Animal Ethics for Everybody

Tell the bunny nooooo, bunny, noooo. Right? That's what you'd do?

Sweet Jesus. It's been a year since I went vegan. So obviously I am going to write about it. But hang on, I really want to get more people involved in the animal ethics conversation. If you've read some of my previous blogs you'll know that while I am vegan, I also have my fair-share of critique for the movement.

There is a crises no matter how you slice it. Today we are breeding animals just to consume them and their products. In order to do that at the scale means we're being incredibly cruel. Really, there is no contesting this. This is fact. Don't make me put up graphic proof, there is no need for it. That said, I've gone out on a limb before too discussing the various issues in the vegan movement itself. I have been very critical of the cult manifestations and the black and white lens it requires. But does that mean I think veganism isn't awesome? Does it mean that I think it's just a perosnal choice? It's far more complex than that. Bear with me.

We are in an era where the black and white negotiation only serves to reinforce each other's opposing stance. Just like politics. Only politics has evolved enough. Why? Because we have a critical mass. And critical masses on either side will do what it takes to make their voices heard. It's legitimate to be liberal or conservative. Hell it's even legitimate to be a communist. Veganism as a concept does not have a critical mass but has a very strong voice (and a good amount of reason as to why the concept should be looked into more seriously)

But without critical mass it's relegated to a fringe group. And the more fringe we are treated the more 'cult' like we stand to become.

Let's look at the idea of veganism and why it has sturdy answers to most arguments. Now if you are wondering where I stand: I think these answers are indeed very logical, especially when you take into account that the onus should come to us the privileged few to take action. But this refrain, this rational will not necessarily scale up nor translate to logic or good enough answers for some.

Let's go through these typical Q&A that vegans and non-vegans participate in. I think these answers have solid merit- but I also think they won't make scalable impact, especially in terms of 'converting' people. We'll get to that in a bit.

So first, here is the cat and mouse (excuse the non-vegan metaphor) vegans and non-vegans play with each other in the world.

Non-Vegans: Plants have feelings too
Vegans: Probably. We don't understand the extent or context of it enough. But how's this to start. Mash some potatoes, then mash a live goat to death. What keeps your appetite?


Non-Vegans: But the food chain
Vegans: We don't need animal products to survive unlike, Lions. even if we started out like that, it doesn't excuse factory farming. Then there are the academic vegans who will give you solid information on why food chain itself is a myth. I'll leave that aside for now because honestly no matter how you argue it, it doesn't validate the ethics of how we treat animals today.


Non-Vegans: But what about your protein?
Vegans:  I will cut you. Also that's a myth. You get proteins from plant based food. Seriously. Think veganism is propaganda? Thinks about the amount of propaganda the dairy and meat industry has been spewing. So much so it's all people believe.


Non-Vegans: It tastes good
Vegans: Sure. Serial killers like to kill because it feels good. Also pretty sure there is a Japanese cannibal who ate his classmate and said she tasted good too.


Non-Vegans: You can't Really be vegan 100% of the time, there are contradictions
Vegans: Yes they are. But it's still the best way we can approach it and come together to stop cruelty


Non-Vegans: It's a fad
Vegans: It's an ethical choice


Non-Vegans: It's only for the elite
Vegans:  Good, because having social privilege actually allows you to change things. It's us the privileged that consume a disproportionate amount of the world's resources. The onus is on us.

Non- Vegans: How do you afford it?
Vegans: The way you afford your smartphone, computer and your Uber cab fair


Non Vegans: I hate vegans. I hate compassion. I hate changing anything for the greater good. Also vegans are ugly.
Vegans: ok you got us there

Ok. If you're vegan your like, yup, those answers are pretty boss.

If you're disagreeing with them, you are thinking one of these six things ( and six is random, I am doing my best, guys)

1. I didn't  think about it like that. I guess that makes sense. I am going to go vegan.

2. Yeah, well, it's not for me. It's a personal choice. I'll think about it, though.

3.  Well I guess I could reduce my consumption and do some more research on this

4. Whatever. I like my meat and dairy thank you very much

5. Food Ethics don't matter, just live your life. Humans are more important.

6. There are other ways to demonstrate compassion. Veganism isn't the only way to do that



Whatever you are thinking, leave that aside right now. Just for a minute.

Based on the Q &A  I outlined in the first section, let's look at what veganism in terms of conversion relies on:

1. That people give a fuck

2. That people can quickly see the light and give up habit, convenience, and cultural norms

3. That people are self-aware enough to see how everyday actions contribute to things that in theory they don't feel is right or ethical (like how some of my clothes might be made in a sweatshop)

4. That people can all have compassion and relate that compassion to animals

5. That people are ok with participating in one movement and identifying with veganism in its contemporary sense

6. I am not getting into social privilege. If you have access to the internet and are reading this you have some amount of social privilege

7. That people don't have another philosophic/spiritual way of looking at suffering and the need for it in the world.


So if you are tick all the points there, great you'll be vegan or already are. If not, then you won't be. That's a lot of people who won't be.

The simple truth: there will always be a reason for not being vegan in this in world. Veganism is too limited an approach to get people to move together.

We all have made deals through evolution- not because you individually agreed to it, but because society evolved to a place where you were taught certain things were right and wrong.

Slavery, no voting rights for women, murdering people via genocide: these were all legitimate things (And still are in different ways) but most of us can agree it's wrong. And because most of us think it's wrong there are laws in place. There are resources and help available to people who struggle with these injustices. All because a majority of us think it's not right.

Which means there is hope that as a collective we will take animal rights seriously. 200-300 years from now people will look at us and say we were barbaric. That's hope.

How to not to kill hope? By getting more people into the conversation without saying there is one way of doing it. When we challenge culture, ethics, habit, and the market all at ONE time, the largest response to it will be defence. It will for sure convert many people because all the factors veganism relies on match up to the individual. But not nearly enough.

Let go of the defence. Let go of dogma. We are all a bunch of contradictions.

Animal ethics is important enough  and relevant enough in context to where we are in the human narrative.  No matter where you stand on your reasoning, there is something you can do or think about that will contribute to our  ethical evolution right now, right here.

Veganism champions in paving the path to animal ethics. But it can't rely on everyone becoming vegan to create an ethical reality. Just like how not every person is not/will not be a feminist, but will still live in a world that increasingly asks for equal rights and challenges gender notions.

And really, that's all I am saying.

And no. There is no real point. Scratch that. The point is to challenge our own stances and examine those answers. That requires you actually want to think about your own responses to the world. But I'll take that chance.


Irrespective. Say Happy One Year, Rheea!

Vegans like pictures with animals. Helps them with their PR