Hey Maggie, Kick, ShadowDoubt and Val!
Thanks for your support. It's the support like this that has enabled both of us to pull through what were difficult times.
After the LCM, I can remember that I couldn't sleep at all that night. The bellows and screams filled my head. I wanted to run to the nearest abattoir, armed and dangerous. I wanted to rescue all of them from the pain we inflict upon them. And I wanted to enact painful retribution.
Then I realised that *some* abattoir workers are just as exploited as the animals they are murdering. Some are just heartless cruel people that have other, compounded, issues. But more often than not, most of the workers are somehow forced into that situation because that is the only choice they have.
Imagine, taking 100+ lives per day, every day. Looking into kind, confused eyes, then hearing and witnessing these souls fight for life. Then I began to think of the impact that would make on my view of the world.
I began to formulate 2 simple truths for capitalism, the system that gave birth to, and feeds our consumption:
1. A capitalist society will stop at nothing to achieve increased growth and increased efficiency.
2. A capitalist society will also rationalise the monsters it creates in attempts to achieve truth 1.
For instance, industrial farming methods have enabled enormous numbers of animals to be "produced", and yet there is always a push towards growth, more animals, more feedlots, more abattoirs. Therefore, this will inevitably create the monsters that we see on those secret videos. Abattoir workers, pushed to the edge because they are forced to have no feelings, because they are forced to keep the line moving, to end the day with 100 kills under their belt.
It dawned upon me, I would be stooping to the level that was exposed in the video if I were to enact the vengeance that I so deeply desired. We, as humans, are just as sentient as the animals we abuse. A whole new way of thinking was required. "Become the change you want to see in the world" (Gandhi).
Methods that I've so far employed are peaceful protest, education and inspiration.
These are just some of the ways that we, as young vegans, can change the system. By being that example to others. By showing them a cruel free life is not only possible, but healthy and good for the soul. By encouraging others to find out about where their food, pets, entertainment, fashion and medicine comes from.
By being the light, we can illuminate the dark. We've seen what's happened with the live cattle trade to Indonesia, how powerful the voice of many can be.
I've just got so much more to philosophise! As you can see, I'm quite passionate about this topic!
If you've managed to get this far and follow what I've written, you should probably get a Gold Star
