we are all human in this room I am human and you are human there are many
and you are human there are many
and you are human there are many different definitions for what it means
different definitions for what it means
different definitions for what it means to be human what characterizes us what
to be human what characterizes us what
to be human what characterizes us what makes us different from other species I
makes us different from other species I
makes us different from other species I believe that what makes us human is our
believe that what makes us human is our
believe that what makes us human is our ability to care ability to understand to
ability to care ability to understand to
ability to care ability to understand to have empathy towards others
have empathy towards others
have empathy towards others when I say others I don’t just mean
when I say others I don’t just mean
when I say others I don’t just mean other people I mean other animals and
other people I mean other animals and
other people I mean other animals and the environment that surrounds us
the environment that surrounds us
the environment that surrounds us humanness is characterized by our
humanness is characterized by our
humanness is characterized by our tenderness or combative compassion and
tenderness or combative compassion and
tenderness or combative compassion and our ability to care this is most
our ability to care this is most
our ability to care this is most recognizable and children I believe I
recognizable and children I believe I
recognizable and children I believe I have a younger sister and she’s ten now
have a younger sister and she’s ten now
have a younger sister and she’s ten now but when she was about five or six and
but when she was about five or six and
but when she was about five or six and she realized that the chicken on her
she realized that the chicken on her
she realized that the chicken on her plate was the same as the chicken that
plate was the same as the chicken that
plate was the same as the chicken that featured in most of our Nursery Rhymes
featured in most of our Nursery Rhymes
featured in most of our Nursery Rhymes she was absolutely appalled overwhelmed
she was absolutely appalled overwhelmed
she was absolutely appalled overwhelmed with feelings of compassion and care and
with feelings of compassion and care and
with feelings of compassion and care and understanding we are all empathetic or
understanding we are all empathetic or
understanding we are all empathetic or at least we were when we were children
at least we were when we were children
at least we were when we were children because I believe that hatred in its
because I believe that hatred in its
because I believe that hatred in its purest form is learned over the years I
purest form is learned over the years I
purest form is learned over the years I have come to recognize that we lose
have come to recognize that we lose
have come to recognize that we lose touch with these characteristics that
touch with these characteristics that
touch with these characteristics that are made to be uniquely human as we lose
are made to be uniquely human as we lose
are made to be uniquely human as we lose touch with them we start to realize that
touch with them we start to realize that
touch with them we start to realize that we now are no longer the people we would
we now are no longer the people we would
we now are no longer the people we would like to be or we still aspire to be
like to be or we still aspire to be
like to be or we still aspire to be these people we aspire to be
these people we aspire to be
these people we aspire to be understanding compassionate caring
understanding compassionate caring
understanding compassionate caring there’s a particular daily habit that
there’s a particular daily habit that
there’s a particular daily habit that does not in capsule 8 the
does not in capsule 8 the
does not in capsule 8 the characteristics that we have what habit
characteristics that we have what habit
characteristics that we have what habit am i hinting towards I’m talking about
am i hinting towards I’m talking about
am i hinting towards I’m talking about our diet or habit to eat the flesh of
our diet or habit to eat the flesh of
our diet or habit to eat the flesh of dead animals this shows a disconnect
dead animals this shows a disconnect
dead animals this shows a disconnect that I think most of us in this room
that I think most of us in this room
that I think most of us in this room hold we have two beliefs and we cannot
hold we have two beliefs and we cannot
hold we have two beliefs and we cannot hold the both of them together
hold the both of them together
hold the both of them together one I think most of us in this room
one I think most of us in this room
one I think most of us in this room would not consciously support the abuse
would not consciously support the abuse
would not consciously support the abuse of animals – we do and still want to
of animals – we do and still want to
of animals – we do and still want to keep eating eat these two are in
keep eating eat these two are in
keep eating eat these two are in conjunction to one another and they show
conjunction to one another and they show
conjunction to one another and they show a disconnect
a disconnect
a disconnect most people do not relate what is on
most people do not relate what is on
most people do not relate what is on their plates to the animal that it came
their plates to the animal that it came
their plates to the animal that it came from but if you give me an open mind
from but if you give me an open mind
from but if you give me an open mind today I want to call to a better nature
