As an ardent fan of the original Avatar: The Last Airbender (ATLA) series, I was thrilled to learn about its adaptation by Netflix. However, there is one crucial aspect that I believe should be updated to reflect our evolving societal values - Aang's lifestyle. In the original series, Aang is a vegetarian, a choice inspired by his character's roots in Tibetan monk culture. This was fitting for 2007 when most people didn't understand the nuances between vegetarianism and veganism.

Fast forward to today; we have seen a significant shift towards veganism as more people become aware of its ethical and environmental implications. ATLA has always been a show that promotes compassion, harmony, and balance with nature - principles that align seamlessly with vegan philosophy.

And what is veganism? According to The Vegan Society, it is "a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals". While vegetarianism is mainly focused on the diet and fails to emphasize the exploitation of animals. Aang very clearly does not want to be cruel in any way to animals. From the finale he states, "Avatar Yangchen, the monks always taught me that all life is sacred. Even the life of the tiniest spider-fly caught in its own web...I’m even a vegetarian. I’ve always tried to solve my problems by being quick or clever and I’ve only had to use violence for necessary defense and I’ve certainly never used it to take a life".

Clearly he states in the series he is a vegetarian but his actions and beliefs align more with veganism. The few cases that have grey area able to be disputed. He has a companion in Appa. He does ride Appa but he is clearly able to communicate with Appa and makes it clear that Appa's safety and security is his number one concern. Additionally, in a time of war, the riding of Appa is a necessity for the world to continue and reach peace. Veganism is about making the most ethical choice but not necessarily the perfect choice. There has to be a balance.

Another point comes from "The Great Divide" where he desires an egg custard tart. The Fandom doesn't even like this episode to be fair and the creators even joked about skipping it in the performance watched by the Gaang on Ember Island. But even if we acknowledge its existence, Aang's actions are that of a boy who probably hadn't eaten for nearly a full day. He had a human reaction. Also this very clearly isn't being adapted into Netflix's version.

Other examples show him messing around with water tribe clothing which is more of his childish antics. Aang does show that he is human when Appa is stolen. He very clearly kills the buzzard wasp. This is important to keep. With the added layer of veganism, it shows that vegans themselves can fail to be consistent when the world and humanity are in such a complex and imperfect state. This is a great lesson to teach vegans and nonvegans alike that it is okay to not be perfect as long as you strive to adhere to your values and to alway change for the better. Additionally this aligns with the lesson Netflix's Aang has to learn about hard choices and balancing ethics and responsibility.

Incorporating this change into Aang's character would not only stay true to these themes but also introduce them to new audiences in a meaningful way. It would demonstrate how classic stories can adapt and evolve over time while staying true to their core values.

I implore Netflix and the creators involved in this adaptation project to consider making Aang a vegan character. By doing so, they will be promoting an important message about compassion towards all living beings while enhancing the depth of ATLA’s timeless narrative. Additionally there are very few vegan characters done correctly in media and Aang is the perfect way to create visibility for an underrepresented population which is Netflix's MO.

Please sign this petition if you agree that this change should be made for our beloved airbending hero!