From: Nan Tzu (70.112.180.151)
Greeting: Hello Fellow Vegans
Date: March 21, 2005 at 7:34 am PST

My 'real' name is Nancy and I am one of the 'elders' on the board,
having hit the big 5-0 last summer. I live in Austin, TX and volunteer a
lot with local naturalist/environmental areas and groups. I love to get
people out in nature because that is where I find my peace and my
inspiration. I also volunteer at the local Humane Society socializing cats.

I made a long slow transition to veganism - from giving up red m**t,
then other things, to veggie and then to vegan, the process took a total
of about 20 years! I've been veggie for about 12 years and vegan for 4
1/2. Now, I can't imagine eating any other way.

My daughter, who's now 18, and I went on several of Dr. John McDougall's
summer trips. He convinced her to go veggie. She still struggles with
cheese, but she's on 'the road to vegan'.

I started out on my path because a friend dared me to give up red m**t
for a month. He had given it up for health reasons. After that month, I
never ate it again. So, starting with health reasons and because I just
vaguely didn't like the thought of eating such gross stuff, I've read
and learned a lot more about all aspects of raising and consuming
animals. It just makes no sense, unless one is truely starving and there
are no other alternatives - that is certainly not the case in the USA
today. Ethics, Health, Environment, all are reasons for me to be vegan.