1. Veganism is a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose. (Vegan Society)

2. Why is discussion of animal ethics uncomfortable?
Cognitive dissonance – the mental stress or discomfort experienced when we hold two contradictory views at the same time.
E.g. “I like eating meat, but I don’t like that animals suffer.”
What to do?
Align our actions with our beliefs

3. What does a quarter pounder cost?
6.7 pounds of grains and forage to feed the cow
240 litres of water for drinking and irrigating feed crops
74.5 square feet of land for grazing and growing feed crops
(J.L Capper. Journal of Animal Science, July 2011).

4. A study in 2007 by the National Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science in Japan estimated that 2.2 pounds of beef is responsible for the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide emitted by the average European car every 155 miles, and burns enough energy to light a 100-watt bulb for nearly 20 days.

5. But… what’s
wrong with milk? ?
Natural

6. Marino and Colvin (2015) found that pigs:
Have excellent long-term memories
• Can comprehend symbolic language and can learn complex combinations of symbols for actions and objects
• Love to play and engage in mock fighting with each other, similar to play in dogs and other mammals
• Live in complex social communities where they keep track of individuals and learn from one another
• Cooperate with one another
• Can manipulate a joystick to move an on-screen cursor, a capacity they share with chimpanzees
• Can use a mirror to find hidden food
• Exhibit a form of empathy when witnessing the same emotion in another individual

7. If pigs are as smart as dogs…
But not this?
Why does this cause outrage…?

8. De-beaking The slaughter of male chicks
Chick hatcheries breed one or other strain of chick depending on which industry they supply - egg or meat. Male chicks born of the egg-laying variety are deemed useless because they cannot lay eggs, but are no good for meat production either. Each year, approximately 30 million day old male chicks are 'disposed of'. Gassing or ‘macerating’ are both methods approved by the RSPCA.
De-beaking

9. What do vegans eat?!

11. Resources