The Go Vegan Campaign in Ireland. Is it extreme? Manipulative?
A Meat and Dairy Industries Article from All-Creatures.org

All of God's creatures have rights, a fact that most people don't seem to recognize. This includes both human and non-human animals, but not all of them can speak for themselves. As we continue to disregard the value of the lives of the billions of animals we eat, we also are destroying our air, land and water.

FROM

Sandra Higgins, Eden Farmed Animal Sanctuary
November 2015

Also read Vegan Ad Campaign in Ireland.

I have referred many times to the statistics on Ireland with respect to animal agriculture. It is the fourth largest exporter of 'beef' in the world, and one in seven babies worldwide are fed the milk of Irish cows. It is easy to understand the perception of veganism as a threat from people who make their living from the exploitation of others.

I was interviewed yesterday on SPIN 1038 and given further opportunity to correct some of the myths about veganism and the rationale for abolitionism.

go vegan Ireland

Readers might also be interested in the second half of the show in which members of the public comment on the campaign and their understanding of other animals.

Irish people are very proud of their heritage of domination and exploitation of non-humans. This is not confined to animal agriculture. Eight of the world's ten largest medical device companies are located in Ireland, and Ireland is a major world player in the Pharmaceutical Industry. It is one of the leading locations for the industry in Europe, with 9 out of the 10 largest pharmaceutical companies in the world having plants here. The cost, in terms of the number of animals tortured in the vivisection industry, is enormous.

Ireland is also the largest producer in Europe, and the fourth largest in the world, of thoroughbred horses exploited for entertainment. I have referred many times to the statistics on Ireland with respect to animal agriculture. It is the fourth largest exporter of 'beef' in the world, and one in seven babies worldwide are fed the milk of Irish cows.

It is easy to understand the perception of veganism as a threat from people who make their living from the exploitation of others.

go vegan Ireland

The second half of the show is also interesting in that it demonstrates that the humane myth is a non issue in Ireland. The notion that other animals suffer because of our lifestyles hardly enters Irish consciousness. Because of this the animal foods industry does not need 'humane' or 'happy' labels on animal products. In Northern Ireland the situation is noticeably different with labels such as 'free range' and 'outdoor reared' stamped on the animals' body parts in supermarket fridges. British and Northern Irish Farmers and Processors use companies such as the RSPCA and Compassion in World Farming to endorse the confinement, mutilation and slaughter of animal beings. Take, for example, the label on a dairy product, on sale at a leading Northern Irish supermarket:

"Sheep and their precious milk are part of our wonderful ancient heritage. We treasure our sheep, putting their welfare, husbandry and hygiene first. Union Flag. Vegetarian Society Approved."

go vegan Ireland

Such labels are a lot thinner on the ground in Southern Ireland. Eggs and flesh from caged chickens are probably the only exception to the humane myth but even then greater attention is given to humanocentric interests such as taste and health. There is little to no concern for the life the animal once had. Their deaths are considered to be entirely within the realm of human entitlement. Little wonder when there is such gross ignorance of the complexity, sentience, personhood and intelligence of the precious beings they use, as evidenced in the second half of this radio interview.


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