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Humans have long tried to distinguish themselves from other animals on the basis of characters that are perceived to be unique, such as tool design and use, planning for the future and the seemingly "human" capacity for empathy. But one by one, these "unique" characters are found to be shared with other animals.

Amazing videos of Cows operating man-made handpumps to quench their thirst.

In Defense of Animals says report shows zoos mislead public and media

What might be exciting to one can seem terrifying to another—think public speaking, skydiving, and rock climbing. However, it's safe to assume that Lima, the 12-year-old zebra who bolted from Ringling trainers and ran amok for 40 minutes in Atlanta yesterday, was terrified—not merely, as a Ringling spokesperson said, "excited." Police eventually cornered the frightened animal on the on-ramp of a busy interstate, but not before he suffered cuts on his hooves, as Ringling's spokesperson noted.

Just like us, songbirds need tutoring to learn to vocalize and sing.

Many of us would love to swim with dolphins but it seems the aquatic mammals don't return the sentiment.

This video is provided free online by The Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science.

Oxford professor Richard Dawkins presents a series of lectures on life, the universe, and our place in it. With brilliance and clarity, Dawkins unravels an educational gem that will mesmerize young and old alike. Illuminating demonstrations, wildlife, virtual reality, and special guests (including Douglas Adams) all combine to make this collection a timeless classic.

The Royal Institution Christmas Lectures for Children were founded by Michael Faraday in 1825, with himself as the inaugural lecturer. The 1991 lecturer was Richard Dawkins whose five one-hour lectures, originally televised by the BBC, are now available for the first, courtesy of RDF.

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Earthworms form herds and make "group decisions", scientists have discovered.

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A new study has confirmed what we've known all along: Vegans and vegetarians have more empathy—for both animals and people—than meat-eaters do.

A peer-reviewed paper in PLoS one this May describes brain differences between Vegetarians, Vegans and Omnivores in the way they process pictures of animal suffering.

Professor Francione gave the keynote address at a conference on Animals and the Law held on April 7, 2006 at Duke University School of Law in North Carolina. He focused on how recent welfare reform had failed to shift away from the property paradigm in any significant way.

1. When was Kranti set up? What was the idea behind setting up this organization, which hails itself as a revolutionary group? What work do you do?

The reason why we naively regard humans as a superior species is because we believe humans have faculties that other animals don't. Recent breakthrough in science has led us to believe that a paradigm shift is in order.[1] Today, thanks to science we know that birds and cows can detect magnetic north[2], fish feel pain like humans[3] and that many animals, especially the ones raised for food, fiber and entertainment have faculties humans lost or never attained. It has been shown that Pigs can play video games, can trick a computer system to give them more food[4], can regulate air-conditioning based upon their comfort level and can outsmart dogs in IQ tests. Similarly, fishes and hens can navigate complex mazes and can outsmart human children in problem solving[5]. Sometimes, these non-human animals display an almost supernatural abilities. Since we now believe that all humans including blacks and women have rights, its time to identify the rights of non-human animals and extend it to them. For this purpose, Kranti was floated 9 months ago by a group of like-minded individuals. Everyone associated with Kranti strongly believes in equality for all species and we attempt to dispel speciesism which is an attitude of prejudice towards non-human animals. When they are capable of suffering as much as we do, why should they not have rights?

We have a multifaceted agenda. Our mission statement is provided below:

http://www.kranti.org/about/mission.html

Kranti's main focus is to research speciesism and educate people about Animal Rights but we also educate people about the environment[6], health[7] and human rights[8] violations by the livestock industry as an aside. We educate people that equality for all species does not mean that we should give a chicken the right to vote. It means that we should recognize the fact that a chicken has the same intelligence as that of a one year old human child[9] and just like we do not allow children to vote we should not extend it to chickens as well. It also means that we should provide all the rights given to a human child to a chicken.

We believe in promoting the science behind equality even if its inconvenient to many. The treatment rendered to highly sensitive and intelligent beings such as cows and hens in the slaughterhouses will land people in jail in some places if extended to dogs or cats[24]. Yet, scientifically, these animals suffer pain just as much. To come to a realization that man is in no way special than other animals exploited for milk, meat, fashion or entertainment, like Darwin wrote in the Descent of Man, requires a paradigm shift no less than that of a spherical earth. It requires a revolution of human consciousness, hence the name Kranti.

