20 Inspiring Vegan TED Talks to Watch Right Now – VegNews

According to the TED organization, one idea has the power to change attitudes, lives and, ultimately, the world. With this in mind, the well-respected Ted Talks offer a platform for certain individuals to share their ideas and spark change. The vegan leaders who have been granted time on the TED stage have graced the world with remarkable ideas and perception-changing speeches. Here, we feature the animal advocates, environmentalists, health and wellness experts, innovators, and scientists who educate, inspire, and empower us through their brilliant vegan ideas.

1. Ed Winters Every Argument Against VeganismApproachable animal advocate Ed Winters offers poised, logical rebuttals to common arguments vegans encounter. He delves into many topics and expertly points out lapses in logic with anti-vegan arguments such as personal choice, cultural and historical norms, and nutrient necessity. Arm yourself with answers and the nay-sayers will be left speechless the next time they attack your vegan choices.

2. Leah Garces A Lesson In Turning Adversaries Into AlliesIn this insightful talk, Mercy For Animals president Leah Garcs recounts embarking on a mission to end chicken farming with the most unlikely ally: a chicken farmer! In a time when its easy to fall into the us versus them mentality, Garces draws upon her personal experience to highlight the importance of empathy, engagement, and constructive conversation to bring about the change we want to see in the world.

3. Dr. Melanie Joys Toward Rational, Authentic Food ChoicesPsychologist, sociologist, and award-winning author Dr. Melanie Joy discusses how even rational, caring individuals can stop thinking and feeling when it comes to our food choices. In her talk, she describes the dominant ideology of carnisma term she coined that describes an invisible belief system that conditions us to eat some animals and love others. Send this to your dog-loving, meat-eating friends to see if they turn to the vegan side after watching Dr. Joy speak.

4. Dotsie Bauschs Olympic Level CompassionDotsie Bausch is a force to be reckoned with. In her impassioned TED talk, the Olympic medalist recounts her life story from suffering from anorexia to becoming a professional cyclist and then a vegan. Bausch is now on a mission to educate and empower us all with the magic of her Olympic-level compassion as the executive director of her nonprofit, Switch4Good.

5. Dr. Carl Safinas What Animals Are Thinking and Feeling, and Why It Should MatterRenowned ecologist Dr. Carl Safina dives into the profound abilities of fellow species to think, show compassion, empathize, and perceive information from their environmentall faculties we tend to label as human-like. With bursts of sarcasm and good humor, he urges us to rethink what it means to be human. Its a lot to grasp, but these thoughts are necessary to make room for compassion toward non-human animals.

6. Jasmin Singers Compassion Unlocks IdentityWhy is it so much easier to practice compassion for others and not for ourselves? Activist, vegan, and VegNews Editor at Large Jasmin Singer implores us to treat ourselves as our grandmother would treat uswith compassion, kindness, and forgiveness. She reminds us that its okay to turn the love we feel for animals and other humans back onto ourselves. Its okay to just be, no questions asked, no proof needed. Everyone deserves compassion.

7. Genesis Butlers A 10-Year-Olds Vision for Healing the PlanetGenesis Butler is an activist the world needs more of. Now a young teenager, she doesnt let age stand in the way of her activism. She is passionate, charismatic, and even as a ten-year-old, knows what shes talking about. Get the family involved and watch this talk together.

8. Isha Datars Rethinking MeatCellular agriculture expert Isha Datar educates her audience on how the way we consume meat today will impact the future of next generations and our planet. Datar has brought her vision for a sustainable food system to fruition by co-founding companies such as Muufrii (now Perfect Day), which makes cows milk without cows, and Clara Foods, which makes eggs without chickens. She is currently the executive director of New Harvesta non-profit research institute that supports and accelerates innovation in cellular agriculture.

9. Kerry McCarthys Think VeganismBBC radio presenter Kerry McCarthys talk is highly engaging and insightful as she describes the dysfunctional relationship people have with meat products. Despite an increasing awareness of the atrocities of factory farming, there is still vast resistance in the behavioral change front. How has the brain evolved to align our juxtaposed morals when it comes to meat? Give this talk a listen and find out.

