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Ed Templeton does it all—he’s a pro skateboarder,
founder and CEO of the skateboard company Toy Machine, photographer,
and artist. But there is one thing Ed won’t do: eat animals!
Both Ed and his wife, Deanna, are vegan. In this exclusive interview,
the skateboarding superstar explains why he went vegan—and
why he’ll never go back.
GRRR! How long have you been vegan?
ED In 1989 or ’90, I decided
to stop eating meat, but did it the wrong way. I ate all the
same food, just without meat—Whoppers with no meat, etc.
I kept reading about it as I went and quickly learned that not
eating meat and replacing it with cheese was very unhealthy.
It also does the same amount of damage to animals. I went vegan
[about a year later].
GRRR! What made you go vegan?
ED At the time, it was the people
I was skating with. Mike Vallely and skate photographer Christian
Kline were both vegetarians and would take me out to dinner
as long as I didn’t order meat. They also gave me things
to read. Once you read about the meat and dairy industry and
the things they do, it is hard to keep supporting them.
GRRR! What are your favorite veggie foods?
ED [Deanna] makes the best salads
and sandwiches. We get all of our groceries from Mother’s
Natural Market in Huntington Beach. So all of our stuff is organic
and fresh. We eat out a lot, too .... On the road it has become
much easier in the last [few] years. Almost every city has a
Wild Oats or Whole Foods in it. And looking in the phone book
always brings up something interesting.
GRRR! How do you get the word out about vegetarianism?
ED I inform interested parties about vegetarianism through skateboarding but not in a preachy manner at all. If they ask, I tell. I have found that teaching by example is more effective than by force.
GRRR! What do you think is the main reason that people should go vegetarian?
ED At least do it for yourself. I would rather spend money on food now than on doctor bills later. The health reasons are staggering! Do it also to take yourself out of the cycle of killing and abuse to living things. Show some compassion, and act on it.
GRRR! What makes you angry?
ED The people who read and KNOW what is going on, who say they care, then continue eating and buying the stuff they just said was bad. It is hard to respect someone like that.
Visit PETAKIDS.COM
for more of our interview with Ed.
We’re not sure when he found the time to do it, but Ed
designed this funky, limited-edition sticker just for us—and
we’re giving them away! Contact us to get your copy—before
they’re gone for good. |
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