Ethical Treatment of Animals

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I see two important factors that differentiate us from the rest of the animal kingdom when it comes to our treatment of other species. Firstly, we are the only animal that has the power to do harm on a grand scale, to devastate the environment and hold the power of life and death over other species in the full knowledge of what we are doing. Assuming that tyranny is not a desirable thing, I'd argue that such power brings an immeasurably greater responsibility to refrain from exercising our destructive tendencies than that faced by a lion looking for its next meal. Secondly, we are the only species that has to any great extent evolved the luxury of choice. We no longer face starvation if we don't go out and spear our food or pay others to do it for us in factory farms and slaughterhouses; in fact it's fairly readily acknowledged that far more people could be fed on a plant based diet. Similarly we won't freeze if we don't wear the skins of other animals. So it comes down to personal tastes, and/or economic considerations, both of which seem far less defensible reasons for inflicting avoidable suffering on sentient beings. I believe in the ethical treatment for all animals are an ethical obligation by all humans. We have come to an era that we believe that all humans should be treated equally and fairly. Well, what about our other living, breathing counterparts? They deserve to live their life as they choose in quality and in the pursuit of happiness. Just as Europeans came and took over Northern America's land and resources on the Indians. We have also taken over the land and resources from all of the animals. The moral point of view in the killing of animals for food as an indulgence which is not a necessity for our diet is killing another living being. Eating large amount of meat without any vegetarian choice causes constipation, obesity and cancer. The

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