What is Veganism?
And why should you consider it?
Veganism is a pretty simple concept of fairness and equality that's actually something most people already agree with but just don't follow through with in practice.
Being vegan simply means trying the very best you can to cause the least harm possible. This means refraining from any activities that deliberately cause the suffering or death of animals (and humans, of course) or that use, exploit, hurt or confine them against their will. Such activities include the consumption of meat and other animal products, the wearing of animal skins, furs or feathers, the buying of products tested on animals, or the visiting of zoos and aquariums.
Detractors may point out that an unfortunate byproduct of our modern society is that some level of harm is always being caused. Just by building our cities, driving our cars or harvesting our crops many animals (and lots of humans, too) are killed in the process. But just because society is unable to completely eradicate harm from the world, that doesn't mean we should neglect to reduce it where possible via the everyday, individual choices we make.
Put simply, if wherever you have a choice you'd prefer not to cause harm to others, you already believe in veganism.
You agree with veganism if...
- You think cutting a dog's throat is wrong.
- You think cutting a cow's throat is wrong.
- You think chopping off a kitten's tail is wrong.
- You think chopping off a piglet's tail is wrong.
- You think suffocating a baby boy is wrong.
- You think suffocating a baby bird is wrong.
- You think taking newborn babies away from their mothers is wrong.
- You think taking newborn calves away from their mothers is wrong.
- You think killing and eating dogs and cats in Asia is wrong.
- You think killing and eating pigs and cows in Europe is wrong.
In the examples above you likely agreed it's bad to hurt and kill the cats, dogs and humans, yet you perhaps
felt differently about the cows, chickens and pigs. Why is this? In all cases the victim wants to avoid being harmed, doesn't want to die (and will fight hard to avoid death) and they all feel pain, sadness and fear.
The violent actions described in the examples above are actually standard practices in the meat, egg and dairy industries and if they sound cruel or unfair to you - you already believe in veganism.
Being vegan simply means trying the very best you can to cause the least harm possible. This means refraining from any activities that deliberately cause the suffering or death of animals (and humans, of course) or that use, exploit, hurt or confine them against their will. Such activities include the consumption of meat and other animal products, the wearing of animal skins, furs or feathers, the buying of products tested on animals, or the visiting of zoos and aquariums.
Detractors may point out that an unfortunate byproduct of our modern society is that some level of harm is always being caused. Just by building our cities, driving our cars or harvesting our crops many animals (and lots of humans, too) are killed in the process. But just because society is unable to completely eradicate harm from the world, that doesn't mean we should neglect to reduce it where possible via the everyday, individual choices we make.
Put simply, if wherever you have a choice you'd prefer not to cause harm to others, you already believe in veganism.
You agree with veganism if...
- You think cutting a dog's throat is wrong.
- You think cutting a cow's throat is wrong.
- You think chopping off a kitten's tail is wrong.
- You think chopping off a piglet's tail is wrong.
- You think suffocating a baby boy is wrong.
- You think suffocating a baby bird is wrong.
- You think taking newborn babies away from their mothers is wrong.
- You think taking newborn calves away from their mothers is wrong.
- You think killing and eating dogs and cats in Asia is wrong.
- You think killing and eating pigs and cows in Europe is wrong.
In the examples above you likely agreed it's bad to hurt and kill the cats, dogs and humans, yet you perhaps
felt differently about the cows, chickens and pigs. Why is this? In all cases the victim wants to avoid being harmed, doesn't want to die (and will fight hard to avoid death) and they all feel pain, sadness and fear.
The violent actions described in the examples above are actually standard practices in the meat, egg and dairy industries and if they sound cruel or unfair to you - you already believe in veganism.
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When trying to be objective about the ethics of how we treat animals, it's worth asking ourselves some simple questions.
- Would we be happy if ourselves, a friend or family member, or our pets were in the same situation?
- Is it an acceptable or enjoyable existence for the animal - a happy or fair way to live?
- Are the animal's best interests of primary concern, or are the interests of others coming first?
