Posted by Lucy on November 09, 2001 at 14:44:26:
In Reply to: Your Reasons For Vegetarianism? posted by Sharmaine on October 26, 2001 at 15:27:47:
Hi Sharmaine!
I've been a vegetarian for some 15 years, now. I became vegetarian as a result of EarthDay 1985. I was in college and would probably be characterized as a hippie chick. My sensitivity and compassion had been growing over the years and I was primed for the PETA booth. I had already begun caring about the environment and I was slowly getting rid of my taste for all things dead.
I went to an Earth Day celebration in Denton (UNT)and went straight to the PETA booth. The information was overwhelming!! I couldn't believe the words I was reading and the images I was seeing. Then, I learned some of the ecological reasons for becoming a vegetarian. The fact that 100 people could be fed with the same plot of land that one cow required bowled me over. That was it! How could I not become a vegetarian? It was a matter of integrity for me.
At the time, I knew little of the ins and outs of being a vegetarian. I didn't know about rennet or gelatin. I didn't know about the cosmetics industry. I slowly learned more and more about it. As I've journeyed down this road, I've discovered that integrity is a process. I've progressed to being, what I call, a "semi-vegan". I'm certain there are still many animal-derived ingredients out there that I haven't identified, so I'm reluctant to call myself "vegan".
It's funny when I look back. Now, I'm a mother of 2 semi-vegan girls and I've been involved with vegetarian magazines for 2 years. I can't imagine ever going back to my old ways.
Lucy