The position for which I advocate is veganism, which means that we don’t eat (or use or consume) any animal products.

There is no morally coherent difference between flesh and other animal products. All dairy involves suffering and death. Animals used for dairy are treated every bit as badly as animals used for meat and they all end up in the same slaughterhouse. Dairy involves the total commodification of a cow’s reproductive system and of her relationship with her calf, who is taken from her usually hours after birth. And all egg production involves suffering and death.

Interestingly, if you give up beef and pork but ramp up on eggs, you are actually responsible for more animal deaths because per 1,000 calories, eggs have a higher animal death rate (because the killing of all male chicks and the killing of laying hens after 1 or 2 cycles) than beef or pork.

There is no such thing as “humane” or “happy” meat, dairy, or eggs.

The bottom line: f we can live in a healthy (and probably healthier) way without killing any sentient being or making any sentient being suffer, why would we, as progressives committed to justice and nonviolence, not do that?

Thanks again for your article, Anya. It was great being interviewed by Abby Martin, who is the brightest broadcast journalist on the air–and it’s not even close.

Peace,

Gary L. Francione
Rutgers University