0:00:00.000,0:00:03.380 There are so many and I want to...answer them all! 0:00:06.980,0:00:11.160 Hi it's Emily from Bite Size Vegan[br]and welcome to a vegan Q&A. 0:00:11.160,0:00:17.360 It's been quite a while since I've done a Q&A for you guys. Except the time that I did the back-to-back live 0:00:17.360,0:00:19.820 Q&As on Facebook and YouTube in October. And I'll have the link to those and all the of the other 0:00:19.820,0:00:26.880 Q&As I've ever down in the description below, along with all of the questions that I answer today and 0:00:26.880,0:00:32.060 additional resources for each. Before I jump in—because this is one of the rare 0:00:32.070,0:00:35.010 times that i have a kind of non-formulated video, 0:00:35.140,0:00:38.080 I thought it would take this[br]opportunity to let you guys know 0:00:38.760,0:00:39.760 to click the bell. 0:00:42.930,0:00:44.489 If you are subscribed or you want[br]to subscribe and you would like 0:00:44.489,0:00:49.689 for that to actually do something as far as letting you know when videos are coming out: 0:00:50.010,0:00:54.890 Click the bell. It's a two-step process—you[br]aren't ever told about the second step. 0:00:55.320,0:00:58.780 So it's kind of like just figuring out[br]what YouTube might want today... 0:01:01.469,0:01:02.709 It's not a healthy relationship... 0:01:04.100,0:01:08.360 I have been hearing that a lot of people are still not getting notified, even when they have selected 0:01:08.360,0:01:11.280 notifications. And there are still[br]people being unsubscribed. 0:01:11.880,0:01:13.720 So if you'd like to know when I do stuff... 0:01:15.520,0:01:16.620 ...click the bell. 0:01:17.880,0:01:22.540 So I got of great questions from you guys and a good number of them are going to need their own dedicated 0:01:22.540,0:01:27.980 videos so if you don't see your question answered today, it might be that I'm answering it later in its own 0:01:27.980,0:01:33.440 full video, or that I'm saving it for another Q&A, but because there was quite a good number of them 0:01:34.040,0:01:38.580 And you guys, Ii did answer on the actual... platform 0:01:38.920,0:01:43.259 So Clara Rodriguez—I'm sorry if I'm not[br]pronouncing that correctly—asked: 0:01:43.259,0:01:48.719 "What's the best for doing activism in a place where veganism is very unknown and rejected by most people, 0:01:48.920,0:01:52.580 and where animal agriculture is[br]something normal? I live in Uruguay." 0:01:52.880,0:01:58.420 That's a really great question and that's something that I even faced when I was looking into doing the speech 0:01:58.420,0:02:06.860 for Ireland. I think there is great value in considering the differences and coming from a perspective that will 0:02:06.860,0:02:12.280 most effectively connect with whatever kind of cultural framing there is. And at least what I tried to do, is use 0:02:12.280,0:02:17.660 that framework to kind of bring down people's walls and meet them where they're at. 0:02:18.020,0:02:24.120 But the end message and the core[br]of what I always end with is the same. 0:02:25.000,0:02:29.180 I kind of try to use the the framework of the familiar. 0:02:29.580,0:02:34.140 And so in a lot of my videos you'll hear me say[br]things like "pets," or in my "Bestiality video," 0:02:34.620,0:02:40.600 if you abandon it within the first couple minutes, you might think I'm going in a super shady direction... 0:02:41.520,0:02:46.820 So I try to start kind of in the framework with which most people are familiar. And so you would know that 0:02:46.820,0:02:49.100 in your culture in Uruguay far more than I would. 