She went vegan at 13; Now the whole family is vegan.

                                                                                 from left - right - Eddy, Alana, Janina, Tasha, Christine, Allan and Emmy
AN INTERVIEW WITH EMMY JAMES
At what age did you become vegan? I was 13 years old when I went vegan. How did you have your "aha moment"? Our homeschooling group was having a trip to a local goat farm. The farmers got one of their goats in and showed us how they milk her. While they were doing that, they started talking about their meat, how good it tasted, how they "cull" the goats who are no longer valuable to them, and how they kill the babies (they even pointed out the knife they used) who are of no use to them. I was devastated. When they took us to see the little goats, I started silently crying. I couldn't believe these farmers had the heart to murder these gentle creatures. One farmer said, "I know it's sad, but that's just the way it has to be." On the way home, I told my mother I wanted to go vegetarian. So I quit eating meat, but I still ate other animal products. Six months later, I suddenly realised that all animal products cause harm to an animal, and that even dairy cows and laying hens are sent to slaughter when their production declines. So I decided to go vegan. Did you convince your family to be vegan or did they bring you up that way? I let them know the facts, and let them decide for themselves whether they wanted to go vegan. Did you try to convince your family to become vegan or was it purely your example? Purely my example. Each of us made our own decision to be vegan. My sister Tasha went vegan at the same time as I did. My sister Alana went vegan a few months after. Then my parents. Then my two younger siblings, Janina and Eddy. They went vegan last because my parents believed they had to still drink cow's milk to grow up big and strong, but then my mother read The China Study by T. Colin Campbell, and they were allowed to go off milk after that! Where do you live and are there other vegans in your neck of the woods? I live just out of Hamilton. There are a few other vegans around here, but we don't know many. Who inspires you? Gary L. Francione (http://abolitionistapproach.com), Elizabeth Collins (http://NZVeganPodcast.blogspot.com), Jordan Wyatt (http://coexistingwithnonhumananimals.blogspot.com)and you, Butterflies! (http://thevegantruth.blogspot.com) What's it like being part of a vegan family in New Zealand; (a country with it's economy based in animal-harming industries)? It can be hard sometimes. Everyone seems to know someone who's in the animal agriculture industry. Having said that, based on the country's size, New Zealand does have a lot of vegans. I keep in regular contact with my NZ Abolitionist vegan friends, they help keep me sane! Tell us a bit about your particular vegan advocacy? I've made a few short films about veganism, I've put out some podcasts talking about veganism (vegan-for-life.blogspot.com) and I'm hoping to start a blog very soon. Leave us with one of your personal s - just something you want to say to the world! Anyone can be vegan. It's easy and healthy. It's not expensive - we're a family of seven on a tight budget and we manage to get by. It doesn't mean eating boring foods. Vegan food is delicious! It's better for the environment. And most importantly, you're helping the animals. That's what it's all about. Peace and love to everyone! 

---