today I want to call to a better nature
today I want to call to a better nature make us a more empathetic and caring
make us a more empathetic and caring
make us a more empathetic and caring community first I would like to start by
community first I would like to start by
community first I would like to start by exploring this disconnect that most of
exploring this disconnect that most of
exploring this disconnect that most of us experience I will finally hear a
us experience I will finally hear a
us experience I will finally hear a psychology student and I wanted to know
psychology student and I wanted to know
psychology student and I wanted to know how is it possible that we can have two
how is it possible that we can have two
how is it possible that we can have two different beliefs and still act on both
different beliefs and still act on both
different beliefs and still act on both of them
of them
of them a man called Leon Festinger explained
a man called Leon Festinger explained
a man called Leon Festinger explained this phenomenon by cognitive dissonance
this phenomenon by cognitive dissonance
this phenomenon by cognitive dissonance theory let me illustrate this for you
theory let me illustrate this for you
theory let me illustrate this for you imagine that you are a student as most
imagine that you are a student as most
imagine that you are a student as most of us in this room will be and you have
of us in this room will be and you have
of us in this room will be and you have one idea you have to study we also on
one idea you have to study we also on
one idea you have to study we also on your second idea you have a favorite TV
your second idea you have a favorite TV
your second idea you have a favorite TV show and you want to watch just one more
show and you want to watch just one more
show and you want to watch just one more episode you cannot do these two together
episode you cannot do these two together
episode you cannot do these two together most of us can’t study and watch an
most of us can’t study and watch an
most of us can’t study and watch an episode at the same time I don’t think
episode at the same time I don’t think
episode at the same time I don’t think so what do we do we make a justification
so what do we do we make a justification
so what do we do we make a justification we say okay I’ll watch one more episode
we say okay I’ll watch one more episode
we say okay I’ll watch one more episode and then I’ll be able to concentrate for
and then I’ll be able to concentrate for
and then I’ll be able to concentrate for hours on end
hours on end
hours on end right we do the same thing when we eat
right we do the same thing when we eat
right we do the same thing when we eat meat we make justifications for example
meat we make justifications for example
meat we make justifications for example we need leek leave animals into
we need leek leave animals into
we need leek leave animals into artificial categories we say pets or
artificial categories we say pets or
artificial categories we say pets or farm animals or wild animals these
farm animals or wild animals these
farm animals or wild animals these categories enable us to treat the
categories enable us to treat the
categories enable us to treat the animals within these categories
animals within these categories
animals within these categories differently however these are categories
differently however these are categories
differently however these are categories are artificial and cultural there is
are artificial and cultural there is
are artificial and cultural there is nothing inherent about an animal a makes
nothing inherent about an animal a makes
nothing inherent about an animal a makes it sacred or consumable that comes down
it sacred or consumable that comes down
it sacred or consumable that comes down to human psychology there’s another
to human psychology there’s another
to human psychology there’s another justification we make we ascribe less
justification we make we ascribe less
justification we make we ascribe less emotions and reasoning capacities to
emotions and reasoning capacities to
emotions and reasoning capacities to edible animals a very interesting study
edible animals a very interesting study
edible animals a very interesting study found that meat-eaters ascribe less
found that meat-eaters ascribe less
found that meat-eaters ascribe less secondary emotions such as guilt anxiety
secondary emotions such as guilt anxiety
secondary emotions such as guilt anxiety or loneliness to traditional edible
or loneliness to traditional edible
or loneliness to traditional edible animals than to non edible animals
animals than to non edible animals
animals than to non edible animals vegetarians did not when we choose to be
vegetarians did not when we choose to be
vegetarians did not when we choose to be blind to what we are doing when we eat
blind to what we are doing when we eat
blind to what we are doing when we eat pair or shop they’re not only choosing
pair or shop they’re not only choosing
pair or shop they’re not only choosing to be blind to the suffering in the pain
to be blind to the suffering in the pain
to be blind to the suffering in the pain that we are instigating and eating we
that we are instigating and eating we
that we are instigating and eating we choose to be blind to the beauty of the
choose to be blind to the beauty of the
choose to be blind to the beauty of the world around us
world around us
world around us this acquired inability to see the
this acquired inability to see the
this acquired inability to see the beauty of nature allows us to ravage
beauty of nature allows us to ravage
beauty of nature allows us to ravage forests and oceans and systemically
