This essay (or is it a polemic?), began as a few dot points in 2014, scribbled down to help me clarify my thoughts about animal welfare, particularly in the industrial abuse of animals, and how their mistreatment merged with topics such as veganism, what we teach our children about animals and critical environmental issues such as global warming, species loss, pollution, land degradation and the over-use of fresh water. I didn’t give much thought to the relationship between veganism and improved human health at that stage because all I wanted was a few facts and figures about what I saw (and still do) as the more important issues.

Over time the dot points coalesced into something bigger, which I decided to put online. It is quite handy because now if anyone asks me why I’m a vegan I can reply, ‘Oh, have you read my essay? I’ve laid it all out there.’ And then if they do bother to read it, the foundations for a later discussion are laid.

Overall, it has an Australian flavour, because this is where I live, but the principles upon which it is based extend beyond the artificial borders of countries into some more global realm of shared thoughts.

I am aware that some of what I’ve written will soon be out of date because science is advancing rapidly on a number of fronts that pertain to animal welfare. This is fantastic news and if you want to follow where it’s all going, one way I can recommend is to make a donation to, say, a cellular agriculture venture, and get on their mailing list. That way you’ll get the latest information about their work and links to a number of related organisations…and your continued donations will be greatly appreciated, as well as needed. However, I digress. The point I wish to make is: even though science and technology are soon going to swamp some of what I’ve written, the key message—that we must stop abusing animals immediately—will remain unchanged.

And finally, if you would like to use any of my original text to further the case for improved animal welfare, please go ahead. No need to ask. I apologise if some of the referencing is underdone but this is not a scientific paper, or anything like one.

And please share the link to this work on social media if you feel so inclined because getting the pennies to drop and the blind spots to clear up is difficult and every little bit will help.

Thanks,

Mike Bourchier

May 2018