[2279] in Vegetarian_Support_Group
FW: Happy New Year from Vegan Outreach (Vegan Spam)
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Laura Redi)
Sun Jan 5 12:19:26 2003
Reply-To: <redi@MIT.EDU>
From: "Laura Redi" <redi@MIT.EDU>
To: <veg@mit.edu>
Date: Sun, 5 Jan 2003 12:19:07 -0500
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Here is an excellent newsletter that some individuals on this list may
enjoy.=20
=20
Cheers,
Laura
=20
-----Original Message-----
From: Vegan Spam [mailto:veganspam@veganoutreach.org]=20
Sent: Sunday, January 05, 2003 8:55 AM
To: redi@mit.edu
Subject: Happy New Year from Vegan Outreach (Vegan Spam)
<http://www.veganoutreach.org/> Vegan Outreach
<http://www.veganoutreach.org/spam/> Vegan Spam!
<http://www.veganoutreach.org/images/vo-tip.gif>
<http://www.veganoutreach.org/donate.html> Donate to Vegan Outreach=09
Previous issues of Spam can be read on-line at the archive
<http://www.veganoutreach.org/spam/> .
=20
January 5, 2002=20
=20
We thought we would lead off the new year with this essay, which gets to =
the
heart of Vegan Outreach's motivation.
=20
Working in Defense of Animals
Matt Ball
Since the publication of Animal Liberation in 1975 and the founding of
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals in 1980 (to mention just two
seminal events), animal rights and welfare organizations have spent =
hundreds
of millions dollars, with volunteers working endless hours, trying to
improve the treatment of animals in the United States. PETA alone has =
over
600,000 members and an eight-figure annual budget. From McDonald's =
reforms
and the Florida breeding sow initiative to a New York Times Magazine =
cover
story <http://www.veganoutreach.org/spam/20021116.html#article> and
widespread media coverage of <http://www.cok.net/camp/inv/rb/> open =
rescues
of laying hens, the treatment of animals is now a matter of wide public
debate. Animal advocates and the term "animal rights" have become =
fixtures
in American society.
The State of Animals Today
A few years into the new millennium, with several decades of animal =
advocacy
behind us, it is shocking that the number of animals exploited and =
killed in
the United States has more than doubled since 1975. At the same time, =
the
treatment of most of these animals is worse today than ever before.
Although every animal in a lab, pound, or fur farm deserves our
consideration, more than 99 percent of all the animals killed in the =
United
States are killed to be eaten. In recent years, the annual increase in =
the
number of land animals slaughtered for food has been much greater than =
the
total number of animals killed for fur, in labs, and at shelters, =
combined.
In other words, each year in the United States:
* The number of animals killed in shelters is approximately equal to
the human population of New Jersey.=20
* The number of animals killed for fur is approximately equal to the
human population of Illinois.=20
=09
* The number of animals killed in experimentation is approximately
equal to the human population of Texas.=20
=09
* The increase in the number of land animals farmed and slaughtered is
greater than the total human population of the United States.=20
=09
* The total number of mammals and birds farmed and slaughtered is
approximately equal to one and two-thirds times the entire human =
population
of Earth.=20
=09
Hidden away from the public eye, farmed animals endure an excruciating
existence. Written descriptions can't convey the true horror of what =
goes on
in factory farms. Photographs =
<http://www.factoryfarming.com/gallery.htm>
and videos <http://www.goveg.com/r-mym.html> come closer - layer hens =
with
open sores, covered with feces, sharing their tiny cage with decomposing
corpses of fellow hens whose wings, faces, or feathers were trapped in =
the
cage such that they couldn't get to food or water (Compassion Over =
Killing's
"Hope for the Hopeless"); pigs sodomized by metal poles, beaten with =
bricks,
skinned while still conscious (PETA's "Pig Farm Investigation"); steers,
pigs, and birds desperately struggling on the slaughterhouse floor after
their throats are cut (Farm Sanctuary's "Humane Slaughter?", PETA's =
"Meet
Your Meat"). But even these tapes can't communicate the smell, the =
noise,
the desperation, and most of all, the fact that each of these animals - =
and
billions more unseen by any camera or any caring eye - continue to =
suffer
like this, every minute of every day.
