I’ve interviewed many a famous face, but perhaps one of my favorite memories was chatting with Dennis Kucinich at the Farm Sanctuary Gala in 2008.

This guy is the REAL DEAL and absolutely ahead of his time.

On June 21st, the world’s first annual Vegan Earth Day Celebration was held at Pierce College in Woodland Hills California, and Mr. Kucinich delivered a special video message. 

In the clip below, Dennis says: 

“What does it mean to be a vegan? Well, I can share with you what it’s meant to me. When I made that decision back in 1995, I was in a different state of health. For many years I suffered from what some know as Crohn’s Disease and I was told that there was no cure for it. But by a vegan diet and by the use of Chinese medicine as an extra help, I don’t have a problem anymore.

I just want to tell you that for health reasons, for compassion for animals, there are many reasons that people can make that change.  And also for helping to save the planet. There are as many reasons why a person may be a vegan as there are vegans, I suppose. But for me it’s been one of the most important decisions in my life. It’s enabled me to have increased clarity and vitality, and its given me a joy of life that I can’t say that I really had when I had another diet that was weighing me down physically and spiritually.”

See what I mean? HE’S THE MAN!!

Check out the whole video and then head on over to GoVeg.com to get your free vegetarian starter kit.