Live in line with what matters to you.

“I grew up in a family of butchers, so eating animals was completely normal to me. It took a long time before I really started questioning it. I was vegetarian for years, until I eventually watched footage of what happens in the dairy and egg industries. Once I had seen what was happening behind the scenes, I could no longer look away. In 2011, I became vegan. That choice changed the direction of my life. Everything that came after it, from Veganuary to the work I do today, began with that one decision: to stop looking away. Becoming vegan was much more than a change in what I ate. It changed how I saw the world, took me away from the commercial world and towards work that truly means something to me. It gave my life a sense of purpose I had not had before. Despite the weight of what I now know, I am happier than ever.”

Keeping animals on a massive industrial scale is not only a terrible disaster for animals, but also affects our natural environment, our surroundings and, inherently, our health. Many people do not realise this. Food security is not about growing vast quantities of crops to feed animals in the livestock industry, animals who live short, miserable ‘lives’ in terrible conditions before being slaughtered on a massive scale. The word ‘vegan’ triggers resistance in many people, but why? Speciesism is something we see all around us. Why do you cuddle one animal and eat another? Four years ago, I became active with the Party for the Animals and through that I met people who had become vegan. I had already been vegetarian for decades, but I had never really looked into veganism. Looking back, I think: ‘Why did I not explore it sooner?’ Since eating fully plant-based, I feel fitter and less tired than I did when I was vegetarian. As a vegan, I am often asked: ‘But what do you eat?’, ‘I cannot live without animal products’ or ‘I only eat what I like’ (!). I do not blame people when they react that way. Much of it comes from a lack of knowledge, and in my experience most people are curious and open to hearing why I am vegan. People ask questions, and in that way I can contribute, on a small scale, to greater awareness. That gives me hope and energy. Even if people are not immediately open to veganism or to eating more plant-based, a seed has still been planted. More and more, I see those seeds I planted earlier beginning to sprout. Jane Goodall’s ‘The Book of Hope’ has helped me enormously to hold on to hope and to remember that every positive movement matters, even when you do not immediately see the result you would like. Her quote, ‘The least I can do is speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves’, says everything about why I am active in helping to build a plant-based world.”

In 2016, I switched to a vegetarian diet after being inspired by a presentation at the Brainwash festival. The idea of taking another soul into myself no longer felt right. In 2017, this developed into a vegan diet because of the health aspect. Later, my environmental footprint became part of the picture, and eventually I embraced the ethical principle that humans should not exploit other animals. Living vegan means pure peace to me: the idea that every other living being can live peacefully. The fact that it is also better for the environment and for my own health has become secondary. I feel good knowing that I am not harming another living being. The difficult side is that I still speak to, see and hear people around me who continue to exploit other animals. The contrast between the peace within me and the injustice around me is painful. Since 2026, I have been active as a vegan activist because I want to do more for animals. I speak out about animal suffering and often take part in outreach events. This, together with watching the documentary Dominion, eventually inspired my partner to become vegan as well and to actively stand up against animal suffering.”

I grew up surrounded by animals and birds because my family were farmers. From a young age, that made me feel connected to animals. As a child, I was also allergic to animal products, so I never ate very much of them. As I got older, I saw in my own community how important it is to help women become stronger and more independent. I started thinking about how I could connect that with my passion for veganism. I believe women can play an important role in spreading veganism. They often have a great deal of influence over what is cooked and eaten at home. By giving women knowledge and skills around plant-based food, I hope that this change will also reach their families and communities. In that way, one person can ultimately inspire many more people to choose plant-based more often.”

I have loved animals all my life. As a child, I regularly brought home animals I had found so that I could take care of them. That is exactly why eating animals always felt strange to me. At the same time, society treated it as completely normal, so you often do not consciously think about it. From a young age, you are also taught that animal products are necessary to stay healthy. Later in life, I was pescatarian for a while, although meat occasionally slipped back into my diet during that period. After struggling with my health for several years and trying all kinds of things, I decided to switch to a fully plant-based diet. It consisted mainly of fruit, supplemented with vegetables and a small amount of seeds and nuts. I quickly noticed how much better I felt. It showed me that you can nourish yourself in a healthy and complete way without animal products. I hope more and more people will discover for themselves what a plant-based lifestyle can mean for their health. I also hope we become increasingly aware of the positive impact this choice can have on our environment and, of course, on the animals.”

My journey towards a plant-based lifestyle began with a simple but life-changing question: if I care so much about animals, why would I contribute to their suffering? As a veterinary professional and animal welfare advocate, I have seen first-hand that animals are sentient beings. They can experience pain, fear and joy. Choosing a plant-based lifestyle became a way for me to bring my actions into line with my values: compassion, justice and respect for all life. It is not about being perfect. It is about making conscious choices that reduce animal suffering while also contributing to our health, our planet and the future we share.”

I have loved animals from a young age. When I was 11, I decided to stop eating meat. Like so many others, I thought dairy and eggs did not involve animal suffering. In fact, I worked in the dairy sector for years. It was only when I started looking into the reality, including through documentaries on Netflix, that I knew veganism was the only logical choice for me. I do not want to cause suffering to any animal. That is exactly why I understand other people’s lack of awareness. I have been there myself. There are still many misconceptions, and reality is often presented as more pleasant than it really is. I believe knowledge and awareness make the difference. When people see what really lies behind our food choices, many will make different choices. You are never too old, and it is never too late, to change. What matters most is having the courage to choose.”