If we are concerned with the suffering of all animals, not just those in
labs or fur farms or shelters, these facts demand we reconsider our =
focus.
As The Economist pointed out in a 1995 cover story, animal advocates in =
the
United States have focused on fur and medical research, while advocates =
in
England and much of Europe have focused on animals killed for food. As a
result, not only is vegetarianism more widespread in some countries in
Europe, animals there are also afforded much greater protection.=20
The Choice for Activists
Given the unfathomable horrors of factory farms, the overwhelming =
numbers of
animals involved, and the fact that every individual in society makes
choices every day that can perpetuate the suffering or help end it, it =
is
hard to imagine a compelling argument as to why the animal liberation
movement should focus on a different issue. Of course, it would be nice =
if
we could address all areas of exploitation and suffering at once. But as
individuals and as a movement, our time and resources are extremely =
limited,
especially in comparison to the industries we seek to change or abolish.
When viewed in light of the vast annual increase in the number of =
animals
bred and killed in the United States each year, the truism "When you =
choose
to do one thing, you are choosing not to do another" is more poignant =
than
ever.=20
Having participated in a variety of animal advocacy measures - from
protests, public fasts, and civil disobedience to presentations, tables, =
and
letter writing - I have found no more effective way of working in =
defense of
animals than promoting vegetarianism through positive outreach. Showing
people what goes on in factory farms and providing them with =
alternatives
can serve not only to remove support from factory farms, but also to =
bring
about a significant change in society's fundamental view of animals. =
Even
without including the abstract idea of "societal change," the numbers =
are
compelling. On average, each American eats nearly three-dozen =
factory-farmed
mammals and birds a year - over 2,700 in a lifetime! Convincing just one
person to change his or her diet can spare more animals than have been =
saved
by most of the high profile campaigns against animal research, fur, =
canned
hunts, and circuses.=20
Purity vs. Progress
Addressing modern animal agriculture is the best use of our limited time =
and
resources to alleviate animal suffering. How, though, should we proceed? =
For
caring people who are aware of what goes on in factory farms and =
industrial
slaughterhouses, outrage and anger are common - almost inevitable. The
difficulty is in finding a constructive outlet for this anger. With meat
eating firmly entrenched in our culture, factory farms hidden, and =
people's
inconsistent attitudes towards animals (those we love, those we eat)
tolerated, promoting veganism can be taxing on activists. Frustrated by
their inability to make large changes in society - to organize armies to
storm the factory farms or pass laws abolishing them - and feeling that
incremental, one-person-at-a-time change is too slow, many activists =
give up
on outreach-based advocacy altogether. They may then turn to what they =
can
control: themselves. They may pursue personal purity, eschewing whey, =
honey,
sugar, film, pesticides, manure, concrete, medicine, etc. - everything =
they
perceive as connected to animal exploitation.
The desire to avoid complicity with any aspect of animal exploitation is
understandable, but this inward
<http://www.veganoutreach.org/starterpack/beingvegan.html#purity> turn =
can
actually counteract efforts to prevent animal suffering. In a society =
where
the cruelty inherent in eating a chicken's leg is not recognized, few =
people
will be able to identify with an activist who shuns a veggie burger =
because
it is cooked on the same grill as beef burgers. Unnecessary suffering =
and
cruelty-free options are no longer the focus if, in our zeal to defend
veganism, we equate the suffering of oysters and shrimp with that of =
veal
calves and breeding sows. Most people are going to have a hard time =
giving
vegetarianism serious consideration when they perceive us to be =
concerned
about insects' rights, sugar processed with bone char, microingredients =
such
as diglycerides, and so forth.
