Ethics in a meat-free world - Philip Wollen at TEDxMelbourne

Philip Wollen (Order of Australia) is an ex-Vice President of Citibank.
At 40 he decided to give all of his wealth away with warm hands and die broke.
Supporting over 500 projects in 40 countries, his recent viral video 'Animals Should Be Off The Menu' has highlighted his philanthropic work.
More about Philip: tedxmelbourne.com/speakers-and...
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[@iantheasby5847]

I turned Vegan on the 1st of March. I'll never, ever go back.

[@zeitgeistry]

so good to know! Please stay vegan!

[@Markus_Kennedy]

+Ian Theasby That's awesome man! I went Vegan 7 weeks ago with my girlfriend and it's been going great! All the myths I heard about switching to a vegan diet are turning out to be untrue. I'm learning there is no healthier way to eat and live than to eat a plant based diet! :)

[@iantheasby5847]

Mark Kennedy Great effort man! I've found that Veganism has made me more positive, healthier, more compassionate & more environmentally aware. Lots of my friends have adopted a vegan, vegetarian or reducetarian lifestyle as a direct result of my decision to go Vegan, I'm sure the same will happen with you too! The Vegan revolution is happening right now & I'm proud to be a part of it.

[@Markus_Kennedy]

Ian Theasby Well said brother well said. I'm happy to be a part of it too and I'm glad you are able to positively impact those around you. Help each other learn, grow, and achieve our best is what it's all about!

[@knittytofu]

+Ian Theasby That's my birthday woohoo!

[@bethanyhunt2704]

A wise person (can't remember who) said that if you want to know where you would have stood on the slave trade 200 years ago, you must look to where you stand on animal rights, not slavery, now.

[@fknbastages]

+Bethany Hunt, I've heard that somewhere before. George Carlin?

[@sabrinat6838]

+Bethany Hunt This is so true. it take alot to break out of biggoted and toxic beliefs such as meat eating. slavery was no diffrent.

[@Pelhampete]

+Bethany Hunt I believe it was Capt. (now Admiral) Paul Watson -- from The Sea Shepherds -- who said this. FTA.

[@elissadavis5657]

Philip Wollen for President......

[@corsicanlulu]

oh yeah he's someone i would vote for and i never vote

[@katie014100]

I cried and cried over this last night because I have no one in my life who I can share this with who won't immediately shut me down or laugh. And because kids were always something I wanted, but I am not sure I want to introduce them to this now.

[@katie014100]

Thanks The Vegan Vitality. So many unloved little ones. I will learn more about adoption and how it can occur.

[@Markus_Kennedy]

+katie014100 I hope you've found some vegan friends who can relate to you. But if you need someone to chat with I'm here... even if we've never met I can relate and I know how it feels. Add me on google plus and shoot me a message any time I'd be happy to chat! :)

[@ethicalwarrior2536]

Paradoxically, people like Katie14100 are precisely the sort of humans who should be having children! Ethical, thoughtful, educated, compassionate, responsible individuals. Instead we see lod, boorish, brutal, ignorant people breeding like a rampant virus - and being subsidized by the Katies of this world.

[@loulypop92]

katie014100 Hi, your comment is one year old. I hope you're alright in your life and happy ❤ About kids, I recommend you to check out the KZbin Channel of Ellen Fisher who raise her kids vegan and she is my inspiration (also the nutritionist and dietician Sadia from the channel Pick Up Limes)

[@bailey3923]

I'm supporting you always. I feel the same way. I feel alienated often

[@PROXIMASTARMAN]

He only speeks one language,common sense!.we need more like him. truely a man of greatness. hope he lives to see a meat free world.

[@RochelleBecker001]

I just looked it up and he left the banking industry 20yrs ago, and gave away 90% of his capital. "He sponsors the anti-whaling vessel the Sea Shepherd and the South Australian Children's Ballet Company, and has built schools, orphanages, lion parks and sanctuaries. His Winsome Constance Kindness Trust supports more than 400 projects in 40 countries." What is it that you have against him exactly ?

[@keithparr547]

I watched Earthlings and I was appalled, at the meat industry, the milk industry, at myself for not taking responsibility. No more meat or dairy, a plant based diet and compassion for all sentiment beings.

[@themollymelon]

Good for you Keith. How is it going for you? :)

[@religion-free]

_sentient_ lol but yeah ...

