Let’s also lobby for stronger environmental regulations
In the meantime, let’s stop consuming animal ag. We cannot all consume animals, the Earth cannot nearly support it. Already, the majority of biomass of land animals comes from cattle alone. It is nothing more than a status symbol, modern animal sacrifice. And it is the largest (*) contributor to climate change.
Taking this step as an individual has a larger effect than simply conserving the resources you no longer consume. There is huge social value in homesteading this space; making it more comfortable by developing folk culture, normalizing it, and providing an example that shows it’s actually very easy and painless.
Yes I already am mostly vegan and I don’t drive a car mostly for environmental and ethical reasons. I don’t think my lifestyle should be pushed on others though some people should find their own conclusions. All I can do is be a positive nudge in the right direction
Not pushing lifestyles is fine and dandy however some people’s lifestyles are now significantly affecting others. So the standard isolation of individual rights is beginning to crack when it comes to carbon intensive lifestyle choices. I’m not suggesting you push veganism harder, I’m merely pointing this out. I’m not a vegan, I’m not even vegetarian. I do however eat very little meat and almost completely avoid beef.
Veganism is a moral philosophy. Being mostly vegan is like being mostly abolitionist, but some slaves are okay. Being mostly feminist, except where your wife is concerned. Avoiding animal ag because you are concerned about the environment is not veganism, because it does not concern animal rights.
I didn’t mention veganism because when you start talking about right and wrong, people get upset. I think that it should be enough that people don’t consume animals because animals are intelligent creatures with real experiences that actually matter. But it isn’t, and in fact talking about such things tends to entrench people in their existing habits, so I don’t bother bringing up veganism.
Whatever your philosophy, it’s great that you are thinking about your consumption of animals.
I say mostly, because while I don’t purposefully eat animal products, due to who I live with, and some of the things I eat out, they may contain eggs, dairy etc. And I want to be a gentle vegan where I’m not in the way of others or causing a fuss nitpicking about the ingredients. Also if I had to option to fish or hunt for my own food, I would be fine with that as it’s not factory farmed.
So in my case I am anti-slavery, but I sometimes I can’t perfectly control how some of the products I buy may have come from supply chains with slavery.
You’re totally right, and its part of the reason I became a vegan. Every bit helps, however small, and it seems like the earth needs all the help it can get.
In the meantime, let’s stop consuming animal ag. We cannot all consume animals, the Earth cannot nearly support it. Already, the majority of biomass of land animals comes from cattle alone. It is nothing more than a status symbol, modern animal sacrifice. And it is the largest (*) contributor to climate change.
Taking this step as an individual has a larger effect than simply conserving the resources you no longer consume. There is huge social value in homesteading this space; making it more comfortable by developing folk culture, normalizing it, and providing an example that shows it’s actually very easy and painless.
Yes I already am mostly vegan and I don’t drive a car mostly for environmental and ethical reasons. I don’t think my lifestyle should be pushed on others though some people should find their own conclusions. All I can do is be a positive nudge in the right direction
Not pushing lifestyles is fine and dandy however some people’s lifestyles are now significantly affecting others. So the standard isolation of individual rights is beginning to crack when it comes to carbon intensive lifestyle choices. I’m not suggesting you push veganism harder, I’m merely pointing this out. I’m not a vegan, I’m not even vegetarian. I do however eat very little meat and almost completely avoid beef.
Just a trivial point.
Veganism is a moral philosophy. Being mostly vegan is like being mostly abolitionist, but some slaves are okay. Being mostly feminist, except where your wife is concerned. Avoiding animal ag because you are concerned about the environment is not veganism, because it does not concern animal rights.
I didn’t mention veganism because when you start talking about right and wrong, people get upset. I think that it should be enough that people don’t consume animals because animals are intelligent creatures with real experiences that actually matter. But it isn’t, and in fact talking about such things tends to entrench people in their existing habits, so I don’t bother bringing up veganism.
Whatever your philosophy, it’s great that you are thinking about your consumption of animals.
I say mostly, because while I don’t purposefully eat animal products, due to who I live with, and some of the things I eat out, they may contain eggs, dairy etc. And I want to be a gentle vegan where I’m not in the way of others or causing a fuss nitpicking about the ingredients. Also if I had to option to fish or hunt for my own food, I would be fine with that as it’s not factory farmed.
So in my case I am anti-slavery, but I sometimes I can’t perfectly control how some of the products I buy may have come from supply chains with slavery.
What you are describing simply is not veganism.
You’re totally right, and its part of the reason I became a vegan. Every bit helps, however small, and it seems like the earth needs all the help it can get.