Science!
Do you value science? Do you value non-human animals? If not, why not?
As I wrote a couple of years ago in Science, Butcher!, “If we care about animals, about our health, about our environment, we have no valid reason to see science and technology as problems. They are parts of a solution.”
Science and technology have helped us overcome everyday life or death problems: we are protected from harsh weather and we can predict it, we don’t have to fear predators, we can avoid entirely or survive a number of previously lethal or debilitating illnesses and the list goes on. Science and technology have in some cases (medicine, non-violent population control) been used to help non-human animals as well and if society moves towards more consideration for non-human sentient individuals then they will be necessary in order to be able to help more animals more often. See What a Wonderful World When we don’t have to Suffer Nature.
In particular, cellular agriculture, which means growing meat and other animal products in labs without having to raise and slaughter animals, has the potential to be the most dramatic game changer. Throughout history, social progress has mostly been achieved thanks to economic reasons and scientific progress. Having access to affordable animal products without animals having to suffer and be killed will most likely lead to a reduction in suffering and killing more significant than all of our outreach work put together — and will certainly help said outreach as animal friendly alternatives become more common in more places. This is why the Good Food Institute is a Top Charity as identified by Animal Charity Evaluators, as they are working to transform the animal agriculture industry by promoting the development of competitive alternatives to animal-based meat, dairy, and eggs. GFI seeks out entrepreneurs and scientists to join or form start-ups in the plant-based and cultured meat (i.e. meat grown in a culture without animal slaughter) market sectors.
April 2017 saw the first worldwide Marches for Science and they were a resounding success. Now, everyone must continue to be active promoting a reasonable evidence based approach in general as well as the idea that non-human animals matter. Science has allowed us to assert that many animals do suffer and are conscious. They are sentient. It has become increasingly hard for science deniers (amongst whom I count a number of so called “skeptics” I know of) to pretend that modern regulations are adequate when it comes to animal agriculture — after all, if we would not wish what farm animals go through on our cats and dogs, then how can we accept the current treatment of the animals we use and abuse for a moment of culinary enjoyment?
After 2,500 Studies, It’s Time to Declare Animal Sentience Proven (Live Science)
Animals are conscious and should be treated as such (New Scientist)
And as much as Wikipedia is not a reliable source if you are submitting an academic paper, it is often a pertinent place to look at in order to get an idea of where things are at — and Wikipedia entries tend to be fairly well referenced. Here is a very interesting page on animal consciousness:
Consequently, I hope to see more animalists and animalist organisations call for their supporters to attend events such as the March for Science next time and at the same time, I hope to see more participants to events such as the March for Science embrace the very real and pertinent issues surrounding animal suffering.
Scroll down for a few photos from the March For Science 2017 in Melbourne, followed by a selection of articles and tips on how to spot pseudo-science: just because someone makes an assertion followed by links to studies does not in any way mean that their assertion is valid, reasonable, evidence based or backed by science. This is what pseudo-science is all about: it looks and sounds like science but it’s generally the field of fear-mongers, conspiracy theorists and snake oil merchants. Thanks but no thanks!
Some photos of the March in Melbourne:
HOW TO SPOT PSEUDO-SCIENCE / Fear-mongering / conspiracy theories / snake oil merchants
Want to do something? Why not look at what’s going on at Animals Australia? How about taking One Step for the Animals?