[@dan2737]

Philip Wollen should run the world, such a legend, thanks Dx

[@darthattenborough1145]

One of the best TED talks, Phillip Wollen is a modern great committed to the planet and it's people and animals. What an honourable man.

[@jessicamichaud4407]

Philip Wollen is a true inspiration! Thank you for all you hard work!

[@Academic_G]

Wow, this was in 2012? A man ahead of his time!

[@ayronald8827]

"I didn’t know enough. I thought that dairy was the bucolic, peaceful image of green pastures and crystal streams, rolling hills and the poetry of Wordsworth and Shelley. Little did I know that behind the dairy walls was a cruel industrial juggernaut, a vile gulag of despair? I discovered that milk was meat in liquid form. During a business trip to India I saw a milkman dragging and whipping a cow. She had been badly injured in an accident with a lorry. To get her to move, he was throwing chili powder in her eyes, and shoving sharp objects in her anus. He had a chain around her neck and forced her to walk with a broken leg and severe injuries to her spine. Beside her walked her scrawny, starving and terrified calf, ribs protruding and her skinny legs trembling. At the slaughterhouse gate, he unchained her. But before he did so, the bastard milked her. If that sight does not change the heart of a man, nothing will." ~Philip Wollen I hope I have the privilege of meeting Philip one day. I will hug him. Vegan for life.

[@Academic_G]

Damn. What exploit. Good works going vegan brother!

[@religion-free]

damn@@Academic_G I JUST went Vegan less than a year ago! oh The amount of regret I am facing for not going sooner!!

[@ambercatgoddess]

There are many many of us. My voice will not be silenced. We can do this together.

[@DominusPantheraUncia]

The world needs more people like Philip Wollen.

[@orangeatmosphere]

Many comments below from respectful vegans that call Phillip Wollen a hero. Don't look to him as a hero, see him as an example. We need vegan supporters we also need more vegan promoters. We can also be the voice for animals. I believe just changing our diets one person at a time will not get us there fast enough. I told a colleague today that I have been vegan for a few weeks now. He said jokingly " you use to be normal, what happened?" I was not offended, but it all the more reminded me of the underlying factor that still defines us as minorities. As Phillip Wollen said, there are 600 million of us...It is not the industries that are winning by numbers. It is the fact that even we see ourselves as minorities. We need to begin establishing a social view where eating meat is not the norm. I started asking this whenever I raise this topic: If you are a vegan do you still watch movies where people have meat on the dining table? Being an artist and media maker, I realised the power of the media. We all establish our world views and our "norms" from how media present our world. There is where our message is the weakest. Documentaries and facts have limited audiences. What if veganism makes it into popular media? I am certain I am not the only media maker who happen to be vegan...We need to ensure that the realities we present and portray in our work does not leave out our own.

[@tashastaunton4944]

+orangeatmosphere I am a vegan animator. When I finish uni I will never make an animation that presents eating meat as something that should be considered normal. Hopefully through media we can influence a positive change in the world :)

[@willhelm94]

Tasha Staunton I'm looking forward to seeing you make an animation that shows how wrong eating meat is.

[@zenproduction5584]

Currently I am dubbing some of the vegan documentaries in Hindi/urdu for Indian and Pakistani people who don't know English very well.

[@prayervoice]

From the writings of the Baha'i Faith, I would like to share the following quote. "It is not only their fellow human beings that the beloved of God must treat with mercy and compassion, rather must they show forth the utmost loving-kindness to every living creature. For in all physical respects, and where the animal spirit is concerned, the selfsame feelings are shared by animal and man." (Sir Abdu'l-Baha Abbas)

[@IshMi]

GO VEGAN!!! In the name of sanity! - and love! - and compassion! - and for A HOPE FOR A FUTURE!

[@emmaritchie7812]

Philip Wollen is my hero!! I've been vegan for three months and am never going back. My change was purely for animal ethics but I've learned the only way to get past the 'vegan' word with friends and family is to completely and utterly look after my health, make sure I'm giving my body everything I need nutritionally and when people ask why I have great energy and look good, it's because I'm a vegan........the rest will follow. "Be the change you want to see in the World" Ghandi

[@therawcaviat]

Good job. Hope you are doing great still. Keep up the good calories and you'll be set.

[@Smood47]

Philip Wollen is a hero.

