Elephants: They May Weigh More Than Chickens But Not as a Matter of Morality
Dear Colleagues: This site is hosted by Godaddy.com. Some animal advocates have written to me and have urged me to stop using Godaddy.com because CEO Bob Parsons killed an elephant in Africa. Now I certainly do not approve of shooting elephants; what Parsons did was terrible. And I am looking to switch our web hosting […]
The Logic of a Vegan Diet
Dear Colleagues: As long as we eat animals and animal products, which is completely unnecessary and serves only our palate pleasure, we will continue to use animals for other clearly frivolous purposes. In other words, if you think it is okay to impose suffering and death on animals just because you like the taste of […]
Two New Interviews: Citizen Radio and NZ Vegan Podcast
Dear Colleagues: On March 29, I was interviewed about animal rights and veganism by Jamie Kilstein and Allison Kilkenny of Citizen Radio. You can listen here. On March 24, Elizabeth Collins of NZ Vegan Podcast talked with me about my new book, The Animal Rights Debate: Abolition or Regulation?, single-issue campaigns, and plant sentience. The […]
“Compassionate” Animal Use is Nonsense
Dear Colleagues: Animal rights is a binary matter: you exploit animals or you go vegan. There’s no third choice. You cannot exploit “compassionately.” You just exploit. Your “compassion” is about making you feel better about continuing to exploit animals. “Compassionate” exploitation has nothing to do with the obligation of justice that we owe nonhuman animals. […]
Nothing to Do with Science
Dear Colleagues: Once again, we are told that there really is no significant or qualitative difference between plants and animals. In No Face but Plants Like Life Too, Carol Kaesuk Yoon writes that although she gave up eating meat: My entry into what seemed the moral high ground, though, was surprisingly unpleasant. I felt embattled […]
The Problem With Single-Issue Campaigns and Why Veganism Must Be the Baseline
Imagine that you are talking with a group of people who are classic car enthusiasts and who drive just for the pleasure of driving and not for any particular purpose. In fact, these people believe that driving classic cars for pleasure is an important tradition; a crucial part of their culture and every day, they […]
Upcoming Lecture at Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Dear Colleagues: I am honored to have been chosen as the 2011 Foster P. Boswell Distinguished Lecturer in Philosophy at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York. As Boswell Distinguished Lecturer, I will present, “Animals: Our Moral Schizophrenia,” on Thursday, March 31, 2011 at 4:30 p.m. The event will be held in Albright […]
Science Weighs In: Animal Welfare Reform Is Useless
Dear Colleagues: Those who support welfare reform are all excited. They are pointing to an article in the Journal of Agricultural Economics entitled “Impacts of Animal Well-Being and Welfare Media on Meat Demand,” and welfarists claim “Science Weighs in At Last: Campaigns for Welfarist Reforms Cause People to Buy Significantly Less Meat.” (Note: The paper […]
And What About the Four Other Dogs?
Dear Colleagues: On Friday, February 25, an Oklahoma animal control officer gave lethal injections to five stray dogs. On Saturday, the officer discovered that one of the dogs, a puppy to whom he had given two lethal injections, was still alive. The puppy was taken to a veterinary technician who noted the dog’s survival on […]
Upcoming Interview on WRIR-Indymedia Live
Dear Colleagues: On Tuesday, March 1, I will be interviewed by on Richmond Independent Radio, WRIR, 97.3 FM, by Rebecca Faris. The show is aired from 12:30-1:00 p.m. (eastern). The show will be archived for those who cannot listen to the broadcast. The interview will focus on my new book, The Animal Rights Debate: Abolition […]
Debate: The Use of Nonhuman Animals in Biomedical Research: A Moral Justification?
Dear Colleagues: On Tuesday, March 8, I will debate Dario Ringach, Professor of Neurobiology and Psychology, Jules Stein Eye Institute, Biomedical Engineering Program, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles. The topic: The Use of Nonhuman Animals in Biomedical Research: A Moral Justification? Professor Ringach will argue that we are justified in […]
Banned by The Vegan Society for Promoting Veganism!
Dear Colleagues: The Vegan Society deleted the entire discussion on whether there should be advertisements for non-vegan restaurants/establishments in its magazine, The Vegan, from the Vegan Society Facebook discussion forum, and has banned me from participating on the site. I wonder why? On February 21, I received an email from the Head of Information of […]
It’s Not 1946
Dear Colleagues: The Vegan Society has informed me that in the The Vegan, issue 2, Autumn 1946, and in other issues of The Vegan from that period, which were edited by Donald Watson, there were advertisements from vegetarian establishments that catered for vegans. I suggest that advertising establishments in 1946 that served dairy but not […]
What Is Going On at The Vegan Society?
Dear Colleagues: As those of you who read this site (see my blog posts: 1, 2) and are familiar with my work as a general matter know, I regard Donald Watson (1910-2005), founder of the Vegan Society in Britain, as a remarkable person and one of the most enlightened minds of the 20th century. I […]
Interview on New Book
Dear Colleagues: On Wednesday, February 16, I did an hour-long interview on my new book, My most recent book, The Animal Rights Debate: Abolition or Regulation?, co-authored with Professor Robert Garner of the University of Leicester. The interview was on the Progressive Radio Network with host Caryn Hartglass. [audio:progressive-radio-network-20110216.mp3|titles=Caryn Hartglass of the Progressive Radio Network […]
Interview in The Believer
Dear Colleagues: I was very pleased to have been interviewed by award-winning novelist, Deb Olin Unferth in the The Believer, a widely-circulated magazine that deals with the arts and general culture. I hope that you enjoy the interview, which is here. If you are not vegan, go vegan. It’s easy; it’s better for your health […]
Book Event on Saturday, February 5
Dear Colleagues: On Saturday, February 5, I will be discussing my new book, The Animal Rights Debate: Abolition or Regulation? at the Grindcore House Cafe in Philadelphia from 6-8 p.m. Grindcore House is a vegan cafe about which everyone raves! I hope to see some of you there. The World is Vegan! If you want […]
Two Upcoming Debates/Discussions
Dear Colleagues: I have two debates/discussions coming up: Debate on Vivisection On March 8, I will debate Dario Ringach, Professor of Neurobiology and Psychology at UCLA. The debate will be at Rutgers University and will be open to all members of the Rutgers community and members of the public if space permits. Professor Ringach and […]
Commentary #22: A Discussion on Abolition vs. Regulation with Robert Garner
Dear Colleagues: My most recent book, The Animal Rights Debate: Abolition or Regulation?, involves a debate between me and Professor Robert Garner of the University of Leicester. In this Commentary, Professor Garner and I discuss our book. Garner’s position, although a form of what I call “new welfarism,” is different from that of Singer and […]
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A Simple Thought for Martin Luther King Day
At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love. Martin Luther King, Jr.