SIR - November 1 is World Vegan Day, a global celebration of a healthy and compassionate lifestyle free from all animal products. More and more people are embracing this way of life, as much because of concerns over the health problems and environmental destruction associated with eating meat as animal welfare. These reasons to go vegan will give you food for thought. You'll save animals' lives - 30 million day-old male chicks are killed every year because they cannot produce eggs. Male calves born to dairy herds are surplus' to the industry. Many are shot, others are sent on punishing journeys to continental veal farms.

Vegans have been shown to live longer and have lower risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes and some cancers than meat-eaters.

KELLY SLADE, Animal Aid, Tonbridge, Kent.