THINGS TO CONSIDER FIRST

• Most people believe that it is wrong to harm an animal when it is avoidable. But most peoples' actions, because of the enculturation of animal consumption, are counter to such belief. This lack of integrity with this belief spills over into claims of ethical. These "claims" are from greed, and this should be taken into account when looking at products labeled as ethical.

• Naming the enculturation of animal consumption "Carnism", I think, makes animal consumption look legit as it implies a belief system, but I wouldn't go so far as to say that it's a true "belief" system, people THINK all kinds of things and people do all kinds of things that they don't mean, and this is what happens when people are conflicted with and possessed by greed instead of practicing humanity. To unnecessarily harm an animal is not part of humanity. Also, with the word Carnist, people could form an identity to try to defend, this, I believe, would be counterproductive.

• Naming, with the word veganism/vegan, on the other hand, I think, delegitimizes its actual intended purpose, to define truly ethical behavior. Ethical, as the ethical treatment of animals, is ethical already, it doesn't need to be separated out, so to speak, and then named, why would it? This should be a revealing question to ask oneself. People could also form an identity with the word vegan to try to defend, this would be counterproductive. Greed as opposed to humanity and true human ethics exist. One should not use the word(s) carnism/carnist. And the use of the word(s) veganism/vegan can be harmful, depending upon how one responds, and in what context it is used.

• The definition of veganism is a philosophy (animal rights) and way of living which seeks to exclude animal exploitation (selfish inconsiderate use of non-human animals) as far as is possible and practicable. This selfish inconsiderate use of animals harms animals and is avoidable and so veganism is a criterion for ethical, and what veganism means is ethical, truly ethical. And, because the word exists, the word veganism may sometimes be necessary to define ethical (depending on context) in a culture that practices a harmful status-quo that harms animals unnecessarily and avoidably for reasons such as tradition or conditioned taste etc.; all trivial reasons and all are motives of greed.

• Non-human animals would be better served using simple language, original words; creating and using new words to define something that existing words should define creates division, discredits and blocks credibility of the new word itself and leaves room for illegitimate (greedy) use of original words such as 'humane' or 'ethical' thus legitimizing illegitimate use of the word. This would bring into existence an evil polarity or keep such a polarity going, instead of defining any true meaning of ethical. Division is not good here. "Humane meat" is not humane or ethical, such is impossible, and it needs to be called out for what it is, WRONG AND UNETHICAL, for the same reasons as any other "meat". Basic decency doesn't need a name, indecency does!

• Because of widespread misunderstanding of the meaning of veganism, if the term veganism is used, one should clarify the definition of, and ethical status of the meaning of veganism as a criterion for ethical. Similarly, if someone should refer to or ask you if you are a vegan, you should clarify such and tell them that you are vegan ethical, as the term vegan refers to an ethical criterion and nothing else. As such there is only one reason for being vegan but there are many plant-based diets.

• The definition of veganism, as currently defined by the vegan society is; "Veganism is a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable [*practice-able], all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals [*currently in use] for food, clothing or any other purpose [*by humans]". *The words between the brackets [ ] are added by Wayne and is not part of the quote. ---Wayne Martin

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