other reasons: false
selected: []
reasons: [
{
"data": {
"condition": "<p>dairy</p>\n",
"claim": "<p>Dairy doesn't involve killing</p>\n",
"response": "<p>Unfortunately the modern dairy industry involves a lot of killing.</p>\n<p>In countries like Australia almost all male calves are killed shortly after birth because they don't produce milk and are of a breed that is not desirable for beef production.</p>\n<p>Female cows are also killed prematurely when they get older and their "productivity" goes down - after enduring a lifetime of forced impregnation and having their babies taken away - so that humans can take their milk.</p>\n"
},
"h1blocks": [
"Condition",
"dairy",
"Claim",
"Dairy doesn't involve killing",
"Response",
"Unfortunately the modern dairy industry involves a lot of killing.\n\nIn countries like Australia almost all male calves are killed shortly after birth because they don't produce milk and are of a breed that is not desirable for beef production.\n\nFemale cows are also killed prematurely when they get older and their \"productivity\" goes down - after enduring a lifetime of forced impregnation and having their babies taken away - so that humans can take their milk."
],
"claimId": "1. dairy"
},
{
"data": {
"condition": "<p>eggs</p>\n",
"claim": "<p>Eggs don't involve killing</p>\n",
"response": "<p>Unfortunately the modern egg industry involves a lot of klling.</p>\n<p>Almost all male chicks are killed shortly after birth.</p>\n<p>The hens are also killed when they get older and their "productivity" goes down.</p>\n"
},
"h1blocks": [
"Condition",
"eggs",
"Claim",
"Eggs don't involve killing",
"Response",
"Unfortunately the modern egg industry involves a lot of klling.\n\nAlmost all male chicks are killed shortly after birth.\n\nThe hens are also killed when they get older and their \"productivity\" goes down."
],
"claimId": "1. eggs"
},
{
"data": {
"claim": "<p>I need animal products to be healthy</p>\n",
"response": "<p>In the past, when there was limited availability of many plant-based foods as well as limited nutritional science, it was likely indeed necessary to eat animal-based foods.</p>\n<p>However in modern societies we can actually get everything our body needs without eating animals by following some simple nutritional advice. This includes protein!</p>\n<p>With healthy plant-based foods we can also avoid carcinogenic chemicals created during cooking (<a href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6294997/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">evidence linking red meat to cancer is particularly strong</a>). It's worth noting that humans are the only animals that cook meat.</p>\n<details>\n<summary>More about protein</summary>\n\n<p>Proteins are chains of small molecules called amino acids. There are 21 different amino acids used in our bodies - and all of them occur in plants. Whatever protein we eat first gets digested into individual amino acids which are then absorbed into our bodies, so it doesn't matter whether they come from plants or animals.</p>\n<p>The only issue is that some plant-based foods have a fairly low quantity of certain amino acids, but this is easily solved by eating combinations, like legumes + grains, which together have a high quantity of all amino acids. You can also eat foods like soy which contain high quantities of all amino acids all by themselves.</p>\n</details>\n\n<details>\n<summary>Vitamin B12</summary>\n\n<p>Vitamin B12 is a very special vitamin - it is the most complex one and the only molecule in our bodies containing a cobalt atom. It cannot be made by any animal, and not even by plants or fungi. All animals actually get Vitamin B12 from bacteria, directly or indirectly.</p>\n<p>This is an issue since vegans can become deficient in Vitamin B12. But there is an easy solution - taking a supplement (e.g. <a href=\"https://www.vegansociety.com/shop/veg-1-supplements\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">VEG1 from the Vegan Society</a>). The supplements contain B12 made by bacteria - like what happens naturally. The B12 that's claimed to be in some mushrooms or plants likely comes "incidentally" from bacteria, in small/variable amounts, and should not be relied upon as an adequate nutritional source, at least until there is more research.</p>\n<p>B12 supplements are also widely used in animal agriculture, so much of the B12 in meat/eggs/milk also comes from these same supplements! This is because animals often graze on soil that is deficient in cobalt, or they are fed processed plant-based feed that doesn't contain cobalt or B12.</p>\n<p>Whilst one may argue that needing a B12 supplement reflects badly on veganism as it's less "natural", lets keep in mind that cooking meat & living inside buildings is also "less natural" - but humans still do those things because of the overall benefits.</p>\n</details>\n\n<h2>Read more</h2>\n<p><a href=\"https://www.theveganrd.com/vegan-nutrition-101/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Vegan Nutrition 101 - by The Vegan RD</a></p>\n<p><a href=\"https://www.vegansociety.com/resources/nutrition-and-health/nutrition-overview-0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nutrition - by The Vegan Society</a></p>\n<p><a href=\"https://www.theveganrd.com/vegan-nutrition-101/vegan-nutrition-primers/plant-protein-a-vegan-nutrition-primer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Plant Protein: A Vegan Nutrition Primer - by The Vegan RD</a></p>\n"
