Program Name – MBA B

Roll No – 17030120067

Subject – Business Perspective in Global Context

Topic – Veganism: The Phenomena That Is Taking Over the World

By – Aryan Raj
Content

1. What is Veganism
2. Why Does Veganism Interest Me?

3. Moral Arguments for Veganism.

-Biggest Moral Emergency
-Morally Relevant Traits
-Not Suggesting that Humans and Animals are equal
-We want to eliminate unnecessary cruelty
-Animal Experimentation
-What’s wrong with DAIRY INDUSTRY?
4. Environmental Arguments for Veganism. (Fact Based

5. Veganism: The Future of Food Business

6. SWOT Analysis: Vegan Brands
7. Popular Personalities on Ethical Treatment of Animals

Mahatma Gandhi & Rabindranath Tagore.

8. My Recommendations: To People and Vegan Brands

9. References
10.
Veganism: The Phenomena That Is Taking Over The World

What is Veganism?
"Veganism is a philosophy and 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; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free
alternatives for the benefit of animals, humans and the environment. In dietary terms it
denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals."
Most people get confused and believe that Veganism is Synonymous to Vegetarianism. But
that is not true. A Vegetarian seeks to avoid consumption of Animal Meat and quite often
also of eggs. While Vegans, tries their level best to not consume any animal product. Meat,
dairy, poultry, honey and fish. Not just that, a Vegan also tries to avoid any cosmetics,
clothing material or any item that has either been produced using any animal’s body parts,
for example Leather Items or if it has been tested been on animals. A Vegan chooses to not
support Animal Suffering in any form. So, they also avoid visiting Zoos, Sea World or
Circuses that deploy animals for entertainment.

Why does Veganism interest me?

I was born and brought up in a family where everyone used to eat meat at-least twice a
week. Making fun of Vegetarians and eating meat, I used to enjoy both. But the seed tof
veganism got planted inside me, when I came across a video - showing the extreme
cruelties inflicted upon these animals in factory farms. That video, pushed me towards doing
more research about the meat industry. After doing extensive research, becoming Vegan
seemed to be the only logical choice.
So, in this essay I will put the case forward for Veganism With respect to Morals/Ethics and
Environmental aspects in a very detailed manner.
Then I will talk about Vegan Food Industry, do its SWOT analysis.
I will also talk about Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore’s views on ethical treatment
of animals.

Moral Arguments for Veganism

# Why is Veganism the Biggest Moral Emergency?
I will start off itself by making a very controversial statement. According to me, “Veganism is
the greatest moral emergency that we are currently facing. One might wonder how dare I
make that claim, when there are so many things related to human rights exploitation going
on in the world right now, and I am positioning exploitation of non-human animals over any
of these issues. Human trafficking, racism, women safety and gender discrimination, et
cetera. And I can totally understand where you are coming from. But there are primarily two
reasons as to why I am calling exploitation of non-human animals, as the biggest moral
emergency of our times:

A. The Sheer Scale – As per estimates done by Population Reference Bureau, since the
inception of human species, approximately 107 billion humans have ever lived on our
planet. While we kill 70 Billion land animals and more than 1 Trillion Marine animals
every year. The sheer scale! We kill 10 times more animals every year then the number
humans ever born on this planet. And sometimes it gets difficult for people to get their head
around these numbers involving Billions and Trillions.
So, just for reference:
1 Billion Seconds = 31.69 Years.
1 Trillion Seconds = 31,709 Years.

B. A Practical Experiment – So let’s take for e.g. Human Trafficking. In this experiment all
one has to do, is go on the street and ask around hundred random people about their
thoughts on Human Trafficking. There are very high chances that all hundreds of them
would say that human trafficking is a moral abomination and government should take strict
actions people who indulge in it. No one would justify it by saying, “Oh! But there is a huge
economy for it and people’s livelihood depends on it.” Point being that at large, there is
consensus amongst majority of people that huma trafficking is wrong.
But now if you ask the same people about exploitation of nonhuman animals, and whether
its Moral or Immoral, you are not going to get the same kind of consensus.