If we are to work effectively on behalf of animals instead of in defense =
of
our veganism, we must encourage everyone to boycott cruelty. We can't do
this by fostering the impression that "It's so hard to be vegan - animal
products are in everything," acting as if veganism is a religion
<http://www.veganoutreach.org/spam/20020512.html#feature> with =
adherence to
dogma the sole issue, implying that every farm - from the largest
mega-factory to the smallest free-range organic farm - is equally cruel, =
or
arguing that harvesting honey is a holocaust.
As Cleveland Amory commented, people have an infinite capacity to
rationalize - especially when it comes to something they want to eat. It
follows that the vast majority of people are more than happy to ignore =
the
implications of eating animals, and instead bicker over the number of =
field
mice killed during crop harvests, "your baby or your dog," whether milk =
is a
"deadly poison," the plight of third-world farmers, gelatin in film, and =
so
on. Anything that keeps the focus off factory farms is more than welcome =
to
people who are understandably resistant to separating themselves from
friends and associating with a judgmental vegan crowd.
Our example must always reflect our underlying goal - our actions should =
be
clearly motivated by a reasoned, practical opposition to cruelty. Rather
than simply avoiding something because it isn't "vegan," we should =
always
have a clear explanation for the consequences of our actions. It is =
better
to allow for uncertainty - for example, telling people that we have =
decided
to give clams <http://www.veganoutreach.org/insectcog.html> the benefit =
of
the doubt because we don't know whether they are capable of the =
subjective
experience of suffering - than to simply recite "clams aren't vegan."
Beyond Sound Bites, Beyond Veganism
At Vegan Outreach, we have found the most effective way of getting past
these barriers is to avoid making ourselves or our veganism the issue.
Rather, we work to keep the focus on undeniable yet avoidable cruelty. =
Since
most individuals have a cursory awareness of vegetarianism and animal
rights, to effect real change in people's attitudes and actions, it is
necessary to move beyond sound bites to distributing compelling and =
accurate
information. This can be done in a number of ways that avoid making =
people
feel judged or opening irresistible topics such as Grandpa Carnivore =
living
to be 94. The easiest way to reach out to people is by distributing
literature. Providing others with printed information allows them to =
digest
the ideas and implications on their own time, without becoming defensive =
and
feeling the need to justify themselves and their past actions.=20
Even in this least confrontational setting, we shouldn't give people a
reason to ignore the issue of cruelty or dismiss the message because of =
the
messenger. The general public is constantly bombarded with "documented =
facts
<http://www.veganoutreach.org/advocacy/goodinfo.html> " from all sides =
(the
healthfulness of the meat-heavy Atkins diet, the welfare benefits of
farrowing stalls, and so on). These "experts" are often totally and
passionately convinced they have the truth on their side. The public =
won't
be swayed by what we say simply because we, too, are convinced our =
arguments
are correct. We need to be appropriately wary of repeating claims that
support our position and dismissing those that don't.=20
Knowing the "truth" is cold comfort if we can't create any change for =
those
suffering. Not only should we stick to materials that our target =
audience
will find convincing, we also need to meet people halfway, reaching out =
to
them in a way that opens them up to considering the ideas. For example, =
if
avoiding the words "vegan" or "animal rights," or handing out a =
Christian
booklet such as "What Would Jesus Eat.Today?
<http://www.christianveg.com/wwje.htm> ", or displaying happy animal =
images
instead of graphic pictures of cruelty makes a certain person or =
audience
more likely to read the information, this is what we should do.=20
Positive, constructive outreach requires that we check our egos at the =
door.
Everyone is unique, and to maximize the amount of good accomplished, we =
need
to understand people's motivations and goals. A good way of doing this =
is to
read Dale Carnegie's How
<http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0671723650/qid=3D1041593042/sr=3D=
2-1/ref
=3Dsr_2_1/103-3311972-5271019> To Win Friends and Influence People, as =
well as
Robert
<http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0688128165/qid=3D1041593079/sr=3D=
2-1/ref
=3Dsr_2_1/103-3311972-5271019> B. Cialdini's books on the psychology of
influence.=20
We must do everything we can, but we can't expect (our vision of) =
perfection
from others. Given that per capita consumption of animals is at an =
all-time
high in our country today (ERS Agricultural Outlook / January-February
2002), it is unrealistic and counterproductive to expect everyone to =
convert
to our particular vision of pure vegetarianism. Rather, we need people =
to
recognize the cruelties of modern agriculture and take steps - however
tentative or gradual - to end their support of factory farms. If they =
buy
meat from an organic farmer down the road, or continue to eat fish, or =
don't
avoid all dairy, we should neither vilify
<http://www.veganoutreach.org/advocacy/satya.html> them ("Go vegan or go =
...
