About 2.5 percent of Americans are vegans: they never eat meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, or dairy products. Instead, they consume fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, legumes, and grains. This practice not only prevents the unnecessary killing and mistreatment of animals; it also contributes to a healthier environment. Animal agriculture is one of the largest, if not the largest, causes of water pollution and deforestation, and it is a significant cause of climate change. By adopting a plant-based diet, individuals can greatly reduce that damage to the Earth as well as their indirect use of water, energy, and agricultural land.

One of Houston’s groups promoting a plant-based diet is Vegan for Life. Through its outreach and educational activities, Vegan for Life seeks to increase the recognition of veganism as an effective approach to help save the planet, spread compassion, and improve health. These activities include conducting outreach campaigns; helping students form new vegan organizations; offering discussions, presentations, and guest speaker engagements; providing activist training and educational programs, such as the group’s recent “You Have the Right” seminar on understanding one’s civil rights; and interacting with other members of the environmental community.

In addition to such efforts, Vegan for Life selectively engages in lawful actions to help prevent practices that harm animals. For example, in July the organization participated in a protest against the circus that was being held at NRG Park.

For those interested in assisting Vegan for Life, the group offers opportunities for vegan interns or volunteers to maintain the group’s documents and Web presence, assist in event preparations, and handle such communication tasks as invitations and follow-up phone calls. Here’s a chance for any creative vegan who exhibits dedication and professionalism to turn good ideas into effective actions.

For information on how you can get involved in Vegan for Life, please contact President Michael Battey at michael@vegan-for-life.org.