},
"h1blocks": [
"Claim",
"I need animal products to be healthy",
"Response",
"In the past, when there was limited availability of many plant-based foods as well as limited nutritional science, it was likely indeed necessary to eat animal-based foods.\n\nHowever in modern societies we can actually get everything our body needs without eating animals by following some simple nutritional advice. This includes protein!\n\nWith healthy plant-based foods we can also avoid carcinogenic chemicals created during cooking ([evidence linking red meat to cancer is particularly strong](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6294997/)). It's worth noting that humans are the only animals that cook meat.\n\n<details>\n<summary>More about protein</summary>\n\nProteins are chains of small molecules called amino acids. There are 21 different amino acids used in our bodies - and all of them occur in plants. Whatever protein we eat first gets digested into individual amino acids which are then absorbed into our bodies, so it doesn't matter whether they come from plants or animals.\n\nThe only issue is that some plant-based foods have a fairly low quantity of certain amino acids, but this is easily solved by eating combinations, like legumes + grains, which together have a high quantity of all amino acids. You can also eat foods like soy which contain high quantities of all amino acids all by themselves.\n\n</details>\n\n<details>\n<summary>Vitamin B12</summary>\n\nVitamin B12 is a very special vitamin - it is the most complex one and the only molecule in our bodies containing a cobalt atom. It cannot be made by any animal, and not even by plants or fungi. All animals actually get Vitamin B12 from bacteria, directly or indirectly.\n\nThis is an issue since vegans can become deficient in Vitamin B12. But there is an easy solution - taking a supplement (e.g. [VEG1 from the Vegan Society](https://www.vegansociety.com/shop/veg-1-supplements)). The supplements contain B12 made by bacteria - like what happens naturally. The B12 that's claimed to be in some mushrooms or plants likely comes \"incidentally\" from bacteria, in small/variable amounts, and should not be relied upon as an adequate nutritional source, at least until there is more research.\n\nB12 supplements are also widely used in animal agriculture, so much of the B12 in meat/eggs/milk also comes from these same supplements! This is because animals often graze on soil that is deficient in cobalt, or they are fed processed plant-based feed that doesn't contain cobalt or B12.\n\nWhilst one may argue that needing a B12 supplement reflects badly on veganism as it's less \"natural\", lets keep in mind that cooking meat & living inside buildings is also \"less natural\" - but humans still do those things because of the overall benefits.\n\n</details>\n\n## Read more\n\n[Vegan Nutrition 101 - by The Vegan RD](https://www.theveganrd.com/vegan-nutrition-101/)\n\n[Nutrition - by The Vegan Society](https://www.vegansociety.com/resources/nutrition-and-health/nutrition-overview-0)\n\n[Plant Protein: A Vegan Nutrition Primer - by The Vegan RD](https://www.theveganrd.com/vegan-nutrition-101/vegan-nutrition-primers/plant-protein-a-vegan-nutrition-primer)"
],
"claimId": "1. health"
},
{
"data": {
"claim": "<p>Animal-based foods taste good</p>\n",
"response": "<p>There is no denying that animal-based foods taste great - almost all vegans would agree and used to enjoy eating them in the past.</p>\n<p>The good news though is that there are a lot of delicious plant-based options and recipes, especially on YouTube. You may find that these taste as well as or even better than animal-based foods! A lot of our tastes are based on habit and can readily change with alternatives.</p>\n<p>Still, even if you prefer the taste of foods containing meat, dairy, or eggs, please consider whether this is enough reason to eat these foods given how much harm that does to animals and our planet... As an analogy, just because we want something, that doesn't ethically justify stealing it..</p>\n<details>\n<summary>Vegan YouTube channels with fantastic recipies</summary>\n\n<p>Here are just some of them!