In this respect, we hold public protests and other events in colleges to champion the cause of total abolition of animal abuse. You can access some recent event pictures below:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=212989&id=670975394&l=1f3bc441ab

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=200801&id=670975394&l=2aa1459aa0

2. How does Kranti promote a vegan lifestyle among Indians? When did the group begin work on promoting veganism in India? Was this one of your core agenda?

Ironically, when we started Kranti, our aim was not to convert people to a cruelty-free lifestyle, but to provide support to the already existing vegetarians in India who just account for 20% of the population and are taking up meat-eating due to peer-pressure and corporate propaganda.[10][11] But thankfully, many people are responding to logic[12] and making the right lifestyle choices. Kranti furthers its agenda through public demonstration and the internet. We also conduct seminars in colleges to educate the youth, who at this age are looking for an identity and a philosophy to adhere to. The group has been promoting the message of equality as individuals even before the incorporation of Kranti . Veganism is always at the core of all our activities.

3. How many members does the group have? What is the general profile of your members? How many new members join you every year?

We have 5 core members, all vegans, who plan the strategies plus one moderator. On our facebook group, we have 44 volunteers plus some more in real world that we can call upon. Our website has received more than 30,000 hits from all over India and the world in the last 9 months and the response is phenomenal. Our supporters are very slowly but gradually increasing.

Our members come from all walks of life, from housewives to programmers and doctors. All of the vegans I personally know have chosen a cruelty-free lifestyle because of non-human animal rights reasons.

4. How many Vegans are part of Kranti’s member group? Has there numbers grown in the last five years? If yes, by how much?

All 5 core members of Kranti and all of our volunteers are vegans.

India produces 3 times more milk than China, even though the population is almost identical. This leads to the slaughtering of cows since the cows who cannot produce (more) milk end up in someone's plate, waist or shoe.[13] So, consumption of seemingly innocent products such as milk and honey[14] cannot be termed ethical. Therefore, it's mandatory for all members of Kranti to be vegan.

In the past, we have definitely seen an uprise of vegans in India.

5. Do you have figures on roughly how many Vegans there are in India today? Have the numbers increased in the last five years? If yes, by how much?

There are many people in India who are unknowingly following a near-vegan lifestyle, since they already do not consume meat and leather and cannot digest milk (60% of adults cannot digest milk from other species since its not meant for human consumption)[15]. This coupled with the fact that we don't legally recognize veganism as a food choice in India like we do with vegetarianism, its hard to get any concrete figures. We know around 300 vegans through social networking and I have been told that according to PeTA estimates there are approximately 20,000 vegans in India. Whatever the actual figures are, I believe its optimistic.

6. Why do you think that an increasing number of urban Indians are adopting a vegan lifestyle? Is it because Indians are becoming aware of animals rights, are globally-traveled, any other reasons?

The core essence of veganism - reverence for all life - is not something new to India. Its interwoven in the fabric of Indian religions and philosophy. Most people are already lacto-vegetarians. Many people get exposed to veganism through the work done by mainstream organizations like PeTA and Humane Society of the United States in India and around the world. They learn about it through celebrities like Pamela Anderson, Maneka Gandhi, John Abraham and Shaid Kapoor.

Another two channels that introduce people to veganism are climate and health. People are getting educated by the media about the livestock-climate connection and the fact that the livestock industry is one of the topmost contributors to Global Warming[16][17]. Also, studies are pouring in linking milk and meat with heart diseases, diabetes and cancer[18].

Also, more and more people are learning about the human rights violations by the meat industry. 70% of the world grain goes to feed the livestock that is later brutally slaughtered and consumed. This grain can feed billions of starving humans. For eg; It takes 12 Kg of grain and 13,000+ liters of water to produce just 1 Kg of beef.[19] Meat compresses food and water thereby aggravating world hunger. Also, it requires tremendous amount of fossil fuel to refrigerate and transport animal products because they decay very fast.

