Natalie Portman delivered a pro-vegan speech to 16,000 students at this year’s WE Day in California, which took place on April 25th. The annual youth activist event is held in 17 cities across the United States, Canada, the UK and the Caribbean.
The actress and animal rights supporter was amongst world-renowned speakers and award-winning performers with millions of young people and families to celebrate and inspire another year of change.
The strength of this youth event reflects the growing popularity amongst young people to create change and improve sustainability, for communities and the environment.
During her talk, Portman spoke about the link between feminism and veganism, and how female animals are exploited for people to consume eggs and dairy.
Ms Portman, who’s been a vegetarian since she was 9 and a vegan for about eight years, reflected: “Only after I became active in women’s issues did I realize that my veganism was related to those very issues. Dairy and eggs don’t just come from cows and chickens, they come from female cows and female chickens. We’re exploiting female bodies and abusing the magic of female animals to create eggs and milk. She went to say: “So now lots of people make fun of vegans, right? Lots of people make fun of anybody who cares about anything deeply, right? But I’m here to say, it is always a great thing to care…whether it’s environmental issues, animal rights, women’s rights, equality, never be afraid to show how much you care.”