Dr Michael Morris
Auckland, August 21, 2022
Animal Justice Auckland is a forerunner to an Animal Justice Party we hope to have registered for the 2023 general election.
I became a vegetarian in 1984, and then vegan in 2003. I was triggered by a realisation of the hypocritical attitude society has towards animals.
At home, we treated our cats like part of the family. How did it make sense to cause death and suffering to other animals who were no less intelligent or emotional than our pets?
It was easy to make the connection between dead animals on the plate and their suffering. It took longer to make the connection with dairy products. I know that in principle it is possible to treat a cow the same way we treated our cats and to share milk with the calf.
This, however, is far removed from the realities of the New Zealand dairy industry.
Once I understood the connection between the way baby and mother cows are abused in the dairy industry I became vegan.
I completed a PhD in Zoology at Auckland University. This has given me an appreciation of Animal Sentience. I taught environmental science and ecology at the Senior Lecturer level at universities and polytechnics in Japan, China and New Zealand. I am presently working as a researcher in the field of smoking cessation and teaching children about science.
Protecting animal welfare
I was motivated to stand as mayor because no other candidate was giving a voice to animals. Environmental degradation is another of my motivations.
In China, I was given filtered accommodation, so that I could avoid air pollution, provided that I was content to imprison myself indoors.
Others were less fortunate.
It brought home to me the importance of environmental justice. Pollution, climate change and other disasters disproportionately affect animals and vulnerable humans.
Suffering for animals and humans is also brought about by environmental destruction.
Animal agriculture is a major cause of climate change and pandemics such as Covid-19.
The bushfires in Australia, exacerbated by climate change, killed 500 million animals.
The Covid-19 pandemic was also spread through animal slaughter, and disproportionately affected vulnerable people.
Equitable Economic System
Animal abuse, environmental degradation and human marginalisation are linked.
Research has shown that humans, animals and the planet all fare better under a more equal economic system. A low-emissions, plant-based economy would assist in all these objectives.
It has been known for at least 20 years that a plant-based diet is better for health.
The jury is still out over whether small amounts of animal products are bad for us. What is not in doubt is that the appropriately named SAD (Standard American/Anglo/Australasian Diet) is killing us. Since it is possible to live a healthier, more sustainable and more compassionate lifestyle without eating animals, why would we not do so?
Dr Michael Morris is a candidate for the Mayorality of Auckland and the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Board on an animal liberationist platform. He is the Founder of Animal Justice Auckland, an animal welfare advocacy group and forerunner to the Animal Justice Party, which is likely to be registered next year.
There are 23 candidates in the Auckland Mayoral race. Voting in the local government elections will be held from September 16 until midday on October 8, 2022.