0:02:49.640,0:02:56.140 So kind of starting with the language, the beliefs,[br]the concepts that are familiar and that are 0:02:56.140,0:03:02.920 espoused by the majority of people. But then it using that in a way to kind of, you know, at least identify, and 0:03:02.920,0:03:05.280 connect with your with the people that you're talking to. 0:03:05.440,0:03:11.000 But the heart of a message is the same. The way that we exploit non-human animals, and even one another, 0:03:11.000,0:03:15.620 is pretty universal— these are living beings,[br]they're sentient. They feel just like we do. 0:03:15.960,0:03:18.740 Mother cows want to have their babies with them 0:03:18.740,0:03:21.600 just like mother humans want[br]to have their babies with them. 0:03:21.600,0:03:27.220 It's kind of just bringing it down to these base logical things. And showing people— 0:03:27.420,0:03:30.600 I think one of the most effective things showing people how the values 0:03:30.609,0:03:34.620 that they already have aline with veganism 0:03:34.620,0:03:38.139 and so it's not like this big radical change or this, you know, turning 0:03:38.139,0:03:42.879 against one's culture and country but rather just starting to act the way that 0:03:42.879,0:03:45.310 we believe already and if you're looking 0:03:45.310,0:03:47.859 through the the human perspective and 0:03:47.859,0:03:49.239 and we think about there's a tradition 0:03:49.239,0:03:51.579 maybe within our culture that involves 0:03:51.579,0:03:53.859 consuming the bodies of certain animal 0:03:53.859,0:03:55.480 if you just come straight out that and 0:03:55.480,0:03:57.220 say you know this is wrong to do this 0:03:57.220,0:03:59.560 that can be interpreted as my family 0:03:59.560,0:04:01.900 history is wrong with these very 0:04:01.900,0:04:04.780 deep-rooted things of value our are 0:04:04.780,0:04:08.109 being threatened whereby if we can 0:04:08.109,0:04:10.750 disarm and in bringing people through 0:04:10.750,0:04:12.879 this thought process to the point of 0:04:12.879,0:04:14.919 things from the perspective of that 0:04:14.919,0:04:17.620 animal then it becomes far more evident 0:04:17.620,0:04:20.469 that to that being the one who is going 0:04:20.469,0:04:22.180 to have to throat slit or who is going 0:04:22.180,0:04:25.060 to die in some terrifying painful manner 0:04:25.060,0:04:28.960 how does it being a tradition alleviate 0:04:28.960,0:04:31.570 that suffering and how did it justify 0:04:31.570,0:04:33.729 that suffering There's all kinds of examples 0:04:33.729,0:04:35.380 throughout human history of things that 0:04:35.380,0:04:37.479 we've done because of its the way that 0:04:37.480,0:04:38.740 we've always done it or it's been tradition 0:04:38.740,0:04:40.599 or it's been widely accepted 0:04:40.599,0:04:42.430 and we even look back on these things 0:04:42.430,0:04:44.529 in horror today. And you can wonder like how 0:04:44.529,0:04:46.129 could that even have been acceptable? 0:04:46.129,0:04:48.039 The final thing that I would say is to dig 0:04:48.039,0:04:50.020 through the the actual laws and 0:04:50.020,0:04:52.270 regulations of your country if you can 0:04:52.270,0:04:54.039 find them, if they have them, because 0:04:54.040,0:04:56.289 a lot of times what we think happens is 0:04:56.289,0:04:59.660 not even close to what actually does happen. 0:04:59.660,0:05:01.840 And what the laws say is like the 0:05:01.840,0:05:04.870 ideal and usually what's happening is 0:05:04.870,0:05:06.669 far less than ideal, but when we actually 0:05:06.669,0:05:08.260 look at the laws in and of themselves 0:05:08.260,0:05:10.870 they can be pretty awful a lot of times 0:05:10.870,0:05:14.300 which is what i found in any country that I've looked into. 0:05:14.300,0:05:15.820 Peace.and.plants asks: 0:05:15.820,0:05:21.620 Have you heard about taking wild yam pills as "herbal contraception"? 0:05:21.620,0:05:25.719 I have not, but I did do a quick search on it and 0:05:25.719,0:05:27.580 this is by no means expensive, but I will 0:05:27.580,0:05:29.800 put links to the rest of the resources 0:05:29.800,0:05:32.110 on the blog post so that will be down 0:05:32.110,0:05:33.400 below because there's a number of them 0:05:33.400,0:05:35.860 and it's too much to pop into the 0:05:35.860,0:05:37.810 description. What I did find was actually 0:05:37.810,0:05:40.150 a lot more information and research on 0:05:40.150,0:05:42.159 wild yam being used for like menstrual 0:05:42.159,0:05:44.380 cramps and menopause and things like that. 0:05:44.380,0:05:47.020 And not really any research 0:05:47.020,0:05:49.300 directly on birth control. 