"Veganism is a way of living that seeks to exclude, as far as possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing, and any other purpose"
Climate change is a very real,
but under-appreciated threat every single one of us on this planet faces. It is the large-scale change in regional and
global climate patterns, associated with human interference from the mid-20th
century onwards, which has been caused by the rising levels of carbon dioxide,
methane, and nitrous oxide in the atmosphere.
With rising temperatures (just recently in November it was announced the
overall global temperature had increased by one degree, halfway to the ‘safe’
two degree temperature increase before we’re in serious trouble), rising sea
levels, melting icecaps and glaciers, shifting ocean currents and changing weather
patterns, it is important we take action.
And not just the changing social behaviours of walking and cycling we’ve
been told are enough. They’re not.
A truth that matters cannot stay
hidden. Yet the devastating impact of
animal agriculture on our environment is a shocking truth that governments and
the heads of corporate farming industries seek to hide from the public domain. Why?
Because the impact is far greater than they are willing to admit. If the wider public audience were aware and
took immediate action, millions of pounds’ and dollars’ worth of industry
profit would be lost. The power of the
public to make conscientious choices is a very real threat to corporate and
governmental profitability.
Nobody wants to talk about
slaughterhouses and marine degradation.
I mean, it doesn’t exactly make for light and airy dinnertime
conversation, especially when you are sat with a steak on the plate in front of
you.
Animal agriculture is the number
one cause of all human-induced climate change.
This means that raising animals as livestock for meat or by-products:
consumes one-third of all fresh water; occupies 45% of all the Earth’s land;
causes 91% of Amazonian destruction; is the leading cause of species
extinction; is the leading cause of ocean “dead zones”; and is the number one
cause of habitat destruction. The United
Nations Environment Programme 2010 report, noted that, “Agriculture and food consumption
are identified as one of the most important drivers of environmental pressures,
especially habitat change, climate change, water use, and toxic emissions”.
Hierarchy
Observing discussions regarding how we treat non-human animals and place them
in a hierarchical structure raises several comments / questions. We shouldn't
kill spiders but rather take them outside because they're living beings and
have done no harm. In the West we look
after cats and dogs, welcome them into our homes, and treat them as members of
our families. We think micro-pigs,
calves, and lambs are adorable.
Yet all the while there's an underlying contradiction in these behaviours and words. We do these things, but we are okay with the subjugation, exploitation, and abuse of "farm" animals because we've been told they're food? Because we require their consumption to survive? Because of a palate preference?
At the same time, we become
uncomfortable and upset watching wildlife documentaries where we see lions
killing the gazelle or chimpanzee’s collectively killing bonobo monkeys because
it's "unfair", "cruel", or "gruesome". Is it that
the confrontation of the natural carnivorous nature of "wild" animals
threatens our order?
But it's even more than that. TV
shows such as I'm A Celeb profit out of exploitation of sentient beings, whilst
we sit on our sofas squealing and looking away at how "horrible" and
"unnatural" these "meals" in trials are. But what's the
difference between camel and cow? Our hierarchical order. The system we're in.
What we've been indoctrinated to accept.
It shows us how our
treatment and hierarchical structures towards non-human animals for consumption
are unethical and arguments about the "natural carnivorous" behaviour
of humans are false? This isn’t intended
to make anyone feel guilty (although, if it does then maybe you should re-evaluate
your lifestyle choices), but rather make you aware of what is happening. Hypocrisy and environmental degradation are
the result of what we’re putting on our plates, but we cannot fathom the impact
they have. Which is why I made this page, to gather together arguments and resources you can refer back to and use to educate yourself about what really goes on behind closed doors.
Labelling
Free-range... Cage-free... Organic... Ethically sourced... Humanely killed...
These are just empty signifiers. They are oxymorons. These are terms created and defined by the meat and dairy industries, meaning there is no universal standard enforced legally, which have been used to evoke feelings of traditional "family farming" in consumers, in order that they are further pushed away from the truth. In order that they do not seek to question what is really happening.
Free-Range
To be considered free-range, chickens raised for meat must have "access to the outdoors", which, if you take those words literally, means nothing. Imagine a shed containing thirty thousand chickens (the average number contained in these spaces), with a small door at one end that opens to a five-by-five (industry imposed size) dirt patch - and the door is usually closed all but occasionally.
There is no definition of free-range for egg-laying hens, and sellers of products rely on producer testimonials to support the accuracy of these claims. Very often, the eggs of factory-farmed chickens - chickens packed against one another in vast barren barns - are labelled free-range. One can reliably assume that most "free-range" laying hens are debeaked, drugged, and cruelly slaughtered once "spent".
Cage-Free
The meaning of cage-free is quite obvious: hens are not kept it cages. But this does not mean they are treated better, or that the conditions are significantly improved. They are typically cooped up in large industrial chicken houses with no room to walk around. If you thought 30,000 hens in one shed was cramped, cage-free hens are typically in houses of up to 100,000 other birds.