10. Dr. Barbara J. Kings Grief and Love In the Animal KingdomBiological anthropologist Dr. Barbara King argues that the ability to grieve, love, and experience other complex emotions is not exclusive to humans. The concern over anthropomorphismprojecting our human experiences to non-human animalsdeters some scientists from agreeing with Dr. King. In this powerful speech, she backs her claim with moving and compelling evidence of animal emotions and urges the audience to treat all animals with compassion and respect.

11. Leslie Bisgoulds Its Time to Re-evaluate Our Relationship with AnimalsA true pioneer, Canadas first animal rights lawyer discusses ineffective animal protection laws and the weak language that allows for gaping loopholes. Leslie Bisgould specifically focuses on eliminating the property status of animals which would elevate their status in the eyes of the law. What are the morally relevant differences between humans and other animals that make it acceptable for us to hurt them in ways that would never be acceptable to hurt one another? she argues.

12. Lauren Ornelas The Power of Our Food ChoicesEvery meal we eat affords an opportunity to make informed food choices, and Lauren Ornelas is spreading the word. In this talk, she highlights the detachment many humans have when it comes to the knowledge behind how our food is produced. Send this video to a loved one who needs a little help connecting the porkchop on their plate to the pig on the farm.

13. Brian Katemans Ending the Battle Between Vegans, Vegetarians, and Everyone ElseOnce we reach the vegan end of the rainbow, its so easy to let our passion get in the way of our empathy. How can the vegan community build allies and encourage our loved ones to make the transition at their own pace? This eye-opening talk by the Reducetarian Foundation president Brian Kateman stresses the importance of positivity and inclusivity when advocating for the vegan way of life.

14. Dr. Michael Gregers Food as MedicineFounder of NutritionFacts.org, Dr. Michael Greger discusses the phenomenal power of a whole foods, plant-based diet to prevent, treat, and reverse the most common ailments that plague the Western population. If it were up to us, this talk would be streamed in every high school health class.

15. Dr. Neal Barnards Tackling Diabetes with a Bold New Dietary ApproachDiabetes is an epidemic that impacts millions of Americans, and the culprit is not sugar. Dr. Neal Barnard of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine dispels this myth and others by advocating for a nutritional approach to diabetes treatment and prevention.

16. Dr. Michael Klapers The Most Powerful Strategy for Healing People and the PlanetThe standard Western diet is rich in foods that propel preventable disease and burden the healthcare system. Despite this, a majority of research is aimed at symptom treatment instead of disease prevention. In this talk, Dr. Michael Klaper elucidates on the superior benefits of plant-based nutrition in comparison to current treatment models.

17. Bruce Friedrichs Meat Without Animals: The Future Of FoodAs the executive director and co-founder of the Good Food Institute, Bruce Friedrich knows that we cannot expect every person to give up animal productsthe industry must meet them where they are at. Friedrich stresses the importance of government support for innovations in food technology to make way for a healthier, more sustainable food system.

18. Andras Forgacs Leather and Meat Without Killing AnimalsBioprinting innovator Andras Forgacs discusses how it is possible to bypass the need to slaughter billions of animals for hamburgers and handbags through bio fabrication and tissue engineering. He showcases samples of lab-grown leather and emphasizes the remarkable versatility of the technology. With science on our side, we can end animal suffering at the hands of humans.

19. Pat Browns Saving the Planet Takes Straying from the HerdIn this engaging talk, Impossible Foods Founder Pat Brown explains the motivation and science behind the inception of his plant-based foods company. Learn what led to the famous Impossible Burger and why Brown isnt just stopping at beef. From Impossible Pork to dairy-free cows milk, Browns mission is to eradicate the use of animal products for food by 2035.

20. Susan Solomons The Promise of Research with Stem CellsPatient-derived stem cells and personalized medicine can feed two birds with one scone, according to Susan Solomon. Founder and CEO of New York Stem Cell Foundation, Solomon speaks to the vast potential of using stem cells as an alternative to animal models in biomedical research. After all, human medicine should be tested on humans.

Shriya Swaminathan currently lives in St. Louis with her pooch Halley. She enjoys supporting local vegan spots and is having a blast volunteering at The Gentle Barn in Missouri.

Photo credit: Dotsie Bausch

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20 Inspiring Vegan TED Talks to Watch Right Now - VegNews