0:05:49.300,0:05:50.740 So from what I found is then used for 0:05:50.740,0:05:52.690 quite some time for a number of 0:05:52.690,0:05:54.250 applications. But as far as the birth 0:05:54.250,0:05:56.440 control aspect, it does contain diosgenin 0:05:56.440,0:05:58.479 which is a phytoestrogen or 0:05:58.479,0:06:01.240 plant-based estrogen. And diosgenin was 0:06:01.240,0:06:02.979 used to make the first birth control pill. 0:06:02.979,0:06:05.819 But even with the studies but I did find 0:06:05.820,0:06:08.440 on treatment for menopause, menstrual cramps and those kinds of things 0:06:08.440,0:06:12.140 there doesn't seem to be any kind of [br]conclusive proof of the effectiveness. 0:06:12.300,0:06:16.640 And again like I said nothing actually [br]looking at it as a birth control method. 0:06:17.220,0:06:22.940 And the reasoning for this might be that our bodies cannot convert diosgenin into progesterone 0:06:22.940,0:06:25.360 on their own. It has to be done in a lab setting. 0:06:25.360,0:06:29.500 I do have a whole video on birth control methods, and talking about whether they are vegan or not. 0:06:29.640,0:06:31.040 So there are options. 0:06:31.040,0:06:33.960 And there are ones that have, you know , pluses and minuses for each. 0:06:33.960,0:06:35.320 And I'll put that down below. 0:06:35.320,0:06:39.380 So zm_vegan asked: As a new vegan, [br]how do I get the balance right 0:06:39.380,0:06:43.700 between being true to my values -[br]WITHOUT annoying my family and friends? 0:06:45.940,0:06:48.340 I think we'd all like to know the answer to that question. 0:06:48.340,0:06:52.620 I think that's a huge concern for new vegans and even long-term vegans. 0:06:52.620,0:06:55.000 Family and friends, family especially, can be 0:06:55.000,0:06:57.520 very difficult to navigate. I think that 0:06:57.520,0:07:00.820 maybe re-framing this might be a little helpful. 0:07:00.820,0:07:06.160 Just even having to ask the question about how to balance your values 0:07:06.160,0:07:09.240 based on making other people comfortable 0:07:09.560,0:07:13.540 I mean that alone in and of itself is a bit of a troubling question. 0:07:14.100,0:07:17.420 Especially because the value that you're you're talking about are 0:07:17.420,0:07:20.820 you know, not harming innocent beings. 0:07:21.880,0:07:26.820 I guess for your own sanity and comfort, continuing to educate yourself 0:07:26.820,0:07:30.760 and knowing that you're not alone in this. 0:07:30.760,0:07:34.860 And, you know, many of us have been there before and many of us will go there again. 0:07:34.860,0:07:40.820 And so, I would really also recommend reaching out to other vegans or just people that you do feel you can 0:07:40.820,0:07:50.360 talk to and knowing that... you shouldn't have to apologize or feel bad about not wanting to harm others. 0:07:50.360,0:07:58.840 you know, you shouldn't feel bad or like your family is going to turn against you because you want to be non-violent 0:07:58.840,0:08:03.620 and you don't feel like it's your right to break up other people's families 0:08:03.620,0:08:07.120 or sentence them to an early death or confine them 0:08:07.120,0:08:10.720 or violate them in any number of ways. 0:08:11.740,0:08:17.260 I know that doesn't make it easier or give you a blueprint necessarily for exactly what to say 0:08:17.260,0:08:22.380 to your family... but I just want to emphasize that, you know, you shouldn't have to 0:08:22.380,0:08:28.180 sacrifice your values, especially when they're the values of not wanting to hurt. 0:08:29.500,0:08:35.660 Family can be the most difficult. And, sometimes, just living by example and continuing 0:08:35.660,0:08:39.120 to educate yourself and sharing that with them when it feels appropriate. 0:08:39.120,0:08:42.480 But also, know that you can set boundaries if you need to. 0:08:42.480,0:08:47.640 And it doesn't mean arguing or yelling or even telling them that they're horrible people. 