Make it possible

I took 4_da_animals info about pork somewhat differently. I thought she was saying it would be a good idea to tell your omnivore buds that even free-range bred pigs could well end up in factory farms, and then provided the "fine print" that proves it. Letting them know that "free-range" isn't the heaven that producers claim it to be.

I'm getting a bit sick of everyone sharing the link to this ad and saying "I'm not vegetarian, BUT" Like seriously, you've obviously realised that there's something wrong with eating animals, so why don't you go vegetarian instead of making up excuses! ffs.

Someone on Facebook (who worked with me at an animal sanctuary!!!) just said that it's possible to eat meat ethically! Argh! People make me mad!!

Rant over. For now...

If that is the case, it still makes me wonder why anyone would go to such trouble to find legislation fine print about either laws, guidelines or recommendations when they are either not enforced or even followed.

Honest question: Is it really productive to spend time with people squabbling over what is deemed 'free range' as opposed to er, um, talking about veganism?

I don't understand this at all Maggie.

AA endorses *all* non-factory farmed animal in this very campaign. They do not even *recommend* vegetarianism let alone veganism as a solution, they merely offer the former as a optional thing people might want to do. They also differentiate between flesh and eggs and dairy, as if to say there is an ethical difference between consuming any of them when there is not.

Your friend thinks it's possible to ethically consume meat/eggs/dairy... well, it seems your friend and AA are in total agreement. AA not only endorses consumption of non-factory farmed animal products, it also states in black and white that there are indeed such things as 'ethically produced animal products'. It's all there.

As far as people making up excuses for not taking the step to either go vegetarian or even vegan, why would they? AA and single issue campaigns once again come to their rescue to assuage whatever guilt they may have over exploiting animals by continually pushing for 'better, more humane treatment', claiming victory once industry gives up its token resistance and eventually praising said industry for improving its 'animal welfare' practices... all this not before industry can now claim they care deeply about animals and now, thanks to animal welfarists, can continue to exploit animals in more economically efficient ways and enjoy the support of a public just clamoring to get their hands on certified-humane animal products featuring the tick of approval from animal groups.

This is what animal welfare campaigns have created Maggie: a public concerned only about the treatment of other animals... completely ignoring the core issue which is the *use* of other animals.

Just have a read of this page > http://makeitpossible.com/take_action/

I think the AA campaign was great, and could be interpreted multiple ways. Some people will go veg*n as a result, and others will switch to buying free range alternatives. Which are both steps in the right direction. Of course going vegan is the best thing we can do, but some people aren't going to do that no matter what you show or tell them.
I think AA's approach of one step at a time has so far had great results. Most people seem to take well to the organisation, and they don't get much hate and disrespect from meat eaters like more extreme organisations like PETA often do. PETA'S advertisements are generally more blunt and straight to the point, but they also often attract negative attention.

As much as I would love to see a vegan world, I think you have to come back down to reality and realise its not going to happen. The fact is some people just don't care, or are too lazy to do anything about it. It doesn't mean we should stop trying, but it does mean we sometimes have to look for more realistic ways to make a kinder world.

I didn't question what Animals Australia's motives were at all, I'm just saying that people are stupid for being sad when they see the video, but still thinking it's perfectly okay to oppress, enslave and slit someone's throat, just so that they can sit on their arses and eat the rotting flesh. As long as it's done nicely.

I'm sorry but there's no such thing as ethical meat. Just as there is no such thing as ethical rape, racism, sexism, etc.

It was a great video! Once i find out how I'm sharing this!

I am glad to have a short, accurate and meaningful Australian video to show people in regards to factory farms and animal cruelty in Australia. It's a very well done piece and gets the point across beautifully.

I think it's wonderful, and very, very moving. I haven't seen anything like this before on tv so just the very fact that the message of being kind to animals is getting spread is wonderful. I think we all know that you can't actually be kind to animals without going vegan, but, we all also know how difficult it is to try to sell the idea of veganism to a meat eater. this is a wonderful campaign that doesn't isolate people, and will still make life slightly easier for some animals and will hopefully encourage people to change their lifestyle choices! baby steps.  

In response to Follz objections about the campaign suggesting free-range animal products and decreasing animal product consumption instead of veganism or vegetarianism:

This is a broad-scale television campaign aimed at all Australians. It's unrealistic to think that a campaign declaring that vegetarianism is the only way will every work on a broad scale. The campaign would be ridiculed and would change the minds of very few people. Sometimes, going free-range or cutting down your animal-product consumption is the first step towards a meat-free life. Rather than encouraging a TINY number of people make a big change, Make It Possible encourages a wide range of people from all walks of life to make a change- whether that change be big or small. This is a strong and effective campaign. It's relatable and accessible to the average meat-eating Australian and doesn't feel pushy or judgemental. Some people need to take it one step at a time. And let's face it, some people will NEVER go veg, so wouldn't you rather see them eating less meat, and meat from animals who suffered less?


I've been vegan for two years, and vegetarian for a year before that. Don't get me wrong, I find the use of animals for food, entertainment, clothing or experimentation to be absolutely abhorrent and I completely fail to comprehend why someone would not choose to go vegan, but I know that this view, no matter how much it baffles me, is the "norm" here in Australia. In this culture where meat eating is an integral part of social acceptance and validating your patriotism/masculinity, you can hardly expect a campaign targeted at inspiring a change to veganism to be met with anything other than disregard, anger and ignorance. I think AA did the right thing in making the campaign into something that any Australian can relate to, and that could inspire some change in any meat-eating person.

Isn't it better to have some improvement, but not a perfect result from a gentler campaign, than creating more resistance to the Animal Rights movement with a more strongheaded, vegan-is-the-only-way campaign?

Did I not word it right?

Perhaps you didn't know I did a 6 month research project investigation on the farming practises of pigs and poultry. That was some of the evidence I found proving how misleading the term free range can be. I interviewed pig farmers and the principal advisor of animal welfare on tha matter, because I wanted to know just how "free range" free range is, and I wanted credible evidence to back up my discussions with others on why I'm vegetarian and going vegan.
my point was to mention to any omnivore buddies you have, if they plan to cut out factory farmed products, rather than say pledge to go vege, you should mention what I wrote above, as that is evidence on how misleading products are, and how it isn't exactly simple cutting out factory farmed products unless your vegetarian or vegan
which in case you didn't know, I am.

and I made this post after I realised there already was a forum post, in case you didn't notice my comment on the otherone apologising for that matter.

Those standards are the standards that almost all pig farmers abide by.

The only "free range" pig product in coles is otway pork, which is "bred free range".
and, rewording what I said above, legally that means up until weaning piglets are brought up in free range conditions, but then sent to factory farms. Which most people don't know.

I also research this kind of stuff in my free time, because there are so many companies out there deliberately using false advertising and deceiving customers. Unless you don't do research like this, it's a lot harder to know about this kind of thing.


So basically, exactly what anthony said was my intent.