Today I’d like to discuss the topic of ethics during travel. I do not have all the answers to these concerns. I just want to mention them so that you may ponder these issues and come up with your own response. You should be aware of these moral dilemmas.

As a vegan, you may come across some situations during your vacation that challenge your ethics. For example, in certain parts of the world they do not understand veganism at all. Many countries, especially in Africa and Asia feel that a guest is insulting the host by not accepting food that is offered. They do not feel that the host is being rude by not accepting the guest’s value system regarding animals. They do not even consider or realize that some people may be vegan due to food allergies, health concerns, or love of animals and non-cruelty. You should determine what your response will be to get out of this sticky situation!

Another concern comes into play whenever a vegan is part of a large tour group. The tour guide may have an itinerary that includes activities not suitable for vegans. What do you do? Do you stay at your hotel and opt not to join the group (even if it is included in your tour cost)? Do you attend the activity but not participate?

Animal Rides:
If your tour group goes on a camel ride in Morocco or Egypt, do you not ride yourself because you feel that animals should not be used for our entertainment or carry weight on their back? In Thailand, do you not go on an elephant ride for those same reasons or do you feel that the large animal does not feel any pain from people sitting on its back ?

Animals on Display:
In Mexico, do you attend a bull fighting event just to experience the culture or do you pass because there is a good chance that one of the animals may not survive ?
In Argentina, Chile, Australia, and New Zealand, would you attend a sheep-shearing event ? Do you deem it non-threatening to your vegan morals because the animals do not suffer and it is actually a necessary activity? Would you attend the event to experience the culture ?

Shopping at Bazaars or Markets:
Many countries have large, outdoor markets or bazaars which sell everything under the sun. In Mexico and Argentina, they sell lots of leather goods which are displayed prominently throughout these large markets. Would you avoid a market which displays lots of hirachis (leather shoes/sandals) in Mexico or a shop in Argentina that sells many leather crafts? If those markets sell other goods, would you purchase other items there?

Zoos:
Would you visit a zoo in a foreign land if that was your only opportunity to see particular cute and fuzzy animals for which the region is known ? Do you instead refuse to visit zoos because of a moral issue that animals should not be kept in confinement ? In Beijing, China there is a panda bear center where the animals are not confined in cages. They have spacious, grassy areas to graze. Is that sufficient for a vegan traveler ? In Australia, there are centers for koalas. Would you consider it unethical to visit or do you prefer to see them in the wild, inside of the rainforest ?

Safaris:
Part of the “experience” on an African vacation is to go on safari. Would every vegan want to deny themselves this African experience in Kenya or Tanzania or would they feel that is a natural thing which occurs in nature? In South Africa, there are some reserves and parks where animals were brought to be saved and grow their population. They are not killed by humans for meat. Would a vegan feel comfortable driving around in a safari vehicle just to watch these beautiful animals in motion, not to be killed by humans or the other animals ?

Non-Vegan Fabrics:
Many vegans do not wear silk for respect of the silkworm. In Thailand, they are known for their beautiful silk products. The fibers are woven into wallets, handbags, pajamas, slippers, shirts, and dresses. Do you consider silkworms to suffer ? Would you deny yourself some beautifully made silk products for this reason ?

I do not mean to pose more questions than solutions. My intention is to just bring some of these issues to the forefront so that vegan travelers can make decisions which are appropriate for them. Even vegans differ from one another in some of their reasoning of what it acceptable and what is not. Please consider some of the issues presented here as they may come up during your world travels.