jump in a lake!!") nor spend our limited time and resources trying to =
"fully
convert" them. Instead, we need to support and encourage everyone in the
steps they take, and reach out to others.
We don't have a duty to speak for the animals; we have an obligation to =
be
heard for the animals.
A History of Success
Our experience at Vegan Outreach shows it is possible to be honest while
still being efficient and effective. Each day we receive feedback from
individuals who have stopped eating animals and become active in helping
them after receiving a copy of Why Vegan? or Vegetarian Living. With a
budget that is a tiny fraction of the major animal groups', the members =
of
Vegan Outreach distributed over half a million copies of our literature =
in
2002. For each person convinced to change their diet because of a piece =
of
literature such as Why Vegan? or Vegetarian Living, the cost per animal
saved is a fraction of a penny. The investment is only as much time as =
it
takes to stock a public display, or to ask someone if they would like =
some
information on vegetarianism.=20
At its core, the compelling concept behind being a vegan is working to =
end
suffering. But we must always remember that the bottom line is =
suffering,
not veganism. Being vegan is a powerful response to the tragedy of
industrial animal agriculture, but it is only the first step. Supporting =
and
participating in positive, constructive outreach will have an impact =
that is
orders of magnitude greater than being a pure - but isolated and =
impotent -
vegan.=20
Our ultimate goal must be for everyone to act from respect and =
compassion.
Our actions should promote these values.
=20
To read previous issues of Spam, please see the summary page
<http://www.veganoutreach.org/spam/> .=20
To unsubscribe from: Vegan Spam, just follow this link:
http://www.veganoutreach.org/cgi-bin/mojo/mojo.cgi?f=3Du
<http://www.veganoutreach.org/cgi-bin/mojo/mojo.cgi?f=3Du&l=3DSpam&e=3Dre=
di@mit.ed
u&p=3D3534> &l=3DSpam&e=3Dredi@mit.edu&p=3D3534=20
Click this link, or copy and paste the address into your browser.=20
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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN class=3D734451817-05012003>Here =
is an excellent=20
newsletter that some individuals on this list may enjoy. =
</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D734451817-05012003></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D734451817-05012003>Cheers,</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D734451817-05012003>Laura</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D734451817-05012003></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV class=3DOutlookMessageHeader lang=3Den-us dir=3Dltr =
align=3Dleft><FONT face=3DTahoma=20
size=3D2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> Vegan Spam=20
[mailto:veganspam@veganoutreach.org] <BR><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, January =
05, 2003=20
8:55 AM<BR><B>To:</B> redi@mit.edu<BR><B>Subject:</B> Happy New Year =
from Vegan=20
Outreach (Vegan Spam)<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><NOINDEX>
<TABLE cellSpacing=3D0 cellPadding=3D0 width=3D"100%" border=3D0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD width=3D217><A href=3D"/"><IMG class=3Dlogo alt=3D"Vegan =
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<TD align=3Dleft width=3D"100%"=20
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Spam!"=20
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<TD width=3D20><IMG alt=3D" "=20
