Abolitionist vegans reject violence, including (a) direct violence, (b) racism, sexism, heterosexism, ageism, , and other forms of indirect violence and prejudice, as well as (c) the promotion of violence toward nonhuman animals through campaigns that promote regulating rather than abolishing animal use (e.g., campaigns that encourage ‘cutting back’ on animal use, , ‘reforming’ animal use to make it more ‘humane’, domestication, single- issue uses of nonhuman animals, and so on).

Why Recommended Reading by Gary L. In 1979, was formally defined by Francione and Anna Charlton as “a philosophy and way Abolitionist of living which seeks to exclude — as far as is Eat Like You Care possible and practicable — all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for : The Abolitionist Veganism? food, clothing or any other purpose; and by Approach extension, promotes the development and HowDoIGoV egan.com use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit Advocate for Animals: An of humans, animals and the environment.” Abolitionist Vegan Handbook AbolitionistApproach.com HowDoIGoVegan.com

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What is Abolitionist For those hoping for a Abolitionist veganism: Veganism? broad view of justice, an evidence-based

Abolitionist veganism is a position developed by there is a lot missing approach. Gary L Francione that fills in some of veganism’s Abolitionists reject welfare reform on moral moral and practical gaps. from the original principle, but also on practical grounds based on

definition of veganism. the available evidence. Over the last 30 years or so, What veganism requires in terms of nonhuman welfare campaigns have encouraged people to eat animals is clear: we shouldn’t use them. The Abolitionist vegans adopt and promote the ‘humane’ animal products. That encouragement definition focuses almost entirely on veganism as standard definition of veganism as a moral has correlated with a per capita increase in the a way of acting, not a way of thinking. This focus baseline, reject violence toward both human and quantity of animal products consumed. on practice has resulted in a number of nonhumans clearly, broadly, and by definition, and problems, questions, and debates as to promote a position in which animals are As such, animal advocacy that has focused on understood as moral persons and members of the reform measures has failed, obviously and * what is and is not vegan moral community. consistently, to help animals in the short-term as * what are the morally appropriate and practically well as to build long-term change; instead, it has effective ways to advocate veganism The abolitionist position, developed by Gary L. increased the public’s comfort with eating ‘the * whether veganism addresses human Francione, stands out from other positions with its right’ animal products, as evidenced by the growth exploitation insistence on veganism as a baseline, its focus on of the ‘humane’ animal products market. This * what obligation, if any, do we have to adopt or sentience, its inclusion of human and nonhuman failure has encouraged some welfare proponents care for domesticated animals beings, its rejection of campaigns that will result in to promote the use of violence in place of * whether domestication and veganism are changes in how animals are used rather than the education and dialogue. compatible abolition of that use, as well as its focus on an

* whether people who reject are evidence-based approach to change. In contrast, abolitionists promote creative, vegan, and so on. nonviolent , education and

community organizing as the groundwork to Abolitionist veganism answers a number of these abolish animal use. questions.