Any use of animals is a neglect of recognizing that we don't own them. Non-human animals own themselves, just as human animals own themselves.
As moral agents with a higher degree of consciousness, we humans can understand morality -- to understand what is right and wrong from a position of foundational principles. Animals differ in degree of consciousness, but are of the same kind (i.e. kin from the animal kingdom). Plants are not animals.
Whether other animals can understand moral principles or not doesn't change that we can at our level of consciousness. We can direct our lives by understanding how our actions affect and harm the lives of others.
Stealing is wrong. To not steal is right.
It's wrong to steal the property of another being.
This includes not stealing:
life (murder)
sexual preference (rape)
bodily integrity (assault)
other physical property they produced, the "fruits of their labor" (regular theft)
All of the above are forms of property.
Stealing the property of a human animal is a violation of foundational moral principles, or moral law. The same applies to non-human animals.
Each being owns the property of their life, sexual preference, bodily integrity, and the "fruits of their labor".
Non-human animals are others -- other beings -- that are not ourself, just as other human-animals are others that are not ourself.
All animal have lives that are there own, that they own unto themselves.
We can only own ourselves and no one can own us. We can't own others. Others are not property to be owned. Thinking we can own another is a contradiction of them owning themselves and a violation of moral law, hence it is violence.
Stealing of various forms of property is violence of varying degrees. Standard theft, assault, rape and murder are all form of theft.
Don't be an aggressor. Live by the non-aggression principle and don't steal from others.
Live morally. Leave animals alone.
Hey @veganism great post. Not that hard for people to understand. Although feel that so many people are just too self centered to even begin to comprehend this principle. In a world where possessions and image are most important animals (bar the cute ones) are of little significance.
That being said I do see a change in attitudes, be that again through peoples self centered'ness, a want for better health or indeed an awakening to the destruction of animal agriculture. For so many people the thought of animal rights is a step too far out side of their comfort zone. Again that comfort zone is shrinking day by day.
You have a new follower, keep up the good work.
Thank you! Yes, things seem to be changing for he better :) Have a good one as well.
Consent is the basis of all ethical activities. Anything that goes away from the state of mutual consent is violence.
Check out the project I'm working on right now, eco+, a platform for ecologists and ethical vegans! We're building a community here on STEEM and would like you to join.
More at my blog, looking forward to your future posts!
Hi there ism-brother/sister. Interesting comparisions you're making, great post and keep spreading that no-harm principle!