Shouldn’t We Create A Consumer Demand For Humane Products?
Question:
“If I care about animals, but still eat animal products, isn‘t it better to buy “humane” animal products?”
Answer (from Humane Myth):
It is admirable and important to investigate the impact our actions have on others, and when we find that there is a change we can make that will do less harm to others, it is right to pursue it. However, it is equally important to be realistic and well informed, and not to take actions in the name of compassion that soothe our conscience while not necessarily addressing the violence and injustice being experienced by others.[...]Positive-sounding labels are guaranteed to increase sales of more expensive “humane” products, but the evidence suggests that this is where the guarantees end. [...]
Presently, over 50 BILLION animals are killed annually worldwide. Is it even remotely plausible that an orderly, trustworthy, and reliable system will ever be devised to insure a given standard of treatment for any but a miniscule fraction of those individuals, most of which are “worth” just a few dollars?
What the animal-using industry does not want the public to know is that the creation of all animal products unavoidably involves injustice. [...]
“In fact, the only way you can truly be sure that your dietary choices are not harming animals is to stop eating animal products. Each time you make the decision to use or consume a non-animal alternative, you can be confident you are making a real difference, that you are no longer contributing to a grievous injustice done to animals on farms as well as wildlife–animal agriculture is the number one cause of habitat destruction worldwide. And since healthy, tasty, environmentally-friendly vegan alternatives exist, why not do what is good for your health, good for the animals and good for our planet?
Need help going vegan? Here are some starter kits with recipes and resources:
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