The VRG's 2019 Video Contest Winners
The Power of Plant-Based Diets
By Adam Vossen
During my formative teenage years, I spent hours upon hours getting lost on random websites and videos. One day, I stumbled upon a video that changed my life. Why You Should Go Vegan was the title, and watching it led me into weeks of research and questioning of my past and future eating habits. After about a month of contemplation, I decided to make the move to go vegetarian, and a couple months after that, I took it to the next level and went vegan.
I've always had a gray cloud of anxiety floating over my head regarding animal abuse and climate change, and I finally felt like I was doing something to combat that. Not only did this lifestyle change prompt internal gratitude, it also provided me with a new community and identity I felt I lacked. I was constantly motivated and inspired by the fact that my food choices were helping my body, the planet, and the animals. Today, I define my vegan lifestyle as a project larger than myself, where my diet is 100% plant-based and I prioritize the environment, animal rights, and my health over my taste buds.
See: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gpsoiuUKrI&feature=youtu.be
Go Vegan to Save the Trees
By Dayana Love
I am interested in veganism for multiple reasons. First is my health. I've watched multiple documentaries on the harmful effects that animal products have on your body. I feel that the only logical step for me to take is to cut them out of my diet. Second, I am very passionate about the environment, and learning about the negative effects livestock production has made me eager to switch to a vegan diet. Finally, I am a huge animal lover and would like to align my diet with my values.
See: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JchFSDPRIyk
Living the Vegetarian Lifestyle
By Dharshan Varia
I am interested in vegetarianism because of the overwhelming health benefits I have seen associated with this diet. Additionally, morally, it does not sit well with me that we must kill animals and let them suffer for personal satisfaction when there are plant-based options available.
In the past few years, I have been really interested in vegetarian restaurants and cooking. I have learned how to effectively substitute plant-based proteins for meats while still maintaining the overall flavor of a meal. I believe that vegetarianism is a growing trend and I hope that my interest in vegetarianism will allow people to learn about environmental, health, and moral benefits associated with vegetarianism.
See: www.youtube.com/watch?v=nt7nD8zIF1A&feature=youtu.be
Video scholarships have been given in honor of W.M. Zahn, who was a great mentor. View winners of the video contest at www.vrg.org/veg_videos.php The deadline for the next VRG video contest is July 15, 2020. See: www.vrg.org/videoscholarship.php.
For information about VRG's separate College Scholarship Contest for high school seniors (One $10,000, two $5,000 awards), see: www.vrg.org/student/scholar.
To support The Vegetarian Resource Group scholarships and internships, donate at www.vrg.org/donate or mail to The Vegetarian Resource Group, P.O. Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203.
