Is abolition unrealistic?
A. Putting abolition into practice by doing vegan education is the most realistic method of animal rights activism we have. If, instead of encouraging ethical veganism, I encouraged (lacto-ovo) vegetarianism, eating “humane” meat or eating veggie burgers at McDonald’s, I have violated the rights of the non-human animals exploited for these purposes and I have further perpetuated the existence of the exploitative industries. Similarly, if, instead of encouraging just labour standards, I encouraged the purchase of diamonds from South Africa and not central Africa because the latter diamonds fund genocidal war and the former do not, I have violated the rights of South African miners who may be children, indentured slaves and forced to breathe toxic dust, and I have further perpetuated the existence of the oppressive South African diamond industry. Is it unrealistic to effectively educate the public and encourage a boycott of these diamonds? Not in the experience of human rights groups. Hu
