One of the most prominent mechanisms to divert attention from animal exploitation is the claim that defending animal rights is a distraction from more important humanitarian issues. That human injustice must be ended first before paying attention to animal rights, as if human and animal issues cannot be addressed in parallel. In a human-centered world, it is essential that there be a movement dedicated to defending the rights of other beings who do not have a voice to express their suffering. Just as social movements are devoted to specific issues such as women's rights or civil rights, the animal rights movement is necessary and should not be weakened by prioritizing other issues over it.
ROLAND AZAR: When a person faces the idea that he may be involved in an immoral act — even if it is unintentionally — Psychological defense mechanisms begin to work for self-protection. One of the most prominent of these mechanisms is to divert attention to other, more pressing issues as a way to avoid guilt or counter internal reality. Instead of dealing with the fact that some practices supported by a long-term social system may contribute to the suffering of animals, some resort to justifying their actions by claiming that there are more important humanitarian issues that deserve attention…
This perception reinforces the idea that defending animal rights is a luxury or a deviation from the real priorities, prompting some to ask animal rights activists to focus on humanitarian issues only. The idea that human injustice must be ended first before paying attention to animal rights, as if human and animal issues cannot be addressed in parallel…
In a human-centered world, it is essential that there be a movement dedicated to defending the rights of other beings who do not have a voice to express their suffering. Animals need voices fighting on their behalf against the violations they face daily, from torture to exploitation. Just as social movements are devoted to specific issues such as women’s rights or civil rights, the animal rights movement is necessary and should not be weakened by prioritizing other issues over it…
the animal rights movement is an explicit call to take responsibility for the direct impact of our daily actions on living things. This movement not only seeks to draw attention to the injustice of animals, but also places a moral responsibility on humanity to end this injustice. SOURCE…
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