International Vegetarian Union (IVU) IVU logo  Vegetarian or
Vegan? Necessary remarks to an unnecessary debate  from EVU News
Issues 3+4, 1995  by Dr. Helmut F. Kaplan  Vegetarians don't
lead an easy life. Until a short time ago mocked by meat eaters,
here again trouble, this time from the other side: Criticism
from vegans, who not only refuse meat, but also dairy products,
eggs and leather for moral reasons. To that, at once, two theses
at the beginning, to illustrate the problems and the explosive
effect of the question "Vegetarian or Vegan?":  Criticism of
vegans towards vegetarians in terms of ethics and facts is
completely right.  Criticism of vegans towards vegetarians in
terms of policy and strategy is completely wrong.  As always,
when it comes down to emotionally charged and objectively many-
sided discussions, here, too, it is recommendable to look at the
facts first in a dispassionate way:  Every commercial "use" of
animals, and also those in dairy, egg and leather industry,
stands for "exploitation