The Instagram post above, posted by @v.egan.things, it totally true. Don’t you agree? It shows how our mindsets are REALLY warped. We believe what we are told to believe. For example, a murderer would be imprisoned if they kill someone. Yet, the workers at the slaughterhouse, murder millions of animals every day and it is ok. Yes, they are doing their job – the job that they were hired to do. And because we are eating the meat from those animals, we are effectively hiring those people to kill for us. No blood on our hands right? We love animals, but yet we kill billions of them a year. Is there really a difference between killing a dog or a pig?
Research on veganism and animal cruelty
Going into 2019, I continue my research and education about veganism and animal cruelty. I honestly feel like I have lived in a bubble my whole life. A bubble that shielded me from knowing the source of the meat that I ate. In the supermarket, meat is usually packaged nicely in pieces, no fur/feathers on it, and with little blood. Sometimes there would be a head on a chicken (mostly in Asian supermarkets), but I would look away. And occasionally, would be reminded when finding a feather still attached to the packaged chicken, that the chicken was just that – a REAL chicken that was once alive.
I love animals and to actually see (thanks to animal rights activists who work hard to get behind the scenes footage of what really happens in the slaughterhouse) what they go through is heart-wrenching as well as stomach churning. I really admire animal activists and how passionate they are about stopping the torture and slaughter of innocent animals – while facing a lot of hate from others and even death. I saw something about an 80 something-year-old activist who spoke out against the meat companies and they gunned her down. Meat companies with huge profits wiping out the truth???
Animal activists and their loneliness
I have read posts on Instagram from activists like Ryuji Chua (@peacebyvegan) and Cristina (@cristina_the_activist) about their feelings of loneliness in their mission to save the animals (and educate the world) and having the desire to be by themselves during the holidays. But why does this have to be? Shouldn’t we be joining them in re-educating the world?
Why does a baby calf need to be stolen from her mom almost immediately after birth? I saw a video of mommy cow licking her newborn to clean him. OMG! How cute is that scene? Well, what follows is pretty horrible – mom is hooked up to a machine and her milk is stolen for humans to drink. To have a sustainable animal milk source for human consumption, animals must constantly be pregnant and give birth. Think about this – there is no milk if the cow is not pregnant. So, the vicious cycle is to impregnate the cow, steal her baby and her milk over and over again. To me, this really doesn’t make sense. We are not cows, so why should we drink her milk? Can you picture us squatting on the ground below mom, drinking her milk directly from the source? Didn’t think so!!! We have been brainwashed since childhood that milk is good for us and makes stronger bones.
Animal milk alternatives
In this day and age, we have alternatives. We can drink milk derived from plants. There is soy, almond, coconut, cashew (yes cashew!) and pea milk. You probably didn’t know, but a lot of these kinds of milk contain the same if not more protein than milk. Take some time and read the labels.
Education
It is rather funny, because the last time my family was in the car, my daughter pointed out to me that every time we are in the car, I talk about the cruelty that animals go through and why we shouldn’t eat them; the work that animal activists are doing; the films that I have been watching, etc. Anyway, the point is: I didn’t even realize I was constantly talking about it. So, it turns out that I have the perfect audience – one held in captivity!
Escaping from my bubble
I am now emerging from my bubble and believe that everyone else should too. We are so brainwashed. Big brother is watching.
Whether you decide to become an active animal rights activists, stay behind the scenes and educate or simply adopt a vegan life – you have the choice.
In this thing called life, you have the power to do what is right. Cheers to that!
