01/01/2021
The Guardian newspaper says that, as people assess the damage caused by the Covid19 virus globally, to life and livelihood, so the annual January “go Vegan” campaign called Veganuary, is receiving an unprecedented boost in support. This is because many people believe that the way in which humans treat other animals has led to the calamity. The Veganuary campaign, which encourages people to try a plant based diet for the New Year, was launched in 2014, and is backed by many individuals and charities including the gay human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell and activist groups like Animal Allies, The Humane League UK, Veg Fund and the Vegan Society. Some more radical vegetarian and vegan groups have criticized the campaign, saying it does not demand a whole lifestyle change, but the groups behind Veganuary believe that even cutting out meat for short periods and reducing our carbon footprint is a step towards a healthier and more just world. Veganuary will be of interest to those LGBTQ people who make connections between environmentalism, animal rights and minority rights. It is believed that members of our community are more likely to be vegetarian or vegan, or to take an interest in initiatives towards environmental justice than a control sample. Veganuary was celebrated in 192 countries globally last year.
