PETA Global 2017 Issue 1

M ore people are going vegan every day, thanks to PETA’s information and encouragement from PETA’s seasoned vegan connoisseurs, shoppers, and advice-givers, who are eager to help aspiring vegans make the transition to a healthy, animal-friendly way of life. What Questions Do YOU Have? PETA’s vegan mentors field common questions such as “Where can I get vegan cheese pizza?” and “What the heck is tempeh?” They also provide guidance on shopping for and cooking vegan food, finding vegan restaurants, and answering questions from puzzled relatives and friends. Here’s a real-world sample of the kinds of questions PETA’s mentors receive, starting with a tricky query about maintaining relationships with family members: • “How can I tell my grandmother that I’ll no longer eat the cookies that she usually makes for me?” • “Why should I care about lobsters?” • “Can I still make French toast and go to Starbucks for lattes?” • “Why do some so-called ‘nondairy creamers’ contain dairy ingredients?” • “How will I get vitamin B 12 ?” • “Is it OK if I buy items that were manufactured on the same equipment as nonvegan items?” PETA’s mentors are always available to address questions or concerns and guide mentees with helpful tips to make vegan living as easy as chocolate tofu pie. As Keith Burgeson, the program’s coordinator, says, “Going vegan is simpler than ever, and our goal is to make the transition even easier.” The program, which has been featured on The Daily Meal and other popular sites, has a one-on-one format, so correspondence is tailored specifically to each mentee’s needs. Mentors serve as personal coaches for a vegan lifestyle. Why Vegan? Just by eating tasty vegan foods rather than meat, eggs, and dairy products, each vegan spares more than 100 animals every year. And a plant-based lifestyle also helps conserve resources and combat climate change and other environmental problems. Vegan Mentor Program. Since it began in 2016, thousands of people have signed up to receive

"It’s great having someone there to help me either through Skype, text, e-mail, etc."

“If we eat meat, eggs, and dairy products, we’re directly supporting some of the most egregious cruelty in the world,” Burgeson says. “These foods are responsible for immense environmental harm, the abuse and suffering of billions of animals, and the perpetuation of global hunger. Abstaining from these harmful products is a powerful statement in support of compassion, empathy, and justice for all living beings.” And that’s not all: Vegans are also less likely to suffer from heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and other life threatening illnesses. So going vegan is vital if you care about animals, the environment, and your health. PETA can help you make the switch to a kinder, greener, healthier lifestyle by providing individual advice and vegan friendly resources. Get a Personal Vegan Mentor If you’re a new or aspiring vegan – or if you just want someone to help you stay on track – and you’re interested in having your own personal vegan mentor (for free!), sign up at PETA.org/VeganMentor.

Take It From the Mentees “I joined the PETA mentor program because I was super-new to the idea of going vegan after watching the informative (and life-changing) documentary Earthlings! I don’t have a lot of people around me that can offer much info (although I’m now the one spreading the word out to others after I learn new things from either [my vegan mentor], the PETA website, or other resources), so it’s great having someone there to help me either through Skype, text, e-mail, etc.” – Vanessa “The program helped me transition from a non-vegan life to a vegan life nearly seamlessly. Many of the issues that were scaring me away were easily fixable, and I only learned that through my great mentor.” – Autumn

“My mentor has always been a text, e-mail or call away. He sent me a starter kit in the mail and suggested BE THE CHANGE!

several books and videos to aid in my understanding. I have personally grown as an individual and family unit from this valuable connection with PETA and my [vegan mentor].” – Rachele

F I N D O U T W H A Y B A C K P G E • B E T H E C H A N G E ! • C N D O - T U R

T H E F U R O A N I M L S D E P     O N W H A T E D • B E T H E C H A N G E ! •

T H E F U R O A N I M L S D E P     O N W H A T E D • B E T H E C H A N G E ! •

T H E F U R O A N I M L S D E P     O N W H A T E D • B E T H E C H A N G E ! •

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