‘Vegan’ is a word first coined by British activist Donald Watson (1910 – 2005), founder of the first vegan organization. I was frustrated that the word ‘vegetarian’ came to include dairy products and eggs. His definition of ‘vegan’ was a "philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude – as far as possible and practical – all forms of exploitation of and cruelty to animals for food, clothing, or any other purpose.

‘Vegan’ is about compassion. It is about making the world a better place, not only for people, but for the billions of other inhabitants of this planet whose lives and well being have been overlooked, sometimes driven to extinction, and usually used as vehicles for providing human satisfactions of all types. It is about providing solutions to complex global issues.

The non-vegan lifestyle is a major contributor to Climate Change – the world's greatest threat to security and survival. The meat and dairy based diet cause catastrophic health concerns – such as skyrocketing diabetes and heart disease, and potentially devastating antibiotic resistance. Vegan is not a form of depravation. It is a lifestyle which embraces life, and life lived to the fullest. Vegan holds the promise of a healthier population, a sustainable planet, and kindness and compassion for all.

United Nations Affiliation

Vegan International has applied for Non Governmental Organization (NGO) Consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, and will partner with the following UN Agencies: United Nations System Standing Committee on Nutrition, Economic and Social Council, (UNSCN), World Health Organization, (WHO), Food and Agriculture, (FAO), and promote the Sustainable Development Goals.

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