"That's like saying you're vegan and..."

Although I know I've touched on the subject of elitist veganism before, today's thought piece comes from a tweet by @WeAreVeganuary:

The tweet links two articles:

The first is their own blog post on cosmetics - https://veganuary.com/blog/vegan-cosmetics/

the second is an article from the Metro on what it means to be a 'proper' vegan - http://metro.co.uk/2018/03/06/using-animal-tested-products-negate-vegan-credentials-7327907/?ito=cbshare (6th March 2018)

Just as a reminder, The Vegan Society's definition of veganism is:

"A philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude

—as far as is possible and practicable—

all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals

for food, clothing or any other purpose;

and by extension, promotes the development and use

of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of humans, animals

and the environment.

In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with

all products derived wholly or partly from animals."

(https://www.vegansociety.com/go-vegan/definition-veganism)

Meanwhile elsewhere the word 'vegan' is either a noun meaning a person who does not eat or use animal products or an adjective for using or containing no animal products. (https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/vegan)

So I'll start with two points here - "possible and practicable" and "products". Despite my tendency to blog on the subject being vegan isn't my main thing in life...just with eating three meals a day it comes up a lot and with Veganuary, Februdairy and now #MeatyMarch it's something very much in the public eye. I am nothing if not an opinionated potato so I tend to share my thoughts. HOWEVER, I do not want to spent my whole life researching companies and products to assess their level of...veganness? Veganity?! To me, that is not "possible and practicable". Then there's products. To what extent should I (or any other vegan) care about products OTHER than the ones they're buying? There are, I hear, extreme vegans who will only shop at vegan stores so as to keep their economic footprint as far from the carnist footprint as possible. That *may* be an option if your community has that but it really is taking things too far.

Now OBVIOUSLY I am against animal testing, including in most circumstances for medical purposes (see my Cancer Vs Morality blog from 2016) BUT there are huge issues with cutting it out. Particularly THIS:

Companies that sell in China by law have to test their finished products on animals. So, if you’re buying from a company that operates there,

even if your product isn’t tested on animals,

some might think that you’re still indirectly contributing to the practice.

(from the Metro article link above)

Now, how many companies operate in China? How do you untangle the web of linked companies and their umbrella organisations and is that "possible and practicable" to find out??? Also, this is basically saying you can't be a vegan and live in China. Grossly unfair.

There's also the point that a product created using animal testing is, in most instances, the result of the society surrounding it. If most vegans consider medicines exempt from their ethical stance why are they so harsh about something most of us find almost equally hard to avoid?!

Here's my take.

The idea that you lose 'your vegan credentials' for not being up to someone else's standards is incredibly stupid. We all make mistakes - miss check a label, forget to ask at a restaurant, some micro-ingredient we don't know the origin of. I heard Guinness was going vegan...unfortunately I hadn't realised the change wasn't coming into effect for TWO YEARS! I was drinking the black stuff happily the whole time. When I realised my mistake a vegan twitter account kindly assured me that it was okay - my intentions had been good.

This is what it should be about IMHO. Intention. The possible and practicable bit again - doing what you can with what you have.

I buy some household cleaners vegan - all my spray cleaners are now from Method - but others are traditional, like toilet bleach and drain cleaner. That's mostly because (I find they work better and / or cost less. Some products seem nigh impossible to buy in an assured cruelty-free variant.

I buy vegan shampoos, conditioners and shower gels wherever possible (I get caught out from time to time - my handsoaps currently contain lanolin) but I use very little by way of cosmetics - I own one eyeshadow palette, one eyeliner and one powder and I maybe put some on once or twice a week at most; I don't use face creams etc. Also I am on a low income do that's a constraint too. It is simply not something that is a priority to me at this time to do the research and (probably) spend a lot of money replacing things I barely use anyway. If I used a lot of these things I'd probably feel differently.

The bit that causes me issues in the Metro article, and the reason for this whole blog, is this quote:

Plant-based chef Lauren Lovatt told Metro.co.uk,

‘You wouldn’t be vegan if using a product that was tested on animals

– its an all around lifestyle.

That’s like saying you are vegan and eating eggs.’

The idea that veganism is all or nothing, that you're not a vegan if you're doing your best, that you're not a vegan if certain products aren't available or affordable where you live, that you're not a vegan if you're not living up to someone else's standards is highly detrimental. It's elitist, it's divisive, it's judgemental. For a movement that's already got a rep for being

‘preachy’ or ‘holier than thou’

taking such a stance is entirely counterproductive. Take the issue to the companies, to the policymakers, rather than blaming consumers who have very little choice. Products are not even clearly marked for conscientious decision-making so blaming people who are TRYING to live more ethically...well, it's just nuts!

I do like the Metro article for this particular line

"there’s a need within the community to be mindful

of discounting people who aren’t perfect"

I think the vegan who attacks other vegan, vegetarians, flexitarians etc does more harm to the cause than the activist shouting "MEAT IS MURDER!!" in the supermarket - because they're alienating people who are already willing to make changes.

Education and encouragement, not criticism and condemnation.

PLEASE stop with the in-fighting. 😔