Terror Is Not Just a Human Experience
The image of a terrified pig’s eye, wide with panic, tells a story no words can fully capture. But the message beneath it is unmistakable: terror is not exclusive to humans. Animals feel fear, pain, and despair just as we do. The myth that non-human animals do not suffer in the same way has long been used to justify unspeakable cruelty, particularly in factory farming and slaughterhouses.
In reality, science confirms what empathy already tells us. Pigs are intelligent, emotional beings capable of complex social interactions. They scream, tremble, and attempt to flee when faced with death. This is not instinctual reflex, it is conscious terror.
To ignore this truth is not merely apathetic, it is immoral. We cannot claim to be ethical beings while turning a blind eye to such suffering, especially when it is done for something as trivial as taste or tradition.
This image compels us to look, really look, at what our food choices mean for others. It challenges the lie that animals are objects, commodities, or lesser beings.
To recognize that terror crosses species lines is to accept our responsibility. We owe animals more than compassion, we owe them justice. A just world does not inflict horror on the innocent.
The question is simple: if we can live without causing terror to others, why wouldn’t we?
The Vegan Project Global
Compassion. Clarity. Change.
Excellent!