Again, there is no standardised industrial meaning of cage-free and we are reliant on the honesty of producers and farmers, but they're unlikely to tell the truth, especially when this is the case! Why? Because telling the truth would see their profits plummet.
Organic
Organic signifes nothing but a whole lot less than we give it credit for. For meat, milk, and eggs labelled organic, sellers require that animals must:
1. be raised on organic feed (crops raised without synthetic pesticides and fertilisers)
2. be traced through their life cycle (leave a paper trail)
3. not be fed anti-biotics or growth hormones
4. have "access to the outdoors" (meaning something similar to that of "free-range". In some cases, "access to the outdoors" can mean nothing more than having a screened window to look outside through)
Organic does not mean better welfare. You can call your animals organic and still torture them daily.
Humanely-Killed
Surely this is an obvious contradiction in terms, but apparently not because people still believe these words. Meat and murder cannot be
ethically sourced. Giving animals a few more inches of space so they can turn around fully is simply not enough. Killing animals on slaughter lines at higher speeds, again, is not enough. It might mean knocking of thirty seconds of waiting for death, but that does not mean they were killed humanely. It's a simple face: killing is never ethical. It can never be humane. Animals are not here for our consumption.
Resources
Here is a list of documentaries and articles about
veganism, the environment, climate change, and how all these things
are interlinked and causative. Obviously
this is not an exhaustive list, but rather a compilation of resources we
personally find the most educational and informative, as well as being what
many people have cited and referenced.
Yes, what we’ve discussed might be considered “an inconvenient truth”,
but a truth that matters cannot stay hidden.
We have a duty to protect this planet, and we all have the ability to
make a positive difference.
Veganism / Animal Agriculture
Cowspiracy: chances are, you’ve heard this name thrown
around quite a lot recently, what with it recently being uploaded to Netflix
and this latest version being co-produced by Leonardo di Caprio. Highly recommended. It is an informative documentary from produced
Kip Andersen about the environmental impacts of animal agriculture, and has
many interesting interviews with the heads of large corporations, charities,
and governmental departments. A key
piece of cinematic filming those of you who identify as “environmentalists”. No film link directly available for us to
post, but search “Cowspiracy” on Netflix and you can watch it from there.
Earthlings: *tw: animal abuse and distressing scenes* quite
possibly the most graphic documentary available on the truth about how animals
are treated for consumption in various ways.
Filmmaker Shaun Monson exposes animal suffering endured in factory
farms, puppy mills, and research labs, amongst others. It chronicles the day-to-day practices of
some of the biggest worldwide industries.
It’s not an easy watch as you find yourself facing the cold hard truth,
and there’s no running from it. Has been dubbed the most influential
documentary on these topics. Not for the
fainthearted.
Speciesism: a film from fresh on-the-scene Mark Devries,
which takes a logical approach to the arguments frequently used to contest and
reject vegetarianism / veganism. He
talks with those involved in meat / egg / dairy industries, religious leaders,
philosophers, academics, and your average Joe on the street, and goes into the
moral, ethical, political, capitalist, and social reasons and arguments
surrounding these issues. A fairly easy
watch, with very few graphic scenes.
Forks Over Knives: researchers in this film explore the
correlations between increased high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, and
other illnesses / diseases which have reached endemic levels in many Western
societies. Based on years of research,
as well as “The China Study” conducted by Dr Campbell which explored the
relationship between the consumption of animal products (including dairy) and
chronic illnesses (which was published way back in 2005 after many years of
extensive studies).
Climate Change
United Nations Environment Programme 2010 Report: as the
global population increases, the UN has studied and found evidence to show that
our current Western diets (meat, eggs, and dairy) are unsustainable for it is
contributing more than any other industry to climate change.
Global Warming (various articles): in November 2015 it was
announced that we have now breached a 1 degree Celsius temperature increase,
meaning we are halfway towards the (supposedly) “safe” 2 degree Celsius limit!
Let’s finish with a little video of an American Senator
arguing that climate change is not taking place… because there is snow outside…
This is about all life on earth
hanging in the balance. We have a
choice. If we do not want to wake up too
late to the destruction of the planet, we need to take action now. It is daunting knowing that the future of all
living beings and our planet is reliant on us making a change and acting
efficiently, but it is possible. We can
change the world. We must.
If what has been written and posted here leaves you feeling guilty, shaken up at the truth, saddened at the truth, then perhaps it is time to reconsider your actions. If you are passionate about something and know the truth, do not doubt your ability to have an impact and make things change. Each of our voices is a vote for the kind of world we want to see. Each of our choices in the past helped build the world of today, and each of our choices from this moment forward will help build the world of tomorrow. The question is not, "can we make a difference?" We already do. It is just a matter of what kind. What mark do we want to leave?
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