Are you vegan & use wool products?!

Here is a quote from an Australian (small family-run) wool farm:

"On our farm, we remain committed to our principles of maintaining our land without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides. Live and let live is still our motto and we keep our sheep for life. We have shelter available in every paddock and hand-feed our sheep throughout the winter months and maintain the health of our animals with additional minerals. Their welfare is our priority. "

So, I ask you, is this wool not vegan? No animal was killed or harmed for this wool. They are shaved once per year; not exactly a form of torture to be shaved once per year. Their sheep are kept for life and not sent to slaughter when they get older and their fur production goes down. So, it's possible to have humane wool. Just because most companies choose to abuse their wool animals and also use them to fuel the meat industry doesn't mean that it's impossible to treat them well and allow them to live a long life.

Vegan society on wool:
http://www.vegansociety.com/resources/an…

Now, I agree that most wool comes from the industrial wool producers who don't give a damn about anything other than profits. But, let's just say, for the sake of argument, that humane wool is the norm and easy to purchase. Do we need wool? For myself, I'd have to say, "Yes, I need wool." Now, why on earth would I need wool? Well, I live in Canada. It is cold here in the winter. I work outdoors all year around. I have tried wearing synthetic socks as I am vegan and opposed to animal products. Two pairs of synthetic winter socks was not enough to prevent me from getting frost bite on my toes. Twice. I tried all sorts of things to improve my blood circulation to my feet, but last year I decided to buy a pair of wool socks as they are renowned for being very warm and dry. One pair of winter wool socks kept my feet warm and dry all winter as opposed to two pairs of synthetics which kept my feed f*cking COLD. I also noticed that one pair of wool socks, which I wore every work day for over one year lasted much longer than my synthetics. I just grabbed any pair of wool socks, but for my next pair, I plan to do find a humane producer of wool and wool socks rather than just buy whichever pair off the store shelf (as I needed something right away due to frost bite).

Is that kinda like a beef-eating "vegetarian"?

Vegans don't consume, wear, or use animal products or products tested on animals.
Period.

http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-…

~vegan, 4 years~

Scocasso, vegans abstain totally from participating in industries that use animals. That's the definition. Subjective questions of animal welfare are irrelevant. (Btw, if you want to find credible information on animal welfare, it won't be coming from industries who WANT TO CONVINCE YOU TO BUY THEIR PRODUCTS.)

No you cannot be vegan and use wool. It goes against the definition of vegan as avoiding wool is possible and practical as there are so many animal free or vegan alternatives.

http://www.elephantjournal.com/2010/01/p…

This is a great article but unfortunately wasn't loading for me but can be seen through cache:
http://www.veganpeace.com/animal_cruelty…

Vegan because animals are not property

There is no such thing as a vegan who uses wool. Now, I could understand if you're newly vegan & hang on to some wool things until you can replace them, but if you actively use wool, as in intentionally buying & using it, you are in no way vegan.

Well simply if someone wears wool and claims themselves to be vegan then they are lying. There are no bits and corners to go around, you either are vegan or you are not. Vegan's do not wear or consume any type of animal product. period.

You can't be vegan and wear wool.
Vegans don't consume anything that was derived from an animal [ Honey, Animal Ingredients, dairy products, eggs, silk, leather, etc. ].

You can be vegetarian, but not vegan..

As many people have said already, if you use wool, you are not a vegan. It's the same with honey.

Vegans dont wear wool products.