At Veganhaven we do not condone animal exploitation of any kind. We reject the consumption of animal products as it causes direct harm to animals and gives them a commodity status. Veganism is a moral philosophy and we extend our ethical values to all animals. If harming a dog/dolphin/horse is wrong, harming a cow/chicken/pig is wrong too. It’s about animal rights – their basic right to live and be free from harm.
Veganism is about being against animal exploitation for food but also all other ways animals are killed by humans – for clothing, experimentation and entertainment. It also means avoiding unethical practices like animal rides and visiting zoos where animals are held captive. If an organisation is known to rescue and help conservation, we decide if visiting such places is ethical. There are sanctuaries and shelters for rescued farm animals and other animals that we will surely try to visit or volunteer at during travels.
We went vegan over 4 years ago and were vegetarian for a couple of years before that, obviously before realizing what actually goes on in dairy and egg industries (yes, all dairy cows are slaughtered in the end, male calves separated and killed, male chicks in egg factories culled by the million). I could no longer be a part of supporting such violent industries.
It was around the same time as I found out about fur farming in Finland, and that enraged me. I had no idea that such practices occurred. Cruelty towards animals always upset me – because I feel animals are especially innocent and it’s plain evil to harm them. I always found it disgusting that people ate certain animals but for many years I was indifferent to the suffering of chickens and fish. I excused myself out of habit and because I thought I ate ‘only a little’ of it. Some years ago I stopped being such a hypocrite. I spent my childhood around the lovely stray dogs in India and considered myself an animal lover since day 1. I have volunteered at animal shelters in cities I’ve lived in. Recently, I’ve also participated in local street activism.
There is so much information available online, if only you look. When we start seeing other animals as individuals, our perspective changes to see the reality, beyond what we’ve been taught to accept from an early age. As humans, we have a moral sense and know it’s wrong to exploit and kill other beings. Why exclude farmed animals from our consideration? To the animals, it makes no difference if they are farmed or wild, everyone suffers the same. Farmed animals suffer immensely as they live their entire short life in captivity in often miserable, crowded conditions, before they are trucked off to a slaughterhouse, where you can imagine the horror that awaits them.
We would recommend watching the following:
- The Best Speech You Will Ever Hear by Gary Yourofsky.
- Dairy is Scary – the milk industry explained in 5 minutes.
- Dominion(2018) to see the hidden practices of animal agriculture.
Animal farming is not only cruel but a huge burden on the environment. We need to talk about energy and resource intensive practices like animal agriculture in face of climate change. Watch documentaries like Cowspiracy and Seaspiracy to learn more.
”A lie doesn’t become truth, wrong doesn’t become right, and evil doesn’t become good, just because it’s accepted by a majority.” ― Booker T. Washington
Sometimes the cruelty in this world may be too much for us to comprehend when we view the horrors of animal agriculture. It’s okay to feel upset, confused and angry. If you’re not, you probably aren’t aware of what’s going on. It may be surprising to realize how less some people care. Why change when the majority are consuming this stuff and most restaurants and shops sell these products? Take time to ask yourself – what’s the right thing to do? Some choose to stay ignorant because it takes effort to make changes in their lifestyle. But we owe it to the earth and other earthlings. The least we can do is not consume animal products. Living in a society where animal exploitation is the norm may not be easy, but we are part of the shift to a civilized world.
Vegan travel guides on Veganhaven:
- VEGAN IN HELSINKI (FINLAND)
- VEGAN IN RIGA (LATVIA)
- VEGAN IN TALLINN (ESTONIA)
- VEGAN IN WARSAW (POLAND)
- VEGAN IN BARCELONA (SPAIN)
- VEGAN IN SANTORINI (GREECE)
- VEGAN IN IOS ISLAND (GREECE)
- VEGAN IN TENERIFE (CANARY ISLANDS)
- VEGAN IN FUERTEVENTURA (CANARY ISLANDS)
- VEGAN IN THE ALGARVE (PORTUGAL)
- VEGAN IN LISBON (PORTUGAL)
- VEGAN IN BERLIN (GERMANY)
- VEGAN IN DRESDEN (GERMANY)
