Vegan values very much come under the broad scope of veganism and in part originate from the works of the early social movement pioneers, and they help to deepen our understanding of vegan ethics and morals. The definition of veganism is clear about its position on animals, and vegan values help augment this understanding alongside how we shape our behaviour as vegans. What’s really noticeable about vegan values is just how aligned they are with what we like to instil in our children – they are all excellent qualities to help form a code of living that respects all living beings and by extension the planet we live on.

 

Non Violence 

Veganism is firmly rooted in non- violence, right from its early days several thousand years ago as found in the tradition of Ahimsa, with a reverence for the sanctity of life. Several of the vegan social movement pioneers were conscientious objectors during the war, including both Donald Watson, & Kathleen & Jack Jannaway. It’s important to recognise that using animals is almost always violent – from the slaughterhouse, through to what happens to male chicks, the newborn male calf torn from his mothers side within days of being born, horses raced to death, fish caught up in nets or on hooks – it’s all violence. Veganism is essentially a way of life that embraces non-violence wherever possible – towards animals and humans alike, as well as the environment.

 

Compassion

Compassion is a key vegan value and often mentioned in vegan circles. Compassion for animals lies right at the heart of the vegan way of life and many vegans are also animal lovers, devoted to their companions in life. On that note though there is an important distinction to be made – you don’t have to love animals to be vegan. Upholding their rights not to be commodified doesn’t require love – it requires us to treat other animals with respect, leave them alone and not use them. But compassion is a truly beautiful quality and in this world of uncertainty and inequality, a rare and precious commodity to cultivate.

 

Justice

Justice is a very vegan value. Recognising the injustice of what’s happening to animals is key to understanding the key motivation to live vegan, and standing up against this injustice begins with our own lifestyle choices, ensuring they are aligned with our values. Justice for animals, justice for people, justice for the planet – veganism is steeped in justice. 

 

Respect

Respect for living beings, for habitats, for rivers and oceans, for humans, animals, our communities, our families, ourselves – respect is a fundamental vegan value. Respecting bodily autonomy, respecting & upholding fundamental rights for all living beings and by extension the planet and future generations to come is a central tenet of veganism. Respect for others helps breed self respect, which in turn deepens respect for the world we live in.

 

Being Fair

Being fair is a wonderful quality – and we have to recognise that as humans, we are so unfair, so destructive, so oblivious to the damage we cause with our lifestyle choices. What we do to animals and by extension habitats – it’s so unfair on those beings with whom we share this planet. Veganism helps foster a sense of fairness and being fair is a very valuable code to live by on so many levels.

 

Moral Courage

Moral Courage involves the courage to stand by your beliefs and values, your ethics and codes, your loyalty and your dedication, and to some degree veganism requires some moral courage – the courage to sometimes stand alone and to stand for a principle, and to stand for individual animals when no one else is with you. That can take courage, but moral courage is a truly excellent value to cultivate.

 

Discipline

Discipline is a necessary part of veganism, and veganism requires some discipline. Not a lot, but noticeable none the less. To have control over one’s impulses and desires is a desirable attribute in itself, and that’s something the early pioneers would have possessed in abundance. Nowadays, with tantalising plant-based options almost on every high street, most certainly online and easily available – maybe the requirement for discipline is less so. But all vegans will face a time of testing of their convictions and as we know, those occasions can help strengthen our convictions and our discipline, and many new practices soon become habit forming. Switching to plant based lifestyles can take some effort in the beginning but that soon changes. Veganism is not about perfection though – it’s a position we take and one that we do our best to live by, but by definition it is recognised that this isn’t always possible. Plant – based food for example will always have a carbon footprint, land use and water requirement, and even some impact on free living beings – just generally a lot less than animal agriculture though, as supported by a lot of data (see Our World in Data).

 

Inner Peace & Harmony

It’s true to say that for many of us, living vegan brings a real sense of inner peace and harmony. The removal of animal products from the system is a considerable change for the body and soul, and removing violence from our consumption has a profound effect on our inner peace and harmony.

 

Challenging Oppression & Injustice

Vegan values determine that we take a stand against oppression and injustice, be that for animals or for humans. Challenging oppression and injustice is a key tenet of veganism, and many vegans are involved directly in campaigns and initiatives that take a principled position against injustice and oppression.  

 

The Ultimate Peace Movement

Veganism as a social movement was founded at the end of the 2^nd world war at a time when violence and deprivation were widespread. In many respects veganism s the ultimate peace movement, seeking fairness and justice for the most oppressed beings on earth. A global vision of world peace was fundamental to the pioneers of the vegan social movement. 

 

Further Reading