Amateur advocates

534:

Concerning food, now that we know we can be exclusively plant-eaters and survive happily and healthily as such, our job is clear; we can focus on repair. Repair is needed on various levels. Repair of ethics, repair of physical damage, building a system to ensure a more sustainable planet. There’s a clear role here for any one of us to play.

            To be consistent in our basic philosophy (harmlessness wherever possible) we have to become open books, so that anyone can pick up and look into what we say and what we believe and how we should behave. And whatever that is, it must be evident in the way we conduct our own lives. Lifestyle reflects philosophy. Our attitude (in the West) concerning animals-being-used (whether they should or shouldn’t be used) is the testing ground.

            The astounding thing is that animal-use is not being discussed very much at all. It’s as if we are in the middle of a cover up. The media refuse to cover this subject. But that’s not surprising when you consider how tightly the media is controlled by their advertisers and their need for popularity amongst the public. There are very few maverick journalists and even fewer vegan journalists.  

            So it’s down to us. Amateur writers. The few vegan advocates, activists, writers and teachers are all that stands between the possibility of a beautiful future and the continuing laissez-faire. If we do our best to edge this subject into the limelight and promote animal rights and veganism, then that’s all we can do. From our point of view it might look like an uphill battle. It might not be for the faint hearted, but there are rewards. Not only may we eventually show a way of repairing the current mess we’re in but, once the ball starts rolling, the arguments will start to be discussed and then the whole subject will more easily become a part of everyday conversation. Imagine where that might lead us!