Macbeth Footwear, Optics, Apparel, and Rock.

"A vegan diet takes care of most of what we need to do. But you'll also want to minimize the use of oils generally, because while olive oil and other vegetable oils are better for your heart than chicken fat, they are as fattening as animal fats."
Neal Barnard M.D.

"For me, going vegan was an ethical and environmental decision. I'm doing the right thing by the animals."
Alexandra Paul

"I have been following a vegan diet now since the 1980s, and find it not only healthier, but also much more attractive than the chunks of meat that were on my plate as a child."
Neal Barnard M.D.

"If the whole world went vegan, there would be less war. How you eat determines your mood and your outlook on life."
Alexandra Paul

"As a meat-eater, I've long found it convenient to categorize veganism as a response to animal suffering or a health fad. But, faced with these figures, it now seems plain that it's the only ethical response to what is arguably the world's most urgent social justice issue. We stuff ourselves, and the poor get stuffed."
George Monbiot

"I'd never eat a horse."
Hunter Burgan

As Macbeth's Vegan Ambassador, I sometimes get asked the question: Why did you become vegan? People want to know what thoughts, logic, values and challenges led to my decision. This time, instead of answering this question myself, I decided to ask my friends on Twitter instead. Here are some of the responses:

Why did you become vegan?

@sallymariewatts: you and Russ rankin told me to. (go vegan)

@xIncinerationx: I went vegan because I love animals mainly, but I found it's been great on my health as well.

@chainsawmascara: I went vegan because my body feels healthier when i'm not eating animal products. AND my mind feels better. =)

@iwannabeabear: because I like animals way too much.

@festivalphantom: i think it's wrong to take a life just so that your meal can taste a bit better.. well, i think veggie things taste better!

@kayxmarie: I became vegan because it is a much healthier and respectful way to live.

@colbylandis: health reasons/just keeping my body clean. plain and simple.

@vegan_Mer: I spent my youth around livestock.

@DXN13: I first became vegan out of respect for animals and the inconsistency of consuming animals in my own ethics, and dietarily.

@Cherol: because I hate vegetables.

@marleybones: animal rights and my distaste for the factory food industry.

@andy_vonhallow: i would become vegan because it is wrong to eat animals and it keeps you healthy.

@little_bat: Vegetarian since I was 3, made the switch to vegan around 18 because I felt like a hypocrite for still consuming dairy.

@Venusbacchus: Because it's easier than remembering the Kosher laws.

@RockRollVietnam: apparently vegans have psychic powers & if 1 stops being vegan the committee on vegan psychic powers will get them

@ghost_wolves: I spent time w/ Howie, Sadie & the rest of the crew @ Animal Place Sanctuary in Vacaville. been volunteering ever since!

@losangelista: I have not yet 100% because I worry that I'm not a good enough cook to do so but I am 75% there. How to transition?

@MorningstarXXX: No one really knows about the DAIRY industry Its not advertised as enough Once you have the truth how can you NOT go vegan?

@RainbowBrite89: healthier lifestyle, animal rights & welfare, environmental benefits

@ebonwings: part of a rebellion on my father for not letting me be a vegetarian at 13 but now more then worth it in the long run.

@foodeater: cuz i love animals 2 much 2 eat them, cuz I love this planet 2 much 2 destroy it and cuz I love my body 2 much 2 poison it.

@TravelingVeg: What @foodeater said. Pretty much sums it up.

@LaceySue: because I can't stand the way animals in our society are treated. People need to see that they have feelings too.

@redshoewearer: Survey answer: care for animals, and a desire not to contribute to cruelty, first and foremost.

@Turn2Grey: Health reasons. My Dad's death was hard to take and it scared me into taking better care of myself.

@theCOLORofFIRE: I believe the decision to eat meat is more of a choice than deciding to be vegan

@hunttalent: Not vegan but vegetarian for me. Health reasons really. I think meat is toxic.

@bahhhhh: Don't see the need in killing to survive especially with all the alternatives. Plus I love animals and obviously health.

@panasonicyouth: Initially for health reasons, then to stop supporting the farm industry.

@theCOLORofFIRE: started being vegetarian mostly for animal rights reasons, took the vegan leap mostly to be healthier and feel better

@johnnyvirus: Vegans recognize the value of life regardless of species. Pain is pain. Feelings are feelings, regardless of the organism.

@jamjamers: because I was 13 and wanted to be a pain in the ass to my parents..