. I don’t intend here to give a base moral principle or an ethical foundation and tell you to
build upon it as to why you should care about animals. Instead I make an argument from
consistency. I take things that I think a rational human would already believe in, just see the
logic that you use to justify those beliefs also that you apply to non-human animals.
Moreover, majority of the people are already animal lovers and care about animals. Most of
us get enraged when we see people abusing stray dogs. We already have that innate
compassion in us for animals. But as soon as a species change from dogs to chickens or
goats, we not only do not intervene or ignore, in fact funnel into the industries that are
causing this to happen. This is a uniquely economical moral emergency.
Racism for example doesn’t go away when we stop paying for it but exploitation of animal
name of food, clothing, and entertainment would vanish the moment we stop funding it.

# Morally Relevant Traits are Mutual

Peter Singer in his books beautifully put forward the moral argument against exploitation of
animals for any benefits we derive from them. He asks, what is the moral principle
underlying our approach to believing equality between human beings. We talk about equal
rights and human rights and that these should be applied consistently to all human beings.
The reason we have a conception of human rights is because we recognise that somebody
is moral value should not be dependent on morally irrelevant concepts like race, gender,
religion, culture, eye shape. As in to be anti-racist you don’t have to deny these differences,
but it is to say that yes, we do recognise these differences, but we also recognise that they
are not morally irrelevant differences. Most people who desist veganism argue that animals
do not have the same level of self-awareness as humans. Well if that’s the reason then let’s
apply that consistently, take a human being and take their self-awareness away, but they
would still be capable of feeling pain, for example severely disabled child. Will it be okay to
torture them? If your answer is no, then you’re left with the inconvenience conclusion that
animal exploitation has to end now as a matter of principle

# Not Suggesting that Humans and Animals are same

Someone might be getting an impression that I am somehow trying to say that the value of
human life and that of a Non-human life is the same. It would be a pretty bold claim if I make
that. But fortunately, it’s not what we have to make. Instead we Believe that these animals
and their sufferings is not worth what it is that we are exploiting them for. Instead, the actual
choice that we have to make is Between saving these animals from the worst form of
suffering and Our taste buds. That’s the distinction we have to make. Because let’s be
honest, most of us eat meat primarily to satisfy our sensory pleasures.
Similarly, we don’t have to deny that a chicken or a goat is totally different from human
beings in many important ways. BUT in every way that these animals do resemble us; in
their ability to feel pain and suffer, experience loneliness and fear, to express contentment,
to have children & build family structures and their sociability. THESE are the MORALLY
RELEVANT characteristics which we use to ascribe moral values to human beings. For
many of us though, that’s as far as we allow our imagination to explore, before the truth
inconveniences our habits

# We Want to Eliminate Unnecessary Cruelty

And it’s not that we as Vegan can totally free ourselves from being responsible for deaths of
animals or we don’t cause them any sort harm. Vegans also contribute in destruction of
Wildlife and habitats in order to grow crops as part of farming. But essentially what we are
trying to eliminate is unnecessary suffering and cruelty that farm animals have to go through
right from the moment they are born in Factory Farms. As far as factory farming is
concerned it may as well be the definition of CRUELTY, if you need to explain what it meant
to somebody who had no conception of the concept

.# Peter Singer – Speciesism

Peter Singer who also introduced a term called Species-ism. Species-ism is just like racism
or sexism. It allocates different set of values, special rights and considerations to different
individuals simply on basis of exterior appearance. Which are morally irrelevant. He says,
“Although there maybe differences between animals and humans, they each share the ability
to suffer, and we must give equal consideration to that suffering.”

# Animal Experimentation
Experimentation on animals – If animals are so like us that we can substitute using them
instead of humans, then surely, they have the very same attributes and that means they also
deserve to be protected from harm.

We are a family. Together on one planet. And of the 5 million species on that planet, only
one has the power to determine what level of suffering is acceptable for all other sentient
beings to endure, whether its eating less meat, raising voices for welfare of selective species
(dogs, cats) or speaking up for every voiceless being. It’s the choice that every human being
has to make.

