In the summer of 2023, a video went viral showing a dairy cow standing in a concrete feedlot, her hooves cracked and her flank branded. In the comments, a heated debate erupted. One user argued, "This is why we need animal rights—freedom for all creatures." Another countered, "No, we just need better animal welfare standards so the meat is humane."
The UN has pointed out that animal agriculture is a driver of emissions. Welfare reforms (pasture-based) often have a higher carbon footprint than factory farming. This creates a brutal trade-off for the welfare advocate: Do you prioritize the animal’s living conditions or the planet’s survival? In the summer of 2023, a video went
As we discover that octopuses feel emotion and pigs play video games, the "welfare minimum" rises. It is becoming harder to justify extreme confinement on any ethical ground. Welfare reforms (pasture-based) often have a higher carbon
But the worst position is confusion. As the philosopher Bernard Rollin said, "Without an ethical framework, suffering is invisible." It is becoming harder to justify extreme confinement
If you believe that humans have a right to use animals respectfully, and your goal is to make that use painless, you are an advocate. If you believe that animals have a right not to be used at all, regardless of the pleasure or utility it brings humans, you are an animal rights advocate.