In my previous essay I discussed the unprecedented, raging bushfires we’ve experienced in Australia over the past few months due to climate change combined with the criminal denial and inaction on the part of our political “leaders.” In that essay, I stated: Adopting a vegan diet is the single most effective thing we can all…
Australia is burning due to climate change. Our government is failing us. But if we are not vegan we are complicit.
In full climate change-denying mode, while our country burns, Australian Federal Government politicians continue to totally ignore the crisis of climate change. Extensive bushfires have been burning since August. This coincides with a prolonged, severe drought. It follows on years of steadily rising temperatures. Because of climate change, areas of south-eastern Australia have become hotter…
A Leaf, a Flower, Fruit or Water: Part 14 of a response to Sivarama Swami
I talked in Part 5 of this series about the fact that no matter how old the tradition is to which Sivarama Swami belongs, and that however far back in time any tradition stretches, it cannot possibly morally justify animal exploitation. However, making an argument based on religious tradition would at least be understandable if that tradition…
Why blaming “the designer” for “ahimsa milk” is a very bad idea: Part 13 of a response to Sivarama Swami
After numerous unsuccessful attempts, refuted in the previous twelve essays, to defend exploitation of cows for “ahimsa milk” Sivarama Swami, a guru in the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) delivered what he considers to be the bottom line, the final word: For me, the bottom line for all of this debate is this: the…
“Consent” for “ahimsa milk” is a lie: Part 12 of a response to Sivarama Swami
Sivarama Swami continued to try to justify the unjustifiable in exploiting cows for “ahimsa milk.” While shaking his finger at us to emphasise “consent,” he goes on to say: “Cows and bulls display behaviour—yes, they display behaviour!—that shows their consent with the milk they give, and the work they do.” Well, that’s most reassuring. But…
“Ahimsa milk” is not “cow protection.” It’s cow exploitation: Part 11 of a response to Sivarama Swami
Continuing on in his attempt to justify the exploitation of cows for what is very wrongly called “ahimsa milk,” Sivarama Swami stated that: “Milk is a by-product of cow protection, not the goal.” This is simple dishonesty. If cows weren’t being bred into existence to be exploited in the first place, they wouldn’t need “protection.”…