# What’s wrong with the Dairy Industry?

People often are convinced that killing animals for meat is cruel as the animal loses its life.
But they are often absolutely unaware about the dairy industry and its cruelties. So, I will try
to explain how the current dairy practice in India, which is practiced by traditional farmers, is
unethical on so many levels.
1. Cow can only produce milk either when she is pregnant or when she is in the immediate
post pregnancy phase, just like human beings. They also produce milk only for their infant
children. Therefore, a farmer always has to keep his cows pregnant, to get milk out of them.
For this, method of 'Artificial Insemination' is practiced. Let me explain Artificial Insemination.
1st - genetically superior bulls are made to ejaculate forcibly, using an ejaculator. This is why
you will find readily available semen’s with the vets.

2. The semen is collected and artificially inserted in the vagina of the cow. Hands and sticks
are inserted inside cows’ private parts to semen of the bull inside.
I am not exaggerating. This is how cows are always kept pregnant. After-all Milk has to be
obtained from the cows every day. NOW, injecting hands or anything in private parts of any
animal, for me this is bestiality and Animal cruelty. People use euphemism like Artificial
Insemination to make it sound better. I don’t buy it.

Now when the calf is born, the lifespan depends on the gender of that calf. A male won't give
milk.

3. So he would be sold off after few weeks of his birth for veal. In India, farmers also practice
'Khalbacha' (I have explained it in the last point).
And If the calf born is a female, she would subsequently enter the same cycle as her mother.
That is constantly being impregnated and used for milk.

4. Due to this constant cycle of Impregnation, a cow/buffalo whose lifespan is around 20 yrs.
cannot live beyond 8-10 yrs. Let me explain this in detail in the next point. And
simultaneously I will also address another important question.

5. The million Dollar question, which everyone asks but no one has answer to:
"Despite cows being revered and worshipped here in India, why is India still one of
world's top producers of beef?"
The answer is - Because 80% of dairy cattle in India, when their milk production efficiency
decreases, and they aren't any more profitable, they are sold off to slaughter houses.
If you actually think over it, Beef (and Leather) are nothing but a by-product of the Dairy
Industry.

6. So a cow's milk production efficiency inevitably goes down after 4-5 cycles of pregnancy.
Which is by the age of 8-10 yrs. Then the cow isn't profitable anymore. Her maintenance
costs subsequently exceed the profits one is making from selling her milk.
7. If you were to ask me life dairy cattle is more horrible than those animals who are raised
solely for meat (broiler chickens for example). When an animal is raised for meat, they are
kept in a shelter and killed when they attain a certain age.
But here in dairy industry, you are emotionally and physically exploited to the fullest extent,
then sent to slaughter house. Sounds more horrible to me.

8. Now i Will explain KHALBACCHA- So In order to continue the milking process & keep
mother lactating, a KHALBACCHA-a makeshift calf-is placed next to her. The tail & the head
of the young calf is dismantled from the carcass and is placed at the ends of the stick, while
the remains of calf are sold in market as veal. Now you might say these don't happen often.
But that's true. These do often. I have visited various villages, where I saw many dairy
farmers indulging in KHALBACCHA.

9. In almost every case Cows are kept tied, their calves are kept tied away from them. Many
times, cows’ mouth is blocked with a bottle or mug or small bucket so that they drink their
mother’s milk.

So, that was some information on Dairy Industry. But as I said, towards the end I will iterate
the choices that we have the dominant species of this planet. Our Tastebuds v/s subjugation
of Non-human animal’s life to eternal suffering.

Environmental Argument for Veganism

In this part I am going to talk in detail about how ‘Animal Agriculture is the single biggest
factor responsible for all the environmental ills.’ I will be presenting a lot of facts and
statistics (with reference) which would speak for themselves.
I am very much sure that most of the people won’t be aware of the terrible impact animal
agriculture has on our planet.

1. - GREENHOUSE GASES -

 Animal agriculture is responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse gas

emissions, more than the combined exhaust from all transportation.
 Transportation exhaust is responsible for 13% of all greenhouse gas
emissions.
 Methane is 25-100 times more destructive than CO2 on a 20-year time
frame
 Cows produce 150 billion gallons of methane per day
 Livestock is responsible for 65% of all human-related emissions of
nitrous oxide – a greenhouse gas with 296 times the global warming
potential of carbon dioxide, and which stays in the atmosphere for 150
years.
 Emissions for agriculture projected to increase 80% by 2050.
 Energy related emissions expected to increase 20% by 2040.
 Even without fossil fuels, we will exceed our 565 gigatons CO2e limit by
2030, all from raising animals.

