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Tricky
Answers to Some of ThoseQuestions/Challenges
Peopleare starving in the world;isn’t it more important to help humansrather than animals?
Firstly, humans
are
animals and it is possible to helpboth human and non-human animals. Furthermore, avegan diet requires a lot less land and water to support itthan a non-vegan one and therefore veganism couldbe a solution to the problem of feeding a growingworld population with the limited resourcesthat the Earth has to offer.
The following questions use somespeciesist language as they arepresented as they wouldbe asked. We havehowever, tried touse non-speciesistlanguage inthe answers.
 
Eatingmeat is natural
Human beings are omnivores and don’tneed to kill other beings in order to livehealthily - eating meat is no morenatural than not eating meat.
 
This animal was dead before I started eating it
But you created the demand for its death.If no-one ate meat, no animals would be killed and sold for their meat.We are able to make a moral choice, so let’s exercise it.
Have you ever been asked a tricky question and not been able to respond coherently?Here are some suggested answers to help you out:
Butthe Bible gives usdominion over animals
Most Christians do not believe thateverything in the Old Testament is literallytrue, however, even among fundamentalistChristians, there is a lot of debate over what ismeant by dominion, which could equally be acommand to care for non-human animalsrather than use them as commodities.(Either way, this argument carries noweight with atheists, agnosticsand people of otherreligions.)
I like meat and dairy
I might like the car my neighbour drives, but thatdesire isn’t a sound moral basis for stealing it. The factthat we desire something does not give us the right toact upon that desire. Most vegans used to likemeat too but they decided to boycottthis cruel industry.
Why do you think animals haverights?
If a being can feel pain and experience suffering, theyshould not be deliberately made to suffer. A bird has a higherlevel of consciousness than a new born human baby. If wewant to give rights to human babies and want to beconsistent, we must extend rights to allsentient beings.
 
Thereis nothing wrong witheating meat and dairy
The meat and dairy industry is a major contributor to climatechange, pollution, world hunger and animal suffering, Iwould say that is wrong.
26
The VeganlWinter 2009
 
Ever heard of natural selection?
Yes. It is where the living organism that is best fitted to its environment will survivein the struggle for life and pass down its genes to its offspring (whilst others perish); thuscontinuing those successful characteristics. It is not a moral guideline or framework. Ifit were, we would not give glasses to the short-sighted, medicine to the ill,or protection to the weak.
Isn’tit better to eat locallyproduced meat than imported soya?
People often think that farmed animals justnaturally forage for food in the fields; this is rarely thecase. Most are fed on prepared feed often containingimported soya or maize. Small scale, organic, free-rangemeat production could not feed the world’s population;there is simply not enough land for this type ofagriculture.
 
Don’tvegans have a very restricted diet?
Far from being restrictive, vegans can eat mouth-wateringfoods from all over the world - from India, vegetable curries anddhals; from East Asia, tofu stir fries; from Italy pastas andsalads; from Turkey, hummus and babaganoush; andfrom Mexico beans and tortillas … the listgoes on!
Whatwould happen to allof the farmed animals ifeveryone became vegan?
We only have high numbers of farmedanimals because we artificially breed them.The world wouldn’t become vegan overnight- the meat, dairy and egg industries wouldgradually decline. This would enable farmersto reduce the number of animals they breedas demand falls. When everyone is vegan,no more farmed animals will be bred forfood, and the few remaining onescan be left to live out the restof their natural life.
We need calcium for healthy bones and teeth.
Yes, but you can get this from green leafy vegetables, oranges,almonds and fortified foods such as many soya milks. You can also add calciumto home-made foods such as bread and pancakes. Bone health is about much morethan calcium. Vegans generally consume lots of fruits, vegetables, roots andbeans which all contain potassium and help to reduce calcium loss.Vitamins D and K also play a role, as does physicalactivity.
 
What would happen to livestockfarmers and the fishing industry if everyonebecame vegan?
The economy is constantly changing, and we are always finding new waysto adapt. Typewriter manufacturers lost their jobs when the personalcomputer became popular – but look at how many jobs the computerindustry has now created. If everyone became vegan, there would stillbe an abundance of jobs for farmers: growing fruit, vegetablesand grains, or alternatively, farmers can be offeredtraining in another profession.
I only eat meat, eggs and dairy fromanimals that do not suffer as a result.
Unfortunately, all farming of animals involves cruelty. Theanimals are selectively bred and even if they are not artificiallyinseminated, they are deprived of many of their natural behaviours, suchas raising their own young. Removing a newborn calf from their motheris distressing for both animals, and the male calf will either be shot asa waste product or killed for veal when he is still very young.Most free-range animals also undergo procedures such ascastration without anaesthetic, dehorning,and beak trimming.
Ilike to see farmedanimals in the countryside.
In a vegan world, there would be morehabitat for wildlife. Wouldn’t you prefer tolook at healthy wildlife rather than selectivelybred farmed animals? In a vegan world, birdsand other wildlife would increase innumbers as their woodland andparkland habitat returned.
The VeganlWinter 2009
27
 
Tricky
Answers to Some of ThoseQuestions/Challenges-Part II
Canvegans drinkalcohol/smoke cigarettes?
It is possible to get vegan alcohol andtobacco. Some drinks are made using fining agentswhich are animal derived, such as isinglass or albumin.Most mainstream brands of tobacco contain animalingredients and have been tested extensivelyon animals. The Vegan Societyprovides information onvegan drinksbrands.
 
Don’tanimals make useof land where crops can’t grow?
To insist that every piece of land must be ‘made use of’ is perhapsmissing the point. Vegan diets use on average one third of the landrequired for meat-based diets, so by becoming vegan you help to free-up land, leaving room for wild spaces. Much land degradationhas been caused by deforestation and herding forthe meat trade.
8
The VeganlSummer 2010
 
My mum had cancerand animal experiments saved her.You can’t think that is wrong can you?
I’m really sorry to hear about your mum and I’m so pleased that she isOK now. However experiments on non-human animals are often poorpredictors of outcomes in humans and have also led to tragediessuch as Thalidomide. We would like more and proper investmentinto researching using alternatives (e.g. computer modelling)so that we don’t have to choose betweenhumans and other animals.
 
Animalskill each otherin the wild, why shouldn’t I?
Predatory animals do not know of any otherway to live. Some of them need to eat meat tosurvive. Humans are not like this - we knowthat we can be healthy and happywithout needing to eat otheranimals.
The following questions use some speciesistlanguage as they are presentedas they would be asked.We have however,tried to use non-speciesist languagein the answers.
 
I’ma carnivore!
Being a carnivore means eating onlymeat. Humans wouldn’t survive on thiskind of diet for long because it lacks so manykey nutrients. You are actually anomnivore, meaning you can eat animalproducts or not - you do havea choice.
 
Shouldvegans ride horses?
Vegans oppose the exploitation of all animals. Although somepeople claim that horses enjoy jumping and being ridden, there is a farmore unsavoury back-story to commercial horse breeding and trainingwhere horses are ‘broken’ and want to be ridden or racedbecause this is their only chance for exercise.
Myparents won’t let mebe vegan, what can I do?
It’s up to you to show your parents that youcan be just as happy and healthy as a vegan. Thismeans carefully explaining your reasons and stickingto your decision. Explaining to your parents what youneed nutritionally and showing them how you aregoing to get it will reassure them that you’re notgoing to get ill. Offering to cook (vegan)meals for the family, and helping withthe shopping will impressthem!
Have you ever been asked a tricky question and not been able to respond coherently?Here are some suggested answers to help you out:
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