Can vegetarians not be vegans?

As I understand it, vegetarians should be against products that involve killing animals (meat), whereas vegans are not only against products that involve killing or maiming animals, but also against products that invole exploiting animals (wool, silk, horse riding, etc.).

Or to redefine veganism the way I see it: as an extension of the libertarian non-agression principle. I don't mind killing bugs that bother me, or killing bugs that constitute a danger to humans. Or killing wolves, for that matter, instead of "reintroducing" them. But it's definitely agression to steal bees' honey, lambs' wool, cows' milk, etc, even if they were not harmed in anyway whatsoever in the process.

But, is there room for a "moderate", "vegetarian" stance that would condemn only the murder or mutilation type of aggression? Now let's check some of the main contention points, which are the usual diet difference between a vegan and a vegetarian:

• Cheese

  Dried and cleaned stomachs of young calves are sliced into small pieces and then put into saltwater or whey, together with some vinegar or wine to lower the pH of the solution. After some time (overnight or several days), the solution is filtered. The crude rennet that remains in the filtered solution can then be used to coagulate milk. (source)

• Milk

  Dairy cows must be pregnant in order to give milk, and their female offspring either become dairy cows themselves or are slaughtered immediately. The males, however, are sold for beef or veal. The connection between the veal and dairy industries is undeniable, and it has been said that there is "a piece of veal in every glass of milk. (source and you know what veal is...)

• Eggs

  All egg production systems involve the disposal of unwanted male chicks as they are of no use to the industry. Male chicks from selectively bred egg-laying strains are not suitable for meat production and so are killed at 1-3 days old. There is a 50/50 chance of a male chick being born and it is estimated that around 30 million are destroyed annually by a number of permitted methods. (source)

• Honey

  In the US, 10 to 20 percent of colonies are lost over the winter. It is partly by accident and partly on purpose. Some beekeepers kill off their hives before winter. (source)

• Wool

  Mulesing entails running a sharp knife around the breech area about the size of a dinner plate, then ripping off the wool bearing skin within that area. (source + pink video)

So even if murder or mutilation were not okay but theft were, you should still be vegan.

2009-10-17