Of all the planetary boundary transgressions caused by our climate heating civilization, the transgression on biodiversity, in general, and the animal kingdom, in particular, is undoubtedly the most egregious. Hence the transformation from a climate heating civilization to a climate healing civilization is fundamentally a transformation from the systematic exploitation of animals and Nature to their systematic non-exploitation, followed by service to restore wild animal populations and Nature.

Veganism is a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude – as far as is possible and practicable – all forms of exploitation of animals for food, clothing or any other purpose. Therefore going Vegan and renouncing the wanton exploitation of animals is the first step towards actively serving Nature and becoming Vitally Engaged Guardians of Animals and Nature (VEGAN).

While people go Vegan for health and ethics more than for the environment, it is the environmental imperative for Veganism that imposes a physical limit on global procrastination. A largely Vegan world by 2026 is not just nice for our health and for the animals. 2026 is a physical limit to avoid catastrophic points of no return on biodiversity and the climate. A largely Vegan world by 2026 is thus a moral imperative to be undertaken as if it’s the Manhattan project of our generation.

Since most global policymakers are actively promoting the opposite action on Veganism as if They’re Trying to Kill Us (a documentary which can be viewed for free during February, Black History month), it is up to us, the people, to help each other find our spiritual fire for action without waiting for their leadership. At times like these, it is encouraging to find wisdom in our ancient texts, cultures and practices.

Over its long history, the Chinese civilization has offered great wisdom to help humanity relate to Nature and other beings. One of its poignant contributions has been the concept of the Chinese Zodiac relating a birth animal with each human being. The Zodiac 12 documentary by the China Vegan Society helps us link these birth animals with a specific form of systematic exploitation represented by that animal.

Since the exploitative system clings to its existence by claiming necessity of use, it is important to debunk every such claim systematically and provide viable alternatives. Indeed, if you are unsure on how you can contribute to the Vegan movement, then please look up your Zodiac animal from the list below and perhaps join in to help liberate their kind from systematic oppression, since the liberation you manifest will also be for yourself:

Mouse (birth year: 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020) – The mouse represents all animals used in laboratory experiments around the world. Animal experimentation is useless cruelty, but it has continued with government approval due to systemic corruption and entrenched moneyed interests. To help the mouse, please support, for example, the Center for Contemporary Sciences, co-founded by Dr. Ayesha Akhtar, working to replace ineffective animal testing with superior human biology based methods.

Cow (birth year: 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021) – The cow represents all animals used in the dairy industry. Dairy consumption is harmful for humans, with around 70% of humans testing lactose intolerant in the world and 100% of humans increasing their risk of diabetes, heart disease and certain kinds of cancer due to dairy consumption. To help the cow, please support, for example, Switch4Good, founded by Dotsie Bausch, working to end the dairy industry once and for all.

Tiger (birth year: 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022) – The tiger represents all animals used in the wildlife trade industry. Perversely, the capitalist exploitation of Nature prices rare animals much higher than animals in abundance ensuring that the continuation of wildlife trade leads to serial extinction of iconic species on the planet. To help the tiger, please support the adoption of alternative Vegan donut economic systems as well as organizations like the International Anti-Poaching Foundation, home of the famed Akashinga.

Rabbit (birth year: 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023) – The rabbit represents all animals raised for their fur. There are plenty of plant-based alternatives for clothing to keep humans comfortable and there’s no doubt that the animal fur industry is redundant. To help the rabbit, please support the Fur Free Alliance, a coalition of 40 organizations working to end the fur industry worldwide.

Dragon (birth year: 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024) – The dragon represents all sea animals exploited in the fishing industry. The fishing industry mainly propagates itself on the myth that sea food is the main source of Omega-3 fatty acids in the human diet. Of course, algae provide the Omega-3 fatty acids to fish in the first place and there are also plenty of land-based plant sources of Omega-3 fatty acids such as nuts and seeds. To help the dragon, please support for example, Captain Paul Watson’s work through his newly formed Paul Watson Foundation.

Snake (birth year: 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013) – The snake represents all animals exploited for medicine. Most traditional medicine uses plants and minerals, but some also use wild animal parts that is now leading to intense suffering in the animal kingdom. However, there are plant based alternatives to these wild animal parts and to help the snake, please support organizations such as Wild Animal Protection, which has been working to transform the traditional medicine industry.

Horse (birth year: 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014) – The horse represents all animals used for sports. Human elites pride themselves on their domination of animals, making animals jump through hoops and killing them for sport. It is self-evident that this is not necessary for human well-being. To help the horse, please support organizations such as the Animal Save Movement, founded by Anita Krajnc, which has been working to end the exploitation of animals for any purpose.

Sheep (birth year: 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015) – The sheep represents all animals used for clothing. Once again, there are plenty of plant alternatives for wool, leather or feathers and therefore, there is no need to exploit animals for human clothing. To help the sheep, please support organizations such as Collective Fashion Justice, which works to end the interlinked injustices in the fashion industry.

Monkey (birth year: 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016) – The monkey represents all animals used in zoos and entertainment. It is the insecure human’s need to assert domination over animals that results in animals being kept in zoos and used in circuses. Once we understand our role in Nature and find our inner spiritual fire, these animals can surely be freed. To help the monkey, please support organizations such as AUM Films, founded by Kip Andersen, which has been creating documentaries like Cowspiracy, What the Health, Seaspiracy and Christspiracy to help accelerate human, earth and animal liberation.

Chicken (birth year: 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017) – The chicken represents all birds used in the egg industry. There are plenty of plant-based substitutes for eggs in every use of eggs. Therefore, the entire egg industry is redundant. To help the chicken, please support organizations such as United Poultry Concerns, founded by the late Karen Davis, which was worked to end the suffering of domestic birds worldwide.

Dog (birth year: 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018) – The dog represents all animals used in the “pet industry”. Even our beloved companion animals are not immune to exploitation by those intent on commodifying them in the current system. From puppy mills to the exotic animal trade, animals get caught in a vicious cycle of suffering in the capitalist system. To help the dog, please support organizations such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), founded by Ingrid Newkirk, which works to end the exploitation of animals for any purpose.

Pig (birth year: 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019) – The pig represents all animals used in the meat industry. The myth that protein is only found in meat, assiduously promoted by the meat industry and their willing and unwitting collaborators in science and academia, is just that – a myth. Indeed, protein is found in all plant foods and all plant foods have all amino acids in varying ratios as shown here. To help the pig, please support organizations such as Vegan Outreach, which works to create a kinder world for all animals.

Statistics show that nearly 80% of Vegans are women reflecting their heightened instinct to protect animals and Nature. It is high time that every human being taps into this same instinct to protect regardless of their gender identity, before the destruction of the natural world becomes irreversible.