ECHR confirms ethical veganism is a protected philosophical belief

ssalutis about 11 hours ago 30 commentsRead Article on veganfta.com

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Discussion (30 Comments)Read Original on HackerNews

xvxvx•about 10 hours ago

I spent 2 weeks in the UK recently and they are light years ahead of the US in terms of veganism and cruelty free products. I was actually quite shocked about how many options the grocery stores had and how almost every restaurant had a vegan option, or even a vegan menu.

The trend in the US has been to hide the word ‘vegan’ from consumers and bury it in their website somewhere. Not so in the UK. Brands seem super happy about showing which products in their selection are vegan. No list of ‘secretly/accidentally vegan’ products over there, they happily let you know right in the packaging.

People there are generally more aware of veganism too. No need to explain what it is like I constantly do in the US. ‘Can vegans eat eggs?’ What part of ‘no animal products’ don’t you understand?

PeterHolzwarth•about 9 hours ago

I think veganism in America went through a popular phase, then simply faded as a pop concept. Perhaps your experiences in the UK merely reflect that, there, it is just going through a temporary uptick of fad.

userbinator•about 7 hours ago

People have gotten sick of the constant virtue-signaling.

kubb•about 6 hours ago

That would suggest a fundamental difference in practical ethics between the two cultures.

It sounds like people over there in America don’t do things because they enjoy doing them or because they’re convinced that those are the right things to do, but rather they do them to impress others or improve their social standing.

It doesn’t sound right to me, I mean a culture can’t be so totally obsessed with the self.

InsideOutSanta•about 3 hours ago

I think you've pinpointed the reason, although unintentionally: the US is so focused on culture wars that people can't visibly follow a vegan diet without being attacked for it.

PeterHolzwarth•about 6 hours ago

And then they get un-sick of it. Fads come and go, constantly re-inventing themselves and getting rediscovered.

bestouff•about 7 hours ago

It's been there for decades.

PeterHolzwarth•about 6 hours ago

It's been everywhere for decades - that's not the point. It's fadishness that is what may be going on here: restaurants are the tip of the spear of new trends.

conception•about 7 hours ago

That’s interesting. I wonder if that’s a byproduct of the strong Indian influences? I would imagine its popular there as well.

kurthr•about 7 hours ago

Hindu drink milk and eat cheese, butter, and honey. Not vegan.

orbisvicis•about 6 hours ago

I know vegans who consume dairy/eggs once they become responsible for the husbandry of those sources.

akdor1154•about 6 hours ago

Jains would be vegan though i assume?

SuperNinKenDo•about 6 hours ago

I was kind of surprised when I traveled to NY and SF from Melbourne. I knew Melbourne was fairly up there in vego/vegan friendliness, but took it for granted that NY and SF would be a cakewalk. Hardly appalling, but there were times I could not eat anything on the menu at some places and I'm only vegetarian, and in many instances I had only a single option. Was a little strange.

Gathering6678•about 5 hours ago

(1) An inmate is not allowed (essentially, by the society) a specific diet dictated by his/her belief; and, (2) A poor person cannot afford (essentially, because of the society) a nutritious and delicious meal dictated by his/her needs or wants.

What are the differences between them? Are there differences at all?

joeconway•about 6 hours ago

Good

moi2388•about 6 hours ago

What a ridiculous ruling. Why would a prison need to provide a chosen diet? Then from now on I just want medium rare steak.

InsideOutSanta•about 3 hours ago

They didn't order a specific meal, they asked for specific items to be excluded from their meals. I'm often cooking for vegans, and it's really not that fricken difficult.

pdpi•about 5 hours ago

Doesn’t seem like these two guys were vegan for Instagram internet points or for following a trend. They’re not trying to game the system for steak, medium rare. Their dietary restrictions are part of a larger belief system — they’re vegans because it’s the only diet consistent with their beliefs about animal rights.

Irrespectively of my own personal opinion on ethical veganism, if it’s a sincerely held belief, it should be treated the same as, say, a Jewish inmate requesting to eat kosher, or a Muslim inmate requesting to eat halal. A prison sentence shouldn’t effectively force you to break with those beliefs.

moi2388•about 3 hours ago

Prisons shouldn’t provide kosher or halal meals either. It’s a prison, not a hotel.

Or you have to state why their beliefs about wanting certain foods is valid, but my beliefs about wanting other certain foods is not.

red75prime•about 5 hours ago

They probably can't order tofu. It would be B12-fortified oatmeal or something like this.

cute_boi•about 5 hours ago

I think you are being ridiculous here. Rare steak is expensive compared to rice and beans. And providing vegan meal is super easy.

SuperNinKenDo•about 6 hours ago

What a ridiculous comment.

kelseyfrog•about 6 hours ago

Do you hold any philosophical beliefs? If so, would you be willing to share them?