|
Post by roslily on Mar 24, 2008 20:03:35 GMT
If I become vegan does that mean no wool? I don't wear anything containing silk, but hadn't thought about wool.
|
|
Matt
Newbie
Posts: 22
|
Post by Matt on Mar 24, 2008 20:17:41 GMT
I guess officially wool isn't vegan simply because it's an animal product. It will be linked with the meat industry too - the sheep will still be killed well before their natural lifespan, and presumably some of the lambs born to a flock kept for wool will be slaughtered for lamb meat rather than raised for wool.
Having said that, it depends totally where you want to draw the line - it's a bit of a grey area. My view is that it's better to live your life with your heart in the right place and try to be vegan as far as you can, in a realistic, sustainable way. Eg. I've got a wool suit that I bought before going vegan - I'm obviously not going to get rid of it and still wear it occasionally, but I would definitely think twice about buying anything made with wool now.
If you need a particular item that contains wool, and you can't find any alternatives, then it's not the end of the world if you have to buy it. It's not like having a total relapse and eating a 12oz rare steak washed down with a pint of milk!
|
|
|
Post by Pob on Mar 24, 2008 21:40:33 GMT
Wool is fairly easily avoidable - there are loads of alternatives these days. Fleece is warm and, I believe, generally made from recycled pop bottles, so it's pretty green too.
Do the best you can, but do read up about sheep. For instance, they have been selectively bred for the benefit of humans and not their own benefit. They produce too much wool and get too hot unless it is sheared, their legs are too spindly and they suffer a lot of lameness. Their tails are docked (is it still done by an elastic band left on until it falls off?), in Australia they have chunks of flesh cut off their hind quarters without anaesthetic, because they have so much folded skin it harbours maggots.
Throwing things out you already have isn't necessary, though. I think my suit from pre-vegan days has wool in - not that I wear it very often. When I replace it though, it definitely won't have any wool in.
|
|