Childhood indoctrination

[Whateverist]

Basically just leaving them alone would be sufficient.

That is a right - the right to life.

Other than that, why should we when they are a source of food?

Not only are they an excellent source of food but I hear that human meat just tastes much better if fed a vegan diet before processing.


All kidding aside, I do appreciate the contribution to a cleaner planet which anyone who eats veggie (vegan or not) makes by eating lower on the food chain. Frankly though, if we're concerned for the well being of animals, the greater contribution we could make would be not to utilize so much land to our own purposes. It is loss of habitat that prevents survival of a diversity of species. So the number one contribution we could make toward the well being of other species would be to bring down the human biomass on the planet - a lot. Preserving habitat for other animals gives them a chance to live in the way they have evolved to live, which seems more fulfilling on the face of it. If we're content to winnow down the planet's diversity, it'll just be us, our pets, roaches, mosquitos, rats and whatever other animals that are able to thrive in the conditions we create around us.