A Vicious Circle
Please click within each circle for more information about the various forms of malzoism.
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As defined by Dr. Melanie Joy, carnism is “the dominant, yet invisible paradigm in modern culture supporting the choice to consume meat.”
People who choose to eat animal flesh are often called "carnists".
A malzoan is a person who condones, promotes, or actively engages in non-human animal exploitation, subjugation, reproductive abuse, torture, murder, consumption, or commodification. The philosophy and worldview that is accepting of this behavior is known as malzoism.
The term “vegan” was coined in 1944 by Donald Watson when he founded the Vegan Society. The modern definition of veganism is:
"A philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude - as far as is possible and practicable - all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of humans, animals and the environment. In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals."
Zoos and Aquariums
Frequently confined to tiny cages or swimming pools, and often part of a lie about "preservation", the lives of these animals are filled with suffering simply so humans can gawk at them while providing a profit for their captors.
Animal Parts and Byproducts
Whether used for clothing, decoration, folk medicine, or industrial manufacturing, the animals that provide these products suffer immeasurably. The claim that leather (for example) is just a waste product from meat is patently false, as it also drives the market for animal exploitation. Just because there is no waste doesn't mean it's justified.
Breeding and Capturing Pets
Breeding more dogs and cats when there are millions of others who need a home and are languishing in shelters is heartbreaking and simply supports the greed of the breeders. The exotic animal pet trade is also as highly cruel as it is profitable. Animals (often endangered species) who once flew, climbed, or swam freely through hundreds of miles of their natural environment are suddenly confined to the small cages of their new "owners". Even so, most of them die horrible deaths during smuggling.
Hunting and Fishing
The "sport" of blasting holes into the bodies of animals or piercing their mouths with barbed steel would be considered psychopathic and cruel if done to people's pets. For some reason, society considers it to be normal when it's done to a wild (or ranched) animal. Whether the dead animal is destined to be a trophy or food is immaterial.
Circuses and Rodeos
The use of animals to perform for humans or to use them to demonstrate human dominance is barbaric and causes a great deal of suffering for the animals. In addition to being confined to small cages or pens, the animals are also frequently transported from place to place in order for people to simply gawk at the tricks they are forced to perform against their will. This profit-motivated business of abuse includes SeaWorld and other marine parks.
Dog, Cat, and Horse Shows
Parading animals around as some form of trophy is demeaning at best and promotes breeding and hoarding at worst. In addition, many specialized breeds of domesticated animals suffer from a wide range of genetic defects which cause a lifetime of suffering. Animals are not toys. Those individuals within our care should be respected.
Medical Research and Product Testing
Animal models in medical research are one of the worst failings of modern science, yet they continue to be used, despite overwhelming evidence of their ineffectiveness and their actual danger to humans. The suffering from the torture they endure, often for their full life span, is too gruesome to even contemplate at times.
Cosmetics and consumer product testing on animals has been rightfully banned in Europe, India, and most other developed nations. It provides no real benefit to the company (in fact, they often only do it because it's required by the governments) and causes excruciating pain and suffering to the animals before they are killed at the end of the study.
Horse Riding and Heavy Labor
Horses, oxen, and other "beasts of burden" have been used since prehistory as engines of transport and tools for heavy labor. Whether or not this was justified in the past, one thing remains clear: it is entirely unjustified now. Aside from the fact that their spirits must be broken before they will comply, horse's backs are simply not strong enough to carry humans.
Forced labor is considered heinous and cruel when applied to innocent humans; the same rights and dignities should be afforded to other animals.