I proudly call myself a human rights activist.
I’ve attended marches for women’s rights, Black Lives Matter, LGBTQ rights, and
immigrants. I even donate to numerous human rights organizations. But when it
comes to my activism, I don’t draw a line between humans and animals. Nope. I
believe in equality for all beings, which means animals too.
I’ve attended marches for women’s rights, Black Lives Matter, LGBTQ rights, and
immigrants. I even donate to numerous human rights organizations. But when it
comes to my activism, I don’t draw a line between humans and animals. Nope. I
believe in equality for all beings, which means animals too.
I believe animals deserve to live free from
harm. It’s why I went vegan a few years ago. When I learned about how the meat,
dairy, and egg industries treat animals as mere objects, I knew I couldn’t
support it.
harm. It’s why I went vegan a few years ago. When I learned about how the meat,
dairy, and egg industries treat animals as mere objects, I knew I couldn’t
support it.
How could I? I mean, I spent weekends and
nights fighting for the rights of my fellow humans, for people treated as “less
than by society. How was this any different than animal rights? I realized
there was no distinction between the two causes. Oppression is oppression,
regardless of species.
nights fighting for the rights of my fellow humans, for people treated as “less
than by society. How was this any different than animal rights? I realized
there was no distinction between the two causes. Oppression is oppression,
regardless of species.
Fortunately, I quickly learned how veganism was
connected to human rights issues I cared deeply about, such as feminism, racial
equality, and immigrants’ and workers’ rights. Don’t believe me? Here’s how:
connected to human rights issues I cared deeply about, such as feminism, racial
equality, and immigrants’ and workers’ rights. Don’t believe me? Here’s how:
Exploitation
of Female Bodies
of Female Bodies
The meat, dairy, and egg industries
continually exploit female bodies for milk, eggs, and reproducing new animals
to use, mutilate, and kill for human consumption.
continually exploit female bodies for milk, eggs, and reproducing new animals
to use, mutilate, and kill for human consumption.
Consider this: Cows in the dairy industry are repeatedly and forcibly
impregnated to ensure a constant supply of milk. Their young are ripped away from
them within hours of being born. Female calves are forced into the same
generative cycle, while males are slaughtered for veal. The suffering this all
causes is immeasurable and indefensible.
impregnated to ensure a constant supply of milk. Their young are ripped away from
them within hours of being born. Female calves are forced into the same
generative cycle, while males are slaughtered for veal. The suffering this all
causes is immeasurable and indefensible.
Racial
Equality
Equality
The meat, dairy, and egg industries have a
long history of racial discrimination. In fact, populations
near factory farms are often low-income communities of color. These farms pollute the surrounding areas so badly that
residents suffer a host of illnesses.
long history of racial discrimination. In fact, populations
near factory farms are often low-income communities of color. These farms pollute the surrounding areas so badly that
residents suffer a host of illnesses.
A 2002 study examined more than 60 factory farms in Mississippi and found that
most were located in low-income areas with a high percentage of people of
color. Similarly, a 2005 study found that in North Carolina low-income areas had seven times more hog farms
than affluent ones and that communities of color had more than five times more
hog farms than predominantly white communities.
most were located in low-income areas with a high percentage of people of
color. Similarly, a 2005 study found that in North Carolina low-income areas had seven times more hog farms
than affluent ones and that communities of color had more than five times more
hog farms than predominantly white communities.
Immigrants’
and Workers’ Rights
and Workers’ Rights
Poultry processing is one of the most dangerous jobs, with more than 27 workers a day suffering
amputations or other injuries severe enough to require hospitalization. With
high demand for “processing large numbers of animals per day, workers are
sometimes denied bathroom breaks. Some have even resorted to wearing diapers. Additionally, slaughterhouse
workers have been found to suffer from PTSD and illnesses caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
amputations or other injuries severe enough to require hospitalization. With
high demand for “processing large numbers of animals per day, workers are
sometimes denied bathroom breaks. Some have even resorted to wearing diapers. Additionally, slaughterhouse
workers have been found to suffer from PTSD and illnesses caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
With an unknown percentage of undocumented
workers, the meat, dairy, and egg industries prey on vulnerable people.
According to a recent Vice article, “The Department of Labor officially
puts the number of undocumented farmworkers at 46 percent, but industry experts
and labor advocates estimate that the number is much, much higher—possibly
closer to 70 percent.
workers, the meat, dairy, and egg industries prey on vulnerable people.
According to a recent Vice article, “The Department of Labor officially
puts the number of undocumented farmworkers at 46 percent, but industry experts
and labor advocates estimate that the number is much, much higher—possibly
closer to 70 percent.
Many undocumented workers are reluctant to go
off the farm for fear of being caught and deported, a fear
reinforced by demeaning or intimidating comments from their
supervisors. Some workers remain on the farms for more than 11 days at a time.
off the farm for fear of being caught and deported, a fear
reinforced by demeaning or intimidating comments from their
supervisors. Some workers remain on the farms for more than 11 days at a time.
—
Part of the Declaration of Human Rights,
adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948, states,
“No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment or punishment. Unfortunately, this isn’t true in our world, for both
people and animals. It’s why those of us who care about creating a better world
must speak up.
adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948, states,
“No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment or punishment. Unfortunately, this isn’t true in our world, for both
people and animals. It’s why those of us who care about creating a better world
must speak up.
Sadly, cows, pigs, chickens, and fish raised and killed for food are subjected
to a nightmare of abuse: extreme confinement, horrific mutilations, and violent
slaughter. Many farmed animals never see the sun, feel the grass, or breathe
fresh air. Instead, they are imprisoned in windowless,
filthy sheds until the day they are loaded onto transport trucks destined for the slaughterhouse
where they will meet a gruesome death.
to a nightmare of abuse: extreme confinement, horrific mutilations, and violent
slaughter. Many farmed animals never see the sun, feel the grass, or breathe
fresh air. Instead, they are imprisoned in windowless,
filthy sheds until the day they are loaded onto transport trucks destined for the slaughterhouse
where they will meet a gruesome death.
So I challenge you, my fellow self-proclaimed
human rights activists, to open your hearts and minds to animal rights. By
doing this, we can create a more just and compassionate world.
human rights activists, to open your hearts and minds to animal rights. By
doing this, we can create a more just and compassionate world.
Start making a difference today by leaving all animal
products off your plate.
products off your plate.
