I've often asserted that I am against extremism in all its forms.

And naturally, as a vegan, I've been accused of my fair share of 'extremism' myself.

Yet, when I say that 'I'm against extremism', I'm talking about political ideologues on either side of a spectrum who are causing unnecessary and excessive hostility in society because of trivial differences in opinion... or where the one side wishes to silence the other over a disagreement, ruin their reputation or attack an entire group of people simply for not conforming to their particular personal worldview (sans rational or reasonable justification, more often than not).

I'm generally referring to political and religious extremism that, if successful, would result in democracy crumbling into a dystopia.

Conversely, most vegans are accused of being ‘extremists’ when they simply point out another's cognitive dissonance, moral hypocrisy, weakness of character and cowardly behaviour regarding a moral atrocity which, if applied in a human context, would be universally regarded as extremely evil... even by the standards of the most exceptionally wicked people.

The real extremists are those that think our exploitation of animals is perfectly acceptable or even those who don't think it's 'okay', per se, but justify their unethical consumption by claiming that there is "no ethical consumption under capitalism".

However, where this argument falls flat is in their oversight of the fact that there are degrees of unethical consumption, together with the anti-vegan’s assumption that vegans are somehow unaware or dismissive of possible unethical practices in other companies, of which they support.

These anti-vegans are attempting to absolve themselves of culpability regarding their own actions, dismiss vegans as naive and audaciously suggest that vegans cause even more harm than non-vegans do.

[This post is an extension of the one I wrote about ‘Vegans Causing Harm Too’, which you can find attached hereunder]:

Listen, vegans wish to live in a world where unethical practices are diminished to the point of virtual non-existence. We do our best, within the confines of what is practical and possible, to purchase ethical and sustainable products (e.g., the rise of veganic farming is a step in the right direction).

Major non-vegan corporations and farmers are the ones predominantly producing and selling the vegan items that non-vegans also buy. Vegans are not in control of, and can therefore not dictate, the practices of every business.

When it is shown that something is not ethical or sustainable, vegans will do their best to find alternatives... but, sometimes there are no viable replacements for items which are an absolute necessity (or otherwise would be extremely unreasonable to request people discontinue their use of).

[Side note: I expand on this (together with other relevant topics) within my exclusive member’s area. Look out for ‘The Ethics Trip’ when you sign up, for a deeper dive into the topic of exploitation under capitalism.]

Vegans are trying to impose the least amount of suffering, whereas the 'no ethical consumption under capitalism' narrative ignores the above in favour of perpetuating the MOST amount of harm. It trivialises the fact that what we do to (certain species of) animals for food, fashion and fun is excessively exploitative and cruel.

Humans do to animals, in the trillions every year, what only the most wicked, sadistic, violent and cruel lunatics would do to other humans. I'd argue that the nature and scale of the moral atrocity preserved through animal agriculture is significantly worse than anything we've ever done, or could ever do, to our own species.

Billions of non-human animals have been systematically bred, genetically manipulated over many generations - to maximise benefit for us - (essentially manufacturing sentient mutants through artificial selection - unrecognisable from the animal's natural ancestor - and resulting in inherited disfigurement, illness and other health complications), enslaved, exploited, raped, tortured and murdered... all for nothing more than our sensory pleasure.

We would never dream of even thinking about allowing a beloved pet (let alone a human being - god forbid!) to endure such a nightmarish existence. Yet, we don't bat an eye knowing that such is the fate of animals whenever we buy chicken, beef, pork, fish, dairy, eggs, honey, leather, down, wool, fur etc.

This is indoctrination of the highest order.

What is the trait present in these animals that, if found in a human or dog, would justify us doing this to them?

Literally, discrimination on something as arbitrary as species-membership, when we know non-human animals are like us in every way that matters, is absolutely disgusting.

We need to seriously work on shifting our mindset to placing weight on sentience as a basis for our moral consideration.

Only then will we, as moral agents, truly ascend to the next level of superior beings.

We pride ourselves on our dominance over other species, but only when we utilise our unique levels of empathy to treat all sentient life with the dignity, respect and decency we expect society to extend to others, can we honestly consider ourselves the most advanced species.

However, while we continue to use, abuse, hate and destroy, we are more resemblant of our primitive cousins than we are of a compassionate species worthy of the title 'human'.

The below tweet is in response to the person countering Roman’s tweet above (that vegan’s consumption isn’t cruelty-free). Here, Chelsea was merely illustrating that non-vegan consumption is excessively cruel, NOT that a vegan lifestyle is cruelty-fee.

Granted, the above tweet is particularly OTT (I mean, does this person not realise the hypocrisy in their language? Their tweets are blatantly racist (ironically), entitled, disrespectful and honestly quite disturbing).

However, it perfectly illustrates the narrative that the far left is currently peddling in an effort to discredit veganism as an ethical stance on a particular problem. They do this by pointing out the rather obvious fact that, try as we might, it is currently impossible to guarantee that our purchasing behaviour will be 100% certified free of exploitation.