forests and oceans and systemically
forests and oceans and systemically destroy the natural world we may speak
destroy the natural world we may speak
destroy the natural world we may speak of love and kindness and a gentler world
of love and kindness and a gentler world
of love and kindness and a gentler world yet it is our actions especially those
yet it is our actions especially those
yet it is our actions especially those that are habitually practiced that
that are habitually practiced that
that are habitually practiced that determine our outcomes and those around
determine our outcomes and those around
determine our outcomes and those around us my journey towards veganism has not
us my journey towards veganism has not
us my journey towards veganism has not only opened my eyes to the environmental
only opened my eyes to the environmental
only opened my eyes to the environmental and health benefits of this lifestyle
and health benefits of this lifestyle
and health benefits of this lifestyle but it has opened me to seeing the world
but it has opened me to seeing the world
but it has opened me to seeing the world who more compassionate and caring eyes I
who more compassionate and caring eyes I
who more compassionate and caring eyes I would like all of us to do the same and
would like all of us to do the same and
would like all of us to do the same and I know what most of you are thinking
I know what most of you are thinking
I know what most of you are thinking right now okay that’s her opinion and I
right now okay that’s her opinion and I
right now okay that’s her opinion and I still have my right to my preference
still have my right to my preference
still have my right to my preference yeah you’re right
yeah you’re right
yeah you’re right but that right it kills so many and this
but that right it kills so many and this
but that right it kills so many and this opinion not any I would like to start by
opinion not any I would like to start by
opinion not any I would like to start by exploring together the benefits of a
exploring together the benefits of a
exploring together the benefits of a plant-based lifestyle and the harms of
plant-based lifestyle and the harms of
plant-based lifestyle and the harms of an animal-based diet environmentally
an animal-based diet environmentally
an animal-based diet environmentally veganism can make a massive impact it is
veganism can make a massive impact it is
veganism can make a massive impact it is one of the greatest leavers known to
one of the greatest leavers known to
one of the greatest leavers known to mankind and can alleviate so much of
mankind and can alleviate so much of
mankind and can alleviate so much of what ails us on this tiny blue planet
what ails us on this tiny blue planet
what ails us on this tiny blue planet raising animals for food is one of the
raising animals for food is one of the
raising animals for food is one of the largest contributors to loss of
largest contributors to loss of
largest contributors to loss of biodiversity pollution and water
biodiversity pollution and water
biodiversity pollution and water shortage the agricultural industry uses
shortage the agricultural industry uses
shortage the agricultural industry uses 40% of the landscape available to us and
40% of the landscape available to us and
40% of the landscape available to us and 70% of our water in addition it is also
70% of our water in addition it is also
70% of our water in addition it is also the single largest contributor to
the single largest contributor to
the single largest contributor to greenhouse gases 30% in total this is
greenhouse gases 30% in total this is
greenhouse gases 30% in total this is more than all our electricity all our
more than all our electricity all our
more than all our electricity all our transportation and all other
transportation and all other
transportation and all other manufacturing however the food that is
manufacturing however the food that is
manufacturing however the food that is made in the agricultural industry as a
made in the agricultural industry as a
made in the agricultural industry as a human population we only consume 3
human population we only consume 3
human population we only consume 3 percent of it 3 percent 50 percent of it
percent of it 3 percent 50 percent of it
percent of it 3 percent 50 percent of it goes to feeding cow
goes to feeding cow
goes to feeding cow if we redirect to these sources such as
if we redirect to these sources such as
if we redirect to these sources such as land and water to creating food for us
land and water to creating food for us
land and water to creating food for us not only would be me making a massive
not only would be me making a massive
not only would be me making a massive environmental difference but we would be
environmental difference but we would be
environmental difference but we would be helping to feed the 850 million people
helping to feed the 850 million people
helping to feed the 850 million people on this planet who still suffer from
on this planet who still suffer from
on this planet who still suffer from food scarcity now that I ever have
food scarcity now that I ever have
food scarcity now that I ever have acknowledged the environmental benefits
acknowledged the environmental benefits
acknowledged the environmental benefits there are also health benefits we were
there are also health benefits we were
there are also health benefits we were not made or evolved to consume
not made or evolved to consume
not made or evolved to consume animal-based products and this is the
animal-based products and this is the
animal-based products and this is the reason for a lot of illnesses that we