0:08:47.640,0:08:51.840 But, coming kind of more from the perspective of: This is something that's really important to me. 0:08:51.840,0:08:57.560 This is a decision I've come to based on these things that I've learned 0:08:57.560,0:09:05.340 and I'm happy to share them with you and to tell you what it is that made me decide to make these changes. 0:09:05.340,0:09:12.500 But regardless of whether you agree with them, I would love to have your support in just doing what I feel is right 0:09:12.500,0:09:16.600 and being able to follow through with my own core values. 0:09:17.560,0:09:22.960 Rebecca Clark asked: What are your thoughts on the growing criticism of people who come to veganism only for health reasons 0:09:22.960,0:09:27.340 or the argument that we should not use health claims to promote veganism? 0:09:27.340,0:09:32.820 So I've said from the very beginning of my channel that there are a million reasons to go vegan 0:09:32.820,0:09:36.320 and that I've actually yet to find a reason NOT to go vegan. 0:09:36.320,0:09:41.380 People often ask me why I'm vegan. And honestly, I haven't found a reason not to be. 0:09:41.380,0:09:47.120 So I decided to do a number of little clips that have bite size information about different reasons to go vegan. 0:09:47.120,0:09:52.760 And I have always been of the mind that whatever gets you there, GOOD! 0:09:52.760,0:09:56.580 As long as it can keep you there or you can find something that will keep you there. 0:09:57.160,0:10:02.520 And I do find that, you know, the health perspective of veganism can bring a good deal of people into veganism. 0:10:02.520,0:10:08.620 When I say "the health perspective", that's again an infinite range of approaches within that. 0:10:08.620,0:10:15.640 I do think that it's important to have scientifically backed up, accurate claims or studies, or even 0:10:15.640,0:10:18.840 at least saying we're not sure, but these kinds of things. 0:10:18.840,0:10:25.360 But, I tend to interview Dr. Greger or bring on specialists instead of myself trying to make any kind of health claims 0:10:25.360,0:10:28.480 when I don't have any formal training, it's really not my place. 0:10:28.480,0:10:31.620 However, as far as it bringing people in for the health, good! 0:10:31.620,0:10:37.840 Whatever is going to connect with them, and make them feel that this is a choice that is in line with their values 0:10:37.840,0:10:39.000 go for it! 0:10:39.000,0:10:46.340 Because, I mean, that's really what I've always said, that I think the vast majority of people already are vegan in their mentality. 0:10:46.340,0:10:51.220 You know, whether that's - I do think a lot of that is ethical because I even think that people who go vegan 0:10:51.220,0:10:56.780 for health reasons would still not stab a pig in the throat if that baby pig was in front of them. 0:10:56.780,0:10:57.940 I don't think they would do it. 0:10:57.940,0:11:03.080 I have a whole video on bacon lovers who melt when they actually have a pig in front of them. 0:11:03.080,0:11:10.740 So, I just think sometimes it's depending on the intensity of the reason that got you into being vegan - at times 0:11:10.740,0:11:20.020 there needs to be... or can be... a shift or a further rooting, or further identification with other aspects 0:11:20.020,0:11:26.180 of it that really kind of locks it in. And makes it less of a "I'm gonna try this" and more of something that 0:11:26.180,0:11:32.780 "this is of vital importance". emkat14 says: I'm in middle school and my friends always make fun of me for being vegan. 0:11:32.780,0:11:36.420 In the past it made me want to give up, but I kept going and even though they still make fun of me, 0:11:36.420,0:11:41.800 I tell myself that I don't care what they think, but sometimes it makes me want to quit and I definitely don't want to do that. 0:11:41.800,0:11:44.900 Can you give me some tips on how to deal with hate from kids my age? 0:11:44.900,0:11:51.200 Oh, man! I'm so sorry that you're going through that and I do hear that from a lot of people of all ages. 0:11:51.200,0:11:57.200 And I would love to tell you that it gets better with age and that people grow up and are more mature. 