src=3D"http://www.veganoutreach.org/images/vo-tip.gif" =
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<TD><A href=3D"http://www.veganoutreach.org/donate.html"><IMG=20
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<P align=3Dleft><B><I><FONT color=3D#000033><BR></FONT></I></B><FONT=20
color=3D#ff0000><FONT color=3D#000000>Previous issues of Spam can be =
</FONT><A=20
href=3D"http://www.veganoutreach.org/spam/">read on-line at the =
archive</A><FONT=20
color=3D#000000>.</FONT></FONT></P>
<H3 align=3Dleft> </H3>
<H3 align=3Dleft>January 5, 2002 </H3>
<P align=3Dleft> </P>
<P align=3Dleft>We thought we would lead off the new year with this =
essay, which=20
gets to the heart of Vegan Outreach's motivation.</P>
<P align=3Dleft> </P>
<DIV class=3DSection1 style=3D"LAYOUT-GRID: 0pt none">
<P><B>Working in Defense of Animals</B></P>
<P>Matt Ball</P>
<P>Since the publication of <I>Animal Liberation </I>in 1975 and the =
founding of=20
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals in 1980 (to mention just two =
seminal=20
events), animal rights and welfare organizations have spent hundreds of =
millions=20
dollars, with volunteers working endless hours, trying to improve the =
treatment=20
of animals in the United States. PETA alone has over 600,000 members and =
an=20
eight-figure annual budget. From McDonald’s reforms and the =
Florida breeding sow=20
initiative to a <I>New York Times Magazine </I><A=20
href=3D"http://www.veganoutreach.org/spam/20021116.html#article">cover =
story=20
</A>and <A href=3D"http://www.cok.net/camp/inv/rb/">widespread media =
coverage of=20
open rescues of laying hens</A>, the treatment of animals is now a =
matter of=20
wide public debate. Animal advocates and the term “animal =
rights” have become=20
fixtures in American society.</P>
<P><B>The State of </B><B>Animals</B><B> Today</B></P>
<P>A few years into the new millennium, with several decades of animal =
advocacy=20
behind us, it is shocking that the number of animals exploited and =
killed in the=20
<ST1:COUNTRY-REGION>United States</ST1:COUNTRY-REGION> has more than =
doubled=20
since 1975. At the same time, the treatment of most of these animals is =
worse=20
today than ever before.</P>
<P>Although every animal in a lab, pound, or fur farm deserves our=20
consideration, more than 99 percent of all the animals killed in the=20
<ST1:COUNTRY-REGION>United States</ST1:COUNTRY-REGION> are killed to be =
eaten.=20
In recent years, the annual <I>increase</I> in the number of land =
animals=20
slaughtered for food has been much greater than the <I>total</I> number =
of=20
animals killed for fur, in labs, and at shelters, <I>combined</I>. In =
other=20
words, each year in the <ST1:COUNTRY-REGION>United=20
States</ST1:COUNTRY-REGION>:</P></DIV>
<UL>
<LI>The number of animals killed in shelters is approximately equal to =
the=20
human population of New Jersey.=20
<LI>The number of animals killed for fur is approximately equal to the =
human=20
population of Illinois.
<P></P>
<LI>The number of animals killed in experimentation is approximately =
equal to=20
the human population of Texas.
<P></P>
<LI>The <I>increase</I> in the number of land animals farmed and =
slaughtered=20
is greater than the total human population of the =
<ST1:COUNTRY-REGION>United=20
States</ST1:COUNTRY-REGION>.
<P></P>
<LI>The total number of mammals and birds farmed and slaughtered is=20
approximately equal to one and two-thirds times the entire human =
population of=20
Earth.
