Nonviolence is just the "L" in love

Beyond silly, other-worldly hypotheticals, it seems strange to me when advocates (some vegan) claim that the use of animals for human ends does not harm those who are used (not only do I believe it harms those who are used, I believe it also harms those who do the using). What these kinds of claims (that we can use animals as our resources without harming them) seem to suggest is that it may be harmful to nonhumans, at least in some instances, if we don't use them as our resources for our own ends. This sounds even stranger to my ear.

If it is right to concern ourselves with the well-being of nonhuman animals (and it is), then it is right to take the most basic step in their interests: a duty of nonviolence (and that starts with veganism); taking that interest seriously continues with promoting and working toward the abolition of their status as our property clearly and unequivocally; it flowers in a relationship of solidarity with and beneficence toward other sentient beings on a social scale. And when we think carefully about this, if we consider nonhumans as moral persons, rather than as things we shouldn't use, then we find we have and should have a rich social relationship to them.

Lots of people have been asking for a plan for social transformation in the last couple of months.  Fair enough, here's my proposal. My sense is that our relationship with other animals (human and non) should reflect a reversal and a rupture with the status quo. For every factory and family farm, we should imagine and work to create in its place a rescue and adoption center and (properly) protected habitats.

For every military, for every corporation, we should imagine and work to create a university populated by students who want to understand other animals (human and non) so that they can act well toward others and social organizations directed toward the promotion of nonviolence and beneficence toward all at every turn at a systemic and structural level.

All social transformations begin in the present moment when someone chooses right over wrong. You can get from where we stand today to the result above through nonviolent, creative education (and here I mean education, not just raising awareness), by 1) conducting outreach with the public, 2) effectively training advocates, 3) creating alternative economic structures (e.g., buying co-ops, co-op groceries, etc.) and 4) by establishing shelters and rescues that promote veganism, abolition and the moral personhood of nonhuman animals.

If you're not vegan yet, today is an absolutely wonderful day to start. If you're already vegan, try to talk to someone about veganism and the importance of not harming other animals.  Or, rescue someone from a shelter.  Or, teach someone how to cook a plant-only feast and why veganism is important to you. Or look into creating a buying co-op.  Or, write a play about veganism. Or hand out leaflets about veganism and abolition.  Or educate yourself about the abolitionist approach to animal rights. Be brave. Be creative.  Think carefully.  Act well.

Nonviolence is just the "L" in love. Today is the best day in history for all advocates to start writing the whole word by promoting veganism, abolition and animal solidarity. The problem is not the lack of a plan; it's fear that we will be unsuccessful, worry about what other people are doing, and an uncertainty about what to do.  We're all scared of failure, but nonhuman animals require our courage. It is up to each of us to be the organization of change.