</p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/@ChefJana\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@ChefJana</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/@EdgyVeg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@EdgyVeg</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/@FitGreenMind\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@FitGreenMind</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/@HealthyFoodiePh\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@HealthyFoodiePh</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/@HomemadeVeganIreneYong\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@HomemadeVeganIreneYong</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/@LetsEatPlants\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@LetsEatPlants</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/@marystestkitchen\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@marystestkitchen</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/@PickUpLimes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@PickUpLimes</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/@RainbowPlantLife\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@RainbowPlantLife</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/@SauceStache\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@SauceStache</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/@Simnettnutrition\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@Simnettnutrition</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/@soyasoyang-soykitchen\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@soyasoyang-soykitchen</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/@WeCookVegan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@WeCookVegan</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/@YEUNGMANCOOKING\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@YEUNGMANCOOKING</a></li>\n</ul>\n</details>\n\n\n<details>\n<summary>More vegan recipes</summary>\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https://plantbasedrdblog.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">PlantBased RD</a></li>\n</ul>\n</details>"
},
"h1blocks": [
"Claim",
"Animal-based foods taste good",
"Response",
"There is no denying that animal-based foods taste great - almost all vegans would agree and used to enjoy eating them in the past.\n\nThe good news though is that there are a lot of delicious plant-based options and recipes, especially on YouTube. You may find that these taste as well as or even better than animal-based foods! A lot of our tastes are based on habit and can readily change with alternatives.\n\nStill, even if you prefer the taste of foods containing meat, dairy, or eggs, please consider whether this is enough reason to eat these foods given how much harm that does to animals and our planet... As an analogy, just because we want something, that doesn't ethically justify stealing it..\n\n\n<details>\n<summary>Vegan YouTube channels with fantastic recipies</summary>\n\nHere are just some of them!\n\n* [@ChefJana](https://www.youtube.com/@ChefJana)\n* [@EdgyVeg](https://www.youtube.com/@EdgyVeg)\n* [@FitGreenMind](https://www.youtube.com/@FitGreenMind)\n* [@HealthyFoodiePh](https://www.youtube.com/@HealthyFoodiePh)\n* [@HomemadeVeganIreneYong](https://www.youtube.com/@HomemadeVeganIreneYong)\n* [@LetsEatPlants](https://www.youtube.com/@LetsEatPlants)\n* [@marystestkitchen](https://www.youtube.com/@marystestkitchen)\n* [@PickUpLimes](https://www.youtube.com/@PickUpLimes)\n* [@RainbowPlantLife](https://www.youtube.com/@RainbowPlantLife)\n* [@SauceStache](https://www.youtube.com/@SauceStache)\n* [@Simnettnutrition](https://www.youtube.com/@Simnettnutrition)\n* [@soyasoyang-soykitchen](https://www.youtube.com/@soyasoyang-soykitchen)\n* [@WeCookVegan](https://www.youtube.com/@WeCookVegan)\n* [@YEUNGMANCOOKING](https://www.youtube.com/@YEUNGMANCOOKING)\n\n</details>\n\n\n<details>\n<summary>More vegan recipes</summary>\n\n* [PlantBased RD](https://plantbasedrdblog.com)\n\n</details>"
],
"claimId": "2. taste"
},
{
"data": {
"claim": "<p>Vegan food is too expensive</p>\n",
"response": "<p>Actually a healthy cost-conscious vegan diet, using minimally-processed ingredients like lentils bought in bulk, is much cheaper than an animal-based diet.</p>\n<p>It makes sense that eating plants directly is more efficient and cheaper than feeding plants to animals which then have to be grown, transported, slaughtered, and carved up.</p>\n<p>Of course some vegan foods are expensive, but it's easy to only buy them ocassionally or not at all - they are usually quite processed and unhealthy to eat often anyway. This is similar to how one can eat meat without buying $50 steaks.</p>\n"
},
"h1blocks": [
"Claim",
"Vegan food is too expensive",
"Response",
"Actually a healthy cost-conscious vegan diet, using minimally-processed ingredients like lentils bought in bulk, is much cheaper than an animal-based diet.\n\nIt makes sense that eating plants directly is more efficient and cheaper than feeding plants to animals which then have to be grown, transported, slaughtered, and carved up.\n\nOf course some vegan foods are expensive, but it's easy to only buy them ocassionally or not at all - they are usually quite processed and unhealthy to eat often anyway. This is similar to how one can eat meat without buying $50 steaks."
