7 Amazing Things 7-Time F1 Champ Lewis Hamilton Is Doing for Animals
Lewis Hamilton just secured his seventh world championship in Formula 1, matching Michael Schumacher’s record. Lewis, who is vegan and was named PETA’s Person of the Year in 2018, has proved to be a superhero in the racing world and an even bigger hero to animals.
Here are seven reasons why:
1. He uses his social media platform to inform fans about issues affecting animals.
The F1 champion seizes every opportunity to share animal rights messages with his 20 million followers on Instagram, where his official bio reads, “[Plant] Based Diet. Love Animals.”
He has asked his followers never to support attractions that exploit dolphins …
… and has spoken out for whales killed in the Faroe Islands:
He’s also shared graphic footage from a PETA Asia investigation into an abattoir in Thailand, highlighting the cruelty of the leather industry:
When Lewis says something, people listen. Here’s another powerful message he shared on Instagram, reminding fans to think about the way their choices affect other living, feeling beings:
“Every bit of meat, chicken, or fish you eat, every bit of leather or fur you wear, has come from an animal that has been tortured, pulled away from their families and brutally killed.”
2. He shouts about the health benefits of being vegan.
Lewis is very vocal about his compassionate diet. He frequently mentions in the media that going vegan was “the best decision” he could have made and that he’s “healthier and happier” than ever. Need evidence? He’s the only Formula 1 driver who has been able to match Schumacher’s record of seven championship titles. And he’s even on track to beat it!
3. He produced a vegan documentary.
Lewis is one of the executive producers of The Game Changers – currently trending on Netflix – a hard-hitting documentary about vegan eating, protein, and strength.
4. He opened a vegan restaurant chain.
The sports star backed the world’s first international vegan burger chain, Neat Burger, giving people more access to tasty plant-based eats. The first two restaurants in London offer delicious vegan hot dogs and burgers and dairy-free milkshakes. More outlets are set to open in Dubai, Los Angeles, and New York.
5. He launched a fashion line with stylish leather-free trainers.
The world champ is putting vegan fashion in the fast lane. His Tommy Hilfiger fashion line features vegan leather trainers that shout comfort and style and didn’t cost anybody their life.
6. He asked his employer to go leather-free!
Lewis has called on Mercedes to ditch the all-leather interiors in its road cars. It takes an average of three cows’ hides to cover the interior of a standard car. A PETA video exposé revealed that calves were branded on the face and cows and bulls were electroshocked and beaten before finally being slaughtered to be made into the leather interiors offered by the world’s largest car companies.
Follow Lewis’ lead and call on other car companies to switch to vegan leather:
7. His dog, Roscoe, is vegan, too.
Many dogs thrive on a vegan diet, and Roscoe is one of them. His famous guardian knows that all animals deserve respect, so his diet is free of their flesh and packed with the nutrients he needs to thrive. Lewis discussed how Roscoe is getting on since going vegan:
Since [Roscoe] has gone vegan, his coat is much softer, his swollen paws have healed up, he is no longer limping with the pain of arthritis and his breathing has opened up. Super happy with the result and he is too.
Note: Most, but not all, dogs can be healthy and happy on a vegan diet with careful planning and consideration of their nutritional needs. If you need advice, speak to a veterinarian.
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