Are vegans wrong about animals? | Ed Winters | TEDxVUAmsterdam

I ate meat, dairy and eggs for 22 years and my decision to go vegan was and still is the best decision I’ve ever made. ✌️

Thank you so much to TEDxVUAmsterdam for inviting me to speak. If anyone watching is interested in learning more about veganism or my work in general, then you can do so either through my YouTube channel or website. Thank you for watching!

As a biomedical and food system scientist, my introduction to plant-based diet was through my research, when I was working on cancer, infectious diseases, antibiotic resistance and other diseases that later I realized are significantly correlated with animal consumption. Every single cancer institute in the world says the less meat you eat the better. What eventually made me vegan however, was watching what happens to animals 11 years ago. This was after one of my friends pointed out the hypocrisy and inconsistency between my actions and values. I always said I loved animals and I was against animal cruelty. But because of cognitive dissonance, I couldn't see that by eating meat, egg, and dairy I was paying for animals to be exploited and killed when I didn't have to. Veganism is the most rational and ethical way to go about our lifestyles. It saves lives. Human and non-human animals' lives. Now I come from a background where I ate a lot of meat and cheese. Back then I thought it was hard, but it really wasn't. There is a little adjustment but it's always easier for us to be vegan than for animals to be exploded and abused in trillions. So if I did it, you can do it too. All veganism is, is to reduce animal suffering as much as practical and possible. The key here is animal consumption is not a necessity for us, we do it for taste, pleasure, convenience, tradition, etc. I think these are not good reasons to kill animals for. Imagine if somebody was beating a dog for pleasure. We will take action and try to stop them. This is exactly what veganism is, except you do that not just for dogs, but also for all other animals or capable of suffering. Meat, egg and dairy industries do a great job in hiding the atrocities behind the scene. So please watch Dominion on YouTube. Once you go vegan, you no longer actively pay for others to kill animals for you. But I hope you don't stop there. Veganism is the bare minimum we can do. Hopefully you become someone like Earthling Ed. Someone who speaks up against cruelty and injustice. If you're not vegan yet, please give this an open mind. At first we tend to resist. That's natural. We always resist change, I did too. I called this the meat bias. We love eating meat and that clouds are judgment. So try to think with your head, with your brain, and not with your stomach. Then you can see veganism is simply the best thing that you can do for yourself and for the animals. Give it an open mind and open heart. The right time to go vegan is your next meal and you can do this. Imagine if an animal you care about was in trouble. You will do anything and you will spend however much money necessary to make sure they are sound and safe. So please treat this with the same sense of urgency and seriousness. You got this ✌️🙏

We gotta protect this man at all costs, Period.

Ed, you have done more for animals worldwide than any other vegan I can think of. However, you would certainly reach many more people if you'd invest in translating your speeches and debate videos into at least a couple of widely spoken languages. I anxiously await that day! Thank you!

7+ years since our family quit eating animals. 3 boys - all athletes strong and healthy. My wife and I work out daily and we eat amazing plant based food! Best decision we’ve ever made! 🌱 💪🏼 Ed has also been a great source for us as we continue our journey. Continue to find your own way to share how normal and logical it is to choose to eat plants instead of animals - as they are all individuals.

Vegan now for one year and couldn’t be more grateful. I knew all along but it took being challenged by a compassionate vegan to cause me to align my actions with my values. So grateful for people like Ed and so many others who I’ve discovered over this first year.

Another Ted talk absolutely obliterating carnist logic and further proving veganism is something we all agree with when we are honest. Thank you Ed 🙏

Bit of a click bait title, I thought my veganism would be challenged. But this is a good argument for those who don't understand why someone may choose to not use animal products. Well spoken. I've been vegan since I've been 14, just turned 35 and never gonna stop.

Followed Ed for years. He's an amazing, calm and rational advocate for animals.

As a country girl, I've always known all animals have their own personality. My granddad's milk cows were all the proof I needed. Daisy loved to be sung to. Belle wanted to play with the herding dogs rather than stay with everyone else when they were being gathered. I have many more examples of such, which colors my attitude to this day.

Vegan for almost 9 years now. Never going back to eating animal flesh. Amazing talk, Ed! ❤

Great video! Met this man in a grocery store and he’s a a very genuine, intelligent and kind hearted person. Thanks for encouraging me to do better.

its never too late to go vegan. I made the change at 49 years of age. Best decision of my life.

Great speech, made me go vegan!

Ed is so well-spoken

A voice of sanity. Embracing this ideology is vital to our basic ethical and intellectual evolution.

Love Ed, he's so well spoken, a great voice for the animals who can't speak or fight for themselves 👏👏

My only regret is not changing sooner ❤

If I were not vegan already I would surely be now. Awesome talk, very well done. It is so wonderful listening to you. You make the world a better place and I am deeply grateful for that. 💚