@calikissez08: thought about where the meat came from a little too long and completely disgusted myself, why stop at meat. vegan <3

@JoshSchillace: because i'm way too advanced as a human to eat flesh cut off animals...rednecks with stunguns don't prepare my lunch.

@DefinedByClass: Believing in animal rights, yet still wearing leather jackets didn't seem right. Meat was never my thing anyway.

@JamieVallentine: you & davey ..so thanks, i guess! lol

@voxvampirica: the way animals are treated that are raised for human consumption is fucking disgusting. i want no part of it.

@astheycry: because dairy is disgusting.

@dance_of_days: I was already vegetarian and allergic to eggs. Thought the dairy industry was exploitative and didn't want to support it.

@quarrygirl: eating dead stuff grossed me out.

@daveygjohnson: I'm an ex-vegan, but basically, it was factory farming.

@xsashahavokx: was vegetarian for long time so juz decided to be vegan its healthier and also you guys influenced me :]

@koalas_rock: animals!

@evilxdead: Health and compassion.

@TranquilMammoth (that's me): Health, respect for the environment, respect for animals, aesthetics, fancy uniform.

If you like what any of these folks had to say, check them out on http://twitter.com. You can yell at me there too: http://twitter.com/TranquilMammoth

Until next time...

Wear Macbeth shoes.
Eat your vegetables.

Just a quick FYI to all the vegans out there:
According to Peggy Kling, on behalf of Noah's Bagels Customer Service: "The l-cysteine that we use in our bagel formula is derived from
duck feathers and is in all of bagels except for sun dried tomatoes."
However, according to the Noah's nutritional guide, even the sun dried tomato bagels contain l-cysteine.
Gross! Sorry, vegans! ;(
I'd like to give props to Peggy Kling for not lying about this.

For all the non-vegans reading this, Noah's bagels still have the duck feather taste you've grown to love!

Hello! My name is Hunter Burgan and I'm the newly appointed Vegan Ambassador for Macbeth Footwear. When I was first approached about this distinguished position, I asked myself, "Hunter, do you have what it takes to be an ambassador?" to which I replied, "Yes, I do." As you probably already know, I'm no stranger to powerful political positions. I was the 8th grade student council vice president, so I think I know quite a bit about this type of thing. I also know for a fact that in the recent presidential election I received at least one write-in vote. It makes perfect sense that the world would want me for any sort of position with a lot of fame and power and a fancy uniform. The company jet? No...I don't need that...well maybe on the weekends. Yes, as soon as Macbeth approached me about the position I eagerly accepted.

On my way home from my celebratory dinner at a fancy vegan restaurant in Beverly Hills, 90210, I had a thought: What exactly does a Vegan Ambassador do? This was followed by another, even more crucial thought: What is an ambassador?! I decided to look it up to make sure I knew exactly what I had signed up for. The dictionary defines ambassador as,

"1. an accredited diplomat sent by a country as its official representative to a foreign country: the Turkish ambassador to Chile.

2. a person who acts as a representative or promoter of a specified activity : he is a good ambassador for the industry."

Normally when looking up a word in the dictionary, I feel forced to pick one of several definitions. In this case, I think both apply. Let me explain. As the Vegan Ambassador for Macbeth Footwear, I represent and promote the vegan interests of the company. I also represent and promote the interests of the vegan community in everything I do with Macbeth. As you may or may not know, Macbeth has always supported the vegan community, and now as the Vegan Ambassador, I have the opportunity to take this even further. This is going to be much more fun than my 8th grade VP position!

Another responsibility that I assume I have as the Vegan Ambassador is meeting with foreign diplomats about vegan matters. No one has said anything specifically about this, but since this is the FIRST definition that came up for ambassador, I'm going to assume this is also part of my job. There are still many countries that have not heard of Macbeth, or do not understand what vegan means. This is where I come in. I also play an important role in creating new and better vegan foreign policy. I haven't totally worked that one out yet. I may need to meet with some other ambassadors and pick their brains. I also asked about the fancy uniform, but I was told it's on back order. I'll keep you posted about that one.

So there you have it. You have just witnessed one of the most historical inaugurations of 2009 so far: Hunter Burgan as the Vegan Ambassador for Macbeth Footwear. I will be updating this blog very frequently, so check back every single day to learn about the things I'm doing as an ambassador. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to take the company jet to an important meeting with the Turkish ambassador to Chile. My plan is to convince him to make chili with tofu instead of turkey.