
#45 Fur, Leather, and Ethical Dilemmas: Navigating the Vegan Transition
About this episode
Recently, I posed a question on social media: “When you became vegan, what did you do with any products that were made of leather?” The responses were enlightening and sparked a lot of personal reflection. Just two weeks before I went vegan, I bought a white fur jacket that I absolutely loved. But, since then, I’ve been conflicted about keeping it.
Throughout this episode, I’ll be sharing my journey in trying to find a clearer answer. We'll explore the ethical differences between leather shoes and a fur coat, and why I still wear my leather footwear but haven’t touched that jacket. Is there really a difference, or am I just rationalising my choices?
We’ll also hear from other vegans who chose to donate their leather items to charity shops, and discuss a powerful comment from a Facebook user who said, “Wearing them felt barbaric once I had my ethical position clear in my own mind.” This got me thinking about speciesism and waste, and how they tie into our vegan values.
- “There is no difference between fur and leather.”
- “What do I do with this fur jacket? I just think throwing it away is so disrespectful… it’s trashing it. and wearing it is dishonouring what I believe in…”
- “I haven’t got a ‘this is right, this is wrong’” Is Rachel still in that place at the end of the episode?
- Many vegans gave their leather products to charity shops.
- “Wearing them felt barbaric once I had my ethical position clear in my own mind.”
- Speciesism is incompatible with veganism
- “From the beginning of this episode to now I’m finding out much more information.”
- “This is my process of working it through – you’re with me on this journey!”
Valuable Resources
The Elephant In The Room blog: https://theresanelephantintheroomblog.wordpress.com/2019/11/19/about-the-words-we-use-waste/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1hBLZHUUhQsvAdeFcQksMJ7gFYVC45L83HE2niJjDebzm9LjUSlAemmbk_aem_AQY-0jimeOiqv7dSRPWesn0ocfdixLsuq6N-B93QOpiBMSR9n_QloN2ZuzTZ0Vr-K8qV5hQRbTeSRd-Mmbxyvzqt
For an extensive list of foods with their carb, fat and protein count, go here: https://www.rachelgtherapy.co.uk/1-what-why-and-how
For a keto-vegan start-up menu and shopping list go here: https://www.rachelgtherapy.co.uk/1-what-why-and-how
Host Bio
Rachel, a once morbidly obese individual, experienced a remarkable body transformation through the keto diet. Later, she embraced veganism and now shares her extensive knowledge and obsession with carbs in vegan proteins on The Keto Vegan podcast. Her goal is to demonstrate the simplicity of combining the keto diet with a vegan lifestyle.
Resources: https://www.rachelgtherapy.co.uk/the-keto-vegan
Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/@TheKetoVegan/podcasts
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/821471059206067
Email: [email protected]
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