Page 67 - Vegan Food & Living (February 2020)

OVERCOMING
HIS OWN
CONTRADICTIONS
In 2009, Navy clearance diver Paul de
Gelder was testing some new tracking
Gelder was testing some new tracking
technology when he was attacked by
a shark and lost part of his right hand
a shark and lost part of his right hand
and leg. Inevitably, he faced months
of surgery and recuperation, but the
experience set him on an entirely new,
very positive and unexpected path.
Paul had never really cared for sharks, and it is
reasonable to assume he would think less of them after
the accident. Not so. As he started speaking publicly about
what had happened, Paul came to learn much more about
sharks and the vital role they play in the ocean. He came really, really hate hypocrites,” he says.
to care about them deeply and to campaign to protect Very quickly, he squared that circle and announced he was
them, and yet he still ate meat and fi sh. going vegan. “Going plant-based initially allowed me to get
In 2014, he travelled to Zimbabwe to work with very, very angry at people who eat my friends!” he laughs,
Damien Mander’s anti-poaching team and was surprised to echoing a stage that many people go through when they fi rst
learn that his friend was vegan. He asked why, and was told become vegan. “People want to stop using straws to save the
that eating animals while trying to save animals made him fi sh. How about you just stop eating fi sh to save the fi sh?”
feel like a hypocrite. That resonated with Paul. “I was trying He gets it. And having overcome his own contradictions,
to protect the animals and I was eating the animals, and I Paul says he feels much better in his soul.

OVERCOMING PAIN being as healthy as possible, ensuring
Belinda White, a singer and yoga teacher I ate whole foods and not processed. I

from South Yorkshire, was suffering so made smoothies and ate masses of fruits

badly with osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia and veg. I practiced healing meditations

that she was unable to even climb stairs and positive affirmations. I expected
without crawling on her knees. After improvement to happen over years and I
many x-rays and extensive scans, she was was determined to invest that time.”
given a battery of powerful painkillers, but Incredibly, the improvements came
was told things would only get worse. within six weeks. “It was almost like a
“I spent my time in bed with an electric miracle. The swelling behind my knees
blanket on crying,” she says. “If I went was gone, the pain was reduced by 90
anywhere I was so heavily medicated that per cent, I had energy and clarity. I was
I felt out of control. The strangest part was amazed by the transformation.”
that I felt incredibly ashamed to be so ill. I Now, Belinda hikes, bikes, runs and
put a fake front on in public, but in private teaches yoga. On a whim, she
put a fake front on in public, but in private
I was up all night sobbing in pain.” drove to Scotland
In 2014, Beli nda watched the and climbed Ben
documentary Vegucated, and the Nevis, an incredible
slaughter footage traumatised transformation for the
her. She became vegan to protect woman who could not
animals and it changed her outlook. climb stairs. www.the
“I was a new vegan, so I focused on 333plan.co.uk

VEGANUARY
Veganuary is a non-profi t organisation that
encourages people worldwide to try vegan for
January and beyond. During the 2020 campaign,
more than 350,000 people took our pledge to
try a vegan diet. Find out more and join the
movement at www.veganuary.com

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