Vegan Miscellanies

Giving the Car a Break: the 2008 National Commuter Challenge Event

Since I've already been cycling to and from work for two weeks now, I decided to join the 2008 National Commuter Challenge event taking place June 1st through 7th. The event challenging commuters, on an individual or corporate level, to leave their cars behind and get to and from work in a more environmentally sustainable way -- walking, cycling, taking public transit, carpooling, or tele-working -- coincides with Canadian Environment Week and Clean Air Day. 

I do have some reservations about special days or times of year for action because, more often than not, they allow people to feel good about themselves, and look good to others, for the duration of the event, and then return to their normal routines. It's no different than, among others, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Memorial Day, or Remembrance Day. They also draw our attention, on a particular day, week, or month, to an important matter of which we should be mindful throughout the year. But I do hope that these events can serve to bring lasting awareness, at least to some, and perhaps even make a few people feel good enough about what they are doing to adopt healthier, more sustainable practices for the long term.

Because of the potential to bring awareness, or to get addicted to a better lifestyle, I hope many people will join. As a group, I think, though there certainly are exceptions, vegans are already more mindful and try to live more active, healthy, and environmentally sustainable lives. If any other vegans, Canadian or not, decide to join, and happen to come across this post, please leave a comment. If I get a good response from other vegans who decide to join, I would gladly compile a list of names and/or link to their blogs, if they have one, for a future post.

Cycling, Human-Powered Technologies, and Responsible Consumerism

Cycling, human-powered technologies and responsible consumerism are topics that will also receive coverage on Vegan Miscellanies going forward. How do these relate to veganism?  They aren't related vertically, as sub-categories of veganism, and they don't follow necessarily from veganism, but they share one basic goal--to contribute not only to my own well-being, but also to the well-being of the planet and the other beings with whom I share it.

I am vegan primarily for ethical reasons, though I am pleased that it is also, when done correctly, healthier to be vegan. My ethical reasons, to be brief, are two-fold: 1) since it is not necessary for me to inflict physical and emotional pain on animals to survive, or indeed to thrive, nor to kill them for food or clothing, it is unethical for me to do so, and 2) since wide-scale animal husbandry results not only in great environmental damage, but also in food shortage for humans and in the destruction of wildlife and its habitat, and it is not necessary for me to support animal husbandry to survive, or indeed to thrive, it is unethical for me to do so. 

Being vegan involves responsible consumerism directly. What we chose to spend our money on at the grocery store, market, or restaurant, or conversely, what we chose not to spend our money on at these establishments, directly impacts the decisions the proprietors and/or buyers will have to make. Money is the bottom line. When it becomes profitable to stock vegan goods, they will do so. Conversely, when it becomes unprofitable to sell animal products, they will cease to sell them. Of course, as I've pointed out before, those with more money, because money equates power, have more responsibility in this regard. In other words, because purchasing power creates choice, and choice engenders responsibility, the ethics of responsible consumerism exist in direct relation to the purchasing power of the agent.

As for human-powered technologies in general, they relate directly to the environment, not directly to veganism. But because being vegan demands less process and is easier to power, despite generating sufficient power, human-powered technology fits right in (Thoreau, when it was suggested that he needed meat to build his bones, to be strong, pointed to the herbivorous ox and horse that were powering the plow and cart, respectively). Of course I'm speaking of technology powered by me, not by ox or horse. And then some human-powered technology fits right into the kitchen (more on this as I acquire it).

And cycling? I like cycling. It's good for the environment, good for my bank account, and good for my health. And I intend, increasingly, to use my bicycle, with cart attached (not yet acquired), to bring my vegan groceries from store to home. I have also been much inspired by the vegan cyclist from Victoria, BC, and Team Vegan. These guys prove, quite nicely, as do I, that veganism doesn't equate weakness, sickliness or lethargy. 

So there you go. Look for more cycling-, human-powered technology-, and responsible consumerism-related posts on this site from now on. You with me?

Cycling: Money, Fitness, and the Environment

Since I bought my little Echo in 2006 to get to work during the winter months, I've thought and talked about cycling to work at least during the warm months. I went on cycling and hiking trips during my spring vacations this year and last and cycled a fair bit on weekends. And for the past month or so, I took my bike with me to work on the back of the car so I could cycle during my lunch hour. But it wasn't until today that I began to cycle to and from work again.

It's a little embarrassing, and I suppose I could brag about what I'm doing rather than admitting why I'm starting it just now, that money and fitness ultimately trumped environmental concern in motivating me to leave the car at home and cycle to work instead. But, embarrassing as it is, it serves to illustrate an important point: money talks. Indeed, money can be a powerful tool in the activist's toolbox.

Just last week I had to dish out the money to secure our new place in Hamilton, an expense largely unplanned for, at least the timing of it, and this right after returning from vacation. And fuel prices are now higher than I've ever seen them, reaching as much as $1.25/litre. Add to this the fact that, since teacher's college and my short teaching stint, I had gained a fair bit of weight, a trend not at all eased by my current cubicled management position. These two factors combined, as indicated already, served to push me over the edge from thinking about leaving the car at home to actually doing it.

How does all this relate to veganism? Easy. Through our purchasing choices, at the grocery store and the restaurant, we harness the power of money. It might be said that the real activism is in the exercise of choice, but I think my point stands that money is the tool we use in the exercise of choice. By chosing to purchase one thing and not another, we ultimately influence the choices the shopkeeper and restaurateur must make to stay profitable, as also the manufacturer, and thus effect change, however slowly.

Now, bringing this discussion back to me and my cycling to work instead of driving to work with bicycle in tow, I must say that I feel good, aching musles and all, about the decision. And my partner and I have already begun planning, little by little and as money allows, ways to decrease our reliance on the automobile (I must say that works better in larger cities) and increase our use of human power. Any suggestions, tips, tricks, leads, and so on, will be much appreciated, as many items such as bicycle cargo trailers, bike panniers, and cycling clothes, are rather expensive.