How to Become an Introverted Vegan Activist, Pt. 2
“If you light a lamp for someone else, it will also brighten your path.”
–Buddha
My guide to introverted activism was initially only supposed to be one post, but I kept coming up with new ideas, so I had to turn it into two. In this section, I’ll be discussing other small forms of vegan activism related to your lifestyle, as well as some bonus tips for more serious activists and mental stability. If you want more information on the topic, please see my previous post.
Support exclusively vegan companies as much as possible. Of course, you should also buy vegan options at nonvegan restaurants and stores, but don’t do it at the expense of small companies that share your values. We want to encourage and support vegan entrepreneurs and help them grow. Instead of buying everything on Amazon, check Billion Vegans or Vegan Essentials first. While you can buy some overpriced shirt at a department store, you could also buy a vegan shirt from a small business owner on Etsy or even in your hometown if you’re lucky. Many of these vegan shops also support ethical working conditions, so it’s an all-around win for everyone.
Religious institutions should be places of kindness, love, and support, though that's not the case when it comes to animals. Last week, I mentioned speaking with religious leaders in your area or organizing a vegan interest/support group. This week, I listened to a recent Our Hen House podcast featuring David Clough, who offered a truly fascinating perspective on animals and theology. His website, Creature Kind, offers a free six-week course for church groups (or individuals) that explores animal use as it relates to the Bible and how to show kindness to all of God's creatures. Even if you aren't religious, it's fantastic to know that there are people using their faith to speak up for animals.
Don’t live at Whole Foods. Especially if you’re on a budget or just starting out, don’t worry about trying to buy fancy brands or organic foods. When I was living on my own, I did most of my grocery shopping at Walmart because they had the lowest prices. I saved a lot of money compared to if I had shopped at Publix and/or Whole Foods. There’s really nothing special about those expensive “health food” stores except that their products are so overpriced that people feel like they’re getting better products than they actually are. I also find that these regular stores are less frequented by vegans in my area, so I want to make sure they continue to get business for the vegan products they do offer. That means more nonvegans will see vegan options while shopping. (I will be discussing how to survive and be efficient at the grocery store as a vegan in a few weeks - stay tuned!)
Additionally, we want to dispel the myth that veganism is expensive. At any store, grains, legumes, and produce are generally the least expensive items. While animal product alternatives are exploding right now, they are not lucky enough to receive billions of dollars in subsidies like meat, dairy, and eggs, making them too expensive for most people to incorporate them as a staple in their diet. When I spend $30 on a week's worth (or more) of grains, beans, tofu, fruit, and frozen veggies, I'm proving to the excusers that veganism is actually the most economical diet possible.
Find other hobbies. Like I said in part one, you may need to take time for yourself to recharge. Activism can sort of take over your life, and you may lose interest in activities you used to enjoy. If that’s the case, try to find new things to do. If you’re like me, you spend way too much time online, and that’s not healthy either. So I’m trying to learn new things and work on that along with my activism. This doesn't have to be some grand pursuit; just getting out for a walk or taking time for meditation and introspection may be all you need.
Talking to people you know can be a good first step towards talking with people you don’t know. Speaking about it with my family, though it usually ended in an argument (and still does sometimes), helped me realize how I should communicate to be most effective with others. This can be tricky, but if people close to you are open and understanding, it can be a great opportunity.
Talk to people online. Start conversations whenever you can, even if it is just on the internet. Just don’t get argumentative with carnists in the comments – that generally never ends well. Try to have rational discussions with people that are genuinely curious about veganism. They may have annoying questions, but it’s quite likely that they don’t realize how it sounds to a vegan. Just be understanding and helpful whenever you can.
I have to thank That Vegan Couple for this idea. I was listening to an episode of their amazing podcast about Challenge 22, a free mentor and support system for people to make the switch to a vegan lifestyle. You can sign up to become an online mentor to help others convert to veganism.[1] It’s such an amazing and necessary tool, especially for people overwhelmed by the thought of changing their entire life. I’m considering trying the Challenge myself so I can review it on the blog and maybe become a mentor myself.
Invest in vegan companies. As veganism is growing at such a fast rate, several vegan companies, like Beyond Meat, are exploding right now. Most of these businesses are small (for now), but you can invest in those that are going public. Or you can invest in companies that own these smaller businesses or are implementing more animal-free initiatives. Kellogg, for example, has stopped animal testing and is heavily investing in other smaller vegan companies.[2] Nestlé recently announced plans to launch its own vegan meat products.[3] Hopefully, by supporting this, they will make the transition to fully vegan sooner rather than later.