2. -WATER-

 Fracking (hydraulic fracturing) water use ranges from 70-140 billion

gallons annually.
 Animal agriculture water consumption ranges from 34-76 trillion gallons
annually
 Agriculture is responsible for 80-90% of US water consumption
 Growing feed crops for livestock consumes 56% of water in the US.
Household chores contributes for a mere 5% water of total water
consumption.
 Californians use 1500 gallons of water per person per day. Close to Half
is associated with meat and dairy products.
 2,500 gallons of water are needed to produce 1 pound of beef
 477 gallons of water are required to produce 1lb. of eggs; almost 900
gallons of water are needed for 1lb. of cheese.
 1,000 gallons of water are required to produce 1 gallon of milk

3. -LAND-

 Livestock or livestock feed occupies 1/3 of the earth’s ice-free land.

 Livestock covers 45% of the earth’s total land
 Animal agriculture is the leading cause of species extinction, ocean
dead zones, water pollution, and habitat destruction.  
 Livestock operations on land have created more than 500 nitrogen
flooded dead zones around the world in our oceans
 We are largest mass extinction in 65 million years
 1/3 of the planet is decertified, with livestock as the leading driver

4. -WASTE GENERATION-

 Every minute, 7 million pounds of excrement are produced by animals

raised for food in the US.
 A farm with 2,500 dairy cows produces the same amount of waste as a
city of 411,000 people
 130 times more animal waste than human waste is produced in the US –
1.4 billion tons from the meat industry annually. 5 tons of animal waste
is produced per person in the US.  

 In the U.S. livestock produce 116,000 lbs of waste per second: 
 
-Dairy Cows, 120 lbs. of waste per day x 9.32 million dairy cows
-Cows,  63 lbs. of waste per day x 83.68 million cows
-Calves, 30 lbs. of waste per day x 34.3 million calves
-Pigs, 14 lbs. of waste per day x 74 million pigs
-Sheep and Goats, 5 lbs. of waste per day x 7.84 million sheep and goats
-Turkeys, .87 lbs. of waste per day x 77 million turkeys
-Broiler Chickens, .50 lbs. of waste per day x 1.74 billion broiler chickens 
-Laying Hens, .25 lbs. of waste per day x 350.7 million laying hens
*pigs are raised twice per year, (a total of 148.3 million per year) so on
any given day in the United States there are about 74 million pigs.
*turkeys are raised three times per year (a total of 233 million per year)
so on any given day in the United States there are 77 million turkeys.
*broiler chickens are raised 5 times per year, (a total of 8.69 billion per
year) so any given day there are1.74 billion broiler chickens.
Dairy Cows produce (120 lbs. x 9.32 m.) = 1.1184 billion lbs.
Cows produce (63 lbs. x 83.68 m.) = 5.27184 billion lbs.
Calves produce (30 lbs. x 34.3 m.) = 1.029 billion lbs.
Pigs produce (14 lbs. x 74.0 m.) = 1.036 billion lbs.
Sheep and Goats produce (5 lbs. x 7.84 m.) = 39.2 million lbs.
Turkeys produce (.87 lbs. x 77.0 m.) = 66.99 million lbs.
Broiler Chickens produce (.5 x 1.74 b.) = 870 million lbs.
Laying Hens produce (.25 x 350.7 m.) = 87.675 million lbs. 

*Total manure produced in one day is 9.519105 billion lbs. 

*Total manure produced in one year is 3.475 trillion lbs.

*This is the equivalent of over 6.611 million lbs. per minute. (This does
not include any animal raised outside of USDA Jurisdiction, backyards or
fish raised for aquaculture)

5. -OCEAN-

 3/4 of the world’s fisheries are exploited or depleted

 We could see fishless oceans by 2048
 90-100 million tons of fish are pulled from our oceans each year.  
 As many as 2.7 trillion animals are pulled from the ocean each
year.
 For every 1 pound of fish caught, up to 5 pounds of unintended
marine species are caught and discarded as by-kill
  As many as 40% (63 billion pounds) of fish caught globally every
year are discarded.
 Scientists estimate as many as 650,000 whales, dolphins and
seals are killed every year by fishing vessels
 40-50 million sharks killed in fishing lines and nets

6. -FORESTS-

 Animal agriculture is responsible for up to 91% of Amazon destruction

 1-2 acres of rainforest are cleared every second.
 Up to 137 plant, animal and insect species are lost every day due to rainforest
destruction.
 26 million rainforest acres (10.8m hectares) have been cleared for palm oil
production.
 While, 136 million rainforest acres cleared for animal agriculture.

