I can’t help getting irritated when I see the term Vegetarian, especially used to describe a person, business, menu item, recipe, etc. because there is always the implied suggestion that being “meatless” is all that is required to “be healthier” or to “help animals”… as if that is somehow morally acceptable.

I don’t mean to sound accusing by any means because it’s a misunderstanding most Vegetarians make and live with by what they eat, wear, and use in their lives. But sadly, these actions very negatively impact billions of innocent nonhuman animals, including fish, every year. I too, at one time, was just as ignorant of the injustice and horrific misery involved in using animals for their secretions. And I wasted ten long years in that condition. When I finally awoke to Veganism, and through Professor Gary L. Francione to Abolitionist Veganism, my entire world view changed completely and forever. I encourage you to read Professor Francione’s work, which may be found in his books, searchable essays, audio, and video content at http://www.abolitionistapproach.com/

And if by chance you’ve been of the understanding there is a “humane” way to produce food and other products from animals or their secretions, I can assure you after much research, there is not! I strongly encourage you to read the related post (and its associated links) from Peaceful Prairie Sanctuary, entitled “The Faces of ‘Free Range’ Farming.” They are, so far as I am aware, the *only* farm animal sanctuary who also serves effectively as a preeminent source of Vegan education.

I had this dream a few weeks after little Michael passed away last January. I have relived it numerous times in my waking hours since, including today. Coincidentally, I just realized at this writing, today is the first anniversary of his diagnosis of Lymphoma. He was a dear loving little heart and I miss him terribly.

This is the first post in my “Pets as Refugees” Category. Over time there will be others illustrating the connection between the Institution of Pets, an apt term borrowed from Professor Gary L. Francione, and animal exploitation. Briefly, due to our manipulation of animals we refer to as “Pets”, we have caused to come into existence totally unnatural, completely dependent beings that are bought and sold like slaves. Millions of these innocent creatures end up on the streets of urban centres around the world where they are subject to disease, abuse, uncontrolled reproduction and live short, difficult, incredibly sad lives. Many more millions are dumped in shelters where they are routinely killed for lack of adoptive guardians or institutional monetary means of support. A relatively small number are lucky to find loving homes to live out there lives in “peace”. Michael’s tragic demise was the culmination of almost fourteen years of relative peace after approximately two years of life as a “stray”. We humans owe all existing “companion animals” our diligent care while at the same time not encouraging any more. They do not deserve such a tenuous path.

Last night, while perusing my seldom used Gmail account, I came across an old thread I’d saved when I first got my account about 3 years ago. I was considering Google AdSense for my blog (which I regretfully neglect due to a preoccupation with my Twitter account—@MacVegan). In the thread, you had answered my question about AdSense.

I remember your civilized comments to my question very well.

Anyway, this time I got interested in your works through your Google profile, enjoying your recent Tea Party blog post. They are indeed a frightening political evolution, by the way, the likes of which are evident here in Canada as well, with corporate and mass media interests running the show—and the current Federal election campaign.

I was amazed to read your detailed bio on your LowGenius site, particularly your tech/music background. I come from similar roots as well, though I was only a musician for a few early years sparked by my exposure to blues in the ’60′s and especially Paul Butterfield. I then dabbled in the business for a few years as a booking agent but found there were too many cut-throat types of people to deal with for my liking. The last 31 years have been spent as a television news video tape technician of all things where in the last 15 years its transition to digital sparked my interest in computers though not quite in the same areas, it seems, as you.

I also had a look at your sad street life video essays on your Youtube channel. A terribly unfortunate experience to endure, I’m sure.

I just wanted to respond by saying I sincerely hope you continue to make steps toward all your goals. I want to offer you encouragement to persevere. You certainly have lots to offer. And I hope you don’t think it too forward of me to also suggest you check out Veganism. Don’t laugh. Let me explain.