reason for a lot of illnesses that we
reason for a lot of illnesses that we suffer from the intake of animal protein
suffer from the intake of animal protein
suffer from the intake of animal protein has been linked to certain illnesses
has been linked to certain illnesses
has been linked to certain illnesses such as diabetes hypertension rheumatoid
such as diabetes hypertension rheumatoid
such as diabetes hypertension rheumatoid arthritis heart disease and various
arthritis heart disease and various
arthritis heart disease and various cancers in addition there is also a link
cancers in addition there is also a link
cancers in addition there is also a link between the consumption of red and
between the consumption of red and
between the consumption of red and processed meats and premature death
processed meats and premature death
processed meats and premature death now that I have acknowledged all the
now that I have acknowledged all the
now that I have acknowledged all the benefits of a plant-based lifestyle I
benefits of a plant-based lifestyle I
benefits of a plant-based lifestyle I once again like to return to the harms
once again like to return to the harms
once again like to return to the harms of an animal-based diet but this time
of an animal-based diet but this time
of an animal-based diet but this time not our harms those of the animals
not our harms those of the animals
not our harms those of the animals though meat and dairy industry has done
though meat and dairy industry has done
though meat and dairy industry has done everything to ensure invisibility of
everything to ensure invisibility of
everything to ensure invisibility of what happens between the four walls of a
what happens between the four walls of a
what happens between the four walls of a slaughterhouse or an animal farm I would
slaughterhouse or an animal farm I would
slaughterhouse or an animal farm I would like to make sure that everyone in this
like to make sure that everyone in this
like to make sure that everyone in this room is aware of all the violence that
room is aware of all the violence that
room is aware of all the violence that is associated with every meal that
is associated with every meal that
is associated with every meal that contains either meat or dairy pigs who
contains either meat or dairy pigs who
contains either meat or dairy pigs who show emotional responses can solve
show emotional responses can solve
show emotional responses can solve puzzles and are thought to be smarter
puzzles and are thought to be smarter
puzzles and are thought to be smarter than dogs and almost the smartest chimps
than dogs and almost the smartest chimps
than dogs and almost the smartest chimps are often heard screaming
are often heard screaming
are often heard screaming as strung up by their legs they watch
as strung up by their legs they watch
as strung up by their legs they watch their fellow pigs who they have known
their fellow pigs who they have known
their fellow pigs who they have known since birth got tasered and killed
since birth got tasered and killed
since birth got tasered and killed sliced down the middle and dairy farms
sliced down the middle and dairy farms
sliced down the middle and dairy farms are no better baby calves are separated
are no better baby calves are separated
are no better baby calves are separated from their mothers who have been
from their mothers who have been
from their mothers who have been artificially inseminated from 24 hours
artificially inseminated from 24 hours
artificially inseminated from 24 hours so that the milk made for the baby cow
so that the milk made for the baby cow
so that the milk made for the baby cow can feed us and in egg farms baby male
can feed us and in egg farms baby male
can feed us and in egg farms baby male chicks are thrown down grinders or in
chicks are thrown down grinders or in
chicks are thrown down grinders or in gas chambers still conscious this
gas chambers still conscious this
gas chambers still conscious this happens on both factory and organic
happens on both factory and organic
happens on both factory and organic farms
farms
farms yet when people are presented with these
yet when people are presented with these
yet when people are presented with these facts they very rarely make the
facts they very rarely make the
facts they very rarely make the connection between them and their
connection between them and their
connection between them and their dietary habits yes habits not needs we
dietary habits yes habits not needs we
dietary habits yes habits not needs we have currently only four justifications
have currently only four justifications
have currently only four justifications for eating meats and dairy
for eating meats and dairy
for eating meats and dairy these are taste convenience tradition
these are taste convenience tradition
these are taste convenience tradition and habit I feel that these are not
and habit I feel that these are not
and habit I feel that these are not suffice as justifications to continue an
suffice as justifications to continue an
suffice as justifications to continue an animal-based diet it will be a difficult
animal-based diet it will be a difficult
animal-based diet it will be a difficult transformation I understand I personally
transformation I understand I personally
transformation I understand I personally remember when I was in Sicily and I
remember when I was in Sicily and I
remember when I was in Sicily and I walked into a sandwich store and asked
walked into a sandwich store and asked
walked into a sandwich store and asked the man are could you please make me a
the man are could you please make me a
