On Wednesday 3 February, the Kent Vegan Society and UKC Amnesty took to teams to help raise awareness about the importance of sustainable living. We brought forward a more in-depth discussion about our responsibilities towards our planet, looking at how sustainable living intertwines with human rights, animal rights, and the environment.
A presentation was followed by an engaging discussion, where some interesting points were raised. James, President of the Vegan Society, mentioned the disparity in the number of male vegans compared to female vegans and highlighted the pressure many men feel to be ‘manly enough’.
Advice was also given on how to deal with family members who may worry about your health, and how these difficult situations affect vegans. Some advice from fellow vegans was to try your best, not be too hard on yourself when you first go vegan, and to reassure your family that, no, vegans do not only eat leaves!
Our planet is dying, and it is our own fault. Every day we produce unnecessary waste, cause unnecessary harm, and use unnecessary water. We all need to make a change. Of course, much of the responsibility for this is out of the everyday consumer’s hands, but, as a collective, we can enact change by rejecting the capitalist ideals of overconsumption, and by being ethically conscious with what we buy. We are not exempt from personal responsibility.
What is sustainability?
50% of the 380 million tons of plastic we produce every year is for single-use purposes, think of the plastic packaging you find on fruit, bread, and almost every other grocery at your local shops. The plastic we throw away every day ends up in the environment, threatening wildlife and spreading harmful toxins, not to mention that it’s produced from fuels that contribute to global warming.
In living sustainably, you are making an effort to reduce the waste you produce. People often have the misconception that sustainability is expensive. This couldn’t be further from the truth! On the contrary, buying less and being more mindful with what you buy is one of the most valuable things you can do to be more sustainable and can help both the planet and your wallet! This may be as simple as
- using a reusable bag when you go shopping
- repurposing used clothing at your local charity shop
- grow your own vegetables
- compost your food waste.
Animal agriculture uses an excessive amount of grain and water in the raising of animals that will only be slaughtered, so why not try incorporating more plant-based meals into your diet. The IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) themselves have called for a reduction in meat consumption due to its massive impact on our climate.
Small changes, as simple as buying reusable or pre-used items, can help to make a difference. So why not start making the steps to help protect our planet!
Find the societies on Instagram @kentvegansociety, @ukcamnesty and Facebook University of Kent Vegsoc