Most, or substantially all, of our use of animals is unnecessary.
The concepts of "humane treatment" and "necessary suffering" are morally meaningless as long as animals are property. Regulations built on these concepts provide little protection to animals.
Animals have sentience and a morally significant interest in continuing to live; how long they wish to live is irrelevant.
"A species is an abstract entity that cannot have experiences and therefore cannot be wronged in the way that sentient individuals can."
Ecological interventions that prioritize species entail harm toward sentient individuals.
Human interests in biodiversity (aesthetic, scientific, cultural, etc.) should not take precedence over individual nonhuman animal interests.
Prioritizing ecosystems implies that species that perform certain ecological functions have moral precedence over those that do not; this harms sentient individuals.
Sentient individuals can have positive and negative experiences, but ecosystems cannot.
However, advocates of this view consider the stability of the ecosystem valuable in itself.
Preserving this stability harms sentient individuals (i.e., the destruction of "invasive species").
Most who center ecosystems do not consider applying their own solutions to humans; they almost always favor human interests, which reveals their anthropocentrism.
Ecosystems are changing all the time and are not "stable," so there is nothing truly concrete enough to preserve.
It is better to intervene for the sake of sentient beings rather than for conservationist or other anthropocentric motivations.
Many animals adapt their behavior to the challenges of their situation. This ability to be versatile is evidence of cognition.
Just as consciousness varies widely between humans, consciousness between species probably varies widely too.
Animals, like humans, are probably aware of only a small fraction of what happens in their brains, but the consciousness that exists is nonetheless important.
This conscious thinking and emotional feeling are core functions of the central nervous system and the best ways for animals to cope with challenges.
The line between perceptual consciousness (consciously thinking about something) and reflective consciousness (introspection) is too blurry to clearly ascribe or deny either to animals.
Animals have subjective feelings and emotions that should be included in cognitive ethology. It should not be limited to nonconscious information processing or non-emotional thoughts.
Although previous research has focused on the nutritional deficiencies of plant-based diets, studies now confirm that well-planned vegetarian (including vegan) diets are "nutritionally sufficient [and] a way to reduce the risk for many chronic illnesses."
Iron, protein, and zinc are already easy to obtain in vegan diets.
Vegans can also consume fortified foods or take supplements to obtain B12 and Omega-3 fatty acids.
"The BDA has renewed its memorandum of understanding with The Vegan Society to state that a balanced vegan diet can be enjoyed by children and adults, including during pregnancy and breastfeeding, if the nutritional intake is well-planned."
The nutrients from non-vegan diets are readily available in vegan diets as well.
Vegans have lower intakes of long-chain omega-3 fats than people who consume fish, but there is no strong evidence that they have poorer health as a result. (This nutrient is still available in soybeans, walnuts, and some seeds.)
Well-planned vegan diets are "healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits for the prevention and treatment of certain diseases."
Vegan diets are appropriate for all stages of the life cycle.
Vegan diets are more sustainable than diets rich in animal products because they use fewer natural resources and are associated with less environmental damage.
"With some careful meal planning, and by eating a variety and balance of different vegetarian or vegan foods, vegetarian and vegan mums-to-be should be able to get all the nutrients that they are their baby need."
Vegetarian diets - Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (last accessed February 18, 2023)
"Vegetarian and vegan diets can provide all the nutrients you need at any age, as well as some additional health benefits."
"Anyone can follow a vegan diet - from children to teens to older adults. It's even healthy for pregnant or nursing mothers. A well-planned vegan diet is high in fibre, vitamins and antioxidants. Plus, it's low in saturated fat and cholesterol. This healthy combination helps protect against chronic diseases.
Vegans have lower rates of heart disease, diabetes and certain types of cancer than non-vegans. Vegans also have lower blood pressure levels than both meat-eaters and vegetarians and are less likely to be overweight."
Besides animals having sentience, they also have the ability to suffer. (4:46)
The temporary pleasure of consuming animal products does not justify exploiting those animals. (5:30)
Animal liberation entails ceasing all animal industries, ending the exploitation of nature, and adopting a vegan diet. (6:38)
Even humans who do not care about animal suffering should be concerned about the negative effects animal agriculture has on our ecosystem and our health (in the form of zoonotic diseases). (10:07)
Worldwide conversion to a plant-based diet would drastically reduce the amount of land needed for global agriculture to feed humans. (11:29)
Animal agriculture industries are extremely dangerous for, exploitative of, and traumatizing to its human workers and their communities. (17:31)
Going vegan is proven to be an effective way of reducing negative human impact on the planet. (20:56)
Veganism is praxis because it challenges the oppression of and prejudice toward animals (speciesism) - the same bigotry that enables other kinds of oppression. (21:18)
People in the media who spread this myth are connected to promoting the dairy industry.
Almonds are generally consumed sparingly compared to dairy, eggs, and meat. Even almond milk consists of around 2% almonds, similar to mammalian milk.
Dairy milk has much higher greenhouse gas emissions and land use requirements (not to mention cruelty involved).
The yield of California almonds is much greater than that of the state's animal dairy.
8% of California's agricultural water is used for almonds, producing 99% of US almonds and 80% of almonds worldwide.
15% of California's agricultural water is used for alfalfa hay for livestock, especially that for dairy.
In total, 47% of California's agricultural water is used for meat and dairy combined (not including animals' drinking water or sanitation). California produces only 21% of US dairy and 1.4% of dairy worldwide.
The Marxist Turn in Animal Liberation? - Michael John Addario with Daniel Werding, Christin Bernhold, and David Müller, Animal Liberation Currents (April 23, 2019)
Besides animals having sentience, they also have the ability to suffer. (4:46)
The temporary pleasure of consuming animal products does not justify exploiting those animals. (5:30)
Animal liberation entails ceasing all animal industries, ending the exploitation of nature, and adopting a vegan diet. (6:38)
Even humans who do not care about animal suffering should be concerned about the negative effects animal agriculture has on our ecosystem and our health (in the form of zoonotic diseases). (10:07)
Worldwide conversion to a plant-based diet would drastically reduce the amount of land needed for global agriculture to feed humans. (11:29)
Animal agriculture industries are extremely dangerous for, exploitative of, and traumatizing to its human workers and their communities. (17:31)
Going vegan is proven to be an effective way of reducing negative human impact on the planet. (20:56)
Veganism is praxis because it challenges the oppression of and prejudice toward animals (speciesism) - the same bigotry that enables other kinds of oppression. (21:18)
Religion
This section is still being developed.
Further reading
Animal Sacrifices: Religious Perspectives on the Use of Animals in Science - Tom Regan (ed.) (Temple University Press, 1986)
Animals, My Brethren - Edgar Kupfer-Koberwitz, Never Again (last accessed February 23, 2023)
Decoding "Never Again" - Sherry F. Colb, Main Street Vegan Academy (last accessed February 23, 2023) (originally published in symposium People of the Book: Judaism's Influence on American Legal Scholarship)