If the answer to any of these questions is no, then it's illogical for anyone who claims to care about animals or who wishes to live ethically to continue supporting the use of animals.
We should also consider if we'd want ourselves or those we care about (human or animal) to:
- be violently killed within a fraction of their natural lifespan.
- have harmful chemicals poured into their eyes or injected into their bodies.
- spend their entire lives trapped in one room (however comfortable it may be).
- be skinned or boiled alive.
- be forcibly made pregnant over and over again without consent.
- never (or rarely) see or experience the outdoors.
- have their bodies cut, hooked, burned or hacked at without anaesthetic.
- be brought into this world purely to be used by others, and killed when
they are no longer considered useful (or profitable).
The actions above are the harsh reality for billions of animals in farms, zoos, aquariums, laboratories and fur
and skin farms throughout the world, and it's hard to deny how strange it is to see such widespread and unchallenged cruelty (most of it supported by us, the general public) in a world we all say we wish was fair, honest and free of violence and exploitation.
Even more frustrating is the fact that the numerous ways we use and exploit these animals are completely unnecessary - including our desire to consume their flesh and bodily secretions. Human beings have no biological need to consume meat and other animal products (quite the opposite in fact) and not only are they more unhealthy in general, they are also responsible for most of the leading causes of death and disease in the developed world.
- Would we be happy if ourselves, a friend or family member, or our pets were in the same situation?
- Is it an acceptable or enjoyable existence for the animal - a happy or fair way to live?
- Are the animal's best interests of primary concern, or are the interests of others coming first?
If the answer to any of these questions is no, then it's illogical for anyone who claims to care about animals or who wishes to live ethically to continue supporting the use of animals.
We should also consider if we'd want ourselves or those we care about (human or animal) to:
- be violently killed within a fraction of their natural lifespan.
- have harmful chemicals poured into their eyes or injected into their bodies.
- spend their entire lives trapped in one room (however comfortable it may be).
- be skinned or boiled alive.
- be forcibly made pregnant over and over again without consent.
- never (or rarely) see or experience the outdoors.
- have their bodies cut, hooked, burned or hacked at without anaesthetic.
- be brought into this world purely to be used by others, and killed when
they are no longer considered useful (or profitable).
The actions above are the harsh reality for billions of animals in farms, zoos, aquariums, laboratories and fur
and skin farms throughout the world, and it's hard to deny how strange it is to see such widespread and unchallenged cruelty (most of it supported by us, the general public) in a world we all say we wish was fair, honest and free of violence and exploitation.
Even more frustrating is the fact that the numerous ways we use and exploit these animals are completely unnecessary - including our desire to consume their flesh and bodily secretions. Human beings have no biological need to consume meat and other animal products (quite the opposite in fact) and not only are they more unhealthy in general, they are also responsible for most of the leading causes of death and disease in the developed world.
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If we have a genuine desire to live in a fair and honest world, we should stop pushing our morality to the back of our minds for a handful of unfortunate species (and for a handful of unnecessary reasons). Instead, by finally confronting these issues, we can evolve and move forward together to expand our circle of compassion to include everyone we share the planet with. All beings on earth have the same desire to be alive, to be free and to pursue what makes them happy - and whether it's of fur, feathers, scales or skin or it walks, flies, slithers or swims, all life on earth matters and deserves our consideration.
Many of us talk the talk when it comes to kindness, compassion or equality. Being vegan just means you're walking the walk as well.
For more help and info on living and thriving on a vegan diet, head to the Diet and Nutrition page.
There's also a whole host of resources on all things vegan over in the Vegan Help section.
There's also a Meet the Animals page where you can see who it is you're helping.
Many of us talk the talk when it comes to kindness, compassion or equality. Being vegan just means you're walking the walk as well.
For more help and info on living and thriving on a vegan diet, head to the Diet and Nutrition page.
There's also a whole host of resources on all things vegan over in the Vegan Help section.
There's also a Meet the Animals page where you can see who it is you're helping.
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'We don't need to eat anyone who would run, swim or fly away if he could'
- James Cromwell
- James Cromwell