7. -HUMANITY-
Animal Agriculture also has negative impact on Humans.

 80% of antibiotic sold in the US are for livestock.

 70 billion farmed animals are reared annually worldwide. More than 6 million
animals are killed for food every hour
 Throughout the world, humans drink 5.2 billion gallons of water and eat 21
billion pounds of food each day.
 Worldwide, cows drink 45 billion gallons of water and eat 135 billion pounds of
food each day
 We are currently growing enough food to feed 10 billion people.
 Worldwide, at least 50% of grain is fed to livestock. 
 82% of starving children live in countries where food is fed to animals, and the
animals are eaten by western countries.
 15x more protein on any given area of land with plants, rather than cows.
 Soybeans can be produced at 52. 5 bushels per acre x 60 lbs. per bushel = 3,150
dry soybeans per acre
 Soybeans protein content (dry) is 163.44 grams per pound
 The protein content per acre of soybeans is 163.44 g x 3,150 lb. = 514,836 g per
acre
  
 Beef can be produced at 205 pounds per acre
 Beef protein content (raw) is 95.34 grams per pound
 The protein content per acre of beef is 95.34 g x 205 lb. = 19,544.7 g per acre

 Land required to feed 1 person for 1 year:

 Vegan: 1/6th acre
 Vegetarian: 3x as much as a vegan
 Meat Eater: 18x as much as a vegan  
  Acres can produce 37,000 pounds of plant-based food. While, 1.5 acres can
produce 375 pounds of beef.
 A person who follows a vegan diet produces the equivalent of 50% less carbon
dioxide, uses 1/11th oil, 1/13th water, and 1/18th land compared to a meat-lover
for their food

So, let’s say, that if the arguments surrounding ‘ethical treatment of animals’ doesn’t
convince you. The environmental argument against Animal agriculture should force
any rational human being to contemplate over their food choices and consider
veganism, as it has the anthropological angle to it as well. Can we keep exploiting
our planet like this?
The choice that one here has to make is between – Taste buds/sensory pleasures
v/s Sustainability of our planet and our species.

Veganism: The future of food business

According to me, Vegan food can be broadly classified in two types:
1. Foods that are inherently – These foods would include the various staple food or the food
we cook at home. Lentils, Vegetables, Fruits etc. Dishes like Veg Patty Burger, Rajma
Chawal, Chole Bhature, Pav Bhaaji, Chaat, etc also fall under this category.

2. Processed Vegan Food – This category would include all those foods that are being sold
as alternative to Non-Vegan Foods. For e.g., Entire plant-based Milk range which are an
alternative to Cow’s milk, the various mock meats whose taste and texture resemble the
original meat but are made from plant-based sources.

In this essay, I am solely going to discuss and do analysis about the future of those Vegan
Food, which come under the category of “Processed Vegan Food”

In the year 2018, the global vegan food market size was valued at $12.69 Billion and is
expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.6% from 2019 to 2025. One the reasons for the rise in
popularity of vegan alternatives to its meat and dairy counterparts can be attributed to
health benefits that former brings in. North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific, have
witnessed a tremendous surge in percentage of vegan population.
Growing awareness about animal health and animal cruelty in the food industry has
brought in a conscious shift in many people and has been encouraging them to switch to
plant-based food products. Between, 2012 to 2017, the demand for meat-free food grew
by 987%.

