Data and Statistics

My last post on in vitro meat production argued that the new technology will render animal farming obsolete, but I also admitted that the change will take a while. In the meantime, overall meat consumption will rise dramatically in spite of the immense gap between the world's wealthy (and well-fed) and its poor (and malnourished). Here we take a closer look at the diets of nine families in nine very different countries, through the lens of photo-journalist Peter Menzel.

[This article will appear in the summer 2008 edition of AV Magazine] People love animals. And while people mostly love their companion animals and fellow primates, they also indicate strong support for the welfare of farmed animals, wildlife, and research animals. Most also think we should have strict laws enforcing protection for all types of animals. In an abstract sense, a strong majority of people support not just reducing animal suffering, but even eliminating it entirely. This is the good news about the public's attitude toward animals... [Continued]

In this final part of our 4-part series discussing Martin Balluch's essay, "Abolitionism vs. Reformism," we look at what it will take to achieve meaningful change for animals in the next couple of decades. A pragmatic and/or utilitarian approach to animal protection very clearly indicates that one should focus on incremental behavior change and mainstream advocacy approaches.