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Duration | 4:19

Category | People

Organisation | Tzu-Chi Foundation (Singapore)

Why does one 10-year-old vegetarian kid insist on not eating meat?

She can be seen in many activities promoting vegetarianism. 10-year-old Khoo Jing Yue has been a vegetarian since birth. She understood that the purpose of not eating meat was to protect animals from a very young age. Besides being a vegetarian, she also actively promotes vegetarianism among her friends and appeared on food broadcast programmes with her family, hoping to expand the positive influence and encourage more people to join the ranks of vegetarians.

I've been a vegetarian for 10 years, and I started when I was in my mother's tummy.

Khoo Jing Yue: My name is Khoo Jing Yue. I am 10 years old.

Khoo Jing Yue: (How many laps can you swim at once?) 20. (How long is a lap?) Over there, to that gym.

Khoo Jing Yue’s mother, Chan Hsiong Peng: There is no problem with her physical fitness, she is still very active after swimming.

Khoo Jing Yue’s father, Khoo Jyh Hao: I've never heard them saying that they are tired, they are the kind who never get tired from playing.

Khoo Jing Yue’s mother, Chan Hsiong Peng: Generally, we cook at home, mainly because I think it is more nutritious and the food is more diverse every day.

Khoo Jing Yue: My mother always prepares lunch boxes for me to bring to school. My school teachers and classmates all know that I am a vegetarian. They do not stop being friends with me, and still continue hanging out with me.

Khoo Jing Yue’s mother, Chan Hsiong Peng: Master’s teachings, Life Wisdom videos, we show that to her every day, and she gradually understood that being a vegetarian means caring for animals, and protecting the earth and the environment.

Khoo Jing Yue: This is what I did with my brother, Liang Liang.

Khoo Bo Liang: I like elephants because elephants are vegetarians.

Khoo Jing Yue: I like all animals because animals are very cute, they are like your best friends.

Khoo Jing Yue: We don't eat meals which incur debt, don't owe animals a debt. We have to eat meals which show our gratitude.

Khoo Jing Yue: Ok so actually, there is no meat in all of them. Did you know that every second, 2556 animals are killed? They are so cute and they also have mothers and fathers, right?

Khoo Jing Yue: Sometimes I take the opportunity to promote (vegetarianism) to (friends). Sometimes they will listen, but most of the time, they won't. (Do you feel sad when you don't listen?) No, because if you do it slowly every day, they will understand our love, and they will give it a try.

Video: My name is Jing Yue. I'm Zhihao, hello everyone. Hello everyone, today we are here at The Clef Café, a vegetarian restaurant.

Khoo Jing Yue: The first time I did a sharing with my family was for a food broadcast programme.

Khoo Jing Yue: The internet is very convenient now. Upon connecting to it, there are many people viewing, they might be influenced to become vegetarians, you never know. 

Khoo Jing Yue’s father, Khoo Jyh Hao: Because I don't really want to face the camera. I just think that children have such a (pure) heart, and it is rare that the whole family can do the same meaningful thing together.

Khoo Jing Yue’s mother, Chan Hsiong Peng: She is really brave, even braver than her parents.

Khoo Jing Yue’s father, Khoo Jyh Hao: This is what we adults should learn from the children, having a pure heart. Anyway, good things should be shared.

Song: Seeing flowers blooming in the garden, hearing birds chirping in the trees, and frogs croaking in the pond. I have a little wish, can anyone hear?

Khoo Jing Yue: Because it is to save animals, save the earth, and save more lives. So, I will also do my part to promote vegetarianism.

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