Why Vegan Advocacy Is (Also) Self-Defense
And why this framing matters.
“Stop imposing your way of life on others!” If you’re a vegan—or even if you’ve just voiced support for plant-based living—chances are you’ve heard this accusation before.
And honestly, I get it. Before I went vegan, I probably would’ve rolled my eyes at anyone telling me to consider the ethics of what I’m eating. However, once freed from the matrix of carnism, I quickly realized how absurd that attitude is.
Today’s post won’t focus on the most obvious hypocrisy here: that those who accuse vegans of ‘forcing their beliefs’ are themselves imposing their dietary preferences on billions of sentient beings through imprisonment, suffering, and slaughter.
Instead, this article will focus on another powerful argument for why we have every right to actively promote veganism—one that doesn’t come up nearly as often as it should:
When you consider the full impact, advocating for veganism isn’t just about saving animals. It’s also an act of self-defense.
Personally, I’m not vegan for myself; I do it for the animals, which also aligns with the official definition of veganism. However, it’s important to make it clear to those who question our advocacy, to those who “prioritize human well-being over animal rights” that their consumption is harming us as well. It’s our natural right to defend ourselves from this harm.
Why Animal Agriculture Is an Assault on Humanity
I won’t dive into the details of how animal agriculture harms humans, as I’ve explored this topic in depth in recent articles. In case you haven’t read those, here is a summary:
1) Horrific working conditions
Workers in livestock production are often exposed to dangerous environments and extreme exploitation, causing high rates of lifelong injuries, substance abuse, depression, anxiety issues, and post-traumatic stress disorder. For good reasons, slaughterhouse work is recognized as “America's worst job” and is “still some of the most exploited labor in the world”.
2) Spread of diseases
Animal agriculture is a major public health disaster, not only due to the direct health risks associated with consuming animal products but also because the industry is a primary driver of zoonotic diseases, greatly increasing the likelihood of future pandemics. Experts warn that a new pandemic could be 100 times worse than COVID and have called livestock farming a “hidden pandemic time bomb”. The industry is also a key cause of antibiotic resistance, which is projected to soon kill more people per year than all types of cancer combined. Studies show that a shift to plant-based diets could significantly reduce mortality, saving more than eight million lives per year.
3) Impacts of environmental destruction
According to the World Health Organization, nearly 1 in 4 deaths worldwide are caused by avoidable environmental factors. Animal agriculture is a leading source of some of the deadliest environmental risks, including water and air pollution, soil degradation, and biodiversity loss. The industry is also by far the leading driver of deforestation on this planet—which has devastating impacts on humanity.
“The human appetite for animal flesh is a driving force behind virtually every major category of environmental damage now threatening the human future.”
4) Climate change
Animal agriculture is a significant driver of global warming, contributing around 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions—five times as much as all of the world’s air traffic taken together, or about the same as total emissions from the United States. The United Nations has recognized climate change as the “single biggest health threat facing humanity” and warns that it could make this planet uninhabitable.
5) Hunger and water scarcity
Animals are a highly inefficient food source. Countries across the globe waste massive amounts of grain, corn, soy, and fresh water to raise farmed animals — resources that could be directly consumed by humans. The world’s cattle alone consume a quantity of food equal to the caloric needs of 8.7 billion people, which is more than the current world population.
In times where roughly 24,000 people die from hunger and malnutrition per day and where four billion people are already facing severe water scarcity, we simply can’t afford such a wasteful industry.
6) Financial burden on society
The inherent inefficiency and the profound environmental and health impacts of animal agriculture come at a high cost to society—also in financial terms. Three examples:
Government subsidies. The animal industry could not survive without massive injections of taxpayer money. U.S. livestock farmers receive a whopping $50 billion in annual subsidies, which is about 1,000 times more than than the support given to plant-based alternatives.
Cost of environmental damages. In the U.S. alone, the meat industry dodges $80-200 billion in annual costs related to pollution and waste management. Researchers found that avoiding animal products could result in trillions of dollars in environmental savings.
Healthcare costs. Studies show that, due to the health risks of meat and dairy consumption, switching to plant-based diets would save hundreds of billions in health costs per year.
A Necessary Clarification
When I argue that advocating against animal exploitation is (also) an act of self-defense, it’s important to clarify what I mean.
The term “self-defense” often brings to mind physical confrontations or the use of force. To be absolutely clear: this article does not, in any way, endorse violence against the animal agriculture industry or its consumers. Violence stands in stark opposition to the values of kindness and compassion that are at the heart of our movement.
Research consistently shows that nonviolent protests are more successful in driving meaningful and lasting change. Precisely because the stakes are so high—protecting animals, preserving the planet, and ultimately safeguarding our own future—it is crucial that we act with wisdom, care, and strategy.
This means resisting the urge to react impulsively or emotionally in ways that might harm the movement more than help it. Instead, we should focus on thoughtful, deliberate actions that reflect the very principles we are fighting for.
Conclusion
The accusation that vegans are “forcing their beliefs” is not only ironic but deeply flawed. Those making this claim often fail to see how their dietary choices impose harm—on animals, the planet, and even humanity itself. Advocating for veganism is not an act of aggression; it’s an act of defense.
When we promote plant-based living, we’re standing up against a system that fuels climate destruction, public health crises, human exploitation, and global food insecurity. We’re not just fighting for the lives of animals—we’re also fighting for a world where humans can thrive.
To those who would ask us to stop advocating, let’s be clear: you are asking us to abandon the world’s most vulnerable—and to stop defending our own future, our health, and our environment. That’s a request we cannot and will not accept.
It is our inherent right—and responsibility—to defend ourselves and those who cannot defend themselves.
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