0:11:57.200,0:12:02.460 I've been kind of waiting for that to happen for quite some time and I'm still waiting. We'll see. 0:12:03.840,0:12:09.400 I mean I really wish I could just kind of protect you and everyone from that kind of experience 0:12:09.400,0:12:19.020 It's an indication of how far we've come from our true nature that someone just saying, 0:12:19.020,0:12:25.080 "Hey, I would like to not hurt these beings; these animals" 0:12:25.940,0:12:32.000 - As kids, you know, we adore, we love movies with them. And instead of saying, "I'm gonna love this 0:12:32.000,0:12:37.520 particular animal and I'm gonna eat this other one and this one doesn't deserve to live", 0:12:37.520,0:12:43.620 you're basically saying, "Hey, this makes no sense. They can hurt, they can feel, they have families 0:12:43.620,0:12:46.860 and I don't want to hurt them". 0:12:46.860,0:12:51.120 I mean that's— that is nothing to mock, that is nothing to make fun of. 0:12:51.940,0:12:56.440 That's certainly not something anyone should feel bad about. 0:12:56.660,0:13:00.100 I don't think it's going to make everything better, but, sometimes it can 0:13:00.100,0:13:06.440 be helpful to kind of take a step back and realize that that kind of reaction 0:13:06.440,0:13:12.100 from people is never really about you or what you're doing. A lot of times 0:13:12.100,0:13:18.540 it's more of the individual feeling implied judgement that because of you 0:13:18.540,0:13:24.040 being vegan, it's this attack on the way that they eat and what they do. 0:13:24.040,0:13:28.920 And that—in and of itself—is pretty telling. We don't tend to get defensive 0:13:28.920,0:13:32.960 unless we kind of feel deep down that maybe something we're doing is wrong. 0:13:32.960,0:13:38.360 There's a big pressure as well to fit in and to go with the flow, go with the mainstream 0:13:38.360,0:13:43.400 go with the, you know, the "popular kids." And not be kind of the one "sticking out" 0:13:43.400,0:13:46.120 or the "different person," the "different kid." I was always the the 0:13:46.120,0:13:50.300 "different kid," and I'm still very much the "different kid," so to speak. 0:13:50.300,0:13:55.300 But for me it helps thinking about the animals and what they're going through, 0:13:55.300,0:13:59.040 and thinking about the environment and where our planet is headed. 0:13:59.040,0:14:05.220 And even if it's uncomfortable for me at times, or it's hard at times, and 0:14:05.220,0:14:10.320 even if it can be a struggle, I still don't want to be part of that. 0:14:10.320,0:14:17.720 I still don't want to hurt innocent beings and I still don't want to be part of the world 0:14:17.720,0:14:27.160 racing towards destruction. And I would rather take being unpopular or having people 0:14:27.160,0:14:33.300 give me a hard time over that. And I don't say that to imply that what you're going 0:14:33.300,0:14:40.040 through isn't valid, isn't important, isn't incredibly painful—because I'm sure that it is. 0:14:40.040,0:14:45.800 It's not easy. My hear goes out to you and I just want you to know that you're not alone. 0:14:45.800,0:14:53.120 And you're not wrong. And you're incredibly strong for making this choice, especially 0:14:53.120,0:14:57.960 early on in life. So please know that you're doing the right thing. And you can reach out 0:14:57.960,0:15:02.780 to others. If you don't have anyone in your area, you can reach out online, find some community. 0:15:02.780,0:15:09.460 I do have a number of videos interviewing vegan kids and a number of them have, in the videos 0:15:09.480,0:15:13.240 even, said that they would be open to people contacting them. So I'm going to link those 0:15:13.240,0:15:17.200 videos down below and you can maybe even try to get in touch with the kids in the videos who 0:15:17.200,0:15:22.040 have their own channels and their own platforms and are very receptive to helping others. 