Short answers, pulled from the story.
Donald Watson published the first issue of The Vegan News in November 1944 from a small room in Leicester, England. This quarterly newsletter marked the birth of the word vegan and the movement that would eventually reshape global food systems.
Early members included Elsie B. Shrigley, Fay K. Henderson, and Alfred Hy Haffenden who distributed recipes and compiled trade lists showing which toothpastes, shoe polishes, and glues contained no animal ingredients. By November 1945 The Vegan News had attracted 500 subscribers and changed its name to simply The Vegan.
Ancient Indian philosophers like Parshavnatha and Mahavira practiced strict non-harm during the Indus Valley civilization period between 3300 and 1300 BCE. Arab poet al-Ma'arri wrote poems rejecting animal consumption in the 11th century while English philosopher Lewis Gompertz argued against eating meat as early as 1813.
Ethical veganism opposes speciesism by assigning value to individuals based solely on their species membership rather than treating them as property. Law professor Gary Francione argues all sentient beings deserve rights not to be treated as property while philosopher Tom Regan contends animals possess value as subjects-of-a-life because they hold beliefs desires memory and ability to initiate action toward goals.
The United States vegan food market reached $8.1 billion valuation in 2023 after growing from a $3.9 billion valuation in 2017 reflecting rapid commercial adoption. Global mock-meat markets increased eighteen percent between 2005 and 2010 rising eight percent annually within America from 2012 through 2015 reaching annual sales of $553 million.