Why Veganism Alone Isn't Enough
24 July 2006

“Power to act is duty to act.”—Peter Kropotkin, Anarchist Morality

One common critique of veganism that I hear (usually, from my leftist comrades) is that it is just a practice of consumption. In other words, as vegans, we keep the idea alive that consumption is what matters most in society. And yes, I know, were we all to stop eating animals, animal agriculture would disappear, and along with it, 90+% of the exploitation of animals that goes on in the world.

Nevertheless, I think these critics are on to something. If veganism only means that you will or will not consume certain things, then you’re essentially arguing from a consumerist standpoint, that voting with your dollars (or euros, or yen, or whatever) matters most. Granted, voting with your dollars does matter, but it isn’t the kind of voting that’s going to bring down animal agriculture anytime soon. Sadly, our tiny boycott of animal industries alone is insufficient to make any noticable dent in animal suffering, which is why I think that veganism alone just isn’t enough, and also why I think that the critics who levy this argument are on to something.

As vegans, I think we have a duty not just to avoid products of cruelty, but also to educate and to be activists in our lives. The movement against animal suffering is broad and deep, and I guarantee you that there’s a place in it for you and your talents. Your boycott of animal products should be coupled with some kind of activism, outreach, or support in some way that you’re comfortable with. If you’re a musician, make music that educates. If you’re a teacher, teach about these issues. If you’re a geek, help maintain a server that does vegan outreach or support. If you’re an artist, make art to raise consciousness. Harness your talents in a way that is comfortable to you so that we can begin to chip away at this massive monolith of cruelty. None of this necessarily means that you should throw red paint on fur hags, (as tempting as that may be) or chain yourself to the doors of a slaughterhouse; it is only a reminder that we have the power to act, and if we believe Kropotkin, it is the duty to act as well.

“Anger is an energy!”—John Lydon, Rise by PIL

An additional point worth emphasizing is that actually getting out and doing something helps fight off some of the feelings of helplessness, frustration, anger, and dread that accompany your understanding of speciesism in our society. It isn’t that actually doing things makes those feelings go away—it just helps to redirect some of that anger, upset, or frustration into a productive end, rather than inward.

A final note: it isn’t that I think vegans are lazy. Look around: we’re doing all kinds of great work. But that’s only a smallish percentage of us. I guess the question that I’m hoping to get you to ask yourself if you’re not one of the more active folks is, “what are my talents, and how can I use them to fight animal exploitation?”

  Posted by Bob Torres    Permalink    Filed under:
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