0:15:22.480,0:15:24.940 Okay, just a few quick ones because it's getting kind of long. 0:15:24.940,0:15:30.400 So Wendy Linton asked about when people say that they buy organic, humane, free-range type of products 0:15:30.400,0:15:32.540 and using that as a kind of solution 0:15:32.540,0:15:37.760 to the way that animal are treated. I have a number of videos on the Humane Myth and an 0:15:37.760,0:15:41.320 entire in-depth speech that I gave in Ireland called "The Best We Have To Offer." 0:15:41.320,0:15:43.100 And I'm going to link all of those below. 0:15:43.100,0:15:48.360 meghs_muggs ask about palm oil and said that she didn't know if I already 0:15:48.360,0:15:51.600 had addressed this. I have—I have a video on palm oil, so that will be below. 0:15:51.600,0:15:56.160 And Lauren Walker wanted to know the story of my tattoos and necklace 0:15:56.160,0:16:00.140 I've actually answered those as well so I will link below the Q&A where I talk 0:16:00.140,0:16:03.660 about the necklace and then I have three tattoo videos that will be linked below as well. 0:16:03.660,0:16:07.900 So I know I didn't get to SO many questions and I'm really sorry about that. 0:16:07.900,0:16:11.300 I also wanted to let you guys know: If you've emailed me, if you've messaged me 0:16:11.300,0:16:16.880 and I haven't gotten back to you, it is by no means anything personal. 0:16:17.860,0:16:22.160 I kind of have a good bit of overload with all of the different avenues that are 0:16:22.160,0:16:27.600 coming in. And it doesn't make it okay, it doesn't make it excusable for you guys 0:16:27.600,0:16:30.860 to not get a response, especially because I know a lot of the things that are 0:16:30.860,0:16:34.360 sent are very important and it does really break my heart to find these things 0:16:34.360,0:16:39.180 months later sometimes. I'm just I'm not that kind of person— I've never been 0:16:39.180,0:16:42.660 that kind of person. I've always been someone who's very accountable and 0:16:42.660,0:16:47.620 good on my word and consistent and reliable. And it just seems, you know, especially 0:16:47.620,0:16:54.960 in the last year that the the workload has almost necessitated or created... me being 0:16:54.960,0:16:59.440 this this kind of person that I really don't want to be. So please know that it's 0:16:59.440,0:17:03.540 never intentional. And I honestly truly want to answer every single person, 0:17:03.540,0:17:06.700 and I want to be able to address concerns. I want to be able to help as much 0:17:06.700,0:17:13.380 as I can... It's... it's just not possible at this point. And I'm trying my best to put 0:17:13.380,0:17:17.340 together the systems where I can be more effective, I can be more available, I can 0:17:17.340,0:17:23.440 create more content. And it's just going a lot more slowly than I would like it to. 0:17:24.900,0:17:30.340 And a lot of that kind of area of navigating— these kind of, you know, business side 0:17:30.340,0:17:35.460 of stuff, or structural side, legal sides—I'm not terribly well-versed with these. 0:17:35.620,0:17:41.060 So it's a bit difficult to navigate, and I'm doing the best I can. So, thank you guys 0:17:41.060,0:17:44.260 for your patience, thank you for your support, thank you for sticking around. 0:17:44.260,0:17:52.020 And I will keep doing the very best I can. And I can never thank you enough, for everything. 0:17:53.080,0:17:57.140 So I hope that what I did a dress was helpful. And please find a bunch more information below. 0:17:57.140,0:18:04.120 If you like this, subscribe and click the— click the bell, because you don't have enough to do: 0:18:04.120,0:18:06.680 Subscribe it! Like it! Share it! 0:18:06.680,0:18:08.820 There's a lot! There's a lot you can you can do. 0:18:08.820,0:18:11.000 I feel like a flight attendant. 0:18:13.700,0:18:15.680 The bell just gets me, man. 0:18:18.200,0:18:22.700 I feel like maybe YouTube just thinks— it's like, they just want to see how far they can mess with us 0:18:23.600,0:18:28.680 Just see how much we're gonna tolerate before we just go: "No more! No more, YouTube!"