<P></P></LI></UL>
<DIV class=3DSection1 style=3D"LAYOUT-GRID: 0pt none">
<P>Hidden away from the public eye, farmed animals endure an =
excruciating=20
existence. Written descriptions can't convey the true horror of what =
goes on in=20
factory farms. <A=20
href=3D"http://www.factoryfarming.com/gallery.htm">Photographs</A> and =
<A=20
href=3D"http://www.goveg.com/r-mym.html">videos</A> come closer – =
layer hens with=20
open sores, covered with feces, sharing their tiny cage with decomposing =
corpses=20
of fellow hens whose wings, faces, or feathers were trapped in the cage =
such=20
that they couldn’t get to food or water (Compassion Over =
Killing’s “Hope for the=20
Hopeless”); pigs sodomized by metal poles, beaten with bricks, =
skinned while=20
still conscious (PETA’s “Pig Farm Investigation”); =
steers, pigs, and birds=20
desperately struggling on the slaughterhouse floor after their throats =
are cut=20
(Farm Sanctuary’s “Humane Slaughter?”, PETA’s =
“Meet Your Meat”). But even these=20
tapes can’t communicate the smell, the noise, the desperation, and =
most of all,=20
the fact that each of these animals – and billions more unseen by =
any camera or=20
any caring eye – continue to suffer like this, every minute of =
every day.</P>
<P>If we are concerned with the suffering of <I>all </I>animals, not =
just those=20
in labs or fur farms or shelters, these facts demand we reconsider our =
focus. As=20
<I>The Economist </I>pointed out in a 1995 cover story, animal advocates =
in the=20
<ST1:COUNTRY-REGION>United States</ST1:COUNTRY-REGION> have focused on =
fur and=20
medical research, while advocates in England and much of Europe have =
focused on=20
animals killed for food. As a result, not only is vegetarianism more =
widespread=20
in some countries in Europe, animals there are also afforded much =
greater=20
protection. </P>
<P><B>The Choice for Activists</B></P>
<P>Given the unfathomable horrors of factory farms, the overwhelming =
numbers of=20
animals involved, and the fact that every individual in society makes =
choices=20
every day that can perpetuate the suffering or help end it, it is hard =
to=20
imagine a compelling argument as to why the animal liberation movement =
should=20
focus on a different issue. Of course, it would be nice if we could =
address=20
<I>all</I> areas of exploitation and suffering at once. But as =
individuals and=20
as a movement, our time and resources are extremely limited, especially =
in=20
comparison to the industries we seek to change or abolish. When viewed =
in light=20
of the vast annual increase in the number of animals bred and killed in =
the=20
United States each year, the truism “When you choose to do one =
thing, you are=20
choosing not to do another” is more poignant than ever. </P>
<P>Having participated in a variety of animal advocacy measures – =
from protests,=20
public fasts, and civil disobedience to presentations, tables, and =
letter=20
writing – I have found no more effective way of working in defense =
of animals=20
than promoting vegetarianism through positive outreach. Showing people =
what goes=20
on in factory farms and providing them with alternatives can serve not =
only to=20
remove support from factory farms, but also to bring about a significant =
change=20
in society’s fundamental view of animals. Even without including =
the abstract=20
idea of “societal change,” the numbers are compelling. On =
average, each American=20
eats nearly three-dozen factory-farmed mammals and birds a year – =
over 2,700 in=20
a lifetime! Convincing <I>just one person</I> to change his or her diet =
can=20
spare more animals than have been saved by most of the high profile =
campaigns=20
against animal research, fur, canned hunts, and circuses. </P>
<P><B>Purity vs. Progress</B></P>
<P>Addressing modern animal agriculture is the best use of our limited =
time and=20
resources to alleviate animal suffering. How, though, should we proceed? =
For=20
caring people who are aware of what goes on in factory farms and =
industrial=20
slaughterhouses, outrage and anger are common – almost inevitable. =
The=20
difficulty is in finding a constructive outlet for this anger. With meat =
eating=20
firmly entrenched in our culture, factory farms hidden, and =
people’s=20
inconsistent attitudes towards animals (those we love, those we eat) =
tolerated,=20
promoting veganism can be taxing on activists. Frustrated by their =
inability to=20
make large changes in society – to organize armies to storm the =
factory farms or=20
pass laws abolishing them – and feeling that incremental, =
