Katelynn Tamiel

Aug 27, 20208 min read

Reflecting on Veganism and its Limitations

Vegan can be a very polarizing term, not just to those who consume meat and other animal by-products but can also be polarizing to those who actively abstain from animal-based products as well. In some instances, I have seen firsthand where individuals refuse to use the term vegan, as they do not want to associate with the community behind veganism.

I will be the first to admit that in my early years of being vegetarian and vegan, I may have come across as abrasive as I was so passionate about the welfare of animals that I was probably off-putting to others, regardless of my good intentions. Since then, I have changed tremendously and realize that not everything is as black and white as some (such as my old self) try to make things out to be, and veganism is one of them.

I will be honest and say that I have been struggling in some ways, as my ethics have grown and changed, and share as large of a concern for the environment, sustainability, and human welfare, as I do for the animals. In doing so, trying to balance my actions to be in line with these morals has been a rather enlightening and challenging experience and one that has not been for the faint of heart. Doing so has allowed me to think more critically about my beliefs so that I can take actions that are overall more in line with the person that I would like to be. Further, it has been an eye-opening experience when you critically look at things beyond yourself and can move past the emotional discomforts with a more critical lens.

Therefore, I wanted to highlight a few areas that may be often overlooked of items that may not entirely be vegan or, in some instances, might be okay to purchase. Of course, this is not an exhaustive list, nor do I expect everyone to agree on it, but in doing so, I will be referring back to the definition of veganism as outlined by The Vegan Society that states that:

Veganism is a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing, or any other purpose.

Buying Used Products Containing Wool and Leather

There is an argument for not buying used weather or wool, in that it may create some confusion around the ideology of veganism, which is already a struggle for some to understand. Secondly, you can argue that by wearing leather, wool, or fur, that you become a walking advert for these industries, as it promotes the idea that it is the desired product.

But here is the thing: buying these products firsthand is what creates the demand in the supply chain, thereby creating the need for further animal cruelty, whereas buying secondhand does not. While I do not intentionally go out of my way looking for leather or wool items at secondhand stores, should I stumble upon something that I truly need, I would consider purchasing that item. Next, many overlook the socioeconomic position of many households, and many rely on shopping at secondhand stores to support themselves and their families. Plainly stating that there are vegan alternatives to an item is grand, but for some, that is not even going to be an option if they do not have the funds for it. Therefore, if you are someone who is in a position financially to purchase the sustainably sourced vegan alternatives, it would make sense to buy these items rather than secondhand, as there are people who heavily depend on secondhand stores.

Lastly, buying second hand from local shops is better for the environment as you are reducing the material and shipping costs needed to create the item new, thereby reducing waste (and animal exploitation and suffering). Buying from local thrift stores often supports local charities and organizations that require ongoing support, which in turn, helps your local community as well.

Pet Ownership

Let me start this off by saying that we have three fur babies at home. I have my main hairy man, Nikko, a 12-year old great Pyrenees husky mix who I adopted from our local shelter when he was only three months old. Then we have Gaea, our 8-year old raggamuffin who was a barnyard kitty turned beautiful angle goddess, too little Bear-Square, our four-year-old black kitty who we adopted and is the neediest little man by far. They fill our lives with so much joy and love that we can only hope that we do the same for them.

But here is the thing: household animals were and are domesticated for human use. We selectively breed various household animals and control every aspect of their lives:

Whether they should be spayed or neutered
When they get to go outside (or even inside for that matter)
The type of food that they eat
Where they get to sleep
The level of exercise they receive
To the amount of space they get to roam freely
And whether they see the vet
The list goes on

Even if you provide the best of care to your fur babies, at the end of the day, they are still confined to the living quarters of your home day-in and day-out by no choice of their own. Where I struggle, however, is that they have no comparison to base their current living situation. Further, is it not a mutual benefit for both of us (for the most part)? In exchange for sharing our lives, they receive safety, shelter, food, water, companionship, and more. I am not exploiting their lives, nor am I causing them any pain or suffering; if anything, the last thing that I want is for them to be in pain.

But there will always be this unknowing, this inescapable distance between us that will forever linger. As I type this, Nikko is lying on the floor in the other room, staring at me while he pants. As always, my heart immediately floods with an unbearable amount of love, but I have no idea what he is thinking. There will always be this unknown between us. To me, he is happy, comfortable, curious, and he is at peace. But who am I to say?

