To produce animal products, some degree of animal suffering must occur, but do we need animal products at all?

David Clark recently called for a debate between vegans and farmers.

On behalf of the vegan community, I accept. Name a time and place, send a PR person being paid a six-figure salary, and let’s have a proper discussion.

I have eight years of experience campaigning for animal rights and have been vegan for over 10 years. I aim to be the first vegan Member of Parliament, and would be honoured to represent the vegan community in a debate.

Mr Clark outlined several facts that I would acknowledge, but we seem to draw very different conclusions.

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To produce milk, a cow must give birth to a calf. Those calves experience a variety of fates with millions going straight to the slaughterhouse.

We must accept this if we want to have milk – but shouldn’t we then question whether or not we want to have milk at all?

The reality is that, to produce animal products, some degree of animal suffering must occur.

New Zealand kills over 100 million animals every year. There is no way we can kill that many animals and ensure they do not suffer.

Calves must be taken from their mothers, male chicks of the egg industry must be gassed or ground up alive, and horrific conditions will be present across many farms.

Not to mention the horrors of the slaughterhouse; no animal wants to die, regardless of how "humane" a death it is.

We can comfort ourselves by claiming it is necessary, that we must accept the suffering of every one of those animals. Or we can look at improving the situation.

We cannot stop all the suffering in the world, but we can stop some.

The most powerful thing society can do is look at changing our industries over time. The most powerful thing an individual can do to accomplish this is go vegan.

Understand that I say this with no malice. I do not regard meat-eaters – or farmers – as bad people.

Instead, I regard veganism as something akin to riding a bicycle or volunteering for charity. It is a powerful act that anyone can take to reduce the amount of suffering in the world.

In fact, I actually have a great deal of compassion for farmers.

Everywhere you look, there are signs that it is time to stop investing in the dairy industry and to start growing other industries.

Horticulture’s value per unit of land has outstripped dairy. In an age where land prices are skyrocketing, this should be a clear sign.

Sir Paul Callaghan called for a sizable reduction of the dairy industry and to focus on high-tech manufacturing. The pressure to make farmers pay for the environmental damage of their industry is mounting. The list goes on.

New Zealand is taking advantage of its farmers. We are trying to squeeze every cent we can out of the industry, demanding that they hold up our economy.

Farmers are being encouraged to intensify. But who pays the costs?

Banks are profiting, investors are profiting, New Zealand’s economy benefits, but farmers are saddled with unmanageable debt.

The message to farmers is loud and clear – everything is fine. Keep doing what you are doing, take on more debt, and your troubles will eventually go away.

But farmers are expected to bear the brunt of the troubles.

They are expected to deal with fluctuating prices and take it on faith that things will get better if they continue to take on debt.

Well, I aim to be straight with farmers.

The international research is clear – animal products are bad for the environment and many are dangerous to your health.

Experts around the world agree; we currently consume too many animal products. New Zealanders are becoming less tolerant of animal suffering and are continuously exploring other options.

So my message to farmers is this: I understand that your plight is difficult. You have been so fundamental to New Zealand for so long, it is difficult to picture living any other way.

But change is already happening.

You know this better than most, as you are the ones who are bearing the burdens that come with change. The farming community is rife with fear, which is one of the reasons there is such a big clash between vegans and farmers. We represent a threat to your very way of life.

But we are only a sign of the times changing and you need to change with them.

So, when politicians and bankers and big businesses tell you to stay the course and keep producing dairy, ask yourself who loses out if dairy really is on the decline?

The people telling you to keep taking on debt aren’t taking the risk on themselves.

Look at your other options. If you find that what I said rings true, start transitioning to other businesses.

I imagine vegans will support you one hundred per cent.

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