May all that have life be delivered from suffering. (Buddha)

Though not advocating any religion or religious order, The Peaceful Planet does subscribe to the Jain, Buddhist, and Hindu doctrine of ‘Ahimsa‘

a·him·sa (ə-hĭm′sä′)

1. Expressing belief in the sacredness of all living creatures and urging the avoidance of harm and violence
2. The law of reverence for, and nonviolence to, every form of life
3. The principle of non-injury to living beings
4. A term meaning ‘not to injure’ and ‘compassion’

The word “veganism” denotes a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude – as far as is possible and practical – all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of humans, animals and the environment. In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals. (Donald Watson)

1. Veganism is not a ‘diet’ – it is an ethical, non-violent, inclusive lifestyle; a moral imperative for the peaceful liberation and coexistence of all human and non-human animals

2. Veganism advocates the abolition of all slaughter, torture, use, abuse, exploitation, oppression, slavery, hunting, blood sports, vivisection, research testing (scientific, medical, food etc), and speciesism of all land animals, all aquatic animals and all insects

3. Veganism advocates that all land and aquatic animals are conscious, sentient, and cognizant creatures (see The Cambridge Declaration on Consciousness, 2012 & The Lisbon Treaty 2009, Article 13 recognising animals as sentient creatures) and, as such, should be conferred ‘personhood’
    
4. As fellow ‘persons’, all non-human land animals and all aquatic animals should be conferred all the rights necessary to protect them from all human harm and all human exploitation

The absence of a neocortex does not appear to preclude an organism from experiencing affective states. Convergent evidence indicates that non-human animals have the neuroanatomical, neurochemical, and neurophysiological substrates of conscious states along with the capacity to exhibit intentional behaviors. Consequently, the weight of evidence indicates that humans are not unique in possessing the neurological substrates that generate consciousness. Nonhuman animals, including all mammals and birds, and many other creatures, including octopuses, also possess these neurological substrates. (The Cambridge Declaration on Consciousness, July 7, 2012)

Nonviolent struggle is the most powerful means available to those struggling for freedom. (Gene Sharp)

1. Veganism acknowledges that the oppressive and prejudiced institutions of society (discrimination, exploitation, abuse, slavery, racism, speciesism, social injustice etc) be it because of race, gender, religion, class, ability, ethnicity, species etc, are all interrelated and intersectional

2. Veganism advocates the abolition of all oppressive societal institutions and is the only social justice movement which can bring about inclusive, peaceful, non-violent, and non-oppressive liberation and coexistence of all human and non-human animals

Animals are my friends… and I don’t eat my friends.
(George Bernard Shaw)

• Vegan food is unequivocally ‘plant-exclusive’ and not ambiguously ‘plant-based’

• A plant-exclusive diet draws exclusively on edible plants and on the edible grains, seeds, vegetables and fruits produced from them

• Included under this term are edible fungi despite the fact that they are a separate kingdom to plants

• Vegans DO NOT eat or drink ANY animal products or ANY animal by-products whatsoever. This includes all the following ‘foods’ from land animals, marine animals and insects:
  • all meat
  • all fish
  • all fowl
  • all eggs
  • all dairy products (milk, cheese, yoghurts etc)
  • all animal fats & animal oils
  • all insects
  • all bee and insect products (honey, bee pollen, bees wax, propolis, royal jelly, cochineal, shellac etc)
  • all alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks containing animal derived products (isinglass, casein, gelatine, egg white etc.)

• Veganism is absolutely defined as NONE of the following:
  • vegetarian
  • lacto-ovo vegetarian
  • lacto vegetarian
  • ovo vegetarian
  • pescatarian
  • flexitarian
  • reducetarian
  • veggan

The only ‘person’ who looks good wearing fur or animal skin…is the animal itself that it was ripped away from. Animals are our friends – not a fashionable coat or a trendy pair of shoes.
(The Peaceful Planet)

Vegans DO NOT wear any animal derived clothing, shoes or jewelry whatsoever, whether derived from slaughter, exploitation or abuse, including:

• all animal leather
• all animal skins
• all animal fur
• all animal wools
• all animal body parts
• all insect silks

 

The question is not, “Can they reason?” nor, “Can they talk?” but “Can they suffer? (Jeremy Bentham)

Vegans DO NOT use any products if knowingly they contain any animal products or animal by-products, whether derived from slaughter, exploitation, abuse, or research testing, including:

• household & cleaning
• toiletries & grooming
• cosmetics
• gardening