BENGALURU: Veganism as a lifestyle has been a growth in Bengaluru in recent years, with MLAs such as Soumya Reddy coming out to promote it. While veganism has always been associated with animal abuse, US-based lecturer and vegan advocate, Dr Joanne Kong, talks about other aspects of the lifestyle, such as plant-based nutrition.
Coming to Bengaluru on August 8 at JustBe Café, Sadashiva Nagar, Dr Kong will be talking about the ‘tremendous benefits of plant-based nutrition to our health, the environment and compassion’. Being a vegetarian going vegan, Dr Kong shifted to the new lifestyle recently with a mission to save the planet.
“Veganism is definitely growing around the world, it is not just the latest diet or fad. More people are realising the immense health benefits of plant-based nutrition. But it goes beyond this too, as going plant-based is the single most powerful action that people can take to protect the environment, combat climate change and restore the natural world and its resources,” she says.“Vegan activism in India, especially among young people, is growing rapidly. I know that people will be open to becoming more aware of the power of veganism and how it benefits them,” she says.
Being educated about all the aspects of veganism and realising its importance is what inspired Joanne to want to motivate others to examine and make more conscious, positive food choices. With meat being a major part of the cuisine in our diverse nation, Dr Kong feels that she can still change the minds of people with just one simple point. “I will present the message that current global food choices have reached a critical point because growing meat consumption is severely impacting the sustainability of our planet and our health. Everything from climate change and environmental damage, to drastic decline of animal and plant species, rise in obesity rates (there is now an Obesity Foundation India), antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and direct impact on world hunger and tremendous waste of resources,” she explains.
According to her, shifting to plant-based nutrition would save 70 – 80 per cent of the land, water and energy resources currently used for meat production. “Numerous organisations project that eventually, we will have no option but to make a major shift in our world economies and food production,” she adds.
Joanne will also be speaking at the Satvik Vegan Festival held at several other cities such Pune, Mumbai and Surat.