Vegan Pledge Program: Interview With Jim on Being a Vegan Pledge

JIm and Shannon (picture by Jim/Shannon)

If you’ve read yesterday’s interview with Shannon, you’re already excited about the potential of the Vegan Pledge program. Today’s interview with Jim will motivate you that much more. If you’d like to read more about the group’s visit to Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary, you can read Shannon’s recap as well as my own.

The Vegan Pledge program is something that Peace Advocacy Network brought to the U.S. from the U.K., and it was with PAN’s help that Open the Cages Alliance did their Vegan Pledge program. PAN is helping groups in Salt Lake City, UT and Bend, OR put on Vegan Pledge programs as well as the two programs already completed in Pennsylvania and the one in Baltimore. So if you are interested but not sure you can get a program going on your own, contact PAN.

The vegan mentor concept doesn’t require a formal program, of course, and there are many people out there who have acted as a vegan mentor for new and transitioning vegans, usually someone they know through personal connections. Friends of Animals runs a less formal variation that they call the Vegan Buddy program in Victoria, Canada, which splits the difference, giving mentors and pledges a framework and resources but not the organized events.

Now for Jim’s take on being a Vegan Pledge:

1. You mentioned that you had been a big meat eater – eating an entire pound of meat at a sitting when you were hungry – before going vegetarian. Tell us about your transition to vegetarian.

Well I’m not sure I can recall actually eating an entire pound of beef in a sitting, but I wouldn’t rule it out. In any case, my transition to a vegetarian lifestyle began when I saw a fridge magnet my wife put up that said something about the inability to be an environmentalist and still eat meat. At first, I was upset with her that she believed that sentiment. However, after thinking about the situation more closely I realized I was upset that the statement was true. This concept was further cemented when I discovered the fact that it takes about 2,500 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef. [Disclaimer: I think Shannon pointed out the Hello Veggie blog.] That’s when I gave up eating red meat more than two years ago.

After giving up red meat, I decided to try the PCRM vegan challenge as a personal science experiment. The first five to seven days of the challenge was pretty bad – I guess I was detoxing. After that period, I felt great. I slept better; I controlled my emotions better and more easily. I was amazed that I experienced any kind of transformation. After the challenge I went back to being an omni (sans beef) to how I felt physically and emotionally. I learned that I didn’t miss or gain anything by eating animals. The example I use to illustrate my findings is that I thought I’d miss going with a buddy to a bar to get buffalo wings. In doing my experiment, I ascertained that the context of the meeting (beer and wings, or just the carrots and celery) didn’t matter to me it was the quality of the meeting (spending time with a friend having a good conversation).

Shortly after my experiment, I determined that I’d go vegetarian on THANKSGIVING. I think I chose Thanksgiving because for most people in the U.S. it’s a holiday centered around a dead turkey. I knew that for me Thanksgiving was a holiday centered around the celebration of family and giving thanks for blessings. It went off without a hitch and I haven’t looked back. (I must say that I’m still shocked that I find meat of any kind disgusting to look at now. Just yesterday, we celebrated my grandmother’s birthday at my uncle’s house. My uncle is a hunter and has deer heads mounted on the wall – I was grossed out yesterday. First time that’s happened since my transition.)

2. Did you think you’d go vegan eventually?

In short, I did not think I’d go vegan for quite some time. Although, living with a vegan I eat vegan at home nearly 100% of the time.

3. What motivated you to take part in the Vegan Pledge program?

My main motivation for taking part in the pledge program was to go on the Poplar Springs trip. When Shannon mentioned the program to me I thought maybe I could just tag along for the trip. Shannon thought it might be only for pledge members and mentors. So I decided to join up – what could it hurt.

4. What was the experience like for you?

I have to say that the OTCA folks who have coordinated this effort and the vegan mentors have made this a thoroughly enjoyable experience. When I did the PCRM challenge, I enjoyed getting emails and having access to a discussion board. However, without Shannon, I couldn’t have maintained vegan eating habits for 21 days. The folks at OTCA developed a great take-home binder with tons of resources, a series of discussions and outings (Poplar Springs, Mr. Chan’s Chinese restaurant, and a shopping trip), and a great mentoring system. The face-to-face interaction with veteran vegans really made this experience successful for me.

5. What stands out in your mind? Anything surprise you?

Inasmuch as my personal experience with a vegan lifestyle is concerned, I’ve experienced no real surprises. I didn’t experience anything particularly difficult to deal with or overcome.

6. Though it wasn’t your first trip to Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary, what are your thoughts on the potential impact of spending time with animals at sanctuaries? (For you personally, but also if you have a feel for “in general”.)

I have to say that if a person has any interested in a vegetarian/vegan lifestyle and is motivated by animal rights issues, then a trip to Poplar Spring will be a strongly influential experience. Personally, I enjoy trips to Poplar Spring because it is a chance to feel very close to nature. What I found most interesting about this recent trip was the sight and description of the cows. Dave explained what healthy cows should look like and he also described what unhealthy cows look like. As I think back on many trips to the eastern shore I now know that I saw a bunch of unhealthy cows on small farms.

Healthy Cows at Poplar Spring! From the left: Heidi, Jason, Lily, Ainsley (picture by Shannon)

7. The program is almost done – has it been a success for you?

Yes I would say the pledge has been a success for me. However, one of the things that really allowed me to make the mental commitment to a vegan lifestyle was something my coworker, let’s call her Joan, said to me. [Joan coincidentally was prescribed a vegan diet by her doctor to prevent the onset of diabetes and high blood pressure.] I voiced my concern that being a democrat, liberally-minded, vegetarian inspired by Buddhism could cause me problems with conservative coworkers if I went full vegan. Joan told me in so many words that I need to be concerned with what I feel is right for me. I’m not exactly sure why I thought eating cheese and eggs would protect me from ridicule, but I assumed that act would. Oh well, I guess I’ll just have to deal. At least I’m not stuck in a small pen being tormented.

8. Anything else you’d like to say?

Please remember that compassion toward animals means all animals, including humans. I’m not suggesting that any vegan limit or compromise their beliefs. But, if you want to get your message across you must remember your audience and use a corresponding tone. If compassion for animals is in your heart, let it come out of your mouth.