All the above mentioned factors and them some kindles their curiosity and they do more research online. There they get introduced to the inner workings of the meat and diary industry through undercover investigation videos and documentaries like Earthlings[20]. Since humans are anatomically herbivores[21] and are naturally compassionate to animals they decide not to support this injustice. People start their journey on veganism to support humans, the planet, their health or the animals. But when the dust settles, they all end up supporting life.

7. How easy or difficult is it to be a Vegan in India? Is it easier now to be a Vegan in India today than it was five years ago? If yes, how?

India is one of the best place for vegans. Much of our cuisines are naturally vegan or can be easily veganised upon request. That said, the most difficult aspect of being a vegan is not leaving animal products, but to live with non-vegans. Most people feel judged in the presence of a vegan even if she does nothing to promote it. This leads to some social inconveniences since for many Indians consuming dairy is like breathing and they cannot imagine its even possible to live without cow's milk.

That said, as veganism is gaining grounds and as more people adopt a vegan lifestyle, its getting easier by the day to be accepted as one.

8. What are the vegan options available in India in terms of restaurants, cosmetics etc? Is there an increase in such options being made to Vegans in India? If yes, can you give examples?

If you are astute, you can always find a vegan substitute everywhere. For example, there are vegan societies in almost all major cities in the world. In Bangalore, there is a restaurant called E-Inn Our Native Village [22] that has gone vegan! Also, there are bakeries like Carnival that bakes vegan cakes and pastries. You can eat vegan pizza at Little Italy and mock-meat is available in some hypermarts. Cafe coffee day has a vegan shake now. There are a slew of vegan items to choose from - from toothpastes to soaps and cosmetics. Vicco even writes "vegan" on its toothpaste. We have a range of leather free shoes from Bata. Many other vendors like Baggit, GoDesign and Reebok have leather free wallets. Vegan chocolates like Bournville and vegan biscuits from Parle like Hide and Seek chocolate chips and Oreo are available in the market. More and more organic shops are opening doors. You can get a range of vegan tea at Infinitea. There are numerous Ayurvedic soaps available in the market that use vegetables as base. Over the last couple of years the choices have multiplied many folds. Becoming a vegan today is easier than we can imagine.

Let me know if you need any further clarification. It would be great if you can mail the final article to any one of us for technical accuracy.

Regards,
Manuj Chandra.

References:
[1] http://www.amazon.com/Second-Nature-Inner-Animals-MacSci/dp/0230613624/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1271928708&sr=8-1
[2] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2623809/Cows-point-north-thanks-to-in-built-compasses.html
[3] http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2009/04/29/UPI-NewsTrack-Health-and-Science-News/UPI-83361241041440/
[4] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ImZmDYme_s
[5] http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16796139/
[6] http://www.kranti.org/damage/environment.html
[7] http://www.kranti.org/damage/health.html
[8] http://www.kranti.org/damage/humanity.html
[9] http://www.fowlplaymovie.com/display_video.php?id=4
[10] http://www.kranti.org/connect/forum/9-revolutionary-support/379-should-we-have-a-target-audience-or-go-secular.html#379
[11] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjFH6yZ8LIA
[12] http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6180753.stm
[13] http://www.kranti.org/whats-wrong-with/milk.html
[14] http://www.kranti.org/whats-wrong-with/honey.html
[15] http://www.kranti.org/knowledge-base/articles/research-papers/item/151-60-of-adults-can%5C%27t-digest-milk.html
[16] http://www.kranti.org/knowledge-base/library/fact-files/environmentalism/73-livestock-and-climate-change-world-watch.html
[17] http://www.kranti.org/knowledge-base/library/fact-files/environmentalism/53-copenhagen-climate-conference-2009.html
[18] http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8629358.stm
[19] http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater/embedded-water/
[20] http://www.kranti.org/knowledge-base/media/documentaries/item/149-earthlings.html
[21] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1312295/
[22] http://www.ournativevillage.com/contact_us.htm
[23] http://vegan-india.blogspot.com/2010/04/e-inn-luxury-star-bangalore.html
[24] http://blog.peta.org/archives/2010/02/peta_agrees_wit.php