VEGAN PROFILES
ROBERT JACOBS
CONTESTANT ON MASTERCHEF
I enjoy being vegan/vegetarian for many reasons including health benefits and pride in lowering my carbon foot print, because I think every bit helps. I enjoy thinking outside the square when preparing food and expanding my culinary knowledge, using that knowledge whilst sharing vegan cuisine with friends and family. I enjoy living my life in a non-selfish manner.
I choose this lifestyle because thats all it is to me. I want to live a life I enjoy, I want to eat food I love and it just so happens animals are not included on my plate. I try to live without ignorance, in doing so I found I started caring about more than just myself.
BJORN NILSEN
SENIOR NUTRITION STUDENT
Simply put, I am vegan for the animals. It is unacceptable for any animal to suffer because of me, especially as there is no need for it. The fact that veganism is good for our health and the environment is just the icing on the cake and reinforces to me why veganism is such a great choice. Personally I have experienced a vast improvement in my health and wellbeing by transitioning to a vegan diet. It has awakened within me a fascination with food and nutrition, which as lead me to study to become a nutritionist. It is now my goal to help as many people as possible to thrive on a vegan diet.
Contact me on 022 2444465 or bjorn_bjorn.co.nz for further details, questions or to make an appointment.
STEVE-O, ENTERTAINER
I started out my journey towards veganism in fear. While I was doing cocaine and nitrous for days on end, voices in my ears told me that I will have to "answer" for my cruel actions at some point later on. Then, when I heard a Krishna Consciousness guy in a YouTube video ask "How can you expect to be saved if you eat meat?", I became terrified of having to "answer" for all of the suffering that I was causing for animals and immediately stopped eating meat (except for fish, because I still believed that "Jesus fed people with fish"). Less than a month later, Knoxville and the guys staged my intervention.
In recovery I was introduced to the idea of "replacing fear with faith (or love)". I made a deliberate effort to do just that and arrived at the conclusion that I'm simply happier as a result of practicing more compassion in my lifestyle.
Once I started looking at it in that way, my feeling was, "This is really helping me- I love the way it's making me feel, and I want to do more." I began to frequently call my friend from PETA with different questions (i.e. "what about feather pillows, are they cruel?" answer: Yes, very much so.) With those calls, I steadily became more educated, and implemented more lifestyle changes that made me feel better about myself. After a year and a half of being "pescetarian", in a fairly short time, I stopped eating eggs and fish and then bought an experimental carton of soy milk, which convinced me to become fully vegan (I recommend almond milk today, though).
When I became vegan I had been clean and sober for a year and five months, and cigarette-free for one year. Only after becoming vegan did I regularly hear that my skin looked great, and that I was looking younger, slimmer, and healthier.
I heard that on an almost daily basis after I became vegan, which made it clear to me that, of all my lifestyle changes, cutting dairy and eggs out of my diet had been the single most beneficial thing for my appearance (exercise is crucial, as well).
I enjoyed these benefits without really understanding how bad animal-based foods are for the human body. I got into being vegan because I was simply looking to benefit from being more compassionate. I have since come to learn that it is an animal-based diet that is responsible for the overwhelming majority of cases of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, multiple sclerosis, and all kinds of other problems. It's really that simple, if you don't want to suffer and/or die as a result of any of those conditions, then the most important move you can possibly make is to cut animal-based foods out of your diet and exercise regularly. It's really that simple.
Lots of love, Steve-O
ELAINE BRENT, TRIATHLETE
I am vegan in general because I believe it is the healthiest way to be and being a triathlete, you are what you put in. I am strictly vegan however, because my morals will not allow me to be any other way. When I did a physics paper at university I remember my lecturer talking about waves to us and he said 'a wave is a wave is a wave' meaning regardless of the make up of the wave - it is still a wave. This can be applied to the suffering of animals - suffering is suffering is suffering. Regardless of what is suffering it is still suffering and it is our moral obligation as humans to recognise and prevent as much suffering as we can. One of the biggest reasons why we separate ouselves from other animals is because we have morals, to me this means to ignore them is worse than having none at all. When I train for triathlon, I am training so when I go into a race I can beat as many people as possible regardless of background, age or sex, in turn doing my bit in proving that being vegan is not weak or unhealthy. Being vegan to me represents strength of mind, body and soul and through triathlon I intend to show the world just how vegan I am :)
VANESSA MCGOWAN
HER MAKE BELIEVE BAND
"Becoming vegan is the most positive thing you can do when faced with the cruelty of factory farming, the health problems associated with eating meat and dairy and the environmental destruction caused by mass farming. Being vegan you become a living example of this choice so it's important to be positive and show that veganism is an intelligent, positive and reasoned approach to a world-wide problem of cruelty and greed. Every time you discuss veganism or explain to someone why you're vegan you help bring awareness to the implications of eating meat and dairy and through positive discussions about veganism you become the living proof that veganism is the ethical, healthy and most positive lifestyle choice."
Click here for her website >>
YOLANDA SORYL, EDUCATOR
"I am committed to a better world for animals and children - professionally, my life's work has been to support children's literacy by empowering them and their teachers with the tools needed for reading success. Personally, my commitment to animals means I have been vegan for over twenty years, and have raised my four children the same way."
Click here to visit her website >>
HANS KRIEK, DIRECTOR OF SAFE
"For me being vegan is about being consistent. I like animals and oppose their exploitation so not eating them or use their products is the only logical and honest way to live my life. I believe that animal agriculture is unsustainable in the long term and that a vegan diet will become the norm rather than the exception in the future. Veganism is also good for your health. Giving up dairy cured my asthma!"
