Rundown of my beliefs/positions:
Ethically, any reduction of harm to animals is good. I am not sure if a "pure" vegan society is attainable (AKA one in which human development causes zero harm to animals and no animal products will ever be required), but any strive towards it is fundamentally good, much like how reducing murder is good even though the rate will likely never be "zero".
I believe we as humans should use our intelligence and capability as moral actors to make the world a better place for all life, or at least not worse.
The environment is also a big concern, though I consider it something that loops back to the ethics issue (environment degradation is bad because it hurts animals, after all). Environmentally, veganism is generally far more sustainable and consumes less (yes even if pleather exists).
Studies show that in wealthy countries, living a vegan lifestyle tends to be cheaper and physically healthier if you're doing it right. Having said this, I acknowledge I am well-off, have no allergies or nutrition-related disorders, and live in a place where grocery stores are readily available, so I am in a position where it is relatively easy for me to live vegan.
Still working out my feelings on sub-issues related to veganism like zoos and (non-frivolous) animal testing, how veganism intersects with general leftism/anti-capitalism, and how important individuals choosing to live vegan is compared to other forms of activism
I think going vegan if you can is valuable and I'd encourage it, and I find vegans very admirable alongside the hate they get being largely based on incorrect information and cognitive dissonance. Guilting people makes me feel horrible, but believing this makes it a bit hard not to do that, even on accident. So that's your heads-up for the contents of this blog.
