Pitching to the grown ups

689: 

The Animal Rights movement aims to grant animals the right to unenslaved lives. It is still a young movement, in the process of formation, and peopled by passionate and good-hearted activists, who no longer use animals. These people, who advocate on behalf of the voiceless, meet with limited success. They gradually find out (to their horror) what resistance they are up against.

            The Movement has made some considerable impact in USA and parts of Europe, but to date it has had less impact in Australia. I like to think we are a more discerning race of people here, uncomfortable about being told what to do and what we should eat. You can’t win over Australians with a few slick, fundamentalist arguments. But the thinking Australian is also savvy enough to know that this is a much bigger matter, a more far-reaching problem than first meets the eye, and perhaps will need more time to consider this great issue.

            But wherever we’re from, we all face a conundrum - we know how tempting it is to use animals but we also know that the using of animal products involves ingrained habits of eating, clothing and fashion, and tests our compassion and empathy for animals as well as threatening the ecological health of the planet.

            As Australian animal advocates, we might need a more sophisticated approach than our colleagues overseas. It isn’t enough that we merely encourage people to take up vegan diets. We have to show our hand more completely, to help people see animals in a different light, to empathise with animals in their suffering and to recognise how humans are suffering too because of the way we treat farm animals.

            It’s tricky for the persuading advocate – too much finger wagging and people turn off, too soft a voice and we’re ignored. But it’s not our job to tell intelligent and self-willed people what they should be eating or using. We should encourage them to investigate and become their own judge and jury, so they can come to their own conclusions. Independent adults must be allowed to decide for themselves. Young people too must be given the chance to understand what is going on, so that when they are old enough to decide they can make informed decisions.