In case you missed it, I wrote about my 1st Veganuary in here. After watching Earthlings on YouTube the wonderful algorithm starting introducing me to some amazing YouTube channels and I dove head into learning from the likes of Earthling Ed‘s channel along with his 30 Vegan Excuses Playlist (highly recommend everyone watch or at least watch the topics you are interested in, they are short and sweet), Joey Carbstrong, David Ramms and The Cranky Vegan among others.

Plant Based News also entered my feed and my husband and I watched every single year end video they produced from starting from 2015 with the last one produced in 2022 which is unfortunate as I found these year end films super helpful.

In the 2016 Plant Based News year end video, there was a clip of Earthling Ed at a protest. I’m in tears having re-watched it, what he says is incredibly powerful and I urge you to watch from the 24:00 to 26:50 min mark to hear what he has to say. Earthling Ed spoke into a megaphone and I felt like he spoke directly to my soul, to the old me who carelessly consumed animals and didn’t give them a second thought, to the new activist arising in me, wanting to do something about this injustice against the animals. It was the most intense I’ve seen Earthling Ed as he’s known for his endless patience and compassion, but this was a message I needed to hear and if you have 2 minutes to spare, I recommend watching this clip so you can hear the intensity in his voice. If you’re curious, please watch any of the Plant Based News Year end videos or content from any of these amazing vegan creators to learn more.

In case you don’t want to watch the clip, I’ve transcribed Ed’s message:

“And at times it can seem so helpless for us.  I know we go about our daily lives and it seems that we are alone, and that society doesn’t care about the plight of animals, the plight of the environment and it could be incredibly overwhelming for all of us, but this is a reminder for everyone here today that you will never ever be alone.  This is a fraction of the vegans in our country.

We have to stand strong for the animals, for the 3,000 animals that are mercilessly slaughtered every second in the name of food, in the name of clothing, in the name of medicine, cosmetics. What a disgrace.  What a disgrace!  I cannot believe that we are here fighting for this.  I cannot believe these animals are not being given basic fundamental rights that we have to put these marches on.  That makes me so angry.

I can’t believe in this day and age, we still have to fight suppression.  I can’t believe we have to stand up and make the politicians and the general public listen to our demands.  We are supposed to be a compassionate species.  Do we not hear this every day, that we’re evolved right?  This is what we get told as vegans, we’re evolved, we’re above animals.  If we’re above animals, then why can’t we start to use emotions like empathy?!  That is what is supposed to make us evolved, right?  Our emotional capacity.  So why don’t we use them?!  Why don’t we show empathy and compassion and mercy to these innocent beings that have never done anything wrong to us?

How could we possibly allow ourselves to fit into a society that thinks compassion is extreme.  What a ludicrous world we are living in.  We have to take a step back and we have to do what’s right for everyone.  We have to do what’s right for the planet because if we carry on the way we’re going, as you all know, we will have no planet to live on.  We’re here today fighting for the rights of the animals, fighting for the rights of the environment, and fighting for the rights of humans that are also oppressed in the animal agriculture industries.”

– Earthling Ed (Ed Winters), 2016 Animal March in London, England.

Earthling Ed (Ed Winters) released his first book titled, This is Vegan Propaganda in January of 2022. I purchased the audible book and listened every chance I got. Listening when you’re in the car is a great way to fit it into your life. Ed narrates his book and he is well articulated, well researched and this is a book for everyone – vegans and non vegans alike. It’s not a book to shame, but to educate and help everyone understand a different perspective from the ‘militant vegan’ perspective you so often hear in the media. If you are confused about veganism and what it’s all about, this book is for you.

Peace, love & plants,

Michelle 🙂

p.s. It’s never good to make assumptions about what veganism is, learn about what the other side has been loudly and clearly saying for decades. I’ve been on both sides, I know in my heart what is the right side of history and you might too if you can overcome the carnist conditioning that we have all been exposed to. If you’re in Canada, sign up for the Animal Justice Newsletter to get real time updates on issues and what you can with a few clicks from your computer to help.

If you’re vegan, be active. We the Free is a global organization that is often touted as a great entry level place to get started in activism and your local group would be so happy to welcome you.