

by Estelle Taylor

To be vegetarian is to disagree—to disagree with the course of things today. Starvation, world hunger, cruelty, waste, wars—we must make a statement. Vegetarianism is my statement. And I think it's a strong one.
—Isaac Bachevis Singer, Nobel Laureate, literature

Sean Thomas first tried to be a vegetarian when he was ten. He loved nature and read National Geographic all the time. Looking at photos of animals in the magazine, he realized "Oh my God, I'm eating these things."

His initial attempt didn't last, but Thomas did become vegetarian in high school. He stayed a vegetarian for four years, and he has been vegan for the last year-and-a-half. He doesn't eat anything from an animal source, including honey. He also avoids refined foods such as sugar, because he has heard some companies use ash from animal products in the refining process.

Thomas is a vegan primarily for animal rights reasons. "I believe everything has a right to live its natural life," he says.

Thomas's rationale for staying away from animal products is a common one, but it's not the only reason people become vegetarians. Vegetarians come from all backgrounds, and their reasoning is as unique as they are.

For Norman Kruse, an engineer at Bell Northern Research, the primary motivating factor was his health. At thirty-five, he was exercising, "but not losing the spare tire," he remembers. Kruse gradually gave up animal products, beginning with cutting out all fats. He drank skim milk, and then eliminated egg yolks from his diet. He cut out red meat and eventually, in February 1993, white meat and fish.

"I just feel generally better," he says.

"I eat whatever I want and it doesn't contribute to any weight gain."

For Andreas Comeau, the initial reason was also health—he has high cholesterol levels—but he now is vegetarian for many other reasons as well—environmental, ethical and economic.

Comeau became a vegetarian just over two years ago, when he was twenty-three. He became vegan after he heard John Robbins speak in Kingston. Robbins is the author of the book Diet for a New America, which describes how animals are treated when they are raised for food.

"That was it," he says, "I dumped out all my milk [and] gave my eggs to someone."

He says the move was not a difficult one.

Nimco Ali, sixteen, does not eat pig for religious reasons. As a Muslim, she's "not allowed to even touch it."

"I never find it difficult," she says, "because I have to respect my religion." She has never tried it, and never will.

Ali came to Ottawa from Somalia about a year ago. She sometimes finds it hard to be in a society where pig is eaten so often. When there is a party at school, she asks the teacher to get the students to label all the food they bring in.

"I have to be careful when I go to restaurants, to friends' houses, whatever," she says.

Comeau also finds it's difficult to eat out. He says people often don't understand that chicken is a meat, and he must explain himself to the waiters.

Kruse can relate to that. He says his meals always become the subject for discussion when he's out to dinner with friends.

"They tease me. And I tease them back," he says.

Comeau thinks that questions from waiters, friends, or colleagues at the school board where he works are a positive thing, because then he has an opportunity to inform people, and perhaps they will reevaluate their stance on meat.

"It's a great conversation piece."

But he doesn't like to preach to people about not eating meat. It's ineffective, he says, and not courteous. Kruse says he's learned it's better to give someone a book to read.

For these four people, vegetarianism is more than just dietary choice.

"It seems to affect almost everything," says Thomas, whose "whole lifestyle completely changed." He avoids accumulating products and tries to minimize his use of resources. Kruse, who became vegetarian for health reasons, now makes a conscious effort to avoid leather products and has become interested in the spiritual aspect of vegetarianism. Comeau says he's become critical of not just the food industry, but all industries.

Sean Thomas would like to open a vegetarian resource centre in Ottawa. He would appreciate any suggestions or help you might have. Give him a call at 237-3643.

Estelle Taylor has been a proud veggie for four-and-a-half years.

Converted August 27, 2000 - Lg

To follow up on this article, contact the author or the organizations/individuals mentioned; do not contact the Peace and Environment Resource Centre - we cannot provide follow up or contact information. This article is an archival copy of the printed one in the Peace and Environment News (PEN). Viewpoints expressed should not be taken to represent the opinions of the Peace and Environment Resource Centre, the PEN, or our supporters.

[ Search Contact ]