Animals Matter Too - Vegan Ethics for Everyone

An interesting article which observes new findings in athletic performance regimes - higher whole-food, plant-sourced protein and fibre intakes assist recovery and enable significant gains in training programs.

Athletes who go plant-based consistently report the same first change before any strength gain — they can train hard again the next day, and the next, and the cumulative effect over months is enormous Plant-based athletes from Scott Jurek to Patrik Baboumian consistently describe the same first change: not raw strength, but the ability to train hard on back-to-back days. The recovery-window shift shows up in inflammation markers within weeks and compounds across a season.

An interesting and wide-ranging discussion about veganism between Earthling E and philosopher Dr Jack Symes. They touch on some thought-provoking issues, too.

Veganism, Bad Arguments, and Moral Philosophy with @DrJackSymes 📚 Order my latest book How to Go (and Stay) Vegan here! https://how...

After a sudden burst of popularity in the decade leading up to 2020, plant-based diets and even vegetarianism/veganism have faced headwinds as consumers react to mixed messages about diet and sustainability. The meat industry itself has done much to manipulate markets and consumers, but there is reason to hope this may have been a brief triumph for bad actors. Alternatives to endless meat and dairy seem to be more entrenched with new options on the horizon, and recent renewed interest in the ethics of veganism may influence future buying decisions.

Steak or tofu: why can’t we stop eating so much meat? Despite health risks and environmental damage, the meat industry is working hard to safeguard its dominance

An animal welfare initiative that most consumers are familiar with is "cage-free" eggs. By phasing out use of caged systems in egg production, producers are able to claim that their product is high welfare and lull consumers into believing that they are doing better to buy eggs from these systems.

Unfortunately, this may not be true for a variety of reasons. A recent "Open Letter from Concerned Scholars" points out the unintended and even harmful consequences of transitioning from caged to cage-free systems without adequate and measurable welfare outcomes. Worse, animal advocates who support such campaigns may unwittingly be contributing to more of what they hope to mitigate.

The linked Open Letter describes how cage-free egg initiatives can be deeply flawed, highlighting welfare issues like injuries, disease, and behavioral stress, and questioning whether they reduce overall suffering or merely shift harm to larger populations. They note environmental costs, including higher emissions, and warn that labels mislead consumers. Advocates should critically reassess whether cage-free reforms truly advance ethical, ecological, and strategic goals.

(PDF) Reconsidering Cage-Free Eggs: An Open Letter from Concerned Scholars PDF | This open letter calls for a critical reassessment of cage-free egg campaigns as a central strategy within animal advocacy and food-system reform.... | Find, read and cite all the research you need on ResearchGate

Many critics believe that veganism is not growing and I have tended to agree with that gloomy outlook. As I think about it, despite advocacy FOR veganism over the past 80 years, the share of the population who are genuine ethical vegans remains dismally low.

A surge in interest in veganism as reported by Google Trend Analysis for the period 2010-2020 suggested increasing worldwide enthusiasm for veganism, however I contend this was more about self-interest than tackling animal injustice. In other words, that uptick in popularity was driven by interest in a vegan diet rather than a sudden outburst of care for other animals.

This blog post linked to below reports a detailed deep-dive into Google trends and, quite remarkably, reports on a spike in interest for ethical vegan search terms. Why this might be is hard to say but it seems matched by a more muted rise in searches for vegan dietary terms.

Has some corner been turned?

Veganism's popularity over 16 years Veganism’s Popularity: a Dietary Fad or Enduring Ethical Movement? A Google Trends analysis over the last 16 years.

Some time back I saw a great Aussie film called "The Animal Condition". I thought it was one doco about animal farming that you could show to people to help change minds and hearts without being too shocking and confronting, but nowadays it seems impossible to find. A couple of days ago, Jack "Humane" Hancock released a short film he has produced about the relationship between him (an animal rights activist) and his father (an abattoir worker). I think it's great - it's well done and really tackles the core issues in a compelling way. This is a film I'd share with anyone. Particularly look for the interview with Temple Grandin about 10 minutes in.

Killing for a Living | Full Documentary His father is a slaughterhouse worker. Jack is a vegan activist. After years of avoiding the subject, Jack sets out to confront the unspoken tension between ...

I must say this is a pretty good summary of why vegan ethics can help us make a difference, both personally and for the world. My only criticism is I wouldn't say that "reducing harm" is at the heart of vegan principles. Though that can often be a consequence, veganism is about tackling animal injustice by striving to keep them free and prevent their unfair use.

In 2026, more people are switching to vegan than ever before — and it's no longer just about the animals. Here are 20 reasons quietly reshaping millions of plates around the world 👇

A very thought-provoking post from Ed Winters (Earthling Ed) following the recent controversy over Billie Eilish's comments. Ed asks why the so-called "progressive left" has so rejected animal justice as a worthwhile cause. It's a question I've pondered too. My own answer is moral cowardice - being a progressive typically doesn't demand anything too personally limiting from one, whereas veganism demands changing how you live your life to better reflect your values. I suggest most progressives think it's all just too hard.

https://earthlinged.substack.com/p/billie-eilish-veganism-and-the-lefts?

Billie Eilish, Veganism, and the Left’s Moral Blind Spot The progressive left has abysmally failed when it comes to animals

This recent Medium article from Petrică Nițoaia makes an important point that is often missed.

"A vegan worldview is a hopeful one: humans can live healthy and joyful lives without the need to exploit animals; sure, things might not look good at all now, but a better world is perfectly attainable."

What if non-vegans were right? Considered seriously, the non-vegan worldview is an extremely pessimistic, irremediably cruel one! But it comes in different flavours of…

A common claim from vegan/animal rights advocates is that animals are not ours to use, hence any use represents moral failure. But is this strictly true? I argue that no, it isn't. Any animal ethics must always recognise that while animals do exist for their own ends, they can be resources used by humans. What veganism does is place moral constraints on that use. Read more at the link below:

Animals Are Not Here For Us (Four minute read) TLDR Version: Many vegan advocates claim that animals are not here for us but rather exist for their own ends, and of course they are right. While this is an obvious truth, the i…