Click here to visit his website >>
JODY KILPATRICK, MINISTER, PONSONBY BAPTIST CHURCH
"I choose to be vegan because it makes me think in the basics of daily living about treading lightly and not grabbing at things that aren't mine. That said I eat extremely well on a vegan diet - everyone in my household cooks vegan; family, friends and parishioners take an interest in supplying me with edibles; my favourite places for sustenance while out and about are the Juicery (CBD) and Cosset (Mt Albert)."
ALICE LEONARD
ANGEL FOOD
I've been vegan since 2004 and my only regret is that I didn't do it sooner! I'm very lucky that I run a vegan business, so my work life is completely in synch with my ethics. My intention is to make veganism more visible and more desirable, by providing delicious vegan options. I'm meeting more and more people who are choosing veganism for their own health, for the animals, and for the environment, and it gives me great hope for the future.
LINDA NUNN, FOUNDER OF ANIMAL REHOMING, AUCKLAND
"If there was a way that you could nourish your body and live a long and healthy life while causing minimal harm to yourself, to fellow humans, to the planet and to other creatures sharing the earth; would you embrace it? Or would your intelligence, your heart and your soul be dominated exclusively and absolutely by tradition and by the tiny taste-buds on your tongue?"
GLYNN OWENS, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST & PROFESSOR OF PSYCHOLOGY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCLAND
"Since turning vegan over 35 years ago Ive managed to obtain a doctorate from the University of Oxford, sustain a career thats seen me hold three different professorial appointments, compete at national and international level as a judo player and participate at a recreational level in something like 30 different sports ranging from multisports like decathlon and triathlon to marathon running. Im now nearly 60, still competing, and still the same weight as in my early 20s. As a pilot, Im able to obtain a class 1 medical certificate during my regular checkups. Being vegan hasnt disadvantaged me either intellectually or physically but what it has done has enabled me to feel OK about the creatures with whom we share the planet, and happy in the knowledge that they dont have to suffer so that I can indulge my appetites."
DUSAN DUDAS, MR NEW ZEALAND NATURAL BODYBUILDING CHAMPION 2001, 2007, 2009
"My vegan diet definitely gives me an advantage in the field of bodybuilding."
GEOFF WRIGHT, VEGAN WINE MAKER
"Whenever I see an animal I enjoy seeing them alive and when I reflect on the stand I have taken, I feel good."
Visit Geoff's website >>
LEILA MASSON, PEDIATRICIAN
"The best thing about being vegan is lowering my carbon footprint and keeping family, planet and self healthy."
Visit Leila's website >>
TOM BAILEY, INTERNATIONAL OBSERVER
(EX THOMPSON TWINS)
"Becoming a vegan brings so many benefits because not only do you stop supporting needless cruelty towards farmed animals, but also help their wild cousins by not accelerating the depletion of their environments caused by catastrophic farming practices. Add to this the proven benefits to health and well being for humans and you have great way to live. I thought at first that the transition might be difficult, but I've been suprised how easily I enjoyed it - not least the discovery of delicious new foods and the sense of joining others in making a contribution to a better future for all."
SAM TUCKER, NZ'S YOUNGEST DJ
" The best thing about being vegan is knowing that your lifestyle doesnt contribute to the exploitation, suffering and death of countless non human animals. Being vegan is better for your health, more environmentally friendly, and most importantly its the morally right thing to do."
Visit Sam's website >>
DARCY PEACOCK, FORMER AUSA PRESIDENT
"I was the first vegan president of the Auckland University Students Association. I was inspired to become vegan while doing my philosophy degree (majoring in ethics). Luckily I had the opportunity to move into a flat of vegans and I have never been happier. In my free time I do a radio show on 95bFM and bake cupcakes, but not at the same time."
FLIP GRATER, MUSICIAN
"Every single life on this planet is precious. Except maybe the odd politician..."
Listen to Flip on myspace >>
THE MARK OF MAN
"The best thing about being vegan is knowing that your body is not a graveyard for those who have truly suffered and been killed to satisfy our tastes... Not to mention all the amazing vegan treats!"
Listen to The Mark of Man on myspace >>
JEFFREY MASSON, AUTHOR
"The best thing about being a vegan is knowing that I have done nothing to hurt any animal by what I eat, wear or drink"
Visit Jeffrey's website >>
RICHIE HARDCORE, BFM DJ
" I've been a strict vegetarian for ten years and am at present trialing out a transition to veganism. Every Monday I ensure I have a day completely free of animal products. I'm trying to do something towards creating a world which I believe is more ethically sound and conscientious."
See Richie's BFM page >>
DR JOHN LIVESEY, PHD
"I try to be vegan to help alleviate the exploitation and suffering of animals, to reduce my carbon footprint and other environmental impacts, and to eat a healthy diet. And with luck I may influence others to think similarly."
John edits this website >>
PETER SANKOFF, LAWYER + SENIOR LECTURER AUCKLAND UNI. AUTHOR OF ANIMAL LAW IN AUSTRALASIA
" The best thing about being vegan is knowing that nothing I eat has suffered just so that I can have dinner."
PROFILES
Use the controller below to flip through these pages and find out why these high profile people decided to become vegan.
LIST OF FAMOUS VEGANS >>