],
"claimId": "3. cost"
},
{
"data": {
"claim": "<p>It's natural / traditional to eat animal products</p>\n",
"response": "<p>It's true that humans have traditionally consumed animal products, but human civilization is based on improving on what was "natural" in the past. For example, slavery used to be considered "natural" only a few hundred years ago.</p>\n<p>Going vegan is something we can now do to further progress humanity. Whereas in the past many people didn't have enough knowledge of nutrition and enough plant-based foods to go vegan, all that is easily available nowadays.</p>\n<p>It's also sometimes said that it's natural to eat meat because many animals do so. But, firstly, those animals don't have a choice (unlike humans) - they eat raw meat due to instinct and biology. Cooking meat, by the way, is far less "natural" - no other animals do that. Secondly, just because an animal does something doesn't mean it's okay for humans to do so - as humans we should aspire to a different standard of behaviour!</p>\n"
},
"h1blocks": [
"Claim",
"It's natural / traditional to eat animal products",
"Response",
"It's true that humans have traditionally consumed animal products, but human civilization is based on improving on what was \"natural\" in the past. For example, slavery used to be considered \"natural\" only a few hundred years ago.\n\nGoing vegan is something we can now do to further progress humanity. Whereas in the past many people didn't have enough knowledge of nutrition and enough plant-based foods to go vegan, all that is easily available nowadays.\n\nIt's also sometimes said that it's natural to eat meat because many animals do so. But, firstly, those animals don't have a choice (unlike humans) - they eat raw meat due to instinct and biology. Cooking meat, by the way, is far less \"natural\" - no other animals do that. Secondly, just because an animal does something doesn't mean it's okay for humans to do so - as humans we should aspire to a different standard of behaviour!"
],
"claimId": "4. natural"
},
{
"data": {
"claim": "<p>We have to eat - and even plant-based foods harm animals</p>\n",
"response": "<p>Indeed, we have to eat, but some ways of eating are a lot more ethical than others because they cause less harm. It is similar to money - we need money to survive, but that doesn't mean it's okay to rob others - there are much more ethical ways to obtain the money we need.</p>\n<p>It's often mentioned that plant-based food also results in harm to animals, however this harm is still much less than what happens when animal-based foods are consumed. Animals need to be fed - so if one eats animals, all the food grown & land used to feed that animal also has to be considered. It requires a lot less crops, land and water if plants are directly consumed by humans, instead of first being fed to animals, used by the animal to grow, and then eaten by humans. For example, <a href=\"https://ourworldindata.org/soy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">the vast majority of soy is used for animal feed</a>.</p>\n<p>Vegan food also leads to <a href=\"https://ourworldindata.org/food-choice-vs-eating-local\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">much less greenhouse gas emissions</a>.</p>\n<p>Another common point is that <em>some</em> animals eat plants that humans cannot eat, like cattle eating grass. However this is also a half-truth because the vast grasslands have usually been created by humans clearing native ecosystems to graze cattle. Land is scarce and precious - it would be more efficient and environmentally friendly to use it for rewilding, planting trees, growing crops for direct human consumption, etc. Grass-eating cattle are also a major contributor to global heating due to methane emissions, and their feed is usually supplemented with crops so that they grow faster.</p>\n"
},
"h1blocks": [
"Claim",
"We have to eat - and even plant-based foods harm animals",
"Response",
"Indeed, we have to eat, but some ways of eating are a lot more ethical than others because they cause less harm. It is similar to money - we need money to survive, but that doesn't mean it's okay to rob others - there are much more ethical ways to obtain the money we need.\n\nIt's often mentioned that plant-based food also results in harm to animals, however this harm is still much less than what happens when animal-based foods are consumed. Animals need to be fed - so if one eats animals, all the food grown & land used to feed that animal also has to be considered. It requires a lot less crops, land and water if plants are directly consumed by humans, instead of first being fed to animals, used by the animal to grow, and then eaten by humans. For example, [the vast majority of soy is used for animal feed](https://ourworldindata.org/soy).\n\nVegan food also leads to [much less greenhouse gas emissions](https://ourworldindata.org/food-choice-vs-eating-local).\n\n\nAnother common point is that _some_ animals eat plants that humans cannot eat, like cattle eating grass. However this is also a half-truth because the vast grasslands have usually been created by humans clearing native ecosystems to graze cattle. Land is scarce and precious - it would be more efficient and environmentally friendly to use it for rewilding, planting trees, growing crops for direct human consumption, etc. Grass-eating cattle are also a major contributor to global heating due to methane emissions, and their feed is usually supplemented with crops so that they grow faster."
