Renowned American Chef Anthony Bourdain once likened vegans to the Hezbollah, hinting at the ‘fundamentalist fanaticism’ they sometimes indulge in.
Acclaimed animal rights activist and vegan Matt Ball concurs with this thought, saying that the thrust for veganism might in fact be working against the cause.
In a video for Vox, Ball explains how he and his friends decided to take an alternative approach – ‘One Step’ to reduce the suffering of animals, instead of pushing for veganism.
To take one step that will have a profound impact on the number of animals suffering. And that is to have them not eat chickens anymore.
Why? Because by not eating chickens, an American reduces his support for factory farms, where the animals are treated in a brutal manner.
According to Ball, an average American diet causes 25 animals to be slaughtered every year, of which 23 are chickens.
By giving up on chickens, one person can spare 23 chickens from cruelty they would otherwise be subjected to.
Further, it takes up to 200 chickens to provide the same number of meals as one steer, and around 40 chickens as compared to one pig.
According to a study by Faunalytics, 84% of the people who were formerly vegetarians go back to eating meat, because they “cannot stand the pressure of sticking to a pure diet.”
People eat meat because its what people around them eat. It’s what’s familiar... It’s what’s easy and cheap.
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