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1. Veganism Article
So many animals are effected by our need to keep up with fashion statements
and trends, even when there are so many cruelty free alternatives which
eliminate millions of animals being tortured, for example high quality faux fur is
widely available nationwide and saves many animals lives. As well as this
animals are a lot like humans and are capable of feeling pain, happiness and
stress meaning that the production of these products is very distressing for
them. Due to the food industry and fashion industry using large-scale mass
production just to make money, animals well-being are often looked over to
produce goods quickly and cheaply. Although its been researched that dairy
industry animals are worst affected, not only are the animals effected, so is the
environment as the chemicals and toxins used in the tanning process of
producing leather is also destroying the environment.
The fashion industry is one of the key places where animals are worst affected;
this is mainly down to the fur and leather industry where millions of animals are
killed every year just to produce clothing alone. Within the fashion industry fur
is everywhere, whether it’s the collar of a coat, the cuff of a boot or a full jacket
for every one of these that are made there are millions of animals that are
treated horrendously on ‘Fur Farms’, in which animals live in tiny cramped wire
cages and are killed in the cheapest and most aggressive ways. In the US more
than half of the fur used comes from China, where a lot of their fur comes from
dogs and cats, which are often skinned alive. Another area of the fashion
industry, which contributes a lot to the amount of animals that are killed yearly
simply to produce clothing, is the leather industry. You can never truly know
where the leather you are wearing is from due to a large proportion of it coming
from China where they make leather from a variety of different animals such as
cows, pigs, goats, sheep, alligators, ostriches, kangaroos and even cats and dogs
due to the leather produced in China coming unlabelled means that you can
never truly know where the leather you are wearing has come from. The fashion
industry contributes so largely to animal cruelty when there is no actual
necessity for it as there are so many cruelty free fabric alternatives including a
variety for faux furs, which are available in most stores.
Cosmetics and makeup is also a key culprit of unnecessarily killing animals with
little benefits. Although animal testing for cosmetics and toiletry products has
been illegal across the UK for almost 3 years now, which since then has also led
to animal testing being banned across the European Union. Although things are
changing and improving here, elsewhere in places like China it is compulsory for
products to be tested on animals before being sold, and the company has to pay
to have their products tested on animals. Although there is a law against animal
testing for cosmetics in the UK there is still no law against animals testing for
household cleaning products, however one is being considered. There are many
high street companies such as LUSH, which have their very own line of vegan
cosmetics and The Body Shop which are on the PETA (People for the Ethical
Treatment of Animals) cruelty free list which makes it easier to shop vegan
knowing there are a list of PETA approved cruelty free brands. Although it is
illegal in this country there are still ways around the law, as sometimes animal

2. tested products can be sold into other markets within Europe. As well as this
even though animal testing for cosmetics is banned, there are still hundreds of
rats, mice, rabbits and guinea pigs are still in toxicity tests for chemicals which
are used in household products, to test these the products are injected into the
animals skin or forced down the animals throats which can cause organ failures,
death and many other side effects.
As well as the fashion industry largely affecting the animals, it also has very
negative impacts on the environment due to the tanning process used in the
leather industry, which adds more toxins into the environment. As well as this
‘51% of global greenhouse gas emissions is due to the byproducts of livestock.’ –
Cowspiracy. Many species homes are being destroyed by fishing, pollution and
deforestation, sloths are one of the many animals effected by deforestation as
their homes are being destroyed. Producing meat also wastes so much water,
which could be put to such better uses in under developed countries, for example
a pound of beef requires 2,500 gallons of water, and 1,000 gallons of water is
needed to produce one gallon milk. ‘82% of starving children live in countries
where food is fed to animals, and western countries’ eat the animals’ – Your Daily
Vegan. The production of meat and dairy accounts for 70% of global water
consumption, meaning that without the meat and dairy industry alone there
would be 70% more freshwater which could be spread throughout the world
and save many lives. ‘Animal products cause more damage than [producing]
construction minerals such as sand or cement, plastics or metals. Biomass and
crops for animals are as damaging as [burning] fossil fuels.’ – Professor Edgar
Hertwich. By carrying out a vegan lifestyle it contributes less to air pollution and
puts a lot less pressure on natural resources as there is less of a requirement for
land, fossil fuels and water.
As well as meat and dairy production having a negative impact on the
environment, it can also negatively impact on your health. The health benefits of
veganism are now the second biggest reason why people are converting to
veganism. One of the many key health benefits from veganism is that it can help
lower blood pressure; this was discovered when research was carried out to find
that in general meat eaters had a considerably higher blood pressure than non-
meat eaters, with high blood pressure being one of the leading causes of heart
disease, kidney failure and strokes. Also other studies have found that vegan
diets are a lot lower in cholesterol, which helps reduce the chances of heart
attacks and strokes. Another thing that research has found is that vegans
generally have lower BMI’s than meat eaters, therefore veganism can help to
combat the risk of obesity.