[@jgfergus]

This man is a great inspiration. I was once blind to my self indulgent gluttonous meat eating. I laughed and made jokes at the expense of vegetarians. I have been vegan for more than 10 years and am healthier than I have ever been. Animals are my friends...and I don't eat my friends! Dare to be Bold: Dare to stand alone: Dare to have a purpose clear: Dare to make it known If within you resides a small amount of courage, you’ll rededicate yourself to be a modern brave person. And you need not stand alone! Mutually we can create thousand, and even millions of others with the same qualities and character.

[@siew-maylim4578]

Jeff Ferguson Thank you Jeff for your moving words. I can relate to you very well. I didn't appreciate vegetarians in my early 20s, and thought that vegans were difficult people who made lives inconvenient for themselves and others. It hit me that I am experiencing my own Karma to a certain extent - this stuff is real and scary! I need to persist even when I am a minority now. "Dare to stand alone" - that made me tear up!

[@religion-free]

a friend of The animals is a friend of mine whoever the animals can trust I also trust

[@jgfergus]

@@religion-free Sorry to say, but I gave up veganism over 2 years ago after I could no longer ignore my failing health due to nutrient deficiency. Happy to say that all my symptoms have reversed and most have healed 100%. I now know from experience that man cannot reach his peak healthwise without animal products in his diet. The book "Nutrition and Physical Degeneration" by Dr. Weston Price really opened my eyes. I now enjoy raw pastured eggs, raw milk, beef, lamb, bone broth, organ meats and wild caught seafood. So glad I came out of the vegan brainwashing before I ended up in an early grave.

[@breend6714]

What a moving and sobering presentation!

[@jules49able]

This ought to be shown in all schools and colleges ! This man is a hero!

[@elissadavis5657]

I stand on this man's shoulders. Waiving my hands in the air. V F L 👍👏🙌🏻💞❤️

[@religion-free]

🥰😍🤩😘 Eden was Vegan

[@BlommaCult]

3 new vegans in my household! It's not hard, it's way easier and cheaper than I always thought it would be and I'm loving my food again.

[@colebrogers]

Many of my fellow vegans are either too aggressive or too forgiving in their rhetoric, but this man speaks with such well tempered conviction, he is an example for all animal rights activists to follow.

[@religion-free]

Earthling Ed was who has captivated me into facing (and obliterating) mY lifelong hypocrisy - I only wish I gone Veg sooner!

[@zeitgeistry]

I admire Phillip greatly, and always am thankful for people like him.

[@ethicalwarrior2536]

This man had just got off the Sea Shepherd ship after being in the Indian Ocean with the Humpback whales. He was suffering from severe heatstroke and a dangerously high temperature. The MC was surprised that he even went on stage!

[@Asiasnow33]

Philip Wollen is David!!!:) What an honourable and amazing being!

[@tsehgal1]

Bravo! If everyone followed his advice we wouldn't live in a doomed planet.

[@biancabee7731]

So true.

[@ramblinbec]

Wow, that was awesome! I had not heard of this man before. Why is he not EVERYWHERE!??!

[@waynejebelli7054]

Thank you Dear Philip Wollen. Deep Gratitude.

[@nytransplnt]

Brilliant and inspiring. Thank you Phillip Wollen.

[@jeankenissan1528]

A lot of wisdom in such a short speech

[@vegancolleen]

Such a calm, gentle, sincere, wise, amazing man. A prophet! Perhaps, finally, I can get family members who shut me down, to listen to these truths - and learn - and change!

[@fluffynamedkimba]

incredible speech by a wise man. thank you so much for this video.

[@martinasoukupova7876]

Pure truth!I am applauding in my heart.

[@aaronverran1360]

health is the greatest wealth of all time and so is compassion!

[@biancabee7731]

Amen

[@LowsonIntl]

I have contacted Philip. Thanks so much for your outreach, truly appreciate.

[@therealsedna]

This is a great video!!! Thank you for posting

[@nytransplnt]

I adore Phillip Wollen.

[@Gustavo8675309]

I agree 101%!

[@TheAnnaFisher]

Thank you, Phillip Wollen. One love

[@prayervoice]

This is the the most significant video I have ever watched when it comes to sharing the need to educate people to better understand the folly that exists in their desire to consume dead animals, or to eat the animal products that come from them. The wisdom of your words good sir, and the actions that you follow through with on behalf of all living creatures, are worthy of sainthood in my humble opinion. I would love to work on a humanitarian project with you. How do we contact your good self?

