Do vegans wear wool?

Chewbaka add courgettes to the list of vegetables I don't like. BUT I LOVE cheese and tomato!

M0nica that must be hard. I hope you don't have to wait too long for the surgery.

Re leather shoes. Here is a quote from a company producing vegan shoes:

leather used for fashion unfortunately is not very natural at all (and far from always a by-product from the food industry). Toxic chemicals such as zinc, lead, dyes, cyanide and formaldehyde are used to treat it, which makes it decompose very slowly, producing a greater quantity of refuse which has an obvious negative environmental impact. In addition, tanneries consume a lot of energy and are very polluting; and the carcinogenic chemicals used negatively affect the health of workers, too.

This company uses a variety of materials to produce vegan shoes including micro fibre PU (which holds the EU eco label), plant based polymers (as opposed to those produced from petrochemicals), a fabric made from pineapple leaves, cork and recycled rubber. Companies such as this are continually looking to reduce their carbon footprint and to remain ethical. I think these materials compare very favourably in every respect with the more traditional leather goods we have been told are ‘natural’.

I'm not vegan but I'm a bit shocked at how aggressive some of the posts are, many vegans just do what they can to reduce their impact on the environment and animals, they do what they feel is right and don't on the whole tell the rest of us what to do. What nonsense, even if in fun, to talk about living in rubber wellies - there are plenty of alternatives as stated in previous posts. If it is not harming you why not live and let live?

I expect most people do really Soniah.

I hope so!

www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/9-reasons-why-veganism-can-save-the-world/

Well I certainly wouldn't choose my diet according to some "international month" someone's decided to set up. My advice is to forget all about it till the campaign is over, then think about it in your own time in your own way and for your own reasons.

Very sensible thought IngeJ

DJ. Just caught up with this thread. For info: Colman’s are moving their production plant out of Norfolk but rebuilding a state-of-the-art dry processing plant on the outskirts of Norwich. The present site being much more valuable for housing. Dry mustard will still be packed here. The new site will process all the mustard and mint grown in Norfolk (14 farmers I think in all) and enable the firm to continue to be known as Colmans of Norwich. Most of the bright yellow fields around aren’t mustard, they’re rape. Horrible stuff which makes me (and a lot of others) cough!

Colman's dry sauces being moved to Germany, NFK.
Not just out of Norfolk, out of the UK.

Britvic being clsed at Carrow Road, too.
'The combined closures will result in a loss of 343 jobs in Norwich.

Jon Strachan, Unilever’s vice president of supply chain, said he recognised the decision will be “difficult news” for employees on site.

He said the proposals were the end product of a 16-week review and gave the “best overall business case” for the company.

While the factory will close, he said the creation of a new milling facility will maintain the historic link between Norwich and the Colman’s brand.

He confirmed the “Colman’s of Norwich” branding will remain on the jars.'

The new facility will create 25 jobs.

DH told me that part of Colman's was moving to Staffordshire as well.

Perhaps there is not so much call for dry mustard in the UK, although I do I buy it to add to sauces.

Oh, I see now, the decisions to close the Colman's factory in Norwich is a direct result of Britvic closing down on the same shared site.
Colman's will be moving to Burton where they already make Marmite and Bovril.
www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/43-jobs-created-colmans-mustard-1016263

So a gain for Burton, a loss for Norwich, overall loss of 45 jobs in the UK (is that right?)

Yes, I think so Jalima They are muttering that eventually it may all go to Germany, but to Burton first for a couple of years. I think they're hedging their bets. It's a real shame that we're loosing the factory, but the mustard and mint will still be grown by the same farmers, mostly in West Norfolk. They have new contracts for a new milling plant on the outskirts of Norwich. We're to have a "Food Hub" apparently! Lots of negotiating going on.

All the yellow stuff around here is oil seed rape. Some years there's more rape than anything else. That can go to Germany anytime and take it's pollen with it! Hate the stuff!

I was vegan for 10 years and have a mainly vegan diet now. I am not a strict vegan and am not one of those who persue the diet for mainly animal welfare principles. I just feel better eating a vegan diet and it is environmentally friendly.

The thing that always surprises me is the reaction that people have to the way that you have chosen to eat. I have NEVER asked anyone else to change their diet. I have NEVER complained about anyone else eating food that I would not. So why do people go on the offensive about vegans? People have been very rude to me about what I have chosen to eat, demanding to know the reasons why. Vegans have simply chosen not to use any part of an animal - how does that harm them? I have had my suspicions in the past that people have felt uncomfortable once they have begun to think about where their food comes from - however that is only a suspicion as I have never attempted to talk to anyone about it.

Possibly the growth in veganism amongst younger people is that it is an achieveable way of them showing their opposition to the way that a lot of our meat and dairy is currently produced. I know that there are instances of lovingly cared for animals, living a life of ease, going to a wonderfully peaceful death before they are eaten. However that is not the case for the majority of the food that we eat.

My main concern is for the planet. A vegan diet is much more environmentally friendly, albeit one that may cause changes to the British countryside.

As I very much doubt that there is going to be a wholesale conversion overnight I would contend that there is room for people of all diets to live in harmony - please?

I think it is the assumed moral superiority that irritates people. It is not proven that a vegan diet is better for the environment. At least, it is perfectly reasonable to think otherwise, but some vegans apparently think not and make sure others know that they are in the right. That attitude is kind of annoying.

Given that we've evolved as omnivores, I don't think it's unreasonable for people to ask why one would choose not to be omnivorous. Obviously rudeness is not acceptable. One can ask politely.

I think the suggestion that vegans shouldn't expect a modcon like a hospital bed when pregnant is intended to annoy.

There was a thread recently from someone who was dreading a family meal at their house because the daughter was vegan and very argumentative about it. The problem wasn't that she was defensive, it was she was aggressively critical of the no-vegans. I wasn't surprised to read lots of replies about how rare it was to come across someone like the daughter.

It's true some vegans feel a responsibility to try and convince others to change, but I really believe they are the minority. However, I do think that when a meat eater starts a conversation with a veggie or a vegan, the meat eater can end up feel uncomfortable about ignoring how their food is produced. It's possible to feel inferior without the other person feeling superior.

If someone asks me why I'm vegetarian, I tell them why without going into detail. I also tell them it's a personal choice and I won't be trying convert them. I don't want to make anyone feel uncomfortable because of my choices.

How do you know a meat eater is ignoring how their food is produced, wkf? Isn't that just an assumption? Have you heard of Compassion in World Farming?

Simply because it comes up in the conversation. I don't make that assumption. Of course, I have heard of Compassion in World Farming. I wonder how many meat eaters have though?

I see.

Why would you think vegans and vegetarians have not heard of Compassion in World Farming?
Is that just an assumption?
How many meat eaters have heard about it?
Have meat eaters stopped using parmesan and other hard Italian cheeses because of the latest ciwf investigation - which was undertaken with Viva!?

No one has suggested that anyone shouldn't have a hospital bed because they are vegan.

One thing this thread has taught me is that if one chooses a diet due to animal welfare concerns then veganism is the only way to go. Vegetarianism is only a halfway house, it seems to me.

"They had a baby quite recently (when they were grateful for all mod cons such as a hospital bed and pain relief!) so I'm intrigued about that, as well. "