Pleasure-heads

1203: 

Those who make a living out of animals aren’t likely to recognise animal rights. But for those consumers who don’t, who’re simply held by their food preference, there’s some hope.  And it’s from these people that the Animal Rights Movement potentially finds its support.

         

Those involved in the Animal Industry probably dislike vegans and the A. R. Movement because of the potential threat we pose to their livelihoods.  They’re not only committed meat-eaters themselves but they get their wages from the Industry.  To them, animals are economic concerns not ethical challenges.  It’s bank accounts before moral accountability, pragmatics before ideals.

People who are more sympathetic to the liberation of animals, despite having a foot in both camps, are the ones we try to persuade.  We suggest they boycott what the other lot sells.  Change is very slow, but the tide is turning towards ethics (compassion for animals) and nutritious food.  Perhaps a better-informed, more sophisticated customer is these days less attracted to what’s on offer, because it’s looking dodgy on all counts.

         

Whilst vegan principle and talk of animals having rights is not good for the Animal Industry, it’s what is perhaps catching people’s attention. People are becoming more conscious of health and compassion, but perhaps also, they’re getting weary of hedonism and wary of attractive-looking animal products. It’s as if, today, whilst we might seek pleasure, we can see that all that’s on offer is a ‘seconds-world’ pleasure, tasteless hamburgers spruced up with artificial flavourings, anaemic eggs, bland cheese, pale imitations of what they were. It’s much duller food, the result of our squeezing the life out of the animal-machine; we know that ill-health and horror-stories about animal-torture aren’t going to go away. And if we don’t change for ethical reasons then surely economic and ecological factors will eventually force us.

         

While the majority of people continue to consume their favourite foods, it’s as if they’re maintaining a protective shield around it, clinging on to what they once enjoyed but now far less so.