one-person-at-a-time=20
change is too slow, many activists give up on outreach-based advocacy=20
altogether. They may then turn to what they <I>can</I> control: =
themselves. They=20
may pursue personal purity, eschewing whey, honey, sugar, film, =
pesticides,=20
manure, concrete, medicine, etc. – everything they perceive as =
connected to=20
animal exploitation.<S></S></P>
<P>The desire to avoid complicity with any aspect of animal exploitation =
is=20
understandable, but this <A=20
href=3D"http://www.veganoutreach.org/starterpack/beingvegan.html#purity">=
inward=20
turn</A> can actually counteract efforts to prevent animal suffering. In =
a=20
society where the cruelty inherent in eating a chicken’s leg is =
not recognized,=20
few people will be able to identify with an activist who shuns a veggie =
burger=20
because it is cooked on the same grill as beef burgers. Unnecessary =
suffering=20
and cruelty-free options are no longer the focus if, in our zeal to =
defend=20
veganism, we equate the suffering of oysters and shrimp with that of =
veal calves=20
and breeding sows. Most people are going to have a hard time giving=20
vegetarianism serious consideration when they perceive us to be =
concerned about=20
insects’ rights, sugar processed with bone char, microingredients =
such as=20
diglycerides, and so forth.</P>
<P>If we are to work effectively on behalf of animals instead of in =
defense of=20
our veganism, we must encourage everyone to boycott cruelty. We =
can’t do this by=20
fostering the impression that “It’s so hard to be vegan =
– animal products are in=20
everything,” acting as if veganism is a <A=20
href=3D"http://www.veganoutreach.org/spam/20020512.html#feature">religion=
</A> with=20
adherence to dogma the sole issue, implying that every farm – from =
the largest=20
mega-factory to the smallest free-range organic farm – is equally =
cruel, or=20
arguing that harvesting honey is a holocaust.</P>
<P>As Cleveland Amory commented, people have an infinite capacity to =
rationalize=20
– especially when it comes to something they want to eat. It =
follows that the=20
vast majority of people are more than happy to ignore the implications =
of eating=20
animals, and instead bicker over the number of field mice killed during =
crop=20
harvests, “your baby or your dog,” whether milk is a =
“deadly poison,” the plight=20
of third-world farmers, gelatin in film, and so on. Anything that keeps =
the=20
focus off factory farms is more than welcome to people who are =
understandably=20
resistant to separating themselves from friends and associating with a=20
judgmental vegan crowd.</P>
<P>Our example must always reflect our underlying goal – our =
actions should be=20
clearly motivated by a reasoned, practical opposition to cruelty. Rather =
than=20
simply avoiding something because it isn’t “vegan,” we =
should always have a=20
clear explanation for the consequences of our actions. It is better to =
allow for=20
uncertainty – for example, telling people that we have decided to =
give <A=20
href=3D"http://www.veganoutreach.org/insectcog.html">clams</A> the =
benefit of the=20
doubt because we don’t know whether they are capable of the =
subjective=20
experience of suffering – than to simply recite “clams =
aren’t vegan.”</P>
<P><B>Beyond Sound Bites, Beyond Veganism</B></P>
<P>At Vegan Outreach, we have found the most effective way of getting =
past these=20
barriers is to avoid making ourselves or our veganism the issue. Rather, =
we work=20
to keep the focus on undeniable yet avoidable cruelty. Since most =
individuals=20
have a cursory awareness of vegetarianism and animal rights, to effect =
real=20
change in people’s attitudes and actions, it is necessary to move =
beyond sound=20
bites to distributing compelling and accurate information. This can be =
done in a=20
number of ways that avoid making people feel judged or opening =
irresistible=20
topics such as Grandpa Carnivore living to be 94. The easiest way to =
reach out=20
to people is by distributing literature. Providing others with printed=20
information allows them to digest the ideas and implications on their =
own time,=20
without becoming defensive and feeling the need to justify themselves =
and their=20
past actions. </P>
<P>Even in this least confrontational setting, we shouldn’t give =
people a reason=20
to ignore the issue of cruelty or dismiss the message because of the =
messenger.=20
The general public is constantly bombarded with “<A=20
href=3D"http://www.veganoutreach.org/advocacy/goodinfo.html">documented =
facts</A>”=20