I’m retired now as of 2009. Unfortunately, I was cut off in a traffic accident 6 months after retirement, and though fortunately not badly disabled, I am still dealing with several weekly therapies to cope with prolonged hip pain. I’ve been Vegan for 15 years or more and I’ve used much of the past several years reading up on Vegan philosophy as relates to peace, justice and respect. I found it to mean much more than just the diet that is its popular perception. And indeed, there is a growing international “Abolitionist” trend that acknowledges *any* animal use is exploitative and therefore unjust. The reason I thought you would/should be interested in this is that your obvious social awareness lends itself to that logical extension which includes nonhuman animals in the moral community. It’s not about the popular notion of, say, PETA “Animal Rights” <-(not) Activists throwing paint on someone's fur coat. As you said three years ago, this would clearly be a criminal act and results in no true understanding of the larger notion of our use of animals as "property" nor how unjust this notion is. As is the case with both human and nonhuman slaves, the Abolitionist approach is entirely about respect and justice. And so Veganism follows that logic as a necessary baseline—a minimum show of respect every human can easily practice in what we eat, wear, and use.

When you have a chance, please consider checking out the works of Professor Gary L. Francione at http://www.abolitionistapproach.com/. There is a vast array of information including video, an audio podcast, and several invaluable books Professor Francione wrote formulating and refining the Abolitionist theory.

Thanks for reading and take care of yourself.

I hope my letter meets with a favourable response.

I am very aware of the years of effort you have personally put into elephant protection. I have been with you in spirit for a long time, including as much letter writing and phone calling as time has permitted. But I have also spent an enormous amount of time studying Professor Gary L. Francione’s abolitionist approach to animal rights. He developed this theory over 25 years ago, while practicing animal law. He went on to be the first to teach animal rights at a US university and has written several pivotal books on abolitionist theory over the years as well. His message is one of justice and respect for all nonhumans with the main tenets being: we must reject the ‘property status’ of animals in order to abolish all animal exploitation and as such it is our moral obligation to stop eating, wearing, or otherwise using animals in any way. This, of course, makes the practice of Veganism the moral baseline of the Abolitionist Movement.

I would highly recommend reading his books. But he also has an amazing website, which hosts copious valuable audio and video content, including many interviews, as well as a huge array of highly logical and very convincing, searchable blog essays:

http://www.abolitionistapproach.com/

The reason I wanted to share this with you is because I am absolutely convinced, having watched and learned the history of circus abuses, that our efforts are nothing more than a cat and mouse *game* we play with circuses and owners like the Felds. For every one (elephant) we might save—after an eternity of torture—there are tens or hundreds more coming on stream. You may be aware already but see, for example:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_for_Elephant_Conservation

Today, elephants, like all animals, continue to suffer enslavement, torture, and misery at human hands in ever greater numbers largely due to public socialization to animal use as normal. This latest effort by the USDA is merely lip service to appease the “irritation” we are to them and circus operators and even zoos. I’m sure the users consider it nothing more than an expense of doing business. And you can be sure this news will be spun to persuade the public that it is now more acceptable than ever to attend animal circuses because they are USDA monitored.

I know you participate in protesting at circus venues, but I would like to invite you to consider modifying those protests to become instead a massive grassroots network of, as Gary Francione calls it, “creative non-violent Vegan education.” As I said, I would encourage you to read on the subject to familiarize yourself with the theory—Veganism is definitely not just a diet, for example—so that you will appreciate not only the futility of the present “Welfarist” path but also the enormous potential for real and lasting and instantaneous change by removing all *demand* for the products of exploitation, be that for food, clothing, experimentation, AND entertainment.

Respectfully yours,

Jeffrey

I cannot suggest strongly enough the importance of identifying the real meaning of AR and Veganism if one is to represent AR correctly. By this, I mean the critical need to understand fully and embrace Abolitionist Veganism as the only meaningful and effective expression of one’s moral obligation to nonhuman animals and indeed to the cause of Animal Rights.