Make activism your career. I went through my standard four years of college, but at the end, I still didn’t know what to do. I wasn’t interested in pursuing a job in a Fortune 500 company like many other business students. So, I was forced to reflect on what I enjoyed in life. Obviously, veganism and saving animals were at the top of my list, but they certainly don’t teach you how to do that in school. Then, I questioned what I was good at, things I could do for the rest of my workable life. If you can combine your passion and your skills together, then there is most certainly a job out there for you. You may have to make it on your own, but it’s possible. That’s how I’ve gotten here now. Even if you literally only watch YouTube videos or binge Netflix all day, you could try creating videos or films of your own. Or write reviews for movies, discussing the elements and relating it back to your activism. Nowadays there is always a way to get active.
Your form of career activism doesn't mean you have to be like That Vegan Couple or Joey Carbstrong, traveling the world doing Cubes of Truth, hosting workshops, attending vigils, and participating in protests. Yes, you can make a living that way, but that's unrealistic for most people. You could be like Ingrid Newkirk, who started off with a small group of people, organizing protests and campaigns that exploded to become what is now known as PETA. Or like Jasmin Singer and Mariann Sullivan who co-founded Our Hen House, a weekly podcast discussing animal rights issues and now nonprofit organization. Though traditional forms of activism may seem like the most obvious choice, as I said before, there are so many different ways to use your skills to speak up for animals. You may have to think outside the box, but that's usually when you discover the best ideas!
Go to VegFests. These are amazing places full of vegans just like you. There’s delicious food, incredible activists, rescued animals, empowering speeches, and fun activities. It’s a great way to meet people in your area and discover all the vegan options around you. Undoubtedly, there will be opportunities for you to get involved with animal rights activists there. Almost every city has a vegan festival now, so even if it’s just once a year, you can be around all things vegan.
Be active in a way that is most comfortable for you. This makes you seem more genuine and believable to others. If you are the kind of person that needs to lead the discussion, do it. If you prefer others to take charge, help to gently steer them in the right direction. If you want to yell and get angry, there is a time and a place for that too. If you're only comfortable sharing content on social media right now, do it. Just be yourself, and people will be influenced.
Cook vegan food for people. Recently, I watched Gaz Oakley's (@avantgardevegan) video about his vegan story. As a trained chef, he spent a lot of time in the kitchen experimenting with vegan foods, but he struggled with communicating the ethics to friends and family. So, he decided to start cooking for them. He let the food do the talking. While a plant-based diet is not equivalent to veganism, which I detail in "A Rational Explanation of Veganism from an Ex-Nonvegan," it opens the gateway to discussing vegan philosophy.
Be “that vegan.” Don’t worry about snarky carnist remarks; they’re just hateful and ignorant. They may talk about you, veganism, or the animals disrespectfully. They may say you’re stupid for caring about this cause. But you know that your convictions are stronger than their cowardly words. Be the person that creates waves. I know it’s scary, and I struggle with this too. But it will help you be a better activist if you shed the fear that a carnist may not like you. At the end of the day, you know you’re doing the right thing. You are on the right side of history.
Don’t force your veganism to be in line with animal rights/welfare groups. Support their vegan initiatives, but make sure to follow your heart. It’s ok to not support everything these groups do or to disagree with certain kinds of activism. As long as you are speaking up for the animals the best you can, you are doing the right thing. I used to worry about not being “vegan enough” or that I was a bad vegan for not supporting some of PETA’s campaigns or being too vegan for supporting PETA’s other “extremist” actions. There is no right or wrong way to be a vegan, as long as you truly are one. We’re all just a little different.
Find anything – something, someone, someplace – that inspires you. Keep those things close as a constant reminder as to why you do this. I have a little vegan inspiration board in my room covered in pins, stickers, postcards, pictures of my dog and other animals, and all sorts of random things. I’m not the kind of person that deals well with clutter, but that space is chaotically overflowing with veganism and happiness. Every time I look at it, I think about how far I’ve come in my life: from an apathetic carnist to a passionate vegan. It makes me feel proud, hopeful, and happy.
I hope that this has helped you on your quest to become an activist. There are probably many other things I could have mentioned, but those are my top 33 tips for successful vegan activism. It’s already difficult to be an introvert in such an extroverted world, and adding veganism to the mix makes it all the more difficult. People generally don’t understand you; you can feel isolated. But getting active can help to fill in those empty parts in you, make you realize how much more you’re worth to the world. I know it’s done that for me.
be conscious, be kind, be vegan
[1] “Podcast 070: Behind the Scenes at Challenge 22”
[2] “Kellogg’s Ends Animal Testing After 65 Years”
[3] "Nestlé Plans to Launch Vegan Chicken, Sausage, and Bacon"