Toward Rational, Authentic Food Choices | Melanie Joy | TEDxMünchen

Melanie Joy on Carnism and other food choices.

Melanie Joy, Ph.D., Ed.M. is a Harvard-educated psychologist, professor of psychology and sociology at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, a noted speaker, and the author of "Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows." Melanie is a recipient of the Institute of Jainology’s Ahimsa Award. Her work has been featured by numerous media outlets including the BBC, Germany’s ARD, ABC Australia, the New York Times and Spiegel Online. Melanie has given her carnism presentation on five continents. She is also the founder and president of the organization Beyond Carnism (formerly Carnism Awareness & Action Network) and the project Karnismus erkennen (German-speaking countries).

[zzabellaa]

"to reduce a life to a unit of production" such a powerful line.

[petershaw]

I have been vegan for 17+ years and counting. This video is VERY important for everyone to watch. Way to go Melanie!!!

[ksu]

I am 65, became a vegetarian (now a vegan) in 1976.  This presentation is the single best argument for eliminating animal based foods (and the resultant suffering) from our diets that I have seen.  Thanks very much for your research, dedication and efforts.   Change comes slowly, but we are making a difference.  We will never achieve our potential as a species until we eliminate animal based foods from our diets.

[chuong]

Instantly cried at the first video she showed.

Immediately went over to my dog with tears running down my face, apologizing to her for how bad we humans are. I can't eat animals anymore. I just can't.

[mthfay]

What a beautiful, inspiring lady. I'm already a vegan but she is a great example how we should talk with people.

[JovankaCiaresHerbalist]

Such an important conversation and such a compassionate approach to an uncomfortable topic. Vegans and those who promote compassion to animals are not angry (as some would like to believe). We simply have passion in the awareness and knowledge. We need to share and spread the word. Our future depends on it.

[maggiesducks]

I've been a vegan for 8 months now, so I usually don't watch videos of farms and animal death, since you know, I'm not contributing to it anyway. I had this up while I was drawing, to listen to it, and I went to pause it just as they were shooting a bolt into a calf's head. I used to be able to watch those videos and just gasp and feel terrible, but this time it knocked the wind out of me. I just immediately starting crying, like heavy heaving and sobs. I just had to hold my face in my hands and cry for a solid few minutes.

It's so easy to forget what animal products do. It's so easy to see milk, cheese, yogurt, and not think about the animal that died to make it for you. I have to watch this kinda stuff every few months to remind myself why I'm vegan, because it is so worth it. I feel so much healthier and happier. 

That calf's face as it's brain was impaled will be in my mind forever.

[qtaayy]

This is a beautiful Ted Talk. I've been vegan for nearly a year now all thanks to watching this video that made me commit to this lifestyle. Becoming vegan was one of the best decision I've ever made for myself, the animal, and the environment.

[marbintj]

This is the Most important thing I've seen in my entire life

[McSharbucks]

I've been a vegetarian my whole life and recently went vegan (I'm ashamed I didn't do that earlier). It takes a lot to make me cry, but I started sobbing uncontrollably during the slaughter portion. I've always known why I won't eat animals, but watching something like that will devastate you like nothing else. I strongly believe true compassion towards each other begins with the compassion towards animals, just as the Leo Tolstoy quote in the end states.

[faridaugust]

This video was what finally made me go vegan after a few months of researching and playing with the idea. Thank you Melanie for such an eloquent and powerful talk. More people definitely need to watch this!

[gigiluvsbts]

A vegan friend of mine suggested I watch this video, and I am so happy I did! Will be sharing with my vegan and non-vegan friends. Thank you for this.

[NaderMoavenianIran]

Thanks Dr. Melanie Joy for this powerful presentation. It brought tears to my eyes thinking that how I could be an accomplice in murderer of so many innocent beings throughout my life by simply born into a society that being carnivorous  was a normal way of life. I have tried twice being a vegetarian in my life due to philosophical reasons and failed to stay away from eating meat since it was hard for me to put up with inconvenience of remaining a vegetarian. But now I am more determined than ever to put an end to an awful practice and move toward being a better human being.

[johnnyveganite]

Been vegetarian15 years and vegan 3 years, I've been spreading that vegan message for the animals. Peace all.

[Tiomofee]

Melanie, I have spread the word. Awareness will grow. Your speech was powerful and totally convincing. Thank you for the love.

[Phoenix-uynm]

I used to be so disconnected from the reality of eating meat. I would never watch factory farm videos because I didn't want to feel guilty and I didn't want to face the painful reality. I'm so glad I finally woke up and decided not to look the other way.

[MagisterialVoyager]

I joined vegan movement last year. It was one of the best choices I've ever made in my life. To find Melanie Joy, who actually did research on this, is such a blessing. Brilliant talk! Thank you, Melanie Joy and TEDx Talks!

[enkelingdaemen]

I'm literally almost crying at the part where she tries to increase awareness. 

[claraalterio]

It's been almost 3 years and 6 months since I saw this and instantly became vegetarian, and everytime I come back here to remind me why I chose this path, I always end up crying. Thank you Melanie Joy for raising awareness and making us realize we ALL have a choice in this matter.

[PB-lyuy]

I just want to leave a reminder that no one can force themselves to be ready for such a paradigm / lifestyle change. Most of us vegans began as meat eaters who at some point felt compelled to become vegan. But the point is that we felt compelled and so it was an easy choice AT THAT POINT IN TIME. None of us would have enjoyed being judged before then, and we have no right to judge others. As Melanie Joy herself says: we can only plant seeds that hopefully inspire others. We can not force people to change. It is also important to remember that there are some people who literally could  not survive without animal products, such as those on hemodialysis for example. I also know some adults who have so many food intolerances, who can not stomach tofu or any legumes, and many other things, for whom living healthily as a vegan would be very challenging. Let us first and foremost be kind and compassionate, to humans as well as other animals :) Cheers to all.