If an advocate learns nothing else, it is absolutely urgent and essential to not allow the New Welfarist positions of groups such as Toronto Vegetarian Association, Canadians for the Ethical Treatment of Farm Animals, Peta, HSUS, and many others to continue confusing the issue of how we use animals with the use of animals at all! These organizations DO NOT represent the Animal Rights cause. Many of them, as well as mass media, have co-opted and corrupted the term. All animal use constitutes slavery and exploitation. The Animal Rights cause stands for the recognition of nonhuman animals’ right to their own interests and freedom from human domination and exploitation. No amount of protest campaigning against suppliers or other users for “better” treatments will free animals from their enslavement. And nor will the suggestion that Vegetarianism is somehow a morally acceptable position. The only way animal exploitation will end is by removing demand for all of the products of animal use and exploitation. This happens instantly when one adopts the Vegan world view—and not just the diet—that is the unequivocal advocation of respect for nonhumans’ moral personhood.

Bottom line is, the only truly effective and productive activism is grassroots Abolitionist Vegan education. All other personal and organizational efforts fall short and are redundant as a result. As a dear Abolitionist Vegan friend recently said, “If we really respect nonhuman animals interests, we should go vegan, stay vegan and promote veganism.”

Finally the greatest resources I can recommend are the books, audio/video content, interviews, podcasts, and searchable blog essays of Professor Gary L. Francione all available at http://www.abolitionistapproach.com/

Thank you.

I have several particular objections to the approaches of Animal/Environment parties—even my Green Party of Canada, whose platform seems entirely devoted to human interests. It’s all well and good to appeal to the public to give more consideration to the “interests of animals.” The most glaring failure in the Netherlands manifesto is to have confused this message with distinctly Welfarist language like “if we deem their use as necessary” or to “use sustainably.” As Professor Gary L. Francione has argued so eloquently, the one “right” that urgently needs to be accorded to nonhumans is the right not to be *property*. This simple right addresses the injustice of the commodification of sentient beings and all the misery that goes with it. At the same time, a Vegan moral view eliminates their use to the greatest possible degree.

As with almost all animal advocacy and “environmental” organizations, the Party for Animals suggests that some use might be acceptable if the user gives a greater degree of acknowledgement of the nonhuman’s “interests”. This is an extremely contradictory message to the one of “respect” since to use anyone requires a rejection of their interests.

In the Welfarist – Abolitionist debate, all Welfarist precepts come down on the side of ‘use is permissible’. That’s what 200+ years of Welfare regulations have been about. Welfare laws have *only* resulted in increasing the efficiency of our use. They’ve done nothing to release nonhumans from our domination. The key to understanding Abolition is to recognize that use—any use—must be rejected. Use *can be* rejected. It’s as easy as going Vegan. The crucial detail which the vast majority of organizations fail to recognize is that Veganism is a primary moral obligation of us all. And that requires Vegan education. And only a Vegan electorate will bring change to Government.

Thank you for considering my observations.

“I would definitely use the opportunity to acquaint viewers with a revolutionary notion. We all should be familiar with the fact that dogs, cats, and other pets deserve our love and the best care possible. But that should come from a respect for them as moral persons first. And once we acknowledge that, it should not be a huge leap to acknowledge that all animals deserve that same respect. And that respect should include one most basic right – not to be exploited (used) as property or resources… whether that use be for food, clothing, entertainment, the making of household products, and yes, even as pets.

I know, I can hear the outrage (of other readers) at the mere suggestion we should abolish (the Institution of) pets but I assure you if you do the research, you will understand that, by our exploitation over centuries, we have turned once free and wild animals into sorry, often weakened, mere shadows of their former splendour and all totally dependent on humans for their survival. The pet industry, through breeders and many other stakeholders, seeks financial gain by continuing this exploitation. And as you know, every year millions of these animals end up being horribly abused, neglected, or dumped in shelters where *most* end up euthanized (or gassed). Then there is the multi-billion dollar international pet food industry, which is basically an offshoot of our own cruel and manipulative “food animal” exploitation.

Needless to say, I think it is our moral obligation to *adopt* companion animals whenever and wherever possible. But it is also our moral obligation to not cause any others to be brought into existence.

With some reflection and research on the subject of Abolition, everyone can determine the most obvious and easiest way to show respect to *all* animals is by adopting a Vegan worldview, and i underline that means not just a diet.

