I honestly believe that there will come a day when we humans will look back in disgust on our 'specieisism' & the way we have treated animals. The following is an excerpt from "Animal Liberation" by ethicist Peter Singer:
"The idea that 'humans come first' is more often used as an excuse for not doing anything about either human or nonhuman animals than as a genuine choice between incompatible alternatives . . . Granted, everyone has a limited amount of time and energy, and time taken in active work for one cause reduces the time available for another cause; but there is nothing to stop those who devote their time and energy to human problems from joining the boycott of the products of agribusiness cruelty. It takes no more time to be a vegetarian than to eat animal flesh. In fact . . . those who claim to care about the well-being of human beings and the preservation of our environment should become vegetarians for that reason alone. They would thereby increase the amount of grain available to feed people elsewhere, reduce pollution, save water and energy, and cease contributing to the clearing of forests; moreover, since a vegetarian diet is cheaper than one based on meat dishes, they would have more money available to devote to famine relief, population control, or whatever social or political cause they thought most urgent. I would not question the sincerity of vegetarians who take little interest in Animal Liberation because they give priority to other causes; but when non-vegetarians say that 'human problems come first' I cannot help wondering what exactly it is that they are doing for human beings that compels them to continue to support the wasteful, ruthless exploitation of farm animals." (pg. 220-221)
"Flesh eating is unprovoked murder"
Benjamin Franklin
No comments:
Post a Comment