By John Di Leonardo
In 2024, my organization Humane Long Island – which leads campaigns advocating and rescuing animals from Manhattan to Montauk – saved the lives of thousands of animals. We worked with authorities to jail animal abusers; with local universities to cancel animal exploitation conventions; exposed the negligent deaths of giraffes, porcupines, and even a bear at roadside zoos; and shut down and canceled the license of Sloth Encounters – an unlawfully operated exotic petting zoo and pet store on Long Island. Our campaigns were featured on the cover of Newsday and The New York Times multiple times and we rehabilitated and released countless animals.
But you don’t need to found an animal advocacy organization in order to save hundreds of animals every year. By following just one simple ANUVRAT—or small vow—that of ahimsa—or nonviolence—, you can save the lives of 200 animals annually by simply leaving animals and their products off of your plate. This New Year’s resolution wouldn’t just benefit the animals. It would benefit you as well.
Acharya Tulsi Ji (Photo provided by: Arvind Vora)
Going vegan puts you into a category that is one-ninth as likely to be obese as meat-eaters and have a cancer rate that is only 40 percent that of meat-eaters. Replacing meat and dairy with delicious plant-based alternatives also means giving up cholesterol—which is only found in animal-derived foods—and decreasing your risk for many other illnesses, including strokes, obesity, osteoporosis, arthritis, Alzheimer’s, multiple allergies, diabetes, and food poisoning. In fact, NFL players like quarterback Cam Newton and world-record strongmen like Patrik Baboumian are vegan not only to help animals but to also improve performance. Check out “The Game Changers” on Netflix for an entire documentary about superstar athletes adopting a plant-based diet.
Going vegan also removes you from contributing to the staggering 51 percent or more of global greenhouse-gas emissions that are caused by animal agriculture, according to a report published by the Worldwatch Institute, and from contributing to more than half of the water used in the United States today being wasted on animal agriculture. Since farmed animals produce 130 times more excrement than the human population, the run-off from farm waste not only wastes water but is also contaminating our waterways.
“Ahimsa Parmo Dharma” is a Sanskrit phrase popularized by Mahatma Gandhi. In short, it means, “Nonviolence is the highest duty.” This year, I encourage each of us to take this ANUVRAT a little bit more seriously and better our health, the environment and the lives of animals by only consuming compassionate, animal-free food. With an infinite number of tasty and healthful replacements for animal flesh, eggs and dairy available at nearly every grocery store and coffee shop, and Beyond Meat—which makes realistic plant-based meats out of vegetables like peas and beets—widely available food marts and even major restaurant chains like TGI Fridays, it has never been easier to live a kinder, healthier lifestyle. The organization Veganuary specializes in helping people make the transition for the new year and my organization Humane Long Island would be happy to help too. You can reach us at www.humanelongisland.org.
---------------------------
John Di Leonardo is the founding director of Humane Long Island. He was previously the Senior Manager of Grassroots Campaigns and Animals in Entertainment Campaigns for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). He has a Master's degree in Anthrozoology from Canisius College. He also earned a graduate certificate in Jain Studies from the International School of Jain Studies (ISJS) in India. John can be reached at [email protected].