[@mkaczmarcik]

My new hero

[@catolatimer6368]

inspirational.i love you philip wollen

[@jjaaffaarr]

I LOVE THIS MAN

[@catolatimer6368]

+Jafar MQ me too

[@onthedecorativefringe8550]

I love hearing this man talk! :)

[@Alex-fx5es]

This guy is awesome

[@parrot157]

I love this. I have shared it many times.

[@jeffreyrifkin7420]

Great video

[@terryr151]

This is the most enlightening speech I have ever heard that so emphatically provides the reasons why we should be vegetarians, and not animal-eaters. Philip Wollen's eloquence is previously unheard of on this subject. I think religion has so much to answer for. The hardest thing most of humanity has to cope with, is the process of individual thought; for, by and unto themselves. The average human will follow the herd before standing up for their own thoughts, because their own thought process stops as soon as the status quo is seen to have been reached. After that; well, every one else thinks it's OK so then, so do I. Yes, Philip Wollen is a hero.

[@corinnelopez66]

Not just processed dead carcass, All DEAD CARCASS. And yes, you can change your diet habits overnight. Many people, like myself, dropped animal flesh immediately when they saw the horror of it. If you focus on how hard it is for you, as opposed to how hard the animals have it, then maybe it would be difficult. Honestly, I can't fathom any excuses to still eat flesh other than you are a selfish compassion less brute, after you have seen the suffering and terror.

[@DrGioG]

Amazing ! This is a real-Life Hero! Everyone can be ;)

[@carlosyanez2358]

god bless you philip you gave up everything for the ones that need it the most you are an inspiration.

[@LowsonIntl]

Thank you Philip Wollen, for your Insightful and moving commentary, speaking the truth from the soul level. The time of evolution is upon us or humanity will not survive. I applaud your efforts and your selfless desire to awaken consciousness on our planet. I share and advocate your mission. On behalf of the innocents who cannot speak for themselves, thank you. Kathleen Lowson Filmmaker CRY OF THE INNOCENT: The Voices That Can't Speak

[@joannemercader813]

changed in the twinkling of an eye

[@cadams6247]

Thank you Philip 👏

[@Artemissa1965]

What a great, inspirational speech! Thank you so much!! I fully endorse his views. I only wish there were more Philip Wollens in the world.

[@escapeanxietynow]

Such a great speech. We can save so many lives when we go vegan, human and animal

[@romikuklin4247]

Vegan 25 years ago and I ll never ever go back

[@bashi488]

Phillip wollen is my inspiration ...

[@viviendaquino8364]

What a powerful speech. Such an inspirational man.

[@patrickoriley8382]

Maybe he found something more important then wealth.

[@anapantz]

As consumers, we have the ultimate control. We decide what demand is created, and what waste we will create... and tolerate. This is one of my favorite videos on the topic. It's on our website and we share it often.

[@RubenVenema]

This should be the number one watched ted-talk

[@skank6969]

I commend you for being courageous enough to admit it and embrace your awareness of it. I feel like many people can't even begin to shift because they have a hard time coming to terms with their own moral conflictions, (& how we are taught being wrong is "wrong" = guilt) and leads to further repression, deeper engrained habits and a more static mindset. Kudos to You

[@kindnesstrust]

Full marks to you! You are honest. You are moving in the right direction - and as Philip Wollen says that puts you "on the right side of history". Not a bad achievement for any human being, is it? That would be a worth thing to remember for a life well lived. . . . Well done!!

[@DarkCrystal1960]

Love for All on Our World........

[@toddviv]

compassion for our brothers and sisters who are animals

[@saileshramcharan3445]

The most poignant speech of our times. Respect from South Africa

[@linp9623]

Thank You. :)

[@kennethbyrd3436]

Another advantage of being vegan is finding the Golden Jewel by the name of Philip Woolen.

[@Swilton100]

Thank you. Thank You! THANK YOU!!!

[@MrsM980]

inspirational, pure facts and no preaching, love it xXx

[@gurnanisunny]

Great Job Mr. Wolen keep

[@gggrow]

This is a logical fallacy known as the appeal to nature. It refers to assuming, without evidence, that something in nature, like killing for food, is ethically good just because it happens in nature.

[@jessicamichaud4407]

Go vegan today!

