Joanne Kong

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. ”

Rae Sikora, from Glorieta, New Mexico, has been an advocate for other species and the environment for over 40 years. Recognized internationally as a speaker and educator, Rae is the co-founder of The Institute for Humane Education, VegFund, and Plant Peace Daily. Her Vegan Voices essay, “There Is No Other,” is about how a more inclusive and compassionate world can come about when we look beyond our differences and embrace the commonalities we share. She writes, “Much of our work on earth is to find compassion for those who are different from us. . . . By letting go of fear and taking the time to connect to other living beings, even those that are the most unfamiliar, we will never see their group in the same way again. ”

Dr. Sailesh Rao, from Phoenix, Arizona, is the Executive Director of Climate Healers. In 2016, he promised his granddaughter Kimaya that a vegan world would come about by the time she turns 16 in 2026. Dr. Rao advocates for a transformation of our society to a nonviolent world, where all beings are afforded equal respect and our ecological impacts stay within planetary boundaries. He writes that “as the vegan movement gains momentum, it will inevitably snowball into the necessary systemic transformation. Such a system transformation requires a sea change in the stories we tell and the games we play, for that’s how we humans coordinate our actions among millions and billions of us to form a civilization. ”

I know that those of you who read Vegan Voices will be inspired, whether you are veg-curious, or a longtime vegan!

The book is available through Lantern Publishing & Media, https://lanternpm.org/books/vegan-voices/

Plan to attend one of the two exciting VEGAN VOICES Book Launch Parties!!

1) VEGAN VOICES VIRTUAL BOOK LAUNCH PARTY

SUNDAY OCTOBER 10th, 1:00 - 2:30 PM EDT

Register through Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vegan-voices-virtual-book-launch-party-tickets166711104401?fbclid=IwAR0eNZWBuMZIuRP5FzzaWzVWovO39sjSoDi7LMzM_1nzKqJLRtfc63WxTf0 Speakers and Interviews, Videos, Readings, Music, Cooking Demo by Nancy Arenas, Panel Discussion, Prize Giveaways and more! Zoom Webinar will allow up to 500.

2) VEGAN VOICES BOOK LAUNCH PARTY at Plant City, Providence, Rhode Island

SUNDAY OCTOBER 10th, 1:00 - 3:00 PM EDT

Register through Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vegan-voices-book-launch-party-tickets166710157569?fbclid=IwAR0BdZNJE1uc5c6NvVhpJSY8-yNhp91XfnSv-5O2AZ08gOzQmqvoo7SdF0M Food, drinks, music, book sales and signing, raffle for prize giveaways! This in-person event will be limited to 50.

Dr. Joanne Kong has been praised as one of the most compelling advocates for plant-sourced nutrition today. Her highly-praised TEDx talk, The Power of Plant-Based Eating, is placed on numerous websites internationally. A frequent public speaker at universities, festivals and conferences, her vegan advocacy has been recognized around the world, with international talks in Italy, Spain, Germany, Norway, Canada, and a three-week, ten-city tour of India. Dr. Kong is the Editor of Vegan Voices: Essays By Inspiring Changemakers, is profiled in the book Legends of Change about vegan women who are changing the world, and appears in the new major documentary, Eating Our Way to Extinction. Website: https://www.vegansmakeadifference.com/