I just thought I'd share a comment I'd posted in reply to a sort of debate with another vegan (or flexible vegan, rather), who was arguing for the symbiotic relationship between farm animals and humans, considering their inability to live outside of the domestic habitat. Furthermore we were discussing our relationship with companion animals, since we both have dog companions. Sorry for the summary, but I think it would be unfair to quote her, considering the nature of this blog (as an abolitionist's opinion dump) and that she is a friend. Hope this still all makes sense. Also, I'm being a bad intellectual and not making any references here, so please don't judge me too harshly, again, this was a spur of the moment discussion, not an organized debate.
"I think many vegans struggle with the issue of whether keeping a companion animal is vegan. But you are right about domestic dogs’ human relationships. I’ve seen the figure for the time they have been domesticated quoted between 15,000 to 100,000 years. But I do think that many dogs, particularly those that are breeds that have not been too far altered from their wolf and coyote roots, do surprisingly well without humans; given the right habitat. There's a lot of instinct there. Cats unquestionably are very much true to their wild selves. Both develop close relationships with their ‘owners’, and I would argue too that this is not exploitive, since the majority are not worked, and they do not produce usable products.
As for animals used in food industry, I agree, these species would not exist without human intervention, but there again, they never would have existed in the first place without human intervention. I think, keeping this in mind, you cannot apply the natural laws of symbiosis to the human-animal relationship; i.e. you cannot be both creator and saviour. By being the direct cause (as our species as a whole) of disabling an animal's ability to live as it was 'meant' to (I say this out of faith in nature, not god!) we cannot say that any remotely exploitative relationship with an animal is care. And I personally would count that as the taking of any of its products as exploitation, because, as you must know, compromises on health (as with dairy cows, who are repeatedly impregnated) and welfare (as with chickens; even chickens with the best habitats are subject to psychological problems which require cruel 'cures', such as when they become 'broody') must be made in order to take advantage of an animal’s ability to produce these things."
In other vegan news, I finally bought a copy of
Vegan Freak by Bob and Jenna Torres. It's awesome; very direct, makes no apologies, and totally reinforces everything you've ever felt that made you want to go and stay vegan. It's totally worth a read. In fact, there are several vegetarians in my life I would LOVE to buy a copy for. But then I know I would have been well pissed if anyone had done that to me when I was still big on the eggs and dairy.
I've been doing a lot of cooking for the family lately, since I'm still living back with my parents (though I've found a house now!) and have been totally crap at photographing anything.. though I absolutely must share with you guys the stuffed aubergines I made last night, and the tomato soup, and cheeseless pizza of last week. All of this has far better greater good implications however, since my 14 meat meal a week family (i.e. 2 meat meals per day) are now eating only 2/3rds as much, with a big ol' vegan dinner on the table several nights a week. Are you all proud of them? I am :) Mum's even having soy yoghurt for breakfast these days.. we get through 3 or 4 tubs of alpro a week, ack!
I'll come back with less ranting and more recipes soon, promise!