Over the past few years, one in three American consumers has either stopped or
reduced meat consumption. Many European countries, USA and Australia have seen a
constant increase in demand for Vegan food over the years.
Rising awareness about various health benefits offered by plant-based food products
has increased the consumer base of this industry. Plant-based products help maintain
blood pressure levels and lower the risk of heart disease, stroke, prostate cancer,
colorectal cancer, cholesterol, and premature death.
Dairy alternatives gained immense popularity in 2018. Since around 65% of the world
population is lactose intolerant and it has been a key factor in increasing the demand for
natives. Hence availability of dairy-based cheese, yoghurt, ice cream and other snacks has
attracted many non-vegetarians and why didn’t the consumer base for this.  Plant-based
cheese accounted for the largest share in the dairy alternatives and the fact that The cases
of lactose intolerance is constantly rising, the demand for these dairy alternatives are only
expected to rise.

Offline segment which includes convenience stores, speciality stores, hypermarkets and
supermarkets what is the largest distribution channel and it is projected that  they will
continue to maintain their dominance. Moreover, the number of supermarkets and
hypermarkets have only been growing I will continue to grow, and will continue to have an
overall positive effect on the product sales.
That said the online channel is also expected to penetrate the market with rising usage of
internet and smartphone devices. Currently 48% of US consumers buy some or the other
groceries through online platforms and this number will only go up in the future. So in the
future both online platforms and off-line platforms we’ll see a rise in demand for plant-based
products and will propel the segment growth

SWOT Analysis of Vegan Food Industry

A. Strengths

1. Sufficient Nutrition without GMO Food-

We can clearly see that mock meats provided by the brand ‘Beyond Meat’ has more
or less similar nutritional content as its meat counterparts.
Protein Fat Fibre
Beef 25.9 17.6 0.0
Beyond Meat 23.6 8.2 1.8
Beef
Chicken 32.1 3.6 0.0
Beyond Meat 23.6 3.5 2.4
Chicken
2. Replication of Meat
These Meat Alternatives replicate their animal-based counterparts from all aspects.
Appearance, taste, structure, flavour and juiciness.

3. Corporate Social Responsibility

The mission of the brand is to provide solutions for constraints on human health,
animal welfare, natural resources and climate change, winning positive Corporate
Social Responsibility.

4. A Convincing Idea
Their products manage to provide its customers a similar experience as that of its
Non-Vegan alternative,
Weakness
1. Health concern –
At the end of the day majority of the products are processed foods. And certainly, there are
negative effects on health associated with processed foods.

2. Limited choices to meet customer’s needs –

They offer very less variety of products. So, they are not able to cover all the demands of the
consumers and potential consumers.

3. Pricing –
We also cannot deny that the pricing of such an on the Vegan products is generally more In
comparison, subsidy being one of the reasons. A dairy farmer would get a lot of subsidy
while farmer growing almonds wouldn’t get any, so it is inevitable that the prices of dairy
products be cheaper compared to other plant-based milk products.
4. Supply chain infrastructure -
The production line and supply chain of the organisations indulging in Vegan food business
is not very robust and a lot of work needs to be done here in order to minimise unnecessary
costs that occur because of not having proper supply chains in place.

Opportunities:

1. Growing vegan trends –

As per article published by Food revolution Organisation, the US witnessed a 600% increase
in population of vegans between 2015 to 2018. And this number is only expected to rise, so
the companies that are providing Vegan foods have a lot of growth opportunity here.
Between 2018 to 2020, the sale of plant-based foods climbed 29% according to article by
good food Institute.

2. Tackling obesity and health risks globally

With obesity and other health issues attracting more attention, people are switching to
healthier diets, showing more preference on organic and plant-based foods.
Growing concerns of environment and animal welfare –
The vegan products not only save animals but also significantly reduce the greenhouse gas
and wishes and the natural resources footprint, as we have discussed previously. So Vegan
burger would consume 99% less water, 93% less than, 90% fewer greenhouse gas
admissions and 46% less energy than A beef burger of the same size.
3. Bans on wildlife trade and consumption due to Covid –
Countries like China and Vietnam officially banned trading or eating wild animals since
COVID-19 pandemic. Fear of disease in animals more and more people are considering
vegan diet.

Threats:

1. Stereotypes against vegan life –

Stereotypes like, only meat makes people stronger or meat is synonymous for masculinity,
etc are still popular in many areas across the world.

2. Competitive alternative with market –

As we discussed how subsidies help dairy and meat industry to keep a check on their
products price, from a customer perspective, they might not feel like paying that extra money
just for the fact that the product is ethically sourced and cost environment in less damage
because at the end of the day people are money conscious and it gets difficult to you
generate customer loyalty.

