Originally published on Medium.com 19 April 2020

Currently, the COVID-19 pandemic has swept to every corner of the world, causing havoc, distress and fear within individuals. The outbreak has instated a new norm for the way we live. Curfews and lockdowns have been established in many parts of the world, and the surest route to slow down the virus’s spread is by self-isolating. Such have been the changes we have implemented in our societies and in our own daily lives. The things that we have taken for granted, our freedoms, have been succinctly taken away from us. It’s been more than a month since countries have shut down their borders and have urged people to stay in their homes. This new mode of living has been challenging for many. Nonetheless, in our current day and age, there are a myriad of ways to keep us entertained and sane throughout this ordeal. The invaluable invention of technologies and social media allows us to maintain our connections with friends and family without jeopardizing our lives or theirs. Trapped in our own homes, confined to walls and fences, we still manage to continue living albeit with limited freedoms. When the virus begins to slow down, and when the curve flattens, the curtains of freedom will be unveiled to our past lives we once subconsciously lived. The mere idea of being free, the idea of living a life without restrictions, is something that we fought to have, yet took for granted.

However, our joyful celebration after this time will only serve our purpose of existing in a free world. For the millions of other Earthlings whose lives and freedoms have been stripped away from them, they will continue living in their eternal lockdown. The Earthlings that will never breathe fresh air or see sunlight. The ones that will never run freely or play with their companions. The same Earthlings that we exploit, will still live in torment because we do not recognize their freedoms. The pigs, the cows, the hens, the chicken, the sheep, and any other animal whose sole purpose has been designed to be exploited by us humans, will continue living a life of a prisoner. We humans will fight and shout for our freedom, yet we ignore the freedoms of others. How can our freedom be more important than those who share our Earth with us? A cow’s purpose is not to be turned into a beef patty. A pig’s purpose is not to be turned into bacon. A hen’s purpose is not to miserably pump eggs a plethora of times more than she can naturally produce. The purpose of every living being is to live. The purpose of every living being is to be free. Why then, do we exploit others? Why then do we impose our will onto others? Is it because we can? Or because we don’t understand the meaning of freedom?

The things that we have taken for granted, walking down the streets, catching up with friends and going to live events have been taken away from us. These same freedoms have been forcibly stripped from us and we can’t do anything about it. Maybe this is an opportune time to reflect on our consumer choices, and our beliefs on freedom. Is freedom reserved only for those who walk on two feet and speak a human tongue? Or can we extend this freedom to encompass every being as well?

The animal industry puts animals into confined cages that are behind concrete walls. Labels such as “free-range” or “cruelty-free” only incentivize us to feel less guilty about our consumer choices. These same labels pad the same outcome that is imposed on all animals within the industry — exploitation, suffering, cruelty and eventual death. If we value our freedom so much, why can’t we value the freedom of others? Can we not understand that every time we pay for an animal product, we are enforcing our will on innocent animals? Every time we purchase an animal product, we have already dictated how the animal is going to live its life. Every time we go to a zoo, we are paying for animals to be locked behind cages.

Imagine if someone dictated our lives from the moment we’re born. Stripped our freedom away. Our sense of autonomy. Our pleasures, our hopes, aspirations, happiness and our will to life. I’m sure we would then value our freedom, just as much as we value it right now.

We can lead a positive change by being conscious of our consumer choices. We can put an end to animal exploitation by changing our perception of freedom. Our perception of an animal’s purpose, and our will to impose cruelty onto others can change. By going vegan, we can end the lockdown for everyone.

Stay safe, stay blessed and be empathetic.