Compassionate Holland

Holland is a beautiful country! In Holland, everyone is the same! Women have equal rights and are emancipated, Homosexuals are fully accepted in society, we take care of those who need help, people care about one another! It's not always like this in the world, in the past, it was also different. Holland has come far! Holland is a country to be proud of! Human rights provide the moral compass so that every person counts! We have achieved unprecedented levels of wealth, we have achieved unprecedented levels of freedom, we must cherish this freedom! in a short time our society has succeeded in expanding the circle of our morality. Children, women, immigrants, the disabled, the poor, the elderly: their interests are recognized, and they are granted rights! As a society, we guarantee freedom to all, we give assistance when needed. Sure: we can always do it better, and that's where politics comes in. Things can be made fundamentally better! How do we know we have included everyone in our moral circle? Don't we also have, perhaps, moral blind spots? Absolutely: the animals! Not only do 17 million people live in this country but there are also 450 million animals crammed in farms for whom life is much less pleasant than for those 17 million people. If we, as society, are able to care for our elderly, for our disabled, for children and for future generations, then why can't we care about the animals too? People love animals, people carry animals in their heart! Pets are often members of a family, nobody wants to be cruel and mean to animals, we teach our children not to be cruel to animals. But something strange has happened in this country, something that nobody wants, but that unfortunately still exists: intensive farming, where animals are harmed on a massive scale. This must be a mistake! We don't really want to abuse animals, do we? We don't really want to be cruel, do we? We have proved that we can feel empathy towards everyone, we even treat convicts humanely, why can't we treat animals humanely too? Being humane to animals doesn't mean put them in bigger cages. Just like we all think that it's wrong if people would suggest that we treat slaves humanely by killing them in a more humane way. The animals are not really benefitted by being slaughtered in a "humane" way. Being humane to animals means not treating them like mere objects. We proved that we are able to feel compassion towards those who are different, to feel empathy for the suffering of others. And this is what it's all about: suffering! Humans are not the only ones capable of suffering. We all know that animals suffer too, don't we? We recognize this instinctively, as we recognize pain in another human being. Suffering lies at the basis of morality! Compassion means we recognize the suffering of others and try to prevent and lessen it. Come on, we can do it! We've already proved this: we are able to feel compassion! Let's extend our moral circle further and let animals into our hearts. Ghandi once said: "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated". From this point of view we can't say Holland is a civilized country. Despite all the nice words the way we treat animals is a blemish on our superior moral ideals. Still, it's possible to create a civilized society, one without institutionalized animal suffering. Feigning ignorance about the horrible reality of intensive farms, fishing, animal testing, fur: this is unacceptable. Some things you can't not know! The good thing is that we don't need animal products like meat, leather, milk and dairy, to lead a healthy and enjoyable life. We can do without! This requires a change in mentality, but people can change. We can give up our bad habits. Freedom is: living without harming others in vain. But, who are these others? All those who can suffer. Freedom therefore is: living without causing unnecessary suffering to human beings or animals. Holland is a beautiful country. A liberal democracy based on universal rights. This is fantastic! If we really see this and realize it then we could take the next step, we could see that big moral blind spot of our society and end the suffering we are thrusting upon animals at unprecedented levels and end this shame on our society. Then we wouldn't have to feel so awkward when we say we love animals and at the same time we eat them and let them be exploited and killed for our trivial desires. Today we are here at Dam square, we are not here for ourselves, we don't want anything else! We just want that animals be included in our moral circle too. We are here to give a voice to the animals. In a democracy everyone has the power. We elect our leaders, that do more or less what we ask them to. If we want more meat and dairy we will have more meat and dairy, then they will build mega-sheds. But if we are mega-sick of all this − and we are! − If we want to include animals in our morality because animals suffer just like we do and have a deep desire to live, then each of us has the power, today, here and now, to recognize that moral blind spot in our society and in our actions. We can stop consuming animal products. We can, today, choose a plant-based diet. Shopping is a fundamental ethic choice. We can banish animal exploitation from our lives, from our society. Just think of the moral code: everything is allowed as long as you do no harm. But the supermarkets are full of corpses and cadavers, of dead animals that had a miserable life. We have a choice, a fundamental choice, as individuals, as a society. We can choose if we are mega-sick that animals are exploited at their own expense but also at the expense of environments and of future generations. There is just one way out, there is a moral duty to adopt a plant-based diet, a moral duty of veganism. Holland is still capable of remaining an example for others. We can show other countries that we cherish compassion for all those able to suffer. Veganism is not a hobby or fad but a moral obligation. Just like it is forbidden to exploit humans it should be forbidden to exploit animals. So, we shouldn't only ban mega-stalls or intensive agriculture but all forms of exploitation and oppression of animals for our interests. This will require a big cultural change, but it is possible! Organizations such as the Vegan Society can help. We can make the world a better place, a world with less suffering. Let's begin here in Holland: The Netherlands as the first country in the world where people have realized that it is morally wrong to exploit animals. A country of veganism, a civilized society, and a civilized person chooses for compassion! I want to call on you, not in my name, but in the name of the animals. I am begging you, in the name of those who have no voice, but do have desires. To farmers: stop! Choose a profession that does not cause pain to others! To shopkeepers: stop selling corpses and the products of animal suffering! To restaurant owners: stop glorifying and serving dead and tortured animals! To the vets: work towards the well-being of single animals, and stop supporting farmers and breeders! To shoe shops: stop selling the skin of dead animals! Extend your horizons and look for sustainable alternatives. To scientists: stop animal testing! Stop research on animal farms! Research vegan sustainable permaculture instead. To politicians: listen to your conscience, be compassionate! Give rights to animals! Abolish the cattle industry! Dare to do great things! To multinationals that profit from animal exploitation - like Friesland Campina - be compassionate and close shop! Be civilized! To fashion designers: choose cruelty-free designs. Get rid of those fur collars! And finally to you! To each of you, not only in this square, but to everyone in this city in this country and in the whole world, to everyone of you and all of you together! Be compassionate! Strive to live a life without harming others! Stop eating and using animals! Be civilized. Choose life. Go vegan!