3. Economic crisis by COVID-19 –

Many details and restaurants have been forced to shut down during lock down. The
unemployment rates have gone up, which has affected the purchasing power of people,
which is Directly hurting consumption of Vegan products.

Opinions of Popular Personalities on Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Discussions and preaching relating to animal ethics, veganism/vegetarianism is not a

contemporary phenomenon in India. Many sects of Sanatan Dharm, Buddhism,
Jainism have been following the practice of ahimsa, ethical treatment of animals and
vegetarianism, since centuries before prominent religions like Islam or Christianity
even came into existence.

The Hindu Scriptures and epics, for example the Bhagavad-Gita, Ramayana and
Mahabharat advocate for an ethical treatment of animals at several instances and
how it helps in accumulation of good karma. While vegetarianism and ethical
treatment of animals are the core principles of Jainism and Buddhism. Even as we
come forward great philosophers like Sri Adi Shankaracharya who travelled
extensively across Bharat spreading the message of Advaita Vedanta also spread
the message of vegetarianism to everyone he met. So basically, the idea of
vegetarian has always been a part of India.
But we will look at opinions off two of the tallest personalities of the contemporary
India who undeniably have had paralleled influence on India. The leaders are
Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore.
Mahatma Gandhi -
Is Mahatma Gandhi, a man of action, who won the world wise message of India that
is nonviolence, send it within his body and spirit. He believed in being the change
you wish to see in the world one such Benevolent A change was his who to never
consume meat, milk or milk products.
Gandhis were Vaishnavite and hence followed vegetarianism. But MK Gandhi in his
childhood days came under influence of a notorious friend and started consuming
meat in order to get strong, but he soon gave up on that as his conscious didn’t allow
him to continue eating meat.
Gandhi followed vegetarianism even when he was in England even though he faced
lot of inconveniences, people now, well-wishers reason with him to eat meat but
None could shake his pill  of not consuming meat.

 You can’t read various books on definition of vegetarianism, and all the writers that
he read about had exactly arrived at the country that bans primacy over lower
animals doesn’t mean that farmers should pray upon later and that the higher should
the lower and that there should be a mutual aid between the two as between man
and man.

One of the definitions that he read vegetarianism suggested abstention wrong all
animal products, discovering eggs and women alike. Also keep across some
literature from Calcutta, describing the torches with cows and buffaloes are
subjected by them was. And this had a go find effect on him. Then at Tolstoy farm in
1912, in a discussion about me with Mr Kallenbach who said to Gandhi “we
constantly talk about harmful effects of milk. Why then do we not give it up? It is
certainly not necessary.” Gandhi warmly welcome recommendation and took a
pledge of giving of dairy products then and there.

Gandhi later authored a book – English as a guide to health, and it eventually

influence life of Many people. It was his home believe that ‘ Man need take it on
beyond mother‘s the milk that he takes as a baby.‘

Once he was under treatment by Dr Jivraj Mehta and Mr Gokhale, and hot pressed
in very hard to consume to which Gandhi replied, ‘I am willing to eat on all points
except the one about which I beg you do not replace me. I will not take milk, milk
products or meat. If not taking these things should mean my death, I feel I’d rather
face it.’ Subsequently he was given a fat less diet which restored his health.

There is another instance when Mahatma Gandhi was at Matheran, under care of Dr
Dalal. The doctor said, ‘I cannot rebuild your body unless you take milk. If in addition
you take iron and organic injections, I would guarantee fully to renovate your
Constitution.’ To which Gandhi replied, ‘you Can you give me injections buttermilk is
a different question, I have a bow against it.’

However, to combat against the Rowlatt act. It was necessary for Gandhi to rebuild
himself and fight at his full capacity. Since Gandhi was only aware of cows and
buffalo’s ill-treatment, after being pressurised by various doctors he decided to take
goat’s milk. After taking this decision, Gandhi said, ‘I was I fully conscious when I
started taking mother Goldsmith, that the spirit of my who was destroyed.
Consequently, one of the greatest experiments in my life came to a stop.’
So even though Gandhi took a step back on his vow, He was fully conscious of this
and in spirit he maintained his purity which is clearly deflected in his symbolism of
nonviolence. And this inspired millions of people around the world at a time of great
violence and still influences many today.

