Animals are sentient individuals with subjective experiences who want to live free from human use, exploitation, and harm. They are not commodities, food, or sources of income and pleasure. It is wrong to exploit individuals, so it is wrong to exploit animals. If you were in their place, you would want us to defend you at all costs.There is no humane way to kill or exploit a sentient being who cannot consent and does not want to die. Animal agriculture and animal use are exploitation and enslavement when viewed from the animals’ position. Choosing who to eat and how we use each species is imposed on us by societal norms, which we, in turn, force upon sentient beings who want to live.Animals, the victims, don’t want us to seek to exploit them in a “better” way. They’d want us to abolish animal use entirely. Why should we find better ways to do the wrong thing?
Local, organic, or high-welfare animal products are still animal exploitation, often marketed to make consumers feel comfortable. There is no ethical dairy, eggs, meat, or fish. Exploiting a living being who cannot consent or who doesn’t want to die is never ethical. We have no right to control their bodies, expect anything from them, harm them, or oppress them.
Animal-welfare only helps perpetuate animal exploitation.Animals want to live their lives free from human interference. They’d want us to reject the perverted ways we see them. They’d want us to defend their body sovereignty and their right to be free from use and harm.These notions make up a doctrine called veganism. Veganism is not about becoming a better person, the environment, or health. It is only about defending the weak and voiceless and giving them the respect they deserve. It is a movement for animal liberation and respect.Veganism rejects specism, the idea that certain species are to be used by us, while others are to be respected. What is the difference between a cow and a dog that justifies exploiting one but not the other? Aren’t both of these animals sentient? Don’t they both care about their freedom? Aren’t these two distinct species fundamentally the same where it truly matters?
Veganism rejects the views that further harmful narratives such as human supremacy and the belief that animals are here for us to use.Just like any other justice movement, veganism is about the victims it defends and deserves the same respect, as it is based on the same core principles: opposing oppression, recognizing the rights of sentient beings, and advocating for justice.We do not ask that chickens, cows, pigs, turkeys, sheep, or fish be granted the right to vote. We ask only that they be treated with respect, have sovereignty over their own bodies and lives, and be free from exploitation and human use, to not be killed, objectified, or seen as resources.Animal use, exploitation, and human supremacy are the roots of the problem. Cruelty and abuse are simply the symptoms.We are rational creatures with morals. There is no need to use animals anymore.
They are here with us, not for us.