People say veganism is to help the animals. Some argue that veganism is ONLY meant to save the animals, and any environmental or health benefits are second and tertiary.
Increasingly in this modern world, thinking for yourself, after research and vetted consideration, is crucial lest we all be swept up in the opinion du jour. With so many influencers on the world wide web, the certainty I have in my own thoughts, the conviction I have acted based on original intentions, is less and less. So, to maximize the time during the shelter in place orders during Covid-19, I have taken a firm moment to sit with my own veganism and ask: why?
I believe it comes to one idea:
I am vegan so I can use water.
Plant based diets use less water per plot of land to grow and harvest than a meat counterpart. Not only that, but the soil sequestration of carbon is higher, and the replenishment of a nutrient feedback loop by poly-cropped farming practices outweighs that of a comparison of soy or meat agriculture.
So, I feel more justified and allowed, by whatever dietary Earthticians are monitoring our consumption of precious resources, to partake in everyday activities that most of us take for granted. Not only am I increasingly grateful for my ethically guiltless food intake, but through monitoring my diet choices I am growing my appreciation for the above activities like flushing toilets and taking showers.
I am vegan so I can take showers
-knowing my diet doesn’t require as much water as opposed to a carnivorous diet, i can feel justified in cleaning myself-
I am vegan so I can flush my toilet
-even though i adhere to the “yellow, mellow” rule, I feel significantly more at ease when I do need to flush knowing that my diet used less water to grow as opposed to a carnivorous diet-
I am vegan so I can wash my dishes
-of course cleaning our kitchens and cutlery is sometimes necessary, but knowing my diet used less water to grow as opposed to a carnivorous diet lets me feel less worried about turning on my faucet and washing the dirty plates-
We do these activities often, sometimes multiple times per day. To be living more full time at home because of the Covid-19 pandemic, I am acutely more cognizant of my everyday actions, my movements, and my habits - all the way down to how often I turn on a light in a room. My observation is not meant to cause anxiety, (if I turn on the sink faucet to brush my teeth, I understand I need to keep my teeth clean and healthy and water use is a necessity) it is rather to highlight my behaviors of assumed comfort, expectation and repetition. If I think about the sink when I use it, or if I question my flushing of the toilet after urinating once, I begin to inwardly laugh and wonder about all the times these “new” behaviors have gone unnoticed, unchecked and unquestioned.
I am certainly questioning more and more as the pandemic rages on: when we return from the sheltering in place, what will people do first; how will the climate crisis continue to improve due to us knowing we actually have an effect; when will resilient communities be built by ordinary people to prevent injustice and security in the future? And more each day, as I take stock in my mental health and physical occupations, I question my doing things like I used to, and if I need to continue? Can I use less, and feel like I am doing more?