Arguing for Veganism

1830:

  Edited by CJ Tointon

From birth, we’ve all been accustomed to animals being farmed and consumer items produced. Making use of animals is easy and convenient. It makes money for the 'Animal Industries' and meat and dairy are associated with many popular foods. But the predominance of animal-based foods in our diet is the cause of much disease and ill health. And (perhaps worst of all) the exploiting of animals contradicts our potential guardian nature.



Whether you believe in climate change, environmental sustainability, God or motor cars; there'll always be those who can put up a cogent argument opposing your beliefs. But vegan principle is different. It's out there on its own. It's an ideal and yet a very workable precept. There seems to be no intelligent opposing argument (at least I've never heard of one) unless one talks to Ahnah, an Inuit from Kangirsuk, who lives on foods that are mainly fished or hunted; there being no land to cultivate fruits and vegetables. She's not unhealthy, but then she's not subjecting herself to the poisoned body parts of highly medicated and artificially fed captive animals! Or one could talk with John from outback Hamilton who can only find work on a cattle station. Or we could speak with refugee Hussein who has only been able to find work at the Narrogin abattoir. These people have probably never heard of 'veganism', but their options are very limited. Not so for the rest of us. We do have choices, especially if we're urban consumers. We have plant-based foods available and a range (albeit limited) of non animal-based clothing and footwear.