],
"claimId": "5. need food"
},
{
"data": {
"claim": "<p>Animals don't suffer</p>\n",
"response": "<p>Actually animals experience fear and pain just as we do. <a href=\"https://thehumaneleague.org/article/do-fish-feel-pain\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">This includes fishes</a>. Their brains and nervous systems are similar to our own, and so are many of their instincts. Birds and mammals also form complex relationships and care for their children. Given much scientific evidence that they do experience suffering, we should at least give them the benefit of the doubt.</p>\n<p>If you are in doubt just watch a documentary like <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQRAfJyEsko\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Dominion (2018)</a></p>\n"
},
"h1blocks": [
"Claim",
"Animals don't suffer",
"Response",
"Actually animals experience fear and pain just as we do. [This includes fishes](https://thehumaneleague.org/article/do-fish-feel-pain). Their brains and nervous systems are similar to our own, and so are many of their instincts. Birds and mammals also form complex relationships and care for their children. Given much scientific evidence that they do experience suffering, we should at least give them the benefit of the doubt.\n\n\nIf you are in doubt just watch a documentary like [Dominion (2018)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQRAfJyEsko)"
],
"claimId": "6. animals dont suffer"
},
{
"data": {
"claim": "<p>Animals are treated humanely</p>\n",
"response": "<p>This is actually far from the truth - there are countless examples of undercover footage showing horrific cruelty in the animal agriculture industry, including in Australia. Watch this documentary: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQRAfJyEsko\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Dominion (2018)</a></p>\n<p>The animal agriculture industry is actually exempt from animal welfare laws - they wouldn't need to be if they could follow them. Their own industry guidelines call for procedures like these, which are done as a matter of course on a massive scale:</p>\n<ul>\n<li>Killing male chicks in industrial shredder-like machines</li>\n<li>Cutting chicken beaks (without pain relief)</li>\n<li>Keeping many hens in tiny cages</li>\n<li><a href=\"https://farmtransparency.org/campaigns/sow-stalls\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Keeping pigs in small cages</a></li>\n<li>Gassing pigs at the time of slaughter (<a href=\"https://farmtransparency.org/campaigns/gas-chambers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">videos show how they thrash about</a>)</li>\n<li></li>\n<li>Forcible impregnations of dairy cows and separation from their calf after giving birth (done yearly)</li>\n</ul>\n<p>The industry is also very opposed to CCTV surveillance of farms and abbatoirs. If the claims of animal rights activists were cherry-picked and misleading, one would think the industry would welcome additional transparency. The fact that they don't is evidence that their treatment of animals is far from humane, and something they don't want consumers to see.</p>\n<p>In addition, there is a compelling ethical argument that even if animals are treated well & killed without suffering, it is still wrong to kill them - because as sentient beings they value their life and do not consent to being killed. If an animal is living a happy life, then all the more reason to let it continue.</p>\n<h2>Read more</h2>\n<p><a href=\"https://animalsaustralia.org/our-work/factory-farming/australian-poultry-laws-epic-fail/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">8 epic failures of current Poultry Laws</a></p>\n"
},
"h1blocks": [
"Claim",
"Animals are treated humanely",
"Response",
"This is actually far from the truth - there are countless examples of undercover footage showing horrific cruelty in the animal agriculture industry, including in Australia. Watch this documentary: [Dominion (2018)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQRAfJyEsko)\n\nThe animal agriculture industry is actually exempt from animal welfare laws - they wouldn't need to be if they could follow them. Their own industry guidelines call for procedures like these, which are done as a matter of course on a massive scale:\n\n* Killing male chicks in industrial shredder-like machines\n* Cutting chicken beaks (without pain relief)\n* Keeping many hens in tiny cages\n* [Keeping pigs in small cages](https://farmtransparency.org/campaigns/sow-stalls)\n* Gassing pigs at the time of slaughter ([videos show how they thrash about](https://farmtransparency.org/campaigns/gas-chambers))\n* \n* Forcible impregnations of dairy cows and separation from their calf after giving birth (done yearly)\n\nThe industry is also very opposed to CCTV surveillance of farms and abbatoirs. If the claims of animal rights activists were cherry-picked and misleading, one would think the industry would welcome additional transparency. The fact that they don't is evidence that their treatment of animals is far from humane, and something they don't want consumers to see.