An overview of all the surveys around how popular veganism and plant-based lifestyles are in the UK right now suggests that we currently have around 1 million ethical vegans, 3 million people who eat a pretty much plant based diet, and as many as 15 million people who are ‘plant based friendly’ and actively increasing consumption of plant based options. This is a noticeable increase since 2006 when there were an estimated 150,000 vegans in the UK – and from the few hundred individuals back in the 1940’s and 50’s who were vegan. 

 

Veganism today is recognised as a philosophy or way of life, with a clear focus and a broad scope, as envisaged by the original pioneers including Leslie Cross and Donald Watson back in the 1950’s and 60’s. The focus of veganism is very much on the animals, and we take a closer look at what’s happening to animals right now, and an understanding of the animal rights position and how this offers hope to animals, whilst underpinning the vegan position. The scope of veganism is much broader, and we explore the many facets of veganism including the multiple benefits of plant-based lifestyles for humans, including optimum personal health, benefits for the environment and for oceans, sustainable food supplies for a growing world population, food justice and food sovereignty, and how we can help animals living in the wild by restoring natural habitats.

 

Further along the way, under the broad scope of veganism, we consider spiritual veganism and self-transformation, vegan values, ethics and morals, human rights, animal rights and intersectional veganism, holistic veganism and society transformation. Cross, Watson and the original UK vegan social groups in the early days had a very broad vision for veganism, coming as they were out of times of extreme violence and deprivation, and their vision of veganism brought tremendous hope and purpose to the early movement – a true liberation of animals, people and planet, and a return to peace and prosperity in harmony with nature and our co inhabitants of this wonderful planet.

 

But right now, the picture isn’t so rosy – and when we take a look at the prime focus of veganism – what’s happening to animals –  it isn’t great.