the man are could you please make me a vegetarian sandwich
vegetarian sandwich
vegetarian sandwich any points at the tuna and he’s like ah
any points at the tuna and he’s like ah
any points at the tuna and he’s like ah yes this one no it’s gonna be difficult
yes this one no it’s gonna be difficult
yes this one no it’s gonna be difficult but it’s not because we don’t recognize
but it’s not because we don’t recognize
but it’s not because we don’t recognize the truth behind the arguments that I am
the truth behind the arguments that I am
the truth behind the arguments that I am giving you today it’s because we lack
giving you today it’s because we lack
giving you today it’s because we lack the emotional connection to the cause as
the emotional connection to the cause as
the emotional connection to the cause as I was preparing for this talk many of my
I was preparing for this talk many of my
I was preparing for this talk many of my friends were very quick to suggest Oh
friends were very quick to suggest Oh
friends were very quick to suggest Oh Sara did you know this or how about this
Sara did you know this or how about this
Sara did you know this or how about this or how about you put in that fact and I
or how about you put in that fact and I
or how about you put in that fact and I couldn’t stop to think and I was like so
couldn’t stop to think and I was like so
couldn’t stop to think and I was like so many of you seem to know the facts but
many of you seem to know the facts but
many of you seem to know the facts but so few of you are vegetarian or vegan so
so few of you are vegetarian or vegan so
so few of you are vegetarian or vegan so what is the point of me standing here
what is the point of me standing here
what is the point of me standing here today and reiterating these facts to you
today and reiterating these facts to you
today and reiterating these facts to you I don’t want to tell you but most of us
I don’t want to tell you but most of us
I don’t want to tell you but most of us in this room already know I want to make
in this room already know I want to make
in this room already know I want to make a connection between that and our future
a connection between that and our future
a connection between that and our future because I feel that if we all start
because I feel that if we all start
because I feel that if we all start employing a more empathetic and
employing a more empathetic and
employing a more empathetic and compassionate way of seeing the world we
compassionate way of seeing the world we
compassionate way of seeing the world we will all be working in to more
will all be working in to more
will all be working in to more forward-thinking society empathetic
forward-thinking society empathetic
forward-thinking society empathetic being the key word in that sentence what
being the key word in that sentence what
being the key word in that sentence what is empathy empathy is not sympathy it’s
is empathy empathy is not sympathy it’s
is empathy empathy is not sympathy it’s not saying oh well at least that Hannah
not saying oh well at least that Hannah
not saying oh well at least that Hannah Moe had a good life it’s putting
Moe had a good life it’s putting
Moe had a good life it’s putting yourself in a vulnerable position that
yourself in a vulnerable position that
yourself in a vulnerable position that knows that feeling it’s putting yourself
knows that feeling it’s putting yourself
knows that feeling it’s putting yourself in the position of these animals or of
in the position of these animals or of
in the position of these animals or of the oppressed I think if we all did that
the oppressed I think if we all did that
the oppressed I think if we all did that we would start to see the harms of our
we would start to see the harms of our
we would start to see the harms of our dietary habit
dietary habit
dietary habit and we could really move forward I would
and we could really move forward I would
and we could really move forward I would like to tell you a quote by Gandhi Lit
like to tell you a quote by Gandhi Lit
like to tell you a quote by Gandhi Lit says the greatness of the nation and its
says the greatness of the nation and its
says the greatness of the nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way
moral progress can be judged by the way
moral progress can be judged by the way it’s animals are treated how would our
it’s animals are treated how would our
it’s animals are treated how would our big nation be judged
big nation be judged
big nation be judged well better still how would you your
well better still how would you your
well better still how would you your household be judged I want to encourage
household be judged I want to encourage
household be judged I want to encourage us encourage us all to start training
us encourage us all to start training
us encourage us all to start training this muscle of empathy and to start our
this muscle of empathy and to start our
this muscle of empathy and to start our own journeys be it a vegan or non-vegan
own journeys be it a vegan or non-vegan
own journeys be it a vegan or non-vegan but to start our personal journeys
but to start our personal journeys
but to start our personal journeys because the future is not a place that
because the future is not a place that
because the future is not a place that you or I are going to it is a place that
you or I are going to it is a place that
you or I are going to it is a place that we are going to create together thank
we are going to create together thank
we are going to create together thank you very much
you very much
you very much [Applause]
”
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