Announcement of a New Book, VEGAN VOICES: Essays By Inspiring Changemakers
In reflecting upon the past couple years, certainly we think of the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and how it turned our lives upside down. In moving beyond this crisis, we need to see the virus as an inflection point of enormous consequence, a direct sign that humans must move away from the exploitation of animals. Many of the ways in which we produce food have simply become unsustainable, and a growing threat to global health. In light of the increasing damage of animal agriculture to our health, the planet and our identities as innately compassionate beings, we need to embrace a new future of food, driven by our sense of innovation and purpose. And for that new world to be possible, the most powerful choice we can make is to GO VEGAN! Indeed, every individual’s choices, actions and feelings do make a difference. Our food choices are not simply about diet. It goes beyond health. It’s about recognizing the thread of life energy that connects us to all other living beings and the natural world that is our home. It’s about creating the possibilities for a world that is kinder and that doesn’t exploit our kindred animals or our precious resources.
In reflecting upon how veganism touches upon so many diverse, critical aspects of our lives, I embarked on a book project to show that veganism is a philosophy, a way of life, and a journey that is unique to every individual. Three of the writers in the book are from Southwest USA: Nancy Arenas, Rae Sikora and Dr. Sailesh Rao. They each offer unique perspectives and ways of advocating for a vegan world. Nancy Arenas, whom many of you know as the publisher of New Mexico Vegan, promotes veganism in other ways as well—she is the organizer of Red & Green VegFest Albuquerque, directs the podcast Vegan Pulse, and formed the non-profit organization Sprouting Compassion. Her essay in Vegan Voices is titled, “A Journey to an Awakening of the Body, Mind, and Soul,” where she writes eloquently about what true activism is. Nancy’s journey shows how each of us can embark on a lifelong journey to learn all we can about creating a more compassionate lifestyle, learning and sharing our discoveries with each other. “Let us resolve, to exert ourselves, heartily, at proposing the vegan ideal to all. As we awaken to veganism, our compassionate outreach expands.”
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