\n\nIn addition, there is a compelling ethical argument that even if animals are treated well & killed without suffering, it is still wrong to kill them - because as sentient beings they value their life and do not consent to being killed. If an animal is living a happy life, then all the more reason to let it continue.\n\n## Read more\n\n[8 epic failures of current Poultry Laws](https://animalsaustralia.org/our-work/factory-farming/australian-poultry-laws-epic-fail/)"
],
"claimId": "7. animals treated humanely"
},
{
"data": {
"claim": "<p>My religion allows it</p>\n",
"response": "<p>Many religions <em>allow</em> eating animal products, but they do not <em>require</em> it. On the other hand, religions emphasise the importance of <em>compassion</em>, including towards animals. Thus, because in most of today's world animal products are no longer necessary, one has the opportunity to practice compassion by not buying them.</p>\n<details>\n<summary>Buddhism</summary>\n\n<ul>\n<li><p>The Noble Eightfold Path includes Right Resolve, which includes harmlessness (SN 45.8). Practising harmlessness is the purpose of vegan ethics.</p>\n</li>\n<li><p>The Five Precepts includes refraining from killing, and also from taking what is not given (which arguably applies to eggs & milk - the animals haven't consensually given those products to us). Just like if someone pays another person to kill someone or steal something, paying for others to kill animals does not wash away one's responsibility.</p>\n</li>\n<li><p>In the Dhammapada Chapter 10 it is written: "All tremble at violence; all fear death. Putting oneself in the place of another, one should not kill nor cause another to kill."</p>\n</li>\n<li><p>Even if we buy meat from an animal which is already dead, part of the money we pay goes to the animal agriculture industry, where it is used to fund the killing & abuse of more living beings in the future.</p>\n</li>\n<li><p>The Buddha recognised that meat is ethically problematic - that is why monks are not supposed to eat animals who have been "killed for them", and being a butcher is explcitly listed as wrong livelihood.</p>\n</li>\n<li><p>In modern times, buying products made from dairy or eggs also involves killing - the male calves & chicks and the females after they become older and "less productive".</p>\n</li>\n<li><p>Intentionally choosing harmful actions is the cause of bad karma, especially when there are good alternatives.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n</details>\n\n<details>\n<summary>Christianity</summary>\n\n<ul>\n<li><p>The Bible praises the virtue of compassion many times, including towards animals: "A righteous man regards the life of his animal, But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel." (Proverbs 12:10)</p>\n</li>\n<li><p>The Bible states that a vegan diet is ideal, as it was what was eaten before the Fall: "God said, 'See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food'" (Genesis 29–30). A vegan world is also envisaged in the Messianic Age: "The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid...the lion shall eat straw like the ox" (Isaiah 11:6–9)</p>\n</li>\n<li><p>Many Christian leaders and communities have praised vegetarian/vegan choices: <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_vegetarianism\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_vegetarianism</a></p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n</details>\n\n<details>\n<summary>Hinduism</summary>\n\n<ul>\n<li>Ahimsa, which translates approximately to "non-violence", is one of the key virtues of Hinduism, and many Hindus are already vegetarian.</li>\n<li>Many Hindus however still buy cow milk and cheese, often assuming that cows are treated with care. However this assumption is not true in almost all countries, and cruel intensive farming practices have now made their way even to India, where they are now very common.</li>\n<li>For example, male calves, "excess" female calves, and old cows get sold to non-Hindus and are killed for meat..