Vegans role-model a behaviour that can be a powerful signal and something that makes others pause. Not because it’s easy, but because it’s not easy and they do it anyway. in that context—where veganism is seen as an “extreme” form of commitment, it can be very powerful and can motivate others to fight for animal rights.
But once veganism becomes a minimum criterion, the problems highlighted in this post come to the fore, and it does more harm than good. Outside the EA-bubble, most people do not meet many vegans in their daily lives, people hosting a small dinner party do not plan vegan options, and very few men are (openly) vegans.
On the other hand, if you talk about factory farming and suffering animals in tiny cages, most people will immediate react with disgust and agree (in principle at least) that this needs to stop, that it is a stain on our society. We absolutely need to channel this energy without filtering it though purity-criteria like veganism.
There are many ways that people can contribute to animal rights. Working on artificial protein. Advocating for better legislation and for tax-incentives that promote better treatment of animals. Donating to organisations like FarmKind which fight factory farming. Protesting at factory farms. Opposing the Big Food protests in Brussels and elsewhere that try to pass themselves off as standing up for poor farmers’ rights. Being a vegan and role-modelling your veganism in a positive, inclusive way.
Animals need all of these right now. They do not want anyone excluded because they are not pure enough.
This is an absolutely wonderful post.
Vegans role-model a behaviour that can be a powerful signal and something that makes others pause. Not because it’s easy, but because it’s not easy and they do it anyway. in that context—where veganism is seen as an “extreme” form of commitment, it can be very powerful and can motivate others to fight for animal rights.
But once veganism becomes a minimum criterion, the problems highlighted in this post come to the fore, and it does more harm than good. Outside the EA-bubble, most people do not meet many vegans in their daily lives, people hosting a small dinner party do not plan vegan options, and very few men are (openly) vegans.
On the other hand, if you talk about factory farming and suffering animals in tiny cages, most people will immediate react with disgust and agree (in principle at least) that this needs to stop, that it is a stain on our society. We absolutely need to channel this energy without filtering it though purity-criteria like veganism.
There are many ways that people can contribute to animal rights. Working on artificial protein. Advocating for better legislation and for tax-incentives that promote better treatment of animals. Donating to organisations like FarmKind which fight factory farming. Protesting at factory farms. Opposing the Big Food protests in Brussels and elsewhere that try to pass themselves off as standing up for poor farmers’ rights. Being a vegan and role-modelling your veganism in a positive, inclusive way.
Animals need all of these right now. They do not want anyone excluded because they are not pure enough.