Why is it catching on? Because of a speech by Gary Yourofsky that is being shared all over Israel. This speech outlines the truth about how humans are treating animals. In case you haven't seen this speech, here it is. It is a must watch for every vegan. And maybe, for everyone else too.

Veganism is catching like WILDFIRE in an entire nation (Israel), right now, as I post this. This is not something that should be overlooked.

Gary Yourofsky is an animal rights activist. He, like many vegans, wasn't always vegan. He found himself staring into the eyes of an elephant at a circus in his mid-twenties. The elephant's eyes, mannerisms and misery spoke to Gary and asked him questions he had no answers for. Questions like, "Why am I being treated this way?" That is when his epiphany took place and his mission in life was born. Gary set out to make a difference. You can read his whole story on his website at Adaptt.org. "As of May 3, 2012, Gary Yourofsky has given 2,378 lectures to more than 60,000 students at 177 institutions nationwide."

Awesome. So what?

Ok, so a lot of activists have lectured... maybe not 2,378 times! But, what really makes Gary unique? Results. He has mastered his speech in a way that has profound effectiveness. Whether he thinks of it in these terms or not, I can tell you from watching his speech that he has mastered the art of psychology.

Gary speaks to his audience, not above them, not below them and not around them. TO them. This builds trust and sets the stage for truth to be heard. He knows who he is speaking to. He knows where their minds are. He knows what questions they have and he answers them before they're asked. When speaking to others, understanding the mindset of the listener is the only way to get through to them. Seem obvious? In my opinion, it is often forgotten. And, it's not as easy as it seems. It takes a lot of effort and must remain a central focus. I know, I forget myself every single day. That is why I say, when it comes to speaking/lecturing, Gary is a psychological expert. Many years after going vegan, he still talks to his audience in a way that shows he remembers exactly what it was like NOT being vegan.

Gary's most famous speech, the video above, is a recording of his lecture in 2010 at Georgia Tech. It has been viewed over a million times and is called, "The Best Speech You'll Ever Hear". The title alone draws attention. And for Gary, so far, it is his masterpiece. On a personal note, this speech is what inspired me to not only go vegan, but to make veganism my life's purpose. I was sold 15 minutes into watching it... (and crying like a baby).

So what else makes the speech so great? Well, for one, Gary includes just about every reason a person should go vegan. He doesn't just focus on one area. He includes compassion, evolution, environmental destruction, science, common sense, health, history, world hunger and a lot more. He even teaches his audience what they can eat. This all inclusive approach takes advantage of one thing veganism really has going for it: There are a TON of reasons to go vegan, not just one or two. The combination of them all is a very powerful tool.

The Revolution in Israel

I will say, Gary's style of speaking may not be for everyone. He is bold, he is animated, he makes his points with authority, and he even cusses here and there. I wouldn't call it a conservative speech, and it might not go over so well at church. But, whether or not you like his style, if you are a vegan, there is a much bigger story here. Gary's speech is causing a revolution right now in Israel. The entire country has caught on fire and started going vegan. If you watch the news video (subtitled in English) below, you will get the rest of this story. And that is what this blog is about. Gary's speech is getting results.

As vegans, we have to ask WHY?

Why is this working SO WELL in Israel? This is what every vegan dreams of. HOW can we get this to happen globally?

If we can answer #1, then maybe we can answer #2. If we answer #2, our mission of spreading veganism will be on the way to true success. This is worth thinking about, analyzing, discussing. This is a sign that the revolution we all dream of everyday is actually a realistic dream. What would it be like if this happened on a global scale? What if the USA was next, Canada, or China? How do we spark this kind of momentum? What is it about Gary's speech that is working so well, especially in Israel?

It makes watching his speech all the worth while, even if you have been vegan for your whole life. I think the answer lies in the ability of the speaker to relate to listeners, and they to the speaker. What do you think?

Below is a video about Israel.