Palm Oil

Palm oil is a versatile vegetable oil found in many vegan food products, along with various household brands such as Kellogg, and is likely, that if you are eating processed foods, that it contains palm oil in it. While palm oil technically is vegan, as it is not animal-derived, it is the production of palm oil that makes it questionable, and therefore, on this list.

Palm oil production continues to be a significant contributor to the deforestation of rainforests, such as the Borneo rainforest in Asia, which releases large amounts of stored carbon into the air. Clear cutting acres upon acres of rainforest has resulted in the displacement and death of countless animal species, devastating ecosystems through the loss of biodiversity, while also bringing certain species such as the orangutan to the brink of extinction. Deforestation has also displaced groups of indigenous people forced to evacuate the land to make way for the mono-crop culture of the palm oil plant, losing their relationship with the rainforest.

I think that it is fair to say that the production of palm oil has an unforgiving toll on the environment, communities, and animals that inhabit those areas, causing unnecessary harm to all.

Like many ingredients, palm oil can be referenced on an ingredient list indirectly, such as vegetable oil, making it difficult to confirm if an item contains palm oil or not. However, some companies are transparent and list it clearly on their ingredients list, which makes it easy to avoid.

Medication

A pill that is hard to swallow, or is it?

In Canada, by law, medication is tested on animals before it is trialed on humans to determine the safety and potential side-effects of a specific drug, and most likely contain some form of an animal-derived ingredient.

When it comes to animal research, the Canadian Council of Animal Care (CACC) is responsible for setting, maintaining, and overseeing the implementation of high standards for animal ethics and care in science throughout Canada. While there is legislation in place in the area of animal welfare through animal protection acts and regulations, it does vary based on the province as the federal government does not have jurisdiction to legislate experiments involving animals. Currently, Ontario is the only province that has an act that is specific to animal research, meaning that there is room for improvement throughout Canada.

On that note, there is a lab at the University of Windsor that is currently exploring alternatives to animal testing, and the facility director Charu Chandrasekera has made it her goal to find an alternative solution to animal testing in research within her lifetime. If you would like to know more about this, you can read more about it here.

Ultimately, we are very fortunate to live in a country with an exceptional health care system that saves countless lives, and for some, taking medication is a part of their daily lives. Therefore, if you are questioning the use of prescriptions, it is essential to reflect on the definition of veganism as outlined earlier and whether it is possible or practicable for you. If that means taking medication, then there is no shame in that, nor should anyone make you feel otherwise.

Almonds

While almonds are certainly a vegan food item, like palm oil, it is the production of almonds that makes this a bit of a grey area, particularly the use and transportation of honeybees.

While the almond industry continues to grow each year, so does the demand of bees to pollinate the almond crop, and without bees, the almond industry cannot thrive. California itself produces 80% of the world's almond supply, making it the largest source of revenue for bee farmers. However, as demand continues to grow for almonds, it is a struggle for them to maintain and expand their bee colonies to meet these needs. It is not just that bees are needed to pollinate the crops, but the farming of bee colonies that also makes the consumption of almonds a grey area.

Well before spring even hits, bee farmers are encouraging their bees to start producing in January (much earlier than they typically would) and given food substitutes to motivate them to begin repopulating their hives. In doing so, bee farmers are bending the natural behaviour of honeybees. When spring hits, they are then loaded onto trucks and transported to almond fields where they are fed further substitutes until almonds start to bloom.

Of course, the argument comes into play that bees are required to pollinate various crops, which would inherently make them not vegan food items (I.e., avocados), which is a sound argument, as bees are exploited in other industries aside from almonds.

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In conclusion, it becomes easy to see how the line can become so easily blurred. As with the examples above, if you start to look at things critically: almonds and palm oil are vegan, whereas many would consider pet ownership and buying used leather or wool not to be. What causes more exploitation and harm? The production of palm oil or purchasing a used leather belt?

As in any walk in life, there is never going to be the perfect vegan. There are always going to be areas that are just complicated. Is it right to tell people to avoid taking medication to the detriment of their health? To possibly, put their lives on the line by not taking needed medication? Is it feasible to ask everyone person to look at every food label for palm oil? Can they afford products that do not contain palm oil? Not to mention, how will it affect them mentally and emotionally by always being focused on the label? Is it affordable or sustainable to purchase clothing that is certified to be cruelty-free? And what about pet ownership?

I believe this is why the terms possible and practicable are included in the definition of veganism because it acknowledges all of these nuances. After all, it's not so clearcut.