Rabindranath Tagore -
In sad yet gentle tones, Rabindranath Tagore writes about the morality of consuming
animals. In his letter to his niece Indira Devi come on issues us just off the
humanness of his genius. Clearly possessed a very high degree of empathy for the
nonhuman animals. He makes a conscious choice of going vegetarian. He writes in
his own words in his works – glimpses of Bengal
“As I was sitting at the window of the boat, looking out on the river, I saw, all of a
sudden, and old looking bird making its way through the water to the opposite bank,
followed by a great commotion. I found it was a domestic phone which had managed
to escape impending doom in the galley by jumping overboard and I was trying
frantically to sweep the cross. It had almost gained the bank when the clutches of its
relentless pursuit were closed on it, and it was brought back in triumph, Gripped by
the neck. I told the cook I would not have any meat for dinner.
I really must give up animal food. We managed to swallow flesh only because we do
not think of the cruel and sinful thing we do. There are many crimes which are
creation of man himself, the wrongful loss of which is down to their divergence from
habit, custom, tradition. But cruelty is not one of these. It is a fundamental Singh, and
admits of no argument or nice distinctions. If only we do not allow our heart to grow
callous, its protest against 20 is always clearly heard, and yet we go on perpetrating
cruelties easily, Murali, all of us in fact, anyone who does not join in is dubbed a
crank.
How artificial is our apprehension of sin! I feel that highest commandment is that of
sympathy for all sent in beings. Love is the foundation of all religions. The day I read
in one of English papers that £50,000 of animal carcasses had been sent to some
Army station in Africa but the meat being found to have gone bad on arrival, the
consignment was returned and eventually auctioned off a few pounds at Portsmouth.
What is shocking waste of life! What a callousness to its true worth! How many living
creatures are sacrificed only to Grace dishes at a dinner party, a large proportion of
which will leave the table untouched!
So as long as we are unconscious of our cruelty we may not be to blame. But if, our
pity is aroused, we persist in throttling our feelings simply in order to join others in
their praying upon life, we insult all that is good in us. I have decided to try a
vegetarian diet.”

He wrote this on 28th March 1894. The book glimpses of Bengal is a collection of
letters and the above is one of them which hero to his Niece.

So, we explode in detail opinions of two of the most tallest figures of our country over
the topic of medical treatment of animals and by humans should make conscious
efforts of switching to vegetarian/Vegan lifestyle

Recommendation For Future To: People and Vegan Brands

To People-
Animal rights activists have always been raising the issue of unhygienic conditions in which
animals are kept in factory farms or in the live markets. We have always said that these
could very well turn out to be the breeding grounds of various diseases, and it has turned out
to be true. And if we don’t learn from it more such pandemics would hit us in the future. That
being said, considering the current demand of the animal meat, where 70 billion land
animals are killed every year, it is not possible two give all these animals in space to live in.
Other planet just does not have enough land. So,  In order to meet this colossal demand for
meat, setting up factory Farms and cramming animals into them becomes inevitable.
The only way to deal with this is Reducing our demand for meat. And this is my only
suggestion to the human species.

To Vegan Brands-
My suggestion to the Vegan brands would be to keep talking about these uncomfortable
facts with respect to animal treatment in factory farms and slaughterhouses or beat the
negative environmental facts of animal agriculture, in a way that is very impactful.
There are many consumers who just eat the animal products for its taste, so These vegan
brands should aggressively tap these consumers, and spread awareness among them that
an alternative to meet is available which would tease as well exactly like it but is made in a
much more ethical and environment friendly manner. Pitching in front of the big corporate
giants in order for them to invest in Vegan brands as a part of their CSR should be another
strategy that should be worked upon and basically so that we can brands and compete with
others in a free market.

References
For all the stats regarding Environmental Destruction caused by Animal Agriculture -
https://www.cowspiracy.com/facts

Mahatma Gandhi - https://www.veganfirst.com/article/did-mahatma-gandhi-quit-dairy-start-

leading-a-vegan-life

Rabindranath Tagore -
https://thebengalivegan.wordpress.com/2017/10/15/vegetarianrabindranath/

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