I highly recommend researching the work of Professor Gary L. Francione at http://www.abolitionistapproach.com/ The site has searchable blog essays, links to his books, audio/video presentations and interviews, podcast commentaries, and a lot more. Over the last 30 years Professor Francione has developed his “Abolitionist” approach to Animal Rights and you will see his arguments for Veganism as a moral baseline make a lot of sense.

I hope you will consider looking into this monumental but necessary social paradigm shift in the near future. And just maybe some of it could be touched on in this TV interview. It will definitely spark some needed thought and dialogue.

Thank you for your consideration.

Well during that whole period I knew no other Vegetarians. I was not an animal rights activist by any stretch of the imagination. My initial motivations after all, probably had more to do with reducing saturated fat in my diet than any real awareness of the ethical issues. And without the internet, I had no familiarity with the horrors associated with eggs or dairy or the products made with them and so “understandably” I really didn’t give morality a second thought.

But then I came into contact with someone who said they were Vegan. I’d never heard the term before. A decent seeming person, though their grilling of waiters or waitresses over whether their meals had eggs or dairy in them appeared a little excessive at the time. And I remember their non-leather shoes were not particularly fashionable and though they didn’t have a problem with foot odour, I always imagined their shoes were hot and sweaty because only leather could “breathe”, right? (Of course today, there are all kinds of fashionable, breathable, non-leather products available to consumers.) But my most vivid recollection of this person’s Veganism was that to me and others, they were very subdued about it. Maybe they just didn’t want to “push too hard” or come off as “preachy”. But there was never any discussion about animal exploitation or cruelty or whether animals can feel pain, or shifting paradigms… nothing. They probably had never heard the term “Abolition”. Coincidentally, I do recall they made donations to a group called People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. I thought that was probably good of them to support an organization that was looking out for animals’ welfare because surely no one should be going around hurting cats or dogs, right? I mean they’re so cute! [Of course I now suspect this person was probably lulled into that false sense of security that Peta and other Welfarist orgs are so good at dishing up to their supporters in their almost endless stream of direct mailed, funding raising literature - "Send us money - for this or that cause of the month - and we'll make sure animals aren't abused".]

And so went my (Vegetarian) ignorance… for another 10 years! No one helped me to understand that much like my Omnivore lifestyle, my Vegetarianism was still responsible for phenomenal pain and suffering. Or that in fact egg and dairy production involves even more prolonged suffering than that associated with the eating of meat alone! It would be another 10 long years until my light bulb moment and the flood of personal research that followed quickly, the details of which are irrelevant to my point here. That point being, if someone… anyone!… had the courage of conviction to speak to me more illustratively, more passionately about Veganism and especially about its relative Abolitionist theory I feel sure, knowing what I have learned up to today, that I would have embraced Veganism and Abolitionism much, much sooner! And the double benefit is I would probably have passed on that knowledge and influence to many others in the interim.

And so, I see it somewhat differently than some “quiet” Vegans. I don’t think flattery, forgiving, or tolerance has anything to do with a Vegan message. I do feel Vegetarians, like anyone else including nonhuman animals by the way, deserve respect! But since I have lived the life of an uninformed, disconnected Vegetarian, I feel the most urgent and important duty of a Vegan is to inform… politely, yes, but clearly and consistently inform. We do ALL animals a grave injustice when, given any reasonable opportunity, we do not at least make sure a Vegetarian is fully informed about how much more they could be doing to eliminate animal suffering… and how easy it is. We are not here to force anyone to walk in our foot steps. We should be here to beat down the path whenever and wherever we can.

People who become Vegetarian do so for their own reasons, which may include health and/or ethical reasons. Each of these reasons are severely problematic for one who is Vegetarian. One would be hard pressed to find anyone in modern medicine or the alternative health community who does not agree eggs and dairy consumption are related to a whole host of disease. And since it is a fact that billions of nonhuman animals continue to suffer producing eggs and dairy, there is no ethical justification to be Vegetarian. A lack of clear understanding, therefore, still exists for Vegetarians.

It is my strongly held opinion now, since embracing the Vegan ethic, that if one truly feels animal exploitation is wrong (and unhealthy), they should NOT EVER suggest that being Vegetarian is a morally acceptable behaviour nor “a good step”.

