I'm not just talking about under 18's or those of us who have been confined in mental institutions. Our electoral system does not take into account the millions of non-human beings who are trying to survive, but who find that even their basic necessities such as a place to live, and the right to behave in the way that is natural to their species, are being taken away from them, because the desires of humans, however trifling, are given more status.
The "Tamworth Two", pigs who managed to escape slaughter by running away and attracting media attention, are a tiny minority: on the whole, any protests non-humans make against inhuman treatment are at best ignored, and more often, rewarded with extreme prejudice.
Of course, pigs can't vote. We humans haven't yet been clever enough to devise a system with which their opinions on the state of the nation can be canvassed. But the Tamworth Two voted with their trotters, and it doesn't take a genius to guess what most pigs think of the farming and slaughter conditions in which they suffer.Even a Conservative knows that turkeys don't vote for Christmas.
So if you think some of the things humans do to other humans are pretty rotten: imprisonment without trial, slavery, torture, genocide, (I'm sure you can think of a few more....) its important to remember that at least all these activities are generally condemned in the "civilised" world. For the majority of non-humans, there is no effective protection, no "Court of Animal Rights" to apply to, no "United Species", yet billions, yes billions of them suffer these same injustices every single day.
You may think that there is nothing an individual can do, and that your contribution is unimportant, but this is not so. You are just one individual, but there are many more who are sickened by the way non-humans are treated. The animal exploiters are just a collection of individuals too: BAD individuals! Join the good guys. Simply stop eating animals, and you will prevent hundreds of animals living in misery and dying in pain. Join a group which is fighting for animals' rights to live free from human-induced pain and death, and you can do much more.
Environmental Investigation Agency
Investigates illegal trade in wildlife and other threats to wild animals and the environment, often by going undercover. Organises letter writing campaigns and lobbying to get legislation passed at national and international levels.
People for Ethical Treatment of Animals
Campaigns on all aspects of animal abuse, and is good at enlisting the support of media personalities to raise campaign profiles. Effective in the USA and UK.
PETA ACTION.............. What you can do to help
Vegetarians International Voice for Animals
VIVA!
This is a relatively new but very effective group dedicated to ending the abuse of animals for food. If you are not yet a vegetarian, can obtain good advice on changing your diet from this group. Concentrates on educating especially young people about the advantages of a meat-free diet, for the animals, for health, and for the planet.
A campaign to obtain basic freedoms (from murder, torture and imprisonment) for the Great Apes. You can become a signatory to their petition to the United Nations. Many scientist have endorsed this petition including Carl Sagan and Richard Dawkins.
This site gives access to a number of interesting websites which give news on the campaigns for saving the planet, and animal liberation worldwide.
A long-established campaigning group working on all aspects of animal abuse, mainly in the UK.
World Society for the Protection of Animals. This group is effective worldwide in campaigning to save bears (under their "Libearty" campaign) and provide sanctuaries for rescued bears, as well as in education campaigns for responsible pet ownership, stopping the "bushmeat" trade, and disaster relief, such as helping animals stranded by the Montserrat eruptions etc.Books to read on related matters are:
Animal Liberation by Peter Singer
I had always thought that there was something basically wrong with the way human beings treat members of other species. This book defined that feeling, and termed this unequal relationship "Speciesism", on a par with Sexism, Racism and all the other "isms" that describe unreasoning prejudice of one against another.
Slaughter of the Innocent by Hans Ruesch
Very detailed text on vivisection giving numerous examples of the kinds of pointless and painful experiments which are being done on animals to this day. Includes details of many of the myths perpetuated by some scientists about medical advances which they like to attribute to animal experiments, but which were actually made by other means. Investigates what motivates vivisectors. Also includes descriptions of some experiments done on humans. This is defintitely NOT bedtime reading.
Why does vivisection still exist?
The Silent Ark by Juliet Gellatley
A detailed, well researched look at the lives and deaths of animals used for food, and the effect the killing industry has on the environment. the author founded "Viva!"
Why You Don't Need Meat by Peter Cox
If you have any doubts about whether a vegetarian diet is healthy, read this! Plenty of information on all the illnesses you are more likely to get if you eat animals. For information on dietary use of fish oils click here