</li>\n<li>See these documentaries, freely available on YouTube: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5Y5sMz3RHU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mother's Milk (Maa Ka Doodh)</a> and <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYmZISwJI7k\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Land of Ahimsa</a></li>\n</ul>\n</details>\n\n<details>\n<summary>Islam</summary>\n\n<ul>\n<li><p>Islam places much emphasis on Compassion, including towards animals.</p>\n</li>\n<li><p>Eating vegan foods means one is much more likely to truly observe Halal since plant-based foods are almost 100% certain to be Halal. With animal products one usually has to trust the manufaturers and there have been many cases of fraud.</p>\n</li>\n<li><p>Islam places importance not just on slaughter, but on the animal's whole life - in today's profit-driven factory farms animals endure much cruelty and exploitation - including in the dairy and egg industries.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n</details>\n\n<details>\n<summary>Others</summary>\n\n<p>We hope to add information from other religions in the future - you can help us by sending points through the feedback button.</p>\n</details>"
},
"h1blocks": [
"Claim",
"My religion allows it",
"Response",
"Many religions _allow_ eating animal products, but they do not _require_ it. On the other hand, religions emphasise the importance of _compassion_, including towards animals. Thus, because in most of today's world animal products are no longer necessary, one has the opportunity to practice compassion by not buying them.\n\n<details>\n<summary>Buddhism</summary>\n\n- The Noble Eightfold Path includes Right Resolve, which includes harmlessness (SN 45.8). Practising harmlessness is the purpose of vegan ethics.\n\n- The Five Precepts includes refraining from killing, and also from taking what is not given (which arguably applies to eggs & milk - the animals haven't consensually given those products to us). Just like if someone pays another person to kill someone or steal something, paying for others to kill animals does not wash away one's responsibility.\n\n- In the Dhammapada Chapter 10 it is written: \"All tremble at violence; all fear death. Putting oneself in the place of another, one should not kill nor cause another to kill.\"\n\n- Even if we buy meat from an animal which is already dead, part of the money we pay goes to the animal agriculture industry, where it is used to fund the killing & abuse of more living beings in the future.\n\n- The Buddha recognised that meat is ethically problematic - that is why monks are not supposed to eat animals who have been \"killed for them\", and being a butcher is explcitly listed as wrong livelihood.\n\n- In modern times, buying products made from dairy or eggs also involves killing - the male calves & chicks and the females after they become older and \"less productive\".\n\n- Intentionally choosing harmful actions is the cause of bad karma, especially when there are good alternatives.\n\n</details>\n\n<details>\n<summary>Christianity</summary>\n\n- The Bible praises the virtue of compassion many times, including towards animals: \"A righteous man regards the life of his animal, But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.\" (Proverbs 12:10)\n\n- The Bible states that a vegan diet is ideal, as it was what was eaten before the Fall: \"God said, 'See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food'\" (Genesis 29–30). A vegan world is also envisaged in the Messianic Age: \"The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid...the lion shall eat straw like the ox\" (Isaiah 11:6–9)\n\n- Many Christian leaders and communities have praised vegetarian/vegan choices: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_vegetarianism\n\n</details>\n\n<details>\n<summary>Hinduism</summary>\n\n- Ahimsa, which translates approximately to \"non-violence\", is one of the key virtues of Hinduism, and many Hindus are already vegetarian.\n- Many Hindus however still buy cow milk and cheese, often assuming that cows are treated with care. However this assumption is not true in almost all countries, and cruel intensive farming practices have now made their way even to India, where they are now very common.\n- For example, male calves, \"excess\" female calves, and old cows get sold to non-Hindus and are killed for meat..