It also assumes (as it has to in order to prove its point) that this lofty goal (to contribute to NO exploitation, no matter what) is something vegans actually claim they aspire to do.

Well, we don't!

Veganism is an attempt to, insofar as is practicable and possible, avoid animal exploitation in all its forms, since:

1. This is the most excessive example of exploitation when it comes to human consumption; and
2. animals are regarded as commodities, to be used and abused as we so wish, with negligible protection granted to them; whereas human beings are not exploited in the same way and enjoy legal protection through the application of basic human rights extended to all people (which is a serious crime to violate).

The exploitation of migrant workers, although reprehensible, is incomparable to the exploitation of factory-farmed animals. Even though this statement seems insensitive, it is objectively true.

Not to mention, non-vegans are responsible for BOTH forms of exploitation, while also inferring that vegans are the problem (refer back to the tweet aforementioned to see this in action).

Therefore, the proponents of 'no ethical consumption under capitalism' are fundamentally suggesting that vegans refrain from behaviour that causes less harm, in favour of behaviour that causes degrees of magnitude more harm (i.e., if we can't stop all harm through our purchasing behaviour, then there is no incentive to avoid any harm).

It is so easy to avoid animal products and go vegan in this day and age. Even just avoiding the main culprits (meat, dairy, eggs and honey) can be effortlessly achieved by looking at the ingredients list on the back of every food item. Fabrics such as down, leather, fur and wool etc. are also labelled accordingly.

Not to mention that the exploitation, torture and murder of animals in the above industries are well documented, undeniable and extremely cruel.

However, to avoid items because the companies that produce them may exploit their workers or engage in some unethical or unsustainable practices, is borderline impossible... because how are we supposed to know? There is no ingredients list which we can point to that would indicate any of this to us.

So what then? Vegans should just stop eating altogether?

The only alternative to vegan food (which non-vegans also eat, by the way - such as grains, fruit, vegetables, beans, nuts etc.) is non-vegan food (which includes all the items listed above PLUS the animal products PLUS the plant-products the animals are fed).

Going vegan is such a small sacrifice (relative to the benefit), while asking people to take additional steps to eliminate ALL unethical consumption is a massive (practically impossible) sacrifice for a negligible or uncertain advantage.

Indeed, we should rally companies to employ more ethical and sustainable practices in the production process and boycott those that refuse. If a company or industry provides an essential product with no suitable alternative, it is unrealistic to stop buying from them altogether. In these cases, we need to convince governments to intervene (e.g., through protests etc.). We need to call for stricter regulation overall.

Not only are animal products obviously unethical (at all times, no matter what) and switching them out for more ethical (note that I didn’t say cruelty-free!) alternatives is simple, but they are also absolutely inessential (especially in the twenty-first century).

Regardless, VEGANISM is a movement focussed on raising awareness regarding animal abuse (specifically the abuse inherent in animal agriculture) in an effort to influence society’s purchasing behaviour and persuade them to only consume products that didn’t necessitate the exploitation, torture and murder of a non-human animal.

Numerous vegans are also vocal human rights activists and some go above and beyond the call of duty in many respects. Veganism doesn't prevent us from taking additional ethical steps. If anything, it opens the doors to start seriously considering where our consumables come from and audit our purchasing behaviour to determine whether it aligns with our values (in all respects).

Let's just call the 'no ethical consumption under capitalism' argument what it really is... yet another ridiculous distraction by anti-vegans, in an attempt to alleviate their guilt, so that they can continue doing what they've always done under the false pretence that ALL unethical consumption is just as bad as one another.

Unless humans are being kidnapped, enslaved (generationally), viciously exploited for parts and pieces of their body (as well as whatever comes out of their body), consistently raped, repeatedly tortured, genetically manipulated through artificial selection, used in experiments, beaten, abused and then murdered (on a magnitude worthy of the term 'HOLOCAUST' just as much as any), by corporations operating under the guise of legitimacy, please don't belittle the vegan movement, because WE ARE fighting an injustice where individuals are LEGALLY being treated as described above (i.e., the legal protection extended to them, if any, IS PATHETIC!).

Just because it involves sentient beings you couldn't possibly care any less about, doesn't suddenly make the extent of the cruelty - that we could all so easily eradicate by purchasing the many suitable (and even superior) alternatives available to all of us right now - somehow less depraved.

All it does is reveal your prejudice (i.e., speciesism), expose your cognitive dissonance and make you look even more immoral and like an even bigger selfish piece of shit than we originally thought!

I will try to update this post whenever new information is brought to my attention.

I will also add links to relevant material below:

The Public Server:

Join The Public Server as we cover all things veganism - how to defend this particular moral position, stay strong against those who want to see us fail, stay fit and healthy on a plant-based diet, deal with bullying and handle coming out vegan. Sign up to claim your FREE 'For the Love of Animals' eBook; a diatribe against humanity's prejudice as it relates to certain species', forcing us to confront our own cognitive dissonance in the process.

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