Choosing a vegan lifestyle has been one of the most important decisions of my life. It has taught me to empathise more deeply with animals and to think more consciously about my responsibility towards them, especially in a country where animal suffering often goes unseen. Through veganism, I have come to understand that standing up for animals is about more than talking about animal suffering. It is also about making kinder choices and building a society in which animals are treated better. Veganism has shaped me as a person and has a major influence on the work I do in Uganda. For me, veganism is a daily choice to reduce animal suffering and help build a fairer world for animals.”

My conviction to eat plant-based did not begin with animals, but with people. As a teenager, I learned about the famine in Ethiopia and how our choices affect others. Later, I discovered that meat production requires enormous amounts of food and farmland while millions of people go hungry. That insight changed how I looked at food and at my work. For years I worked on poverty reduction, education and better animal welfare, but I ultimately became convinced that plant-based alternatives are one of the most powerful ways to accelerate positive change. To me, choosing plant-based is a choice that benefits animals, people and the future of our planet.”

A simple conversation changed the way I saw food forever. When I asked someone why he was vegan, he simply replied: ‘Because I can be.’ Those words stayed with me. If it is possible to live without causing animal suffering, why would you continue contributing to it? I grew up on a farm and, somewhere inside, I had always known that the violence behind animal products did not feel right, but it seemed normal and necessary. Then I realised I could make a different choice. I have lived plant-based ever since, and it gives me peace of mind. Not because I want to be perfect, but because I want to live in a way that better reflects my values: more compassion for animals, people and the world around us.”

I originally became vegan because I did not want to harm animals. Later, I discovered that the problems caused by the animal industry go far beyond animals. They also affect public health, Indigenous communities, the environment, workers’ rights and even my own health. By living vegan, I support all of these important causes. Eventually, I founded Thrive Philanthropy, an international organisation that provides grants and supports movements. We help the plant-based food and food justice movements grow in more than 100 countries, including through financial support and assistance for local initiatives. Becoming vegan has been one of the most important choices of my life.”

Becoming vegan feels like following beauty towards gratitude. It is a journey in which we pursue justice and joy for all living beings, and develop a caring connection with different parts of ourselves, our fellow humans and our animal kin. Cultivating gratitude weaves together our inner and outer lives and invites us to discover our unique role in transforming everything around us. From the inside out, we choose this to protect ourselves from physical inflammation, cognitive dissonance, emotional contradiction and moral hypocrisy. Outwardly, we do it to save enormous amounts of land, water, grain and medicines, reduce pandemic risks, and lessen injustice towards workers and suffering for animals. In doing so, vast amounts of energy are freed up that can contribute to a richer and more abundant life for everyone.”

When I saw how animals are treated on factory farms and in slaughterhouses, I knew I wanted to do something. In 2014, I founded Veganuary to inspire and support people in trying a plant-based lifestyle during the month of January. Today, I remain involved with the organisation and help guide the work of Veganuary and its team. I have never felt that I am missing out on anything or that I would want to change anything. This is who I am, and this is what I believe in.”

For more than forty years, I have not eaten animals — simply because I felt sorry for them. It is still that simple. At a time when meat substitutes did not exist, I learned to cook with pulses, vegetables and herbs. I have never missed meat. Over the years, my knowledge of animal welfare, the dairy industry and egg production grew. Slowly but surely, I moved towards a fully plant-based lifestyle, which I have now followed for fifteen years. When I walk through the supermarket, I genuinely know: those dead animals, those cheap eggs and those cartons of milk are not there for me. That feeling gives me peace and satisfaction, every single day.”

As a little boy, I already did not want to eat animals because I loved them and did not want them to be killed. But I was an on-and-off vegetarian. There were periods when I still ate meat because I felt embarrassed about being ‘difficult’ or was afraid people would think I was soft or strange. It was only when I started secondary school that I decided this had to stop, and that my embarrassment and the idea that loving animals was somehow uncool were nonsense. Giving up dairy came later and was harder for me than giving up meat, because I loved cheese and there were no good dairy alternatives at the time. For a while I ate plant-based at home and was vegetarian when eating out. I have now been vegan for almost a quarter of a century. I cannot imagine living any other way. If I have done one good thing in my life, it is making this choice.”

I had always loved animals. When I was about ten, I asked myself what the difference was between our dog and the cow in the field opposite us, who would be slaughtered for meat. I decided there was no distinction that mattered morally, and that I therefore had to stop eating animals. It took me many years to actually do so (because I loved the taste of meat), but once I made the switch, I was fully committed. I have devoted all the years since to changing the food system and helping farmed animals.”

The birth of our son and my work as a ship’s doctor on Sea Shepherd campaigns against illegal whaling changed my perspective. I already ate little meat and dairy, but as my understanding of animal welfare, health and the impact of our animal-based food system on the planet grew, a plant-based lifestyle felt like a logical step. It turned out to be surprisingly easy and delicious, and above all it gave me peace of mind: living in line with my values, with more compassion for animals, people and the planet.”

The biggest change in my life was my decision to stop eating animals in 2009. Not only did I feel physically better, I also felt an enormous weight lift from my shoulders because I knew I was no longer contributing to the cruelty of the livestock industry. Once you learn about the horrors taking place behind the closed doors of factory farms and slaughterhouses, you become 100% convinced that stopping eating animals is the right choice.”