"Let's protect our tradition of abusing animals"
It's time to recognize a dangerous misuse of tradition as what it is
Tradition is often wielded as a justification for horrifying atrocities — not only in the exploitation of people but also in the rampant and systemic abuse of animals.
Whether it is cultural cuisine, holiday feasts, ritual slaughter, or sporting events like rodeos, horse racing, and fox hunting, billions of animals are subjected to unspeakable suffering just because we have “always done it like that,” not out of any necessity.
Using tradition to justify needless violence is a clear misuse of tradition. In everyone’s interest, we must end it.
I’m no enemy of traditions
Tradition can hold immense value, offering us comfort and a sense of belonging. With its deep roots, it can be a source of immense cultural wealth and provide stability in an ever-changing world.
I fully understand the widespread desire to cherish and protect traditions, especially as we navigate the pressures of globalization and the dizzying pace of technological and societal change. In these chaotic times, traditions can be more than just relics of the past — they can be anchors of identity, providing a sense of security and continuity. They pass down values and wisdom that might otherwise be lost, offering us something to hold on to when everything else feels uncertain.
Of course, I’m not advocating for a world without tradition. But our love for traditions shouldn’t blind us to fundamental values and principles that must evolve as our understanding of the world grows.
To nurture healthy and sustainable traditions, we must be willing to adapt them when necessary. It’s not about discarding traditions but ensuring that they serve us and the world around us, rather than the other way around. This means being open to change, especially when there are compelling reasons to do so.
“Culture is not an excuse for committing acts of violence and oppression. It is part of the culture in several countries to stone women, imprison gay people, and kill blasphemers. Does that make it OK?“
Compelling reasons for change
The following insights and developments highlight why it’s essential to end our tradition of exploiting animals:
1) Animal suffering
Modern research has confirmed that animals are sentient beings capable of experiencing pain and suffering. A team of researchers who reviewed over 2,500 studies on the subject, concluded: “Evidence for animal sentience is everywhere.” Animal agriculture has become the biggest source of suffering on the planet. Continuing to exploit animals without any necessity is morally indefensible.
2) Health and nutrition
Extensive medical research shows that animal products are not necessary for a healthy life. Large-scale studies and endorsements from leading health organizations confirm that a plant-based diet can meet all nutritional needs. More than that: a vegan lifestyle has been found to reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, certain types of cancer, obesity, and chronic disease. According to the physician and bestselling author Michael Greger, abstaining from animal products has a preventive effect against 14 of the 15 deadliest diseases of our time. A large-scale shift to a plant-based diet is expected to save up to $1 trillion annually in health care costs.
3) Environmental destruction
The environmental impact of animal agriculture is well-documented, from deforestation and loss of biodiversity to greenhouse gas emissions, excessive land use, ocean dead zones, soil degradation, and water pollution. The United Nations have recognized the livestock sector as “one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global.” In a time when we are on the brink of making the world uninhabitable for ourselves, we can no longer ignore the environmental consequences of our consumption.
4) Human cost
Animal agriculture poses severe risks to human well-being. Factory farms often create hazardous working conditions, exposing workers to dangerous environments and extreme exploitation. The widespread use of antibiotics in animal farming contributes to the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Additionally, livestock production is a leading driver of pandemic risk and world hunger. Needless to say, the above-mentioned impacts on climate and environment will also take a huge toll on human life worldwide if we don’t act quickly to prevent them.
Momentum grows, but more is needed
It’s encouraging to see more countries banning cruel practices like foie gras production, bullfighting, and fur farming, reflecting a growing awareness that such brutality has no place in a compassionate society.
However, while many celebrate these bans, fewer speak out against other practices that are equally cruel and harm animals on a much larger scale such as, in particular, the meat, dairy, and egg industries.
Just as it would be ethically indefensible to insist on practices like cockfighting, dogfighting, or bullfighting, it is equally unjustifiable to continue consuming animal products despite their atrocious impact on animals, humans, climate, and our environment.
Conclusion
Clinging to traditions as a rationale for violence and oppression does not honor those traditions; instead, it desecrates the very concept.
A tradition that cannot adapt to new scientific and ethical insights is not only worthless but dangerous. It risks becoming a weapon.
Just because humans have consumed animal products for a long time does not make it morally or environmentally justifiable today. A tradition that perpetuates the mistreatment of animals, the destruction of rainforests, the deterioration of public health, the global loss of biodiversity, the proliferation of ocean dead zones, the aggravation of world hunger, and the worsening of climate change clearly doesn’t serve anyone.
Using tradition to justify unethical consumption is actually quite paradoxical: If we continue on this path, we will eventually destroy and lose all traditions. Why? Because there won’t be any culture on a dead planet.
Tradition must never serve as a shield to avoid self-criticism, nor should it be a barrier to correcting our mistakes. In the past, our traditions included barring women from voting, enslaving people, and believing the Earth was flat. Humanity has repeatedly entered new eras of understanding, recognizing the grave mistakes of the past.
In everyone’s interest, we must continue to push for a world where our traditions are not a barrier to progress, but a reflection of our highest values and commitments to each other, the planet, and the countless beings we share it with.
