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Earthling Ed on Veganism, Empathy, and Speaking Truth Without Shouting

Recorded in 2018, this conversation with UK activist Ed Winters, known online as Earthling Ed, holds up as a case study in calm, research-driven vegan advocacy.

Research First, Confrontation Never

Ed traces his shift from a passive vegan afraid of seeming preachy to a YouTube educator and co-director of UK animal rights organization Surge, crediting his calm demeanor to months of research done before he ever engaged a stranger in conversation. His advice for anyone nervous about a difficult conversation: research the common justifications people give, practice responses out loud, and expect it to take time before it feels natural.

Building the Official Animal Rights March

Ed co-founded the Official Animal Rights March in 2016, which grew from 2,500 attendees to 5,000 the following year and expanded into a global annual event held in the US, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, and beyond. He also points to a 2014 truck crash that killed 1,500 chickens on a UK motorway as the moment that first made him question eating animals, well before he saw the documentary Earthlings that pushed him fully vegan.

• The Official Animal Rights March grew from 2,500 attendees in 2016 to 5,000 in 2017
• Ed co-directs Surge, a UK grassroots animal rights organization founded in 2016
• Recommended starting resources include the documentaries Earthlings, Cowspiracy, and What the Health

Ed's closing point: the backlash and extremist labeling activists face is a sign of progress, not failure, since industries can no longer dispute the facts and are left attacking the messengers instead.