from all sides (the healthfulness of the meat-heavy Atkins diet, the =
welfare=20
benefits of farrowing stalls, and so on). These “experts” =
are often totally and=20
passionately convinced they have the truth on their side. The public =
won’t be=20
swayed by what we say simply because we, too, are convinced our =
arguments are=20
correct. We need to be appropriately wary of repeating claims that =
support our=20
position and dismissing those that don’t. </P>
<P>Knowing the “truth” is cold comfort if we can’t =
create any change for those=20
suffering. Not only should we stick to materials that our target =
audience will=20
find convincing, we also need to meet people halfway, reaching out to =
them in a=20
way that opens them up to considering the ideas. For example, if =
avoiding the=20
words “vegan” or “animal rights,” or handing out =
a Christian booklet such as “<A=20
href=3D"http://www.christianveg.com/wwje.htm">What Would Jesus =
Eat…Today?</A>”, or=20
displaying happy animal images instead of graphic pictures of cruelty =
makes a=20
certain person or audience more likely to read the information, this is =
what we=20
should do. </P>
<P>Positive, constructive outreach requires that we check our egos at =
the door.=20
Everyone is unique, and to maximize the amount of good accomplished, we =
need to=20
understand people’s motivations and goals. A good way of doing =
this is to read=20
Dale Carnegie’s <I><A=20
href=3D"http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0671723650/qid=3D104159304=
2/sr=3D2-1/ref=3Dsr_2_1/103-3311972-5271019">How=20
To Win Friends and Influence People</A></I>, as well as <A=20
href=3D"http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0688128165/qid=3D104159307=
9/sr=3D2-1/ref=3Dsr_2_1/103-3311972-5271019">Robert=20
B. Cialdini</A>’s books on the psychology of influence. </P>
<P>We must do everything we can, but we can’t expect (our vision =
of) perfection=20
from others. Given that per capita consumption of animals is at an =
all-time high=20
in our country today (<I>ERS Agricultural Outlook</I> / January-February =
2002),=20
it is unrealistic and counterproductive to expect everyone to convert to =
our=20
particular vision of pure vegetarianism. Rather, we need people to =
recognize the=20
cruelties of modern agriculture and take steps – however tentative =
or gradual –=20
to end their support of factory farms. If they buy meat from an organic =
farmer=20
down the road, or continue to eat fish, or don’t avoid all dairy, =
we should=20
neither <A =
href=3D"http://www.veganoutreach.org/advocacy/satya.html">vilify=20
them</A> (“Go vegan or go ... jump in a lake!!”) nor spend =
our limited time and=20
resources trying to “fully convert” them. Instead, we need =
to support and=20
encourage everyone in the steps they take, and reach out to others.</P>
<P>We don’t have a duty to <I>speak </I>for the animals; we have =
an obligation=20
to be <I>heard</I> for the animals.</P>
<P><B>A History of Success</B></P>
<P>Our experience at Vegan Outreach shows it is possible to be honest =
while=20
still being efficient and effective. Each day we receive feedback from=20
individuals who have stopped eating animals and become active in helping =
them=20
after receiving a copy of <I>Why Vegan?</I> or <I>Vegetarian Living</I>. =
With a=20
budget that is a tiny fraction of the major animal groups’, the =
members of Vegan=20
Outreach distributed over half a million copies of our literature in =
2002. For=20
each person convinced to change their diet because of a piece of =
literature such=20
as <I>Why Vegan?</I><I> </I>or <I>Vegetarian Living</I>, the cost per =
animal=20
saved is a fraction of a penny. The investment is only as much time as =
it takes=20
to stock a public display, or to ask someone if they would like some =
information=20
on vegetarianism. </P>
<P>At its core, the compelling concept behind being a vegan is working =
to end=20
suffering. But we must always remember that the bottom line is =
suffering, not=20
veganism. Being vegan is a powerful response to the tragedy of =
industrial animal=20
agriculture, but it is only the first step. Supporting and participating =
in=20
positive, constructive outreach will have an impact that is orders of =
magnitude=20
greater than being a pure – but isolated and impotent - vegan. =
</P>
<P>Our ultimate goal must be for everyone to act from respect and =
compassion.=20
Our actions should promote these values.</P></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE> </BLOCKQUOTE>
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