May I congradulate the Archbishop of York on going vegan for Lent.

I think that it is a wise and noble choice, which will be difficult, but he will save many of God's creatures' lives by becoming vegan.

So may I say, congratulations Dr John Sentamu on your very wise choice.

Joe Armer (aged 13), South Bank, York.


* I have learned that Dr John Sentamu, The Archbishop of York, will be going vegan for 40 days during Lent.

Good on him. While I have many profound disagreements with Dr Sentamu over issues like homosexual adoption, and indeed whether there is a God, I cannot help but like the man personally - he is a brave and likeable man who is prepared to stand up for issues he believes in. In today's society, that is becoming increasingly difficult.

While grateful for what he is doing, I have just one slight criticism - why be vegan for just 40 days? If it's the right thing to do, why not go permanently vegan?

Veganism is not only best for health, and best for the animals, but is also overwhelmingly the best diet to reduce climate change.

After all, as an independent UN scientific report recently found, humans' diet of meat and animal products contributes more towards climate change than all forms of transportation combined.

I went vegan for animal welfare reasons, but many people I know are turning vegan more for environmental reasons than anything else.

Coun Paul Blanchard, Chaucer Lane, York.


* I'm really inspired and moved by Archbishop of York's vow to go vegan for Lent.

My parents, my brother and his wife went vegan some 17 to 18 years ago, but despite lifelong vegetarianism, I've not made the step myself.

At times they got on their soapbox to me, and light heartedly poked me with comments like: "Still eating eggs and cheese, Charles. Why not adopt the truly compassionate diet?"

It made me joke back, that I'd have a fried cheese sandwich, egg, beans and veggie sausage for breakfast, and I nicknamed them BAV's, Born Again Vegans.

However, I'm inspired enough by John Sentamu's pledge, to eat some humble pie and I too make the pledge that I'll go vegan for Lent. Maybe I'll loose a few pounds of lard in the process.

So do I eat all the cheese in my fridge over the next 24 hours, throw it out, or just gradually feed it to my son?

Charles Everett, North Moor, Huntington, York.