\n- See these documentaries, freely available on YouTube: [Mother's Milk (Maa Ka Doodh)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5Y5sMz3RHU) and [The Land of Ahimsa](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYmZISwJI7k)\n\n</details>\n\n<details>\n<summary>Islam</summary>\n\n- Islam places much emphasis on Compassion, including towards animals.\n\n- Eating vegan foods means one is much more likely to truly observe Halal since plant-based foods are almost 100% certain to be Halal. With animal products one usually has to trust the manufaturers and there have been many cases of fraud.\n\n- Islam places importance not just on slaughter, but on the animal's whole life - in today's profit-driven factory farms animals endure much cruelty and exploitation - including in the dairy and egg industries.\n\n</details>\n\n<details>\n<summary>Others</summary>\n\nWe hope to add information from other religions in the future - you can help us by sending points through the feedback button.\n\n</details>"
],
"claimId": "8. religion"
},
{
"data": {
"claim": "<p>It's too hard to stop eating animal products</p>\n",
"response": "<p>Almost everyone, including vegans, have grown up eating animals, so it can indeed be hard to break existing habits.</p>\n<h2>Family</h2>\n<p>It can be especially hard when eating with family. When you first decide to go vegan, it makes sense to first concentrate on the food choices you have full control over. This has the most impact on animals. You can then try negotiating with others by explaining why you're switching to vegan foods. Don't let perfection be the enemy of the good - even if you have to ocassionally compromise this has quite low impact compared to your everyday food choices. Over time you will develop more skills in navigating uncomfortable situations, and it's really valuable to bring up animals when talking to non-vegans.</p>\n<h2>Health</h2>\n<p>Did you have health issues when trying to stop eating animal products?\nThis is tough but hopefully you can try again.\nThrough bad luck you may have picked foods that aren't suitable for your body, or started eating too much of something too quickly (e.g. fibre). Perhaps you had a temporary illness that has now resolved itself.</p>\n<p>The good news is that there is a huge variety of very healthy plant-based foods that are now readily available.</p>\n<p>A consultation with a plant-based nutritionist / dietitian may be very worthwhile - for a free service you can join <a href=\"https://challenge22.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Challenge22</a>.</p>\n<h2>Tips</h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Remind yourself of why you want to go vegan</li>\n<li>Find delicious & simple recipies online</li>\n<li>Focus on not buying animal products yourself</li>\n<li>See a plant-based dietitian / nutritionist</li>\n<li>If switching completely is too hard, go with slower changes that will be sustainable</li>\n</ul>\n"
},
"h1blocks": [
"Claim",
"It's too hard to stop eating animal products",
"Response",
"Almost everyone, including vegans, have grown up eating animals, so it can indeed be hard to break existing habits.\n\n## Family\n\nIt can be especially hard when eating with family. When you first decide to go vegan, it makes sense to first concentrate on the food choices you have full control over. This has the most impact on animals. You can then try negotiating with others by explaining why you're switching to vegan foods. Don't let perfection be the enemy of the good - even if you have to ocassionally compromise this has quite low impact compared to your everyday food choices. Over time you will develop more skills in navigating uncomfortable situations, and it's really valuable to bring up animals when talking to non-vegans.\n\n## Health\n\nDid you have health issues when trying to stop eating animal products?\nThis is tough but hopefully you can try again.\nThrough bad luck you may have picked foods that aren't suitable for your body, or started eating too much of something too quickly (e.g. fibre). Perhaps you had a temporary illness that has now resolved itself.\n\nThe good news is that there is a huge variety of very healthy plant-based foods that are now readily available.\n\nA consultation with a plant-based nutritionist / dietitian may be very worthwhile - for a free service you can join [Challenge22](https://challenge22.com/).\n\n## Tips\n\n- Remind yourself of why you want to go vegan\n- Find delicious & simple recipies online\n- Focus on not buying animal products yourself\n- See a plant-based dietitian / nutritionist\n- If switching completely is too hard, go with slower changes that will be sustainable"
],
"claimId": "9. too hard"
}
]
