Compassionate Confrontation

Confrontation is something we all have to deal with. Some cope better than others. It's all about keeping calm and collected and getting your side across in a convincing, compassionate way. I've never been very good at that.

There's an important person in my life that I've always clashed with. We are polar opposite. Doesn't mean I don't care about them still though. Over the years we've found ourselves in many heated discussions and we both always have to be right. Recently though they found themselves in a room with 3 vegans, including myself, and they are far from even considering veganism (no matter how how I've tried). They bought up the topic of veganism. 

In the room was my mum (for the animals), my other half (for his health) and myself (for the environment) so there was a wide array of opinions that even clashed within the 3 of us. The non-V (we'll call them) knows what happens to the animals, we've made them watch enough footage between us, but it really doesn't bother them. They've also watched a couple of documentaries on the health factors of consuming animal products. However, their knowledge on the environmental impact seemed sparse. 

"It doesn't affect my day to day life." Non-V kept saying. "No, it may not, but just think further ahead." I said. "But when I'm dying I'll only care about my family. When I'm dead I won't care if I've eaten it or not. It doesn't matter, and it won't matter to me." I went on to explain about some of the environmental facts. One hamburger requires 660 gallons of water to produce – the equivalent of 2 months’ worth of showers. Animal agriculture is responsible for more greenhouse gases than all transport combined. This actually seemed to make Non-V stop and think. "It may not seem to be affecting your life right now but think about your children, your grandchildren, their children. Think of the earth they'll be living on if we carry on consuming the way we are." 

I don't think this Non-V will ever transition but I do think this was the first time I managed to get my point across and use facts to make them stop and think. Living with my mum, they have cut down their animal product consumption. "You used to buy it and cook it for me, so I ate it." They said to her. Which is a very important factor to consider in consumerism. As long as we keep the products easy to access people won't change their ways. People aren't ignorant anymore, they know the facts, but it's still seen as a "normal" thing to do so people struggle to make the connection and change their ways.

I kept calm and factual and seemed to have made an impact for the first time. Before when I would shut down, get upset, get angry, I never got anywhere. Keep your activism calm and collected and you will always make more of an impact; people will respect and relate to you.