Bottom line: It is up to the individual to make the decisions that affect their behaviour. The best I, or anyone else, can do as a Vegan is present the facts and encourage Veganism as the right behaviour. It would go against my entire belief system (which is basically the Vegan ethic), to do anything otherwise.

Herein is my reply to the woman’s query:
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.
Dear…

I think it was this part of my comments you were referring to:

“Try Vegan for breakfast for a few weeks to see how much healthy and tasty variety is possible. Then add Vegan lunches for a few weeks to get more of a feel for these meals. And so on with dinners. That way people would get a gradual taste for how easy and varied and nutritious and satisfying completely compassionate Vegan eating can be.”

Since you didn’t specify any particular areas of concern, I would say just follow my above suggestion… armed with Google at your fingertips. I mean it! It’s that easy. I can’t tell you how many really good Vegan recipe blogs there are out there! I even found one recently on “Southern style” Vegan cooking. Say you like broccoli or you have some asparagus in the fridge, just search vegan broccoli or asparagus recipes. Say you want to start off with Vegan breakfasts, just search Vegan breakfasts! You’ll be amazed at what you come across. I just did a search for “Vegan Bacon and Eggs” and got a whole batch of interesting links.

Of course you will make adaptations as well. For example, I happen to love Tofu Scramble. You’ll see lots of variations on this popular “anytime” dish. I fry some small-diced potato with chopped sweet onion so the onion’s still crunchy. When the potato’s almost done, I mash a package of firm tofu to the consistency of “scrambled” eggs and mix it in. While it’s heating up, I’ll throw in a little diced tomato. While the tomato’s warming, mix in a little curry powder and a small dash of water. Serve as is, with some Vegan-buttered whole grain rye toast. If you like it spiced up, shake some Hot Sauce on the scramble. Heat up some Vegan Bacon slices and serve the tomatoes on the side instead, if you wish. Delicious!

As you begin to add Vegan lunch and then dinner offerings, you’ll see there’s so much variety you’ll have choices of easy or more involved recipes. As I think of things I want to try, I add ingredients to my shopping list. And that way I can see what kind of variety I’m maintaining in my fridge and pantry. And at the same time, I get ideas for meals I’d like to prepare the following week. I used to cook 2 or 3 things on the weekend so I could freeze meals for the whole week. Now that I’m (newly) retired, I can cook more often. Whatever suits you.

There are also some great Vegan podcasts to listen to. And they’re all free! Search the iTunes Store -podcast section- for Vegan podcasts. If you don’t have iTunes, get it! It’s also free, for Mac or Windows. I love listening to the “Vegan Freak Radio” podcast (Click “Radio” link) and “Compassionate Cooks” (Click “Food for Thought” podcast in the “Writings” menu).

If you haven’t heard of Professor Gary L. Francione, you should definitely start reading his blog. He’s recently started doing spoken word commentaries in a podcast as well. He is regarded as the originator of the Abolitionist movement, which seeks to end all forms of animal exploitation by abolishing the commonly held perception of animals as “property”. And, as I have said, Veganism forms the moral baseline of this society-changing philosophy.

Another valuable resource is the website for Peaceful Prairie Sanctuary, together with their blog, this site is full of useful information and wonderfully down to earth yet inspirational writing to remind us about the some of the sentient beings we go Vegan for.

Finally, as you begin eating compassionately, you can also begin to assess your personal and household products and your wardrobe. Virtually everything we use and wear that is the result of animal use and suffering — be they animal ingredients in things like lipstick or toothpaste, actual animal products like leather shoes or purses or wool suits or socks, or products tested on animals like deodorant or floor polish or air freshener — can now easily be replaced by quality, cruelty-free, non-animal items… at almost the same cost!

I find it infinitely easy to rationalize spending a few dollars more or buying a little less each week, knowing I don’t participate in or facilitate cruelty to the greatest possible extent any more.

I hope this gives you something of a useful starting point.

Good luck. Take care. And feel free to let me know how you progress.

Jeffrey