[@pegbuckner5074]

My hero! Thank you, Phillip Wollen. ❤️

[@Gustavo8675309]

Thank you Philip and thank you! And as Prince Hamlet said: The rest is silence…

[@PenelopeOthello]

broke my heart though....

[@yashrithi8951]

Yes we want philips wollen as president

[@TheRealTruthAtLast]

Dear dangertheexplorer. He simply said that slavery was "abolished" That is a technically correct term meaning that by statute it is no longer permitted. He did not say it was finished. We know how difficult it is to enforce a law. But he is also well aware that it still exists. He is extremely active in projects to eradicate the menace - like child workers in the carpet mills, footwear industry, child soldiers etc. He does not neglect suffering at all - you would find his projects interesting.

[@salsaenelsolarmaestravidaq5547]

≪Peace is not just the absence or war. It is the presence of Justice. Justices must be blind to race, color, religion, or species. If she is not blind, she will be a weapon or terror.≫ ∞ Philip Wollen ≪The Axis of Evil doesn't run through Iraq or Iran or North Korea (or any politics religion, science or economic decision)… It runs through our dining tables.≫ ∞ Philip Wollen «We reap just what we sow | Cosechamos lo que sembramos» Seat-belts fastened Dear Ones

[@gyrate4]

12 years vegan, and it's the best thing I've ever done for myself.

[@TheRealTruthAtLast]

Kathleen. Is your film on the internet? You should send it to Philip Wollen. He is a voracious consumer of information!

[@kindnesstrust]

Philip Wollen is extremely ill with severe sunstroke during this talk. He had been on the Sea Shepherd ship in the Indian Ocean with his beloved humpback whales. There was grave concerns that he would not be able to fly to Melbourne to deliver the talk. There was some doubt amongst his friends that he would even be able speak.

[@leedaq7767]

i will start reduce any kind of the meat consumption... -thank you for video

[@madhusudan4118]

The entire world should know this and people like Phillip Wollen . Keep forwarding this blissful speech to everyone you know.

[@TheRealTruthAtLast]

Yes he does explain how to bring nutritious food to the table. It is called plant based agriculture. His explanations are widespread - and he goes as far as saying there are better authorities on the subject of alternative foods than him! He quotes PCRM, the China Study, the World Bank and a wide range of other sources.

[@johnnysprocketz]

My hero.

[@yashrithi8951]

Watching it in 2021

[@yashrithi8951]

Went vegan january 2019, loving myself and my life.

[@lizlemon8035]

I had to stop watching at the bears bit. Too horrible. The world needs more Phillip Wollens.

[@EwolucjaMoralnosci]

Is an English transcript available? I'd like to translate it to Polish. Please let me know.

[@MysticRebelle7]

༺༻ This man is a great inspiration ~>Philip Wollen (Order of Australia) is an ex-Vice President of Citibank. At 40 he decided to give all of his wealth away with warm hands and die broke. Supporting over 500 projects in 40 countries, his recent viral video 'Animals Should Be Off The Menu' has highlighted his philanthropic work.

[@juliakallberg4176]

Okay you convinced me am gonna become a vegearian

[@pyschicmoon]

Does anyone know the date he made this speech ?

[@guloguloguy]

Phillip Wollen IS A REAL, SUPER-HERO!!! :D BRAVO!!!! ....So, "SHARE" This TED talk with EVERYONE!!! &,....GO VEGAN!!!

[@henriettakomras7444]

This man is a true hero he talks the talk and walks the walk; the reason for all this suffering of the innocent animals is a system called Patriarchy which is how most men around the world define their manhood and sense of masculinity by domination exploitation and violence against animals against women and of course also against each other and it is this paradigm that is responsible for all that is heinous, brutal, satanic and barbaric on this planet. If we continue on this trajectory, we will, like so many of the species we have driven to extinction, also go extinct ourselves. And I, for one, will celebrate the extinction of "man"kind that is anything but.

[@joperet2]

the Truth.

[@lucianacolombo7251]

May I remind? Are we our 'pets' 'owners' and 'masters'? No! Rather we are their 'Guardians' and 'Custodians'. They are our Co-Inhabitants on Earth to be revered as our:- 'Friends' - 'Comrades' - 'Collaborators - 'Helpmates' - 'Companions of men' - 'Healers' - 'Teachers' - 'Brothers' and our 'Kith and Kin'. 'I believe animals should be respected as Citizens of this Earth. They should have the Right to their own Freedom, to their own Families and to their own Life.' John Feldmann