Do you have a favorite movie or videos or your own media that you want to share?
I Currently live in the Bay Area California and am an Autism & Seizure Specialist for the last 13 years.
Catch this Inspirational Soul online here:
Website: www.veganshani.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/veganshani
What was the moment you realize that you wanted to go vegan?
I decided to be vegetarian over 11 years ago & becoming vegan was something I felt was impossible. As a vegetarian, my egg & dairy intake quadrupled. I knew there was suffering in eggs & dairy but I had no idea the immensity of it until I began researching- I was mortified. The day I decided to go vegan I was out to brunch with my family. It was freezing and pouring down rain when I noticed someone had tied their dog up outside in the rain. It sounds so silly but as I sat with that dog, trying to bring tables over to give him shelter, person after person walked by, looked at him & kept walking. Dogs are pretty beloved animals in our country and still, no one seemed to care about this shivering, wet, cold dog. It hit me- well who is going to care about the billions of farmed animals behind closed doors if they certainly don’t care about this dog right in front of their face? I decided right then that I needed to care & that I would go vegan the next day & I did.
How long have you been Vegan?
Over 11 years.
Why is being Vegan important to you?
I could no longer support the torture & death of so many sentient beings. I knew their life & freedom was far more important than simple taste buds, a piece of clothing, entertainment or a product.
The three films that have made the most impact to veganism in my opinion are:
1. Earthlings
2. Cowspiracy
3. What the Health
4. Forks Over Knives
Do you actively promote veganism? How? Please share any stories you would like.
I promote veganism every single day I wake up & dedicate myself to cause the least amount of suffering to others. My activism over the last decade has been vast & through my many experiences, I have been able to fine-tune my approach with people who are not yet vegan. I welcome discussions & questions about my lifestyle & will always confront cruelty with a strong heart & fierce will. I was once featured on a reality cable show because of my activism & the outpouring of support throughout the world was amazing!
What is the vegan stereotype you hear the most and how do you respond to it?
People saying that being vegan is difficult can be sort of insulting when put into perspective. Look at any animal who is raised for food & you will see the epitome of difficult. Choosing to eat plants, fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes, grains, etc is nowhere near difficult. Now, living your whole life locked in a cage, being beaten & tortured every day, being raped & having your children stolen, having your body mutilated & then brutally killed- that’s what’s hard.
What’s your favorite Vegan restaurant?
In the bay area; Two Mama’s Vegan Kitchen, Flacos, & Shizen.
Some encouraging words for new Vegans?
Just know that with every single vegan bite, you are taking a stance against the suffering of another being. Once you have that honest & genuine motivation, the literal life of another, how can you ever go back to eating them?
What does living cruelty-free mean to you?
Living cruelty-free is doing your very best to lessen the suffering of all beings. Just as animals are exploited so are humans & the environment. Just because a product is vegan does not necessarily mean there isn’t any suffering attached to it. We all do our best & no one is perfect. Keep researching, learning & adapting your lifestyle.
What is the toughest Vegan item to find that you need?
Living in the bay area I am rather spoiled. A hard to find vegan croissant has been made much easier now thanks to Timeless Coffee.
Talk about a time when you struggled with your Veganism?
I can honestly say that I have never struggled personally with my veganism. I no longer viewed animal products as food but as torture, misery & death. The struggle has been more so with others. My family or people who just don’t get it.
What is one question you would ask other Vegans? Please answer it.
Why is it okay to force sterilization onto non-human animals yet the topic of not having children is still so controversial?
Every single reason we tell people to not breed their companion animals can be used for humans. We are overpopulated & unwanted children suffer, starve & die by the thousands every single year. We scream at people to adopt companion animals yet if you say the same to a human it becomes very controversial. In a loving & respectful way, I urge people to adopt a child in need instead of breeding. Rescue a human who is already on this planet instead of creating a new one. I won’t make any fans with that statement, I know.
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