When did you become a vegetarian? March 3, 2005, and by summer I was a vegan.
What is the difference between a vegetarian and a vegan? What people refer to as vegetarian is … a person who doesn’t eat fish, flesh or fowl, whereas a vegan excludes all animal products from their diet, including eggs and by-products.
Is it a health thing or a love of animals? I grew up in the punk/hardcore music scene. Veganism and animal rights are very prominent in that scene. I was teetering on becoming a vegetarian for about eight months. This video (about animal rights) pushed me over the edge and that is when I went vegetarian. I’m also a Hindu. Veganism can be part of the faith although it is not mandatory.
What about hunting? Most people in my family hunt or fish. I agree centuries ago there was a need to kill an animal. If you are just shooting a deer to put its head on the wall, that is wrong. I never approved of taxidermy, even as a small child.
What do you eat? The commissary has some vegetarian options, such as a brand name called Boca, which makes vegetarian and vegan foods like fake meats, and they always have soy milk available.
Do you think you are healthier than before you went vegan? Absolutely. From a scientific standpoint I have zero cholesterol in my diet. My fat intake is cut. I’ve always been thin so weight loss wasn’t a problem, but I have an endless supply of energy that I didn’t have before.
What sort of stuff can you do with all that energy? I’m a musician, and I have a band in Nuremberg as well as a band in the States. When I’m on stage I’m constantly moving around. I can run for hours when I’m not injured.
What are your bands called, and what kind of music do you play? My primary band is Opposite of Amber in Indiana. We play mainstream rock along the lines of Nickelback. My German band is called Praena and we play metalcore. I play drums in Praena and guitar in Opposite of Amber.
What with being a vegan and a Hindu, isn’t pacifism just one step away? I believe in animal rights as much as I believe in human rights. I did raise my hand and give the oath prior to becoming a vegan, but if I was in combat and was under fire I would return fire. If an animal was trying to kill me I would do everything I could to protect myself.
How did you become peta2’s (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals 2) cutest vegan? I’m a member of PETA. The contest was open for self-submittal. I didn’t think I’d get looked at. Peta2 is the youth part of PETA but I got an e-mail that I was a finalist out of about 3,000 contestants.
What interesting information do you have about animal welfare? The main reason I’m a vegan is because I’m against factory farms. The treatment animals receive there is horrendous. People can go to peta2.com to find out more about that.
Jed MartonAge: 22Title: “Cutest Vegetarian Alive,” according to peta2, an youth animal rights organizationDay job: Serves wth 3rd Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment at Hohenfels, Germany’s Joint Multinational Readiness Center)
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