Vegan-Free Alternatives for Protecting Animals

Here in Australia, we are leaders in humane treatment of animals bred for slaughter. We have strict regulations governing how livestock must be housed, transported and slaughtered, so as to minimise the pain endured by any animal. So, what's the problem? We also export large amounts of livestock to foreign countries. Middle Eastern countries require animals to be slaughtered to religious specifications, so we ship boatloads of live animals across the ocean - and once they leave port from Australia, our strict ethical standards no longer apply. The livestock are shipped in appalling conditions - as many as 35,000 sheep will die en route - and once they arrive at their destination, it gets a whole lot worse. Animals are offloaded from ships and dumped straight into car boots, wheel barrows or vans for transporting, many of them already diseased and bleeding. They are often tortured before they are slaughtered. So, what should you do about? Get out your mighty pen and write some angry letters to the government. We can't enforce our ethical guidelines on other countries, no matter how hard we try, so it's time to put an end to this inhumane practice.

We've all heard horror stories about cosmetic companies performing heinous experiments on animals in the name "quality testing." The ridiculous thing is, most of their experiments don't seem to hold any scientific merit - what do they gain by knowing how repeatedly spraying perfume in a rabbit's eye will affect it's eyesight? Do your research and switch to cruelty-free cosmetics and skincare products - The Body Shop is a great place to stock up. Remember the golden rule: unless the bottle clearly states "Not Tested On Animals", then you can't be certain. Even the most prominent cosmetic companies in the world can be guilty of gross animal-rights violations.

Why not put your money where your mouth is and get behind some of the world's great wildlife organisations? Become a regular donor to the RSPCA or World Wildlife Fund. Head to your nearest zoo and see if they have a "Sponsor an Animal" program for endangered species. Or you could try volunteering at your local animal shelter. Basically, use your time or money (or both!) to support the conservation and protection of animals. You might not quite be PETA material, but you can still stand up for the rights of wildlife by funding the cause.

Maybe you're not keen on giving up meat for good, but giving it up for one day a week is practically painless. Buy a vegetarian recipe book and try a new dish every week. With the help of some herbs and spices, you'll soon realise that a meal doesn't need meat to be tasty. Another tip is to simply reduce the amount of meat you consume. In Western society, we all eat too damn much anyway. Halve your usual portion size, add some more vegies to compensate, and you've already halved your impact on the animal world. Plus, meat is expensive, so the less you eat, the more money you'll save.

Make the world a better place for animals, one four-footed friend at a time. Head down to your local animal shelter and adopt a pet. There are some (idiotic) people in the world that never got the "A Pet is for Life, Not Just for Christmas" message, and thus hundreds of dogs and cats end up dumped and homeless each year. Enrich your life by welcoming one of them into your home. Don't forget to adhere to the rules of responsible pet ownership, either. Care for your pet, have it desexed, exercise it regularly and make sure it has plenty of fun toys to keep it entertained (unless you want your curtains clawed to shreds.)

Yes, authentic fur coats feel lovely to touch, but wouldn't you prefer to be patting an actual bunny rabbit rather than the skin off it's dead carcass? Wearing fur has become an outdated practice, particularly when realistic faux-fur is so readily available. And let's be honest... Fur coats tend to have an air of pretentious wankery about them. This rule needn't only apply to fur - why not expand it to encompass all animal skins? Show off your pleather jacket with pride and choose canvas or vinyl handbags instead of authentic cow-hide. Suede is a bitch to take care of anyway. And yes, ancient man wore mammoth skins to keep himself warm, but the magic of evolution means that we now have electric heaters to do that for us. So swathe yourself in something animal-friendly and feel great about it.

The world is home to a plethora of animal species that make their homes in trees. But due to deforestation across the planet, many animals have been left starving and homeless. Make a difference in your own back yard by planting a native tree. Years from now, it will provide shelter and security to all kinds of native fauna.

So you're not exactly a vegan, eco-warrior with ten shelter-rescued cats, but you can still make a difference. And who knows, maybe all your wildlife goodwill will inspire you to take that next step and convert to the vegetarian life? Or, at the very least, seriously consider thinking about it...